In the original Hebrew, the word that is used for Mesopotamia
is Aram Naharaim
(Aram Double-Rivers
). Aram is the name given to the territory inhabited primarily by Arameans, a territory extending from northeast of the Sea of Galilee to the Taurus mountains in the north, and eastward beyond the Habur tributary of the Euphrates River. The addition of Naharaim (of the two rivers
) locates his home somewhere east of the Euphrates. This means that this king is some kind of a world ruler, the most powerful of all Israel’s enemies named in the book. For him to stretch his hands all the way down to Judah meant he was a world-class emperor.
1
8 Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia. And the people of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years.