Ephratah

Ephrath, also spelled Ephratah, is the old name of Bethlehem. Rachel dies on the road to it while giving birth to Benjamin, and Jacob remembers that sorrow near the end of his life. In Ruth, the elders bless Boaz, hoping he will be famous in Bethlehem. A psalm recalls David’s longing to find a dwelling for the LORD: “Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah.” The name also belongs to a family line, tied to Caleb and Hur. Start with Genesis 35:16-20, then Ruth 4.

8 verses

Genesis

Genesis 35:16

And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.

Genesis 35:19

And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.

Genesis 48:7

And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem.

Ruth

Ruth 4:11

And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:

1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 2:19

And when Azubah was dead, Caleb took unto him Ephrath, which bare him Hur.

1 Chronicles 2:50

These were the sons of Caleb the son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah; Shobal the father of Kirjathjearim,

1 Chronicles 4:4

And Penuel the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These are the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah, the father of Bethlehem.

Psalms

Psalms 132:6

Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood.

From Easton's Bible Dictionary

Matthew George Easton, 1897

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; comp. 2 Sam. 6:3, 4).

Read the full entry

From Smith's Bible Dictionary

William Smith, 1884

(fruitful).

(1.) Second wife of Caleb the son of Hezron, mother of Hur and grandmother of Caleb the spy, according to (1 Chronicles 2:19,50) and probably 1Chr 2:24 and 1Chr 4:4 (B.C. 1695.)

(2.) The ancient name of Bethlehem-judah. (Genesis 35:16,19; 48:7)