Atlas Biblica

    place

    Ahava

    אַהֲוָא

    Ahava, a location near Babylon where Ezra gathered the exiles before their return to Jerusalem.

    Where the story of Ahava happensWhere the gazetteer locates Ahava, framed to them: Ahava. Each dot is a coordinate from the gazetteer. The coastline is a modern one, simplified; no border, road or settlement of any period is drawn, and no line joins two points, because the rows state where and not in what order.Ahava
    Where the gazetteer locates Ahava
    verses
    3
    first named
    Ezra 8:15
    last named
    Ezra 8:15
    feature
    canal
    coordinates
    33.64°N · 42.82°E
    canal33.64°N · 42.82°E

    Hit (OpenBible)

    Scholarship offers 4 identifications for this place. The leading one is shown; the others are recorded in the gazetteer.

    Description

    Ahava in the text

    In the words of STEPBible TIPNR:

    Ahava was a place near Babylon where Ezra assembled the Jewish exiles who were preparing to return to Jerusalem (Ezra 8:15). It was located by a river, also called Ahava, which is believed to be a canal or tributary of the Euphrates River. Ezra had sent for Levites and temple servants to join the group of returning exiles, and they gathered at Ahava before setting out on their journey.

    At Ahava, Ezra proclaimed a fast for the people to humble themselves before God and seek His protection for their journey (Ezra 8:21). After the fast, the exiles set out from Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month and arrived safely in Jerusalem, thanks to the hand of God upon them (Ezra 8:31). The mention of Ahava in the book of Ezra highlights the importance of spiritual preparation and reliance on God's guidance and protection during the Jews' return from exile in Babylon.

    Relations

    Direct connections

    Every relation is authored once and its inverse derived, so both ends of an edge always agree. Neither end of one reaches this entity.

    Not stated

    Nothing stands in a stated relation with this entity.

    Read it

    Where to read it

    Every verse of the text carried here that names this entity — 3, across 1 book.

    1. Ezra3 verses

      8:158:218:31

    Onward

    Where this page goes

    Nothing in the graph stands one hop from this entity yet. These are the best-connected entities of the same type, so the page still ends somewhere. Descriptions by STEPBible TIPNR.

    ElsewhereJerusalemThe capital of Israel, a holy city for three religionsElsewhereEgyptAncient nation; Israelites enslaved there; plagues and ExodusElsewhereJordanA river and region, significant in Israel's history

    Sources

    What this rests on