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H
MALOOM'S NEW DICTIONABT.
DICTIONARY
THB MOST IMPORTANT
NAMES, OBJECTS, AND TERMS
FOUND IN THB
HOLY SCRIPTURES.
INTENDED PRINCIPALLY JOB
SUNDAY SCHOOLS AND BIBLE CLASSES.
AND AS AN AID TO
FAMILY INSTRUCTION.
B7
HOWARD MALCOM, D.D,,
LATB PRESIDENT 07 " LEWISBURQ UNIVERSITY," PROFXSSOB Of
AST) INTELLECTUAL PHILOSOPHY, ETO. nL
WITH '^Z \
NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS.
BOSTON:
DEWOLFE, FISKE, & co., PUBLISHERS,
365 WASHINGTON STREET.
tutor* aowrdtaf * let of Coftjjritt, to & ytf W8;*
GOULD AND LINCOLN,
U theOerk'! Office of UM PUtrlct Court for UM DUtrict of
PREFACE.
THK Author engaged heartily in Sunday Schools at their first i trod act ion,
In the present form, into the city of Philadelphia ; and, fiom that time to the
present, his wtimate of their value has constantly increased. In his labon
ts teacher, superintendent and pastor, he was early made to feel the need of*
dictionary, arranged expr-ssly for the constantly increasing class of invest!
gators of God's word, produced by Sunday-school influence ; but there wai
none. At length, in 1824, he undertook to supply the desideratum j and, after
devoting, for six .years, all the time he could command for the purpose, the
result was published. The reception of the work was highly flattering. Be
side an immediate, rapid, and wide-spread sale in this country, it, was repub-
liahu-d in London, and still continues to be largely circulated in Great Britain.
As successive editions were called for, each was laboriously improved. All
the works of Bible illustrators, such as Calmet, Whitby, Wells, Brown, Car-
penter, Wood, Paxton, Harmer, Harris, Jones, and others, were carefully con-
sulted 5 besides gazetteers, geographies, reports of missionaries, voyages and
travels, &c. Much aid was also obtained from distinguished biblical scholars }
and one friend patiently went over the entire mass of scripture references
making it an evening exercise in his family to look out in the Bible every
quotation j by which process hundreds of errors were detected in quotations,
transferred from works consulted. In flue, no pains, labor, or expense wai
to make the work as complete as possible within the size deemed de-
sirable, till the sixth edition, when it was stereotyped.
The wortc, from its first appearance, received the unqualified commendation
of a large number of ecclesiastical bodies, leading periodicals, and clergymen
A still more satisfactory evidence of its general acceptableness is the fact of
its steady sale for nearly twenty-five years, and its circulation reaching the
extraordinary number of 130,000 copies, notwithstanding the publication of
several other works of like aim, during this period.
The stereotyping of his book did not induce the author to discontinue his
labors upon it. Having become deeply interested in this department of study,
his investigations were continued, and an interleaved copy of the book kept
at hand, in which were made constant alterations, corrections, and additions,
as his reading or travels enabled him. A year ago, the publishers having re-
solved to stereotype the work anew, and to adopt a larger page, allowing con-
siderable addition to the reading matter, the work of improvement waa
resumed systematically. Every line has been revised, authorities researched,
and very valuable additions made from entirely new sources, such as Kitto,
Eobin?on, Smith, Lynch, Layard, Bayard Taylor, and others. The result of
all is, that scarcely an article has not been improved, iui than half hav
been enlarged, and nearly a hundred new ones, with a very complete Ha>
tnony of the Four Gospels, have been added. The pub! J itrs also hav
Incurred the expense of a new and more complete map cf Palestine, and a
large Bomber of new illustration*. Thus it is essentially a new work.
fl PREFACE.
The adrnt:ij.'.'s >f this Dictionary over similar works will be found to be,
i It contains greatly more actual illustration of the word of God. No
pace is consumed with rehearsals of scripture history nor biographies which
can be 1 i lie Bible itself, nor tedious discussions on points whicb
r antiquated statements respecting countries and
np***i which huve been superseded by modern research.
21., < ly those passages which, may be explained by
(to article ; thus making it a brief critical commentary on the whole Bible
5. It gives the modern names of places mentioned in the Bible, in aD
eaves w! 11 iy certainty ; thus denning and fixing the reader's
lions
nacres prominent in profane history are mentioned la
events in the scripture history, BO as to form a
ckrono Cement in the mind of the reader, and assist his memory
bjrauoc;
6. The name of each book in the Bible is given, followed by an article
which briefly gives all that is known of writer, date, design, &c., thus often
hole.
fl. It contains a sufficient Geography of the Bible, and much more con
B hools than a separate work on that subject can be,
because, by the alphabetical arrangement, every one may find the desired
.ion.
7. The full description of all the animals, birds, reptiles, insects, plants
minerals, &c., to which important allusions are made, furnishes an adequate
natural history of the Bible.
8. A large part of the work is new, being derived from recent sources
Upwards of four hundred articles are not found in other Bible Dictionaries.
Ue article itself is not new, it has been improved, if any additional
light has been thrown upon the subject by recent writers.
9. I)uttl2t and correct impressions of what could not be well taught by
words, are fiven by engravings, faithfully and elegantly drawn.
ible to erroneous pronunciations are accented.
For th us, the value of the book is not lessened by the posses-
sion of any other Bible Dictionary.
In addition to the common purposes of a dictionary, this may furnish not
only a useful, but a very delightful Sunday exercise in the family, if a parent
iiile the other members of the family, each with a
-, and read them aloud. Great light would thus
be east , subjects, and happy effects produced in fixing sacred
truth upon the menu ry.
without regrets, is this labor of love laid aside forever. For
lnlrl y > -rked, with ever fresh interest, to priduce
tw * c * 1 ' linquish the task is to lose a great satisfaction,
1 hat.it. But all Human labor has its limit, and this
u-.- is i.,.\v iM-quuathed to the world, ended though r/ot finished
Abandoned but still !
, p e nn., August, 18M
BIBLE DICTIONARY.
A.
Aa'ron, a prince of the family
of Levi, born in Egypt, one year
before the edict for destroying'
Hebrew male children, and three
years before Moses. I3y divine
direction he was consecrated the
first High Priest. After the
schism of Korah, Numb. 16, the
Lord evidenced his appointment
by the miracle of the budding
rod and other signs. He died in
Mount Uor, 40 years after coining
out of Egypt, i. e., A. M. 2552,
aged 123 years, and was BUO-
jeeded by his son Eleazar. See
PRIESTHOOD.
Abad'don, literally The De-
stroyer, is " the angel of the bot-
tomless pit, whose name in He-
brew is Abaddon, but in Greek,
Apollyon." Rev. 9: 11. 'Wtera
on the prophecies greatly *9er
!n their interpretation of the
above text. Some would apply
the name exclusively to Satan.
Others regard it as being also
applied to Mahomet, and others
to the Pope of Bnme.
Ab'ana and PHARPAR, risers
of Syria, which Nuarnan the
Leper thought " better than all
the waters of Israel." Abana
is probably the Barraddy, which
rises in Lebanon, and runs to-
wards the south. Perhaps the
Pharpar is the same with the
Orontes, which, rising a little to
the north-east of Damascus, pass-
es Antioch, and, after a course
of 200 miles to the north-west,
loses itself in the Mediterranean
Sea. 2 Kings 5: 12.
Ab'ba, a Syriac word, signify
ing a beloved father. The word
is used by our Lord in his agony,
Mark 14 : 36, and by Paul, when
he recounts to the believers of
Rome and Galatia their glorious
privileges, Rom. 8 : 15 ; Gal. 4:
6. We thus perceive, both in
the term itself, and the manner
of using it, how endearing and
consoling is the access to God
which the Christian enjoys.
Abel, literally vanity, the sec-
ond son of Eve. The reason why
his offering was accepted rather
than Cain's is explained, Heb
11:4, where it is said to haw
been because Abel had fait*
ABI
that IB, had respect to the Me
iah to come and to the divine a t
pointment. It is said that bein
dead ho yet speaketh, i. e., h
example and suilerings are a le
00 to U3
Abel, otherwise called the fid
iua, was near Bethshemesh
and was probably so called froi
the mourning ot the Hebrews f<
who were struck dead fo
looking into the ark. 1 Sam
9 : 18, 19.
Abel-Malm, or ABEI^BETH
MAACIIA, a city in the north o:
the canton of Naphtali, wher
Sheba was beheaded. 2 Sam
20 : 14. Eighty years after, i
was ravaged by Benhadad.
Kings 15 : 20. In the days of
Christ, it was called Abila.
Abel-Mizraim, literally th
mourning of the Egyptians, so
called from their lamentation
over Jacob's corpse when they
carried it to Machpelah. It is
sailed the floor of Atad."
Gen. 50 : 11.
Abel-Meholah, a city west of
Jordan, 10 miles south of Beth-
ihan, in the tribe of JVlanasseh,
1 Kings 4: 12. It was the
birth-place of Elisha. 1 Kings
19 : 16. Near this city Gideon
defeated the Midianites.
Abel-Shittlm, a town beyond
Jordan, in the plain of Moab.
Hero 24,000 Israelites were de-
troyod in one day for falling
into the sins of Moab. Numb.
26. It was probably the mourn-
ing for this eveut that gave the
name O f Abel to the pot
Abi'a, second Bon to Samuel,
ABI
and Brother to jod. When the
priests were divided into twenty-
four courses, the 8th was called
after him ; or, as some suppose,
after Abijah, mentioned 1 Chron*
24 : 10 Luke 1 6.
A 'bib, or NISAN, the name cf
the first sacred and seventh civil
month of the Jewish year. It
answered to our March and April.
The word signifies ripe fruity and
was given to this month, because,
in the middle of it, the Jews
generally began their harvest.
On the 14th day of this month,
the Passover was eaten. Their
civil year commenced in Septem-
ber ; and therefore their jubilees,
and other civil matters, were
regulated in that way. See
Levit. 25 : 8, 9, 10. This change
of beginning, as to the sacred
year, took place at the redemp-
tion of Israel from Egypt. Ex.
Abilene, a small canton in
Syria, between Lebanon and An-
ilibanus. It took its name from
he city Abila, or Abel-Maim,
jysanias was governor here in the
5th year of Tiberius. Luke 3 : 1.
Abim'elech, the title of the
-ings of Philistia, as PTOLEMY
ras of the kings of Egypt, and
^:SAB of the emperors of Rome
en. 21 and 36. It was also
he name of a very wicked ruler
n Israel, in the time of the
udges, Jud. 9; and of a high
riest in the time of David, 1
hron. 18 : 16, who was the same
Ahimelech, 2 Sam. 8 : 17, and
robably the same AS Abiatkar,
Sam. 22 : 20.
ABY
Abomination, a tiling hateful.
Sm is called aii abomination, bo-
cause detestable to God and good
beings. Various gross practices
are so called. Wearing the dress
of the opposite sex, Dent. 22 : 5.
Lying, Prov. 12 : 22. False
weights, Isa. G6 : 3. False doc-
Kev. 17 : 4. Idols, Deut.
7 : 2G. Proud persons, Prov. 16:
5. The sacrifices, ways, and even
thoughts, of the wicked, Prov.
16 8, 9, 26. And he that
turneth away his ear from hear-
ing the law, even his prayers
ehall be an abomination," be-
cause evidently hypocritical,
Prcv. 28 : 9. In Dan. 12 : 11,
and Matt. 24 : 15, the allusion
is to the Roman armies, which,
as heathen, were hateful to the
Jews.
Abraham, a wandering shep-
herd of vast wealth and pre-
eminent piety. He was born A.
M. 2008, only two years after the
death of Noah, though there
were nine generations between
them. Some learned chronolo-
gers place his birth sixty years
before Noah's death. Being the
progenitor of all th Jews., and
the brightest example of justify-
ing faith, he was called the
"Father of the faithful." His
name, Abram, or " high father,"
was changed, when God prom-
ised him a great posterity, into
Abraham, or " father of a * la-
titude." Gen. 17 : 4, 5. ills
history is one of deep interest,
and is given in Genesis at great
length
Abyss, % word used in Scrip-
ACE
ture, sometimes to moan hli
sometimes the depths of the
ocean, and sometimes the water!
which flow under the earth.
Ae'cho, a seaport of Canaan,
belonging to the tribe of Asher,
but never conquered by them.
Jud. 1 : 31. It first became an
important city in the reign
of Ptolemy Philadelphus, who
greatly enlarged and beautified
the place, and from whom it was
long called Ptuleniais. It became
famous during the crusades, and
was then called St. Jean de Acre
The Christians were expelled
from it, as their last hold in
Palestine, about 1291, and it has
since been held by the Turks.
The French, under Napoleon,
met a repulse here, in 1799.
The population, in 1825, was
about 5,000, according to Mr.
Jowett. It is erroneously stated
in some works to be from 18 to
20,000. It is now called Acre.
Acel'dama, a field lying a little
south of Jerusalem, where pot-
ters dug their clay. The money
which Judas threw back to the
Jewish rulers, being the price of
blood, as they called it, they
would not put into the Lord's
treasury, but with it purchased
this field; wherefore it was called
"ACELDAMA, or The Field (/
Blood." Acts 1 : 18, 19. Zech
11 : 12, 13. It was then appro-
priated as a place to bury stran-
gers, from which the burial-
ground for this purpose is, in
some, cities, called the Potter*
Field. Matt. 27 : 8. The spol
is etill used by tb> Armenian*
ACT
for * grave-yard It is now
about 100 foet long and 70 broad,
Xnnctf). It
IB surrounded by a wall, and is
:i vast vault arched over,
:iich bodies are lowered
through seven apertures from
above.
Aeha'la, in the largest sense,
comprehended all Greece Proper,
. This seems
the meaning, 2 Cor. 11 : 10.
Thus, what is Acha : .a, Acts 19 :
, i. e., Greece, Acts
20 : 2. In the strict use of the
\ehaia was that northern
. tho Peloponnesus, the
capital of which was Corinth. 2
Cor. 1 : 1.
A'ellOr. This word signifies
trouble, and was the name of a
valley near Jericho, given to it
oecau.se of the tribulation pro-
duced by the theft of ACIIAIT,
who was stoned here. Josh. 7 :
24 2G. lios. 2 : 15.
Acre. The English acre is
4840 square yards, the Roman
3200, and the Egyptian 3G98 ;
but the Hebrew acre appears to
mean as much as one yoke of
oxen Could plough in a day.
Ten acres of vineyard yielding
one bath, and the seed of an
homer producing an ephah, fsa.
6: 10, means that the land should
be afflicted with dreadful steril-
ity, for such a crop is scarcely a
tenth part of the send sown.
Acts OK TUB Al'OSTLES, the
of the primitive ohurch,
written by Luke. It does not
contain a full account cf the
Ubori of all the apostlaa, but
10 ADD
only of a few a a specimen
chiefly those of Paul. The nar
rative commences at the ascen
sion of Christ, and extends to
Paul's arrival at Rome, on hii
appeal to Caesar, a period of
about 30 years. To read thil
book with profit, the map of the
travels of Paul, common in Sun-
day-schools, should be referred
to.
Adad-Rim'mon, a city in the
valley of Jezreel, famous for a
dreadful battle. 2 Kings 23 : 29.
Zech. 12 : 11. It was afterwards
called Maximianopolis, in honor
of the emperor Maximian.
Ad'auiant, a beautiful stone,
of the hardest kind, generally
called diamond. Sinners' hearts
are compared to adamant. Zech.
7 : 12. See DIAMOND.
A'dar, the twelfth month of
the Jewish sacred year, and the
sixth of the civil ; correspand-
ing to February. The inter-
calary month added at the end
of every third year was called
Ve-Adar, or second Adar.
Adder, a venomous reptile,
brought forth alive, and not
hatched from eggs, as are most
serpents. It is often called viper.
The terra occurs five times in our
translation. In Gen. 49 : 17,
the original word is SHEPHIPHON,
fk'.ught by critics to be the ceras-
to, a viper which lurks in the
sand, tho color of which it resem-
bles. In Psalms - r >8 : 4, and 91
13, the Hebrew word is PETIIHV.
an asp. In Psalms 40 : 3 it is
ACIISDB, which is also rendered
asp. In Prov 23 32, the tern
ADO
11
ADU
U Tzipnoxr, which in Isa. 14 : 29,
and Jor. 8 : 17, <tc., ia rendered
cockatrice, or basilisk, a serpent
said to kill with its breath.
nLs, like most other crea-
tures, are attracted by music.
Many authors, both ancient and
modern, confirm this fact. This
is called charming them ; and
while their delight in the music
continues, they are perfectly
harmless, and will go after the
person playing. The deaf adder,
or asp, mentioned Ps. 56 : 4,
probably means one so full of
venom as to be insensible to sweet
sounds. To which other allusions
agree. See Ecc. 10 : 11. Jer.
8: 17.
Adjure. It was a custom
among the Jews to adjure, which
was by a form of execration laid
on the person if he did not an-
swer truly. It was the same as
administering an oath is now ; so
that though Jesus held his peace
when merely interrogated, he ac-
knowledgedjwhen adjured, that he
was the Son of God. Matt. '20 : 63.
Adoiiirani, one of Solomon's
overseers on Lebanon, 1 Kings
6 : 14. He is also called Adoram
by contraction, 2 Sam. 20 : 24,
and Hadoram, 2 Chr. 10 : 18.
Adoption, the act of taking
one into the family for a child.
Pharaoh's daughter adopted Mo-
sea. Mordecai thus received
Esther. Many other instances
occur in Scripture. The dnuble
parentage thus created has praAtly
eonfused chronologers, and j-*cd
unlearned objections to scripture
genealogiea. True believers in
Christ, who rely upon his effica-
cious atonement, and the sura
merit of hia perfect righteous-
ness, for the pardon of their sins
and reconciliation to God, being
regenerated by the Spirit, and
freely justified by grace, through
the redemption of Jesus Christ,
are said to be brought into thia
state of adoption. 2 Cor. 6 : 18.
Adram'uiclcch, a deity of the
Sepharvaites, who seems to have
been worshipped as the god of
flocks and herds.
This was also the name of a
son of Sennacherib, who, with
his brother Sharezer, slew their
father in the temple of Nisroch.
Isa. 37 : 38.
Adramyftinrn is by some ge
ographers affirmed to be the same
with Thebes in Egypt. Others
maintain, with more probability,
that this city was in Mysia, op-
posite Lesbos. The latter was
situated at the foot of Mount Ida,
and was founded by a colony
from Athens. It was a place of
much commerce, Acts 27 : 2 ; but
it is now a poor fishing village,
and is called Dramiti.
A'dria, a sea on the coast of
Italy, where Paul, in going to
Rome, suffered an extreme tem-
pest. Acts 27 : 27. It is now
called the Gulf of Venice.
Adul'lam was once a noble
town in the north part of the lot
of Judah. Near it was the place
of Divid's concealment 1 Sam
22 : 1. It continued to be an
important place for several jen-
turios after Christ, but it now
extinct.
AHA
Adultery, a general term for
rery species of unchastity, but
BOW generally restricted to im-
parity by married persons. In
ft spiritual senie, it meann idol-
atry. Jer. 3:9. Ezek. 23 : 37.
Advocate, a title of Jesus,
showing his intercession for his
people. Wo have a specimen of
the manner in which he acts as
nch, in John 16 and 17.
Affinity, relation. For the
degrees of afiinity which ob-
structed matrimony, see Leviti-
cus 18.
Ag'ftte, a gem of various colors
and degrees of transparency. It
is found in the form of rounded
nodules, from the size of a pin's
head to more than a foot in diam-
eter, in the river Wolga, in Ger-
many, in the pudding-stone of
Siberia, in Ceylon, Scotland, Ac.
Those of the last named country
are commonly called Scotch peb-
ble \\ It is a stone of great
beauty, and is only cheap because
found in abundance. It was the
second stone in the lower row of
the high priest's breast-plate.
Ex. 28 : 19.
Our translation has agate, Isa.
54 : 12, and Kzck. 27 : 16, where
meant. M places
Ought -/'iss.
Afjrip'pa.
re sev-
eral ki
1. / .o Mede, son
of Cyaxares. Dan. 9:1.
2. CAMBTBBB, king of Persia,
during wbte nign the rebuild-
I AIR
ing of the temple was suspended
Ezra 4 : 6, 7.
3. DABIUS HYBTASPEB, the
husband of Esther. Est. 1 : 1.
He died A. M. 3519. Prideaua
thinks, with Severus and many
others, that Artaxerxes Longi-
inanus was the person ; Scaliger
Jahn, and others, that it waa
Xerxes.
Aha'va, a river on the banks
of which Ezra assembled the
Jews who were returning with
him to their own land. Ezra 8 :
15. It is probably the country
called Ava, 2 Kings 17: 24,
whence the king of Assyria drew
settlers for Palestine, and where
he colonized the Israelites. 1
Kings 18 : 34, and 19 : 13.
Air, a fluid which surrounds
the earth to the height of about
fifty miles. Air has considerable
weight. About 2160 pounds'
weight of it presses on every
square foot ; and, allowing the
surface of a human body to be
15 square feet, the pressure of
air on it must amount to 32,400
pounds. But this pressure is not
felt, because our bodies contain
such a portion of air as serves to
buoy thern up. Air is necessary
to the existence of all animals
and plants. The winds keep it
pure. Creatures inhabiting the
water need air as much as land
animals. Some of these come
often to the surface to breathe,
air* *hose which have gills man-
ufaciure air for themselves out
of water. If there were no air,
we could neither see, hear, not
speak ; there could be neithet
ALA 18
clouds nor rain. Indeed, the
whole world would be destroyed,
if the air were to be destroyed,
or even become stagnant.
To beat the air," 1 Cor. 9 :
26; 14 : 9, ia to speak or labor to
no purpose. In Eph. 2:2," the
power of the air " means those
who exercise that power, viz.,
evil spirits who are under the
aontrol of Satan, here called
their prince. The word " heaven "
is used to signify the air. Gen.
19 : 24. 2 Kings 1 : 10.
Al'abaster, a name now applied
to a soft, fine, white species of
marble, or sulphate of lime,
found near Thebes, Damascus,
wad other places. The word is
derived from the name given by
the Greeks to an urn or vessel
without handles, especially those
made narrow at the top, so as to
be easily stopped, and thus es-
ALE
peclally proper for ointments and
perfumes Alabasters were of
glass, silver, or gold. It wai
customary at feasts among the
great to anoint the hair of the
guests with costly perfume. Pg
23 : 5, and 45 : 7. Matt. 26 : 7.
In Matt. 26 : 6, 7, " breaking"
the box means simply breaking
the seal so as to uncork it. Mary
could not have poured out the
ointment if she had broken the
bottle or box ; and the pieces
would have been inconvenient.
Beside, it would have been a
needless waste of a valuable ar-
ticle, and the apostles only re-
proved her for wasting the oint
meht.
Albe'it, an old word for never
theless, or although.
Alexandria, a celebrated city
in Lower Egypt ; situated be-
tween Lake Mareotis and the
ALEXANDRIA.
western branch of the Nile, near
tts mouth ; founded by Alexan-
der the Great, B. o 331. After
2
the destruction of Carthage, it
was, for nearly seventeen cen-
turies, the chief city of the world
ALE
acxt to Rome. Its commerce
extended to every part of the
r a loiig
timo it was the chief scat of
learning and the sciences. The
ir royal
residence, mod each su
nxmar .i--l- it.
,iuered
Egypt, they respected and pre-
is city,
h. In
.andria,
Paul .-
hare founded the church here,
: was here martyfed,
.-is born.
, Origen, Athanasius, and
other eminent ministers, flour-
ished here. Numerous Jewa
netted here, engaged in trade
and commerce ; 50,000 of whom
:: ordered under t.
peror ' r the Sara-
cen*, who con<iucrc<l it A.
H began to decay. They stupidly
1 700,-
us ver-
hutfint was made hero nearly 300
'. t then
Ooo Ui
theatre*. It
::ig that
, * L roua at
A* tit.
14 ALM
AD, overy creature or person
Sometimes this epithet is used
indefinitely, expressing a great
many, or the greatest part, Matt
'6 : 15 ; sometimes for every class
and condition of men. 1 Tim.
2 : 4. Titus 2 : 11.
Allegory, a similitude carried
out to more length than a
metaphor. Gal. 4 : 24, 31.
This figure abounds in the
Bible, and all oriental writings.
Christians have often fallen into
error by interpreting them too
closely, or treating plain pas-
Alleluia, a word occurring in
every psalm, and always
i 'raise ye the Lord."
It occurs in the Apocalypse, and
is transferred in our version ; be-
ing sometimes written Hallelujah
Almond, a tree bearing the
well-known fruit so called. Ita
us are white. Ecc. 12 : 5.
In size and shape it resembles
the peach-tree.
Alms, Bounty to the poor
Matt. G : 1.
Al'mug-tree. It is thought to
;une with the Shittah, or
SLittim-tree. 1 Kings 10 : 11.
Suine have supposed it to be the
s(ind(il-wtjod t much used in the
costly purposes. A spe
cies of this wood, found in Sia^.
Japan, Ac., yields a beautiful
rod dye iTais resombUjace in
color to toral may hive given it
the name almug, which, in Rab-
i-nifies coral, and then
the moaning of the term would
l>0 coral-wood.
ALO
A1'0S. Tournefjrt reckons
fourteen kinds of the ak<>
are trees, others shrubs or herbs.
The American aloe is famous for
its fine flowers, which are of the
lily kind ; the Asian for the pur-
gative drug prepared from it. It
is made by expressing the juice
from the leaves, and hardening
it in the sun to the consistence
of a gum. That which is most
nicely prepared is called the sue-
totrine, the next is called hypatic,
and the coarsest is the horse aloe.
Tha fragrant wood of a species
gi awing in China, Cochin China
in, is so prccir *s H to
worth more than its weight in
gold. Compare Canticles 4 : 14,
and Prov. 7 : 17. Aloes were
used for the embalming of dead
bodies, and as a perfume. John
19 : 39. Prov 7 : 17.
Al'pha, the first letter of the
Greek alphabet. It is used in
connection with OMEGA, which is
the last letter, to express the
eternity of Jesus Christ. Kev.
1 : 8, 11.
Altar, among the Jews, a
mound or large stone table where
sacrifices wore laid and offered.
After the erection of the taber-
aacle, two altars were appointed,
one for sacrifices, the other for
Incense, and on no others were
offerings lawful. The preceding
picture represents the " altar of
burnt offering," as made by Solo-
mon, which was thirty feet
square, and fifteen feet high. It
stood not in the tabernacle, but
in the court. The " altar of in-
cense " was a table about two
feet square, and four feet high,
plated with gold, which stood in
the Holy Place. Some chria-
tians still apply the term altar U
AM
16
AMO
the table where the communion
fa administered ; but Christ is
the only Christian altar, to which
we bring all our sacrifices and
services. Ileb. 13 : 10.
Am'alekites, a nation dwelling
between the Red and Dead Seas.
About A. M. 2091, Chedorlaomer
ravaged their country, at which
time multitudes left it. It is
thought by some that these
poured themselves on Egypt, and
were the shepherds mentioned by
Manetho. For their great wick-
edness, God utterly ruined this
people by the hand of Saul. 1
Sam. 15. Afterwards a remnant
gathered again, which was finally
destroyed by the Simeonites, in
the days of Ilezekiah. 1 Chr. 4.
Ambassador, a legate or apos-
tle. A person sent on behalf of
another, with powers to act ac-
cording to general instructions.
2 Cor. 6 : 20.
Amber, a yellow, inflammable
:.<;e, transparent if pure,
which seems to have been origi-
nally in a fluid state, a-
-octs are often found in it.
It is ol
many, ., but chiefly
from Prussia, whei.
:iat mines uro regularly
out into various ornanu-:.
1 : 4, and 8
Amen, tr > it so.
Christ U call * bo-
eauae he in irqt.h.
Br. 3 : 11. ises are
aid to be " ^
Chrut, because that by Liui they
will infaUibly be all
plished. 2 Cor. 1 : 20. "When
used in devotion, it means be it
so. When repeated in affirma-
tion, it is equivalent to our
phrase, indeed, indeed.
Among the Jews and early
Christians, the whole assembly
responded an audible Amen at
the close of a public prayer.
Jerome says that when the Chris-
tians said Amen at the close of a
prayer, &c., the sound was like
a clap of thunder.
Am'ethyst, a very rare gem,
generally of a purple or violet
color. It is found in Germany,
Spain, and other countries, but
the most valuable are obtained
in Asia and Russia.
Aminon, or NO-AMMON. See
No.
Ammonites, a people descend*
ed from Lot through Ammon or
Ben-Ammi. They oppressed la-
rael 18 years, and were then
overcome by Jephthah. Jud. 10,
Ac. At various times, in after
ages, they were permitted to
scourge the Hebrews. 2 Chron.
20. At length Judas Maccabeus
overcame them, ravaged their
country, and burnt their cities.
The poor remains -were afterward
mingled among the Arabs, and
the name was lost from among
nations. Amos 1 : 1114 Zepb
2 : 911.
Am'orites, inhabitants rf that
part of Syria which was given to
Israel. They occupied the por-
tion which afterwards constituted
the lots of Reuben, Gad, Manas-
soh, Dan, Judah, Simeon, and
ANA
17
ANG
Benjamin. Aa they wore tho
nost powerful of tho devoted
tribes, all the Canaanit'
times went under their naa'c
Jud. G : 10. 2 Kings 21 : 11.
Amos began to prophesy a lit-
tle before Jlnxfti, and continued
a while cotcmporary with that
prophet, during the reign of
Uzziah, about 800 years B. c.
THE BOOK reproves the terrible
wickedness of the Hebrews who
abandoned themselves t
evil, pronounces the ruin of the
neighboring nations, judgment
on the Jews, and the final pros-
perity of Messiah's kingdom.
Amphip'olis, a city of Mace-
donia. Acts 17 : 1. It is al-
most surrounded by the river
Strymon, whence its name, which
means "a city surrounded." It
is now called Emboli.
Anam'mclech, an idol of the
Sepharvaites, a tribe of the Sa-
maritans. 2 Kings 17: 31.
Anani'as, the name of three
persons mentioned in tho New
Testament.
1. A professed Christian, who,
with his wife Sapphira, died at
the rebuke of Peter, for false-
hood and hypocrisy. Acts 5 :
15.
2. A Christian of Damascus,
who restored Paul to sight Acts
9 : 1017, Ac. He beam* pas.
tor of the church there, jnd died
a martyr.
3. The high priest, who pre-
sided in the council at Paul's
examination. Acts 23 : '2.
Anath'eoia, a solemn curse j
a*
an accursed person or thing. A
Cur. 1 : 22. See MAKANATBA.
Andrew, our Saviour's firrt
disciple, lie fiill'i-red martyrdom
at Pats ,i. It is said
shaped
like the letter X ; hence a orosi
of this shape is exiled St An-
drew's cross.
Angel, a messenger. It it
applied to those heavenly agent*
which are the highest created
intellectual beings, whom God
makes use of as his ministers to
execute the orders of providence;
Rev. 22 : 8, to Christ, as the
Mediator and Head of the church ;
Zech. 1 : 12. Rev. 10 : 1, to
ministers of the gospel, who arc
ambassadors for Christ ; Rev. 2
1, and 3 : 1,7; to those whont
God employs to execute his judg-
ments ; Rev. 15 : 8, and 16 : 1,
to devils ; Matt. 25 : 41. 1
Cor. 6:3. In 1 Cor. 11 : 10, it
may mean spies, who were sent
to watch for the faults of chrls-
tians.
The most common application
of the term is to the happy spirits
who have never fallen. Whet
God founded the earth with suet
skill and goodness, they sang
together and shouted for joy.
Job 38 : 6, 7. They were ere-
ated with eminent wisdom, holi-
ness, purity, and happiness; but
capable of change, and some of
them fell. Their knowledge u
great, but not infinite ; they de-
sire to look into the mystery of
our salvation, and learn from th
church the manifold wisdom of
God Nor can they search Iht
ANO
18
-earta of m*n, nor know future
things, but as particularly in-
nructed of God. 1 Pet. 1 : 12.
Eph. 3 : 10. Jer. 17 : 10. Matt,
oir power is vast,
but reaches to nothing strictly
miraculous. Their number a-
mounts to many millions. Ps.
68 : 17. Matt. 26 : 53. Rev.
5 : 11. Dan. 7 . 10. Their
names, of " thrones, dominions,
principalities, and powers," sug-
gest an order of gradation among
them, though of what kind we
cannot ascertain. Col. 1 : 1C.
Guardian angels are thought
to be alluded to, Gen. 48 : 16.
Ps. 34 : 7 ; 91 : 11. Acts 12 :
15. But those passages do not
necessarily convey this idea.
An'ger, a violent displeasure
and indignation accompanied with
grief. Mark 3:5. It is lawfu 1
when directed against sin, Eph
4 : 2G ; sinful when pointed
against the person of another
and accompanied with a desire
of revenge.
An'ise, a small plant, some
what like parsley, very common
in Judca. The seed is carmina
live and frn
Anna, a prophetess. Luke 2
3G. Her continuing without ceas
temple means jnl
itt:d the regu
; and evening service
tnere.
Anoint, to pour oil upon a pu
too, as wa.- the Jew
pnrpOM
especially v ' apart a
to ft holy office, as of
rophet, priest, or king j
eing by divine appointment, wai
denote the person's being
ndued. with the gifts cf the
pirit. Ex. 29 : 7. Lev. 4 : 3.
ud. 9 : 8, &c. But Jesus Christ
?as the only one ever particularly
esignated by God to fill all the
hree distinct offices of prophet,
riest, and king. He was in a
Ksculiar manner filled with the
loly Ghost, of which anointing
with oil was the emblem. Christ
_ emphatically styled the anointed
n various parts of Scripture. Pa
,5 : 7. Isa. 61 : 1. Dan. 9 : 24,
Anon, a word in common use
when our translation of the Bible
was made. It is of the same
mport as quickly. Mark 13 : 20.
Au'telope. See ROE.
An'tiehrist is a word of Greek
rigin, signifying a person or
power actuated by a spirit oppo-
site to that of Christ. In the
days of John, there were already
many antichrists. 1 John 2 : 18,
and 4:3. The term has been
commonly applied to the church
of Rome, which is thought to be
described, 2 Thess. 2 : 4. Com-
pare Daniel 7 : 24, 25, and Rev.
17 : 16. Whether this appli-
cation of the term be correct or
not, has little to do with the con-
troversy respecting the Romish
religion, as that must stand on
the general agreement or dis-
agreement of its doctrines and
practices with Scripture.
Antioch, the capital of Syria,
i both banks of the Oroa-
Ive miles from the Med-
1 'terranean, built by Nioonor, B.
ANT
19
APO
J01. It WM the third city of the
earth, being scarcely inferior to
Alexandria, and the residence of
A N T I C H
the kings of Syria. Litke and
Theophilus were born in this
place. Here Paul and Barnabas
preached,and here the disciples of
Christ were first called Christians.
Chrysostoia preached here in the
fourth century with great success.
This church was famous for many
hundred years. It has many
times suffered from earthquakes,
in which from sixty to a hundred
thousand of its inhabitants have
perished. In 1188, it was de-
molished by the Saracens. In
1822, a tremendous earthquake
completely destroyed the remains
of this once splendid aity ; and
it is now a poor town named
Antakia.
There were various other cities
called Antioch, none of which are
mentioned in Scripture but that
In Pisidia, which is tow called
Ak-sher and sometimes Antiochio
iota 13 : 14,
Antlp'atrls, a city of Canaan
situated in a pleasant valley, neat
the mountains, in the way from
Jerusalem to Caesa-
rea, about 17 milei
from Joppa, and 42
from Jerusalem. Acta
23 : 31. It was for-
merly called Caphar-
salama, (1 Maoc.
7 : 31), but was of
little note till en-
larged and adorned
by Herod, who named
it after his father,
Antipater.
J^OC'ryph.1 prop-
erly signifies "hid-
den " or "concealed."
The name is applied to a number
of books often placed between
the Old and New Testaments.
They were not admitted by an-
cient Christians into the canon of
Scripture. None of them were
ever received by the Jews. They
are not found in the catalogue oi
the canonical books, made by
Mileto, bishop of Carthage, in
the second century ; nor does
Origen, in the third, or Epipha-
nius, in the fourth, acknowledge
their authenticity. The tldest
Syriac version of the Bible does
not contain these books. Few of
them were allowed to be canon-
ical, until the ninth and tenth
centuries, when the ignorance,
both of the people and of the
clergy, was most deplorable. The
popish council of Trent voted
them to be authentic, and they
are still retained by Papist*
Some of these books, such M
APP
20
ARA
Maccabees and Ecclesiasticus,
oontain useful history and whole-
ome advice, but others are pue-
rile and fabulous. There are
also many apocryphal books of
the New Testament.
Apollo'llia, a city of Macedonia,
now unimportant, and called Pa-
tina. Acts 17 : 1.
Apoll'yon, literally the "de-
stroyer." See ABADDON.
Apostle, minister, or messen-
ger. The term implies selection,
commission, qualification, mis-
sion, accountability and recom-
pense. The title is specially
given to those whom Christ chose
to be witnesses and inspired
teachers of his life, doctrine,
and resurrection. It is also ap-
plied to Christ, who was sent
from heaven to assume our nature,
and to effect man's redemption
by his merits and death. Heb.
3 : 1.
Ap'pii-forum, a place in the
south-west of Italy, about fifty
wiles from Rome, where Paul
was met by his Christian friends.
Acts 28 : 15. It is now called
Fossa Nuova.
Apple-tree. The apple is a
species of fruit not common in
Palestine, though found there.
The tree so called in Scripture is
probably the citron, which is
large, ever-green, and fragrant,
and affords a delightful shade.
Sol. Song 8 : 5. Prov. 2i> li.
The word occurs but seldom in
Scripture. In Solomon's Song
8 : 6, apples of gold, in pio-
tcres of silver/' means golden
colored citrons, in silver fruiS
baskets of curious net-work
The APPLE OP SODOM is a fruit
resembling the apple, containing,
when green, an acid, milky juice;
but in winter, when dried, a yel-
lowish, offensive dust.
Arabia, a large country of
Asia, lying partly on the east,
but chiefly southward, of Canaan.
Its greatest length from east to
west is about 1620 miles ; and its
greatest breadth from north tc
south about 1350. It has the
Indian Ocean on the south, the
Red Sea and Isthmus of Suez on
the west, Canaan and Syria on
the north-west and north, the
mountains of Chaldea and the
Persian Gulf on the east. It is
ordinarily divided into three
parts.
1. Arabia Petraea, or the rocky ',
on the north-west, and which is
now called Hejiaz. In the south-
west part of it now stand the
famed cities of Mecca and Me-
dina, so much visited by Mahom-
etan pilgrims. This division
contained the land of Edom,
Kadesh Barnea, Paran, Cushan,
&c. The people of this part are
called " Men of the east." Gen.
25 : 6. Jud. 6 : ?
2. Arabia Deserta, which lay
eastward of Canaan, and ccm
prehended the land of Uz, of
Ammon, Moab, Midian, with the
country of the Itureans, Hagar-
enes, <tc. In this part was Mount
Sinai. The inhabitants have in
all ages dwelt in ;ents, and led
a wandering life. They are at
preeeit called Bedouin*.
ARA
21
ARC
2. Arabia Felix, or the happy,
Mi the south of the two former,
oetween the Persian Gulf and
M. Si-aiTcly any part of
Arabia is well watered ; but
Arabia Felix is the luost so, and
Is famed for its opium, myrrh,
cassia, and ether drugs, as well
M for fine spices and fruits.
The Arabians are, in general,
the defendants of Ishmael. The
descendants of Abraham by Ke-
turah, as well as those of Lot
and Esau, dwelt also in this land,
and either mixed with or sup-
planted the inhabitants. The
Arabic language is one of the
most ancient in the world, and is
remarkable for its copiousness.
The ancient Arabic was without
points. The present Arabic char-
acters are modern.
Of all nations, says Calmet, the
Arabs have spread most over the
world, and, in all their wander-
ings, they have, more than any
other nation, preserved their lan-
guage, manners, and peculiar
customs. They are cunning, in-
genious, poetical, superstitious,
vindictive, sanguinary, and thiev-
ish. In character and customs
they have scarcely varied since
the days of the patriarchs. Chris-
tianity was early extended over
this country, and we read of
martyrs, councils, &c., in Arabia.
Ar'arat, a mountain in the
country of the same name. Part
of the province which was for-
merly so called, lies in Turco-
raama, and the rest is in Persia.
It has Georgia on the north,
Media on the east, Assyria on the
with, *n*? Lesser Asia on tht
west. Ilre the rivers Euphiates,
Tigris, A raxes, and Phasis, hav
their source. Here stand the
famed mountains Taurus an^
Antitaurus, Nipbates, Gordian,
Ac. Mount Ararat, upon which
Noah's ark rested, was probably
the Ar-dagh, or finger mountain,
in Armenia, standing in a large
plain, 36 miles east from Eiivan,
rising in a conical shape to the
height of about 12,000 feet above
the level of the sea, and visible
nearly 200 miles distant. Its
top is inaccessible on account of
the perpetual snow. The middle
part is haunted by tigers ; some
poor flocks and small monasteries
are at the foot.
Archer, a soldier who fought
with a bow and arrows. Gun-
powder being a modern inven-
tion, most of the ancient war
riors were archers.
Archangel, the chief angel
The Jewa supposed that there
are seven of them, gre*tr to
ARK
22
ARK
power than the rest, and that the
guardianship of particular nations
is committed to them. Michael
was considered the patron of the
Jews. Dan. 10 : 13, 21. The
name ia never -ised in the plural,
and some learned men are of
opinion that it means Jesus
Christ. 1 Thess. 4 : 16.
Arctn'ms, a star of the first
magnitude in the constellation
Bootes, near the north pole. It
becomes visible in September,
and sets in March. Job 9 : 9.
The "sons of Arcturus" are
probably the inferior stars adja-
cent. Job 38 : 32.
ireop'agns, the high court of
Athens, called MARS-HILL, be-
cause it was held on that emi-
nence. It first consisted of nine
judges, afterward of thirty, and
finally, about the days of Paul,
of 500. Their jurisdiction at
that period extended to religious
as well as civil affairs. There
are still to be seen vestiges of
their seats, cut in the rock. Paul,
\shen cited before them on a
charge of setting forth strange
gods, preached so ably, that he
was dismissed, and Dionysius,
one of the judges, and some
others, became converts. Acts 17.
Arimathe'a, a pleasant town
between Jerusalem and Joppa.
It is, however, more probably the
city of Ramah, in Mount Ephra-
.!'! Ramathdim, ] ^un.
19, and by Josephus, Ra-
mM-i M a ,. t . 27:67 It is now
oalled l;
Ark, the vessel built by Noah.
It U oompated, from the measure-
ment recorded in Genesis, tc
have been of the burden of more
than 81,000 tons. Allowing 18
inches to the cubit, the length
was 450 feet, the width 75, and
the height 45. This size amply
sufficed for all the creatures to b
saved within it, and their food.
Only such animals as could not
live in water or mud, or on the
floating rubbish, were taken into
the ark. It had three decks or
stories, divided into numerous
stalls or apartments, besides the
hold, where water and provisions
were stowed. Calmet reckons
only 150 species of quadrupeds ;
of birds there are more in num-
ber, but smaller ; of reptiles,
most species can live in the water,
and so were not taken into the
ark. The window or windows
were, by divine appointment, in
the roof only. The inmates were
therefore saved the misery of
seeing the dreadful scenes which
were around them, and from being
induced to receive any person in
Gen. 6 and 7.
Ark of the Covenant, a chest
nearly four feet in length, of
which a good idea may be formed
from the picture. It contained
the original stone tables of *he
law, Aaron's rod that budded, the
pot of manna, and, in after times,
a copy of the five book? of Moses.
These seem at one time to have
ieu kept before the ark, 1 Kingi
% . 9, and at another, within it.
Heb. 9 : 4. During the captiv-
ity, these prec.ious articles seem
to have been lost, except the
atone tables. The lid of the ark
ARM
23
ARM
was called the mercy-sent, over
which rested the Shtrlitna like a
risible cloud, in the manner rep-
resented in the picture.
Armenia, a cauntry north of
. was reduced to
i'yrus. After
the days of Alexander, it became
free, but waa con-
quered by the Ro-
mans about half
a century be for*
Christ, and subse
quently fell to the
Saracens. It now
part of the
Turkish empire.
Isa. 37 : 38.
Armor, (l.) A
coat of mail. Rom
13 : 12. Not be-
ing proof against
musket balls, it
An ark similar to this was ] has been disused since the inven-
made for the second temple; but] tion of gunpowder. (2.) Weapon*
it was destitute of
the sacred contents
above mentioned,
and of thoShechiua.
Armageddon.
This word is of
doubtful import. It
is thought by Gro-
tius to mean the
Mount of a,
and to signify the
place where Con-
Btantine, with a
Christian army of
98,000 men, con-
quered Maxentius
Tith an army of
.88,000 heathen,
rnich victory was
X. signal and entire,
hat the church was
irholly freed from
Maxentius tyran-
ay. Rev. 16:16. 1*2. Early Greek. S.Greek. 4,5. Kccmr. 6. Barbarian
ASH
of war. Those formerly used
were sword, spear, bow and ar-
row, sling, javelin, <fec.
Army, a body of soldiers. Jew-
ish armies were not composed of
regular troops kept for war, but
were collected as occasion re-
quired, received no pay, and
found their own arms and pro-
visions. The size of some of the
armies mentioned in ScriptuKe is
surprising, but profane history
speaks of some still greater.
The proclamation mentioned
Deut. 20 : 5, was always made
before the Jews gave battle.
Artaxerx'es, the name of a
race of Persian kings, as Ptolemy
was of the Egyptian. The kin*
who married Esther, Est. 2, and
commissioned Ezra and Nehemiah
to repair the holy city, was prob-
ably ARTAXERXES LONGIMANUS,
who died B. c. 425, after a mild
reign of thirty-nine years. He
who is mentioned Ez. 4 : 7, i s
the SMERDIS of Herodotus.'
Asa, a good king of Judah,
who ascended the throne about
A. M. 3049. Respectable chro-
nologists reckon that it was in his
days that the Argonauts made
the voyage up the Hellespont.
See under Bithynia.
Asaph, a Levite and famous
musician in the time of David
Twelve Psalms bear his name,'
but it is not generally thought
he composed them. Probably he
sot them tc music, or some of his
descendants did, and called them
by his name.
Ashdod, a fortified city of the
Philistines, lying in the lot of
ASH
Judah, and called by the Greeki
Azotus. 1 Sam. 5. Acts 8 : 40.
Ashima, the god of the Ham-
athites, who settled in Samaria.
It is not certain what was the
shape under which he was wor-
shipped ; probably the ape. 2
Kings 17 : 30.
Ask'tarotli, Asktoreth, or As.
tarte, a f ame d goddess of the
Zidonians. 1 Kings 11 : 5. The
moon, or queen of heaven, Jer.
7 18, was worshipped under
this name. Cicero calls her the
fourth Venus of Syria. Perhaps
she is the ^star, or Eostre, of
the Saxons, from whom the term
Easter is derived. She is va-
riously represented ; sometimea
in a long, sometimes in a short
habit ; sometimes as holding a
long staff, with a cross at the top,
sometimes she is crowned with
rays ; at other times, with the
horns of a bull ; which, according
to Sanchoniathon, were emblem*
of the new moon.
islitarth-kar'naiin, a citybe-
longing to the half- tribe of Ma-
uasseh, eastward of Jordan, about
six miles from Edrei, where Che-
dorlaomer smote the gigantit
Rephaima, and where was tht
Afel
residence of Og, king of Bashan.
Qen. 14 : 5.
As\a. (1.) One of tbe four
wntinenta. (2.) Asia Minor,*
Iving between the Propontis and
liuxine, on the north, and the
Mediterranean on the south ;
peopled by the offspring of Ja-
pheth. Peter (1 Epis. 1 : 1),
speaking of Asia in connection
*ith Pontus, Cappadocia, <to.,
probably means Proconsular Asia,
which included Phrygia, Mysia,
Caria, and Lydia, and comprised
the seven churches to which John
wrote. Asia Minor was anciently
parcelled out into many small
sovereignties, which first became
subject to Persia ; then to the
Greeks ; and then to the Romans.
From the Romans it was wrested
by the Saracens. The ancient
capital was Mysia, but the Ro-
mans made Ephesus the seat of
their government, which they
administered first by a praetor,
and afterward by a proconsul
the Saracens were, after 300
years, supplanted by the Turks
under whose cruel bondage this
fine country has been reduced
almost to a desert. A revolu
tion commenced A. D. 1821
which, through the intervention
of European powers, has terini
nated in rendering Greece some
what independent
* " Asia la tbe New Testament Is
always takeii for Asi* Minor."
WHITBT.
"Asia, one of the Vvs^st division
of the Old World, is nut mentlonet
to the Old Testament. In the New
it It is always taken lor Asia
<u It included Proconsular
HORNE'S INTBOD.
3
25 A83
This is thought by some to b
he country called /*/( of tkf Sea,
n Old Testament pitpheeiea
-a. \'L : 4. Flourishing ihurchei
i-ere planted hero by the apos-
'j of which remain till
his day, but in a deplorable
tate of error and superstition,
from this country are
low maintained there.
As'kelon, a noble seaport of
the Philistines, between Gaza and
Ashdod ; the birthplace of Herod
the Great. In the time of the
crusades, it became an important
post, and was greatly improved
as well as fortified by Richard I.
f England. It is now a wretched
village, called Scalona, or Scalon
Asp, a serpent of fatal venom,
about a foot or eighteen inches
long, generally spotted. Deut.
32 : 33. Dr. Harris quotes the
ablest critics to show that the
beautiful passage, Ps. 91 : 13,
" Thou &halt tread upon the lion
and the adder," &c., should be
rendered ** the asp and the ad-
der ;" and the idea of "tram-
pling under foot " seems to forbid
a reference to lions. The Hebrew
word here used is translated by
the Septuagint dragon, in some
places.
Ass, a well-known beaa t of
burden among the Jews.
The wild ass, called by the
Greeks Onager, is a far more
stately and fleet animal than the
domestic. They were once com-
mon in Palestine and Syria.
They inhabit the mountains of
Tartary, whence they migrate in
great herds, at the approach of
A.S3
ATH
winter into Persia ind India.
Ancient princes rode on asses
decorated pompously. Our Sa-
riour assumed the style of roy-
alty by riding on an ass, but in
great meekness, and with no
pomp but the spontaneous effu-
nons of the people.
The word ass means, in many
places, a measure of quantity.
Thus understood, several obscure
passages are made plain. For
example, 2 Kings 6 : 25, means
that a measure of wheat was sold
for eighty pieces of silver, or
forty dollars. In 1 Sam. 16 : 20,
it is said that David's father sent
Saul " an ass of bread," for the
words laden with are added by the
translators. The Greek poet,
Sosibius, speaks of a glutton who
ate in one day " three asses of
bread." In Exod. 8 : 14, where
frogs are said to have been gath-
ered " in heaps," the original
reads " asses, asses."
ASSOS, a city of Mysia, oppo-
site Adramyttium. Acts 20 : 13.
It is now a poor village called
Beiram.
Assurance, a firm confidence.
When Christians possess a strong
and steadfast belief of God's
grace in his Son Jesus, and
wlWly confide in him for salva-
UCQ, it is called the " full assur-
ance of faith." Ueb. 10 : 22.
" The full assurance of hope " is
an undoubting expectation of
future blessedness Heb. 6 : 1J
All Christians do not enjoy the
grace of assurance, but all are
comtnarded to obtain it. 2 Cor.
13 : 6. Heb. 6 . 11. 1 Thess.
5 : 21. Borne have certainly en-
joyed it. Job 19 : 25. Ps. 17 :
15. 2 Tim. 1 : 12. The only
proof of its genuineness is a holy
lii'e. 1 John 2 : 3, and 3 : 14.
Assyria, an ancient kingdom,
the boundaries of which varied
greatly in different ages ; but
which is generally described aa
having Armenia on the north,
Persia on the east and south, and
the Tigris on the west. It was
founded by Ninus, who began his
reign, according to Usber, A. M.
2737, during the period that
Deborah judged Israel. Its chief
city was Nineveh. Under Tig
lath Pileser, and his immediate
successors, Salmaneser, Sennache-
rib, Esarhaddon, <fcc., it was a
powerful kingdom, 1 Chron. 6 :
26, but was afterwards annexed
to Persia. It is now a desolate
country, and infested with rob-
bers. Its present name is Cur-
distan.
Astrol'ogers, persons who pro-
tend to foretell events by the
stars.
Ath'ens, a very celebrated city
of Greece, built more than 1200
years before Christ. Cicero saya
its inhabitants perfected all learn-
ing and eloquence, and that from
them humanity, learning, reli-
gion and laws, were dispersed
through the whole world ; but he
adds, " they only knew what was
right, for they would not do it."
ri^tarch says they were sus-
picious and vain-glorious. See
what Paul says, Acts 17 : 16
'22. It produced Solon, Socrates,
Plato, Aristides, Demosthene*,
I
BAA
27
BAA
Ac., besides many renowned gen-
orala.
Atonement. The satisfaction
made by Christ to divin*
hy his obedience and su
The word thus rendered
commonly translated rtconcilia-
tion. It is by faith that man,
convinced of sin, looks to the
merits and death of Jesus Christ,
and, through the operation of the
Holy Spirit, obtains pardon, peace,
and holiness. Rom. 5 : 10.
Axe. The word rendered
axe," 2 Kings 6 : ', is literallj
"iron ;" but as an axe is cer-
tainly meant, the passage showi
that iron was used fi>r that pur-
pose by the Hebrews of that day
, Inch have been found in
.UK of bronze, which was
very anciently and generally used
for that purpose.
A/o't us, a city in the tribe of
Dan. Acts 8 : 40. It was for-
merly ASHDOD of the Philistines,
where the ark of God triumphed
over Dagon. 1 Sam. 5 : 2.
B.
Bil'al, or BEL, signifies lord,
and perhaps, in the earliest ages,
was a name applied to the true
God. It is generally agreed that
Baal was the sun, and on this
supposition all allusions to him
& Scripture may be explained,
rhe sun is express^ called Baal,
2 Kings 21 : 5 The great
luminary was adorer 1 , all over the
East, and this was the first species
of idolatry.
It is supposed, but without
satisfactory reasons, that the idol
atry of Baal arose from the de
ification of Belus, the first and
greatest monarch of the Assyri
ans. His magnificent temple il
described by Herodotus and Dio*
dorus.
It was a very common name of
the male idols among eastern
nations, as Ashtarotk, or Astartt,
was of their female deities. The
MoaWtes, Phoenicians, Assyrians.
Chaldeans, and frequently the
Hebrews, had their Baal, -which,
from his place of worship, or
supposed office, had often distin-
guishing epithets annexed ; as
Baal-berith, Baal-peoi, Baal-ze-
bub, Ac. Often this name Baal
was a part of the names of per-
sons and cities, perhaps to signify
that the most of them were dedi-
cated to his service. This the
pious Hebrews sometimes turned
BAA
BAB
into Bosheth, which signifies
thame ; thus Jerubbaa is turned
Into Jerubosheth, Judg. 6 : 32.
2 Sam. 11 . 21 ; Eshbaal into
Ishbosheth ; Meribaal into Me-
phibosheth. Baal is oft named
Baalim, in the plural, because
there were many Baals ; or, at
least, many images of him. Every
sort of abomination was commit-
ted on the festivals of this idol,
and of Ashtaroth, his mate. In
his temples was-iept a perpetual
fire ; and altars were erected to
him in groves, high places, and
on the tops of houses. Jer. 32 :
35. 2 Kings 17 ; 16. The origin
of this idolatry is very ancient.
The Moabites begun their wor-
ship of Baal before the days of
Moses. The Hebrews began theirs
'in his time. Num. 22 : 41.
Psalm 106 : 28. They relapsed
into that idolatry after the death
of Joshua, and under the judges
Ehud, Gideon, and Jephthah.
Judg. 2 : 13 ; 3 : 7 ; 6 : 25 ;
10 : 6. Human sacrifices were
offered on some occasions. Jer.
19 : 5. Samuel seems to have
quite abolished the worship of
this idol from Israel ; 1 Sam. 7 :
4. But Ahab and Jezebel, above
200 years afterward, revived it
In alJ its abominations ; 450
priests tvere appointed to attend
his service, and nearly as many
for Ashtaroth. It was often re-
vived in succeeding generations,
till after the captivity, and the
establishment of synagogues,
since which the Jews have not
been addicted to idolatry. Greek
knd Roman authors give the name
Jupiter Bdia to the Bel W
shipped at Babylon, and wfc 4
may have meant the planet *
piter.
Baal-gad, \ city in the v* y
of Lebanon. Josh. 11 : 17. 4e-
cent travellers regard it as er^
tainly the Heliopolis of the Greeks.
It is called by the natives Baal-
bek. It was a city of great splen-
dor for some centuries, but fell
into decay about the time of Con.
stantine. It was sacked by the
kalif of Damascus A. D. 740, and
in 1400 was pillaged by Timour
Beg. It is now a village of 2000
inhabitants, but its superb ruins
are the admiration of travel-
lers.
Babel. In the year of tho
world 1758, that is, 102 yean
after the flood, mankind being aU
of one language and religion, they
agreed to erect a tower of pro-
digious extent and height. Their
design was not to secure them-
selves against a second delude, or
they would have built their tower
on a high mountain ; but to get
themselves a famous character,
and to prevent their dispersion
by the erection of a monument
which should be visible from a
great distance. No quarries being
found in that alluvial soil, they
made bricks, and used slime for
mortar. Their haughty and re-
bellious attempt displeased the
Lord, and after they had worked",
it is said, twenty-two years, he
confounded their language. This
effectually stopped the building,
procured it the name of Babel, ci
Confusion* and obliged the off
BAB
29
fpring of Noah to disperse them-
selves, and replenish tho world.
Geographers are not able cer-
tainly to identity the tower of
Babe with any existing ruins ;
but i; is generally believed to be
the shapeless mass of the Bin,
Nimrud, of which a drawing is
given below.
Bab'vlon, the name of the
capital of Chaldea, and often
given to the whole empire. Isa.
12 : 911. It was a city of as-
tonishing magnificence, built per-
fectly square, with the streets
running at right angles. The
Euphrates ran through the midst,
from north to south. The statue
of Jupiter Belus, in the great
temple, here, is thought to have
been the same that Nebuchadnez-
xar erected in the plain of Dura.
Dan. 3. The famous " hanging
gardens," as they are termed, did
not hang literally, but were a
succession of terraces raised on
arches of increasing height, till
they reached the level of the top
of the city wall, which was 300
feet high. Nimrod founded the
3*
city ; Belus enlarged ft ; and
Nebuchadnezzar perfectei and
beautified it. During the reigi
of this monarch, Judea was an-
nexed to the territory of Babylon,
iuid the chief men withdrawn
^oce, and settled in Babylonia
This occurred about A. M. 3420,
and is called in Jewish histo-
ry the Babylonish
Captivity. Baby-
lon was afterwards
captured and rav-
aged by Cyrus, A.
M. 3408 ; and was
subsequently still
more injured by
Darius and Xerxes
In the time of our
Saviour, it had
been wholly aban
doned. The course
of the Euphrates
is now changed, and the spot on
which Babylon stood was for ages
unknown ! It has lately been
identified by the traveller Lay-
ard. See Isa. 13, 14, 21, 46, and
47. Jer. 50. The striking ac-
complishment of prophecy in the
conquest, decline, and desolation
of Babylon, is shown in a very
interesting manner by Rollin, in
his Ancient History, Vol. II. A
chief cause of the total ruin of
5*bylon was the building of Se-
ieucia, 45 miles southward, on the
banks of the Tigris. This city was
sometimes called New Babylon
It became the capital of Babylo
nia, and in time utte.ly sup
planted the old city ; the bricks,
to., being removed to build
'with
BAD
80
BAL
Here the famous Babylonish
TALMUD* was compiled.
Babylon the Great is a sym-
bolical term, used in the New
Testament, chiefly in the Revela-
tions ; generally considered to
mean Rome, 1 Pet. 5 : 13, or the
popish church and kingdom, Rev.
16, 17, and 18.
Bafit, the mulberry-tree ; a
valley so called, Ps. 84 : 7, where
this tree alx, u uded, which grows
in dry places. The LXX. render
it the valley of weeping, and the
Latin Vulgate the valley of tears.
It does not seem to mean a par-
ticular valley, but any rough,
tedious, desert place. Those who,
"passing the valley of Baca,
make it a well," mi an either
those who, in coining up to the
annual festivals, esteem the sad-
dest part of their journey pleas-
ant, in their longing for the
courts of the Lord, or who, to
facilitate future travellers, dig
wells, or pools, to be filled by the
rains.
Backslider, one who gradually
falls back from his religious ardor
and engagements. When this
becomes total, it is called apostasy.
Prov. 14 : 14. Jer. 8 : 5. For
a full and searching exhibition
of the scriptural symptoms, causes
and remedy of backsliding, se9
the Backslider, by Mr. Fuller.
Badger, a well-known animal,
mentioned many times in the Old
* The Jews have two Talmuda, one
1 V/H, the otlier of li,t> ,,l,,n, SO
:C8 \vliere they
ure compilations
Testament. The word literallj
means hyacinth, or violet color
The probability is, that the badgei
is not meant in any of the pas
sages where the word is found.
Its skin is not suitable for cover-
ing a tent, nor for making shoes.
Ezek. 16 : 10. It inhabits cold
countries, and is not found in
Arabia. The great probability
is, that, as Rosenmuller and
others contend, the seal is meant
Ex. 26 : 14. Numb. 4 : 625.
Ba'laam, an ancient prophet,
who became very wicked, and
practised incantations. Numb.
22, 23, 24. He counselled Moab
to seduce Israel to sin, that they
might bring that curse on them-
selves which he could not inflict.
Numb*. 31 : 16. To be anxious
to get gain, even by wickedness,
is called " the way of Balaam."
2 Pet. 2 : 15. Allowing of un
cleanness, is called " the doctrine
of Balaam." Rev. 2 : 14.
Balm, a resin or balsam, ex
tracted from the balm-tree, which
grows in various parts of Arabia
and Canaan. The estimation in
which it was held as a medical
drug, is not only apparent from
Scripture, but Pliny, Strabo,
Diodorus Siculus, Tacitus, Jus-
tin, Solinus, and others, celebrate
its virtues as such.
Qilead was reckoned
That
the b
of
The Arabs sold of it to the Egyp-
tians, and the Jews to the Tyri.
ans. Gen. 37 : 25. Ezek 27 :
17. Its specific gravity is liguter
than water. The fcute is bitter
* D 10DgCr Culfcivated ?*
I estine. But so lately a* 17S6
BAP
Si
BAB
Mariti saw it growing in the
plain of Jericho, and d-
the process of obtaining the bai-
eaiLi. It appears to be the tere-
binths, or turpenti.ie tree.
Bald, literally " a cord," any
tie ; also, a company of soldiers ;
when applied to the Roman divis-
ions, it means the thirtieth part
of a legion.
Baptism. 1. A Christian or-
dinance, in which is represented
the washing away of our guilt
and renovation of our life, through
a crucified, buried, and risen Sa-
viour. Rom. 6 : 3, 4, 11.
2. The entire engrossing of
the apostles and others in the
primitive church, by the divine
Spirit, which filled the place
where they were, and by which
they received miraculous endow-
ments. This species of baptism
is not now enjoyed by Christians,
as is evinced by their not possess-
ing the powers which always
accompanied it.
3. Overwhelming afflictions or
trials. Matt. 20: 22. Luke 12:
50.
" Baptism, for the dead," is a
very obscure expression. Chry-
sostorn and Theophylact regard
it as meaning " in the belief of
the resurrection of the dead."
Numerous learned critics under-
stand it as meaning " on account
jf the dead," that is, Christ
lertullian, the oldest writer who
gives an opinion on this subject,
understands tho word " for " as
equivalent to *' on account of"
the daad, that is, '.hey, the bap-
tized persons, had a guarantee,
or emblem, jf theii resurrection
in tho act of sinking under and
rising up from the \v;u
Hi to this rite in behalf
of the dead, was practised, it is
thought, by the Alarcionites,*
in the days of tho apostles. This
sect denied the resurrection of
the body, and Paul is thought to
turn his argument against them
by his question, 1 Cor. 15 : 29.
Bapti/e. 1. To dip or hnrnera*.
2. To wash, cleanse, or purify by
immersion. The word has been
incorporated into our language
with an English termination
Had the word been translated
into plain English in our Bible,
there would now perhaps bo no
controversy on the mode of bap-
tism. Matt. 28 : 19. John 4 :
2. Acts 2 : 41 ; 8 : 12 ; 9 : 18 ;
10 : 47, &o
Barbarian, literally " a stran
ger; " a term used by the Greeks,
Romans, and Jews, respectively,
to designate all those belonging
to other nations. It contains nc
implication (as used in Scripture)
of savage nature or manners in
those to whom it is applied.
Acts 28 : 4.
Barley, a well-known grain,
anciently used for cattle, and to
make coarse bread. 1 Kings 4 :
28. 2 KingB 4 : 22. John 6 : 8
10. It is still used very gen-
erally for the latter purposes in
Wales. Pliny eays barley was
* Followers of MARCION, a chri>tiau
ol the si-cund century, who
heinu disappolB .'<! in his b
iical preferment at Hume,
united with Cerdo in establishing a
BEA
82
BEL
uhe most ancient food of man-
kind. It was used in tbe cere-
monial offerings. Nuinb. 5 : 15.
Bartholomew, literally "the
ion of Ptolemy," one of the
twelve. Matt. 10 : 3. It is
thought he preached the gospel
in the Indies. He is probably
4he same with Nathaniel. John
I : 46, and 21 : 2.
Ba'shan, or BATAN.EA, one of
the most fruitful countries in the
world, lying chiefly within the
tot of Manasseh, eastward of
Jordan. Numb. 32 : 33. Besides
Tillages, it contained sixty fenced
jities. It was peculiarly famous
for its rich pasture, excellent
flocks and herds, and stately
oaks. Ezek. 39 : 18.
Bath, a Hebrew measure con-
taining one tenth part of a ho-
mer, that is, seven or eight gall.
It seems to be the same as the
Epha.
Bay-tree, the tree laurel, from
which conquerors' wreaths were
made by the ancients. It is a
large and elegant tree ; and be-
longs to the same genus with the
camphor, cinnamon and sassafras.
Us leaves are stiff, shining, point-
ed, and evergreen. Flowers fra-
grant, fruit worthless. Ps 37 :
35.
Bdellium is usually considered
to be a fragraat gum, produced
In the East. Bochart considers
it to be the pearl ; Roland calls
it crystal. Gen. 2 : 12. Numb.
11 : 7.
Beasts were divided, by the
eremouial law, iuto clean and
unclean. The former wre all
those which had the hoof par*d
in the middle, and chewed the
cud. Lev. 11 : 34. This dis-
tinction, it is thought, prevailed
even before the flood. The clear
fat of all beasts was forbidden as
food, as was the blood in all
cases, on pain of death. For
this last reason, animals which
had died of themselves, or been
strangled, were not eaten, noi
those which had been torn bj
impure beasts. Lev. 11.
The word "beasts" in Rev.
4 : 5, <fec., should have been
living creatures ;" and tho
original is so rendered, in other
places. Ezek. 1 : 5. Paul, when
he says he fought with beasts at
Ephesus, may mean ferocious
men, who persecuted him. 1 Cor.
15 : 22.
Bed. Familiar as this word is,
few understand its Bible mean-
ing. Feather beds and hair mat-
trasses, such as we use, are never
meant by this word in Scripture.
The bed of a common person
in the East, such as those whom
Christ healed, and told to take
up their bed and walk, is nothing
more than apiece of floor matting^
used both to sit and sleep upon.
Rich persons used pillows, to
assist in sitting comfortably by
leaning on their elbows.
This explains many passages
of Scripture ; as Esther 7:8,-
Hainan fell on the mat where
Esther was sitting. It explains,
also, all those passages which
speak of washing or baptizing
beds. E;.ek. 13 : 18 means " woe
BEH
83
BEL
to those who accommodate luxu-
rious temptations to the taste of
every sort of person to seduce
him from rectitude, or quiet his
conscience in the commission of
crime. See PILLOW.
Bccl'zelmb, the prince of flies,
or god of Ekron, worshipped as
having power over all hurtful
insects. The name is applied in
the New Testament to Satan.
Matt. 10 : 25 ; 12 : 24. Luke
11 : 1519.
Beer'sheba, a city in the
southern extremity of Canaan,
as Dan was in the northern.
Honce the expression " from Dan
to Beersheba," which often occurs
in the Bible, meant the whole
land.
Beetle, a genus of insets, of
w%ich there are many species.
The Egyptians paid it divine
honors, and we still find its image
on their obelisks. It is men-
tioned only in Lev. 11 : 22.
Behemoth. Sacred critics are
not agreed whether this is the
elephant or hippopotamus Ele-
phants are K> often exhibited
through the country, that it is
needless to describe them here.
The hippopotamus is shown in ttM
engraving.
Belroot, or BAYROUT, is a
place which, though not men-
tioned in Scripture, deserves a
place here, from its having be-
come the chief seat of the Amer
ican mission to the Holy Land.
It is a seaport on the Mediterra-
nean, 14 miles north-east of
Sidon, and 137 miles nprth from
Jerusalem- and has 8,000 inhab-
itants. The Romanists have long
maintained A mission here, as
they have als * in other parts of
this country
Beka, a half shekel, from a
Hebrew word which means to
divide. Its value was twenty -five
cents. Every Jew paid a beka
annually for the support of the
temple. Exod. 30 : 13.
Bel 5 the principal god of the
Assyrians, Persians, and Baby-
lonians. The same god is called
Nebo, Isa. 46 : 1, from the He-
brew word Neba, to prophesy, be-
cause it was consulted as &a
oracle. Bel is probably an ab-
breviation of Baal.
Belial, literally
" a wicked, headstrong
man." An appella-
tion of Satan.
Believe, to have a
firm trust and con-
fidence in the truth
of a report. To be-
lieve the gospel, if
to have a full per-
suasion of the divine authority
of its doctrines, and a determined
resolution, by the grace of God
BER
34
BET
tc obey its precepts; to re-
ceive, and rely upon Christ for
life and salvation. John 1 :
12. Rom. 9 : 33 A bare assent
to gospel truths is sometimes
called belief. Acts 8 : 13.
Belshaz'zar, a profligate king
of Babylon, who reigned 17
years, and was killed by some
soldiers of Darius, on the night
of bis guilty feast. Dan. 5.
His kingdom thenceforth passed
to the Medes and Persians.
Bere'a, a city of Macedonia,
very populous in the days of
Paul. Acts 17. It now bears
the name of Vena.
Beriii'ce, the daughter of
AGRIPPA the Great. She was
first betrothed to MARK, son of
Alexander, governor of the Jews
at Alexandria. She, however,
married her own uncle, HEROD,
king of Chalcis. After his death,
she married POLEMON, king of
Pontus, but left him, and, re-
turning to Agri.ppa,
her brother, lived
with him in in- jpv
cest. They sat with
pomp to hear Paul
preach. Acts 25. ^
Ber'yl, a gem, re- -^
Bembling in many
points the emerald.
Its size varies ex-
ceedingly ; some
being not larger
than a hair, while
some have been
found a foot long,
and three or four
inches in diameter. The ordi-
aarv aizo is about that of a large
pea. The color is a fine blue,
often bordering on green. In ita
perfect state, it is about as hard
as the garnet. Found in the
East Indies and South America.
Bestead, an obsolete word foi
conditioned or disposed. Isa. 8 * 21.
Bethany, a village two milei
east from Jerusalem, on the road
to Jericho.
Bethel, literally " the house of
God." The place which was sa
named by Jacob, Genesis 28: 19,
was where Abram had pitched
his tent. Gen. 12 : 8. Jacofe
afterwards resided here. Gen.
35 : 6. It afterwards became
the site of an important city.
Though it was called Luz when
Abram dwelt there, Moses called
it Bethel, because, in his day, it
was only known by that name
It was about ten miles nc> jh of
Jerusalem.
Bethes'da, a pool on tho eas/
of Jerusalem. The name sigo*
I fies "a house of mercy j" flc
I calk J because a public bath vai
BET
86
BIB
tare erected, or because God
graciously bestowed healing vir-
tue on the pool. As it/ lay near
the temple, the sacrifices might
be washed in it ; but it did not
thence derive its virtue. John
5:9. A basin in Jerusalem,
360 feet long and 130 wide, now
dry, is generally pointed out as
tho pool of Bethesda, and
though Dr. Robinson doubts its
identity, more recent travellers
leem to have proved the point.
Beth'heroa, a city 12 miles
wtth-west from Jerusalem.
Bethlehem, "the house of
bread," a city of Judah, about
six miles south of Jerusalem.
It is also called Ephratah and
Ephrath, its inhabitants Ephrath-
ites, from its founder. It was
considerable only for giving
birth to Ibzan, Elimelech, Boaz,
David, and chiefly to the Messi-
ah. Mic. 5:2. It now con-
tains 1000 inhabitants, most of
whom are nominal Christians.
Its present name is Beet-la-hm.
Beth'phage, a place of Jigs,"
o small village belonging to the
priests. It was hard by Bethany,
and nearly two miles east of
Jerusalem. Here our Saviour
obtained the ass for his lowly
triumpli. Matt. 21 : 1.
Bethsa'ida, literally " a place
of feting;" a city of Galilee,
en the west coast of the sea of
Tiberias. It was the residence
of Philip, Andrew, and Peter.
John 1 : 14. It had a woe pro-
nouac-ed against it by Christ,
and was one of the first places
ravaged by the Romans. Matt.
11 . 21. It ia now caLwd BA
BIDA. Some think there WM
another place of this nanje, on
the opposite coast, near the en
trance of the Jordan.
eth'shetn, a city west of the
Jordan, known in ancient geog-
raphy as Scythopolis, but now
called Bysan, and containing
only 70 or 80 houses.
Bethshemesh, Jer. 43 : 16,
literally, " the house of the sun,"
was a eity of Judah, once be-
longing to the Philistines. It
was a very large and populous
city when the Ark of God was
there, in the time of Ahaz. 1
Kings 4:9. It is now a mean
village called Ain Shems.
Betroth, to contract marriage.
It was often done by parents for
young children without their
consent, and sometimes preceded
the nuptials many years.
Bewitch', to practise sorcery
upon, to mislead by delusive
pretences. Gal. 3 : 1. See SOB-
CERER.
Bewray', to betray, expose, ot
make visible.
Bible. This word, which does
not occur in Scripture, means
literally THE BOOK. An excel-
lent article on this word is found
in Buck's Theologi'.d Dictioncuy.
See SCRIPTURE.
Birds were created on the
fifth day. Like all other crea-
tures, they are wonderfully
adapted to their mode of life.
Such as chiefly fly, have very
large wings. Such as wade in
the mud, have long legs, bare of
B1R
86
BIT
feathers Such as swim, have
webbed feet. Such as bore trees
for insects, have strong round
bills Such as live on prey,
have crooked bills, to tear flesh.
Such as rise high in the air,
have eyes capable of seeing the
smallest worm from a great
height. Such as grope for their
food in the mud, where it cannot
be seen, have flat bills, with the
nerves running down to the very
end, so that they have as delicate
a sense of feeling there, as we
have in our fingers. Many other
proofs of the wisdom and good-
ness of God are found in the
study of ornithology, as this sub-
ject is called. Birds are classed
by naturalists by referring to
their bills, feet, &o. Under the
Jewish dispensation, they were
divided into clean and unclean.
It may be observed in general,
that such as fed on grain or
seeds, were clean ; while such as
ate flesh, fish, or carrion, were
prohibited. The following is a
list of the unclean : the rest
were allowed to be eaten. The
modern names are given on the
authority of Calmet's Dictionary
Eagle.
Vultur
Eagle,
Ossifrage, Vulture.
Ospray, Black Eagle,
Vulture, Hawk.
Kite, Kite.
Raven, Raven.
Owl, Ostrich.
Nlulit Hawk, Night Owl.
Cuckoo, Saf-Saf.
Hawk, Ancient Ibla.
Little Owl, Son Uull,
Cormorant, Cormorant.
(in-iit Owl, Ibis Anlea.
Swan, \Vild (ioose.
Pelican, Pelican.
Gier Eagle, Alcyone
Stork, Stork,
Heron, L.mgneck
Lapwing, Hoopoe.
Birthright, the particular
privileges enjoyed in most coun-
tries by the first-born son. In
eastern countries, especiallv
where polygamy exists, the priv
leges are important. In patri
archal ages, they were still
reater, giving a sort of domin-
ion and priesthood to the pos-
sessor.
Bishop, a shepherd, or over-
seer. In the New Testament,
the word means a spiritual over-
seer, having the charge of souls,
to instruct and guide them by
the word. It seems to be sy-
nonymous with Elder, or Pres
byter. Acts 20, compare the 17th
and 20th verses. Titus 1 : 5
7. 1 Pet. 5 : 1, 2. Tho word
is applied to Christ himself. 1
Pet. 2 : 25
Bithyu'ia, a province on the
south of the Euxine Sea, west
of Pontus and Galatia, north of
Asia Proper, and east of the
Propontis, supposed to have been
settled by Thraciana It was
formerly called Myg**Ma. It
was famed in the time of the
Argonautic expedition,* which
might be during the reign of
Rehoboam, if not earlier. The
metropolis was Nicomedia, a
city famous not only under the
kings of Bithynia, but also un-
der the emperors of Rome, par-
* The Argonautic expedition Is au
era in ancient history rendered 1m
portant by the frequency of reference
made to it by early writers. Sir Isaac
Newton labored to ascertain the exact
date of It, and thence to rectify and
settle all ancient chronology. A siif-
ncient account of this voyage may tx
found In Gillies' History of Greece, at
any Jincyclojjculia, under the word.
BIT
87
BLE
flouiarly Diocletian, who had a
palace there, the destruction of
which by fire occasioned the
tenth general persecution of
Christians. Its other important
cities were Prusa, Libyssa and
Therma. Chalcedon, an ancient
city in this country, situated on
the Bosphorus, was famous for
the ecclesiastical council which
met in it. At Nice, another of
its distinguished cities, one of
the most celebrated of all Chris-
tian councils was held, A. D.
325. At a very early period,
Christianity was here planted,
and a number of Jews and
others believed. 1 Pet. 1:1.
Pliny, who described the char-
acter of Christians, was gover-
nor here about A. D. 106. His-
torians trace a church here for
1000 years after Christ. Indeed,
there are still a few chrisu*ne
in the place. It is now called
Becksangil, and sometimes Bur-
ria.
Bif tern, a fowl of the heron
kind. It is common in fenny
countries, skulks among the
reeds and sedges, and ordinarily
stands with its neck and beak
straight upward. It suffers peo-
ple to come very near it ; and,
if unable to escape, will strike
at them. It flies mostly in the
dusk of the evening, and makea
a plaintive noise among the
reeds. Nineveh and Babylon
became a possession for the bittern,
when the spot was partly turned
Into a fen or pool of water. Ir%
U : 23, and 31 : 11. Zeph. 2 :
U.
Blaspheme, to reprowjh and
revile God, by denying or ridi-
culing his perfections, word, or
ordinances, and by ascribing to
him anything base or sinful
Tit. 2 : 6. Rev. 13 : 6. What
the unpardonable blasphemy
against the Holy Ghost is, hai
been much controverted. The
occasion of Christ's mentioning
it, Matt. 12 : 2131, has in-
duced many to think that it con-
sists only in ascribing his mir-
acles to diabolical influence ;
when we consider, also, Heb. 6
4, 6, and 10 : 2630, it appears
that an obstinate and malicious
rejection of Christ, and salva-
tion through him, notwithstand-
ing strong convictions of the
Holy Ghost, is an unpardonable
sin,,
Bless, to make happy, which
properly, is the act of God alone,
the author of every blessing.
God blesses, especially, by the
rich provision which he has
made in his glorious plan of
redemption, in the supplies of
his grace, and by the gifts of
his Holy Spirit, whereby man is
enabled to serve him acceptably
in this world, and to receive a ^
fitness for that eternal inherit-
ance in heaven, where he will
be perfectly happy in the enjoy-
ment of God forever. Thii word
is often used in an inferior sense,
and man is said to bless God,
when, with a grateful heart, he
praises him for benefits received
and lives to his glory. He may
be said to ble^s his fellow-croa
tures, whea he wishes the
BOD
88
BOO
very good, and uses his best
endeavors to promote their hap-
piness.
Blood. The Jews were for-
bidden to eat blood. Various
reasons seem to have rendered
this proper and necessary. It
is a most unwholesome food,
in a hot country. It seems to
tend to cruelty. It was "the
life " of the animal. Lev. 17 :
11, and so Virgil calls it. ENEID
IX. 349 It was then common,
and still is, in those countries, to
bleed animals, and cook the
blood for food. The Irish and
Scotch, in times of famine, do
so now. But this is cruel, and
wisely forbidden.
Boanerges, sons of thunder.
The sons of Zebedee are called
o, because vehement in their
feelings, and powerful in their
preaching. Mark 3 : 17.
Body, the material part of
man. The term is used in Scrip-
ture to denote an organized sys-
tem of any kind. Hence we read
of the body of sin, which is to be
put off when baptized into the
death of Christ. This is to be
remembered in order to under-
stand much of the figurative
language of Paul relative to
Christian experience and sancti-
fication. It signifies, also, the
church of God, which is the
mystical body of Christ. 1 Cor.
10 : 17. Col. 1 : 18. In the
Lord's supper, the bread is
called the body of Christ, tnat
Is, the representation of his
body, and is received as a me-
morial of bis sufferings, and the
pledge of all the benefits par
chased by his death.
Boll'ed, a word which occur*
but once in the Bible, namely,
Ex. 9: 31, "The flax was
boiled," which seems to mean
that it was nearly ripe, and the
round seed-vessels fully devel-
oped.
Bonnet, a covering for the
head of Hebrew priests, mad&
of linen, somewhat in the form
of a turban. That of the high
priest was adorned with gold
and fronted with the plate
inscribed "HOLINESS TO THK
LORD." Ex. 28 : 40.
Book, a volume written or
printed. The different parts of
Scripture are called books. They
were at first written and circu-
lated separately, sotn<w*4*t as
tracts are now. Formerly, plates
of lead and copper, the bark of
trees, thin bricks, stone, and
wood, were used to write upon
Hesiod's works were written on
lead ; God's law on stone ; and
the laws of Solon on planks.
When these last were used, they
were generally covered with a
thin coat of wax, for ease both
in writing and in blotting out.
which explains the expression
of David when he prays that hii
sins may be blotted out as a
cloud, that is, the record of
them. Palm leaves, being more
convenient as to bulk and por-
tableness. were afterwards made
into books, and are still so used
in India. Then the thin inner
bark of trees, especially the
elm; hence the Latin wcjrd
BOO I
Wer f te inner bark of a tree),
mans also a book. Afterwards
the Papyrus, or " .
was used. Isa. 19 : 7
m** was afterwards invented in
Pergamos. Books of these two
last substances were rolled on
ticks like cloth, and hence the
word volume, from the Latin word
volvo, to roll. It was held and
read in tlio manner here shown.
A book thus rolled might hare
several seals, so that a pnoa
might break one and read oil
' he came to another ; whereas,
if one of our books had several
sealSj all would be broken if one
were. This explains Rev. 5.
Paper, such as we now use, was
invented about nine hundred
years ago, 'and printing was in-
vented about four hundred years
go. See PAPER.
Book OF LIFE signifies God's
recognition of his people, and
his secure remembrance of them,
and ii an allusion to the regis-
ters kept in cities of the names
of all tbe regular citizens. Phil.
4:3. Honorable persons, not
citizens, were sometimes entered
here, which was giving the frce-
dcm of the city. Vagabonds
> BOT
and disorderly persons had thelf
names erased. Rev. 3 : 5.
Booth, a shelter generally
made of forked poles driven
into the ground, covered with
green boughs. Lev. '23 : 42
During the feast of tabernacles
the Jews resorted to the country
and set up booths, in commemc
ration of the desert wanderings
of their forefathers. Neh. 8 :
14. This was a very joyous
festival, occurring in the fall
of the year amidst all abun-
dance, and intended to be
gladsome in the utmost de-
gree. Nearly the whole
population left their houses,
and, for several days, dwelt
in bootna and tents, with
processions, illuminations,
feasts, songs, and religious
services.
Border, a fringe or tassel
made of wool, and worn by the
Jews on their outer garments,
in order that they might be dis-
tinguished from the Gentiles,
and be constantly reminded of
their laws. Mark 6 : 56. See
PHYLACTERIES.
Bosses, the thick, strong, and
sometimes pointed centre of a
shield or buckler. Job 15 : 26.
Bottle. Anciently, bottles
were made of leather, as glass
was unknown. The skin of a
goat, pulled off whole, and the
places where the legs were being
tied up, formed a convenient bo
tie, as shown by the engraving
As they grew tender by using,
new wine, which had net done
fermenting, could not be safely
8BA <
put in them. Matt. 9 : 17
David, in distress, compares
himself to a bottle in the smoke,
dried up and withered. Ps.
119 : 83.
a word used formerly
eery much as we now use the
word heart ; that is, to represent
tenderness, mercy, &c. 1 Kings
3 : 26, <fcc.
Bozrah was a city situated to
the eastward of Bashan.
Brass, a word of frequent oc-
currence in the Bible. As it is
well known that this compound
metal was first made in Germany,
only six or seven hundred years
ago, it seems much more proper
to translate the Hebrew word
ne hest, copper. Iron and copper
were known before the flood.
There was a compound, very
unlike ours, called brass, made
in early times, and highly val-
ued. It consisted chiefly of gold
and silver, with some copper.
It was capable of an exquisite
polish for mirrors, and may be
the substance mentioned Job
37 : 18, and Isa. 2 : 3. Josephus
Bpeaka of " vessels of brass,
valuable than gold."
J BBE
" ConntJtian brass" Tthich was
for ages held in the highest es
timation, may have been such a
compound.
Bread is a word used in Scrip-
ture for food in general. Gen.
3 : 19. Ex. 2 : 20. Bread was
made in various ways. See
OVEN. As it was generally made
by the Jews in thin cakes* it
was not cut but broken, which
gave rise to the phrase, " break-
ing of bread,*' to signify eating.
See SHEW-BREAD.
Breaa-plate, a part of the
high-priest's holy apparel. It
was about 10 inches square, and
consisted of twelve gems, set in
gold, each gem representing a
tribe of Israel. They were set
in four rows. In the uppermost
were a sardius, topaz, and car-
buncle, for Reuben, Simeon, and
Levi ; in the second, an eme-
rald, sapphire, and diamond, for
Judah, Dan, and Naphtali ; in
the third, a ligure, an agate,
and amethyst, for Gad, Asher,
and Issachar ; in the lowest, a
beryl, onyx, and jasper, for
Zebulon, Joseph, and Benjamin.
The reader will find these stonea
described under their respective
names This breast-plate was
fastened to the embroidered
ephod of the high priest, so as
to hang upon his bosom, and
was ' worn only on appointed
occasions. It was called a " me-
mortal^' because it taught the
priest to bear his people on his
heart before God, and reminded
the people of the blessing of tha
ministry
CAB 4
Bl'IjT'andllM 1 , an ancient kind
of mail, worn in battle, t
the soldiers from sword-cuts.
Jer. 46 : 4.
Brother is a term used in
Scripture for several kinds of
relations. Lot, who was Abra-
ham's nephew, was called broth-
er. So in many other instances.
Bulrush. See PAPER
Burnt-offering. A " whole
burnt-offering " was a sacrifice
in which the victim was wholly
consumed on the altar. A
" burnt-offering " was the fat of
the intestines and kidneys, and
the fat tail of sheep, burnt after
being sprinkled with salt. The
right fore quarter was the por-
tion of the priest, and the rest
was given back to the offerer,
who commonly ate it as a feast,
and invited widows, orphans,
Levites, Ac., to partake.
Bury. The Hebrews were
careful to bury even their ene-
mies. 1 Kings 11 : 15. Ezek.
39 : 14. The troublesome pollu-
tion of dead bodies required it.
To be deprived of burial, or cast
into an unclean place, they
reckoned a terrible calamity.
When one died, if his friends
were able, ho was embalmed,
and, after a proper time, carried
out to hi* grave ; on a bier if
poor, or ou a stately bed, if rich.
Dead bodies were arrayed in
suitable clothes ; but from the
resurrection of Lazarus, and
other evidence, it appears they
were not buried in coffins. The
Jews sometimes, but not often,
burned their dead. 1 Sam. 31:12.
With the Greeks and Romans it
was the most common mode ;
but in the earliest ages, all na-
tions buried the dead, regarding
the earth as the most fit recep-
tacle.
To be "buried viith Christ in
baptism " imports our mortifica-
tion of sin, by virtue of fellow-
ship with him in his death,
represented in our baptism.
The apostle would say, that just
as Christ closed his mortal ex-
istence, and was laid in the
tomb, soon to rise from thence,
and enter on a new and glorifief
state, so, the baptismal burial
of the believer is an emblem of
his renouncing the great pur-
pose of his past life, and coming
forth into a new and more ex-
alted state of being. Horn. 6 :
4. Col. 2 : 12.
C.
Cab, or KAB, a Hebrew meas-
ure, about equal tr Tur quart.
2 Kings 6 : 25. In giving the
capacity of Hebrew measures,
authors are followed who seem
most reasonable ; but
4*
it ia
subject on which rats great
uncertainty.
C*ar, a name which, after
becoming dignified in the person
of Julius Cosor, waa the appel-
lation of his successors on tho
CMS
42
CAL
throne The emperors mentioned
or alluded to by this title in the
New Testament, are AUGUSTUS,
Luke 2:1; TIBERIUS, Luke 3 :
1, and 20 : 2225 ; CLAUDIUS,
Acts 11 : 28 ; and NERO, Acts
25 : 8. The reader will do well
to look out these passages, and
where the distinctive title is not
found in the text, to write it in
the margin of his Bible. It is
remarkable that CALIGULA, who
succeeded Tiberius, is not men-
tioned.
CKSare'a is on the coast of the
Mediterranean, about sixty miles
from Jerusalem. Anciently, it
was a small town, called Stra-
tonice, or the Tower of Strata,
and had an inconvenient, ex-
posed harbor. 7 Herod the Great
built a noble breakwater, en-
larged and beautified the place,
and called it Caesarea, in honor
of the emperor, his patron.
Eusebius, the historian, was born
hero. Here Cornelius lived,
Acts 10 : 1 ; here Agrippa was
smitten of worms ; and here
Agabus foretold Paul's impris-
onment. Acts 21 : 10, 11. This
is the Caesarea mentioned also
in the following places : Acts
8:40 ; 9: 30 ; 12: 19 ; 21 : 8;
23 : 23, 33 , 25 : 4, 13. It is
now deserted and desolate , and
its ruin? have long been reported
to for building material/ re-
quired at Accko. The name of
the place, at the present time, is
Kaisaria.
Caesare'a Philip'pl stood be-
tween Sidon and Damascus, near
the ft' trees *f the Jordan. It
is thought by many geographer*
to be the city called Laish, or
Dan, in the Old Testament. 14
was enlarged and embellished
by Philip the Tetrarch ; and
hence its double name, he
choosing to honor Tiberius Owear
and himself. It was th& resi-
dence of the woman healed of
the issue of blood. Matt. 9 :
20. It is now an inconsiderable
village, called Banias.
Cal'ainu.. ? fragrant reed or
cane, common in the East, and
growing to the height of two or
three feet Its essence consti-
tuted one of the ingredients of
the holy anointing oil. Ex. 30 :
23. Ezek. 27 : 19.
Calf. The passage, Jer. 34 :
18, 19, contains a very obscure
allusion to the calf, which ia
made plain by knowing that in
ratifying a covenant, it was cus-
tomary to cut the victim, gener-
ally a calf, into two parts, and
the parties passed between them,
Hence the covenant, in the above
passage, was said to be made
" in presence of the calf."
Calling. (1.) Any lawful
employment. 1 Cor. 7 : 20.
(2.) The general invitation to
repentance, by the ministry, bj
providence, or by the motion!
of the Holy Spirit on the con-
sciences of men, whereby they
are warned of their danger, and
taught the need of a Saviour.
Isa. 22: 12. Matt. 22: 14.
(3.) That more particular invi-
tation by the preaching of the
word, and effectual operation of
the Holy Spirit, whereby sinneri
CAM
43
CAM
turn, believe, and obey the go- | ites ; on the north, the Mer*r-
pi. Rom. 11 : 29.
Calvary, or GOLGOTHA, "the
Place of Skill*." A small hill,
on the north sile of Alt. Zion. so
called cither from its being in the
shape of a man's head, or because
it was a place of execution, which,
among the Romans as well as
Jews, was often done by behead-
ing. Jud. 9 : 5. Matt. 14 : 10.
The empress Helena built a noble
church on this spot, which still
exists.
Camel) an animal belonging to
the same genus as the dromedary,
lama and pacos. It is a native
of Asia, lives between forty and
fifty years, subsists on poor and
scanty herbage, endures aston-
jhing labors and intense heat,
can go for many days without
water, and is extremely docile
and patient. Of the coarse part
of its hair sackcloth is made, Rev.
6 : 12, and very coarse raiment,
guch as was worn by John Bap-
tist, and is now worn by the Der-
vishes of the East. Of the finest
parts, beautiful shawls, <fec., are
nade. It is. the great dependence
of the Arabs, for food, clothing
and labor. No other animal
could at all supply its place.
Job, after his affliction, had six
thousand camels.
Camp* In the camp of the
Hebrews in the desert, the taber-
nacle was placed in the midst.
Mtmori, Aaron, and tb- 1 - families,
had their tents on tht, ast of it,
which was considered the front.
Dn the south pitched the Kohati-
He a ; on tho west, the Gorahcn-
ites. Thus it was eiicomp&Me4
by the Levites. In front of the
tents of the priests, on tho east,
was the camp of Judah, Issachar
and Zebulon ; on the south, of
Reuben, Simeon and Gad ; on the
west, of Ephraim, Manasseh and
Benjamin ; on the north, of Dan,
Asher, and Naphtali. Before
commencing a march, which was
only when the cloud moved from
over the tabernacle, the people
had three warnings by the silver
trumpets ; one, to pack up bag-
gage ; a second, to assemble to
the standards ; and a third to
begin the march. The camp of
Judah marched first ; the taber-
nacle was then taken down ; and
the Gershonites and Merarites,
laying the various materials on
wagons, followed. Next the
camp of Reuben marched ; the
Kohathites followed with the
more sacred furniture of tho
tabernacle on their shoulders.
Next fallowed Ephraim ; and
Dan brought up the rear. Numb
1, 2, 4, 10
Camphire, a white, translu-
cent, vegetable product, of a
highly fragrant odor, and aro-
matic taste. It is procured frons
two species of trees, one of which
grows in Japan ; the other, from
which the best and largest por
lion of the drug is obtained,
givyjvs wild in Borneo and Su-
matra. These trees are of the
laurel species, but of astonishing
magnitude, some attaining a
height of two hundred feet.
The blossoms diffuse a powerful
CAN
CA*
tnd delicious fragrance, and are
much used to adorn baths and
iwellings. Turkish and Egyp-
tian ladies use the powder of the
dried leaves to give a red tinge
to their nails, a practice of great
antiquity.
Ca'nat There were two places
of this name without Galilee, one
in Asher, Josh. 19 : 28, the other
in Ephraim, 16 : 8 ; 17 : 9 ; and
one within Galilee, about four
miles north of Nazareth, whence
Christ went down to Capernaum.
John 2 : 12 ; 4 : 46. The latter
still exists, though a small vil-
lage of only 60 houses. Half of
the inhabitants are Christians of
the Greek church.
Ca'naan, the Scripture name
of what is now called PALESTINE,
or the HOLY LAND. Its name
was derived from Canaan, whose
posterity settled here, and re-
mained for about seven hundred
years. Beco dng enormously
corrupt, they were devoted to
destruction, and their land given
to Israel. Its conquest is re-
corded in the book of Joshua,
Ac., after which it was called
The land of Israel.'* Its boun-
daries, as generally laid down,
we Lebanon on the north, Arabia
n the east, Idumea on the south,
and the sea on the west I T nder
David and Solomon, its extent
was greatly increased, by the
lonquest of Ammon, Moab, Edom,
Ac. 1 Kings 4 : 21 24. It was
ft most beautiful and fertile coun-
try, and the Jews n^xltiplied in
It to an astonishing degree.
Under Rehoboam, a dreadful
rending asunder of the kingdou
took place, which male Judah
ind Benjamin one kingdom, and
the remaining ten tribes another.
1 Kings 12. Jerusalem contin-
ued the metropolis of Judah and
Benjamin ; and this kingdom
adhered to the true God, and his
proper worship. Samaria became
the metropolis of Israel, and that
people worshipped golden calves
at Bethel and Dan. These sepa-
rate kingdoms were often at war,
to their unspeakable detriment,
and were often devastated by
foreign enemies. At last, about
B. c. 721, Israel was entirely
overthrown by Shaluianeser, king
of Assyria, after it had stood
about 254 years, and has never
since been restored. Judah sur-
vived as a kingdom about 130
years longer, and was then, B. c.
590, entirely conquered by Nebu-
chadnezzar, king of Babylon, who
carried away with him the most
important of the people.
After a captivity of seventy
years, they returned gradually ;
their temple and city, which had
laid in ruins, were rebuilt, and
they enjoyed peace as a province
of Persia. When that monarchy
was overthrown by Alexander,
Judea (as the whole of Caraan
was then called) submitted to
the conqueror. After Alexander*!
death, this country was some-
times sulject to Syria, and some-
tunes to Egypt, and for a time
asserted and maintained its in-
dependence under John llyrcanua
and his successors. It however
was forced* about B. o, 63, by
CAN
CAP
Pompey, to submit to the victo-
rious Romans, who divided it into
provinces, and set rulera over
them. These provinces, at the
time of Chri-it, were Judea, Sa-
maria, and Galilee. There was
also a province on the north,
called Percea, and one on the
south, called Idumea, which were
considered as belonging to Pales-
tine. It continued thus, in pos-
session of much peace and pros-
perity, for many years, during
which the temple was rebuilt
with great magnificence, and in
its courts and the renovated
streets the Saviour taught, and
wrought his wondrous miracles.
The infatuated Jews, however,
after crucifying their Messiah,
became unquiet and mutinous,
and drew on themselves the ven-
geance of the Romans, who, un-
jer Titus, destroyed Jerusalem,
A. D. 70, and terminated wholly
the existence of the Jews as a
nation.
Since that period, Israelites
have been found in almost every
commercial part of the world, and
not a few have ever continued on
the soil of their forefathers ; but
their once beautiful land has been
constantly suffering under the
horrors of servitude and frequent
irars. The Saracens, crusaders,
Mamelukes, and Turks, have
ruled it in succession ; and under
these last masters, who have pos-
sessed it since the year 1317, its
sterility and desolavion have con-
stantly increased. Ita onee unhie
cities are now poo: village* tuti
most of its former villagw art
utterly extinct.
The territory is now divided
into two districts, namely, ACHK,
comprising the seaboard, and
DAMASCUS, embracing the re-
mainder ; each of which is gov-
erned by a pacha, or bashaw. Th
population is now very mixed,
ouiisi^ting of Turks (who hold
the chief offices), Syrians, Bedouin
Arabs, Jews, Copts, Druses, and
Christians. The last are, gen-
erally, Roman Catholics, Greeks
and Armenians. Many monks
reside here, and most of the chief
towns have convents. Several
denominations of Christians have
maintained missions here for some
Cane. See CALAMUS.
Canticles* See SONG OF SOLO
now.
Caper naum, a principal city
of Galilee It stood on the west-
ern shore of the Sea of Tiberias,
in the border of Zebulon and
Naphtali, not far from Bethsaida.
and received its name from a
clear fountain adjacent. Here
Christ resided and taught, and
here Matthew was called. It il
now called Talhume.
CaphtOF is thought by Bochart
to be the same as Cappadocia i
but by Calmet to be Crete. Deut
2: 23.
Cappado'dft, a province in the
north-eastern part of Asia Minor,
peopled by the descendants of
Togarmah, and once forming part
of the kingdom of I<ydia. It
was famous for horses, mule* and
CAR
CAR
flocks ; and traded in these with
the Tynans. Ezek. 27 : 14.
According to Herodotus, it sub-
mitted to the Medes, and then to
the Persians, parts of whose \\ or-
ship the inhabitants incorporated
w?t- "heir own idolatry. It after-
ward formed part of the vas
Roman empire. Christianity was
introduced here in the days of
the apostles, Acts 2 : 9, and con
tinues to this day. At the vil
lage of Dacora, in this province,
was born Eunowius the Arian.
Some of its early pastors were
very distinguished for piety and
learning.
Captivity, the state of a per-
son who is at the command of
another. God often punished the
vices and infidelity of his people
by the different captivities into
which they were permitted to fall.
The most remarkable instances
are the Assyrian captivity, 2
Kings 18 : 912, and the Baby-
lonish captivity, Jer. 25 : 12. It
is generally believed that there
was no return from the former
captivity, and that the ten tribes
never came back again after their
dispersion. Christ " led captimty
captive," Eph. 4:8; that is, our
Lord, by his victory over death,
Satan and sin, conquered and
triumphed over all our spiritual
jnemies and oppressors. Ps. 68 :
18 Rom. 7 : 23. 2 Tim. 2 :
26.
CarTmncIc, a gem next in
value to the diamond. It is
rarely found, and (as yet) only
la the East Indies. It is of a
bright red color, shiaing in tht
dark, commonly of the size of a
small pea. Ezek. 28 : 13. It
wits called by the ancients antkreue,
or coal, because its appeal ance
in the sun was that of a piece of
burning coal. Its name, ecu-
bunde, has the same meaning.
Car'chemish, 2 Chron. 35 : 20,
a city of Mesopotamia, thought
to be the same as the ancient
Circesium, the modern name of
which is Kerldsh.
Care, anxious thought, or ex
traordinary, cautious concern.
Man's care is lawful when he
endeavors to please God, mourna
, for his sins, and regulates his con-
duct by the word of God ; when
he is concerned about the welfare
of others, and solicitous for the
salvation of their souls ; or when
he moderately takes thought for
the things of this present life,
resigning himself, at the same
time, to the will of God. 2 Cor.
7 : 11, 12. But it is unlawful
when he is careful about forbid-
den things, and makes " provision
for the flesh to fulfil the lusta
thereof ;" or when he has a per-
plexing care about lawful things,
to the neglect of the woiship of
God, and distrust of his provi
dence, Phil. 4 : 6.
Carmel, though genorallj
spoken of as a single mountain,
is a range of hills, ending in a
promontory, which forms the bay
of Acre. The district was famed
for fine timber and pasturage.
2 Kings 19 : 23. The cave ii
stil shewn, in which, it ts said
CA3
47
fflyah resided. There was another 115 : 50. 2 Sara. I.
Gurmel iu the lot of Jiulah. Josh. I now called El Kirtnd.
I. It h
Carnal. (1.) Things belong-
ing to the flesh ; worldly things,
such as silver and gold, and
things needful for sustaining the
body. Romans 15 : 27. 1 Cor.
9 : 11. (2.) Sensual, or gov-
erned by sensual appetites. In
this sense it is applied to such as
are in a natural, unregenerated
state, who are enemies to God,
and given to sensual pleasures.
John 3 : 6. Rom. 8 : 7. The
ceremonial law is called carnal,
because it consisted of such rites,
ceremonies, ordinances, as only
related to the body and the puri-
fying of the flesh, but did not
reach the soul. Heb. 9 : 10.
Carpus, the friend and host of
Paul, when he was at Troas. 2
Tim. 4 : 13. He is thought to
iiave been one of the seventy
disciples.
Cassia, the bark of a specie?
rf laurel, very common in Su-
matra, Malabar, and adjacen
countries ; commonly called cin-
namon. It was used with other
drugs as a perfume. Ps. 45 : 8
The name is derived from a He
brew word,which means " stripped
olf," because the bark only is
used. Ex. 30 : 24. Ezek. 17 . 19
Castor and Pollux, the fabled
sons of Jupiter. They were prob-
ably heroes who cleared the sea
of pirates, and came, in after
times, to be worshipped as deities.
The vessel Pau.' sailed in, Act*
28, had their figures carved at
the prow. Most vessels had the
image of some gud on its prow,
and to this day it is customary to
have what is called "a figure
head."
Canl, a cap, or bag. The word
is applied to a membrane which
encloses the heart, Hos. 13 : 8
and sometimes to the head-dreg*
of female*. Isa 3 : 18
CEN
48
CHA
Cedar, a tree of great size and
beauty in warm latitudes, and
much celebrated in the Scriptures
It is ar_ evergreen, of slow growth,
and the timber it produces does
cot decay when preserved from
damp. A few yet remain on
Lebanon. They were formerly
found there in t great abundance.
Bayard Taylor visited them in
the year 1852. He says, " We
descended [from the snow-capped
summit of Lebanon] over occa-
sional beds of snow, and reached
the cedars in an hour and a half.
* * * * There are about three
hundred trees in all, many of
which are of last century's
growth ; but at least fifty of them
would be considered grand in any
forest. Five of them are un-
doubtedly as old as the Christian
era, if not the age of Solomon."
Ce/dron, or KE'DRON, a small
brook, rising near Jerusalem,
passing through the valley of
Jehoshaphat, and issuing in the
Sea of Sodom. As is the case
wiib most streams in that coun-
try, vt is a rapid torrent after
rains, but dry, or nearly so, in
the midst of summer. 2 Sam.
15:23. Jer. 31:40. John 18:
I.
Cen'chrea, a port of Corinth,
Acts 18 : 18, situated on the east-
ern side of the isthmus.
Censer, a pan or urn, in which
incense was burned. It was made
in various forms. That here
represented was most common.
Where the twenty-four elders are
said to have golden vials full of
odors, Rev. 5 : 8, it seems to
mean censers, not such vial*
we now use.
Centurion, an officer who had
the command over a hundred
soldiers.
Cesare'a* See OESAREA.
Chal'cedony, a precious stone,
resembling the agate. There are
several varieties of this gem.
(1.) A pale-gray or bluish stone,
found in Saxony, Hungary, Ice-
land, Scotland, and Asiatic Bus-
sia. It seems to have been
originally obtained from Chair*.
don in Bithynia, whence it de-
rives its name. Rev. 21 : 17.
(2.) A species in which a red
hue prevails, and which is com-
monly called Cornelian It ia
found in various countries, but
chiefly in Arabia, Surat and Cam-
bay in India. (3.) There are
some with white and red alter-
nate stripes, which are callei
onyx stones.
The names given by modern
lapidaries to many jewels, are sc
different from their ancient ap-
pellations, that it is impossible to
be certain, in all casee, as to thoat
which are mentioned in Scripture.
Chaldea, a country in Asia,
eastward of the north part of
Judea. Its capital was Babylon.
It was bounded by Mesopotamia
CHA
49
CHA
en the north, and Arabia the
Desert on the west, the Persian
Gulf and part of Arabia Felix
on the south. The soil is fertile;
bat rain seldom falls, sometimes
scarcely any for eight months.
This deficiency is supplied by the
annual inundations of the Tigris
ami Euphrates. The inhabitants
laboriously water the lands which
lie too high to be overflowed. Its
ancient name was Shinar, because
the Lord, by the confusion ;f
tongues, did, as it were, t*-dte the
inhabitants out of it, to people
the rest of the world. It is now
called Kaldar.
Chaldeans. (1.) The inhab-
itants of Chaldea ; and (2.) A
sect of philosophers whose em-
ployment was to interpret dreams,
and foretell future events.
Chamois, a goat. The exact
species which is so called In tht
Scriptures, cannot now be ascer-
tained. Deut. 14 : 5.
Chapiter, an ornamental finish
to the top of a pillar. 2 Kings
25 : 17, &o.
Charger, a large dish, or, M
we should now call it, a salver, or
waiter. Numb. 7 : 17.
Charity, a principle of lore to
God, and benevolence to men,
which inclines the possessor to
glorify God, and to do good to
others. Its distinguishing char-
acteristics may be seen, 1 Cor.
13. The word is never used in
Scripture to mean alms-giving, or
an indiscriminate regard for other
denominations, but always means
love.
Chariot. The earliest notio
of chariots in Scripture, is Gen
41 : 43. They were very common
in the East, and were much used
in war. They had two wheels,
and no cover ; being drawn by
me, two, or three horse?.
The word rendered "chariot,"
in Cant. 3 : 9, is one which oc-
curs nowhere else in the Hebrew
Bible ; though chariots are so
often mentioned. It literally
means "moving couch," and
moat probably was a palankeen
CHE 60
Ofll
Ztelow is a representation of one
f these, Each as was then com-
mon in Egypt. It is taken from
%n Egyptian drawing.
Chan-am See HARAN.
Chas'tisement, the correction
of an offender, either by word
or deed. The " chastisement of
our peace," Isa. 53 : 5, signifies
that punishment which was laid
upon Christ by God's justice, and
by which our peace, that is, our
reconciliation to God, was to be
procured.
Clieerfllness, gladness of heart;
gaytty of disposition ; freedom
from dejection, or gloomy
thoughts ; also contentment in
present circumstances.
Che'mosh, a Moabitish idol,
supposed by some to be the sun,
but others have thought it was
the same as Bacchus.
Cher'elhites, Philistines who
were made guards to the king,
and executioners. See PELE-
THITES.
Cliernb, the singular of Cheru-
bim, a word of double derivation,
but seeming to mean knowledge.
It is thought by some that the
Egyptian sphinxes and the winged
bulls lately disinterred by Layard,
at Nineveh, were imitations of
the Hebrew cheruba.
Grotius, Bochart,and
Spencer, suppose they
resembled an ox or a
calf. Others describe
them as represented
in a form compounded
of a man, an eagle,
an ox, and a lion.
Heb. 9: 5. God'a
riding on Chtrubim t
means ais using them
in the dispensations
of providence. Ps. 18 : 10. His
dwelling between the Cherubim,
means the presence of the She-
chinah, or glory over the mercy-
seat of the ark. Ps. 80 : 1.
Chios, an island of Greece,
famous once for its Malmsey
wine, and more recently for its
literature. The place was almost
ruined, and great numbers of its
inhabitants were massacred by
the Turks, in the late revolution.
Its modern name is Scio. Acta
20 : 15.
Chisleu, the Jews' third civil
month. See MONTH
Chittim, a country concerning
the place of which there hai
been much dispute. The proba-
bility seems to be, that it meant
the islands of the Mediterranean,
especially those of Greece. Jo
sephus understands by it the
island of Cyprus. Numb. 24 ;
24.
Chiun, the name c/ an idci,
CHR
51
CHU
Worshipped by Israel. It is I aacred history, down to tt t*
thought to be Saturn. Amos 5 :
26.
Chora'/in, a city near Caper-
naum It is now called Tell-oui.
Matt. 11 : 21.
Christ, literally "the anoint-
ed." The practice of anointing
priests and kings has been com-
mon in all ages of the world.
Our Saviour was emphatically
* the Anointed One, 1 '' and as
such, in his two natures, human
and divine, perfected a yriestly
work, which saves unto the ut-
most all that come unto God by
aim. Heb. 7 : 25. He never
was externally anointed, or other-
wise introduced into the outward
priesthood. At the last day, he
will judge the world. Acts 17 :
31. 2 Tim. 4 : 1.
Chronicles. Two books of
Scriptures are so called, the writer
of which is not now known. Nc:'
is the time when they were writ-
ten certain ; but the orthography,
the style, and the facts given,
indicate it to have been after
Jeremiah. The Jewish tradition
that they were written by Ezra,
is not improbable. They are
evidently compiled under the
guidance of the Holy Spirit, from
copious registers and documents,
which, being uninspired, have
not been preserved. The FIRST
BOOK traces the Israelites from
Adam to David. The SECOND,
relates the progress and di-solu-
tion of the kingdom of Judah,
tnd the return of the Jews from
~..o/IouIsL euplivity. 'iiioy
orm an abridgment of all tL-
turn of the Jews fro-n their nirt
captivity ; embracing a period of
about 34G8 years. They omit
whav is largely related in other
Old Testament books, and supply
details not there given ; and, in
a great multitude of cases, throw
much light on passages in the
former books.
Chrysolite was probably the
ancient name of the gem now
called topaz. The stone now
called chrysolite is seldom found
larger than a pin's head. It waa
the tenth in the breast-plate of
Aaron, and bore the name of Zeb-
ulon. Rev. 21 : 20.
Chryso'prasus, a precious stone
of a grass-green color, found
chiefly in Silesia. Rev. 21 : 20.
Church. The word so ren-
dered was anciently used to sig-
nify any public meeting of citi-
zens. It is thought by many
that the place of sacred meeting
is so called, in 1 Cor. 11 : 18, 22;
14 : 34. As the word is used in
the New Testament, it has for
the most part two significations.
(1.) The whole of the elect in
heaven and earth, which is
Christ's spouse, or body, and u
what we call the invisible church,
because we cannot now know with
certainty who belong to it, or
the catholic, or universal church,
because it embraces the truly
pious in all the earth. Matt.
16 : 18. 1 Cor. 6 : 4. 0:1. I
18. (2.) A particular btdy o
men, who are wont to meet to-
worahip and *WF* tho La-
tin
62
OLE
Jhrift. Such were the churches
sf Ephesus, Smyrna Jerusalem,
Rome, &c. Acts 8 1. Col. 4 :
16. Rev. 1 : 4. Thus we read
also of churches in particular
houses. Rom. 16 5. Col. 4 :
15. The followers of Christ, who
are here in a state of spiritual
warfare against the world, the
flesh and the devil, are called,
by tl eologians, the church mili-
tant ; but those in heaven, whose
conquest over sin and death is
complete, and who are rewarded
with eternal blessedness, are
styled the church triumphant.
Cilicia, a province on the north-
eastern extremity of the Medi-
terranean Sea. Near Issus, one
of its great cities, was fought one
of the famous battles of Alexan-
der. Cicero was its pre^rrml.
In Tarsus, its metropolis Paul
was born. It produces superior
saffron in great quantities, and is
now called Caramania.
Cinnamon) a species of laurel.
What is sold in the shops, under
this name, is the bark, and is
obtained from Ceylon and Mala-
iar. It was one of the ingre-
lients of the holy oil.
Circumcise, to cut off the loro-
ikin, according to the command-
ment given to Abraham, as a sign
of that covenant which God had
entered into with him, that out
of his loins should proceed the
Messiah. To be spiritually cir-
tumcised, or to be the spiritual
seed of Abraham, is to have the
thing signified by that ceremony,
I..-* .r ;'" P-T T.AI :flw*o Jr*yi
hick circumcision was designed
to enforce, namely, to believe
in the Messiah, to put off the old
man, and to serve him as new
creatures, which is signified by
our acceptance of the ordinances
of the gospel, and submission to
them. Phil. 3:3.
Circumcision was by no means
peculiar to the Jews, but was
practised by the Egyptians,
Arabs, &c., and continues to be,
in several countries, to this day.
Citizen, in the Old and New
Testament, generally means, not
merely an inhabitant or dweller
in a city, but one admitted to its
corporate privileges. Citizenship
was sometimes derived from birth
(the parents of a child conveying
it to him), and sometimes ob-
tained by purchase ; both of
which sources are alluded to in
Acts 22 : 28. Roman emperor?
sometimes bestowed citizenship
as a favor, or reward, on indi-
viduals, cities, and whole prov-
inces.
Claudia, a small island on the
coast of Crete, mentioned Acts
27 : 16, which is now called
kfozzo.
Claudius. See OESAR.
dean, pure, free from defile*
ment. Gram is clean when freed
from the chaff. Isa. 30 : 24.
Clean beasts and birds were thosa
which God judged it proper for
his people to eat. Sea BIRDS and
BEASTS.
Under the New Testament, to
the pure all things are pure J that
is, all food is clean if we eat it
vrn ctonaLTifiEKs PK iv^/vi'-
Cleanness cf teeth, in the 014 Te
LOA
COL
wanent, moans the want of any-
thing tc eat.
Clement, a Christian mentioned
Phil. 4:3. It is supposed that
&e is the same with the Clemens
Rom anus, famous in church his-
tory as the chief uninspired
writer of the first century. Many
productions are attributed to him,
only one of which, a letter to the
Corinthians, is universally ac-
knowledged to be genuine.
Cle'oplinSt Two persons of
this name are mentioned in the
New Testament, and must not be
confounded. (1.) Alpheus, father
of James the Less, and husband
of the Virgin Mary's sister. This
is the one mentioned Matt. 10 :
3 ; Luke 6 : 15 ; and Join 19 :
25.
(2.) A disciple who walked
with Jesus to Emmaus, after the
resurrection. Luke 24 : 18.
Alpheus is said to have been
the brother of Joseph, our Lord's
reputed father. He was the hus-
band of Mary, sister of the
blessed Virgin, and was the father
of Simon, and James the Less,
and of Jude, ' and Joseph, or
Joses, the cousin of Christ.
Clothes. See RAIMENT.
Coals* A pot of charcoal was
used at our Saviour's trial for the
men to warm themselves, who
had been exposed to the night air
and dew in apprehending Christ.
It has been always presumed
that when coal is mentioned in
the Bible, charcoal is meant ; and
doubtless it is so generally. But,
from very recent disclosures, it
to evident that stone coal was
6*
used anciently in Syria. It baa
been found on Lebanon, and at
this time (1853), a mine is ac-
tually worked at (Jornulc, eight
miles from Beiroot. In 1837,
4000 tons were taken out.
Cockatrice, a serpent of great
venom ; probably the Cobra de
Capdlu. Prov. 23 : 32. The
prophecy, Isa. 11 : 6 8, seems
to have been obscurely known to
the ancient Hindoos. Their god
Krinhnu is represented as playing
on a flute with such charming
melody, that before him stand, in
one peaceful group, a young ox,
a tiger, and a serpent.
Cockle. The word occurs only
in Job 31 : 40, where it is ren-
dered by the Chaldee paraphrase
noxious herbs. Michaelis calls it
aconite, a poisonous plant. Bishop
Stork and Mr. Good translate it
nightshade. The original word
imports not only a noxious weed,
but one of & fetid smell.
Cogitations, meditations, con-
templatione, purposes. Dan. 7 :
28.
Collops. slices or lumps ; maMW
of fat on the ribs, <&o. Job ID ;
27.
Colos'se, a city of Phrygia
near Laodicea. Col. 2 : 1, ant
4 : 13. Paul sent the christiani
here an inspired Fpistle. The
city was destroyed by an earth-
quake in the tenth year of Nero;
that is, A. D. 6? ; but was itnme.
diately rebuilt The huge Mt.
Cadmus rises close m the rear.
The modern name of this place
is Kuncs.
COM
le by Paul,
Who, though he ^eeras not to have
founded the Church, was con-
sulted by it (through Epaphras,
their messenger to him while im-
prisoned in Rome), touching some
doctrines preached among them
by false teachers. They seem to
have inculcated the worship of
angels, abstinence from animal
food, Jewish rites, long fastings,
Ac
Whoever would understand this
Epistle and that to the Ephesians,
must read them together. The
following passages are given as
specimens of the manner in which
one serves as an exposition of the
other. Standing alone, in either
epistle, they are susceptible of
diverse interpretations ; but read
together, can scarcely be misun-
derstood.
EPHESIANS. COLOSSIANS.
i : 6, 7, 1 : 14.
1 : 10. 1 : 19, 20.
1 : 15, 16, 1 : 3, 4.
1.22, and 3: 10, 11, 1:16-18.
2.1, 1 : 21.
2 : 13-16, 1 : 20, and 2 : 14.
"If 1 : 25.
3, 1 : 26, 29.
2-4, 2 : 12-15.
6, 2: 19.
. 2225, 3 : 9, 10.
17-21. 1:21. and2:6,and3:8.
29, 4 : 6.
.32, S:tt,W.
:31, S 8.
.5, 3-5.
3 : 6.
3:7, 8.
, , 4 : 5.
: 18, 20, 3 : 1C, 17.
: 21-23, and 6 : 1-9. 3 18-25.
. 1820, 4:2-4.
: 21, 22, 4 : 19.
Comforter, a title given by our
Baviour to the Holy Spirit. John
14 : 16.
Communion, the concoid of
doctrines or opinions in several
persona The act of receiving
.,
: 6,
: 7, 8,
: 15, 16,
CON
| the Lord's Supper, that sign %
our fellowship with Christ. J
Cor. 10 : 16. The communion of
saints is that fellowship which
the saints have with Christ by
faith, and among themselves by
love. 1 John 1:3. Acts 4 : 32,
34, 35.
Compass; the instrument BO
called, used now by navigators,
was wholly unknown to the an-
cients. The expression, " fetch
a compass," Acts 28 : 13, means
to go round, and not directly to a
place. The carpenter's compass
is mentioned Isa. 44 : 13.
Concision, a term used in
reference to persons who would
cut asunder, or make schisms in,
the church of Christ. Phil. 3 :
2. Rev. 2 : 9.
Concubine, a term used in
Scripture to signify a lawful wife,
but of an inferior grade. She
differed from a proper wife, in the
solemnity of marriage, having no
dowry, and not sharing the gov-
ernment of the family.
Condemnation, the act of pass-
ing sentence against a person, by
which he is doomed to punish'
ment ; the punishment itself.
Among the Greeks, condemnation
was signified by a black stone,
and acquittal by giving a white
stone, to which an allusion is
made in Rev. '2: 17. In the
same manner white and black
balls are now often used in so
ciety elections.
Coney, a small animal which
seems, from the allusions to it in
Scripture, to have been common
in Palestine As the name if
CON
55
CON
ROW obsolete, it h:ie become a
matter of dispute what animal is
meant. Bruce is confident it is
the nshkoko, found in Ethiopia,
Arabia, Palatine, and parts adja-
cent. Its size is rather 1>
that of a cat. It has neither
tail nor voice, and chews the cud
It is remarkably inoffensive and
timid, feeding only on r<
fruits, Ac., but escapes its ene-
mies by running into holes inac-
cessible to larger animals. Ho-
chart, Pennant, and other authors
of high authority, consider the
erboa to be the coney of Scrip-
ture. This animal is about the
ize of a rabbit, and has a long
tail. Its form and common pos-
ture are shown by the engraving,
which supersedes the necessity
of a particular description. The
Arabs call it mountain rat, and
its flesh a great delicacy.
The editor of Calmet inclines
to regard the ashkoko as the
tunny of c-jripturo, Lev. 11 : 5.
101 : 18. Prov. 30 : 24,
26, Ac., and the jerboa as th
mouse mentioned Lev. 11 : 29.
1 >Sain. 6 : 5, Ac.
COQfcee, openly to acknowl-
edge. Jesus Christ will confess
his people at the last day, that
is, publicly own them as his chil-
I dreu and faithful servants. Luke
j 12 : 8. They confess him before
men, when, notwithstanding all
I danger and opposition, they
! openly profess and adhere to his
I truth, observe his ordinances, and
walk in his way. Matt. 10 : 32.
I To confess God, is to praise and
I thank him. Heb. 13 : 15. To
confess sin, is candidly to ac-
knowledge our guilt before God,
i who can pardon or punish us ; or
to our neighbor, whom we have
j offended, or who can give us
j proper instruction and comfort.
Ps. 32 : 6. James 5 : 16. Matt.
3 : 6.
Papists utterly pervert the
Christian duty of confessing our
sins one to another, by substitut-
ing auricular confession, or con-
fession to a priest, who protends to
forgive sins. This sinful custom
produces the most injurious con-
sequences both to the penitent
and the priest. The Scripture
duty applies to all whom we may
injure or offend.
Conscience, that faculty of
our mind, which compares quali-
ties and actions with the law of
God, and decides on the good or
evil tendency according to its
degree of light. Rom. 2 : 16.
A conscience is called good, when
it discerns the will of God, and
urges obedience to his law, from
coo
66
COB
gospe 7 motives. 1 Tim. 1 : 5.
It is called " pure," and " purged
from dead works," when, by the
application of Jesus' blood, it is
freed from the sentence of death
due to sin, delivered from the
slavery of indwelling corruption,
and, by the instruction of the
Holy Ghost, is rendered clear in
its views, holy in its aims, and a
vigorous opposer of everything
sinful. 1 Tim. 3 : 9. Heb. 9 :
14 ; 10 : 2, 22.
Contemn, to despise, to reject
with disdain, as the wicked do
God, Ps. 10 : 13, and his law, Ps.
107 : 11.
Conversation, discourse. It is
commonly used in Scripture to
mean deportment, or the general
tenor of a person's life. Eph.
4 : 22. 1 Pet. 3 : 16.
Conversion, a turning from
one manner of life, or set of
prir.ciples, to another. Acts. 15 :
3. In the Gospels, the word is
used to signify the entire change
which religion produces in the
disposition, principles, and be-
h* sor. Without this change
we cannot enter heaven. Matt.
18:3.
Convict, or CONVINCE, to per-
suade one of the truth of any-
thing. Acts 18 : 28. The Holy
Spirit does this, when it applies
the law to the conscience, and
produces genuine repentance.
CO'OS, a small island in the
Mediterranean, near the south-
west point of Asia Minor. Hip-
pocrates, the famous physician,
fcnd Aj-tUts, the eminent painter,
were natives of this island II
is now called Stancore.
Copper, a metal, known and
wrought before the flood. Where
the word brass occurs, it should
be rendered copper.
COT, a Hebrew measure, equal
to about six bushels. Some com-
putations make it mv <h more.
Cor'al, a hard, cretaceous, ma-
rine production, resembling a
plant. It is of various colors,
white, black, and red ; the latte/
is the sort usually called coral,
and is the must valuable. I.
was anciently held in high es-
teem. The word occurs only in
Job 28 : 18, and Ezek. 27 : 16.
Corban, a gift to religious pur-
poses. Mark 7 : 11, 12. The
Pharisees, in the days of Christ,
taught that a man might escape
all obligation to support his in-
digent parents, by saying of his
property, " Be it corban " In
this case, if he did not give his
property at that time to the tem-
ple, he was bound to do so at his
death, though his parents should
thus be left destitute. Thus did
they "make void the law" of
honoring their father and their
mother, " through their tra-
ditions." Mark 7 : 13.
Coriander, a strongly aromatic
plant, bearing a small round
seed, fragrant t' the smell, and
of an agreeable taste. Ex. 16
31. Numb. 11 7.
Corinth, one of the richest
cities of Greece, and capital of
Achaia. Its commodious haven,
and advantageous location, ga>t
cou
67
COV
tt a vast commerce, and immense
wealth During a var with
Rome, L. Mummiua burr', it to
the ground, A. M. 3827. Jt w?
I rebuilt under the &u-
>t' Julius Cu-sar. It i'ell
into tne hands of the Turks, under
Mahomet II. Paul preached here
nearly two years. Acts
It is now culled Corinto.
Corinthians. The two epis-
Ues under this name were written
oy Paul to the Christians at Cor-
inth, where he had preached with
great success. Acts 18. False
teachers had led them into great
jrrors, which he here exposes and
ienounces. The nature of these
jrrors may be best learned from
the epistle itself.
Paul visited Corinth the second
lime after writing these letters,
Acts 20 : 2, 3, and made collec-
tions for the brethren in Jerusa-
lem.
Cor'moraut, a water fowl, about
the size of a goose. It lives on
fish, which it catches with aston-
ishing skill. It is of shy and
solitary habits. Zepu. 2 : 14.
Corn, the generic name in
Scripture, for grain of *M kinds.
Parched corn still constipates an
important and not unpleasant
part of the food of the Arabs of
Palestine, &o. See THRESHING.
Cotes, folds for sheep.
Council, a tribunal ftv<|iiently
mentioned in the Xew Tc - 1
The Great Council, so called, did
not consist of the 7'2 elders who
were originally appointed to as-
sist Moses in the civil administra-
tion of the government, but was
instituted in the tiro* ot th
f chief
' lili-rs (wko were, per-
.o Leads of the tribes Oi
families), and scribes, amounting
in the whole to 72 oersons, and
is called by Jewish writers, the
SANHEDRIM. This council pos-
sessed extensive authority, taking
I cognizance not only of religious
matters, but of appeals from in-
ferior courts of justice, and of the
: general affairs of the kingdom
! After Judea became a liotnan
1 province, the council was deprived
; of the power of inflicting capital
I punishments, for which reason
| they delivered our Saviour tc
Pilate, demanding his death.
l The stoning of Stephen was in
consequence, not of a decree of
the council, but of a riot. Acta
7 : 57, 58. This is the tribunal
mentioned Matt. 5 : 22, and 27 .
| 1. John 11 : 47, <fec.
Course. See ABIA.
Court, an enclosed space near
or within a house. That round
the tabernacle was formed of pil-
lars, and curtains hung by cords
The method of building privafr j
! houses in the form of a holl >vr
! square, made the court in the
I inside. See TEMPLE.
Covenant, an agreement to do
I soaie particular thing. The prom-
! * The Maccnl.cp? werp a rnop of
prinres who united in their lamlls the
They
in of distinguished pnulem-e
and v;il..r. \\iin. having delivered Is-
rael from lyovt rin-0
honorabl
quered by Pompey. and made trlbu
tary to Koine. They are frequentlj
called In history the Aimoneanyrincet
CRE
58
CBU
fee w Noah that the waters
should no more destroy tho earth,
is called a covenant. Gen. 9 : 9
17. God also made a covenant
with Abraham, that he should
have a numerous seed, <fcc. Gen.
16 : 29. The law given on.
Mount Sinai was another cove-
nant. Deut. 4 : 13. The cove-
nant of redemption, and salvation
by grace, is called a new and
better covenant, Heb. 8 : 6, 8, in
respect to its dispensation, and
manner of manifestation ; its be-
ing ratified by the actual suffer-
ings and blood of Christ, and
freed from former ceremonies ;
its containing a more full revela-
tion of religion, and being at-
tended with a larger measure of
the gifts and graces of the Spirit,
while it is never to wax old, or
be abolished.
CovetOttSnesS, an eager, un-
reasonable desire of gain ; a
longing after the goods of an-
other. It is called idolatry, Col.
3 : 5, because the (xvetous man
places that delight and confidence
in riches, which are due only to
God. This sin is expressly for-
bidden in the tenth command-
ment.
Cracknels, a sort of seed-cakes,
or buns. 1 Kings 14 : 3.
Crete, an island at the mouth
of the uEgean Sea, Vetween
Rhodes and Peloponnesus. Acts
27 : 7. Jupiter is said to have
been brought up here, and also
buried. It was the seat of legis-
lature to all Greece. There were I
once 100 cities on the island.
The inhabitants were exceedingly
addicted to lying. Tit, 1 : W
The gospel converted mny pep
sons here. Tit. 1:6. It is noH
Called Candia.
Crisping-pins, curling ironi
for the hair. Isa. 3 : 22.
Cross, a sort of gibbet, con-
sisting of two pieces of wooJ
placed across each other, in the
form of f or X' Tnat of our
Saviour is said to have been of
the former kind. It was a com-
mon punishment among the Syr-
ians, Egyptians, Persians, Afri-
cans, Greeks and Romans. With
the Jews, it was not used at all ;
hanging on a tree being an exe-
cution of a different kind. It
was therefore no inconsiderable
proof of the divine Providence, so
to order matters as that Jesua
should suffer this death, according
to prophecy. It was exceedingly
painful and lingering. Fitflt, the
criminal was scourged wi& Oords,
often with bones at theL end.
Next he bore his cross, or part
of it, to the place of execution.
Crucified persons were sometimes
bound to the cross with cords, as
St. Andrew probably was ; but
more commonly, nails were driven
through the hands and feet.
Sometimes persons were crucified
with their heads downwards. In
this manner, it is said, Peter
desired to be crueified, not think-
ing himself worthy to die like his
Master. An inscription, repre-
senting the cause of the punish-
ment, was ordinarily written on
a tablet at the top of the cross
It is often said that the crimina 1
was fastened to the oross befori
CRU
69
CRT
was raised This was probably
the sace when cords were used.
But the jar of forcibly settling
the croas in the ground would
have broken off a body fastened
with nails. A piece of wood
usually jutted out under the feet,
or a largo peg was inserted half
way up the cross, to serve as a sort
of seat. It is observable, how
the inscription on the cross of
Christ, instead of charging him
with a crime, plainly hinted his
Innocence and Messiahship ; nor
could the heathen governor be
prevailed on to alter it. The
word is used metaphorically for
the whole of Christ's sufferings,
but especially those on the tree
or cross. Heb. 12 : 2.
Crown, an attire or dress for
the head. Those used in the
games were made of parsley,
pine, flowers, Ac. Those for
kings, of gold adorned with gems.
Metaphorically, that is a crown
which gives glory or dignity.
Thus Jehovah was a crown of
glory to Judah. Isa. G2 : 3.
Christ is said to have a ** crown
of gold," atid " many crowns,
meaning his ineffable grandeur
and sovereignty. Rev. 19 . 12,
Ac. Converts are thus a o**w
to ministers. Phil. 4:1. 1 IVfl
2 : 19. See also Prov. 12 4 ;
17 : 6, and 27 : 24.
Crucify, to put to death by the
cross. A Roman mode of eze
euting slaves, but considered a
rery infamous death for soldiers
or citizens. Figuratively, ii
means to eubdut our evil proper
titles
Cruse, a small vessel for hold*
liquids. The common form!
are given in the cut ; one being
. with wicker work, the
other with a hairy skin. East-
ern travellers are always pro-
vided with them. 1 Sam. 26
11.
Crystal) a hard, transparent,
and colorless fossil, of a regularly
angular form. The word trans-
lated crystal in Ezek. 1 : 22, ia
rendered frost in Gen. 31 : 40,
Job 37 : 10, and Jer. 36 : 30,
and ice in Job 6 : 16, 38 : 29,
and Ps. 147 : 17. There ar4
three kinds of pure crystal, be-
side various sorts mixed with
other different substances. Crys-
tal was anciently reckoned verj
valuable. Job 28 : 17. Pliny
mentions a crystal vase, worth
about 6000 dollars. Nero fu-
riously broke two such cups, to
chastise his subjects by impover-
ishing them. It is now of far
less esteem. The firmament
above the cherubims, the sea of
glass before the throne of God,
the river of life, and the light of
the new Jerusalem, are compared
to crystal, for their purity, 3lear
ness and splendor. Ezek. 1 : 22
I Eev. 4 : G ; 22 : 1.
cus
60
CYM
Cubit, an arm, or a measure
equal to eighteen inches. It
rose from measuring with the arm
from the elbow to the end of the
hand. The sacred cubit was
nearly 22 inches in length. Ezek.
43 : 13.
Cucumber, a vegetable plen-
tiful in hot climates, and much
used for food. That of Egypt is
like ours, but two or three times
the size, and much superior in
quality and wholesomeness.
Cummin, a small plant, very
common in Judea. Its seeds,
being agreeably aromatic and
pungent, were used as a spice.
It is now raised for this pur-
pose in considerable quantities
In Malta. The hypocrisy of the
Pharisees, in rigidly paying the
tenth of this unimportant pro-
duct to religious uses, and yet
neglecting the solemn duties of
mercy, Ac., is very striking.
Matt. 23 : 23.
Curse. Learned commentators
aver that wherever the Hebrew
word so translated occurs in con-
nection with the name of God, it
should be rendered bless. It is
actually often so rendered in our
Bible, as Gen. 33 : 11. Jud. 1 :
15. 1 Sam. 25 . 27. 2 Kings
6 : lo, &o. In Job 2 : J, Job's
wife is represented as laying,
" Curse God and die." It may
be translated, " Dost thou still
retain thy integrity, blessing God
and dying 1 "
Cusll. (1.) The eldest son
of Ham, and the father of Aim-
W Gen. 10 : 8. (2.) A coun-
try on file Araxes, afterwardi
inhabited by the Scythians. Hab,
3:7. (3.) Another name foi
Ethiopia. Isa. 11 : 11. (4.) A
country in Arabia Petrea, border
ing on Egypt, of which Zipporah
was a native.
Custom, (l.j The common
usage. Luke 4 : 16. John 18
19. (2.) Duty or tax paid to
government. Rom. 13 : 7. (3.)
A natural disease of women.
Gen. 31 : 35.
Cutting the flesh, a custom
always common among the hea-
then, either as a sign of great
grief, or an act of worship. God
expressly forbids the practice
Lev. 19 : 28. Deut. 14 : 1. Pa-
gan gods are cruel, and hence
were supposed to be pleased with
self-inflicted tortures and san-
guinary rites. Read the story
of the prophets of Baal, 1 Kings
t8 : 28. The author has seen in
India such exhibitions.
In the engraving, the devote*
has three spikes stuck through
his arm, and a short sword
through the skin of his belly.
Cymbal, an instrument of loud
music, used with others, but giv-
DAG
DAG
Ing no melody of itself. To
tpeak with tongues, if not done
out uf love 1
pompous and useless act of self-
1 Cor. 13 : 1.
Cypress, a beautiful, lofty, !
evergreen tree. The wood is [
strong, and almost incor- '
ruptible. The blossoms are
delightfully fragrant.
Cyprus, a populous island in
Ihe Mediterranean Sea, so called
from the Cypress trees with
which it abounded. It was peo-
pled by the descendants of Chit-
tiin. The chief deity was Venus,
worshipped under the name of
Cyitris, or Cypria. A famous
temple of hers stood on Mount
Olympus. Asbestos, emeralds,
and amethysts, are found here.
Barnabtus was born, and, accord-
ing to tradition, suffered mar-
tyrdom, in Cyprus. It now con-
tains a population of about
60,000, mostly Greeks.
Cyre'ne a country west of
Egypt, and the birthplace of
Callimachus the poet, Entto*
thenes the historian, and Mimun t
who bore the Saviour's cross.
Many Jews from hence were at
the Ptoutecost, and were con-
verted under Peter's sermon.
Acts 2. The region is now undei
the Turkish power, and h'as bo-
come almost a desert. It is aotr
called Cai'roan.
Cy reniaus, inhabitants of Gy-
rene, who had a synagogue at
Jerusalem ; as had those of
many other nations. It is said
there were 480 synagogues in
Jerusalem.
Cyrus, son of Cambyses, king
of Persia, by the daughter of
Ahasuerus, king of Media. He
inherited the crowns both of
Media and Persia, having mar-
ried the only daughter of IXirius
He died at the age of 70, afto.-
having reigned 30 years. Dan
7 : 5. Isa. 46 : 11. The firs;
three chapters of Ezra describe
his measures to restore Jerusa-
lem.
D.
Dagon, b.ief idol of the
Philistines, probably the same
as Nebo, Isa. 46 : 1. Though so
signally disgraced at Ashdod,
the worship of it was not aban-
doned till A. M. 3840, when the
Jewish leader Jonathan burnt it
and it* temple. The image rep-
resented the body cf a fish, with
Hie head and arms of a man.
The figures of this god are not
6
all exactly alike, though all
combine tho human form with
that of a fish. This mermaid
figure was worshipped at Ascalon
under the name of Derceto, aa
Diodorus Siculus relates. The
same god ; s probably meant by
Pliny wheii he describes a fish
j with a human face worshipped
at Joppa, under the name of
Celo. And it may be that Cioert
DAG
62
DAL
means this deity when he says,
In his book on the gods, that the
Syrians have a great veneration
for a certain fish. The picture
of this idol, here given, is taxon
from a drawing, by Gentil, gi/en
in Calmet's Dictionary. Dagon
is thought, by some, to be the
game aa the VISHNU of the Hin-
doo*. Near Rangoon, in Bur-
snah, is the Shne I)igou n < or ** lf
temple of Dagon.
Dalmann'tha, a province oa
the east side of the Sea of Tibe-
,.:.,*. ~:4.i. n ~4.i,^ ^-. *~^..i~
or aoar ;t. Aiaxk 3 : 10.
DAN
68
DAB
Dalimi'tia, a district on the
Gulf of Venice, visited by Titos.
2 Tiin. 4 : 9.
Damascus, once a most noble
city in the north of Palestine,
and one of the most ancient on
earth. Gon 14 : 15. It is now
nder the government of the
pacha of Egypt, and contains
80,000 inhabitants, or, according
to a modern traveller, 200,000.
Mr. Connor estimates the Jews
in Damascus at 2,500, and the
nominal Christians at 20,000,
" including Greeks, Latins, Cath-
olics, Maronites, Armenians, and
Nestorians." It is computed
that 50,000 Mahometan pilgrims
annually pass through this city
from the north, on their way to
Mecca. Superior swords are
' made here, and a species of silk,
called, from the place, damask.
We have roses and plums which
were introduced from thence,
and bear the same name. The
Greek patriarch of Antioch re-
sided there. It is now called
Dames chk, or Scham.
Damnation, exclusion from
divine mercy ; that condemna-
tion to eternal punishment which
is the awful condition of the
wicked in a future state. Matt.
23 : 33. The word was formerly
used more commonly than now,
and often meant only condemna-
tion It should be so rendered
Rom. 132. and 14 23 1 Cor.
11 : 29
Dan, one of Jacob's sous; and
the name of a city in the ex-
treme northern part of Pales-
tine, called formerly Lamk.
"From Dan to Beershelm,"
which is the southernmost citji
meant the whole country.
Daniel, a Hebrew prophet,
contemporary with Ezekiel, but
living longer than he. lie WM
of the royal family, and, though
carried captive to Babylon, a
c. 606, rose to wisdom and
honor. His great eminence may
bo inferred from Ezek. 14 : 13,
14, and 28 : 2, 3, both which
passages the reader should look
out, as well as from his own
narrative.
TUB BOOK which bears his
name foretells not only the
coming of Messiah, as other
prophets, but the very time of
his birth. Under the emblem
of a great image of four ma-
terials, and of four beasts, the
successive rise and fall of the
four great monarchies of Baby-
Ion, Persia, Greece, and Rome,
are predicted ; after which, the
kingdom of Christ, like the
stone from the mountain, shall
fill the earth and continue for-
ever. The first six chapters art
historical, and describe the car-
rying away of Daniel and other
noble persons. He was there
educated and rose to distinctict
The rest is strictly prophetical,
extending to the advent and
death of Mersiah, and the ulti
mate universality of the church
Darius, (called in Xenophon
CTAXAR'ES, and by the LXX
ARTAXERXES), king of tlr
Modes, was brother to tl
mother of Cyrus When he
conquered Babyion, he const*
DAY
64
DEA
luted d. senate to govern it, of
which Daniel was one.
Dari'ns Codomanns was origi-
nally poor and obscure ; but,
for his valor, was made governor
of Armenia by the king of Per-
sia. He contrived the murder
of his sovereign, and by the
intrigue of Bagoas, the chief
eunuch, ascended the throne.
He was soon after conquered and
deprived of his ill-gotten throne,
by Alexander the Great.
Dari'ns llystas'pes was, ac-
cording to Archbishop Usher,
Ahasnerus, the husband of Es-
ther.
Dates, the fruit of the Palm-
tree. The word occurs 2 Chron.
31 : 5 only. See PALM,
David, the most eminent king
of Israel, and one of the most
distinguished persons mentioned
in the Old Testament, both for
his piety, talents, dignity, and
success. He wrote nearly all
the Psalms. Christ, being a
lineal descendant, is called " the
Son of David." When it is said
of him, while yet a youth among
the folds, that he was a man
: after God's own heart," it
means that God chose him to be
king over Israel, and would
qualify him for that purpose.
Day, a division of time, which
signifies, (1.) That space which
intervenes between the rising
and setting of the sui (2.)
The period of a revolution of
the earth on its axis, comprising
24 hours. The commencement
. IAS* ., , K OO , ^flr OT . T,t
among different nations Th
Hebrews began in the evening
Lev. 23 : 32. The Persians and
Greeks begin at sunrise ; the
Arabians at noon ; and ourselvc.fi
and most modern nations at
midnight. (3.) A period in
which any particular event is to
occur. John 8 : 56. 1 Thess.
5:2. (4.) A season of mer-
ciful opportunity. Luke 19 :
47. (5.) The time of a man's
life. Job 3 : 8 ; Ps. 37 : 13.
(6.) A prophetic year. Ezek.
4 : 5, 6. Dan. 9 : 24. Kev. 11 .
3. (7.) Moral light, the knowl-
edge and practice of religion.
1 Thess. 6 : 6. (8.) Heaven.
Rom. 13 : 12.
Deacon is a word derived from
the Greek, and signifying ser-
vant. The cause and manner of
the appointment of deacons are
clearly recorded, Acts 6 : 1- o.
Paul specifies their duty as con-
sisting in "serving tables," Phil.
1 : 1. The qualifications re-
quired for this office are laid
down, 1 Tim. 3 : 812. If
married, they were to have but
one wife, in opposition to the
polygamy then common ; and
the wife must be " grave, not
slanderous, sober, faithful in all
things.*' It is thought that
there were in the primitive
churches females chosen to be
deaconesses, who, as Calmet says,
" assisted females to dress and
undress at baptism, visited those
of their own sex in sickness, and
when imprisoned for their faith,
<fco. They were always per-
anna nf advanced ace- aud wer
DBA
65
DEE
Appointed to the office Sy the
imposition of hands.' It is
thought such sisters are alluded
to, 1 Tim. 5 : 918 ; and that
Phrebe was such an one. Roin.
1C: 1.
Dead Sea, the same w th the
Luke Asphaltites, in the south-
east part of Canaan. The val-
ley of Siddim, which was near
Sodom, makes part of this sea.
Gen. 14 : 3. Its water is clear
when taken up in a glass, but
very bitter, much more salt
than common sea water, and of
greater specific gravity, so that
a man may swim in it with great
ease. The air round the lake
seems loaded with sulphureous
and bituminous vapors, which
prevent vegetation, and give
that deadly aspect which all
travellers remark. The moun-
tains on each side are about
eight miles apart, but the ex-
panse of water in that part does
not exceed six in breadth. Its
extreme length is about 75 miles,
and its greatest breadth nearly
sixteen. This lake receives the
river Jordan, the river Arnon,
and the brook Kidron, besides
other rivulets, and has no vis-
ible ecmmunication with the
Ma.
Death. (1.) The extinction
of life, or separation of the soul
from the body. (2.) A sepa-
ration of soul and body from
God's favor in this life, which is
the state of all the unregenerate,
and is called spiritual death.
(3.) Perpetual exclusion from
God's heavenly presence and
glory, which is called the #>
and death."
Debtor, one that owes any*
thing to another. As the cred-
itor has a righ to exact pay-
ment from the debtor, so God
has a right to inflict punish-
ment on the guilty. Thus men
are debtors to God by trespass-
ing against him ; and to their
neighbors whom they injure,
wrong, or offend. " Debtor to
the whole law," Gal. 5 : 3,
moans obliged to keep the whole
law of Moses, as the condition
of eternal life, and so virtually
disclaiming all pardon by Christ.
The apostle Paul says he was a
debtor " both to the Greeks nd
to the Barbarians ;" that is,
bound by his office to preach the
gospel to all nations.
Decap'olis, a country on the
Sea of Tiberias. Matt. 4 : 25.
Mark 5 : 20. Its name is Greek,
and means " the ten cities." Some
eminent authors consider it to
be a part of Penza. Concerning
its limits, and the names of ita
ten cities, geographers are by
no means agreed.
Dedication, the solemn act of
setting apart any person or thing
to a religious use. The Feast
of Dedication, observed by the
Jews for eight days, was to com-
memorate the restoration of the
temple at Jerusalem, under
Judas Maccabeus, after it had
been destroyed by Antioohui
Epiphanes
Deep signifies, (1.) Hell.
Luke 8 31. (2.) The grave,
or place of the dead, caU>d
S)EV
66
IIA
Aepthi of the earth. Run. 10 :
7. (3.) The deep I ,rts of the
ea. Ps. 107 : 26. <4.) The
original chaos. Gen. 1:2.
Degrees, a title ^e fixed to
15 Psalms (from liw co 134),
And is not certainly understood.
Perhaps the word' rendered de-
grees means something else.
Deluge, See FLOOD.
Desert. Some deserts were
entirely barren, Isa. 13 : 21 ;
others had fine pastures. Ex.
3:1. Almost every tiown had
a desert belonging to it, similar
to our commons. See WILDER-
Denteronony, the fifth book
of Moses, so called from itt>
Greek name, which signifies repe-
tition of the law. That part of
this book which mentions the
death of Moses was added by
inspired penmen afterward. The
period of time comprised in this
book is less than two months.
It not only recapitulates, but
axplains the law, and forcibly
urges the people to obedience.
It contains one remarkable
prophecy of Christ, viz., Deut.
18 : 1519 ; which, in Acts 3 :
22, 23, anl 7 : 37, is expressly
applied to him.
Devil, literally a stand' ,
fallen angel, or infernal epkii
Satan is, by way of eminence,
Called the devil, and the god of
this world) from his power and
influence. John 12 : 31. 2 Cor.
4:4. He has various titles
given him in Scripture, exprea-
livo of hit character : Satan.
Job 2 : 6 ; Beelzebub, Matt
12 : 24 ; Belial, 2 Cor. 6 : 15 ;
Lucifer, Isa. 14 : 12 ; Dragon,
Rev. 12 : 7 ; Adversary, 1 Peu
5:8; Piince of Darknese, Eph.
6 : 12 ; Apollyon, or destroyer,
Rev. 9 : 11 ; Angel of the bot-
tomless pit. He is represented
as a sinner from the beginning,
1 John 3:8; a liar, John 8 :
44 ; a deceiver, Rev. 20 : 10 ;
an accuser, Rev. 12 : 10 ; and a
murderer, John 8 : 44.
Devilish, infernally wicked
This strong epithet occurs only
in James 3:15, where it forms a
grand and awful climax. Envy
and strife are there said to be
" earthly, sensual, devilish,"
and to produce " confusion, and
every evil work." How little
do the promoters of contention
consider this !
Dew. The dew in Palestine,
and some other oriental coun-
tries, is very heavy, wetting the
ground like a smart shower. It
sustains vegetation, in some dis-
tricts, where rain seldom 01
Diver falls. Gen. 27 : 28.
Diamond is the hardest sub-
stance in nature, and one of its
rarest productions. It is gen-
erally called in Scripture ADA-
MANT, which see. Diamond ia
the purest carbon known, and
' will burn like charcoal if ex-
I posed to great heat. Tlie value
of this and all other precious
stones is estimated by carats.
A carat is four grains. The
larger a diamond is, the greater
in proportion is its value. One
is mentioned belonging to RIUK
DIA
da worth 12 tons of gold ! Dia-
mondj of a very smull
exceeding one fifth of a
are the most abundant. These
are reiluced to a powder, which
is of the groatc-t import
lapidaries, as, without it, larger
diamonds, and other hard O r eins,
3ould not be cut or polished.
With this powder, rock crystal
IB cut into leaves, and cut and
polished for spectacles and other
optical instruments. In the
natural state, diamonds are not
brilliant, being covered with an
earthy crust. Diamonds were
formerly obtained chiefly from
India, where the principal mines
were in Golconda, Visapoor, and
Borneo. They are now prin-
cipally derived from Brazil.
Dia'na, a celebrated goddess,
supposed to preside over hunting
and highways, and represented
is a young huntress, with a
rewent on her head, the pedes-
tal ornamented with heads of
Btags, dogs, <feo. She was also
called Hebe, Trivia, Hecate, and
Lucina. Jer. 7 : 18, and 44 : 17.
As the tutelary deity at Kphe-
Bus,she waa a representative of
r DIV
the power wnich presider orn
birth, and is the same a* ih
Philistines worshipped under tm
name of Ashtoreth. The cul
here given is an Ephesia
representing her in a " shiine."
Acts 19 : 24.
Dionys'ins, the Areopagite,
or judge in the court of Areop-
agus. In his youth, it
he was bred in all the learning
of Athens, and went afterwards
to Egypt to perfect himself in
astronomy. Being at On when
our Saviour died, and observing
the miraculous darkness, he
cried out, " Either the God of
nature suffers himself, or sym-
pathizes with one that suffers."
He was converted at Athens by
Paul, and, it is said, became an
evangelist, and was burnt as a
martyr in his own city, A. D. 95.
Dip, to immerse. The people
of the East eat with their fingers
instead of knives and forks, and
therefore dip their hand in the
dish. For fluid substances they
have spoons. John 12 : 26.
See EATING.
DiSfiple, a learner, or follower
of another. John 9 : 28. It
signifies, in the New Testament,
a follower of Christ, <fcc., or a
convert to his gospel John 20:
18. Acts 6 :.l.
Divination, an art much prac-
tised among heathen. So sin-
ful is -it in the sight of God to
resort to witches, magicians, or
diviners, that the offence was
made punishable with death.
Deut. 18. The means by which
I divinera pretended to disooroj
DOC
68
DOV
ttdilt-n things, and foretell des-
tiny, were various ; such aa
observing the flight of birds,
examining the entrails of beasts,
casting lots, <to. These signs
were called omens. The word
"divine," in Gen. 44: 5, 15,
seems to mean a natural sagacity
in searshing out and bringing to
light hidden transactions.
To contemplate the miserable
anxieties and doubts which bur-
den a pagan's mind, is truly
affecting. It would require a
book larger than this to describe
the auguries of even the polished
and literary Romans. Many of
their ceremonies were most
childish, and some revolting.
Let us contrast a noble lioman,
fumbling among the entrails of
a beast, or watching how chick-
ens picked up their corn, or how
smoke rose from a fire, with a
Christian, cheerfully relying on
the unerring Providence of a
paternal God, and the mercy oi
an Almighty* Saviour. Then
shall we feel one of the reasons
why we should be grateful for
Revelation.
Doctrine, knowledge or learn-
ing ; the leading matter in a
discourse ; the truths of the gos-
pel in general. Tit. 2 : 10. It
signifies a tenet or opinion,
Matt. 16 : 12 ; divine inn Ca-
tions, Matt. 15 : 9 ; instruction,
information, and confirmation, in
the truths of the gospel, 2 Tim.
3 : 16. It is distressing that
ohristians take so little pains to
acquire doctrinal knowledge,
iriihoai wliioh much of their
practice is vain, and the
ings of the divine word aselesi
Dog, a well-known animal,
which, when properly domesti
cated and trained, is highly use-
ful and intelligent. Under the
law, the dog was not to be eaten,
and the Jews held him in great
contempt. Hence, when David
and Mephibosheth would use the
most humbling terms, they com-
pared themselves to " a dead
dog." 1 Sam. 24 : 14. 2 Sam.
9:8. Isaiah compares the false
teachers of his day to dogs.
Isa. 56 : 10, 11. It must have
been a hard saying, to the faith
of the poor worann, Tvho applied
to Christ for help, that it was
not proper to " give children's
bread to dogs." Matt. 15 : 2G.
To call a person a dog, is still,
in the East, expressive of the
highest contempt. The dog was
not, in those days, made a com-
panion, or rendered very use-
ful. Few dogs had a particular
owner, but lived as they could;
chiefly by prowling at night fo:
offal.
The meaning of Matt. 7 : 6 is
consider the character of the
person you rebuke, for some will
not only be incorrigible, but
resent your kindness.
Doves' Dung. It is doubtful
whether this article, mentioned
2 Kings 6 : 25, was really
pigeons' dung used for manure,
as Josephus and Theodoret
think, or what the Arabians call
chick-peas, a kind of tare, or
deer, resembling doves' dung
when parched. Some of thi
DRI
69
DUM
rabbit 3 aTirm that it was the
5rain taken from the crops of
pigeons which, luring the siege,
filled themselves in the neigh-
boring fields.
Dragon signifies either a
targe fish, as the whale, or a
crocodile, or great serpent. In
some places, it evidently means
the deadly poisonous lizard
called Gecko by the East In-
diana.
Dream* Dreams proceed from
business, constitution, habit,
outward sensations of the body,
<fec. By supernatural dreams,
God of old informed men of his
mind. Gen. 15 : 12. These
were not the same as visions.
The former happened during
sleep, Gen 20 : 3, and 31 : 11 ;
the latter when the person was
wile awake. Ezek. 1:1. Acts
2 : 17.
Drink, to swallow liquids. As
the allotments of God's provi-
dence were often represented
among the Jews by a cup, so to
receive good or evil at the hand
of God is represented by drink-
ing its contents. John 18 : 11.
To eat the flesh and drink the b'ood
of Christ, is to imbibe, that is,
cordially to receive and obey his
precepts, John 6 : 53 ; to become
jne with him, in principle, feel-
ing, and action. John 6 : 34.
As a cordial desire and love of
divine truth is often represented
as thirsting, so drinking is used to
oxpress the actual reception of
Use goBj el and its benefits. John
7 : 37.
Drink-offering, A libation of
wine, appointed to accauipanj
certain sacrifices under the cer-
emonial law, which was pouroU
out upon, or around, the altar.
Numb. 28 : 7.
Dromedary, a fleet animal, so
called from the Greek word
dromo, I run. It is smaller and
more slender than a camel, but
can carry a man a hundred
miles in a day. It is governed
by a bridle connected with a
my fixed in its nose ; which
illustrates tho expression in 2
Kings 19 : 28, meaning that
Sennacherib should go back
tamely and swiftly.
Drnsiria, the third daughter
of Agrippa, was married to
Azizus, king of the Einesse-
nians, whom she abandoned, that
she might marry Claudius Felix,
by whom she had a son named
Agrippa. She was one of the
most beautiful women of her age,
but exceedingly licentious. Acta
24 : ^4.
Dry-Shod, without wet feet
Isa. 11 : 15.
Duke, a term signifying, in
Scripture, merely a leader or
chief, and by no means indicat-
ing a rank like that which th
term mm imports in Europe.
Dulcimer, a musical instru-
ment, use I to make up a full
chorus. It is thought by somo
to have resembled the present
Scotch bagpipe. Dan. 3 : 5.
Dninah, a country somewhere
near or in Arabia Petrsea, BC
called from a son of IshmaeJ
Isa 21 : 11.
BAG
70
EAR
Dnre, to last, continue, en-
lure. Prov. 8 : 18.
D BStt To wipe off the ditst from
one'* feet was a sign of renounc-
ing all connection with those
towards whom the action was
directed,, Matt. 5 : 14 ; to throw
dust into the air, was an expres-
sion of contempt and malice,
Acts 22 : 23 ; to throw dust on
the head, of grief and mourning,
Rev. 18 : 19.
Dwell) to abide, or live in a
place. God is said to dwell in
the heavens, and also with him
that is of a contrite spirit.
Christ dwells in the heart by
faith, justifying the believing
BOU! by his merit, renewing it
by his grace, purifying it by fatt
Spirit, teaching it by his wis-
dom, keeping it by his power,
and, by his communion and
compassion, sharing with it in
all its troubles, and supporting
it under all its trials. The
Holy Ghost dwells in the soul
by his gracious operations, work-
ing faith, love, and other graces
therein.
The word of God may be said
to dwell in a person when it is
diligently studied, firmly be-
lieved, and carefully practised.
Col. 3 : 16. The pious are said
to dwell in God, by having the
most intimate union and com-
munion with him in Christ. 1
JoU 3 : 21.
E.
Eagle, the noblest of the
feathered tribe. Its size is about
that of a turkey ; but it has
much longer wings. It has a
beak strong and hooked, and is
a very courageous and ravenous
bird. It sees or smells dead
carcasses at a prodigious dis-
tance, and is said to break the
bones of its prey to come at the
marrow. Every year it moults,
and becomes almost naked and
bald, and then " renews its
youth " by producing a set of
now feathers, Ps. 103:5. Eagles
are extremely tender of their
Voung, and take them on theii
wings when weak and fearful.
fix. 19 : 4. They fly high aud
quick, Jer. 4 : 13, have their
nests in rocks, Jer. 49 : 16, and
live a hundred years. Several
species of the eagle seem to be
mentioned in Scripture ; but at
this distance of time, they can
not be easily distinguished. The
golden and common eagle rare-
ly, if ever, eat carrion, which
the vulture prefers. Not only
all eagles, but the whole species,
comprising the hawk, kite, Ac.,
were unclean to the Jews, and
are seldom eaten now.
Ear means, sometimes, in
Scripture, the same as to till, or
plough, as " ear the ground."
1 Sam 8:12; Isa. 30 : 24. A
valloy " neither eared not
EAT
71
EDA
lown," ;ans one not ploughed
or sown Deut. 21 : 4
ing time and harvest ' moans
the timo of planting and reap-
ing. Ex. 14 : -21.
Earnest, a pledge ; ,i
part of the price of a thing,
paid in hand, to confirm
a agreement. It is ap-
plied to signify tin
neo which the Spirit of
adoption gives to boliev-
era of their inheritance
in heaven. *' So the ear-
nest of the Spirit," 2 Cor.
1 : 22, is a proof that the
bargain will be made good ;
and " the first fruits of the
Spirit," Rom 8 : 23, or the
graces wrought in the sul by
the Spirit, are some pledges of
that fulness of joy and perfec-
tion of lolmess, of which be-
liever *-*!! partake in heaven.
East, The Hebrews, in speak-
ing of the dilfereut parts of the
heavens, always suppose the
face looking toward the east.
Hence, before means east,
behind, west, the right hand,
south, and the left haud,
north.
Easter, a word improperly
put for passover. On this day,
some Christians commemorate
our Saviour's resurrection. Dif-
ferent churches observe differ-
ent days.
Eatta?. Knives and forks
being unknown to the ancients,
as they are to this day in the
East, the hand alone was used
to convey food to the month.
It entertainments two persons
generally ate out of the sam
id it seems to have been
in this way that Judas was
1 out by Christ as hia
r. John 13 : 26. It wai
i to put a double portion
on the dish of a guest who waa
to be specially honored. Gren.
43 : 34. See TABLE.
Ebony, an Indian wood,
black, hard, heavy, easily pol-
iahed, and anciently very valu-
able. Ez. 27 : 15.
EcelCSiastes, literally a preach-
er. It is the name of one of
the sacred books written by
Solomon, in which is most forc-
ibly shown the vanity of Iffe,
the propriety of enjoying it
temperately and in the fear of
God, the necessity of patience
under unavoidable ills, and that
we must do all the good in our
power, and seek the heaven'y
kingdom.
Edar, tower of, the place to
which Jacob removed after the
death of Rachel. Gen. 35 :
21 It is called also the tower
of the flocks. Micah 4:8. It
was a place of fine pasturage,
about a mile from Bethlehem,
supposed to be the very spot on
which the shepherds received
the announcement c f the birth
EDO
72
EG*
f Christ. It is very remark-
able, that the Targum of Jon-
athan calls it " the place where
King Messiah shall be revealed
in the end of days."
Eden probairiy stood on the
Euphrates, not far north of the
Persian Gulf. Here is still the
most fertile and pleasant part
of the Turkish empire, though
now miserably cultivated.
Edification, a building up.
Saints are edified or built up
when they grow in holy knowl-
edge and practice. 1 Cor. 8:1.
To edify ourselves, we must read,
watch, pray, hear, meditate
and obey positive institutions
To edify others, there must be
love, good example, faithful
exhortation, and benevolent en-
deavor.
Edom was called Esau, he-
cause he was hairy ; and Edom,
either because his hair and com-
plexion were red, or, more prob-
ably, because he sold his birth-
right for a mess of red pottage.
He was born A. H. 2173.
Edom, the country of the
Edomites. It lay on the south
and south-east of the inherit-
ance of Judah, and extended to
the Elanitio Gulf of the Red
Sea. It war very mountainous,
including mounts Seir and Hor
Its principal cities were Selah,
Bozrah, Elath, and Ezion-geber.
Edomites, descendants of
Edom. They possessed them-
elves of the territory originally
occupied by the Horites, who are
wppoaed to have finally blended
with their conquerors. Inret
erate foes to Israel, they wer
rendered tributary by David,
but revolted under Jehoram,
and rendered themselves inde-
pendent. 2 Chron. 21 : 810.
See IDUMEA.
Egypt is bounded by the Med-
iterranean Sea on the north ;
Abyssinia on the south ; and on
the east and west by mountains,
running parallel with the Nile.
It was anciently called Chemia,
or the land of Ham ; and the
present Copts call it Chcmi, per-
haps because Ham resided here.
The Hebrews call it Mizraim ;
and the Arabs to this day call
it Mesr, from Mizraim, the son
of Ham, who peopled it. The
arts and sciences were very
early cultivated here, and main-
tained a greater degree of per-
fection, for some ages, than was
found in any other nation.
Pythagoras, Plato, Ac., travel-
led here to complete their
studies. But the people wor-
shipped beasts, fowls, onions,
beans, and monsters of their
own imagination. " The world
by wisdom knew not God.*' 1
Cor. 1 : 21. The name Egypt
was given it by the Greeks, and
signifies either the land of the
Copts, a name which the ancient
inhabitants gave to themselves;
or the land jf blickness, because
the soil and water are of a
blackish color. It was divided
nto two districts Upper Egypt,
or Thebais ; and Lower Egypt,
or the Delta. The river Nile
runs through it northward, and
EOT
73
EGY
^eiuij waters it, so that rain is
scarcely requisite ; and indeed
seldom happens in Upper E<jypt.
Tho heat of summer is exces-
sive, but fruits abound. Lower
Egjpt produces the most excel-
lent dates, almonds, figs, letn-
038, oranges, olives, Ac. Date-
trees abound ; and some villages
are surrounded by such num-
bers, as to seem embosomed in
a forest. These form a great
source of subsistence. The
threat to cut them down, Jer.
46 : 22, 23, was, therefore, ex-
ceedingly terrible, and involved
utter ruin. The horses are very
famous. The river abounds
with fish, crocodiles, and hippo-
potami. The practice of charm-
ing snake?, so as to carry them
about safely, still prevails here.
Ps. 58 : 4, 5. Jer, fe 17.
The pyramids of Egypt are
3000 years old, and stand south-
west of Grand Cairo. The
largest is 500 feet high, and
covers a space of more than
eleven acres. The object of
building them is not known.
If they were intended by the
monarchs who built them as
eternal monuments of their
greatness, it afford? a striking
lesson of the vanity of posthu-
mous fame, for the very names
of the builders have long been
forgotten. In my opinion the
pyramids are pagodas, or re-
ligious edifices, like those of
Burmab and China at the pres-
ent day. See " Malcom's Trav
la in South Eastern Asia."
Egypt was anciently ex-
tremely fertile ; but as the Nile
has, by yearly additions,
the surface of the earth con-
siderably, it now overflows to a
less height, and brings worse
mud along with it ; and as the
inhabitants have become, undei
Turkish oppression, less indus-
trious and thrifty, it is now but
moderately fertile, and in time
may become barren. Prophecy
has been strikingly verified in
the history of Egypt. It was
foretold that their perfidy to
Israel in violating alliances,
should be punished by their be-
coming : a mean people, who
should no more have a prince
of their own to govern them.
Ez. 29, 30, and 31 : 13. Soon
after the day of that seer, Per-
sia annexed Egypt to its empire.
Afterwards, they were succes-
sively tributary to the Greeks,
Romans, Saracens, and Mame-
lukes. The French overran this
country in 1798, apparently in
tending to keep it, and open
through it a new channel for
the East India trade. They
were soon obliged to relinquish
it, the Egyptians being aided
by the Ottoman Porte and by
the British It is now a prov-
ince of Turkey, governed by
bashaw, or pacha. Considerable
light is cast on the history of
this interesting country bj the
discovery, by M. Champollion,
of a mode of deciphering hie-
roglyphics. The informat'oi
obtained strikingly corroborates
tho Scripture history The
population u about two tail-
ELD
ELE
flons, a coasiderable portion of
whom are Christians and Jews.
These Christians are called
Copte, or Coptic Christians. They
reside chiefly in Upper Egypt,
and speak commonly the Arabic
language ; have a patriarch,
who resides at Cairo ; use a
liturgy, and baptize their chil-
dren by immersiun in luke-warm
water. They are Monophy 'sites,
that is, believe that Christ had
only one nature, namely, the
divine, and was human in ap-
pearance only.
The RIVER OP EGYPT, Josh.
15 : 47, does not mean the Nile,
but the Sihor, or the brook
Bfzor, which runs into the
Mediterranean on the southern
boundary of Palestine, issuing
near Gaza.
El &m is the country calK *E
Greek and Roman classics ELY-
MAIS. Gen. 14 : 1. Dan. 8 2.
See PERSIA.
Elder, a person advanced in
age. Elderly men being always
chosen in early ages to bear
rule, the term at length became
a title of office. Our word sm-
ator has the same origin. The
Hebrew elders were the chiefs
of the principal families, or
persons of allowed wisdom and
prudence. There seem to have
been generally seventy of them.
Ex. 24 : 19. These, with
Mosea and Aaron, made exactly
six from each tribe. After the
captivity, there were elders in
every city. Ezra 10 ; 14 Yho
erm, as used in the Now Tes-
tament, ; s the proper title of
office to denote Christian pa
tors, or presbyters. Acts 20 :
17, 28. Tit. 1 . 57. 1 Pet
5 : 1, 2.
Election, choice. The word
is always used in th New
Testament in relation to that
gracious purpose of God, by
which a portion of the human
family is destined to salvation.
Rom. 8 : 9. Election is (1.)
Sovereign, Rom. 9 : 1116 ;
(2.) Personal, Matt. 20 : 23 ;
2 Tim. 2 : 19 ; (3.) Eternal,
Eph. 1:4; 2 Thess. 2 : 13 ;
(4.) Irrevocable, Rom. 8 : 33 ;
2 Tim. 2 : 19 ; (5.) It is unto
holiness, 1 Thess. 5:9; (6.) la
all of grace. Rom. 11 : 5. That
the doctrine is plainly one of
divine revelation, is proved by
a fair interpretation of the fol-
lowing passages, together with
those just quoted terms and
phrases. Rom. 8 : 2830. Eph.
1 : 35. 2 Thess. 2 : 13. 1
Thess. 1 : 4. All Christian de-
nominations admit that some of
the human family will possess
and enjoy the glories of the
heavenly world. But this can-
not be, except God permit or
design it. If this design exist
in the divine mind, it always
did exist ; for he forms no new
designs, and is incapable of
change. If it always did exist
in his mind, it is an eternal
purpose. That purpose is elec-
tion. This doctrine necessarilf
follows from that of God's in-
finite knowledge. If he cer
tainJy Anew how things would be
from tendty, it was because
EMB
76
EMB
he had so arranged them. If
anything was left at random,
then how that would bo ho did
not know, an t omnis~
dent. As free moral agents, we
are under the law and gospel,
and we need not pry into this
inyf tery, but do as we are bid
by command, and encouraged
by promise. God saves unto
the uttermost all who come to
him through Christ.
Elements, the constituent
i' compound bodies Fire,
air, earth, and water, used to
be called elements ; but It is
now ascertained that all these
are compounds. The earth, in
its various kinds of original
matter, shall be melted with
fervent heat at Christ's secoud
coming. 2 Pet. 3 : 10. Ele-
ments also signify the alphabet
of letters, and syllables formed
of them ; and the phrase is
thence used to signify the ru-
diments, or first principles, of a
science. Col. 2 : 8. Heb. 5 :
12. The "rudiments of this
world," which are not to be
used in the gospel-church, are
ceremonial laws and human cus-
toms, which are not proper for
such as enjoy the clear instruc-
tions of the gospel. Col. 2 :
20- -2 2,
Elm is a word which occurs
but once in our translation of
the Bible, viz., Hos. 4 : 13 ; and
the original word Alah, there
used, ia in all other places ren-
dered oak
Elult See MONTH.
To Embalm dead bodies ia to
fill them ,ith odorift oos kn<J
drying drugs. The embalming
of dead bodies appears to have
had its origin, as well as to
have attained its highest per-
fection, among the Egyptians ;
but whether their want >1
to the earth to bury their dead,
during the overflow .1 the .Nile,
::i v d to civil honor, or a
fanc^ that the freshness of the
body tended to detain the soul
in it, chiefly prompted them
thereto, we know not. When a
person died, the corpse was car-
ried to the coffin-maker, that he
might prepare a fit coffin, with
its upper side representing the
body enclosed ; and great men
had their coffins painted or em-
bellished according to their
quality. The corpse was next
carried to the einbalmer. and
the price of embalming settled
with kim. The highest wag
about 1300 dollars ; the second
about 440, and the lowest but
a mere trifle. The corpse being
extended on a table, the inwards
and brains were all drawn out,
and the parts filled with myrrh k
cassia, and other spices, frank-
incense excepted. The whole
body was then anointed with
oil of cedar, myrrh, cinnamon,
Ac., for thirty days. It wae
next put into salt about forty
days. Gen. 50 : 3. Afterwards
it was wrapped in linen, some*
times, it is said, to the extent
of above one thousand yards,
dipped in the oil of myrrh, and
rubbed with a certain gum. It
was then delivered to the relfc*
EliB
76
PA
lions, who put it into
and either kept it in their own
house or in a tomb. Great
quantities of these bodies re-
main, some of which are several
thousand years old. They are
called mummies. Several have
been exhibited in this country.
The poor had oil of cedar
infused to destroy the intes-
tines, and the body wrapped in
nitre. Some of the poorest did
but cleanse the inside, by in-
jecting a certain liquor, and
then laid the body seventy days
in nitre, to dry it. Jacob and
Joseph were no doubt embalmed
in the manner of the Egyptians,
as they died in that country.
Gen. 50 : 2, 3, 26. The Jews
embalmed dead bodies ; but
probably in a very different and
less effectual mode than that of
the Egyptians. "When our Sa-
viour was crucified, the neces-
sity of his hasty burial obliged
them only to wrap his body in
linen, with a hundred pounds
of myrrh, aloes, and like spices,
bestowed by Nicodemus ; but
Mary, and other holy women,
had prepared ointment and
spices, for further embalming
it. Matt. 27 : 59. Luke 23 :
56. John 19 : 3;), 40. The use
of a large quantity of spices,
on such occasions, was thought
to do an honor to the deceased.
Emerald) one of the most
beautiful and valuable of gems,
f a green color, seldom exceed-
ing the size of a pea. t is
derived from India and oouth
America.
Emerods, a disease, the ihar-
aoter of which is not exactly
known. Most commentator!
consider it to be what is now
called piles. Deut. 28 27. 1
Sam. 5 : 12.
Emmanuel, or IMMANUEL, a
Hebrew word, which signifiei
" God with s." Matt. 1 : 23.
It is applied to the Messiah, in
whom the two natures, divine
and human, were united. Isa
7 : 14, and 8 : 8.
Em'nutns probably stood sev
en miles N. of Jerusalem.
Enchanter. See INCHANTEB
and SERPENT.
EnOB, literally the place of
waters, was the place where John
baptized. Its situation is not
accurately known, but probably
was in Galilee.
Envy, a painful vexation of
mind at another's enjoyment.
It tends to malice and persecu-
tion. Acts 13 : 45. It is hate-
ful to God, and always destroys
the peace of such as indulge
it. Phil. 1 : 15. Prov. 14 : 30.
It is one of the most diabolical
feelings which can be cherished;
and yet is one of the most com-
mon sins of men. Those who
trust their outward morality,
little consider this and othei
vices, which render them odioua
in the sight of God.
Ep'aphras, the same as Ep-
aphroditus, a friend of Paul
Col. 1 : 7. He was pastor of
the church at Hieropolis^ a g-eat
city not far from Colosae and
BPH 77
Laodicea, tb present nane o
which is Pam'.ukale.
K plia, a Hebrew measure
eontaining somewhat more tha
half a bushel.
Ephesiaas, an epistle of F
addressed to the church at Ejme
BUS, founded by Paul during i
residence there of three months
Acts 18 : 19- 21. It was writ
ten during Paul's first imprison
inent at Rome, to confirm am
instruct the Christians thure.
It is eminently valuable for its
minute instructions and solemn
admonition?. See EPISTLES and
COLOSSIANS.
Eph'esns, one of the most
famous cities of Asia, said to
have bear- *uilt by Ephesus, an
Amazon ukdy. as early as the
days of David. It was situated
on the river Cayster, about forty
miles south of Smyrna, and
was chiefly famed for a magnifi
cent temple of Diana. This is
said to have been 425 feet long,
and 220 broad. Its roof was
supported by 127 pillars, 70 feet
high, 27 of which were curiously
carved, and the rest polished.
It was burnv by the infamous
ro*.-3f!w, on the very day Soc-
rates was poisoned, and Alex-
ander was born, viz., 400 years
before Christ. Afterward, it
waa rebuilt with increased
iplendor, at the common ex-
pense of all the Grecian states.
It was finally burnt and ie-
ftroyea oy the Goths.
Before the time of Alexander,
Ephesus had kings of its own.
After it fell iato the hands of
EPB
the Romans, the inhabitants ve
volted to Mithridates, king of
Puntus, and, on that account,
were crnelly pillaged by Sylla,
the Roman general. It was
destroyed by an earthquake, A.
D. ];, but soon rebuilt. About
the time of Christ, all the Gre-
oian cities seemed to decline,
except this, which flourished
more and more. Christianity
was planted here by Paul, about
A. D. 54, when he reasoned with
the Jews, in their synagogues,
for three months, Acts 18, 19,
21. He returned next year,
and preached to the Gentiles
with wonderful success, Acts
19, staying three years, Acts
20:31. It suffered exceedingly
in. its various sieges and cap.
tures, by the Saracens, Tartars,
and Turks, and has gradually
sunk to nothing. Tournefort
found at Ephesus but thirty or
forty houses. Chandler, in 17G4,
found not so many individuals
Now, no human being lives *t
Ephesus ! Hy-sduck, which may
>e considered another name for
Ephesus, does not stand on the
same place, and contains only
a few wretched Turkish huts
The candlestick has been re-
moved out of its place ! " How
doth the city sit solitary that
was full of people ! " The
ipostle John spent niost of his
ife, and closed it here.
Ephod, an ornamental uppei
garment, which made a part ol
he official dress of the Hebrew
>riest. That of the common
priest was made of linen, and
EPI
78
EPI
that of the high priest was
richly embroidered, and con-
tained the sacred breastplate. It
was without sleeves, and con-
sisted of two parts, one hang-
ing before, the other behind.
See BREASTPLATE.
Ephraim. (1.) The younger
eon of Joseph, born 2293, and
head of a tribe in Israel, which,
at the time of their deliverance
out of Egypt, amounted to 40,-
500 persons. (2.) The lot of
Ephraim, lying in the heare of
the Holy Land. (3.) The moun-
tains of Ephraim, highly fertile,
except where they approach .*
Jordan in rocky precipices A
spur of this range approacnes
Jericho, the passes of which
have ever been infested by rob-
J^ers. (4.) There was a forest
jf Ephraim, where Absalom's
"my was routed. 2 Sam. 18 :
6-17. (5.) From the days of
Jeroboam till the ten tribes
were carried away captive by
Ss-lmaneser, the whole land, not
included under Judah, was often
called Ephraim. Jer. 31 : 6.
(6.) The city of Ephraim, where
Chnst retired with his disciples
not long before he suffered
John 11 : 54.
Epicn'reans, philosophers who
adopted the doctrine of Epicu-
ivs> T \o flourished at Athens,
about A. M. 3700. They denied
that God governs the world, or
in the least condescends to in-
terfere with creatures below.
They denied also the immortal-
ity of the soul, and the existence
^f angels. They maintained
that the world was no* formed
by God, nor with any design,
but by the fortuitous concourse
of atoms. They maintained
that happiness consisted in
pleasure ; but some of them
placed this pleasure in the tran-
quillity and joy of the mind,
arising from the practice of
moral virtue, which is probably
the true principle of Epicurus ;
others understood him in a
grosser sense, and placed all
their happiness in sensual pleas-
ure.
Epistle, or LETTER. Twenty-
one of the books of the New
Testament are epistles. The first
fourteen were written by Paul ;
the other seven were written,
one by James, two by Peter,
three by John, and one by Jude.
The messages to the seven
churches of Asia, recorded in
the book of Revelation, are
called epistles. Rev. 2, and 3.
To understand the epistles, we
must consider the time, occasion,
design, and parties addressed.
They abundantly confirm all
the main facts in the Evange-
lists and Acts , as well as form
commentaries and explications
of the doctrines there advanced
They also contain many iinpor
tant instructions as to religioui
duties.
The arrangement of the Epis
ties, as they stand in our Bible,
is not the order of their date ;
but is exaetly that which has
always been their order sinoa
collected ; and Lardner Aas
shown many reasons why it U
E8A
79
EIH
ke bett arrangement. Still, the
indent will be glad to see the
order as to time, which is here
taken from " liorne'a Introduc-
tion."
1 Thess.,
Gralatlans,
1 Corinth..
Komaiis,
Kplit'siuns,
Philip.,
Philemon,
Hchrows,
1 Tim.,
Titus,
2 Tim.,
EPISTLES OF PAUL.
from Corinth,
Corinth.
Phlllppl,
ttoine,
Italy,
Macedonia,
Rome,
"3
62
67
67
68
61
62
62
63
64
64
6ft
The other epistles were writ-
ten between the years 61 and
69 ; those of John being the
latest.
Critics and chronologers hafve
not all agreed on these iates,
and there is great difficulty in
deciding as to some of them.
See under each name.
Erastns, a disciple of Paul,
and chamberlain, that is, treas-
urer, of the city of Corinth, lie
resigned his office, and became
an assistant to Timothy. Rom.
16 : 23.
Esa'ias, the same a ISAIAH,
which see.
Esar'haddon, the third son
of Sennacherib, who succeeded
Ms father about the 22d year
tf the reign of Hezekiah. In
him the kingdoms of Assyria
and Uabylon became united ;
after which he invaded Judah,
and carried Manasseh away in
chains ; which was the occasion
of the repentance and reforma-
tion ol that wieked prince. 2
Kings 2i. lie reigned over As-
years, and orr Baky
Ion 13, and died 6GS yert
before Christ
Bsau. Seo EDOV.
Esdraelon, a noble plain,
about 15 miles square, near
Mount Carmel, famous in all
ages for the great battle fought
upon it. It was once exceed-
ingly populous, but is now
almost a desert.
Espousals, the act or cere-
mony of marriage. Jer. 2 : 2.
Espousing /sometimes means in
Scripture only betrothing, or
making a matrimonial engage
ment. See BETROTH.
Esther, a queen of Persia.
The king, her husband, was,
sumo think, Artaxerxes Longimcr
7i <w>- ; but others, Darius Ilyxtas-
pes. THE BOOK of Esther con-
tain.s a narrative which comes
in between the sixth and seventh
chapters of Ezra. The author
is not known ; but is by some
supposed to be Mordecai.
Eternity, strictly speaking,
is duration without beginning
or end. God alone is therefore
truly eternal. See EVERLAST-
ING.
Ethiopia is sometimes called,
in the Old To* lament, Cush,
from the oldest son of Ham,
whose posterity settled on the
south-west of the Red Sea.
Acts 8 : 27. It bordered on
Egypt, add was once a vast and
powerful kingdom, with many
noted cities. It is now called
Abyssinia. Splendid ruins in
different places attest the high
civilization of its formejr inhab-
1DP
80
EVE
taut*. It* highest prutperity
W*S about 800 or 900 years B.
0. As an evidence of its vast
resources at that time, read
2 Chron. 14 : 9. Numerous
prophecies declared the conver-
sion of this people ; Isa. 45 :
14. Zeph. 3 : 10, <tc., and it is
known that Abyssinia is at this
day a Christian state.
EnnuCh, the name given to
certain officers who served in
the inner courts and chambers
of kings. The intimate access
to the monarch, thus enjoyed,
was often the means of their
attaining stations of great honor
and power.
Euphrates, the most famous
river in Western Asia. From
its source in the mountains of
Armenia, its course is westward ;
after which, at the foot of Mount
Taurus, it bends southward, re-
ceives the Melas, runs along
the east side of Syria, and, after
having watered Chaldea, pro-
ceeds south, and joins the Tigris
at Koorma, just above where
the ancient Paradise is supposed
to have stood. About 60 miles
farther south, the united rivers
discharge themselves into the
Persian Gulf. Like the Nile,
it is subject to an annual over-
flow, by which it imparts great
fertility to its valley. On its
banks stood Babylon. Bussorah,
about fifty miles from its mouth,
is now a place of some impor-
tance. The entire length of the
river is about 1400 miles ; of
which but 140 are navigable for
itearnboats. But rafts and flats,
floated on inflate 1 skina, brinj
down produce from Armenia and
Cappadocia. This majestic river
flows now, for the most part,
through a dreary solitude.
Euroclydon, a violent and
dangerous north-east wind, com-
mon in the Mediterranean about
the beginning of winter. Acta
27 : 14. It is called by sailors
a Levanter.
ErangeiiSt, a bringer of good
news. It was applied first to
the inspired historians of the
gospel, and, also, in the primi-
tive church, to those who went
from place to place to preach
the glad tidings of the ever
blessed gospel. The term is
now used to signify a minister
who travels, and is not settled
with any particular people.
Even, EVENING. The Jews
had two evenings. The first
was the after part of the day ;
the second was the hour or two
immediately after dark. Where
the word occurs in Ex. 12 : 6,
Numb. 9 : 3, and 28 : 4, Ac., it
reads in the original " between
the evenings," and means the
twilight. This" was the time the
passover was to be sacrificed.
Deut. 16 : 6.
Everlasting) mduring for
ever ; eternal. God is ever
lasting, Ex. 15 : 18 ; and th
covenant of grace, Heb. 13 : 20 ;
and the future blessedness of
the righteous, Luke 16 : 9 ; 2
Cor. 4 : 17 ; and the punish*
ment of the wicked, Matt. 25 :
46.
Our finite miuda cannot m
EVI
or6 the thought of everlast-
ing duration. Millions of mil-
lions of years, multiplied to
the furthest powers of computa-
tion, are as nothing to eternity.
Any period we can compute will
as certainly come to an end as
single day, and then the space
eyond is not diminished ! 0,
< who can dwell in everlasting
burnings 1 "
Evil, an action contrary to
the law of God ; any wrong
done by one man to another.
Matt. 5 : 39. It is put for the
afflictions or punishments which
God sends, Job 2 : 10 ; f*? gin
and its sufferings, Matt.
To have an evil eye, Prov 23 :
6, is to be covetous, and grudge
the grace that is dispensed to
others. Evil days, Eccl. 12 : 1,
signify the time of old age,
which is calamitous in itself,
and often saddened with the
remembrance of youthful fol-
lies. To " put far away the evil
day,'* Amos 6 : 3, means to
drive away the thoughts of ap-
proaching judgment and death.
Satan is called the evil one, or
evil spirit; he is the author of
Bin ; he perpetually works wick-
ednesi, and causes trouble.
John 17 : 15. Acts 19 : 12.
An evil time is a season of much
Binning, danger, and trouble.
Aiuos 5 : 16.
Evil Speaking, affirming de-
famatory falsehoods, or re-
proachfully and unnecessarily
peaking of real faults. It is
deplorably prevalent vice,
81 XH
even among those who pride
themselves on their morality.
It is scarcely, if at all, less sin-
ful to listen with pleasure to
such conversation. 1 Cor. 5
11, and 6 : 10.
Exactor, an officer whose
business it was to collect fines
levied by the courts, and some-
times also to gather taxer
Examine. See SELF-EAAMI-
HATION.
Exclude, to shut out. The
word excommunicate, which is
now common, is not found in
our translation, though the ex-
pression " cast out," in John 9 :
34, might be so rendered. Ex-
clusion from a church ia an
awful censure which Christ em-
powers his visible people to
inflict on members who are in-
corrigible, or who have commit
ted scandalous offences. Ex-
cluded persons forfeit, (1.) The
fellowship of the church, Matt.
18 : 17. (2.) The common so-
ciety of the members, except
so far as civil relations require
it, 2 Thess. 3 : 6, 14 ; Rom. 16 .
17. (3.) The inward privileges
of the professed people of God.
The dedign of elusion is, (1.)
To purge the church. (2.) To
warn other members. (3.) To
reclaim the offender.
Exhort, to urge others to the
performance of known duty
It is a Christian requirement,
Heb. 3 : 13, and was the con-
stant practice of Christ and the
apostles. Luke 3 : 18. Acta
11 : 23. Some may be useful IB
EXP
82
EZE
Ibis way who are not called to
the ministry. Rom. 12 : 8.
Ex wins, the second book of
Moses, so called from its name
in the Greek version, which sig-
nifies departure.; because it re-
lates to the history of the
departure of the Israelites from
Egypt. It is a narrative of the
transactions of about 145 ,Tars,
from the death of Joaepa, A.
M. 2369, to the erection of the
tabernacle, in 2514. It de-
scribes the history of Moses,
the plagues of Egypt, the jour-
ney of Israel, the dispensation
of the law, the construction of
the tabernacle, and the entrance
into Canaan.
Ex'orelst, one who drives
away evil spirits, or casts out
devils. Our Saviour, when he
sent out his disciples to preach
the gospel, gave them power
over unclean spirits, to casl
them out, Matt. 10 : 1 ; by
which gift they gained repute
among the people, and gave
proof that they were sent of
God. But those Jewish ex
orcists, mentioned Acts 19 : 13
were impostors, deluding the
people by witchcraft or diabol
ical agency.
Expiation, atonement. Ex
piatory sacrifices were earl}
ordained of God, and from thes
doubtless originated all thos
piacular offerings enjoined i
the worship of heathen nations
The " great clay " of expiatio
was the 10th of the mont
Tizri. The ceremony is de
ribd Lev. 1C. When expia
ion is made, the guilt Is re.
moved, and the obligation U
punishment is cancelled. Se
'KOPITIATION.
Eyelids were painted by an
Jent Jewish females, and still
are in Arabia, <fco. This is what
Jezebel did, 2 Kings 9 : 30.
[he edge of the lids, between
the hair and the eye-balls, is
made black, to increase the ap-
>arent size and vivacity of the
eye. Jer. 4 : 30, may refer to
this custom or to the stretiing
of the face by pricking a dark
powder through the skin, as
sailors now do on their arms
This practice remains in varioui
countries to this day.
ktal) " God-strengthened,"
was a descendant of Aaron, and
of course belonging to the
priesthood. Being carried away
by Nebuchadnezzar among the
captives, he settled on the banks
of the Chebar, in Mesopotamia,
and was there favored with his
extraordinary revelations. He
seems to have exercised his
prophetic office about twenty
years, and was cotemporary
with Jeremiah and Daniel.
THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL is eim
ilar to that of Jeremiah in it
scope, but very different i
style, being more pointed and
severe. It predicts the dread-
ful calamities to be inflicted on
Judea and Jerusalem, for idol-
atry and wickedness ; the judg.
ments that would be eent upon
the false prophets, who deluded
the people with vain hopes, and
winked at their sius ; the pun
bZR
83
EZS
Laments which should befall
Ammon, Edom, Philistia, Tyre,
and Egypt ; the restoration of
Israel and Judah ; and the
blessedness of the gospel church
under the Messiah.
Biblical critics assign this
book a high place for grandeur.
Grotius and Lowth place him
beside Homer.
Ez'ion-Ce'ber, the famous
port from which Solomon sent
his ships for gold, &o., was on
the eastern arm of the Red Sea.
Robinson says no trace of it
now remains.
Ezra, a captive Jewish priest,
who, by wisdom and iucefi""'ty,
rose to eminence in the Po*tan
oourt. By authority of his sov-
ereign, Artaxerxes Longimanus,
B. c. 457, he assembled a large
colony of his countrymen, and
went to repair Jerusalem, and
rebuild the temple. To Ezra is
ascribed the important work of
collecting the different inspired
books, arranging, combining,
and correcting them, and so
forming the complete canon of
the Old Testament.
THE BOOK OF EZRA was douht-
v ess written by him. It con-
sists of two principal divisions ;
the first gives the narrative of
the return of the Jews from
Babylonia ; and the second do-
wribea the great reformation
of religion which ttok plaot
among the people. It spread!
over a period of 79 years. The
various monarchs who flourished
during that period were, Cyrus,
Cambyses, Magus, Darius Hy
taspes, Xerxes, and Artaxerxes;
in the eighth year of whose
reign the narrative ceases. It
materially elucidates the proph-
ecies of Haggai and Zechariah.
Compare Ezra 5, with Hag. 1 :
12, and Zech. 3 : 14. Part of
the book, cor/sisting 3f letters,
decrees, <tc., is in the Chaldee
language, then common among
the Jews.
In the Jewish Talmud it ia
stated that Ezra died on his way
from Jerusalem to Babylon, to
confer with the king on the
affairs of Jiidea A tomb, said
to be his, represented in the
engraving, stands on the Tigris,
about 20 miles above its June*
tion -fith the Euphrates.
FAL
84
FAB
Fair HaYen, an unsafe road-
rtead in Crete, north-east of
Cape Leon, or Matala. To this
day it bears the same name.
Acts 27 : 8.
Faith, dependence on the
truth of an assertion. Divine
faith is firm belief upon the
authority of divine revelation.
It is thus we are persuaded to
believe all truths relating to
God, revealed to us in the
Scriptures. Justifying, or sav-
ing, faith is a grace wrought in
the soul by the Spirit of God,
whereby we receive Christ, as
he is revealed in the gospel, to
be our Prophet, Priest, and
King ; trust in him ; and rely
upon his righteousness alone for
salvation. This faith begets a
sincere obedience in life and
conversation. ** Faith which
worketh by love," Gal. 5 : 6, is
faith which shows itself by pro-
ducing in us love to God and to
our neighbor. Faith is put for
a belief and profession of the
gospel, Rvai. 1 : 8.
FttJI, to drop down, to be
ruined, to apostatize. By way
of eminence, man's first dis-
obedience, and consequent deg-
radation, is called The Fall. By
it our race lost the image of
God, and, being totally des-
titute of any natural tendencies
to holiness, wo " are estranged,
from th* womb." Ps. 51 : 5,
and 58 ; A. Isa 58 : 8. From
this awful condition and its con-
sequences, we are delivered bj
" the second Adam."
Fan, an instrument for sep-
arating chaff from grain, for-
merly made in the shape of a
wooden shovel, with a long
handle. The shape and man-
ner of using it are shown in
the picture of a threshing-floor.
With this the grain was tossed
in the air when the wind blew,
so that the chaff was driven
away. As it fell round the
place, it was customary to sweep
it together and burn it. See
Matt. 3 : 12.
Farthing, a coin used by the
Romans. Our translators give
this Engl-rh to both ^Jonayiov
(assarion) fcr*d KodQavrrjf (quad-
rantes), but th^se were different.
The first was a tenth part of a
Roman penny, or about two
cents. Matt. )0 : 29. The lat-
ter was equal to two mites, and
is about a fourth part of our
cent. Mark 12 : 42.
Fast, a solemn forbearance
from food, accompanied by hu-
miliation before God, prayer,
and the reformation of life.
Our Saviour did not appoint
any fast days, but gave reasons
why, after his death, his dis-
ciples should fast. Afflictions
and perplexities soon became
common to chrislians, and then
they fasted. 2 Cor. 6 t 5.
Fasting, though i&aoh neg-
lected by modern Christians, ia
a duty of great importance, and
FAT
85
FEA
sh.ald not be overlooked among
ur means of growth in grace,
ft should consist, (1.) in total
or partial abstinence from food
and all other auimal indulg-
ences, as far as bodily health
and vigor of mind will permit ;
(2.) humiliation and con
of sin; (3.) abandoning sinful
Acts ; (1.) prayer; (5.) liberal-
ky to good objects. Matt, y :
15. 1 Cor. 7 : 5.
Fat* In the ceremonial law,
it was ordered that " all the fat "
was the Lord's ; and the Jews
were to eat " neither fat nor
blood." Lev. 3 : 417. This
does not mean the fat as inter-
mixed with the lean, but all the
fat parts ; such as round the
kidneys, <tc. Indeed, as ani-
mals were not generally fatted
for slaughter, except for great
occasions, these detached parts
of fat comprised nearly the
whole.
Father, he that has a child.
It is a title given to the first
ancestor, as Rom. 4 : 10 ; to the
inventor and master of any art
or science ; *>r the founder of a
particular profession, Gen. 4 :
20, 22 ; to him who is affected
with the miseries of the poor,
and endeavors to provide for
their wants. Job 29 : 16. God
declares himself to be " the Fatket
of the fatherless." Ps. 08 : 5.
God is eminently the Father, '
Creator, Preserver, and Pn. tec-
tor of all his creatures, but
principally of those who know
ncL serve him. Deut. 32 . 0.
%oda. 8 : 15, 16 The devil is
called the father of th 5 wiokd
John 8 : 44. In church history,
plied to the Chris-
tian writers of the first oen
It is customary to give
this epithet to ugud and eminent
saints, 2 Kings 2 : 12, and to
the minister under whom we
are converted, 1 Cor. 4 : 15 ; 1
Tim. 1 : 18.
Falling, a young animal fed
for slaughter. Isa. 11 : 6. Matt.
22: 4.
Fear, apprehension of danger
Guilt produces that solicitude
and dread which is called sla-vish
fear. Acts 24 : 25. That holy
feeling of the renewed heart
toward God, which produces a
reverent submission to his prov-
idence, and ready obedience to
all his commands, is filial fear.
Heb. 5 : 7.
Feast, a season of joy and
thanksgiving appointed of God
to commemorate great events,
to give rest and confirmation to
the pious, to promote and sanc-
tify social affections, and to
prefigure the blessings of the
gospel
The following enumeration is
prepared with great care, and
should be familiar to every
reader of Scripture.
THE FEAST OF THB PASSOVEB
lasted eight days, beginning on
the 15th of the month Nisau
Ex. 12 : 14. See PASSOVER.
THE FEAST OF PKXTECOST cama
fifty days after the Passover.
See Pio.vn-xoST
THK FEAST OF TABERNACLES
continued for a week, and wa.
FEA
86
FEA
to commemorate the dwelling j
of the Israelites in tents. It is
sometimes called the feast of
ngatherings. Ex. 23 : 16, and
34 : 22. The following are the
principal ceremonies (1.) Dur-
ing the entire week of its con-
tinuance, the peopla dwelt in
booths or tents, erected in the
fields or streets, or on the flat,
terrace-like roofs of their
houses. (2.) Extraordinary of-
ferings were made. So* Numb.
29. (3.) During the feast,
branches of palm, olive, citron,
myrtle, and willow, were car-
ried in the hands, singing " Ho-
sanna," that is, Save now ; or,
Save, I beseech thee. Ps. 118 :
25. It was meant as a prayer
for the coming of the Messiah.
Thus was Jesus conducted into
Jerusalem, by the multitude,
who believed him to be the
promised Saviour. (4.) The
libation of water upon and
around the altar, which was an
emblem of the effusion of the
Holy Spirit. To this Christ
alluded, when, in the last day
of the feast, he cried, " If any
man thirst, let him come unto
me and drink." During the
whole festival, music, feasting,
rejoicings, and illuminations
gladdened the city.
THE DAY OF ATONEMENT was
kept on the 10th day of Tizri,
or September. On this day only,
in the whole year, wae the high
priest permitted to enter the
most holy place, and then not
without due preparation, on the
'.n of death. Lov 16: 2 17.
THE FEAST OF WEEKS, Ex.34-
22, occurred seven weeks aftei
the second day of the Passover.
It is the same as the feast of
Pentecost.
THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS wai
held on the first and second
days of the month Tizri, which
was the commencement of the
civil year. The name is derived
from the blowing of trumpets
in the temple with more than
usual solemnity.
The preceding were appointed
of God. The two following
were purely of human origin.
THE FEAST OF LOTS, o? PURIM,
was introduced in after times,
and was celebrated in February.
On this occasion, the entire bock
of Esther is always read in the
synagogues.
THE FEAST OF THE DEDICA-
TION of the second temple (men-
tioned in John 10 : 22) WM
instituted after the days of
Malachi, by Judas Maccabeus,
about 170 B. c., in commemora-
tion of the cleansing of the
temple, after its profanation by
Antiochus. 1 Maccab. 4 : 52
59. It commenced on the 25th
of Cisleu, or December.
The preceding are the chief
annual festivals of Old Testa-
ment times. Modern Jews have
added various others, which this
work need not notice. The fol-
lowing were the extraordinary
festivals of divine appointment.
> THE SABBATICAL YEAR. Ev-
ery seventh year the land waa
to lie fallow, and its sponUneoui
produce to be shared in
FEL
on by tin BO r rants of the
family, the pour, tho .*!
and tho cattle. It was the year
jf release from personal sla-
rery, Ex. 21:2, and from pe-
cuniary debts, Deut. 15 : 1, 2.
In order to guard against fam-
ine on this and the
year (which would also be par-
tially deficient, in consequence
of the entire rest of the seventh
year), God promised a triple
produce for the sixth yea
25 : 21, 22. The breach cf this
command was among the shief
national pins which caused the
captivity. Lev. 26 : 33, 34. Jer.
25 : 9. 2 Chron. 36 : 21.
THE JUBILEE was a more sol-
emn feast held every seventh
sabbatical year, that is, once in
fifty year*. See JUBILEJL
FEASTS OF CHARITY, or LOVE
FEASTS, were entertainments of
the Christian church in the first
ages, which tended to relieve
the poor, and promote union.
The Lord's supper was gener-
ally administered at the close.
They, however, became occa-
sions of evil, and were discon-
tinued.
Felix was deputy -governor of
Judea. He enticed Drusilla to
divorce Azuus, king of Emesa,
and then took her as his own
wife. lie defeated about 4000
outlaws, headed by an Egyptian
impostor, who had postei them-
selves in the Mount of Olives.
Acts 21 : 38. During his ad-
ministration, Judea was in a
constant turmoil, being infested
with robbers and assassins, and
87 FER
overrun with impostors pretend-
ing to be the Messiah. It wai
this prince that trembled at the
words of Paul, Acts 24 : 25.
He was a bad man, and gov-
erned with great injustice and
cruelty. In A. D. GO, he was
recalled to Rome, and Festui
was sent in his room. Tho
Jews followed him, and com-
plained to the government of
rtion and violence. He
would have been jrUaished with
death, had not his brother Pal-
las, by his credit at court, pre
served his life. Acts 23, and
24.
Fellowship, or COMMTJJUOW , is
a term of great importance in
the Scriptures. There is a fel-
lowship to which the people of
Christ are admitted wifch God
the Father, and with his Son
Jesus Christ, the blood of Jesus
ig them from all sin. 1
John 1:3,5, &c. There is also
a fellowship which they have
with one another, in the spirit-
ual blessings which the gospel
brings to the guilty ; and in
temporal things, which takes
place when the disciples of
Christ communicate jointly of
their worldly substance to the
support of the poor. Acts 2 :
42. Church connection is called
a fellowship, and is opposed to
having connection with the un-
fruitful works of darkness. Eph.
5: 11.
Ferret, a species cf weasel.
The word so rendered, Lev. 11 :
30, means " the crier," on which
account some take it foi th4
FIG
frog. It seems on the whole to
be the gecko, or noisy Hazard.
Fenced Cities, that is, walled
and fortified towns, are of very
ancient origin. We can trace
them back fifteen centuries
before Christ ; so early did man
learn " the art of war." The
walls were of stone or brick,
and of great strength. The
gates generally had towers
built over them, in which were
held courts and councils. See
GATE.
FestuS succeeded Felix in the
government of Judea, appointed
by Nero, in the first year of his
reign. He sent Paul, whom
Felix had left bound at Cgesarea,
to Rome, to be tried by Caesar,
to whom he appealed. Acts 25.
Festus was very diligent and
successful in his eiforts to put
an end to the disturbances and
robberies which had become so
frequent in Judea, in the reign
of Felix, but took no trouble to
investigate the claims of Chris-
tianity ; and when Paul spoke
of its mysteries, he thought that
much learning had made him
mad. Acts 26. He died about
A. D. 62.
Fig-Tree, a well-known tree,
which flourishes in warm coun-
tries. It attains a good degree
of perfection in the most south-
ern of the United States. The
fruit, which grows from the
trunk and large branches, and
not from the exterior twigs, is
nutritious and medicinal. It
was very common in Palestine,
tnd in so now in the Levant.
8 no
whence it is exported, in a dried
state, to every part of the world.
The leaves are very large. OB
which account Adam and Eve
made aprons of them. The tree
itself is large, and some have
been mentioned which would
shelter three hundred men. 1
Kings 4 : 25. John 1 : 49.
Christ blasted a fig-tree on
which was no fruit, " though
the time of figs was not yet,"
that is, the time of gathering
figs had not quite arrived. The
tree was, therefore, evidently
barren, and had not already
been stripped. Matt "*-l : 19.
It is remarkable that nis curse
was only the establishment of
its previous sterility. Being on
the public road, no man's prop-
erty was injured. It was an
awful lesson to those, of whose
hypocritical exterior and worth-
less pretensions it was a strik-
ing emblem, and to fruitless
professors in all ages. The
goodness of God is remarkably
apparent in this tree. It flour,
ishes in rocky, barren places,
where scarcely anything else
will grow ; and a single tree
will sometimes produce 280
pounds of figs. So valuable
was this tree in the land of
Canaan, that to have it killed,
or even to have it fail of itl
annual fruit, was reckoned a
dreadful calamity. Joel 1 : 6,
7. liab. 3 17.
Figure, shape, resemblance.
Idols are called figures, because
they are made after the like
ness of some original form
FIR
89
FI8
Ada 7 : 43. Adam, Isaac, <to.,
Mid some ancient ceremonies,
were figures or types, as they
shadowed forth Jesus Christ.
Rom. 5 : It. Hub. 11 : 19, and
9 : 9. Baptism is called a fig-
ure ; its washing in water shad-
ows forth the washing of our
culs in the blood of Christ.
Fillet. (1.) A band for the
Lair. (2.) An astragal, or ar-
chitectural ornament. Ex. 36 :
38, and 38 : 2S.
Fir, a very tall, * : ;aight,
evergreen tree, of dense foliage,
and abounding with a gum
called rosin. Its fruit somewhat
resembles burrs of the pine-
tree. The wood was anciently
used for spears, musical instru-
ments, building, and furniture
for houses and ship?. It was
the chosen abode of the stork.
Ps. 104 : 17 Jesu Christ is
compared to a green fir-tree.
Hos. 14 : 8. His people are
likened to fir-trees. Isa. 41 :
19, and 55 : 13, and 60 : 13.
Fire, the state of combus-
tion ; flame, 2 Pet. 3:7; Rev.
9:17; suffering of the utmost
severity, Jude 7. The word is
often used to denote the tor-
ment of hell. To "sail with
fire" means to prove or purify
by suffering. Mark 9 : 49.
Firkin, a Greek measure,
equal, it is thought, to four
gallons and a half ; that is,
about a fourth part of a batti.
There is no certainty as to its
ize. John 2 : 6.
Firmament, the expanse of
region of the firmament
i (ien. 1 : 6, 7, th
t' the clouds above from
r < rs of the earth bene*.h.
Job 37 : 18.
First-Fruits, curings of the
earliest ripe grain, fruit, Ac.,
which were made before the
harvest was fully gathered.
Neither the time nor quantity
is prescribed. Every person
was to offer for himself.
Fish, a general name, in
Scripture, for aquatic animals.
Fishes were created on the fifth
day, by the word of God's
power. Some are of monstrous
size, and some are too small
to be seen without powerful
glasses. Their element has ever
prevented an accurate knowl-
edge of their number, structure,
or habits. Doubtless many ex-
ist in the vast extent and pro-
fundity of the ocean, which
have never come under human
observation. Even when drawn
from their watery abode, and
the form examined and de-
scribed, their migrations, pur-
suits, and pleasures, remain
concealed in most cases. The
sea not affording vegetable food
in the profusion that is seen on
land, the natives of the deep
subsist by preying on each
other. The fecundity and lon-
gevity of fishes are adapted to
this order of things. A single
cod will produce, in a season,
nine millions of eggs ; a floun-
der above one million, and a
mackerel five hundred thou*
heaven, the sky. The lower i sand. Large fish Ih e on smaU
8*
FLA
90
FLE
ones, and these find food in the
Bmrpius spawn. Thus myriads
of creatures partake of the
pleasures of existence, in an
element which would otherwise
have been a silent waste.
Under the Hebrew law, none
were called clean, and allowed
to be eaten, but such as had
fins and scales; so that lobsters,
oysters. &c., were prohibited.
Fitches, or FETCHES, a sort
of tare, growing to the beight
of 12 or 18 inches The seeds
are fragrant and pungent, and
were used in bread and cakes
by the Jews. Occurs only in
Isa. 28 : 25, 27.
Flag, a tall rush, common on
the banks of the Nile ; grateful
to cattle as food, and made into
ropes, <fcc., by the Egyptians.
Gen. 41 : 2, 18. Job 8 : 11. See
PAPER.
Flagon, a vessel or cruse
usually intended for wine, and
containing about a pint. See
CRUSE. The word seems to
mean a cake, or pressed lump
of raisins. 2 Sana. 6 . 19. 1
Chron. 16 : 3.
FltX, a well-known plant, of
which linen is made. Egypt
carried on a great trade in
linen, Ezek. 27 : 7. Wrought
Into garments, it was the only
raiment of the priests, and the
principal article of dress of all
the people. It was famous in
all countries for its fineness ; but
this was because the art of spin-
ning was then in so rude a state,
for that which is now taken
from the best mummies seeing
to us very coarse. The destrao*
tion of flax, in one of tha
plagues of Moses, must have
been a great calamity. Ex. 9 :
31. It is still, according to
NOKDEN, one of their principal
articles of export. When it is
said the flax had " boiled," it
means that the seed vessels had
begun to assume a roundish
form. See LAMP.
Flay, to strip off the skin ; a
punishmeiit used in some coun-
tries upon great offenders, by
which they were slowly killed,
with the utmost suffering. Mio.
3:3. Some of the early Chris-
tians were martyred in this
manner.
Flesh, that soft part of any
animal, which lies between the
skin and the bone. The word
is used in Scripture for living
men, and animals in general)
Gen. 6 : 13 ; for the whole
nature of man, as it comes into
the world infected with sin,
Rom. 7:5; 8:8; for all that
in religion which is outward,
and to be seen with the eye, as
moral works or ceremonies of
the law, Rom. 4 : 1, Gal. 3:3;
for the natural corruptions,
which act in opposition to the
Spirit in regenerated persona.
Rom. 7 : 18, 25. Gal. 5 : 17, 24.
Flesh also signifies the human
nature of Christ, whereby his
divine nature was veiled, even
as the mercy-seat and the most
holy place were by the veil
Ileb. 10 : 20. It is also take*
for the outwari appearance
John 8 : 15. " A heart of flesh
FLO
1
FLY
fenotes a tendur, tractable tem-
per and disposition of soul.
Flood, an inundation or col-
lection of waters. The B
IB 80 called, PH. GO: (J, and heavy
rains, Matt. 7 : '25, and by a
figure, groat afflict;
15, violent efforts of the enemies
Of tho plnirch. Isa. 59: 19, Ac.
Iu u.uoi instances where this
word occurs, it means that
awful deluge which once de-
stroyed the earth, as described
In Genesis. Noah, with his
family, and the various animals
which God brought to him, were
preserved in the ark, which
was their habitation for about a
year. This memorable event is
computed to have occurred A.
M. 1C.5G. Persons and things
existing previous to it are called
antediluvian. Of this ^nt, most
heathen nations ha^ to this
day, some tradition, And many
ancient Gentile writers allude
to it. Scarcely any ancient fact
is so well authenticated by pro-
fane history, by tradition, and
by commemorative rites, as the
flood. The present state of the
earth furnishes evidence of its
having occurred. Trees, teeth,
bones, sea-shell, <fcc., Ac., are
often found on tho tops of moun-
tains, or buried in the earth, in
the hardest strata, in solid
rocks, in beds of marl, and in
the bottoms of mines.
Floor, tho bottom of a r'<om.
1 Kings 6: 15. The place where
eon; was threshed out. Hos. 9
1. Judg. 6 : 37. See THRESH
WQ-Fl.OOB.
Flutes, flat-bottomed vessel*,
are now called scotot ol
or a collection of trees,
1 together by ropes, to
bo drawn along by water, in the
manner we make a raft. 1 Kings
5: 9.
Flowers are mentioned in &
multitude of places in Scripture.
They are among the most beau-
tiful objects in nature ; various
in form and color, delicate,
graceful, fragrant, and useful.
They enclose and protect the
tender organs by which the
seeds and fruits are perfected
Tho care and study of flowera
is a most pure and ennobling
pursuit, and was assigned to
both man and woman before the
fall. Few comparisons are more
common than that between a
flower and* human life. Job
14 : 2. Ps. 103 : 15. Isa. 40 :
6,8.
Flute, a sweet, soft wind-in-
strument, of very ancient date
We find it used in the time of
David, 1 Kings 1 : 40, and a!
Nebuchadnezzar's concert. Dan.
3 : 5.
Fly, an insect of which there
are many kinds, some having
two, and some four wings. Son
nini says, that in Egypt no in-
sects are so troublesome as flies,
which are there extremely ra-
pacious and bold, stinging tho
tenderost parts of the body, and
creating almost insupportable
pain. Isa. 7 : 18 According
to the custom o f ' idolatrous
countries, to worsh.p what wal
hurtful, tho Egyptians paid su
FOO
92
FOO
perrtitious homage to several
torts of flies, so that nothing
eould be more striking than the
plague of them by Moses. Beel-
zebub, or the god of flies, was
worshipped by the Philistines,
Amorites, <fcc., because he was
apposed to defend his votaries
from these distressing insects.
Food, among the ancient
Jews, was exceedingly plain.
Gen. 18: 6, 7. The articles
destined for the king's table
were very simple. 2 Sam. 16 :
1, and 17 : 28, 29. Bread was
the most common food. Milk
and honey were dainties. Flesh
was a luxury. They were ac-
austoined to eat under the shade
of a tree. Gen. 18 : 8. They
would not eat indifferently with
all persons, deeming it deroga-
tory and polluting in many
sases. Gen. 43 : 32. John 4 : 9.
Matt. 9 : 11. In general, each
had his separate table. Thus
Elkanah gave his two wives
*heir portion apart. 1 Sam.
1 : 4, 5. Special respect was
paid to guests by giving them a
great plenty for their portion.
Joseph sent Benjamin five times
as much as either of the rest,
and Samuel set a quarter of a
calf before Saul. Generally,
the ancient Jews sat cross-legged
round a mat, as is now custom-
ary in the East, but in later
times more luxurious postures
were adopted. They ate with
their fingers, knives and forks
being a modern invention.
Their time? of meals were sun-
rbe, a little before noon, and
five in the afternoon. Thsil
ordinary beverage was wa ter.
The Jews were restricted in
their food to animals called
" clean," which are described
in classes. The reasons seem to
have been both moral and po-
litical ; and particularly to keep
Israel distinct from other peo-
ple. Lev. 20 : 2426. Deut.
14 : 2, 3. Nearly every crea-
ture pronounced unclean waa
held sacred by adjacent nations.
Ensnaring intercourse with pa-
gans was thus effectually ob-
structed, as those who cannot
e<tt and drink together, are not
likely to become intimate.
Fool, an idiot, or a very weak
person ; one who foresees not
evils, to prevent them, and
neglects the season of obtaining
what is good. In the language
of Scripture, a sinner ; one who
makes something in this world
his highest aim, and spends hia
chief time and labor about itj
to the neglect of infinitely high-
er interests. 2 Sam. 13 : 12.
Ps. 38 : 5. Those who upbraid
their brethrf?=> us fools are in
danger of hell. Matt. 5 : 22.
Whatever is without good rea-
son, and does not secure men's
true and eternal advantage, is
foolish ; and hence we read of
foolish talking, foolish lusts,
foolish questions, Ac. Eph. 5 .
4. 1 Tim. 6 : 9. Tit. 3 : 9.
Foot, that on which anything
stands, or is supported ; a ueas-
ure of 12 inches. In old times,
t was customary to wash the
oet of strangers after a journey
FOX
93
FOX
because they either walked bare-
foot, or wore only sandals. Gen.
18 : 4; 1'J : 2; 21 : 3'2. Widows
maintained by the church were
to bo such as had washed the
feet of the saints ; that is, had
been ready to do the meanest
services for the servants of God.
1 Tim. 5 : 10. Our blessed Sa-
viour washed the feet of his
apostles ; and though there is
not sufficient reason for regard-
ing this as a positive institution,
like the Lord's supper, yet it
most plainly and movingly
shows that Christians are to be
very affectionate, and ready to
perform the most humble ser-
vices for one another.
Foreship, the bow, or forward
part of a ship. Acts 27 30.
ForgivC) to pardon an offence.
To forgive sin is the prerogative
of God only. Isa. 4:< : 25.
When the Pharisees, who denied
the divinity of Christ, heard
him forgiving sins, they said,
" This man blasphemoth." Mat.
9:3. That Christ exercised
this power,- proves him to be
divine. Acts 5:31.
Fornication means, (1.) Crim-
inal intercourse between un-
married person*, 1 Cor. 7:2;
(2.) Adultery, Matt. 5 : 32 ;
(3.) Idolatry, 2 Chron. 21 : 11;
(4.) Heresy, Rev. 19 : 2. The
word occurs much more fre-
quently in ita metaphorical than
in its literal sense. Jer. 3 : 8,
9. Ezek. 16 : 'JU.
FOX. There is reason t > think
that the word shu.,1 means a
jackal, and not a fox ; and that
the true fox is not mentioned in
all the Scriptures. The foz doel
not prey on carrion ; nor are
our foxes fond of grapes, as
jackals are known to be. Cant
2 : 15. Samson might have
caught jackals by scores, but
the fox is scarcely ever found
in Judea, and is not a gregarious
animal. When it is said Sam-
son caught 300 foxes, it probably
means that he had them caught.
Barbarous nations of the East
ravage the country they con-
quer, leaving the habitations
desolate, and the dead bodies
unburied. These carcasses the
jackals devour. David alludes
to this, Ps. 63 : 10, when he
says his enemies " shall be a
portion for foxes." Jackals
abound in Asia Minor and the
neighboring countries. They
choose hilly places, boldly ap-
proach travellers, and at night
enter villages, always going in
troops. The jackal is not so
large as a wolf, but rather larger
than a fox, and lives on small
animals, grapes, vegetables, and
carcasses. The general resem-
blanoe of the fox and jackal
may have caused the sacred
writers to use the term shuol
(fox), as comprehending similai
animals. Scaliger and Olearius,
as quoted by Bochart, expressly
call the jackal a fox ; and San
dys says, " the jackals are, in
my opinion, no other than
foxes." Kasmpfer says, the jack
al may not impi operly be tailed
the "wdf-fox."
FRO 1
Frankincense, a gum, burnt
in temples, and used in medi-
cine. It distils from incisions
made in the, tree during the
heat of the summer, and, when
placed on live coals, sends up a
dense fragrant smoke. Some
frankincense is brought from
the East Indies ; but it is not
equal to that of Arabia or Af-
rica. The form of the frank-
incense-tree is like a pear-tree.
Johnson, iu his Travels in Abys-
sinia, says that it is exported in
large quantities from the Sou-
malee coast of Africa, being
brought from the interi*r on
lamels, and was sold at about
cne cent a pound. Ex. I* 34.
Luke 1 : 10. Rev. 8 : 4,
Fray, to chase or fright away,
Deut. 28 : 26.
Frog. There are fcwo species
of frog, one of which lives in
the water, and the other on the
land. The former was made
the plague of Egypt. Ex. 8.
As the frog in Egypt was the
emblem of Osiris, it was held
sacred by the people ; and this
plague is one of the many in-
stances in which Jehovah pun-
ishes men by means of the very
things which they improperly
regard. This is still more ap-
parent when wo consider that
the Nile, in which they were
produced, was supposed by the
Egyptians to be peculiarly sa-
cred, and deserving of religious
veneration. Though the frog is
not venomous, such legions of
them penetrating every place,
and filling their food and beds,
I FRU
rendered life intolerable. Whet
it is said, Ps. 78 : 45, " He sent
frogs and destroyed them," it
probably means that the stench
of them, when killed, infected
the air, and created a pestilence.
Had God sent lions, tigers, and
crocodiles, instead of frogs, lice,
flies, &c., the cause would ha.ve
seemed so adequate to the effect,
that his hand in the punishment
might have been overlooked.
Because frogs show themselvea
most actively after a rain, some
have foolishly imagined that
they are produced by rain, or
descend with it.
Frontlet, or TELEPHIN, a brow-
band, or fillet, worn on the fore-
head. The Jews, regarding the
command, Deut. 6 : 8, 9, as in-
tended literally, or being dis-
posed to adopt the pagan cus-
tom of wearing amulets and
talismans, wore these on their
foreheads. See PHYLACTERY.
Fruit, production, conse-
quence. " Fruit of cattle " if
their young. " Fruit of the
body " signifies children. Deut.
18 : 4. " Fruit of the lips "
is the sacrifice of praise and
thanksgiving. Hob. 13 > 15.
" Fruits meet for repentance,"
are such a holy life and conver-
sation as manifest the reality
of repentance. Matt. 3 : 8.
"Frmts of the Spirit" mean
love both to God and our neigh-
bors, and those gracious habitJ
wrought by the Spirit in the
soul ; as joy, peace, long-suffer-
I ing, gentleness, goodness, faith
j meekness, and temperance. Gal
GAB
GAD
ft : 12, 23. " Fruits of righ eous-
nesfl," Phil. 1 : 11, are such
good works and holy actions as
spring from a gracious frame of
neart. Fruit is taken for a
charitable contribution, which
is the fruit or effect of faith and
love. Rom. 15 : 28. Fruit, when
spoken of good men, means the
fruits or works of righteousness
and holiness ; but, in regard to
wicked men, it designates the
effects of sin, immorality, and
wickedness. See our Saviour's
doctrine. Matt. 7 : 16.
Full, fulness. (1.) Desiring
ao more of a thing, Isa. 1 : 11;
(2.) Perfect, that which wants
nothing, 2 John 8 ; (3.) Being
puffed up with a conceit of our
own sufficiency and worth, so as
to feel no need of Christ. ' Woe
unto you that are full." Luke
6 : 25. To be " full of years,"
is to have lived to old age.
Gen. 25 : 8. " The fulness of
time " is the time when Messiah
appeared* which was appointed
by God, promised to the .
foretold by the prophets, ei
pocted by the Jews themselves,
and earnestly longed for by all
who looked for redemption ; the
fulness of this time is when it
was fully come. Gal. 4 : 4.
The " fulness of God " is such
a measure of perfection as God
hath appointed to every one of
the elect through Christ. Eph.
3 : 19. That ye might be
filled with all the fulness of
God," is sharing in the most
ample manner in the unsearch-
aMe riches of Christ.
Furlong, the eighth part of a
mile forty rods Luke 24 :
13. John 11 : 18.
Fury, tempestuous rage
When it is ascribed to God, it
means not that ho is -Jiscoin
posed, but that his dispensa-
tions will resemble what men
would do in a fury if they Uad
power. How awful must be the
] condition of those on whom it
j is poured out !
G.
GaVbatha, a word of Chaldee
or Syriao origin, which means
the pavement, a large court or
apartment, used as Pilate's judg-
ment seat. John 19 : 13. It
was evidently outside of the prae-
torium.
Gabriel, literally, " the mighty
one of God," the angel, men-
tioned Luke 1 : 11, 26, who ap-
peared at different times to
Daniel, Zaoharias, <to. Dan.
10, 12. The word never occurs
in the plural. Some learned
men think that the term is ap-
plied to Christ.
Gad, "a troop." (1.) The
son of Jacob, by Zilpah, Gen.
30 ; (2.) A tribe in Israel, de-
rived from this patriarch, Num.
26 : 1518 ; (3.) The name of
the province or canton occupied
GAL
96
GAL
by the tribe of Gad, 1 Sam. 13 :
7 ; (4.) A prophet who lived in
the days of David, of whose
reign he wrote a history, as did
also Nathan, the prophet ;
neither of which seem to have
been inspired, or at least were
not preserved. 1 Chron. 29 : 29.
Gad'ara, the capital of Persea,
in Coslo-Syria, stood about four
miles eastward of the Sea of
Tiberias. Great numbers of
swine were kept here, which was
directly contrary to the Mosaic
law. When Christ, in healing
two possessed persons, suffered
the devils to enter their herd of
swine, and drown them, instead
of being humbled by their pun-
ishment, they besought the Sa-
viour to leave their country.
About forty years after, the city
was burnt by the Romans.
Matthew (chap. 8 : 28) calls
this the country of the Gerge-
senes, because Gergesa was the
name of the country where Gad-
ara stood, or was a city near to
Gadara ; and Christ healed the
possessed men on the border
between the two, or in a place
common to both. Mark 6:1.
It is now called Kadar, and
sometimes Om-Kias.
Galatia, an extensive province
af Atda Minor, north of Lycao-
nia. It was called Galatia, or
Gaullo-Grsecia, from the Gauls,
to whom Nicomedes, king of
Bithynia, gave it as a reward
for assisting him in his wars
against his brother. Its chief
oity was Ancyra, now called
Angora. About 175 years before
Christ, it was reduced to a Bo
man province. The gospel wai
planted here by Paul, who wrot
an epistle to these churches.
Acts 16. DEJOTARUS, for whonc
Cicero interceded, in an oration
still extant, was king of this
country. About A. D. 266, it
was overrun by the Goths ; and
afterward became a province of
Turkey. It is now called No-
toiia.
Galatians. This epistle dis
cusses much the same topics as
that to the Romans. Certain
preachers had urged on them the
duty of circumcision, <fcc., and
depreciated Paul's character.
He therefore asserts his apostol-
ical character, shows the hypoc-
risy of their preachers, and
refutes their errors.
Garbanmn, an odonferout*
gum, obtained by incision from
the ferula galbanifera, which
grows in Arabia, Syria, Africa,
<ic. It constituted an ingredient
in the holy anointing oil. Occurs
Ex. 30 : 34 only.
Galilee, the northern part of
Canaan, comprehending Issa-
char, Zebu. .in, Naphtali, and
Asher. The upper part was
called Galilee of the Gentiles, from
its containing many Gentile in-
habitants out of the neighboring
nations ; as the Phoenicians,
Syrians, to. This mixture of
population corrupted the dialect ;
hence Peter was detected by his
speech. Mark 14 : 70. Our Sa-
viour and most of the disciplei
were educated here ; and here
were most of the miracle*
GAM
97
GAB
rroaght. On this account, Jc
and his followers wore often
called Galileans. Luke 23 : G
Acts 2 : 7.
GALILEE;, Sea of. See Gen-
Htsareth.
Gall, a general name for what-
ever is very bitter or nauseous
everal different words, of the
original Scriptures, are trans-
lated by this term. In Job 1C
13, it means the animal secre-
tion r jailed. In Matt. 17
34, it seems synonymous with
myrrh. The word occurs meta-
phorically, meaning great troubles,
Jer. 8 : 14 ; exceeding wickcd-
ness, Amos 6:12; abominable
deprainty of heart, Acts 8 : 23.
Bee MYRRH.
Galllo was brother to SEWECA,
the famous moralist, and adopted
oon of Lucius Junius Gallic,
after whom he was named. Un-
der Claudius, he became gover-
nor of Aohaia. lie acted as a
judge, very mildly and properly,
when it rabble, under the influ-
ence of Sosthenes, accused Paul,
declaring that he was ready to
judge civil causes, but not to
punish men for religious opin-
ions. But he dreadfully erred
in not inquiring into the nature
of Christianity, and accepting
its salvation. Acts 18 : 17.
During the reign of the firious
Nero, he was put to death
Gamaliel, the distinguished
Pharisee under whom Paul
studied law, grandson of Hillel,
the famous teacher.
Gani'madims, inhabitants of
Saamade, or Gainale, which
9
was probably a province of
i;u Ezek. 27 : 11. The
tuna so rendered is thought by
some not to mean a nation, but
simply the brave.
Garment. It was the custom
when great men of the East
gave a feast, to make a present
to each guest of a robe to wear
on that occasion ; and some-
times the silver or gold cup out
of which they drank was alsc
added. This explains Matt. 22 :
11 13, which might otherwise
seem severe. The man acted
contemptuously and insultingly,
and merited his doom ; as do
all who reject the robe of
Christ's righteousness. Princes,
especially great kings and
priests, generally wore white
garments ; such were also worn
on the occasions of great joy tnd
s. Eccl. 9:8. In mourn-
ng, nren generally wore sack-
cloth or hair-cloth. Prophets,
when their messages were ter-
ible, aud the times dark, on
wore a mourning dress of ooarM
GAT
98
QAZ
Huff, or skin. 2 Kings 1 : 7, 8.
Matt. 3 : 4. False prophets, in
order to deceive the people,
clothed themselves after the
same manner. Zech. 13 : 4.
It was common to lay up stores
of raiment (as the fashion of
dress does not alter in the East,
and loose robes are capable of
fitting anybody), especially by
the rich, -who either loaned or
gave away many such at their
great feasts. Sometimes thou-
sands of garments were laid up.
Hence the Saviour warns men
of the folly of laying up treas-
ures which the moth may con-
sume. Matt. 6 : 19. Luke 12 :
33. Jam. 5 : 2.
What is said in Matt. 9 : 16,
" No man putteth a piece of
new cloth into an old garment,"
Ac., is explained by the parallel
text, Luke 6 : 36, "No man
putteth a piece of a new gar-
ment upon an old;" that is, no
man cuts up a new cloth to
mend an old. See RAIMENT.
Gate, the entrance to a resi-
dence or fortified place. A
large room was built over the
gate on the wall of the city,
used as a council-chamber, and
court of justice, or town hall.
We have a remarkable example
of the mode of procedure, in
the fourth chapter of Ruth. It
was here that Absalom made his
seditious speeches. 2 Sam. 15.
Mordecai sat at the king's gate,
not ay a poor mendicant, but as
judge ; and therefore Hainan
laid, "All this availeth me
nothing, ao long aa I see Mor-
iecai the Jew sitting at tat
king's gate." Esth. 5 . 13.
Peace and war were proclaimed
from the gate ; and hence " the
gates of hell," is a proper ex-
pression for the power and in
fluence of hell, which shall not
prevail against the church
Matt. 16 : 18.
Gath, a city of Philistia, tha
capital of the people called Git-
tites. It stood 14 miles south
of Joppa, and was one of the
most ancient cities in the world.
It still exists, though now <
place of small consequence. Its
present name is Jtlna.
Several other places appear
to have gone under this name;
one in Galilee, where Jonah was
born, Josh. 10 : 13 ; 2 Kinga
14 : 25 ; one in the tribe of
Dan ; and another in Manasseh .
Josh. 21 : 24.
Gaza. (1.) A city of s^,*
Ephraimites, 1 Chron. 7 : 28,
now called Razza. (2.) A city
between Palestine and Egypt,
and about two miles and a half
from the Mediterranean Sea. It
was anciently a city of the Phil-
istines, but included in the tribe
of Judah, who conquered ik
after the death of Joshutk Cud.
1 : 18. The Philistines retook
it, and kept possession till tha
reign of David. Samson car-
ried the gates of it to the top
of a high hill on the road to-
wards Hebron ; afterwar: s he
was imprisoned, and died aere.
Jud. 16. During the reign of
David, it was reconquered by
the Jews, and remained subject
GEN
99
GEN
to them many years. During
the wars of Alexander, it was
laid waste ; and, a new town of
the same name L><
not far distant, it fell into decay,
and became desolate, according
to the prediction, Zeph. 2 : 4.
The old town is referred to in
Acts 8 : 26, as Gaza which is
desert."
Genealogy, a list of ancestors ;
an account or history of the
rise, progress, and present state
of any person or family, show-
ing the regular descent. The
exactness of the Jews in this
respect, was ordered, that it
might be certainly known of
what tribe and family the Mes-
siah was born. After the birth
of Christ, such circumspection
was unnecessary ; and if per-
pisted in, could only indicate an
unchristian pride of ancestry ;
as will appear from the words
of the apostle Paul, 1 Tim. 1 :
4. Tit. 3 : 9. The difference
in the genealogies of Christ, as
given by Matthew and Luke,
arose from one giving the line
of Joseph, the other of Mary.
Generation signifies, in Scrip-
ture, (1.) Posterity, offspring.
Gen. 10 : 1. (2.) Line of de-
Bcent. The " book of the gen-
eration of Jesus Christ " is a
history of his lineage, life, and
death. Matt. 1 : 1. (3.) The
persons existing at any particu-
lar period. Matt. 1:17. " This
generation shall not pass away
till all these things be fulfilled,"
Matt. 24 : 34, means either that
the people living in the time of
Christ should not be all dead,
when Jerusalem and the Jewish
nation would bo ruined by the
Romans; or, that the Jewish
nation should not pass away till
his second coming. We cer-
tainly see them subsisting at
this day, a distinct and separate
generation. In Christ's time,
the Jews were a faithl-
verse, and untoward generation,
Mark 9 : 19. Acts 2 : 40, Tbe
saints are * a chosen genera
tion," that is, literally, an elect-
ed race. 1 Pet. 1 : 2, and 2 : 9.
Genesis, the first book of
Scripture. This title is derived
from a Greek word, which sig-
nifies generation or beginning.
The book contains an account
of the beginning or creation of
the world, and settles forever
that question which heathen
sages could never do^lw*,
whence sprung this eartn, and
its inhabitants 1 The disclosure
of this grand truth, that the
Author of all things is one
glorious, supreme, and self-ex-
istent Being, establishes the
principle and foundation of all
religion and morality, and is
the source of comfort and hope
to the human family.
This book comprises a period
of 2369 years ; and beside the
history of the creation, it con-
tains an account of man's origi-
nal innocence ; his fall ; the
propagation of mankind ; the
rise of religion ; the corruption
of the world ; the deluge ; tne
repeopling and division of the
earth ; the history if the first
GEN
100
GER
patriarchs ; an 1 the settlement
of Israel in Egypt. It was
written by Moses ; probably
during his exile in the land of
Midian. See TRADITION.
Gennes'areth, a fine lake, six-
teen miles long, and five or six
broad. Its waters are exceed-
ingly sweet and pure, and
abound with fish. The north-
ern coast is covered with ba-
galtes, lava, and other volcanic
productions. Its edges are not
marshy, but form sandy beach-
es, from which fine hills rise,
covered once with the beauty
of cultivation, but now silent
and drear It is very subject,
from the character of the sur-
rounding hills, to sudden gusts
of wind ; and when these come
from the south, and oppose the
current of the Jordan, its sur-
face is very rough, as was the
case when Christ walked on the
water to his disciples. Matt.
14: 24 26. It is the same as
the Sea of Tiberias, John 21 :
1, and Sea of Galilee, Matt. 4 :
18, and 14 : 34.
Gentile, a term applied by the
Jews to all who were not of their
religion ; one ignorant of the
true God ; a heathen or pagan,
sometimes called a Greek. Rom.
1 : 14. 1 Cor. 1 : 22, Ac. Paul
is commonly called the apostle
of the Gentiles, 1 Tim. 2 7, as
he was principally sent to preach
Christ to them ; whereas Peter
a.ud the other apostles preached
generally to the Jews, and were
therefore called the apostles of
Hie cinurncision. Gal. 2: 7
| That the ancient godly Jews d*
I sired the conversion of the GOD*
tiles, appears from the prayer
of Solomon after the dedica-
tion of the temple. 1 Kings 8 :
4143. The Psalmist says that
the Lord shall give the Gentiles
to the Messiah for an inheritr
ance. Ps.2:8. And the Chris-
tian church is now composed al-
most wholly of Gentiles.
COURT OF THE GENTILES. See
TEMPLE.
Gentleness, though little ad-
mired by the world, compared
with enterprise, bravery, <fec., is,
in the sight of God, an impor-
tant virtue. Jam. 3 : 17. It
stands opposed to harshness,
bluntness, arrogance, oppres-
sion, and bitterness. When ap-
plied to God, gentleness means
his gracious condescension and
favor. Ps. 18 : 35.
Ge'rah, the least of Jewish
money, being the twentieth part
of a shekel. Ex. 30 : 13.
Ger'izim, a fine mountain in
the tribeship of Ephraim, on
which the Samaritan temple
was built, because the Jews
would not allow the Samaritans
to help them build their temple.
2 Kings 17. Ezra 4. :; was
begun B. c. 408 years. About
the time it was finishedj two
remarkable events occur in
profane history : XENOPHCM
brought home the Greeks that
followed Cyrus ; ani SOCRATES
was put to death by the Atheni*
ans. This temple was destroyed
by Hyrcanus, a Jewish prince,
129 years before Christ. Iht
GER
101
Samaritans have continued to I day, of; ' / w< i
esteem tin- spot sacred to this' ihip God. John 4 : 20. It u
MOUNT QKRIZIM.
about one thousand feet high,
ite, at a distance of only
about 3UO yards, stands Mt.
Kbal. la the narrow valley
took place the august ceremony
commanded by Closes, Deut. 27.
Six of the tribes stood on Ebal,
and .six on XJerizim, while the
ark and the priests stood in the
rallcy. The Levites recited
Hod's blessing on the obedient,
and his curses on the rebellious,
and at each sentence the tribes
on the mountains shouted their
grand "Amen."
Cershonites, a branch 01 the
priestly race, descended from
Hers/urn, eldest son of Levi. It
/ras their business to carry the
rails and curtains <f th<-
Numb. 3 : 2125, and
9*
4 : 2428. On settling in Ca-
naan, thirteen cities were as-
signed them. Josh. 21 : 16 33.
Gethsem'ane, a retired garden
at the foot of the Mount of Ol-
ives. Luke 22 : 40. The re-
mains of its stone wall are yet
seen, and eight ancient olive
trees. Matt. 26.
Giant, a man of extraordinary
stature or might. There were
races of men, in ancient tunes,
who far exceeded the present
size of man. Gen. G : 4. Numb.
13 : U3. Deut. 3 : 10, and
21 : 20. In the days of David
there was a family of giants, of
whom Goliath was one. 2 Sam.
21. After this, we read no
mire of giants in Canaan. Not
only in Scripture, bufc in th
GIF
102
GIL
writings of Homer, Herodotus,
Pliny, Plutarch, Virgil, &c , we
read of giants in stature.
That the common size of man !
never differed much from what i
it is now, is clear from the skel-
etons found, from the armor,
from the size of habitations,
measures of length, &c.
Gibcah, a city of Benjamin,
situated on a fine hill four
.fiiles north from Jerusalem.
Josh. 15 : 57. It was for a
while the royal residence of
Saul.
GibcOD, a city five miles north
of Jerusalem, the inhabitants
of which deceived Joshua, by
sending a deputation to him to
make a treaty of peace, whose
dress, <fcc., indicated that they
had come from a very great dis-
tance, and consequently did not
belong to any of the nations
which God had commanded the'n
to destroy, and whose country
they were to occupy. The cov-
enant was kept by the Hebrews,'
though thus falsely obtained ;
and, instead of being destroyed,
they were made to serve as
|; hewers of wood and drawe.rs
if water." Josh. 9 and 10.
Gi'er-ea'gle, an Egyptian spe-
cies of vulture, remarkable for
affection to its young. It may
be found described in BRUCE,
under the name of Rac*.*i.
Gift, that which is given with-
out pay. It is applied in an
eminent manner to Jesus Christ,
God's "unspeakable gift." Our
Lord says to the woman of Sa-
maria, "If thou knowest the
gift of God, viz., Him that saha
to thee, Give me to drink," Jka
John 4 : 10. When Christ as-
oended up on high, he received
gifts for the rebellious. Pa.
68:. 18. Of these he poured
down on the day of Pentecost,
and gave some apostles, proph-
ets, &c. Faith is the gift of
God, Eph. 2:8; and, as the
wages of sia is death, so the
11 gift of God is eternal life."
Rom. 6 : 23. Every good and
perfect gift comes from God.
Jain. 1 : 17. "The gifts and
calling of God are without re-
pentance ;" that is, what he
hath given, according to his
divine and eterual purpose, can-
not be reversed.
Gil'boa, a ridge of mountains
in the north of Palestine, ren-
dered famous by the overthrow
and death of Saul and his two
sons. Some of the peaks rise
1000 feet above the level of the
sea. 1 Sam. 28 : 4.
Gilead, a mountainous lime-
stone district extending from
Lebanon to Moab, eastward of
the river Jordan, famous for
balm, Jer. 8 : 22, and for pas-
ture. Songs 4:1. The north-
ern part of this range was called
Balkan. The valleys were dis-
tinguished for fertility.
Gilgal. (1.) AcitynearJeri.
cho, where was an altar. 1 Sam.
11 : 15. Idols were worshipped
here in after times. Hos. 4 :
15. (2.) A city near Antipa-
tris, Josh. 12 : 23. There re-
mained a village on this spot
called (ralxulis, for several hun
dred years after Christ
GLA
108
GLO
Girdle, anything bound round
the wawt. It is still necessary
in the East, be"uus. oft:.
y both
Bexea. (iinli iiftiiiu-s
to obtain those of value.
Girdles of leather were worn in
f humility, as by Elijah,
2 Kings 1:8; and John the
Baptist, Matt. 3 : 4. Girdles
of sackcloth were marks of hu-
miliation, worn in times of
mourning. Isa. 3 : 24. To have
the loins girded, Luke 12 : 35,
is to be always prepared for any
eervioo that God may require,
and be like servants who are
ready to obey their masters'
commands.
Gir'gashlteS, a family belong-
ing to the tribe of Hivites in
Canaan.
Git'tites, inhabitants of Oath.
Tosh. 13 : 3.
Git'tith. See PSALM.
Glass is not mentioned in the
Old Testament, not being known
in those times. According to
Pliny and Tacitus the Phoeni-
cians were the inventors of glass ;
but De r -in r'ltr-vds their nar-
rative as fabulous. It was prob-
ably not made in Rome previous
to the reign of Tiberius. Speci-
mens of glass have been dis-
covered among the ruin*
Uerculaneum (destroyed in -re
first century of the Christian
era), but they ini.^ht have been
Imported from the East. Mir
rors were, in early times, made
ol plates ^* metal highly pol
?hcd Ex. 38 : 8. The Ethic-
ians anciui tly preserved theii
in large glasses.
O lassei
\rchim-
, who lived B. C.
2DO. AViml"
II A. D. G74.
i red to
:i glasa
_J, 25.
internal evi-
i' the truth of revela-
tion.
Glean, to collect scattered
stalks of grain, bunches of
. e. The Jews were for-
bidden to glean their own fields,
or fruit-trees, but were required
to leave the remnant for the
poor. Lev. 19 : 10. Deut. 24:
21.
Glcde, a ravenous and filthy
bird, thought by JBochart to be
the black vulture. Deut. 14 : 13
Isa. 34 : la.
Glorify, to pay divine honor ;
to make glorious ; to exalt to
dignity. God glorifies his peo-
ple by adorning them with gifta
and graces in this world, and by
bringing them to the full pos-
session of glory and blessednesi
in heaven. AVe are said to
glorify God when we ascribe to
him the glory of every excel-
lency, whether of nature or of
grace, Kev. 4 : 11 ; when we
believe God's promises, and
wuit for the performance, Roin.
4 . 20 ; when we publicly ao-
k now ledge true religion, or any
truth of God, that is jjenoraUj
GNA
104
GOA
ppoaed, Luke 23 : 47 ; when
we suffer for God, 1 Pet. 4 : 16;
when we give thanks for benefits
or deliverances, Luke 17 : 18 ;
when, as on the Sabbath, we
devote ourselves only to the ser-
vice of God, Isa. 58 : 13 ; and
when we love, praise, admire,
and esteem Christ above all.
God the Father is glorified in
Christ bhe Mediator, by his obe-
dience unto death, whereby the
work of man's redemption was
consummated, and the justice,
wisdom, mercy, and holiness of
God made manifest.
God glorified Christ by mani-
festly owning him to be his Son ;
by sustaining his human nature
in his temptations and suffer-
ings ; and by enabling him to
triumph over his people's ene-
mies in his resurrection, ascen-
sion, and exaltation to his
Father's right hand. John 17 :
I.
Glory. (1.) The unspeakable
blessedness of the saints in
heaven. Col. 3: 4. (2.) Worldly
splendor and greatness. ** The
heavens declare the glory of
God ;" that is, manifest his in-
finite wisdom, power, and good-
ness, and ought to excite our
gratitude, love, adoration, and
praise. The miracles which our
Saviour wrought manifested his
glory, or his divine power. John
3 : 11.
Gnat, a small winded insect
very common in wana com*
tries. This and other insects
being apt to get into wine, Ac.,
it la customary to pass liquors
thiough a strainer The word
at, in Matt. 23 : 24 seems to be
a typographical error, in King
James' version ; and should bt
out , as it is in the preceding ver-
sions. "Ye strain out a gnat."
The Greek word divliLomg doe*
not mean to make an effort to
swallow, but to filter. It should
be remembered that, by the
Jewish law, both gnats and
camels were unclean.
Goad, a rod with an iron
point, used in driving cattle
" The words of the wise are as
goads," because they stimulate
men to diligence in good things.
See PRICKS.
Goat, a well-known animal,
of which there are several va-
rieties. The kind most common
in Palestine is not very unlike
those of the United States, but
has longer hair, which is manu-
factured into cloth. There is a
Rock Goat t mentioned in sev-
eral passages of Scripture, and
which, being of a singular form
ie represented in the above en-
graving. PTOT 5 : 19. It ia tht
OOA
105
GOD
fame which Pliny and Gesner
e&llcd tho lhr.r ; and
Ac., describe as the B<>u'/uitin.
Among tlie (Jcniiuns, its familiar
name i , <>r luiek of
tho rock. It is common in all
the mountains of Kur
Northern Asia. Its si/e is less
than the common wild goat.
The horns are of extraordinary
nte, bending bat'k over the
animal's body, sometimes to the
length of three feet. Like other
goats, it is peculiarly adapted
for climbing, and delights in the
most rugged mountains, staying
at great elevation. Job 3C 1.
Ps. 104 : 8. 1 Sam. 24 : 2.
The goat was worshipped by
the Egyptians, Greeks, and Ro-
mans, who represented the god
Pan, their satyrs and other
idols, in the form of goats. The
Vord SEIBIM, rendered " devils,"
Lev. 17 : 21, is literally hairy
mes, or goats. The same word
ts translated satyrs, Isa. 13 : 21.
We read in Maiuionides, that
abian idolaters worshipped
daemons, under the form of
goats, imagining them to appear
in that form ; whence they called
them SEIRIM.
The tresses of the spouse,
Cant. 4 : 1, and 6 : 4, are com-
pared to goat's hair, which ob-
viously refers to the delicate,
silken hair of the Eastern goats.
From such goat's hair are made
the Angola shawls
The goa*. was eminently use-
ful to the Hebrews, on account
of the delicacy of its flesh, the
zoellenoeof its fleoco the rich-
ness and abundance of Its milk,
the cheapness of its food, the
value of its skin for bottles, Ao.
Flocks of goats, therefore, form-
ed an important part of the
wealth of all great men.
God) the Supreme, Almighty,
and Eternal One, of whom are
all things. However ignorant
mankind may have been of the
true character of God, all men,
in all ages, have, in one degree
or another, acknowledged his
existence.
The names applied to the
Godhead in Scripture are va-
rious, and have each their re-
spective significations, applica-
ble to the characters in which
God has been pleased to reveal
himself. The words Jehovah
Elohim occur more than once in
Genesis as the name of the God-
head. " And the Lord God (Je-
hovah Elohim) said, Behold, the
man is become like one of us."
Gen. 3 : 22. One of us unavoid-
ably implies a plurality of per-
sons. We may, in a general
way, infer the power, goodness,
and some other attributes of
God, from the works of nature;
but from the Scriptures only can
we obtain any just ideas of hi*
character and attributes. The
Hebrews endeavor to avoid the
Ufle of the word God, substitut-
ing for it Lord, Most High, Ac.
Godhead means the nature or
ewenoe of God. Col. 2 : 9. Rom.
1 1C Acts 17 : 29.
Godliness, the whole revela-
tion of God. Thus Paul say*,
** G"eat is the mystery of godli
GOL
106
GOL
ness." 1 Tim. 3 : 16. It some-
times means the imitation of
God by a holy life. 1 Tim. 2 :
2. 2 Pet. 3 : 11.
Godly, that which proceeds
from or resembles God ; thus
godly sorrow is the sorrow which
God only can produce, and work-
eth repentance. 2 Cor. 7 : 10.
Godly fear is that fear of God
which is the beginning of wis-
dom, Heb. 12 : 28 ; and a godly
man is he who loves God from a
grateful sense of much forgive-
ness. Ps. 12 : 1.
Gog and MAGOG are terms
usually joined together in Scrip-
ture, on which critics have ex-
pended much unsatisfactory la-
bor. The probability seems to
be that the northern barbarians
are meant, or some of the tribes
comprehended under the general
term SCYTHIANS, whose irrup-
tions into civili/dd Europe and
Asia were so dreadful. Ez. 38
and 39. Rev. 20 : 8.
Golan, a Levitical town in the
tribe of Manasseh, which gave j
its name to a small district lying !
east of the Sea of Tiberias. It !
is now called J'tlan.
Gold, the most precious metal ;
seldom found in a state of ore,
but in a native state ; though
even native gold has almost
always some mixture of other
metals. Native gold is found
Ln pure masses, from the small-
est grains up to the u_*gnitude
ot 12 or 15 ounces, and occa-
sionally much larger. A mass
found in South America, weigh-
ing 132 ounces, u deposited in
the royal cabinet at Madrid. 14
is found mingled with the sand
of many rivers, especially in
Africa, South America, Austra-
lia, and India. Arabia had for-
merly its gold mines. "The
gold of Sheba," Ps. 72 : 15, u
in the Septuagint and Arabic
versions, the gold of Arabia.
North Carolina, in the United
States, and much more Califor-
nia, are famous for gold mines
Gold is often found bedded in
stones of various kinds, and
even in the earth at the depth
of one hundred and fifty fathoms
It is the most ductile of all
metals ; an ounce of it, not
larger than a common bullet,
having been drawn into a wire
two hundred and forty miles
long ! It is incapable of ox-
idization in a common fire ; but
the heat produced by a galvanic
discharge can be made sufficient
to convert the metal into a pur-
ple oxide. If exposed to the
focus of a strong burning-glass,
it flies off in small particles. It
requires less heat to melt gold
than iron.
Gol'gotluu See CALVARY.
Goli'ath, a famous giant of
Gath, whose height was nine
feet four inches. His brazen
helmet weighed about 15 pounds
avoirdupois ; his target, or col-
lar, affixed between his shoul-
ders to defend his neck, about
30 ; his spear rrar 26 feet long,
and its head weighed 38 pounds,
his sword, 4 ; his greaves on his
legs, 30 ; and his soat of mail
156 ; and so the whole armor.
GOS
107
GOS
27'i pounds' weight. He seems
to have been the last of the
Anakins.
Go'pher, the wood of which
the ark wag built ; which kind
it was, is not agreed. As it is
scarcely probable that a struc-
ture so largo was made wholly
of any one species of wood, it
is possible the word may mean
light, or durable wood. Vast
quantities of cypress'grGw in the
district where the ark was built.
It occurs only in Gen. G : 14.
Goshen. There are two dis-
tricts so called in Scripture,
whioh it is very important should
. (1.) That
portion of Egypt allotted to the
Hebrews, and mentioned so often
in the books of Genesis and
Exodus. (2.) A district of the
Holy Land, included in the lot
of Judah, and mentioned Josh.
10 : 41, and 11 : 10, <fcc.
Gospel) good news ; a revela-
tion of the grace of God to fallen
man, through a Mediator ; and
a means, which, by the Spirit,
saves men from perdition. The
term is found in ancient Greek
writers. Plutarch, in his life
of Pompey, says, " The messen-
ger arrived at Pontus, bringing
the gospel," that is, the joyful
intelligence The word is also
used to mean the narrative of
our Saviour s life, death, and
resurrection ; and sometimes for
the doctrines contained in that
narrative.
The books of Matthew, Mark,
I/nke, and John, are commonly
wiled Oupels. They show, as
1, the way of salva
tion In some parts of tne New
nt, there are brief sum*
if the gospel doctrine,
as John 3 : 14, 15, 16. They
exhibit a morality incomparably
superior to that of all other
books ; in forbidding not only
acts of sin, but the first risings
of evil desires in the heart ; by
inculcating the mild, passive,
and lovely virtues, instead of
that high-spirited and proud
temper, which the world ad-
mires ; by requiring the forgive
ness of enemies, and the love
of them that hate us ; by ex-
cluding from our alms, devo
tions, and other virtues, all love
of fame ; by laying down two
^reat principles of morality,
love to God and love to men,
and by deducing thence every
other duty ; by exhibiting a
perfect exemplification of all
these excellences in Christ ; and
by adding those awful sanctions
which relate to an eternal world.
The number of mankind liv-
ing in nations enlightened by
the gospel is probably THRKB
HUNDRED MILLIONS, Only. Of
these, one half are Roman Cath-
olics, and thirty millions are
Greeks, whose churches are
scarcely less corrupt than the
Roman Catholic. See SCRIP.
TURK.
In every age, Christians have
more or less exerted themselves
to diffuse a knowledge of the
gospel. Even when Poperj was
at its height, missions were
never discontinued by that claai
OKA
108
GRA
of Christians, nor by those who
rejected Popery, infant baptism,
sprinkling, <fcc., who have borne
various names at different times,
from the earliest ages of the
church, and are now called
" Baptists." About 100 years
ago, " modern missions," as
they are called, may be said to
have begun, when Ziegenbald
went from Denmark to India.
Near the close of the last cen-
tury, the Baptists of England
began to send missionaries to
the heathen, and to the negroes
of the West Indies ; and other
denominations soon followed.
The results of these labors
are brought into our view, with
much research and accuracy, in
one of the dissertations at the
end uf " Malcom's Travels in
South-eastern Asia."
Gourd. What was the plant,
so called, that sheltered Jonah,
cannot now be ascertained. It
suffices us to know it was a
shady plant. It is somewhat
probable it was the castor bean,
improperly called palma christi.
The WILD GOURD, 2 Kings 4 :
39, Celcius supposes to be the
colocynth, a species of cucumber,
growing wild, excessively bit-
ter, and a most violent purga-
tive.
Grace. (1.) Free and unde-
served favor. Divine grace is
the free and undeserved love of
Q-od, which is the spring and
source of all the be-*fits we
receive from him, especially re-
demption through Jesus Christ.
Rom. 11 : 6. (2.) Grace is
taken for a lively tense of
this favor, or the love and feat
of God dwelling in the heart,
2 Cor. 1 : 12 ; and (3.) for the
doctrine of the gospel, which
proceeds from the grace of ^od.
2 Cor. 6 : 1
Grape. This well-known fruit
obtained great perfection in
Palestine. The proverb, " The
fathers have eaten sour grapes,
and the children's teeth are set
on edge," was a wicked com-
plaint, prevalent among the
Jews in the time of Jeremiah,
that they suffered without being
guilty. Jer. 31 : 29 ; Ezek.
18 : 2.
WILD GRAPES were either a
vile fruit called in Latin la
brusca ; or, as Hasselquist be-
lieves, the nightshide, called by
the Arabs wolf's grapes, (f which
grows much in vineyards, is
very pernicious to them, and is
a vine." The prophet could
not have found a plant more
opposite to the true vine "
than this.
Grass. This word, in our
translation, generally means
herbage y or all shrubs not in-
cluded under the term tree. It
is particularly to be so under-
stood in Gen. 1 : 11 ; Matt. 6 :
30 ; Isa. 35 : 7 ; Rev. 8 : 7, <to.
Grasshopper, a well-known
species of locust, very destruc-
tive to vegetation. Amos 7 :
1. The law allowed them to be
eaten. Lev. 11 : 22. When it
is said the grasshopper s l .all
prove a burden, Eccl. 12 : J, it
means that BO feeble and Ian
GRE
109
GRI
gnld IB extreme old age, that
the smallest annoyance or bur-
den ia distressing.
Greaves, that part of a ooat
of mail which defended the feet
tnd legs. 1 Sam. 17 : 16.
Greece, in Hebrew, Javan,
laa. 66 : 19 ; a country in the
south-east of Europe. Largely
taken, it contained the Pelopon-
nesus, or Morca, Achaia, Thes-
aaly, Macedonia, and Epirus ;
but more strictly, it contained
only the three former. It is
about 400 miles from south to
north, and 35G from east to west.
Its present divisions are, Mace-
donia, Albania, Livadia, the
Morea, the ArcLipelago an*
Cam! i;i. It wa8 probably peo-
pled soon after the flood. Few
countries are more favorelby
nature, as to its soil, climvte
and productions. Many of th
most famous statesmen, orators,
and generals of antiquity had
their birth here. The arts and
sciences in Greece attained a
great eminence, as did also
I poetry and eloquence. Part of
1 ancient Greece is now included
in Albania and Roumelia in Tur
key.
Greet. See SALUTE.
Grind, to bruise, or break
small, as meal is bruised in
mill. Anciently they had only
hand-mills for grinding their
meal. Ths atones were about
the size \.I a common grind-
itone. Women and slaves, such
&g Samson was at Gaza, and
the Hebrews at Babylon, were
usually the grinders. Jud. 1G:
21 ; Lam. 5 : 13. They sat on
each side of the mill, one turn-
ing the handle half way round,
10
and the other then taking hold
and finishing the revolution.
Matt. 24 : 41 A clear appre-
hension of the form of the mill
and method of operating it may
be obtained from the picture. It
does not appear that there were
any public mills or bakers, ex-
cept for the king. Each family
had a mill for itself, which,
being BO necessary, could not
I1AB
110
HAG
Jwfu!ly be taken in pledge or
for a debt. Deut. 24 : 6. As
it was customary to grind every
evening, the desolation of a
city is called " taking away the
sound of the mill-stones." Jer.
25 : 10. Christ's falling on men,
and " grinding them to pow-
der," denotes their utter de-
struction for their contempt and
rejection of him.
Grizzled, colored with various
shades ; brindled. When ap-
plied to horses, it perhaps means
horses spotted like dogs, with
large patches of various colors.
Zech. 6:3.
Gnest, one bidden to partak*
of our hospitality. Formerly it
was common to give raiment as
well as a repast. The loose,
flowing robes fitted any person,
and were hung in the entry for
guests to put on as they entered
the hall of banqueting. The
man who had not on a wedding
garment was therefore wholly to
blame, and offered an insult by
violating the rules of decorum.
Gutter, a trough, Ac. The
gutter through which Jerusalem
might be entered, was probably
a common sewer, or culvert. 2
Sam. 5 : 8.
H.
HaVakknk prophesied during
the reigns of Manasseh and Jo-
siah, and was contemporary
with Jeremiah. Usher supposes
that his life extended to the
reign of Jehoiakin. He predicts
the chastisement of the Jews by
the Chaldeans, and the subse-
quent overthrow of the Chal-
deans themselves ; and encour-
ages the pious to rely upon God
for making good his promises to
their posterity.
THE BOOK of this prophet
consists of two parts ; the first
containing a dialogue between
God and the prophet ; and the
second, a sublime ode or hymn,
which was probably intended to
be used in public worship.
Habersen, a breast-plate
worn by soldiers in former
times. Ex. 28 : 32. The pme
seems to be given to a son of
lance, or harpoon, if eh. 4 : 16,
Job 41 : 26.
Haggai, the first of the three
prophets who flourished after
the Jewish captivity, was born
in Chaldea, and began his pub-
lic work of prophesying about
seventeen years after the return
from Babylon lie, together
with Zecbaruui, excited and .2.
courageu the Jews to finish in*
temple, assuring them that JMe&.
siah should appear in the flesh,
teach in the courts of the new
temple, and render it more glo-
rious than the first. Ezra 5
1, 2 ; Haggai 1 and 2.
THE BOOK of Haggai is plain
in its style, but is interspersed
with passages f loft/ diction.
EAR
111
HAR
It had tne effect of inducing the
Jews, who had returned from
captivity, and who, for fourteen
years, : .<led work on
the temple, to resume and com-
plete the undertaking.
Hail, an obsolete salutation,
/mporting a cordial wish for
the welfare of the persons ad-
dressed.
Hale, or HAUL, to drag vio-
lently. Luke 12 : 58.
Hallelujah, a Hebrew word
signifying Praise the Lord, fre-
quently met with in the Psalms
and Revelation of John.
Hallow, to reverence as holy.
Matt. 6 : 10.
Halt, to limp, to falter. To
hfti> aotween two opinions is to
stagger in mind, or vibrate be-
tween contrary impressions. 1
Kings 18 : 21.
Ham, (literally black,) the
on of Noah, bad four sons, viz.,
Cush, Mizrahn, Phut, and Ca-
naan. His posterity peopled
Africa, and part of the west of
Asia. They have been gener-
ally wicked and miserable, and
few of them have hitherto en-
joyed the light of the gospel.
From him the land of Egypt
was called Chemia, or the land
of Ham.
Hamath, a town of Syria,
called by tae Greeks Epiphanea,
and now called Harna.
Haply, possibly, perhaps, per-
adventure. Mark 1 i : 13 ; Acts
5 : 39.
Hal an. (1.) The eldest broth-
er of Abraham, whose daughter,
Sarah, became Abraham's wife.
(2.) A town, probably eallel
after t! Landing on
small river of the same name,
which flowed into the Euphra-
tes, through the north-western
part of Mesopotamia. Near
this town occurred the cele-
brated defeat, by the Parthians,
of the Roman army under Craa
BUS, who was slain, with 20,000
of his men, B. c. 53. The place
still retains its ancient name,
and is peopled by a few Arabs.
Harness, the furniture of a
horse, Jer. ^6:4; but more
frequently a 3oat of mail, or
set of defensive armor. 1 Kings
22 : 34. The ihildren of Israel
went up out o : Israel ha r nessed t
that is, equipped for tin Hiitle.
Harp, an instrument com-
posed of a hollow base, with
two branches, to which were
fastened three, six, or more
strings. 2 Sam. 6 : 5. From
the fact that David danced while
he played the harp before the
ark, that which he then usec
must have been light, like a
lyre, or guitar. During the
captivity in Babylon, the Le
vitical singers hung their harps,
as useless, on the willow
HAY
112
HEA
n the banks of the Euphrates
and other rivers in Chaldea.
Ps. 137 : 2. The Greeks and
Romans derived the harp from
the East. The engraving is
taken from an ancfent Egyptian
monument.
The modern harp is one of the
noblest of instruments, and is
vastly superior in power and
aompass to those in ancient use.
Hart, a stag, or male deer.
Ps. 42 : 1 ; Isa. 35 : 6. See
HIND.
Harvest, the time of gather-
ing the fruits of the earth. In
Canaan it began it March, and
was finished about the middle
of May. Any time of gainful
labor is called harvest ; hence, a
" sleeper in harvest causeth
shame " to himself and friends.
Prov. 10 : 5. A people ripened
by sin for destruction are lik-
ened to a harvest ready for the
sickle of God's vengeance. Isa.
18 : 5 ; Joel 3 : 13 ; Rev. 14 :
15. A remarkable time of suc-
cess of the gospe is called har-
vest. Matt. 9:37 J8 ; John 4 :
35, The day ol judgment is
likened to a harvest ; then all
things shall be ripe for a final
gathering. Matt 13.
Hawk, a general name for
several rapacious, birds of the
falcon family. 1 cut. 14 : 6.
It was consecrated by the
Greeks to Apollo It is migra-
tory. Job 39 : 21
Hay. There it no hay made
In the East ; so tLat this word,
In the only place? where it oo-
icrs, viz., Prov. 27 : 25, Isa.
15 : 16, means the very reverie
of hay ; viz., the fast springing
t hoots of grass.
Hear, to receive sounds by
the ear. To hear the word of
God, means, (1.) a mere listen-
ing without laying to heart,
Matt. 13 : 19 ; (2.) to yield a
willing assent, with a firm pur-
pose to believe and obey it.
John 8 : 47. God is said to
hear prayer when he grants our
requests.
Heart, the seat of the affec-
tions and passions. God only
knows it. Jer. 17 : 10. The
Lord Jesus Christ, who demon-
strated his Godhead on many
occasions, by searching the
heart, declares that from the
heart of man proceeds every
evil. Matt. 15 : 18. As the
great evil which corrupts and
defiles the heart is unbelief, so
the only purifier of the heart
mentioned in the Scripture is
faith. Acts 15 : 9. " With the
heart man believeth unto right-
eousness ;" that is, sincere and
saving faith engages the affec-
tions. Rom. 10 : 10. This ia
called the ** righteousness of
faith." Rom. 4 : 13.
Heath, a lowly shrub, grow-
ing in desert places ; whenc*
such barren spots are called in
England heaths, whether that
plant be found on them or not.
It bears no fruit, i? worthless as
fodder, and is reckoned by
Pliny among the " unhappy
plants." Men who trust in
man, and not in God, are " lik
the heath in the desert." whiofc
HEA
118
HEB
rafnly strikes its roots into a
oil not capable of giving it
rigor. Jer. 17 : G. To this
unpleasant plant, persons are
compared who fly their country
or homes, and endure hardships
In secluded places. Jer. 48 :
6.
Heathen, a term which, like
the word Gentile, was applied
by the Jews to all who were not
Hebrews. It is now confined to
those who worship false gods,
and includes all those who are
not Jews, Mahornmedans, or
Christians. More than two
thirds of the human race belong
to this class ! The countries
which are yet pagan are all
that part of Africa which lies
between the tropic of Cancer
and the Cape of Good Hope, the
aborigines of North and South
America, China, Burmah, Hindos-
tan, Tartary, Japan, and many
islands in the Indian and other
oceans. They are called PA-
GANS from the Greek word /ray 17
(paga), a fountain, or rural
place ; or from the Latin word
paganus, a countryman, or rus-
tic, bi^auso Christianity was
first taught and planted in
cities, while the igaorant country
people adhered longer to their
old superstitions. It is a strong
argument in favor of Christian-
ity, that it seeks not conceal-
ment to work on ignorame, but
comes forth to the d . , and
challenges learning and power.
Its early conquests were in the
chief cities of the earth, where
education wag most enjoyed;
and in all ages, learning an*
science have been its hand-
maids. See GENTILE.
Heaven. The Jews spoke of
three heavens ;(!.) The at-
mosphere, or lower region of the
air, in which birds and vapors
fly. Job 35 : 11 ; Matt. 16 : 1.
(2.) The expanse above, in
which the stars are disposed,
and which they seem to have
thought was a solid concave
Matt. 24 : 29. (3.) The habi-
tation of God, where his power
and glory are more immediately
and fully manifested, and where
good angels and pure departed
souls pay their continual adora-
tion ; the residence or abode of
the blessed ; the sacred man-
sion of light, and joy, and
glory, where the body will be
revived to a glorious life, and
the soul live in constant com-
munion with God in Christ. 2
Cor. 12:2. The " kingdom of
heaven " often means, in the
New Testament, the reign of
Christ on earth, or gospel dis-
pensation.
Heave-Offering was the name
given to portions of animals,
grain, meal, fruits, &c., brought
by the people for the use of the
priests and Levites, and which
were first heaved or waved before
God as an offering and acknowl-
edgment to him. Num. 15 : 20.
Hebrews. Some learned men
supposed this name to be de-
rived from Hcber, an ancestor
of Abraham. It is more prob-
able that they received it from
their coming from beyond tiu
HEB
114
HEB
river, as the word means to pass
ever. The Hebrew nation began
in Abraham. In Isaac and Ja-
eob it continued small ; but
when the children of the latter
settled in Egypt, they grew to a
great multitude. Being brought
forth under Moses (then num-
bering about three millions),
they wandered forty years in the
desert, and were settled in Ca-
naan under Joshua. They were
governed, in the name of Jeho-
vah, -by judges, till the time of
Saul. This is what Josephus
calls a Theocracy. It became a
great kingdom under David, and
still more so under Solomon.
Under Rehoboam it was split
into the kingdoms of Judah and
Israel. At length, for their sins,
they were scattered and carried
captive. Under Zerubbabel,
some colonies returned, rebuilt
the temple, commonly called the
second temple, and set up a
kingdom, which lasted 140
years, under the auspices of
Persia. They then fell to Alex-
ander, then to Egypt, then to
Syria, then became independent
under the Maccabees, and then
submitted to the Romans. They,
however, continued a separate
nation until A. D. 72, when,
under Titus, the city was de-
stroyed, and they were finally
scattered. They have been se-
verely persecuted in every sub-
sequent age of the world, and
in every nation whither they
went. During the prevalence
ot the crusades, thousands were
mr.rdered by the Christian ar-
mies on their march to retonft
Canaan from the Turks, and
thousands of them destroyed
their own children lest they
should fall into the crusader*'
hands. In almost every cen-
tury, false Messiahs have ap-
peared, whose seditious opera-
tions have caused the death Df
vast numbers. Even a brief
account of their sufferings and
degradations would fill volumes.
In Spain and Portugal, where
their treatment has been ex-
ceedingly severe, a great num-
ber of papists, even monks and
bishops, are Jews in disguise,
and secretly train their children
in the Hebrew faith. Jews are
still found in most parts of the
earth, though everywhere de-
graded and oppressed either by
custom or law. Their number
now amounts to three or four
millions. About one million
are in the Turkish empire, which
now embraces the Holy Land
In Europe they are numerous,
especially in Poland, where
there are 500,000 ; viz., Gal-
licia, 90,000 ; Prussian Poland,
chiefly in Warsaw, Thorn, Paren
and Lissa, 110,000 ; Russian
Poland, chiefly in Wilna.Kauen,
Grodno, Pinck and Mohilow,
where they have a university
300,000.
As to the rest of Europe,
there are in Hungary, chU-.ily
at Bresburgh, Newr^z and
JMiskolz, 76,000 ; in Germany,
chiefly at Frankfort on ;u
Maine, Prague, IV.rth and Ber-
lin, 200,000 ; in Holland. '20.
HEB
115
1FEI
00 ; in England, 11,000 ; i.i
France, 50,
They are also nume
the Barbary
vant. In the 1
there are not more than 3000.
Most Jews are traders and bro-
kers ; few, if any, choose to
cultivate the soil. The
distinction of tithes seems wholly
lost, but they are now divided
into sects. lf these, the prin-
eipal, at the present time, are
the Rabbinical and the Karaite.
See SECT.
An "Hebrew of the He-
brews " is one, both of whose
parents are Hebrews. Phil. 3 :
5. Sometimes only those Jews
were called Hebrews who spoke
the Hebrew language, in con-
tradistinotion to the Jews who
spoke the Greek. Acts S : 1.
When the EPISTLE TO THE
HEBREWS was written is uncer-
tain. Perhaps Paul wrote it
< the close of his first
imprisonment at Rome. It is
-I'd to the Hebrews, or
:iving within the Holy
'intruished from the
.'*, or Jews scattered in
pther countries. It ranks among
4 important portions of
'y Oracles, and contains,
among other things, proof of
the divinity, humanity atone-
ment, and priesthood of Christ ;
the real object and meaning of
-aic ritual ; and numer-
ous admirable practical obsr-
rations and encouragements.
This epistle is an admirable
x posit ion and supplement to
those to the Romans and
tians. 'i-:u.
He'bron. was the original name
of the called
ARBA, or KIIUAIH-AKHA, be-
cause Arba, the noted giant, waa
king of it. It was built on a
hill, not long after the flood.
Numb. 13 : 22 ; and stood 22
uth of Jerusalem. Hero
Anak and his father and son!
dwelt ; but Caleb, receiving it
for his inheritance, expelled
these giants, and restored the
name Hebron. Josh. 14 : 13, 14.
It was made a city of refuge,
and given to the priests. David
reigned here seven years over
Judah, before he was crowned
over all Isr . -J : 11,
and 5 : 3. Here Absalom firat
set up for king. 2 Sam. 15
The present number of housef
is estin, '. The houses
are of stone, well built, and the
shops well furnished. The only
local manufacture
d two
ited by
.Mr. Fisk in 1^'JI, who informs
us that its present name is
Rahman.
Htdge, something that en
closes oi
13 ; Job 1 : 10 fabler are
called .'. -"st our
slothful
ditlictiltieo, or al-
ways entangles himself in
trouble.
Heir, one who is to surceed
to an estate. Christians art
HEL
116
HER
Aelrs of God both by birth and
Iv will ; an important and
delightful consideration. Rom.
4 : 14. The term utterly pre-
cludes the idea of our meriting
or earning our heavenly por-
tion.
Heliopolis. See ON.
Hell, the place of punishment
for the wicked after this life ;
also the grave, or state of the
dead.
The Gree& wurd hades, ren-
dered hell in our version, means
literally " piauo of darkness,"
and corresponds to the Hebrew
sheol. Critics find great diffi-
culty in settling the exact mean-
ing of these words, and on this
meaning depends, in great
measure, the doctrine of " the
intermediate state " or condition
of the dead before the resur-
rection. It seems to have been
held by all the early Christians,
and to have been the foundation
of the Romanist doctrine of
purgatory. At present, like
many other difficult and not
very practical questions, it
seems not to be much contested.
Most Christians now believe that
souls go at once to hell or
heaven ; though not to full
misery or enjoyment ; but the
dootrine of an intermediate
state is held by many of the
best and most learned writers
on the New Testament.
By the " gates of hell, ' Matt.
16 : 18, is meant the power and
policy of the devil and his in-
struments. The expression is
derived from the fact that courts
of legislation and justice irert
often held in rooms at or ovel
the gates of walled cities. It is
therefoie equivalent to saying
the councils of hell.
Helmet, a cap of metal or
strong leather for protecting a
soldier's head. 1 Sam. 17 : 5.
Salvation is God's helmet; the
hope of it rendering God's peo-
ple courageous in their spiritual
warfare. Eph. 6 : 17. 1 Thes.
5 : 8.
Hemlock. The plant so called
in Scripture seems to mean the
water-hemlock, Deut. 29 : 18 ;
Hos. 10:4; and not the stately
tree which bears this name. Its
juice was sometimes used by
pagans to put criminals to
death. The passage, Hos. 10 :
4, " Judgment springeth up as
hemlock in the furrows of the
field," means that the courts of
justice were perverted, so that
where there should be good
fruit there was poison.
Heresy 5 an opinion contrary
to the fundamental principles
of religion, maintained with
obstinacy and a refusal to admit
conviction. Christianity was
called a sect, or heresy, by Ter-
tullus and the profane Jews
Acts 24 : 5, 14.
HeriHOD) the most elevates
summit in the range if th
Anti-Libanus; 10,000 feet abov
the level of the sea.. The Si-
donians called it ISirion ; and
the Amorites, Shenir. Deut. 3 .
9. Its dews are copi^; and
refreshing. Psal. 133 : 3. The
snow lies on it during the
HER
117
HER
mer, and was carried to Tyro,
as ice is brought i;
and sold in summer as a lux-
ury.
Her 04. Four persons of this
name are mentioned in the New
Testament.
1. HEHOD THE GREAT, the son
of Antipater, was born about
B. c. 70. His father is said by
some to have been a Jew ; by
others, an tdumean proselyte.
He vanquished and extirpated
the family of the Maccabees
about B. c. 37. His character
was exceedingly ferocious and
sensual. His frequent murders
and ungovernable temper ren-
iered him miserable ; and to
occupy his thoughts, as well as
to ingratiate himself with the
Jews, he rebuilt their temple,
ind rendered it exceedingly
stately and glorious. He also
built other important edifices,
and instituted various public
sports. When the wise men
from the East made inquiry in
Jerusalem for the new-born
King of the Jews, he desired
them to bring him back word
where and how he might find
him, being resolved to murder
him, while but an infant. Being
disappointed, he ordered to be
destroyed every child in and
ubout Bethlehem, under two
years old, that he might make
sure of murdering the Messiah
among them. He died in a
miserable manner, a year or two
after this atrocious action.
2. HEROD ANTIPAS, son of
Herod the Great, had the te.
trarchy of Galilee and
by the last will of his father
Ho divorced his first wife, and
took Herodia.-:, the wife of
Philip, who still lived. Foi
reproving this incestuous mar-
riage, John was imprisoned and
beheaded. Matt. 14 : 312.
This was he to whom Pilate sen*
our Saviour, and by whom he
was mocked and arrayed in a
gorgeous robe. Luke 23 : 8
11. He was uncle to Herod
Agrippa, and great uncle to tha*
Agrippa who, by Paul's dis-
course, was " almost persuaded
to be a Christian."
3. HEROD AGRIPPA, the son
of Aristobulus, grandson of
Herod the Great, was appointed
by Caligula to the government
of Abilene. About A. D. 44, or
perhaps 49, he caused the mur-
der of James, the son of Zebe-
dee. Observing the Jews pleased
with this, he apprehended Peter,
intending to murder him also.
But Providence defeated his
designs, by cutting him off in a
miserable manner at Cesarea,
where he was flattered by the
multitude crying out that he
spoke like a god. Acts 12, and
23 : 35. He reigned seven or
ten years, and was the father
of Agrippa, Bernice, Drusilla,
and Mariamne.
4. HEROD AGRIPPA II., son
of tne preceding, is mentioned
in the New Testament only by
the name of AGRIPPA. He was
born A. D. 20. Fcstus brought
Paul before him, who almosl
persuaded him to be a chri*
HIQ
118
HIN
dan. Acts 25 and 26. After ! ites they were strictly foi biddev,
the destruction of Jerusalem, but seem never to have bee
he went to Rome, where he died,
at the age of 70.
Herodlans, a sect among the
Jews (whether religious or po-
litical is not clear), so named
from Herod the Great. It is
thought, by some, that he was
regarded by them as the prom-
ised Messiah
Her'OT, a olrd of the crane
species. It is only mentioned
Lev. 11 : 19, and Deut. 14 : 18.
HeshbOtt, a town 20 miles
east of the point where the Jor-
dan enters the Dead Sea. It
originally belonged to the Mo-
abites, Josh. 3 : 10, but became
a Levitical city. It is now
called Heshban.
Hid/dekel, the Tigris, a noble
river rising in the mountains of
Armenia, and issuing in the
Persian Gulf. On it once stood
the great cities Nineveh, Ctesi-
phon, and Selucia ; and at pres-
ent, the cities of Bagdad, Mosul,
Diarbekir, <fec. Gen. 2 : 14 ;
Dan. 10 : 4.
Hierap'oliS, a city near Colos-
ee, early blessed with gospel
light. Col. 4 : 13. It was de-
stroyed by an earthquake, in
the times of the apostles. The
ruins are still visible, and the
place is called
Pambuk Kalasi.
by the Turks
High Places, hills on which
were groves, altars, Ac., for
worship. Gen 22. At first,
Jehovah was worshipped upon
mob, then idols. To the Israel-
wholly abolished. 2 Kings 16 :
3, 4; 16: 3, 4, <fcc.
Bin, a liquid measure, con
taining about three of oui
quarts. It was the sixth part
of an ephah.
Hind) a female deer, noted
for elegance of form and affec-
tion to its mate. Prov. 5 : 19
Like other deer, it is very swift
and sure-footed. Ps. 18 : 33
Hinnom, a valley, or rather
ravine, on the south side of
Jerusalem, closed in on one
side by the steep side of Mount
Zion, and on the other by a line
of cliffs less elevated. From
some point in these cliffs, tra-
dition relates that Judas sought
his desperate end. The position
of the trees, which in various
places overhang the brow of the
cliff, accords with the common
opinion that, when he hung
himself, the rope breaking, he
fell, and his bowels thus were
made to gush out. This valley
was once selected, for its shade
and privacy, for the worship of
Moloch. See TOPHET.
When Josiah overthrew the
horrid idolatry of Moloch, he
made the place abomin le by
making it the receptacle of the
filth of the city, dead carcasses,
&o. ; which was occasionally
consumed, as far as possible, by
burning Hence it became a
type of hell, and the word Ge-
henna [Ge-hinnom] is the vallej
of Hinnom. Matt. 5:22; Luk
7:5; John 3 : 6.
noL
119
Holy, pious, religious, Murk
3 : 20 ; sacred, divine, Luke 1 :
72 ; hallowed, consecrated to
divine use, Matt. 7:6; Luke
2 : 23 ; pure, free from t
lution of sin, Eph. 1:4; Col.
I : 22. It is applied to the
Trinity to the Father, Lev.
19 : 2 ; Pa. 145 : 17 ; to the
Son, Ps. 16 : 10 ; Luke 1 : 3,"),
4 : :U ; Acte 3 : 14 ; and it is
the common epithet of the third
Person of the glorious Trinity.
It is applied also to angels,
Matt. 25 : 31 ; and to persons
and things dedicated to God,
Ex.30: 35; 31 : 14. The saints
are called holy by separation
and choice, 1 Pet. 2:9; by the
imputation of Christ's holiness
or righteousness to them, Ezek.
16 : 14 ; 2 Cor. 5 : 21 ; by par-
taking of a koly principle of
grace, whereby the soul is re-
newed in holiness by degrees,
till it attain a perfection of it.
Heb. 12 : 23.
Holy GhOSt, the third Person
of the Trinity. The proofs of
his essential divinity are, (1.)
He is expressly called GOD,
Acts 5 : 3, 4. (2.) Attributes
peculiar to Jehovah are ascribed
to him, as eternity, Heb. 9 ; 14 ;
omniscience, 1 Cor. 2 : 10, 11 ;
omnipresence, Ps. 139 : 7. (3.)
Works which only God can per-
form are ascribed to him, Ps.
53 : 6 ; Job 26 : 13 ; Lufee 1 :
35 ; 2Pet.l: 21 ; John 16 . i3;
Rom. 15 : 16. (4.) The same
divine worship is paid to him as
to the Father and the Son, Matt.
K : 19 j 2 Cor. 13 14 ; 2 Tbess.
3 : 5. (5.) In the Grwk, a
masculine article is joined to
\, which ii
naturally of the neuter gender
(G.) Things afiirmed of God in
some p;' cripture are
in others attributed to the Holy
Among many others,
compare 1 Cor. 3 : 16, with 6 :
1<), and 2 Tim. 3 : It!, with 2
Pet. 1 : 21. (7.) Baptism is ad-
ministered in his name, and the
; benediction. When he
is spoken of as given or sent by
the Father or the Son, it is to
be understood of his particular
station or agency in the plan of
redemption.
By him sinners are convicted,
John 16 : 9 ; enlightened, Eph.
1 : 17, 18 ; regenerated, John 3 :
5, fi ; saiirtifinl, 1 Pet. -
Baptism of the Holy Ghost,
which was enjoyed in the apos-
tolic age, and is described Acta
2 : 14, was attended with the
gift of tonguos and power of
working miracles.
Homer, a Hebrew measure of
twenty-four bushels, thought to
be the same as the Cor. Ezek.
45 ; 14.
Honey was produced in great
quantities in the land of Pales-
tine, and was an article of ex-
port. Ezek. 27 : 17. It wai
often called " a land flowing
with milk and honey." Beside
il in yards, multi-
tmles were wild, and laid up
res in hollow trees and
..f rock'. Matt. 3:4;
Deut. 32: 13. CAMPBELL, in
his Travels in Afnca, says, " Th
HOP
120
HOR
bees have a habit of plastering
their noney on the surface of
rocks in cliffs ; which, for its
protection, they cover with a
layer of dark-colored wax, not
easily distinguished from the
rock iteelf. I3y making an in-
eision in its outer coat, and
applying his mouth, a person
could suck out plenty." This
explains Deut. 32 : 13. The
writer has seen high perpen-
dicular cliffs in Burmah, almost
covered with such bee-nives ;
protected on the outside by a
covering resembling that on a
wasps' nest. The ancients used
honey as we do sugar, and
prized it highly ; hence it is an
image of pleasure. Ps. 119 :
103 ; Cant. 4 : 11, &c.
A sweet sirup, procured from
ripe dates, seems to have borne
this name. The word rendered
"honey," in 2 Chron. 31 : 5,
properly signifies dates. Jose-
phus mentions palm honey. Bo-
chart, Celsius, and Geddes, con-
sider the honey mentioned Gen.
43 : 11, to be of this sort.
UopS) a prospect, real or
imaginary, which we think of
with pleasure, and are desirous
of obtaining. The emotion it-
self is also called hope. The
cnristian's hope of eternal hap-
piness and glory is founded on
the merits, the blood, the grace,
the promises, and spirit of
Gnrist, and the unchangeable
truth and almighty power of
ttod. Religious hope is dis-
tinguished from carnal by its
inseparable effect, a cleansing
efficacy by the assistance of the
Holy Spirit. 1 John 3 : 3.
Jesus Christ is styled " the hcpe
of Israel," Acts 28 : 20, as ha
was promised by God, his man-
ner of coming foretold by the
prophets, and the event expected
by the people of Israel. He ia
called " our hope," 1 Tim. 1 : 1,
because he is the only founda-
tion on which to build our hof e
of any real good here or here-
after. It is sometimes taken
for that eternal salvation, which
is the object or end of our hope.
Tit. 2 : 13.
Horn, a symbol of strength,
Deut. 33 : 17 ; Jer. 48 : 25 ;
Hab. 3 : 4. Hence kingdoms
are represented as horns.
Perhaps this was wholly meta-
phorical. Or it may have been
the custom to wear such a hel-
met, or head-dress. In some
oriental countries such o. aa-
ments are now worn. Win. Penn
states that among some chiefa
he met in council, was one who
wore a sort of crown, to which
was fastened a real horn. Th
two horns of the ram in Daniel**,
HOK
HOS
Tiiion are the k i u^< i
and Persia. The nnr fmrn of the
following ^<>at is the kingdom of
in<lT AK-xHiidur, which,
at his di-ath was divided into
four parts, jircilicti-d Dan. 8 : 8.
The little hur>i, which grew out
of one of these, is sup,
be the kingdom of Antiochus
Epi{-!,;iin^, who I'vcrran Judea,
Ac. Tho ten h'trns of the great
dragon, Rev. 12 : 3, are the
kingdoms which compose the
Roman empire and dominions
of the pope. Various authors
have named these kingdoms,
but with little precision, because
of the continual fluctuations of
those countries. Rev. 13 : 1.
Horuet) an insect like a wasp,
but larger, with a black breast,
and double black spots. It is
extremely bold and mischievous.
The sting is attended with great
pain and inflammation, and even
danger. Great swarms of them
plagued the Cauaanites in the
diys of Joshua Deut. 7 : 20 ;
Josh. 24 : 12. It is said, in the
place last quoted, that the hor-
nets " drove out " two kings
and their people. The learned
Bochart has traced some of
their colonies into Greece, and
the Talmudical writers say that
aorne passed into Africa.
Horonaim, a city of Moab,
perhaps the same as BETH-UO-
BOX. It is thought to be the
eity which is called by Ptolemy
Avara, and by Josephus Oona.
Horse, tn animal rare among
the early Jews, but common in
Egypt, &o. The passage in 1
11
Kings 10: 28, instead of " horsei
and linen j'arn," should read at
it is literally, horses in strings
which was and is now the mod*
of transporting them for sale.
As Orientals supposed the sun
to drive along the sky in a
chariot with horses, they con-
secrated to him the finest steeds.
Israel was once infected with
this idolatry. 2 Kings 33 : 11.
Horse-Leech, a black worm
that lives in water, and is now
called only leech. It occurs only
in Prov. 30 : 15.
Husanna, an exclamation of
praise, or invocation of blessing.
It was a common word with the
Jews, and seems to mean liter-
ally, save now. The multitude
who uttered this cry before
Christ, probably indicated i / it
their desire and hope that he
would now, as their Messiah,
raise up their nation from its
fallen state. Matt. 21 : 915.
Hosea, the first of the minor
prophets, as arranged in our
Bibles. These twelve books are
called minor prophets, not from
their inferiority, but from their
brerify. Hosea lived a long
time, and prophesied under four
kings, viz., Uzziah, Jotham,
Ahaz, and Hezekiah
THE BOOK of Hosea, which
seems to be but a part of the
author's predictions, is of a sen-
tentious, and sometimes obscure
style, but always energetic. The
topics are the guilt and stub-
bornness of the Jews, the heavy
judgments which awaited them,,
and their final restoration t
HOU
122
HOU
QodV favor and great national
prosperity. He calls Judah
Loruhama, and Israel Loammi.
The book is written in sublime
poetry, and is more laconic and
sententious than the other proph-
ets, which makes it difficult to
translate or understand, at this
long distance, when so many of
the allusions are obscure.
Hospitality, love or kindness
expressed by entertaining per-
sons kindly. Ron*. 12 : 13 ; 1
Tim. 3 : 2. The first Christians
were remarkably hospitable and
kind to all strangers, but par-
ticularly to those of the same
faith. Paul makes use of Abra-
ham's and Lot's conduct, men-
tioned Gen. 18 : 2, 3 ; 19 : 1, 2,
Ac., as examples to encourage
and persuade us to the exercise
of hospitality. Heb. 13 : 2.
Hospitality is to be " used one
to another without grudging."
I Pet. 4 : 9.
Hough, to disablo an animal
i y severing the great tendon on
,he back of the hind leg. Josh.
II : 69.
Hour. (1.) The twenty -fourth
part of a natural day. When
the New Testament was written,
the Jews divided their day into
twelve equal parts, after the
manner of the Greeks and Ro-
mans, Matt. 20 : 3, 5, 6 ; John
11 : 9 ; which of course varied
in length according to the dif-
ferent seasons. AVhen the sun
rose at the time we call six
o'clock, their third hour agreed
with our ninth, their sixth with
our noon, and their ninth with
our three o'clock. Tbftlr nigh
was divided in the same manner
(2.) Hour signifies any fixed
season or opportunity. Hence
wo read of the hour of tempta-
tion ; of judgment ; of Christ's
death, or second coining ; of the
power of Satan and his agents
against Christ ; &c. Rev. 3 : 3*
10. Luke 22 : 53.
House. (1.) A dwelling-place.
The body is called, 2 Cor. 5 : 1,
the hmist of the soul. The houses
in Canaan and other Eastern
countries are built in the form
of a hollow square. The rooms
open into the court in the cen-
tre, where some have fountains
of water playing. The roof is
flat, and, when the sun is not
hot, is a place of agreeable re-
tirement. Peter had his vision
here. Acts 10 : 9. An awning
is frequently extended over the
open space in the centre, to
exclude the sun. This was lifted
away, and the low battlement
of tiles ' broken up," by the
friends of the man sick of the
palsy, whom they had brought
across the roofs of the neighbor-
ing houses, so that Ihey could
lower him down before Christ
Mark 2:3; Luke 5 : 19. When
the destruction of Jrrtsalem
came, the disciples yf Jesua
were to escape from the roofs,
if they should be there, without
going down into the house. This
in our houses would be impos-
sible ; but there they could
come down the stairs, and pasi
through the balconies which led
round the inner court, and &
flUS
123
HTP
out Into the street, through the
covered gateway. Mark 13 :
15. (i.; The family hoa
or tribe, dwellii
Children do not nere^arily form
part of a household, as many
families are Vthout any. Acts
16 : 15.
Humiliation, the act of hum-
bling one's self. It ditlV
humility. Humility is the ha-
bitual state of that person's
mind who has low thoughts of
himself, founded upon the
knowledge of his imperfections
and unworthiness, and his de-
pendence upon God. Humilia-
tion is a special act of devotional
mortification, or self-denial, in
an individual or a nation, shown
by fastitg, prayer, &c.
The humiliation ascribed to
Christ, Acts 8 : 33 ; Phil. 2 : 8,
is a proof of his diyice nature ;
for if Christ were a mere man,
or even the L/gh*<* angel, and
was created of God to perform
the work of redemption, he did
no more than his duty, and
would have been eternally lost
had he come short of it.
Humility, that grace of the
Spirit which, from a proper
sense of lowliness and unwor-
thinoss, makes us patient under
trials, and contentedly submis-
sive to the will of Providence.
Husk, the sheath or cover of
grain, A.O. Numb. 6:4. 2
Kings 4 : 4*V It is thought by
Wahl, and others, that the husks
mentioned in the parable of the
prodigal son, are the pods of
the oarob-tree, or ceratonia sil-
njua of Linnaeus. Tneee poll
are about a foot long, nomewr at
:iap.:d, and contam *
sweet pulp, and several brown
seeds like beans. Swine fatten
on this food, and it is often
eaten by the poor people io
Syria and Palestine. Luke 1 5 .
16.
Hyacinth. The flower of this
name is never mentioned in the
Bible. The jewel so called ia
supposed to be what we now
call garnet. Some of these are
very precious. Those of Bur
mah are most valuable. Com
men ones are so abundant in
some parts of Germany as to
be used as a flux for some iron
ores. They are plenty also ia
some parts of the United States
Hyiun, a religious ode or song
Hilary is said to have been the
first composer of metrical hymns
to be sung in public worship.
The book of Psalms contained
the " hymns and spiritual
songs " commonly sung hy the
Jews and early Christians. '/"ie
Psalms are called, in general,
hymns, by PHILO the Jew ; and
JosKi'iius calls them " songs
and hymns." See SINGING.
Hypocrite. (1.) Onewhodis
sembles or feigns to be what he
is not. Matt. 23. Such per-
sons may be detected by their
neglect of the duties they enjoin
on others ; by their zeal for
trifles and omission of great
duties ; by their love of title*
and precedence ; and by their
severe censures of others fol
sins which they commit theji
ICO
124
IDD
elves. (2.) One who is de-
seived, and relies on a false
hope. Job 20 : 5, and 27 : 8.
Such persons find excuses for
obvious neglects j they study
an external rather than inward
purity ; they pray in affliction
frith great *vor, hut are apt
to neglect tnnt du/y in prosper-
ity ; and though keen and ac-
tive in business, are dull and
destitute of zeal in spiritual
affairs.
Hyssop, an herh which, in the
East, grows not only in gardens,
but also wild. It rises to the
height of two feet, growing in
bunches, and putting out many
stalks from a single root. Oa
this account it is extremely yreli
adapted to be used as a spriuk-
ler, as it commonly was in
Jewish purifications. It has a
pleasant smell, but is very bit-
ter and pungent. " Solomon
described plants from the great
cedar to the hyssop that spring-
eth out of the wall," 1 Kings
4 : 33. HASSELQUIST supposes
the small plant here mentioned
to be a moss which is very com-
mon on the walls of Jerusalem.
SIBTHORPE thinks it more prob-
ably a little plant still called
hysoppo, frequently growing on
the rocks of Palestine.
I.
, the chief city of
the tetrarchy of Lycaonia ; said
by STRABO to be well built, and
situated in the richest part of
the province. The visit of Paul
to this place, which was greatly
blessed in the conversion of
multitudes, happened A. D. 45
or 46. Acts 14: 13. The
church thus planted may be
traced through eight succeeding
centuries, but is lost sight of
during the ravages of the Turks
and Saracens. At present, it
is a place of some consequence,
and strongly fortified by walls
four miles in extent. The popu-
lation is estimated at 70,000.
Though much of the town within
the walls lies waste, no Jew or
hristian is allowed by the Turks
to 1 ve there ; but such reside
in the suburbs. Its present
name is Cogni, or Konee
Iddo, a prophet of Judah,
who seems to have been the his-
torian of his day, and whose
record and genealogies are men-
tioned in Scripture. 2 Chron.
9 : 29, and 12 : l'5. His writings
never made a part of the canon
of the Old Testament. Indeed,
had everything done or said t j
holy men, according to the will
of God, been inserted in the
Bible, it would have made the
book too large to be useful.
Josephus is of opinion that this
was the prophet sent to Jero-
boam at Bethel, and slain by a
lion on his return. 1 Kings 13.
Whether he was the grandfathel
of Zeohariah, is uncertain.
Zeoh. ] . 1. There were lereral
IDO
126
IDO
ther persona of this name. 1
Chron. 27 : 21 ; Ezra 8 : 17.
Idol, a representation or t'm-
ge of any sort, created either
bj art or fancy ; any object re-
ceiving human worship, in con-
tradistinction to the true God.
1 Cor. 8:1; 1 John 5 : 21. As
it is the first principle of true
religion, that there is one only
living and true God, so Jehovah
olaims divine worship as due
nly to himself j and has pro-
hibited the worship of idols, as
a crime of the first magnitude.
Ex. 20 : 4. The most fervent
remonstrances against paying
homage to idols arc found in
the prophets ; n\\ .
passages ill Lsniuh HIT cunsid-
U*
ered to surpass In energy, ar
gument, and elegance, anything
that has been written on the
subject. Isa. 44 : 1220, and
46 : 1, 2, Ac.
The following idols are men-
tioned in Scripture :
Adram-mdech, 2 Kings 17 : SL
Attaint It fit, 2 Klims 17 : 31.
17 : 30.
A/<t<ir<,th, .hid. 2: 13.
riii 22: 41 ; (In the plum,
I Sam. 7 : 4.)
Uh. Jud. 8: 33.
, Numb. 25: 3 ; Deut 4 : S.
. 2 Kings 1 : 2.
, It! : 1 ; Jcr. 50 : 2.
Max, Acts 28: 11.
Jud. 16 : 23.
\ .13 19: 2441.
\. Is 14: 11, 12.
Mi rc/iry, Acts 14 : 12.
Moloch, Lev. 18 : 21 : (called Milcom,
Kings 11 : 6, and Malcham, Zeph. 1 .
5.)
Nebo, Isa. 15 : 46.
Xtrnul, 2 Kings 17 : 30.
Kibhaz, 2 Kings 17 : 31.
A'/,syvH'/i, 2 Kings 19: 37.
Remphan, Acts 7 : 43.
Jiitumon, 2 Kings 5 : 18.
Micxhach, Jer. 51 -. 41
Hiuroth-benoth, 2 Kings 17 : 30.
, K/ek. 8 : 14.
Tart ok, 2 Kings 17 : 31.
Beside which were the Terai>liun,
and the Golden Oulves.
The Jews seem never to nave
had idols peculiar to themselves,
but to have often adopted thost-
of other nations.
Idolatry is either internal or
external. Internal is an inor-
dinate love of the creatures
riches, honors, and the pleas
ures of this life. Eph. * : i
Col. 3 : 6. Phil. 3 : 19. Exter-
nal is the paying of homage
to outward objects, either natu-
ral or artificial ; and this is the
more common sense of the term.
Soon after the flood, msn fell
into idolatry. A large portion
of our race have ever since
practised this sin, dreadfull/
IDO
126
IDO
Indicative of the corruption and
degradation of human nature.
At fir t heavenly bodies, and
eminert benefactors of man-
kind, were- worshipped, then
anitaals, plants, reptiles, and
figures made by art. To these
were paid not only reverence
fttjd devotion, but the most hor-
rid rites. The grossest imU
cencies, murder, suicide, tor
ture, drunkenness, and everj
abomination, have been consid-
ered proper acts of worship.
In pagan countries, idolatry
still retains these shocking
characteristics.
In Burmah, beside idol&tious
PAGODA AT AVA.
temples, they have pagodas,
which are nothing more than
piles of brick and earth, set up
in honor of their gods, as we
erect pillars to commemorate
events. They are generally
solid, and cannot he c-r.tered.
Worship and offerings, <tc., are
wade before them. The Egyp-
tian pyiamids are, in my opin-
ion, genuine pagodas. The tower
shown in the Encyclopedia of
Religious Knowledge, I con-
sider one of the same sort of
structures.
The veneration which Roman
Catholics pay to the Virgin
Mary, angel*, and.>sainta. or >a*
ILL
127
INC
B, images, relics, and the host,
(or bread .of the Lord's supper,)
is idolatry. This they of course
deny, and consider tho worship
paid to God as supreme, and that
which is paid to saints, &c., as
subordinate,
AVhen we consider in how
many ways we may practise
inward idolatry, Phil. 3 : ID;
Col. 3 : 5, we should carefully
watch and pray against this
dreadful sin. It is to be feared
tlui! great multitudes have
their hearts set on some earthly
object, who little think them-
selves idolaters.
Idnme'a, a district on the
south margin of Palestine, em-
bracing a part of Arabia, and
ing its name from Edom
(i. e., Esau), who first settled it.
During the Babylonish captivi-
ty, the Edomites seem to have
n a considerable portion
of Judea. Long before the
birth of Christ, they had been
reduced to subjection, and mul-
titudes of them embraced the
Hebrew faith. The region, how-
ever, seems to have retained
their name in the days of
Christ, and for some ages after-
wards. Mark 3 : 18. It was
the native country of Ilerod.
Illyr'icuffl is about 480 miles
in length, and 120 in breadth.
It has Austria and part of Hun-
gary on the north, Servia on
the oast, and the Adriatic Sea
nd part of Macedonia on the
south. Here the gospel was
preached ana a Christian church
planted by Paul which can be
traced through eight cenlnriei,
and to this day not a few nomt
nal chi *tians reside here. Koin
15:19. Part of it is now called
Croatia, and part Sclawnia, of
Albania,
Image, any similitude cr like-
ness. Jesus Christ is said to
be the " image of God," Heb.
1 : 3, as he represents God to
us, and is " in the form of God,"
essentially and not circumstan
tially; for there can be no form,
or " express image," of God, but
what is essentially divine. The
phrase implies sameness in na-
ture and distinctness in person
Man is said to have been made
in the image of God, Gen 1:
26, 27, because he resembled
God in being wise, holy and
immortal, and in pos**sing
dominion over the creatures.
Idols, carved into shapes sup-
posed to resemble various dei-
ties, are called images. 2 Kinga
3 : 2.
Impute, to put anything t*
a person's account. The right
eousness of Christ is imputed tc
those who believe on him, and
their sins are imputed to him.
Rom. 4 : 6 8. 2 Cor. 5 : 19.
Ilieense, a fragrant gum
brought from Arabia and the
East Indies. The form of the
tree is not precisely known.
The incense used in tho Jewish
offerings, at least that which
was burnt on the altar of in-
cense, and before the ark, wa?
a precious mixture of sweet
spices, stactc, onycha, galba-
num and purr frankincense,
INF
128
INS
beaten very small. Ex. 30 : 7,
J4. None but priests were to
burn it, nor was any, under
pain of death, to make any like
to it. This incense was burnt
twice a day on the golden altar.
Where so many victims were
daily slaughtered and burnt to
ashes, some such perfume was
necessary. It seemed also
beautifully emblematic of
prayer. Ps. 141 : 2. Rev. 8 :
3, 4. See FRANKINCENSE.
Inclianiers, persons who prac-
tise incantations or charms,
particularly on serpents. There
are still such persons in the
East, whose performances are
astonishing. Sometimes, when
a poisonous snake is known to
have got into a house or ship,
one of these men
is sent for, who in-
duces it to come
forth, puts it in a
oag, and carries it
away. Compare Ps. 58 : 4, 6.
I have personal knowledge of
such facts, and other feats of
these snake-charmers equally
wonderful.
Infirmity, in Scripture, means,
(1.) Sickness, Luke 13 : 12 ; 1
Tim. 5 : 23 ; (2.) Afflictions, 2
Cor. 12 : 10 ; (3.) Natural ap-
petites, such as hunger, thirst,
sleep, Ac., Matt. 24 : 41 ; (4.)
Weakness of human nature,
Gal. 4: 13; Rom. 8: 26. Mere
infirmities are not sins, except
BO far as we bring them on our-
selves. Christians are bound
to pay a tender regard to the
Infirmities of others. Rom. 16:1.
Inkhorn, a email portable
tase for pens and ink ; which
is often worn by writers in the
East, fastened to some conven-
ient part of the dress JCzek.
9 : 2, 11.
Inn, in our Bible, means gen-
erally a caravansera. Generally
they are simply places of rest,
near a fountain, if possible ;
others have an attendant, who
merely waits on travellers; and
others have a family, which
sells provisions. They are found
in every part of the East. In
Turkey they are called Khans;
in Hindustan, Choultries; in
Burmah, Zayats. The latter
are mere sheds, like a market
house. The former are enclosed
securely.
In the stable of such a f ."see,
the better parts being all occu-
pied, the Saviour of the world
was born. Of course where such
are the inns, the traveller goes
prepared to keep house wher-
ever he stops ; having with him
his bed, cooking utensils, Ac.
Inscription, or SUPERSCRIP-
TION, writing on coins, pillars,
&o. Much of the history of na-
tions may be learnt from them.
Matt. 22 : 20. The history of
Greece, for 1318 years, is in-
scribed on the Arundel marbles.
Parts of the .'aw of Moses wer
inscribed or the altar at Ebal
Deut. 27 : 8
ISA
129
)SR
Intercession, the act of com-
Ing in between two parties, in
order to plead in behalf of the
one that has offended. Christ
<lcs for his church, by
ing for it before the
Father, by presenting the merits
of his sacrifice once offered, and
btaining answers to petitions
or prayers made in his name.
Iron was known very ancient-
ly. Gen. 4: 22. Moses speaks
of its hardness, Lev. 26 : 19 ;
."if the iron mines, Deut. 8:9;
of the furnace in which it was
made, Deut. 4 : 20 ; and that
the bedstead of Og, king of
Bashan, was of this metal, Deut.
3: 11.
Isaiah, a prophet of Israel,
uho wrote the inspired book of
chat name His language is
remarkable for elegance and
sublimity , and his wondrous
prophecies are yet being ex-
pounded by events. He seems
to have been favored with an
entire view of the gospel dispen-
sation, from the birth and suffer-
ings of Christ to the day when
all shall know God. He is
thought to have died about
seventy years before Jeremiah
prophesied.
THE BOOK of Isaiab, though
placed first, because of its size
and importance, is the J\fth in
order of time. See the table
given under the word PROPHETS.
Passages from Isaiah are quoted
by Zephaniah, Ezckiel, and
Habakkuk, as well as by the
New Testament writers. He
has beej called the evangelical
prophet, from the great number
aud minuteness of his predic-
tions concerning the advent,
character, preaching, labors,
sufferings, and death of OUT
Lord. The style is greatly ad
mired by linguists, as uniting
elegance to sublimity, force to
ornament, and energy to co-
piousness.
Islli, a husband. It is said,
Hos. 2 : 16, that Israel should
no more call God Baali," Lord,
or rigid Master, but " Ishi,"
husband, a kind and gentle
ruler.
Israel) the common name of
the Hebrew people and country.
The name means " Prince with
God," and was given to Jacob
after his prevalent prayer at
Peniel.
Under Rehoboam, successor
to Solomon, a fatal schism tooV
place between the tribes of Ju-
dah and Benjamin, and the rest
of the nation. 1 Kings 12. The
land was then divided into Ju~
dak, of which Jerusalem contin-
ued the metropolis ; and Israel^
of which Samaria was the royal
residence. This division occa
sioned many dreadful civil wars,
and separated the ten tribes
from the true religion. At
length, after having existed
about 250 years, Israel was en-
tirely destroyed, 1 Kings 17 :
6, &G. ; and the whole country
was then called .JroAH, or Ju-
dea. About 130 years after the
overthrow of the ten tribes,
Judah was laid waste by Nebu-
chadnezzar, and the people *r
JAG
180
JAM
ried captive to Babylon, where
they continued seventy years. 2
Kings, 25 : 9 ; Jer. 39 : 2, and
24 : 11, 12. Under Darius and
Cyrus many of the Jews re-
turned, and the temple was re-
built a little more than 500 years
B. c. See CAMAAN, and HE-
BBKWS.
Issue, a sending out, an effect
or result arising from some
cause. It is applied to children,
who, from the relation which
they bear to their parents, are
called issue or offspring.
Itnre'a, a region in the north-
east of Palestine, thought to
have derived its name from
Jetur, a son of Ishmael. Hau-
ren was one of its cities, whence
the province was called Hau-
ranitis by the ancients. Philip
wai its tetrarch in the days
of Christ. Luke 3 : 1. Tht
modern name is Hovran.
Ivory is the tusks of elephants,
resembling horns. Ezek. 27 .
15. Some tusks are from 90 to
125 pounds weight. In Russia,
and other places of Europe, t
kind of ivory is found buried in
the ground; and at Petersburgh
is such a tusk of 180 poundi
weight. In this country also are
found the fossil bones, teeth, and
tusks of the extinct mammoth
and mastodon. Some of these
bones and teeth are in a perfect
state of preservation ; but the
tusks soon fall to pieces when
exposed to the air. Ivory was
anciently very plentiful in Ca-
naan ; wardrobes were cased
with it, to prevent the damage
of moths. Ps. 45: 8. Solomon
had a throne of it. 1 Ki. 10 : 18
J.
JaVbok, a brook rising in the
mountains of Gilead, and enter-
ing the Jordan just after it
leaves Lake Gennesareth Deut.
2: 37.
Jacinth, the same M Ayacmtfc;
a precious stone of a yellowish
color, brought generally from
Ceylon.
Ja'cob, the second son c"
Isaac, and founder of the Jewish
nation, was born A. M. 2167.
He removed to Egypt with his
family at the request cf Joseph,
and died after having dwelt in
Goshen seventeen years.
Jah, a Hebrew contraction for
Jehovah. Ps. 68 : 4.
Jahaz, a city of Moab, called
also JAHAZAH. Josh. 13 : 18.
It is called by Ptolemy Ziza.
James the Great, or Elder,
and JOHN the evangelist, sons of
Zebedee and Salome, were orig-
inally fishermen of Galilee
Matt. 4 : 21. They are called
Boanerges , or " the soi s of than-
der." Mark 3: 17; Luke
JAM
131
J AV
54. After our Saviour's resur-
rection, they for awhile return-
ed to their business of fishing.
John 21: 2, 3. ^ bout A. D. 44,
James was murdered by Herod.
Acts 12 : 2. He is now the pre-
tended patron saint of Spain.
2. JAMES the Less, called the
brother of our Lord, was the
on of Cleophas, by Mary, the
ister of the blessed Virgin.
He was called the less, probably,
because smaller or younger than
the former. For the admirable
holiness of his life, he was sur-
named the Just. Our Saviour
appeared to him by himself,
after his resurrection. 1 Cor.
15: 7. About three years after
Paul's conversion, he was at
Jerusalem, and was considered
as a main prop of the church
there. Gal. 1 : 19. He was
put to death by order of Annas,
the hig> priest. Festus being
dead, and his successor Albinus
not having arrived, the oppor-
tunity was seized to gratify
their animosity against the
Christians.
The Epistle of this apostle is
called general, because not ad-
dressed to any particular church.
It is one of the most pathetic
and instructive in the Kow
Testament ; and contains an
admirable summary of those
practical duties which are in-
cumbent on all believers. In
the fifth chapter there is an
allusion to the then impending
destruction of Jerusalem, and
the miseries of the Jews.
Jannes and Jambres, tu
trading magicians of the com-
pany who counterfeited the
miracles of Moses before Pha
raoh. 2 Tim. 3 : 8.
Ja'pheth, Noah's eldest son
born A. M. 1556. He was pro-
phetically blessed by his dying
father. His posterity settled
all Europe, the north of Asia,
and probably America. The
latter continent is now, at least,
inhabited by his descendants.
They have also, by conquest
and otherwise, become possessed
of Southern Asia, Syria, Pales-
tine, <fcc., according to the pre-
diction of Noah, Gen. 9 : 27.
Jash'er. The book of Jasher
was probably a public register
in which memorable events were
written by a scribe of this name.
Josh. 10 : 13. That it was the
practice of the Jews to keep
such a register, appears fruin
various passages. 1 Kings 11 :
41 ; 2 Chron. 12 : 15, and 20 :
34, <fec. These archives were
laid up in the temple, and Jo-
sephus sometimes refers to them
for the truth of his narrative.
Jasper, a precious stone of
various colors, white, red,
brown and bluish green. It is
somewhat like the finer marble,
or the half-transj arent gems.
It strikes fire with steel ; but
makes no effervescence in aqua-
fortis. It is found in the Indies,
in Persia, Syria, Armenia, Bo-
hemia, <fcc.
Javelin, a short spear, to be
JEP
132
JER
thrown at an enemy by the hand.
1 Sam. 18 : 11.
It is a weapon of small value
in war, but has been more or
!ese in se in all ages.
Jchosh'aphat, one of the best
of tli e kings of Judah, ascended
the throne A. M. 3090, and
reigned twenty-five years. His
regard for the spiritual interests
of his people was shown in his
sending missionaries into all
parts of his kingdom. 2 Chron.
17 : 9.
The valley of Jehoshaphat
lay between Jerusalem and the
Mount of Olives. Joel 3 : 2, 12.
Jeho'vah, the name of God,
often rendered LORD in our Bi-
bles, and printed in capitals to
distinguish it from Lord, signi-
fying a governor. The pagan
name Jove and the name Jevo of
the Moors aeem derived from
the true name of God.
Jeplitliah, the tenth ju<*.ge of
Israel, who, in conscience of
a wicked vow, sacrificed his
daughter. Judges 11. Some
learned men, by altering one
of the original words, infer that
be only consigned her to celiba-
cy. But this seems to be a
rerj forced interpretation. In
bi day Troy was burnt by tht
Greeks, about A. it. 2800.
Jeremiah, a priest of the
tribe of Benjamin, wno, when
very young, became a propht.
He lived about seventy years af-
ter Isaiah; began to prophecy in
the thirteenth year of the reign
of Josiah ; and discharged his
office for at least forty-two
years. He was always very
unpopular with the Jews, though
a man of the loftiest piety and
patriotism. By the Jewish tra-
dition, his fidelity at length cost
him his life, and he was stoned
to death by the people.
THE BOOK of Jeremiah con-
tains a great mass of predic-
tions, chiefly concerning the
Jews, delivered at different pe-
riods of his life. Some of them
relate to the Messiah ; as chap-
ter 23 : 6, 6. The last chapter
was probably added by Ezra.
Jericho, a city of the Jenja-
mites, nineteen miles east from
Jerusalem. Josh. 16 : 1, 7
The curse pronounced (Josh
6 : 26) upon the man who
should rebuild this city, after
its destruction by Joshua, was
literally fulfilled in the days of
Ahab, 537 years after this,
upon Kiel. 1 Kings 16 : 34.
After its restoration it flour-
ished, and became in importance
second only to Jerusalem.
There seems to have been, how
ever, during this interval,
another Jericho, where I>^id*a
insulted ambassadors rear .tned
till their beards were grown.
The road to Jericho WM through
JER
133
JER
ft rocky desert, infested with
robbers. Luke 10 : 30. It is
to this day the most dangerous
road in Palestine. Henniker,
an English traveller, was in
this very place robbed and
wounded in 1820. The plain
on which it stood was extremely
fertile, noted for palm-trees,
and for the best of balm. The
general depression of the coun-
try has sunk noble Jericho into
a mere mud-built village. Its
present name is Erika, or
Itika.
Jcrobo'am, one of the most
wicked rulers that ever lived.
He was a distinguished man
under Solomon, and was chosen
head of the ten tribes which
revolted after Solomon's death,
place. 1 Chr. 11 : 4, 5, 7. It
is surrounded with a strong
wwll 40 or 50 feet high. Its
general form is nearly a hepta-
gon, or figure with seven sidei.
The circumference is nearlj
throe miles.
It was a city often plundered,
and several times burnt. 1
Kings 14 : 1G. After Nebu
ohadnezzar destroyed it (2 Chi
36), it lay in ruins 130 years,
when it was rebuilt by Nehe-
iniah. Many years afterward
it was again destroyed by Ptolc-
my. Afterwards it suffered a
similar fate from Antioclius
Kpiphanes, who killed 40,000
of the inhabitants, and sold for
slaves as many more. It was
rebuilt by Judas Maccabeus,
A. M. 302U. lie reigned in hor- and was somewhat flourishing
rible wickedness 22 years 1 in the time of our Saviour.
11, 12, 15.
JKUOBOAM II., the 13th king
11 f Israel, succeeded his father,
Joash, A. M. 3179, and reigned
rael 41 years. He was
a very wicked prince, but raised
jis kingdom to great outward
prosperity. 2 Kings 14, 15.
Jerub'baal, the same as
GIDKON.
Jerusalem, the capital of
About A. D. 70, after a dreadful
siege of two years, during
which the inhabitants suffered
so much from famine as to eat, in
some instances, the dead bodies
of their friends, it was taken
by Titus, son of Vespasian ; and
our Saviour's prediction, that it
should become a heap of ruins,
was fully verified. It gradually
became settled again, but in
Judea, first called Salem, where I A. D. 134, the emperor Adrian
Melchisedek was king, Gen. 14: banished all the Jews, prohibit-
18, who, as some suppose, built ing their return on pain of
it. It stands 42 miles east of death. The temple was demol-
the Mediterranean. The name
signifies the Vision of Peace.
It was called Jehus by the Jebu-
ished and the site ploughed up.
Christians were not embraced in
this edict, and remained in great
numbers. lie also changed the
lites, who possessed it, and held
the castle of Sion, till David name of the city to ^Elia, which
dislodged them, and took the it retained, almost exclusively.
12
1*4
JEB
186
JEB
till tbo time of Constantino,
when its original name was re-
stored. In A. D. G14, tho r<r-
sians captured it, and 90,000
Christians were slain. In G37,
the Saracens seized it, and kept
it till 1079, when the Seljukian
Turks became its masters. Soon
afterwards the Crusades were
begun, and continued, from time
to time, for a century, when the
Ottoman Turks became its pos-
wssors ; and they remain so to
this day.
Its present population is by
some computed at 20,000, but
by Mr. Jowett at about 12,000 ;
one fourth of which are Jews ;
but there has been no regular
census for many ages. The
Greek Christians are estimated
at 2000, and the Roman Cath-
olics at 1500. There are also
Armenian, Coptic, Syrian, and
Abyssinian Christians residing
here. The city is without trade,
and consequently exceedingly
poor. The Latins subsist chiefly
on remittances from Catholic
countries ; the Greeks and Ar-
menians by the contributions
cf the pilgrims, and the Jews
on collections made all over
Europe, and brought by pil-
grims. A late writer, speaking
of thei wretched poverty, says,
" their houses are as dung-
hills,"
The Christian and Jewish
pilgrims which annually resort
here, amount to several thou-
sands. To tiiese the places
where the events of our Sa-
viour's life and death occurred,
are shown with ridiculou* mi-
nuteness ; i* -aany oases they
are unworthy of confidence. On
the site of the temple is a mag-
nificent mosque. Protestant
;iries have of late years
made known on this sacred spot
the glorious grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ. No less than eight
of these labored there in on*
year during Mr. Jowett's visit.
The obstacles to success, how-
ever, are peculiarly gr
JesnSj the name given to the
Messiah by his parents, at the
command of tho angel, Matt.
1:21; the word means Saviour.
His divinity appears from the
titles of Deity being applied to
him, Rom. 9:5; Rev. 1 : 11;
from tho unqualified ascription
to him of the attributes of Deity,
as eternity, Rev. 22 : 13 ; omnis-
cience, Rev. 2 : 23 ; omnipotence,
Phil. 3 : 21 ; omnipresence, Matt.
18 : 20. He is declared to be
the Creator, John 1 : 12 ; the
Preserver, Col. 1 : 16, 17 ; the
true God, 1 John 5 : 20, 21 ; to
have the power of forgiving
sins, Matt. 9 : 26 ; Col. 3 : 13,
&c. ; to have power to raise the
dead, John 5 : 21, 25 ; to be the
Judge of quick and dead, 2 Cor
5 : 10 ; Roin. 14 : 10. He was
often uwrshipptd, and did not
forbid it ; and euch worship is
declared proper, Phil. 2 : 10,
11 ; Heb. 1 : 6. See also Numb
21 : 5, 6 ; Ps. 78 : 56 ; John
20 : 28 ; Luke 24 : 51 ; Mark 4;
39 ; Col. 2 : 10, <fco. Two years
after tho birth of Christ, the
famous Seneca was born. Th
JOE
36
JOH
land of the Jews had then been
a Koinan province but about
60 years.
Jews. See HEBREWS.
Joasll, king of Judah, began
to reign about B. c. 874, and
reigned 40 years. In his days
LYCUUGUS flourished.
Joasll, king of Israel, as-
cended the throne about B. c.
835, and reigned 16 years.
Job lived about 1500 years
B. c., and his trial seems to
have occurred about 29 years
before the Israelites caine up
out of Egypt ; and perhaps
much earlier. Bales makes it
184 years before the birth of
Abraham. Calmet and others
make Uz, his country, to have
been Arabia Deserta ; but
Lowth, Magee, Home, Ac.,
prove it to have been Idumea.
THE BOOK of Job is agreed to
be the most ancient now in ex-
istence. It is a historical poem,
lofty, magnificent, diversified,
and touching. Though Job is
here proved to have been a pat-
torn of patience, probity, and
devotion, yet all his express-
ions cannot be justified. His
friends cherished unfounded
suspicions of his guilt, but their
speeches are weighty and pious.
It was probably written by Job
himself, copi4 improved and
circulated by JKaaes. The com-
mon division, into chapters and
Verses, has very much tended to
eonfuse and obscure this book.
Joel, a Hebrew prophet, of
whose history nothing is now
tartainly known Most modern
commentators believe him to
have been cotemporary with
Amos and Hose a.
THE BOOK is highly poetical,
and is greatly admired by critics
for its elegance and sublimity.
It predicts the overthrow of the
Jewish polity, and the copious
blessings of gospel times.
John THE BAPTIST, the hw-
binger of Christ. He remained
obscure till the age of 30, when
he began to preach, and bap-
tized thousands who confessed
their sins. He was put to deati.
by Herod Antipas.
John, brother of James, was
of a very mild and affectionate
disposition, but bold in preach-
ing. See JAMES. John was
the Saviour's beloved disciple,
younger than the rest, and
younger than Christ himself.
After suffering much for bis
religion, under the emperor
Domitian, he was baniendd,
A. D. 95, to Patmos, wLer<s he
wrote the Revelation. When
Nerva became emperor, lie was
recalled, and lived to write his
Gospel and three Epistles. He
died at Ephesus, at about the
age of 100 years, and in the
third year of Trajan. Before
his death, the rarious heresies
of the Ebionites, Corinthians,
Docetae, Gnostics, Nicolaitans,
<fcc , had been broached.
THE BOOK of John's Gospel
was not written, as some sup-
pose, to supply omissions in the
other three evangelists ; but ai
they had written chiefly of hii
life and actions, John wrot*
JON
'87
JOB
ehielly of .his person and 0//L,
and in refutation of errors which
oad sprung up, some of which
are named above.
The Epistles of John, so called,
eeeui not to bo strictly epistles.
Thoy are not lireetcd to any
particular persons or church ;
but seem to be tracts, or trea-
tises, written for genera] use,
and have neither a salutation at
; inning, nor benediction
at the end. They teach the
Deity of Christ, his atonement,
salvation by grace, the neces-
sity of good works, &o.
John, sumawed MARK, the
companion of Paul and Bar-
nabas, Acts 12 : 12, who wrote
the second Gospel.
John, a member of the San-
hedrim, and relation of the
high priest. Acts 4 : 0.
Jonah lived earlier than any
of the minor prophets, probably
in the reign of Jehu. From his
history the Greeks seem to have
derived their story of Hercules
having been three days without
injury in the belly of a dog,
sent against him by Neptune.
The fable of Arion and the dol-
phin has probably the same
origin.
THE BOOK of this prophet is
designed to show, as in the case
of Nineveh, the long-suffering
of God, and his alacrity to show
mercy. Some critics have re-
garded this book as a parable ;
but from 2 Kings 14 : 25, Matt.
12: 29, and 16 : 4, Luke 16 : 4,
and 11 . 29, <tc., it seems cer-
tain that it is a true narrative,
12*
and that Jonah was & rerj emi-
nent personage.
Joppa, a seaport of Pales-
tine, of very ancient date,
though possessing an inferici
harbor. Its name is thought to
have been derived from Japhtt t
son of Noah, who founded it.
It is now nothing more than a
ruinous village of fishermen,
called by the natives Jaffa.
Jordan, a river which rises in
Mount Lebanon, about twelve
miles north of Ctesarea-Philippi.
About twelve miles more to the
south, it receives a considera-
ble branch, which, under ground,
proceeds from the Lake Phiala.
About fifteen miles furthez
south, it forms the waters of
Merom, or lake of Samechon
(both names signifying the high-
er lake), which is nearly four
miles broad, and seven and a
half long. Twenty-eight miles
farther south, it forms the Lake
of Gennesareth, which is six-
teen miles in length, and five in
breadth. Thence it runs south-
ward through a long desert val-
ley, whose air is unwholesome,
till it loses itself in the Dead
Sea. Its whole course is about
160 miles. It overflows itt
banks in March or April, by th
melting of the snow on Lebanon
and Hermon. Before it enters
the Dead Sea, its ordinwy
breadth, according to Shai*., la
thirty yards, and twenty-five
according to Thomson. The
ordinary depth is about twelve
feet ; but ^his was greatly in-
creased at certain seasons- The
JOS
188
J08
fnrrent is ve:y rapid. It has I was swelled. The banks of
an outer bank, about a furlong | great part of it are covered with
distant from the other ; such, it
eeu-s, was its width when it
thickets, in which lions were
wont to lodjre. When driven
RIVER JORDAN.
thence by the overflowing of
th river, they wandered about,
and were dangerous to such as
dwelt near. Jer. 49 : 19. Al-
most all the streams in Pales-
tine but this become dry in the
midst of summer.. Its waters
are remarked for being pecu-
liarly sweet and wholesome.
There were lordable places dur-
ing the drj -eai^n. Judges 3 :
28 ; and several ferries, 2 Sam.
19 : 18. The deep stream of
Jcrdan was divided under
Joshua, and by Elijah and Eli-
sha. In it John baptized mul-
titudes, and among them our
Saviour. Josh. 3. 2 Kings 2.
Matt. 3 Mark 1.
Joshua, the succes" ir to Mo-
ws M leader of Israel He was
born A. M. 2460, and died about
seventeen years after Moses.
Seven years of his government
he was engaged in the conquest
of Canaan, and during the re-
mainder he enjoyed it in peace-
ful possession. He was the
writer of the first of the histori-
cal books of the Old Testament,
as they are called, which in
elude all the succeeding books
as far as Esther. Though the
writings of Moses (called the
Pentateuch, because in five
books) are, in a large degree,
historical, yet, because they con-
tain the law which God gave on
Sinai, they are together called
The Law. John 1 : 17. Ilia
expulsion of the Canaanites ii
abundantly corroborated by pro-
.TOY
139
JUB
fane history. Among the many
evidences from hence, we may
mention the pillar which Pro-
copius saw in the time of Jus-
tinian, near to where Tangier,
in Africa, now stands, on which
were inscriptions to this effect
'* WE ARE FUGITIVES FROM THE
rACE OF JOSHUA, THE ROBBER,
THJ- SON OF NUN.'* The pagan
fable of Phaeton driving the
chariot of the sun for one day,
is thought to have arisen from
its standing still at the word of
Joshua.
THE BOOK OF JOSHUA com-
prises the history of about
twenty years, and form? a con-
tinuation and completion to the
Pentateuch. It describes the con-
quest of Canaan ; its partition
among the tribes; and the death
and burial of Joshua. By some
authors Phineas is considered as
the writer of this book ; by
others Eleazar ; by others Jere-
r*uah ; by others Samuel. Prob-
ibly a great part of it was writ-
jen by Joshua himself.
Jot, a point ; the least assign -
ble quantity. The allusion is
to the Hebrew letter Jod, which
is scarcely more than a point.
Matt. 5 : 18.
Jotham, a king of Judah,
wtoeessor to Uzziah. He reigned
sixteen years, during the latter
part of which Rome was founded
Journey, a passage from place
to place. A * Sabbath-day's
Journey *' was about a mile ; a
common day's journey w*< About
twenty miles. Acts 1:11
Jo J'j an agreeable affection of
the soul, arising from the hop*
r possession of some benefit.
Religious joy is the delight and
satisfaction of the soul in ita
union with God in Chi 1st, as the
greatest and highest good.
Jubilee* An extraordinary
'estival held every seventh sab
aatical year. It commenced oft
the day of atonement, and was
like the sabbatical year, but
more important. All debts were
cancelled, and even those slaves
who had voluntarily relinquished
their freedom at the end of
six years' service were liberated.
The whole stace of society was
now, in some degree, reorgan-
ized, by universal resolution ;
no family couH, therefore, be
doomed to perpetual poverty.
The value of estates, of course,
diminished in proportion to the
nearness of the jubilee. Houses
in walled towns, except those
which belonged to the Levites,
did not revert to their original
owners in the jubilee. Lef . 25 :
29, 30.
The laws concerning the sab-
batical year and the jubilee
afford a decisive proof of the
divine mission of Moses ; for
what lawgiver in his sense!
would have enacted a statute
which required a special inter-
position of Heaven to facilitate
its execution 1 The jubilee
tended to preserve the distinc-
tion of tribes, by rendering it
necessary for families to pre-
serve their genealogies. Thus
was the family of the Messiah
certainly known. Dr. Hales,
JDD
140
JUD
the chrorrologist, makes one cf
the years of our Saviour's mln-
*8try to have been the jubilee,
which gave the people great
opportunity for attending to his
Instructions. Luke 4 : 18, 19.
Jndas, called Iscariot, prob-
ably from Ish-cariotta, " the man
who has the bag." There is no
reason to suppose his appearance
of piety was ever, to human
eye, less than that of the other
disciples. After his dreadful
apostasy, he hung himself in de-
spair ; but the cord or the limb
of the tree breaking, he fell,
burst open, and died miserably.
Jttdas or Jade, 'the same as
THADDEUS and LEBBEUS, brother
of James the Less. Matt. 10 :
3. He was one of the twelve
apostles, but he is mentioned
very seldom in the gospels. It is
said that he preached chiefly in
Arabia and Persia.
The Epistle which bears his
name is intended chiefly to
guard believers against false
teachers. These were teaching
doctrines which cancelled all
obligations to holiness, and
authorized the grossest licen-
tiousness. Thu* aarly was the
blessed gospel i Jhrist abused
and perverted by ungodly min-
isters !
Jndea, or JEWRY, a name now
applied to the whole of Canaan,
which was never so called till
after the captivity. Sometimes
the whole land of Canaan seems
in the New Testament to have
been called Judea, Gal 1 : 22 ;
tut more properly it was divided
into Galilee, Samtna, and Judt*.
Judea, thus taken, contained the
original portions of the tribes
of Judah, Benjamin, Dan, and
Simeon. It consisted of three
parts : the plain country on the
west ,* the hill country south-
ward of Jerusalem ; and the
south, toward the borders of th
land of Edoin. Matt. 3 : 1
Acts 2 : 9. See CANAAN.
The truth of Bible history ii
supported by all history, and
by all known medals and coins
of ancient date, of which many
are still in existence.
The conquest of Judea ia
commemorated by a coin, which
bears on one side the head of
the Emperor Vespasian, and on
the other Judea in sorrow, sit-
ting on the ground with her
armor hung up. Compare Isa.
3 : 26, and 47 : 1.
Judges. 1. Officers of law
and justice. The Jews had
three courts. (1.) A court of
three or seven petty judges, who
decided small cases. (2.) A
court of twenty-three, whose
power in some cases extended
to life and death. (3.) The
great Sanhedrim, which deter-
mined the highest cases, and
was the last appeal. It con-
sisted of seventy judges, of
which the high priest was presi-
dent. Each court had cogni-
zance of both civil and eccle'
siastical cases.
2. Extraordinary r~en, raised
up by Jehovah, to deliver Israel
from oppression, before they
had * king. When the nation
JUD
141
JUD
tinned, it was punished by an-
archy, inviisimi, or conquest ;
but when it had been duly hum-
oled, a deliverer was found.
The following is a list of the
judges in their order, with the
length of theii administration,
and the times of the intervening
oppressions.
fears.
Ottm\e\ Judged Tsrafl, . .
<aion of Mo,tb, . .
Ehud
40
18
80
O)>i>r(sslon o] Fhilistia. .
Oi'in-esaion of Canaan, .
Jelwrah and Barak, . . .
,Mon of Midian, .
Gideon . .
20
40
7
40
Abimclech . . .
3
Tola . .
23
22
Oppression o/ Ammon, . .
Jephthah . .
18
6
. 7
. 10
Abdon.
8
Oppression of PhUistia,
Samson's last 10, . .
Ell. ........
Oppression of PkUistia,.
Samuel, .......
40
. 40
. 20
. 12
~456
The apostle Paul says that
'he period during which Israel
was governed by judges was
" about 450 years." Acts 13 :
20.
THE BOOK OF JUDGES forms an
important part in the history of
Israel ; and, independently of
the ample proofs of its authen-
ticity found in its style, and in
Us being qi .ted by both Old and
New Testament writers, the
transactions it records are con-
firmed by traditions current
among the heathen. Thus we I
find the memorial of Gideon's
transactions preserved by San-
choniatho. The Vulpinaria, or
least of the foxes, celebrated >y
the Romans in the montn of
April (the time of the Jewish
), in which they let loose
foxes ;o whose tails were fas-
tened hurning torches, was de-
rived from the story of Samson.
In the history of Samson and
Delilah we find the original of
Nisus and his daughters, who
cut otf those fatal hairs upon
which victory depended Dr.
A. Clarke has fully shown that
Samson is the original and es-
sential Hercules of pagan my-
thology.
The book seems to have been
written by Samuel, and before
the capture of Jerusalem by
David. Compare Jud. 1 : 21,
with 2 Sam. 5:6. It comprises
a period of about 300 years,
and furnishes a lively descrip-
tion of the political advantages
of true religion, and the civil
disasters which result from im-
piety. It displays, also, the
mercy of Qoct, and his steady
justice in prospering the people
when they walked uprightly,
and giving them over to distress
when they corrupted themselves
Judgment, that faculty of the
soul by which it perceives the
relation between two or more
ideas, and discerns right from
wrong ; the solemn action and
trial at the great and last day,
Eccl. 12 : 14 ; Jud. 6 ; the sen-
tence or decision of a judge, 1
Kings 3 : 28 ; the remarkable
punishments of God, Prov. 19 :
29; afflictions and eh Hrtisements
for trial and profitaM* instruc-
tions, 1 Pet. 4 : 17 sentiment
KAD
142
KAD
or opinion, 1 Cor. 1 : 10 ; ad-
rice, 1 Cor. 7 : 25 ; the gospel
or kingdom of grace, Matt. 12 :
20 ; the skill, knowledge or
understanding which a person
has attained in any art, science
or business ; a court of justice
existing among the Jews in the
time of our Saviour, which had
cognizance of petty causes only,
and to which there is an allusion
Matt. 5 : 22.
Juniper, an evergreen, not
j alike the cedar, and sometimes
called by that name. Whether
this was the exact tree meant by
the Hebrew word ROTHEM, is
very uncertain. It occurs only
1 Kings 19 : 4, 6 ; Job 30 : 4,
and Ps. 120 : 4
Jupiter, the principal deity
of the ancient heathens. Per-
haps the name is derived from
/a, or Jen, t*h> andpofer, father.
There were many Jupiters.
Three were principally famous
. the son of Either, the son of
Coelus, and, chiefly, the son of
Saturn. Historians discover
that he was son to a king of
Crete, who lived about the time
of Moses, and was one of the
most wicked wretches that ever
breathed, though his port and
bearing is always described as
dignified and commanding Th
heathens, however, whose the-
ology was chiefly derived from
the fictions of their poets, be-
lieved that he had the govern-
ment of heaven and earth ; and
that under him Neptune ruled
the sea, and Pluto was king of
hell. The noble demeanor of
Barnabas, and his miracles,
made the citizens of Lystra im-
agine him to be Jupiter. Acts
14: 11.
Justify, to clear a person
from the charge of guilt ; to
make his innocence appear ; to
acquit a sinner from the guilt
or punishment of sin, by pardon,
through the imputation of
Christ's righteousness. Rom.
3 : 28, and 5 : 9. The word
never signifies to render holy
This is done by sanctification,
which is righteousness imparted
by the Holy Ghost, and acquired
by the believer. Justification
is by righteousness imputed
Man cannot be justified legally,
Rom 3: 20; Gal. 2 : 16 ; but
evangelically, Rom. 5:1; and
this is said to be by grace free-
ly, Rom. 3 : 24 ; Tit. 3 : 7 ; by
faith, Gal. 3:8; by Christ,
2 : 16 ; by his blood, Rom. 5
K.
Kab. See CAB. I Canaan, about 24 miles south
Ka'desh, KEDESH, or KA'DESH- I from Hebron } and on the edg
BAB'VKA, ft place OR the south of J of the wildernei s of Par*n
KIN
143
KIN
Namb. 7 : 16. ft was anciently
called ENMICHPAT, or Well of
Judgment, because there the
Caiiaanitea had judged their
people near to a well. Gen.
14 : 7. Some authors suppose
it was the same as RITHMAH.
Numb. 33 : 18.
kiid uioiiites, a tribe of Ca-
naanites, east of Jordan, near
Mount Hermon. Gen. 15 : 19.
Cadmus, the famous inventor of
the Greek alphabet, is thought
to have emigrated from this
country.
Kedar, (black,) a son of Ish-
mael, and father of the Keda-
renes, who resided about the
south parts of Arabia the Desert,
ordinarily in tents, but some-
times in villages, and whose
wealth chiefly consisted in flocks
and herds. Song 1 : 5. Isa.
42: 11 ; and 21 : 16, 17.
Kedrofe See CEDROX.
Keu'ltes, a tribe of Arabians,
whose border extended west of
the Dead Sea. 1 Sam. 15 : 6.
fiiing) the sovereign of a na-
tion. His power, in some coun-
tries, is limited by law, and a
senate or parliament. In others
it is absolute. The kings men-
tioned in early Scripture were
very petty princes, whose power
often extended no further than
a single cify. The Lord himself
was UraePs king, until they
became discontented, and Said
was given to be their ruler.
The following is a table of the
kings of v he Hebrews, both
fove and after their division
into the goverrments of Judab
and
Saul reigned 40 years.
; , "
.11 " 40
Noam " 1
Kings of Judah
Rehoboam reigned 17 years.
,.im 7 ' *
Asa " 41 "
haphat " 27 "
Jclioram " 8 '
Aha/iah
Athaliah " 6 "
b " 40 "
Amaziah " 29 '
U/./iah " 52 "
Jotham " 16 "
Alia/ " 16 "
ll<v.rkiah " 29 "
Manasseh " 55 "
Aiiimou " 2 "
Joslah " 31 "
Jehoiakim " 11 "
Ji'hoiakiu " 3 months
Zedekiah " 11 years.
Kings of brad.
Jeroboam reigned 22 years.
Nadab " 2 "
Uaaslia " 24 "
Klah 2 u
Ziinrl - 7 days.
Oiurl " 6 yers.
Ahab " 12 "
Ahaziah " 1 "
Joram " 12 "
Jehu " 38 "
Ji-hoahaz " 17 ''
Jolioash " 41 *'
Jeroboam II. " 41 '
ZecbarUkh " 6 montlis.
Shallum " 1 "
Menahlm " 10 years.
P.-kaiah " 2 -
Pekah " 20 "
Ilosea carried captive.
Kingdom. (1.) The territorial
of a king ; (2.) Royal power
and dominion. Where the woid
occurs in the New Testamentj
it is generally synonymous with
reign. Matt. 3 : 2, 5, 19, 20 ,
13 : 47, Ac.
Kings, the title of two books
of Scripture, thought to have
been digested into their present
form by Ezra, or more probably
Jeremiah, from records and writ-
ings by the various
KT8
144
KNE
voribci, and prophets, mentioned
In them. The FIRST book em-
braces a period of 126 years,
from the Anointing of Solomon
to the d^ath of Jehoshaphat.
The SECOND book continues the
history to the destruction of
Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar,
a period of 300 years longer ;
during which flourished Elijah,
Elisha, Jonah, Joel, Amos,
Hosea, Isaiah, Micah, Nahum,
Jeremiah, Habakkuk, Daniel
and Ezekiel.
Kir. (1.) A city of Moab, Isa.
15 : 1, called also KIR-HARESETH,
and KIR-HARETH, Isa. 16 : 7,
U, and KIR-HERES, Jer. 48 :
31. (2.) A city of Assyria.
Amos 1:5. 2 Kings 16 : 9.
Thought by Maj. Rennel to be
in the country now called Kir-
distan, or Kourdistan. (3.) A
city of Media. Isa. 22:6.
Kir'jath-je'arim, or KJRJATH-
BAAL, was a city of the Gibeon-
ites, 10 miles north-west of
Jerusalem. Here the ark of
God abode 80 years after it had
been restored by the Philistines.
Kishon, a river rising at the
foot of Mount Tabor, passing by
the base of Mount Carmel,
through the plain of Esdraelon,
and falling into the sea at a
place called Caypha, in the bay
of Acre, or Accho, after running
a length of about seven miles.
On its banks was fought the fa-
mous battle in which 10,000
Hebrews, under Deborah and
Barak, routed the vast host of
Panaanites under Sisera, and
freed Israel from a grievoni op-
pression of twenty years.
Kiss, a natural symbol of af
fection and reverence, of very
ancient date, Gen. 29 : 13,
and prevalent in all ages. 2
Sam. 20 : 9 ; Acts 20 : 37.
Xenophon speaks of it as a cus-
tom of the Persians. Idolaters
kissed their idols ; or if the ob-
ject were distant, as the moon,
threw kisses to them by kissing
the hand ; which explains Job
31 : 27. It was common, as a
token of profound respect, to
put the hand to the mouth and
keep it there ; which explaini
Jud. 18 : 19 ; Job 21 : 5, and
29 : 9, and 40 : 4 ; and Is. 39
9, &c. The figures in the cut
are Egyptians, before superiors,
keeping their hand on their
mouths.
Early Christians conforms 1
to custom, and kissed each othei
at the close of public worship
Rom. 16 : 16 ; 1 Cor. 16 : 20 ;
2 Cor. 13 : 12. Modern Chris-
tians, instead of this, shake
hands, as this is the present
Rite, the same as VULTURE.
Kneading Troughs. The
word so rendered means a rouni*
LAM
145
LAM
piece of leather with loop holes
in the circumference, and a
leathern thong by which it can
be drawn together as a purse,
and slung over the shoulder, or
hung on a camel. Spread on the
ground, it answers for a table
and table-cloth, and contains
the fragments when the meal is
finished. The description, Ex.
12 : 34, is entirely incompatible
with a wooden bowl ; for the
trough," as it is rendered, was
*' bound up in their clothes upon
their shoulders." Ex. 8 : 3.
An exact idea of this article
may be had Irom the picture.
Knop, a tufted top ; a knot ;
a cluster.
Know, has in the Bible fre-
quently the import of approve, or
recognize. As llos. 8: 4, "They
have set up princes, and I knew
it not." Matt. 7: 23, "Then
will I declare unto them, De-
part from me, I never knew
you." Also Job 5: 24; 2 Sam.
22 : 44 ; 2 Cor. 6 : 21 ; <to.
Kohulh, the second son of
Levi. His descendants were
called Kohathites. Their busi-
ness was to carry on their
shoulders the ark, and other
sacred utensils of the taberna-
cle ; but they were not, under
pain of death, allowed to look
into any of these, except the
brazen laver. Ex. 6 : 16 25-
Numb. 10 . 21.
L.
La'mech is supposed to be
tiie fii^t person who had more
than one wife. Gen. 4 : 23.
The speech made to his wives is
o oppositely construed by crit-
ics, and of so little importance
mow, that no remarks here would
be useful.
Lamentations, a book of Scrip-
ture, written by Jeremiah, after
the troubles he had foretold in
the book called by his name
\iad overtaken Israel. It con-
tains five distinct lamentations,
13
or elegies, or poetical dirgei.
He mourns the delusion of the
people by false prophets, f ,he
destruction of the holy city, the
overthrow of the government
and the scattering of the people
Lamp, The lamps of the an-
cients were of various kinds.
Those used at wedding ;
sions consisted of old rags.
squeezed hard against one
another in a round figure, like
a great sausage My torch
bearer in India had bis roU
LAO
146
LAW
Lhre feet long, and as thick as
* broom handle. Those who
hold them have in the other
hand a pitcher, with a very nar-
row neck, full of oil, of which
they pour from time to time on
the flame. This explains Christ's
declaration, that he will "not
quench the smoking flax," Matt.
12 : 20 ; and shows why the
foolish virgins needed " oil in
their vessels.'* Matt. 25 : 4.
Language was originally given
to man by his Creator, and af-
terwards broken into a multi-
tude of tongues at Babel. The
Hebrew, it is almost certain, was
the language of Adam and Eve.
In it most of the Old Testament
is written. After the destruc-
tion and final dispersion of the
Jewish nation, it ceased to be
the vernacular tongue of the
Jews, and is now a dead lan-
guage ; that is, it is no one's
common speech.
Laodice'a, a city of Phrygia,
in Asia Minor, 42 miles south of
Ephesus. It was anciently called
Diospolisy and then Rhoas ;
but Seleucus, or perhaps Antio-
chus, the Syro-Grecian king,
rebuilt it, and called it Laodicea,
after his wife. It was destroyed
by an earthquake, in the tenth
year of Nero, A. D. 65. but soon
rose from its ruins. A Christian
church was early planted in
this place. Rev. 1 : 11. It is
now an extensive ruin, haunted
by wolve* and jackals. The na-
tives call the place Ladik$ An
cljaoent Tillage is called Etki-
hissar, where a /ew christiaai
were found in 1820.
Lapwing. The bird so cfled
in our translation is undoubt-
edly the hoopoe, a very beautiful
bird, but disgusting in its habits.
The LXX. render it epopah, and
the Vulgate upupa, both which
names are expressive of its loud
note. The word occurs only in
Lev. 11 : 19, and Deut. 14 : 8.
Lattice, a window made of
bars crossing each other. Jud
5 : 28.
Layer, a vessel for washing
The laver which stood in the
enclosure of the tabernacle was
made of the fine brass mirrors
which the Hebrew women gave
for the service of the tabernacle.
Solomon had one made of vast
size, supported by twelve brass
or bronze oxen, which was called
the molten sea. 1 Kings 7: 22
26. It was nearly fifty feet in
circumference, and eight f et
deep. It held water fui me
priests to wash their hands and
feet with, having cocks by
which the water ran into basins.
He also made ten of inferior
size, placed near the entrance
of the temple, for the washing
of the offerings. 2 Chron 4 :
6.
Law. (1.) A rule directing
and obliging a rational creature
in moral and religious actions,
Provr. 28 : 4. (2.) The whole
doctrine delivered by God to hia
church, contained in the Old and
New Testaments. (3.) Ih
principles of reason, or the law
LEA
147
LEB
tf nature written on a man's
aeart Rom. 2 : 1-1. (4.) The
decalogue, or ten eommand-
jneut.s. Horn. 2 : 25 ; 7 : 7.
(5.) The precepts of God in re-
gard to the Jews, John 1 : 17,
which are divided into moral,
or thoie binding all men ; cere-
monial, or those which prescribed
the Jewish ritual ; and civil t or
those which related to the gov-
ernment of the Jews as a nation.
(6.) The doctrine of the gospel.
Rom. 3 : 27.
Lawyer, one versed in the
laws. As the Jews had no
written laws, except those con-
tained in the Old Testament, a
lawyer a-nong them was a per-
son familiar with Scripture, and
whose business it was to expound
it.
Lazarus. (1.) The brother of
Martha, who was raised from the
dead by his Lord. John 11,
12. (2.) A character described
by the Saviour in his parable of
the rich and poor man. Luke
16 Hence beggars are now
called in Europe Lazaroni. A
receptacle for the sick is called,
for the same reason, a Lazaretto,
cr Lazar-honse.
Lead was very early known,
Ex. 15: 10, and was used, among
other purposes, to write upon.
From Jer. 6: 29, and Ezek. 22 :
17, 2'2, we perceive it was then
used in refining metals. It was
used by the Romans to sheath
their vessels, being fattened
with bronze nails.
Leasing, falsehoods, lies Ps.
4 : 2 ; 5 : 6.
Leaven, a substance usod U
make bread light by producing
fermentation. To this are com
pared the doctrines of the gospel,
Matt. 13 : 33, on account of
their silent extension and power
ful effects in the world. It is also
applied to erroneous doctrine*
and vicious practices, which
insidiously diffuse themselves.
Matt. 16 : 6, 12 ; 1 Cor. 5 : 6
Lebanon, (white,) a famous
range of mountains in the north
of Canaan. At the top id eternal
snow ; on the sides are cedars;
and at the base excellent vines
There are two ridges, the eastern,
called by the Greeks Anti-Liba-
mis, and the western, or Proper
Libanus, which runs nearly
parallel to the coast of the Great
Sea. From hence Solomon's
workmen " brought great stones,
costly stones, and hewed stones
to lay the foundation of the
house." 1 Kings 5 : 1418.
The rock is whitish limestone
of fine quality. Mines of iron
and copper were worked here.
Deut. 8 : 9. The highest sum-
mits are about 12,000 feet
above the level of the ocean.
From the snow-clad summits
descend, in summer, sv^et and
refreshing rivulets ou ory side
The principal range extends
somewhat in the form of a cres-
cent, from Cilicia to Esdraelon,
a distance of fift f leagues. A
spur of this mountain next the
Holy Laud is called H'.rnwn
Another spur to the eastward if
Mount (fit nut, where Laban
overtook Jacob, Gen 31 : 25.
LEN
148
LEP
Oa the sides of Lebanon
oido the Maronites, a Christian
people, who are said by Bayard
Taylor (who visited them in
1852) to be " the most thrifty,
industrious, honest, and happy
people in Syria."
Leek) a plant very similar in
hape and qualities to the onion.
The thick stalk is eaten raw,
and is highly prized. The seed
is made into bread. Its bulbous
root is boiled and eaten like
potatoes. The word occurs in '
our translation only in Numb. !
11 : 5. The original term chat- j
V is in most other places ren- j
iered "grass." Ps. 37 : 2, &c.
In Isa. 19 : 6, it is rendered I
flags, which Lowth says should
be lotus, the famous water-lily
of Egypt.
Lees, dregs. Lees of old wine
were so highly valued anciently
as not to be sold with the liquor,
unless it were expressly agreed.
When wine a year old was put
into a cask with the old lees, it
"ooked muddy for a while, but
they soon subsided, carrying all
impurities to the bottom.
Hence '* urine on the lees " is noted
as so excellent. Isa. 25 : 6.
Legion, in the Roman army,
was a body of soldiers, consist-
ing of ten cohorts, or six thou-
and men. It seems, however,
to have varied in the number of
men, at different periods. In
the case of the demoniac, Mark
5 : 9, the word seems to b **ed
for an indefinite multitude
Lentiies, a sort of pulse like
t much esteemed by the
ancients. 2 Sam. 17 : 28. Di
SHAW says that in Egypt, beans
lentiles, and garvancoes ar* the
chief of the pulse kind, and,
when stewed with oil and gar-
lic, are the principal food of
persons of all ranks. Lentilea
make a pottage of a, chocolate
color. This was the ** red pot-
tage " for which Esau ex-
changed his birthright. Gen
25 : 34.
Leopard, a beast of prey,
equal in size to a large dog ;
beautifully spotted, and exceed-
ingly fierce, cruel, and rapa-
cious. The happy peace which
shall distinguish Messiah's king,
dom is beautifully predicted by
the figure of the leopard lying
down with the kid. Isa. 11 : 6.
Leprosy, one of the most
calamitous of all diseases, but
not often found in cold countries
Its first attack is on the skin,
but at last it aifects the whole
system. Patients often live
many years, but are seld jm if
ever cured. It is not now very
common anywhere, but is often
found among the Arabs, in the
Levant, and generally over the
East. At Scio, HOWARD found
a hospital expressly for patients
laboring under this malady. It
contained 120 persons, lodged
in separate rooms. The symp-
toms and progress of the infec-
tion are fully described in the
law of Moser. Lev. 13. This,
however, is not the leprosy now
common in the East. I have
seen many in Burmah whose
fingers and too-s had fallen of
LEV
149
LIB
nd seine times the feet and
hand* also They are douied a
resiuouco among the people,
thougu it does not seem to be
infectious, and dwell by them-
selves in villages, supported by
charity.
Let is expressive, (1.) of com-
mand, 1 Kings 18 : 40 ; (2.) of
entreaty, Ps. 69 : G ; (3.) of
permission, Josh. 24 : 28 ; (4.)
of intrusting, or assigning by
lease, Song 8:11; (5.) to hin-
der, or keep back, Isa. 43 : 13 ;
2 Thess. 2 : 7.
Letter, a mark used as the
representative of a sound. The
ancient Egyptians wrote in
hieroglyphics, though they had
written characters also. The
Chinese use letters, which, in-
stead of signifying simple
sounds, signify words. It is
laid they amount to 80,000 ;
making it immensely difficult
for a foreigner to learn the lan-
guage. The Hebrew letters,
from which all other alphabets
except the Chinese seem to have
been originally derived, are an
invention so wonderful and use-
ful, as to make it almost certain
that they were the gift of God ;
jrobably in the tables of the
law given to Moses. Other
facts make it quite certain.
Leviathan. Probably the ani-
mal meant by this name is the
crocodile, which is a creature
every way terrible, growing of-
ten to the length of thi-ty feet.
It is shaped like the liz<trd, L .
lays its eggs in the sand, to ba
by the sun. By the
13*
kind providence o" 'rod, the ick
nruinoH is fond of these eggs,
and discovers and destroys great
quantities of them. Were it
not for this, they would dread
fully increase.
LeTite, one of the tribe of
Levi ; an inferior minister itt
the Jewish temple ; by which
title he is distinguished from
t^e priest, who, though likewise
ol the race of Levi, yet was
descended from Aaron, whose
posterity were employed in the
higher offices.
Leviticus, the third book of
the Old Testament ; so called
chiefly because it contains the
various laws of the Hebrews,
especially the sacrifices, the
charge of which was committed
to the Levites. In the Arabio
and Syriac versions it is called
the law of the priests. Without
this book, many parts of the
New Testament, especially the
Epistle to the Hebrews, oould
not be fully understood.
Libertines, free men, an ap-
pellation given to such Jews as
had obtained, by birth or other-
wise, the freedom of a Roman
city ; or, in other words, the
rights of a Roman citizen. Aot
6:9. It was a birthright ef
Paul. Acts 22 : 28.
Liberty, the power to do, oi
forbear to do ; freedom, ad op-
posed to slavery, or to neces
sity ; deliverance from any
bondage ; freedom from the
veil of ignorance and spiritual
blindness, from the curse and
yoke of the law, and from the
LIQ
160
LIL
llarery of sin ; a power of choice
in using things indifferent. 1
Cor. 8:9.
Libya, a part of Africa, lying
along the Mediterranean Sea,
bordering on Egypt, famous for
its armed chariots and horses.
2 Chron. 16 : 8.
Light. (1.) That pure bright-
ness which is everywhere dif-
fused by the rays of the sun,
and is the medium of vision.
(2.) God, who is a being of
infinite wisdom, truth, holiness,
purity, <fcc., 1 John 1 : 5. (3.)
Jesus Christ, who is the Foun-
tain and Author of all knowl-
edge, both natural and spiritual.
Luke 2 : 32. John 1 : 9. (4.)
The word of God, and saving
knowledge of it, which conducts
and guides Christina in this
world, and points eat the way
to eternal happiness. Ps. 119 :
105. Matt. 4 : 16. 2 Pet. 1 :
19. (5.) The apostles or min-
isters of the gospel, who assist
others, and direct them to Christ
and salvation. Matt. 5 : 14,
16. (6.) Christians, who are
enlightened by the Holy Spirit,
and are a light unto the world.
Luke 16 : 8. Eph. 5 : 8.
Lightning, the flash of the
electric fluid, as it passes from
one cloud to another, or from
any body overcharged with it to
one which has less. The report
it makes is called thunder, and is
but one crack, though its echoes
from cloud to cloud give it a
continued, rumbling noise. The
power and wrath of God are
often represented by thunder
and lightning. Job 37 : 34
Ps. 18 : 12. Dan. 10 : 6, Ac.
Lign Aloe, a small tree, eight
j or ten feet high, from both the
flower and the wood of which a
rich and costly perfume is still
obtained in the East. Ps. 45 :
9. Cant. 4 : 14.
Lignre, a precious stone ; but
of what exact kind it is now
difficult to ascertain. It is gen-
erally thought by learned men
to be tlie leschem, a gem of a
deep red color, resembling the
carbuncle. It was the first in
| the third row of the high priest's
breast-plate, and had the name
of Gad inscribed on it. It oc-
curs in Ex. 28 : 19, and 39 : 12,
only.
Lily, a well-known and beau-
tiful plant, of which there are
many varieties. The fields of
the Levant are overrun with the
superb amaryllis lutea, to which,
probably, our Saviour alludes,
Matt. 6 : 30. Some learned
critics contend that the Saviour
here means the crown, imperial.
As the scarcity of fuel obliges
the inhabitants to use every
sort of combustible matter, the
withered stalks of these and
other flowers are used for heat-
ing ovens, <fcc.
By the "lily of the vf\ey,"
we are not to understand che
humble flower so called with us,
but the noble flower of the
larger kind. The lily mentioned
Cant. 2:2; 5 : 13, seems to be
the crown imperial, or Persian
lily. The drop of sweet liquoi
alluded to 10 the dewy aeotai
LIO
LOG
found at the bottom of
tl.ib flower.
Lime, a friable substance
derived from calcining shells,
and certain species of stone.
It must have been known very
early as a cement, being spoken
of as such, Deut. 27 : 2, 4, and
Isa. 33 : 12. The land of Pal-
estine is a limestone country.
Linen, cloth made of flax,
well known at a
very early period.
In Ex. 25 : 4, the
word so rendered
probably means cot-
ton. Specimens of
cotton cloth are
found on the oldest mummies.
Lintel, that part of a door-
frame which crosses the door
overhead.
Lion, the noblest of animals.
It is found only in torrid cli-
mates, and much less numerous
now than formerly. It lives
sixty or eighty years, but is not
prolific. The allusions to its
strength, courage, voracious-
ness, generosity, <fco., in Scrip-
ture, are very numerous. His
rage is tremendous. Job 4 : 11.
Prov. 30 : 30. Amos 3 : 8.
Lions were sent by Jehovah
to chastise the profaners of his
hoson heritage. 2 Kings 17 :
25, 26. The people humbled
themselves, and adopted the
Jewish laws and worship, at
first in addition to their heathen
institutions, but afterward ex-
clusively. These were the Sa-
wuritana.
The "Lion of the tribe of
Judah" is Jesus Chris;., who
will mightily destroy the ene-
mies of his church, and gra
ciously receive such as suoinit
themselves. Rev. 5:6.
Litter. The Hebrew word so
translated in Isa. G6 : 20, ia
rendered *' wagons " in Numb.
7:3, and probably resembled
the Persian mode of conveyance
shown below.
Both passengers and mer-
chandise were so carried, and
such conveyances are still used
in Palestine.
Lizard occurs in Lev. 11 : 30,
and is no doubt the animal now
called by that name.
Lo, the same as look, behold.
Locust, an insect well known
among us, which in the East if
often five or six inches long,
and of the thickness of a man's
thumb. Its head is shaped like
that of a horse. Joel 2 . 4
The mouth is large, ana fur-
nished with four incisive teeth,
which traverse each other like
scissors. The noise by i flock
of them eating is compared by
Joel (2:6) to the crackling
sound of tire among stubble,
and by modern travellers to th
rattling of hail-stones. The
prophetical writings of the 014
Testament abound with allusion!
to this insect as one of
LUC
152
LOT
dreadful scourges. All
travellers in the East speak of
the occasional ravages of this
insect. The swarms are often
a mile in lungth, darkening the
day as they pass over, and form-
ing a thickness of several inches
when they settle on the earth.
Nothing can impede their
march ; they fill up the deepest
tranches, extinguish fires, and
climb walls. All verdure dis-
appears, and the country looks
as if burnt over with fire. Ex.
10 : 419.
Pliny states that in Ethiopia
and Parthia they were generally
eaten as wholesome and agree-
able food. The law of Moses
pronounced them lawful to be
eaten. Lev. 11 : t'l. John the
Baptist ate locusts hile in the
wilderness. Mark ( 6. But
whether these were the insects
BO called, or the sweet, pulpy
pods of a tree, is not fully
agreed. His eating locusts
shows, not that he lived like a
wild man, but like a poor man.
They are considered very poor
food, except by the Arabs, who
catch great quantities, which
they cook in various ways, re-
moving the legs and wings, and
adding oil, salt, .fee. JACKSON,
in his account of Morc*x)o,
itates that locusts -.re there
esteemed a delicacy, and dur-
ing the time of their 'warming,
which is in April, they are
ierved up at the principal tables.
The way the legs and wings are
removed, is to dry them after
boiling, and then winnow than
like wheat.
Log, a Hebrew liquid ueas
ure, containing about a pint
Lev. 14 : 10.
Loins, the lower region of the
back. The Orientals, who wear
long robes, are obliged, when
they apply themselves to any
business, to use a girdle. Hence,
to have the " loins girded" is
the same as to be in readiness
for action. Luke 12 : 35. Eph.
6 : 14.
Looking-Glass. Bee MIRROR.
Lord, a name of God, often
given in Scripture to Jesus
Christ. When the word is found
in our translation printed in
small capitals, it always stands
for the Hebrew wcrd JEHOVAH.
The word, in restricted senses,
is applied to those who possess
authority, as a husband, Gen.
18 : 12 ; a master, John 15 : 15;
a prince, Gen. 24 : 18. On this,
and also on other grounds, it ia
to be regretted that the word
Jehovah was not retained in our
translation wherever it occura
in the Hebrew. A great num-
ber of passages would have
been more impressive than they
now are, and many would hare
been more plain.
Lo-ru liama, " not beloved ; "
term applied by Hosea to the
people of Judah, as distinct
from the ten tribes, whom he
calls LO-AMMI, or " not y/ pco*
pie"
Lot, the son of Haran, and
nephew of Abraham ; and, ai
LUC
153
LUS
we suppose, brother of Sarah.
After the death of his fatLer,
be lived and travelled with
Abraham. Gen. 11:31.
Lot*, things cast or drawn in
order to determine a point in
debate. It is a solemn appeal
to God, for an immediate inter-
posal of his directive power, for
determining an affair ; and, on
that account, ought to be used
in nothing but what is impor-
tant, and cannot otherwise be
peacefully determined; and then
to be used with reverence and
prayer. Prov. 16 : 33 ; 18 : 18.
Acts 1 : 2426. 1 Sam. 14 : 41.
Love, a natural affection of
the mind, inclining us to esteem
or delight in an object ; a gra-
cious principle or habit wrought
in the soul by God, which in-
clines us to obey him, to seek
communion with him, and to
study to promote his glory, and
s us to do good to all.
LOW) not rising far upwards,
Ezek. 17 : 6, 24 ; not elevated
in situation, Isa. 32 : 19 ; not
high in rank, Job 5 : 11 ; Luke
1 : 48, 52 ; humble, not proud,
Ezek. 21 : 26. " Lower parts
of the earth," in Isa. 44 : 23,
signify the valleys ; in Ps. 63 :
9, Eph. 4 : 9, the grave, or the
state of the dead.
Ltt Clfer, literally a light-giver,
or brilliant. The name occurs
but once in our translation, Isa.
14 : 12, and there must mean
khe king of Babylon. Falling
from heaven is a figure to denote
ft sudden political overthrow,
from an illustrious station.
Princes are often called star* it
the Bible, and the king of
Babylon was thus distinguished
above others, as Venus (for-
merly called Lucifer) is among
stars. Some of the fathers
thought this passage meant
Satan, and hence he is now fre-
quently called Luciftr.
Lnhith, a city of Moab. Isa
15 : 5. Its name in Josephui
and Ptolemy is Lyssa.
Lake, a native of Antioch,
and a physician. He was not
one of Christ's personal follow-
ers, but is mentioned for the
first time, Acts 16 : 10, as a
companion of Paul at Troas
Thence he went with him to
Judea, sailed with him to Rome,
and staid with him during his
two years of confinement.
THE BOOK of Luke's Gospel
was written to correct numerous
erroneous narratives of the life
of Christ. The style, both in
this and in the Acts, is pure and
elevated, and many facts are
given which are not contained
in the other evangelists. He
wrote not only the Gospel which
is called by his name, but the
Acts of the Apostles. His lan-
guage is exceedingly pure and
classical.
Lukewarm, neither cold nor
hot. This state is described
as inexpressibly loathsome to
Christ; but, alas! great numbers
of professors are obviously and
habitually lukewarm. Rev. 3 .
16.
Last, or desire, a term used ii
Scripture for any depraved la
MAC
164
MAO
ibwwion, suet as revenge, cov-
etousness, envy, malice, incon-
tinence, Ac. When it is said
" the spirit lusteth against the
flesh," it means that the spirit
excites desires contrary to flesh
]y and ca.rnal appetites. Gal.
6 : 17. This conflict of desire j
constitutes part of the Chris-
tian warfare. The mortification
of lusts is a prominent part of
our duty, Rom. 8 : 13 ; 1 Cor.
9 : 27 ; Col. 3:5; and being
of course most difficult when
first attempted, makes a re-
ligious life most arduous at the
outset.
Lycao'nia has Cappadocia on
the east, Galatia on the north,
Phrygia on the west, and Pisidia
on the south. A remarkable
lake exists in this province,
called 7'atta, and by the mod-
erns Tuzla, which yields salt.
Its chief cities were Iconium,
Derbe, and Lystra. The present
name of this province is Cara-
mania.
Lyc'ia, or Lysia, a province
of Asia Minor, having the
Mediterranean on the south, an*
Pamphylia on the north. In
1842 this country was explored
by Messrs. Spratt and Forbes, of
the British navy. They found
evidence of its having been a
country of astonishing opulence
andpopulousness They visited
more than fifty cities, now
wholly deserted. The modem
port of Makri is on the west
coast of Lycia. The whole
country is now little better than
a desert.
Lydda, a large village or city,
not far from Joppa, Acts 9 : 38,
eminent for its schools of learned
Jews. It was burnt by Cestiits,
while its males were gone to
Jerusalem to the feast of taber-
nacles ; God, after the crucifix-
ion, not taking the care of them
at these times as he had for-
merly done. It is now called
Dioxpolis.
Lystra, a city of Asia Minor,
where Timothy was born ; the
precise site of which is now
uncertain. It seems, however,
to have been south of Iconium.
M.
Macedonia, a large country
north of GREECE, peopled by
the descendants of Javan, and
formerly called Emathia. It
was bounded by the mountains
of Ilicmus on the north, the
JSgean Sea on the east, Achaia
on the south, and the Adriatic
Sea on the west. Its metropolii
was Thessi Ionic a. One of it
mountains was the famoui
Olympus. Several other coun-
tries, however, had mountaina
so called, and esteemed sacred
It was a famous monarchy under
PJjilip, and Alexander the Great.
155
MAN
Wuu conquered Greece, Persia,
and a part of Judea. About
A. M. 385G, it became a part of
the great Roman cm pi
continued so 1600 years, when
the Ottoman Turks conquered
it. Paul planted the gospel
here, and the Christians con-
tributed very generously to
their suffering brethren at Jeru-
salem. Christianity has never
been wholly eradicated from
Macedonia, though the Turks
have been cruel masters and
persecutors.
Much of ancient Macedonia is
now the western part of Roume-
lia.
Machpelah, the cave where
Abraham was buried, was near
Hebron.
Ma^dala, a city or territory
on the margin of Lake Genne-
sareth ; either the same as Dal-
manutha, or very near it. Com-
pare Matt. 15 : 39, with Mark
8 : 10. Mary Magdalene was
so called from having lived here.
Majriclans, or MAGI, gee
WISE AlEN
Ma'gog* See Goo.
Maladil, the last of the
prophets of the Old Testament.
He Crurished after the rebuild-
ing uf Jerusalem and the temple
by Nehemiah, and was cotempo-
rar/ with PLATO, SOCKATKS, and
XKNOI-HON ; CI.MUX, the Athenian
general ; A.MYUi.nrs, king of
Egypt, and DAKM s Noiiirs,
king of Persia. With him the
prophetical office seems to have
ceased for 400 year? ; that is,
ti'l Messiah came. Ab.ut 40
years after the delitary Ot
his prophecy, was born ARIB
the philosopher.
'I'm; HOOK of Malachi, unlike
the other prophetical books, id
almost wholly in prose, and io
dicates that literature was de
elining in his day. It cenmrei
the Jews for relapsing, after
Ezra's reformation, into inter-
marriages with heathen women,
for withholding tithes, <6o.. and
powerfully urges repentance.
Mallow*, a plant useful in
medicine. One species grows
to about the siae of Indian corn
What plant is meant, Job 30 .
4, where alone the word occurs,
is not certain. It is evidently
food for poor people, and may
therefore be the halimus, a salt-
ish plant growing wild on poor
land, which is eaten in Syria
and elsewhere, as we do greens.
Mammon, a Syriao word sig-
nifying riches or treasure. No
man can " serve God and mam-
mon ;" i. e., no one can serve
God, while his great aim and
desire is to heap up, enjoy, and
retain worldly wealth. Matt.
6 : 24.
Man. The Hebrew word for
man is Enosh, that is, wretched,
to denote his. condition in his
apostasy from God. The "nat-
ural man," 1 Cor. 2 : 14, aiea^i!
one that is unrenewed, and had
no principle of grace in the
heart. " The inward man,"
Horn. 7 : 22, is the regenerate
part within, or the pri'v.'iple ol
grace in the heart. " be man
of God," 2 Tim. 3: I. is on
MAN
166
MAB
that Is guided by the Spirit of
&od, and in a special manner
demoted to his service.
MAN OF SIN. See ANTICHRIST.
Mandrake, a species of melon
or berry, cultivated in the East,
for the sake of its fragrance.
Though commentators have
puzzled themselves with ques-
tions on this subject, it seems
plain that the word is properly
rendered mandrake, and means a
plant so called in the East to
tnis day. The original word,
which occurs only twice, is so
rendered by tho LXX. and both
tne Targurns. It grows like
lettuce, has purple flowers, and
bears a fruit resembling a small
red apple. The smell and taste
are pleasant ; but it stupefies or
intoxicates if eaten to excess.
Ma'neh, a Hebrew weight of
eixty shekels. Ezek. 45 : 12.
It was the fiftieth part of a
talent.
Manna, the fcod which God
gave the children of Israel in
the wilderness. It was a little
grain, white, like our hoar-frost,
which fell every morning, ex -^pt
on the Sabbath, about the
camp of the Israelites. Ex.16:
15. Besides the nourishing vir-
tue of the manna, that sustained
the Hebrews in the desert, it was
altogether miraculous on other
accounts. It fell on six days
of every week, not on the
seventh, and in such prodigious
quantities, as to sustain almost
three millions of men, women
and children ! It fell in double
Quantities on the sixth day, that
there might be enough for th
seventh. It fell only on Israel's
camp. It remained fresh all
the seventh day, but at any
other time bred worms, if kept
over night. It constantly con-
tinued for forty years, and
ceased as soon as the Hebrews
had access to eat of the produce
of Canaan. Christ is the hidden
manna, the bread of eternal
life, which those eat who partake
of the blessings and comforts
which flow from him. John 6 :
32, 35.
The manna now sold in the
shops is a different substance
from the miraculous food of the
Hebrews. It is produced abun-
dantly in the East. Burcktedt
found it in the Holy Land,
dropping from the tarfa tree, in
the month of June. The Arabs
clear away the leaves, dirt, Ac.,
and when boiled and strained,
put it into bags or skins, to be
used as we do honey. It is
highly nourishing, but if eaten
in large quantities, proves
slightly purgative.
Ma'on, a district where David
hid himself from Saul. I Sam.
23 . 24 ; Josh. 15 : 55. Rob-
inson regards the town as being
on the site of the present Main;
seven miles south-east of
Hebron.
Marana'tlia, a Syriac word,
meaning " our LorJ cometh."
The expression " Let him be
anathema maranatha," 1 Cor. 16 :
23, means " Let him be curved
at the coming of the Lord;" ai
though it were said, " Our di
MAR
157
MAR
alpline is not adequate tD his
offen-o ; he is remitted to the
vengeance of <iod."
Marble, a valuable an
known species of stone. The
Septuagint and Vulgate render
the word, where it occurs,
Parian stone. The cliff Ziz, 2
Chr. 15 : 16, was probably so
called from its being a marble
crag. 1 Ch. 29 : 2. Est. 1: C.
Mark, the writer of one of the
gospels, was not an apostle, nor
a companion of Christ, lie was
eon to a pious woman at Jeru-
salem, at whose house the apos-
tles often held meetings for
religious worship, Acts 12 : 12,
and seems to have been con-
verted under Peter, for he calls
him his " son." 1 Pet. 5 : 13.
He travelled with Paul, Barna-
bas, Peter, and Timothy, as
their "minister," Acts 13 : 5;
which may mean that he wholly
or partly paid their charges.
He is supposed to have suffered
martyrdom jn Egypt.
THE BOOK of Mark was evi-
dently written for Gentile con-
verts, probably about thirty
years after the death of Christ.
Though some have supposed that
Mark did little more than
abridge Matthew's gospel, it
has been shown by Koppe,
Michaelis, and other great
critics, that he could not even
have seen that book ; but
drew his facts from Peter, who,
equally with Matthew, was an
eye-witness of our Lord's life.
Market, the place of selling
meat, Ac., which, anciently,
14
was generally some open space.
nples, theatres, courts of
. .tc. Hence we hear of
Paul's disputing in the market,
Acts 17 : 17, and being led tc
the market to be accused, Acts
1G : 19. And hence Pharisees
loved " greetings in the market-
places," from judgesand learned
persons who there passed to and
fro. Mark 12 : 38.
Marriage, the legal union of
a man and woman in wedlock.
It also signifies the sacred and
mystical union between Christ
and his church. Eph. 5 : 30
32. Christians are forbidden tc
marry unbelievers. 2 Cor. 6 :
14. 1 Cor. 7 : 39.
Mars-Hill. See AREOPAGUS.
Mary, Four or five persQni
mentioned in the New Testa-
ment seem to have borne thia
name. Great difficulty occurs
in designating them, and learned
men differ widely in their at-
tempts to make the subject
plain. The following account
seems liable to fewest objections.
1. The mother of our Lord
She was the daughter of Eli, or
Joachim, of the family of David
2. The wife of Cleophaa, and
mother of James, Ju<U Joses,
Simeon, and Salome. Ft has
been thought that Cleopha.% and
Joseph the husband of the virgin
Mary, were brothers ; which
would make these Marys sisters,
and, according to the custom of
the Jews, her children would bt
called brothers of ou- Lord
John 19 : 25. Matt. 27 : 66
MAT
158
MEA
Luke 25 : 10. Matt. 13 : 55.
She early believed on our Sa-
viour, attended his preaching,
and ministered to his support.
She was a witness of his cruci-
fixion, Mark 15 : 40, 41, and at
his burial prepared spices for
embalming his body. Luke 23 :
56,
3. MARY MAGDALENE seems
to have been an inhabitant of
Magdala. It is thought that
she was a plaiter of hair to the
women of her city. It is com-
monly considered, that, be-
fore her conversion, she was
of infamous character ; but this
*s not affirmed in the Scriptures.
It is also commonly supposed
that this was she who anointed
Christ's feet in the Pharisee'^
house ; but some suppose that
ihe woman who so did was
Mary the sister of Martha. But
the anointing in the house of
the Pharisee and that at Betha-
ny seem not to have been the
same.
Of the -other several Marys
nothing can be affirmed posi-
tively.
Mas'ellil, a title to several
psalms, probably denoting a
Bong of instruction.
Matrix, a place in which any-
thing is formed ; a womb. Ex.
13 : 12, 15.
Matthew, also named Levi,
was a Galilean by birth, and a
tax-gatherer by profession. He
wrote the Gospel called by his
Dame, probably about A. D. 38
or 41, in the Hebrew language.
Borne critics maintain that, a
few years afterward, he
his Gospel in Greek ; and som
consider it to have been origi-
nally written in that language.
About A. D. 184, there was found
in the East Indies a Greek copy.
In the year 488, another Greek
copy was found at Cyprus,
written on wood, and esteemed
very ancient.
THE BOOK of Matthew was the
first written of all the gospels,
;:ad contains allusions to that
violent persecution by the Jewa
in which Paul enlisted himself
afterwards so warmly. It is a
i,ill narrative of the birth, life,
d oings and death of Christ The
style is very plain and perspic-
uous. It is the only one of .he
gospels which gives our Lord's
description of the process of the
general judgment.
Matthias, one of the seventy
disciples, chosen by the first
church, perhaps without a suffi-
cient divine warrant, to fill the
place of Judas Iscariot. Paul
was certainly an apostle of
Jesus Christ. Rom. 1:5. 1
Cor. 9 : 2, and 15 : 9. 2 Cor.
11 : 5. The number 12 is prfc
served in relation to the apostles
in the Apocalypse, and not IS,
Rev. 21 : 14.
Maz'zai'Otli, supposed to mean
a constellation in the heavens.
It was the Chaldee name for the
signs of tbe Zodiac. Job 38
32.
Measure, that by which any.
thing is measured or propor-
tioned. Many learned men
have bestowed great labor i
MED
169
MEB
Meeitaining the exact length or
capacity of Hebrew measures ;
but they differ widely from each
other. Standard ni<
made by Moses, were at first
deposited in tbe tabernacle, and
afterwards in the temple, under
the cognizance of the priests.
When Solomon's temple was de-
Btroyed, these standards of
course perished, and the whole
subject is now uncertain ; and
though tables of measures are
often given in books, they can-
not be implicitly relied on
Under each term of this sort,
that explanation is given which
aeems most probable.
Meat. The term is applied
to divine instruction, because it
nourishes the mind. The higher
and more difficult doctrines are
called meat, in contradistinction
to the first principles, which are
called milk. 1 Cor. 3 : 2. This
word, in Scripture, never means
flesh, but often means any
food but flesh, and generally
anything to be eaten.
Meat-offering, an offering
consisting of flour, meal, oil, <fcc.,
or cakes baked in an oven.
Med'eba, a city of Moab.
Numb. 21 : 30. Josh. 13 : 16.
It was destroyed about the
daya of Isaiah, and rebuilt
Borne considerable time before
the advent of our Lord. It is
called in profane history Me-
dava.
Modes, inhabitants of Media,
who were for a long period a
highly civilized and wealthy
peofle. They were the domi-
nant race in all Asia Their
monarch was absolute, thei*
language polished, and their
religion was the worship of the
heavenly bodies. Their priests
were called Magi This people
is not mentioned in the Bible
till the days of Hosea, B. c. 740.
Media, a vast region between
Persia and the Caspian Sea, de-
riving its name from Madai, son
ofJaphftt. Gen. 10: 2. Cyrus,
king of Persia, became by his
wife heir to the crown of Media,
thus uniting the kingdom of the
Medes and Persians. Media ia
now called Aider -Beitzan, and
sometimes Irak-Adjam.
Mediator, one who acts be
tween parties at variance, in
order to bring them to an agree-
ment. Gal. 3: 20. Moses was
often a mediator between Jeho-
vah and the Jews. Deut. 5 : 5.
The Lord Jesus is now the " one
Mediator between God and
men." 1 Tim. 2 : 5. He, by
his satisfaction to God, and
intercession with him on one
hand, and by his powerful and
gracious influence on sinfl men
on the other, brings both to-
gether, into a new covenant
state of agreement. Heb 8:6;
12: 24.
Meekness, that quiet temper
of mind which is not soon pro-
voked to anger, but suffers in-
juries without desire of revenge,
and submits to the will of God.
Col. 3 : 12. A humble frame
of spirit, ready to receive and
entertain the truths <f God'a
word. James 1 : 21. It is a
MEL
160
MEL
grace of unspeakable value, 1
Pet. 3:4; Ps. 37 : 11 ; and
shone conspicuously in the life
of Christ. 2 Cor. 10:1. Matt.
1] : 29 Cnristians are exhorted,
with great frequency and fervor,
to excel in this grace. Eph. 4:
2. 1 Tim. 6 : 11. Tit. 3 : 2,
Jbo,
Megid'do, a city in the tribe
of Manasseh, famous for two
great battles being fought near
it. In one, Jabin's army was
routed by Deborah and Barak,
Judg. 5 : 19 ; in the other,
Josiah was overthrown and slain
by Necho, king of Egypt, who was
on his way through the land of
Israel to attack the king of
Babylon. 2 Kings 23 : 29, 30.
Near Megiddo was the town
of Hadad-Rimmon (afterwards
called Maximianopolis) : therefore
the lamentation for the death of
Josiah is called " the mourning
of Hadad-Rimmon, in the valley
jf Megiddo." Zech. 12 : 11.
The greatness of that mourning
,or good Josiah was such as to
muse this expression to become
A proverbial one for any great
sorrowing, and is so used by
the prophet.
Dr. Robinson thinks the place
is now called Lejjun, which
stands upon the western border
of the great plain of Esdraelon,
on the route now taken by the
caravans which trade between
Egypt and Damascus.
Melciiisedek, a priest, though
not a Jew. Of his nation, par-
entage, age, &c., nothing is
mown. Hence he is said to be
" without descent, having
neither beginning of days, nor
end of life." Gen. 14: 17 20.
Heb. 7 : 1 11. Jesus is a
Priest after the crder of Mel-
chisedek : as God, he was with-
out beginning ; as Man, his
origin was miraculous : he waa
installed in his office only by
God, and is therein superior to
all otxier priests. Heb. 6 : 10;
6: 20.
Mel'ita, or MALTA, a small
island of the Mediterranean Sea,
18 miles long, and 12 broad,
which seems to have had its
name from its being Melet, or a
place of refuge to the ancient
Tyrians in their voyages to
Carthage and Spain. About
A. D. 63, Paul and his compan-
ions were shipwrecked on this
island, and kindly entertained
by the natives. It was seized
by the Goths and Vandals in the
fifth century, then by the Nor-
mans in the eleventh, and after-
ward was taken by Louis IX. of
France. About A. D. 1530 it was
given by Charles V. to the mili-
tary knights who had been
driven by the Turks from
Rhodes. These were dispos-
sessed and dispersed Tj the
French under Bonaparte, in
1798. It was afterwards taken
from the French by England,
under whose government it no*
remains. The number of innab-
itants is about 50,000 These
are, for the most part, Catholics,
and excessively ignorant and
degraded. Mr. Fisk saw ne
books in the Unguage, but
MEL
161
MErt
popish catechism, the Gospel of
John ^printed by the Church
Missionary Society), a grammar
and a dictionary. The Kev.
Mr. Temple, speaking of the
aversion of Romish priests to
the perusal of the Scriptures by
the common people, sn ;,
On account of this prejudice,
** government has, for the last
ve yeaas, declined giving per-
mission to the Malta JBible So-
ciety to place a board over the
door of its depository for the
purpose of informing the public
that Bibles could be had there!"
It has lately become a centre of
missionary and Bible operations
for the countries bordering on
the Mediterranean. By the
eontributions of Christians,
printing-presses are established
here, and kept employed in
producing tracts, Ac., in the
Arabic, Greek, Turkish, and
other languages. As it is a
place of great commerce, those
productions are easily dis-
tributed.
Melons are common in the
East, and are similar to ours,
but more various in their kinds.
In Egypt, they are exllent ;
but in Hindostan and Burmah
water-melons are so insipid as
to be eatec with sugar.
The original word in Numb.
11 : 6, means watfr-mdons ;
which HASSELQUIST says served
the Egyptians for fool,
and physic. Ho says tho com-
mon people almost live on them
at one season of the year. No
wonder the Israelites, in a
14*
parched desert, longed foi mob
irg fruit.
Memphis, an Egyptian cky of
i/.e and splendor, which
>tood near old Ca.ro, but of
which there are now only some
Inlfos. 9: C, it id called
ml in Isa. 11) : 13, Noph.
ned after the building
mdria, and many of the
!s have been removed to
build Cairo. It was the metro-
politan city under the Ptolemies,
and in it the arts were carried
to great perfection. See NOPH
Mer'aritCS, descendants of
Mcr'ariy the third son of Levi.
These were bearers of the mate-
rials of the tabernacle, and in
after times the sacred porters.
Mercury, one of the fabulous
deities of the heathen, was the
son of Jupiter and Maia, and
er to the rest. He was
ped as the patron of
learning-, eloquence, and trade.
-ometimes called Hermes
The fluency of Paul made the
people of Lystra suppose Paul
was Mercury. Acts 14 : 12.
Mercy, that attribute of God
which induces him to pity and
relieve his suffering creatures.
Tit. 3 5. Our blessings are
therefore called mercies, Rom.
12:1. It means also that feel-
ing which prompts us t<
the unfortunate, and to forgive
those that do wrong. Matt. 5 .
7 Luke 6 : 36.
Mercy seat, the lid of the nrk
of the covenant, round which
was the crown or border of gold,
and on which the oherutim were
MER
162
Mic
represented as looking. Before
this the high-priest stood to ask
counsel of the Lord, and there
he received blessings for the
people. Christ is our mercy-
seat, Rom. 3 : 25, and by him
we have access to the Father.
See ARK.
Mero'dach, a Babylonian idol,
representing, it is thought, the
planet Mars. Jer. 50 : 2. .It
was often a part of the names of
kings, as Merodack-Baladan.
Isa. 39 : 1.
Merodaeh-Baladan was the
son of Baladin or Belesus, was
a king of Babylon, who began
his reign in the year that Sa-
maria was taken by Salmaneser,
which was the fourth year of
Hezekiah, king of Judah.
Me'rom, the northern lake
supplied by the Jordan. It lies
near Mount Hermon. It is now
called the lake of Houle. See
JORDAN.
Md'OZj a district in the neigh-
borhood of the brook Kishon
[which see], where the great
battle with Sisera was fought.
Jud. 5. The awful curse pro-
nounced on this people should
alarm those who, in this day,
act in like manner. The true
people of God are carrying on a
great struggle with the powers
of darkness. Header ! turn to
the passage, Judges 5 : 23, and
weigh its import.
Consider, 1. What Mroz
did i Nothing. 2. What they
ihould have done 1 Helped.
3. The Lord won the battle
without Meroz. 4. Meroz was
cursed for doing nothing, thougi
the cause of God did not luffeJ
for want of their aid 5. What
are you doing for God 1 6.
What you may expect if you
hold back.
Mesopotamia (literally be-
tween rivers'), the famous province
between the Tigris and Euphra-
tes, called in the Old Testament
Padan-Aram ; by the ancient
Greeks, Seleucia ; and by tne
Latins, Mediamna. Some sup-
pose that the wise men who
visited the infant Jesus were
from this country. Here were
the garden of Eden and the
tower of Babel. It was the
original residence of Abraham,
Isaac, Jacob, and all their
children, save Benjamin. Gen.
11 : 31 It was astonishingly
populous, containing, according
to Ptolemy, seventy important
cities. Christianity, in a muti-
lated form, still exists here, amid
much Turkish oppression. The
region is still fertile, and is now
called Diarbekir, and Algesira.
Messiah, literally the anointed.
It is applied exclusively to that
sovereign Deliverer, who was
expected by the Jews, and came
at the appointed time; Dan. 9 ;
25, 26. John 1 : 41. See
CHRIST.
Micall, a prophet of the tribe
of Judah, who lived in the latter
days of Isaiah and Hosta, and
in the reigns . Jothaa. Ahaz,
and Hezekiah.
THE BOOK of Micah it one of
the most important prophecies
in the Old Testament, Previoui
MID
168
MIL
prediction} had limited the
" seed of woman " to the line
of Shein, the descendants of
Abraham, the tribe of Judah,
and the house of Darid. Micah
Bheds further light, by designat-
ing the very place of his birth
(ch. 5 : 2), with other impor-
tant circumstances of his king-
dom and glory.
Mice, as well as almost every
living thing, have been objects
of worship. 1 Sam. 6 : 4, 18.
Both Strabo and Plutarch speak
of the Egyptians as worshipping
field mice.
Michael, the name of the
archangel. Rev. 12 : 7. Per-
sons often speak of " angels and
archangels," but the latter word
is never in Scripture used in the
plural.
Mkh'mash, a city of Benja-
min, nine miles north-east of
Jerusalem. 1 Sam. 13 : 5.
Midiaii, a territory on the east
border of the Dead Sea, so
called from Midian, the fourth
son of Abraham, by Keturah.
The Midianites joined withMoab
in seducing Israel, for which
their kingdom was nearly de-
stroyed. They gradually grew
to strength again, and, 200
years afterward, proved a
scourge to the Israelites. Hav-
ing oppressed Israel seven
years in the days of Gideon, the
7*ord delivered them into the
hands of a few Hebrews, by
whom they were nearly exter-
minated, and the remainder are
supposed to have become incor-
poraUd wUh the Moabites or
Ammonites. Ex. 3 . 1. Jed
6; 8.
Migdol, a frontier fortress ot
the Egyptians, on the route of
thf Children of Israel in their
exodus. It is the same as
Magdolum.
Mil'ioui. See MOLOCH.
Mile* The Roman mile, men-
tinned Matt. 5 : 41, was 149
yards less than our mile, i. e.,
1611 yards. It was equal to
eight Greek stadia.
Miletus, or MILETUM, a sea-'
port of Caria in Lesser Asia, and
the capital of both Caria and
Ionia. It stood about thirty
six miles south-west of Ephesus,
and is said to have been built
by Miletus, the son of the god
Apollo, whose temple here was
exceedingly magnificent, and
whose oracle continued to be
consulted as late as the fourth
century. Here were four har
bors sufficient to hold all the
Persian fleet. Here TTiales and
Anaziwmes, the philosophers,
and 7\motheus, the musician,
were born. The plaoe was
famed for its milote, or milate, a
soft kind of wool, of which they
made fine carpets. Paul sent
for and gave solemn charges to
the elders of that church. Acts
20 : 1538. For about 300
years after Christ, we find no
trace of a church at Miletus
but in the hfth, sixth, seventh.
and eighth centuries of the
Christian era, there were bishops
in this plaoe. Since the Sara-
cens ravaged these parts, it haa
so gone to ruin that nothing ii
MIN
R
Co to seen but rubbish, and a
few cottages for shepherds. The
Bite is called by the Turks
Mdas.
Milk, in its various states,
Terms an important article of
food in some countries. In
Western Asia, not only cows
but camels, goats, and sheep,
are made to supply this food for
man, Gen. 32 : 15 ; Deut. 32 :
14 ; Prov. 27 : 27 ; for which
purpose it is first allowed gen-
erally to become curd. See
SEETHE.
Mill. See GRIND.
Millet, a very common grain
in Eastern countries, but far
inferior in excellence to wheat.
Its name is derived from the
Latin mille, a thousand, in allu-
sion to its extraordinary fruit-
fulness. It is made into bread
with oil or butter, and is almost
the only food of the poorer
classes in Arabia Felix. The
word occurs Ezek. 4 : 9, only.
Mincing, doing a thing affect-
edly, as eating, walking, Ac.
Isa. 3 : 16.
Minister) one who serves an-
other. It is applied to Christ,
who is called a f minister of
the sanctuary," being now en-
tered into heaven, where he is
our prevalent Intercessor ; to
such as are appointed to attend
the service of God in his church,
to dispense faithfully and wisely
the word and sacraments ; to
officers of the state and magis-
trates, who punish the trans-
gresr'Tfl of the law, and defend
the good ; to the holy angela,
who are always ready, as wil.
ling servants, to execute the
commands of God.
Minstrel, a professed musician,
or singer. Elisha had one to
soothe his troubled mind, 2
Kings 3 : 15 ; as did Ss -il, 1
Sam. 16 : 23. Some of these
were employed at funerals to
superintend the rites of inter-
ment. They sang and played
funeral odes, and mournful
songs ; uttered doleful shrieks
and ejaculations, and excited
the sympathy of spectators by
exhibiting the most vehement
expressions of grief. The prac-
tice was very ancient, as we
learn from Jer. 9 : 17, 18.
" Call for the mourning women,
that thtj may come, and send
for cunning women, that they
may come ; and let them make
haste, and take up a wailing
for us, that our eyes may run
down with tears, and our eye-
lids gush out with waters."
We discover the practice also in
the time of our Saviour ; for
these were the persons who
laughed him to scorn, when
about to raise the ruler's daugh-
ter. Matt. 9 : 23, 24.
Miracle, a wonder ; an effect
above any human skill, per-
formed in proof of some impor-
tant truth. The divinity of our
Saviour was proved by the mir-
acles he performed. They were
such as could be wrought only
by the power of God, and had
for their object to confirm a
doctrine becoming the glorioof
MIR
165
MIT
Attributes of God, and the ac-
complishment of prophecies con-
cerning th. , whose
coming, it was foretold, should
be with miraculous power. John
3 : '2, 9, 16. The form of true
religion being now establishec
in the world, miracles are no
longer necessary. The power
of working miracles did not ter-
minate abruptly with the apos
ties, but was possessed by other
early disciples for a generation
or two, and subsided gradually.
The existence and prevalence
of Christianity, amid general
opposition and persecution in
all ages, with the frequent ful-
filments of prophecy now taking
place, are sufficient authentica
tions. Modern popish miracles
are a sad evidence of the chica-
nery and corruption of Roman-
ism.
The following is a list of
Christ's miracles, as usually
given, but of course cannot
embrace the whole, as " many "
were performed which are not
particularized. They are gen-
erally related in several Gos-
pels, but there is room only to
quote one.
Water turned Into wine, . . John 2
Nobleman's son healed, . . John 4.
Pa.ssing through the multi-
tude Luke 4.
Bran-lit of fishes, . . . Luke 5.
Demoniac cured .Mark 1.
Peter's wife's mother. . . ..Mat 8
"Multitudes" healed, . . . Wat. 8.
Abo throughout Galilee, . . Wat. 4
A leper healed Mat 8
The parah tic Wat. 9.
Toe Impotent man Johns.
The wiihered hand, . . . Mat. 12.
"Many " healed Wat 12
"A great multitude" healed, I.ukeC.
Centurion's servant, . . . Luk3?
Th* wldow'a BOH raised. . . Luke?.
Miracles appealed to, . . Luke 6
i Mat. 9.
'I' 1 "' temp . . . Mat. 8.
! 't, . . Mat. 8-
The issue of blood Mat 9
The daughter of Jalrus, . . Mat. 9.'
Two blind men Mat. 9.
A dumb demoniac, . . . Mat 9
Power Kiven to the apostles, 51at. 10.
sick healed, . . . Mat. 14.
Five thousand led Mat. 14.
He walks on the sea, . . . Mat. 14.
As " many as touched " heal-
ed jfat 14.
Byrophenician woman, . . Mat. 15
Deaf and dumbmai Mark 7.
'Multitudes "healed.. . . Wat IP.
four thousand fed Mark 8
A blind man cured Mark 8.
Bflguratlon, . . . Mark 9
Deaf und dumb demoniac, . Luke 9.
A lish brings money, . . . Mat 17
The man blind from birth, . John 9 '
InUrm woman restored, . . Luke 13.
Ihe dropsy healed Luke 14
Ten lepers cleansed, . . . Luke 17.
Lazarus raised, Jo i, n 1L
Blind Bartimeus Mat 20
''Many" Mind and lame, . Mat. 21.
The barren ng-tree Mat. 21.
The ear of Walchus, . . . Luke 22
Draught of fishes, .... John 21.'
Mirror. The oldest mirrors
were made of metal. It was
from such, contributed by the
women, that the brazen laver
was made. Ex. 38 : 8. The
word in that passage is improp-
erly translated " looking-glass-
The art of making glass
wat, c-en unknown. See GLASS
On the discovery of America,
,he Mexicans were found to
possess mirrors made of black
vitrified lava, highly polished.
?he North Americans were
bund with mirrors -. f copper
and silver.
Mlsli h;i. nee TRADITION
Min-.. the smallest Jewish
oin, equal to about one sixth
f our cent. Luke 12 : 59.
Mitre, a head-dress worn by
he Jewish high priest, ind bj
apal bishops and abbots, op
pecial occasions. The top U
MOA
166
MOL
tleft in the middle, and rises in
two points. Ex. 28 : 4.
Mityle'ne, the capital of Les-
bos, an island of the Grecian
Archipelago, was a large and
beautiful city. It was famous
aa the birth-place of Alceeus,
the poet, Sappho, the poetess,
Theophanes, the historian, Pit-
tacus, the philosopher, and Di-
ophanes, the orator. On the
same island we?e born Theophras-
tus t the sage, and Potamon, the
rhetorician. It is now called
Castro, and sometimes Metilin.
Acts 20 : 14.
Mixtarft) a compound. God's
wrath being poured out uriihout
mixture, means it should be most
severe and unmitigated. Rev.
14 : 10.
Bliz'pah, literally a pillar ; a
city eighteen miles northward
of Jerusalem. Jud. 20 : 1. 1
8am. 7 : 5, 6.
Moab. (1.) The son of Lot,
was born about the same time
as Isaac, in A. M. 2108
(2.) The land called by
his name, eastward and
southward of the Dead
Sea, and about the river
Arnon. This courtry has
been lately bxplored,
and is covered with evi-
dences of former great-
ness. A multitude of
rums and sites are
found, where there have
been vast cities ; the plains,
though now deserted, are of the
richest soil ; and there are re-
of highways completely
paved, with milestones, on whici
the distances can still be read
It should be remembered that
it was in its highest state of
prosperity that the prophets
foretold that it should be utterly
desolate. Not one of its incient
cities is now tenanted by man '
Jer. 48 : 239. Amos 2 : 2.
Zeph. 2:9. The present name
of this country is El-Rabba.
Motet In that passage, Isa.
2 : 20, where it is prophesied
that idols shall be cast to the
moles an'd the bats, it seems
probable that the two words
should be read as one, which i?
the ease in three of Dr. Kenni-
cott's manuscripts. The word
thus joined means a cave, or sub-
terranean vault. Many caves in
Burmah have been made recep-
tacles for idols, till they have
multiplied to ship-loads. See
an account of one of these in
my " Travels in South-eastern
Asia."
In Lev. 11 : 30, There the
word inole occurs, the chameleon
is meant, as Bochart and others
have fully shown It is & species
MON
107
MOfl
/ lizard, whose nhape may be
efficiently learned by the pre-
ceding cut.
Moloch, an idol of tbe Am-
monites ; called iilso Ashtoreth,
and Maleom, or Milcom.
mon built ;i temple to this deity,
and the Israelites seemed more
easily to slide into the idolatry
of this god than any other.
Lev. 18 : 21. 1 Kings 11. See
ASHTORETU and BAAL.
Money, in ancient times, was
dealt out by weight, and still is
in Turkey, Syria, Egypt, China,
Burmah, Ac. ; coins themselves
being generally weighed by tbe
merchant. Gen. 23 : 916. Job
6 : 2. Zech. 11 : 12. Tbe Per-
aiana began to use coined money
about the time of Darius Hys-
taepos The Greeks had no
coin before the days of Alexan-
der , nor the Egyptians, before
tbe Ptolemies; nor the llebrews,
tin the government of Judas
Maccabeus, to whom Antiochus
Sidetes, king of Syria, granted
the privilege of coining his own
money in Judea The coin
commonly called ' a p!oce rj
money" was probably a xhektl
or the Greek stater, which WM
of the value of fifty cents.
Matt. 17 : 27. A pound wai
about equal to sixty shekels
ii was one fourth of a
uil to twelve
cents of our money. A farthing
was the fortieth part of a pen-
ny, or about the third of our
cent. Matt. 5 : 26. A mite waa
half a farthing. Mark 12 ; 42.
It is thought there was also a
farthing equal to one tenth of a
Roman penny. Instead of in-
serting uncertain tables of coins,
the best practicable elucidation
of such as are mentioned in the
Bible is given under each word
of the kind as it occurs.
Money Chaisgers were such
as, for profit, exchanged foreign
coins, or gave smaller pieces of
money for larger, or larger for
smaller, to accommodate such
as came to worship at Jerusalem.
As all Jews were obliged to
contribute for the support of
the temple, and to pay in Jew-
ish money, their traffic was
profitable. Neh. 10 : 32. They
seem not to have been strictly
just in their dealings, and the
place they chose for their busi-
ness was improper. Jesus twice
drove them from the temple.
John ? 14, 15. Matt. 21 . 12.
Month, a space of time, which,
if measured by the moon (whenon
its name), is called lunar ; ana
if by the sun, is called solar.
See YEAK. When wo speak of
Jewish months as correspond iu|
MOB
168
MOT
lo ours, some allowance must
be made ; for theirs were lunar,
and ours are solar, which are
not exactly alike. The Hebrew
uonths commonly answer to two
of our months, and take part
of both. In the following table
the months are numbered as
they stood both in the civil and
9acred years :
7. TIzrl, or September.
8. Marchesvan, October.
9. Chlsleu, November.
10. Tebet, December.
11. Shebat, January.
12. Adar, February.
1. Abib, or N"isan, March.
2. Jair, or Zif, April.
3. Sivan, May.
4. Thaiumus, June.
6. Ab, July,
6. Elul, August.
a secondary planet,
always attendant on our earth.
The moon was formed to give
light in and rule the night, and
to distinguish times and seasons.
Gen. 1 : 14. She seems to have
a mighty influence on the ebb-
ing and flowing of the sea ; and
was the great regulator of the
Jewish feasts. The heathens
have generally worshipped the
moon, under the names of Queen
of heaven, Venus, Urania, Suc-
coth-benoth, Ashtaroth, Diana,
Hecate, or perhaps Meni, &o.
Job 31 : 26, 27. Deut. 4 : 19 ;
17 : 3. The Orientals regulate
their j jurneys by the moon, and
let off soon after her change.
Mordecai, the son of Jair,
grandsun 01 Kish, and descend-
ant of the family of Saul, was
Carried to Babylon with Jehoia-
thin, king of Judah, when he
was very yoang. He rose to a
seat at the king's gate ; that is^
to be one of the great men of
the kingdom. Ruth 4 : 1. Eat.
2 : 19, and 5:9..
Moriah, a hill adjacent to
Jerusalem, on the north-east
Here Abraham offered his son.
Gen. 22. When Solomon built
the temple on it, it became in-
cluded in the city. 2 Chron.
3: 1.
Mortar. (1.) Cement used
in building. Gen. 11 : 3. (2.)
A strong vessel, in which grain
is beaten or brayed. The prov-
erb of " braying a fool in a
mortar " may be understood
from a passage in KNOLLES' his-
tory of the Turks. Speaking
of some criminals, he says,
" Some were impaled, and some
were pounded or beaten to pieces,
in great mortars of iron, wherein
they usually pound their rice."
Prov. 27 : 22.
Hotej a speck, or splinter ;
any very small thing A per-
son greatly under the dominion
of any particular sin, reproving
another who is less so, is com-
pared by our Saviour to a man's
attempting to pull a mote out
of his friend's eye, while a beam
is in his own. Matt. 7 3.
Moth, a very small, frail in-
sect, found most frequently fa
garments which lie long unused.
Insects which fly are divided
by naturalists into diurnal and
nocturnal, or butterflies and
moths. By far the greatest
number belong to the latter
class, of which some idea ma*
MOT
169
MOU
be gained from the variety which
as&otuble round a light in sum-
mer. The kind which produces
the injury to woollens is the tinea
, u small white miller,
eten in the spring, flying about
in book or fur stores, Ac. It
lays its eggs where the worm,
vhich is of a shining silvery
color, may, when hatched, find
food till changed into a winged
insert, like the parent. The
allusions to this creature in sa-
cred Scripture are important,
though not numerous. It is
said, Job 4 : 19, that man is
"crushed before the moth;"
that is, ho is overcome by the
smallest enemies, and secretly
and imperceptibly wastes away,
as doth a garment. Isa. 50 : 9.
When the Lord meant to destroy
Ephraim, but not suddenly, he
says, " I will be as a moth unto
Ephraim." The moth forms her
cell in the cloth, and is, there-
fore, destroying her abode
gradually, till at last both arc
reduced to nothing Such is
the prosperity of a
wicked man ; " he
buildeth his house
as a moth." He
lives only to adjust
his nest, and revel
in his plenty ; but
both he and his shall
Ve destroyed. Job
22 : 18.
Mother, the fe-
male parent. Being
' without father and
without mother," Ileb. 7 : 3,
means that the parents of Mel-
15
chisedek are not entered ia th
genealogies which the Jews M
sedulously kept.
The law of Moses required
no less reverence for the mothei
than for the father ; and thui
shone out in beautiful superior-
ity of other Eastern systems, in
which woman stands degraded.
No book in the world contains
so many portraits of lovely
women as the Bible.
Mountain. Judea may be
called a mountainous country
The principal mountains men-
tioned in Scripture are Seir,
Iloreb, Sinai, Hor,Gilboa, Nebo,
Tabor, Engedi, Lebanon, Ebal,
Ainalek, Gerizim, Gilead, Mo-
riah, Paran, Gahash, Olivot,
Pisgah, Hermon, and Carmel.
These contain several metals of
great value, but the Jews seem
never to have understood min-
ing.
Mourning is expressed with
great vehemence in Oriental
countries. The Jews, from their
earliest period, made great
lamentations for the dead. Gen
50 : 714. Tearing the hair
MOU
170
MUL
rending the clothes (which was
prohibited to the high priest),
and uttering piercing cries,
going barefoot, and striking
the breast, wearing sackcloth,
sprinkling dust on the head, and
fasting, were common modes of
expressing grief. The picture
is from an Egyptian painting,
and expresses frantic sorrow.
Some of the figures seem to in-
dicate the putting of ashes on
the head. It seems to have
been customary among them to
hire mourners, who superintend-
ed the lamentations, and who,
in funeral odes, melancholy
songs, and dolorous ejaculations,
deplored the sorrows of the
bereft, celebrated the virtues of
the deceased, and excited the
sympathy of spectators. Jer.
9 : 17, 18. Alto* 5 ; 16. Matt.
9 : 23. It would seem that a
collection of such odes, or pane-
gyrics, made for great men, was
preserved among the state ar-
chives. 2 Chr. 35 : 25. See
those which David composed for
Saul and Jonathan, Abner and
Absalom. That of Jeremiah,
leferred to in the passage just
quoted, is not now extant. See
MINSTREL.
Mome, a very small quadru-
ped, but very injurious. Some
are peculiar to fields and gar-
dens, never approaching houses ;
an ' some h, in houses only.
In Eastern countries, the field
mouse sometimes ravages whole
fields, and even districts, which
was cue of the plagues endured
bj the Philistines for detaining
tne ark of God, and the leasoa
why five golden mice were sent
back with it. 1 Sain. 6 : 4, 6
In the twelfth century, Pales-
tine was, for four successive
years, so overrun with mice as
to cause a famine. Some emi-
nent authors consider that our
common mouse is not mentioned
in Scripture, and that the word
so rendered, 1 Sam. 6 : 5, Isa.
66 : 17, means the jerboa, or
mountain rat, of Arabia, Pales-
tine, fco. Mice are amazingly
prolific ; and, were not the
increase kept down by their
being the chosen food of owls,
hawks, snakes, weasels, cats,
Ac., they would prove a con-
tinual scourge. See C^NEY.
Mufflers, masks or thick veils,
worn by women, concealing a}
the face except the eyes. Isa
3: 19.
Mulberry. Whether this is
the tree denoted by the original
term, is doubtful, and cannot
be settled. The word is baca,
and is so given in Ps. 84 : 7
A plant is still common in Ara-
bia called baca by the natives.
Mole, an animal of mixed
breed, between a horse and an
ass. AVe know of the existence
of mules so long ago as the time
of Homer ; and though the
Jews were forbidden to have any
mixed race of animals, yet they
were employed in the Holy
Land long before the time of
David. It is remarkably srre-'
footed patient, hardy, obsti-
nate, swift, and strong ; and
lives to twice the age of a
MUS
171
MUS
fcorse. They are little uaed in
New England, but are very
common in the Southern States.
Still more use is made of them
lu South America, France, Spain,
and especially in mountainous
regions, as the Alps, Pyrenees,
Ac.
Munition, a fort ; a secure
place. Isa. 33 : 16. The word
\s now chiefly used for materials
for war.
Murrain, a disease which
smote the cattle of the Egyp-
tians, and is rapid and destruc-
tive in its progress. As, in
Europe, epidemic distempers in
catt> ha^e been known to ad-
vance over iv country at the rate
of a certain number of miles
in a day, they have been sup-
posed to be cau led by flying in-
fects.
Mosle is of very ancient ori-
gin. Tubal, a descendant of
Cain, long before the flood,
taught men to play on the harp
%nd organ. Laban complained
that Jacob deprived him of an
opportunity of sending off his
daughters with music. Gen. 4 :
Jl ; 31 : 27. The ancient He-
brews had a knowledge of mu-
lio ; when they had passed
the Red Sea, both men and
iromeu sung their respective
hymns to the praise of their
miraculous Deliverer. Ex. 15.
Silver trumpets were divinely
i^dered to be made for sounding
rer their sacrifices, especially
.* solemn feasts. Numb. 10.
avid was an excellent inusi-
UkUj and had plenty of singing
men and singing women in hii
court. 1 Sam. 16. Solon: on had
them, perhaps, in far greater
number. Eccl. 2:8. In the
time of Jeroboam, the eon of
Joash, the Israelites valued
themselves upon inventing new
musical instruments. Amos 6 :
5. At his idolatrous festival,
Nebuchfct.^zzar had a large
concert of music ; and musio
was the ordinary recreation of
the Median king. Dan. 3 : 5,
15. David composed a variety
of Psalms, and caused his skil-
ful players to set them to musio,
as appears by their inscription*
to Jeduthun, Asaph, Ac., the
sons of Korah. 1 Chr. 15 : 16.
As the Levites were eased of a
great part of their charge, by
the tabernacle and ark being
fixed in a place, David had
great numbers of them devote
themselves to musio, and dis-
tributed 4000 sacred singers
into twenty-four classes, who
should serve at the temple in
their turns. The three chief
musicians were Asaph, Heman,
and Jeduthun. The four sons
of Asaph, six of Jeduthun, and
fourteen of Heman, constituted
the chiefs of these twenty-four
classes. Their NEGIXOTH, or
stringed instruments, were the
psnlttry and harp, to which may,
perhaps, be added the shemineth,
sftushan, or shushanim, and the
nlnm'nth, the dulcimer, and sack-
hut ; and the NKUILOTH, or wind-
instruments, were the o^gan,
come'., flute, pipe, and trumpet
They had also timjrei*. cymbal*
MYR
172
MYS
and btlla. But, as to many of
these instruments, our best in-
formation affords us no certain
knowledge of thoir particular
forms. See HARP.
Mustard, a plant, the seed of
which is very small, but which,
in some latitudes, becomes ar-
boreous, and acquires a great
size, so as to be truly the
' greatest among herbs." Men-
tion is male in the Talmud of
enormous mustard plants, into
one of which the owner climbed,
as into a fig-tree ; and another
was so large as to cover a tent.
That mentioned in Matt. 13 : 31,
is called by Linnaeus sin^ipi euro-
coides. Its branches are real
wood.
Myrrh, a gum issuing from a
tree of the same name, common
in Arabia, Egypt, and Abys-
sinia. Sometimes it issues spon-
taneously, but is chiefly obtained
by means of incisions which are
made twice a year, the gum
being received on mats spread
below. It comes to Europe in
loose grains, somewhat like
gum-arabic. The ancients used
it as a perfume, and for embalm-
ing the dead. It is very bitter,
whence it is called gall ; and,
being supposed to have the
property, like opium, of miti-
gating the sense of pain, it was
anciently administered to crimi-
nals to alleviate their anguish.
Hence some one benevolently
offered it to Christ ; but he de-
clined suon reliei. Mark 15: 23.
Myrtle, a beautiful plant,
rry common in \he East, where
it attains the size of a tree. It
flourishes in all warm countries,
and is everywhere admired and
valued. In some places ita
berries are used as spice. In
Greece and Italy its leaves are
often used for tanning. The
blossoms are perfectly white,
and intensely fragrant. In this
uncongenial climate, its size is
very diminutive ; but in the
Levant, it attains the height of
eight or ten feet. The church
is compared to the myrtle. Isa.
55 : 13.
Mysla, the north-western
province of Asia Minor, on the
^Egean Sea. Acts 16 : 7, 8.
Cicero, in his Orations, calls the
people a despicable race. It is
the place callW in classic
writers jEohs.
Hyslery, a seciet ; something
which, at present, we do not
fully understand. Thus the
doctrines of a Trinity, the In-
carnation, the Union which ex-
ists between Christ and hia
people, <fec., are mysienes. Many
things which were mysteries
anciently are made known by
Christ and his apostles ; and
many things in the Bible which
are mysteries to the irreligious,
or to feeble Christians, are un-
derstood by such as are emi-
nently good and studious. A
mystery, therefore, in Scripture,
does not mean what cannot be,
but what is not understood.
Pagan worship hag its " mys-
teries of iniquity;" shameful
crimes committed ty th^st whfl
were full/ initiated.
NAK
178
NAT
N.
Iftbmn, (I..- seventh of the
niriur pronlu t>, a native of
Galilee, is thought to have lived
at the t: n'rib invaded
Judah, after the tt-n tribes had
ceased to be a nation.
THE BO.K of Nahum is a
poem ; and is thought by critics
to be one of the most finished
and sublime extant in any lan-
guage. It foretells the destruc-
tion of the Assyrian empire,
then in all its glory ; and par-
ticularly the ruin of Nineveh,
which, after repenting at the
preaching of Jonah, relapsed
into aggravated wickedness.
He also foretells the deliverance
of lle/.ekiah, and the death of
Sennacherib.
Nail, a term by which two
different Hebrew words are ren-
dered in our translation ; one
of which (yathcd) seems to mean
a common nail or tent pin, Isa.
22 : 23, and the other (mismer)
an ornamental or large-headed
nail. 1 Chr. 22 : 3. CHARDIN
says, that, in the East, nails are
not driven into walls with a
hammer ; stone and mortar
being too hard, and the clay of
common houses too friable ; but
they are fixed in the wall when
feaitt, which explains Esa. 22 :
23.
Naked, uncovered, exposed,
ften. 2 : 25. This word id often
used, in a modified sense, to
describe a person only (rtly
clothed Mic. 1 : 8. John
21 7. All Orientals wear a
15*
mere cloth round their hipg
when at labor, and are thei
called " naked." It is from not
knowing this that some hava
I that persons weif for-
merly baptized in a state of
literal nakedness; whereas they
only laid aside the loose outer
garment. The word is used figur-
atively, in various senses. Job
2G : 6, <fcc.
Name, when applied to God,
often means his nature and at-
tributes, that is, God himself.
Ps. 20 : 1. Prov. 18 : 10. Tc
take God's name in vain, is t<
take a false oath, or to mingla
his name uselessly in our dis-
course. Ex. 20 : 7.
Na'omi and her husband Elim-
elech retired to the land of
Moab, because of a Mnine in
Canaan ; where their two sons,
Mahlon and Chilion, married
Orpah and Ruth. After about
ten years, Elirnelech and hia
sons died without leaving any
children. The return of Naomi
to her country, and her subse-
quent history, are narrated with
great beauty and instructive-
ness in the book of Ruth.
Nard. See SIMKKXARD.
Nathaniel. See BARTHOLO-
MEW.
Nature. (1.) The natural or.
der of things established in the
world. (2.) Iho actual state
of anything, or that which
makes it what t is. (3.) Thai
principle c reason, or natural
light in tie mind of man, which
NAZ
174
NEB
ta capable of great improvement,
Out r?: lurei the grace of God
to dire* t it to its proper end.
Rom. 2 : 14. 1 Cor. 11 : 14.
Nazareth, a small city of
Galilee, about seventy -five miles
north of Jerusalem, situated on
the side of a hill, and overlook-
ing a ?uperb and spacious val-
ley formed by surrounding
mountains. It was over a prec-
ipice on this side (described by
Jowett as fifty feet high), that
the people sought to throw our
Saviour. It was noted for wick-
edness. Mark 1 : 9. John 1 :
46. Here our Saviour labored
most of the thirty years of his
private life ; but their contempt
of his ministry, and attempt to
murder him, occasioned his re-
siding there but little after-
wards, and working but few
miracles among them. Luke
4 : 1629. It has continued to
this day to be a place of some
note, and contained at the time
of Mr. Jowett's researches,
about 3000 souls. Among the
population are Greeks, Catho
lies, Greek Catholics, and Ma-
ronites. The precipice over
which the people attempted to
throw our Saviour is still con-
spicuous. Luke 4 : 29.
Nazarite, or NAZARESTE, a
Jew who made a vow to observe
uncommon devotion, either for
a given period or for life.
Numb. 6.
Jesus Chri.' was in fact what
these were in profession, Conse-
crated to God, and hence is called
ft Nazaro le . That Christ should
be tnas consecrated, is c
by various prophets, though he
is not mentioned in the Old
Testament under that erpresi
title. Matt. 2 : 23.
Afoap'oUs, a seaport in Mace-
donia, Acts 16 : 11, the same
which is now called Napoli. See
SHKCHEM.
a city eight miles south
of Heshbon. Numb. 32: 38.
Isa. 15 : 2. It is now callec
Abarim.
Nebo, a mountain where Mo-
ses died, stood in the lot of
Reuben. Deut. 34 : 1.
Ne'bo, an idol, thought by
some to be the same as Dagon.
Isa. 46 : 1. As, however, this
name is found in the composition
of many Chaldee words, such
as Nebuchadnezzar, Nabonassar t
Nabopoiassar, &G., it was prob
ably a different god. See BEL.
Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchad
rezzar, or Nabopoiassar, the most
famed king of Babylon. His
father, Nabopoiassar, having
raised an immense army to
quell a revolt of the Syrians,
Phoenicians, &c., he was ap-
pointed to its command, and
with it not only subdued thot*
provinces, but overran Canaan,
Moab, Ammon, Assyria, Egypt,
&Q., and made them tributary.
He carried to Babylon, among
other princes of Judah, Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azari
ah ; whom he called Belteshaz-
zar, Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego. These, and othe/
young captives, he aaused to b*
NEG
175
NET!
trained up h: all the learning j Scripture, but by fTnrodotut,
of the Chal loans, chat they i who lived about COO years B. C.
might serve in the court. 2 il- 1 conquered Jadea in the dayi
Kings 24. Dan. 1. Ho twice
afterward in vailed and i-i
Judea, and carried away into
Captivity many Jews, among
whom waa Ezekiel the prophet.
2 Chr. 36. Ez. 25, 35. Jehoia-
ohim and Jehoiachin were kings
of Judea during these troubles.
About A. M. 3399, his father
died, and he became king of
Babylon. In the second year
of hia reign, he had a surpris-
ing dreain, but entirely forgot
it. All the diviners being ap-
plied to in vain, Daniel declared
to him both the dream and the
interpretation. He was so aston-
ished, and yet so convinced of
the truth, that he foil on his
face before Daniel, and acknowl-
edged his God to be the God of
gods and Lord of kings. He
made Daniel chief of the wise
men, and governor of the prov-
ince of Babylon ; and made
Shadrach, Meshacb, and Abed-
nego, subordinate governors in
the same place. Dan. 2.
Towards the close of his life
he fell into that species of hypo-
ohondriacal monomania, which
leads the patient to believe that
He is some animal or utensil,
and act accordingly. During
this period (about seven years),
he thought himself an ox, and
dwelt in the fields, lie recov-
ered, but we have no account of
his subsequent life,
Bfe'chO, a famous king of
Egypt, mentioned not only iu
iah.
Nec'romaiifcr, a conjurer ;
one who pretended to reveal
secrets by intercourse with the
dea-1. Deut. 18 : 11. -
Neglnoth, stringed instru
merits. This title to some of
the psalms implies a sort of
direction to the chief performer
on instruments.
Nehemiah was, perhaps, of
the royal family of David. Hia
being cup-bearer to Artaxerxes
Longitnanus, and his succeeding
Zerubbabel in the government
of the Jews, tend to confirm
this opinion. Furnished with
royal letters 'of authority, he
went to Jerusalem, and spent
twelve years in laboring for itt
.estoration. He afterwards re-
turned to the Holy City, and
died there. Nehemiah was no,.
a prophet, but a historian ; and
his narrative begins about
twelve years after that of Ezra
closes.
In his days flourished the
prophet MALACHI ; HERODOTUS
and TiiurviHDKS, the two most
ancient profane historians whose
are extant ; and PLATO
the philosopher.
THE BOOK of Nehemiab <*
written by him whose name it
bears, and describes his admin-
istration through a space of
thirty -six years ; and with i\
the historical part of the Old
Testament is closed.
Xc'IiMoth, a word found a
NET
176
NEVT
&e beginning of Ps. 5, which
means wind-instruments, and
implies that it is addressed to
the superintendent of the per-
formers on flutes in the sanc-
tuary.
Nehush'tail, brass ;" a con-
temptuous name given by good
Hezekiab to the brazen serpent
When it became an object of
idolatrous worship, he caused it
to be destroyed, and called it
Nthushtan, that is, a little brass
serpent. 2 Kings 18 : 4.
Neighbor. (1.) One who lives
near another. (2.) Every man
to whom wo have an opportunity
9f doing good. Matt. 2'2 39.
(3.) One who pities and relieves
another in distress. Luke 10 :
36. (4.) One who stands in
need of help. Prov. 2 28.
Our Saviour reproved the Phari-
sees for using the word in a re-
stricted sense, and informed
them that all men were their
neighbors, and that charity
should be exercised even to
enemies. Matt. 5 : 43, 44. Luke
10 : 2937.
Ner'gal, an idol mentioned
2 Kings 17 : 30, which Calmet
agrees with the Rabbins in sup-
posing was in the form of a
cock. Recent writers regard
Nergal as one of the names of
the planet Mars ; a symbol of
bad luck and war.
Neth'iaims, persons who wait-
ed on the Lord's house, perform-
ing inferior offices, under the
direction of the Levites. Ezra
2 : 58, and 8 : 20. They are
Opposed to be the descendants
of the Sibeonites, who deceived
the HeV.rew princes, and were
devotel to laborious occupa-
tions. Josh 9. They had a
particular place in Jerusalem
where they dwelt, called Ophel.
Neh. 3 : 26. Ezra 8 : 1720.
Netopha, the same as Neto-
phathi, a city of Judah, near
Bethlehem.
Nettles, in Job 30 : 7, cannot
mean our nettles, because per-
sons took shelter under it. It
probably means a thorny thicfc-
et, such as is common in India.
New Testament, the sacred
book of Christians, though not
to the exclusi6n of the Old Tes-
tament. The books which com
pose the New Testament are
supposed to have been written
in the following order :
A. D.
38. The Gospel of Matthew, written
in Judea.
52 1st and 2d Thess., written froTC
Corinth.
" Galatians, written from Corinth (f
Macedonia.
56. 1st Corinth., from Ephesus.
57. 2d Corinth., from Macedonia.
58. Romans, from Corinth.
61. Ephesians, from Koine.
" James, written at Jerusalem.
C2. Philippians, Colossiuus, and Phlle
mon, from Rome.
63. The Gospel of Luke, written In
Greece.
" Hebrews, from Rome.
64. The Acts of the Apostles, written
in Greece.
" 1st Timothy and Titus, written in
Macedonia.
" 1st Peter, from Babylon.
65. The Gospel of Mark, written fro
Rome.
" 2d Timothy, from Rome.
" 2d Peter, from Babylon.
" Jude, where written, unknown.
90. 1st John, from Patmos.
" 2d and 3d John, from Ephesus.
96. John, at Ephesus, writes the book
of Revelation.
97. John writes bis Gospel at the Banu
place.
The language of the New
Testa-, en/ Is Greek of the Mao*
NIC
177
flIL
ioniau dialect, in which Hebrev
idioms, and modes of c
tion, are common. I> li
ever, examples of all tl.
ts. When it was written,
Greek was the learned language
of the world ; spoken and read
by the educated in every par* of
he Roman Empire, especially
the eastern. In this language
were many books already ex-
tant, by the reading of which
we of this day are enabled the
more exactly to understand the
sacred writers.
A large portion of the Jews,
in the time of our Saviour,
spoke Greek as their mother
tongue ; particularly in Gali-
lee, Egypt, Syria, Asia Minor,
nnd Greece ; and these are
called Hellenists.
Nibliaz, an idol of the Ilivites,
worshipped in the form of a dog.
2 Kings 17 . 31
Nicola'itang. It is not known
whether these were a sect, or
only certain false and seducing
teachers ; nor is it known from
whom the name is derived. The
Greek name for Nicolas corre-
sponds with the Ilebrew for
Balaam. They are supposed to
have denied the real human
nature of Christ, and of course
the reality of his sufferings.
They seem to have been singu-
larly profligate and impure.
Rev. 2:6. It is thought they
are alluded to in 2 Pet. 2, and
Jude 7 19. They seem to
be the people called in church
history Gnostics ; cr, rather,
that they at length beooiuw such.
Nleop'olls, the name of
several ancient cities. That to
which Paul refers, Titus 3 : 12,
is probably in Thrace, on the
river Nastus, near the eastern
border of Macedonia.
Night* (1.) The time between
evening and morning. (2.) Tha
time of heathenish ignorance
and profanoness. Rom. 13: 12.
(3.) Adversity. Isa. 21 : 12.
(4.) Death, wherein we are laid
asleep. John 9 : 4. (5.) The
season in which anything comeg
suddenly and unexpectedly
upon us. 1 Thes. 5 : 2. Isa.
15 : 1. Luke 12 : 20. (6.)
The whole time of our life on
earth, during which we are dark
by reason of ignorance, and are
exposed to danger and sinful
stumbling. Rom. 13 : 12.
Mght-iUwk, the strix orien-
talis, a voracious bird, of the
size of the common owl, w> bold
and daring in Syria as to attack
even children if exposed at
night. Occurs LOT. 11 : 16.
Deut. 14 : 15, only.
Nile. This river is not ex-
pressly named in Scripture, but
is referred to in the account of
the plagues of Eygpt, and the
very word occurs in the original
in Isa. 27 : 12, and 2 Kings
24 : 7. An immense commerce
continues to be carried on In
boats of every size, on inia
river. It rises in Ethiopia.
Its course is at first tortuous,
but afterwards nearly ncrth.
It is not the same as the river of
Egypt See EGYPT. Its length
u 2000 miles Dr. Suith, of
NIL
178
NIN
Eoeeon, leaoribes the lower part
of the river, up to within twenty-
five miles of Cairo, as very deep
and rapid, with perpendicular
banks. On the shore are arti-
ficial mounds or levees, gen-
erally about ten feet high,
through which sluices are cut,
having strong gates, erected to
regulate the flooding of the
land The overflow occurs in
August, by reason of the rainy
season in the country of its
sources. The water then ex-
tends in the flat or northern part
of Egypt, about twenty miles on
each side of the river. When
the waters are nearly subsided,
the inhabitants sow their seed,
which settles into the mud, and
without further trouble pro-
duces a crop, which explains
Eco. 11 : 1, " Cast thy bread
upon the waters," &c. Artifi-
cial lakes and cisterns are made
to retain the water. It is said
that 200,000 oxen are employed
in raising the water from these
and from the river in the dry
season. If the annual rise was
not sufficient to cover and fill
these cisterns or pool?, famine
followed. Ancient writers give
horrible accounts of some of
these famines. The river water
\a discolored, but very whole-
some. So dependent were the
Egyptians on their river, that
they paid it sacred honors, and
worshipped its reptiles and
plants. Most striking therefore
was the punishment which
Jehovah sent them through the
f'ver, when he turned its waters
into blood, and afteiwardf
caused it to bring forth myriadi
of frogs. Ex. 7: 8.
IVimrah, a city in the canton
of Gad. Numb. 32. 3,36.
Nimriui, a city east of Jor-
dan. Isa. 15 : 6. It is thought
to be the same which St. Jerome
calls Nemra.
Nim'rod , a hunter and chieftain
of vast ambition and success.
He was born just before the
commencement of the tower of
Babel. When he rose to be
king, he repeopled Babel, which
had been desolate since the
confusion of tongues, but did
not attempt the finishing of the
tower. The Scriptures inform
us he became "mighty upon
earth ;*' but the extent of his
COD , Seats is not known.
NlftCTeh, a city of Assyria,
called also Ninus. It was the
capital of that empire till
Esarhaddon conquered Babylon,
when that city shared the roya
presence, the court being some-
times at one place and some-
times at the other. It was
founded by Ashur, the son of
Shorn, Gen. 10 : 11, and became
one of the largest cities in the
world. In the 29th year of the
reign of Josiah, king of 7 dah,
Nineveh was utterly destroyed
by the Modes. It was after-
wards partially rebuilt, but
never became considerable, and
was finally destroyed by the
Saracens in the seventh century
It is now called Mosul, and is
only famous for being the resi
dence of the patriarch of tbc
NIK
179
NO
Neatorians, of which eect are
most of tho Christiana in those
parts. Mosul is on the west
Bide of the Tigris, and was an-
ciently only an appendage to the
ciry, which itself stood on the
est side, whore ruins of vast
eitont have been visited by mod-
ern travellers. According to
Diodorus Siculus, the circum-
ference of Nineveh was sixty
miles. Jonah was three days
in going round to yoclaim its
overthrow ; twcnt/ miles being
as much as he could leisurely
walk in a day.
The destruction of Nineveh
fulfilled the following prophe-
cies, to which the reader is re-
ferred. Jon. 3. Nah. 2 and
3. Zeph. 2 : 13. It is often
a matter of wonder how struc-
tures so vast as were many
in Nineveh, especially the walls,
which were nearly thirty feet
thick, could be so utterly thrown
down, that the very situation of
some of these ancient cities has
not till recently been clearly
ascertained. The cause is partly
explained by the fact that the
cost and difficulty of obtaining
materials for building in the
East have made it common, from
time immemorial, to resort to
leerted towns for materials to
erect new ones. Thus Seleucia
was built with the ruins of Baby-
lon, and Mosul from those of
Nineveh.
Recent examinations of the
ruins of Nineveh have been
inude, at great expense, by Mr.
TtAYARD, and a large number
of most interesting articles re-
covered from the ruins. Ma a;
of these throw great light or
Old Testament history, and in
every case corroborate the aa
cred narrative. The work of
Mr. Layard has been used in re
vising many of the articles o,
this Dictionary, for the presen
edition. It contains a larg*
fund of useful information.
Wroth, a god of Assyria,
worshipped under the form of
an eagle. 2 Kings 19 : 37.
NitrCi This word, which oc-
curs but twice in the Bible, does
not mean what we now call nitre
or saltpetre, but is that native salt
called natrum by naturalists.
The natrum is an earthy alka
line salt, found in abundance on
the surface of the Lake Natron
in Egypt, in Sindy, an ini**'or
province of Asia, and many
other places. It is in all re-
spects the same as the Smyrna
" soap earth." Solomon evi-
dently means this substance
when he compares the effect of
unseasonable mirth upon man
in affliction to the action of vin-
egar on nitre. Prov. 25 : 20.
Vinegar has no effect upon what
we call nitre, but upDn th : s
earthy alkali it produces violo it
effervescence. Being of a soapy
nature, it was used to cleanse
clothes and the skin ; to which
is the allusion in Jer. 2 : 22.
NO) an Egyptian city, which
Vitringa considers to be tho
same as Noph, whicr see. This,
however, is very improbable.
The name of the city is properly
No-AmoH t i. e., the seat of the
I god Ainon (the Egyptian naini
NOA
180
NOV
far Jupiter), generally called
limply No. Nah. 3 : 8. Ezek.
30 : 1416. The cut is fram
an Egyptian representation.
Modern investigations have
settled, beyond doubt, that this
city was Thebes, the famous cap-
ital of Egypt, called also Dios-
polis by the Greeks, and the
chief seat of the worship of
Jupiter Ammon. Its ruins are
the wonder and delight of all
travellers. Jer. 40 : 25. The
destruction of No-Amon seems
to have a little preceded that of
Nineveh, and to have occurred
while Hezekiah ruled in Judea,
and Sevechus, whom Herodotus
mils Sethon, was king of Egypt,
Jaat is, about B. c. 710.
JNoall, after leaving the ark,
deems to have settled in China ;
and is probably their Fohi.
Hence, probably, is theii 1 flotion
that Fohi had no father. Civil-
ization and literature may be
traced to as early a period in
^hina as anywhere in the wor'd.
Nod, a land to which Cfcln
withdrew after his fratricide.
Gen. 1 : 16. We have no
mean? \t present, of knowing
what country this was. Gen.
4: 16.
IVoph, the ancient MempUs t
near to which are the famous
pyramids. It seems not im-
probable that these pyramids
were built by the children of
Israel, while slaves to Pharaoh;
but whether they were designed
as objects of worship or sepul-
chres for the dead, is uncertain.
Nose-jewel, mentioned Gen.
24 : 47, and Isa. 3 : 21, and
in various other places. It re-
mains to this day a 'favorite
female ornament. The carti-
lage of the nose is not perforated,
but the ring is cut, and merely
presses on each side of the flesh.
a new convert. Suet
a one is not to be put into th
| ministry. 1 Tim 3 : 6.
OAT
181
OAT
Numbers, the fourth book of
the Old TcsUiiient, so called
from its containing an account
of the numbering of the children
of Israel, chapters 1, 2, and
26. It records the history of
I0raol for thirty-eight years ;
that is, from the second month
of the second year after their
exodus from Egypt, to the
eleventh month of the fortieth
year of tneir journeyings Moil
of the transactions which are
mentioned took place ii the
second and the ttdrty-dgAth
years.
JVntS) a word which occurs
only Gen. 43 : 11, and is ra-
riously rendered. It is proba-
bly the fruit of the pistachio tree
The size is about the same as
the hazel nut.
O.
Oak, a tree of great stat-
ure and durability. Abraham
pitched his tent, and Joshua set
up the tabernacle, beneath an
oak. Josh. 24 : 26. The tree
is not common in Palestine. Its
durability made the idolater se-
lect it as the substance of his
god. Is. 44 : 14. The British
Druids held it sacred. It is ad-
mirable timber for ships, and is
now chiefly used for that purpose.
Oath, a solemn act, wherein
we swear by God, or call him to
witness the truth of what we
assert or promise, and to curse
us in time and eternity, if we
swear what is false 01 *uknown
to us, or if we do not perform
what we engage. The forms of
administering an oath have been
very various among different
people?, and in different periods.
"As the Lord liveth;" "God
do so to me and more also ;"
" As thy soul In th ; " " So help
16
me God;" <tc., and many othei
forms have been used. An oath
should never be taken but in
matters of importance, nor sworn
by the name of any but the true
God, as it is an act of solemn wor-
ship ; nor irreverently, without
godly fear and awe of the Most
High. Josh. 23: 7. James 5 :
12. Deut.6: 13. Matt. 5: 34, 35.
Jer. 5 : 7. The multiplication
of oaths, therefore, in commerce
and common affairs, is a great
sin. The irreverent and hur-
ried manner in which they are
too frequently administered has
a great tendency to increase
perjury.
Few sins are so heinous
as prcfane swearing. It has
neither the force of bodily ap-
petite, nor love of gain, for its
excuse ; while it betrays the
' contempt of God, and
tends to destroy all certainty of
testimony. Matt. 5 : 34.
OFF
182
OFF
Obadiah, the prophet, ia
thought to have lived about the
time that Jerusalem was sacked
by Nebuchadnezzar.
THE BOOK of Obatliah contains
prophecies of the destruction of
Edom, and the future prosperity
of Ziou.
Oblation, an offering where
no life was destroyed. Obla-
tions consisted of bread, fruit,
meal, wine, oil, cakes, &c. See
OFFERING, and SACRIFICE
Offend* (1.) To commit sin.
4aa 25 : 8. (2.) To cause to
commit sin. " Whoso shall of-
fend one / of these little ones,"
&c Matt. 18 : 6 9. 1 Cor.
10: 32. (3.) To be scandalized
or displeased. Matt. 15 : 12.
Thus the meanness of Christ's
birth was a stone of stumbling
ind rock of offence. Isa. 8 : 14.
1 Cor. 8 : 13. In this sense we
are to understand Ps. 119 : 165,
where it is said of those who
love God's law, that "nothing
shall offend them."
Offering, a sacrifice, anything
offered or presented in worship.
The Hebrews had several kinds
of offerings, which were all in-
tended to exhibit and enforce
h-9 great truths of religion.
The BURNT-OFFEPJNGS were
presented to God, as the Maker,
Preserver, and Lord of ihe uni-
verse, entitled to ail adoration
%nd bonor. The " whole burnt-
offerings," as their name im-
ports, were all burnt except the
ikin. They signified that the
whole man, in whoso stead they
were offered, was to be entirely
devoted to God, without reserve ,
that he himself had deserved U
be utterly consumed ; that the
sufferings of the Messiah, as the
sinner's Substitute, would be
extremely great ; and that all
fleshly lusts and selfishness of
principle are to be completely
mortified.
The SIN-OFFERING and the
TRESPASS-OFFERING are de-
scribed in Lev. 4 and 5; but
the exact difference between the
transgressions to whicb they
have reference is very obscure.
It seems probable that the sin-
offering was for violation of
prohibitory statutes ; and the
trespass-offering was for neglect
of imperative statutes. It was
not so entirely consumed by fire
as the burnt-offering. (Compare
Lev. 1 : 9, and ch. 7 : 8, with
ch. 6 : 25, 26, and 29.) The
victim was brought to the door
of the tabernacle ; the offender
put his hand upon its head, con-
fessed his sins, and supplicated
pardon, saying, " I beseech thee,
Lord ; I have sinned, I have
trespassed, I have rebelled :
but now I repent, and let THIS "
(that is, his sacrifice) " be my
expiation." The animal was
then slain, and reconciliation
enjoyed with God. It is thus
we confess our sins, in an hum-
ble dependence upon the atone-
ment of Jesus Christ, and look
for salvation through his
precious blood. Restitution, so
often mentioned in Scripture,
formed an indispensable part ot
the duty of him that presented
OFF
183
OL1
these offerings. If he held his
neighbor's property unjustly,
he not only now restored it, but
added a fifth part. Num. 5: 5,
8. Ex. 22 : 3, 8.
The PEACE-OFFERINGS and
THANK-OFFERINGS had respect
to God, as reconciled to us, and
as the Giver of all our posses-
sions. They were free-will or
voluntary oblations, either in
return for blessings received, or
in supplication for mercies de-
sired. The blood, Ac., of these
victims was offered up by the
priest, and the remainder re-
turned to the worshipper, who
added to it such other things as
he chose, and made a feast, to
which widows, orphans, slaves
and Levites, were invited.
Christ is our Peace-Offering ;
and it is for him, and by him,
that we render thanksgiving
unto the Father.
The WAVE-OFFERINGS were
shaken or tossed to and fro,
towards the several parts of the
world, to denote God's universal
dominion and the extent of the
Redeemer's sacrifice. Lev. 8.
The MEAT-OFFERING consisted
of gifts of flour, incense, oil,
apice, Ac. The priest sprinted
part of the flour and all the ic.-
eense upon the altar, and the
rest belonged to him and the
other priests.
DRINK-OFFERINGS were not
eommonly offered alone, but
' accompanied other offerings;
part of the wine, oil, Ac., was
poured on the altar, the rest
was for the pri >st.
"The law was a hadow i*
good things to come ; but the
body is of Christ " C*J. 2 ;
17; and Heb. 10 : 1. Many
of the Hebrews, it is prooable,
placed a carnal dependence on
ceremonial offerings, and did not
entirely appreciate their sym
bolical meaning. But this error
is decidedly condemned in many
places. Ps. 50 : 823 ;. 40 :
6, 9. Isa. 1 : 1120. Hos. 6:
6. Mio. 6 : 68, Ac.
Oil, or OINTMENT, is ndw ex
tracted from the fat of fishes
from flaxseed, and a multitude
of other substances. Oil ob-
tained from olives, that is, such
as we now call sweet ot7, was
abundant in the Holy Land.
Deut. 32 : 13. Bread dipped in
oil was reckoned a 'delicate re-
past. An infusion of some
flowers made it fragrant. Matt.
26 : 7. Ps. 92 : 10. The He-
brews used olive oil in their
meat-offerings, in thoir sacred
lamps, and in their common use;
but there was a sacred oil com-
pounded with cinnamon, cala-
mus, cassia, and myrrh, which
was used in the anointing of
the priests, the tabernacle and
furniture. None of it was to
be applied to any other use ;
nor was any to be made like it
except for sacred uses.
Olive, a tree very common
in Judea. It makes a one
appearance, having spreading
branches like our apple-tree,
and remaining green in the
winter. It flourishes about 200
years. There are two kinds, th
OL1
184
ONE
wild
the cultivated; the
former being smaller and poorer
khan the latter. It is the chief
resource of Orientals for
article they use in grea ! Sun-
dance, both for food ana oint-
ment, as well as light. Its oil
was considered good for wounds,
bruises, Ac. The fruit, which is
about the size of a small plum, is
very wholesome and nourishing.
Capt. Cook found that its
green branches, carried in the
hands, or stuck in the ground,
were emblems of peace, univer-
sally employed and understood
by the untutored inhabitants of
the South Sea Islands. The
origin of a custom thus re-
ceived and religiously observed
by nations dwelling on opposite
sides of the globe, who never had
the smallest intercourse with
one another, must be sought for
near the beginning of time,
when the inhabitants of our
earth, forming but one family,
attached the
recollections to
mencing at the valley of Jehoah-
aphat, and of the distant plain!
and mountains of Moab. This
is the spot whence our Saviour
ascended into heaven in sight of
his apostles.
the last letter of the
most pleasing
the bringing of
an olive branch. Gen. 8 : 11.
A reference to the same sign of
mercy to Noah, may be traced
in the derivation of the Greek
word eJ.atog t mercy, from
an olive.
Greek alphabet. See ALPHA.
O'mer, see HOMER.
On, a city of Lower Egypt;
called Heliopolis by the Septua-
gint version, Gen. 41 : 45, and
by Herodotus, who says the
inhabitants were " the wisest of
the Egyptians." It was one of
the oldest cities in the world,
and about two hours' ride from
Cairo. The father-in-law of
Joseph was high priest of OK,
and thus the noblest priest in
Egypt. This was the city of
Moses, according to Berosus,
and accounts for his being
" learned in all the wisdom of
the Egyptians." Acts 7 : 22,
Heliopolis was the Greek trans-
lation of Beth-shemeshy " the
house or city of the san," and
is called (Jer. 43 : 13) " Beth-
shemesh in the land of Egypt,"
to distinguish it from a place of
the same name in Canaan. Josh
19 : 08.
The site of this once great
and famous city is now a com-
Olivet, or MOUNT OP OLIVES, [ mon field, distinguished only by
stood about 625 pace* cast of
Jerusalem, from wbic> K *as.
separated by the vallej >i Jo-
hoshaphat and brook Kidron.
From its summit there is a fine
view of Jerusalem, of the Dead
8a, of the vast and irregular
a single obelisk, about seventy
feet high, of red granite.
Oiies'imns, a slave of Phue
mon, a wealthy Christian in
Colosse. For some unknown
reason, he absconded from his
master. Coming to Home, he
dell which leads to it, com- \ was converted to Christianity bj
ONY
186
OPP
rai , a ad being a man of in-
telligroe and respectability, as
Oriental servants often were, he
proved very useful to Paul
during his imprisonment. He
then returned to his former sit-
uation, with Paul's Epistle to
PHILEMON ; which see.
Oliesipll'oros was an Ephesian
convert of some distinction, who,
being at Rome during Paul's im-
prisonment, openly befriended
him, and supplied his wants,
when many of his friends were
afraid to do so. 2 Tim. 1:16,
and 4 : 19.
Onion, a word occurring Num.
11 : 6, only. Those of Egypt
greatly surpass any others in
excellence. The fact that onions
were eaten in Egypt during the
bondage of Israel, may indicate
that they had not then become
so gross in idolatry as to wor-
ship this plant, as was the case
in the days of JUVENAL, who
satirizes the Egyptians for this
superstition. In warm coun-
tries, and especially in Egypt,
onions are very large, soft, and
sweet ; very different from those
of the United States.
Ono was in the tribe of Ben
jamin, 1 Chron. 8 : ] 2.
Ott'yelia, a fragrant gum,
probably the bdellium, which is
a gum, smooth and shining like
a man's nail, which the Greeks
call onyx, and is by some
authors called " bdella &nyx," to
distinguish it from other kinds.
Some authors have followed
Dioscoriles, who considers the j science
16*
ony -ha to be the produce of I
shell fish, found in some laitoa of
India. Hut India was too dis-
tant for drugs to be imported
thence into Jiulca ; and beside
the original word means to
drop like a tear," to " distil,"
and must mean something that
exudes. The word occurs in Ex
30 : 34, only.
O'nyx, a precious stone, tak-
ing its name from its color re-
sembling the finger nails. What
it was is very uncertain; proba-
bly a variety of the agate, or the
chalcedony.
Ophir, the son of Joktan
Whether he gave name to the
country famous for gold, or
where that country wag, we can
hardly determine. It is certair
that it was somewhere in India,
as the fleet passed down the
Red Sea to get to it, and that ita
gold was renowned even in the
time of Job, ch. 22 : 24 ; 28
16 ; and that from the time of
David to the time of Jehosha-
phat, the Hebrews traded with
it, and that Uzziah revived this
trade when he made himself
master of Elath, a noted port on
the Red Sea. In Solomon's time,
the Hebrew fleet took up three
years in their voyage to Ophir,
and brought home gold, apes,
peacocks, spices, ivory, ebony,
and aluiug-trees. 1 Kings 9 18,
10: 11; 22: 48. 2 Chr. 9 . 10.
Oppression, unreasonable im-
position, whether on man's
property, character, or oon-
Persecution of ftU
OBG
186
OST
kinds p*rtakes of the nature of
this sin.
Oracle, something delivered
by supernatural wisdom. The
" most holy place," in the tem-
ple, was called the oracle, be-
cause there the priest inquired
of God. 1 Kings 6 : 519.
The Scriptures are the oracles
of God, which Christians ought
to consult at all times ; espec-
ially in matters of difficulty, and
in the great affairs relating to
their souls and another life.
Heb. 5 : 12. Acts 7 : 38.
Ordinance, an appointed rite
or observance. No religious
ordinance is binding, or even
admissible, which is not of
divine institution ; nor can any
so instituted be varied or modi-
fied by human caprice or judg-
ment. Baptism and the Lord's
Supper are the only proper or-
dinances of Christianity.
Organ, a wind instrument of
music, invented by Jubal, the
sixth in descent from Cain ; but
Jubal's was probably very dif-
ferent from ours, which are com-
pos >.d of various kinds of pipes,
JUUffl
aome of them thirty to forty
feet long. The present kind we
do not kiow to be more than
BOO jean old Ps 150 : 4
The primitive organ was what
is called " Pan's pipes," as seen
in the cut ; made of reeds, and
blown into with the mouth.
Gen. 4 : 21. Organs made of
reeds five or six feet long are
still used in Burrnah, Siam, Ac.,
of which some fine specimens
are in the Baptist missionary
rooms, Boston.
Ori'on, a constellation con-
sisting of nearly eighty stars,
which appear to us in Novem-
ber. Job 38: 31.
O'see, one of the prophets,
called in the Old Testament
Hosea. Rom. 9 : 25.
Ospray, the black eagle.
Bruce has probably described
this bird under the name nissa
tokoor. It occurs in Lev. 11 :
13, and Deut. 14 : 12, only.
Ossifrage, the vulture, occurs
Lev. 11 : 13, Deut. 14 : 12, only.
Ostrich, the largest of all
fowls, weighing from sixty to
eighty pounds, and apparently
the connecting link between
birds and quadrupeds. It is
often seven or eight feet in
heigh*, Its eggs, of which it
lays thirty or forty in a season,
are as large as a child's head,
and are said to be left in the
sand to be hatched by the sun
Job 8.9 : 14, 16. Ostriches are
found in the desert of Arabia
where they live chiefly on vege-
tables, and le{*d a social, inof-
fensive life. It s )inetiines utters
a remarkably plaintive note, ai
though it was in great pain
Mio 1:8 In swiftness the?
PAL
187
\x exceed the horse, Job 39 :
18, and though taken by men
>n horseback, it is by strata-
gem. The Arabs ofien rido
upon them. The ostrich is so
timid that, at any alarm, it will
fly and leave its eggs, or even
its young ones ; which explains
Lam. 4:3. It is there foretold
that the distress of the Jews
should be so great, that parents
would suffer their children to
perish, being engrossed with
anxiety to preserve themselves.
It is said, Job 39 '. 16, 17, " she
is hardened against her young
ones, as though they were not
hers," and that she is " deprived
of understanding ;" and such is
remarkably the fact. In flight,
it Bometiines hides its head ;
and, thinking itself safe when it
cannot see its pursuer, is easily
taken.
Ouches, sockets for the gems
of the high priest's breastplate.
Ex. 39 : 6. The solderings of
the rings at the corners seem
also to be so called. Ex. 39 : 16.
Outer, external. " Outer dark-
ness " meats the iatkn*^ ^ JM
night without, in opposition tc
the light and splendor of the
feast within. Ileuue the pnrasw
is also used to express the state
of exclusion from the kingdom
of God. Matt. 8 : 12.
Oven, a place for baking
food. Some were dug in the
ground. Others were similtr to
American ovens. Some were
like a pitcher ; the fire being
put inside, and the dough spread
thin over the outside, which was
baked in a few minutes. Fuel
being scarce, as it is in all
Eastern countries, dried cow-
dung, stubble, stalks of flowers,
and grass, were used. Lev. 11 :
35. Matt. 6 : 30.
Owl, a bird of night, of the
rapacious kind, very various in
size and color, and found chiefly
in desert solitudes and ruined
houses. Isa. 13 : 21. Its voice
is excessively disagreeable and
melancholy. Job 30 : 29. Ps.
102 : 0. Wicked men are com-
pared to owls, in that they hae
the light. Isa. 43 : 20.
P.
Pa'dan A'ram, another name
for MESOPOTAMIA.
Palm-Tree, a tree remarkable
for loftiness, straightness, and
productiveness and hence made
in em) lem in Scripture of up-
rightness, fruitfulness, and vic-
tory There are many varieties
f this tree One bears the
date, very sweet and nourishing,
and a large portion of the in-
habitants of Egypt, Arabia, and
Persia, subsist almost entirely
upon it. Camels are fond of
the stone. The fruit is of the
size of an olive. Various palm
of Ilindostau, Eurmah, and ad-
jacent countries yield no useful
PAL
188
PAN
fruit. Palm branches were sig-
nals of joy and triumph, and
therefore the blessed in heaven
are represented as bearing them.
Kev. 7:9. The leaves are six
or eight feet long, and propor-
tionably broad when spread out,
and are used to cover houses,
and make couches, baskets,
bags, fences, hats, &c. From
the fibre of the branches are
made thread, ropes, rigging,
<k<3. Indeed, " the natives (says
GIBBON) celebrate, .either in
prose or verse, three hundred
and s'xty uses to which the
trunk, branches, leaves, juice,
and fruit are applied."
The date-tree attains maturity
in thirty years from planting
the seed, continues in full
Btrength eighty years, bearing
annually three or four hundred
I pounds of dates, and finaMy
dies at about two hundred yeara
old. From its sap palm wine is
made, called by the natives
araky. It is a beverage which
easily intoxicates, and is thought
by Bishop Lowth to be th
" strong drink," menticaed iu
Isa. 5 : 11, and 24 : 9.
From the species called Ian
dan, growing wild in various
parts of the East, the common
sago is procured. It forms a
nutritious diet for the natives,
who eat it as we do rice. This
kind of palm bears no fruit but
the sort of cabbage on the top,
which is common to all palms.
The sago is obtained from the
pith of the tree, which is ground
and granulated.
Palmer-worm, a sort of cat-
erpillar of great voracity. BO-
CHART contends, against the
majority of learned men, that
it is a species of the locust. It
occurs only in Joel 1:4; 2 : 25
Amos 4:9.
Pamphyiia, a province of
Asia Minor, having the Med-
iterranean on the south, Lyoia
on the west, Pisidia on the
north, and Cilicia on the east
Attalia and Perga were its prin-
cipal cities. That part of the
Mediterranean lying on the
south of it wai called the Sea
of Pamphyiia, Acts 2 : 10 ; 13 :
13, &c. This and the adjacent
provinces are now called t/u
Levant.
Pannag, probably the valu-
able plant which DIOSCCKUJCS
and PLJNT describe by the uunt
PAP
189
TAR
of " Panax," from wnioh a com-
position was made, esteemed
eerviceab/e in many di
whence panicea became a name
for a univei sal medicine. It is
said to resemble millet, and to
have been used as food. It is
spoken of nowhere but in Ezek.
27 : 17.
Paper was invented in very
early times. 2 John 12. It
derives its name'from the papy-
rus, or paper-reed, a species of
bulrush, growing on the banks
of the Nile. Isa. 19 : 7. The
stalk is triangular, rising to the
height of eight or nine feet,
besides several feet under the
water, and terminating at the
top in a crown of small filaments
resembling thistle. Of these
the Egyptians made baskets,
hoes, cloths, and small boats.
Ex. 2 : 3. Isa. 18 : 2. To make
paper, they peeled off the dif-
ferent skins or films of the
plant, which succeed ea h other
like thoi 3 of an onion. These
they laid ou a table, like tht
shingles of a roof, to the intend
ed length and breadth of lh
paper, and laid .\er them a
thin paste ; above which they
spread a cms.-: layer of other
films or leaves, and then driei
it in the sun. The films near-
est the heart of the plant made
the finest paper. When one of
the Ptolemies denied Attains,
king of Pergatnus, this kind of
paper, for writing his library,
he invented, or greatly im-
proved, the manufacture of
parchment ; after which, books
of note were written on parch-
ment for almost 1300 years
The parchments which Paul left
at Troas, and ordered Timothy
to bring with him, were prob-
ably either the original drafts
of some of his epistles, or a
marked copy of the Old Testa-
ment. 2 Tim. 4 : 13. Pper
!' rags has been in use
a'M'iit ">">() years. Latterly, cot-
ton rai;s, old ropes, straw, and
other substances, have been
made into paper.
Pa'phos, a commercial city of
Cyprus, visited by Paul Acts
: G. Twenty-five or thirty
poor huts are all that remain of
this once metropolitan city.
This miserable village is now
called Baffa.
Parable, a short, weight
similitude, used to convey in-
struction to ignorant, preju
diced, or inattentive hearer*
The ancients used parables fre
quently.
PAR
190
PAR
The following tible shows the
arder iu which those of Christ
were delivered :
Blind leading the blind, Luke 6:39.
House founded on a rock, Matt. 7 : 24.
The two debtors, . . . Luke 7 : 41.
Expelled devil returning, Matt. 12 : 43.
The rich fool Luke 12 : 16.
The watchful servants, . " 12 . 38.
The barren fig-tree, . . " 13 : 6.
The sower Matt. 13 : 3.
The vvhea-t and tares, . . Matt 13 2-1.
The growth of the seed, Mark 4 : 2(5.
The mustard seed, . . . Matt 13 : 31.
The leaven, .... " " 33.
Tlie hidden treasure, . . " " 44.
The pearl of great price, " " 45.
The fishing net, . . . . " " 47.
The good householder, . " " 52.
New piece to the gar-
ment, Luke 5 : 36.
New wine in old bottles, " " 37.
The lost sheep, . . . .Matt. 18:11.
Unmerciful servant, . . " " 23.
Shepherd and sheep, . . John 10 : 11.
G-ood Samaritan, . . . Luke 10 : 30.
The amur.ous guests, . " 14: 7.
The neglected invitations, " " 16.
Building a tower, ... " "28.
King going to war, . . " " 31.
The lost piece of silver, " 15: 8.
The prodigal son, ... " "11.
The unjust steward, . . "16 : 1.
Kich man and Lazarus, " " 19.
The master and servant, " 17 : 7.
The unjust judge, ... " 18 : 1.
Pharisee and publican, " " 9.
Laborers in vineyard, . Matt. 20 : 1.
The ten pounds, . . .Luke 19 -.11.
The two sons Matt. 21 : 28.
Wicked husbandmen, . " "33.
Wedding garment, < . " 22 : 1.
Fig-tree putting forth, . " 24 : 32.
The master's return, . " " 44.
The ten virgins, ... "25 1.
The talents " "14.
The true vine John 15 : 1, 2.
To understand parables, it is
proper to observe, (1.) It is not
necessary that the representa-
tion of natural things in a par-
kUe should be strictly matter
of fact, because the design is
not to inform concerning these,
but concerning some more mo-
mentous truth ; nor is it neces-
sary that all the actions in a
parable be strictly just. 2 Sam.
14. Luke 16 : 18. (2.) We
mast chiefly attend to the scope
ii the partible, which is to be
ga .hered from its inspired exjii
ca'ion, if any ; or from the in
tro luction to it, or the conclu.
siou of it. (3.) Hence it iol
lows, that we are not to expeci
that every circumstance in the
parable should be answered by
something in the explication ;
for several circumstances maj
be added for the sake of deoo
rum, or mere allusion to tha
whence the figure of the parabl*
is taken. (4.) Yet a parable
may inform us of several truths
besides that which is the main
intent of it.
Paradise, the abode of glori-
fied spirits. Luke 23 : 44. 2
Cor. 12:4. Rev. 27. See EDEN.
Paran formed a part of Ara-
bia Petrea. Deut. 33 : 2.
Parched Corn. The Jewi
were fond of both wheat and
maize, or Indian corn, parched,
and they were so sold in the
markets. The Indian corn was
eaten in this way also before it
was ripe, as it is now in Amer-
ica, Egypt, India, &c., and ii a
favorite food. Lev. 23 : 14.
Ruth 2 : 14. 1 Sam. 17 : 17.
Pardou, the remission of pun
ishment due to guilt. Various
similitudes, and touching ex-
pressions, are used in Scripture,
to show how ready the Lord ia
to pardon sinners, and to blot
out their sins, caxt. ihtm bthind
him, <fco. Christians are re-
quired to pardon others, bj
that noblest of motives, " ever
as God for Christ's Bake hati
pardoned us."
PAR
191
PAT
Parthla, aa ancient empire, I
outh of the Caucasus, and east
of the Tigris, which subsisted
400 years, beginning B. C. 250.
The natives were remarkable
for continuing to fight even
when they were obliged to re-
treat. In the latter periods of
the Roman republic they were
a powerful people. It now
forms a part of Persia. Doubt-
less the Jews from Parthia, who
heard Peter's sermon, carried
home the knowledge of the
Christian faith ; but for many
ages past there has been but
little Christianity here. Acts
2 : 9.
Partition, A separation be-
tween the parts of a thing. The
peculiar ceremonies of the Jews
were a " wall of partition " be-
tween them and the Gentiles.
Jesus did them away, and
now the wall of separation is
entirely abolished. Eph. 2 : 14
-16.
Partridge. This bird is men-
tioned but twice in Scripture.
In 1 Sam. 26 : 20, David com-
pares himself to it hunted by
an enemy. The prophet speaks
of " the partridge that sittcth on
ggs and hatcheth them not*' as
being like the man who " grtteth
riches, and not by right.'* Aft tho
oird makes no other nest than
a hollow on the ground, her
egg. are vary often destroyed
by rains or the feet of animals.
Several of them will sometimes
lay in the same n*/st, so that the
Bitting hen cannot cover them
all. aud many are spoiled Fifty
or sixty eggs are often found !
one nest. Jer. 17 11.
Pan aim, a region thought to
tho same as Opfjir. 2 Chron.
3 : 6.
Passion, any strong or violent
emotion of the mind ; desire
for, or aversion to, a thing, aa
anger, love, joy, Ac., the laat
sufferings of the Redeemer of
the world.
Passover, a feast of the Jews,
in commemoration of the time
when God, smiting the first-bor&
of the Egyptians, passed oiwr the
habitations of the Hehrwws,
Ex. 12. The lamb which was
slain, called the pascal /am>, was
a type of Christ, the Lamb of
God, slain from the foundation
of the world. Rev. 13 ; 8. And,
as the destroying angel passed
over the houses of the Hebrews,
which were marked with the
blood of this pascal lamb, so
the wrath of God pa&ses over
those whose souls re sprfnkKxi
witn the blood of Chriet. 1 Cor.
5 : 7. Heb. 12 : 24. The month
of the exodus from Egypt was
ordained thenceforth to be the
first of the sacred year. On the
14th day of this month, aboi
sunset, the pascal lamb was t-
be killed. See FEAST.
Pat'ara, a seaport of Lyoia
Here was a famous temple of
Apollo ; and oracles, equal
repute to those of Delphos,
were given for six months of
the year. Paul touched here in
his way from Macedonia to Je
rusalem. Acts 21 : I. We find
no traces of Christianity hrt
PAT
192
PAU
tin the fourth century, nor after
the ninth, when the Saracens
waited Che country.
Path. See WAY.
Pathros, a city or canton of
Egypt. It is probably the
rhaturis of Pliny. It had its
name from Pathrusim, the fifth
ion of Mizraim, who built or
peopled it. Gen. 10 : 14. It
is thought by Calmet to be the
Greek Thebais.
Patience, that noble passion
or power of the mind which
renders us capable of enduring
the difficulties, afflictions, and
disappointments, that happen
in this lifc ; that grace which
enables us readily to submit to
the will of God under all circum-
stances ; an humble and sub-
missive waiting for and expec-
tation of eternal life, and the
accomplishment of God's prom-
ises ; that long-suffering of God,
which delays the punishment
of sinners, and allows them space
for repentance. Matt. 18 : 26,
29. Horn. 2:4. It is a virtue
which, though much overlooked,
and reckoned of inferior grade,
is, however, one of the noblest
attainments of the Christian.
Jam. 1 : 4.
Patmos, a poor, rooky island
in the Grecian Ar*J \pelago,
about twenty-five mile* in cir-
eumference. To this island
John was banished by Domitian,
in A. D. 94, and here ho received
his Revelations, which, however,
were not published till his re-
turn to Ephesus. The chief
town is in the centre of the
island, 5000 feet above the IfcveJ
of the sea, and contains 200
houses and a Catholic convent.
The present name of the island
is Patmol, or Patmosa.
Patriarch, a venerable man,
with a large posterity. The
word is chiefly applied to those
who lived before Moses, Acta
7:8; and hence we speak of
the " patriarchal age."
A list of the patriarchs, with
the length of their lives :
Adam, w
Seth,
10 lived 930 yea
; 912
Enos,
9(15
Hainan.
910
Miihirlaleel,
895
Jarecl,
962
Enoch,
365
Methuselah,
Lauiech,
Noah,
969
777
950
Shem,
600
Arphaxad,
438
Salah,
433
Eber,
464
Peleg,
239
Ren,
239
Serug,
230
Nahor,
148
Terah,
205
Abraham,
Isaac,
IS
Jacob,
147
Paul was of the kibe of Ben-
jamin, born in Tarsus, which, as
it was a free city of Rome, gave
him the honor and advantage
of Roman citizenship, though
both of his parents were Jews.
His name at first was Saul. He
was sent to Jerusalem fbr his
education, and became a very
learned and prominent Pharisee,
lie was not converted till after
r Saviour's death ; which
makes him speak of himself as
born out of due time." He
seems to have been raised up to
take the place of Judas. His
ronderful labors and saeoess
PEA
I EA
we recorded in the ACTS OF THK
APOSTLES. He was at last be-
neaded by Nero, at or near
Rome, about A. D. 66. The fol-
lowing is the order and date of
his epistles, as given by Bishop
Pearson :
A. D. 52, the 1 Ep. to the Thess.
52, " 2 <f ......
67, " 1 " Corinthians.
" Galatlans.
" 2 " Corinthians.
" lion
62, " " Ephegians.
63,
65,
-MILS.
" Philemon.
" IIH.rews.
1 " Timothy.
" Titus.
67. " 2 " Timothy.
Some chronologists have as-
Pigned a little different date to
some of these. The computa-
tions adopted by HORNE will be
found under the head of NEW
KBXT.
His writings show him to have
been eminently acquainted with
both Hebrew and Greek learn-
ing. Ilia quotations from the
Old Testament show how pro-
foundly and accurately he un-
derstood the Jewish Law. His
having read the Greek poets is
evinced by his universally ac-
knowledged quotations from
Aratus, Epirnenidcs and Me-
nander, ajid, as some maintain,
from ^Eschylus, Sophocles and
Euripides.
Peace, happy tranquillity.
The gospel does not promise ex-
oiting pleasures, but pec t.
Christ is the " Prince of peace."
Christians are required to "live
In peace," and endeavor to pro-
mote it in the earth. The wicked
and awful wars which have
17
the earth shall to
known no more when Christian*
ity reigns. Isa. 2:4. To
bring about universal peace,
direct means should be em-
ployed, as well as for other good
objects. Matt. 5 : 9.
Peacock, a beautiful bird, not
known in Palestim till imported
by Solomon. 1 Kings 10 : 22.
Its native country seems to be
Persia and India. When Alex-
ander reached the river Indus
he was so charmed at the sight
of these birds, that he forbade
them to be killed under .. se
vere penalty ; and when Hot-
tensius first killed one for sup
per at Rome, ho was' tried for
the ofience.
Pearl, a hard, white, shining
substance, found in some shell
fishes. The matter proper to
enlarge the shell, bursting from
-via that convey it to the
outside, forms into a pearl.
Common oysters, the pinna-ma-
rina, and several other fish,
form pearls ; but the proper
pearl oyster produces the best.
The chief fisheries for pearl are
at Bahrein, in the Persian Gulf,
and near the Isle of Ceylon, in
the East Indies. The next to
these are the pearl fisheries in
the Gulf of Mexico. The beau-
tiful inside of the shell of the
pearl oyster is called " mother <>;
pearl.' 1 In fifty years, pearlf
generally lose tbetr beauty, and
in a hundred they are scarcely
worth anything. Cleopatra had
a pearl valued at 80,000 poundf
sterling The Persian emperor
PEL
194
PEN
had 3ce worth 110>000 pounds
sterling ; and Philip II., of
Spain, h*d one as large as a
pigeon's egg, and valued at
144,000 ducats. What our la-
dies wear in their necklaces are
ordinarily false pearls, made of
fish-scales bruised, and enclosed
in glass. What is very excel-
lent is likened to pearls. How
precious ! how hard to be come
at in a proper manner ! how
truly ornamental ! and how apt
are inen to counterfeit them !
Matt. 13 : 46. Rev. 21 : 21,
22. To "cast pearls before
ewine," is to preach the gospel
to persecutors ; to apply the
promises and privileges proper
to saints to men really wicked;
to dispense sacraments to per-
sons notoriously profane ; or to
administer reproofs to obstinate
scoffers. Matt. 7 : 6.
Peleg, whose name signifies
division, was born one hundred
years after the flood. lie was
BO named, because in his days
the earth was divided into na-
tions, in consequence of the con-
fusion of tongues at the tower
of Babel. Gen. 10 : 25.
Pel'ethites are always men-
tioned with CherethJtes, and
were part of the 'dng'p guard.
They were chiefly used as run-
ners or messengers. See CHERE-
HITE8.
Pelican, an aquitio bird,
omewhat larger than a common
goose. Its color i? nearly white,
the neck yellowish, and the back
dark brown. It has a long,
crooked beak, and the foro part
of the heal towards the throat
naked. Pelicans have a bag at
their throat, nearly as capacious
as a peck measure, into which
they gather fishes, <fec., for
themselves and for their young,
of whom they are extremely
careful. Its feeding its young
from the bag on its breast has
perhaps been the origin of the
fable of its giving them its own
blood ; and thus caused it to be
the emblem of paternal, as the
stork is of filial aifection. This
bird is very retired in its habits,
sitting for whole days alone
among rocks and solitudes. Its
voice is plaintive and disagree-
able. Hence David compares
himself, in his distress, to the
pelican. Ps. 102 : 6.
Pen, an instrument for writ
ing. Anciently, when tatJta
of wax, &c., were used, the pen
was generally made of reed.
John, in his 3d epistle, verse
13, says, "I have many things
to write unto thee, but not with
pen (xaAuKor, calamus) and
ink." The English word pen
comes from the Latin prnna, a
feather ; but the use of quills is
a modern invention ; the first
authentic testimony of their
being so used is inlsidorus, who
died A. D. 636.
Peni'elj where Jacob saw the
Lord, was east of Jordan, near
the brook Jabbok. Gen. 32 :
2428.
Penny, a Roman silver coin,
equal to about thirteen aenta
It was the common price of t
day 'a work. Matt 20: 2-15
PEN
195
PER
fn warm countries, the fruits of | tha Passover ; (2.) t. e feat jf
khe earth are produced in great
abundance, and the inl'abitants
require but little clothing ; so
that labor is very cheap. The
pay of soldiers was still less.
It is very necessary to remem-
ber the value of the penny, to
understand that the wages men-
tioned in the passage just quoted
were very generous ; that the
money given by the Samaritan
to the innkeeper was reasona-
ble ; and that the sum, Kev. 6 :
6, is a high price, and denotes a
great scarcity.
This piece of money was first
coined by the Romans B. c. 269.
In the time of Christ it bore the
image of the reigning Emperor.
Matt. 22 : 19.
Pentecost, a feast of the Jews,
on the fiftieth day after the
Passover. It was a solemn
thanksgiving for the harvest,
and a grateful commemoration
of their being delivered from
Egyptian servitude, and enjoy-
ing their property, by reaping
the fruits of their labors. Lev.
*3 : 10, 11, Ac.
It is called by other names in
the sacred writings, as, (1.) tne
feast of weeks (Ex. 24: 22.
Deut. 16 : 10), because cele-
brated seven weeks, or a week
f weeks, after the first day ci
harvest (Ex. 23 : 1C); and, (3.j
the day of first fruity (Numb
28 : 26), because on this daj
the Jews offered thanks for the
bounties of the harvest, and
presented the first fruits of
wheat, in bread baked of the
new grain. Ex. 23 : 16. Lev.
23 : 14. Numb. 28 : 26.
Perdition, utter ruin, eternal
death. The son of perdition mean!
Judas Iscariot. Antichrist ia
also called by this epithet. 2
Thess. 2 : 3,4.
Perfect, complete, without
blemish or defect. It is applied
(1.) to God, who is absolutely
7 -"feet, Matt. 5 : 48 ; (2.) to
that man who has risen to the
measure of his stature in Christ,
Col. 1 : 28; (3.) to some
who are innocent in compari-
son of others, Job 8 : 20 ;
(4.) to one who is sincere in
heart, and unblamable in
life, Gen. 6:9; (5.) to
those who imitate <!ml 1,1
doing good to the unworthy,
Matt. 5 : 48 ; (6.) to such aa
have a good degree of under-
standing, 1 Cor. 2:6; (7.) to
inanimate things, as weight*,
measures, &c. Deut. 12 "> : !.">.
Perfume, an ugreeaU
In the East, perfumes w< ;
to testify great respect. Dan.
2 : 46. The Hebrews had two
sacred perfume" s ne of incrnte,
and the other a-n oil. Ex 30 :
23 38. They were addicted U
the perfuming of dead be diet
clothes, beds, Ac. Prov. 7 : 17
Pi. 45 : 8. Song 3 : 6.
FEB
196
PER
a city of Pamphylia,
tm the river Castrus, near to
which, on an eminence, stood a
temple of Diana. It was famed
for the birth of Apollonius, the
geometrician. Here Paul and
Barnabas preached, Acts 13 :
14 ; 14 : 25 ; and to the end of
the eighth century we fiad a
Christian church here. It is at
present a place of little impor-
tance. There was another Per-
ga in Epirus.
Persamos, the ancient me-
tropolis of Mysia, and the resi-
dence of the Attalian kings,
stands on a rich and spacious
plain, near the banks of the
Gaicus. It was famous for its
extent and grandeur ; for a tem-
ple to Esculapius ; for a library
of 200,000 volumes, which was
removed to Egypt by Cleopatra;
and for its being the birthplace
of the celebrated Galen. Parch-
ment was invented here, and re-
ceived its name from the place.
The Christian church here soon
degenerated, and tolerated for-
nication, but appears to have
been reformed by John's letter,
(Rev. 2), and for 800 years af-
terward it was a considerable
church. A Greek and Armenian
church exist here at the present
day. Of the population now es-
timated at 30,000 person?, there
ire 300 Armenian Christians,
1500 Greeks, and a synagogue
of 100 Jews The remainder
are Turks. The streets are wide
and olean, for an Eastern city.
Its present name is Bergamo.
Perlzzites, one of the d*?ote4
nations of Canaan. They were
never fully extirpated. ?olo-
mon exacted tribute of them.
2 Chr. 8:7. So late s the
days of Ezra we find them Inter-
married with the Jews. Ez. 9:
1.
Persecution, unjust vexation
and injury on account of re-
ligious principles or modes of
worship. Acts 8 : 1, and 13 :
50. Rom. 8 : 35. Gal. 6 : 12.
It is in some degree the lot of
all the truly pious ; therefore,
while the Saviour promises all
necessary good to his followers,
he forewarns them that persecu-
tion will be added. Mark 10 :
30. 2 Tim. 3 : 12. The dread-
ful practice began in the first
human family, and has never
ceased. The form in which per-
secution now ordinarily shows
itself, is in hard words, unchari-
table censures, and underhand
opposition. When, however, a
time of persecution is spoken of in
history, it means when men are
dragged before tribunals, ban-
ished, imprisoned, fined, and
slain for their religion. There
were ten general and dreadful
persecutions previous to A. v.
313. Since the Roman church
has gained power, she has
always been prone to persecu-
tion. The inquisition was es-
tablished for this very purpose,
and continues to this day. All
Europe has been deluged with
Protestant blood, and hundred*
of thousands of men, women and
PER
197
PET
ihfldren have been butchered
with the most exquisite cruelty.
This abominable characteristic
of Popery is one of the proofs
of its being Antichrist. Perse-
cution in any way is directly
oontrary to the gospel. 1 Cor.
4:12 Matt. 5 : 4345.
Perseverance, continuance in
In any design, state, or opinion.
Eph. 6 : 18. All who are truly
born of the Spirit will, by di-
vine grace, persevere to the end.
Mercy being secured to them not
through their will or merit, but
God's own will and mercy, and
they being really united to
Christ, as members to a body,
they cannot be finally cast off.
Eph. 1 : 4, 23. Many positive
declarations of Scripture teach
the final perseverance of the
aints. Job 17 : 9. Ps. 94 :
14, and 125. Jer. 32 : 40.
John 10 : 28, and 17 : 12. 1
Cor. 1 : 8,9.- 1 Pet. 1 : 5.
Persia, a country in Asia,
which has been subject to various
fluctuations of extent and glory.
Its most ancient name was Elqm.
In the book of Daniel it is called
Pares It is bounded north by
Russia and Tartary, east by the
Mogul empire, south by the
Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf,
rest by Georgia, Armenia, and
Arabia. When Cyrus conquered
Babylon, the Persian monarchy
awallowed up that < I (."haldea.
Dan. 7 : 35. Persia was af-
lerwaxds conquered by Alexan-
der. Dan. 7 : 6. It was sub-
part of Paulina, and
17*
remained ?^ till about A. i>. 235
About G41, the Saracens, undel
Omar, conquered it, and it re-
mained subject to the' caliphs of
Bagdad C>15 years. Since then
it has undergone various vicis-
situdes, sometimes triumphant
and often prostrate. Its mon-
arch's title at present is shah,
and sometimes sophi. The coun-
try has few rivers, many moun-
tains, and several desert plains.
Opium, senna, rhubarb, and
assafoetftla are procured here.
The religion of Persia at this
time is Mahometan, of the sect
of the Chios or Schiites. Ita
capital city was Persepolis, now
Chelntinar,
Pestilence, a name given in
Scripture to any prevailing con-
tagious disease.
Peter, son of Jonas, born in
Bethsaida. He was of a prompt,
resolute temper, and sometimes
impetuous. He moved with his
wife and family to Capernaum,
and there it was that Christ
sometimes made his home with
them. After a life of most ex-
alted usefulness, he was cruci-
fied for his Master's sake about
A. D. 70. The Human Catholici
consider the popes to be the PUO-
cessors of Peter, a* Bishop of
Rome ; but leariiod men deny
that he ever visited that city.
Two Ei'isi I.KS v.cre written by
him ; the first, four or five years
before the other. They are
called general, because written
for the use of all the convert*
to Christianity, especial] 7 cufc
PHA
198
PHA
as were formerly Jews, and not
to those of any particular city.
The first epistle is evidently
addressed to converts from Ju-
daism dwelling among heathen
in the countries named in the
first verse. The second epistle
was a long time regarded as
spurious, and is not quoted by
any Christian writer till the
fourth century. Since then it
has generally been received as
genuine ; but with less certainty
of evidence than any other book
in the Bible.
Plia'raoll, pronounced Pha'ro,
the common title of the ancient
sovereigns of Egypt, as Ptolemy
was afterward
There are several kings of
this name mentioned in Scrip-
ture.
1. He who took away Abra-
ham's wife. Gen. 12.
2. He who exalted Joseph.
Gen. 41, 39.
3. He who first oppressed
Israel. Ex. 1 : 8.
4. He who released Israel.
Ex. 5, 14.
5. He who gave his wife's
sister in marriage to Hadad.
1 Kings 11.
6 Serechus,cotemporary with
Ahaz. 2 Kings 17 : 4.
7. Tirhakah, called by Strabo
Tearcho. He lived in the days
of Hezekiah. 2 Kings 19 : 9 ;
lea. 37 : 9
8. Pharaoh Necho, who set
up Jehoiakiin to be king of
Tudca, in place of Josiah, who
was elain in the battle of Me-
giudo, B. c 610, according to
Frideaux. Herodotus mention*
this battle as the battle of Mag-
dolum. 2 Kings 23 : 2* Ho is
called NECUS in Egyptian his-
tory. In the fourteenth yea*
of his reign, Daniel interpreted
the prophetic dream of the king
of Babylon. This monarch sent
out a fleet by the Red Sea and
Straits of Babelmandel to dis-
cover the coasts of Africa, which
went entirely round and re-
turned the third year by the
Straits of Gibraltar. This was
more than 2000 years before
Vasquez di Gama discovered
the Cape of Good Hope.
9. Pharaoh-Hophra, called in
profane history Apries, who made
a league with Zedekiah, in con-
sequence of which many of the
Jews sought refuge in Egypt,
and carried the prophet Jere-
miah with them. Jer. 43 : 8
12, and 44 : 1. This Pharaoh
died B. c. 570 years. In conse-
quence of Zedekiah 's revolt and
league with Egypt, Nebuchad-
nezzar besieged and destroyed
Jerusalem, and erected the
colossal golden image on the
plain of Dura.
Pharisees, one of the most
ancient and noted sects among
the Jews, remarkable for their
rigid way of living, fasting con-
stantly every second and fifth
day o' the week, and submit-
ting to many austerities. They
studied the law, were very exact
in the outward observance of
it, and pretonded to inore holi-
ness than others ; adding volua
tary sacrifices to those that wer
PHI
199
PHI
ommanded, and making a great
ihow of exactly performing all
their vows. I'.y t-
they gained i 'lion of
'ulaco,and \\
persons uf great learn:
sanctity. But they corrupted
the word of God by tl.
positions, and substituted hu-
man traditions in the- room of
divine cruth. Many of them
were very wicked men, though
a majority perhaps really lived
as they proi'i
Pharpar. See ABANA.
Philadelphia, a city of Lydia,
at the foot of Mount Tmolus,
seventy -two miles from Smyrna,
was so called from Attalus Phil-
adelphus, who built it. A Chris-
tian church was very early
planted here, to which John was
directed to write a consolatory
and instructive epistle.
3 : 713. Though we can only
trace the regular history of
Christianity in this place for
about 800 years, it has never
been extinguished. At present
there are in it about 2000 chris-
cians, chiefly Greeks, who speak
the Turkish language, formed
into five clmrcHe, and having
At least twencj places of public
worship. An archbishop resides
here, whose dioceo oxt
Sardis on the west, and Laodi
on the east. The town contains
about 3000 houses. Gibbon
says, " Among the Greek colo-
nies and churches of Asia, Phil-
adelphia is still erect, a c<>l-
UP in a ;ono of ru na " It is
now called Allah Schyr, r th
Fair City."
Philo mon seems to hare been
some eminent Christian residing
: vant, named
OHKSIIHH 1 and fled to
K >rne. There he was converted,
aud sent back to his master
with a letter from Paul, called
the fyistle to P/ultmon.
The EPISTLE seems to have
been written by Paul during his
detention at Koine, A. s. <i'2 or
G3, and was sent, together with
the Kpistles to the Ephesians
and Colossiaus, by Tychicus and
Onesimus. PA LEY, in his lloras
Paulina;, has brought many un-
answerable proofs of the au-
thenticity of Scripture from the
ml cuincitlences between
this Kpistle and the Acts of the
Apostles, written by Luke.
Philip, son of Herod the
Great and Cleopatra. From him
the city Cesarea Philippi re-
ceived its name. Matt. 1C : 13,
Ac.
Philip, another son of Herod,
by his wife Mariarane. He was
sometimes called Herod, and waa
the husband of Hcrudia*. Ho
inherited by his father,
and lived a private life. Matt.
U : 3, o.
Philip, one of the twelve
; a native of Bethsaida
lee. Some ancient his-
;iiat he was the in-
dividual who requested of Jesui
that ho might "first go and
bury his lather." MaU. 8 : 21,
22.
FHI
200
PHI
Philip, one of the seven Jea-
uns of the church at Jerusa-
lem. Acts 6:5; also called
" evangelist," Acts 21 : 8 ; .which
then, as now, means one of those
ministers who itinerate and are
not settled over any one church.
Eph 4 : 11. He founded
ehurches in Samaria, Azotus,
&c., and settled in Cesarea.
He had several daughters who
preached, and perhaps uttered
predictions. Acts 21 : 9.
PMlippi, a city of Macedonia,
anciently called Datos ; but
being repaired by Philip, father
of Alexander the Great, it re-
ceived its name from him. It
stood about seventy miles north-
east of Thessalonica, and was
famous for the defeat of Brutus
and Cassius in its neighborhood.
Here Paul preached about A. D.
62 ; and Lydia and many others
were converted. Acts 16 : 12.
This church supported Paul
while he labored as a missionary
at Thessalonica, Phil. 4 : 15, 16,
and also when at Corinth, 2 Cor.
11 : 9, and remitted him money
for his support, while he lived
at Rome in " his own hired
house." Phil. 2 : 25, and 4 :
1018
The EPISTLE to these Chris-
tians seems to have been writ-
ten from Rome during the lat-
ter part of Paul's first imprison-
ment. Th ^urch had been
founded by Paul ; see Acts 16 ;
and, of all his churches, seems to
nave loved him most, and to
have been most generous in his
He wrote to thank
them for their bounty, and to
teach them God's tnjlfr It ii
the cnly Ejistle of Patu irhich
expresses no censure.
Pllilistia, or PALESTINE, is a
name now given to the whole of
Canaan ; but in Scripture it
means only a narrow strip of
land along the sea-coast, in the
south-west of Canaan, about
forty miles long and fifteen
miles broad. Its cities were
Gerar, Gaza, Majuma, Askelon,
Ekron, Ashdod, and Gath. The
Philistines and the Caphtorim
descended from Casluhim, the
son of Mizraim, who peopled
Egypt ; and their country ig
perhaps called of Caphtor. Jer.
47 : 4. Their territory was al-
lotted to the Hebrews, but they
neglecting to take possession of
it, the Philistines were made a
severe and lasting scourge to
them. Josh. 13 : 2, 3 ; 15 : 45,
46, 47. Jud. 3 : 1, 2, 3. See
CANAAN.
Perhaps no territory in the
world was ever so prosperous as
Philistia, owing mainly to the
commerce between Europe and
Asia being, for ages, almost
wholly carried on by its inhab-
itants.
Philosophy, a word literally
signifying love of wisdom. IB
its usual acceptation, however,
it denotes a science, or collec-
tion of sciences, of which all
things, both of body and spirit,
are the objects. When tho term
is thus employed, it admits of
various definitions. That pnrt
of philosophy which treat* of
PHR
201
PHY
God, is called THEOLOGY ; that
which treats of nature, PHYSICS,
or Natural Philosophy ; that
which treats of mind, MKTA-
pursirs ; that which treats of
morality, ETHICS, &c. "When
St. Paul cautioned the Colos-
lians to " beware lest any man
ihould spoil them through phi-
losophy " (chap. 2 : 8), he did
not mean to forbid the pursuit
of knowledge in general, but to
condemn that vain affectation uf
wisdom, of which the heathens
were notoriously fond, and
which stood in opposition to the
simplicity of the gospel of
Christ.
Phoenicia, a province of Syria.
It contained the famous cities
Sarepta, Ptolemaic, Tyre and
Sidon. The Tyrians and Sidoni-
ans had, for a long time, almost
all the trade of the then known
world. There was scarcely a
shore or isle of the Mediterra-
nean Sea where they did not
plart colonies. The most noted
of these was that of Carthage,
which once long contended with
Rome. It is thought the Phoe-
nicians pushed their trade as far
as Britain, and they probably
kad settlement >n the Red Sea
and Persian Uulf. Sir Isaac
Newton thinks that vast num-
bers of Edomites fled hither in
the days cf David, and carried
their arts along with them.
The chief city of this region,
and sometimes the region itself,
i* now called Tripoli.
Phjygia, a country of Lesser
Asia having Bithynia and
Galatia on the north, Cappado
oia on the east, and Praidia ant
Lycia on the south, and Lydia,
Mysia and Curia on the west.
The gospel was very early
preached in Phrygia, and a
church formed, which, for many
ages, made a considerable ap-
pearance. Acts 16 : 6 ; 18 : 23.
A portion of the inhabitants are
Christians to this day.
Phylactery, a slip or box of
parchment, on which was written
some important texts of Scrip*
ture, worn by pious Jews on
their foreheads or arms when
they went to the synagogue, or
at morning and evening prayer,
<fec. The common form may be
seen in the engraving.
Our Lord censures the Pnari-
sees for wearing theirs very
large and conspicuous, out of
vain-glory and hypocrisy, and
making the use of them a great
part of their religion. The cus-
tom was founded on the com-
mancL in Ex. 13 16, and
Nuino. 15 : 37 40 ; which wai
probably only figurative lan
PIL
202
PIS
gua^e, meaning that they should
most carefully remember God's
word. But the Jews were apt
to turn all the law into carnal
observances. The passages com-
monly written on them, were
Numb. 15 : 41; Deut. 6 : 69;
Ex. 13 : 8, 9, and 13 : 1416;
Deut. 11 : 1821. It does not
appear, however, that they con-
fined themselves to these texts.
There is no evidence of their
being worn by the ancient Jews.
The custom seems to have origi-
nated about the time of the rise
of the sect of Pharisees. Some
Jews now wear a square piece
of stuff under their clothes, with
four strings and four tassels at
the corners, which they call
Arbah Casoth.
Pilate. See PONTIUS.
Pilgrim, a wanderer ; one who
travels to a holy place. It is
not probable that pilgrimages
as now made by papists and
pagans, were known in early
times ; but good men in all
age.! have esteemed themselves
" strangers and pilgrims on the
earth." Heb. 11 : 13.
Pillar, a column, a supporter
a monument. " The pillars of
the earth," and " pillars of
heaven," are metaphorical ex-
pressions, by which the world Is
compared to a vast edifice
reared by the power and skil
pf Jehovah. Job 9 : 6 ; 26
. 1 ; and 38 : 4, 6. Ps. 75 : 3
James was a pillar in the church ;
that is, a great support and or
nament ; and the church itself
is the " pillar and ground of
the truth ;" that is, it maintains
truth in the world. 1 Tim. 3',
15.
PUIed, skinned, or barkeo.
&en. 30 : 39.
Pillow. The piliow, in Pal-
estine and other Eastern coun-
tries, where people sit on the
floor, or recline on divans round
the room, is as much used by
day as by night. Those used
by day are " arm pillows," to
lean upon. I have seen them
made of rattan, hollow, and
woven like a basket. In Siam,
they are three-sided, made of
morocco and well stuffed.
Pine, a species of fir-tree. It
grew on Lebanon, but is men-
tioned only thrice in Scripture ;
Neh. 8 : 15. Isa. 61 : 19 ; and
GO : 13.
Pinnacle, a turret, or high
summit. The " pinnacle of the
temple," Matt. 4 : 5, seems to
have been the battlement of the
roof of Solomon's porch, which
stood on ground made by car-
rying up a wall of several hun-
dred feet from the valley below,
and thus enlarging the space for
the temple on the top. It was
a dizzy height (Josephns ays
750 feet), and commanded an
extensive prospect.
Pisgah, the highest top of
that chain of mountains called
Abarim, and a part of Mount
Nebo ; and so Moses is some-
times said to view Canaan from
Nebo, and sometimes from Pis-
gah. Deut. 3 : 27 ; 34 : 1.
There were several fine springi
of water at its base. Deut. 4:49
PIT
203
PLO
Plsi'dia, a province of Lessor
Asia, west of Mount Taurus,
jouth-west of Lycaj-aJa, and
Qorth of Pamphylia. Its present
name is l\'<it<iliu.
PI'SOII, the name of the first
branch of the river of Eden. It
is supposed to bo the western
branch of the divided stream of
the Tigris and Euphrates, \\hich
runs along the side of liavilah
In A-abia. Gen. 2 : 11
Pitch. The substance so
called, Gen. : 14, is the same
as che slime, mentioned Gen. 13:
3, and 14 : 10 ; and is generally
supposed to be the inflammable
mineral called asplialtus, from
the lake Asjjhaltites, or Dead Sea,
in Judea, on the surface of
which it is found. When first
obtained, it is soft, viscous, and
pliable, but soon acquires a
hardness and tenacity superior
to our pitch. It was therefore
excellent for smearing the ark,
Ex. 2 : 3, or for building the
tower of Babel. Gen. 11: 3.
The Arabs still use it for the
bottom of boats ; and in the
ruins of Babylon, large masses
of brick-work cemented with it
have been discovered. Naptha,
petroleum, Barbadoti tar, <tc., are
different varieties of this sub-
itance.
Pi'thom and Kamc'ses were
the two cities for the building
or fortifying of which the He-
brews made brick Ex. 1 : 11.
Herodotus mentions a city
called Puthnmos, situated on the
eanal made to join the Ked Sea
nd the River Nile, which is
probably the same as Pithom
Such is the opinion of th
learned men who acct mpanied
the French exreditien The
present name is A(>baseh.
Kameses was in Goshen, and
was the point from which the
Hebrews started in their Ex
odus.
Pledge, a pawn which a
lender takes from a borrower, tc
secure the payment of money.
Xo millst-iie was to be taken in
pledge ; the widow's ox, or a
person's clothing for body or
bed, if taken, was to be restored
the same night. No Hebrew
was to take a pledge from a
poor man of his own nation, nor
to go into the borrower's house
to take a pledge for himself, but
the borrower was to bring out
to him that which could best be
spared. Ex. 22 : 2(i. Deut
24 : 1017. Ezek. 18 : 712,
16.
Pleiades, a beautiful cluster
of stars, sometimes called " the
seven stars." They are in the
constellation Taurus, mod appear,
in our hemisphere, the last of
March.
Plow, an instruinentof tillage.
To plow and look back, Luke 9 :
02, is to make bad work, if indeed
one could thus work at all, es-
pecially with the iuiperfect
ed in the time of our
Saviour. Christians, therefore,
! look back on the world
wiM- okasure and de:ire, but
giv. ,jl heed to the important
wurl and i nvard which lies be
fore them. I Cor. 9 : 10
POM
204
POP
Poets, composers of song* or
rerses in metre. Acts 17 : 28.
Homer, Pindar, Anacreon, and
Sappho, excelled among the
Greeks ; Virgil and Horace
among the Latins. Many por-
tions of the sacred writings are
in poetry ; the grandeur of
which incomparably transcends
that of any human production.
As the true pronunciation of the
Hebrew language is not now
known, we cannot perceive the
harmony of words or quantity
of syllables which mark true
poetry. Yet it is plain that the
Hebrews regarded those things,
as we find letters added to, or
omitted from, the ends of words,
Ac., evincing submission to
rhythm and quantity. The
reader is referred to the Lec-
tures of Bishop Lowth on the
Poetry of the Hebrews, as con-
taining all that is satisfactorily
known on this subject.
Poll, (pronounced pole,) the
head of a person : a register of
heads or persons. Numb. 1 : 2.
1 Chr. 23 : 3, 24. As a verb, it
means to lop, cut, or prune. 2
Bam. 14 : 26. Ezek. 44 : 20.
Pollux, see CASTOR.
Pomegran'ate, a species of
the apple-tree. Its growth is
low and spreading ; its " x>d
hard and knotty ; its bark red-
dish and prickly ; its leaves
greenish, inclining fro red ; and
its blossoms large, and bell-
Bhapod. The fruit, which re-
embles an apple, ripens about
August, and is sometimes three
or four inches in diametei *n4
of a pound weight. It wa* es-
teemed one of the most delicious
fruits in the world. Numb. 13 :
23. The pomegranate juice is
frequently made into wine, or
mixed with it. Song 8 : 2.
One kind was sour, and was used
to give a flavor to meats and
liquors, till the juice of lemons
and oranges superseded it.
Deut 8 : 7, 8. It comes to
perfection in our Southern
States.
Pontius Pilate, the Roman
governor of Judea, was in office
ten years. By his covetous and
cruel administration he caused
himself to be exceedingly hated,
both by the Jews and Samari-
tans. At length, three yean
after the death of Christ, com-
plaints against him reached the
court of the Emperor Caligula,
and he was recalled to Rome,
tried, and banished to Gaul.
Afterwards, through poverty
and shame, he committed sui-
cide.
Pontns, a province on the
south side of the Euxine Sea,
extending from the River Halys
on the west, to the country of
Colchis on the east. In this
district is the River Tbermodoon,
beside which the Amazons air*
fabled to have dwelt
Poplar. The tree thu<? named
in Scripture is the white poplar,
so called from the whiteness of
its leaves, bark, and wood The
word occurs Gen. 30 : 37 ; and
Hos. 4 : 3, only*
PRA
205
PRA
Possessed. The josses&ton of
ievils, mentioned tftan in the
New Testament, ha^ sj^ployed
the pen of many eminent crit-
ics. Some have regarded these
oases as mere diseases ; but in
some passages, as Luke 4 : 33
36, they are distinguished ex-
pressly from diseases. I
Christ speaks to the devil (or
more properly demon), as dis-
tinct from the person possessed;
commands it, questions it, or
forbids it to speak. The man-
ner of evoking is often, as in
the case of the swine, Matt.
8 : 31, wholly incompatible with
the idea of mere distemper.
Post. (1.) An upright tim-
ber. (2.) A carrier of despatches
or letters, who goes with haste.
Jer. 51 : 31. Man's days are
more swift. Job 9.
Potsherd) a piece of broken
earthen ware. Job 2 : 8.
Potters' Field, see ACEL'DAMA.
Power, a word variously used,
to signify ability, liberty, juris-
diction, prerogative, <ko. The
expression, 1 Cor. 11 : 10, has
caused much discussion. A
probable interpretation is, that
a woman's veil was regarled as
u emblem of subjection to the
other sex. The word messenger^
there translated angel, may
mean spies t who came into the
Christian assembly, and would
maliciously report if their
women departed from estab-
lished customs.
Praise, to commend. To
praise God is to duly acknowl-
edge his great excellences. Pi.
18
138, Ac. Rev. 19 : 5. It \ OCM
of the noblest acts of worship ,
and is the dictate of nature. Ta
refuse it to God is to refuse to
bo duly affected by his amaz-
ing and unspeakable goodness.
No character is deemed so odioiu
among men as the ungrateful,
and yet none is so common as it
respects God. To praise men,
is to declare their good actions
or qualifications. Ps. 27 : 2.
Pray, to entreat, or ask
earnestly with submission ; to
appeal to the judgment and de-
cision of another ; to intercede
in behalf of others, and to beg
that some evil may be averted
or some favor or good obtained;
to make known our desires to
God, by offering up our peti-
tions for things lawful and
necessary, with an humble con-
fidence of obtaining them,
through Christ's mediation
alone, to the praise of God'a
mercy, truth and power. Matt.
6 : 6. John 16 : 23, 24, 26.
We are exhorted to pray for all
men, 1 Tim. 1:2; and are en-
couraged to this benevolent act,
Jam. 5 : 16 ; but we must seek
and expect the help of the Holy
Spirit. Rom. 8 : 26. The
prayers that we direct to God
are the ordinary means bj
which we receive grace from
him.
To neglect prayer is a great
sin against the majepty and
mercy of God attended with
unspeakable loss to ourselves.
The pious Jews used to pray
three times a day, at morning
PRE
206
PRE
Boon ftrl evening ; and less
than this ought not to satisfy
Christian?.
The true nature of j rayer may
be oest ascertained fiom a view
af the manner in which it is
spoken of in Scripture. It is
sailed inquiring of thv Lord, Gen.
25 22 ; supplication, 'Lech. 12 :
10; entreat!/, Ex. 8: 8; wrestling
with God, Rom. 15 : 30 ; lifting
up the soul, Ps. 25 : 1 ; pouring
out the heart, Ps. 62 : 8 ; looking
up to God, Ps. 5 : 3 ; taking hold
of God, Isa. 64 : 7 ; crying, 1
Sam. 7:8; asking, John 15 :
16 ; seeking and knocking, Matt.
7 : 7, &G., &c. How plainly
may we see, from this method
of speaking of prayer, the unac-
ceptableness and inefficiency
oi cold, formal and heartless
repetitions before God !
Preach, see GOSPEL. To
preach is loudly to proclaim the
will of God, as his appointed
heralds. Eph. 3:8. To preach
in a proper manner, requires no
small attention, in order that no
fault in the pronunciation, the
gesture, the language, the order,
or the matter, may tend to bring
the truths of the gospel into
contempt ; or, by feeding the
earnal fancy of airy minds, di-
vert them from the important
subject.
Predestinate, to predetermine.
The word is used in reference
to God's purpose to save a part
of the human race from that
corruption and condemnation
which all have amply deserved
Rom. 8 : 29, 30. Eph. 1 : 5
The ancient Hebrews knew M
well as ourselves that God fore-
knew what every person would
be, do, or become. This is in-
volved in the very notion of
omniscience. God says to Jere-
miah (1 : 5), "Before I formed
thee I knew thee, and before
thou earnest forth out of the
womb I sanctified thee, and
ordained thee to be a prophet."
This is a most difficult subject,
on which we are to think and
speak with profound reverence;
and, with minds confirmed in the
belief of Jehovah's infinite jus-
tice and mercy, govern ourselves
by the plain injunctions of
Scripture.
Presbytery, a body of minis-
ters met for ordaining a person,
or other purposes. 1 Tina. 4 ;
14.
Pres, see WINE PRESS.
Preto'rium, the residence of
the Roman governor at Jerusa-
lem. Mark 15 : 16. Here he
sat to administer justice. It is
called the judgment hall. Acts
23 : 35. What Paul calls the
pretorium (in the Eng. trans.
palace'), Phil. 1 : 13, seems to
mean the camp of the pretonan
bands, to which hr was probably
carried by the sojdier to whoia
he was chained.
Prevent, to hinder, the
word is now used. But this is
never its signification in the
Bible. It there always meana
to precede, or go before ; this be-
ing the use of the word at tht
PRI
207
PRI
time our translation ira* made.
Ps. 80 : 3. 2 Sam. 22 . 6 1
Thoss. 4 : 15.
Pricks, sharp points placed
tn the end of a long staff, and
used formerly to drive oxen
Acts 9 : 5. They are now com-
monly called goad*. To " kick
against the pricks " is a pro-
verbial expression, applied to
those who injure themselves by
struggling against inevitable
necessity.
Pride. (1.) The elation of a
mind filled with self-conceit,
contempt of God, and disdain of
men. (2.) What one is proud
of, as power, wealth, church-
ordinances, and relation to God,
Ac. (3.) The haughty looks and
words, or wicked deeds, by
which a man discovers the pride
of his heart. Ps. 31 : 20. Hos.
B : 5.
Priesthood. <1.) The office
of a priest. Numb. 1C : 10.
Under the Jewish law, the
priest offered sacrifices, taught
the people, and prayed for them.
Aaron's was an " everlasting
priesthood ;" it secured to him
and his seed the office of priest
for many generations. Ex.
40: 15, Numb. 25 : 13. But
Christ's is an " unchangeable
priesthood," as it never can
pass from him to another. Heb.
7: 24. (2.) A class of persons
who perform religious offices,
according to the will of God.
The saints are an " holy " and
a "royal priesthood ;" a com-
pany of spiritual priests,
washed In Jesus' blood, sanc-
tified by his word and Spii it, and
enabled to offer up spiritual
sacrifices of prayer and pi ai.se
to (uJ, through Jesus Christ
1 IVt. 2 : 5, 9. Her. 1 : 6.
I Before the consecration of Aaron
| and his sons, fathers, or elder
brothers, acted as priests ; as
Noah, Abraham, Job, Melchise-
dek, <fec., and occasionally every
man so acted for himself, as
Abel, Cain, &o.
The HIGII PRIEST was the head
of the Jewish priesthood. Hia
duty was to offer sacrifices, to
oversee the house of God, regu-
late the services of the other
priests and the Levites, direct
public worship, obtain specia
indications of the divine will
and once a year enter the Holy
of Holies, with blood and in-
cense, as described Lev. 16
His dress, both for common and
special occasions, ia described
Ex. 39, &c. In the engraving
he is seen as robed on the
day of expiation, Lev. 16
The office began in Aaron, and
was continued in his family till
near the time of the ruin of tho
Jewish polity by the Romans ,
when, among other acts of co
ruption, the office was sold t\
money.
The high priest, once a yeai
made atonement for t.' e ius ol
all the people ; but Christ is the
true High Priest, who by the
sacrifice of himself, ma le atone
ment for the sins of the wholf
world, and now iutercodes, al
the right hand of Q*>i, for all
who believe on his
PRI
208
PRO
Heb.1 : 17; 9: 11; and 12 : 1
24,25
The Lord gave no inheritance
to the priests as ho did to the
other tribes, because he intended
they should be supported by
their brethren. To them be-
longed the skin or fleece of every
animal sacrificed, which was no
small revenue. Of peace offer-
ings they kept also the shoulder
and breast, Lev. 7 : 33; and of
sin offerings the whole carcass,
except the solid fat, which was
ournt. Lev. 7 : G, 10. They
had also a tenth of everything,
beside the first fruits. When
any man killed an animal for
his own use, he was required to
give the priests the shoulder.
Deut. 18 : 3. They also had
houses, and forty-eight cities,
with their precincts. Numb
35 : 13.
Prince, a chief; a gov-
ernpr ; a king's son. Christ
is Prince of peace, being the
purchaser and procurer of
peace between God and men;
between men and men ; and
between Jews and Gentiles.
Eph. 2 : 15. John 14 : 27.
He is Prince of life, Acts 3 ;
15, because he is the Author
of temporal life, in whom we
live, and move, and have
our being. He is, also,
"Prince of the kings of the
earth" Rev. 1 : 5, as he rules
over all. Satan is the
"prince of this world," be-
cause he boasts of having all
the kingdoms of the earth at
his disposal, Matt. 4 : 9 ;
and because he has an
usurped dominion in the
world, and great power in the
hearts of the children of diso-
bedience, who yield a voluntary
subjection to him Of all thia
power he shall soon be dispos-
sessed. John 12 : 31.
Profane, openly wicked, want-
ing in religious reverence to
sacred names or things, 1 Tim .
1 : 9 ; unholy o* \mpure, 1
Tim. 6 : 20. Es is called
profane because he sold his birth-
right, which was a holy thing ;
not only because the priesthood
was annexed to it, but also be-
cause it was a privilege leading
to Christ, and a type of his title
to the heavenly inheritance.
When the apostle censured
" profane babblings," ho meant
PftO
209
PRO
thoee heathen absurdities whik
were founded in superstition and
ignorance, or possibly novel
ideas introduced into religu;
l Tiin. 6 : 20.
Promise, an assurance, by
which a person engages to do, or
forbear to do, something. God,
in his word, promises blessings
to his people. The fifth com-
mandment, " Honor thy father
and mother," is called the " com-
mandment with promise " (Eph.
6: 2), because God has added
this declaration that they who
honor their parents shall have
their days lengthened on the
earth. Jesus Christ nas prom-
ised to be with his people to the
end of the world. Matt. 28 :
20. The Holy Gbost is called
the " Holy Spirit of promise,"
Eph. 1:13, being promised to
them that believe onCln '.
being the seal and pledge of
their everlasting hn
The fulfilment of promi
bo delayed, but will come most
assuredly.
ProplC<'T. (1.) A declara-
tion of future things. Neh. 6 :
12 (2.) A declaration of
hidden, obscure, and important
things. Prov. 30 : 1. (3.) The
preaching of the gospel 1
Tim 4 : 14. Rom. 12 . 6.
(4 ) The gift of explaining b-
scuro passages of Scripture, or
of foretelling things to come. 1
Cor. 12 : 10 ; and 13 : 8.
The numerous prophecies of
Scripture which hare been pre-
cisely fulfilled, are a complete
proof that the Bible is the word
18*
of God. The occurrence of a*
cvontlong after it was predicted,
demonstrates that a higher
power has been pleased to mak*
known its designs.
Prophet, one who foretells
what is to come ; a person in-
spired, and appointed by God to
reveal his will, to warn of ap-
proaching judgment**, *o explair
obscure passages of Scriptu.ve,
or to make known the truths of
the Bible, and urge men to
obedience. 1 Cor. 14 : 26.
Jesus Christ is " that Prophet,"
who, having taught the will of
God on earth, with an infinite
superiority to all the rest in
force of authority, extent of
knowledge, and efficacy of in-
struction, and being now exalted
to the right hand of power in
heaven, still teaches by his word
and Spirit. Such as refuse his
teachings incur certain reproba-
tion. Acts 3 : 22. Heb. 12 : 25
About the time of Samuel,
school* of the prophets were formed,
wherein young men were piously
educated, to prepare them for
receiving the gift of prophecy
Such schools we find at Bethel,
Gilgal, Najoth, Jericho, and
Jerusalem ; but it does not ap-
pear that all these young men
were afterwards inspired. Th<-y
were inspected by Samuel, Eli
jah, Elisha, Ac. 1 Sain 10,
11, 19 2 Kings 2. "\Vheth
er the most of the noted
prophets were anointed at their
entrance on their office, we
know not. It is oert*in that
they generally lived in a ven*
PRO
210
PR.
low ail temperate manner. The
presents given them were such
as oil, bread, fruits, honey. 2
Kings 4 : 42. 1 Sam. 9 : 7, 8 ;
10 : 1. John Baptist was " tuore
than a prophet," as he pointed
out Jesus Christ as already in-
carnate. Matt. 11 : 9. Paul,
Peter, and John, may be called
prophets, as there is in their
writings a variety of predic-
tions. 2 Thess. 1 : 710 ; 2 :
311. ITirn. 4:1 3. 2 Pet.
3 : 10, &c. Almost the entire
book of Revelation is a proph-
ecy.
The following is a catalogue
of the prophets. The order of
succession is, in some instances,
uncertain, and some chronolo-
gists give different dates. Some
of the prophets lived under suc-
cessive kings, but the space
allows the mention of only one.
Years.
Samuel pro
phesled
81
David
48
Elijah
Elisha
Jonah
" under Aluib, . . .
" " Jchoram,
" " Jehu,
14
68
Joel
Uzziah,
Amos
Jeroboam II.
26
Hosea
62
Isaiah
tt AJictZ
62
Mieah
<i tt
40
Nahum
" Hezeki'ah'
Zephaniah
" Josialt.
Habakkuk
tt a tt
Jeremiah
tt a tt
41
Obadiah
" In the captivity.
Ezekiel
tt a
21
Daniel
tt tt
69
Haggal
Zechariah
" after the captivity.
2
MalacbJ
it n
3
Propitiation, an atonement
for guilt ; that which prepiU-
fttes. It has been ucnned *
" the averting the punishment
due to any one by undergoing
the penalty in the room ' the
Christ id " tne prc
pitiation for our sins," tfc4
is, the sius of his people ; be
sause his complete righteous-
ness and atonement satisfies the
Father for all their transgres-
sions, and secures the cancelling
of the demands of justice.
Rom. 3 : 25, and 8 : 3239 1
John 2 : 2.
Pl'OS'eljte, literally a stranger,
means, in Scripture, one that
turned from heathenism to the
Jewish religion. Acts 2 : 10.
Some were proselytes of the gate,
who, though they renounced
idolatry, observed what the rab-
bins call the seven precepts o.
Noah ;* and attended the Jew
ish instructions ; yet were no*
circumcised, nor allowed to par-
take of the passover. To these
the Jews allowed hopes of eter-
nal life, and permitted them to
dwell in Canaan. Of this kind
of proselytes we may suppose
Naainan, Cornelius, the Ethi
opian eunuch, and Solomon'*
153,600 servants to have been.
Others were proaelyt es of righteous^
ness, or of the covenant ; being
obliged to fulfil the whole law
of Moses. At their admission,
the motives influencing them
to change their religion were
examined, and they were in-
structed in the principles of
Judaism. Next, if males, they
were circumcised ; after which,
* There were seven laws, which,
they maintained, were uiven by Jeho-
vah to the sons "I" Aoah; vi/.., 1. To
avoid idolatry. 2. To worship <;od.
a. To abhor ineest. 4. To ounniit. no
ni'inier. . r i. Not to sti>al. ii. To pun-
kh murder with death. 7. Nottoeal
blood or tilings itraugtaL
PRO
211
PSA
they presented their oblation to
the Lord. Whther they were
also dipped -'n water is much
disputed, and seems not prob-
able. No mention is made of
such a rite in Scripture, which
would leave it without author-
ity if practised. Nor is it men-
tioned in Josephus, Philo, the
Apocrypha, the New Testament,
or by any writer for several
hundred years after Christ. No
boys under twelve years of age,
or girls under thirteen, were
admitted without the consent
of their parents ; or, if these
refused, without the consent of
the judges of the place. Dur-
ing the time of Christ, the Jews,
And especially the Pharisees,
greatly exerted themselves to
make proselytes. Compare Mat.
23 : 15, with Acts 13 : 43.
Proverbs, the name of a book
in the Scriptures, containing the
inspired precepts of Solomon.
1 Kings 4 : 32. The whole in
the original seems to be poetry.
Though written by Solomon,
they seem to have been col-
lected and arranged by others.
Let the reader turn to ch. 25> :
1, and 30 : 1. The Proverb*
are frequently quoted by the
Apostles ; indeed, more so than
any other part of the Old Tet-
tainent ; showing that the *^e*
constitutes a great treasure of
revealed morality.
Providence, a care for the
future. The word is principally
used in reference to that super-
intendence which our heavenly
Father exercises over his crea-
tures., supporting them In theit
being, and governing them it
all their actions. This govern
inent, Chough exact and minute,
infringes not our perfect liberty
of choice, and complete respon-
sibility for our actions.
Psillin, a holy song. The
Psalms are particularly sweet to
a Christian, because they con-
tain so much of the experience
of a religious man. Most of
them were composed by David.
The 90th was composed by Mo-
ses ; perhaps the 80th by He-
man. Those under the name of
Asaph were probably directed
to him as leader of the temple
choir. Some psalms are doc-
trinal, as Ps. 1 ; some historical,
as Ps. 77, 105, 106 ; some pro-
phetic, as Ps. 110 ; some peni-
tential, as Ps. 51 ; some consist
of prayer and complaints, aa
Ps. 6, 38, <tc. ; others consist
of praise and thanksgiving, as
Ps. 30, 46, 145, 150, Ac. In
some, most or all of these sub-
jects are connected, as Ps. 89.
The Jews divided the entire
collection into five books, at the
end of four of which are the
words " Amen, amen," and of
the fifth "Hallelujah." The
rirst division ends at the 40th
psalm, the second at the 72d,
the third at the 88th, the fourth
at the 105th, and the fifth at the
150th. The words at the con-
clusion are thought to have
been put there by Ezra. The
book itself forms an inestimable
treasure, and is the glory of the
Old Testament. It contain/i the
PSA
212
PUB
grandest conceptions of God, | have been shaped much like the
the most remarkable prophecies,
and the most perfect models of
resignation, faith, and trust in
God. Luther says " All sorts
of divine doctrines and precepts
are contained in it."
Whether the titles of the
Psalms are of divine authority,
is not agreed. The Hebrew
words therein mentioned are
by some considered as names of
instruments of music, or first
words of some songs ; or to de-
note the subject matter of the
psalm. It is thought Maschil
means a poem, or set composi-
tion ; and signifies that the
psalm is designed for instruc-
tion, Ps. 32 ; that Michtam de-
notes the precious or golden
nature of the psalm ; and per-
haps all the psalms so marked
relate to Jesus Christ, as Gus-
eetius observes. Neginoth, or
Neginath, signifies stringed in-
struments, Ps. 4, 61. Nehiloth,
wind instruments ; Ps. 5 ; Git-
tith, a kind of instrument in-
vented at Gath, Ps. 8 ; Alamoth,
the treble, or a song to be sung
by virgins, Ps. 46. Shiggaion,
or Shigionoth, may denote that
the psalin is to be sung with
diversified tunes, or embraces
various subjects. Ps. 7. Hab.
3. The Greek word, signifying
a stringed instrument, is j*W-
teri'in. Hence, by a metar-nr,
the book of Psalms is sometimes
called the Psalter.
Psal'tery, a musical instru-
ment, first mentioned in the
Psalurs of David It seems to
present harp ; or the Greek let-
ter delta inverted, thus, v. The
body was of wo->d, hollow ; and
Josephus says it had twelve
strings. The chords were at
first of flax, but subsequently
were manufactured from the
entrails of sheep. Harp-stringa
of the latter kind are mentioned
by Homer as a recent invention.
The modern psaltery is a flat
instrument, of a triangular form,
strung from side to side with
iron or brass wire, and played
on with a kind of bow.
Ptolema'is, a seaport in Gali-
lee of Judea, now called Acrt
Acts 21 : 7. See AOCHO.
Publican, a collector of taxes
The Romans farmed out thejr
revenue to men who paid int*
the treasury of the state a cer-
tain sum, and took the risk of
collecting. Contracts were gen-
erally taken by principal men,
who let out small districts to
collectors for specified sums
Cicero says that among the pub-
licans were the flower of the
Roman knights, the ornament
of the city, the strength of the
commonwealth. But the infe-
rior publicans were looked upon
as n'i better than pickpockets.
Printing not being known, and
the laws little understood, these
inferior agents generally 3om-
initted gross impositions and
extortions. They were there-
fore greatly hated by the Jews,
whose pride was mortified by
having to pay tribute at all.
MaHhew, Zaccheus, and prcfc
PUR
213
PI
ftbly other publicans, occame
disciples of Christ. Lake 15 :
2. Mutt. 21 : 31. Zaccheus
was of the noblo publicans, and
a man of the highest considera-
tion. Luke 19 : 2.
Pttl. (1.) A king of Assyria,
hired by the king of Israel to
assist him. 2 Kings 15: 19.
Hos. 5 : 13. (2.) A district in
Africa, thought by Bochart to
be an island in the Nile not far
from Syene. Isa. G6 : 19.
Pulse, the seed of leguminous
plants, as peas, vetches, beans,
&o. Lev. 23: 14. 2 Sam. 17: 28.
Punishment, suffering for sin.
Taken exactly, it means the in-
fliction of deserved evil. When
used in reference to our Sa-
viour, it means sufferings in-
stead of the penalty which sin-
ners \aould have endured, but
for his standing in their place.
Bee Isa. 53 : 411. 1 Pet. 2 :
14. Rev. 5 : 9, Ac.
The CIVIL PUNISHMENTS of the
Jews were, (1.) Retaliation ;
(2.) Fines ; (3.) Scourging ;
(4.) Imprisonment, which was
sometimes accompanied by con-
finement to painful postures ;
(5.) Death. Tyrants sometimes
invented cruel punishments,
luch as putting out the eyes,
Jud. 16 : 21 ; cutting off mem-
bers of the body, Jud. 1 : 57.
Pu'rlm is the plural of PUR,
and means lots. It is the name
of a solemn feast among tho
Jews, in commemoration of Ila-
MAU'I overthrow. It derives
its name from the circumstano*
that Haman cast lots to acer
tain the best day for destroying
ius Jews. Esth. 3 : 7, and 9 :
26.
Purple, a color much worn by
kings and emperors. Mark 15 :
17. It is the famous Tyrian
dye, so costly, and so celebrated
in antiquity. It is called, in 1
Maccab. 4 : 23, " purple of the
sea." It was made from th
blood of a shell-fish ; plenty of
which were found in the sea, on
the north-west of Canaan, and
are now found about the Carib-
bee Islands, and other parts of
America, and on the west of
England.
Pute'oli, a city of Campania,
in Italy ; so called from its hot
waters, or the multitude of its
wells. Its ancient name was
Delus Minor. It stood upon the
bay, about eight miles north-
west from Naples, and was
much frequented on account
of its mineral waters. From
hence a considerable trade was
carried on with Alexandria, in
Egypt. Paul halted here seven
days, as he went prisoner to
Rome. Acts 28 : 13. We find
several of its bishops in the
primitive councils of the Chris-
tian church. The present name
of the place is Poz
Py'glTg, a species of gazelle
or antelope, about the size of
our deer. It is probably the
aadace of the ancients The
word occurs Deut. 1.4 : 5, only.
BAB
214
BAB
Q.
Qnail, a gallinaceous bird,
omewhat less in size than the
jurtle-dove. Quails are ex-
tremely numerous in warm coun-
tries. Ex. 16 : 13. Numb. 11 :
81,32. The accounts of travel-
lers, respecting the immense
flocks of this bird, render the
account in Scripture perfectly
eredible. In Numb. 11 : 31, it
gays, " they fell two cubits high
upon the face of the earth."
The word high is not in the
original. It means they lighted
so thick as to be only two cubits
apart ; or came down within two
cubits of the surface of the
ground. The oriental quail is
about the size of a turtle-dove,
and is migratory. Travellers in
the East state that they come in
such numbers as often to put
vessels in danger of oversetting.
Their appearance in so great
numbers for the supply of the
journeying Hebrews was a great
miracle, for the region they
were in is not in the line of this
bird's migrations, which is over
Malta, Crete, Constantinople,
Ac.
Quaternion, a fiX, consisting
of four soldiers. Peter was
placed under the care of four
quaternions, in order, probably,
that each might guard him three
hours at a time. See WATCH.
Qneen often means in Scrip-
ture a king's mother. A refer-
ence to this fact will remove
several apparent discrepanciea
in the Old Testament. The word
has still the same meaning
among Orientals.
Queen of Heayen, a name
given by the Hebrew idolaters
to Ashtoreth, or the moon. Jer.
7 : 17 ; 44 : 1618.
Quick. The living flesh, the
sensible part of the body. Those
persons who shall be alive at
the resurrection are called the
quick, in distinction from those
who will arise from the dead.
Acts 10 : 42. To give spiritual
life to sinners is called quicken*
ing them. Eph. 2 : 15.
Quit, to acquit. Josh. 2 : 20.
1 Sam. 4 : 9. Christians, in
their great conflict with sin and
temptation, are to *' quit them-
selves as men." 1 Cor. 16 : 13.
Rabba, the city mentioned by
Joshua (eh 15 : 16), was in the
tribe of Judah.
Rab'bath, the festal of the
Ammonites, was situated in the
mountains of Gilead, beyond Jor-
dan. It was a famous city, even
in the time of Moses. Deut. 3 :
11. Here Uriah lost his life, by
a secret oiler from David. 2
Sam. 11, 12 It was dest-oyed,
according to prophecy, Ezek.
RAC
215
RAT
Z 5 : 5 ; Amos 1 : 14, a few ycara
after the destruction of Jerusa-
lem. It was by Ptolemy called
PHILADELPHIA, and is so
on our maps of Palestine. Its
present name is Amman.
Rabbi, a name of dignity
among the Jews, signifying doc-
tor or m>i*ter. It was bestowed
on any learned man, but es-
pecially on very eminent teach-
icir law. The rabbi was
ruler of the synagogue, decided
all religious disputes, and re-
the utmost homage. Our
Saviour exhorts the disciples not
such distinctions and
titles, but to look to him as
their only Lawgiver and Teach-
3r, whom they wore to follow in
ill matters of faith and wor-
ship. Matt. 23 : 7, 8.
Rabboni, a derivative from
rabbi. It was a greater title
than rabbi, and was never for-
mally conferred, except on a
few extraordinary doctors of the
school of Ilillel. John 20 : 1G.
Raca, a Syriac word, meaning
a silly fdlow. A term used by
the Jews to express the utmost
contempt. Matt. 5 : 22. The
awful prohibition, given in the
verse juat quoted, does not for-
bid just expressions of indigna-
tion. James (2 : 20) uses the
word ; ftiiu language of similar
import is used by Christ, "
generation oi !att. 3 :
7, and 12 : 34 ; and by the
Apostles, Acts 13 : 10 ; Phil. 3 :
2, 4o.
Race, a rapid course, gener-
ally implying contest The nu-
merous allusions to Grecian loot
races, contained in Paul's i.^ia-
luire some knowledge of
the laws of those games. The
apostle says, 1 Cor. 9 : 24,
" Know ye not that they who
run in a race, run all, but one
[only] receivcth the prize 1 So
run that ye may obtain." And
" every one who striveth is tem-
perate," <tc. Also, 2 Tim. 2 .
5, " If a man strive for master-
ies, yet is he not crowned except
he strive lawfully." See also
Ileb. 12: 1. Gal. 5 : 7, Ac
Plutarch and Cicero describe
most extravagant honors and
emoluments given to victors,
especially at the Olympic games.
Ilomer declares that men could
gain no higher honors than
those won by strength and fleet-
ness ! Those persons who de-
signed to contend in these
games were obliged to repair to
the public gymnasium ten
months before the solemnity,
where they prepared thernselvei
by continual exercises. No man
i omitted to present him-
self in this manner was allowed
to contend for any of the prizes;
nor were the accustomed re-
wards of victory given to such
, if, by any means, they
introduced tnetnselves, and over-
came their antagonists.
Railing, insolent, reproachful
;o. Christians are strict"
ly forbidden it. 1 Cor. 6 : 11.
When we are thus reviled* wa
must return blessing. 1 Pet
3: 9.
Raiment was at first made ot
RAT
216
RAI
fche sktas of beasts Gen 3 : 21 ;
out the art of spinning and
weaving was soon invented, Ex.
28 : 42, and even embroidering,
Ex. 35 : 35, which became com-
mon in the days of the judges.
The common garment, in the
days of Christ, was a sort of
shirt or tunic, reaching to the
anklea, generally with sleeves,
but sometimes having only arm-
boles. A girdle confined it at
the waist. Over this various
garments were worn, according
to the quality of the person.
The dress of females among the
Jews always concealed their
faces when they walked in pub-
lic, and such is still the custom
in the East. The cut, under the
head VAIL, illustrates the pres-
ent Hindu dress. I .have seen
Jewesses in the streets of Ran-
goon and Ava, wearing the
same costume. All classes wore
something in the form of a large
shawl, called a "cloak," or
" upper garment." Matt. 21 :
8, Some affected the posses-
sion of a great number of these
garments. James 5 : 2. Per-
sons could carry various articles
in the folds of their shawl, Luke
6 : 38 ; and at night, in that
climate, they rarely needed any
other bed-clothes. See Ex. 22 :
26, 2^ Around this outer gar-
ment the ancient Jews were
accustomed to huve a border or
marked with
texts of Scripture. Tin- JMiari-
ees, tlmm-ii ,;, nutdo
theirs remarkably large. Matt.
23 : 6. When engaged in la-
borious work, this outer gar
rnent was laid tside, as by oui
Saviour, when he washed his
disciples' feet, John 13 : 4 ; and
Peter, when he fished, John 21 :
7. "When thus retaining nothing
but thin under garments, they
were said to be " naked." John
21 : 7. This explains, also,
Matt. 24 : 18. These uppor gar-
ments would of course lit per-
sons of any size equally well.
To give raiment was therefore
common ; and especially when
opulent or eminent men gave
rich entertainments. In such
cases, not to accept and put oil
the proffered robe, was a great
affront. Matt. 22 : 12. See
VAIL, SANDALS, Ac.
Rain was plentiful in Israel
twice a year. " The early and
the latter rain " occurred, the
former in September, the latter
in March. After these, the
weather becomes settled, and
about May the grain is gathered.
In Egypt it scarcely ever rains;
the overflow of the Nile, and
copious dews, answering the
purpose. In tropical climates
the winter is the rainy season.
Violent winds often attend these
rains, and overthrow insecure
houses. Hence our Saviour's
parable. Matt. 7 : 25.
Rainbow, a splendid arch,
consisting of all the colors
formed by the refraction and
reflection of the ray? o( light
by rain or vapor. It always
appears opposite the sun, and
never when ho is higher than
f>rty-two degrees above thf
RAM
217
RAV
horizon. Many critics have sup-
posed that previous to the flood
this beautiful bow had not ap-
peared. If not, the confirma-
tion to Xoah's faith must have
been exceedingly effectual Its
appearance, though now com-
mon, continues to be a gracious
token that the earth shall not
again be covered with waters.
Uen. 9 : 817.
Raisins, dried grapes. They
are much used for food in many
countries, and are considered
very wholesome.
Ram, a male sheep. See
SHEEP. Battering rams were used,
before the invention of cannon,
to destroy the fortifications of
cities. This machine was a huge
log of timber, with an iron head
at one end, suspended by the
middle to elevated poles, and
driven violently against the
wall, by great numbers of men,
until a breach was effected. A
eheltor was erected to defend
nen from archers on the
walls. Ezck. 4 : 2, and 21 : 22.
Ratliah, a city of Benjamin,
which skod eight miles north-
ward from Jerusalem, Josh.
18 : 25, and, being on a hilt,
was visible from thence Near
to it Deborah dwelt. Jud. 4 :
6. JSkanah and Samuel re-
sided \* 't, 1 Sam. 1 : 1, 19 ; 7:
17 ; 8 t ; 25 : 1 ; and at Na-
joth, or the meadows of Ramah,
was a college of young prophets.
1 San:. 19. A small village now
occupies the spot, called Krram.
There was another Ramah on
bt west border of Naphtali,
19
Josh. 19 . 36 ; also a Rimatb i
Ramoth, which we suppose ihe
Baalath-becr, in the lot
of Simeon, Josh. 19 : 8; 1 Sam.
30 : 27 (see GILKAI>), and also a
Ramoth, Remeth, or Jarmutb,
in the lot of Issachar. Josh.
19 : 21.
Ram-Skins, dyed red, were
used in the construction of the
tabernacle. Dr. Clarke baa
proved from IIuier, Pliny, and
modern travellers, that there
are rams whose natural color is
red. From this fact the fable
of the golden fleece may have
had its origin.
Ransom, the price paid for
the pardon of an offence, or the
redemption of a slave or captive
Prov. 6 : 35. Ex. 21 : 30. To
prevent the plague and make
ceremonial atonement for their
souls, all male Hebrews of adult
age paid half a shekel yearly, as
a ransom. Ex. 30 : 12. The obe-
dience and death of Christ are
the proper ransom and price of
our deliverance from sin and
misery. Matt. 20 : 28. Job 33 :
24.
Raven, a bird about the size
of a pullet. Its color is black,
and its voice harsh and doleful.
It delights in solitude, and lives
on carrion, &c. It is not the
same as the crow. It is larger,
more sagacious, and lives in
pairs, not in flocks.
The raven which Noftt sent
forth did not return, probably,
because it found rest and food
on the floating carcasses It
has by all nations been oonaicU
REC
218
REE
wet. disgusting and hateful
bird , out especially so t<~- the
Jews, rhose laws pronounced
it unclean. How striking, there-
fore, is she argument of God's
paternal regard to all his crea-
tures, derived from his care of
this bird ! Job 38 : 41. He not
only feeds the ravens, but, if
killed, he cares for their un-
fledged young. " He giveth
food to the young ravens which
cry." Ps. 147 : 9. If the Lord
takes care of ravens, how con-
fidently may his people trust
him ! Luke 12 : 24.
Razor. See SHAVE.
Reason, the power by which
we discover and apprehend
truth. Tru religion is alto-
gether a reasonable service,
Rom. 12 : 1 % , but, though reason
can see its reasonableness and
excellence, when revealed, it
could not, by the mere light of
nature, discover fully the char-
acter and pleasure i f God. The
province of reason in religion
is, to examine the evidences of
the authenticity of Scripture,
and, this being ascertained, it
is to be employed in understand-
ing the whole will of God, as
there revealed.
Re'chabites, a tri^e of Mid-
ianites, who lived in tents, and
roamed the country for pasture,
%z the Arabs and Tartars now
do. Their origin and manner
of life are described 2 Kings 10 :
1523 ; Jer. 35 : 57. It is
thought that some tribes now
dwelling on the north-east of
Medina are descendants of th
ancient Rechabites.
Reconciliation, a restoring to
favor, or reunion between those
who had been at variance. See
ATONEMENT and EXPIATION.
Redeem, to buy back what
was sold, pledged or forfeited.
Luke 1 : 68. The word is de-
rived from a Latin word signify-
ing to buy again. In the Greek
Testament several words are
used in relation to the saints'
deliverance from hell, which
signify obtaining something by
paying a price. 1 Cor. 6 : 20
Gal. 3 : 13. 1 Pet. 1 : 18.
Redeemer, one who ransoms
by paying the price. Jesus
Christ redeemed us by suffering
in our stead the penalty of the
divine law. 1 Pet. 1 : 19.
Red Sea. See SEA.
Reed. (1.) A tall, hollow,
jointed plant, growing in fenny
places, much used in hot coun-
tries, where the plant abounds
for buildings, carriages, <fcc., &Q
In this country it is employed for
fishing-rods, weavers' reeds, <fcc.
It was anciently used for writing,
and answered to the word "pen "
3 John 13. The use of quills for
writing cannot be traced further
back than to ISIDOUUS, who died
in A. D. 636. (2.) An instru-
ment of music like a flute.
Whe& our Lord said, Matt. 12:
20, ** a bruised reed he would
not break," it is not certain
whether he alluded to the plan*
or the instrument ; but in refer-
ence to either, the allusion if
REO
219
REH
fiighly ins inactive. ^3.) Ameas-
Ire of nine feet.
Refugti, a place of safety, to
which a person may fly in case
of danger. The Lord com-
manded Moses to appoint six
cities of reftige for those who
slew any one unintentionally.
Josh 20 : 79. The roads to
theso were required to bo fifty-
eight feet wide, and kept in
perfect repair, with bridges over
the streams, and guide-boards,
marked Refuge, pointing the way
at every corner. This arrange-
ment strikingly typified the
Lord Jesus. God is called the
Refuge of his people, Deut. 33 :
27, as he defends them against
all the assaults of their enemies.
Jesus Christ is the only refuge
for sinners.
In these six cities the refugee
was to be lodged and fed gratis.
All the other forty-eight cities
of the priesthood were cities of
also, but had the right to
refuse to receive refugees, and
to receive pay for the subsistence
of such as were received.
A refuge of tics means a false
hope. Isa. 28 : 17.
Regeneration, the new birth,
or a spiritual change from a car-
nal to a Christian life This
renovation of the soul, with all
its affections, is effected by the
Spirit and grace of (Jod, and is
called the m-w birth. It consists
in the infusion of spiritual life
into the soul, by which it is
enabled to perform spiritual
actions, and to live unto God.
fit 3 : 5.
It differs from conversion, be
cause regeneration is a power
conferred, and conversion is the
exercise of that power. Re-
generation is the principle given
to turn unto the Lord , conver-
sion is our actual turning unto
him ; regeneration is the life
itself, conversion its motion.
It differs from justification. Jus
tification acquits a man from th
charge of guilt ; regeneration
imparts a new nature. Justi
fication is effected by the obe-
dience, death, and resurrection
of Jesus Christ ; but regenera-
tion is the work of the Holy
Ghost.
// differs from adoption. Ad op
tion entitles to heaven, and re-
generation is that which con-
stitutes our meetness for its
enjoyment.
The word is also used for that
new life which is expected at
the general resurrection and
restitution of all things. Matt.
19: 28.
Rehobo'am, son of Solomon
by an Ammonitess, ascended the
throne B. c. 970, being then for
ty-one years old ; and i
seventeen years. By following
the absurd counsel of his young
companions, he caused the re
volt of the ten tribes, an
productive of infinite mischief,
and which spread its influence
over the whulo sr^eqi.en* his-
tory of the Hebrews, lealin at
last to their political nun.
Reho'botll, literally room or
place. (1.) A city of Edom.
|(2.) A well digged by
EEM
220
BEP
eastward of Oerar, so called be-
cause there the Lord made room
ft* him to dwell. Gen. 2t 22.
Reign, to rule as supreme.
God, who ia the absolute Mon-
arch of the world, reigns in the
proper sense of the word, as he
disposes of all things, in heaven
and on earth.
Sin is said to reign, when its
motions and influences are read-
ily obeyed, and it exercises an
absolute, uncontrolled power in
the soul. Kom. 6 : 12.
Grace is said to reign, when
we are governed by the impulses
of the Holy Spirit.
Reins, the loins or kidneys.
The word is used in Scripture,
like the word hearty to signify
the dispositions and affections
of the mind. Ps. 7 : 9. Jer. U:
2.
Religion, the inward and
spiritual knowledge and belief
of divine truth. It is manifest-
ed in a proper acknowledgment
of God, and obedience to him ;
and in showing proper regard to
men, according to their various
conditions, stations and rela-
tions to us. The word is used
also to denote any system of
faith and worship in distinction
from others.
Remphan, an Egyptian idol.
The learned are very little
agreed who this god was. Some
are very peremptory, ana others
quite despair of ascertaining.
The Israelites worshipped this
false god, calling him CHIUX.
Amos 5 : 26. Probably it was
S(jv-. Acts 7 : 43.
Repentance, grief for sin,
change of mind by which we
wish any of our conduct undone.
Evangelical repentance is thai
saving grace wrought in the
heart of a sinner by the Holy
Ghost, by which the sinnei turna
from a course of disobedience,
and sincerely endeavors to live
unblamably before God, in
the expectation of forgiveness
through the merits of Christ.
Matt. 3 : 2, &c. The repentance
which Esau sought with tears
was not his own regret, which
of course he could and did ex-
ercise, but a change of purpose
in his father. That is, though
with tears he sought to induce
his father to repent and re-
store to him the birthright, it
could not be done. When it is
said, Rom. 11 : 29, "The gifts
and calling of God are without
repentance," it means that hia
purposes of love to his people
are unalterable. Thus it is said,
1 Sam. 15 : 29, " God is not a
man, that he should repent ;"
that is, does not change his pur-
poses.
Repetitions. The vain repe-
titions blamed by our Saviour,
Matt. 6 : 7, were lifeless forma
of prayer frequently repeated.
It is to be feared many of our
prayers are little better. The
papists openly make a merit of
frequently repeating in a given
time the same prayer.
Rpvh'aim, a valley near Je-
rusalem, fruitful in wheat J da
17 : 6. It seems to have de
rived U0 name from the
REP
221
RES
t,l at aucl sntly inhabited it. llere
the hodC of the Philistines en-
jaii.ped trequeutly. 1 OLr. 11 :
i5.
Rcph'idim, a place east of
the lied Sea, where the Hebrews
tempted God, and quarrelled
with Muses for want of water.
It was therefore called Meribah,
Contention ; and Ma*xuk y temp-
tation. Ex. 17 : 7, 8.
Reprobate, rejected ; given
up to sin ; lost to virtue ; fatal-
ly erroneous in sentiment. A
rcjirubntc mind is one whose con-
science is callous. Men are rep-
robate to every good wwk, when
utterly averse to doing or per-
mitting others to do good. Tit.
1: 16.
Reproof, blame charged upon
a person to his face ; or admo-
nition upon account of some
fault. Reproof requires the
utmost care and prudence in the
person by whom it is aduiinis-
r it may exasperate, and
make the offender sin the more.
Unless circumstances imperative-
ly require it, let it never be done
publicly, but always in secret.
Make it evident that the good of
the transgressor is the sole mo-
tive of your censure ; that it is
a painful task, to which you are
arged by a sense of duty, and
prompted by the most tender so-
licitude for liis happiness. Let
not an air of self-importance,
an angry countenance, or a
wrathful tone of expression,
discover itself in your rebukes.
You must feel, ana you are al-
lowed to feel ; but it is to be
19*
the feeling of Christianity
that is, pity, kiidness, anu th
must, sincere affection for the of
fender himself. Not his />**,
but his sin, and liii sin a/one, if
to be the object of your indig
nation ; and every admonition
should be accompanied with fer-
vent payer to God for his bless-
ing on your efforts to do good
" As an ear-ring of gold, and an
ornament of fine gold, so is a
wise reprover upon an obedient
ear." It is most mournful that
this great duty is so little re-
garded. We are bound to per-
form it as we are to pay our
honest debts ; and in the dis-
charge of it would gain, as well
as impart, inestimable blessings.
2 Tim. 4 : 2.
Rereward, the rear-guard
Josh. 6 : 13. God promises to
be the rereward of his people,
defending them as they press on
their march, from unseen ene-
mies behind. Isa. 52 : 12.
Rest. (1.) A ceasing from
bodily labor. (2.) The quiet-
ness of sleep or death. (3.)
That peace with God and 'in
their own consciences, which
believers enjoy in this world,
Matt. 11 : 29, arising from a
cheerful confidence in the prorn-
1 providence of God. Ps.
116 : 7. (4.) A quiet and se-
cure habitation, such as was
promised to the Israelites in the
land of Canaan, which was also
a typo of thut eternal rest In
the heavenly Canaan, where the
saints shall enjoy a never-end-
ing blessedness in the
RES
222
REV
of God, at the termination af
all the toils and troubles of this
life. Heb. 4:9.
Restitution. (1.) The restor-
ing of anything to its former
state. Acts 3 : 21. (2.) The
returning of a thing unjustly
gotten, or making amends for an
injury. This is very particular-
ly enjoined in the law of Moses.
Ex. 21. Lev. 24. Deut. 19. It
was done at the reformation un-
der Nehemiah. Neh. 5 : 10, 11 ;
and by Zaccheus, who, following
the Roman law, agreed to re-
etore fourfold. Luke 19 : 8.
Resurrection, the act of ris-
ing from the dead, or returning
to life. It commonly means the
general resurrection at the last
day, or the end of the world;
Job 19 : 2527 ; John 5 : 28,
29 ; when we must stand before
the judgment-seat of Christ, and
be admitted to eternal happi-
ness, or doomed to endless mis-
ery. The doctrine of the resur-
rection was unknown to the
wisest heathens, and is peculiar
to the Bible. They had some
glimmerings of the soul's im-
mortality, but no knowledge of
the reviving of the body. The
resurrection of Christ is a clear
proof that our debt has been
paid, and that divine justice has
reseived full satisfaction- Ou
this doctrine of Christ's t er
over death, which was most sol-
emnly published to the world, is
built our faith in his promises,.
and our hope of life and glory.
Rom. 4 : 25. A grain of corn,
own LJ the earth, is the image
made use of by our Saviour aid
the apostle Paul to represent the
resurrection. John 12 : 24. 1
Cor. 15 : 36.
Reveal, to disclose. Christ
was revealed when he came in
the flesh. The wrath of God is
revealed when sinners are made
to suffer his open judgments.
Revelation, a discovery. The
sacred Scriptures are a revelation,
or disclosure, of God's will tc
man.
The last book, being the -dec
larations of John in reference
to futurity, is called the Reve-
lation, from its containing such
minute and ample predictions
of the state of the church in
future ages. It is commonly
called the APOCALYPSE. Accord-
ing to Eichhorn and others, it
was written about A. D. 70; but
critics generally assign the year
95 or UG as the true date. To
understand this book is very
difficult, and parts of it are in-
capable of illustration till prov-
idence is further unfolded. In
general, it may be said that
the stars, sun and moon, &c. t
mean the great men of the
earth. The numbers are sel-
dom to be taken arithmetically
Most of the predictions were
probably fulfilled in the early
age of the church, but many of
them extend to the remotest pe-
riods of the world. These are
to the Christian Church just
what the prophecies re spewing
the Church were to the Jews
They could not comprehend Low
child should bo born of a vir-
REV
223
BID
gin, or a man not see corrup-
tion, or a fespised malefactor
occupy the throne of
rotas the pious Jew lelieved
ind waited, so the Christian
auw waits for " the things which
shall be hereafter."
Reveugc, to vent displeasure
upon a person for a real or imag-
inary fault. , Men revenge
Ives because they are too
easily offended, and too much
iufliifiiced by the impulses of
: and self-love. But
when it ia said, in Scripture,
that God revenges himself, it
means no more than that he
vindicates the injuries done to
his justice and his majesty ; to
the order he has established in
the world ; and to his servants;
because he is just, and order and
justice must be -preserved.
Revenge is the result of cher-
ished resentment a union of
sorrow and malignity. He,
therefore, who cherishes this
feeling, endures suffering, and
nourishes a passion which all
men condemn. His meditations
only increase his misery, and his
only hope of enjoyment is the
witnessing of the misery of
another. How base and wretch-
ed is such a e'ate of mind !
Only by forgiv't can we enjoj
the gladness of prosperity, or
the calmness of innocence.
Revenger OP BLOOD, a name
given to the person who had a
right, under Jewish cu.-:
take it e life of him who had
killed MR relation. See REF-
BGK.
Reward^ recompense. Good
men's rewanl is on high, not on
earth. Kaphelius has shown,
says Dr. Doddridge, that muthoa
not only signifies reward of
debt, but reward of grace, and
that the phrase misthon dtregen
occurs in Herodotus ; so that
the phrase " reward of grace,-
Rom. 4 : 4, is a classical, as well
as theological expression.
Rhe'gium, a seaport of the
kingdom of Naples, about op-
posite to Messina, in Sicily. It
is said to have been originally
built by a colony from Chaleis
Paul doubtless preached here at
his visit, Acts 28 : 13, though
Luke does not record the fact
Its present name is Reggio.
Rhodes, an island in the
Mediterranean Sea, north-east
of Crete, and ranked for digni
ty and size next to Cyprus and
Lesbos, being about 120 miles
in circumference. It had its
name Rodos, a rose, from the
multitude of roses that grew on
it. On this island was the fa-
mous statue of Apollo, called
Colossus, standing across the en-
trance of the harbor, so high
that ship} sailed in between the
legs. No restige of this now re-
mains. The Rhodians were fa-
mous about the time of the Tro
jan war. The most ancient cities
were Lindus, Camirus, and Jaly-
sus : but Rhi*ie *clipsed all
the rest, and i.s still a place of
\ets 21 : 1. Rhodes in
ancient classic authors is called
Anteria.
Riding was a maik of ran*
R I M
224
HIV
taaong the Jews, Ecc. 10: 7; and
the degree of rank was indi-
cated, among other things, by
the uumbor of attendants on
foot. As there are no side-
walks in Eastern cities, one or
more ran in front to clear the
Kay and prevent unwary per-
sons from being run over. 1
Kings 18 : 46. See Litter.
Righteousness, (l.) That
upright life and conversation
which proceed from a pious dis-
position, inclining us to render
the worship due to God, and be
just in our dealings with all
men. It signifies, also, (2.)
That perfection of the divine
nature, whereby God is most
holy in himself, and most just
in all his dealings with his crea-
tures. (3.) The active and
passive obedience of Christ.
Christ is called " the Lord our
Righteousness," as being the
Procurer and Bestower of all
the righteousness and holiness
which believers possess.
Right Hand is, in Scripture,
a symbol of power. Ex. 15 :
C. Ps. 21 : 8. The word is also
used to mean southward, as the
Jews always spoke of the East
as before them, and the west be-
hind,
Rimmon, or REMMON. (].) A
city belonging to the Simeon-
ites, 25 miles south-west of Je-
rusalem. Josh. 19 : 7. Neh.
11 : 29. (2.) Remmnn melhQar,
a city of Zobulun, given to the
Levites. Josh. 19 : 13- I Chr
6 : 77. (3 ) A steep reck near
Qibeah, whither six hundred
| Benjamites fled /vhen the rest oJ
their tribe wi^ lestroyed. Jud
20:45. (4.) A principal idol of
the Syrians, worshipped at Da-
mascus. The name signifiei
jj^ftum ; but whether that idol
bo t.ue Elion, or Most High, of
the Phoenicians, or Saturn, or
Venus, is not agreed. He ia
nowhere mentioned in the Bible
but in 2 Kings 5 : 18.
Ring* The wearing of ring*
is a very ancient custom. Gen.
24 : 22. It was an ensign of
authority in princes and great
men. Thus, when Pharaoh com-
mitted the government of all
Egypt to Joseph, he took the
ring from his finger and gave it
to him. Ahasuerus gave h>*
ring to his favorite Haman, ani
granted the same favor to Mor-
decai, who succeeded Haman in
his dignity. The practice con-
tinues in those countries to this
day. Few great men can write,
but sign documents by rubbing
a little thick ink on their signet
ring, and then pressing it on the
paper.
It is also used as an emblem
of conjugal fidelity, and a con-
stant memorial of the marriage
vow.
Ring-Streaked, having circu
lar streaks or lines on the body,
as we often see on cattle. Gen.
30 : 35.
River, a large stream of wa-
ter. The rivers mentioned ia
Scripture are tlie Jordan, Ki-
ehon. Jabbok, Arnon, Abana
Pharpar, Euphrates, H.ddekel
Gihon, Pison, Chebar, Ahavah
ROE
ROM
Dial. The Nile is alluded to,
Out is not mentioned by mime.
"The river ." men-
tioned in the Bible, is not tliu
Nile, but a small stream, falling
into the Mediterranean
Gaza. From the river to the
ends of the earth," means from
the Euphrates to the end of the
then known world. No river
in Palestine withstands the
drought of summer but the Jor-
dan, and that becomes greatly
diminished. The others, though
torrents in the rainy season,
become mere rivulets in sum-
mer, and sometimes wholly dis-
appear. Job compares false
friends to such. Job 6 : 15.
Robe. Seo RAIMENT. Jesus*
imputed righteousness is a robe
which beautifies, warms, and
protects our souls. Isa. 41 : 10.
Rod. (1.) A small branch of
a tree. Gen. 30 : 37. (2.) A
staff for walking. Ex. 4 : 4.
(3.) A shepherd's crook. Ps.
23 : 1. (4.) A 'measuring-reed,
used by surveyors. (5.) A scep-
tra, and hence denotes power
and authority. Isa. 14 : 5.
Roe, a small species of deer,
exceedingly beautiful and swift.
2 Sam. 2: 18. It is, no doubt, the
gazelle or antelope, which is called
roe in Scripture. It is about 2j
feet high, is gregarious, has horns
afoot long, short, erect tail, and
beautiful eyes. It abounds in
Palestine, Arabia and Egypt,
and is excellent food. 1 Chr.
12 : 8. Cant. 2 8, 9, <to. The
anoient method of catching this
animal was by a net. Pruv. 6 :
dieek name is DORCAI
and its exceeding beauty prob.
be giv-
en to females. To be called
" Gazelle-eyed beauty " it a
high oriental compliment
Roll, a book. Ezra ? 2.
Jer. 36. Ezek. 3. Before the
invention of the present manner
of binding, writings were rolled
on a staff. Such are now used
i in the Hebrew synagogues. Seo
the cut under BOOK.
Romans* Paul had never
been at Home when he wrote
this Epistle. It was called
forth by his having heard of
their condition, and especially
of the difficulties existing be-
tween the Jewish and the Gen-
tile members. He controverts
many of the errors of both
Jews and Pagans, as to ances-
tral merit, justification, the effi-
cacy of sacrifices, election, sub-
mission to foreign rulers, <tc.
Paul was nearly sixty years old
when ho wrote this letter, dur-
ing a residence of some months
at Corinth.
Rome, for a long time the
most noted city in the world. It
was built by the Etrurians.
Romulus enlarged it about the
time of He/.ekiah, king of Ju-
dah, that is, A. M. 3 2. VI. It
gradually increased, till it ex-
ver W -'r*n hills. The
river Tiber runs through it, af-
fording water to the city, ani
carrying off the tilth, which is
conveyed to it by sewers under
ground. Its walls seem nevef
to lave been above thirteen
BOM
ROS
in circumference ; but it
had a vast extent of suburbs.
In the time of Romulus it con-
tained about three thousand in-
habitants, and in the time of
Augustus, two millions. Chris-
tianity was early planted here,
and has continued to this day,
though for ages obscured by
popish superstitions. Most of
its early pastors suffered martyr-
dom.
While the Romans governed a
great part of the world, they
were in the habit, either for
money or good deeds, or of free
favor, of conferring the right of
citizens on some who were not
of their nation, and even some-
times on the inhabitants of a
whole city. In this sense, Paul
and Silas were Romans, and had
a legal title to all the privileges
of the citizens of Rome, by
having been born in a free city.
Acts 16 : 37, 38 ; 22 : 25, 26,
2T.
The present population of this
city is only 154,000 ; but the
territories of the pope embrace
13,000 square miles, jyid a popu-
lation of two millions and a half.
Not more than about the third
part of what is within the walls
is now inhabited. It is noted
for many fire ancient ruins,
for St. Peter s church, which
was one bundled years in build-
ing, and for the Vatican, or win-
ter palace of the pope, which
consists of about 12,500 cham-
bers, balls and closets, and has
a famed library, garden and
Brae**) Its hospitals are re-
marked for their excellent reg
ubit-'^ns ; but the inhabitant*
are licentious to an uncommon
degree.
We L.TQ not informed when, or
by whom, the gospel was first
preached at Rome. But, as
among those converted at Jeru-
salem, on the day of Pentecost,
there were "strangers from
Rome," Acts 2 : 10, there can
be no doubt but that on their
return home they set up a Chris-
tian church. It must have
grown rapidly, though tho
preacher is not named; for in A.
D. 68 their number drew the at-
tention of government, and the
horrid persecutions of Nerc
killed vast multitudes.
Roof, the covering of a house
The Jews had theirs flat, foi
walking, or erecting booths on
and a battlement breast high
around, to prevent any one fall-
ing from them. As this rendered
them private places, they often
performed their devotions on
them. Acts 10 : 9.
Rose, the queen of flowers.
From tho frequent connectior
of the lily with this flower, when
spoken of in Scripture, it seems
evident that the wild rose must
be meant, which in all hot coun-
tries is extremely beautiful.
Christ is compared to it. Song
2:1. "The wilderness rbull
blossom as the rose," wht-n
Christianity restores this wilder-
ness wcarld to order and beauty
Isa. 35-1. In the Fast Indies,
an extract is made, called "'otta
of roses," which is very costjy
RUF
227
RUT
nd the most exquisite perfume
In nature.
coarse, ragged, une-
ven. By the powerful preach-
ing of John the Baptist, the
* rough places were made
plain ; " that is, people of the
most ignorant and hardened
description were, through divine
grace, humbled, and prepared
to receive the full truths of
Christ's mission and ministry.
Luke 3 : 5.
Rnby, a beautiful gem, of a
red color, of great hardness and
lustre, but seldom found larger
than a grape seed. A perfect
ruby, above 3i carats in size,
exceeds in value a diamond of
equal size. A deep-colored ru-
by, exceeding 20 carats in
weight, is called carbuncle.
Wherever the word occurs, it
should be translated pearls. Job
28: 18; Prov. 3 : 15; Lara. 4: 7.
Rnc, a useful medicinal plant,
common in gardens. It has an
unpleasant smell, and a bitter,
pungent taste. The word occurs
in Luke 11 : 42, only.
Rnfns, son of Simon the Cy-
renian, who bore our Saviour's
crose, H seems to have been a
very distinguished preacher
with the Apostles, though not
much is affirmed of him direct-
ly. Rom. 16 : 13. His mother
was a great Christian, and kind
to Paul, who calls her his
" mother." Polycarp, a fellow-
laborer with the Apostles, whose
writings are still extant, speak-
ing of extraordinary Christian
attainments, says " which ye
have seen set before your eye*
in the bletsed Ignatius, and
Zozimus, and Rufus, and Paul
himself."
Ran, to press on rapidly. As
men when running, especially
for a prize, exert themselves
earnestly and perseveringly.
the frequen* *e of the term, in
reference to the Christian career,
is very impressive, and ought to
alarm indolent professors. See
1 Cor. 9 : 24. Heb. 12 : 1.
Runners, persons who ran be
fore the king's chariot, or bore
messages in haste. They were
employed particularly to carry
into the provinces tidings of the
enactment of any edict or law.
Rash) an aquatic plant, com-
mon on the banks of the Nile,
<ko. Job 8:11. It is the same
as the bulrush, Ex. 2:3; Is*
18 : 2 ; and the paper reed, Isa.
19: 7. It is the cyperus papyrus
of LINN.EUS ; commonly called
the Egyptian reed."
The stalk is triangular, rising
to the height of nine or ten
feet, beside three or four under
water, and terminating in a
crown resembling the thistle.
See the picture, article PAPER.
Rath, one of the ancestor? of
our Saviour, who lived in the
days of Gideon, or perhaps of
Ehud ; about 300 years before
HUM EH flourished.
The bo"k of this name 11
thought to have been written by
, and forms a sort of Ap-
pendix to the book of Judges.
The principal scope of the book
is to record the genealogy of
228
SAB
flhrisl in David's line. Compare
Ruth 4 : 1822 with Matt. 1 :
5, 6. The adoption of Ruth, a
heathen convert to Judaism
has been generally considered i.
pre-intiiuation of the admission
of the Gentiles into the church.
A further design of this book
ia, to evince the care of Prov-
idence over such as fear God.
Rye is mentioned Ex. 9 : 32,
and Isa. 28 : 35. The word in
1 the original means only bearded,,
j and makes it doubtful what
grain is meant. Some suppose
| rice to be intended. This is ren-
dered very probable by several
considerations The passage
lisa. 32 ; 20 almost certainly
i means rice ; and the allusion in
Eccl. 14: 1 is rendered beautiful
and intelligible if understood of
rice.
S.
means "Thou
aast forsaken me. " Mark 15 :
35.
Sab'aotii, a Hebrew word, sig-
nifying hosts or armies. Jehovah
is called " the Lord of Sabaoth,"
because the hosts of all crea-
ture* 1 are his. Angels, ministers,
Christians, stars, planets, <fcc.,
are all marshalled and ruled by
the Lord God omnipotent. Rom.
9 : 29. Jam. 5 : 4.
Sabbath, literally REST, the
holy day. When God had made
the heavens and the earth, in
the space of six days, he rested
on the seventh, and set it apart
for himself, to be occupied in
the exercises of religion. The
perpetual obligation of the
Sabbath is inferable not only
from the injunction being one of
the immutable ten command-
ments, but from the reasons
which are given for its institu-
tion being of a moral, and not
ot a oerouoai&l nature, and the
modes of its observance being
of universal obligation.
Though it was really the
seventh day to God, to man, who
was formed on the evening of
the last day, it was the first, and
was kept as such for ages,
though called the seventh part
of time. Gen. 2 : 2, 3. In the
first institution of the Sabbath,
it was intended to call to mind
the wisdom, power and goodness
of God, as they are displayed in
the creation of the world ; but
after the return of the children
of Israel from their state of ser-
vitude and hard bondage rn
Egypt, that was urged as an ad-
ditional object of recollection on
the Sabbath-day, and also %s
an additional motive to its ob-
servance. The day was, r* the
same time, changed, to corre-
spond with that memorable event
and to preserve the Hebrew?
more effectually froin idolatry,
by making their day of worship
different from that of the he*.
SAB
229
SAC
Iheu Deut. 5 : 14, 15. Undsr
the Christian dispensation, which
unites Jews and Gentiles, the
Sabbath u altered back again
from the seventh to the first
day of the week, 01 irhich the
Redeemer himself rose from the
j ;ad. It is thus no longer
an institution for the Jews, as
the Mosaic Sabbath was, but for
the world, as it was before Mo-
ses. In the Apostolic age the
first dky of the week was never
called babb'ith, but Lnr<!'
Many of the converts from Ju-
daism observed both. Itev. 1: 10.
On the " first day of the
week," Jesus Christ made re-
peated visits to his di
who were evidently assembled
together for religious pi;
John 20 : 19, 2G. On the first
day of the week the disciples
came together to break bread
and hear Paul preach. Acts
'20 : 7. Upon the first day of
the week the Corinthians were
required to lay by their contri-
butions for the poor. 1 Cor. 16 :
2.
It is to be sanctified by a ces-
sation from all worldly affairs ;
by a remembrance of God in
creation, providence, and re-
demption ; bv meditation,
prayer, reading the Scriptures,
attending public worship, and
by holy anticipations of that
eternal Sabbath which remains
for the people of God.
Sabbath day's Jo-arney. The
Journey of a man on foot, for a
dy, was commonly reckoned at
V 01 30 miles ; but Jewish tra-
20
dition allowed a man to travel
on the Sabbath only one mile
Thus a Sabbath day's journey
was arranged so as barely to
allow a person to go to the near-
est synagogue.
Sabbatlral year, the seventh
year, in which the land was to
have rest. Ex. 23. Lev. 25. It
served to remind Israel of the
authority and goodness of God,
to inculcate humanity, to be
friend the poor, to give time for
devotion, study, and deeds of
mercy.
Sib,'',\t!s, a people of Arabia,
:;nts, probably, of i'/tt-Aa,
of Cash. It is contend-
me that the " queen of
teas from the neighbor
: Abyssinia, in Africa.
Sackbut, a musical instru-
ment, generally thought to have
had four strings : but Isidore
considers it a kind of flute or
hautboy. It was probably what
we call tnnnhone, as the word
seems to signify what may be
lengthened or shortened.
Sackcloth, a coarse cloth,
made of the hair of horses, and
coarsest hair of camels and
goats. It was the common
clothing of very poor people,
and was much used for tents,,
awnings, <io. Elijah and John
the Baptist wore such ; indeed,
it was a-. '.iently very common
for all prophets to be thus hum-
bly clad. Hence, the false
prophets wore " a rough gir-
incut to deceive." Zeoh. l.'J . 4.
It was also used \y inouzaor*
Isa, 50 : 3.
230
SAO
an offering to God,
uade on an altar by a regular
priest. It differed from an obla-
twn, which meant only the sim-
ple offering of a gift. The justice
of God required the death of the
offender ; but, being tempered
with mercy, it accepted a sacri-
fice in his stead. Before the
giving of the law, every man
offered as he chose, and was his
own priest ; but that gave rules
both as to the things to be sac
rificed, and the quantity tj be
offered ; and restricted the
priesthood to the family of Aa-
ron. In some cases no fire was put
to the sacrifice, which was con-
sumed by fire from heaven. It
is probable this was the way in
which Abel's sacrifice was ac-
cepted. The Hebrews had but
four sorts of sacrifices, viz. :
1. BURNT-OFFERING, or holo-
caust, which was wholly con-
sumed, except the skin, which
was for the priest.
2. SIN-OFFERING, or sacrifice of
expiation, which was offered by
one who had offended, to wnom
no part was returned, but the
priest had a share. SeeLat.4
and 5.
3. PEACE-OFFERING, a thankful
return for favors received, or to
satisfy private devotion, or sim-
ply to honor God. It was offered
at pleasure, there being no law
to require it , and the ago or
lex of the animal was not desig-
nated. Most of the flesh was
returned to the offerer, who ate
it with his friends. See Lev, 3.
4. TRESPASS-OFFERING, whkh
seems to have been differed
from the sin-offering, both being
required of the leper Lev. 14.
It might have been for particu-
lar cases comprised in the gen-
eral rules for sin-offerings. It*
character is not fully under
stood.
The PERPETUAL sacrifice was
the offering of a lamb every
morning at sunrise, and another
every evening about twilight.
They were burnt as holocausts,
but by a small fire, that they
might last the longer. With
each of these was offered half a
pint of wine, half a pint of
sweet oil, and three pints of fine
flour.
All the sacrifices, with their
several ceremonies, were either
acknowledgments of sin, or im-
ages of the punishment due to
it ; and had relation to Christ,
the gospel Sacrifice, in whom all
these types had their fulfilment.
They signified the expiation of
moral guilt, by the sacrifice of
Christ, who is called the Lamb of
God, John 1:29; and the Lamb
slain from the foundation of the
*orld, Rev. 13 : 8.
The doctrine of atonement by
animal sacrifices could never
be derived from human reason-
ings ; and the universal preva-
lence of sacrifices is ample proof
of their being derived "rom the
practice of men instructed of
God, in the earliest ages.
Sacrilege, an outrage against
holy things or persons. Idolatry
is called sacrilege, M being a
8AI
231
SAL
jrime which especially insults
Deity.
Sadducees, a sect among the
Jews, founded by Sadoc, who
flourished s* rewhat more than
200 years before Christ, and de-
nied the existence of angels and
spirits, the immortality of the
soul, and the resurrection of the
body. They are accused, though
not with good proof, of rejecting
all the books of the Scripture,
except the five books oi
They were observers of the law,
and enforced it upon
but, contrary
they kept only t.
text, without traditions, expla-
nations, or i.
maintained that only w
written was to be c.i
The Sadducees were g
1 of wealth and influence.
Among the uiodevn Je\v
are few, if any, uonii
duceea ; but infidelity prevails
among them. to a melancholy
extent.
Saffron, the crocus, a bulbous
plant, common in gardens. The
flowers are considered ni<
Occurs in Cant. 4 : 14, only
Saints, converted persons, Ps.
16 : 3 ; Phil. 4 : 21 ; they who
spend much time in religious
exercises, and are eminent for
piety and zeal in the cause of
God, Ps. 16 : 3 ; Heb. 6 : 10 ;
those blessed spirits whom God
graciously admits tj partake of
everlasting glory and ble< ;ed-
nejs, 1 Thess. 3 : 13 ; Rev. 18 :
24 ; the holy angels, Deut 33
% , Jade 14. There is no pro-
priety in prefixing taint to th
names of the writers of the New
Testament, any mere than to
th-v of the Old. It is better
to say the evangelist Mat
thew," or " Paul the apostle."
alim, where John baptized,
is, perhaps, the same as SALEM,
where Melchiseduk was king,
near the river Jordan. Gen 14.
Jerusalem, called by contraction
i's. 76 : 2, was originally
called Jebus.
Salo'me, the wife of ZclK'deo.
and the mother of James and
John. She foolishly i
r two sons might have
the principal honors in C
temporal kingdom.
Stit 13 in many places dug
from the earth, or o>
. but is commonly ob-
tained by evaporating sea
It was appointed to be i;
all the sacrifices that were of-
fered to God. Lev. 2 : 13. It
is the symbol of wisdom " Let
your speech be seasoned with
salt," Col. 4 : 6 ; of fidelity and
perpetuity ; thus, a firm and
lasting covenant is called a core
nant of salt, Numb. 18 : 19 ; and
of maintenance or hospitality,
Ez. 4 : 14, where "maintenance
from the king's table " may be
rendered literally " salted with
the salt of the palace." The
phrase " salted with fire," Mark
9 : 49, means that the victims
of divine justice in hell shall b*
as it were salted with tire. HnJ,
instead of being consumed by
it, shall continue immortal in
the midst of their llauiea. Awfoi
HAL
232
SAL
thought * The Jews were ac-
customed to rub salt on new-
bor -. babes, or bathe them with
salt water, Ezek. 16 : 4, a very
mistaken practice. Large quan-
tities of salt put on land ren-
ders it barren. Hence a salt
land means a barren region.
Jud 9 : 45. Zeph. 2 : 4. Jer.
17 : 6. In small quantities, it
serves as a valuable manure.
Luke 14 : 34. When our Sa-
viour told his disciples that they
were the salt of the earth, he
meant that, being themselves
endued with grace, they ought
to season others, and preserve
them from corruption. The
truths of the gospel are in op-
position to the corruption of
the world, both in respect to
doctrine and morals.
Lot's wife was not turned into
a pillar of such salt as we use
at table, but into rock salt, as
hard and compact as stone. In
some parts of Arabia, houses
are built of this material. The
salt used by the ancients was
chiefly what we call rock, or fos-
sil salt ; and also that left on
the shores of salt lakes. Both
of these kinds were impure
being mixed with earth, sand,
Ac., and lost their strength by
exposure tj the atmosphere
M AUHDREM , in his description
of the valley of salt, speaks of
a small precipice on the side
toward Gibal, whwre he broke
ome pieces from a part exposed
to the weather, which, " ttough
tney had all the appearance of
alt, had perfectly lost its a->or ;
while the inner part, which wag
connected with the rock, re-
tained its savor, as I found by
proof." Compare Matt. 5 :
13. SCHOETGENIUS has largely
proved, in his " Horse He-
braicae," that such as had thus
become insipid was used to re-
pair roads. This is exactly the
use said to be made of it, in the
above quoted passage.
Salt, VALLEY OF, some vale
opening into the Dead Sea,
where rock salt was procured.
SillntC, to address with civil-
ity. The forms of salutation
vary exceedingly in different
countries. Among Orientals, so
much ardor is expressed, and
so long a ceremony used, as
would, in our eyes, appear
ridiculous. When an Arab meets
his friend, he begins, yet afar
off, to make gestures indicative
of recognition. On coming up,
he shakes hands, then kisses his
hand, and inquires concerning
his friend's health, and that of
his family, with great m'rute-
ness. All this is of course uone
by the other. Sometimes the
beard is reverently kissed.
When they separate, to pass
on, each pronounces a solemn
benediction, as " The blessing
of Jehovah be with you," <fco
" Peace be with you." " God
be with you." This last we
seem to have abridged wit
" good by."
In Egypt, the custom now is,
and probably w> ? anciently, to
clap each other*s hands recip-
rocally fifteen or twenty l^iner,
SAL
233
SAM
laying, " How do you do 1 " and
-skin? iiany questions about
each .^tl"*'8 children, mention-
ing ea;h 3 name.
The later Jews were more
moderate than the neighboring
nations, and used different
degrees of homage, according to
the person and the occasion. A
bow of the head was the com-
mon civility ; to bend the body
indicated mqre respect ; and to
lay down the face on the ground
signified the highest reverence.
Jacob bowed himself etvn times
when he met Esau. Gen. 33.
When the prophet sent his ser-
vant in great haste to raise the
dead child, he forbade him to
salute any one, or answer any
oalutation, because of the time
tu would occupy. 2 Kings 4 :
29. And our Saviour exoner-
ated the seventy disciples from
euch unmeaning waste of time.
Luke 10 : 4. Presents commonly
form a part of oriental saluta-
tion when a visit is made. Gen.
43 : 11. 1 Sam. 10: 4. Matt.
20*
2 : 11. When Saul was reeom
mended to seek Samuel's aio\
he thought it utterly iinpropei
to speak to him, because he had
no suitable present; but went
when he found they had a quar-
ter shekel, that is, twelve and a
half cents. 1 Sam. 9:7. So
small a present was evidently
intended not for pay, but for
respect. A flower, or an orange,
is sufficient to satisfy custom.
Salvation, literally, deliver-
ance. There is no salvation but
in Christ, through the mere
mercy and free grace of God.
Christ brings " great salvation,"
vastly more than mere deliv-
erance from deserved and im-
pending ruin. 2 Cor. 7 : 10.
Eph. 1 : 13. We " work out our
salvation," when we accept
Christ's free mercy, and walk
by his strength in newness of
life.
Samaria* 1. The country of
the Ephraimites, or ten tribes
In the New Testament it always
signifies the territory between
Judea and Galilee.
2. The seat of government of
the ten tribes, who revolted from
Rehoboam. It was built by
Omri, A. M. 3080. forty-two
miles north of Jerusalem. After
various sieges, &o. } duiing sev
eral ages, it was at last laid Li
complete ruins, by Shalmaneser.
Alexander the Great established
a colony of Macedonians there.
About the year 3947, Gabinius,
a Roman governor of Syria, im-
proved it ; and subsequently
Herod restored it to u.e.gnifi-
BAM
284
BAM
enoe, and called it Sebaste. For
some hundred years after Christ,
Samaria continued to be an im-
portant city, but about the
fourth century it seems to have
become desolate. During the
crusades, an elegant Christian
Church was erected, of which
Borne noble ruins remain.
Samaritan. When Shalma-
neser removed many of the ten
tribes to Babylon, he sent in
their place Babylonians ; these
intermarried with the remaining
Hebrews, and their descendants
were the Samaritans. Between
these arid the pure Jews there
were constant jealousy and
hatred. John 4. The name
was used by the Jews as a term
Df the greatest reproach. John
8 : 48. The Samaritans, like the
Jews, lived in the expectation
of Messiah, and many of them
embraced him when he appeared.
John 4. Acts 8 : 1, and 9 : 31.
They formerly had synagogues
at Damascus, Gaza, at Grand
Cairo, Shechem, and Joppa,
Askelon and Csesarea. At pres-
ent, their chief, if not only res-
dence, is Naplo-us, the ancient
Shechem, and Joppa . Thoy per-
haps do not amount to bUO per-
sons in all. They have a high
priest, who is considered to be a
descendant of Aaron. Though
few in number, they pretend to
great strictness in their obser-
vance of the law of Moaeg, r\nd
consider the Jews far le^s rigid.
From the letter of their high
priest to Joseph Scaligb., 21U
ago, i* appears that they
profess to believe in GoJ, and
in his servant Moses, and in the
holy law, tha Mount Gerizim,
the house of God, and the day
of vengeance and peace. They
keep the Sabbath so strictly,
that they will not move out of
their place, except to their syn-
agogue. They always circum-
cise their children on the eighth
day after their birth. They do
not marry their own nieces, nor
allow a plurality of wives.
Saraoon, See WINDS.
Samos, an island of the Gre-
cian Archipelago, nine miles
south-west of the coast of Lydia,
in Asia Minor. The inhabitants
chiefly worshipped Juno, who
was said to have been born there.
It is now inhabited by Greeks,
who are very poor, and who,
though nominally Christians, are
sunk in ignorance and super-
stition. The population of the
island now is about 75,000
souls. Here Pythagoras was
born, and here Lycurgus died.
Samothra'cia, a small island
of the ^Egean Sea, about twenty
miles in circumference. It de-
rived its name from having
been peopled by Samians and
Thracians. Its present name i^
Samodraki.
Samson, a judgo of Israel, of
the tribe of Dan. Dr. Clarke
has shown, from M. De Levaur,
that he is the original of the
fabled Hercules of heathn my-
thology. He judged Israel
twenty years, and died 1117
years B. c., aged 40. Jud. 13 *
16. Hob 11: 32, 33. Hii
SAN
235
SAN
Arcngth did not result from his
having long hair, for that has no
such influence ; but the unshorn
hair was the badge and pledge of
his Nazariteship, on losing which
his vow was broken, and God's
id forfeited.
Saamelj an eminent prophet,
born at Ramah, in the tribe of
Ephraira, and from his birth
dedicated by his mother to God's
service. 1 Sam. 3 : 1. He wrote
the First Book of Samuel, and,
as is supposed, those of Judges
and Ruth.
Two BOOKS of this name are
found in our canon of Scripture.
The FIRST describes the proph-
et's life, and the history of
Israel under Saul, embracing
a period of about eighty years.
The SECOND, written, it is sup-
posed, by the prophets Gad and
Nathan (1 Chron. 29 : 21)), con-
tains the history of David dur-
ing a period of nearly forty
years. These books, besides
their other various important
uses, serve greatly to explain
the Psalms. As specimens of
the use which may thus be made
of them, compare Ps. Ill with
2 Sam. 15 ; Ps. 4, with > Um.
22, 23, 26 ; Ps. 7, witb 2 Sam.
16 : 2, 11 ; Ps. 24, with 2 Sam.
6 : 12 ; Ps. 30, with 1 Sam. 5 :
11 ; Ps. 51, with 2 Sain. 12 ; Ps.
25, with 2 Sam. 15 ; Ps. 42 a-nd
43, with 2 Sam. 17 : 2224; Ps.
63, with 1 Sam. 22 : 5. Many
inch references might be given.
Sanctify. (1.) To set apart
any person or thing to a re-
ligicup use Thus the priests,
the offerings, the tabernaole,
<tc., under the law were sancti-
fied. Lev. 8 : 10. Thus the Sab-
bath is sanctified or set apart.
And thus Christ sanctified him-
self, by seuing himself apart aa
a Sacrifice to God. John 17 r
19. (2.) To cleanse a sinner
from the pollution and dominion
of sin. This commences at
regeneration ; is wrought by the
Spirit ; is progressive during
life ; makes the Christian fit for
heaven ; and constitutes hi?
evidence of adoption. 1 Cor. 6:
11. 2Thcss. '2 : 13.
Sanctuary, the most holy place
in the Jewish temple. The word
often means the temple itself, 2
Chron. 20 : 8 ; Ps. 73 : 17 ; and
sometimes a place of refuge,
Isa. 8 : 14; Ezek. 11: 16.
Sandals, soles of leather or
wood, tied to the feet with
strings. As these afforded the
traveller no protection from
dust, it was a necessary act of
;ity to have the feet of
the guest washed before he could
retire to bed. John 13 : 10. 1
Tim. 5 : 10. They arc still worn
in several eastern countries, by
both sexes, and all classes ; the
value and beauty being propor-
tioned to the rank of the wearer
They are generally put off on
going into a house or temple
Ex. 3 : 5. Deut. 25 : 9. Ih
picture gives the form now worn
in Burmah ; there is, however,
a great variety of forms of tin
BAB
SAT
anilal; but all essentially the
j consisting of a sole only,
fastened variously to the foot.
To bind and loose the sandals,
and wash the feet, was the busi-
ness of the lowest slaves. Gen.
18 : 4. Matt. 3 : 11. The poor
generally go barefoot, and *Ve
rich do so as a sign of mourn-
ing.
Sau / hedrim ) the supreme Jew-
ish court. This name, though
common among theological writ-
ers, does not occur in the Bible.
See COUNCIL.
Sapphire, a pellucid gem,
which, in its finest state, is in-
ferior in value only to the dia-
mond. The finest are of a pure
blue color, and others are of
various lighter shades, even to
perfect whiteness, resembling
crystal, though of a finer lus-
tre. Some are red, and go under
the name of ruby. Such as are
reddish, and slightly tinged with
blue, are called amethyst. The
finest are obtained in Burmah
and Ceylon. One in the Garden
c-f Plants at Paris cost $15,000.
It was the second stone in the
high priest's breast-plate.
or SARI>IUS, a pre-
eious stone, of a reddish
bloody color, said t derive its
rame from Sardis, where the
best were found. The best now
come from about Bagdad. It was
the first jewel in the high
priest's breast-plate.
Snrdlf, a town at the foot of
Mount Ttuolus, ten hours' ride
louth of Ihyatira. It was the
apital of Lydia, celebrated for
its opulence and debauchery
Here the famous Croesus lived
Accoi ding to the Lord's threat)
its candlestick has been removed
out of its place. A missionary,
who visited Sardis in 1826, found
no Christian residing on the spot.
It is now a miserable village
called Sart.
Sardonyx, a gem supposed to
partake of the qualities and
appearance of the sardine and
onyx, of which names the word
seems to be compounded. Rev.
21 : 10.
Sarepta. See ZARBPHATH.
Sargon, Isa. 20 : 1, is the
same as Sennacherib, son of Sal-
maneser, king of Assyria, who
came with a great army to over-
throw Judea in the fourteenth
year of Hezekiah.
Sardias, the gem which is now
called cornelian, which was very
plenty at Sardis.
Satan, the prince of hell.
The name is Hebrew, and means
enemy, for the devil is the enemy
of God and man. Much oi
man's wickedness may be as-
cribed to him. See instances,
Gen. 3 ; Job 1 ; Acts 5:3. He
is called the god of Ms world, for
his power in it. Unconverted
pereona are said to be under his
iaaaence. Acts 26 : 18. Peter
is called Satan, that is, enemy,
be:ause he wished his master to
avoid that suffering to which he
was appointed. Matt. 1C : 23.
The proper name ?f Satan is the
Devil ; and in the original
tongue the name is exclusively
appropriated to him, an never
SAV
237
SCA
fc> tn^se unhappy sprits who
are in banishment with him ;
Who are called " demons." But
our common English version has
failed to observe this distinc-
tion.
Saf JT, a name given to some
animal which prowls round the
ruins of Babylon ; probably the
ape or baboon. Isa. 13 : 21,
and 34 : 14. Some of the an-
eients worship it as a god, de-
lineating it as half man and
Half goat.
Save, to preserve from dan-
ger, or from eternal death ; to
deliver from the guilt or the
power of sin. Matt. 1 : 21.
Jesus Christ saves his people
from sin and from destruction ;
and, having merited their salva-
tion by his death, he applies the
purchased redemption, by shed-
ding abroad the Holy Ghost in
their hearts. The righteous are
" scarcely saved," because huge
difficulties lie in their way. We
are said to be saved by the word
of God, by faith, by baptism, by
hope, Ac., as these each form a
part of the glorious plan of sal-
ration.
Sa'YiOUT, a term applied pre-
eminently to Christ, who came
M to save his people from their
ins." He is therefore called
JESUS, which signifies a Saviour.
He is the " Saviour of all men,"
because he preserves and deliv-
ers them from danger <ranfc
favors, and is equally suited to
the case of all sinners, Jews as
well as Gentiles, and is equally
held up to them in the gospel,
aa saving all who come unto Wod
by him ; but he is the Saviour
ially of them that be-
lieve ;" by bestowing grace,
rescuing from sin and misery,
and giving eternal life.
SilYOr, the hniell or taste of
anything. The anoint sacrifices
were a " sweet savor unto God ; ' ;
he accepted of, and delighted in
them, as typical of the obe-
dience and suffering of Christ
Gen. 8:21. Ezra 6 : 10. Eph
5 : 2. " A savor of death " is a
noxious odor which causes death,
and " a savor of life " is a pure
fragrance contributing to life ;
a figure used with great force,
in relation to the different ef-
fects of the gospel. 2 Cor. 2 .
16.
Sf all, a disease incident to the
hairy parts of the body, as the
head or beard. It is called
nethek in Hebrew, indicating
that the hair is plucked up. Lev
13 : 3036.
Seape Goat, a goat which, on
the great day of atonement, was
banished into the wilderness,
after the high priest had con-
fessed upon it the sins of all the
people. See the account, Lev
16.
Scarlet, a color much admired
and worn in former times. It
was anciently produced from a
little worm found in the watery
excrescences of a shrub or small
tiee, called the kerme? oak. The
excrescences, or bladders, are
about the size of juniper ber-
ries, and are caused by the
insect. Toi RNETORT saw th
SCH
238
-SCO
kermea collected in the island of
Crete, and BELLOX saw them
near Damascus. The article is
still known in commerce in the
Levant, Palestine, Persia, <&c.
Ex. 25 : 4, &c.
Seeptre, a staff, or wand, sig-
nifying royalty. Ps. 45 : 6.
Rev. 19 : 15. Anciently kings
were shepherds, and hence, prob-
ably, this badge took its origin.
Ez. 19 : 11. Est. 8 : 4. The
" rod of the wicked " means
their power and influence. Ps.
125 : 3.
School) a place of instruction.
Each parent, by the obvious
law of nature, is bound to edu-
cate his child according to his
station. The association of a
number of parents to procure a
person who shall devote his
whole mind and time to this
subject, seems not to have been
known in the early periods of
the world. We read of schools
for the prophets in the days of
Saul. 1 Sam. 19 : 1824. About
the time of Christ, eminent doc-
tors delivered stated instruc-
tions, which were attended by
the studious, whether priests or
others. Paul was in this man-
ner educated by Gamaliel, the
most celebrated rabbi of his
time. Acts 22 : 3. Each great
teacher had, of course, his pe-
culiar views. Such as fully
adopted these, called him father
or master, and themselves chil-
iren. The exhortation, " call no
cnan father on earth," means
that we are not to give ourselves
op implicitly to any great doo-
I trinal leader, bat exai /Ine fd
j ourselves. M&t3. 23 : 9.
Scorpion, a reptile of fata!
I venom, found in most hot coun-
tries, and so malicious as to b
constantly striking at every c*>
ject within its reach, WL - \
put together, they immediate
destroy each other. In gene* \
they do not exceed thrje * ,-a^t
inches in length, thouglc,u. >ni4
hot countries, they arc ir*..<2 U
become eight or ten inolie-i long.
Some are yellow, others brown,
and some black. The sting if
in the tail. Rev. 9 : 10. II
has eight legs, and four eyes,
perhaps more. The torment
produced by the ir sting is dread-
ful. Rev. 9:5. In Africa some
grow to the size of a ve.
I lobster, which they resemble in
| shape, as is seen by the
The south border of Judea,
i and the desoH between that and
SCR
239
SCR
Egypt, was much infested with
scorpions. Deut 8 : 15. They
delight in stony places, and in
old ruins.
Wicked men are called scorpi-
ons. Ezek. 2 : 6. The state-
ments of some authors, that the
only cure for its bite is to crush
the reptile on the wound that
the young ones instantly kill
their mother, Ac., are absurd.
The folly and cruelty of Reho-
boam in threatening to rule Is-
rael as with scorpions, is very
striking. What father would give
his child such a reptile, when
it "asked of him an eggl"
Luke 11 : 12. The complete
security of Christ's followers is
forcibly seen when he gives them
power to " tread on scorpions "
unharmed. Luke 10 : 19.
Scourge, a whip, a lash ; an
instrument of discipline or pun-
ishment. In the punishment of
the scourge, the offender was
stripped from his shoulders to his
waist, and tied by his arms to a
low pillar, that he might lean
forward for the convenience of
the executioners. The law di-
rected them not to exceed forty
stripes, and the Jews, in order to
prevent the command being
broken, always limited the
number of lashes to thirty and
nim. Deut. 25 : 2, 3. When
the scourge had three lashes, ra
was common, thirteen blows
maae out the "forty stripes,
save one." This was done to
Paul five timea 2 Cor. 11 : 24.
Scilbe. (1.) A clerk, writer,
or secretary. 2 Sam. 8: 17.
(2.) A person skilled in tbt
Jewish law, who copied, taught
and explained the Scriptures.
Our Saviour classes the Scribes
with prophets and wise men
The estimation in which they
were held by the people ap-
pears in Matt. 17 : 10 ; Mark
12: 35, <fco. The injury done
to true religion, by the tradi-
tions of these interpreters and
preachers of the law, may be
gathered from the severe re-
buke which Christ gave to their
obtrusive question. Matt. 15 :
2, 3, <tc. Our Saviour gave va-
rious instances of their irrcgu
lar and unjust dealings. Matt
23 : 2, 3, 4, <fec. lie, therefore,
on the Mount, warns his audi-
ence of the dangers they were
exposed to from such teachers
Matt. 5 : 20. They existed as i
separate class of men as early
as the days of Deborah. Most
of them were f the tribe of
Levi.
Sfllp, a bag or purse. Ac-
cording to its size, <fec., it was
used for food or for money. 1
Sam. 17 : 40.
Scripture, that which is writ-
ten. The Old and New Testa-
ments, which contain the whole
will of God necessary to be
known for cur salvation, are
called the Scripture, or the Writ'
ings, the Bible, or tfa Book, by
way of eminence, because they
far excel all otbr writings
Though written j divers men
at different timed, yet they all
agree, aa if written by one man
is given by in-
SCR
240
sen
Sflration of God," 2 Tim. 3 :
16, " and is profitable, for doc-
trine," to declare and confirm
the truth ; " for reproof," to
convince of sin and confute er-
rors ; " for correction," to re-
form the life ; and " for instruc-
tion in righteousness ;" that is,
to teach us to make a farther
progress in the way to heaven,
or to instruct us in the true
righteousness revealed by the
gospel of Jesus Christ, in which
we may appear with com-
fort before God. It is proba-
ble that the apostles used the
term in reference to the Old
Testament only.
Every mark of authenticity
which we can demand is found
in the Scripture. Its unequalled
authority and majesty of style ;
depth, purity, and benevolence
of matter ; its tendency to glo-
rify God, and correct the corrupt
inclinations of man ; the obvious
candor of the writers in relating
their own weaknesses and faults ;
their amazing harmony, though
of very different stations, ages,
sharacters, and circumstances ;
its entire superiority, as to mor-
als, above anything ever pub-
lished by man ; its abundant
attestation by vast numbers of
public and incontestable mir-
acles, and important and au-
thentic history, and by the
cheerful martyrdom of a multi
tude of its witnesees ; iw won-
derful preservation upon earth ;
its amazing so tuat in purifying
the in-ost dissolute, and restrain-
ing the most iurious of men ; in
civilizing nations ; in comfort-
ing, enlightening and ennobling
all who receiv-e it ; the exact
fulfilment of its numerous and
circumstantial prophecies, <fcc.,
are BO many infallible proofs
that it is indeed the Word of
God. 2 Tim. 3 : 1517.
It will greatly assist the
young to remember the contents
and character of the various
books of Scripture, to commit
to memory the following de-
scriptive titles of each part :
GKNXSIB. The Cabinet of Antl<;ul
ties.
EXODUS. The Departure, and Moral
Law.
LEVITICUS. The Ceremonial Law.
NUMBERS. Enumeration and Con
tlnuatlon.
DKUTERONOMT. Rehearsal and Ex-
planation.
JOSHUA. The Wars and Settlement.
JUDGES. History of the Governors,
Rum. The Widow and her Daugh-
ters.
SAMUEL AND KINGS. The History of
the Kings.
CHRONICLES. The Record of tho
Times.
EZRA. The restoration of Israel.
.NEHEJIIAH. The Reformation of Is-
rael.
ESTHER. The Wonderful Deliver,
ance.
JOB. The School of Pat'.ence.
PSALMS. The heights of Holy A iplr*
Ings.
PROVERBS. Ethics, MetapLyaic*,
Politics.
ECCLESIASTES. The Vanity of Man.
CANTICLES. The Church and hei
Spouse.
ISAIAH. The Evangelical Prophet.
JEREMIAH AND LAMKMATIONI. Thf
Devout Mourner.
. The Captive Prophet.
SCT
SEA
The Historical Prophet.
HOJEA. Faith and repentance.
JOEL. Awful Threatenlngs.
AMOS AND OBADIAH. Keen Reproofs.
JOHAH. The Runaway Prophet
MICAH AND NAHCM. Israel's Sins
and Dangers.
HABAKKCK. Comfort for Captives.
ZEPHANIAH, ITAcaAi AND ZECHABIAH.
Preparation for Sad Times.
MALACHI. The last of the Prophets.
MATTHEW, MARK, LUKI, AND JOHK.
rhe life and sayings of Christ.
ACTS. Establishment of the Church.
ROMANS. Foundation Doctrines.
1 and 2 CORINTHIANS. Christian De-
portment.
GALATIANS. Epitome of the Truth.
EPHESIANS. Cautions and Encour-
agements.
PHILIPPIANS. Commendations and
Exultations.
COLOSSIANS. Brief rules of Faith and
Manners.
1 THBSSALOMANS. Practical Theol-
ogy.
2 THESSALONIAN s. Controversial The-
ology.
1 & 2 TIMOTHT. .Pastoral Theology
TITUS. Clerical Counsel.
PHII.EMON. The Runaway Restored.
HKBRKWS. The Sacrificial System
illustrated.
JAMCS. Faith shown by Works.
1 & 2 PETEB. A Theological Sum-
mary.
1 JOHN. Heresies kindly refuted.
2 JOHN. The Christian Matron.
S JOHH. The Liberal Christian.
4 (TDK. False Prophets.
KKTKLATION. Description of Future
Things.
Seyth/ia is now called Tartary
but the ancient Scythia compre-
hended Tartary, Asiatic Russia,
the Crimea, Poland, part of
21
Hungary, Lithuania, Swede**
Norway, and the northern parti
of Germany. Col. 3 : 11.
Sea, a large collection of
waters. The Hebrews applied
this term to lakes of moderate
size ; and the modern inhabit-
ants of Palestine still retain
the same phraseology.
1. The SEA OP GALILEE WM
anciently called the Sea of Cin
nereth, Numb. 34 : 11, or Cm-
neroth, Josh. 12 : 3 ; in the time
of the Maccabees, Genesar, I
Maco. 11 : 67 ; and in the day*
of our Saviour, the Sea of Ti-
berias, John 6 : 1, from the great
city of that name which stood
on its banks ; and Gennesareth,
from the neighboring district of
the same name, Mark 6 : 53
See GENHESAKETH.
2. The DEAD SEA was an-
ciently called the Sea of tht
Plain, Deut. 4 : '49 ; the Salt
Sea, Deut. 3 : 17 ; Josh. 15 : 5 ;
and the East Sea, Ezek. 47 : 18 ;
Joel 2 : 20. By Josephus and
other writers, it is called Lake
Asphaltites, from the bitumen
found in it. It is about seventy-
five miles long, and eighteen
broad. The term Dead Sea
seems to have been given to it
from the erroneous opinion that
no living creature could exist
in its waters, and that birds fell
dead into the water in attempt-
ing to fly over. Its waters are
clear, but very salt, and some
late travellers who have bathed
in it, found, on coining out,
disagreeable itching of the skin
They saw birds fly over it often
8EA
242
SEA
On the shores, sulphur is found,
and asphaltum or bitumen. It
is imbedded among lofty moun-
tains. It is sometimes called
Sea of Sodom, because it occu-
pies the site of that place, and
the other cities of the plain
which were destroyed for their
wickedness in the days of Lot,
viz., Gomorrah, Admah, and
Zeboiin. The ruins of these
cities may now be discerned
under the water when it is low.
See DEAD SEA.
3. The GREAT SEA is the Med-
iterranean, called sometimes the
Hinder Sea, in contradistinction
to the Red Sea, which is called
the Former Sea, Zech. 14 : 8 ;
because Orientals commonly call
the east before, the west behind,
the left hand north, and the right
hand south. The word beyond,
for the same reason, means east.
The Mediterranean Sea is about
2000 miles long, and varies in
breadth from 80 to 500 miles,
beautifully sprinkled with isl-
ands, and bordered by fertile
and opulent countries. No
tides are perceptible in it, ex-
cept in narrow straits.
4. The RED SEA is that arm
of the Indian Ocean which runs
ilong the south-west side of
Arabia, and the east of Ethio-
pia and Egypt, to the length of
1200 miles, now called the Ara-
bian Gulf. As the Edomites had
long the property and nse of il
for their shipping, it came to be
palled the Sea of Edam, which
the Greeks translated into th
Rnl Sca % Edom signifying red.
Hence originated the mlstakt
that its water, or its bottom, wai
reddish.
Se'ali, a Hebrew measure, &on.
taining about two and a half
gallons.
Seal, an engraved stamp; also
the impression made by such a
stamp. Formerly, writing was
trade by itself; for even
princes could not sign their
name. Hence the use of a seal
to authenticate documents. The
transfer of Pharaoh's seal to
Joseph put him in possession
of the entire royal authority.
The same was done to Haman
The expression, 2 Tim. 2 : 19,
" the foundation of God stand-
eth sure, having this seal [secu-
rity], the Lord knoweth them thai
are Az's," seems to allude to a
certified instrument. John 3 :
33. See BOOK.
The cutting of seals upon
stones, and using them for the
authentication of documents, is
of very early date. The prac-
tice, as mentioned by Moses,
1700 years B. c., has continued
in the East, with little variation,
to this day. The Bible is tail
of references to the use of seals
Scared, burnt off, or burnt
hard, as flesh is with a hot iron.
Men have their cunsciem-e
seared, when it is so stupefied
with guilt and inward corrup-
tion, that it regards nothing,
however horri J and abominable.
1 Tim. 4 : 2.
Seat, abode, station. " Mosefi
seat" means the station ol
authority occupied by th'
SEC
243
SEE
interpreted and expounded the
irord of God. Matt. 23 : 2.
Sect, a party of persons united
together under some leader, or
professing the same tenets or
opinions. The Jews, in the time
of our Saviour, were divided
into the sects of Pharisees, Sad-
ducees, Essenes, Herodians, and
Zealots. These are described
unaer their respective names,
except the Essenes, which are
not expressly mentioned in
Scripture.
The ESSENES were a very au-
cient sect, spread through Syria,
Palestine, Egypt, and the neigh-
boring countries. They seem
to have made religion to consist
chiefly in quietness and contem-
plation ; regarding a serene
mind as the most acceptable
offering to God. All agreed,
therefore, in avoiding the snares
of cities and of traffic. Some
dwelt in villages, practising
agriculture and the mechanic
arts ; others, retiring to deserts,
gave themselves wholly to soli-
tude and devotion. They set a
high value on the Old Testament,
ftnd addicted themselves to its
perusal ; but did not practise
any of the ceremonies, consider-
ing them allegorical. They re-
fused to take oaths, but were
remarkable for uprightness and
verajity. Their drera and diet
were plain and cheap, their lives
iiioilensive, and in doctrinal
views they nearly coincided with
the Pharisees. Slavery, which
b\a always been common in the
East, they regarded as repug
nant to naturo.
The THERAPEUT^E, who were
numerous near Alexandria, seem
to have been a branch of this
sect, differing from them but
little either in sentiments or
habits.
These sects have gradually
become extinct, and the princi
pal present divisions of the Jews
are into Rabbinical, who hold to
the multitude of traditions and
commentaries ; and Karaites,
who adhere to the simple text
of the Old Testament. Beside
these, there are the sects of Po-
lish Jews, which include those
of Germany and Russia ; the
Spanish Jews, or Sephartim, wh ich
include those of Portugal ; and
the Italian Jews, which include
all the Levant. They keep sep-
arate, and have different syna-
gogues, even in the Holy Land.
The Spanish Jew considers his
party so exalted above the
others, that if one of them
marry among the other Jew?, he
is excommunicated, and his
friends go in mourning for him,
as though ho were dead.
Ser, a prophet, so called from
his foresight of the future !
Sam. 9 : 9.
Seethe, to boil anything. Ex.
23:19. The Jewish prohibition,
" thou shalt not seethe a kid in
its mother's milk," is regarded
by the Jews as a ge?w*il pro-
hibition of the luxury of boil-
ing any flesh in milk. U may
have been enacted becauiw eacfc
fiEL
244
SEL
* euetorn tended to cruelty.
CUDWO.RTH shows an additional
reason foi the prohibition in the
fact that it was an idolatrous
rite. He says, " It was a custom
of ancient heathen, at the close
of harvest, to seethe a kid in
ts mother's milk, and then go
about in a magical way, and
with it sprinkle their trees,
fields, and gardens, thinking to
thus make them fruitful the
next year."
Se'la, called by the Jews Jok-
teel, is probably the place called
Kerek in Burckhardt's travels.
In Greek authors, it is called
Petra, and was the celebrated
capital of Arabia Petrea. 2
Kings 14 : 7. See SELAH.
Selah, a word of doubtful im-
port. Some suppose it to mark
the beginning of a new para-
graph ; others, that it indicates
an elevation of voice. It is
probably no more than a nota
bene, calling for particular at-
tention.
Selah, the capital of EDOM.
The earliest notice of this city
seems to be Judges 1 : 36. Ama-
ziah took it by war, and called
it Joktheel. It is twice mentioned
by Isaiah, and was evidently a
place of the greatest conse-
quence 800 years before Christ.
In the time of the Roman em-
perors it was the capital of Ara-
bia Petrea, and was subjugated
by Trajan. It then gradually
declined, and fur the last thou-
sand years its very existence was
unknown. It was first visited
lo 1811 by EURCKHARDT. Sev-
eral other travellers then visited
and described it ; and in 1836
our countryman, STEVENS, saw
it, and gives a vivid description
in his account of Arabia Petrea.
It is now called Petra. Its ruins
are declared to be no less won-
derful and grand than the Colis-
eum, the Acropolis, or the Pyr-
amids.
Mount Hor, where Aaron died,
is in the immediate vicinity.
Volney states that within three
days' journey are upwards of
thirty ruined and deserted cities,
with magnificent ruins. Let the
reader compare these facts with
the prophecies made against
these cities of Idumea or Edom,
in the days of their greatness, by
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Obadiah, and
others.
Seleu'cia. There were several
cities of this name in Asia. One
in Mesopotamia, on the same
site, or very near to it, is the
present city of Bagdad. The
Scripture mentions only that of
Syria, near the river Orontes,
which was built by Seleucua
Nicanor, the first Syro-Grecian
monarch. From its proximity
to Mount Pierius, it is nailed
in profane history Pieren
Self-Ex animation, Vu*% mdia
pensable calling of ourselve* t~
account, which is o expressly
commanded in the New Testa-
ment. 2 Cor. 13 : 5. It con-
sists in fully considering our
heart and life, comparing them
with Scripture requirements, and
sincerely desiring perfect recti*
tude. Times of trouble, biith
SEN
245
SEP
la/i, communion seasons, <fec.,
ought to be especially improved
for thin purpose.
Sell The Hebrews might sell '
them* ;lres or their children, j
uev. 25 : 39 ; Ex. 21 : 7 ; but
were not to be treated as com-
mon slaves. Lev. 25 : 4446.
Insolvent debtors and their chil-
dra were sold, 2 Kings 4:1;
Matt. 18 :. 25 ; as were also
thieves not able to make resti-
tution. Ex. 22 : 3.
Sennacherib, a king of As-
syria, successor to Shalmaneser.
The kings of Judah having re- (
fused to pay tribute to him, he
laid waste their country. Tak-
ing part of his army to invade
Egypt, he left Rabshakeh in the
command of the army in Judah,
whose blasphemy and insults we
read in 2 Kings 18, 19. Heze-
kiah and Isaiah resorted to
prayer, and an angel destroyed
185,000 of the Assyrians in one
night. The remnant of the
invaders returned to Nineveh,
where, shortly after, Sennacherib
was slain by his sons. 2 Kings
19 : 36, 37. During the reign
of this monarch, SEVECITUS was
king of Egypt, and DEIOCES
king of Media. About this
time, also, Romulus laid the
foundation of Rome.
Sens means, (1.) That facul-
ty of a living creature whereby
it receives the impression of
material objects. (2.) The im-
pression of an object upon the
senses. (3.) Meaning cr Im-
port. (4.) Common sense, by
which \non apprehend or under-
21*
stand things alike, or in com
num.
8Snal, belonging to th
lenses. Persons addicted to
animal gratifications are sen
sual. James 3:15. Christians
are to rise superior tc any sla-
very to their body. 1 Cor. 9 :
27. The mortification of unrea-
sonable appetites is a great part
of religion. Rom. 8 : 13. Col
3: 6.
Sepharvalm, or SEPHARVITES
They seem to have originally
dwelt north of Media, or about
Siphora, on the River Euphrates.
Sennacherib, king of Assyria,
ravaged the country about the
days of Hezekiah, and, after
destroying great numbers, colo-
nized most of the remainder in
Canaan, where they at length
became a tribe of Samaritans.
Sep'nlfhre, a place for receiv
ing the dead. Every vault,
tomb, or grave, may be termed
a sepulchre. The Jews inva-
riably placed them without the
cities, as they always should be
on account of the noxious efflu
via rising from them. The roya
family only were buried in Jeru
salem. 2 Chron 24 : 16. Natu
ral caves were often useu for
interment ; and in these thieves
and lunatics sometimes resided.
Hence the grave is called a pit.
Ps. 88 : 312. Our Saviour's
sepulchre was " hewn out of a
rock ;'* and the door being
sealed, it was impossible ne
should be stolen without the
knowledge of the guards. The
sue of the stone which ,irme4
SER
246
SER
&e d?or was itself an ample
lecurity. It was ** a great stone,"
that was generally selected for
this purpose. Matt. 27 : 60.
CLARKE, in his travels in Greece
and the Holy La'nd, informs us
that " on the reputed tomb of
Agamemnon is placed a stone
twenty-seven feet in length,
seventeen in breadth, and four
feet seven inches in thickness."
Bee TOMB.
Seraphim, the plural of SER-
APH. The word seems to be de-
rived from flame, and to mean
fiery ones, or those who excel in
love and zeal. Isa. 6 : 1 7.
It plainly means an order of
heavenly beings ; but what is
their special rank or employ-
ment, we know not.
Serpent. There are many
kinds of serpents. The only
remarkable kind mentioned in
Scripture is the flying serpent,
thought by some to be so called
from their swift, darting motion.
They were called flery from their
color and their venom. Isa. 30 :
6. Several profane authors
mention serpents, found in the
East, with wings like a bat.
HKRODOTUS affirms that he saw
inch at the city of Butus, and
describes them minutely BO-
CHART quotes many an^nrs to
y-ove that they are the A,me as
th* nydra of the Greeks and
Latins. The craft of this rep-
tile is often alluded to in Scrip-
ture. Gen. 3 : 1. Matt. 10 :
16. See ADDER.
The serpent was worshipped
ta Chaldoa, Egypt, Rome, and
other Oriental nation. Escn
lapius was adored at Epidaurus,
under the form of a serpent.
See IKCHANTERS and COCKA-
TRICE.
Servant. The Hebrews had
several kinds of servants. (1 )
Slaves for life, who were stran-
gers, bought or taken in war.
Lev. 25 : 44, <fcc. (2.) Hebrew
or bond-servants, who could be
bound only six years, and then
to be dismissed with presents.
Slavery was common before the
deluge ; and some of the patri-
archs, as Job and Abraham,
appear to have owned hun-
dreds ; but they seem to hav
been treated with great tender-
ness, and often to have had
wages, and much confidence
placed in them. Among the
Romans, they were often brand'
ed, for security ; but this was
forbidden to the Jews. The
New Testament requires ser-
vants to be faithful, Matt. 24 :
45 ; Tit. 2 : 10 ; and diligent, 1
Thess. 4:11. They must obey
their employers in all things,
except what is contrary to mo-
rality, or beyond their power,
or not according to their en-
gagement. Doravstis slavery,
as it exists ir. the United States,
is contrary to the entire spirit
of the New Testament, and every
good citizen should be anxious
for its speedy extinction. See
SKLL.
Serve, to labor, do work for,
or help a person in any employ-
ment ; to attend or wait upon a
person, in order to obey and
fiHA
247
SHE
awlst him. To sorve God is to
obey him, not on.y by worship-
uig him, as required, in spirit
and in truth, but also by study-
ing to know and do his will, on
all occasions, however opposed
to our depraved inclinations, or
at variance with our apparent
temporal interests.
Seven, a number which, in
Scripture, is used so often and
30 remarkably, as obviously to
have an especial import. Gen.
8, 41, <fca The term often de-
notes a pufect or complete num-
ber. Job 5 : 19. Lev. 20 : 24.
Ps. 12 : 6. Sevenfold, or seven
times, often only means abun-
dantly, completely. Gen. 4 :
15, 24. Lev. 26 : 24. Pa. 12 :
6. Seventy times seven is a
still higher superlative.
Slialuianescr, a king of As-
syria, who, succeeding Tiglath-
Pileserj began his reign A. M.
3267, and reigned fourteen
years. He 1 conquered Israel
when Hoshea was its king ;*and
three years afterward", finding
out a negotiation with Egypt to
Bet themselves free from his
yoke, he overrun Israel with his
armies, ravaged the country,
destroyed the fenced cities,
killed many of the inhabitants,
captured Samaria, the metropo-
lis, and transported Hoshea and
the chief citizens to Media and
other eastern parts of his em-
pire. 2 Kings 17. Among these
was Tobit, whose history ia given
in the Apocryphal book Thich
bears hia name. At this time
reigned fn Judah ,
and SABACTTS in Egypt. Th
suc. jor of Shalmaneser wai
SENNACHERIB.
Shcme. (1.) Confusion aria-
ing from conscious guilt. Gen.
2 : X. Ezra 9 : 6. (2.) Re-
proach, ignominy. Ezek. 36 :
6. Prov. 9. Great modesty if
called shame-faiedness, and ia
recommended to women. 1 Tim.
2 : 9.
Sha'ron, a beautiful district
uc-.r Carmel, along the sea-
coast. Cant. 2:1. The name
became proverbial to express a
place of great fertility and
beauty. Modern travellers give
the name Sharon to the plain
between Ecdippe and Ptoleinais.
Share. Shaving the head or
beard, among the Jews, waa a
sign of mourning. Isa. 15 : 2.
Jer. 41 : 5. They preserved
their beards from their youth,
with great care go that to lose
it was a great humiliation. 2
Sam. 10. The Lord's threaten-
ing to shave Israel with " a
hired razor," means that foreign
troops should utterly scrape or
despoil the land. Isa. 7 : 20.
Short hair has always been con-
sidered unbecoming in women
1 Cor. 11 : 6.
Sheba, or SEBA. There were
several of this name. (1.) The
son of Cush, who gave the name
to a country in Arabia. Gen.
10 : 7. Ps. 72 : 10. (2.) The
grandson of Gush. Gen. 10 : 7.
(3.) The son of Joktan. Gen.
10 : 29. (4.) Tho grandson f
Abraham. Gen. 25: 3. All
these seem to have taken up
SHE
SHE
their residence in Arabia, and
perhaps most of them in the
south part of it. (5.) The s n
of Bichri, a Jew, who headed a
revolt in the reign of David.
2 Sam. 20. (G.) The name of a
famous well, sometimes called
Sheba, and sometimes Beersheba.
Gen. 26 : 33.
Sheba, a country often men-
tioned in connection with gold ;
and is thought to be Arabia
Felix. In the Arabic and Sep-
tuagint versions, Ps. 72 : 15 is
rendered " gold of Arabia." It
was a queen of this part of Ara-
bia who visited Solomon.
Sheehem, a very ancient city,
thirty-five miles north of Jeru-
salem, which the suns of Jacob
cruelly ravaged, to revenge the
injury done to their sister by
its prince. Gen. 34. Near it
was " Jacob's well," John 4 : G,
and his purchased burial-place,
where the remains of Joseph,
Eleazar, and Joshua, were de-
posited. Next to Jerusalem
this is, perhaps, the most inter-
esting spot in Palestine. Mount
Geriziin rises near the town on
the south, and Mount Ebal on
the north. After the ruin of
the city of Samaria, Shechem
became the metropolis of Sama-
ria, and was called Sychar.
Near it occurred our Saviour's
conversation with the Samaritan
woman, which resulted in the
conversion of so many of the
citizens. John 4. Matthew Hen-
ry observes, " Shechem yielded
the first proselytes to the church
f Israel (Gen 34), and it was
the first place where the
was preached out of Israel."
It was enlarged and beautified
by Vespasian, about forty yearg
after Christ's death and was by
him called Neapolis, or the New
City.
It has been in the hands of the
Mahometans since A. D. 1242 ;
and is a fine town, reckoned by
Dr. Olin, a recent traveller, to
contain 10,000 inhabitants, of
whom 500 are Christians (of the
Greek church), 130 Samaritans,
50 Jews, and the rest Turks.
In the Samaritan synagogue
is a famous MS. of the Penta-
teuch, which they suppose to be
3000 years old, and an exact
copy of it 800 years old. They
were shown to Dr. Huntingdon,
English chaplain at Aleppo, and
more recently to Mr. Jowett,
agent of the Bible Society. This
city is now called Njzplouse. See
SAMARIA.
Sheep, a well-known animal,
of great utility, and famed for
meekness. In Syria are two
varieties of sheep, one differ-
ing little trora ours ; the other
more common and more estoam-
ed, having a tail of extraordi-
nary bulk> often weighing twelve
or fifteen pounds, and sometimes
more. It seems .tu consist of a
substance between fat and n ar-
row, and was commanded to be
offered in sacrifice to God. Lev.
3 : 9. The wealth of ancient
kings, and other great men,
consisted chiefly in flocks and
herds, 2 Kings 3:4; and thia
b still the case in some blast on
SHE
249
SHE
eountries, e specially where the
people aie few, and pastures
luxuriant. Christians are com-
pared to sh'tp, for their inno-
cence and excellence. Christ is
"the Lamb of God;" that is,
the great atoning sacrifice. John
1: 29.
In India, sheep cannot be dis-
tinguished from goats by a com-
mon observer ; at least, I could
never tell them apart. They
are never white, and they have
short nair rather than wool.
This fact gives force to the
declaration that Christ will di-
vide the good and bad, as a
shepherd divides his sheep from
the goats. We may not be able
to distinguish hypocrites, but
Christ will infallibly divide them
from his sheep.
Shek'el) a weight among the
Hebrews ; but its precise heavi-
ness is not agreed on. The
common shekel of money was
equal to a half-dollar. The
shekel of the sanctuaiy ras
possibly double that sun*
The Jewish horror of i<K>iatry
forbid their putting oc fr'jis
the image of a deity, or even of
a living ruler. The impression
on the shekel was that of Aaron's
budding rod on one side, and
the pot rf marina on the other.
Shem, the second son of Noaia
was born A. M. 1558, about 98
years be 'ore the deluge. Hia
posterity, of which the Jews are
a part, peopled the greater part
of Asia. It is thought iy dome
that he was the Pluto of the
heathen.
As Shem did not die till about
the time of the death of Abra-
ham, he was able to impart t
that patriarch, and also to Isaaa
and Jacob, full and authentic ID
formation about the antediluvi-
ans, and all the wonders of the
flood and of the ark.
Sliem'lnttli, a stringed instru-
ment ; or possibly a species of
music ; or a particular part of
the composition. Ps. 6, 12, Ac
SliCWj or SHOW, an appear
ance or pretence ; also any pub
lie sight.
Christ made a shew of princi
palities and powrs- Col. 2 : 15,
when he openly tri
urupbed over them
on his cross. To
make a " fair shew
in the flesh," is to
be hypocritical by
carefully observing
outward fonrs, while
real piety at the heart is not
sought. Gal. 6 : 12.
Show-Bread was that which
was constantly exhibited in the
temple. Twelve loaves, accord-
ing to the twelve tribes, were
every day put upon the golden
table, to be exposed for the
whole week. This bread was
forbidden to be eaten by any
the priests ; therefore,
tSHI
250
SHI
in ihe extraordinary case of
David, nothing but urgent ne-
cessity could exempt him from
sin. 1 Sam. 21 : 37. Matt.
12:4. It served to remind the
Hebrews uf their dependence
on God for daily support, and
was an emblem of Jesus, who
is the bread of life. John 6 :
48.
Shib'boleth, a Hebrew word,
signifying a stream of water.
It was a word which Ephraiinites
could not pronounce in the man-
ner of the men of Gilead, and
by which 42,000 were detected
and slain at the Jordan. Jud.
12. It affords a proof of the
different modes of pronouncing
the same language, even in those
early days, and of the impossi-
bility of now setting, by the
masoretic points, the true pro-
nunciation of the Hebrew
tongue. Jud. 12 : 5.
Shield^ an instrument of de-
fence, held on the left arm, to
ward off blows. In Scripture,
God is often called the shield of
his people. Princes and great
men are called shields, because
they ought to be the protectors
of their people. Ps. 47 ; 9.
Faith is likewise called the
Christian's "shield," Eph. 6:
6, because it derives strength
from Chript. for overcoming the
temptations of Satan.
Shlggai'on, a word fcunl in
the title of tht seventh psalm.
It comes from b. Hebrew word,
which signifies to stray, or wan-
der ; whence seme conjecture
(hat it denotes the song to be
various, running from one kind
of tune into another, and ex-
pressive of great anguish of
heart. Others suppose it to be
an instrument of musio.
Shigi'onoth seems to be the
plural of Shiggaion. Hab. 3 :
1.
Shilo'ah. See SILOAM.
Shi I oil. (1.) One of the namei
of Jesus Christ ; the great
Deliverer ; he that frees from
the law, sin, and death. Gen.
49 : 10. It denotes the Re-
deemer, the author of our hap-
piness, and our sole peacemaker
with God. (2.) A famous city
of Ephraim, about twenty-five
miles north of Jerusalem. Here
Joshua fixed the tabernacle of
God ; and hero it continued at
least 310 years.
Sliinar, the same asCHALDEA ;
which see.
Ships. Probably Noah's ark
was the first vessel of this kind
ever formed. The tribes of
Zebulon and Dan appear to have
earlj engaged in commerce.
Gen. 49 : 13. Jud. 5 : 17. Solo-
mon, and after him, Jehosha-
phat, set on foot a considerable
trade by sea. 1 Kings 10 : 22.
The Trojans were powerful at
sea ; but the Tyrians and Sido
nians for twelve long centuries
were much more so. The Car-
thagenians and Greeks were also
in their turns famous by sea.
Their navigation, however, war
very imperfect, as, even in the
time of Paul, vessels passing
from Judea to Italy frequently
w'otered on the way. Acts 2 7
sni
8 HO
tft 11. The vessels were ) <fcc. ; but it is not now k^
mall, ani had oars, as well aa
sails. The compass being un-
known, they dared not go out
of sight of land. After the
Saracens had ruined the Gre-
cian commerce, the Venetians
and Genoese became great in
commerce. About 300 years
ago, the Spaniards and Portu-
guese became the most commer-
cial people. Then the Dutch
took the lead ; but at present,
the English and Americans each
carry on more business by sea
than any other nation.
As to the Jews, they never
had much commerce by ships ;
and probably none of any con-
exactly wuat kind of a tree it
was. Most probably it was the
acanthus, or acacia vera, which
grows in all the deserts from the
northern part of Arabia to the
extremity o" Ethiopia. It if
about the size of a mulberry
tree, the bark of a grayish
black, wood pale yellow, and
very hard, branches thorny,
flowers sometimes white, but
generally yellow, and the fruit,
which resembles a bean, con-
tained in pods, like the lupin
Both the wood and the flowers
have a very pleasant smell.
From this tree is obtained the
guin Arabic, by making a gash
sequence till David made him- ' w ith an axe. Its leaves are
self master of two ports on the j almost the only food for camels
Red Sea. There he, and still w hilo travelling in the great
more Solomon, built vessels deserts.
which traded with African ports,
being generally absent two or
three years at a time. This
trade was utterly abolished in
the reign of Ahaz, by the seizure
of the ports by the Assyrians.
Ships, even at the time of
Shoe, a defence for the foot.
Among the Hebrews, slaves
went barefoot ; others generally
had their feet and legs covered
when they went abroad ; and
women of quality wore shoes
or gaiters of very costly texture.
Christ, were very small and : Song 7:1. Ezek. 16:10. Shoes
poorly manned. Cicero speaks ) ^cre ordinarily of no great
of some as very large, which j value, and so a pair of shoes de-
did not exceed fifty tons. We notes a very inconsiderable
must be careful, therefore, not^ bribe. Amos 2 : 6. Soldiers
to be misled when we read of j often wore shoes of iron and
ships in the Bible, by imagining brass ; and to this day, many
such huge structures as *.'* in j people, especially in the East,
use now. ir iron plates on the heela
ShitUli Tree, the same e ; and the fore-sole of their shoes,
the SHITTIM. See next artiOie. i The Hebrews eating of the first
Shittim Wood was much iked ! passover with their shoes on,
in building the tabernacle, and : loins girded, and staff* in then
to making the eacred utensils, hand, imported that tney wer
SHU
252
SID
Immediately to begin their jour-
ney. Ex. 12 : 11. Putting off
shoes imported reverence, and
waj done in presence of God, or
on entering the mansion of a
superior, Ex. 3 : 5. Josh. 5 :
15. Want of shoes denoted
mourning, debasement, and sla-
very. 2 Sam. 15 : 30. Ezek.
24 : 17. Isa. 20 : 2, 4. The
plucking off a shoe and giving it
to another, imported resignation
of right to him. Ruth 4:7.
To bear or unloose the shoes of an-
other, imports doing for him the
humblest offices. Matt. 2 : 11.
Luke 3 : 16. David cast his shoe
over Edom, when he took pos-
session of the country, and used
the people as slaves. Ps. 60 :
8 ; 108 : 9. See SANDALS.
Shrine, a cabinet, or case, to
hold the effects of saints, or the
relics of their bodies ; also the
tomb or place where pilgrims
offer up their prayers and obla-
tions to the saints. Those of
Ephesus seem to have been
small models of Diana's temple,
with her image enclosed. Acts
19 : 24.
Shimem, a city of Issachar,
about five miles south of Tabor.
Josh. 19 : 18. In a great adja-
cent plain, the Philistine army
encamped while Saul's lay at
Gilboa. 1 Sam. 28 : 4.
Sliu'iitmite, an inhabitant of
Shunem or Shunam.
Slmsliaii, or SUSA, a city on
the banks of the River Ulai, in
Persia. It is said to have been
built by Memnon, before the
Trojan war. It was the winter
residence of the Persian king!
from the time of Cyrus. Here
Daniel had his vision of the ram
and he-goat. Dan. 8 The com-
missioners engaged (in 1852) in
running the boundary between
Turkey and Persia discovered
the remains of the ancient pal-
ace of Shushan, mentioned in
Esther and Daniel. The " pave-
ment of red and blue, and black
and white marble," still exists.
Not far from the palace is a
tomb, on which is sculptured
the figure of a man, bound hand
and foot, with a lion in the act
of springing upon him. This is
probably the tomb of Daniel.
SfcttSliane'dutl), a musical in-
strument, Ps. 60, called also
SHOSHANNIH. Ps. 45, 69. The
word seems to mean a lily. It
is possible the cymbal is meant,
as it resembles that flower.
Sibmali, SHEBMAH, or SHEBAM,
a city about half a mile from
Heshbon. The best vines grew
about it. Isa. 16 : 8. It was
originally the property of the
Moabites, and fell within the
lot of Reuben. Numb. 32 : 38.
Josh. 13 : 19.
Sichem, See SHECHEM.
Sidonj a great commercial
city, and the capital of the
Phoenicians. It was built soon
after the flood, by Sidon, the
eldest son of Canaan. Tyre,
twenty-five miles south of it,
was built by a colony from thil
city, and rapidly grew to vastly
greater size and magnificence
Both cities lay within the lot of
Asher ; bnt that tribe never ex
253
SIM
the people. Indeed, at
one time the Sidonians overcame
all Israel ; and in the days of
Ahaz they drove a great com-
merce in exporting the Jews for
slaves. Joel 3 : 4. The gospel
was at the first proclaimed here,
and flourishing churches con-
tinued for many ages. After
being lost and won in the cru-
sades, the Saracens finally made
themselves masters of it in A.
D 1289. Some Christians are
yet found here. It now con-
tains 16,000 inhabitants, and is
called Saide. See TYRE.
Si'hor, in Josh. 13 : 3, means
the little river in the south of
Judea, called River of Egypt.
In Isa. 23 : 3, and Jer. 2 : 18, it
must mean the Nile.
Silk is not mentioned in the
Bible except in Ezek. 16 : 10,
13. The original word means
to draw out gently ; and, as there
is no historical evidence that
silk was known in the days of
Ezekiel, it might be better to
translate the word very fine
linen; the threads of which are
drawn out with great care in
spinning.
Sil'oani. a fountain rising at
the foot of Mount Zion. Its
waters were received into two
large pools ; and whatever
overflowed from the lower one
passed into the brook Kodron.
There are, even at this (Jay,
beautiful gardens and small
fields watered by it, oa its way
to Kedron. The upper pool was
sometimes called the King's
pool," probably because hia
22
gardens were watered from it
From these pools the Jews drew
water on the last day of the
feast of tabernacles, which they
k aght into the city with great
signs of joy, singing portions of
Isa. 12 It was poured on and
around the altar, with joyful
acclamations. Near this place
stood the tower of which Christ
speaks. Luke 13 : 4.
Silver is not mentioned as
having been in use before the
flood, nor till the time of Abra-
ham ; nor was it coined till long
after, but was used in bars or
ingots. Its ore generally con-
tains other metals, such as lead,
tin, <tc., and must be often
purged to render it fine. Ps.
12 : 6. The fine silver of the
ancients was found in the mines
of Tarshish. Jer. 10 : 9. Great
quantities of it were used in the
building of the temple by g^lo-
mon. 1 Chron. 29 : 4. It is
put for all temporal wealth.
Hos. 9 : 6. A silverling, or
" piece of silver," is the same
as a shekel.
Simeon. (1.) The second son
of Jacob, born in the year 2247.
(2.) An aged saint who em-
braced the infant Jesus. Luke
2 : 2534. It is thcaght by
some learned historians he was
the great rabbi, with whom Ga-
maliel, Paul's teacher, studied.
(3.) A Christian minister cf
Antioch Acts 13 : 1.
Simon PETER, a distinguished
disciple of our Lord. The Ro-
man Catholics call him iheprinct
of apostles, though Paul teemi
SIM
264
SIN
more deserving of such a title.
The celibacy of the clergy finds
no example in his case, as we
kn he had a wife. Mark 1 :
29,30,
Simon, the Cyrenian, is
thought by some to be the same
aa Niger, the teacher at Anti-
och. Matt. 27 : 32. It is said
that he was afterwards the pas-
tor of Bosra, or Bezer, and died
cheerful martyr for the faith.
Simon ZELOTES, or the Cana-
anite, one of Christ's apostles.
He was called Z dotes, because
he had been one of those Gali-
leans, or zealous Jews, who re-
fused to pay tribute to the Ro-
mans. The term Canaanite is
applied to him, not because he
was a native Canaanite, like the
woman mentioned Matt. 15: 22,
for all the apostles were Jews ;
but either because he was born
in Cana of Galilee, or more
probably from the Hebrew word
Kanaim, which is synonymous
to the Greek word Zelotes.
Some suppose that he preached
the gospel in Egypt, Cyrenaica,
Lybia and Mauritania, if not
also in Britain. Others affirm
him to have been murdered at
Lunir, in Persia, along with
Jude. See ZELOTES.
Simon, the brother or cousin
if our Saviour, and the son of
Cleophas. Matt. 13 : 55.
Simon, the Pharisee, was he
who invited our Saviour to an
entertainment ; and though he
Knitted the customary civility
of giving him water for hi-> loot.
took offence at his allowing Ma- '
ry Magdalene to anoint them
Jesus, by the parable of tie tw
debtors, convicted him of Lit
mistake. Luke 7 : 36 50,
Simon MAGUS, or tbe SOB
CERER, a very extraordinarj
person in Samaria, who ap-
peared converted under Philip.
From his attempt to buy tho
gifts and powers of the Holy
Spirit with money, the purchase
of pastorships and ministerial
salaries is called Simony. Acts
8 : 18. After his apostasy he
became, historians affirm, the
founder of a sect, who denied
Christ to be divine, paid relig-
ious honors to angels, and held
various licentious tenets. Hia
doctrines were substantially
those of the Gnostics. He rep-
resented himself to be the Word
of God, the Paraclete, &c.
There were also Simon, a tan-
ner, Acts 9 : 43 ; Simon, the
father of Judas Iscariot, John
12 : 4, and others.
Simple, harmless, free from
deceit. To be " simple con-
cerning evil, ' is to have little
knowledge of the arts of the
world in committing it. Rom.
1C : 19. Ihe " simplicity that
is in Christ," is either the r'&ia
self-consistent truth of the gos-
pel, or an unfeigned faith ifl
this truth. 2 Cor. 11 : 3.
Sin> offence against the law
of God, either by doing what it
forbids, or neglecting what it
enjoins. Desiring forbidden
tilings, or disliking duties, is
also sia. It is the cause of all
tire misery in this worM, and
BIN
265
Sltf
uJf everlasting woe to the finally
impenitent. Sins are called tres-
passes, because they violate the
law. When it is said, he that
" committeth sin is of the devil,"
and is the " servant of sin," it
means, such is the character of
those who wilfully sin. When
it is said, the children of Qod
do not sin, John 8 : 34; 1 Juhn
3 : G, 9 ; 5 : 18, it means that
such do not willingly sin. When
they sin, it is through the power
of temptation, and gives them
great grief. " Thou shalt visit
thine habitation, and not sin,"
means, we must not live in a
wicked manner. Job 5 : 24.
ORIGINAL SIN is that bias to
evil, in consequence of the sin
and fall of our first parents,
/hereby our whole nature is
defiled, and rendered contrary
to the nature and law of God.
Ps. 51 : 5. Hence, the inward
part is said to be very wicked-
ness ; that is, the heart is en-
mity against God. Ps. 5 : 1 J.
This is the sin that dwells in us,
Rom. 7 : 17, 20, and works in
us all manner of concupiscence.
Rom. 7 : 8, 23.
The SIN AGAINST THE HOLY
GHOST, as it rejects and tramples
on all his evidence and convic-
tions, is called the sm unto dea& }
because, being never pardo&4, I
it inevitably ruins men. 1 ^ n I
5.: 16 The exact nature of this
sin is not easily determined. It
geems, however, to require words
tpoken as well as thought? in-
dulged. Matt. 12 : 32.
What we render sin-offcriig
is often the same in the Hebrew
as what we render .n. Lev. 4
3, 25, 29. And the priests are
said to eat sin ; that is, with
pleasure feast on sin-oBenng?.
Hos. 4 : 8. Christ is said to be
" made sin, that we might bt
made the righteousness of God
in him ;" that is, he had out
sins charged to his account, and
was made a sin -offering. 2 Cor.
5 : 21. 1 Peter 2 : 24. Isa.
53 : 6.
Sin, the name of several places
mentioned in the Old Testament
1. The desert south of Judea
Deut. 32 : 51.
2. The city PELUSIUM, in
Egypt, now extinct.
3. A country called also SIN
IM, which is probably China
Isa. 49 : 12.
Sinai, the mountain on which
Jehovah appeared to Moses, and
gave the law. The Hebrews
came to this place in the third
month of their pilgrimage. The
law was given, it is thought, just
fifty days after their exodus from
Egypt; and hence, the Pentecost
was observed on the fiftieth day
after the Passover. Thi? mount
stands in Arabia Petrea, and is
called by the Arabs Jibbil Mousa>
or the Mountain of MoseSj and
sometimes El Tor, or the Mount.
It has two summits, Horeb, at the
north, and Sinai, at the south ;
which last is much the higher,
and is called the Mount of God
The ascent is very steep, and is
by steps, which the Empresa
Helena, the mother of Consian-
tine the Great, caused to I e cot
Blfl
266
SIS
to the rook. These are now so
worn and decayed, as to make
the ascent diflicult. At the top
of Sinai there is an uneven and
rugged place, sufficient to hold
sixty persons. Here stands a
chapel, and near to it is a foun-
tain of fresh water. At the bot-
tom, in a narrow valley, is the
convent of St. Catharine, en-
closed by high walls without a
door, to preserve them from
Arab robbers. Whoever enters,
is drawn up in a basket. Mount
Sinai, says NIEBUHR, has numer-
ous beautiful springs, but they
are not so copious as to unite
and form streams that last the
whole year. Various modern
travellers have ascended to the
summit of this mount ; but the
Arabs practise upon them great
impositions. It has been laiely
visited by the American travel-
ler, Robinson, and described by
him in his "Biblical Researches."
Sincerity, pureness of mind,
without double-dealing. The
word is derived from the Latin
tincerus, composed of sine, with-
out, and cera, wax ; or pure
honey. 1 Cor. v. 8. The Greek
word ft A i KOIVSI a, translated sin-
cerity, means an evident purity
when held up in the light of the
sun, as we would examine wa**i.
2 Cor. 1 : 12.
Singing has always been a
part of divine worship, by hea-
thens, Jews and Christians. The
gospel not only authorizes it by
example, Matt. 2G : 30, but *-
yessly enjoins it. Eph 5 . t.9
Ool. 3 : 16. It should be per-
formed with an understanding
of its nature and importance,
and with spiritual emotions.
Pres. Edwards observes that,
" As it is the command of God,
that all should sing, so all should
make a conscience of learning to
sing, as it is an exercise that
cannot bo decently performed
without learning. Those, there-
fore (where there is no natural
inability), who neglect to learn
to sing, live in sin, as they neg-
lect what is necessary in order
to their attending one of the
ordinances of God's worship.*'
Singing was by the early
Christians usually performed in
a standing posture. The mode
of pronunciation was clear and
intelligible, not greatly varying
from a recitative tone. Those
modern tunes which almost pre-
clude intelligible enunciation,
tend to defeat the object of the
ordinance. The Jewish hymns
were accompanied with various
musical instruments, to assist
the voices of the Levites.
Sis'era, a general of the Cana-
anites, under Jabin II. Jael
invited him into her house, and
being instigated of God to de-
stroy this murderous idolater
and devoted Canaanite, she
Irove a nail through his tem-
ples.
Sister, a term of considerable
latitude with the Hebrews ; be-
ing applied to all very near rela-
tions. Matt. 12 : 50 ; 13 : 56.
Sarah,who was Abraham's niece,
is, therefore, truly called hii
sister Gen. 12: 13, and 20- 12
8LI
257
SMY
an obsolete word, moan-
Ing since, or because. Jer. 15:
7. Ezek. 35 : 6.
SiVan, the third month of
the Jewish sacred year. See
MONTH.
Slander, the uttering of false
accusations against another. It
may consist in surmises or asser-
tions ; in imputing bad motives
to correct actions ; in partial
and lame accounts of our neigh-
bor's conduct ; in putting false
constructions on words or con-
duct; in magnifying real faults;
in imputing consequences to our
neighbor's conduct which do
not or may not follow ; and in
any way of speaking which shall
be designed to injure one's fame,
safety, or welfare. Christians
should be anxious to guard
against the very appearance of
this odious vice.
Slave. See SERVANT.
Slime was used by the build-
ers of Babel instead of mortar.
It is called, in the Scptuagint
version, asphnltos ; and is bitu-
men, or a kind of pitch. Great
quantities of it are still found
in the neighborhood of ancient
Babylon. Herodotus, Dioscor-
ides, Justin, Vitruvius, Strabo,
Diodorus Siculus, &c., speak of
its being used as mortar.
The slime pits of Sidim were
mud-holes or springs, out of
which issued this liquid bitu-
men, or naphtha. It was used
in the pro-jess of embalming,
uai was hence calW gummi
22
funerum, and mumia . Set
PITCH.
SliiiJT, one of the earliest
weapons invented by man. By
long practice, wonderful skill is
attained in the use of it, a* va
the case with the Benjamitei,
who, " with either hand, could
sling stones at a hair, and not
miss." Judges 20 : 16.
Smite, a word often used in
Scripture as meaning to kill.
Thus the Lord smote Nabal. To
" smite with the tongue," is to
utter reproaches. To " smite
the thigh," was a token of
amazement or indignation. Jer
31: 19.
Smyrna, a city of Ionia, built
by the Amazons, about forty
miles north of Ephesus. It waa
famous as early as the time of
Homer, whose birthplace it
claims ta be. A boat A. v. 3400,
the, Ljdians destroyed it ; but
SMY
258
SOA
It was rebuilt 300 years after,
in the time of Alexander the
Great. A Christian church was
planted here very early ; the
members of which maintained
their holy faith with such exact-
ness, that in the divine epistles
sent them by John, there is no
reproof, but only praise and
direction. Hev. 2 : 8, 9, 10. At
the time that Christianity was
introduced here, Smyrna was in
all its glory, abounding in
wealth, works of art, and schools
of learning. Persecution soon
raged against the Christians ;
and Polycarp and many others
had to lay down their lives for
Christ ; but multitudes were
converted. Polycarp was prob-
ably the " angel of the church
of Smyrna." Rev. 2 : 8. The
Christians there hold his memory
in great veneration, and go
annually in procession to his
tomb, which is near his place of
martyrdom. How absurd is the
assertion of Tnfittels that the
New Testament was written only
a few hundred years ago !
It has often suffered from
earthquakes, plague, fires, and
war; but at present is one of
the most flourishing places in
the Levant ; having a large and
good harbor, and sustain iu.r wv
active commerce with all na-
tions. During the late revolu-
tionary i^ruggle this city suffered
dreadfully ; but since Greece
Decame free, it has gradually
regained some of its ancient
prosperity. Before the late rev-
olution it contained 100,000
aouls, of which above 10 DOC
were Christians of the Greek
church ; 5,000 Armenians ; the
rest Turks, Jews, <fcc. At pres-
ent it has a population of 140,-
000, and is the seat of a Chris-
tian mission. The Turks call it
Izmir.
Snail occurs but twice in our
translation. In Lev. 11 : 30,
critics are confident that some
sort of lizard is intended. Cer-
tainly snails are not common in
hot and dry regions. In Ps
58 : 8, the true snail is certainly
meant, though the LXX. uia
Vulgate have rendered it wa.
Snare, a trap; metaphorically,
whatever tends to entangle ua
in evil. The Lord Jesus is a
" snare," when, on account of
the lowliness of himself and
people, men's corrupt propensi-
ties will not allow them to ao
cept the gospel, and so theii
guilt is increased. Isa. 8 : 14
God " rains snares " on men
when he punishes them by let
ting them fall into the conse
quences of their sins. Ps. 11 :
6. Ez. 12 : 13.
Snow falls occasionally in
Palestine, and always in fiakei
as large as a chestnut. Hence
the expression, " He giveth snow
like wool." Ps. 147 : 17. It
was brought from the top of
Lebanon, and sold in the hot
season to cool wine, Ac., as ice
is in our cities. Its water was
considered very clt ausiug. Job
9 : 30.
Soap, a word which occura onlj
:n Jer. 2: 22, and Mai. 3: 2.
SOD
259
SOP
It seems to mean some cleansing
berb ; probably the writh, or
saltwort, a very common plant
In Syria and parts adjacent.
The natives burn it, and leach
the ashes. The water becomes
impregnated with a strong salt,
very proper for removing stains
from cloth. There is also an
unctuous kind of earth called
tteatites, or soap-earth, of much
esteem in the baths of the East
for cleansing and softening the
skin. HARRIS thinks it prob-
able that the two mules' burden
of earth, taken by Naaman,
were for this use. 2 Kings 5 :
17. The barilla, as our dealers
call it, which is brought to this
country from Spain and the
Mediterranean, is thought to be
the plant borith, above men-
tioned. Jer. 2 : 22. Mai. 3 : 2.
Socket, a kind of mortice in
which the pillars of the taber-
nacle were fixed. A vast num-
ber of sockets were made, of
which one hundred were of
silver, a talent to each. Ex.
28 : 27 ; 26 : 37 ; 38: 27. The
weight of these sockets tended
to make the pillars stand firm.
Sodom, Gomorrah, Adinah,
Zeboim, and Zoar, were five
cities of the Canaanites. In
the days of Abraham they had
each a king. The Dead Sea now
covers the site of these cities.
Jude 7. Ihe Scripture account
of the overthrow of these cities
is corroborated by the accounts
of Strabo, Diodorus Siculus,
Tacitus, Solinus, <to., as well as
by the geological appearances
of the region, which Is still sub-
ject to earthquakes.
The apples of Sodom are de-
scribed by Dr. Smith, of Bo
ton, as the fruit of a giganti*
milk-weed, shaped like a peach,
and two inches in diameter."
SolOQlOU. (pacific) His history
is full of intereei, and amply
given in Scripture. He was the
author of several books, besides
those in the Bible, viz., 3000
Proverbs, 1005 Songs, beside
works on botany, natural his-
tory, and commerce. His his-
tory is fraught with both re-
,tnd political instruction.
No monarch ever enjoy.
popularity and prosperity, and
yet he was very far from being
happy.
Sons OP SOLOMOX, a sublime
mystical allegory, representing
the reciprocal love of Christ and
the church. In 1 Kings 4 : 32,
we are informed that Soloinon*s
Songs were a thousand and five, of
which this is supposed to be the
chief for length and grandeur,
or as being inspired, and is
hence called a timig of Songs.
It is a book on which vast learn-
ing and labor have been be-
stowed without making either
its object or meaning certain.
Soothsayer. See SORCERER.
Sop. At spoons were not
used (and are not yet) in East*
ern countries, though much of
their food is fluid, it was com-
mon to dip bro^ in the gra^y
or soup. It is A matter of
politeness for the i vster of tht
sou
260
SPA
iouse to pick out nice pieces
with his fingers, or sop a piece
of bread in the gravy, and put
it into the mouth of his guest.
See John 13 : 26.
Sorcerers, conjurers, or those
who undertake to disclose se-
crets, or foretell events, by
magical or diabolical power.
Acts 13 : 8. They falsely claimed
the power of calling up de-
parted spirits, 1 Sam. 28 ; of
Inflicting plagues, Ex. 8 : 18,
&c. The damnation of such as
addict themselves to the practice
of sorcery is often declared.
Isa. 47 : 9. Rev. 21 : 8, and
22 : 15.
Sorrow, inward pain, arising
from guilt or affliction. It is
said " the sorrow of the world
worketh death ;" that is, mere
distress, without regard to God
and looking to him for help,
breaks the heart, and brings us
to the grave. The Scripture
cautions us against it. Prov.
25 : 20. IThess. 4 : 13. "Godly
sorrow " is grief tempered with
reliance on God, and submission
to deserved suffering. " The
sorrows of hell," Ps. 18 : 5, are
mental troubles of great magni-
tude.
Sonl. 1. That spiritual, ra-
tional, and immortal part or
substance in man, which dis-
tinguishes him from the brute
creatiut and bears some resem-
blance so its Divine Maker ;
which possesses consciousness
of its own existence, and actu-
ates, directs, or disposes, in all
the relations of life. The Scrip-
ture ascribes to beasts a mwJ,
which enables them to think and
plan, as they evidently do.
They have many mental powers,
such as memory, <fcc., which do
not belong to mere matter. But
man alone has an immortal soul,
possessing the knowledge of
God, wisdom, immortality, the
hope of future happiness and of
eternal life ; and mat Alone if
threatened with the punishment
of another life, and the pains of
hell. That the Jews knew the
immortality of the soul seema
evident from Balaam's feeling
the difference between the death
of a good and bad man, Numb.
23 : 10 ; from their believing ic
apparitions of the departed, 1
Sam. 28 : 1315 ; Matt. 14 :
26, Ac. ; and from the fact that
the Sadducees, who denied it,
were but a sect among them.
But their ideas on this point
were vague compared with those
which we derive from the New
Testament. It is most true that
by Christ was the truth first
fully and clearly disclosed. 2
Tim. 1 : 10. All that the hea-
then knew or taught, concerning
the future state of the soul, waa
from confused tradition or mere
poetical fancy.
2. Soul is sometimes used for
a human creature, or the whole
person, both soul and body.
Gen. 12 : 5. Numb. 11 : 6.
Acts 2 : 41. When the soul and
sjririt are spoken of together,
spirit probably means the tern*
per.
Spain anciently oomprehi*dW
SPE
261
8PI
w nat is now Portugal, that is,
the whole peninsula. In the
time of the apostles, it belonged
to Home. Paul intended to visit
this country, but whether he did
so or not is uncertain. Rom.
15 : 2428.
Sparrow, a very small, well-
Cnown bird. It is gregarious
and remarkably lively ; and
vhen lamed, or deserted by its
mate, seems quite disconsolate.
Ps. 102 : 7. Sparrows were so
cheap at Jerusalem, that " five
were sold for two farthings."
Luke 12 : G. The care of Divine
ProvM' rei'ore most
strikingly depicted when his
minute attention to them is
declared. Matt. 10 : 29. Ps.
104 : 2431.
Spectacle, a public show. The
Romans were remarkably fond
of shows and games. The thea-
tres for this purpose were some-
times very splendid ; generally
round, like our circuses, and
without a roof. One of the com-
mon ezhibitiona was to putcrim-
; the arena, and let loose
wild beasts upon them. Hence
the apostle's allusion, Heb. 10 :
31>, 33. Perhaps, when he says
he " fought with beasts at Ephe-
BUS," ho means literally that he
was thus exposed. 1 Cor. 15 :
32. Those who were not con-
demned to certain death were
allowed weapons of defence.
When the company, which was
l-lways vast, had enjoyed the
horrid sight of these contests, in
which the criminal was gener-
ally victor, then were brought
those capitally condemned, wh<
were allowed no weapons, nol
even raiment ; and were of
course soon destroyed. To the
latter class Paul seems to coin-
pare ministers, when he says
they are " set 'orth last, as it
were appointed unto death,
being made a spectacle to the
world, to angels, and to men."
1 Cor. 4 : 9.
Spice, any aromatic drug
Sj-.ices were very much used by
the ancients r d, give
flavor to wine, embalm the dead,
perfume their persons and beds,
a; id to burn as incense in public
ationed
in Seii. iieen identi-
fied, ami many of them continue
to be articles of commerce to
this day.
Spider, a crafty insect, men-
tioned but t'\ree times in the
Bible, and each time in allusion
to wicked men. Job 8 : 14.
: .J_7. Prov. 30 : 28.
The story of the bite of that
species called tarantula being
Curable only by music, is a ri-
diculous fable.
Spikenard, a very fragrant
species of grass, which, when
trodden upon, fillt the uir with
sweetness. The ear is a^out
the size of one's finger, a.a is
of a strong smell and bitterish
taste. The medicinal properties
reside principally in the root.
The ointment made of it is very
precious, and was i favorite
perfume at ancient baths and
feasts. Mark 14 3 It v
8P1
262
8PO
ailed by Horace, " unguentura
aardi spicatse," and contained
the very essence of the plant.
A pound of it in the days of
Christ -was worth 300 dvnarii,
equal to forty dollars, a great
Bum at that time. John 12:3.
The best spikenard comes from
India. When cultivated in gar-
dens, it attains to the height of
five or six feet.
Spirit, an incorporeal being,
as God, John 4 : 24 ; angels,
Heb. 1 : 14 ; the human soul,
Acts 7 : 59 ; the Holy Ghost,
the third person in the adorable
Trinity, Matt. 3 : 16 ; equal in
power and glory with the Father
and the Son. 1 John 5:7. He
inspired the ancient prophets to
foretell future events, 2 Pet. 1 :
21 ; and bestowed on the apos-
tles miraculous gifts. Acts 2.
He now quickens, illuminates,
sanctifies, and comforts the peo-
ple of God. John 3:5. 1 Pet.
1 : 2, and John 14 : 26. See
HOLY GHOST.
Discerning of spirits, which was
once a miraculous ministerial
gift, was the power of discover-
ing impostors in the ministry.
1 Cor. 12 : 10. 1 John 4 : 1.
Rev. 2 : 2.
Quenching the Spirit is a meta-
phorical expression, meaning to
force, as it were, by our sins, the
Holy Spirit to withdraw from
us. Or it may mean suppress-
ing the graces of the Spirit,
which are compared to light and
heat ; or, still more probably,
she gifts of the Spirit are meant.
Grieving 'he Spirit may be done
both by taints and sinners, ii
committing any sin, Eph. 4 : 30;
by resisting convictions of duty;
by living in a luke-warm con-
dition ; or by abusing his fa-
vors, through vanity, curiosity,
or negligence. 2 Tim. 1 : 6.
Blasphemy against the Holy
Spirit is a sin of the tongue, and
its unpardonableness is a proof,
if there were no other, of his
divine personality. See SOUL.
Spiritual) that which belongs
to spirits. The church is a spir-
itual house; her members are
renewed in spirit ; Jesus is her
foundation ; and his Spirit and
grace connect them with him,
and with one another. 1 Pet.
2 : 5. Prophets and ministers
are spiritual men, because their
office lies in spiritual exercises.
Hos. 9 : 7. God's law is spir-
itual ; it is a transcript of
the divine nature. It is given
by the Holy Ghost, and ex-
tends its security and authority
to duties of a spiritual nature
Rom. 7 : 14.
We are required to be spirit-
ually minded; that is, to have
our joys, exercises, objects and
motives spiritual. Such as have
not this spiritual-mindedness are
said to be " dead," walla such
as possess it have " life and
peace." Rom. 8 : 69.
Sponge, a sub-marine sub-
stance, forming one of the links
between animals and vegeta-
bles. Its innumerable and deli-
cate cells imbibe water easily,
and as easily part with it us lei
pressure. Mart. 27 : 48.
8TA
268
8TA
Spot. The allusion in Deut.
12 : 6, is to the practice among
heathen of marking on their
forehead, arms, and breast a
token indicating what deity the
person serves.
These marks are put on fresh
ever/ morning, after washing.
But sometimes they are made
permanent in the same way that
sailors mark their arms or hands,
with a process like tattooing.
Rev. a : 2, and 17 : 5, and 22 : 4.
State, a fragrant gum, of
amber color, supposed to distil
from the myrrh-tree. The only
difference between the stacte and
gum myrrh seems to be that the
former oozed spontaneously from
the tree, and was perfectly pure,
while the latter was obtained
by incision, and was generally
less excellent. It is mentioned
Ex. 30 : 34 cnly.
Standard, a military ensign
or token. The ancient Jewish
tribes had each separate stan-
dards. The Romans had sev-
eral sorts, of which the eagle,
as represented in the cut, wai
the most common.
Star, a bright heavenly body
seen in the night. Under the
name star, the Jews compre-
hended all the heavenly bodies,
except the sun and moon. We
now speak of them as distinct
from planets. Some stars are
fixed; that ', reta:r the same
relative distance from the stars
which surround them ; others
revilrt round the sun, viz., plan-
ets and comets. The naked eye
can perceive only about 1000.
The telescope of Mr. Flamstead
enabled him to discover about
3000. The prodigious telesoop*
c f Herschel rendered visible i*
8TA
264
STA
numerable stars which had befoi e
been hidden from our knowl-
tdge. He could see 116,000
stars in fifteen minutes. Adams' j
astronomy computes the whole !
number of fixed stars in the \
universe at seventy-five millions.
The ancient heathen worshipped
the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Mars,
Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn, for
planets, that is, wandering lumi-
naries; and, as our fathers wor-
shipped .these, they dedicated
the several days of the week to
them, as the names they still
bear indicate. But, according
to the new astronomy, the solar
system consists of thirty-four
primary planets, viz., Mercury,
Venus, the Earth, Mars, a group
of twenty-six very small ones,
called asteroids, Jupiter, Saturn,
Uranus, and Neptune ; and seven-
teen secondary planets, of which
the Earth has one, viz., the
Moon ; Jupiter has four, Saturn
eight, and Uranus four. All
these planets move round the
sun, as well as round their own
axes ; and the satellites move
also round the planets. They
appear luminous by the reflection
of the rays of the sun. Tbt Ha-
tance of the fixed stars from the
sun renders it impossible for
them to be illuminated by the
reflection of his rays. It is
thought that many of them are
equal to our sun in magnitude,
and only appear small by reason
of their distance. The nearest
fixed star is No. Cl Cygni, whose
distance is calculated to be not
less than 400,000 times greater
than that of tb-e sun ! Somt
stars are calculated to be ta
hundred times farther than Sinus!
Hence, it would take four thou-
sand years for their light to
reach us. As new stars hare
become visible in later times,
perhaps there are some whose
light, since the creation, haa
but now reached our earth,
though it travels thirteen mil-
lions of miles in a minute.
How immense must HE be, whom
the heavens, and the heaven of
heavens, cannot contain ; who
numbers the stars, and calls
them by their names ! Ps. 147 :
4. We have a few of their
names in Scripture, as Chiun,
Mazzaroth, Arcturus, Orion, and
Pleiades.
The star which conducted the
wise men to the infant Jesus,
was probably a meteor which
moved in the air. Matt. 2*
Jesus Christ is called the Morn-
ing Star, by a similitude bor-
rowed from a star which usually
rises shortly before the sun, as
he introduced the light of the
gospel-day, and brought a fuller
manifestation of the truths of
God than the prophets, whose
predictions are now accom-
plished.
By stars are sometimes meant
the princes and nobles of ft
kingdom, Dan. 8 : 10 ; and some-
times pastors or ministers of the
gospel, who ought to shine like
stars in their lives and doctrine.
Ilev. 1 : 20. The angels art
also called stars. Job 38 : 7. I*
Scripture, an extraordinary mul
STO
265
STO
litude is often expressed under
the similitude of the stars of
heaven.
Staves, plural of staff, a word
not now often used. Mark 14: 48.
Steel, iron combined with
about one part of carbon in
bout 200 of iron. The word
occurs very seldom, and prob-
ably ought to be rendered <v>//yT.
[t is, in fact, so translated Job
28 : 2, and 40 : 18, as well as in
various other pi..
Steward, one who manages
the affairs of another, and is
accountable to him for the prop-
er discharge of the duties of
his office. The ministers of
Jesus Christ are " stewards of
the mysteries of God," being
intrusted with the management
of God's people, and the distri-
bution of their spiritual food.
1 Cor. 4:1. 1 Pet. 4 : 10. In-
deed, all mankind are stewards
nnder God, and must give an
account to him of all the talents
with which they have been in-
trusted. \Ve should, therefore,
attend seriously to our impor-
tant charge, and stand prepared
for our Lord's appearance. Matt.
25. Tit. 1:7.
StoekS, an instrument of
punishment. The offender gits
on a block, with his legs ex-
tended, and fastened between
plai/'s, which have openings to
receive the ankles. Acts 1 G . 24.
Stoil'S, a sect of heathen phi-
losophers, founded by ZENO of
Cyprus (350 years B. c.), so
soiled from his teaching in the
Stoa, or porch, at Athens Re-
23
garding pain, poverty, bereave
ment, Ac., as only imaginary
evils, and the gratifications of
life as only imaginary pleasures,
they tried to preserve a cool
indifference under all circum-
stances. Paul arp-ied with them
hen in Athens. Acts 17 : 18.
Some of Zeno'd opinions ow
their degree of truth to hif
knowledge of the Old Testament,
and some he gathered from the
writings of Socrates and Plato
One of his favorite sayings was
that " men, having two eari
should hear much; and on-
mouth, should speak little."
Stone, a hard body, formec
of some species of earth, <to J
white stoue is promised to th
victorious Christian, Rev. 2 .
17, probably in allusion to th
custom of giving such a token
to the victors at the Grecian
games, by which they were en-
titled to public honors and to
public maintenance. See RACH.
Stoning, the punishment gen-
erally appointed in the law of
Moses for capital offences. One
of the witnesses first threw the
culprit on the ground. Then
another cast upon his breast a
great stone, kept for the pui-
pose at the place of execution
Then, if he were not dead, th*
multitude present stoned him
also. Paul was stoned at Lys-
tra, and left for dead by de
mob; but, as his brethren stood
round him lamenting, he rose
up and returned into the oity.
Acts 14 : 19.
A "corner stone,** or ah ef
SIR
266
SUM
tone, might be, as CALUET says,
nither in the foundation, at an
angle of the building, or at the
top of the wall. It could, there-
fore, either be stumbled upon,
or could fall on a man, which
explains Matt. 21: 42. See, also,
1 Pet. 2 : 6. Deut. 17 : 57.
Stork, a bird about the size
of a goose, which, as it obtains
Its food by wading, and not by
Bwimming, has very long legs,
and a neck in proportion, mak-
ing it about three feet high, or
more. It is a bird of passage,
Jer. 8:7, and frequented the
region round Cana and Naza-
reth in great flocks, unmolested
by the inhabitants, chiefly be-
cause they ate up injurious in-
sects and reptiles. Such being
its chosen food, may furnish
the reason why it was not to be
eaten by the Israelites. Lev.
11:19. It is remarkable for
its love to its parents. BOCHART
and SCHEUCHZER have collected
many testimonies to this fact
from the ancients. Its very
name, in the Hebrew language,
signifies mercy or piety. In
Holland, Germany, Switzerland,
and elsewhere in Europe, -where
this bird is common, it builds
its nest in high towers, or on
the tops of houses. But in Pal-
estine, and such hot countries,
where the roofs are flat, and
frequented by the people of the
house, the stork builds its nest
In lofty trees. Ps 104 : 17.
Strangle, to kil> by sufibca-
Uon, or without shedding the
bl id. It is forbidden Chris-
tians to eat animals killed tft
this way. Acts 15 : 2025.
Straw, or more properly stretf i
to scatter, or spread abroad.
Matt. 25 : 24.
Stubble, the stalks left in a
field of grain which has beec
reaped. Stubble is of littla
value ; of no strength or force ;
is easily scattered by the wind,
and easily burnt. Job 13 : 25;
41 : 29 ; 21 : 18. Joel 2 : 5.
To it wicked men are compared.
Ps. 83 : 14. Isa. 40 : 24. Mai.
4 : 1. False doctrines are aa
stubble, of no worth; of no
force to convince or comfort
men's consciences, and cannot
abide the trial of God's word.
1 Cor. 3 : 12.
Sueeoth means tents, or booths.
There were two places of this
name. (1.) In Egypt, where
the Hebrews first set up their
tents. Ex. 12 : 37. (2.) A
city east of Jordan, and south
of the Sea of Galilee, where
Jacob set up his tents or succoth,
as he came from Padanaram.
Gen. 33 : 17. It seems probable
that in the valley near it Hiram
cast the large utensils for the
temple. Ps. 60 : 6. 1 Kings
7 : 46.
Slimmer, the warm season of
the year. Gen. 8 : 22. In coun-
tries north of the equin' Jtial
line it begins in June and ends
in September. South of the
equinoctial, it begins in De-
cember and ends in Manh.
Seasons of prosperity, and of
opportunities of salvation, art
SON
267
SUP
Willed summer. Pro?. 10 : 5.
Zeoh. 14 : 8.
SOB) the great source of light
and heat; brought into exist-
ence on the fourth day of crea-
tion. The diameter of the sun
is about 800,000 miles. His
distance from our earth is
ninety-five millions of miles; so
that light, which flies at the in-
conceivable swiftness of two
hundred thousand miles in a sec-
ond, requires eight minutes to
reach our earth ! A cannon
ball shot thence, and moving
with unabated swiftness, viz.
(according to Durham), a mile
in eight and a half seconds,
would take about thirty years
to reach our earth ! The spots
which often appear on the sun
have never been satisfactorily ac-
counted for. HERSCHEL thought
them to arise from chasms in
the sun's atmosphere, caused
temporarily by the ascent of
gases. Three miraculous events
are related of the sun. ft stood
still at the command of Joshua.
Chap. 10 : 12. It rtturned back
in the time of King Hezekiah.
2 Kings 20 : 11. It was involved
in darkness at the time of our
Saviour's crucifixion, though
the moon was then at the nil,
which proves it was not an ordi-
nary eclipse. Matt 27 : 45.
Multitudes, from the brightness
And usefulness of the sun, have
worshipped it, under the char-
acters of Baal, Chemosk, Mo-
loch, Phatbus, <fec. Even the
Jews at times worshipped this
luminary, and Josiab had to
take away the horses, and bttTl
the chariots, consecrated to the
sun. 2 1. After hia
tin find the jews
worshipping the sun. Ezek.
8: 16.
" From the rising to th-j set
ting of the sun," imports the
whole world over. Ps. 113 : 3.
" Before the sun," or " in the
face of the sun," imports the
uing, public, and open
manner. Jer. 8 : 2. Numb. 25:
4. To continue while the " sun
and moon endure," is to last
very long, or forever, i
5, 17. Christ is called the " Sun
of Righteousness," as he en-
. .snd comforts
his people. " A woman
with the sun," and having the
moon under her feet, signifies
the church, clothed with the
righteousness of Christ, and
rising superior to worldly things.
Kev. 12 : 1.
Superscription, that which ia
written on the top or outside of
anything. Matt. 22 : 20. It
custom of the Romans
to write on a tablet or board
the crime fur which any man
suffered death. This tablet they
carried before the offender tc
the place cf execution, and fast
ened it over his head, that all
might read his transg;
and beware of violating the
laws of their country, ilfii'.-o
the superscription written over
the head of Jesus Christ, as re-
corded by all the evangelists.
Matt. 27 : 37.
Superstition, foolish fears, 01
SUP
268
SUB
sxtravigant fancies; mistaken
devotion in divine worship; the
performance of uncommanded
rites, and extravagant depend-
ence on such as are of divine
instituV n; a servile and slavish
mode of serving God; or too
much ceremony in religion,
without due regard being paid
to the attainment of inward
holiness. Those are supersti-
tious who are alarmed at the
howl of a dog, the spilling of
salt, or are afraid of ghosts,
witches, &c. A proper regard
to the divine government would
assure us of our perfect safety
from all evil, so long as we
trusted in God and obeyed him.
When Paul tells the Athenians,
he perceived they were too
superstitious," he did not use a
word which conveyed to them
any reproach. This would have
been contrary to his usual cour-
tesy and tact. He in, fact said,
' I perceive you are greatly ad-
dicted to religious observances ; "
ft most graceful and ingenious
introduction to his powerful
discourse.
Sapper was an important
meal with the ancients. Mark
6 : 21. Luke 14 ; 1224. John
12 : 2. Rev. 19 : 917.
After eating the Passover,
our Saviour instituted that sol-
emn ordinance which is called
he Lord's Supper. 1 Cor. 11 : 20.
In this rite we spiritually feed
upon Christ, the living bread.
Rom. 3 : 20. 1 Ccr. 11. It is
called the communion, because
we ti orein commune both with
Chi 1st and our brethren, It it
not a sacrifice, as the Roman
Catholics regard it, but a com*
memoration. It is to be observe*!
till the end of the world. 1 Cor
11 : 26. None are to partake
but such as have been baptized
and maintain a credible pro-
fession of religion.
The early Christians generally
had a social meal before the
Lord's Supper, called Agape, or
love feast; mentioned Jude 12
The following description of one
of these feasts is given by Ter
tullian. " We do not sit dowr
to it till we have first tasted
prayer to God; we eat to satisfy
our hunger; we drink no more
than befits the temperate; we
feast as those who recollect that
they are to spend the night in
devotion; we converse as those
who know that the Lord is an
ear-witness. After water for
washing our hands [knives and
forks not used], and lights have
been brought in, every one is
required to sing something to
the praise of God, either from
the Scriptures or his own
thoughts ; by this means, if any
one has indulged to excess, he
is detected. The feast is closed
with prayer." A contributioc
was always made for the poor
members. These social ineald
were soon a source of evil, 1 Cor.
11 : 21, and were discontinued.
Surety, one who becomes
bound for another. Sins are
called debts, Matt. 6 : 12, and
Jesus Christ is called the Sw*y
Ileb. 7 : 22. Christ fulfilled tn
SWE
269
8YC
law by the holiness of his life,
and underwent the penalty when
he offered up himself a sacrifice
to satisfy divine justice. The
Scripture forbids suretyship, or
engagement for the payment of
another person's debt. Prov.
11 : 15; 22: 26.
Swallow, a small bird, nearly
black, which migrates to warm
countries every winter; but re-
turns, often to the very nest
occupied before, which it con-
structs generally under the
eaves of houses, in chimneys,
<fcc. It seems some had their
nests round the ceilings of the
temple. Ps. 84 : 3. In coun-
tries not very cold, swallows
often venture to remain during
winter, and fixing themselves
in caves or clefts of mountains,
or secluded buildings, become
torpid. But it is not true that
they conceal themselves under
water, or in marshes.
Swan. The Hebrew word so
rendered is very ambiguous, and
is translated, Lev. 11 : 30, ml<-.
;ituagint renders it i/.-i* ;
and PARKHUUST considers it to
be the goose, because the word
imports breathing in a strong
manner, or hissing, as the goose
\a known to do. It occurs Lev.
11: 18, andDcut. 14: 16.
Swear, to m^Re a ?olemn ap-
peal to Almighty Gi i, desiring
his mercy and protection no
otherwise than as the matter or
thing affirmed is true or false;
to declare, promise, or give
evidence upon cath. We ought
never to swear but upon very
23*
urgert necessity, and henoe *
vast amount of legal swearing
is absolutely sinful. Our Sa-
viour, who came into the world
not to destroy the law, but to
fulfil n forbade all profane
oaths. Matt. 5 *4. See OATH.
Swine, the plural of hog. It
was not only unclean by the
Levitical law, but by strict Jews
was regarded as impure and de-
testable in the highest degree.
They would not so much as pro-
nounce its name, but called it
the strange thing. Among the
charges of gross sins, mentioned
ih, the eating of swine's
I specified. Is. G5 : 4.
The keeping of herds of swine
in the country of the Gergesenes
was a violation of the law of
.Matt. 8 : 3032. The
sottish slavery of persons de-
voted to sensuality, and their
contemptuous rejection of re-
proof, is strikingly indicated by
their being compared to swiue
trampling pearls under their
feet. Matt. 6:6.
Sycamine. Critics do not
agree whether or not this is the
same tree as the sycjmfjre. Much
learning has been displayed by
KILLER and CELSIUS to prove it
to be the morus, or mulberry-
tree, and they have made it
very probable. It occurs Luke
17 : 6, only.
Sycamore, a tree which beam
fruit like a fg, and has leaves
like a mulberry. The Egyp-
tians seem to be more fond of
its fruit than any other people
It is always green, and la laid
SYN
270
SYN
to produce seven crops a year.
The tree abounded in Palestine.
1 Kings 10 : 27.
We find, in 1 Chr. 27 : 28,
that the Jews highly prized it.
It attains a great size, three
men sometimes not being able
to clasp one. The fruit is about
the size of a fig, and is often
called by that name, though
not equal in flavor to the real
fig. It is remarkable that the
fruit does not grow on the
branches and twigs, but on the
trunk of the tree, attached by
sprigs like grape-stalks. The
wood, though of coarse grain,
is remarkable for durability.
Mummy chests of it were found
in the catacombs by SHAW, and
had remained sound for 3000
years.
j the same as Shechem.
once an important city
of Egypt. Ezek. 29 : 10. It
is the true terminus of the Nile
navigation for boats of the first
class, and is still a large town,
with ruins extending every way,
and indicating its former great-
ness. Syenite takes its name
from this town, where granite
was wrought 4000 years ago.
Opposite is the island of Ele-
phantis. It is now called As-
wan, pronounced by the natives
As -wan.
Synagogue, an assembly
%mong the Jews for religious
worship. The place where they
met to pray, to read, and to
hear the reading of the Holy
Scriptures, and other instruc-
tion! , and where, by sermons
and exhortations delivered to
them, by prophets formerly, a ad
afterwards by the ductcrs or
teachers, the people were kept
in the knowledge of God and
his law. They began to be
used Mw^at the time of Ezra,
and were very useful in keep-
ing up a knowledge of God
among the people. There waa
a council or assembly of rev-
erend and wise persons, versed
in the law, who had the care of
all things belonging to the ser-
vice of the synagogue, and the
management of certain judicial
affairs. Over these was set a
president, called the " ruler of
the synagogue." Luke 8 : 41.
As there was but one temple,
and to this a resort was re-
quired but thrice a year, and
then by males only, such a mode
of keeping the Sabbath became
indispensable. Soon after the
captivity, the Jews had great
numbers of synagogues, which
increased till there were about
480 of them in Jerusalem. Every
trading fraternity had their syn-
agogue ; and companies of
strangers, as Alexandrians, Cy-
renians, and others, had theirs
for public prayer, and for read.
ing the Scriptures. Our Saviour
and his apostles found the syna.
gogues very convenient place*
for proclaiming the good news
from heaven. Luke 4 : 20.
There are in the United Statei
synagogues in Newport, New
York, Philadelphia, Kichinond,
Charleston, Cincinnati, and
many other places
SYR
271
SYR
Syracuse, a famous city, call 3d
lao Saragossa, on the south-
east coast of Sicily, twenty-two
miles in circumference. It was
founded A. M. 3269, and was
once the largest and richest
sity of the Greeks. Archimedrs,
with astonishing inventions, de-
fended the place from the Ro-
mans ; but it was taken, and he
was slain, about u. c. 208. The
Saracens seized it A. D. G75 ;
but in 10UO it was taken from
them by Roger, Duke of Apulia.
Here Paul tarried three days, as
he went prisoner to Rome.
Christianity was early planted
hero, and still contii.
least in name. The city has
wholly lost its ancient splendor.
Acts 28 : 12.
Syria, or ARAM. The Syrians
descended from Aram, and pos-
sessed Mesopotamia, Chaldea,
and part of Armenia. But
Syria proper had the Mediterra-
nean Sea on the west, Cilicia on
the north, the Euphrates on the
east, and Canaan and part of
Arabia the Desert on the south.
Its good soil, and noble rivers,
Euphrates, Orontes, Cassimere,
Ad' mis t Barrady, <tc., rendered
it a delightful country. It was
divided into various provinces,
which derived their names from
their chief cities, situation, or
circumstance,
C(ELO-ST- i included the val-
ley betweeu the ridges of Liba-
nus and Anti-Libanus. The
word often occurs in the books
of Maccabees, ani signifies
Syria the Hollow
STRIA OP J)AV \SCTTB w** a
province strfttohinsr eastward
along Mount Libanus, of which
Damascus was the capital. Itl
limits varied according as its
princes were more or less pow-
erful. 1 Chron. 18: 6. Isa
7 : 8.
SYRIA OF REHOB was that part
of which Rehob was the metrop-
olis. 2 Sam. 10 : 6. It bor-
dered on Palestine, and waa
given to Asher. Josh. 19 : 28.
SYRIA OF MAACHAH lay be
yond Jordan, tou.mls Lebanon,
and was given to Manasseh. 2
Sam. 10 : 6. Deut. 3 : 14. It
is called At>rll,,th Maacah. 2
Kings 15 : 29.
TOB, or ISHTOB, was a province
in the neighborhood of Libanus
Jud. 11 : 3, 5.
SYRIA, without any other ap-
pellation, stands for the whole
kingdom of Syria ; of which
Antivch became the capital, after
the reign of
fore which the name is seldom
used alone. Its chief cities, IB
addition to t , men-
tioned, were Seleucia, Ilelbon,
Rehoboth, Hamath, Ribla, and
Tiidmor. The whole country
has several times changed mas-
ters ; falling under the Chai-
deans, Persians, Greeks, Ro-
mans, Saracens, and Turks. In
18^2 the pacha of Egypt con-
quered it, but it was restored to
the Turks in 1841.
Syro-Phcenida, or Syrian
Phoenicia, was either that part
of Phoenicia bordering on Syria,
or perhaps the whole of Phoeni-
TAB
212
TAB
eia, which by conquest had been
uuiled to Syria. The people
were originally Cauaanites.
Gen. 10 : 15. Mark 7 : 26. Matt
15 : 2228. It included Tvr
and Sidon
T.
Tabernacle. (1.) A tent, or
temporary building, made to be
carried from place to place.
(2.) That particular tent in
which the Israelites performed
their religious exercises, while
in the wilderness. It was called
"the Tabernacle of the Congue-
gation." Ex. 33 : 7. Here,
till the building of the- temple,
was kept the ark of the cove-
nant, which was a symbol of
God's gracious presence with the
Jewish church. Ex. 26 : 1.
Heb. 9 : 2, 3. It was forty-five
feet long and fifteen wide. A
good idea of the tabernacle, of
its division into two pants, its
pillars, boards, curtains, and
mode of erection, may be ob
tained from the picture. Some
men on ladders are suspending
the curtains, while pa^t of the
boards and coverings ate lying
by the side. A curtain divided
it into two apartments, the
eastern one, called the Mo*t
Holy Pla.-e, being fifteen feet
iqnaro. Within the Holy Place
itood the altar of incense, the
candlestick, and the table of
show-bread. Within the Holy
of Holies was the ark of the
covenant, with its mercy-seat,
and overshadowing cherubim,
between which rested the shechi-
nah, or visible glory. See ARK,
It was a splendid and custlj
structure ; but having been re-
moved often, it became entire!}
TAB
278
TAB
worn out by the time Solomon's
temple was ready.
It stood in a court 150 feet
long and 75 wide, enclosed by
curtains eight feet high, sus-
tained by fifty-six pillars. With
in this area stood the tabernacle
at the west end, and the altar
t-offcring, brazen lavr,
The tabernacle was a type of
Christ's human nature, wherein
God dwelta personally, lleb.
8: 2; 9: 11. The natural body
is the tabernacle of the soul.
2 Cor. 5 : 1. 2 Pet. 1 : 13. The
" tents of Judah " are such
Jews as dwelt in unfortified
cities. Zech.l2;7. The church's
" tent was enlarged," and " her
curtains stretched out," her
"orrds lengthened," and her
" stakes strengthened," when
the Gentiles were converted to
Christ, and her gospel state
established, Isa. 54 : 2 ; and are
to be still more wondrously so
in the millennium. " The tab-
ernacle of God is with men,"
when they enjoy his uninent
fellowship and favor. Rev. 21 :
t. The church and her true
members are like " the tents of
Kedar ;" their outward appear*
ance is mean and despicable,
and their condition in this world
very unsettled. Song 1:5.
Feast of Tabernacles. See
FEAST.
Tabltha, the Syrian name of
a Christian woman, called in
Greek Dorcas, who lived at
Joppa. She was raised from
the dead by Peter. Acts 9.
Table. The Jewish tablo
mostly in use was probably <*
circular piece of leather
on the floor, on which the food
is laid, while those who partake
sit round with their legs c
Among those in high life, each
guest had his separate table and
mesa. S?e cut under KNEADING
TROUGH.
TAB
274
TAB
Sometimes a low table w~s
used, as in the engraving be-
low.
them the more refined Persian
method of eating, which was to
have a table like ours, only
shaped like a horse-
shoe, or three sides
of a square. Against
these were placed, not
chairs, but couches,
with their end to the
table. The body re-
clined, propped by the
left arm. The open
space in the centre
enabled the servants
to perform their duty.
Such a posture ena-
bled Mary to come be-
hind Christ to wash
When the Jews returned from! and anoint his feet. From the
captivity, they brought with following engraving a true idea
may be formed of this ancient
mode of eating.
Tablets, ornaments mentioned
by Isaiah and others, as worn
by Jewish women. What they
were we cannot now tell, which
is the case also with various ar-
ticles of dross and ornament, as
Well as musical instruments,
Ac.
Tabor. (1.) A conical moun-
tain in Galilee. Josh. 19 : 12,
12. It is about 1800 French
feet high, and on the top is a
beautiful plain about a mile in
circumference, and enclosed by
trees, except towards the south.
From the top is one of the most
delightful prospects in th*> world.
On the north-west is 9on the
Mediterranean ; west and s-outb
is the noble plain of Esdraelon ;
south and east is Galilee, and
north-east stretches away the
beautiful Sea of Tiberias, famed
for many miracle*. On thU
TAH
275
TAM
mount Barak assembled his
army, and, at the foot of it, de-
feated the host of Jabin. Judg.
4 : 6, 8. It is thought by some
that here our Saviour was trans-
figured. (2.) The name of a
city given by the Zebulonites to
the Levites of iMerari's family,
1 Chron. 6:77; and of a place
near Bethel, 1 Sam. 10 : 3.
Tabret. See TIMBREL.
Taches, loops or clasps, by
which curtains were buttoned.
Ex. 26 : 6,
Tadmor, a noble city in the
north of Canaan. Its imme-
diate vicinity was exceedingly
fertile, though at a little dis-
tance all was a sandy desert. It
was probably built by Solomon,
to facilitate his commerce with
the East. It submitted to Rome
A. D. 130. About 150 years
afterward, the Saracens took it.
Here lived the famous Zenobiu,
and Longinus. It was destroyed
A. D. 273. It is now famous
only for its ruins, which are
described by modern travellers
as very extensive and magnifi-
cent ; especially the reti;
the great temple of the sun.
About thirty poor families con-
stitute its population. The mod-
ern name of the town was Pal-
myra, but it now again is called
Tamor throughout the Rw.
Tahap'anes, the same as Te-
'kiph'enes t a large city in the
north of Egypt, called Dy He-
rodotus the Pelusaic Daphne.
Jor. 2 : 16. Ezek. 30 : 18.
Hither many Jews emigrated
fter the ruin of their country.
ati took Jeremiah iritA
Jer. 43 : 79.
Tale, number reckoned. Ex
5 : 8, Ac. We now say Tally.
Talent, a Jewish coin 01
weight. Money of specific cur-
rent value was not known in
early times ; but gold and silver
were weighed out when pur-
chases were made. Gen. 23 :
16, and 37 : 28. Jer. 32 : 10.
The Jews did not begin to coin
money till about 150 years be-
fore Christ. It is not clear trhat
was the exact value of the tal-
ent. That of silver was prob-
ably somewhere near 1,500 dol-
lars, and that of gold about 25,-
OUU. Whatever gifts or oppor-
tunities God gives to men for
their usefulness, are called tal-
ents. To some he gives these
in greater, and to others in less
proportion ; but all ought to
improve what they receive ; for
of all will a strict account be
exacted. Matt. '25. Luke 19.
When our Saviour speaks, in a
parable, of the obligations wo
owe to God, and those which
men owe to each other, he calls
the first ten thousand talents,
and the last a hundred pence ;
strikingly teaching us how small
are our offences toward each
other, compared wUh those we
commit against God ' Matt.
18 : 2428.
Talmud. See TRADITION.
Tammnz, or THAMMU/, a a
Egyptian deity, thought by somt
to be Apis, or Serapis, or Osiris,
(three names for tie same god),
and by others to be Adoni*
TAP
276
TAB
Irhose untimely death was hon-
ored by an annual mourning.
Ezek. 8 : 14.
The tenth month of t :e Jew-
ish civil year also b^:e this
name. Jer. 39 : 2.
Ta'nach, city of, lay beyond
Jordan, in the half-tribe of Ma-
nasseh. Josh. 12 : 21.
Tanning was carried to great
perfection by the Egyptians, and
of course known to the Jews.
Leather was beautifully dressed,
dyed, embossed, and gilded, for
girdles, sandals, &c. Acts 10 :
6.
Tapestry, cloth wrought into
figures in the loom, or with the
needle . It was used in the East,
as early as the time of Solomon.
Its figures were frequently
formed with threads of gold
Prov. 7 : 16. The crusaders
seem to have introduced the art
of making it into Europe. The
English and Flemish first dis
tinguished themselves in making
it. It was used to cover bed
and to ornament rooms, but i
now become unfashionable. A
species is still made in the roya
Gobelin tapestry factory a
Paris, which is not less beauti
ful and accurate than the mos
exquisite painting, but is enor
nously expensive.
Tap'puah. (1.) The same a
ENTAPPUAH, in the south o
Ephi-aim. Josh. 17 7, 8. (2.
A city of the same name, ic th
canton of Judah Josh. 15 '.4
which Robinson lentifies as th
present Teffee
Tares, a weed injurious t
rain, both by occupying
pace, and by the seed being
nwholesome. In this country,
he wheat fan gets out the tare
eed ; but the ancient fan could
ot. [See FAN.] On this ao
ount they pulled up the tares,
separated them before thresh-
ng, when the best flour was to
e made. Mr. FISK found on
he plains round Ephesus some
Greek men and women, employed
n the fields of grain, pulling up
ares. Matt. 13 : 28. This prac-
ice is now customary in Eng-
and, and elsewhere. Travel-
ers in Syria have seen the
capers separate the tares from
he wheat as they proceeded,
and bind them in separate bun-
dles. See Matt. 13 : 30. Some-
times a sieve is used. Thus Satan
desired to sift Peter as wheat.
Luke 22 : 31.
Tarshish, or TARSUS. There
were several places called by
this name, viz. :
1. TARSUS in Cilicia, the capi
tal of that country, stood on the
river Cydnus, about six miles
from the sea, built, STRABO says,
by Sardanapalus, the king of
Assyria. It once excelled even
Athens and Alexandria in learn-
ing ; those cities, and even
Rome itself, being indebted to
it for their best professors
Julius Cesar, and afterward Oo-
tavius, delighted to honor it
and granted its citizens the
same privileges as those of
Rome ; and hence Paul was her*
! free born." It w&s the priyi
TEM
277
TEM
/ege of such cities to be gov-
erned by their own laws and
magistrates, without having a
Roman governor or garrison
To evince their gratitude, the
inhabitants called their city
Juliopolis, or the city of Julius.
This city at present is of no
importance ; but Christianity,
planted here by Paul, has never
been wholly eradicated. Its
present name is Trassa, or Ter-
tus ; and its population 30,000.
2. The name seems to be ap-
plied to Tartessus, in Spain, not
far from the famous city of Gre-
nada. Ps. 72 : 10.
3. A place on the east of
Africa, not far from OPHIB. 1
Kings 10 : 22.
4. Carthage. Isa. 23 : 6.
Teil-Tree, the same aa the
linden, or " Tilia Europccus," of
botanists. Its leaf resembles
laurel, and its flower that of the
olive. The word occurs only
Isa. 6 : 13. The original word
is everywhere else rendered oak.
Te'kel, a Chaldee word signi-
fying, Ihim art weighed. See
UPHARSIN.
Teko'a, a city of Judah, twelve
miles south-east of Jerusalem.
Around it was an extensive wil-
derness, or pasture land, and
forest. AMOS, the prophet, kept
a herd here, before his call to
the ministry. Amos 1:1.
Tel'abib, a city or district be-
tween the rivers Ohebar and
Saocoras. Ezek. 3 : 15,
Teman, a grandson of Esau,
whom descended the Te-
ll
manites. Job 4:1. The land
of Edom \f ro called. Jer. 49 .
20- Amos 1 : 12.
Temperance, moderation; that
command over ourselves which
enables us to abstain from ex-
cessive eating, drinking, or any
other enjoyment. It is opposed
to every excess by which the
mental faculties are beclouded,
or the moral habits rendered
unchaste. Luke 21 : 34. Phil.
4 : 5. Intemperance in the use
of ardent spirits had become
awfully prevalent in this coun-
try, and threatened entire ruin,
till vast numbers of good men,
alarmed at the approaching cri-
sis, rose to check the spreading
evil. Associations were formed,
newspapeas istablished, agents
employed, t.-icts circulated, ad-
dresses deli-, ered, Ac. ; and by
the blessing of God the growth
of the evil is not only checked,
but a good measure of reform
produced. It is the purpose of
those who began to sound the
alarm not to cease till such
liquors are only used as a medi-
cine, according to the Scriptures.
Prov. 31:6. Every true friend
of religion, or of his country, is
bound to promote to the utmost
this important reform, &nd to
endeavor to have such laws
passed as will suppress those
horrid grog shops where men
are absolutely murdered, both
in soul and body.
Temple. The word is some,
times applied to the tabernacle,
1 Sam. 1:9; Ps. 18 : 6 ; aod
sometimes the temple it&Uf if
TEM
278
TEM
ailed labernaole, 2 Chron. 1 :
5. But the word is chiefly ap-
plied to the house built at Jeru-
salem for the worship of God.
The preparations for this tem-
ple were immense. David and
his princes contributed 108,000
talents of gold ; 1,017,000 tal-
ents of silver, which together
amounted to 4G,000 tons weight
of gold and silver, or the value
of more than 4,000 millions of
dollars ! About 184,600 men
were employed seven years in
building it. It was erected on
Mount Moriah ; and was dedi-
cated with solemn prayer by
Solomon, during seven days of
sacred feasting, and by a peace-
offering of 20,000 oxen and
120,000 sheep, to consume which
the holy fire came down anew
from heaven.
It remained in its glory only
about thirty-four years, when
Shiahak carried off all its treas-
ures. 1 Kings 14 : 25, 26. Je-
hoiada and Joash repaired it
about A. M. 3150. Soon after,
Joash gave its treasures to Ha-
ael, king of Syria. 2 Kings
12 : 4, 5. Ahaz stripped it so
completely, to hire the assist-
ance of Assyria, that it was for
ft long time entirely shut up.
2 Chron. 28. Hezekiah repaired
it, and made such vessels for it
as it wanted ; but, in the four-
teenth year of his reign, was
obliged to take from it much of
its wealth to give to Sennache-
rib. 2 Kings 18 Manasseh
idolatrously reared altars to the
host of heaven is the sacred
courts, but afterwards restored
the true worship of God. Josiah,
his grandson, further purged
the temple, and replaced the
ark of God in it. 2 Kings 21,
22. About A. M. 3398, Nebu-
chadnezzar carried the sacred
vessels to Babylon, and at last,
about A. M. 3416, entirely de
molished it. Jer. 52 : 1223.
About A. M. 3469, Cyrus or-
dered it to be rebuilt, which was
done under the direction of
Zerubbabel. It wanted, how-
ever, as the Jews say, five
things which were the chief
glory of the former ; viz., the
Ark, and its furniture, the She-
chinah, or the cloud of the di-
vine presence, the Holy fire, the
Urim and Thummim, and the
Spirit of prophecy. Ez. 1, 3, 6.
About A. M. 3837, Antiochus
Epiphanes profaned it, and
stopped the daily sacrifice ; but,
about three years after, Judas
Maccabeus purified and repaired
it, and restored divine worship.
The second temple having
stood more than 500 years, and
being greatly out of repair,
Herod the Great, about A. M.
3987, began to build it anew.
In nine years he finished the
principal parts of it ; but forty-
six years after, when ov Sa-
viour had begun his public min-
istry, it was not quite finished ;
indeed, till the beginning of
their ruinous wars, they still
added to its buildings. It was
thus made far more complete
and beautiful than that of Zerub-
babel. and VIM one of the most
TEM
279
TEM
Astonishing structures in the
world for magnitude and mag-
nificence. Though almosfa new
edifice, it retained the name of
Second Tempic. It was more
glorious than the original tem-
ple, Hag. 2 : 9, because honored
with the presence and ministry
of Christ. It was burnt and
entirely destroyed by the Ro-
man army under Titus. A Ma-
hometan mosque now stands on
the very spot. Into this no
Jew or Christian dare venture
on pain of death, or of redeem-
ing his life by becoming a dis-
ciple of Islaniism.
THE COURT OF THE Gi
the exterior court of the tem-
ple, into which Gentiles were
admitted, was the largest, by
far, of all the courts of the tem-
ple. From this place our Sa-
viour drove out the sellers of
cattle, which had been improp-
erly trought here.
THB COURT -OP THE WOMEN was
not exclusively for the resort of
women ; but was so called be-
cauge they could go no farther,
except that when they brought
a sacrifice, they proceeded to
THE COURT OF ISRAEL, a space
more interior, where priests
were always admitted, and com-
mon men on very particular
occasions.
The size and splendor of
Solomon's temple gave rife to
great magnificence in those
which w*ire afterward erected to
heathep gods. The vast size of
the tomple of Dagon may be
judjod from the oiroums f <uce
of 3,000 persons being DU &4
flat roof. Some conception oi
the extent and grandeur of Di-
ana's temple may be obtaired
from what we have said under
EI-UESUS. The temple of Zerub-
babel was larger than that of
Solomon, and that of Herod
still larger. According to our
Saviour's prediction, this superb
structure is now utterly demol-
ished.
Pagodas are different from
temples, inasmuch as they are
not generally hollow, nor used
in the interior for purposes of
worship, but solid masses of
brick and mortar, intended
chiefly as monuments to tht
honor of the deity ; the woi*
ship being performed outrile
TEM
280
TEN
The preceding cut represents
ft Chinese pagoda. The one
below exhibits a pagoda in
Burmah, visited by the author
tn 1836, and drawn by him on
the spot, of which also the size
may be inferred from the size
of the men delineated at the
base. This is comparatively
small. There is one near Ran-
goon equal in size to some of
the famous pyramids of Egypt.
Temptation. (1.) The act of
enticing to a crime. (2.) The
state of being tried. (3.) Any-
thing offered to the mind as a
motive to ill. It signifies those
means which are made u<*e of by
the devil to ensnare mankind,
and draw them from their duty.
M--<i. 6:13 ; 26:41. Luke 11 :
4. God is said to tempt or try
men by those afflictions which
exercise, prove, and confirm the
graces of his people. Gen. '22 :
1. They shoijld therefore be
borne by Christiana without
murmuring, that they may b
patterns of obedience. Jameft
1:2, 12. Men ttmpt God, when
they unseasonably and irrever-
! ently require proofs of his pres-
ence, power, and goodness ; Ex.
37 : 2, 7 ; when they expose
Jiemselves to danger, from
which they cannot escape with-
out his miraculous interposition,
Matt. 4:7; and when they sin
with great boldness, as if to try
whether God would punish
them. Mai. 3 : 15. Acts 5 : 9.
We may conclude an evil
thought to be a temptation of
Satan, and not the fruit of our
own minds, first, when it is con
trary to our general character ;
secondly, when it is opposite to
our present frame of mind, and
seems to come suddenly ; thirdly,
when it is unnatural, or contrary
to reason ; fourthly, when it ia
detested and opposed from the
moment of the suggestion.
Tenon, the end of a board or
timber, fitted to a mortice or
socket in framing. Ex. 26 : 19.
Tent, a portable, curtained
abode, invented by Jubal, be-
fore the flood. Mankind, for
many centuries, lived in tents ;
as those do to this day, whose
pastoral or migratory habits
cause frequent removals. The
word tent is synonymous with
tabernacle. The words succoth
and masac are variously ren-
dered in our common English
version, viz., curtain, taber-
nacle, covert, pavilion, cover.
ing, hanging, booth
TEB
281
THA
Tenth-deal, the tenth part of
n ephah; that is, an omer, or
nearly five pints.
Terah, the son of Nahor, was
born A.M. 1878; and, at the
130th year of his life, had Abram
Oorn to him. He and his family
were idolaters; but the call of
Abraham seems to have been
blessed to his conversion. Pt is
certain that Terah emigrated
with Abraham to Ilaran, and
died there. Gen. 11 : 2432.
Josh. 24 : 2, 14.
Teraplliffl, images or house-
hold gods. Judges 18 : 14.
Some think they were /
or amulets, to preserve from
evil. Eastern nations have for
many ages been addicted to
such charms. The Persians call
them telepMn, a name not dis-
similar to teraphim. They were
sometimes consulted for oracles.
Zech. 10 : 2. The worship of
Teraphim is as old as the time
of Jacob. The " gods " stolen
from Laban by Rachel are called,
in the original, " teraphim."
Gen. 31 : 19, 32, 35. The cele-
brated KIRCHER says they are
the same as the Egyptian idol
Serapis, that is, a doll or small
child wrapped up, without hands
or feet.
TertiHS, Paul's amanuensis in
writing his epistle to the Ro-
mans. Rom. 16 : 22. It is prob-
able that he was the same as
Silas, that Hebrew name signi-
fying the same as the Latin
Tcrtius.
Testament, the will of a tes-
24*
tator. Gal. 3 : 15. Heb. 9 ,
16, 17. The Greek word M
translated in the New Testa
ment is that by which theLXX.
have uniformly translated the
Hebrew word i:x covenant. The
Old Scriptures are called the
Old Testament, or Covenant, or
Dispensation. 2 Cor. 3 : 14.
The dispensation of the cov-
enant of grace, as contained in
the writings of the evangelists
and apostles, is called the New
Testament. It is last in order,
and shall never be abolished.
Though it agrees with the Old
Testament, it is far more clear,
spiritual, efficacious, and easy
Heb. 9 : 15. Acts 15 : 10.
Testimony, proof, witness, or
declaration. The law is G id's
testimony, Ps. 119, <fec.; which
Israel bound themselves to obey.
See WITNESS.
Te'trarch, a Roman magis-
trate, who governed the fourth
part of a kingdom. The term
was afterward applied to any
petty sovereign, and became
synonymous with Ethnarch.
Tham'mnz, or AM'MUZ, an idol
hought to be the same as that
worshipped by the Greeks under
the name of Osiris, and by the
Arabians under the name of
Adonis. Prostitution, and other
abominable practices, formed
parts of hi? worship.
hanksgiving grateful ac-
knowledgment of benefits. It
mplies (1.) A real sense of
r alue in the things received;
2.) A reception of them with
THE
283
THE
oinplao3ncy; (3.) A cheerful
avowal )f the obligation con-
ferred ; (4.) Grateful love to
the Bestower; and (5.) Hearty
desires to compensate or honor
him who blesses us. Phil. 4 : 6.
1 Tim. 2:1. Christians greatly
err in not making it a more im~
portant part of their daily de-
votions. Phil. 4:6. 1 Tim.
2:3.
Theft. Thieves, under the
Jewish economy, were always
required to make full restitu-
tion, even to four times the
value of the thing stolen. Ex.
22:1. If they had not property
enough, they were sold to service
for a term of years. Ex. 2"2 :
23. A night robber might be
killed, if done in the ac.t; but
it was not lawful in the day
time.
Thebez, a city of Ephraim,
half a mile from Shechem. Jud.
9 : 50.
Tlressalonians, the title of
two Epistles written to the
church at Thossalonica, which
was planted by Paul. See Acts
17.
The FIRST EPISTLE is gener-
ally admitted to hare been the
earliest of Paul's letters. He
enjoined it to be read to all the
adjacent churches. Chap. 5 : 27.
His object seems to have beea
to confirm them in the faith,
and to excite their piety.
The SECOND EF:STLE, written
aoon after the first, commends
their faith and charity, rectifies
their mistake in supposing that
tb day of judgment, was at
hand, admonishes them of cei
tain irregularities, &o.
Beside the marks of genuine*
ness and authority which thi
Epistle has in common with the
rest, HORNE remarks, " It has
one peculiar to itself, in the
exact representation it contains
of the papa* j/ower, under the
characters of the * Man of Sin,'
and the * Mystery of Iniquity.'
For, considering how directly
opposite the principles de-
scribed, ch. 2, were to the genius
of Christianity, it must have
appeared at that time highly
improbable that they should
ever have prevailed in the Chris-
tian Church ; and, consequently,
a prediction like this, which
answers so exactly in every par-
ticular to the event., must prove
that its author wrote under di-
vine influence."
Thessaloni'ea, the capital of
Macedonia. It was anciently
called Hali.<s, and Thermos; but
Philip, father of Alexander the
Great, called it Thessalonica, to
commemorate his victory over
the Thessalians. About A. D. 52,
Paxiil, Silas and Timothy planted
a church here. It was then a
city of great commerce and
wealth, and abounded with Jews.
The Saracens took it about A. D.
800; R^ad, after various other
revolutions, it fell under the
power of Turkey. It is at thii
time one of the chief ports of
modern Greece, containing 60,-
000 inhabitants, of which 12,000
are Jews. A Puotestaut mission
from the United States 5e
THO
283
THB
lained here. Its present name
is Saloniky.
Theu'das, a false Messiah,
whose i llowers, amounting to
400 persons, were disperse^.
Acts 5 : 36. Josephus mentions
one of the same name, who rose
forty years later, and was fol-
lowed by several thousands,
many of whom were slain.
Thirst^ a sensation, the in-
tensity of which, to travellers
in Eastern countries, we can
scarcely conceive. We should
think of this when we read such
passages as Ps. 42 : 2. Matt.
5: 6.
Thistle, a general name for
thorny, noxious plants. They
form part of the curse pro-
nounced in Eden, and should
constantly remind us of our fall
in Adam.
Thomas, or DIDYMUS, one of
the apostles. Matt. 10 : 3. He
s^aid several years at Jerusa-
lem, after the Pentecost; and
then went, it is said, to preach
among the Parthians, Medes,
Hyrcanians, and Bactrians. He
Buffered martyrdom
inMeliapoor,in the
East Indies, where,
three hundred year?
ago, the Portuguese
discovered chris-
tians, who called
themselves by his
name. Many such
exist there at this day, and are
spread cr^er the Madras terri-
tory.
Thorns, prickly shrubs of va-
rious kinde, larger than thistles.
Hasselquist found a thorny rJ,
common round Jerusalem, which
was probably the plant used in
crowning our Saviour. It i*
supple, having a beautiful deep
green leaf, resembling the ivy 4
which was commonly used for
garlands. The pictures which
represent this crown as of mere
thorns are erroneous, as are al-
most all old pictures found in
Bibles. They were painted by
men who were not allowed to
read the Bible, and ought never
to have been put into Bibles.
Many modern pictures in Bible?
are correct and instructive.
Three Taverns, a place about
30 miles from Rome. Here the
most of the friends of Paul
waited for him, while a few
went on to meet him. Acts 28:
15. The place still exists, and
is called Tre Taverne.
Threshing-floor. A very good
idea of this important part of a
Jewish farm may be got from
the annexed picture, which rep-
the mode still practised
in the Holy Land It was pre
pared in the open field, as it is at
this day in our Southern States,
by trampling and rolling a suf-
ficient spot of ground, generally
on some gentle eminence for thf
THB
284
THT
ate of the wind. The lees of
oil were mixed up with the clay,
which rendered it impervious to
water. Here the smaller kinds
were beaten out with a long
staff or flail; the larger kinds
with oxen or horses. Sometimes
they used a set of rollers, over
which was constructed a seat
for the driver of the team. Isa.
28 : 27. The passage, Isa. 41 :
15, which, to the common reader,
is nonsense, becomes finely illus-
trative when we remember that
straw was purposely cut for ma-
nure, and that in this case the
rollers had sharp teeth. These
large implements formed suf-
ficient wood for a burnt-offering,
which our flails would not do,
which explains 1 Chr. 16 : 23.
To separate the chaff and grain
the fan was used. (See FAN.)
The grain was cleared of heavier
substances, such as lumps of
dirt, by means of the sieve. To
depict the dire ruin of the
wicked, it is said, " they shall
be as chaff driven with the whirl-
wind out of the floor." why
will not sinners consider their
dreadful and fr-ovitable doom
except they repent and turn to
God* Hoc. 13:3. Job 21 18.
The church is likened to athreih-
ing-floor, for here Christ gathert
his glorious haivest, and here
he will thoroughly cleanse it.
Matt. 3 : 12.
Throne, the seat of a mon
arch. Being always higher than
a ehair, it needed a footstool t
where, in token of
reverence, appli
cants bowed them
selves. Ps. 99 : 5
Solomon's throne
was raised six steps,
and was of solid gold
and ivory. The
word is used to de
note kingly author
ity, Gen. 41 : 40; and hence
angels are called thrones, in Col.
1 : 16.
Thyati'ra is situated between
Sardis and Pergamos, near a
branch of the Caicus, in the
centre of an extensive plain.
At the distance of four or five
miles a belt of mountains sur-
rounds it. It was once famous
for its purple dye. Acts 16 : 14.
There are now about 1000 houses
in the place, but poor. The
streets are very narrow and
dirty. Its modern name is Ah
Hisar.
Thy'lne, the same as the thy*
tree. It resembles the cedar, is
aromatic and evergreen. It
rises with a strong trunk to the
height of thirty feet or more,
the branches projecting hori-
zontally, aid at right anglei
with each ether. The wood ifl
hard, and admits a fine polish,
on whicb aoocunt tte heathea
TIG
285
TIM
make gods of it. From this tree
is obtained the gum sandrac.
Tiberias, SEA OF. See GEX-
NESARETH.
Tiberias, a city of Galilee,
built by Agrippa, ani so named
in honor of the empeior Ti-
berius. HEGESIPPUS says it was
the same as Cinuereth. IB the
time ol the Jewish wars, his
city, then ,he capital of * '
was bravely defended by Jose-
phus, the historian ; but, being
taken, by Vespasian, it was al-
most demolished. It v,.
ever, a place of considerable
note for many ages after. 1 1 1- re
was held the last session of the
Sanhedrim, a.nd here the Talmud
was collected. It is still a de-
cent town, and around it are
extensive ruins, indicative of
its former extent and grandeur.
Thirty or forty families of Greek
Catholics reside here. The pres-
ent name is Tabaria.
Tiberius. Caesar Augustus,
having married Livia, Tiberius'
mother, adopted him as his heir.
In the beginning of his reign
Tiberius behaved with modera-
tion ; but afterwards became
peevish, cruel, and oppressive.
About the thirteenth year of
his reign he made Pilate gov-
ernor of Judea. In the fifteenth
year, John Baptist began to
preach. Luke 3:1. Soon after,
he took from the Jews the power
of putting criminals to death.
Tiglath-Pile'zer, a king of
Assyria, who was called upon
ry Aha i, king of Judah, for
help against Pekeh, kin& w
Israel, and Rezin, king of Da-
mascus. 1 Kings 11. He died
B. c. 729, and was succeeded by
Shalmanezer. He is called, in
profane history, Arbaces.
Tile, an earthen plate, used
to cover roof.-. What is ren-
dered tiling, in the narrative of
the sick man, Luke 5 : ID, is by
some considered to mean the
poles stretched across the open-
ing (if the inner court to
ing ; and by others, the
balustrade round the opening.
AVhat the nu-n removed, in order
to bring the paralytic to Christ,
: tainly have been some-
thing that did not damage the
building.
Timbrel, an instrument of
music, very like our tambourine,
consisting of a brass hoop, over
which was stretched a parch-
ment. It was held in the left
hand, and struck with the right;
and was played on while danc-
ing, on occasions of great joy.
Ex. 15 : 20. It is sometimes
called tabret.
Time, the measure of dura-
tion ; the season to do a thing
To redeem time, is to be Joubly
diligent in duty en account of
former negligence. Time is re-
deemed by avoi ./og excessive
sleep, useless recreations, in-
dolent habits, formal visits, tri-
fling reading, vain conversation,
and officious employments. Tki
last times mean gospel times,
which are under the last dis-
pensations o/ grice. The ful
TIN
286
TIT
ness of time means the time when
everything is prepared for an
event. Gal. 4 : 4. See WATCH.
Tim'nath, a city called also
TIMNAH, and TIMNATHATH, which
stood about six miles from Adul-
lana, in the tribe of Dan.
Timothy, or TIMOTHEUS, was
a native of Lystra. His father
was a Greek, but his grand-
mother and mother, being pious
Jewish women, trained him up
in the knowledge of the Scrip-
tures, Acts 16 : 1. His bodily
constitution was weak, but his
gifts and graces were eminent.
He was much with Paul, and
seems to have been ordained
before he was twenty years old.
He preached in many cities,
but chiefly in Ephesus.
The Two EPISTLES to Timothy
were written by Paul, from
Rome, not long before his death.
In these he is instructed in the
choice of officers for the church,
in the proper deportment of a
Christian minister, in the method
of church government and dis-
cipline, the importance of stead-
fastness in Christian doctrine,
the perils and seductions - that
should come, &c.
Tin, a white metal of little
elasticity, lighter than almost
any other metal, and so ductile
as to be capable of being beaten
out into leaves as thin as paper.
It is procured in Germany,
Saxony, England, South Amer-
ica, and the E;is* Indies. It
seems to have been kn^^n and
vised very early, beiii ft men-
tioned Numb. 31 : 22, and by
Homer i the Iliad. Its oret
frequently occur in granite
Tin ware,a,s it is called, is really
sheet-iron ware, washed with
tin, to prevent rust. In Isa. 1 :
25, the word is improperly put
for dross.
Tiph'sab, an important city
on the Euphrates, which consti-
tuted the extreme northern
boundary of Solomon's king-
dom. It is called in history
Thapsacus. I Kings 4 : 24.
Tire. The Targum and Tal-
mud, as well as Rabbi Jarchi,
interpret the word in Ezek. 24 :
7, of the phylacteries, or front-
lets, worn on the forehead. The
" round tires like the moon,"
mentioned Is. 3 : 18, were neck-
laces, such as were found upon
the necks of the Midianite kings,
and even on their camels. Jud.
8 : 21, 26. In the latter text
the same Hebrew word is called
chains which is here called tires
Tir'hakah, a king of Gush ;
called, in profane history,
Tearchon. 2 Kings 19 : 9.
Tir'shatha, a title of honor
bestowed on Nehemiah, thought
to be equivalent to commissioner
Ez. 2 : 63. Neh. 10 : 1.
Tirzall (literally pleasant), a
very beautiful city belonging
to the tribe of Ephraim. 1 Kiugf
14 : 17.
Tithes means TENTHS. The
early practice of giving a tenth
of income to religious purposes
seems to have bcon by divine
institution. Abram gave to
Alelcliiscdec, the Lord's priest,
the tenth of his spoils taken in
TIT
287
battle. Gen. 14 : 20. Jacob
dedicated to God the tenth of
his gain. Gen. 28 : 22. Many
of tne Greeks, Romans, and
other heathen, devoted the tenth
part of their incomes to the
service of their gods.
By the Jewish law, the tenth
of the product of corn, cattle,
<fcc., was assigned to the Levitcs.
Of what remained to the pro-
prietor, anotlier tithe was levied,
and, in value or kind, sent to
the service of the tabernacle
and temple, and the n..
thereof, at the solemn
On every third year a third tithe
was levied, for the use of the
Levites, and the fatherless,
widows and strangers. The Le-
vites paid to the priests the
tithe of what they received from
the people. Deut. 14 : 28. It
does not appear that the tithe
of small herbs was demanded.
The Pharisees, however, tithed
their mint, anise, cummin, and
rue ; but neglected weightier
things, as mercy, judgment, and
faith. Deut. 14 : 2229. Num.
18 : 20.
When we add the several
tenths which a Jew had to pay,
to the three journeys a year to
Jerusalem, the giving of all
" first fruits " and " first born,"
and the offering* required after
every sickness, or connection
with the sick, it is evident that
no one could be a good Jew
without expending on his re-
ligion af-otu half of all his earn-
ings.
ChrfctianHj if a higher and
holier system than Judaism It
takes not an eye for an eye, or
a tooth for a tooth, but return!
good for evil. It forbids not
adultery only, but the thought
of it ; not murder only, but all
wrath and malice. It excusei
us from an oppressive round of
ceremonies, but demands entire
consecration of life.
Christians, therefore, utterly
mistake the very genius of their
. when they are nig-
gardly in giving to the support
They are re-
quired to excel Jews in piety.
: 20. A tenth of gross
to be the
proportion that we should think
of giving, unless we are sup-
ported by charity. Many should
give a fourth, or the half, or
more ; and each should prayer-
fully determine his own propor-
tion, and give by fule. Let all
examine the New Testament on
:ut. If we hope for sal-
vation by the gospel, it must be
in conformity to the gospel.
Tittle, a minute point at-
to some of the characters
in the Hebrew alphabet. A
small circumstance. See JOT.
Titos seems to have been a
Greek, and one of Paul's early
converts. Of the time, place,
or manner of his death., we have
no certain account. Tradition
says he lived to the age cf
ninety-four years, and was
buried in Crete, where he had
been left by Paul. Tit. 1 : 5.
The EPISTLE TO TITUS is emi
nently valuable for its eluoi
TOM
288
TON
dations of the nature and duties
of the Christian ministry the
manner of accommodating our
exhortation to the characters of
the persons we address the
necessity of a minister's setting
an example of what he teaches
the doctrine of obedience to
civil rulers the necessity of
good works, and the proper
treatment of foolish questions
and heretics.
The epistle seems to have been
written from Ephesus, shortly
after Paul had visited Crete.
Ch. 1 : 6.
Tob. See SYRIA.
Togar'mah, the Hebrew name
for Armenia. The Armenians
consider themselves to be de-
scended from Torgom.
Tomb, a grave; a vault in
which dead bodies are placed;
to house or monument raised
aver a grave. When cupolas or
vaulted chambers were raised
over graves, they were generally
ten or twelve feet square, and
so might well afford lodging for
demoniacs. See Mark 6 : 5.
FORBES, in his " Oriental Me-
moirs," informs us that these
often afford shelter to the weary
traveller, and to robbers, who
sally forth from them to commit
their nocturnal depredations.
BUCKINGHAM speaks of seeing
old tombs occupied by families,
and, in one case, it was a car-
penter's shop. ROBINSON saw
one occupied by an Arab family
and their cattle ; the walls
blackened by smoke. He him-
self lodged in one large enough
to hold thirty people. The
graves of the poor were often
distinguished by some slight
stone or board, which, when it
fell, was not set up again, by
which means graves did not ap-
pear. Hence they could be
walked over unperceived. Luke
11 : 44. See SEPULCHRE.
Tongne. (1.) That member
by which we articulate sounds.
James 3 : 5. (2.) The language
spoken in any country. Deut.
28 : 49. There appears to have
been but one language till the
confusion of tongues at Babel.
The Hebrew tongue containi
more internal evidence of being
the same that God commune
cated to Adam than any other;
but is supposed to have under-
gone alterations, in the seriei
of BO many ages, from Adam
down to Mosep. The simplicity
of its construction ; the c
TOP
289
TOW
OOM nd energy of its expres-
sion ; its peculiar fertility ; the
relation it has to the most an-
cient Oriental languages, which
eeem to derive their origin from
it ; the etymology of the names
whereby the first of mankind
were called, which naturally
occurs in this language; the
names of animals, which are
often significant of their nature
and habits ; the most ancient
book, viz., the Old Testament,
being, for the most part, in this
language, <fcc., indicate that it
was the original language of
the human species.
Topaz, a gem obtained in vari-
ou? parts of the earth, generally
about the size of a pin's head.
Scarcely any exceed the sixth
part of an inch in diameter.
The most valuable topaz in the
world is that in p ssession of
the Great Mogul, said to weigh
137 carats, and to be worth
nearly a million of dollars. In
the mountains of Siberia are
found topazes of green and blue
colors. In Connecticut, which
is the principal locality for them
in the United States, they are
usually white'. Those from
Brazil are pink, and strongly
resemble the ruby.
Tophet, a drum or timbrel.
TKi name of a ( luce in the val-
ley of Ilinnom, called GEHENNA,
where the idolatrous J^ws burned
their children to Moloch. It
was called Tvphet, from the beat-
Ing of drums (toph being the He-
brew name of a drum), which
were used to drown the cries of
the infants sacrificed to the im
age. 2 Kings 23 : 10. In ordet
to disqualify this valley from
being a place of worship, and
thus the more thoroughly to
have Moloch discarded, Josiab
caused it to be a place for car-
casses which were refused burial,
and filth of every kind. 2 Kings
23 : 10. Jer. 19. From that
time it was universally abhorred
and abandoned to loathsome-
ness. In order to prevent the
pestilent influence of such a
place, perpetual fires were kept
burning there. Hence it grew
to be an image of hell ; and
ultimately the name Gehenna
was definitively applied to the
place of future and eternal pun-
ishment. See HINNOM.
Tormentors, agents of Jewish
courts of justice, whose duty
it was to execute sentences.
Matt. 18 : 34.
Tortois. It is the land tor-
toise that is mentioned in Scrip-
ture. It feeds on flowers and
lives longer than men,
and Las a wonderful power of
enduring the want of food. It
general size is from four to
eight inches long ; but in the
Isle of Madagascar, the Galli-
pagos, Ac., it attains five or six
times that size, covered with a
variegated shell, of great valne
in commerce, and much used for
ladies' combs, <fec. The word
occurs only Lev. 11 : 29.
Tower. (1.) A high stage
erected in cultivated fields, on
which a watchman was stationed
toward harvest to guard againir
TBA
290
TEA
thieves Jer. 6 : 27. (2.) A
fortified building to afford pro-
tection against enemies, or to
annoy them. 2 Kings 17 : 9.
To wit, an old expression,
meaning, " that is to say." 2
Cor, 6 : 19. We do you to
wit " meand, We give you to
understand. 2 Cor. 8:1.
Trachoai'tis, a district border-
ing the Holy Land to the north-
east. It is a craggy, moun-
tainous region, infested, during
the government of Philip, with
many robbers. Luke 3:1.
Tradition, a narrative or cere-
nony delivered from father to
Bon by word of mouth, without
any written memorial. The tra-
dition of the creation of the
world came down from Adam,
through five different lines, to
Noah ; and so directly as to
leave no chance for error. (1.)
Adam was coteinporary with
Enos C95 years, and Enos with
Noah 84 years. (2.) He was
cotemporary with Canaan 600
years, and Canaan with Noah
179 years. (3.) He was co-
temporary with Mahalaleel 535
years, and Mahalaleel with
Noah 224 years. (4.) He wad
cotemporary with Jared 4"iO
years, and Jared with Noal J66
years. (5.) He was cotempc^ary
with Methuselah 243 years, and
Methuselah with Noah COO
years. The generations from
Adam to the flood were eleven.
Of these, Adam was ootemporary
with nine, Seth with nine, Enos
ten, Canaan ten, Mahalaleel
ton, Jared ten, Enoch nine, Me-
thuselah eleven, Lameoh eleven,
Noah eight ; making aght$ mu
different channels !
Those traditions, for the ob-
servance of which the Scribei
and Pharisees so much con*
tended, were condemned by our
Saviour, as subversive of the
true intent of Scripture. Matt.
15 : 2, 3. The fifth command-
ment was so strangely perverted
that, according to them, a man
might give the surplus of his
estate as a religious gift to God,
and deny any support to his
parents when destitute of the
necessaries of life. Matt. 15 :
6. (See COBBAN.) These tra-
ditions became in time amazing-
ly numerous, and had regard to
the most trifling actions of life
About A. D. 190, they were col-
lected and written by the in
dustrious Rabbi Judah. He
called his work the MISHNA, or
second law. About one Sundred
years after, Rabbi Jochanaa
wrote a commentary on the Mish
na, which he called GEIJARA, 01
Perfection. The whole was called
the TALMUD, or Instruction.
About A. D. 500, the Babylonian
rabbins composed another Tal-
mud, written in a clearer style,
and not quite so full of absurd-
ities. It makes ten or twelve
large folio volumes ; but there
is an abridgment by Maimon-
ides, a distinguished Spanish
Jew, of the twelfth century
The Roman Catholics are fond
of traditions, and hold to many.
The word of God, however, is
our only guide in faith and
practice ; and whatever has no
warrant theie ought not to b
TRE
291
TRI
ftmsidered binding. Before the
New Testament was completed,
and while the apostles remained
to examine traditions, it was
proper for Christians to regard
such as were by them sanctioned.
2 Thess. 2 : 15. It would now
be hazardous to trust in them
At all ; and might be considered
M adding U the word of God.
Rev. 22 : 18.
Trance, that state of a per-
on's mind in whioh super-
natural things are revealed to
him. Paul was oast into a
trance. Acts 22 : 17. And eo
was Peter. Acts 10 : 10; 11 :
5, Ac.
Transfigure, is to change the
outward form. The word is
chiefly used in reference to the
supernatural change in the ap-
pearance of our Saviour on the
mount. The word occurs only
in Matt. 17 : 2, and Mark 9 : 2.
Translate now means to render
one language into another ; bat
its signification in Scripture if,
to transfer from one person or
place to another The word
and its derivatives are used five
times in the Bible, viz., 2 Sam.
3 : 10: Col. 1: 13; Heb. 11 : 5 ;
ic the latter verse thrice
Treasury, a place where pub-
lic money is kept or managed.
It was ihe name given to that
part of *he Jewish temple where
rtocd tne chests for collecting
the voluntary contributions of
the people ; over which wore
the chambers for depositing the
acred stores. Jo-ih. G:19. Jer
38: 11. Matt 27 6 Luke
21 : 1. JohnS : 20. Themoay
collected in these chests was ap-
propriated to the purchase of
fuel for the altar, salt, Ac.
Trees are useful, some for
fuel, some for timber, some for
medicine, some for dyeing, some
for fruit, Ao. The Scripture
mentions the palm, shittah, bay.
cedar, chestnut, almond, willow,
cypress, pine, ebony, almug or
algum, oak, teil, apple, ash, elm,
juniper, box, fir, oil, olive, cit-
ron, balsam, pomegranate, fig,
sycamore, sycamine, poplar,
thyine, and mulberry. Trees in
Palestine generally put forth
their foliage in the month of
January, when the old leaves
of many trees are not fallen off
The first blossoms are tho.se of
the almond tree. Jesus CLrisl
is called the " tree of life," be-
cause by partaking of his ful-
ness we attain life everlasting
Rev. 22 : 2. Christians are called
" trees of righteousness," be-
cause like Christ, and yielding
benefits to men. Ps. 1 : 3.
Tribe, a division of people
The tribes of Israel were tb<?
descendants of Jacob's sons
Jacob blessed both Manassel
and Ephraiin, Joseph's sons
which made thirteen tribes, ana
yet no tribe of Joseph. The land
of promise, however, was div ided
only into twelve portions, be-
cause the tribe of Lew, w,ts to
be supported by tithes. There
being twelve tribes who each
paid the Levites a tenth of every-
thing, their condition was more
easy than the other tribes. Thi
TRO
292
TRU
49*9 assert, though without very
gatisfactory proof, that each
tribe had its appropriate banner,
as follows :
Judah, a Lion couching, Gen. 49: 9.
Issachar, an Ass, " 14.
Zebulou, a Ship, " 13.
Reuben, a Man, " 3.
Simeon, a Sword, " " 6.
Gad, a Lion, Deut. 33 : 22.
Ephraim, a Unicorn, ' 17.
Manasseh, a Bull, " " 17.
Benjamin, a Wolf, Gen. 49 : 27.
Dan, a Serpent, " " 17.
Asher, a Sheaf of wheat," " 20.
Naphtali, a Hind, " " 21.
The division of a people into
tribes is still prevalent among
the Arabs, Bedouins, Berbers,
Moors, Scotch, American In-
dians, &o.
Tribute, money paid as a
tax. Our Saviour, Matt. 22: 17,
shows clearly that religion does
not exempt men from civil
duties ; and the apostle Paul
recommends to faithful chris-
tians to pay according to law.
Rom. 13 : 7. See PUBLICANS.
Troas, a city of Mysia, near
the mouth of the Hellespont,
four miles from the famous
TROY, and built chiefly with
materials from its ruins. The
celebrated siege and capture of
Troy occurred, according to Sir
Isaac Newton, about 904 y-va
0. c., or during the reign of j e-
hoshaphat. Paul often preached
at Troas, lodging with one Car-
pus. Acts 16 : 8; 20 : 512.
2 Tim. 4 : 13. A Christian
church long existed here, but it
is now extinct, and the place
lies in ruins.
Trogyllinin, a cape whiah
formed a bay about five miles
from Samoa, where the vassel
in which Paul sailed to Maoe*
donia made an anchorage for ft
night. Acts 20 : 15.
Trow, to think, or suppose ;
to believe ; to trust. Luke 17 : 9.
Trumpet, an instrument of
loud music, still in common use.
It was originally made of the
horn of a ram or ox, and sub-
sequently of metal. The bugle
is a modern improvement of
this instrument. On that new
moon festival which commenced
the Jewish civil year, that is,
the first day of Tizri, was held
the Feast of Trumpets. Lev. 23.
Num. 29. See FEAST
Trust, confidence in any per-
son or thing. To trust in man
is both sinful and vain. Jer.
17 : 5. Trust in God should be
sincere, Prov. 3:5,6; unreserved,
1 Pet. 5:7; steadfast, Isa. 26 :
4; and cheerful, Mic. 7 : 7. Such
as trust God are safe, Ps. 125 :
1; courageous, Ps. 27 : 1 3; and
serene, Ps. 26 : 3.
Truth, the positive matter of
fact, contrary to falsehood.
Moral truth is the conformity
of words and actions to the
thoughts of the heart ; as when
a man speaks what he thinks,
and is in reality what he seems
to be. It is taken for the true
principles of religion, the true
doctrine of thr gospel ; and
Jesus Christ, being the Author,
is emphatically styled " the
Truth," because he is the sub-
stance of all the types. John
14: 6.
TWI
298
TYP
TnrtW-dOYC, a well-known
bird, often mentioned in Scrip-
ture.
In Ps. 74 : 19, it seems that
by ^ being written f<.
error very t , turtlr-
dove has occurred in--
" con/V.
cordingly stands in the
gint and Syriac \
deliver not the soul of him that
confesseth thee unto the multi-
tude of the wicked."
This bird, being common and
cheap in Palestine, v,
usual offering of very poor per-
sons : a fact which illustrates
tha humble condition of i/ie
Virgin Alary, who offered a pair
of them at her purification, in-
stead of a lamb.
Twilight, the light which con-
tinnes after the sun has set, and
commences before it rises. 1
Sam. 30 : 17. Prov. 7 : 9. This
h caused by the atmosphere,
which, being thicker tha-. the
space between it and tht, son,
bends down or refracts the rays
of light, and even makes the
fun itself appear when it is Lo-
neath the horizon. In the north-
ern part* of Scotland, the sun
25*
sets but for a short time In th
rewmer, and the twilight will
enable a person to read even at
midnight. Near the poles, twi-
light continues for several weeks
together, without the sun's
rising. It then rises and ghinei
uninterruptedly the whole sum-
mer. Then the twilight of ser-
eral weeks recurs, and after-
ward the sun sets, to be seen n6
more till the next summer.
Typ 5 a person or thing, pre-
figuring something relative to
Christ or his church. These
were numerous, as none of them
could fully point out its anti
typo ; and were a kind of rra.
T things to come,
as those uttered by the prophets
'/'//. There were typical
persons, as Ad m, Noah, Mol-
chisedec, Isaac, Aaron, Joshua,
David, Solomon, Jonah ; typical
classes of persons, as Israelites,
first-born males, kinsmen-re-
deemers, Naiarites, high
typical things, as Noah's ark,
Jacob's ladder, the burning bush,
the cloudy pillar, the water of
Marah, the manna, the pool of
Bethesda, the deliverance of th
Hebrews from Egypt, their pas-
sage through the sea, their
travels in tho wilderness, their
entrance into Canaan, their wan
with the heathens, Ac. The
typical institutions were circum-
cision, sanctificatiou of fruit-
trees, offering no base things to
God, exclusion from the con-
gregation of the Lord, wearing
proper apparel, avoiding mixed
garments, sowing mingled seed,
TYB
294
TYE
ploughing with oxen and asses,
tendernesa to beasts, not muz-
cling the treading ox, Ao. The
typical places were Canaan, the
cities of refuge, Jerusalem,
Zion, the tabernacle, and the
temple. The typical utensil*
were the ark, the pot of manna,
the table of shew-bread with ita
loaves, the golden altar of in-
cense, the golden candlestick,
the silver trumpets, the brazen
laver and sea, the brazen altar,
Ac. The typical offerings were
the burnt, the sin, the trespass,
peace, and meat offerings, the
drink-offerings, the anointing
oil, ransom-money, tithes, first-
fruits, things voluntarily de-
voted, the ram caught in the
thiaket, Ac. The typical sea-
sons-were the time of the daily
sacrifices, the Sabbath, the feast
of new moons, tho passover and
feast of unleavened bread, Pen-
tecost, the feast of trumpets,
the feast of tabernacles, the
year of release, and the jubilee,
Ac, The typical purifications
were from the defilement of un-
holy things, from childbirth,
leprosy, infection by dead bodies,
Ac. To him that discerns the
evangelical signification of these
various types, the narratives of
the Old Testament are not a dry
history, but appear replenished
with the most useful instructions
concerning our Saviour and his
body the chnrch.
Tyre, a vsry ancient city,
possessing, for many ages, as-
tonishing enterprise and wealth.
IM. 23 : 8. It was founded by
the Sidonians, about 240 yean
before the erection of Solomon'*
temple ; for Sidon being con-
quered by the Philistines, many
of the people, escaping in ships,
established themselres at Tyre-
Hence it it> called by Isaiah,
"Daughter of Sidon." It was at
first built four furlongs from the
shore, on an island, but spread
itself upon the opposite land.
The period of its greatest
prosperity seems to have been
about B. c. 600, when it was
described by Ezekiel, ch. 27.
After a siege of thirteen years
by Nebuchadnezzar, B. c. 537,
it was overcome and ravaged.
The insular city flourished for
200 years, when Alexander
stormed and took it, having with
this intent built a causeway to
it, out of the ruins of the old
town. After many other changes,
it at last fell under the Romans.
It was the emporium of com-
merce and the arts. Their ships
found the way even to England,
whence, among other things,
they brought tin from the mines
at Cornwall. Its kings swayed
a powerful sceptre, and their
colonies were scattered over all
tho Mediterranean.
The chief deities of the plao
were Hercules and Astartt It
belonged to the tribe of J*\cr,
but was never wholly subdued.
About A. D. 200, it was sacked
by Niger, emperor of Rome.
After this it flourished 500 years,
under the Seljukian Turks, was
then taken by the crusaders, and
desolated A r. 1289, by thf
UNB
295
UNO
sultan of Egypt. It was seized
by the Ottomin Turks, A. D.
1516, who are to this day mas-
ters of all thit country. The
predictions of Isaiah and Eze-
kiel, that this city, for its wick-
edness, should be utterly de-
stroyed, and which were uttered
when it was in all its glory, have
been most severely fulfilled.
Isa. 33. Ezek. 26, 28. For a
long time it was utterly desolate,
but at length revived a little,
and was of some importance
during the Crusades, and was
strongly fortified. In 1837 it
nas almost destroyed by an
earthquake. MATWDRELL found
only a few miserable inhabit-
ants, subsisting chiefly by fish-
ing. A village adjacent then
bore the name. There is now
a considerable village built
among the ruins ; the popula-
tion of which Mr. Jowett esti-
mates at about 1,500. Mr
Connor reckons them at double
that number. It is now called
S'Awr or Zur t which was also iti
most ancient name, and from
which ' the whole country wai
called STRIA.
Tythefc See TITHES.
TJ.
rial, a branch of the Euphra-
tes, on the banks of which Dan-
iel had his famous vision. Dan.
4. It is called in Greek authors
Choas'pe*. Its present name id
Unbelief, infidelity, or a dis-
trust of any narrative, person,
or doctrine. Unbelief of God's
holy word is a universal sin in
the world. It is the cause of
disobedience to his commands ;
and that man will be eternally
condemned over whom It shall
finally prevail. Matt. 13 : 68.
It is a dreadful crime, as it
inakes God a liar, rejects Jesus
and his whole salvation. ~M is
the root of all other sins lln-
belief is either negative, in such
as have not heard the gospel,
%f ic the heaven, 1 Cor. 6 6 ;
2 Cor. 6 : 14 ; or positive, as in
those who, though they hear
the gospel, and profess to re-
gard it, yet believe not with
their hearts. Luke 12 : 46.
Tit. 1 : 15. Unbelief is either
with respect to a particular dec-
laration of God ; as when Zacha-
rias discredited God's promise
of a son to him, Luke 1 : 20 ;
or universal, having respect to
the whole declarations of God.
It is either partial, importing
some degrees of distrust, Mark
9 24 ; or total, where there if
no trust at all 1 Tim. 1 : 13.
Unclean. Persons or things
are unclean, (1.) Naturally; as
dunghills, or hateful animals
are unclean. Rev. 18 : 2. (2.)
Ceremonially ; as persoru rho
tc-iohed dead bodies, Ao. A
UNI
296
great number of beasts were
thus unclean. Nuinb. 19 Lev.
11, 16. (3.) In scrupulous
opinion ; so some meats were
reckoned unclean by the prkf"
tive Christians. Rom. 14 : 1
(4.) Morally ; being polluted
with sin ; so devils are " un
clean spirits." Matt 10 : 1
Undeanness means lewdness
Rom. 1 : 24.
Uncover, to remove a cover
ing, as a veil, from the head.
For females so to do in public
assemblies was considered, in
Eastern countries, highly im-
modest. 1 Cor. 11 : 5.
Unicorn, a fierce and power-
ful animal, often mentioned in
Scripture. It is generally
thought to mean the rhinoceros,
which has a strong horn between
its forehead and nose, with
which it rips up trees into splin-
ters for food. Some have thought
that the buffalo was the true
unicorn. The pictures which
represent the unicorn in the
form of a horse, with a horn in
its forehead, have generally
been thought fictitious ; but I
am fully persuaded that such an
animal exists in Africa. Many
sculptures on the ruins of Per-
epolis exhibit it. Pliny de-
scribes it as very fierce, resem-
bling a horse, and with a horn
Of three feet, projecting from
the centre of its forehead. Bar-
toma, a Roman traveller, in
1630, saw two of these animals
at Mecca, kept as great curiosi-
ties, which had been received
from Ethiopia Father Lobo
saw unicorns in Abyssinia in
1720. The Hottentots informed
Dr. Sparman, in 1776, that
horses, with oaie horn in their
forehead, were sometimes seen.
The Quarterly Review of Oct.
1820, gives an account of uni-
corns, seen by Frazier in Thibet.
It is there called tsopo. It goe*
in herds. Its hoofs are round,
like those of a horse, but clo-
ven. The camelopard was long
regarded by naturalists as a
fictitious animal ; it has, how-
ever, been discovered by modern
travellers, and brought to Eu-
rope alive.
Upharsin, one of tbe Chaldee
words written on the wall at
Belshazzar's feast, which signi-
fies dividing. Why none of the
Chaldean astrologers and learned
men could read these words,
Dan. 6 : 7, is not now known.
Perhaps being all written as one
word, they could not rightly
divide the letters, or, possibly,
only the initial letters of the
words might have been written.
PERES, which is used for this
word in Daniel's interpretation,
h. 6 : 28, is the singular of
Pharsinj the letter U, put be-
fore the latter word, answering
to our word and.
Ur, an ancient city of Chaldea,
or Mesopotamia, where Terah
and Abraham dwelt. Gen. 15 :
7. Mr. Layard has a ade many
nteresting discoveries here. He
thinks it was a holy city, the
region round being a vast ne-
cropolis. In the excavation!
f Assyria be found no coffin* ;
CRI
297
UZ
but here " there were thousands
apon thousands." The present
name is Urka, or Wwka.
Crim and THUMMIM, literally,
Kghts and perfections, mentioned
Ex. 28 30, and Lev. 8:8. It
seems probable that they were
the twelve precious stones of
the high priest's breast-plate ;
on which were engraven the
names of the tribes of Israel ;
and that the letters, by standing
out, or by an extraordinary
illumination, marked such words
as contained the answer of God
to hin^ who consulted this or-
acle. Many learned men are
of opinion that the answer was
given in an audilue voice from
the Shechinah, or that bright-
ness which always rested be-
tween the cherubim over the
mercy-seat. Ps. 80 : 1, and 90 :
1. When the Urim and Thum-
mim were to be consulted, the
high priest put on his golden
vestment, and went into the
sanctuary, standing with his
face toward the holy of holies.
The Urim and Thummim wore
never consulted in matters of
faith, as in these the Jews had
the written law for their rule ;
nor in matters of small moment;
but in case of doubtful duty in
reference to providence and cir-
cumstances, is one but priests,
rulers, or prophets, were allowed
to use the Urim and Thi
1 Sam. 22 : 10.
Usury, among the Jews, meant
the customary price paid for th
use of money. The word now
means extortionate and unlawful
interest. The law of nature
forbids not the receiving of in-
terest for the loan of money,
any more than the taking of
rent fur houses. As the Jewi
had very little concern in trade,
and therefore only borrowed in
cases of necessity, and as their
system was calculated to estab-
lish every man's inheritance to
his own family, they were pro-
hibited to take usury from their
brethren of Israel, at 1
they were poor. Ex. 22 : 25.
Lev. 25 : 3537. They were
allowed to lend money upon
usury to strangers. Deut. 23 :
20.
Uz. (1.) The grandson of
Shem. Gen. 10 : 23. (2.) A
Horite. Gen. 36 : 28. (3.) The
country of Job, the situation of
which has called forth rnucL
learned labor. Calmet, who
thinks Job is the Jobab men'
tioned Gen. 36 : 33, places it in
Moab. Good, in the preface to
his commentary on Job, insists,
with large an ay of proof,
th.it it was in Arabia Petrea,
fcnd was the same which aftr.
ward was called Idumea
VAI
298
VAN
V.
Vail, or VEIL, whatever hides
Anything from being seen. The
vail which divided the holy of
holies from the holy place, in
the Jewish taber-
nacle, was a type of
the human nature
of Christ, and also
of the separation
between the Jews
and Gentiles ; but
was rent in twain at
our Saviour's death,
and the separation
is now removed by
the preaching of the
gospel to the Gen-
tiles. Heb. 10 : 20.
Eph. 2 : 14. Matt.
27 : 51. The vail of
ignorance, blindness, and hard-
ness of heart, which kept the
Jews from understanding the
spiritual sense and meaning
of the law, caused them to
crucify the Saviour, resist the
introduction of the new cove-
nant, and reject tb.3 gospel light,
ia still a hinderance to the ex-
tension of the Redeemer's king-
dom John 9 : 39. 2 Cor. 3 :
14, 15 Women disgraced them-
selves by appearing in public
without a vail, 1 Cor. 11 : 3
10 ; especially, perhaps, as it
was the chief and almost the
only difference between the
dress of women and men In
Syria, Egypt, Ac., these slose
vails are still worn. To lift up
a woman's vail was a gross in-
tuit ; much more to take it
away. See Caut. 5 : 7. (8
POWEB.)
There were various forms ot
the vail ; some covered th
whole perse n, others only the
bust. They were by no means
so transparent as those now
commonly worn, but entirely
concealed the face. That of
Ruth was strong as well as large
enough to hold six measures of
barley. Ruth 3 : 15. The vail
was, and is still, so adjusted as
to expose one eye, that the
woman may see to go about ;
which explains Cant. 4 : 9
When alone, or in the country,
they lay aside the vail, but drop
it at the approach of a stranger;
as Rebecca did on meeting
Isaac.
Valley of Hinnom. See To-
PHET.
Vanity, emptiness. The term
is applied in Scripture to th
world, as unsatisfactory, Ecol
VAP
209
VIN
I ; 1 ; to idola, Deut. 32 21 ;
J Kings 17 : 15 ; Jer. 14 : 22 ;
Acts 14. : 15, and very many
other places ; to mean deceit-
fulnes,", Ps. 4:2; to whatever
disappoints our hopes, Ps. 60 :
II ; to iniquity, Ps. 119 : 37.
Vapor, water combined with
so much heat as to cause it to
rise in a gaseous form. Its
expansive force is greater than
even that of gunpowder, and the
moderns have discovered the art
of making it eminently useful
in propelling engines for boats,
factories, mines, Ac. The steam
engine is the noblest aid ever
contrived by human ingenuity.
By its means a single bushel of
coal can do the work of ten
horses for one hour.
Vapor raised by the sun is
held by the air, till it accumu-
lates in clouds, and by electric-
ity, or some unexplained cause,
descends in rain. Ps. 135 : 7.
Vapor is a wonderful evidence
of the wisdom and goodness of
God. Jer. 10 : 13, and 51 : 16.
By evaporation we obtain rain,
mist, dow, <tc. By its constantly
passing from the human body,
man is enabled to sustain the
heat of every climate. By the
extraction of vapors from the
earth, the air is cooled and made
refreshil" ^ Without evapora-
tion, grain nd grass couli not
oe cured for use, clothes could
not be dried, if washed. In
fine, a great variety of common
operations on which our com-
fort depends, oould not be per-
formed. The occasional drying
winds of Afric fc carry wilb them
terror and death. See WIND
Well does David, therefore, rep
resent the vapor as praising
God, and "fulfilling his word."
Ps. 148 : 8. Human life is com-
pared, for frailty and transitori-
ness, to a vapor. James 4 : 14.
Verily, truly. When spoken
twice at the beginning of a re-
mark, it denotes a strong and
solemn affirmation.
Vestment, a word which oc-
curs in Scripture only in 2 Kings
10 : 22, and there means the
sacred robes of pagan priests
The vestry was the place where
they lay, and were put oS and
. A vesture is chiefly an up-
per robe. Deut. 22 : 12. Christ's
having his " vesture dipped in
blood," and inscribed with this
name, " King of kings, and Lord
of lords," imports that in con-
quering and destroying his ene-
mies, he mightily shows hit
sovereign power and dominion.
Rev. 19 : 13, 16. See RAIMENT.
Vetches. See FITCHES.
VIL See CENSKII.
Vine, one of the most promi-
nent productions of Canaan, and
flourishing best in the lot of
Judah, which contained the
mountains of Engedi, and the
valleys of Eshcol and Soreft,
Gen. 49 : 11. At the present
day, a single cluster from those
vines will often weigh twelve
pounds; ant*. %s the whole coun-
try is now Comparatively neg-
lected and barren, it is probable
they once were much larger
VIN
800
VIN
Hence the spies, to avoid bruis-
ing the fine specimens they
brought to Moses, hung them on
pole, borne by two men. The
grapes of Egypt being small
and poor, we can easily imagine
the surprise of Joshua and the
other messengers when they
found such grapes. Profane
authors speak of the excellent
wines of Gaza, Sarepta, Libanus,
Baron, Ascalon, and Tyre. Bo-
chart says a triple produce is
gathered from the same vine
every year. Notwithstanding
the very depressed condition of
Canaan, it even now exports
rast quantities of grapes, raisins,
and inspissated grape-juice (or
honey of raisins, as it is called),
into Egypt.
The vine of Sodom grows near
the Dead Sea. Its grapes are
bitter, and considered poisonous.
Moses compares rebellious Is-
rael to this plant. Deut. 32 :
32.
Wild Grapes were the fruit of
A wretched plant, called by LIN-
N.fiU8 vitis labrusca. They were
good only for vinegar. See Isa.
6 : 24 ; Jer. 2 : 21.
Sitting under vines was, and
is still, common in the East,
where the houses are often
small, and the weather warm.
Gen. 18 : 8 Jud. 6 : 19. Zeoh.
$ : 10. A period of security
and repose is indicated by every
one sitting under his own ~ine.
Vinegar, an acid commonly
derived from saccharine fer-
mented liquors. When distilled
it becomes colorless, and is in
creased in strength. It seen*
that sour wine was called vino
gar. Thus Matthew says, " they
gave him vinegar to drink,
mingled with gall ;" whereas
Mark tells us, " they gave him
to drink wine mingled with
myrrh." Boaz told Ruth that
she might partake of the vinegar
provided for his harvesters. Dr.
A. CLARKE says, " It was a com-
mon custom to administer a
stupefying potion, compounded
of sour wine, frankincense, and
myrrh, to condemned persons,
to alleviate their sufferings ; or
so to disturb their intellect that
they might not be sensible of
them." The rabbins grounded
this on Prov. 31 : 6. Our Lord,
of course, refused such aid. By
his first tasting, before refusing
it, we may infer, that if it had
been merely adapted to quench
thirst, it would not have been
refused. Laborers in harvest
refreshed themselves with this
weak wine, or vinegar. Ruth
2: 14.
Vineyard, a piece of ground
planted with vines. The vine-
yard was prepared with great
care, the stones being gathered
out, a secure fence made rouud
it, and a scaffold, or high sum-
mer-house, built in the centre,
where, as the fruit ripened, a
watchman was stationed, and
where there was always shelter
for the workmen at their meals,
and a suitable place to keep th*
tools. Isa. 5 : 17. Matt ')
VIS
801
VOW
13. This was, of course, de-
aertod at other seasons of the
rear. See Isa. 1 : 8.
Viper, a serpent which brings
forth its young alive, and not,
as is generally the case, by eggs.
Et seldom exceeds eighteen
inches in length. There is no
creature more malignant and
venomous ; the bite of some
species produces death in a few
hours. See Job 20 : 1G. Isa.
SO : 6. HARRIS is sure that the
44 cockatrice," mentionei Isa.
59 : 5, is a viper.
Virgin. (1.) A virtuous un-
oiarried woman. Isa. 7 :. 14.
(2.) The word is often used for
a nation or people. Isa. 47 : 1.
Lam. 2 : 13. (3.) The people
of God are often spoken of un-
der this term. Matt. 25 : 1.
Rev. 14 : 4.
Papists make it a great point
to insist that the mother of our
Lord was always a virgin ; which
is absurd.
Virtue, energy to produce an
effect ; courage, 2 Pet. 1 : 3
5 ; holiness of heart and life.
The latter is now its more com-
mon signification, but in denn-
ing it writers are not agreed.
Some define it " universal be-
nevolence ;" others " the imita-
tion of God ;" others " a wise
regard to our own interest ;"
others u moral goodness. ' We
may say, it means in general
whatever is opposed to Hoe.
Phil. 4 : 8
Vision, a supernatural ap-
pearance of men and things to
the mind of a person not asleep.
26
Acts 9 : 10. 2 Cor. 12 : 1. Thw
has God often shown his people
what eye had not seen, nor ear
heard. See DREAM.
Vocation, the gracious act of
God, by which, through hi*
word, he calls sinnors out of the
bondage of the world into the
liberty of the gospel *nd the
fellowship of Christ. Matt. 11
28. 2 Tim. 1 : 9, Ac.
Voice, in general, signifies
any kind of noise, whether made
by animals or things. God'i
voice is, (1.) The thunder
which loudly declares his ex
istence and providence. Ps. 29.
(2.) His laws, teaching, and
s ; in which he declares
his will to men. Ex. 15 : 26.
(3.) His providences, wherein
he publishes his own excellences,
awakens us from our stupidity,
and calls us to our duty. Mio.
6 : 9. Am. 1:2. To mark
John Baptist as not the true
Messiah, but a proclaimer of
his appearance, he is called a
voice. Isa. 40 : 1.
Volume. See BOOK.
Vow, a sacred promise, made
to God, to leave off some sin,
or to perform some duty. Gen.
28 : 20. A general vow of
evangelical obedience is made
at baptism. The word is now
usec in an inferior sense to sig-
nifj an oath, or solemn assur-
ance to a person.
The use of vows and prom? set
is very observable in Scripture,
from the earliest times. Gea.
28 : 22. The Mosaic law gave
distinct roles for their
WAL
802
WAN
lion. The vows of children were
not valid, except ratified by
parents, Numb. 30 ; nor those
of a wife, except known and
unforbidden by the husband.
A common mode of uttering
voirs was, " God do so to me,
and more also, if," &t Se
COBBAN.
future, a species of eagle,
belonging to the order acctpitar
It is of great rapacity, and feeda
on carrion. Lev. 11 : 14. It if
called the glede, Beat. 14 ; 13.
W.
Wafer means in Scripture a
flat cake, used in Jewish wor-
ship. Ex. 29 : 2. Lev. 2 : 4,
and 7 : 12. Numb. G : 19.
Wages. See REWARD.
Wagon. The Hebrew word so
translated is also in some places
rendered cart. Numb. 7:3.
Waiters, in the East, while
attending their masters, are sel-
dom spoken to, but are governed
by motions of the hand ; es-
pecially when waiting on the
table. Servants therefore stand
and watch every motion of their
master's hand. See Ps. 123 : 2.
Wailing for the dead is pur-
sued as a profession in Egypt
and some Eastern countries. Dr.
Smith, in 1852, describes the
women so employed in Egypt,
as shouting and weeping with
most violent appearance of emo-
tion. They had mud on their
faces and bosoms, and seemed
in a perfect agony. See MOURN-
ING.
Walk, to move by leisurely
steps. It is ofteoi used in Scrip-
ture to denote conversation and
marmr of life ; and to walk in
darkness is to live in a course of
ignorance and sin ; to walk in tht
light, is to live in the ways of
truth and holiness ; to walk by
faith, is to rely upon Christ for
salvation, and to live in the
firm belief that the promises of
the word will be fulfilled and
accomplished ; to walk through
the fire, Isa. 43 : 2, is to be exer-
cised with many afflictions ; to
walk after the flesh, is to be guided
by the sensual appetites, or dic-
tates of corrupt nature ; to walk
in the flesh, is to live a natural
life ; that is, subject to many
infirmities and calamities ; to
walk with God, is to live in secret
communion with him, and en-
deavoring above all things to
please him, and to be approved
of him ; to walk after the Spirit,
is to be led by his counsels and
motions to order our whole con-
versation according to the rule
of God's word.
Wandering, a term applied to
the journeys of Israel through
the desert. Dr. Robinson, in
hif late tour, visited some of
the places where the Hebrew*
encamped, and found every fe.v
803
WAS
ture of the country tc corre-
spond with the Bible account
Bee WILDERNESS.
War, a contest of nations
carried on by force. War inva-
riably originates m the wicked
passions of men. Jam. 4 : 1
3. Luke 2 : 14. It is an awful
mass of evils and crimes, and
has been permitted by a right-
eous God to scourge the nations
whose lusts drive them to its
perpetration. Murder, robbery,
Sabbath-breaking, violation of
chastity, neglect of every do-
mestic duty, waste of treasure,
pride, revenge, jealousy, and
stratagem, are the natural and
necessary fruits of war.
The implements of war have
been constantly becoming more
deadly. The inventory of Uz-
ziah's arsenal was " shields,
spears, helmets, habergeons,
bows, and slings." Afterward
he invented machines to shoot
stones from the ramparts. 2
Chron. 26. About 100 years
after, we find battering rams
wer used. Ezek. 4 : 2. How
different are the present modes
of attack and defence ! What
misdirected ingenuity and sci-
*nce have been employed in
rendering man a more dreadful
destroyer ! God commanded the
Hebrews to destroy the Canaan-
ites ; but the wicked wvs of
the world derive no authority
from that circumstance The
Jewish wars may fairly be oon-
idered in the light of execu-
tions. At any rate, there was
txpress divine command, which
will not be pleaded foi any
modern war.
Christ is the Prince of
peace ;" his doctrines inculcate
"peace on earth;" and when
his kingdom shall universally
prevail, " the nations shall leirn
war no more." Christians should
therefore be men of peace, and
should use all proper exertion!
to banish war in all its forma
from the earth. Matt. 5 : 9.
Rom. 12: 18. Peace societiei
have of late done much to en
lighten the public mind on this
weighty subject. It is certain
that before we can have the full
millennium, wars must a
The struggle iu a Christian's
bosom, between the powers of
grace and nature, is called a
warfare, Rom. 7 : 23 ; and a per-
severance in this contest, doing
our duty among all difficulties,
is " fighting the good fight of
faith." 1 Tim. 0:12.
Wash, to bathe, or purify
The Jews washed before eating,
as they used their hands instead
of knives and forks. Mark 7 :
3. KITTO says that when some
* remarked that our
Lord ate with uuwashen hands,
they did not mean that he did
not at all wash the hands, bat
that he did not plunge them ac-
cording to their own practice.
Strangers and travellers had
heir feet washed by a servant.
jFor the master of the house to
do it was esteemed the greatest
condescension. John 13 : 8.
No Jew entered a house with-
( ut removing his shoes or san.
WAT
804
WAT
Jala ; nor do Orientals to this
day. We see the propriety of
this when we consider that
chairs not being used, all sat
upon the floor, which, therefore,
must be kept very clean.
Washing of feet. From what
is said above, and other reasons,
this is not a Christian ordinance,
to continue in the church. It was
an act of hospitality, Gen. 18 : 4 ;
Jud. 19: 21; appropriate at the
time, but now, at least in Euro-
pean countries, and in America,
no longer useful, and of course
no longer required, either by
hospitality or humility. But we
must be very careful to study
and practise the lesson our Lord
teaches, John 13 : 4 15, or we
shall bring a snare and great
guilt upon our souls. Affection-
ate attention and lowly services
to our fellow-christians, are in-
dispensable to a correct Chris-
tianity.
Wash-pot, a word applied to
Moab, to show a determination
to bring that people to the low-
est degree of servitude, even as
a vessel in which the hands or
feet are washed. Pa. 60 : 8.
Compare 2 Sam. 8 : 2.
Watch, a guard ; the period
that a g-uard kept watch. The
night was anciently divided by
the Jews into three watches ;
the first, Lam. 2 : 19, the middle.,
Jud 7 : 19, and the morning
watch, Ex 14 24. Thie 3-vis-
ion is also mentioned by bonier,
Livy, Xenophon, <fco. In the
time of Christ, the night was
livkiid by Jews into fiur
watches, which was then tb
common practice of the Greek*
and Romans. The second and
third of these divisions are men-
tioned Luke 12 : 38 ; the fourth
Afott. 14 : 25, and all of them
Mark 13 : 35. These watches
differed according to the length
of the night, which in Palestine
varies from fourteen hours
twelve minutes to nine houra
forty-eight minutes.
The practice of having watch-
men patrol cities in the night
was of very ancient origin ; as
we see from Isa. 21 : 5 ; Sol.
Song 3 : 3, and 5 : 7, &o.
Watchful, vigilant to guard
against dangers. Watchfulness
is often and urgently inculcated
upon Christians. We must be
watchful against the temptations
of Satan, Horn. 10 : 12 ; the
allurements of the world, Pa.
39 : 1 ; Mark 8 : 15 ; the deceit-
fulness of our hearts, Heb. 3 :
12 ; erroneous doctrines ; and,
in short, against whatever would
hinder our piety and usefulness.
We are to watch for the teach-
ings of Providence, Ps. 5:8;
the fulfilment of prophecies,
Rev. 16 : 15 ; righteous deliver-
ance from trouble, Ps. 130 ;
proper topics, spirit, and seasons
of prayer, Eph. 6 : 18 r death
and judgment, Mark 13 : 37.
ffater occupies a large por-
tion of the globe. Moisture
raised by the sun, in the form
of vapor, being carried about
in the air, and meeting in a col-
lective mass, produces clouds,
and falls dovn in dew or rtin,
WAT
905
WAT
More rain falls on high than on
low ground, and the water en-
tering through crevices on the
hills, and finding its way through
the earth to the surface, pro-
duces springs. The streams of
these uniting, form brooks,
which unite into rivers ; and
After adding to the beauty of
the country, and accomplishing
very many useful purposes,
empty themselves into the sea.
Water is 816 times heavier
than common air ; a pint of it
weighs a pound, and a cubic
foot about 1000 ounces, or 62}
pounds. Ice is crystal-
ized water ; and by a
remarkable exemption
from the common laws
of heat, becomes lighter
as it grows colder. In
this are strikingly ex-
emplified the wisdom
and goodness of God.
Dreadful would have
been the consequences
if, like other fluids, water
had grown heavier by
loss of heat. In winter,
the ice on the surface of
rivers would have sunk
as it froze, in successive
sheets, until the whole
would have become a
mass of ice, which no
Bummer could thaw ; and the
world would have become unin-
habitable. As it now is, no
sooner is a crust of ice formed,
than the water beneath is pro-
tected from further cold ; fisres
are safe, water abundant, and
the moderate warmth of spring
26*
unbinds the stream. Such kf
the wonderful work? of Him,
who, in infinite wisdom, and by
almighty power, created th
heavens and the earth.
In the East, streams of water
are not common, except in Pal-
estine, and some few other parts.
Gardens and fields are watered
with great labor, without a drop
of rain for months. The plan
in Burmah for doing this, is
given in my " Travels in Asia.**
The Egyptian mode is shown
below, from two of their own
pictures. The upper figures ar
dipping up, to carry to houses.
We have in this country littl
idea of the value of water to
those who dwell ooder an ardent
sun, and bave at rain for six
months in a year. It was often
paid for in ancient days, Numb.
20 : 1719 ; Lam. 5:4: wrf
WAY
806
WEE
inch c< ntinues to be the custom
to this day. Great expense was
incurred in constructing reser-
voirs in large cities, and pools,
wells, Ac., <fcc., in farming dis-
tricts.
Water, when disturbed, sig-
nifies troubles and afflictions.
PB. 69 : 1. But flowing in all
the plenitude and beauty of
usefulness, it represents the
gifts and comforts of the Holy
Spirit. Isa. 12 : 3 ; 35 : 6, 7.
John 7 : 37, 38. In Scripture,
Crater ia used for all sorts of
drink, as bread is for all kinds
of solid food.
Water-courses are either the
beds of rivers, wherein they
run, or the streams themselves.
lea. 44 : 4.
Water-SpoatS are falls of
water from the clouds, which
are whirled round by tornadoes,
BO as to form a column ; or
which are forced with a mighty
noise from the sea, by an earth-
quake at the bottom. They are
more frequent on the coasts of
Palestine and Syria than any-
where else in the Mediterra-
nean Sea. To them are com-
pared heavy, overwhelming, and
terrifying visitations. Ps. 43 :
7.
Way, a path for travellers.
The word is frequently ased to
aignify the habits of a perse n,
or the method of doing any-
thing. Gen. 6 : 12. Jer. 10 :
2. The customary dealings of
God are called his way. Ps. 25 :
10. lea. 65: 8. Christ is "the
way, the truth, and the life ;"
and his salvation is the " uew
and living way'* of access t
God. Heb. 10 : 20. Jehovah's
precepts are the " way of truth,"
2 Pet. 2:2, and those who obey
shall find them to be " ways of
pleasantness and peaoe." Prov.
3: 17.
Way-Marks* The road in
desert parts of Egypt and other
countries is often marked by
heaps of stone, or brick pillars.
Jer. 31 : 21. These are neces-
sary where moving sands often
obliterate the track. Jer. 6 :
16. Isa. 3 : 12.
Weasels are of two kinds,
the house and the fiel-d weasel.
They are subtle and strong,
though of small size. The?
prey on serpents, moles, rats,
mice, and sometimes on poultry.
Occurs in Lev. 11 : 29, only.
Weave. The art of weaving
was more perfect in Egypt an-
ciently than in any other coun-
try. Herodotus mentions it as
a peculiarity that in that conn
try it was done by men. The
cotton and linen cloth found
upon some mummies is very
beautiful.
Week, a division of time,
universally observed by the
descendants of Noah, wkioh
WEI
807
WEL
being lost by the Hebrews dar-
ing their bt.ndage in Egypt, was
revived and enacted by Moses.
Beren years are called a week.
Dan. 9 : 24. Tho undisputed
antiquity of the use of weeks,
is a strong confirmation of the
Old Testament history of the
creation, <fec. We find weeks
observed by almost all nations,
long before.the advent of Christ. |
That they should divide time
into days, months, years, <&c., !
is easily accounted for ; because
these are natural division
weeks are an artificial arrange-
ment of time, and there is no
more reason for numbering days
by sevens, than by tens or fifties.
To suppose that all nations fell
upon the same method of count-
ing, by chance, is absurd.
The Jews often used the ex-
pression eight days to mean a
week ; BO do the Germans at
this day. And we often say
fortnight (or fourteen nights),
when we men two weeks. This
explains John 20 : 2G, where
" eight days " means a week.
See FEAST.
Weeping. See under MOURN-
ING.
Weigh. (1.) To examine by
wales. Ezek. 4 : 16. (2.) To
inspect rigidly. Prov. 16 : 2.
Tsa. 26 : 7. The shekel weighed
ten dwt. Sixty of these made
a maneh weighing two Ibs. six oz.
Fifty manehs made a talent, or
3000 shekels, weighing 125 Ibs.
Such are the computations of
HORSE ; but on this subject
there is great uncertainty
The weight of the
was probably a standard of
weight kept in the temple, and
not doable the common weight,
as some hare thought. Neither
Josephus, Philo, Jerome, nor
any other ancient author, speaks
of *, distinction between the
weights of the temple and those
of common use.
A cubic foot of common
water weighs 1000 avoirdupois
ounces ; a cubic foot of pure
gold, 19,637 ounces ; of quick-
silver, 14,000 ; of lead, 11,325 ;
of standard silver, 10,535 ; of
copper, 9000 ; of steel, 7852 ;
of iron, 7645 ; of block tin,
7321 ; of pure spirits, SCO. A
cubio foot of common air weighs
507 grains, or one ounce 27
grains. God's weighing the
mountains, imports his exact
knowledge of, and power over
them. Isa. 40 : 12. He weighs
men, or their spirits and paths,
when he exactly observes and
judges them that he may punish
or reward. Dan. 6 : 27. Prov.
16 : 2. Isa. 26 : 7. 1 Sam. 2 ;
3.
Wells are of groat consequence
in hot countries and travellers
generally paid for using the
water of them. Num. 20 : 17
19. They frequently have
steps round the inside, leading
down to the water. But the
common mode of drawing water
in all the East \* "^presented in
the engraving o* the following
page.
The oppression of Israel i
forcibly exhibited iu Lao- . * 4
WHA
WHB
<rbere the prophet says, " We
have bought our own water for
money; "that is, have to pay
our foreign rulers for using the
wells, though they are our natu-
ral inheritance.
The Hebrew word for well is
beer. Many places have 'this
prefix to their name, as Beer-
aheba, <fec. This and many other
circumstances teach us what
great importance is attached, in
torrid climates, to a good well
of water. Abraham and Abiin-
elech quarrelled for the posses-
sion of one. The digging of
one being in that day a great
work, is connected with the his-
tory of distinguished men. Gen.
26 : 19. 2 Chron. 26 : 10. We
should endeavor to conceive the
vehemence of thirst in hot coun-
tries where water is scarce, when
we read such passages as Amos
8 : 11, Ps. 42 : 2.
The water of wells was called
iving water t in distinction from
water preserved in tanks and
cisterns.
Whale, a well-known animal,
found in various seas. The nar-
ratire of Jonah merely says he
was swallowed by a groat fish ;
whether it was the whale is not
ertuiu, though the Greek word
which usually eignifies whale Ii
used in the New Testament
Some have tlcught it the same
as Leviathan. But of the latter
it is said, the arrow cannot make
fdmfl.ee ; that he is clothed with
impenetrable scales. The whale
has no such covering, and is
easily harpooned. It has beea
said that it could not have been
a whale which swallo'wed Jonah,
because whales are not found in
the Mediterranean. But this is
a mistake ; for though not com-
mon in that sea, they are far
from being unknown there.
Wheat, a grain raised in most
parts of the earth, of which is
made the most esteemed bread.
Being called corn in England,
where the Bible was translated,
it is often so called in Scripture.
Matt. 12 : 1. The ordinary
kinds of wheat are well known.
The annexed picture shows the
species ccmmon in Egypt, and ii
such as appeared to Pharaoh in
his dream, who fuvw { sevei eari
of corn come Uj apon one stalk,
rank and good.*' Gen. 41 : 5.
The wisdom of God is strikingly
in the stalk of Egyptian
wheat. If it were hollow and
weak like ours, which has only
to support one ear, it would
break with the weight. But it
is solidly filled with a sort of
pithj and thus rendered suf-
ficiently firm. The Holy Land
produced wheat and barley so
abundantly, that sixty or a hun-
dred fold sometimes rewarded
the husbandman. Gen. 2C : 42.
Matt. 13 : 8. It was exported
to neighboring countries in great
quantities. 1 Kings 5:11. Acts
12 : 20.
It appears, from Ruth 2 : 14,
2 Sam. 17 : 28, 29, and other
places, that parched wheat con-
stituted a part of the common
food of the Jews, as it still does
of Arabs, Indians, and other
tribes who have not adopted
modern refinements. To make
it into meal, with such ma-
ehinery as they then had, was
laborious. See GRIND.
Whirlwind. The word com-
monly translated whirlwind,
means more properly a storm.
2 Kings 2 : 1. Job 38 : 1. It is
itly used emphatically to
denote the rapidity and sudden-
ness of God's judgments. Jer.
23 : 19 ; and 25 : 32. Prov. 10 :
S5
To reap the whirlwind, Hos. 8 :
7, 13 to receive the terrible re-
sults of our own folly.
White Stone. The important
passage, Rev. 2 : 17, alludes to
ft custom of noting and perpetu- j
ftting friendship, among Greeks
%nd Romans, by dividing a peb-
ble, and after each had inscrilefc
his name on the flat surface,
they were exchanged. The pro-
duction of either half was suf-
ficient to insure friendly aid,
even from descendants. Voting
was done by casting a white
stone for approval, and a black
one for rejection.
Whet, to make sharp. God
whets his sword, when he pre
pares things in his providence
for the execution of his judg
ments. Deut. 34 : 41. Ps. 7 .
12.
Widow. Widowhood, as well
as celibacy, was a reproach
among the Jews, except when it
was persisted in, avowedly out
id to the deceased part-
ner, or other good reasons. The
widows spoken of in 1 Tim. 5,
seem to be persons who acted as
deacone&ses, or were supported
by the church. When Paul
says, 1 Tim. 5 : 16, "If any
man or woman that believetb,
have widows, let them relieve
them, and let not the church be
charged," it means that shris
tians of both sexes are bound,
if possible, to take care of wid-
owed grandmothers, mothers,
sisters, daughters, Ac. The
passage shows also that the hav-
ing of all things common ha4
already passed away.
Wilderness. (1.) A tract of
land not cultivated like the
generality of the country, but
not wholly barren or desert.
Joel 1 : 20. Such commonly
derived their name from tht
chief city adjacent, at ZM/oA,
W1L
810
WIL
Engeli, Judea, <fco. The fure-
runner of our Lord resided in,
Ihe wilderness of Judea, till he ,
commenced his public ministry.
Ishmacl settled in the wilder- j
ness of Paran ; and David took
refuge from the persecutions of
Saul, in the same ; in which the
numerous flocks of Nabal, the
Carmelite, were pastured. Such
places, therefore, were not des-
erts ; but thinly peopled, or
less fertile districts. There was
scarcely a Jewish town without
a desert, or common, as we would
say, attached to it.
(2.) Places utterly waste, such
as the wilderness where our Lord
was tempted of the devil. A
more dismal and solitary place
can scarcely be found in the
earth. About one hour's jour-
ney from the foot of the moun-
tains which environ this wilder-
ness, rises the lofty Quarantania,
which tradition affirms to be the
mountain into which the devil
carried our Saviour. It is, as
the evangelist styles it, " an
exceeding high mountain," and
in its ascent both difficult and
dangerous. It has now a small
chapel at the top, and another
half way up, built on a promi-
nent part of the rock Near
the latter are several caves and
holes, occupied formerly by her-
nrits, and even in present times
by religious devotees, who re-
pair thither to keep lent, in
Imitation of our Lord's lasting
In the wilderness forty days.
The land of Canaan was en-
vironed with wildernesses. *?
read of those of Egypt, Etham,
Shur, Sin, Sinca, Taamor, Ac.
The forty years* wandering of
th Hebrews was in a wilder-
ness indeed, and by no means
the common thoroughfare of
travellers between Egypt and
Canaan. The reason why Israel
was turned into it we read
Numb. 14. The only vegetable
productions which meet the eye
of the traveller in that fright-
ful solitude, are occasional
coarse sickly grass, a plant of
senna, or saline or bitter herb,
or acacia bush, which is gen-
erally a shelter to innumerable
snails. Moses calls it " great
and terrible," " a desert land,"
" the waste howling wilder-
ness." JeEemiah, with surpris-
ing force and brevity, has ex-
hibited those circumstances of
terror, which the modern travel-
ler details with so much pathos
and minuteness. " The Lord
that brought us up out of the
land of Egypt, through a land
of deserts and of pits, through a
land of drought, and of the
shadow of death, through a land
which no man passed through,
and where no man dwelt."
(3.) The word is metaphori-
cally used to signify things bar
ren or unattractive. Ilenoe God
asks the Hebrews if he had beea
a wilderness to them. Jer. 2 :
31. The Gentile world was
Called such. Isa. 35 : 16. and
43 : 19. The people of God ar
represents i as in a wildernesf
WIN
811
WIN
irhil in tliia world, but favored
with the presence of Christ.
Bong 8 : 5.
Wild-honey. See HOITET.
Will, that faculty of the mind
whereby a man freely chooses
or refuses. Scripturally, to will
anything is of nature, but to
will what is good is of grace. Ps.
110 : 3. John 8 : 36. Phil. 2 :
13. The will of God may be
known by reading his word, ob-
serving his providences, and
praying for his Spirit to en-
lighten, instruct, and guide the
soul.
WillOW. The tree so
in Scripture is thatwhi
retains the name, and
known. Isa. 15 : 7.
Will-worship, something in
the service of Go'l beyond divine
requirement. All uncommanded
mortifications and austerities;
invocation of saints; burning
candles in churches, &c., are of
this nature, and of course dis-
pleasing to God. Col. 2 : 23.
Wimple, a hood, Isa. 3 : 22.
The word occurs also Ruth 3 :
15, and is there translated VAIL,
which see.
Wind, a flow of air from one
place to another. There are
trade winds, which blow con-
itantly from east to west, and
monsoons, which blow three or
six months at once from one
point, aa* as long from the op-
posite.
The Samiel, or Simoom, la
most terrible wind of Eastern
cantrie*. Coming over the vast
desert* & Drings intense and
suffocating heat and drynew,
with billows of eand and dost,
carrying with it "fiery streaks,
like threads of silk : whoever
copiously breathes it dies. It
rarely lasts more than seven or
eight minutes. If travellers lay
their faces to the earth till it
pass, they escape. Camels and
other animals do this by in-
stinct. It is, of course, most
dangerous when it comes un-
perceived in the night. Whole
caravans are said to have per-
ished in it. RUPPEL, a Gorman
traveller, in 1818, found that,
during this wind, the dust made
it impossible to recognize even
a camel at fifty paces. He also
found it so charged with elec
tricity, as to keep up a crackling
noise, and create a pain like
the pricking of needles.
The preceding account will
beautifully illustrate the follow-
ing passages of Scripture : Job
15 : 2, and 27 : 21, and 38 : 24
Jer. 4:11. Ezek. IT : 10, and
19 : 12. Hos. 12 : 1, and 13 :
15. Jonah 4 : 8. Hab. 1 : 9.
Ps. 103 : 15, 16.
A whirlwind is a strong blast,
which winds about in a circular
manner. Multitudes of such
blasts come from the deserts of
Arabia; and out of one of them
the Lord spake to Job. Isa. 21 :
1. Job 37: 9, and 38:1. Whirl,
winds sometimes sweep down
trees, houses, and everything in
their way. Prov. 10 : 26.
Violent winds are computed
to fly at the rate of 4000 feet la
WIN
812
WIN
mhrate ! They are of great
Importance in preserving the
purity of the atmosphere. The
operations of the Spirit of God
on the heart, by which ft spiritual
change is wrought in the soul,
are compared to tho blowing of
the wind, the effect being evi-
dent, but the manner incompre-
hensible. John 3 : 8,
Wiae, a liquor made from
grapes, much in tho manner
that cider is made from apples.
No less than thirteen different
Hebrew and Greek words are
translated, in our Bible, by the
word wine. These each refer to
some particular kind or con-
dition of wine, not now easily
ascertained.
There is no evidence that wine
was known before the deluge.
Noah was probably the first
who preserved the juice of the
grape, till by fermentation it
became proper wine. Before
him, men only ate grapes like
other fruit, or drank the juice
as just pressed from the fruit.
This mode of drinking was com-
mon in the days of Joseph.
Gen. 11: 2. Noah, ignorant of
its strength, fell into intoxica-
tion. Gen. 9 . 20, 21.
The Jews, after settling in
Canaan, used wine of various
sorts; of which the red seems
to have been most esteemed.
Prov. 23 : 31. Lsa. 27: i. Kev.
14 r 20. The " mixt H.ie,"
Prov. 23 : 30, rendered in Isai4t
65 : 11, " drink-offering," am/
mean wine rendered inure potent
by the addit.',c/n of myrrh and
other drugs, or of defrutum, thai
is, wine inspissated by boiling
it down. Homer speaks of Helen
giving such wine to her gueste
when oppressed with grief, to
raise their spirits. Thus the
drunkard is properly described
as one that seeketh mixed urine,
Prov. 23 : 30 ; and " mingles
strong drink." Such wine wai
given to malefactors before their
execution, as an act of mercy;
and was offered to Christ on the
cross, but refused, as he desired
no stupefaction. It was drank
in the idolatrous worship of
certain gods, as Bacchus and
Venus. This explains Anios 2 :
8, " They drank the wine of the
condemned in the house of their
god."
The process of distilling ar-
dent spirits from wine and other
liquors was invented by the
Saracens, several centuries after
the death of Christ.
Wine-press, a vat or cistern,
sometimes above ground.
WIN
818
WIS
Hmoa sunk into the earth. It
was divided into two parts, one
being deeper than the other.
Into the shallow compartment
the grapes were thrown, while
fleve ;al men trod them with
their feet, and the juice ran into
the lower part. This explains
that fine passage, Isa. 63 : 1 5.
See also Rev. 14 : 18. Jer. 25 :
30. Tha* the mode of making
wine is not materially altered,
is seen by the engraving, which
accurately represents the man-
ner now practised in France
and Germany.
Wiunow, to clean grain by
exposing it to the wind. This
was done by tossing ft up into
the air in a moderate wind.
Winter, tl. !" cold,
barrenness, and storms. In the
torrid zone, which is about 3270
miles broad, instead of winter,
they have a rainy season, and
vegetation thrives best during
thi.s period. At the poles, nearly
the whole year is winter, and
awfully severe. Gen. 8 : 22.
Spring and autumn are scarcely
known. Vegetation starts sud-
denly at the return of the sun,
and soon comes to perfection.
In Sweden, nine months are a
severe winter. In Canaan, great
men had their warm houses for
the winter season, as well as
eooler ones for the summer. Jer.
36 : 22. Amos 3 : 15. The
winter t^ro is wet and cold,
especial, j between the 12th of
Deo. and 20th of Jan. Matt.
24 : 20. When the disciples
Were told, Matt. 24 : 20, to pray
27
that their flight from the pre
dieted ruin of Jerusalem should
not be in the winter, it was not
only on account of the cold, but
the swollen state of the streams
to be forded, especially in the
hilly districts.
Seasons of temptation, perse-
cution, and distress, are likened
to a winter. " Summer aud
winter" may signify all the
year long, or perpetually. Zeoh.
14 : 8. To winter in a place, is
to live in it during the winter
Isa. 18 : 6. Acts 27 : 12.
Wisdom, the power of judging
rightly according to circum-
stances. This is " worldly wis-
dom." But spiritual wisdom,
" which is from above," Jam.
3 : 17, begins in the fear of
God, and produces true piety
in all our deportment. It is
known by several properties.
It is purr, making men careful
to avoid defilement by sin. It
is peaceable, under all the trying
circumstances of life. It is
gentle toward the infirmities of
others, interpreting al) things
for the best, and receding even
from right for the sake of peace.
It is easy to be entreated, making
men yield to good counsel and
sound reason. It is full of wcy,
making us pity the afflicted, and
ready to forgive those that have
offended us. It is full of good
fruits, of beneficence, liberality,
and all other offices of humanity
which proceed from mercy. It
is without partiaiuy, not courting
and favoring the rich and in-
fluential merely because they
WIT
814
WIT
are a >, bat regardirg and loving
men asoording to their piety.
It is also without hypocrisy, not
counterfeiting goodness, nor con-
demning others, and yet being
guilty of the same things our-
selves.
It is put for the Scriptures
generally, Luke 11 : 49 ; for the
doctrine of the gospel, 1 Cor. 2:
6, 7 , and for our Lord Jesus
Christ, the eternal and essential
wisdom of God. Prov. 3 : 19.
Wise men, or MAGI. The
Magian religion existed an-
eiently in Persia. It was so
revived and extended by ZORO-
ASTER that he has been regarded
as the founder of the sect. They
had temples, in which were kept
perpetual fires. The priests of
the Magi being the only learned
mathematicians and philoso-
phers of the age in which they
lived, the term Magian became
synonymous with learned man.
The wise men, or Magi, who
visited our Saviour at his birth,
were probably Persian doctors,
or perhaps 'princes, as the phi-
losophers were frequently of the
royal race. Matt. 2 : 1.
Wist, a common word in the
Bible, but not now used, though
other words, derived from the
game root, are. It comes from
tuts, to think. Whence / wist, I
did not think ; wistful, full of
thought ; wistfully, earpHy ;
Which Shakspeare writes *t*tly.
Wit, an obsolete word for
know; from which comes WOT,
for knew Ex. 32 : 1. Acts 3 :
17. " We do you l ,o wk," 2 Cor.
8 : 1, means, we inform you. It
is now used only in the infinitive
mode, to wit, meaning namely,
or that is to say.
Witch is a woman, and wizard
is a man, that has, or is sup-
posed to have, dealings with
Satan. In Europe, witchcraft
was universally believed in till
the sixteenth century, and' is
still in most parts of the earth.
Of late, in Europe and America,
some have denied its existence
altogether. That such persons
have been found among men, is
abundantly plain from Scrip-
ture. Lev. 19 : 31. Deut. 18 :
10, 11. 2 Chron. 33 : 6. Gal.
5 : 20. By the Jewish law they
were to be put to death. Ex.
22 : 18. Lev. 20 : 27. It i
plain that great caution is neces-
sary in the detection and pun-
ishment of those who may be
guilty of this crime.
Witchcraft excludes from the
kingdom of God. Gal. 5 : 20.
It is a great sin to place any
confidence in persons who pro-
fess these powers ; or to honor
or aid them by seeking them to
interpret dreams, tell fortunes,
discover stolen goods, Ac. Those
who thus consult them are ab-
horred of God. Lev. 20 : 6.
Nah. 3 : 4. Mio. 5 : 12.
It is a deep disgrace to our
country that professed astrolo-
gers and fortune-tellers are
found in our great cities, pat-
ronized by many, and unmolested
by law. To know what is future
is the prerogative of God only.
Withes, twisted bo-igha, bark.
WOL
815
WOM
willow. Ac., such as those by
which fagots are bound together.
Jud. 16 : 7, 8.
Witness, one who gives evi-
dence. The Holy Spirit "beareth
witness" to our adoption, by
producing in us the graces of
Christianity. Rom. 8. Christ
is called the " faithful witness,"
Rev. 1 : 5, because he faithfully
declared the things of God, and
sealed his testimony with his
blood. The prophets and pious
persons of the Old Testament,
are a " cloud of witnesses " to
the faithfulness and mercy of
God. The apostles are <
witnesses of the things they af-
firm in the New Testament, be-
cause they saw and heard the
things of which they speak.
They are credible witnesses, be-
cause they had no interest to
deceive, and suffered great hard-
ships, and even death, for the
Bake of their testimony.
Wo is a word of mourning
Ezek. 30 : 2. Ps. 120 : 6. A
woe is a heavy calamity. Rev
8 : 13. Matt. 23 : 13. Woful
full of distress and sorrow. Jer
17 : 16.
The word is often used in the
Bible in a sense far remove*
from denunciation, and mean
ing only a lamentation over th
sufferings of ourselves or others
as, "Woo is me," Ps 120 : 5
Matt. 24 : 19, tc.
Wolf, an animal of the do,
kind, crafty, greedy, ravenous
fierce, and of a quick smel
Ifolves abide in forests, an
ve on smaller animals
: 15. They can bear
ong, but are then exceedingly
erce, and will attack either
man or beast. Hence, in the
vening, when they come hungry
ut of their holes, they ar
angerous. Jer. 5:6. The
peoies most common in Syria
Africa, <to., is the hyana.
The name is applied to tyr-
annical rulers, Zeph. 3:3; tc
false prophets, Matt. 7 : 15 ; tc
mercenary pastors, Acts 20
29, &c.
Woman. Before the fall the
/Oman seems to have been more
m a level with the man than
since the curse, in which she
seems to have been the greater
sharer. In most parts of the
world women are treated harsh-
ly. So much is this the case in
some countries, that mothers
often murder their female in-
fants, that they may not ex-
perience such hardships as them-
selves endure. The practice of
polygamy, which has always
prevailed among Eastern idola-
ters, must always produce for
woman every sort of contumely
and suffering ; and the more, ai
it is accompanied by capricious
divorces, turning a helpless
mother adrift with her offsp'^ng.
" All Egypt is full of divoced
women," says Dr. Sir.ith, in
1852 ; and the same mav be
said of other countries. This
result is not surprising, when
we remember that in those coun-
tries there is no acquaintance
before marriage, nofc eren to
WOE
816
WOB
inch M * sight of the woman's
face ! See VAIL.
In the Christian church women
are raised to an equality with
men in their religious privileges,
but are not permitted to govern
or teach. Gal. 3 : 28. 1 Cor.
14 : 34.
Rules fur female behaviour
and dress are laid down, Tit. 2,
I Pet. 3, Ac. ; and their duties
towards their husbands, in 1 Cor.
7. Eph. 5.
Word, an intelligible sound.
Any discourse is so called. Gen.
37 : 14. Deut. 4 : 2. The term
is applied to the sacred Scrip-
tures. Luke 11: 28. Jain. 1:22.
It is also a name of Christ.
John 1. Hob. 4 : 1214, and
II : 3 Why he is so called we
are not expressly told ; perhajn
because he is the intelligible
indication of the Father's will
and character, as words are of
our thoughts, Heb. 1 : 2, 3 ; and
because he spake creation into
being ; communicated with the
patriarchs and prophets ; de-
clared the gospel when on earth;
now intercedes in heaven ; and
will give sentence at the last
day. The true deity and per-
sonality of the "Word" are
shown, (1.) By the names given
to him, Matt. 1 : 23, 1 Tim. 3 :
16, Rom. 9 : 5, and many other
places. (2.) By ascribing to
him Divine attributes, as etemay,
John 8 : 38, Rev. 1:8; m. lia-
bility, Heb. 13 : 8, Ac. ; omnu-
dence, John 20 : 17, Matt. 12 :
25, Ac. ; omnipresence, Matt. 28 :
19 ; amniptmce, Re> 1:8, Ao.
(3.) By affirming of him Dmnt
works : decreeing, John 18 :
18 ; creating, John 1:3, Eph
3:9; governing, John 5 : 17
Col. 1 : 17, Heb. 1:3; and
many other such acts. (4.) By
authorizing Divine honors to be
given him. John 3: 16. Matt.
28 : 19.
Work, anything done. Crea-
tion is the work of God. Gen.
2 : 2. The " works " of God'a
providence a-re his preservation
and government of the world.
John 5 : 17. The "work" of
redemption is attributed to the
three persons of the Trinity ;
the beginning is from the Father,
the dispensation is through the
Son, and the application by the
Spirit. John 6: 29. 1 Pet. 1:2.
By good works are understood
all manner of duties, as well
thoughts as words and actions,
towards God or man, which are
commanded in the law of God,
and proceed from a pure heart
and faith unfeigned, and are re-
ferred to God's glory. Eph. 2 :
10. Good works are the way
to the kingdom, not the cause
of entering thither. They are
imperfect, Ecc. 7 : 20 ; and of
course are not meritorious, Luke
17 : 10. They are, however, the
only evidence of our title to
heaven. James 2: 18 20. They
show our gratitude to God, Ps.
116 ' 12, 13 ; are honorary to
our i>rofession, Tit. 2 : 10 ; and
profitable to men, Tit. 3 : 8.
World. (1.) The earth and
all the animals and vegetable!
on its surface ; mankind gorier
WOB
817
WBI
ally. (2.) The universe and all
created beings. John 1 : 10.
(3.) The wicked, who relish and
love nothing but worldly tb : Tg;s,
and pursue only worldly designs.
John 15: 13. (4.) The Gentiles,
Rom. 11 : 12. (5.) The pleas-
ares, riohes, and honors of the
world. 1 Cor. 7 : 31. Man's
tongue is a " world of iniquity ; "
its words contain inconceivable
wickedness. Jam. 3: 6. Worldly
10 what is of a carnal and earthly
nature. Tit. 2 : 12. Heb. 9 : 1.
Wormwood, an herb of a very
bitter taste. In the Septuagint,
the original word is variously
rendered, and generally by
terms expressive of its figur-
ative seise ; that is, for what is
offensive , odious, or deleterious ;
as idolatry, profaneness, apos-
tasy, At. Dcut. 29 : 18. Heb.
12 : 15. CELSIUS considers it to
be the abainthum santonicum Ju-
daicum, which RAUWOLF de-
scribes as abounding round
about Bethlehem. Prov. 6 : 4.
Lam. 3 : 15.
Worship, to bow down with
reverence. It means, (1.) Civil
reverence, given to persons of
authority or worth. Matt. 9 :
18 ; 18 : 2G. Luke 14 : 10. (2.)
Outward homage, given as an
acknowledgment of Deity. Matt.
4 : 10." Dan. 3 : 5, 12, 14. (3.)
Inward trust, love, and fear of
God, because of his infinite ex-
eellence and glory. Johp 4 :
24. Phil. 3:3.
The Hebrews usually prayed
(n a standing posture in public,
bo* knelt in private. They still
27*
stand to pray in synagogue*
This posture was adopted bj
the first christiari, and is uni
versal among the Oriental
churches. The practice of sitting
in public prayer is of very re
cent origin, and is much to be
deplored.
Wot, the past tense of wit, an
obsolete word, meaning to know,
to be aware ; a word not now
in common use. Numb. 22 : 6.
See WIT.
Wrath. (1.) Violent di&
pleasure. When it is attributed
to God, it does not mean that
be is capable of violent passion,
but is used figuratively. To
" give place to wrath " means,
we must not provoke the wicked
to extremities, but go away, as
from a furious beast. Our days
are " passed in God's wrath,"
when we spend them under
tokens of his displeasure. (2.)
Punishment, or the effects of
anger. Rom. 13:4. Matt. 3 :
7. 1 Tbess. 1 : 10. We are by
nature " children of wrath ; *
that is, persons fitted for de
struction. Eph. 2 : 3. Rom.
9: 22.
Writing was taught aien by
the inspiration of God, Ex. 17 .
14 ; 24 : 4 ; the same as language
was given them. The alphabets
of all languages have a remark-
able similarity to the Hebrew.
A*, first, writing seeros to have
been very rudely done, tr
letters beirg cut or scratched
on stone, Ex. 24 : 12 ; or on
plastered stones, Deut. 27 : 2 ;
or on clay, which was the? baked
TEA
818
YBX
like b.iok j or on plates of lead.
Afterward tablets tf wood were
used, on which the letters were
traced. Then these were im-
proved by covering them with
thin wax, and writing with a
sharp stick. To obliterate the
writing, they were held to the
fire ; hence God is said to blot
out our sins " as a cloud."
These were further improved by
being made thin and delicate,
so as to occupy little space, and
be portable ; and writing with
a species of ink, without using
wax.
Specimens of such writing,
done by modern Burmans, Hin-
dus, Chinese, &c., are found in
the collection at the Baptist
Missionary Rooms, in Boston,
which were brought home by
the author. The annexed en-
graving shows the kind of book
common in Burmah and rfla
dustan.
The lower figure holds one of
these books in the hand, coa
sisting of thirty or forty thin
leaves in the shape of a paral-
lelogram. The upper shows the
manner in which they were
wrapped up for preservation
from dust, <feo. From this an
illustration of Ps. 40 : 7 hia
been given by TAYLOR, "In
the volume of the book it ia
written of me," which the
LXX. render in the head of the
book. CHRYSOSTOM describes this
to be the envelope on which waa
written, " About the coming of
Messiah," which HARMER says
amounts to this, that the sum
and substance of the Old Testa-
inent is, "Messiah corneth ;"
so that these words might be
ticketed or inscribed on the
wrapper, just as we now letter
a book on the back of the
binding.
The sharp instrument for
writing was called a style ; hence
we call a man's manner of writ-
ing his style. Afterward, bark,
<fcc., became used. See BOOK,
and PAPER.
Tear, a space of
months. The Jews had \ t<-\ *
civil and a sacred year ; in the
first they regulated their ta-
tional ojw<3i-ns, and, in the other,
their religious affairs and festi-
vals. The civil year commenced
in the mouth Tisri, that is,, at
the autumn 'il equinox ; Mid
their sacred year in the
YEA
TEA
tfcan, or ancient Abib, Ex. 12 :
3, which corresponds either to
March or April, according to
xie passoyer moon. The sacred
year was instituted as a new
era to commemorate the deliver-
ance of Israel from the yoke of
the Egyptians. Ex. 12 : 2. It
might be considered as a pres-
age of the gospel day, because
it began in the very month in
which Christ was crucified, and
thus put an end to the ancient
dispensation. John 19 : 30.
Every third yeai they added
a month, to make up for the
days lost in consequence of
measuring the months by revo-
lutions of the moon, which made
the year consist of 354 days.
This intercalary month they
called Ve-adaTy or second Adar.
See MONTH.
Ignorance of chronology, and
pride of antiquity, made the
Egyptians, Chaldeans, Chinese,
Indians, and- others, date back
.ae rise of their own nation to
the distance of a ridiculous
lumber of years. It i9 now
conceded that the creation oc-
curred at or about 4004 years
before the birth of our Saviour.
The practice of numbering
the years from the birth of
Christ was not adopted for sev-
eral centuries after that event.
Different countries had different
eras for commencing ; wch as
the foundation of a metropolis,
or the reign of a king. The
last method was used in Eng-
land till the time of Cromwell,
when the Christian era was
adopted. Anno Domini, geni-
ally written A.D., meant yea*
of our Lord. Anno Mundi, or
A.M., marks the date from crea-
tion
There is much confusion in
all chronology, from the incor-
rect modes of computing the
year practised by early nations.
The use of lunar months, of
29J days each, made the year
too short. Many plans were
adopted to regulate the year,
but none came near making the
lunar and solar year correspond,
till Julius Cffisar, by the help
of his astronomers, brought it
nsiderable degree of ac-
curacy. He abolished the lunar
month, and established a solar
year of 3r>5 days, 6 hours, di-
vided into 12 artificial months
consisting alternately of 30 ana
31 days. The odd 6 hours in 4
years made a whole day, vhich
was added by counting the 24th
day of February twice. The
year on which this y/as done
was called leap year.
The new reckoning, howeeer,
was not perfectly exact, for the
true year consists of only 366
days, 5 hours, and 49 minutes,
so that the Julian year was
eleven minutes too long. This
surplus in 130 yewt amounted
to a whole day, and in 1GOO
years had created an error of
ten days. In the year 1582,
Pope Gregory XIII., at the in-
stance of Lilio, the Roman as-
tronomer, proposed to strike
out this excess of ten days, and
to omit three leap jeara is
YES
320
YOK
everj four oenturfes. This was
tor a while called New Style,
and was gradually adopted both
by Catholic and Protestant
states. It was not introduced
into England till the middle of
the last century [1752], at which
time the difference amounted to
eleven days. Russia has not yet
acceded to this reform, and the
difference now amounts to twelve
days. So that the 12th day of
the month with us is the first
day of that month with her.
Our present calendar is very
nearly though not quite correct.
The surplus, as now left, would
amount only to seven hours in
1000 years.
In prophetic stylo a year sig-
nifies 360 years, and a month 30
years, a day being put for a
year ; and so three years and a
half, and " times, time, and half
a time," or 42 months, or 1260
days, denote the 1260 years'
duration of Antichrist. Rev.
11 : 2, 3 ; 12 : 6, 14.
As parts of days were counted
as whole ones, so were parts of
vears, which helps to confuse,
the chronology of some parts
of the Old Testament. Though
a king or judge came to the
throne near the close of the
year, yet when the new year
began he was aaid to be in the
second year of his government,
though in fact he had reigned
but a few months.
Yesterday is a term used to
denote past time, as to-morrow
\M to denote time futui e Where
our translation has " forerer," 1
the original word in several
places is to-morrow. What i
rendered, Ex. 21 : 29, " time
past," is, in the Hebrew, yester-
day. Heb 13 : 8. Job 8 : 9.
Yoke, a frame of wood for
the neck of oxen, by which they
draw ; a mark of servitude,
bondage, or slavery.
The service of God is, to flesh
and blood, a yoke, becaruse it
restrains our natural inclina-
tions ; yet it is easy in com
parison with the service of sin,
the covenant of works, or the
ceremonial law. Matt. 11 : 29,
30. Gal. 6:1. It is easy to
them that love God, and are
born of the Spirit, because the
law is written in their hearts ;
they are endued with faith, and
strengthened by Christ. Ps. 37
In the ordinance of the red
heifer that was to be slain for
the water of separation, Numb.
19 : 2, 9, it was expressly re-
quired that she should be " with-
out spot or blemish, and never
have worn a yoke." As all the
ancient institutions were de-
signed to convey religious in-
struction, we learn from this
victim that our first services are
due to God ; and, typically, the
perfection of our Lord and Sa-
viour Jesus Christ, whose blood
cleanseth fr-tcn all sin. Hb. 9:
13, 14. * John 1 : 7. With
respect to the creature never
having worn a yoke, the hea-
then were particularly scrupu-
lous en this point. Hence Hoiaei
ZAC
821
ZAR
represents Diomedea as prom-
ising to Pallas
" A yearly heifer,
pressly forbidden that the porple
of God should marry those who
do not profess to serve him. 2
Cor. 6 : 14. 1 Cor. 7 : 39. See
Unconscious of the galling yoke."
The term yoke is used in re- i^^ ^1*^*.
lation to marriage, and it ia ex- 1
Z.
Zaeehe'us, a rich publican.
Whether he was a Jew or not is
ancertain. Publicans paid gov-
ernment a certain, sum for the
taxes of a specified district, and
'iien collected them on their own
ecount and risk This is called
Burning a revenue.
Zachariah, or ZECHARIAH.
There were several persons of
thisname. (1.) A king of Israel,
who reigned but six months. 2
Kings 15. (2.) A chief priest,
martyred by king Joash. 2 Chr
24. He is probably the person
mentioned by 'our Saviour, Matt.
23 : 35. (3.) One of the minor
prophets, who returned from
Babylon with Zerubbabel, A. v.
3484, and began to prophesy
*bout two months after Haggai,
r about 520 before Chri
ind Haggai zealously encour-
ged the Jews to rebuild the
lemple and city, the ^rork on
which had been suspended for
several years. (4.) One of the
common priests, father of John
Baptist. Luke 1.
THE BOOK of Zechariah was
written when the prophet was a
young man The allusions to
the Me? iah aie more frequent
than in any other of the minoi
prophets. Some of the predic-
tions are yet unfulfilled. He
died at a great age, having lived
to see the ruined house of God
restored.
Za'dok, the son of Ahitub,
appointed high priest by Saul.
By this event that high office
was returned to the family of
Eleazar, after it had continued
nearly 120 years in the house
of Eli, and the family of Ith-
amar.
Znmznni'mims, a gigantioraoe
of men residing near Moab
Deut. 2 : 20.
Zared, a brook beyond Jor-
dan, falling into the Dead Sea.
It is probably the stream whien
Burckhardt calls Wady Bent
Hammad. Deut. 2 : 13, 14.
Zai'ephath, or SAREPTA
where Elijah dwelt some time
with a widow, was a seaport of
Phoenicia, midway between Tyre
and Sidon. 1 Kings 17 : 9, 10.
Luke 4 : 26. About A.D. 400
it was still of some not* It*
present name ia Sarfend.
Zar'etan, ZARTANAH, cr Ze
RED'ATHAH, a place near to whictt
the waters stood in heaps, M
ZEB 82
Joshua passed below. The large I
molten vessels of the temple (
were cast in the adjacent plain.
Josh. 3 : 16. 1 Kings 4 : 12.
2 Chr 4 : 17.
Zal, a fervent passion or
earnest desire for anything, but
especially in the cause of re-
ligion. 2 Kings 10 : 16. Tit.
2 . 14. Paul speaks of some
Jews having a " zeal of God,
but not according to knowl-
edge," Rom. 10 : 2 ; that is,
they had an earnest desire to
maintain the honor of the ritual
to which Lhey were accustomed,
but knew not that righteousness
whereby a person is justified
before God. It is of unspeak-
able importance that our zeal
be enlightened and pure. When
it is cherished in connection
with ignorance, bigotry, or prej-
udice, it leads on to fury, per-
secution, and every evil work.
John 16 2. Acts 9: 1, 2. God's
zeal is his high and holy regard
to his own honor, and to the
welfare of his people. 2 Kings
19 : 31.
Zebolm. (1.) One of the
cities of the plain destroyed with
Sodom. Gen. 14. (2.) A valley
near Jericho. 1 Sam. 12 18.
(3.) A city of the Benjamltes.
Neh. 11 : 34.
Zebnlnn, or ZABULOS tne
sixth son of Jacob by ijcah,
born about A.M. 2256, from
whom sprang one of the tribes
of Israel. When this tribe came
out of Egypt, tbeir fighting men
amounted to 57,400 men, coin-
nanied by liliab, the sou of
a ZED
Elon. They increased 3100 in
the wilderness. They Lad their
inheritance between the Sea of
Galilee and the Mediterranean,
and enriched themselves by fish-
eries, commerce, and the manu-
facture of glass. They were
very honest in their dealings,
and, notwithstanding the dis-
tance, were punctual attendants
on the worship of God at Jeru
salem. Gen. 49 : 13. Their
country was signally blessed
with the early instructions and
miracles of our Saviour Is*
9 :1,2. Matt. 4 : 13, 15. There
was a city of this name in the
tribe of Asher. Josh. 19 : 27.
Jud. 12 : 12.
Zedekiah, the son of Josiah.
When Nebuchadnezzar carried
Jehoiachin, king of Judah,
prisoner to Babylon, ho made
Mattaniah king .in his stead,
after he had caused him to swear
to be his tributary, and changed
his name to Zedekiah. He be-
gan to reign when he was
twenty-one years of age, and
reigned eleven. His career was
marked by crime. 2 Kings 24 :
1820. 2 Chr. 34 : 1113.
He revolted, but was subdued
and carried prisoner to Neb-
uchadnezzar, who caused hia
children to be murdered before
his face, and then his eyes to
be plucked out ; after which he
loaded hi n with chains and sent
him to Babylon, wheie he died.
Jer. 21, 27.
In the fifth year of Zedekiah,
Ezokiel began to prophesy, Ex
1 : 1, <fcc. ; and, in the sain*
ZEM
823
ZIP
jrear, died Cyaxares, king of
Media, and Psammis, king of
Egypt.
In the seventh year of his
reign, Ezekiel foretold the de-
struction of Jerusalem, and the
blindness and imprisonment.
See Ezek. 12, et seq. Jeremiah,
also, had faithfully warned him
to his face.
Zelo'tes, or ZEALOTS, a sect
often mentioned in Jewish his-
tory. LAMY is of opinion that
the j*tst men sent to entangle
Christ in his conversation were
of this class. Luke 20: 20. GILL
says that they were a set of
men who (in imitation of Phine-
has, who slew Ziniri and Cozbi
in the act of uncleanness) would
immediately kill any person
whom they found committing
adultery, idolatry, blasphemy, or
theft. He quotes various Jewish
authors, who regarded their con-
duct as highly laudable. Their
conduct, however, cannot be
justified. The name was prob-
ably given to Simon from the
circumstance of his having been
one of these persons. He is
called also Canaanite, probably
for the same reason ; the word
Jtiana, in Hebrew, having the
ttme meaning a3 Zelotcs. Luke
6 : 15. Acts 1 : 13.
Z*mara'im, a city of Ben-
jamin, not far from Bethel, near
which was fought a blovdy battle
in the days of Jeroboam I. Josk
18 : 22. 2 Chr. 13 : 318
Zem'arlteS, descendants of
Canaan, by Zernar, his tenth
on. Gen. 10 t 18.
aved at the MUM
time as Jeremiah.
THE BOOK of Zephantih re-
vroves the wickedness of the
times ; predicts God's chastise-
ment by the invasions of the
Chaldeans ; declares glorious
things for the church ; and de-
nounces ruin upon the Philis-
tines, Moabites, Ammonites,
Ethiopians, and Ninevites, all
of them at that time flourishing
nations.
The book is not expressly
quoted in the New Testament,
but there are expressions evi-
dently formed from his predic-
tions ; for" an instance, compare
Zeph. 3 : 9, with Rom. 15 : 6.
Ze'rad* See ZA'HED.
Ze'rah, who came against Asa
with an immense army, was kinj;
of Cush. 2 Chr. 14 : 9.
Zernb'babel was the Jewish
name of SHESHBAZZAK, who built
the second temple by authority
of Cyrus. Ezra 5 : 16. Zech.
4:9. He took with him to Ju-
dea a colony of 50,000 persoms
and restored the temple worship
It is obvious that he was a very
eminent man, and chief of the
Jews in his day, of the royal
house of David. 1 Chr. 3. He
led the first colony of Jews that
returned from captivity under
the permission of Cy/us. In hi*
day lived Haggaiand Zeohariah
the prophets. Hag. 1 and 2
Zech. 4.
Zifj or Jair, the second month
of the Jewish sacred year, and
eighth of the civil answering
210
824
ZDZ
to our April. Such as, by reason
of journeys, uncleanness, <fcc.,
were debarred from keeping the
passover at the regular time,
were permitted to observe it on
the 14th of this month.
Zlon, or SIGN. (1.) Part of
the range of mountains in the
north of Canaan, called Anti-
Libanus Deut. 4 : 48. (2.)
Part of the site of Jerusalem ;
but which of the several hills
on which it stood was so called
is not now absolutely certain,
the whole city having early
taken that name, and the temple
itself especially. Ps. 65 : 1 ;
84 : 7 That which is now called
Mount Zion, by the inhabitants
of Jerusalem, lies south of the
city, and outside of the present
walls. Part of it is occupied as
a burial-place for Christians, and
part by a convent of Armenians ;
but the principal portion is
arable land, laid out in fields.
See the prophecy, Mio. 3 : 12.
Jer. 26 18.
The worshippers at the temple,
If not the whole inhabiUnta of
Jerusalem, are called Zion Pi
97 : 8. It is thought that th
temple stood on Mount Moriak,
where Abraham offered his son.
1 Kings 8 : 1. Ps. 48 : 2. The
Church is called Zion. Ps. 102.
13. Isa. 2 : 3. Heb. 12 : 22.
The name is applied to heaven.
Rev. 14 : 1. See JERUSALEM.
Zo'an, an extremely ancient
and very distinguished city of
Egypt. Numb. 13 : 22. Ps. 78:
12. It is called in Greek writers
Tanis . Th e re is a pal try village
there now, standing near the
splendid ruins, called San.
Zo'ar, one of the five cities
threatened to be destroyed by
fire from heaven, but preserved
at the intercession of Lot. I
seems to have been formerly
called Bela. ROBINSON, the late
American traveller, locates it
on the east of the Dead Sea,
near the mouth of the Wady
Kerak. There are still some
ruins here which indicate formoi
elegance.
Zi'zi B
TABLB.
tftt
II
ftij
il II
IE
, - ! P| :
v -'-~ il3^
PI- a :
a S m o>>>;3
s !?i
fe i 7. -2 2
e4 i-J c4
Us
oil
d=
INTBODUCTOEY NOT!
HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS
THB arrangement of the Four Gospels, side by side, BO as to form a con
tinned narrative, and exhibit the account of each Evangelist in chronological
order, has always been regarded as a very useful help to the study of the New
festament. Many Christian scholars have performed this work, more or lest
perfectly, from TATIAN, A. D. 170, down to GEHRINGKR, in 1842. The basil
af the very complete one here given is taken from an anonymous English pub-
lication, and adapted to this work by the author.
The ministry of our Lord, as thus understood, comprised four Passovers.
or a period of a little more than three years.
The use of such an arrangement is, to make the Evangelists their owr
Interpreter, and to show how wonderfully they sustain one another, not only
In impoitant but in minute particulars -, and also to furnish a connected
account of all the recorded acts and sayings of our Lord.
When this harmony is resorted to for the explanation of any passage, let
the quotations from each Evangelist be read in succession. And when the
object is to trace the Saviour's biography and teachings, in a connected
narrative, let only one quotation in each line be read ; a ad orxceed thu flrcn
beginning to end
HARMOR/ Of THE G08PSL9.
827
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II
HARMONIZED CONTENTS Of
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I
THE FOUB GOSPELS.
31
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g si
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HARMONIZED CONTENTS
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1HB FOUB GOSPELS.
881
182
HARMOVIIBD OONTBNTI Of
II 5 1
5?
ft*
THE FOUR QOSPELi
TAMES
OF WEIGHTS, MB ABUSES, AND MONET, MB*
T10NED IN THE BIBLE.
Great uncertainty rests on some of these calculations. The works of At
buthnot, Parkhurst, Cumberland, Home, Brown, &c., have been carefulij
compared, but it seems impossible to arrive at any certainty.
1. Jewish Weights, Reduced to Troy Weight.
Ibs. oz. pen. gr.
The gerah, one twentieth of a shekel 00 12
Bekah, half a shekel 00 5 9
The shekel 1C
The maneh, 60 shekels 26
Ihe talent, 60 manehs, or 3000 shekels 125
2. Measures of Length, reduced to English Measure.
ft. in.
A digit* 0.9
4 = A palm 3.6
12= 3 = A span 10.9
24= 6= 2 = A cubit 1 9.8
96= 24= 8= 2 = A fathom 7 3.5
10 11.3
3.
miles, pace* fen.
1.8
400= A stadium or furlong 146 4,4
2000= 5 = A sabbath day's journey 729 8.
4000= 10= 2 = An Eastern mile 1403 1
12000= 30= 6=a 3 = Aparasang 4 163 8.
96000 = 240 = 48 = 24 = 8 = A day's journey 88 172 4,
To understand the four following tablet, read them thus: "A difit i* mine tentm
f aa Loch ; 4 digit* equal 1 palm, or three incite* and fix tenth* { IS digit*, a*- I
1 * *vaa, er tea inches and nine t*iUu,
TABLES. 335
4. Measures of Capacity fit Liquid*
Aeaph ...........................
1.3 = A log .......................
5.3= 4 = A cab .................. 3.8
Ifl =12= 3 = Ahin ................. IX
32=24=6=2 = AfM*h ........... ,.24.
96 == 72 = 18 = 8 = 3 = A bath or ephah ....... 7 4.
960 = 720 = 180 = 50 = 20 = 10 = A kor, chores, gomer, or
homer ......................... 7ft *.
5. Measures of Capacity for Thing* dry.
pki. fal it*
Agachal 0.1
20 = A cab 2.8
36 = 1.8 = An omer or gomer .0 5,1
120 = 6 = 3.3 = A seah 1 L
860= 18 =10 = 3 = A ephah 8 8
1800 =90 =60 =15=5 = A letech If
5600 0180 =100 = 30 = 10=2 = A homer or kor ... 82 1
6. Jewish Money reduced to American Currency.
$ eu
1 gerah (the smallest money) , 2j
10 gerahs = A bekah 25
2 bekahs = A shekel 60
00 shekels = A maneh or mina 30.00
60 manehs = A talent 1,500.00
A talent of gold was equal to 24,309.00
7 Roman Money, mention id in the NTW '^esiameni^ rtauced t*
American Cwrren^'.y
$eu.
A mite (^aaaQtov) 00)
A farthing, about 004
A penny, or denarius (Jyrag tor) . . 18|
t pound, or nina .N sbeketa) . 18.7*
TABL1I.
YBABS IN WHICH THE CHIEF BENEVOLENT SOCIETO*
WERE INSTITUTED
A. 9
Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, England, .... 164 .
Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1701
Danish Mission College, 1718
United Brethren, 1732
Sunday Schools commenced by RAISES and Fox, 1782
Sunday School Society, Eng., first in the world, by WILLIAM Fox, . . . 1785
Methodist Missionary Society, England, 1791
First Sunday School in the United States, Philadelphia, 1791
Baptist Missionary Society, England, 1792
London Missionary Society, 1796
Scotch Missionary Society, 1796
London Religious Tract Society, 1799.
Church Missionary Society in England, 1800
Sunday Schools commenced in New York, 1803
British and Foreign Bible Society, 1804
Philadelphia Bible Society, 1808.
London Jews' Society, 1809,
American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions, 1810.
Baptist Education Society of the Middle States, 1812.
American Tract Society, Boston, 1813
Church Tract Society, England, 1813
Baptist Board of Foreign Missions, United States, 1814.
Northern Baptist Education Society, ... 1814
American Education Society, 1816.
American Bible Society, 1818.
American Colonization Society, 1817.
United Foreign Missionary Society, United States, 1817
Philadelphia Sunday and Adult School Union, 1817.
Dom. and For. Miss. Soc. of the Episcopal Church, In the United States, 1820.
American Methodist Missionary Society, 1820.
American Sunday School Union, [instead of the Philadelphia Sunday
and Adult Schoil Union], 1824.
Baptist General Tract Society, '
American Tract Society, New York, '
Prison Discipline Society, ^2*
American Hone Missionary Society, 18:
American Society for Promotion of Temperance, 18:
Protestant Episcopal Education Society, I 82ft
American Baptist Hume Mission Society, 1&
American and Foreign Bible Society, 18;
Baptist Publication Society [instead of the General Tract Society], . . IS
American Indian Mission, 18
Southern Baptist Convention, . . .
American and Foreign Bible Union,
184&
430868
portant names,
Holy Scriptures^
University of Toronto
Library
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