Sepharvaim
Encyclopedia
Sepharvaim - taken by a king of Assyria
, probably Sargon II
, (2 Kings 17:24; 18:34; 19:13;
Isa. 37:13).
It was a double city, and received the common name Sepharvaim, i.e., "the two Sipparas," or "the two booktowns."
The Sippara on the east bank of the Euphrates
is now called Abu-Habba;
that on the other bank was Accad, the old capital of Sargon I, where he established a great library.
The recent discovery of cuneiform inscriptions at Tel el-Amarna in Egypt
, consisting of official despatches to Pharaoh
Amenophis IV
. and his predecessor from their agents in Palestine
, leads some Egyptologists to conclude that in the century before the Exodus
an active literary intercourse was carried on between these nations, and that the medium of the correspondence was the Babylonian language and script.
(See Kirjath-Sepher.) However, it has not been conclusively proven which Egyptian Pharaoh the Amarna Letters
reference or that the Judean Exodus
necessarily occurred after these letters.
Sepharvaim was the centre of the worship of the god Adramelech
. They also worshipped the god Anamelech
. After the deportation of the Israelite
tribes, at least some of the residents of this city were brought to Samaria
to repopulate it with other Gentile
settlers.
Assyria
Assyria was a Semitic Akkadian kingdom, extant as a nation state from the mid–23rd century BC to 608 BC centred on the Upper Tigris river, in northern Mesopotamia , that came to rule regional empires a number of times through history. It was named for its original capital, the ancient city of Assur...
, probably Sargon II
Sargon II
Sargon II was an Assyrian king. Sargon II became co-regent with Shalmaneser V in 722 BC, and became the sole ruler of the kingdom of Assyria in 722 BC after the death of Shalmaneser V. It is not clear whether he was the son of Tiglath-Pileser III or a usurper unrelated to the royal family...
, (2 Kings 17:24; 18:34; 19:13;
Isa. 37:13).
It was a double city, and received the common name Sepharvaim, i.e., "the two Sipparas," or "the two booktowns."
The Sippara on the east bank of the Euphrates
Euphrates
The Euphrates is the longest and one of the most historically important rivers of Western Asia. Together with the Tigris, it is one of the two defining rivers of Mesopotamia...
is now called Abu-Habba;
that on the other bank was Accad, the old capital of Sargon I, where he established a great library.
The recent discovery of cuneiform inscriptions at Tel el-Amarna in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, consisting of official despatches to Pharaoh
Pharaoh
Pharaoh is a title used in many modern discussions of the ancient Egyptian rulers of all periods. The title originates in the term "pr-aa" which means "great house" and describes the royal palace...
Amenophis IV
Akhenaten
Akhenaten also spelled Echnaton,Ikhnaton,and Khuenaten;meaning "living spirit of Aten") known before the fifth year of his reign as Amenhotep IV , was a Pharaoh of the Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt who ruled for 17 years and died perhaps in 1336 BC or 1334 BC...
. and his predecessor from their agents in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
, leads some Egyptologists to conclude that in the century before the Exodus
The Exodus
The Exodus is the story of the departure of the Israelites from ancient Egypt described in the Hebrew Bible.Narrowly defined, the term refers only to the departure from Egypt described in the Book of Exodus; more widely, it takes in the subsequent law-givings and wanderings in the wilderness...
an active literary intercourse was carried on between these nations, and that the medium of the correspondence was the Babylonian language and script.
(See Kirjath-Sepher.) However, it has not been conclusively proven which Egyptian Pharaoh the Amarna Letters
Amarna letters
The Amarna letters are an archive of correspondence on clay tablets, mostly diplomatic, between the Egyptian administration and its representatives in Canaan and Amurru during the New Kingdom...
reference or that the Judean Exodus
The Exodus
The Exodus is the story of the departure of the Israelites from ancient Egypt described in the Hebrew Bible.Narrowly defined, the term refers only to the departure from Egypt described in the Book of Exodus; more widely, it takes in the subsequent law-givings and wanderings in the wilderness...
necessarily occurred after these letters.
Sepharvaim was the centre of the worship of the god Adramelech
Adramelech
Adramelech, also called Adrammelech, Adramelek or Adar-malik, was a form of sun god. The centre of his worship was the town of Sepharvaim. According to the cult was brought by the Sepharvite colonists into Samaria: "the Sepharvites burnt their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech,...
. They also worshipped the god Anamelech
Anamelech
In Christian demonology, Anamelech is a demon worshipped alongside Adramelech, the sun god. She takes the form of a quail. She is a lunar deity and is said to have been worshipped at Sepharvaun, an Assyrian town. The name means "Anu is king."...
. After the deportation of the Israelite
Israelite
According to the Bible the Israelites were a Hebrew-speaking people of the Ancient Near East who inhabited the Land of Canaan during the monarchic period .The word "Israelite" derives from the Biblical Hebrew ישראל...
tribes, at least some of the residents of this city were brought to Samaria
Samaria
Samaria, or the Shomron is a term used for a mountainous region roughly corresponding to the northern part of the West Bank.- Etymology :...
to repopulate it with other Gentile
Gentile
The term Gentile refers to non-Israelite peoples or nations in English translations of the Bible....
settlers.