[1] The Hebrew name agrees closely with that of modern Fara'ata (Israelite grid 165177), seven miles WSW of Shechem, leading to common identification of the two,[2][3] though Conder and Kitchener [4] claim that the earliest reference to the name "Fera'ata" dates to the 14th century.
Its tribal affiliation with Ephraim in Judges 12:15 has been questioned on the grounds that Fara'ata lies north of the main course of Wadi Qana, which formed the southern border of Manasseh (Josh 17:7–10).
The village sits on a prominent hill, and the valley to its north and west drains into the Wadi Qana,[6] so it might well have been reckoned to Ephraim.
Brenton translates as Pharathon (Greek: Φαραθών) in his version of the Septuagint.
[7] The town is notable as the home of Hillel, father of Abdon, one of the judges of early Israel (Judges 12:13–15), and because Benaiah, one of King David's captains (or "mighty ones"), originated there (2 Samuel 23:30).