Aiah is a biblical figure mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically within the genealogies and narratives of the books of Genesis and 2 Samuel. The name Aiah, which can be translated to mean "falcon" or "vulture," is associated with two distinct individuals in the biblical text.

1. Aiah, the Horite: Aiah is first mentioned in the genealogical records of the Horites, a group of people who lived in the region of Seir before the Edomites. In Genesis 36:24, Aiah is listed as one of the sons of Zibeon. The verse states: "These are the sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. This is the Anah who discovered the hot springs in the wilderness while he was pasturing the donkeys of his father Zibeon." (Genesis 36:24). This brief mention situates Aiah within the broader context of the Horite lineage, which is significant in understanding the ancestral history of the Edomites, descendants of Esau.

2. Aiah, Father of Rizpah: The more prominent mention of Aiah is in the context of his daughter, Rizpah, who plays a significant role in the narrative of King David's reign. Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, was a concubine of King Saul. Her account is recounted in 2 Samuel 3:7 and 2 Samuel 21:8-11. In 2 Samuel 3:7, the text notes: "Meanwhile, Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, daughter of Aiah. And Ish-bosheth said to Abner, 'Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?'" (2 Samuel 3:7). This accusation against Abner, a commander in Saul's army, highlights the political tensions following Saul's death.

Rizpah's most notable act is her vigil over the bodies of her sons, who were executed by the Gibeonites as part of a retributive justice to atone for Saul's earlier actions against them. In 2 Samuel 21:10-11, it is recorded: "And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on the rock. From the beginning of the harvest until the rain poured down from the heavens on the bodies, she did not let the birds of the air rest on them by day nor the beasts of the field by night. When David was told what Saul’s concubine Rizpah, daughter of Aiah, had done..." (2 Samuel 21:10-11). Rizpah's devotion and mourning moved King David to give her sons a proper burial, along with the remains of Saul and Jonathan, thus bringing closure to a period of divine judgment on Israel.

Aiah's mention in the Bible, though brief, is significant due to his connection to Rizpah, whose actions exemplify loyalty and maternal devotion. The narrative surrounding Rizpah and her father Aiah underscores themes of justice, reconciliation, and the impact of personal actions on the broader community.Aiah

vulture, raven; an isle; alas, where is it?

Aiah

(clamor).

1. Son of Zibeon, a descendant of Seir and ancestor of one of the wives of Esau, (1 Chronicles 1:40) called in (Genesis 36:24) AJAH = A IAH. He probably died before his father, as the succession fell to his brother Anah.
2. Father of Rizpah, the concubine of Saul. (2 Samuel 3:7; 21:8,10,11) (B.C. before 1040.)

AIAH

a'-ya ('ayyah, "falcon"; once in the King James Version Ajah, Genesis 36:24):

(1) A Horite, son of Zibeon, and brother of Anah, who was father of one of Esau's wives (Genesis 36:24 1 Chronicles 1:40).

(2) Father of Rizpah, a concubine of Saul, about whom Ishbosheth falsely accused Abner (2 Samuel 3:7), and whose sons were hanged to appease the Gibeonites, whom Saul had wronged (2 Samuel 21:8-11).

345. Ayyah -- "falcon," the name of a Horite, also of an Israelite
... "falcon," the name of a Horite, also of an Israelite. Transliteration: Ayyah Phonetic
Spelling: (ah-yaw') Short Definition: Aiah. ... NASB Word Usage Aiah (6). ...
/hebrew/345.htm - 6k

'de Profundis'
... God took him up, and cast him down: and there he sat all alone, astonished and
confounded, like Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, when she sat alone upon the ...
/.../kingsley/the good news of god/sermon viii de profundis.htm

How David Reigned Over one Tribe at Hebron While the Son Of
... party; but afterwards Abner was blamed, and an accusation was laid against him,
that he went in unto Saul's concubine: her name was Rispah, the daughter of Aiah ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 how david reigned.htm

Preface to Original Edition by Charles Kingsley
... of darkness, and of storm, while lover and friend were hid away from them, and they
sat upon the parching rock, like Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, beside the ...
/.../preface to original edition by.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6. <. ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Aiah (7 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia AIAH. ... Multi-Version Concordance Aiah (7 Occurrences).
Genesis 36:24 These are the children of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. ...
/a/aiah.htm - 9k

Aiah's (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Aiah's (2 Occurrences). ... 2 Samuel 21:11 And it was told
David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done. ...
/a/aiah's.htm - 6k

Ai'ah (5 Occurrences)
Ai'ah. A'iah, Ai'ah. Aiah's . Multi-Version Concordance Ai'ah (5
Occurrences). 2 Samuel 3:7 Now Saul had a concubine, whose name ...
/a/ai'ah.htm - 7k

Rizpah (4 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Coal; hot stone, the daughter of Aiah, and one
of Saul's concubines. She was the mother of Armoni and ...
/r/rizpah.htm - 10k

Mephibosheth (13 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Exterminator of shame; ie, of idols. (1.) The name of
Saul's son by the concubine Rizpah (qv), the daughter of Aiah. ...
/m/mephibosheth.htm - 17k

Zibeon (7 Occurrences)
... Genesis 36:24 These are the children of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. ... The sons of Zibeon:
Aiah, and Anah. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS NIV). ...
/z/zibeon.htm - 9k

Zib'eon (7 Occurrences)
... Genesis 36:24 And these are the children of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah--this is Anah
who found the hot springs in the wilderness, as he fed the asses of Zibeon his ...
/z/zib'eon.htm - 8k

Armoni (1 Occurrence)
... ar-mo'-ni ('armoni, "belonging to the palace"): One of the two sons of Saul by Rizpah,
the daughter of Aiah (2 Samuel 21:8). David delivered them over to the ...
/a/armoni.htm - 7k

A'iah (1 Occurrence)
A'iah. Aiah, A'iah. Ai'ah . Multi-Version Concordance A'iah (1 Occurrence).
Genesis 36:24 These are the children of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. ...
/a/a'iah.htm - 6k

Anah (10 Occurrences)
... Genesis 36:24 These are the children of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. ... The sons of Zibeon:
Aiah, and Anah. (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/a/anah.htm - 13k

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