Diadem - the tiara of a king ( Ezek. 21:26; Isa. 28:5; Isa 62:3); the turban ( Job 29:14). In the New Testament a careful distinction is drawn between the diadem as a badge of royalty ( Rev. 12:3;Rev 13:1;Rev 19:12) and the crown as a mark of distinction in private life. It is not known what the ancient Jewish "diadem" was. It was the mark of Oriental sovereigns. (See CROWN.)

Dial - for the measurement of time, only once mentioned in the Bible, erected by Ahaz (2 Kings 20:11; Isa. 38:8). The Hebrew word (ma'aloth) is rendered "steps" in Ex. 20:26, 1 Kings 10:19, and "degrees" in 2 Kings 20:9,2 Kings 20:10,2 Kings 20:11. The ma'aloth was probably stairs on which the shadow of a column or obelisk placed on the top fell. The shadow would cover a greater or smaller number of steps, according as the sun was low or high.

Probably the sun-dial was a Babylonian invention. Daniel at Babylon ( Dan. 3:6) is the first to make mention of the "hour."

Diamond - (1.) A precious gem (Heb. yahalom', in allusion to its hardness), otherwise unknown, the sixth, i.e., the third in the second row, in the breastplate of the high priest, with the name of Naphtali engraven on it ( Ex. 28:18;Ex 39:11; R.V. marg., "sardonyx.")

(2.) A precious stone (Heb. shamir', a sharp point) mentioned in Jer. 17:1. From its hardness it was used for cutting and perforating other minerals. It is rendered "adamant" (q.v.) in Ezek. 3:9, Zech. 7:12. It is the hardest and most valuable of precious stones.

Diana - so called by the Romans; called Artemis by the Greeks, the "great" goddess worshipped among heathen nations under various modifications. Her most noted temple was that at Ephesus. It was built outside the city walls, and was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. "First and last it was the work of 220 years; built of shining marble; 342 feet long by 164 feet broad; supported by a forest of columns, each 56 feet high; a sacred museum of masterpieces of sculpture and painting. At the centre, hidden by curtains, within a gorgeous shrine, stood the very ancient image of the goddess, on wood or ebony reputed to have fallen from the sky. Behind the shrine was a treasury, where, as in 'the safest bank in Asia,' nations and kings stored their most precious things. The temple as St. Paul saw it subsisted till A.D. 262, when it was ruined by the Goths" ( Acts 19:23-41)., Moule on Ephesians: Introd.

Diblaim - doubled cakes, the mother of Gomer, who was Hosea's wife ( Hos. 1:3).

Diblathaim - two cakes, a city of Moab, on the east of the Dead Sea ( Num. 33:46; Jer. 48:22).

Dibon - pining; wasting. (1.) A city in Moab ( Num. 21:30); called also Dibon-gad ( Num 33:45), because it was built by Gad and Dimon ( Isa. 15:9). It has been identified with the modern Diban, about 3 miles north of the Arnon and 12 miles east of the Dead Sea. (See Moabite Stone.)

(2.) A city of the tribe of Judah, inhabited after the Captivity ( Neh. 11:25); called also Dimonah ( Josh. 15:22). It is probably the modern ed-Dheib.

Didymus - (Gr. twin = Heb. Thomas, q.v.), John 11:16; John 20:24; John 21:2.

Dimnah - dunghill, a city of Zebulun given to the Merarite Levites ( Josh. 21:35). In 1 Chr. 6:77 the name "Rimmon" is substituted.

Dinah - judged; vindicated, daughter of Jacob by Leah, and sister of Simeon and Levi ( Gen. 30:21). She was seduced by Shechem, the son of Hamor, the Hivite chief, when Jacob's camp was in the neighbourhood of Shechem. This led to the terrible revenge of Simeon and Levi in putting the Shechemites to death (Gen. 34). Jacob makes frequent reference to this deed of blood with abhorrence and regret ( Gen. 34:30;Gen 49:5-7). She is mentioned among the rest of Jacob's family that went down into Egypt ( Gen. 46:8,Gen. 46:15).

Dine - ( Gen. 43:16). It was the custom in Egypt to dine at noon. But it is probable that the Egyptians took their principal meal in the evening, as was the general custom in the East ( Luke 14:12).

Dinhabah - robbers' den, an Edomitish city, the capital of king Bela ( Gen. 36:32). It is probably the modern Dibdiba, a little north-east of Petra.

Dionysius - the Areopagite, one of Paul's converts at Athens ( Acts 17:34).

Diotrephes - Jove-nourished, rebuked by John for his pride (3 John 1:9). He was a Judaizer, prating against John and his fellow-labourers "with malicious words" (7).

Disciple - a scholar, sometimes applied to the followers of John the Baptist ( Matt. 9:14), and of the Pharisees ( Matt 22:16), but principally to the followers of Christ. A disciple of Christ is one who (1) believes his doctrine, (2) rests on his sacrifice, (3) imbibes his spirit, and (4) imitates his example ( Matt. 10:24; Luke 14:26, Luke 14:27, Luke 14:33; John 6:69).

Dish - for eating from (2 Kings 21:13). Judas dipped his hand with a "sop" or piece of bread in the same dish with our Lord, thereby indicating friendly intimacy ( Matt. 26:23). The "lordly dish" in Judg. 5:25 was probably the shallow drinking cup, usually of brass. In Judg. 6:38 the same Hebrew word is rendered "bowl."

The dishes of the tabernacle were made of pure gold ( Ex. 25:29;Ex 37:16).

Dishan - antelope, the youngest son of Seir the Horite, head of one of the tribes of Idumaea ( Gen. 36:21,Gen. 36:28,Gen. 36:30).

Dispensation - (Gr. oikonomia, "management," "economy"). (1.) The method or scheme according to which God carries out his purposes towards men is called a dispensation. There are usually reckoned three dispensations, the Patriarchal, the Mosaic or Jewish, and the Christian. (See COVENANT , Administration of.) These were so many stages in Gods unfolding of his purpose of grace toward men. The word is not found with this meaning in Scripture.

(2.) A commission to preach the gospel (1 Cor. 9:17; Eph. 1:10; Eph 3:2; Col. 1:25).

Dispensations of Providence are providential events which affect men either in the way of mercy or of judgement.

Dispersion - (Gr. diaspora, "scattered," James 1:1; 1 Pet. 1:1) of the Jews. At various times, and from the operation of divers causes, the Jews were separated and scattered into foreign countries "to the outmost parts of heaven" ( Deut. 30:4).

(1.) Many were dispersed over Assyria, Media, Babylonia, and Persia, descendants of those who had been transported thither by the Exile. The ten tribes, after existing as a separate kingdom for two hundred and fifty-five years, were carried captive (B.C. 721) by Shalmaneser (or Sargon), king of Assyria. They never returned to their own land as a distinct people, although many individuals from among these tribes, there can be no doubt, joined with the bands that returned from Babylon on the proclamation of Cyrus.

(2.) Many Jews migrated to Egypt and took up their abode there. This migration began in the days of Solomon (2 Kings 18:21,2 Kings 18:24; Isa. 30:7). Alexander the Great placed a large number of Jews in Alexandria, which he had founded, and conferred on them equal rights with the Egyptians. Ptolemy Philadelphus, it is said, caused the Jewish Scriptures to be translated into Greek (the work began B.C. 284), for the use of the Alexandrian Jews. The Jews in Egypt continued for many ages to exercise a powerful influence on the public interests of that country. From Egypt they spread along the coast of Africa to Cyrene ( Acts 2:10) and to Ethiopia ( Acts 8:27).

(3.) After the time of Seleucus Nicator (B.C. 280), one of the captains of Alexander the Great, large numbers of Jews migrated into Syria, where they enjoyed equal rights with the Macedonians. From Syria they found their way into Asia Minor. Antiochus the Great, king of Syria and Asia, removed 3,000 families of Jews from Mesopotamia and Babylonia, and planted them in Phrygia and Lydia.

(4.) From Asia Minor many Jews moved into Greece and Macedonia, chiefly for purposes of commerce. In the apostles' time they were found in considerable numbers in all the principal cities.

From the time of Pompey the Great (B.C. 63) numbers of Jews from Palestine and Greece went to Rome, where they had a separate quarter of the city assigned to them. Here they enjoyed considerable freedom.

Thus were the Jews everywhere scattered abroad. This, in the overruling providence of God, ultimately contributed in a great degree toward opening the way for the spread of the gospel into all lands.

Dispersion, from the plain of Shinar. This was occasioned by the confusion of tongues at Babel ( Gen. 11:9). They were scattered abroad "every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations" ( Gen. 10:5,Gen. 10:20,Gen. 10:31).

The tenth chapter of Genesis gives us an account of the principal nations of the earth in their migrations from the plain of Shinar, which was their common residence after the Flood. In general, it may be said that the descendants of Japheth were scattered over the north, those of Shem over the central regions, and those of Ham over the extreme south. The following table shows how the different families were dispersed:

| - Japheth | - Gomer | Cimmerians, Armenians | - Magog | Caucasians, Scythians | - Madal | Medes and Persian tribes | - Javan | - Elishah | Greeks | - Tarshish | Etruscans, Romans | - Chittim | Cyprians, Macedonians | - Dodanim | Rhodians | - Tubal | Tibareni, Tartars | - Mechech | Moschi, Muscovites | - Tiras | Thracians | | - Shem | - Elam | Persian tribes | - Asshur | Assyrian | - Arphaxad | - Abraham | - Isaac | - Jacob | Hebrews | - Esau | Edomites | - Ishmael | Mingled with Arab tribes | - Lud | Lydians | - Aram | Syrians | | - Ham | - Cush | Ethiopans | - Mizrain | Egyptians | - Phut | Lybians, Mauritanians | - Canaan | Canaanites, Phoenicians

Distaff - (Heb. pelek, a "circle"), the instrument used for twisting threads by a whirl ( Prov. 31:19).

Divination - of false prophets ( Deut. 18:10,Deut. 18:14; Micah 3:6, Micah 3:7, Micah 3:11), of necromancers (1 Sam. 28:8), of the Philistine priests and diviners (1 Sam. 6:2), of Balaam ( Josh. 13:22). Three kinds of divination are mentioned in Ezek. 21:21, by arrows, consulting with images (the teraphim), and by examining the entrails of animals sacrificed. The practice of this art seems to have been encouraged in ancient Egypt. Diviners also abounded among the aborigines of Canaan and the Philistines ( Isa. 2:6; 1 Sam. 28). At a later period multitudes of magicians poured from Chaldea and Arabia into the land of Israel, and pursued their occupations ( Isa. 8:19; 2 Kings 21:6; 2 Chr. 33:6). This superstition widely spread, and in the time of the apostles there were "vagabond Jews, exorcists" ( Acts 19:13), and men like Simon Magus ( Acts 8:9), Bar-jesus ( Acts 13:6,Acts 13:8), and other jugglers and impostors ( Acts 19:19; 2 Tim. 3:13). Every species and degree of this superstition was strictly forbidden by the law of Moses ( Ex. 22:18; Lev. 19:26, Lev. 19:31; Lev 20:27; Deut. 18:10, Deut. 18:11).

But beyond these various forms of superstition, there are instances of divination on record in the Scriptures by which God was pleased to make known his will.

(1.) There was divination by lot, by which, when resorted to in matters of moment, and with solemnity, God intimated his will ( Josh. 7:13). The land of Canaan was divided by lot ( Num. 26:55,Num. 26:56); Achan's guilt was detected ( Josh. 7:16-19), Saul was elected king (1 Sam. 10:20,1 Sam. 10:21), and Matthias chosen to the apostleship, by the solem lot ( Acts 1:26). It was thus also that the scape-goat was determined ( Lev. 16:8-10).

(2.) There was divination by dreams ( Gen. 20:6; Deut. 13:1, Deut. 13:3; Judg. 7:13, Judg. 7:15; Matt. 1:20; Matt 2:12, Matt. 1:13, Matt. 1:19, Matt. 1:22). This is illustrated in the history of Joseph ( Gen. 41:25-32) and of Daniel ( Gen 2:27;Gen 4:19-28).

(3.) By divine appointment there was also divination by the Urim and Thummim ( Num. 27:21), and by the ephod.

(4.) God was pleased sometimes to vouch-safe direct vocal communications to men ( Deut. 34:10; Ex. 3:4; Ex 4:3; Deut. 4:14, Deut. 4:15; 1 Kings 19:12). He also communed with men from above the mercy-seat ( Ex. 25:22), and at the door of the tabernacle ( Ex. 29:42,Ex. 29:43).

(5.) Through his prophets God revealed himself, and gave intimations of his will (2 Kings 13:17; Jer. 51:63, Jer. 51:64).

Divorce - The dissolution of the marriage tie was regulated by the Mosaic law ( Deut. 24:1-4). The Jews, after the Captivity, were reguired to dismiss the foreign women they had married contrary to the law ( Ezra 10:11-19). Christ limited the permission of divorce to the single case of adultery. It seems that it was not uncommon for the Jews at that time to dissolve the union on very slight pretences ( Matt. 5:31,Matt. 5:32;Matt 19:1-9; Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:18). These precepts given by Christ regulate the law of divorce in the Christian Church.

Dizahab - region of gold, a place in the desert of Sinai, on the western shore of the Elanitic gulf ( Deut. 1:1). It is now called Dehab.

Doctor - ( Luke 2:46;Luke 5:17; Acts 5:34), a teacher. The Jewish doctors taught and disputed in synagogues, or wherever they could find an audience. Their disciples were allowed to propose to them questions. They assumed the office without any appointment to it. The doctors of the law were principally of the sect of the Pharisees. Schools were established after the destruction of Jerusalem at Babylon and Tiberias, in which academical degrees were conferred on those who passed a certain examination. Those of the school of Tiberias were called by the title "rabbi," and those of Babylon by that of "master."