The altars required in the Jewish worship were :
The structures are different, as well as the apparent ornaments and uses. On representations of them are projections upward at each corner, which represent the true figure of the horns. Ex. 27 : 2 ; 1 Kgs. 2:28; Rev. 9:13. They were probably used to confine the victim. Ps. 118:27.
The altars required in the Jewish worship were :
1. "The altar of burnt-offering," or the " brazen altar," in the tabernacle in the wilderness. This altar stood directly in front of the principal entrance. It was made of shittim-wood (acacia), seven feet and six inches square, and four feet and six inches high. It was hollow and overlaid with plates of brass. The horns—of which there was one on each corner—were of wood, and overlaid in the same way. A grate or net-work of brass was also attached to it, either to hold the fire or to support a hearth of earth. The furniture of the altar was all of brass, and consisted of, 1. a shovel to remove the ashes from the altar ; 2. a 2)an to receive them ; 3. basins for receiving the blood of the victims and removing it; 4. hooks for turning the sacrifice; 5. fire-pans, or perhaps censers, for carrying coals from the fire or for burning 42
incense. At each corner was a brass ring, and there were also two staves or rods ovei'laid with brass, which passed through these rings, and served for car-
Altar of Bunit-Offeiiiig in the Tabernacle.
rying the altar from place to place. The altar is described in Ex. 27. The '' compass " referred to, v. 5, was a ledge running all around the altar about midway from the ground—affording a convenient place for the priest to stand while offering sacrifice—supported bj' a brass net-like grating. The fire used on this altar was kindled miraculously and was perpetually maintained. It was also a place of constant sacrifice.
In the first temple, which in its general plan was constructed after the pattern of the tabernacle in the wilderness, the altar of burnt-offering stood in the same relative position as in the tabernacle. It was much larger, however, being thirty feet square and fifteen feet high, its particular plan being appoint-
Altar of Buint-Offei'iiit; in the Templo. {From Surenhusius's Mishna.)
ed expressly by divine authority. It was made entirely of bronze plates, which covered a structure of earth or stone. 2 Chr. 4:1. In the second temple it occupied the same position, though it was still larger and more beautiful than in the first. An inclined plane led in each case up to the altar, since express command forbade the Jews using steps. Ex. 20: 26.
2. The " altar of incense," or the "golden altar," stood within the holy
ALT
AMA
place and near to the inmost veil. Ex. 30: 1-6. It- was made of the same wood with the brazen altar, and was eighteen inches square and three feet high. The top, as well as the sides and horns, was overlaid with pure gold, and it was finished around the upper surface
Altar of Incense.
with a crown or border of gold. Just beloTY this border four golden rings were attached to each side of the altar, one near each corner. The staves or rods for bearing the altar passed through these rings, and were made of the same wood with the altar itself, and richly overlaid with the same precious metal. Upon this altar incense was burned every morning and every evening (see Incexse), so that it was literally perpetual. Ex. 30:8. The "altar of incense " in Solomon's temple was made of cedar overlaid with gold. Neither burnt-sacrifice, nor meat-offering, nor drink-off'ering, was permitted upon this altar, nor was it ever stained with blood, except once annually, when the priest made atonement. Lev. 16: 18, 19.
ALTAR TO THE [AN] UNKNOWN GOD, referred to by Paul. Acts 17: 23. There were in Athens several altars with this inscription, which were erected during a plague, the Athenians believing they had unconsciously offended some divinity, but not knowing whom.
AL-TAS'CHITH {destroy not). These words are in the titles to Ps. 57, 58, 59 and 75, and are probably "the beginning of some song or poem to the tune of which those psalms were to be chanted."
A'LiUSH (a crowd of men, or p^ace of wild beasts), an encampment of the
Israelites on their way to Sinai, and the last before Rephidim. Num. 33 : 13,14. See Rki'Hidim.
AL'VAH (wickedness), a chief of Edom. Gen. 36 : 40. Called Aliah in IChr. 1:51.
AL'VAN (tall), a descendant of Sier the Horite. Gen. 36 : 23. Called Alian in 1 Chr. 1:40.
A'MAD {people of duration), a town ofAsher. Josh. 19 : 26. Robinson suggested that it might be located at Shefi Amar, on a ridge of Haifa. Drake proposes to identify it with el-Amud.
A'MAL {labor), an Asherite. 1 Chr. 7:35.
AM'ALEK (diceller in a valley), the son of Eliphaz, and grandson of Esau, chieftain or "duke" of Edom. Gen. 36 : 16. The Amalekites were not named from him, for they existed long before. Gen. 14 : 7. Arabian tradition makes him the son of Ham.
AM'ALEKITES. 1 Sam. 15 : 6. A powerful people of uncertain origin, first mentioned in connection with the invasion of Chedorlaomer. Gen. 14 : 7. They are called. Num. 24: 20, the first of all the nations. They were signally defeated in a contest with the children of Israel at Rephidim, and for opposing the progress of Israel they became objects of God's judgments. They were afterward defeated and repulsed by Gideon, Jud. 7: 22, and by Saul, 1 Sam. 15, and by David, 1 Sam. 30, till at last the word of the Lord Avas fulfilled to the very letter, and their name was blotted from the earth. 1 Sam. 30 : 17 and 1 Chr. 4 : 43.
AMALEKITES, COUNTRY OF THE, a region lying between Canaan and Egypt, chiefly south of the mountains of Judah, and from Mount Sinai eastward to Mount Seir and the Salt Sea. Gen. 14 : 7 ; Ex. 17: 8 : Num. 13 : 29 ; 14: 25. For the physical features and character of the region see Sinai.
AM ALEKITES, MOUNT OF THE. Jud. 12:15. A mountain or hilly district in Ephraim, probably so named from an early settlement of the Amalekites or a later invasion by them.
A'MAM {gathering-place), a city in the south of Judah. Josh. 15 : 26. Wilton and others would join this word
AMA
AMA
2. A
range,
with Hazor in the preceding verse, and read " Hazor-Aman," but ancient authorities do not support this view. Its precise location is unknown.
AM'ANA, OR AMA'NA {perennial). 1. Margin, same as Abana. 2 Kgs. 5 : 12. See Abana.
ridge or peak of the Lebanon in which the river Amana or Abana has its source. Song. Sol. 4:8.
AMARI'AH {mid, i. e. jjrumixed). 1. Son of Meraioth, a descendant of Aaron in the line of Eleazar, and father of Ahitub, whose son, Zadok, was made high priest, bringing back the office to his family. 1 Chr. 6 : 7, 52.
2. A high priest later on. 1 Chr. 6:11.
3. A Kohathite Levite. 1 Chr. 23 : 19 ; 24: 23.
4. The head of one of the twenty-four courses of priests. 2 Chr. 31 : 15 ; Neh. 10:3.
5. One in Ezra's time. Ezr. 10 : 42.
6. An ancestor of Zephaniah the prophet. Zeph. 1:1.
7. One of the family of Perez. Neh. 11:4.
AM'ASA {a burden). 1. A son of Jether (or Ithra) and Abigail, and nephew of David. He joined in Absalom's rebellion, and was appointed his commander-in-chief. 2 Sam. 17 : 25. Being defeated by Joab, and Absalom being killed, he submitted to David, and was made captain of the host in room of Joab, his cousin, whose part in the death of Absalom and general lack of respect brought him into disfavor. When Sheba revolted David sent Amasa to assemble the people within three days, but his tardiness, owing, perhaps, to his unpopularity, obliged David to despatch his household troops under Abishai in pursuit of the rebel. Joab joined his brother, and meeting Amasa on the latter's return, under pretence of saluting him killed him and put himself again in supreme command. 2 Sam. 20 : 10. See Joab.
2. A prince of Ephraim, son of Had-lai, in the reign of Ahaz. 2 Chr. 28: 12.
AMAS'AI {htn-densome). 1. A Levite, one of the sons of Elkanah. 1 Chr. 6:25.
2. The chief of a party that came to David at Ziklag. 1 Chr. 12 : 18.
3. One of the priests who blew the trumpets before the ark. 1 Chr. 15 : 24.
44
4. A Kohathite in the reign of Heze-kiah. 2 Chr. 29:12.
AIHASH'AI {burdensome), a priest of the time of Nehemiah, Neh. 11 : 13. Some suppose him to be the same as Maasiai. 1 Chr. 9 : 12.
AMASI'AH {ivhom Jehovah bears), the son of Zichri, captain of 200,000 men under Jehoshaphat. 2 Chr. 17 : 16.
A M A Z 1' A H ( whom Jehovah strengthens). 1. The eighth king of Ju-dah, the son and successor of Joash, commenced his reign in his twenty-fifth year, and reigned twenty-nine years, B. c. 839-809. 2 Kgs. 14 : 1-20. He served the Lord, but not perfectly. He first slew his father's murderers, but not their children, thus observing the Mosaic law. 2 Chr. 25 : 4.
At the commencement of his reign, he showed an outward regard to the law of the Lord, but by power and ambition he fell into a snare, and was destroyed by violence. Amaziah resolved to make war upon the Edomites, who had revolted from the kingdom of Judah several years before. 2 Kgs. 8 : 20. He raised an army of 300,000 men from among his own subjects, and hired 100,000 men of Israel, for whose services he paid 100,000 talents of silver—the first example in Jewish history of a mercenary army. Before he commenced the expedition, however, he was directed by divine authority to dismiss his hired soldiers, or if he did not he should certainly fall before his enemies. After some hesitation he sent them home. Amaziah met the Edomites in a place called the Valley of Salt, and gained a signal victory over them, slaying 10,000 and taking 10,000 prisoners. Elated by his success, and forgetful of God who had given him the victory, he set up the idols of his vanquished enemy as his own gods. The anger of the Almighty was kindled against him, and in a message God exposed and rebuked his sin. 2 Chr. 25:15. The king was already hardened enough to question the authority of God's messenger, and even to threaten him with death. Thus given up to follow his own devices, he sought occasion of war with Jehoash, king of Israel. The answer of the king to the challenge was given in the form of a fable expressive of the
AMB
AMI
utmost contempt, and contained at tha same time a severe rebuke to the king of Judah for his pride and vainglory. Undeterred, ho met the army of Israel at Beth-shemesh, in Judaja, but his army was completely routed, and he was taken prisoner, Jehoash then proceeded to break down a section of the city wall six hundred feet in length, and marched through the breach, plundered the temple of its gold and silver vessels, seized the king's treasures, and taking such hostages as he pleased returned in triumph to Samaria. 2 Kgs. 14. About fifteen years after this disgraceful defeat, Ama-ziah fled from Jerusalem to Lachish to escape a conspiracy; but he was followed to the place to which he fled and put to death, and Tiis body taken back to Jerusalem and buried with his fathers. His name is omitted in the genealogy of Christ.
2. A Simeonite. 1 Chr. 4: 34.
3. A Levite. 1 Chr. 6 : 45.
4. A priest of the golden calf at Bethel who complained against the prophet Amos to Jeroboam, king of Israel, and tried to eff'ect his banishment. Amos 7 : 10-17. See Amos.
AMBAS'SADOR, a person of the highest rank, ap])ointed to represent his government in the transaction of business with a foreign power. The earliest mention in the Bible is in the case of the Edomites, Num. 20 : 14, to whom Moses sent " messengers," also in the case of Moab, the Amorites, the Gibeonites, and other tribes. See Num. 21 : 21 ; Josh. 9:4; Jud. 11:17-19. In the days of the kingdoms they are more frequently mentioned. An injury upon them was an insult to their king. 2 Sam. 10 : 5. Their mission was often pacific or congratulatory, as in the latter incident. Paul calls gospel-preachers the ambassadors of Christ. 2 Cor. 5 : 20.
AM'BASSAGE. Luke 14:.32. A public message. The term may include the messenger or ambassador as well as his message.
AM'BER. Eze. 1:4, 27; 8:2 (better electrum, or bright gold gum). Fossil gum, a beautiful bituminous substance, susceptible of a fine polish, varying in color, but chiefly yellow and orange. It is mined in Prussia, and also washed ashore by the waves of the
Baltic Sea. The word here used probably denotes elcctnun, a metal coni])osed of gold and silver and held in high estimation among the ancients. In the passages cited the allusion is simply to the color of amber, and docs not necessarily imj)ly that it is indestructible by fire.
AMEN' (literally, true, Jirm ; iiu'' aphorically, faithful), used to denote assent or entire acquiescence, impressing the staraj) of absolute tiiithfulness upon the statement. Deut. 27 : la. It was used as the solemn atfirmative response to an oath. The word was often repeated. It is a matter of tradition that in the temple the ''Amen" was not uttered by the people, but that instead, at the conclusion of the priest's prayers, they responded, " Blessed be the name of the glory of His kingdom for ever and ever." Of this a trace is supposed to remain in the concluding sentence of the Lord's Prayer. Comp. Rom. 11 : 36. But in the synagogue and private houses it was customary for the people or members of the family who were present to say " Amen" to the prayers which were off'ered by the minister or master of the house, and the custom remained in the early Christian Church. Matt. 6 : 13; 1 Cor. 14 : 16. Doxologies and private prayers were appropriately closed with " Amen." It is sometimes translated verili/, and was frequently used by our Saviour when he was about to utter some distinct, important, and solemn truth. Its repetition, " Verily, verily, I say unto you " (in John) strengthens the assertion.
The promises of God are amen, because they are made sure and certain in Christ. 2 Cor. 1: 20. Amen is one of the titles of our blessed Saviour, Rev. 3 : 14, as he is the faithful and true witness.
AM'ETHYST. Ex. 39: 12; Rev. 21 : 20. A precious stone consisting of crystallized quartz, of a purple or bluish-violet color. Oriental amethyst, a variety of sapphire, is probably included under this latter name.
A'MI {a builder), one who returned with Zerubbabel. Ezr. 2 : 57. He is termed Amon in Neh. 7 : 59.
AMIN'AUAB FOR AMMIN'A-DAB. Matt. 1:4; Luke 3 :3;i.
AMIT'TAI (true), the father of Jonah. 2 Kgs. 14:26; Jon. 1:1.
AMM
AMM
AM'MAH {head, or water/all), a hill in front of Giah, near Gibeon, to which Joab pursued Abner. 2 Sam. 2 : 24. See also Metheg-ammaii.
AM'MI, explained in the margin correctly, " mv people." Hos. 2:1.
AHI'MIEL {people of God). 1. The spy from Dan. Num. 13 : 12.
2. The father of Machir, of Lo-debar. 2 Sam. 9 : 4, 5 ; 17 : 27.
3. The father of Bath-sheba, 1 Chr. 3 : 5; called Eliam in 2 Sam. 11: 3.
4. The sixth son of Obed-edom, and a temple-porter. 1 Chr. 26 : 5.
AMMI'HUD {people ofJudah). 1. An ancestor of Joshua through Elish-ama, the chief of Ephraim in the Wandering. Num. 1:10; 2:18; 7 : 48, 53 ; 10 : 22 ; 1 Chr. 7 : 26.
2. A Simeonite. Num. 34:20.
3. A Naphtalite. Num. 34: 28.
4. Father of Talmai, king of Geshur. 2 Sam. 13 : 37.
5. A descendant of Pharez, son of Ju-dah. 1 Chr. 9 : 4.
AMMIN'ADAB {one of tie people of the prince). 1. The son of Ram or Aram, who was the great-grandson of Judah, and father of Elisheba, the wife of Aaron. He was in the line of Christ's ancestors. Ex. 6 : 23 ; Num. 1:7; 2 : 3: 7:12,17; 10 : 14; Ruth 4 : 19, 20 ; 1 Chr. 2:10.
2. A Kohathite, and chief of the 112 sons of Uzziel. 1 Chr. 15 : 10-12.
3. Put for Izhar, probably by copyist's error, in 1 Chr. 6 : 22.
AMMISHAD'DAI {one of the people of the AlinifjJtti/), the father of Ahi-ezer, prince of Dan. Num. 1:12; 2: 25: 7:66, 71: 10:25.
AMMIZ'ABAD {j)eople of the direr, \. e. Jehorah ), an officer in David's army. 1 Chr. 27 : 6.
AM'MON, AND AMMONITES, LAND OF, etc., a mountainous country on the east side of the Salt Sea, reaching from the river Arnon to the Jabbok. Num. 21: 24 ; Deut. 2:19, 20. It lay to the north of the land of Moab; and "the land," "borders," or "cities" of the children of Amnion are noticed over 15 times in Old Testament history, and frequently with Moab. The precise extent of their country cannot be determined, as they appear to have led a wandering, predatory life similar to that of the wild Arab tribes now in that region. 46
Gilead was the best portion of their land. Among the cities held by them, sometimes, apparently, in common with Moab, were Heshbon, Rabbah, and Min-nith. The land which the king of Am-mon claimed in the time of the Judges, Jud. 11: 13, once belonged to a "king of Moab." Num. 21:26.
AMMONITES, on CHILDREN OF AM'MON, Gen. 19 : 38, were the descendants of Ben-ammi, a son of Lot. He was born in the neighborhood of Zoar, but his posterity spread northwardly and occupied the mountain-regions of Gilead, between the rivers Arnon and Jabbok. Originally their possessions were bounded north bj' the river Jabbok, west by Jordan, south by Arnon, and stretched eastwardly into Arabia. The Amorites, under Sihon, their king, expelled them from the richest part of their possessions, which lay between the two rivers; but Moses recovered it from the Amorites and divided it between Reuben and Gad. The western boundary of the Ammonites then became a branch of the river Jabbok (on which their capital city, Rabbah or Rabbath-Ammon, stood), and the mountains of Gilead bounded them on the east, while the main stream of the Jabbok continued to be their northern boundary, and the land of Moab the southern. This last is intended by the kingdom of Ammon as used in the sacred history.
The children of Ammon were gross idolaters. .Jud. 10: 6. Their chief idol was Molech, the same with Milcom, and their history is full of the judgments which their sins brought upon them, though they were spared, by God's express command, Avhen Israel passed by them from Egypt, because Lot was their progenitor. Deut. 2:19; 2 Chr. 20 : 10. Three hundred years afterward the king of the Ammonites made war upon the Israelites, under the pretence that they had taken their land, Jud. 11: 13, and after a severe battle the Ammonites were routed with great slaughter. In the beginning of Saul's reign, 1 Sam. 11 : 1, the Ammonites, under Nahash, their king, attacked Jabesh-gilead, but proposed to spare the inhabitants provided they would all consent to lose the right eye. During the time allowed for their answer they collected a sufficient
AMM
AMO
force to meet the Ammonites, and so completely routed them that two of them were not left together. Fifty or sixty years after this one of the kings of the Ammonites died, and David, who seems to have been under some obligation to him, sent a message of condolence to his son and successor. This friendly act was not received kindly, and the messengers of David were grossly abused and insulted. See ILv-NFX. Expecting that David would attempt to revenge the insult, they obtained large supplies of men from the Syrians; and when David heard of their preparation for war, he sent Joab, with a chosen troop from the army of Israel, to meet them. The result was fatal to the Ammonites. They and their allies were subdued, and fled. Rabbah, their capital, and all the rest of their cities were afterward destroyed by the Israelites, the king's crown was taken from his head and put on David's head, and the people were reduced to a state of abject servitude. 2 Sam. 12:26-31. In this condition they remained till the reign of Jehoshaphat, when they united with the Moabites and others and made war upon Judah, and were miraculously cut off. 2 Chr. 20. Jotham fought and prevailed against them, and made them tributary for several years. Many Jews sought refuge among them in the time of the Captivity, but they do not seem to have decreased their hostile feeling. The most dreadful judgments were threatened against them and their chief city because they seized and occupied a part of the territory of Israel, Jer. 49 : 1-6, and again because they insolently triumphed over the Israelites in the days of their captivity, Eze. 25 : 2-7, 10 ; and every threat was executed to the very uttermost in due time, as profane history abundantly attests. " During the time of the Maccabees various battles were fought between the Ammonites and the Jews; and during the changes that ensued, first under the Grecian, then under the Roman supremacy, the Ammonites lost their independent position, and gradually became amalgamated with the general Arab population." They were a cruel, remorseless, nomadic people. To their god Molech they offered human sacrifices. See Molech. Where their capital once stood is now the vil-
lage of Amman, 20 miles south-east of the modern town of cn-Sa/t.
AM'MOIV-NO. See No.
AIVl'NON [faithfnl). 1. The eldest son of David, who was guilty of violating the chastity of his half-sister, Tamar. 2 Sam. 13 ; 1 Chr. 3 : 1. See Absalom.
2. A descendant of Judah. 1 Chr. 4:20.
A'MOK {dcej^), a priest who returned with Zerubbabel. Neh. 12 : 7, 20.
A'MON, OR A'MEN {the hidden), an Egyptian god, one of the eight of the first order, and the chief of the Theban triad. Nah. 3: 8, margin. He is repre-
Amon. {After Wilkinson.)
sented as a man clad in a linen tunic, gathered about the waist by a belt. In one hand he holds the symbol of life, in the other the staff" of authority, and on his head is a cap with two high ])lumes.
A'MOIV {builder). 1. Governor of Samaria under Ahab. 1 Kgs. 22:26; 2 Chr. 18:25.
2. The fourteenth king of Judah, son and successor of Manasseh. IIo was
AMO
AMR
twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. 2 Kgs. 21:19. Zepha-niah gives a vivid picture of the degradation of the kingdom under this wicked king. He was murdered hy his servants and succeeded by his son Josiah.
AM'ORITE {moHUtahieer), LAND OF THE. The mountainous districts between the Jordan and the Mediterranean were the portion of the Amorites before Canaan came into the possession of the Israelites: the land of the Ca-naanites being the low plain-country. The Amorites also extended their territory, so that it at one time reached to the foot of Hermon and embraced all Gilead and Bashan. Deut. 4 : 47-49 ; 3:8, 10. For the physical features of this land see Canaan, Bashan, and Gilead.
AMORITES, correctly EM'OR-ITES (mountaiueers), a Syrian tribe descended from Canaan, and among the most formidable of the tribes with whom the Israelites contended. Gen. 10 : 16. They were of gigantic stature and great courage. Am. 2:9. They first inhabited the hill-country south of Jerusalem, the barren and rocky land in which David took refuge ,• but from there they went into better possessions, and at the time of the Conquest they inhabited one of the most fertile districts of the country, being bounded on three sides by the rivers Arnon, Jab-bok, and Jordan. See Ammonites. The Israelites asked permission of their king to travel through their territory, promising to injure nothing, not even to draw water from their wells; but it was refused. The Amorites collected and attempted to oppose their progress, but were defeated, and their territory taken and divided between the tribes of Reuben and Gad. Josh. 13 : 15, 21, 24, 27. Nothing more is heard of them in the Bible, except occasionally as moving in small bands.
A'MOS {burden), one of the lesser prophets, herdsman of Tekoa, a small town in the tribe of Judah, about 12 miles south of Jerusalem. Am. 1: 1. He lived in the reign of Uzziah, king of Judah, and of Jeroboam II., king of Israel, about eight hundred years before Christ. He was a contemporary of Hosea. While employed as a herdsman he was divinely appointed to 48
prophesy against Israel. This kingdom then was in its heyday of prosperity, but by reason of its idolatry rife with the seeds of ruin. It was Amos's duty to speak plain words upon the evils of the state. Being driven from Bethel upon the false representation made to the king by the idolatrous ])riest Ama-ziah. Am. 7:10-17, he returned to 'i'e-koa. The time and manner of his death are uncertain.
Amos, Prophecy of, is the thirtieth in the order of the books of the Old Testament, and is full of interest and instruction. It may be considered as a sort of continuation of Joel's. It is a uuit. It begins with the declaration of God's judgments against Israel's neighbors. But in this storm of fury Judah does not escape while Israel stands the brunt of it. 1-2 : 6. The sins of Israel are rebuked. 2 : 6-6: 14. The rebukes are followed by a series of symbols, which are interpreted. 7 :1-9 : 7. But the book closes with the promise of good. The " tabernacle of David " is to be restored. Thus the beauty and perpetuity of the Christian Church are foretold. It has been remarked as a peculiar feature of this prophecy that it abounds with illustrations drawn from husbandry and the scenes of rustic life; it certainly contains some of the most perfect specimens of sublime thought and beautiful expression that are to be found in any language.
A'MOZ {ntrong), the father of Isaiah. 2 Kgs. 19 : 2 ; Isa. 1:1. Jewish tradition makes him the brother of Amaziah, king of .Tudah.
AMPHIP^OLIS {nround the cif>/), a chief city of the southern portion of Macedonia under the Romans. The river Strymon flowed on both sides of the city, hence its name. It was 33 miles south-west of Philippi, and 3 miles from the sea. Paul and Silas passed through it. Acts 17 :1. Nen-Khorio, or A^ewfomn, a village of about 100 houses, now occupies a portion of the site of Amphipolis.
AM'PLIAS, a Christian at Rome whom Paul salutes. Rom. 16 : 8.
AM'RAM {red?), a descendant of Seir. 1 Chr. 1: 41.
AM'RAM {jyeople of the exalted). 1. A Levite, father of Moses. Ex. 6: 18-20.
AMR
ANA
2. One who married a foreign wife. Ezr. 10 : 34.
AM'RAPHEL. Gen. 14:1. The Hamite king of Sliinar, or Babylonia, who confederated with other kings and made war on Sodom and the other cities of the plain, plundering them and making prisoners of their inhabitants. Among the captives was Lot, Abraham's nephew. Gen. 14:9-16. See Lot.
AM'ULET. The superstitious character of the Oriental nations has in all periods led them to fear the attacks of imaginary foes, and so, in order to protect themselves, they wear charms of one sort and another. These amulets are indirectly and directly referred to in the Bible; e. g. when in the form of
Egyptian Amulets. (In the British Muaeum.) 1. CJold. 2. Ring with tlie word " health " inserted. 3. Scarabjeus. 4. Cornelian serpent's head. 5. Porcelain eyes. 6. Gold pendant, inlaid.
ear-rings. Gen. 35:4; Jud. 8:24; Hos. 2:13. But more commonly they were worn suspended from a necklace as a gem with an inscription or figure of a god upon it. Charms consisted likewise of words written upon papyrus or parchment rolled uj) tightly 4
and sewed in linen; perhaps these are meant by the " tablets " of Isa. 3 : 20. Phylacteries, some suppose, derived their sanction from the danger of idolatrous j)ractices to which this custom gave rise.
AM'ZI {stromj). 1. A Levite. 1 Chr. 6 : 4().
2. A priest. Neh. 11: 12.
A'NAB {place of (jrnpes), a place or town of the Anakim, Josh. 11: 21 ; 15: 50 ; now Anab, 10 miles south-south-west of Hebron, though Lieutenant Conder places it much farther west.
A'NAH (aiiswen'iig), the father of Aholibamah, one of Esau's wives. Gen. 36 : 2, 14, 24. The discovery of some icarm springs (although in the A. V. the word is translated mules) is attributed to him.
ANAHA'RATH {gorge, or ;)rt8s), a city of Issachar, Josh. 19 : 19, probably in the northern part of that territory. Meskarah, and also en-Naurah, just east of Little Hermon, have been suggested as the site of Anaharath.
ANAI'AH {whom Jehovah answers). 1. A priest. Neh. 8: 4.
2. One of the "heads" of the people who sealed the covenant. Neh. 10 : 22.
AN'AKIM (Anak, sing., neck-chain ; Anakim, plur., fong-necked persons), a race of giants, the descendants of Arba, who gave the name of Kirjath-arba, city of Arba, to the city which the Jews called Hebron. The name Anak belongs to the race, not to an individual. The race was divided into three tribes, called in common the Anakim, and remarkable for their fierceness and stature. In the time of the Conquest they occupied the territory between Hebron and Jerusalem. Josh. 11: 21, 22. Their gigantic size had terrified the spies Moses sent out. Num. 13:28, but they were defeated by the Israelites, who entered into their possessions, Hebron becoming the portion of Caleb. Josh. 14 : 15. See (iiANTS.
ANAM'MELECH. See Adram-
MELF.CH.
A'NAN" (a cloud), one who sealed the covenant. Neh. 10 : 26.
ANA'NI {whom Jehovah covers), a descondiint of David. 1 Chr. 3:24.
ANANI'AII {whom Jehovah covers),
ANA
AND
an ancestor of one who helped to build the wall of Jerusalem. Neh. 3 : 23.
ANANI'AH {whom Jehovah covers), one of the towns in which the Benja-mites dwelt after the Captivity. Neh. 11 : 32. The modern village Beit Ha-niiia, about 3 miles north of Jerusalem, corresponds well in name and situation to this ancient town.
AN ANI'AS (the Greek form of Han-aniah, whom. Jehovah has graciously given). 1. One of the professed converts to the Christian faith under the preaching of the apostles. Acts 5 : 1-10. When the disciples had thrown their property into a common stock, Ananias sold his estate and brought a part of the purchase-money, pretending it was the whole proceeds of the sale. Being charged by Peter with his sin, he fell down dead upon the spot. His wife Sapphira, who was privy to the fraud of her husband, but ignorant of his dreadful end, being asked for how much their estate had been sold, confirmed the falsehood which Ananias had told, and instantly met the same doom.
2. A primitive devout disciple who lived at Damascus, and was commissioned to visit Paul soon after his conversion and restore him to sight. Acts 9:10-18; 23:12-16. Tradition makes him subsequently the bishop of Damascus, and a martyr.
3. The son of Nebedaeus, appointed high priest by Herod, king of Chalcis, A. D. -48. Acts 23 : 2. In A. d. 62 he was sent to Rome to answer a charge of oppression preferred against him by the Samaritans. He was, however, acquitted, returned, and resumed his office. Paul was tried before him, A. D. 55. He was likewise one of the apostle's accusers before Felix and before Festus. Acts 24 :1 ; 25 : 2. See Paul. He was shortly after deposed, but retained much power until at the breaking out of the Jewish war, when the Sicarii set fire to his house and compelled him to flee, but followed and killed him, a. d. 67 (Josephus, Jewish
Wars, ii. 17, 9).
A'NATH {answer), father of Sham-gar, one of the Judges. Jud. 3:31:5: 6.
ANATH'EMA {set apart, devoted). In its usual acceptation it means the devoting of an animal, person, or place to 50
destruction. Lev. 27: 28; Josh. 6: 17-21. Paul uses it in the sense " cut off", accursed." Rom. 9:3; Gal. 1: 8, 9. Hence in ecclesiastic language it means " excommunicated, cut ofi" from the church."
Anathema Maranatha is a Syriac exclamation signifying. Let him be accursed, The Lord is at hand, a reminder that at the coming of the Lord rewards and punishments would be meted out. 1 Cor. 16 : 22.
AN'ATHOTH {ansioers). 1. A son of Becher the Benjamite. 1 Chr. 7:8.
2. One who sealed the covenant. Neh. 10: 19.
AN'ATHOTH {answers, or echoes), a Levitical city in Benjamin, Josh. 21: 18 ; 1 Chr. 6 : 60 ; the birthplace of Jeremiah, Jer. 1:1; 11:21, 23; 32:7-9,-on the route of the Assyrians, Isa. 10 : 30; some of its people returned with Zerubbabel, Ezr. 2 : 23 ; Neh. 7 : 27; now a village of about 20 houses, 4 miles north-east of Jerusalem, and called Aiia-tn. Tradition incorrectly locates Ana-thoth at Kuriet-el-Enab, near Abu Gush, and between Ramleh and Jerusalem.
ANCH'OR. Acts 27 : 29. The anchor was formerly cast from the stern of the ship. In the passage cited reference may be had to an anchor with four flukes or arms, such as are sometimes used by boats in shallow water; or it may mean four distinct separate anchors.
The above represents a common anchor with two flukes or arms. There is a strong shank c, at one end of which are two arms b b, terminating in flukes a a. At the other end of the shank is the stock d, supplied with a ring to which a cable can be attached. The stock is designed to give such a direction to the falling anchor that one of the flukes shall enter itself firmly at the bottom. See Ship.
AN'DREW {manly), one of the twelve apostles, John 1: 40, the son of
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Jonas and brother of Simon Peter, was a native of Bethsaida, in Galilee, by trade a fisherman, and originally a disciple of John the Baptist, whom he left to follow our Saviour. When he had found the Messiah, he forthwith sought his brother Simon and brought him to Jesus, and soon after they both attached themselves to the little band of his disciples and followed him till the close of his ministry. The events with which Andrew was particularly connected are recorded in Matt. 4: 18-20 ; Mark 13 : 3 j and John 1 : 35-40 ; 6 : 3-13 ; 12 : 22. Tradition says he preached the gospel in Scythia, Greece, and Asia Minor, and was crucified on a cross of a peculiar shape (hence St. Andrew's cross) in Achaia.
ANDRONI'CUS {victorious man), a Roman Christian whom Paul salutes in Rom. 16 : 7.
A''NEM {two fonntmns), a Levitical city of Issachar, 1 Chr. 6 : 73 ; probably the same as En-gannim of Josh. 19: 21; 21: 29. It has been identified with the modern Jenin, on the border of the plain of Jezreel. See En-Gannim (2).
A'NJER {hoy), one of the three Amor-ite chiefs who joined Abraham in the pursuit of the four invading kings. Gen. 14:13.
A'NER {hoy), a Levitical city in Manasseh, west of the Jordan, 1 Chr. 6: 70 : supposed by some to be the same as Taanach, Jud. 1 : 27, and Tanach. Josh. 21:25.
AN'GEL. Gen. 24 : 7. This word, both in the Greek and Hebrew languages, signifies a vicsseuger, and in this sense is often applied to men. 2 Sam. 2:5: Luke 7 : 24 and 9 : 52. When the term is used, as it generally is, to ilcsignate spiritual beings, it denotes the oflSce they sustain as the agents by whom God makes known his will and executes his government.
Our knowledge of such beings is derived wholly from revelation, and that rather incidentally. We know, from their residence and employment, that they must possess knowledge and purity far bej^ond our present conceptions, and the titles applied to them denote the exalted place they hold among created intelligences. Christ did not come to the rescue of angels, but of men. Comp. Heb. 2: 16. The angels are represented as ministering spirits sent
forth to do service to the heirs of salvation. Heb. 1:14. They appear at every important stage in the history of revelation, especially at the birth of Christ, Luke 2:9-13, in his agony in Gethsemane, Luke 22 ; 43, at his resurrection. Matt. 28 : 2 ,• Mark 16 : 5 ; Luke
24 : 4, and at the final judgment. Matt. 13 : 41.
Of their appearance and employment we may form some idea from the following passages—viz. Gen. 16 : 7-11. Compare Gen. 18 : 2 5 19 : 1 with Ileb. 13 : 2 ; Jud. 13 : G ; Eze. 10 ; Dan. 3 : 28 and 6 : 22 ; Matt. 4:11; 18 : 10 and 28 : 2-7 ; Luke 1 : 19 ; 16 : 22 and 22 : 43 ; Acts 6 : 15 ; 12: 7 : Heb. 1: 14 ; 2 :16 ; 2 Thess. 1:7; Rev. 10:1, 2, 6.
Of their number some idea may be inferred from 1 Kgs. 22 : 19 ; Ps. 68 : 17 ; Dan. 7:10; Matt. 26 : 53 ; Luke 2 : 9-14; 1 Cor. 4:9; Heb. 12:22.
Of their strength we may judge from Ps. 103 : 20 : 2 Pet. 2:11; Rev. 5:2; 18:21; 19:17.
And we learn their inconceivable activity from Jud. 13 : 20 ; Isa. 6 : 2-6 ; Matt. 13 : 49 ; 26 : 53 ; Acts 27 : 23 ; Rev. 8:13.
There is also an order of evil spirits ministering to the will of the prince of darkness, and both active and powerful in their opposition to God. Matt.
25 : 41.
It would seem the proper inference from Matt. 18:10 that every believer had a guardian angel. The same idea is suggested in other passages, as Ps. 91: 11, 12 ; Luke 15 : 10 ; Acts 12: 15.
They are the companions of the saved. Heb. 12: 22, 23 ; Rev. 5:11,12. They are to sustain an important office in the future and final administration of God's government on earth. Matt. 13 : 39 ; 25 : 31-33 ; 1 Thess. 4 : 16. But they are not proper objects of adoration. Col. 2 : 18 ; Rev. 19 : 10.
Angel of his Presence, Isa. 63 : 9, by some is supposed to denote the highest angel in heaven, as Gabriel, who stands "in the presence of God," Luke 1:19; but others believe it refers to the incarnate Word.
Angel of the Lorp, Gen. 16: 7, is considered, by some, one of the common titles of Christ in the Old Testament. Ex. 23 : 20. Compare Acts 7: 30-32 and 37, 38.
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Angel of the Church. Rev. 2 : 1.
The only true interpretation of this phrase is the one which makes the angels the rulers and teachers of the congregation, so called because they were the ambassadors of God to the churches, and on them devolved the pastoral care and government.
Angel op Light. See Devil.
AN'GER, a strong emotion, which is sinful or otherwise according to its object and motive. When ascribed to holy beings it is used figuratively to denote high displeasure at sin. In this sense good men may be angry and sin not, Eph. 4: 26 ; Neh. 5:6; cf. 2 Pet. 2: 7, 8 ; and even God is said to be " angry xoith the wicked every day." Ps. 7:11. Unjustified anger is reckoned among chief sins, and as such is severely rebuked. Eph. 4:31; Col. 3 : 8, and numerous passages in Proverbs.
A'NIAItt (sii/hiiiff of the people), a Manassite. 1 Chr. 7 : 19.
A'NIM {fountainn), a town in the mountains of Judah. Josh. 15 : 50. Khirbet el-Jif has been suggested as the site of Anim, but it is more probably at the modern village of el-Ghuwein, about 10 miles south-west of Hebron.
AN'IMAL. The Hebrews distinguished between clean and unclean animals, allowing the use of some in sacrifice for food, and forbidding it in the case of others. For the list see Lev. 11.
AN'ISE. Matt. 23:23. Properly dill {Anethum graveolens), an annual herb bearing small aromatic seeds used in medicine and cookery. Ancient writers mention it as cultivated in Egypt; it grows in the Greek islands, and occurs at the present day in Palestine, both in gardens and wild, or at least uncultivated in fields.— Tristram. Another plant {Pimpinella auisuin) of the same family has been considered, with less probability, to be the anise of the Bible.
The tithe of this herb was scrupulously paid by the Pharisees. A Jewish writer says that the seed, the leaves, and the stem of dill are subject to tithes. See Mint.
ANK'LET. Though this word does not occur in the A. V., anklets are referred to in Isa. 3:16, 18, 20. They were worn upon each leg and were as 62
ft w ft>^--
Anise. (After Tristram.)
common as bracelets upon the arms, and were made of much the same raa-
Aiiklets.
1, 2, 3, 4. Egyptian Anklets. 5. Modern worn by dancins-ijirls. 6. 7. Assyrian, of iron and Ijronze. {From Nuievfh. Now in British Museum.)
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terials. The musical tinkling and jingling which they made as the wearers walked were no doubt the reasons for their use. The ornamental step-chains worn by females, according to Gesenius, caused the short and mincing walk alluded to by the prophet in verse 16. Lane speaks of these ornaments as now worn in the East.
AN''NA {(/race), a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. Luke 2 : 30. Her husband having died after she had been married seven years, she devoted herself to the Lord, and was very constant in her attendance on the services of the temple. She did not, however, live in the temple itself. At eighty-four jears of age she listened to the prophetic blessing which Simeon uttered when he held the infant Redeemer in his arms, and joined in it with great fervor.
AN'NAS, the son of Seth, and a high priest of the Jews. He was appointed by Quirinus, governor of Syria, A. D. 7, and was removed by Valerius Gratius, procurator of Judasa, A. D. 23. The office was originally held for life, but in Judaea's degenerate and dependent position it was one of the spoils of office, to be given to the ruler's favorite, and to be taken away upon the loss of favor. After his deposition Annas continued to hold the title; and although Caiaphas, his son-in-law, was the actual high priest, he was the ruling power. This explains the reference in Luke 3 : 2. This power he retained for nearly fifty years, having had five sons in succession in the high priest's office. Our Lord was brought first before Annas on the night of his seizure. John 18: 13-24. The guilt of Christ's crucifixion rests most upon Annas, since Pilate tried to shield him, and Caiaphas was but his tool. Annas is mentioned as the president of the Sanhedrin, before whom Peter and John were brought. Acts 4 : 6.
ANOINTS Gen. 31:13. The first biblical instance is in the passage cited, and it signifies in that connection the pouring of oil upon the stone which Jacob had set up for a pillar. Gen. 28:18.
The anointing of persons, places, and things with oil or ointment of a particular composition was a mode
of consecration prescribed by divine authority, and extensively i)ractised among the Hebrews. Ex. 28 : 41. The ingredients of the ointment, embracing the most exquisite perfumes and balsams, are minutely given, Ex. 30 : 23-33, and the common use of it was expressly forbidden. Ex. 30:33.
It was customary at festivals, and on other great and joyful occasions, to anoint the head with fragrant oils ; hence it became a sign of joy or happiness; the omission of anointing was therefore a sign of grief. For instances see Ruth 3 : 3 ; 2 Sam. 14 : 2 ; Ps. 23 : 5 ; 92 : 10; Eccl. 9:8; Matt. 6 : 17. Prophets, 1 Kgs. 19:16; 1 Chr. 16:22, priests, and kings were solemnly anointed, and thus set apart to their respective offices. Of the anointing of the latter we have frequent accounts. 2 Sam. 19 : 10 ; 1 Kgs. 1 : 39 ; 19 : 15, 16. The perfumed oil or ointment was usually poured upon the head of the person. It was sometimes done privately by a prophet, 1 Sam. 10 :1; 16 : 1-13; 1 Kgs. 19 : 16 ; 2 Kgs. 9 :1-6, and was a symbolical intimation that the person so anointed would at some future day ascend the throne. After the monarchy Avas established the anointing was done by the priest, 1 Kgs. 1 : 39, probably in some public place, 1 Kgs. 1 : 32-34, and, at least on one occasion, in the temple, surrounded by the royal guards. 2 Kgs. 11: 12, 13. David was anointed three times—privately by Samuel before Saul's death, to give him a claim to the throne, 1 Sam. 16:1-13; again publicly as king over Judah in Hebron, 2 Sam. 2:4; and finally, over the whole nation. 2 Sam. 5:3. In regard to the priest's anointing, at first it was part of the induction into office of any priest, Ex. 40 : 15 ; Num. 3 : 3, but afterward it was a rite practised only in the case of the high priest. Lev. 8:12; Ps. 133:2.
It was common to anoint the person, or some part of it, as the head, feet, hair, etc., for the sake of health or cleanliness, or as a token of respect, and also in connection with religious observances. Mark 6:13; Luke 7 : 46; John 12 : 3. When practised to show respect, the most expensive materials were used, and the ceremony was performed in such a manner as
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to denote the most humble and submissive reverence.
The anointing of the sick with oil was also common. The healing properties of oil are well known ; and though the cures wrought by the disciples of our Lord were obviously miraculous, they still employed the ordinary means of cure. Mark 6 : 13. The apostolic direction, Jas. 5 : 14, respecting the anointing of the sick shows us that, together with prayer, the appropriate means of healing should be employed in dependence upon or in the name of the Lord. The ceremony was not in its nature obligatory, and surely no suflBcient warrant for the rite of "extreme unction."
The bodies of the dead were often wrapped in spices and ointments to preserve them from corruption. Mark 14 : 8 ; 16 :1, and Luke 23 : 56.
The terms " anoint," " anointed," and " anointing" are employed also sjiirit-ually to illustrate the sanctifying influences of divine grace upon the soul. 2 Cor. 1:21; 1 John 2:20,27.
To anoint the eyes with eye-salve, Rev. 3 : 18, is a figurative expression for the gift of spiritual illumination.
The Anointed, or Messiah, who is constituted our High Priest and Intercessor, was anointed with the Holy Ghost, of which anointing that of the priests under the Jewish dispensation is supposed to be typical. Ps. 45 : 7; Isa. 61:1; Dan. 9 : 24; Luke 4 : 18, 21; Acts 4:27 and 10:38. See Messiah.
ANT. Prov. 6 : 6 and 30 : 25. A small insect remarkable for industry, economy, and architectural skill. These creatures are called by an inspii-ed Writer " exceeding wise," Prov. 30 : 24, and Cicero was so filled with wonder at their wisdom that he declared they must have mind, reason, and memory.
The ants were described by the ancients " as ascending the stalks of cereals and gnawing off" the grains, while others below detached the seed from the chaff" and carried it home ,• as gnawing off" the radicle to prevent germination, and spreading their stores in the sun to dry after wet weather." The proverb ''As provident as an ant" was no less common among the people of the Mediterranean shores than "As busy as a bee" is with us. Hesiod spoke of the time—
64
" When the provident one [the ant] harvests the grain."
Naturalists and commentators for a long time have been accustomed to deny the truth of such ideas. It is, however, now acknowledged that in such warm climates as Palestine these insects are dormant but a short time during the cooler season, and that they do store up large quantities of grain and seed, and dry them after rain. The writer has often seen in Judaja a quart or two of chaff and seeds upon ant-hills. This the ants were bringing out to dry in the morning, and carrying into their nests as it grew damp toward night.
J. T. Moggridge, F. L. S., advances proof to confirm the ancient view, in the case of two species common around the Mediterranean. He has discovered the granaries, sometimes excavated in solid rock, in which the seeds are stored. He has seen the ants in the act of collecting seeds, and traced seeds to the granaries; he has seen them bring out the grains to dry after a rain, and nibble off" the radicle from those which were germinating, and feed on the seed so collected. Fi'om these granaries Mr.M. collected the seeds of fifty-four species of plants. In one instance the masses of seeds of clover and other small plants taken from a single nest weighed, by careful estimate, over a pound. That the amount of grain gathered by ants was not unworthy of notice appears from the fact that the Mishna, or traditionary law of the Jews, adjudicates upon the ownership of such stores when found by the people.
Of the 104 species of European ants, only two are known to store seeds. But these two, called " harvesting-ants," are abundant in the Levant ,• hence the familiarity of the ancients with them. The prudence of this insect, as well as its industry, may therefore properly instruct us. That the ant is in every respect '' exceeding wise" is evident from its history and habits, which have been investigated by modern naturalists. Their habitations are constructed with regular stories, sometimes to the number of thirty or forty, and have large chambers, numerous vaulted ceilings covered with a single roof, long galleries and corridors, with pillars or columns of very perfect proportions.
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The materials of their buildings, such as earth, leaves, and the fragments of wood, are tempered with rain, and then dried in the sun. ]'y this process the fabric becomes so firm and compact that a piece may be broken out without any injury to tlie surrounding parts; aiid it is so nearly impervious that the longest and most violent rains never penetrate more than a quarter of an inch.
They are well sheltered in their chambers, the largest of which is placed nearly in the centre of the building. It is much higher than the rest, and all the galleries terminate in it. In this apartment they spend the night and the cold months, during which they are torpid, or nearly so, and require not the food which they lay up.
To illustrate their industry and immense labor, it is said that their edifices are more than five hundred times the height of the builders, and that if the same proportion were preserved between human dwellings and those who build them, our houses would be four or five times higher than the pyramids of Egypt, the largest of which is four hundred and eighty feet in height, and requires a base of seven hundred feet square to support it. The largest of one species of ant (the South American) does not stand more than a quarter of an inch high, while their nests or houses are from twelve to twenty feet high, and large enough to hold a dozen men.
AN'TICHRIST. This word occurs only in the Epistles of John. Ety-mologically, it may mean either one who is opposed to Christ or one who sets himself up in the place of Christ. Comp. "anti-pope," "rival-king." A comparison of the four passages in which the word is found, 1 John 2 : 18, 22; 4:3: 2 John 7, shows that John meant to designate various persons holding heretical opinions in regard to the incarnation of Christ. " Every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist." 1 John 4 : 3. He directs his warnings against this spirit as an existent evil: " Even now are there many antichrists," 1 John 2:18; " Even now already is it in the world." 1 John 4 : 3. We know that in John's day there were in the Church false teachers who denied the union of the divine and human in
Christ and resolved the history of Christ into a mere phantom or myth. Such were Cerinthus and the early Gnostics (who have their followers in the modern assailants of the gospel history).
But this use of the word by the apostle does not exhaust its meaning. It can be also apjjlied to all enemies of Christ, and to all those doctrines and influences which tend to set up against the simplicity of gosp,el truth the traditions or speculations of men, thus weakening or destroying the force of the former.
We should not confound the antichrist of John's Epistles with the beasts from the abyss, or the antagonistic world-powers described in Daniel and in Revelation. More nearly related to antichrist, and yet distinct, is "the man of sin." 2 Thess. 2 : 3.
AN'TIOCH (from Antiochus), the name of two cities in New Testament times.
1. Antioch in Syria, founded by Se-leucus Nicator, about 300 b. c, and enlarged and newly walled by Antiochus Epiphanes.
Coin of Antiochus Epiphanes.
Situation. — This city was about 300 miles north of Jerusalem, on the left bank of the river Orontes, 16^ miles from the Mediterranean, in a deep pass between the Lebanon and the Taurus ranges of mountains. It was sometimes called "the gate of the East," being on the highway from the countries on the Mediterranean to Mesopotamia and Arabia.
Biblical Histnrrj. — Kext to Jerusalem, no city is of greater interest or importance in apostolic history than Antioch in Syria. At this place the disciples were first called Christians, Acts 11: 2G ; it was an important centre for the spread of the gospel, Acts 13: from it Paul started on his missionary journeys, Acts 15 : 36 : 18 : 23 ; important principles of Christian faith and practice were raised and settled
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through the church at Antioch, Acts 14 : 26, 27 ; 15 : 2-30 ; Gal. 2 : 11-14. It was made a "free" city by Pom-pey, was beautified by the emperors with aqueducts, baths, and public buildings: and in Paul's time it ranked third in population, wealth.
and commercial activity among the cities of the Roman empire. Christianity gained such strength there, that in the time of Chrysostom, who was born at Antioch, one-half of the 200,nOO inhabitants of the city were Christians.
Antioch in Syria. (After Cassas. From Lewin's "Life of St. FauL")
Present Condition. —Antioch has been besieged and plundered 15 times, and 7 times destroyed by earthquakes, yet the remains of its ancient walls astonish the traveller. They were 50 feet high and 15 feet thick. The old town, which was 5 miles long, is now represented by a mean, shrunken-looking place of about 6000 population, called Antakieh. An earthquake in 1872 overthrew nearly one-half of the houses; since then almost a new town has sprung up, and near by is a silk-factor.y, and on the river water-wheels for irrigating the gardens. Through the Lake of Antioch flows the Nahr el-Aswad, or " black brook," the Melanes of classic history, which empties into the Orontes 3 or 4 miles above Antioch. Though the modern city is on a beautiful and exceedingly fertile plain between the mountains, and watered by the Orontes, the interior of the town appears 56
to consist " of dreary heaps of ruins, and unsightly, patched, and dilapidated houses, interspersed with rubbish and garbage." (See Baedeker's Palestine and Syria, p. 578.)
2. Antioch in or near Pisidia was also founded or rebuilt by Seleucus Nicator. It was situated on a ridge— Strabo calls it a " height"—near the foot of the mountain-range, and by the northern shore of Lake Ej/erdir. Paul preached there, Acts 13 : 14; 14 : 21, and was persecuted by the people, 2 Tim. 3:11. It was formerly erroneously located at Ak-shcr, but has lately been identified with Yalnbatch, directly east of Ephesus and northwest of ancient Tarsus. Ruins of walls, theatres, and churches still exist there.
AN'TIPAS (prob. contr. Antipa-ter, for, or like, the father), a martyr of the church in Pergamos. Rev, 2: 13. Tradition makes him its bishop.
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ANTIP'ATRIS {for his father), a city built by Herod the Great in honor of his father, Antijiater. It was on the road from Jerusalem to Cacsarea, Acts 23: ill, about 2(5 miles south-east of the latter and 10 miles north-east of Joppa, according to ancient authority. Some have located it at Kefr Salxt, on the plain, 40 miles north-west of Jerusalem ; Wilson and Conder place it at Kala'at lias el 'Ain, ruins between Lydda and Cajsarea, 30 miles south-east of the latter and 11 miles north-east of Joppa. The old Roman road from Jerusalem runs to this place, and thence to Csesarea. " One of the finest springs in the country is near." It did not seem probable to Wilson and Conder that any large town like Antipatris had been at Kefr Saba.
ANTO'iVIA, a castle or fortress built by Herod, north-west of the temple in Jerusalem, and named by him after his friend Antony. It may be the " castle" referred to in Acts 21: 34.
ANTOTHI'JAH {answers of Jehovah), a Benjamite. 1 Chr. 8 : 24.
AN'TOTHITE, THE, a native of Anathoth. 1 Chr. 11 : 28 ; 12 : 3.
A'NUB {confederate), a descendant of Judah. 1 Chr. 4:8.
APEL'LES, greeted and commended by Paul. Rom. 16 : 10. Tradition makes him afterward bishop of Smvrna or Ileraclea.
APES. 1 Kgs. 10:22. Probably a generic term for a variety of animals of the monkey-tribe. The rude resemblance of these creatures to the human race, both in figure and physical capacity, is well known. Apes are not natives of Palestine or adjacent regions, but were among the articles of merchandise imported from Ophir in Solomon's ships.
The ape was an object of worship among the Egyptians, and is still such in many parts of India. We have an account of a temple in India, dedicated to the worship of the ape, supported by seven hundred columns not inferior to those of the Roman Pantheon. An ape's tooth was found by the Portuguese when they pillaged the island of Ceylon many years since, and so desirous were they to redeem
it as an object of devout worship that the kings of the country offered nearly seventy-five thousand dollars for it.
A P H A R ' S A T II C III T E S , APHAirSITES, APHAR'SA-CIIITES, colonists from Assyria to Samaria. Ezra, 4: 9 ; 5 : 0 ; 6:6.
A'PHEK {strength), the name of several towns.
1. A royal city of the Canaanites whose king was slain by Joshua. Josh. 12 : 18. It was near Hebron, and probably the same as Aphekah. Josh. 15 : 53.
2. A city of Asher, Josh. 19 : 30, in the north of Palestine, near Sidon, Josh. 13 : 4; supposed to be the same as Aphik, Jud. 1 : 31, and the classical Aphaca, noted in later history for its temple of Venus; now Afkn, near Lebanon.
3. A place where the Philistines encamped before the ark was taken, 1 Sam. 4:1; north-west of Jerusalem and near Shocho, now Belled el-Foka.
4. A place near Jezreel, in Issachar, where the Philistines were, before defeating Saul, 1 Sam. 29 : 1, and cannot be identified with No. 3, as some have suggested.
5. A walled city in the plains of Syria, on the road to Damascus. 1 Kgs. 20 : 26, 30: 2 Kgs. 13 : 17. It was about 6 miles east of the Sea of Galilee; now called F!k.
APHE'KAH {strong place), feminine form of Aphek. Josh. 15 : 53. See Aphek (1).
APHI'AH {refreshed), one of Saul's progenitors. 1 Sam. 9 :1.
A'PHIK. Jud. 1:31. See Aphek (2).
APH'RAH {fawn, or dust), a place in the low-country of Judah. Mic. 1: 10. It has been identified by some with Ophrah, but there is evidence that it was west or south-west of, and not far from, Jerusalem.
APH'SES {the dispersion), the head of the eighteenth of the twenty-four courses of priests. 1 Chr. 24:15.
APOCALYPSE, the Greek word for revelation, used of the Revelation of John. See Revrlatio.v.
APOCRYPHA {hidden), the name ap])lied most commonly to the uneanonical books that have been added to the Old Testament.
1. Old TestamentApocrypha. —They are
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fourteen in number. I. 1 Esdras: II. 2 Esdras; III. Tobit; IV. Judith; V. The rest of the chapters of the book of Esther, which are found neither in the Hebrew nor in the Chaldee; VI. The Wisdom of Solomon; VII. Ecclesiasticus, or the "Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach; VIII. Baruch; IX. The Song of the Three Holy Children; X. The History of Susanna; XI. The History of the Destruction of Bel and the Dragon; XII. The Prayer of Manasses, King of Judah; XIII. 1 Maccabees; XIV. 2 Maccabees. They do not exist in Hebrew, but were written in Greek, mostly in Alexandria. Though often quoted by the fathers, they were not esteemed as highly as the Scriptures. They are of great value as conveying historical information and containing many instructive sayings and examples. They fill up the gap between the Old and jS^ew Testaments. But they are without divine authority, and cannot be used in support of any doctrine or practice. They are found in the Septuagint, the Vulgate, and all Roman Catholic Bibles, since all but the two books of Esdras and the Prayer of Manasses were pronounced by the Council of Trent a part of the canonical Scriptures. They were likewise printed in Protestant Bibles and by the British and Foreign Bible Society until 1826, when, after a long controversy, it resolved to omit them from all future editions. The American Bible Society followed its example.
2. New Testament Apocrypha. —These are various spurious gospels, histories, biographies, and epistles. They are never printed in Bibles. They are immensely inferior to the genuine books. Many of them are pious frauds, perpetrated with the design of enhancing the glory of Christ and his apostles, but by their nonsensical stories they not only utterly fail of their object, but rather bring their heroes into contempt. They confirm, however, the canonical Gosjjels, as counterfeits presuppose the genuine coins. See Canon.
APOLLO'NIA {helonriing to
Apollo), the name of several places in Europe and Asia, of which Apollonia in Illyria was the most celebrated. But the Apollonia through which Paul passed, Acts 17 : 1, was a city of Macedonia, about 36 miles east of Thessa-68
lonica, and 30 miles south-west of Amphipolis. Lewin locates it at the modern Polina.
APOL'LOS {helomjimi to Apollo), born at Alexandria, in Egj'pt, of Jewish parents, and described as an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures. Acts 18 : 24. As one of John's disciples he had been instructed in the elements of the Christian faith, but coming to Ephesus, a. d. 54, during the temporar}' absence of Paul, was more fully taught the doctrines of the gospel by Aquila and Priscilla, who had themselves been favored with the company and instruction of Paul at Corinth and on a voyage from that city to Ephesus. He afterward preached with abundant success in Achaia and at Corinth. Paul had already been instrumental in establishing a church there, to the care of which Apollos succeeded. 1 Cor. 3 : 6. The members of it were divided into parties, some being particularly partial to Paul, others to Apollos, and others still to Cephas or Peter. The rebuke of the apostle, 1 Cor. 1: 12, is directed against these partialities, in all which the power and grace of God seemed to be overlooked or disregarded. When Paul wrote his Epistle it is likely Apollos was either with him or near him, probably at Ephesus, A. n. 57. From 1 Cor. 16 : 12 we learn that in consequence of these dissensions Apollos absolutely declined to go to Corinth. It has been remarked as an exemplary trait of character of these two eminent apostles that the contentions of their respective friends and admirers had no effect on their love and respect for each other. They both refrained from visiting the church while it was distracted with such prejudices and partialities, though a worldly ambition might have selected it as the field and the season of self-aggrandizement. Apollos is last mentioned Tit. 3:13, and verj' aff'eetion-ately. He was probably a more brilliant man than Paul. Some scholars consider him to have been the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews. But this is a mere conjecture; no exact jiroof can be given.
APOL'LYON. See Abaddon.
APOS'TLE {one sent forth). 1. This term was given originally to the twelve chief disciples of our Lord.
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Matt. 10 : 2. Their names were Simox Peteh, Andrew, James, and John (sons of Zebedee) ; Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, and Lebheus, who is also called Judas or Jude (sons of Alpheus); Simon the Canaantean (or Zealot) and Judas Isoariot. Christ's charge to them is recorded in Matt. 10 : 5-42. All the known circumstances of their history will be found under their respective names.
Speaking generally, the apostles were of the lower, but not the lowest, class of the people. They were all laymen. Their learning was rather of life than of books, and yet it is probable they possessed the rudiments of an education. Religious perceptions and piety they doubtless possessed. Yet they needed much instruction and a miraculous endowment before they were able to do the work of the gospel. The Acts of the Apostles tells us of their first in-dejjendent labors. Paul was called as an apostle, 7 years after the resurrection of Christ, on the way to Damascus. He was not of the Twelve, but was of equal authority. Gal. 1 : 1, 12, 16,- 2 : 9..
The ofiice and commission of apostles "were remarkable in the following particulars: (1.) They were all required to have been eye- and ear-witnesses of what they testified, especially of the resurrection of Christ. John 15 : 27 ; Acts 1: 21, 22 and 22 : 14, 15 ; 1 Cor. 9 :1 and 16 : 8; 1 John 1 : 3. (2.) They were all called or chosen by our Saviour himself. Luke 6 : 13 ; Gal. 1:1. Even Matthias is not an exception to this remark, as the determination of the lot was of God. Acts 1: 24-26. (3.) They were inspired. John 16 : 13. (4.) They had the power of miracles. Mark 16 : 20 : Acts 2 : 43 ; Heb. 2:4; Rom. 15 : 18,19; 2 Cor. 12: 12.
The word "apostle" is also used in a wider sense of Christian heralds of the gospel. 2 Cor. 8 : 23 ; Phil. 2 : 25. (A. V. in both cases translates "messenger.")
2. The term apostle is also applied to our Saviour, Heb. 3 : 1, and with singular propriety, as in the character of Messiah he is emphatically the Sent of God.
APOTH'ECARY. See Perfume.
AP'PAIM (the noHtrih), a descendant of Judah. 1 Chr. 2 : 30. 31.
APPAR'EL. See Clothes.
APPEAL'. The right of appeal
was acknowledged in the Jewish law. Deut 17: 8, 9. For matters of controversy might be referred for final adjudication to " the priests, the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days," in the place chosen of God. But this is not, properly speaking, such an appeal as our law recognizes. Yet we find traces of the principle in the days of the Judges, Jud. 4 : 5, and of the kings. 2 Sam. 15:3. Jehoshaphat established a permanent court before which all cases might come. 2 Chr. 19 : 8. This court was re-established by Ezra. Ezr. 7 : 25. The Sanhedrin in later times was the court of final appeal. By the Roman law every accused citizen had a right to carry his cause before the emperor at Rome, by appeal from the judgment of the magistrate. Acts 25 :1 1 .
AP'PHIA, a Christian woman addressed by Paul in Phile. 2. From the connection in which she stands, preceding a masculine name and linked so closely to Philemon, it has been reasonably conjectured that she was Philemon's wife.
AP'PII FO'RUM {market-place of Ajjphis), a place on the famous Ap-pian Way, 43 miles south-east of Rome, where the disciples met Paul. Acts 28: 15. It was at the end of a canal, and hence filled with taverns and boatmen. Its ruins are still seen near Trepoiiti.
APPLES, APPLE - TREE (Hebrew, breatliincj forth). Song Sol. 2:3-5; 7:8; 8:5; Joel 1: 12. Spoken of in the Scriptures as excellent "among the trees of the wood," of pleasant shadow, with sweet, beautiful, and fragrant fruit. The Hebrew word, by its meaning, is thought to emphasize the latter property. The apple proper is rare in Syria, and its fruit is inferior. Writers have urged the citron, orange, quince, and apricot as the trees meant. The fruit of the latter two alone is s])e-cially aromatic, and of these the quince is not sweet in taste.
The apricot is everywhere abundant in the Holy Land, and of it Tristram says: "Many times have we jiitched our tents in its shade and spread our carpets secure from the rays of the sun." "There can scarcely be a more deli-ciously-perfumed fruit than the apricot; and what fruit can better fit the epithet
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of Solomon, 'apples of gold in pictures of silver,' than this golden fruit as its branches bend under the weight in their setting of bright, yet pale, foliage?" The expression of Solomon just referred to, Prov. 25 : 11, is also supposed to compare/V»/V i)i silver baskets, or salvers curiouily wrought like basket-work, and perhaps representing aniuials or landscapes, to seasonable advice wisely and courteously administered.
Apple of the Eye (Hebrew, little man, or pupil of the eye). Prov. 7:2; Zech. 2 : 8. Apple here represents an entirely different word from the word of the preceding topic, meaning the front and most sensitive part of the organ of vision. The same figure is used, Deut. 32: 10 and Ps, 17 : 8, to denote the most complete protection and security. And in Lam. 2 : IS the phrase '' apple of thine eye " is figuratively used for tears.
AQ'UILA. Acts 18 : 2. A Jew born at Pontus, in Asia Minor. Being driven from Rome by a decree of the government requiring all Jews to leave that city, he and his wife, Priscilla, came to Corinth, and were dwelling there at the time of Paul's first visit to that city. Acts 18 : 1. They were of like occupation (tent-makers), and Paul was received and hospitably entertained at Aquila's house ; and they also accompanied him from Corinth to Ephesus. On some occasion they rendered Paul very important service, and a very warm friendship existed between them. Rom. 16:3-5. See Apollos.
AR, AND AR OF MO'AB. Num. 21 : 28. The chief city of Moab, on the east of the Salt Sea; called also Aroer, Deut. 2 : 36; sometimes used for the whole land of Moab, Deut. 2:29; burned by Sihon. Num. 21:26-30. It has been placed at Rabbah or Rabbath, but good authorities regard it as a different city, and fix Ar on the Arnon, 10 or 12 miles north of Rabbah, at the Wady Lejum. See Rabbah.
A'RA {lion), head of a branch of the house of Asher. 1 Chr. 7 : 38.
A'RAB (ambush), a town in the mountains of Judah, Josh. 15 : 52 ; perhaps the home of the Arbite. 2 Sam. 23 : 35. East of Hebron, at er-Iiabiyeh, is an ancient site marked by walls, cisterns, and ruins, which Conder regards as the Arab of biblical history. 60
AR'ABAH (burnt up), a word of frequent use in the Hebrew, though found only once in the English, version. Josh. 18: 18. It is the name applied to the deep sunken valley which extends from Mount Hermon to the Elanitic Gulf of the Red Sea. This remarkable depression is about 250 miles long, and includes the Sea of Galilee and the Salt, or Dead, Sea, In some passages in Deuteronomy, the plain or "the Arabah" refers to the southern portion of the valley, between the Salt Sea and the Red Sea, Deut. 1:1; 2:8; in other passages the word doubtless refers to the northern portion of that valley along the Jordan, which the Arabs now call el-Ghor. See Jordan. Arabah is now applied only to that portion of the valley which stretches from the chalk-cliffs below the Dead Sea southward to the Gulf of Akabah—Elanitic Gulf. It is about 100 miles long and from 4 to 16 miles wide. The limestone walls on the west of the valley are from 1500 to 1800 feet in height; the mountain-wall on the east side of the valley rises from 2000 to 2300 in height, and in Mount Hor to 5000 feet, and is chiefly composed of granitic and basaltic rock. The surface of the valley is covered with loose gravel, blocks of porphyry, and is furrowed with torrents, with scarcely a trace of vegetation. It is oppressively hot, is swept with burning winds, the Sirocco blowing at some seasons without intermission, a region dreary and desolate. The theorj' that the Jordan once ran through this valley into the Red Sea is now held to be untenable. Arabah in Josh. 18 : 18 has also been mistaken for the name of a city, and confounded with Beth-arabah of Josh. 15 : 61; 18:22; but in v. 18 the word has the article before it in the Hebrew, and hence refers to the plain, as elsewhere. See also Zin, Wilderness of, and Salt Sea.
ARA'BIA (arid, sterile), a largo peninsula in the south-western part of Asia, between the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Persian Gulf. Its extreme length from north to south is about 1300 miles, its greatest breadth about 1500 miles, though from the northern point of the Red Sea to the Persian Gulf is only about 900 miles. It has the sea on all sides except the north. Its
ARA
ARA
area is estimated at 1,030,000 square miles; and of the three ancient divisions of the country, that known as Arabia Felix was by far the largest and most important, though it is less frequently mentioned by the sacred writers than either of the smaller and northern divisions.
Sketch-Map of Arabia.
Physical Features —Its main features are a coast-range of low mountains or table-land, seldom rising over 2000 feet, broken on the eastern coast by sandy plains: this plateau is backed up by a second loftier range of mountains in the east and south. The mountains are generally barren on their sea side ; their outlines are rugged and precipitous; behind the mountains encircling the sea-coast lies a ring of sterile desert, broadest in the east and south, where it is a waste of burning sand, narrower in the west and north, where it is rocky. Within this belt of desert rise tablelands broken by fertile valleys. This central plateau includes about one-third of the Arabian peninsula, the desert another third, and the coast-ranges the remaining portion. The Sinaitic peninsula is a small triangular region in the north-western part, or corner, of Arabia. See Sinai.
Divisions of Arahi(t. —The ancients divided it into Petroea, Deserta, and Felix ; or the Stony, the Desert, and the Happy or Fertile. Modern geographers divide Arabia into a number of large districts, the chief of these being Yemen,
which is the most fertile, and Hadra maut in the south, Oman in the east, Shomer and Sinai, or Negcb, in the north, Iledjaz, containing the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, in the west, andNej'd in the central district. These districts are subdivided into upward of 35 smaller provinces. Some arc thickly peopled with an agricultural jjopuhition or those living in villages, while others are held by tribes of wandering Bedouins, each governed by the sheik.
Prodnctions. —The principal animals are the horse, famed for its form, beauty, and endurance, camels, sheep, asses, dogs, the gazelle, tiger, lynx, and monkey, quails, peacocks, parrots, ostriches, vipers, scorpions, and locusts. Of fruits and grains, dates, wheat, millet, rice, beans, and pulse are common. It is also rich in minerals, especially in lead.
Biblical History. —Arabia in early Israelitish history meant a small tract of country south and east of Palestine, probably the same as that called Kednn, or " the east." Gen. 10: 30 ; 26 : 6 ; 29 : 1. Arabia in New Testament times appears to have been scarcely more extensive. Gal. 1:17; 4 : 25. The chief inhabitants were known as Ishmaelites, Arabians, Idumeans, Horites, and Edomites. The allusions in the Scripture to the country and its people are very numerous. Job is supposed to have dwelt in Arabia. The forty years of wandering by the Israelites under Moses was in this land. See Sinai. Solomon received gold from it, 1 Kgs. 10 : 15; 2 Chr. 9 : U; Jehoshaphat, flocks, 2 Chr. 17 : 11; some of its people were at Jerusalem at the Pentecost, Acts 2 : 11; Paul visited it. Gal. 1:17; the prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah frequently refer to it. Isa. 21:11-13; 42 : 11 : 60 : 7 ; Jer. 25 : 24; 49 : 28, 29. See Kedar.
Secular History. —Arabia in earliest history was divided into several kingdoms, of which Yemen was the chief. In the fifth century the northern Arabs overran Yemen ; later, in A. D. 529, came the great Abyssinian invasion ; then the era of Mohammed, ()22-632, followed by the conquests of his followers, who swept over Arabia, Palestine, Syria, and the whole of Western Asia, Northern Africa, and into Europe. In the next century their power in Arabia was broken and
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lost by dissensions, Arabia was disorganized, but rearranged in 929; furnished rulers for Egypt until 1171, in the time of Saladin ; in 1517 the Turkish sultan, Selim I., was invested with the Mohammedan caliphate, and Arabia be-ciuue subject to, and has since continued under, the Ottoman rule.
A'RAD {wild ass), a Benjamite. I Chr. 8:15.
A'RAD. Jud. 1 : 16. A city in the southern border of Judfea, whose king opposed the passage of the children of Israel, and even took some of them prisoners, for which the inhabitants were accursed and their city destroyed.
A'RAD [jylace of fu(f)tives), a Ca-naanitish city. Josh. 12 : 14, on a small hill now called Tell Arad, about 20 miles south of Hebron. In Num. 21:1 ; 33 : 40 the translation should be " the Canaanite king of Arad."
A'RAH {loundering). 1. A chief of Asher. 1 Chr. 7 : 39.
2. The man whose descendants returned from Babylon, and whose granddaughter married Tobiah the Ammonite. Ezr. 2:5; Neh. 6:18; 7:10.
A'RAM {hirjh region). 1. A son of Shem. Uen. 10 : 22, 2.3 ; 1 Chr. 1: 17.
2. A descendant of Nahor, Abraham's brother. Gen. 22:21.
3. An Asherite. 1 Chr. 7 : 34.
4. The son of Esrom, elsewhere called Earn. Matt. 1: 3, 4 ; Luke 3 : 33.
A'RAM (highlands), the elevated region north-east of Palestine, toward the Euphrates river. Num. 23 : 7 ; 1 Chr. 1 : 17 ; 2 : 23. It was nearly identical with Syria. Aram-nahara-im of Gen. 24:10 is translated Mesopotamia in the English version, and refers to the region between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. There were probably several petty kingdoms included under Aram, as Aram-zobah, Aram Beth-rehob, Aram Damascus, Padan-aram; all these were gradually absorbed by that of Damascus, which became the capital of all "Aram," or Syria. See Syria, Mesopotamia, and Damascus.
A'Yi\.m'^XYi.XRA.'\m [highlands of the two rivers). Ps. 60, title. See Aram,
A'RAM-ZO'BAH. Ps. 60, title. See Aram.
A'RAN (ivild goat), a descendant of 62
Seir the Horite. Gen. 36 : 28 ; 1 Chr. 1:42.
AR'ARAT (holij land, or high land), a mountainous region of Asia which borders on the plain of the Araxes, and is mentioned (1) as the resting-place of Noah's ark, Gen. 8 : 4; (2) as the refuge of the sons of Sennacherib, 2 Kgs. 19 : 37, margin; Isa. 37 : 38, margin; (3) as a kingdom near to Minni and Ashchenaz, Jer. 61: 27.
Ararat was a name unknown to Greek and Roman geographers, as it is now to the Armenian, but it was known to others in b. c. 1750 as the ancient name for a portion of Armenia. In Scripture it refers to the lofty plateau or mountain-highlands which overlook the plain of the Araxes. Various views have prevailed as to the Ararat on which the ark rested. Tradition identifies it with the mountain known as Ararat to Europeans, called " Steep Mountain " by the Turks, and Kuh-i-Nuh, or " Noah's Mountain," by the Persians. It has two peaks, about 7 miles apart; the highest is 17,750 feet, the other about 4000 feet lower. The highest peak is covered with perpetual snow, and is a volcano, having had at least two violent eruptions within a century. The village of Argnri, built on its slopes, is said to be on the spot where tradition claims that Noah planted his vineyard. The mountains of Ararat, Gen. 8:4, more properly refer to the entire range of elevated table-land in that portion of Armenia, and upon some lower part of this range, rather than upon the high peaks before mentioned, the ark more probably rested. For (1) this plateau or range is about 6000 to 7000 feet high ; (2) it is about equally distant from the Eux-ine and the Caspian Seas, and between the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean, and hence a central point for the dispersion of the race; (3) the region is volcanic in its origin; it does not rise into sharp crests, but has broad plains separated by subordinate ranges of mountains; (4) the climate is temperate, grass and grain are abundant, the harvests quick to mature. All these facts illustrate the biblical narrative. Geoi-ge Smith, however, places Ararat in the southern part of the mountains east of Assyria {Chaldean Account of Genesis, p. 289).
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View of Ararat. (^After
ARAU'NAH {nrh ; a Inrrfe ash or pine), OR OR'NAiV, was a Jebusite who lived at Jerusalem and owned a threshing-place or floor, where the temple was afterward built. 2 Sam. 24 :16. David bought it of him because the destroying angel sent to desolate the nation, in consequence of David's sin of numbering the people, stayed his hand at the command of God just as he had reached the floor. Araunah refused at first to receive anything for it, but ofi'ered it to him. together with oxen for sacrifices, and the timber of the threshing-instruments for fuel. David refused to receive them as a gift, as he would not offer to the Lord that which had cost him nothing. He therefore bought the oxen for fifty shekels of silver, 2 Sam. 24: 24, and the whole place for six hundred shekels of gold, 1 Chr. 21: 25, and ofi'ered his sacrifices, which were accepted and the plague stayed. 2 Sam. 24: 23 may be better translated : "The whole, 0 king, does Araunah give unto the King." But taking the Authorized Version translation as it stands, it favors the view of some that the expression " Araunah the king " implies that he was one of the kings of the Jebusites.
AR'BA. See Hkbrox.
AR'BAH. Gen. 35 : 27. See Kir-JATH-ARBAH and Hkp.rov.
AR'BATHITE, THE, i. e. na
Parrot. From I'iehm.) tive of the Arabah Chr. 11 : 32. AR'BEL. Hos. 10:14
2 Sam. 23:31; 1 See Beth-
ARBEL.
AR'BITE, THE, t. e. native of Arab. Paarai was so called. 2 Sam. 23 ■ 35.
ARCHAN'GEL, the prince or chief of angels. The word only occurs twice in the Bible, 1 Thess. 4:16; Jude 9, and it is generally believed that a created, though highly-exalted, being is denoted bv the term.
ARCHEJLA'US (prince of the peojile), a son of Herod the Great by a Samaritan woman. He with his brother, Antipas, was brought up in Rome. On the decease of his father, B. c. 4, the same year that Christ was born, he succeeded to the government of Idumea, Samaria, and Judaea, with the title of ethnarch. His character was cruel and revengeful. Joseph and Mary on their return from Egypt naturally, therefore, feared to live under his government. Matt. 2 : 22. In the tenth year of his reign he was deposed by the emperor for cruelty, on charges preferred against him by his brothers and subjects, and banished to Yienne, in Gaul, where he died.
AR'CHI. Josh. 16 : 2. A place near Bethel, ])erhaps settled by a colony from Babylon, and named after Erech
ARC
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in Babylonia. Conder identifies it with the village of 'Ain 'Arek, which is in the required position.
ARCHIP'PUS (master of the horse), a Christian teacher addressed by Paul, Phile. 2. Some think he was Philemon's son.
AR'CHITE, THE, the designation always coupled, in the Bible, with the name of Hushai, David's faithful friend, 2 Sam. 15 : 32 ; 16 : 16 ; 17 : 5-14; 1 Chr. 27 : 33. It is not certain to what it refers—perhaps to " the districts of Erech which lay on the frontier of Ephraim, but this is mere conjecture."
AR'CHITECTURE arises out of the necessities of human life, and before it becomes an art it administers to the primary demands of civilization. Cain built a small city, Gen. 4 : 17, and after the Flood other cities were built. Gen. 10 : 10-12 ; 11: 1-9. Damascus and Hebron existed in the days of Abraham.
Remains of Arch of Bridge between Zion and Moriah, and near the Jews' Wailing-phice. (From Photograph.)
The patriarchs, being nomads, lived in tents. During their sojourn in Egypt the Hebrews became acquainted with architecture as an art, and they were compelled by force to take part in the construction of huge monuments. Ex. 1:11. Hence it was natural that their imagination should be deeply impressed by Egyptian architecture, and that they acquired some knowledge of the science on which it was based. But during their wanderings in the wilderness they had no opportunity to display it, except in the construction of the tabernacle ; 64
I and at the conquest of Canaan they I found forts and cities prepared by other j hands. Jud. 1:16-26. j It was not till the reigns of David i and Solomon that Hebrew architecture I suddenly started into existence. The j influence from Egypt at once made it-I self felt. David enlarged Jerusalem, \ improved its fortifications, and built a i palace on Mount Zion, perhaps also the ; original walls of the great mosque at 1 Hebron. Solomon built another palace, " the house of the forest of Lebanon," a palace for his wife, the daughter of Pharaoh, gigantic water-works south of Bethlehem, still known under the name i of "Solomon's Pools," and finally the I greatest, and we may say the only great, 1 monument of Hebrew architecture, the temple. These buildings were, to a large extent, erected by Phoenician workmen, 2 Sam. 5:6-11, and we may easily believe that Phoenician taste has made itself felt in many details. But so far as it is possible to reconstruct the temple after the descriptions given of it in the Bible, it must as a whole have reminded the spectator of Egyptian architecture. The remains of an arch of the bridge between Zion and Moriah, and the remnants of the old wall, called the " Wailing-place of the Jews," show the massiveness of the old Hebrew structures ; and from the descriptions it is apparent that everywhere in these buildings, the temple as well as the palaces, the straight line and the right angle were predominant. But massiveness of construction and straightness of form are two of the most prominent features of Egyptian architecture.
The successors of David and Solomon continued to build, and several kings of both Israel and Judah are mentioned as having encouraged architecture. Nor did the nation as a whole forget the art. After the return from Babylon the Jews were able to fortify Jerusalem and rebuild their temple themselves. Ezr. 3: 8-10: 6:14; Neh. 3 ; 6:15. Herod the Great was a great builder, and introduced the Greek and Roman styles of architecture. The temple reconstructed by him before and during the life of our Lord was totally destroyed in A. n. 70. For further details see Temple ; for details concerning the Jewish architecture, see Dwelling.
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ARCTU'RUS, Job
38 : 32 ; a star in the constellation Bootes, but in Job it refers to the Ursa Major or Great Bear.
ARD {fugitive f). 1. A Benjamite; called in Gen. 46 : 21 son, and in Num. 26 : 40 grandson, of Benjamin; name written Addar in 1 Chr. 8 : 3. His descendants are the Ardites.
AR'DON (fugitive), a son of Caleb, the son of Hezron, by his wife Azubah. 1 Chr. 2 : 18.
ARE'LI (heroic), a son of Gad; founder of the Arelites. Gen. 46 : 16 ; Num. 26 : 17.
AREOP'AGITE,a member of the council of the Areopagus. Acts 17 : 34.
AREOP'AGUS {hill of Mars), a rocky hill near the centre of the ancient city of Athens, and west of the Acropolis, from which it is divided by a valley. It had its name from the tradition that Mars (Ares), the god of war, was tried here by the other gods on the charge of murder. It was celebrated as the place where the great court of justice, the most ancient and venerable of the Athenian courts, was held, and where Paul made his address to the Athenians. Acts 17:19-34. Near by were the temple of Mars, the Parthenon, the colossal statue of Minerva, and beneath the hill were the caves of the Furies. There are 16 stone steps now to be seen, cut into the rock and leading to its summit, and above the steps there is a bench of stones excavated in the rock, forming three sides of a quadrangle and facing the south. Here the Areopagites sat as judges, in the open air, and from here Paul made known to the Athenians the " unknown God " and converted one of the judges, Dionysius, who is said to have been the first bishop of Athens and the writer of books on mystical Platonic theology and philosophy.
AR'ETAS. 2 Cor. 11 : 32. The king of Arabia Petraia at the time 5
View of "Mars' Hill," or Aivopamis. {From Lewin's "Life of St, Faui.")
the governor of Damascus attempted to apprehend Paul. Acts 9 : 24, 25. His daughter married Herod Antipas, but was afterward divorced to make room for Herodias. In consequence of this insult, Aretas made war upon Antipas and routed him. The emperor Tiberius then despatched the governor of Syria to the assistance of Antipas, with orders to bring the Arabian to Rome alive, or if dead to send his head. While on the march against him Vi-tellius learned that Tiberius was dead, A. D. 37. He then dismissed his troops. Antipas was soon after banished and his- kingdom given to Agrippa. It is likely that Aretas was restored to the good graces of the Romans, and that Caligula granted him Damascus, which had already formed part of his predecessor's kingdom. In this way we can account for the fact in Paul's life stated above.
AR'GOB (stony), a small district of Bashan, east of the Jordan; named only four times in the Bible. It is about 30 miles long by 20 miles wide, chiefly a field of basalt (black
ARI
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rock), elevated about 30 feet above the surrounding plain, and bordered by a rocky rampart of broken cliffs. It once contained 60 strong and fortified cities, the ruins of many of them being still to be seen. It is now called the Lejah.
Histori/. — Jair took 60 of its cities. Deut. 3 :4, 5, 14. Absalom fled thither. 2 Sam. 13 : 38. Solomon ])laced an officer over its 60 great cities with brazen walls. 1 Kgs. 4 : 13. Porter describes this region as " literally crowded with towns and large villages; and though a vast majority of them are deserted, they are not ruined. I have more than once entered a deserted city in the evening, taken possession of a comfortable house, and spent the night in peace. Many of the houses in the ancient cities of Bashan are pei'fect as if only finished yesterday. The walls are sound, the roofs unbroken, and even the window-shutters in their places. These ancient cities of Bashan probably contain the very oldest specimens of domestic architecture in the world." (See Giant Cities of Bashan.) But these ruins are now ascertained to belong to the Roman period, and after the Christian era. The American Palestine Exploration Society has explored that East Jordan region, and taken photographs of ruins of theatres, palaces, and temples.
ARID'AI {the strollff), the ninth son of Haman. Esth. 9:9.
ARID'ATHA (see above), the sixth son of Haman. Esth. 9 : 8.
ARI'EH {lion), a friend of Peka-hiah : killed with him by Pekah. 2 Kgs. 15 : 2o.
A'RIEL {lion of God), one of Ezra's chief men who directed the caravan which Ezra led from Babylon to Jerusalem. Ezr. 8 : 16. Jerusalem being the chief city of Judah, whose emblem was a lion, Gen. 49: 9, the word Ariel is applied to that city. Isa. 29:1.
ARIMATHE'A {heights), a town in Judaea, and the home of Joseph, who begged the body of Jesus. Matt. 27 : 57 ; Mark 15 : 43 ; Luke 23 : 51; John 19 : 38. An old tradition places it at the modern Ramleh, but this is generally discredited. Some identify it with Ramah; others, with less probability, 66
with Renthieh, 10 miles east of Joppa. See Ramah.
A'RIOCH {lion-like). 1. The king of Ellasar, confederate with Chedor-laomer. Gen. 14 : 1-9.
2. The captain of Nebuchadnezzar's guard. Dan. 2 : 14, 15, 24, 25.
ARIS'AI {Uon-Ul-e), the eighth son of Haman. Esth. 9 : 9.
ARISTAR'CHUS {best mler), a Macedonian of Thessalonica whc accompanied Paul upon his third missionary journey. Acts 20:4; 27:2. He was nearly killed in the tumult which Demetrius excited in Ephesus, Acts 19 : 29, and it is said that he was finally beheaded in Rome. Paul alludes to him both as his fellow-laborer and fellow-prisoner. Col. 4:10; Phile. 24.
ARK. The word indicates three structures. 1. Noah's ark, the vessel constructed at God's command for the preservation of himself and family and a stock of the various animals, etc., during the Flood. Gen. 6 : 14. 2. Moses' ark of bulrushes. Ex. 2: 3. 3. And usually, the ark of the covenant.
1, Noah's Ark. —It was four hundred and fifty feet long, seventy-five feet in breadth, and forty-five in height, and was designed, not to sail, but only to float when borne up by the waters. It had lower, second, and third stories, besides what in common vessels is called the hold. A door was placed in the side, and on the roof a series of windows or a window-course in which some translucent substance may have been used.
The ark was constructed of gopher-wood, and covered with bitumen or pitch to exclude water.
It is doubtful where the ark was built and as to how long time it took. The weight of opinion is that it was from one hundred to one hundred and twenty years. Compare Gen. 5 : 32 and 7:6; Gen. 6 : 3 with 1 Pet. 3 : 20.
The ark is supposed to have been a long, square-cornered boat with a flat bottom and a sloping roof; and the construction of it has been the subject of much curious, not to say useless, speculation. The propoi'tions of the ark, as those recommended by the experience of centuries of ship-building, are of themselves a proof of Noah's inspiration. In regard to the capacity c£ the
ARK
ARK
ark, it was large enough to accommodate the eight persons of Noah's family, and all the animals to be saved in it. Some scholars confine the number of animals to the species living in tlie parts of the world then inhabited by men, excepting, of course, such as live in the water or lie dormant. Traditions of the ark and of the Deluge are found among most ancient nations. See Flood.
2. Moses's Ark was made of the bulrush or papyrus, which grows in marshy places in Egypt. It was daubed with slime, which was probably the mud of which their bricks were made, and with pitch or bitumen. Ex. 2 : 3.
3. Ark op the Covexant, Ex. 25: 10, a chest constructed by the express command of Jehovah, three feet nine inches in length, and two feet three inches in width and height, made of shittim-wood and covered with plates of gold within and without. A border or crown of gold encircled it near the top, and it was surmounted by the
Supposed form of Ark of the Covenant.
mercy-seat, which was of solid gold, and answered the purpose of a cover or lid to the ark. On each end of the mercy-seat was placed a golden image representing a cherub facing inward and bending down over the ark. Two rings of gold were attached to the body of the ark on each side, through which passed the staves or poles, made of the same wood and overlaid with gold, that were used in carrying it from place to place, and these were never taken out. This ark contained originally and in
design, 1. A golden pot in which the three quarts of manna were preserved. Ex. 16 : 33. 2. Aaron's rod, which at different places miraculously budded and blossomed and yielded fruit all at once, Num. 17:8; and, 3. The tables of the testimony, or the tables of the ten commandments, written with the finger of God and constituting the testimony or evidence of the covenant between God and the people. Deut. 31: 26 ; Heb. 9 : 3, 4. Hence it is sometimes called the <xrk of the testimony, and sometimes the ark of the covenant. Ex. 25 : 16 and 40 : 21 ; It is probable that the first two were hopelessly lost before the reign of Solomon. 1 Kgs. 8:9. On the mercy-seat which surmounted the ark rested the awful and mysterious symbol of the divine presence. Lev. 16 : 2; Num. 7 : 89. When the Israelites were journeying through the wilderness, the ark was borne in advance of the people, and their route was providentially indicated by "the cloud of the Lord." When the ark set forward, Moses said, " Rise up. Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee." Num. 10: 33-36.
After the children of Israel had passed the Jordan, whose waters divided at the approach of the ark. Josh. 3 : 14-17, the tabernacle was set up at Gilgal, and this sacred vessel remained in it for a season. It was then removed to Shi-loh, where it was stationary between thi-ee and four hundred years, Jer. 7 : 12-15; and being then taken out and borne before the army, it fell into the hands of the Philistines at the defeat of the Israelites near Aphek. 1 Sam. 4. The Philistines took it to Ashdod and placed it by the side of their idol-god Dagon, 1 Sam. 5 : but by severe judgments God avenged his insulted majesty, and they were compelled to return the ark to the people of Israel, by whom it was lodged at Kirjath-jearim. 1 Sara. 6 and 7. When David had fixed his residence at Jerusalem, the ark was removed thither with sacred ceremonies, and kept until the temple was prepared to receive it. 2 Sam. 6 ; 1 Chr. 15 : 2y-28, on which occasion it is supposed the one hundred and thirty-second Psalm was written. Solomon put it in the temple. 2 Chr. 5 : 2-10. Manasseh placed a
AEK
AEM
carved image in the house of God, probably removing the ark to make way for it. Josiah, however, restored it. See 2 Chr. 33 : 7 and 35 : 3.
The second temple did not contain the ark: whether it was seized among the spoils when the city was sacked, or whether it was secreted and afterward destroyed, does not appear. The Jews think it will be restored when their Messiah appears. Wherever the Jews dwelt or wandered, they always worshipped toward the place where the ark of the covenant rested. Dan. 6 : 10.
ARK'ITE, THE, a Canaanitish family settled in Arka, " a Phoenician town at the north-western base of Lebanon, where the worship of Astarte was practised." Gen. 10 : 17 ; 1 Chr. 1: 15.
AKMAGED'jyON (mount of Me-giddo), a name used figuratively in Rev. 16:16, and suggested by the great battle-field noted in the Old Testament and now known as the Plain of Esdraelon.
ARME'NIA (wo»jifai"ns of Minnif), a name in the English version for a country called Ararat in the Hebrew. 2 Kgs. 19 : 37 ; Isa. 37 : 38. Armenia is in western Asia, between the Caspian and the Black Seas, and the Caucasus and Taurus ranges of mountains.
PJn/sical Features. —It is chiefly an elevated plateau, about 7000 feet above the level of the sea, the highest peak being Ararat, the lower portions of the plateau being broken by valleys and glens, including the fertile valleys of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. It is watered by four large streams, the Aras, the Kur, the Euphrates, and the Tigris, and also by numerous lakes, one of the largest, the salt Lake Van, being over 5400 feet above the sea. Its three mountain-ranges abound in volcanic rocks, in lead, copper, iron, silver, rock-salt, and mineral springs. The climate is cold in the highlands, while the heat of summer is intense in the valleys.
Hixtori/. — Three districts probably included in Armenia are mentioned in the Bible, Ararat, Minni and Ashchenaz. and Togarmah. (1) Ararat was a central region near the range of mountains of the same name. (2) Minni and Aschenaz, Jer. 51 : 27, districts in the upper valley of a branch of the Euphrates. (3) Togarmah, Eze. 27 : 14 ; 38 : 6, was apparently the name by which the most, or perhaps the 68
whole, of the land was known to the Hebrews. Armenian tradition claims that Armenia was settled by Hnik, a grandson of Japhet, about B.C.2200, The land soon became tributary to Assyria, and so continued until the eighth century B. c.; was again independent until B. c. 325 ; subject to Macedonia for 130 years ; again free until B. c. 34 ; since then alternately overrun by Romans, Persians, Greeks, Kurds, and Turks, and divided between Russia, Turkey, and Persia. The people have long been nominally Christian. Religious persecution and war have driven great numbers of Armenians from their native land into Asia Minor and Europe. The present number of Armenians is estimated to be from 2,500,000 to 3,000,000, of whom about 1,000,000 live in Armenia. Its chief modern towns are Erzeroum, Eri-van, and Van. See Assyria.
AR'MOR. See also War. Weapons or instruments of defence. These were in general the shield or buckler, the target, the coat of mail, the greaves, and the helmet.
Egyptian Shields. {After Eosellini.)
1. The shield or 6»c7i-/erwas probably one of the earliest pieces of armor, for allusion is often made to it by the earliest writers. Gen. 15 :1 ; Ps. 5 : 12 : 18 : 2 : 47 :9. It was of various sizes, and usually made of light wood and covered with several folds or thicknesses of stout hide, which were preserved and polished by frequent applications of oil, Isa. 21: 5, and often painted with circles of various colors or figures. Nah. 2 : 3. Sometimes osiers, or reeds woven like basket-work, were used to stretch the hide upon, and sometimes the shield was made either entirely of brass or gold, or covered with thick plates of
ARM
ARM
those metals. 1 Kgs. 14: 26, 21. It was of various forms, but generally circular or oblong. The shield was held by the
1, 2. Assyrian Mail. (Nineveh Marbles.) 3. Part of Chain Mail. (From Kouyunjik.) 4. Greek Cuirass. (From Temple Collections.) 5. Persian Mail.
left arm. The hand passed through under two straps or thongs placed thus, X. and grasped with the fingers another small strap near the edge of the shield, so that it was held with great firmness. A single handle of wood or leather in the centre was used in later times. The outer surface was made more or less rounding from the centre to the edge, and being polished smooth made the arrows or darts glance off" or rebound with increased force ; and the edges were armed with plates of iron, not only to strengthen them, but to preserve the perishable part from the dampness while lying upon the ground. In times of peace the shield was kept in a covering. In times of engagement the shields were either held above the head or they were placed together edge to edge, and thus formed a continuous barrier.
2. The target was a long shield, protecting the whole bodj', larger than the bucklers above described. 1 Kgs. 10:16, 17. It is usually mentioned in connection with heavy arms, while the shield is spoken of with the sword, dart, and other light arms. It probably re-
sembled the great shield of the Romans, which in some cases was four feet high and two and a half feet broad, and so curved as to fit the body of the soldier.
3. The coat of mail of Goliath, 1 Sam. 17 :5, covered the body upon and below the breast and back, and was probably like a shirt covered with rows of brass pieces overlapping one another; and this may have been the usual form. The habergeon of Neh. 4 : 16 is a diff'er-ent translation of the same word. The article so called formed part of the high priest's dress, and "is supposed to have been of linen, thickly woven or quilted, with a binding on the neck, and plated on the breast with mail."
4. Greaves or boots, L Sam. 17 : 6, were for the protection of the legs, being made of brass and fastened by leather thongs over the shins. They are mentioned only as a part of the armor of Goliath, and probably were not in common use among the Hebrews, though they were almost universal among the Greeks and Romans.
5. Helmet. This was a cap, the diverse shapes of which are seen in the figures of the archers, slinger, bearers of shields. In early times skins of the heads of animals were used, but afterward it was made of thick, tough hide, and sometimes of plated brass, 1 Sam. 17 : 38, and usually crowned with a crest or plume as an ornament.
Armor-bearer. Jud. 9 : 54. An officer selected by kings and generals from the bravest of their favorites, whose ser-
Egyptian Battle-axes. (From Rosellini and Chatti' pollion.)
vice it was, not only to bear their armor, but to stand by them in danger and carry their orders, somewhat after the manner
ARM
ARM
of adjutants in modern service. 16:21 and 31: 4.
1
1 Sam.
1. Egyptian Maces and Clubs. Maces.
Assyrian
ARMS were weapons or instruments of offence. They were the sword, the spear or javelin, dart or lance, the boio
Assyrian Swords or Dacrgers. (From Nineveh Marbles.)
and arrow, the slt'ng, the quiver, and the battle-axe. 70
1. The sivord. Gen. 27:40. This was a short two-edged instrument resembling what we call a dagger. It was carried in a sheath or scabbard, Jer. 47 : 6; Eze. 21: 9, 30, and suspended to the girdle or belt. Jud. 3:16; 2 Sam. 20 : 8.
Assyrian Spears and Shields. Marbles.)
{From Nineveh
2. Of the spear there were at least three distinct varieties, which differed chiefly in length and size. (1.) The sp>ear, par
Assyrian Archers behind a large Shield. Nineveh Marbles.)
(From
excellence, was a long wooden staff with a stout metal point at one end. The Greek spears were sometimes twenty-five feet long, and the Arabs now use them fifteen feet long. They were required to be long enough to reach beyond the front
ARM
ARM
rank when used by those who were in the second rank. Goliath's spear was said to have a staff " like a weaver's beam." 1 Sam. 17 : 7. This largest sort of spear was used by Saul habitually. It must have had a metallic point at its butt end, because it was stuck into the ground, 1 Sam. 26: 1, and Asahel was killed " with the hinder end " of Abner's spear. 2 Sam. 2 : 23. It was this kind of spear, and not a "javelin," which Saul threw at David and Jonathan. 1 Sam. 18:11; 20:33. There was a somewhat lighter spear, which was carried on the back when not in use. 1 Sam. 17:6. (Authorized Version translates target.) (2.) Th.Q javelin was a short spear, cast, as is supposed, with the hand. Num. 25:7. (3.) The dart was still smaller than the javelin, and used in like manner. 2Chron. 32:5.
3. The arrow was a slender missile shot from a bow, as in modern days. 1 Sam. 20 : 36. It was used in hunting. Gen. 27 : 3, as well as in combat. Gen. 48 : 22. Those who used the bow were called "archers." Gen. 21: 20. Arrows were originally made of reeds, and afterward of any light wood. The bows were made of flexible wood or steel, Ps. 18: 34, and the bowstring of leather, horsehair, or the tendons of animals. Bows were the chief dependence in both an attack and a defence. The point of the arrow was barbed like a fish-hook. Ps.
Egyptian Archer. (Eosellini.)
38 :2. Job refers to the use of poisoned arrows. Job 6 : 4, and fire was often conveyed by the use of juniper-wood, which
kindled upon the combustible baggage or armament of the enemy. Ps. 91: 5 ; 120 : 4. It is said that the coals of the
Assyrian and Egyptian Quivers and Bows.
juniper-wood retain their heat for a long time. The Phoenicians and, in later times, the Spaniards have used arrows for the like purpose. Arrows were used in divination. Eze. 21 : 21.
Arrows were kept in a case or box called a quiver, which was slung over the shoulder in such a position that the soldier could draw out the arrows when wanted. The position of the quiver and bow is seen in a preceding cut. The drawing of the bow was a test of strength, and is still so among the Arabians. Hence the allusion in Ps. 18 : 34.
4. The s/iHiy, 1 Sam. 17 : 40, was an early weapon of war, by which stones were thrown with great force and surprising accuracy of aim. This skill was shown in a remarkable degree by the Benjamites, who could employ the left hand in its use with great adroitness. Jud. 20:16. The slingers
AKM
AEO
ranked next to the archers in efficiency, and formed a regular arm of the service.
Assyrian Slinger.
5. The hattle-oxe, Jer. 51: 20, was obviously a powerful weapon of war, but of its ancient form and manner of use we have now no knowledge.
The term *' armor," and the various offensive and defensive articles comprised in it, are frequently used figuratively in the Bible, in Eph. 6 : 11-17, where the graces of the Christian character are represented as the armor of God, in which he clothes the believer, and by which he is enabled to fight the good fight of faith with a victorious arm.
AR'MY* The armies of the Israelites embraced the whole male population of the country of twenty years and over, Num. 1: 2, 3 : 26 : 2, and when occasion required, the entire body was readily mustered. Jud. 20 : 1-11 ; 1 Sam. 11 : 7, 8. This accounts for the prodigious numbers which were often assembled. 2 Chron. 13:3: 14:9. See AVar. The system was minute. Each tribe constituted a division with a separate banner and separate ])osition on the march to the Holy Land, and as near as possible in battle. The army gathered from the tribes was divided into thousands and hundreds under their respective captains. Num. 31 : 14. The kings had body-guards. 1 Sam. 13 : 2; 25 : 13. In later times a standing army was maintained, and in war troops were sometimes hired. 2 Chr. 25 : 6. But 72
ordinarily the soldiers received no wages, but were armed and supported. 1 Kgs. 4 : 27: 10 : 26. Hence their campaigns were short, and generally terminated by a single battle. Horses were not used, it is supposed, until Solomon's time. The manner of declaring war, and the character and occupation of exempts, are minutely stated. Dent. 20 : 1-14 ; 24 : 5.
AR'NON {noisy), a stream running into the Dead Sea from the east, and which divided Moab from the Ambrites. Num. 21: 13 ; Jud. 11: 18. The Arnon is about 50 miles long ; 90 feet wide, and from 4 to 10 feet deep at its mouth ; full in winter, but nearly dry in summer; had several fords, Isa. 16 : 2, and " high places," Num. 21: 28 ; Isa. 15 : 2 ; is referred to 24 times in the Bible. Its modern name is el-Mofib. It runs through a deep ravine with precipitous limestone cliffs on either side, in some places over 2000 feet high. Ruins of forts, bridges, and buildings abound on its banks, and fish in its waters; oleanders and almond trees bloom in its valley, and grifi"ons and buzzards may be seen hovering over its cliff's.
A'ROD (a xcild ass), a son of Gad, founder of the Arodites. Num. 26 : 17. He is called Arodi in Gen. 46: 16.
AR'OER {ruins), the name of several places.
1. A city on the north side of the river Arnon, given to Reuben. Josh. 13:9, 16. It belonged to Sihon of the Amorites, Deut. 2:36; 3:12; 4:48; Josh. 12 : 2 ; Jud. 11 : 26 ; taken by Syria, 2 Kgs. 10 : 33; possessed by JVioab, Jer. 48 : 19. It is identified with ruins on the edge of a steep cliflf, 13 miles west of the Dead Sea, and called Ara'ir.
2. A city before Kabbah, built by Gad, Num. 32 : 34; Josh. 13 : 25 ; it was probably not far west of the modern town of Amman.
3. Aroer, in Isa. 17:2, if a proper name, must refer to a region near Damascus.
4. A town in the south of Judah, 1 Sam. 30 : 28 ; now Ar'arah, on the road from Gaza to Petra, and 11 miles south-west of Beer-sheba. Four wells are found there.
AR'OERITE, THE. Hothan, the father of two of David's " mighty
ARP
ASA
men/' was a native of Aroer, but it is uncertain of which one. 1 Chr. 11 : 44.
AR'PAD, OR AR'PHAD {strong city), a town or region in S3'ria. near Hamath, 2 Kgs. 18 : 34 ,• Isa. 10 : 9 ; dependent on Damascus. Jer. 49 : 23. See Arvad.
ARPHAX'AD (stromjhold of the Chaldees), a son of Shem, ancestor of Eber, and also, according to Josephus, of the Chaldseans. Gen. 10 : 22, 24 ; 11: 10-18 ; 1 Chr. 1: 17, 18, 24.
ARTAXERX'ES {the great warrior), the name of two kings of Persia mentioned in the Bible. 1. Ezr. 4 : 7-24, the king who stopped the rebuilding of the temple because he listened to the malicious i-eport of the enemies of the Jews. He is supposed to have been Smerdis the Magian, the pretended brother of Cambyses, who seized the throne b. c. 522, and was murdered after, 8 months.
2*. Ezr. 7 : 7 and Neh. 2 : 1 both speak of a second Artaxerxes, who is generally regarded as the same with Ai'taxerxes Longimanus {i.e. the Long-handed), son of Xerxes, who reigned b. c. 464—425. In the seventh year of his reign he permitted Ezra to return into Juda5a, with such of his countrymen as chose to follow him ; and fourteen years afterward he allowed Nehemiah to return and build up Jerusalem.
AR'TEMAS (contraction of Arte-madorus, the gift of Artemis, i. e. Diana), a companion of Paul. Tit. 3 : 12.
ARTIL'LERY. 1 Sam. 20 : 40. Any missile weapons, as arrows, lances, etc. See Arms.
ARTS, Acts 19 : 19. Pretended skill in the practice of magic, astrology, etc. See Astrology.
AR'IJBOTH {wivdnws, or court), a district including Sochoh. 1 Kgs. 4 : 10. See SocHOH.
ARU'MAH {height), a place near Shechem, where Abimelech lived. Jud. 9 : 41. Perhaps el-Armah, 5 miles southeast of NnhJous.
AR'VAD [tcandering), a small island 2 or 3 miles off the coast of Phoenicia, related closely to Tyre. Eze. 27 : 8, 11. See also Gen. 10 : 18 ; 1 Chr. 1 : 16. Ruins of a huge wall are still found, and Greek inscriptions graven on black basaltic columns. The stones are so immense as to puzzle the best engineers
how to move them. The place is now called liuud, and has about 3000 population. It appears to have been a city since the time of Arvad, son of Canaan, and is probably the same as Arpad and Arphad.
AR'ZA, the steward of King Elah's house. 1 Kgs. 16 : 9.
A'SA ( phi/Hic{a)i) was son and successor of A bij am on the throne of Judah, b. c. 955-914. 1 Kgs. 15 : 8. He reigned forty-one years. Though educated in the principles of a false religion, he showed from the first his decided opposition to idolatry, and even deposed his grandmother, Maachah, because she had made an idol in a grove. The first part of his reign was peaceful, and he improved the opportunity to purify his kingdom from idolatry and to build and fortify several cities; and when Zerah, an Ethiopian king, invaded his territories with an army of a million of men and three hundred chariots, Asa met him at Mareshah with 580,000 men, and defeated him. This battle was one of the most important in Jewish history. 2 Chr. 14.
At the suggestion of the prophet Azariah, Asa set about the reformation of every abuse in his kingdom, and appointed a solemn festival of thanksgiving to God, at which all the people were assembled, and entered into a formal covenant with God. Baasha, king of Israel, finding his subjects too much disposed to go into Judah and dwell there, commenced fortifying Ra-mah, a place near the frontiers of both kingdoms, with a view to cut off the passage of emigrants to Jerusalem and other parts of Judah, Asa, though he had so long enjoyed the favor and protection of God, was now tempted to forsake him. Instead of trusting him for deliverance, as he had done in years past, he sent to Ben-hadad, the king of Syria, and prevailed on him, even in violation of a treaty which existed between Ben-hadad and Baasha, to come to the help of Judah against Israel. The Syrian king, won by the presents which Asa had sent him, immediately attacked and destroyed several important cities of Israel. Baasha, finding his kingdom thus invaded, abandoned the fortification of Ramah that he might
ASA
ASH
protect the provinces of the interior from desolation. Asa seized the opportunity to demolish Ramah and take away the stone and timber which were collected there and use them in the building of his own cities. In the mean time, Hanani the prophet was sent to rebuke him for forsaking Jehovah, and to announce his punishment. But Asa was enraged by the faithful message, and caused the bearer of it to be imprisoned. 2 Chr. 16:10. In the latter part of his life Asa had a disease of the feet, perhaps the gout, but '' he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians." AVe may, however, accejit his sufferings as an extenuating circumstance for his occasional acts of tyranny. He died b. c. 914, in the forty-first year of his reign, and was buried with great pomp. 2 Chr. 16: 14.
2. A Levite who dwelt in one of the villages of the Netophathites after the Captivity. 1 Chr. 9:16.
AS'AHEL {whom God made). 1. David's nephew, Joab's brother, noted for swiftness of foot; one of David's thirty heroes; killed by Abner at the battle of Gideon. 2 Sam. 2 : 18ff.; 1 Chr. 11 : 26 ; 27 : 7.
2. A Levite. 2 Chr. 17 : 8.
3. Another Levite. 2 Chr. 31: 13.
4. The father of one in Ezra's employ. Ezr. 10:15.
ASAHI'AH {lohom Jehovah made), a servant of King Josiah. 2 Kgs. 22: 12, 14. Called Asaiah, the same name, in 2 Chr. 34:20.
ASAI'AH {whom Jehovah made). 1. A Simeonite chief in Hezekiah's time. 1 Chr. 4:36, 41.
2. A Levite of David's time, chief of the Merari, who assisted in bringing up the ark to Jerusalem. 1 Chr. 6 : 30, 31; 15:6,11.
3. According to 1 Chr. 9 : 5, the firstborn of the Shilonite; called, in Neh. 11: 5, Maaseiah.
4. 2 Chr. 34:20. See Asahiah. A'SAPH {collector). 1. A Levite
who was a chief leader of the temple choir and a poet. 1 Chr. 6 : 39. Twelve of the Psalms are attributed to him—namely, Ps. 60 and from Ps. 73 to 83. He is also spoken of as a *'seer" in connection with David. 2 Chr. 29 : 30; Neh. 12 : 46. " The sons 74
of Asaph " were probably a school of musicians.
2. The father of Joah, recorder to Hezekiah. 2 Kgs. 18 : 18, 37 ; Isa. 36 : 3,22.
3. The keeper of the king's forest to Artaxerxes. Neh. 2 : 8.
4. A Levite, an ancestor of Mattaniah. Neh. 11 : 17. Perhaps the same as 1.
ASAR'EEL {lohom God has bound; i.e. by an oath), a descendant of Ju-dah. 1 Chr. 4:16.
ASARE'LAH {tqyright toward God), a musician, 1 Chr. 25:2; called Jesharelah in v. 14.
ASCEN'SION. See Christ.
AS'ENATH {favorite of Neith or Isis-Neith) (Neith is the Minerva of Egypt), Joseph's wife, the daughter of Poti-pherah, priest of On or Heliopolis, the religious and literary capital of ancient Egypt, a few miles north of Cairo. Gen. 41:45; 46:20.
A'SER. Luke 2 : 36 ; Rev. 7 : 6. Greek form of Asher.
A S H. Isa. 44 : 14. Mentioned only once. The true ash is not a native of Palestine. This tree, the wood of which was wrought into the images of idolatry, is believed to be a pine.
A'SHAN {smoke), a city in the plain of Judah. Josh. 15 : 42 j 1 Chr. 6 : 59. The Ashan assigned to Simeon may be another place. Josh. 19:7; 1 Chr. 4 : 32. Conder proposes to place one at 'Aseileh, near en-Rimmon, the other at Hesheth.
ASH''BEA (/ adjure), a name in the genealogical list in 1 Chr. 4: 21. Probably the name of a person; but if a place, it should be Beth-ashbea.
ASH'BEL {rejiroof of God), a son of Beniamin, ancestor of the Ashbelites. Gen. 46 : 21 : Num. 26 : 38 : 1 Chr. 8 :1.
ASH'CHENAZ. 1 Chr. 1:6: Jer. 51:27. See AsHKENAZ.
ASH'DOD {stroiKjhold, castle), one of the five confederate cities of the Philistines, allotted to Judah, Josh. 15 : 46, 47 ; the chief seat of Dagon-worship. 1 Sam. 5. It was 3 miles from the Mediterranean, and midway between Gaza and Joppa. The place is called Azotus in the New Testament. Acts 8 ; 40. It is now a mean village called Esdud; near it are extensive ruins.
History. —Built by the Anakim; not
ASH
ASH
taken by Joshua, Josh. 11: 22 ; allotted to Judah, 15: 47; taken by Uzziah, 2 Chr. 26 : 6 ; by Tartan or Sargon, Isa. 20 : 1; besieged by Psammetichus and destroyed by the Maccabees; given to Salome after Herod's death; Philip preached there, Acts 8 : 40 ; bishops of Azotus or Ashdod are noticed in later history; the city is now occupied by Mohammedans.
ASH'DOTH-PIS'GAH {springs of Pisijah), a valley or place near Mount Pisgah. Deut. 3: 17; 4:49; Josh. 12: 3. See Pisgah, Springs of.
ASH'ER {hcqipy). 1. The eighth son of Jacob. 2. One of the twelve tribes (see Tribes). 3. A territory extending from Carmel to Lebanon, about 60 miles long and 10 to 12 wide, having 22 cities with their villages. The Phoenicians held the plain by the sea, and Asher the mountains. Josh. 19 : 24-31; Jud. 1: 31, 32.
4. A place on the boundary between Ephraim and Manasseh. Josh. 17 : 7. Some locate it at Yasir, 12 miles northeast of Shechem. Drake suggests Asi-reh as the more probable location.
ASH'ERAH {straight). See AsH-
TAROTH.
ASH^ES. Gen. 18 : 27. To cover the head with ashes, or to sit in ashes, betokens self-abhorrence, humiliation, extreme grief, or penitence. 2 Sam, 13 : 19; Esth.4:3; Job 2 : 8 ; Jer. 6 : 26 ; Lam. 3 : 16 ; Jon. 3:6; Matt. 11: 21. The ashes of the altar of burnt-offering on the days of the great festivals were suffered to accumulate, and then taken away the next day by a priest chosen by lot to this work. There was a sort of lye made of the ashes of the heifer sacrificed on the great day of expiation, which was used for ceremonial jjurification. Num. 19:17,18. See Heifer.
ASH^MA. 2Kgs. 17:30. The name of the god the Hamatliite colonists introduced into Samaria; identified with the Pan of the Greeks.
ASH'KELON, AND AS'KELON {migration), one of the five cities of the Philistines; a seaport-town 10 miles north of Gaza; taken by Judah, Jud. 1: 18 ; visited by Samson, Jud. 14 : 19 ; and its destruction predicted in Jer. 47 : 6, 7 ; J^m. 1:8; Zech. 9:5; Zeph. 2 : 7.
History. —Ashkelon was the seat of worship of the Philistine goddess As-tarte, whose temple was plundered by
the Scythians, b. c. 625; was the birthplace of Herod the Great; was taken by the Franks, A. i). 1099; partially destroyed by the Moslems; rebuilt by Richard Cceur de Lion; destroyed again in A. D. 1270. lluins of walls, columns, marble pillars, and inscriptions on stone abound there now, though many of the good building-stones have been dug up and used in Jafia and Gaza. Sycamores, vines, olives, and fruit trees are found there, and also 37 wells of sweet water. Near the ruins of the old city is Jiirah, a village of about 300 population.
ASH'KENAZ {strong, fortified), a district pi-obably in Armenia, the home of a tribe of the same name. In 1 Chr. 1:6; Jer. 51: 27 it is called Ashchenaz. See Armenia.
ASH'KENAZ. Gen. 10 : 3. Son of Gomer, of the family of Japhet, and the probable ancestor of those who inhabited the country of the same name, Jer. 51: 27, lying along the eastern and south-eastern shore of the Black Sea. The precise district is unknown. See Minni.
ASH''NAH, the name of two cities of Judah. 1. One about 16 miles northwest of Jerusalem, Josh. 15 : 33; 2, the other 16 miles south-west of it. Josh. 15 : 43. Conder locates it at Idhnah, but Ganneau places it nt Asalim, near Sara.
ASH'PENAZ {horse-nose ?), the master of Nebuchadnezzar's eunuchs, who showed much kindness and forbearance toward Daniel and his three companions, though at considerable personal risk. Dan. 1 : 3.
ASH'RIEL {voio of God). See As-
RIEL.
ASH TAUOTH, AS'TA-ROTH. 1. A city of Bashan, east of the Jordan, Deut. 1:4; Josh, 9 : 10 ; 13 : 31; the same as Beesh-terah, Josh, 21: 27; probably Tell-Ashterah, in Jaulan,
2. {Ashtoreth, sing,; Ashtaroth, plur. and more usual.) An idol, represented in the subjoined cut, .Jud. 2 : 13; called the goddess of the Sidoni^ns. It was much worshipped in Syria and Phoenicia. Solomon introduced the worship of it. 1 Kgs. 11:33. The Greeks and Romans called it Astarte. The four hundred priests of .Jezebel, mentioned 1 Kgs, 18: 19, are supposed to have been employed in the service of this idol; and we are told that under this name
ASH
ASP
Figui'e of Astaite. (Rawlinson's "Herodotus.")
three hundred priests were constantly em2:)loyed in its service at Hierapolis, in Syria, many centuries after Jezebel's time. - The worship of Ashtoreth was suppressed by Josiah. It was simply licentiousness under the guise of religion. The goddess was called the "queen of heaven," and the worship was said to be paid to the''host of heaven." It is usually mentioned in connection with Baal. Baal and Ashtoreth are taken by many scholars as standing for the sun and the moon respectively ; by others as representing the male and female powers of reproduction. Asherah, which is translated in the Authorized Version " grove," was an idol-symbol of the goddess, probably a wooden pillar.
ASH'TERATHITE, an inhabitant of Ashtaroth beyond Jordan. 1 Chr. 11: 44.
ASH TEROTH KAR'NAIM {Ashteroth of the two hornn), a city of the giant Rephaim in Bashan, Gen. 14 : 5; perhaps modern Sanaiiiein, 30 miles south of Damascus, though Porter thinks it possibly identical with Kenath and modern Knnaicat. Others with greater probability, suggest TeJl-Aeh-tdrd, 20 miles east of the Sea of Garlilee.
ASH'TORETH, See Ashtaroth. 76
ASH'TJR {hlack), the father of Tekoa; i. e. the founder of the place. 1 Chr. 2 : 24 ; 4 : 5.
ASH^VATH {meaning uncertain), an Asherite. 1 Chr. 7 : 33.
A''SI A, used only in the New Testament. It refers, not to the continent of Asia, nor to "Asia Minor" entire, but to a small Roman province on the coast, in the west of Asia Minor, and included the lesser provinces of Mysia, Lydia, and Caria; its capital was Ephesus. Acts 6 : 9 ; 19 : 10 : 27 : 2 ; 1 Cor. 16 : 19 ; 1 Pet. 1:1; Rev. 1: 4. All the " seven churches" were in Asia. See Map.
A'SIEL {created of God), a Simeon-ite. 1 Chr. 4: 35.
AS'KELON. Jud.l:18. SeeAsH-
KELON.
AS'NAH {thorn-hush), one whose descendants returned with Zerubbabel. Ezr. 2 : 50.
ASNAP'PER {swift?), one mentioned in Ezr. 4:10 as "great and noble." Who he was is unknown. It is perhaps best to regard him as the official employed by Esar-haddon to settle the Cuthseans in Samaria.
ASP. Deut. 32:33; Rom. 3:13. A small but very poisonous serpent,
Egyptian Cobra. (Naja huge. Ajter Houghton.)
probably the Egyptian cobra, which dwells in holes. The venom of this reptile is cruel, because it is so subtle and deadly, and requires an immediate excision of the wounded part. For an infant child to play up. ir» the hole of
ASP
ASS
such a venomous reptile would seem to be most presumptuous, and hence the force of the figure used by the prophet, Isa. 11 : 8, to represent the security and peace of the Messiah's reign. See Adder (2).
AS'PATHA {meaniiKj tmcertaln), the third son of Haman. Esth. 9 : 7.
AS'RIEL {vow of God), the son of Gilead, founder of the Asrielites. Num. 26 : 31 ; Josh. 17 : 2 ; 1 Chr. 7 : 14.
ASS. Gen. 22:3. This animal is among the most common mentioned in Scripture, and constituted a considerable part of the wealth of ancient times. Gen. 12 : 16 and 30 : 43 ; Job 1:3; 42 : 12. Asses were sometimes so numerous as to require a special keeper. Gen. 36 : 24; 1 Chr. 27 : 30. The ass and the ox were the principal animals of burden and draught. Ex. 23 : 12. The domestic ass is indeed a most serviceable animal, and in some respects preferable to the horse. He subsists on very coarse food and submits to the meanest drudgery. His skin is remarkably thick, and is used at this day for parchment, drumheads, memorandum-books, etc. The usual color of
The ass was used in agricultural labor, especially in earing (ploughing) the ground and treading it to prepare it for the seed. Isa. 30:24 and 32:20. The prohibition, Deut. 22:10, might have been founded in part on the inequality of strength between the ox and the ass, and the cruelty of putting upon them the same burden, but was intended chiefly to mark the separation of the Jews from surrounding nations, among whom such a union of ditl'erent beasts was not uncommon. So serviceable, and indeed essential, to man was this animal in ancient times that to drive away the ass of the fatherless is reckoned among the most atrocious acts
The Eastern Ass
asses is red or dark brown, but sometimes they are of a silver white, and these last were usually appropriated to persons of dignity. Jud. 5: 10. So in Gen. 49 : 11 the allusion to the ass and the vine imports dignity and fruitful-ness, and the continuance and increase of both in the tribe of Judah, There was a breed of asses far superior to those that were used in labor, and which are supposed to be referred to in most of the passages above cited.
The female, or she-ass, was particularly valuable for the saddle and for her milk, which was extensively used for food and for medicinal purposes.
{After Wood. " Annual Kingdom.")
of oppression and cruelty. Job 24 : 3, as depriving an orphan family of their only cow would be regarded at the present day. The attachment of this animal to its owner is among its remarkable characteristics. In this respect it closely resembles the dog. Hence the severity of the prophet's rebuke. Isa. 1: 3.
The fact stated in 2 Kgs. 6 : 25 shows that such was the extremity of the famine that the people were willing to give an exorbitant price for the head of an " unclean " animal.
The ass, when dead, was thrown into an open field, and that part of his flesh which was not consumed by beasts and
ASS
ASS
birds was suffered to putrefy and decay. Nothing could be more disgraceful than to expose a human body in the like Banner. Jer. 22 : 19 ; 36 : 30.
Our Saviour's entrance into Jerusalem riding upon an ass's colt fulfilled the prophecy in Zech. 9:9. It is not considered in the East less honorable to ride this animal than a horse. But the latter is chiefly used for warlike purposes, as the ass is not. This peaceful animal was approjiriated to the Prince of peace, who came not as other conquerors.
The Arabian ass has a light, quick step. In Persia, Syria, and Egypt ladles are accustomed to ride on asses, and they are particularly valuable in mountainous countries, being more surefooted than horses. Their ordinary gait is four miles an hour.
The ass in its wild or natural state is a beautiful animal. It is often alluded to in the sacred writings. Job 11: 12 ; 24 : 5 and 39 : 5-8. Asses usually roamed in herds through barren and desolate districts. Isa. 32 : 14 ; IIos. 8 : 9. One was recently taken in a pitfall in Astra-chan, and added to the Surrey zoological collection in England. It is described as having a deer-like appearance, standing high on the legs, very active, of a silvery color, with a dark-brown streak along the back.
AS'SHUR. Gen. 10: 22. The second son of Shem. See Assyria.
AS'SHUR, a Hebrew form for Assyria, and in the prophecies and historical books refers to that empire. See Assyria.
ASSHU'RIM (sfejys), descendants of Dedan, the grandson of Abraham. Gen. 25 : 3.
AS'SIR [cajithe). 1: A Levite, the son of Korah. Ex. 6 : 24; 1 Chr. 6 : 22.
2. A descendant of Korah, and ancestor of Samuel. 1 Chr. 6 : 23, 37.
3. A descendant of David. 1 Chr. 3 :17.
AS'SOS, a Greek city of Mysia in "Asia," 19 miles south-east of Troas, and on the Mediterranean Sea. Extensive ruins of buildings, citadel, tombs, and a gateway still exist there. Paul visited it. Acts 20 : 13.
AS'SUR. Ezr. 4*: 2; Ps. 83:8. See Assyria. 78
ASSUR'ANCE. 1. Of the Understanding, Col. 2 : 2, is a full knowledge of divine things founded on the declaration of the Sci-iptures.
2. An Assurance op Faith, Heb. 10: 22, is a firm belief in Christ, as God has revealed him to us in the Scriptures, and an exclusive dependence on him for salvation.
3. Assurance op Hope, Heb. 6 : 11, is a firm expectation that God will grant us the complete enjoyment of what he has promised.
ASSYR'IA, a great empire of Western Asia, founded by Asshur, Gen. 10 : 10, 11, who built Nineveh, Rehoboth (?), Calah, and Resen. Assyria proper appears to have included about the same territory as modern Kurdistan. The empire covered at times a far larger extent of territory, and in its prosperity nearly all of western Asia and portions of Africa were subject to its jjower.
Physical Features. —The chief rivers of Assyria were the Euphrates and Tigris. The country was well watered. On the east and north were ranges of mountains, the highest covered with snow. The central portions were along the fertile valleys of the two great rivers. There are immense level tracts of the country, now almost a wilderness, which bear marks of having been cultivated and thickly populated in early times. Among its products, besides the common cereals, were dates, olives, cotton, mulberries, gum - arable, madder, and castor-oil. Of animals, the bear, deer, wolf, lynx, hyena, antelope, lion, tiger, beaver, and camel were common. The fei'tility of the country is frequently noted hj ancient writers.
Biblical History. —Assyria is among the earliest countries mentioned in the Bible, Gen. 2 : 14, and is referred to about one hundred and twenty times in the Old Testament, though only four or five of its kings are noticed by name. Scripture, tradition, and the monuments of the country unite in testifying that Assyria was peopled from Babylon. Gen. 10 : 10, 11. From the time of Nimrod until two centuries after the division of the Israelitish kingdom the Scriptures make no mention of Assyria. During the rule of Menahem, Pul, the king of Assyria, invaded Israel and levied a heavy tribute upon it, 2 Kgs.
ASS
ASS
15 : 19 ; a few years later, when Pekah was king of Israel, and Aha/, kinji^ of Judah, Tiglath-pileser, another king of Assyria, aided Judah in a war against Israel and Syria. 2 Kgs. 16 : 7-9 ; 15 : 29 ; 2 Chr. 28 : 16. In the reign of Hoshea the Assyrians under Shahnaneser again invaded Israel, and after besieging its capital, Samaria, for three years, captured it, destroyed the kingdom, and carried the peoj)le into captivity, B.C. 721, and repeopled the land by colonies from Babylon, Cuthah, and Ilamath. 2 Kgs. 17: 1-6, 24i Sargon, a usurper and great warrior, succeeded Shahnaneser as king of Assyria, and perhaps completed the conquest of Samaria and of Israel undertaken by his predecessor. Sargon deposed Merodach Baladan, king of Babylon, made an expedition against Egypt, when he captured Ashdod, Isa. 20 :1-1, conquered Syria, and subdued a large portion of western Asia. Under Sargon, Nineveh, the capital of the empire, was repaired and adorned with a royal palace and many magnificent buildings. See illustration on p. 80. He was succeeded by his son, Sennacherib, about B. c. 704, who became the most celebrated of all the Assyrian kings. During his reign of 22 years he crushed the revolt of Berodach Baladan, and drove him from the country; carried his conquests into Egypt, Phi-listia, Armenia, Media, and Edom. He invaded the kingdom of Judah in the reign of Hezekiah, and his army was miraculously destroyed, and he returned home in shame, and was slain by his two sons. 2 Chr. 32 : 1-21; 2 Kgs. 19 : 35-37. He was succeeded by Esarhad-don, who reigned 13 years, and was succeeded by Assur-banipal (Sardanapa-lus), a noted warrior and builder, who extended the limits of the empire and erected a grand palace at Konyunjik. After his reign the empire began gradually to decline, until in B. c. 625 (some say 606) it was subdued by the Medes and Babylonians, and the latter became the dominant power during the great Captivity. 2 Kgs. 24 : 1 ; 25 : 1-8 ; Dan. 1:1; 3:1; 5:1; Eze. 29 : 18. See Nineveh and Babylon.
Art, Lanffitar/e, and ReUffion. —The artistic skill, genius, and magnificence displayed by the Assyrians in architecture and in the arts, as shown bv
the exhumed remains of their great cities, are the admiration of scholars. The massive walls and towers which surrounded their towns; the vastness and beauty of their ruined j)alaces at Khorsnhad and Koni/aujik; the elaborate finish and adornments of their temples and other edifices at Niniroud and Kileh Shenjhnt; the sculi)tures in marble, stone, bronze, and clay; the remarkable specimens of transparent glass vases ; the tables, chairs, and articles of luxury for the home; their chariots and implements of war,—are the wonder of explorers of our day. Canon Rawlinson declares the much-lauded Egyptians to be very decidedly the inferiors of the Assyrians, excepting in the one point of the grandeur and durability of their architecture. The language of Assyria was Semitic, and in style derived, according to Rawlinson, from the Chaldaean, but of a less archaic type. It was written without pictorial representations of objects, and in the arrow-headed or wedge-shaped characters, of which over 300 different signs or characters are now known to have been used in the Assyrian alphabet. " Their language and alphabet are confessedly in advance of the Egyptian."—Rawlinson's Five Ancient Monarchies, 1870, i. p. 247. Of their religion the same author says it is " more earnest and less degrading than that of Egypt. Idols and idol-worship prevailed. Of eleven chief gods and an equal number of goddesses, the greatest was Asshur, one of whose symbols was a winged sphere with the figure of a man armed with a bow issuing from the centre. Among the other gods were Bel, Sin the moon-god, Shamas the sun-god, Ishtar, and Nebo. Their idols were of stone and clay, and were worshipped with sacrifices, libations, and offerings, and by fastings of man and beast. The tablets testify to the attention given to religion by the learned, and the records and sculptures indicate the general si)irit of worship prevailing among the people, while it also shows their gross idolatry."
Modern Discoveries and General History. —Concerning the history of the Assyrian kingdom and empire, comparatively little was known previous to recent discoveries. The researches of
ASS
ASS
Botta, 1842-1850; Layard, 1851-1853; Sir H, Rawlinson, 1850-1867: Oppert, 1857-1870 ; Lenormant, 1868-1873 ; George Smith, 1872-1877 ; and those of Rassam, 1878,—have rescued the annals of that counti-y from obscurity, and furnished the materials for a trustworthy history. These records, together with the vast buildings, monuments, and grand palaces, were buried many feet beneath mounds of earth, and their existence for hundreds of years was wholly unknown to the world. By patient excavation the monuments.
temples, palaces, and other evidences of Assyrian greatness have been brought to light within the past forty years ; even large portions of the vast libraries of her kings have been discovered, the unknown characters in which they were written have been deciphered, and the inscriptions and records translated into modern languages, not only giving a history of the exploits of this remarkable nation, but also throwing much light on its customs, religious life, and language, and upon the many Scripture references to Assyria.
A vast mass of documents has been 6
dug up from the mounds, written in cuneiform or wedge-shaped characters and in the Assyrian tongue. The inscriptions were upon slabs of stone, which formed the panels of the palace-walls, on obelisks of stone, on clay tablets, and on cylinders or hexagonal prisms of terra cotta two or three feet long. These tablets and cylinders were undoubtedly a part of the royal library in the days of Tiglath-pileser and of other noted kings.
" The Assyrian power was a single monarchy from the beginning, and gradually grew by conquering the smaller states around it; and there is consequently a uniformity in its records and traditions which makes them easier to follow than those of the sister kingdom." —George Smith, Assyi'ian Discoveries, 1875, p. 447. A list of 50 Assyrian kings who reigned from B. c. 1850 to B. c. 607 has been compiled from the royal tablets by George Smith. Of these kings, twenty -eight reigned previous to Tiglath-pileser L, B. c. 1120; fifteen reigned from Tiglath-pileser I. to Tiglath-pileser II., B. c. 745 ; and after his time reigned the following seven, four of whom are certainly mentioned in Scripture history : Shalman-eser IV., Sargon, Sennacherib, Esar-haddon, Assur-banipal, Bel-zakir-iskun, and Assur-ebil-ili. The first capital of Assyria was Asshur, on the Tigris, about 60 miles south of Nineveh; its second capital, founded or more probably rebuilt and enlarged by Shalman-eser I., was Calah or Halah. As Assyrian conquests extended north and east, the capital was removed to Nineveh,
AST
ATH
which became a vast city, and according to Layard covered the present site of Kouyunjik, Nimrud, Khoraabad, and Karamles. This space would correspond to the measurements of the city given by Diodorus.— Layard : Nineveh, 1849, vol. ii. pp. 243-247. In his view, Nimrud was the original site of Nineveh, whose founder built a new city at Kileh SJieryhat. In later periods palaces were built at Kliorsahad, Karamles, and the largest of all these structures at Kouyunjik. About 630 B. c. the Medes from the north and the Susianians from the south invaded Assyria; after a brief contest they conquered it, and the empire was divided between the conquerors. The kingdom of Assyria extended over a period of 1200 years, though the empire can only at the utmost be considered to have lasted six and a half centuries, and its ascendency in western Asia not more than 500 years, b. c. 1125-625. Of the importance of the recent discoveries it is said, " Every spadeful of earth which was removed from those vast remains tended to confirm the truth of prophecy and to illustrate Scripture. But who could have believed that records themselves should have been found which, as to their minuteness of details and the wonderful accuracy of their statements, should confirm, almost word for word, the very text of Scripture ? And remember that these were no fabrications of a later date, on monuments centuries after the deeds which they professed to relate had taken place, but records engraved by those who had actually taken part in the events."— Layard : Address in London on being presented the freedom of the city, 1854. See Nineveh and Babylon.
AS'TAROTH. See Ashtaroth.
ASTROL OGERS. Dan. 2 : 27. A class of men who pretended to foretell future events by observing the motions of the heavenly bodies, which, until a comparatively late period, were supposed actually to influence human life. Star-worship prevailed among Eastern nations, and its priests were astrologers,
ASTRON'OMY {the laics or science of the stars). The Bilile gives evidence that its writers were students of the starry heavens, but the Hebrew religion sternly forbids their worship. Some of the constellations are mentioned— 82
e. g. the Pleiades, Orion, the " Great Bear"(Arcturus). Job 9 : 9 ; 38:31. The Jews do not seem to have divided the stars into planets, fixed stars, and comets. During the Babylonish captivity they encountered the astronomy as well as the astrology of the far-famed Chal-daaans. Indeed, in Chaldaja was the birthjjlace of the science. In the case of the magi, Matt. 2, God used their as-ti'ology as a means of grace to lead them to Christ. See Star of Bethlehem.
ASUP^PIM, HOUSE OF {house of gatherings). 1 Chr. 26 : 15, 17. It refers either to the chambers of the temple, perhaps where the elders sat, or to some one of the aj^artments of the temple where the stores were kept. The word is rendered " thresholds " in Neh. 12: 25.
ASYN'CRITUS [incomimrable), a Christian in Kome whom Paul saluted. Rom. 16 : 14.
A'TAD, THRESHING -FLOOR OF. Gen. 50:10, 11. Its name was changed to Abel-mizraim, which see.
AT^ARAH (a crown), one of the wives of Jerahmeel. 1 Chr. 2 : 26.
AT'AROTH (croions). 1. A town of Gad, east of the Jordan, Num. 32: 3, 34, about 7 miles north-west of Dibon; now the ruin Attarus.
2. A town of Ephraim, Josh. 16:2; perhaps the same as Ataroth-adar and Ataroth-addar. Josh. 18 : 13. It may be the modern Atdra,% miles north-west of Bethel, though Conder suggests that it is identical with ruins discovered at ed-Ddrieh.
3. In 1 Chr. 2 : 54, Ataroth, the house of Joab, if a place, may refer to one in Judah, which Schwartz would identify with Latrum, between Jaffa and Jeru-s i\\ G m
AT'AROTH-AD'DAR {crowns of fame). See Ataroth, 2.
A'TER {shut up). 1. One whose children kept the temple-gate. Ezr. 2 : 42 ; Neh. 7 : 45.
2. The ancestor of some who came back with Zerubbabel, and who signed the covenant. Ezr. 2:16; Neh. 7 : 21; 10:17.
A'THACH {lodging-place), a town in the south of Judah ; perhaps the same as Ether. Josh. 19 : 7 ; 1 Sam. 30 : 30.
ATHAI'AH (probably same as