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AKRABBIM to ALIAH

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AKRABBIM

scorpions, probably the general name given to the ridge containing the pass between the south of the Dead Sea and Zin, es-Sufah, by which there is an ascent to the level of the land of Palestine.

Scorpions are said to abound in this whole district, and hence the name (Num. 34:4).

It is called "Maaleh-acrabbim" in Josh. 15:3, and "the ascent of Akrabbim" in Num. 34:4.

A chain of hills in the south of Palestine Num 34:4; Jos 15:3; Judges 1:36

ALABASTER

occurs only in the New Testament in connection with the box of "ointment of spikenard very precious," with the contents of which a woman anointed the head of Jesus as he sat at supper in the house of Simon the leper (Matt. 26:7; Mark 14:3; Luke 7:37).

These boxes were made from a stone found near Alabastron in Egypt, and from this circumstance the Greeks gave them the name of the city where they were made. The name was then given to the stone of which they were made; and finally to all perfume vessels, of whatever material they were formed.

The woman "broke" the vessel; i.e., she broke off, as was usually done, the long and narrow neck so as to reach the contents. This stone resembles marble, but is softer in its texture, and hence very easily wrought into boxes. Mark says (14:5) that this box of ointment was worth more than 300 pence, i.e., denarii, each of the value of sevenpence halfpenny of our money, and therefore worth about 10 pounds.

But if we take the denarius as the day's wage of a labourer (Matt. 20:2), say two shillings of our money, then the whole would be worth about 30 pounds, so costly was Mary's offering.

(A white stone) -Vessels made of Matt 26:7; Mark 14:3; Luke 7:37

ALAMETH

Covering. (1.) One of the nine sons of Becher, the son of Benjamin (1 Chr. 7:8).

Son of Becher 1 Chr 7:8

ALAMMELECH

A town of Asher Jos 19:26

ALAMOTH

virgins, a musical term (1 Chr. 15:20), denoting that the psalm which bears this inscription (Ps. 46) was to be sung by soprano or female voices.

A musical term 1 Chr 15:20

Inscription to Psa 46:1-11

See MUSIC

ALARM

a particular quivering sound of the silver trumpets to give warning to the Hebrews on their journey through the wilderness (Num. 10:5, 6), a call to arms, or a war-note (Jer. 4:19; 49:2; Zeph. 1:16).

ALEMETH

Covering. (1.) One of the nine sons of Becher, the son of Benjamin (1 Chr. 7:8).

(2.) One of the sons of Jehoadah, or Jarah, son of Ahaz (1 Chr. 8:36).

(3.) A sacerdotal city of Benjamin (1 Chr. 6:60), called also Almon (Josh. 21:18), now Almit, a mile north-east of the ancient Anathoth.

1. A Levitical city 1 Chr 6:60

See ALMON

2. Son of Jehoadah 1 Chr 8:36 Or of Jarah 1 Chr 9:42

ALEXANDER

Man-defender.

(1.) A relative of Annas the high priest, present when Peter and John were examined before the Sanhedrim (Acts 4:6).

(2.) A man whose father, Simon the Cyrenian, bore the cross of Christ (Mark 15:21).

(3.) A Jew of Ephesus who took a prominent part in the uproar raised there by the preaching of Paul (Acts 19:33). The Jews put him forward to plead their cause before the mob. It was probably intended that he should show that he and the other Jews had no sympathy with Paul any more than the Ephesians had. It is possible that this man was the same as the following.

(4.) A coppersmith who, with Hymenaeus and others, promulgated certain heresies regarding the resurrection (1 Tim. 1:19; 2 Tim. 4:14), and made shipwreck of faith and of a good conscience. Paul excommunicated him (1 Tim. 1:20; comp. 1 Cor. 5:5).

1. Son of Simon who bore the cross of Jesus Mark 15:21

2. A relative of the high priest, present at the defense of Peter and John Acts 4:6

3. A Jew of Ephesus Acts 19:33

4. A copper-smith 1 Tim 1:20; 2 Tim 4:14

ALEXANDRIA

the ancient metropolis of Lower Egypt, so called from its founder, Alexander the Great (about B.C. 333).

It was for a long period the greatest of existing cities, for both Nineveh and Babylon had been destroyed, and Rome had not yet risen to greatness. It was the residence of the kings of Egypt for 200 years. It is not mentioned in the Old Testament, and only incidentally in the New.

Apollo's, eloquent and mighty in the Scriptures, was a native of this city (Acts 18:24). Many Jews from Alexandria were in Jerusalem, where they had a synagogue (Acts 6:9), at the time of Stephen's martyrdom. At one time it is said that as many as 10,000 Jews resided in this city.

It possessed a famous library of 700,000 volumes, which was burned by the Saracens (A.D. 642). It was here that the Hebrew Bible was translated into Greek. This is called the Septuagint version, from the tradition that seventy learned men were engaged in executing it. It was, however, not all translated at one time. It was begun B.C. 280, and finished about B.C. 200 or 150.

(See VERSION.)

A city of Egypt Acts 6:9

Ships of Acts 27:6; Acts 28:11

Apollo's born in Acts 18:24

ALGUM

(2 Chr. 2:8; 9:10,11), the same as almug (1 Kings 10:11).

Also called ALMUG, trees of Ophir and Lebanon 1 Kings 10:11-12; 2 Chr 2:8; 2 Chr 9:10-11

ALIAH

See ALVAH