Jasher - upright. "The Book of Jasher," rendered in the LXX. "the Book of the Upright One," by the Vulgate "the Book of Just Ones," was probably a kind of national sacred song-book, a collection of songs in praise of the heroes of Israel, a "book of golden deeds," a national anthology. We have only two specimens from the book, (1) the words of Joshua which he spake to the Lord at the crisis of the battle of Beth-horon ( Josh. 10:12,Josh. 10:13); and (2) "the Song of the Bow," that beautiful and touching mournful elegy which David composed on the occasion of the death of Saul and Jonathan (2 Sam. 1:18-27).

Jashobeam - dweller among the people; or to whom the people turn, the Hachmonite (1 Chr. 11:11), one of David's chief heroes who joined him at Ziklag 1 Chr 12:6). He was the first of the three who broke through the host of the Philistines to fetch water to David from the well of Bethlehem (2 Sam. 23:13-17). He is also called Adino the Eznite (8).

Jashub - returner. (1.) The third of Issachar's four sons (1 Chr. 7:1); called also Job ( Gen. 46:13).

(2.) Ezra 10:29.

Jason - he that will cure, the host of Paul and Silas in Thessalonica. The Jews assaulted his house in order to seize Paul, but failing to find him, they dragged Jason before the ruler of the city ( Acts 17:5-9). He was apparently one of the kinsmen of Paul ( Rom. 16:21), and accompanied him from Thessalonica to Corinth.

Jasper - (Heb. yashpheh, "glittering"), a gem of various colours, one of the twelve inserted in the high priest's breast-plate ( Ex. 28:20). It is named in the building of the New Jerusalem ( Rev. 21:18,Rev. 21:19). It was "most precious," "clear as crystal" ( Rev 21:11). It was emblematic of the glory of God ( Rev 4:3).

Jattir - pre-eminent, a city in the mountains of Judah ( Josh. 15:48;Josh 21:14).

Javan - (1.) The fourth "son" of Japheth ( Gen. 10:2), whose descendants settled in Greece, i.e., Ionia, which bears the name of Javan in Hebrew. Alexander the Great is called the "king of Javan" (rendered "Grecia," Dan. 8:21; Dan 10:20; comp. 11:2; Zech. 9:13). This word was universally used by the nations of the East as the generic name of the Greek race.

(2.) A town or district of Arabia Felix, from which the Syrians obtained iron, cassia, and calamus ( Ezek. 27:19).

Javelin - (1.) Heb. hanith, a lance, from its flexibility (1 Sam. 18:10,1 Sam. 18:11;1 Sam 19:9,1 Sam. 18:10;1 Sam 20:33).

(2.) Heb. romah, a lance for heavy-armed troops, so called from its piercing ( Num. 25:7). (See ARMS.)

Jaw-bone - of an ass afforded Samson a weapon for the great slaughter of the Philistines (Judg. 15.15), in which he slew a thousand men. In verse 19 the Authorized Version reads, "God clave a hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout." This is a mis-translation of the words. The rendering should be as in the Revised Version, "God clave the hollow place that is in Lehi," etc., Lehi (q.v.) being the name of the hill where this conflict was waged, possibly so called because it was in shape like a jaw-bone.

Jealousy - suspicion of a wife's purity, one of the strongest passions ( Num. 5:14; Prov. 6:34; Cant. 8:6); also an intense interest for another's honour or prosperity ( Ps. 79:5; 1 Cor. 10:22; Zech. 1:14).

Jealousy, Image of - an idolatrous object, seen in vision by Ezekiel ( Ezek. 8:3,Ezek. 8:5), which stood in the priests' or inner court of the temple. Probably identical with the statue of Astarte (2 Kings 21:7).

Jealousy offering - the name of the offering the husband was to bring when he charged his wife with adultery ( Num. 5:11-15).

Jealousy, Waters of - water which the suspected wife was required to drink, so that the result might prove her guilt or innocence ( Num. 5:12-17,Num. 5:27). We have no record of this form of trial having been actually resorted to.

Jearim - forests, a mountain on the border of Judah ( Josh. 15:10).

Jebus - trodden hard, or fastness, or "the waterless hill", the name of the Canaanitish city which stood on Mount Zion ( Josh. 15:8;Josh 18:16,Josh. 15:28). It is identified with Jerusalem (q.v.) in Judg. 19:10, and with the castle or city of David (1 Chr. 11:4,1 Chr. 11:5). It was a place of great natural strength, and its capture was one of David's most brilliant achievements (2 Sam. 5:8).

Jebusites - the name of the original inhabitants of Jebus, mentioned frequently among the seven nations doomed to destruction ( Gen. 10:16;Gen 15:21; Ex. 3:8, Ex. 3:17; Ex 13:5, etc.). At the time of the arrival of the Israelites in Palestine they were ruled by Adonizedek ( Josh. 10:1,Josh. 10:23). They were defeated by Joshua, and their king was slain; but they were not entirely driven out of Jebus till the time of David, who made it the capital of his kingdom instead of Hebron. The site on which the temple was afterwards built belonged to Araunah, a Jebusite, from whom it was purchased by David, who refused to accept it as a free gift (2 Sam. 24:16-25; 1 Chr. 21:24,1 Chr. 21:25).

Jecoliah - able through Jehovah, the wife of King Amaziah, and mother of King Uzziah (2 Chr. 26:3).

Jedaiah - (1.) Invoker of Jehovah. The son of Shimri, a chief Simeonite (1 Chr. 4:37).

(2.) One of those who repaired the walls of Jerusalem after the return from Babylon ( Neh. 3:10).

(3.) Knowing Jehovah. The chief of one of the courses of the priests (1 Chr. 24:7).

(4.) A priest in Jerusalem after the Exile (1 Chr. 9:10).

Jediael - known by God. (1.) One of the sons of Benjamin, whose descendants numbered 17,200 warriors (1 Chr. 7:6,1 Chr. 7:10,1 Chr. 7:11).

(2.) A Shimrite, one of David's bodyguard (1 Chr. 11:45). Probably same as in 12:20.

(3.) A Korhite of the family of Ebiasaph, and one of the gate-keepers to the temple (1 Chr. 26:2).

Jedidiah - beloved by Jehovah, the name which, by the mouth of Nathan, the Lord gave to Solomon at his birth as a token of the divine favour (2 Sam. 12:25).

Jeduthun - lauder; praising, a Levite of the family of Merari, and one of the three masters of music appointed by David (1 Chr. 16:41,1 Chr. 16:42;1 Chr 25:1-6). He is called in 2 Chr. 35:15 "the king's seer." His descendants are mentioned as singers and players on instruments ( Neh. 11:17). He was probably the same as Ethan (1 Chr. 15:17,1 Chr. 15:19). In the superscriptions to Ps. 39, 62, and 77, the words "upon Jeduthun" probably denote a musical instrument; or they may denote the style or tune invented or introduced by Jeduthun, or that the psalm was to be sung by his choir.

Jegar-sahadutha - pile of testimony, the Aramaic or Syriac name which Laban gave to the pile of stones erected as a memorial of the covenant between him and Jacob ( Gen. 31:47), who, however, called it in Hebrew by an equivalent name, Galeed (q.v.).

Jehaleleel - praiser of God. (1.) A descendant of Judah (1 Chr. 4:16).

(2.) A Levite of the family of Merari (2 Chr. 29:12).