Bible Lexicons

אַהֲוָא [Ahava], pr.n. of a river, Ezra 8:21, 31 Ezra 8:31 and of a bordering region, verse 15 Ezra 8:15, [But see below.] where Ezra gathered together the people about to return to their country. [“The same is probably meant in verse 15 Ezra 8:15, where we may render, ‘the river that runneth to the Ahava.’ It is hardly doubtful that the word prop. signifies water, aqua; comp. Sanscr. ap, Pers. ab, Goth. ahva, Lat. aqua. It is hard to say what river is meant; possibly the Euphrates, which was called κατʼ ἐξοχήν ‘the river,’ comp. הַנָּהָר.” Ges. add.]