THEOSISEphraem the Syrian
Through the symbolism of the two rods, God signifies the two kingdoms that will unite into one upon the Israelites' return from exile. He instructs, ‘Take you one rod, and write on it Judah and ... Israel.’
Ezekiel 37:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
And thou son of man, take thee a stick: and write upon it: Of Juda, and of the children of Israel his associates: and take another stick and write upon it: For Joseph the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, and of his associates.
וְאַתָּ֣ה בֶן־אָדָ֗ם קַח־לְךָ֙ עֵ֣ץ אֶחָ֔ד וּכְתֹ֤ב עָלָיו֙ לִֽיהוּדָ֔ה וְלִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל חברו חֲבֵרָ֑יו וּלְקַח֙ עֵ֣ץ אֶחָ֔ד וּכְת֣וֹב עָלָ֗יו לְיוֹסֵף֙ עֵ֣ץ אֶפְרַ֔יִם וְכָל־בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל חברו חֲבֵרָֽיו׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
3 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Jerome of Stridon
The Lord spoke to me, saying: "Son of man, take a single branch and inscribe on it 'Judah and the children of Israel who are allied with him'; then take another branch and write on it 'Joseph, the branch of Ephraim, and all the house of Israel allied with him.' Join these two branches together into one, so they may be united in your hand. When the people of your nation ask you what this means, you shall tell them, 'Thus says the Lord God: I will take the branch of Joseph, which represents Ephraim and its affiliated tribes, and I will unite it with the branch of Judah so they may become one branch in my hand.' The branches written upon shall be before their eyes.
Read more (361 words)
Then say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God: I will gather the children of Israel from the nations where they have been scattered and bring them back to their land. I will establish them as one nation on the mountains of Israel, with one King reigning over them all. They will no longer be divided into two nations or split into two kingdoms, nor will they ever again defile themselves with their idols, their detestable practices, or any of their sins. I will rescue them from all the places where they have transgressed, cleanse them, and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. My servant David shall be king over them and a single shepherd for them all. They will walk according to my decrees, observe my commands, and carry them out. They shall live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, where their ancestors lived, and they along with their children and grandchildren will dwell there forever, and my servant David will be their leader forever. I will forge a covenant of peace with them, an everlasting covenant; I will establish them, multiply them, and set my sanctuary among them forever. They shall have my dwelling place, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. The nations will recognize that I am the Lord who sanctifies Israel when my sanctuary is among them forever."
Historical accounts indicate that during the reign of Rehoboam, son of Solomon, the twelve tribes of Israel were divided. Rehoboam presided over Judah alongside Benjamin, Levites, and priests, establishing his domain as Judah. Meanwhile, the other ten tribes, feeling no allegiance to David or his lineage, followed Jeroboam, son of Nebat from the tribe of Ephraim, thus assuming the identity of Israel. For a time, there was no conflict between Judah and Israel as each kingdom had its own ruler. Eventually, the Assyrians took captive the ten tribes, followed by the Chaldeans capturing those in Judah and taking them to Babylon. After seventy years, the tribe of Judah returned to their homeland, while the ten tribes identified as Israel remain in captivity, scattered across various regions.
Theodoret of Cyrus
During the reign of Rehoboam, a schism occurred among the tribes, with the ten tribes establishing their own kingdom in Samaria, one of the locations associated with Ephraim, while the tribe of Judah maintained its own governance alongside the tribe of Benjamin. However, upon their return, they all came under a singular authority. Consequently, God instructed the Prophet to take two sticks, inscribing Ephraim's name on one along with the associated tribes, and writing Judah's name on the other for those who aligned with him, subsequently joining the sticks together. Thus, the division would ultimately cease, paving the way for unity. Furthermore, God directed the Prophet to clearly communicate the interpretation to those who sought understanding.
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- 2 Chr 15:9And he gathered together all Juda and Benjamin, and the strangers with them of Ephraim, and Manasses, and Simeon: for many were come over to him out of Israel, seeing that the Lord his God was with him.
- 2 Chr 10:19And Israel revolted from the house of David unto this day.
- 2 Chr 10:17But Roboam reigned over the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Juda.
- Num 17:2Speak to the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod by their kindreds, of all the princes of the tribes, twelve rods, and write the name of every man upon his rod.
- Num 17:3And the name of Aaron shall be for the tribe of Levi, and one rod shall contain all their families:
- 2 Chr 11:11And when he had enclosed them with walls, he put in them governors and storehouses of provisions, that is, of oil and of wine.
- 2 Chr 11:17And they strengthened the kingdom of Juda, and established Roboam the son of Solomon for three years: for they walked in the ways of David and of Solomon, only three years.
- 2 Chr 30:11Nevertheless some men of Aser, and of Manasses, and of Zabulon, yielding to the counsel, came to Jerusalem.