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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And they journey from Bethel, and there is yet a kibrath of land before entering Ephratha, and Rachel beareth, and is sharply pained in her bearing;
and Rachel dieth, and is buried in the way to Ephratha, which is Bethlehem,
And I -- in my coming in from Padan-Aram Rachel hath died by me in the land of Canaan, in the way, while yet a kibrath of land to enter Ephrata, and I bury her there in the way of Ephrata, which is Bethlehem.'
And the name of the man is Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites from Beth-Lehem-Judah; and they come into the fields of Moab, and are there.
And the men of Kirjath-Jearim come and bring up the ark of Jehovah, and bring it in unto the house of Abinadab, in the height, and Eleazar his son they have sanctified to keep the ark of Jehovah.
And they cause the ark of God to ride on a new cart, and lift it up from the house of Abinadab, which is in the height, and Uzzah and Ahio sons of Abinadab are leading the new cart; and they lift it up from the house of Abinadab, which is in the height, with the ark of God, and Ahio is going before the ark,
These were sons of Caleb son of Hur, first-born of Ephrathah: Shobal father of Kirjath-Jearim,
And thou, Beth-Lehem Ephratah, Little to be among the chiefs of Judah! From thee to Me he cometh forth -- to be ruler in Israel, And his comings forth are of old, From the days of antiquity.
And thou, Beth-Lehem, the land of Judah, thou art by no means the least among the leaders of Judah, for out of thee shall come one leading, who shall feed 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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And they journey from Bethel, and there is yet a kibrath of land before entering Ephratha, and Rachel beareth, and is sharply pained in her bearing;
and Rachel dieth, and is buried in the way to Ephratha, which is Bethlehem,
And I -- in my coming in from Padan-Aram Rachel hath died by me in the land of Canaan, in the way, while yet a kibrath of land to enter Ephrata, and I bury her there in the way of Ephrata, which is Bethlehem.'
And after the death of Hezron in Caleb-Ephratah, then the wife of Hezron, Abijah, even beareth to him Asshur, father of Tekoa.
These were sons of Caleb son of Hur, first-born of Ephrathah: Shobal father of Kirjath-Jearim,
and Penuel is father of Gedor, and Ezer father of Hushah. These are sons of Hur, first-born of Ephratah, father of Beth-Lehem.
And thou, Beth-Lehem Ephratah, Little to be among the chiefs of Judah! From thee to Me he cometh forth -- to be ruler in Israel, And his comings forth are of old, From the days of antiquity.
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
And they journey from Bethel, and there is yet a kibrath of land before entering Ephratha, and Rachel beareth, and is sharply pained in her bearing;
and Rachel dieth, and is buried in the way to Ephratha, which is Bethlehem,
And I -- in my coming in from Padan-Aram Rachel hath died by me in the land of Canaan, in the way, while yet a kibrath of land to enter Ephrata, and I bury her there in the way of Ephrata, which is Bethlehem.'
And all the people who are in the gate say -- also the elders -- 'Witnesses! Jehovah make the woman who is coming in unto thy house as Rachel and as Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and do thou virtuously in Ephrathah, and proclaim the Name in Beth-Lehem;
These were sons of Caleb son of Hur, first-born of Ephrathah: Shobal father of Kirjath-Jearim,
and Penuel is father of Gedor, and Ezer father of Hushah. These are sons of Hur, first-born of Ephratah, father of Beth-Lehem.
And thou, Beth-Lehem Ephratah, Little to be among the chiefs of Judah! From thee to Me he cometh forth -- to be ruler in Israel, And his comings forth are of old, From the days of antiquity.