Bible Encyclopedias
Ephron

The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia

1. Son of Zohar the Hittite; possessor of a field called "Machpelah," which he sold to Abraham for 400 shekels (Genesis 23:8, 25:9, 49:29). The Talmudists place Ephron's conduct in a poor light, alleging that after having promised Abraham the field for nothing, he accepted from him 400 shekels in good money (Bek. 20; B. M. 87; B. B. 89).
2. One of the places won by Abijah, King of Judah, from Jeroboam, King of Israel (2 Chronicles 1319). But the "ḳere"is "Ephrain" ().
3. Mount Ephron, a district on the northern frontier of Judah, between Naphtoah and Kirjathjearim (Joshua 15:9).
4. A city on the east of the Jordan, taken and destroyed by Judas Maccabeus in his expedition to Gilead (I Macc. 5:46-51; II Macc. 12:27; Josephus, "Ant." 12:8, § 5).