Mount Ephraim

The central mountainous district of Palestine occupied by the tribe of Ephraim (Josh 17:15; Josh 19:50; Josh 20:7), extending from Bethel to the plain of Jezreel. In Joshua's time (Josh 17:18) these hills were densely wooded. They were intersected by well-watered, fertile valleys, referred to in Jer 50:19. Joshua was buried at Timnath-heres among the mountains of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill of Gaash (Jdg 2:9). This region is also called the "mountains of Israel" (Josh 11:21) and the "mountains of Samaria" (Jer 31:5f: Amos 3:9).