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Zabad - gift. (1.) One of David's valiant men (1 Chr. 11:41), the descendant of Ahlai, of the "children of Sheshan" 1 Chr 2:31).

(2.) A descendant of Tahath 1 Chr 7:21).

(3.) The son of Shemath. He conspired against Joash, king of Judah, and slew him (2 Chr. 24:25,2 Chr. 24:26). He is called also Jozachar (2 Kings 12:21).

(4.) Ezra 10:27.

(5.) Ezra 10:33.

(6.) Ezra 10:43.

Zabbai - wanderer; pure. (1.) Ezra 10:28.

(2.) The father of Baruch, who "earnestly repaired" part of the wall of Jerusalem ( Neh. 3:20; marg., "Zaccai").

Zabbud - gift, Ezra 8:14.

Zabdi - gift of Jehovah. (1.) An ancestor of Achan ( Josh. 7:1,Josh. 7:17,Josh. 7:18). He is probably the "Zimri" of 1 Chr. 2:6.

(2.) A Benjamite (1 Chr. 8:19).

(3.) Called "the Shiphmite," one of David's officers, who had charge of his vineyards (1 Chr. 27:27).

(4.) A Levite, one of the sons of Asaph ( Neh. 11:17); probably the same as Zichri (1 Chr. 9:15), and Zaccur ( Neh. 12:35).

Zabdiel - gift of God. (1.) The father of Jashobeam, who was one of David's officers (1 Chr. 27:2).

(2.) An overseer of the priests after the Captivity ( Neh. 11:14).

Zabud - gift, the son of Nathan, who was "king's friend" in the court of Solomon (1 Kings 4:5).

Zabulon - ( Matt. 4:13,Matt. 4:15; Rev. 7:8). See ZEBULUN.

Zaccai - pure, one whose "sons" returned with Zerubbabel to Jerusalem ( Ezra 2:9; Neh. 7:14). (See ZABBAI.)

Zacchaeus - pure, a superintendant of customs; a chief tax-gather (publicanus) at Jericho ( Luke 19:1-10). "The collection of customs at Jericho, which at this time produced and exported a considerable quantity of balsam, was undoubtedly an important post, and would account for Zacchaeus being a rich man." Being short of stature, he hastened on before the multitude who were thronging about Christ as he passed through Jericho on his way to Jerusalem, and climbed up a sycamore tree that he might be able to see him. When our Lord reached the spot he looked up to the publican among the branches, and addressing him by name, told him to make haste and come down, as he intended that day to abide at his house. This led to the remarkable inte rview recorded by the evangelist, and to the striking parable of the ten pounds ( Luke 19:12-27). At Er-riha (Jericho) there is a large, venerable looking square tower, which goes by the traditional name of the House of Zacchaeus.

Zaccur - mindful. (1.) Father of Shammua, who was one of the spies sent out by Moses ( Num. 13:4).

(2.) A Merarite Levite (1 Chr. 24:27).

(3.) A son of Asaph, and chief of one of the courses of singers as arranged by David (1 Chr. 25:2,1 Chr. 25:10).

(4.) Son of Imri ( Neh. 3:2).

(5.) A Levite ( Neh. 10:12).

(6.) The son of Mattaniah ( Neh. 13:13).

Zachariah - remembered by the Lord. (1.) Son of Jeroboam II., king of Israel. On the death of his father there was an interregnum of ten years, at the end of which he succeeded to the throne, which he occupied only six months, having been put to death by Shallum, who usurped the throne. "He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as his fathers had done" (2 Kings 14:29;2 Kings 15:8-12). In him the dynasty of Jehu came to an end.

(2.) The father of Abi, who was the mother of Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:2).

Zacharias - (1.) A priest of the course of Abia, the eighth of the twenty-four courses into which the priests had been originally divided by David (1 Chr. 23:1-19). Only four of these courses or "families" of the priests returned from the Exile ( Ezra 2:36-39); but they were then re-distributed under the old designations. The priests served at the temple twice each year, and only for a week each time. Zacharias's time had come for this service. During this period his home would be one of the chambers set apart for the priests on the sides of the temple ground. The offering of incense was one of the most solemn parts of the daily worship of the temple, and lots were drawn each day to determine who should have this great honour, an honour which no priest could enjoy more than once during his lifetime.

While Zacharias ministered at the golden altar of incense in the holy place, it was announced to him by the angel Gabriel that his wife Elisabeth, who was also of a priestly family, now stricken in years, would give birth to a son who was to be called John, and that he would be the forerunner of the long-expected Messiah ( Luke 1:12-17). As a punishment for his refusing to believe this message, he was struck dumb and "not able to speak until the day that these things should be performed" (20). Nine months passed away, and Elisabeth's child was born, and when in answer to their inquiry Zacharias wrote on a "writing tablet," "His name is John," his mouth was opened, and he praised God (60-79). The child (John the Baptist), thus "born out of due time," "waxed strong in spirit" ( Luke 1:80).

(2.) The "son of Barachias," mentioned as having been slain between the temple and the altar ( Matt. 23:35; Luke 11:51). "Barachias" here may be another name for Jehoiada, as some think. (See ZECHARIAH.)

Zacher - memorial, a son of Jehiel (1 Chr. 8:31;1 Chr 9:35); called Zechariah 1 Chr 9:37).

Zadok - righteous. (1.) A son of Ahitub, of the line of Eleazer (2 Sam. 8:17; 1 Chr. 24:3), high priest in the time of David (2 Sam. 20:25) and Solomon (1 Kings 4:4). He is first mentioned as coming to take part with David at Hebron (1 Chr. 12:27,1 Chr. 12:28). He was probably on this account made ruler over the Aaronites 1 Chr 27:17). Zadok and Abiathar acted as high priests on several important occasions (1 Chr. 15:11; 2 Sam. 15:24-29,2 Sam. 15:35,2 Sam. 15:36); but when Adonijah endeavoured to secure the throne, Abiathar went with him, and therefore Solomon "thrust him out from being high priest," and Zadok, remaining faithful to David, became high priest alone (1 Kings 2:27,1 Kings 2:35; 1 Chr. 29:22). In him the line of Phinehas resumed the dignity, and held it till the fall of Jerusalem. He was succeeded in his sacred office by his son Azariah (1 Kings 4:2; comp. 1 Chr. 6:3-9).

(2.) The father of Jerusha, who was wife of King Uzziah, and mother of King Jotham (2 Kings 15:33; 2 Chr. 27:1).

(3.) "The scribe" set over the treasuries of the temple by Nehemiah along with a priest and a Levite ( Neh. 13:13).

(4.) The sons of Baana, one of those who assisted in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem ( Neh. 3:4).

Zair - little, a place probably east of the Dead Sea, where Joram discomfited the host of Edom who had revolted from him (2 Kings 8:21).

Zalmon - shady. (1.) One of David's warriors, called the Ahohite (2 Sam. 23:28); called also Ilai (1 Chr. 11:29).

(2.) A wood near Shechem, from which Abimelech and his party brought boughs and "put them to the hold" of Shechem, "and set the hold on fire" ( Judg. 9:48). Probably the southern peak of Gerizim, now called Jebel Sulman. (See SALMON.)

Zalmonah - shady, one of the stations of the Israelites in the wilderness ( Num. 33:41,Num. 33:42).

Zalmunna - one of the two kings of Midian whom the "Lord delivered" into the hands of Gideon. He was slain afterwards with Zebah ( Judg. 8:5-21). (See ZEBAH.)

Zamzummims - a race of giants; "a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims" ( Deut. 2:20,Deut. 2:21). They were overcome by the Ammonites, "who called them Zamzummims." They belonged to the Rephaim, and inhabited the country afterwards occupied by the Ammonites. It has been conjectured that they might be Ham-zuzims, i.e., Zuzims dwelling in Ham, a place apparently to the south of Ashteroth ( Gen. 14:5), the ancient Rabbath-ammon.

Zanoah - marsh. (1.) A town in the low country or shephelah of Judah, near Zorah ( Josh. 15:34). It was re-occupied after the return from the Captivity ( Neh. 11:30). Zanu'ah in Wady Ismail, 10 miles west of Jerusalem, occupies probably the same site.

(2.) A town in the hill country of Judah, some 10 miles to the south-west of Hebron ( Josh. 15:56).

Zaphnath-paaneah - the name which Pharaoh gave to Joseph when he raised him to the rank of prime minister or grand vizier of the kingdom ( Gen. 41:45). This is a pure Egyptian word, and has been variously explained. Some think it means "creator," or "preserver of life." Brugsch interprets it as "governor of the district of the place of life", i.e., of Goshen, the chief city of which was Pithom, "the place of life." Others explain it as meaning "a revealer of secrets," or "the man to whom secrets are revealed."

Zarephath - smelting-shop, "a workshop for the refining and smelting of metals", a small Phoenician town, now Surafend, about a mile from the coast, almost midway on the road between Tyre and Sidon. Here Elijah sojourned with a poor widow during the "great famine," when the "heaven was shut up three years and six months" ( Luke 4:26; 1 Kings 17:10). It is called Sarepta in the New Testament ( Luke 4:26).

Zaretan - When the Hebrews crossed the Jordan, as soon as the feet of the priests were dipped in the water, the flow of the stream was arrested. The point of arrest was the "city of Adam beside Zaretan," probably near Succoth, at the mouth of the Jabbok, some 30 miles up the river from where the people were encamped. There the water "stood and rose upon an heap." Thus the whole space of 30 miles of the river-bed was dry, that the tribes might pass over ( Josh. 3:16,Josh. 3:17; comp. Ps. 104:3).

Zareth-shahar - the splendour of the dawn, a city "in the mount of the valley" ( Josh. 13:19). It is identified with the ruins of Zara, near the mouth of the Wady Zerka Main, on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea, some 3 miles south of the Callirrhoe. Of this town but little remains. "A few broken basaltic columns and pieces of wall about 200 yards back from the shore, and a ruined fort rather nearer the sea, about the middle of the coast line of the plain, are all that are left" (Tristram's Land of Moab).

Zarthan - a place near Succoth, in the plain of the Jordan, "in the clay ground," near which Hiram cast the brazen utensils for the temple (1 Kings 7:46); probably the same as Zartan. It is also called Zeredathah (2 Chr. 4:17). (See ZEREDA.)