A city first mentioned in [Josh. 18:25](/josh#Josh.18.25), near Gibeah of Benjamin. It was fortified by Baasha, king of Israel ([1 Kings 15:17-22](/1kgs#1Kgs.15.17); [2 Chr. 16:1-6](/2chr#2Chr.16.1)). Asa, king of Judah, employed Benhadad the Syrian king to drive Baasha from this city ([1 Kings 15:18](/1kgs#1Kgs.15.18), [20](/1kgs#1Kgs.15.20)). Isaiah (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](/jer#Jer.39.8); [40:1](/jer#Jer.40.1)). Rachel, whose tomb lies close to Bethlehem, is represented as weeping in Ramah ([Jer. 31:15](/jer#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](/matt#Matt.2.18)). It is identified with the modern village of er-Ram, between Gibeon and Beeroth, about 5 miles due north of Jerusalem.