(2.) The son of Jedaiah, of the family of the Simeonites, who expelled the Hamites from the valley of Gedor (1 Chr. 4:37).

Allon-bachuth - oak of weeping, a tree near Bethel, at the spot where Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, was buried ( Gen. 35:8). Large trees, from their rarity in the plains of Palestine, were frequently designated as landmarks. This particular tree was probably the same as the "palm tree of Deborah" ( Judg. 4:5).

Almodad - immeasurable, the first named of the sons of Joktan ( Gen. 10:26), the founder of an Arabian tribe.

Almon - hidden, one of the sacerdotal cities of Benjamin ( Josh. 21:18), called also Alemeth (1 Chr. 6:60).

Almond - a native of Syria and Palestine. In form, blossoms, and fruit it resembles the peach tree. Its blossoms are of a very pale pink colour, and appear before its leaves. Its Hebrew name, shaked, signifying "wakeful, hastening," is given to it on account of its putting forth its blossoms so early, generally in February, and sometimes even in January. In Eccl. 12:5, it is referred to as illustrative, probably, of the haste with which old age comes. There are others, however, who still contend for the old interpretation here. "The almond tree bears its blossoms in the midst of winter, on a naked, leafless stem, and these blossoms (reddish or flesh-coloured in the beginning) seem at the time of their fall exactly like white snow-flakes. In this way the almond blossom is a very fitting symbol of old age, with its silvery hair and its wintry, dry, barren, unfruitful condition." In Jer. 1:11 "I see a rod of an almond tree [shaked]...for I will hasten [shaked] my word to perform it" the word is used as an emblem of promptitude. Jacob desired his sons ( Gen. 43:11) to take with them into Egypt of the best fruits of the land, almonds, etc., as a present to Joseph, probably because this tree was not a native of Egypt. Aaron's rod yielded almonds ( Num. 17:8; Heb. 9:4). Moses was directed to make certain parts of the candlestick for the ark of carved work "like unto almonds" ( Ex. 25:33,Ex. 25:34). The Hebrew word luz, translated "hazel" in the Authorized Version ( Gen. 30:37), is rendered in the Revised Version "almond." It is probable that luz denotes the wild almond, while shaked denotes the cultivated variety.

Alms - Not found in the Old Testament, but repeatedly in the New. The Mosaic legislation ( Lev. 25:35; Deut. 15:7) tended to promote a spirit of charity, and to prevent the occurrence of destitution among the people. Such passages as these, Ps. 41:1; Ps 112:9; Prov. 14:31; Isa. 10:2; Amos 2:7; Jer. 5:28; Ezek. 22:29, would also naturally foster the same benevolent spirit.

In the time of our Lord begging was common ( Mark 10:46; Acts 3:2). The Pharisees were very ostentatious in their almsgivings ( Matt. 6:2). The spirit by which the Christian ought to be actuated in this duty is set forth in 1 John 3:17. A regard to the state of the poor and needy is enjoined as a Christian duty ( Luke 3:11;Luke 6:30; Matt. 6:1; Acts 9:36; Acts 10:2, Acts 9:4), a duty which was not neglected by the early Christians ( Luke 14:13; Acts 20:35; Gal. 2:10; Rom. 15:25-27; 1 Cor. 16:1-4). They cared not only for the poor among themselves, but contributed also to the necessities of those at a distance ( Acts 11:29;Acts 24:17; 2 Cor. 9:12). Our Lord and his attendants showed an example also in this ( John 13:29).

In modern times the "poor-laws" have introduced an element which modifies considerably the form in which we may discharge this Christian duty.

Almug - (1 Kings 10:11,1 Kings 10:12) = algum (2 Chr. 2:8;2 Chr 9:10,2 Chr. 2:11), in the Hebrew occurring only in the plural almuggim (indicating that the wood was brought in planks), the name of a wood brought from Ophir to be used in the building of the temple, and for other purposes. Some suppose it to have been the white sandal-wood of India, the Santalum album of botanists, a native of the mountainous parts of the Malabar coasts. It is a fragrant wood, and is used in China for incense in idol-worship. Others, with some probability, think that it was the Indian red sandal-wood, the pterocarpus santalinus, a heavy, fine-grained wood, the Sanscrit name of which is valguka. It is found on the Coromandel coast and in Ceylon.

Aloes - (Heb. 'ahalim), a fragrant wood ( Num. 24:6; Ps. 45:8; Prov. 7:17; Cant. 4:14), the Aquilaria agallochum of botanists, or, as some suppose, the costly gum or perfume extracted from the wood. It is found in China, Siam, and Northern India, and grows to the height sometimes of 120 feet. This species is of great rarity even in India. There is another and more common species, called by Indians aghil, whence Europeans have given it the name of Lignum aquile, or eagle-wood. Aloewood was used by the Egyptians for embalming dead bodies. Nicodemus brought it (pounded aloe-wood) to embalm the body of Christ ( John 19:39); but whether this was the same as that mentioned elsewhere is uncertain.

The bitter aloes of the apothecary is the dried juice of the leaves Aloe vulgaris.

Alphaeus - (1.) The father of James the Less, the apostle and writer of the epistle ( Matt. 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13), and the husband of Mary ( John 19:25). The Hebrew form of this name is Cleopas, or Clopas (q.v.).

(2.) The father of Levi, or Matthew ( Mark 2:14).

Altar - (Heb. mizbe'ah, from a word meaning "to slay"), any structure of earth ( Ex. 20:24) or unwrought stone ( Ex 20:25) on which sacrifices were offered. Altars were generally erected in conspicuous places ( Gen. 22:9; Ezek. 6:3; 2 Kings 23:12;2 Kings 16:4;2 Kings 23:8; Acts 14:13). The word is used in Heb. 13:10 for the sacrifice offered upon it--the sacrifice Christ offered.

Paul found among the many altars erected in Athens one bearing the inscription, "To the unknown God" ( Acts 17:23), or rather "to an [i.e., some] unknown God." The reason for this inscription cannot now be accurately determined. It afforded the apostle the occasion of proclaiming the gospel to the "men of Athens."

The first altar we read of is that erected by Noah ( Gen. 8:20). Altars were erected by Abraham ( Gen. 12:7;Gen 13:4;Gen 22:9), by Isaac ( Gen. 26:25), by Jacob ( Gen 33:20;Gen 35:1,Gen 33:3), and by Moses ( Ex. 17:15, "Jehovah-nissi").

In the tabernacle, and afterwards in the temple, two altars were erected.

(1.) The altar of burnt offering ( Ex. 30:28), called also the "brasen altar" ( Ex. 39:39) and "the table of the Lord" ( Mal. 1:7).

This altar, as erected in the tabernacle, is described in Ex. 27:1-8. It was a hollow square, 5 cubits in length and in breadth, and 3 cubits in height. It was made of shittim wood, and was overlaid with plates of brass. Its corners were ornamented with "horns" ( Ex. 29:12; Lev. 4:18).

In Ex. 27:3 the various utensils appertaining to the altar are enumerated. They were made of brass. (Comp. 1 Sam. 2:13,1 Sam. 2:14; Lev. 16:12; Num. 16:6, Num. 16:7.)

In Solomon's temple the altar was of larger dimensions (2 Chr. 4:1. Comp. 1 Kings 8:22,1 Kings 8:64;1 Kings 9:25), and was made wholly of brass, covering a structure of stone or earth. This altar was renewed by Asa (2 Chr. 15:8). It was removed by Ahaz (2 Kings 16:14), and "cleansed" by Hezekiah, in the latter part of whose reign it was rebuilt. It was finally broken up and carried away by the Babylonians ( Jer. 52:17).

After the return from captivity it was re-erected ( Ezra 3:3,Ezra 3:6) on the same place where it had formerly stood. (Comp. 1 Macc. 4:47.) When Antiochus Epiphanes pillaged Jerusalem the altar of burnt offering was taken away.

Again the altar was erected by Herod, and remained in its place till the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans (70 A.D.).

The fire on the altar was not permitted to go out ( Lev. 6:9).

In the Mosque of Omar, immediately underneath the great dome, which occupies the site of the old temple, there is a rough projection of the natural rock, of about 60 feet in its extreme length, and 50 in its greatest breadth, and in its highest part about 4 feet above the general pavement. This rock seems to have been left intact when Solomon's temple was built. It was in all probability the site of the altar of burnt offering. Underneath this rock is a cave, which may probably have been the granary of Araunah's threshing-floor (1 Chr. 21:22).

(2.) The altar of incense ( Ex. 30:1-10), called also "the golden altar" ( Ex 39:38; Num. 4:11), stood in the holy place "before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony." On this altar sweet spices were continually burned with fire taken from the brazen altar. The morning and the evening services were commenced by the high priest offering incense on this altar. The burning of the incense was a type of prayer ( Ps. 141:2; Rev. 5:8; Rev 8:3, Rev. 5:4).

This altar was a small movable table, made of acacia wood overlaid with gold ( Ex. 37:25,Ex. 37:26). It was 1 cubit in length and breadth, and 2 cubits in height.

In Solomon's temple the altar was similar in size, but was made of cedar-wood (1 Kings 6:20;1 Kings 7:48) overlaid with gold. In Ezek. 41:22 it is called "the altar of wood." (Comp. Ex. 30:1-6.)

In the temple built after the Exile the altar was restored. Antiochus Epiphanes took it away, but it was afterwards restored by Judas Maccabaeus (1 Macc. 1:23;1 Macc 4:49). Among the trophies carried away by Titus on the destruction of Jerusalem the altar of incense is not found, nor is any mention made of it in Heb. 9. It was at this altar Zacharias ministered when an angel appeared to him ( Luke 1:11). It is the only altar which appears in the heavenly temple ( Isa. 6:6; Rev. 8:3, Rev. 8:4).

Altaschith - destroy not, the title of Ps. 57, 58, 59, and 75. It was probably the name of some song to the melody of which these psalms were to be chanted.

Alush - one of the places, the last before Rephidim, at which the Hebrews rested on their way to Sinai ( Num. 33:13,Num. 33:14). It was probably situated on the shore of the Red Sea.

Amalek - dweller in a valley, the son of Eliphaz and grandson of Esau ( Gen. 36:12; 1 Chr. 1:36); the chief of an Idumean tribe ( Gen. 36:16). His mother was a Horite, a tribe whose territory the descendants of Esau had seized.

Amalekite - a tribe that dwelt in Arabia Petraea, between the Dead Sea and the Red Sea. They were not the descendants of Amalek, the son of Eliphaz, for they existed in the days of Abraham ( Gen. 14:7). They were probably a tribe that migrated from the shores of the Persian Gulf and settled in Arabia. "They dwelt in the land of the south...from Havilah until thou comest to Shur" ( Num. 13:29; 1 Sam. 15:7). They were a pastoral, and hence a nomadic race. Their kings bore the hereditary name of Agag ( Num. 24:7; 1 Sam. 15:8). They attempted to stop the Israelites when they marched through their territory ( Deut. 25:18), attacking them at Rephidim ( Ex. 17:8-13; comp. Deut. 25:17; 1 Sam. 15:2). They afterwards attacked the Israelites at Hormah ( Num. 14:45). We read of them subsequently as in league with the Moabites ( Judg. 3:13) and the Midianites ( Judg. 6:3). Saul finally desolated their territory and destroyed their power (1 Sam. 14:48;1 Sam 15:3), and David recovered booty from them (1 Sam. 30:18-20). In the Babylonian inscriptions they are called Sute, in those of Egypt Sittiu, and the Amarna tablets include them under the general name of Khabbati, or "plunderers."

Amana - perennial. (1.) The Hebrew margin of 2 Kings 5:12 gives this as another reading of Abana (q.v.), a stream near Damascus.

(2.) A mountain ( Cant. 4:8), probably the southern summit of Anti-Libanus, at the base of which are the sources of the Abana.

Amariah - said by Jehovah. (1.) One of the descendants of Aaron by Eleazar (1 Chr. 6:7,1 Chr. 6:52). He was probably the last of the high priests of Eleazar's line prior to the transfer of that office to Eli, of the line of Ithamar.

(2.) A Levite, son of Hebron, of the lineage of Moses (1 Chr. 23:19;1 Chr 24:23).

(3.) A "chief priest" who took an active part in the reformation under Jehoshaphat (2 Chr. 19:11); probably the same as mentioned in 1 Chr. 6:9.

(4.) 1 Chr. 6:11; Ezra 7:3. (5.) One of the high priests in the time of Hezekiah (2 Chr. 31:15). (6.) Zeph. 1:1. (7.) Neh. 11:4. (8.) Neh. 10:3. (9.) Ezra 10:42.

Amasa - burden. (1.) The son of Abigail, a sister of king David (1 Chr. 2:17; 2 Sam. 17:25). He was appointed by David to command the army in room of his cousin Joab (2 Sam. 19:13), who afterwards treacherously put him to death as a dangerous rival (2 Sam. 20:4-12).

(2.) A son of Hadlai, and chief of Ephraim (2 Chr. 28:12) in the reign of Ahaz.

Amasai - burdensome. (1.) A Levite, son of Elkanah, of the ancestry of Samuel (1 Chr. 6:25,1 Chr. 6:35).

(2.) The leader of a body of men who joined David in the "stronghold," probably of Adullam (1 Chr. 12:18).

(3.) One of the priests appointed to precede the ark with blowing of trumpets on its removal from the house of Obed-edom (1 Chr. 15:24).

(4.) The father of a Levite, one of the two Kohathites who took a prominent part at the instance of Hezekiah in the cleansing of the temple (2 Chr. 29:12).

Amashai - the son of Azareel, appointed by Nehemiah to reside at Jerusalem and do the work of the temple ( Neh. 11:13).

Amasiah - burden of (i.e., "sustained by") Jehovah, the "son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the Lord," a captain over thousands under Jehoshaphat (2 Chr. 17:16; comp. Judg. 5:9).

Amaziah - strengthened by Jehovah. (1.) A Levite, son of Hilkiah, of the descendants of Ethan the Merarite (1 Chr. 6:45).

(2.) The son and successor of Joash, and eighth king of the separate kingdom of Judah (2 Kings 14:1-4). He began his reign by punishing the murderers of his father (5-7; 2 Chr. 25:3-5). He was the first to employ a mercenary army of 100,000 Israelite soldiers, which he did in his attempt to bring the Edomites again under the yoke of Judah (2 Chr. 25:5,2 Chr. 25:6). He was commanded by a prophet of the Lord to send back the mercenaries, which he did (2 Chr. 25:7-10,2 Chr. 25:13), much to their annoyance. His obedience to this command was followed by a decisive victory over the Edomites (2 Chr. 25:14-16). Amaziah began to worship some of the idols he took from the Edomites, and this was his ruin, for he was vanquished by Joash, king of Israel, whom he challenged to battle. The disaster he thus brought upon Judah by his infatuation in proclaiming war against Israel probably occasioned the conspiracy by which he lost his life (2 Kings 14:8-14,2 Kings 14:19). He was slain at Lachish, whither he had fled, and his body was brought upon horses to Jerusalem, where it was buried in the royal sepulchre (2 Kings 14:19,2 Kings 14:20; 2 Chr. 25:27,2 Chr. 25:28).

(3.) A priest of the golden calves at Bethel ( Amos 7:10-17).

(4.) The father of Joshah, one of the Simeonite chiefs in the time of Hezekiah (1 Chr. 4:34).

Ambassador - In the Old Testament the Hebrew word tsir, meaning "one who goes on an errand," is rendered thus ( Josh. 9:4; Prov. 13:17; Isa. 18:2; Jer. 49:14; Obad. 1:1). This is also the rendering of melits, meaning "an interpreter," in 2 Chr. 32:31; and of malak, a "messenger," in 2 Chr. 35:21; Isa. 30:4; Isa 33:7; Ezek. 17:15. This is the name used by the apostle as designating those who are appointed by God to declare his will (2 Cor. 5:20; Eph. 6:20).

The Hebrews on various occasions and for various purposes had recourse to the services of ambassadors, e.g., to contract alliances ( Josh. 9:4), to solicit favours ( Num. 20:14), to remonstrate when wrong was done ( Judg. 11:12), to condole with a young king on the death of his father (2 Sam. 10:2), and to congratulate a king on his accession to the throne (1 Kings 5:1).

To do injury to an ambassador was to insult the king who sent him (2 Sam. 10:5).

Amber - ( Ezek. 1:4,Ezek. 1:27;Ezek 8:2. Heb., hashmal, rendered by the LXX. elektron, and by the Vulgate electrum), a metal compounded of silver and gold. Some translate the word by "polished brass," others "fine brass," as in Rev. 1:15; Rev 2:18. It was probably the mixture now called electrum. The word has no connection, however, with what is now called amber, which is a gummy substance, reckoned as belonging to the mineral kingdom though of vegetable origin, a fossil resin.

Ambush - Joshua at the capture of Ai lay in ambush, and so deceived the inhabitants that he gained an easy victory ( Josh. 8:4-26). Shechem was taken in this manner ( Judg. 9:30-45. Comp. Jer. 51:12).