Psalm 78 67

Psalm 78:67 kjv

Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim:

Psalm 78:67 nkjv

Moreover He rejected the tent of Joseph, And did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,

Psalm 78:67 niv

Then he rejected the tents of Joseph, he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim;

Psalm 78:67 esv

He rejected the tent of Joseph; he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,

Psalm 78:67 nlt

But he rejected Joseph's descendants;
he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim.

Psalm 78 verses

Psalm 78 67 Meaning

Psalm 78:67 declares that God decisively rejected "the tent of Joseph" and "the tribe of Ephraim." This means God turned away from the established spiritual center in Shiloh (located in Ephraimite territory) and disavowed the once prominent tribe of Ephraim as His chosen vehicle for leading Israel. This divine action signifies a transfer of His favor and selection from the northern tribes (represented by Joseph/Ephraim) to the southern tribe of Judah, leading to the establishment of David's kingdom and the choice of Zion.

Psalm 78 67 Context

Psalm 78 is a "Maskil," a didactic poem intended to instruct and remind the people of Israel's long history with God. It chronicles God's faithfulness from the Exodus through the Judges period, contrasting it with Israel's repeated rebellion, idolatry, and lack of faith. The psalm emphasizes the severe consequences of their disobedience. Verses 60-64 detail God's judgment, specifically His abandonment of the tabernacle at Shiloh and the capture of the Ark of the Covenant by the Philistines. Following a period of apparent inaction (v. 65-66, where God "awakes"), verse 67 explains God's decision not to restore His presence to the northern territories represented by Joseph and Ephraim. This sets the stage for the pivotal shift in the following verses (68-72), where God explicitly chooses the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion as His permanent dwelling, and David as His shepherd-king. Historically, this corresponds to the end of the Judges period and the rise of the united monarchy under David.

Psalm 78 67 Word analysis

• Moreover, he rejected (וַיִּמְאַס - wa·yīm·’as): The Hebrew verb מָאַס (ma'as) is strong, meaning "to reject," "to despise," "to loathe," or "to cast off." It denotes a deliberate, conclusive act of repudiation by God. The initial conjunction (waw) links this divine action to the preceding narrative of Israel's faithlessness and the subsequent abandonment of Shiloh. It highlights God's righteous judgment and sovereignty.
• the tent of Joseph (בְּאֹהֶל יוֹסֵף - bĕ’ōhel yōsēp̄):
  • "Tent" (אֹהֶל - ohel): Here refers to the Tabernacle, God's portable sanctuary and dwelling place, which was permanently situated at Shiloh (in the territory of Ephraim) during much of the Judges period (Joshua 18:1; 1 Samuel 1:3).
  • "Joseph" (יוֹסֵף - yoseph): Represents his descendants, specifically the powerful and prominent tribe of Ephraim. Ephraim was the dominant tribe among the northern tribes, known for its numerical strength and historical leadership through figures like Joshua. Thus, "the tent of Joseph" signifies the cultic center associated with and overseen by the house of Joseph, specifically in Ephraim's territory.
• and did not choose (וְאֶת... לֹא בָחָר - wə’eṯ... lō’ bāḥar): This phrase functions in poetic parallelism with "he rejected," emphasizing God's deliberate and sovereign act of non-selection. The negative choice ("did not choose") reinforces the prior "rejection," underscoring that this was not merely passive but an active bypassing of what was once favored.
• the tribe of Ephraim (אֶת שֵׁבֶט אֶפְרַיִם - ’eṯ šēḇeṭ ’ep̄rayim):
  • "Tribe" (שֵׁבֶט - shevet): Refers to the ancestral grouping of people within Israel.
  • "Ephraim" (אֶפְרַיִם - Ephrayim): The second son of Joseph, whom Jacob had blessed as the elder over Manasseh, promising a multitude of nations (Genesis 48:19). Ephraim indeed became a dominant force, often symbolizing the entire northern kingdom in later prophecies (e.g., in Hosea). The psalm records God's decisive act of turning away from this once-favored and leading tribe.
• Word Group Analysis: "rejected the tent of Joseph, and did not choose the tribe of Ephraim" This poetic couplet emphasizes the comprehensive nature of God's rejection. It applies both to the spiritual center (the tabernacle at Shiloh) and the political/tribal entity (Ephraim) associated with that region. It underscores that God's decision was absolute and encompassed all aspects of Ephraim's former preeminence in the religious and national life of Israel. God was dismantling the old arrangement and paving the way for a new, divinely chosen structure.

Psalm 78 67 Bonus section

The strong language of rejection and non-choice against Ephraim in this Psalm serves a crucial theological and historical purpose. It subtly but powerfully counters any lingering Northern Israelite (Ephraimite) claim to religious or political primacy. Given that Shiloh was a major religious center for centuries, and Ephraim a leading tribe, this psalm legitimizes the shift of power and divine favor from the north to the south, to Judah and the Davidic monarchy centered in Jerusalem. It reframes past history through the lens of divine election, demonstrating that God's choices are not bound by previous dispensations or human expectations, but by His sovereign will and the people's faithfulness. This rejection of Ephraim's primacy thus paves the way for the divinely ordained line of David, from which the Messiah would eventually come.

Psalm 78 67 Commentary

Psalm 78:67 marks a profound turning point in God's dealing with His people Israel, demonstrating His sovereign right to choose and His righteous judgment based on persistent unfaithfulness. The preceding verses of Psalm 78 detail the chronic rebellion and idolatry of Ephraim and the other tribes who, despite witnessing God's miracles, continually provoked Him. Consequently, God rejected Shiloh, the ancient place where the Tabernacle stood, because the people associated with it (predominantly Ephraim) had desecrated its purpose through their sin. This was not an arbitrary abandonment but a divine consequence for their actions.

By explicitly stating He "rejected the tent of Joseph" (referring to Shiloh, the spiritual hub in Ephraim's territory) and "did not choose the tribe of Ephraim," the psalmist declares God's deliberate removal of favor and prominence from the northern tribes. Ephraim, once the leading tribe blessed by Jacob and influential through figures like Joshua, was now set aside. This rejection was integral to God's larger, unfolding redemptive plan, which led to the selection of Judah, the establishment of Jerusalem as the capital and religious center, and the eternal covenant with David's line. God's disciplinary actions, even a seeming rejection, always serve His greater purpose of establishing a people faithful to Him, ultimately fulfilled in Christ who comes from the tribe of Judah.