Matthew Poole and continuators on John 11:54

54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly amongst the Jews : but went thence unto a countrey near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim , and there continued with his disciples .

For he being the true Paschal Lamb, was to be slain at that Feast, and put an end to that Type, and would therefore reserve h[illegible: 1 letter]mse[illegible: 1 letter]f for that time, which was now at hand.

What this Ephren or Ephraim was, Interpreters vainly busie themselves in inquiring; it was some obscure City, and near the Wilderness; some think it was in the Lot of Benjamin, others think it was within the Lot of Ephraim, and obtained its name from the Tribe within whose Lot it was. The Scripture no where mentioneth it: and it cannot be expected, but that in so many changes of Government as had befallen the Iews, the names of places should be so altered, that we should be at loss for many of them:

where ever it was, it is said that Christ and his Disciples continued there in some privacy.

Marginal references: Chap. 4.1, 3. and 7.1.