Question 1

Who are the sons of Ephraim named in this passage?

Accepted Answer

In this passage Ephraim’s line is broken into families, or clans, rather than just his direct children. The clans named are from Shuthelah, Becher, and Tahan. From Shuthelah there is another family named, the family of Eran. Each of these names marks out a group of descendants who would be counted together and receive their share in the land later on. So this is not just a list of individuals, but the main family branches that came from Ephraim, the son of Joseph.

Question 2

What is meant by the families of the Shuthalhites, Bachrites, and Tahanites?

Accepted Answer

When the passage speaks of Shuthalhites, Bachrites, and Tahanites, it is talking about whole clans that came from ancestors named Shuthelah, Becher, and Tahan. These family names mark out groups within the tribe of Ephraim. Each clan had its own head and its own place among the people. Calling them by these names helped Israel remember where they came from, kept the lines of inheritance clear, and showed that even smaller groups were known and counted before God.

Question 3

What is the significance of the number thirty and two thousand and five hundred?

Accepted Answer

The number thirty two thousand and five hundred is the total count of the men from the families of Ephraim in this census. It shows how many from this tribe were ready for war and for life in the land ahead. Compared to an earlier count, this tribe had decreased, which reminds readers that the size of a tribe could go up or down. The number is not just statistics. It shows that God was watching over the growth and decline of each tribe and that nothing about His people was too small to record.

Question 4

Why are the sons of Joseph mentioned again after listing Ephraim’s families?

Accepted Answer

After listing Ephraim’s clans, the passage closes by saying, “These are the sons of Joseph after their families.” This ties Ephraim’s families back to Joseph, reminding the reader that Joseph’s tribe was split into two, Ephraim and Manasseh. It shows that Ephraim is not an isolated group but part of Joseph’s larger line. This mattered for their identity and for their share in the land. It also shows how God’s promise to Joseph’s house was carried on through these detailed family lines.

Question 5

What does this passage teach about God’s care for family lines and heritage?

Accepted Answer

This short list of names teaches that God cares about family lines and keeps track of them. Every clan in Ephraim is named and numbered. These records show that no tribe or family was forgotten, even those that might seem less known to us now. The passage fits into a larger census that marks who belongs to God’s people and how they will be settled. It hints that God’s plans move through real families and real people, and that He keeps watch over both large tribes and smaller clans.

Question 6

How does the decrease in Ephraim’s numbers fit with God’s providence over the tribes?

Accepted Answer

The numbers show that Ephraim had decreased compared to an earlier time, while some other tribes had grown. This reminds us that growth or loss in a tribe is not random, but under God’s rule. The passage as a whole shows that some families increased and others diminished, yet God still held all of Israel together. Ephraim’s smaller number does not mean God forgot them. Instead, it shows that He is free to lift up one group and lessen another, and that His care is not measured only by large numbers.

Question 7

How might this list of Ephraim’s families matter for readers today?

Accepted Answer

For readers today, this list can feel distant, but it shows that God knows people by name and by family. These clans were ordinary families, yet God had them written down and counted. That can encourage someone who feels small or overlooked. It also reminds us that we are part of a bigger story than just our own lives. Just as Ephraim’s families carried forward the promises given to Joseph, believers today are part of how God carries forward His purposes through generations.

Question 8

What was happening with Israel when this count of Ephraim’s families was taken?

Accepted Answer

This count was taken near the end of Israel’s wandering in the desert, after many who left Egypt had died because of their unbelief. A new generation was being numbered and prepared to enter the promised land. In that setting, listing Ephraim’s families showed who from this tribe would go forward into the land and receive an inheritance. It marked a fresh start for the people, yet still firmly linked to their fathers and to the promises God had made to their ancestors.

Numbers 26:35

¶ These are the sons of Ephraim after their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthalhites: of Becher, the family of the Bachrites: of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites.

The Tribe of Ephraim

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Numbers 26:35

¶ These are the sons of Ephraim after their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthalhites: of Becher, the family of the Bachrites: of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites.

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The Tribe of Ephraim

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