In every previous narrative concerning Ephraim, their tribal allotment has been identified as the “hill country of Ephraim.” Here, the change to the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites” is significant, as it quite likely shows that on account of the slaughter of the Ephraimites by Jephthah, they have lost the primary position in their tribe/land.
15 Then Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried at Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.