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Chushanrishathaim

Biblical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

King of Mesopotamia who oppressed Israel before Othniel’s deliverance

Detailed Definition
Chushanrishathaim, whose name may mean “Cushan of double wickedness,” ruled Aram-Naharaim and subjugated Israel for eight years until Othniel, the first judge, liberated them (Judges 3). In poetry, he personifies foreign tyranny and the cyclical pattern of sin, oppression, and redemption that structures Israel’s early history.
Example
Example in poetry:
In John Milton’s "Paradise Lost," Chushanrishathaim (Judges 3) embodies oppressive foreign rule; In William Blake’s prophetic books, tyrants like Chushanrishathaim represent spiritual bondage; In Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s "The Drama of Exile," Chushanrishathaim symbolizes the enemy of liberty; In George Herbert’s "The Church-porch," Chushanrishathaim’s defeat illustrates divine deliverance; In John Keble’s "Lyra Apostolica," Chushanrishathaim represents the wages of national sin; In Christina Rossetti’s "The World," Chushanrishathaim’s name evokes the memory of oppression.
Additional Notes
Chushanrishathaim: King of Aram-naharaim who oppressed Israel, defeated by Othniel (Judges 3:8–10). His name (“Cushan of double wickedness”) is likely a derogatory pun. In poetry, he symbolizes foreign oppression and the cyclical pattern of sin-judgment-deliverance in Judges. His obscurity makes him ideal for exploring the anonymity of tyranny or the poetic justice of naming oppressors as “doubly wicked.”
Also Known As
Chushan-rishathaim king of Aram Cushan-rishathaim
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