Ham - warm, hot, and hence the south; also an Egyptian word meaning "black", the youngest son of Noah ( Gen. 5:32; comp. 9:22, comp. 9:24). The curse pronounced by Noah against Ham, properly against Canaan his fourth son, was accomplished when the Jews subsequently exterminated the Canaanites.

One of the most important facts recorded in Gen. 10 is the foundation of the earliest monarchy in Babylonia by Nimrod the grandson of Ham (6, 8, 10). The primitive Babylonian empire was thus Hamitic, and of a cognate race with the primitive inhabitants of Arabia and of Ethiopia. (See ACCAD.)

The race of Ham were the most energetic of all the descendants of Noah in the early times of the post-diluvian world.

Haman - (of Persian origin), magnificent, the name of the vizier (i.e., the prime minister) of the Persian king Ahasuerus ( Esther 3:1, etc.). He is called an "Agagite," which seems to denote that he was descended from the royal family of the Amalekites, the bitterest enemies of the Jews, as Agag was one of the titles of the Amalekite kings. He or his parents were brought to Persia as captives taken in war. He was hanged on the gallows which he had erected for Mordecai the Jew ( Esther 7:10). (See ESTHER.)

Hamath - fortress, the capital of one of the kingdoms of Upper Syria of the same name, on the Orontes, in the valley of Lebanon, at the northern boundary of Palestine ( Num. 13:21;Num 34:8), at the foot of Hermon ( Josh. 13:5) towards Damascus ( Zech. 9:2; Jer. 49:23). It is called "Hamath the great" in Amos 6:2, and "Hamath-zobah" in 2 Chr. 8:3.

Hamath, now Hamah, had an Aramaean population, but Hittite monuments discovered there show that it must have been at one time occupied by the Hittites. It was among the conquests of the Pharaoh Thothmes III. Its king, Tou or Toi, made alliance with David (2 Sam. 8:10), and in B.C. 740 Azariah formed a league with it against Assyria. It was, however, conquered by the Assyrians, and its nineteen districts placed under Assyrian governors. In B.C. 720 it revolted under a certain Yahu-bihdi, whose name, compounded with that of the God of Israel (Yahu), perhaps shows that he was of Jewish origin. But the revolt was suppressed, and the people of Hamath were transported to Samaria (2 Kings 17:24,2 Kings 17:30), where they continued to worship their god Ashima. Hamah is beautifully situated on the Orontes, 32 miles north of Emesa, and 36 south of the ruins of Assamea.

The kingdom of Hamath comprehended the great plain lying on both banks of the Orontes from the fountain near Riblah to Assamea on the north, and from Lebanon on the west to the desert on the east. The "entrance of Hamath" ( Num. 34:8), which was the north boundary of Palestine, led from the west between the north end of Lebanon and the Nusairiyeh mountains.

Hamath-zobah - fortress of Zobah, (2 Chr. 8:3) is supposed by some to be a different place from the foregoing; but this is quite uncertain.

Hammath - warm springs, one of the "fenced cities" of Naphtali ( Josh. 19:35). It is identified with the warm baths (the heat of the water ranging from 136 degrees to 144 degrees) still found on the shore a little to the south of Tiberias under the name of Hummam Tabariyeh ("Bath of Tiberias").

Hammedatha - father of Haman, designated usually "the Agagite" ( Esther 3:1,Esther 3:10;Esther 8:5).

Hammelech - the king's, the father of Jerahmeel, mentioned in Jer. 36:26. Some take this word as a common noun, "the king", and understand that Jerahmeel was Jehoiakim's son. Probably, however, it is to be taken as a proper name.

Hammer - (1.) Heb. pattish, used by gold-beaters ( Isa. 41:7) and by quarry-men ( Jer. 23:29). Metaphorically of Babylon ( Jer. 50:23) or Nebuchadnezzar.

(2.) Heb. makabah, a stone-cutter's mallet (1 Kings 6:7), or of any workman ( Judg. 4:21; Isa. 44:12).

(3.) Heb. halmuth, a poetical word for a workman's hammer, found only in Judg. 5:26, where it denotes the mallet with which the pins of the tent of the nomad are driven into the ground.

(4.) Heb. mappets, rendered "battle-axe" in Jer. 51:20. This was properly a "mace," which is thus described by Rawlinson: "The Assyrian mace was a short, thin weapon, and must either have been made of a very tough wood or (and this is more probable) of metal. It had an ornamented head, which was sometimes very beautifully modelled, and generally a strap or string at the lower end by which it could be grasped with greater firmness."

Hammoleketh - the queen, the daughter of Machir and sister of Gilead (1 Chr. 7:17,1 Chr. 7:18). Abiezer was one of her three children.

Hammon - warm springs. (1.) A town in the tribe of Asher, near Zidon ( Josh. 19:28), identified with 'Ain Hamul.

(2.) A Levitical city of Naphtali (1 Chr. 6:76).

Hammoth-dor - warm springs, a Levitical city of Naphtali ( Josh. 21:32); probably Hammath in 19:35.

Hamon - See BAAL-HAMON .

Hamonah - multitude, name figuratively assigned to the place in which the slaughter and burial of the forces of Gog were to take place ( Ezek. 39:16).

Hamon-gog - multitude of Gog, the name of the valley in which the slaughtered forces of Gog are to be buried ( Ezek. 39:11,Ezek. 39:15), "the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea."

Hamor - he-ass, a Hivite from whom Jacob purchased the plot of ground in which Joseph was afterwards buried ( Gen. 33:19). He is called "Emmor" in Acts 7:16. His son Shechem founded the city of that name which Simeon and Levi destroyed because of his crime in the matter of Dinah, Jacob's daughter ( Gen. 34:20). Hamor and Shechem were also slain (ver. 26).

Hamul - spared, one of the sons of Pharez, son of Judah (1 Chr. 2:5). His descendants are called Hamulites ( Num. 26:21).

Hamutal - kinsman of the dew, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah, wife of king Josiah, and mother of king Jehoahaz (2 Kings 23:31), also of king Zedekiah (2 Kings 24:18).

Hanameel - whom God has graciously given, the cousin of Jeremiah, to whom he sold the field he possessed in Anathoth, before the siege of Jerusalem ( Jer. 32:6-12).

Hanan - merciful. (1.) A Benjamite (1 Chr. 8:23). (2.) One of David's heroes (1 Chr. 11:43). (3.) Jer. 35:4. (4.) A descendant of Saul (1 Chr. 8:38). (5.) One of the Nethinim ( Ezra 2:46). (6.) One of the Levites who assisted Ezra ( Neh. 8:7). (7.) One of the chiefs who subscribed the covenant ( Neh. 10:22).

Hananeel - God has graciously given, a tower in the wall of Jerusalem ( Neh. 3:1;Neh 12:39). It is mentioned also in Jer. 31:38; Zech. 14:10.

Hanani - God has gratified me, or is gracious. (1.) One of the sons of Heman (1 Chr. 25:4,1 Chr. 25:25). (2.) A prophet who was sent to rebuke king Asa for entering into a league with Benhadad I., king of Syria, against Judah (2 Chr. 16:1-10). He was probably the father of the prophet Jehu (1 Kings 16:7). (3.) Probably a brother of Nehemiah ( Neh. 1:2;Neh 7:2), who reported to him the melancholy condition of Jerusalem. Nehemiah afterwards appointed him to have charge of the city gates.

Hananiah - Jehovah has given. (1.) A chief of the tribe of Benjamin (1 Chr. 8:24). (2.) One of the sons of Heman (1 Chr. 25:4,1 Chr. 25:23). (3.) One of Uzziah's military officers (2 Chr. 26:11). (4.) Grandfather of the captain who arrested Jeremiah ( Jer. 37:13). (5.) Jer. 36:12. (6.) Neh. 10:23. (7.) Shadrach, one of the "three Hebrew children" ( Dan. 1; 6:7). (8.) Son of Zerubbabel (1 Chr. 3:19,1 Chr. 3:21). (9.) Ezra 10:28. (10.) The "ruler of the palace; he was a faithful man, and feared God above many" ( Neh. 7:2). (11.) Neh. 3:8. (12.) Neh. 3:30 (13.) A priest, son of Jeremiah ( Neh. 12:12). (14.) A false prophet contemporary with Jeremiah ( Neh 28:3,Neh 28:17).

Hand - Called by Galen "the instrument of instruments." It is the symbol of human action ( Ps. 9:16; Job 9:30; Isa. 1:15; 1 Tim. 2:8). Washing the hands was a symbol of innocence ( Ps. 26:6;Ps 73:13; Matt. 27:24), also of sanctification (1 Cor. 6:11; Isa. 51:16; Ps. 24:3, Ps. 24:4). In Ps. 77:2 the correct rendering is, as in the Revised Version, "My hand was stretched out," etc., instead of, as in the Authorized Version, "My sore ran in the night," etc.

The right hand denoted the south, and the left the north ( Job 23:9; 1 Sam. 23:19). To give the right hand was a pledge of fidelity (2 Kings 10:15; Ezra 10:19); also of submission to the victors ( Ezek. 17:18; Jer. 50:15). The right hand was lifted up in taking an oath ( Gen. 14:22, etc.). The hand is frequently mentioned, particularly the right hand, as a symbol of power and strength ( Ps. 60:5; Isa. 28:2). To kiss the hand is an act of homage (1 Kings 19:18; Job 31:27), and to pour water on one's hands is to serve him (2 Kings 3:11). The hand of God is the symbol of his power: its being upon one denotes favour (Ezra 7:6, 28; Isa. 1:25; Luke 1:66, etc.) or punishment (Ex. 9:3; Judg. 2:15; Acts 13:11, etc.). A position at the right hand was regarded as the chief place of honour and power (Ps. 45:9; 80:17; 110:1; Matt. 26:64).

Handbreadth - a measure of four fingers, equal to about four inches ( Ex. 25:25;Ex 37:12; Ps. 39:5, etc.).

Handkerchief - Only once in Authorized Version ( Acts 19:12). The Greek word (sudarion) so rendered means properly "a sweat-cloth." It is rendered "napkin" in John 11:44; John 20:7; Luke 19:20.