Sepharvaim

Jun. Milvend. Grot. ad 4 Reg. Ptolem. l. 5. c. 18. Abyden. Herodot. l. 1. c. 103. l. 3. c. 94. l. 7. c. 79. Ezr. iv. 10SEPHARVAIM. When Shalmaneser, King of Assyria, carry’d away the Israelites from the Kingdom of Samaria to Places beyond the Euphrates, he brought other People in their stead into Palestine, among whom were the Sepharvaim.¹ It is not exactly known where the Place was of their former Habitation. Some pretend they inhabited the City of Siphera, or the City of the Sipharenians, upon the Euphrates. We think their Dwelling to have been in the Mountains of Sephar, of which mention is made Gen. x. 29. and that the Saspires, who, according to Herodotus, were the only People that inhabited between the Colchians and the Medes, are the same as the Sepharvaim of the Scriptures. Strabo, l. 10. places the Sarapares in Armenia. In the Book of Ezra, this Transportation of the Nations from beyond the Euphrates into the Country of Samaria, is imputed to the great and noble Asnappar, who is probably King Esarhaddon. But in the Enumeration that is there made, of all those Nations, we do not find the Sepharvaim, or Sepharvaites; except they are express’d by the Name of the Tarpelites, which may be put for the Tapyres, or Sapires, according to the Pronunciation of the Chaldeans.

Isa. xxxvii. 13. 2 King. xx. 13.The Scripture speaks of the King of the City of Sepharvaim, which probably was the Capital of the People of this Name; and the King of Sepharvaim is no other than the God of these People. This appears pretty plainly from comparing these Passages. Where are the the Gods of 2 Kings xviii. 34. Isa. xxxvii. 13. 2 King. xix. 13. 2 Kings xvii. 31.Hamath, and of Arpad? Where are the Gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? And elsewhere, Where is the King of Hamath, and the King of Arpad, and the King of the City of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivah? Lastly, it is said, The Sepharvites burnt their Children in the Fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech the Gods of Sepharvaim. There is therefore great Probability that Hena and Ivah are the same as Anammelech and Adrammelech, the Gods of the Sepharvites. But Anammelech apparently stands for the Moon, and Adrammelech for the Sun. The first Word signifies merciful King, and the second magnificent King. The Orientals gave to the Moon the Name of God and King.

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