- AIJELETH SHAHAR hind of the dawn, a name found in the title of
Psalm 22. It is probably the name of some song or tune to the measure of
which the psalm was to be chanted. Some, however, understand by the
name some instrument of music, or an allegorical allusion to the subject of
the psalm. - AIR the atmosphere, as opposed to the higher regions of the sky (1
Thessalonians 4:17; Revelation 9:2; 16:17). This word occurs once as the
rendering of the Hebrew ruah (Job 41:16); elsewhere it is the rendering of
shamaiyim, usually translated “heavens.”
The expression “to speak into the air” (1 Corinthians 14:9) is a proverb
denoting to speak in vain, as to “beat the air” (1 Corinthians 9:26) denotes
to labour in vain.
- AJALON and Aij’alon, place of deer. (1.) A town and valley originally
assigned to the tribe of Dan, from which, however, they could not drive
the Amorites (Judges 1:35). It was one of the Levitical cities given to the
Kohathites (1 Chronicles 6:69). It was not far from Beth-shemesh (2
Chronicles 28:18). It was the boundary between the kingdoms of Judah
and Israel, and is frequently mentioned in Jewish history (2 Chronicles
11:10; 1 Samuel 14:31; 1 Chronicles 8:13). With reference to the valley
named after the town, Joshua uttered the celebrated command, “Sun, stand
thou still on Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon” (Joshua
10:12). It has been identified as the modern Yalo, at the foot of the
Beth-horon pass (q.v.). In the Tell Amarna letters Adoni-zedek (q.v.)
speaks of the destruction of the “city of Ajalon” by the invaders, and
describes himself as “afflicted, greatly afflicted” by the calamities that had
come on the land, urging the king of Egypt to hasten to his help.
(2.) A city in the tribe of Zebulun (Judges 12:12), the modern Jalun, three
miles north of Cabul.
- AKKUB (another form of Jacob). (1.) The head of one of the families of
Nethinim (Ezra 2:45).
(2.) A Levite who kept the gate of the temple after the return from
Babylon (1 Chronicles 9:17; Ezra 2:42; Nehemiah 7:45).
(3.) A descendant of David (1 Chronicles 3:24).