Ephai
Peopleâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
Ephai, a Netophathite, commanded forces remaining in Judah after the Babylonian deportation. He gathered with Gedaliah, the appointed governor, at Mizpah, where both were assassinated by Ishmael, son of Nethaniah.
What is the meaning of Ephai in the Bible?
Ephai, a Netophathite, commanded forces remaining in Judah after the Babylonian deportation. He gathered with Gedaliah, the appointed governor, at Mizpah, where both were assassinated by Ishmael, son of Nethaniah.
SIGNIFICANCE
This account clarifies the political instability and internal factionalism that characterized the brief period of Judean autonomy following the fall of Jerusalem, illustrating the violent power struggles described in the biblical narrative.
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Source Attribution & Provenance
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.