Ahuzzath (Hastings' Dictionary)

' The friend ' of Abimelech, the Piulistine of Gerar, mentioned on the occasion when the latter made a league with Isaac at Beersheba (Gn 26=«). The position o ' king's friend ' may possibly have been an oftcial one, and the title a technical one (cf. 1 K 4, 1 Ch 27»'). The rendering of the LAX gives a different conception, that o? ' pronubus ' or friend of the bridegroom ('Oxofa« Is yv^cpa-y^hi avrov). t or the fern, termination -ath, cf.

the Phil, name ' Goliath ' (see Driver's note on 1 S 17) and the Arabian name 'Genubath' (1 K 11"^ H. E. liYLK. AHZAI [-m for .Tiri. 'J" hath grasped,' AV Ahasai).— A priest, Neh ll»=Jahzerah, 1 Ch 9". AI (-yn) Jos 7»-» 8'-^ 10'-' 12», Ezr 2=, Neh 7» (Jer 49^ a clerical error for AR), called Hai in Gn 12« 13» AV ; and Aija (xy 'Ayyd) in Neh IP'. In Is (10'«) Aiath (n;y).— The name means 'heap, and it is not enumerated as an inhabited place after the conquest until about B.C.

700, but seems to have been inhabited after the Captivity. Ihe situation is defined as east of Bethel, beside Beth Aven, with valleys to the north and west (Jos 8"- "). The site which agrees with these con- ditions is found at Hahjdn, immediately south of a conspicuous stone mound called Lt- J ell, the mound.' There is a deep ravine to the north, an open valley to the west, and a flat plain to S. and E. This site is 2i miles S.E. of Bethel, and on tlie road thence to the Jordan Valley.

It is evidently the site of an ancient town, with rock- cut tombs. See SWP vol. ii. sh. xiv. Some MSb read Aija for Gaza (i.e. n:i' for njv) in 1 Ch 7 , which appears to be the correct rendering. '*^ C. R. CoNDER.