(2.) One of David's warriors (2 Sam. 23:26).

Heli - elevation, father of Joseph in the line of our Lord's ancestry ( Luke 3:23).

Helkai - smooth-tongued, one of the chief priests in the time of Joiakim ( Neh. 12:15).

Helkath - smoothness, a town of Asher, on the east border ( Josh. 19:25;Josh 21:31); called also Hukok (1 Chr. 6:75).

Helkath-hazzurim - plot of the sharp blades, or the field of heroes, (2 Sam. 2:16). After the battle of Gilboa, so fatal to Saul and his house, David, as divinely directed, took up his residence in Hebron, and was there anointed king over Judah. Among the fugitives from Gilboa was Ish-bosheth, the only surviving son of Saul, whom Abner, Saul's uncle, took across the Jordan to Mahanaim, and there had him proclaimed king. Abner gathered all the forces at his command and marched to Gibeon, with the object of wresting Judah from David. Joab had the command of David's army of trained men, who encamped on the south of the pool, which was on the east of the hill on which the town of Gibeon was built, while Abner's army lay on the north of the pool. Abner proposed that the conflict should be decided by twelve young men engaging in personal combat on either side. So fiercely did they encounter each other that "they caught every man his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim." The combat of the champions was thus indecisive, and there followed a severe general engagement between the two armies, ending in the total rout of the Israelites under Abner. The general result of this battle was that "David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker" (2 Sam. 3:1). (See GIBEON.)

Hell - derived from the Saxon helan, to cover; hence the covered or the invisible place. In Scripture there are three words so rendered:

(1.) Sheol, occurring in the Old Testament sixty-five times. This word sheol is derived from a root-word meaning "to ask," "demand;" hence insatiableness ( Prov. 30:15,Prov. 30:16). It is rendered "grave" thirty-one times ( Gen. 37:35;Gen 42:38;Gen 44:29,Gen. 37:31; 1 Sam. 2:6, etc.). The Revisers have retained this rendering in the historical books with the original word in the margin, while in the poetical books they have reversed this rule.

In thirty-one cases in the Authorized Version this word is rendered "hell," the place of disembodied spirits. The inhabitants of sheol are "the congregation of the dead" ( Prov. 21:16). It is (a) the abode of the wicked ( Num. 16:33; Job 24:19; Ps. 9:17; Ps 31:17, etc.); (b) of the good ( Ps. 16:10;Ps 30:3;Ps 49:15;Ps 86:13, etc.).

Sheol is described as deep ( Job 11:8), dark ( Job 10:21,Job 10:22), with bars ( Job 17:16). The dead "go down" to it ( Num. 16:30,Num. 16:33; Ezek. 31:15, Ezek. 31:16, Ezek. 31:17).

(2.) The Greek word hades of the New Testament has the same scope of signification as sheol of the Old Testament. It is a prison (1 Pet. 3:19), with gates and bars and locks ( Matt. 16:18; Rev. 1:18), and it is downward ( Matt. 11:23; Luke 10:15).

The righteous and the wicked are separated. The blessed dead are in that part of hades called paradise ( Luke 23:43). They are also said to be in Abraham's bosom ( Luke 16:22).

(3.) Gehenna, in most of its occurrences in the Greek New Testament, designates the place of the lost ( Matt. 23:33). The fearful nature of their condition there is described in various figurative expressions ( Matt. 8:12;Matt 13:42;Matt 22:13;Matt 25:30; Luke 16:24, etc.). (See HINNOM.)

Helmet - (Heb. kob'a), a cap for the defence of the head (1 Sam. 17:5,1 Sam. 17:38). In the New Testament the Greek equivalent is used ( Eph. 6:17; 1 Thess. 5:8). (See ARMS.)

Helon - strong, father of Eliab, who was "captain of the children of Zebulun" ( Num. 1:9;Num 2:7).

Help-meet - (Heb. 'ezer ke-negdo; i.e., "a help as his counterpart" = a help suitable to him), a wife ( Gen. 2:18-20).

Helps - (1 Cor. 12:28) may refer to help (i.e., by interpretation) given to him who speaks with tongues, or more probably simply help which Christians can render to one another, such as caring for the poor and needy, etc.

Hem - of a garment, the fringe of a garment. The Jews attached much importance to these, because of the regulations in Num. 15:38, Num. 15:39. These borders or fringes were in process of time enlarged so as to attract special notice ( Matt. 23:5). The hem of Christ's garment touched ( Matt 9:20;Matt 14:36; Luke 8:44).

Heman - faithful. (1.) 1 Kings 4:31; 1 Chr. 2:6, a son of Zerah, noted for his wisdom. (2.) Grandson of Samuel (1 Chr. 6:33;1 Chr 15:17), to whom the 88th Psalm probably was inscribed. He was one of the "seers" named in 2 Chr. 29:14,2 Chr. 29:30, and took a leading part in the administration of the sacred services.

Hemath - a Kenite (1 Chr. 2:55), the father of the house of Rechab.

Hemlock - (1.) Heb. rosh ( Hos. 10:4; rendered "gall" in Deut. 29:18; Deut 32:32; Ps. 69:21; Jer. 9:15; Jer 23:15; "poison," Job 20:16; "venom," Deut. 32:33). "Rosh is the name of some poisonous plant which grows quickly and luxuriantly; of a bitter taste, and therefore coupled with wormwood ( Deut. 29:18; Lam. 3:19). Hence it would seem to be not the hemlock cicuta, nor the colocynth or wild gourd, nor lolium darnel, but the poppy so called from its heads" (Gesenius, Lex.).

(2.) Heb. la'anah, generally rendered "wormwood" (q.v.), Deut. 29:18, Text 17; Prov. 5:4; Jer. 9:15; Jer 23:15. Once it is rendered "hemlock" ( Amos 6:12; R.V., "wormwood"). This Hebrew word is from a root meaning "to curse," hence the accursed.

Hen - common in later times among the Jews in Palestine ( Matt. 23:37; Luke 13:34). It is noticeable that this familiar bird is only mentioned in these passages in connection with our Lord's lamentation over the impenitence of Jerusalem.

Hena - one of the cities of Mesopotamia destroyed by sennacherib (2 Kings 18:34;2 Kings 19:13). It is identified with the modern Anah, lying on the right bank of the Euphrates, not far from Sepharvaim.

Henadad - favour of Hadad, the name of a Levite after the Captivity ( Ezra 3:9).

Henoch - See ENOCH.

Hepher - a well or stream. (1.) A royal city of the Canaanites taken by Joshua ( Ezra 12:17).

(2.) The youngest son of Gilead ( Num. 26:32;Num 27:1).

(3.) The second son of Asher (1 Chr. 4:6).

(4.) One of David's heroes (1 Chr. 11:36).

Hephzibah - my delight is in her. (1.) The wife of Hezekiah and mother of king Manasseh (2 Kings 21:1).

(2.) A symbolical name of Zion, as representing the Lord's favour toward her ( Isa. 62:4).

Herb - (1.) Heb. 'eseb, any green plant; herbage ( Gen. 1:11,Gen. 1:12,Gen. 1:29,Gen. 1:30;Gen 2:5;Gen 3:18, etc.); comprehending vegetables and all green herbage ( Amos 7:1,Amos 7:2).

(2.) Yarak, green; any green thing; foliage of trees (2 Kings 19:26; Ps. 37:2); a plant; herb ( Deut. 11:10).

(3.) Or, meaning "light" In Isa. 26:19 it means "green herbs;" in 2 Kings 4:39 probably the fruit of some plant.

(4.) Merorim, plural, "bitter herbs," eaten by the Israelites at the Passover ( Ex. 12:8; Num. 9:11). They were bitter plants of various sorts, and referred symbolically to the oppression in Egypt.

Herd - Gen. 13:5; Deut. 7:14. (See CATTLE.)

Herdsman - In Egypt herdsmen were probably of the lowest caste. Some of Joseph's brethren were made rulers over Pharaoh's cattle ( Gen. 47:6,Gen. 47:17). The Israelites were known in Egypt as "keepers of cattle;" and when they left it they took their flocks and herds with them ( Ex. 12:38). Both David and Saul came from "following the herd" to occupy the throne (1 Sam. 9; 11:5; Ps. 78:70). David's herd-masters were among his chief officers of state. The daughters also of wealthy chiefs were wont to tend the flocks of the family ( Gen. 29:9; Ex. 2:16). The "chief of the herdsmen" was in the time of the monarchy an officer of high rank (1 Sam. 21:7; comp. 1 Chr. 27:29). The herdsmen lived in tents ( Isa. 38:12; Jer. 6:3); and there were folds for the cattle ( Num. 32:16), and watch-towers for the herdsmen, that he might therefrom observe any coming danger ( Micah 4:8; Nah. 3:8).

Heres - sun. (1.) "Mount Heres" ( Judg. 1:35), Heb. Har-heres, i.e., "sun-mountain;" probably identical with Irshemesh in Josh. 19:41.

(2.) Isa. 19:18, marg. (See ON.)

Heresy - from a Greek word signifying (1) a choice, (2) the opinion chosen, and (3) the sect holding the opinion. In the Acts of the Apostles Isa 5:17; Isa 15:5; Isa 24:5, Isa 5:14; Isa 26:5) it denotes a sect, without reference to its character. Elsewhere, however, in the New Testament it has a different meaning attached to it. Paul ranks "heresies" with crimes and seditions ( Gal. 5:20). This word also denotes divisions or schisms in the church (1 Cor. 11:19). In Titus 3:10 a "heretical person" is one who follows his own self-willed "questions," and who is to be avoided. Heresies thus came to signify self-chosen doctrines not emanating from God (2 Pet. 2:1).