Aram
(high).
The name by which the Hebrews designated, generally, the country lying to the northeast of Palestine; the great mass of that high tableland which, rising with sudden abruptness from the Jordan and the very margin of the Lake of Gennesaret, stretched at an elevation of no less than 2000 feet above the level of the sea, to the banks of the Euphrates itself. Throughout the Authorized Version the word is, with only a very few exceptions, rendered, as in the Vulgate and LXX., Syria.
Its earliest occurrence in the book of Genesis is in the form of Aram-naharaim, i.e. the “highland of or between the two rivers.” (Genesis 24:10) Authorized Version “Mesopotamia.” In the later history we meet with a number of small nations or kingdoms forming parts of the general land of Aram; but as Damascus increased in importance it gradually absorbed the smaller powers, (1 Kings 20:1) and the name of Aram was at last applied to it alone. (Isaiah 7:8) also 1Kin 11:24,25; 15:18 etc.
Another Aram is named in (Genesis 22:21) as a son of Kemuel and descendant of Nahor. An Asherite, one of the sons of Shamer. (1 Chronicles 7:34) Son of Esrom or Hezron, and the Greek form of the Hebrew Ram. (Matthew 1:3,4; Luke 3:33)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Aram
Aram a'-ram ('aram): (1) A son of Shem (Ge 10:22; 1Ch 1:17). See ARAMEANS ; SYRIA. (2) A grandson of Nahor (Ge 22:21). (3) A descendant of Asher (1Ch 7:34). (4) Aram, King James Version: Greek form of Ram (thus the Revised Version (British and American) Mt 13:4; Arni Lu 3:33), grandson of Perez. ⇒See a list of verses on ARAM in the Bible. ⇒See the definition of aramism in the KJV Dictionary ⇒See also the McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible on Aram
1. A grandson of Nahor (Gn 22-'). 2. An Asherite (1 Ch 7"). 3. AV of Mt 1», Lk 3^. See Arni, Ram.
Fausset's Bible Dictionary on Aram
("high table land".) 1. The elevated region from the N. E. of Palestine to the Euphrates and Tigris. Balaam's home (Num 23:7; Deu 23:4). Syria, stretching from the Jordan and lake Gennesareth to the Euphrates, rising 2000 feet above the level of the sea. In contrast to Canaan, the lowland bordering on the Mediterranean. In Gen 24:10 (Heb.) Aram Naharaim means "the highland between the two rivers," i.e. Mesopotamia. Padan Aram (from paddah, a plow), "the cultivated highland," is the same as Aram (Gen 31:18). In Shalmaneser's inscriptions, 900-860 B.C. the Hittites (Khatte), under the name Palena, occur as occupying the valley of the Orontes and eastward. Some identify this name with Padan Aram and Batanaea or Bashan. Many petty kingdoms in David's time formed parts of the whole Aram, Aram Rehob, Aram Zobah, etc. (See ARAM REHOB, ARAM ZOBAH.) Damascus subsequently absorbed these. In Genesis 10 Aram is described as son of Shem; Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, and Aram (arranged in the geographical order from E. to W.) being the four brethren. Aram (Syrian) stands for Assyrian in 2Ki 18:26; Jer…
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