Of Ephraim the prophet testified, "Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not." [The prophet Hosea often referred to Ephraim, a leader in apostasy among the tribes of Israel, as a symbol of the apostate nation.] "Israel hath cast off the thing that is good." "Broken in judgment," unable to discern the disastrous outcome of their evil course, the ten tribes were soon to be "wanderers among the nations." Hosea 7:9; 8:3; 5:11; 9:17.

Profeten vidnede om Efraim: "Fremmede tæred hans kraft, han mærker det ej; hans hår er også grånet, han mærker det ej." (Profeten Hoseas omtalte ofte det frafaldne folk under navnet Efraim, som spillede en ledende rolle i Israels stammers frafald. "Israel vragede lykken." Retten var knust. De ti stammer kunne ikke se, hvilke katastrofale følger deres ondskab ville få, og inden længe ville de blive hjemløse blandt folkene. Hos. 7,9; 8,3; 5,11; 9,17.