BEESH-TERAH to BELIEVER

BEESH-TERAH

A Levitical city Jos 21:27

Called ASHTAROTH 1Ch 6:71

BEETLE

(Heb. hargol, meaning "leaper").

Mention of it is made only in Lev. 11:22, where it is obvious the word cannot mean properly the beetle. It denotes some winged creeper with at least four feet, "which has legs above its feet, to leap withal."

The description plainly points to the locust (q.v.). This has been an article of food from the earliest times in the East to the present day. The word is rendered "cricket" in the Revised Version.

Authorized as food Le 11:22 Beeves - (an old English plural of the word beef), div id applicable to all ruminating animals except camels, and especially to the Bovidce, or horned cattle (Lev. 22:19, 21; Num. 31:28, 30, 33, 38, 44).

BEG

That the poor existed among the Hebrews we have abundant evidence (Ex. 23:11; Deut. 15:11), but there is no mention of beggars properly so called in the Old Testament.

The poor were provided for by the law of Moses (Lev. 19:10; Deut. 12:12; 14:29). It is predicted of the seed of the wicked that they shall be beggars (Ps. 37:25; 109:10).

In the New Testament we find not seldom mention made of beggars (Mark 10:46; Luke 16:20, 21; Acts 3:2), yet there is no mention of such a class as vagrant beggars, so numerous in the East. "Beggarly," in Gal. 4:9, means worthless.

BEGGARS

Set among princes 1Sa 2:8

Not the seed of the righteous Ps 37:25

The children of the wicked Ps 109:10; Pr 20:4; Lk 16:3

INSTANCES OF

Bartimaeus Mr 10:46

Lazarus Lk 16:20-22

The blind man Jn 9:8

The lame man Ac 3:2-5

See POOR

BEHEAD

a method of taking away life practised among the Egyptians (Gen. 40:17-19).

There are instances of this mode of punishment also among the Hebrews (2 Sam. 4:8; 20:21,22; 2 Kings 10:6-8). It is also mentioned in the New Testament (Matt. 14:8-12; Acts 12:2).

BEHEADING

Execution by Of John Mt 14:10; Mr 6:27 Of James Ac 12:2 Of the martyrs Re 20:4

See PUNISHMENT

BEHEMOTH

(Job 40:15-24). Some have supposed this to be an Egyptian word meaning a "water-ox."

The Revised Version has here in the margin "hippopotamus," which is probably the correct rendering of the word. The word occurs frequently in Scripture, but, except here, always as a common name, and translated "beast" or "cattle."

An amphibious animal Job 40:15

BEKAH

Both the name and its explanation, "a half shekel," are given in Ex. 38:26. The word properly means a "division," a "part." (R.V., "beka.")

A half shekel, about thirty-one cents Ex 38:26

BELL

The bells first mentioned in Scripture are the small golden bells attached to the hem of the high priest's ephod (Ex. 28:33, 34, 35).

The "bells of the horses" mentioned by Zechariah (Zech 14:20) were attached to the bridles or belts round the necks of horses trained for war, so as to accustom them to noise and tumult.

BEL

the Aramaic form of Baal, the national god of the Babylonians (Isa. 46:1; Jer. 50:2; 51:44). It signifies "lord."

(See BAAL

A Babylonian god Isa 46:1; Jer 50:2; 51:44

BELA

a thing swallowed.

(1.) A city on the shore of the Dead Sea, not far from Sodom, called also Zoar. It was the only one of the five cities that was spared at Lot's intercession (Gen. 19:20,23). It is first mentioned in Gen. 14:2,8.

(2.) The eldest son of Benjamin (Num. 26:38; "Belah," Gen. 46:21).

(3.) The son of Beor, and a king of Edom (Gen. 36:32, 33; 1 Chr. 1:43).

(4.) A son of Azaz (1 Chr. 5:8).

1. A city also called Zoar Ge 14:2, 8

2. King of Edom Ge 36:32, 33; 1Ch 1:43, 44

3. Son of Benjamin Nu 26:38, 40; 1Ch 7:6, 7; 8:1, 3

Called BELAH Ge 46:21

4. Son of Azaz 1Ch 5:8

BELIAL

worthlessness, frequently used in the Old Testament as a proper name.

It is first used in Deut. 13:13. In the New Testament it is found only in 2 Cor. 6:15, where it is used as div id of Satan, the personification of all that is evil.

It is translated "wicked" in Deut. 15:9; Ps. 41:8 (R.V. marg.); Ps 101:3; Prov. 6:12, etc. The expression "son" or "man of Belial" means simply a worthless, lawless person (Judg. 19:22; 20:13; 1 Sam. 1:16; 2:12).

Lawlessness Deut 13:13; 2Co 6:15

BELIEVER

See RIGHTEOUS