Difference between revisions of "Aven"

<p> [[Aven]] ( ''Â'Ven'' ), ''Nothingness.'' 1. The name applied to the city elsewhere called On, or Heliopolis. &nbsp;Ezekiel 30:17. 2. A contracted form, &nbsp;Hosea 10:8, of Beth-aven, ''I.E.,'' Bethel. 3. A place mentioned by &nbsp;Amos 1:5, called Bikath-aven, in the margin of [[A. V]]  It seems to be a "plain" or valley in Lebanon, where Baalbek is situated, still called el ''BukâʾA'' . </p>

<p> (Heb. id., '''''אָוֶן''''' '', Nothingness,'' hence ''Iniquity,'' as often, especially ''Idolatry,'' and so concretely an idol itself, as in &nbsp;Isaiah 66:3), a contemptuous name given to three places on account of the idolatry practiced there. (See Ben- Oni). </p> <p> '''1.''' (Sept. '''''῏''''' '''''Ων''''' ''.'' ) A plain ( '''''בִּקְעָה''''' , ''Bikah', Valley),'' "the plain of the sun," of [[Damascene]] Syria, mentioned by Amos (1, 5) in his denunciation of [[Aram]] (Syria) and the country to the north of Palestine. It is usually supposed to be the same as the plain of Baalbek, or valley of Baal, where there was a magnificent temple dedicated to the sun. (See Baalbek). Being between [[Lebanon]] and Anti-Lebanon, it is supposed by Rosenm '''''Ü''''' ller and others (in loc.) to be the same plain or valley that is mentioned as "the valley of Lebanon" in &nbsp;Joshua 11:17 (comp. Gesenius, ''Thes. Heb.'' p. 52). Some, however, would rather seek Aven in the plain four leagues from [[Damascus]] toward the desert, where Michaelis (Notes on Amos) heard from a native of Damascus of a valley near that city called Un, and he quotes Ia Damascene proverb referring thereto; but this locality lacks confirmation (see Henderson, in loc.); for the information was at best suspicious, and has not been confirmed, although the neighborhood of Damascus has been tolerably well explored by [[Burckhardt]] (App. 4) and by Porter. The prophet, however, would I seem to be alluding to some principal district of the country of equal importance with Damascus itself; and I so the Sept. have understood it, taking the letters as if pointed, '''''אוֹן''''' , ''On,'' and expressing it in their version as I "the plain" of On, by which they doubtless intend the great plain of Lebanon, Coele-Syria, in which the renowned idol-temple of Baalbek or Heliopolis was situated, and which still retains the very same name by I which Amos and Joshua designated it, el-Buka'a. The application of Aven as a term of reproach or contempt to a flourishing idol- sanctuary, and the play or paronomasia therein contained, is quite in keeping with the manner of Amos and of Hosea. The latter frequently applies the very same word to Bethel. (See [[Bethaven]]). </p> <p> '''2.''' (Sept. '''''῾Ηλιούπολις''''' , Eng. marg. "Heliopolis.") Another name for ON (q.v.) in Egypt (&nbsp;Ezekiel 30:17). The intention of the prophet is doubtless to play upon the name in the same manner as Amos and Hosea. See No. 1, above. </p> <p> '''3.''' (Sept. '''''῏''''' '''''Ων''''' ) A shorter form (Amos 10:8) of BETHAVEN (See Bethaven) (q.v.) or BETHEL. </p>