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Battle-axe - a mallet or heavy war-club. Applied metaphorically ( Jer. 51:20) to Cyrus, God's instrument in destroying Babylon.

Battle-bow - the war-bow used in fighting ( Zech. 9:10;Zech 10:4). "Thy bow was made quite naked" ( Hab. 3:9) means that it was made ready for use. By David's order (2 Sam. 1:18) the young men were taught the use, or rather the song of the bow. (See ARMOUR, BOW.)

Battlement - a parapet wall or balustrade surrounding the flat roofs of the houses, required to be built by a special law ( Deut. 22:8). In Jer. 5:10, it denotes the parapet of a city wall.

Bay - denotes the estuary of the Dead Sea at the mouth of the Jordan ( Josh. 15:5;Josh 18:19), also the southern extremity of the same sea ( Josh 15:2). The same Hebrew word is rendered "tongue" in Isa. 11:15, where it is used with reference to the forked mouths of the Nile.

Bay in Zech. 6:3, Zech. 6:7denotes the colour of horses, but the original Hebrew means strong, and is here used rather to describe the horses as fleet or spirited.

Bay tree - named only in Ps. 37:35, Authorized Version. The Hebrew word so rendered is ereh, which simply means "native born", i.e., a tree not transplanted, but growing on its native soil, and therefore luxuriantly. If the psalmist intended by this word to denote any particular tree, it may have been the evergreen bay laurel (Laurus nobilis), which is a native of Palestine. Instead of "like a green bay tree" in the Authorized Version, the Revised Version has, "like a green tree in its native soil."

Bdellium - occurs only in Gen. 2:12, where it designates a product of the land of Havilah; and in Num. 11:7, where the manna is likened to it in colour. It was probably an aromatic gum like balsam which exuded from a particular tree (Borassus flabelliformis) still found in Arabia, Media, and India. It bears a resemblance in colour to myrrh. Others think the word denotes "pearls," or some precious stone.

Beacon - a pole (Heb. to'ren) used as a standard or ensign set on the tops of mountains as a call to the people to assemble themselves for some great national purpose ( Isa. 30:17). In Isa. 33:23 and Ezek. 27:5, the same word is rendered "mast." (See Banner.)

Bealiah - whose Lord is Jehovah, a Benjamite, one of David's thirty heroes of the sling and bow (1 Chr. 12:5).

Bealoth - citizens, a town in the extreme south of Judah ( Josh. 15:24); probably the same as Baalath-beer ( Josh 19:8). In 1 Kings 4:16, the Authorized Version has "in Aloth," the Revised Version "Bealoth."

Beam - occurs in the Authorized Version as the rendering of various Hebrew words. In 1 Sam. 17:7, it means a weaver's frame or principal beam; in Hab. 2:11, a crossbeam or girder; 2 Kings 6:2,2 Kings 6:5, a cross-piece or rafter of a house; 1 Kings 7:6, an architectural ornament as a projecting step or moulding; Ezek. 41:25, a thick plank. In the New Testament the word occurs only in Matt. 7:3, Matt. 7:4, Matt. 7:5, and Luke 6:41, Luke 6:42, where it means (Gr. dokos) a large piece of wood used for building purposes, as contrasted with "mote" (Gr. karphos), a small piece or mere splinter. "Mote" and "beam" became proverbial for little and great faults.

Beans - mentioned in 2 Sam. 17:28 as having been brought to David when flying from Absalom. They formed a constituent in the bread Ezekiel 2 Sam 4:9) was commanded to make, as they were in general much used as an article of diet. They are extensively cultivated in Egypt and Arabia and Syria.

Bear - a native of the mountain regions of Western Asia, frequently mentioned in Scripture. David defended his flocks against the attacks of a bear (1 Sam. 17:34-37). Bears came out of the wood and destroyed the children who mocked the prophet Elisha (2 Kings 2:24). Their habits are referred to in Isa. 59:11; Prov. 28:15; Lam. 3:10. The fury of the female bear when robbed of her young is spoken of (2 Sam. 17:8; Prov. 17:12; Hos. 13:8). In Daniel's vision of the four great monarchies, the Medo-Persian empire is represented by a bear Hos 7:5).

Beard - The mode of wearing it was definitely prescribed to the Jews ( Lev. 19:27;Lev 21:5). Hence the import of Ezekiel's ( Lev 5:1-4) description of the "razor" i.e., the agents of an angry providence being used against the guilty nation of the Jews. It was a part of a Jew's daily toilet to anoint his beard with oil and perfume ( Ps. 133:2). Beards were trimmed with the most fastidious care (2 Sam. 19:24), and their neglet was an indication of deep sorrow ( Isa. 15:2; Jer. 41:5). The custom was to shave or pluck off the hair as a sign of mourning ( Isa. 50:6; Jer. 48:37; Ezra 9:3). The beards of David's ambassadors were cut off by hanun (2 Sam. 10:4) as a mark of indignity.

On the other hand, the Egyptians carefully shaved the hair off their faces, and they compelled their slaves to do so also ( Gen. 41:14).

Beast - This word is used of flocks or herds of grazing animals ( Ex. 22:5; Num. 20:4, Num. 20:8, Num. 20:11; Ps. 78:48); of beasts of burden ( Gen. 45:17); of eatable beasts ( Prov. 9:2); and of swift beasts or dromedaries ( Isa. 60:6). In the New Testament it is used of a domestic animal as property ( Rev. 18:13); as used for food (1 Cor. 15:39), for service ( Luke 10:34; Acts 23:24), and for sacrifice ( Acts 7:42).

When used in contradistinction to man ( Ps. 36:6), it denotes a brute creature generally, and when in contradistinction to creeping things ( Lev. 11:2-7;Lev 27:26), a four-footed animal.

The Mosaic law required that beasts of labour should have rest on the Sabbath ( Ex. 20:10;Ex 23:12), and in the Sabbatical year all cattle were allowed to roam about freely, and eat whatever grew in the fields ( Ex. 23:11; Lev. 25:7). No animal could be castrated ( Lev. 22:24). Animals of different kinds were to be always kept separate ( Lev. 19:19; Deut. 22:10). Oxen when used in threshing were not to be prevented from eating what was within their reach ( Deut. 25:4; 1 Cor .9:9).

This word is used figuratively of an infuriated multitude (1 Cor. 15:32; Acts 19:29; comp. Ps. 22:12, Ps. 22:16; Eccl. 3:18; Isa. 11:6-8), and of wicked men (2 Pet. 2:12). The four beasts of Daniel 7:3, Daniel 7:17, Daniel 7:23represent four kingdoms or kings.

Beaten gold - in Num. 8:4, means "turned" or rounded work in gold. The Greek Version, however, renders the word "solid gold;" the Revised Version, "beaten work of gold." In 1 Kings 10:16,1 Kings 10:17, it probably means "mixed" gold, as the word ought to be rendered, i.e., not pure gold. Others render the word in these places "thin plates of gold."

Beaten oil - ( Ex. 27:20;Ex 29:40), obtained by pounding olives in a mortar, not by crushing them in a mill. It was reckoned the best. (See OLIVE.)

Beautiful gate - the name of one of the gates of the temple ( Acts 3:2). It is supposed to have been the door which led from the court of the Gentiles to the court of the women. It was of massive structure, and covered with plates of Corinthian brass.

Becher - first-born; a youth, the second son of Benjamin ( Gen. 46:21), who came down to Egypt with Jacob. It is probable that he married an Ephraimitish heiress, and that his descendants were consequently reckoned among the tribe of Ephraim ( Num. 26:35; 1 Chr. 7:20,1 Chr. 7:21). They are not reckoned among the descendants of Benjamin ( Num. 26:38).

Bed - (Heb. mittah), for rest at night ( Ex. 8:3; 1 Sam. 19:13,1 Sam. 19:15,1 Sam. 19:16, etc.); during sickness ( Gen. 47:31;Gen 48:2;Gen 49:33, etc.); as a sofa for rest (1 Sam. 28:23; Amos 3:12). Another Hebrew word (er'es) so rendered denotes a canopied bed, or a bed with curtains ( Deut. 3:11; Ps. 132:3), for sickness ( Ps. 6:6;Ps 41:3).

In the New Testament it denotes sometimes a litter with a coverlet ( Matt. 9:2,Matt. 9:6; Luke 5:18; Acts 5:15).

The Jewish bedstead was frequently merely the divan or platform along the sides of the house, sometimes a very slight portable frame, sometimes only a mat or one or more quilts. The only material for bed-clothes is mentioned in 1 Sam. 19:13. Sleeping in the open air was not uncommon, the sleeper wrapping himself in his outer garment ( Ex. 22:26,Ex. 22:27; Deut. 24:12, Deut. 24:13).

Bedan - one of the judges of Israel (1 Sam. 12:11). It is uncertain who he was. Some suppose that Barak is meant, others Samson, but most probably this is a contracted form of Abdon ( Judg. 12:13).

Bed-chamber - an apartment in Eastern houses, furnished with a slightly elevated platform at the upper end and sometimes along the sides, on which were laid mattresses. This was the general arrangement of the public sleeping-room for the males of the family and for guests, but there were usually besides distinct bed-chambers of a more private character (2 Kings 4:10; Ex. 8:3; 2 Kings 6:12). In 2 Kings 11:2 this word denotes, as in the margin of the Revised Version, a store-room in which mattresses were kept.

Bedstead - used in Deut. 3:11, but elsewhere rendered "couch," "bed." In 2 Kings 1:4;2 Kings 16:2; Ps. 132:3; Amos 3:12, the divan is meant by this word.

Bee - First mentioned in Deut. 1:44. Swarms of bees, and the danger of their attacks, are mentioned in Ps. 118:12. Samson found a "swarm of bees" in the carcass of a lion he had slain ( Judg. 14:8). Wild bees are described as laying up honey in woods and in clefts of rocks ( Deut. 32:13; Ps. 81:16). In Isa. 7:18 the "fly" and the "bee" are personifications of the Egyptians and Assyrians, the inveterate enemies of Israel.

Beelzebub - (Gr. form Beel'zebul), the name given to Satan, and found only in the New Testament ( Matt. 10:25;Matt 12:24,Matt. 10:27; Mark 3:22). It is probably the same as Baalzebub (q.v.), the god of Ekron, meaning "the lord of flies," or, as others think, "the lord of dung," or "the dung-god."