of Daroma.” Today it is generally considered identifiable with Khirbet Umm er-Ramamin, about nine miles (14.5 kilometers) to the N-NE of Beer-sheba.

EN-ROGEL

(En-roʹgel) [fuller’s spring].

A spring or well near Jerusalem that marked the boundary between Judah and Benjamin. (Josh. 15:7; 18:16) David’s spies Jonathan and Ahimaaz waited at En-rogel for intelligence concerning Absalom’s rebellion. (2 Sam. 17:17) Near here David’s other rebellious son Adonijah later held a feast to enlist support for his usurpation of the throne.—1 Ki. 1:9.

En-rogel is generally agreed to correspond with the modern Bir Ayyub, or Job’s well. It is located S of the SE corner of Jerusalem’s wall, at the foot of the eastern bank of the Kidron valley about 200 yards (183 meters) S of the junction with the Valley of Hinnom. The well is about 125 feet (38 meters) deep, the bottom half of which is in solid rock and the upper portion lined with stone. It reaches an underground stream or spring, which, after a rain, sometimes flows so abundantly as to raise the level of water to the surface.

EN-SHEMESH

(En-sheʹmesh) [spring of the sun].

A site on the boundary between the territorial inheritances of Benjamin and Judah. (Josh. 15:1, 7; 18:11, 17) It is generally identified with ʽAin el-Hod, about three miles (4.48 kilometers) E of Jerusalem, the last spring found on the Jerusalem-Jericho road before reaching the Jordan valley.

EN-TAPPUAH

(En-Tapʹpu·ah) [spring of Tappuah, or spring by the apple trees].

A spring by the city of Tappuah, used as a point of definition of the boundary between the inheritance of the tribe of Manasseh and that of Ephraim. (Josh. 17:7) The name may have also been used for the city of Tappuah itself. (Josh. 17:8) Some identify En-Tappuah with a spring near the city of Yasuf, to the S of which lies Tell Sheikh Abu Zarad, the suggested location of Tappuah.—See TAPPUAH No. 3.

EPAENETUS

(E·paeʹne·tus) [Gr., praised, praiseworthy].

A Christian in the congregation at Rome whom Paul mentions by name and to whom he sends personal greetings. (Rom. 16:5) Epaenetus is called “a first fruits of Asia.” Possibly he was contacted personally by Paul, since the household of Stephanus is similarly referred to as “the first fruits of Achaia,” and Paul baptized this household.—1 Cor. 1:16; 16:15.

EPAPHRAS

(Epʹa·phras; contraction of Epaphroditus).

A faithful minister of Christ who, by preaching the good news, acquainted the Colossians with the undeserved kindness of God, and thus very likely was instrumental in establishing the congregation at Colossae. At the time of Paul’s first imprisonment, Epaphras came to Rome, bringing an encouraging report in regard to the love and steadfastness of the Colossian congregation. (Col. 1:4-8) Evidently he remained in Rome, at least for a time, since Paul, in writing his letter to the Colossians, includes Epaphras’ greetings and assures them that this slave of Jesus Christ always exerts himself “in your behalf in his prayers, that you may finally stand complete and with firm conviction in all the will of God.” As testified by Paul, this beloved fellow slave also put forth great efforts in behalf of the brothers in Laodicea and Hierapolis. (Col. 4:12, 13) Then, too, in writing to Philemon, Paul conveys the greetings of Epaphras and refers to him as “my fellow captive in union with Christ.” (Philem. 23) Epaphras is not to be confused with Epaphroditus from Philippi.

EPAPHRODITUS

(E·paph·ro·diʹtus) [Gr., handsome, charming].

A trustworthy member of the congregation at Philippi, Macedonia, who was sent with a gift to Paul, then a prisoner at Rome (c. 60-61 C.E.). (Phil. 2:25; 4:18) While in Rome, Epaphroditus “fell sick nearly to the point of death; but God had mercy on him.” News of his sickness reached the Philippians and they, perhaps, made anxious inquiry. Since Epaphroditus was longing to see the Philippians and was distressed that they had learned about his illness, Paul considered it advisable to send Epaphroditus back quickly upon his recovery and entrusted him with his letter to the Philippian congregation. Paul encouraged the brothers to give Epaphroditus “the customary welcome in the Lord” and to “keep holding men of that sort dear.” For it had been on account of the Lord’s work that Epaphroditus had exposed himself to danger, coming quite near to death. (Phil. 2:25-30) Epaphroditus is not to be confused with the Epaphras from Colossse.

EPHAH, I

(eʹphah).

A dry measure equal to ten omers (Ex. 16:36) or to one-tenth of a homer. The ephah corresponded to the liquid bath measure and is therefore reckoned at .62 bushel (22 liters). (Ezek. 45:11) In the Scriptures, “ephah” is used with reference to an amount of flour (Lev. 5:11), barley (Ruth 2:17), roasted grain (1 Sam. 17:17) and wheat (Ezek. 45:13), and also to the container used for measuring an ephah. (Lev. 19:36; Amos 8:5) Zechariah 5:6-11 tells of an ephah measure that was covered with a circular lid of lead, and in which the woman “Wickedness” was confined.

EPHAH, II

(Eʹphah).

1. A son of Midian and a grandson of Abraham and Keturah. (Gen. 25:1, 2, 4; 1 Chron. 1:32, 33) Ephah’s descendants apparently had camels in great numbers.—Isa. 60:6.

2. Caleb’s concubine who bore to him three sons, Haran, Moza and Gazez.—1 Chron. 2:46.

3. Son of Jahdai of the tribe of Judah.—1 Chron. 2:3, 47.

EPHAI

(Eʹphai) [gloomy].

A Netophathite (Jer. 40:8) of the tribe of Judah (1 Chron. 2:50-54) whose sons were among the chiefs of the military forces who were not taken into Babylonian exile in 607 B.C.E. Ephai’s sons and other chiefs of the military forces and their men came to Gedaliah at Mizpah and he, in turn, swore to them that it would go well with them. (Jer. 40:7-9) Apparently Ishmael murdered the sons of Ephai when he killed Gedaliah.—Jer. 41:3.

EPHER

(Eʹpher) [young deer or gazelle].

1. The second-named son of Midian; a grandson of Abraham by his wife Keturah.—Gen. 25:2, 4; 1 Chron. 1:33.

2. A man of the tribe of Judah; the third-named son of Ezrah.—1 Chron. 4:1, 17.

3. One of the seven heads of the half tribe of Manasseh. These family heads are described as valiant, mighty men. Their descendants were unfaithful toward God, and therefore Jehovah allowed the king of Assyria to take them into exile.—1 Chron. 5:23-26.

EPHESDAMMIM

(Eʹphes·damʹmim) [perhaps, end or boundary of Dammim (blood)].

The camping site of the Philistines between Socoh and Azekah, from which point Goliath strode out to mock the battle lines of Israel. (1 Sam. 17:1, 4-10) Ephesdammim is apparently the same as Pas-dammim, mentioned at 1 Chronicles 11:13. Its location today is uncertain.

EPHESIANS, LETTER TO THE

A book of the Christian Greek Scriptures, written about 60-61 C.E. by the apostle Paul during his imprisonment in Rome. (Eph. 1:1; 3:1; 4:1; 6:20) It was carried to the congregation at Ephesus by Tychicus (Eph. 6:21, 22), whom Paul also used to deliver a letter to the Colossians. (Col. 4:7-9) Since the letter to the Colossians was written about the same time as Paul wrote to the Ephesian Christians, there are a number