OPHRAH ŏf’ rə (עָפְרָ֑ה, B; ̓Αφρα, A; ̓Ιεφραθα, fawn). 1. A member of the tribe of Judah, son of Meonothai (1 Chron 4:14).

2. A city of Benjamin listed with other cities generally NE of Jerusalem (Josh 18:23). It was in the area of Michmash, for from there one of three raiding parties of Philistines, prior to battle with Saul, headed toward it (1 Sam 13:17, 18). Since the other two parties went W and E respectively, and Saul was S at Gibeah, it is likely that Ophrah lay to the N. Ophrah is commonly identified with Ephon, associated in 2 Chronicles 13:19 with Bethel; and also with Ephraim, associated in 2 Samuel 13:23 (cf. John 11:54) with Baal-hazor (identified with a high mountain, Jebel el-’Asur, nine m. NNE of Bethel). Jerome identifies Ophrah with Ephraim and places it five Rom. m. E of Bethel. These data point to modern et-Taiyibeh, a conical hill some five m. NE of Beitin (Bethel) and six m. NNE of Mukhmas (Michmash), as the site. The name Taiyibeh is a regular Arab. replacement for the name Ophrah or Ephron. Negatively, however, this site seems too far N to have been included in Benjaminite territory, which leaves the matter still uncertain.

3. A city of Manasseh, the home of Gideon, son of Joash of the family of Abiezer (Josh 17:2; Judg 6:11, 15, 24, 34; 8:32; 1 Chron 7:18). Here God called Gideon to lead in war against annually-invading Midianites (Judg 6:1, 11:22); Gideon, at God’s command, destroyed a local Baal high-place (6:25-27); Gideon first assembled his own Abiezrite family for his army before requesting aid from others (6:34, 35); Gideon unwisely made a gold ephod from the spoils of victory over Midian (8:27); Gideon died and was buried in the grave of his father (8:32); and here Abimelech, son of Gideon, slew seventy of his brothers, possible rivals to his claim of kingship (9:5).

The location is uncertain. Another et-Taiyibeh, located eight m. NW of Bethshan, commends itself, for it is in the vicinity of the well of Harod and hill of Moreh (7:1) between which Gideon defeated the enemy. However, it is located in Issachar rather than Manasseh. Other suggested sites are Fer’ata, W of Gerizim; Tell el-Far’ah, seven m. NW of Shechem; and Silet ed-Dahr, thirteen m. N of Shechem, but for none is evidence convincing.

Bibliography E. G. Kraeling, Bible Atlas (1956), 154; J. Simons, GTT (1959), 30, 174, 334.