Jerusalem

is called Ariel (Isaiah xxix, 2) not as meaning “lion of god,” but probably to be rendered “ hearth of god.” Dr Neubauer and Dr Sayce (Athenwwm, Oct. 9th, 1886), think that for Aralam or “valiant ones” (Isaiah xxxiii, 7) we should understand Arelim or “inhabitants of Jerusalem.” [Buxtorf however derives Hrael in the latter pa age, with the Ariel of 2 Sam. xxiii, 20, rendered “ valiant,” as coming from the root Ara (see Ar); and according to the Targum it also meant an “ amba ador.”—Ep.] On _ the Moabite stone, about 900 z.c., Mesha, King of Dibon, is made to say: “I brought (from the city of ’Ataroth) the Aral of Dodah (a person or a deity), and dragged it (or him) before Kemosh... I seized Nebo, and took thence the Aralz of Yahveh, and dragged them before Kemosh.” This is thought to refer to images, or altars of deities [but the translation is difficult, and if the Aralim were ‘* heroes,” or “amba adors,” a human sacrifice may be intended.—Ep.,]. Aram. Hebrew: “ highland.” he term applied to the highlands of Syria and As syria, Padan-Aram was the “field of high land” near Haran; and Aram-Naharaim was the “plateau of two rivers” (the Tigris and Euphrates) in the same region. The language of these regions is known as Aramean, or Aramaik. In the Bible (2 Kings xviii, 26) this is translated “Syrian language” (but seems rather to mean A yrian). The Aramaik is first known at Samala in N. 148