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Beer - well. (1.)
A place where a well was dug by the direction of Moses, at the
forty-fourth station of the Hebrews in their wanderings (Num.
21:16-18) in the wilderness of Moab. (See
WELL.)
(2.) A town in the tribe of Judah to which
Jotham fled for fear of Abimelech (Judg. 9:21). Some have identified
this place with Beeroth.
Beer-elim - well of
heroes, probably the name given to Beer, the place where the chiefs
of Israel dug a well (Num. 21:16; Isa. 15:8).
Beeri -
illustrious, or the well-man. (1.) The father of Judith, one of the
wives of Esau (Gen. 26:34), the same as Adah (Gen. 36:2). (2.) The
father of the prophet Hosea (1:1).
Beer-lahai-roi -
i.e., "the well of him that liveth and seeth me," or, as some
render it, "the well of the vision of life", the well where the Lord
met with Hagar (Gen. 16:7-14). Isaac dwelt beside this well (24:62;
25:11). It has been identified with 'Ain Muweileh, or Moilahhi,
south-west of Beersheba, and about 12 miles W. from Kadesh-barnea.
Beeroth -
wells, one of the four cities of the Hivites which entered by fraud
into a league with Joshua. It belonged to Benjamin (Josh. 18:25). It
has by some been identified with el-Bireh on the way to Nablus, 10
miles north of Jerusalem.
Beeroth of the
children of Jaakan - (Deut. 10:6). The same as Bene-jaakan (Num.
33:31).
Beersheba -
well of the oath, or well of seven, a well dug by Abraham, and so
named because he and Abimelech here entered into a compact (Gen.
21:31). On re-opening it, Isaac gave it the same name (Gen.
26:31-33). It was a favourite place of abode of both of these
patriarchs (21:33-22:1, 19; 26:33; 28:10). It is mentioned among the
"cities" given to the tribe of Simeon (Josh. 19:2; 1 Chr. 4:28).
From Dan to Beersheba, a distance of about 144 miles (Judg. 20:1; 1
Chr. 21:2; 2 Sam. 24:2), became the usual way of designating the
whole Promised Land, and passed into a proverb. After the return
from the Captivity the phrase is narrowed into "from Beersheba unto
the valley of Hinnom" (Neh. 11:30). The kingdom of the ten tribes
extended from Beersheba to Mount Ephraim (2 Chr. 19:4). The name is
not found in the New Testament. It is still called by the Arabs Bir
es-Seba, i.e., "well of the seven", where there are to the present
day two principal wells and five smaller ones. It is nearly midway
between the southern end of the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean.
Beetle - (Heb.
hargol, meaning "leaper"). Mention of it is made only in Lev. 11:22,
where it is obvious the word cannot mean properly the beetle. It
denotes some winged creeper with at least four feet, "which has legs
above its feet, to leap withal." The description plainly points to
the locust (q.v.). This has been an article of food from the
earliest times in the East to the present day. The word is rendered
"cricket" in the Revised Version.
Beeves - (an
old English plural of the word beef), a name applicable to all
ruminating animals except camels, and especially to the Bovidce, or
horned cattle (Lev. 22:19, 21; Num. 31:28, 30, 33, 38, 44).
Beg - That the
poor existed among the Hebrews we have abundant evidence (Ex. 23:11;
Deut. 15:11), but there is no mention of beggars properly so called
in the Old Testament. The poor were provided for by the law of Moses
(Lev. 19:10; Deut. 12:12; 14:29). It is predicted of the seed of the
wicked that they shall be beggars (Ps. 37:25; 109:10).
In the New Testament we find not seldom
mention made of beggars (Mark 10:46; Luke 16:20, 21; Acts 3:2), yet
there is no mention of such a class as vagrant beggars, so numerous
in the East. "Beggarly," in Gal. 4:9, means worthless.
Behead - a
method of taking away life practised among the Egyptians (Gen.
40:17-19). There are instances of this mode of punishment also among
the Hebrews (2 Sam. 4:8; 20:21,22; 2 Kings 10:6-8). It is also
mentioned in the New Testament (Matt. 14:8-12; Acts 12:2).
Behemoth - (Job
40:15-24). Some have supposed this to be an Egyptian word meaning a
"water-ox." The Revised Version has here in the margin
"hippopotamus," which is probably the correct rendering of the word.
The word occurs frequently in Scripture, but, except here, always as
a common name, and translated "beast" or "cattle."
Bekah - Both
the name and its explanation, "a half shekel," are given in Ex.
38:26. The word properly means a "division," a "part." (R.V., "beka.")
Bel - the
Aramaic form of Baal, the national god of the Babylonians (Isa.
46:1; Jer. 50:2; 51:44). It signifies "lord." (See
BAAL.)
Bela - a thing
swallowed. (1.) A city on the shore of the Dead Sea, not far from
Sodom, called also Zoar. It was the only one of the five cities that
was spared at Lot's intercession (Gen. 19:20,23). It is first
mentioned in Gen. 14:2,8.
(2.) The eldest son of Benjamin (Num. 26:38;
"Belah," Gen. 46:21).
(3.) The son of Beor, and a king of Edom
(Gen. 36:32, 33; 1 Chr. 1:43).
(4.) A son of Azaz (1 Chr. 5:8).
Belial -
worthlessness, frequently used in the Old Testament as a proper
name. It is first used in Deut. 13:13. In the New Testament it is
found only in 2 Cor. 6:15, where it is used as a name of Satan, the
personification of all that is evil. It is translated "wicked" in
Deut. 15:9; Ps. 41:8 (R.V. marg.); 101:3; Prov. 6:12, etc. The
expression "son" or "man of Belial" means simply a worthless,
lawless person (Judg. 19:22; 20:13; 1 Sam. 1:16; 2:12).
Bell - The
bells first mentioned in Scripture are the small golden bells
attached to the hem of the high priest's ephod (Ex. 28:33, 34, 35).
The "bells of the horses" mentioned by Zechariah (14:20) were
attached to the bridles or belts round the necks of horses trained
for war, so as to accustom them to noise and tumult.
Bellows -
occurs only in Jer. 6:29, in relation to the casting of metal.
Probably they consisted of leather bags similar to those common in
Egypt.
Belly - the
seat of the carnal affections (Titus 1:12; Phil. 3:19; Rom. 16:18).
The word is used symbolically for the heart (Prov. 18:8; 20:27;
22:18, marg.). The "belly of hell" signifies the grave or underworld
(Jonah 2:2).
Belshazzar -
Bel protect the king!, the last of the kings of Babylon (Dan. 5:1).
He was the son of Nabonidus by Nitocris, who was the daughter of
Nebuchadnezzar and the widow of Nergal-sharezer. When still young he
made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and when heated with
wine sent for the sacred vessels his "father" (Dan. 5:2), or
grandfather, Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from the temple in
Jerusalem, and he and his princes drank out of them. In the midst of
their mad revelry a hand was seen by the king tracing on the wall
the announcement of God's judgment, which that night fell upon him.
At the instance of the queen (i.e., his mother) Daniel was brought
in, and he interpreted the writing. That night the kingdom of the
Chaldeans came to an end, and the king was slain (Dan. 5:30). (See
NERGAL-SHAREZER ¯T0002709.)
The absence of the name of Belshazzar on the
monuments was long regarded as an argument against the genuineness
of the Book of Daniel. In 1854 Sir Henry Rawlinson found an
inscription of Nabonidus which referred to his eldest son. Quite
recently, however, the side of a ravine undermined by heavy rains
fell at Hillah, a suburb of Babylon. A number of huge, coarse
earthenware vases were laid bare. These were filled with tablets,
the receipts and contracts of a firm of Babylonian bankers, which
showed that Belshazzar had a household, with secretaries and
stewards. One was dated in the third year of the king
Marduk-sar-uzur. As Marduk-sar-uzar was another name for Baal, this
Marduk-sar-uzur was found to be the Belshazzar of Scripture. In one
of these contract tablets, dated in the July after the defeat of the
army of Nabonidus, we find him paying tithes for his sister to the
temple of the sun-god at Sippara.
Belteshazzar -
Beltis protect the king!, the Chaldee name given to Daniel by
Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 1:7).
Benaiah - built
up by Jehovah. (1.) The son of Jehoiada, chief priest (1 Chr. 27:5).
He was set by David over his body-guard of Cherethites and
Pelethites (2 Sam. 8:18; 1 Kings 1:32; 1 Chr. 18:17). His exploits
are enumerated in 2 Sam. 23:20, 21, 22; 1 Chr. 11:22. He remained
faithful to Solomon (1 Kings 1:8, 10, 26), by whom he was raised to
the rank of commander-in-chief (1 Kings 2:25, 29, 30, 34, 35; 4:4).
(2.) 2 Sam. 23:30; 1 Chr. 11:31.
(3.) A musical Levite (1 Chr. 15:18, 20).
(4.) A priest (1 Chr. 15:24; 16:6).
(5.) The son of Jeiel (2 Chr. 20:14).
Ben-ammi - son
of my kindred; i.e., "born of incest", the son of Lot by his
youngest daughter (Gen. 19:38).
Bench - deck of
a Tyrian ship, described by Ezekiel (27:6) as overlaid with
box-wood.
Bene-jaakan -
children of Jaakan (Num. 33:31, 32), the same as Beeroth.
Ben-hadad - the
standing title of the Syrian kings, meaning "the son of Hadad." (See
HADADEZER.)
(1.) The king of Syria whom Asa, king of
Judah, employed to invade Israel (1 Kings 15:18).
(2.) Son of the preceding, also king of
Syria. He was long engaged in war against Israel. He was murdered
probably by Hazael, by whom he was succeeded (2 Kings 8:7-15), after
a reign of some thirty years.
(3.) King of Damascus, and successor of his
father Hazael on the throne of Syria (2 Kings 13:3, 4). His
misfortunes in war are noticed by Amos (1:4).
Benjamin - son of
my right hand. (1.) The younger son of Jacob by Rachel (Gen. 35:18).
His birth took place at Ephrath, on the road between Bethel and
Bethlehem, at a short distance from the latter place. His mother
died in giving him birth, and with her last breath named him Ben-oni,
son of my pain, a name which was changed by his father into
Benjamin. His posterity are called Benjamites (Gen. 49:27; Deut.
33:12; Josh. 18:21).
The tribe of Benjamin at the Exodus was the
smallest but one (Num. 1:36, 37; Ps. 68:27). During the march its
place was along with Manasseh and Ephraim on the west of the
tabernacle. At the entrance into Canaan it counted 45,600 warriors.
It has been inferred by some from the words of Jacob (Gen. 49:27)
that the figure of a wolf was on the tribal standard. This tribe is
mentioned in Rom. 11:1; Phil. 3:5.
The inheritance of this tribe lay immediately
to the south of that of Ephraim, and was about 26 miles in length
and 12 in breadth. Its eastern boundary was the Jordan. Dan
intervened between it and the Philistines. Its chief towns are named
in Josh. 18:21-28.
The history of the tribe contains a sad
record of a desolating civil war in which they were engaged with the
other eleven tribes. By it they were almost exterminated (Judg.
20:20, 21; 21:10). (See
GIBEAH.)
The first king of the Jews was Saul, a
Benjamite. A close alliance was formed between this tribe and that
of Judah in the time of David (2 Sam. 19:16, 17), which continued
after his death (1 Kings 11:13; 12:20). After the Exile these two
tribes formed the great body of the Jewish nation (Ezra 1:5; 10:9).
The tribe of Benjamin was famous for its
archers (1 Sam. 20:20, 36; 2 Sam. 1:22; 1 Chr. 8:40; 12:2) and
slingers (Judge. 20:6).
The gate of Benjamin, on the north side of
Jerusalem (Jer. 37:13; 38:7; Zech. 14:10), was so called because it
led in the direction of the territory of the tribe of Benjamin. It
is called by Jeremiah (20:2) "the high gate of Benjamin;" also "the
gate of the children of the people" (17:19). (Comp. 2 Kings 14:13.)
Beor - a torch.
(1.) The father of Bela, one of the kings of Edom (Gen. 36:32).
(2.) The father of Balaam (Num. 22:5; 24:3,
15; 31:8). In 2 Pet. 2:15 he is called Bosor.
Bera - gift, or
son of evil, king of Sodom at the time of the invasion of the four
kings under Chedorlaomer (Gen. 14:2, 8, 17, 21).
Berachah -
blessing. (1.) A valley not far from Engedi, where Jehoshaphat
overthrew the Moabites and Ammonites (2 Chr. 20:26). It has been
identified with the valley of Bereikut. (R.V., "Beracah.")
(2.) One of the Benjamite warriors, Saul's
brethren, who joined David when at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:3).
Berea - a city
of Macedonia to which Paul with Silas and Timotheus went when
persecuted at Thessalonica (Acts 17:10, 13), and from which also he
was compelled to withdraw, when he fled to the sea-coast and thence
sailed to Athens (14, 15). Sopater, one of Paul's companions
belonged to this city, and his conversion probably took place at
this time (Acts 20:4). It is now called Verria.
Berechiah -
blessed by Jehovah. (1.) Son of Shimea, and father of Asaph the
musician (1 Chr. 6:39; 15:17).
(2.) One of the seven Ephraimite chieftains,
son of Meshillemoth (2 Chr. 28:12).
(3.) The fourth of the five sons of
Zerubbabel, of the royal family of Judah (1 Chr. 3:20).
(4.) The father of the prophet Zechariah
(1:1,7).
Bered - hail.
(1.) A town in the south of Palestine (Gen. 16:14), in the desert of
Shur, near Lahai-roi.
(2.) A son of Shuthelah, and grandson of
Ephraim (1 Chr. 7:20).
Beriah - a
gift, or in evil. (1.) One of Asher's four sons, and father of Heber
(Gen. 46:17).
(2.) A son of Ephraim (1 Chr. 7:20-23), born
after the slaughter of his brothers, and so called by his father
"because it went evil with his house" at that time.
(3.) A Benjamite who with his brother Shema
founded Ajalon and expelled the Gittites (1 Chr. 8:13).
Bernice -
bearer of victory, the eldest daughter of Agrippa I., the Herod
Agrippa of Acts 12:20. After the early death of her first husband
she was married to her uncle Herod, king of Chalcis. After his death
(A.D. 40) she lived in incestuous connection with her brother
Agrippa II. (Acts 25:13, 23; 26:30). They joined the Romans at the
outbreak of the final war between them and the Jews, and lived
afterwards at Rome.
Berodach-baladan -
the king of Babylon who sent a friendly deputation to Hezekiah
(2 Kings 20:12). In Isa. 39:1 he is called Merodach-baladan (q.v.).
Beryl - the
rendering in the Authorized Version of the Hebrew word tarshish,
a precious stone; probably so called as being brought from Tarshish.
It was one of the stones on the breastplate of the high priest (Ex.
28:20; R.V. marg., "chalcedony;" 39:13). The colour of the wheels in
Ezekiel's vision was as the colour of a beryl stone (1:16; 10:9; R.V.,
"stone of Tarshish"). It is mentioned in Cant. 5:14; Dan. 10:6; Rev.
21:20. In Ezek. 28:13 the LXX. render the word by "chrysolite,"
which the Jewish historian Josephus regards as its proper
translation. This also is the rendering given in the Authorized
Version in the margin. That was a gold-coloured gem, the topaz of
ancient authors.
Besom - the
rendering of a Hebrew word meaning sweeper, occurs only in Isa.
14:23, of the sweeping away, the utter ruin, of Babylon.
Besor - cold, a
ravine or brook in the extreme south-west of Judah, where 200 of
David's men stayed behind because they were faint, while the other
400 pursued the Amalekites (1 Sam. 30:9, 10, 21). Probably the
Wadyes Sheriah, south of Gaza.
Bestead - the
rendering in Isa. 8:21, where alone it occurs, of a Hebrew word
meaning to oppress, or be in circumstances of hardship.
Betah -
confidence, a city belonging to Hadadezer, king of Zobah, which
yielded much spoil of brass to David (2 Sam. 8:8). In 1 Chr. 18:8 it
is called Tibhath.
Beth - occurs
frequently as the appellation for a house, or dwelling-place, in
such compounds as the words immediately following:
Bethabara -
house of the ford, a place on the east bank of the Jordan, where
John was baptizing (John 1:28). It may be identical with Bethbarah,
the ancient ford of Jordan of which the men of Ephraim took
possession (Judg. 7:24). The Revised Version reads "Bethany beyond
Jordan." It was the great ford, and still bears the name of "the
ford," Makhadhet 'Abarah, "the ford of crossing over," about 25
miles from Nazareth. (See
BETHBARAH.)
Beth-anath - house
of response, one of the fenced cities of Naphtali (Josh. 19:38). It
is perhaps identical with the modern village 'Ainata, 6 miles west
of Kedesh.
Beth-anoth -
house of answers, a city in the mountainous district of Judah (Josh.
15:59). It has been identified with the modern Beit-'Anun, about 3
miles northeast of Hebron.
Bethany - house
of dates. (1.) The Revised Version in John 1:28 has this word
instead of Bethabara, on the authority of the oldest manuscripts. It
appears to have been the name of a place on the east of Jordan.
(2.) A village on the south-eastern slope of
the Mount of Olives (Mark 11:1), about 2 miles east of Jerusalem, on
the road to Jericho. It derived its name from the number of
palm-trees which grew there. It was the residence of Lazarus and his
sisters. It is frequently mentioned in connection with memorable
incidents in the life of our Lord (Matt. 21:17; 26:6; Mark 11:11,
12; 14:3; Luke 24:50; John 11:1; 12:1). It is now known by the name
of el-Azariyeh, i.e., "place of Lazarus," or simply Lazariyeh. Seen
from a distance, the village has been described as "remarkably
beautiful, the perfection of retirement and repose, of seclusion and
lovely peace." Now a mean village, containing about twenty families.
Beth-arabah -
house of the desert, one of the six cities of Judah, situated in the
sunk valley of the Jordan and Dead Sea (Josh. 18:22). In Josh. 15:61
it is said to have been "in the wilderness." It was afterwards
included in the towns of Benjamin. It is called Arabah (Josh.
18:18).
Beth-aram -
house of the height; i.e., "mountain-house", one of the towns of
Gad, 3 miles east of Jordan, opposite Jericho (Josh. 13:27).
Probably the same as Beth-haran in Num. 32:36. It was called by king
Herod, Julias, or Livias, after Livia, the wife of Augustus. It is
now called Beit-haran.
Beth-arbel -
house of God's court, a place alluded to by Hosea (10:14) as the
scene of some great military exploit, but not otherwise mentioned in
Scripture. The Shalman here named was probably Shalmaneser, the king
of Assyria (2 Kings 17:3).
Beth-aven -
house of nothingness; i.e., "of idols", a place in the mountains of
Benjamin, east of Bethel (Josh. 7:2; 18:12; 1 Sam. 13:5). In Hos.
4:15; 5:8; 10:5 it stands for "Bethel" (q.v.), and it is so called
because it was no longer the "house of God," but "the house of
idols," referring to the calves there worshipped.
Beth-barah -
house of crossing, a place south of the scene of Gideon's victory (Judg.
7:24). It was probably the chief ford of the Jordan in that
district, and may have been that by which Jacob crossed when he
returned from Mesopotamia, near the Jabbok (Gen. 32:22), and at
which Jephthah slew the Ephraimites (Judg. 12:4). Nothing, however,
is certainly known of it. (See
BETHABARA.)
Beth-car -
sheep-house, a place to which the Israelites pursued the Philistines
west from Mizpeh (1 Sam. 7:11).
Beth-dagon -
house of Dagon. (1.) A city in the low country or plain of Judah,
near Philistia (Josh. 15:41); the modern Beit Degan, about 5 miles
from Lydda.
(2.) A city near the south-east border of
Asher (Josh. 19:27). It was a Philistine colony. It is identical
with the modern ruined village of Tell D'auk.
Beth-diblathaim -
house of two cakes of figs, a city of Moab, upon which Jeremiah
(48:22) denounced destruction. It is called also Almon-diblathaim
(Num. 33:46) and Diblath (Ezek. 6:14). (R.V., "Diblah.")
Bethel - house
of God. (1.) A place in Central Palestine, about 10 miles north of
Jerusalem, at the head of the pass of Michmash and Ai. It was
originally the royal Canaanite city of Luz (Gen. 28:19). The name
Bethel was at first apparently given to the sanctuary in the
neighbourhood of Luz, and was not given to the city itself till
after its conquest by the tribe of Ephraim. When Abram entered
Canaan he formed his second encampment between Bethel and Hai (Gen.
12:8); and on his return from Egypt he came back to it, and again
"called upon the name of the Lord" (13:4). Here Jacob, on his way
from Beersheba to Haran, had a vision of the angels of God ascending
and descending on the ladder whose top reached unto heaven (28:10,
19); and on his return he again visited this place, "where God
talked with him" (35:1-15), and there he "built an altar, and called
the place El-beth-el" (q.v.). To this second occasion of God's
speaking with Jacob at Bethel, Hosea (12:4,5) makes reference.
In troublous times the people went to Bethel
to ask counsel of God (Judg. 20:18, 31; 21:2). Here the ark of the
covenant was kept for a long time under the care of Phinehas, the
grandson of Aaron (20:26-28). Here also Samuel held in rotation his
court of justice (1 Sam. 7:16). It was included in Israel after the
kingdom was divided, and it became one of the seats of the worship
of the golden calf (1 Kings 12:28-33; 13:1). Hence the prophet Hosea
(Hos. 4:15; 5:8; 10:5, 8) calls it in contempt Beth-aven, i.e.,
"house of idols." Bethel remained an abode of priests even after the
kingdom of Israel was desolated by the king of Assyria (2 Kings
17:28, 29). At length all traces of the idolatries were extirpated
by Josiah, king of Judah (2 Kings 23:15-18); and the place was still
in existence after the Captivity (Ezra 2:28; Neh. 7:32). It has been
identified with the ruins of Beitin, a small village amid extensive
ruins some 9 miles south of Shiloh.
(2.) Mount Bethel was a hilly district near
Bethel (Josh. 16:1; 1 Sam. 13:2).
(3.) A town in the south of Judah (Josh.
8:17; 12:16).
Bethelite - a
designation of Hiel (q.v.), who rebuilt Jericho and experienced the
curse pronounced long before (1 Kings 16:34).
Bether -
dissection or separation, certain mountains mentioned in Cant. 2:17;
probably near Lebanon.
Bethesda -
house of mercy, a reservoir (Gr. kolumbethra, "a swimming bath")
with five porches, close to the sheep-gate or market (Neh. 3:1; John
5:2). Eusebius the historian (A.D. 330) calls it "the sheep-pool."
It is also called "Bethsaida" and "Beth-zatha" (John 5:2, R.V. marg.).
Under these "porches" or colonnades were usually a large number of
infirm people waiting for the "troubling of the water." It is
usually identified with the modern so-called Fountain of the Virgin,
in the valley of the Kidron, and not far from the Pool of Siloam
(q.v.); and also with the Birket Israel, a pool near the mouth of
the valley which runs into the Kidron south of "St. Stephen's Gate."
Others again identify it with the twin pools called the "Souterrains,"
under the convent of the Sisters of Zion, situated in what must have
been the rock-hewn ditch between Bezetha and the fortress of
Antonia. But quite recently Schick has discovered a large tank, as
sketched here, situated about 100 feet north-west of St. Anne's
Church, which is, as he contends, very probably the Pool of
Bethesda. No certainty as to its identification, however, has as yet
been arrived at. (See FOUNTAIN ¯T0001378;
GIHON.)
Beth-gamul -
camel-house, a city in the "plain country" of Moab denounced by the
prophet (Jer. 48:23); probably the modern Um-el-Jemal, near Bozrah,
one of the deserted cities of the Hauran.
Beth-gilgal -
house of Gilgal, a place from which the inhabitants gathered for the
purpose of celebrating the rebuilding of the walls on the return
exile (Neh. 12:29). (See
GILGAL.)
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Beth-haccerem -
house of a vineyard, a place in the tribe of Judah (Neh. 3:14) where
the Benjamites were to set up a beacon when they heard the trumpet
against the invading army of the Babylonians (Jer. 6:1). It is
probable that this place is the modern 'Ain Karim, or "well of the
vineyards," near which there is a ridge on which are cairns which
may have served as beacons of old, one of which is 40 feet high and
130 in diameter.
Beth-horon -
house of the hollow, or of the cavern, the name of two towns or
villages (2 Chr. 8:5; 1 Chr. 7:24) in the territory of Ephraim, on
the way from Jerusalem to Joppa. They are distinguished as Beth-horon
"the upper" and Beth-horon "the nether." They are about 2 miles
apart, the former being about 10 miles north-west of Jerusalem.
Between the two places was the ascent and descent of Beth-horon,
leading from Gibeon down to the western plain (Josh. 10:10, 11;
18:13, 14), down which the five kings of the Amorites were driven by
Joshua in that great battle, the most important in which the Hebrews
had been as yet engaged, being their first conflict with their
enemies in the open field. Jehovah interposed in behalf of Israel by
a terrific hailstorm, which caused more deaths among the Canaanites
than did the swords of the Israelites. Beth-horon is mentioned as
having been taken by Shishak, B.C. 945, in the list of his
conquests, and the pass was the scene of a victory of Judas
Maccabeus. (Comp. Ex. 9:19, 25; Job 38:22, 23; Ps. 18:12-14; Isa.
30:30.) The modern name of these places is Beit-ur, distinguished by
el-Foka, "the upper," and el-Tahta, "the nether." The lower was at
the foot of the pass, and the upper, 500 feet higher, at the top,
west of Gibeon. (See
GIBEON.)
Beth-jeshimoth -
house of wastes, or deserts, a town near Abel-shittim, east of
Jordan, in the desert of Moab, where the Israelites encamped not
long before crossing the Jordan (Num. 33:49; A.V., "Bethjesimoth").
It was within the territory of Sihon, king of the Amorites (Josh.
12:3).
Beth-le-Aphrah -
(R.V. Micah 1:10), house of dust. The Authorized Version reads
"in the house of Aphrah." This is probably the name of a town in the
Shephelah, or "low country," between Joppa and Gaza.
Bethlehem -
house of bread. (1.) A city in the "hill country" of Judah. It was
originally called Ephrath (Gen. 35:16, 19; 48:7; Ruth 4:11). It was
also called Beth-lehem Ephratah (Micah 5:2), Beth-lehem-judah (1
Sam. 17:12), and "the city of David" (Luke 2:4). It is first noticed
in Scripture as the place where Rachel died and was buried "by the
wayside," directly to the north of the city (Gen. 48:7). The valley
to the east was the scene of the story of Ruth the Moabitess. There
are the fields in which she gleaned, and the path by which she and
Naomi returned to the town. Here was David's birth-place, and here
also, in after years, he was anointed as king by Samuel (1 Sam.
16:4-13); and it was from the well of Bethlehem that three of his
heroes brought water for him at the risk of their lives when he was
in the cave of Adullam (2 Sam. 23:13-17). But it was distinguished
above every other city as the birth-place of "Him whose goings forth
have been of old" (Matt. 2:6; comp. Micah 5:2). Afterwards Herod,
"when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men," sent and slew "all
the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof,
from two years old and under" (Matt. 2:16, 18; Jer. 31:15).
Bethlehem bears the modern name of Beit-Lahm,
i.e., "house of flesh." It is about 5 miles south of Jerusalem,
standing at an elevation of about 2,550 feet above the sea, thus 100
feet higher than Jerusalem.
There is a church still existing, built by
Constantine the Great (A.D. 330), called the "Church of the
Nativity," over a grotto or cave called the "holy crypt," and said
to be the "stable" in which Jesus was born. This is perhaps the
oldest existing Christian church in the world. Close to it is
another grotto, where Jerome the Latin father is said to have spent
thirty years of his life in translating the Scriptures into Latin.
(See
VERSION.)
(2.) A city of Zebulun, mentioned only in
Josh. 19:15. Now Beit-Lahm, a ruined village about 6 miles
west-north-west of Nazareth.
Beth-peor - house
of Peor; i.e., "temple of Baal-peor", a place in Moab, on the east
of Jordan, opposite Jericho. It was in the tribe of Reuben (Josh.
13:20; Deut. 3:29; 4:46). In the "ravine" or valley over against
Beth-peor Moses was probably buried (Deut. 34:6).
Beth-phage -
house of the unripe fig, a village on the Mount of Olives, on the
road from Jerusalem to Jericho (Matt. 21:1; Mark 11:1; Luke 19:29),
and very close to Bethany. It was the limit of a Sabbath-day's
journey from Jerusalem, i.e., 2,000 cubits. It has been identified
with the modern Kefr-et-Tur.
Bethsaida -
house of fish. (1.) A town in Galilee, on the west side of the sea
of Tiberias, in the "land of Gennesaret." It was the native place of
Peter, Andrew, and Philip, and was frequently resorted to by Jesus
(Mark 6:45; John 1:44; 12:21). It is supposed to have been at the
modern 'Ain Tabighah, a bay to the north of Gennesaret.
(2.) A city near which Christ fed 5,000 (Luke
9:10; comp. John 6:17; Matt. 14:15-21), and where the blind man had
his sight restored (Mark 8:22), on the east side of the lake, two
miles up the Jordan. It stood within the region of Gaulonitis, and
was enlarged by Philip the tetrarch, who called it "Julias," after
the emperor's daughter. Or, as some have supposed, there may have
been but one Bethsaida built on both sides of the lake, near where
the Jordan enters it. Now the ruins et-Tel.
Beth-shean -
house of security or rest, a city which belonged to Manasseh (1 Chr.
7:29), on the west of Jordan. The bodies of Saul and his sons were
fastened to its walls. In Solomon's time it gave its name to a
district (1 Kings 4:12). The name is found in an abridged form,
Bethshan, in 1 Sam. 31:10, 12 and 2 Sam. 21:12. It is on the road
from Jerusalem to Damascus, about 5 miles from the Jordan, and 14
from the south end of the Lake of Gennesaret. After the Captivity it
was called Scythopolis, i.e., "the city of the Scythians," who about
B.C. 640 came down from the steppes of Southern Russia and settled
in different places in Syria. It is now called Beisan.
Beth-shemesh -
house of the sun. (1.) A sacerdotal city in the tribe of Dan (Josh.
21:16; 1 Sam. 6:15), on the north border of Judah (Josh. 15:10). It
was the scene of an encounter between Jehoash, king of Israel, and
Amaziah, king of Judah, in which the latter was made prisoner (2
Kings 14:11, 13). It was afterwards taken by the Philistines (2 Chr.
28:18). It is the modern ruined Arabic village 'Ain-shems, on the
north-west slopes of the mountains of Judah, 14 miles west of
Jerusalem.
(2.) A city between Dothan and the Jordan,
near the southern border of Issachar (Josh. 19:22), 7 1/2 miles
south of Beth-shean. It is the modern Ain-esh-Shemsiyeh.
(3.) One of the fenced cities of Naphtali
(Josh. 19:38), between Mount Tabor and the Jordan. Now Khurbet Shema,
3 miles west of Safed. But perhaps the same as No. 2.
(4.) An idol sanctuary in Egypt (Jer. 43:13);
called by the Greeks Heliopolis, and by the Egyptians On (q.v.),
Gen. 41:45.
Beth-tappuah -
house of apples, a town of Judah, now Tuffuh, 5 miles west of Hebron
(Josh. 15:53).
Bethuel - man
of God, or virgin of God, or house of God. (1.) The son of Nahor by
Milcah; nephew of Abraham, and father of Rebekah (Gen. 22:22, 23;
24:15, 24, 47). He appears in person only once (24:50).
(2.) A southern city of Judah (1 Chr. 4:30);
called also Bethul (Josh. 19:4) and Bethel (12:16; 1 Sam. 30:27).
Bethzur - house
of rock, a town in the mountains of Judah (Josh. 15:58), about 4
miles to the north of Hebron. It was built by Rehoboam for the
defence of his kingdom (2 Chr. 11:7). It stood near the modern ed-Dirweh.
Its ruins are still seen on a hill which bears the name of Beit-Sur,
and which commands the road from Beer-sheba and Hebron to Jerusalem
from the south.
Betroth - to
promise "by one's truth." Men and women were betrothed when they
were engaged to be married. This usually took place a year or more
before marriage. From the time of betrothal the woman was regarded
as the lawful wife of the man to whom she was betrothed (Deut.
28:30; Judg. 14:2, 8; Matt. 1:18-21). The term is figuratively
employed of the spiritual connection between God and his people (Hos.
2:19, 20).
Beulah -
married, is used in Isa. 62:4 metaphorically as the name of Judea:
"Thy land shall be married," i.e., favoured and blessed of the Lord.
Bewray - to
reveal or disclose; an old English word equivalent to "betray" (Prov.
27:16; 29:24, R.V., "uttereth;" Isa. 16:3; Matt. 26:73).
Beyond - when
used with reference to Jordan, signifies in the writings of Moses
the west side of the river, as he wrote on the east bank (Gen.
50:10, 11; Deut. 1:1, 5; 3:8, 20; 4:46); but in the writings of
Joshua, after he had crossed the river, it means the east side
(Josh. 5:1; 12:7; 22:7).
Bezaleel - in
the shadow of God; i.e., "under his protection", the artificer who
executed the work of art in connection with the tabernacle in the
wilderness (Ex. 31:2; 35:30). He was engaged principally in works of
metal, wood, and stone; while Aholiab, who was associated with him
and subordinate to him, had the charge of the textile fabrics (36:1,
2; 38:22). He was of the tribe of Judah, the son of Uri, and
grandson of Hur (31:2). Mention is made in Ezra 10:30 of another of
the same name.
Bezek -
lightning. (1.) The residence of Adoni-bezek, in the lot of Judah (Judg.
1:5). It was in the mountains, not far from Jerusalem. Probably the
modern Bezkah, 6 miles south-east of Lydda.
(2.) The place where Saul numbered the forces
of Israel and Judah (1 Sam. 11:8); somewhere in the centre of the
country, near the Jordan valley. Probably the modern Ibzik, 13 miles
north-east of Shechem.
Bezer - ore of
gold or silver. (1.) A city of the Reubenites; one of the three
cities of refuge on the east of Jordan (Deut. 4: 43; Josh. 20:8). It
has been identified with the modern ruined village of Burazin, some
12 miles north of Heshbon; also with Kasur-el-Besheir, 2 miles
south-west of Dibon.
(2.) A descendant of Asher (1 Chr. 7:37).
Bible - Bible,
the English form of the Greek name Biblia, meaning "books,"
the name which in the fifth century began to be given to the entire
collection of sacred books, the "Library of Divine Revelation." The
name Bible was adopted by Wickliffe, and came gradually into use in
our English language. The Bible consists of sixty-six different
books, composed by many different writers, in three different
languages, under different circumstances; writers of almost every
social rank, statesmen and peasants, kings, herdsmen, fishermen,
priests, tax-gatherers, tentmakers; educated and uneducated, Jews
and Gentiles; most of them unknown to each other, and writing at
various periods during the space of about 1600 years: and yet, after
all, it is only one book dealing with only one subject in its
numberless aspects and relations, the subject of man's redemption.
It is divided into the Old Testament,
containing thirty-nine books, and the New Testament, containing
twenty-seven books. The names given to the Old in the writings of
the New are "the scriptures" (Matt. 21:42), "scripture" (2 Pet.
1:20), "the holy scriptures" (Rom. 1:2), "the law" (John 12:34),
"the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms" (Luke 24:44), "the
law and the prophets" (Matt. 5:17), "the old covenant" (2 Cor. 3:14,
R.V.). There is a break of 400 years between the Old Testament and
the New. (See
APOCRYPHA.)
The Old Testament is divided into three
parts:, 1. The Law (Torah), consisting of the Pentateuch, or five
books of Moses. 2. The Prophets, consisting of (1) the former,
namely, Joshua, Judges, the Books of Samuel, and the Books of Kings;
(2) the latter, namely, the greater prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and
Ezekiel, and the twelve minor prophets. 3. The Hagiographa, or holy
writings, including the rest of the books. These were ranked in
three divisions:, (1) The Psalms, Proverbs, and Job, distinguished
by the Hebrew name, a word formed of the initial letters of these
books, emeth, meaning truth. (2) Canticles, Ruth,
Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, called the five rolls, as
being written for the synagogue use on five separate rolls. (3)
Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and 1 and 2 Chronicles. Between the Old and
the New Testament no addition was made to the revelation God had
already given. The period of New Testament revelation, extending
over a century, began with the appearance of John the Baptist.
The New Testament consists of (1) the
historical books, viz., the Gospels, and the Acts of the Apostles;
(2) the Epistles; and (3) the book of prophecy, the Revelation.
The division of the Bible into chapters and
verses is altogether of human invention, designed to facilitate
reference to it. The ancient Jews divided the Old Testament into
certain sections for use in the synagogue service, and then at a
later period, in the ninth century A.D., into verses. Our modern
system of chapters for all the books of the Bible was introduced by
Cardinal Hugo about the middle of the thirteenth century (he died
1263). The system of verses for the New Testament was introduced by
Stephens in 1551, and generally adopted, although neither Tyndale's
nor Coverdale's English translation of the Bible has verses. The
division is not always wisely made, yet it is very useful. (See
VERSION.)
Bier - the frame on
which dead bodies were conveyed to the grave (Luke 7:14).
Bigtha -
garden, or gift of fortune, one of the seven eunuchs or chamberlains
who had charge of the harem of Ahasuerus (Esther 1:10).
Bigthan - one
of the eunuchs who "kept the door" in the court of Ahasuerus. With
Teresh he conspired against the king's life. Mordecai detected the
conspiracy, and the culprits were hanged (Esther 2:21-23; 6:1-3).
Bildad - son of
contention, one of Job's friends. He is called "the Shuhite,"
probably as belonging to Shuah, a district in Arabia, in which Shuah,
the sixth son of Abraham by Keturah, settled (Gen. 25:2). He took
part in each of the three controversies into which Job's friends
entered with him (Job 8:1; 18:1; 25:1), and delivered three
speeches, very severe and stern in their tone, although less violent
than those of Zophar, but more so than those of Eliphaz.
Bilgah -
cheerful. (1.) The head of the fifteenth sacerdotal course for the
temple service (1 Chr. 24:14). (2.) A priest who returned from
Babylon with Zerubbabel (Neh. 12:5, 18).
Bilhah -
faltering; bashful, Rachel's handmaid, whom she gave to Jacob (Gen.
29:29). She was the mother of Dan and Naphtali (Gen. 30:3-8). Reuben
was cursed by his father for committing adultry with her (35:22;
49:4). He was deprived of the birth-right, which was given to the
sons of Joseph.
Bilshan - son
of the tongue; i.e., "eloquent", a man of some note who returned
from the Captivity with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:2; Neh. 7:7).
Bird - Birds
are divided in the Mosaic law into two classes, (1) the clean (Lev.
1:14-17; 5:7-10; 14:4-7), which were offered in sacrifice; and (2)
the unclean (Lev. 11:13-20). When offered in sacrifice, they were
not divided as other victims were (Gen. 15:10). They are mentioned
also as an article of food (Deut. 14:11). The art of snaring wild
birds is referred to (Ps. 124:7; Prov. 1:17; 7:23; Jer. 5:27).
Singing birds are mentioned in Ps. 104:12; Eccl. 12:4. Their
timidity is alluded to (Hos. 11:11). The reference in Ps. 84:3 to
the swallow and the sparrow may be only a comparison equivalent to,
"What her house is to the sparrow, and her nest to the swallow, that
thine altars are to my soul."
Birsha - son of
wickedness, a king of Gomorrah whom Abraham succoured in the
invasion of Chedorlaomer (Gen. 14:2).
Birth - As soon
as a child was born it was washed, and rubbed with salt (Ezek.
16:4), and then swathed with bandages (Job 38:9; Luke 2:7, 12). A
Hebrew mother remained forty days in seclusion after the birth of a
son, and after the birth of a daughter double that number of days.
At the close of that period she entered into the tabernacle or
temple and offered up a sacrifice of purification (Lev. 12:1-8; Luke
2:22). A son was circumcised on the eighth day after his birth,
being thereby consecrated to God (Gen. 17:10-12; comp. Rom. 4:11).
Seasons of misfortune are likened to the pains of a woman in
travail, and seasons of prosperity to the joy that succeeds
child-birth (Isa. 13:8; Jer. 4:31; John 16:21, 22). The natural
birth is referred to as the emblem of the new birth (John 3:3-8;
Gal. 6:15; Titus 3:5, etc.).
Birth-day - The
observance of birth-days was common in early times (Job 1:4, 13,
18). They were specially celebrated in the land of Egypt (Gen.
40:20). There is no recorded instance in Scripture of the
celebration of birth-days among the Jews. On the occasion of Herod's
birth-day John the Baptist was beheaded (Matt. 14:6).
Birthright -
(1.) This word denotes the special privileges and advantages
belonging to the first-born son among the Jews. He became the priest
of the family. Thus Reuben was the first-born of the patriarchs, and
so the priesthood of the tribes belonged to him. That honour was,
however, transferred by God from Reuben to Levi (Num. 3:12, 13;
8:18).
(2.) The first-born son had allotted to him
also a double portion of the paternal inheritance (Deut. 21:15-17).
Reuben was, because of his undutiful conduct, deprived of his
birth-right (Gen. 49:4; 1 Chr. 5:1). Esau transferred his
birth-right to Jacob (Gen. 25:33).
(3.) The first-born inherited the judicial
authority of his father, whatever it might be (2 Chr. 21:3). By
divine appointment, however, David excluded Adonijah in favour of
Solomon.
(4.) The Jews attached a sacred importance to
the rank of "first-born" and "first-begotten" as applied to the
Messiah (Rom. 8:29; Col. 1:18; Heb. 1:4-6). As first-born he has an
inheritance superior to his brethren, and is the alone true priest.
Bishop - an
overseer. In apostolic times, it is quite manifest that there was no
difference as to order between bishops and elders or presbyters
(Acts 20:17-28; 1 Pet. 5:1, 2; Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3). The term bishop
is never once used to denote a different office from that of elder
or presbyter. These different names are simply titles of the same
office, "bishop" designating the function, namely, that of
oversight, and "presbyter" the dignity appertaining to the office.
Christ is figuratively called "the bishop [episcopos] of souls" (1
Pet. 2:25).
Bit - the curb
put into the mouths of horses to restrain them. The Hebrew word (metheg)
so rendered in Ps. 32:9 is elsewhere translated "bridle" (2 Kings
19:28; Prov. 26:3; Isa. 37:29). Bits were generally made of bronze
or iron, but sometimes also of gold or silver. In James 3:3 the
Authorized Version translates the Greek word by "bits," but the
Revised Version by "bridles."
Bith-ron - the
broken or divided place, a district in the Arabah or Jordan valley,
on the east of the river (2 Sam. 2:29). It was probably the
designation of the region in general, which is broken and
intersected by ravines.
Bithynia - a
province in Asia Minor, to the south of the Euxine and Propontis.
Christian congregations were here formed at an early time (1 Pet.
1:1). Paul was prevented by the Spirit from entering this province
(Acts 16:7). It is noted in church history as the province ruled
over by Pliny as Roman proconsul, who was perplexed as to the course
he should take with the numerous Christians brought before his
tribunal on account of their profession of Christianity and their
conduct, and wrote to Trajan, the emperor, for instructions (A.D.
107).
Bitter -
Bitterness is symbolical of affliction, misery, and servitude (Ex.
1:14; Ruth 1:20; Jer. 9:15). The Chaldeans are called the "bitter
and hasty nation" (Hab. 1:6). The "gall of bitterness" expresses a
state of great wickedness (Acts 8:23). A "root of bitterness" is a
wicked person or a dangerous sin (Heb. 12:15).
The Passover was to be eaten with "bitter
herbs" (Ex. 12:8; Num. 9:11). The kind of herbs so designated is not
known. Probably they were any bitter herbs obtainable at the place
and time when the Passover was celebrated. They represented the
severity of the servitude under which the people groaned; and have
been regarded also as typical of the sufferings of Christ.
Bittern - is
found three times in connection with the desolations to come upon
Babylon, Idumea, and Nineveh (Isa. 14:23; 34:11; Zeph. 2:14). This
bird belongs to the class of cranes. Its scientific name is Botaurus
stellaris. It is a solitary bird, frequenting marshy ground. The
Hebrew word (kippod) thus rendered in the Authorized Version is
rendered "porcupine" in the Revised Version. But in the passages
noted the kippod is associated with birds, with pools of water, and
with solitude and desolation. This favours the idea that not the
"porcupine" but the "bittern" is really intended by the word.
Bitumen - Gen.
11:3, R.V., margin, rendered in the A.V. "slime"), a mineral pitch.
With this the ark was pitched (6:14. See also Ex. 2:3.) (See
SLIME.)
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