Name borne by two biblical figures: the king of Ellasar and Nebuchadnezzar's chief of guards
Also known as: Ariok, Arioch
The patriarchsKingChief of guardsMilitary leaderCourt officialPatriarchal period (circa 20th century BC) and exile (circa 6th century BC)
The name Arioch is linked in the Bible to two completely different figures, separated by well over a thousand years. The first is the king of Ellasar, who took part in a military coalition led by Kedorlaomer of Elam. This alliance waged war against five kings in the Valley of Siddim, won victory, and captured among others Abraham's nephew Lot — which triggered Abraham's bold military counterattack and liberation of the captives. The second Arioch served at King Nebuchadnezzar's court in Babylon as chief of the bodyguard. When the king demanded that the wise men not only interpret a dream but also recount its content — and no one could do it — Arioch received orders to execute them all. In this critical situation, Daniel approached Arioch with wisdom and caution, and Arioch explained the situation to him and later brought him before the king. Daniel's divinely inspired revelation of the dream saved the lives of the wise men and demonstrated God's sovereignty over the kingdoms of the earth.
Key events
Arioch as king of Ellasar in the war against the Valley of Siddim
Arioch, the king of Ellasar, allied with Kedorlaomer of Elam, Amraphel of Shinar, and Tidal of Goiim in the war against the five kings of the Valley of Siddim, including the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah.
2these kings went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, that is, Zoar.
5In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer came with the kings who were allied with him, and they defeated the Rephaim at Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim at Ham, the Emim at Shaveh-kiriathaim,
7Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat, that is, Kadesh, and they struck down all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.
8Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, that is, Zoar, marched out and drew up their battle lines against them in the Valley of Siddim—
10Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, they fell into them, while the rest escaped to the hills.
Abraham gathered 318 of his trained men, pursued Arioch and the allied kings to free his nephew Lot, and defeated them all the way to Hobah north of Damascus.
13One who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, the brother of Eshcol and Aner; these were allies of Abram.
14When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he mustered his trained men, born in his household, three hundred eighteen of them, and pursued as far as Dan.
Arioch ordered the execution of the wise men in Babylon
In Daniel's time, Arioch, chief of King Nebuchadnezzar's bodyguard, was ordered to execute all the wise men in Babylon because none could tell the king what his dream contained or interpret it.
After God revealed the secret of the dream to Daniel in a night vision, Arioch brought him before King Nebuchadnezzar and presented him as one who could interpret the dream.
24Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, "Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon. Bring me before the king, and I will give him the interpretation."
25Arioch hurried Daniel into the king's presence and said, "I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can make known to the king the interpretation."