System Bible Study Book

Another great old book, called  The System Bible Study.  Copyright 1922 (I have an album w/ some of the pics from this book).  I will put some of the more interesting definitions & highlight the definitions I find more interesting, (I can barely get out of ‘A’ ha) this obviously will be a work in progress.  You will have to check back to see the added definitions.  My apologies for any typos. :)

These are Definitions per the Historical Digest

Aaronites - The descendants of Aaron are so called in I Ch. 12:27, where we read that Jehoiada, their leader, w/ 3,700 men, also Zadok & 22 captains, joined David in Ziklag; and in 27:17, that this Zadok was their ruler afterwards; and in Lu. 1:5, that the wife of Zacharias was of the “daughters of Aaron.” From Josh. 21:13-19, it appears that the Aaronites had thirteen cities assigned to them viz., Hebron, Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa, Holon, Debir, Ain, Juttah, & Beth-shemesh, out of Judah & Simeon; & Gibeon, Geba, Anathoth, & Almon, out of Benjamin.  The high priesthood continued in the family of Eleazar, the third son of Aaron, until the time of Eli, B.C. 1200-1141, who was the family of Ithamar, Aaron’s youngest son, but it was restored to the house of Eleazar in the person of Zadok, who received it when Abiathar was dismissed by Solomon (I Ki 2:35), thus fulfilling the prediction in 1 Sa. 2:30.

Aaron’s Rod - The staff of Aaron. It was preserved in the ark as a symbol of priesthood, ever blossoming & yielding fruit (Heb 9:4).

Abaddon (destroyer). Name applied to the king, or angel, of the bottomless pit.  The word has the same meaning as the Greek Apollyon (Rev 9:11).

Abram (a lofty father), Abraham (father of a multitude).  The founder of the Hebrew nation; born B.C. 1996.  The story of his life is found in Gen. 9-25.  In Gen. 11:10-31, the genealogy of the Shemites (Semites), of the sons of Shem, is given, bringing his line to Terah, the father of Abraham, Naor, and Haran, their home being in Ur of the Chaldees, in S. Babylonia.  Tereh later moved to Haran, where he died, & Abram, then 75 years of age w/ his wife Sarai, & nephew Lot, quite Babylonia & went to Canaan, via Damascus.  He first stopped at Shechem & Bethel (Gen 12) then proceeded to Egypt, where his wife’s beauty, & the representation that she was his sister, brought confusion causing Pharaoh to order him to quit Egypt - which he did, returning to Bethel.  After differences w/ Lot, he moved to Hebron; pursued chedorlaomer &others who made raids on Canaan, to Dan; rescued Lot; & aided in restoring the kings of Sodom & Gomorrah, refusing compensation (Gen.14). Hagar, his concubine, bore him a son, named Ishmael, & later his wife Sarai aged 90, bore him Isaac, Abram then being 100 years of age (Gen 17). After this their names became “Abraham” & “Sarah”, the former embodying the promise that he was to become “the father of a multitude of nations.” Before the birth of Isaac, Abraham encountered King Abimelech at Gerar, & to him represented his wife as his sister, whereupon she was taken into the harem of the king, being released, however, when it became known that she was a wife (Gen 20.  In Gen. 22 is recorded the test of Abraham’s faith, when he was commanded to sacrifice his son Isaac.  Sarah died at the age of 127 (Gen. 23:1), and was buried in the cave of Machpelah, at Hebron, purchased from Ephron the Hittite.  Abraham then married Keturah who bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, & shuah.  He died at the age of 175 & was buried by the side of Sarah in Machpelah.  Abraham was greatly distinguished for his piety & wisdom; and is repeatedly called “the friend of God’ in the Bible.

Absalom - (father of peace) Son of David & the only one by Maacah, daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur.  He was noted for his personal beauty, & for his hair, which is said to have weighed 200 shekels (see weights & measures) when cut off.  He had a sister named Tamar, for the defiling of whom he slew his half-brother. Amnon.  He then fled to the house of Talmai, his mother’s father, at Geshur. Joab, commander of David’s army, employed a woman of Tekoah to appear before David to lay a supposed case before him for judgment; and she applied the anticipated decision so adroitly to the case of Absalom, that the king discovered the object & detected the interposition of Joab. Regarding this as in some degree expressing the sanction of public opinion, David gladly commissioned Joab to bring his son back to Jerusalem. Absalom returned, after an absence of  3 years; but his father controlled his feelings, and declined to admit him through the instrumentality of Joab, a complete reconciliation was effected & the father once more indulged himself w/ the presence of his son (II Sa. 13:39; 14:33).  Scarcley had Absalom returned, when he began to cherish aspirations to the throne, which he must have known was already pledged to another (see II Sa. 7:21).  After gaining the favor of the people, he rebelled  against his father & raised a large army, which was defeated by that of David.  While he was retreating from battle, Absalom was killed by Joab, BC 1023, although David had ordered that his life be spared.  The account of his ambition for his father’s throne is found in II Sa. 15; of his conspiracy, 15-17; of his death & burial, 18:9-17; of David’s mourning for him, 18:33; 19:1-8’ of his children, 14:27; 18:18; I Ki. 15:2.

Achaicus -  (belonging to Achaia) A Christian of Corinth who visited Paul at Phillppi I Co. 16:17

Achan, Achar (trouble).  One of the tribe of Judah, who at the destruction of Jericho by Joshua, stole part of the spoil & hid it, in disobedience to the command of the Lord.  This action brought a curse & defeat upon the Israelites. He was discovered by lot, & stoned to death w/ all his family in the valley of Achor (Josh. 6:18; 7:18) He is called Achar in I Ch. 2:7.

Accuser - An enemy or adversary, particularly in a court of law (Mat. 5:25) In Job 1:6; Zech. 3:1; Rev. 12:10, Satan is represented as the public accuser of the people of God.

Aceldama (field of blood) - A small field S. of Jerusalem, purchased by the chief priests w/ the thirty pieces of silver which Judas received for betraying Jesus.  Aceldama was the “potter’s field” used for the burial place of strangers. In acts 1:18, Judas is said to have purchased the field, because it was bought w/ his money Acts 1:18.

Adder - A common name given to the viper, a species of serpent.  “Adder” is used in the Bible as a translation of four Hebrew words; and in the AV signifies four different serpents viz., the cobra (Psa 58:4; 91:13); the horned snake, or cerastes (Gen. 49:17); the viper (Psa 140:3); & in Prov. 23:32, a snake elsewhere called “cockatrice,” & may refer indefinitely to different species of vipers.  The horned snake, or cerastes, is about a foot long, & has black spots & 2 horns. It lies hidden in the sand, which it closely resembles in color, & darts upon the unsuspecting traveler. It has a very deadly bite & is frequently found in the wilderness of Judea. See Asp.

Adultery - As defined by the Jewish law, the unlawful intercourse of a man w/ a married or betrothed woman not his own - a crime forbidden in the 7th commandment.  Adultery is the only offense mentioned by Christ as sufficient for divorce (Mat. 5:32; Ex. 20:14).

Advocate - One that pleads the cause of another.  In a technical sense, the office of advocate was unknown to the Jews until their subjection to the Romans.  The word is applied to Christ as our Interecessor (I Jno. 2:1).

Ahab - (father’s brother - uncle). 1. Son of Omri, & his successor, as 7th king of Israel (918-897 BC; new dates, 874-853). He married Jezebel, daughter of Ethball, king of the Zidonians, & was led by her into idolatry & incited to the persecution of the prophets of Jehovah. The most remarkable incidents in his life were his defeating Benhadad, whom he freely dismissed, & his seizing the vineyard of Naboth.  During his reign appeared the great prophet Elijah, who came into direct collision w/ Jezebel when she attempted to introduce the worship of Baal & the goddess Astarte, of whom her father had been a priest before he usurped the sovereignty of Tyre, BC 900. I Ki. 16-22; II Ki. 1:1; 3:1; 5; 8:16, 25, 27, 28, 29; 9:7-9, 25, 29; 10:1, 10, 11, 17, 18, 30; 21:3, 13; Mic. 6:16.  2. A false prophet who was in Babylon during the early part of the Exile, but was put to death by Nebuchadnezzar, BC 600 Jer. 29:21,22.

Air - The air or atmosphere which surrounds the earth is often indicated in the Bible by the word “heaven.” “The fowls of heaven” (Job 35:11) means the birds of the air.  To “beat the air” or to “speak into the air” (I Co. 9:26; 14:9) signifies acting or speaking w/ out judgment.  In Eph. 2:2, “the power of the air” probably refers to demons.  Many Jews  & heathen thought that the lower part of the air was occupied by spirits, especially those of an evil nature. Alexandria - (of Alexander). An important city of Egypt, between the Mediterranean Sea & Lake Mareotis, twelve miles from the W. mouth of the Nile.  It was founded by Alexander the Great (which see), BC 332, & derived it's name from him.  It was the birthplace of Apollos (Acts 18:24), first a disciple of John & later of Christ.   Alexandria became the capital of the Grecian kings reigning in Egypt, & was one of the metropolis of grandest cities in the world, the metropolis of Egypt as well as a great seat of commerce & wealth.  It contained the greatest library of ancient times & a famous museum.  In it's best days, it is supposed to have had over 600,000 inhabitants, mostly Greeks & Jews. The modern city is built on the ruins of the ancient one, about 125 miles N. of Cairo. It is still in the seat of extensive commerce, & has a population of about 60,000.  Though not often mentioned in the Bible, Alexandria was in may ways closely connected w/ later Jewish history. Acts 6:9; 18:24; 27:6; 28:11.

Alliance - The Israelites were strictly forbidden to ally themselves w/ the heathen by family or by political ties, & alliances w/ the Canannites were especially prohibited. (Deut. 7:3-6). Hence the mourning & prayer of Ezra, & the subsequent separating of all “strangers” (foreigners) from the people of Israel (Ezra 9-10).

Alms - A charitable gift (Acts 3:3, 10:2).  The word is not found in the OT, but is frequently used in the NT. The Jews were required by the law (Lev. 19:9, 10; Deut 15:11, etc.) to provide for the poor.  See poor.

Alpha - The first letter in the greek alphabet, of which Omega is the last. They thus signify "the beginning" & "the end," & in this sense are applied as a title to Christ.  Rev. 1:8, 11 (omitted from RV in ver.11); 21:6; 22:13.

Amalek - (warlike; dweller in the vale) 1. Son of Eliphaz, & grandson of Esau. Gen 36:12, 16; I Ch. 1:36. 2. The name is also applied to his descendants, who are, however generally called Amalekites (but see Amalekites). Ex. 17: 8-16; Num 24:20; I Sa. 15:2, 3, 5, 20.

Amalekites - A powerful nomadic people who dwelt in Arabia Petraea, between the Dead Sea & the Red Sea, or between Havilah & Shur (I Sa. 15:7), S. of Idumaea, & E. of the N. part of the Red Sea. They are generally supposed to have been the descendants of Amalek, the son of Eliphaz & grandson of Esau; but Moses speaks of the Amalekites long before this Amalek was born - ie in the time of Abraham, when Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, devasted their country (Gen. 14:7) from which it has been inferred that there was some other & more ancient Amalek, from whom this people were descended.  Without any provocation, the Amlekites attacked the rear of Israel as they were journeying through the wilderness, but were defeated by Joshua at Rephidim (Ex. 17:8-16), and in the consequence of this assult a perpetual war was declared against them by Jehovah; along w/ the Canaanites, they defeated the rash attack of Israel, & drove them “even unto Hormah” (Num. 14:43-45); they are called by Balaam “the first of the nations” (or Boyim), either from their antiquity, or their warlike character, or from their being the first to attack the people of Israel (Num. 24:20), who were hence forth required to “remember” their treacherous attack (Deut. 25:17-19).  They, along w/ the children of Ammon, joined w/ Eglon, king of Moab (BC 1354), to attack Israel, and took Jericho, the “city of palm-trees” (Judg. 3:13); they were successfully opposed by the Ephraimites in the conflict w/ Jabin, king of Hazor, BC 1296 (Judg. 5:14); they joined w/ the Midianites & the children of the East (or Kedem) in the days of Gideon, the son of Joash the Abi-ezrite, BC 1256 (Judg. 6:3), but were defeated by him in the valley of Jezreel (Judg. 6:33; 7: 12-22); they once had possession of a mountain in the land of Ephraim, in which Abdon, the son of Hillel the Pirathonite was buried (Judg. 12:15); they were smitten by Saul, BC 1086 (I Sa. 14:48); again by him, BC 1079 throughout their whole country “from Havilah to Shur,” on the border of Egypt, when Agag, their king, was cut in pieces (I Sa 15:2-33); they were invaded and well-nigh destroyed by David (I Sa. 27:8-10); their previous non-destruction by Saul was the cause of his rejection (I Sa. 28:18); in David’s absence, they invaded & plundered Ziklag, BC 1056 & carried off his 2 wives & others as captives, but were pursued, overtaken, & defeated by David (I Sa. 30:1-31); one of their nation,  accusing himself of Saul’s death was put to death by David (II Sa. 1:1-16), by whom their silver & gold were dedicated to Jehovah (II Sa. 8:11, 12; I Ch. 18:11); they were again smitten in the days of Hezekiah, BC 726-697, by five hundred men of the tribe of Simeon, who there after dwelt in their place, at the east of the valley of Gedor or Gerar (I Ch. 4:39-43); they are mentioned w/ Ammon & the Philistines as among the enemies of Israel (Psa. 83:7). They are not again noticed in Scripture, unless Haman the Agagite be reckoned one of their nation, which is not improbable (Esth. 3:1).

Ambassador - In II Ch. 32:31, an interpreter; elsewhere a messenger.  Ambassadors were sent by the Jews only as occasion required, in peace or war.  Ministers are ambassadors of Christ (II Co. 5:20).

Ammonites - Descendants of Ben-Ammi, son of Lot by his younger daughter; frequently called “children of Ammon.”  Their country lay at the NE of Moab, & E. of Reuben, between the Arnon & the Jabbok.  Their border was strong (Num. 21:24); they were not to be distressed or meddled w/ by Israel; the original inhabitants of their country were giants, & called Zamzummim (great, & tall, & many as the Anakim) who were destroyed by the Ammonites (Deut. 2:19, 20, 37); their chief city was Rabbath-Ammon, & it contained the gigantic bedstead of Og, king of Bashan (Deut. 3:11); the river Jabbok was their border (deut. 3:16); none of their nation was to be allowed to enter the congregation of Jehovah to the 10th generation (Deut. 23:3); they along w/ Amalek, joined Eglon, king of Moab & smote Israel, & took Jericho, the “city of palm-trees” (Judg. 3:13); their gods were served by the children of Israel, so that Jehovah sold the latter into their hands & they served them eighteen years on both sides of the Jordan.  Israel crying to Jehovah, the Ammonites encamped in Gilead, but were defeated by Jephhthah, who drove them from Aroer to Minnith (Judg. 10:6-18; 11:1-33)’ their chief national god was Chemosh (Judg. 11:24); they besieged Jabesh Gilead, when Nahash their king threatened its inhabitants w/ a severe penalty, but he was discomfited by Saul (I Sa. 11:1-11; 12:12); they were accordingly vexed by Saul afterwards (I Sa. 14:47); their silver & gold taken in battle were dedicated to Jehovah by David (II Sa. 8:12; I Ch. 18:11);  Hanun, their king, the son of Nahash, having insulted the messengers of David, hired the Syrians to help him, but they were defeated by Joab & Abishai (II Sa. 10:19; I Ch. 19:1-19); who also besieged Rabbah, his capital; David went to complete the capture, took all the spoil, & humbled the inhabitants (II Sa. 11:1; 12:26-31; I Ch. 20:1-3); Shobi the son of Nahash, & brother of Hanun, of the city of Rabbah, however, brought provisions to support David at Mahanaim when he was fleeing from Absalom (II Sa. 17:27); Zelek, also an Ammonite, was one of David’s thirty valiant men (II Sa. 23:37; I Ch. 11:39); Solomon loved several women of that nation, & went after Milcom, their “abomination” & also built a high-place for Molech (I Ki. 11:1, 5, 7, 33); one of his wives, Naamah, the mother of Rehoboam, was an Ammonitess (I Ki. 14:21, 31; II Ch. 12:13); along w/ the Moabites & Edomites, they attacked Jehoshaphat, but were defeated, BC 896, & destroyed each other (II Ch. 20:1-23); Zabad, the son of Shimeath, an Ammonitess, conspired w/ Jehozabad, the son of Shimrith, a Moabitess, against Joash, king of Judah & slew him BC 839 (II Ch. 24:26); the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah, BC 810 (II Ch. 26:8); Jotham again reduced them to tribute BC 758 (II Ch. 27:5); the Ammonites along w/ others invaded Judah in the days of Jehoiakim BC 610-599.  Their abominable customs still infected the Jews in the time of Ezra (Ezra 9:1); Tobiah, an Ammonite, along w/ Sanballat the Horonite, BC 445 mocked reviled & tried to hinder Nehemiah in his work (Neh 2:10, 19; 4:3, 7); the Jews though acquted w/ the law aginst admitting an Ammonite to the tenth generation, nevertheless married wives of that nation (Neh. 13:1, 23) they are mentioned along w/ Amalek as among the enemies of Israel (Psa 83:7); yet as becoming obedient to the people of God in the latter days (Isa. 11:14); they cruelly used the women in Gilead, & were threatened w/ destruction (Amos 1:13-16); & because of their reviling Judah, & magnifying themselves aginst Jehovah, they were again threatened w/ destruction (Zeph 2:8-11); they are described as being uncircumcised in flesh, & as punished w/ the uncircumcised in heart of the house of Israel (Jer 9:26); as receiving, along w/ the other nations, from Jeremiah, the cup of the Lord’s anger (Jer. 25:21); as having a yoke sent to their king by Jeremiah in token of their subjection to Nebuchadnezzar (Jer. 27:3); as having afforded shelter to the Jews who feared Nebuchadnezzar (Jer. 40:11)’ their king, Baalis, is said to have sent Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, to slay Gedaliah, son of Ahikam (Jer. 40:14); Ishmael tried to carry off his captives to the Ammonites (Jer. 41:10), but being defeated, escaped himself to them w/ only eight men (Jer. 41:15); the destruction of Rabbah, Heshbon, & Ai, was fortold by Jeremiah, w/ their restoration (Jer. 49:1-6); Ezekiel foretold the coming of the sword of Nebuchadnezzar to Rabbah & the people (Eze. 21:20,28); also the coming of the children of the East, or of Kedem (Eze. 25:2-10) But they were to escape from Antiochus Epiphanies (Dan. 11:41).

Ammonitess - A female of the descendants of Ammon. See Ammonites.

Amorites (mountaineers)  - A warlike powerful race or tribe descended from Canaan, the fourth son of Ham, son of Noah; mentioned after the Jebusite & before the Graphite (Gen. 10:16; I Ch. 1:14); some of them dwelt in Hazezon-tamar, or Engedi, on the W of the Salt Sea & were smitten by Chedorlaomer, in the days of Abraham, BC 1913 (Gen 14:7); three of their chiefs, Mamre, Eschol, & Aner, were confederates of Abraham (Gen 14:13);  they seem to have contended unsuccessfully w/ Jacob (48:22); they are mentioned between the Hittites & Perizzites, as inhabitants of Canaan (Ex. 3:8, 17; Judg. 3:5; Neh. 9:1); between the Hittites & the Hivites (Ex. 13:5); before the other tribes (Ex 23:23); between the Canaanite & the  Hittite (Ex. 33:2; Josh. 11:3); before the Canaanites & other tribes (Ex. 34-:11); as dwelling in the mountains of Judah (Num. 13:29); as having the river Arnon as their dividing line from Moab (Num 21:13) as having a king named Sihon, BC 1452, who not only refused to let Israel pass, but came & attacked them at Jahaz, when he was defeated & his land taken possession of by Israel (Num. 21:21-32); it was given to the 2 & ½ tribes (Num. 32:33); the chief city of the S. portion of the tribe was Heshbon (Deut. 1:4) the “mount of the Amorites” was apparently another name for Canaan (Deut 1:7, 19, 20); Israel was afraid of them (Deut. 1:27); and was beaten by them in Seir, “even unto Hormah” (Deut. 1:44) their land was to be possessed by Israel (Deut. 3:2), even from the river Arnon to Mt. Hermon , including the land of Og; who reigned in Edrei in Bashan (Deut. 3:8, 9; 4:46, 47); mentioned between the Girgashites & the Canaanites (Deut. 7:1); between the Hittites & the Caanaites (Deut 20:17; Josh. 9:1; 12:8); their fate seems to have terrified the other peoples (Josh. 2:10; 9:10); mentioned between the Girgashites & the Jobsites (Josh. 3:10); mentioned along w/ the Canaanites as the sole inhabitants of the land W of the Jordan (Josh 5:1); alone mentioned as such (Josh. 7:7); five of their kings besieged Bibeon, but were defeated (Josh. 10:5-12).  

They had a variety of gods (Josh. 24:15; Judges 6:10); forced the children of Dan into the mountain (Judg. 1:34); were reduced to tribute by the house of Joseph (Judg. 1:35); their border was from the ascent of Akrabbim northward (Judg. 1:36); they were at peace w/ Israel in the days of Samuel, BC 1171-1060 (I Sa. 7:14); the Gibeonites were a remnant of them (II Sa. 21:2); Geber, the son of Uri, was over their land E of the Jordan in the days of Solomon, BC 1014 (I Ki. 4:19); their remnant was reduced to servitude by Solomon (I Ki. 9:20, 21; II Ch. 8:7); their idol worship was followed by Ahab BC 899 (I Ki. 21:26); also by Manasseh (II Ki 21:11); their abominations by the Jews under Ezra (9:8).  The overthrow of Og & Sihon was celebrated (Psa. 135:11; 136:19); Judah, because of her sins, is represented as having an Amorite for a father, a Hittite for a mother & Samaria & Sodom for sisters (Eze. 16:3, 45); the Amorites is represented as tall & strong, yet destroyed before Israel, to whom his land was promised (Amos 2:9,10).

Anak - (giant long necked) son of Arba & ancestor of the Anakim (Num 13:22, 28, 33; Deut 9:2)
Anakim, Nephilim, Rephaim, Zamzummin

Anakim (Gen. 14:5; 15:20) 2.  A valley SW of Jerusalem & N. of Bethlehem; now called el Bukaa.  This was the boundary between Judah & Benjamin (Josh.15:8). II Sa. 5:18 22;23:13; I Ch. 11:15; 14:9; Isa. 17:5.

Anakims - Gigantic race descended through Anak from Arba one of the sons of Heth (Genesis 23:3). Who, seven years before the building of Zoan in Egypts (Num 13:22; Josh. 15:13,54) built Hebron, which was hence called Kirjath-Arba, ie “the city of Arba”.  His son Anak had three distinguished descendants in the days of Moses & Joshua (Num 13:22); whose names were Ahiman, Sheshai, & Talmai, who dwelt in Hebron; & whose presence the Israelites reckoned themselves only as grasshoppers (num 13:28 & 33; this greatly disheartened Israel (Deut 1:28); the Anakim were like the Emim, who were great & many, & tall, but who were dispossessed by Moab (Deut. 2:10 11 21) it was a common saying, “who can stand before the children of Anak?” (Deut 9:2); but Joshua cut them off from the mountains, and from Hebron, Debir, & Anab, so that only a few were left in Gaza, Gath & Ashdod, cities of the Philistines (Josh. 11: 21,22); they had great & fenced cities, the chief of which was Hebron, which they had called Kirjath-arba, or the “city of Arba”, who had been a great man among them (Josh. 14: 12, 15) & who was also the father of Anak (Josh. 15:13); this Anak had three leading descendants in Hebron (Josh. 15:14), which city was afterwards assigned to the Kohathites for a possession (Josh. 21:11).   The tribe lost its separate existence among the Philistines.

Akrabbim (scorpions).  An ascent from the S. of the Salt (dead Sea, curving E. near Kadesh Barnea, along which the S. border of Canaan was traced.  It was infested w/ scorpions & serpents.  In Josh. 15:3, it is called Maaleh-Acrabbim; and is now called Nuikes-Sufa. Num. 34:4.

Alexander (helper of man) - 1. Son of Simon the Cyrenian, who was compelled to carry the cross of Jesus. Mark 15:21. 2. A leading man in Jerusalem when Peter & John were apprehended, AD 33. Acts 4:6. 3. A convert who was w/ Paul when the Ephesians raised a tumult; perhaps the same as No. 1. Acts 19:33. 4. A convert who afterwards apostasized. I Ti. 1:20. 5. A person who opposed Paul; perhaps the same as No. 4 II Ti. 4:14.

Alexander the Great - King of Macedon; born BC 356, made King BC 336, succeeding his father, Philip.  He was commander in chief of the army of Greece, BC 334, conquered most of the then known world, & died at Babylon, BC 323, at the age of  33.  Alexander the Great is not mentioned by name in the canonical books of the Bible, but is referred to in the prophecies of Dniel, where he is represented by the belly of brass in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the colossal statue (Dan. 2:39) & in Daniel’s vision (Dan. 7:6; 8:5-7; 11:3, 4). See Alexandria.

Angel (messenger) - The designation commonly given to those beings whom the Lord employs as his messengers.  The Jews believed there were several orders of angels (see Archangel). Angels that rebel against God are angels of the devil, or satan (which see). In a general sense, the word is applied to Christ as the Angel, or Messenger, of the covenant; also to the ministers of his gospel.  Gen. 19:1, 15; Mat. 28:2, 5; Rev. 1:1, 20; 22:6.

Angel of light - A character assumed by Satan. II Co. 11:14

Angel of the Lord - Thought by some to be one of the common titles of the Messiah in the OT Gen. 16:7 sq.

Anna (grace). A prophetess, daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher. She became a widow while still young, & devoted herself to the service of God, being constant in attendance at the Temple. At the age of eighty-four, she saw the infant Jesus, heard the prophetic blessing of Simeon, & joined earnestly in it. Lu. 2:36.

Antichrist- (opposed to Christ; perhaps instead of Christ). A term occurring only in the epistles of John (I jno. 2:18, 22; 4:3; II Jno. 7), and signifying false Christians & heretical teachers, who denied the incarnation of Christ. There were many such in the time of John. Although the word itself is used only in the above passages, yet it has been generally applied also (1) to the “Little Horn” of the “King of Fierce Countenance” (Dan 7&8); (2) to the “False Christ” predicted by the Savior (Mat 24); (3) to the “Man of Sin” of  St. Paul (II Th. 2); & (4) to the “Beasts” of the Apocalypse (Rev 13 & 17).

Ape - An animal of the monkey tribe mentioned in I Ki. 10:22, & in the parallel passage in II Ch. 9:21, among the merchandise brought from Ophir by the fleets of Solomon & Hiram once in ever three years.  None are now found in Palestine. They were worshipped in Egypt.

Archangel - Angel of the highest rank in the celestial order or hierarchy, which consists, according to the apostles, of  “thrones, dominions, principalities, & powers” (Eph. 1:21; Col. 1:16; who stand immediately before the throne of God (Lu. 1:19; Rev 8:2), who have authority over other angels, and are the patrons of particular nations (Dan. 10; Rev. 12:7) See Angel. I Th. 4:16; Jude :9.

Arimathaea (heights) -  The home of Joseph in whose new tomb the body of Jesus was laid. It is the same as Ramah, where Samuel dwelt, five miles N. of Jerusalem, on the borders of Ephraim & Benjamin; called Armathaim in the LXX (Septuagint); Armatha by Josephus; & now Ramleh. Mat. 27:57; Mark 15:43; Lu 23:51; Jno. 19:38).

Ark - A word used to designate three structures: 1. Noah’s Ark - A vessel, or ship, made at the command of God, in which Noah & his family & the animals to be saved from destruction were preserved during the flood which destroyed the remainder of the human race for their sins (Gen. 6:14-16; 8:1-13). See Flood; Noah.

2. Moses’ Ark - An ark, or boat, of bulrushes daubed w/ slime & w/ pitch, in which Moses was hidden by his mother among the flags of the river Nile (Ex. 2:3-5). The bulrushes of which the ark was made were the papyrus reed, which grows in Egypt in marshy places. See Moses.

3.  The Ark of the Covenant or Testimony - A kinds of box, of an oblong shape, made of shittim (acacia) wood, two cubits long, a cubit & a ½ broad & high, & covered on all sides w/ the purest gold.  It was ornamented on its upper surface w/ a border or rim of gold; and on each of the 2 sides, at equal distances from the top, were two gold rings, in which were placed (to remain there permanently) the gold covered poles by which the ark was carried, and which continued w/ it after it was deposited in the Tabernacle.  The lid or cover of the ark was of the same length & breadth as the ark itself, & made of the purest gold. Over it, at the two extremities, were two cherubim, w/ their faces toward each other & inclined a little toward the lid (otherwise called the “mercy-seat”).  Their wings, which were spread out over the top of the ark, formed the “throne of God,” the King of Israel, while the ark itself was his “footstool” (Ex. 25:10-22; 37:1-9). The ark was kept in the most holy place (the “holy of Holies”) of the sanctuary, & contained, at one time, the two stone tables on which the law or “covenant” made by God w/ the Hebrews was inscribed; the pot of manna, Aaron’s rod, and the books of the Law (see Heb. 9:4).  In the time of Solomon, however, it appears that all of these relics had disappeared except “the two tables of stone which Moses put there at Horeb” (I Ki. 8:9). No object was more sacred among the Jews than the “ark of God.” In their journeys in the wilderness, it was borne, enveloped in the “vail” of the dismantled Tabernacle, in the curtain of badgers’ skins, & in a blue cloth over all, by the priests before the hosts of Israel. Before it the waters of the Jordan were divided, & the walls of Jericho fell.  It was brought to the Temple by Solomon (II Ch. 5:2),where it remained until the time of the later idolatrous kings.  Its ultimate fate is unknown.

Arkites - Descendants of Canaan, son of Ham, that settled the town of Arka (or Arca), about 12 miles N. of Tripoli in Syria (its ruins are now called Tell Arka). Gen. 10:17; 1 Ch. 1:15.

Armageddon (height of Megiddo) - Megiddo is a city at the foot of Mt. Carmel, & had been the scene of great slaughter; hence the reference to it in Revelation 16:16 as the place in which God will collect his enemies for destruction.  It is now called el Lejjun. In 1479 BC one of the kings of Egypt, Thutmose III, sought to extend his dominions over Palestine & Syria to the Euphrates.  For about a hundred years preceding, his predecessors had had a foothold there.  During his first campaign a great battle was fought at Megiddo.  Though the local princes of Palestine & Syria formed a coalition & resisted valiantly, the city was finally taken by the Egyptians. However, had the city fallen sooner, the Egyptian king would have been spared many years of campaigning, for the delay gave time for the leaders of the native population to escape, & these redoubtable patriots continued their resistance to the invader for about twenty years longer.  Megiddo has been the scene of many subsequent battles, the last of which was fought during the World War, by Gen. Allenby, against the Turks. Though extending over a distance of many miles, this conflict is known as the “Battle of Megiddo.” The English forces were victorious; and Gen. Allenby has received the title of “Lord Allenby of Megiddo” in recognition of his triumph.  An expedition is soon to be sent by the university of Chicago for the purpose of excavating the ruins of this historic battle ground, which is generally thought  to have been the arena for the first warfare known to civilization, probably about 3,400 years ago; & it is very probable that these excavations will throw much additional light on the course of some of the great campaigns of early history.  This work will be under the general supervision of Dr. Breasted, a distinguished authority on the Near East.








Chaleans - S. portion of Babylon, Cushite Tribe S. Euphrates (Ez 27:23 Jer 50:10; 51:24 & 35)

Nimrod 1. Son of Cush, son of Ham. See Babylon. (Gen. 10:8; 9; 1 Ch. 1:10)

Rephaim - 1. A race dwelling around the S. of Jerusalem, and beyond Jordan in Bashan, Ammon & Moab, in Ashteroth Karnaim & Shaveh Kiriathaim, variously called Zamzummim, Zuzim, & Emim, also
Reptile.  A word not used in the AV which designates this class of animals by the term “creeping thing,” but covers thereby a much wider range of creatures.  The reptiles named in the Bible consist mostly of various unknown species of serpents & lizards.  Of course both of these classes were unclean to the Hebrews.  Following are the true reptilia mentioned in Scripture: Crocodile “dragon,” “leviathan. Frog  “frog” Lizard “chameleon,” “lizard” “mole” “snail” spider” tortoise” Serpent “adder” “asp” “cockatrice” “dragon” “viper”

Wormwood - A plant found in Palestine, & noted for its extreme bitterness.  The word is frequently used in the same sense as “gall,” to denote whatever is bitter or offensive.  In Rev. 8:11, the name of the star which, at the sound of the third angel’s trumpet, fell upon the rivers, is called “Wormwood.”  (Deut 29:18; Jer. 9:15; 23:15)