EPHOD. 139 EPHRAIM. ward. The most probable supposition is that the ephod, from being originally a specific name for an object used in divination ceremonies, was somewhat generalized and came to be applied, first to the garment on which the priest put the portable oracle, and then in a more general way to the garment without the oracle-pouch, worn by the ordinary priest when be came to the sanctuary to seek an oracle. Consult Koote, "The Ephod," in Journal of Biblical Literature, vol. xxi. (1902). EPH'ORI (Lat., from Gk. e</>opot, ephoroi, overseers, from iiri, cpi, upon + opdv, hordn, to look). An order of magistrates at Sparta. He- rodotus attributes their creation to LyeurgUS, and Aristotle to King Tbeopompus, while it seems clear that the Alexandrian chronologists had a list which extended back to about B.C. 757. As they appear in Spartan colonies of Thera and probably Tarentum, they must have early become an established part of the Spartan Government. It is clear that they gradually took into their hands the real power, while the share of the kings in the government was lessened. Their name seems to in- dicate that they were originally appointed to see that the discipline of the State was observed, which in Sparta implied nearly universal power. The ephori were five in number ; they were elected annually by and from all Spartans, and the decision of a majority was binding on the board. During the fifth and fourth centuries B.C. the ephori are the governing body at Sparta; they convoke the Council of Elders and the Assembly, receive ambassadors, determine the mobilization of the army, and during the war are kept in- formed of affairs in the field by secret dispatches, while two of the board always accompany the King in his campaigns. As presidents of the Council of Elders they could bring even the kings to trial, and it is clear that their almost unlim- ited power during their short term caused much dissatisfaction to the more independent kings. The revolution of Cleomenes III. temporarily destroyed their power, and though after his over- throw in B.C. 221 the old forms were nominally restored, the ephori do not seem to have become again the ruling body. Even in Roman times the old name was retained by a board of five magis- trates at Sparta, but we are not informed as to their duties. Consult: Dum, Die Entstehung und Enticickelung des spartanischen Ephorats (Inns- bruck, 1878) ; Meyer, Forschtmgen c»r alien Ge- schirhte (Halle, 1892) ; and the Greek histories of (irote, Holm, Busolt, and E. Meyer. EPH'OPvTJS (Lat., from Gk. "E0opos ) (c.400- c.330 B.C.). A Greek historian, a contemporary of Philip and Alexander. He was born at Cyme in .Eolis, and studied rhetoric under Isocrates, who persuaded him to devote himself to history instead of oratory. His chief work was 'la-roplai, a history of the Greeks and barbarians from the return of the Heraclidse to the siege of Perinthus (B.C. 340), a period of 750 years. The work, which was the first universal history attempted in Greece, consisted of thirty books, each of which contained a compact portion of the history, and was thus complete in itself. Though Ephorus' stylo was feeble and diffuse he appears to have been a faithful narrator, and his work was highly valued on account of the wealth and excellent ar- rangement of its material. It was extensively used by Diodorus Siculus, and was commended Vol. VII.— 10. by Polybius and Strabo. II lias, however, per- i bed, with the exception of a tew fragments published in Midler's Historicomm Grcecorufn Fragmenta, vol. i. (Paris, 1808). Consult Kltig- mann, De Ephoro Uistorieo Qrceeo (GSttingen, I860). EPHRAEM, e/fra-em, or E'PHREM SY'- RUS, Epheajm the Sviua.n (c.306-78). I greatest of the Syrian Church fathers, known as the Prophet of the Syrians. He was born at Nisibi-, Mesopotamia, about 306. He was a pupil of Jacob, Bishop of Nisibis (died 338), beci a teacher in the hitter's school, and in 32") accom- panied him to the Council of Nicsea. In 363 Nisi bis was ceded by the Emperor Jovian to the Per- sians, and Ephraim took up his abode at Edessa (Orfa). He became a hermit and lived in a cave near the town. Toward the end of his life he visited Basil the Great at Ceesarea in Cappadocia, who tried to make him a bishop, but be refused any higher office than the diaconate. He died at Edessa, probably in 378 — according to some ac- counts in 373. His death is said to have been hastened by his efforts to relieve the sufferers from plague and famine then raging at his home. An extraordinary mass of fable and legend has gathered about Ephraim's name. He was a zealous upholder of orthodoxy, and wrote and preached unceasingly against idolaters, 'Chal- dees,' Jews, and all heretics. He was a volu- minous writer, and has left commentaries on nearly all the Old Testament in the Syriae or Peshitto version, as well as many homilies, and several hymns of much merit. His works exist partly in the original Syriae, partly in Greek, Latin, and Armenian translations. They were edited by the Assemani (Rome, 1732-46). There in also an edition of Opera Belecta by Overbeck (Oxford, 1805). Consult in English: Morris, Select Writings of Ephraim the Syrian (Oxford, 1847) ; Burgess, The Repentance of Nineveh and Select Metrical Hymns and Homilies (London, ls.">3) ; Hill, .4. Dissertation on the Gospel Com- mentary of Ephraim the Syrian (London, 1896) There is a prose translation of several hymns and homilies with an introduction by John Gw.ynn in Xiccne and Post-Nicene Fathers, second series, vol. xiii. (Xew York, 1898). EPHRAIM, e'fra-im (Heb., fertile, fruitful tract). The name given in Gen. xli. 50-2, to the younger son of Joseph by his wife Asenatli, and re- garded as the eponymous ancestor of the tribe of Ephraim. The territories of the tribe in Palestine (q.v.) extended from the broolc Kanah, where Manasseh began, southward, including the rich country spoken of as "Mount Ephraim' (Joshua xvi. 5 sqq. ) . It is to be noted, however, that the Hebrews did not succeed in driving the Canaan- ites out of this district (v. 10), so that in all likelihood some mixture of Hebrews with Cinaan- ites took place. The tribe was, perhaps, the most warlike in Israel. Joshua, the conqueror of the Holy Land, was an Ephraimite (Num. xiii. 8), and further proof of their warlike spirit appears in Ephraim's protests against Gideon (Judges viii. 1) and Jepbthah (Judges xii. 1-7) for not asking aid of them in their wars. Shilob. at one time the seat of the tabernacle, was in Ephraim. and the prophet Samuel belonged to the tribe I I. Sam. i. 1 I . Ephraim took part in the revolt of Saul's son, Ishbosheth (II. Sam. ii. 8-9), and later in the successful revolution of Jeroboam
