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Vision - ( Luke 1:22), a vivid apparition, not a dream (comp. Luke 24:23; Acts 26:19; 2 Cor. 12:1).

Vows - voluntary promises which, when once made, were to be kept if the thing vowed was right. They were made under a great variety of circumstances (Gen. 28: 18-22; Lev. 7:16; Num. 30:2-13; Deut. 23:18; Judg. 11:30, 39; 1 Sam. 1:11; Jonah 1:16; Acts 18:18; 21:23).

Vulture - (1.) Heb. da'ah ( Lev. 11:14). In the parallel passage ( Deut. 14:13) the Hebrew word used is ra'ah, rendered "glede;" LXX., "gups;" Vulg., "milvus." A species of ravenous bird, distinguished for its rapid flight. "When used without the epithet 'red,' the name is commonly confined to the black kite. The habits of the bird bear out the allusion in Isa. 34:15, for it is, excepting during the winter three months, so numerous everywhere in Palestine as to be almost gregarious." (See EAGLE.)

(2.) In Job 28:7 the Heb. 'ayyah is thus rendered. The word denotes a clamorous and a keen-sighted bird of prey. In Lev. 11:14 and Deut. 14:13 it is rendered "kite" (q.v.).

Wafers - thin cakes ( Ex. 16:31;Ex 29:2,Ex. 16:23; Lev. 2:4; Lev 7:12; Lev 8:26; Num. 6:15, Num. 6:19) used in various offerings.

Wages - Rate of (mention only in Matt. 20:2); to be punctually paid ( Lev. 19:13; Deut. 24:14, Deut. 24:15); judgements threatened against the withholding of ( Jer. 22:13; Mal. 3:5; comp. James 5:4); paid in money ( Matt. 20:1-14); to Jacob in kind ( Gen. 29:15,Gen. 29:20;Gen 30:28;Gen 31:7,Gen. 29:8,Gen. 29:41).

Wagon - Heb. aghalah; so rendered in Gen. 45:19, Gen. 45:21, Gen. 45:27; Gen 46:5; Num. 7:3, Num. 7:7, Num. 7:8, but elsewhere rendered "cart" (1 Sam. 6:7, etc.). This vehicle was used for peaceful purposes. In Ezek. 23:24, however, it is the rendering of a different Hebrew word, and denotes a war-chariot.

Wailing-place, Jews' - a section of the western wall of the temple area, where the Jews assemble every Friday afternoon to bewail their desolate condition ( Ps. 79:1,Ps. 79:4,Ps. 79:5). The stones in this part of the wall are of great size, and were placed, as is generally believed, in the position in which they are now found in the time of Solomon. "The congregation at the wailing-place is one of the most solemn gatherings left to the Jewish Church, and as the writer gazed at the motley concourse he experienced a feeling of sorrow that the remnants of the chosen race should be heartlessly thrust outside the sacred enclosure of their fathers' holy temple by men of an alien race and an alien creed. Many of the elders, seated on the ground, with their backs against the wall, on the west side of the area, and with their faces turned toward the eternal house, read out of their well-thumbed Hebrew books passages from the prophetic writings, such as Isa. 64:9-12" (King's Recent Discoveries, etc.). The wailing-place of the Jews, viewed in its past spiritual and historic relations, is indeed "the saddest nook in this vale of tears." (See LAMENTATIONS, BOOK OF.)

Wall - Cities were surrounded by walls, as distinguished from "unwalled villages" ( Ezek. 38:11; Lev. 25:29-34). They were made thick and strong ( Num. 13:28; Deut. 3:5). Among the Jews walls were built of stone, some of those in the temple being of great size (1 Kings 6:7;1 Kings 7:9-12;1 Kings 20:30; Mark 13:1, Mark 13:2). The term is used metaphorically of security and safety ( Isa. 26:1;Isa 60:18; Rev. 21:12-20). (See FENCE.)

Wandering - of the Israelites in the wilderness in consequence of their rebellious fears to enter the Promised Land ( Num. 14:26-35). They wandered for forty years before they were permitted to cross the Jordan ( Josh. 4:19;Josh 5:6).

The record of these wanderings is given in Num. 33:1-49. Many of the stations at which they camped cannot now be identified.

Questions of an intricate nature have been discussed regarding the "Wanderings," but it is enough for us to take the sacred narrative as it stands, and rest assured that "He led them forth by the right way" ( Ps. 107:1-7,Ps. 107:33-35). (See WILDERNESS.)

War - The Israelites had to take possession of the Promised Land by conquest. They had to engage in a long and bloody war before the Canaanitish tribes were finally subdued. Except in the case of Jericho and Ai, the war did not become aggressive till after the death of Joshua. Till then the attack was always first made by the Canaanites. Now the measure of the iniquity of the Canaanites was full, and Israel was employed by God to sweep them away from off the face of the earth. In entering on this new stage of the war, the tribe of Judah, according to divine direction, took the lead.

In the days of Saul and David the people of Israel engaged in many wars with the nations around, and after the division of the kingdom into two they often warred with each other. They had to defend themselves also against the inroads of the Egyptians, the Assyrians, and the Babylonians. The whole history of Israel from first to last presents but few periods of peace.

The Christian life is represented as a warfare, and the Christian graces are also represented under the figure of pieces of armour ( Eph. 6:11-17; 1 Thess. 5:8; 2 Tim. 2:3,2 Tim. 2:4). The final blessedness of believers is attained as the fruit of victory ( Rev. 3:21).

Ward - a prison ( Gen. 40:3,Gen. 40:4); a watch-station ( Isa. 21:8); a guard ( Neh. 13:30).

Wars of the Lord, The Book of the - ( Num. 21:14,Num. 21:15), some unknown book so called (comp. Gen. 14:14-16; Ex. 17:8-16; Num. 14:40-45; Num 21:1-3, Num. 14:21-25, Num. 14:33-35; Num 31. The wars here recorded might be thus designated).

Washing - ( Mark 7:1-9). The Jews, like other Orientals, used their fingers when taking food, and therefore washed their hands before doing so, for the sake of cleanliness. Here the reference is to the ablutions prescribed by tradition, according to which "the disciples ought to have gone down to the side of the lake, washed their hands thoroughly, 'rubbing the fist of one hand in the hollow of the other, then placed the ten finger-tips together, holding the hands up, so that any surplus water might flow down to the elbow, and thence to the ground.'" To neglect to do this had come to be regarded as a great sin, a sin equal to the breach of any of the ten commandments. Moses had commanded washings oft, but always for some definite cause; but the Jews multiplied the legal observance till they formed a large body of precepts. To such precepts about ceremonial washing Mark here refers. (See ABLUTION.)

Watches - the periods into which the time between sunset and sunrise was divided. They are so called because watchmen relieved each other at each of these periods. There are frequent references in Scripture to the duties of watchmen who were appointed to give notice of the approach of an enemy (2 Sam. 18:24-27; 2 Kings 9:17-20; Isa. 21:5-9). They were sometimes placed for this purpose on watch-towers (2 Kings 17:9;2 Kings 18:8). Ministers or teachers are also spoken of under this title ( Jer. 6:17; Ezek. 33:2-9; Heb. 13:17).

The watches of the night were originally three in number, (1) "the beginning of the watches" ( Lam. 2:19); (2) "the middle watch" ( Judg. 7:19); and (3) "the morning watch" ( Ex. 14:24; 1 Sam. 11:11), which extended from two o'clock to sunrise. But in the New Testament we read of four watches, a division probably introduced by the Romans ( Matt. 14:25; Mark 6:48; Luke 12:38). (See DAY.)

Watchings - (2 Cor. 6:5), lit. "sleeplessnesses," the result of "manual labour, teaching, travelling, meditating, praying, cares, and the like" (Meyer's Com.).

Water of jealousy - a phrase employed (not, however, in Scripture) to denote the water used in the solemn ordeal prescribed by the law of Moses ( Num. 5:11-31) in cases of "jealousy."

Water of purification - used in cases of ceremonial cleansings at the consecration of the Levites ( Num. 8:7). It signified, figuratively, that purifying of the heart which must characterize the servants of God.

Water of separation - used along with the ashes of a red heifer for the ceremonial cleansing of persons defiled by contact with a dead body (Num. 19).

Waterspouts - ( Ps. 42:7; marg. R.V., "cataracts"). If we regard this psalm as descriptive of David's feelings when banished from Jerusalem by the revolt of Absalom, this word may denote "waterfalls," inasmuch as Mahanaim, where he abode, was near the Jabbok, and the region abounded with rapids and falls.

Wave offerings - parts of peace-offerings were so called, because they were waved by the priests ( Ex. 29:24,Ex. 29:26,Ex. 29:27; Lev. 7:20-34; Lev 8:27; Lev 9:21; Lev 10:14, Lev. 7:15, etc.), in token of a solemn special presentation to God. They then became the property of the priests. The first-fruits, a sheaf of barley, offered at the feast of Pentecost ( Lev. 23:17-20), and wheat-bread, the first-fruits of the second harvest, offered at the Passover (10-14), were wave-offerings.

Wax - Made by melting the combs of bees. Mentioned ( Ps. 22:14;Ps 68:2;Ps 97:5; Micah 1:4) in illustration.

Wean - Among the Hebrews children (whom it was customary for the mothers to nurse, Ex. 2:7-9; 1 Sam. 1:23; Cant. 8:1) were not generally weaned till they were three or four years old.

Weasel - (Heb. holedh), enumerated among unclean animals ( Lev. 11:29). Some think that this Hebrew word rather denotes the mole (Spalax typhlus) common in Palestine. There is no sufficient reason, however, to depart from the usual translation. The weasel tribe are common also in Palestine.

Weaving, weavers - Weaving was an art practised in very early times ( Ex. 35:35). The Egyptians were specially skilled in it ( Isa. 19:9; Ezek. 27:7), and some have regarded them as its inventors.

In the wilderness, the Hebrews practised it ( Ex. 26:1,Ex. 26:8;Ex 28:4,Ex. 26:39; Lev. 13:47). It is referred to in subsequent times as specially the women's work (2 Kings 23:7; Prov. 31:13, Prov. 31:24). No mention of the loom is found in Scripture, but we read of the "shuttle" ( Job 7:6), "the pin" of the beam ( Judg. 16:14), "the web" (13, 14), and "the beam" (1 Sam. 17:7; 2 Sam. 21:19). The rendering, "with pining sickness," in Isa. 38:12 (A.V.) should be, as in the Revised Version, "from the loom," or, as in the margin, "from the thrum." We read also of the "warp" and "woof" ( Lev. 13:48,Lev. 13:49,Lev. 13:51-53,Lev. 13:58,Lev. 13:59), but the Revised Version margin has, instead of "warp," "woven or knitted stuff."