erech Summary and Overview

(LXX., "Orech"), length, or Moon-town, one of the cities of Nimrod's kingdom in the plain of Shinar (Gen. 10:10); the Orchoe of the Greeks and Romans. It was probably the city of the Archevites, who were transplanted to Samaria by Asnapper (Ezra 4:9). It lay on the left bank of the Euphrates, about 120 miles south-east of Babylon, and is now represented by the mounds and ruins of Warka. It appears to have been the necropolis of the Assyrian kings, as the whole region is strewed with bricks and the remains of coffins. "Standing on the summit of the principal edifice, called the Buwarizza, a tower 200 feet square in the centre of the ruins, the beholder is struck with astonishment at the enormous accumulation of mounds and ancient relics at his feet. An irregular circle, nearly 6 miles in circumference, is defined by the traces of an earthen rampart, in some places 40 feet high."

(length), one of the cities of Nimrod's kingdom in the land of Shinar, #Ge 10:10| doubtless the same as Orchoe, 82 miles south and 43 east of Babylon, the modern designations of the site --Warka, Irka and Irak --bearing a considerable affinity to the original name.

E'RECH (enduring), a city of Nimrod. Gen 10:10. Its people are called Achevites and noticed in connection with the Babylonians. Ezr 4:9, Jerome identifies Erech with Edessa, in Mesopotamia: others identity it with Orchoe or Orech of the Greek and Roman geographers. It corresponded to modern Warka, about 120 miles south-east of Babylon, where there are ruins of ancient buildings, and a rampart of earth nearly 6 miles in circumference and some places 40 feet high. There are ruins of three considerable buildings, the most important one being 200 feet square and about 100 feet high. Many of the bricks bear the name of Urukh, a king who is said to have lived about b.c. 2250. Warka is desolate -- a city of tombs which even the jackal and hyena appear to shun.

"The beginning of Nimrod's kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh in the land of Shinar." Orchoe, 82 miles S., 43 E. of Babylon, now Warka; in the land of Shinar. Apparently the necropolis of the Assyrian kings, judging from the brick and coffins and mounds all round. Some bricks bear the monogram "the moon," corresponding to Hebrew yareach, from whence perhaps Erech is derived. The inhabitants were among those settled in Samaria by Asnapper (Ezra 4:9-10). (See BABYLON.)