Ayen

A place-name occurring in this form in Ezk 30". The LXX gives 'HXtov iriXis, the usual Gr. name of On, and it is evident that the name was intentionally distorted from On to Aven, ' idolatry' (see Oxf. Heb. Lex. ), by a punning change of vocalisation quite permissible in Heb. The slight was the more contemptuous, as On was sacerdotal ly the most important city in Egypt.

With regard to the context it should be remembered that On, lying on the main road between the heart of Egj-pt (at Memphis) and Sjn-ia, has been a notable battle- field on many occasions, even since the ruin of the city. See Beth-shemesh and On. The Plain (n^pa bikah) of Aven (Am 1», RV 'the valley of Aven') is probably the Plain of Ccele Syria, so called from the idolatrous worship of the Sun in the great temple of Baalbek. F. Ll. Griffith. AVENGE is found in AV both as trans, and intrans.

verb. 1. As a trans, verb the object may be (1) a. person, and then the meaning is ' to vindi- cate ' by punishing the offender. Thus (a) actively, Lk 18' ' A. me of mine adversary,' Nu 31' ' a. the Lord of Midian ' (RV ' execute the Lord's ven- geance on M.') ; (6) pass., I S 14" ' that I may be a"" on mine enemies'; (c) reflex., 2 S 18" 'the Lord hath a"" him of his enemies.' The prep, that fovems the ofi'ender is indifl'erently on or of.

(2) he object may be a thing, and the meaning ' to take satisfaction for,' as Dt 32" ' he will a. the blood of his servants." 2. As an intrans. vb. it is rare, and occurs in AV once only, Lv 19" 'Thou ehalt not a. nor bear any grudge against • Once the person <m vhom the vengeance falls is made the Hubject of the verb, Gn 4* ' If Cain shall Ite avenged seven- fold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold. Thi.

s is the sense in which" the passage is taken by the Doiiay Bible, whicii translates, ' Sevenfould vengeance shall be taken of Cain,' and adds the comment, * by prolongation of his miserable life til hia seventh generation, when one of his own Issue slew him.' AV follows the Geneva, which has the niarg. note, ' He mocked at God's sufferance in Kain, Jesting as though God would suffer none to punish him, and yet give him licence to murther others.' But the Heb.

means, * if Cain shall take vengeance for any wrong done him, Lamech (perhaps with the use of the new weapons) much more.' So Del. : ' Denn sieben- fach wird Kain geracht,' DUlm., etc Cf. G. W. Wade, TheBoik of Genegit (189ti), p. 214, ' The Song of Lamech celebrates the invention of weapons, and implies that the possession of them confers the power of exacting greater vengeance than tbJ>< demanded by God against anyone who might slay Kain.' AVITH the children of thy people.' In mod.

Ubnge 'a,' IB retained for the sense of just venjre.ince, while 'reveni;e' is used for the gratilication of resentment. This distinction does not obtain in AV, but RV has endeavoured to introduce it. Thus Jer 15" ' a. me of my persecutors ' (for AV revenge me '), Nah 1' ' The Lord is a jealous God and a«" ( AV ' revengeth '), and 2 Co 10' ' being in readiness to a. all disobedience' (AV 'revenge'). Cf. also ' avenger ' for ' revenger ' in Nu So'"- ^- "• "•",2s 14", Uo 13.

and 'avenging' (subst.) for ' revenge,' 2 Co 7". Again, Lv 19" ' thou shalt not a.' (KV ' take vengeance ') ; in Ro 12" ' Avenge not yourselves, beloved,' is retained, because the ref. 18 to righteous vengeance. Avenger of blood. See GOEL. Avengement is found 2 S 22"", and avengements Ps IS"" for 'vengeance.' Cf. Edward Irving, liahylon, ii. 319, ' The Lord, in all His avengements, hath ... an eye ... to the reforma- tion of the wicked.' J. Hastinqs. AYITH (r-u^), Gn 36».— A Moabite city.

The rite is unknown.