(only in the plur. אֵילִמִּים, eylammim, masc., and אֵילִמּוֹת, felamoth , fe),an architectural term occurring only in Ezekiel 40:16; Ezekiel 40:22; Ezekiel 40:26; Ezekiel 40:29, and difficult of definition, but prob. allied with אִיִל, a'yil, a ram, hence a column or pilaster (1 Kings 6:31; Ezekiel 41:3, etc.). Most interpreters understand the term (sing. אֵילָם, eylam') to be the same as ץוּלָם, ulam', a vestibule or porch, following the Sept., Vulg., and Targums (Αἰλάμ, vestibulum, ץוּלִמָּא ); but it is manifestly distinguished from this

(Ezekiel 40:7-9; Ezekiel 40:39-40), since the latter contained windows (Ezekiel 40:16; Ezekiel 40:29), whereas this was carried round the building, even in front of the ascent to the gate (Ezekiel 40:22; Ezekiel 40:26), and is usually associated with pillars. Of the other ancient interpreters Symmachus and the Syr. translate sometimes surrounding coliumns, sometimes threshold. The word appears either to denote a portico with a colonnade, or (according to Rabbi Menahen) is about equivalent to אִיִל, from which it is derived, i.e. some ornament, perhaps the volute or moulding at the top of a column (comp. Bottcher, Proben alttest. Schrifverkl. p. 319).

Arches with vaulted chambers and domed temples figure so conspicuously in modern Oriental architecture, that, if the arch did not exist among the ancient Jews, their towns and houses could not possibly have offered even a faint resemblance to those which now exist; and this being the case, a great part of the analogical illustrations of Scripture which modern travelers and Biblical illustrators have obtained from this source must needs fall to the ground. Nothing against its existence is to be inferred from the fact that no word properly signifying an arch can be found in the Hebrew Scriptures (see above). The architectural notices in the Bible are necessarily few and general; and we have at this day histories and other books, larger than the sacred volume, in which no such word as "arch" occurs. There is certainly no absolute proof that the Israelites employed arches in their buildings; but if it can be shown that arches existed in neighboring countries at a very early period, we may safely infer that so useful an invention could not have been unknown in Palestine.

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