ephratah Summary and Overview

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 (1 Chr. 2:19, 50). (2.) The ancient name of Bethlehem in Judah (Gen. 35:16, 19; 48:7). In Ruth 1:2 it is called "Bethlehem-Judah," but the inhabitants are called "Ephrathites;" in Micah 5:2, "Bethlehem-Ephratah;" in Matt. 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" (1 Sam. 7:1; compare 2 Sam. 6:3, 4).

EPH'RATAH (fruitful), Caleb's wife, 1 Chr 2:50; 1 Chr 4:4; called Ephrath in 1 Chr 2:19.

1. Second wife of Caleb, Hezron's son; mother of Hur; grandmother of Caleb the spy (1 Chronicles 2:19,(1 Chronicles 2:24),1 Chronicles 2:50; 1 Chronicles 4:4). 2. The name of Bethlehem Judah in Jacob's time (Genesis 35:16; Genesis 35:19; Genesis 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 Micah 5:2 it is called Bethlehem Ephraim. As Bethlehem means "house of bread," so Ephraim "fruitful," the region abounding in grain. In Psalm 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.