Kirjath-huzoth - city of streets, Num. 22:39, a Moabite city, which some identify with Kirjathaim. Balak here received and entertained Balaam, whom he had invited from Pethor, among the "mountains of the east," beyond the Euphrates, to lay his ban upon the Israelites, whose progress he had no hope otherwise of arresting. It was probably from the summit of Attarus, the high place near the city, that the soothsayer first saw the encampments of Israel.

Kirjath-jearim - city of jaars; i.e., of woods or forests, a Gibeonite town ( Josh. 9:17) on the border of Benjamin, to which tribe it was assigned ( Josh 18:15,Josh 18:28). The ark was brought to this place (1 Sam. 7:1,1 Sam. 7:2) from Beth-shemesh and put in charge of Abinadab, a Levite. Here it remained till it was removed by David to Jerusalem (2 Sam. 6:2,2 Sam. 6:3,2 Sam. 6:12; 1 Chr. 15:1-29; comp. Ps. 132). It was also called Baalah ( Josh. 15:9) and Kirjath-baal (60). It has been usually identified with Kuriet el-'Enab (i.e., "city of grapes"), among the hills, about 8 miles north-east of 'Ain Shems (i.e., Beth-shemesh). The opinion, however, that it is to be identified with 'Erma, 4 miles east of 'Ain Shems, on the edge of the valley of Sorek, seems to be better supported. (See KIRJATH.)

The words of Ps. 132:6, "We found it in the fields of the wood," refer to the sojourn of the ark at Kirjath-jearim. "Wood" is here the rendering of the Hebrew word jaar, which is the singular of jearim.

Kirjath-sannah - city of the sannah; i.e., of the palm(?), Josh. 15:49; the same as Kirjath-sepher Josh 15:16; Judg. 1:11) and Debir (q.v.), a Canaanitish royal city included in Judah ( Josh. 10:38;Josh 15:49), and probably the chief seat of learning among the Hittites. It was about 12 miles to the south-west of Hebron.

Kirjath-sepher - city of books, Josh. 15:15; same as Kirjath-sannah (q.v.), now represented by the valley of ed-Dhaberiyeh, south-west of Hebron. The name of this town is an evidence that the Canaanites were acquainted with writing and books. "The town probably contained a noted school, or was the site of an oracle and the residence of some learned priest." The "books" were probably engraved stones or bricks.

Kir of Moab - Isa. 15:1. The two strongholds of Moab were Ar and Kir, which latter is probably the Kir-haraseth Isa 16:7) following.

Kish - a bow. (1.) A Levite of the family of Merari (1 Chr. 23:21;1 Chr 24:29).

(2.) A Benjamite of Jerusalem (1 Chr. 8:30;1 Chr 9:36).

(3.) A Levite in the time of Hezekiah (2 Chr. 29:12).

(4.) The great-grandfather of Mordecai ( Esther 2:5).

(5.) A Benjamite, the son of Abiel, and father of king Saul (1 Sam. 9:1,1 Sam. 9:3;1 Sam 10:11,1 Sam. 9:21;1 Sam 14:51; 2 Sam. 21:14). All that is recorded of him is that he sent his son Saul in search of his asses that had strayed, and that he was buried in Zelah. Called Cis, Acts 13:21 (R.V., Kish).

Kishion - hardness, a city of Issachar assigned to the Gershonite Levites ( Josh. 19:20), the same as Kishon ( Josh 21:28).

Kishon - winding, a winter torrent of Central Palestine, which rises about the roots of Tabor and Gilboa, and passing in a northerly direction through the plains of Esdraelon and Acre, falls into the Mediterranean at the north-eastern corner of the bay of Acre, at the foot of Carmel. It is the drain by which the waters of the plain of Esdraelon and of the mountains that surround it find their way to the sea. It bears the modern name of Nahr el-Mokattah, i.e., "the river of slaughter" (comp. 1 Kings 18:40). In the triumphal song of Deborah ( Judg. 5:21) it is spoken of as "that ancient river," either (1) because it had flowed on for ages, or (2), according to the Targum, because it was "the torrent in which were shown signs and wonders to Israel of old;" or (3) probably the reference is to the exploits in that region among the ancient Canaanites, for the adjoining plain of Esdraelon was the great battle-field of Palestine.

This was the scene of the defeat of Sisera ( Judg. 4:7,Judg. 4:13), and of the destruction of the prophets of Baal by Elijah (1 Kings 18:40). "When the Kishon was at its height, it would be, partly on account of its quicksands, as impassable as the ocean itself to a retreating army." (See DEBORAH.)

Kiss - of affection ( Gen. 27:26,Gen. 27:27;Gen 29:13; Luke 7:38, Luke 7:45); reconciliation ( Gen. 33:4; 2 Sam. 14:33); leave-taking ( Gen. 31:28,Gen. 31:55; Ruth 1:14; 2 Sam. 19:39); homage ( Ps. 2:12; 1 Sam. 10:1); spoken of as between parents and children ( Gen. 27:26;Gen 31:28,Gen. 27:55;Gen 48:10;Gen 50:1; Ex. 18:7; Ruth 1:9, Ruth 1:14); between male relatives ( Gen. 29:13;Gen 33:4;Gen 45:15). It accompanied social worship as a symbol of brotherly love ( Rom. 16:16; 1 Cor. 16:20; 2 Cor. 13:12; 1 Thess. 5:26; 1 Pet. 5:14). The worship of idols was by kissing the image or the hand toward the image (1 Kings 19:18; Hos. 13:2).

Kite - an unclean and keen-sighted bird of prey ( Lev. 11:14; Deut. 14:13). The Hebrew word used, 'ayet, is rendered "vulture" in Job 28:7 in Authorized Version, "falcon" in Revised Version. It is probably the red kite (Milvus regalis), a bird of piercing sight and of soaring habits found all over Palestine.

Kithlish - a man's wall, a town in the plain of Judah ( Josh. 15:40). It has been identified with Jelameh.

Kitron - knotty, a city of Zebulun ( Judg. 1:30), called also Kattath ( Josh. 19:15); supposed to be "Cana of Galilee."

Kittim - ( Gen. 10:4). (See CHITTIM.)

Knead - to prepare dough in the process of baking ( Gen. 18:6; 1 Sam. 28:24; Hos. 7:4).

Kneading-trough - the vessel in which the dough, after being mixed and leavened, was left to swell or ferment ( Ex. 8:3;Ex 12:34; Deut. 28:5, Deut. 28:7). The dough in the vessels at the time of the Exodus was still unleavened, because the people were compelled to withdraw in haste.

Knife - (1.) Heb. hereb, "the waster," a sharp instrument for circumcision ( Josh. 5:2,Josh. 5:3, lit. "knives of flint;" comp. Ex. 4:25); a razor ( Ezek. 5:1); a graving tool ( Ex. 20:25); an axe ( Ezek. 26:9).

(2.) Heb. maakeleth, a large knife for slaughtering and cutting up food ( Gen. 22:6,Gen. 22:10; Prov. 30:14).

(3.) Heb. sakkin, a knife for any purpose, a table knife ( Prov. 23:2).

(4.) Heb. mahalaph, a butcher's knife for slaughtering the victims offered in sacrifice ( Ezra 1:9).

(5.) Smaller knives (Heb. ta'ar, Jer. 36:26) were used for sharpening pens. The pruning-knives mentioned in Isa. 18:5 (Heb. mizmaroth) were probably curved knives.

Knock - "Though Orientals are very jealous of their privacy, they never knock when about to enter your room, but walk in without warning or ceremony. It is nearly impossible to teach an Arab servant to knock at your door. They give warning at the outer gate either by calling or knocking. To stand and call is a very common and respectful mode. Thus Moses commanded the holder of a pledge to stand without and call to the owner to come forth ( Deut. 24:10). This was to avoid the violent intrusion of cruel creditors. Peter stood knocking at the outer door ( Acts 12:13,Acts 12:16), and the three men sent to Joppa by Cornelius made inquiry and 'stood before the gate' ( Acts 10:17,Acts 10:18). The idea is that the guard over your privacy is to be placed at the entrance."

Knocking is used as a sign of importunity ( Matt. 7:7,Matt. 7:8; Luke 13:25), and of the coming of Christ ( Luke 12:36; Rev. 3:20).

Knop - some architectural ornament. (1.) Heb. kaphtor ( Ex. 25:31-36), occurring in the description of the candlestick. It was an ornamental swell beneath the cups of the candlestick, probably an imitation of the fruit of the almond.

(2.) Heb. peka'im, found only in 1 Kings 6:18 and 7:24, an ornament resembling a small gourd or an egg, on the cedar wainscot in the temple and on the castings on the brim of the brazen sea.

Koa - he-camel, occurs only in Ezek. 23:23, some province or place in the Babylonian empire, used in this passage along with Shoa (q.v.).

Kohath - assembly, the second son of Levi, and father of Amram ( Gen. 46:11). He came down to Egypt with Jacob, and lived to the age of one hundred and thirty-three years ( Ex. 6:18).

Kohathites - the descendants of Kohath. They formed the first of the three divisions of the Levites ( Ex. 6:16,Ex. 6:18; Num. 3:17). In the journeyings of the Israelites they had the charge of the most holy portion of the vessels of the tabernacle, including the ark (Num. 4). Their place in the marching and encampment was south of the tabernacle ( Num. 3:29,Num. 3:31). Their numbers at different times are specified ( Num 3:28;Num 4:36;Num 26:57,Num 3:62). Samuel was of this division.

Korah - ice, hail. (1.) The third son of Esau, by Aholibamah ( Gen. 36:14; 1 Chr. 1:35).

(2.) A Levite, the son of Izhar, the brother of Amram, the father of Moses and Aaron ( Ex. 6:21). The institution of the Aaronic priesthood and the Levitical service at Sinai was a great religious revolution. The old priesthood of the heads of families passed away. This gave rise to murmurings and discontent, while the Israelites were encamped at Kadesh for the first time, which came to a head in a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, headed by Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Two hundred and fifty princes, "men of renown" i.e., well-known men from among the other tribes, joined this conspiracy. The whole company demanded of Moses and Aaron that the old state of things should be restored, alleging that "they took too much upon them" ( Num. 16:1-3). On the morning after the outbreak, Korah and his associates presented themselves at the door of the tabernacle, and "took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon." But immediately "fire from the Lord" burst forth and destroyed them all ( Num. 16:35). Dathan and Abiram "came out and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children," and it came to pass "that the ground clave asunder that was under them; and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up." A plague thereafter began among the people who sympathized in the rebellion, and was only stayed by Aaron's appearing between the living and the dead, and making "an atonement for the people" ( Num 16:47).

The descendants of the sons of Korah who did not participate in the rebellion afterwards rose to eminence in the Levitical service.

Korahites - that portion of the Kohathites that descended from Korah. (1.) They were an important branch of the singers of the Kohathite division (2 Chr. 20:19). There are eleven psalms (42-49; 84; 85; 87; 88) dedicated to the sons of Korah.

(2.) Some of the sons of Korah also were "porters" of the temple (1 Chr. 9:17-19); one of them was over "things that were made in the pans" (31), i.e., the baking in pans for the meat-offering ( Lev. 2:5).

Kore - partridge. (1.) A Levite and temple-warder of the Korahites, the son of Asaph. He was father of Shallum and Meshelemiah, temple-porters (1 Chr. 9:19;1 Chr 26:1).

(2.) A Levitical porter at the east gate of the temple (2 Chr. 31:14).

(3.) In 1 Chr. 26:19 the word should be "Korahites," as in the Revised Version.

Korhites - a Levitical family descended from Korah ( Ex. 6:24; 1 Chr. 12:6;1 Chr 26:1; 2 Chr. 20:19).