Ephraim
In Samaria, at the border with Judea.
Residents or Natives[edit | edit source]
Residents Homelants[1], Malachi, the synagogue leader, Mary of Jacob, the hostess of Jesus the outcast, Dinah the beekeeper, little Anna the glutton[2], Rachel, the cheese merchant[3], Naomi, a mountaineer from the surrounding area[4], Ada, the wife of Janoe, who is at risk of dying in childbirth like Rachel, Anne who temporarily hosts Apostles[5], Elijah, a resident who accompanies Jesus back[6].
Description[edit | edit source]
This town is at the edge of the desert and the Mountains of Blood. This region in the center of western Palestine is relatively mountainous with more abundant rainfall than in Judea and some good lands, hence the mention of the fertility of the area. There are still Wolves[7].
Near this location is "Clear Water", property of Lazarus where Jesus retires in November-December of his first year of public life[8]."From the basin that the stream divides into two halves you see the village that whitens in the last light of the day and the first moonlight. When you turn back and look at the horizon you see a large expanse of lands sloping towards the barren plain that descends to the Jordan."[9]
"Look what a beautiful water panorama (Judea) there is from here." And he points to the horizon with varied aspects. To the northwest high, wooded mountains that stretch like a backbone from north to south. One of them, behind Ephraim, is a real green giant that surpasses the others. To the northeast and southeast, a ripple of gentler hills. The village is in a green basin with distant bottoms, without relief between the two mountain chains — one higher, the other lower — that descend from the center of the region towards the Jordan plain. Through a notch between the lower mountains, the green plain is glimpsed beyond which lies the blue Jordan. In the heart of spring it must be a magnificent land, entirely green and fertile"[10].To the west of the town, in the woods near the stream, there is a steep place suspended over the void where Jesus likes to pray[11].
Its landscapes recall those of Kerioth and Jutta in southern Judea.
The house of Mary of Jacob, where Jesus stays, is southeast of the town[12].
Notable Events[edit | edit source]
Jesus is very well received by the Ephraimites while being pursued on his way to his last Feast of Tabernacles. There he delivers a parable about the unity of peoples. This parable about the pomegranate is now honored in the town’s icon[13]. It is there that Jesus retires after being condemned by the Temple[14].
Its Name[edit | edit source]
אפרים (Ephraim) today טייבה (Taybeh)[15].
Successively: Ophra, Ephron, Apharema, Ephraim. Today Taibe or Taybeh (note there is a namesake) (Taybe - Taiyiba – And Tayibé) about 25 km north-northeast of Jerusalem and 7 km north of Bethel (Beitin).
However, according to the descriptions of Maria Valtorta, Jesus’ stay does not seem to correspond exactly to the current Taibe. Especially the proximity of a stream.
Where is it mentioned in the work?[edit | edit source]
GRM 70
GRM 117
GRM 483 GRM 484 GRM 485
GRM 550 GRM 551 GRM 552 GRM 553 GRM 554 GRM 555 GRM 556 GRM 557 GRM 558 GRM 559 GRM 563 GRM 564 GRM 565 GRM 566 GRM 567 GRM 568 GRM 570 GRM 571 GRM 572 GRM 573 GRM 577 GRM 579
GRM 632 GRM 633
Learn More About this Place[edit | edit source]
Under the name Ophra, it is attributed to Benjamin[16]. It is later called Ephron, a city conquered by Abijah, king of Judah against Jeroboam I, king of Israel[17]. It became Apharema at the time of the Maccabees[18] then Ephraim at the time of Jesus[19]. Thus it bears a prestigious name, that of one of the two children of Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob. The name Ephraim was even one of the synonyms of Israel.
Explore[edit | edit source]
Notes and references[edit | edit source]
Note: Quotations from the work of Maria Valtorta on this page currently use machine-translated text and will gradually be replaced by the official English translation. Until then, the official translation may be consulted through the reference link provided with each quotation.