Today, we're diving into a fascinating, if somewhat tragic, tale from the Book of Jasher, a non-canonical Jewish text that fills in gaps left by the Torah.
Our story unfolds in Egypt, 180 years after the Israelites first went down there. A group of 30,000 valiant men, all from the tribe of Joseph, specifically the children of Ephraim, Joseph’s son, decided they'd had enough (Book of Jasher 75:1). They were convinced that the time for redemption had arrived, the period that God had foretold to Abraham was up (Book of Jasher 75:2).
So, they armed themselves – swords, armor, the whole shebang – and marched out of Egypt with a "mighty hand" (Book of Jasher 75:3). They were strong, confident, believing one man could take on a thousand, two could rout ten thousand! (Book of Jasher 75:5). Sounds like they were ready for anything. Here's where the plan starts to unravel. These mighty warriors, so focused on strength, forgot a rather crucial detail: food. They figured they'd just buy some from the Philistines, or, you know, take it if necessary (Book of Jasher 75:4).
They headed toward the land of Gath and came across some shepherds tending their flocks. "Give us some sheep," they demanded, "we're hungry!" (Book of Jasher 75:7). The shepherds, understandably, weren't thrilled. "Are these our sheep that we should just hand them over, even for pay?" (Book of Jasher 75:8).
The children of Ephraim, true to their word, decided to take the sheep by force. This, unsurprisingly, didn't sit well with the locals. The shepherds raised the alarm, and the men of Gath came out to defend their property (Book of Jasher 75:9-10).
A fierce battle ensued in the valley of Gath. The children of Ephraim and the men of Gath fought hard, inflicting heavy losses on each other (Book of Jasher 75:11). But the children of Ephraim were already at a disadvantage, having not eaten for three days! (Book of Jasher 75:14). The men of Gath, realizing they needed backup, sent word to all the Philistine cities (Book of Jasher 75:12-13). Forty thousand Philistine soldiers arrived to help (Book of Jasher 75:14).
The Book of Jasher tells us that in the ensuing battle, the Lord delivered the children of Ephraim into the hands of the Philistines (Book of Jasher 75:15). The Philistines utterly crushed them. Only ten men survived, fleeing back to Egypt to tell the tale (Book of Jasher 75:16).
Why did this happen? The Book of Jasher is clear: this was divine punishment. The children of Ephraim had "transgressed the word of the Lord in going forth from Egypt, before the period had arrived" (Book of Jasher 75:17). They were impatient, acting on their own timetable rather than God's.
The loss was devastating. The slain of Ephraim were left unburied in the valley of Gath, their bones scattered for years to come (Book of Jasher 75:19). Back in Egypt, their father, Ephraim, mourned deeply (Book of Jasher 75:21). Later, he had another son, whom he named Beriah – a name meaning "in misfortune" (Book of Jasher 75:22). A somber reminder of the tragedy.
It's a harsh story, isn't it? A reminder that even with the best intentions, acting prematurely, out of sync with a larger plan, can lead to devastating consequences. It makes you wonder: how often do we, in our own lives, rush ahead, thinking we know best, only to stumble and fall? Perhaps the story of the children of Ephraim is a cautionary tale for us all, a reminder to temper our ambition with patience and trust in a higher power.
Sacred-texts Apocrypha Index Previous Next Book of Jasher, Chapter 75 1 At that time, in the hundred and eightieth year of the Israelites going down into Egypt, there went forth from Egypt valiant men, thirty thousand on foot, from the children of Israel, who were all of the tribe of Joseph, of the children of Ephraim the son of Joseph. 2 For they said the period was completed which the Lord had appointed to the children of Israel in the times of old, which he had spoken to Abraham. 3 And these men girded themselves, and they put each man his sword at his side, and every man his armor upon him, and they trusted to their strength, and they went out together from Egypt with a mighty hand. 4 But they brought no provision for the road, only silver and gold, not even bread for that day did they bring in their hands, for they thought of getting their provision for pay from the Philistines, and if not they would take it by force. 5 And these men were very mighty and valiant men, one man could pursue a thousand and two could rout ten thousand, so they trusted to their strength and went together as they were. 6 And they directed their course toward the land of Gath, and they went down and found the shepherds of Gath feeding the cattle of the children of Gath. 7 And they said to the shepherds, Give us some of the sheep for pay, that we may eat, for we are hungry, for we have eaten no bread this day. 8 And the shepherds said, Are they our sheep or cattle that we should give them to you even for pay? so the children of Ephraim approached to take them by force. 9 And the shepherds of Gath shouted over them that their cry was heard at a distance, so all the children of Gath went out to them. 10 And when the children of Gath saw the evil doings of the children of Ephraim, they returned and assembled the men of Gath, and they put on each man his armor, and came forth to the children of Ephraim for battle. 11 And they engaged with them in the valley of Gath, and the battle was severe, and they smote from each other a great many on that day. 12 And on the second day the children of Gath sent to all the cities of the Philistines that they should come to their help, saying, 13 Come up unto us and help us, that we may smite the children of Ephraim who have come forth from Egypt to take our cattle, and to fight against us without cause. 14 Now the souls of the children of Ephraim were exhausted with hunger and thirst, for they had eaten no bread for three days. And forty thousand men went forth from the cities of the Philistines to the assistance of the men of Gath. 15 And these men were engaged in battle with the children of Ephraim, and the Lord delivered the children of Ephraim into the hands of the Philistines. 16 And they smote all the children of Ephraim, all who had gone forth from Egypt, none were remaining but ten men who had run away from the engagement. 17 For this evil was from the Lord against the children of Ephraim, for they transgressed the word of the Lord in going forth from Egypt, before the period had arrived which the Lord in the days of old had appointed to Israel. 18 And of the Philistines also there fell a great many, about twenty thousand men, and their brethren carried them and buried them in their cities. 19 And the slain of the children of Ephraim remained forsaken in the valley of Gath for many days and years, and were not brought to burial, and the valley was filled with men's bones. 20 And the men who had escaped from the battle came to Egypt, and told all the children of Israel all that had befallen them. 21 And their father Ephraim mourned over them for many days, and his brethren came to console him. 22 And he came unto his wife and she bare a son, and he called his name Beriah, for she was unfortunate in his house. Next: Chapter 76 Sacred Texts | Christianity « Previous: Book of Jasher, Chapter 74 Index Next: Book of Jasher, Chapter 76 »
