Difference between revisions of "Uzal"

<p> '''U'zal.''' ''(Separate).'' The sixth son of Joktan, &nbsp;Genesis 10:27; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 1:21, whose settlements are clearly traced in the ancient name of ''San'A'' , the capital city of the [[Yemen]] (a district of Arabia), which was originally ''Awzal'' . </p> <p> From its position in the centre of the best portion of that kingdom, it must always have been an important city. (''San'A'' is situated about 150 miles from Aden and 100 miles from the coast of the Red Sea. It is one of the most imposing cities of Arabia - Editor). </p>

<p> (Heb. Usal', אוּזָל '','' perhaps ''Separate;'' Sept. Αἰζηλ and ἰζήν, v.r. Αἰβήλ and Αἰσήλ '';'' Vulg. [[Uzal]] and ''Huzal'' )'','' the sixth named of the thirteen sons of Joktan among the descendants of [[Shem]] (&nbsp;Genesis 10:27; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 1:21). B.C. post 2400. (See Joktan). </p> <p> [[Abraham]] Zakuth, a learned Jewish writer, states that Sanaa, the metropolis of Yemen, is by the [[Jews]] called Uzal (Bochart, Opera, 1, 114); and in the Kamis, Azal (or Uzal) is said to be the ancient name of Sanaa (Golius, Lex. Arab. s.v.). This was still further confirmed by Niebuhr, who heard, when traveling in Yemen, the same statement made by Mohammedan natives (Description de l'Arabie, 3, 252). It was originally Awzá l (Ibn-Khaldun, ap. Caussin, Essai, 1, 40, note; Mardsid, s.v.; Gesen. Lex. s.v.; Bunsen, Bibelwerk, etc.). The printed edition of the Mardsid writes the name Uzdl, and says, "It is said that its name was Uzdl; and when the Abyssinians arrived at it, and saw it to be beautiful, they said ‘ San'a,' which means beautiful: therefore it was called San'a." The [[Hebrew]] name probably appears in the Ausara (Αὔσαρα or Α ü ζαρα ) of [[Ptolemy]] (''Geogr.'' 6:7), and the ''Ausaritis'' of Pliny, a city of Arabia Felix, celebrated for, its myrrh (''Hist. Nat. 12'' :36). (See Etihnology)… </p> <p> Sanaa is situated in a mountainous region in the center of Yemen, about 150 miles froth Aden and 100 from the coast of the Red Sea. Its commanding position, its strong fortifications, the number of its mosques and minarets, and the size of its houses render it one of the most imposing cities in Arabia. It has a citadel on the site of a famous temple called Beit-Ghumdn, said to have been founded by Shurabil, which was razed by order of Othman. It is abundantly watered by mountain streams; and the gardens, orchards, and fields around it are said to rival in luxuriance and beauty the famous plain of Damascus. In the town of Sanaa there are still some 15,000 Jews, while in the various parts of Yemen their numbers are supposed to amount to 200,000. [[Seer]] Michaelis, Spicileg. 2, 164-175; Forster; Geogr. of Arabia, 1, 143; Ritter, Erdkunde, 12:815-840. (See Arabia). </p> <p> Ezekiel, in his description of Tyre, says, as rendered in the A. V. "Dan and Jaxvan'going to and fro (Heb. aleiizal, מְאוּזָל; Sept. ἐξ᾿ Ασήλ '';'' Vulg. ''Mosel'' )'','' occupied in thy fairs; bright; iron, cassia, and, calamus were in thy market" (&nbsp;Ezekiel 27:19). The structure of the passage unquestionably favors the translation, "Dan, aind Javan ''Of Uzal'' (מֵאוּזָל ), conveyed to your markets wrought iron, cassia," etc. There can be little doubt, therefore, that the prophet alludes to the great city of Yemen, the neighborhood of which is known to have been famous for its spices and perfumes. This view is strengthened by the fact that Javan occurs in the Kamus, and is said to be a town of Yemen. The expression Javan of Uzal is thus appropriate, for the latter was the name of the capital and of a district connected with it. The names Dedan, Arabia, Kedar, and Sheba, following immediately in the prophetic narrative, indicate the country to which the eye of the sacred writer was directed. (See Javan). </p>

<p> ''''' ū´zal ''''' ( אוּזל , <i> ''''' 'ūzāl ''''' </i> ): Sixth son of Joktan (&nbsp; Genesis 10:27; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 1:21 ). Uzal as the name of a place perhaps occurs in &nbsp;Ezekiel 27:19 . the Revised Version (British and American) reads, "Vedan and Javan traded with yarn for thy wares." Here an obscure verbal form, <i> '''''me'ūzzāl''''' </i> , is taken to mean "something spun," "yarn." But with a very slight change we may read <i> '''''me'ūzāl''''' </i> = "from Uzal." </p> <p> The name is identical with the Arabic <i> ''''' ‛Auzāl ''''' </i> , the old capital of Yemen, later called <i> ''''' Ṣan‛ā' ''''' </i> . <i> ''''' Ṣan‛ā' ''''' </i> is described as standing high above sea-level in a fertile land, and traversed by a river bed which in the rainy season becomes a torrent. Under the Himyarite dynasty it succeeded Zafar as the residence of the Tubba's. If it is the same place as the Audzara or Ausara of the classics, it is clear why Arabic geographers dwell upon its great antiquity. The most celebrated feature of the town was Ghumdan, an immense palace, the building of which tradition ascribes to Shorabbil, the 6th known king of the Himyarites. According to Ibn Khaldoun this building had four fronts in color red, white, yellow and green respectively. In the midst rose a tower of seven stories, the topmost being entirely of marble (Caussin de Perceval, <i> Essai </i> , II, 75). In the 7th century [[Ad]] the town became the capital of the Zaidite Imams, and the palace was destroyed toward the middle of that century by order of the caliph Othman. </p>