Reference: Ephratah
Easton
fruitful. (1.) The second wife of Caleb, the son of Hezron, mother of Hur, and grandmother of Caleb, who was one of those that were sent to spy the land (1Ch 2:19,50).
(2.) The ancient name of Bethlehem in Judah (Ge 35:16,19; 48:7). In Ru 1:2 it is called "Bethlehem-Judah," but the inhabitants are called "Ephrathites;" in Mic 5:2, "Bethlehem-Ephratah;" in Mt 2:6, "Bethlehem in the land of Judah." In Ps 132:6 it is mentioned as the place where David spent his youth, and where he heard much of the ark, although he never saw it till he found it long afterwards at Kirjath-jearim; i.e., the "city of the wood," or the "forest-town" (1Sa 7:1; comp. 2Sa 6:3-4).
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Then brake they up from Beth-el, and it came to pass when there was yet a stretch of country, to enter into Ephrath, that Rachel was in childbirth, and had hard-labour in her child-birth.
But, as for me, when I came in from Padan, Rachel died by me, in the land of Canaan, in the way, while yet there was a stretch of country to come into Ephrath, - so I buried her there in the way to Ephrath, the same, is Bethlehem.
And, the name of the man, was Elimelech, and, the name of his wife, Naomi, and, the name of his two sons, Mahlon and Chilion - Ephrathites out of Bethlehem-judah, - so they came into the country of Moab, and remained there.
Then came the men of Kiriath-jearim and fetched up the ark of Yahweh, and brought it into the house of Abinadab, in the hill, - and, Eleazar his son, hallowed they, to guard the ark of Yahweh.
So they carried the ark of God in a new waggon, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, who was in Gibeah, - and, Uzza and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were driving the new waggon. So they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was in Gibeah, with the ark of God, - and, Ahio, was going before the ark.
These, were the sons of Caleb, sons of Hur, firstborn of Ephrathah, - Shobal, the father of Kiriath-jearim;
Thou, therefore, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though, little, to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee, shall Mine come forth, to be ruler in Israel, - whose comings forth, have been from of old, from the days of age-past time.
And, thou, Bethlehem, land of Judah, by no means least, art thou, among the governors of Judah, - For, out of thee, shall one come forth to govern, Who shall shepherd my people Israel.
Fausets
1. Second wife of Caleb, Hezron's son; mother of Hur; grandmother of Caleb the spy (1Ch 2:19,(1Ch 2:24),1Ch 2:50; 4:4).
2. The name of Bethlehem Judah in Jacob's time (Ge 35:16,19; 48:7). Whence probably Ephraim the mother of Hur took her name, being a native and owner of the town and district; which accounts for his being called "the father of Bethlehem." In Mic 5:2 it is called Bethlehem Ephraim. As Bethlehem means "house of bread," so Ephraim "fruitful," the region abounding in grain. In Ps 132:6 the sense is: "we (being) in Ephraim (i.e. while David was still a youth at Bethlehem) heard of it," namely, the ark, as a mere matter of hearsay, so neglected was the ark then while in the forest town of Kirjath Jearim.
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Then brake they up from Beth-el, and it came to pass when there was yet a stretch of country, to enter into Ephrath, that Rachel was in childbirth, and had hard-labour in her child-birth.
But, as for me, when I came in from Padan, Rachel died by me, in the land of Canaan, in the way, while yet there was a stretch of country to come into Ephrath, - so I buried her there in the way to Ephrath, the same, is Bethlehem.
And, after the death of Hezron, Caleb entered Ephrathah, - and, the wife of Hezron, was Abiah, who bare him Ashur, father of Tekoa.
These, were the sons of Caleb, sons of Hur, firstborn of Ephrathah, - Shobal, the father of Kiriath-jearim;
and Penuel the father of Gedor, and Ezer, the father of Hushah. These, are the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah, the father of Bethlehem.
Thou, therefore, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though, little, to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee, shall Mine come forth, to be ruler in Israel, - whose comings forth, have been from of old, from the days of age-past time.
Morish
Eph'ratah, Ephrath. Eph'rath
1. Ancient name of Bethlehem-judah. Ge 35:16,19; 48:7; Ru 4:11; Ps 132:6; Mic 5:2.
2. Caleb's second wife and mother of Hur. 1Ch 2:19,50: cf. also 1Ch 4:4.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Then brake they up from Beth-el, and it came to pass when there was yet a stretch of country, to enter into Ephrath, that Rachel was in childbirth, and had hard-labour in her child-birth.
But, as for me, when I came in from Padan, Rachel died by me, in the land of Canaan, in the way, while yet there was a stretch of country to come into Ephrath, - so I buried her there in the way to Ephrath, the same, is Bethlehem.
Then said all the people who were in the gate, and the elders - Witnesses!, - Yahweh grant the woman who is coming into thy house, to be as Rachel, and as Leah, which two of them did build the house of Israel. Do thou bravely, then, in Ephrathah, and proclaim thou a name in Bethlehem,
These, were the sons of Caleb, sons of Hur, firstborn of Ephrathah, - Shobal, the father of Kiriath-jearim;
and Penuel the father of Gedor, and Ezer, the father of Hushah. These, are the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah, the father of Bethlehem.
Thou, therefore, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though, little, to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee, shall Mine come forth, to be ruler in Israel, - whose comings forth, have been from of old, from the days of age-past time.