Ulai standard
running through the province of Elam, flowed through Shushan or Susa. It was from "between" this river that Daniel (8:16) heard a voice, coming apparently from the waters which flowed between its two banks.
Where is Ulai in the Bible?
The Ulai is a river located in the ancient region of Elam, near the city of Susa in what is now southwestern Iran. It is best known as the location where the prophet Daniel received one of his most significant visions, described in Daniel 8, in which he saw a ram and a goat engaged in conflict, symbolizing future kingdoms. According to Daniel's account, he stood beside the Ulai River when he heard a heavenly voice interpreting the vision, making this river the setting for an important prophetic revelation. Scholars generally identify the Ulai with the modern Kerkhah River, which flows through the Persian plain and was a major waterway in ancient Mesopotamia. The river's association with Daniel's vision underscores its biblical importance as a place where divine revelation occurred to God's prophet during the Babylonian exile.
Study in OliveGrove: Daniel
In Scripture1 biblical book; 1 with study content
- Daniel
Ulai
ISBE 1915 (Public Domain)running through the province of Elam, flowed through Shushan or Susa. It was from "between" this river that Daniel (8:16) heard a voice, coming apparently from the waters which flowed between its two banks.
2Present Names and Course
Notwithstanding that the rivers of Elam have often changed their courses, there is but little doubt that the Ulai is the Kerkhah, which, rising in the Persian plain near Nehavend (there called the Gamas-ab), is even there a great river. Turned by the mountains, it runs Northwest as far as Bisutun, receiving all the waters of Southern Kurdistan, where, as the Sein Merre, it passes through the inaccessible defiles of Luristan, its course before reaching the Kebir-Kuh being a succession of rapids. Turned aside by this mountain, it follows for about 95 miles the depression which here exists as far as the foothills of Luristan, reaching the Susian plain as a torrent; but it becomes less rapid before losing itself in the marshes of Hawizeh. The course of the stream is said to be still doubtful in places.
3Changed Bed at Susa
In ancient times it flowed at the foot of the citadel of Susa, but its bed is now about 1 1/4 miles to the West. The date of this change of course (during which a portion of the ruins of Susa was carried away) is uncertain, but it must have been later than the time of Alexander the Great. The stream's greatest volume follows the melting of the snows in the mountains, and floods ensue if this coincides with the advent of heavy rain. Most to be dreaded are the rare occasions when it unites with the Ab-e-Diz.
4Assyrian References
The Ulai (Assyrian Ulaa or Ulaia) near Susa is regarded as being shown on the sculptures of the Assyrian king Ashur-bani-pal (British Museum, Nineveh Gal.) illustrating his campaign against Te-umman. Its rapid stream bears away the bodies of men and horses, with chariots, bows and quivers. The bodies which were thrown into the stream hindered its course, and dyed its waters with their blood.
Literature
See Delegation en Perse: Memoires, I, Recherches Archeologiques, 25 ff.
T. G. Pinches
(1) A "son"of Peresh; a Manassite clan (1Ch 7:16,17). Lucian reads Elam.
(2) A descendant of Benjamin who