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Smith's Bible Dictionary
by
William Smith
About Smith's Bible Dictionary
Title: Smith's Bible Dictionary
U
Author(s): Smith, William
Publisher: Grand Rapids, MI: Christian Classics Ethereal Library
Print Basis: 1884
Rights: Public Domain
Date Created: 2002-10-30
CCEL Subjects: All; Dictionary; Reference
LC Call no: BS440 .S6
LC Subjects: The Bible
Works about the Bible
Smith's Bible Dictionary William Smith
Table of Contents
About This Book. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. ii
Title Page. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 1
Smith's Bible Dictionary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 2
A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 2
B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 77
C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 114
D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 148
E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 170
F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 207
G. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 218
H. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 246
I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 290
J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 305
K . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 368
L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 378
M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 409
N. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 475
O. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 509
P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 524
Q. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 604
R. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 605
S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 630
T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 723
U. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 776
V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 784
W. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 793
Y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 810
Z . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 811
Indexes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 833
Index of Scripture References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 833
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Smith’s Bible Dictionary
William Smith
1884
Smith's Bible Dictionary William Smith
A
See Alpha
Aarat
(high or holy ground), a mountainous district of Asia mentioned in the Bible in connection with
the following events:— (1) As the resting-place of the ark after the deluge. (Genesis 8:4) (2) As
the asylum of the sons of Sennacherib. (2 Kings 19:37; Isaiah 37:38) Authorized Version has “the
land of Armenia.” (3) As the ally, and probably the neighbor, of Minni and Ashchenaz. (Jeremiah
51:27) [Armenia] The name Ararat was unknown to the geographers of Greece and Rome, as it
still is to the Armenians of the present day; but it was an ancient name for a portion of Armenia.
In its biblical sense it is descriptive generally of the Armenian highlands—the lofty plateau which
over looks the plain of the Araxes on the north and of Mesopotomia on the south. Various opinions
have been put forth as to the spot where the ark rested, as described in (Genesis 8:4) (but it is
probable that it rested on some of the lower portions of the range than on the lofty peak to which
exclusively) Europeans have given the name Ararat, the mountain which is called Massis by the
Armenians, Agri-Dagh, i.e. Steep Mountain, by the Turks, and Kuh-i-Nuh, i.e. Noah’s Mountain,
by the Persians. It rises immediately out of the plain of the Araxes, and terminates in two conical
peaks, named the Great and Less Ararat, about seven miles distant from each other; the former of
which attain an elevation of 17,260 feet above the level of the sea and about 14,000 above the plain
of the Araxes, while the latter is lower by 4000 feet. The summit of the higher is covered with
eternal snow for about 3000 feet. Arguri, the only village known to have been built on its slopes,
was the spot where, according to tradition, Noah planted his vineyard. “The mountains of Ararat
” are co-extensive with the Armenian plateau from the base of Ararat in the north to the range of
Kurdistan in the south, we notice the following characteristics of that region as illustrating the Bible
narrative; (1) its elevation. It rises to a height of from 6000 to 7000 feet above the level of the sea.
(2) Its geographical position . Viewed with reference to the dispersion of the nations, Armenia is
the true centre of the world; and at the present day Ararat is the great boundary-stone between the
empires of Russia, Turkey and Persia. (3) Its physical character . The plains as well as the mountains
supply evidence of volcanic agency. (4) The climate . Winter lasts from October to May, and is
succeeded by a brief spring and a summer of intense heat. (5) The vegetation . Grass grows
luxuriantly on the plateau, and furnishes abundant pasture during the summer months to the flocks
of the nomad Kurds. Wheat, barley and vines ripen at far higher altitudes than on the Alps and the
Pyrenees.
Aaron
(a teacher, or lofty), the son of Amram and Jochebed, and the older brother of Moses and
Miriam. (Numbers 26:59; 33:39) (B.C. 1573.) He was a Levite, and is first mentioned in (Exodus
4:14) He was appointed by Jehovah to be the interpreter, (Exodus 4:16) of his brother Moses, who
was “slow of speech;” and accordingly he was not only the organ of communication with the
Israelites and with Pharaoh, (Exodus 4:30; 7:2) but also the actual instrument of working most of
the miracles of the Exodus. (Exodus 7:19) etc. On the way to Mount Sinai, during the battle with
Amalek, Aaron with Hur stayed up the weary hands of Moses when they were lifted up for the
victory of Israel. (Exodus 17:9) He is mentioned as dependent upon his brother and deriving all his
authority from him. Left, on Moses’ departure into Sinai, to guide the people, Aaron is tried for a
moment on his own responsibility, and he fails from a weak inability to withstand the demand of
the people for visible “gods to go before them,” by making an image of Jehovah, in the well-known
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form of Egyptian idolatry (Apis or Mnevis). He repented of his sin, and Moses gained forgiveness
for him. (9:20) Aaron was not consecrated by Moses to the new office of the high priesthood.
(Exodus 29:9) From this time the history of Aaron is almost entirely that of the priesthood, and its
chief feature is the great rebellion of Korah and the Levites. Leaning, as he seems to have done,
wholly on Moses, it is not strange that he should have shared his sin at Meribah and its punishment.
See Moses. (Numbers 20:10-12) Aaron’s death seems to have followed very speedily. It took place
on Mount Hor, after the transference of his robes and office to Eleazar. (Numbers 20:28) This
mount is still called the “Mountain of Aaron.” See Hor. The wife of Aaron was Elisheba, (Exodus
6:23) and the two sons who survived him, Eleazar and Ithamar. The high priesthood descended to
the former, and to his descendants until the time of Eli, who, although of the house of Ithamar,
received the high priesthood and transmitted it to his children; with them it continued till the
accession of Solomon, who took it from Abiathar and restored it to Zadok (of the house of Eleazar).
See Abiathar.
Aaronites
(1 Chronicles 12:27) priests of the family of Aaron.
Ab
See Month.
(father), an element in the composition of many proper names, of which Abba is a Chaldaic
form, having the sense of “endowed with,” “possessed of.”
Abaddon
See Apollyon.
Abagtha
(God-given), one of the seven eunuchs in the Persian court of Ahasuerus. (Esther 1:10)
Abana
(perennial, stony), one of the “rivers of Damascus.” (2 Kings 5:12) The Barada and the Awaj
are now the chief streams of Damascus, the former representing the Abana and the latter the Pharpar
of the text. The Barada (Abana) rises in the Antilibanus, at about 23 miles from the city, after
flowing through which it runs across the plain, of whose fertility it is the chief source, till it loses
itself in the lake or marsh Bahret-el-Kibliyeh.
Abarim
(regions beyond), a mountain or range of highlands on the east of the Jordan, in the land of
Moab, facing Jericho, and forming the eastern wall of the Jordan valley at that part. Its most elevated
spot was “the Mount Nebo, head of the Pisgah,” from which Moses viewed the Promised Land
before his death. These mountains are mentioned in (Numbers 27:12; 33:47,48) and Deuteronomy
32:49
Abba
See Ab.
Abda
•Father of Adoniram. (1 Kings 4:6)
•Son of Shammua, (Nehemiah 11:17) called Obadiah in (1 Chronicles 9:16)
Abdeel
father of Shelemiah. (Jeremiah 36:26)
Abdi
(my servant).
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•A Merarite, and ancestor of Ethan the singer. (1 Chronicles 6:44) (B.C. before 1015.)
•The father of Kish, a Merarite, in the reign of Hezekiah. (2 Chronicles 29:12) (B.C. before 736.)
•One of the Bene-Elam in the time of Ezra, who had married a foreign wife. (Ezra 10:26) (B.C.
659.)
Abdiel
(the servant of God), son of Guni and father of Ahi, one of the Gadites who were settled in the
land of Bashan, (1 Chronicles 5:15), in the days of Jotham king of Judah. (B.C. 758.)
Abdon
(servile).
•A judge of Israel, (Judges 12:13,(15) perhaps the same person as Bedan, in (1 Samuel 12:11) (B.C.
1233-1225).
•Son of Shashak. (1 Chronicles 8:23)
•First-born son of Jehiel, son of Gideon. (1 Chronicles 8:30; 9:35,36).
•Son of Micah, a contemporary of Josiah, (2 Chronicles 34:20) called Achbor in (2 Kings 22:12)
(B.C. 628.)
•A city in the tribe if Asher, given to the Gershonites, (Joshua 21:30; 1 Chronicles 6:74) the modern
Abdeh, 10 miles northeast of Accho.
Abednego
(i.e. servant of Nego, perhaps the same as Nebo), the Chaldean name given to Azariah, one of
the three friends of Daniel, miraculously save from the fiery furnace. Dan. 3. (B.C. about 600.)
Abel
the name of several places in Palestine, probably signifies a meadow .
(i.e., breath, vapor, transitoriness, probably so called from the shortness of his life), the second
son of Adam, murdered by his brother Cain, (Genesis 4:1-16) he was a keeper or feeder of sheep.
Our Lord spoke of Abel as the first martyr, (Matthew 23:35) so did the early Church subsequently.
The traditional site of his murder and his grave are pointed out near Damascus.
Abel, Stone Of
(the great abel), the place where the ark rested in the field of Joshua at Beth-shemesh. (1 Samuel
6:18)
Abelbethmaachah
(meadow of the house of oppression), a town of some importance, (2 Samuel 20:15) in the
extreme north of Palestine, which fell an early prey to the invading kings of Syria, (1 Kings 15:20)
and Assyria. (2 Kings 15:29)
Abelmaim
(Abel on the waters), also called simply Abel, (2 Samuel 20:14,18) another name for
Abel-bethmaachah. (2 Chronicles 16:4)
Abelmeholah
(meadow of the dance), in the northern pat of the Jordan valley, (1 Kings 4:12) to which the
routed Bedouin host fled from Gideon, (Judges 7:22) Here Elisha was found at his plough by Elijah
returning up the valley from Horeb. (1 Kings 19:16-19)
Abelmizraim
(meadow of Egypt), the name given by the Canaanites to the floor of Atad, at which Joseph,
his brothers and the Egyptians made their mourning for Jacob. (Genesis 50:11) It was beyond (on
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the east of) Jordan. See Atad. (Schaff and others say it was on the west bank, for the writer was on
the east of Jordan. It was near Jericho, or perhaps Hebron.)
Abelshittim
(the meadow of the acacias), in the “plains” of Moab, on the low level of the Jordan valley,
opposite Jericho. The last resting-place of Israel before crossing the Jordan. (Numbers 33:49) The
place is most frequently mentioned by its shorter name of Shittim. See Shittah Tree, Shittim, Shittim.
Abez
(lofty), a town in the possession of Issachar, named between Kishion and Remeth in (Joshua
19:20) only.
Abi
mother of King Hezekiah, (2 Kings 18:2) written Abia, Abiah, Or Abijah, Abijah Or Abijam
in (2 Chronicles 29:1)
Abia, Abiah, Or Abijah
•Son of Becher, the son of Benjamin. (1 Chronicles 7:8)
•Wife of Hezron. (1 Chronicles 2:24)
•Second son of Samuel. (1 Samuel 8:2; 1 Chronicles 7:28)
•The son of Rehoboam. (1 Chronicles 3:10; Matthew 1:7) See Abijah Or Abijam, 1.
•Mother of King Hezekiah. [Abi]
•Same as Abijah Or Abijam, 4.
Abia, Course Of
the eighth of the 24 courses or classes into which the priests were divided for serving at the
altar. (1 Chronicles 24; Luke 1:5) See Abia, Abiah, Or Abijah, Abijah Or Abijam, 4.
Abiaibon
(father of strength). See Abiel Or Abiel.
Abiasaph
(father of gathering, i.e. gathered), (Exodus 6:24) otherwise written Ebi/asaph. (1 Chronicles
6:23,37; 9:19) one of the descendants of Korah, and head of the Korhites. Among the remarkable
descendants of Abiasaph were Samuel the prophet, (1 Samuel 1:11) and Heman the singer.
Abiathar
(father of abundance, i.e. liberal), High priest and fourth in descent from Eli. (B.C. 1060-1012.)
Abiathar was the only one of the all the sons of Ahimelech the high priest who escaped the slaughter
inflicted upon his father’s house by Saul, in revenge for his father’s house by Saul, in revenge of
his having inquired of the Lord for David and given him the shew-bread to eat. (1 Samuel 22:1) ...
Abiathar having become high priest fled to David, and was thus enabled to inquire of the Lord for
him. (1 Samuel 23:9; 30:7; 2 Samuel 2:1; 5:19) etc. He adhered to David in his wanderings while
pursued by Saul; he was with him while he reigned in Hebron, and afterwards in Jerusalem. (2
Samuel 2:1-3) He continued faithful to him in Absalom’s rebellion. (2 Samuel 15:24,29,35,36;
17:15-17; 19:11) When, however, Adonijah set himself up fro David’s successor on the throne, in
opposition to Solomon, Abiathar sided with him, while Zadok was on Solomon’s side. For this
Abiathar was deprived of the high priesthood. Zadok had joined David at Hebron, (1 Chronicles
12:28) so that there was henceforth who high priests in the reign of David, and till the deposition
of Abiathar by Solomon, when Zadok became the sole high priest.
Abib
(green fruits). [Month]
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Abida, Or Abidah
(father of knowledge), a son of Midian. (Genesis 25:4; 1 Chronicles 1:33)
Abidan
(father of the judge), chief of the tribe of Benjamin at the time of the Exodus. (B.C. 1491.)
(Numbers 1:11; 2:22; 7:60,65; 10:24)
Abiel Or Abiel
(father of strength, i.e. strong).
•Father of Kish, and consequently grandfather of Saul, (1 Samuel 9:1) as well as of Abner, Saul’s
commander-in-chief. (1 Samuel 14:51) (B.C. 1093-1055.)
•One of David’s mighty men. (1 Chronicles 11:32) In (2 Samuel 23:31) he is called ABI-ALBON.
(B.C. 1053.)
Abiezer
(father of help, helpful).
•Eldest son of Gilead, and descendant of Manasseh. (Joshua 17:2; 1 Chronicles 7:18) (B.C. 1450.)
He was the ancestor of the great judge Gideon. [Gideon]
•One of David’s mighty men. (2 Samuel 23:27; 1 Chronicles 11:28; 27:12) (B.C. 1014.)
Abigail
(father, i.e. source, of joy).
•The beautiful wife of Nabal, a wealthy owner of goats and sheep in Carmel. (B.C. 1060.) When
David’s messengers were slighted by Nabal, Abigail supplies David and his followers with
provisions, and succeeded in appeasing his anger. The days after this Nabal died, and David sent
for Abigail and made her his wife. (1 Samuel 25:14) etc. By her he had a son, called Chileab in
(2 Samuel 3:3) but Daniel in (1 Chronicles 3:1)
•A sister of David, married to Jether the Ishmaelite, and mother, by him, of Amasa. (1 Chronicles
2:17) In (2 Samuel 17:25) for Israelite read Ishmaelite. (B.C. 1068.)
Abihail
(father of, i.e. possessing, strength).
•Father of Zuriel, chief of the Levitical father of Merari, a contemporary of Moses. (Numbers 3:35)
(B.C. 1490.)
•Wife of Abishur. (1 Chronicles 2:29)
•Son of Huri, of the tribe of Gad. (1 Chronicles 5:14)
•Wife of Rehoboam. She is called the daughter, i.e. descendant, of Eliab, the elder brother of David.
(2 Chronicles 11:18) (B.C. 972.)
•Father of Esther and uncle of Mordecai. (Esther 2:15; 9:29)
Abihu
(he (God) is my father), the second son, (Numbers 3:2) of Aaron by Elisheba. (Exodus 6:23)
Being, together with his elder brother Nadab, guilty of offering strange fire to the lord, he was
consumed by fire from heaven. (Leviticus 10:1,2)
Abihud
(father of renown, famous), son of Bela and grandson of Benjamin. (1 Chronicles 8:3)
Abijah Or Abijam
(my father is Jehovah).
•Son and successor of Rehoboam on the throne of Judah. (1 Kings 4:21; 2 Chronicles 12:16) He
is called Abia, Abiah, Or Abijah in Chronicles, Abijam in Kings. He began to reign B.C. 959, and
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