AARON
the eldest son of Amram and Jochebed, a daughter of Levi (Exo 6:20). Some explain the name as meaning mountaineer, others mountain of strength, illuminator. He was born in Egypt three years before his brother Moses, and a number of years after his sister Miriam (2:1, 2:4;7:7). He married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab of the house of Judah (6:23; 1-Chr 2:10), by whom he had four sons, Nadab a......
AARONITES
the descendants of Aaron, and therefore priests. Jehoiada, the father of Benaiah, led 3,700 Aaronites as "fighting men" to the support of David at Hebron (1-Chr 12:27). Eleazar (Num. 3:32), and at a later period Zadok (1-Chr 27:17), was their chief.......
ABARIM
regions beyond; i.e., on the east of Jordan, a mountain, or rather a mountain-chain, over against Jericho, to the east and south-east of the Dead Sea, in the land of Moab. From "the top of Pisgah", i.e., Mount Nebo (q.v.), one of its summits, Moses surveyed the Promised Land (Deut. 3:27;32:49), and there he died (34:1, 34:5). The Israelites had one of their encampments in the mountains of Abarim (......
ABIATHAR
father of abundance, or my father excels, the son of Ahimelech the high priest. He was the tenth high priest, and the fourth in descent from Eli. When his father was slain with the priests of Nob, he escaped, and bearing with him the ephod, he joined David, who was then in the cave of Adullam (1-Sam 22:20;23:6). He remained with David, and became priest of the party of which he was the leader (1-S......
ADAR
large, the sixth month of the civil and the twelfth of the ecclesiastical year of the Jews (Esther 3:7, Esther 3: 13;8:12;9:1, 9: 15, 17, 19, 21). It included the days extending from the new moon of our March to the new moon of April. The name was first used after the Captivity. When the season was backward, and the lambs not yet of a paschal size, or the barley not forward enough for abib, then a......
ADDAR
ample, splendid, son of Bela (1-Chr 8:3); called also "Ard" (Gen. 46:21) ......
ADVERSARY
(Heb. satan), an opponent or foe (1-Kings 5:4;11:14, 11: 23, 25; Luke 13:17); one that speaks against another, a complainant (Matt. 5:25; Luke 12:58); an enemy (Luke 18:3), and specially the devil (1-Pet 5:8).......
AHISHAR
brother of song = singer, the officer who was "over the household" of Solomon (1-Kings 4:6).......
AIJELETH SHAHAR
hind of the dawn, a name found in the title of Ps. 22. It is probably the name of some song or tune to the measure of which the psalm was to be chanted. Some, however, understand by the name some instrument of music, or an allegorical allusion to the subject of the psalm.......
ALARM
a particular quivering sound of the silver trumpets to give warning to the Hebrews on their journey through the wilderness (Num. 10:5, Num. 10: 6), a call to arms, or a war-note (Jer. 4:19;49:2; Zeph. 1:16).......
ALTAR
(Heb. mizbe'ah, from a word meaning "to slay"), any structure of earth (Exo 20:24) or unwrought stone (20:25) on which sacrifices were offered. Altars were generally erected in conspicuous places (Gen. 22:9; Ezek. 6:3; 2-Kings 23:12;16:4;23:8; Acts 14:13). The word is used in Heb. 13:10 for the sacrifice offered upon it--the sacrifice Christ offered. Paul found among the many altars erected in A......
AMARIAH
said by Jehovah. (1.) One of the descendants of Aaron by Eleazar (1-Chr 6:7, 1-Chr 6:52). He was probably the last of the high priests of Eleazar's line prior to the transfer of that office to Eli, of the line of Ithamar. (2.) A Levite, son of Hebron, of the lineage of Moses (1-Chr 23:19;24:23). (3.) A "chief priest" who took an active part in the reformation under Jehoshaphat (2-Chr 19:11); p......
APHARSACHITES
a company of the colonists whom the Assyrian king planted in Samaria (Ezra 5:6;6:6).......
APHARSITES
another of the tribes removed to Samaria (Ezra 4:9), or perhaps the same as the preceding.......
APOTHECARY
rendered in the margin and the Revised Version "perfumer," in Exo 30:25;37:29; Eccl. 10:1. The holy oils and ointments were prepared by priests properly qualified for this office. The feminine plural form of the Hebrew word is rendered "confectionaries" in 1-Sam 8:13.......
APPAREL
In Old Testament times the distinction between male and female attire was not very marked. The statute forbidding men to wear female apparel (Deut. 22:5) referred especially to ornaments and head-dresses. Both men and women wore (1) an under garment or tunic, which was bound by a girdle. One who had only this tunic on was spoken of as "naked" (1-Sam 19:24; Job 24:10; Isa. 20:2). Those in high stat......
ARAB
ambush, a city in the mountains of Judah (Josh. 15:52), now Er-Rabiyeh.......
ARABAH
plain, in the Revised Version of 2-Kings 14:25; Josh. 3:16;8:14; 2-Sam 2:29;4:7 (in all these passages the A.V. has "plain"); Amos 6:14 (A.V. "wilderness"). This word is found in the Authorized Version only in Josh. 18:18. It denotes the hollow depression through which the Jordan flows from the Lake of Galilee to the Dead Sea. It is now called by the Arabs el-Ghor. But the Ghor is sometimes spoken......
ARABIA
arid, an extensive region in the south-west of Asia. It is bounded on the west by the Isthmus of Suez and the Red Sea, on the south by the Indian Ocean, and on the east by the Persian Gulf and the Euphrates. It extends far into the north in barren deserts, meeting those of Syria and Mesopotamia. It is one of the few countries of the world from which the original inhabitants have never been expelle......
ARAD
(1.) Now Tell Arad, a Canaanite city, about 20 miles south of Hebron. The king of Arad "fought against Israel and took of them prisoners" when they were retreating from the confines of Edom (Num. 21:1;33:40; Judg. 1:16). It was finally subdued by Joshua (12:14). (2.) One of the sons of Beriah (1-Chr 8:15).......
ARAM
the son of Shem (Gen. 10:22); according to Gen. 22:21, Gen. 22: a grandson of Nahor. In Matt. 1:3, Matt. 1: 4, and Luke 3:33, Luke 3: this word is the Greek form of Ram, the father of Amminadab (1-Chr 2:10). The word means high, or highlands, and as the name of a country denotes that elevated region extending from the northeast of Palestine to the Euphrates. It corresponded generally with the Sy......
ARAM-NAHARAIM
Aram of the two rivers, is Mesopotamia (as it is rendered in Gen. 24:10), the country enclosed between the Tigris on the east and the Euphrates on the west (Ps. 60, title); called also the "field of Aram" (Hos. 12:12, Hos. 12: R.V.) i.e., the open country of Aram; in the Authorized Version, "country of Syria." Padan-aram (q.v.) was a portion of this country.......
ARAM-ZOBAH
(Ps. 60, title), probably the region between the Euphrates and the Orontes.......
ARAN
wild goat, a descendant of Seir the Horite (Gen. 36:28).......
ARARAT
sacred land or high land, the name of a country on one of the mountains of which the ark rested after the Flood subsided (Gen. 8:4). The "mountains" mentioned were probably the Kurdish range of South Armenia. In 2-Kings 19:37, 2-Kings 19: Isa. 37:38, Isa. 37: the word is rendered "Armenia" in the Authorized Version, but in the Revised Version, "Land of Ararat." In Jer. 51:27, Jer. 51: the name den......
ARAUNAH
agile; also called Ornan 1-Chr 21:15, 1-Chr 21: a Jebusite who dwelt in Jerusalem before it was taken by the Israelites. The destroying angel, sent to punish David for his vanity in taking a census of the people, was stayed in his work of destruction near a threshing-floor belonging to Araunah which was situated on Mount Moriah. Araunah offered it to David as a free gift, together with the oxen an......
ARBA
four, a giant, father of Anak. From him the city of Hebron derived its name of Kirjath-arba, i.e., the city of Araba (Josh. 14:15;15:13;21:11; Gen. 13:18;23:2). (See HEBRON.)......
ARBATHITE
a name given to Abi-albon, or, as elsewhere called, Abiel, one of David's warriors (2-Sam 23:31; 1-Chr 11:32), probably as being an inhabitant of Arabah (Josh. 15:61), a town in the wilderness of Judah.......
ARCH
an architectural term found only in Ezek. 40:16, Ezek. 40: 21, 22, 26, 29. There is no absolute proof that the Israelites employed arches in their buildings. The arch was employed in the building of the pyramids of Egypt. The oldest existing arch is at Thebes, and bears the date B.C. 1350. There are also still found the remains of an arch, known as Robinson's Arch, of the bridge connecting Zion an......
ARCHANGEL
(1Thess. 4:16; Jude 1:9), the prince of the angels.......
ARCHELAUS
ruler of the people, son of Herod the Great, by Malthace, a Samaritan woman. He was educated along with his brother Antipas at Rome. He inherited from his father a third part of his kingdom viz., Idumea, Judea, and Samaria, and hence is called "king" (Matt. 2:22). It was for fear of him that Joseph and Mary turned aside on their way back from Egypt. Till a few days before his death Herod had named......
ARCHER
a shooter with the bow (1-Chr 10:3). This art was of high antiquity (Gen. 21:20;27:3). Saul was wounded by the Philistine archers (1-Sam 31:3). The phrase "breaking the bow" (Hos. 1:5; Jer. 49:35) is equivalent to taking away one's power, while "strengthening the bow" is a symbol of its increase (Gen. 49:24). The Persian archers were famous among the ancients (Isa. 13:18; Jer. 49:35;50:9, 50: 14, ......
ARCHEVITE
one of the nations planted by the Assyrians in Samaria (Ezra 4:9); the men of Erech.......
ARCHI
a city on the boundary of Ephraim and Benjamin (Josh. 16:2), between Bethel and Beth-horon the nether.......
ARCHIPPUS
master of the horse, a "fellow-soldier" of Paul's (Philemon 1:2), whom he exhorts to renewed activity (Col. 4:17). He was a member of Philemon's family, probably his son.......
ARCHITE
the usual designation of Hushai (2-Sam 15:32;17:5, 17: 14; 1-Chr 27:33), who was a native of Archi. He was "the king's friend", i.e., he held office under David similar to that of our modern privy councillor.......
ARCTURUS
bear-keeper, the name given by the ancients to the brightest star in the constellation Bootes. In the Authorized Version (Job 9:9;38:32) it is the rendering of the Hebrew word _'ash_, which probably designates the constellation the Great Bear. This word ('ash) is supposed to be derived from an Arabic word meaning night-watcher, because the Great Bear always revolves about the pole, and to our noth......
ARD
descent, a grandson of Benjamin (Num. 26:38). In 1-Chr 8:3 he is called Addar. His descendants are mentioned in Num. 26:40.......
ARDON
descendant, the last of the three sons of Caleb by his first wife Azubah (1-Chr 2:18).......
AREOPAGITE
a member of the court of Areopagus (Acts 17:34).......
AREOPAGUS
the Latin form of the Greek word rendered "Mars' hill." But it denotes also the council or court of justice which met in the open air on the hill. It was a rocky height to the west of the Acropolis at Athens, on the south-east summit of which the council was held which was constituted by Solon, and consisted of nine archons or chief magistrates who were then in office, and the ex-archons of blamel......
ARETAS
the father-in-law of Herod Antipas, and king of Arabia Petraea. His daughter returned to him on the occasion of her husband's entering into an adulterous alliance with Herodias, the wife of Herod-Philip, his half-brother (Luke 3:19, Luke 3: 20; Mark 6:17; Matt. 14:3). This led to a war between Aretas and Herod Antipas. Herod's army was wholly destroyed (A.D. 36). Aretas, taking advantage of the co......
ARGOB
stony heap, an "island," as it has been called, of rock about 30 miles by 20, rising 20 or 30 feet above the table-land of Bashan; a region of crags and chasms wild and rugged in the extreme. On this "island" stood sixty walled cities, ruled over by Og. It is called Trachonitis ("the rugged region") in the New Testament (Luke 3:1). These cities were conquered by the Israelites (Deut. 3:4; 1-Kings ......
ARIEH
the lion, the name of one of the body-guard slain with Pekahiah at Samaria (2-Kings 15:25) by the conspirator Pekah.......
ARIEL
the lion of God. (1.) One of the chief men sent by Ezra to procure Levites for the sanctuary (Ezra 8:16). (2.) A symbolic name for Jerusalem (Isa. 29:1, Isa. 29: 2, 7) as "victorious under God," and in Ezek. 43:15, Ezek. 43: 16, for the altar (marg., Heb. 'ariel) of burnt offerings, the secret of Israel's lion-like strength.......
ARIMATHEA
a "city of the Jews" (Luke 23:51), the birth-place of Joseph in whose sepulchre our Lord was laid (Matt. 27:57, Matt. 27: 60; John 19:38). It is probably the same place as Ramathaim in Ephraim, and the birth-place of Samuel (1-Sam 1:1, 1-Sam 1: 19). Others identify it with Ramleh in Dan, or Rama (q.v.) in Benjamin (Matt. 2:18).......
ARIOCH
lion-like, venerable. (1.) A king of Ellasar who was confederate with Chedorlamer (Gen. 14:1, Gen. 14:9). The tablets recently discovered by Mr. Pinches (see CHALDEA) show the true reading is Eri-Aku of Larsa. This Elamite name meant "servant of the moon-god." It was afterwards changed into Rimsin, "Have mercy, O moon-god." (2.) Dan. 2:14.......
ARISTARCHUS
best ruler, native of Thessalonica (Acts 20:4), a companion of Paul (Acts 19:29;27:2). He was Paul's "fellow-prisoner" at Rome (Col. 4:10; Philemon 1:24).......
ARISTOBULUS
a Roman mentioned in Paul's Epistle to the Romans (16:10), whose "household" is saluated.......
ARK
Noah's ark, a building of gopher-wood, and covered with pitch, 300 cubits long, 50 cubits broad, and 30 cubits high (Gen. 6:14); an oblong floating house of three stories, with a door in the side and a window in the roof. It was 100 years in building (Gen. 5:32;7:6). It was intended to preserve certain persons and animals from the deluge which God was about to bring over the earth. It contained ei......
ARKITE
(Gen. 10:17; 1-Chr 1:15), a designation of certain descendants from the Phoenicians or Sidonians, the inhabitants of Arka, 12 miles north of Tripoli, opposite the northern extremity of Lebanon.......
ARM
used to denote power (Psa 10:15; Ezek. 30:21; Jer. 48:25). It is also used of the omnipotence of God (Exo 15:16; Psa 89:13;98:1;77:15; Isa. 53:1; John 12:38; Acts 13:17)......
ARMAGEDDON
occurs only in Rev. 16:16 (R.V., "Har-Magedon"), as symbolically designating the place where the "battle of that great day of God Almighty" (ver. 14) shall be fought. The word properly means the "mount of Megiddo." It is the scene of the final conflict between Christ and Antichrist. The idea of such a scene was suggested by the Old Testament great battle-field, the plain of Esdraelon (q.v.).......
ARMENIA
high land, occurs only in Authorized Version, 2-Kings 19:37; in Revised Version, "Ararat," which is the Hebrew word. A country in western Asia lying between the Caspian and the Black Sea. Here the ark of Noah rested after the Deluge (Gen. 8:4). It is for the most part high table-land, and is watered by the Aras, the Kur, the Euphrates, and the Tigris. Ararat was properly the name of a part of anci......
ARMONI
inhabitant of a fortress, the first-named of the two sons of Saul and Rizpah. He was delivered up to the Gibeonites by David, and hanged by them (2-Sam 21:8, 2-Sam 21: 9).......
ARMOUR
is employed in the English Bible to denote military equipment, both offensive and defensive. (1.) The offensive weapons were different at different periods of history. The "rod of iron" (Psa 2:9) is supposed to mean a mace or crowbar, an instrument of great power when used by a strong arm. The "maul" (Prov. 25:18; cognate Hebrew word rendered "battle-axe" in Jer. 51:20, Jer. 51: and "slaughter w......
ARMOUR-BEARER
an officer selected by kings and generals because of his bravery, not only to bear their armour, but also to stand by them in the time of danger. They were the adjutants of our modern armies (Judg. 9:54; 1-Sam 14:7;16:21;31:6).......
ARMOURY
the place in which armour was deposited when not used (Neh. 3:19; Jer. 50:25). At first each man of the Hebrews had his own arms, because all went to war. There were no arsenals or magazines for arms till the time of David, who had a large collection of arms, which he consecrated to the Lord in his tabernacle (1 Sa,21:9; 2-Sam 8:7; 1-Chr 26:26, 1-Chr 26: 27).......
ARMY
The Israelites marched out of Egypt in military order (Exo 13:18, Exo 13: "harnessed;" marg., "five in a rank"). Each tribe formed a battalion, with its own banner and leader (Num. 2:2;10:14). In war the army was divided into thousands and hundreds under their several captains (Num. 31:14), and also into families (Num. 2:34; 2-Chr 25:5;26:12). From the time of their entering the land of Canaan to ......
ARNON
swift, the southern boundary of the territory of Israel beyond Jordan, separating it from the land of Moab (Deut. 3:8, Deut. 3: 16). This river (referred to twenty-four times in the Bible) rises in the mountains of Gilead, and after a circuitous course of about 80 miles through a deep ravine it falls into the Dead Sea nearly opposite Engedi. The stream is almost dry in summer. It is now called el-......
AROER
ruins. (1.) A town on the north bank of the Arnon (Deut. 4:48; Judg. 11:26; 2-Kings 10:33), the southern boundary of the kingdom of Sihon (Josh. 12:2). It is now called Arair, 13 miles west of the Dead Sea. (2.) One of the towns built by the tribe of Gad (Num. 32:34) "before Rabbah" (Josh. 13:25), the Ammonite capital. It was famous in the history of Jephthah (Judg. 11:33) and of David (2-Sam 24......
ARPAD
(Isa. 10:9;36:19;37:13), also Arphad, support, a Syrian city near Hamath, along with which it is invariably mentioned (2-Kings 19:13;18:34; Isa. 10:9), and Damascus (Jer. 49:23). After a siege of three years it fell (B.C. 742) before the Assyrian king Tiglath-pileser II. Now Tell Erfud.......
ARPHAXAD
son of Shem, born the year after the Deluge. He died at the age of 438 years (Gen. 11:10; 1-Chr 1:17, 1-Chr 1: 18; Luke 3:36). He dwelt in Mesopotamia, and became, according to the Jewish historian Josephus, the progenitor of the Chaldeans. The tendency is to recognize in the word the name of the country nearest the ancient domain of the Chaldeans. Some regard the word as an Egypticized form of th......
ARROWS
At first made of reeds, and then of wood tipped with iron. Arrows are sometimes figuratively put for lightning (Deut. 32:23, Deut. 32: 42; Psa 7:13;18:14;144:6; Zech. 9:14). They were used in war as well as in the chase (Gen. 27:3;49:23). They were also used in divination (Ezek. 21:21). The word is frequently employed as a symbol of calamity or disease inflicted by God (Job 6:4;34:6; Psa 38:2; D......
ARTAXERXES
the Greek form of the name of several Persian kings. (1.) The king who obstructed the rebuilding of the temple (Ezra 4:7). He was probably the Smerdis of profane history. (2.) The king mentioned in Ezra 7:1, Ezra 7: in the seventh year (B.C. 458) of whose reign Ezra led a second colony of Jews back to Jerusalem, was probably Longimanus, who reigned for forty years (B.C. 464-425); the grandson of......
ARTIFICER
a person engaged in any kind of manual occupation (Gen. 4:22; Isa. 3:3).......
ARTILLERY
1-Sam 20:40, 1-Sam 20: (Heb. keli, meaning "apparatus;" here meaning collectively any missile weapons, as arrows and lances. In Revised Version, "weapons"). This word is derived from the Latin artillaria = equipment of war.......
ARVAD
wandering, (Ezek. 27:8), a small island and city on the coast of Syria, mentioned as furnishing mariners and soldiers for Tyre. The inhabitants were called Arvadites. The name is written Aruada or Arada in the Tell-el-Amarna tablets.......
ASHTAROTH
a city of Bashan, in the kingdom of Og (Deut. 1:4; Josh. 12:4;13:12;9:10). It was in the half-tribe of Manasseh (Josh. 13:12), and as a Levitical city was given to the Gershonites (1-Chr 6:71). Uzzia, one of David's valiant men (1-Chr 11:44), is named as of this city. It is identified with Tell Ashterah, in the Hauran, and is noticed on monuments B.C. 1700-1500. The name Beesh-terah (Josh. 21:27) ......
ASHTEROTH KARNAIM
Ashteroth of the two horns, the abode of the Rephaim (Gen. 14:5). It may be identified with Ashtaroth preceding; called "Karnaim", i.e., the "two-horned" (the crescent moon). The Samaritan version renders the word by "Sunamein," the present es-Sunamein, 28 miles south of Damascus.......
ATAROTH
crowns. (1.) A city east of Jordan, not far from Gilead (Num. 32:3). (2.) A town on the border of Ephraim and Benjamin (Josh. 16:2, Josh. 16: 7), called also Ataroth-adar (16:5). Now ed-Da'rieh. (3.) "Ataroth, the house of Joab" (1-Chr 2:54), a town of Judah inhabited by the descendants of Caleb.......
AZARIAH
whom Jehovah helps. (1.) Son of Ethan, of the tribe of Judah (1-Chr 2:8). (2.) Son of Ahimaaz, who succeeded his grandfather Zadok as high priest (1-Chr 6:9; 1-Kings 4:2) in the days of Solomon. He officiated at the consecration of the temple (1-Chr 6:10). (3.) The son of Johanan, high priest in the reign of Abijah and Asa (2-Chr 6:10, 2-Chr 6: 11). (4.) High priest in the reign of Uzziah, k......
BAAL-TAMAR
lord of palm trees, a place in the tribe of Benjamin near Gibeah of Saul (Judg. 20:33). It was one of the sanctuaries or groves of Baal. Probably the palm tree of Deborah (Judg. 4:5) is alluded to in the name.......
BABYLONISH GARMENT
a robe of rich colours fabricated at Babylon, and hence of great value (Josh.7:21).......
BAR
used to denote the means by which a door is bolted (Neh. 3:3); a rock in the sea (Jonah 2:6); the shore of the sea (Job 38:10); strong fortifications and powerful impediments, etc. (Isa. 45:2; Amos 1:5); defences of a city (1-Kings 4:13). A bar for a door was of iron (Isa. 45:2), brass (Psa 107:16), or wood (Nah. 3:13).......
BAR-JESUS
son of Joshua, the patronymic of Elymas the sorcerer (Acts 13:6), who met Paul and Barnabas at Paphos. Elymas is a word of Arabic origin meaning "wise."......
BAR-JONA
son of Jonah, the patronymic of Peter (Matt. 16:17; John 1:42), because his father's name was Jonas. (See PETER.)......
BARABBAS
i.e., son of Abba or of a father, a notorious robber whom Pilate proposed to condemn to death instead of Jesus, whom he wished to release, in accordance with the Roman custom (John 18:40; Mark 15:7; Luke 23:19). But the Jews were so bent on the death of Jesus that they demanded that Barabbas should be pardoned (Matt. 27:16; Acts 3:14). This Pilate did.......
BARACHEL
whom God has blessed, a Buzite, the father of Elihu, one of Job's friends (Job 32:2, Job 32: 6).......
BARACHIAS, BERECHIAH
4 (q.v.), whom Jehovah hath blessed, father of the prophet Zechariah (Zech. 1:1, Zech. 1:7; Matt. 23:35).......
BARAK
lightning, the son of Abinoam (Judg. 4:6). At the summons of Deborah he made war against Jabin. She accompanied him into the battle, and gave the signal for the little army to make the attack; in which the host of Jabin was completely routed. The battle was fought (Judg. 4:16) in the plain of Jezreel (q.v.). This deliverance of Israel is commemorated in Judg. 5. Barak's faith is commended (Heb. 11......
BARBARIAN
a Greek word used in the New Testament (Rom. 1:14) to denote one of another nation. In Col. 3:11, Col. 3: the word more definitely designates those nations of the Roman empire that did not speak Greek. In 1-Cor 14:11, 1-Cor 14: it simply refers to one speaking a different language. The inhabitants of Malta are so called (Acts 28:1, Acts 28:2, Acts 28: 4). They were originally a Carthaginian colony......
BARBER
Found only once, in Ezek. 5:1, Ezek. 5: where reference is made to the Jewish custom of shaving the head as a sign of mourning. The Nazarites were untouched by the razor from their birth (Num. 6:5). Comp. Judg. 16:19.......
BAREFOOT
To go barefoot was a sign of great distress (Isa. 20:2, Isa. 20: 3, 4), or of some great calamity having fallen on a person (2-Sam 15:30).......
BARIAH
fugitive, one of Shemaiah's five sons. Their father is counted along with them in 1-Chr 3:22.......
BARKOS
painter, (Ezra 2:53; Neh. 7:55). The father of some of the Nethinim. ......
BARLEY
a grain much cultivated in Egypt (Exo 9:31) and in Palestine (Lev. 27:16; Deut. 8:8). It was usually the food of horses (1-Kings 4:28). Barley bread was used by the poorer people (Judg. 7:13; 2-Kings 4:42). Barley of the first crop was ready for the harvest by the time of the Passover, in the middle of April (Ruth 1:22; 2-Sam 21:9). Mention is made of barley-meal (Num. 5:15). Our Lord fed five tho......
BARN
a storehouse (Deut. 28:8; Job 39:12; Hag. 2:19) for grain, which was usually under ground, although also sometimes above ground (Luke 12:18). ......
BARNABAS
son of consolation, the surname of Joses, a Levite (Acts 4:36). His name stands first on the list of prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch (13:1). Luke speaks of him as a "good man" (11:24). He was born of Jewish parents of the tribe of Levi. He was a native of Cyprus, where he had a possession of land (Acts 4:36, Acts 4: 37), which he sold. His personal appearance is supposed to have bee......
BARREL
a vessel used for keeping flour (1-Kings 17:12, 1-Kings 17: 14, 16). The same word (cad) so rendered is also translated "pitcher," a vessel for carrying water (Gen. 24:14; Judg. 7:16). ......
BARREN
For a woman to be barren was accounted a severe punishment among the Jews (Gen. 16:2;30:1; 1-Sam 1:6, 1-Sam 1: 27; Isa. 47:9;49:21; Luke 1:25). Instances of barrenness are noticed (Gen. 11:30;25:21;29:31; Judg. 13:2, Judg. 13: 3; Luke 1:7, Luke 1: 36). ......
BARSABAS
son of Saba, the surname (1) of Joseph, also called Justus (Acts 1:23), some identify him with Barnabas; (2) of Judas, who was a "prophet." Nothing more is known of him than what is mentioned in Acts 15:32. ......
BARTHOLOMEW
son of Tolmai, one of the twelve apostles (Matt. 10:3; Acts 1:13); generally supposed to have been the same as Nathanael. In the synoptic gospels Philip and Bartholomew are always mentioned together, while Nathanael is never mentioned; in the fourth gospel, on the other hand, Philip and Nathanael are similarly mentioned together, but nothing is said of Bartholomew. He was one of the disciples to w......
BARTIMAEUS
son of Timaeus, one of the two blind beggars of Jericho (Mark 10:46; Matt. 20:30). His blindness was miraculously cured on the ground of his faith. ......
BARUCH
blessed. (1.) The secretary of the prophet Jeremiah (32:12;36:4). He was of the tribe of Judah (1:59). To him Jeremiah dictated his prophecies regarding the invasion of the Babylonians and the Captivity. These he read to the people from a window in the temple in the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah (Jer. 36). He afterwards read them before the counsellors of the king at a priva......
BARZILLAI
of iron. (1.) A Meholathite, the father of Adriel (2-Sam 21:8). (2.) A Gileadite of Rogelim who was distinguished for his loyalty to David. He liberally provided for the king's followers (2-Sam 17:27). David on his death-bed, remembering his kindness, commended Barzillai's children to the care of Solomon (1-Kings 2:7). (3.) A priest who married a daughter of the preceding (Ezra 2:61). ......
BASTARD
In the Old Testament the rendering of the Hebrew word _mamzer'_, which means "polluted." In Deut. 23:2, Deut. 23: it occurs in the ordinary sense of illegitimate offspring. In Zech. 9:6, Zech. 9: the word is used in the sense of foreigner. From the history of Jephthah we learn that there were bastard offspring among the Jews (Judg. 11:1). In Heb. 12:8, Heb. 12: the word (Gr. nothoi) is used in its......
BEAR
a native of the mountain regions of Western Asia, frequently mentioned in Scripture. David defended his flocks against the attacks of a bear (1-Sam 17:34). Bears came out of the wood and destroyed the children who mocked the prophet Elisha (2-Kings 2:24). Their habits are referred to in Isa. 59:11; Prov. 28:15; Lam. 3:10. The fury of the female bear when robbed of her young is spoken of (2-Sam 17:......
BEARD
The mode of wearing it was definitely prescribed to the Jews (Lev. 19:27;21:5). Hence the import of Ezekiel's (5:1) description of the "razor" i.e., the agents of an angry providence being used against the guilty nation of the Jews. It was a part of a Jew's daily toilet to anoint his beard with oil and perfume (Psa 133:2). Beards were trimmed with the most fastidious care (2-Sam 19:24), and their ......
BELSHAZZAR
Bel protect the king!, the last of the kings of Babylon (Dan. 5:1). He was the son of Nabonidus by Nitocris, who was the daughter of Nebuchadnezzar and the widow of Nergal-sharezer. When still young he made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and when heated with wine sent for the sacred vessels his "father" (Dan. 5:2), or grandfather, Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from the temple in Jerus......
BELTESHAZZAR
Beltis protect the king!, the Chaldee name given to Daniel by Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 1:7).......
BETH-ARABAH
house of the desert, one of the six cities of Judah, situated in the sunk valley of the Jordan and Dead Sea (Josh. 18:22). In Josh. 15:61 it is said to have been "in the wilderness." It was afterwards included in the towns of Benjamin. It is called Arabah (Josh. 18:18).......
BETH-ARAM
house of the height; i.e., "mountain-house", one of the towns of Gad, 3 miles east of Jordan, opposite Jericho (Josh. 13:27). Probably the same as Beth-haran in Num. 32:36. It was called by king Herod, Julias, or Livias, after Livia, the wife of Augustus. It is now called Beit-haran.......
BETH-ARBEL
house of God's court, a place alluded to by Hosea (10:14) as the scene of some great military exploit, but not otherwise mentioned in Scripture. The Shalman here named was probably Shalmaneser, the king of Assyria (2-Kings 17:3).......
BETH-BARAH
house of crossing, a place south of the scene of Gideon's victory (Judg. 7:24). It was probably the chief ford of the Jordan in that district, and may have been that by which Jacob crossed when he returned from Mesopotamia, near the Jabbok (Gen. 32:22), and at which Jephthah slew the Ephraimites (Judg. 12:4). Nothing, however, is certainly known of it. (See BETHABARA.) ......
BETH-CAR
sheep-house, a place to which the Israelites pursued the Philistines west from Mizpeh (1-Sam 7:11). ......
BETHABARA
house of the ford, a place on the east bank of the Jordan, where John was baptizing (John 1:28). It may be identical with Bethbarah, the ancient ford of Jordan of which the men of Ephraim took possession (Judg. 7:24). The Revised Version reads "Bethany beyond Jordan." It was the great ford, and still bears the name of "the ford," Makhadhet 'Abarah, "the ford of crossing over," about 25 miles from ......
BOAR
occurs only in Psa 80:13. The same Hebrew word is elsewhere rendered "swine" (Lev. 11:7; Deut. 14:8; Prov. 11:22; Isa. 65:4;66:3, 66: 17). The Hebrews abhorred swine's flesh, and accordingly none of these animals were reared, except in the district beyond the Sea of Galilee. In the psalm quoted above the powers that destroyed the Jewish nation are compared to wild boars and wild beasts of the fiel......
BULWARKS
mural towers, bastions, were introduced by king Uzziah (2-Chr 26:15; Zeph. 1:16; Psa 48:13; Isa. 26:1). There are five Hebrew words so rendered in the Authorized Version, but the same word is also variously rendered.......
CAESAR
the title assumed by the Roman emperors after Julius Caesar. In the New Testament this title is given to various emperors as sovereigns of Judaea without their accompanying distinctive proper names (John 19:15; Acts 17:7). The Jews paid tribute to Caesar (Matt. 22:17), and all Roman citizens had the right of appeal to him (Acts 25:11). The Caesars referred to in the New Testament are Augustus (Luk......
CAESARA PHILIPPI
a city on the northeast of the marshy plain of el-Huleh, 120 miles north of Jerusalem, and 20 miles north of the Sea of Galilee, at the "upper source" of the Jordan, and near the base of Mount Hermon. It is mentioned in Matt. 16:13 and Mark 8:27 as the northern limit of our Lord's public ministry. According to some its original name was Baal-Gad (Josh. 11:17), or Baal-Hermon (Judg. 3:3; 1-Chr 5:23......
CAESAREA
(Palestinae), a city on the shore of the Mediterranean, on the great road from Tyre to Egypt, about 70 miles northwest of Jerusalem, at the northern extremity of the plain of Sharon. It was built by Herod the Great (B.C. 10), who named it after Caesar Augustus, hence called Caesarea Sebaste (Gr. Sebastos = "Augustus"), on the site of an old town called "Strato's Tower." It was the capital of the R......
CALVARY
only in Luke 23:33, Luke 23: the Latin name Calvaria, which was used as a translation of the Greek word _Kranion_, by which the Hebrew word _Gulgoleth_ was interpreted, "the place of a skull." It probably took this name from its shape, being a hillock or low, rounded, bare elevation somewhat in the form of a human skull. It is nowhere in Scripture called a "hill." The crucifixion of our Lord took ......
CARBUNCLE
(Exo 28:17;39:10; Ezek. 28:13). Heb. barkath; LXX. smaragdos; Vulgate, smaragdus; Revised Version, marg., "emerald." The Hebrew word is from a root meaning "to glitter," "lighten," "flash." When held up to the sun, this gem shines like a burning coal, a dark-red glowing coal, and hence is called "carbunculus", i.e., a little coal. It was one of the jewels in the first row of the high priest's brea......
CARCASE
contact with a, made an Israelite ceremonially unclean, and made whatever he touched also unclean, according to the Mosaic law (Hag. 2:13; comp. Num. 19:16, Num. 19: 22; Lev. 11:39).......
CARCHEMISH
fortress of Chemosh, a city on the west bank of the Euphrates (Jer. 46:2; 2-Chr 35:20), not, as was once supposed, the Circesium at the confluence of the Chebar and the Euphrates, but a city considerably higher up the river, and commanding the ordinary passage of the Euphrates; probably identical with Hierapolis. It was the capital of the kingdom of the northern Hittites. The Babylonian army, unde......
CARMEL
a park; generally with the article, "the park." (1.) A prominent headland of Central Palestine, consisting of several connected hills extending from the plain of Esdraelon to the sea, a distance of some 12 miles or more. At the east end, in its highest part, it is 1,728 feet high, and at the west end it forms a promontory to the bay of Acre about 600 feet above the sea. It lay within the tribe of ......
CARMI
vine-dresser. (1.) The last named of the four sons of Reuben (Gen. 46:9). (2.) A descendant of Judah (1-Chr 4:1). He is elsewhere (2:18) called Caleb (q.v.). (3.) The son of Zimri, and the father of Achan (Josh. 7:1), "the troubler of Israel."......
CARNAL
Unconverted men are so called (1-Cor 3:3). They are represented as of a "carnal mind, which is enmity against God" (Rom. 8:6, Rom. 8: 7). Enjoyments that minister to the wants and desires of man's animal nature are so called (Rom. 15:27; 1-Cor 9:11). The ceremonial of the Mosaic law is spoken of as "carnal," because it related to things outward, the bodies of men and of animals, and the purificati......
CARPENTER
an artificer in stone, iron, and copper, as well as in wood (2-Sam 5:11; 1-Chr 14:1; Mark 6:3). The tools used by carpenters are mentioned in 1-Sam 13:19, 1-Sam 13: 20; Judg. 4:21; Isa. 10:15;44:13. It was said of our Lord, "Is not this the carpenter's son?" (Matt. 13:55); also, "Is not this the carpenter?" (Mark 6:3). Every Jew, even the rabbis, learned some handicraft: Paul was a tentmaker. "In ......
CARRIAGE
In the Authorized Version this word is found as the rendering of many different words. In Judg. 18:21 it means valuables, wealth, or booty. In Isa. 46:1 (R.V., "the things that ye carried about") the word means a load for a beast of burden. In 1-Sam 17:22 and Isa. 10:28 it is the rendering of a word ("stuff" in 1-Sam 10:22) meaning implements, equipments, baggage. The phrase in Acts 21:15, Acts 21......
CART
a vehicle moving on wheels, and usually drawn by oxen (2-Sam 6:3). The Hebrew word thus rendered, _'agalah_ (1-Sam 6:7, 1-Sam 6: 8), is also rendered "wagon" (Gen. 45:19). It is used also to denote a war-chariot (Psa 46:9). Carts were used for the removal of the ark and its sacred utensils (Num. 7:3, Num. 7: 6). After retaining the ark amongst them for seven months, the Philistines sent it back to......
CARVE
The arts of engraving and carving were much practised among the Jews. They were practised in connection with the construction of the tabernacle and the temple (Exo 31:2, Exo 31: 5;35:33; 1-Kings 6:18, 1-Kings 6: 35; Psa 74:6), as well as in the ornamentation of the priestly dresses (Exo 28:9; Zech. 3:9; 2-Chr 2:7, 2-Chr 2: 14). Isaiah (4:13) gives a minute description of the process of carving ido......
CATERPILLAR
the consumer. Used in the Old Testament (1-Kings 8:37; 2-Chr 6:28; Psa 78:46; Isa. 33:4) as the translation of a word (hasil) the root of which means "to devour" or "consume," and which is used also with reference to the locust in Deut. 28:38. It may have been a species of locust, or the name of one of the transformations through which the locust passes, locust-grub. It is also found (Psa 105:34; ......
CEDAR
(Heb. e'rez, Gr. kedros, Lat. cedrus), a tree very frequently mentioned in Scripture. It was stately (Ezek. 31:3), long-branched (Psa 80:10;92:12; Ezek. 31:6), odoriferous (4:11; Hos. 14:6), durable, and therefore much used for boards, pillars, and ceilings (1-Kings 6:9, 1-Kings 6: 10;7:2; Jer. 22:14), for masts (Ezek. 27:5), and for carved images (Isa. 44:14). It grew very abundantly in Palesti......
CELLAR
a subterranean vault (1-Chr 27:28), a storehouse. The word is also used to denote the treasury of the temple (1-Kings 7:51) and of the king (14:26). The Hebrew word is rendered "garner" in Joel 1:17, Joel 1: and "armoury" in Jer. 50:25.......
CESAREA
See CAESAREA. ......
CHARASHIM
craftsmen, a valley named in 1-Chr 4:14. In Neh. 11:35 the Hebrew word is rendered "valley of craftsmen" (R.V. marg., Geha-rashim). Nothing is known of it. ......
CHARGER
a bowl or deep dish. The silver vessels given by the heads of the tribes for the services of the tabernacle are so named (Num. 7:13, Num. 7: etc.). The "charger" in which the Baptist's head was presented was a platter or flat wooden trencher (Matt. 14:8, Matt. 14: 11; Mark 6:25, Mark 6: 28). The chargers of gold and silver of Ezra 1:9 were probably basins for receiving the blood of sacrifices. ......
CHARIOT
a vehicle generally used for warlike purposes. Sometimes, though but rarely, it is spoken of as used for peaceful purposes. The first mention of the chariot is when Joseph, as a mark of distinction, was placed in Pharaoh's second state chariot (Gen. 41:43); and the next, when he went out in his own chariot to meet his father Jacob (6:29). Chariots formed part of the funeral procession of Jacob (......
CHARITY
(1 Cor. 13), the rendering in the Authorized Version of the word which properly denotes love, and is frequently so rendered (always so in the Revised Version). It is spoken of as the greatest of the three Christian graces (1-Cor 12:31:13). ......
CHARMER
one who practises serpent-charming (Psa 58:5; Jer. 8:17; Eccl. 10:11). It was an early and universal opinion that the most venomous reptiles could be made harmless by certain charms or by sweet sounds. It is well known that there are jugglers in India and in other Eastern lands who practise this art at the present day. In Isa. 19:3 the word "charmers" is the rendering of the Hebrew _'ittim_, mea......
CHARRAN
another form (Acts 7:2, Acts 7: 4) of Haran (q.v.). ......
CHEBAR
length, a river in the "land of the Chaldeans" (Ezek. 1:3), on the banks of which were located some of the Jews of the Captivity (Ezek. 1:1;3:15, 3: 23;10:15, 10: 20, 22). It has been supposed to be identical with the river Habor, the Chaboras, or modern Khabour, which falls into the Euphrates at Circesium. To the banks of this river some of the Israelites were removed by the Assyrians (2-Kings 17......
CHEMARIM
black, (Zeph. 1:4; rendered "idolatrous priests" in 2-Kings 23:5, 2-Kings 23: and "priests" in Hos. 10:5). Some derive this word from the Assyrian Kamaru, meaning "to throw down," and interpret it as describing the idolatrous priests who prostrate themselves before the idols. Others regard it as meaning "those who go about in black," or "ascetics." ......
COLLAR
(Heb. peh), means in Job 30:18 the mouth or opening of the garment that closes round the neck in the same way as a tunic (Exo 39:23). The "collars" (Heb. netiphoth) among the spoils of the Midianites (Judg. 8:26; R.V., "pendants") were ear-drops. The same Hebrew word is rendered "chains" in Isa. 3:19. ......
CONFECTIONARIES
only in 1-Sam 8:13, 1-Sam 8: those who make confections, i.e., perfumers, who compound species and perfumes. ......
CUP-BEARER
an officer of high rank with Egyptian, Persian, Assyrian, and Jewish monarchs. The cup-bearer of the king of Egypt is mentioned in connection with Joseph's history (Gen. 40:1;41:9). Rabshakeh (q.v.) was cup-bearer in the Assyrian court (2-Kings 18:17). Nehemiah filled this office to the king of Persia (Neh. 1:11). We read also of Solomon's cup-bearers (1-Kings 10:5; 2-Chr 9:4). ......
CURIOUS ARTS
(Acts 19:19), magical arts; jugglery practised by the Ephesian conjurers. Ephesus was noted for its wizard and the "Ephesian spells;" i.e., charms or scraps of parchment written over with certain formula, which were worn as a safeguard against all manner of evils. The more important and powerful of these charms were written out in books which circulated among the exorcists, and were sold at a grea......
DAMARIS
a heifer, an Athenian woman converted to Christianity under the preaching of Paul (Acts 17:34). Some have supposed that she may have been the wife of Dionysius the Areopagite. ......
DARDA
pearl of wisdom, one of the four who were noted for their wisdom, but whom Solomon excelled (1-Kings 4:31). ......
DARIC
in the Revised Version of 1-Chr 29:7; Ezra 2:69;8:27; Neh. 7:70, Neh. 7: where the Authorized Version has "dram." It is the rendering of the Hebrew darkemon and the Greek dareikos. It was a gold coin, bearing the figure of a Persian King with his crown and armed with bow and arrow. It was current among the Jews after their return from Babylon, i.e., while under the Persian domination. It weighed a......
DARIUS
the holder or supporter, the name of several Persian kings. (1.) Darius the Mede (Dan. 11:1), "the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes" (9:1). On the death of Belshazzar the Chaldean he "received the kingdom" of Babylon as viceroy from Cyrus. During his brief reign (B.C. 538-536) Daniel was promoted to the highest dignity (Dan. 6:1, Dan. 6: 2); but on account of the malice of his enemies he......
DARKNESS
The plague (the ninth) of darkness in Egypt (Exo 10:21) is described as darkness "which may be felt." It covered "all the land of Egypt," so that "they saw not one another." It did not extend to the land of Goshen (ver. 23). When Jesus hung upon the cross (Matt. 27:45; Luke 23:44), from the "sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour." On Mount Sinai, Moses (Exo 20:21)......
DARLING
Psa 22:20;35:17) means an "only one." ......
DART
an instrument of war; a light spear. "Fiery darts" (Eph. 6:16) are so called in allusion to the habit of discharging darts from the bow while they are on fire or armed with some combustible material. Arrows are compared to lightning (Deut. 32:23, Deut. 32: 42; Psa 7:13;120:4). ......
DAYSTAR
which precedes and accompanies the sun-rising. It is found only in 2-Pet 1:19, 2-Pet 1: where it denotes the manifestation of Christ to the soul, imparting spiritual light and comfort. He is the "bright and morning star" of Rev. 2:28;22:16. (Comp. Num. 24:17.) ......
DEARTH
a scarcity of provisions (1 Kings 17). There were frequent dearths in Palestine. In the days of Abram there was a "famine in the land" (Gen. 12:10), so also in the days of Jacob (7:4, 7: 13). We read also of dearths in the time of the judges (Ruth 1:1), and of the kings (2-Sam 21:1; 1-Kings 18:2; 2-Kings 4:38;8:1). In New Testament times there was an extensive famine in Palestine (Acts 11:28) in......
DROMEDARY
(Isa. 60:6), an African or Arabian species of camel having only one hump, while the Bactrian camel has two. It is distinguished from the camel only as a trained saddle-horse is distinguished from a cart-horse. It is remarkable for its speed (Jer. 2:23). Camels are frequently spoken of in partriarchal times (Gen. 12:16;24:10;30:43;31:17, 31: etc.). They were used for carrying burdens (Gen. 37:25; J......
DWARF
a lean or emaciated person (Lev. 21:20).......
EAR
used frequently in a figurative sense (Psa 34:15). To "uncover the ear" is to show respect to a person (1-Sam 20:2 marg.). To have the "ear heavy", or to have "uncircumcised ears" (Isa. 6:10), is to be inattentive and disobedient. To have the ear "bored" through with an awl was a sign of perpetual servitude (Exo 21:6). ......
EARING
an Old English word (from the Latin aro, I plough), meaning "ploughing." It is used in the Authorized Version in Gen. 45:6; Exo 34:21; 1-Sam 8:12; Deut. 21:4; Isa. 30:24; but the Revised Version has rendered the original in these places by the ordinary word to plough or till. ......
EARNEST
The Spirit is the earnest of the believer's destined inheritance (2-Cor 1:22;5:5; Eph. 1:14). The word thus rendered is the same as that rendered "pledge" in Gen. 38:17; "indeed, the Hebrew word has simply passed into the Greek and Latin languages, probably through commercial dealings with the Phoenicians, the great trading people of ancient days. Originally it meant no more than a pledge; but in ......
EARRINGS
rings properly for the ear (Gen. 35:4; Num. 31:50; Ezek. 16:12). In Gen. 24:47 the word means a nose-jewel, and is so rendered in the Revised Version. In Isa. 3:20 the Authorized Version has "ear-rings," and the Revised Version "amulets," which more correctly represents the original word (lehashim), which means incantations; charms, thus remedies against enchantment, worn either suspended from the......
EARTH
(1.) In the sense of soil or ground, the translation of the word _adamah'_. In Gen. 9:20 "husbandman" is literally "man of the ground or earth." Altars were to be built of earth (Exo 20:24). Naaman asked for two mules' burden of earth (2-Kings 5:17), under the superstitious notion that Jehovah, like the gods of the heathen, could be acceptably worshipped only on his own soil. (2). As the renderi......
EARTHQUAKE
mentioned among the extraordinary phenomena of Palestine (Psa 18:7; comp. Hab. 3:6; Nah. 1:5; Isa. 5:25). The first earthquake in Palestine of which we have any record happened in the reign of Ahab (1-Kings 19:11, 1-Kings 19: 12). Another took place in the days of Uzziah, King of Judah (Zech. 14:5). The most memorable earthquake taking place in New Testament times happened at the crucifixion of ......
EDAR
tower of the flock, a tower between Bethlehem and Hebron, near which Jacob first halted after leaving Bethlehem (Gen. 35:21). In Micah 4:8 the word is rendered "tower of the flock" (marg., "Edar"), and is used as a designation of Bethlehem, which figuratively represents the royal line of David as sprung from Bethlehem. ......
ELEAZAR
God has helped. (1.) The third son of Aaron (Exo 6:23). His wife, a daughter of Putiel, bore him Phinehas (Exo 6:25). After the death of Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10:12; Num. 3:4) he was appointed to the charge of the sanctuary (Num. 3:32). On Mount Hor he was clothed with the sacred vestments, which Moses took from off his brother Aaron and put upon him as successor to his father in the high priest's......
ELLASAR
the oak or heap of Assyria, a territory in Asia of which Arioch was king (Gen. 14:1, Gen. 14: 9). It is supposed that the old Chaldean town of Larsa was the metropolis of this kingdom, situated nearly half-way between Ur (now Mugheir) and Erech, on the left bank of the Euphrates. This town is represented by the mounds of Senkereh, a little to the east of Erech.......
ELPARAN
oak of Paran, a place on the edge of the wilderness bordering the territory of the Horites (Gen. 14:6). This was the farthest point to which Chedorlaomer's expedition extended. It is identified with the modern desert of et-Tih. (See PARAN.)......
ESARHADDON
Assur has given a brother, successor of Sennacherib (2-Kings 19:37; Isa. 37:38). He ascended the throne about B.C. 681. Nothing further is recorded of him in Scripture, except that he settled certain colonists in Samaria (Ezra 4:2). But from the monuments it appears that he was the most powerful of all the Assyrian monarchs. He built many temples and palaces, the most magnificent of which was the ......
FAMILIAR SPIRIT
Sorcerers or necormancers, who professed to call up the dead to answer questions, were said to have a "familiar spirit" (Deut. 18:11; 2-Kings 21:6; 2-Chr 33:6; Lev. 19:31;20:6; Isa. 8:19;29:4). Such a person was called by the Hebrews an _'ob_, which properly means a leathern bottle; for sorcerers were regarded as vessels containing the inspiring demon. This Hebrew word was equivalent to the pytho ......
FARM
(Matt. 22:5). Every Hebrew had a certain portion of land assigned to him as a possession (Num. 26:33). In Egypt the lands all belonged to the king, and the husbandmen were obliged to give him a fifth part of the produce; so in Palestine Jehovah was the sole possessor of the soil, and the people held it by direct tenure from him. By the enactment of Moses, the Hebrews paid a tithe of the produce to......
FARTHING
(1.) Matt. 10:29; Luke 12:6. Greek assarion, i.e., a small _as_, which was a Roman coin equal to a tenth of a denarius or drachma, nearly equal to a halfpenny of our money. (2.) Matt. 5:26; Mark 12:42 (Gr. kodrantes), the quadrant, the fourth of an _as_, equal to two lepta, mites. The lepton (mite) was the very smallest copper coin. ......
FEAR OF THE LORD THE
is in the Old Testament used as a designation of true piety (Prov. 1:7; Job 28:28; Psa 19:9). It is a fear conjoined with love and hope, and is therefore not a slavish dread, but rather filial reverence. (Comp. Deut. 32:6; Hos. 11:1; Isa. 1:2;63:16;64:8.) God is called "the Fear of Isaac" (Gen. 31:42, Gen. 31: 53), i.e., the God whom Isaac feared. A holy fear is enjoined also in the New Testamen......
FISHING, THE ART OF
was prosecuted with great industry in the waters of Palestine. It was from the fishing-nets that Jesus called his disciples (Mark 1:16), and it was in a fishing-boat he rebuked the winds and the waves (Matt. 8:26) and delivered that remarkable series of prophecies recorded in Matt. 13. He twice miraculously fed multitudes with fish and bread (Matt. 14:19;15:36). It was in the mouth of a fish that ......
GADARA
the capital of the Roman province of Peraea. It stood on the summit of a mountain about 6 miles south-east of the Sea of Galilee. Mark (5:1) and Luke (8:26) describe the miracle of the healing of the demoniac (Matthew [8:28] says two demoniacs) as having been wrought "in the country of the Gadarenes," thus describing the scene generally. The miracle could not have been wrought at Gadara itself, fo......
GADARENES
the inhabitants of Gadara, in Revised Version "Gerasenes" (Mark 5:1; Luke 8:26, Luke 8: 37). In Matt. 8:28 they are called Gergesenes, Revised Version "Gadarenes."......
GAHAR
lurking-place, one of the chief of the Nethinim, whose descendants returned to Jerusalem under Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:47).......
GARDENS
mentioned in Scripture, of Eden (Gen. 2:8, Gen. 2: 9); Ahab's garden of herbs (1-Kings 21:2); the royal garden (2-Kings 21:18); the royal garden at Susa (Esther 1:5); the garden of Joseph of Arimathea (John 19:41); of Gethsemane (John 18:1). The "king's garden" mentioned 2-Kings 25:4, 2-Kings 25: Neh. 3:15, Neh. 3: was near the Pool of Siloam. Gardens were surrounded by hedges of thorns (Isa. ......
GAREB
scabby; itch. (1.) One of David's warriors (2-Sam 23:38), an Ithrite. (2.) A hill near Jerusalem (Jer. 31:39), probably the hill of lepers, and consequently a place outside the boundary of the city.......
GARLANDS
(Acts 14:13). In heathen sacrifices the victims were adorned with fillets and garlands made of wool, with leaves and flowers interwoven. The altar and the priests and attendants were also in like manner adorned.......
GARLIC
(Heb. shum, from its strong odour), mentioned only once (Num. 11:5). The garlic common in Eastern countries is the Allium sativum or Allium Ascalonicum, so called from its having been brought into Europe from Ascalon by the Crusaders. It is now known by the name of "shallot" or "eschalot."......
GARNER
(1.) Heb. 'otsar, a treasure; a store of goods laid up, and hence also the place where they are deposited (Joel 1:17; 2-Chr 32:27, 2-Chr 32: rendered "treasury"). (2.) Heb. mezev, a cell, storeroom (Psa 144:13); Gr. apotheke, a place for storing anything, a granary (Matt. 3:12; Luke 3:17).......
GARNISH
overlay with stones (2-Chr 3:6), adorn (Rev. 21:19), deck with garlands (Matt. 23:29), furnish (12:44). In Job 26:13 (Heb. shiphrah, meaning "brightness"), "By his spirit the heavens are brightness" i.e., are bright, splendid, beautiful.......
GARRISON
(1.) Heb. matstsab, a station; a place where one stands (1-Sam 14:12); a military or fortified post (1-Sam 13:23;14:1, 14: 4, 6, etc.). (2.) Heb. netsib, a prefect, superintendent; hence a military post (1-Sam 10:5;13:3, 13: 4; 2-Sam 8:6). This word has also been explained to denote a pillar set up to mark the Philistine conquest, or an officer appointed to collect taxes; but the idea of a milit......
GEMARIAH
Jehovah has made perfect. (1.) The son of Shaphan, and one of the Levites of the temple in the time of Jehoiakim (Jer. 36:10; 2-Kings 22:12). Baruch read aloud to the people from Gemariah's chamber, and again in the hearing of Gemariah and other scribes, the prophecies of Jeremiah (Jer. 36:11), which filled him with terror. He joined with others in entreating the king not to destroy the roll of th......
GENNESARET
a garden of riches. (1.) A town of Naphtali, called Chinnereth (Josh. 19:35), sometimes in the plural form Chinneroth (11:2). In later times the name was gradually changed to Genezar and Gennesaret (Luke 5:1). This city stood on the western shore of the lake to which it gave its name. No trace of it remains. The plain of Gennesaret has been called, from its fertility and beauty, "the Paradise of G......
GERAR
a region; lodging-place, a very ancient town and district in the south border of Palestine, which was ruled over by a king named Abimelech (Gen. 10:19;20:1, 20: 2). Abraham sojourned here, and perhaps Isaac was born in this place. Both of these patriarchs were guilty of the sin of here denying their wives, and both of them entered into a treaty with the king before they departed to Beersheba (21:2......
GIBEAH-HAARALOTH
(Josh. 5:3, Josh. 5: marg.), hill of the foreskins, a place at Gilgal where those who had been born in the wilderness were circumcised. All the others, i.e., those who were under twenty years old at the time of the sentence at Kadesh, had already been circumcised. ......
GUARD
(1.) Heb. tabbah (properly a "cook," and in a secondary sense "executioner," because this office fell to the lot of the cook in Eastern countries), the bodyguard of the kings of Egypt (Gen. 37:36) and Babylon (2-Kings 25:8; Jer. 40:1; Dan. 2:14). (2.) Heb. rats, properly a "courier," one whose office was to run before the king's chariot (2-Sam 15:1; 1-Kings 1:5). The couriers were also military ......
HADAR
Adod, brave(?). (1.) A son of Ishmael (Gen. 25:15); in 1-Chr 1:30 written Hadad. (2.) One of the Edomitish kings (Gen. 36:39) about the time of Saul. Called also Hadad (1-Chr 1:50, 1-Chr 1: 51). It is probable that in these cases Hadar may be an error simply of transcription for Hadad.......
HADAREZER
Adod is his help, the name given to Hadadezer (2-Sam 8:3) in 2 Sam. 10.......
HAGAR
flight, or, according to others, stranger, an Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid (Gen. 16:1;21:9, 21: 10), whom she gave to Abraham (q.v.) as a secondary wife (16:2). When she was about to become a mother she fled from the cruelty of her mistress, intending apparently to return to her relatives in Egypt, through the desert of Shur, which lay between. Wearied and worn she had reached the place she distingu......
HAGARENE
or Hagarite. (1.) One of David's mighty men (1-Chr 11:38), the son of a foreigner. (2.) Used of Jaziz (1-Chr 27:31), who was over David's flocks. "A Hagarite had charge of David's flocks, and an Ishmaelite of his herds, because the animals were pastured in districts where these nomadic people were accustomed to feed their cattle." (3.) In the reign of Saul a great war was waged between the tra......
HARA
mountainous land, a province of Assyria (1-Chr 5:26), between the Tigris and the Euphrates, along the banks of the Khabur, to which some of the Israelite captives were carried. It has not been identified. Some think the word a variation of Haran.......
HARADAH
fright; fear, the twenty-fifth station of the Israelites in their wanderings (Num. 33:24).......
HARAN
(1.) Heb. haran; i.e., "mountaineer." The eldest son of Terah, brother of Abraham and Nahor, and father of Lot, Milcah, and Iscah. He died before his father (Gen. 11:27), in Ur of the Chaldees. (2.) Heb. haran, i.e., "parched;" or probably from the Accadian charana, meaning "a road." A celebrated city of Western Asia, now Harran, where Abram remained, after he left Ur of the Chaldees, till his f......
HARBONA
(a Persian word meaning "ass-driver"), one of the seven eunuchs or chamberlains of king Ahasuerus (Esther 1:10;7:9).......
HARE
(Heb. 'arnebeth) was prohibited as food according to the Mosaic law (Lev. 11:6; Deut. 14:7), "because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof." The habit of this animal is to grind its teeth and move its jaw as if it actually chewed the cud. But, like the cony (q.v.), it is not a ruminant with four stomachs, but a rodent like the squirrel, rat, etc. Moses speaks of it according to appearance......
HARETH
thicket, a wood in the mountains of Judah where David hid when pursued by Saul (1-Sam 22:5). It was possibly while he was here that the memorable incident narrated in 2-Sam 23:14, 2-Sam 23: 1-Chr 11:16 occurred. This place has not been identified, but perhaps it may be the modern Kharas, on the borders of the chain of mountains some 3 miles east of Keilah.......
HARHAIAH
zeal of Jehovah, (Neh. 3:8) "of the goldsmiths," one whose son helped to repair the wall of Jerusalem.......
HARHUR
fever, one of the Nethinim (Ezra 2:51).......
HARIM
flat-nosed. (1.) The head of the second course of priests (1-Chr 24:8). (2.) Ezra 2:32, Ezra 2: 39; Neh. 7:35, Neh. 7: 42. (3.) Neh. 3:11. (4.)12:3. (5.)10:5......
HARIPH
autumnal rain. (1.) Neh. 7:24. (2.)10:19.......
HARLOT
(1.) Heb. zonah (Gen. 34:31;38:15). In verses 21, 22 the Hebrew word used in _kedeshah_, i.e., a woman consecrated or devoted to prostitution in connection with the abominable worship of Asherah or Astarte, the Syrian Venus. This word is also used in Deut. 23:17; Hos. 4:14. Thus Tamar sat by the wayside as a consecrated kedeshah. It has been attempted to show that Rahab, usually called a "harlot......
HARNEPHER
a chief of the tribe of Asher (1-Chr 7:36).......
HARNESS
(1.) Heb. 'asar, "to bind;" hence the act of fastening animals to a cart (1-Sam 6:7, 1-Sam 6: 10; Jer. 46:4, Jer. 46: etc.). (2.) An Old English word for "armour;" Heb. neshek (2-Chr 9:24). (3.) Heb. shiryan, a coat of mail (1-Kings 22:34; 2-Chr 18:33; rendered "breastplate" in Isa. 59:17). (4.) The children of Israel passed out of Egypt "harnessed" (Exo 13:18), i.e., in an orderly manner, a......
HAROD
palpitation, a fountain near which Gideon and his army encamped on the morning of the day when they encountered and routed the Midianites (Judg. 7). It was south of the hill Moreh. The present 'Ain Jalud ("Goliath's Fountain"), south of Jezreel and nearly opposite Shunem, is probably the fountain here referred to (7:4, 7: 5).......
HARODITE
an epithet applied to two of David's heroes (2-Sam 23:25). (Comp. 1-Chr 11:27.)......
HAROSHETH OF THE GENTILES
(Judg. 4:2) or nations, a city near Hazor in Galilee of the Gentiles, or Upper Galilee, in the north of Palestine. It was here that Jabin's great army was marshalled before it went forth into the great battlefield of Esdraelon to encounter the army of Israel, by which it was routed and put to flight (Judg. 4). It was situated "at the entrance of the pass to Esdraelon from the plain of Acre" at the......
HARP
(Heb. kinnor), the national instrument of the Hebrews. It was invented by Jubal (Gen. 4:21). Some think the word _kinnor_ denotes the whole class of stringed instruments. It was used as an accompaniment to songs of cheerfulness as well as of praise to God (Gen. 31:27; 1-Sam 16:23; 2-Chr 20:28; Psa 33:2;137:2). In Solomon's time harps were made of almug-trees (1-Kings 10:11, 1-Kings 10: 12). In 1......
HARROW
(Heb. harits), a tribulum or sharp threshing sledge; a frame armed on the under side with rollers or sharp spikes (2-Sam 12:31; 1-Chr 20:3). Heb. verb _sadad_, to harrow a field, break its clods (Job 39:10; Isa. 28:4; Hos. 10:11). Its form is unknown. It may have resembled the instrument still in use in Egypt.......
HARSHA
worker or enchanter, one of the Nethinim (Ezra 2:52; Neh. 7:54).......
HART
(Heb. 'ayal), a stag or male deer. It is ranked among the clean animals (Deut. 12:15;14:5;15:22), and was commonly killed for food (1-Kings 4:23). The hart is frequently alluded to in the poetical and prophetical books (Isa. 35:6; 2:8, 2: 9; Lam. 1:6; Psa 42:1).......
HARUM
elevated, (1-Chr 4:8), a descendant of Judah.......
HARUPHITE
a native of Hariph; an epithet given to Shephatiah, one of those who joined David at Ziklag (1-Chr 12:5).......
HARUZ
eager, the father of Meshullemeth, the wife of king Manasseh (2-Kings 21:19) and mother of king Amon.......
HARVEST
the season for gathering grain or fruit. On the 16th day of Abib (or April) a handful of ripe ears of corn was offered as a first-fruit before the Lord, and immediately after this the harvest commenced (Lev. 23:9; 2-Sam 21:9, 2-Sam 21: 10; Ruth 2:23). It began with the feast of Passover and ended with Pentecost, thus lasting for seven weeks (Exo 23:16). The harvest was a season of joy (Psa 126:1; ......
HAZAR-ADDAR
village of Addar, a place in the southern boundary of Palestine (Num. 34:4), in the desert to the west of Kadesh-barnea. It is called Adar in Josh. 15:3.......
HAZAR-ENAN
village of fountains, a place on the north-east frontier of Palestine (Num. 34:9, Num. 34: 10). Some have identified it with Ayan ed-Dara in the heart of the central chain of Anti-Libanus. More probably, however, it has been identified with Kuryetein, about 60 miles east-north-east of Damascus. (Comp. Ezek. 47:17;48:1.)......
HAZAR-GADDAH
village of fortune, a city on the south border of Judah (Josh. 15:27), midway between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea.......
HAZAR-HATTICON
village of the midway, a place near Hamath in the confines of Hauran (Ezek. 47:16), probably on the north brow of Hermon.......
HAZAR-MAVETH
court of death, the third son of Joktan, and a region in Arabia-Felix settled by him (Gen. 10:26; 1-Chr 1:20). It is probably the modern province of Hadramaut, situated on the Indian Ocean east of the modern Yemen.......
HAZAR-SHUAL
village or enclosure of the jackal, a city on the south border of Judah (Josh. 15:28; Neh. 11:27). It has been identified with the ruins of Saweh, half-way between Beersheba and Moladah.......
HAZAR-SUSAH
village of the horse, the same as Sansannah, one of Solomon's "chariot cities" (Josh. 15:31; 2-Chr 1:14), a depot in the south border of Judah.......
HAZEZON-TAMAR
pruning of the palm, the original name of the place afterwards called ENGEDI (q.v.), Gen. 14:7; called also HAZAZON-TAMAR (2-Chr 20:2).......
HEART
According to the Bible, the heart is the centre not only of spiritual activity, but of all the operations of human life. "Heart" and "soul" are often used interchangeably (Deut. 6:5;26:16; comp. Matt. 22:37; Mark 12:30, Mark 12: 33), but this is not generally the case. The heart is the "home of the personal life," and hence a man is designated, according to his heart, wise (1-Kings 3:12, 1-Kings......
HEARTH
Heb. ah (Jer. 36:22, Jer. 36: 23; R.V., "brazier"), meaning a large pot like a brazier, a portable furnace in which fire was kept in the king's winter apartment. Heb. kiyor (Zech. 12:6; R.V., "pan"), a fire-pan. Heb. moqed (Psa 102:3; R.V., "fire-brand"), properly a fagot. Heb. yaqud (Isa. 30:14), a burning mass on a hearth. ......
HEROD ARCHELAUS
(Matt. 2:22), the brother of Antipas (q.v.).......
HEROD ARIPPA II.
the son of Herod Agrippa I. and Cypros. The emperor Claudius made him tetrarch of the provinces of Philip and Lysanias, with the title of king (Acts 25:13;26:2, 26: 7). He enlarged the city of Caesarea Philippi, and called it Neronias, in honour of Nero. It was before him and his sister that Paul made his defence at Caesarea (Acts 25:12). He died at Rome A.D. 100, in the third year of the emperor ......
IBHAR
chosen, one of David's sons (1-Chr 3:6; 2-Sam 5:15). ......
IJE-ABARIM
ruins of Abarim, the forty-seventh station of the Israelites in the wilderness, "in the border of Moab" (Num. 33:44). ......
INCARNATION
that act of grace whereby Christ took our human nature into union with his Divine Person, became man. Christ is both God and man. Human attributes and actions are predicated of him, and he of whom they are predicated is God. A Divine Person was united to a human nature (Acts 20:28; Rom. 8:32; 1-Cor 2:8; Heb. 2:11; 1-Tim 3:16; Gal. 4:4, Gal. 4: etc.). The union is hypostatical, i.e., is personal; t......
ISCARIOT
(See JUDAS.) ......
ISSACHAR
hired (Gen. 30:18). "God hath given me," said Leah, "my hire (Heb. sekhari)...and she called his name Issachar." He was Jacob's ninth son, and was born in Padan-aram (28:2). He had four sons at the going down into Egypt (6:13; Num. 26:23, Num. 26: 25). Issachar, Tribe of, during the journey through the wilderness, along with Judah and Zebulun (Num. 2:5), marched on the east of the tabernacle. Th......
ITHAMAR
palm isle, the fourth and youngest son of Aaron (1-Chr 6:3). He was consecrated to the priesthood along with his brothers (Exo 6:23); and after the death of Nadab and Abihu, he and Eleazar alone discharged the functions of that office (Lev. 10:6, Lev. 10: 12; Num. 3:4). He and his family occupied the position of common priest till the high priesthood passed into his family in the person of Eli (1-......
IZHAR
oil, one of the sons of Kohath, and grandson of Levi (Exo 6:18, Exo 6: 21; Num. 16:1). ......
JAARE-OREGIM
forests of the weavers, a Bethlehemite (2-Sam 21:19), and the father of Elhanan, who slew Goliath. In 1-Chr 20:5 called JAIR. ......
JARED
descent. (1.) The fourth antediluvian patriarch in descent from Seth (Gen. 5:15; Luke 3:37), the father of Enoch; called Jered in 1-Chr 1:2. (2.) A son of Ezra probably (1-Chr 4:18). ......
JARIB
an adversary. (1.) A son of Simeon (1-Chr 4:24). (2.) One of the chiefs sent by Ezra to bring up the priests to Jerusalem (Ezra 8:16). (3.) Ezra 10:18. ......
JARMUTH
height. (1.) A town in the plain of Judah (Josh. 15:35), originally the residence of one of the Canaanitish kings (10:3, 10: 5, 23). It has been identified with the modern Yarmuk, a village about 7 miles north-east of Beit-Jibrin. (2.) A Levitical city of the tribe of Issachar (Josh. 21:29), supposed by some to be the Ramah of Samuel (1-Sam 19:22). ......
JEARIM
forests, a mountain on the border of Judah (Josh. 15:10). ......
JEGAR-SAHADUTHA
pile of testimony, the Aramaic or Syriac name which Laban gave to the pile of stones erected as a memorial of the covenant between him and Jacob (Gen. 31:47), who, however, called it in Hebrew by an equivalent name, Galeed (q.v.). ......
JEHOIARIB
Jehovah defends, a priest at Jerusalem, head of one of the sacerdotal courses (1-Chr 9:10;24:7). His "course" went up from Babylon after the Exile (Ezra 2:36; Neh. 7:39). ......
JESHARELAH
upright towards God, the head of the seventh division of Levitical musicians (1-Chr 25:14). ......
JOIARIB
(whom Jehovah defends) = Jehoiarib. (1.) The founder of one of the courses of the priests (Neh. 11:10). (2.) Neh. 11:5; a descendant of Judah. (3.) Neh. 12:6. (4.) Ezra 8:16, Ezra 8: a "man of understanding" whom Ezra sent to "bring ministers for the house of God." ......
JOZACHAR
Jehovah-remembered, one of the two servants who assassinated Jehoash, the king of Judah, in Millo (2-Kings 12:21). He is called also Zabad (2-Chr 24:26).......
KAREAH
bald, the father of Johanan and Jonathan, who for a time were loyal to Gedaliah, the Babylonian governor of Jerusalem (Jer. 40:8, Jer. 40: 13, 15, 16).......
KARKAA
a floor; bottom, a place between Adar and Azmon, about midway between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea (Josh. 15:3).......
KARKOR
foundation, a place in the open desert wastes on the east of Jordan (Judg. 8:10), not far beyond Succoth and Penuel, to the south. Here Gideon overtook and routed a fugitive band of Midianites under Zeba and Zalmunna, whom he took captive.......
KARTAH
city, a town in the tribe of Zebulun assigned to the Levites of the family of Merari (Josh. 21:34). It is identical with Kattath (19:15), and perhaps also with Kitron (Judg. 1:30).......
KARTAN
double city, a town of Naphali, assigned to the Gershonite Levites, and one of the cities of refuge (Josh. 21:32). It was probably near the north-western shore of the Sea of Tiberias, identical with the ruined village el-Katanah.......
KEDAR
dark-skinned, the second son of Ishmael (Gen. 25:13). It is the name for the nomadic tribes of Arabs, the Bedouins generally (Isa. 21:16;42:11;60:7; Jer. 2:10; Ezek. 27:21), who dwelt in the north-west of Arabia. They lived in black hair-tents (1:5). To "dwell in the tents of Kedar" was to be cut off from the worship of the true God (Psa 120:5). The Kedarites suffered at the hands of Nebuchadnez......
KIR-HARASETH
built fortress, a city and fortress of Moab, the modern Kerak, a small town on the brow of a steep hill about 6 miles from Rabbath-Moab and 10 miles from the Dead Sea; called also Kir-haresh, Kir-hareseth, Kir-heres (Isa. 16:7, Isa. 16: 11; Jer. 48:31, Jer. 48: 36). After the death of Ahab, Mesha, king of Moab (see MOABITE+STONE), threw off allegiance to the king of Israel, and fought successfully......
KIRJATH-ARBA
city of Arba, the original name of Hebron (q.v.), so called from the name of its founder, one of the Anakim (Gen. 23:2;35:27; Josh. 15:13). It was given to Caleb by Joshua as his portion. The Jews interpret the name as meaning "the city of the four", i.e., of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Adam, who were all, as they allege, buried there. ......
KIRJATH-JEARIM
city of jaars; i.e., of woods or forests, a Gibeonite town (Josh. 9:17) on the border of Benjamin, to which tribe it was assigned (18:15, 18: 28). The ark was brought to this place (1-Sam 7:1, 1-Sam 7: 2) from Beth-shemesh and put in charge of Abinadab, a Levite. Here it remained till it was removed by David to Jerusalem (2-Sam 6:2, 2-Sam 6: 3, 12; 1-Chr 15:1; comp. Ps. 132). It was also called Ba......
LANDMARK
a boundary line indicated by a stone, stake, etc. (Deut. 19:14;27:17; Prov. 22:28;23:10; Job 24:2). Landmarks could not be removed without incurring the severe displeasure of God. ......
LAZARUS
an abbreviation of Eleazar, whom God helps. (1.) The brother of Mary and Martha of Bethany. He was raised from the dead after he had lain four days in the tomb (John 11:1). This miracle so excited the wrath of the Jews that they sought to put both Jesus and Lazarus to death. (2.) A beggar named in the parable recorded Luke 16:19. ......
LEOPARD
(Heb. namer, so called because spotted, 4:8), was that great spotted feline which anciently infested the mountains of Syria, more appropriately called a panther (Felis pardus). Its fierceness (Isa. 11:6), its watching for its prey (Jer. 5:6), its swiftness (Hab. 1:8), and the spots of its skin (Jer. 13:23), are noticed. This word is used symbolically (Dan. 7:6; Rev. 13:2). ......
LINEN-YARN
(See YARN.) ......
LIZARD
Only in Lev. 11:30, Lev. 11: as rendering of Hebrew _letaah_, so called from its "hiding." Supposed to be the Lacerta gecko or fan-foot lizard, from the toes of which poison exudes. (See CHAMELEON.) ......
LO-DEBAR
no pasture, (2-Sam 17:27), a town in Gilead not far from Mahanaim, north of the Jabbok (9:4, 9: 5). It is probably identical with Debir (Josh. 13:26). ......
MAARATH
desolation, a place in the mountains of Judah (Josh. 15:59), probably the modern village Beit Ummar, 6 miles north of Hebron. ......
MARA
bitter; sad, a symbolical name which Naomi gave to herself because of her misfortunes (Ruth 1:20). ......
MARAH
bitterness, a fountain at the sixth station of the Israelites (Exo 15:23, Exo 15: 24; Num. 33:8) whose waters were so bitter that they could not drink them. On this account they murmured against Moses, who, under divine direction, cast into the fountain "a certain tree" which took away its bitterness, so that the people drank of it. This was probably the 'Ain Hawarah, where there are still several......
MARALAH
trembling, a place on the southern boundary of Zebulun (Josh. 19:11). It has been identified with the modern M'alul, about 4 miles south-west of Nazareth. ......
MARANATHA
(1-Cor 16:22) consists of two Aramean words, Maran'athah, meaning, "our Lord comes," or is "coming." If the latter interpretation is adopted, the meaning of the phrase is, "Our Lord is coming, and he will judge those who have set him at nought." (Comp. Phil. 4:5; James 5:8, James 5: 9.) ......
MARBLE
as a mineral, consists of carbonate of lime, its texture varying from the highly crystalline to the compact. In Esther 1:6 there are four Hebrew words which are rendered marble:, (1.) Shesh, "pillars of marble." But this word probably designates dark-blue limestone rather than marble. (2.) Dar, some regard as Parian marble. It is here rendered "white marble." But nothing is certainly known of it. ......
MARCHESHVAN
the post-biblical name of the month which was the eighth of the sacred and the second of the civil year of the Jews. It began with the new moon of our November. It is once called Bul (1-Kings 6:38). Assyrian, Arah Samna, "eighth month," ......
MARCUS
Col. 4:10; Philemon 1:24; 1-Pet 5:13; R.V., "Mark" (q.v.). ......
MARESHAH
possession, a city in the plain of Judah (John. 15:44). Here Asa defeated Zerah the Ethiopian (2-Chr 14:9, 2-Chr 14: 10). It is identified with the ruin el-Mer'ash, about 1 1/2 mile south of Beit Jibrin. ......
MARK
the evangelist; "John whose surname was Mark" (Acts 12:12, Acts 12: 25). Mark (Marcus, Col. 4:10, Col. 4: etc.) was his Roman name, which gradually came to supersede his Jewish name John. He is called John in Acts 13:5, Acts 13: 13, and Mark 15:39, 15: 2-Tim 4:11, 2-Tim 4: etc. He was the son of Mary, a woman apparently of some means and influence, and was probably born in Jerusalem, where his m......
MARK, GOSPEL ACCORDING TO
It is the current and apparently well-founded tradition that Mark derived his information mainly from the discourses of Peter. In his mother's house he would have abundant opportunities of obtaining information from the other apostles and their coadjutors, yet he was "the disciple and interpreter of Peter" specially. As to the time when it was written, the Gospel furnishes us with no definite in......
MARKET-PLACE
any place of public resort, and hence a public place or broad street (Matt. 11:16;20:3), as well as a forum or market-place proper, where goods were exposed for sale, and where public assemblies and trials were held (Acts 16:19;17:17). This word occurs in the Old Testament only in Ezek. 27:13. In early times markets were held at the gates of cities, where commodities were exposed for sale (2-Kin......
MAROTH
bitterness; i.e., "perfect grief", a place not far from Jerusalem; mentioned in connection with the invasion of the Assyrian army (Micah 1:12). ......
MARRIAGE
was instituted in Paradise when man was in innocence (Gen. 2:18). Here we have its original charter, which was confirmed by our Lord, as the basis on which all regulations are to be framed (Matt. 19:4, Matt. 19: 5). It is evident that monogamy was the original law of marriage (Matt. 19:5; 1-Cor 6:16). This law was violated in after times, when corrupt usages began to be introduced (Gen. 4:19;6:2).......
MARRIAGE-FEASTS
(John 2:1) "lasted usually for a whole week; but the cost of such prolonged rejoicing is very small in the East. The guests sit round the great bowl or bowls on the floor, the meal usually consisting of a lamb or kid stewed in rice or barley. The most honoured guests sit nearest, others behind; and all in eating dip their hand into the one smoking mound, pieces of the thin bread, bent together, se......
MARS HILL
the Areopagus or rocky hill in Athens, north-west of the Acropolis, where the Athenian supreme tribunal and court of morals was held. From some part of this hill Paul delivered the address recorded in Acts 17:22. (See AREOPAGUS.) ......
MARTHA
bitterness, the sister of Lazarus and Mary, and probably the eldest of the family, who all resided at Bethany (Luke 10:38, Luke 10: 40, 41; John 11:1). From the residence being called "her house," some have supposed that she was a widow, and that her brother and sister lodged with her. She seems to have been of an anxious, bustling spirit, anxious to be helpful in providing the best things for the......
MARTYR
one who bears witness of the truth, and suffers death in the cause of Christ (Acts 22:20; Rev. 2:13;17:6). In this sense Stephen was the first martyr. The Greek word so rendered in all other cases is translated "witness." (1.) In a court of justice (Matt. 18:16;26:65; Acts 6:13;7:58; Heb. 10:28; 1-Tim 5:19). (2.) As of one bearing testimony to the truth of what he has seen or known (Luke 24:48; Ac......
MARY
Hebrew Miriam. (1.) The wife of Joseph, the mother of Jesus, called the "Virgin Mary," though never so designated in Scripture (Matt. 2:11; Acts 1:14). Little is known of her personal history. Her genealogy is given in Luke 3. She was of the tribe of Judah and the lineage of David (Psa 132:11; Luke 1:32). She was connected by marriage with Elisabeth, who was of the lineage of Aaron (Luke 1:36). ......
MAZZAROTH
prognostications, found only Job 38:32, Job 38: probably meaning "the twelve signs" (of the zodiac), as in the margin (comp. 2-Kings 23:5). ......
ME-JARKON
waters of yellowness, or clear waters, a river in the tribe of Dan (Josh. 19:46). It has been identified with the river 'Aujeh, which rises at Antipatris. ......
MEARAH
a cave, a place in the northern boundary of Palestine (Josh. 13:4). This may be the cave of Jezzin in Lebanon, 10 miles east of Sidon, on the Damascus road; or probably, as others think, Mogheirizeh, north-east of Sidon. ......
MELZAR
probably a Persian word meaning master of wine, i.e., chief butler; the title of an officer at the Babylonian court (Dan. 1:11, Dan. 1: 16) who had charge of the diet of the Hebrew youths. ......
MERARI
sad; bitter, the youngest son of Levi, born before the descent of Jacob into Egypt, and one of the seventy who accompanied him thither (Gen. 46:11; Exo 6:16). He became the head of one of the great divisions of the Levites (Exo 6:19). (See MERARITES.) ......
MERARITES
the descendants of Merari (Num. 26:57). They with the Gershonites and the Kohathites had charge of the tabernacle, which they had to carry from place to place (Num. 3:20, Num. 3: 33-37;4:29). In the distribution of the oxen and waggons offered by the princes (Num. 7), Moses gave twice as many to the Merarites (four waggons and eight oxen) as he gave to the Gershonites, because the latter had to ca......
MIBHAR
choice, a Hagarene, one of David's warriors (1-Chr 11:38); called also Bani the Gadite (2-Sam 23:36). ......
MIBZAR
fortress, one of the Edomitish "dukes" descended from Esau (Gen. 36:42; 1-Chr 1:53). ......
MIGDAL-EDAR
tower of the flock, a place 2 miles south of Jerusalem, near the Bethlehem road (Gen. 35:21). (See EDAR.) ......
MIZAR
smallness, a summit on the eastern ridge of Lebanon, near which David lay after escaping from Absalom (Psa 42:6). It may, perhaps, be the present Jebel Ajlun, thus named, "the little", in contrast with the greater elevation of Lebanon and Hermon. ......
MIZPAR
number, one of the Jews who accompanied Zerubbabel from Babylon (Ezra 2:2); called also Mispereth (Neh. 7:7). ......
MORTAR
(Heb. homer), cement of lime and sand (Gen. 11:3; Exo 1:14); also potter's clay (Isa. 41:25; Nah. 3:14). Also Heb. 'aphar, usually rendered "dust," clay or mud used for cement in building (Lev. 14:42, Lev. 14: 45). Mortar for pulverizing (Prov. 27:22) grain or other substances by means of a pestle instead of a mill. Mortars were used in the wilderness for pounding the manna (Num. 11:8). It is co......
MUSTARD
a plant of the genus sinapis, a pod-bearing, shrub-like plant, growing wild, and also cultivated in gardens. The little round seeds were an emblem of any small insignificant object. It is not mentioned in the Old Testament; and in each of the three instances of its occurrence in the New Testament (Matt. 13:31, Matt. 13: 32; Mark 4:31, Mark 4: 32; Luke 13:18, Luke 13: 19) it is spoken of only with ......
NAARAH
a girl, the second of Ashur's two wives, of the tribe of Judah (1-Chr 4:5, 1-Chr 4: 6). ......
NAARAI
youthful, a military chief in David's army (1-Chr 11:37), called also Paarai (2-Sam 23:35). ......
NAARAN
boyish, juvenile, a town in Ephraim between Bethel and Jericho (1-Chr 7:28). ......
NAARATH
girl, a town on the boundary between Ephraim and Benjamin (Josh. 16:7), not far probably from Jericho, to the north (1-Chr 7:28). ......
NAHARAI
snorer, a Berothite, one of David's heroes, and armour-bearer of Joab (1-Chr 11:39).......
NARCISSUS
daffodil, a Roman whom Paul salutes (Rom. 16:11). He is supposed to have been the private secretary of the emperor Claudius. This is, however, quite uncertain.......
NAZARENE
This epithet (Gr. Nazaraios) is applied to Christ only once (Matt. 2:23). In all other cases the word is rendered "of Nazareth" (Mark 1:24;10:47;14:67, 14: etc.). When this Greek designation was at first applied to our Lord, it was meant simply to denote the place of his residence. In course of time the word became a term of reproach. Thus the word "Nazarene" carries with it an allusion to those p......
NAZARETH
separated, generally supposed to be the Greek form of the Hebrew _netser_, a "shoot" or "sprout." Some, however, think that the name of the city must be connected with the name of the hill behind it, from which one of the finest prospects in Palestine is obtained, and accordingly they derive it from the Hebrew _notserah_, i.e., one guarding or watching, thus designating the hill which overlooks an......
NAZARITE
(Heb. form Nazirite), the name of such Israelites as took on them the vow prescribed in Num. 6:2. The word denotes generally one who is separated from others and consecrated to God. Although there is no mention of any Nazarite before Samson, yet it is evident that they existed before the time of Moses. The vow of a Nazarite involved these three things, (1) abstinence from wine and strong drink, (2......
NEBUCHADNEZZAR
in the Babylonian orthography Nabu-kudur-uzur, which means "Nebo, protect the crown!" or the "frontiers." In an inscription he styles himself "Nebo's favourite." He was the son and successor of Nabopolassar, who delivered Babylon from its dependence on Assyria and laid Nineveh in ruins. He was the greatest and most powerful of all the Babylonian kings. He married the daughter of Cyaxares, and thus......
NEBUCHADREZZAR
=Nebuchadnezzar (Jer. 21:2, Jer. 21: 7;22:25;24:1, 24: etc.), a nearer approach to the correct spelling of the word.......
NEBUZARADAN
"the captain of the guard," in rank next to the king, who appears prominent in directing affairs at the capture of Jerusalem (2-Kings 25:8; Jer. 39:11;40:2). He showed kindness toward Jeremiah, as commanded by Nebuchadnezzar (0:1). Five years after this he again came to Jerusalem and carried captive seven hundred and forty-five more Jews.......
NERGAL-SHAREZER
Nergal, protect the king! (1.) One of the "princes of the king of Babylon who accompanied him in his last expedition against Jerusalem" (Jer. 39:3, Jer. 39: 13). (2.) Another of the "princes," who bore the title of "Rabmag." He was one of those who were sent to release Jeremiah from prison (Jer. 39:13) by "the captain of the guard." He was a Babylonian grandee of high rank. From profane history ......
NORTHWARD
(Heb. tsaphon), a "hidden" or "dark place," as opposed to the sunny south (Deut. 3:27). A Hebrew in speaking of the points of the compass was considered as always having his face to the east, and hence "the left hand" (Gen. 14:15; Job 23:9) denotes the north. The "kingdoms of the north" are Chaldea, Assyria, Media, etc. ......
OMAR
eloquent, the son of Eliphaz, who was Esau's eldest son (Gen. 36:11). ......
PAARAI
opening of the Lord, "the Arbite," one of David's heroes (2-Sam 23:35); called also Naarai, 1-Chr 11:37.......
PADAN-ARAM
the plain of Aram, or the plain of the highlands, (Gen. 25:20;28:2, 28: 5-7;31:18, 31: etc.), commonly regarded as the district of Mesopotamia (q.v.) lying around Haran.......
PARABLE
(Gr. parabole), a placing beside; a comparison; equivalent to the Heb. mashal, a similitude. In the Old Testament this is used to denote (1) a proverb (1-Sam 10:12;24:13; 2-Chr 7:20), (2) a prophetic utterance (Num. 23:7; Ezek. 20:49), (3) an enigmatic saying (Psa 78:2; Prov. 1:6). In the New Testament, (1) a proverb (Mark 7:17; Luke 4:23), (2) a typical emblem (Heb. 9:9;11:19), (3) a similitude o......
PARADISE
a Persian word (pardes), properly meaning a "pleasure-ground" or "park" or "king's garden." (See EDEN.) It came in course of time to be used as a name for the world of happiness and rest hereafter (Luke 23:43; 2-Cor 12:4; Rev. 2:7). For "garden" in Gen. 2:8 the LXX. has "paradise."......
PARAH
the heifer, a town in Benjamin (Josh. 18:23), supposed to be identical with the ruins called Far'ah, about 6 miles north-east of Jerusalem, in the Wady Far'ah, which is a branch of the Wady Kelt.......
PARAN
abounding in foliage, or abounding in caverns, (Gen. 21:21), a desert tract forming the north-eastern division of the peninsula of Sinai, lying between the 'Arabah on the east and the wilderness of Shur on the west. It is intersected in a north-western direction by the Wady el-'Arish. It bears the modern name of Badiet et-Tih, i.e., "the desert of the wanderings." This district, through which the ......
PARAN, MOUNT
probably the hilly region or upland wilderness on the north of the desert of Paran forming the southern boundary of the Promised Land (Deut. 33:2; Hab. 3:3).......
PARBAR
(1-Chr 26:18), a place apparently connected with the temple, probably a "suburb" (q.v.), as the word is rendered in 2-Kings 23:11; a space between the temple wall and the wall of the court; an open portico into which the chambers of the official persons opened (1-Chr 26:18).......
PARCHED GROUND
(Isa. 35:7), Heb. sharab, a "mirage", a phenomenon caused by the refraction of the rays of the sun on the glowing sands of the desert, causing them suddenly to assume the appearance of a beautiful lake. It is called by the modern Arabs by the same Hebrew name _serab_.......
PARCHMENT
a skin prepared for writing on; so called from Pergamos (q.v.), where this was first done (2-Tim 4:13).......
PARDON
the forgiveness of sins granted freely (Isa. 43:25), readily (Neh. 9:17; Psa 86:5), abundantly (Isa. 55:7; Rom. 5:20). Pardon is an act of a sovereign, in pure sovereignty, granting simply a remission of the penalty due to sin, but securing neither honour nor reward to the pardoned. Justification (q.v.), on the other hand, is the act of a judge, and not of a sovereign, and includes pardon and, at ......
PARLOUR
(from the Fr. parler, "to speak") denotes an "audience chamber," but that is not the import of the Hebrew word so rendered. It corresponds to what the Turks call a kiosk, as in Judg. 3:20 (the "summer parlour"), or as in the margin of the Revised Version ("the upper chamber of cooling"), a small room built on the roof of the house, with open windows to catch the breeze, and having a door communica......
PARMASHTA
strong-fisted, a son of Haman, slain in Shushan (Esther 9:9).......
PARMENAS
constant, one of the seven "deacons" (Acts 6:5).......
PARSHANDATHA
an interpreter of the law, the eldest of Haman's sons, slain in Shushan (Esther 9:7).......
PARTHIANS
were present in Jerusalem at Pentecost (Acts 2:9). Parthia lay on the east of Media and south of Hyrcania, which separated it from the Caspian Sea. It corresponded with the western half of the modern Khorasan, and now forms a part of Persia.......
PARTRIDGE
(Heb. kore, i.e., "caller"). This bird, unlike our own partridge, is distinguished by "its ringing call-note, which in early morning echoes from cliff to cliff amidst the barrenness of the wilderness of Judea and the glens of the forest of Carmel" hence its Hebrew name. This name occurs only twice in Scripture. In 1-Sam 26:20 "David alludes to the mode of chase practised now, as of old, when the......
PARUAH
flourishing, the father of Jehoshaphat, appointed to provide monthly supplies for Solomon from the tribe of Issachar (1-Kings 4:17).......
PARVAIM
the name of a country from which Solomon obtained gold for the temple (2-Chr 3:6). Some have identified it with Ophir, but it is uncertain whether it is even the name of a place. It may simply, as some think, denote "Oriental regions."......
PATARA
a city on the south-west coast of Lycia at which Paul landed on his return from his third missionary journey (Acts 21:1, Acts 21: 2). Here he found a larger vessel, which was about to sail across the open sea to the coast of Phoenicia. In this vessel he set forth, and reached the city of Tyre in perhaps two or three days.......
PATRIARCH
a name employed in the New Testament with reference to Abraham (Heb. 7:4), the sons of Jacob (Acts 7:8, Acts 7: 9), and to David (2:29). This name is generally applied to the progenitors of families or "heads of the fathers" (Josh. 14:1) mentioned in Scripture, and they are spoken of as antediluvian (from Adam to Noah) and post-diluvian (from Noah to Jacob) patriachs. But the expression "the patri......
PEARL
(Heb. gabish, Job 28:18; Gr. margarites, Matt. 7:6;13:46; Rev. 21:21). The pearl oyster is found in the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. Its shell is the "mother of pearl," which is of great value for ornamental purposes (1-Tim 2:9; Rev. 17:4). Each shell contains eight or ten pearls of various sizes.......
PECULIAR
as used in the phrase "peculiar people" in 1-Pet 2:9, 1-Pet 2: is derived from the Lat. peculium, and denotes, as rendered in the Revised Version ("a people for God's own possession"), a special possession or property. The church is the "property" of God, his "purchased possession" (Eph. 1:14; R.V., "God's own possession").......
PHARAOH
the official title borne by the Egyptian kings down to the time when that country was conquered by the Greeks. (See EGYPT.) The name is a compound, as some think, of the words Ra, the "sun" or "sun-god," and the article phe, "the," prefixed; hence phera, "the sun," or "the sun-god." But others, perhaps more correctly, think the name derived from Perao, "the great house" = his majesty = in Turkish,......
PHARAOH'S DAUGHTERS
Three princesses are thus mentioned in Scripture: (1.) The princess who adopted the infant Moses (q.v.), Exo 2:10. She is twice mentioned in the New Testament (Acts 7:21: Heb. 11:24). It would seem that she was alive and in some position of influence about the court when Moses was compelled to flee from Egypt, and thus for forty years he had in some way been under her influence. She was in all pro......
PHAREZ
breach, the elder of the twin sons of Judah (Gen. 38:29). From him the royal line of David sprang (Ruth 4:18). "The chief of all the captains of the host" was of the children of Perez (1-Chr 27:3; Matt. 1:3). ......
PHARISEES
separatists (Heb. persahin, from parash, "to separate"). They were probably the successors of the Assideans (i.e., the "pious"), a party that originated in the time of Antiochus Epiphanes in revolt against his heathenizing policy. The first mention of them is in a description by Josephus of the three sects or schools into which the Jews were divided (B.C. 145). The other two sects were the Essenes......
PHARPAR
swift, one of the rivers of Damascus (2-Kings 5:12). It has been identified with the 'Awaj, "a small lively river." The whole of the district watered by the 'Awaj is called the Wady el-'Ajam, i.e., "the valley of the Persians", so called for some unknown reason. This river empties itself into the lake or marsh Bahret Hijaneh, on the east of Damascus. One of its branches bears the modern name of Wa......
PILLAR
used to support a building (Judg. 16:26, Judg. 16: 29); as a trophy or memorial (Gen. 28:18;35:20; Exo 24:4; 1-Sam 15:12, 1-Sam 15: A.V., "place," more correctly "monument," or "trophy of victory," as in 2-Sam 18:18); of fire, by which the Divine Presence was manifested (Exo 13:2). The "plain of the pillar" in Judg. 9:6 ought to be, as in the Revised Version, the "oak of the pillar", i.e., of the ......
POPLAR
Heb. libneh, "white", (Gen. 30:37; Hos. 4:13), in all probability the storax tree (Styrax officinalis) or white poplar, distinguished by its white blossoms and pale leaves. It is common in the Anti-Libanus. Other species of the poplar are found in Palestine, such as the white poplar (P. alba) of our own country, the black poplar (P. nigra), and the aspen (P. tremula). (See WILLOW.) ......
POTIPHAR
dedicated to Ra; i.e., to the sun-god, the Egyptian to whom the Ishmaelites sold Joseph (Gen. 39:1). He was "captain of the guard", i.e., chief, probably, of the state police, who, while they formed part of the Egyptian army, were also largely employed in civil duties (37:36; marg., "chief of the executioners"). Joseph, though a foreigner, gradually gained his confidence, and became overseer over ......
PYGARG
Heb. dishon, "springing", (Deut. 14:5), one of the animals permitted for food. It is supposed to be the Antelope addax. It is described as "a large animal, over 3 1/2 feet high at the shoulder, and, with its gently-twisted horns, 2 1/2 feet long. Its colour is pure white, with the exception of a short black mane, and a tinge of tawny on the shoulders and back.", Tristram's Natural History.......
QUARANTANIA
a mountain some 1,200 feet high, about 7 miles north-west of Jericho, the traditional scene of our Lord's temptation (Matt. 4:8).......
QUARRIES
(1.) The "Royal Quarries" (not found in Scripture) is the name given to the vast caverns stretching far underneath the northern hill, Bezetha, on which Jerusalem is built. Out of these mammoth caverns stones, a hard lime-stone, have been quarried in ancient times for the buildings in the city, and for the temples of Solomon, Zerubbabel, and Herod. Huge blocks of stone are still found in these cave......
QUARTUS
fourth, a Corinthian Christian who sent by Paul his salutations to friends at Rome (Rom. 16:23).......
RABSARIS
chief of the Heads, one of the three officers whom Sennacherib sent from Lachish with a threatening message to Jerusalem (2-Kings 18:17; Jer. 39:3, Jer. 39: 13).......
REMMON-METHOAR
(Josh. 19:13), rendered correctly in the Revised Version, "Rimmon, which stretcheth unto Neah," a landmark of Zebulun; called also Rimmon (1-Chr 6:77). ......
REREWARD
(Josh. 6:9), the troops in the rear of an army on the march, the rear-guard. This word is a corruption of the French arriere-garde. During the wilderness march the tribe of Dan formed the rear-guard (Num. 10:25; comp. 1-Sam 29:2; Isa. 52:12;58:8). ......
RIMMON-PAREZ
a pomegranate breach, or Rimmon of the breach, one of the stations of the Israelites in the wilderness (Num. 33:19, Num. 33: 20). ......
SABBATICAL YEAR
every seventh year, during which the land, according to the law of Moses, had to remain uncultivated (Lev. 25:2; comp. Exo 23:10, Exo 23: 11, 12; Lev. 26:34, Lev. 26: 35). Whatever grew of itself during that year was not for the owner of the land, but for the poor and the stranger and the beasts of the field. All debts, except those of foreigners, were to be remitted (Deut. 15:1). There is little ......
SACHAR
hire. (1.) One of David's heroes (1-Chr 11:35); called also Sharar (2-Sam 23:33). (2.) A son of Obed-edom the Gittite, and a temple porter (1-Chr 26:4). ......
SAMARIA
a watch-mountain or a watch-tower. In the heart of the mountains of Israel, a few miles north-west of Shechem, stands the "hill of Shomeron," a solitary mountain, a great "mamelon." It is an oblong hill, with steep but not inaccessible sides, and a long flat top. Omri, the king of Israel, purchased this hill from Shemer its owner for two talents of silver, and built on its broad summit the city to......
SAMARITAN PENTATEUCH
On the return from the Exile, the Jews refused the Samaritans participation with them in the worship at Jerusalem, and the latter separated from all fellowship with them, and built a temple for themselves on Mount Gerizim. This temple was razed to the ground more than one hundred years B.C. Then a system of worship was instituted similar to that of the temple at Jerusalem. It was founded on the La......
SAMARITANS
the name given to the new and mixed inhabitants whom Esarhaddon (B.C. 677), the king of Assyria, brought from Babylon and other places and settled in the cities of Samaria, instead of the original inhabitants whom Sargon (B.C. 721) had removed into captivity (2-Kings 17:24; comp. Ezra 4:2, Ezra 4: 9, 10). These strangers (comp. Luke 17:18) amalgamated with the Jews still remaining in the land, and......
SAMGAR-NEBO
be gracious, O Nebo! or a cup-bearer of Nebo, probably the title of Nergal-sharezer, one of the princes of Babylon (Jer. 39:3). ......
SANCTUARY
denotes, (1) the Holy Land (Exo 15:17; comp. Psa 114:2); (2) the temple (1-Chr 22:19; 2-Chr 29:21); (3) the tabernacle (Exo 25:8; Lev. 12:4;21:12); (4) the holy place, the place of the Presence (Gr. hieron, the temple-house; not the _naos_, which is the temple area, with its courts and porches), Lev. 4:6; Eph. 2:21, Eph. 2: R.V., marg.; (5) God's holy habitation in heaven (Psa 102:19). In the fina......
SARAH
princess, the wife and at the same time the half-sister of Abraham (Gen. 11:29;20:12). This name was given to her at the time that it was announced to Abraham that she should be the mother of the promised child. Her story is from her marriage identified with that of the patriarch till the time of her death. Her death, at the age of one hundred and twenty-seven years (the only instance in Scripture......
SARAI
my princess, the name originally borne by Sarah (Gen. 11:31;17:15). ......
SARDINE STONE
(Rev. 4:3, Rev. 4: R.V., "sardius;" Heb. 'odhem; LXX., Gr. sardion, from a root meaning "red"), a gem of a blood-red colour. It was called "sardius" because obtained from Sardis in Lydia. It is enumerated among the precious stones in the high priest's breastplate (Exo 28:17;39:10). It is our red carnelian. ......
SARDIS
the metropolis of Lydia in Asia Minor. It stood on the river Pactolus, at the foot of mount Tmolus. Here was one of the seven Asiatic churches (Rev. 3:1). It is now a ruin called Sert-Kalessi. ......
SARDONYX
(Rev. 21:20), a species of the carnelian combining the sard and the onyx, having three layers of opaque spots or stripes on a transparent red basis. Like the sardine, it is a variety of the chalcedony. ......
SAREPTA
(Luke 4:26). See ZAREPHATH. ......
SARGON
(In the inscriptions, "Sarra-yukin" [the god] has appointed the king; also "Sarru-kinu," the legitimate king.) On the death of Shalmaneser (B.C. 723), one of the Assyrian generals established himself on the vacant throne, taking the name of "Sargon," after that of the famous monarch, the Sargon of Accad, founder of the first Semitic empire, as well as of one of the most famous libraries of Chaldea......
SCARLET
This dye was obtained by the Egyptians from the shell-fish Carthamus tinctorius; and by the Hebrews from the Coccus ilicis, an insect which infests oak trees, called kermes by the Arabians. This colour was early known (Gen. 38:28). It was one of the colours of the ephod (Exo 28:6), the girdle (8), and the breastplate (15) of the high priest. It is also mentioned in various other connections (Jos......
SEPHAR
numbering, (Gen. 10:30), supposed by some to be the ancient Himyaritic capital, "Shaphar," Zaphar, on the Indian Ocean, between the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. ......
SEPHARAD
(Obad. 1:20), some locality unknown. The modern Jews think that Spain is meant, and hence they designate the Spanish Jews "Sephardim," as they do the German Jews by the name "Ashkenazim," because the rabbis call Germany Ashkenaz. Others identify it with Sardis, the capital of Lydia. The Latin father Jerome regarded it as an Assyrian word, meaning "boundary," and interpreted the sentence, "which is......
SEPHARVAIM
taken by Sargon, king of Assyria (2-Kings 17:24;18:34;19:13; Isa. 37:13). It was a double city, and received the common name Sepharvaim, i.e., "the two Sipparas," or "the two booktowns." The Sippara on the east bank of the Euphrates is now called Abu-Habba; that on the other bank was Accad, the old capital of Sargon I., where he established a great library. (See SARGON.) The recent discovery of cu......
SHAARAIM
two gates. (1.) A city in the plain of Judah (1-Sam 17:52); called also Sharaim (Josh. 15:36). (2.) A town in Simeon (1-Chr 4:31). ......
SHAMGAR
The Philistines from the maritime plain had made incursions into the Hebrew upland for the purposes of plunder, when one of this name, the son of Anath, otherwise unknown, headed a rising for the purpose of freeing the land from this oppression. He repelled the invasion, slaying 600 men with an "ox goad" (q.v.). The goad was a formidable sharpointed instrument, sometimes ten feet long. He was prob......
SHARAIM
two gates (Josh. 15:36), more correctly Shaaraim (1-Sam 17:52), probably Tell Zakariya and Kefr Zakariya, in the valley of Elah, 3 1/2 miles north-west of Socoh.......
SHAREZER
(god) protect the king!, a son of Sennacherib, king of Assyria. He and his brother Adrammelech murdered their father, and then fled into the land of Armenia (2-Kings 19:37).......
SHARON, SARON
a plain, a level tract extending from the Mediterranean to the hill country to the west of Jerusalem, about 30 miles long and from 8 to 15 miles broad, celebrated for its beauty and fertility (1-Chr 27:29; Isa. 33:9;35:2;65:10). The "rose of Sharon" is celebrated (2:1). It is called Lasharon (the article la being here a part of the word) in Josh. 12:18.......
SHEAR-JASHUB
a remnant shall escape or return (i.e., to God), a symbolical name which the prophet Isaiah gave to his son (Isa. 7:3), perhaps his eldest son.......
SHEARING-HOUSE
(2-Kings 10:12, 2-Kings 10: 14; marg., "house of shepherds binding sheep." R.V., "the shearing-house of the shepherds;" marg., "house of gathering"), some place between Samaria and Jezreel, where Jehu slew "two and forty men" of the royal family of Judah. The Heb. word Beth-eked so rendered is supposed by some to be a proper name.......
SHEBARIM
breaks; ruins, a place near Ai (Josh. 7:5; R.V. marg., "the quarries").......
SHEEP-MARKET
occurs only in John 5:2 (marg., also R.V., "sheep-gate"). The word so rendered is an adjective, and it is uncertain whether the noun to be supplied should be "gate" or, following the Vulgate Version, "pool."......
SHEMARIAH
whom Jehovah guards. (1.) One who joined David at Ziklag (1-Chr 12:5). (2.) Ezra 10:32, Ezra 10: 41.......
SHESHBAZZAR
O sun-god, defend the lord! (Ezra 1:8, Ezra 1: 11), probably another name for Zerubbabel (q.v.), Ezra 2:2; Hag. 1:12, Hag. 1: 14; Zech. 4:6, Zech. 4: 10.......
SHETHAR
a star, a prince at the court of Ahasuerus (Esther 1:14).......
SHETHAR-BOZNAI
star of splendour, a Persian officer who vainly attempted to hinder the rebuilding of the temple (Ezra 5:3, Ezra 5: 6;6:6, 6: 13).......
SHINAR, THE LAND OF
LXX. and Vulgate "Senaar;" in the inscriptions, "Shumir;" probably identical with Babylonia or Southern Mesopotamia, extending almost to the Persian Gulf. Here the tower of Babel was built (Gen. 11:1), and the city of Babylon. The name occurs later in Jewish history (Isa. 11:11; Zech. 5:11). Shinar was apparently first peopled by Turanian tribes, who tilled the land and made bricks and built citie......
SNARE
The expression (Amos 3:5), "Shall one take up a snare from the earth?" etc. (Authorized Version), ought to be, as in the Revised Version, "Shall a snare spring up from the ground?" etc. (See GIN.) ......
SPARROW
Mentioned among the offerings made by the very poor. Two sparrows were sold for a farthing (Matt. 10:29), and five for two farthings (Luke 12:6). The Hebrew word thus rendered is _tsippor_, which properly denotes the whole family of small birds which feed on grain (Lev. 14:4; Psa 84:3;102:7). The Greek word of the New Testament is _strouthion_ (Matt. 10:29), which is thus correctly rendered. ......
SPIKENARD
(Heb. nerd), a much-valued perfume (1:12;4:13, 4: 14). It was "very precious", i.e., very costly (Mark 14:3; John 12:3, John 12:5). It is the root of an Indian plant, the Nardostachys jatamansi, of the family of Valeriance, growing on the Himalaya mountains. It is distinguished by its having many hairy spikes shooting out from one root. It is called by the Arabs sunbul Hindi, "the Indian spike." I......
STAR, MORNING
a name figuratively given to Christ (Rev. 22:16; comp. 2-Pet 1:19). When Christ promises that he will give the "morning star" to his faithful ones, he "promises that he will give to them himself, that he will give to them himself, that he will impart to them his own glory and a share in his own royal dominion; for the star is evermore the symbol of royalty (Matt. 2:2), being therefore linked with ......
STARGAZERS
(Isa. 47:13), those who pretend to tell what will occur by looking upon the stars. The Chaldean astrologers "divined by the rising and setting, the motions, aspects, colour, degree of light, etc., of the stars." ......
STARS
The eleven stars (Gen. 37:9); the seven (Amos 5:8); wandering (Jude 1:13); seen in the east at the birth of Christ, probably some luminous meteors miraculously formed for this specific purpose (Matt. 2:2); stars worshipped (Deut. 4:19; 2-Kings 17:16;21:3; Jer. 19:13); spoken of symbolically (Num. 24:17; Rev. 1:16, Rev. 1: 20;12:1). (See ASTROLOGERS.) ......
SYCHAR
liar or drunkard (see Isa. 28:1, Isa. 28: 7), has been from the time of the Crusaders usually identified with Sychem or Shechem (John 4:5). It has now, however, as the result of recent explorations, been identified with 'Askar, a small Samaritan town on the southern base of Ebal, about a mile to the north of Jacob's well. ......
TAMAR
palm. (1.) A place mentioned by Ezekiel (7:19;48:28), on the southeastern border of Palestine. Some suppose this was "Tadmor" (q.v.). (2.) The daughter-in-law of Judah, to whose eldest son, Er, she was married (Gen. 38:6). After her husband's death, she was married to Onan, his brother (8), and on his death, Judah promised to her that his third son, Shelah, would become her husband. This promise......
TAMARISK
Heb. 'eshel (Gen. 21:33; 1-Sam 22:6;31:13, 31: in the R.V.; but in A.V., "grove," "tree"); Arab. asal. Seven species of this tree are found in Palestine. It is a "very graceful tree, with long feathery branches and tufts closely clad with the minutest of leaves, and surmounted in spring with spikes of beautiful pink blosoms, which seem to envelop the whole tree in one gauzy sheet of colour" (Trist......
TARAH
stopping; station, an encampment of the Hebrews in the wilderness (Num. 33:27, Num. 33: 28). ......
TARES
the bearded darnel, mentioned only in Matt. 13:25. It is the Lolium temulentum, a species of rye-grass, the seeds of which are a strong soporific poison. It bears the closest resemblance to wheat till the ear appears, and only then the difference is discovered. It grows plentifully in Syria and Palestine. ......
TARGET
(1-Sam 17:6, 1-Sam 17: A.V., after the LXX. and Vulg.), a kind of small shield. The margin has "gorget," a piece of armour for the throat. The Revised Version more correctly renders the Hebrew word (kidon) by "javelin." The same Hebrew word is used in Josh. 8:18 (A.V., "spear;" R.V., "javelin"); Job 39:23 (A.V., "shield;" R.V., "javelin");41:29 (A.V., "spear;" R.V., "javelin"). ......
TARSHISH
a Sanscrit or Aryan word, meaning "the sea coast." (1.) One of the "sons" of Javan (Gen. 10:4; 1-Chr 1:7). (2.) The name of a place which first comes into notice in the days of Solomon. The question as to the locality of Tarshish has given rise to not a little discussion. Some think there was a Tarshish in the East, on the Indian coast, seeing that "ships of Tarshish" sailed from Eziongeber, on ......
TARSUS
the chief city of Cilicia. It was distinguished for its wealth and for its schools of learning, in which it rivalled, nay, excelled even Athens and Alexandria, and hence was spoken of as "no mean city." It was the native place of the Apostle Paul (Acts 21:39). It stood on the banks of the river Cydnus, about 12 miles north of the Mediterranean. It is said to have been founded by Sardanapalus, king......
TARTAK
prince of darkness, one of the gods of the Arvites, who colonized part of Samaria after the deportation of Israel by Shalmaneser (2-Kings 17:31). ......
TARTAN
an Assyrian word, meaning "the commander-in-chief." (1.) One of Sennacherib's messengers to Hezekiah (2-Kings 18:17). (2.) One of Sargon's generals (Isa. 20:1). ......
TEL-HARESHA
hill of the wood, a place in Babylon from which some captive Jews returned to Jerusalem (Ezra 2:59; Neh. 7:61). ......
TELASSAR
or Thelasar, (Isa. 37:12; 2-Kings 19:12), a province in the south-east of Assyria, probably in Babylonia. Some have identified it with Tel Afer, a place in Mesopotamia, some 30 miles from Sinjar. ......
TETRARCH
strictly the ruler over the fourth part of a province; but the word denotes a ruler of a province generally (Matt. 14:1; Luke 3:1, Luke 3: 19;9:7; Acts 13:1). Herod and Phasael, the sons of Antipater, were the first tetrarchs in Palestine. Herod the tetrarch had the title of king (Matt. 14:9). ......
THARSHISH
(1-Kings 10:22;22:48). See TARSHISH. ......
TIBERIUS CAESAR
i.e., as known in Roman history, Tiberius Claudius Nero, only mentioned in Luke 3:1. He was the stepson of Augustus, whom he succeeded on the throne, A.D. 14. He was noted for his vicious and infamous life. In the fifteenth year of his reign John the Baptist entered on his public ministry, and under him also our Lord taught and suffered. He died A.D. 37. He is frequently referred to simply as "Cae......
TOGARMAH
(1.) A son of Gomer, and grandson of Japheth (Gen. 10:3). (2.) A nation which traded in horses and mules at the fairs of Tyre (Ezek. 27:14;38:6); probably an Armenian or a Scythian race; descendants of (1). ......
UPHARSIN
and they divide, one of the words written by the mysterious hand on the wall of Belshazzar's palace (Dan. 5:25). It is a pure Chaldean word. "Peres" is only a simple form of the same word. ......
VINEGAR
Heb. hometz, Gr. oxos, Fr. vin aigre; i.e., "sour wine." The Hebrew word is rendered vinegar in Psa 69:21, Psa 69: a prophecy fulfilled in the history of the crucifixion (Matt. 27:34). This was the common sour wine (posea) daily made use of by the Roman soldiers. They gave it to Christ, not in derision, but from compassion, to assuage his thirst. Prov. 10:26 shows that there was also a stronger vi......
WAR
The Israelites had to take possession of the Promised Land by conquest. They had to engage in a long and bloody war before the Canaanitish tribes were finally subdued. Except in the case of Jericho and Ai, the war did not become aggressive till after the death of Joshua. Till then the attack was always first made by the Canaanites. Now the measure of the iniquity of the Canaanites was full, and Is......
WARD
a prison (Gen. 40:3, Gen. 40: 4); a watch-station (Isa. 21:8); a guard (Neh. 13:30). ......
WARS OF THE LORD, THE BOOK OF THE
(Num. 21:14, Num. 21: 15), some unknown book so called (comp. Gen. 14:14; Exo 17:8; Num. 14:40;21:1, 21: 21-25, 33-35; 31. The wars here recorded might be thus designated). ......
WATER OF SEPARATION
used along with the ashes of a red heifer for the ceremonial cleansing of persons defiled by contact with a dead body (Num. 19). ......
WESTWARD
sea-ward, i.e., toward the Mediterranean (Deut. 3:27). ......
WIZARD
a pretender to supernatural knowledge and power, "a knowing one," as the original Hebrew word signifies. Such an one was forbidden on pain of death to practise his deceptions (Lev. 19:31;20:6, 20: 27; 1-Sam 28:3; Isa. 8:19;19:3). ......
YARN
Found only in 1-Kings 10:28, 1-Kings 10: 2-Chr 1:16. The Heb. word mikveh, i.e., "a stringing together," so rendered, rather signifies a host, or company, or a string of horses. The Authorized Version has: "And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price;" but the Revised Version correctly renders: "And the horses which Solomon h......
YEAR
Heb. shanah, meaning "repetition" or "revolution" (Gen. 1:14;5:3). Among the ancient Egyptians the year consisted of twelve months of thirty days each, with five days added to make it a complete revolution of the earth round the sun. The Jews reckoned the year in two ways, (1) according to a sacred calendar, in which the year began about the time of the vernal equinox, with the month Abib; and (2)......
ZACHARIAH
remembered by the Lord. (1.) Son of Jeroboam II., king of Israel. On the death of his father there was an interregnum of ten years, at the end of which he succeeded to the throne, which he occupied only six months, having been put to death by Shallum, who usurped the throne. "He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as his fathers had done" (2-Kings 14:29;15:8). In him the dynasty of J......
ZACHARIAS
(1.) A priest of the course of Abia, the eighth of the twenty-four courses into which the priests had been originally divided by David (1-Chr 23:1). Only four of these courses or "families" of the priests returned from the Exile (Ezra 2:36); but they were then re-distributed under the old designations. The priests served at the temple twice each year, and only for a week each time. Zacharias's tim......
ZAREPHATH
smelting-shop, "a workshop for the refining and smelting of metals", a small Phoenician town, now Surafend, about a mile from the coast, almost midway on the road between Tyre and Sidon. Here Elijah sojourned with a poor widow during the "great famine," when the "heaven was shut up three years and six months" (Luke 4:26; 1-Kings 17:10). It is called Sarepta in the New Testament (Luke 4:26).......
ZARETAN
When the Hebrews crossed the Jordan, as soon as the feet of the priests were dipped in the water, the flow of the stream was arrested. The point of arrest was the "city of Adam beside Zaretan," probably near Succoth, at the mouth of the Jabbok, some 30 miles up the river from where the people were encamped. There the water "stood and rose upon an heap." Thus the whole space of 30 miles of the rive......
ZARETH-SHAHAR
the splendour of the dawn, a city "in the mount of the valley" (Josh. 13:19). It is identified with the ruins of Zara, near the mouth of the Wady Zerka Main, on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea, some 3 miles south of the Callirrhoe. Of this town but little remains. "A few broken basaltic columns and pieces of wall about 200 yards back from the shore, and a ruined fort rather nearer the sea, about......
ZARTHAN
a place near Succoth, in the plain of the Jordan, "in the clay ground," near which Hiram cast the brazen utensils for the temple (1-Kings 7:46); probably the same as Zartan. It is also called Zeredathah (2-Chr 4:17). (See ZEREDA.)......
ZECHARIAH
Jehovah is renowned or remembered. (1.) A prophet of Judah, the eleventh of the twelve minor prophets. Like Ezekiel, he was of priestly extraction. He describes himself (1:1) as "the son of Berechiah." In Ezra 5:1 6:14 he is called "the son of Iddo," who was properly his grandfather. His prophetical career began in the second year of Darius (B.C. 520), about sixteen years after the return of the f......
ZEMARAIM
(1.) A town of Benjamin (Josh. 18:22); now the ruin, rather two ruins, es-Sumrah, 4 miles north of Jericho. (2.) A mount in the highlands of Ephraim, to the north of Jerusalem (2-Chr 13:4). Here the armies of Abijah and Jeroboam engaged in a bloody battle, which issued in the total defeat of the king of Israel, who never "recovered strength again," and soon after died.......
ZEMARITE
the designation of one of the Phoenician tribes (Gen. 10:18) who inhabited the town of Sumra, at the western base of the Lebanon range. In the Amarna tablets (B.C. 1400) Zemar, or Zumur, was one of the most important of the Phoenician cities, but it afterwards almost disappears from history.......
ZOAR
small, a town on the east or south-east of the Dead Sea, to which Lot and his daughters fled from Sodom (Gen. 19:22, Gen. 19: 23). It was originally called Bela (14:2, 14: 8). It is referred to by the prophets Isaiah (15:5) and Jeremiah (8:34). Its ruins are still seen at the opening of the ravine of Kerak, the Kir-Moab referred to in 2 Kings 3, the modern Tell esh-Shaghur.......
ZOHAR
brightness. (1.) The father of Ephron the Hittite (Gen. 23:8). (2.) One of the sons of Simeon (Gen. 46:10; Exo 6:15).......
ZOPHAR
chirping, one of Job's friends who came to condole with him in his distress (Job 2:11. The LXX. render here "king of the Mineans" = Ma'in, Maonites, Judg. 10:12, Judg. 10: in Southern Arabia). He is called a Naamathite, or an inhabitant of some unknown place called Naamah.......
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