Aiath

Aiath (a variant of Ai) is the first town named in Isaiah's extraordinary prophetic vision of the Assyrian army marching south toward Jerusalem (Isaiah 10:28-32): "He is come to Aiath, he is passed to Migron; at Michmash he hath laid up his carriages." The prophet traces the route stage by stage — Aiath, Migron, Michmash, Geba, Ramah, Gibeah of Saul, Anathoth — as the invading force draws closer to the city. The literary effect is breathless and inexorable. Aiath is generally identified with et-Tell, the ruins of ancient Ai about 16 km north of Jerusalem on the road from Bethel.