The etymology of the name is obscure. Eus tathius says that, according to some, the word means shepherd. Jablonski proposed an etymology by which it would signify producing light; and Champollion, in his latest interpretation, assigned it the sense of hidden. There is little doubt that the pointed Hebrew text correctly represents the Egyp tian name of the god, and, besides what may be gathered from the forms of the name in the classical writers, Kosegarten argues that the enchorial Amn was pronounced Amon, because names in which it forms a part are so written in Greek, as 'Auoppa trorthip. Moreover, 'Apc7w and Apiiiv are found in Iamblicus and Plutarch - and the latter expressly says that the Greeks Changed the native name into "A/Auwv.
There is no reason to doubt that the name of this god really occurs in the passage, 'Behold, I will visit Amon of No,' in Jer. xlvi. 25. The context and all internal grounds are in favour of this view. The Sept. has rendered it by 'Aupdo, as it has also called No, in Ezek. xxx. 14, A akriraLr. The Peshito likewise takes it as a proper name, as 11Dti does not exist in Syriac in the signification which it bears as a pure Hebrew word. The Tar
gum of Jonathan and the Vulgate, however, have rendered the passage 'the multitude of Alexandria ;' taking nCls: to mean maltitude,' perhaps because, in Ezek. xxx. 15, we read non, which does bear that sense. Nevertheless, modem scholars are more disposed to emend the latter reading by the former, and to find Amon the Egyptian god, in both places.—J. N. [Wilkinson, "Inc. Egyptians, 2d ser. i. 243.] AMON (iint:t, artificer; Sept. ' Apois and 'Aim..5v). I. The son of Manasseh, and fourteenth king of Judah, who began to reign B. C. 644, and reigned two years. He appears to have derived tittle benefit from the instructive example which the sin, punishment, and repentance of his father offered; for he restored idolatry, and again set up the images which Manasseh had cast down. He was assassinated in a court conspiracy; but the people put the regicides to death, and raised to the throne his son Josiah, then but eight years old (2 Kings xxi. 19-26; 2 Chron. xxxiii. 21-25).
[2. The governor of Jerusalem in the time of Ahab (1 Kings xxii. 26; 2 xviii. 25). 3. Am.]