Bible Dictionary
ELYMAIS
A district of Persia corresponding to ancient Elam, south of Media and north of Susiana. It is mentioned in the inter-testamental account of 1 Maccabees.
Definition
Elymais was a district of Persia corresponding to the Old Testament Elam. It lay south of Media and north of Susiana. In 1 Maccabees the name refers to a place in Persia rather than securely to a city called Elymais.
Biblical Usage
Elymais occurs in 1 Maccabees 6:1 in the account of events involving Persia. The Revised Version understands the passage to say that there was a city in Elymais in Persia.
Historical Background
The common reading of 1 Maccabees calls Elymais a rich city, but the supplied account notes that no other reference to such a city is known apart from Josephus, who follows 1 Maccabees. The text is therefore understood geographically as referring to the district.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>el-i-ma'-is (Elumais):</p><p>This name, representing the Old Testament Elam (see ELAM), was given to a district of Persia lying South of Media and North of Susiana. In /APC 1Macc 6:1 the common reading, which is adopted by the King James Version, refers to Elymais as a rich city in Persia. No other reference, however, to such a city is found except in Josephus (Ant., XII, ix, 1) who simply follows 1 Macc. The text should therefore be corrected to read as in the Revised Version (British and American), "in Elymais in Persia there was a city."</p>