Some Dictionary words related with the Canaanites and it’s relatives before and after Joshua
Source: The New Bible Dictionary, Douglas, J. D.
(Ed), WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids Michigan. 1962, The
Inter-Varsity Fellowship.
“…No archaeological remains have been recovered which throw any light on this question, unless the presence of Neanderthal in the caves of Mount Carmel are considered to do so.”
T. C. M.
T.C. Mitchell, M.A., Research Assistant, Department of Western
Asiatic Antiquities, The British Museum.
“ “Babel”, “gate of god” (name given by it´s builders), “balal,
mixing, or better, confusion” (name given by God). Name of one of the chief
cities founded by Nimrod in the land of Shinar (Sumer), ancient Babylonia. It
is named with Erech and Accad (Gn. 10:10)… and a text of Sharkalisharri, king
of Agade c. 2250 BC, mentioning his restoration of the temple-tower (ziggurat)
at Babylon, implies the existence of an earlier sacred city on the site… the
tower (migdol) intended to be a very high landmark associated with the
city and its worshippers. It is generally assumed that, like the city, the
tower was incomplete (verse 8), and that it was a staged temple tower or
multi-storeyed ziggurat… from the low temenos or platform supporting a
shrine set up near the main city temples (as at Erech and Uqair). After
Sharkalisharri the earliest reference to the ziggurat at Babylon is to its
restoration by Esarhaddon in 681-665 BC. This was named in Sumerian
“Etemenanki” – “the building of the foundation – platform - of heaven and
earth” and associated with the temple of Marduk Esagila, “the building whose
top is (in) heaven”. It is very probable that such a sacred edifice followed an
earlier plan. The tower was severely damaged in the war of 652-648 BC but
restored again by Nebuchadressar II (605-562 BC). It was this building, part of
which was recovered by Koldewey in 1899, which was described by Herodotus on
his visit c. 460 BC and is discussed in a cuneiform tablet dated 229 BC (Louvre,
AO 6555).
These enable an
approximate picture of the later tower to be given. The base stage measured 295
x 295 feet and was 108 feet high. Above this were built five platforms, each 20-60
feet high but of diminishing area. The whole was crowned by a temple where the
god was thought to descent for intercourse with mankind. Access was by ramps or
stairways. For similar ziggurats, see Assyria, Babylon, Ur, Calah (Nimrud),
Erech, Nineveh. (Note of the editor: The Mexican pyramids, specially in
Teotihuacan and in the Mayan region are also pyramids with the same pagan religious
concept of the ziggurats (and this is a striking evidence of the
spreading of people after Babel), see: http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Teotihuacan.html and http://www.concentric.net/~Yohon/)…
According to Gn. 11:9, the intervention of God at the building
of Babel led to the confusion of tongues and the subsequent dispersion of
mankind, possibly in the days of Peleg (Gn. 10:25).
Babel, as Babylon throughout its history, became a symbol of the
pride of man and his inevitable fall”.
From:
http://www-lib.haifa.ac.il/www/art/reconstruction_ur.gif A
reconstruction of the temple-tower, or ziggurat, as built by Ur-Nammu, king of
Ur, c. 2100 BC. The platforms were of different colors (black, red, blue), the
temple at the top being covered with silver. The terraces were planted with
trees, and this arrangement on the ziggurat at Babylon may have given rise to
the idea of the “hanging gardens” there”.
Bibliography. A. Parrot, The Tower of Babel, 1955.
D. J. W.
From the “University of Haifa” Archimedia webpages (Ziggurat):
http://www-lib.haifa.ac.il/www/art/babel.html “Archaeologists
discovered a core consisting of the ruins of previous ziggurats which had been
leveled and enlarged several times, before Nebuchadnezzar added a casing of
burnt brick 15 m thick. Of this structure only the ground plan and traces of
the three stairs leading up to it have been preserved. A tablet giving
measurements and the eye-witness account of the Greek historian Herodotos
describe it as having had seven stages of different colors with a temple at its
top.”
http://www-lib.haifa.ac.il/www/art/ur.html “This
ziggurat was erected… by Ur-Nammu at Ur around 2113-2096 B.C. It was composed
of three stages… The remains of the ziggurat probably stood over an existing
structure going back to the early dynastic period, and restored by the
Neo-Babylonian king Nabonidus (556-539 B.C.). It is the most preserved of all
ziggurats in Mesopotamia and has been partially reconstructed reaching a hight
of 11 m. It stood within a rectangular court 62.5 m x 43 m. at the base. Its
outer faces are of baked brick, are inclined to a pronounced batter and have
regularly spaced, flat buttresses. These outer faces encase the solid core of
mud bricks. Access to the ziggurat was through three converging ramps from
where a central stairway continued to the second stage…”)
Taken from: http://www-lib.haifa.ac.il/www/art/list_Ziggurat.html
“A giant of Gath serving in the Philistine army (1 Sa. 17:4),
Goliath may have descended from that remnant of the Rephaim which, after having
been scattered by the Ammonites (Dt. 2:20, 21; 2 Sa. 21:22), took refuge with
the Philistines. For discussion of his origin, see G. A. Wainwright, “Early
Philistine History”, VT, IX, 1959, pp 79 f. His height is given as “six cubits
and a span”, i. e. 10 ½ feet, if the cubit is understood as 21 inches. That
this, though an unusual, is not an impossible phenomenon, is confirmed by the
discovery in Palestine of human skeletons of similar stature and of roughly the
same period.
Goliath was slain by David at Ephesdammim in a duel whose
religious character is attested by 1 Sa. 17:43, 45; and perhaps also by the
Philistines flight, if this is directly attributed to their conviction that the
God of Israel had overcome their god (cf. 2 Sa. 23:9-12; 1 Ch. 11:12 ff.). Goliath´s
sword, which had been kept in the sanctuary at Nob, was given by the priest
Ahimelech to David when the latter was fleeing from Saul to the king of Gath,
for whom the weapon was likely to be an acceptable present.
Two latter appearances of the name have puzzled scholars.
Elhanan is recorded as having slain “(the brother (or others have been
suggested “the son”) of) Goliath the Gittite” – so AV of 2 Sa. 21:19, and again
(without parentheses) un 1 Ch. 20:5, where the victim´s name is given as Lahmi.
For full discussion of the problem and possible emendation, see S. R. Driver,
Notes on the Hebrew text of the books of Samuel, 1913; and E. J. Young,
Introduction to the Old Testament, 1949, pp. 181 f”.
J. D. D.
J. D. Douglas, M. A., B. D., S. T. M., Ph. D., British Editorial
Associate, Christianity Today.
“One of the sons of Noah… and ancestor of many descendants… one
section of his descent was Egypt… At the end of the flood when Noah was drunk
Ham saw him naked and informed his two brothers, who covered up their father.
In consequence of this Noah put a curse upon Canaan (Gn. 9:20-27)… Also Ham is
the name of a city whose inhabitants, the Zuzim, were smitten by Chedorlaomer
in the time of Abraham (Gn. 14:5). The site, though probably somewhere in
Transjordan, is unknown”.
T. C. M.
“Early inhabitants of Moab, who were smitten in the plain of Kiriathaim by Chedorlaomer in the time of Abraham (Gn. 14:5). They were described by Moses as a great and numerous people, to be compared in stature to the Anakim (Dt. 2:10). They were evidently considered to belong to the peoples known as Rephaim, but were called “emim”, “terrifying beings”, by the Moabites who followed them in the area (Dt. 2:11). They are unknown outside the Bible. See GIANT”
T. C. M.
“(Heb. “Zuzim”, Gk. “Ethne ischyra”, strong
peoples).
A people, conquered by Chedorlaomer, whose territory lay east of Jordan (Gn, 15:5). Their principal city, Ham, is probably to be identified with the modern village of the same name north-east of Gilboa Mts. In N. Jordan. Tristram (Moab, pp. 182 ff.) and others, however, have sought to identify them with the Moabite village of Ziza, between Bozra and Lejun. Because the Zuzim are mentioned in parallel with the Rephaim and Emim, it may be that it is descriptive of the inhabitants (so LXX) rather than a tribal name. For this reason some equate them with Zamzummim who are identified with, or described as, Rephaim (Dt. 2:20), whose territory was later overrun by Ammonites”.
D. J. W.
D. J. Wiseman, O. B. E., M. A., A. K. C., F. S. A., Professor of
Assyriology, University of London.
Rephaim
“One of the pre-Israelite peoples of Palestine mentioned,
together with the Zuzim and Emim, in the time of Abraham as having been
defeated by Chedorlaomer (Gn. 14:5). They are also listed among the inhabitants
of the land God promised to Abraham´s seed (Gn. 15:20). At the time of the
conquest the Rephaim seem to have inhabited a wide area, but were known by
different local names. In Moab the Moabites, who succeeded them there, called
them Emim (Dt. 2:11), and likewise in Ammon, where they preceded the Ammonites,
they were known as Zamzummim (Dt 2:20-21).
They were a formidable people, being compared in stature with
the Anakim (Dt 2:21), and LXX renders the name by “gigas”, “giant” in Gn. 14:5;
Jos. 12:4, 13:12, and 1Ch. 11:15, 14:9, 20:4, a rendering adopted by AV in Dt
2:11, 20, 3:11, 13; Jos. 12:4, 13:12, 15:8, 17:15, 18:16; 1 Ch. 20:4 (LXX
translates it “Titanes” in 2 Sa. 5:18, 22). It may be that the forms of
“rapa” (2 Sa. 21:16, 18, 20, 22; 1Ch. 20:6, 8), which are rendered
“giant” in English versions (LXX gigas in 2 Sa. 21:22, 1 Ch. 20:6). Are variant
forms of the name rephaim, but the context of these occurrences (is) in connection
with a Philistine… The name is unknown in an ethnic sense outside the Bible”.
Bibliography. J. Gray, “The Rephaim”, PEQ, LXXX1, 1949, pp.
127-139, and LXXXIV, 1952, pp. 39-41; H. W. F. Saggs, “Faith and Thought”, XC,
1958, pp. 170-172.
T. C. M.
“The Anakim, descendants of an eponymous ancestor Anak, were
among the pre-Israelite inhabitants of Palestine. The name Anak occurs without
the article only in Nu. 13:33 and Dt. 9:2, but elsewhere it appears in the form
of “the Anak” (“ha anak”), where it is presumably to be taken as the
collective, equivalent to Anakim. The phrase “the city of Arba” (“kiriath-arba”
or “qiryat arba”), father of Anak in Jos 15:13 apparently indicates that an
individual named Arba was the ultimate ancestor of the Anakim, unless the noun
“father” is taken to qualify the city, in which case this city, later known as
Hebron, was considered the ancestral home of the Anakim.
The stature and formidable nature of the Anakim was almost
proverbial, for they were taken as a standard for comparison to stress the size
of such other peoples as the Emim (Dt. 2:10) and the Rephaim (Dt. 2:21), and
there was a saying, “who can stand before the sons of Anak?” (see Dt. 9:2). In
the account of the promised land brought back by the ten faint-hearted spies,
emphasis was laid on the fact that the Anakim were there (Dt. 1:28; the LXX
here renders “anaqim” by “gigantes”). It was even stated that they were
descended from the Nephilim, who were also claimed as sons of Anak, and the
spies said that they felt like grasshoppers beside them (Nu. 13:33). They were
settled in the hill-country, particularly at Hebron (Nu. 13:22), where Ahiman,
Sheshai, and Talmai, “offspring of the Anak”, were found. Joshua cut the Anakim
off from the hill-country (from Hebron, Debir, and Anab), but some were left in
Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod (Jos. 11:21 f.), and it fell to Caleb finally to drive
them out from Hebron, which had been allotted to him. Nothing is known of these
people outside the Bible, unless they are, as some scholars hold, among the
peoples mentioned in the Egyptian 18th-century execration texts”.
Bibliography. KB, p. 722, ANET, p. 328.
T. C. M.
“An Amorite king of Bashan, of the giant race of Rephaim at the time
of the conquest of Palestine (Nu. 21:33; Jos. 13:12). His kingdom was a
powerful one, having sixty cities “fenced with high walls, gates and bars” (Dt.
3:4, 5), extending from Mt. Hermon to the Jabbok. These included two royal
cities, Ashtaroth and Edrei, at the latter of which the Israelites defeated and
slew him. His territory was given to the half tribe of Manasseh (Dt. 3:13),
which remained east of the Jordan. His defeat was one of the signal victories
of Israel (cf. Jos. 9:10; Ne. 9:22; Pss. 135:11, 136:20).
His bed (“eresh”) was renowned as made of black basalt. Some
have conjectured that it was in reality a sarcophagus, although the word
nowhere else bears this meaning; but many such sarcophagi have been found in
the region. It appears to have fallen into the hands of the Ammonites and was
kept in Rabbah (Dt. 3:11)”.
M. A. M.
M. A. MacLeod, M. A., Minister of Tarbert Free Church of
Scotland, Argyll.
Sihon
“The Babylonian Talmud (Niddah 61a) records a tradition not found in the Bible that Sihon was the brother of King Og (also an Amorite), and a son of Ahijah, son of the legendary fallen angel Shamhazai”.
Bibliography: G. A. Smith, The Historical Geography of the Holy
Land, 25, 1931, pp. 588-591, 691-693; A. Musil, Arabia Petraea, I, Moab, 1907,
pp. 375, 376.
J. T.
J. Thompson, B. A., Th. M., Ph. D., Professor of Old Testament
Language in the Evangelical Theological Seminary, Cairo, Egypt.
Horites
“The ancient inhabitants of Edom, defeated by Chedorlaomer (Gn. 14:6), said to be the descendants of Seir the Horite (Gn. 36:20) and an ethnic group distinct from Rephaim… The Horites were formerly considered to be cave-dwellers (horim, cf. Is 42:22), a view recently revived by Dossin who considers them to be miners…”
Bibliography: I. J. Gelb, Hurrians and Subarinas, 1944; E. A.
Speiser, Introduction to Hurrian, 1941; Journal of world History, I, 1953, pp.
311-327.
D. J. W.
“A city inhabited by the Rephaim, sacked by Chedorlaomer in the time of Abraham (Gn. 14:5)…”
T. C. M.
“A city, presumably a center of the worship of the goddess Ashtaroth (see below)… the city probably mentioned in the time of Abraham was later the capital of Og, king of Bashan (Dt. 1:4). It was in the territory allotted to Manasseh by Moses (Jos. 13:31), but, though Joshua conquered Og (Jos. 9:10) and took Ashtaroth (Jos. 12:4), it was evidently not held, for it remained among the territories yet to be possessed when Joshua was an old man (Jos. 13:12)… A stylized representation of a city with crenellated towers and battlements standing on a mound below the name as-tar-tu is given on a bas-relief of tiglath-pileser II which was discovered at Nimrud (BM 118908)”.
That was also the name of a mother goddess with aspects as goddess of fertility, love and war, known to the Israelites through the Canaanites (1 Ki 11:5)…”
T. C. M.
“The son of Cush, an early warrior who lived in Babylonia, where his kingdom included Babylon (Babel), Erech, and Akkad. He founded Nineveh and Calah in Assyria. Was famous as a hunter… others see in Nimrod exploits attributed to such early deities as Ninurta (Nimurda), the bab. And Assyr. God of war, and the hunter… or Marduk (Merodach).”
D. J. W.
“Mentioned among the occupants of
Canaan, with the jebusites, etc. in the hills (hill-dwellers), with the
Canaanites near Bethel, near Shechem, and in the Judaean hills, and with the
Rephaim”.
J. P. U. L.
J. P. U. Lilley, M. A., A. C. A.,
Magdalen College, Oxford.
“Ethnic name of a Canaanite people dwelling in the hills round about Jerusalem. Descended from the third son of Canaan, they are listed as distinct, but minority, group of people living alongside such peoples as Amorites and Heth. Jebus was a name given to Jerusalem… Adoni-zedek raised his local Amorite allies to protect the city from the Israelites entering the area… its original inhabitants regained control at least until the attack by David (2 Sa. 5:6). The Jebusites were allowed to remain on the temple hill until their ground was brought over or the Jebusite minority absorbed by the Judqaeans who built a new quarter on Zion (Jdg. 1:21; 19:11)”.
D. J. W.
“Amalek was the son of Eliphaz and the grandson of Esau (Gn.
36:12, 16). The name is used as a collective noun for his descendants,
Amalekites (Ex. 17:8; Nu. 24:20; Dt. 25:17; Jdg. 3:13, etc.).
Some writers distinguish the nomadic Amalekites normally found in the Negeb and Sinai area, from the descendants of Esau, because Gn. 14:7, which pre-dates Esau, refers to the “country of the Amalekites”… They attacked Israel at Rephidim in the wilderness of Sinai (Ex. 17:8-13; Dt. 25:17, 18)…A year later, after the report of the spies, Israel ignored Moses command and sought to enter southern Palestine. The Amalekites defeated them at Hormah (Nu. 14:43, 45). The Amalekites also assisted Eglon, king of Moad, to attack Israelite territory (Jdg. 3:13), and later combined forces with the Midianites and the children of the East to raid Israelite crops and flocks. Gideon drove them out (Jdg. 6:3-5, 33; 7:12; 10:12).
From Exodus onwards, Amalekites were to be found in the Negeb,
but for a time they gained a foothold in Ephraim (Jdg. 12:15). Balaam, the
foreign prophet, looked away to their lands from his vantage-point in Moab, and
described them as “the first of the nations” (Nu. 24:20), which may mean in
regard either to origin or to status.
Samuel commanded Saul to destroy the Amalekites in the area
south of Telaim. Booty was forbidden. Saul pursued them from Havilah to Shur
but captured their king alive. Later, Samuel slew Agag and rebuked Saul (1 Sa.
15).
David founght the amalekites in the area of Ziklag which Achish,
king of Gath, had given him (1 Sa. 27:6; 30:1-20). The Amalekites declined
later, and in Hezekiah´s days the sons of Simeon attacked “the remnant of the
Amalekites that escaped”, taking their stronghold in Mount Seir (1 Ch. 4:43)”.
Biblography: F. M. Abel, Géographie
de la Palestine, 1933, II, pp. 270-273.
J. A. T.
J. A. Thompson, M. A., B. Ed., M. Sc., B. D., Lecturer in the
Baptist Theological College of new south Wales.
“A great nation which gave its name to the whole region of Syria
(Jos. 1:4)…an ethnic group living in Canaan from patriarchal times until after
Israelite settlement (Gn. 15:20; Dt. 7:1; Jdg. 3:5), called “the children of
Heth” (Gn. 23:3, etc.) after their eponymous ancestor Heth, a son of Canaan
(Gn. 10:15)… in patriarchal times appear as inhabiting the central ridge of
Judah, especially the Hebron district… Esau grieved his parents by marrying two
“daughters of Heth… daughters of the land” (Gn. 27:46) – apparently in the
Beersheba region… “Jerusalem, according to Ezk 16:3, 45, had a mixed Hittite
and Amorite foundation.” The last reference to the Hittites of Canaan is in
Solomon´s reign (2 Ch 8:7); thereafter they were merged in the general
population of the land”.
F. F. B.
“A tribe listed among the descendants of Canaan in Gn. 10:16; 1Ch. 1:14, and part of the very mixed population of Canaan… In due course they were overcome by Israel (Dt. 7:1; Jos 3:10, 24:11)”.
K. A. K.
K. A. Kitchen, B. A., Lecturer in Egyptian and Coptic,
University of Liverpool.
“A Midianite tribe (Nu. 10:29, Jdg.
1:16, 4:11). The name means “smith” and the presence of cooper south-east of
the gulf of Aqabah, the Kenite-Midianite region, confirms this interpretation…
They first appear as inhabitants of… Canaan (Gn. 15:19)”.
J. A. M.
“A city in N. Transjordan taken from the Canaanites by Nobah, who gave his name (Nu. 32:42), and reconquered by Geshur and Aram (1 Ch. 2:23)…”
J. D. D.
“A leading Edomite family, tracing descent from Elipaz Esau´s eldest son (Gn. 36:11, 15, 42; 1 Ch. 1:36, 53). Part of them joined the Judahites… they are mentioned, gn. 15:19, with nine other nations as occupying the land promised to Abraham…”
J. P. U. L.
“The “Easterns”. The word occurs but once as a name however (Gn. 15:19, with the article)…”
T. C. M.
“A people of Canaan (Gn 10:16) often listed with the Hittites, Perizzites, etc. as opponents of Israel (Ex. 33:2)…At the time of the Israelite invasion of Palestine, Amorite kings (Sihon of Heshbon and Og of Bashan) ruled most of Transjordan (Jos 12:1-6, Jdg. 1:36). The conquest of these two kings was the first stage of the possession of the Promised Land and was looked upon as a most important event in Israelite history (Am 2:9; Pss. 135:11, 136:19). Gad, Reuben, and half of Manasseh occupied this territory (Nu. 32:33)”.
Bibliography: S. Moscati, The Semites in Ancient History, 1959;
J. R. Kupper, Les Nomades en Mésopotamie au temps des Rois de mari, 1957;
review by A. Goetze, JSS, IV, 1959, pp. 142-147; I. J. Gelb, JCS, XV, 1961, pp.
24-47.
A. R. M.
A. R. Millard, M. A., Librarian, Tyndale House, Cambridge.
Heb “qiriat arba”, “city of four”, i. e. “tetrapolis”. An earlier name of Hebron. According to Jos 14:15, it was “the metropolis of the Anakim” (so LXX; AV makes the numeral “arba”, “four”, into a personal name). The name Kiriath-arba occurs once in the story of Abraham (Gn. 23:2) and a few times in the narrative of the conquest (Jos. 14:15, 15:54, 20:7; Jdg. 1:10); thereafter it evidently fell into disuse… (one) use in the post-exilic age (Ne. 11:25), but with the Idumaean occupation of the place soon afterwards the old name uas completely discontinued”.
F. F. B.
F. F. Bruce, M. A., D. D., Rylands Professor of Biblical
Criticism and Exegesis, University of Manchester.
“Hebron, “confederacy”, cf. its alternative and older name
Kiriath-arba, “tetrapolis”.
The highest town in Palestine, 3,040 feet above the level of the
Mediterranean, 19 miles SSW of Jerusalem… in Abraham days the resident
population were the “sons of Heth” (Hittites), form whom Abraham brought the
field of Machpelah with its cave to be a family burying-ground (Gn. 23)…The 12
spies (sent by Moses) to report on the land of Canaan (the promised land)
explored the region of Hebron; at that time it was populated by the “children
of Anak” (Nu. 13:22, 28, 33)… Hebron itself and the surrounding territory were
conquered from the Anakim by Caleb and given to him as a family possession… “
F. F. B.
Sodom & Gomorrah
“…archaeological
investigation shows… there was a catastrophe which emptied the area of settled
occupation for 600 years… Biblically, and fundamentally, it was God´s judgment,
remembered again and again throughout the Bible (Dt. 29:13; Is. 1:9; Je. 49:18;
La. 4:6; Am. 4:11; Lk. 17:29; 2 Pe. 2:6); and Sodom became synonymous with
brazen sin (Is. 3:9; La. 4:6; Jude 7). Whereas Ezk 16:49 lists the sins of
Sodom as pride, prosperous complacency, and “abomination”, Gn 19:4, 5
concentrates on sexual perversion, particularly homosexuality.”
J. A. M.
J. A. Motyer, M. A., B. D., Vice-Principal of Clifton
Theological College, Bristol.
Jericho
“Was the “city of palm trees”, but “Yarih”
means “Moon”, maybe been the god of that city… From c. 3,200 BC was again
inhabited as a walled and towered town, contemporary with Egypt´s Pyramid age
and the Sumerian civilization in Mesopotamia, but in c. 2,300 was invaded by
uncultured newcomers that coalesced with Canaanites… after c. 1,600 was
destroyed, probably by Egypt and resettled, until Joshua did take the city,
protecting only the faithful Rahab and her family… was in the plains of Jericho
that the Babylonians captured Zedekiah, last king of Judah… the environs of New
Testament Jericho witnessed Christ´s healings of blind men, including
Bartimaeus. Zacchaeus was living there”.
Bibliography: Miss K. M. Kenyon reviewed Gargstang´s results in
PEQ, LXXXIII, 1951, pp. 101-138. And her excavations from 1952 to 1958 are in
PEQ, LXXXIX, 1952, to XCII, 1960, Digging up Jericho, 1957 (fully illustrated),
Jericho I, 1960 (on tombs), etc… For an instructive (and humorous) general
account of these excavation, see W = M. Wheeler, The Walls of Jericho, 1956
(paper-back, 1960)…
K. A. K.
“The villain in the book of Esther, who plots to massacre the Jews when his vanity is hurt by Mordecai´s refusal to bow to him. He is eventually hanged in the gallows that he has prepared for Mordecai. He is called an Agagite. His name nay be derived from the Elamite god, Hum(b)an (Humman)”.
J. S. W.
“An adjective applied to Haman in Est. 3:1, 10; 8:3, 5; 9:24. Josephus (Ant. 11:6:5) makes him an Amalekite, presumably descended from Agag, whom Saul spared (1 Sa. 15). Mordecai, who brought about haman´s fall, was, like Saul, descended from Kish (Est. 2:5; 1 Sa. 9:1)…”
J. S. W.
J. S. Wright, M. A., Principal of Tyndale Hall, Bristol.
“In the list of david´s
sons in 2 Sa. 3:3 the third is Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai
king of Geshur, a city in Syria (2 Sa. 15:8; 1 Ch. 3:2), to the north-east of
Bashan (Jos 12:5; 13:2, 11, 13).
It was the city to which Absalom fled after the murder of his
brother Amnon (2 Sa. 13:37) and to which David sent Joab to bring him back
(14:23). The young man returned to Jerusalem, but only to plot rebellion
against his father (2 Sa. 14:32, 15:8)”.
G. T. M.
The late G. T. Manley, M. A., sometime Fellow of Christ´s
College, Cambridge.
“From a small state to the south-east of Mt. Hermon, on the edge of the territory of the half tribe of Manasseh (Dt. 3:14, Jos. 13:8.13) and possibly extending across the Jordan to Abel-beth-Maacah. At the time of David, its Aramaean king provided one thousand soldiers for the Ammonite and Aramaean attempt to crush Israel. Following the defeat at Helam, Maacah was later absorbed into the kingdom of Damascus, which had been reestablished during Solomon´s reign (1 Ki. 11:23-25)”.
Bibliography: B. Mazar, “Geshur and Maacah”, JBL, LXXX, 1961, pp. 16ff.
M. G. and A. R. M.
M. G. is Mrs. M. Beeching (née Gray), B. A., B. D., Senior
Lecturer in Divinity, Cheshire County Training College, Alsager.
“A Canaanite royal city and stronghold, conquered by Egyptians, with some independence under his king Horam, at the time Israel entered Canaan. In a confederacy with Lachish against Israel, Horam was killed (Jos. 10:33), but the Israelites failed to occupy Gezer. It was nevertheless included in the territory of Ephraim, to whom it paid tribute, and was assigned by them to the Levites… the Egyptians recaptured Gezer… and it did not become an Israelite possession until the time of Solomon, when it was given by the pharaoh of Egypt as a gift to his daughter, Solomon´s wife (1 Ki. 9:16). It was rebuilt by Solomon…
Bibliography: R. A. S. Macalister, The Excavations of Gezer,
1912.
M. A. M.
“A city situated at the
important junction of the Valley of Jezreel with the Jordan valley… was an
Egyptian fortified outpost… an extensive temple dedicated to “Mekal, the Baal
(the Lord) of Beth-shean” was uncovered, in which were found the remains of a
sacrified three-year-old bull… Two of his royal stelae have been found there,
one of them recording that he had a clash near by with the “pr.w” (see
hebrews)…in a temple was found a stelae depicting a goddess with a two-horned
head-dress (see Ashteroth-karnaim)… and the discovery in the city cemetery of
anthropoid clay coffins characteristic of the Philistines. Was upon its walls
that Saul´s body and those of his sons were hung, and from which the men of
Jabesh-gilead recovered them (1 Sa. 31:10, 12)… and the temples of “Dagon” (the
god Reshpeh) and Ashteroth (the goddess Antit) in which Saul´s head and armour
were displayed by the Philistines (1 Ch. 10:10, 1 Sa. 31:10)… belonged to
Solomon´s fifth administrative district (1 Ki. 4:12)…The city was refounded as
the Hellenistic center of Scythopolis, and this later became a part of the
Decapolis”.
T. C. M.
“Modern Tell Ta´annak on
the southern edge of the valley of Jezreel, guarding a pass across Mt. Carmel
following the Wadi Abdullah.
The Israelites defeated the king of this city, but the tribe to
which it was allotted, Manasseh, was unable to take possession of it (Jos.
12:21, 17:11, Jdg, 1:27). It was one of the levitical cities (Jos. 21:25) and
was also occupied by Issachar (1 Ch. 7:29). Taanach and Megiddo are closely
associated in Solomon´s administrative division of Israel (1 Ki. 4.12)…”
A. R. M.
“A City whose king joined with jabin, king of Hazor, in his fight against Israel and shared in his defeat (Jos 11:1, 2; 12:23). Though on the borders of Asher, it was given to Manasseh, who failed to drive out the Canaanite inhabitants. It is associated with, but distinguished from En-dor (Jos. 17:11)… In Graeco-Roman times it was called Dora…”
G. T. M.
“A Canaanite town in the northern borderland of Mannaseh, whose territory extended to Issachar… It is probably the Bileam of 1 Ch. 6:70, a Levitical city…”
K. A. K.
“Manasseh did not destroy the Canaanites in the city… Solomon included it in his fifth administrative district under Baana (son of Ahilud) and was selected, with Hazor and Gezer, to be one of his main fortified cities outside Jerusalem, in which he had accommodation for chariots and horses… there Ahaziah of Judah died after being wounded in his flight from Jehu… and there Josiah died when he tried to prevent Necho of Egypt from going to the aid of Assyria. Armaggeddon is from har-meggiddon, the “Hill of Meggido”… The excavations at Megiddo have shown what a formidable civilization the Israelites under Joshua had to encounter when they invaded the land.”
T. C. M.
Accho (Ptolemais)
“The seaport of Accho (on the north point of the Bay of Acre, named from Accho) was renamed Ptolemais by Egypt, about 8 miles north of Carmel headland which faces it across the bay… In the New Testament Paul spent a day with the Christians of the place. After the Roman period it assumed its original name Akka and has maintained it to the present day. Jean d´Acre born there. Today it is overshadowed by the prominence of the city of Haifa, which lies directly across the bay”.
W. W. W.
W. W. Wessel, Ph. D., Professor of Biblical Literature, North
American Baptist Seminary, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
“The ancient Phoenician walled city and port in the Lebanon (modern Saida). Maybe the first Phoenician city to be founded and became a principal Canaanite stronghold…(Gn. 10:19; 1 Ch. 1:13). For some centuries the harbour was subordinate to the Egyptan XVIIIth – XIXth Dynasties…It is possible that the attempt to include Dor in Sidonian territory led to the war with the Philistines, who c. 1150 B. C. plundered Sidon, whose inhabitants fled to Tyre. The city was, however, strong enough to oppose Israel (Jdg. 10:12), and during a period of active colonization apparently made an unsuccessful attempt to settle at Laish in the Upper jordan (Jdg. 18:7, 27)… when Sennacherib marched, in an attack foretold by Isaiah (23:2-12), Luli fled and died in exile and was replaced by Ethba ‘al (Tuba ‘lu) when Great and Little Sidon had been captured…Sidon recovered its independence with the decline of the Assyrians, only to be besieged again and captured by Nebuchadrezzar c. 587 B. C. as foretold by Jeremiah (25:22, 27:3, 47:4)…”
D. J. W.
“The most northern city observed by Joshua’s spies in Canaan (Nu. 13:21)… the name is written “Beth-rehob” in 2 Sa.10:6 and in Jdg. 18:28, which latter passage suggests that it was situated near the source of the Jordan, though the precise location is unknown… Fell the lot of Asher and was declared levitical city, though it was among the cities not taken at the time of the conquest”.
T. C. M
Beth-shemesh
“Probably “Ir-shemesh”, “city
of the sun” (Jos 19:41) is this city. Probably the modern “Tell er-Rumeileh”…
flourished as a strongly fortified Canaanite city… reaching its zenith in the
time of… pharaohs of Dinasty XIX… Philistines… became the chief rivals of the
newly-arrived Israelites… was finally destroyed by Nebuchadrezzar in the 6th.
Centry B. C.”
T. C. M.
Sela (renamed “Joktheel” by Amaziah, king of Judah) Etymologically
“sela” means “rock” or “cliff”, but there was maybe the massive rocky plateau “Umm
el-Biyara”, which towers 1,000 feet above the level of Petra (the Greek
translation of Sela), and 3,700 feet above sea level… the “rose-red city half
as old as time”.
J. A. T.
Bashan
Ahlab
Achzib
Helbah
Aphik
(Aphek, Aphekah)
Beth-anath
(Beth-anoth)
Mount
Heres
Aijalon
Shaalbim
Akrabbim
Nahalol (Nahaliel)
Kitron
//////////////////////////////
From
other encyclopedias:
“(nef'-i-lim)
(nephilim): This word, translated "giants" in the King James Version,
but retained in the Revised Version (British and American), is found in two
passages of the Old Testament-- one in <Gen 6:4>, relating to the
antediluvians; the other in <Num 13:33>, relating to the sons of Anak in
Canaan. In the former place the Nephilim are not necessarily to be identified
with the children said to be borne "the daughters of men" to
"the sons of God" (verses 2,4); indeed, they seem to be distinguished
from the latter as upon the earth before this unholy commingling took place
(see SONS OF GOD). But it is not easy to be certain as to the interpretation of
this strange passage. In the second case they clearly represent men of gigantic
stature, in comparison with whom the Israelites felt as if they were
"grasshopers." This agrees with <Gen 6:4>, "the mighty men
that were of old, the men of renow." Septuagint, therefore, was warranted
in translating by gigantes… In the older Greek versions it is translated
"violent men." ”
(from International Standard Bible Encylopaedia, Electronic
Database Copyright (C) 1996 by Biblesoft)
“(ji'-ants)
The word appears in the King James Version as the translation of the Hebrew
words nephilim <Gen 6:4; Num 13:33>; repha'im (<Deut 2:11,20; 3:11,13;
Josh 12:4>, etc.); rapha' <1 Chr 20:4,6,8>, or raphah <2 Sam
21:16,18,20,22>; in one instance of gibbor, literally, "mighty
one" <Job 16:14>.
In the first two
cases the Revised Version (British and American) changes "giants"
into the Hebrew words "Nephilim," nephilim, and "Rephaim,"
repha'im, respectively (see these words). The "Nephilim of <Gen 6:4>
are not to be confounded with the "mighty men" subsequently described
as the offspring of the unlawful marriages, of "the sons of God" and
"the daughters of men." It is told that they overspread the earth
prior to these unhallowed unions. That the word, whatever its etymology, bears
the sense of men of immense stature is evident from the later passages; <Num
13:33>. The same is true of the "Rephaim," as shown by the
instance of Og <Deut 3:11; Josh 12:4>. There is no doubt about the
meaning of the word in the ease of the giants mentioned in <2 Sam 21> and
<1 Chr 20>. See also ANTEDILUVIANS.”
JAMES ORR
(from International Standard Bible Encylopaedia, Electronic
Database Copyright (C) 1996 by Biblesoft)
“Human beings of abnormal size and strength. Races of giants are first mentioned in the Old Testament in <Genesis 6:4>, where giant god-like beings were produced by the union of "the sons of God" and "the daughters of men." These giants, or NEPHILIM, became "mighty men... men of renown," probably a reference to their tremendous height. These abnormal unions displeased God <Gen. 6:5-6>.
REPHAIM were
primitive giants who lived in Canaan, Edom, Moab, and Ammon. They were also
known as Emims <Deut. 2:11> and Zamzummims <Deut. 2:20>. King Og of
Bashan <Deut. 3:11> was the last of these giants. His iron bed was 13
cubits long and 4 cubits wide (about 19 feet by 6 feet).
When Moses sent
12 men to spy out the land of Canaan, they returned with the frightening report
that they saw "giants" who made them feel like
"grasshoppers" <Num. 13:33>. These giants were descendants of
Anak, "a people great and tall" <Deut. 9:2>. This negative
report by 10 of the spies caused the children of Israel to spend a night in
murmuring and weeping. Only Joshua and Caleb urged the people to claim the land
<Num. 14:38>.
Goliath is the
most famous giant in the Bible <1 Sam. 17:4>, measuring six cubits and a
span, which is more than three meters (nine feet) tall. Goliath taunted the
Israelites and demanded a warrior to meet him in combat. David, the shepherd
boy, with his sling and stone, dared to accept the challenge of the Philistine
giant in full armor because he knew that God would direct him in the battle
<1 Sam. 17:45>. David's stone struck Goliath in a vulnerable spot,
killing the giant and putting the Philistines to flight <1 Sam.
17:50,51>.”
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
(Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
“Heavenly beings or divine messengers created by God who rebelled against Him and were cast out of heaven. The lord or prince of these fallen angels is Satan <Rev. 12:7-9>. Fallen angels, or messengers, continue to serve Satan; but their power is limited. Judgment awaits them in the future <Matt. 25:41; Rev. 12:9>. The fallen angels referred to in <2 Peter 2:4> and <Jude 6> are possibly the beings referred to as "sons of God" in <Genesis 6:1-4>. There is no real distinction between fallen angels and DEMONS.”
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
(Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
“NEPH'ILIM (nef'i-lim; <Gen. 6:4; Num. 13:33>). See also Giant. The Nephilim are considered by many to be giant demigods, the unnatural offspring of the "daughters of men" (mortal women) in cohabitation with the "sons of God" (angels; cf. <Gen. 6:1-4>). This utterly unnatural union, violating God's created order of being, was such a shocking abnormality as to necessitate the worldwide judgment of the Flood. Another view of the Nephilim is that they were particularly violent (the name is from a root, "to fall," i.e., on other people), strong ("mighty"), and infamous ("men of renown") people who predated the marriages of v. 2. This viewpoint often explains the unions as intermarriage of the godly line of Seth (described in 4:25-5:32) with the ungodly line of Cain <4:1-24>.”
(from New Unger's Bible Dictionary)
(originally published by Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright (C) 1988.)
“GIANT. An
abnormally tall and powerful human being of ancient Bible lands; the rendering
of several Heb. words.
Nephilim
(nef'i-lim; Heb. nepilim; <Num. 13:13>). The form of the Heb. word
denotes a plural verbal adjective or noun of passive signification, certainly
from napal, "to fall," so that the connotation is "the fallen
ones," clearly meaning the unnatural offspring that were on the earth in
the years before the Flood, "and also afterward, when the sons of God came
in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them" <Gen.
6:4>. The mention of the great stature of the Nephilim, the sons of Anak, in
the evil report that the ten spies brought of the land of Canaan <Num.
13:33> together with the LXX rendering, gigantes, suggested the translation
giants. They were exceedingly wicked and violent so that "every
intent" of the thoughts of men's hearts "was only evil
continually" <Gen. 6:5>. See Merrill F. Unger, Biblical Demonology,
pp. 45-52.
Rephaim
(ref'a-im; Heb. repa'im, "shades, ghosts"). The aboriginal giants who
inhabited Canaan, Edom, Moab, and Ammon. In Abraham's time, c. 1950 B.C.,
Chedorlaomer defeated them. At the period of the conquest, c. 1440 B.C., Og,
king of Bashan, is said to have alone remained of this race <Deut. 3:11;
Josh. 12:4; 13:12>. His huge bedstead of iron is mentioned in particular.
Anakim (an'a-kim;
Heb. `anaqim, "sons of Anak"). In <Num. 13:33> the Anakim are
classified with the Nephilim on account of their gigantic size.
Emim (em'im), a
race that inhabited the country of the Moabites <Gen. 14:5> and that is
pictured as "great, numerous, and tall as the Anakim" <Deut.
2:10>.
Zamzummim
(zam'zum-im), a giant race inhabiting the land of Ammon <Deut. 2:20>.
Other References.
From a remnant of the Anakim in Philistine Gath came the famous Goliath <1
Sam. 17:4>. Two of the Philistine giants are mentioned in <2 Sam.
21:16-22>. The tradition of a giant race persisted in the ancient Near East
and goes back in the Genesis account to intercourse between fallen angels and
mortal women. Although this so-called angel hypothesis of <Gen. 6:1-4> is
disclaimed by many Bible students, it is a clear implication of the original.
Says W. F. Albright, "Yahweh was believed to have created astral as well
as terrestrial beings and the former were popularly called, 'the host of
heaven' or 'the sons of God'. In <Gen. 6:1> ff., for example, . . . the
(astral) gods had intercourse with mortal women who gave birth to heroes
(literally, meteors, nephilim), an idea that may often be illustrated from
Babylonian and Greek mythology. But the Israelite who had this section recited,
unquestionably thought of intercourse between angels and women (like later Jews
and Christians)" (From the Stone Age to Christianity [1940], p. 226).”
(from New Unger's Bible Dictionary)
(originally published by Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright (C) 1988.)
“ANGELS,
FALLEN. Besides the good, elect, and unfallen angels two classes of fallen
angels exist:
1. The angels who
are unimprisoned and follow Satan as their leader. These apparently are
identical with the demons (which see). During the Great Tribulation war will
ensue between "Michael and his angels" and "the dragon and his
angels" <Rev. 12:7>. The dragon will be cast out of the heavenlies
upon the earth and his angels with him <12:8-9>. These are remanded to
the abyss at the second coming of Christ <20:1-3> and consigned to the
lake of fire after their final postmillennial revolt <Matt. 25:41; Rev.
20:10>.
2. The angels who
are imprisoned are the more wicked spirits that did not maintain their original
estate "but abandoned their proper abode," being "kept in
eternal bonds under darkness" awaiting judgment <Jude 6; 2 Pet. 2:4; 1
Cor. 6:3>. Many Bible teachers hold that they include the fallen angels that
cohabited with mortal women <Gen. 6:1-2> and were imprisoned in the
nether world as a special punishment for their crime of breaking through
God-ordained orders of being. (m.f.u.)”
(from New Unger's Bible Dictionary)
(originally published by Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright (C) 1988.)
Deuteronomy 3:1-11
Og subdued
“We have
here another brave country delivered into the hand of Israel, that of Bashan;
the conquest of Sihon is often mentioned together with that of Og, to the
praise of God, the rather because in these Israel's triumphs began, <Ps.
135:11; 136:19-20>. See,
I. How they got
the mastery of Og, a very formidable prince,
1. Very strong,
for he was of the remnant of the giants (v. 11); his personal strength was
extraordinary, a monument of which was preserved by the Ammonites in his
bedstead, which was shown as a rarity in their chief city. You might guess at
his weight by the materials of his bedstead; it was iron, as if a bedstead of
wood were too weak for him to trust to: and you might guess at his stature by
the dimensions of it; it was nine cubits long and four cubits broad, which,
supposing a cubit to be but half a yard (and some learned men have made it
appear to be somewhat more), was four yards and a half long, and two yards
broad; and if we allow his bedstead to be two cubits longer than himself, and
that is as much as we need allow, he was three yards and a half high, double
the stature of an ordinary man, and every way proportionable, yet they smote
him, v. 3. Note, when God pleads his people's cause he can deal with giants as
with grasshoppers. No man's might can secure him against the Almighty. The army
of Og was very powerful, for he had the command of sixty fortified cities,
besides the unwalled towns, v. 5. Yet all this was nothing before God's Israel,
when they came with commission to destroy him.
2. He was very
bold and daring: He came out against Israel to battle, v. 1. It was wonderful
that he did not take warning by the ruin of Sihon, and send to desire
conditions of peace; but he trusted to his own strength, and so was hardened to
his destruction. Note, Those that are not awakened by the judgments of God upon
others, but persist in their defiance of heaven, are ripening apace for the
like judgments upon themselves, <Jer. 3:8>. God bade Moses not fear him,
v. 2. If Moses himself was so strong in faith as not to need the caution, yet
it is probable that the people needed it, and for them these fresh assurances
are designed; "I will deliver him into thy hand; not only deliver thee out
of his hand, that he shall not be thy ruin, but deliver him into thy hand, that
thou shalt be his ruin, and make him pay dearly for his attempt." He adds,
Thou shalt do to him as thou didst to Sihon, intimating that they ought to be
encouraged by their former victory to trust in God for another victory, for he
is God, and changeth not.”
(from Matthew Henry's Commentary)
1 Samuel 17:40-47
David kills Goliath
“We are
now coming near this famous combat, and have in these verses the preparations
and remonstrances made on both sides.
I. The preparations made on both sides for the encounter. The Philistine was already fixed, as he had been daily for the last forty days. Well might he go with his armour, for he had sufficiently proved it. Only we are told (v. 41) that he came on and drew near, a signal, it is likely, being given that his challenge was accepted, and, as if he distrusted his helmet and coat of mail, a man went before him, carrying his shield, for his own hands were full with his sword and spear, v. 45. But what arms and ammunition is David furnished with? Truly none but what he brought with him as a shepherd; no breastplate, nor corselet, but his plain shepherd's coat; no spear, but his staff; no sword nor bow, but his sling; no quiver, but his scrip; nor any arrows, but, instead of them, five smooth stones picked up out of the brook, v. 40. By this it appeared that his confidence was purely in the power of God, and not in any sufficiency of his own, and that now at length he who put it into his heart to fight the Philistine put it into his head with what weapons to do it.
II. The
conference which precedes the encounter, in which observe,
1. How very proud
Goliath was,
(1.) With what
scorn he looked upon his adversary, v. 42. He looked about, expecting to meet
some tall strong man, but, when he saw what a mean figure he made with whom he
was to engage, he disdained him, thought it below him to enter the lists with
him, fearing that the contemptibleness of the champion he contended with would
lessen the glory of his victory. He took notice of his person, that he was but
a youth, not come to his strength, ruddy and of a fair countenance, fitter to
accompany the virgins of Israel in their dances (if mixed dancing was then in
use) than to lead on the men of Israel in their battles. He took notice of his
array with great indignation (v. 43): "Am I a dog, that thou comest to me
with staves? Dost thou think to beat me as easily as thou dost thy shepherd's
dog?"
(2.) with what
confidence he presumed upon his success. He cursed David by his gods,
imprecating the impotent vengeance of his idols against him, thinking these
fire-balls thrown about him would secure his success: and therefore, in
confidence of that, he darts his grimaces, as if threatening words would kill
(v. 44): "Come to me, and I will give thy flesh to the fowls of the air,
it will be a tender and delicate feast for them." Thus the security and
presumption of fools destroy them.
2. How very pious
David was. His speech savours nothing of ostentation, but God is all in all in
it, v. 45-47.
(1.) He derives
his authority from God: "I come to thee by warrant and commission from
heaven, in the name of the Lord, who has called me to and anointed me for this
undertaking, who, by his universal providence, is the Lord of hosts, of all
hosts, and therefore has power to do what he pleases, and, by the special grace
of his covenant, is the God of the armies of Israel, and therefore has engaged
and will employ his power for their protection, and against thee who hast
impiously defied them." The name of God David relied on, as Goliath did on
his sword and spear. See <Ps. 20:7; 118:10-11>.
(2.) he depends
for success upon God, v. 46. David speaks with as much assurance as Goliath had
done, but upon better ground; it is his faith that says, "This day will
the Lord deliver thee into my hand, and not only thy carcase, but the carcases
of the host of the Philistines, shall be given to the birds and beasts of
prey."
(3.) he devotes
the praise and glory of all to God. He did not, like Goliath, seek his own
honour, but the honour of God, not doubting but by the success of this action,
[1.] All the
world should be made to know that there is a God, and that the God of Israel is
the one only living and true God, and all other pretended deities are vanity
and a lie.
[2.] all Israel (whom he calls not this army, but this assembly, or church, because they were now religiously attending the goings of their God and King, as they used to do in the sanctuary) shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear (v. 47), but can, when he pleases, save without either and against both, <Ps. 46:9>. David addresses himself to this combat rather as a priest that was going to offer a sacrifice to the justice of God than as a soldier that was going to engage an enemy of his country.”
1 Samuel 17:48-58
David kills Goliath
“Here is
1. The engagement between the two champions, v. 48. To this engagement the
Philistine advanced with a great deal of state and gravity; if he must
encounter a pigmy, yet it shall be with the magnificence of a giant and a
grandee. This is intimated in the manner of expression: He arose, and came, and
drew nigh, like a stalking mountain, overlaid with brass and iron, to meet
David. David advanced with no less activity and cheerfulness, as one that aimed
more to do execution than to make a figure: He hasted, and ran, being lightly
clad, to meet the Philistine. We may imagine with what tenderness and
compassion the Israelites saw such a pleasing youth as this throwing himself
into the mouth of destruction, but he knew whom he had believed and for whom he
acted.
2. The fall of
Goliath in this engagement. He was in no haste, because in no fear, but
confident that he should soon at one stroke cleave his adversary's head; but,
while he was preparing to do it solemnly, David did his business effectually,
without any parade: he slang a stone which hit him in the forehead, and, in the
twinkling of an eye, fetched him to the ground, v. 49. Goliath knew there were
famous slingers in Israel <Judg. 20:16>, yet was either so forgetful or
presumptuous as to go with the beaver of his helmet open, and thither, to the
only part left exposed, not so much David's art as God's providence directed
the stone, and brought it with such force that it sunk into his head,
notwithstanding the impudence with which his forehead was brazened. See how
frail and uncertain life is, even when it thinks itself best fortified, and how
quickly, how easily, and with how small a matter, the passage may be opened for
life to go out and death to enter. Goliath himself has not power over the
spirit to retain the spirit, <Eccl. 8:8>. Let not the strong man glory in
his strength, nor the armed man in his armour. See how God resists the proud
and pours contempt upon those that bid defiance to him and his people. None
ever hardened his heart against God and prospered. One of the Rabbin thinks
that when Goliath said to David, Come, and I will give thy flesh to the fowls
of the air, he threw up his head so hastily that his helmet fell off, and so
left his broad forehead a fair mark for David. To complete the execution, David
drew Goliath's own sword, a two-handed weapon for David, and with it cut off
his head, v. 51. What need had David to take a sword of his own? his enemy's
sword shall serve his purpose, when he has occasion for one. God is greatly
glorified when his proud enemies are cut off with their own sword and he makes
their own tongues to fall upon them, <Ps. 64:8>. David's victory over
Goliath was typical of the triumphs of the son of David over Satan and all the
powers of darkness, whom he spoiled, and made a show of them openly <Col.
2:15>, and we through him are more than conquerors.
3. The defeat of
the Philistines' army hereupon. They relied wholly upon the strength of their
champion, and therefore, when they saw him slain, they did not, as Goliath had
offered, throw down their arms and surrender themselves servants to Israel (v.
9), but took to their heels, being wholly dispirited, and thinking it to no
purpose to oppose one before whom such a mighty man had fallen: They fled (v.
51), and this put life into the Israelites, who shouted and pursued them
(David, it is probable, leading them on in the pursuit) even to the gates of
their own cities, v. 52. In their return from the chase they seized all the
baggage, plundered the tents (v. 53), and enriched themselves with the spoil.
4. David's
disposal of his trophies, v. 54. He brought the head of the Philistine to
Jerusalem, to be a terror to the Jebusites, who held the strong-hold of Sion:
it is probable that he carried it in triumph to other cities. His armour he
laid up in his tent; only the sword was preserved behind the ephod in the
tabernacle, as consecrated to God, and a memorial of the victory to his honour,
<1Sam 21:9>.
5. The notice
that was taken of David. Though he had been at court formerly, yet, having been
for some time absent (v. 15), Saul had forgotten him, being melancholy and
mindless, and little thinking that his musician would have spirit enough to be
his champion; and therefore, as if he had never seen him before, he asked whose
son he was. Abner was a stranger to him, but brought him to Saul (v. 57), and
he gave a modest account of himself, v. 58. And now he was introduced to the
court with much greater advantages than before, in which he owned God's hand
performing all things for him.”
(from Matthew Henry's Commentary)
//////////////////////
Nephilim
(Genesis 6:4; Numbers 13:33, RSV), giants, the Hebrew word left
untranslated by the Revisers, the name of one of the Canaanitish tribes. The
Revisers have, however, translated the Hebrew gibborim, in Genesis 6:4, "mighty men."
These
dictionary topics are from
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.
http://bible.crosswalk.com/Dictionaries/EastonBibleDictionary/ebd.cgi?number=T2704
http://www.biblestudytools.net/Dictionaries/EastonBibleDictionary/ebd.cgi?number=T2704
Easton's
Bible Dictionary
· Heb. nephilim, meaning "violent"
or "causing to fall" (Genesis 6:4). These were the violent tyrants of those
days, those who fell upon others. The word may also be derived from a root
signifying "wonder," and hence "monsters" or
"prodigies." In Numbers 13:33 this name is given to a Canaanitish
tribe, a race of large stature, "the sons of Anak." The Revised
Version, in these passages, simply transliterates the original, and reads
"Nephilim."
· Heb. rephaim, a race
of giants (Deuteronomy 3:11) who lived on the east of
Jordan, from whom Og was descended. They were probably the original inhabitants
of the land before the immigration of the Canaanites. They were conquered by
Chedorlaomer (Genesis 14:5), and their territories were promised
as a possession to Abraham (15:20). The Anakim, Zuzim, and Emim were
branches of this stock.
In Job 26:5 (RSV, "they that are
deceased;" marg., "the shades," the "Rephaim") and Isaiah 14:9 this Hebrew word is rendered (A.V.)
"dead." It means here "the shades," the departed spirits in
Sheol. In Sam 21:16,18,20,33, "the giant" is (A.V.) the
rendering of the singular form ha raphah , which may possibly be the
name of the father of the four giants referred to here, or of the founder of
the Rephaim. The Vulgate here reads "Arapha," whence Milton (in
Samson Agonistes) has borrowed the name "Harapha." (See also 1 Chronicles 20:5,6,8; Deuteronomy 2:11,20; 3:13; Joshua 15:8, etc., where the word is similarly
rendered "giant.") It is rendered "dead" in (A.V.) Psalms 88:10; Proverbs 2:18; 9:18; 21:16: in all these places the Revised
Version marg. has "the shades." (See also Isaiah 26:14.)
· Heb. 'Anakim (Deuteronomy 2:10,11,21; Joshua 11:21,22; 14:12,15; called "sons of Anak," Numbers 13:33; "children of Anak," 13:22; Joshua 15:14), a nomad race of giants descended
from Arba (Joshua 14:15), the father of Anak, that dwelt in
the south of Palestine near Hebron (Genesis 23:2; Joshua 15:13). They were a Cushite tribe of the
same race as the Philistines and the Egyptian shepherd kings. David on several
occasions encountered them (2 Samuel 21:15-22). From this
race sprung Goliath (1 Samuel 17:4).
· Heb. 'emin, a warlike
tribe of the ancient Canaanites. They were "great, and many, and tall, as
the Anakims" (Genesis 14:5; Deuteronomy 2:10,11).
· Heb. Zamzummim (q.v.),
Deuteronomy 2:20 so called by the Amorites.
· Heb. gibbor (Job 16:14), a mighty one, i.e., a champion or
hero. In its plural form (gibborim) it is rendered "mighty men" (2 Samuel 23:8-39; 1 Kings 1:8; 1 Chronicles 11:9-47; 29:24.) The band of six hundred whom David
gathered around him when he was a fugitive were so designated. They were
divided into three divisions of two hundred each, and thirty divisions of
twenty each. The captians of the thirty divisions were called "the
thirty," the captains of the two hundred "the three," and the
captain over the whole was called "chief among the captains" (2 Samuel 23:8). The sons born of the
marriages mentioned in Genesis 6:4 are also called by this Hebrew name.
These
dictionary topics are from
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.
http://bible.crosswalk.com/Dictionaries/EastonBibleDictionary/ebd.cgi?number=T1474
http://www.biblestudytools.net/Dictionaries/EastonBibleDictionary/ebd.cgi?number=T1474
Nave's
Topical Bible
http://bible.crosswalk.com/Concordances/NavesTopicalBible/ntb.cgi?number=T2023
·
General scriptures concerning
Genesis 6:4
·
A race of giants
Numbers 13:28-33; Deuteronomy 1:28; 2:10; 9:2
·
(A giant champion of Gath)
·
A giant warrior, killed by Abishai
2 Samuel 21:16
·
(King of Bashan)
·
An ancient people of Palestine, of great stature
Genesis 14:5; 15:20; Deuteronomy 2:11,20; 3:11,13
o
RSV
Joshua 12:4; 13:12; 17:15
·
Also called ZUZIMS
Smith's
Bible Dictionary
men
of extraordinary size or height.
1. They are first
spoken of in (Genesis 6:4) under the name Nephilim. We are told
in (Genesis 6:1-4) that "there were Nephilim in
the earth," and that afterwards the "sons of God" mingling with
the beautiful "daughters of mens produced a race of violent and insolent Gibborim
(Authorized Version "mighty men").
2. The Rephalim,
a name which frequently occurs. The earliest mention of them is the record of
their defeat by Chedorlaomer and some allied kings at Ashteroth Karnaim. The
"valley of Rephaim," (2 Samuel 5:18; 1 Chronicles 11:15; Isaiah 17:5) a rich valley southwest of Jerusalem,
derived its name from them. They were probably an aboriginal people of which
the EMIM, ANAKIM and ZUZIM [which see] were branches. [See also GOLIATH]
http://bible.crosswalk.com/Dictionaries/SmithsBibleDictionary/smt.cgi?number=T1671
Nave's
Topical Bible
·
A city of the territory of the tribe of Asher
Joshua 19:28
http://bible.crosswalk.com/Concordances/NavesTopicalBible/ntb.cgi?number=T2291
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