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{{Short description|Early Aramean state mentioned in the Hebrew Bible}}
{{distinguish|Zoba}}
{{Aramaeans}}
'''Zobah''' or '''Aram-Zobah''' ({{Lang-he|אֲרָם צוֹבָא|translit=ʾĂrām Ṣōḇāʾ}}) was an early [[Aramean]] state mentioned in the [[Hebrew Bible]], which extended north-east of biblical [[King David]]'s realm.<ref name="CBSC"/>
[[Alexander Kirkpatrick|A. F. Kirkpatrick]], in the [[Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges]] (1896), places it broadly between [[Damascus]] and the [[Euphrates]].<ref name="CBSC">Kirkpatrick, A. F., [https://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/1_samuel/14.htm Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges on 1 Samuel 14], accessed 26 July 2019</ref> It is thought by some to have extended from the [[Beqaa Valley]] along the eastern side of the [[Anti-Lebanon Mountains]], reaching [[Hamath]] to the north and [[Damascus]] to the south, making it at one time a state of considerable importance.{{sfn|Abousamra|2019|pp=234–236, 240}}
==In the Hebrew Bible==
After the 10th century BCE, Zobah is not mentioned in the [[Hebrew Bible]], but the city of [[Subiti]], which is mentioned in the annals of [[Ashurbanipal]] as having been conquered by him in the 7th century BCE, is probably identical with it (compare Schrader, "K. B." ii. 217). The same city is mentioned in some broken [[Cuneiform script|cuneiform]] lists of towns in connection with Hamath and [[Damascus]]. It also appears (as "Aram-Zobah") in the chapter-heading of [[Psalm 60]].▼
In [[I Samuel]], the kings of Zobah were said to have fought with Israelite king [[Saul]] ({{bibleverse|1 Samuel|14:47}}). Kirkpatrick suggests that "the 'kings' were apparently independent chiefs", but by the time of King David there was a single king, [[Hadadezer bar Rehob]].<ref name="CBSC" /> Later, King Hadadezer bar Rehob allied with [[Ammon (nation)|Ammon]] against King David, who defeated Zobah and made the kingdom tributary to [[United Monarchy|Israel]] ({{bibleverse|2 Samuel|10}}). In this war, Arameans from across the Euphrates came to Hadadezer's aid ({{bibleverse|2 Sam.|10:16}}). Upon the accession of [[Solomon]], Zobah became independent of Israel (compare {{bibleverse|1 Kings|11:23}} et seq.).
The chapter-heading of [[Psalm 60]] in the [[New King James Version]] refers to Zobah.<ref>{{bibleverse||Psalm|60|NKJV}}: NKJV</ref> In the [[Revised Standard Version]] and the [[New American Bible Revised Edition|New American Bible (Revised Edition)]], the reference is to Aram-Zobah.<ref>{{bibleverse||Psalm|60|RSV}}: RSV</ref><ref>{{bibleverse||Psalm|60|NABRE}}: NABRE</ref>
From the 11th century, it was common Rabbinic usage to apply the term "Aram Zobah" to the area of [[Aleppo]], and this is perpetuated by [[Syrian Jews]] to this day. However, [[Saadia Gaon]] (882‒942 CE), in his [[Judeo-Arabic]] translation (''[[Tafsīr]]'') of the book of Psalms has identified Aram-zobah with [[Nusaybin|Nisibis]].<ref>''The Book of Psalms (with Rabbi Saadia Gaon's Translation and Commentary)'', editor: Yosef Qafih, Machon Moshe: 2nd edition, Jerusalem 2010, s.v. Psalm 60:2.</ref>▼
==In Mesopotamian sources==
▲After the 10th century BCE, Zobah is not mentioned in the [[Hebrew Bible]], but the city of
Some sources indicate that Zobah city is the current [[Anjar, Lebanon|Anjar]].<ref>http://www.subaa.com/chapterDetails.php?chapterID=25 كتاب صوبا - تاريخ وطن وحياة قرية {{ar icon}}</ref> In later Assyrian documents it may have been named a provincial center that derived from the recently incorporated city of [[Damascus]], which might be Deir Khabiyah west of [[Al-Kiswah]].<ref>http://www.nesrosuryoyo.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2257 مملكة آرام حماة {{ar icon}}</ref>▼
==Medieval Rabbinical sources==
▲From the 11th century, it was common [[Rabbinic Judaism|Rabbinic]] usage to apply the term "Aram Zobah" to the area of [[Aleppo]], and this is perpetuated by [[Syrian Jews]] to this day.<ref>[https://aleppojews.co.il/en/homeeng World Center for Aleppo (Halab) Jews Traditional Culture], המרכז העולמי למורשת יהדות ארם-צובא (הלב).</ref> However, Rabbi [[Saadia Gaon]] (882‒942 CE), in his [[Judeo-Arabic]] translation (''[[Tafsīr]]'') of the
==Identification attempts==
Based on the biblical narrative, primarily from the [[books of Kings]] and II Samuel, [[Berothai]], a city belonging to Hadadezer ({{bibleverse|2 Sam.|8:8}}) is identified by many with [[Berothah]] ({{bibleverse|Ezekiel|47:16}}), which was between [[Hamath]] and [[Damascus]].{{citation needed|date=July 2019}} Zobah was probably located near this city, though [[Joseph Halévy]] claims to have identified Zobah with [[Chalcis, Syria|Chalcis]].{{citation needed|date=July 2019}} On the later view, the area in question would be found in the far north of [[Syria]] and parts of [[Turkey]].{{dubious|This sentence describes a REGION. The topic here is the CITY. Is this sentence referring to the region where one should look for the CITY, or to the KINGDOM? If the latter: wrong place for that, plus: at what point in time? Mess.|date=August 2020}}{{citation needed|date=July 2019}}
▲Some sources indicate that Zobah city is the
According to [[Edward Lipiński (orientalist)|Edward Lipiński]], the location of the capital city of Ṣoba corresponds to the present archaeological site of [[Tell Deir]] in the [[Beqaa Valley]] of modern-day [[Lebanon]].{{sfn|Lipiński|2000|page=327}} Gaby Abousamra connects the biblical city with the modern-day village of Zabbud, also in Lebanon.{{sfn|Abousamra|2019|p=238}}
==See also==
*[[Aleppo Codex]], Hebrew Bible manuscript called in Hebrew "Keter Aram-Zoba", meaning "Crown of Aleppo"
*[[Aram-Damascus]], another Iron Age Aramean kingdom
*[[Hamath-zobah]], biblical city
*[[Homs]], city in Syria
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
*Schrader, K. B. ii. 121 et seq;▼
==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last=Abousamra|first=Gaby|chapter=Biblical Ṣobah: A Location Attempt|title=Aramaean Borders: Defining Aramaean Territories in the 10th–8th Centuries B.C.E.|year=2019|location=[[Leiden]]-[[Boston]]|publisher=[[Brill Publishers|Brill]]|isbn=978-90-04-39853-5|editor-last1=Dušek|editor-first1=Jan|editor-last2=Mynářová|editor-first2=Jana|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1imVDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA231}}
* {{cite book |last=Lipiński |first=Edward |author-link=Edward Lipiński (orientalist) |date=2000 |title=The Aramaeans: Their Ancient History, Culture, Religion |series=Orientalia Lovaniensia analecta |volume=100 |url= |location=[[Leuven]], [[Belgium]] |publisher=[[Peeters Publishers]] |page= |isbn=978-9-042-90859-8 }}
▲* Schrader, K. B. ii. 121 et seq;
*[[Franz Delitzsch|Delitzsch]], ''Wo Lag das Paradies?'' pp. 279 et seq.
*{{cite book |last=Porter |first=Josias Leslie |author-link=Josias Leslie Porter |title=Giant Cities of Bashan; and Syria's Holy Places |publisher=T. Nelson and Sons |year=1868 }}
*{{JewishEncyclopedia|url=http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?letter=A&artid=1703|article=Aram-zobah}}▼
{{refend}}
==External links==
{{coord missing|Syria}}▼
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{{Ancient states and regions of the Levant}}
▲{{coord missing|Syria}}
[[Category:Aramean cities]]
[[Category:Aramean states]]
[[Category:Ancient Syria]]
[[Category:History of
[[Category:Hebrew Bible places]]
[[Category:Former populated places in Syria]]
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