No more openly - No more publicly, in the cities and towns. Jesus never exposed his life unnecessarily to hazard. Although the time of his death was determined in the counsel of God, yet this did not prevent his using proper means to preserve his life.
The wilderness - See the notes at Matthew 3:1.
A city called Ephraim - This was probably a small town in the tribe of Ephraim, about five miles west of Jericho.