Ephratah: 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 Chronicles 2:19,50)
2. The ancient name of Bethlehem in Judah
(Genesis 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
(Matthew 2:6) "Bethlehem in the land of Judah." In
(Psalms 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 Samuel 7:1) comp.
(2 Samuel 6:3,4)
