Adriel (Hastings' Dictionary)

Son of Barzillai, a native of Abel-nieholah in the Jordan Valley, about 10 miles S. of Bethshean. He married Merab, the eldest daughter of Saul, who should have been given to David as the slayer of Goliath (1 S 18"). Michal (2 S 21^) is a aiistake for Merab. J. F. Stennixo. ADUEL ('AJoiTiX, Heb. Sunn, Syr. '^-uniiK), one of the ancestors of Tobit, To 1'. A variant form of Sk-ij,, 1 Ch 4*'. J. T. Marshall.

I ADULLAM (c^y), now 'td-'et-ma' 'Feast of natei,' or Id-'el-miyeh 'Feast of the hundred' (see Cl'^nnont-Ganneau and Conder in PEF Men iii. 361-67: Conder, Tent Work, p. 276 f.; Smith, Geogr. p. 229), in the valley of Elah, is frequently referred to in the OT. It was a city of the Canaanites (Gn 38'), in the district allotted to the tribe of Judah after the conquest (Jos 12"). It was fortified by Rehoboara (2 Ch 11'), and ia mentioned later on by Micah (1").

After the Captivitj' it was re-peopled by the Jews (Neb 11^), and continued to be a place of importance under the Maccabees (2 Mac 12^). The Cave of Adullam, famous through its associa- tion with the early history of David, has usually been supposed to have had no connexion with the city of that name, and has been located by tradi- tion, as well as by many travellers, in the Wady Khareitun, about six miles south-east of Bethlehem.

The most recent authorities, however, are strongly of opinion that an entirely suitable site for it can be found in the Wcinity of the city, and that there is no reason for separating the two. Half- way between Shochoh and Keilah, and 10 miles northwest of Hebron, some caves have been found, the position of which suits all we are told about David's stronghold, and which are at once central and defensible.

It may be regarded as practically settled that the Cave of Adullara was not far from where David had his encounter with Goliath. AduUamite ('"^"iJ/ 'native of Adullam') is applied to Hirah, the friend of Judah (Gn 38'). At the time of the conquest Adullam was a royal city, and if it was so in Hirah's time, he was probably king. W. MuiB.