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A
See [1]Alpha
Aarat
(high or holy ground), a mountainous district of Asia mentioned
in the Bible in connection with the following events:-- (1) As
the resting-place of the ark after the deluge. (Genesis 8:4)
(2) As the asylum of the sons of Sennacherib. (2 Kings 19:37;
Isaiah 37:38) Authorized Version has "the land of Armenia." (3)
As the ally, and probably the neighbor, of Minni and Ashchenaz.
(Jeremiah 51:27) [[2]Armenia] The name Ararat was unknown to
the geographers of Greece and Rome, as it still is to the
Armenians of the present day; but it was an ancient name for a
portion of Armenia. In its biblical sense it is descriptive
generally of the Armenian highlands--the lofty plateau which
over looks the plain of the Araxes on the north and of
Mesopotomia on the south. Various opinions have been put forth
as to the spot where the ark rested, as described in (Genesis
8:4) (but it is probable that it rested on some of the lower
portions of the range than on the lofty peak to which
exclusively) Europeans have given the name Ararat, the mountain
which is called Massis by the Armenians, Agri-Dagh, i.e. Steep
Mountain, by the Turks, and Kuh-i-Nuh, i.e. Noah's Mountain, by
the Persians. It rises immediately out of the plain of the
Araxes, and terminates in two conical peaks, named the Great
and Less Ararat, about seven miles distant from each other; the
former of which attain an elevation of 17,260 feet above the
level of the sea and about 14,000 above the plain of the
Araxes, while the latter is lower by 4000 feet. The summit of
the higher is covered with eternal snow for about 3000 feet.
Arguri, the only village known to have been built on its
slopes, was the spot where, according to tradition, Noah
planted his vineyard. "The mountains of Ararat " are
co-extensive with the Armenian plateau from the base of Ararat
in the north to the range of Kurdistan in the south, we notice
the following characteristics of that region as illustrating
the Bible narrative; (1) its elevation. It rises to a height of
from 6000 to 7000 feet above the level of the sea. (2) Its
geographical position . Viewed with reference to the dispersion
of the nations, Armenia is the true centre of the world; and at
the present day Ararat is the great boundary-stone between the
empires of Russia, Turkey and Persia. (3) Its physical
character . The plains as well as the mountains supply evidence
of volcanic agency. (4) The climate . Winter lasts from October
to May, and is succeeded by a brief spring and a summer of
intense heat. (5) The vegetation . Grass grows luxuriantly on
the plateau, and furnishes abundant pasture during the summer
months to the flocks of the nomad Kurds. Wheat, barley and
vines ripen at far higher altitudes than on the Alps and the
Pyrenees.
Aaron
(a teacher, or lofty), the son of Amram and Jochebed, and the
older brother of Moses and Miriam. (Numbers 26:59; 33:39) (B.C.
1573.) He was a Levite, and is first mentioned in (Exodus 4:14)
He was appointed by Jehovah to be the interpreter, (Exodus
4:16) of his brother Moses, who was "slow of speech;" and
accordingly he was not only the organ of communication with the
Israelites and with Pharaoh, (Exodus 4:30; 7:2) but also the
actual instrument of working most of the miracles of the
Exodus. (Exodus 7:19) etc. On the way to Mount Sinai, during
the battle with Amalek, Aaron with Hur stayed up the weary
hands of Moses when they were lifted up for the victory of
Israel. (Exodus 17:9) He is mentioned as dependent upon his
brother and deriving all his authority from him. Left, on
Moses' departure into Sinai, to guide the people, Aaron is
tried for a moment on his own responsibility, and he fails from
a weak inability to withstand the demand of the people for
visible "gods to go before them," by making an image of
Jehovah, in the well-known form of Egyptian idolatry (Apis or
Mnevis). He repented of his sin, and Moses gained forgiveness
for him. (9:20) Aaron was not consecrated by Moses to the new
office of the high priesthood. (Exodus 29:9) From this time the
history of Aaron is almost entirely that of the priesthood, and
its chief feature is the great rebellion of Korah and the
Levites. Leaning, as he seems to have done, wholly on Moses, it
is not strange that he should have shared his sin at Meribah
and its punishment. See [3]Moses. (Numbers 20:10-12) Aaron's
death seems to have followed very speedily. It took place on
Mount Hor, after the transference of his robes and office to
Eleazar. (Numbers 20:28) This mount is still called the
"Mountain of Aaron." See [4]Hor. The wife of Aaron was
Elisheba, (Exodus 6:23) and the two sons who survived him,
Eleazar and Ithamar. The high priesthood descended to the
former, and to his descendants until the time of Eli, who,
although of the house of Ithamar, received the high priesthood
and transmitted it to his children; with them it continued till
the accession of Solomon, who took it from Abiathar and
restored it to Zadok (of the house of Eleazar). See
[5]Abiathar.
Aaronites
(1 Chronicles 12:27) priests of the family of Aaron.
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Ab
See [6]Month.
(father), an element in the composition of many proper names,
of which Abba is a Chaldaic form, having the sense of "endowed
with," "possessed of."
Abaddon
See [7]Apollyon.
Abagtha
(God-given), one of the seven eunuchs in the Persian court of
Ahasuerus. (Esther 1:10)
Abana
(perennial, stony), one of the "rivers of Damascus." (2 Kings
5:12) The Barada and the Awaj are now the chief streams of
Damascus, the former representing the Abana and the latter the
Pharpar of the text. The Barada (Abana) rises in the
Antilibanus, at about 23 miles from the city, after flowing
through which it runs across the plain, of whose fertility it
is the chief source, till it loses itself in the lake or marsh
Bahret-el-Kibliyeh.
Abarim
(regions beyond), a mountain or range of highlands on the east
of the Jordan, in the land of Moab, facing Jericho, and forming
the eastern wall of the Jordan valley at that part. Its most
elevated spot was "the Mount Nebo, head of the Pisgah," from
which Moses viewed the Promised Land before his death. These
mountains are mentioned in (Numbers 27:12; 33:47,48) and
Deuteronomy 32:49
Abba
See [8]Ab.
Abda
+ Father of Adoniram. (1 Kings 4:6)
+ Son of Shammua, (Nehemiah 11:17) called Obadiah in (1
Chronicles 9:16)
Abdeel
father of Shelemiah. (Jeremiah 36:26)
Abdi
(my servant).
+ A Merarite, and ancestor of Ethan the singer. (1 Chronicles
6:44) (B.C. before 1015.)
+ The father of Kish, a Merarite, in the reign of Hezekiah. (2
Chronicles 29:12) (B.C. before 736.)
+ One of the Bene-Elam in the time of Ezra, who had married a
foreign wife. (Ezra 10:26) (B.C. 659.)
Abdiel
(the servant of God), son of Guni and father of Ahi, one of the
Gadites who were settled in the land of Bashan, (1 Chronicles
5:15), in the days of Jotham king of Judah. (B.C. 758.)
Abdon
(servile).
+ A judge of Israel, (Judges 12:13,(15) perhaps the same person
as Bedan, in (1 Samuel 12:11) (B.C. 1233-1225).
+ Son of Shashak. (1 Chronicles 8:23)
+ First-born son of Jehiel, son of Gideon. (1 Chronicles 8:30;
9:35,36).
+ Son of Micah, a contemporary of Josiah, (2 Chronicles 34:20)
called Achbor in (2 Kings 22:12) (B.C. 628.)
+ A city in the tribe if Asher, given to the Gershonites,
(Joshua 21:30; 1 Chronicles 6:74) the modern Abdeh, 10 miles
northeast of Accho.
Abednego
(i.e. servant of Nego, perhaps the same as Nebo), the Chaldean
name given to Azariah, one of the three friends of Daniel,
miraculously save from the fiery furnace. Dan. 3. (B.C. about
600.)
Abel
the name of several places in Palestine, probably signifies a
meadow .
(i.e., breath, vapor, transitoriness, probably so called from
the shortness of his life), the second son of Adam, murdered by
his brother Cain, (Genesis 4:1-16) he was a keeper or feeder of
sheep. Our Lord spoke of Abel as the first martyr, (Matthew
23:35) so did the early Church subsequently. The traditional
site of his murder and his grave are pointed out near Damascus.
Abel, Stone Of
(the great abel), the place where the ark rested in the field
of Joshua at Beth-shemesh. (1 Samuel 6:18)
Abelbethmaachah
(meadow of the house of oppression), a town of some importance,
(2 Samuel 20:15) in the extreme north of Palestine, which fell
an early prey to the invading kings of Syria, (1 Kings 15:20)
and Assyria. (2 Kings 15:29)
Abelmaim
(Abel on the waters), also called simply Abel, (2 Samuel
20:14,18) another name for Abel-bethmaachah. (2 Chronicles
16:4)
Abelmeholah
(meadow of the dance), in the northern pat of the Jordan
valley, (1 Kings 4:12) to which the routed Bedouin host fled
from Gideon, (Judges 7:22) Here Elisha was found at his plough
by Elijah returning up the valley from Horeb. (1 Kings
19:16-19)
Abelmizraim
(meadow of Egypt), the name given by the Canaanites to the
floor of Atad, at which Joseph, his brothers and the Egyptians
made their mourning for Jacob. (Genesis 50:11) It was beyond
(on the east of) Jordan. See [9]Atad. (Schaff and others say it
was on the west bank, for the writer was on the east of Jordan.
It was near Jericho, or perhaps Hebron.)
Abelshittim
(the meadow of the acacias), in the "plains" of Moab, on the
low level of the Jordan valley, opposite Jericho. The last
resting-place of Israel before crossing the Jordan. (Numbers
33:49) The place is most frequently mentioned by its shorter
name of Shittim. See [10]Shittah Tree, Shittim, [11]Shittim.
Abez
(lofty), a town in the possession of Issachar, named between
Kishion and Remeth in (Joshua 19:20) only.
Abi
mother of King Hezekiah, (2 Kings 18:2) written [12]Abia,
Abiah, Or Abijah, [13]Abijah Or Abijam in (2 Chronicles 29:1)
Abia, Abiah, Or Abijah
+ Son of Becher, the son of Benjamin. (1 Chronicles 7:8)
+ Wife of Hezron. (1 Chronicles 2:24)
+ Second son of Samuel. (1 Samuel 8:2; 1 Chronicles 7:28)
+ The son of Rehoboam. (1 Chronicles 3:10; Matthew 1:7) See
[14]Abijah Or Abijam, 1.
+ Mother of King Hezekiah. [[15]Abi]
+ Same as [16]Abijah Or Abijam, 4.
Abia, Course Of
the eighth of the 24 courses or classes into which the priests
were divided for serving at the altar. (1 Chronicles 24; Luke
1:5) See [17]Abia, Abiah, Or Abijah, [18]Abijah Or Abijam, 4.
Abiaibon
(father of strength). See [19]Abiel Or Abiel.
Abiasaph
(father of gathering, i.e. gathered), (Exodus 6:24) otherwise
written Ebi/asaph. (1 Chronicles 6:23,37; 9:19) one of the
descendants of Korah, and head of the Korhites. Among the
remarkable descendants of Abiasaph were Samuel the prophet, (1
Samuel 1:11) and Heman the singer.
Abiathar
(father of abundance, i.e. liberal), High priest and fourth in
descent from Eli. (B.C. 1060-1012.) Abiathar was the only one
of the all the sons of Ahimelech the high priest who escaped
the slaughter inflicted upon his father's house by Saul, in
revenge for his father's house by Saul, in revenge of his
having inquired of the Lord for David and given him the
shew-bread to eat. (1 Samuel 22:1) ... Abiathar having become
high priest fled to David, and was thus enabled to inquire of
the Lord for him. (1 Samuel 23:9; 30:7; 2 Samuel 2:1; 5:19)
etc. He adhered to David in his wanderings while pursued by
Saul; he was with him while he reigned in Hebron, and
afterwards in Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 2:1-3) He continued faithful
to him in Absalom's rebellion. (2 Samuel 15:24,29,35,36;
17:15-17; 19:11) When, however, Adonijah set himself up fro
David's successor on the throne, in opposition to Solomon,
Abiathar sided with him, while Zadok was on Solomon's side. For
this Abiathar was deprived of the high priesthood. Zadok had
joined David at Hebron, (1 Chronicles 12:28) so that there was
henceforth who high priests in the reign of David, and till the
deposition of Abiathar by Solomon, when Zadok became the sole
high priest.
Abib
(green fruits). [[20]Month]
Abida, Or Abidah
(father of knowledge), a son of Midian. (Genesis 25:4; 1
Chronicles 1:33)
Abidan
(father of the judge), chief of the tribe of Benjamin at the
time of the Exodus. (B.C. 1491.) (Numbers 1:11; 2:22; 7:60,65;
10:24)
Abiel Or Abiel
(father of strength, i.e. strong).
+ Father of Kish, and consequently grandfather of Saul, (1
Samuel 9:1) as well as of Abner, Saul's commander-in-chief.
(1 Samuel 14:51) (B.C. 1093-1055.)
+ One of David's mighty men. (1 Chronicles 11:32) In (2 Samuel
23:31) he is called ABI-ALBON. (B.C. 1053.)
Abiezer
(father of help, helpful).
+ Eldest son of Gilead, and descendant of Manasseh. (Joshua
17:2; 1 Chronicles 7:18) (B.C. 1450.) He was the ancestor of
the great judge Gideon. [[21]Gideon]
+ One of David's mighty men. (2 Samuel 23:27; 1 Chronicles
11:28; 27:12) (B.C. 1014.)
Abigail
(father, i.e. source, of joy).
+ The beautiful wife of Nabal, a wealthy owner of goats and
sheep in Carmel. (B.C. 1060.) When David's messengers were
slighted by Nabal, Abigail supplies David and his followers
with provisions, and succeeded in appeasing his anger. The
days after this Nabal died, and David sent for Abigail and
made her his wife. (1 Samuel 25:14) etc. By her he had a son,
called Chileab in (2 Samuel 3:3) but Daniel in (1 Chronicles
3:1)
+ A sister of David, married to Jether the Ishmaelite, and
mother, by him, of Amasa. (1 Chronicles 2:17) In (2 Samuel
17:25) for Israelite read Ishmaelite. (B.C. 1068.)
Abihail
(father of, i.e. possessing, strength).
+ Father of Zuriel, chief of the Levitical father of Merari, a
contemporary of Moses. (Numbers 3:35) (B.C. 1490.)
+ Wife of Abishur. (1 Chronicles 2:29)
+ Son of Huri, of the tribe of Gad. (1 Chronicles 5:14)
+ Wife of Rehoboam. She is called the daughter, i.e.
descendant, of Eliab, the elder brother of David. (2
Chronicles 11:18) (B.C. 972.)
+ Father of Esther and uncle of Mordecai. (Esther 2:15; 9:29)
Abihu
(he (God) is my father), the second son, (Numbers 3:2) of Aaron
by Elisheba. (Exodus 6:23) Being, together with his elder
brother Nadab, guilty of offering strange fire to the lord, he
was consumed by fire from heaven. (Leviticus 10:1,2)
Abihud
(father of renown, famous), son of Bela and grandson of
Benjamin. (1 Chronicles 8:3)
Abijah Or Abijam
(my father is Jehovah).
+ Son and successor of Rehoboam on the throne of Judah. (1
Kings 4:21; 2 Chronicles 12:16) He is called [22]Abia, Abiah,
Or Abijah in Chronicles, [23]Abijam in Kings. He began to
reign B.C. 959, and reigned three years. He endeavored to
recover the kingdom of the Ten Tribes, and made war on
Jeroboam. He was successful in battle, and took several of
the cities of Israel. We are told that he walked in all the
sins of Rehoboam. (1 Kings 14:23,24)
+ The second son of Samuel, called [24]Abia, Abiah, Or Abijah,
[25]Abia, Course OfH in our version. [[26]Abia, Course Of,
[27]Abia, Abiah, Or Abijah, [28]Abia, Course OfH, No. 3]
+ Son of Jeroboam I., king of Israel; died in his childhood. (1
Kings 14:1) ...
+ A descendant of Eleazar, who gave his name to the eighth of
the 24 courses into which the priests were divided by David.
(1 Chronicles 24:10; 2 Chronicles 8:14; Nehemiah 12:4,17)
+ One of the priests who entered into a covenant with Nehemiah
to walk in God's law, (Nehemiah 10:7) unless the name is
rather that of a family, and the same with the preceding.
Abijam
[[29]Abia, Abiah, Or Abijah, [30]Abijah Or Abijam, 1]
Abila
[[31]Abilene]
Abilene
(land of meadows), (Luke 3:1) a city situated on the eastern
slope of Antilibanus, in a district fertilized by the river
Barada (Abana). The city was 18 miles from Damascus, and stood
in a remarkable gorge called Suk Wady Barada .
Abimael
(father of Mael), a descendant of Joktan, (Genesis 10:28; 1
Chronicles 1:22) and probably the progenitor of an Arab tribe
(Mali).
Abimelech
(father of the king), the name of several Philistine kings, was
probably a common title of these kings, like that of Pharaoh
among the Egyptians and that of Caesar and Augustus among the
Romans. Hence in the title of (Psalms 34:1) ... the name of
Abimelech is given to the king, who is called Achish in (1
Samuel 21:11)
+ A Philistine, king of Gerar, Genesis 20,21, who, exercising
the right claimed by Eastern princes of collecting all the
beautiful women of their dominions into their harem, (Genesis
12:15; Esther 2:3) sent for and took Sarah. A similar account
is given of Abraham's conduct of this occasion to that of his
behavior towards Pharaoh. [[32]Abraham] (B.C. 1920.)
+ Another king of Gerar int he time of Isaac, of whom a similar
narrative is recorded in relation to Rebekah. (Genesis 26:1)
etc. (B.C. 1817.)
+ Son of the judge Gideon by his Shechemite concubine. (Judges
8:31) (B.C. 1322-1319.) After his father's death he murdered
all his brethren, 70 in number, with the exception of Jotham,
the youngest, who concealed himself; and he then persuaded
the Shechemites to elect him king. Shechem now became an
independent state. After Abimelech had reigned three years,
the citizens of Shechem rebelled. He was absent at the time,
but he returned and quelled the insurrection. Shortly after
he stormed and took Thebez, but was struck on the head by a
woman with the fragment of a millstone, comp. (2 Samuel
11:21) and lest he should be said to have died by a woman, he
bade his armor-bearer slay him.
+ A son of Abiathar. (1 Chronicles 18:16)
Abinadab
+ A Levite, a native of Kirjath-jearim, in whose house the ark
remained 20 years. (1 Samuel 7:1,2; 1 Chronicles 13:7) (B.C.
1124.)
+ Second son of Jesse, who followed Saul to his war against the
Philistines, (1 Samuel 16:8; 17:13) (B.C. 1063.)
+ A son of Saul, who was slain with his brothers at the fatal
battle on Mount Gilboa. (1 Samuel 31:2) (B.C. 1053.)
+ Father of one of the twelve chief officers of Solomon. (1
Kings 4:11) (B.C. before 1014.)
Abiner
(father of light). Same as [33]Abner. (1 Samuel 14:50) margin.
Abinoam
the father of Barak. (Judges 4:6,12; 5:1,12) (B.C. 1300.)
Abiram
+ A Reubenite, son of Eliab, who with Korah, a Levite,
organized a conspiracy against Moses and Aaron. (Numbers
16:1) ... [For details, see [34]Korah] (B.C. 1490.)
+ Eldest son of Hiel the bethelite, who died when his father
laid the foundations of Jericho, (1 Kings 16:34) and thus
accomplished the first part of the curse of Joshua. (Joshua
6:26) (B.C. after 905.)
Abishag
a beautiful Shunammite (from Shunem, in the tribe of Issachar),
taken into David's harem to comfort him in his extreme old age.
(1 Kings 1:1-4)
Abishai, Or Abishai
(father of a gift), The eldest of the three sons of Zeruiah,
David's sister, and brother to Joab and Asahel. (1 Chronicles
2:16) Like his two brothers he was the devoted follower of
David. He was his companion in the desperate night expedition
to the camp of Saul. (1 Samuel 26:6-9) (B.C. 1055.) On the
outbreak of Absalom's rebellion he remained true to the king,a
nd commanded a third part of the army in the decisive battle
against Absalom. He rescued David from the hands of the
gigantic Philistine, Ishbi-benob. (2 Samuel 21:17) His personal
prowess on this, as on another occasion, when he fought
singlehanded against three hundred, won for him a place as
captain of the second three of David's mighty men. (2 Samuel
23:18; 1 Chronicles 11:20)
Abishalom
(father of peace), father or grandfather of Maachah, who was
the wife of Rehoboam and mother of Abijah. (1 Kings 15:2,10) He
is called Absalom in (2 Chronicles 11:20,21) This person must
be David's son. See LXX.; (2 Samuel 14:27)
Abishua, Or Abishua
(father of deliverance).
+ Son of Bela, of the tribe of Benjamin. (1 Chronicles 8:4)
+ Son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, and father of Bukki, in
the genealogy of the high priests. (1 Chronicles 6:4,5,50,51;
Ezra 7:4,5)
Abishur
(father of the wall), son of Shammai. (1 Chronicles 2:28)
Abital
(father of the dew), one of David's wives. (2 Samuel 3:4; 1
Chronicles 3:3)
Abitub
(father of goodness), son of Shaharaim by Hushim. (1 Chronicles
8:11)
Abiud
(father of praise), descendant of Zorobabel in the genealogy of
Jesus Christ. (Matthew 1:13)
Ablution
[[35]Purification]
Abner
(father of light).
+ Son of Ner, who was the brother of Kish, (1 Chronicles 9:36)
the father of Saul. (B.C. 1063.) Abner, therefore, was Saul's
first cousin, and was made by him commander-in-chief of his
army. (1 Samuel 14:51; 17:57; 26:5-14) After the death of
Saul David was proclaimed king of Judah; and some time
subsequently Abner proclaimed Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, king
of Israel. War soon broke out between the two rival kings,
and a "very sore battle" was fought at Gibeon between the men
of Israel under Abner and the men of Judah under Joab. (1
Chronicles 2:16) Abner had married Rizpah, Saul's concubine,
and this, according to the views of Oriental courts, might be
so interpreted as to imply a design upon the throne. Rightly
or wrongly, Ish-bosheth so understood it, and he even
ventured to reproach Abner with it. Abner, incensed at his
ingratitude, opened negotiations with David, by whom he was
most favorably received at Hebron. He then undertook to
procure his recognition throughout Israel; but after leaving
his presence for the purpose was enticed back by Joab, and
treacherously murdered by him and his brother Abishai, at the
gate of the city, partly, no doubt, from fear lest so
distinguished a convert to their cause should gain too high a
place in David's favor, but ostensibly in retaliation for the
death of Asahel. David in sorrow and indignation, poured
forth a simple dirge over the slain hero. (2 Samuel 3:33,34)
+ The father of Jaasiel, chief of the Benjamites in David's
reign, (1 Chronicles 27:21) probably the same as the
preceding.
Abomination Of Desolation
Mentioned by our Saviour, (Matthew 24:15) as a sign of the
approaching destruction of Jerusalem, with reference to (Daniel
9:27; 11:31; 12:11) The prophecy referred ultimately to the
destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, and consequently the
"abomination" must describe some occurrence connected with that
event. It appears most probable that the profanities of the
Zealots constituted the abomination, which was the sign of the
impending ruin; but most people refer it to the standards or
banners of the Roman army. They were abomination because there
were idolatrous images upon them.
Abraham
(father of a multitude) was the son of Terah, and founder of
the great Hebrew nation. (B.C. 1996-1822.) His family, a branch
of the descendants of Shem, was settled in Ur of the Chaldees,
beyond the Euphrates, where Abraham was born. Terah had two
other sons, Nahor and Haran. Haran died before his father in Ur
of the Chaldees, leaving a son, Lot; and Terah, taking with him
Abram, with Sarai his wife and his grandson Lot, emigrated to
Haran in Mesopotamia, where he died. On the death of his
father, Abram, then in the 75th year of his age, with Sarai and
Lot, pursued his course to the land of Canaan, whither he was
directed by divine command, (Genesis 12:5) when he received the
general promise that he should become the founder of a great
nation, and that all the families of the earth should be
blessed in him. He passed through the heart of the country by
the great highway to Shechem, and pitched his tent beneath the
terebinth of Moreh. (Genesis 12:6) Here he received in vision
from Jehovah the further revelation that this was the land
which his descendants should inherit. (Genesis 12:7) The next
halting-place of the wanderer was on a mountain between Bethel
and Ai, (Genesis 12:8) but the country was suffering from
famine, and Abram journeyed still southward to the rich
cornlands of Egypt. There, fearing that the great beauty of
Sarai might tempt the powerful monarch of Egypt and expose his
own life to peril, he arranged that Sarai should represent
herself as his sister, which her actual relationship to him, as
probably the daughter of his brother Haran, allowed her to do
with some semblance of truth. But her beauty was reported to
the king, and she was taken into the royal harem. The deception
was discovered, and Pharaoh with some indignation dismissed
Abram from the country. (Genesis 12:10-20) He left Egypt with
great possessions, and, accompanied by Lot, returned by the
south of Palestine to his former encampment between Bethel and
Ai. The increased wealth of the two kinsmen was the ultimate
cause of their separation. Lot chose the fertile plain of the
Jordan near Sodom, while Abram pitched his tent among the
groves of Mamre, close to Hebron. (Genesis 13:1) ... Lot with
his family and possessions having been carried away captive by
Chedorlaomer king of Elam, who had invaded Sodom, Abram pursued
the conquerors and utterly routed them not far from Damascus.
The captives and plunder were all recovered, and Abram was
greeted on his return by the king of Sodom, and by Melchizedek
king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who mysteriously
appears upon the scene to bless the patriarch and receive from
him a tenth of the spoil. (Genesis 14:1) ... After this the
thrice-repeated promise that his descendants should become a
mighty nation and possess the land in which he was a stranger
was confirmed with all the solemnity of a religious ceremony.
(Genesis 15:1) ... Ten years had passed since he had left his
father's house, and the fulfillment of the promise was
apparently more distant than at first. At the suggestion of
Sarai, who despaired of having children of her own, he took as
his concubine Hagar, her Egyptian main, who bore him Ishmael in
the 86th year of his age. (Genesis 16:1) ... [[36]Hagar;
[37]Ishmael] But this was not the accomplishment of the
promise. Thirteen years elapsed, during which Abram still dwelt
in Hebron, when the covenant was renewed, and the rite of
circumcision established as its sign. This most important
crisis in Abram's life, when he was 99 years old, is marked by
the significant change of his name to Abraham, "father of a
multitude;" while his wife's from Sarai became Sarah. The
promise that Sarah should have a son was repeated in the
remarkable scene described in ch. 18. Three men stood before
Abraham as he sat in his tent door in the heat of the day. The
patriarch, with true Eastern hospitality, welcomed the
strangers, and bade them rest and refresh themselves. The meal
ended, they foretold the birth of Isaac, and went on their way
to Sodom. Abraham accompanied them, and is represented as an
interlocutor in a dialogue with Jehovah, in which he pleaded in
vain to avert the vengeance threatened to the devoted cities of
the plain. (Genesis 18:17-33) In remarkable contrast with
Abraham's firm faith with regard to the magnificent fortunes of
his posterity stand the incident which occurred during his
temporary residence among the Philistines in Gerar, whither he
had for some cause removed after the destruction of Sodom. It
was almost a repetition of what took place in Egypt a few years
before. At length Isaac, the long-looked for child, was born.
Sarah's jealousy aroused by the mockery of Ishmael at the
"great banquet" which Abram made to celebrate the weaning of
her son, (Genesis 21:9) demanded that, with his mother Hagar,
he should be driven out. (Genesis 21:10) But the severest trial
of his faith was yet to come. For a long period the history is
almost silent. At length he receives the strange command to
take Isaac, his only son, and offer him for a burnt offering at
an appointed place Abraham hesitated not to obey. His faith,
hitherto unshaken, supported him in this final trial,
"accounting that God was able to raise up his son, even from
the dead, from whence also he received him in a figure."
(Hebrews 11:19) The sacrifice was stayed by the angel of
Jehovah, the promise of spiritual blessing made for the first
time, and Abraham with his son returned to Beersheba, and for a
time dwelt there. (Genesis 22:1) ... But we find him after a
few years in his original residence at Hebron, for there Sarah
died, (Genesis 23:2) and was buried in the cave of Machpelah.
The remaining years of Abraham's life are marked by but few
incidents. After Isaac's marriage with Rebekah and his removal
to Lahai-roi, Abraham took to wife Keturah, by whom he had six
children, Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbok and Shuah, who
became the ancestors of nomadic tribes inhabiting the countries
south and southeast of Palestine. Abraham lived to see the
gradual accomplishment of the promise in the birth of his
grandchildren Jacob and Esau, and witnessed their growth to
manhood. (Genesis 25:26) At the goodly age of 175 he was
"gathered to his people," and laid beside Sarah in the tomb of
Machpelah by his sons Isaac and Ishmael. (Genesis 25:7-10)
Abram
(a high father), the earlier name of Abraham.
Absalom
(father of peace),third son of David by Maachah, daughter of
Tamai king of Geshur, a Syrian district adjoining the northeast
frontier of the Holy Land. (Born B.C. 1050.) Absalom had a
sister, Tamar, who was violated by her half-brother Amnon. The
natural avenger of such an outrage would be Tamar's full
brother Absalom. He brooded over the wrong for two years, and
then invited all the princes to a sheep-shearing feast at his
estate in Baalhazor, on the borders of Ephraim and Benjamin.
Here he ordered his servants to murder Amnon, and then fled for
safety to his grandfather's court at Geshur, where he remained
for three years. At the end of that time he was brought back by
an artifice of Joab. David, however, would not see Absalom for
two more years; but at length Joab brought about a
reconciliation. Absalom now began at once to prepare for
rebellion. He tried to supplant his father by courting
popularity, standing in the gate, conversing with every suitor,
and lamenting the difficulty which he would find in getting a
hearing. He also maintained a splendid retinue, (2 Samuel 15:1)
and was admired for his personal beauty. It is probable too
that the great tribe of Judah had taken some offence at David's
government. Absalom raised the standard of revolt at Hebron,
the old capital of Judah, now supplanted by Jerusalem. The
revolt was at first completely successful; David fled from his
capital over the Jordan to Mahanaim in Gilead, and Absalom
occupied Jerusalem. At last, after being solemnly anointed king
at Jerusalem, (2 Samuel 19:10) Absalom crossed the Jordan to
attack his father, who by this time had rallied round him a
considerable force. A decisive battle was fought in Gilead, in
the wood of Ephraim. Here Absalom's forces were totally
defeated, and as he himself was escaping his long hair was
entangled in the branches of a terebinth, where he was left
hanging while the mule on which he was riding ran away from
under him. He was dispatched by Joab in spite of the
prohibition of David, who, loving him to the last, had desired
that his life might be spared. He was buried in a great pit in
the forest, and the conquerors threw stones over his grave, an
old proof of bitter hostility. (Joshua 7:26)
Absaloms Pillar, Or Place
A monument of tomb which Absalom had built during his lifetime
in the king's dale, i.e. the valley of the Kedron, at the foot
of Mount Olivet, near Jerusalem, (2 Samuel 18:18) comp. with
2Sam 14:27 For his three sons, and where he probably expected
to be buried. The tomb there now, and called by Absalom's name
was probably built at a later date.
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Accad
one of the cities in the land of Shinar. (Genesis 10:10) Its
position is quite uncertain.
Accaron
[[38]Ekron]
Accho
(the [39]Ptolemais of the Maccabees and New Testament), Now
called Acca, or more usually by Europeans St. Jean d'Acre, the
most important seaport town on the Syrian coast, about 30 miles
south of Tyre. It was situated on a slightly projecting
headland, at the northern extremity of that spacious bay which
is formed by the bold promontory of Carmel on the opposite
side. Later it was named Ptolemais, after one of the Ptolemies,
probably Soter. The only notice of it in the New Testament is
in (Acts 21:7) where it is called Ptolemais .
Aceldama
(the field of blood) (Akeldama in the Revised Version), the
name given by the Jews of Jerusalem to a field near Jerusalem
purchased by Judas with the money which he received for the
betrayal of Christ, and so called from his violent death
therein. (Acts 1:19) The "field of blood" is now shown on the
steep southern face of the valley or ravine of Hinnom,
"southwest of the supposed pool of Siloam."
Achaia
(trouble) signifies in the New Testament a Roman province which
included the whole of the Peloponnesus and the greater part of
Hellas proper, with the adjacent islands. This province, with
that of Macedonia, comprehended the while of Greece; hence
Achaia and Macedonia are frequently mentioned together in the
New Testament to indicate all Greece. (Acts 18:12; 19:21;
Romans 15:26; 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:15; 2 Corinthians 7:5;
9:2; 11:10; 1 Thessalonians 1:7,8) In the time of the emperor
Claudius it was governed by a proconsul, translated in the
Authorized Version "deputy," of Achaia. (Acts 18:12)
Achaicus
(belonging to Achaia), a name of a Christian. (1 Corinthians
16:17)
Achan
(troubler), an Israelite of the tribe of Judah, who, when
Jericho and all that it contained were accursed and devoted to
destruction, secreted a portion of the spoil in his tent. For
this sin he was stoned to death with his whole family by the
people, in a valley situated between Ai and Jericho, and their
remains, together with his property, were burnt. (Joshua
7:19-26) From this event the valley received the name of Achor
(i.e. trouble). [[40]Achor, Valley Of] (B.C. 1450.)
Achar = Achan
(1 Chronicles 2:7)
Achaz = Ahaz
king of Judah, (Matthew 1:9)
Achbor
(mouse).
+ Father of Baalhanan king of Edom. (Genesis 36:38,39; 1
Chronicles 1:49)
+ Son of Michaiah, a contemporary of Josiah, (2 Kings 22:12,14;
Jeremiah 26:22; 36:12) called [41]Abdon in (2 Chronicles
34:20) (B.C. 623.)
Achim
son of Sadoc and father of Eliud in our Lord's genealogy.
(Matthew 1:14) The Hebrew form of the name would be Jachin,
which is a short form of Jehoiachin, the Lord will establish.
Achish
(angry), a Philistine king of Gath, who in the title of the
34th Psalm is called Abimelech. David twice found a refuge with
him when he fled from Saul. (B.C. 1061.) On the first occasion
he was alarmed for his safety, feigned madness, and was sent
away.
Achmetha
[[42]Ecbatana]
Achor, Valley Of
(valley of trouble), the spot at which Achan was stoned.
(Joshua 7:24,26) On the northern boundary of Judah, (Joshua
15:7) near Jericho.
Achsa
(1 Chronicles 2:49) [[43]Achsah]
Achsah
(ankle-chain, anklet), daughter of Caleb. Her father promised
her in marriage to whoever should take Debir. Othniel, her
father's younger brother, took that city, and accordingly
received the hand of Achsah as his reward. Caleb added to her
dowry the upper and lower springs. (B.C. 1450-1426.) (Joshua
15:15-19; Judges 1:11-15)
Achshaph
(fascination), a city within the territory of Asher, named
between Beten and Alammelech, (Joshua 19:25) originally the
seat of a Canaanite king. (Joshua 11:1; 12:20)
Achzib
(lying, false).
+ A city in the lowlands of Judah, named with Keilah and
Mareshah. (Joshua 15:44; Micah 1:14) It is probably the same
with [44]Chezib and [45]Chozeba, which see.
+ A town belonging to Asher, (Joshua 19:29) from which the
Canaanites were not expelled, (Judges 1:31) afterwards
Ecdippa. It is now es-Zib, on the seashore, 2h. 20m. north of
Acre.
Acrabbim
See MAALEH-ACRABBIM, (Joshua 15:3) in the margin.
Acts Of The Apostles
the fifth book in the New testament and the second treatise by
the author of the third Gospel, traditionally known as Luke.
The book commences with an inscription to one Theophilus, who
was probably a man of birth and station. The readers were
evidently intended to be the members of the Christian Church,
whether Jews or Gentiles; for its contents are such as are of
the utmost consequence to the whole Church. They are the
fulfillment of the promise of the Father by the descent of the
Holy Spirit, and the results of that outpouring by the
dispersion of the gospel among the Jews and Gentiles. Under
these leading heads all the personal and subordinate details
may be arranged. First St. Peter becomes the prime actor under
God int he founding of the Church. He is the centre of the
first group of sayings and doings. The opening of the door to
Jews, ch. 2, and Gentiles, ch. 10, is his office, and by him,
in good time, is accomplished. Then the preparation of Saul of
Tarsus for the work to be done, the progress, in his hand, of
that work, his journeyings, preachings and perils, his stripes
and imprisonments, his testifying in Jerusalem and being
brought to testify in Rome,--these are the subjects of the
latter half of the book, of which the great central figure is
the apostle Paul. The history given in the Acts occupies about
33 years, and the reigns of the Roman emperors Tiberius,
Caligula, Claudius and Nero. It seems most probable that the
place of writing was Roma, and the time about two years from
the date of St. Paul's arrival there, as related in (Acts
28:30) This would give us fro the publication about 63 A.D.
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Adadah
(festival or boundary), one of the cities in the extreme south
of Judah, named with Dimonah and Kedesh. (Joshua 15:22)
Adah
(ornament, beauty).
+ The first of the two wives of Lamech, by whom were borne to
him Jabal and Jubal. (Genesis 4:19) (B.C. 3600).
+ A Hittitess, one of the three wives of Esau, mother of
Eliphaz. (Genesis 36:2,10,12,16) In (Genesis 26:34) she is
called [46]Bashemath. (B.C. 1797.)
Adaiah
(adorned by Jehovah).
+ Maternal grandfather of King Josiah, and native of Boscath in
the lowlands of Judah. (2 Kings 22:1) (B.C. 648.)
+ A Levite of the Gershonite branch, and ancestor of Asaph. (1
Chronicles 6:41) In v. (1 Chronicles 6:21) Heb Isa called
[47]Iddo.
+ A Benjamite, son of Shimhi, (1 Chronicles 8:21) who is
apparently the same as Shema in v. (1 Chronicles 8:13)
+ A priest, son of Jehoram. (1 Chronicles 9:12; Nehemiah 11:12)
+ Ancestor of Maaseiah, one of the captains who supported
Jehoiada. (2 Chronicles 23:1)
+ One of the descendants of Bani, who had married a foreign
wife after the return from Babylon. (Ezra 10:29) (B.C. 459).
+ The descendant of another Bani, who had also taken a foreign
wife. (Ezra 10:39)
+ A man of Judah, of the line of Pharez. (Nehemiah 11:5)
Adalia
(a fire-god), the fifth son of Haman. (Esther 9:8)
Adam
a city on the Jordan, "beside Zaretan," in the time of Joshua.
(Joshua 3:16)
Man, generically, for the name Adam was not confined to the
father of the human race, but like homo was applicable to woman
as well as to man . (Genesis 5:2)
(red earth), the name given in Scripture to the first man. It
apparently has reference to the ground from which he was
formed, which is called in Hebrew Adamah . The idea of redness
of color seems to be inherent in either word. The creation of
man was the work of the sixth day--the last and crowning act of
creation. Adam was created (not born) a perfect man in body and
spirit, but as innocent and completely inexperienced as a
child. The man Adam was placed in a garden which the Lord God
had planted "eastward in Eden," for the purpose of dressing it
and keeping it. [[48]Eden] Adam was permitted to eat of the
fruit of every tree in the garden but one, which was called
("the tree of the knowledge of good and evil," because it was
the test of Adam's obedience. By it Adam could know good and
evil int he divine way, through obedience; thus knowing good by
experience in resisting temptation and forming a strong and
holy character, while he knew evil only by observation and
inference. Or he could "know good and evil," in Satan's way, be
experiencing the evil and knowing good only by contrast. -ED.)
The prohibition to taste the fruit of this tree was enforced by
the menace of death. There was also another tree which was
called "the tree of life." While Adam was in the garden of
Eden, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air were
brought to him to be named. After this the Lord God caused a
deep sleep to fall upon him, and took one of his ribs from him,
which he fashioned into a woman and brought her to the man. At
this time they were both described as being naked without the
consciousness of shame. By the subtlety of the serpent the
woman who was given to be with Adam was beguiled into a
violation of the one command which had been imposed upon them.
She took of the fruit of the forbidden tree and gave it to her
husband. The propriety of its name was immediately shown in the
results which followed; self-consciousness was the first-fruits
of sin their eyes were opened and they knew that they were
naked. Though the curse of Adam's rebellion of necessity fell
upon him, yet the very prohibition to eat of the tree of life
after his transgression was probably a manifestation of divine
mercy, because the greatest malediction of all would have been
to have the gift of indestructible life super-added to a state
of wretchedness and sin. The divine mercy was also shown in the
promise of a deliverer given at the very promise of a deliverer
given at the very time the curse was imposed, (Genesis 3:15)
and opening a door of hope to Paradise, regained for him and
his descendants. Adam is stated to have lived 930 years. His
sons mentioned in Scripture are Cain, Abel and Seth; it is
implied, however, that he had others.
Adamah
(red earth), one of the "fenced cities" of Naphtali, named
between Chinnereth and Ramah. (Joshua 19:36)
Adamant
the translation of the Hebrew word Shamir in (Ezekiel 3:9) and
Zech 7:12 In (Jeremiah 17:1) it is translated "diamond." In
these three passages the word is the representative of some
stone of excessive hardness, and is used metaphorically. It is
very probable that by Shamir is intended emery, a variety of
corundum, a mineral inferior, only to the diamond in hardness.
Adami
(my man, earth), a place on the border of Naphtali. (Joshua
19:33)
Adar
[[49]Month]
(high), a place on the south boundary of Judah. (Joshua 15:3)
Adasa
(new), a place in Judea, about four miles from Beth-horon. 1Ma
7:40,45 [[50]Hadashah]
Adbeel
(offspring of God), a son of Ishmael, (Genesis 25:13; 1
Chronicles 1:29) and probably the progenitor of an Arab tribe.
(B.C. about 1850.)
Addan
(strong or stony), one of the places from which some of the
captivity returned with Zerubbabel to Judea who could not show
their pedigree as Israelites. (Ezra 2:59) Called [51]Addon
(Nehemiah 7:61)
Addar
(mighty one), son of Bela, (1 Chronicles 8:3) called [52]Ard in
(Numbers 26:40)
Adder
This word is used for any poisonous snake, and is applied in
this general sense by the translators of the Authorized
Version. The word adder occurs five times in the text of the
Authorized Version (see below), and three times int he margin
as synonymous with cockatrice, viz., (Isaiah 11:8; 14:29; 59:5)
It represents four Hebrew words:
+ Acshub is found only in (Psalms 140:3) and may be represented
by the Toxicoa of Egypt and North Africa.
+ Pethen. [[53]Asp]
+ Tsepha, or Tsiphoni, occurs five times in the Hebrew Bible.
In (Proverbs 23:32) it is it is translated adder, and in
(Isaiah 11:8; 14:29; 59:5; Jeremiah 8:17) it is rendered
cockatrice . From Jeremiah we learn that it was of a hostile
nature, and from the parallelism of (Isaiah 11:8) it appears
that the Tsiphoni was considered even more dreadful than the
Pethen .
+ Shephipon occurs only in (Genesis 49:17) where it is used to
characterize the tribe of Dan. The habit of lurking int he
sand and biting at the horse's heels here alluded to suits
the character of a well-known species of venomous snake, and
helps to identify it with the celebrated horned viper, the
asp of Cleopatra (Cerastes), which is found abundantly in the
dry sandy deserts of Egypt, Syria and Arabia. The cerastes is
extremely venomous. Bruce compelled a specimen to scratch
eighteen pigeons upon the thigh as quickly as possible, and
they all died in nearly the same interval of time.
Addi
(ornament). (Luke 3:28) Son of Cosam, and father of Melchi in
our Lord's genealogy; the third above Salathiel.
Addon
(lord). [[54]Addan]
Ader
(flock), a Benjamites, son of Beriah, chief of the inhabitants
of Aijalon. (1 Chronicles 8:15) The name is more correctly
Eder.
Adida
a fortified town near Jerusalem, probably the [55]Hadid of
(Ezra 2:33) and referred to in 1Ma 12:38
Adiel
(ornament of God).
+ A prince of the tribe of Simeon, descended from the
prosperous family of Shimei. (1 Chronicles 4:36) He took part
in the murderous raid made by his tribe upon the peaceable
Hamite shepherds of the valley of Gedor in the reign of
Hezekiah. (B.C. about 711.)
+ A priest, ancestor of Maasiai. (1 Chronicles 9:12)
+ Ancestor of Azmaveth, David's treasurer. (1 Chronicles 27:25)
(B.C. 1050.)
Adin
(dainty, delicate), ancestor of a family who returned form
Babylon with Zerubbabel, to the number of 454, (Ezra 2:15) or
655 according to the parallel list in (Nehemiah 7:20) (B.C.
536.) They joined with Nehemiah in a covenant to separate
themselves from the heathen. (Nehemiah 10:16) (B.C. 410.)
Adina
(slender), one of David's captains beyond the Jordan, and a
chief of the Reubenites. (1 Chronicles 11:42)
Adino, Or Adino, The Eznite
(2 Samuel 23:8) See [56]Jashobeam.
Adithaim
(double ornament), a town belonging to Judah, lying in the low
country, and named, between Sharaim and hag-Gederah, in (Joshua
15:36) only.
Adlai Or Adlai
(justice of Jehovah), Ancestor of Shaphat, the overseer of
David's herds that fed in the broad valleys. (1 Chronicles
27:29) (B.C. before 1050.)
Admah
(earthy, fortress), one of the "cities of the plain," always
coupled with Zeboim. (Genesis 10:19; 14:2,8; 29:23; Hosea 11:8)
Admatha
(given by the highest), one of the seven princes of Persia.
(Esther 1:14)
Adna
(rest, pleasure).
+ One of the family of Pahath-moab, who returned with Ezra and
married a foreign wife. (Ezra 10:30) (B.C. 459.)
+ A priest, descendant of Harim in the days of Joiakim, the son
of Jeshua. (Nehemiah 12:15) (B.C. 500.)
Adnah
(pleasure).
+ A Manassite who deserted from Saul and joined the fortunes of
David on his road to Ziklag from the camp of the Philistines.
He was captain of a thousand of his tribe, and fought at
David's side in the pursuit of the Amalekites. (1 Chronicles
12:20) (B.C. 1054.)
+ The captain of over 300,000 men of Judah who were in
Jehoshaphat's army. (2 Chronicles 17:14) (B.C. 908.)
Adonibezek
(lord of Bezek), king of Bezek, a city of the Canaanites.
[[57]Bezek] This chieftain was vanquished by the tribe of
Judah, (Judges 1:3-7) who cut off his thumbs and great toes,
and brought him prisoner to Jerusalem, where he died. He
confessed that he had inflicted the same cruelty upon 70 petty
kings whom he had conquered. (B.C. 1425).
Adonijah
(my Lord is Jehovah).
+ The fourth son of David by Haggith, born at Hebron while his
father was king of Judah. (2 Samuel 3:4) (B.C. about 1050.)
After the death of his three brothers, Amnon, Chileab and
Absalom, he became eldest son; and when his father's strength
was visibly declining, put forward his pretensions to the
crown. Adonijah's cause was espoused by Abiathar and by Joab
the famous commander of David's army. [[58]Joab] His name and
influence secured a large number of followers among the
captains of the royal army belonging to the tribe of Judah,
comp. (1 Kings 1:5) and these, together with all the princes
except Solomon, were entertained by Adonijah at the great
sacrificial feast held "by the stone Zoheleth, which is by
En-rogel." [EN-ROGEL] Apprised of these proceedings, David
immediately caused Solomon to be proclaimed king, (1 Kings
1:33,34) at Gihon. [[59]Gihon] This decisive measure struck
terror into the opposite party, and Adonijah fled to the
sanctuary, but was pardoned by Solomon on condition that he
should "show himself a worthy man." (1 Kings 1:52) The death
of David quickly followed on these events; and Adonijah
begged Bath-sheba to procure Solomon's consent to his
marriage with Abishag, who had been the wife of David in his
old age. (1 Kings 1:3) This was regarded as equivalent to a
fresh attempt on the throne [[60]Absalom; [61]Abner]; and
therefore Solomon ordered him to be put to death by Benaiah.
(1 Kings 2:25)
+ A Levite in the reign of Jehoshaphat. (2 Chronicles 17:8)
+ The same as Adonikam. (Nehemiah 10:16) [[62]Adonikam, Or
Adonikam]
Adonikam, Or Adonikam
The sons of Adonikam, 666 in number, were among those who
returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel. (Ezra 2:13; Nehemiah
7:18); 1Esd 5:14 (B.C. 506-410.) The name is given as
[63]Adonijah in (Nehemiah 10:16)
Adoniram
(lord of heights), (1 Kings 4:6) by an unusual contraction
[64]Adoram, (2 Samuel 20:24) and 1Kin 12:18 Also [65]Hadoram,
(2 Chronicles 10:18) chief receiver of the tribute during the
reigns of David, (2 Samuel 20:24) Solomon, (1 Kings 4:6) and
Rehoboam. (1 Kings 12:18) This last monarch sent him to collect
the tribute from the rebellious Israelites, by whom he was
stoned to death, (B.C. 1014-973.)
Adonizedek
(lord of justice), the Amorite king of Jerusalem who organized
a league with four other Amorite princes against Joshua. The
confederate kings having laid siege to Gibeon, Joshua marched
to the relief of his new allies and put the besiegers to
flight. The five kings took refuge in a cave at Makkedah,
whence they were taken and slain, their bodies hung on trees,
and then buried in the place of their concealment. (Joshua
10:1-27) (B.C. 1450.)
Adoption
an expression used by St. Paul in reference to the present and
prospective privileges of Christians. (Romans 8:15,23;
Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5) He probably alludes to the Roman
custom by which a person not having children of his own might
adopt as his son one born of other parents. The relationship
was to all intents and purposes the same as existed between a
natural father and son. The term is used figuratively to show
the close relationship to God of the Christian. (Galatians
4:4,5; Romans 8:14-17) He is received into God's family from
the world, and becomes a child and heir of God.
Ador, Or Adora
[[66]Adoraim]
Adoraim
(double mound), a fortified city built by Rehoboam, (2
Chronicles 11:9) in Judah. Adoraim is probably the same place
with Adora, 1Ma 13:20 Unless that be Dor, on the seacoast below
Carmel. Robinson identifies it with Dura, a "large village" on
a rising ground west of Hebron.
Adoram
[[67]Adoniram; [68]Hadoram]
Adoration
The acts and postures by which the Hebrews expressed adoration
bear a great similarity to those still in use among Oriental
nations. To rise up and suddenly prostrate the body was the
most simple method; but, generally speaking, the prostration
was conducted in a more formal manner, the person falling upon
the knee and then gradually inclining the body until the
forehead touched the ground. Such prostration was usual in the
worship of Jehovah, (Genesis 17:3; Psalms 95:6) it was the
formal mode of receiving visitors, (Genesis 18:2) of doing
obeisance to one of superior station, (2 Samuel 14:4) and of
showing respect to equals. (1 Kings 2:19) It was accompanied by
such acts as a kiss, (Exodus 18:7) laying hold of the knees or
feet of the person to whom the adoration was paid, (Matthew
28:9) and kissing the ground on which he stood. (Psalms 72:9;
Micah 7:17) Similar adoration was paid to idols, (1 Kings
19:18) sometimes, however, the act consisted simply in kissing
the hand to the object of reverence, (Job 31:27) and in kissing
the statue itself. (Hosea 13:2)
Adrammelech
(splendor of the king).
+ The name of an idol introduced into Samaria by the colonists
from Sepharvaim. (2 Kings 17:31) He was worshipped with rites
resembling those of Molech, children being burnt in his
honor. Adrammelech was probably the male power of the sun,
and [69]Anammelech, who is mentioned with Adrammelech as a
companion god, the female power of the sun.
+ Son of the Assyrian king Sennacherib, who, with his brother
Sharezer, murdered their father in the temple of Nisroch at
Nineveh, after the failure of the Assyrian attack on
Jerusalem. The parricides escaped into Armenia. (2 Kings
19:37; 2 Chronicles 32:21; Isaiah 37:38)
Adramyttium
named form Adramys, brother of Croesus king of Lydia, a seaport
in the province of Asia [[70]Asia], situated on a bay of the
Aegean Sea, about 70 miles north of Smyrna, in the district
anciently called Aeolis, and also Mysia. See (Acts 16:7)
[[71]Mitylene] (Acts 27:2) The modern Adramyti is a poor
village.
Adria
more properly A'drias, the Adriatic Sea. (Acts 27:27) The word
seems to have been derived from the town of Adria, near the Po.
In Paul's time it included the whole sea between Greece and
Italy, reaching south from Crete to Sicily. [[72]Melita]
Adriel
(flock of God), son of Barzillai, to whom Saul gave his
daughter Merab, although he had previously promised her to
David. (1 Samuel 18:19) (B.C. about 1062.) His five sons were
amongst the seven descendants of Saul whom David surrendered to
the Gibeonites. (2 Samuel 21:8)
Adullam
(justice of the people), Apocr. [73]Odollam, a city of Judah
int he lowland of the Shefelah, (Joshua 15:35) the seat of a
Canaanite king, (Joshua 12:15) and evidently a place of great
antiquity. (Genesis 38:1,12,20) Fortified by Rehoboam, (2
Chronicles 11:7) it was one of the towns reoccupied by the Jews
after their return from Babylon, (Nehemiah 11:30) and still a
city in the time of the Macabees. 2Ma 12:38 Adullam was
probably near Deir Dubban, five or six miles north of
Eleutheropolis. The limestone cliffs of the whole of that
locality are pierced with extensive excavations, some one of
which is doubtless the "cave of Adullam," the refuge of David.
(1 Samuel 22:1; 2 Samuel 23:13; 1 Chronicles 11:15)
Adultery
(Exodus 20:14) The parties to this crime, according to Jewish
law, were a married woman and a man who was not her husband.
The Mosaic penalty was that both the guilty parties should be
stoned, and it applied as well to the betrothed as to the
married woman, provided she were free. (22:22-24) A bondwoman
so offending was to be scourged, and the man was to make a
trespass offering. (Leviticus 19:20-22) At a later time, and
when owing, to Gentile example, the marriage tie became a
looser bond of union, public feeling in regard to adultery
changed, and the penalty of death was seldom or never
inflicted. The famous trial by the waters of jealousy, (Numbers
5:11-29) was probably an ancient custom, which Moses found
deeply seated--(But this ordeal was wholly in favor of the
innocent, and exactly opposite to most ordeals. For the water
which the accused drank was perfectly harmless, and only by a
miracle could it produce a bad effect; while in most ordeals
the accused must suffer what naturally produces death, and be
proved innocent only by a miracle. Symbolically adultery is
used to express unfaithfulness to covenant vows to God, who is
represented as the husband of his people.)
Adummim
(the going up to), a rising ground or pass over against
Gilgal," and "on the south side of the 'torrent'" (Joshua 15:7;
18:17) which is the position still occupied by the road leading
up from Jericho and the Jordan valley to Jerusalem, on the
south face of the gorge of the Wady Kelt. (Luke 10:30-36)
Advocate
or Paraclete, one that pleads the cause of another. (1 John
2:1) Used by Christ, (John 14:16; 15:26; 16:7) to describe the
office and work of the Holy Spirit, and translated Comforter,
i.e. (see margin of Revised Version) Advocate, Helper,
Intercessor. This use of the word is derived from the fact that
the Jews, being largely ignorant of the Roman law and the Roman
language, had to employ Roman advocates in their trials before
Roman courts. Applied to Christ, (1 John 2:1)
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Aegypt
[[74]Egypt]
Aeneas
(laudble), a paralytic at Lydda healed by St. Peter. (Acts
9:33,34)
Aenon
(springs) a place "near to Salim," at which John baptized.
(John 3:23) It was evidently west of the Jordan, comp. (John
3:22) with John 3:26 and with John 1:28 And abounded in water.
It is given in the Omomasticon as eight miles south of
Scythopolis "near Salem and the Jordan."
Aera
[[75]Chronology]
Aethiopia
[[76]Ethiopia]
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Affinity
[[77]Marriage]
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Agabus
(a locust), a Christian prophet in the apostolic age, mentioned
in (Acts 11:28) and Acts 21:10 He predicted, (Acts 11:28) that
a famine would take place in the reign of Claudius. Josephus
mentions a famine which prevailed in Judea in the reign of
Claudius, and swept away many of the inhabitants. (In (Acts
21:10) we learn that Agabus and Paul met at Caesarea some time
after this.)
Agag
(flame), possibly the title of the kings of Amalek, like
Pharaoh of Egypt. One king of this name is mentioned in
(Numbers 24:7) and another in 1Sam 15:8,9,20,32 The latter was
the king of the Amalekites, whom Saul spared contrary to
Jehovah's well-known will. (Exodus 17:14; 25:17) For this act
of disobedience Samuel was commissioned to declare to Saul his
rejection, and he himself sent for Agag and cut him in pieces.
(B.C. about 1070.) [[78]Samuel]. Haman is called the
[79]Agagite in (Esther 3:1,10; 8:3,5) The Jews consider him a
descendant of Agag the Amalekite.
Agagite
[[80]Agag]
Agar
[[81]Hagar]
Agate
a beautifully-veined semi-transparent precious stone, a variety
of quartz. Its colors are delicately arranged in stripes or
bands or blended in clouds. It is mentioned four times in the
text of the Authorized Version, viz., in (Exodus 28:19; 39:12;
Isaiah 54:12; Ezekiel 27:16) In the two former passages; where
it is represented by the Hebrew word shebo it is spoken of as
forming the second stone in the third row of the high priest's
breastplate; in each of the two latter places the original word
is cadced, by which, no doubt, is intended a different stone.
[RUBY] Our English agate derives its name from the Achates, on
the banks of which it was first found.
Age, Old
The aged occupied a prominent place in the social and political
system of the Jews. In private life they were looked up to as
the depositaries of knowledge, (Job 15:10) the young were
ordered to rise up in their presence, (Leviticus 19:32) they
allowed them to give their opinion first, (Job 32:4) they were
taught to regard gray hair as a "crown of glory," (Proverbs
16:31; 20:29) The attainment of old age was regarded as a
special blessing. (Job 5:26) In pubic main qualification of
those who acted as the representatives of the people in all
matter of difficulty and deliberation. [ELDERS]
Agee, Or Agee
(fugitive), a Hararite, father of Shammah, one of David's three
mightiest heroes. (2 Samuel 23:11) (B.C. 1050.)
Agriculture
This was little cared for by the patriarchs. The pastoral life,
however, was the means of keeping the sacred race, whilst yet a
family, distinct from mixture and locally unattached,
especially whilst in Egypt. When grown into a nation it
supplied a similar check on the foreign intercourse, and became
the basis of the Mosaic commonwealth. "The land is mine,"
(Leviticus 25:23) was a dictum which made agriculture likewise
the basis of the theocratic relation. Thus every family felt
its own life with intense keenness, and had its divine tenure
which it was to guard from alienation. The prohibition of
culture in the sabbatical year formed a kind of rent reserved
by the divine Owner. Landmarks were deemed sacred, (19:14) and
the inalienability of the heritage was insured by its reversion
to the owner in the year of jubilee; so that only so many years
of occupancy could be sold. (Leviticus 25:8-16; 23-35)
Rain.--Water was abundant in Palestine from natural sources.
(8:7; 11:8-12) Rain was commonly expected soon after the
autumnal equinox. The period denoted by the common scriptural
expressions of the "early" and the "latter rain," (11:14;
Jeremiah 5:24; Hosea 6:3; Zechariah 10:1; James 5:7) generally
reaching from November to April, constituted the "rainy
season," and the remainder of the year the "dry season."
Crops.--The cereal crops of constant mention are wheat and
barley, and more rarely rye and millet(?). Of the two former,
together with the vine, olive and fig, the use of irrigation,
the plough and the harrow, mention is made ln the book of (Job
31:40; 15:33; 24:6; 29:19; 39:10) Two kinds of cumin (the black
variety called fitches), (Isaiah 28:27) and such podded plants
as beans and lentils may be named among the staple produce.
Ploughing and Sowing.--The plough was probably very light, one
yoke of oxen usually sufficing to draw it. Mountains and steep
places were hoed. (Isaiah 7:25) New ground and fallows,
(Jeremiah 4:3; Hosea 10:12) were cleared of stones and of
thorns, (Isaiah 5:2) early in the year, sowing or gathering
from "among thorns" being a proverb for slovenly husbandry.
(Job 5:5; Proverbs 24:30,31) Sowing also took place without
previous ploughing, the seed being scattered broad cast and
ploughed in afterwards. The soil was then brushed over with a
light harrow, often of thorn bushes. In highly-irrigated spots
the seed was trampled by cattle. (Isaiah 32:20) Seventy days
before the passover was the time prescribed for sowing. The
oxen were urged on by a goad like a spear. (Judges 3:31) The
proportion of harvest gathered to seed sown was often vast; a
hundred fold is mentioned, but in such a way as to signify that
it was a limit rarely attained. (Genesis 26:12; Matthew 13:8)
Sowing a field with divers seed was forbidden. (22:9) Reaping
and Threshing.--The wheat etc., was reaped by the sickle or
pulled by the roots. It was bound in sheaves. The sheaves or
heaps were carted, (Amos 2:13) to the floor--a circular spot of
hard ground, probably, as now, from 50 to 80 or 100 feet in
diameter. (Genesis 1:10,11; 2 Samuel 24:16,18) On these the
oxen, etc., forbidden to be muzzled, (25:4) trampled out the
grain. At a later time the Jews used a threshing sledge called
morag, (Isaiah 41:15; 2 Samuel 24:22; 1 Chronicles 21:23)
probably resembling the noreg, still employed in Egypt--a stage
with three rollers ridged with iron, which, aided by the
driver's weight crushed out, often injuring, the grain, as well
as cut or tore the straw, which thus became fit for fodder.
Lighter grains were beaten out with a stick. (Isaiah 28:27) The
use of animal manure was frequent. (Psalms 83:10; 2 Kings 9:37;
Jeremiah 8:2) etc. Winnowing.--The shovel and fan, (Isaiah
30:24) indicate the process of winnowing--a conspicuous part of
ancient husbandry. (Psalms 35:5; Job 21:18; Isaiah 17:13)
Evening was the favorite time, (Ruth 3:2) when there was mostly
a breeze. The fan, (Matthew 3:12) was perhaps a broad shovel
which threw the grain up against the wind. The last process was
the shaking in a sieve to separate dirt and refuse. (Amos 9:9)
Fields and floors were not commonly enclosed; vineyard mostly
were, with a tower and other buildings. (Numbers 22:24; Psalms
80:13; Isaiah 5:5; Matthew 21:33) comp. Judg 6:11 The gardens
also and orchards were enclosed, frequently by banks of mud
from ditches. With regard to occupancy, a tenant might pay a
fixed money rent, (Song of Solomon 8:11) or a stipulated share
of the fruits. (2 Samuel 9:10; Matthew 21:34) A passer by might
eat any quantity of corn or grapes, but not reap or carry off
fruit. (23:24,25; Matthew 12:1) The rights of the corner to be
left, and of gleaning [[82]Corner; [83]Gleaning], formed the
poor man's claim on the soil for support. For his benefit, too,
a sheaf forgotten in carrying to the floor was to be left; so
also with regard to the vineyard' and the olive grove.
(Leviticus 19:9,10; 24:19)
Agrippa
[[84]Herod]
Agur
(a gatherer, i.e. together of wise men), The son of Jakeh, an
unknown Hebrew sage who uttered or collected the sayings of
wisdom recorded in Prov 30.
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Ahab
(uncle).
+ Son of Omri, seventh king of Israel, reigned B.C. 919-896. He
married Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal king of Tyre; and in
obedience to her wishes, caused temple to be built to Baal in
Samaria itself; and an oracular grove to be consecrated to
Astarte. See (1 Kings 18:19) One of Ahab's chief tastes was
for splendid architecture which he showed by building an
ivory house and several cities. Desiring to add to his
pleasure-grounds at Jezreel the vineyard of his neighbor
Naboth, he proposed to buy it or give land in exchange for
it; and when this was refused by Naboth in accordance with
the Levitical law, (Leviticus 25:23) a false accusation of
blasphemy was brought against him, and he was murdered, and
Ahab took possession of the coveted fields. (2 Kings 9:26)
Thereupon Elijah declared that the entire extirpation of
Ahab's house was the penalty appointed for his long course of
wickedness. [[85]Elijah] The execution, however, of the
sentence was delayed in consequence of Ahab's deep
repentance. (1 Kings 21:1) ... Ahab undertook three campaigns
against Ben-hadad II. king of Damascus, two defensive and one
offensive. In the first Ben-hadad laid siege to Samaria, but
was repulsed with great loss. (1 Kings 20:1-21) Next year
Ben-hadad again invaded Israel by way of Aphek, on the east
of Jordan; yet Ahab's victory was so complete that Ben-hadad
himself fell into his hands, but was released contrary to
God's will, (1 Kings 20:22-34) on condition of restoring the
cities of Israel, and admitting Hebrew commissioners into
Damascus. After this great success Ahab enjoyed peace for
three years, when he attacked Ramoth in Gilead, on the east
of Jordan, in conjunction with Jehoshaphat king of Judah,
which town he claimed as belonging to Israel. Being told by
the prophet Micaiah that he would fall, he disguised himself,
but was slain by "a certain man who drew a bow at a venture."
When buried in Samaria, the dogs licked up his blood as a
servant was washing his chariot; a partial fulfillment of
Elijah's prediction, (1 Kings 21:19) which was more literally
accomplished in the case of his son. (2 Kings 9:26)
+ A lying prophet, who deceived the captive Israelites in
Babylon, and was burnt to death by Nebuchadnezzar. (Jeremiah
29:21)
Aharah
(after the brother), third son of Benjamin. (1 Chronicles 8:1)
[[86]Aher; [87]Ahiram]
Aharhel
(behind the breastwork), a name occurring in an obscure
fragment of the genealogies of Judah. (1 Chronicles 4:8)
Ahasai
(whom Jehovah holds), a priest, ancestor of Maasiai, (Nehemiah
11:13) called [88]Jahzerah in (1 Chronicles 9:12)
Ahasbai
(blooming), father of Eli-phelet, one of David's thirty-seven
captains. (2 Samuel 23:34) In the corrupt list in (1 Chronicles
11:35) Eliphelet appears as "Eliphal the son of Ur." (B.C.
about 1050.)
Ahashverosh
Another (the Hebrew) form of AHASUERIUS. (Ezra 4:6) in margin.
Ahasuerus
(lion-king), the name of one Median and two Persian kings
mentioned in the Old Testament.
+ In (Daniel 9:1) Ahasuerus is said to be the father of Darius
the Mede. [[89]Darius] This first Ahasuerus is Cyaxares, the
conqueror of Nineveh. (Began to reign B.C. 634.)
+ The Ahasuerus king of Persia, referred to in (Ezra 4:6) must
be Cambyses, thought to be Cyrus' successor, and perhaps his
son. (B.C. 529.)
+ The third is the Ahasuerus of the book of Esther. This
Ahasuerus is probably Xerxes of history, (Esther 1:1) (B.C.
485), and this conclusion is fortified by the resemblance of
character and by certain chronological indications, the
account of his life and character agreeing with the book of
Esther In the third year of Ahaseuerus was held a great feast
and assembly in Shushan the palace, (Esther 1:3) following a
council held to consider the invasion of Greece. He divorced
his queen Vashti for refusing to appear in public at this
banquet, and married, four years afterwards, the Jewess
Esther, cousin and ward of Mordecai. Five years after this,
Haman, one of his counsellors, having been slighted by
Mordecai, prevailed upon the king to order the destruction of
all the Jews in the empire. But before the day appointed for
the massacre, Esther and Mordecai influenced the king to put
Haman to death and to give the Jews the right of
self-Defence.
Ahava
(water), a place, (Ezra 8:15) or a river, Ezra 8:21 On the
banks of which Ezra collected the second expedition which
returned with him from Babylon to Jerusalem. Perhaps it is the
modern Hit, on the Euphrates due east of Damascus.
Ahaz
(possessor), eleventh king of Judah, son of Jotham, reigned
741-726, about sixteen years. At the time of his accession,
Rezin king of Damascus and Pekah king of Israel had recently
formed a league against Judah, and they proceeded to lay siege
to Jerusalem. Upon this Isaiah hastened to give advice and
encouragement to Ahaz, and the allies failed in their attack on
Jerusalem. Isai 7,8,9. But, the allies inflicted a most severe
injury on Judah by the capture of Elath, a flourishing port on
the Red Sea, while the Philistines invaded the west and south.
2Kin 16; 2Chr 28. Ahaz, having forfeited God's favor by his
wickedness, sought deliverance from these numerous troubles by
appealing to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, who forced him
from his most formidable enemies. But Ahaz had to purchase this
help at a costly price; he became tributary to Tiglath-pileser.
He was weak, a gross idolater, and sought safety in heathen
ceremonies, making his son pass through the fire to Molech,
consulting wizards and necromancers. (Isaiah 8:19) and other
idolatrous practices. (2 Kings 23:12) His only service of
permanent value was the introduction of the sun-dial. He died
at the age of 36, but was refused a burial with the kings his
ancestors. (2 Chronicles 28:27)
+ Son of Micah. (1 Chronicles 8:35,36; 9:42)
Ahaziah
(sustained by the Lord).
+ Son of Ahab and Jezebel eighth king of Israel, reigned B.C.
896-895. After the battle of Ramoth in Gilead, in which Ahab
perished [[90]Ahab], the vassal king of Moab refused his
yearly tribute; comp. (Isaiah 16:1) Before Ahaziah could take
measures for enforcing his claim, he was seriously injured by
a fall through a lattice in his palace at Samaria. Being an
idolater, he sent to inquire of the oracle of Baalzebub in
the Philistine city of Ekron whether he should recover his
health. But Elijah, who now for the last time exercised the
prophetic office, rebuked him for this impiety, and announced
to him his approaching death. The only other recorded
transaction of his reign, his endeavor to join the king of
Judah in trading to Ophir, is related under [91]Jehoshaphat.
(1 Kings 22:49-53; 2 Kings 1:1; 2 Chronicles 20:35-37)
+ Fifth king of Judah, son of Jehoram and Athaliah (daughter of
Ahab), and therefore nephew of the preceding Ahaziah, reigned
one year, B.C. 884. He is Galled [92]Azariah, (2 Chronicles
22:2) probably by a copyist's error, and [93]Jehoahaz. (2
Chronicles 21:17) He was 22 years old at his accession. (2
Kings 8:26) (his age 42, in (2 Chronicles 22:2) Isa a
copyist's error). Ahaziah was an idolater, and he allied
himself with his uncle Jehoram king of Israel against Hazael,
the new king of Syria. the two kings were, however defeated
at Ramoth, where Jehoram was severely wounded. The revolution
carried out in Israel by Jehu under the guidance of Elisha
broke out while Ahaziah was visiting his uncle at Jezreel. As
Jehu approached the town, Jehoram and Ahaziah went out to
meet him; the former was shot through the heart by Jehu, and
Ahaziah was pursued and mortally wounded. He died when he
reached Megiddo.
Ahban
(brother of the wise, discreet), son of Abishur by his wife
Abihail. (1 Chronicles 2:29) He was of the tribe of Judah.
Aher
(following), ancestor of Hushim a Benjamite. The name occurs in
the genealogy of Benjamin. (1 Chronicles 7:12) It is not
improbable that Aher and Ahiram, (Numbers 26:38) are the same.
Ahi
(a brother).
+ A Gadite, chief of a family who lived in Gilead in Bashan, (1
Chronicles 5:15) in the days of Jotham and of Judah. (B.C.
758.)
+ A descendant of Shamer, of the tribe of Asher. (1 Chronicles
7:34)
Ahiah, Or Ahijah
(friend of Jehovah).
+ Son of Ahitub, grandson of Phinehas and great-grandson of
Eli, succeeded his father as high priest in the reign of
Saul. (1 Samuel 14:3,18) Ahiah is probably the same person as
Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. (B.C. 980.)
+ One of Solomon's princes. (1 Kings 4:3)
+ A prophet of Shiloh, (1 Kings 14:2) hence called the
Shilonite, (1 Kings 11:29) of whom we have two remarkable
prophecies extant, the one in (1 Kings 11:30-39) addressed to
Jeroboam, announcing the rending of the ten tribes from
Solomon; the other in (1 Kings 14:6-16) in which he foretold
the death of Abijah, the king's son, who was sick, and the
destruction of Jeroboam's house on account of the images
which he had set up. (1 Kings 14:2,3) (B.C. about 956.)
+ Father of Baasha king of Israel. (1 Kings 15:27,33)
+ Son of Jerahmeel. (1 Chronicles 2:25)
+ Son of Bela. (1 Chronicles 8:7)
+ One of David's mighty men. (1 Chronicles 11:36)
+ A Levite in David's reign. (1 Chronicles 26:20)
+ One of the "heads of the people" who joined in the covenant
with Nehemiah. (Nehemiah 10:26)
Ahiam
son of Sharar the Hararite (or of Sacar,) (1 Chronicles 11:35)
one of David's thirty mighty men. (2 Samuel 23:33) (B.C. 1050.)
Ahian
a Manassite of the family of Shemidah. (1 Chronicles 7:19)
Ahiezer
(brother of help).
+ Son of Ammishaddai, hereditary chieftain of the tribe of Dan.
(Numbers 1:12; 2:25; 7:66) (B.C. 1490).
+ The Benjamite chief of a body of archers in the time of
David. (1 Chronicles 12:3) (B.C. 1050.)
Ahihud
(brother of renown).
+ The son of Shelomi and prince of the tribe of Asher. (Numbers
34:27)
+ Chieftain of the tribe of Benjamin. (1 Chronicles 8:7)
Ahijah
[[94]Ahiah, Or Ahijah]
Ahikam
(a brother who raises up), son of Shaphan the scribe, an
influential officer at the court of Josiah, was one of the
delegates sent by Hilkaih to consult Huldah. (2 Kings 22:12-14)
In the reign of Jehoiakim he successfully used his influence to
protect the prophet Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 26:24) He was the
father of Gedaliah. [[95]Gedaliah] (B.C. 641).
Ahilud
(a brother of one born, i.e. before him).
+ Father of Jehoshaphat, the recorder or chronicler of the
kingdom in the reigns of David and Solomon. (2 Samuel 8:16;
20:24; 1 Kings 4:3; 1 Chronicles 18:15) (B.C. before 1015.)
+ The father of Baana, one of Solomon's twelve commissariat
officers. (1 Kings 4:12) It is uncertain whether he is the
same with the foregoing.
Ahimaaz
(brother of anger).
+ Son of Zadok the high priest in David's reign, and celebrated
for his swiftness of foot. During Absalom's rebellion he
carried to David the important intelligence that Ahithophel
had counselled an immediate attack upon David and his
followers. (2 Samuel 15:24-37; 17:15-22) Shortly afterwards
he was the first to bring to the king the good news of
Absalom's defeat. (2 Samuel 18:19-33) (B.C. 972-956.)
+ Saul's wife's father. (1 Samuel 14:50) (B.C. before 1093.)
+ Solomon's son-in-law. (1 Kings 4:15) (B.C. after 1014.)
Ahiman
(brother of the right hand).
+ One of the three giant Anakim who inhabited Mount Hebron,
(Numbers 13:22,23) seen by Caleb and the spies. (B.C. 1490.)
The whole race was cut off by Joshua, (Joshua 11:21) and the
three brothers were slain by the tribe of Judah. (Judges
1:10)
+ A Levite porter. (1 Chronicles 9:17)
Ahimelech
(brother of the king).
+ Son of Ahitub, (1 Samuel 22:11,12) and high priest of Nob in
the days of Saul. He gave David the shew bread to eat, and
the sword of Goliath; and for so doing was put to death, with
his whole house, by Saul's order. Abiathar alone escaped.
[[96]Abiathar] (B.C. 1085-1060.)
+ A Hittite. (1 Samuel 26:6)
Ahimoth
(brother of death), a Levite apparently in the time of David.
(1 Chronicles 6:25) In v. (1 Chronicles 6:35) for Ahimoth we
find [97]Mahath, as in (Luke 3:26)
Ahinadab
(brother the noble, i.e. a noble brother), Son of Iddo, one of
Solomon's twelve commissaries who supplied provisions for the
royal household. (1 Kings 4:14) (B.C. 1014-975.)
Ahinoam
(brother of grace, i.e. gracious).
+ The daughter of Ahimaaz and wife of Saul. (1 Samuel 14:50)
(B.C. about 1090.)
+ A native of Jezreel who was married to David during his
wandering life. (1 Samuel 25:43) (B.C. 1060.) She lived with
him and his other wife Abigail at the court of Achish, (1
Samuel 27:3) was taken prisoner with her by the Amalekites
when they plundered Ziklag, (1 Samuel 30:5) but was rescued
by David. (1 Samuel 30:18)
Ahio
(brotherly).
+ Son of Abinadab, who accompanied the ark when it was brought
out of his father's house. (2 Samuel 6:3,4; 1 Chronicles
13:7) (B.C.1043.)
+ A Benjamite, one of the sons of Beriah. (1 Chronicles 8:14)
+ A Benjamite, Son of Jehiel. (1 Chronicles 8:31; 9:37)
Ahira
(brother of evil, i.e. unlucky), Chief of the tribe of
Naphtali. (Numbers 1:15; 2:29; 7:78,83; 10:27)
Ahiram
(brother of height, lofty), one of the sons of Benjamin, and
ancestor of the AHIRAMITES (Numbers 26:38) In (Genesis 46:21)
the name appears as "Ehi and Rosh." It is uncertain whether
Ahiram is the same as [98]Aher, (1 Chronicles 7:12) or
[99]Aharah, (1 Chronicles 8:1)
Ahisamach
(brother of help), a Danite, father of Aholiab one of the
architects of the tabernacle. (Exodus 31:6; 35:34; 38:23) (B.C.
1490)
Ahishahar
(brother of the dawn), one of the sons of Bilhan, the grandson
of Benjamin. (1 Chronicles 7:10)
Ahishar
the controller of Solomon's household. (1 Kings 4:6)
Ahithophel
(brother of foolishness), a native of Giloh, was a privy
councillor of David, whose wisdom was highly esteemed, though
his name had an exactly opposite signification. (2 Samuel
16:23) (B.C. 1055-1023.) He was the grandfather of Bathsheba.
Comp. (2 Samuel 11:3) with 2Sam 23:34 Ahithophel joined the
conspiracy of Absalom against David, and persuaded him to take
possession of the royal harem, (2 Samuel 16:21) and recommended
an immediate pursuit of David. His advice was wise; but Hushai
advised otherwise. When Ahithophel saw that Hushai's advice
prevailed, he despaired of success, and returning to his own
home "put his household in order and hanged himself." (2 Samuel
17:1-23)
Ahitub
(brother of goodness).
+ The son of Phinehas and grandson of Eli, and therefore of the
family of Ithamar. (1 Samuel 14:3; 22:9,11) (B.C. 1125.) He
was succeeded by his son Ahijah ([100]Ahimelech). (B.C.
1085.)
+ Son of Amariah, and father of Zadok the high priest, (1
Chronicles 6:7,8; 2 Samuel 8:17) of the house of Eleazar.
(B.C. before 1045.)
Ahlab
(fertile), a city of Asher from which the Canaanites were not
driven out. (Judges 1:31)
Ahlai, Or Ahlai
(ornamental) daughter of Sheshan, whom, having no issue, he
gave in marriage to his Egyptian slave Jarha. (1 Chronicles
2:31,35) From her were descended Zabad, one of David's mighty
men, (1 Chronicles 11:41) and Aza-riah, one of the captains of
hundreds in the reign of Joash. (2 Chronicles 23:1)
Ahoah
(brothely), son of Bela the son of Benjamin. (1 Chronicles 8:4)
In (1 Chronicles 8:7) he is called [101]Ahiah, Or Ahijah. The
patronymic, [102]Ahohite, is found in (2 Samuel 23:9,28; 1
Chronicles 11:12,29; 27:4)
Ahohite
[[103]Ahoah]
Aholah And Aholibah
(my tabernacle) two symbolical names, are described as harlots,
the former representing Samaria and the latter Judah. Ezek. 23.
Aholiab
a Danite of great skill as a weaver and embroiderer, whom Moses
appointed with Bezaleel to erect the tabernacle. (Exodus
35:30-35) (B.C. 1490.)
Aholibamah Or Abolibamah
(my tabernacle is exulted), One of the three wives of Esau.
(B.C. 1797.) She was the daughter of Anah. (Genesis 36:2,26) In
the earlier narrative, (Genesis 26:34) Aholi-bamah is called
Judith, which may have been her original name.
Ahumai
(brother of water, i.e. cowardly), Son of Jabath, a descendant
of Judah, and head of one of the families of the Zorathites. (1
Chronicles 4:2)
Ahuzam
(possession), properly Ahuzzam son of Ashur, the father or
founder of Tekoa, by his wife Naarah. (1 Chronicles 4:6)
Ahuzzath
(possesions) one of the friends of the Philistine king
Abimelech, who accompanied him at his interview with Isaac.
(Genesis 26:26) (B.C. about 1877.)
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Ai
(heap of ruins).
+ A city lying east of Bethel and "beside Bethaven." (Joshua
7:2; 8:9) It was the second city taken by Israel after the
passage of the Jordan, and was "utterly destroyed." (Joshua
7:3-5; 8:1; Joshua 9:3; 10:1,2; 12:9)
+ A city of the Ammonites, apparently attached to Heshbon.
(Jeremiah 49:3)
Aiah
(clamor).
+ Son of Zibeon, a descendant of Seir and ancestor of one of
the wives of Esau, (1 Chronicles 1:40) called in (Genesis
36:24) [104]Ajah = A Iah. He probably died before his father,
as the succession fell to his brother Anah.
+ Father of Rizpah, the concubine of Saul. (2 Samuel 3:7;
21:8,10,11) (B.C. before 1040.)
Aiath
(feminine of Ai), a place named by Isaiah, (Isaiah 10:28) in
connection with Migron and Michmash probably the same as Ai.
Aija
like Aiath probably a variation of the name Ai, mentioned with
Michmash and Bethel. (Nehemiah 11:31)
Aijalon, Or Ajalon
(place of gazelles).
+ A city of the Kohathites. (Joshua 21:24; 1 Chronicles 6:69)
It was a Levitical city and a city of refuge. It was
originally allotted to the tribe of Dan, (Joshua 19:42)
Authorized Version, AJALON, which tribe, however, was unable
to dispossess the Amorites of the place. (Judges 1:35)
Aijalon was one of the towns fortified by Reheboam, (2
Chronicles 11:10) and the last we hear of it is being in the
hands of the Philistines. (2 Chronicles 28:18) Being on the
very frontier of the two kingdoms, we can understand how
Aijalon should be spoken of sometimes, (1 Chronicles 6:69)
comp. with 1Chr 6:66 As in Ephraim and sometimes, (2
Chronicles 11:10; 1 Samuel 14:31) as in Judah and Benjamin.
It is represented by the modern Yalo, a little to the north
of the Jaffa road, about 14 miles out of Jerusalem.
+ A broad and beautiful valley near the city of Aijalon over
which Joshua commanded the moon to stand still during the
pursuit after the battle of Gibeon. (Joshua 10:12)
+ A place in Zebulon, mentioned as the burial-place of Elon,
one of the Judges. (Judges 12:12)
Aijeleth Shahar
(the hind of the morning dawn), found once only in the Bible,
in the title of (Psalms 22:1) It probably describes to the
musician the melody to which the psalm was to be played.
Ain
(spring, well).
+ One of the landmarks on the eastern boundary of Palestine.
(Numbers 34:11) It is probably 'Ain el-'Azy, the main source
of the Orontes.
+ One of the southernmost cities of Judah, (Joshua 15:32)
afterwards allotted to Simeon, (Joshua 19:7; 1 Chronicles
4:32) and given to the priests. (Joshua 21:16)
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Aj Alon
[[105]Aijalon, Or Ajalon]
Ajah = A Iah
+ (Genesis 36:24)
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Akan
(sharp sighted), son of Ezer, one of the "dukes" or chieftains
of the Horites, and descendant of Seir. (Genesis 36:27) He is
called [106]Jakan in (1 Chronicles 1:42)
Akeldama
Revised Version of (Acts 1:19) for [107]Aceldama.
Akkub
(insidious).
+ A descendant of Zerubbabel and son of Elioenai. (1 Chronicles
3:24)
+ One of the porters or doorkeepers at the east gate of the
temple. (B.C. 636-440.)
+ One of the Nethinim, whole family returned with Zerubbabel.
(Ezra 2:45) (B.C. 536.)
+ A Levite who assisted Ezra in expounding the law to the
people. (Nehemiah 8:7)
Akrabbim
(the ascent of, or the going up to); also MAALEH-ACRABBIM (the
scorpion pass), A pass between the south end of the Dead Sea
and Zin, forming one of the landmarks on the south boundary at
once of Judah, (Joshua 15:3) and of the Holy Land. (Numbers
34:4) Also the boundary of the Amorites. (Judges 1:36) As to
the name, scorpions abound in the whole of this district.
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Alabaster
from the Arabic al bastraton, a whitish stone or from
Alabastron, the place in Egypt where it is found. It occurs
only in (Matthew 26:7; Mark 14:3; Luke 7:37) The ancients
considered alabaster to be the best material in which to
preserve their ointments. The Oriental alabaster (referred to
in the Bible) is a translucent carbonate of lime, formed on the
floors of limestone caves by the percolation of water. It is of
the same material as our marbles, but differently formed. It is
usually clouded or banded like agate, hence sometimes called
onyx marble. Our common alabaster is different from this, being
a variety of gypsum or sulphate of lime, used In its finer
forms for vases, etc.; in the coarser it is ground up for
plaster of Paris. The noted sculptured slabs from Nineveh are
made of this material.
Alameth
properly Al'emeth (covering), one of the sons of Beecher,the
son of Benjamin. (1 Chronicles 7:8)
Alammelech
(king's oak), a place within the limits of Asher, named between
Achshaph and Amad. (Joshua 19:26) only.
Alamoth
(virgins), (Psalms 46:1) title; (1 Chronicles 15:20) Some
interpret it to mean a musical instrument, and others a melody.
Alemeth
(covering), a Benjamite, son of Jehoadah or Jarah, (1
Chronicles 8:36; 9:42) and descended from Jonathan the son of
Saul. (B.C after 1077.)
Alexander
+ Son of Simon the Cyrenian, who was compelled to bear the
cross for our Lord. (Mark 15:21)
+ One of the kindred of Annas the high priest. (Acts 4:6)
+ A Jew at Ephesus whom his countrymen put forward during the
tumult raised by Demetrius the silversmith, (Acts 19:33) to
plead their cause with the mob.
+ An Ephesian Christian reprobated by St. Paul in (1 Timothy
1:20) as having, together with one Hymenaeus, put from him
faith and a good conscience, and so made shipwreck concerning
the faith. This may be the same with
+ Alexander the coppersmith, mentioned by the same apostle, (2
Timothy 4:14) as having done him many mischiefs.
Alexander Iii
(helper of men--brave) king of Macedon, surnamed the Great, the
son of Philip and Olympias, was born at Pella B.C. 356, and
succeeded his father B.C. 336. Two years afterwards he crossed
the Hellespont (B.C. 334) to carry out the plans of his fathers
and execute the mission of (Greece to the civilized world. He
subjugated Syria and Palestine B.C. 334-332. Egypt next
submitted to him B.C. 332, and in this year he founded
Alexandria. In the same year he finally defeated Darius at
Gaugamela, who in B.C. 330 was murdered. The next two years
were occupied by Alexander in the consolidation of his Persian
conquests and the reduction of Bactria. In B.C. 327 he crossed
the Indus; turning westward he reached Susa B.C. 325, and
proceeded to Babylon B.C. 324, which he chose as the capital of
his empire. In the next year (B.C. 323) he died there of
intemperance, at the early age of 32, in the midst of his
gigantic plans; and those who inherited his conquests left his
designs unachieved and unattempted. cf. (Daniel 7:6; 8:5; 11:3)
Alexander is intended in (Daniel 2:39) and also Dani 7:6;
8:5-7; 11:3,4 The latter indicating the rapidity of his
conquests and his power. He ruled with great dominion, and did
according to his will, (Daniel 11:3) "and there was none that
could deliver .... out of his hand." (Daniel 8:7)
Alexandria, Or Alexandria
(from Alexander), 3 Ma 3:1; (Acts 18:24; 6:9) the Hellenic,
Roman and Christian capital of Egypt. Situation .-- (Alexandria
was situated on the Mediterranean Sea directly opposite the
island of Pharos, 12 miles west of the Canopic branch of the
Nile and 120 miles from the present city of Cairo.) It was
founded by Alexander the Great, B.C. 332, who himself traced
the ground plan of the city. The work thus begun was continued
after the death of Alexander by the Ptolemies. Description .--
Under the despotism of the later Ptolemies the trade of
Alexandria declined, but its population and wealth were
enormous. Its importance as one of the chief corn-ports of Rome
secured for it the general favor of the first emperors. Its
population was mixed from the first. According to Josephus
Alexander himself assigned to the Jews a place in his new city.
Philo estimated the number of the Alexandrine Jews in his time
at a little less than 1,000,000 and adds that two of the five
districts of Alexandria were called "Jewish districts," and
that many Jews lived scattered in the remaining three. "For a
long period Alexandria was the greatest of known cities." After
Rome became the chief city of the world, Alexandria ranked
second to Rome in wealth and importance, and second to Athens
only in literature and science. Its collection of books grew to
be the greatest library of ancient times, and contained at one
time 700,000 rolls or volumes. Here was made the Septuagint
translation of the Old Testament into Greek, begun about B.C.
285, especially in grain, was very great. According to the
common legend, St. Mark first "preached the gospel in Egypt,
and founded the first church in Alexandria." At the beginning
of the second century the number of Christians at Alexandria
must have been very large, and the great leaders of Gnosticism
who arose there (Basilides, Valentinus) exhibit an exaggeration
of the tendency of the Church. PRESENT CONDITION. The city
still bears the same name and is a thriving metropolis, with
inhabitants from nearly every European and Oriental nation.
Cleopatra's needle, set up by Thotmes in 1500 B.C., was found
in Alexandria.
Alexandrians
the Jewish colonists of Alexandria, who were admitted to the
privileges of citizenship and had a synagogue at Jerusalem.
(Acts 6:9)
Algum Or Almug Trees
the former occurring in (2 Chronicles 2:8; 9:10,11) the latter
in (1 Kings 10:11,12) These words are identical. From (1 Kings
10:11,12; 2 Chronicles 9:10,11) we learn that the almug was
brought in great plenty from Ophir for Solomon's temple and
house, and for the construction of musical instruments. It is
probable that this tree is the red sandle wood, which is a
native of India and Ceylon. The wood is very heavy, hard and
fine grained, and of a beautiful garnet color.
Aliah
[[108]Alvah]
Alian
[[109]Alvan]
Allegory
a figure of speech, which has been defined by Bishop Marsh, in
accordance with its etymology as, "a representation of one
thing which is intended to excite the representation of another
thing." ("A figurative representation containing a meaning
other than and in addition to the literal." "A fable or
parable; is a short allegory with one definite moral."--Encyc.
Brit.) In every allegory there is a twofold sense--the
immediate or historic, which is understood from the words, and
the ultimate, which is concerned with the things signified by
the words. The allegorical interpretation is not of the words,
but of the thing signified by them, and not only may, but
actually does, coexist with the literal interpretation in every
allegory, whether the narrative in which it is conveyed be of
things possible or real. An illustration of this may be seen in
(Galatians 4:24) where the apostle gives an allegorical
interpretation to the historical narrative of Hagar and Sarah,
not treating that narrative as an allegory in itself; as our
Authorized Version would lead us to suppose, but drawing from
it a deeper sense than is conveyed by the immediate
representation. (Addison's Vision of Mirza and Bunyan's
Pilgrim's Progress are among the best allegories in all
literature.)
Alleluia
so written in (Revelation 19:6) foll., or more properly
[110]Hallelujah, praise ye Jehovah, as it is found in the
margin of (Psalms 104:35; 105:45; 106; 111:1; 112:1; 113:1)
comp. Psal 113:9; 115:18; 116:19, 117:2 The literal meaning of
"hallelujah" sufficiently indicates the character of the Psalms
in which it occurs as hymns of praise and thanksgiving.
Alliances
On the first establishment of the Hebrews in Palestine no
connections were formed between them and the surrounding
nations. But with the extension of their power under the kings
alliances became essential to the security of their commerce.
Solomon concluded two important treaties exclusively for
commercial purposes the first with Hiram king of Tyre (1 Kings
5:2-12; 9:27) the second with a Pharaoh, king of Egypt. (1
Kings 10:28,29) When war broke out between Amaziah I and
Jeroboam II, a coalition was formed between Rezin, king of
Syria, and Pekah on the one side, and Ahaz and Tiglath-pileser,
king of Assyria, on the other. (2 Kings 16:5-9) The formation
of an alliance was attended with various religious rites. A
victim was slain and divided into two parts, between which the
contracting parties passed. (Genesis 15:10) Generally speaking
the oath alone is mentioned in the contracting of alliances,
either between nations, (Joshua 9:15) or individuals. (Genesis
25:28; 31:53; 1 Samuel 20:17; 2 Kings 11:4) The event was
celebrated by a feast. Genesis l.c.; (Exodus 24:11; 2 Samuel
3:12,20) Salt, as symbolical of fidelity, was used on these
occasions. Occasionally a pillar or a heap of stones was set up
as a memorial of the alliance. (Genesis 31:52) Presents were
also sent by the parties soliciting the alliance. (1 Kings
15:18; Isaiah 30:6); 1 Macc 16:18. The fidelity of the Jews to
their engagements was conspicuous at all periods of their
history, (Joshua 9:18) and any breach of covenant was visited
with very severe punishment. (2 Samuel 21:1; Ezekiel 17:16)
Allon
a large strong tree of some description probably an oak.
+ [111]Allon more accurately [112]Elon, a place named among the
cities of Naphtali. (Joshua 19:33) Probably the more correct
construction is to take it with the following word, i.e.,
"the oak by Zaanannim. [[113]Elon]
+ [114]Allon BACHUTH (oak of weeping) the tree under which
Rebekah's nurse, Deborah, was buried. (Genesis 35:8)
(an oak) a Simeonite, ancestor of Ziza, a prince of his tribe
in the reign of Hezekiah (1 Chronicles 4:37) (B.C. 727.)
Almodad
(measure) the first in order of the descendants of Joktan.
(Genesis 10:26; 1 Chronicles 1:20)
Almon
(concealed) a city within the tribe of Benjamin, with "suburbs"
given to the priests. (Joshua 21:18) [[115]Alemeth]
Almond Tree; Almond
This word is found in (Genesis 43:11; Exodus 25:33,34;
37:19,20; Numbers 17:8; Ecclesiastes 12:5; Jeremiah 1:11) in
the text of the Authorized Version. It is invariably
represented by the same Hebrew word, shaked meaning hasten.
(Jeremiah 1:11,12) The almond tree is a native of Asia and
North Africa, but it is cultivated in the milder parts of
Europe." It resembles the peach tree in form, blossom and
fruit. It is in fact only another species of the same genus."
The height of the tree is about 12 or 14 feet; the flowers are
pink, and arranged for the most part in pairs, the leaves are
long, ovate, with a serrated margin and an acute point. The
covering of the fruit is down and succulent, enclosing the hard
shell which contains the kernel. It is this but for which the
tree is chiefly valued. It is curious to observe, in connection
with the almond bowls of the golden candlestick, that, in the
language of lapidaries, almonds are pieces of rock crystal,
even now used in adorning branch candlesticks.
Almondiblathaim
(concealing the two cakes), one of the latest stations of the
Israelites between Dibon-gad and the mountains of Abarim
(Numbers 33:46,47) It is probably identical with
Beth-diblathaim.
Alms
The duty of alms-giving, especially in kind, consisting chiefly
in portions to be left designedly from produce of the field,
the vineyard and the oliveyard, (Leviticus 19:9,10; 23:22;
15:11; 24:19; 26:2-13; Ruth 2:2) is strictly enjoined by the
law. Every third year also, (14:28) each proprietor was
directed to share the tithe of his produce with "the Levite,
the stranger, the fatherless and the widow." The theological
estimate of alms-giving among the Jews is indicated in the
following passages: (Job 31:17; Proverbs 10:2; 11:4; Esther
9:22; Psalms 112:9; Acts 9:36) the case of Dorcas; (Acts 10:2)
of Cornelius; to which may be added Tobit 4:10,11; 14:10,11,
and Ecclus. 3:30; 40:24. The Pharisees were zealous in
almsgiving, but too ostentatious their mode of performance, for
which our Lord finds fault with them. (Matthew 6:2) The duty of
relieving the poor was not neglected by the Christians.
(Matthew 6:1-4; Luke 14:13; Acts 20:35; Galatians 2:10) Regular
proportionate giving was expected. (Acts 11:30; Romans
15:25-27; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4)
Almug Trees
[[116]Algum Or Almug Trees TREES]
Aloes, Lign Aloes
(in Heb. Ahalim, Ahaloth), The name of a costly and
sweet-smelling wood which is mentioned in (Numbers 24:6; Psalms
45:8; Proverbs 7:17; Song of Solomon 4:14; John 19:39) It is
usually identified with the Aquilaria agollochum, an aromatic
wood much valued in India. This tree sometimes grows to the
height of 120 feet, being 12 feet in girth.
Aloth
a place or district, forming with Asher the jurisdiction of the
ninth of Solomon's commissariat officers. (1 Kings 4:16)
Alpha
(A), the first letter of the Greek alphabet. With Omega, the
last letter, it is used in the Old Testament and in the New to
express the eternity of God, as including both the beginning
and the end. (Revelation 1:8,11; 21:6; 22:13; Isaiah 41:4;
44:6) hence these letters became a favorite symbol of the
eternal divinity of our Lord, and were used for this purpose in
connection with the cross, or the monogram of Christ (i.e. the
first two letters, ch and r, of Christ's name in Greek). Both
Greeks and Hebrews employed the letters of the alphabet as
numerals.
Alphabet
[[117]Writing]
Alphaeus
(changing) the father of the apostle James the Less, (Matthew
10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13) and husband of Mary.
(John 19:25) [[118]Mary] In this latter place he is called
Clopas (not, as in the Authorized Version, Cleophas).
Altar
The first altar of which we have any account is that built by
Noah when he left the ark. (Genesis 8:20) In the early times
altars were usually built in certain spots hallowed by
religious associations, e.g., where God appeared. (Genesis
12:7; 13:18; 26:25; 35:1) Though generally erected for the
offering of sacrifice, in some instances they appear to have
been only memorials. (Genesis 12:7; Exodus 17:15,16) Altars
were most probably originally made of earth. The law of Moses
allowed them to be made of either earth or unhewn stones.
(Exodus 20:24,25) I. The Altar of Burnt Offering . It differed
in construction at different times. (1) In the tabernacle,
(Exodus 27:1) ff.; Exod 38:1 ff., it was comparatively small
and portable. In shape it was square. It as five cubits in
length, the same in breadth, and three cubits high. It was made
of planks of shittim (or acacia) wood overlaid with brass. The
interior was hollow. (Exodus 27:8) At the four corners were
four projections called horns made, like the altar itself, of
shittim wood overlaid with brass, (Exodus 27:2) and to them the
victim was bound when about to be sacrificed. (Psalms 118:27)
Round the altar, midway between the top and bottom, ran a
projecting ledge, on which perhaps the priest stood when
officiating. To the outer edge of this, again, a grating or
network of brass was affixed, and reached to the bottom of the
altar. At the four corners of the network were four brazen
rings, into which were inserted the staves by which the altar
was carried. These staves were of the same material as the
altar itself. As the priests were forbidden to ascend the altar
by steps, (Exodus 20:26) it has been conjectured that a slope
of earth led gradually up to the ledge from which they
officiated. The place of the altar was at the door of the
tabernacle of the congregation.)" (Exodus 40:29) (2) In
Solomon's temple the altar was considerably larger in its
dimensions. It differed too in the material of which it was
made, being entirely of brass. (1 Kings 8:64; 2 Chronicles 7:7)
It had no grating, and instead of a single gradual slope, the
ascent to it was probably made by three successive platforms,
to each of which it has been supposed that steps led. The altar
erected by Herod in front of the temple was 15 cubits in height
and 50 cubits in length and breadth. According to (Leviticus
6:12,13) a perpetual fire was to be kept burning on the altar.
II. The Altar of Incense, called also the golden altar to
distinguish it from the altar of burnt offering which was
called the brazen altar. (Exodus 38:30) (a) That in the
tabernacle was made of acacia wood, overlaid with pure gold. In
shape it was square, being a cubit in length and breadth and
two cubits in height. Like the altar of burnt offering it had
horns at the four corners, which were of one piece with the
rest of the altar. This altar stood in the holy place, "before
the vail that is by the ark of the testimony." (Exodus 30:6;
40:5) (b) The altar of Solomon's temple was similar, (1 Kings
7:48; 1 Chronicles 28:18) but was made of cedar overlaid with
gold. III. Other Altars . In (Acts 17:23) reference is made to
an alter to an unknown God. There were several altars in Athens
with this inscription, erected during the time of a plague.
Since they knew not what god was offended and required to be
propitiated.
Altaschith
(destroy not), found in the introductory verse to Psalms
57,58,59,75. It was probably the beginning of some song or poem
to the tune of which those psalms were to be chanted.
Alush
(a crowd of men) one of the stations of the Israelites on their
journey to Sinai, the last before Rephidim. (Numbers 33:13,14)
Alvah
(evil), a duke of Edom, (Genesis 36:40) written [119]Aliah in
(1 Chronicles 1:51)
Alvan
(tall), a Horite, son of Shobal, (Genesis 36:23) written
[120]Alian in (1 Chronicles 1:40)
Amad
(enduring), an unknown place in Asher, between Alammelech and
Misheal. (Joshua 19:26) only.
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Amadatha
(Esther 16:10,17) and Amad'athus . (Esther 12:6)
[[121]Hammedatha]
Amal
(labor), an Asherite, son of Helem. (1 Chronicles 7:35)
Amalek
(dweller in a valley), a son of Eliphaz by his concubine Timnah
grandson of Esau, and chieftain ("duke," Authorized Version) of
Edom. (Genesis 36:12,16; 1 Chronicles 1:36) (B.C. about 1700.)
Amalekites
a nomadic tribe of uncertain origin, which occupied the
peninsula of Sinai and the wilderness intervening between the
southern hill-ranges of Palestine and the border of Egypt.
(Numbers 13:29; 1 Samuel 15:7; 27:8) Their wealth consisted in
flocks and herds. Mention is made of a "town" (1 Samuel 15:5)
but their towns could have been little more than stations or
nomadic enclosures. The Amalekites first came in contact with
the Israelites at Rephidim, but were signally defeated. (Exodus
17:8-16) In union with the Canaanites they again attacked the
Israelites on the borders of Palestine, and defeated them near
Hormah. (Numbers 14:45) Saul undertook an expedition against
them. (1 Samuel 14:48) Their power was thenceforth broken, and
they degenerated into a horde of banditti. Their destruction
was completed by David. (1 Samuel 30:1-17)
Amalekites, Mount Of
a mountain in Ephraim, (Judges 12:15) probably so named because
the Amalekites once held possession of it.
Amam
(gathering place), a city in the south of Judah named with
Shema and Moladah in (Joshua 15:26) only.
Aman
[[122]Haman] (Esther 10:7; 12:6; 13:3,12; 14:17; 16:10,17)
Amana
(a covenant), apparently a mountain in or near Lebanon. (Song
of Solomon 4:8) It is commonly assumed that this is the
mountain in which the river Abana, (2 Kings 5:12) has its
source.
Amariah
(the Lord says, i.e. promises).
+ Father of Ahitub according to (1 Chronicles 6:7,52) and son
of Meraioth, in the line of the high priests.
+ The high priest in the reign of Jehoshaphat. (2 Chronicles
19:11) He was the son of Azariah.
+ The head of a Levitical house of the Kohathites. (1
Chronicles 23:13; 24:23)
+ The head of one of the twenty-four courses of priest. (2
Chronicles 31:15; Nehemiah 10:3; 12:2,13)
+ One of the sons of Bani in the time of Ezra. (Ezra 10:42)
+ A priest who returned with Zerubbabel. (Nehemiah 10:3;
12:2,13)
+ A descendant of Pharez. (Nehemiah 11:4)
+ An ancestor of Zephaniah the prophet. (Zephaniah 1:1)
Amasa
(a burden).
+ Son of Ithra, or Jether, by Abigail, David's sister. (2
Samuel 17:25) He joined in Absalom's rebellion, B.C. 1023,
was appointed commander-in-chief and suffered defeat by Joab.
(2 Samuel 18:6) David, incensed against Joab for killing
Absalom, forgave Amasa and appointed him Joab's successor. (2
Samuel 19:13) Joab afterwards, when they were both in pursuit
of the rebel Sheba, pretending to salute Amasa stabbed him
with his sword. (2 Samuel 20:10)
+ A prince of Ephraim, son of Hadlai, in the reign of Ahaz. (2
Chronicles 28:12)
Amasai, Or Amasai
(burdensome)
+ A Kohathite, father of Mahath and ancestor of Samuel (1
Chronicles 6:25,35)
+ Chief of the captains of Judah and Benjamin, who deserted to
David while an outlaw at Ziklag. (1 Chronicles 12:18) (B.C.
1060.)
+ One of the priests who blew trumpets before the ark. (1
Chronicles 15:24)
+ Another Kohathite, in the reign of Hezekiah. (2 Chronicles
29:12)
Amashai Or Amashai
(burdensome), son of Azareel, a priest in the time of Nehemiah,
(Nehemiah 11:13) apparently the same as [123]Maasiai. (1
Chronicles 9:12) (B.C. 440.)
Amasiah
(whom Jehovah bears), son of Zichri and captain of 200,000
warriors of Judah in the reign of Jehoshaphat. (2 Chronicles
17:16) (B.C. 910.)
Amath
[[124]Hamath]
Amaziah
(the strength of the Lord).
+ Son of Joash, and eighth king of Judah, reigned B.C. 837-809.
He succeeded to the throne at the age of 25, on the murder of
his father, and punished the murderers. In order to restore
his kingdom to the greatness of Jehoshaphat's days, he made
war on the Edomites, defeated them in the Valley of Salt,
south of the Dead Sea, and took their capital, Selah or