Saramel

Sar'amel (Σαραμέλ v.r. Α᾿σαραμέλ), the place where the assembly of the Jews was held at which the high priesthood was conferred upon Simon Maccabaeus (1 Macc. 14:28). The fact that the name is found only in this passage has led to the conjecture that it is an imperfect version of a word in the original Hebrew or Syriac from which the present Greek text of the Maccabees is a translation. Some (as Castellio) have treated it as a corruption of Jerusalem; but this is inadmissible, since it is inconceivable that so well known a name should be corrupted. Other conjectures are enumerated by Grimm in the Kurzgef. exegetisches Handb. on the passage. A few only need be named here, but none seem perfectly satisfactory. All appear to adopt the reading Asaramel.

(1.) Ha-hatsar Millo, "the court of Millo," Millo being not improbably the citadel of Jerusalem. SEE MILLO. This is the conjecture of Grotius, and has at least the merit of ingenuity.

(2.) Ha-hatsar Am-El, "the court of the people of God, that is, the great court of the Temple." This is due to Ewald (Gesch. 4, 387), who compares with it the well-known Sarbeth Sabanai-El, given by Eusebius as the title of the Maccabean history. SEE MACCABEE.

(3.) Has-shaar Am-El, "the gate of the people of God," adopted by Winer (Realwb.).

(4.) Has-shaar Am-El, "prince of the people of God," as if not the name of a place, but the title of Simon, the "in" having been inserted by puzzled copyists. This is adopted by Grimm himself. It has in its favor the fact that without it Simon is here styled high priest only, and his second title, "captain and governor of the Jews and priests" (ver. 47), is then omitted in the solemn official record the very place where it ought to be found. It also seems to be countenanced by the Peshito-Syriac version, which certainly omits the title of "high priest,': but inserts Rabba de-Israel, "leader of Israel." None of these explanations, however, can be regarded as entirely satisfactory.