ME

MARRIAGES of the Jews, ceremonies of, 160-162. How dissolved, 162, 163.

MARTHA, the sister of that Lazarus who was raised from the dead by Jesus Christ. (Luke x. 38. 40, 41. John xi. 1, &c. vii. 2.) MARY, the name of several women mentioned in the New Testament; viz.

1. The Virgin-mother of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: she was of the tribe of Judah, and of the royal house of David, as also was her husband Joseph. After the crucifixion of Christ, who had commended her to the filial care of John, she found an asylum in the house of the beloved apostle; and when the disciples and apostles were met together in an upper room, she united with them in prayer. (John xix. 25. 27. Acts i. 15.) The time, place, and circumstances of her death are uncertain." 2. A woman of Magdala is supposed to be the same, out of whom Christ expelled seven demons. (Luke vii. 36, 37.) She was one of those who followed him and contributed to his main

tenance.

3. One of the sisters of Lazarus. (Luke x. 39-42. John xi. 1, &c.)

4. The mother of James the Less and of Joses: she was sister to the mother of Jesus, and was the wife of Alpheus or Clopas. (Matt. xxvii. 56. 61. xxviii. 1. Mark xv. 40. 47. xvi. 1. John xix. 25.)

5. The mother of the evangelist Mark, at whose house the Christians in Jerusalem were wont to convene. (Acts xi. 12.)

6. Mary, an unknown disciple resident at Rome, to whom St. Paul sent his salutation, with this eulogy-she bestowed much labour on us (Rom. xvi. 6.), or, on you, according to the Alexandrian and other MSS., and the Syriac, Ethiopic, Coptic, and Arabic versions. It is, therefore, uncertain, whether the apostle here speaks of services actually rendered to himself, or to the

believers at Rome.

ME

and successor Astyages reigned thirty-five years, A. M. 34093444, B. c. 595-560. No particulars of his reign, however are recorded by profane historians, excepting his repulsing an invasion of his territories made by the Babylonian under Evilmerodah, the son of Nebuchadnezzar. On the death of Astyages, the crown devolved on his son Cyaxares II., whom the Scriptures call Darius the Mede, A. M. 3444, B. c. 560. Media is now called Irak Adjami, and forms (as it also anciently did form) part of the kingdom of Persia.

MEDICINE, state of, among the Jews, 194-197.
MEDITERRANEAN SEA, 28. Plain of, 33.

MEGIDDO, a fortified town of the tribe of Manasseh in the territory of Issachar: it was formerly a royal city of the Canaanites. The Water of Megiddo (Judg. v. 19.) is conjectured by Prof. Gesenius to be the river Kishon. Compare Judg. v. 21. and iv. 13.

MELCHISEDEK, king of Salem (which was afterwards called Jerusalem), a contemporary of Abraham, whom he met with refreshments on his return from the pursuit of Cherdorlaomer and his allies. (Gen. xiv.) After the manner of the patriarchal ages, he appears, as the head of his tribe or family, to have discharged the functions of priest, and to have offered sacrifices to the true God. By paying him tithes Abraham acknowledged him to be a priest of the Most High God. In Heb. vii. St. Paul exhibits the resemblance between Melchisedek as the type and Jesus Christ the antitype.

MELCOM, an Ammonitish idol. See p. 137.

MELITA, or MALTA, an island in the Mediterranean Sea, on which St. Paul and his companions were wrecked. (Acts xxviii. 1.) Mr. Bryant, Dr. Hales, and some other eminent critics and commentators, have endeavoured to show that this island was in the Adriatic Sea, on the coast of Illyricum,—the same which is now called Meleda. That MALTA is the island intended by St. Luke will be evident from the following con

MATTHIAS, one of the disciples who was chosen by lot to fill up the vacancy occasioned by the death of the traitorous apostle Judas Iscariot. (Acts i. 23. 26.) Of his subsequent labours and history, nothing certain is known.

MEASURES of the Jews and other nations mentioned in the Bible, tables of, 394.

MEAT-OFFERINGS, notice of, 119.
MECHANIC ARTS of the Jews, 187.

MEDEBA, a city in the tribe of Reuben, situated in a plain of the same name. (Num. xxi. 30. Josh. xiii. 9. 16.) According to Eusebius, it was not far from Heshbon. Here Joab gained a memorable victory over the Ammonites and Syrians. (1 Chron. xix. 7-14.) According to Isa. xv. 2. it afterwards belonged to Moab.

MEDIA (Acts ii. 9.) was a vast region of Asia, having on the north the Caspian Sea, on the west Armenia and Assyria, on the south Persia, on the east Hyrcania and Parthia. It had its name from Madai the son of Japhet, mentioned in Gen. x. 2. In the Babylonian captivity, the Jews were carried captive into Assyria, and placed in the cities of the Medes. (2 Kings xvii. 6. and xviii. 11.) Hence we find many of them and their proselytes at Jerusalem, when the Holy Ghost fell on the apostles. The Medes or Medians were subject to the Assyrian monarchs until the reign of Sardanapalus. Arbaces conspired against him, compelled him to burn himself in Nineveh, and restored the Medes to liberty, A. M. 3257, B. c. 747. He is considered as the founder of the Median monarchy, to which Justin assigns a duration of three hundred and fifty years, but Herodotus only one hundred and twenty years. (Justin. Hist. lib. i. c. 6. ed. Bipont. Herod. lib. i. cc. 95-107. ed. Oxon. 1809.) The last-mentioned historian has recorded the names of only four Median sovereigns, viz. Dejoces, Phraortes, Cyaxares, and Astyages. Diodorus Siculus (lib. ii. c. 32. edit. Bipont.) enumerates ten kings; Eusebius and Syncellus, eight. Herodotus, however, acknowledges that the Medes had enjoyed their liberty for some time before they elected Dejoces to be their king, A. M. 3294, B. c. 710. He caused the city of Ecbatana to be built, and is said to have reigned fifty-three years. Phraortes his successor subjugated the Persians to the Median empire, and reigned twenty-two years, A. M. 3347-3369, B, c. 657-635. Phraortes was succeeded by Cyaxares, who took Nineveh, and considerably enlarged the Median empire, A. M. 3369-3409, B. c. 626–595. His son

which had wintered there, on her voyage to Italy; and after touching at Syracuse and Rhegium, landed at Puteoli, thus sailing in a direct course. The other Melita would be far out of the usual track from Alexandria to Italy; and, in sailing from it to Rhegium, Syracuse also would be out of the direct course. The fact, that the vessel was tossed all night before the shipwreck in the Adriatic Sea, does not militate against the probability of its afterwards being driven upon Malta; because the name ADRIA (see page 403.) was applied to the whole Ionian Sea, which lay between Sicily and Greece. (Robinson's Lexicon, voce Μελίτη.)

MEMORIALS of events, account of, 79, 80.
MEMPHIS. See Norн, p. 440. infra.

MENAHEM, the sixteenth king of Israel: he murdered the usurper Shallum, and in his turn usurped the throne. He was a wicked and cruel prince, who followed the impious example of Jeroboam I. He died after reigning about ten years.

MENI, or the Moon; a Syrian idol, worshipped in Palestine during the time of the prophet Isaiah. See p. 137. MEPHIBOSHETH, a son of Jonathan, whom David took under his protection, when he was peaceably seated on his throne.

MERCURY, in heathen mythology, the son of Jupiter and Maia. He was the fabled patron of eloquence (on which account the people of Lystra supposed Paul to be Mercury in disguise, Acts xiv. 12.), the god of travellers, shepherds, &c. &c., and the conductor of the souls of the dead into the infernal regions.

MERIBAH, the name of a spring in the desert of Sin, where the Israelites contended against God. (Num. xx. 13. 24.) See REPHIDIM.

MERODACH, the name of an idol of the Babylonians. Lowth and other commentators (on Jer. i. 2.) suppose him to have been an ancient monarch of Babylon, whom his subjects deified and worshipped. See BALADAN, p. 413.

MEROM, waters or lake of, notice of, 27.

MESOPOTAMIA, a region of country, situated between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates, extending from the Persian Gulf to Mount Taurus. The Hebrews call it Aram Naharaim, or Aram of the two rivers, because it was first peopled by Aram, father of the Syrians, and is situated between two rivers. This country is celebrated in Scripture as the first dwelling of men after the deluge; and because it gave birth to Phaleg, Heber, Terah, Abraham, Nahor, Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Leah, and to the sons of Jacob. Babylon was in the ancient Mesopotamia, till by vast labour and industry the two rivers Tigris and Euphrates were reunited in one channel. The plains of Shinar were in

мо sage through their country, and would not supply them with bread and water in their necessity.

Eglon, king of the Moabites, was one of the first that oppressed Israel, after the death of Joshua. Ehud killed Eglon, and Israel expelled the Moabites. (Judg. iii. 12, &c.) a. m. 2679, B. c. 1325. Hanun, king of the Ammonites, having insulted David's ambassadors, David made war against him, and subdued Moab and Ammon; under which subjection they continued, till the separation of the ten tribes. The Ammonites and Moabites continued in subjection to the kings of Israel to the death of Ahab. Very shortly after the death of Ahab, the Moabites began to revolt. (2 Kings iii. 4, 5.) Mesha, king of Moab, refused the tribute of a hundred thousand lambs, and as many rams, which till then had been customarily paid, either yearly or at the beginning of every reign, which of these two is not clearly expressed in Scripture. The reign of Ahaziah was too short to make war with them; but Jehoram, son of Ahab, and brother to Ahaziah, having ascended the throne, thought of reducing them to obedience. He invited Jehoshaphat, king of Judah; who, with the king of Edom, then his vassal, entered Moab, where they were in danger of perishing with thirst, but were miraculously relieved. (2 Kings iii. 16., &c.) It is not easy to perceive what were the circumstances of the Moabites from this time; but Isaiah, at the beginning of the reign of king Hezekiah, threatens them with a calamity, which was to happen three years after his prediction, and which probably referred to the war that Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, made with the ten tribes, and the other people beyond Jordan. Amos (i. 13, &c.) also foretold great miseries to them, which, probably, they suffered under Uzziah and Jotham, kings of Judah; or under Shalmaneser (2 Chron. xxvi. 7, 8. xxvii. 5.): or, lastly, during the war of Nebuchadnezzar, five years after the destruction of Jerusalem: we believe this prince carried them captive beyond the Euphrates, as the prophets had threatened, (Jer. ix. 26. xii. 14, 15. xxv. 11, 12. xlviii. 74. xlix. 3. 6.), and that Cyrus sent them home again, as he did the rest of the captives. After their return from captivity, they multiplied and fortified themselves as the Jews did, and other neighbouring people; still in subjection to the kings of Persia, afterwards conquered by Alexander the Great, and in obedience to the kings of Syria and Egypt successively, and finally to the Romans. There is a probability, also, that in the later times of the Jewish republic, they obeyed the Asmonæan kings and afterwards Herod the Great. (Calmet, Hist. des Peuples Voisins des Juifs, &c. Art. IV. Dissert. tom. ii. pp. 410-413.) For an account (by recent travellers) of the fulfilment of the predictions concerning Moab, see Keith's Evidence of the truth of the Christian Religion from Prophecy, pp. 158-172.

MOLOCH OF MOLECH, an idol of the Ammonites, worshipped by the Israelites. See p. 137.

MONARCHS. See KINGS.

NA

tion of the name Moses, viz. drawn out, because the ark in which his mother had deposited him was drawn out of the river Nile: but his education among the Egyptians, Gesenius observes, would lead us to regard it as of Egyptian origin; and so it is interpreted by Josephus. (Ant. Jud. I. ii. c. 9. § 6.)

MOUNTAINS of the Holy Land, 29-31. In the immediate vicinity of Jerusalem, 19.

MOURNING for the dead, duration of, and how expressed, 199, 200. 202. Rending of garments, a sign of mourning, 159. MULES, notice of, 175.

MURDER, laws concerning, 63.

MUSIC and MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS of the Jews, 183, 184. MYRA was one of the six great cities of Lycia, situated near the sea; whence St. Luke says (Acts xxvii. 5.), that, sailing over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia they came to Myria in Lycia. It still preserves its ancient name; and there are many remains of its former greatness.

MYSIA (Acts xvi. 7, 8.), a country of Asia, was bounded on the north by Bithynia, on the east by Phrygia Minor, on the west by Troas, on the south by the river Hermus; there, perhaps, St. Paul attempted not to stay, because, as Cicero notes, in his oration for Flaccus (cc. 51, 52.) they were a people despicable and base to a proverb.

NAAMAN, general of the forces of Ben-hadad king of Syria. Being afflicted by a leprosy, he was healed by washing seven times in the river Jordan, according to the command of the prophet Elisha. (2 Kings v.) NABATHEANS. See NEBAIOTH, p. 439. NADAB.

1. the son of Aaron and the brother of Abihu: who, offering incense with strange or common fire, instead of that which had miraculously been kindled upon the altar of burnt-offering, was consumed together with his brother. (Lev. x. 12.)

2. The son of Jeroboam I. king of Israel, a wicked prince, who followed the evil example of his father. After reigning two years, he was assassinated by Baasha. (2 Kings xv. 25—27.) NAHASH, a king of the Ammonites, who laid siege to JabeshGilead, shortly after the election of Saul to be king of Israel. He refused to the besieged any terms of accommodation, but on the ignominious condition of every one losing his right eye, thereby for ever incapacitating him from using the bow. This barbarous capitulation was rejected; the besieged obtained a truce of seven days, on condition of surrendering if they did not receive succour: but Saul arrived, and Nahash, after seeing his army totally discomfited, made a shameful retreat. (1 Sam. xi.) Subsequently Nahash rendered some services to David, most probably by giving him an asylum: we may easily conceive, that the enemy of Saul would be the friend of David. (2 Sam. x. 2

MONEY-CHANGERS, notice of, 78.

MONTENEGRINS, funeral rites of, 200, note.

MONTHS of the Hebrews, see pp. 73-76. Intercalary months,

P. 74.

MOSES, the son of Amram and Jochebed, and great-grandson of Levi, was born in Egypt, A. M. 2433. Providentially delivered from the general destruction of all the Hebrew male children, commanded by Pharaoh, and adopted by the daughter of the Egyptian king, Moses was instructed in all the literature and sciences of Egypt. In the eightieth year of his age, he was appointed the leader and legislator of the Hebrews, whom he delivered from their bondage. An account of his jurisdiction, as the viceroy of Jehovah, is given in pp. 41, 42. After conducting the Hebrews through their wanderings in the desert during 40 years, he died on the confines of the land of Canaan, aged 120 years, "when his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated." For an analysis of the Pentateuch, or five books of Moses, see pp. 203-212. In Exod. ii. 10. there is given a Hebrew deriva

NAHUM, a native of Elkosh, the seventh of the minor prophets, is known only by his prophetic denunciations against the Assyrian empire, and particularly Nineveh; for an account of which, see p. 271.

NAIN, a small city or town of Galilee, not far from Capernaum, at the gates of which Jesus Christ raised to life a widow's only son (Luke vii. 11-15.); for an examination of which miracle, see Vol. I. pp. 101, 102. 105. Nain derived its name from its pleasant situation: it is now a decayed village, containing between one and two hundred inhabitants. From its situation on the declivity of a mountain "the scene of that miracle must have been rendered more striking as the funeral procession passed slowly out of the gate down the steep, on the bold breast of which the remains of the place now stand." (Carne's Recollections of the East, p. 55.)

NAKED, the Jewish notion of being, explained, 156. NAMES, various, of the Holy Land, 13, 14.; of Jerusalem. 18, 19. When given to the Jewish children, 111.

NAPHTALI, or NEPHTHALIM, the name of the sixth son of Jacob, born of Bilhah. For the limits of the canton allotted to this tribe, see p. 17.

NARCISSUS, a freedman and favourite of the emperor Claudius, who possessed great influence at court. (Sueton. in Claud. c. 28. Tacit. Annal. 1. xii. c. 57.) In his family or among his clients were some Christians whom St. Paul salutes in Rom. xvi. 11. It does not appear that Narcissus embraced the Christian faith, though the Greeks have made him bishop of Athens and a martyr, and have even placed him in the number of the 70 disciples.

NATHAN, an illustrious prophet in the reign of David, whom

NE

he convinced and reproved by a beautiful and pathetic parable of the heinousness of his guilt in the affair of Bathsheba and Uriah. (2 Sam. xii.) He supposed to have been the preceptor f Solomon, at whose court his sons held distinguished offices, and of whose reign, as well as that of David, Nathan wrote memoirs which have long since perished. (1 Kings iv. 5. 1 Chron. xxix. 29. 2 Chron. ix. 29.) In the book of Zechariah (xii. 12.) the house of Nathan represents the descendants or family of the prophets.

NATHANAEL, OF NATHANIEL, one of the disciples of Christ, who is supposed to be the same person as the apostle BARTHOLOMEW. (John i. 46-50. xxi. 2.)

NAZAREITE, Vow of.

NAZARITES, account of. See p. 130.

NAZARETH, a small city of Lower Galilee, celebrated as having been the place where our Saviour was educated, where he preached, and whence he was called a Nazarene. In the time of Christ it did not possess the best of characters. (John i. 46.) Nazareth, which is at present called Nassara, stands on the side of a barren rocky eminence, or hill, facing the south-east, which is environed by mountains. It was from this hill which overlooks the town, the inhabitants would have precipitated him headlong. (Luke iv. 29.) When visited by Dr. Clarke, in 1801, he found it much reduced. The town was in the most wretched state of indigence and misery; the soil around might bid defiance to agriculture; and to the prospect of starvation were added the horrors of the plague! In 1827, the population amounted to about 2000 persons, principally Christians. Here are numerous reputed holy places to which pilgrims are conducted. The vignette in p. 401. represents the grotto at Nazareth, which is said to have been the house of Joseph and Mary. (Carne's Letters, pp. 251, 252. Madden's Travels, vol. ii. p. 294.) The Rev. Mr. Jowett has given a very interesting description of the site of Nazareth, together with some observations, to account for the bad character which it bore in the time of Jesus Christ. (See his Christian Researches in Syria, &c. pp. 165-169.)

NEAPOLIS. See SHECHEM.

NEBAIOTH, the son of Ishmael, from whom the NABATHEAN tribe of Arabs is supposed to have been descended. (Gen. xxv. 13. xxviii. 9. Isa. lx. 7.) During the several wars maintained by the Jews against the Syrians, under the Maccabean princes, the Nabathæans were the only neighbouring people who showed them any friendship. (1 Macc. v. 24—27.)

NEBO.

1. A mountain beyond the river Jordan, where Moses died. (Deut. xxxii. 49.) It is now completely barren.

2. A city belonging to the tribe of Reuben. (Num. xxxii. 38.) It being in the vicinity of the country of Moab, the Moabites became masters of it; and it was in their possession in the time of Jeremiah. (xlviii. 1.) The site of this ancient city can no longer be traced. Nebo is spoiled. (Jer. xlviii. 1.)

3. A city in the tribe of Judah (Ezra ii. 29. x. 43.), which, in Neh. vii. 33., is, by way of distinction, called the other Nebo. 4. A Babylonish idol (Isa. xlvi. 1.), which Calmet supposes to be the same as Bel or Baal, see p. 139.

NEBUCHADNEZZAR, king of Babylon, who destroyed Jerusalem, and carried the Jews into captivity. (See p. 412. col. 2.) Like other Assyrian and Babylonian names, this word is best explained from the Persian. According to Gesenius, after Lorsbach, it is the same as Nebu-godan-sar, that is, Nebo the chief of the gods. Concerning the nature of Nebuchadnezzar's malady, see pp. 196,

197.

NECHO. See PHARAOH-NECHO.

NEDER, or Common Vow, account of, 130.

NEHEMIAH the son of Hachaliah, was born at Babylon during the captivity, but his family and tribe are not known. Raised to the distinguished office of cupbearer to Artaxerxes Longimanus, whose favour he enjoyed, Nehemiah forgot not his desolated country. Having obtained a royal commission, he went to Jerusalem for a limited time, to repair its walls and gates, and to regulate many abuses which had crept into the administration of public affairs. He subsequently returned to Babylon; whence, by permission of Artaxerxes, he proceeded a second time to Jerusalem, where he died B. c. 420; having governed the Jews about 30 years. For an account of the book which bears his name, see p. 226.

NERGAL, an idol of the Cuthites (2 Kings xvii. 30.), which some suppose to be the planet Mars; and others, to be the sun. NETHINIMS, office of, 112.

NEW MOON, feast of, 122.

NI

NIBHAZ, an idol of the Avites (2 Kings xvii. 31.), which, some Hebrew interpreters think, had the shape of a dog; but other expositors suppose it to have been the sun. The former opinion is the most probable, as vestiges of the ancient worship of an idol in the form of a dog have been discovered in Syria in modern times. (Ikenii, Dissert. pp. 149. et seq. 1749. 4to.)

NICANOR, One of the seven primitive deacons chosen by the church at Jerusalem and ordained by the apostles. (Acts vi. 5.) NICODEMUS, a Pharisee and member of the Jewish sanhedrin, who came by night to Jesus, probably as a serious though timid inquirer. (John iii. 1. 4. 9.) He afterwards took the part of Jesus before the sanhedrin (vii. 50.); and at last joined with Joseph of Arimathea to give his body an honourable burial. (xix. 39.)

NICHOLAS, a proselyte of Antioch, who was chosen one of the seven deacons of the primitive church. (Acts vi. 5.) Many persons have supposed him to be the head of the the divine nature of Christ descended upon him at his baptism, NICOLAITANS, a sect mentioned in Rev. ii. 6. 15., who held that and redescended at his crucifixion, and who abandoned themhas also been supposed to be the founder of this sect. selves to gross impurity and profligacy of life. Another Nicholas A better opinion, however, seems to be, that the appellation here is not a proper name, but symbolical; and that it refers to the same persons who are mentioned in Rev. ii. 14. as holding the doctrine of Balaam: since the Greek name Nos corresponds to the Hebrew, which is formed from y, that is conquer, and y, that is ass, the people. The allusion according to Mr. Robinson, to whom we are indebted for this article, is to false and seducing teachers like Balaam, and perhaps refers more particularly to such as opposed the decree of the apostles. The Nicolaitans are conjectured to have been alluded to in 2 Pet. ii. and in Jude 7—19.

T:/

4

vinda, to

NICOPOLIS, a city of Epirus, upon the Ambracian Gulf mentioned by St. Paul in Tit. iii. 12. Others, however, suppose it to be Nicopolis of Thrace, on the confines of Macedonia, near the river Nessus.

NIGHT, Jewish and Roman divisions of, 73.

NILE, a celebrated river of Egypt, which formed one of the boundaries of the Holy Land. See p. 14. In Gen. xli. 1. Exod. i. 22. ii. 5. iv. 9. vii. 18. and viii. 3. 9. 11., it is termed the River without any addition. On the turning of the waters of the Nile into blood, see p. 206.

NIMROD, the son of Cush, and founder of the kingdom of BABYLON. (Gen. x. 8. 10.) In consequence of the protection which he afforded to the people against wild beasts, he may by their own consent have become their leader and chief; or, turning his weapons of hunting against men, he may have compelled them to submit to his dominion. His name (which signifies a rebel) seems to favour the latter supposition. (Jahn's Hebr. Commonwealth, vol. i. p. 5.) In Mic. v. 6. Babylon is called the Land of Nimrod.

NINEVEH, the capital of the Assyrian empire, could boast of the remotest antiquity. It was founded by Nimrod, or (as the text of Gen. x. 11. may be rendered) by Ashur the son of Shem: by the Greeks and Romans it was called Ninus. According to some writers it stood on the eastern bank of the Tigris above Babylon, while others represent it as being erected on the western bank: it may very probably have occupied both. This city was very splendid, and of great extent; according to Diodorus Siculus it was 480 stadia or 48 English miles (others estimate it 60 miles) in circumference: in the time of Jonah it was an exceeding great city of three days' journey," containing "more than six-score thousand persons that could not discern between their right hand and their left." (Jon. iii. 3. iv. 11.) Its destruction within forty days, which that prophet had denounced, was averted by the general repentance and humiliation of the inhabitants (iii. 4—10.), and was suspended for nearly two hundred years, until " their iniquity came to the full ;" and then the prophecy (see Vol. I. pp. 125, 126.) was literally accomplished, in the third year of the siege of the city, by the combined Medes and Babylonians; the king, Sardanapalus, being encouraged to hold out in consequence of an ancient prophecy that Nineveh should never be taken by assault till the river became its enemy; when a mighty inundation of the river, swollen by continual rains, came up against a part of the city, and threw down twenty stadia of the wall in length; upon which the king, conceiving that the oracle was accomplished, burnt himself, his concubines, eunuchs, and treasures; and the enemy, entering by the breach, sacked

Ο Ν

and rased the city about B. c. 606. (For a copious description of ancient Nineveh, see Dr. Hales's Analysis of Chronology, vol. i. pp. 448-450.) Of this once celebrated city there are literally no remains. Four mounds, the largest running north and south, and the most southerly called after the prophet Jonah, whose tomb it is supposed to contain, exhibit all that can now be traced of the metropolis of Asia. (See a description of them in Mr. Buckingham's Travels in Mesopotamia, vol. ii. 49–51. 60.)

NISROCH, a Babylonish idol, notice of, 139.

No, No-AMON, or No-AMUN, the Thebes of ancient geographers, was the metropolis of Upper Egypt. It is mentioned in Jer. xlvi. 25. Ezek. xxx. 14-16. and Nahum iii. 8. In the Septuagint version of Ezekiel No is rendered as, the city of Jupiter; in Nahum No-Amon is rendered Maps Aupar. The latter appears to be an etymological explanation of the word after the Coptic. In that language NOH signifies a cord, or measuring line, hence a portion measured out; and No-Amon portio, possessio Amonis, that is, the seat of the god Amon, or the place where he was principally worshipped. (Jablonskii Opuscula, tom. i. pp. 163-168. Gibbs's Hebr. Lex. p. 406.)

NOAH, the son of Lamech, and the father of the post-diluvian world, was born A. M. 1056. Being the only righteous man of his time, he was preserved together with his family in the ark during the deluge. (For a refutation of skeptical objections to which, see Vol. I. pp. 75, 76.) Noah lived 350 years after that catastrophe, dying at the age of 950 years, A. M. 2006. He left three sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, by whom the whole earth was overspread or peopled. (Gen. ix. 18, 19. x. 32.) The seven precepts of Noah, see p. 109. note 2.

NOPH, or MEMPHIS, a very celebrated city, the same as Thebes and the capital of Egypt, until the Ptolemies removed the seat of government to Alexandria. By the modern Copts it is called MENO, MENOTO, and NOT: whence we may explain both the Hebrew forms (NOPH) and D (MEMPH), and also the Greek name M. Plutarch (de Isid. et Osirid. p. 639 ed. Stephani) interprets the name opov ȧybav, from the Coptic meh, full, and nouphi, good; or Taper Oripidis, from the Coptic mhau, a grave, and onphi, everyers, a benefactor, as Osiris is called. (Jablonskii, Opusc. tom. i. pp. 137. 150. 179. tom. ii. p. 131. Gibbs's Hebr. Lex. p. 381.) The prophets often mention this city; and predict the calamities which it was to suffer from the kings of Chaldæa and Persia, &c. (See Isa. xix. 13. Jer. xliv. 1. Hos. ix. 6. Ezek. xxx. 13. 16.) Its ruins are very splendid. Jeremiah had foretold, ages before, that Noph should "be waste and desolate, without an inhabitant” (xlvi. 19.), and not a family or cottage is said to remain.

NOSE-JEWELS of the Jewish women, notice of, 158.
NUPTIAL CEREMONIES of the Jews, 161, 162.
NURTURE of children, 163, 164.

OAKS, forest of, 36.

ОATHS of the Hebrews, how taken, 81, 82. OBADIAH, the fourth of the minor prophets: he probably was contemporary with Jeremiah. See pp. 281, 282.

OBLATIONS, different kinds of, 119. Ordinary, ibid. Voluntary, ibid. Prescribed, 120, 121.

OFFICERS (military) of the Jews, 85. And of the Romans, 92, 93.

OFFICERS of the Palace, notice of, 47.
OFFICERS of the Synagogue, 104.

OLIVES, Mount of, 19. Culture of Olives, 36. 179, 180. OLYMPIC GAMES, allusions to, in the New Testament, 191194. Qualifications and previous discipline of the candidates, 192. Foot-race, ibid. Rewards to the victors, ibid. Games in imitation of them instituted among the Jews, 190.

by Omri. (1 Kings xvi.)

OMRI, general of the army of Elah, king of Israel, who wes assassinated by Zimri at the siege of Gibbethon, and was succeeded He was a wicked prince, whose crimes surpassed those of his predecessors: he died at Samaria, B. c. 914, and was succeeded on the throne by his son Ahab. ON.

1. A pleasant valley in Syria of Damascus, now called Un, and used proverbially for a pleasant vale.

2. ON, AUN, or HELIOPOLIS, a city of Egypt. The father-inlaw of Joseph was high-priest of On (Gen. xli. 45.); there rendered Heliopolis, by the Septuagint version, and noticed also by Herodotus; who says that the Heliopolitans were reckoned the wisest of the Egyptians." This was the city of Moses, ac

PA

cording to Berosus: and well accounts for his scriptural character, that "he was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians." (Acts vii. 22.) Heliopolis was the Greek translation of Bethshemesh, "the house or city of the Sun," as it was called by Jeremiah, "Beth-shemesh, in the land of Egypt" (xliii. 13.), to distinguish it from another Beth-shemesh, in the land of Canaan. It was called Beth Aven, the house of vanity," or idolatry, by the Jews. (Ezek. xxx. 17.)

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ONESIMUS, a Phrygian by birth, and the slave of Philemon, from whom he fled; but being converted to Christianity through the preaching of St. Paul, he was the occasion of the apostle's writing the admirable Epistle to Philemon. (Col. iv. 9. Philem. 10.)

ОPHIR, a country whither Solomon sent a fleet, aided by the subjects of Hiram king of Tyre, and from which they brought back gold (1 Kings ix. 27, 28. 2 Chron. viii. 17, 18.), and also almug trees and precious stones. (1 Kings x. 11.) Not fewer than fiften or sixteen countries have been assigned, by various commentators and critics, as the site of Ophir, but the most probable is that of M. Huet, bishop of Avranches, who is of opinion that it was on the eastern coast of Africa, by the Arabians termed Zanguebar; that the name of Ophir was more particularly given to the small country of Sofala on the same coast; and that Solomon's fleet went out from the Red Sea, and from the port of Ezion-geber entered the Mediterranean by a canal of communication; and doubling Cape Guardafui, coasted along Africa to Sofala, where was found in abundance whatever was brought to the Hebrew monarch by this voyage. The opinion of Huet is adopted by Mr. Bruce, who has confirmed it by various additional considerations.

ORATORIES of the Jews described, 102, 103.
ORATORY cultivated by the Jews, 186.

OTHNIEL, the son of Kenaz of the tribe of Judah, and a relation of Caleb, who gave him his daughter Achsah in marriage, on his taking Debir, otherwise called Kiriath-sepher, from the Canaanites. (Josh. xv. 16-19.) After the Israelites had been oppressed for eight years by Chushan-rishathcum, king of Mesopotamia, Othniel was excited to levy an army against him. He overcame the Mesopotamians, and delivered his country men, who acknowledged him as regent or judge. During the forty years of his administration the Israelites remained faithful to their God and king, and consequently prospered. (Judg. iii. 8—11.) OVENS of the Jews, 154.

PAINTING, art of, among the Jews, 183. Painting of the eyelids practised by the Jewish women, 158.

PALACE, officers of, 47.

PALESTINE, boundaries of, 14. 22. See HOLY LAND. PALM TREE, notice of, 36.

PALMYRA. See TADMOR.

PALSY, variety of discases so termed, 197.

PAMPHYLIA, a province of Asia Minor, having to the south the Pamphylian Sea, mentioned Acts xxvii. 5., Cilicia to the east, and Pisidia to the north (whence we find Saint Paul passing through Pisidia to Pamphylia, Acts xiv. 24.), and from Pamphylia to Pisidia (Acts xiii. 14.), and Lycia to the west. The cities mentioned in the Scriptures as belonging to it are Perga and Attalia. (Acts xiii. 13.) Here numerous Jews dwelt, and hence those of Pamphylia are mentioned among those who appeared at Jerusalem at the day of Pentecost. (Acts ii. 10.)

PAPHOS, the metropolis of the island of Cyprus (Acts xiii. 4. 6.), and the residence of the pro-consul. It was memorable for the impure worship paid to Venus, the tutelar deity of the island. Here Saint Paul struck blind Elymas the sorcerer, and converted Sergius the pro-consul. The Jews dwelt here in great numbers. (ver. 6.) Twenty-five or thirty miserable huts are all that remain of this once most distinguished city of Cyprus. See CYPRUS.

PARADISE, a word of Persian original, signifying a park, garden, or inclosure, full of all the valuable productions of the earth. The word passed into the Hebrew form D (PaRnes), which occurs in Sol. Song iv. 13. Neh. ii. 8. Eccles. ii. 5.; and in those passages it is rendered Пapaders in the Septuagint version, and denotes a garden of trees of various kinds, a pleasure park, a delightful grove. In the New Testament paradise is applied to the state of faithful souls between death and the resurrection; where, like Adam in Eden, they are admitted to immediate communion with God in Christ, or to a participation of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. (Luke xxiii. 43. Rev. ii. 7.) Of this blessed state St. Paul had a foretaste.