Difference between revisions of "Ophrah"

<p> '''1.''' In [[Benjamin]] (&nbsp;Joshua 18:23; &nbsp;1 Samuel 13:17). [[Jerome]] makes it five miles E. of Bethel. Probably the same as Ephron. (See [[Ephron]] ; [[Ephraim]] ''Taiyibeh'' is now on its site. </p> <p> '''2.''' [[Ophrah]] of the Abiezrites, Gideon's place of birth (&nbsp;Judges 6:11-24; &nbsp;Judges 8:32; &nbsp;Judges 9:5), residence, and burial. He put the ephod here which he had adorned with the Midianites' gold, and to it all [[Israel]] resorted in pilgrimage for worship, a spiritual "whoring" (&nbsp;Judges 8:27). In Manasseh, not far from [[Shechem]] (&nbsp;Judges 9:1; &nbsp;Judges 9:5). Now Erfai (Van de Velde); Erafa (Schwartz). [[Epher]] a head of [[Manasseh]] probably gave the name (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 5:24), migrating there with [[Abiezer]] and Shechem (&nbsp;Numbers 26:30; &nbsp;Joshua 17:2). </p> <p> '''3.''' &nbsp;1 Chronicles 4:14, "Meonothai begat ''(Or [[Else]] Founded)'' Ophrah" of Judah. </p>

<p> [[Ophrah]] ( ''Ŏf'Rah'' ), ''Female Fawn.'' 1. A town in Benjamin toward which an invading company of [[Philistines]] went. &nbsp;Joshua 18:23; &nbsp;1 Samuel 13:17. Some suppose it is identical with [[Ephrain]] or Ephron, &nbsp;2 Chronicles 13:19, and with the city of Ephraim, to which our Lord retired after raising Lazarus. &nbsp;John 11:54 [[Eusebius]] and Jerome located it about five Roman miles east of Bethel. 2. Ophrah of the Abi-ezerite. &nbsp;Judges 6:11; &nbsp;Judges 6:24. This was the place where [[Gideon]] saw the angel, erected an altar, and where he was buried. &nbsp;Judges 8:27; &nbsp;Judges 8:32. Here [[Abimelech]] slew 70 of his kindred, and the town appears to have been near Shechem, in the territory of Manasseh. &nbsp;Judges 9:1; &nbsp;Judges 9:5-6; &nbsp;Judges 9:15. The [[Palestine]] Memoirs suggest as its site the village of Ferata, near Shechem. </p>

<li> "Of the Abi-ezrites." A city of Manasseh, 6 miles south-west of Shechem, the residence of Gideon (&nbsp;Judges 6:11; &nbsp;8:27,32 ). After his great victory over the Midianites, he slew at this place the captive kings (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 (&nbsp;Judges 9:5 ). It is identified with Ferata. <div> <p> '''Copyright Statement''' These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton [[M.A., DD]]  Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by [[Thomas]] Nelson, 1897. Public Domain. </p> <p> '''Bibliography Information''' Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Ophrah'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/o/ophrah.html. 1897. </p> </div> </li>

<p> ''''' of´ra ''''' ( עפרה , <i> ''''' ‛ophrāh ''''' </i> ; Codex Vaticanus Ἀφρά , <i> ''''' Aphrá ''''' </i> ; Codex Alexandrinus Ἰεφραθά , <i> ''''' Iephrathá ''''' </i> , etc.): </p> <p> (1) A town in the territory allotted to Benjamin named between [[Parah]] and Chephar-ammoni (&nbsp;Joshua 18:23 ). It is mentioned again in &nbsp;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, <i> Onomasticon </i> places it 5 Roman miles East of Bethel. A site which comes near to fulfilling these conditions is <i> ''''' eṭ ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' Ṭaiyebeh ''''' </i> , which stands on a conical hill some 5 miles Northeast of <i> ''''' Beitı̄n ''''' </i> . This is possibly identical with "Ephron" (&nbsp;2 Chronicles 13:19 ), and "Ephraim" (&nbsp;John 11:54 ). </p> <p> (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 (&nbsp;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]] (&nbsp;Judges 6:33 f), 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 (&nbsp; 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 (&nbsp;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. </p> <p> No quite satisfactory identification has yet been suggested. Conder ( <i> Pefs </i> , 1876,1971) quotes the <i> [[Samaritan]] Chronicle </i> as identifying <i> ''''' Ferata ''''' </i> , which &nbsp; Isaiah 6 miles West of <i> ''''' Nāblus ''''' </i> , 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. </p> <p> (3) A man of the tribe of Judah, son of [[Meonothai]] (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 4:14 ). </p>