Rama

(Matt 2:18 ), the Greek form of Ramah.

(1.) A city first mentioned in (Josh 18:25), near Gibeah of Benjamin. It was fortified by Baasha, king of Israel (1Kings 15:17-22; 2Chr 16:1-6). Asa, king of Judah, employed Benhadad the Syrian king to drive Baasha from this city (1Kings 15:18; 15:20). Isaiah (Isa 10:29) refers to it, and also Jeremiah, who was once a prisoner there among the other captives of Jerusalem when it was taken by Nebuchadnezzar (Jer 39:8 -12; 40:1). Rachel, whose tomb lies close to Bethlehem, is represented as weeping in Ramah (Jer 31:15 ) for her slaughtered children. This prophecy is illustrated and fulfilled in the re-awakening of Rachel's grief at the slaughter of the infants in Bethlehem (Matt 2:18 ). It is identified with the modern village of er-Ram, between Gibeon and Beeroth, about 5 miles due north of Jerusalem. (See SAMUEL)

(2.) A town identified with Rameh, on the border of Asher, about 13 miles south-east of Tyre, "on a solitary hill in the midst of a basin of green fields" (Josh 19:29).

(3.) One of the "fenced cities" of Naphtali (Josh 19:36), on a mountain slope, about seven and a half miles west-south-west of Safed, and 15 miles west of the north end of the Sea of Galilee, the present large and well-built village of Rameh.

(4.) The same as Ramathaim-zophim (q.v.), a town of Mount Ephraim (1Sam 1:1 ; 1:19).

(5.) The same as Ramoth-gilead (q.v.), (2Kings 8:29; 2Chr 22:6).

EBD - Easton's Bible Dictionary