The son of Azareel, appointed by Nehemiah to reside at
Jerusalem and do the work of the temple Ne 11:13
Burden of (i.e., "sustained by") Jehovah, the
"son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the Lord, "a
captain over thousands under Jehoshaphat 2Ch 17:16 comp. Jud 5:9
Strengthened by Jehovah.
1. A Levite, son of Hilkiah, of the descendants of Ethan
the Merarite 1Ch 6:45
2. The son and successor of Joash, and eighth king of the
separate kingdom of Judah 2Ki 14:1-4 He began his reign by punishing the
murderers of his father. 2Ch 25:3-5 He was the first to employ a mercenary army
of 100,000 Israelite soldiers, which he did in his attempt to bring the
Edomites again under the yoke of Judah 2Ch 25:5,6 He was commanded by a prophet
of the Lord to send back the mercenaries, which he did 2Ch 25:7-10,13 much to
their annoyance. His obedience to this command was followed by a decisive
victory over the Edomites 2Ch 25:14-16 Amaziah began to worship some of the
idols he took from the Edomites, and this was his ruin, for he was vanquished
by Joash, king of Israel, whom he challenged to battle. The disaster he thus
brought upon Judah by his infatuation in proclaiming war against Israel
probably occasioned the conspiracy by which he lost his life 2Ki 14:8-14,19 He
was slain at Lachish, whither he had fled, and his body was brought upon horses
to Jerusalem, where it was buried in the royal sepulchre 2Ki 14:19,20 2Ch
25:27,28
3. A priest of the golden calves at Bethel Am 7:10-17
4. The father of Joshah, one of the Simeonite chiefs in
the time of Hezekiah 1Ch 4:34
In the Old Testament the Hebrew word _tsir_, meaning
"one who goes on an errand, "is rendered thus Jos 9:4 Pr 13:17 Isa
18:2 Jer 49:14 Ob 1:1 This is also the rendering of _melits_, meaning "an
interpreter, "in 2Ch 32:31 and of _malak_, a "messenger, "in 2Ch
35:21 Isa 30:4 Isa 33:7 Eze 17:15 This is the name used by the apostle as
designating those who are appointed by God to declare his will 2Co 5:20 Eph
6:20 The Hebrews on various occasions and for various purposes had recourse to
the services of ambassadors, e.g., to contract alliances Jos 9:4 to solicit
favours Nu 20:14 to remonstrate when wrong was done Jud 11:12 to condole with a
young king on the death of his father 2Sa 10:2 and to congratulate a king on
his accession to the throne 1Ki 5:1 To do injury to an ambassador was to insult
the king who sent him 2Sa 10:5
Eze 1:4,27 8:2 Heb., hashmal, rendered by the LXX.
elektron, and by the Vulgate electrum), a metal compounded of silver and gold.
Some translate the word by "polished brass, "others "fine brass,
"as in Re 1:15 2:18 It was probably the mixture now called electrum. The
word has no connection, however, with what is now called amber, which is a
gummy substance, reckoned as belonging to the mineral kingdom though of
vegetable origin, a fossil resin.
Joshua at the capture of Ai lay in ambush, and so
deceived the inhabitants that he gained an easy victory Jos 8:4-26 Shechem was
taken in this manner Jud 9:30-45 Comp. Jer 51:12
This Hebrew word means firm, and hence also faithful Re
3:14 In Isa 65:16 the Authorized Version has "the God of truth,
"which in Hebrew is "the God of Amen." It is frequently used by our
Saviour to give emphasis to his words, where it is translated
"verily." Sometimes, only, however, in John's Gospel, it is repeated,
"Verily, verily." It is used as an epithet of the Lord Jesus Christ
Re 3:14 It is found singly and sometimes doubly at the end of prayers Ps 41:13
72:19 89:52 to confirm the words and invoke the fulfilment of them. It is used
in token of being bound by an oath Nu 5:22 De 27:15-26 Ne 5:13 8:6 1Ch 16:36 In
the primitive churches it was common for the general audience to say "Amen"
at the close of the prayer 1Co 14:16 The promises of God are Amen; i.e., they
are all true and sure 2Co 1:20
One of the precious stones in the breastplate of the high
priest Ex 28:19 39:12 and in the foundation of the New Jerusalem Re 21:20 The
ancients thought that this stone had the power of dispelling drunkenness in all
who wore or touched it, and hence its Greek name formed from _a_,
"privative, "and _methuo_, "to get drunk." Its Jewish name,
_ahlamah'_,was derived by the rabbins from the Hebrew word _halam_, "to
dream, "from its supposed power of causing the wearer to dream. It is a
pale-blue crystallized quartz, varying to a dark purple blue. It is found in
Persia and India, also in different parts of Europe.
True, the father of Jonah the prophet, a native of
Gath-hepher 2Ki 14:25 Jon 1:1
A cubit, the name of a hill which Joab and Abishai
reached as the sun went down, when they were in pursuit of Abner 2Sa 2:24 It
lay to the east of Gibeon.
My people, a name given by Jehovah to the people of
Israel Ho 2:1,23 Comp. Ho 1:9 Eze 16:8 Ro 9:25,26 1Pe 2:10
People of God.
1. One of the twelve spies sent by Moses to search the
land of Canaan Nu 13:12 He was one of the ten who perished by the plague for
their unfavourable report Nu 14:37
2. The father of Machir of Lo-debar, in whose house
Mephibosheth resided 2Sa 9:4,5 17:27
3. The father of Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, and
afterwards of David 1Ch 3:5 He is called Eliam in 2Sa 11:3
4. One of the sons of Obed-edom the Levite 1Ch 26:5
People of glory; i.e., "renowned."
1. The father of the Ephraimite chief Elishama, at the
time of the Exodus Nu 1:10 2:18 7:48,53
2. Nu 34:20
3. Nu 34:28
4. The father of Talmai, king of Geshur, to whom Absalom fled
after the murder of Amnon 2Sa 13:37
5. The son of Omri, and the father of Uthai 1Ch 9:4
Kindred of the prince.
1. The father of Nahshon, who was chief of the tribe of
Judah Nu 1:7 2:3 7:12,17 10:14 His daughter Elisheba was married to Aaron Ex
6:23
2. A son of Kohath, the second son of Levi 1Ch 6:22
called also Izhar 1Ch 6:2,18
3. Chief of the 112 descendants of Uzziel the Levite 1Ch
15:10,11
A person mentioned in So 6:12 whose chariots were famed
for their swiftness. It is rendered in the margin "my willing people,
"and in the Revised Version "my princely people."
People of the Almighty, the father of Ahiezer, who was
chief of the Danites at the time of the Exodus Nu 1:12 2:25 This is one of the
few names compounded with the name of God, Shaddai, "Almighty."
People of the giver, the son of Benaiah, who was the
third and chief captain of the host under David 1Ch 27:6
Another form of the name Ben-ammi, the son of Lot Ge
19:38 This name is also used for his posterity Ps 83:7
The usual name of the descendants of Ammon, the son of
Lot Ge 19:38 From the very beginning De 2:16-20 of their history till they are
lost sight of Jud 5:2 this tribe is closely associated with the Moabites Jud
10:11 2Ch 20:1 Zep 2:8 Both of these tribes hired Balaam to curse Israel De
23:4 The Ammonites were probably more of a predatory tribe, moving from place
to place, while the Moabites were more settled. They inhabited the country east
of the Jordan and north of Moab and the Dead Sea, from which they had expelled
the Zamzummims or Zuzims De 2:20 Ge 14:5 They are known as the Beni-ammi Ge
19:38 Ammi or Ammon being worshipped as their chief god. They were of Semitic
origin, and closely related to the Hebrews in blood and language. They showed
no kindness to the Israelites when passing through their territory, and
therefore they were prohibited from "entering the congregation of the Lord
to the tenth generation" De 23:3 They afterwards became hostile to Israel
Jud 3:13 Jephthah waged war against them, and "took twenty cities with a
very great slaughter" Jud 11:33 They were again signally defeated by Saul
1Sa 11:11 David also defeated them and their allies the Syrians 2Sa 10:6-14 and
took their chief city, Rabbah, with much spoil 2Sa 10:14 12:26-31 The
subsequent events of their history are noted in 2Ch 20:25 26:8 Jer 49:1 Eze
25:3,6 One of Solomon's wives was Naamah, an Ammonite. She was the mother of
Rehoboam 1Ki 14:31 2Ch 12:13 The prophets predicted fearful judgments against
the Ammonites because of their hostility to Israel Zep 2:8 Jer 49:1-6 Eze
25:1-5,10 Am 1:13-15 The national idol worshipped by this people was Molech or
Milcom, at whose altar they offered human sacrifices 1Ki 11:5,7 The high places
built for this idol by Solomon, at the instigation of his Ammonitish wives,
were not destroyed till the time of Josiah 2Ki 23:13
Faithful.
1. One of the sons of Shammai, of the children of Ezra
1Ch 4:20 comp. 1Ch 4:17
2. The eldest son of David, by Ahinoam of Jezreel 1Ch 3:1
2Sa 3:2 Absalom caused him to be put to death for his great crime in the matter
of Tamar 2Sa 13:28,29
Builder.
1. The governor of Samaria in the time of Ahab. The
prophet Micaiah was committed to his custody 1Ki 22:26 2Ch 18:25
2. The son of Manasseh, and fourteenth king of Judah. He
restored idolatry, and set up the images which his father had cast down.
Zephaniah Zep 1:4 3:4,11 refers to the moral depravity prevailing in this king's
reign. He was assassinated 2Ki 21:18-26 2Ch 33:20-25 by his own servants, who
conspired against him.
3. An Egyptian god, usually depicted with a human body
and the head of a ram, referred to in Jer 46:25 where the word
"multitudes" in the Authorized Version is more appropriately rendered
"Amon" in the Revised Version. In Na 3:8 the expression
"populous No" of the Authorized version is rendered in the Revised
Version "No-amon." Amon is identified with Ra, the sun-god of Heliopolis.
4. Ne 7:59
Highlanders, or hillmen, the name given to the
descendants of one of the sons of Canaan Ge 14:7 called Amurra or Amurri in the
Assyrian and Egyptian inscriptions. On the early Babylonian monuments all
Syria, including Palestine, is known as "the land of the Amorites."
The southern slopes of the mountains of Judea are called the "mount of the
Amorites" De 1:7,19,20 They seem to have originally occupied the land
stretching from the heights west of the Dead Sea Ge 14:7 to Hebron Ge 14:13
Comp. Ge 13:8 De 3:8 4:46-48 embracing "all Gilead and all Bashan" De
3:10 with the Jordan valley on the east of the river De 4:49 the land of the
"two kings of the Amorites, "Sihon and Og De 31:4 Jos 2:10 9:10 The
five kings of the Amorites were defeated with great slaughter by Joshua Jos
10:10 They were again defeated at the waters of Merom by Joshua, who smote them
till there were none remaining Jos 11:8 It is mentioned as a surprising
circumstance that in the days of Samuel there was peace between them and the
Israelites 1Sa 7:14 The discrepancy supposed to exist between De 1:44 Nu 14:45
is explained by the circumstance that the terms "Amorites" and
"Amalekites" are used synonymously for the "Canaanites." In
the same way we explain the fact that the "Hivites" of Ge 34:2 are
the "Amorites" of Ge 48:22 Comp. Jos 10:6 11:19 2Sa 21:2 also Nu
14:45 with De 1:44 The Amorites were warlike mountaineers. They are represented on the Egyptian
monuments with fair skins, light hair, blue eyes, aquiline noses, and pointed
beards. They are supposed to have been men of great stature; their king, Og, is
described by Moses as the last "of the remnant of the giants" De 3:11
Both Sihon and Og were independent kings. Only one word of the Amorite language
survives, "Shenir, "the name they gave to Mount Hermon De 3:9
Borne; a burden, one of the twelve minor prophets. He was
a native of Tekota, the modern Tekua, a town about 12 miles south-east of
Bethlehem. He was a man of humble birth, neither a "prophet nor a
prophet's son, "but "an herdman and a dresser of sycomore trees,
" R.V. He prophesied in the days of Uzziah, king of Judah, and was
contemporary with Isaiah and Hosea Am 1:1 7:14,15 Zec 14:5 who survived him a
few years. Under Jeroboam II. the kingdom of Israel rose to the zenith of its
prosperity; but that was followed by the prevalence of luxury and vice and
idolatry. At this period Amos was called from his obscurity to remind the
people of the law of God's retributive justice, and to call them to repentance.
The Book of Amos consists of three parts:
1. The nations around are summoned to judgment because of
their sins Am 1:1-15, 2:1-3 He quotes Joe 3:16
2. The spiritual condition of Judah, and especially of
Israel, is described Am 2:4-6:14
3. In Am 7:1-9:10 are recorded five prophetic visions.
a. The first two Am 7:1-6 refer to judgments against the
guilty people.
b. The next two Am 7:7-9 8:1-3 point out the ripeness of the
people for the threatened judgements. Am 7:10-17 consists of a conversation
between the prophet and the priest of Bethel.
c. The fifth describes the overthrow and ruin of Israel
Am 9:1-10 to which is added the promise of the restoration of the kingdom and
its final glory in the Messiah's kingdom. The style is peculiar in the number
of the allusions made to natural objects and to agricultural occupations. Other
allusions show also that Amos was a student of the law as well as a "child
of nature." These phrases are peculiar to him: "Cleanness of
teeth" [i.e., want of bread] Am 4:6 "The excellency of Jacob" Am
6:8 8:7 "The high places of Isaac" Am 7:9 "The house of
Isaac" Am 7:16 "He that createth the wind" Am 5:26 Quoted, Ac
7:42
Strong, the father of the prophet Isaiah 2Ki 19:2,20 20:1
Isa 1:1 2:1 As to his personal history little is positively known. He is
supposed by some to have been the "man of God" spoken of in 2Ch
25:7,8
City on both sides, a Macedonian city, a great Roman
military station, through which Paul and Silas passed on their way from
Philippi to Thessalonica, a distance of 33 Roman miles from Philippi Ac 17:1
A Roman Christian saluted by Paul Ro 16:8
Kindred of the High; i.e., "friend of Jehovah."
1. The son of Kohath, the son of Levi. He married
Jochebed, "his father's sister, "and was the father of Aaron, Miriam,
and Moses Ex 6:18,20 Nu 3:19 He died in Egypt at the age of 137 years Ex 6:20
His descendants were called Amramites Nu 3:27 1Ch 26:23
2. Ezr 10:34
King of Shinar, southern Chaldea, one of the confederates
of Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, in a war against Sodom and cities of the plain
Ge 14:1,4 It is now found that Amraphel (or Ammirapaltu) is the Khammu-rabi
whose name appears on recently-discovered monuments.
After defeating Arioch (q.v.) he united Babylonia under
one rule, and made Babylon his capital.
Grape-town, one of the cities in the mountains of Judah,
from which Joshua expelled the Anakim Jos 11:21 15:50 It still retains its ancient
name. It lies among the hills, 10 miles south-south-west of Hebron.
Speech.
1. One of the sons of Seir, and head of an Idumean tribe,
called a Horite, as in course of time all the branches of this tribe were
called from their dwelling in caves in Mount Seir Ge 36:20,29 1Ch 1:38
2. One of the two sons of Zibeon the Horite, and father
of Esau's wife Aholibamah Ge 36:18,24
Long-necked, the son of Arba, father of the Anakim Jos
15:13 21:11 Heb. _Anok_.
The descendants of Anak Jos 11:21 Nu 13:33 De 9:2 They
dwelt in the south of Palestine, in the neighbourhood of Hebron Ge 23:2 Jos
15:13 In the days of Abraham Ge 14:5,6 they inhabited the region afterwards
known as Edom and Moab, east of the Jordan. They were probably a remnant of the
original inhabitants of Palestine before the Canaanites, a Cushite tribe from
Babel, and of the same race as the Phoenicians and the Egyptian shepherd kings.
Their formidable warlike appearance, as described by the spies sent to search
the land, filled the Israelites with terror. They seem to have identified them
with the Nephilim, the "giants" Ge 6:4 Nu 13:33 of the antediluvian
age. There were various tribes of Anakim Jos 15:14 Joshua finally expelled them
from the land, except a remnant that found a refuge in the cities of Gaza,
Gath, and Ashdod Jos 11:22 The Philistine giants whom David encountered 2Sa
21:15-22 were descendants of the Anakim.
The name of an Egyptian tribe descended from Mizraim Ge
10:13 1Ch 1:11
One of the gods worshipped by the people of Sepharvaim,
who colonized Samaria 2Ki 17:31 The name means "Anu is king." It was
a female deity representing the moon, as Adrammelech (q.v.) was the male
representing the sun.
Cloud, one of the Israelites who sealed the covenant
after the return from Babylon Ne 10:26
Protected by Jehovah, the name of a town in the tribe of
Benjamin between Nob and Hazor Ne 11:32 It is probably the modern Beit Hanina,
a small village 3 miles north of Jerusalem.
A common Jewish name, the same as Hananiah.
1. One of the members of the church at Jerusalem, who
conspired with his wife Sapphira to deceive the brethren, and who fell down and
immediately expired after he had uttered the falsehood Ac 5:5 By common
agreement the members of the early Christian community devoted their property
to the work of furthering the gospel and of assisting the poor and needy. The
proceeds of the possessions they sold were placed at the disposal of the
apostles Ac 4:36,37 Ananias might have kept his property had he so chosen; but
he professed agreement with the brethren in the common purpose, and had of his
own accord devoted it all, as he said, to these sacred ends. Yet he retained a
part of it for his own ends, and thus lied in declaring that he had given it
all. "The offence of Ananias and Sapphira showed contempt of God, vanity
and ambition in the offenders, and utter disregard of the corruption which they
were bringing into the society. Such sin, committed in despite of the light
which they possessed, called for a special mark of divine indignation."
2. A Christian at Damascus Ac 9:10 He became Paul's
instructor; but when or by what means he himself became a Christian we have no
information. He was "a devout man according to the law, having a good
report of all the Jews which dwelt" at Damascus Ac 22:12
3. The high priest before whom Paul was brought in the
procuratorship of Felix Ac 23:2,5,24 He was so enraged at Paul's noble
declaration, "I have lived in all good conscience before God until this
day, "that he commanded one of his attendants to smite him on the mouth.
Smarting under this unprovoked insult, Paul quickly replied, "God shall smite
thee, thou whited wall." Being reminded that Ananias was the high priest,
to whose office all respect was to be paid, he answered, "I wist not,
brethren, that he was the high priest" Ac 23:5 This expression has
occasioned some difficulty, as it is scarcely probable that Paul should have
been ignorant of so public a fact. The expression may mean
a. that Paul had at the moment overlooked the honour due
to the high priest; or
b. as others think, that Paul spoke ironically, as if he
had said, "The high priest breaking the law! God's high priest a tyrant
and a lawbreaker! I see a man in white robes, and have heard his voice, but
surely it cannot, it ought not to be, the voice of the high priest." (See
Dr. Lindsay on Acts, _in loco_.)
c. Others think that from defect of sight Paul could not
observe that the speaker was the high priest. In all this, however, it may be
explained, Paul, with all his excellency, comes short of the example of his
divine Master, who, when he was reviled, reviled not again.
An answer; i.e., to "prayer", the father of
Shamgar, who was one of the judges of Israel Jud 3:31
Anything laid up or suspended; hence anything laid up in
a temple or set apart as sacred. In this sense the form of the word is _anath
(ee) ma_, once in plural used in the Greek New Testament, in Lu 21:5 where it
is rendered "gifts." In the LXX. the form _anathema_ is generally
used as the rendering of the Hebrew word _herem_, derived from a verb which
means
1. to consecrate or devote; and
2. to exterminate. Any object so devoted to the Lord
could not be redeemed Nu 18:14 Le 27:28,29 and hence the idea of exterminating
connected with the word. The Hebrew verb (haram) is frequently used of the
extermination of idolatrous nations. It had a wide range of application. The
_anathema_ or _herem_ was a person or thing irrevocably devoted to God Le
27:21,28 and "none devoted shall be ransomed. He shall surely be put to
death" Le 27:29 The word therefore carried the idea of devoted to
destruction Nu 21:2,3 Jos 6:17 and hence generally it meant a thing accursed.
In De 7:26 an idol is called a _herem_ _anathema_, a thing accursed. In the New
Testament this word always implies execration. In some cases an individual
denounces an anathema on himself unless certain conditions are fulfilled Ac
23:12,14,21 "To call Jesus accursed" [anathema] 1Co 12:3 is to
pronounce him execrated or accursed. If any one preached another gospel, the
apostle says, "let him be accursed" Ga 1:8,9 i.e., let his conduct in
so doing be accounted accursed. In Ro
9:3 the expression "accursed" (anathema) from Christ, i.e., excluded
from fellowship or alliance with Christ, has occasioned much difficulty. The
apostle here does not speak of his wish as a possible thing. It is simply a
vehement expression of feeling, showing how strong was his desire for the
salvation of his people. The anathema in 1Co 16:22 denotes simply that they who
love not the Lord are rightly objects of loathing and execration to all holy
beings; they are guilty of a crime that merits the severest condemnation; they
are exposed to the just sentence of "everlasting destruction from the
presence of the Lord."
The name of one of the cities of refuge, in the tribe of
Benjamin Jos 21:18 The Jews, as a rule, did not change the names of the towns
they found in Palestine; hence this town may be regarded as deriving its name
from the goddess Anat. It was the native place of Abiezer, one of David's
"thirty" 2Sa 23:27 and of Jehu, another of his mighty men 1Ch 12:3 It
is chiefly notable, however, as the birth-place and usual residence of Jeremiah
Jer 1:1 11:21-23 29:27 32:7-9 It suffered greatly from the army of Sennacherib,
and only 128 men returned to it from the Exile Ne 7:27 Ezr 2:23 It lay about 3
miles north of Jerusalem. It has been identified with the small and poor
village of 'Anata, containing about 100 inhabitants.
From Ac 27:29,30,40 it would appear that the Roman
vessels carried several anchors, which were attached to the stern as well as to
the prow. The Roman anchor, like the modern one, had two teeth or flukes. In
Heb 6:19 the word is used metaphorically for that which supports or keeps one
steadfast in the time of trial or of doubt. It is an emblem of hope. "If
you fear, Put all your trust in God: that anchor holds."
An expression applied to Jehovah three times in the
vision of Daniel Da 7:9,13,22 in the sense of eternal. In contrast with all
earthly kings, his days are past reckoning.
Manliness, a Greek name; one of the apostles of our Lord.
He was of Bethsaida in Galilee Joh 1:44 and was the brother of Simon Peter Mt
4:18 10:2 On one occasion John the Baptist, whose disciple he then was,
pointing to Jesus, said, "Behold the Lamb of God" Joh 1:40 and
Andrew, hearing him, immediately became a follower of Jesus, the first of his
disciples. After he had been led to recognize Jesus as the Messiah, his first
care was to bring also his brother Simon to Jesus. The two brothers seem to
have after this pursued for a while their usual calling as fishermen, and did
not become the stated attendants of the Lord till after John's imprisonment Mt
4:18,19 Mr 1:16,17 Very little is related of Andrew. He was one of the
confidential disciples Joh 6:8 12:22 and with Peter, James, and John inquired
of our Lord privately regarding his future coming Mr 13:3 He was present at the
feeding of the five thousand Joh 6:8-9 and he introduced the Greeks who desired
to see Jesus Joh 12:22 but of his subsequent history little is known. It is
noteworthy that Andrew thrice brings others to Christ,
1. Peter;
2. the lad with the loaves; and
3. certain Greeks. These incidents may be regarded as a
key to his character.
Man-conquering, a Jewish Christian, the kinsman and
fellow prisoner of Paul Ro 16:7 "of note among the apostles."
Two fountains, a Levitical city in the tribe of Issachar
1Ch 6:73 It is also called En-gannim (q.v.) in Jos 19:21 the modern Jenin.
A boy.
1. A Canaanitish chief who joined his forces with those
of Abraham in pursuit of Chedorlaomer Ge 14:13,24
2. A city of Manasseh given to the Levites of Kohath's
family 1Ch 6:70
A word signifying, both in the Hebrew and Greek, a
"messenger, "and hence employed to denote any agent God sends forth
to execute his purposes. It is used of an ordinary messenger Job 1:14 1Sa 11:3
Lu 7:24 9:52 of prophets Isa 42:19 Hag 1:13 of priests Mal 2:7 and ministers of
the New Testament Re 1:20 It is also applied to such impersonal agents as the
pestilence 2Sa 24:16,17 2Ki 19:35 the wind Ps 104:4 But its distinctive
application is to certain heavenly intelligences whom God employs in carrying
on his government of the world. The name does not denote their nature but their
office as messengers. The appearances to Abraham at Mamre Ge 18:2,22 Comp. Ge 19:1 to Jacob at Peniel Ge 32:24,30 to
Joshua at Gilgal Jos 5:13,15 of the Angel of the Lord, were doubtless
manifestations of the Divine presence, "foreshadowings of the incarnation,
"revelations before the "fulness of the time" of the Son of God.
1. The existence and orders of angelic beings can only be
discovered from the Scriptures. Although the Bible does not treat of this
subject specially, yet there are numerous incidental details that furnish us
with ample information. Their personal existence is plainly implied in such
passages as Ge 16:7,10,11 Jud 13:1-21 Mt 28:2-5 Heb 1:4 etc. These superior beings
are very numerous. "Thousand thousands, "etc. Da 7:10 Mt 26:53 Lu
2:13 Heb 12:22,23 They are also spoken of as of different ranks in dignity and
power Zec 1:9,11 Da 10:13 12:1 1Th 4:16 Jude 1:9 Eph 1:21 Col 1:16
2. As to their nature, they are spirits Heb 1:14 like the
soul of man, but not incorporeal. Such expressions as "like the
angels" Lu 20:36 and the fact that whenever angels appeared to man it was
always in a human form Ge 18:2 19:1,10 Lu 24:4 Ac 1:10 and the titles that are
applied to them of God, ")Job 1:6 38:7 Da 3:25 comp. Da 3:28 and to men Lu
3:38 seem all to indicate some resemblance between them and the human race.
Imperfection is ascribed to them as creatures Job 4:18 Mt 24:36 1Pe 1:12 As
finite creatures they may fall under temptation; and accordingly we read of
"fallen angels." Of the cause and manner of their "fall" we
are wholly ignorant. We know only that "they left their first estate"
Mt 25:41 Re 12:7,9 and that they are "reserved unto judgement" 2Pe
2:4 When the manna is called "angels' food, "this is merely to denote
its excellence Ps 78:25 Angels never die Lu 20:36 They are possessed of
superhuman intelligence and power Mr 13:32 2Th 1:7 Ps 103:20 They are called
"holy" Lu 9:26 "elect" 1Ti 5:21 The redeemed in glory are
"like unto the angels" Lu 20:36 They are not to be worshipped Col
2:18 Re 19:10
3. Their functions are manifold.
a. In the widest sense they are agents of God's
providence Ex 12:23 Ps 104:4 Heb 11:28 1Co 10:10 2Sa 24:16 1Ch 21:16 2Ki 19:35
Ac 12:23
b. They are specially God's agents in carrying on his
great work of redemption. There is no notice of angelic appearances to man till
after the call of Abraham. From that time onward there are frequent references
to their ministry on earth Ge 18:1ff. Ge 19:1ff. Ge 24:7,40 Ge 28:12 32:1 They
appear to rebuke idolatry Jud 2:1-4 to call Gideon Jud 6:11,12 and to
consecrate Samson Jud 13:3 In the days of the prophets, from Samuel downward,
the angels appear only in their behalf 1Ki 19:5 2Ki 6:17 Zec 1:1-6:15 Da
4:13,23 10:10,13,20,21 The Incarnation introduces a new era in the
ministrations of angels. They come with their Lord to earth to do him service
while here. They predict his advent Mt 1:20 Lu 1:26-38 minister to him after
his temptation and agony Mt 4:11 Lu 22:43 and declare his resurrection and
ascension Mt 28:2-8 Joh 20:12,13 Ac 1:10,11 They are now ministering spirits to
the people of God Heb 1:14 Ps 34:7 Ps 91:11 Mt 18:10 Ac 5:19 8:26 10:3 12:7
27:23 They rejoice over a penitent sinner Lu 15:10 They bear the souls of the
redeemed to paradise Lu 16:22 and they will be the ministers of judgement
hereafter on the great day Mt 13:39,41,49 16:27 24:31 The passages Ps 34:7 Mt
18:10 usually referred to in support of the idea that every individual has a
particular guardian angel have no such meaning. They merely indicate that God
employs the ministry of angels to deliver his people from affliction and
danger, and that the angels do not think it below their dignity to minister
even to children and to the least among Christ's disciples. The "angel of
his presence" Isa 63:9 Comp. Ex 23:20,21 32:34 33:2 Nu 20:16 is probably
rightly interpreted of the Messiah as the guide of his people. Others have
supposed the expression to refer to Gabriel Lu 1:19
The emotion of instant displeasure on account of
something evil that presents itself to our view. In itself it is an original
susceptibility of our nature, just as love is, and is not necessarily sinful.
It may, however, become sinful when causeless, or excessive, or protracted Mt
5:22 Eph 4:26 Col 3:8 As ascribed to God, it merely denotes his displeasure
with sin and with sinners Ps 7:11
Fountains, a city in the mountains of Judah Jos 15:50 now
el-Ghuwein, near Eshtemoh, about 10 miles south-west of Hebron.
An organized living creature endowed with sensation. The
Levitical law divided animals into clean and unclean, although the distinction seems
to have existed before the Flood Ge 7:2 The clean could be offered in sacrifice
and eaten. All animals that had not cloven hoofs and did not chew the cud were
unclean. The list of clean and unclean quadrupeds is set forth in the Levitical
law De 14:3-20 Le 11:1ff.
This word is found only in Mt 23:23 It is the plant
commonly known by the name of dill, the Peucedanum graveolens of the botanist.
This name dill is derived from a Norse word which means to soothe, the plant
having the carminative property of allaying pain. The common dill, the Anethum
graveolens, is an annual growing wild in the cornfields of Spain and Portugal
and the south of Europe generally. There is also a species of dill cultivated
in Eastern countries known by the name of shubit. It was this species of garden
plant of which the Pharisees were in the habit of paying tithes. The Talmud
requires that the seeds, leaves, and stem of dill shall pay tithes. It is an
umbelliferous plant, very like the caraway, its leaves, which are aromatic,
being used in soups and pickles. The proper anise is the Pimpinella anisum.
Grace, an aged widow, the daughter of Phanuel. She was a
"prophetess, " like Miriam, Deborah, and Huldah 2Ch 34:22 After seven
years of married life her husband died, and during her long widowhood she daily
attended the temple services. When she was eighty-four years old, she entered
the temple at the moment when the aged Simeon uttered his memorable words of
praise and thanks to God that he had fulfilled his ancient promise in sending
his Son into the world Lu 2:36,37
Was high priest A.D. 7 In A.D. 25 Caiaphas, who had married
the daughter of Annas Joh 18:13 was raised to that office, and probably Annas
was now made president of the Sanhedrim, or deputy or coadjutor of the high
priest, and thus was also called high priest along with Caiaphas Lu 3:2 By the
Mosaic law the high-priesthood was held for life Nu 3:10 and although Annas had
been deposed by the Roman procurator, the Jews may still have regarded him as
legally the high priest. Our Lord was first brought before Annas, and after a
brief questioning of him Joh 18:19-23 was sent to Caiaphas, when some members
of the Sanhedrim had met, and the first trial of Jesus took place Mt 26:57-68
This examination of our Lord before Annas is recorded only by John. Annas was
president of the Sanhedrim before which Peter and John were brought Ac 4:6
The practice of anointing with perfumed oil was common
among the Hebrews.
1. The act of anointing was significant of consecration
to a holy or sacred use; hence the anointing of the high priest Ex 29:29 Le 4:3
and of the sacred vessels Ex 30:26 The high priest and the king are thus called
"the anointed" Le 4:3,5,16 6:20 Ps 132:10 Anointing a king was
equivalent to crowning him 1Sa 16:13 2Sa 2:4 etc. Prophets were also anointed
1Ki 19:16 1Ch 16:22 Ps 105:15 The expression, "anoint the shield" Isa
21:5 refers to the custom of rubbing oil on the leather of the shield so as to
make it supple and fit for use in war.
2. Anointing was also an act of hospitality Lu 7:38,46 It
was the custom of the Jews in like manner to anoint themselves with oil, as a
means of refreshing or invigorating their bodies De 28:40 Ru 3:3 2Sa 14:2 Ps
104:15 etc. This custom is continued among the Arabians to the present day.
3. Oil was used also for medicinal purposes. It was
applied to the sick, and also to wounds Ps 109:18 Isa 1:6 Mr 6:13 Jas 5:14
4. The bodies of the dead were sometimes anointed Mr 14:8
Lu 23:56
5. The promised Deliverer is twice called the
"Anointed" or Messiah Ps 2:2 Da 9:25,26 because he was anointed with
the Holy Ghost Isa 61:1 figuratively styled the "oil of gladness" Ps
45:7 Heb 1:9 Jesus of Nazareth is this anointed One Joh 1:41 Ac 9:22 17:2,3
18:5,28 the Messiah of the Old Testament.
(Heb. nemalah, from a word meaning to creep, cut off,
destroy), referred to in Pr 6:6 30:25 as distinguished for its prudent habits.
Many ants in Palestine feed on animal substances, but others draw their
nourishment partly or exclusively from vegetables. To the latter class belongs
the ant to which Solomon refers. This ant gathers the seeds in the season of
ripening, and stores them for future use; a habit that has been observed in
ants in Texas, India, and Italy.
Against Christ, or an opposition Christ, a rival Christ.
The word is used only by the apostle John. Referring to false teachers, he says
1Jo 2:18,22 4:3 2Jo 1:7 "Even now are there many antichrists."
1. This name has been applied to the "little
horn" of the "king of fierce countenance" Da 7:24,25 8:23-25
2. It has been applied also to the "false
Christs" spoken of by our Lord Mt 24:5,23,24
3. To the "man of sin" described by Paul 2Th
2:3,4,8-10
4. And to the "beast from the sea" Re 13:1
17:1-18
1. In Syria, on the river Orontes, about 16 miles from
the Mediterranean, and some 300 miles north of Jerusalem. It was the metropolis
of Syria, and afterwards became the capital of the Roman province in Asia. It
ranked third, after Rome and Alexandria, in point of importance, of the cities
of the Roman empire. It was called the "first city of the East."
Christianity was early introduced into it Ac 11:19,21,24 and the name
"Christian" was first applied here to its professors Ac 11:26 It is
intimately connected with the early history of the gospel Ac 6:5 11:19,27,28,30
12:25 Ac 15:22-35 Ga 2:11,12 It was the great central point whence missionaries
to the Gentiles were sent forth. It was the birth-place of the famous Christian
father Chrysostom, who died A.D. 407 It bears the modern name of Antakia, and
is now a miserable, decaying Turkish town. Like Philippi, it was raised to the
rank of a Roman colony. Such colonies were ruled by "praetors", R.V.
marg., Ac 16:20,21
2. In the extreme north of Pisidia; was visited by Paul
and Barnabas on the first missionary journey Ac 13:14 Here they found a
synagogue and many proselytes. They met with great success in preaching the
gospel, but the Jews stirred up a violent opposition against them, and they
were obliged to leave the place. On his return, Paul again visited Antioch for
the purpose of confirming the disciples Ac 14:21 It has been identified with
the modern Yalobatch, lying to the east of Ephesus.
The name of several Syrian kings from B.C. 280 to B.C. 65
The most notable of these were,
1. Antiochus the Great, who ascended the throne B.C. 223
He is regarded as the "king of the north" referred to in Da 11:13-19
He was succeeded (B.C. 187 by his son, Seleucus Philopater, spoken of by Daniel
Da 11:20 as "a raiser of taxes", in the Revised Version, "one
that shall cause an exactor to pass through the glory of the kingdom."
2. Antiochus IV., surnamed "Epiphanes" i.e.,
the Illustrious, succeeded his brother Seleucus (B.C. 175) His career and
character are prophetically described by Daniel Da 11:21-32 He was a "vile
person." In a spirit of revenge he organized an expedition against
Jerusalem, which he destroyed, putting vast multitudes of its inhabitants to
death in the most cruel manner. From this time the Jews began the great war of
independence under their heroic Maccabean leaders with marked success,
defeating the armies of Antiochus that were sent against them. Enraged at this,
Antiochus marched against them in person, threatening utterly to exterminate
the nation; but on the way he was suddenly arrested by the hand of death (B.C.
164)
1. Herod Antipas, a son of Herod the Great by his
Samaritan wife Malthace. He was tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea during the whole
period of our Lord's life on earth Lu 23:7 He was a frivolous and vain prince,
and was chargeable with many infamous crimes Mr 8:15 Lu 3:19 13:31,32 He
beheaded John the Baptist Mt 14:1-12 at the instigation of Herodias, the wife
of his half-brother Herod-Philip, whom he had married. Pilate sent Christ to
him when he was at Jerusalem at the Passover Lu 23:7 He asked some idle
questions of him, and after causing him to be mocked, sent him back again to
Pilate. The wife of Chuza, his house-steward, was one of our Lord's disciples
Lu 8:3
2. A "faithful martyr" Re 2:13 of whom nothing
more is certainly known.
A city built by Herod the Great, and called by this name
in honour of his father, Antipater. It lay between Caesarea and Lydda, two
miles inland, on the great Roman road from Caesarea to Jerusalem. To this place
Paul was brought by night Ac 23:31 on his way to Caesarea, from which it was
distant 28 miles. It is identified with the modern, Ras-el-Ain, where rise the
springs of Aujeh, the largest springs in Palestine.
A fortress in Jerusalem, at the north-west corner of the
temple area. It is called "the castle" Ac 21:34,37 From the stairs of
this castle Paul delivered his famous speech to the multitude in the area below
Ac 22:1-21 It was originally a place in which were kept the vestments of the
high priest. Herod fortified it, and called it Antonia in honour of his friend
Mark Antony. It was of great size, and commanded the temple. It was built on a
plateau of rock, separated on the north from the hill Bezetha by a ditch about
30 feet deep and 165 feet wide.
An inhabitant of Anathoth, found only in 1Ch 11:28 12:3
In 2Sa 23:27 it is Anethothite; in 1Ch 27:12 Anetothite. (R.V.,
"Anathothite.")
The rendering of the Hebrew word "beaten,
"found only in Isa 41:7
An animal of the monkey tribe 1Ki 10:22 2Ch 9:21 It was
brought from India by the fleets of Solomon and Hiram, and was called by the Hebrews
_koph_, and by the Greeks _kepos_, both words being just the Indian Tamil name
of the monkey, kapi, i.e., swift, nimble, active. No species of ape has ever
been found in Palestine or the adjacent regions.
A Christian at Rome whom Paul salutes Ro 16:10 and styles
"approved in Christ."
A company of the colonists whom the Assyrian king planted
in Samaria Ezr 5:6 6:6
Another of the tribes removed to Samaria Ezr 4:9 or
perhaps the same as the preceding.
Jud 1:31 Aphek Jos 13:4 19:30 stronghold.
1. A city of the tribe of Asher. It was the scene of the
licentious worship of the Syrian Aphrodite. The ruins of the temple,
"magnificent ruins" in a "spot of strange wildness and
beauty", are still seen at Afka, on the north-west slopes of Lebanon, near
the source of the river Adonis (now Nahr Ibrahim), 12 miles east of Gebal.
2. A city of the tribe of Issachar, near to Jezreel 1Sa
4:1 29:1 comp. 1Sa 28:4
3. A town on the road from Damascus to Palestine, in the
level plain east of Jordan, near which Benhadad was defeated by the Israelites
1Ki 20:26,30 2Ki 13:17 It has been identified with the modern Fik, 6 miles east
of the Sea of Galilee, opposite Tiberias.
The Greek name of the Book of Revelation (q.v.).
Hidden, spurious, the name given to certain ancient books
which found a place in the LXX. and Latin Vulgate versions of the Old
Testament, and were appended to all the great translations made from them in
the sixteenth century, but which have no claim to be regarded as in any sense
parts of the inspired Word.
1. They are not once quoted by the New Testament writers,
who frequently quote from the LXX. Our Lord and his apostles confirmed by their
authority the ordinary Jewish canon, which was the same in all respects as we
now have it.
2. These books were written not in Hebrew but in Greek,
and during the "period of silence, "from the time of Malachi, after
which oracles and direct revelations from God ceased till the Christian era.
3. The contents of the books themselves show that they
were no part of Scripture. The Old Testament Apocrypha consists of fourteen
books, the chief of which are the Books of the Maccabees (q.v.), the Books of
Esdras, the Book of Wisdom, the Book of Baruch, the Book of Esther,
Ecclesiasticus, Tobit, Judith, etc. The New Testament Apocrypha consists of a
very extensive literature, which bears distinct evidences of its non-apostolic
origin, and is utterly unworthy of regard.
A city of Macedonia between Amphipolis and Thessalonica,
from which it was distant about 36 miles. Paul and Silas passed through it on
their way to Thessalonica Ac 17:1
A Jew "born at Alexandria, "a man well versed
in the Scriptures and eloquent Ac 18:24 R.V., "learned". He came to
Ephesus (about A.D. 49 where he spake "boldly" in the synagogue Ac
18:26 although he did not know as yet that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah.
Aquila and Priscilla instructed him more perfectly in "the way of
God", i.e., in the knowledge of Christ. He then proceeded to Corinth,
where he met Paul Ac 18:27 19:1 He was there very useful in watering the good
seed Paul had sown 1Co 1:12 and in gaining many to Christ. His disciples were
much attached to him 1Co 3:4-7,22 He was with Paul at Ephesus when he wrote the
First Epistle to the Corinthians; and Paul makes kindly reference to him in his
letter to Titus Ti 3:13 Some have supposed, although without sufficient ground,
that he was the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews.
Destroyer, the name given to the king of the hosts
represented by the locusts Re 9:11 It is the Greek translation of the Hebrew
Abaddon (q.v.).
A person sent by another; a messenger; envoy. This word
is once used as a descriptive designation of Jesus Christ, the Sent of the
Father Heb 3:1 Joh 20:21 It is, however, generally used as designating the body
of disciples to whom he intrusted the organization of his church and the
dissemination of his gospel, "the twelve, "as they are called Mt
10:1-5 Mr 3:14 6:7 Lu 6:13 9:1 We have four lists of the apostles, one by each
of the synoptic evangelists Mt 10:2-4 Mr 3:16 Lu 6:14 and one in the Acts Ac
1:13 No two of these lists, however, perfectly coincide. Our Lord gave them the
"keys of the kingdom, " and by the gift of his Spirit fitted them to
be the founders and governors of his church Joh 14:16,17,26 15:26,27 16:7-15 To
them, as representing his church, he gave the commission to "preach the
gospel to every creature" Mt 28:18-20 After his ascension he communicated
to them, according to his promise, supernatural gifts to qualify them for the
discharge of their duties Ac 2:4 1Co 2:16 2:7,10,13 2Co 5:20 1Co 11:2 Judas
Iscariot, one of "the twelve, "fell by transgression, and Matthias
was substituted in his place Ac 1:21 Saul of Tarsus was afterwards added to
their number Ac 9:3-20 20:4 26:15-18 1Ti 1:12 2:7 2Ti 1:11 Luke has given some
account of Peter, John, and the two Jameses Ac 12:2,17 15:13 21:18 but beyond
this we know nothing from authentic history of the rest of the original twelve.
After the martyrdom of James the Greater Ac 12:2 James the Less usually resided
at Jerusalem, while Paul, "the apostle of the uncircumcision,
"usually travelled as a missionary among the Gentiles Ga 2:8 It was
characteristic of the apostles and necessary
1. that they should have seen the Lord, and been able to
testify of him and of his resurrection from personal knowledge Joh 15:27 Ac
1:21,22 1Co 9:1 Ac 22:14,15
2. They must have been immediately called to that office
by Christ Lu 6:13 Ga 1:1
3. It was essential that they should be infallibly
inspired, and thus secured against all error and mistake in their public
teaching, whether by word or by writing Joh 14:26 16:13 1Th 2:13
4. Another qualification was the power of working
miracles Mr 16:20 Ac 2:43 1Co 12:8-11 The apostles therefore could have had no
successors. They are the only authoritative teachers of the Christian
doctrines. The office of an apostle ceased with its first holders. In 2Co 8:23
Php 2:25 the word "messenger" is the rendering of the same Greek
word, elsewhere rendered "apostle."
Rendered in the margin and the Revised Version
"perfumer, "in Ex 30:25 37:29 Ec 10:1 The holy oils and ointments
were prepared by priests properly qualified for this office. The feminine
plural form of the Hebrew word is rendered "confectionaries" in 1Sa
8:13
In Old Testament times the distinction between male and
female attire was not very marked. The statute forbidding men to wear female apparel
De 22:5 referred especially to ornaments and head-dresses. Both men and women
wore
1. an under garment or tunic, which was bound by a
girdle. One who had only this tunic on was spoken of as "naked" 1Sa
19:24 Job 24:10 Isa 20:2 Those in high stations sometimes wore two tunics, the
outer being called the "upper garment" 1Sa 15:27 18:4 24:5 Job 1:20
2. They wore in common an over-garment Isa 3:22 1Ki 19:13
2Ki 2:13 a loose and flowing robe. The folds of this upper garment could be
formed into a lap Ru 3:15 Ps 79:12 Pr 17:23 Lu 6:38 Generals of armies usually
wore scarlet robes Jud 8:26 Na 2:3 A form of conspicuous raiment is mentioned
in Lu 20:46 comp. Mt 23:5 Priests alone wore trousers. Both men and women wore
turbans. Kings and nobles usually had a store of costly garments for festive
occasions Isa 3:22 Zec 3:4 and for presents Ge 45:22 Es 4:4 6:8,11 1Sa 18:4 2Ki
5:5 10:22 Prophets and ascetics wore coarse garments Isa 20:2 Zec 13:4 Mt 3:4
A reference of any case from an inferior to a superior
court. Moses established in the wilderness a series of judicatories such that
appeals could be made from a lower to a higher Ex 18:13-26 Under the Roman law
the most remarkable case of appeal is that of Paul from the tribunal of Festus
at Caesarea to that of the emperor at Rome Ac 25:11,12,21,25 Paul availed
himself of the privilege of a Roman citizen in this matter.
Increasing, a female Christian at Colosse Phm 1:2
supposed by some to have been the wife of Philemon.
i.e., "the market of Appius" Ac 28:15 R.V., a
town on the road, the "Appian Way, "from Rome to Brundusium. It was
43 miles from Rome. Here Paul was met by some Roman Christians on his way to
the capital. It was natural that they should halt here and wait for him,
because from this place there were two ways by which travellers might journey
to Rome.
(Heb. tappuah, meaning "fragrance"). Probably
the apricot or quince is intended by the word, as Palestine was too hot for the
growth of apples proper. It is enumerated among the most valuable trees of
Palestine Joe 1:12 and frequently referred to in Canticles, and noted for its
beauty So 2:3,5 8:5 There is nothing to show that it was the "tree of the
knowledge of good and evil." Dr. Tristram has suggested that the apricot
has better claims than any other fruit-tree to be the apple of Scripture. It
grows to a height of 30 feet, has a roundish mass of glossy leaves, and bears
an orange coloured fruit that gives out a delicious perfume. The "apple of
the eye" is the Heb. _ishon_, meaning manikin, i.e., the pupil of the eye
Pr 7:2 Comp. the promise, Zec 2:8 the prayer, Ps 17:8 and its fulfilment, De
32:10 The so-called "apple of Sodom" some have supposed to be the
Solanum sanctum (Heb. hedek), rendered "brier" (q.v.) in Mic 7:4 a
thorny plant bearing fruit like the potato-apple. This shrub abounds in the
Jordan valley.
Found in the Authorized Version in Ge 3:7 of the bands of
fig-leaves made by our first parents. In Ac 19:12 it denotes the belt or
half-girdle worn by artisans and servants round the waist for the purpose of
preserving the clothing from injury. In marg. of Authorized Version, Ru 3:15
correctly rendered instead of "vail." (R.V., "mantle.")
Eagle, a native of Pontus, by occupation a tent-maker,
whom Paul met on his first visit to Corinth Ac 18:2 Along with his wife
Priscilla he had fled from Rome in consequence of a decree (A.D. 50) by
Claudius commanding all Jews to leave the city. Paul sojourned with him at
Corinth, and they wrought together at their common trade, making Cilician
hair-cloth for tents. On Paul's departure from Corinth after eighteen months,
Aquila and his wife accompanied him to Ephesus, where they remained, while he
proceeded to Syria Ac 18:18,26 When they became Christians we are not informed,
but in Ephesus they were 1Co 16:19 Paul's "helpers in Christ Jesus."
We find them afterwards at Rome Ro 16:3 interesting themselves still in the
cause of Christ. They are referred to some years after this as being at Ephesus
2Ti 4:19 This is the last notice we have of them.
Ambush, a city in the mountains of Judah Jos 15:52 now
Er-Rabiyeh.
Plain, in the Revised Version of 2Ki 14:25 Jos 3:16 8:14 2Sa
2:29 4:7 (in all these passages the A.V. has "plain"); Am 6:14 (A.V.
"wilderness"). This word is found in the Authorized Version only in
Jos 18:18 It denotes the hollow depression through which the Jordan flows from
the Lake of Galilee to the Dead Sea. It is now called by the Arabs el-Ghor. But
the Ghor is sometimes spoken of as extending 10 miles south of the Dead Sea,
and thence to the Gulf of Akabah on the Red Sea is called the Wady el-Arabah.
Arid, an extensive region in the south-west of Asia. It
is bounded on the west by the Isthmus of Suez and the Red Sea, on the south by
the Indian Ocean, and on the east by the Persian Gulf and the Euphrates. It
extends far into the north in barren deserts, meeting those of Syria and
Mesopotamia. It is one of the few countries of the world from which the
original inhabitants have never been expelled. It was anciently divided into
three parts:
1. Arabia Felix (Happy Arabia), so called from its
fertility. It embraced a large portion of the country now known by the name of
Arabia. The Arabs call it Yemen. It lies between the Red Sea and the Persian
Gulf.
2. Arabia Deserta, the el-Badieh or "Great
Wilderness" of the Arabs. From this name is derived that which is usually given
to the nomadic tribes which wander over this region, the "Bedaween,
"or, more generally, "Bedouin, "
3. Arabia Petraea, i.e., the Rocky Arabia, so called from
its rocky mountains and stony plains. It comprehended all the north-west
portion of the country, and is much better known to travellers than any other
portion.
This country is, however, divided by modern geographers
into
1. Arabia Proper, or the Arabian Peninsula;
2. Northern Arabia, or the Arabian Desert; and
3. Western Arabia, which includes the peninsula of Sinai
and the Desert of Petra, originally inhabited by the Horites Ge 14:6 etc., but
in later times by the descendants of Esau, and known as the Land of Edom or
Idumea, also as the Desert of Seir or Mount Seir. The whole land appears Ge
10:1ff. to have been inhabited by a variety of tribes of different lineage,
Ishmaelites, Arabians, Idumeans, Horites, and Edomites; but at length becoming
amalgamated, they came to be known by the general designation of Arabs. The
modern nation of Arabs is predominantly Ishmaelite. Their language is the most
developed and the richest of all the Semitic languages, and is of great value
to the student of Hebrew. The Israelites wandered for forty years in Arabia. In
the days of Solomon, and subsequently, commercial intercourse was to a
considerable extent kept up with this country 1Ki 10:15 2Ch 9:14 17:11 Arabians
were present in Jerusalem at Pentecost Ac 2:11 Paul retired for a season into
Arabia after his conversion Ga 1:17 This country is frequently referred to by
the prophets Isa 21:11 42:11 Jer 25:24 etc.
1. Now Tell Arad, a Canaanite city, about 20 miles south
of Hebron. The king of Arad "fought against Israel and took of them
prisoners" when they were retreating from the confines of Edom Nu 21:1
33:40 Jud 1:16 It was finally subdued by Joshua Jos 12:14
2. One of the sons of Beriah 1Ch 8:15
The son of Shem Ge 10:22 according to Ge 22:21 a grandson
of Nahor. In Mt 1:3,4 Lu 3:33 this word is the Greek form of Ram, the father of
Amminadab 1Ch 2:10 The word means high, or highlands, and as the name of a
country denotes that elevated region extending from the northeast of Palestine
to the Euphrates. It corresponded generally with the Syria and Mesopotamia of
the Greeks and Romans. In Ge 25:20 31:20,24 De 26:5 the word "Syrian"
is properly "Aramean" (R.V., marg.). Damascus became at length the
capital of the several smaller kingdoms comprehended under the designation
"Aram" or "Syria."
Aram of the two rivers, is Mesopotamia (as it is rendered
in) Ge 24:10 the country enclosed between the Tigris on the east and the
Euphrates on the west Ps 60:1 (title); called also the "field of
Aram" Ho 12:12 R.V., i.e., the open country of Aram; in the Authorized
Version, "country of Syria." Padan-aram (q.v.) was a portion of this
country.
Ps 60:1 (title), probably the region between the
Euphrates and the Orontes.
Wild goat, a descendant of Seir the Horite Ge 36:28
Sacred land or high land, the name of a country on one of
the mountains of which the ark rested after the Flood subsided Ge 8:4 The
"mountains" mentioned were probably the Kurdish range of South
Armenia. In 2Ki 19:37, Isa 37:38 the word is rendered "Armenia" in
the Authorized Version, but in the Revised Version, "Land of Ararat."
In Jer 51:27 the name denotes the central or southern portion of Armenia. It
is, however, generally applied to a high and almost inaccessible mountain which
rises majestically from the plain of the Araxes. It has two conical peaks,
about 7 miles apart, the one 14,300 feet and the other 10,300 feet above the
level of the plain. Three thousand feet of the summit of the higher of these
peaks is covered with perpetual snow. It is called Kuh-i-nuh, i.e.,
"Noah's mountain", by the Persians. This part of Armenia was
inhabited by a people who spoke a language unlike any other now known, though
it may have been related to the modern Georgian. About B.C. 900 they borrowed
the cuneiform characters of Nineveh, and from this time we have inscriptions of
a line of kings who at times contended with Assyria. At the close of the
seventh century B.C. the kingdom of Ararat came to an end, and the country was
occupied by a people who are ancestors of the Armenians of the present day.
Agile; also called Ornan 1Ch 21:15 a Jebusite who dwelt
in Jerusalem before it was taken by the Israelites. The destroying angel, sent
to punish David for his vanity in taking a census of the people, was stayed in
his work of destruction near a threshing-floor belonging to Araunah which was
situated on Mount Moriah. Araunah offered it to David as a free gift, together
with the oxen and the threshing instruments; but the king insisted on
purchasing it at its full price 2Sa 24:24 1Ch 21:24,25 for, according to the
law of sacrifices, he could not offer to God what cost him nothing. On the same
place Solomon afterwards erected the temple 2Sa 24:16 2Ch 3:1
Four, a giant, father of Anak. From him the city of
Hebron derived its name of Kirjath-arba, i.e., the city of Araba Jos 14:15
15:13 21:11 Ge 13:18 23:2
A name given to Abi-albon, or, as elsewhere called,
Abiel, one of David's warriors 2Sa 23:31 1Ch 11:32 probably as being an
inhabitant of Arabah Jos 15:61 a town in the wilderness of Judah.
An architectural term found only in Eze 40:16,21,22,26,29
There is no absolute proof that the Israelites employed arches in their
buildings. The arch was employed in the building of the pyramids of Egypt. The
oldest existing arch is at Thebes, and bears the date B.C. 1350 There are also
still found the remains of an arch, known as Robinson's Arch, of the bridge
connecting Zion and Moriah.
1Th 4:16 Jude 1:9 the prince of the angels.
Ruler of the people, son of Herod the Great, by Malthace,
a Samaritan woman. He was educated along with his brother Antipas at Rome. He
inherited from his father a third part of his kingdom viz., Idumea, Judea, and
Samaria, and hence is called "king" Mt 2:22 It was for fear of him
that Joseph and Mary turned aside on their way back from Egypt. Till a few days
before his death Herod had named Antipas as his successor, but in his last
moments he named Archelaus.
A shooter with the bow 1Ch 10:3 This art was of high
antiquity Ge 21:20 27:3 Saul was wounded by the Philistine archers 1Sa 31:3 The
phrase "breaking the bow" Ho 1:5 Jer 49:35 is equivalent to taking
away one's power, while "strengthening the bow" is a symbol of its increase
Ge 49:24 The Persian archers were famous among the ancients Isa 13:18 Jer 49:35
50:9,14,29,42
One of the nations planted by the Assyrians in Samaria
Ezr 4:9 the men of Erech.
A city on the boundary of Ephraim and Benjamin Jos 16:2
between Bethel and Beth-horon the nether.
Master of the horse, a "fellow-soldier" of
Paul's Phm 1:2 whom he exhorts to renewed activity Col 4:17 He was a member of
Philemon's family, probably his son.
The usual designation of Hushai 2Sa 15:32 17:5,14 1Ch
27:33 who was a native of Archi. He was "the king's friend", i.e., he
held office under David similar to that of our modern privy councillor.
Bear-keeper, the name given by the ancients to the
brightest star in the constellation Bootes. In the Authorized Version Job 9:9 38:32
it is the rendering of the Hebrew word which probably designates the
constellation the Great Bear. This word is supposed to be derived from an
Arabic word meaning night-watcher, because the Great Bear always revolves about
the pole, and to our nothern hemisphere never sets.
Descent, a grandson of Benjamin Nu 26:38-40 In 1Ch 8:3 he
is called Addar. His descendants are mentioned in Nu 26:40
Descendant, the last of the three sons of Caleb by his
first wife Azubah 1Ch 2:18
A member of the court of Areopagus Ac 17:34
The Latin form of the Greek word rendered "Mars'
hill." But it denotes also the council or court of justice which met in
the open air on the hill. It was a rocky height to the west of the Acropolis at
Athens, on the south-east summit of which the council was held which was
constituted by Solon, and consisted of nine archons or chief magistrates who
were then in office, and the ex-archons of blameless life. On this hill of Mars
(Gr. Ares) Paul delivered his memorable address to the "men of
Athens" Ac 17:22-31