EPHRATH (Place)

1. Town in the Judean hill country later named Bethlehem. It was on the road to Ephrath that Rachel died while giving birth to Benjamin (Gn 35:16-19). This town was the home of Naomi’s family, who identified themselves as Ephrathites (Ru 1:2). Ephrath was the dwelling place of Ruth and Boaz (Ru 4:11), the childhood home of David (1 Sm 17:12), and the announced birthplace of the Messiah (Mi 5:2).

See also Bethlehem #1.

2. District in which the city of Kiriath-jearim was situated and where the ark of the covenant was kept (Ps 132:6).