Ahava
“Water”
Summary
A river or place in Babylonia where Ezra gathered the Jewish exiles before their journey to Jerusalem.
☩Location
Ahava was a river in Babylonia, possibly the Euphrates itself or a canal connected to it, at which Ezra assembled the second caravan of returning exiles. The name may also refer to a town or district toward which the river flowed. Some scholars identify it with the modern site of Hit on the Euphrates, due east of Damascus.
☩Ezra's Assembly
At Ahava, Ezra's company encamped for three days to make preparations for the difficult journey ahead. When Ezra discovered no Levites among the people, he sent a delegation to Iddo at Casiphia to request ministers for the temple, and a number of Levites and Nethinim joined the group. Ezra then proclaimed a fast to seek divine guidance and protection, being ashamed to ask the king for a military escort after having declared his faith in God's protection.
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Ahava," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Ahava," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Ahava," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).