Caleb-Ephratah

Ca'leb-Eph'ratah, a name occurring only in the present text of 1Ch 2:24, as that of a place where Hezron died (בּכָלֵב אֶפרָתָה, be-Kaleb' Ephra'thah, in Caleb to Ephrath). But no such place is elsewhere referred to, and the composition of the name is a most ungrammatical one. Again, neither Hezron or his son could well have given any name to a place in Egypt, the land of their bondage, nor did Hezron probably die, or his son live, elsewhere than in Egypt. The present text therefore seems to be corrupt, and the reading which the Sept. and Vulg. suggest (῏ηλθεν Χαλὲβ εἰς Ε᾿φραθά, ingressus est Caleb ad Ephratha) is probably the true one, בָּא כָלֵב אֶפרָתָה, meaning either "Caleb came to Ephrath," i.e. BethlehemEphratah), or, still better, "Caleb came in unto Ephrah." The whole information given seems to be that Hezron had two wives, the first, whose name is not given, the mother of Jerahmeel, Ram, and Caleb or Chelubai; the second, Abiah, the daughter of Machir, whom he married when sixty years old, and who bare him Segub and Ashur. Also that Caleb had two wives, Azubah, the first, apparently the same as Jerioth, and Ephrah, the second, the mother of Hur; and that this second marriage of Caleb did not take place till after Hezron's death. SEE NEGEB-CALEB.