Who was Ephod in the Bible?

Ephod was the son of Hanniel and a leader from the tribe of Manasseh. He was appointed to assist in dividing the land of Canaan among the Israelites after the Exodus (Numbers 34:23).

What was Ephod's role in dividing the Promised Land?

Ephod was one of the tribal leaders chosen by God to help distribute the land of Canaan. His specific role, alongside leaders from other tribes, was to ensure a fair division of the inheritance for the people of Israel (Numbers 34:16-29).

Why is Ephod mentioned in the Book of Numbers?

Ephod is mentioned to highlight the organized and divinely appointed process for allocating the Promised Land. His inclusion shows that each tribe had a representative leader involved in this crucial national event, ensuring tribal equity and obedience to God's command.

Ephod

Old TestamentEgypt & WildernessMaleLeader

Ephod son of Hanniel was appointed as the leader from the tribe of Manasseh to assist in dividing the land of Canaan (Num.34.23).

Ephod

Biography

Ephod son of Hanniel was a leader from the tribe of Manasseh, appointed by God through Moses to serve on the commission responsible for dividing the land of Canaan among the tribes of Israel (Numbers 34:23). He stood alongside similarly appointed leaders from the other tribes, each chosen to represent his people in one of the most consequential administrative acts of Israel's early history, the apportionment of the Promised Land. Ephod's appointment indicates he was a man of recognized standing and trustworthiness within the tribe of Manasseh during the wilderness period. His role was not military or priestly but governmental, reflecting the careful organization God required for the settlement of Canaan.

Significance

Ephod's appointment in Numbers 34:23 reflects the biblical principle that God's purposes are accomplished through structured human leadership and community representation. The land distribution was not left to chance or individual ambition but was entrusted to designated leaders from each tribe, ensuring fairness and divine order in the fulfillment of the covenant promise. Ephod, as Manasseh's representative, embodied the tribe's stake in the inheritance God had promised to Israel. His role teaches that faithful, servant-minded leadership, even in largely administrative capacities, participates in the outworking of God's redemptive plan, in this case the fulfillment of the promise of land given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Authority Records

Wikidata

ChildHanniel

Verse Appearances (1)

Numbers

Numbers 34:23

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

View all sources & licensing →

See our editorial standards →

Content compiled from public domain scholarship, academic sources, and verified references. Editorial standards · View all sources