Ephron

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Ephron . 1 . The Hittite from whom Abraham purchased the field or plot of ground in which was the cave of Machpelah (  Genesis 23:1-20 ). The purchase is described with great particularity; and the transactions between Ephron and Abraham are conducted with an elaborate courtesy characteristic of Oriental proceedings. Ephron received 400 shekels’ weight of silver (23:15): coined money apparently did not exist at that time. If we compare the sale of the site with other instances (  Genesis 33:19 ,   1 Kings 16:24 ), Ephron seems to have made a good bargain. 2 . A mountain district, containing cities, on the border of Judah, between Nephtoah and Kiriath-jearim (  Joshua 15:9 ). The ridge W. of Bethlehem seems intended. 3 . A strong fortress in the W. part of Bashan between Ashteroth-karnaim and Bethshean ( 1Ma 5:46 ff., 2Ma 12:27 ). The site is unknown. 4 . In   2 Chronicles 13:19 RV [Note: Revised Version.] reads Ephron for AV [Note: Authorized Version.] Ephrain . The place referred to is probably the Ephraim of   John 11:54 . See Ephraim (city), No. 2 .

Easton's Bible Dictionary

A mountain range which formed one of the landmarks on the north boundary of the tribe of Judah ( Joshua 15:9 ), probably the range on the west side of the Wady Beit-Hanina.

Copyright Statement These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.

Bibliography Information Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Ephron'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/e/ephron.html. 1897.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Genesis 23:8-20 Genesis 25:9-10 Genesis 49:30-33 Genesis 50:13 2 Joshua 15:9 2 Chronicles 13:19 Joshua 18:23 1 Samuel 13:17 2 Samuel 13:23 John 11:54

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Eph'ron. (Fawn-Like). The son of Zochar, a Hittite, from whom Abraham bought the field and cave of Machpelah.  Genesis 23:8-17;  Genesis 25:9;  Genesis 49:29-30;  Genesis 50:13. (B.C. 1860).

Morrish Bible Dictionary

Son of Zohar, a Hittite, and from whom Abraham bought the field of Mamre, containing the cave of Machpelah.  Genesis 23:8-17;  Genesis 25:9;  Genesis 49:29,30;  Genesis 50:13 .

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A Hittite, dwelling at Hebron in the time of Abraham,  Genesis 23:1 -  20 . The charming account of his transaction with Abraham, and the frequent subsequent mention of his name, point him out as a prince in the land.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Zohar's son, a Hittite; owner of the field facing Mature or Hebron, and the cave in the field. Abraham bought it from Ephron for 400 shekels of silver (Genesis 23; 25; 49).

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Hebrews Ephron', עֶפְרוֹן , signif. doubtful; Sept. Ε᾿φρών, Vulg. Ephron), the name of a man and also of two or three places.

1. The son of Zohar, a Hittite; the owner of a field which lay facing Mamre or Hebron, and of the cave contained therein, which Abraham bought from him for 400 shekels of silver ( Genesis 23:8-17;  Genesis 25:9;  Genesis 49:29-30;  Genesis 1:1-31;  Genesis 13:1-18). B.C. 2027. By Josephus (Ant. 1:14) the name is given as Ephraim (Ε᾿φράιμος, and the purchase-money 40 shekels. (See Abraham).

2. The textual reading (but with initial א ) in the Masoretic Bible, and the marginal in the A.V. for EPHRAIM (See Ephraim) (q.v.), a city within the borders of the kingdom of Israel ( 2 Chronicles 13:19). 3. A mountain, the "cities" of which formed one of the landmarks on the northern boundary of the tribe of Judah ( Joshua 15:9), between the "water of Nephtoah" and Kirjath-jearim. As these latter are with great probability identified with Ain Yalo and Kuriet el-enab, Mount Ephron is probably the elevated region on the south side of wady Beit-Hanina (traditional valley of the Terebinth), near its junction with wady Ain- Haniyeh or wady el-Werd. This seems to be the "high plain" indicated by Schwarz (Palest. page 96) as appropriately called Mount Ephron, in comparison with the deep valleys adjoining. The "cities of Mount Ephron" may then be denoted by such ruined sites as el-Sus and Mar-Zakaria in this vicinity.

4. A very strong city (πόλις μεγάλη ὀχυρά σφόδρα ) on the east of Jordan, between Carnaim (AshterothKarnaim) and Bethshean, attacked and demolished by Judas Maccabaeus ( 1 Maccabees 5:46-52;  2 Maccabees 12:27-28; Josephus, Ant. 12:8, 5). From the description in these two passages it appears to have been situated in a defile or valley, and to have completely occupied 'the pass. It was possibly near the outlet of the Jabbok into the Jordan. Kildens conjectures (Landes, Kunde Von Palistina, Berl. 1817, page 75) that it was the present Kulat er-Rubud, a strong Saracenic castle on the top of a hill up the wady Rajib, and the residence of the chief of Jebel Ajlun (Burckhardt, Syria, page 266 sq.; Robinson, Researches, 2:121; 3:166).

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

E´phron, a Hittite residing in Hebron, who sold to Abraham the cave and field of Machpelah as a family sepulcher .