Adrammelech
- The idol of the Sepharvite colonists of Samaria planted by Assyria (2Ki 17:31); means "burning splendor of the king" (compare Molech). The male power of the sun; as ANAMMELECH is the female, sister deity. Astrology characterized the Assyrian idolatry. Adrammelech was represented as a peacock or a mule; Anammelech as a pheasant or a horse. Children were burnt in his honor.
- Son and murderer of Sennacherib in Nisroch's temple at Nineveh. He and Sharezer his brother escaped to Armenia (2Ki 19:36; 2Ch 32:21). Named so from the idol.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible on Adrammelech
1. A. and Anamme- lech, the gods of Sepharvaim to whom the colonists, brought to Samaria from Sepharvaim, burnt their children in the fire (2 K 17^'). Adrainmelech has been identilicil with a deity frequently mentioned in Assyrian records whose name is written ideographi- cally AN. liAlt. and AN. NIN. IB. This name has been conjecturally read 'Adar'; and if this con- jecture be right, ' Adar ' may be identified with 'Adranimclech' (i.e. 'Adar-prince' or ' Adar- Molech '). ' Adar ' is a name of Accadian origin, signifying 'Father of decision' (or judgment). 'Adar' was active in sending the waters of the Deluge. (Cf. Schrader, KA T', on 2 K 17"). 2. (2 K I iF', Is 37**) mentioned with Sharezer as one of the murderers of Sennacherib. In Is (/.c.) and in all the versions of Kings (I.e.) the two murderers are described as the sons of Sennacherib, but the Kethibhoi Kings omits 'his sons.' A Babylonian chronicle, referring to the murder, siiys simjily, ' On the twentieth of the month Tcbet, Sen- nacherib, king of Assyria, was killed by his son (rin<7.) in an insurrection.' (See E. Schrader,…
Smith's Bible Dictionary on Adrammelech
(splendor of the king). The name of an idol introduced into Samaria by the colonists from Sepharvaim. (2 Kings 17:31) He was worshipped with rites resembling those of Molech, children being burnt in his honor. Adrammelech was probably the male power of the sun, and Anammelech, who is mentioned with Adrammelech as a companion god, the female power of the sun. Son of the Assyrian king Sennacherib, who, with his brother Sharezer, murdered their father in the temple of Nisroch at Nineveh, after the failure of the Assyrian attack on Jerusalem. The parricides escaped into Armenia. (2 Kings 19:37; 2 Chronicles 32:21; Isaiah 37:38)
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia