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Jehdeiah - rejoicer in
Jehovah. (1.) One of the Levitical attendants at the temple, a
descendant of Shubael (1 Chr. 24:20).
(2.) A Meronothite, herdsman of the asses
under David and Solomon (1 Chr. 27:30).
Jehiel - God's
living one. (1.) The father of Gibeon (1 Chr. 9:35).
(2.) One of David's guard (1 Chr. 11:44).
(3.) One of the Levites "of the second
degree," appointed to conduct the music on the occasion of the ark's
being removed to Jerusalem (1 Chr. 15:18, 20).
(4.) A Hachmonite, a tutor in the family of
David toward the close of his reign (1 Chr. 27:32).
(5.) The second of Jehoshaphat's six sons (2
Chr. 21:2).
(6.) One of the Levites of the family of
Heman who assisted Hezekiah in his work of reformation (2 Chr.
29:14).
(7.) A "prince" and "ruler of the house of
God" who contributed liberally to the renewal of the temple
sacrifices under Josiah (2 Chr. 35:8).
(8.) The father of Obadiah (Ezra 8:9).
(9.) One of the "sons" of Elam (Ezra 10:26).
(10.) Ezra 10:21.
Jehizkiah -
Jehovah strengthens, one of the chiefs of Ephraim (2 Chr. 28:12).
Jehoaddan -
Jehovah his ornament, the wife of King Jehoash, and mother of King
Amaziah (2 Kings 14:2).
Jehoahaz -
Jehovah his sustainer, or he whom Jehovah holdeth. (1.) The youngest
son of Jehoram, king of Judah (2 Chr. 21:17; 22:1, 6, 8, 9); usually
Ahaziah (q.v.).
(2.) The son and successor of Jehu, king of
Israel (2 Kings 10:35). He reigned seventeen years, and followed the
evil ways of the house of Jeroboam. The Syrians, under Hazael and
Benhadad, prevailed over him, but were at length driven out of the
land by his son Jehoash (13:1-9, 25).
(3.) Josiah's third son, usually called
Shallum (1 Chr. 3:15). He succeeded his father on the throne, and
reigned over Judah for three months (2 Kings 23:31, 34). He fell
into the idolatrous ways of his predecessors (23:32), was deposed by
Pharaoh-Necho from the throne, and carried away prisoner into Egypt,
where he died in captivity (23:33, 34; Jer. 22:10-12; 2 Chr.
36:1-4).
Jehoash -
Jehovah-given. (1.) The son of King Ahaziah. While yet an infant, he
was saved from the general massacre of the family by his aunt
Jehosheba, and was apparently the only surviving descendant of
Solomon (2 Chr. 21:4, 17). His uncle, the high priest Jehoiada,
brought him forth to public notice when he was eight years of age,
and crowned and anointed him king of Judah with the usual
ceremonies. Athaliah was taken by surprise when she heard the shout
of the people, "Long live the king;" and when she appeared in the
temple, Jehoiada commanded her to be led forth to death (2 Kings
11:13-20). While the high priest lived, Jehoash favoured the worship
of God and observed the law; but on his death he fell away into evil
courses, and the land was defiled with idolatry. Zechariah, the son
and successor of the high priest, was put to death. These evil deeds
brought down on the land the judgement of God, and it was oppressed
by the Syrian invaders. He is one of the three kings omitted by
Matthew (1:8) in the genealogy of Christ, the other two being
Ahaziah and Amaziah. He was buried in the city of David (2 Kings
12:21). (See JOASH ¯T0002078 [4].)
(2.) The son and successor of Jehoahaz, king
of Israel (2 Kings 14:1; comp. 12:1; 13:10). When he ascended the
throne the kingdom was suffering from the invasion of the Syrians.
Hazael "was cutting Israel short." He tolerated the worship of the
golden calves, yet seems to have manifested a character of sincere
devotion to the God of his fathers. He held the prophet Elisha in
honour, and wept by his bedside when he was dying, addressing him in
the words Elisha himself had used when Elijah was carried up into
heaven: "O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the
horsemen thereof." He was afterwards involved in war with Amaziah,
the king of Judah (2 Chr. 25:23-24), whom he utterly defeated at
Beth-shemesh, on the borders of Dan and Philistia, and advancing on
Jerusalem, broke down a portion of the wall, and carried away the
treasures of the temple and the palace. He soon after died (B.C.
825), and was buried in Samaria (2 Kings 14:1-17, 19, 20). He was
succeeded by his son. (See JOASH ¯T0002078 [5.].)
Jehohanan -
Jehovah-granted, Jeroboam II. (1.) A Korhite, the head of one of the
divisions of the temple porters (1 Chr. 26:3).
(2.) One of Jehoshaphat's "captains" (2 Chr.
17:15).
(3.) The father of Azariah (2 Chr. 28:12).
(4.) The son of Tobiah, an enemy of the Jews
(Neh. 6:18).
(5.) Neh. 12:42.
(6.) Neh. 12:13.
Jehoiachin -
succeeded his father Jehoiakin (B.C. 599) when only eight years of
age, and reigned for one hundred days (2 Chr. 36:9). He is also
called Jeconiah (Jer. 24:1; 27:20, etc.), and Coniah (22:24; 37:1).
He was succeeded by his uncle, Mattaniah = Zedekiah (q.v.). He was
the last direct heir to the Jewish crown. He was carried captive to
Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, along with the flower of the nobility,
all the leading men in Jerusalem, and a great body of the general
population, some thirteen thousand in all (2 Kings 24:12-16; Jer.
52:28). After an imprisonment of thirty-seven years (Jer. 52:31,
33), he was liberated by Evil-merodach, and permitted to occupy a
place in the king's household and sit at his table, receiving "every
day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life"
(52:32-34).
Jehoiada -
Jehovah-known. (1.) The father of Benaiah, who was one of David's
chief warriors (2 Sam. 8:18; 20:23).
(2.) The high priest at the time of
Athaliah's usurpation of the throne of Judah. He married Jehosheba,
or Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram (2 Chr. 22:11), and
took an active part along with his wife in the preservation and
training of Jehoash when Athaliah slew all the royal family of
Judah.
The plans he adopted in replacing Jehoash on
the throne of his ancestors are described in 2 Kings 11:2; 12:2; 2
Chr. 22:11; 23:24. He was among the foremost of the benefactors of
the kingdom, and at his death was buried in the city of David among
the kings of Judah (2 Chr. 24:15, 16). He is said to have been one
hundred and thirty years old.
Jehoiakim - he
whom Jehovah has set up, the second son of Josiah, and eighteenth
king of Judah, which he ruled over for eleven years (B.C. 610-599).
His original name was Eliakim (q.v.).
On the death of his father his younger
brother Jehoahaz (=Shallum, Jer. 22:11), who favoured the Chaldeans
against the Egyptians, was made king by the people; but the king of
Egypt, Pharaoh-necho, invaded the land and deposed Jehoahaz (2 Kings
23:33, 34; Jer. 22:10-12), setting Eliakim on the throne in his
stead, and changing his name to Jehoiakim.
After this the king of Egypt took no part in
Jewish politics, having been defeated by the Chaldeans at Carchemish
(2 Kings 24:7; Jer. 46:2). Palestine was now invaded and conquered
by Nebuchadnezzar. Jehoiakim was taken prisoner and carried captive
to Babylon (2 Chr. 36:6, 7). It was at this time that Daniel also
and his three companions were taken captive to Babylon (Dan. 1:1,
2).
Nebuchadnezzar reinstated Jehoiakim on his
throne, but treated him as a vassal king. In the year after this,
Jeremiah caused his prophecies to be read by Baruch in the court of
the temple. Jehoiakim, hearing of this, had them also read in the
royal palace before himself. The words displeased him, and taking
the roll from the hands of Baruch he cut it in pieces and threw it
into the fire (Jer. 36:23). During his disastrous reign there was a
return to the old idolatry and corruption of the days of Manasseh.
After three years of subjection to Babylon,
Jehoiakim withheld his tribute and threw off the yoke (2 Kings
24:1), hoping to make himself independent. Nebuchadnezzar sent bands
of Chaldeans, Syrians, and Ammonites (2 Kings 24:2) to chastise his
rebellious vassal. They cruelly harassed the whole country (comp.
Jer. 49:1-6). The king came to a violent death, and his body having
been thrown over the wall of Jerusalem, to convince the beseieging
army that he was dead, after having been dragged away, was buried
beyond the gates of Jerusalem "with the burial of an ass," B.C. 599
(Jer. 22:18, 19; 36:30). Nebuchadnezzar placed his son Jehoiachin on
the throne, wishing still to retain the kingdom of Judah as
tributary to him.
Jehoiarib -
Jehovah defends, a priest at Jerusalem, head of one of the
sacerdotal courses (1 Chr. 9:10; 24:7). His "course" went up from
Babylon after the Exile (Ezra 2:36-39; Neh. 7:39-42).
Jehonadab -
Jehovah is liberal; or, whom Jehovah impels. (1.) A son of Shimeah,
and nephew of David. It was he who gave the fatal wicked advice to
Amnon, the heir to the throne (2 Sam. 13:3-6). He was very "subtil,"
but unprincipled.
(2.) A son of Rechab, the founder of a tribe
who bound themselves by a vow to abstain from wine (Jer. 35:6-19).
There were different settlements of Rechabites (Judg. 1:16; 4:11; 1
Chr. 2:55). (See
RECHABITE.) His interview and alliance with Jehu are mentioned
in 2 Kings 10:15-23. He went with Jehu in his chariot to Samaria.
Jehonathan - whom
Jehovah gave. (1.) One of the stewards of David's store-houses (1
Chr. 27:25).
(2.) A Levite who taught the law to the
people of Judah (2 Chr. 17:8).
(3.) Neh. 12:18.
Jehoram -
Jehovah-exalted. (1.) Son of Toi, king of Hamath, sent by his father
to congratulate David on the occasion of his victory over Hadadezer
(2 Sam. 8:10).
(2.) A Levite of the family of Gershom (1 Chr.
26:25).
(3.) A priest sent by Jehoshaphat to
instructruct the people in Judah (2 Chr. 17:8).
(4.) The son of Ahab and Jezebel, and
successor to his brother Ahaziah on the throne of Israel. He reigned
twelve years, B.C. 896-884 (2 Kings 1:17; 3:1). His first work was
to reduce to subjection the Moabites, who had asserted their
independence in the reign of his brother. Jehoshaphat, king of
Judah, assisted Jehoram in this effort. He was further helped by his
ally the king of Edom. Elisha went forth with the confederated army
(2 Kings 3:1-19), and at the solicitation of Jehoshaphat encouraged
the army with the assurance from the Lord of a speedy victory. The
Moabites under Mesha their king were utterly routed and their cities
destroyed. At Kir-haraseth Mesha made a final stand. The Israelites
refrained from pressing their victory further, and returned to their
own land.
Elisha afterwards again befriended Jehoram
when a war broke out between the Syrians and Israel, and in a
remarkable way brought that war to a bloodless close (2 Kings 6:23).
But Jehoram, becoming confident in his own power, sank into
idolatry, and brought upon himself and his land another Syrian
invasion, which led to great suffering and distress in Samaria (2
Kings 6:24-33). By a remarkable providential interposition the city
was saved from utter destruction, and the Syrians were put to flight
(2 Kings 7:6-15).
Jehoram was wounded in a battle with the
Syrians at Ramah, and obliged to return to Jezreel (2 Kings 8:29;
9:14, 15), and soon after the army proclaimed their leader Jehu king
of Israel, and revolted from their allegiance to Jehoram (2 Kings
9). Jehoram was pierced by an arrow from Jehu's bow on the piece of
ground at Jezreel which Ahab had taken from Naboth, and there he
died (2 Kings 9:21-29).
(5.) The eldest son and successor of
Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. He reigned eight years (B.C. 892-885)
alone as king of Judah, having been previously for some years
associated with his father (2 Chr. 21:5, 20; 2 Kings 8:16). His wife
was Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. His daughter
Jehosheba was married to the high priest Jehoiada. He sank into
gross idolatry, and brought upon himself and his kingdom the anger
of Jehovah. The Edomites revolted from under his yoke, and the
Philistines and the Arabians and Cushites invaded the land, and
carried away great spoil, along with Jehoram's wives and all his
children, except Ahaziah. He died a painful death from a fearful
malady, and was refused a place in the sepulchre of the kings (2
Kings 8:16-24; 2 Chr. 21).
Jehoshaphat -
Jehovah-judged. (1.) One of David's body-guard (1 Chr. 11:43).
(2.) One of the priests who accompanied the
removal of the ark to Jerusalem (1 Chr. 15:24).
(3.) Son of Ahilud, "recorder" or annalist
under David and Solomon (2 Sam. 8:16), a state officer of high rank,
chancellor or vizier of the kingdom.
(4.) Solomon's purveyor in Issachar (1 Kings
4:17).
(5.) The son and successor of Asa, king of
Judah. After fortifying his kingdom against Israel (2 Chr. 17:1, 2),
he set himself to cleanse the land of idolatry (1 Kings 22:43). In
the third year of his reign he sent out priests and Levites over the
land to instruct the people in the law (2 Chr. 17:7-9). He enjoyed a
great measure of peace and prosperity, the blessing of God resting
on the people "in their basket and their store."
The great mistake of his reign was his
entering into an alliance with Ahab, the king of Israel, which
involved him in much disgrace, and brought disaster on his kingdom
(1 Kings 22:1-33). Escaping from the bloody battle of Ramoth-gilead,
the prophet Jehu (2 Chr. 19:1-3) reproached him for the course he
had been pursuing, whereupon he entered with rigour on his former
course of opposition to all idolatry, and of deepening interest in
the worship of God and in the righteous government of the people (2
Chr. 19:4-11).
Again he entered into an alliance with
Ahaziah, the king of Israel, for the purpose of carrying on maritime
commerce with Ophir. But the fleet that was then equipped at
Ezion-gaber was speedily wrecked. A new fleet was fitted out without
the co-operation of the king of Israel, and although it was
successful, the trade was not prosecuted (2 Chr. 20:35-37; 1 Kings
22:48-49).
He subsequently joined Jehoram, king of
Israel, in a war against the Moabites, who were under tribute to
Israel. This war was successful. The Moabites were subdued; but the
dreadful act of Mesha in offering his own son a sacrifice on the
walls of Kir-haresheth in the sight of the armies of Israel filled
him with horror, and he withdrew and returned to his own land (2
Kings 3:4-27).
The last most notable event of his reign was
that recorded in 2 Chr. 20. The Moabites formed a great and powerful
confederacy with the surrounding nations, and came against
Jehoshaphat. The allied forces were encamped at Engedi. The king and
his people were filled with alarm, and betook themselves to God in
prayer. The king prayed in the court of the temple, "O our God, wilt
thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company
that cometh against us." Amid the silence that followed, the voice
of Jahaziel the Levite was heard announcing that on the morrow all
this great host would be overthrown. So it was, for they quarrelled
among themselves, and slew one another, leaving to the people of
Judah only to gather the rich spoils of the slain. This was
recognized as a great deliverance wrought for them by God (B.C.
890). Soon after this Jehoshaphat died, after a reign of twenty-five
years, being sixty years of age, and was succeeded by his son
Jehoram (1 Kings 22:50). He had this testimony, that "he sought the
Lord with all his heart" (2 Chr. 22:9). The kingdom of Judah was
never more prosperous than under his reign.
(6.) The son of Nimshi, and father of Jehu,
king of Israel (2 Kings 9:2, 14).
Jehoshaphat, Valley
of - mentioned in Scripture only in Joel 3:2, 12. This is the
name given in modern times to the valley between Jerusalem and the
Mount of Olives, and the Kidron flows through it. Here Jehoshaphat
overthrew the confederated enemies of Israel (Ps. 83:6-8); and in
this valley also God was to overthrow the Tyrians, Zidonians, etc.
(Joel 3:4, 19), with an utter overthrow. This has been fulfilled;
but Joel speaks of the final conflict, when God would destroy all
Jerusalem's enemies, of whom Tyre and Zidon, etc., were types. The
"valley of Jehoshaphat" may therefore be simply regarded as a
general term for the theatre of God's final judgments on the enemies
of Israel.
This valley has from ancient times been used
by the Jews as a burial-ground. It is all over paved with flat
stones as tombstones, bearing on them Hebrew inscriptions.
Jehosheba -
Jehovah-swearing, the daughter of Jehoram, the king of Israel. She
is called Jehoshabeath in 2 Chr. 22:11. She was the only princess of
the royal house who was married to a high priest, Jehoiada (2 Chr.
22:11).
Jehovah - the
special and significant name (not merely an appellative title such
as Lord [adonai]) by which God revealed himself to the ancient
Hebrews (Ex. 6:2, 3). This name, the Tetragrammaton of the Greeks,
was held by the later Jews to be so sacred that it was never
pronounced except by the high priest on the great Day of Atonement,
when he entered into the most holy place. Whenever this name
occurred in the sacred books they pronounced it, as they still do, "Adonai"
(i.e., Lord), thus using another word in its stead. The Massorets
gave to it the vowel-points appropriate to this word. This Jewish
practice was founded on a false interpretation of Lev. 24:16. The
meaning of the word appears from Ex. 3:14 to be "the unchanging,
eternal, self-existent God," the "I am that I am," a convenant-keeping
God. (Comp. Mal. 3:6; Hos. 12:5; Rev. 1:4, 8.)
The Hebrew name "Jehovah" is generally
translated in the Authorized Version (and the Revised Version has
not departed from this rule) by the word LORD printed in small
capitals, to distinguish it from the rendering of the Hebrew
Adonai and the Greek Kurios, which are also rendered
Lord, but printed in the usual type. The Hebrew word is translated
"Jehovah" only in Ex. 6:3; Ps. 83:18; Isa. 12:2; 26:4, and in the
compound names mentioned below.
It is worthy of notice that this name is
never used in the LXX., the Samaritan Pentateuch, the Apocrypha, or
in the New Testament. It is found, however, on the "Moabite stone"
(q.v.), and consequently it must have been in the days of Mesba so
commonly pronounced by the Hebrews as to be familiar to their
heathen neighbours.
Jehovah-jireh -
Jehovah will see; i.e., will provide, the name given by Abraham to
the scene of his offering up the ram which was caught in the thicket
on Mount Moriah. The expression used in Gen. 22:14, "in the mount of
the Lord it shall be seen," has been regarded as equivalent to the
saying, "Man's extremity is God's opportunity."
Jehovah-nissi -
Jehovah my banner, the title given by Moses to the altar which he
erected on the hill on the top of which he stood with uplifted hands
while Israel prevailed over their enemies the Amalekites (Ex.
17:15).
Jehovah-shalom -
Jehovah send peace, the name which Gideon gave to the altar he
erected on the spot at Ophrah where the angel appeared to him (Judg.
6:24).
Jehovah-shammah -
Jehovah is there, the symbolical title given by Ezekiel to
Jerusalem, which was seen by him in vision (Ezek. 48:35). It was a
type of the gospel Church.
Jehovah-tsidkenu -
Jehovah our rightousness, rendered in the Authorized Version,
"The LORD our righteousness," a title given to the Messiah (Jer.
23:6, marg.), and also to Jerusalem (33:16, marg.).
Jehozabad -
Jehovah-given. (1.) The son of Obed-edom (1 Chr. 26:4), one of the
Levite porters.
(2.) The son of Shomer, one of the two
conspirators who put king Jehoash to death in Millo in Jerusalem (2
Kings 12:21).
(3.) 2 Chr. 17:18.
Jehozadak -
Jehovah-justified, the son of the high priest Seraiah at the time of
the Babylonian exile (1 Chr. 6:14, 15). He was carried into
captivity by Nebuchadnezzar, and probably died in Babylon. He was
the father of Jeshua, or Joshua, who returned with Zerubbabel.
Jehu - Jehovah
is he. (1.) The son of Obed, and father of Azariah (1 Chr. 2:38).
(2.) One of the Benjamite slingers that
joined David at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:3).
(3.) The son of Hanani, a prophet of Judah (1
Kings 16:1, 7; 2 Chr. 19:2; 20:34), who pronounced the sentence of
God against Baasha, the king of Israel.
(4.) King of Israel, the son of Jehoshaphat
(2 Kings 9:2), and grandson of Nimshi. The story of his exaltation
to the throne is deeply interesting. During the progress of a war
against the Syrians, who were becoming more and more troublesome to
Israel, in a battle at Ramoth-gilead Jehoram, the king of Israel,
had been wounded; and leaving his army there, had returned to
Jezreel, whither his ally, Ahaziah, king of Judah, had also gone on
a visit of sympathy with him (2 Kings 8:28, 29). The commanders,
being left in charge of the conduct of the war, met in council; and
while engaged in their deliberations, a messenger from Elisha
appeared in the camp, and taking Jehu from the council, led him into
a secret chamber, and there anointed him king over Israel, and
immediately retired and disappeared (2 Kings 9:5, 6). On being
interrogated by his companions as to the object of this mysterious
visitor, he informed them of what had been done, when immediately,
with the utmost enthusiasm, they blew their trumpets and proclaimed
him king (2 Kings 9:11-14). He then with a chosen band set forth
with all speed to Jezreel, where, with his own hand, he slew Jehoram,
shooting him through the heart with an arrow (9:24). The king of
Judah, when trying to escape, was fatally wounded by one of Jehu's
soldiers at Beth-gan. On entering the city, Jehu commanded the
eunchs of the royal palace to cast down Jezebel into the street,
where her mangled body was trodden under foot by the horses. Jehu
was now master of Jezreel, whence he communicated with the persons
in authority in Samaria the capital, commanding them to appear
before him on the morrow with the heads of all the royal princes of
Samaria. Accordingly on the morrow seventy heads were piled up in
two heaps at his gate. At "the shearing-house" (2 Kings 10:12-14)
other forty-two connected with the house of Ahab were put to death
(2 Kings 10:14). As Jehu rode on toward Samaria, he met Jehonadab
(q.v.), whom he took into his chariot, and they entered the capital
together. By a cunning stratagem he cut off all the worshippers of
Baal found in Samaria (2 Kings 10:19-25), and destroyed the temple
of the idol (2 Kings 10:27).
Notwithstanding all this apparent zeal for
the worship of Jehovah, Jehu yet tolerated the worship of the golden
calves at Dan and Bethel. For this the divine displeasure rested
upon him, and his kingdom suffered disaster in war with the Syrians
(2 Kings 10:29-33). He died after a reign of twenty-eight years
(B.C. 884-856), and was buried in Samaria (10:34-36). "He was one of
those decisive, terrible, and ambitious, yet prudent, calculating,
and passionless men whom God from time to time raises up to change
the fate of empires and execute his judgments on the earth." He was
the first Jewish king who came in contact with the Assyrian power in
the time of Shalmaneser II.
Jehucal - able,
the son of Shelemiah. He is also called Jucal (Jer. 38:1). He was
one of the two persons whom Zedekiah sent to request the prophet
Jeremiah to pray for the kingdom (Jer. 37:3) during the time of its
final siege by Nebuchadnezzar. He was accompanied by Zephaniah
(q.v.).
Jehudi - a Jew,
son of Nethaniah. He was sent by the princes to invite Baruch to
read Jeremiah's roll to them (Jer. 36:14, 21).
Jeiel -
snatched away by God. (1.) A descendant of Benjamin (1 Chr. 9:35;
8:29).
(2.) One of the Levites who took part in
praising God on the removal of the ark to Jerusalem (1 Chr. 16:5).
(3.) 2 Chr. 29:13. A Levite of the sons of
Asaph.
(4.) 2 Chr. 26:11. A scribe.
(5.) 1 Chr. 5:7. A Reubenite chief.
(6.) One of the chief Levites, who made an
offering for the restoration of the Passover by Josiah (2 Chr.
35:9).
(7.) Ezra 8:13.
(8.) Ezra 10:43.
Jemima - dove,
the eldest of Job's three daughters born after his time of trial
(Job 42:14).
Jephthah - whom
God sets free, or the breaker through, a "mighty man of valour" who
delivered Israel from the oppression of the Ammonites (Judg.
11:1-33), and judged Israel six years (12:7). He has been described
as "a wild, daring, Gilead mountaineer, a sort of warrior Elijah."
After forty-five years of comparative quiet Israel again
apostatized, and in "process of time the children of Ammon made war
against Israel" (11:5). In their distress the elders of Gilead went
to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob, to which he had fled when
driven out wrongfully by his brothers from his father's inheritance
(2), and the people made him their head and captain. The "elders of
Gilead" in their extremity summoned him to their aid, and he at once
undertook the conduct of the war against Ammon. Twice he sent an
embassy to the king of Ammon, but in vain. War was inevitable. The
people obeyed his summons, and "the spirit of the Lord came upon
him." Before engaging in war he vowed that if successful he would
offer as a "burnt-offering" whatever would come out of the door of
his house first to meet him on his return. The defeat of the
Ammonites was complete. "He smote them from Aroer, even till thou
come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto the plain of the
vineyards [Heb. 'Abel Keramim], with a very great slaughter" (Judg.
11:33). The men of Ephraim regarded themselves as insulted in not
having been called by Jephthah to go with him to war against Ammon.
This led to a war between the men of Gilead and Ephraim (12:4), in
which many of the Ephraimites perished. (See
SHIBBOLETH.) "Then died Jephthah the Gileadite, and was buried
in one of the cities of Gilead" (7).
Jephthah's vow - (Judg.
11:30, 31). After a crushing defeat of the Ammonites, Jephthah
returned to his own house, and the first to welcome him was his own
daughter. This was a terrible blow to the victor, and in his despair
he cried out, "Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low...I
have opened my mouth unto the Lord, and cannot go back." With
singular nobleness of spirit she answered, "Do to me according to
that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth." She only asked two
months to bewail her maidenhood with her companions upon the
mountains. She utters no reproach against her father's rashness, and
is content to yield her life since her father has returned a
conqueror. But was it so? Did Jephthah offer up his daughter as a
"burnt-offering"? This question has been much debated, and there are
many able commentators who argue that such a sacrifice was actually
offered. We are constrained, however, by a consideration of
Jephthah's known piety as a true worshipper of Jehovah, his evident
acquaintance with the law of Moses, to which such sacrifices were
abhorrent (Lev. 18:21; 20:2-5; Deut. 12:31), and the place he holds
in the roll of the heroes of the faith in the Epistle to the Hebrews
(11:32), to conclude that she was only doomed to a life of perpetual
celibacy.
Jephunneh -
nimble, or a beholder. (1.) The father of Caleb, who was Joshua's
companion in exploring Canaan (Num. 13:6), a Kenezite (Josh. 14:14).
(2.) One of the descendants of Asher (1 Chr. 7:38).
Jerahmeel -
loving God. (1.) The son of Hezron, the brother of Caleb (1 Chr.
2:9, 25, 26, etc.).
(2.) The son of Kish, a Levite (1 Chr.
24:29).
(3.) Son of Hammelech (Jer. 36:26).
Jeremiah -
raised up or appointed by Jehovah. (1.) A Gadite who joined David in
the wilderness (1 Chr. 12:10).
(2.) A Gadite warrior (1 Chr. 12:13).
(3.) A Benjamite slinger who joined David at
Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:4).
(4.) One of the chiefs of the tribe of
Manasseh on the east of Jordan (1 Chr. 5:24).
(5.) The father of Hamutal (2 Kings 23:31),
the wife of Josiah.
(6.) One of the "greater prophets" of the Old
Testament, son of Hilkiah (q.v.), a priest of Anathoth (Jer. 1:1;
32:6). He was called to the prophetical office when still young
(1:6), in the thirteenth year of Josiah (B.C. 628). He left his
native place, and went to reside in Jerusalem, where he greatly
assisted Josiah in his work of reformation (2 Kings 23:1-25). The
death of this pious king was bewailed by the prophet as a national
calamity (2 Chr. 35:25).
During the three years of the reign of
Jehoahaz we find no reference to Jeremiah, but in the beginning of
the reign of Jehoiakim the enmity of the people against him broke
out in bitter persecution, and he was placed apparently under
restraint (Jer. 36:5). In the fourth year of Jehoiakim he was
commanded to write the predictions given to him, and to read them to
the people on the fast-day. This was done by Baruch his servant in
his stead, and produced much public excitement. The roll was read to
the king. In his recklessness he seized the roll, and cut it to
pieces, and cast it into the fire, and ordered both Baruch and
Jeremiah to be apprehended. Jeremiah procured another roll, and
wrote in it the words of the roll the king had destroyed, and "many
like words" besides (Jer. 36:32).
He remained in Jerusalem, uttering from time
to time his words of warning, but without effect. He was there when
Nebuchadnezzar besieged the city (Jer. 37:4, 5), B.C. 589. The
rumour of the approach of the Egyptians to aid the Jews in this
crisis induced the Chaldeans to withdraw and return to their own
land. This, however, was only for a time. The prophet, in answer to
his prayer, received a message from God announcing that the
Chaldeans would come again and take the city, and burn it with fire
(37:7, 8). The princes, in their anger at such a message by
Jeremiah, cast him into prison (37:15-38:13). He was still in
confinement when the city was taken (B.C. 588). The Chaldeans
released him, and showed him great kindness, allowing him to choose
the place of his residence. He accordingly went to Mizpah with
Gedaliah, who had been made governor of Judea. Johanan succeeded
Gedaliah, and refusing to listen to Jeremiah's counsels, went down
into Egypt, taking Jeremiah and Baruch with him (Jer. 43:6). There
probably the prophet spent the remainder of his life, in vain
seeking still to turn the people to the Lord, from whom they had so
long revolted (44). He lived till the reign of Evil-Merodach, son of
Nebuchadnezzar, and must have been about ninety years of age at his
death. We have no authentic record of his death. He may have died at
Tahpanhes, or, according to a tradition, may have gone to Babylon
with the army of Nebuchadnezzar; but of this there is nothing
certain.
Jeremiah, Book of -
consists of twenty-three separate and independent sections,
arranged in five books. I. The introduction, ch. 1. II. Reproofs of
the sins of the Jews, consisting of seven sections, (1.) ch. 2; (2.)
ch. 3-6; (3.) ch. 7-10; (4.) ch. 11-13; (5.) ch. 14-17:18; (6.) ch.
17:19-ch. 20; (7.) ch. 21-24. III. A general review of all nations,
in two sections, (1.) ch. 46-49; (2.) ch. 25; with an historical
appendix of three sections, (1.) ch. 26; (2.) ch. 27; (3.) ch. 28,
29. IV. Two sections picturing the hopes of better times, (1.) ch.
30, 31; (2.) ch. 32,33; to which is added an historical appendix in
three sections, (1.) ch. 34:1-7; (2.) ch. 34:8-22; (3.) ch. 35. V.
The conclusion, in two sections, (1.) ch. 36; (2.) ch. 45.
In Egypt, after an interval, Jeremiah is
supposed to have added three sections, viz., ch. 37-39; 40-43; and
44.
The principal Messianic prophecies are found
in 23:1-8; 31:31-40; and 33:14-26.
Jeremiah's prophecies are noted for the
frequent repetitions found in them of the same words and phrases and
imagery. They cover the period of about 30 years. They are not
recorded in the order of time. When and under what circumstances
this book assumed its present form we know not.
The LXX. Version of this book is, in its
arrangement and in other particulars, singularly at variance with
the original. The LXX. omits 10:6-8; 27:19-22; 29:16-20; 33:14-26;
39:4-13; 52:2, 3, 15, 28-30, etc. About 2,700 words in all of the
original are omitted. These omissions, etc., are capricious and
arbitrary, and render the version unreliable.
Jericho - place
of fragrance, a fenced city in the midst of a vast grove of palm
trees, in the plain of Jordan, over against the place where that
river was crossed by the Israelites (Josh. 3:16). Its site was near
the 'Ain es-Sultan, Elisha's Fountain (2 Kings 2:19-22), about 5
miles west of Jordan. It was the most important city in the Jordan
valley (Num. 22:1; 34:15), and the strongest fortress in all the
land of Canaan. It was the key to Western Palestine.
This city was taken in a very remarkable
manner by the Israelites (Josh. 6). God gave it into their hands.
The city was "accursed" (Heb. herem, "devoted" to Jehovah), and
accordingly (Josh. 6:17; comp. Lev. 27:28, 29; Deut. 13:16) all the
inhabitants and all the spoil of the city were to be destroyed,
"only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of
iron" were reserved and "put into the treasury of the house of
Jehovah" (Josh. 6:24; comp. Num. 31:22, 23, 50-54). Only Rahab "and
her father's household, and all that she had," were preserved from
destruction, according to the promise of the spies (Josh. 2:14). In
one of the Amarna tablets Adoni-zedec (q.v.) writes to the king of
Egypt informing him that the 'Abiri (Hebrews) had prevailed, and had
taken the fortress of Jericho, and were plundering "all the king's
lands." It would seem that the Egyptian troops had before this been
withdrawn from Palestine.
This city was given to the tribe of Benjamin
(Josh. 18:21), and it was inhabited in the time of the Judges (Judg.
3:13; 2 Sam. 10:5). It is not again mentioned till the time of David
(2 Sam. 10:5). "Children of Jericho" were among the captives who
returned under Zerubbabel Ezra 2:34; Neh. 7:36). Hiel (q.v.) the
Bethelite attempted to make it once more a fortified city (1 Kings
16:34). Between the beginning and the end of his undertaking all his
children were cut off.
In New Testament times Jericho stood some
distance to the south-east of the ancient one, and near the opening
of the valley of Achor. It was a rich and flourishing town, having a
considerable trade, and celebrated for the palm trees which adorned
the plain around. It was visited by our Lord on his last journey to
Jerusalem. Here he gave sight to two blind men (Matt. 20:29-34; Mark
10:46-52), and brought salvation to the house of Zacchaeus the
publican (Luke 19:2-10).
The poor hamlet of er-Riha, the
representative of modern Jericho, is situated some two miles farther
to the east. It is in a ruinous condition, having been destroyed by
the Turks in 1840. "The soil of the plain," about the middle of
which the ancient city stood, "is unsurpassed in fertility; there is
abundance of water for irrigation, and many of the old aqueducts are
almost perfect; yet nearly the whole plain is waste and
desolate...The climate of Jericho is exceedingly hot and unhealthy.
This is accounted for by the depression of the plain, which is about
1,200 feet below the level of the sea."
There were three different Jerichos, on three
different sites, the Jericho of Joshua, the Jericho of Herod, and
the Jericho of the Crusades. Er-Riha, the modern Jericho, dates from
the time of the Crusades. Dr. Bliss has found in a hollow scooped
out for some purpose or other near the foot of the biggest mound
above the Sultan's Spring specimens of Amorite or pre-Israelitish
pottery precisely identical with what he had discovered on the site
of ancient Lachish. He also traced in this place for a short
distance a mud brick wall in situ, which he supposes to be the very
wall that fell before the trumpets of Joshua. The wall is not far
from the foot of the great precipice of Quarantania and its numerous
caverns, and the spies of Joshua could easily have fled from the
city and been speedily hidden in these fastnesses.
Jerimoth -
heights. (1.) One of the sons of Bela (1 Chr. 7:7).
(2.) 1 Chr. 24:30, a Merarite Levite.
(3.) A Benjamite slinger who joined David at
Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:5).
(4.) A Levitical musician under Heman his
father (1 Chr. 25:4).
(5.) 1 Chr. 27:19, ruler of Naphtali.
(6.) One of David's sons (2 Chr. 11:18).
(7.) A Levite, one of the overseers of the
temple offerings (2 Chr. 31:13) in the reign of Hezekiah.
Jeroboam -
increase of the people. (1.) The son of Nebat (1 Kings 11:26-39),
"an Ephrathite," the first king of the ten tribes, over whom he
reigned twenty-two years (B.C. 976-945). He was the son of a widow
of Zereda, and while still young was promoted by Solomon to be chief
superintendent of the "burnden", i.e., of the bands of forced
labourers. Influenced by the words of the prophet Ahijah, he began
to form conspiracies with the view of becoming king of the ten
tribes; but these having been discovered, he fled to Egypt (1 Kings
11:29-40), where he remained for a length of time under the
protection of Shishak I. On the death of Solomon, the ten tribes,
having revolted, sent to invite him to become their king. The
conduct of Rehoboam favoured the designs of Jeroboam, and he was
accordingly proclaimed "king of Israel" (1 Kings 12: 1-20). He
rebuilt and fortified Shechem as the capital of his kingdom. He at
once adopted means to perpetuate the division thus made between the
two parts of the kingdom, and erected at Dan and Bethel, the two
extremities of his kingdom, "golden calves," which he set up as
symbols of Jehovah, enjoining the people not any more to go up to
worship at Jerusalem, but to bring their offerings to the shrines he
had erected. Thus he became distinguished as the man "who made
Israel to sin." This policy was followed by all the succeeding kings
of Israel.
While he was engaged in offering incense at
Bethel, a prophet from Judah appeared before him with a warning
message from the Lord. Attempting to arrest the prophet for his bold
words of defiance, his hand was "dried up," and the altar before
which he stood was rent asunder. At his urgent entreaty his "hand
was restored him again" (1 Kings 13:1-6, 9; comp. 2 Kings 23:15);
but the miracle made no abiding impression on him. His reign was one
of constant war with the house of Judah. He died soon after his son
Abijah (1 Kings 14:1-18).
(2.) Jeroboam II., the son and successor of
Jehoash, and the fourteenth king of Israel, over which he ruled for
forty-one years, B.C. 825-784 (2 Kings 14:23). He followed the
example of the first Jeroboam in keeping up the worship of the
golden calves (2 Kings 14:24). His reign was contemporary with those
of Amaziah (2 Kings 14:23) and Uzziah (15:1), kings of Judah. He was
victorious over the Syrians (13:4; 14:26, 27), and extended Israel
to its former limits, from "the entering of Hamath to the sea of the
plain" (14:25; Amos 6:14). His reign of forty-one years was the most
prosperous that Israel had ever known as yet. With all this outward
prosperity, however, iniquity widely prevailed in the land (Amos
2:6-8; 4:1; 6:6; Hos. 4:12-14). The prophets Hosea (1:1), Joel
(3:16; Amos 1:1, 2), Amos (1:1), and Jonah (2 Kings 14:25) lived
during his reign. He died, and was buried with his ancestors
(14:29). He was succeeded by his son Zachariah (q.v.).
His name occurs in Scripture only in 2 Kings
13:13; 14:16, 23, 27, 28, 29; 15:1, 8; 1 Chr. 5:17; Hos. 1:1; Amos
1:1; 7:9, 10, 11. In all other passages it is Jeroboam the son of
Nebat that is meant.
Jeroham -
cherished; who finds mercy. (1.) Father of Elkanah, and grandfather
of the prophet Samuel (1 Sam. 1:1).
(2.) The father of Azareel, the "captain" of
the tribe of Dan (1 Chr. 27:22).
(3.) 1 Chr. 12:7; a Benjamite.
(4.) 2 Chr. 23:1; one whose son assisted in
placing Joash on the throne.
(5.) 1 Chr. 9:8; a Benjamite.
(6.) 1 Chr. 9:12; a priest, perhaps the same
as in Neh. 11:12.
Jerubbaal -
contender with Baal; or, let Baal plead, a surname of Gideon; a name
given to him because he destroyed the altar of Baal (Judg. 6:32;
7:1; 8:29; 1 Sam. 12:11).
Jerubbesheth -
contender with the shame; i.e., idol, a surname also of Gideon (2
Sam. 11:21).
Jeruel -
founded by God, a "desert" on the ascent from the valley of the Dead
Sea towards Jerusalem. It lay beyond the wilderness of Tekoa, in the
direction of Engedi (2 Chr. 20:16, 20). It corresponds with the
tract of country now called el-Hasasah.
Return
To Dictionary
Jerusalem -
called also Salem, Ariel, Jebus, the "city of God," the "holy city;"
by the modern Arabs el-Khuds, meaning "the holy;" once "the city of
Judah" (2 Chr. 25:28). This name is in the original in the dual
form, and means "possession of peace," or "foundation of peace." The
dual form probably refers to the two mountains on which it was
built, viz., Zion and Moriah; or, as some suppose, to the two parts
of the city, the "upper" and the "lower city." Jerusalem is a
"mountain city enthroned on a mountain fastness" (comp. Ps. 68:15,
16; 87:1; 125:2; 76:1, 2; 122:3). It stands on the edge of one of
the highest table-lands in Palestine, and is surrounded on the
south-eastern, the southern, and the western sides by deep and
precipitous ravines.
It is first mentioned in Scripture under the
name Salem (Gen. 14:18; comp. Ps. 76:2). When first mentioned under
the name Jerusalem, Adonizedek was its king (Josh. 10:1). It is
afterwards named among the cities of Benjamin (Judg. 19:10; 1 Chr.
11:4); but in the time of David it was divided between Benjamin and
Judah. After the death of Joshua the city was taken and set on fire
by the men of Judah (Judg. 1:1-8); but the Jebusites were not wholly
driven out of it. The city is not again mentioned till we are told
that David brought the head of Goliath thither (1 Sam. 17:54). David
afterwards led his forces against the Jebusites still residing
within its walls, and drove them out, fixing his own dwelling on
Zion, which he called "the city of David" (2 Sam. 5:5-9; 1 Chr.
11:4-8). Here he built an altar to the Lord on the threshing-floor
of Araunah the Jebusite (2 Sam. 24:15-25), and thither he brought up
the ark of the covenant and placed it in the new tabernacle which he
had prepared for it. Jerusalem now became the capital of the
kingdom.
After the death of David, Solomon built the
temple, a house for the name of the Lord, on Mount Moriah (B.C.
1010). He also greatly strengthened and adorned the city, and it
became the great centre of all the civil and religious affairs of
the nation (Deut. 12:5; comp. 12:14; 14:23; 16:11-16; Ps. 122).
After the disruption of the kingdom on the
accession to the throne of Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, Jerusalem
became the capital of the kingdom of the two tribes. It was
subsequently often taken and retaken by the Egyptians, the
Assyrians, and by the kings of Israel (2 Kings 14:13, 14; 18:15, 16;
23:33-35; 24:14; 2 Chr. 12:9; 26:9; 27:3, 4; 29:3; 32:30; 33:11),
till finally, for the abounding iniquities of the nation, after a
siege of three years, it was taken and utterly destroyed, its walls
razed to the ground, and its temple and palaces consumed by fire, by
Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon (2 Kings 25; 2 Chr. 36; Jer.
39), B.C. 588. The desolation of the city and the land was completed
by the retreat of the principal Jews into Egypt (Jer. 40-44), and by
the final carrying captive into Babylon of all that still remained
in the land (52:3), so that it was left without an inhabitant (B.C.
582). Compare the predictions, Deut. 28; Lev. 26:14-39.
But the streets and walls of Jerusalem were
again to be built, in troublous times (Dan. 9:16, 19, 25), after a
captivity of seventy years. This restoration was begun B.C. 536, "in
the first year of Cyrus" (Ezra 1:2, 3, 5-11). The Books of Ezra and
Nehemiah contain the history of the re-building of the city and
temple, and the restoration of the kingdom of the Jews, consisting
of a portion of all the tribes. The kingdom thus constituted was for
two centuries under the dominion of Persia, till B.C. 331; and
thereafter, for about a century and a half, under the rulers of the
Greek empire in Asia, till B.C. 167. For a century the Jews
maintained their independence under native rulers, the Asmonean
princes. At the close of this period they fell under the rule of
Herod and of members of his family, but practically under Rome, till
the time of the destruction of Jerusalem, A.D. 70. The city was then
laid in ruins.
The modern Jerusalem by-and-by began to be
built over the immense beds of rubbish resulting from the overthrow
of the ancient city; and whilst it occupies certainly the same site,
there are no evidences that even the lines of its streets are now
what they were in the ancient city. Till A.D. 131 the Jews who still
lingered about Jerusalem quietly submitted to the Roman sway. But in
that year the emperor (Hadrian), in order to hold them in
subjection, rebuilt and fortified the city. The Jews, however, took
possession of it, having risen under the leadership of one Bar-Chohaba
(i.e., "the son of the star") in revolt against the Romans. Some
four years afterwards (A.D. 135), however, they were driven out of
it with great slaughter, and the city was again destroyed; and over
its ruins was built a Roman city called Aelia Capitolina, a name
which it retained till it fell under the dominion of the
Mohammedans, when it was called el-Khuds, i.e., "the holy."
In A.D. 326 Helena, mother of the emperor
Constantine, made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem with the view of
discovering the places mentioned in the life of our Lord. She caused
a church to be built on what was then supposed to be the place of
the nativity at Bethlehem. Constantine, animated by her example,
searched for the holy sepulchre, and built over the supposed site a
magnificent church, which was completed and dedicated A.D. 335. He
relaxed the laws against the Jews till this time in force, and
permitted them once a year to visit the city and wail over the
desolation of "the holy and beautiful house."
In A.D. 614 the Persians, after defeating the
Roman forces of the emperor Heraclius, took Jerusalem by storm, and
retained it till A.D. 637, when it was taken by the Arabians under
the Khalif Omar. It remained in their possession till it passed, in
A.D. 960, under the dominion of the Fatimite khalifs of Egypt, and
in A.D. 1073 under the Turcomans. In A.D. 1099 the crusader Godfrey
of Bouillon took the city from the Moslems with great slaughter, and
was elected king of Jerusalem. He converted the Mosque of Omar into
a Christian cathedral. During the eighty-eight years which followed,
many churches and convents were erected in the holy city. The Church
of the Holy Sepulchre was rebuilt during this period, and it alone
remains to this day. In A.D. 1187 the sultan Saladin wrested the
city from the Christians. From that time to the present day, with
few intervals, Jerusalem has remained in the hands of the Moslems.
It has, however, during that period been again and again taken and
retaken, demolished in great part and rebuilt, no city in the world
having passed through so many vicissitudes.
In the year 1850 the Greek and Latin monks
residing in Jerusalem had a fierce dispute about the guardianship of
what are called the "holy places." In this dispute the emperor
Nicholas of Russia sided with the Greeks, and Louis Napoleon, the
emperor of the French, with the Latins. This led the Turkish
authorities to settle the question in a way unsatisfactory to
Russia. Out of this there sprang the Crimean War, which was
protracted and sanguinary, but which had important consequences in
the way of breaking down the barriers of Turkish exclusiveness.
Modern Jerusalem "lies near the summit of a
broad mountain-ridge, which extends without interruption from the
plain of Esdraelon to a line drawn between the southern end of the
Dead Sea and the southeastern corner of the Mediterranean." This
high, uneven table-land is everywhere from 20 to 25 geographical
miles in breadth. It was anciently known as the mountains of Ephraim
and Judah.
"Jerusalem is a city of contrasts, and
differs widely from Damascus, not merely because it is a stone town
in mountains, whilst the latter is a mud city in a plain, but
because while in Damascus Moslem religion and Oriental custom are
unmixed with any foreign element, in Jerusalem every form of
religion, every nationality of East and West, is represented at one
time."
Jerusalem is first mentioned under that name
in the Book of Joshua, and the Tell-el-Amarna collection of tablets
includes six letters from its Amorite king to Egypt, recording the
attack of the Abiri about B.C. 1480. The name is there spelt
Uru-Salim ("city of peace"). Another monumental record in which the
Holy City is named is that of Sennacherib's attack in B.C. 702. The
"camp of the Assyrians" was still shown about A.D. 70, on the flat
ground to the north-west, included in the new quarter of the city.
The city of David included both the upper
city and Millo, and was surrounded by a wall built by David and
Solomon, who appear to have restored the original Jebusite
fortifications. The name Zion (or Sion) appears to have been, like
Ariel ("the hearth of God"), a poetical term for Jerusalem, but in
the Greek age was more specially used of the Temple hill. The
priests' quarter grew up on Ophel, south of the Temple, where also
was Solomon's Palace outside the original city of David. The walls
of the city were extended by Jotham and Manasseh to include this
suburb and the Temple (2 Chr. 27:3; 33:14).
Jerusalem is now a town of some 50,000
inhabitants, with ancient mediaeval walls, partly on the old lines,
but extending less far to the south. The traditional sites, as a
rule, were first shown in the 4th and later centuries A.D., and have
no authority. The results of excavation have, however, settled most
of the disputed questions, the limits of the Temple area, and the
course of the old walls having been traced.
Jerusha -
possession, or possessed; i.e., "by a husband", the wife of Uzziah,
and mother of king Jotham (2 Kings 15:33).
Jeshaiah -
deliverance of Jehovah. (1.) A Kohathite Levite, the father of Joram,
of the family of Eliezer (1 Chr. 26:25); called also Isshiah
(24:21).
(2.) One of the sons of Jeduthum (1 Chr.
25:3, 15).
(3.) One of the three sons of Hananiah (1 Chr.
3:21).
(4.) Son of Athaliah (Ezra 8:7).
(5.) A Levite of the family of Merari (8:19).
Jeshanah - a
city of the kingdom of Israel (2 Chr. 13:19).
Jesharelah -
upright towards God, the head of the seventh division of Levitical
musicians (1 Chr. 25:14).
Jeshebeab -
seat of his father, the head of the fourteenth division of priests
(1 Chr. 24:13).
Jesher -
uprightness, the first of the three sons of Caleb by Azubah (1 Chr.
2:18).
Jeshimon - the
waste, probably some high waste land to the south of the Dead Sea
(Num. 21:20; 23:28; 1 Sam. 23:19, 24); or rather not a proper name
at all, but simply "the waste" or "wilderness," the district on
which the plateau of Ziph (q.v.) looks down.
Jeshua - (1.)
Head of the ninth priestly order (Ezra 2:36); called also Jeshuah (1
Chr. 24:11).
(2.) A Levite appointed by Hezekiah to
distribute offerings in the priestly cities (2 Chr. 31:15).
(3.) Ezra 2:6; Neh. 7:11.
(4.) Ezra 2:40; Neh. 7:43.
(5.) The son of Jozadak, and high priest of
the Jews under Zerubbabel (Neh. 7:7; 12:1, 7, 10, 26); called Joshua
(Hag. 1:1, 12; 2:2, 4; Zech. 3:1, 3, 6, 8, 9).
(6.) A Levite (Ezra 8:33).
(7.) Neh. 3:19.
(8.) A Levite who assisted in the reformation
under Nehemiah (8:7; 9:4, 5).
(9.) Son of Kadmiel (Neh. 12:24).
(10.) A city of Judah (Neh. 11:26).
(11.) Neh. 8:17; Joshua, the son of Nun.
Jeshurun - a
poetical name for the people of Israel, used in token of affection,
meaning, "the dear upright people" (Deut. 32:15; 33:5, 26; Isa.
44:2).
Jesse - firm,
or a gift, a son of Obed, the son of Boaz and Ruth (Ruth 4:17, 22;
Matt. 1:5, 6; Luke 3:32). He was the father of eight sons, the
youngest of whom was David (1 Sam. 17:12). The phrase "stem of
Jesse" is used for the family of David (Isa. 11:1), and "root of
Jesse" for the Messiah (Isa. 11:10; Rev. 5:5). Jesse was a man
apparently of wealth and position at Bethlehem (1 Sam. 17:17, 18,
20; Ps. 78:71). The last reference to him is of David's procuring
for him an asylum with the king of Moab (1 Sam. 22:3).
Jesus - (1.)
Joshua, the son of Nun (Acts 7:45; Heb. 4:8; R.V., "Joshua").
(2.) A Jewish Christian surnamed Justus (Col.
4:11).
Je'sus, the proper, as Christ is the
official, name of our Lord. To distinguish him from others so
called, he is spoken of as "Jesus of Nazareth" (John 18:7), and
"Jesus the son of Joseph" (John 6:42).
This is the Greek form of the Hebrew name
Joshua, which was originally Hoshea (Num. 13:8, 16), but changed by
Moses into Jehoshua (Num. 13:16; 1 Chr. 7:27), or Joshua. After the
Exile it assumed the form Jeshua, whence the Greek form Jesus. It
was given to our Lord to denote the object of his mission, to save
(Matt. 1:21).
The life of Jesus on earth may be divided
into two great periods, (1) that of his private life, till he was
about thirty years of age; and (2) that of his public life, which
lasted about three years.
In the "fulness of time" he was born at
Bethlehem, in the reign of the emperor Augustus, of Mary, who was
betrothed to Joseph, a carpenter (Matt. 1:1; Luke 3:23; comp. John
7:42). His birth was announced to the shepherds (Luke 2:8-20). Wise
men from the east came to Bethlehem to see him who was born "King of
the Jews," bringing gifts with them (Matt. 2:1-12). Herod's cruel
jealousy led to Joseph's flight into Egypt with Mary and the infant
Jesus, where they tarried till the death of this king (Matt.
2:13-23), when they returned and settled in Nazareth, in Lower
Galilee (2:23; comp. Luke 4:16; John 1:46, etc.). At the age of
twelve years he went up to Jerusalem to the Passover with his
parents. There, in the temple, "in the midst of the doctors," all
that heard him were "astonished at his understanding and answers"
(Luke 2:41, etc.).
Eighteen years pass, of which we have no
record beyond this, that he returned to Nazareth and "increased in
wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man" (Luke 2:52).
He entered on his public ministry when he was
about thirty years of age. It is generally reckoned to have extended
to about three years. "Each of these years had peculiar features of
its own. (1.) The first year may be called the year of obscurity,
both because the records of it which we possess are very scanty, and
because he seems during it to have been only slowly emerging into
public notice. It was spent for the most part in Judea. (2.) The
second year was the year of public favour, during which the country
had become thoroughly aware of him; his activity was incessant, and
his frame rang through the length and breadth of the land. It was
almost wholly passed in Galilee. (3.) The third was the year of
opposition, when the public favour ebbed away. His enemies
multiplied and assailed him with more and more pertinacity, and at
last he fell a victim to their hatred. The first six months of this
final year were passed in Galilee, and the last six in other parts
of the land.", Stalker's Life of Jesus Christ, p. 45.
The only reliable sources of information
regarding the life of Christ on earth are the Gospels, which present
in historical detail the words and the work of Christ in so many
different aspects. (See
CHRIST.)
Jether - surplus;
excellence. (1.) Father-in-law of Moses (Ex. 4:18 marg.), called
elsewhere Jethro (q.v.).
(2.) The oldest of Gideon's seventy sons (Judg.
8:20).
(3.) The father of Amasa, David's general (1
Kings 2:5, 32); called Ithra (2 Sam. 17:25).
(4.) 1 Chr. 7:38.
(5.) 1 Chr. 2:32; one of Judah's posterity.
(6.) 1 Chr. 4:17.
Jetheth - a
peg, or a prince, one of the Edomitish kings of Mount Seir (Gen.
36:40).
Jethlah -
suspended; high, a city on the borders of Dan (Josh. 19:42).
Jethro - his
excellence, or gain, a prince or priest of Midian, who succeeded his
father Reuel. Moses spent forty years after his exile from the
Egyptian court as keeper of Jethro's flocks. While the Israelites
were encamped at Sinai, and soon after their victory over Amalek,
Jethro came to meet Moses, bringing with him Zipporah and her two
sons. They met at the "mount of God," and "Moses told him all that
the Lord had done unto Pharaoh" (Ex. 18:8). On the following day
Jethro, observing the multiplicity of the duties devolving on Moses,
advised him to appoint subordinate judges, rulers of thousands, of
hundreds, of fifties, and of tens, to decide smaller matters,
leaving only the weightier matters to be referred to Moses, to be
laid before the Lord. This advice Moses adopted (Ex. 18). He was
also called Hobab (q.v.), which was probably his personal name,
while Jethro was an official name. (See
MOSES.)
Jetur - an
enclosure, one of the twelve sons of Ishmael (Gen. 25:15).
Jeuel -
snatched away by God, a descendant of Zerah (1 Chr. 9:6).
Jeush -
assembler. (1.) The oldest of Esau's three sons by Aholibamah (Gen.
36:5, 14, 18).
(2.) A son of Bilhan, grandson of Benjamin (1
Chr. 7:10).
(3.) A Levite, one of the sons of Shimei (1
Chr. 23:10, 11).
(4.) One of the three sons of Rehoboam (2 Chr.
11:19).
(5.) 1 Chr. 8:39.
Jew - the name
derived from the patriarch Judah, at first given to one belonging to
the tribe of Judah or to the separate kingdom of Judah (2 Kings
16:6; 25:25; Jer. 32:12; 38:19; 40:11; 41:3), in contradistinction
from those belonging to the kingdom of the ten tribes, who were
called Israelites.
During the Captivity, and after the
Restoration, the name, however, was extended to all the Hebrew
nation without distinction (Esther 3:6, 10; Dan. 3:8, 12; Ezra 4:12;
5:1, 5).
Originally this people were called Hebrews
(Gen. 39:14; 40:15; Ex. 2:7; 3:18; 5:3; 1 Sam. 4:6, 9, etc.), but
after the Exile this name fell into disuse. But Paul was styled a
Hebrew (2 Cor. 11:22; Phil. 3:5).
The history of the Jewish nation is
interwoven with the history of Palestine and with the narratives of
the lives of their rulers and chief men. They are now [1897]
dispersed over all lands, and to this day remain a separate people,
"without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and
without an image [R.V. 'pillar,' marg. 'obelisk'], and without an
ephod, and without teraphim" (Hos. 3:4). Till about the beginning of
the present century [1800] they were everywhere greatly oppressed,
and often cruelly persecuted; but now their condition is greatly
improved, and they are admitted in most European countries to all
the rights of free citizens. In 1860 the "Jewish disabilities" were
removed, and they were admitted to a seat in the British Parliament.
Their number in all is estimated at about six millions, about four
millions being in Europe.
There are three names used in the New
Testament to designate this people, (1.) Jews, as regards their
nationality, to distinguish them from Gentiles. (2.) Hebrews, with
regard to their language and education, to distinguish them from
Hellenists, i.e., Jews who spoke the Greek language. (3.)
Israelites, as respects their sacred privileges as the chosen people
of God. "To other races we owe the splendid inheritance of modern
civilization and secular culture; but the religious education of
mankind has been the gift of the Jew alone."
Jewess - a
woman of Hebrew birth, as Eunice, the mother of Timothy (Acts 16:1;
2 Tim. 1:5), and Drusilla (Acts 24:24), wife of Felix, and daughter
of Herod Agrippa I.
Jezebel -
chaste, the daughter of Ethbaal, the king of the Zidonians, and the
wife of Ahab, the king of Israel (1 Kings 16:31). This was the
"first time that a king of Israel had allied himself by marriage
with a heathen princess; and the alliance was in this case of a
peculiarly disastrous kind. Jezebel has stamped her name on history
as the representative of all that is designing, crafty, malicious,
revengeful, and cruel. She is the first great instigator of
persecution against the saints of God. Guided by no principle,
restrained by no fear of either God or man, passionate in her
attachment to her heathen worship, she spared no pains to maintain
idolatry around her in all its splendour. Four hundred and fifty
prophets ministered under her care to Baal, besides four hundred
prophets of the groves [R.V., 'prophets of the Asherah'], which ate
at her table (1 Kings 18:19). The idolatry, too, was of the most
debased and sensual kind." Her conduct was in many respects very
disastrous to the kingdom both of Israel and Judah (21:1-29). At
length she came to an untimely end. As Jehu rode into the gates of
Jezreel, she looked out at the window of the palace, and said, "Had
Zimri peace, who slew his master?" He looked up and called to her
chamberlains, who instantly threw her from the window, so that she
was dashed in pieces on the street, and his horses trod her under
their feet. She was immediately consumed by the dogs of the street
(2 Kings 9:7-37), according to the word of Elijah the Tishbite (1
Kings 21:19).
Her name afterwards came to be used as the
synonym for a wicked woman (Rev. 2: 20).
It may be noted that she is said to have been
the grand-aunt of Dido, the founder of Carthage.
Jeziel -
assembled by God, a son of Azmaveth. He was one of the Benjamite
archers who joined David at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:3).
Jezreel - God
scatters. (1.) A town of Issachar (Josh. 19:18), where the kings of
Israel often resided (1 Kings 18:45; 21:1; 2 Kings 9:30). Here
Elijah met Ahab, Jehu, and Bidkar; and here Jehu executed his
dreadful commission against the house of Ahab (2 Kings 9:14-37;
10:1-11). It has been identified with the modern Zerin, on the most
western point of the range of Gilboa, reaching down into the great
and fertile valley of Jezreel, to which it gave its name.
(2.) A town in Judah (Josh. 15:56), to the
south-east of Hebron. Ahinoam, one of David's wives, probably
belonged to this place (1 Sam. 27:3).
(3.) A symbolical name given by Hosea to his
oldest son (Hos. 1:4), in token of a great slaughter predicted by
him, like that which had formerly taken place in the plain of
Esdraelon (comp. Hos. 1:4, 5).
Jezreel, Blood of -
the murder perpetrated here by Ahab and Jehu (Hos. 1:4; comp. 1
Kings 18:4; 2 Kings 9:6-10).
Jezreel, Day of -
the time predicted for the execution of vengeance for the deeds
of blood committed there (Hos. 1:5).
Jezreel, Ditch of -
(1 Kings 21:23; comp. 13), the fortification surrounding the
city, outside of which Naboth was executed.
Jezreel, Fountain
of - where Saul encamped before the battle of Gilboa (1 Sam.
29:1). In the valley under Zerin there are two considerable springs,
one of which, perhaps that here referred to, "flows from under a
sort of cavern in the wall of conglomerate rock which here forms the
base of Gilboa. The water is excellent; and issuing from crevices in
the rocks, it spreads out at once into a fine limpid pool forty or
fifty feet in diameter, full of fish" (Robinson). This may be
identical with the "well of Harod" (Judg. 7:1; comp. 2 Sam. 23:25),
probably the 'Ain Jalud, i.e., the "spring of Goliath."
Jezreel, Portion of
- the field adjoining the city (2 Kings 9:10, 21, 36, 37). Here
Naboth was stoned to death (1 Kings 21:13).
Jezreel, Tower of -
one of the turrets which guarded the entrance to the city (2
Kings 9:17).
Jezreel, Valley of
- lying on the northern side of the city, between the ridges of
Gilboa and Moreh, an offshoot of Esdraelon, running east to the
Jordan (Josh. 17:16; Judg. 6:33; Hos. 1:5). It was the scene of the
signal victory gained by the Israelites under Gideon over the
Midianites, the Amalekites, and the "children of the east" (Judg.
6:3). Two centuries after this the Israelites were here defeated by
the Philistines, and Saul and Jonathan, with the flower of the army
of Israel, fell (1 Sam. 31:1-6).
This name was in after ages extended to the
whole of the plain of Esdraelon (q.v.). It was only this plain of
Jezreel and that north of Lake Huleh that were then accessible to
the chariots of the Canaanites (comp. 2 Kings 9:21; 10:15).
Joab - Jehovah
is his father. (1.) One of the three sons of Zeruiah, David's
sister, and "captain of the host" during the whole of David's reign
(2 Sam. 2:13; 10:7; 11:1; 1 Kings 11:15). His father's name is
nowhere mentioned, although his sepulchre at Bethlehem is mentioned
(2 Sam. 2:32). His two brothers were Abishai and Asahel, the swift
of foot, who was killed by Abner (2 Sam. 2:13-32), whom Joab
afterwards treacherously murdered (3:22-27). He afterwards led the
assault at the storming of the fortress on Mount Zion, and for this
service was raised to the rank of "prince of the king's army" (2
Sam. 5:6-10; 1 Chr. 27:34). His chief military achievements were,
(1) against the allied forces of Syria and Ammon; (2) against Edom
(1 Kings 11:15, 16); and (3) against the Ammonites (2 Sam. 10:7-19;
11:1, 11). His character is deeply stained by the part he willingly
took in the murder of Uriah (11:14-25). He acted apparently from a
sense of duty in putting Absalom to death (18:1-14). David was
unmindful of the many services Joab had rendered to him, and
afterwards gave the command of the army to Amasa, Joab's cousin (2
Sam. 20:1-13; 19:13). When David was dying Joab espoused the cause
of Adonijah in preference to that of Solomon. He was afterwards
slain by Benaiah, by the command of Solomon, in accordance with his
father's injunction (2 Sam. 3:29; 20:5-13), at the altar to which he
had fled for refuge. Thus this hoary conspirator died without one to
lift up a voice in his favour. He was buried in his own property in
the "wilderness," probably in the north-east of Jerusalem (1 Kings
2:5, 28-34). Benaiah succeeded him as commander-in-chief of the
army.
(2.) 1 Chr. 4:14.
(3.) Ezra 2:6.
Joah - Jehovah
his brother; i.e., helper. (1.) One of the sons of Obed-edom (1 Chr.
26:4), a Korhite porter.
(2.) A Levite of the family of Gershom (1 Chr.
6:21), probably the same as Ethan (42).
(3.) The son of Asaph, and "recorder" (q.v.)
or chronicler to King Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:18, 26, 37).
(4.) Son of Joahaz, and "recorder" (q.v.) or
keeper of the state archives under King Josiah (2 Chr. 34:8).
Joahaz - (2 Chr.
34:8), a contracted form of Jehoahaz (q.v.).
Joanna - whom
Jehovah has graciously given. (1.) The grandson of Zerubbabel, in
the lineage of Christ (Luke 3:27); the same as Hananiah (1 Chr.
3:19).
(2.) The wife of Chuza, the steward of Herod
Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee (Luke 8:3). She was one of the women
who ministered to our Lord, and to whom he appeared after his
resurrection (Luke 8:3; 24:10).
Joash - whom
Jehovah bestowed. (1.) A contracted form of Jehoash, the father of
Gideon (Judg. 6:11, 29; 8:13, 29, 32).
(2.) One of the Benjamite archers who joined
David at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:3).
(3.) One of King Ahab's sons (1 Kings 22:26).
(4.) King of Judah (2 Kings 11:2; 12:19, 20).
(See JEHOASH ¯T0002005 [1].)
(5.) King of Israel (2 Kings 13:9, 12, 13,
25). (See JEHOASH ¯T0002005 [2].)
(6.) 1 Chr. 7:8.
(7.) One who had charge of the royal stores
of oil under David and Solomon (1 Chr. 27:28).
Job -
persecuted, an Arabian patriarch who resided in the land of Uz
(q.v.). While living in the midst of great prosperity, he was
suddenly overwhelmed by a series of sore trials that fell upon him.
Amid all his sufferings he maintained his integrity. Once more God
visited him with the rich tokens of his goodness and even greater
prosperity than he had enjoyed before. He survived the period of
trial for one hundred and forty years, and died in a good old age,
an example to succeeding generations of integrity (Ezek. 14:14, 20)
and of submissive patience under the sorest calamities (James 5:11).
His history, so far as it is known, is recorded in his book.
Jobab - dweller
in the desert. (1.) One of the sons of Joktan, and founder of an
Arabian tribe (Gen. 10:29). (2.) King of Edom, succeeded Bela (Gen.
36:33, 34). (3.) A Canaanitish king (Josh. 11:1) who joined the
confederacy against Joshua.
Job, Book of -
A great diversity of opinion exists as to the authorship of this
book. From internal evidence, such as the similarity of sentiment
and language to those in the Psalms and Proverbs (see Ps. 88 and
89), the prevalence of the idea of "wisdom," and the style and
character of the composition, it is supposed by some to have been
written in the time of David and Solomon. Others argue that it was
written by Job himself, or by Elihu, or Isaiah, or perhaps more
probably by Moses, who was "learned in all the wisdom of the
Egyptians, and mighty in words and deeds" (Acts 7:22). He had
opportunities in Midian for obtaining the knowledge of the facts
related. But the authorship is altogether uncertain.
As to the character of the book, it is a
historical poem, one of the greatest and sublimest poems in all
literature. Job was a historical person, and the localities and
names were real and not fictious. It is "one of the grandest
portions of the inspired Scriptures, a heavenly-repleished
storehouse of comfort and instruction, the patriarchal Bible, and a
precious monument of primitive theology. It is to the Old Testament
what the Epistle to the Romans is to the New." It is a didactic
narrative in a dramatic form.
This book was apparently well known in the
days of Ezekiel, B.C. 600 (Ezek. 14:14). It formed a part of the
sacred Scriptures used by our Lord and his apostles, and is referred
to as a part of the inspired Word (Heb. 12:5; 1 Cor. 3:19).
The subject of the book is the trial of Job,
its occasion, nature, endurance, and issue. It exhibits the harmony
of the truths of revelation and the dealings of Providence, which
are seen to be at once inscrutable, just, and merciful. It shows the
blessedness of the truly pious, even amid sore afflictions, and thus
ministers comfort and hope to tried believers of every age. It is a
book of manifold instruction, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness (2
Tim. 3:16).
It consists of,
(1.) An historical introduction in prose (ch.
1,2).
(2.) The controversy and its solution, in
poetry (ch. 3-42:6).
Job's desponding lamentation (ch. 3) is the
occasion of the controversy which is carried on in three courses of
dialogues between Job and his three friends. The first course gives
the commencement of the controversy (ch. 4-14); the second the
growth of the controversy (15-21); and the third the height of the
controversy (22-27). This is followed by the solution of the
controversy in the speeches of Elihu and the address of Jehovah,
followed by Job's humble confession (42:1-6) of his own fault and
folly.
(3.) The third division is the historical
conclusion, in prose (42:7-15).
Sir J. W. Dawson in "The Expositor" says: "It
would now seem that the language and theology of the book of Job can
be better explained by supposing it to be a portion of Minean
[Southern Arabia] literature obtained by Moses in Midian than in any
other way. This view also agrees better than any other with its
references to natural objects, the art of mining, and other
matters."
Jochebed -
Jehovah is her glory, the wife of Amram, and the mother of Miriam,
Aaron, and Moses (Num. 26:59). She is spoken of as the sister of
Kohath, Amram's father (Ex. 6:20; comp. 16, 18; 2:1-10).
Joel - Jehovah
is his God. (1.) The oldest of Samuel's two sons appointed by him as
judges in Beersheba (1 Sam. 8:2). (See VASHNI ¯(n/a).) (2.) A
descendant of Reuben (1 Chr. 5:4,8). (3.) One of David's famous
warriors (1 Chr. 11:38). (4.) A Levite of the family of Gershom (1
Chr. 15:7, 11). (5.) 1 Chr. 7:3. (6.) 1 Chr. 27:20. (7.) The second
of the twelve minor prophets. He was the son of Pethuel. His
personal history is only known from his book.
Joelah - a
Benjamite who joined David at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:7).
Joel, Book of -
Joel was probably a resident in Judah, as his commission was to that
people. He makes frequent mention of Judah and Jerusalem (1:14; 2:1,
15, 32; 3:1, 12, 17, 20, 21).
He probably flourished in the reign of Uzziah
(about B.C. 800), and was contemporary with Amos and Isaiah.
The contents of this book are, (1.) A
prophecy of a great public calamity then impending over the land,
consisting of a want of water and an extraordinary plague of locusts
(1:1-2:11). (2.) The prophet then calls on his countrymen to repent
and to turn to God, assuring them of his readiness to forgive
(2:12-17), and foretelling the restoration of the land to its
accustomed fruitfulness (18-26). (3.) Then follows a Messianic
prophecy, quoted by Peter (Acts 2:39). (4.) Finally, the prophet
foretells portents and judgments as destined to fall on the enemies
of God (ch. 3, but in the Hebrew text 4).
Joezer -
Jehovah is his help, one of the Korhites who became part of David's
body-guard (1 Chr. 12:6).
Johanan - whom
Jehovah graciously bestows. (1.) One of the Gadite heroes who joined
David in the desert of Judah (1 Chr. 12:12).
(2.) The oldest of King Josiah's sons (1 Chr.
3:15).
(3.) Son of Careah, one of the Jewish chiefs
who rallied round Gedaliah, whom Nebuchadnezzar had made governor in
Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:23; Jer. 40:8). He warned Gedaliah of the
plans of Ishmael against him, a warning which was unheeded (Jer.
40:13, 16). He afterwards pursued the murderer of the governor, and
rescued the captives (41:8, 13, 15, 16). He and his associates
subsequently fled to Tahpanhes in Egypt (43:2, 4, 5), taking
Jeremiah with them. "The flight of Gedaliah's community to Egypt
extinguished the last remaining spark of life in the Jewish state.
The work of the ten centuries since Joshua crossed the Jordan had
been undone."
John - (1.) One
who, with Annas and Caiaphas, sat in judgment on the apostles Peter
and John (Acts 4:6). He was of the kindred of the high priest;
otherwise unknown.
(2.) The Hebrew name of Mark (q.v.). He is
designated by this name in the acts of the Apostles (12:12, 25;
13:5, 13; 15:37).
(3.) THE APOSTLE, brother of James the
"Greater" (Matt. 4:21; 10:2; Mark 1:19; 3:17; 10:35). He was one,
probably the younger, of the sons of Zebedee (Matt. 4:21) and Salome
(Matt. 27:56; comp. Mark 15:40), and was born at Bethsaida. His
father was apparently a man of some wealth (comp. Mark 1:20; Luke
5:3; John 19:27). He was doubtless trained in all that constituted
the ordinary education of Jewish youth. When he grew up he followed
the occupation of a fisherman on the Lake of Galilee. When John the
Baptist began his ministry in the wilderness of Judea, John, with
many others, gathered round him, and was deeply influenced by his
teaching. There he heard the announcement, "Behold the Lamb of God,"
and forthwith, on the invitation of Jesus, became a disciple and
ranked among his followers (John 1:36, 37) for a time. He and his
brother then returned to their former avocation, for how long is
uncertain. Jesus again called them (Matt. 4: 21; Luke 5:1-11), and
now they left all and permanently attached themselves to the company
of his disciples. He became one of the innermost circle (Mark 5:37;
Matt. 17:1; 26:37; Mark 13:3). He was the disciple whom Jesus loved.
In zeal and intensity of character he was a "Boanerges" (Mark 3:17).
This spirit once and again broke out (Matt. 20:20-24; Mark 10:35-41;
Luke 9:49, 54). At the betrayal he and Peter follow Christ afar off,
while the others betake themselves to hasty flight (John 18:15). At
the trial he follows Christ into the council chamber, and thence to
the praetorium (18:16, 19, 28) and to the place of crucifixion
(19:26, 27). To him and Peter, Mary first conveys tidings of the
resurrection (20:2), and they are the first to go and see what her
strange words mean. After the resurrection he and Peter again return
to the Sea of Galilee, where the Lord reveals himself to them (21:1,
7). We find Peter and John frequently after this together (Acts 3:1;
4:13). John remained apparently in Jerusalem as the leader of the
church there (Acts 15:6; Gal. 2:9). His subsequent history is
unrecorded. He was not there, however, at the time of Paul's last
visit (Acts 21:15-40). He appears to have retired to Ephesus, but at
what time is unknown. The seven churches of Asia were the objects of
his special care (Rev. 1:11). He suffered under persecution, and was
banished to Patmos (1:9); whence he again returned to Ephesus, where
he died, probably about A.D. 98, having outlived all or nearly all
the friends and companions even of his maturer years. There are many
interesting traditions regarding John during his residence at
Ephesus, but these cannot claim the character of historical truth.
John, First Epistle
of - the fourth of the catholic or "general" epistles. It was
evidently written by John the evangelist, and probably also at
Ephesus, and when the writer was in advanced age. The purpose of the
apostle (1:1-4) is to declare the Word of Life to those to whom he
writes, in order that they might be united in fellowship with the
Father and his Son Jesus Christ. He shows that the means of union
with God are, (1) on the part of Christ, his atoning work (1:7; 2:2;
3:5; 4:10, 14; 5:11, 12) and his advocacy (2:1); and (2), on the
part of man, holiness (1:6), obedience (2:3), purity (3:3), faith
(3:23; 4:3; 5:5), and love (2:7, 8; 3:14; 4:7; 5:1).
John, Gospel of -
The genuineness of this Gospel, i.e., the fact that the apostle
John was its author, is beyond all reasonable doubt. In recent
times, from about 1820, many attempts have been made to impugn its
genuineness, but without success.
The design of John in writing this Gospel is
stated by himself (John 20:31). It was at one time supposed that he
wrote for the purpose of supplying the omissions of the synoptical,
i.e., of the first three, Gospels, but there is no evidence for
this. "There is here no history of Jesus and his teaching after the
manner of the other evangelists. But there is in historical form a
representation of the Christian faith in relation to the person of
Christ as its central point; and in this representation there is a
picture on the one hand of the antagonism of the world to the truth
revealed in him, and on the other of the spiritual blessedness of
the few who yield themselves to him as the Light of life" (Reuss).
After the prologue (1:1-5), the historical
part of the book begins with verse 6, and consists of two parts. The
first part (1:6-ch. 12) contains the history of our Lord's public
ministry from the time of his introduction to it by John the Baptist
to its close. The second part (ch. 13-21) presents our Lord in the
retirement of private life and in his intercourse with his immediate
followers (13-17), and gives an account of his sufferings and of his
appearances to the disciples after his resurrection (18-21).
The peculiarities of this Gospel are the
place it gives (1) to the mystical relation of the Son to the
Father, and (2) of the Redeemer to believers; (3) the announcement
of the Holy Ghost as the Comforter; (4) the prominence given to love
as an element in the Christian character. It was obviously addressed
primarily to Christians.
It was probably written at Ephesus, which,
after the destruction of Jerusalem (A.D. 70), became the centre of
Christian life and activity in the East, about A.D. 90.
John, Second
Epistle of - is addressed to "the elect lady," and closes with
the words, "The children of thy elect sister greet thee;" but some
would read instead of "lady" the proper name Kyria. Of the thirteen
verses composing this epistle seven are in the First Epistle. The
person addressed is commended for her piety, and is warned against
false teachers.
John the Baptist -
the "forerunner of our Lord." We have but fragmentary and
imperfect accounts of him in the Gospels. He was of priestly
descent. His father, Zacharias, was a priest of the course of Abia
(1 Chr. 24:10), and his mother, Elisabeth, was of the daughters of
Aaron (Luke 1:5). The mission of John was the subject of prophecy
(Matt. 3:3; Isa. 40:3; Mal. 3:1). His birth, which took place six
months before that of Jesus, was foretold by an angel. Zacharias,
deprived of the power of speech as a token of God's truth and a
reproof of his own incredulity with reference to the birth of his
son, had the power of speech restored to him on the occasion of his
circumcision (Luke 1:64). After this no more is recorded of him for
thirty years than what is mentioned in Luke 1:80. John was a
Nazarite from his birth (Luke 1:15; Num. 6:1-12). He spent his early
years in the mountainous tract of Judah lying between Jerusalem and
the Dead Sea (Matt. 3:1-12).
At length he came forth into public life, and
great multitudes from "every quarter" were attracted to him. The sum
of his preaching was the necessity of repentance. He denounced the
Sadducees and Pharisees as a "generation of vipers," and warned them
of the folly of trusting to external privileges (Luke 3:8). "As a
preacher, John was eminently practical and discriminating. Self-love
and covetousness were the prevalent sins of the people at large. On
them, therefore, he enjoined charity and consideration for others.
The publicans he cautioned against extortion, the soldiers against
crime and plunder." His doctrine and manner of life roused the
entire south of Palestine, and the people from all parts flocked to
the place where he was, on the banks of the Jordan. There he
baptized thousands unto repentance.
The fame of John reached the ears of Jesus in
Nazareth (Matt. 3:5), and he came from Galilee to Jordan to be
baptized of John, on the special ground that it became him to "fulfil
all righteousness" (3:15). John's special office ceased with the
baptism of Jesus, who must now "increase" as the King come to his
kingdom. He continued, however, for a while to bear testimony to the
Messiahship of Jesus. He pointed him out to his disciples, saying,
"Behold the Lamb of God." His public ministry was suddenly (after
about six months probably) brought to a close by his being cast into
prison by Herod, whom he had reproved for the sin of having taken to
himself the wife of his brother Philip (Luke 3:19). He was shut up
in the castle of Machaerus (q.v.), a fortress on the southern
extremity of Peraea, 9 miles east of the Dead Sea, and here he was
beheaded. His disciples, having consigned the headless body to the
grave, went and told Jesus all that had occurred (Matt. 14:3-12).
John's death occurred apparently just before the third Passover of
our Lord's ministry. Our Lord himself testified regarding him that
he was a "burning and a shining light" (John 5:35).
John, Third Epistle
of - is addressed to Caius, or Gaius, but whether to the
Christian of that name in Macedonia (Acts 19: 29) or in Corinth
(Rom. 16:23) or in Derbe (Acts 20:4) is uncertain. It was written
for the purpose of commending to Gaius some Christians who were
strangers in the place where he lived, and who had gone thither for
the purpose of preaching the gospel (ver. 7).
The Second and Third Epistles were probably
written soon after the First, and from Ephesus.
Joiada - (whom
Jehovah favours) = Jehoiada. (1.) Neh. 3:6. (2.) One of the high
priests (12:10, 11, 22).
Joiakim - (whom
Jehovah has set up) = Jehoiakim, a high priest, the son and
successor of Jeshua (Neh. 12:10, 12, 26).
Joiarib - (whom
Jehovah defends) = Jehoiarib. (1.) The founder of one of the courses
of the priests (Neh. 11:10).
(2.) Neh. 11:5; a descendant of Judah.
(3.) Neh. 12:6.
(4.) Ezra 8:16, a "man of understanding" whom
Ezra sent to "bring ministers for the house of God."
Jokdeam - a
city in the mountains of Judah (Josh. 15:56).
Jokim - whom
Jehovah has set up, one of the descendants of Shelah (1 Chr. 4:22).
Jokmeam -
gathering of the people, a city of Ephraim, which was given with its
suburbs to the Levites (1 Chr. 6:68). It lay somewhere in the Jordan
valley (1 Kings 4:12, R.V.; but in A.V. incorrectly "Jokneam").
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