Sephar-vaim is a city mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically in the context of the Assyrian conquests and the resettlement policies of the Assyrian Empire. The name "Sephar-vaim" is often associated with the duality implied by the suffix "-vaim," suggesting a city of two parts or twin cities. This city is referenced in the historical narratives concerning the Northern Kingdom of Israel and its interactions with the Assyrian Empire.

Biblical References:

1. 2 Kings 17:24 · "Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sephar-vaim and settled them in the cities of Samaria in place of the Israelites. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities."

2. 2 Kings 18:34 · "Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sephar-vaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Have they rescued Samaria from my hand?"

3. 2 Kings 19:13 · "Where are the kings of Hamath, Arpad, the city of Sephar-vaim, Hena, and Ivvah?"

4. Isaiah 36:19 · "Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sephar-vaim? Have they rescued Samaria from my hand?"

5. Isaiah 37:13 · "Where are the kings of Hamath, Arpad, the city of Sephar-vaim, Hena, and Ivvah?"

Historical and Cultural Context:

Sephar-vaim is believed to have been located in Mesopotamia, possibly near the region of Babylon. The city is often mentioned alongside other cities such as Hamath and Arpad, indicating its significance during the period of Assyrian expansion. The Assyrian policy of relocating conquered peoples is evident in the mention of Sephar-vaim's inhabitants being settled in Samaria, replacing the exiled Israelites. This was a common practice intended to prevent rebellion and assimilate diverse cultures into the Assyrian Empire.

The references to the gods of Sephar-vaim in the biblical texts highlight the religious syncretism and the polytheistic practices of the time. The Assyrian king's rhetorical questions about the gods of Sephar-vaim serve to emphasize the futility of relying on these deities for deliverance, contrasting them with the power of the God of Israel.

Theological Significance:

From a theological perspective, the mention of Sephar-vaim and its gods underscores the biblical theme of the sovereignty of the God of Israel over all nations and deities. The narrative demonstrates the futility of idolatry and the ultimate triumph of God's purposes despite the political and military might of empires like Assyria. The relocation of peoples, including those from Sephar-vaim, into the land of Israel serves as a backdrop for the prophetic messages concerning the purity of worship and the call to return to the covenantal faithfulness to Yahweh.

Archaeological Insights:

While the exact location of Sephar-vaim remains uncertain, archaeological findings in the broader region of Mesopotamia provide insights into the cultural and religious practices of the time. Artifacts and inscriptions from the Assyrian period reveal the extent of Assyrian influence and the integration of various peoples into their empire. These findings help to contextualize the biblical narrative and the historical realities faced by the Israelites during the Assyrian domination.

In summary, Sephar-vaim serves as a testament to the historical and theological dynamics of the ancient Near East, illustrating the complex interplay between empires, cultures, and faiths as recorded in the biblical text.5616. Sepharvi -- inhab. of Sepharvaim
... inhab. of Sepharvaim. Transliteration: Sepharvi Phonetic Spelling: (sef-ar-vee')
Short Definition: Sepharvites. ... of Sepharvaim NASB Word Usage Sepharvites (1). ...
/hebrew/5616.htm - 6k

5617. Sepharvayim -- a city conquered by the king of Assyr.
... Word Origin of foreign origin Definition a city conquered by the king of Assyr.
NASB Word Usage Sephar-vaim (1), Sepharvaim (5). dual. (dual). 5616, 5617. ...
/hebrew/5617.htm - 6k

Deliverance from Assyria
... Assyria? Where are the gods of Hamath and Arphad? where are the gods of
Sepharvaim? and have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 30 deliverance from assyria.htm

Babylonia and Assyria
... of Babylon were Kish (El-Hymar) and Kutha (Tel-Ibrahim); somewhat to the north of
it, and on the banks of the Euphrates, was Sippara or Sepharvaim, whose temple ...
/.../early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter vi babylonia and assyria.htm

We Arrive Now at a Branch of Our Subject Upon which the Lord's ...
... Haddan, of whom it is said, "And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and
from Cutthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/we arrive now at a.htm

The Woman of Samaria
... idolatry, and made gods of their own, and some of them even burnt their children
in the fire, to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim, from which ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon xxvi the woman of.htm

Mongrel Religion
... If the Sepharvites had stopped at Sepharvaim they would never have thought of fearing
Jehovah; if the men of Babylon had continued to live in Babylon they ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 27 1881/mongrel religion.htm

Order and Argument in Prayer
... It is full of blasphemy, will that help him? "Where are the gods of Arphad and
Sepharvaim? Where are the gods of the cities which I have overthrown? ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 12 1866/order and argument in prayer.htm

Sennacherib (705-681 BC )
... Where is the King of Hamath, and the King of Arpad, and the King of the city of
Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah?" Hezekiah, having received this letter of ...
/.../chapter isennacherib 705-681 b c.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7. <. ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

Sepharvaim (6 Occurrences)
... It was a double city, and received the common name Sepharvaim, ie, "the two Sipparas,"
or "the two booktowns." The Sippara on the east bank of the Euphrates is ...
/s/sepharvaim.htm - 12k

Sephar-vaim (1 Occurrence)
Sephar-vaim. Sepharvaim, Sephar-vaim. Sepharva'im . Multi-Version Concordance
Sephar-vaim (1 Occurrence). ... (See NAS). Sepharvaim, Sephar-vaim. Sepharva'im ...
/s/sephar-vaim.htm - 6k

Ivvah (3 Occurrences)
... Ivvah was a city apparently conquered by the Assyrians, and is mentioned by them,
in the verses quoted, with Hamath and Arpad, Sepharvaim and Hena. ...
/i/ivvah.htm - 9k

Anammelech (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary One of the gods worshipped by the people of
Sepharvaim, who colonized Samaria (2 Kings 17:31). The name ...
/a/anammelech.htm - 9k

Sepharva'im (4 Occurrences)
... 37:13 Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city
of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah?' (See RSV). Sephar-vaim, Sepharva'im. ...
/s/sepharva'im.htm - 7k

Ivah (3 Occurrences)
... It lay on the Euphrates, between Sepharvaim and Henah, and is supposed by some to
have been the Ahava of Ezra (8:15). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. IVAH. ...
/i/ivah.htm - 7k

Arpad (6 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 18:34 Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? Where are the gods of
Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah? ... Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? ...
/a/arpad.htm - 10k

Adrammelech (3 Occurrences)
... (1.) An idol; a form of the sun-god worshipped by the inhabitants of Sepharvaim
(2 Kings 17:31), and brought by the Sepharvite colonists into Samaria. ...
/a/adrammelech.htm - 8k

Arphad (2 Occurrences)
... where are the gods of Sepharvaim? ... Isaiah 37:13 Where is the king of Hamath, and the
king of Arphad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? ...
/a/arphad.htm - 8k

Sephar-va'im (2 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 17:24 And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah,
and from Avva, and from Hamath and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities ...
/s/sephar-va'im.htm - 7k

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