במדבר, פרק כ״ו, פסוק ל״ה

The census of the Israelite tribes carefully maps out the next generation preparing to enter the Promised Land. Within this record, the lineage of the tribe of Ephraim highlights three primary families descending from his sons: Shuthelah, Becher, and Tahan [שטיינזלץ]. The family line of the first son, Shuthelah, actually branched out into two distinct groups. One family retained his name, while the other took the name of his son, Eran [חזקוני].

The introduction to the tribe of Ephraim carries a subtle historical foreshadowing. It hints at a future leader, Jeroboam, who would emerge from Ephraim and create two golden calves, presenting them to the people with the declaration that "these" were their gods. A striking parallel exists in the census record for the tribe of Dan, which opens with the exact same introductory language. This shared phrasing serves as a quiet reminder that one of those two golden calves would eventually be set up in the territory of Dan [בעל הטורים].