Bible Dictionary
Ephai
Ephai was a Netophathite whose sons were among the military leaders remaining in Judah after the Babylonian deportation. They gathered at Mizpah with Gedaliah and were later killed with him by Ishmael.
Definition
Ephai was a Netophathite whose sons were among the captains of the forces remaining in Judah after the deportation to Babylon.
Biblical Usage
Ephai’s sons assembled at Mizpah with Gedaliah, governor of the scattered Jews, and were slain with him by Ishmael, son of Nethaniah.
Historical Background
The events belong to the period after the Babylonian deportation, when military leaders remained among the people left in Judah.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(gloomy), a Netophathite, whose sons were among the “captains of the forces” left in Judah after the deportation to Babylon. (Jeremiah 40:8; 41:3) comp. Jere 40:13 (B.C. 588.)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>e'-fi, e'-fa-i (`ephay, in Qere, `ophai, in Kethibh; Iophe, Ophe, "gloomy," "obscuring," in the Septuagint, Septuagint):</p><p>"The Netophathite," whose sons were numbered among "the captains of the forces" left in Judah after the carrying away to Babylon (Jer 40 Jer 47). His sons assembled at Mizpah with Gedaliah, governor of the scattered Jews, and with him were slain by Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah (Jet 41:3).</p>