ABEL-MEHOLAH
meadow of dancing, or the dancing-meadow, the birth-place and residence of the prophet Elisha, not far from Beth-shean (1-Kings 4:12), in the tribe of Issachar, near where the Wady el-Maleh emerges into the valley of the Jordan, "the rich meadow-land which extends about 4 miles south of Beth-shean; moist and luxuriant." Here Elisha was found at his plough by Elijah on his return up the Jordan vall......
ABIMELECH
my father a king, or father of a king, a common name of the Philistine kings, as "Pharaoh" was of the Egyptian kings. (1.) The Philistine king of Gerar in the time of Abraham (Gen. 20:1). By an interposition of Providence, Sarah was delivered from his harem, and was restored to her husband Abraham. As a mark of respect he gave to Abraham valuable gifts, and offered him a settlement in any part of ......
ACHMETHA
(Ezra 6:2), called Ecbatana by classical writers, the capital of northern Media. Here was the palace which was the residence of the old Median monarchs, and of Cyrus and Cambyses. In the time of Ezra, the Persian kings resided usually at Susa of Babylon. But Cyrus held his court at Achmetha; and Ezra, writing a century after, correctly mentions the place where the decree of Cyrus was found. ......
ADRAMMELECH
Adar the king. (1.) An idol; a form of the sun-god worshipped by the inhabitants of Sepharvaim (2-Kings 17:31), and brought by the Sepharvite colonists into Samaria. (2.) A son of Sennacherib, king of Assyria (2-Kings 19:37; Isa. 37:38).......
AHIMELECH
brother of the king, the son of Ahitub and father of Abiathar (1-Sam 22:20). He descended from Eli in the line of Ithamar. In 1-Chr 18:16 he is called Abimelech, and is probably the same as Ahiah (1-Sam 14:3, 1-Sam 14: 18). He was the twelfth high priest, and officiated at Nob, where he was visited by David (to whom and his companions he gave five loaves of the showbread) when he fled from Saul (1......
ALEMETH
covering. (1.) One of the nine sons of Becher, the son of Benjamin (1-Chr 7:8). (2.) One of the sons of Jehoadah, or Jarah, son of Ahaz (1-Chr 8:36). (3.) A sacerdotal city of Benjamin (1-Chr 6:60), called also Almon (Josh. 21:18), now Almit, a mile north-east of the ancient Anathoth.......
AMEN
This Hebrew word means firm, and hence also faithful (Rev. 3:14). In Isa. 65:16, Isa. 65: the Authorized Version has "the God of truth," which in Hebrew is "the God of Amen." It is frequently used by our Saviour to give emphasis to his words, where it is translated "verily." Sometimes, only, however, in John's Gospel, it is repeated, "Verily, verily." It is used as an epithet of the Lord Jesus Chr......
AMETHYST
one of the precious stones in the breastplate of the high priest (Exo 28:19;39:12), and in the foundation of the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:20). The ancients thought that this stone had the power of dispelling drunkenness in all who wore or touched it, and hence its Greek name formed from _a_, "privative," and _methuo_, "to get drunk." Its Jewish name, _ahlamah'_, was derived by the rabbins from the H......
ANAMMELECH
one of the gods worshipped by the people of Sepharvaim, who colonized Samaria (2-Kings 17:31). The name means "Anu is king." It was a female deity representing the moon, as Adrammelech (q.v.) was the male representing the sun.......
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......
ATONEMENT
This word does not occur in the Authorized Version of the New Testament except in Rom. 5:11, Rom. 5: where in the Revised Version the word "reconciliation" is used. In the Old Testament it is of frequent occurrence. The meaning of the word is simply at-one-ment, i.e., the state of being at one or being reconciled, so that atonement is reconciliation. Thus it is used to denote the effect which fl......
ATONEMENT, DAY OF
the great annual day of humiliation and expiation for the sins of the nation, "the fast" (Acts 27:9), and the only one commanded in the law of Moses. The mode of its observance is described in Lev. 16:3;23:26; and Num. 29:7. It was kept on the tenth day of the month Tisri, i.e., five days before the feast of Tabernacles, and lasted from sunset to sunset. (See AZAZEL.)......
BAAL-MEON
lord of dwelling, a town of Reuben (Num. 32:38), called also Beth-meon (Jer. 48:23) and Beth-baal-meon (Josh. 13:17). It is supposed to have been the birth-place of Elisha. It is identified with the modern M'ain, about 3 miles south-east of Heshbon.......
BABYLONISH GARMENT
a robe of rich colours fabricated at Babylon, and hence of great value (Josh.7:21).......
BAKE-MEATS
baked provisions (Gen. 40:17), literally "works of the baker," such as biscuits and cakes.......
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......
BATTLEMENT
a parapet wall or balustrade surrounding the flat roofs of the houses, required to be built by a special law (Deut. 22:8). In Jer. 5:10, Jer. 5: it denotes the parapet of a city wall. ......
BETH-SHEMESH
house of the sun. (1.) A sacerdotal city in the tribe of Dan (Josh. 21:16; 1-Sam 6:15), on the north border of Judah (Josh. 15:10). It was the scene of an encounter between Jehoash, king of Israel, and Amaziah, king of Judah, in which the latter was made prisoner (2-Kings 14:11, 2-Kings 14: 13). It was afterwards taken by the Philistines (2-Chr 28:18). It is the modern ruined Arabic village 'Ain-s......
BITUMEN
Gen. 11:3, Gen. 11: R.V., margin, rendered in the A.V. "slime"), a mineral pitch. With this the ark was pitched (6:14. See also Exo 2:3.) (See SLIME.) ......
CAMEL
from the Hebrew _gamal_, "to repay" or "requite," as the camel does the care of its master. There are two distinct species of camels, having, however, the common characteristics of being "ruminants without horns, without muzzle, with nostrils forming oblique slits, the upper lip divided and separately movable and extensile, the soles of the feet horny, with two toes covered by claws, the limbs lon......
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 ......
CASEMENT
a barrier of open-work placed before windows (Prov. 7:6). In Judg. 5:28 the Hebrew word is rendered "lattice," in the LXX. "network," an opening through which cool air is admitted.......
CHAMELEON
a species of lizard which has the faculty of changing the colour of its skin. It is ranked among the unclean animals in Lev. 11:30, Lev. 11: where the Hebrew word so translated is _coah_ (R.V., "land crocodile"). In the same verse the Hebrew _tanshemeth_, rendered in Authorized Version "mole," is in Revised Version "chameleon," which is the correct rendering. This animal is very common in Egypt an......
CHANGES OF RAIMENT
were reckoned among the treasures of rich men (Gen. 45:22; Judg. 14:12, Judg. 14: 13; 2-Kings 5:22, 2-Kings 5: 23). ......
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......
CHEDORLAOMER
(= Khudur-Lagamar of the inscriptions), king of Elam. Many centuries before the age of Abraham, Canaan and even the Sinaitic peninsula had been conquered by Babylonian kings, and in the time of Abraham himself Babylonia was ruled by a dynasty which claimed sovereignity over Syria and Palestine. The kings of the dynasty bore names which were not Babylonian, but at once South Arabic and Hebrew. The ......
CLEMENT
mild, a Christian of Philippi, Paul's "fellow-labourer," whose name he mentions as "in the book of life" (Phil. 4:3). It was an opinion of ancient writers that he was the Clement of Rome whose name is well known in church history, and that he was the author of an Epistle to the Corinthians, the only known manuscript of which is appended to the Alexandrian Codex, now in the British Museum. It is of......
COMMANDMENTS, THE TEN
(Exo 34:28; Deut. 10:4, Deut. 10: marg. "ten words") i.e., the Decalogue (q.v.), is a summary of the immutable moral law. These commandments were first given in their written form to the people of Israel when they were encamped at Sinai, about fifty days after they came out of Egypt (Exo 19:10). They were written by the finger of God on two tables of stone. The first tables were broken by Moses wh......
CONTENTMENT
a state of mind in which one's desires are confined to his lot whatever it may be (1-Tim 6:6; 2-Cor 9:8). It is opposed to envy (James 3:16), avarice (Heb. 13:5), ambition (Prov. 13:10), anxiety (Matt. 6:25, Matt. 6: 34), and repining (1-Cor 10:10). It arises from the inward disposition, and is the offspring of humility, and of an intelligent consideration of the rectitude and benignity of divine ......
DEMETRIUS
(1.) A silversmith at Ephesus, whose chief occupation was to make "silver shrines for Diana" (q.v.), Acts 19:24, Acts 19:i.e., models either of the temple of Diana or of the statue of the goddess. This trade brought to him and his fellow-craftsmen "no small gain," for these shrines found a ready sale among the countless thousands who came to this temple from all parts of Asia Minor. This traffic w......
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......
DULCIMER
(Heb. sumphoniah), a musical instrument mentioned in Dan. 3:5, Dan. 3: 15, along with other instruments there named, as sounded before the golden image. It was not a Jewish instrument. In the margin of the Revised Version it is styled the "bag-pipe." Luther translated it "lute," and Grotius the "crooked trumpet." It is probable that it was introduced into Babylon by some Greek or Western-Asiatic m......
EBED-MELECH
a servant of the king; probably an official title, an Ethiopian, "one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house;" i.e., in the palace of Zedekiah, king of Judah. He interceded with the king in Jeremiah's behalf, and was the means of saving him from death by famine (Jer. 38:7: 39:15). ......
ELEMENTS
In its primary sense, as denoting the first principles or constituents of things, it is used in 2-Pet 3:10: "The elements shall be dissolved." In a secondary sense it denotes the first principles of any art or science. In this sense it is used in Gal. 4:3, Gal. 4: 9; Col. 2:8, Col. 2: 20, where the expressions, "elements of the world," "week and beggarly elements," denote that state of religious k......
ELIMELECH
God his king, a man of the tribe of Judah, of the family of the Hezronites, and kinsman of Boaz, who dwelt in Bethlehem in the days of the judges. In consequence of a great dearth he, with his wife Naomi and his two sons, went to dwell in the land of Moab. There he and his sons died (Ruth 1:2, Ruth 1:3;2:1, 2:3;4:3, 4:9). Naomi afterwards returned to Palestine with her daughter Ruth.......
EMERALD
Heb. nophek (Exo 28:18;39:11); i.e., the "glowing stone", probably the carbuncle, a precious stone in the breastplate of the high priest. It is mentioned (Rev. 21:19) as one of the foundations of the New Jerusalem. The name given to this stone in the New Testament Greek is smaragdos, which means "live coal."......
EMEROD
See HAEMORRHOIDS.......
EN-SHEMESH
fountain of the sun a spring which formed one of the landmarks on the boundary between Judah and Benjamin (Josh. 15:7;18:17). It was between the "ascent of Adummim" and the spring of En-rogel, and hence was on the east of Jerusalem and of the Mount of Olives. It is the modern 'Ain-Haud i.e., the "well of the apostles" about a mile east of Bethany, the only spring on the road to Jericho. The sun sh......
ENCHANTMENTS
(1.) The rendering of Hebrew _latim_ or _lehatim_, which means "something covered," "muffled up;" secret arts, tricks (Exo 7:11, Exo 7: 22;8:7, 8: 18), by which the Egyptian magicians imposed on the credulity of Pharaoh. (2.) The rendering of the Hebrew _keshaphim_, "muttered spells" or "incantations," rendered "sorceries" in Isa. 47:9, Isa. 47: 12, i.e., the using of certain formulae under the ......
EVIL-MERODACH
Merodach's man, the son and successor of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon (2-Kings 25:27; Jer. 52:31, Jer. 52: 34). He seems to have reigned but two years (B.C. 562-560). Influenced probably by Daniel, he showed kindness to Jehoiachin, who had been a prisoner in Babylon for thirty-seven years. He released him, and "spoke kindly to him." He was murdered by Nergal-sharezer=Neriglissar, his brother-in......
FIRMAMENT
from the Vulgate firmamentum, which is used as the translation of the Hebrew _raki'a_. This word means simply "expansion." It denotes the space or expanse like an arch appearing immediately above us. They who rendered _raki'a_ by firmamentum regarded it as a solid body. The language of Scripture is not scientific but popular, and hence we read of the sun rising and setting, and also here the use o......
FLAME OF FIRE
is the chosen symbol of the holiness of God (Exo 3:2; Rev. 2:18), as indicating "the intense, all-consuming operation of his holiness in relation to sin." ......
GAMES
(1.) Of children (Zech. 8:5; Matt. 11:16). The Jewish youth were also apparently instructed in the use of the bow and the sling (Judg. 20:16; 1-Chr 12:2). (2.) Public games, such as were common among the Greeks and Romans, were foreign to the Jewish institutions and customs. Reference, however, is made to such games in two passages (Psa 19:5; Eccl. 9:11). (3.) Among the Greeks and Romans games......
GOMER
complete; vanishing. (1.) The daughter of Diblaim, who (probably in vision only) became the wife of Hosea (1:3). (2.) The eldest son of Japheth, and father of Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah (Gen. 10:2, Gen. 10: 3), whose descendants formed the principal branch of the population of South-eastern Europe. He is generally regarded as the ancestor of the Celtae and the Cimmerii, who in early times s......
GOVERNMENT OF GOD
See PROVIDENCE. ......
GOVERNMENTS
(1-Cor 12:28), the powers which fit a man for a place of influence in the church; "the steersman's art; the art of guiding aright the vessel of church or state." ......
GRACE, MEANS OF
an expression not used in Scripture, but employed (1) to denote those institutions ordained by God to be the ordinary channels of grace to the souls of men. These are the Word, Sacraments, and Prayer. (2.) But in popular language the expression is used in a wider sense to denote those exercises in which we engage for the purpose of obtaining spiritual blessing; as hearing the gospel, reading the......
HAMMEDATHA
father of Haman, designated usually "the Agagite" (Esther 3:1, Esther 3: 10;8:5).......
HAMMELECH
the king's, the father of Jerahmeel, mentioned in Jer. 36:26. Some take this word as a common noun, "the king", and understand that Jerahmeel was Jehoiakim's son. Probably, however, it is to be taken as a proper name.......
HAMMER
(1.) Heb. pattish, used by gold-beaters (Isa. 41:7) and by quarry-men (Jer. 23:29). Metaphorically of Babylon (Jer. 50:23) or Nebuchadnezzar. (2.) Heb. makabah, a stone-cutter's mallet (1-Kings 6:7), or of any workman (Judg. 4:21; Isa. 44:12). (3.) Heb. halmuth, a poetical word for a workman's hammer, found only in Judg. 5:26, Judg. 5: where it denotes the mallet with which the pins of the ten......
HANAMEEL
whom God has graciously given, the cousin of Jeremiah, to whom he sold the field he possessed in Anathoth, before the siege of Jerusalem (Jer. 32:6).......
HELMET
(Heb. kob'a), a cap for the defence of the head (1-Sam 17:5, 1-Sam 17: 38). In the New Testament the Greek equivalent is used (Eph. 6:17; 1-Thess 5:8). (See ARMS.) ......
HELP-MEET
(Heb. 'ezer ke-negdo; i.e., "a help as his counterpart" = a help suitable to him), a wife (Gen. 2:18). ......
HERMES
Mercury, a Roman Christian (Rom. 16:14).......
HOMER
heap, the largest of dry measures, containing about 8 bushels or 1 quarter English = 10 ephahs (Lev. 27:16; Num. 11:32) = a COR. (See OMER.) "Half a homer," a grain measure mentioned only in Hos. 3:2. ......
IMMER
talkative. (1.) The head of the sixteenth priestly order (1-Chr 24:14). (2.) Jer. 20:1. (3.) Ezra 2:37; Neh. 7:40. (4.) Ezra 2:59; Neh. 7:61. (5.) The father of Zadok (Neh. 3:29). ......
ISHMEELITES
(Gen. 37:28;39:1, 39: A.V.) should be "Ishmaelites," as in the Revised Version. ......
JAMES
(1.) The son of Zebedee and Salome; an elder brother of John the apostle. He was one of the twelve. He was by trade a fisherman, in partnership with Peter (Matt. 20:20;27:56). With John and Peter he was present at the transfiguration (Matt. 17:1; Mark 9:2), at the raising of Jairus's daughter (Mark 5:37), and in the garden with our Lord (14:33). Because, probably, of their boldness and energy, he ......
JAMES, EPISTLE OF
(1.) Author of, was James the Less, the Lord's brother, one of the twelve apostles. He was one of the three pillars of the Church (Gal. 2:9). (2.) It was addressed to the Jews of the dispersion, "the twelve tribes scattered abroad." (3.) The place and time of the writing of the epistle were Jerusalem, where James was residing, and, from internal evidence, the period between Paul's two imprison......
JERAHMEEL
loving God. (1.) The son of Hezron, the brother of Caleb (1-Chr 2:9, 1-Chr 2: 25, 26, etc.). (2.) The son of Kish, a Levite (1-Chr 24:29). (3.) Son of Hammelech (Jer. 36:26). ......
JOKMEAM
gathering of the people, a city of Ephraim, which was given with its suburbs to the Levites (1-Chr 6:68). It lay somewhere in the Jordan valley (1-Kings 4:12, 1-Kings 4: R.V.; but in A.V. incorrectly "Jokneam"). ......
JUDGMENT HALL
Gr. praitorion (John 18:28, John 18: 33;19:9; Matt. 27:27), "common hall." In all these passages the Revised Version renders "palace." In Mark 15:16 the word is rendered "Praetorium" (q.v.), which is a Latin word, meaning literally the residence of the praetor, and then the governor's residence in general, though not a praetor. Throughout the Gospels the word "praitorion" has this meaning (comp. A......
JUDGMENT SEAT
(Matt. 27:19), a portable tribunal (Gr. bema) which was placed according as the magistrate might direct, and from which judgment was pronounced. In this case it was placed on a tesselated pavement, probably in front of the procurator's residence. (See GABBATHA.)......
JUDGMENT, THE FINAL
the sentence that will be passed on our actions at the last day (Matt. 25; Rom. 14:10, Rom. 14: 11; 2-Cor 5:10; 2-Thess 1:7). The judge is Jesus Christ, as mediator. All judgment is committed to him (Acts 17:31; John 5:22, John 5: 27; Rev. 1:7). "It pertains to him as mediator to complete and publicly manifest the salvation of his people and the overthrow of his enemies, together with the glorio......
JUDGMENTS OF GOD
(1.) The secret decisions of God's will (Psa 110:5;36:6). (2.) The revelations of his will (Exo 21:1; Deut. 6:20; Psa 119:7). (3.) The infliction of punishment on the wicked (Exo 6:6;12:12; Ezek. 25:11; Rev. 16:7), such as is mentioned in Gen. 7;19:24, 19:25; Judg. 1:6, Judg. 1:7; Acts 5:1, Acts 5: etc.......
LAMECH
the strikerdown; the wild man. (1.) The fifth in descent from Cain. He was the first to violate the primeval ordinance of marriage (Gen. 4:18). His address to his two wives, Adah and Zillah (4:23, 4: 24), is the only extant example of antediluvian poetry. It has been called "Lamech's sword-song." He was "rude and ruffianly," fearing neither God nor man. With him the curtain falls on the race of Ca......
LAMENTATION
(Heb. qinah), an elegy or dirge. The first example of this form of poetry is the lament of David over Saul and Jonathan (2-Sam 1:17). It was a frequent accompaniment of mourning (Amos 8:10). In 2-Sam 3:33, 2-Sam 3: 34 is recorded David's lament over Abner. Prophecy sometimes took the form of a lament when it predicted calamity (Ezek. 27:2, Ezek. 27: 32;28:12;32:2, 32: 16). ......
LAMENTATIONS, BOOK OF
called in the Hebrew canon _'Ekhah_, meaning "How," being the formula for the commencement of a song of wailing. It is the first word of the book (see 2-Sam 1:19). The LXX. adopted the name rendered "Lamentations" (Gr. threnoi = Heb. qinoth) now in common use, to denote the character of the book, in which the prophet mourns over the desolations brought on the city and the holy land by Chaldeans. I......
LIME
The Hebrew word so rendered means "boiling" or "effervescing." From Isa. 33:12 it appears that lime was made in a kiln lighted by thorn-bushes. In Amos 2:1 it is recorded that the king of Moab "burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime." The same Hebrew word is used in Deut. 27:2, Deut. 27: and is there rendered "plaster." Limestone is the chief constituent of the mountains of Syria. ......
MADMEN
ibid., a Moabite town threatened with the sword of the Babylonians (Jer. 48:2). ......
MADMENAH
ibid., a town in Benjamin, not far from Jerusalem, towards the north (Isa. 10:31). The same Hebrew word occurs in Isa. 25:10, Isa. 25: where it is rendered "dunghill." This verse has, however, been interpreted as meaning "that Moab will be trodden down by Jehovah as teben [broken straw] is trodden to fragments on the threshing-floors of Madmenah." ......
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. ......
MEADOW
(1.) Heb. ha'ahu (Gen. 41:2, Gen. 41: 18), probably an Egyptain word transferred to the Hebrew; some kind of reed or water-plant. In the Revised Version it is rendered "reed-grass", i.e., the sedge or rank grass by the river side. (2.) Heb. ma'areh (Judg. 20:33), pl., "meadows of Gibeah" (R.V., after the LXX., "Maareh-geba"). Some have adopted the rendering "after Gibeah had been left open." The......
MEAH
an hundred, a tower in Jersalem on the east wall (Neh. 3:1) in the time of Nehemiah. ......
MEALS
are at the present day "eaten from a round table little higher than a stool, guests sitting cross-legged on mats or small carpets in a circle, and dipping their fingers into one large dish heaped with a mixture of boiled rice and other grain and meat. But in the time of our Lord, and perhaps even from the days of Amos (6:4, 6: 7), the foreign custom had been largely introduced of having broad couc......
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. ......
MEASURE
Several words are so rendered in the Authorized Version. (1.) Those which are indefinite. (a) Hok, Isa. 5:14, Isa. 5: elsewhere "statute." (b) Mad, Job 11:9; Jer. 13:25, Jer. 13: elsewhere "garment." (c) Middah, the word most frequently thus translated, Exo 26:2, Exo 26: 8, etc. (d) Mesurah, Lev. 19:35; 1-Chr 23:29. (e) Mishpat, Jer. 30:11, Jer. 30: elsewhere "judgment." (f) Mithkoneth and token, ......
MEAT-OFFERING
(Heb. minhah), originally a gift of any kind. This Hebrew word came latterly to denote an "unbloody" sacrifice, as opposed to a "bloody" sacrifice. A "drink-offering" generally accompanied it. The law regarding it is given in Lev. 2, 6:14. It was a recognition of the sovereignty of God and of his bounty in giving all earthly blessings (1-Chr 29:10; Deut. 26:5). It was an offering which took for gr......
MEBUNNAI
construction, building of Jehovah, one of David's bodyguard (2-Sam 23:27; 21:18); called Sibbechai and Sibbecai (1-Chr 11:29;27:11). ......
MEDAD
love, one of the elders nominated to assist Moses in the government of the people. He and Eldad "prophesied in the camp" (Num. 11:24). ......
MEDAN
contention, the third son of Abraham by Keturah (Gen. 25:2). ......
MEDE
(Heb. Madai), a Median or inhabitant of Media (Dan. 11:1). In Gen. 10:2 the Hebrew word occurs in the list of the sons of Japheth. But probably this is an ethnic and not a personal name, and denotes simply the Medes as descended from Japheth. ......
MEDEBA
waters of quiet, an ancient Moabite town (Num. 21:30). It was assigned to the tribe of Reuben (Josh. 13:16). Here was fought the great battle in which Joab defeated the Ammonites and their allies (1-Chr 19:7; comp. 2-Sam 10:6). In the time of Isaiah (15:2) the Moabites regained possession of it from the Ammonites. (See HANUN.) The ruins of this important city, now Madeba or Madiyabah, are seen a......
MEDIA
Heb. Madai, which is rendered in the Authorized Version (1) "Madai," Gen. 10:2; (2) "Medes," 2-Kings 17:6;18:11; (3) "Media," Esther 1:3;10:2; Isa. 21:2; Dan. 8:20; (4) "Mede," only in Dan. 11:1. We first hear of this people in the Assyrian cuneiform records, under the name of Amada, about B.C. 840. They appear to have been a branch of the Aryans, who came from the east bank of the Indus, and we......
MEDIATOR
one who intervenes between two persons who are at variance, with a view to reconcile them. This word is not found in the Old Testament; but the idea it expresses is found in Job 9:33, Job 9: in the word "daysman" (q.v.), marg., "umpire." This word is used in the New Testament to denote simply an internuncius, an ambassador, one who acts as a medium of communication between two contracting partie......
MEEKNESS
a calm temper of mind, not easily provoked (James 3:13). Peculiar promises are made to the meek (Matt. 5:5; Isa. 66:2). The cultivation of this spirit is enjoined (Col. 3:12; 1-Tim 6:11; Zeph. 2:3), and is exemplified in Christ (Matt. 11:29), Abraham (Gen. 13;16:5, 16: 6) Moses (Num. 12:3), David (Zech. 12:8; 2-Sam 16:10, 2-Sam 16: 12), and Paul (1-Cor 9:19). ......
MEGIDDO
place of troops, originally one of the royal cities of the Canaanites (Josh. 12:21), belonged to the tribe of Manasseh (Judg. 1:27), but does not seem to have been fully occupied by the Israelites till the time of Solomon (1-Kings 4:12;9:15). The valley or plain of Megiddo was part of the plain of Esdraelon, the great battle-field of Palestine. It was here Barak gained a notable victory over Jab......
MEHETABEEL
whose benefactor is God, the father of Delaiah, and grandfather of Shemaiah, who joined Sanballat against Nehemiah (Neh. 6:10). ......
MEHETABEL
wife of Hadad, one of the kings of Edom (Gen. 36:39). ......
MEHUJAEL
smitten by God, the son of Irad, and father of Methusael (Gen. 4:18). ......
MEHUMAN
faithful, one of the eunchs whom Ahasuerus (Xerxes) commanded to bring in Vashti (Esther 1:10). ......
MEHUNIMS
habitations, (2-Chr 26:7; R.V. "Meunim," Vulg. Ammonitae), a people against whom Uzziah waged a successful war. This word is in Hebrew the plural of Ma'on, and thus denotes the Maonites who inhabited the country on the eastern side of the Wady el-Arabah. They are again mentioned in 1-Chr 4:41 (R.V.), in the reign of King Hezekiah, as a Hamite people, settled in the eastern end of the valley of Ged......
MEKONAH
a base or foundation, a town in the south of Judah (Neh. 11:28), near Ziklag. ......
MELCHI
my king. (1.) The son of Addi, and father of Neri (Luke 3:28). (2.) Luke 3:24. ......
MELCHIZEDEK
king of righteousness, the king of Salem (q.v.). All we know of him is recorded in Gen. 14:18. He is subsequently mentioned only once in the Old Testament, in Psa 110:4. The typical significance of his history is set forth in detail in the Epistle to the Hebrews, ch. 7. The apostle there points out the superiority of his priesthood to that of Aaron in these several respects, (1) Even Abraham paid ......
MELEA
fulness, the son of Menan and father of Eliakim, in the genealogy of our Lord (Luke 3:31). ......
MELECH
king, the second of Micah's four sons (1-Chr 8:35), and thus grandson of Mephibosheth. ......
MELITA
(Acts 27:28), an island in the Mediterranean, the modern Malta. Here the ship in which Paul was being conveyed a prisoner to Rome was wrecked. The bay in which it was wrecked now bears the name of "St. Paul's Bay", "a certain creek with a shore." It is about 2 miles deep and 1 broad, and the whole physical condition of the scene answers the description of the shipwreck given in Acts 28. It was ori......
MELONS
only in Num. 11:5, Num. 11: the translation of the Hebrew abattihim, the LXX. and Vulgate pepones, Arabic britikh. Of this plant there are various kinds, the Egyptian melon, the Cucumus chate, which has been called "the queen of cucumbers;" the water melon, the Cucurbita citrullus; and the common or flesh melon, the Cucumus melo. "A traveller in the East who recollects the intense gratitude which ......
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. ......
MEMPHIS
only in Hos. 9:6, Hos. 9: Hebrew Moph. In Isa. 19:13; Jer. 2:16;46:14, 46: 19; Ezek. 30:13, Ezek. 30: 16, it is mentioned under the name Noph. It was the capital of Lower, i.e., of Northern Egypt. From certain remains found half buried in the sand, the site of this ancient city has been discovered near the modern village of Minyet Rahinch, or Mitraheny, about 16 miles above the ancient head of the......
MEMUCAN
dignified, one of the royal counsellors at the court of Ahasuerus, by whose suggestion Vashti was divorced (Esther 1:14, Esther 1: 16, 21). ......
MENAHEM
conforting, the son of Gadi, and successor of Shallum, king of Israel, whom he slew. After a reign of about ten years (B.C. 771-760) he died, leaving the throne to his son Pekahiah. His reign was one of cruelty and oppression (2-Kings 15:14). During his reign, Pul (q.v.), king of Assyria, came with a powerful force against Israel, but was induced to retire by a gift from Menahem of 1,000 talents o......
MENE
(Dan. 5:25, Dan. 5: 26), numbered, one of the words of the mysterious inscription written "upon the plaister of the wall" in Belshazzar's palace at Babylon. The writing was explained by Daniel. (See BELSHAZZAR.) ......
MENI
Isa. 65:11, Isa. 65: marg. (A.V., "that number;" R.V., "destiny"), probably an idol which the captive Israelites worshipped after the example of the Babylonians. It may have been a symbol of destiny. LXX., tuche. ......
MEONENIM
(Judg. 9:37; A.V., "the plain of Meonenim;" R.V., "the oak of Meonenim") means properly "soothsayers" or "sorcerers," "wizards" (Deut. 18:10, Deut. 18: 14; 2-Kings 21:6; Micah 5:12). This may be the oak at Shechem under which Abram pitched his tent (see SHECHEM), the "enchanter's oak," so called, perhaps, from Jacob's hiding the "strange gods" under it (Gen. 35:4). ......
MEPHAATH
splendour, a Levitical city (Josh. 21:37) of the tribe of Reuben (13:18). ......
MEPHIBOSHETH
exterminator of shame; i.e., of idols. (1.) The name of Saul's son by the concubine Rizpah (q.v.), the daughter of Aiah. He and his brother Armoni were with five others "hanged on a hill before the Lord" by the Gibeonites, and their bodies exposed in the sun for five months (2-Sam 21:8). (2.) The son of Jonathan, and grandson of Saul (2-Sam 4:4). He was but five years old when his father and grand......
MERAB
increase, the eldest of Saul's two daughters (1-Sam 14:49). She was betrothed to David after his victory over Goliath, but does not seem to have entered heartily into this arrangement (18:2, 18: 17, 19). She was at length, however, married to Adriel of Abel-Meholah, a town in the Jordan valley, about 10 miles south of Bethshean, with whom the house of Saul maintained alliance. She had five sons, w......
MERAIAH
resistance, a chief priest, a contemporary of the high priest Joiakim (Neh. 12:12). ......
MERAIOTH
rebellions. (1.) Father of Amariah, a high priest of the line of Eleazar (1-Chr 6:6, 1-Chr 6: 7, 52). (2.) Neh. 12:15, Neh. 12: a priest who went to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel. He is called Meremoth in Neh. 12:3. ......
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......
MERATHAIM
double rebellion, probably a symbolical name given to Babylon (Jer. 50:21), denoting rebellion exceeding that of other nations. ......
MERCHANT
The Hebrew word so rendered is from a root meaning "to travel about," "to migrate," and hence "a traveller." In the East, in ancient times, merchants travelled about with their merchandise from place to place (Gen. 37:25; Job 6:18), and carried on their trade mainly by bartering (Gen. 37:28;39:1). After the Hebrews became settled in Palestine they began to engage in commercial pursuits, which grad......
MERCURIUS
the Hermes (i.e., "the speaker") of the Greeks (Acts 14:12), a heathen God represented as the constant attendant of Jupiter, and the god of eloquence. The inhabitants of Lystra took Paul for this god because he was the "chief speaker." ......
MERCY
compassion for the miserable. Its object is misery. By the atoning sacrifice of Christ a way is open for the exercise of mercy towards the sons of men, in harmony with the demands of truth and righteousness (Gen. 19:19; Exo 20:6;34:6, 34: 7; Psa 85:10;86:15, 86: 16). In Christ mercy and truth meet together. Mercy is also a Christian grace (Matt. 5:7;18:33). ......
MERCY-SEAT
(Heb. kapporeth, a "covering;" LXX. and N.T., hilasterion; Vulg., propitiatorium), the covering or lid of the ark of the covenant (q.v.). It was of acacia wood, overlaid with gold, or perhaps rather a plate of solid gold, 2 1/2 cubits long and 1 1/2 broad (Exo 25:17;30:6;31:7). It is compared to the throne of grace (Heb. 9:5; Eph. 2:6). The holy of holies is called the "place of the mercy-seat" (1......
MERED
rebellion, one of the sons of Ezra, of the tribe of Judah (1-Chr 4:17). ......
MEREMOTH
exaltations, heights, a priest who returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel (Neh. 12:3), to whom were sent the sacred vessels (Ezra 8:33) belonging to the temple. He took part in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem (Neh. 3:4). ......
MERIB-BAAL
contender with Baal, (1-Chr 8:34;9:40), elsewhere called Mephibosheth (2-Sam 4:4), the son of Jonathan. ......
MERIBAH
quarrel or strife. (1.) One of the names given by Moses to the fountain in the desert of Sin, near Rephidim, which issued from the rock in Horeb, which he smote by the divine command, "because of the chiding of the children of Israel" (Exo 17:1). It was also called Massah (q.v.). It was probably in Wady Feiran, near Mount Serbal. (2.) Another fountain having a similar origin in the desert of Zin......
MERODACH
death; slaughter, the name of a Babylonian god, probably the planet Mars (Jer. 50:2), or it may be another name of Bel, the guardian divinity of Babylon. This name frequently occurs as a surname to the kings of Assyria and Babylon. ......
MERODACH-BALADAN
Merodach has given a son, (Isa. 39:1), "the hereditary chief of the Chaldeans, a small tribe at that time settled in the marshes at the mouth of the Euphrates, but in consequence of his conquest of Babylon afterwards, they became the dominant caste in Babylonia itself." One bearing this name sent ambassadors to Hezekiah (B.C. 721). He is also called Berodach-baladan (2-Kings 20:12; 2-Chr 20:31). (......
MEROM
height, a lake in Northern Palestine through which the Jordan flows. It was the scene of the third and last great victory gained by Joshua over the Canaanites (Josh. 11:5). It is not again mentioned in Scripture. Its modern name is Bakrat el-Huleh. "The Ard el-Huleh, the centre of which the lake occupies, is a nearly level plain of 16 miles in length from north to south, and its breadth from east ......
MERONOTHITE
a name given to Jehdeiah, the herdsman of the royal asses in the time of David and Solomon (1-Chr 27:30), probably as one being a native of some unknown town called Meronoth. ......
MEROZ
a plain in the north of Palestine, the inhabitants of which were severely condemned because they came not to help Barak against Sisera (Judg. 5:23: 21:8; 1-Sam 11:7). It has been identified with Marassus, on a knoll to the north of Wady Jalud, but nothing certainly is known of it. Like Chorazin, it is only mentioned in Scripture in connection with the curse pronounced upon it. ......
MESHA
middle district, Vulgate, Messa. (1.) A plain in that part of the boundaries of Arabia inhabited by the descendants of Joktan (Gen. 10:30). (2.) Heb. meysh'a, "deliverance," the eldest son of Caleb (1-Chr 2:42), and brother of Jerahmeel. (3.) Heb. id, a king of Moab, the son of Chemosh-Gad, a man of great wealth in flocks and herds (2-Kings 3:4). After the death of Ahab at Ramoth-Gilead, Mesha......
MESHACH
the title given to Mishael, one of the three Hebrew youths who were under training at the Babylonian court for the rank of Magi (Dan. 1:7;2:49;3:12). This was probably the name of some Chaldean god. ......
MESHECH
drawing out, the sixth son of Japheth (Gen. 10:2), the founder of a tribe (1-Chr 1:5; Ezek. 27:13;38:2, 38:3). They were in all probability the Moschi, a people inhabiting the Moschian Mountains, between the Black and the Caspian Seas. In Psa 120:5 the name occurs as simply a synonym for foreigners or barbarians. "During the ascendency of the Babylonians and Persians in Western Asia, the Moschi we......
MESHELEMIAH
friendship of Jehovah, a Levite of the family of the Korhites, called also Shelemiah (1-Chr 9:21;26:1, 26: 2, 9, 14). He was a temple gate-keeper in the time of David. ......
MESHILLEMOTH
requitals. (1.) The father of Berechiah (2-Chr 28:12). (2.) A priest, the son of Immer (Neh. 11:13). ......
MESHULLAM
befriended. (1.) One of the chief Gadites in Bashan in the time of Jotham (1-Chr 5:13). (2.) Grandfather of Shaphan, "the scribe," in the reign of Josiah (2-Kings 22:3). (3.) A priest, father of Hilkiah (1-Chr 9:11; Neh. 11:11), in the reign of Ammon; called Shallum in 1-Chr 6:12. (4.) A Levite of the family of Kohath (2-Chr 34:12), in the reign of Josiah. (5.) 1-Chr 8:17. (6.) 1-Chr 3:1......
MESHULLEMETH
friend, the wife of Manasseh, and the mother of Amon (2-Kings 21:19), Kings of Judah. ......
MESOPOTAMIA
the country between the two rivers (Heb. Aram-naharaim; i.e., "Syria of the two rivers"), the name given by the Greeks and Romans to the region between the Euphrates and the Tigris (Gen. 24:10; Deut. 23:4; Judg. 3:8, Judg. 3: 10). In the Old Testament it is mentioned also under the name "Padan-aram;" i.e., the plain of Aram, or Syria (Gen. 25:20). The northern portion of this fertile plateau was t......
MESS
a portion of food given to a guest (Gen. 43:34; 2-Sam 11:8). ......
MESSENGER
(Heb. mal'ak, Gr. angelos), an angel, a messenger who runs on foot, the bearer of despatches (Job 1:14; 1-Sam 11:7; 2-Chr 36:22); swift of foot (2-Kings 9:18). ......
MESSIAH
(Heb. mashiah), in all the thirty-nine instances of its occurring in the Old Testament, is rendered by the LXX. "Christos." It means anointed. Thus priests (Exo 28:41;40:15; Num. 3:3), prophets (1-Kings 19:16), and kings (1-Sam 9:16;16:3; 2-Sam 12:7) were anointed with oil, and so consecrated to their respective offices. The great Messiah is anointed "above his fellows" (Psa 45:7); i.e., he embrac......
METHEG-AMMAH
bridle of the mother, a figurative name for a chief city, as in 2-Sam 8:1, 2-Sam 8: "David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines" (R.V., "took the bridle of the mother-city"); i.e., subdued their capital or strongest city, viz., Gath (1-Chr 18:1). ......
METHUSAEL
champion of El; man of God, a descendant of Cain (Gen. 4:18), so called, perhaps, to denote that even among the descendants of Cain God had not left himself without a witness. ......
METHUSELAH
man of the dart, the son of Enoch, and grandfather of Noah. He was the oldest man of whom we have any record, dying at the age of nine hundred and sixty-nine years, in the year of the Flood (Gen. 5:21; 1-Chr 1:3). ......
MEZAHAB
water of gold, the father of Matred (Gen. 36:39; 1-Chr 1:50), and grandfather of Mehetabel, wife of Hadar, the last king of Edom. ......
MICHMETHAH
hiding-place, a town in the northern border of Ephraim and Manasseh, and not far west of Jordan (Josh. 16:6;17:7). ......
MUSIC, INSTRUMENTAL
Among instruments of music used by the Hebrews a principal place is given to stringed instruments. These were, (1.) The kinnor, the "harp." (2.) The nebel, "a skin bottle," rendered "psaltery." (3.) The sabbeka, or "sackbut," a lute or lyre. (4.) The gittith, occurring in the title of Ps. 8; 8; 84. (5.) Minnim (Psa 150:4), rendered "stringed instruments;" in Psa 45:8, Psa 45: in the form _minni_, ......
NEW TESTAMENT
(Luke 22:20), rather "New Covenant," in contrast to the old covenant of works, which is superseded. "The covenant of grace is called new; it succeeds to the old broken covenant of works. It is ever fresh, flourishing, and excellent; and under the gospel it is dispensed in a more clear, spiritual, extensive, and powerful manner than of old" (Brown of Haddington). Hence is derived the name given to ......
OINTMENT
Various fragrant preparations, also compounds for medical purposes, are so called (Exo 30:25; Psa 133:2; Isa. 1:6; Amos 6:6; John 12:3; Rev. 18:13). ......
OMEGA
(Rev. 1:8), the last letter in the Greek alphabet. (See A.) ......
OMER
a handful, one-tenth of an ephah=half a gallon dry measure (Exo 16:22, Exo 16: 32, 33, 36)="tenth deal." ......
PALMER-WORM
(Heb. gazam). The English word may denote either a caterpillar (as rendered by the LXX.), which wanders like a palmer or pilgrim, or which travels like pilgrims in bands (Joel 1:4;2:25), the wingless locusts, or the migratory locust in its larva state.......
PARCHMENT
a skin prepared for writing on; so called from Pergamos (q.v.), where this was first done (2-Tim 4:13).......
PARMENAS
constant, one of the seven "deacons" (Acts 6:5).......
PAVEMENT
It was the custom of the Roman governors to erect their tribunals in open places, as the market-place, the circus, or even the highway. Pilate caused his seat of judgment to be set down in a place called "the Pavement" (John 19:13) i.e., a place paved with a mosaic of coloured stones. It was probably a place thus prepared in front of the "judgment hall." (See GABBATHA.)......
PERFUMES
were used in religious worship, and for personal and domestic enjoyment (Exo 30:35; Prov. 7:17; 3:6; Isa. 57:9); and also in embalming the dead, and in other funeral ceremonies (Mark 14:8; Luke 24:1; John 19:39). ......
POMEGRANATE
i.e., "grained apple" (pomum granatum), Heb. rimmon. Common in Egypt (Num. 20:5) and Palestine (13:23; Deut. 8:8). The Romans called it Punicum malum, i.e., Carthaginian apple, because they received it from Carthage. It belongs to the myrtle family of trees. The withering of the pomegranate tree is mentioned among the judgments of God (Joel 1:12). It is frequently mentioned in the Song of Solomon ......
POMMELS
(2-Chr 4:12, 2-Chr 4: 13), or bowls (1-Kings 7:41), were balls or "rounded knobs" on the top of the chapiters (q.v.). ......
PUNISHMENT
The New Testament lays down the general principles of good government, but contains no code of laws for the punishment of offenders. Punishment proceeds on the principle that there is an eternal distinction between right and wrong, and that this distinction must be maintained for its own sake. It is not primarily intended for the reformation of criminals, nor for the purpose of deterring others fr......
RAMESES
"the land of" (Gen. 47:11), was probably "the land of Goshen" (q.v.)45:10. After the Hebrews had built Rameses, one of the "treasure cities," it came to be known as the "land" in which that city was built. The city bearing this name (Exo 12:37) was probably identical with Zoan, which Rameses II. ("son of the sun") rebuilt. It became his special residence, and ranked next in importance and magnif......
REDEEMER
Heb. goel; i.e., one charged with the duty of restoring the rights of another and avenging his wrongs (Lev. 25:48, Lev. 25: 49; Num. 5:8; Ruth 4:1; Job 19:25; Psa 19:14;78:35, 78: etc.). This title is peculiarly applied to Christ. He redeems us from all evil by the payment of a ransom (q.v.). (See REDEMPTION.)......
REGEM-MELECH
friend of the king, one of the two messengers sent by the exiled Jews to Jerusalem in the time of Darius (Zech. 7:2) to make inquiries at the temple.......
REMETH
another form of Ramah (q.v.) or Ramoth (1-Chr 6:73; Josh. 19:21), and probably also of Jarmuth (Josh. 21:29). ......
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). ......
ROME
the most celebrated city in the world at the time of Christ. It is said to have been founded B.C. 753. When the New Testament was written, Rome was enriched and adorned with the spoils of the world, and contained a population estimated at 1,200,000, of which the half were slaves, and including representatives of nearly every nation then known. It was distinguished for its wealth and luxury and pro......
SALOME
perfect. (1.) The wife of Zebedee and mother of James and John (Mat. 27:56), and probably the sister of Mary, the mother of our Lord (John 19:25). She sought for her sons places of honour in Christ's kingdom (Matt. 20:20, Matt. 20: 21; 19:28). She witnessed the crucifixion (Mark 15:40), and was present with the other women at the sepulchre (Matt. 27:56). (2.) "The daughter of Herodias," not name......
SEMEI
mentioned in the genealogy of our Lord (Luke 3:26). ......
SHEMEBER
soaring on high, the king of Zeboiim, who joined with the other kings in casting off the yoke of Chedorlaomer. After having been reconquered by him, he was rescued by Abraham (Gen. 14:2).......
SHIMEA
the hearing prayer. (1.) One of David's sons by Bathsheba (1-Chr 3:5); called also Shammua (14:4). (2.) A Levite of the family of Merari (1-Chr 6:30). (3.) Another Levite of the family of Gershon (1-Chr 6:39). (4.) One of David's brothers (1-Sam 16:9, 1-Sam 16: marg.).......
SHIMEAH
(1.) One of David's brothers (2-Sam 13:3); same as Shimea (4). (2.) A Benjamite, a descendant of Gibeon (1-Chr 8:32); called also Shimeam (9:38).......
SHIMEI
famous. (1.) A son of Gershon, and grandson of Levi (Num. 3:18; 1-Chr 6:17, 1-Chr 6: 29); called Shimi in Exo 6:17. (2.) A Benjamite of the house of Saul, who stoned and cursed David when he reached Bahurim in his flight from Jerusalem on the occasion of the rebellion of Absalom (2-Sam 16:5). After the defeat of Absalom he "came cringing to the king, humbly suing for pardon, bringing with him a ......
SHIMEON
hearkening. Ezra 10:31.......
SHIMRON-MERON
the same, probably, as Shimron (Josh. 12:20).......
SHOMER
watchman. (1.) The mother of Jehozabad, who murdered Joash (2-Kings 12:21); called also Shimrith, a Moabitess (2-Chr 24:26). (2.) A man of Asher (1-Chr 7:32); called also Shamer (34). ......
SIMEON
hearing. (1.) The second son of Jacob by Leah (Gen. 29:33). He was associated with Levi in the terrible act of vengeance against Hamor and the Shechemites (34:25, 34: 26). He was detained by Joseph in Egypt as a hostage (2:24). His father, when dying, pronounced a malediction against him (9:5). The words in the Authorized Version (9:6), "they digged down a wall," ought to be, as correctly rendered......
SIMEON, THE TRIBE OF
was "divided and scattered" according to the prediction in Gen. 49:5. They gradually dwindled in number, and sank into a position of insignificance among the other tribes. They decreased in the wilderness by about two-thirds (comp. Num. 1:23;26:14). Moses pronounces no blessing on this tribe. It is passed by in silence (Deut. 33). This tribe received as their portion a part of the territory alre......
SLIME
(Gen. 11:3; LXX., "asphalt;" R.V. marg., "bitumen"). The vale of Siddim was full of slime pits (14:10). Jochebed daubed the "ark of bulrushes" with slime (Exo 2:3). (See PITCH.) ......
SOLEMN MEETING
(Isa. 1:13), the convocation on the eighth day of the Feast of Tabernacles (Lev. 23:36; Num. 29:35, Num. 29: R.V., "solemn assembly;" marg., "closing festival"). It is the name given also to the convocation held on the seventh day of the Passover (Deut. 16:8). ......
TANHUMETH
consolation, a Netophathite; one of the captains who supported Gedaliah (2-Kings 25:23; Jer. 40:8). ......
TEL-MELAH
hill of salt, a place in Babylon from which the Jews returned (id.). ......
TEMENI
one of the sons of Ashur, the father of Tekoa (1-Chr 4:6). ......
TESTAMENT
occurs twelve times in the New Testament (Heb. 9:15, Heb. 9: etc.) as the rendering of the Gr. diatheke, which is twenty times rendered "covenant" in the Authorized Version, and always so in the Revised Version. The Vulgate translates incorrectly by testamentum, whence the names "Old" and "New Testament," by which we now designate the two sections into which the Bible is divided. (See BIBLE.) ......
TINKLING ORNAMENTS
(Isa. 3:18), anklets of silver or gold, etc., such as are still used by women in Syria and the East. ......
TORMENT
Gr. basanos (Matt. 4:24), the "touch-stone" of justice; hence inquisition by torture, and then any disease which racks and tortures the limbs. ......
WISE MEN
mentioned in Dan. 2:12 included three classes, (1) astrologers, (2) Chaldeans, and (3) soothsayers. The word in the original (hakamim) probably means "medicine men. In Chaldea medicine was only a branch of magic. The "wise men" of Matt. 2:7, Matt. 2: who came from the East to Jerusalem, were magi from Persia or Arabia. ......