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Aram

From: Concise Bible Dictionary: A

By: George A. Morrish

Narrator: Chris Genthree

• 1 min. read • grade level: 11

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This is the name of a large district lying north of Arabia, north-east of Palestine, east of Phenicia, south of the Taurus range, and west of the Tigris. It is generally supposed that the name points to the district as the “Highlands,” though it may be from Aram the son of Shem, as above. The word occurs once untranslated in Numbers 23:7,⁷And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel. (Numbers 23:7) as “Aram” simply, from whence Balaam was brought, “out of the mountains of the east”; but it is mostly translated Syria or Syrian. Thus we have —

1. ARAM-DAMMESEK (2 Sam. 8:5⁵And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succor Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men. (2 Samuel 8:5)), translated “Syrians of Damascus,” embracing the highlands of Damascus including the city.

2. ARAM-MAACHAH (1 Chron. 19:6⁶And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Syria-maachah, and out of Zobah. (1 Chronicles 19:6)), translated “Syria-maachah,” a district on the east of Argob and Bashan.

3. ARAM-BETH-REHOB (2 Sam. 10:6⁶And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ish-tob twelve thousand men. (2 Samuel 10:6)), translated “Syrians of Beth-rehob” (compare Judg. 18:28²⁸And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Beth-rehob. And they built a city, and dwelt therein. (Judges 18:28)), a district in the north, near Dan.

4. ARAM-ZOBAH (2 Sam. 10:6,8⁶And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ish-tob twelve thousand men. (2 Samuel 10:6)
⁸And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ish-tob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field. (2 Samuel 10:8)), translated “Syrians of Zoba,” a district between Hamath and Damascus, but not definitely recognized.

5. ARAM-NAHARAIM signifying “Aram of two rivers” (Gen. 24:10¹⁰And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor. (Genesis 24:10); Deut. 23:4⁴Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee. (Deuteronomy 23:4); Judg. 3:8⁸Therefore the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushan-rishathaim eight years. (Judges 3:8); 1 Chron. 19:6⁶And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Syria-maachah, and out of Zobah. (1 Chronicles 19:6)), translated “Mesopotamia.” The two rivers are the Euphrates and the Tigris. The district would be the highlands from whence the rivers issue to the plain, and the district between the two rivers without extending to the far south.

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Concise Bible Dictionary: A

• Appearing of Christ

• Appii Forum

• Apple, Apple Tree

• Apple of the Eye

• Aram

• Arba, Arbah