A town in the territory of Ephraim, where Samuel lived; also known as Ramathaim Zophim.
About Ramah (of Ephraim)
The home of Samuel’s parents, Elkanah and Hannah and the birthplace of Samuel (1 Samuel 1:19; 2:11). It became his home later (1 Samuel 7:17; 16:13). Samuel judged Israel from Ramah, Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah (1 Samuel 7:17). Saul first met Samuel at this city (1 Samuel 9:6–10). Here, the elders of Israel asked Samuel to appoint a king for them (1 Samuel 8:4). Later, David took refuge here from King Saul (1 Samuel 19:18–20:1). Samuel was buried at Ramah (1 Samuel 25:1; 28:3). Ramah is alternately called Ramathaim-zophim in 1 Samuel 1:1.
Key References
This is what the LORD says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
The next morning they got up early to bow in worship before the LORD, and then they returned home to Ramah. And Elkanah had relations with his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her.
Now there was a man named Elkanah who was from Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.
“A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
All Scripture References (14)
1 Samuel (14)
Now there was a man named Elkanah who was from Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.
The next morning they got up early to bow in worship before the LORD, and then they returned home to Ramah. And Elkanah had relations with his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her.
Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy began ministering to the LORD before Eli the priest.
Then he would return to Ramah because his home was there, and there he judged Israel and built an altar to the LORD.
So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.
Then Samuel went to Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul.
So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.
So David ran away and escaped. And he went to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there.
When Saul was told that David was at Naioth in Ramah,
Finally, Saul himself left for Ramah and came to the large cistern at Secu, where he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” “At Naioth in Ramah,” he was told.
So Saul went to Naioth in Ramah. But the Spirit of God came upon even Saul, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What is my iniquity? How have I sinned against your father, that he wants to take my life?”
When Samuel died, all Israel gathered to mourn for him; and they buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David set out and went down to the Wilderness of Paran.
Now by this time Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land.