# I will lead them as they make their pleas

"Yahweh will lead them and will comfort them." Yahweh will lead them and they will be praying to Yahweh.

# I will be a Father to Israel, and Ephraim will be my firstborn

"I will be like a father to the people of Israel, and they will be like my firstborn child". "Ephraim" refers to "Israel."

# my firstborn

The firstborn had special honor and responsibility.