The name Arioch (Hebrew: ’Aryok) is believed to be of Babylonian or Sumerian origin, meaning “a lion-like man” or “venerable.” The name appears in two separate biblical books, referring to two different individuals separated by centuries.
1. Arioch, King of Ellasar (The Early History)
The first and more ancient appearance of Arioch is in the book of Genesis, where he is listed as one of the four kings of the East who invaded Canaan during the time of Abraham. This event is one of the earliest recorded military actions in the Bible, demonstrating the wide political scope of the ancient Near East.
Arioch is identified as the “king of Ellasar” in Genesis 14:1:
“And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;” (KJV).
These four kings formed a powerful confederation under the leadership of Chedorlaomer, King of Elam, who had held several Canaanite city-states (including Sodom and Gomorrah) in vassalage for twelve years. When the Canaanite kings rebelled in the thirteenth year, the four Eastern kings came to subdue them.
Arioch participated in the successful campaign described in Genesis 14:5-7, which saw the Eastern kings conquer several regions and peoples. The climax of this narrative is the capture of Lot, Abraham’s nephew, during the battle of the Vale of Siddim. This act provoked Abraham, who then gathered his 318 trained servants and allies, pursued the kings as far as Hobah, and slew the kings, rescuing Lot and recovering all the goods (Genesis 14:15-16).
Arioch’s mention in this passage is historically significant as a record of early geopolitical alignments and the mighty intervention of Abraham, a crucial foundational moment for the people of Israel.
2. Arioch, Captain of the Guard (The Prophetic Context)
The second Arioch appears much later, during the Babylonian exile, in the book of Daniel. Here, he is not a king but a high-ranking official in the court of the powerful Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar.
This Arioch is introduced as the “captain of the king’s guard” in Daniel 2:14:
“Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:” (KJV).
The context is the famous incident of Nebuchadnezzar’s troubling dream. When the king’s wise men and astrologers could not reveal the dream and its interpretation, the furious king issued a decree that all the wise men of Babylon, including Daniel and his companions, should be executed.
Arioch was the officer charged with carrying out this terrifying decree. Daniel’s wisdom and tactful intercession with Arioch is pivotal. Daniel requests a delay from Arioch, which is granted, allowing Daniel time to pray for and receive the divine revelation needed to save the lives of all the wise men.
Daniel 2:24 describes the moment of intervention:
“Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation.” (KJV).
This Arioch, though an instrument of a pagan king’s wrath, served a providential role by acting with enough patience to allow Daniel to intervene, thus securing a major victory for the God of Israel and elevating Daniel’s standing in the court.
In conclusion, the two men named Arioch serve as historical and prophetic signposts. The first was an adversary overcome by Abraham, while the second was an official whose cooperation led to the deliverance and elevation of Daniel, demonstrating that God works through both conflicts and human instruments to bring about His ultimate will.