Lexical Summary Ayyah: Falcon, Kite, Bird of Prey Original Word: אַיָּה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Aiah, Ajah The same as 'ayah; Ajah, the name of two Israelites -- Aiah, Ajah. see HEBREW 'ayah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ayyah Definition "falcon," the name of a Horite, also of an Isr. NASB Translation Aiah (6). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. אַיָּה proper name, masculine (falcon) 1 a Horite Genesis 36:24; 1 Chronicles 1:40. 2 father of Rizpah 2 Samuel 3:7; 2 Samuel 21:8,10,11. Topical Lexicon Name and Symbolic Nuance Though identical in spelling to the word for a bird of prey, the name Aiah is borne by two men whose lives frame distinct lessons in covenant promise, royal intrigue, and sacrificial devotion. Genealogical Placement 1. Aiah son of Zibeon emerges in the early Edomite lists (Genesis 36:24; 1 Chronicles 1:40). Zibeon was a chief among the Horites and ally of Esau’s line. Aiah therefore belongs to the peoples who settled Seir before Israel entered Canaan, reminding the reader that God’s redemptive plan is tracked not only through Israel but through the wider family of Abraham. 2. Aiah the Benjaminite is known solely through his daughter Rizpah, concubine of King Saul (2 Samuel 3:7). His personal exploits are unrecorded, yet his household becomes a stage on which righteousness, vengeance, and mercy play out. Royal Intrigue and Political Fallout Saul’s concubine Rizpah becomes the center of a power struggle. Ish-bosheth’s accusation—“Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?” (2 Samuel 3:7)—against Abner sparks the chain of events that collapses Saul’s house. Though Aiah is not an actor in the narrative, the honor of his daughter is used as a political lever, recalling the ancient Near-Eastern practice where possession of a deceased king’s harem signified a claim to the throne. The incident underscores how private virtue and public leadership intersect; sin in the court echoes through the realm. Rizpah’s Vigil: A Father’s Legacy Reflected in a Daughter After Saul’s breach of covenant with the Gibeonites, David consents to their demand for justice. Two sons of Rizpah, grandsons of Aiah, are delivered for execution. The heart of the passage is Rizpah’s prolonged vigil: “Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest until the rain poured down from the heavens … she did not allow the birds of the air to rest on them by day nor the beasts of the field by night” (2 Samuel 21:10). Her steadfast love stirs David to gather the bones of Saul and Jonathan for honorable burial, ending a famine and closing a national wound (2 Samuel 21:11–14). Though Scripture is silent on Aiah’s reaction, his name stands beside his daughter at every mention, binding his household to this act of covenant faithfulness. The “falcon-like” watchfulness associated with the name finds vivid expression in Rizpah’s tireless guarding of the bodies. Theological and Ministry Insights • Covenant Accountability: The tragedy illustrates that covenant breaches, even generations old, demand redress. God’s justice is meticulous; leaders today must weigh the long-term consequences of corporate sin. Historical Resonance The Edomite Aiah represents peoples outside the covenant who nevertheless trace back to Abraham. His inclusion foreshadows the later prophetic vision where Edom and all nations are brought under Messiah’s rule (Isaiah 34:5; Amos 9:12). The Benjaminite Aiah, by contrast, is woven directly into Israel’s royal narrative, reminding readers that God shapes history through families both near and far. Christological Foreshadowing The watchful mourning of Rizpah, daughter of Aiah, prefigures the steadfast love displayed at Calvary, where faithful women remained while the slain awaited honorable burial. Just as David responded to Rizpah’s devotion, so the Father honors the sacrifice of His Son, ending the famine of sin and reconciling the nation to Himself. Key References Genesis 36:24; 1 Chronicles 1:40; 2 Samuel 3:7; 2 Samuel 21:8-11. Summary Aiah’s biblical footprint, though scattered and brief, bridges patriarchal genealogy and royal drama. One Aiah anchors the record of Edom; the other stands behind Rizpah’s courageous vigil. Together they witness to God’s sovereign weaving of family histories into His unfolding account of justice, mercy, and redemption. Forms and Transliterations אַיָּ֑ה אַיָּ֖ה אַיָּ֥ה אַיָּ֨ה אַיָּה֙ איה וְאַיָּ֣ה ואיה ’ay·yāh ’ayyāh aiYah veaiYah wə’ayyāh wə·’ay·yāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 36:24 HEB: בְנֵֽי־ צִבְע֖וֹן וְאַיָּ֣ה וַעֲנָ֑ה ה֣וּא NAS: of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah-- KJV: of Zibeon; both Ajah, and Anah: INT: are the sons of Zibeon Aiah and Anah he 2 Samuel 3:7 2 Samuel 21:8 2 Samuel 21:10 2 Samuel 21:11 1 Chronicles 1:40 6 Occurrences |
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