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Aram-Naharaim or "Aram of Two Rivers," is a region that is mentioned five times in the Hebrew Bible. It is commonly identified with Nahrima mentioned in three tablets of the Amarna correspondence as a geographical description of the kingdom of Mitanni. It was the land in which the city of Haran lay. According to one rabbinical Jewish tradition, Ur Kasdim, said to be the birthplace of Abraham, was also situated in Aram-Naharaim.^[1]

Identification of the two rivers

The actual rivers referred to are not explicitly named in the Bible, although it is generally agreed that the first was the Upper Euphrates (called N-h-r-n by the Egyptians). The name Nahrima in the Amarna letters denoted the region of the Upper Euphrates and its tributaries ^{[citation needed]} - the Balikh and Khabur.

Both Josephus and the Septuagint translate the name as Mesopotamia. Ancient writers elsewhere used the name "Mesopotamia" for the land between the Tigris and Euphrates. According to the Book of Jubilees, when the entire Earth was divided among the sixteen grandsons of Noah, Aram, the son of Shem received as an inheritance for his offspring, lands bordered by the Euphrates and the Tigris (Jubilees 9:5); it also associates the city of Ur Kesed not with the descendants of Aram, but rather with those of Arphaxad, his brother, who was Abram's ancestor.

However the usage of the Hebrew name "Aram-Naharaim" does not match the general usage of "Mesopotamia", the former being used exclusively for a northern region. Moreover the translation of the name as "Mesopotamia" was not consistent - the Septuagint also uses a more precise translation "Mesopotamia of Syria" as well as "Rivers of Syria". Josephus refers to the subjects of Chushan, king of Aram Naharaim,^[2] as "Assyrians".^[3]

Hebrew has a distinct name Ashur for the region of Assyria containing the Tigris. Aram Naharaim lay west of Ashur as it contained Haran. Haran itself lies on the west bank of the Balikh, east of the Upper Euphrates. The traditional Jewish location of Ur Kasdim (at Edessa) and the Balikh itself lie west of the Khabur implying that the second river was understood to be the latter by those maintaining this tradition.

References

^ Ramban on Lech Lecha [1]
^ Judges 3:8
^ Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book 5, Chapter 3:2. [2]

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[1] Ramban on Lech Lecha [1]

[2] Judges 3:8

[3] Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book 5, Chapter 3:2. [2]

[1]

[2]

[3]

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 However the usage of the Hebrew name "Aram-Naharaim" does not match the general usage of "Mesopotamia", the former being used exclusively for a northern region. Moreover the translation of the name as "Mesopotamia" was not consistent - the Septuagint also uses a more precise translation "Mesopotamia of Syria" as well as "Rivers of Syria". Josephus refers to the subjects of [[Chushan]], king of Aram Naharaim,<ref>Judges 3:8</ref> as "Assyrians".<ref>Flavius Josephus, ''Antiquities of the Jews'', Book 5, Chapter 3:2. [http://www.ccel.org/j/josephus/works/ant-5.htm]</ref>
-Hebrew has a distinct name ''Ashur'' for the region of Assyria containing the Tigris. Aram Naharaim lay west of ''Ashur'' as it contained Haran. Haran itself lies on the west bank of the [[Balikh]], east of the Upper Euphrates. The traditional Jewish location of Ur Kasdim (at [[Edessa, Mesopotamia|Edessa]]) and the Balikh itself lie west of the [[Khabur]] implying that the second river was understood to be the latter by those maintaining this tradition.
+Hebrew has a distinct name ''Ashur'' for the region of Assyria containing the Tigris. Aram Naharaim lay west of ''Ashur'' as it contained Haran. Haran itself lies on the west bank of the Balikh, east of the Upper Euphrates. The traditional Jewish location of Ur Kasdim (at [[Edessa, Mesopotamia|Edessa]]) and the Balikh itself lie west of the Khabur implying that the second river was understood to be the latter by those maintaining this tradition.
-== Geographic References ==
-A Myth exists to the effect that Aram-Naharaim, land of the two rivers, is synonomous with [[Mesopotamia]] therefore the two rivers are the [[Tigris]] and [[Euphrates]]. Despite this we can observe that most references to [[Aram]] are to places located south of [[Damascus]]. This can be done using Bible Pages and references in them to Aram outside [[Mesopotamia]] which are consistently south of Damascus.
-Most of the references below can be found on this map. [http://www.gutenberg.org/files/17326/17326-h/images/268.jpg Aram] This illustrates the territory of [[Asher]], [[Dan]], [[Nephtali]] and [[Zebulon]] on the headwaters of the [[Jordan river]] connecting to the southern end of the territory of the [[Nahrin]] at [[Kadesh]] on the [[Orontes]]. The people the [[Egyptians]] called the Nah-araim or [[Nahrin]] are also known as the [[Mittani]].
-Tracking this down the two rivers are a watershed in the mountains, at a place still called the [[Golan Heights]], serving [[Aram]]. [[Carchemish]] is north of [[Hamath]], Hamath, is north of [[Damascus]], Damascus is north of Aram, Aram, is east of [[Sideon]], [[Tyre]], and [[Hazor]]
-The Bible passages refering to Aram show that the only way you could stretch Aram north toward the Euphrates would be to go through Damascus, Hamath, and Carchemish.
-The headwaters of the Orontes river bordering Aram on the West does stretch that far north through the territory of the Nahrin. Their cities were originally [[Alalah]] on the Orontes east of [[Ugarit]], east to [[Haran]] and [[Hama]], [[Quatna]] and [[Kadesh]] moving south or upstream to the headwaters of the Orontes east of the [[Amurru]] whose city is Hazor. While this is not near the Tigris is does touch on the Euphrates. Biblical accounts are much more consistent in placing Aram south west of Damascus.
-The location southwest of Damascus is referenced both in Biblical and Egyptian campaign accounts.
-While the lands and [[kings of the Nahrin]] do occupy lands to the north; as given in "The Cambridge Atlas of Mesopotamia" (CAM) and their cities include Alalah on the Orontes east of Ugarit, and Hama, Quatna, and Kadesh moving upstream to the headwaters east of the Amurru, the best definition for this territory probably isn't Mesopotamia.
-Their lands are bounded to the west by the [[Amurru]] and [[Mukish]], to the North by [[Kizzuwatna]] with [[Tarsus ]]and Charchemish, and to the east by [[Nuhase]] which touches on the Euphrates but borders the Mitanni with the cities of [[Ebla]] and [[Allepo]]. To the south they eventually extended their territory down the Jordan as far as [[Meggido]] during the Egyptian [[18th Dynasty]] which may have caused them to snap up Aram and its territory. The above referenced lands southwest of Damascus are mentioned in the [[Amarna]] letters and in the [[Biblical Conquest]] as shown in CAM p135 as Aram.
-== References to [http://www.stempublishing.com/dictionary/054_080.html Aram]==
-<blockquote>
-This is the name of a small district lying north of [[Arabia]], north-east of [[Palestine]], east of [[Phoenicia]], south of the [[Taurus range]], and west of the Tigris. It is generally supposed that the name points to the district as the 'Highlands,' though it may be from Aram the son of Shem, as above. The word occurs once untranslated in Num. 23: 7, as 'Aram' simply, from whence [[Balaam]] was brought, 'out of the mountains of the east;' but it is mostly translated Syria or Syrian. Thus we have -
-:1.   ARAM-DAMMESEK,  2 Sam. 8: 5, translated 'Syrians of '''Damascus''',' embracing '''the highlands of Damascus''' including the city. (Mount Hermon)
-:2.   ARAM-MAACHAH,  1 Chr. 19: 6, translated 'Syria-maachah,' '''a district on the east of Argob and Bashan'''.
-::Maacah (Codex Alexandrinus: [[Maacha]], KJV: Maachah) is a biblical name with many references:
-::Small Aramean kingdom east of [[the Sea of Galilee]] (I Chronicles 19:6). Its territory was in the region assigned to the half-tribe of [[Manasseh]] east of the Jordan. Maacah, its king, became a mercenary of the Ammonites in their war against David (II Samuel 10:6). It is probable that the city Abel of [[Beth-maachah]] in [[Naphtali]] (ib. xx. 15) derived its name from its relation to this kingdom and people.
-::[[Bashan]] (Hebrew הבשן ha-Bashan, meaning "the light soil") is a biblical place first mentioned in Genesis 14:5, where it is said that [[Chedorlaomer]] and his confederates "smote the [[Rephaim]] in [[Ashteroth]]," where [[Og the king of Bashan]] had his residence. At the time of Israel's entrance into the Promised Land, Og came out against them, but was utterly routed
-:(Numbers 21:33-35; Deuteronomy 3:1-7). This country extended from [[Gilead]] in the south to [[Hermon]] in the north, and from the [[Jordan river]] on the west to [[Salcah]] on the east. Along with the half of Gilead it was given to the half-tribe of [[Manasseh]] (Joshua 13:29-31). [[Golan]], one of its cities, became a city of refuge (Joshua 21:27).
-::'''Bashan just northeast of [[Chinnereth]], the [[Golan heights]].'''
-::'''[[Argob]], in Bashan''', was one of Solomon's commissariat districts (1 Kings 4:13). The cities of Bashan were taken by [[Hazael]] (2 Kings 10:33), but were soon after reconquered by [[Jehoash]] (2 Kings 13:25), who overcame the Syrians in three battles, according to the prediction of [[Elisha]] (19). From this time Bashan almost disappears from history, although we read of the wild cattle of its rich pastures (Ezekiel 39:18; Psalms 22:12), the oaks of its forests (Isaiah 2:13; [[Ezekiel]] 27:6; [[Zechariah]] 11:2), and the beauty of its extensive plains (Amos 4:1; [[Jeremiah]] 50:19). Soon after the conquest, the name "Gilead" was given to the whole country beyond Jordan. After the Exile, '''Bashan was divided into four districts'''
-:3.   ARAM-BETH-REHOB,  2 Sam. 10: 6, translated 'Syrians of '''[[Beth-rehob]]''': cf. Judges 18: 28, a district '''in the north, near [[Dan]]'''.
-:4.   ARAM-ZOBAH, 2 Sam. 10: 6, 8, translated ''''Syrians of [[Zoba]]''',' a district between and Damascus, but not definitely recognised.
-:5.   ARAM-NAHARAIM signifying '[[Aram of two rivers]],' Gen. 24: 10; Deut. 23: 4; Judges 3: 8; 1 Chr. 19: 6, translated by some Greeks as '[[Mesopotamia]].' The two rivers are assumed to be the Euphrates and the Tigris but going to the geographic defitions the territory would be the highlands from whence the [[Orantes]] and [[Jordan]] rivers issue to the plain, and the region  between the two rivers without extending to the far south.
-</blockquote>
-:4 out of 5 ARAM usages are generally south west of Damascus in and around Bashan.
-:Genesis 24:10 refers to [[Nahor]]
-:Deut. 23:4 refers to [[Pethor]] in Aram of the two rivers (between the Orontes and Euphrates
-:Judges 3:8 [[Cushhan-rishatham]] king of [[Edom]]
-:1 Chr. 19: 6 refers to '''[[Maccah]] and [[Zobah]]'''
-:Aram a region mentioned in the Bible containing Damascus.
-:Aram-Naharaim (Aram of two Rivers) a region mentioned in the Bible as containing the town of [[Haran]]
-== References to towns in ARAM ==
-:1 Chr. 2:22 And Segub begat [[Jair]], who had three and twenty cities in the land of [[Gilead]].
-:1 Chr. 2:23 And he took [[Geshur]], and '''Aram''', with the towns of '''Jair''', from them, with '''[[Kenath]]''', and the towns thereof, even threescore cities. All these belonged to the sons of [[Machir the father of Gilead]].
-Num. 32:41 And [[Jair the son of Manasseh]] went and took the small towns thereof, and called them Havoth-jair.
-Deut. 3:14 Jair the son of Manasseh took all the country of Argob unto the coasts of [[Geshuri]] and Maachathi; and called cthem after his own name, Bashan-havoth-jair, unto this day.
-Josh. 13:30 And their coast was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all '''the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan''', threescore cities:
-Kgs. 4:13 The son of [[Geber]], in '''[[Ramoth-gilead]]'''; to him pertained '''the towns of Jair''' the son of Manasseh, which are '''in Gilead'''; to him also pertained '''the region of Argob''', which is '''in Bashan''', threescore great cities with walls and brasen bars:
-:Numbers 32:34 And the children of [[Gad]] abuilt [[Dibon]], and [[Ataroth]], and [[Aroer]],
-:Numbers 32:35 And [[Atroth]], [[Shophan]], and [[Jaazer]], and [[Jogbehah]],
-:Numbers 32:36 And [[Beth-nimrah]], and [[Beth-haran]], afenced cities: and folds for sheep.
-:Numbers 32:37 And the children of [[Reuben]] built [[Heshbon]], and [[Elealeh]], and [[Kirjathaim]],
-:Numbers 32:38 And [[Neb]]o, and [[Baal-meon]], and [[Shibmah]]: and gave other names unto the cities which they builded.
-:Numbers 32:39 And the children of Machir the son of Manasseh went to Gilead, and took it, and dispossessed the [[Amorite]] which was in it.
-:Numbers 32:40 And Moses gave Gilead unto Machir the son of Manasseh; and he dwelt therein.
-:Numbers 32:41 And Jair the son of Manasseh went and took the small towns thereof, and called them Havoth-jair.
-:Numbers 32:42 And [[Nobah]] went and took [[Kenath]], and the villages thereof, and called it Nobah, after his own name.
-== References to Hamath bordering Damascus and Hazor ==
-:Ezek. 47:16 '''[[Hamath]], [[Berothah]], [[Sibraim]]''', which is between '''the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath'''; '''[[Hazar]]-[[hatticon]]''', which is by the coast of [[Hauran]].
-:Ezek. 47:17 And the border from the sea shall be '''[[Hazar]]-[[enan]], the border of Damascus''', and the north northward, and the border of '''Hamath'''. And this is the north side.
-:Ezek. 47:20 The west side also shall be the great sea from the border, till a man come over against Hamath. This is the west side.
-:2 Kgs.14:25 He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of '''Hamath''' unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of [[Amittai]], the prophet, which was of [[Gath]]-[[hepher]].
-:2 Kgs.28 Now the rest of the acts of [[Jeroboam]], and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered '''Damascus, and Hamath''', which belonged to [[Judah]], for Israel, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
-:2 Kgs.17:24 And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from [[Cuthah]], and from [[Ava]], and from '''Hamath''', and from [[Sepharvaim]], and placed them in the cities of [[Samaria]] instead of the children of Israel: and they '''possessed Samaria''', and dwelt in the cities thereof.
-:2 Kgs.17:30 And the men of Babylon made [[Succoth]]-[[benoth]], and the men of [[Cuth]] made [[Nergal]], and the '''men of Hamath made [[Ashima]]''',
-:1 Chr. 18:3 And David smote '''[[Hadarezer]] [[king of Zobah]] unto Hamath''', as he went to stablish his dominion by the river Euphrates.
-:1 Chr. 18:9 Now when Tou king of '''Hamath''' heard how David had smitten all the host of [[Hadarezer]] king of '''[[Zobah]]''';
-:Jer. 52:9 Then they took the king, and carried him up unto the king of Babylon to '''[[Riblah]] in the land of Hamath'''; where he gave judgment upon him.
-:Jer. 52:27 And the king of Babylon smote them, and put them to death in '''Riblah in the land of Hamath'''. Thus Judah was carried away captive out of his own land.
-:Ezek. 48: 1 Now these are the names of the tribes. From the north end to the coast of the way of Hethlon, '''as one goeth to Hamath, Hazar-enan, the border of Damascus''' northward, to the coast of '''Hamath'''; for these are his sides east and west; '''a portion for [[Dan]]'''.
-:Num. 13: 21 So they went up, and searched the land from '''[[the wilderness of Zin]] unto [[Rehob]], as men come to Hamath'''.
-:Num. 34: 8 From mount Hor ye shall point out your border '''unto the entrance of Hamath'''; and the goings forth of the border shall be to [[Zedad]]:
-:Josh. 13:5 And '''the land of the [[Giblites]], and all [[Lebanon]], toward the sunrising, from [[Baal-gad]] under [[mount Hermon]] unto the entering into Hamath'''.
-:Judg. 3: Namely, afive lords of the [[Philistines]], and all the [[Canaanites]], and the [[Sidonians]], and the [[Hivites]] that dwelt in [[mount Lebanon]], '''from [[mount Baal-hermon]] unto the entering in of Hamath'''.
-:2 Sam. 8:9 When '''Toi king of Hamath''' heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,
-:1 Kgs. 8:65 And at that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great congregation, '''from the entering in of Hamath unto [[the river of Egypt]]''', before the LORD our God, seven days and seven days, even fourteen days.
-:2 Kgs. 18:34 Where are the gods of '''Hamath, and of Arpad'''? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, [[Hena]], and [[Ivah]]? have they delivered '''Samaria''' out of mine hand?
-:2 Kgs. 19:13 Where is '''the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad''', and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivah?
-:2 Kgs. 23:33 And Pharaoh-[[necho]] put him in bands at '''Riblah in the land of Hamath''', that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and put the land to a tribute of an hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold.
-:2 Kgs. 25:21 And the king of Babylon smote them, and slew them at '''Riblah in the land of Hamath'''. So Judah was carried away out of their land.
-:2 Chr. 7:8 Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of '''Hamath unto the river of Egypt'''.
-:2 Chr. 8:4 And he built '''[[Tadmor]]''' in the wilderness, and all the store cities, which he built '''in Hamath'''.
-:Isa. 10:9 Is not '''Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus?'''
-:Isa. 11:11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the cremnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from [[Pathros]], and from[[Cush]], and from [[Elam]], and from [[Shinar]], and '''from Hamath''', and from [[the islands of the sea]].
-:Isa. 36:19 Where are the gods of '''Hamath and Arphad'''? where are the gods of Sepharvaim? and have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?
-:Isa. 37:13 Where is '''the king of Hamath, and the king of Arphad''', and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?
-:Jer. 39:5 But the [[Chaldeans]]’ army pursued after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of [[Jericho]]: and when they had taken him, they brought him up to [[Nebuchadnezzar]] king of Babylon to '''Riblah in the land of Hamath''', where he gave judgment upon him.
-:Jer. 49:23 Concerning '''Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad''': for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet.
-Amos 6:2 Pass ye unto [[Calneh]], and see; and from thence go ye to '''Hamath the great''': then go down to Gath of the Philistines: be they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border?
-Zech. 9:2 And '''Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon''', though it be very wise.
-:2 Ne. 20:9 Is not '''Calno as Carchemish? Is not Hamath as Arpad? Is not Samaria as Damascus'''?
-:2 Ne. 21:11 And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall set his hand again the asecond time to recover the remnant of his people which shall be left, from [[Assyria]], and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from '''Hamath''', and from the islands of the sea.
 ==References==
 <references/>
+[[Category:Syriac Christianity]]
 [[Category:Torah places]]