Adrammelech, Anammelech

See also Adrammelech


ADRAMMELECH, ANAMMELECH ə drăm’ ə lĕk, ə năm’ ə lĕk (אַדְרַמֶּ֥לֶכְ, עֲנַמֶּ֖לֶכְ, first form may be derived from the lordship of the king, or more likely represents an original Adad [Hadad]-Milki, Hadad is king, a name attested at Tell Halaf.) The variant Anammelech may be related to the Sumer./ Accad. god Anu (cf. Albright, Archaeology and the Religion of Israel, pp. 162-164).

1. A deity of the natives of Sepharvaim (Sabraim in E central Syria) whom the Assyrians transplanted to Samaria after 722 b.c. (2 Kings 17:31). The melek element may refer to the god Athtar-Venus Star. Atar is attested in Harran and Syria. For Atar-Milki, Atar is king, cf. Revue Asiatic, XXX, p. 72.

2. A son of Sennacherib (2 Kings 19:37; Isa 37:38). Perhaps Arad-Melek who joined his brother, Sharezer, in murdering their father in the temple of Nisrock. According to Assyrian records Esar-haddon defeated two rebels, possibly Arad-Melek and Nergal-shar-usur (Sharezer) (cf. Documents from Old Testament Times, p. 71). In Jos. Antiq. X. xxii he is called Andromachus, and other Gr. sources call him Adramelos, and Adrumuzan.