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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

AI


AI

a'-i (`ay, written always with the definite article, ha-`ay, probably meaning "the ruin," kindred root, `awah):

(1) A town of central Palestine, in the tribe of Benjamin, near and just east of Bethel (Gen 12:8). It is identified with the modern Haiyan, just south of the village Der Diwan (Conder in HDB; Delitzsch in Commentary on Gen 12:8) or with a mound, El-Tell, to the north of the modern village (Davis, Dict. Biblical). The name first appears in the earliest journey of Abraham through Palestine (Gen 12:8), where its location is given as east of Bethel, and near the altar which Abraham built between the two places. It is given similar mention as he returns from his sojourn in Egypt (Gen 13:3). In both of these occurrences the King James Version has the form Hai, including the article in transliterating. The most conspicuous mention of Ai is in the narrative of the Conquest. As a consequence of the sin of Achan in appropriating articles from the devoted spoil of Jericho, the Israelites were routed in the attack upon the town; but after confession and expiation, a second assault was successful, the city was taken and burned, and left a heap of ruins, the inhabitants, in number twelve thousand, were put to death, the king captured, hanged and buried under a heap of stones at the gate of the ruined city, only the cattle being kept as spoil by the people (Josh 7; 8). The town had not been rebuilt when Josh was written (Josh 8:28). The fall of Ai gave the Israelites entrance to the heart of Canaan, where at once they became established, Bethel and other towns in the vicinity seeming to have yielded without a struggle. Ai was rebuilt at some later period, and is mentioned by Isa (10:28) in his vivid description of the approach of the Assyrian army, the feminine form (`ayyath) being used. Its place in the order of march, as just beyond Michmash from Jerusalem, corresponds with the identification given above. It is mentioned also in post-exilic times by Ezr (2:28) and Neh (7:32, and in 11:31 as, `ayya'), identified in each case by the grouping with Bethel.

(2) The Ai of Jer 49:3 is an Ammonite town, the text probably being a corruption of `ar; or ha-`ir, "the city" (BDB).

Edward Mack


AIAH

a'-ya ('ayyah, "falcon"; once in the King James Version Ajah, Gen 36:24): (1) A Horite, son of Zibeon, and brother of Anah, who was father of one of Esau's wives (Gen 36:24; 1 Ch 1:40). (2) Father of Rizpah, a concubine of Saul, about whom Ishbosheth falsely accused Abner (2 Sam 3:7), and whose sons were hanged to appease the Gibeonites, whom Saul had wronged (2 Sam 21:8-11).


AIATH

a'-yath (`ayyath): Found in Isa 10:28; feminine form of the city AI (which see).


AID

ad (chazaq, "to strengthen," "to aid"): A military term used only once in Old Testament in the King James Version (Jdg 9:24) and displaced in the Revised Version (British and American) by the literal rendering, "who strengthened his hands." The men of Shechem supported Abimelech in his fratricidal crime, with money, enabling him to hire men to murder his brethren. The fundamental idea in the word, as used in the Old Testament, is "abounding strength."


AIJA

a-i'-ja (`ayya'): A form of name for city Ai, found in Neh 11:31.

See AI ;AIATH .


AIJALON

a'-ja-lon ('ayyalon, "deerplace"; the King James Version, Ajalon (Josh 10:12)):

(1) The name of a town allotted to the tribe of Dan (Josh 19:42), which was also designated a Levitical city (Josh 21:24), which fell to the Sons of Kohath (1 Ch 6:69). The first mention of Aijalon is in the narrative of Joshua's defeat of the five Amorite kings: "thou, Moon, in the valley of Aijalon" (Josh 10:12). The Danites failed to take it from the Amorites (Jdg 1:35), although the men of Ephraim held it in vassalage. Here Saul and Jonathan won a great victory over the Philistines (1 Sam 14:31). At one time it was held by the tribe of Benjamin (1 Ch 8:13). Rehoboam fortified it against the kingdom of Israel (2 Ch 11:10). In the days of King Ahaz it was captured by the Philistines (2 Ch 28:18). It has been identified with the modern Yalo; its antiquity goes back to Tell el-Amarna Letters, in which it has mention. It Is situated Northwest of Jerusalem in a valley of the same name, which leads down from the mountains to the sea.

(2) A town in the tribe of Zebulun, site unknown, where Elon the judge was buried (Jdg 12:12).

Edward Mack


AIJELETH HASH-SHAHAR

a'-je-leth hash-sha'-har.

See PSALMS ;SONG .


AIL

al (Anglo-Saxon: eglan, "to pain"): As a verb translation, is "to trouble," "afflict" (obsolete); intrans, "to feel pain, trouble, uneasiness," etc.; it represents Hebrew mah lekha "what to thee" (Gen 21:17, "What aileth thee, Hagar?"; Jdg 18:23; 1 Sam 11:5; 2 Sam 14:5; 2 Ki 6:28; Isa 22:1); in Ps 114:5, it is figuratively or poetically applied to the sea, the river Jordan, etc.: "What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest?" etc.; the Revised Version (British and American), "What aileth thee, O thou sea that thou fleest?" etc.; in 2 Esdras 9:42; 10:31, "What aileth thee?"


AIM

am: In The Wisdom of Solomon 13:9. Lit. translation by the King James Version of Greek stochasasthai, which commonly means "to shoot at." This is Interpreted and explained by the Revised Version (British and American) as "explore," with a hint as to the nature of the process, and may be paraphrased: "If they be able to conjecture the mysteries of the universe."


AIN (1)

See AYIN .


AIN (2)

a'-in (`ayin, "eye or spring (of water)"):

(1) A town in the extreme Northwest corner of Canaan, so named, most probably, from a noted spring in the vicinity (Nu 34:11). Thomson and after him Robinson make Ain the same as `Ain el-`Asy, the chief source of the Orontes, some fifteen miles Southwest of Riblah, which, in turn, is about twenty miles Southwest of Emesa (Hums). As Ain is named in connection with Lake Gennesaret, some claim that Riblah of Nu 34:11 must be another place farther South and closer to that lake.

(2) A Levitical city (Josh 21:16) in the Negeb or southern part of Judah. It was first allotted to the tribe of Judah (Josh 15:32) but later to Simeon (Josh 19:7). The fact that it is several times named in immediate connection with Rimmon has lent plausibility to the view that we have here a compound word, and that we should read En-Rimmon, i.e. Ain-Rimmon (see Josh 15:32; 19:7; 1 Ch 4:32).

See also AYIN .

W. W. Davies


AIR

ar (aer): In the Old Testament "air" is used (with one exception) in the phrase "fowl" or "fowls (birds) of the air." The Hebrew word is usually rendered "heaven" or "heavens." According to ancient Hebrew cosmogony the sky was a solid dome (firmament) stretching over the earth as a covering. In the above phrase the air means the space between the earth and the firmament. In Job (41:16) "air" renders ruach, "breath," "wind," "spirit." The scales of the leviathan are so closely joined together that no air can penetrate. In the New Testament the phrase "birds (or fowls) of the air," occurs ten times. This simply reproduces the Hebraism noticed above. Apart from this expression "air" in the King James Version represents aer, which denotes the atmosphere which surrounds us. The expression "beating the air" (1 Cor 9:26) means to "deal blows that do not get home"--that miss the mark. In his conflict with the lower life represented by the body, Paul compares himself to a boxer who aims with unerring accuracy at his opponent. No stroke is lost. Paul also uses the phrase "speaking into the air" (1 Cor 14:9) in reference to the unintelligible utterances of those who "spake with tongues." In the expression, "prince of the powers of the air" (Eph 2:2 the King James Version) we find an echo of the current belief that the air was the dwelling place of spirits, especially of evil spirits.

Thomas Lewis


AIRUS

a-i'-rus, ar'-us (Iairos): the King James Version, one of the heads of a family of temple servants (1 Esdras 5:31 the Revised Version (British and American) JAIRUS), which returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel; in the Old Testament called Reaiah (Ezr 2:47; Neh 7:50), and classed among the Nethinim.



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