Topical Bible: Aarat

Topical Encyclopedia

Introduction:
Aarat is a term that appears in the Bible, often associated with the region where Noah's Ark came to rest after the flood. It is commonly linked to the mountains of Ararat, which are traditionally located in the Armenian Highlands. The term "Aarat" itself is not directly found in the Berean Standard Bible , but it is closely related to "Ararat," which is mentioned in the context of the flood narrative.

Biblical References:
1. Genesis 8:4 : "On the seventeenth day of the seventh month, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat." This verse is the primary biblical reference to Ararat, indicating the location where Noah's Ark settled after the waters of the great flood receded. The "mountains of Ararat" are often interpreted as a specific mountainous region rather than a single peak.

2. 2 Kings 19:37 : "One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him down with the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esarhaddon reigned in his place." This passage refers to the land of Ararat as a place of refuge for the sons of Sennacherib after they assassinated their father, the king of Assyria.

3. Isaiah 37:38 : "And as he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him down with the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esarhaddon reigned in his place." This verse parallels the account in 2 Kings, again mentioning Ararat as a region to which the assassins fled.

4. Jeremiah 51:27 : "Raise a banner in the land! Blow the trumpet among the nations! Prepare the nations against her. Summon the kingdoms against her—Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a commander against her; send up horses like swarming locusts." In this prophetic context, Ararat is listed among the kingdoms summoned to rise against Babylon, indicating its recognition as a distinct geopolitical entity.

Historical and Geographical Context:
The term "Ararat" is traditionally associated with a region in the Armenian Highlands, which is part of modern-day Turkey. The area is characterized by its rugged terrain and significant elevation, with Mount Ararat being the highest peak in the region. Historically, the kingdom of Urartu, which existed from approximately the 9th to the 6th century BCE, is often identified with the biblical Ararat. Urartu was a powerful kingdom known for its advanced culture and military prowess.

Cultural and Theological Significance:
The mention of Ararat in the context of Noah's Ark has made it a focal point for biblical archaeology and exploration. Many expeditions have sought to locate the remains of the Ark on Mount Ararat, though no conclusive evidence has been found. Theologically, Ararat represents a place of new beginnings and divine deliverance, as it is where Noah and his family emerged from the Ark to repopulate the earth.

Conclusion:
While the term "Aarat" itself does not appear in the Berean Standard Bible, its association with "Ararat" provides a rich tapestry of historical, geographical, and theological significance. The mountains of Ararat serve as a symbol of hope and renewal in the biblical narrative, marking the transition from divine judgment to the promise of a restored creation.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Aarat

(high or holy ground), a mountainous district of Asia mentioned in the Bible in connection with the following events:-- (1) As the resting-place of the ark after the deluge. (Genesis 8:4) (2) As the asylum of the sons of Sennacherib. (2 Kings 19:37; Isaiah 37:38) Authorized Version has "the land of Armenia." (3) As the ally, and probably the neighbor, of Minni and Ashchenaz. (Jeremiah 51:27) [ARMENIA] The name Ararat was unknown to the geographers of Greece and Rome, as it still is to the Armenians of the present day; but it was an ancient name for a portion of Armenia. In its biblical sense it is descriptive generally of the Armenian highlands--the lofty plateau which over looks the plain of the Araxes on the north and of Mesopotomia on the south. Various opinions have been put forth as to the spot where the ark rested, as described in (Genesis 8:4) (but it is probable that it rested on some of the lower portions of the range than on the lofty peak to which exclusively) Europeans have given the name Ararat, the mountain which is called Massis by the Armenians, Agri-Dagh , i.e. Steep Mountain , by the Turks, and Kuh-i-Nuh , i.e. Noah's Mountain , by the Persians. It rises immediately out of the plain of the Araxes, and terminates in two conical peaks, named the Great and Less Ararat, about seven miles distant from each other; the former of which attain an elevation of 17,260 feet above the level of the sea and about 14,000 above the plain of the Araxes, while the latter is lower by 4000 feet. The summit of the higher is covered with eternal snow for about 3000 feet. Arguri, the only village known to have been built on its slopes, was the spot where, according to tradition, Noah planted his vineyard. "The mountains of Ararat " are co-extensive with the Armenian plateau from the base of Ararat in the north to the range of Kurdistan in the south, we notice the following characteristics of that region as illustrating the Bible narrative; (1) its elevation. It rises to a height of from 6000 to 7000 feet above the level of the sea. (2) Its geographical position . Viewed with reference to the dispersion of the nations, Armenia is the true centre of the world; and at the present day Ararat is the great boundary-stone between the empires of Russia, Turkey and Persia. (3) Its physical character . The plains as well as the mountains supply evidence of volcanic agency. (4) The climate . Winter lasts from October to May, and is succeeded by a brief spring and a summer of intense heat. (5) The vegetation . Grass grows luxuriantly on the plateau, and furnishes abundant pasture during the summer months to the flocks of the nomad Kurds. Wheat, barley and vines ripen at far higher altitudes than on the Alps and the Pyrenees.