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Easton's Bible Dictionary
a fawn.
(1) 1 Chronicles 4:14 .
(2) A city of Benjamin ( Joshua 18:23 ); probably identical with Ephron ( 2 Chronicles
13:19 ) and Ephraim ( John 11:54 ).
(3) "Of the Abi-ezrites." A city of Manasseh, 6 miles south-west of Shechem, the
residence of Gideon ( Judges 6:11 ; 8:27 , 8:32 ). After his great victory over
the Midianites, he slew at this place the captive kings ( Judges 8:18 - 21 ).
He then assumed the function of high priest, and sought to make Ophrah what Shiloh
should have been. This thing "became a snare" to Gideon and his house. After Gideon's
death his family resided here till they were put to death by Abimelech ( Judges
9:5 ). It is identified with Ferata.
Hitchcock's Dictionary of Bible Names
dust; lead; a fawn
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(fawn).
(1) A town in the tribe of Benjamin. ( Joshua 18:23 ; 1 Samuel 13:17 ) Jerome
places it five miles east of Bethel. It is perhaps et-Taiyibeh , a small village
on the crown of a conspicuous hill, four miles east-northeast of Beitin (Bethel).
(2) More fully, OPHRAH OF THE ABIEZRITES, the native place of Gideon ( Judges
6:11 ) and the scene of his exploits against Baal, ver. ( Judges 6:24 ) his residence
after his accession to power ch. ( Judges 9:5 ) and the place of his burial in
the family sepulchre. ch. ( Judges 8:32 ) It was probably In Manasseh, ch. ( Judges
6:15 ) and not far distant from Shechem, ( Judges 9:1 , 9:5 )
(3) The son of Meonothai. ( 1 Chronicles 4:14 )
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
of'-ra ('ophrah; Codex Vaticanus Aphra; Codex Alexandrinus
Iephratha, etc.):
(1) A town in the territory allotted to Benjamin named between Parah and Chephar-ammoni
(Joshua 18:23).
It is mentioned again in 1 Samuel 13:17. The Philistines who were encamped at
Michmash sent out marauding bands, one of which went westward, another eastward,
down "the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness"; the third "turned unto the
way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual." This must have been northward,
as Saul commanded the passage to the South. Eusebius, Onomasticon places it 5
Roman miles East of Bethel. A site which comes near to fulfilling these conditions
is eT-Taiyebeh, which stands on a conical hill some 5 miles Northeast of Beitin.
This is possibly identical with "Ephron" (2 Chronicles 13:19), and "Ephraim" (Jn.
11:54).
(2) A city in the tribal lot of Manasseh West of Jordan.
It is mentioned only in connection with Gideon, whose native place it was, and
with his son Abimelech (Judges 6:11, etc.). It was, indeed, family property, belonging
to Joash the Abiezrite, the father of Gideon. It was apparently not far from the
plain of Esdraelon (Judges 6:33), so that Gideon and his kinsmen smarted under
the near presence of the oppressing Midianites. Manasseh, of course, as bordering
on the southern edge of the plain, was in close touch with the invaders. At Ophrah,
Gideon reared his altar to Yahweh, and made thorough cleansing of the instruments
of idolatry. After his great victory, he set up here the golden ephod made from
the spoils of the enemy, which proved a snare to himself and to his house (Judges
8:27). Here he was finally laid to rest. It was at Ophrah that Abimelech, aspiring
to the kingdom, put to death upon one stone three score and ten of his brethren,
as possible rivals, Jotham alone escaping alive (Judges 9:5). Apparently the mother
of Abimelech belonged to Shechem; this established a relationship with that town,
his connection with which does not therefore mean that Ophrah was near it.
No quite satisfactory identification has yet been suggested. Conder (PEFS, 1876,
1971) quotes the Samaritan Chronicle as identifying Ferata, which is 6 miles West
of Nablus, with an ancient Ophra, "and the one that suggests itself as most probably
identical is Ophrah of the Abiezerite." But this seems too far to the South.
(3) A man of the tribe of Judah, son of Meonothai (1 Chronicles 4:14).
W. Ewing
Tags:
benjamin town, bible commentary, bible history, bible reference, bible study, define, ferata, home of gideon, ophrah
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