Easton's Bible Dictionary
Glass - was known to the
Egyptians at a very early period of their national history,
at least B.C. 1500. Various articles both useful and
ornamental were made of it, as bottles, vases, etc. A glass
bottle with the name of Sargon on it was found among the
ruins of the north-west palace of Nimroud. The Hebrew word
zekukith (Job 28:17), rendered in the Authorized
Version "crystal," is rightly rendered in the
Revised Version "glass." This is the only
allusion to glass found in the Old Testament. It is
referred to in the New Testament in Rev. 4:6; 15:2; 21:18,
21. In Job 37:18, the word rendered
"looking-glass" is in the Revised Version
properly rendered "mirror," formed, i.e., of some
metal. (Comp. Ex. 38:8: "looking-glasses" are
brazen mirrors, R.V.). A mirror is referred to also in
James 1:23.
Glean - The corners of fields
were not to be reaped, and the sheaf accidentally left
behind was not to be fetched away, according to the law of
Moses (Lev. 19:9; 23:22; Deut. 24:21). They were to be left
for the poor to glean. Similar laws were given regarding
vineyards and oliveyards. (Comp. Ruth 2:2.)
Glede - an Old English name for
the common kite, mentioned only in Deut. 14:13 (Heb.
ra'ah), the Milvus ater or black kite. The Hebrew word
does not occur in the parallel passage in Leviticus (11:14,
da'ah, rendered "vulture;" in R.V.,
"kite"). It was an unclean bird. The Hebrew name
is from a root meaning "to see," "to
look," thus designating a bird with a keen sight. The
bird intended is probably the buzzard, of which there are
three species found in Palestine. (See
VULTURE.)
Glorify - (1.) To make glorious,
or cause so to appear (John 12:28; 13:31, 32; 17:4,5).
(2.) Spoken of God to "shew forth his praise" (1
Cor. 6:20; 10:31).
Glory - (Heb. kabhod; Gr. doxa).
(1.) Abundance, wealth, treasure, and hence honour (Ps.
49:12); glory (Gen. 31:1; Matt. 4:8; Rev. 21:24, 26).
(2.) Honour, dignity (1 Kings 3:13; Heb. 2:7 1 Pet. 1:24);
of God (Ps. 19:1; 29:1); of the mind or heart (Gen. 49:6;
Ps. 7:5; Acts 2:46).
(3.) Splendour, brightness, majesty (Gen. 45:13; Isa. 4:5;
Acts 22:11; 2 Cor. 3:7); of Jehovah (Isa. 59:19; 60:1; 2
Thess. 1:9).
(4.) The glorious moral attributes, the infinite
perfections of God (Isa. 40:5; Acts 7:2; Rom. 1:23; 9:23;
Eph. 1:12). Jesus is the "brightness of the
Father's glory" (Heb. 1:3; John 1:14; 2:11).
(5.) The bliss of heaven (Rom. 2:7, 10; 5:2; 8:18; Heb.
2:10; 1 Pet. 5:1, 10).
(6.) The phrase "Give glory to God" (Josh. 7:19;
Jer. 13:16) is a Hebrew idiom meaning, "Confess your
sins." The words of the Jews to the blind man,
"Give God the praise" (John 9:24), are an
adjuration to confess. They are equivalent to,
"Confess that you are an impostor," "Give
God the glory by speaking the truth;" for they denied
that a miracle had been wrought.
Glutton - (Deut. 21:20), Heb.
zolel, from a word meaning "to shake out,"
"to squander;" and hence one who is prodigal, who
wastes his means by indulgence. In Prov. 23:21, the word
means debauchees or wasters of their own body. In Prov.
28:7, the word (pl.) is rendered Authorized Version
"riotous men;" Revised Version,
"gluttonous." Matt. 11:19, Luke 7:34, Greek
phagos, given to eating, gluttonous.
Gnash - Heb. harak, meaning
"to grate the teeth", (Job 16:9; Ps. 112:10; Lam.
2:16), denotes rage or sorrow. (See also Acts 7:54; Mark
9:18.)
Gnat - only in Matt. 23:24, a
small two-winged stinging fly of the genus Culex, which
includes mosquitoes. Our Lord alludes here to the gnat in a
proverbial expression probably in common use, "who
strain out the gnat;" the words in the Authorized
Version, "strain at a gnat," being a mere
typographical error, which has been corrected in the
Revised Version. The custom of filtering wine for this
purpose was common among the Jews. It was founded on Lev.
11:23. It is supposed that the "lice," Ex. 8:16
(marg. R.V., "sand-flies"), were a species of
gnat.
Goad - (Heb. malmad, only in
Judg. 3: 31), an instrument used by ploughmen for guiding
their oxen. Shamgar slew six hundred Philistines with an
ox-goad. "The goad is a formidable weapon. It is
sometimes ten feet long, and has a sharp point. We could
now see that the feat of Shamgar was not so very wonderful
as some have been accustomed to think."
In 1 Sam. 13:21, a different Hebrew word is used,
dorban, meaning something pointed. The expression (Acts
9:5, omitted in the R.V.), "It is hard for thee to
kick against the pricks", i.e., against the goad, was
proverbial for unavailing resistance to superior power.
Goat - (1.) Heb. 'ez, the
she-goat (Gen. 15:9; 30:35; 31:38). This Hebrew word is
also used for the he-goat (Ex. 12:5; Lev. 4:23; Num.
28:15), and to denote a kid (Gen. 38:17, 20). Hence it may
be regarded as the generic name of the animal as
domesticated. It literally means "strength," and
points to the superior strength of the goat as compared
with the sheep.
(2.) Heb. 'attud, only in plural; rendered
"rams" (Gen. 31:10,12); he-goats (Num. 7:17-88;
Isa. 1:11); goats (Deut. 32:14; Ps. 50:13). They were used
in sacrifice (Ps. 66:15). This word is used metaphorically
for princes or chiefs in Isa. 14:9, and in Zech. 10:3 as
leaders. (Comp. Jer. 50:8.)
(3.) Heb. gedi, properly a kid. Its flesh was a delicacy
among the Hebrews (Gen. 27:9, 14, 17; Judg. 6:19).
(4.) Heb. sa'ir, meaning the "shaggy," a
hairy goat, a he-goat (2 Chr. 29:23); "a goat"
(Lev. 4:24); "satyr" (Isa. 13:21);
"devils" (Lev. 17:7). It is the goat of the
sin-offering (Lev. 9:3, 15; 10:16).
(5.) Heb. tsaphir, a he-goat of the goats (2 Chr. 29:21).
In Dan. 8:5, 8 it is used as a symbol of the Macedonian
empire.
(6.) Heb. tayish, a "striker" or
"butter," rendered "he-goat" (Gen.
30:35; 32:14).
(7.) Heb. 'azazel (q.v.), the "scapegoat"
(Lev. 16:8, 10,26).
(8.) There are two Hebrew words used to denote the
undomesticated goat:, Yael, only in plural mountain
goats (1 Sam. 24:2; Job 39:1; Ps.104:18). It is derived
from a word meaning "to climb." It is the ibex,
which abounded in the mountainous parts of Moab. And
'akko, only in Deut. 14:5, the wild goat.
Goats are mentioned in the New Testament in Matt.
25:32,33; Heb. 9:12,13, 19; 10:4. They represent oppressors
and wicked men (Ezek. 34:17; 39:18; Matt. 25:33).
Several varieties of the goat were familiar to the
Hebrews. They had an important place in their rural economy
on account of the milk they afforded and the excellency of
the flesh of the kid. They formed an important part of
pastoral wealth (Gen. 31:10, 12;32:14; 1 Sam. 25:2).
Goath - a lowing, a place near
Jerusalem, mentioned only in Jer. 31:39.
Gob - a pit, a place mentioned
in 2 Sam. 21:18, 19; called also Gezer, in 1 Chr. 20:4.
Goblet - a laver or trough for
washing garments. In Cant. 7:2, a bowl or drinking vessel,
a bowl for mixing wine; in Ex. 24:6, a sacrificial basin.
(See
CUP.)
God - (A.S. and Dutch God; Dan.
Gud; Ger. Gott), the name of the Divine Being. It is the
rendering (1) of the Hebrew 'El, from a word
meaning to be strong; (2) of 'Eloah_, plural
_'Elohim. The singular form, Eloah, is used
only in poetry. The plural form is more commonly used in
all parts of the Bible, The Hebrew word Jehovah (q.v.), the
only other word generally employed to denote the Supreme
Being, is uniformly rendered in the Authorized Version by
"LORD," printed in small capitals. The existence
of God is taken for granted in the Bible. There is nowhere
any argument to prove it. He who disbelieves this truth is
spoken of as one devoid of understanding (Ps. 14:1).
The arguments generally adduced by theologians in proof of
the being of God are:
(1.) The a priori argument, which is the testimony
afforded by reason.
(2.) The a posteriori argument, by which we proceed
logically from the facts of experience to causes. These
arguments are,
(a) The cosmological, by which it is proved that there
must be a First Cause of all things, for every effect must
have a cause.
(b) The teleological, or the argument from design. We see
everywhere the operations of an intelligent Cause in
nature.
(c) The moral argument, called also the anthropological
argument, based on the moral consciousness and the history
of mankind, which exhibits a moral order and purpose which
can only be explained on the supposition of the existence
of God. Conscience and human history testify that
"verily there is a God that judgeth in the
earth."
The attributes of God are set forth in order by Moses in
Ex. 34:6,7. (see also Deut. 6:4; 10:17; Num. 16:22; Ex.
15:11; 33:19; Isa. 44:6; Hab. 3:6; Ps. 102:26; Job 34:12.)
They are also systematically classified in Rev. 5:12 and
7:12.
God's attributes are spoken of by some as absolute,
i.e., such as belong to his essence as Jehovah, Jah, etc.;
and relative, i.e., such as are ascribed to him with
relation to his creatures. Others distinguish them into
communicable, i.e., those which can be imparted in degree
to his creatures: goodness, holiness, wisdom, etc.; and
incommunicable, which cannot be so imparted: independence,
immutability, immensity, and eternity. They are by some
also divided into natural attributes, eternity, immensity,
etc.; and moral, holiness, goodness, etc.
Godhead - (Acts 17:29; Rom.
1:20; Col. 2:9), the essential being or the nature of
God.
Godliness - the whole of
practical piety (1 Tim. 4:8; 2 Pet. 1:6). "It supposes
knowledge, veneration, affection, dependence, submission,
gratitude, and obedience." In 1 Tim. 3:16 it denotes
the substance of revealed religion.
Goel - in Hebrew the participle
of the verb gaal, "to redeem." It is
rendered in the Authorized Version "kinsman,"
Num. 5:8; Ruth 3:12; 4:1,6,8; "redeemer," Job
19:25; "avenger," Num. 35:12; Deut. 19:6, etc.
The Jewish law gave the right of redeeming and
repurchasing, as well as of avenging blood, to the next
relative, who was accordingly called by this name. (See
REDEEMER.)
Gog - (1.) A Reubenite (1 Chr.
5:4), the father of Shimei.
(2.) The name of the leader of the hostile party described
in Ezek. 38,39, as coming from the "north
country" and assailing the people of Israel to their
own destruction. This prophecy has been regarded as
fulfilled in the conflicts of the Maccabees with Antiochus,
the invasion and overthrow of the Chaldeans, and the
temporary successes and destined overthrow of the Turks.
But "all these interpretations are unsatisfactory and
inadequate. The vision respecting Gog and Magog in the
Apocalypse (Rev. 20:8) is in substance a reannouncement of
this prophecy of Ezekiel. But while Ezekiel contemplates
the great conflict in a more general light as what was
certainly to be connected with the times of the Messiah,
and should come then to its last decisive issues, John, on
the other hand, writing from the commencement of the
Messiah's times, describes there the last struggles and
victories of the cause of Christ. In both cases alike the
vision describes the final workings of the world's evil
and its results in connection with the kingdom of God, only
the starting-point is placed further in advance in the one
case than in the other."
It has been supposed to be the name of a district in the
wild north-east steppes of Central Asia, north of the
Hindu-Kush, now a part of Turkestan, a region about 2,000
miles north-east of Nineveh.
Golan - exile, a city of Bashan
(Deut. 4:43), one of the three cities of refuge east of
Jordan, about 12 miles north-east of the Sea of Galilee
(Josh. 20:8). There are no further notices of it in
Scripture. It became the head of the province of
Gaulanitis, one of the four provinces into which Bashan was
divided after the Babylonish captivity, and almost
identical with the modern Jaulan, in Western Hauran, about
39 miles in length and 18 in breath.
Gold - (1.) Heb. zahab, so
called from its yellow colour (Ex. 25:11; 1 Chr. 28:18; 2
Chr. 3:5).
(2.) Heb. segor, from its compactness, or as being
enclosed or treasured up; thus precious or "fine
gold" (1 Kings 6:20; 7:49).
(3.) Heb. paz, native or pure gold (Job 28:17; Ps. 19:10;
21:3, etc.).
(4.) Heb. betzer, "ore of gold or silver" as dug
out of the mine (Job 36:19, where it means simply riches).
(5.) Heb. kethem, i.e., something concealed or separated
(Job 28:16,19; Ps. 45:9; Prov. 25:12). Rendered
"golden wedge" in Isa. 13:12.
(6.) Heb. haruts, i.e., dug out; poetic for gold (Prov.
8:10; 16:16; Zech. 9:3).
Gold was known from the earliest times (Gen. 2:11). It was
principally used for ornaments (Gen. 24:22). It was very
abundant (1 Chr. 22:14; Nah. 2:9; Dan. 3:1). Many tons of
it were used in connection with the temple (2 Chr. 1:15).
It was found in Arabia, Sheba, and Ophir (1 Kings 9:28;
10:1; Job 28:16), but not in Palestine.
In Dan. 2:38, the Babylonian Empire is spoken of as a
"head of gold" because of its great riches; and
Babylon was called by Isaiah (14:4) the "golden
city" (R.V. marg., "exactress," adopting the
reading marhebah, instead of the usual word
madhebah).
Golden calf - (Ex. 32:4,8; Deut.
9:16; Neh. 9:18). This was a molten image of a calf which
the idolatrous Israelites formed at Sinai. This symbol was
borrowed from the custom of the Egyptians. It was destroyed
at the command of Moses (Ex. 32:20). (See AARON
¯T0000002;
MOSES.)
Goldsmith - (Neh. 3:8,32; Isa.
40:19; 41:7; 46:6). The word so rendered means properly a
founder or finer.
Golgotha - the common name of
the spot where Jesus was crucified. It is interpreted by
the evangelists as meaning "the place of a skull"
(Matt. 27:33; Mark 15:22; John 19:17). This name represents
in Greek letters the Aramaic word Gulgaltha, which is the
Hebrew Gulgoleth (Num. 1:2; 1 Chr. 23:3, 24; 2 Kings 9:35),
meaning "a skull." It is identical with the word
Calvary (q.v.). It was a little knoll rounded like a bare
skull. It is obvious from the evangelists that it was some
well-known spot outside the gate (comp. Heb. 13:12), and
near the city (Luke 23:26), containing a "garden"
(John 19:41), and on a thoroughfare leading into the
country. Hence it is an untenable idea that it is embraced
within the present "Church of the Holy
Sepulchre." The hillock above Jeremiah's Grotto,
to the north of the city, is in all probability the true
site of Calvary. The skull-like appearance of the rock in
the southern precipice of the hillock is very
remarkable.
Goliath - great. (1.) A famous
giant of Gath, who for forty days openly defied the armies
of Israel, but was at length slain by David with a stone
from a sling (1 Sam. 17:4). He was probably descended from
the Rephaim who found refuge among the Philistines after
they were dispersed by the Ammonites (Deut. 2:20, 21). His
height was "six cubits and a span," which, taking
the cubit at 21 inches, is equal to 10 1/2 feet. David cut
off his head (1 Sam. 17:51) and brought it to Jerusalem,
while he hung the armour which he took from him in his
tent. His sword was preserved at Nob as a religious trophy
(21:9). David's victory over Goliath was the turning
point in his life. He came into public notice now as the
deliverer of Israel and the chief among Saul's men of
war (18:5), and the devoted friend of Jonathan.
(2.) In 2 Sam. 21:19 there is another giant of the same
name mentioned as slain by Elhanan. The staff of his apear
"was like a weaver's beam." The Authorized
Version interpolates the words "the brother of"
from 1 Chr. 20:5, where this giant is called Lahmi.
Gomer - complete; vanishing.
(1.) The daughter of Diblaim, who (probably in vision only)
became the wife of Hosea (1:3).
(2.) The eldest son of Japheth, and father of Ashkenaz,
Riphath, and Togarmah (Gen. 10:2, 3), whose descendants
formed the principal branch of the population of
South-eastern Europe. He is generally regarded as the
ancestor of the Celtae and the Cimmerii, who in early times
settled to the north of the Black Sea, and gave their name
to the Crimea, the ancient Chersonesus Taurica. Traces of
their presence are found in the names Cimmerian Bosphorus,
Cimmerian Isthmus, etc. In the seventh century B.C. they
were driven out of their original seat by the Scythians,
and overran western Asia Minor, whence they were afterwards
expelled. They subsequently reappear in the times of the
Romans as the Cimbri of the north and west of Europe,
whence they crossed to the British Isles, where their
descendants are still found in the Gaels and Cymry. Thus
the whole Celtic race may be regarded as descended from
Gomer.
Gomorrah - submersion, one of
the five cities of the plain of Siddim (q.v.) which were
destroyed by fire (Gen. 10:19; 13:10; 19:24, 28). These
cities probably stood close together, and were near the
northern extremity of what is now the Dead Sea. This city
is always mentioned next after Sodom, both of which were
types of impiety and wickedness (Gen. 18:20; Rom. 9:29).
Their destruction is mentioned as an "ensample unto
those that after should live ungodly" (2 Pet. 2:6;
Jude 1:4-7). Their wickedness became proverbial (Deut.
32:32; Isa. 1:9, 10; Jer. 23:14). But that wickedness may
be exceeded (Matt. 10:15; Mark 6:11). (See DEAD SEA
¯T0000991).
Goodly trees - boughs of, were
to be carried in festive procession on the first day of the
feast of Tabernacles (Lev. 23:40). This was probably the
olive tree (Neh. 8:15), although no special tree is
mentioned.
Goodness - in man is not a mere
passive quality, but the deliberate preference of right to
wrong, the firm and persistent resistance of all moral
evil, and the choosing and following of all moral good.
Goodness of God - a perfection
of his character which he exercises towards his creatures
according to their various circumstances and relations (Ps.
145:8, 9; 103:8; 1 John 4:8). Viewed generally, it is
benevolence; as exercised with respect to the miseries of
his creatures it is mercy, pity, compassion, and in the
case of impenitent sinners, long-suffering patience; as
exercised in communicating favour on the unworthy it is
grace. "Goodness and justice are the several aspects
of one unchangeable, infinitely wise, and sovereign moral
perfection. God is not sometimes merciful and sometimes
just, but he is eternally infinitely just and
merciful." God is infinitely and unchangeably good
(Zeph. 3:17), and his goodness is incomprehensible by the
finite mind (Rom. 11: 35, 36). "God's goodness
appears in two things, giving and forgiving."
Gopher - a tree from the wood of
which Noah was directed to build the ark (Gen. 6:14). It is
mentioned only there. The LXX. render this word by
"squared beams," and the Vulgate by "planed
wood." Other versions have rendered it
"pine" and "cedar;" but the weight of
authority is in favour of understanding by it the cypress
tree, which grows abundantly in Chaldea and Armenia.
Goshen - (1.) A district in
Egypt where Jacob and his family settled, and in which they
remained till the Exodus (Gen. 45:10; 46:28, 29, 31, etc.).
It is called "the land of Goshen" (47:27), and
also simply "Goshen" (46:28), and "the land
of Rameses" (47:11; Ex. 12:37), for the towns Pithom
and Rameses lay within its borders; also Zoan or Tanis (Ps.
78:12). It lay on the east of the Nile, and apparently not
far from the royal residence. It was "the best of the
land" (Gen. 47:6, 11), but is now a desert. It is
first mentioned in Joseph's message to his father. It
has been identified with the modern Wady Tumilat, lying
between the eastern part of the Delta and the west border
of Palestine. It was a pastoral district, where some of the
king's cattle were kept (Gen. 47:6). The inhabitants
were not exclusively Israelites (Ex. 3:22; 11:2; 12:35,
36).
(2.) A district in Palestine (Josh. 10:41; 11:16). It was
a part of the maritime plain of Judah, and lay between Gaza
and Gibeon.
(3.) A town in the mountains of Judah (Josh. 15:51).
Gospel - a word of Anglo-Saxon
origin, and meaning "God's spell", i.e., word
of God, or rather, according to others, "good
spell", i.e., good news. It is the rendering of the
Greek evangelion, i.e., "good message." It
denotes (1) "the welcome intelligence of salvation to
man as preached by our Lord and his followers. (2.) It was
afterwards transitively applied to each of the four
histories of our Lord's life, published by those who
are therefore called 'Evangelists', writers of the
history of the gospel (the evangelion). (3.) The term is
often used to express collectively the gospel doctrines;
and 'preaching the gospel' is often used to include
not only the proclaiming of the good tidings, but the
teaching men how to avail themselves of the offer of
salvation, the declaring of all the truths, precepts,
promises, and threatenings of Christianity." It is
termed "the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts
20:24), "the gospel of the kingdom" (Matt. 4:23),
"the gospel of Christ" (Rom. 1:16), "the
gospel of peace (Eph. 6:15), "the glorious
gospel," "the everlasting gospel," "the
gospel of salvation" (Eph. 1:13).
Gospels - The central fact of
Christian preaching was the intelligence that the Saviour
had come into the world (Matt. 4:23; Rom. 10:15); and the
first Christian preachers who called their account of the
person and mission of Christ by the term evangelion_ (=
good message) were called _evangelistai (= evangelists)
(Eph. 4:11; Acts 21:8).
There are four historical accounts of the person and work
of Christ: "the first by Matthew, announcing the
Redeemer as the promised King of the kingdom of God; the
second by Mark, declaring him 'a prophet, mighty in
deed and word'; the third by Luke, of whom it might be
said that he represents Christ in the special character of
the Saviour of sinners (Luke 7:36; 15:18); the fourth by
John, who represents Christ as the Son of God, in whom
deity and humanity become one. The ancient Church gave to
Matthew the symbol of the lion, to Mark that of a man, to
Luke that of the ox, and to John that of the eagle: these
were the four faces of the cherubim" (Ezek. 1:10).
Date. The Gospels were all composed during the latter part
of the first century, and there is distinct historical
evidence to show that they were used and accepted as
authentic before the end of the second century.
Mutual relation. "If the extent of all the
coincidences be represented by 100, their proportionate
distribution will be: Matthew, Mark, and Luke, 53; Matthew
and Luke, 21; Matthew and Mark, 20; Mark and Luke, 6.
Looking only at the general result, it may be said that of
the contents of the synoptic Gospels [i.e., the first three
Gospels] about two-fifths are common to the three, and that
the parts peculiar to one or other of them are little more
than one-third of the whole."
Origin. Did the evangelists copy from one another? The
opinion is well founded that the Gospels were published by
the apostles orally before they were committed to writing,
and that each had an independent origin. (See MATTHEW,
GOSPEL
OF.)
Gourd - (1.) Jonah's gourd
(Jonah 4:6-10), bearing the Hebrew name kikayon
(found only here), was probably the kiki of the Egyptians,
the croton. This is the castor-oil plant, a species of
ricinus, the palma Christi, so called from the palmate
division of its leaves. Others with more probability regard
it as the cucurbita the el-keroa of the Arabs, a kind of
pumpkin peculiar to the East. "It is grown in great
abundance on the alluvial banks of the Tigris and on the
plain between the river and the ruins of Nineveh." At
the present day it is trained to run over structures of mud
and brush to form boots to protect the gardeners from the
heat of the noon-day sun. It grows with extraordinary
rapidity, and when cut or injured withers away also with
great rapidity.
(2.) Wild gourds (2 Kings 4:38-40), Heb. pakkuoth, belong
to the family of the cucumber-like plants, some of which
are poisonous. The species here referred to is probably the
colocynth (Cucumis colocynthus). The LXX. render the word
by "wild pumpkin." It abounds in the desert parts
of Syria, Egypt, and Arabia. There is, however, another
species, called the Cucumis prophetarum, from the idea that
it afforded the gourd which "the sons of the
prophets" shred by mistake into their pottage.
Government of God - See
PROVIDENCE.
Governments - (1 Cor. 12:28),
the powers which fit a man for a place of influence in the
church; "the steersman's art; the art of guiding
aright the vessel of church or state."
Governor - (1.) Heb. nagid, a
prominent, conspicuous person, whatever his capacity: as,
chief of the royal palace (2 Chr. 28:7; comp. 1 Kings 4:6),
chief of the temple (1 Chr. 9:11; Jer. 20:1), the leader of
the Aaronites (1 Chr. 12:27), keeper of the sacred treasury
(26:24), captain of the army (13:1), the king (1 Sam.
9:16), the Messiah (Dan. 9:25).
(2.) Heb. nasi, raised; exalted. Used to denote the chiefs
of families (Num. 3:24, 30, 32, 35); also of tribes (2:3;
7:2; 3:32). These dignities appear to have been elective,
not hereditary.
(3.) Heb. pakid, an officer or magistrate. It is used of
the delegate of the high priest (2 Chr. 24:11), the Levites
(Neh. 11:22), a military commander (2 Kings 25:19),
Joseph's officers in Egypt (Gen. 41:34).
(4.) Heb. shallit, one who has power, who rules (Gen.
42:6; Ezra 4:20; Eccl. 8:8; Dan. 2:15; 5:29).
(5.) Heb. aluph, literally one put over a thousand, i.e.,
a clan or a subdivision of a tribe. Used of the
"dukes" of Edom (Gen. 36), and of the Jewish
chiefs (Zech. 9:7).
(6.) Heb. moshel, one who rules, holds dominion. Used of
many classes of rulers (Gen. 3:16; 24:2; 45:8; Ps. 105:20);
of the Messiah (Micah 5:2); of God (1 Chr. 29:12; Ps.
103:19).
(7.) Heb. sar, a ruler or chief; a word of very general
use. It is used of the chief baker of Pharaoh (Gen. 40:16);
of the chief butler (40:2, etc. See also Gen. 47:6; Ex.
1:11; Dan. 1:7; Judg. 10:18; 1 Kings 22:26; 20:15; 2 Kings
1:9; 2 Sam. 24:2). It is used also of angels, guardian
angels (Dan. 10:13, 20, 21; 12:1; 10:13; 8:25).
(8.) Pehah, whence pasha, i.e., friend of the king;
adjutant; governor of a province (2 Kings 18:24; Isa. 36:9;
Jer. 51: 57; Ezek. 23:6, 23; Dan. 3:2; Esther 3: 12), or a
perfect (Neh. 3:7; 5:14; Ezra 5:3; Hag. 1:1). This is a
foreign word, Assyrian, which was early adopted into the
Hebrew idiom (1 Kings 10:15).
(9.) The Chaldean word segan is applied to the
governors of the Babylonian satrapies (Dan. 3:2, 27; 6:7);
the prefects over the Magi (2:48). The corresponding Hebrew
word segan is used of provincial rulers (Jer. 51:23,
28, 57); also of chiefs and rulers of the people of
Jerusalem (Ezra 9:2; Neh. 2:16; 4:14, 19; 5:7, 17; 7:5;
12:40).
In the New Testament there are also different Greek words
rendered thus.
(1.) Meaning an ethnarch (2 Cor. 11:32), which was an
office distinct from military command, with considerable
latitude of application.
(2.) The procurator of Judea under the Romans (Matt.
27:2). (Comp. Luke 2:2, where the verb from which the Greek
word so rendered is derived is used.)
(3.) Steward (Gal. 4:2).
(4.) Governor of the feast (John 2:9), who appears here to
have been merely an intimate friend of the bridegroom, and
to have presided at the marriage banquet in his stead.
(5.) A director, i.e., helmsman; Lat. gubernator, (James
3:4).
Gozan - a region in Central Asia
to which the Israelites were carried away captive (2 Kings
17:6; 1 Chr. 5:26; 2 Kings 19:12; Isa. 37:12). It was
situated in Mesopotamia, on the river Habor (2 Kings 17:6;
18:11), the Khabur, a tributary of the Euphrates. The
"river of Gozan" (1 Chr. 5:26) is probably the
upper part of the river flowing through the province of
Gozan, now Kizzel-Ozan.
Grace - (1.) Of form or person
(Prov. 1:9; 3:22; Ps. 45:2). (2.) Favour, kindness,
friendship (Gen. 6:8; 18:3; 19:19; 2 Tim. 1:9). (3.)
God's forgiving mercy (Rom. 11:6; Eph. 2:5). (4.) The
gospel as distinguished from the law (John 1:17; Rom. 6:14;
1 Pet. 5:12). (5.) Gifts freely bestowed by God; as
miracles, prophecy, tongues (Rom. 15:15; 1 Cor. 15:10; Eph.
3:8). (6.) Christian virtues (2 Cor. 8:7; 2 Pet. 3:18).
(7.) The glory hereafter to be revealed (1 Pet. 1:13).
Grace, means of - an expression
not used in Scripture, but employed (1) to denote those
institutions ordained by God to be the ordinary channels of
grace to the souls of men. These are the Word, Sacraments,
and Prayer.
(2.) But in popular language the expression is used in a
wider sense to denote those exercises in which we engage
for the purpose of obtaining spiritual blessing; as hearing
the gospel, reading the Word, meditation, self-examination,
Christian conversation, etc.
Graft - the process of
inoculating fruit-trees (Rom. 11:17-24). It is peculiarly
appropriate to olive-trees. The union thus of branches to a
stem is used to illustrate the union of true believers to
the true Church.
Grain - used, in Amos 9:9, of a
small stone or kernel; in Matt. 13:31, of an individual
seed of mustard; in John 12:24, 1 Cor. 15:37, of wheat. The
Hebrews sowed only wheat, barley, and spelt; rye and oats
are not mentioned in Scripture.
Grape - the fruit of the vine,
which was extensively cultivated in Palestine. Grapes are
spoken of as "tender" (Cant. 2:13, 15),
"unripe" (Job 15:33), "sour" (Isa.
18:5), "wild" (Isa. 5:2,4). (See Rev. 14:18;
Micah 7:1; Jer. 6:9; Ezek. 18:2, for figurative use of the
word.) (See
VINE.)
Grass - (1.) Heb. hatsir, ripe
grass fit for mowing (1 Kings 18:5; Job 40:15; Ps. 104:14).
As the herbage rapidly fades under the scorching sun, it is
used as an image of the brevity of human life (Isa. 40:6,
7; Ps. 90:5). In Num. 11:5 this word is rendered
"leeks."
(2.) Heb. deshe', green grass (Gen. 1:11, 12; Isa.
66:14; Deut. 32:2). "The sickly and forced blades of
grass which spring up on the flat plastered roofs of houses
in the East are used as an emblem of speedy destruction,
because they are small and weak, and because, under the
scorching rays of the sun, they soon wither away" (2
Kings 19:26; Ps. 129:6; Isa. 37:27).
The dry stalks of grass were often used as fuel for the
oven (Matt. 6:30; 13:30; Luke 12:28).
Grasshopper - belongs to the
class of neuropterous insects called Gryllidae. This insect
is not unknown in Palestine.
In Judg. 6:5; 7:12; Job 39:30; Jer. 46:23, where the
Authorized Version has "grasshopper," the Revised
Version more correctly renders the Hebrew word ('arbeh)
by "locust." This is the case also in Amos 7:1;
Nah. 3:17, where the Hebrew word gob is used; and in
Lev. 11:22; Num. 13:33; Eccl. 12:5; Isa. 40:22, where
hagab is used. In all these instances the proper
rendering is probably "locust" (q.v.).
Grate - a network of brass for
the bottom of the great altar of sacrifice (Ex. 27:4;
35:16; 38:4, 5, 30).
Grave - Among the ancient
Hebrews graves were outside of cities in the open field
(Luke 7:12; John 11:30). Kings (1 Kings 2:10) and prophets
(1 Sam. 25:1) were generally buried within cities. Graves
were generally grottoes or caves, natural or hewn out in
rocks (Isa. 22:16; Matt. 27:60). There were family
cemeteries (Gen. 47:29; 50:5; 2 Sam. 19:37). Public
burial-places were assigned to the poor (Jer. 26:23; 2
Kings 23:6). Graves were usually closed with stones, which
were whitewashed, to warn strangers against contact with
them (Matt. 23:27), which caused ceremonial pollution (Num.
19:16).
There were no graves in Jerusalem except those of the
kings, and according to tradition that of the prophetess
Huldah.
Graven image - Deut. 27:15; Ps.
97:7 (Heb. pesel), refers to the household gods of
idolaters. "Every nation and city had its own
gods...Yet every family had its separate household or
tutelary god."
Graving - (1.) Heb. hatsabh. Job
19:24, rendered "graven," but generally means
hewn stone or wood, in quarry or forest.
(2.) Heb. harush. Jer. 17:1, rendered "graven,"
and indicates generally artistic work in metal, wood, and
stone, effected by fine instruments.
(3.) Heb. haqaq. Ezek. 4:1, engraving a plan or map,
rendered "pourtray;" Job 19:23,
"written."
(4.) Heb. pasal points rather to the sculptor's or the
carver's art (Isa. 30:22; 40:19; 41:7; 44:12-15).
(5.) Pathah refers to intaglio work, the cutting and
engraving of precious stones (Ex. 28:9-11, 21; Zech. 3:9;
Cant. 1:10, 11).
(6.) Heret. In Ex. 32:4 rendered "graving tool;"
and in Isa. 8:1, "a pen."
Greaves - only in 1 Sam. 17:6, a
piece of defensive armour (q.v.) reaching from the foot to
the knee; from French greve, "the shin." They
were the Roman cothurni.
Grecians - Hellenists,
Greek-Jews; Jews born in a foreign country, and thus did
not speak Hebrew (Acts 6:1; 9:29), nor join in the Hebrew
services of the Jews in Palestine, but had synagogues of
their own in Jerusalem. Joel 3:6 =Greeks.
Greece - orginally consisted of
the four provinces of Macedonia, Epirus, Achaia, and
Peleponnesus. In Acts 20:2 it designates only the Roman
province of Macedonia. Greece was conquered by the Romans
B.C. 146. After passing through various changes it was
erected into an independent monarchy in 1831.
Moses makes mention of Greece under the name of Javan
(Gen. 10:2-5); and this name does not again occur in the
Old Testament till the time of Joel (3:6). Then the Greeks
and Hebrews first came into contact in the Tyrian
slave-market. Prophetic notice is taken of Greece in Dan.
8:21.
The cities of Greece were the special scenes of the
labours of the apostle Paul.
Greek - Found only in the New
Testament, where a distinction is observed between
"Greek" and "Grecian" (q.v.). The
former is (1) a Greek by race (Acts 16:1-3; 18:17; Rom.
1:14), or (2) a Gentile as opposed to a Jew (Rom. 2:9, 10).
The latter, meaning properly "one who speaks
Greek," is a foreign Jew opposed to a home Jew who
dwelt in Palestine.
The word "Grecians" in Acts 11:20 should be
"Greeks," denoting the heathen Greeks of that
city, as rendered in the Revised Version according to the
reading of the best manuscripts ("Hellenes").
Greyhound - (Prov. 30:31), the
rendering of the Hebrew zarzir mothnayim, meaning
literally "girded as to the lions." Some (Gesen.;
R.V. marg.) render it "war-horse." The LXX. and
Vulgate versions render it "cock." It has been by
some interpreters rendered also "stag" and
"warrior," as being girded about or panoplied,
and "wrestler." The greyhound, however, was
evidently known in ancient times, as appears from Egyptian
monuments.
Grind - (Ex. 32:20; Deut. 9:21;
Judg. 16:21), to crush small (Heb. tahan); to oppress the
poor (Isa. 3:5). The hand-mill was early used by the
Hebrews (Num. 11:8). It consisted of two stones, the upper
(Deut. 24:6; 2 Sam. 11:21) being movable and slightly
concave, the lower being stationary. The grinders mentioned
Eccl. 12:3 are the teeth. (See
MILL.)
Grizzled - party-coloured, as
goats (Gen. 31:10, 12), horses (Zech. 6:3, 6).
Grove - (1.) Heb. 'asherah,
properly a wooden image, or a pillar representing
Ashtoreth, a sensual Canaanitish goddess, probably usually
set up in a grove (2 Kings 21:7; 23:4). In the Revised
Version the word "Asherah" (q.v.) is introduced
as a proper noun, the name of the wooden symbol of a
goddess, with the plurals Asherim (Ex. 34:13) and Asheroth
(Judg. 3:13).
The LXX. have rendered asherah in 2 Chr. 15:16 by
"Astarte." The Vulgate has done this also in
Judg. 3:7.
(2.) Heb. 'eshel (Gen. 21:33). In 1 Sam. 22:6 and
31:13 the Authorized Version renders this word by
"tree." In all these passages the Revised Version
renders by "tamarisk tree." It has been
identified with the Tamariscus orientalis, five species of
which are found in Palestine.
(3.) The Heb. word 'elon, uniformly rendered in the
Authorized Version by "plain," properly signifies
a grove or plantation. In the Revised Version it is
rendered, pl., "oaks" (Gen. 13:18; 14:13; 18:1;
12:6; Deut. 11:30; Josh. 19:33). In the earliest times
groves are mentioned in connection with religious worship.
The heathen consecrated groves to particular gods, and for
this reason they were forbidden to the Jews (Jer. 17:3;
Ezek. 20:28).
Guard - (1.) Heb. tabbah
(properly a "cook," and in a secondary sense
"executioner," because this office fell to the
lot of the cook in Eastern countries), the bodyguard of the
kings of Egypt (Gen. 37:36) and Babylon (2 Kings 25:8; Jer.
40:1; Dan. 2:14).
(2.) Heb. rats, properly a "courier," one whose
office was to run before the king's chariot (2 Sam.
15:1; 1 Kings 1:5). The couriers were also military guards
(1 Sam. 22:17; 2 Kings 10:25). They were probably the same
who under David were called Pelethites (1 Kings 14:27; 2
Sam. 15:1).
(3.) Heb. mishmereth, one who watches (Neh. 4:22), or a
watch-station (7:3; 12:9; Job 7:12).
In the New Testament (Mark 6:27) the Authorized Version
renders the Greek spekulator by
"executioner," earlier English versions by
"hangman," the Revised Version by "soldier
of his guard." The word properly means a
"pikeman" or "halberdier," of whom the
bodyguard of kings and princes was composed. In Matt.
27:65, 66; 28:11, the Authorized Version renders the Greek
kustodia by "watch," and the Revised
Version by "guard," the Roman guard, which
consisted of four soldiers, who were relieved every three
hours (Acts 12:4). The "captain of the guard"
mentioned Acts 28:16 was the commander of the Praetorian
troops, whose duty it was to receive and take charge of all
prisoners from the provinces.
Guest-chamber - the spare room
on the upper floor of an Eastern dwelling (Mark 14:14; Luke
22:11). In Luke 2:7 the word is translated "inn"
(q.v.).
Gur - a whelp, a place near
Ibleam where Jehu's servants overtook and mortally
wounded king Ahaziah (2 Kings 9:27); an ascent from the
plain of Jezreel.
Gur-baal - sojourn of Baal, a
place in Arabia (2 Chr. 26:7) where there was probably a
temple of Baal.
Gutter - Heb. tsinnor, (2 Sam.
5:8). This Hebrew word occurs only elsewhere in Ps. 42:7 in
the plural, where it is rendered "waterspouts."
It denotes some passage through which water passed; a
water-course.
In Gen. 30:38, 41 the Hebrew word rendered
"gutters" is rahat, and denotes vessels
overflowing with water for cattle (Ex. 2:16);
drinking-troughs.
Habakkuk - embrace, the eighth
of the twelve minor prophets. Of his personal history we
have no reliable information. He was probably a member of
the Levitical choir. He was contemporary with Jeremiah and
Zephaniah.
Habakkuk, Prophecies of - were
probably written about B.C. 650-627, or, as some think, a
few years later. This book consists of three chapters, the
contents of which are thus comprehensively described:
"When the prophet in spirit saw the formidable power
of the Chaldeans approaching and menacing his land, and saw
the great evils they would cause in Judea, he bore his
complaints and doubts before Jehovah, the just and the pure
(1:2-17). And on this occasion the future punishment of the
Chaldeans was revealed to him (2). In the third chapter a
presentiment of the destruction of his country, in the
inspired heart of the prophet, contends with his hope that
the enemy would be chastised." The third chapter is a
sublime song dedicated "to the chief musician,"
and therefore intended apparently to be used in the worship
of God. It is "unequalled in majesty and splendour of
language and imagery."
The passage in 2:4, "The just shall live by his
faith," is quoted by the apostle in Rom. 1:17. (Comp.
Gal. 3:12; Heb. 10:37, 38.)
Habergeon - an Old English word
for breastplate. In Job 41:26 (Heb. shiryah) it is properly
a "coat of mail;" the Revised Version has
"pointed shaft." In Ex. 28:32, 39:23, it denotes
a military garment strongly and thickly woven and covered
with mail round the neck and breast. Such linen corselets
have been found in Egypt. The word used in these verses is
tahra, which is of Egyptian origin. The Revised
Version, however, renders it by "coat of mail."
(See
ARMOUR.)
Habitation - God is the
habitation of his people, who find rest and safety in him
(Ps. 71:3; 91:9). Justice and judgment are the habitation
of God's throne (Ps. 89:14, Heb. mekhon,
"foundation"), because all his acts are founded
on justice and judgment. (See Ps. 132:5, 13; Eph. 2:22, of
Canaan, Jerusalem, and the temple as God's habitation.)
God inhabits eternity (Isa. 57:15), i.e., dwells not only
among men, but in eternity, where time is unknown; and
"the praises of Israel" (Ps. 22:3), i.e., he
dwells among those praises and is continually surrounded by
them.
Habor - the united stream, or,
according to others, with beautiful banks, the name of a
river in Assyria, and also of the district through which it
flowed (1 Chr. 5:26). There is a river called Khabur which
rises in the central highlands of Kurdistan, and flows
south-west till it falls into the Tigris, about 70 miles
above Mosul. This was not, however, the Habor of
Scripture.
There is another river of the same name (the Chaboras)
which, after a course of about 200 miles, flows into the
Euphrates at Karkesia, the ancient Circesium. This was,
there can be little doubt, the ancient Habor.
Hachilah - the darksome hill,
one of the peaks of the long ridge of el-Kolah, running out
of the Ziph plateau, "on the south of Jeshimon"
(i.e., of the "waste"), the district to which one
looks down from the plateau of Ziph (1 Sam. 23:19). After
his reconciliation with Saul at Engedi (24:1-8), David
returned to Hachilah, where he had fixed his quarters. The
Ziphites treacherously informed Saul of this, and he
immediately (26:1-4) renewed his pursuit of David, and
"pitched in the hill of Hachilah." David and his
nephew Abishai stole at night into the midst of Saul's
camp, when they were all asleep, and noiselessly removed
the royal spear and the cruse from the side of the king,
and then, crossing the intervening valley to the height on
the other side, David cried to the people, and thus awoke
the sleepers. He then addressed Saul, who recognized his
voice, and expostulated with him. Saul professed to be
penitent; but David could not put confidence in him, and he
now sought refuge at Ziklag. David and Saul never
afterwards met. (1 Sam. 26:13-25).
Hadad - Adod, brave(?), the name
of a Syrian god. (1.) An Edomite king who defeated the
Midianites (Gen. 36:35; 1 Chr. 1:46).
(2.) Another Edomite king (1 Chr. 1:50, 51), called also
Hadar (Gen. 36:39; 1 Chr. 1:51).
(3.) One of "the king's seed in Edom." He
fled into Egypt, where he married the sister of
Pharaoh's wife (1 Kings 11:14-22). He became one of
Solomon's adversaries.
Hadad, sharp, (a different name in Hebrew from the
preceding), one of the sons of Ishmael (1 Chr. 1:30).
Called also Hadar (Gen. 25:15).
Hadadezer - Hadad is help;
called also Hadarezer, Adod is his help, the king of Zobah.
Hanun, the king of the Ammonites, hired among others the
army of Hadadezer to assist him in his war against David.
Joab, who was sent against this confederate host, found
them in double battle array, the Ammonities toward their
capital of Rabbah, and the Syrian mercenaries near Medeba.
In the battle which was fought the Syrians were scattered,
and the Ammonites in alarm fled into their capital. After
this Hadadezer went north "to recover his border"
(2 Sam. 8:3, A.V.); but rather, as the Revised Version
renders, "to recover his dominion", i.e., to
recruit his forces. Then followed another battle with the
Syrian army thus recruited, which resulted in its being
totally routed at Helam (2 Sam. 10:17). Shobach, the leader
of the Syrian army, died on the field of battle. The
Syrians of Damascus, who had come to help Hadadezer, were
also routed, and Damascus was made tributary to David. All
the spoils taken in this war, "shields of gold"
and "very much brass," from which afterwards the
"brasen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of
brass" for the temple were made (1 Chr. 18:8), were
brought to Jerusalem and dedicated to Jehovah. Thus the
power of the Ammonites and the Syrians was finally broken,
and David's empire extended to the Euphrates (2 Sam.
10:15-19; 1 Chr. 19:15-19).
Hadad-rimmon - (composed of the
names of two Syrian idols), the name of a place in the
valley of Megiddo. It is alluded to by the prophet
Zechariah (12:11) in a proverbial expression derived from
the lamentation for Josiah, who was mortally wounded near
this place (2 Chr. 35:22-25). It has been identified with
the modern Rummaneh, a village "at the foot of the
Megiddo hills, in a notch or valley about an hour and a
half south of Tell Metzellim."
Hadar - Adod, brave(?). (1.) A
son of Ishmael (Gen. 25:15); in 1 Chr. 1:30 written
Hadad.
(2.) One of the Edomitish kings (Gen. 36:39) about the
time of Saul. Called also Hadad (1 Chr. 1:50, 51).
It is probable that in these cases Hadar may be an error
simply of transcription for Hadad.
Hadarezer - Adod is his help,
the name given to Hadadezer (2 Sam. 8:3-12) in 2 Sam.
10.
Hadashah - new, a city in the
valley of Judah (Josh. 15:37).
Hadassah - myrtle, the Jewish
name of Esther (q.v.), Esther 2:7.
Hadattah - new, one of the towns
in the extreme south of Judah (Josh. 15:25).
Hades - that which is out of
sight, a Greek word used to denote the state or place of
the dead. All the dead alike go into this place. To be
buried, to go down to the grave, to descend into hades, are
equivalent expressions. In the LXX. this word is the usual
rendering of the Hebrew sheol, the common receptacle of the
departed (Gen. 42:38; Ps. 139:8; Hos. 13:14; Isa. 14:9).
This term is of comparatively rare occurrence in the Greek
New Testament. Our Lord speaks of Capernaum as being
"brought down to hell" (hades), i.e., simply to
the lowest debasement, (Matt. 11:23). It is contemplated as
a kind of kingdom which could never overturn the foundation
of Christ's kingdom (16:18), i.e., Christ's church
can never die.
In Luke 16:23 it is most distinctly associated with the
doom and misery of the lost.
In Acts 2:27-31 Peter quotes the LXX. version of Ps.
16:8-11, plainly for the purpose of proving our Lord's
resurrection from the dead. David was left in the place of
the dead, and his body saw corruption. Not so with Christ.
According to ancient prophecy (Ps. 30:3) he was recalled to
life.
Hadid - pointed, a place in the
tribe of Benjamin near Lydda, or Lod, and Ono (Ezra 2:33;
Neh. 7:37). It is identified with the modern el-Haditheh, 3
miles east of Lydda.
Hadlai - resting, an Ephraimite;
the father of Amasa, mentioned in 2 Chr. 28:12.
Hadoram - is exalted. (1.) The
son of Tou, king of Hamath, sent by his father to
congratulate David on his victory over Hadarezer, king of
Syria (1 Chr. 18:10; called Joram 2 Sam. 8:10).
(2.) The fifth son of Joktan, the founder of an Arab tribe
(Gen. 10:27; 1 Chr. 1:21).
(3.) One who was "over the tribute;" i.e.,
"over the levy." He was stoned by the Israelites
after they had revolted from Rehoboam (2 Chr. 10:18).
Called also Adoram (2 Sam. 20:24) and Adoniram (1 Kings
4:6).
Hadrach - the name of a country
(Zech. 9:1) which cannot be identified. Rawlinson would
identify it with Edessa. He mentions that in the Assyrian
inscriptions it is recorded that "Shalmanezer III.
made two expeditions, the first against Damascus B.C. 773,
and the second against Hadrach B.C. 772; and again that
Asshurdanin-il II. made expeditions against Hadrach in B.C.
765 and 755."
Haemorrhoids - or Emerods,
bleeding piles known to the ancient Romans as mariscae, but
more probably malignant boils of an infectious and fatal
character. With this loathsome and infectious disease the
men of Ashdod were smitten by the hand of the Lord. This
calamity they attributed to the presence of the ark in
their midst, and therefore they removed it to Gath (1 Sam.
5:6-8). But the same consequences followed from its
presence in Gath, and therefore they had it removed to
Ekron, 11 miles distant. The Ekronites were afflicted with
the same dreadful malady, but more severely; and a panic
seizing the people, they demanded that the ark should be
sent back to the land of Israel (9-12; 6:1-9).
Haft - a handle as of a dagger
(Judg. 3:22).
Hagar - flight, or, according to
others, stranger, an Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid (Gen.
16:1; 21:9, 10), whom she gave to Abraham (q.v.) as a
secondary wife (16:2). When she was about to become a
mother she fled from the cruelty of her mistress, intending
apparently to return to her relatives in Egypt, through the
desert of Shur, which lay between. Wearied and worn she had
reached the place she distinguished by the name of
Beer-lahai-roi ("the well of the visible God"),
where the angel of the Lord appeared to her. In obedience
to the heavenly visitor she returned to the tent of
Abraham, where her son Ishmael was born, and where she
remained (16) till after the birth of Isaac, the space of
fourteen years. Sarah after this began to vent her
dissatisfaction both on Hagar and her child. Ishmael's
conduct was insulting to Sarah, and she insisted that he
and his mother should be dismissed. This was accordingly
done, although with reluctance on the part of Abraham (Gen.
21:14). They wandered out into the wilderness, where
Ishmael, exhausted with his journey and faint from thirst,
seemed about to die. Hagar "lifted up her voice and
wept," and the angel of the Lord, as before, appeared
unto her, and she was comforted and delivered out of her
distresses (Gen. 21:18, 19).
Ishmael afterwards established himself in the wilderness
of Paran, where he married an Egyptian (Gen. 21:20,21).
"Hagar" allegorically represents the Jewish
church (Gal. 4:24), in bondage to the ceremonial law; while
"Sarah" represents the Christian church, which is
free.
Hagarene - or Hagarite. (1.) One
of David's mighty men (1 Chr. 11:38), the son of a
foreigner.
(2.) Used of Jaziz (1 Chr. 27:31), who was over
David's flocks. "A Hagarite had charge of
David's flocks, and an Ishmaelite of his herds, because
the animals were pastured in districts where these nomadic
people were accustomed to feed their cattle."
(3.) In the reign of Saul a great war was waged between
the trans-Jordanic tribes and the Hagarites (1 Chr. 5), who
were overcome in battle. A great booty was captured by the
two tribes and a half, and they took possession of the land
of the Hagarites.
Subsequently the "Hagarenes," still residing in
the land on the east of Jordan, entered into a conspiracy
against Israel (comp. Ps. 83:6). They are distinguished
from the Ishmaelites.
Haggai - festive, one of the
twelve so-called minor prophets. He was the first of the
three (Zechariah, his contemporary, and Malachi, who was
about one hundred years later, being the other two) whose
ministry belonged to the period of Jewish history which
began after the return from captivity in Babylon. Scarcely
anything is known of his personal history. He may have been
one of the captives taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. He
began his ministry about sixteen years after the Return.
The work of rebuilding the temple had been put a stop to
through the intrigues of the Samaritans. After having been
suspended for fifteen years, the work was resumed through
the efforts of Haggai and Zechariah (Ezra 6:14), who by
their exhortations roused the people from their lethargy,
and induced them to take advantage of the favourable
opportunity that had arisen in a change in the policy of
the Persian government. (See DARIUS ¯T0000975 [2].)
Haggai's prophecies have thus been characterized:,
"There is a ponderous and simple dignity in the
emphatic reiteration addressed alike to every class of the
community, prince, priest, and people, 'Be strong, be
strong, be strong' (2:4). 'Cleave, stick fast, to
the work you have to do;' or again, 'Consider your
ways, consider, consider, consider' (1:5, 7;2:15, 18).
It is the Hebrew phrase for the endeavour, characteristic
of the gifted seers of all times, to compel their hearers
to turn the inside of their hearts outwards to their own
view, to take the mask from off their consciences, to
'see life steadily, and to see it wholly.'",
Stanley's Jewish Church. (See
SIGNET.)
Haggai, Book of - consists of
two brief, comprehensive chapters. The object of the
prophet was generally to urge the people to proceed with
the rebuilding of the temple.
Chapter first comprehends the first address (2-11) and its
effects (12-15). Chapter second contains,
(1.) The second prophecy (1-9), which was delivered a
month after the first.
(2.) The third prophecy (10-19), delivered two months and
three days after the second; and
(3.) The fourth prophecy (20-23), delivered on the same
day as the third.
These discourses are referred to in Ezra 5:1; 6:14; Heb.
12:26. (Comp. Hag. 2:7, 8, 22.)
Haggith - festive; the dancer, a
wife of David and the mother of Adonijah (2 Sam. 3:4; 1
Kings 1:5, 11; 2:13; 1 Chr. 3:2), who, like Absalom, was
famed for his beauty.
Hagiographa - the holy writings,
a term which came early into use in the Christian church to
denote the third division of the Old Testament scriptures,
called by the Jews Kethubim, i.e., "Writings." It
consisted of five books, viz., Job, Proverbs, and Psalms,
and the two books of Chronicles. The ancient Jews
classified their sacred books as the Law, the Prophets, and
the Kethubim, or Writings. (See
BIBLE.)
In the New Testament (Luke 24:44) we find three
corresponding divisions, viz., the Law, the Prophets, and
the Psalms.
Hail! - a salutation expressive
of a wish for the welfare of the person addressed; the
translation of the Greek Chaire, "Rejoice"
(Luke 1:8). Used in mockery in Matt. 27:29.
Hail - frozen rain-drops; one of
the plagues of Egypt (Ex. 9:23). It is mentioned by Haggai
as a divine judgment (Hag. 2:17). A hail-storm destroyed
the army of the Amorites when they fought against Joshua
(Josh. 10:11). Ezekiel represents the wall daubed with
untempered mortar as destroyed by great hail-stones (Ezek.
13:11). (See also 38:22; Rev. 8:7; 11:19; 16:21.)
Hair - (1.) The Egyptians let
the hair of their head and beard grow only when they were
in mourning, shaving it off at other times. "So
particular were they on this point that to have neglected
it was a subject of reproach and ridicule; and whenever
they intended to convey the idea of a man of low condition,
or a slovenly person, the artists represented him with a
beard." Joseph shaved himself before going in to
Pharoah (Gen. 41:14). The women of Egypt wore their hair
long and plaited. Wigs were worn by priests and laymen to
cover the shaven skull, and false beards were common. The
great masses of hair seen in the portraits and statues of
kings and priests are thus altogether artificial.
(2.) A precisely opposite practice, as regards men,
prevailed among the Assyrians. In Assyrian sculptures the
hair always appears long, and combed closely down upon the
head. The beard also was allowed to grow to its full
length.
(3.) Among the Greeks the custom in this respect varied at
different times, as it did also among the Romans. In the
time of the apostle, among the Greeks the men wore short
hair, while that of the women was long (1 Cor. 11:14, 15).
Paul reproves the Corinthians for falling in with a style
of manners which so far confounded the distinction of the
sexes and was hurtful to good morals. (See, however, 1 Tim.
2:9, and 1 Pet. 3:3, as regards women.)
(4.) Among the Hebrews the natural distinction between the
sexes was preserved by the women wearing long hair (Luke
7:38; John 11:2; 1 Cor. 11:6), while the men preserved
theirs as a rule at a moderate length by frequent clipping.
Baldness disqualified any one for the priest's office
(Lev. 21).
Elijah is called a "hairy man" (2 Kings 1:8)
from his flowing locks, or more probably from the shaggy
cloak of hair which he wore. His raiment was of camel's
hair.
Long hair is especially noticed in the description of
Absalom's person (2 Sam. 14:26); but the wearing of
long hair was unusual, and was only practised as an act of
religious observance by Nazarites (Num. 6:5; Judg. 13:5)
and others in token of special mercies (Acts 18:18).
In times of affliction the hair was cut off (Isa. 3:17,
24; 15:2; 22:12; Jer. 7:29; Amos 8:10). Tearing the hair
and letting it go dishevelled were also tokens of grief
(Ezra 9:3). "Cutting off the hair" is a figure of
the entire destruction of a people (Isa. 7:20). The Hebrews
anointed the hair profusely with fragrant ointments (Ruth
3:3; 2 Sam. 14:2; Ps. 23:5; 45:7, etc.), especially in
seasons of rejoicing (Matt. 6:17; Luke 7:46).
Hakkoz - the thorn, the head of
one of the courses of the priests (1 Chr. 24:10).
Halah - a district of Media to
which captive Israelites were transported by the Assyrian
kings (2 Kings 17:6; 18:11; 1 Chr. 5:26). It lay along the
banks of the upper Khabur, from its source to its junction
with the Jerujer. Probably the district called by Ptolemy
Chalcitis.
Halak - smooth; bald, a hill at
the southern extremity of Canaan (Josh. 11:17). It is
referred to as if it were a landmark in that direction,
being prominent and conspicuous from a distance. It has by
some been identified with the modern Jebel el-Madura, on
the south frontier of Judah, between the south end of the
Dead Sea and the Wady Gaian.
Halhul - full of hollows, a town
in the highlands of Judah (Josh. 15:58). It is now a small
village of the same name, and is situated about 5 miles
north-east of Hebron on the way to Jerusalem. There is an
old Jewish tradition that Gad, David's seer (2 Sam.
24:11), was buried here.
Hall - (Gr. aule, Luke 22:55;
R.V., "court"), the open court or quadrangle
belonging to the high priest's house. In Matt. 26:69
and Mark 14:66 this word is incorrectly rendered
"palace" in the Authorized Version, but correctly
"court" in the Revised Version. In John 10:1,16
it means a "sheep-fold." In Matt. 27:27 and Mark
15:16 (A.V., "common hall;" R.V.,
"palace") it refers to the proetorium or
residence of the Roman governor at Jerusalem. The
"porch" in Matt. 26:71 is the entrance-hall or
passage leading into the central court, which is open to
the sky.
Hallel - praise, the name given
to the group of Psalms 113-118, which are preeminently
psalms of praise. It is called "The Egyptian
Hallel," because it was chanted in the temple whilst
the Passover lambs were being slain. It was chanted also on
other festival occasions, as at Pentecost, the feast of
Tabernacles, and the feast of Dedication. The Levites,
standing before the altar, chanted it verse by verse, the
people responding by repeating the verses or by intoned
hallelujahs. It was also chanted in private families at the
feast of Passover. This was probably the hymn which our
Saviour and his disciples sung at the conclusion of the
Passover supper kept by them in the upper room at Jerusalem
(Matt. 26:30; Mark 14:26).
There is also another group called "The Great
Hallel," comprehending Psalms 118-136, which was
recited on the first evening at the Passover supper and on
occasions of great joy.
Hallelujah - praise ye Jehovah,
frequently rendered "Praise ye the LORD," stands
at the beginning of ten of the psalms (106, 111-113, 135,
146-150), hence called "hallelujah psalms." From
its frequent occurrence it grew into a formula of praise.
The Greek form of the word (alleluia) is found in Rev.
19:1, 3, 4, 6.
Hallow - to render sacred, to
consecrate (Ex. 28:38; 29:1). This word is from the Saxon,
and properly means "to make holy." The name of
God is "hallowed", i.e., is reverenced as holy
(Matt. 6:9).
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