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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.......

ABADDON
destruction, the Hebrew name (equivalent to the Greek Apollyon, i.e., destroyer) of "the angel of the bottomless pit" (Rev. 9:11). It is rendered "destruction" in Job 28:22;31:12;26:6; Prov. 15:11;27:20. In the last three of these passages the Revised Version retains the word "Abaddon." We may regard this word as a personification of the idea of destruction, or as sheol, the realm of the dead.......

ABDON
servile. (1.) The son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, the tenth judge of Israel (Judg. 12:13). He is probably the Bedan of 1-Sam 12:11. (2.) The first-born of Gibeon of the tribe of Benjamin (1-Chr 8:30;9:36). (3.) The son of Micah, one of those whom Josiah sent to the prophetess Huldah to ascertain from her the meaning of the recently discovered book of the law (2-Chr 34:20). He is called Achbor in......

ABEDNEGO
servant of Nego=Nebo, the Chaldee name given to Azariah, one of Daniel's three companions (Dan. 2:49). With Shadrach and Meshach, he was delivered from the burning fiery furnace (3:12).......

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......

ABI-ALBON
father of strength; i.e., "valiant", one of David's body-guard of thirty mighty men (2-Sam 23:31); called also Abiel (1-Chr 11:32).......

ABINOAM
father of kindness, the father of Barak (Judg. 4:6;5:1).......

ABLUTION
or washing, was practised, (1.) When a person was initiated into a higher state: e.g., when Aaron and his sons were set apart to the priest's office, they were washed with water previous to their investiture with the priestly robes (Lev. 8:6). (2.) Before the priests approached the altar of God, they were required, on pain of death, to wash their hands and their feet to cleanse them from the soi......

ABOMINATION
This word is used, (1.) To express the idea that the Egyptians considered themselves as defiled when they ate with strangers (Gen. 43:32). The Jews subsequently followed the same practice, holding it unlawful to eat or drink with foreigners (John 18:28; Acts 10:28;11:3). (2.) Every shepherd was "an abomination" unto the Egyptians (Gen. 46:34). This aversion to shepherds, such as the Hebrews, aro......

ABRAHAM'S BOSOM
(Luke 16:22, Luke 16:23) refers to the custom of reclining on couches at table, which was prevalent among the Jews, an arrangement which brought the head of one person almost into the bosom of the one who sat or reclined above him. To "be in Abraham's bosom" thus meant to enjoy happiness and rest (Matt. 8:11; Luke 16:23) at the banquet in Paradise. (See BANQUET; MEALS.) ......

ABRONAH
R.V., one of Israel's halting-places in the desert (3:34, 3:35), just before Ezion-gaber. In A.V., "Ebronah." ......

ABSALOM
father of peace; i.e., "peaceful" David's son by Maacah (2-Sam 3:3; comp. 1-Kings 1:6). He was noted for his personal beauty and for the extra-ordinary profusion of the hair of his head (2-Sam 14:25, 2-Sam 14:26). The first public act of his life was the blood-revenge he executed against Amnon, David's eldest son, who had basely wronged Absalom's sister Tamar. This revenge was executed at the time......

ACCHO
sultry or sandy, a town and harbour of Phoenicia, in the tribe of Asher, but never acquired by them (Judg. 1:31). It was known to the ancient Greeks and Romans by the name of Ptolemais, from Ptolemy the king of Egypt, who rebuilt it about B.C. 100. Here Paul landed on his last journey to Jerusalem (Acts 21:7). During the crusades of the Middle Ages it was called Acra; and subsequently, on account ......

ACHBOR
gnawing = mouse. (1.) An Edomitish king (Gen. 36:38; 1-Chr 1:49). (2.) One of Josiah's officers sent to the prophetess Huldah to inquire regarding the newly-discovered book of the law (2-Kings 22:12, 2-Kings 22: 14). He is also called Abdon (2-Chr 34:20). ......

ACHOR
trouble, a valley near Jericho, so called in consequence of the trouble which the sin of Achan caused Israel (Josh. 7:24, Josh. 7:26). The expression "valley of Achor" probably became proverbial for that which caused trouble, and when Isaiah (Isa. 65:10) refers to it he uses it in this sense: "The valley of Achor, a place for herds to lie down in;" i.e., that which had been a source of calamity wo......

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
the title now given to the fifth and last of the historical books of the New Testament. The author styles it a "treatise" (1:1). It was early called "The Acts," "The Gospel of the Holy Ghost," and "The Gospel of the Resurrection." It contains properly no account of any of the apostles except Peter and Paul. John is noticed only three times; and all that is recorded of James, the son of Zebedee, is......

ADAM, THE CITY OF
is referred to in Josh. 3:16. It stood "beside Zarethan," on the west bank of Jordan (1-Kings 4:12). At this city the flow of the water was arrested and rose up "upon an heap" at the time of the Israelites' passing over (Josh. 3:16). ......

ADDON
low, one of the persons named in Neh. 7:61 who could not "shew their father's house" on the return from captivity. This, with similar instances (ver. 63), indicates the importance the Jews attached to their genealogies. ......

ADINO
the Eznite, one of David's mighty men (2-Sam 23:8). (See JASHOBEAM.) ......

ADJURATION
a solemn appeal whereby one person imposes on another the obligation of speaking or acting as if under an oath (1-Sam 14:24; Josh. 6:26; 1-Kings 22:16). We have in the New Testament a striking example of this (Matt. 26:63; Mark 5:7), where the high priest calls upon Christ to avow his true character. It would seem that in such a case the person so adjured could not refuse to give an answer. Th......

ADONI-ZEDEC
lord of justice or righteousness, was king in Jerusalem at the time when the Israelites invaded Palestine (Josh. 10:1, Josh. 10:3). He formed a confederacy with the other Canaanitish kings against the Israelites, but was utterly routed by Joshua when he was engaged in besieging the Gibeonites. The history of this victory and of the treatment of the five confederated kings is recorded in Josh. 10:1......

ADONIBEZEK
lord of Bezek, a Canaanitish king who, having subdued seventy of the chiefs that were around him, made an attack against the armies of Judah and Simeon, but was defeated and brought as a captive to Jerusalem, where his thumbs and great toes were cut off. He confessed that God had requited him for his like cruelty to the seventy kings whom he had subdued (Judg. 1:4; comp. 1-Sam 15:33). ......

ADONIJAH
my Lord is Jehovah. (1.) The fourth son of David (2-Sam 3:4). After the death of his elder brothers, Amnon and Absalom, he became heir-apparent to the throne. But Solomon, a younger brother, was preferred to him. Adonijah, however, when his father was dying, caused himself to be proclaimed king. But Nathan and Bathsheba induced David to give orders that Solomon should at once be proclaimed and adm......

ADONIKAM
whom the Lord sets up, one of those "which came with Zerubbabel" (Ezra 2:13). His "children," or retainers, to the number of 666, came up to Jerusalem (8:13). ......

ADONIRAM
(Adoram, 1-Kings 12:18), the son of Abda, was "over the tribute," i.e., the levy or forced labour. He was stoned to death by the people of Israel (1-Kings 4:6;5:14) ......

ADOPTION
the giving to any one the name and place and privileges of a son who is not a son by birth. (1.) Natural. Thus Pharaoh's daughter adopted Moses (Exo 2:10), and Mordecai Esther (Esther 2:7). (2.) National. God adopted Israel (Exo 4:22; Deut. 7:6; Hos. 11:1; Rom. 9:4). (3.) Spiritual. An act of God's grace by which he brings men into the number of his redeemed family, and makes them partakers ......

ADORAM
See ADONIRAM.......

ADORE
to worship; to express reverence and homage. The forms of adoration among the Jews were putting off the shoes (Exo 3:5; Josh. 5:15), and prostration (Gen. 17:3; Psa 95:6; Isa. 44:15, Isa. 44: 17, 19;46:6). To "kiss the Son" in Psa 2:12 is to adore and worship him. (See Dan. 3:5, Dan. 3: 6.) The word itself does not occur in Scripture.......

ADVOCATE
(Gr. parakletos), one who pleads another's cause, who helps another by defending or comforting him. It is a name given by Christ three times to the Holy Ghost (John 14:16;15:26;16:7, 16: where the Greek word is rendered "Comforter," q.v.). It is applied to Christ in 1-John 2:1, 1-John 2: where the same Greek word is rendered "Advocate," the rendering which it should have in all the places where it......

AENON
springs, a place near Salim where John baptized (John 3:23). It was probably near the upper source of the Wady Far'ah, an open valley extending from Mount Ebal to the Jordan. It is full of springs. A place has been found called 'Ainun, four miles north of the springs.......

AFFECTION
feeling or emotion. Mention is made of "vile affections" (Rom. 1:26) and "inordinate affection" (Col. 3:5). Christians are exhorted to set their affections on things above (Col. 3:2). There is a distinction between natural and spiritual or gracious affections (Ezek. 33:32).......

AFFLICTIONS
common to all (Job 5:7;14:1; Psa 34:19); are for the good of men (James 1:2, James 1: 3, 12; 2-Cor 12:7) and the glory of God (2-Cor 12:7; 1-Pet 4:14), and are to be borne with patience by the Lord's people (Psa 94:12; Prov. 3:12). They are all directed by God (Lam. 3:33), and will result in the everlasting good of his people (2-Cor 4:16) in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:35).......

AGONY
contest; wrestling; severe struggling with pain and suffering. Anguish is the reflection on evil that is already past, while agony is a struggle with evil at the time present. It is only used in the New Testament by Luke (22:44) to describe our Lord's fearful struggle in Gethsemane. The verb from which the noun "agony" is derived is used to denote an earnest endeavour or striving, as "Strive [ag......

AHINOAM
brother of pleasantness = pleasant. (1.) The daughter of Ahimaaz, and wife of Saul (1-Sam 14:50). (2.) A Jezreelitess, the first wife of David (1-Sam 25:43;27:3). She was the mother of Amnon (2-Sam 3:2). (See 1-Sam 30:5, 1-Sam 30: 18; 2-Sam 2:2.)......

AHIO
brotherly. (1.) One of the sons of Beriah (1-Chr 8:14). (2.) One of the sons of Jehiel the Gibeonite (1-Chr 8:31;9:37). (3.) One of the sons of Abinadab the Levite. While Uzzah went by the side of the ark, he walked before it guiding the oxen which drew the cart on which it was carried, after having brought it from his father's house in Gibeah (1-Chr 13:7; 2-Sam 6:3, 2-Sam 6: 4).......

AHITHOPHEL
brother of insipidity or impiety, a man greatly renowned for his sagacity among the Jews. At the time of Absalom's revolt he deserted David (Psa 41:9;55:12) and espoused the cause of Absalom (2-Sam 15:12). David sent his old friend Hushai back to Absalom, in order that he might counteract the counsel of Ahithophel (2-Sam 15:31). This end was so far gained that Ahithophel saw he had no longer any i......

AHOAH
brotherly, one of the sons of Bela, the son of Benjamin (1-Chr 8:4). He is also called Ahiah (ver. 7) and Iri (1-Chr 7:7). His descendants were called Ahohites (2-Sam 23:9, 2-Sam 23: 28).......

AHOHITE
an epithet applied to Dodo, one of Solomon's captains (1-Chr 27:4); to his son Eleazar, one of David's three mightiest heroes (2-Sam 23:9; 1-Chr 11:12); and to Zalmon, one of the thirty (2-Sam 23:28; 1-Chr 11:29), from their descent from Ahoah.......

AHOLAH
she has her own tent, a name used by Ezekiel (23:4, 23: 5, 36, 44) as a symbol of the idolatry of the kingdom of Israel. This kingdom is described as a lewdwoman, an adulteress, given up to the abominations and idolatries of the Egyptians and Assyrians. Because of her crimes, she was carried away captive, and ceased to be a kingdom. (Comp. Psa 78:67; 1-Kings 12:25; 2-Chr 11:13.)......

AHOLIAB
tent of the father, an artist of the tribe of Dan, appointed to the work of preparing materials for the tabernacle (Exo 31:6;35:34;36:1, 36: 2;38:23).......

AHOLIBAH
my tent is in her, the name of an imaginary harlot, applied symbolically to Jerusalem, because she had abandoned the worship of the true God and given herself up to the idolatries of foreign nations. (Ezek. 23:4, Ezek. 23: 11, 22, 36, 44).......

AHOLIBAMAH
tent of the height, the name given to Judith, the daughter of Beeri = Anah (Gen. 26:34;36:2), when she became the wife of Esau. A district among the mountains of Edom, probably near Mount Hor, was called after her name, or it may be that she received her name from the district. From her descended three tribes of Edomites, founded by her three sons.......

AJALON
and Aij'alon, place of deer. (1.) A town and valley originally assigned to the tribe of Dan, from which, however, they could not drive the Amorites (Judg. 1:35). It was one of the Levitical cities given to the Kohathites (1-Chr 6:69). It was not far from Beth-shemesh (2-Chr 28:18). It was the boundary between the kingdoms of Judah and Israel, and is frequently mentioned in Jewish history (2-Chr 11......

ALAMOTH
virgins, a musical term (1-Chr 15:20), denoting that the psalm which bears this inscription (Ps. 46) was to be sung by soprano or female voices.......

ALLEGORY
used only in Gal. 4:24, Gal. 4: where the apostle refers to the history of Isaac the free-born, and Ishmael the slave-born, and makes use of it allegorically. Every parable is an allegory. Nathan (2-Sam 12:1) addresses David in an allegorical narrative. In the eightieth Psalm there is a beautiful allegory: "Thou broughtest a vine out of Egypt," etc. In Eccl. 12:2, Eccl. 12: there is a striking a......

ALLON
oak. (1.) The expression in the Authorized Version of Josh. 19:33, Josh. 19: "from Allon to Zaanannim," is more correctly rendered in the Revised Version, "from the oak in Zaanannim." The word denotes some remarkable tree which stood near Zaanannim, and which served as a landmark. (2.) The son of Jedaiah, of the family of the Simeonites, who expelled the Hamites from the valley of Gedor (1-Chr 4......

ALLON-BACHUTH
oak of weeping, a tree near Bethel, at the spot where Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, was buried (Gen. 35:8). Large trees, from their rarity in the plains of Palestine, were frequently designated as landmarks. This particular tree was probably the same as the "palm tree of Deborah" (Judg. 4:5).......

ALMODAD
immeasurable, the first named of the sons of Joktan (Gen. 10:26), the founder of an Arabian tribe.......

ALMON
hidden, one of the sacerdotal cities of Benjamin (Josh. 21:18), called also Alemeth (1-Chr 6:60).......

ALMOND
a native of Syria and Palestine. In form, blossoms, and fruit it resembles the peach tree. Its blossoms are of a very pale pink colour, and appear before its leaves. Its Hebrew name, _shaked_, signifying "wakeful, hastening," is given to it on account of its putting forth its blossoms so early, generally in February, and sometimes even in January. In Eccl. 12:5, Eccl. 12: it is referred to as illu......

ALOES
(Heb. 'ahalim), a fragrant wood (Num. 24:6; Psa 45:8; Prov. 7:17; 4:14), the Aquilaria agallochum of botanists, or, as some suppose, the costly gum or perfume extracted from the wood. It is found in China, Siam, and Northern India, and grows to the height sometimes of 120 feet. This species is of great rarity even in India. There is another and more common species, called by Indians aghil, whence ......

AMBASSADOR
In the Old Testament the Hebrew word _tsir_, meaning "one who goes on an errand," is rendered thus (Josh. 9:4; Prov. 13:17; Isa. 18:2; Jer. 49:14; Obad. 1:1). This is also the rendering of _melits_, meaning "an interpreter," in 2-Chr 32:31; and of _malak_, a "messenger," in 2-Chr 35:21; Isa. 30:4;33:7; Ezek. 17:15. This is the name used by the apostle as designating those who are appointed by God ......

AMMON
another form of the name Ben-ammi, the son of Lot (Gen. 19:38). This name is also used for his posterity (Psa 83:7).......

AMMONITE
the usual name of the descendants of Ammon, the son of Lot (Gen. 19:38). From the very beginning (Deut. 2:16) of their history till they are lost sight of (Judg. 5:2), this tribe is closely associated with the Moabites (Judg. 10:11; 2-Chr 20:1; Zeph. 2:8). Both of these tribes hired Balaam to curse Israel (Deut. 23:4). The Ammonites were probably more of a predatory tribe, moving from place to pla......

AMNON
faithful. (1.) One of the sons of Shammai, of the children of Ezra (1-Chr 4:20; comp. 17). (2.) The eldest son of David, by Ahinoam of Jezreel (1-Chr 3:1; 2-Sam 3:2). Absalom caused him to be put to death for his great crime in the matter of Tamar (2-Sam 13:28, 2-Sam 13: 29).......

AMON
builder. (1.) The governor of Samaria in the time of Ahab. The prophet Micaiah was committed to his custody (1-Kings 22:26; 2-Chr 18:25). (2.) The son of Manasseh, and fourteenth king of Judah. He restored idolatry, and set up the images which his father had cast down. Zephaniah (1:4;3:4, 3: 11) refers to the moral depravity prevailing in this king's reign. He was assassinated (2-Kings 21:18: ......

AMORITES
highlanders, or hillmen, the name given to the descendants of one of the sons of Canaan (Gen. 14:7), called Amurra or Amurri in the Assyrian and Egyptian inscriptions. On the early Babylonian monuments all Syria, including Palestine, is known as "the land of the Amorites." The southern slopes of the mountains of Judea are called the "mount of the Amorites" (Deut. 1:7, Deut. 1: 19, 20). They seem t......

AMOS
borne; a burden, one of the twelve minor prophets. He was a native of Tekota, the modern Tekua, a town about 12 miles south-east of Bethlehem. He was a man of humble birth, neither a "prophet nor a prophet's son," but "an herdman and a dresser of sycomore trees," R.V. He prophesied in the days of Uzziah, king of Judah, and was contemporary with Isaiah and Hosea (Amos 1:1;7:14, 7: 15; Zech. 14:5), ......

AMOZ
strong, the father of the prophet Isaiah (2-Kings 19:2, 2-Kings 19: 20;20:1; Isa. 1:1;2:1). As to his personal history little is positively known. He is supposed by some to have been the "man of God" spoken of in 2-Chr 25:7, 2-Chr 25: 8.......

AMPHIPOLIS
city on both sides, a Macedonian city, a great Roman military station, through which Paul and Silas passed on their way from Philippi to Thessalonica, a distance of 33 Roman miles from Philippi (Acts 17:1).......

ANATHOTH
the name of one of the cities of refuge, in the tribe of Benjamin (Josh. 21:18). The Jews, as a rule, did not change the names of the towns they found in Palestine; hence this town may be regarded as deriving its name from the goddess Anat. It was the native place of Abiezer, one of David's "thirty" (2-Sam 23:27), and of Jehu, another of his mighty men (1-Chr 12:3). It is chiefly notable, however,......

ANCHOR
From Acts 27:29, Acts 27: 30, 40, it would appear that the Roman vessels carried several anchors, which were attached to the stern as well as to the prow. The Roman anchor, like the modern one, had two teeth or flukes. In Heb. 6:19 the word is used metaphorically for that which supports or keeps one steadfast in the time of trial or of doubt. It is an emblem of hope. "If you fear, Put all your......

ANCIENT OF DAYS
an expression applied to Jehovah three times in the vision of Daniel (7:9, 7: 13, 22) in the sense of eternal. In contrast with all earthly kings, his days are past reckoning.......

ANDRONICUS
man-conquering, a Jewish Christian, the kinsman and fellowprisoner of Paul (Rom. 16:7); "of note among the apostles."......

ANOINT
The practice of anointing with perfumed oil was common among the Hebrews. (1.) The act of anointing was significant of consecration to a holy or sacred use; hence the anointing of the high priest (Exo 29:29; Lev. 4:3) and of the sacred vessels (Exo 30:26). The high priest and the king are thus called "the anointed" (Lev. 4:3, Lev. 4: 5, 16;6:20; Psa 132:10). Anointing a king was equivalent to crow......

ANTIOCH
(1.) In Syria, on the river Orontes, about 16 miles from the Mediterranean, and some 300 miles north of Jerusalem. It was the metropolis of Syria, and afterwards became the capital of the Roman province in Asia. It ranked third, after Rome and Alexandria, in point of importance, of the cities of the Roman empire. It was called the "first city of the East." Christianity was early introduced into it......

ANTIOCHUS
the name of several Syrian kings from B.C. 280 to B.C. 65. The most notable of these were, (1.) Antiochus the Great, who ascended the throne B.C. 223. He is regarded as the "king of the north" referred to in Dan. 11:13. He was succeeded (B.C. 187) by his son, Seleucus Philopater, spoken of by Daniel (11:20) as "a raiser of taxes", in the Revised Version, "one that shall cause an exactor to pass th......

ANTONIA
a fortress in Jerusalem, at the north-west corner of the temple area. It is called "the castle" (Acts 21:34, Acts 21: 37). From the stairs of this castle Paul delivered his famous speech to the multitude in the area below (Acts 22:1). It was originally a place in which were kept the vestments of the high priest. Herod fortified it, and called it Antonia in honour of his friend Mark Antony. It was ......

ANTOTHITE
an inhabitant of Anathoth, found only in 1-Chr 11:28;12:3. In 2-Sam 23:27 it is Anethothite; in 1-Chr 27:12, 1-Chr 27: Anetothite. (R.V., "Anathothite.")......

APOCALYPSE
the Greek name of the Book of Revelation (q.v.).......

APOCRYPHA
hidden, spurious, the name given to certain ancient books which found a place in the LXX. and Latin Vulgate versions of the Old Testament, and were appended to all the great translations made from them in the sixteenth century, but which have no claim to be regarded as in any sense parts of the inspired Word. (1.) They are not once quoted by the New Testament writers, who frequently quote from t......

APOLLONIA
a city of Macedonia between Amphipolis and Thessalonica, from which it was distant about 36 miles. Paul and Silas passed through it on their way to Thessalonica (Acts 17:1).......

APOLLOS
a Jew "born at Alexandria," a man well versed in the Scriptures and eloquent (Acts 18:24; R.V., "learned"). He came to Ephesus (about A.D. 49), where he spake "boldly" in the synagogue (18:26), although he did not know as yet that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah. Aquila and Priscilla instructed him more perfectly in "the way of God", i.e., in the knowledge of Christ. He then proceeded to Corinth......

APOLLYON
destroyer, the name given to the king of the hosts represented by the locusts (Rev. 9:11). It is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Abaddon (q.v.).......

APOSTLE
a person sent by another; a messenger; envoy. This word is once used as a descriptive designation of Jesus Christ, the Sent of the Father (Heb. 3:1; John 20:21). It is, however, generally used as designating the body of disciples to whom he intrusted the organization of his church and the dissemination of his gospel, "the twelve," as they are called (Matt. 10:1; Mark 3:14;6:7; Luke 6:13;9:1). We h......

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.......

APPII FORUM
i.e., "the market of Appius" (Acts 28:15, Acts 28: R.V.), a town on the road, the "Appian Way," from Rome to Brundusium. It was 43 miles from Rome. Here Paul was met by some Roman Christians on his way to the capital. It was natural that they should halt here and wait for him, because from this place there were two ways by which travellers might journey to Rome.......

APRON
found in the Authorized Version in Gen. 3:7, Gen. 3: of the bands of fig-leaves made by our first parents. In Acts 19:12, Acts 19: it denotes the belt or half-girdle worn by artisans and servants round the waist for the purpose of preserving the clothing from injury. In marg. of Authorized Version, Ruth 3:15, Ruth 3: correctly rendered instead of "vail." (R.V., "mantle.")......

ARAM-ZOBAH
(Ps. 60, title), probably the region between the Euphrates and the Orontes.......

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......

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 ......

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.......

ARISTOBULUS
a Roman mentioned in Paul's Epistle to the Romans (16:10), whose "household" is saluated.......

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.).......

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).......

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......

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......

ASCENSION
See CHRIST.......

ASHDOD
stronghold, a Philistine city (Josh. 15:47), about midway between Gaza and Joppa, and 3 miles from the Mediterranean. It was one of the chief seats of the worship of Dagon (1-Sam 5:5). It belonged to the tribe of Judah (Josh. 15:47), but it never came into their actual possession. It was an important city, as it stood on the highroad from Egypt to Palestine, and hence was strongly fortified (2-Chr......

ASHDOTH-PISGAH
(Deut. 3:17; Josh. 12:3;13:20) in Authorized Version, but in Revised Version translated "slopes of Pisgah." In Deut. 4:49 it is translated in the Authorized Version "springs of Pisgah." The name Ashdoth is translated "springs" in the Authorized Version, but "slopes" in the Revised Version, of Josh. 10:40 12:8. It has been identified with the springs under Mount Nebo, now called 'Ayun Musa.......

ASHKELON
=Askelon=Ascalon, was one of the five cities of the Philistines (Josh. 13:3; 1-Sam 6:17). It stood on the shore of the Mediterranean, 12 miles north of Gaza. It is mentioned on an inscription at Karnak in Egypt as having been taken by king Rameses II., the oppressor of the Hebrews. In the time of the judges (Judg. 1:18) it fell into the possession of the tribe of Judah; but it was soon after retak......

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.......

ASHTORETH
the moon goddess of the Phoenicians, representing the passive principle in nature, their principal female deity; frequently associated with the name of Baal, the sun-god, their chief male deity (Judg. 10:6; 1-Sam 7:4;12:10). These names often occur in the plural (Ashtaroth, Baalim), probably as indicating either different statues or different modifications of the deities. This deity is spoken of a......

ASSOS
a sea-port town of Proconsular Asia, in the district of Mysia, on the north shore of the Gulf of Adramyttium. Paul came hither on foot along the Roman road from Troas (Acts 20:13, Acts 20: 14), a distance of 20 miles. It was about 30 miles distant from Troas by sea. The island of Lesbos lay opposite it, about 7 miles distant.......

ASTROLOGER
(Dan. 1:20;2:2, 2: 10, 27, etc.) Heb. 'ashshaph', an enchanter, one who professes to divine future events by the appearance of the stars. This science flourished among the Chaldeans. It was positively forbidden to the Jews (Deut. 4:19;18:10; Isa. 47:13).......

ASTRONOMY
The Hebrews were devout students of the wonders of the starry firmanent (Amos 5:8; Ps. 19). In the Book of Job, which is the oldest book of the Bible in all probability, the constellations are distinguished and named. Mention is made of the "morning star" (Rev. 2:28; comp. Isa. 14:12), the "seven stars" and "Pleiades," "Orion," "Arcturus," the "Great Bear" (Amos 5:8; Job 9:9;38:31), "the crooked s......

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.......

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.)......

AVENGER OF BLOOD
(Heb. goel, from verb gaal, "to be near of kin," "to redeem"), the nearest relative of a murdered person. It was his right and duty to slay the murderer (2-Sam 14:7, 2-Sam 14: 11) if he found him outside of a city of refuge. In order that this law might be guarded against abuse, Moses appointed six cities of refuge (Exo 21:13; Num. 35:13; Deut. 19:1, Deut. 19:9). These were in different parts of t......

AZOTUS
the Grecized form (Acts 8:40, Acts 8: etc.) of Ashdod (q.v.).......

BAAL-HAMON
place of a multitude, a place where Solomon had an extensive vineyard (8:11). It has been supposed to be identical with Baal-gad, and also with Hammon in the tribe of Asher (Josh. 19:28). Others identify it with Belamon, in Central Palestine, near Dothaim.......

BAAL-HAZOR
having a courtyard, or Baal's village, the place on the borders of Ephraim and Benjamin where Absalom held the feast of sheep-shearing when Amnon was assassinated (2-Sam 13:23). Probably it is the same with Hazor (Neh. 11:33), now Tell' Asur, 5 miles north-east of Bethel.......

BAAL-HERMON
lord of Hermon. (1.) A city near Mount Hermon inhabited by the Ephraimites (1-Chr 5:23). Probably identical with Baal-gad (Josh. 11:17). (2.) A mountain east of Lebanon (Judg. 3:3). Probably it may be the same as Mount Hermon, or one of its three peaks.......

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.......

BAAL-PEOR
lord of the opening, a god of the Moabites (Num. 25:3;31:16; Josh. 22:17), worshipped by obscene rites. So called from Mount Peor, where this worship was celebrated, the Baal of Peor. The Israelites fell into the worship of this idol (Num. 25:3, Num. 25: 5, 18; Deut. 4:3; Psa 106:28; Hos. 9:10).......

BAAL-ZEPHON
Baal of the north, an Egyptian town on the shores of the Gulf of Suez (Exo 14:2; Num. 33:7), over against which the children of Israel encamped before they crossed the Red Sea. It is probably to be identified with the modern Jebel Deraj or Kulalah, on the western shore of the Gulf of Suez. Baal-zapuna of the Egyptians was a place of worship.......

BAALE OF JUDAH
lords of Judah, a city in the tribe of Judah from which David brought the ark into Jerusalem (2-Sam 6:2). Elsewhere (1-Chr 13:6) called Kirjath-jearim. (See BAALAH.)......

BABEL, TOWER OF
the name given to the tower which the primitive fathers of our race built in the land of Shinar after the Deluge (Gen. 11:1). Their object in building this tower was probably that it might be seen as a rallying-point in the extensive plain of Shinar, to which they had emigrated from the uplands of Armenia, and so prevent their being scattered abroad. But God interposed and defeated their design by......

BABYLON
the Greek form of BABEL; Semitic form Babilu, meaning "The Gate of God." In the Assyrian tablets it means "The city of the dispersion of the tribes." The monumental list of its kings reaches back to B.C. 2300, and includes Khammurabi, or Amraphel (q.v.), the contemporary of Abraham. It stood on the Euphrates, about 200 miles above its junction with the Tigris, which flowed through its midst and di......

BABYLON, KINGDOM OF
called "the land of the Chaldeans" (Jer. 24:5; Ezek,12:13), was an extensive province in Central Asia along the valley of the Tigris from the Persian Gulf northward for some 300 miles. It was famed for its fertility and its riches. Its capital was the city of Babylon, a great commercial centre (Ezek. 17:4; Isa. 43:14). Babylonia was divided into the two districts of Accad in the north, and Summer ......

BABYLONISH GARMENT
a robe of rich colours fabricated at Babylon, and hence of great value (Josh.7:21).......

BACA, VALLEY OF
(Psa 84:6; R.V., "valley of weeping," marg., "or balsam trees"), probably a valley in some part of Palestine, or generally some one of the valleys through which pilgrims had to pass on their way to the sanctuary of Jehovah on Zion; or it may be figuratively "a valley of weeping."......

BAMOTH
heights, the forty-seventh station of the Israelites (Num. 21:19, Num. 21:20) in the territory of the Moabites.......

BAMOTH-BAAL
heights of Baal, a place on the river Arnon, or in the plains through which it flows, east of Jordan (Josh. 13:17; comp. Num. 21:28). It has been supposed to be the same place as Bamoth.......

BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD
only mentioned in 1-Cor 15:29. This expression as used by the apostle may be equivalent to saying, "He who goes through a baptism of blood in order to join a glorified church which has no existence [i.e., if the dead rise not] is a fool." Some also regard the statement here as an allusion to the strange practice which began, it is said, to prevail at Corinth, in which a person was baptized in the ......

BAPTISM OF CHRIST
Christ had to be formally inaugurated into the public discharge of his offices. For this purpose he came to John, who was the representative of the law and the prophets, that by him he might be introduced into his offices, and thus be publicly recognized as the Messiah of whose coming the prophecies and types had for many ages borne witness. John refused at first to confer his baptism on Christ,......

BAPTISM, JOHN'S
was not Christian baptism, nor was that which was practised by the disciples previous to our Lord's crucifixion. Till then the New Testament economy did not exist. John's baptism bound its subjects to repentance, and not to the faith of Christ. It was not administered in the name of the Trinity, and those whom John baptized were rebaptized by Paul (Acts 18:24;19:7).......

BAR-JONA
son of Jonah, the patronymic of Peter (Matt. 16:17; John 1:42), because his father's name was Jonas. (See PETER.)......

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).......

BARKOS
painter, (Ezra 2:53; Neh. 7:55). The father of some of the Nethinim. ......

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......

BASHAN, HILL OF
(Psa 68:15), probably another name for Hermon, which lies to the north of Bashan. ......

BASHAN-HAVOTH-JAIR
the Bashan of the villages of Jair, the general name given to Argob by Jair, the son of Manasseh (Deut. 3:14), containing sixty cities with walls and brazen gates (Josh. 13:30; 1-Kings 4:13). (See ARGOB.) ......

BASTINADO
beating, a mode of punishment common in the East. It is referred to by "the rod of correction" (Prov. 22:15), "scourging" (Lev. 19:20), "chastising" (Deut. 22:18). The number of blows could not exceed forty (Deut. 25:2, Deut. 25: 3). ......

BATTLE-BOW
the war-bow used in fighting (Zech. 9:10;10:4). "Thy bow was made quite naked" (Hab. 3:9) means that it was made ready for use. By David's order (2-Sam 1:18) the young men were taught the use, or rather the song of the bow. (See ARMOUR, BOW.) ......

BEACON
a pole (Heb. to'ren) used as a standard or ensign set on the tops of mountains as a call to the people to assemble themselves for some great national purpose (Isa. 30:17). In Isa. 33:23 and Ezek. 27:5, Ezek. 27: the same word is rendered "mast." (See Banner.) ......

BEALOTH
citizens, a town in the extreme south of Judah (Josh. 15:24); probably the same as Baalath-beer (19:8). In 1-Kings 4:16, 1-Kings 4: the Authorized Version has "in Aloth," the Revised Version "Bealoth." ......

BEATEN GOLD
in Num. 8:4, Num. 8: means "turned" or rounded work in gold. The Greek Version, however, renders the word "solid gold;" the Revised Version, "beaten work of gold." In 1-Kings 10:16, 1-Kings 10: 17, it probably means "mixed" gold, as the word ought to be rendered, i.e., not pure gold. Others render the word in these places "thin plates of gold." ......

BEATEN OIL
(Exo 27:20;29:40), obtained by pounding olives in a mortar, not by crushing them in a mill. It was reckoned the best. (See OLIVE.) ......

BEER-LAHAI-ROI
i.e., "the well of him that liveth and seeth me," or, as some render it, "the well of the vision of life", the well where the Lord met with Hagar (Gen. 16:7). Isaac dwelt beside this well (24:62;25:11). It has been identified with 'Ain Muweileh, or Moilahhi, south-west of Beersheba, and about 12 miles W. from Kadesh-barnea.......

BEEROTH
wells, one of the four cities of the Hivites which entered by fraud into a league with Joshua. It belonged to Benjamin (Josh. 18:25). It has by some been identified with el-Bireh on the way to Nablus, 10 miles north of Jerusalem.......

BEEROTH OF THE CHILDREN OF JAAKAN
(Deut. 10:6). The same as Bene-jaakan (Num. 33:31).......

BEHEMOTH
(Job 40:15). Some have supposed this to be an Egyptian word meaning a "water-ox." The Revised Version has here in the margin "hippopotamus," which is probably the correct rendering of the word. The word occurs frequently in Scripture, but, except here, always as a common name, and translated "beast" or "cattle."......

BELLOWS
occurs only in Jer. 6:29, Jer. 6: in relation to the casting of metal. Probably they consisted of leather bags similar to those common in Egypt.......

BEOR
a torch. (1.) The father of Bela, one of the kings of Edom (Gen. 36:32). (2.) The father of Balaam (Num. 22:5;24:3, 24: 15;31:8). In 2-Pet 2:15 he is called Bosor.......

BERODACH-BALADAN
the king of Babylon who sent a friendly deputation to Hezekiah (2-Kings 20:12). In Isa. 39:1 he is called Merodach-baladan (q.v.).......

BESOM
the rendering of a Hebrew word meaning sweeper, occurs only in Isa. 14:23, Isa. 14: of the sweeping away, the utter ruin, of Babylon.......

BESOR
cold, a ravine or brook in the extreme south-west of Judah, where 200 of David's men stayed behind because they were faint, while the other 400 pursued the Amalekites (1-Sam 30:9, 1-Sam 30: 10, 21). Probably the Wadyes Sheriah, south of Gaza.......

BETH-ANOTH
house of answers, a city in the mountainous district of Judah (Josh. 15:59). It has been identified with the modern Beit-'Anun, about 3 miles northeast of Hebron.......

BETH-DAGON
house of Dagon. (1.) A city in the low country or plain of Judah, near Philistia (Josh. 15:41); the modern Beit Degan, about 5 miles from Lydda. (2.) A city near the south-east border of Asher (Josh. 19:27). It was a Philistine colony. It is identical with the modern ruined village of Tell D'auk. ......

BETH-HORON
house of the hollow, or of the cavern, the name of two towns or villages (2-Chr 8:5; 1-Chr 7:24) in the territory of Ephraim, on the way from Jerusalem to Joppa. They are distinguished as Beth-horon "the upper" and Beth-horon "the nether." They are about 2 miles apart, the former being about 10 miles north-west of Jerusalem. Between the two places was the ascent and descent of Beth-horon, leading ......

BETH-JESHIMOTH
house of wastes, or deserts, a town near Abel-shittim, east of Jordan, in the desert of Moab, where the Israelites encamped not long before crossing the Jordan (Num. 33:49; A.V., "Bethjesimoth"). It was within the territory of Sihon, king of the Amorites (Josh. 12:3). ......

BETH-PEOR
house of Peor; i.e., "temple of Baal-peor", a place in Moab, on the east of Jordan, opposite Jericho. It was in the tribe of Reuben (Josh. 13:20; Deut. 3:29;4:46). In the "ravine" or valley over against Beth-peor Moses was probably buried (Deut. 34:6). ......

BETROTH
to promise "by one's truth." Men and women were betrothed when they were engaged to be married. This usually took place a year or more before marriage. From the time of betrothal the woman was regarded as the lawful wife of the man to whom she was betrothed (Deut. 28:30; Judg. 14:2, Judg. 14: 8; Matt. 1:18). The term is figuratively employed of the spiritual connection between God and his people (......

BEYOND
when used with reference to Jordan, signifies in the writings of Moses the west side of the river, as he wrote on the east bank (Gen. 50:10, Gen. 50: 11; Deut. 1:1, Deut. 1: 5;3:8, 3: 20;4:46); but in the writings of Joshua, after he had crossed the river, it means the east side (Josh. 5:1;12:7;22:7). ......

BISHOP
an overseer. In apostolic times, it is quite manifest that there was no difference as to order between bishops and elders or presbyters (Acts 20:17; 1-Pet 5:1, 1-Pet 5: 2; Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3). The term bishop is never once used to denote a different office from that of elder or presbyter. These different names are simply titles of the same office, "bishop" designating the function, namely, that o......

BITH-RON
the broken or divided place, a district in the Arabah or Jordan valley, on the east of the river (2-Sam 2:29). It was probably the designation of the region in general, which is broken and intersected by ravines. ......

BLOOD
(1.) As food, prohibited in Gen. 9:4, Gen. 9: where the use of animal food is first allowed. Comp. Deut. 12:23; Lev. 3:17;7:26;17:10. The injunction to abstain from blood is renewed in the decree of the council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:29). It has been held by some, and we think correctly, that this law of prohibition was only ceremonial and temporary; while others regard it as still binding on all. ......

BLOODY SWEAT
the sign and token of our Lord's great agony (Luke 22:44). ......

BLOT
a stain or reproach (Job 31:7; Prov. 9:7). To blot out sin is to forgive it (Psa 51:1, Psa 51: 9; Isa. 44:22; Acts 3:19). Christ's blotting out the handwriting of ordinances was his fulfilling the law in our behalf (Col. 2:14). ......

BOANERGES
sons of thunder, a surname given by our Lord to James and John (Mark 3:17) on account of their fervid and impetuous temper (Luke 9:54). ......

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......

BOAZ
alacrity. (1.) The husband of Ruth, a wealthy Bethlehemite. By the "levirate law" the duty devolved on him of marrying Ruth the Moabitess (Ruth 4:1). He was a kinsman of Mahlon, her first husband. (2.) The name given (for what reason is unknown) to one of the two (the other was called Jachin) brazen pillars which Solomon erected in the court of the temple (1-Kings 7:21; 2-Chr 3:17). These pillar......

BOCHIM
weepers, a place where the angel of the Lord reproved the Israelites for entering into a league with the people of the land. This caused them bitterly to weep, and hence the name of the place (Judg. 2:1, Judg. 2: 5). It lay probably at the head of one of the valleys between Gilgal and Shiloh. ......

BOIL
(rendered "botch" in Deut. 28:27, Deut. 28: 35), an aggravated ulcer, as in the case of Hezekiah (2-Kings 20:7; Isa. 38:21) or of the Egyptians (Exo 9:9, Exo 9: 10, 11; Deut. 28:27, Deut. 28: 35). It designates the disease of Job (2:7), which was probably the black leprosy. ......

BOLLED
(Exo 9:31), meaning "swollen or podded for seed," was adopted in the Authorized Version from the version of Coverdale (1535). The Revised Version has in the margin "was in bloom," which is the more probable rendering of the Hebrew word. It is the fact that in Egypt when barley is in ear (about February) flax is blossoming. ......

BOLSTER
The Hebrew word _kebir_, rendered "pillow" in 1-Sam 19:13, 1-Sam 19: 16, but in Revised Version marg. "quilt" or "network," probably means some counterpane or veil intended to protect the head of the sleeper. A different Hebrew word (meraashoth') is used for "bolster" (1-Sam 26:7, 1-Sam 26: 11, 16). It is rightly rendered in Revised Version "at his head." In Gen. 28:11, Gen. 28: 18 the Authorized ......

BOND
an obligation of any kind (Num. 30:2, Num. 30: 4, 12). The word means also oppression or affliction (Psa 116:16; Phil. 1:7). Christian love is the "bond of perfectness" (Col. 3:14), and the influences of the Spirit are the "bond of peace" (Eph. 4:3). ......

BONDAGE
of Israel in Egypt (Exo 2:23, Exo 2: 25; 5), which is called the "house of bondage" (13:3;20:2). This word is used also with reference to the captivity in Babylon (Isa. 14:3), and the oppression of the Persian king (Ezra 9:8, Ezra 9: 9). ......

BONNET
(Heb. peer), Exo 39:28 (R.V., "head-tires"); Ezek. 44:18 (R.V., "tires"), denotes properly a turban worn by priests, and in Isa. 3:20 (R.V., "head-tires") a head-dress or tiara worn by females. The Hebrew word so rendered literally means an ornament, as in Isa. 61:10 (R.V., "garland"), and in Ezek. 24:17, Ezek. 24: 23 "tire" (R.V., "head-tire"). It consisted of a piece of cloth twisted about the h......

BOOK
This word has a comprehensive meaning in Scripture. In the Old Testament it is the rendering of the Hebrew word _sepher_, which properly means a "writing," and then a "volume" (Exo 17:14; Deut. 28:58;29:20; Job 19:23) or "roll of a book" (Jer. 36:2, Jer. 36: 4). Books were originally written on skins, on linen or cotton cloth, and on Egyptian papyrus, whence our word "paper." The leaves of the b......

BOOTH
a hut made of the branches of a tree. In such tabernacles Jacob sojourned for a season at a place named from this circumstance Succoth (Gen. 33:17). Booths were erected also at the feast of Tabernacles (q.v.), Lev. 23:42, Lev. 23: 43, which commemorated the abode of the Israelites in the wilderness. ......

BOOTY
captives or cattle or objects of value taken in war. In Canaan all that breathed were to be destroyed (Deut. 20:16). The "pictures and images" of the Canaanites were to be destroyed also (Num. 33:52). The law of booty as to its division is laid down in Num. 31:26. David afterwards introduced a regulation that the baggage-guard should share the booty equally with the soldiers engaged in battle. He ......

BORROW
The Israelites "borrowed" from the Egyptians (Exo 12:35, Exo 12: R.V., "asked") in accordance with a divine command (3:22;11:2). But the word (sha'al) so rendered here means simply and always to "request" or "demand." The Hebrew had another word which is properly translated "borrow" in Deut. 28:12; Psa 37:21. It was well known that the parting was final. The Egyptians were so anxious to get the Is......

BOSOM
In the East objects are carried in the bosom which Europeans carry in the pocket. To have in one's bosom indicates kindness, secrecy, or intimacy (Gen. 16:5; 2-Sam 12:8). Christ is said to have been in "the bosom of the Father," i.e., he had the most perfect knowledge of the Father, had the closest intimacy with him (John 1:18). John (13:23) was "leaning on Jesus' bosom" at the last supper. Our Lo......

BOSOR
the Chaldee or Aramaic form of the name Beor, the father of Balaam (2-Pet 2:15). ......

BOSSES
the projecting parts of a shield (Job 15:26). The Hebrew word thus rendered means anything convex or arched, and hence the back, as of animals. ......

BOTCH
the name given in Deut. 28:27, Deut. 28: 35 to one of the Egyptian plagues (Exo 9:9). The word so translated is usually rendered "boil" (q.v.). ......

BOTTLE
a vessel made of skins for holding wine (Josh. 9:4. 13; 1-Sam 16:20; Matt. 9:17; Mark 2:22; Luke 5:37, Luke 5: 38), or milk (Judg. 4:19), or water (Gen. 21:14, Gen. 21: 15, 19), or strong drink (Hab. 2:15). Earthenware vessels were also similarly used (Jer. 19:1; 1-Kings 14:3; Isa. 30:14). In Job 32:19 (comp. Matt. 9:17; Luke 5:37, Luke 5: 38; Mark 2:22) the reference is to a wine-skin ready to ......

BOW
The bow was in use in early times both in war and in the chase (Gen. 21:20;27:3;48:22). The tribe of Benjamin were famous for the use of the bow (1-Chr 8:40;12:2; 2-Chr 14:8;17:17); so also were the Elamites (Isa. 22:6) and the Lydians (Jer. 46:9). The Hebrew word commonly used for bow means properly to tread (1-Chr 5:18;8:40), and hence it is concluded that the foot was employed in bending the bo......

BOWELS
(Phil. 1:8;2:1; Col. 3:12), compassionate feelings; R.V., "tender mercies." ......

BOWING
a mode of showing respect. Abraham "bowed himself to the people of the land" (Gen. 23:7); so Jacob to Esau (Gen. 33:3); and the brethren of Joseph before him as the governor of the land (Gen. 43:28). Bowing is also frequently mentioned as an act of adoration to idols (Josh. 23:7; 2-Kings 5:18; Judg. 2:19; Isa. 44:15), and to God (Josh. 5:14; Psa 22:29;72:9; Micah 6:6; Psa 95:6; Eph. 3:14). ......

BOWL
The sockets of the lamps of the golden candlestick of the tabernacle are called bowls (Exo 25:31, Exo 25: 33, 34;37:17, 37: 19, 20); the same word so rendered being elsewhere rendered "cup" (Gen. 44:2, Gen. 44: 12, 16), and wine "pot" (Jer. 35:5). The reservoir for oil, from which pipes led to each lamp in Zechariah's vision of the candlestick, is called also by this name (Zech. 4:2, Zech. 4: 3); ......

BOX
for holding oil or perfumery (Mark 14:3). It was of the form of a flask or bottle. The Hebrew word (pak) used for it is more appropriately rendered "vial" in 1-Sam 10:1, 1-Sam 10: and should also be so rendered in 2-Kings 9:1, 2-Kings 9: where alone else it occurs. ......

BOX-TREE
(Heb. teashshur), mentioned in Isa. 60:13;41:19, 41: was, according to some, a species of cedar growing in Lebanon. The words of Ezek. 27:6 literally translated are, "Thy benches they have made of ivory, the daughter of the ashur tree," i.e., inlaid with ashur wood. The ashur is the box-tree, and accordingly the Revised Version rightly reads "inlaid in box wood." This is the Buxus sempervirens of ......

BOZRAH
enclosure; fortress. (1.) The city of Jobab, one of the early Edomite kings (Gen. 36:33). This place is mentioned by the prophets in later times (Isa. 34:6; Jer. 49:13; Amos 1:12; Micah 2:12). Its modern representative is el-Busseireh. It lies in the mountain district of Petra, 20 miles to the south-east of the Dead Sea. (2.) A Moabite city in the "plain country" (Jer. 48:24), i.e., on the high ......

BRIMSTONE
an inflammable mineral substance found in quantities on the shores of the Dead Sea. The cities of the plain were destroyed by a rain of fire and brimstone (Gen. 19:24, Gen. 19: 25). In Isa. 34:9 allusion is made to the destruction of these cities. This word figuratively denotes destruction or punishment (Job 18:15; Isa. 30:33;34:9; Psa 11:6; Ezek. 38:22). It is used to express the idea of excrucia......

BROOK
a torrent. (1.) Applied to small streams, as the Arnon, Jabbok, etc. Isaiah (15:7) speaks of the "book of the willows," probably the Wady-el-Asha. (2.) It is also applied to winter torrents (Job 6:15; Num. 34:5; Josh. 15:4, Josh. 15: 47), and to the torrent-bed or wady as well as to the torrent itself (Num. 13:23; 1-Kings 17:3). (3.) In Isa. 19:7 the river Nile is meant, as rendered in the Revised......

BROTHER
(1.) In the natural and common sense (Matt. 1:2; Luke 3:1, Luke 3: 19). (2.) A near relation, a cousin (Gen. 13:8;14:16; Matt. 12:46; John 7:3; Acts 1:14; Gal. 1:19). (3.) Simply a fellow-countryman (Matt. 5:47; Acts 3:22; Heb. 7:5). (4.) A disciple or follower (Matt. 25:40; Heb. 2:11, Heb. 2: 12). (5.) One of the same faith (Amos 1:9; Acts 9:30;11:29; 1-Cor 5:11); whence the early discipl......

BULLOCK
(1.) The translation of a word which is a generic name for horned cattle (Isa. 65:25). It is also rendered "cow" (Ezek. 4:15), "ox" (Gen. 12:16). (2.) The translation of a word always meaning an animal of the ox kind, without distinction of age or sex (Hos. 12:11). It is rendered "cow" (Num. 18:17) and "ox" (Lev. 17:3). (3.) Another word is rendered in the same way (Jer. 31:18). It is also tra......

BURNT OFFERING
Hebrew _olah_; i.e., "ascending," the whole being consumed by fire, and regarded as ascending to God while being consumed. Part of every offering was burnt in the sacred fire, but this was wholly burnt, a "whole burnt offering." It was the most frequent form of sacrifice, and apparently the only one mentioned in the book of Genesis. Such were the sacrifices offered by Abel (Gen. 4:3, Gen. 4: 4, he......

BY-WORD
Hebrew _millah_ (Job 30:9), a word or speech, and hence object of talk; Hebrew _mashal_ (Psa 44:14), a proverb or parable. When it denotes a sharp word of derision, as in Deut. 28:37, Deut. 28: 1-Kings 9:7, 1-Kings 9: 2-Chr 7:20, 2-Chr 7: the Hebrew _sheninah_ is used. In Jer. 24:9 it is rendered "taunt."......

CALCOL
(1-Chr 2:6), sustenance, the same probably as Chalcol (1-Kings 4:31), one of the four sages whom Solomon excelled in wisdom; for "he was wiser than all men."......

CAMON
full of stalks, a place (Judg. 10:5) where Jair was buried. It has usually been supposed to have been a city of Gilead, on the east of Jordan. It is probably, however, the modern Tell-el-Kaimun, on the southern slopes of Carmel, the Jokneam of Carmel (Josh. 12:22; 1-Kings 4:12), since it is not at all unlikely that after he became judge, Jair might find it more convenient to live on the west side ......

CANAAN, THE LANGUAGE OF
mentioned in Isa. 19:18, Isa. 19: denotes the language spoken by the Jews resident in Palestine. The language of the Canaanites and of the Hebrews was substantially the same. This is seen from the fragments of the Phoenician language which still survive, which show the closest analogy to the Hebrew. Yet the subject of the language of the "Canaanites" is very obscure. The cuneiform writing of Babyl......

CANKERWORM
(Heb. yelek), "the licking locust," which licks up the grass of the field; probably the locust at a certain stage of its growth, just as it emerges from the caterpillar state (Joel 1:4;2:25). The word is rendered "caterpillar" in Psa 105:34; Jer. 51:14, Jer. 51: 17 (but R.V. "canker-worm"). "It spoileth and fleeth away" (Nah. 3:16), or as some read the passage, "The cankerworm putteth off [i.e., t......

CANON
This word is derived from a Hebrew and Greek word denoting a reed or cane. Hence it means something straight, or something to keep straight; and hence also a rule, or something ruled or measured. It came to be applied to the Scriptures, to denote that they contained the authoritative rule of faith and practice, the standard of doctrine and duty. A book is said to be of canonical authority when it ......

CAPHTOR
a chaplet, the original seat of the Philistines (Deut. 2:23; Jer. 47:4; Amos 9:7). The name is found written in hieroglyphics in the temple of Kom Ombos in Upper Egypt. But the exact situation of Caphtor is unknown, though it is supposed to be Crete, since the Philistines seem to be meant by the "Cherethites" in 1-Sam 30:14 (see also 2-Sam 8:18). It may, however, have been a part of Egypt, the Cap......

CAPPADOCIA
the easternmost and the largest province of Asia Minor. Christianity very early penetrated into this country (1-Pet 1:1). On the day of Pentecost there were Cappadocians at Jerusalem (Acts 2:9).......

CASTOR AND POLLUX
the "Dioscuri", two heroes of Greek and Roman mythology. Their figures were probably painted or sculptured on the prow of the ship which Luke refers to (Acts 28:11). They were regarded as the tutelary divinities of sailors. They appeared in the heavens as the constellation Gemini.......

CATHOLIC EPISTLES
the epistles of James, Peter, John, and Jude; so called because they are addressed to Christians in general, and not to any church or person in particular.......

CEDRON
the black torrent, the brook flowing through the ravine below the eastern wall of Jerusalem (John 18:1). (See KIDRON.)......

CENTURION
a Roman officer in command of a hundred men (Mark 15:39, Mark 15: 44, 45). Cornelius, the first Gentile convert, was a centurion (Acts 10:1, Acts 10: 22). Other centurions are mentioned in Matt. 8:5, Matt. 8: 8, 13; Luke 7:2, Luke 7: 6; Acts 21:32;22:25, 22: 26;23:17, 23: 23;24:23;27:1, 27: 6, 11, 31, 43;28:16. A centurion watched the crucifixion of our Lord (Matt. 27:54; Luke 23:47), and when he ......

CHALCEDONY
Mentioned only in Rev. 21:19, Rev. 21: as one of the precious stones in the foundation of the New Jerusalem. The name of this stone is derived from Chalcedon, where it is said to have been first discovered. In modern mineralogy this is the name of an agate-like quartz of a bluish colour. Pliny so names the Indian ruby. The mineral intended in Revelation is probably the Hebrew _nophekh_, translated......

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......

CHAMOIS
only in Deut. 14:5 (Heb. zemer), an animal of the deer or gazelle species. It bears this Hebrew name from its leaping or springing. The animal intended is probably the wild sheep (Ovis tragelephus), which is still found in Sinai and in the broken ridges of Stony Arabia. The LXX. and Vulgate render the word by camelopardus, i.e., the giraffe; but this is an animal of Central Africa, and is not at a......

CHAMPION
(1-Sam 17:4, 1-Sam 17: 23), properly "the man between the two," denoting the position of Goliath between the two camps. Single combats of this kind at the head of armies were common in ancient times. In ver. 51 this word is the rendering of a different Hebrew word, and properly denotes "a mighty man." ......

CHANCELLOR
one who has judicial authority, literally, a "lord of judgement;" a title given to the Persian governor of Samaria (Ezra 4:8, Ezra 4: 9, 17). ......

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). ......

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 (......

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 ......

CHEMOSH
the destroyer, subduer, or fish-god, the god of the Moabites (Num. 21:29; Jer. 48:7, Jer. 48: 13, 46). The worship of this god, "the abomination of Moab," was introduced at Jerusalem by Solomon (1-Kings 11:7), but was abolished by Josiah (2-Kings 23:13). On the "Moabite Stone" (q.v.), Mesha (2-Kings 3:5) ascribes his victories over the king of Israel to this god, "And Chemosh drove him before my s......

CHESALON
strength; confidence, a place on the border of Judah, on the side of Mount Jearim (Josh. 15:10); probably identified with the modern village of Kesla, on the western mountains of Judah. ......

CHESULLOTH
fertile places; the loins, a town of Issachar, on the slopes of some mountain between Jezreel and Shunem (Josh. 19:18). It has been identified with Chisloth-tabor, 2 1/2 miles to the west of Mount Tabor, and north of Jezreel; now Iksal. ......

CHIDON
dart, the name of the threshing-floor at which the death of Uzzah took place (1-Chr 13:9). In the parallel passage in Samuel (2-Sam 6:6) it is called "Nachon's threshing-floor." It was a place not far north-west from Jerusalem. ......

CHIEF OF THE THREE
a title given to Adino the Eznite, one of David's greatest heroes (2-Sam 23:8); also called Jashobeam (1-Chr 11:11). ......

CHIEFS OF ASIA
"Asiarchs," the title given to certain wealthy persons annually appointed to preside over the religious festivals and games in the various cities of proconsular Asia (Acts 19:31). Some of these officials appear to have been Paul's friends. ......

CHILION
the pining one, the younger son of Elimelech and Naomi, and husband of Orpah, Ruth's sister (Ruth 1:2;4:9). ......

CHIOS
mentioned in Acts 20:15, Acts 20: an island in the Aegean Sea, about 5 miles distant from the mainland, having a roadstead, in the shelter of which Paul and his companions anchored for a night when on his third missionary return journey. It is now called Scio. ......

CHLOE
verdure, a female Christian (1-Cor 1:11), some of whose household had informed Paul of the divided state of the Corinthian church. Nothing is known of her. ......

CHOR-ASHAN
smoking furnace, one of the places where "David himself and his men were wont to haunt" (1-Sam 30:30, 1-Sam 30: 31). It is probably identical with Ashan (Josh. 15:42;19:7), a Simeonite city in the Negeb, i.e., the south, belonging to Judah. The word ought, according to another reading, to be "Bor-ashan." ......

CHORAZIN
named along with Bethsaida and Capernaum as one of the cities in which our Lord's "mighty works" were done, and which was doomed to woe because of signal privileges neglected (Matt. 11:21; Luke 10:13). It has been identified by general consent with the modern Kerazeh, about 2 1/2 miles up the Wady Kerazeh from Capernaum; i.e., Tell Hum. ......

CHOSEN
spoken of warriors (Exo 15:4; Judg. 20:16), of the Hebrew nation (Psa 105:43; Deut. 7:7), of Jerusalem as the seat of the temple (1-Kings 11:13). Christ is the "chosen" of God (Isa. 42:1); and the apostles are "chosen" for their work (Acts 10:41). It is said with regard to those who do not profit by their opportunities that "many are called, but few are chosen" (Matt. 20:16). (See ELECTION.) ......

CHOZEBA
(1-Chr 4:22), the same as Chezib and Achzib, a place in the lowlands of Judah (Gen. 38:5; Josh. 15:44). ......

CHRONICLES
the words of the days, (1-Kings 14:19; 1-Chr 27:24), the daily or yearly records of the transactions of the kingdom; events recorded in the order of time. ......

CHRONICLES OF KING DAVID
(1-Chr 27:24) were statistical state records; one of the public sources from which the compiler of the Books of Chronicles derived information on various public matters. ......

CHRONICLES, BOOKS OF
The two books were originally one. They bore the title in the Massoretic Hebrew _Dibre hayyamim_, i.e., "Acts of the Days." This title was rendered by Jerome in his Latin version "Chronicon," and hence "Chronicles." In the Septuagint version the book is divided into two, and bears the title Paraleipomena, i.e., "things omitted," or "supplements", because containing many things omitted in the Books......

CHRONOLOGY
is the arrangement of facts and events in the order of time. The writers of the Bible themselves do not adopt any standard era according to which they date events. Sometimes the years are reckoned, e.g., from the time of the Exodus (Num. 1:1;33:38; 1-Kings 6:1), and sometimes from the accession of kings (1-Kings 15:1, 1-Kings 15: 9, 25, 33, etc.), and sometimes again from the return from Exile (Ez......

CHRYSOPRASUS
golden leek, a precious stone of the colour of leek's juice, a greenish-golden colour (Rev. 21:20). ......

CINNAMON
Heb. kinamon, the Cinnamomum zeylanicum of botanists, a tree of the Laurel family, which grows only in India on the Malabar coast, in Ceylon, and China. There is no trace of it in Egypt, and it was unknown in Syria. The inner rind when dried and rolled into cylinders forms the cinnamon of commerce. The fruit and coarser pieces of bark when boiled yield a fragrant oil. It was one of the principal i......

CIRCUMCISION
cutting around. This rite, practised before, as some think, by divers races, was appointed by God to be the special badge of his chosen people, an abiding sign of their consecration to him. It was established as a national ordinance (Gen. 17:10, Gen. 17: 11). In compliance with the divine command, Abraham, though ninety-nine years of age, was circumcised on the same day with Ishmael, who was thirt......

CLEOPAS
(abbreviation of Cleopatros), one of the two disciples with whom Jesus conversed on the way to Emmaus on the day of the resurrection (Luke 24:18). We know nothing definitely regarding him. It is not certain that he was the Clopas of John 19:25, John 19: or the Alphaeus of Matt. 10:3, Matt. 10: although he may have been so. ......

CLEOPHAS
(in the spelling of this word _h_ is inserted by mistake from Latin MSS.), rather Cleopas, which is the Greek form of the word, while Clopas is the Aramaic form. In John 19:25 the Authorized Version reads, "Mary, the wife of Clopas." The word "wife" is conjecturally inserted here. If "wife" is rightly inserted, then Mary was the mother of James the Less, and Clopas is the same as Alphaeus (Matt. 1......

CLOAK
an upper garment, "an exterior tunic, wide and long, reaching to the ankles, but without sleeves" (Isa. 59:17). The word so rendered is elsewhere rendered "robe" or "mantle." It was worn by the high priest under the ephod (Exo 28:31), by kings and others of rank (1-Sam 15:27; Job 1:20;2:12), and by women (2-Sam 13:18). The word translated "cloke", i.e., outer garment, in Matt. 5:40 is in its plu......

CLOSET
as used in the New Testament, signifies properly a storehouse (Luke 12:24), and hence a place of privacy and retirement (Matt. 6:6; Luke 12:3). ......

CLOUD
The Hebrew so rendered means "a covering," because clouds cover the sky. The word is used as a symbol of the Divine presence, as indicating the splendour of that glory which it conceals (Exo 16:10;33:9; Num. 11:25;12:5; Job 22:14; Psa 18:11). A "cloud without rain" is a proverbial saying, denoting a man who does not keep his promise (Prov. 16:15; Isa. 18:4;25:5; Jude 1:12). A cloud is the figure o......

COAL
It is by no means certain that the Hebrews were acquainted with mineral coal, although it is found in Syria. Their common fuel was dried dung of animals and wood charcoal. Two different words are found in Hebrew to denote coal, both occurring in Prov. 26:21, Prov. 26: "As coal [Heb. peham; i.e., "black coal"] is to burning coal [Heb. gehalim]." The latter of these words is used in Job 41:21; Prov.......

COAT
the tunic worn like the shirt next the skin (Lev. 16:4; 5:3; 2-Sam 15:32; Exo 28:4;29:5). The "coats of skins" prepared by God for Adam and Eve were probably nothing more than aprons (Gen. 3:21). This tunic was sometimes woven entire without a seam (John 19:23); it was also sometimes of "many colours" (Gen. 37:3; R.V. marg., "a long garment with sleeves"). The "fisher's coat" of John 21:7 was obvi......

COAT OF MAIL
the rendering of a Hebrew word meaning "glittering" (1-Sam 17:5, 1-Sam 17: 38). The same word in the plural form is translated "habergeons" in 2-Chr 26:14 and Neh. 4:16. The "harness" (1-Kings 22:34), "breastplate" (Isa. 59:17), and "brigandine" (Jer. 46:4), were probably also corselets or coats of mail. (See ARMOUR.) ......

COCK-CROWING
In our Lord's time the Jews had adopted the Greek and Roman division of the night into four watches, each consisting of three hours, the first beginning at six o'clock in the evening (Luke 12:38; Matt. 14:25; Mark 6:48). But the ancient division, known as the first and second cock-crowing, was still retained. The cock usually crows several times soon after midnight (this is the first crowing), and......

COCKATRICE
the mediaeval name (a corruption of "crocodile") of a fabulous serpent supposed to be produced from a cock's egg. It is generally supposed to denote the cerastes, or "horned viper," a very poisonous serpent about a foot long. Others think it to be the yellow viper (Daboia xanthina), one of the most dangerous vipers, from its size and its nocturnal habits (Isa. 11:8;14:29;59:5; Jer. 8:17; in all wh......

COCKLE
occurs only in Job 31:40 (marg., "noisome weeds"), where it is the rendering of a Hebrew word (b'oshah) which means "offensive," "having a bad smell," referring to some weed perhaps which has an unpleasant odour. Or it may be regarded as simply any noisome weed, such as the "tares" or darnel of Matt. 13:30. In Isa. 5:2, Isa. 5: 4 the plural form is rendered "wild grapes." ......

COELE-SYRIA
hollow Syria, the name (not found in Scripture) given by the Greeks to the extensive valley, about 100 miles long, between the Lebanon and the Anti-Lebanon range of mountains. ......

COFFER
the receptacle or small box placed beside the ark by the Philistines, in which they deposited the golden mice and the emerods as their trespass-offering (1-Sam 6:8, 1-Sam 6: 11, 15). ......

COFFIN
used in Gen. 50:26 with reference to the burial of Joseph. Here, it means a mummy-chest. The same Hebrew word is rendered "chest" in 2-Kings 12:9, 2-Kings 12: 10. ......

COGITATIONS
(or "thoughts," as the Chaldee word in Dan. 7:28 literally means), earnest meditation. ......

COIN
Before the Exile the Jews had no regularly stamped money. They made use of uncoined shekels or talents of silver, which they weighed out (Gen. 23:16; Exo 38:24; 2-Sam 18:12). Probably the silver ingots used in the time of Abraham may have been of a fixed weight, which was in some way indicated on them. The "pieces of silver" paid by Abimelech to Abraham (Gen. 20:16), and those also for which Josep......

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. ......

COLLECTION
The Christians in Palestine, from various causes, suffered from poverty. Paul awakened an interest in them among the Gentile churches, and made pecuniary collections in their behalf (Acts 24:17; Rom. 15:25, Rom. 15: 26; 1-Cor 16:1; 2-Cor 8:9; Gal. 2:10). ......

COLLEGE
Heb. mishneh (2-Kings 22:14; 2-Chr 34:22), rendered in Revised Version "second quarter", the residence of the prophetess Huldah. The Authorized Version followed the Jewish commentators, who, following the Targum, gave the Hebrew word its post-Biblical sense, as if it meant a place of instruction. It properly means the "second," and may therefore denote the lower city (Acra), which was built after ......

COLONY
The city of Philippi was a Roman colony (Acts 16:12), i.e., a military settlement of Roman soldiers and citizens, planted there to keep in subjection a newly-conquered district. A colony was Rome in miniature, under Roman municipal law, but governed by military officers (praetors and lictors), not by proconsuls. It had an independent internal government, the jus Italicum; i.e., the privileges of I......

COLOSSAE
or Colosse, a city of Phrygia, on the Lycus, which is a tributary of the Maeander. It was about 12 miles above Laodicea, and near the great road from Ephesus to the Euphrates, and was consequently of some mercantile importance. It does not appear that Paul had visited this city when he wrote his letter to the church there (Col. 1:2). He expresses in his letter to Philemon (1:22) his hope to visit ......

COLOSSIANS, EPISTLE TO THE
was written by Paul at Rome during his first imprisonment there (Acts 28:16, Acts 28: 30), probably in the spring of A.D. 57, or, as some think, 62, and soon after he had written his Epistle to the Ephesians. Like some of his other epistles (e.g., those to Corinth), this seems to have been written in consequence of information which had somehow been conveyed to him of the internal state of the chu......

COLOUR
The subject of colours holds an important place in the Scriptures. White occurs as the translation of various Hebrew words. It is applied to milk (Gen. 49:12), manna (Exo 16:31), snow (Isa. 1:18), horses (Zech. 1:8), raiment (Eccl. 9:8). Another Hebrew word so rendered is applied to marble (Esther 1:6), and a cognate word to the lily (2:16). A different term, meaning "dazzling," is applied to th......

COMFORTER
the designation of the Holy Ghost (John 14:16, John 14: 26;15:26;16:7; R.V. marg., "or Advocate, or Helper; Gr. paracletos"). The same Greek word thus rendered is translated "Advocate" in 1-John 2:1 as applicable to Christ. It means properly "one who is summoned to the side of another" to help him in a court of justice by defending him, "one who is summoned to plead a cause." "Advocate" is the pro......

COMING OF CHRIST
(1) with reference to his first advent "in the fulness of the time" (1-John 5:20; 2-John 1:7), or (2) with reference to his coming again the second time at the last day (Acts 1:11;3:20, 3: 21; 1-Thess 4:15; 2-Tim 4:1; Heb. 9:28). The expression is used metaphorically of the introduction of the gospel into any place (John 15:22; Eph. 2:17), the visible establishment of his kingdom in the world (M......

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......

COMMUNION
fellowship with God (Gen. 18:17; Exo 33:9; Num. 12:7, Num. 12: 8), between Christ and his people (John 14:23), by the Spirit (2-Cor 13:14; Phil. 2:1), of believers with one another (Eph. 4:1). The Lord's Supper is so called (1-Cor 10:16, 1-Cor 10: 17), because in it there is fellowship between Christ and his disciples, and of the disciples with one another. ......

CONANIAH
whom Jehovah hath set, a Levite placed over the tithes brought into the temple (2-Chr 35:9). ......

CONCISION
(Gr. katatome; i.e., "mutilation"), a term used by Paul contemptuously of those who were zealots for circumcision (Phil. 3:2). Instead of the warning, "Beware of the circumcision" (peritome) i.e., of the party who pressed on Gentile converts the necessity of still observing that ordinance, he says, "Beware of the concision;" as much as to say, "This circumcision which they vaunt of is in Christ on......

CONCUBINE
in the Bible denotes a female conjugally united to a man, but in a relation inferior to that of a wife. Among the early Jews, from various causes, the difference between a wife and a concubine was less marked than it would be amongst us. The concubine was a wife of secondary rank. There are various laws recorded providing for their protection (Exo 21:7; Deut. 21:10), and setting limits to the rela......

CONCUPISCENCE
desire, Rom. 7:8 (R.V., "coveting"); Col. 3:5 (R.V., "desire"). The "lust of concupiscence" (1-Thess 4:5; R.V., "passion of lust") denotes evil desire, indwelling sin. ......

CONDUIT
a water-course or channel (Job 38:25). The "conduit of the upper pool" (Isa. 7:3) was formed by Hezekiah for the purpose of conveying the waters from the upper pool in the valley of Gihon to the west side of the city of David (2-Kings 18:17;20:20; 2-Chr 32:30). In carrying out this work he stopped "the waters of the fountains which were without the city" i.e., "the upper water-course of Gihon", an......

CONEY
(Heb. shaphan; i.e., "the hider"), an animal which inhabits the mountain gorges and the rocky districts of Arabia Petraea and the Holy Land. "The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks" (Prov. 30:26; Psa 104:18). They are gregarious, and "exceeding wise" (Prov. 30:24), and are described as chewing the cud (Lev. 11:5; Deut. 14:7). The animal intended by this name is......

CONFECTION
(Exo 30:35, Exo 30: "ointment" in ver. 25; R.V., "perfume"). The Hebrew word so rendered is derived from a root meaning to compound oil and perfume. ......

CONFECTIONARIES
only in 1-Sam 8:13, 1-Sam 8: those who make confections, i.e., perfumers, who compound species and perfumes. ......

CONFESSION
(1) An open profession of faith (Luke 12:8). (2.) An acknowledment of sins to God (Lev. 16:21; Ezra 9:5; Dan. 9:3), and to a neighbour whom we have wronged (James 5:16; Matt. 18:15). ......

CONGREGATION
(Heb. kahal), the Hebrew people collectively as a holy community (Num. 15:15). Every circumcised Hebrew from twenty years old and upward was a member of the congregation. Strangers resident in the land, if circumcised, were, with certain exceptions (Exo 12:19; Num. 9:14; Deut. 23:1), admitted to the privileges of citizenship, and spoken of as members of the congregation (Exo 12:19; Num. 9:14;15:15......

CONGREGATION, MOUNT OF THE
(Isa. 14:13), has been supposed to refer to the place where God promised to meet with his people (Exo 25:22;29:42, 29: 43) i.e., the mount of the Divine presence, Mount Zion. But here the king of Babylon must be taken as expressing himself according to his own heathen notions, and not according to those of the Jews. The "mount of the congregation" will therefore in this case mean the northern moun......

CONSCIENCE
that faculty of the mind, or inborn sense of right and wrong, by which we judge of the moral character of human conduct. It is common to all men. Like all our other faculties, it has been perverted by the Fall (John 16:2; Acts 26:9; Rom. 2:15). It is spoken of as "defiled" (Titus 1:15), and "seared" (1-Tim 4:2). A "conscience void of offence" is to be sought and cultivated (Acts 24:16; Rom. 9:1; 2......

CONSECRATION
the devoting or setting apart of anything to the worship or service of God. The race of Abraham and the tribe of Levi were thus consecrated (Exo 13:2, Exo 13: 12, 15; Num. 3:12). The Hebrews devoted their fields and cattle, and sometimes the spoils of war, to the Lord (Lev. 27:28, Lev. 27: 29). According to the Mosaic law the first-born both of man and beast were consecrated to God. In the New T......

CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL
a name for the Messiah in common use among the Jews, probably suggested by Isa. 12:1;49:13. The Greek word thus rendered (Luke 2:25, Luke 2: paraklesis) is kindred to that translated "Comforter" in John 14:16, John 14: etc., parakletos. ......

CONSTELLATION
a cluster of stars, or stars which appear to be near each other in the heavens, and which astronomers have reduced to certain figures (as the "Great Bear," the "Bull," etc.) for the sake of classification and of memory. In Isa. 13:10, Isa. 13: where this word only occurs, it is the rendering of the Hebrew _kesil_, i.e., "fool." This was the Hebrew name of the constellation Orion (Job 9:9;38:31), a......

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 ......

CONVERSATION
generally the goings out and in of social intercourse (Eph. 2:3;4:22; R.V., "manner of life"); one's deportment or course of life. This word is never used in Scripture in the sense of verbal communication from one to another (Psa 50:23; Heb. 13:5). In Phil. 1:27 3:20, 3: a different Greek word is used. It there means one's relations to a community as a citizen, i.e., citizenship. ......

CONVERSION
the turning of a sinner to God (Acts 15:3). In a general sense the heathen are said to be "converted" when they abandon heathenism and embrace the Christian faith; and in a more special sense men are converted when, by the influence of divine grace in their souls, their whole life is changed, old things pass away, and all things become new (Acts 26:18). Thus we speak of the conversion of the Phili......

CONVOCATION
a meeting of a religious character as distinguished from congregation, which was more general, dealing with political and legal matters. Hence it is called an "holy convocation." Such convocations were the Sabbaths (Lev. 23:2, Lev. 23: 3), the Passover (Exo 12:16; Lev. 23:7, Lev. 23: 8; Num. 28:25), Pentecost (Lev. 23:21), the feast of Trumpets (Lev. 23:24; Num. 29:1), the feast of Weeks (Num. 28:......

COOK
a person employed to perform culinary service. In early times among the Hebrews cooking was performed by the mistress of the household (Gen. 18:2; Judg. 6:19), and the process was very expeditiously performed (Gen. 27:3, Gen. 27: 4, 9, 10). Professional cooks were afterwards employed (1-Sam 8:13;9:23). Few animals, as a rule, were slaughtered (other than sacrifices), except for purposes of hospita......

COOS
(written Cos in the R.V.), a small island, one of the Sporades in the Aegean Sea, in the north-west of Rhodes, off the coast of Caria. Paul on his return from his third missionary journey, passed the night here after sailing from Miletus (Acts 21:1). It is now called Stanchio. ......

COPPER
derived from the Greek kupros (the island of Cyprus), called "Cyprian brass," occurs only in the Authorized Version in Ezra 8:27. Elsewhere the Hebrew word (nehosheth) is improperly rendered "brass," and sometimes "steel" (2-Sam 22:35; Jer. 15:12). The "bow of steel" (Job 20:24; Psa 18:34) should have been "bow of copper" (or "brass," as in the R.V.). The vessels of "fine copper" of Ezra 8:27 were......

COR
This Hebrew word, untranslated, denotes a round vessel used as a measure both for liquids and solids. It was equal to one homer, and contained ten ephahs in dry and ten baths in liquid measure (Ezek. 45:14). The Rabbins estimated the cor at forty-five gallons, while Josephus estimated it at about eighty-seven. In 1-Kings 4:22;5:11; 2-Chr 2:10;27:5, 27: the original word is rendered "measure." ......

CORAL
Heb. ramoth, meaning "heights;" i.e., "high-priced" or valuable things, or, as some suppose, "that which grows high," like a tree (Job 28:18; Ezek. 27:16), according to the Rabbins, red coral, which was in use for ornaments. The coral is a cretaceous marine product, the deposit by minute polypous animals of calcareous matter in cells in which the animal lives. It is of numberless shapes as it gr......

CORBAN
a Hebrew word adopted into the Greek of the New Testament and left untranslated. It occurs only once (Mark 7:11). It means a gift or offering consecrated to God. Anything over which this word was once pronounced was irrevocably dedicated to the temple. Land, however, so dedicated might be redeemed before the year of jubilee (Lev. 27:16). Our Lord condemns the Pharisees for their false doctrine, in......

CORD
frequently used in its proper sense, for fastening a tent (Exo 35:18;39:40), yoking animals to a cart (Isa. 5:18), binding prisoners (Judg. 15:13; Psa 2:3;129:4), and measuring ground (2 Sam. 8;2; Psa 78:55). Figuratively, death is spoken of as the giving way of the tent-cord (Job 4:21. "Is not their tent-cord plucked up?" R.V.). To gird one's self with a cord was a token of sorrow and humiliation......

CORIANDER
Heb. gad, (Exo 16:31; Num. 11:7), seed to which the manna is likened in its form and colour. It is the Coriandrum sativum of botanists, an umbelliferous annual plant with a round stalk, about two feet high. It is widely cultivated in Eastern countries and in the south of Europe for the sake of its seeds, which are in the form of a little ball of the size of a peppercorn. They are used medicinally ......

CORINTH
a Grecian city, on the isthmus which joins the Peloponnesus to the mainland of Greece. It is about 48 miles west of Athens. The ancient city was destroyed by the Romans (B.C. 146), and that mentioned in the New Testament was quite a new city, having been rebuilt about a century afterwards and peopled by a colony of freedmen from Rome. It became under the Romans the seat of government for Southern ......

CORINTHIANS, FIRST EPISTLE TO THE
was written from Ephesus (1-Cor 16:8) about the time of the Passover in the third year of the apostle's sojourn there (Acts 19:10;20:31), and when he had formed the purpose to visit Macedonia, and then return to Corinth (probably A.D. 57). The news which had reached him, however, from Corinth frustrated his plan. He had heard of the abuses and contentions that had arisen among them, first from A......

CORINTHIANS, SECOND EPISTLE TO THE
Shortly after writing his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul left Ephesus, where intense excitement had been aroused against him, the evidence of his great success, and proceeded to Macedonia. Pursuing the usual route, he reached Troas, the port of departure for Europe. Here he expected to meet with Titus, whom he had sent from Ephesus to Corinth, with tidings of the effects produced on the chu......

CORMORANT
(Lev. 11:17; Deut. 14:17), Heb. shalak, "plunging," or "darting down," (the Phalacrocorax carbo), ranked among the "unclean" birds; of the same family group as the pelican. It is a "plunging" bird, and is common on the coasts and the island seas of Palestine. Some think the Hebrew word should be rendered "gannet" (Sula bassana, "the solan goose"); others that it is the "tern" or "sea swallow," whi......

CORN
The word so rendered (dagan) in Gen. 27:28, Gen. 27: 37, Num. 18:27, Num. 18: Deut. 28:51, Deut. 28: Lam. 2:12, Lam. 2: is a general term representing all the commodities we usually describe by the words corn, grain, seeds, peas, beans. With this corresponds the use of the word in John 12:24. In Gen. 41:35, Gen. 41: 49, Prov. 11:26, Prov. 11: Joel 2:24 ("wheat"), the word thus translated (bar; i......

CORNELIUS
a centurion whose history is narrated in Acts 10. He was a "devout man," and like the centurion of Capernaum, believed in the God of Israel. His residence at Caesrea probably brought him into contact with Jews who communicated to him their expectations regarding the Messiah; and thus he was prepared to welcome the message Peter brought him. He became the first fruit of the Gentile world to Christ.......

CORNER
The angle of a house (Job 1:19) or a street (Prov. 7:8). "Corners" in Neh. 9:22 denotes the various districts of the promised land allotted to the Israelites. In Num. 24:17, Num. 24: the "corners of Moab" denotes the whole land of Moab. The "corner of a field" (Lev. 19:9;23:22) is its extreme part, which was not to be reaped. The Jews were prohibited from cutting the "corners," i.e., the extremiti......

CORNET
Heb. shophar, "brightness," with reference to the clearness of its sound (1-Chr 15:28; 2-Chr 15:14; Psa 98:6; Hos. 5:8). It is usually rendered in the Authorized Version "trumpet." It denotes the long and straight horn, about eighteen inches long. The words of Joel, "Blow the trumpet," literally, "Sound the cornet," refer to the festival which was the preparation for the day of Atonement. In Dan. ......

COTES
pens or enclosures for flocks (2-Chr 32:28, 2-Chr 32: "cotes for flocks;" R.V., "flocks in folds"). ......

COTTAGE
(1.) A booth in a vineyard (Isa. 1:8); a temporary shed covered with leaves or straw to shelter the watchman that kept the garden. These were slight fabrics, and were removed when no longer needed, or were left to be blown down in winter (Job 27:18). (2.) A lodging-place (rendered "lodge" in Isa. 1:8); a slighter structure than the "booth," as the cucumber patch is more temporary than a vineyard......

COUCH
(Gen. 49:4; 1-Chr 5:1; Job 7:13; Psa 6:6, Psa 6: etc.), a seat for repose or rest. (See BED.) ......

COULTER
(1-Sam 13:20, 1-Sam 13: 21), an agricultural instrument, elsewhere called "ploughshare" (Isa. 2:4; Micah 4:3; Joel 3:10). It was the facing-piece of a plough, analogous to the modern coulter. ......

COUNCIL
spoken of counsellors who sat in public trials with the governor of a province (Acts 25:12). The Jewish councils were the Sanhedrim, or supreme council of the nation, which had subordinate to it smaller tribunals (the "judgment," perhaps, in Matt. 5:21, Matt. 5: 22) in the cities of Palestine (Matt. 10:17; Mark 13:9). In the time of Christ the functions of the Sanhedrim were limited (John 16:2; ......

COUNSELLOR
an adviser (Prov. 11:14;15:22), a king's state counsellor (2-Sam 15:12). Used once of the Messiah (Isa. 9:6). In Mark 15:43, Mark 15: Luke 23:50, Luke 23: the word probably means a member of the Jewish Sanhedrim. ......

COURSES
When David was not permitted to build the temple, he proceeded, among the last acts of his life, with the assistance of Zadok and Ahimelech, to organize the priestly and musical services to be conducted in the house of God. (1.) He divided the priests into twenty-four courses (1-Chr 24:1), sixteen being of the house of Eleazar and eight of that of Ithamar. Each course was under a head or chief, an......

COURT
the enclosure of the tabernacle (Exo 27:9;40:8), of the temple (1-Kings 6:36), of a prison (Neh. 3:25), of a private house (2-Sam 17:18), and of a king's palace (2-Kings 20:4). ......

COVENANT
a contract or agreement between two parties. In the Old Testament the Hebrew word _berith_ is always thus translated. _Berith_ is derived from a root which means "to cut," and hence a covenant is a "cutting," with reference to the cutting or dividing of animals into two parts, and the contracting parties passing between them, in making a covenant (Gen. 15; Jer. 34:18, Jer. 34: 19). The correspon......

COVERING OF THE EYES
occurs only in Gen. 20:16. In the Revised Version the rendering is "it (i.e., Abimelech's present of 1,000 pieces of silver to Abraham) is for thee a covering of the eyes." This has been regarded as an implied advice to Sarah to conform to the custom of married women, and wear a complete veil, covering the eyes as well as the rest of the face. ......

COVETOUSNESS
a strong desire after the possession of worldly things (Col. 3:5; Eph. 5:5; Heb. 13:5; 1-Tim 6:9, 1-Tim 6: 10; Matt. 6:20). It assumes sometimes the more aggravated form of avarice, which is the mark of cold-hearted worldliness. ......

COW
A cow and her calf were not to be killed on the same day (Lev. 22:28; Exo 23:19; Deut. 22:6, Deut. 22: 7). The reason for this enactment is not given. A state of great poverty is described in the words of Isa. 7:21, Isa. 7: where, instead of possessing great resources, a man shall depend for the subsistence of himself and his family on what a single cow and two sheep could yield. ......

CREATION
"In the beginning" God created, i.e., called into being, all things out of nothing. This creative act on the part of God was absolutely free, and for infinitely wise reasons. The cause of all things exists only in the will of God. The work of creation is attributed (1) to the Godhead (Gen. 1:1, Gen. 1: 26); (2) to the Father (1-Cor 8:6); (3) to the Son (John 1:3; Col. 1:16, Col. 1: 17); (4) to the......

CRIMSON
See COLOUR. ......

CROSS
in the New Testament the instrument of crucifixion, and hence used for the crucifixion of Christ itself (Eph. 2:16; Heb. 12:2; 1-Cor 1:17, 1-Cor 1: 18; Gal. 5:11;6:12, 6: 14; Phil. 3:18). The word is also used to denote any severe affliction or trial (Matt. 10:38;16:24; Mark 8:34;10:21). The forms in which the cross is represented are these: 1. The crux simplex (I), a "single piece without tra......

CROWN
(1.) Denotes the plate of gold in the front of the high priest's mitre (Exo 29:6;39:30). The same Hebrew word so rendered (ne'zer) denotes the diadem worn by Saul in battle (2-Sam 1:10), and also that which was used at the coronation of Joash (2-Kings 11:12). (2.) The more general name in Hebrew for a crown is _'atarah_, meaning a "circlet." This is used of crowns and head ornaments of divers ki......

CROWN OF THORNS
our Lord was crowned with a, in mockery by the Romans (Matt. 27:29). The object of Pilate's guard in doing this was probably to insult, and not specially to inflict pain. There is nothing to show that the shrub thus used was, as has been supposed, the spina Christi, which could have been easily woven into a wreath. It was probably the thorny nabk, which grew abundantly round about Jerusalem, and w......

CRUCIFIXION
a common mode of punishment among heathen nations in early times. It is not certain whether it was known among the ancient Jews; probably it was not. The modes of capital punishment according to the Mosaic law were, by the sword (Exo 21), strangling, fire (Lev. 20), and stoning (Deut. 21). This was regarded as the most horrible form of death, and to a Jew it would acquire greater horror from the......

CUCKOO
(Heb. shahaph), from a root meaning "to be lean; slender." This bird is mentioned only in Lev. 11:16 and Deut. 14:15 (R.V., "seamew"). Some have interpreted the Hebrew word by "petrel" or "shearwater" (Puffinus cinereus), which is found on the coast of Syria; others think it denotes the "sea-gull" or "seamew." The common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) feeds on reptiles and large insects. It is found in ......

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......

CUSTOM
a tax imposed by the Romans. The tax-gatherers were termed publicans (q.v.), who had their stations at the gates of cities, and in the public highways, and at the place set apart for that purpose, called the "receipt of custom" (Matt.9:9; Mark 2:14), where they collected the money that was to be paid on certain goods (7:25). These publicans were tempted to exact more from the people than was lawfu......

DAEMON
the Greek form, rendered "devil" in the Authorized Version of the New Testament. Daemons are spoken of as spiritual beings (Matt. 8:16;10:1;12:43) at enmity with God, and as having a certain power over man (James 2:19; Rev. 16:14). They recognize our Lord as the Son of God (Matt. 8:20; Luke 4:41). They belong to the number of those angels that "kept not their first estate," "unclean spirits," "fal......

DAEMONIAC
one "possessed with a devil." In the days of our Lord and his apostles, evil spirits, "daemons," were mysteriously permitted by God to exercise an influence both over the souls and bodies of men, inflicting dumbness (Matt. 9:32), blindness (12:22), epilepsy (Mark 9:17), insanity (Matt. 8:28; Mark 5:1). Daemoniacs are frequently distinguished from those who are afflicted with ordinary bodily maladi......

DAGON
little fish; diminutive from dag = a fish, the fish-god; the national god of the Philistines (Judg. 16:23). This idol had the body of a fish with the head and hands of a man. It was an Assyrio-Babylonian deity, the worship of which was introduced among the Philistines through Chaldea. The most famous of the temples of Dagon were at Gaza (Judg. 16:23) and Ashdod (1-Sam 5:1). (See FISH.) ......

DAGON'S HOUSE
(1-Sam 5:2), or Beth-dagon, as elsewhere rendered (5:41;19:27), was the sanctuary or temple of Dagon. The Beth-dagon of Josh. 15:41 was one of the cities of the tribe of Judah, in the lowland or plain which stretches westward. It has not been identified. The Beth-dagon of Josh. 19:27 was one of the border cities of Asher. That of 1-Chr 10:10 was in the western half-tribe of Manasseh, where t......

DAMNATION
in Rom. 13:2, Rom. 13: means "condemnation," which comes on those who withstand God's ordinance of magistracy. This sentence of condemnation comes not from the magistrate, but from God, whose authority is thus resisted. In 1-Cor 11:29 (R.V., "judgment") this word means condemnation, in the sense of exposure to severe temporal judgements from God, as the following verse explains. In Rom. 14:23 ......

DANIEL, BOOK OF
is ranked by the Jews in that division of their Bible called the Hagiographa (Heb. Khethubim). (See BIBLE.) It consists of two distinct parts. The first part, consisting of the first six chapters, is chiefly historical; and the second part, consisting of the remaining six chapters, is chiefly prophetical. The historical part of the book treats of the period of the Captivity. Daniel is "the histo......

DAVID, CITY OF
(1.) David took from the Jebusites the fortress of Mount Zion. He "dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David" (1-Chr 11:7). This was the name afterwards given to the castle and royal palace on Mount Zion, as distinguished from Jerusalem generally (1-Kings 3:1;8:1), It was on the south-west side of Jerusalem, opposite the temple mount, with which it was connected by a bridge over the Tyrop......

DAY'S JOURNEY
The usual length of a day's journey in the East, on camel or horseback, in six or eight hours, is about 25 or 30 miles. The "three days' journey" mentioned in Exo 3:18 is simply a journey which would occupy three days in going and returning. ......

DEACON
Anglicized form of the Greek word diaconos, meaning a "runner," "messenger," "servant." For a long period a feeling of mutual jealousy had existed between the "Hebrews," or Jews proper, who spoke the sacred language of palestine, and the "Hellenists," or Jews of the Grecian speech, who had adopted the Grecian language, and read the Septuagint version of the Bible instead of the Hebrew. This jealou......

DEACONESS
Rom. 16:1, Rom. 16: 3, 12; Phil. 4:2, Phil. 4: 3; 1-Tim 3:11;5:9, 5: 10; Titus 2:3, Titus 2: 4). In these passages it is evident that females were then engaged in various Christian ministrations. Pliny makes mention of them also in his letter to Trajan (A.D. 110). ......

DEBORAH
a bee. (1.) Rebekah's nurse. She accompanied her mistress when she left her father's house in Padan-aram to become the wife of Isaac (Gen. 24:59). Many years afterwards she died at Bethel, and was buried under the "oak of weeping", Allon-bachuth (35:8). (2.) A prophetess, "wife" (woman?) of Lapidoth. Jabin, the king of Hazor, had for twenty years held Israel in degrading subjection. The spirit o......

DEBTOR
Various regulations as to the relation between debtor and creditor are laid down in the Scriptures. (1.) The debtor was to deliver up as a pledge to the creditor what he could most easily dispense with (Deut. 24:10, Deut. 24: 11). (2.) A mill, or millstone, or upper garment, when given as a pledge, could not be kept over night (Exo 22:26, Exo 22: 27). (3.) A debt could not be exacted during ......

DECALOGUE
the name given by the Greek fathers to the ten commandments; "the ten words," as the original is more literally rendered (Exo 20:3). These commandments were at first written on two stone slabs (31:18), which were broken by Moses throwing them down on the ground (32:19). They were written by God a second time (34:1). The decalogue is alluded to in the New Testament five times (Matt. 5:17, Matt. 5: ......

DECAPOILS
ten cities=deka, ten, and polis, a city, a district on the east and south-east of the Sea of Galilee containing "ten cities," which were chiefly inhabited by Greeks. It included a portion of Bashan and Gilead, and is mentioned three times in the New Testament (Matt. 4:25; Mark 5:20;7:31). These cities were Scythopolis, i.e., "city of the Scythians", (ancient Bethshean, the only one of the ten citi......

DECISION, VALLEY OF
a name given to the valley of Jehoshaphat (q.v.) as the vale of the sentence. The scene of Jehovah's signal inflictions on Zion's enemies (Joel 3:14; marg., "valley of concision or threshing"). ......

DECREES OF GOD
"The decrees of God are his eternal, unchangeable, holy, wise, and sovereign purpose, comprehending at once all things that ever were or will be in their causes, conditions, successions, and relations, and determining their certain futurition. The several contents of this one eternal purpose are, because of the limitation of our faculties, necessarily conceived of by us in partial aspects, and in ......

DEDICATION, FEAST OF THE
(John 10:22, John 10: 42), i.e., the feast of the renewing. It was instituted B.C. 164 to commemorate the purging of the temple after its pollution by Antiochus Epiphanes (B.C. 167), and the rebuilding of the altar after the Syrian invaders had been driven out by Judas Maccabaeus. It lasted for eight days, beginning on the 25th of the month Chisleu (December), which was often a period of heavy rai......

DEGREES, SONG OF
song of steps, a title given to each of these fifteen psalms, 120-134 inclusive. The probable origin of this name is the circumstance that these psalms came to be sung by the people on the ascents or goings up to Jerusalem to attend the three great festivals (Deut. 16:16). They were well fitted for being sung by the way from their peculiar form, and from the sentiments they express. "They are char......

DEMON
See DAEMON. ......

DESIRE OF ALL NATIONS
(Hag. 2:7), usually interpreted as a title of the Messiah. The Revised Version, however, more correctly renders "the desirable things of all nations;" i.e., the choicest treasures of the Gentiles shall be consecrated to the Lord. ......

DESOLATION, ABOMINATION OF
(Matt. 24:15; Mark 13:14; comp. Luke 21:20), is interpreted of the eagles, the standards of the Roman army, which were an abomination to the Jews. These standards, rising over the site of the temple, were a sign that the holy place had fallen under the idolatrous Romans. The references are to Dan. 9:27. (See ABOMINATION.) ......

DESTROYER
(Exo 12:23), the agent employed in the killing of the first-born; the destroying angel or messenger of God. (Comp. 2-Kings 19:35; 2-Sam 24:15, 2-Sam 24: 16; Psa 78:49; Acts 12:23.) ......

DESTRUCTION
in Job 26:6, Job 26:28:22 (Heb. abaddon) is sheol, the realm of the dead. ......

DESTRUCTION, CITY OF
(Isa. 19:18; Heb. Ir-ha-Heres, "city of overthrow," because of the evidence it would present of the overthrow of heathenism), the ideal title of On or Heliopolis (q.v.). ......

DEUTERONOMY
In all the Hebrew manuscripts the Pentateuch (q.v.) forms one roll or volume divided into larger and smaller sections called _parshioth_ and _sedarim_. It is not easy to say when it was divided into five books. This was probably first done by the Greek translators of the book, whom the Vulgate follows. The fifth of these books was called by the Greeks Deuteronomion, i.e., the second law, hence our......

DIAMOND
(1.) A precious gem (Heb. yahalom', in allusion to its hardness), otherwise unknown, the sixth, i.e., the third in the second row, in the breastplate of the high priest, with the name of Naphtali engraven on it (Exo 28:18;39:11; R.V. marg., "sardonyx.") (2.) A precious stone (Heb. shamir', a sharp point) mentioned in Jer. 17:1. From its hardness it was used for cutting and perforating other mine......

DIBON
pining; wasting. (1.) A city in Moab (Num. 21:30); called also Dibon-gad (33:45), because it was built by Gad and Dimon (Isa. 15:9). It has been identified with the modern Diban, about 3 miles north of the Arnon and 12 miles east of the Dead Sea. (See Moabite Stone.) (2.) A city of the tribe of Judah, inhabited after the Captivity (Neh. 11:25); called also Dimonah (Josh. 15:22). It is probably t......

DIONYSIUS
the Areopagite, one of Paul's converts at Athens (Acts 17:34). ......

DIOTREPHES
Jove-nourished, rebuked by John for his pride (3-John 1:9). He was a Judaizer, prating against John and his fellow-labourers "with malicious words" (7). ......

DISPENSATION
(Gr. oikonomia, "management," "economy"). (1.) The method or scheme according to which God carries out his purposes towards men is called a dispensation. There are usually reckoned three dispensations, the Patriarchal, the Mosaic or Jewish, and the Christian. (See COVENANT, Administration of.) These were so many stages in God's unfolding of his purpose of grace toward men. The word is not found wi......

DISPERSION
(Gr. diaspora, "scattered," James 1:1; 1-Pet 1:1) of the Jews. At various times, and from the operation of divers causes, the Jews were separated and scattered into foreign countries "to the outmost parts of heaven" (Deut. 30:4). (1.) Many were dispersed over Assyria, Media, Babylonia, and Persia, descendants of those who had been transported thither by the Exile. The ten tribes, after existing ......

DIVINATION
of false prophets (Deut. 18:10, Deut. 18: 14; Micah 3:6, Micah 3: 7, 11), of necromancers (1-Sam 28:8), of the Philistine priests and diviners (1-Sam 6:2), of Balaam (Josh. 13:22). Three kinds of divination are mentioned in Ezek. 21:21, Ezek. 21: by arrows, consulting with images (the teraphim), and by examining the entrails of animals sacrificed. The practice of this art seems to have been encour......

DIVORCE
The dissolution of the marriage tie was regulated by the Mosaic law (Deut. 24:1). The Jews, after the Captivity, were reguired to dismiss the foreign women they had married contrary to the law (Ezra 10:11). Christ limited the permission of divorce to the single case of adultery. It seems that it was not uncommon for the Jews at that time to dissolve the union on very slight pretences (Matt. 5:31, ......

DOCTOR
(Luke 2:46;5:17; Acts 5:34), a teacher. The Jewish doctors taught and disputed in synagogues, or wherever they could find an audience. Their disciples were allowed to propose to them questions. They assumed the office without any appointment to it. The doctors of the law were principally of the sect of the Pharisees. Schools were established after the destruction of Jerusalem at Babylon and Tiberi......

DODAI
loving, one of David's captains (1-Chr 27:4). (See DODO [2].)......

DODANIM
leaders, a race descended from Javan (Gen. 10:4). They are known in profane history as the Dardani, originally inhabiting Illyricum. They were a semi-Pelasgic race, and in the ethnographical table (Gen. 10) they are grouped with the Chittim (q.v.). In 1-Chr 1:7, 1-Chr 1: they are called Rodanim. The LXX. and the Samaritan Version also read Rhodii, whence some have concluded that the Rhodians, the ......

DODO
amatory; loving. (1.) A descendant of Issachar (Judg. 10:1). (2.) An Ahohite, father of Eleazar, who was one of David's three heroes (2-Sam 23:9; 1-Chr 11:12). He was the same with Dodai mentioned in 1-Chr 27:4. (3.) A Bethlehemite, and father of Elhanan, who was one of David's thirty heroes (2-Sam 23:24).......

DOEG
fearful, an Edomite, the chief overseer of Saul's flocks (1-Sam 21:7). At the command of Saul he slew the high priest Ahimelech (q.v.) at Nob, together with all the priests to the number of eighty-five persons. (Comp. Ps. 52, title.)......

DOG
frequently mentioned both in the Old and New Testaments. Dogs were used by the Hebrews as a watch for their houses (Isa. 56:10), and for guarding their flocks (Job 30:1). There were also then as now troops of semi-wild dogs that wandered about devouring dead bodies and the offal of the streets (1-Kings 14:11;16:4;21:19, 21: 23;22:38; Psa 59:6, Psa 59: 14). As the dog was an unclean animal, the t......

DOLEFUL CREATURES
(occurring only Isa. 13:21. Heb. ochim, i.e., "shrieks;" hence "howling animals"), a general name for screech owls (howlets), which occupy the desolate palaces of Babylon. Some render the word "hyaenas."......

DOOR-KEEPER
This word is used in Psa 84:10 (R.V. marg., "stand at the threshold of," etc.), but there it signifies properly "sitting at the threshold in the house of God." The psalmist means that he would rather stand at the door of God's house and merely look in, than dwell in houses where iniquity prevailed. Persons were appointed to keep the street door leading into the interior of the house (John 18:16,......

DOOR-POSTS
The Jews were commanded to write the divine name on the posts (mezuzoth') of their doors (Deut. 6:9). The Jews, misunderstanding this injunction, adopted the custom of writing on a slip of parchment these verses (Deut. 6:4, Deut. 6: 11:13), which they enclosed in a reed or cylinder and fixed on the right-hand door-post of every room in the house.......

DOORS
moved on pivots of wood fastened in sockets above and below (Prov. 26:14). They were fastened by a lock (Judg. 3:23, Judg. 3: 25; 5:5) or by a bar (Judg. 16:3; Job 38:10). In the interior of Oriental houses, curtains were frequently used instead of doors. The entrances of the tabernacle had curtains (Exo 26:31, Exo 26: 36). The "valley of Achor" is called a "door of hope," because immediately af......

DOPHKAH
knocking, an encampment of the Israelites in the wilderness (Num. 33:12). It was in the desert of Sin, on the eastern shore of the western arm of the Red Sea, somewhere in the Wady Feiran.......

DOR
dwelling, the Dora of the Romans, an ancient royal city of the Canaanites (Josh. 11:1, Josh. 11: 2;12:23). It was the most southern settlement of the Phoenicians on the coast of Syria. The original inhabitants seem never to have been expelled, although they were made tributary by David. It was one of Solomon's commissariat districts (Judg. 1:27; 1-Kings 4:11). It has been identified with Tantura (......

DORCAS
a female antelope, or gazelle, a pious Christian widow at Joppa whom Peter restored to life (Acts 9:36). She was a Hellenistic Jewess, called Tabitha by the Jews and Dorcas by the Greeks.......

DOTHAN
two wells, a famous pasture-ground where Joseph found his brethren watching their flocks. Here, at the suggestion of Judah, they sold him to the Ishmaelite merchants (Gen. 37:17). It is mentioned on monuments in B.C. 1600. It was the residence of Elisha (2-Kings 6:13), and the scene of a remarkable vision of chariots and horses of fire surrounding the mountain on which the city stood. It is iden......

DOUGH
(batsek, meaning "swelling," i.e., in fermentation). The dough the Israelites had prepared for baking was carried away by them out of Egypt in their kneading-troughs (Exo 12:34, Exo 12: 39). In the process of baking, the dough had to be turned (Hos. 7:8).......

DOVE
In their wild state doves generally build their nests in the clefts of rocks, but when domesticated "dove-cots" are prepared for them (2:14; Jer. 48:28; Isa. 60:8). The dove was placed on the standards of the Assyrians and Babylonians in honour, it is supposed, of Semiramis (Jer. 25:38; Vulg., "fierceness of the dove;" comp. Jer. 46:16;50:16). Doves and turtle-doves were the only birds that could ......

DOVE'S DUNG
(2-Kings 6:25) has been generally understood literally. There are instances in history of the dung of pigeons being actually used as food during a famine. Compare also the language of Rabshakeh to the Jews (2-Kings 18:27; Isa. 36:12). This name, however, is applied by the Arabs to different vegetable substances, and there is room for the opinion of those who think that some such substance is here ......

DOWRY
(mohar; i.e., price paid for a wife, Gen. 34:12; Exo 22:17; 1-Sam 18:25), a nuptial present; some gift, as a sum of money, which the bridegroom offers to the father of his bride as a satisfaction before he can receive her. Jacob had no dowry to give for his wife, but he gave his services (Gen. 29:18;30:20;34:12).......

DRAGON
(1.) Heb. tannim, plural of tan. The name of some unknown creature inhabiting desert places and ruins (Job 30:29; Psa 44:19; Isa. 13:22;34:13;43:20; Jer. 10:22; Micah 1:8; Mal. 1:3); probably, as translated in the Revised Version, the jackal (q.v.). (2.) Heb. tannin. Some great sea monster (Jer. 51:34). In Isa. 51:9 it may denote the crocodile. In Gen. 1:21 (Heb. plural tanninim) the Authorized ......

DRAGON WELL
(Neh. 2:13), supposed by some to be identical with the Pool of Gihon.......

DRAUGHT-HOUSE
(2-Kings 10:27). Jehu ordered the temple of Baal to be destroyed, and the place to be converted to the vile use of receiving offal or ordure. (Comp. Matt. 15:17.)......

DRAWER OF WATER
(Deut. 29:11; Josh. 9:21, Josh. 9: 23), a servile employment to which the Gibeonites were condemned.......

DRINK, STRONG
(Heb. shekar'), an intoxicating liquor (Judg. 13:4; Luke 1:15; Isa. 5:11; Micah 2:11) distilled from corn, honey, or dates. The effects of the use of strong drink are referred to in Psa 107:27; Isa. 24:20;49:26;51:17. Its use prohibited, Prov. 20:1. (See WINE.)......

DRINK-OFFERING
consisted of wine (Num. 15:5; Hos. 9:4) poured around the altar (Exo 30:9). Joined with meat-offerings (Num. 6:15, Num. 6: 17; 2-Kings 16:13; Joel 1:9, Joel 1: 13;2:14), presented daily (Exo 29:40), on the Sabbath (Num. 28:9), and on feast-days (28:14). One-fourth of an hin of wine was required for one lamb, one-third for a ram, and one-half for a bullock (Num. 15:5;28:7, 28: 14). "Drink offerings......

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......

DROPSY
mentioned only in Luke 14:2. The man afflicted with it was cured by Christ on the Sabbath.......

DROSS
the impurities of silver separated from the one in the process of melting (Prov. 25:4;26:23; Psa 119:119). It is also used to denote the base metal itself, probably before it is smelted, in Isa. 1:22, Isa. 1: 25.......

DROUGHT
From the middle of May to about the middle of August the land of Palestine is dry. It is then the "drought of summer" (Gen. 31:40; Psa 32:4), and the land suffers (Deut. 28:23: Psa 102:4), vegetation being preserved only by the dews (Hag. 1:11). (See DEW.)......

DROWN
(Exo 15:4; Amos 8:8; Heb. 11:29). Drowning was a mode of capital punishment in use among the Syrians, and was known to the Jews in the time of our Lord. To this he alludes in Matt. 18:6.......

DUNGEON
different from the ordinary prison in being more severe as a place of punishment. Like the Roman inner prison (Acts 16:24), it consisted of a deep cell or cistern (Jer. 38:6). To be shut up in, a punishment common in Egypt (Gen. 39:20;40:3;41:10;42:19). It is not mentioned, however, in the law of Moses as a mode of punishment. Under the later kings imprisonment was frequently used as a punishment ......

EAST, CHILDREN OF THE
the Arabs as a whole, known as the Nabateans or Kedarenes, nomad tribes (Judg. 6:3, Judg. 6:33;7:12;8:10). ......

EBONY
a black, hard wood, brought by the merchants from India to Tyre (Ezek. 27:15). It is the heart-wood, brought by Diospyros ebenus, which grows in Ceylon and Southern India. ......

EBRONAH
passage, one of the stations of the Israelites in their wanderings (Num. 33:34, Num. 33: 35). It was near Ezion-geber. ......

EDOM
(1.) The name of Esau (q.v.), Gen. 25:30, Gen. 25: "Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage [Heb. haadom, haadom, i.e., 'the red pottage, the red pottage'] ...Therefore was his name called Edom", i.e., Red. (2.) Idumea (Isa. 34:5, Isa. 34: 6; Ezek. 35:15). "The field of Edom" (Gen. 32:3), "the land of Edom" (Gen. 36:16), was mountainous (Obad. 1:8, Obad. 1: 9, 19, 21). It was called the......

EGLON
the bullock; place of heifers. (1.) Chieftain or king of one of the Moabite tribes (Judg. 3:12). Having entered into an alliance with Ammon and Amalek, he overran the trans-Jordanic region, and then crossing the Jordan, seized on Jericho, the "city of palm trees," which had been by this time rebuilt, but not as a fortress. He made this city his capital, and kept Israel in subjection for eighteen y......

EKRON
firm-rooted, the most northerly of the five towns belonging to the lords of the Philistines, about 11 miles north of Gath. It was assigned to Judah (Josh. 13:3), and afterwards to Dan (19:43), but came again into the full possession of the Philistines (1-Sam 5:10). It was the last place to which the Philistines carried the ark before they sent it back to Israel (1-Sam 5:10;6:1). There was here a n......

EL-ELOHE-ISREAL
mighty one; God of Israel, the name which Jacob gave to the alter which he erected on the piece of land where he pitched his tent before Shechem, and which he afterwards purchased from the sons of Hamor (Gen. 33:20).......

ELECTION OF GRACE
The Scripture speaks (1) of the election of individuals to office or to honour and privilege, e.g., Abraham, Jacob, Saul, David, Solomon, were all chosen by God for the positions they held; so also were the apostles. (2) There is also an election of nations to special privileges, e.g., the Hebrews (Deut. 7:6; Rom. 9:4). (3) But in addition there is an election of individuals to eternal life (2-The......

ELIOENAI
toward Jehovah are my eyes, the name of several men mentioned in the Old Testament (1-Chr 7:8;4:36; Ezra 10:22, Ezra 10: 27). Among these was the eldest son of Neariah, son of Shemaiah, of the descendants of Zerubbabel. His family are the latest mentioned in the Old Testament (1-Chr 3:23, 1-Chr 3: 24).......

ELKOSH
God my bow, the birth-place of Nahum the prophet (Nah. 1:1). It was probably situated in Galilee, but nothing definite is known of it.......

ELON
oak. (1.) A city of Dan (Josh. 19:43). (2.) A Hittite, father of Bashemath, Esau's wife (Gen. 26:34). (3.) One of the sons of Zebulun (Gen. 46:14). (4.) The eleventh of the Hebrew judges. He held office for ten years (Judg. 12:11, Judg. 12: 12). He is called the Zebulonite.......

EMBROIDER
The art of embroidery was known to the Jews (Exo 26:36;35:35;38:23; Judg. 5:30; Psa 45:14). The skill of the women in this art was seen in the preparation of the sacerdotal robes of the high priest (Exo 28). It seems that the art became hereditary in certain families (1-Chr 4:21). The Assyrians were also noted for their embroidered robes (Ezek. 27:24).......

EMEROD
See HAEMORRHOIDS.......

EMMOR
an ass, Acts 7:16. (See HAMOR.)......

EN-HAKKORE
fountain of the crier, the name of the spring in Lehi which burst forth in answer to Samson's prayer when he was exhausted with the slaughter of the Philistines (Judg. 15:19). It has been identified with the spring 'Ayun Kara, near Zoreah.......

EN-ROGEL
fountain of the treaders; i.e., "foot-fountain;" also called the "fullers' fountain," because fullers here trod the clothes in water. It has been identified with the "fountain of the virgin" (q.v.), the modern 'Ain Ummel-Daraj. Others identify it, with perhaps some probability, with the Bir Eyub, to the south of the Pool of Siloam, and below the junction of the valleys of Kidron and Hinnom. (See F......

ENDOR
fountain of Dor; i.e., "of the age", a place in the territory of Issachar (Josh. 17:11) near the scene of the great victory which was gained by Deborah and Barak over Sisera and Jabin (comp. Psa 83:9, Psa 83: 10). To Endor, Saul resorted to consult one reputed to be a witch on the eve of his last engagement with the Philistines (1-Sam 28:7). It is identified with the modern village of Endur, "a di......

ENOCH
initiated. (1.) The eldest son of Cain (Gen. 4:17), who built a city east of Eden in the land of Nod, and called it "after the name of his son Enoch." This is the first "city" mentioned in Scripture. (2.) The son of Jared, and father of Methuselah (Gen. 5:21; Luke 3:37). His father was one hundred and sixty-two years old when he was born. After the birth of Methuselah, Enoch "walked with God thr......

ENOS
man the son of Seth, and grandson of Adam (Gen. 5:6; Luke 3:38). He lived nine hundred and five years. In his time "men began to call upon the name of the Lord" (Gen. 4:26), meaning either (1) then began men to call themselves by the name of the Lord (marg.) i.e., to distinguish themselves thereby from idolaters; or (2) then men in some public and earnest way began to call upon the Lord, indicatin......

EPAPHRODITUS
fair, graceful; belonging to Aphrodite or Venus the messenger who came from Phillipi to the apostle when he was a prisoner at Rome (Phil. 2:25;4:10). Paul mentions him in words of esteem and affection. On his return to Philippi he was the bearer of Paul's letter to the church there.......

EPHESIANS, EPISTLE TO
was written by Paul at Rome about the same time as that to the Colossians, which in many points it resembles. Contents of. The Epistle to the Colossians is mainly polemical, designed to refute certain theosophic errors that had crept into the church there. That to the Ephesians does not seem to have originated in any special circumstances, but is simply a letter springing from Paul's love to the......

EPHOD
something girt, a sacred vestment worn originally by the high priest (Exo 28:4), afterwards by the ordinary priest (1-Sam 22:18), and characteristic of his office (1-Sam 2:18, 1-Sam 2: 28;14:3). It was worn by Samuel, and also by David (2-Sam 6:14). It was made of fine linen, and consisted of two pieces, which hung from the neck, and covered both the back and front, above the tunic and outer garme......

EPHRAIM, GATE OF
one of the gates of Jerusalem (2-Kings 14:13; 2-Chr 25:23), on the side of the city looking toward Ephraim, the north side.......

EPHRAIM, MOUNT
the central mountainous district of Palestine occupied by the tribe of Ephraim (Josh. 17:15;19:50;20:7), extending from Bethel to the plain of Jezreel. In Joshua's time (Josh. 17:18) these hills were densely wooded. They were intersected by well-watered, fertile valleys, referred to in Jer. 50:19. Joshua was buried at Timnath-heres among the mountains of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill of G......

EPHRAIM, THE TRIBE OF
took precedence over that of Manasseh by virtue of Jacob's blessing (Gen. 41:52;48:1). The descendants of Joseph formed two of the tribes of Israel, whereas each of the other sons of Jacob was the founder of only one tribe. Thus there were in reality thirteen tribes; but the number twelve was preserved by excluding that of Levi when Ephraim and Manasseh are mentioned separately (Num. 1:32; Josh. 1......

EPHRAIM, WOOD OF
a forest in which a fatal battle was fought between the army of David and that of Absalom, who was killed there (2-Sam 18:6, 2-Sam 18: 8). It lay on the east of Jordan, not far from Mahanaim, and was some part of the great forest of Gilead.......

EPHRON
fawn-like. (1.) The son of Zohar a Hittite, the owner of the field and cave of Machpelah (q.v.), which Abraham bought for 400 shekels of silver (Gen. 23:8;25:9;49:29, 49: 30). (2.) A mountain range which formed one of the landmarks on the north boundary of the tribe of Judah (Josh. 15:9), probably the range on the west side of the Wady Beit-Hanina.......

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 ......

ESDRAELON
the Greek form of the Hebrew "Jezreel," the name of the great plain (called by the natives Merj Ibn Amer; i.e., "the meadow of the son of Amer") which stretches across Central Palestine from the Jordan to the Mediterraanean, separating the mountain ranges of Carmel and Samaria from those of Galilee, extending about 14 miles from north to south, and 9 miles from east to west. It is drained by "that......

ESHCOL
bunch; brave. (1.) A young Amoritish chief who joined Abraham in the recovery of Lot from the hands of Chedorlaomer (Gen. 14:13, Gen. 14: 24). (2.) A valley in which the spies obtained a fine cluster of grapes (Num. 13:23, Num. 13: 24; "the brook Eshcol," A.V.; "the valley of Eshcol," R.V.), which they took back with them to the camp of Israel as a specimen of the fruits of the Promised Land. On......

ESHTAOL
narrow pass or recess, a town (Josh. 15:33) in the low country, the She-phelah of Judah. It was allotted to the tribe of Dan (Josh. 19:41), and was one of their strongholds. Here Samson spent his boyhood, and first began to show his mighty strength; and here he was buried in the burying-place of Manoah his father (Judg. 13:25;16:31;18:2, 18: 8, 11, 12). It is identified with the modern Yeshua, on ......

ESHTEMOA
obedience, a town in the mountains of Judah (Josh. 21:14; 1-Chr 6:57), which was allotted, with the land round it, to the priests. It was frequented by David and his followers during their wanderings; and he sent presents of the spoil of the Amalekites to his friends there (1-Sam 30:28). It is identified with es-Semu'a, a village about 3 1/2 miles east of Socoh, and 7 or 8 miles south of Hebron, a......

ESPOUSE
(2-Sam 3:14), to betroth. The espousal was a ceremony of betrothing, a formal agreement between the parties then coming under obligation for the purpose of marriage. Espousals are in the East frequently contracted years before the marriage is celebrated. It is referred to as figuratively illustrating the relations between God and his people (Jer. 2:2; Matt. 1:18; 2-Cor 11:2). (See BETROTH.) ......

ESTHER, BOOK OF
The authorship of this book is unknown. It must have been obviously written after the death of Ahasuerus (the Xerxes of the Greeks), which took place B.C. 465. The minute and particular account also given of many historical details makes it probable that the writer was contemporary with Mordecai and Esther. Hence we may conclude that the book was written probably about B.C. 444-434, and that the a......

ETHIOPIA
country of burnt faces; the Greek word by which the Hebrew Cush is rendered (Gen. 2:13; 2-Kings 19:9; Esther 1:1; Job 28:19; Psa 68:31;87:4), a country which lay to the south of Egypt, beginning at Syene on the First Cataract (Ezek. 29:10;30:6), and extending to beyond the confluence of the White and Blue Nile. It corresponds generally with what is now known as the Soudan (i.e., the land of the bl......

ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH
the chief officer or prime minister of state of Candace (q.v.), queen of Ethiopia. He was converted to Christianity through the instrumentality of Philip (Act 8:27). The northern portion of Ethiopia formed the kingdom of Meroe, which for a long period was ruled over by queens, and it was probably from this kingdom that the eunuch came. ......

ETHIOPIAN WOMAN
the wife of Moses (Num. 12:1). It is supposed that Zipporah, Moses' first wife (Exo 2:21), was now dead. His marriage of this "woman" descended from Ham gave offence to Aaron and Miriam. ......

EUODIAS
a good journey, a female member of the church at Philippi. She was one who laboured much with Paul in the gospel. He exhorts her to be of one mind with Syntyche (Phil. 4:2). From this it seems they had been at variance with each other. ......

EUROCLYDON
south-east billow, the name of the wind which blew in the Adriatic Gulf, and which struck the ship in which Paul was wrecked on the coast of Malta (Acts 27:14; R.V., "Euraquilo," i.e., north-east wind). It is called a "tempestuous wind," i.e., as literally rendered, a "typhonic wind," or a typhoon. It is the modern Gregalia or Levanter. (Comp. Jonah 1:4.) ......

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......

EXECUTIONER
(Mark 6:27). Instead of the Greek word, Mark here uses a Latin word, speculator, which literally means "a scout," "a spy," and at length came to denote one of the armed bodyguard of the emperor. Herod Antipas, in imitation of the emperor, had in attendance on him a company of speculatores. They were sometimes employed as executioners, but this was a mere accident of their office. (See MARK, GOSPEL......

EXERCISE, BODILY
(1-Tim 4:8). An ascetic mortification of the flesh and denial of personal gratification (comp. Col. 2:23) to which some sects of the Jews, especially the Essenes, attached importance. ......

EXODUS
the great deliverance wrought for the children of Isreal when they were brought out of the land of Egypt with "a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm" (Ex 12:51; Deut. 26:8; Ps 114; 136), about B.C. 1490, and four hundred and eighty years (1-Kings 6:1) before the building of Solomon's temple. The time of their sojourning in Egypt was, according to Exo 12:40, Exo 12: the space of four hundred......

EXODUS, BOOK OF
Exodus is the name given in the LXX. to the second book of the Pentateuch (q.v.). It means "departure" or "outgoing." This name was adopted in the Latin translation, and thence passed into other languages. The Hebrews called it by the first words, according to their custom, Ve-eleh shemoth (i.e., "and these are the names"). It contains, (1.) An account of the increase and growth of the Israelite......

EXORCIST
(Acts 19:13). "In that sceptical and therefore superstitious age professional exorcist abounded. Many of these professional exorcists were disreputable Jews, like Simon in Samaria and Elymas in Cyprus (8:9;13:6)." Other references to exorcism as practised by the Jews are found in Matt. 12:27; Mark 9:38; Luke 9:49, Luke 9: 50. It would seem that it was an opinion among the Jews that miracles might ......

EXPIATION
Guilt is said to be expiated when it is visited with punishment falling on a substitute. Expiation is made for our sins when they are punished not in ourselves but in another who consents to stand in our room. It is that by which reconciliation is effected. Sin is thus said to be "covered" by vicarious satisfaction. The cover or lid of the ark is termed in the LXX. hilasterion, that which covere......

EZEKIEL, BOOK OF
consists mainly of three groups of prophecies. After an account of his call to the prophetical office (1-3:21), Ezekiel (1) utters words of denunciation against the Jews (3:22), warning them of the certain destruction of Jerusalem, in opposition to the words of the false prophets (4:1). The symbolical acts, by which the extremities to which Jerusalem would be reduced are described in ch. 4,5, show......

EZION-GEBER
the giant's backbone (so called from the head of a mountain which runs out into the sea), an ancient city and harbour at the north-east end of the Elanitic branch of the Red Sea, the Gulf of Akabah, near Elath or Eloth (Num. 33:35; Deut. 2:8). Here Solomon built ships, "Tarshish ships," like those trading from Tyre to Tarshish and the west, which traded with Ophir (1-Kings 9:26; 2-Chr 8:17); and h......

EZRA, BOOK OF
This book is the record of events occurring at the close of the Babylonian exile. It was at one time included in Nehemiah, the Jews regarding them as one volume. The two are still distinguished in the Vulgate version as I. and II. Esdras. It consists of two principal divisions: (1.) The history of the first return of exiles, in the first year of Cyrus (B.C. 536), till the completion and dedicati......

FALL OF MAN
an expression probably borrowed from the Apocryphal Book of Wisdom, to express the fact of the revolt of our first parents from God, and the consequent sin and misery in which they and all their posterity were involved. The history of the Fall is recorded in Gen. 2 and 3. That history is to be literally interpreted. It records facts which underlie the whole system of revealed truth. It is referr......

FALLOW-DEER
Deut. 14:5 (R.V., "Wild goat"); 1-Kings 4:23 (R.V., "roebucks"). This animal, called in Hebrew _yahmur_, from a word meaning "to be red," is regarded by some as the common fallow-deer, the Cervus dama, which is said to be found very generally over Western and Southern Asia. It is called "fallow" from its pale-red or yellow colour. Some interpreters, however, regard the name as designating the buba......

FALLOW-GROUND
The expression, "Break up your fallow ground" (Hos. 10:12; Jer. 4:3) means, "Do not sow your seed among thorns", i.e., break off all your evil habits; clear your hearts of weeds, in order that they may be prepared for the seed of righteousness. Land was allowed to lie fallow that it might become more fruitful; but when in this condition, it soon became overgrown with thorns and weeds. The cultivat......

FATHOM
(Old A.S. faethm, "bosom," or the outstretched arms), a span of six feet (Acts 27:28). Gr. orguia (from orego, "I stretch"), the distance between the extremities of both arms fully stretched out. ......

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......

FELLOWSHIP
(1.) With God, consisting in the knowledge of his will (Job 22:21; John 17:3); agreement with his designs (Amos 3:2); mutual affection (Rom. 8:38, Rom. 8: 39); enjoyment of his presence (Psa 4:6); conformity to his image (1-John 2:6;1:6); and participation of his felicity (1-John 1:3, 1-John 1: 4; Eph. 3:14). (2.) Of saints with one another, in duties (Rom. 12:5; 1-Cor 12:1; 1-Thess 5:17, 1-Thes......

FERRY BOAT
(2-Sam 19:18), some kind of boat for crossing the river which the men of Judah placed at the service of the king. Floats or rafts for this purpose were in use from remote times (Isa. 18:2). ......

FESTIVALS, RELIGIOUS
There were daily (Lev. 23), weekly, monthly, and yearly festivals, and great stress was laid on the regular observance of them in every particular (Num. 28:1; Exo 29:38; Lev. 6:8; Exo 30:7;27:20). (1.) The septenary festivals were, (a) The weekly Sabbath (Lev. 23:1; Exo 19:3;20:8;31:12, 31: etc.). (b) The seventh new moon, or the feast of Trumpets (Num. 28:11;29:1). (c) The Sabbatical year......

FESTUS, PORCIUS
the successor of Felix (A.D. 60) as procurator of Judea (Acts 24:27). A few weeks after he had entered on his office the case of Paul, then a prisoner at Caesarea, was reported to him. The "next day," after he had gone down to Caesarea, he heard Paul defend himself in the presence of Herod Agrippa II. and his sister Bernice, and not finding in him anything worthy of death or of bonds, would have s......

FINING POT
a crucible, melting-pot (Prov. 17:3;27:21). ......

FIRST-BORN
sons enjoyed certain special privileges (Deut. 21:17; Gen. 25:23, Gen. 25: 31, 34;49:3; 1-Chr 5:1; Heb. 12:16; Psa 89:27). (See BIRTHRIGHT.) The "first-born of the poor" signifies the most miserable of the poor (Isa. 14:30). The "church of the first-born" signifies the church of the redeemed. The destruction of the first-born was the last of the ten plagues inflicted on the Egyptians (Exo 11:1......

FIRST-BORN, REDEMPTION OF
From the beginning the office of the priesthood in each family belonged to the eldest son. But when the extensive plan of sacrificial worship was introduced, requiring a company of men to be exclusively devoted to this ministry, the primitive office of the first-born was superseded by that of the Levites (Num. 3:11), and it was ordained that the first-born of man and of unclean animals should henc......

FIRST-BORN, SANCTIFICATION OF THE
A peculiar sanctity was attached to the first-born both of man and of cattle. God claimed that the first-born males of man and of animals should be consecrated to him, the one as a priest (Exo 19:22, Exo 19: 24), representing the family to which he belonged, and the other to be offered up in sacrifice (Gen. 4:4). ......

FISH-HOOKS
were used for catching fish (Amos 4:2; comp. Isa. 37:29; Jer. 16:16; Ezek. 29:4; Job. 41:1, Job. 41: 2; Matt. 17:27). ......

FISH-POOLS
(7:4) should be simply "pools," as in the Revised Version. The reservoirs near Heshbon (q.v.) were probably stocked with fish (2-Sam 2:13;4:12; Isa. 7:3;22:9, 22: 11). ......

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 ......

FLAGON
Heb. ashishah, (2-Sam 6:19; 1-Chr 16:3; 2:5; Hos. 3:1), meaning properly "a cake of pressed raisins." "Flagons of wine" of the Authorized Version should be, as in the Revised Version, "cakes of raisins" in all these passages. In Isa. 22:24 it is the rendering of the Hebrew _nebel_, which properly means a bottle or vessel of skin. (Comp. 1-Sam 1:24;10:3;25:18; 2-Sam 16:1, 2-Sam 16: where the same H......

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." ......

FLESH-HOOK
a many-pronged fork used in the sacrificial services (1-Sam 2:13, 1-Sam 2: 14; Exo 27:3;38:3) by the priest in drawing away the flesh. The fat of the sacrifice, together with the breast and shoulder (Lev. 7:29), were presented by the worshipper to the priest. The fat was burned on the alter (3:3), and the breast and shoulder became the portion of the priests. But Hophni and Phinehas, not content w......

FLOOD
an event recorded in Gen. 7 and 8. (See DELUGE.) In Josh. 24:2, Josh. 24: 3, 14, 15, the word "flood" (R.V., "river") means the river Euphrates. In Psa 66:6, Psa 66: this word refers to the river Jordan. ......

FLOUR
Grain reduced to the form of meal is spoken of in the time of Abraham (Gen. 18:6). As baking was a daily necessity, grain was also ground daily at the mills (Jer. 25:10). The flour mingled with water was kneaded in kneading-troughs, and sometimes leaven (Exo 12:34) was added and sometimes omitted (Gen. 19:3). The dough was then formed into thin cakes nine or ten inches in diameter and baked in the......

FLOWERS
Very few species of flowers are mentioned in the Bible although they abounded in Palestine. It has been calculated that in Western Syria and Palestine from two thousand to two thousand five hundred plants are found, of which about five hundred probably are British wild-flowers. Their beauty is often alluded to (2:12; Matt. 6:28). They are referred to as affording an emblem of the transitory nature......

FOAM
(Hos. 10:7), the rendering of _ketseph_, which properly means twigs or splinters (as rendered in the LXX. and marg. R.V.). The expression in Hosea may therefore be read, "as a chip on the face of the water," denoting the helplessness of the piece of wood as compared with the irresistable current. ......

FODDER
Heb. belil, (Job 6:5), meaning properly a mixture or medley (Lat. farrago), "made up of various kinds of grain, as wheat, barley, vetches, and the like, all mixed together, and then sown or given to cattle" (Job 24:6, Job 24: A.V. "corn," R.V. "provender;" Isa. 30:24, Isa. 30: provender"). ......

FOLD
an enclosure for flocks to rest together (Isa. 13:20). Sheep-folds are mentioned Num. 32:16, Num. 32: 24, 36; 2-Sam 7:8; Zeph. 2:6; John 10:1, John 10: etc. It was prophesied of the cities of Ammon (Ezek. 25:5), Aroer (Isa. 17:2), and Judaea, that they would be folds or couching-places for flocks. "Among the pots," of the Authorized Version (Psa 68:13), is rightly in the Revised Version, "among th......

FOOD
Originally the Creator granted the use of the vegetable world for food to man (Gen. 1:29), with the exception mentioned (2:17). The use of animal food was probably not unknown to the antediluvians. There is, however, a distinct law on the subject given to Noah after the Deluge (Gen. 9:2). Various articles of food used in the patriarchal age are mentioned in Gen. 18:6;25:34;27:3, 27: 4;43:11. Regar......

FOOTSTOOL
connected with a throne (2-Chr 9:18). Jehovah symbolically dwelt in the holy place between the cherubim above the ark of the covenant. The ark was his footstool (1-Chr 28:2; Psa 99:5;132:7). And as heaven is God's throne, so the earth is his footstool (Psa 110:1; Isa. 66:1; Matt. 5:35). ......

FORCES
of the Gentiles (Isa. 60:5, Isa. 60: 11; R.V., "the wealth of the nations") denotes the wealth of the heathen. The whole passage means that the wealth of the Gentile world should be consecrated to the service of the church. ......

FORD
Mention is frequently made of the fords of the Jordan (Josh. 2:7; Judg. 3:28;12:5, 12: 6), which must have been very numerous; about fifty perhaps. The most notable was that of Bethabara. Mention is also made of the ford of the Jabbok (Gen. 32:22), and of the fords of Arnon (Isa. 16:2) and of the Euphrates (Jer. 51:32). ......

FOREHEAD
The practice common among Oriental nations of colouring the forehead or impressing on it some distinctive mark as a sign of devotion to some deity is alluded to in Rev. 13:16, Rev. 13: 17;14:9;17:5;20:4. The "jewel on thy forehead" mentioned in Ezek. 16:12 (R.V., "a ring upon thy nose") was in all probability the "nose-ring" (Isa. 3:21). In Ezek. 3:7 the word "impudent" is rightly rendered in ......

FOREIGNER
a Gentile. Such as resided among the Hebrews were required by the law to be treated with kindness (Exo 22:21;23:9; Lev. 19:33, Lev. 19: 34;23:22; Deut. 14:28;16:10, 16: 11;24:19). They enjoyed in many things equal rights with the native-born residents (Exo 12:49; Lev. 24:22; Num. 15:15;35:15), but were not allowed to do anything which was an abomination according to the Jewish law (Exo 20:10; Lev.......

FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD
Acts 2:23; Rom. 8:29;11:2; 1-Pet 1:2), one of those high attributes essentially appertaining to him the full import of which we cannot comprehend. In the most absolute sense his knowledge is infinite (1-Sam 23:9; Jer. 38:17;42:9, 42: Matt. 11:21, Matt. 11: 23; Acts 15:18). ......

FORERUNNER
John the Baptist went before our Lord in this character (Mark 1:2, Mark 1: 3). Christ so called (Heb. 6:20) as entering before his people into the holy place as their head and guide. ......

FOREST
Heb. ya'ar, meaning a dense wood, from its luxuriance. Thus all the great primeval forests of Syria (Eccl. 2:6; Isa. 44:14; Jer. 5:6; Micah 5:8). The most extensive was the trans-Jordanic forest of Ephraim (2-Sam 18:6, 2-Sam 18: 8; Josh. 17:15, Josh. 17: 18), which is probably the same as the wood of Ephratah (Psa 132:6), some part of the great forest of Gilead. It was in this forest that Absalom ......

FORGIVENESS OF SIN
one of the constituent parts of justification. In pardoning sin, God absolves the sinner from the condemnation of the law, and that on account of the work of Christ, i.e., he removes the guilt of sin, or the sinner's actual liability to eternal wrath on account of it. All sins are forgiven freely (Acts 5:31;13:38; 1-John 1:6). The sinner is by this act of grace for ever freed from the guilt and pe......

FORNICATION
in every form of it was sternly condemned by the Mosaic law (Lev. 21:9;19:29; Deut. 22:20, Deut. 22: 21, 23-29;23:18; Exo 22:16). (See ADULTERY.) But this word is more frequently used in a symbolical than in its ordinary sense. It frequently means a forsaking of God or a following after idols (Isa. 1:2; Jer. 2:20; Ezek. 16; Hos. 1:2;2:1; Jer. 3:8, Jer. 3:9). ......

FORTUNATUS
fortunate, a disciple of Corinth who visited Paul at Ephesus, and returned with Stephanas and Achaicus, the bearers of the apostle's first letter to the Corinthians (1-Cor 16:17). ......

FOUNTAIN
(Heb. 'ain; i.e., "eye" of the water desert), a natural source of living water. Palestine was a "land of brooks of water, of fountains, and depths that spring out of valleys and hills" (Deut. 8:7;11:11). These fountains, bright sparkling "eyes" of the desert, are remarkable for their abundance and their beauty, especially on the west of Jordan. All the perennial rivers and streams of the country......

FOUNTAIN OF THE VIRGIN
the perennial source from which the Pool of Siloam (q.v.) is supplied, the waters flowing in a copious stream to it through a tunnel cut through the rock, the actual length of which is 1,750 feet. The spring rises in a cave 20 feet by 7. A serpentine tunnel 67 feet long runs from it toward the left, off which the tunnel to the Pool of Siloam branches. It is the only unfailing fountain in Jerusalem......

FOWLER
the arts of, referred to Psa 91:3;124:7; Prov. 6:5; Jer. 5:26; Hos. 9:8; Ezek. 17:20; Eccl. 9:12. Birds of all kinds abound in Palestine, and the capture of these for the table and for other uses formed the employment of many persons. The traps and snares used for this purpose are mentioned Hos. 5:1; Prov. 7:23;22:5; Amos 3:5; Psa 69:22; comp. Deut. 22:6, Deut. 22: 7. ......

FOX
(Heb. shu'al, a name derived from its digging or burrowing under ground), the Vulpes thaleb, or Syrian fox, the only species of this animal indigenous to Palestine. It burrows, is silent and solitary in its habits, is destructive to vineyards, being a plunderer of ripe grapes (2:15). The Vulpes Niloticus, or Egyptian dog-fox, and the Vulpes vulgaris, or common fox, are also found in Palestine. T......

FREE-WILL OFFERING
a spontaneous gift (Exo 35:29), a voluntary sacrifice (Lev. 22:23; Ezra 3:5), as opposed to one in consequence of a vow, or in expiation of some offence. ......

FREEDOM
The law of Moses pointed out the cases in which the servants of the Hebrews were to receive their freedom (Exo 21:2, Exo 21: 7, 8; Lev. 25:39, Lev. 25: 47-55; Deut. 15:12). Under the Roman law the "freeman" (ingenuus) was one born free; the "freedman" (libertinus) was a manumitted slave, and had not equal rights with the freeman (Acts 22:28; comp. Acts 16:37;21:39;22:25;25:11, 25: 12). ......

FROG
(Heb. tsepharde'a, meaning a "marsh-leaper"). This reptile is mentioned in the Old Testament only in connection with one of the plagues which fell on the land of Egypt (Exo 8:2; Psa 78:45;105:30). In the New Testament this word occurs only in Rev. 16:13, Rev. 16: where it is referred to as a symbol of uncleanness. The only species of frog existing in Palestine is the green frog (Rana esculenta),......

FRONTLETS
occurs only in Exo 13:16; Deut. 6:8, Deut. 6: 11:18. The meaning of the injunction to the Israelites, with regard to the statues and precepts given them, that they should "bind them for a sign upon their hand, and have them as frontlets between their eyes," was that they should keep them distinctly in view and carefully attend to them. But soon after their return from Babylon they began to interpr......

FROST
(Heb. kerah, from its smoothness) Job 37:10 (R.V., "ice"); Gen. 31:40; Jer. 36:30; rendered "ice" in Job 6:16, Job 6:38:29; and "crystal" in Ezek. 1:22. "At the present day frost is entirely unknown in the lower portions of the valley of the Jordan, but slight frosts are sometimes felt on the sea-coast and near Lebanon." Throughout Western Asia cold frosty nights are frequently succeeded by warm d......

FULLER'S SOAP
(Heb. borith mekabbeshim, i.e., "alkali of those treading cloth"). Mention is made (Prov. 25:20; Jer. 2:22) of nitre and also (Mal. 3:2) of soap (Heb. borith) used by the fuller in his operations. Nitre is found in Syria, and vegetable alkali was obtained from the ashes of certain plants. (See SOAP.) ......

FURLONG
a stadium, a Greek measure of distance equal to 606 feet and 9 inches (Luke 24:13; John 6:19;11:18; Rev. 14:20;21:16). ......

FURROW
an opening in the ground made by the plough (Psa 65:10; Hos. 10:4, Hos. 10: 10). ......

GALATIANS, EPISTLE TO
The genuineness of this epistle is not called in question. Its Pauline origin is universally acknowledged. Occasion of. The churches of Galatia were founded by Paul himself (Acts 16:6; Gal. 1:8;4:13, 4: 19). They seem to have been composed mainly of converts from heathenism (4:8), but partly also of Jewish converts, who probably, under the influence of Judaizing teachers, sought to incorporate t......

GALILEE, SEA OF
(Matt. 4:18;15:29), is mentioned in the Bible under three other names. (1.) In the Old Testament it is called the "sea of Chinnereth" (Num. 34:11; Josh. 12:3;13:27), as is supposed from its harp-like shape. (2). The "lake of Gennesareth" once by Luke (5:1), from the flat district lying on its west coast. (3.) John (6:1;21:1) calls it the "sea of Tiberias" (q.v.). The modern Arabs retain this name,......

GALLIO
the elder brother of Seneca the philosopher, who was tutor and for some time minister of the emperor Nero. He was "deputy", i.e., proconsul, as in Revised Version, of Achaia, under the emperor Claudius, when Paul visited Corinth (Acts 18:12). The word used here by Luke in describing the rank of Gallio shows his accuracy. Achaia was a senatorial province under Claudius, and the governor of such a p......

GALLOWS
Heb. 'ets, meaning "a tree" (Esther 6:4), a post or gibbet. In Gen. 40:19 and Deut. 21:22 the word is rendered "tree."......

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......

GATH-RIMMON
press of the pomegranate. (1.) A Levitical city in the tribe of Dan (Josh. 19:45;21:24; 1-Chr 6:69). (2.) Another city of the same name in Manasseh, west of the Jordan (Josh. 21:25), called also Bileam (1-Chr 6:70).......

GEDOR
a wall. (1.) A city in the mountains or hill country of Judah (Josh. 15:58), identified with Jedar, between Jerusalem and Hebron. (2.) 1-Chr 4:39, 1-Chr 4: the Gederah of Josh. 15:36, Josh. 15: or the well-known Gerar, as the LXX. read, where the patriarchs of old had sojourned and fed their flocks (Gen. 20:1, Gen. 20: 14, 15;26:1, 26: 6, 14). (3.) A town apparently in Benjamin (1-Chr 12:7), t......

GELILOTH
circles; regions, a place in the border of Benjamin (Josh. 18:17); called Gilgal 15:7. ......

GENERATION
Gen. 2:4, Gen. 2: "These are the generations," means the "history."5:1, 5: "The book of the generations," means a family register, or history of 37:2, 37: "The generations of Jacob" = the history of Jacob and his 7:1, 7: "In this generation" = in this age. Psa 49:19, Psa 49: "The generation of his fathers" = the dwelling of his fathers, i.e., the grave. Psa 73:15, Psa 73: "The generation of thy ch......

GERSHOM
expulsion. (1.) The eldest son of Levi (1-Chr 6:16, 1-Chr 6: 17, 20, 43, 62, 71;15:7)=GERSHON (q.v.). (2.) The elder of the two sons of Moses born to him in Midian (Exo 2:22;18:3). On his way to Egypt with his family, in obedience to the command of the Lord, Moses was attacked by a sudden and dangerous illness (4:24), which Zipporah his wife believed to have been sent because he had neglected to......

GERSHON
=Ger'shom expulsion, the eldest of Levi's three sons (Gen. 46:11; Exo 6:16). In the wilderness the sons of Gershon had charge of the fabrics of the tabernacle when it was moved from place to place, the curtains, veils, tent-hangings (Num. 3:21). Thirteen Levitical cities fell to the lot of the Gershonites (Josh. 21:27). ......

GHOST
an old Saxon word equivalent to soul or spirit. It is the translation of the Hebrew _nephesh_ and the Greek _pneuma_, both meaning "breath," "life," "spirit," the "living principle" (Job 11:20; Jer. 15:9; Matt. 27:50; John 19:30). The expression "to give up the ghost" means to die (Lam. 1:19; Gen. 25:17;35:29;49:33; Job 3:11). (See HOLY+GHOST.) ......

GIBBETHON
a height, a city of the Philistines in the territory of Dan, given to the Kohathites (Josh. 19:44;21:23). Nadab the king of Israel, while besieging it, was slain under its walls by Baasha, one of his own officers (1-Kings 15:27). It was in the possession of the Philistines after the secession of the ten tribes (2-Chr 11:13, 2-Chr 11: 14). ......

GIBEAH OF JUDAH
(Josh. 15:57), a city in the mountains of Judah, the modern Jeba, on a hill in the Wady Musurr, about 7 1/2 miles west-south-west of Bethlehem. ......

GIBEAH OF PHINEHAS
(Josh. 15:57, Josh. 15: R.V. marg.), a city on Mount Ephraim which had been given to Phinehas (24:33 "hill," A.V.; R.V. marg. and Heb., "Gibeah."). Here Eleazar the son of Aaron was buried. It has been identified with the modern Khurbet Jibia, 5 miles north of Guphna towards Shechem. ......

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. ......

GIBEON
hill-city, "one of the royal cities, greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty" (Josh. 10:2). Its inhabitants were Hivites (11:19). It lay within the territory of Benjamin, and became a priest-city (18:25;21:17). Here the tabernacle was set up after the destruction of Nob, and here it remained many years till the temple was built by Solomon. It is represented by the modern el-Jib, to th......

GIDEON
called also Jerubbaal (Judg. 6:29, Judg. 6: 32), was the first of the judges whose history is circumstantially narrated (Judg. 6-8). His calling is the commencement of the second period in the history of the judges. After the victory gained by Deborah and Barak over Jabin, Israel once more sank into idolatry, and the Midianites (q.v.) and Amalekites, with other "children of the east," crossed the ......

GIHON
a stream. (1.) One of the four rivers of Eden (Gen. 2:13). It has been identified with the Nile. Others regard it as the Oxus, or the Araxes, or the Ganges. But as, according to the sacred narrative, all these rivers of Eden took their origin from the head-waters of the Euphrates and the Trigris, it is probable that the Gihon is the ancient Araxes, which, under the modern name of the Arras, discha......

GILBOA
boiling spring, a mountain range, now Jebel Fukua', memorable as the scene of Saul's disastrous defeat by the Philistines. Here also his three sons were slain, and he himself died by his own hand (1-Sam 28:4;31:1; 2-Sam 1:6;21:12; 1-Chr 10:1, 1-Chr 10: 8). It was a low barren range of mountains bounding the valley of Esdraelon (Jezreel) on the east, between it and the Jordan valley. When the tidin......

GILEAD, BALM OF
The region of Gilead abounded in spices and aromatic gums, which were exported to Egypt and Tyre (Gen. 37:25; Jer. 8:22;46:11; Ezek. 27:17). The word "balm" is a contracted form of "balsam," a word derived from the Greek _balsamon_, which was adopted as the representative of the Hebrew words _baal shemen_, meaning "lord" or "chief of oils." The Hebrew name of this balm was _tsori_. The tree yiel......

GILOH
exile, a city in the south-west part of the hill-country of Judah (Josh. 15:51). It was the native place or residence of the traitor Ahithophel "the Gilonite" (Josh. 15:51; 2-Sam 15:12), and where he committed suicide (17:23). It has been identified with Kurbet Jala, about 7 miles north of Hebron. ......

GIMZO
a place fertile in sycamores, a city in the plain of Judah, the villages of which were seized by the Philistines (2-Chr 28:18). It is now called Jimzu, about 3 miles south-east of Ludd, i.e., Lydda. ......

GIZONITE
a name given to Hashem, an inhabitant of Gizoh, a place somewhere in the mountains of Judah (1-Chr 11:34; 2-Sam 23:32, 2-Sam 23: 34). ......

GLORIFY
(1.) To make glorious, or cause so to appear (John 12:28;13:31, 13: 32;17:4, 17:5). (2.) Spoken of God to "shew forth his praise" (1-Cor 6:20;10:31). ......

GLORY
(Heb. kabhod; Gr. doxa). (1.) Abundance, wealth, treasure, and hence honour (Psa 49:12); glory (Gen. 31:1; Matt. 4:8; Rev. 21:24, Rev. 21: 26). (2.) Honour, dignity (1-Kings 3:13; Heb. 2:7 1-Pet 1:24); of God (Psa 19:1;29:1); of the mind or heart (Gen. 49:6; Psa 7:5; Acts 2:46). (3.) Splendour, brightness, majesty (Gen. 45:13; Isa. 4:5; Acts 22:11; 2-Cor 3:7); of Jehovah (Isa. 59:19;60:1; 2-Th......

GLUTTON
(Deut. 21:20), Heb. zolel, from a word meaning "to shake out," "to squander;" and hence one who is prodigal, who wastes his means by indulgence. In Prov. 23:21, Prov. 23: the word means debauchees or wasters of their own body. In Prov. 28:7, Prov. 28: the word (pl.) is rendered Authorized Version "riotous men;" Revised Version, "gluttonous." Matt. 11:19, Matt. 11: Luke 7:34, Luke 7: Greek phagos, ......

GOAD
(Heb. malmad, only in Judg. 3:31), an instrument used by ploughmen for guiding their oxen. Shamgar slew six hundred Philistines with an ox-goad. "The goad is a formidable weapon. It is sometimes ten feet long, and has a sharp point. We could now see that the feat of Shamgar was not so very wonderful as some have been accustomed to think." In 1-Sam 13:21, 1-Sam 13: a different Hebrew word is used......

GOAT
(1.) Heb. 'ez, the she-goat (Gen. 15:9;30:35;31:38). This Hebrew word is also used for the he-goat (Exo 12:5; Lev. 4:23; Num. 28:15), and to denote a kid (Gen. 38:17, Gen. 38: 20). Hence it may be regarded as the generic name of the animal as domesticated. It literally means "strength," and points to the superior strength of the goat as compared with the sheep. (2.) Heb. 'attud, only in plural; ......

GOATH
a lowing, a place near Jerusalem, mentioned only in Jer. 31:39. ......

GOB
a pit, a place mentioned in 2-Sam 21:18, 2-Sam 21: 19; called also Gezer, in 1-Chr 20:4. ......

GOBLET
a laver or trough for washing garments. In 7:2, 7: a bowl or drinking vessel, a bowl for mixing wine; in Exo 24:6, Exo 24: a sacrificial basin. (See CUP.) ......

GOD
(A.S. and Dutch God; Dan. Gud; Ger. Gott), the name of the Divine Being. It is the rendering (1) of the Hebrew _'El_, from a word meaning to be strong; (2) of _'Eloah_, plural _'Elohim_. The singular form, _Eloah_, is used only in poetry. The plural form is more commonly used in all parts of the Bible, The Hebrew word Jehovah (q.v.), the only other word generally employed to denote the Supreme Bei......

GODHEAD
(Acts 17:29; Rom. 1:20; Col. 2:9), the essential being or the nature of God. ......

GODLINESS
the whole of practical piety (1-Tim 4:8; 2-Pet 1:6). "It supposes knowledge, veneration, affection, dependence, submission, gratitude, and obedience." In 1-Tim 3:16 it denotes the substance of revealed religion. ......

GOEL
in Hebrew the participle of the verb _gaal_, "to redeem." It is rendered in the Authorized Version "kinsman," Num. 5:8; Ruth 3:12;4:1, 4:6, 4:8; "redeemer," Job 19:25; "avenger," Num. 35:12; Deut. 19:6, Deut. 19: etc. The Jewish law gave the right of redeeming and repurchasing, as well as of avenging blood, to the next relative, who was accordingly called by this name. (See REDEEMER.) ......

GOG
(1.) A Reubenite (1-Chr 5:4), the father of Shimei. (2.) The name of the leader of the hostile party described in Ezek. 38,39, as coming from the "north country" and assailing the people of Israel to their own destruction. This prophecy has been regarded as fulfilled in the conflicts of the Maccabees with Antiochus, the invasion and overthrow of the Chaldeans, and the temporary successes and des......

GOLAN
exile, a city of Bashan (Deut. 4:43), one of the three cities of refuge east of Jordan, about 12 miles north-east of the Sea of Galilee (Josh. 20:8). There are no further notices of it in Scripture. It became the head of the province of Gaulanitis, one of the four provinces into which Bashan was divided after the Babylonish captivity, and almost identical with the modern Jaulan, in Western Hauran,......

GOLD
(1.) Heb. zahab, so called from its yellow colour (Exo 25:11; 1-Chr 28:18; 2-Chr 3:5). (2.) Heb. segor, from its compactness, or as being enclosed or treasured up; thus precious or "fine gold" (1-Kings 6:20;7:49). (3.) Heb. paz, native or pure gold (Job 28:17; Psa 19:10;21:3, 21: etc.). (4.) Heb. betzer, "ore of gold or silver" as dug out of the mine (Job 36:19, Job 36: where it means simply......

GOLDEN CALF
(Exo 32:4, Exo 32:8; Deut. 9:16; Neh. 9:18). This was a molten image of a calf which the idolatrous Israelites formed at Sinai. This symbol was borrowed from the custom of the Egyptians. It was destroyed at the command of Moses (Exo 32:20). (See AARON; MOSES.) ......

GOLDSMITH
(Neh. 3:8, Neh. 3:32; Isa. 40:19;41:7;46:6). The word so rendered means properly a founder or finer. ......

GOLGOTHA
the common name of the spot where Jesus was crucified. It is interpreted by the evangelists as meaning "the place of a skull" (Matt. 27:33; Mark 15:22; John 19:17). This name represents in Greek letters the Aramaic word Gulgaltha, which is the Hebrew Gulgoleth (Num. 1:2; 1-Chr 23:3, 1-Chr 23: 24; 2-Kings 9:35), meaning "a skull." It is identical with the word Calvary (q.v.). It was a little knoll ......

GOLIATH
great. (1.) A famous giant of Gath, who for forty days openly defied the armies of Israel, but was at length slain by David with a stone from a sling (1-Sam 17:4). He was probably descended from the Rephaim who found refuge among the Philistines after they were dispersed by the Ammonites (Deut. 2:20, Deut. 2: 21). His height was "six cubits and a span," which, taking the cubit at 21 inches, is equ......

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......

GOMORRAH
submersion, one of the five cities of the plain of Siddim (q.v.) which were destroyed by fire (Gen. 10:19;13:10;19:24, 19: 28). These cities probably stood close together, and were near the northern extremity of what is now the Dead Sea. This city is always mentioned next after Sodom, both of which were types of impiety and wickedness (Gen. 18:20; Rom. 9:29). Their destruction is mentioned as an "......

GOODLY TREES
boughs of, were to be carried in festive procession on the first day of the feast of Tabernacles (Lev. 23:40). This was probably the olive tree (Neh. 8:15), although no special tree is mentioned. ......

GOODNESS
in man is not a mere passive quality, but the deliberate preference of right to wrong, the firm and persistent resistance of all moral evil, and the choosing and following of all moral good. ......

GOODNESS OF GOD
a perfection of his character which he exercises towards his creatures according to their various circumstances and relations (Psa 145:8, Psa 145: 9;103:8; 1-John 4:8). Viewed generally, it is benevolence; as exercised with respect to the miseries of his creatures it is mercy, pity, compassion, and in the case of impenitent sinners, long-suffering patience; as exercised in communicating favour on ......

GOPHER
a tree from the wood of which Noah was directed to build the ark (Gen. 6:14). It is mentioned only there. The LXX. render this word by "squared beams," and the Vulgate by "planed wood." Other versions have rendered it "pine" and "cedar;" but the weight of authority is in favour of understanding by it the cypress tree, which grows abundantly in Chaldea and Armenia. ......

GOSHEN
(1.) A district in Egypt where Jacob and his family settled, and in which they remained till the Exodus (Gen. 45:10;46:28, 46: 29, 31, etc.). It is called "the land of Goshen" (7:27), and also simply "Goshen" (6:28), and "the land of Rameses" (7:11; Exo 12:37), for the towns Pithom and Rameses lay within its borders; also Zoan or Tanis (Psa 78:12). It lay on the east of the Nile, and apparently no......

GOSPEL
a word of Anglo-Saxon origin, and meaning "God's spell", i.e., word of God, or rather, according to others, "good spell", i.e., good news. It is the rendering of the Greek _evangelion_, i.e., "good message." It denotes (1) "the welcome intelligence of salvation to man as preached by our Lord and his followers. (2.) It was afterwards transitively applied to each of the four histories of our Lord's ......

GOSPELS
The central fact of Christian preaching was the intelligence that the Saviour had come into the world (Matt. 4:23; Rom. 10:15); and the first Christian preachers who called their account of the person and mission of Christ by the term _evangelion_ (= good message) were called _evangelistai_ (= evangelists) (Eph. 4:11; Acts 21:8). There are four historical accounts of the person and work of Chris......

GOURD
(1.) Jonah's gourd (Jonah 4:6), bearing the Hebrew name _kikayon_ (found only here), was probably the kiki of the Egyptians, the croton. This is the castor-oil plant, a species of ricinus, the palma Christi, so called from the palmate division of its leaves. Others with more probability regard it as the cucurbita the el-keroa of the Arabs, a kind of pumpkin peculiar to the East. "It is grown in gr......

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." ......

GOVERNOR
(1.) Heb. nagid, a prominent, conspicuous person, whatever his capacity: as, chief of the royal palace (2-Chr 28:7; comp. 1-Kings 4:6), chief of the temple (1-Chr 9:11; Jer. 20:1), the leader of the Aaronites (1-Chr 12:27), keeper of the sacred treasury (26:24), captain of the army (13:1), the king (1-Sam 9:16), the Messiah (Dan. 9:25). (2.) Heb. nasi, raised; exalted. Used to denote the chiefs ......

GOZAN
a region in Central Asia to which the Israelites were carried away captive (2-Kings 17:6; 1-Chr 5:26; 2-Kings 19:12; Isa. 37:12). It was situated in Mesopotamia, on the river Habor (2-Kings 17:6;18:11), the Khabur, a tributary of the Euphrates. The "river of Gozan" (1-Chr 5:26) is probably the upper part of the river flowing through the province of Gozan, now Kizzel-Ozan. ......

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......

GRASSHOPPER
belongs to the class of neuropterous insects called Gryllidae. This insect is not unknown in Palestine. In Judg. 6:5;7:12; Job 39:30; Jer. 46:23, Jer. 46: where the Authorized Version has "grasshopper," the Revised Version more correctly renders the Hebrew word ('arbeh) by "locust." This is the case also in Amos 7:1; Nah. 3:17, Nah. 3: where the Hebrew word _gob_ is used; and in Lev. 11:22; Num.......

GREYHOUND
(Prov. 30:31), the rendering of the Hebrew _zarzir mothnayim_, meaning literally "girded as to the lions." Some (Gesen.; R.V. marg.) render it "war-horse." The LXX. and Vulgate versions render it "cock." It has been by some interpreters rendered also "stag" and "warrior," as being girded about or panoplied, and "wrestler." The greyhound, however, was evidently known in ancient times, as appears fr......

GROVE
(1.) Heb. 'asherah, properly a wooden image, or a pillar representing Ashtoreth, a sensual Canaanitish goddess, probably usually set up in a grove (2-Kings 21:7;23:4). In the Revised Version the word "Asherah" (q.v.) is introduced as a proper noun, the name of the wooden symbol of a goddess, with the plurals Asherim (Exo 34:13) and Asheroth (Judg. 3:13). The LXX. have rendered _asherah_ in 2-Chr......

HABAKKUK, PROPHECIES OF
were probably written about B.C. 650-627, or, as some think, a few years later. This book consists of three chapters, the contents of which are thus comprehensively described: "When the prophet in spirit saw the formidable power of the Chaldeans approaching and menacing his land, and saw the great evils they would cause in Judea, he bore his complaints and doubts before Jehovah, the just and the p......

HABERGEON
an Old English word for breastplate. In Job 41:26 (Heb. shiryah) it is properly a "coat of mail;" the Revised Version has "pointed shaft." In Exo 28:32, Exo 28:39:23, 39: it denotes a military garment strongly and thickly woven and covered with mail round the neck and breast. Such linen corselets have been found in Egypt. The word used in these verses is _tahra_, which is of Egyptian origin. The R......

HABITATION
God is the habitation of his people, who find rest and safety in him (Psa 71:3;91:9). Justice and judgment are the habitation of God's throne (Psa 89:14, Psa 89: Heb. mekhon, "foundation"), because all his acts are founded on justice and judgment. (See Psa 132:5, Psa 132: 13; Eph. 2:22, Eph. 2: of Canaan, Jerusalem, and the temple as God's habitation.) God inhabits eternity (Isa. 57:15), i.e., dwe......

HABOR
the united stream, or, according to others, with beautiful banks, the name of a river in Assyria, and also of the district through which it flowed (1-Chr 5:26). There is a river called Khabur which rises in the central highlands of Kurdistan, and flows south-west till it falls into the Tigris, about 70 miles above Mosul. This was not, however, the Habor of Scripture. There is another river of th......

HADAD-RIMMON
(composed of the names of two Syrian idols), the name of a place in the valley of Megiddo. It is alluded to by the prophet Zechariah (12:11) in a proverbial expression derived from the lamentation for Josiah, who was mortally wounded near this place (2-Chr 35:22). It has been identified with the modern Rummaneh, a village "at the foot of the Megiddo hills, in a notch or valley about an hour and a ......

HADORAM
is exalted. (1.) The son of Tou, king of Hamath, sent by his father to congratulate David on his victory over Hadarezer, king of Syria (1-Chr 18:10; called Joram 2-Sam 8:10). (2.) The fifth son of Joktan, the founder of an Arab tribe (Gen. 10:27; 1-Chr 1:21). (3.) One who was "over the tribute;" i.e., "over the levy." He was stoned by the Israelites after they had revolted from Rehoboam (2-Chr......

HAEMORRHOIDS
or Emerods, bleeding piles known to the ancient Romans as mariscae, but more probably malignant boils of an infectious and fatal character. With this loathsome and infectious disease the men of Ashdod were smitten by the hand of the Lord. This calamity they attributed to the presence of the ark in their midst, and therefore they removed it to Gath (1-Sam 5:6). But the same consequences followed fr......

HAGGAI, BOOK OF
consists of two brief, comprehensive chapters. The object of the prophet was generally to urge the people to proceed with the rebuilding of the temple. Chapter first comprehends the first address (2-11) and its effects (12-15). Chapter second contains, (1.) The second prophecy (1-9), which was delivered a month after the first. (2.) The third prophecy (10-19), delivered two months and three ......

HAGIOGRAPHA
the holy writings, a term which came early into use in the Christian church to denote the third division of the Old Testament scriptures, called by the Jews Kethubim, i.e., "Writings." It consisted of five books, viz., Job, Proverbs, and Psalms, and the two books of Chronicles. The ancient Jews classified their sacred books as the Law, the Prophets, and the Kethubim, or Writings. (See BIBLE.) In......

HAKKOZ
the thorn, the head of one of the courses of the priests (1-Chr 24:10).......

HALLOW
to render sacred, to consecrate (Exo 28:38;29:1). This word is from the Saxon, and properly means "to make holy." The name of God is "hallowed", i.e., is reverenced as holy (Matt. 6:9).......

HAMATH-ZOBAH
fortress of Zobah, (2-Chr 8:3) is supposed by some to be a different place from the foregoing; but this is quite uncertain.......

HAMMOLEKETH
the queen, the daughter of Machir and sister of Gilead (1-Chr 7:17, 1-Chr 7: 18). Abiezer was one of her three children.......

HAMMON
warm springs. (1.) A town in the tribe of Asher, near Zidon (Josh. 19:28), identified with 'Ain Hamul. (2.) A Levitical city of Naphtali (1-Chr 6:76).......

HAMMOTH-DOR
warm springs, a Levitical city of Naphtali (Josh. 21:32); probably Hammath 19:35.......

HAMON
See BAAL-HAMON.......

HAMON-GOG
multitude of Gog, the name of the valley in which the slaughtered forces of Gog are to be buried (Ezek. 39:11, Ezek. 39:15), "the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea."......

HAMONAH
multitude, a name figuratively assigned to the place in which the slaughter and burial of the forces of Gog were to take place (Ezek. 39:16).......

HAMOR
he-ass, a Hivite from whom Jacob purchased the plot of ground in which Joseph was afterwards buried (Gen. 33:19). He is called "Emmor" in Acts 7:16. His son Shechem founded the city of that name which Simeon and Levi destroyed because of his crime in the matter of Dinah, Jacob's daughter (Gen. 34:20). Hamor and Shechem were also slain (ver. 26).......

HARBONA
(a Persian word meaning "ass-driver"), one of the seven eunuchs or chamberlains of king Ahasuerus (Esther 1:10;7:9).......

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......

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......

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.......

HASHMONAH
fatness, the thirtieth halting-place of the Israelites during their wanderings in the wilderness, not far from Mount Hor (Num. 33:29, Num. 33: 30).......

HAVOTH-JAIR
hamlets of the enlightener a district in the east of Jordan. (1.) Jair, the son of Manasseh, took some villages of Gilead and called them by this name (Num. 32:41). (2.) Again, it is said that Jair "took all the tract of Argob," and called it Bashanhavoth-jair (Deut. 3:14). (See also Josh. 13:30; 1-Kings 4:13; 1-Chr 2:22, 1-Chr 2: 23.)......

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.......

HAZEROTH
fenced enclosures consisting of "a low wall of stones in which thick bundles of thorny acacia are inserted, the tangled branches and long needle-like spikes forming a perfectly impenetrable hedge around the encampment" of tents and cattle which they sheltered. Such like enclosures abound in the wilderness of Paran, which the Israelites entered after leaving Sinai (Num. 11:35;12:16;33:17, 33: 18). ......

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).......

HAZO
vision, one of the sons of Nahor (Gen. 22:22).......

HAZOR
enclosed; fortified. (1.) A stronghold of the Canaanites in the mountains north of Lake Merom (Josh. 11:1). Jabin the king with his allied tribes here encountered Joshua in a great battle. Joshua gained a signal victory, which virtually completed his conquest of Canaan (11:10). This city was, however, afterwards rebuilt by the Canaanites, and was ruled by a king with the same hereditary name of Ja......

HAZOR-HADATTAH
New Hazor, a city in the south of Judah (Josh. 15:25). It is probably identified with the ruins of el-Hazzarah, near Beit Jebrin.......

HEAVE OFFERING
Heb. terumah, (Exo 29:27) means simply an offering, a present, including all the offerings made by the Israelites as a present. This Hebrew word is frequently employed. Some of the rabbis attach to the word the meaning of elevation, and refer it to the heave offering, which consisted in presenting the offering by a motion up and down, distinguished from the wave offering, which consisted in a repe......

HEBREW OF THE HEBREWS
one whose parents are both Hebrews (Phil. 3:5; 2-Cor 11:22); a genuine Hebrew. ......

HEBREWS, EPISTLE TO
(1.) Its canonicity. All the results of critical and historical research to which this epistle has been specially subjected abundantly vindicate its right to a place in the New Testament canon among the other inspired books. (2.) Its authorship. A considerable variety of opinions on this subject has at different times been advanced. Some have maintained that its author was Silas, Paul's companio......

HEBRON
a community; alliance. (1.) A city in the south end of the valley of Eshcol, about midway between Jerusalem and Beersheba, from which it is distant about 20 miles in a straight line. It was built "seven years before Zoan in Egypt" (Gen. 13:18; Num. 13:22). It still exists under the same name, and is one of the most ancient cities in the world. Its earlier name was Kirjath-arba (Gen. 23:2; Josh. 14......

HELBON
fat; i.e., "fertile", (Ezek. 27:18 only), a place whence wine was brought to the great market of Tyre. It has been usually identified with the modern Aleppo, called Haleb by the native Arabs, but is more probably to be found in one of the villages in the Wady Helbon, which is celebrated for its grapes, on the east slope of Anti-Lebanon, north of the river Barada (Abana). ......

HELON
strong, father of Eliab, who was "captain of the children of Zebulun" (Num. 1:9;2:7). ......

HEMLOCK
(1.) Heb. rosh (Hos. 10:4; rendered "gall" in Deut. 29:18;32:32; Psa 69:21; Jer. 9:15;23:15; "poison," Job 20:16; "venom," Deut. 32:33). "Rosh is the name of some poisonous plant which grows quickly and luxuriantly; of a bitter taste, and therefore coupled with wormwood (Deut. 29:18; Lam. 3:19). Hence it would seem to be not the hemlock cicuta, nor the colocynth or wild gourd, nor lolium darnel, b......

HENOCH
See ENOCH. ......

HERMOGENES
Mercury-born, at one time Paul's fellow-labourer in Asia Minor, who, however, afterwards abandoned him, along with one Phygellus, probably on account of the perils by which they were beset (2-Tim 1:15).......

HERMON
a peak, the eastern prolongation of the Anti-Lebanon range, reaching to the height of about 9,200 feet above the Mediterranean. It marks the north boundary of Palestine (Deut. 3:8, Deut. 3:4:48; Josh. 11:3, Josh. 11: 17;13:11;12:1), and is seen from a great distance. It is about 40 miles north of the Sea of Galilee. It is called "the Hermonites" (Psa 42:6) because it has more than one summit. The ......

HERMONITES, THE
(Psa 42:6, Psa 42: 7) = "the Hermons", i.e., the three peaks or summits of Hermon, which are about a quarter of a mile apart.......

HEROD AGRIPPA I.
son of Aristobulus and Bernice, and grandson of Herod the Great. He was made tetrarch of the provinces formerly held by Lysanias II., and ultimately possessed the entire kingdom of his grandfather, Herod the Great, with the title of king. He put the apostle James the elder to death, and cast Peter into prison (Luke 3:1; Acts 12:1). On the second day of a festival held in honour of the emperor Clau......

HEROD ANTIPAS
Herod's son by Malthace (Matt. 14:1; Luke 3:1, Luke 3: 19;9:7; Acts 13:1). (See ANTIPAS.)......

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 ......

HEROD PHILIP I.
(Mark 6:17), the son of Herod the Great by Mariamne, the daughter of Simon, the high priest. He is distinguished from another Philip called "the tetrarch." He lived at Rome as a private person with his wife Herodias and his daughter Salome.......

HEROD PHILIP II.
the son of Herod the Great and Cleopatra of Jerusalem. He was "tetrarch" of Batanea, Iturea, Trachonitis, and Auranitis. He rebuilt the city of Caesarea Philippi, calling it by his own name to distinguish it from the Caesarea on the sea-coast which was the seat of the Roman government. He married Salome, the daughter of Herodias (Matt. 16:13; Mark 8:27; Luke 3:1).......

HEROD THE GREAT
(Matt. 2:1; Luke 1:5; Acts 23:35), the son of Antipater, an Idumaean, and Cypros, an Arabian of noble descent. In the year B.C. 47 Julius Caesar made Antipater, a "wily Idumaean," procurator of Judea, who divided his territories between his four sons, Galilee falling to the lot of Herod, who was afterwards appointed tetrarch of Judea by Mark Antony (B.C. 40), and also king of Judea by the Roman se......

HERODIANS
a Jewish political party who sympathized with (Mark 3:6;12:13; Matt,22:16; Luke 20:20) the Herodian rulers in their general policy of government, and in the social customs which they introduced from Rome. They were at one with the Sadducees in holding the duty of submission to Rome, and of supporting the Herods on the throne. (Comp. Mark 8:15; Matt. 16:6.)......

HERODIAS
(Matt. 14:3; Mark 6:17; Luke 3:19), the daughter of Aristobulus and Bernice. While residing at Rome with her husband Herod Philip I. and her daughter, Herod Antipas fell in with her during one of his journeys to that city. She consented to leave her husband and become his wife. Some time after, Herod met John the Baptist, who boldly declared the marriage to be unlawful. For this he was "cast into ......

HERODION
a Christian at Rome whom Paul salutes and calls his "kinsman" (Rom. 16:11).......

HERON
(Lev. 11:19; Deut. 14:18), ranked among the unclean birds. The Hebrew name is _'anaphah_, and indicates that the bird so named is remarkable for its angry disposition. "The herons are wading-birds, peculiarly irritable, remarkable for their voracity, frequenting marshes and oozy rivers, and spread over the regions of the East." The Ardea russeta, or little golden egret, is the commonest species in......

HESHBON
intelligence, a city ruled over by Sihon, king of the Amorites (Josh. 3:10;13:17). It was taken by Moses (Num. 21:23), and became afterwards a Levitical city (Josh. 21:39) in the tribe of Reuben (Num. 32:37). After the Exile it was taken possession of by the Moabites (Isa. 15:4; Jer. 48:2, Jer. 48: 34, 45). The ruins of this town are still seen about 20 miles east of Jordan from the north end of t......

HESHMON
fatness, a town in the south of Judah (Josh. 15:27).......

HETHLON
wrapped up, a place on the north border of Palestine. The "way of Hethlon" (Ezek. 47:15;48:1) is probably the pass at the end of Lebanon from the Mediterranean to the great plain of Hamath (q.v.), or the "entrance of Hamath."......

HEZION
vision, the father of Tabrimon, and grandfather of Ben-hadad, king of Syria (1-Kings 15:18).......

HEZRO
a Carmelite, one of David's warriors (1-Chr 11:37).......

HEZRON
enclosed. (1.) One of the sons of Reuben (Gen. 46:9; Exo 6:14). (2.) The older of the two sons of Pharez (Gen. 46:12). (3.) A plain in the south of Judah, west of Kadesh-barnea (Josh. 15:3).......

HIERAPOLIS
sacred city, a city of Phrygia, where was a Christian church under the care of Epaphras (Col. 4:12, Col. 4: 13). This church was founded at the same time as that of Colosse. It now bears the name of Pambuk-Kalek, i.e., "Cotton Castle", from the white appearance of the cliffs at the base of which the ruins are found.......

HIGGAION
in Psa 92:3 means the murmuring tone of the harp. In Psa 9:16 it is a musical sign, denoting probably a pause in the instrumental interlude. In Psa 19:14 the word is rendered "meditation;" and in Lam. 3:62, Lam. 3: "device" (R.V., "imagination").......

HILL OF EVIL COUNSEL
on the south of the Valley of Hinnom. It is so called from a tradition that the house of the high priest Caiaphas, when the rulers of the Jews resolved to put Christ to death, stood here.......

HINNOM
a deep, narrow ravine separating Mount Zion from the so-called "Hill of Evil Counsel." It took its name from "some ancient hero, the son of Hinnom." It is first mentioned in Josh. 15:8. It had been the place where the idolatrous Jews burned their children alive to Moloch and Baal. A particular part of the valley was called Tophet, or the "fire-stove," where the children were burned. After the Exil......

HOBAB
beloved, the Kenite, has been usually identified with Jethro (q.v.), Exo 18:5, Exo 18: 27; comp. Num. 10:29, Num. 10: 30. In Judg. 4:11, Judg. 4: the word rendered "father-in-law" means properly any male relative by marriage (comp. Gen. 19:14, Gen. 19: "son-in-law," A.V.), and should be rendered "brother-in-law," as in the R.V. His descendants followed Israel to Canaan (Num. 10:29), and at first p......

HOBAH
hiding-place, a place to the north of Damascus, to which Abraham pursued Chedorlaomer and his confederates (Gen. 14:15).......

HODIJAH
majesty of Jehovah. (1.) One of the Levites who assisted Ezra in expounding the law (Neh. 8:7;9:5). (2.) Neh. 10:18, Neh. 10: a Levite who sealed the covenant. ......

HOGLAH
partridge, one of the daughters of Zelophehad the Gileadite, to whom portions were assigned by Moses (Num. 26:33;27:1;36:11). ......

HOHAM
Jehovah impels, the king of Hebron who joined the league against Gibeon. He and his allies were defeated (Josh. 10:3, Josh. 10: 5, 16-27). ......

HOLD
a fortress, the name given to David's lurking-places (1-Sam 22:4, 1-Sam 22: 5;24:22). ......

HOLINESS
in the highest sense belongs to God (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 15:4), and to Christians as consecrated to God's service, and in so far as they are conformed in all things to the will of God (Rom. 6:19, Rom. 6: 22; Eph. 1:4; Titus 1:8; 1-Pet 1:15). Personal holiness is a work of gradual development. It is carried on under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonitions to watchfulness, prayer, and perseveranc......

HOLY GHOST
the third Person of the adorable Trinity. His personality is proved (1) from the fact that the attributes of personality, as intelligence and volition, are ascribed to him (John 14:17, John 14: 26;15:26; 1-Cor 2:10, 1-Cor 2: 11;12:11). He reproves, helps, glorifies, intercedes (John 16:7; Rom. 8:26). (2) He executes the offices peculiar only to a person. The very nature of these offices involves......

HOLY OF HOLIES
the second or interior portion of the tabernacle. It was left in total darkness. No one was permitted to enter it except the high priest, and that only once a year. It contained the ark of the covenant only (Exo 25:10). It was in the form of a perfect cube of 20 cubits. (See TABERNACLE.) ......

HOLY PLACE
one of the two portions into which the tabernacle was divided (Exo 26:31;37:17; Heb. 9:2). It was 20 cubits long and 10 in height and breadth. It was illuminated by the golden candlestick, as it had no opening to admit the light. It contained the table of showbread (Exo 25:23) and the golden altar of incense (30:1). It was divided from the holy of holies by a veil of the most costly materials and ......

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. ......

HONEY
(1.) Heb. ya'ar, occurs only 1-Sam 14:25, 1-Sam 14: 27, 29; 5:1, 5: where it denotes the honey of bees. Properly the word signifies a forest or copse, and refers to honey found in woods. (2.) Nopheth, honey that drops (Psa 19:10; Prov. 5:3; 4:11). (3.) Debash denotes bee-honey (Judg. 14:8); but also frequently a vegetable honey distilled from trees (Gen. 43:11; Ezek. 27:17). In these passages ......

HOOD
(Heb. tsaniph) a tiara round the head (Isa. 3:23; R.V., pl., "turbans"). Rendered "diadem," Job 29:14; high priest's "mitre," Zech. 3:5; "royal diadem," Isa. 62:3. ......

HOOF
a cleft hoof as of neat cattle (Exo 10:26; Ezek. 32:13); hence also of the horse, though not cloven (Isa. 5:28). The "parting of the hoof" is one of the distinctions between clean and unclean animals (Lev. 11:3; Deut. 14:7). ......

HOOK
(1.) Heb. hah, a "ring" inserted in the nostrils of animals to which a cord was fastened for the purpose of restraining them (2-Kings 19:28; Isa. 37:28, Isa. 37: 29; Ezek. 29:4;38:4). "The Orientals make use of this contrivance for curbing their work-beasts...When a beast becomes unruly they have only to draw the cord on one side, which, by stopping his breath, punishes him so effectually that aft......

HOPE
one of the three main elements of Christian character (1-Cor 13:13). It is joined to faith and love, and is opposed to seeing or possessing (Rom. 8:24; 1-John 3:2). "Hope is an essential and fundamental element of Christian life, so essential indeed, that, like faith and love, it can itself designate the essence of Christianity (1-Pet 3:15; Heb. 10:23). In it the whole glory of the Christian vocat......

HOPHNI
pugilist or client, one of the two sons of Eli, the high priest (1-Sam 1:3;2:34), who, because he was "very old," resigned to them the active duties of his office. By their scandalous conduct they brought down a curse on their father's house (2:22, 2: 12-27, 27-36;3:11). For their wickedness they were called "sons of Belial," i.e., worthless men (2:12). They both perished in the disastrous battle ......

HOPHRA
i.e., PHARAOH-HOPHRA (called Apries by the Greek historian Herodotus) king of Egypt (B.C. 591-572) in the time of Zedekiah, king of Judah (Jer. 37:544:30; Ezek. 29:6, Ezek. 29: 7). ......

HOR
mountain. (1.) One of the mountains of the chain of Seir or Edom, on the confines of Idumea (Num. 20:22;33:37). It was one of the stations of the Israelites in the wilderness (33:37), which they reached in the circuitous route they were obliged to take because the Edomites refused them a passage through their territory. It was during the encampment here that Aaron died (Num. 33:37). (See AARON.) T......

HOREB
desert or mountain of the dried-up ground, a general name for the whole mountain range of which Sinai was one of the summits (Exo 3:1;17:6;33:6; Psa 106:19, Psa 106: etc.). The modern name of the whole range is Jebel Musa. It is a huge mountain block, about 2 miles long by about 1 in breadth, with a very spacious plain at its north-east end, called the Er Rahah, in which the Israelites encamped fo......

HOREM
consecrated, one of the fenced cities of Naphtali (Josh. 19:38). ......

HORITES
cave-men, a race of Troglodytes who dwelt in the limestone caves which abounded in Edom. Their ancestor was "Seir," who probably gave his name to the district where he lived. They were a branch of the Hivites (Gen. 14:6;36:20; 1-Chr 1:38, 1-Chr 1: 39). They were dispossessed by the descendants of Esau, and as a people gradually became extinct (Deut. 2:12). ......

HORMAH
banning; i.e., placing under a "ban," or devoting to utter destruction. After the manifestation of God's anger against the Israelites, on account of their rebellion and their murmurings when the spies returned to the camp at Kadesh, in the wilderness of Paran, with an evil report of the land, they quickly repented of their conduct, and presumed to go up "to the head of the mountain," seeking to en......

HORN
Trumpets were at first horns perforated at the tip, used for various purposes (Josh. 6:4, Josh. 6:5). Flasks or vessels were made of horn (1-Sam 16:1, 1-Sam 16: 13; 1-Kings 1:39). But the word is used also metaphorically to denote the projecting corners of the altar of burnt offerings (Exo 27:2) and of incense (30:2). The horns of the altar of burnt offerings were to be smeared with the blood ......

HORNET
Heb. tsir'ah, "stinging", (Exo 23:28; Deut. 7:20; Josh. 24:12). The word is used in these passages as referring to some means by which the Canaanites were to be driven out from before the Israelites. Some have supposed that the word is used in a metaphorical sense as the symbol of some panic which would seize the people as a "terror of God" (Gen. 35:5), the consternation with which God would inspi......

HORONAIM
two caverns, a city of Moab to the south of the Arnon, built, apparently, upon an eminence, and a place of some importance (Isa. 15:5; Jer. 48:3, Jer. 48: 5, 34). ......

HORONITE
the designation of Sanballat (Neh. 2:10, Neh. 2: 19), a native of Horonaim, or of one of the two Beth-horons, the "upper" or the "nether," mentioned in Josh. 16:3, Josh. 16:5. ......

HORSE
always referred to in the Bible in connection with warlike operations, except Isa. 28:28. The war-horse is described Job 39:19. For a long period after their settlement in Canaan the Israelites made no use of horses, according to the prohibition, Deut. 17:16. David was the first to form a force of cavalry (2-Sam 8:4). But Solomon, from his connection with Egypt, greatly multiplied their number (1-......

HORSE-GATE
a gate in the wall of Jerusalem, at the west end of the bridge, leading from Zion to the temple (Neh. 3:28; Jer. 31:40). ......

HORSE-LEECH
occurs only in Prov. 30:15 (Heb. 'alukah); the generic name for any blood-sucking annelid. There are various species in the marshes and pools of Palestine. That here referred to, the Hoemopis, is remarkable for the coarseness of its bite, and is therefore not used for medical purposes. They are spoken of in the East with feelings of aversion and horror, because of their propensity to fasten on the......

HORSEMAN
Heb. ba'al parash, "master of a horse." The "horsemen" mentioned Exo 14:9 were "mounted men", i.e., men who rode in chariots. The army of Pharaoh consisted of a chariot and infantry force. We find that at a later period, however, the Egyptians had cavalry (2-Chr 12:3). (See HORSE.) ......

HOSAH
refuge. (1.) A place on the border of the tribe of Asher (Josh. 19:29), a little to the south of Zidon. (2.) A Levite of the family of Merari (1-Chr 16:38). ......

HOSANNA
Save now! or Save, we beseech, (Matt. 21:9). This was a customary form of acclamation at the feast of Tabernacles. (Comp. Psa 118:25.) ......

HOSE
(Dan. 3:21), a tunic or undergarment. ......

HOSEA
salvation, the son of Beeri, and author of the book of prophecies bearing his name. He belonged to the kingdom of Israel. "His Israelitish origin is attested by the peculiar, rough, Aramaizing diction, pointing to the northern part of Palestine; by the intimate acquaintance he evinces with the localities of Ephraim (5:1;6:8, 6: 9;12:12;14:6, 14: etc.); by passages 1:2, 1: where the kingdom is styl......

HOSEA, PROPHECIES OF
This book stands first in order among the "Minor Prophets." "The probable cause of the location of Hosea may be the thoroughly national character of his oracles, their length, their earnest tone, and vivid representations." This was the longest of the prophetic books written before the Captivity. Hosea prophesied in a dark and melancholy period of Israel's history, the period of Israel's decline a......

HOSHEA
salvation. (1.) The original name of the son of Nun, afterwards called Joshua (Num. 13:8, Num. 13: 16; Deut. 32:44). (2.) 1-Chr 27:20. The ruler of Ephraim in David's time. (3.) The last king of Israel. He conspired against and slew his predecessor, Pekah (Isa. 7:16), but did not ascend the throne till after an interregnum of warfare of eight years (2-Kings 17:1, 2-Kings 17: 2). Soon after thi......

HOST
an entertainer (Rom. 16:23); a tavern-keeper, the keeper of a caravansary (Luke 10:35). In warfare, a troop or military force. This consisted at first only of infantry. Solomon afterwards added cavalry (1-Kings 4:26;10:26). Every male Israelite from twenty to fifty years of age was bound by the law to bear arms when necessary (Num. 1:3;26:2; 2-Chr 25:5). Saul was the first to form a standing a......

HOST OF HEAVEN
The sun, moon, and stars are so designated (Gen. 2:1). When the Jews fell into idolatry they worshipped these (Deut. 4:19; 2-Kings 17:16;21:3, 21:5;23:5; Jer. 19:13; Zeph. 1:5; Acts 7:42). ......

HOSTAGE
a person delivered into the hands of another as a security for the performance of some promise, etc. (2-Kings 14:14; 2-Chr 25:24). ......

HOUGH
to hamstring, i.e., sever the "tendon of Achilles" of the hinder legs of captured horses (Josh. 11:6; 2-Sam 8:4; 1-Chr 18:4), so as to render them useless. ......

HOUR
First found in Dan. 3:6;4:19, 4: 33;5:5. It is the rendering of the Chaldee shaah, meaning a "moment," a "look." It is used in the New Testament frequently to denote some determinate season (Matt. 8:13; Luke 12:39). With the ancient Hebrews the divisions of the day were "morning, evening, and noon-day" (Psa 55:17, Psa 55: etc.). The Greeks, following the Babylonians, divided the day into twelve ......

HOUSE
Till their sojourn in Egypt the Hebrews dwelt in tents. They then for the first time inhabited cities (Gen. 47:3; Exo 12:7; Heb. 11:9). From the earliest times the Assyrians and the Canaanites were builders of cities. The Hebrews after the Conquest took possession of the captured cities, and seem to have followed the methods of building that had been pursued by the Canaanites. Reference is made to......

HUKKOK
decreed, a town near Zebulun, not far from Jordan, on the border of Naphtali (Josh. 19:34). (See HELKATH.) ......

HUMILIATION OF CHRIST
(Phil. 2:8), seen in (1) his birth (Gal. 4:4; Luke 2:7; John 1:46; Heb. 2:9), (2) his circumstances, (3) his reputation (Isa. 53; Matt. 26:59, Matt. 26: 67; Psa 22:6; Matt. 26:68), (4) his soul (Psa 22:1; Matt. 4:1; Luke 22:44; Heb. 2:17, Heb. 2: 18;4:15), (5) his death (Luke 23; John 19; Mark 15:24, Mark 15: 25), (6) and his burial (Isa. 53:9; Matt. 27:57, Matt. 27: 58, 60). His humiliation was......

HYPOCRITE
one who puts on a mask and feigns himself to be what he is not; a dissembler in religion. Our Lord severely rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy (Matt. 6:2, Matt. 6: 5, 16). "The hypocrite's hope shall perish" (Job 8:13). The Hebrew word here rendered "hypocrite" rather means the "godless" or "profane," as it is rendered in Jer. 23:11, Jer. 23: i.e., polluted with crimes. ......

HYSSOP
(Heb. 'ezob; LXX. hyssopos), first mentioned in Exo 12:22 in connection with the institution of the Passover. We find it afterwards mentioned in Lev. 14:4, Lev. 14: 6, 52; Num. 19:6, Num. 19: 18; Heb. 9:19. It is spoken of as a plant "springing out of the wall" (1-Kings 4:33). Many conjectures have been formed as to what this plant really was. Some contend that it was a species of marjoram (origan......

ICHABOD
When the tidings of the disastrous defeat of the Israelites in the battle against the Philistines near to Mizpeh were carried to Shiloh, the wife of Phinehas "was near to be delivered. And when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed" (1-Sam 4:19). In her great distress she regarded not "the women th......

ICONIUM
the capital of ancient Lycaonia. It was first visited by Paul and Barnabas from Antioch-in-Pisidia during the apostle's first missionary journey (Acts 13:50, Acts 13: 51). Here they were persecuted by the Jews, and being driven from the city, they fled to Lystra. They afterwards returned to Iconium, and encouraged the church which had been founded there (14:21, 14:22). It was probably again visite......

IDDO
(1.) Timely (1-Chr 6:21). A Gershonite Levite. (2.) Lovely. The son of Zechariah (1-Chr 27:21), the ruler of Manasseh in David's time. (3.) Timely. The father of Ahinadab, who was one of Solomon's purveyors (1-Kings 4:14). (4.) Lovely. A prophet of Judah who wrote the history of Rehoboam and Abijah (2-Chr 12:15). He has been identified with Oded (2-Chr 15:1). (5.) Lovely. The father of Ber......

IDOL
(1.) Heb. aven, "nothingness;" "vanity" (Isa. 66:3;41:29; Deut. 32:21; 1-Kings 16:13; Psa 31:6; Jer. 8:19, Jer. 8: etc.). (2.) 'Elil, "a thing of naught" (Psa 97:7; Isa. 19:3); a word of contempt, used of the gods of Noph (Ezek. 30:13). (3.) 'Emah, "terror," in allusion to the hideous form of idols (Jer. 50:38). (4.) Miphletzeth, "a fright;" "horror" (1-Kings 15:13; 2-Chr 15:16). (5.) Bosh......

IDOLATRY
image-worship or divine honour paid to any created object. Paul describes the origin of idolatry in Rom. 1:21: men forsook God, and sank into ignorance and moral corruption (1:28). The forms of idolatry are, (1.) Fetishism, or the worship of trees, rivers, hills, stones, etc. (2.) Nature worship, the worship of the sun, moon, and stars, as the supposed powers of nature. (3.) Hero worship, th......

IJON
a ruin, a city of Naphtali, captured by Ben-hadad of Syria at the instance of Asa (1-Kings 15:20), and afterwards by Tiglath-pileser of Assyria (2-Kings 15:29) in the reign of Pekah; now el-Khiam. ......

IMMORTALITY
perpetuity of existence. The doctrine of immortality is taught in the Old Testament. It is plainly implied in the writings of Moses (Gen. 5:22, Gen. 5: 24;25:8;37:35;47:9;49:29, 49: comp. Heb. 11:13; Exo 3:6, Exo 3: comp. Matt. 22:23). It is more clearly and fully taught in the later books (Isa. 14:9; Psa 17:15;49:15;73:24). It was thus a doctrine obviously well known to the Jews. With the full ......

IMPUTATION
is used to designate any action or word or thing as reckoned to a person. Thus in doctrinal language (1) the sin of Adam is imputed to all his descendants, i.e., it is reckoned as theirs, and they are dealt with therefore as guilty; (2) the righteousness of Christ is imputed to them that believe in him, or so attributed to them as to be considered their own; and (3) our sins are imputed to Christ,......

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......

INKHORN
The Hebrew word so rendered means simply a round vessel or cup for containing ink, which was generally worn by writers in the girdle (Ezek. 9:2, Ezek. 9: 3,11). The word "inkhorn" was used by the translators, because in former times in this country horns were used for containing ink. ......

INSPIRATION
that extraordinary or supernatural divine influence vouchsafed to those who wrote the Holy Scriptures, rendering their writings infallible. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God" (R.V., "Every scripture inspired of God"), 2-Tim 3:16. This is true of all the "sacred writings," not in the sense of their being works of genius or of supernatural insight, but as "theopneustic," i.e., "breathed ......

INTERCESSION OF CHRIST
Christ's priestly office consists of these two parts, (1) the offering up of himself as a sacrifice, and (2) making continual intercession for us. When on earth he made intercession for his people (Luke 23:34; John 17:20; Heb. 5:7); but now he exercises this function of his priesthood in heaven, where he is said to appear in the presence of God for us (Heb. 9:12, Heb. 9:24). His advocacy with ......

INTERCESSION OF THE SPIRIT
(Rom. 8:26, Rom. 8: 27; John 14:26). "Christ is a royal Priest (Zech. 6:13). From the same throne, as King, he dispenses his Spirit to all the objects of his care, while as Priest he intercedes for them. The Spirit acts for him, taking only of his things. They both act with one consent, Christ as principal, the Spirit as his agent. Christ intercedes for us, without us, as our advocate in heaven, a......

IRON
Tubal-Cain is the first-mentioned worker in iron (Gen. 4:22). The Egyptians wrought it at Sinai before the Exodus. David prepared it in great abundance for the temple (1-Chr 22:3:29:7). The merchants of Dan and Javan brought it to the market of Tyre (Ezek. 27:19). Various instruments are mentioned as made of iron (Deut. 27:5;19:5; Josh. 17:16, Josh. 17: 18; 1-Sam 17:7; 2-Sam 12:31; 2-Kings 6:5, 2-......

IRRIGATION
As streams were few in Palestine, water was generally stored up in winter in reservoirs, and distributed through gardens in numerous rills, which could easily be turned or diverted by the foot (Deut. 11:10). For purposes of irrigation, water was raised from streams or pools by water-wheels, or by a shaduf, commonly used on the banks of the Nile to the present day. ......

ISAIAH, THE BOOK OF
consists of prophecies delivered (Isa. 1) in the reign of Uzziah (1-5), (2) of Jotham (6), (3) Ahaz (4:28), (4) the first half of Hezekiah's reign (14:28), (5) the second half of Hezekiah's reign (36-66). Thus, counting from the fourth year before Uzziah's death (B.C. 762) to the last year of Hezekiah (B.C. 698), Isaiah's ministry extended over a period of sixty-four years. He may, however, have s......

ISCARIOT
(See JUDAS.) ......

ISH-BOSHETH
man of shame or humiliation, the youngest of Saul's four sons, and the only one who survived him (2 Sam. 2-4). His name was originally Eshbaal (1-Chr 8:33;9:39). He was about forty years of age when his father and three brothers fell at the battle of Gilboa. Through the influence of Abner, Saul's cousin, he was acknowledged as successor to the throne of Saul, and ruled over all Israel, except the ......

ISHBI-BENOB
my seat at Nob, one of the Rephaim, whose spear was three hundred shekels in weight. He was slain by Abishai (2-Sam 21:16, 2-Sam 21: 17). ......

ISHTOB
man of Tob, one of the small Syrian kingdoms which together constituted Aram (2-Sam 10:6, 2-Sam 10:8). ......

ISRAEL, KINGDOM OF
(B.C. 975-B.C. 722). Soon after the death of Solomon, Ahijah's prophecy (1-Kings 11:31) was fulfilled, and the kingdom was rent in twain. Rehoboam, the son and successor of Solomon, was scarcely seated on his throne when the old jealousies between Judah and the other tribes broke out anew, and Jeroboam was sent for from Egypt by the malcontents (12:2, 12:3). Rehoboam insolently refused to lighten ......

IVORY
(Heb. pl. shenhabbim, the "tusks of elephants") was early used in decorations by the Egyptians, and a great trade in it was carried on by the Assyrians (Ezek. 27:6; Rev. 18:12). It was used by the Phoenicians to ornament the box-wood rowing-benches of their galleys, and Hiram's skilled workmen made Solomon's throne of ivory (1-Kings 10:18). It was brought by the caravans of Dedan (Isa. 21:13), and......

JAAKOBAH
heel-catcher, a form of the name Jacob, one of the descendants of Simeon (1-Chr 4:36). ......

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. ......

JABBOK
a pouring out, or a wrestling, one of the streams on the east of Jordan, into which it falls about midway between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea, or about 45 miles below the Sea of Galilee. It rises on the eastern side of the mountains of Gilead, and runs a course of about 65 miles in a wild and deep ravine. It was the boundary between the territory of the Ammonites and that of Og, king of Ba......

JACHIN AND BOAZ
the names of two brazen columns set up in Solomon's temple (1-Kings 7:15). Each was eighteen cubits high and twelve in circumference (Jer. 52:21, Jer. 52: 23; 1-Kings 7:17). They had doubtless a symbolical import. ......

JACOB
one who follows on another's heels; supplanter, (Gen. 25:26;27:36; Hos. 12:2), the second born of the twin sons of Isaac by Rebekah. He was born probably at Lahai-roi, when his father was fifty-nine and Abraham one hundred and fifty-nine years old. Like his father, he was of a quiet and gentle disposition, and when he grew up followed the life of a shepherd, while his brother Esau became an enterp......

JACOB'S WELL
(John 4:5, John 4: 6). This is one of the few sites in Palestine about which there is no dispute. It was dug by Jacob, and hence its name, in the "parcel of ground" which he purchased from the sons of Hamor (Gen. 33:19). It still exists, but although after copious rains it contains a little water, it is now usually quite dry. It is at the entrance to the valley between Ebal and Gerizim, about 2 mi......

JADON
judge, a Meronothite who assisted in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem (Neh. 3:7). ......

JALON
lodger, the last of the four sons of Ezra, of the tribe of Judah (1-Chr 4:17). ......

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......

JANOAH
or Jano'hah, rest. (1.) A town on the north-eastern border of Ephraim, in the Jordan valley (Josh. 16:6, Josh. 16: 7). Identified with the modern Yanun, 8 miles south-east of Nablus. (2.) A town of Northern Palestine, within the boundaries of Naphtali. It was taken by the king of Assyria (2-Kings 15:29). ......

JAPHO
beauty, a sea-port in Dan (Josh. 19:46); called Joppa (q.v.) in 2-Chr 2:16; Ezra 3:7; Jonah 1:3; and in New Testament. ......

JASHOBEAM
dweller among the people; or to whom the people turn, the Hachmonite (1-Chr 11:11), one of David's chief heroes who joined him at Ziklag (12:6). He was the first of the three who broke through the host of the Philistines to fetch water to David from the well of Bethlehem (2-Sam 23:13). He is also called Adino the Eznite (8). ......

JASON
he that will cure, the host of Paul and Silas in Thessalonica. The Jews assaulted his house in order to seize Paul, but failing to find him, they dragged Jason before the ruler of the city (Acts 17:5). He was apparently one of the kinsmen of Paul (Rom. 16:21), and accompanied him from Thessalonica to Corinth. ......

JAW-BONE
of an ass afforded Samson a weapon for the great slaughter of the Philistines (Judg. 15.15), in which he slew a thousand men. In verse 19 the Authorized Version reads, "God clave a hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout." This is a mis-translation of the words. The rendering should be as in the Revised Version, "God clave the hollow place that is in Lehi," etc., Lehi (q.v.......

JEALOUSY
suspicion of a wife's purity, one of the strongest passions (Num. 5:14; Prov. 6:34; 8:6); also an intense interest for another's honour or prosperity (Psa 79:5; 1-Cor 10:22; Zech. 1:14). ......

JEALOUSY OFFERING
the name of the offering the husband was to bring when he charged his wife with adultery (Num. 5:11). ......

JEALOUSY, IMAGE OF
an idolatrous object, seen in vision by Ezekiel (Ezek. 8:3, Ezek. 8: 5), which stood in the priests' or inner court of the temple. Probably identical with the statue of Astarte (2-Kings 21:7). ......

JEALOUSY, WATERS OF
water which the suspected wife was required to drink, so that the result might prove her guilt or innocence (Num. 5:12, Num. 5: 27). We have no record of this form of trial having been actually resorted to. ......

JECOLIAH
able through Jehovah, the wife of King Amaziah, and mother of King Uzziah (2-Chr 26:3). ......

JEHOADDAN
Jehovah his ornament, the wife of King Jehoash, and mother of King Amaziah (2-Kings 14:2). ......

JEHOAHAZ
Jehovah his sustainer, or he whom Jehovah holdeth. (1.) The youngest son of Jehoram, king of Judah (2-Chr 21:17;22:1, 22: 6, 8, 9); usually Ahaziah (q.v.). (2.) The son and successor of Jehu, king of Israel (2-Kings 10:35). He reigned seventeen years, and followed the evil ways of the house of Jeroboam. The Syrians, under Hazael and Benhadad, prevailed over him, but were at length driven out of ......

JEHOASH
Jehovah-given. (1.) The son of King Ahaziah. While yet an infant, he was saved from the general massacre of the family by his aunt Jehosheba, and was apparently the only surviving descendant of Solomon (2-Chr 21:4, 2-Chr 21: 17). His uncle, the high priest Jehoiada, brought him forth to public notice when he was eight years of age, and crowned and anointed him king of Judah with the usual ceremoni......

JEHOHANAN
Jehovah-granted, Jeroboam II. (1.) A Korhite, the head of one of the divisions of the temple porters (1-Chr 26:3). (2.) One of Jehoshaphat's "captains" (2-Chr 17:15). (3.) The father of Azariah (2-Chr 28:12). (4.) The son of Tobiah, an enemy of the Jews (Neh. 6:18). (5.) Neh. 12:42. (6.) Neh. 12:13. ......

JEHOIACHIN
succeeded his father Jehoiakin (B.C. 599) when only eight years of age, and reigned for one hundred days (2-Chr 36:9). He is also called Jeconiah (Jer. 24:1;27:20, 27: etc.), and Coniah (22:24;37:1). He was succeeded by his uncle, Mattaniah = Zedekiah (q.v.). He was the last direct heir to the Jewish crown. He was carried captive to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, along with the flower of the nobility,......

JEHOIADA
Jehovah-known. (1.) The father of Benaiah, who was one of David's chief warriors (2-Sam 8:18;20:23). (2.) The high priest at the time of Athaliah's usurpation of the throne of Judah. He married Jehosheba, or Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram (2-Chr 22:11), and took an active part along with his wife in the preservation and training of Jehoash when Athaliah slew all the royal family of J......

JEHOIAKIM
he whom Jehovah has set up, the second son of Josiah, and eighteenth king of Judah, which he ruled over for eleven years (B.C. 610-599). His original name was Eliakim (q.v.). On the death of his father his younger brother Jehoahaz (=Shallum, Jer. 22:11), who favoured the Chaldeans against the Egyptians, was made king by the people; but the king of Egypt, Pharaoh-necho, invaded the land and depos......

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). ......

JEHONADAB
Jehovah is liberal; or, whom Jehovah impels. (1.) A son of Shimeah, and nephew of David. It was he who gave the fatal wicked advice to Amnon, the heir to the throne (2-Sam 13:3). He was very "subtil," but unprincipled. (2.) A son of Rechab, the founder of a tribe who bound themselves by a vow to abstain from wine (Jer. 35:6). There were different settlements of Rechabites (Judg. 1:16;4:11; 1-Chr......

JEHONATHAN
whom Jehovah gave. (1.) One of the stewards of David's store-houses (1-Chr 27:25). (2.) A Levite who taught the law to the people of Judah (2-Chr 17:8). (3.) Neh. 12:18. ......

JEHORAM
Jehovah-exalted. (1.) Son of Toi, king of Hamath, sent by his father to congratulate David on the occasion of his victory over Hadadezer (2-Sam 8:10). (2.) A Levite of the family of Gershom (1-Chr 26:25). (3.) A priest sent by Jehoshaphat to instructruct the people in Judah (2-Chr 17:8). (4.) The son of Ahab and Jezebel, and successor to his brother Ahaziah on the throne of Israel. He reigne......

JEHOSHAPHAT
Jehovah-judged. (1.) One of David's body-guard (1-Chr 11:43). (2.) One of the priests who accompanied the removal of the ark to Jerusalem (1-Chr 15:24). (3.) Son of Ahilud, "recorder" or annalist under David and Solomon (2-Sam 8:16), a state officer of high rank, chancellor or vizier of the kingdom. (4.) Solomon's purveyor in Issachar (1-Kings 4:17). (5.) The son and successor of Asa, king......

JEHOSHAPHAT, VALLEY OF
mentioned in Scripture only in Joel 3:2, Joel 3: 12. This is the name given in modern times to the valley between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives, and the Kidron flows through it. Here Jehoshaphat overthrew the confederated enemies of Israel (Psa 83:6); and in this valley also God was to overthrow the Tyrians, Zidonians, etc. (Joel 3:4, Joel 3: 19), with an utter overthrow. This has been fulfill......

JEHOSHEBA
Jehovah-swearing, the daughter of Jehoram, the king of Israel. She is called Jehoshabeath in 2-Chr 22:11. She was the only princess of the royal house who was married to a high priest, Jehoiada (2-Chr 22:11). ......

JEHOVAH
the special and significant name (not merely an appellative title such as Lord [adonai]) by which God revealed himself to the ancient Hebrews (Exo 6:2, Exo 6: 3). This name, the Tetragrammaton of the Greeks, was held by the later Jews to be so sacred that it was never pronounced except by the high priest on the great Day of Atonement, when he entered into the most holy place. Whenever this name oc......

JEHOVAH-JIREH
Jehovah will see; i.e., will provide, the name given by Abraham to the scene of his offering up the ram which was caught in the thicket on Mount Moriah. The expression used in Gen. 22:14, Gen. 22: "in the mount of the Lord it shall be seen," has been regarded as equivalent to the saying, "Man's extremity is God's opportunity." ......

JEHOVAH-NISSI
Jehovah my banner, the title given by Moses to the altar which he erected on the hill on the top of which he stood with uplifted hands while Israel prevailed over their enemies the Amalekites (Exo 17:15). ......

JEHOVAH-SHALOM
Jehovah send peace, the name which Gideon gave to the altar he erected on the spot at Ophrah where the angel appeared to him (Judg. 6:24). ......

JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH
Jehovah is there, the symbolical title given by Ezekiel to Jerusalem, which was seen by him in vision (Ezek. 48:35). It was a type of the gospel Church. ......

JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU
Jehovah our rightousness, rendered in the Authorized Version, "The LORD our righteousness," a title given to the Messiah (Jer. 23:6, Jer. 23: marg.), and also to Jerusalem (33:16, 33: marg.). ......

JEHOZABAD
Jehovah-given. (1.) The son of Obed-edom (1-Chr 26:4), one of the Levite porters. (2.) The son of Shomer, one of the two conspirators who put king Jehoash to death in Millo in Jerusalem (2-Kings 12:21). (3.) 2-Chr 17:18. ......

JEHOZADAK
Jehovah-justified, the son of the high priest Seraiah at the time of the Babylonian exile (1-Chr 6:14, 1-Chr 6: 15). He was carried into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar, and probably died in Babylon. He was the father of Jeshua, or Joshua, who returned with Zerubbabel. ......

JEPHTHAH'S VOW
(Judg. 11:30, Judg. 11: 31). After a crushing defeat of the Ammonites, Jephthah returned to his own house, and the first to welcome him was his own daughter. This was a terrible blow to the victor, and in his despair he cried out, "Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low...I have opened my mouth unto the Lord, and cannot go back." With singular nobleness of spirit she answered, "Do to me ......

JEREMIAH, BOOK OF
consists of twenty-three separate and independent sections, arranged in five books. I. The introduction, ch. 1. II. Reproofs of the sins of the Jews, consisting of seven sections, (1.) ch. 2; (2.) ch. 3-6; (3.) ch. 7-10; (4.) ch. 11-13; (5.) ch. 7:18; (6.) 17:19ch. 20; (7.) ch. 21-24. III. A general review of all nations, in two sections, (1.) ch. 46-49; (2.) ch. 25; with an historical appendix of......

JERICHO
place of fragrance, a fenced city in the midst of a vast grove of palm trees, in the plain of Jordan, over against the place where that river was crossed by the Israelites (Josh. 3:16). Its site was near the 'Ain es-Sultan, Elisha's Fountain (2-Kings 2:19), about 5 miles west of Jordan. It was the most important city in the Jordan valley (Num. 22:1;34:15), and the strongest fortress in all the lan......

JERIMOTH
heights. (1.) One of the sons of Bela (1-Chr 7:7). (2.) 1-Chr 24:30, 1-Chr 24: a Merarite Levite. (3.) A Benjamite slinger who joined David at Ziklag (1-Chr 12:5). (4.) A Levitical musician under Heman his father (1-Chr 25:4). (5.) 1-Chr 27:19, 1-Chr 27: ruler of Naphtali. (6.) One of David's sons (2-Chr 11:18). (7.) A Levite, one of the overseers of the temple offerings (2-Chr 31:13) ......

JEROBOAM
increase of the people. (1.) The son of Nebat (1-Kings 11:26), "an Ephrathite," the first king of the ten tribes, over whom he reigned twenty-two years (B.C. 976-945). He was the son of a widow of Zereda, and while still young was promoted by Solomon to be chief superintendent of the "burnden", i.e., of the bands of forced labourers. Influenced by the words of the prophet Ahijah, he began to form ......

JEROHAM
cherished; who finds mercy. (1.) Father of Elkanah, and grandfather of the prophet Samuel (1-Sam 1:1). (2.) The father of Azareel, the "captain" of the tribe of Dan (1-Chr 27:22). (3.) 1-Chr 12:7; a Benjamite. (4.) 2-Chr 23:1; one whose son assisted in placing Joash on the throne. (5.) 1-Chr 9:8; a Benjamite. (6.) 1-Chr 9:12; a priest, perhaps the same as in Neh. 11:12. ......

JESHIMON
the waste, probably some high waste land to the south of the Dead Sea (Num. 21:20;23:28; 1-Sam 23:19, 1-Sam 23: 24); or rather not a proper name at all, but simply "the waste" or "wilderness," the district on which the plateau of Ziph (q.v.) looks down. ......

JETHRO
his excellence, or gain, a prince or priest of Midian, who succeeded his father Reuel. Moses spent forty years after his exile from the Egyptian court as keeper of Jethro's flocks. While the Israelites were encamped at Sinai, and soon after their victory over Amalek, Jethro came to meet Moses, bringing with him Zipporah and her two sons. They met at the "mount of God," and "Moses told him all that......

JEZREEL, BLOOD OF
the murder perpetrated here by Ahab and Jehu (Hos. 1:4; comp. 1-Kings 18:4; 2-Kings 9:6). ......

JEZREEL, DAY OF
the time predicted for the execution of vengeance for the deeds of blood committed there (Hos. 1:5). ......

JEZREEL, DITCH OF
(1-Kings 21:23; comp. 13), the fortification surrounding the city, outside of which Naboth was executed. ......

JEZREEL, FOUNTAIN OF
where Saul encamped before the battle of Gilboa (1-Sam 29:1). In the valley under Zerin there are two considerable springs, one of which, perhaps that here referred to, "flows from under a sort of cavern in the wall of conglomerate rock which here forms the base of Gilboa. The water is excellent; and issuing from crevices in the rocks, it spreads out at once into a fine limpid pool forty or fifty ......

JEZREEL, PORTION OF
the field adjoining the city (2-Kings 9:10, 2-Kings 9: 21, 36, 37). Here Naboth was stoned to death (1-Kings 21:13). ......

JEZREEL, TOWER OF
one of the turrets which guarded the entrance to the city (2-Kings 9:17). ......

JEZREEL, VALLEY OF
lying on the northern side of the city, between the ridges of Gilboa and Moreh, an offshoot of Esdraelon, running east to the Jordan (Josh. 17:16; Judg. 6:33; Hos. 1:5). It was the scene of the signal victory gained by the Israelites under Gideon over the Midianites, the Amalekites, and the "children of the east" (Judg. 6:3). Two centuries after this the Israelites were here defeated by the Philis......

JOAB
Jehovah is his father. (1.) One of the three sons of Zeruiah, David's sister, and "captain of the host" during the whole of David's reign (2-Sam 2:13;10:7;11:1; 1-Kings 11:15). His father's name is nowhere mentioned, although his sepulchre at Bethlehem is mentioned (2-Sam 2:32). His two brothers were Abishai and Asahel, the swift of foot, who was killed by Abner (2-Sam 2:13), whom Joab afterwards ......

JOAH
Jehovah his brother; i.e., helper. (1.) One of the sons of Obed-edom (1-Chr 26:4), a Korhite porter. (2.) A Levite of the family of Gershom (1-Chr 6:21), probably the same as Ethan (42). (3.) The son of Asaph, and "recorder" (q.v.) or chronicler to King Hezekiah (2-Kings 18:18, 2-Kings 18: 26, 37). (4.) Son of Joahaz, and "recorder" (q.v.) or keeper of the state archives under King Josiah (2......

JOAHAZ
(2-Chr 34:8), a contracted form of Jehoahaz (q.v.). ......

JOANNA
whom Jehovah has graciously given. (1.) The grandson of Zerubbabel, in the lineage of Christ (Luke 3:27); the same as Hananiah (1-Chr 3:19). (2.) The wife of Chuza, the steward of Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee (Luke 8:3). She was one of the women who ministered to our Lord, and to whom he appeared after his resurrection (Luke 8:3;24:10). ......

JOASH
whom Jehovah bestowed. (1.) A contracted form of Jehoash, the father of Gideon (Judg. 6:11, Judg. 6: 29;8:13, 8: 29, 32). (2.) One of the Benjamite archers who joined David at Ziklag (1-Chr 12:3). (3.) One of King Ahab's sons (1-Kings 22:26). (4.) King of Judah (2-Kings 11:2;12:19, 12: 20). (See JEHOASH [1].) (5.) King of Israel (2-Kings 13:9, 2-Kings 13: 12, 13, 25). (See JEHOASH [2].) ......

JOB
persecuted, an Arabian patriarch who resided in the land of Uz (q.v.). While living in the midst of great prosperity, he was suddenly overwhelmed by a series of sore trials that fell upon him. Amid all his sufferings he maintained his integrity. Once more God visited him with the rich tokens of his goodness and even greater prosperity than he had enjoyed before. He survived the period of trial for......

JOB, BOOK OF
A great diversity of opinion exists as to the authorship of this book. From internal evidence, such as the similarity of sentiment and language to those in the Psalms and Proverbs (see Ps. 88 and 89), the prevalence of the idea of "wisdom," and the style and character of the composition, it is supposed by some to have been written in the time of David and Solomon. Others argue that it was written ......

JOBAB
dweller in the desert. (1.) One of the sons of Joktan, and founder of an Arabian tribe (Gen. 10:29). (2.) King of Edom, succeeded Bela (Gen. 36:33, Gen. 36: 34). (3.) A Canaanitish king (Josh. 11:1) who joined the confederacy against Joshua. ......

JOCHEBED
Jehovah is her glory, the wife of Amram, and the mother of Miriam, Aaron, and Moses (Num. 26:59). She is spoken of as the sister of Kohath, Amram's father (Exo 6:20; comp. 16, 18;2:1). ......

JOEL
Jehovah is his God. (1.) The oldest of Samuel's two sons appointed by him as judges in Beersheba (1-Sam 8:2). (See VASHNI ......

JOEL, BOOK OF
Joel was probably a resident in Judah, as his commission was to that people. He makes frequent mention of Judah and Jerusalem (1:14;2:1, 2: 15, 32;3:1, 3: 12, 17, 20, 21). He probably flourished in the reign of Uzziah (about B.C. 800), and was contemporary with Amos and Isaiah. The contents of this book are, (1.) A prophecy of a great public calamity then impending over the land, consisting of......

JOELAH
a Benjamite who joined David at Ziklag (1-Chr 12:7). ......

JOEZER
Jehovah is his help, one of the Korhites who became part of David's body-guard (1-Chr 12:6). ......

JOHANAN
whom Jehovah graciously bestows. (1.) One of the Gadite heroes who joined David in the desert of Judah (1-Chr 12:12). (2.) The oldest of King Josiah's sons (1-Chr 3:15). (3.) Son of Careah, one of the Jewish chiefs who rallied round Gedaliah, whom Nebuchadnezzar had made governor in Jerusalem (2-Kings 25:23; Jer. 40:8). He warned Gedaliah of the plans of Ishmael against him, a warning which wa......

JOHN
(1.) One who, with Annas and Caiaphas, sat in judgment on the apostles Peter and John (Acts 4:6). He was of the kindred of the high priest; otherwise unknown. (2.) The Hebrew name of Mark (q.v.). He is designated by this name in the acts of the Apostles (Acts 12:12, Acts 12: 25; Acts 13:5, Acts 13: 13; Acts 15:37). (3.) THE APOSTLE, brother of James the "Greater" (Matt. 4:21;10:2; Mark 1:19; M......

JOHN THE BAPTIST
the "forerunner of our Lord." We have but fragmentary and imperfect accounts of him in the Gospels. He was of priestly descent. His father, Zacharias, was a priest of the course of Abia (1-Chr 24:10), and his mother, Elisabeth, was of the daughters of Aaron (Luke 1:5). The mission of John was the subject of prophecy (Matt. 3:3; Isa. 40:3; Mal. 3:1). His birth, which took place six months before th......

JOHN, FIRST EPISTLE OF
the fourth of the catholic or "general" epistles. It was evidently written by John the evangelist, and probably also at Ephesus, and when the writer was in advanced age. The purpose of the apostle (1:1) is to declare the Word of Life to those to whom he writes, in order that they might be united in fellowship with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. He shows that the means of union with God are, ......

JOHN, GOSPEL OF
The genuineness of this Gospel, i.e., the fact that the apostle John was its author, is beyond all reasonable doubt. In recent times, from about 1820, many attempts have been made to impugn its genuineness, but without success. The design of John in writing this Gospel is stated by himself (John 20:31). It was at one time supposed that he wrote for the purpose of supplying the omissions of the s......

JOHN, SECOND EPISTLE OF
is addressed to "the elect lady," and closes with the words, "The children of thy elect sister greet thee;" but some would read instead of "lady" the proper name Kyria. Of the thirteen verses composing this epistle seven are in the First Epistle. The person addressed is commended for her piety, and is warned against false teachers. ......

JOHN, THIRD EPISTLE OF
is addressed to Caius, or Gaius, but whether to the Christian of that name in Macedonia (Acts 19:29) or in Corinth (Rom. 16:23) or in Derbe (Acts 20:4) is uncertain. It was written for the purpose of commending to Gaius some Christians who were strangers in the place where he lived, and who had gone thither for the purpose of preaching the gospel (ver. 7). The Second and Third Epistles were prob......

JOIADA
(whom Jehovah favours) = Jehoiada. (1.) Neh. 3:6. (2.) One of the high priests (12:10, 12: 11, 22). ......

JOIAKIM
(whom Jehovah has set up) = Jehoiakim, a high priest, the son and successor of Jeshua (Neh. 12:10, Neh. 12: 12, 26). ......

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." ......

JOKDEAM
a city in the mountains of Judah (Josh. 15:56). ......

JOKIM
whom Jehovah has set up, one of the descendants of Shelah (1-Chr 4:22). ......

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"). ......

JOKNEAM
gathered by the people, (Josh. 19:11;21:34), a city "of Carmel" (12:22), i.e., on Carmel, allotted with its suburbs to the Merarite Levites. It is the modern Tell Kaimon, about 12 miles south-west of Nazareth, on the south of the river Kishon.......

JOKSHAN
snarer, the second son of Abraham and Keturah (Gen. 25:2, Gen. 25: 3; 1-Chr 1:32).......

JOKTAN
little, the second of the two sons of Eber (Gen. 10:25; 1-Chr 1:19). There is an Arab tradition that Joktan (Arab. Kahtan) was the progenitor of all the purest tribes of Central and Southern Arabia.......

JOKTHEEL
subdued by God. (1.) A city of Judah near Lachish (Josh. 15, 38). Perhaps the ruin Kutlaneh, south of Gezer. (2.) Amaziah, king of Judah, undertook a great expedition against Edom (2-Chr 25:5), which was completely successful. He routed the Edomites and slew vast numbers of them. So wonderful did this victory appear to him that he acknowledged that it could have been achieved only by the special......

JONADAB
=Jehon'adab. (1.) The son of Rechab, and founder of the Rechabites (q.v.), 2-Kings 10:15; Jer. 35:6, Jer. 35: 10. (2.) The son of Shimeah, David's brother (2-Sam 13:3). He was "a very subtil man."......

JONAH
a dove, the son of Amittai of Gath-hepher. He was a prophet of Israel, and predicted the restoration of the ancient boundaries (2-Kings 14:25) of the kingdom. He exercised his ministry very early in the reign of Jeroboam II., and thus was contemporary with Hosea and Amos; or possibly he preceded them, and consequently may have been the very oldest of all the prophets whose writings we possess. His......

JONAH, BOOK OF
This book professes to give an account of what actually took place in the experience of the prophet. Some critics have sought to interpret the book as a parable or allegory, and not as a history. They have done so for various reasons. Thus (1) some reject it on the ground that the miraculous element enters so largely into it, and that it is not prophetical but narrative in its form; (2) others, de......

JONAS
(1.) Greek form of Jonah (Matt. 12:39, Matt. 12: 40, 41, etc.). (2.) The father of the apostles Peter (John 21:15) and Andrew; but the reading should be (also 1:42), as in the Revised Version, "John," instead of Jonas.......

JONATH-ELEM-RECHOKIM
dove of the dumbness of the distance; i.e., "the silent dove in distant places", title of Ps. 56. This was probably the name of some well known tune or melody to which the psalm was to be sung.......

JONATHAN
whom Jehovah gave, the name of fifteen or more persons that are mentioned in Scripture. The chief of these are, (1.) A Levite descended from Gershom (Judg. 18:30). His history is recorded 17:7 18:30. The Rabbins changed this name into Manasseh "to screen the memory of the great lawgiver from the stain of having so unworthy an apostate among his near descendants." He became priest of the idol image......

JOPPA
beauty, a town in the portion of Dan (Josh. 19:46; A.V., "Japho"), on a sandy promontory between Caesarea and Gaza, and at a distance of 30 miles north-west from Jerusalem. It is one of the oldest towns in Asia. It was and still is the chief sea-port of Judea. It was never wrested from the Phoenicians. It became a Jewish town only in the second century B.C. It was from this port that Jonah "took s......

JORAM
=Jeho'ram. (1.) One of the kings of Israel (2-Kings 8:16, 2-Kings 8: 25, 28). He was the son of Ahab. (2.) Jehoram, the son and successor of Jehoshaphat on the throne of Judah (2-Kings 8:24).......

JORDAN
Heb. Yarden, "the descender;" Arab. Nahr-esh-Sheriah, "the watering-place" the chief river of Palestine. It flows from north to south down a deep valley in the centre of the country. The name descender is significant of the fact that there is along its whole course a descent to its banks; or it may simply denote the rapidity with which it "descends" to the Dead Sea. It originates in the snows of......

JOSEPH
remover or increaser. (1.) The elder of the two sons of Jacob by Rachel (Gen. 30:23, Gen. 30: 24), who, on the occasion of his birth, said, "God hath taken away [Heb. 'asaph] my reproach." "The Lord shall add [Heb. yoseph] to me another son" (Gen. 30:24). He was a child of probably six years of age when his father returned from Haran to Canaan and took up his residence in the old patriarchal town ......

JOSHUA
Jehovah is his help, or Jehovah the Saviour. The son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim, the successor of Moses as the leader of Israel. He is called Jehoshua in Num. 13:16 (A.V.), and Jesus in Acts 7:45 and Heb. 4:8 (R.V., Joshua). He was born in Egypt, and was probably of the age of Caleb, with whom he is generally associated. He shared in all the events of the Exodus, and held the place of comma......

JOSHUA, THE BOOK OF
contains a history of the Israelites from the death of Moses to that of Joshua. It consists of three parts: (1.) The history of the conquest of the land (1-12). (2.) The allotment of the land to the different tribes, with the appointment of cities of refuge, the provision for the Levites (13-22), and the dismissal of the eastern tribes to their homes. This section has been compared to the Domesday......

JOSIAH
healed by Jehovah, or Jehovah will support. The son of Amon, and his successor on the throne of Judah (2-Kings 22:1; 2-Chr 34:1). His history is contained in 2 Kings 22, 23. He stands foremost among all the kings of the line of David for unswerving loyalty to Jehovah (23:25). He "did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the way of David his father." He ascended the thro......

JOT
or Iota, the smallest letter of the Greek alphabet, used metaphorically or proverbially for the smallest thing (Matt. 5:18); or it may be = yod, which is the smallest of the Hebrew letters.......

JOTHAM
Jehovah is perfect. (1.) The youngest of Gideon's seventy sons. He escaped when the rest were put to death by the order of Abimelech (Judg. 9:5). When "the citizens of Shechem and the whole house of Millo" were gathered together "by the plain of the pillar" (i.e., the stone set up by Joshua,24:26; comp. Gen. 35:4) "that was in Shechem, to make Abimelech king," from one of the heights of Mount Geri......

JOURNEY
(1.) A day's journey in the East is from 16 to 20 miles (Num. 11:31). (2.) A Sabbath-day's journey is 2,000 paces or yards from the city walls (Acts 1:12). According to Jewish tradition, it was the distance one might travel without violating the law of Exo 16:29. (See SABBATH.)......

JOZABAD
whom Jehovah bestows. (1.) One of the Benjamite archers who joined David at Ziklag (1-Chr 12:4). (2.) A chief of the tribe of Manasseh (1-Chr 12:20).......

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).......

JUDAH UPON JORDAN
The Authorized Version, following the Vulgate, has this rendering in Josh. 19:34. It has been suggested that, following the Masoretic punctuation, the expression should read thus, "and Judah; the Jordan was toward the sun-rising." The sixty cities (Havoth-jair, Num. 32:41) on the east of Jordan were reckoned as belonging to Judah, because Jair, their founder, was a Manassite only on his mother's s......

JUDAH, KINGDOM OF
When the disruption took place at Shechem, at first only the tribe of Judah followed the house of David. But very soon after the tribe of Benjamin joined the tribe of Judah, and Jerusalem became the capital of the new kingdom (Josh. 18:28), which was called the kingdom of Judah. It was very small in extent, being only about the size of the Scottish county of Perth. For the first sixty years the ......

JUDAH, TRIBE OF
Judah and his three surviving sons went down with Jacob into Egypt (Gen. 46:12; Exo 1:2). At the time of the Exodus, when we meet with the family of Judah again, they have increased to the number of 74,000 males (Num. 1:26, Num. 1: 27). Its number increased in the wilderness (26:22). Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, represented the tribe as one of the spies (13:6;34:19). This tribe marched at the van ......

JUDE, EPISTLE OF
The author was "Judas, the brother of James" the Less (Jude 1:1), called also Lebbaeus (Matt. 10:3) and Thaddaeus (Mark 3:18). The genuineness of this epistle was early questioned, and doubts regarding it were revived at the time of the Reformation; but the evidences in support of its claims are complete. It has all the marks of having proceeded from the writer whose name it bears. There is noth......

JUDGES, BOOK OF
is so called because it contains the history of the deliverance and government of Israel by the men who bore the title of the "judges." The book of Ruth originally formed part of this book, but about A.D. 450 it was separated from it and placed in the Hebrew scriptures immediately after the Song of Solomon. The book contains, (1.) An introduction (1-3:6), connecting it with the previous narrativ......

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.......

JUSTICE OF GOD
that perfection of his nature whereby he is infinitely righteous in himself and in all he does, the righteousness of the divine nature exercised in his moral government. At first God imposes righteous laws on his creatures and executes them righteously. Justice is not an optional product of his will, but an unchangeable principle of his very nature. His legislative justice is his requiring of his ......

JUSTIFICATION
a forensic term, opposed to condemnation. As regards its nature, it is the judicial act of God, by which he pardons all the sins of those who believe in Christ, and accounts, accepts, and treats them as righteous in the eye of the law, i.e., as conformed to all its demands. In addition to the pardon (q.v.) of sin, justification declares that all the claims of the law are satisfied in respect of th......

KADMONITES
Orientals, the name of a Canaanitish tribe which inhabited the north-eastern part of Palestine in the time of Abraham (Gen. 15:19). Probably they were identical with the "children of the east," who inhabited the country between Palestine and the Euphrates.......

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.......

KEDEMOTH
beginnings; easternmost, a city of Reuben, assigned to the Levites of the family of Merari (Josh. 13:18). It lay not far north-east of Dibon-gad, east of the Dead Sea.......

KEDRON
the valley, now quite narrow, between the Mount of Olives and Mount Moriah. The upper part of it is called the Valley of Jehoshaphat. The LXX., in 1-Kings 15:13, 1-Kings 15: translate "of the cedar." The word means "black," and may refer to the colour of the water or the gloom of the ravine, or the black green of the cedars which grew there. John 18:1, John 18: "Cedron," only here in New Testament......

KERIOTH
cities. (1.) A town in the south of Judah (Josh. 15:25). Judas the traitor was probably a native of this place, and hence his name Iscariot. It has been identified with the ruins of el-Kureitein, about 10 miles south of Hebron. (See HAZOR [4]). (2.) A city of Moab (Jer. 48:24, Jer. 48: 41), called Kirioth (Amos 2:2).......

KIBROTH-HATTAAVAH
the graves of the longing or of lust, one of the stations of the Israelites in the wilderness. It was probably in the Wady Murrah, and has been identified with the Erweis el-Ebeirig, where the remains of an ancient encampment have been found, about 30 miles north-east of Sinai, and exactly a day's journey from 'Ain Hudherah. "Here began the troubles of the journey. First, complaints broke out am......

KIDRON
= Kedron = Cedron, turbid, the winter torrent which flows through the Valley of Jehoshaphat, on the eastern side of Jerusalem, between the city and the Mount of Olives. This valley is known in Scripture only by the name "the brook Kidron." David crossed this brook bare-foot and weeping, when fleeing from Absalom (2-Sam 15:23, 2-Sam 15: 30), and it was frequently crossed by our Lord in his journeyi......

KINGDOM OF GOD
(Matt. 6:33; Mark 1:14, Mark 1: 15; Luke 4:43) = "kingdom of Christ" (Matt. 13:41;20:21) = "kingdom of Christ and of God" (Eph. 5:5) = "kingdom of David" (Mark 11:10) = "the kingdom" (Matt. 8:12;13:19) = "kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 3:2;4:17;13:41), all denote the same thing under different aspects, viz.: (1) Christ's mediatorial authority, or his rule on the earth; (2) the blessings and advantages ......

KINGLY OFFICE OF CHRIST
one of the three special relations in which Christ stands to his people. Christ's office as mediator comprehends three different functions, viz., those of a prophet, priest, and king. These are not three distinct offices, but three functions of the one office of mediator. Christ is King and sovereign Head over his Church and over all things to his Church (Eph. 1:22;4:15; Col. 1:18;2:19). He exec......

KINGS, THE BOOKS OF
The two books of Kings formed originally but one book in the Hebrew Scriptures. The present division into two books was first made by the LXX., which now, with the Vulgate, numbers them as the third and fourth books of Kings, the two books of Samuel being the first and second books of Kings. They contain the annals of the Jewish commonwealth from the accession of Solomon till the subjugation of ......

KIR OF MOAB
Isa. 15:1. The two strongholds of Moab were Ar and Kir, which latter is probably the Kir-haraseth (16:7) following. ......

KIRJATH-HUZOTH
city of streets, Num. 22:39, Num. 22: a Moabite city, which some identify with Kirjathaim. Balak here received and entertained Balaam, whom he had invited from Pethor, among the "mountains of the east," beyond the Euphrates, to lay his ban upon the Israelites, whose progress he had no hope otherwise of arresting. It was probably from the summit of Attarus, the high place near the city, that the so......

KISHION
hardness, a city of Issachar assigned to the Gershonite Levites (Josh. 19:20), the same as Kishon (21:28). ......

KISHON
winding, a winter torrent of Central Palestine, which rises about the roots of Tabor and Gilboa, and passing in a northerly direction through the plains of Esdraelon and Acre, falls into the Mediterranean at the north-eastern corner of the bay of Acre, at the foot of Carmel. It is the drain by which the waters of the plain of Esdraelon and of the mountains that surround it find their way to the se......

KITRON
knotty, a city of Zebulun (Judg. 1:30), called also Kattath (Josh. 19:15); supposed to be "Cana of Galilee." ......

KNEADING-TROUGH
the vessel in which the dough, after being mixed and leavened, was left to swell or ferment (Exo 8:3;12:34; Deut. 28:5, Deut. 28: 7). The dough in the vessels at the time of the Exodus was still unleavened, because the people were compelled to withdraw in haste. ......

KNOCK
"Though Orientals are very jealous of their privacy, they never knock when about to enter your room, but walk in without warning or ceremony. It is nearly impossible to teach an Arab servant to knock at your door. They give warning at the outer gate either by calling or knocking. To stand and call is a very common and respectful mode. Thus Moses commanded the holder of a pledge to stand without an......

KNOP
some architectural ornament. (1.) Heb. kaphtor (Exo 25:31), occurring in the description of the candlestick. It was an ornamental swell beneath the cups of the candlestick, probably an imitation of the fruit of the almond. (2.) Heb. peka'im, found only in 1-Kings 6:18 7:24, 7: an ornament resembling a small gourd or an egg, on the cedar wainscot in the temple and on the castings on the brim of t......

KOA
he-camel, occurs only in Ezek. 23:23, Ezek. 23: some province or place in the Babylonian empire, used in this passage along with Shoa (q.v.). ......

KOHATH
assembly, the second son of Levi, and father of Amram (Gen. 46:11). He came down to Egypt with Jacob, and lived to the age of one hundred and thirty-three years (Exo 6:18). ......

KOHATHITES
the descendants of Kohath. They formed the first of the three divisions of the Levites (Exo 6:16, Exo 6: 18; Num. 3:17). In the journeyings of the Israelites they had the charge of the most holy portion of the vessels of the tabernacle, including the ark (Num. 4). Their place in the marching and encampment was south of the tabernacle (Num. 3:29, Num. 3: 31). Their numbers at different times are sp......

KORAH
ice, hail. (1.) The third son of Esau, by Aholibamah (Gen. 36:14; 1-Chr 1:35). (2.) A Levite, the son of Izhar, the brother of Amram, the father of Moses and Aaron (Exo 6:21). The institution of the Aaronic priesthood and the Levitical service at Sinai was a great religious revolution. The old priesthood of the heads of families passed away. This gave rise to murmurings and discontent, while the......

KORAHITES
that portion of the Kohathites that descended from Korah. (1.) They were an important branch of the singers of the Kohathite division (2-Chr 20:19). There are eleven psalms (42-49; 84; 85; 87; 88) dedicated to the sons of Korah. (2.) Some of the sons of Korah also were "porters" of the temple (1-Chr 9:17); one of them was over "things that were made in the pans" (31), i.e., the baking in pans fo......

KORE
partridge. (1.) A Levite and temple-warder of the Korahites, the son of Asaph. He was father of Shallum and Meshelemiah, temple-porters (1-Chr 9:19;26:1). (2.) A Levitical porter at the east gate of the temple (2-Chr 31:14). (3.) In 1-Chr 26:19 the word should be "Korahites," as in the Revised Version. ......

KORHITES
a Levitical family descended from Korah (Exo 6:24; 1-Chr 12:6;26:1; 2-Chr 20:19). ......

KOZ
thorn. (1.) A descendant of Judah. 1-Chr 4:8, 1-Chr 4: "Coz;" R.V., "Hakkoz." (2.) A priest, the head of the seventh division of the priests (Ezra 2:61; Neh. 3:4, Neh. 3: 21;7:63). In 1-Chr 24:10 the word has the article prefixed, and it is taken as a part of the word "Hakkoz." ......

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......

LAODICEA
The city of this name mentioned in Scripture lay on the confines of Phrygia and Lydia, about 40 miles east of Ephesus (Rev. 3:14), on the banks of the Lycus. It was originally called Diospolis and then Rhoas, but afterwards Laodicea, from Laodice, the wife of Antiochus II., king of Syria, who rebuilt it. It was one of the most important and flourishing cities of Asia Minor. At a very early period ......

LAODICEA, EPISTLE FROM
(Col. 4:16), was probably the Epistle to the Ephesians, as designed for general circulation. It would reach the Colossians by way of Laodicea. ......

LAPIDOTH
torches. Deborah is called "the wife of Lapidoth" (Judg. 4:4). Some have rendered the expression "a woman of a fiery spirit," under the supposition that Lapidoth is not a proper name, a woman of a torch-like spirit. ......

LAW OF MOSES
is the whole body of the Mosaic legislation (1-Kings 2:3; 2-Kings 23:25; Ezra 3:2). It is called by way of eminence simply "the Law" (Heb. Torah, Deut. 1:5;4:8, 4: 44;17:18, 17: 19;27:3, 27: 8). As a written code it is called the "book of the law of Moses" (2-Kings 14:6; Isa. 8:20), the "book of the law of God" (Josh. 24:26). The great leading principle of the Mosaic law is that it is essentiall......

LEANNOTH
for answering; i.e., in singing, occurs in the title to Ps. 88. The title "Mahalath (q.v.) Leannoth" may be rendered "concerning sickness, to be sung" i.e., perhaps, to be sung in sickness. ......

LEBANON
white, "the white mountain of Syria," is the loftiest and most celebrated mountain range in Syria. It is a branch running southward from the Caucasus, and at its lower end forking into two parallel ranges, the eastern or Anti-Lebanon, and the western or Lebanon proper. They enclose a long valley (Josh. 11:17) of from 5 to 8 miles in width, called by Roman writers Coele-Syria, now called el-Buka'a,......

LEBONAH
frankincense, a town near Shiloh, on the north side of Bethel (Judg. 21:19). It has been identified with el-Lubban, to the south of Nablus. ......

LEGION
a regiment of the Roman army, the number of men composing which differed at different times. It originally consisted of three thousand men, but in the time of Christ consisted of six thousand, exclusive of horsemen, who were in number a tenth of the foot-men. The word is used (Matt. 26:53; Mark 5:9) to express simply a great multitude. ......

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). ......

LEPROSY
(Heb. tsara'ath, a "smiting," a "stroke," because the disease was regarded as a direct providential infliction). This name is from the Greek lepra, by which the Greek physicians designated the disease from its scaliness. We have the description of the disease, as well as the regulations connected with it, in Lev. 13; 14; Num. 12:10, Num. 12: etc. There were reckoned six different circumstances und......

LIGN-ALOES
(only in pl., Heb. 'ahalim), a perfume derived from some Oriental tree (Num. 24:6), probably the agallochum or aloe-wood. (See ALOES). ......

LIONS
the most powerful of all carnivorous animals. Although not now found in Palestine, they must have been in ancient times very numerous there. They had their lairs in the forests (Jer. 5:6;12:8; Amos 3:4), in the caves of the mountains (4:8; Nah. 2:12), and in the canebrakes on the banks of the Jordan (Jer. 49:19;50:44; Zech. 11:3). No fewer than at least six different words are used in the Old Te......

LO-AMMI
not my people, a symbolical name given by God's command to Hosea's second son in token of Jehovah's rejection of his people (Hos. 1:9, Hos. 1: 10), his treatment of them as a foreign people. This Hebrew word is rendered by "not my people" in ver. 10;2:23. ......

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). ......

LO-RUHAMAH
not pitied, the name of the prophet Hosea's first daughter, a type of Jehovah's temporary rejection of his people (Hos. 1:6;2:23). ......

LOAN
The Mosaic law required that when an Israelite needed to borrow, what he asked was to be freely lent to him, and no interest was to be charged, although interest might be taken of a foreigner (Exo 22:25; Deut. 23:19, Deut. 23: 20; Lev. 25:35). At the end of seven years all debts were remitted. Of a foreigner the loan might, however, be exacted. At a later period of the Hebrew commonwealth, when co......

LOCK
The Hebrews usually secured their doors by bars of wood or iron (Isa. 45:2; 1-Kings 4:3). These were the locks originally used, and were opened and shut by large keys applied through an opening in the outside (Judg. 3:24). (See KEY.) Lock of hair (Judg. 16:13, Judg. 16: 19; Ezek. 8:3; Num. 6:5, Num. 6: etc.). ......

LOCUST
There are ten Hebrew words used in Scripture to signify locust. In the New Testament locusts are mentioned as forming part of the food of John the Baptist (Matt. 3:4; Mark 1:6). By the Mosaic law they were reckoned "clean," so that he could lawfully eat them. The name also occurs in Rev. 9:3, Rev. 9: 7, in allusion to this Oriental devastating insect. Locusts belong to the class of Orthoptera, i......

LODGE
a shed for a watchman in a garden (Isa. 1:8). The Hebrew name _melunah_ is rendered "cottage" (q.v.) in Isa. 24:20. It also denotes a hammock or hanging-bed. ......

LOG
the smallest measure for liquids used by the Hebrews (Lev. 14:10, Lev. 14: 12, 15, 21, 24), called in the Vulgate sextarius. It is the Hebrew unit of measure of capacity, and is equal to the contents of six ordinary hen's eggs=the twelfth part of a him, or nearly a pint. ......

LOIS
the maternal grandmother of Timothy. She is commended by Paul for her faith (2-Tim 1:5). ......

LOOP
a knotted "eye" of cord, corresponding to the "taches" or knobs in the edges of the curtains of the tabernacle, for joining them into a continuous circuit, fifty to a curtain (Exo 26:4, Exo 26: 5, 10, 11). ......

LORD
There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered. (1.) Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in Exo 6:3; Psa 83:18; Isa. 12:2;26:4, 26: both in the Authorized and the Revised Version. (2.) Heb. 'adon, means one possessed of absolute control. It denotes a ma......

LORD'S DAY
only once, in Rev. 1:10, Rev. 1: was in the early Christian ages used to denote the first day of the week, which commemorated the Lord's resurrection. There is every reason to conclude that John thus used the name. (See SABBATH.) ......

LORD'S PRAYER
the name given to the only form of prayer Christ taught his disciples (Matt. 6:9). The closing doxology of the prayer is omitted by Luke (11:2), also in the R.V. of Matt. 6:13. This prayer contains no allusion to the atonement of Christ, nor to the offices of the Holy Spirit. "All Christian prayer is based on the Lord's Prayer, but its spirit is also guided by that of His prayer in Gethsemane and ......

LORD'S SUPPER
(1-Cor 11:20), called also "the Lord's table" (10:21), "communion," "cup of blessing" (10:16), and "breaking of bread" (Acts 2:42). In the early Church it was called also "eucharist," or giving of thanks (comp. Matt. 26:27), and generally by the Latin Church "mass," a name derived from the formula of dismission, Ite, missa est, i.e., "Go, it is discharged." The account of the institution of th......

LOT
(Heb. goral, a "pebble"), a small stone used in casting lots (Num. 33:54; Jonah 1:7). The lot was always resorted to by the Hebrews with strictest reference to the interposition of God, and as a method of ascertaining the divine will (Prov. 16:33), and in serious cases of doubt (Esther 3:7). Thus the lot was used at the division of the land of Canaan among the serveral tribes (Num. 26:55;34:13), a......

LOTAN
coverer, one of the sons of Seir, the Horite (Gen. 36:20, Gen. 36: 29). ......

LOVE
This word seems to require explanation only in the case of its use by our Lord in his interview with "Simon, the son of Jonas," after his resurrection (John 21:16, John 21: 17). When our Lord says, "Lovest thou me?" he uses the Greek word _agapas_; and when Simon answers, he uses the Greek word _philo_, i.e., "I love." This is the usage in the first and second questions put by our Lord; but in the......

LUKE, GOSPEL ACCORDING TO
was written by Luke. He does not claim to have been an eye-witness of our Lord's ministry, but to have gone to the best sources of information within his reach, and to have written an orderly narrative of the facts (Luke 1:1). The authors of the first three Gospels, the synoptics, wrote independently of each other. Each wrote his independent narrative under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Each ......

LYCAONIA
an inland province of Asia Minor, on the west of Cappadocia and the south of Galatia. It was a Roman province, and its chief towns were Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. The "speech of Lycaonia" (Acts 14:11) was probably the ancient Assyrian language, or perhaps, as others think, a corrupt Greek intermingled with Syriac words. Paul preached in this region, and revisited it (Acts 16:1;18:23;19:1). ......

MACCABEES, BOOKS OF THE
There were originally five books of the Maccabees. The first contains a history of the war of independence, commencing (B.C. 175) in a series of patriotic struggles against the tyranny of Antiochus Epiphanes, and terminating B.C. 135. It became part of the Vulgate Version of the Bible, and was thus retained among the Apocrypha. The second gives a history of the Maccabees' struggle from B.C. 176 ......

MACEDONIA
in New Testament times, was a Roman province lying north of Greece. It was governed by a propraetor with the title of proconsul. Paul was summoned by the vision of the "man of Macedonia" to preach the gospel there (Acts 16:9). Frequent allusion is made to this event (18:5;19:21; Rom. 15:26; 2-Cor 1:16;11:9; Phil. 4:15). The history of Paul's first journey through Macedonia is given in detail in Ac......

MADON
strife, a Canaanitish city in the north of Palestine (Josh. 11:1;12:19), whose king was slain by Joshua; perhaps the ruin Madin, near Hattin, some 5 miles west of Tiberias. ......

MAGOG
region of Gog, the second of the "sons" of Japheth (Gen. 10:2; 1-Chr 1:5). In Ezekiel (38:2;39:6) it is the name of a nation, probably some Scythian or Tartar tribe descended from Japheth. They are described as skilled horsemen, and expert in the use of the bow. The Latin father Jerome says that this word denotes "Scythian nations, fierce and innumerable, who live beyond the Caucasus and the Lake ......

MAGOR-MISSABIB
fear on every side, (Jer. 20:3), a symbolical name given to the priest Pashur, expressive of the fate announced by the prophet as about to come upon him. Pashur was to be carried to Babylon, and there die. ......

MAHALATH LEANNOTH MASCHIL
This word leannoth seems to point to some kind of instrument unknown (Ps. 88, title). The whole phrase has by others been rendered, "On the sickness of affliction: a lesson;" or, "Concerning afflictive sickness: a didactic psalm." ......

MAHAZIOTH
visions, a Kohathite Levite, chief of the twenty-third course of musicians (1-Chr 25:4, 1-Chr 25: 30). ......

MAHLON
sickly, the elder of Elimelech the Bethlehemite's two sons by Naomi. He married Ruth and died childless (Ruth 1:2, Ruth 1: 5;4:9, 4: 10), in the land of Moab. ......

MAHOL
dance, the father of four sons (1-Kings 4:31) who were inferior in wisdom only to Solomon. ......

MAIL, COAT OF
"a corselet of scales," a cuirass formed of pieces of metal overlapping each other, like fish-scales (1-Sam 17:5); also (38) a corselet or garment thus encased. ......

MAKHELOTH
assemblies, a station of the Israelites in the desert (Num. 33:25, Num. 33: 26). ......

MALACHI, PROPHECIES OF
The contents of the book are comprised in four chapters. In the Hebrew text the third and fourth chapters (of the A.V.) form but one. The whole consists of three sections, preceded by an introduction (Mal. 1:1), in which the prophet reminds Israel of Jehovah's love to them. The first section (1:6:9) contains a stern rebuke addressed to the priests who had despised the name of Jehovah, and been lea......

MALLOTHI
my fulness, a Kohathite Levite, one of the sons of Heman the Levite (1-Chr 25:4), and chief of the nineteenth division of the temple musicians (26). ......

MALLOWS
occurs only in Job 30:4 (R.V., "saltwort"). The word so rendered (malluah, from melah, "salt") most probably denotes the Atriplex halimus of Linnaeus, a species of sea purslane found on the shores of the Dead Sea, as also of the Mediterranean, and in salt marshes. It is a tall shrubby orach, growing to the height sometimes of 10 feet. Its buds and leaves, with those of other saline plants, are eat......

MAMMON
a Chaldee or Syriac word meaning "wealth" or "riches" (Luke 16:9); also, by personification, the god of riches (Matt. 6:24; Luke 16:9). ......

MAN OF SIN
a designation of Antichrist given in 2-Thess 2:3, 2-Thess 2: usually regarded as descriptive of the Papal power; but "in whomsoever these distinctive features are found, whoever wields temporal and spiritual power in any degree similar to that in which the man of sin is here described as wielding it, he, be he pope or potentate, is beyond all doubt a distinct type of Antichrist." ......

MANOAH
rest, a Danite, the father of Samson (Judg. 13:1, Judg. 13: 14:2). ......

MAOCH
compressed, the father of Achish, king of Gath (1-Sam 27:2). Called also Maachah (1-Kings 2:39). ......

MAON
habitation, a town in the tribe of Judah, about 7 miles south of Hebron, which gave its name to the wilderness, the district round the conical hill on which the town stood. Here David hid from Saul, and here Nabal had his possessions and his home (1-Sam 23:24, 1-Sam 23: 25;25:2). "Only some small foundations of hewn stone, a square enclosure, and several cisterns are now to be seen at Maon. Are th......

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......

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). ......

MASON
an artificer in stone. The Tyrians seem to have been specially skilled in architecture (1-Kings 5:17, 1-Kings 5: 18; 2-Sam 5:11). This art the Hebrews no doubt learned in Egypt (Exo 1:11, Exo 1: 14), where ruins of temples and palaces fill the traveller with wonder at the present day. ......

MATTHEW, GOSPEL ACCORDING TO
The author of this book was beyond a doubt the Matthew, an apostle of our Lord, whose name it bears. He wrote the Gospel of Christ according to his own plans and aims, and from his own point of view, as did also the other "evangelists." As to the time of its composition, there is little in the Gospel itself to indicate. It was evidently written before the destruction of Jerusalem (Matt. 24), and......

MATTOCK
(1.) Heb. ma'eder, an instrument for dressing or pruning a vineyard (Isa. 7:25); a weeding-hoe. (2.) Heb. mahareshah (1-Sam 13:1), perhaps the ploughshare or coulter. (3.) Heb. herebh, marg. of text (2-Chr 34:6). Authorized Version, "with their mattocks," marg. "mauls." The Revised Version renders "in their ruins," marg. "with their axes." The Hebrew text is probably corrupt. ......

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. ......

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......

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......

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......

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......

MEKONAH
a base or foundation, a town in the south of Judah (Neh. 11:28), near Ziklag. ......

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 ......

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). ......

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......

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. ......

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). ......

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. ......

MESHILLEMOTH
requitals. (1.) The father of Berechiah (2-Chr 28:12). (2.) A priest, the son of Immer (Neh. 11:13). ......

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......

MICAH, BOOK OF
the sixth in order of the so-called minor prophets. The superscription to this book states that the prophet exercised his office in the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. If we reckon from the beginning of Jotham's reign to the end of Hezekiah's (B.C. 759-698), then he ministered for about fifty-nine years; but if we reckon from the death of Jotham to the accession of Hezekiah (B.C. 743-726), h......

MIGDOL
tower. (1.) A strongly-fortified place 12 miles from Pelusium, in the north of Egypt (Jer. 44:1;46:14). This word is rendered "tower" in Ezek. 29:10, Ezek. 29: but the margin correctly retains the name Migdol, "from Migdol to Syene;" i.e., from Migdol in the north to Syene in the south, in other words, the whole of Egypt. (2.) A place mentioned in the passage of the Red Sea (Exo 14:2; Num. 33:7,......

MIGRON
precipice or landslip, a place between Aiath and Michmash (Isa. 10:28). The town of the same name mentioned in 1-Sam 14:2 was to the south of this. ......

MIKLOTH
staves. (1.) An officer under Dodai, in the time of David and Solomon (1-Chr 27:4). (2.) A Benjamite (1-Chr 8:32;9:37, 9: 38). ......

MILLO
(Heb. always with the article, "the" Millo). (1.) Probably the Canaanite name of some fortification, consisting of walls filled in with earth and stones, which protected Jerusalem on the north as its outermost defence. It is always rendered Akra i.e., "the citadel", in the LXX. It was already existing when David conquered Jerusalem (2-Sam 5:9). He extended it to the right and left, thus completing......

MISREPHOTH-MAIM
burning of waters, supposed to be salt-pans, or lime-kilns, or glass-factories, a place to which Joshua pursued a party of Canaanites after the defeat of Jabin (Josh. 11:8). It is identified with the ruin Musheirifeh, at the promontory of en-Nakhurah, some 11 miles north of Acre. ......

MNASON
reminding, or remembrancer, a Christian of Jerusalem with whom Paul lodged (Acts 21:16). He was apparently a native of Cyprus, like Barnabas (11:19, 11: 20), and was well known to the Christians of Caesarea (4:36). He was an "old disciple" (R.V., "early disciple"), i.e., he had become a Christian in the beginning of the formation of the Church in Jerusalem. ......

MOAB
the seed of the father, or, according to others, the desirable land, the eldest son of Lot (Gen. 19:37), of incestuous birth. (2.) Used to denote the people of Moab (Num. 22:3; Judg. 3:30; 2-Sam 8:2; Jer. 48:11, Jer. 48: 13). (3.) The land of Moab (Jer. 48:24), called also the "country of Moab" (Ruth 1:2, Ruth 1: 6;2:6), on the east of Jordan and the Dead Sea, and south of the Arnon (Num. 21:1......

MOABITE
the designation of a tribe descended from Moab, the son of Lot (Gen. 19:37). From Zoar, the cradle of this tribe, on the south-eastern border of the Dead Sea, they gradually spread over the region on the east of Jordan. Rameses II., the Pharaoh of the Oppression, enumerates Moab (Muab) among his conquests. Shortly before the Exodus, the warlike Amorites crossed the Jordan under Sihon their king an......

MOABITE STONE
a basalt stone, bearing an inscription by King Mesha, which was discovered at Dibon by Klein, a German missionary at Jerusalem, in 1868. It was 3 1/2 feet high and 2 in breadth and in thickness, rounded at the top. It consisted of thirty-four lines, written in Hebrew-Phoenician characters. It was set up by Mesha as a record and memorial of his victories. It records (1) Mesha's wars with Omri, (2) ......

MOLADAH
birth, a city in the south of Judah which fell to Simeon (Josh. 15:21;19:2). It has been identified with the modern el-Milh, 10 miles east of Beersheba. ......

MOLE
Heb. tinshameth (Lev. 11:30), probably signifies some species of lizard (rendered in R.V., "chameleon"). In Lev. 11:18, Lev. 11: Deut. 14:16, Deut. 14: it is rendered, in Authorized Version, "swan" (R.V., "horned owl"). The Heb. holed (Lev. 11:29), rendered "weasel," was probably the mole-rat. The true mole (Talpa Europoea) is not found in Palestine. The mole-rat (Spalax typhlus) "is twice the s......

MOLOCH
king, the name of the national god of the Ammonites, to whom children were sacrificed by fire. He was the consuming and destroying and also at the same time the purifying fire. In Amos 5:26, Amos 5: "your Moloch" of the Authorized Version is "your king" in the Revised Version (comp. Acts 7:43). Solomon (1-Kings 11:7) erected a high place for this idol on the Mount of Olives, and from that time til......

MONEY
Of uncoined money the first notice we have is in the history of Abraham (Gen. 13:2;20:16;24:35). Next, this word is used in connection with the purchase of the cave of Machpelah (23:16), and again in connection with Jacob's purchase of a field at Shalem (Gen. 33:18, Gen. 33: 19) for "an hundred pieces of money"=an hundred Hebrew kesitahs (q.v.), i.e., probably pieces of money, as is supposed, bear......

MONEY-CHANGER
(Matt. 21:12; Mark 11:15; John 2:15). Every Israelite from twenty years and upwards had to pay (Exo 30:13) into the sacred treasury half a shekel every year as an offering to Jehovah, and that in the exact Hebrew half-shekel piece. There was a class of men, who frequented the temple courts, who exchanged at a certain premium foreign moneys for these half-shekels to the Jews who came up to Jerusale......

MONTH
Among the Egyptians the month of thirty days each was in use long before the time of the Exodus, and formed the basis of their calculations. From the time of the institution of the Mosaic law the month among the Jews was lunar. The cycle of religious feasts depended on the moon. The commencement of a month was determined by the observation of the new moon. The number of months in the year was usua......

MOON
heb. yareah, from its paleness (Ezra 6:15), and lebanah, the "white" (6:10; Isa. 24:23), was appointed by the Creator to be with the sun "for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years" (Gen. 1:14). A lunation was among the Jews the period of a month, and several of their festivals were held on the day of the new moon. It is frequently referred to along with the sun (Josh. 10:12; Psa 72:5, Ps......

MORDECAI
the son of Jair, of the tribe of Benjamin. It has been alleged that he was carried into captivity with Jeconiah, and hence that he must have been at least one hundred and twenty-nine years old in the twelfth year of Ahasuerus (Xerxes). But the words of Esther do not necessarily lead to this conclusion. It was probably Kish of whom it is said (ver. 6) that he "had been carried away with the captivi......

MOREH
an archer, teacher; fruitful. (1.) A Canaanite probably who inhabited the district south of Shechem, between Mounts Ebal and Gerizim, and gave his name to the "plain" there (Gen. 12:6). Here at this "plain," or rather (R.V.) "oak," of Moreh, Abraham built his first altar in the land of Palestine; and here the Lord appeared unto him. He afterwards left this plain and moved southward, and pitched hi......

MOREH, THE HILL OF
probably identical with "little Hermon," the modern Jebel ed-Duhy, or perhaps one of the lower spurs of this mountain. It is a gray ridge parallel to Gilboa on the north; and between the two lay the battle-field, the plain of Jezreel (q.v.), where Gideon overthrew the Midianites (Judg. 7:1). ......

MORESHETH-GATH
possession of the wine-press, the birthplace of the prophet Micah (1:14), who is called the "Morasthite" (Jer. 26:18). This place was probably a suburb of Gath. ......

MORIAH
the chosen of Jehovah. Some contend that Mount Gerizim is meant, but most probably we are to regard this as one of the hills of Jerusalem. Here Solomon's temple was built, on the spot that had been the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite (2-Sam 24:24, 2-Sam 24: 25; 2-Chr 3:1). It is usually included in Zion, to the north-east of which it lay, and from which it was separated by the Tyropoean vall......

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......

MOSERA
a bond, one of the stations of the Israelites in the wilderness (Deut. 10:6), at the foot of Mount Hor. (Comp. Num. 33:37, Num. 33: 38). It has been identified with el-Tayibeh, a small fountain at the bottom of the pass leading to the ascent of Mount Hor. ......

MOSEROTH
bonds, one of the stations in the wilderness (Num. 33:30, Num. 33: 31), probably the same as Mosera. ......

MOSES
drawn (or Egypt. mesu, "son;" hence Rameses, royal son). On the invitation of Pharaoh (Gen. 45:17), Jacob and his sons went down into Egypt. This immigration took place probably about 350 years before the birth of Moses. Some centuries before Joseph, Egypt had been conquered by a pastoral Semitic race from Asia, the Hyksos, who brought into cruel subjection the native Egyptians, who were an Africa......

MOTE
(Gr. karphos, something dry, hence a particle of wood or chaff, etc.). A slight moral defect is likened to a mote (Matt. 7:3; Luke 6:41, Luke 6: 42). ......

MOTH
Heb. 'ash, from a root meaning "to fall away," as moth-eaten garments fall to pieces (Job 4:19;13:28; Isa. 50:9;51:8; Hos. 5:12). Gr. ses, thus rendered in Matt. 6:19, Matt. 6: 20; Luke 12:33. Allusion is thus made to the destruction of clothing by the larvae of the clothes-moth. This is the only lepidopterous insect referred to in Scripture. ......

MOULDY
Of the Gibeonites it is said that "all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy" (Josh. 9:5, Josh. 9: 12). The Hebrew word here rendered "mouldy" (nikuddim) is rendered "cracknels" in 1-Kings 14:3, 1-Kings 14: and denotes a kind of crisp cake. The meaning is that the bread of the Gibeonites had become dry and hard, hard as biscuits, and thus was an evidence of the length of the journey they......

MOUNT
Palestine is a hilly country (Deut. 3:25;11:11; Ezek. 34:13). West of Jordan the mountains stretch from Lebanon far down into Galilee, terminating in Carmel. The isolated peak of Tabor rises from the elevated plain of Esdraelon, which, in the south, is shut in by hills spreading over the greater part of Samaria. The mountains of Western and Middle Palestine do not extend to the sea, but gently slo......

MOUNT OF BEATITUDES
See SERMON. ......

MOUNT OF CORRUPTION
(2-Kings 23:13; Vulg., "mount of offence"), the name given to a part of the Mount of Olives, so called because idol temples were there erected in the time of Solomon, temples to the Zidonian Ashtoreth and to the "abominations" of Moab and Ammon. ......

MOUNT OF THE AMALEKITES
a place near Pirathon (q.v.), in the tribe of Ephraim (Judg. 12:15). ......

MOUNT OF THE AMORITES
the range of hills which rises abruptly in the wilderness of et-Tih ("the wandering"), mentioned Deut. 1:19, Deut. 1: 20, "that great and terrible wilderness." ......

MOUNT OF THE CONGREGATION
only in Isa. 14:13, Isa. 14: a mythic mountain of the Babylonians, regarded by them as the seat of the gods. It was situated in the far north, and in Babylonian inscriptions is described as a mountain called Im-Kharasak, "the mighty mountain of Bel, whose head reaches heaven, whose root is the holy deep." In their geography they are said to have identified it with mount El-wend, near Ecbatana. ......

MOUNT OF THE VALLEY
(Josh. 13:19), a district in the east of Jordan, in the territory of Reuben. The "valley" here was probably the Ghor or valley of the Jordan, and hence the "mount" would be the hilly region in the north end of the Dead Sea. (See ZARETH-SHAHAR.) ......

MOURN
Frequent references are found in Scripture to, (1.) Mourning for the dead. Abraham mourned for Sarah (Gen. 23:2); Jacob for Joseph (37:34, 37: 35); the Egyptians for Jacob (0:3); Israel for Aaron (Num. 20:29), for Moses (Deut. 34:8), and for Samuel (1-Sam 25:1); David for Abner (2-Sam 3:31, 2-Sam 3: 35); Mary and Martha for Lazarus (John 11); devout men for Stephen (Acts 8:2), etc. (2.) For cala......

MOUSE
Heb. 'akhbar, "swift digger"), properly the dormouse, the field-mouse (1-Sam 6:4). In Lev. 11:29, Lev. 11: Isa. 66:17 this word is used generically, and includes the jerboa (Mus jaculus), rat, hamster (Cricetus), which, though declared to be unclean animals, were eaten by the Arabs, and are still eaten by the Bedouins. It is said that no fewer than twenty-three species of this group ('akhbar=Arab.......

MOWING
(Heb. gez), rendered in Psa 72:6 "mown grass." The expression "king's mowings" (Amos 7:1) refers to some royal right of early pasturage, the first crop of grass for the cavalry (comp. 1-Kings 18:5). ......

MOZA
a going forth. (1.) One of the sons of Caleb (1-Chr 2:46). (2.) The son of Zimri, of the posterity of Saul (1-Chr 8:36, 1-Chr 8: 37;9:42, 9: 43). ......

MOZAH
an issuing of water, a city of Benjamin (Josh. 18:26). ......

NABOTH
fruits, "the Jezreelite," was the owner of a portion of ground on the eastern slope of the hill of Jezreel (2-Kings 9:25, 2-Kings 9: 26). This small "plat of ground" seems to have been all he possessed. It was a vineyard, and lay "hard by the palace of Ahab" (1-Kings 21:1, 1-Kings 21: 2), who greatly coveted it. Naboth, however, refused on any terms to part with it to the king. He had inherited it......

NACHON
prepared, the owner of a thrashing-floor near which Uzzah was slain (2-Sam 6:6); called also Chidon (1-Chr 13:9). ......

NAHOR
snorting. (1.) The father of Terah, who was the father of Abraham (Gen. 11:22; Luke 3:34). (2.) A son of Terah, and elder brother of Abraham (Gen. 11:26, Gen. 11: 27; Josh. 24:2, Josh. 24: R.V.). He married Milcah, the daughter of his brother Haran, and remained in the land of his nativity on the east of the river Euphrates at Haran (Gen. 11:27). A correspondence was maintained between the famil......

NAHSHON
sorcerer, the son of Aminadab, and prince of the children of Judah at the time of the first numbering of the tribes in the wilderness (Exo 6:23). His sister Elisheba was the wife of Aaron. He died in the wilderness (Num. 26:64, Num. 26: 65). His name occurs in the Greek form Naasson in the genealogy of Christ (Matt,1:4; Luke 3:32).......

NAHUM, BOOK OF
Nahum prophesied, according to some, in the beginning of the reign of Ahaz (B.C. 743). Others, however, think that his prophecies are to be referred to the latter half of the reign of Hezekiah (about B.C. 709). This is the more probable opinion, internal evidences leading to that conclusion. Probably the book was written in Jerusalem (soon after B.C. 709), where he witnessed the invasion of Sennac......

NAIOTH
dwellings, the name given to the prophetical college established by Samuel near Ramah. It consisted of a cluster of separate dwellings, and hence its name. David took refuge here when he fled from Saul (1-Sam 19:18, 1-Sam 19: 19, 22, 23), and here he passed a few weeks in peace (comp. Ps. 11). It was probably the common residence of the "sons of the prophets."......

NAOMI
the lovable; my delight, the wife of Elimelech, and mother of Mahlon and Chilion, and mother-in-law of Ruth (1:2, 1: 20, 21;2:1). Elimelech and his wife left the district of Bethlehem-Judah, and found a new home in the uplands of Moab. In course of time he died, as also his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, who had married women of Moab, and three widows were left mourning the loss of their husbands. N......

NAPHTALI, MOUNT
the mountainous district of Naphtali (Josh. 20:7).......

NAPHTALI, TRIBE OF
On this tribe Jacob pronounced the patriarchal blessing, "Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words" (Gen. 49:21). It was intended thus to set forth under poetic imagery the future character and history of the tribe. At the time of the Exodus this tribe numbered 53,400 adult males (Num. 1:43), but at the close of the wanderings they numbered only 45,400 (26:48). Along with Dan and Ash......

NATIVITY OF CHRIST
The birth of our Lord took place at the time and place predicted by the prophets (Gen. 49:10; Isa. 7:14; Jer. 31:15; Micah 5:2; Hag. 2:6; Dan. 9:24, Dan. 9: 25). Joseph and Mary were providentially led to go up to Bethlehem at this period, and there Christ was born (Matt. 2:1, Matt. 2: 6; Luke 2:1, Luke 2: 7). The exact year or month or day of his birth cannot, however, now be exactly ascertained.......

NEAPOLIS
new city, a town in Thrace at which Paul first landed in Europe (Acts 16:11). It was the sea-port of the inland town of Philippi, which was distant about 10 miles. From this port Paul embarked on his last journey to Jerusalem (Acts 20:6). It is identified with the modern Turco-Grecian Kavalla.......

NEBAIOTH
height. (1.) Ishmael's eldest son (Gen. 25:13), and the prince of an Israelitish tribe (16). He had a sister, Mahalath, who was one of Esau's wives (Gen. 28:9;36:3). (2.) The name of the Ishmaelite tribe descended from the above (Gen. 25:13, Gen. 25:18). The "rams of Nebaioth" (Isa. 60:7) are the gifts which these wandering tribes of the desert would consecrate to God.......

NEBO
proclaimer; prophet. (1.) A Chaldean god whose worship was introduced into Assyria by Pul (Isa. 46:1; Jer. 48:1). To this idol was dedicated the great temple whose ruins are still seen at Birs Nimrud. A statue of Nebo found at Calah, where it was set up by Pul, king of Assyria, is now in the British Museum. (2.) A mountain in the land of Moab from which Moses looked for the first and the last ti......

NECHO II
an Egyptian king, the son and successor of Psammetichus (B.C. 610-594), the contemporary of Josiah, king of Judah. For some reason he proclaimed war against the king of Assyria. He led forth a powerful army and marched northward, but was met by the king of Judah at Megiddo, who refused him a passage through his territory. Here a fierce battle was fought and Josiah was slain (2-Chr 35:20). Possibly......

NECROMANCER
(Deut. 15:11), i.e., "one who interrogates the dead," as the word literally means, with the view of discovering the secrets of futurity (comp. 1-Sam 28:7). (See DIVINATION.)......

NEGINOTH
i.e., songs with instrumental accompaniment, found in the titles of Ps. 4; 6; 54; 55; 67; 76; rendered "stringed instruments," Hab. 3:19, Hab. 3: A.V. It denotes all kinds of stringed instruments, as the "harp," "psaltery," "viol," etc. The "chief musician on Neginoth" is the leader of that part of the temple choir which played on stringed instruments.......

NEHEMIAH, BOOK OF
The author of this book was no doubt Nehemiah himself. There are portions of the book written in the first person (ch. 1-7;12:27, 12: and 13). But there are also portions of it in which Nehemiah is spoken of in the third person (ch. 8; 9; 10). It is supposed that these portions may have been written by Ezra; of this, however, there is no distinct evidence. These portions had their place assigned t......

NEHILOTH
only in the title of Ps. 5. It is probably derived from a root meaning "to bore," "perforate," and hence denotes perforated wind instruments of all kinds. The psalm may be thus regarded as addressed to the conductor of the temple choir which played on flutes and such-like instruments.......

NEPHTOAH
opened, a fountain and a stream issuing from it on the border between Judah and Benjamin (Josh. 15:8, Josh. 15: 9;18:15). It has been identified with 'Ain Lifta, a spring about 2 1/2 miles north-west of Jerusalem. Others, however, have identified it with 'Ain' Atan, on the south-west of Bethlehem, whence water is conveyed through "Pilate's aqueduct" to the Haram area at Jerusalem. ......

NERO
occurs only in the superscription (which is probably spurious, and is altogether omitted in the R.V.) to the Second Epistle to Timothy. He became emperor of Rome when he was about seventeen years of age (A.D. 54), and soon began to exhibit the character of a cruel tyrant and heathen debauchee. In May A.D. 64, a terrible conflagration broke out in Rome, which raged for six days and seven nights, an......

NETOPHAH
distillation; dropping, a town in Judah, in the neighbourhood, probably, of Bethlehem (Neh. 7:26; 1-Chr 2:54). Two of David's guards were Netophathites (1-Chr 27:13, 1-Chr 27: 15). It has been identified with the ruins of Metoba, or Um Toba, to the north-east of Bethlehem. ......

NEW MOON, FEAST OF
Special services were appointed for the commencement of a month (Num. 28:11;10:10). (See FESTIVALS.) ......

NICANOR
conqueror, one of the seven deacons appointed in the apostolic Church (Acts 6:1). Nothing further is known of him. ......

NICODEMUS
the people is victor, a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin. He is first noticed as visiting Jesus by night (John 3:1) for the purpose of learning more of his doctrines, which our Lord then unfolded to him, giving prominence to the necessity of being "born again." He is next met with in the Sanhedrin (7:50), where he protested against the course they were taking in plotting against Christ. Once......

NICOLAITANES
The church at Ephesus (Rev. 2:6) is commended for hating the "deeds" of the Nicolaitanes, and the church of Pergamos is blamed for having them who hold their "doctrines" (15). They were seemingly a class of professing Christians, who sought to introduce into the church a false freedom or licentiousness, thus abusing Paul's doctrine of grace (comp. 2-Pet 2:15, 2-Pet 2: 16, 19), and were probably id......

NICOLAS
the victory of the people, a proselyte of Antioch, one of the seven deacons (Acts 6:5). ......

NICOPOLIS
city of victory, where Paul intended to winter (Titus 3:12). There were several cities of this name. The one here referred to was most probably that in Epirus, which was built by Augustus Caesar to commemorate his victory at the battle of Actium (B.C. 31). It is the modern Paleoprevesa, i.e., "Old Prevesa." The subscription to the epistle to Titus calls it "Nicopolis of Macedonia", i.e., of Thrace......

NIMRIM, WATERS OF
the stream of the leopards, a stream in Moab (Isa. 15:6; Jer. 48:34); probably the modern Wady en-Nemeirah, a rich, verdant spot at the south-eastern end of the Dead Sea. ......

NIMROD
firm, a descendant of Cush, the son of Ham. He was the first who claimed to be a "mighty one in the earth." Babel was the beginning of his kingdom, which he gradually enlarged (Gen. 10:8). The "land of Nimrod" (Micah 5:6) is a designation of Assyria or of Shinar, which is a part of it. ......

NISROCH
probably connected with the Hebrew word _nesher_, an eagle. An Assyrian god, supposed to be that represented with the head of an eagle. Sennacherib was killed in the temple of this idol (2-Kings 19:37; Isa. 37:38). ......

NO
or No-A'mon, the home of Amon, the name of Thebes, the ancient capital of what is called the Middle Empire, in Upper or Southern Egypt. "The multitude of No" (Jer. 46:25) is more correctly rendered, as in the Revised Version, "Amon of No", i.e., No, where Jupiter Amon had his temple. In Ezek. 30:14, Ezek. 30: 16 it is simply called "No;" but in ver. 15 the name has the Hebrew Hamon prefixed to it,......

NOADIAH
meeting with the Lord. (1.) A Levite who returned from Babylon (Ezra 8:33). (2.) A false prophetess who assisted Tobiah and Sanballat against the Jews (Neh. 6:14). Being bribed by them, she tried to stir up discontent among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and so to embarrass Nehemiah in his great work of rebuilding the ruined walls of the city. ......

NOAH
rest, (Heb. Noah) the grandson of Methuselah (Gen. 5:25), who was for two hundred and fifty years contemporary with Adam, and the son of Lamech, who was about fifty years old at the time of Adam's death. This patriarch is rightly regarded as the connecting link between the old and the new world. He is the second great progenitor of the human family. The words of his father Lamech at his birth (G......

NOB
high place, a city of the priests, first mentioned in the history of David's wanderings (1-Sam 21:1). Here the tabernacle was then standing, and here Ahimelech the priest resided. (See AHIMELECH.) From Isa. 10:28 it seems to have been near Jerusalem. It has been identified by some with el-Isawiyeh, one mile and a half to the north-east of Jerusalem. But according to Isa. 10:28 it was on the south ......

NOBAH
howling. (1.) Num. 32:42. (2.) The name given to Kenath (q.v.) by Nobah when he conquered it. It was on the east of Gilead (Judg. 8:11). ......

NOBLEMAN
(Gr. basilikos, i.e., "king's man"), an officer of state (John 4:49) in the service of Herod Antipas. He is supposed to have been the Chuza, Herod's steward, whose wife was one of those women who "ministered unto the Lord of their substance" (Luke 8:3). This officer came to Jesus at Cana and besought him to go down to Capernaum and heal his son, who lay there at the point of death. Our Lord sent h......

NOD
exile; wandering; unrest, a name given to the country to which Cain fled (Gen.4:16). It lay on the east of Eden. ......

NODAB
noble, probably a tribe descended from one of the sons of Ishmael, with whom the trans-Jordanic tribes made war (1-Chr 5:19). ......

NOGAH
splendour, one of David's sons, born at Jerusalem (1-Chr 3:7). ......

NOPH
the Hebrew name of an Egyptian city (Isa. 19:13; Jer.2:16;44:1;46:14, 46: 19; Ezek. 30:13, Ezek. 30: 16). In Hos. 9:6 the Hebrew name is Moph, and is translated "Memphis," which is its Greek and Latin form. It was one of the most ancient and important cities of Egypt, and stood a little to the south of the modern Cairo, on the western bank of the Nile. It was the capital of Lower Egypt. Among the ......

NOPHAH
blast, a city of Moab which was occupied by the Amorites (Num. 21:30). ......

NORTH COUNTRY
a general name for the countries that lay north of Palestine. Most of the invading armies entered Palestine from the north (Isa. 41:25; Jer. 1:14, Jer. 1:15;50:3, 50:9, 50:41;51:48; Ezek. 26:7). ......

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. ......

NOSE-JEWELS
Only mentioned in Isa. 3:21, Isa. 3: although refered to in Gen. 24:47, Gen. 24: Prov. 11:22, Prov. 11: Hos. 2:13. They were among the most valued of ancient female ornaments. They "were made of ivory or metal, and occasionally jewelled. They were more than an inch in diameter, and hung upon the mouth. Eliezer gave one to Rebekah which was of gold and weighed half a shekel...At the present day the......

NUMBERING OF THE PEOPLE
Besides the numbering of the tribes mentioned in the history of the wanderings in the wilderness, we have an account of a general census of the whole nation from Dan to Beersheba, which David gave directions to Joab to make (1-Chr 21:1). Joab very reluctantly began to carry out the king's command. This act of David in ordering a numbering of the people arose from pride and a self-glorifying spir......

NUMBERS, BOOK OF
the fourth of the books of the Pentateuch, called in the Hebrew be-midbar, i.e., "in the wilderness." In the LXX. version it is called "Numbers," and this name is now the usual title of the book. It is so called because it contains a record of the numbering of the people in the wilderness of Sinai (1-4), and of their numbering afterwards on the plain of Moab (26). This book is of special histori......

OAK
There are six Hebrew words rendered "oak." (1.) 'El occurs only in the word El-paran (Gen. 14:6). The LXX. renders by "terebinth." In the plural form this word occurs in Isa. 1:29;57:5 (A.V. marg. and R.V., "among the oaks");61:3 ("trees"). The word properly means strongly, mighty, and hence a strong tree. (2.) 'Elah, Gen. 35:4, Gen. 35: "under the oak which was by Shechem" (R.V. marg., "tereb......

OATH
a solemn appeal to God, permitted on fitting occasions (Deut. 6:13; Jer. 4:2), in various forms (Gen. 16:5; 2-Sam 12:5; Ruth 1:17; Hos. 4:15; Rom. 1:9), and taken in different ways (Gen. 14:22;24:2; 2-Chr 6:22). God is represented as taking an oath (Heb. 6:16), so also Christ (Matt. 26:64), and Paul (Rom. 9:1; Gal. 1:20; Phil. 1:8). The precept, "Swear not at all," refers probably to ordinary conv......

OBADIAH
servant of the Lord. (1.) An Israelite who was chief in the household of King Ahab (1-Kings 18:3). Amid great spiritual degeneracy he maintained his fidelity to God, and interposed to protect The Lord's prophets, an hundred of whom he hid at great personal risk in a cave (4, 13). Ahab seems to have held Obadiah in great honour, although he had no sympathy with his piety (5, 6, 7). The last notice ......

OBADIAH, BOOK OF
consists of one chapter, "concerning Edom," its impending doom (1:1), and the restoration of Israel (1:17). This is the shortest book of the Old Testament. There are on record the account of four captures of Jerusalem, (1) by Shishak in the reign of Rehoboam (1-Kings 14:25); (2) by the Philistines and Arabians in the reign of Jehoram (2-Chr 21:16); (3) by Joash, the king of Israel, in the reign ......

OBAL
stripped, the eight son of Joktan (Gen. 10:28); called also Ebal (1-Chr 1:22). ......

OBED
serving; worshipping. (1.) A son of Boaz and Ruth (Ruth 4:21, Ruth 4: 22), and the grandfather of David (Matt. 1:5). (2.) 1-Chr 2:34. (3.) 1-Chr 26:7. (4.) 2-Chr 23:1. ......

OBED-EDOM
servant of Edom. (1.) "The Gittite" (probably so called because he was a native of Gath-rimmon), a Levite of the family of the Korhites (1-Chr 26:1, 1-Chr 26: 4-8), to whom was specially intrusted the custody of the ark (1-Chr 15:18). When David was bringing up the ark "from the house of Abinadab, that was in Gibeah" (probably some hill or eminence near Kirjath-jearim), and had reached Nachon's th......

OBEISANCE
homage or reverence to any one (Gen. 37:7;43:28). ......

OBIL
a keeper of camels, an Ishmaelite who was "over the camels" in the time of David (1-Chr 27:30). ......

OBOTH
bottles, an encampment of the Israelites during the wanderings in the wilderness (Num. 33:43), the first after the setting up of the brazen serpent. ......

ODED
restoring, or setting up. (1.) Father of the prophet Azariah (2-Chr 15:1, 2-Chr 15: 8). (2.) A prophet in the time of Ahaz and Pekah (2-Chr 28:9). ......

OFFENCE
(1.) An injury or wrong done to one (1-Sam 25:31; Rom. 5:15). (2.) A stumbling-block or cause of temptation (Isa. 8:14; Matt. 16:23;18:7). Greek skandalon, properly that at which one stumbles or takes offence. The "offence of the cross" (Gal. 5:11) is the offence the Jews took at the teaching that salvation was by the crucified One, and by him alone. Salvation by the cross was a stumbling-block ......

OFFERING
an oblation, dedicated to God. Thus Cain consecrated to God of the first-fruits of the earth, and Abel of the firstlings of the flock (Gen. 4:3, Gen. 4: 4). Under the Levitical system different kinds of offerings are specified, and laws laid down as to their presentation. These are described under their distinctive names. ......

OG
gigantic, the king of Bashan, who was defeated by Moses in a pitched battle at Edrei, and was slain along with his sons (Deut. 1:4), and whose kingdom was given to the tribes of Reuben and Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh (Num. 21:32; Deut. 3:1). His bedstead (or rather sarcophagus) was of iron (or ironstone), 9 cubits in length and 4 cubits in breadth. His overthrow was afterwards celebrated in......

OHAD
united, or power, the third son of Simeon (Gen. 46:10). ......

OHEL
a house; tent, the fourth son of Zerubbabel (1-Chr 3:20). ......

OIL
Only olive oil seems to have been used among the Hebrews. It was used for many purposes: for anointing the body or the hair (Exo 29:7; 2-Sam 14:2; Psa 23:5;92:10;104:15; Luke 7:46); in some of the offerings (Exo 29:40; Lev. 7:12; Num. 6:15;15:4), but was excluded from the sin-offering (Lev. 5:11) and the jealousy-offering (Num. 5:15); for burning in lamps (Exo 25:6;27:20; Matt. 25:3); for medicina......

OIL-TREE
(Isa. 41:19; R.V. marg., "oleaster"), Heb. 'etz shemen, rendered "olive tree" in 1-Kings 6:23, 1-Kings 6: 31, 32, 33 (R.V., "olive wood") and "pine branches" in Neh. 8:15 (R.V., "branches of wild olive"), was some tree distinct from the olive. It was probably the oleaster (Eleagnus angustifolius), which grows abundantly in almost all parts of Palestine, especially about Hebron and Samaria. "It has......

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). ......

OLD GATE
one of the gates in the north wall of Jerusalem, so called because built by the Jebusites (Neh. 3:6;12:39). ......

OLIVE
the fruit of the olive-tree. This tree yielded oil which was highly valued. The best oil was from olives that were plucked before being fully ripe, and then beaten or squeezed (Deut. 24:20; Isa. 17:6;24:13). It was called "beaten," or "fresh oil" (Exo 27:20). There were also oil-presses, in which the oil was trodden out by the feet (Micah 6:15). James (3:12) calls the fruit "olive berries." The ph......

OLIVE-TREE
is frequently mentioned in Scripture. The dove from the ark brought an olive-branch to Noah (Gen. 8:11). It is mentioned among the most notable trees of Palestine, where it was cultivated long before the time of the Hebrews (Deut. 6:11;8:8). It is mentioned in the first Old Testament parable, that of Jotham (Judg. 9:9), and is named among the blessings of the "good land," and is at the present day......

OLVES, MOUNT OF
so called from the olive trees with which its sides are clothed, is a mountain ridge on the east of Jerusalem (1-Kings 11:7; Ezek. 11:23; Zech. 14:4), from which it is separated by the valley of Kidron. It is first mentioned in connection with David's flight from Jerusalem through the rebellion of Absalom (2-Sam 15:30), and is only once again mentioned in the Old Testament, in Zech. 14:4. It is, h......

OLYMPAS
a Roman Christian whom Paul salutes (Rom. 16:15). ......

OMAR
eloquent, the son of Eliphaz, who was Esau's eldest son (Gen. 36:11). ......

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." ......

OMRI
servant of Jehovah. When Elah was murdered by Zimri at Tirzah (1-Kings 16:15), Omri, his captain, was made king (B.C. 931). For four years there was continued opposition to his reign, Tibni, another claimant to the throne, leading the opposing party; but at the close of that period all his rivals were defeated, and he became king of Israel, "Tibni died and Omri reigned" (B.C. 927). By his vigour a......

ON
light; the sun, (Gen. 41:45, Gen. 41: 50), the great seat of sun-worship, called also Bethshemesh (Jer. 43:13) and Aven (Ezek. 30:17), stood on the east bank of the Nile, a few miles north of Memphis, and near Cairo, in the north-east. The Vulgate and the LXX. Versions have "Heliopolis" ("city of the sun") instead of On in Genesis and of Aven in Ezekiel. The "city of destruction" Isaiah speaks of ......

ONAN
strong, the second son of Judah (Gen. 38:4; comp. Deut. 25:5; Matt. 22:24). He died before the going down of Jacob and his family into Egypt. ......

ONESIMUS
useful, a slave who, after robbing his master Philemon (q.v.) at Colosse, fled to Rome, where he was converted by the apostle Paul, who sent him back to his master with the epistle which bears his name. In it he beseeches Philemon to receive his slave as a "faithful and beloved brother." Paul offers to pay to Philemon anything his slave had taken, and to bear the wrong he had done him. He was acco......

ONESIPHORUS
bringing profit, an Ephesian Christian who showed great kindness to Paul at Rome. He served him in many things, and had oft refreshed him. Paul expresses a warm interest in him and his household (2-Tim 1:16;4:19). ......

ONION
The Israelites in the wilderness longed for the "onions and garlick of Egypt" (Num. 11:5). This was the _betsel_ of the Hebrews, the Allium cepe of botanists, of which it is said that there are some thirty or forty species now growing in Palestine. The onion is "the 'undivided' leek, _unio_, _unus_, one." ......

ONO
a town of Benjamin, in the "plain of Ono" (1-Chr 8:12; Ezra 2:33); now Kefr 'Ana, 5 miles north of Lydda, and about 30 miles north-west of Jerusalem. Not succeeding in their attempts to deter Nehemiah from rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, Sanballat and Tobiah resorted to strategem, and pretending to wish a conference with him, they invited him to meet them at Ono. Four times they made the reques......

ONYCHA
a nail; claw; hoof, (Heb. sheheleth; Exo 30:34), a Latin word applied to the operculum, i.e., the claw or nail of the strombus or wing-shell, a univalve common in the Red Sea. The opercula of these shell-fish when burned emit a strong odour "like castoreum." This was an ingredient in the sacred incense. ......

ONYX
a hail; claw; hoof, (Heb. shoham), a precious stone adorning the breast-plate of the high priest and the shoulders of the ephod (Exo 28:9, Exo 28: 20;35:27; Job 28:16; Ezek. 28:13). It was found in the land of Havilah (Gen. 2:12). The LXX. translates the Hebrew word by smaragdos, an emerald. Some think that the sardonyx is meant. But the onyx differs from the sardonyx in this, that while the latte......

OPEN PLACE
Gen. 38:14, Gen. 38: 21, mar. Enaim; the same probably as Enam (Josh. 15:34), a city in the lowland or Shephelah. ......

OPHEL
hill; mound, the long, narrow, rounded promontory on the southern slope of the temple hill, between the Tyropoeon and the Kedron valley (2-Chr 27:3;33:14; Neh. 3:26, Neh. 3: 27). It was surrounded by a separate wall, and was occupied by the Nethinim after the Captivity. This wall has been discovered by the engineers of the Palestine Exploration Fund at the south-eastern angle of the temple area. I......

OPHIR
(1.) One of the sons of Joktan (Gen. 10:29). (2.) Some region famous for its gold (1-Kings 9:28;10:11;22:48; Job 22:24;28:16; Isa. 13:12). In the LXX. this word is rendered "Sophir," and "Sofir" is the Coptic name for India, which is the rendering of the Arabic version, as also of the Vulgate. Josephus has identified it with the Golden Chersonese, i.e., the Malay peninsula. It is now generally i......

OPHNI
mouldy, a city of Benjamin (Josh. 18:24). ......

OPHRAH
a fawn. 1-Chr 4:14. (1.) A city of Benjamin (Josh. 18:23); probably identical with Ephron (2-Chr 13:19) and Ephraim (John 11:54). (2.) "Of the Abi-ezrites." A city of Manasseh, 6 miles south-west of Shechem, the residence of Gideon (Judg. 6:11;8:27, 8: 32). After his great victory over the Midianites, he slew at this place the captive kings (8:18). He then assumed the function of high priest, an......

ORACLE
In the Old Testament used in every case, except 2-Sam 16:23, 2-Sam 16: to denote the most holy place in the temple (1-Kings 6:5, 1-Kings 6: 19-23;8:6). In 2-Sam 16:23 it means the Word of God. A man inquired "at the oracle of God" by means of the Urim and Thummim in the breastplate on the high priest's ephod. In the New Testament it is used only in the plural, and always denotes the Word of God (R......

OREB
raven, a prince of Midian, who, being defeated by Gideon and put to straits, was slain along with Zeeb (Judg. 7:20). Many of the Midianites perished along with him (Psa 83:9; Isa. 10:26).......

OREB, THE ROCK OF
the place where Gideon slew Oreb after the defeat of the Midianites (Judg. 7:25; Isa. 10:26). It was probably the place now called Orbo, on the east of Jordan, near Bethshean.......

OREN
ash or pine, the son of Jerahmeel (1-Chr 2:25).......

ORGAN
some kind of wind instrument, probably a kind of Pan's pipes (Gen. 4:21; Job 21:12; Psa 150:4), which consisted of seven or eight reeds of unequal length.......

ORION
Heb. Kesil; i.e., "the fool", the name of a constellation (Job 9:9;38:31; Amos 5:8) consisting of about eighty stars. The Vulgate renders thus, but the LXX. renders by Hesperus, i.e., "the evening-star," Venus. The Orientals "appear to have conceived of this constellation under the figure of an impious giant bound upon the sky." This giant was, according to tradition, Nimrod, the type of the folly......

ORNAN
1-Chr 21:15. (See ARAUNAH.)......

ORPAH
forelock or fawn, a Moabitess, the wife of Chilion (Ruth 1:4;4:10). On the death of her husband she accompanied Naomi, her mother-in-law, part of the way to Bethlehem, and then returned to Moab.......

ORPHANS
(Lam. 5:3), i.e., desolate and without protectors. The word occurs only here. In John 14:18 the word there rendered "comfortless" (R.V., "desolate;" marg., "orphans") properly means "orphans." The same Greek word is rendered "fatherless" in James 1:27.......

OSPREY
Heb. 'ozniyyah, an unclean bird according to the Mosaic law (Lev. 11:13; Deut. 14:12); the fish-eating eagle (Pandion haliaetus); one of the lesser eagles. But the Hebrew word may be taken to denote the short-toed eagle (Circaetus gallicus of Southern Europe), one of the most abundant of the eagle tribe found in Palestine.......

OSSIFRAGE
Heb. peres = to "break" or "crush", the lammer-geier, or bearded vulture, the largest of the whole vulture tribe. It was an unclean bird (Lev. 11:13; Deut. 14:12). It is not a gregarious bird, and is found but rarely in Palestine. "When the other vultures have picked the flesh off any animal, he comes in at the end of the feast, and swallows the bones, or breaks them, and swallows the pieces if he......

OSTRICH
(Lam. 4:3), the rendering of Hebrew pl. enim; so called from its greediness and gluttony. The allusion here is to the habit of the ostrich with reference to its eggs, which is thus described: "The outer layer of eggs is generally so ill covered that they are destroyed in quantities by jackals, wild-cats, etc., and that the natives carry them away, only taking care not to leave the marks of their f......

OTHNI
a lion of Jehovah, a son of Shemaiah, and one of the temple porters in the time of David (1-Chr 26:7). He was a "mighty man of valour."......

OTHNIEL
lion of God, the first of the judges. His wife Achsah was the daughter of Caleb (Josh. 15:16, Josh. 15: 17; Judg. 1:13). He gained her hand as a reward for his bravery in leading a successful expedition against Debir (q.v.). Some thirty years after the death of Joshua, the Israelites fell under the subjection of Chushan-rishathaim (q.v.), the king of Mesopotamia. He oppressed them for full eight y......

OUCHES
an Old English word denoting cavities or sockets in which gems were set (Exo 28:11).......

OVEN
Heb. tannur, (Hos. 7:4). In towns there appear to have been public ovens. There was a street in Jerusalem (Jer. 37:21) called "bakers' street" (the only case in which the name of a street in Jerusalem is preserved). The words "tower of the furnaces" (Neh. 3:11;12:38) is more properly "tower of the ovens" (Heb. tannurim). These resemble the ovens in use among ourselves. There were other private o......

OWL
(1.) Heb. bath-haya'anah, "daughter of greediness" or of "shouting." In the list of unclean birds (Lev. 11:16; Deut. 14:15); also mentioned in Job 30:29; Isa. 13:21;34:13;43:20; Jer. 50:39; Micah 1:8. In all these passages the Revised Version translates "ostrich" (q.v.), which is the correct rendering. (2.) Heb. yanshuph, rendered "great owl" in Lev. 11:17; Deut. 14:16, Deut. 14: and "owl" in Is......

OX
Heb. bakar, "cattle;" "neat cattle", (Gen. 12:16;34:28; Job 1:3, Job 1: 14;42:12, 42: etc.); not to be muzzled when treading the corn (Deut. 25:4). Referred to by our Lord in his reproof to the Pharisees (Luke 13:15;14:5).......

OX GOAD
mentioned only in Judg. 3:31, Judg. 3: the weapon with which Shamgar (q.v.) slew six hundred Philistines. "The ploughman still carries his goad, a weapon apparently more fitted for the hand of the soldier than the peaceful husbandman. The one I saw was of the 'oak of Bashan,' and measured upwards of ten feet in length. At one end was an iron spear, and at the other a piece of the same metal flatte......

OZEM
strong. (1.) One of David's brothers; the sixth son of Jesse (1-Chr 2:15). (2.) A son of Jerahmeel (1-Chr 2:25).......

OZIAS
son of Joram (Matt. 1:8); called also Uzziah (2-Kings 15:32, 2-Kings 15: 34).......

OZNI
hearing, one of the sons of Gad; also called Ezbon (Gen. 46:16; Num. 26:16).......

PAHATH-MOAB
governor of Moab, a person whose descendants returned from the Captivity and assisted in rebuilding Jerusalem (Ezra 2:6;8:4;10:30).......

PALM TREES, THE CITY OF
the name given to Jericho (q.v.), Deut. 34:3; Judg. 1:16;3:13.......

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.......

PAPHOS
the capital of the island of Cyprus, and therefore the residence of the Roman governor. It was visited by Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary tour (Acts 13:6). It is new Paphos which is here meant. It lay on the west coast of the island, about 8 miles north of old Paphos. Its modern name is Baffa.......

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).......

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_.......

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......

PASSION
Only once found, in Acts 1:3, Acts 1: meaning suffering, referring to the sufferings of our Lord.......

PASSOVER
the name given to the chief of the three great historical annual festivals of the Jews. It was kept in remembrance of the Lord's passing over the houses of the Israelites (Exo 12:13) when the first born of all the Egyptians were destroyed. It is called also the "feast of unleavened bread" (Exo 23:15; Mark 14:1; Acts 12:3), because during its celebration no leavened bread was to be eaten or even ke......

PATHROS
the name generally given to Upper Egypt (the Thebaid of the Greeks), as distinguished from Matsor, or Lower Egypt (Isa. 11:11; Jer. 44:1, Jer. 44: 15; Ezek. 30:14), the two forming Mizraim. After the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, colonies of Jews settled "in the country of Pathros" and other parts of Egypt.......

PATMOS
a small rocky and barren island, one of the group called the "Sporades," in the AEgean Sea. It is mentioned in Scripture only in Rev. 1:9. It was on this island, to which John was banished by the emperor Domitian (A.D. 95), that he received from God the wondrous revelation recorded in his book. This has naturally invested it with the deepest interest for all time. It is now called Patmo. (See JOHN......

PATROBAS
a Christian at Rome to whom Paul sent salutations (Rom. 16:14).......

PAVILION
a tent or tabernacle (2-Sam 22:12; 1-Kings 20:12), or enclosure (Psa 18:11;27:5). In Jer. 43:10 it probably denotes the canopy suspended over the judgement-seat of the king.......

PEACE OFFERINGS
(Heb. shelamim), detailed regulations regarding given in Lev. 3;7:11, 7: 29-34. They were of three kinds, (1) eucharistic or thanksgiving offerings, expressive of gratitude for blessings received; (2) in fulfilment of a vow, but expressive also of thanks for benefits recieved; and (3) free-will offerings, something spontaneously devoted to God.......

PEACOCK
(Heb. tuk, apparently borrowed from the Tamil tokei). This bird is indigenous to India. It was brought to Solomon by his ships from Tarshish (1-Kings 10:22; 2-Chr 9:21), which in this case was probably a district on the Malabar coast of India, or in Ceylon. The word so rendered in Job 39:13 literally means wild, tumultuous crying, and properly denotes the female ostrich (q.v.).......

PEKOD
probably a place in Babylonia (Jer. 50:21; Ezek. 23:23). It is the opinion, however, of some that this word signifies "visitation," "punishment," and allegorically "designates Babylon as the city which was to be destroyed."......

PENTECOST
i.e., "fiftieth", found only in the New Testament (Acts 2:1;20:16; 1-Cor 16:8). The festival so named is first spoken of in Exo 23:16 as "the feast of harvest," and again in Exo 34:22 as "the day of the firstfruits" (Num. 28:26). From the sixteenth of the month of Nisan (the second day of the Passover), seven complete weeks, i.e., forty-nine days, were to be reckoned, and this feast was held on th......

PEOR
opening. (1.) A mountain peak (Num. 23:28) to which Balak led Balaam as a last effort to induce him to pronounce a curse upon Israel. When he looked on the tribes encamped in the acacia groves below him, he could not refrain from giving utterance to a remarkable benediction (24:1). Balak was more than ever enraged at Balaam, and bade him flee for his life. But before he went he gave expression to ......

PERAZIM, MOUNT
mount of breaches, only in Isa. 28:21. It is the same as BAAL-PERAZIM (q.v.), where David gained a victory over the Philistines (2-Sam 5:20).......

PERFECTION
See SANCTIFICATION. ......

PERGAMOS
the chief city of Mysia, in Asia Minor. One of the "seven churches" was planted here (Rev. 1:11;2:17). It was noted for its wickedness, insomuch that our Lord says "Satan's seat" was there. The church of Pergamos was rebuked for swerving from the truth and embracing the doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitanes. Antipas, Christ's "faithful martyr," here sealed his testimony with his blood. This c......

PERSECUTION
The first great persecution for religious opinion of which we have any record was that which broke out against the worshippers of God among the Jews in the days of Ahab, when that king, at the instigation of his wife Jezebel, "a woman in whom, with the reckless and licentious habits of an Oriental queen, were united the fiercest and sternest qualities inherent in the old Semitic race", sought in t......

PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
their certain continuance in a state of grace. Once justified and regenerated, the believer can neither totally nor finally fall away from grace, but will certainly persevere therein and attain everlasting life. This doctrine is clearly taught in these passages, John 10:28, John 10: 29; Rom. 11:29; Phil. 1:6; 1-Pet 1:5. It, moreover, follows from a consideration of (1) the immutability of the di......

PETER, FIRST EPISTLE OF
This epistle is addressed to "the strangers scattered abroad", i.e., to the Jews of the Dispersion (the Diaspora). Its object is to confirm its readers in the doctrines they had been already taught. Peter has been called "the apostle of hope," because this epistle abounds with words of comfort and encouragement fitted to sustain a "lively hope." It contains about thirty-five references to the Ol......

PETER, SECOND EPISTLE OF
The question of the authenticity of this epistle has been much discussed, but the weight of evidence is wholly in favour of its claim to be the production of the apostle whose name it bears. It appears to have been written shortly before the apostle's death (1:14). This epistle contains eleven references to the Old Testament. It also contains (3:15, 3: 16) a remarkable reference to Paul's epistles......

PETHOR
interpretation of dreams, identified with Pitru, on the west bank of the Euphrates, a few miles south of the Hittite capital of Carchemish (Num. 22:5, Num. 22: "which is by the river of the land of the children of [the god] Ammo"). (See BALAAM.) ......

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......

PHICOL
great, the chief captain of the army of Abimelech, the Philistine king of Gerar. He entered into an alliance with Abraham with reference to a certain well which, from this circumstance, was called Beersheba (q.v.), "the well of the oath" (Gen. 21:22, Gen. 21: 32;26:26). ......

PHILEMON
an inhabitant of Colosse, and apparently a person of some note among the citizens (Col. 4:9; Philemon 1:2). He was brought to a knowledge of the gospel through the instrumentality of Paul (19), and held a prominent place in the Christian community for his piety and beneficence (4-7). He is called in the epistle a "fellow-labourer," and therefore probably held some office in the church at Colosse; ......

PHILEMON, EPISTLE TO
was written from Rome at the same time as the epistles to the Colossians and Ephesians, and was sent also by Onesimus. It was addressed to Philemon and the members of his family. It was written for the purpose of interceding for Onesimus (q.v.), who had deserted his master Philemon and been "unprofitable" to him. Paul had found Onesimus at Rome, and had there been instrumental in his conversion,......

PHILIPPIANS, EPISTLE TO
was written by Paul during the two years when he was "in bonds" in Rome (Phil. 1:7), probably early in the year A.D. 62 or in the end of 61. The Philippians had sent Epaphroditus, their messenger, with contributions to meet the necessities of the apostle; and on his return Paul sent back with him this letter. With this precious communication Epaphroditus sets out on his homeward journey. "The jo......

PHLEGON
burning, a Roman Christian to whom Paul sent salutations (Rom. 16:14). ......

PHOENICIA
(Acts 21:2). (See PHENICIA.) ......

PI-HAHIROTH
place where the reeds grow (LXX. and Copt. read "farmstead"), the name of a place in Egypt where the children of Israel encamped (Exo 14:2, Exo 14: 9), how long is uncertain. Some have identified it with Ajrud, a fortress between Etham and Suez. The condition of the Isthmus of Suez at the time of the Exodus is not exactly known, and hence this, with the other places mentioned as encampments of Isr......

PIGEON
Pigeons are mentioned as among the offerings which, by divine appointment, Abram presented unto the Lord (Gen. 15:9). They were afterwards enumerated among the sin-offerings (Lev. 1:14;12:6), and the law provided that those who could not offer a lamb might offer two young pigeons (5:7; comp. Luke 2:24). (See DOVE.) ......

PILATE, PONTIUS
probably connected with the Roman family of the Pontii, and called "Pilate" from the Latin pileatus, i.e., "wearing the pileus", which was the "cap or badge of a manumitted slave," as indicating that he was a "freedman," or the descendant of one. He was the sixth in the order of the Roman procurators of Judea (A.D. 26-36). His headquarters were at Caesarea, but he frequently went up to Jerusalem. ......

PIRATHON
prince, or summit, a place "in the land of Ephraim" (Judg. 12:15), now Fer'on, some 10 miles south-west of Shechem. This was the home of Abdon the judge. ......

PIRATHONITE
(1.) Abdon, the son of Hillel, so called, Judg. 12:13, Judg. 12: 15. (2.) Benaiah the Ephraimite (2-Sam 23:30), one of David's thirty heroes. ......

PISON
Babylonian, the current, broad-flowing, one of the "four heads" into which the river which watered the garden of Eden was divided (Gen. 2:11). Some identify it with the modern Phasis, others with the Halys, others the Jorak or Acampis, others the Jaab, the Indus, the Ganges, etc. ......

PITHOM
Egyptian, Pa-Tum, "house of Tum," the sun-god, one of the "treasure" cities built for Pharaoh Rameses II. by the Israelites (Exo 1:11). It was probably the Patumos of the Greek historian Herodotus. It has now been satisfactorily identified with Tell-el-Maskhuta, about 12 miles west of Ismailia, and 20 east of Tel-el-Kebir, on the southern bank of the present Suez Canal. Here have recently (1883) b......

PLAIN OF MAMRE
(Gen. 13:18;14:13; R.V., "oaks of Mamre;" marg., "terebinths"). (See MAMRE; TEIL-TREE.) ......

PLOUGH
first referred to in Gen. 45:6, Gen. 45: where the Authorized Version has "earing," but the Revised Version "ploughing;" next in Exo 34:21 and Deut. 21:4. The plough was originally drawn by oxen, but sometimes also by asses and by men. (See AGRICULTURE.) ......

POETRY
has been well defined as "the measured language of emotion." Hebrew poetry deals almost exclusively with the great question of man's relation to God. "Guilt, condemnation, punishment, pardon, redemption, repentance are the awful themes of this heaven-born poetry." In the Hebrew scriptures there are found three distinct kinds of poetry, (1) that of the Book of Job and the Song of Solomon, which i......

POISON
(1.) Heb. hemah, "heat," the poison of certain venomous reptiles (Deut. 32:24, Deut. 32: 33; Job 6:4; Psa 58:4), causing inflammation. (2.) Heb. rosh, "a head," a poisonous plant (Deut. 29:18), growing luxuriantly (Hos. 10:4), of a bitter taste (Psa 69:21; Lam. 3:5), and coupled with wormwood; probably the poppy. This word is rendered "gall", q.v., (Deut. 29:18;32:33; Psa 69:21; Jer. 8:14, Jer. ......

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.). ......

PONTIUS PILATE
See PILATE. ......

PONTUS
a province of Asia Minor, stretching along the southern coast of the Euxine Sea, corresponding nearly to the modern province of Trebizond. In the time of the apostles it was a Roman province. Strangers from this province were at Jerusalem at Pentecost (Acts 2:9), and to "strangers scattered throughout Pontus," among others, Peter addresses his first epistle (1-Pet 1:1). It was evidently the resort......

POOL
a pond, or reservoir, for holding water (Heb. berekhah; modern Arabic, birket), an artificial cistern or tank. Mention is made of the pool of Gibeon (2-Sam 2:13); the pool of Hebron (4:12); the upper pool at Jerusalem (2-Kings 18:17;20:20); the pool of Samaria (1-Kings 22:38); the king's pool (Neh. 2:14); the pool of Siloah (Neh. 3:15; Eccles. 2:6); the fishpools of Heshbon (7:4); the "lower pool,......

POOLS OF SOLOMON
the name given to three large open cisterns at Etam, at the head of the Wady Urtas, having an average length of 400 feet by 220 in breadth, and 20 to 30 in depth. These pools derive their chief supply of water from a spring called "the sealed fountain," about 200 yards to the north-west of the upper pool, to which it is conveyed by a large subterranean passage. They are 150 feet distant from each ......

POOR
The Mosaic legislation regarding the poor is specially important. (1.) They had the right of gleaning the fields (Lev. 19:9, Lev. 19: 10; Deut. 24:19, Deut. 24:21). (2.) In the sabbatical year they were to have their share of the produce of the fields and the vineyards (Exo 23:11; Lev. 25:6). (3.) In the year of jubilee they recovered their property (Lev. 25:25). (4.) Usury was forbidden, an......

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.) ......

PORCH, SOLOMON'S
a colonnade on the east of the temple, so called from a tradition that it was a relic of Solomon's temple left standing after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. (Comp. 1-Kings 7:6.) The word "porch" is in the New Testament the rendering of three different Greek words: (1.) Stoa, meaning a portico or veranda (John 5:2;10:23; Acts 3:11;5:12). (2.) Pulon, a gateway (Matt. 26:71). ......

PORCIUS FESTUS
See FESTUS. ......

PORTER
a gate-keeper (2-Sam 18:26; 2-Kings 7:10; 1-Chr 9:21; 2-Chr 8:14). Of the Levites, 4,000 were appointed as porters by David (1-Chr 23:5), who were arranged according to their families (26:1) to take charge of the doors and gates of the temple. They were sometimes employed as musicians (1-Chr 15:18). ......

POST
(1.) A runner, or courier, for the rapid transmission of letters, etc. (2-Chr 30:6; Esther 3:13, Esther 3: 15;8:10, 8: 14; Job 9:25; Jer. 51:31). Such messengers were used from very early times. Those employed by the Hebrew kings had a military character (1-Sam 22:17; 2-Kings 10:25, 2-Kings 10: "guard," marg. "runners"). The modern system of postal communication was first established by Louis XI. ......

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 ......

POTIPHERAH
a priest of On, whose daughter Asenath became Joseph's wife (Gen. 41:45). ......

POTSHERD
a "shred", i.e., anything severed, as a fragment of earthenware (Job 2:8; Prov. 26:23; Isa. 45:9). ......

POTTAGE
Heb. nazid, "boiled", a dish of boiled food, as of lentils (Gen. 25:29; 2-Kings 4:38). ......

POTTERS FIELD
the name given to the piece of ground which was afterwards bought with the money that had been given to Judas. It was called the "field of blood" (Matt. 27:7). Tradition places it in the valley of Hinnom. (See ACELDAMA.) ......

POTTERY
the art of, was early practised among all nations. Various materials seem to have been employed by the potter. Earthenware is mentioned in connection with the history of Melchizedek (Gen. 14:18), of Abraham (18:4), of Rebekah (27:14), of Rachel (29:2, 29: 3, 8, 10). The potter's wheel is mentioned by Jeremiah (18:3). See also 1-Chr 4:23; Psa 2:9; Isa. 45:9;64:8; Jer. 19:1; Lam. 4:2; Zech. 11:13; R......

POUND
(1.) A weight. Heb. maneh, equal to 100 shekels (1-Kings 10:17; Ezra 2:69; Neh. 7:71, Neh. 7: 72). Gr. litra, equal to about 12 oz. avoirdupois (John 12:3;19:39). (2.) A sum of money; the Gr. mna or mina (Luke 19:13, Luke 19: 16, 18, 20, 24, 25). It was equal to 100 drachmas, and was of the value of about $3, 6s. 8d. of our money. (See MONEY.) ......

PRAETORIUM
The Greek word (praitorion) thus rendered in Mark 15:16 is rendered "common hall" (Matt. 27:27, Matt. 27: marg., "governor's house"), "judgment hall," (John 18:28, John 18: 33, marg., "Pilate's house",19:9; Acts 23:35), "palace" (Phil. 1:13). This is properly a military word. It denotes (1) the general's tent or headquarters; (2) the governor's residence, as in Acts 23:35 (R.V., "palace"); and (3)......

PREDESTINATION
This word is properly used only with reference to God's plan or purpose of salvation. The Greek word rendered "predestinate" is found only in these six passages, Acts 4:28; Rom. 8:29, Rom. 8: 30; 1-Cor 2:7; Eph. 1:5, Eph. 1: 11; and in all of them it has the same meaning. They teach that the eternal, sovereign, immutable, and unconditional decree or "determinate purpose" of God governs all events.......

PRISON
The first occasion on which we read of a prison is in the history of Joseph in Egypt. Then Potiphar, "Joseph's master, took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound" (Gen. 39:20). The Heb. word here used (sohar) means properly a round tower or fortress. It seems to have been a part of Potiphar's house, a place in which state prisoners were kept. The Mosaic ......

PROPHECY
or prediction, was one of the functions of the prophet. It has been defined as a "miracle of knowledge, a declaration or description or representation of something future, beyond the power of human sagacity to foresee, discern, or conjecture." (See PROPHET.) The great prediction which runs like a golden thread through the whole contents of the Old Testament is that regarding the coming and work ......

PROPHET
(Heb. nabi, from a root meaning "to bubble forth, as from a fountain," hence "to utter", comp. Psa 45:1). This Hebrew word is the first and the most generally used for a prophet. In the time of Samuel another word, _ro'eh_, "seer", began to be used (1-Sam 9:9). It occurs seven times in reference to Samuel. Afterwards another word, _hozeh_, "seer" (2-Sam 24:11), was employed. In 1 29:29 all these t......

PROPITIATION
that by which God is rendered propitious, i.e., by which it becomes consistent with his character and government to pardon and bless the sinner. The propitiation does not procure his love or make him loving; it only renders it consistent for him to execise his love towards sinners. In Rom. 3:25 and Heb. 9:5 (A.V., "mercy-seat") the Greek word _hilasterion_ is used. It is the word employed by the......

PROPORTION OF FAITH
(Rom. 12:6). Paul says here that each one was to exercise his gift of prophecy, i.e., of teaching, "according to the proportion of faith." The meaning is, that the utterances of the "prophet" were not to fluctuate according to his own impulses or independent thoughts, but were to be adjusted to the truth revealed to him as a beliver, i.e., were to be in accordance with it. In post-Reformation ti......

PROSELYTE
is used in the LXX. for "stranger" (1-Chr 22:2), i.e., a comer to Palestine; a sojourner in the land (Exo 12:48;20:10;22:21), and in the New Testament for a convert to Judaism. There were such converts from early times (Isa. 56:3; Neh. 10:28; Esther 8:17). The law of Moses made specific regulations regarding the admission into the Jewish church of such as were not born Israelites (Exo 20:10;23:12;......

PROVERB
a trite maxim; a similitude; a parable. The Hebrew word thus rendered (mashal) has a wide signification. It comes from a root meaning "to be like," "parable." Rendered "proverb" in Isa. 14:4; Hab. 2:6; "dark saying" in Psa 49:4, Psa 49: Num. 12:8. Ahab's defiant words in answer to the insolent demands of Benhadad, "Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off," i......

PROVERBS, BOOK OF
a collection of moral and philosophical maxims of a wide range of subjects presented in a poetic form. This book sets forth the "philosophy of practical life. It is the sign to us that the Bible does not despise common sense and discretion. It impresses upon us in the most forcible manner the value of intelligence and prudence and of a good education. The whole strength of the Hebrew language and ......

PROVIDENCE
literally means foresight, but is generally used to denote God's preserving and governing all things by means of second causes (Psa 18:35;63:8; Acts 17:28; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3). God's providence extends to the natural world (Psa 104:14;135:5; Acts 14:17), the brute creation (Psa 104:21; Matt. 6:26;10:29), and the affairs of men (1-Chr 16:31; Psa 47:7; Prov. 21:1; Job 12:23; Dan. 2:21;4:25), and of......

PTOLEMAIS
a maritime city of Galilee (Acts 21:7). It was originally called "Accho" (q.v.), and received the name Ptolemais from Ptolemy Soter when he was in possession of Coele-Syria.......

PURIFICATION
the process by which a person unclean, according to the Levitical law, and thereby cut off from the sanctuary and the festivals, was restored to the enjoyment of all these privileges. The great annual purification of the people was on the Day of Atonement (q.v.). But in the details of daily life there were special causes of cermonial uncleanness which were severally provided for by ceremonial ......

PUTEOLI
a city on the coast of Campania, on the north shore of a bay running north from the Bay of Naples, at which Paul landed on his way to Rome, from which it was distant 170 miles. Here he tarried for seven days (Acts 28:13, Acts 28: 14). This was the great emporium for the Alexandrian corn ships. Here Paul and his companions began their journey, by the "Appian Way," to Rome. It is now called Pozzuoli......

QUATERNION
a band of four soldiers. Peter was committed by Herod to the custody of four quaternions, i.e., one quaternion for each watch of the night (Acts 12:4). Thus every precaution was taken against his escape from prison. Two of each quaternion were in turn stationed at the door (12:6), and to two the apostle was chained according to Roman custom.......

QUEEN OF HEAVEN
(Jer. 7:18;44:17, 44: 25), the moon, worshipped by the Assyrians as the receptive power in nature.......

QUOTATIONS
from the Old Testament in the New, which are very numerous, are not made according to any uniform method. When the New Testament was written, the Old was not divided, as it now is, into chapters and verses, and hence such peculiarities as these: When Luke (20:37) refers to Exo 3:6, Exo 3: he quotes from "Moses at the bush", i.e., the section containing the record of Moses at the bush. So also Mark......

RABBONI
(id.) occurs only twice in the New Testament (Mark 10:51, Mark 10: A.V., "Lord," R.V., "Rabboni;" John 20:16). It was the most honourable of all the titles.......

RAINBOW
caused by the reflection and refraction of the rays of the sun shining on falling rain. It was appointed as a witness of the divine faithfulness (Gen. 9:12). It existed indeed before, but it was then constituted as a sign of the covenant. Others, however (as Delitzsch, Commentary on Pentateuch), think that it "appeared then for the first time in the vault and clouds of heaven." It is argued by tho......

RAKKON
a place upon the shore, a town belonging to Dan (Josh. 19:46). It is now Tell er-Rakkeit, 6 miles north of Joppa, on the sea-shore, near the mouth of the river 'Aujeh, i.e., "yellow water." (See KANAH.)......

RAMATH OF THE SOUTH
(Heb. Ramath-negeb). The Heb. negeb is the general designation for south or south-west of Judah. This was one of the towns of Simeon (Josh. 19:8). It is the same as "south Ramoth" (1-Sam 30:27; R.V., "Ramoth of the south"). Its site is doubtful. Some have thought it another name for Baalath-beer.......

RAMATHAIM-ZOPHIM
the two heights of the Zophites or of the watchers (only in 1-Sam 1:1), "in the land of Zuph" (9:5). Ramathaim is another name for Ramah (4). One of the Levitical families descended from Kohath, that of Zuph or Zophai (1-Chr 6:26, 1-Chr 6: 35), had a district assigned to them in Ephraim, which from this circumstance was called "the land of Zuph," and hence the name of the town, "Zophim." It was ......

RAMOTH
heights. A Levitical city in the tribe of Issachar (1-Sam 30:27; 1-Chr 6:73), the same as Jarmuth (Josh. 21:29) and Remeth (q.v.),19:21.......

RAMOTH-GILEAD
heights of Gilead, a city of refuge on the east of Jordan; called "Ramoth in Gilead" (Deut. 4:43; Josh. 20:8;21:38). Here Ahab, who joined Jehoshaphat in an endeavour to rescue it from the hands of the king of Syria, was mortally wounded (1-Kings 22:1). A similar attempt was afterwards made by Ahaziah and Joram, when the latter was wounded (2-Kings 8:28). In this city Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat,......

RANSOM
the price or payment made for our redemption, as when it is said that the Son of man "gave his life a ransom for many" (Matt. 20:28; comp. Acts 20:28; Rom. 3:23, Rom. 3: 24; 1-Cor 6:19, 1-Cor 6: 20; Gal. 3:13;4:4, 4: 5: Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; 1-Tim 2:6; Titus 2:14; 1-Pet 1:18, 1-Pet 1: 19. In all these passages the same idea is expressed). This word is derived from the Fr. rancon; Lat. redemptio. Th......

RAZOR
The Nazarites were forbidden to make use of the razor (Num. 6:5; Judg. 13:5). At their consecration the Levites were shaved all over with a razor (Num. 8:7; comp. Psa 52:2; Ezek. 5:1).......

RECONCILATION
a change from enmity to friendship. It is mutual, i.e., it is a change wrought in both parties who have been at enmity. (1.) In Col. 1:21, Col. 1: 22, the word there used refers to a change wrought in the personal character of the sinner who ceases to be an enemy to God by wicked works, and yields up to him his full confidence and love. In 2-Cor 5:20 the apostle beseeches the Corinthians to be "......

RECORDER
(Heb. mazkir, i.e., "the mentioner," "rememberancer"), the office first held by Jehoshaphat in the court of David (2-Sam 8:16), also in the court of Solomon (1-Kings 4:3). The next recorder mentioned is Joah, in the reign of Hezekiah (2-Kings 18:18, 2-Kings 18: 37; Isa. 36:3, Isa. 36: 22). In the reign of Josiah another of the name of Joah filled this office (2-Chr 34:8). The "recorder" was the ch......

RED SEA, PASSAGE OF
The account of the march of the Israelites through the Red Sea is given in Exo 14:22. There has been great diversity of opinion as to the precise place where this occurred. The difficulty of arriving at any definite conclusion on the matter is much increased by the consideration that the head of the Gulf of Suez, which was the branch of the sea that was crossed, must have extended at the time of t......

REDEMPTION
the purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom. The Greek word so rendered is _apolutrosis_, a word occurring nine times in Scripture, and always with the idea of a ransom or price paid, i.e., redemption by a lutron (see Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45). There are instances in the LXX. Version of the Old Testament of the use of _lutron_ in man's relation to man (Lev. 19:20;2......

REFUGE, CITIES OF
were six in number (Num. 35). 1. On the west of Jordan were (1) Kadesh, in Naphtali; (2) Shechem, in Mount Ephraim; (3) Hebron, in Judah. 2. On the east of Jordan were, (1) Golan, in Bashan; (2) Ramoth-Gilead, in Gad; and (3) Bezer, in Reuben. (See under each of these names.)......

REGENERATION
only found in Matt. 19:28 and Titus 3:5. This word literally means a "new birth." The Greek word so rendered (palingenesia) is used by classical writers with reference to the changes produced by the return of spring. In Matt. 19:28 the word is equivalent to the "restitution of all things" (Acts 3:21). In Titus 3:5 it denotes that change of heart elsewhere spoken of as a passing from death to life ......

REHOB
street; broad place. (1.) The father of Hadadezer, king of Tobah (2-Sam 8:3, 2-Sam 8: 12). (2.) Neh. 10:11. (3.) The same, probably, as Beth-rehob (2-Sam 10:6, 2-Sam 10: 8; Judg. 18:28), a place in the north of Palestine (Num. 13:21). It is now supposed to be represented by the castle of Hunin, south-west of Dan, on the road from Hamath into Coele-Syria. (4.) A town of Asher (Josh. 19:28), t......

REHOBOAM
he enlarges the people, the successor of Solomon on the throne, and apparently his only son. He was the son of Naamah "the Ammonitess," some well-known Ammonitish princess (1-Kings 14:21; 2-Chr 12:13). He was forty-one years old when he ascended the throne, and he reigned seventeen years (B.C. 975-958). Although he was acknowledged at once as the rightful heir to the throne, yet there was a strong......

REHOBOTH
broad places. (1.) A well in Gerar dug by Isaac (Gen. 26:22), supposed to be in Wady er-Ruheibeh, about 20 miles south of Beersheba. (2.) An ancient city on the Euphrates (Gen. 36:37; 1-Chr 1:48), "Rehoboth by the river." (3.) Named among the cities of Asshur (Gen. 10:11). Probably, however, the words "rehoboth'ir" are to be translated as in the Vulgate and the margin of A.V., "the streets of ......

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). ......

REPHAIM, VALLEY OF
(Josh. 15:8;18:16, 18: R.V.). When David became king over all Israel, the Philistines, judging that he would now become their uncompromising enemy, made a sudden attack upon Hebron, compelling David to retire from it. He sought refuge in "the hold" at Adullam (2-Sam 5:17), and the Philistines took up their position in the valley of Rephaim, on the west and south-west of Jerusalem. Thus all communi......

REPROBATE
that which is rejected on account of its own worthlessness (Jer. 6:30; Heb. 6:8; Gr. adokimos, "rejected"). This word is also used with reference to persons cast away or rejected because they have failed to make use of opportunities offered them (1-Cor 9:27; 2-Cor 13:5). ......

RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
one of the cardinal facts and doctrines of the gospel. If Christ be not risen, our faith is vain (1-Cor 15:14). The whole of the New Testament revelation rests on this as an historical fact. On the day of Pentecost Peter argued the necessity of Christ's resurrection from the prediction in Ps. 16 (Acts 2:24). In his own discourses, also, our Lord clearly intimates his resurrection (Matt. 20:19; Mar......

RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD
will be simultaneous both of the just and the unjust (Dan. 12:2; John 5:28, John 5: 29; Rom. 2:6; 2-Thess 1:6). The qualities of the resurrection body will be different from those of the body laid in the grave (1-Cor 15:53, 1-Cor 15: 54; Phil. 3:21); but its identity will nevertheless be preserved. It will still be the same body (1-Cor 15:42) which rises again. As to the nature of the resurrecti......

REUBEN, TRIBE OF
at the Exodus numbered 46,500 male adults, from twenty years old and upwards (Num. 1:20, Num. 1: 21), and at the close of the wilderness wanderings they numbered only 43,730 (26:7). This tribe united with that of Gad in asking permission to settle in the "land of Gilead," "on the other side of Jordan" (32:1). The lot assigned to Reuben was the smallest of the lots given to the trans-Jordanic tribe......

REVELATION
an uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen. God has been pleased in various ways and at different times (Heb. 1:1) to make a supernatural revelation of himself and his purposes and plans, which, under the guidance of his Spirit, has been committed to writing. (See WORD+OF+GOD.) The Scriptures are not merely the "record" of revelation; ......

REVELATION OF CHRIST
the second advent of Christ. Three different Greek words are used by the apostles to express this, (1) apokalupsis (1 Cor. 1;7; 2-Thess 1:7; 1-Pet 1:7, 1-Pet 1: 13); (2) parousia (Matt. 24:3, Matt. 24: 27; 1-Thess 2:19; James 5:7, James 5: 8); (3) epiphaneia (1-Tim 6:14; 2-Tim 1:10;4:1; Titus 2:13). There existed among Christians a wide expectation, founded on Matt. 24:29, Matt. 24: 30, 34, of the......

REVELATION, BOOK OF
=The Apocalypse, the closing book and the only prophetical book of the New Testament canon. The author of this book was undoubtedly John the apostle. His name occurs four times in the book itself (1:1, 1: 4, 9;22:8), and there is every reason to conclude that the "John" here mentioned was the apostle. In a manuscript of about the twelfth century he is called "John the divine," but no reason can be......

REZON
prince, son of Eliadah. Abandoning the service of Hadadezer, the king of Zobah, on the occasion of his being defeated by David, he became the "captain over a band" of marauders, and took Damascus, and became king of Syria (1-Kings 11:23; 2-Sam 8:3). For centuries after this the Syrians were the foes of Israel. He "became an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon." ......

RHODA
a rose, the damsel in the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark. She came to hearken when Peter knocked at the door of the gate (Acts 12:12). ......

RHODES
a rose, an island to the south of the western extremity of Asia Minor, between Coos and Patara, about 46 miles long and 18 miles broad. Here the apostle probably landed on his way from Greece to Syria (Acts 21:1), on returning from his third missionary journey. ......

RIGHTEOUSNESS
See JUSTIFICATION. ......

RIMMON
pomegranate. (1.) A man of Beeroth (2-Sam 4:2), one of the four Gibeonite cities. (See Josh. 9:17.) (2.) A Syrian idol, mentioned only in 2-Kings 5:18. (3.) One of the "uttermost cities" of Judah, afterwards given to Simeon (Josh. 15:21, Josh. 15: 32;19:7; 1-Chr 4:32). In Josh. 15:32 Ain and Rimmon are mentioned separately, but 19:7 and 1-Chr 4:32 (comp. Neh. 11:29) the two words are probably ......

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). ......

RIVER OF EGYPT
(1.) Heb. nahar mitsraim, denotes in Gen. 15:18 the Nile, or its eastern branch (2-Chr 9:26). (2.) In Num. 34:5 (R.V., "brook of Egypt") the Hebrew word is _nahal_, denoting a stream flowing rapidly in winter, or in the rainy season. This is a desert stream on the borders of Egypt. It is now called the Wady el-'Arish. The present boundary between Egypt and Palestine is about midway between this wa......

RIVER OF GAD
probably the Arno (2-Sam 24:5). ......

RIVER OF GOD
(Psa 65:9), as opposed to earthly streams, denoting that the divine resources are inexhaustible, or the sum of all fertilizing streams that water the earth (Gen. 2:10). ......

RIVERS OF BABYLON
(Psa 137:1), i.e., of the whole country of Babylonia, e.g., the Tigris, Euphrates, Chalonas, the Ulai, and the numerous canals. ......

RIVERS OF DAMASCUS
the Abana and Pharpar (2-Kings 5:12). ......

RIVERS OF JUDAH
(Joel 3:18), the watercourses of Judea. ......

ROAD
(1-Sam 27:10; R.V., "raid"), an inroad, an incursion. This word is never used in Scripture in the sense of a way or path. ......

ROBBERY
Practised by the Ishmaelites (Gen. 16:12), the Chaldeans and Sabeans (Job 1:15, Job 1: 17), and the men of Shechem (Judg. 9:25. See also 1-Sam 27:6; 30; Hos. 4:2;6:9). Robbers infested Judea in our Lord's time (Luke 10:30; John 18:40; Acts 5:36, Acts 5: 37;21:38; 2-Cor 11:26). The words of the Authorized Version, "counted it not robbery to be equal," etc. (Phil. 2:6, Phil. 2: 7), are better render......

ROCK
(Heb. tsur), employed as a symbol of God in the Old Testament (1-Sam 2:2; 2-Sam 22:3; Isa. 17:10; Psa 28:1;31:2, 31:3;89:26;95:1); also in the New Testament (Matt. 16:18; Rom. 9:33; 1-Cor 10:4). In Dan. 2:45 the Chaldaic form of the Hebrew word is translated "mountain." It ought to be translated "rock," as in Hab. 1:12 in the Revised Version. The "rock" from which the stone is cut there signifies ......

ROE
(Heb. tsebi), properly the gazelle (Arab. ghazal), permitted for food (Deut. 14:5; comp. Deut. 12:15, Deut. 12: 22;15:22; 1-Kings 4:23), noted for its swiftness and beauty and grace of form (2-Sam 2:18; 1-Chr 12:8; 2:9;7:3;8:14). The gazelle (Gazella dorcas) is found in great numbers in Palestine. "Among the gray hills of Galilee it is still 'the roe upon the mountains of Bether,' and I have see......

ROGELIM
fullers, a town of Gilead, the residence of Barzillai the Gileadite (2-Sam 17:27;19:31), probably near to Mahanaim. ......

ROLL
the common form of ancient books. The Hebrew word rendered "roll" or "volume" is _meghillah_, found in Ezra 6:2; Psa 40:7; Jer. 36:2, Jer. 36: 6, 23, 28, 29; Ezek. 2:9;3:1; Zech. 5:1, Zech. 5: 2. "Rolls" (Chald. pl. of sephar, corresponding to Heb. sepher) in Ezra 6:1 is rendered in the Revised Version "archives." In the New Testament the word "volume" (Heb. 10:7; R.V., "roll") occurs as the rende......

ROMAMTI-EZER
elevation of help, one of the sons of Heman, "the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn." He was head of the "four-and-twentieth" course of singers (1-Chr 25:4, 1-Chr 25: 31). ......

ROMANS, EPISTLE TO THE
This epistle was probably written at Corinth. Phoebe (Rom. 16:1) of Cenchrea conveyed it to Rome, and Gaius of Corinth entertained the apostle at the time of his writing it (16:23; 1-Cor 1:14), and Erastus was chamberlain of the city, i.e., of Corinth (2-Tim 4:20). The precise time at which it was written is not mentioned in the epistle, but it was obviously written when the apostle was about to......

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......

ROSE
Many varieties of the rose proper are indigenous to Syria. The famed rose of Damascus is white, but there are also red and yellow roses. In 2:1 and Isa. 35:1 the Hebrew word _habatstseleth_ (found only in these passages), rendered "rose" (R.V. marg., "autumn crocus"), is supposed by some to mean the oleander, by others the sweet-scented narcissus (a native of Palestine), the tulip, or the daisy; b......

ROSH
(Ezek. 38:2, Ezek. 38: 3;39:1) is rendered "chief" in the Authorized Version. It is left untranslated as a proper name in the Revised Version. Some have supposed that the Russians are here meant, as one of the three Scythian tribes of whom Magog was the prince. They invaded the land of Judah in the days of Josiah. Herodotus, the Greek historian, says: "For twenty-eight years the Scythians ruled ov......

ROSIN
found only in Authorized Version, margin, Ezek. 27:17, Ezek. 27: Heb. tsori, uniformly rendered elsewhere "balm" (q.v.), as here in the text. The Vulgate has resinam, rendered "rosin" in the Douay Version. As used, however, by Jerome, the Lat. resina denotes some odoriferous gum or oil. ......

RUTH THE BOOK OF
was originally a part of the Book of Judges, but it now forms one of the twenty-four separate books of the Hebrew Bible. The history it contains refers to a period perhaps about one hundred and twenty-six years before the birth of David. It gives (1) an account of Naomi's going to Moab with her husband, Elimelech, and of her subsequent return to Bethlehem with her daughter-in-law; (2) the marria......

SABAOTH
the transliteration of the Hebrew word _tsebha'oth_, meaning "hosts," "armies" (Rom. 9:29; James 5:4). In the LXX. the Hebrew word is rendered by "Almighty." (See Rev. 4:8; comp. Isa. 6:3.) It may designate Jehovah as either (1) God of the armies of earth, or (2) God of the armies of the stars, or (3) God of the unseen armies of angels; or perhaps it may include all these ideas. ......

SABBATH DAY'S JOURNEY
supposed to be a distance of 2,000 cubits, or less than half-a-mile, the distance to which, according to Jewish tradition, it was allowable to travel on the Sabbath day without violating the law (Acts 1:12; comp. Exo 16:29; Num. 35:5; Josh. 3:4). ......

SACKCLOTH
cloth made of black goats' hair, coarse, rough, and thick, used for sacks, and also worn by mourners (Gen. 37:34;42:25; 2-Sam 3:31; Esther 4:1, Esther 4: 2; Psa 30:11, Psa 30: etc.), and as a sign of repentance (Matt. 11:21). It was put upon animals by the people of Nineveh (Jonah 3:8). ......

SADOC
just, mentioned in the genealogy of our Lord (Matt. 1:14). ......

SAFFRON
Heb. karkom, Arab. zafran (i.e., "yellow"), mentioned only in 4:13, 4: 14; the Crocus sativus. Many species of the crocus are found in Palestine. The pistils and stigmata, from the centre of its flowers, are pressed into "saffron cakes," common in the East. "We found," says Tristram, "saffron a very useful condiment in travelling cookery, a very small pinch of it giving not only a rich yellow colo......

SALMON
shady; or Zalmon (q.v.), a hill covered with dark forests, south of Shechem, from which Abimelech and his men gathered wood to burn that city (Judg. 9:48). In Psa 68:14 the change from war to peace is likened to snow on the dark mountain, as some interpret the expression. Others suppose the words here mean that the bones of the slain left unburied covered the land, so that it seemed to be white as......

SALMONE
a promontory on the east of Crete, under which Paul sailed on his voyage to Rome (Acts 27:7); the modern Cape Sidero. ......

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......

SALT, THE CITY OF
one of the cities of Judah (Josh. 15:62), probably in the Valley of Salt, at the southern end of the Dead Sea. ......

SALT, VALLEY OF
a place where it is said David smote the Syrians (2-Sam 8:13). This valley (the' Arabah) is between Judah and Edom on the south of the Dead Sea. Hence some interpreters would insert the words, "and he smote Edom," after the words, "Syrians" in the above text. It is conjectured that while David was leading his army against the Ammonites and Syrians, the Edomites invaded the south of Judah, and that......

SALUTATION
"Eastern modes of salutation are not unfrequently so prolonged as to become wearisome and a positive waste of time. The profusely polite Arab asks so many questions after your health, your happiness, your welfare, your house, and other things, that a person ignorant of the habits of the country would imagine there must be some secret ailment or mysterious sorrow oppressing you, which you wished to......

SALVATION
This word is used of the deliverance of the Israelites from the Egyptians (Exo 14:13), and of deliverance generally from evil or danger. In the New Testament it is specially used with reference to the great deliverance from the guilt and the pollution of sin wrought out by Jesus Christ, "the great salvation" (Heb. 2:3). (See REDEMPTION; REGENERATION.) ......

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). ......

SAMOS
an island in the AEgean Sea, which Paul passed on his voyage from Assos to Miletus (Acts 20:15), on his third missionary journey. It is about 27 miles long and 20 broad, and lies about 42 miles south-west of Smyrna. ......

SAMOTHRACIA
an island in the AEgean Sea, off the coast of Thracia, about 32 miles distant. This Thracian Samos was passed by Paul on his voyage from Troas to Neapolis (Acts 16:11) on his first missionary journey. It is about 8 miles long and 6 miles broad. Its modern name is Samothraki. ......

SAMSON
of the sun, the son of Manoah, born at Zorah. The narrative of his life is given in Judg. 13-16. He was a "Nazarite unto God" from his birth, the first Nazarite mentioned in Scripture (Judg. 13:3; comp. Num. 6:1). The first recorded event of his life was his marriage with a Philistine woman of Timnath (Judg. 14:1). Such a marriage was not forbidden by the law of Moses, as the Philistines did not f......

SAMUEL, BOOKS OF
The LXX. translators regarded the books of Samuel and of Kings as forming one continuous history, which they divided into four books, which they called "Books of the Kingdom." The Vulgate version followed this division, but styled them "Books of the Kings." These books of Samuel they accordingly called the "First" and "Second" Books of Kings, and not, as in the modern Protestant versions, the "Fir......

SANCTIFICATION
involves more than a mere moral reformation of character, brought about by the power of the truth: it is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration. In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man (Rom. 6:......

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. ......

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. ......

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......

SAVIOUR
one who saves from any form or degree of evil. In its highest sense the word indicates the relation sustained by our Lord to his redeemed ones, he is their Saviour. The great message of the gospel is about salvation and the Saviour. It is the "gospel of salvation." Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ secures to the sinner a personal interest in the work of redemption. Salvation is redemption made effec......

SCAPEGOAT
Lev. 16:8; R.V., "the goat for Azazel" (q.v.), the name given to the goat which was taken away into the wilderness on the day of Atonement (16:20). The priest made atonement over the scapegoat, laying Israel's guilt upon it, and then sent it away, the goat bearing "upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited." At a later period an evasion or modification of the law of Moses was intro......

SCHOOLMASTER
the law so designated by Paul (Gal. 3:24, Gal. 3: 25). As so used, the word does not mean teacher, but pedagogue (shortened into the modern page), i.e., one who was intrusted with the supervision of a family, taking them to and from the school, being responsible for their safety and manners. Hence the pedagogue was stern and severe in his discipline. Thus the law was a pedagogue to the Jews, with ......

SCHOOLS OF THE PROPHETS
(1-Sam 19:18; 2-Kings 2:3, 2-Kings 2: 5, 7, 12, 15) were instituted for the purpose of training young men for the prophetical and priestly offices. (See PROPHET; SAMUEL.) ......

SCORPIONS
mentioned along with serpents (Deut. 8:15). Used also figuratively to denote wicked persons (Ezek. 2:6; Luke 10:19); also a particular kind of scourge or whip (1-Kings 12:11). Scorpions were a species of spider. They abounded in the Jordan valley. ......

SCOURGING
(1-Kings 12:11). Variously administered. In no case were the stripes to exceed forty (Deut. 25:3; comp. 2-Cor 11:24). In the time of the apostles, in consequence of the passing of what was called the Porcian law, no Roman citizen could be scourged in any case (Acts 16:22). (See BASTINADO.) In the scourging of our Lord (Matt. 27:26; Mark 15:15) the words of prophecy (Isa. 53:5) were fulfilled. ......

SEA OF GLASS
a figurative expression used in Rev. 4:6 15:2. According to the interpretation of some, "this calm, glass-like sea, which is never in storm, but only interfused with flame, represents the counsels of God, those purposes of righteousness and love which are often fathomless but never obscure, always the same, though sometimes glowing with holy anger." (Comp. Psa 36:6;77:19; Rom. 11:33.) ......

SEA OF JAZER
(Jer. 48:32), a lake, now represented by some ponds in the high valley in which the Ammonite city of Jazer lies, the ruins of which are called Sar. ......

SEA, THE MOLTEN
the great laver made by Solomon for the use of the priests in the temple, described in 1-Kings 7:23; 2-Chr 4:2. It stood in the south-eastern corner of the inner court. It was 5 cubits high, 10 in diameter from brim to brim, and 30 in circumference. It was placed on the backs of twelve oxen, standing with their faces outward. It was capable of containing two or three thousand baths of water (comp.......

SEASONS
(Gen. 8:22). See AGRICULTURE; MONTH. ......

SEETHING POT
a vessel for boiling provisions in (Job 41:20; Jer. 1:13). ......

SELA-HAMMAHLEKOTH
cliff of divisions the name of the great gorge which lies between Hachilah and Maon, south-east of Hebron. This gorge is now called the Wady Malaky. This was the scene of the interview between David and Saul mentioned in 1-Sam 26:13. Each stood on an opposing cliff, with this deep chasm between. ......

SEORIM
barley, the chief of the forth priestly course (1-Chr 24:8). ......

SERMON ON THE MOUNT
After spending a night in solemn meditation and prayer in the lonely mountain-range to the west of the Lake of Galilee (Luke 6:12), on the following morning our Lord called to him his disciples, and from among them chose twelve, who were to be henceforth trained to be his apostles (Mark 3:14, Mark 3: 15). After this solemn consecration of the twelve, he descended from the mountain-peak to a more l......

SERVITOR
occurs only in 2-Kings 4:43, 2-Kings 4: Authorized Version (R.V., "servant"). The Hebrew word there rendered "servitor" is elsewhere rendered "minister," "servant" (Exo 24:13;33:11). Probably Gehazi, the personal attendant on Elisha, is here meant. ......

SHADOW
used in Col. 2:17; Heb. 8:5;10:1 to denote the typical relation of the Jewish to the Christian dispensation.......

SHALIM, LAND OF
land of foxes, a place apparently to the north-west of Jerusalem (1-Sam 9:4), perhaps in the neighbourhood of Shaalabbin in Dan (Josh. 19:42).......

SHALISHA, LAND OF
probably the district of Baal-shalisha (2-Kings 4:42), lying about 12 miles north of Lydda (1-Sam 9:4).......

SHALLECHETH, THE GATE OF
i.e., "the gate of casting out," hence supposed to be the refuse gate; one of the gates of the house of the Lord, "by the causeway of the going up" i.e., the causeway rising up from the Tyropoeon valley = valley of the cheesemakers (1-Chr 26:16).......

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.......

SHAVEH, VALLEY OF
valley of the plain the ancient name of the "king's dale" (q.v.), or Kidron, on the north side of Jerusalem (Gen. 14:17).......

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.......

SHEEP-FOLD
a strong fenced enclosure for the protection of the sheep gathered within it (Num. 32:24; 1-Chr 17:7; Psa 50:9;78:70). In John 10:16 the Authorized Version renders by "fold" two distinct Greek words, aule and poimne, the latter of which properly means a "flock," and is so rendered in the Revised Version. (See also Matt. 26:31; Luke 2:8; 1-Cor 9:7.) (See FOLD.)......

SHEMIRAMOTH
most high name. (1.) A Levite in the reign of Jehoshaphat (2-Chr 17:8). (2.) A Levite in David's time (1-Chr 15:18, 1-Chr 15: 20).......

SHEOL
(Heb., "the all-demanding world" = Gr. Hades, "the unknown region"), the invisible world of departed souls. (See HELL.)......

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).......

SHIBBOLETH
river, or an ear of corn. The tribes living on the east of Jordan, separated from their brethren on the west by the deep ravines and the rapid river, gradually came to adopt peculiar customs, and from mixing largely with the Moabites, Ishmaelites, and Ammonites to pronounce certain letters in such a manner as to distinguish them from the other tribes. Thus when the Ephraimites from the west invade......

SHIGGAION
from the verb shagah, "to reel about through drink," occurs in the title of Ps. 7. The plural form, shigionoth, is found in Hab. 3:1. The word denotes a lyrical poem composed under strong mental emotion; a song of impassioned imagination accompanied with suitable music; a dithyrambic ode.......

SHIHON
overturning, a town of Issachar (Josh. 19:19).......

SHIHOR
dark, (1-Chr 13:5), the southwestern boundary of Canaan, the Wady el-'Arish. (See SIHOR; NILE.)......

SHIHOR-LIBNATH
black-white, a stream on the borders of Asher, probably the modern Nahr Zerka, i.e., the "crocodile brook," or "blue river", which rises in the Carmel range and enters the Mediterranean a little to the north of Caesarea (Josh. 19:26). Crocodiles are still found in the Zerka. Thomson suspects "that long ages ago some Egyptians, accustomed to worship this ugly creature, settled here (viz., at Caesar......

SHILOAH, THE WATERS OF
=Siloah, (Neh. 3:15) and Siloam (q.v.)......

SHILOH
generally understood as denoting the Messiah, "the peaceful one," as the word signifies (Gen. 49:10). The Vulgate Version translates the word, "he who is to be sent," in allusion to the Messiah; the Revised Version, margin, "till he come to Shiloh;" and the LXX., "until that which is his shall come to Shiloh." It is most simple and natural to render the expression, as in the Authorized Version, "t......

SHILONITE
Ahijah the prophet, whose home was in Shiloh, is so designated (1-Kings 11:29;15:29). The plural form occurs (1-Chr 9:5), denoting the descendants of Shelah, Judah's youngest son.......

SHIMEON
hearkening. Ezra 10:31.......

SHIMROM
watchman, the fourth son of Issachar (Gen. 46:13; 1-Chr 7:1; R.V., correctly, "Shimron").......

SHIMRON
watch-post, an ancient city of the Canaanites; with its villages, allotted to Zebulun (Josh. 19:15); now probably Semunieh, on the northern edge of the plain of Esdraelon, 5 miles west of Nazareth.......

SHIMRON-MERON
the same, probably, as Shimron (Josh. 12:20).......

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......

SHOA
opulent, the mountain district lying to the north-east of Babylonia, anciently the land of the Guti, or Kuti, the modern Kurdistan. The plain lying between these mountains and the Tigris was called su-Edina, i.e., "the border of the plain." This name was sometimes shortened into Suti and Su, and has been regarded as = Shoa (Ezek. 23:23). Some think it denotes a place in Babylon. (See PEKOD.)......

SHOBAB
apostate. (1.) One of David's sons by Bathseheba (2-Sam 5:14). (2.) One of the sons of Caleb (1-Chr 2:18), the son of Hezron.......

SHOBACH
poured out, the "captain of the host of Hadarezer" when he mustered his vassals and tributaries from beyond "the river Euphrates" (2-Sam 10:15); called also Shophach (1-Chr 19:16).......

SHOBAI
captors (Ezra 2:42). ......

SHOBAL
pilgrim. (1.) The second son of Seir the Horite; one of the Horite "dukes" (Gen. 36:20). (2.) One of the sons of Caleb, and a descendant of Hur (1-Chr 2:50, 1-Chr 2: 52;4:1, 4: 2). ......

SHOBI
captor, son of Nahash of Rabbah, the Ammonite. He showed kindness to David when he fled from Jerusalem to Mahanaim (2-Sam 17:27). ......

SHOCHO
(2-Chr 28:18) = Shochoh (1-Sam 17:1) = Shoco (2-Chr 11:7). See SOCOH. ......

SHOE
Of various forms, from the mere sandal (q.v.) to the complete covering of the foot. The word so rendered (A.V.) in Deut. 33:25, Deut. 33: _min'al_, "a bar," is derived from a root meaning "to bolt" or "shut fast," and hence a fastness or fortress. The verse has accordingly been rendered "iron and brass shall be thy fortress," or, as in the Revised Version, "thy bars [marg., "shoes"] shall be iron ......

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). ......

SHOPHAN
hidden, or hollow, a town east of Jordan (Num. 32:35), built by the children of Gad. This word should probably be joined with the word preceding it in this passage, Atroth-Shophan, as in the Revised Version. ......

SHOSHANNIM
lilies, the name of some musical instrument, probably like a lily in shape (Ps. 45; 69, title). Some think that an instrument of six strings is meant. ......

SHOSHANNIM-EDUTH
in title of Ps. 80 (R.V. marg., "lilies, a testimony"), probably the name of the melody to which the psalm was to be sung. ......

SHUAL, THE LAND OF
land of the fox, a district in the tribe of Benjamin (1-Sam 13:17); possibly the same as Shalim (9:4), in the neighbourhood of Shaalabbin (Josh. 19:42). ......

SIDDIM, VALE OF
valley of the broad plains, "which is the salt sea" (Gen. 14:3, Gen. 14: 8, 10), between Engedi and the cities of the plain, at the south end of the Dead Sea. It was "full of slime-pits" (R.V., "bitumen pits"). Here Chedorlaomer and the confederate kings overthrew the kings of Sodom and the cities of the plain. God afterwards, on account of their wickedness, "overthrew those cities, and all the pl......

SIDON
fishing; fishery, Gen. 10:15, Gen. 10: 19 (A.V. marg., Tzidon; R.V., Zidon); Matt. 11:21, Matt. 11: 22; Luke 6:17. (See ZIDON.) ......

SIHON
striking down. The whole country on the east of Jordan, from the Arnon to the Jabbok, was possessed by the Amorites, whose king, Sihon, refused to permit the Israelites to pass through his territory, and put his army in array against them. The Israelites went forth against him to battle, and gained a complete victory. The Amorites were defeated; Sihon, his sons, and all his people were smitten wit......

SIHOR
(correctly Shi'hor) black; dark the name given to the river Nile in Isa. 23:3; Jer. 2:18. In Josh. 13:3 it is probably "the river of Egypt", i.e., the Wady el-Arish (1-Chr 13:5), which flows "before Egypt", i.e., in a north-easterly direction from Egypt, and enters the sea about 50 miles south-west of Gaza. ......

SILOAH, THE POOL OF
Heb. shelah; i.e., "the dart", Neh. 3:15; with the art. _shiloah_, "sending," Isa. 8:6 (7:3)=Siloam (q.v.) ......

SILOAM, POOL OF
sent or sending. Here a notable miracle was wrought by our Lord in giving sight to the blind (John 9:7). It has been identified with the Birket Silwan in the lower Tyropoeon valley, to the south-east of the hill of Zion. The water which flows into this pool intermittingly by a subterranean channel springs from the "Fountain of the Virgin" (q.v.). The length of this channel, which has several win......

SILOAM, TOWER OF
mentioned only Luke 13:4. The place here spoken of is the village now called Silwan, or Kefr Silwan, on the east of the valley of Kidron, and to the north-east of the pool. It stands on the west slope of the Mount of Olives. As illustrative of the movement of small bands of Canaanites from place to place, and the intermingling of Canaanites and Israelites even in small towns in earlier times, M.......

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......

SIMON
the abbreviated form of Simeon. (1.) One of the twelve apostles, called the Canaanite (Matt. 10:4; Mark 3:18). This word "Canaanite" does not mean a native of Canaan, but is derived from the Syriac word Kanean or Kaneniah, which was the name of a Jewish sect. The Revised Version has "Cananaean;" marg., "or Zealot" He is also called "Zelotes" (Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13; R.V., "the Zealot"), because prev......

SIN, WILDERNESS OF
lying between Elim and sinai (Exo 16:1; comp. Num. 33:11, Num. 33: 12). This was probably the narrow plain of el-Markha, which stretches along the eastern shore of the Red Sea for several miles toward the promontory of Ras Mohammed, the southern extremity of the Sinitic Peninsula. While the Israelites rested here for some days they began to murmur on account of the want of nourishment, as they had......

SIN-OFFERING
(Heb. hattath), the law of, is given in detail in Lev. 6:13;9:7, 9: 22-24;12:6;15:2, 15: 14, 25-30;14:19, 14: 31; Num. 6:10. On the day of Atonement it was made with special solemnity (Lev. 16:5, Lev. 16: 11, 15). The blood was then carried into the holy of holies and sprinkled on the mercy-seat. Sin-offerings were also presented at the five annual festivals (Num. 28, 29), and on the occasion of t......

SINAITICUS CODEX
usually designated by the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, is one of the most valuable of ancient MSS. of the Greek New Testament. On the occasion of a third visit to the convent of St. Catherine, on Mount Sinai, in 1859, it was discovered by Dr. Tischendorf. He had on a previous visit in 1844 obtained forty-three parchment leaves of the LXX., which he deposited in the university library of Le......

SINIM, THE LAND OF
(Isa. 49:12), supposed by some to mean China, but more probably Phoenicia (Gen. 10:17) is intended. ......

SION
elevated. (1.) Denotes Mount Hermon in Deut. 4:48; called Sirion by the Sidonians, and by the Amorites Shenir (Deut. 3:9). (See HERMON.) (2.) The Greek form of Zion (q.v.) in Matt. 21:5; John 12:15. ......

SIPHMOTH
fruitful places, some unknown place in the south, where David found friends when he fled from Saul (1-Sam 30:28). ......

SIRION
a breastplate, the Sidonian name of Hermon (q.v.), Deut. 3:9; Psa 29:6. ......

SKIN, COATS MADE OF
(Gen. 3:21). Skins of rams and badgers were used as a covering for the tabernacle (Exo 25:5; Num. 4:8). ......

SKULL, THE PLACE OF A
See GOLGOTHA. ......

SNOW
Common in Palestine in winter (Psa 147:16). The snow on the tops of the Lebanon range is almost always within view throughout the whole year. The word is frequently used figuratively by the sacred writers (Job 24:19; Psa 51:7;68:14; Isa. 1:18). It is mentioned only once in the historical books (2-Sam 23:20). It was "carried to Tyre, Sidon, and Damascus as a luxury, and labourers sweltering in the ......

SO
(Nubian, Sabako), an Ethiopian king who brought Egypt under his sway. He was bribed by Hoshea to help him against the Assyrian monarch Shalmaneser (2-Kings 17:4). This was a return to the policy that had been successful in the reign of Jeroboam I. ......

SOAP
(Jer. 2:22; Mal. 3:2; Heb. borith), properly a vegetable alkali, obtained from the ashes of certain plants, particularly the salsola kali (saltwort), which abounds on the shores of the Dead Sea and of the Mediterranean. It does not appear that the Hebrews were acquainted with what is now called "soap," which is a compound of alkaline carbonates with oleaginous matter. The word "purely" in Isa. 1:2......

SOCHO
a fence; hedge, (1-Chr 4:18; R.V., Soco)=So'choh (1-Kings 4:10; R.V., Socoh), Sho'choh (1-Sam 17:1; R.V., Socoh), Sho'co (2-Chr 11:7; R.V., Soco), Sho'cho (2-Chr 28:18; R.V., Soco), a city in the plain or lowland of Judah, where the Philistines encamped when they invaded Judah after their defeat at Michmash. It lay on the northern side of the valley of Elah (Wady es-Sunt). It has been identified w......

SODOM
burning; the walled, a city in the vale of Siddim (Gen. 13:10;14:1). The wickedness of its inhabitants brought down upon it fire from heaven, by which it was destroyed (18:16;19:1; Deut. 23:17). This city and its awful destruction are frequently alluded to in Scripture (Deut. 29:23;32:32; Isa. 1:9, Isa. 1: 10;3:9;13:19; Jer. 23:14; Ezek. 16:46; Zeph. 2:9; Matt. 10:15; Rom. 9:29; 2-Pet 2:6, 2-Pet 2......

SODOMA
(Rom. 9:29; R.V., "Sodom"), the Greek form for Sodom. ......

SODOMITES
those who imitated the licentious wickedness of Sodom (Deut. 23:17; 1-Kings 14:24; Rom. 1:26, Rom. 1: 27). Asa destroyed them "out of the land" (1-Kings 15:12), as did also his son Jehoshaphat (22:46). ......

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). ......

SOLOMON
peaceful, (Heb. Shelomoh), David's second son by Bathsheba, i.e., the first after their legal marriage (2 Sam. 12). He was probably born about B.C. 1035 (1-Chr 22:5;29:1). He succeeded his father on the throne in early manhood, probably about sixteen or eighteen years of age. Nathan, to whom his education was intrusted, called him Jedidiah, i.e., "beloved of the Lord" (2-Sam 12:24, 2-Sam 12: 25). ......

SOLOMON'S PORCH
(John 10:23; Acts 3:11;5:12), a colonnade, or cloister probably, on the eastern side of the temple. It is not mentioned in connection with the first temple, but Josephus mentions a porch, so called, in Herod's temple (q.v.). ......

SOLOMON, SONG OF
called also, after the Vulgate, the "Canticles." It is the "song of songs" (1:1), as being the finest and most precious of its kind; the noblest song, "das Hohelied," as Luther calls it. The Solomonic authorship of this book has been called in question, but evidences, both internal and external, fairly establish the traditional view that it is the product of Solomon's pen. It is an allegorical poe......

SON OF GOD
The plural, "sons of God," is used (Gen. 6:2, Gen. 6: 4) to denote the pious descendants of Seth. In Job 1:6;38:7 this name is applied to the angels. Hosea uses the phrase (1:10) to designate the gracious relation in which men stand to God. In the New Testament this phrase frequently denotes the relation into which we are brought to God by adoption (Rom. 8:14, Rom. 8: 19; 2-Cor 6:18; Gal. 4:5, G......

SON OF MAN
(1.) Denotes mankind generally, with special reference to their weakness and frailty (Job 25:6; Psa 8:4;144:3;146:3; Isa. 51:12, Isa. 51: etc.). (2.) It is a title frequently given to the prophet Ezekiel, probably to remind him of his human weakness. (3.) In the New Testament it is used forty-three times as a distinctive title of the Saviour. In the Old Testament it is used only in Psa 80:17 a......

SONGS
of Moses (Exo 15; Num. 21:17; Deut. 32; Rev. 15:3), Deborah (Judg. 5), Hannah (1 Sam. 2), David (2 Sam. 22, and Psalms), Mary (Luke 1:46), Zacharias (Luke 1:68), the angels (Luke 2:13), Simeon (Luke 2:29), the redeemed (Rev. 5:9; 19), Solomon (see SOLOMON, SONGS OF). ......

SOOTHSAYER
one who pretends to prognosticate future events. Baalam is so called (Josh. 13:22; Heb. kosem, a "diviner," as rendered 1-Sam 6:2; rendered "prudent," Isa. 3:2). In Isa. 2:6 and Micah 5:12 (Heb. yonenim, i.e., "diviners of the clouds") the word is used of the Chaldean diviners who studied the clouds. In Dan. 2:27;5:7 the word is the rendering of the Chaldee gazrin, i.e., "deciders" or "determiners......

SOP
a morsel of bread (John 13:26; comp. Ruth 2:14). Our Lord took a piece of unleavened bread, and dipping it into the broth of bitter herbs at the Paschal meal, gave it to Judas. (Comp. Ruth 2:14.) ......

SOPATER
the father who saves, probably the same as Sosipater, a kinsman of Paul (Rom. 16:21), a Christian of the city of Berea who accompanied Paul into Asia (Acts 20:4). ......

SORCERER
from the Latin sortiarius, one who casts lots, or one who tells the lot of others. (See DIVINATION.) In Dan. 2:2 it is the rendering of the Hebrew mekhashphim, i.e., mutterers, men who professed to have power with evil spirits. The practice of sorcery exposed to severest punishment (Mal. 3:5; Rev. 21:8;22:15). ......

SOREK
choice vine, the name of a valley, i.e., a torrent-bed, now the Wady Surar, "valley of the fertile spot," which drains the western Judean hills, and flowing by Makkedah and Jabneel, falls into the sea some eight miles south of Joppa. This was the home of Deliah, whom Samson loved (Judg. 16:4). ......

SOSIPATER
(See SOPATER.) ......

SOSTHENES
safe in strength, the chief ruler of the synagogue at Corinth, who was seized and beaten by the mob in the presence of Gallio, the Roman governor, when he refused to proceed against Paul at the instigation of the Jews (Acts 18:12). The motives of this assault against Sosthenes are not recorded, nor is it mentioned whether it was made by Greeks or Romans. Some identify him, but without sufficient g......

SOUTH
Heb. Negeb, that arid district to the south of Palestine through which lay the caravan route from Central Palestine to Egypt (Gen. 12:9;13:1, 13: 3;46:1). "The Negeb comprised a considerable but irregularly-shaped tract of country, its main portion stretching from the mountains and lowlands of Judah in the north to the mountains of Azazemeh in the south, and from the Dead Sea and southern Ghoron t......

SOVEREIGNTY
of God, his absolute right to do all things according to his own good pleasure (Dan. 4:25, Dan. 4: 35; Rom. 9:15; 1-Tim 6:15; Rev. 4:11). ......

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. ......

SPIRIT, HOLY
See HOLY+GHOST. ......

SPONGE
occurs only in the narrative of the crucifixion (Matt. 27:48; Mark 15:36; John 19:29). It is ranked as a zoophyte. It is found attached to rocks at the bottom of the sea. ......

SPOUSE
(4:8; Hos. 4:13, Hos. 4: 14) may denote either husband or wife, but in the Scriptures it denotes only the latter. ......

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 ......

STOICS
a sect of Greek philosophers at Athens, so called from the Greek word stoa i.e., a "porch" or "portico," where they have been called "the Pharisees of Greek paganism." The founder of the Stoics was Zeno, who flourished about B.C. 300. He taught his disciples that a man's happiness consisted in bringing himself into harmony with the course of the universe. They were trained to bear evils with indif......

STOMACHER
(Isa. 3:24), an article of female attire, probably some sort of girdle around the breast. ......

STONE
Stones were commonly used for buildings, also as memorials of important events (Gen. 28:18; Josh. 24:26, Josh. 24: 27; 1-Sam 7:12, 1-Sam 7: etc.). They were gathered out of cultivated fields (Isa. 5:2; comp. 2-Kings 3:19). This word is also used figuratively of believers (1-Pet 2:4, 1-Pet 2: 5), and of the Messiah (Psa 118:22; Isa. 28:16; Matt. 21:42; Acts 4:11, Acts 4: etc.). In Dan. 2:45 it refe......

STONES, PRECIOUS
Frequently referred to (1-Kings 10:2; 2-Chr 3:6;9:10; Rev. 18:16;21:19). There are about twenty different names of such stones in the Bible. They are figuratively introduced to denote value, beauty, durability (5:14; Isa 54:11, Isa 54: 12; Lam. 4:7). ......

STONING
a form of punishment (Lev. 20:2;24:14; Deut. 13:10;17:5;22:21) prescribed for certain offences. Of Achan (Josh. 7:25), Naboth (1 Kings 21), Stephen (Acts 7:59), Paul (Acts 14:19; 2-Cor 11:25). ......

STORK
Heb. hasidah, meaning "kindness," indicating thus the character of the bird, which is noted for its affection for its young. It is in the list of birds forbidden to be eaten by the Levitical law (Lev. 11:19; Deut. 14:18). It is like the crane, but larger in size. Two species are found in Palestine, the white, which are dispersed in pairs over the whole country; and the black, which live in marshy ......

STREAM OF EGYPT
(Isa. 27:12), the Wady el-'Arish, called also "the river of Egypt," R.V., "brook of Egypt" (Num. 34:5; Josh. 15:4; 2-Kings 24:7). It is the natural boundary of Egypt. Occasionally in winter, when heavy rains have fallen among the mountains inland, it becomes a turbulent rushing torrent. The present boundary between Egypt and Palestine is about midway between el-'Arish and Gaza. ......

SUBSCRIPTIONS
The subscriptions to Paul's epistles are no part of the original. In their present form they are ascribed to Euthalius, a bishop of the fifth century. Some of them are obviously incorrect. ......

SUCCOTH
booths. (1.) The first encampment of the Israelites after leaving Ramesses (Exo 12:37); the civil name of Pithom (q.v.). (2.) A city on the east of Jordan, identified with Tell Dar'ala, a high mound, a mass of debris, in the plain north of Jabbok and about one mile from it (Josh. 13:27). Here Jacob (Gen. 32:17, Gen. 32: 30;33:17), on his return from Padan-aram after his interview with Esau, buil......

SUCCOTH-BENOTH
tents of daughters, supposed to be the name of a Babylonian deity, the goddess Zir-banit, the wife of Merodach, worshipped by the colonists in Samaria (2-Kings 17:30). ......

SWALLOW
(1.) Heb. sis (Isa. 38:14; Jer. 8:7), the Arabic for the swift, which "is a regular migrant, returning in myriads every spring, and so suddenly that while one day not a swift can be seen in the country, on the next they have overspread the whole land, and fill the air with their shrill cry." The swift (cypselus) is ordinarily classed with the swallow, which it resembles in its flight, habits, and ......

SWORD
of the Hebrew was pointed, sometimes two-edged, was worn in a sheath, and suspended from the girdle (Exo 32:27; 1-Sam 31:4; 1-Chr 21:27; Psa 149:6: Prov. 5:4; Ezek. 16:40;21:3). It is a symbol of divine chastisement (Deut. 32:25; Psa 7:12;78:62), and of a slanderous tongue (Psa 57:4;64:3; Prov. 12:18). The word of God is likened also to a sword (Heb. 4:12; Eph. 6:17; Rev. 1:16). Gideon's watchwo......

SYCAMORE
more properly sycomore (Heb. shikmoth and shikmim, Gr. sycomoros), a tree which in its general character resembles the fig-tree, while its leaves resemble those of the mulberry; hence it is called the fig-mulberry (Ficus sycomorus). At Jericho, Zacchaeus climbed a sycomore-tree to see Jesus as he passed by (Luke 19:4). This tree was easily destroyed by frost (Psa 78:47), and therefore it is found ......

SYNAGOGUE
(Gr. sunagoge, i.e., "an assembly"), found only once in the Authorized Version of Psa 74:8, Psa 74: where the margin of Revised Version has "places of assembly," which is probably correct; for while the origin of synagogues is unknown, it may well be supposed that buildings or tents for the accommodation of worshippers may have existed in the land from an early time, and thus the system of synagog......

SYROPHENICIAN
"a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation" (Mark 7:26), i.e., a Gentile born in the Phoenician part of Syria. (See PHENICIA.) When our Lord retired into the borderland of Tyre and Sidon (Matt. 15:21), a Syro-phoenician woman came to him, and earnestly besought him, in behalf of her daughter, who was grievously afflicted with a demon. Her faith in him was severely tested by his silence (Matt. 15:23), r......

TAANATH-SHILOH
approach to Shiloh, a place on the border of Ephraim (Josh. 16:6), probably the modern T'ana, a ruin 7 miles south-east of Shechem, on the ridge east of the Mukhnah plain. ......

TABBAOTH
impressions; rings, "the children of," returned from the Captivity (Ezra 2:43). ......

TABERNACLES, FEAST OF
the third of the great annual festivals of the Jews (Lev. 23:33). It is also called the "feast of ingathering" (Exo 23:16; Deut. 16:13). It was celebrated immediately after the harvest, in the month Tisri, and the celebration lasted for eight days (Lev. 23:33). During that period the people left their homes and lived in booths formed of the branches of trees. The sacrifices offered at this time ar......

TABOR
a height. (1.) Now Jebel et-Tur, a cone-like prominent mountain, 11 miles west of the Sea of Galilee. It is about 1,843 feet high. The view from the summit of it is said to be singularly extensive and grand. This is alluded to in Psa 89:12; Jer. 46:18. It was here that Barak encamped before the battle with Sisera (q.v.) Judg. 4:6. There is an old tradition, which, however, is unfounded, that it wa......

TABRIMON
good is Rimmon, the father of Benhadad, king of Syria (1-Kings 15:18). ......

TACHMONITE
=Hach'monite, a name given to Jashobeam (2-Sam 23:8; comp. 1-Chr 11:11). ......

TADMOR
palm, a city built by Solomon "in the wilderness" (2-Chr 8:4). In 1-Kings 9:18, 1-Kings 9: where the word occurs in the Authorized Version, the Hebrew text and the Revised Version read "Tamar," which is properly a city on the southern border of Palestine and toward the wilderness (comp. Ezek. 47:19;48:28). In 2-Chr 8:14 Tadmor is mentioned in connection with Hamath-zobah. It is called Palmyra by t......

TAHTIM-HODSHI
the land of the newly inhabited, (2-Sam 24:6). It is conjectured that, instead of this word, the reading should be, "the Hittites of Kadesh," the Hittite capital, on the Orontes. It was apparently some region east of the Jordan and north of Gilead. ......

TALMON
oppressed. (1.) A Levite porter (1-Chr 9:17; Neh. 11:19). (2.) One whose descendants returned with Zerubbabel to Jerusalem (Ezra 2:42; Neh. 7:45); probably the same as (1). ......

TEKOA, TEKOAH
pitching of tents; fastening down, a town of Judah, about 12 miles south of Jerusalem, and visible from the city. From this place Joab procured a "wise woman," who pretended to be in great affliction, and skilfully made her case known to David. Her address to the king was in the form of an apologue, similar to that of Nathan (2-Sam 12:1). The object of Joab was, by the intervention of this woman, ......

TEMPLE, HEROD'S
The temple erected by the exiles on their return from Babylon had stood for about five hundred years, when Herod the Great became king of Judea. The building had suffered considerably from natural decay as well as from the assaults of hostile armies, and Herod, desirous of gaining the favour of the Jews, proposed to rebuild it. This offer was accepted, and the work was begun (B.C. 18), and carried......

TEMPLE, SOLOMON'S
Before his death David had "with all his might" provided materials in great abundance for the building of the temple on the summit of Mount Moriah (1-Chr 22:14;29:4; 2-Chr 3:1), on the east of the city, on the spot where Abraham had offered up Isaac (Gen. 22:1). In the beginning of his reign Solomon set about giving effect to the desire that had been so earnestly cherished by his father, and prepa......

TEMPLE, THE SECOND
After the return from captivity, under Zerubbabel (q.v.) and the high priest Jeshua, arrangements were almost immediately made to reorganize the long-desolated kingdom. The body of pilgrims, forming a band of 42,360, including children, having completed the long and dreary journey of some four months, from the banks of the Euphrates to Jerusalem, were animated in all their proceeding by a strong r......

TEMPTATION
(1.) Trial; a being put to the test. Thus God "tempted [Gen. 22:1; R.V., 'did prove'] Abraham;" and afflictions are said to tempt, i.e., to try, men (James 1:2, James 1: 12; comp. Deut. 8:2), putting their faith and patience to the test. (2.) Ordinarily, however, the word means solicitation to that which is evil, and hence Satan is called "the tempter" (Matt. 4:3). Our Lord was in this way tempted......

TESTIMONY
(1.) Witness or evidence (2-Thess 1:10). (2.) The Scriptures, as the revelation of God's will (2-Kings 11:12; Psa 19:7;119:88; Isa. 8:16, Isa. 8: 20). (3.) The altar raised by the Gadites and Reubenites (Josh. 22:10). ......

TESTIMONY, TABERNACLE OF
the tabernacle, the great glory of which was that it contained "the testimony", i.e., the "two tables" (Exo 38:21). The ark in which these tables were deposited was called the "ark of the testimony" (0:3), and also simply the "testimony" (27:21;30:6). ......

THEOCRACY
a word first used by Josephus to denote that the Jews were under the direct government of God himself. The nation was in all things subject to the will of their invisible King. All the people were the servants of Jehovah, who ruled over their public and private affairs, communicating to them his will through the medium of the prophets. They were the subjects of a heavenly, not of an earthly, king.......

THEOPHILUS
lover of God, a Christian, probably a Roman, to whom Luke dedicated both his Gospel (Luke 1:3) and the Acts of the Apostles (1:1). Nothing beyond this is known of him. From the fact that Luke applies to him the title "most excellent", the same title Paul uses in addressing Felix (Acts 23:26;24:3) and Festus (26:25), it has been concluded that Theophilus was a person of rank, perhaps a Roman office......

THESSALONIANS, EPISTLES TO THE
The first epistle to the Thessalonians was the first of all Paul's epistles. It was in all probability written from Corinth, where he abode a "long time" (Acts 18:11, Acts 18: 18), early in the period of his residence there, about the end of A.D. 52. The occasion of its being written was the return of Timotheus from Macedonia, bearing tidings from Thessalonica regarding the state of the church t......

THESSALONICA
a large and populous city on the Thermaic bay. It was the capital of one of the four Roman districts of Macedonia, and was ruled by a praetor. It was named after Thessalonica, the wife of Cassander, who built the city. She was so called by her father, Philip, because he first heard of her birth on the day of his gaining a victory over the Thessalians. On his second missionary journey, Paul preache......

THIEVES, THE TWO
(Luke 23:32, Luke 23: 39-43), robbers, rather brigands, probably followers of Barabbas. Our Lord's cross was placed between those of the "malefactors," to add to the ignominy of his position. According to tradition, Demas or Dismas was the name of the penitent thief hanging on the right, and Gestas of the impenitent on the left. ......

THOMAS
twin, one of the twelve (Matt. 10:3; Mark 3:18, Mark 3: etc.). He was also called Didymus (John 11:16;20:24), which is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew name. All we know regarding him is recorded in the fourth Gospel (John 11:15, John 11: 16;14:4, 14: 5;20:24, 20: 25, 26-29). From the circumstance that in the lists of the apostles he is always mentioned along with Matthew, who was the son of Alp......

THORN
(1.) Heb. hedek (Prov. 15:19), rendered "brier" in Micah 7:4. Some thorny plant, of the Solanum family, suitable for hedges. This is probably the so-called "apple of Sodom," which grows very abundantly in the Jordan valley. "It is a shrubby plant, from 3 to 5 feet high, with very branching stems, thickly clad with spines, like those of the English brier, with leaves very large and woolly on the un......

THORN IN THE FLESH
(2-Cor 12:7). Many interpretations have been given of this passage. (1.) Roman Catholic writers think that it denotes suggestions to impiety. (2.) Luther, Calvin, and other Reformers interpret the expression as denoting temptation to unbelief. (3.) Others suppose the expression refers to "a pain in the ear or head," epileptic fits, or, in general, to some severe physical infirmity, which was a......

THOUSANDS
(Micah 5:2), another name for "families" or "clans" (see Num. 1:16;10:4; Josh. 22:14, Josh. 22: 21). Several "thousands" or "families" made up a "tribe." ......

THRESHOLD
(1.) Heb. miphtan, probably a projecting beam at a higher point than the threshold proper (1-Sam 5:4, 1-Sam 5:5; Ezek. 9:3;10:4, 10:18;46:2;47:1); also rendered "door" and "door-post." (2.) 'Asuppim, pl. (Neh. 12:25), rendered correctly "storehouses" in the Revised Version. In 1-Chr 26:15, 1-Chr 26: 17 the Authorized Version retains the word as a proper name, while in the Revised Version it is t......

THRONE
(Heb. kiss'e), a royal chair or seat of dignity (Deut. 17:18; 2-Sam 7:13; Psa 45:6); an elevated seat with a canopy and hangings, which cover it. It denotes the seat of the high priest in 1-Sam 1:9;4:13, 4: and of a provincial governor in Neh. 3:7 and Psa 122:5. The throne of Solomon is described at length in 1-Kings 10:18. ......

THYINE WOOD
mentioned only in Rev. 18:12 among the articles which would cease to be purchased when Babylon fell. It was called citrus, citron wood, by the Romans. It was the Callitris quadrivalvis of botanists, of the cone-bearing order of trees, and of the cypress tribe of this order. The name of this wood is derived from the Greek word _thuein_, "to sacrifice," and it was so called because it was burnt in s......

TIBERIAS, SEA OF
called also the Sea of Galilee (q.v.) and of Gennesaret. In the Old Testament it is called the Sea of Chinnereth or Chinneroth. John (21:1) is the only evangelist who so designates this lake. His doing so incidentally confirms the opinion that he wrote after the other evangelists, and at a period subsequent to the taking of Jerusalem (A.D. 70). Tiberias had by this time become an important city, h......

TIMON
honouring, one of the seven deacons at Jerusalem (Acts 6:5). Nothing further is known of him. ......

TIMOTHEUS
the Greek form of the name of Timothy (Acts 16:1, Acts 16: etc.; the R.V. always "Timothy"). ......

TIMOTHY
honouring God, a young disciple who was Paul's companion in many of his journeyings. His mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois, are mentioned as eminent for their piety (2-Tim 1:5). We know nothing of his father but that he was a Greek (Acts 16:1). He is first brought into notice at the time of Paul's second visit to Lystra (16:2), where he probably resided, and where it seems he was converted......

TIMOTHY, FIRST EPISTLE TO
Paul in this epistle speaks of himself as having left Ephesus for Macedonia (1:3), and hence not Laodicea, as mentioned in the subscription; but probably Philippi, or some other city in that region, was the place where this epistle was written. During the interval between his first and second imprisonments he probably visited the scenes of his former labours in Greece and Asia, and then found his ......

TIMOTHY, SECOND EPISTLE TO
was probably written a year or so after the first, and from Rome, where Paul was for a second time a prisoner, and was sent to Timothy by the hands of Tychicus. In it he entreats Timothy to come to him before winter, and to bring Mark with him (comp. Phil. 2:22). He was anticipating that "the time of his departure was at hand" (2-Tim 4:6), and he exhorts his "son Timothy" to all diligence and stea......

TINKLING ORNAMENTS
(Isa. 3:18), anklets of silver or gold, etc., such as are still used by women in Syria and the East. ......

TITUS, EPISTLE TO
was probably written about the same time as the first epistle to Timothy, with which it has many affinities. "Both letters were addressed to persons left by the writer to preside in their respective churches during his absence. Both letters are principally occupied in describing the qualifications to be sought for in those whom they should appoint to offices in the church; and the ingredients of t......

TOB, THE LAND OF
a district on the east of Jodan, about 13 miles south-east of the Sea of Galilee, to which Jephthah fled from his brethren (Judg. 11:3, Judg. 11: 5). It was on the northern boundary of Perea, between Syria and the land of Ammon (2-Sam 10:6, 2-Sam 10: 8). Its modern name is Taiyibeh. ......

TOB-ADONIJAH
good is Jehovah, my Lord, a Levite sent out by Jehoshaphat to instruct the people of Judah in the law (2-Chr 17:8). ......

TOBIAH
pleasing to Jehovah, the "servant," the "Ammonite," who joined with those who opposed the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Exile (Neh. 2:10). He was a man of great influence, which he exerted in opposition to the Jews, and "sent letters" to Nehemiah "to put him in fear" (Neh. 6:17). "Eliashib the priest" prepared for him during Nehemiah's absence "a chamber in the courts of the house of God," whi......

TOBIJAH
id., a Levite sent out through Judah by Jehoshaphat to teach the people (2-Chr 17:8). ......

TOCHEN
measured, a town of Simeon (1-Chr 4:32). ......

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). ......

TOHU
one of Samuel's ancestors (1-Sam 1:1). ......

TOI
a king of Hamath, who sent "Joram his son unto King David to salute him," when he "heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer" (2-Sam 8:9, 2-Sam 8: 10). Called Tou (1-Chr 18:9, 1-Chr 18: 10). ......

TOLA
a scarlet worm. (1.) Eldest son of Issachar (Gen. 46:13). (2.) A judge of the tribe of Issachar who "judged" Israel twenty-three years (Judg. 10:1, Judg. 10: 2), when he died, and was buried in Shamir. He was succeeded by Jair. ......

TOLAD
productive, a town of Simeon, in the south of Judah (1-Chr 4:29). ......

TOLAITES
descendants of Tola (Num. 26:23; 1-Chr 7:1, 1-Chr 7: 2). ......

TOLL
one of the branches of the king of Persia's revenues (Ezra 4:13;7:24), probably a tax levied from those who used the bridges and fords and highways. ......

TOMBS
of the Hebrews were generally excavated in the solid rock, or were natural caves. Mention is made of such tombs in Judg. 8:32; 2-Sam 2:32; 2-Kings 9:28;23:30. They were sometimes made in gardens (2-Kings 21:26;23:16; Matt. 27:60). They are found in great numbers in and around Jerusalem and all over the land. They were sometimes whitewashed (Matt. 23:27, Matt. 23: 29). The body of Jesus was laid in......

TONGUES, CONFUSION OF
at Babel, the cause of the early separation of mankind and their division into nations. The descendants of Noah built a tower to prevent their dispersion; but God "confounded their language" (Gen. 11:1), and they were scattered over the whole earth. Till this time "the whole earth was of one language and of one speech." (See SHINAR.) ......

TONGUES, GIFT OF
granted on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4), in fulfilment of a promise Christ had made to his disciples (Mark 16:17). What this gift actually was has been a subject of much discussion. Some have argued that it was merely an outward sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit among the disciples, typifying his manifold gifts, and showing that salvation was to be extended to all nations. But the words o......

TOOTH
one of the particulars regarding which retaliatory punishment was to be inflicted (Exo 21:24; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21). "Gnashing of teeth" =rage, despair (Matt. 8:12; Acts 7:54); "cleanness of teeth" =famine (Amos 4:6); "children's teeth set on edge" =children suffering for the sins of their fathers (Ezek. 18:2). ......

TOPAZ
Heb. pitdah (Ezek. 28:13; Rev. 21:20), a golden yellow or "green" stone brought from Cush or Ethiopia (Job 28:19). It was the second stone in the first row in the breastplate of the high priest, and had the name of Simeon inscribed on it (Exo 28:17). It is probably the chrysolite of the moderns. ......

TOPHEL
lime, a place in the wilderness of Sinai (Deut. 1:1), now identified with Tafyleh or Tufileh, on the west side of the Edomitish mountains. ......

TOPHET
=Topheth, from Heb. toph "a drum," because the cries of children here sacrificed by the priests of Moloch were drowned by the noise of such an instrument; or from taph or toph, meaning "to burn," and hence a place of burning, the name of a particular part in the valley of Hinnom. "Fire being the most destructive of all elements, is chosen by the sacred writers to symbolize the agency by which God ......

TORCHES
On the night of his betrayal, when our Lord was in the garden of Gethsemane, Judas, "having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons" (John 18:1). Although it was the time of full moon, yet in the valley of the Kidron "there fell great, deep shadows from the declivity of the mountain and projecting rocks; there w......

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. ......

TORTOISE
(Heb. tsabh). Ranked among the unclean animals (Lev. 11:29). Land tortoises are common in Syria. The LXX. renders the word by "land crocodile." The word, however, more probably denotes a lizard, called by the modern Arabs _dhabb_. ......

TOW
(Judg. 16:9). See FLAX. ......

TOWER OF THE FURNACES
(Neh. 3:11;12:38), a tower at the north-western angle of the second wall of Jerusalem. It was probably so named from its contiguity to the "bakers' street" (Jer. 37:21). ......

TOWERS
of Babel (Gen. 11:4), Edar (Gen. 35:21), Penuel (Judg. 8:9, Judg. 8: 17), Shechem (9:46), David (4:4), Lebanon (7:4), Syene (Ezek. 29:10), Hananeel (Zech. 14:10), Siloam (Luke 13:4). There were several towers in Jerusalem (2-Chr 26:9; Psa 48:12). They were erected for various purposes, as watch-towers in vineyard (Isa. 5:2; Matt. 21:33) and towers for defence. ......

TRACHONITIS
a rugged region, corresponds to the Heb. Argob (q.v.), the Greek name of a region on the east of Jordan (Luke 3:1); one of the five Roman provinces into which that district was divided. It was in the tetrarchy of Philip, and is now called the Lejah. ......

TRADITION
any kind of teaching, written or spoken, handed down from generation to generation. In Mark 7:3, Mark 7: 9, 13, Col. 2:8, Col. 2: this word refers to the arbitrary interpretations of the Jews. In 2-Thess 2:15;3:6, 3: it is used in a good sense. Peter (1-Pet 1:18) uses this word with reference to the degenerate Judaism of the "strangers scattered" whom he addresses (comp. Acts 15:10; Matt. 15:2; Ga......

TRANSFIGURATION, THE
of our Lord on a "high mountain apart," is described by each of the three evangelists (Matt. 17:1; Mark 9:2; Luke 9:28). The fullest account is given by Luke, who, no doubt, was informed by Peter, who was present on the occasion. What these evangelists record was an absolute historical reality, and not a mere vision. The concurrence between them in all the circumstances of the incident is exact. J......

TREASURE HOUSES
the houses or magazines built for the safe keeping of treasure and valuable articles of any kind (Ezra 5:17;7:20; Neh. 10:38; Dan. 1:2). ......

TREE OF LIFE
stood also in the midst of the garden of Eden (Gen. 2:9;3:22). Some writers have advanced the opinion that this tree had some secret virtue, which was fitted to preserve life. Probably the lesson conveyed was that life was to be sought by man, not in himself or in his own power, but from without, from Him who is emphatically the Life (John 1:4;14:6). Wisdom is compared to the tree of life (Prov. 3......

TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL
stood in the midst of the garden of Eden, beside the tree of life (Gen. 2, 3). Adam and Eve were forbidden to take of the fruit which grew upon it. But they disobeyed the divine injunction, and so sin and death by sin entered our world and became the heritage of Adam's posterity. (See ADAM.) ......

TRESPASS OFFERING
(Heb. 'asham, "debt"), the law concerning, given in Lev. 5:14:7; also in Num. 5:5. The idea of sin as a "debt" pervades this legislation. The _asham_, which was always a ram, was offered in cases where sins were more private. (See OFFERING.) ......

TRIBULATION
trouble or affiction of any kind (Deut. 4:30; Matt. 13:21; 2-Cor 7:4). In Rom. 2:9 "tribulation and anguish" are the penal sufferings that shall overtake the wicked. In Matt. 24:21, Matt. 24: 29, the word denotes the calamities that were to attend the destruction of Jerusalem. ......

TROAS
a city on the coast of Mysia, in the north-west of Asia Minor, named after ancient Troy, which was at some little distance from it (about 4 miles) to the north. Here Paul, on his second missionary journey, saw the vision of a "man of Macedonia," who appeared to him, saying, "Come over, and help us" (Acts 16:8). He visited this place also on other occasions, and on one of these visits he left his c......

TROGYLLIUM
a town on the western coast of Asia Minor, where Paul "tarried" when on his way from Assos to Miletus, on his third missionary journey (Acts 20:15). ......

TROPHIMUS
a foster-child, an Ephesian who accompanied Paul during a part of his third missionary journey (Acts 20:4;21:29). He was with Paul in Jerusalem, and the Jews, supposing that the apostle had brought him with him into the temple, raised a tumult which resulted in Paul's imprisonment. (See TEMPLE,+HEROD'S.) In writing to Timothy, the apostle says, "Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick" (2-Tim 4:20).......

TRUMPETS, FEAST OF
was celebrated at the beginning of the month Tisri, the first month of the civil year. It received its name from the circumstances that the trumpets usually blown at the commencement of each month were on that occasion blown with unusual solemnity (Lev. 23:23; Num. 10:10;29:1). It was one of the seven days of holy convocation. The special design of this feast, which is described in these verses, i......

TRYPHENA AND TRYPHOSA
two female Christians, active workers, whom Paul salutes in his epistle to the Romans (16:12). ......

TURTLE, TURTLE-DOVE
Its peculiar peaceful and gentle habit its often referred to in Scripture. A pair was offered in sacrifice by Mary at her purification (Luke 2:24). The pigeon and the turtle-dove were the only birds permitted to be offered in sacrifice (Lev. 1:14;5:7;14:22;15:14, 15: 29, etc.). The Latin name of this bird, _turtur_, is derived from its note, and is a repetition of the Hebrew name _tor_. Three spec......

TYROPOEON VALLEY
(i.e., "Valley of the Cheesemongers"), the name given by Josephus the historian to the valley or rugged ravine which in ancient times separated Mount Moriah from Mount Zion. This valley, now filled up with a vast accumulation of rubbish, and almost a plain, was spanned by bridges, the most noted of which was Zion Bridge, which was probably the ordinary means of communication between the royal pala......

UNCTION
(1-John 2:20, 1-John 2:27; R.V., "anointing"). Kings, prophets, and priests were anointed, in token of receiving divine grace. All believers are, in a secondary sense, what Christ was in a primary sense, "the Lord's anointed." ......

UNICORN
described as an animal of great ferocity and strength (Num. 23:22, Num. 23: R.V., "wild ox," marg., "ox-antelope;"24:8; Isa. 34:7, Isa. 34: R.V., "wild oxen"), and untamable (Job 39:9). It was in reality a two-horned animal; but the exact reference of the word so rendered (reem) is doubtful. Some have supposed it to be the buffalo; others, the white antelope, called by the Arabs rim. Most probably......

UZ, THE LAND OF
where Job lived (1:1; Jer. 25:20; Lam. 4:21), probably somewhere to the east or south-east of Palestine and north of Edom. It is mentioned in Scripture only in these three passages. ......

VAGABOND
from Lat. vagabundus, "a wanderer," "a fugitive;" not used opprobriously (Gen. 4:12, Gen. 4: R.V., "wanderer;" Psa 109:10; Acts 19:13, Acts 19: R.V., "strolling"). ......

VATICANUS, CODEX
is said to be the oldest extant vellum manuscript. It and the Codex Sinaiticus are the two oldest uncial manuscripts. They were probably written in the fourth century. The Vaticanus was placed in the Vatican Library at Rome by Pope Nicolas V. in 1448, its previous history being unknown. It originally consisted in all probability of a complete copy of the Septuagint and of the New Testament. It is ......

VERSION
a translation of the holy Scriptures. This word is not found in the Bible, nevertheless, as frequent references are made in this work to various ancient as well as modern versions, it is fitting that some brief account should be given of the most important of these. These versions are important helps to the right interpretation of the Word. (See SAMARITAN+PENTATEUCH.) 1. The Targums. After the r......

VINE OF SODOM
referred to only in Deut. 32:32. Among the many conjectures as to this tree, the most probable is that it is the 'osher of the Arabs, which abounds in the region of the Dead Sea. Its fruit are the so-called "apples of Sodom," which, though beautiful to the eye, are exceedingly bitter to the taste. (See EN-GEDI.) The people of Israel are referred to here by Moses as being utterly corrupt, bringing ......

VIOL
Heb. nebel (Isa. 5:12, Isa. 5: R.V., "lute;"14:11), a musical instrument, usually rendered "psaltery" (q.v.) ......

VISION
(Luke 1:22), a vivid apparition, not a dream (comp. Luke 24:23; Acts 26:19; 2-Cor 12:1). ......

VOWS
voluntary promises which, when once made, were to be kept if the thing vowed was right. They were made under a great variety of circumstances (Gen. 28:18; Lev. 7:16; Num. 30:2; Deut. 23:18; Judg. 11:30, Judg. 11: 39; 1-Sam 1:11; Jonah 1:16; Acts 18:18;21:23). ......

WAGON
Heb. aghalah; so rendered in Gen. 45:19, Gen. 45: 21, 27;46:5; Num. 7:3, Num. 7: 7,8, but elsewhere rendered "cart" (1-Sam 6:7, 1-Sam 6: etc.). This vehicle was used for peaceful purposes. In Ezek. 23:24, Ezek. 23: however, it is the rendering of a different Hebrew word, and denotes a war-chariot. ......

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 JEALOUSY
a phrase employed (not, however, in Scripture) to denote the water used in the solemn ordeal prescribed by the law of Moses (Num. 5:11) in cases of "jealousy." ......

WATER OF PURIFICATION
used in cases of ceremonial cleansings at the consecration of the Levites (Num. 8:7). It signified, figuratively, that purifying of the heart which must characterize the servants of God. ......

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). ......

WATERSPOUTS
(Psa 42:7; marg. R.V., "cataracts"). If we regard this psalm as descriptive of David's feelings when banished from Jerusalem by the revolt of Absalom, this word may denote "waterfalls," inasmuch as Mahanaim, where he abode, was near the Jabbok, and the region abounded with rapids and falls. ......

WAVE OFFERINGS
parts of peace-offerings were so called, because they were waved by the priests (Exo 29:24, Exo 29: 26, 27; Lev. 7:20;8:27;9:21;10:14, 10: 15, etc.), in token of a solemn special presentation to God. They then became the property of the priests. The first-fruits, a sheaf of barley, offered at the feast of Pentecost (Lev. 23:17), and wheat-bread, the first-fruits of the second harvest, offered at t......

WEEKS, FEAST OF
See PENTECOST. ......

WIDOWS
to be treated with kindness (Exo 22:22; Deut. 14:29;16:11, 16: 14;24:17, 24: 19-21;26:12;27:19, 27: etc.). In the New Testament the same tender regard for them is inculcated (Acts 6:1; 1-Tim 5:3) and exhibited. ......

WILLOWS
(1.) Heb. 'arabim (Lev. 23:40; Job 40:22; Isa. 15:7;44:3, 44: 4; Psa 137:1, Psa 137: 2). This was supposed to be the weeping willow, called by Linnaeus Salix Babylonica, from the reference in Ps. 137. This tree is frequently found "on the coast, overhanging wells and pools. There is a conspicuous tree of this species over a pond in the plain of Acre, and others on the Phoenician plain." There are ......

WINDOW
properly only an opening in a house for the admission of light and air, covered with lattice-work, which might be opened or closed (2-Kings 1:2; Acts 20:9). The spies in Jericho and Paul at Damascus were let down from the windows of houses abutting on the town wall (Josh. 2:15; 2-Cor 11:33). The clouds are metaphorically called the "windows of heaven" (Gen. 7:11; Mal. 3:10). The word thus rendered......

WINNOW
Corn was winnowed, (1.) By being thrown up by a shovel against the wind. As a rule this was done in the evening or during the night, when the west wind from the sea was blowing, which was a moderate breeze and fitted for the purpose. The north wind was too strong, and the east wind came in gusts. (2.) By the use of a fan or van, by which the chaff was blown away (Ruth 3:2; Isa. 30:24; Jer. 4:11, J......

WISE, WISDOM
a moral rather than an intellectual quality. To be "foolish" is to be godless (Psa 14:1; comp. Judg. 19:23; 2-Sam 13:13). True wisdom is a gift from God to those who ask it (Job 28:12; Prov. 3:13; Rom. 1:22;16:27; 1-Cor 1:17;2:6; James 1:5). "Wisdom" in Prov. 1:20;8:1;9:1 may be regarded not as a mere personification of the attribute of wisdom, but as a divine person, "Christ the power of God and ......

WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT
(Rom. 8:16), the consciousness of the gracious operation of the Spirit on the mind, "a certitude of the Spirit's presence and work continually asserted within us", manifested "in his comforting us, his stirring us up to prayer, his reproof of our sins, his drawing us to works of love, to bear testimony before the world," etc. ......

WOLF
Heb. zeeb, frequently referred to in Scripture as an emblem of treachery and cruelty. Jacob's prophecy, "Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf" (Gen. 49:27), represents the warlike character of that tribe (see Judg. 19-21). Isaiah represents the peace of Messiah's kingdom by the words, "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb" (Isa. 11:6). The habits of the wolf are described in Jer. 5:6; Hab. 1:8; Zeph.......

WOMAN
was "taken out of man" (Gen. 2:23), and therefore the man has the preeminence. "The head of the woman is the man;" but yet honour is to be shown to the wife, "as unto the weaker vessel" (1-Cor 11:3, 1-Cor 11: 8, 9; 1-Pet 3:7). Several women are mentioned in Scripture as having been endowed with prophetic gifts, as Miriam (Exo 15:20), Deborah (Judg. 4:4, Judg. 4: 5), Huldah (2-Kings 22:14), Noadiah......

WOOD
See FOREST. ......

WOOD-OFFERING
(Neh. 10:34;13:31). It would seem that in the time of Nehemiah arrangements were made, probably on account of the comparative scarcity of wood, by which certain districts were required, as chosen by lot, to furnish wood to keep the altar fire perpetually burning (Lev. 6:13). ......

WOOL
one of the first material used for making woven cloth (Lev. 13:47, Lev. 13: 48, 52, 59;19:19). The first-fruit of wool was to be offered to the priests (Deut. 18:4). The law prohibiting the wearing of a garment "of divers sorts, as of woollen and linen together" (Deut. 22:11) may, like some other laws of a similar character, have been intended to express symbolically the separateness and simplicit......

WORD OF GOD
(Heb. 4:12, Heb. 4: etc.). The Bible so called because the writers of its several books were God's organs in communicating his will to men. It is his "word," because he speaks to us in its sacred pages. Whatever the inspired writers here declare to be true and binding upon us, God declares to be true and binding. This word is infallible, because written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and t......

WORD, THE
(Gr. Logos), one of the titles of our Lord, found only in the writings of John (John 1:1; 1-John 1:1; Rev. 19:13). As such, Christ is the revealer of God. His office is to make God known. "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him" (John 1:18). This title designates the divine nature of Christ. As the Word, he "was in the beg......

WORKS, COVENANT OF
entered into by God with Adam as the representative of the human race (comp. Gen. 9:11, Gen. 9: 12;17:1), so styled because perfect obedience was its condition, thus distinguishing it from the covenant of grace. (See COVENANT OF WORKS.) ......

WORKS, GOOD
The old objection against the doctrine of salvation by grace, that it does away with the necessity of good works, and lowers the sense of their importance (Rom. 6), although it has been answered a thousand times, is still alleged by many. They say if men are not saved by works, then works are not necessary. If the most moral of men are saved in the same way as the very chief of sinners, then good ......

WORM
(1.) Heb. sas (Isa. 51:8), denotes the caterpillar of the clothes-moth. (2.) The manna bred worms (tola'im), but on the Sabbath there was not any worm (rimmah) therein (Exo 16:20, Exo 16: 24). Here these words refer to caterpillars or larvae, which feed on corrupting matter. These two Hebrew words appear to be interchangeable (Job 25:6; Isa. 14:11). Tola'im in some places denotes the caterpill......

WORMWOOD
Heb. la'anah, the Artemisia absinthium of botanists. It is noted for its intense bitterness (Deut. 29:18; Prov. 5:4; Jer. 9:15; Amos 5:7). It is a type of bitterness, affliction, remorse, punitive suffering. In Amos 6:12 this Hebrew word is rendered "hemlock" (R.V., "wormwood"). In the symbolical language of the Apocalypse (Rev. 8:10, Rev. 8: 11) a star is represented as falling on the waters of t......

WORSHIP
homage rendered to God which it is sinful (idolatry) to render to any created being (Exo 34:14; Isa. 2:8). Such worship was refused by Peter (Acts 10:25, Acts 10:26) and by an angel (Rev. 22:8, Rev. 22:9). ......

WORSHIPPER
(Gr. neocoros = temple-sweeper (Acts 19:35) of the great goddess Diana). This name neocoros appears on most of the extant Ephesian coins ......

YOKE
(1.) Fitted on the neck of oxen for the purpose of binding to them the traces by which they might draw the plough, etc. (Num. 19:2; Deut. 21:3). It was a curved piece of wood called _'ol_. (2.) In Jer. 27:2;28:10, 28: 12 the word in the Authorized Version rendered "yoke" is _motah_, which properly means a "staff," or as in the Revised Version, "bar." These words in the Hebrew are both used fig......

YOKE-FELLOW
(Phil. 4:3), one of the apostle's fellow-labourers. Some have conjectured that Epaphroditus is meant. Wyckliffe renders the phrase "the german felowe", i.e., "thee, germane [=genuine] comrade." ......

ZABULON
(Matt. 4:13, Matt. 4: 15; Rev. 7:8). See ZEBULUN.......

ZADOK
righteous. (1.) A son of Ahitub, of the line of Eleazer (2-Sam 8:17; 1-Chr 24:3), high priest in the time of David (2-Sam 20:25) and Solomon (1-Kings 4:4). He is first mentioned as coming to take part with David at Hebron (1-Chr 12:27, 1-Chr 12: 28). He was probably on this account made ruler over the Aaronites (27:17). Zadok and Abiathar acted as high priests on several important occasions (1-Chr......

ZALMON
shady. (1.) One of David's warriors, called the Ahohite (2-Sam 23:28); called also Ilai (1-Chr 11:29). (2.) A wood near Shechem, from which Abimelech and his party brought boughs and "put them to the hold" of Shechem, "and set the hold on fire" (Judg. 9:48). Probably the southern peak of Gerizim, now called Jebel Sulman. (See SALMON.)......

ZALMONAH
shady, one of the stations of the Israelites in the wilderness (Num. 33:41, Num. 33: 42).......

ZANOAH
marsh. (1.) A town in the low country or shephelah of Judah, near Zorah (Josh. 15:34). It was re-occupied after the return from the Captivity (Neh. 11:30). Zanu'ah in Wady Ismail, 10 miles west of Jerusalem, occupies probably the same site. (2.) A town in the hill country of Judah, some 10 miles to the south-west of Hebron (Josh. 15:56).......

ZEALOTS
a sect of Jews which originated with Judas the Gaulonite (Acts 5:37). They refused to pay tribute to the Romans, on the ground that this was a violation of the principle that God was the only king of Israel. They rebelled against the Romans, but were soon scattered, and became a lawless band of mere brigands. They were afterwards called Sicarii, from their use of the sica, i.e., the Roman dagger.......

ZEBOIM
gazelles or roes. (1.) One of the "five cities of the plain" of Sodom, generally coupled with Admah (Gen. 10:19;14:2; Deut. 29:23; Hos. 11:8). It had a king of its own (Shemeber), and was therefore a place of some importance. It was destroyed along with the other cities of the plain. (2.) A valley or rugged glen somewhere near Gibeah in Benjamin (1-Sam 13:18). It was probably the ravine now bear......

ZEBULONITE
the designation of Elon, the judge who belonged to the tribe of Zebulun (Judg. 12:11, Judg. 12: 12).......

ZEBULUN, LOT OF
in Galilee, to the north of Issachar and south of Asher and Naphtali (Josh. 19:10), and between the Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean. According to ancient prophecy this part of Galilee enjoyed a large share of our Lord's public ministry (Isa. 9:1, Isa. 9: 2; Matt. 4:12).......

ZEBULUN, TRIBE OF
numbered at Sinai (Num. 1:31) and before entering Canaan (26:27). It was one of the tribes which did not drive out the Canaanites, but only made them tributary (Judg. 1:30). It took little interest in public affairs. It responded, however, readily to the summons of Gideon (6:35), and afterwards assisted in enthroning David at Hebron (1-Chr 12:33, 1-Chr 12: 40). Along with the other northern tribes......

ZELOPHEHAD
first-born, of the tribe of Manasseh, and of the family of Gilead; died in the wilderness. Having left no sons, his daughters, concerned lest their father's name should be "done away from among his family," made an appeal to Moses, who, by divine direction, appointed it as "a statute of judgment" in Israel that daughters should inherit their father's portion when no sons were left (Num. 27:1). But......

ZELOTES
(Luke 6:15). See SIMON; ZEALOTS.......

ZIBEON
robber; or dyed. (1.) A Hivite (Gen. 36:2). (2.) A Horite, and son of Seir (Gen. 36:20).......

ZIDON
a fishery, a town on the Mediterranean coast, about 25 miles north of Tyre. It received its name from the "first-born" of Canaan, the grandson of Noah (Gen. 10:15, Gen. 10: 19). It was the first home of the Phoenicians on the coast of Palestine, and from its extensive commercial relations became a "great" city (Josh. 11:8;19:28). It was the mother city of Tyre. It lay within the lot of the tribe o......

ZION
sunny; height, one of the eminences on which Jerusalem was built. It was surrounded on all sides, except the north, by deep valleys, that of the Tyropoeon (q.v.) separating it from Moriah (q.v.), which it surpasses in height by 105 feet. It was the south-eastern hill of Jerusalem. When David took it from the Jebusites (Josh. 15:63; 2-Sam 5:7) he built on it a citadel and a palace, and it became ......

ZIOR
littleness, a city in the mountains of Judah (Josh. 15:54); the modern Si'air, 4 1/2 miles north-north-east of Hebron.......

ZIPHRON
sweet odour, a city on the northern border of Palestine (Num. 34:9), south-east of Hamath.......

ZIPPOR
a little bird, the father of Balak, king of Moab (Num. 22:2, Num. 22: 4).......

ZIPPORAH
a female bird. Reuel's daughter, who became the wife of Moses (Exo 2:21). In consequence of the event recorded in Exo 4:24, Exo 4: she and her two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, when so far on the way with Moses toward Egypt, were sent back by him to her own kinsfolk, the Midianites, with whom they sojourned till Moses afterwards joined them (18:2).......

ZOAN
(Old Egypt. Sant= "stronghold," the modern San). A city on the Tanitic branch of the Nile, called by the Greeks Tanis. It was built seven years after Hebron in Palestine (Num. 13:22). This great and important city was the capital of the Hyksos, or Shepherd kings, who ruled Egypt for more than 500 years. It was the frontier town of Goshen. Here Pharaoh was holding his court at the time of his vario......

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.......

ZOBAH
=Aram-Zobah, (Ps. 60, title), a Syrian province or kingdom to the south of Coele-Syria, and extending from the eastern slopes of Lebanon north and east toward the Euphrates. Saul and David had war with the kings of Zobah (1-Sam 14:47; 2-Sam 8:3;10:6).......

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).......

ZOHELETH
the serpent-stone, a rocky plateau near the centre of the village of Siloam, and near the fountain of En-rogel, to which the women of the village resort for water (1-Kings 1:5). Here Adonijah (q.v.) feasted all the royal princess except Solomon and the men who took part with him in his effort to succeed to the throne. While they were assembled here Solomon was proclaimed king, through the interven......

ZOHETH
snatching (?), one of the sons of Ishi (1-Chr 4:20).......

ZOPHAH
spreading out, a son of Helem (1-Chr 7:35), a chief of Asher.......

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.......

ZOPHIM, FIELD OF
field of watchers, a place in Moab on the range of Pisgah (Num. 23:14). To this place Balak brought Balaam, that he might from thence curse the children of Israel. Balaam could only speak the word of the Lord, and that was blessing. It is the modern Tal'at-es-Safa. (See PISGAH.)......

ZORAH
place of wasps, a town in the low country of Judah, afterwards given to Dan (Josh. 19:41; Judg. 18:2), probably the same as Zoreah (Josh. 15:33). This was Samson's birthplace (Judg. 13:2, Judg. 13: 25), and near it he found a grave (16:31). It was situated on the crest of a hill overlooking the valley of Sorek, and was fortified by Rehoboam (2-Chr 11:10). It has been identified with Sur'ah, in the......

ZUPH, LAND OF
(1-Sam 9:5, 1-Sam 9: 6), a district in which lay Samuel's city, Ramah. It was probably so named after Elkanah's son, Zuph (1-Chr 6:26, 1-Chr 6: marg.).......

ADRAMYTTIUM
a city of Asia Minor on the coast of Mysia, which in early times was called AEolis. The ship in which Paul embarked at Caesarea belonged to this city (Acts 27:2). He was conveyed in it only to Myra, in Lycia, whence he sailed in an Alexandrian ship to Italy. It was a rare thing for a ship to sail from any port of Palestine direct for Italy. It still bears the name Adramyti, and is a place of some ......

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 ......

BLASPHEMY
In the sense of speaking evil of God this word is found in Psa 74:18; Isa. 52:5; Rom. 2:24; Rev. 13:1, Rev. 13: 6;16:9, 16: 11, 21. It denotes also any kind of calumny, or evil-speaking, or abuse (1-Kings 21:10; Acts 13:45;18:6, 18: etc.). Our Lord was accused of blasphemy when he claimed to be the Son of God (Matt. 26:65; comp. Matt. 9:3; Mark 2:7). They who deny his Messiahship blaspheme Jesus (......

MYRA
one of the chief towns of Lycia, in Asia Minor, about 2 1/2 miles from the coast (Acts 27:5). Here Paul removed from the Adramyttian ship in which he had sailed from Caesarea, and entered into the Alexandrian ship, which was afterwards wrecked at Melita (27:39). ......

MYRRH
Heb. mor. (1.) First mentioned as a principal ingredient in the holy anointing oil (Exo 30:23). It formed part of the gifts brought by the wise men from the east, who came to worship the infant Jesus (Matt. 2:11). It was used in embalming (John 19:39), also as a perfume (Esther 2:12; Psa 45:8; Prov. 7:17). It was a custom of the Jews to give those who were condemned to death by crucifixion "wine m......

MYRTLE
(Isa. 41:19; Neh. 8:15; Zech. 1:8), Hebrew hadas, known in the East by the name _as_, the Myrtus communis of the botanist. "Although no myrtles are now found on the mount (of Olives), excepting in the gardens, yet they still exist in many of the glens about Jerusalem, where we have often seen its dark shining leaves and white flowers. There are many near Bethlehem and about Hebron, especially near......

MYSIA
a province in the north-west of Asia Minor. On his first voyage to Europe (Acts 16:7, Acts 16: 8) Paul passed through this province and embarked at its chief port Troas. ......

MYSTERY
the calling of the Gentiles into the Christian Church, so designated (Eph. 1:9, Eph. 1: 10;3:8; Col. 1:25); a truth undiscoverable except by revelation, long hid, now made manifest. The resurrection of the dead (1-Cor 15:51), and other doctrines which need to be explained but which cannot be fully understood by finite intelligence (Matt. 13:11; Rom. 11:25; 1-Cor 13:2); the union between Christ and......

SMYRNA
myrrh, an ancient city of Ionia, on the western coast of Asia Minor, about 40 miles to the north of Ephesus. It is now the chief city of Anatolia, having a mixed population of about 200,000, of whom about one-third are professed Christians. The church founded here was one of the seven addressed by our Lord (Rev. 2:8). The celebrated Polycarp, a pupil of the apostle John, was in the second century ......