Ja’akan (he shall surround), the same as Jakan, the forefather of Bene-Jaakan. Deuteronomy 10:6. SBD Jaakan.2
Ja-ak’obah (supplanter), one of the princes of the families of Simeon. 1 Chronicles 4:36. (b.c. about 710.) SBD Ja-akobah.2
Ja-a’la (wild she-goat). Bene-Jaala were among the descendants of “Solomon’s slaves” who returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel. Nehemiah 7:58. (b.c. before 536.) The name also occurs as SBD Ja-ala.2
Ja-a’lah (wild goat). Ezra 2:56. SBD Ja-alah.2
Ja-a’lam (whom God hides), a son of Esau, Genesis 36:5, Genesis 36:14, Genesis 36:18; comp. 1 Chronicles 1:35, and a head of a tribe of Edom. (b.c. 1790.) SBD Ja-alam.2
Ja’ana-i (whom Jehovah answers), a chief man in the tribe of Gad. 1 Chronicles 5:12. SBD Jaana-i.2
Ja’are-or’egim (forests of the weavers), 2 Samuel 21:19, a Bethlehemite, and the father of Elhanan who slew Goliath. In the parallel passage, 1 Chronicles 20:5, Jair is found instead of Jaare, and Oregim is omitted. (b.c. 1063.) SBD Jaare-oregim.2
Ja-a’sau (whom Jehovah made), one of the Bene-Bani who had married a foreign wife. Ezra 10:37. (b.c. 459.) SBD Ja-asau.2
Ja-a’si-el (whom God comforts), son of the great Abner. 1 Chronicles 27:21. (b.c. 1046–1014.) SBD Ja-asi-el.2
Ja-azani’ah (whom Jehovah hears). SBD Ja-azaniah.2
1. One of the captains of the forces who accompanied Johanan ben-Kareah to pay his respects to Gedaliah at Mizpah, 2 Kings 25:23, and who appears afterwards to have assisted in recovering Ishmael’s prey from his clutches. Comp. Jeremiah 41:11; Jeremiah 43:4, Jeremiah 43:5. (b.c. 587.) SBD Ja-azaniah.3
2. Son of Shaphan. Ezekiel 8:11. It is possible that he is identical with SBD Ja-azaniah.4
3. Son of Azur; one of the princes of the people against whom Ezekiel was directed to prophesy. Ezekiel 11:1. (b.c. 593.) SBD Ja-azaniah.5
4. A Rechabite, son of Jeremiah. Jeremiah 35:3. (b.c. 606.) SBD Ja-azaniah.6
Ja-a’zer, or Ja’zer (Jehovah helps), a town on the east of Jordan, in or near to Gilead. Numbers 32:1, Numbers 32:3; 1 Chronicles 26:31. We first hear of it in possession of the Amorites, and as taken by Israel after Heshbon, and on their way from thence to Bashan. Numbers 21:32. It seems to have given its name to a district of dependent or “daughter” towns, Numbers 21:32, Authorized Version “villages”; 1 Maccabees 5:8, the “land of Jazer.” Numbers 32:1. SBD Ja-azer.2
Ja-azi’ah (whom Jehovah comforts), apparently a third son, or a descendant, of Merari the Levite. 1 Chronicles 24:26, 1 Chronicles 24:27. (b.c. before 1014.) SBD Ja-aziah.2
Ja-a’zi-el (whom Jehovah comforts), one of the Levites appointed by David to perform the musical service before the ark. 1 Chronicles 15:18. (b.c. 1014.) SBD Ja-azi-el.2
Ja’bal (stream), the son of Lamech and Adah, Genesis 4:20, and brother of Jubal. He is described as the father of such as dwell in tents and have cattle. SBD Jabal.2
Jab’bok (emptying), a stream which intersects the mountain range of Gilead, comp. Joshua 12:2, Joshua 12:5, and falls into the Jordan on the east about midway between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. It was anciently the border of the children of Ammon. Numbers 21:24; Deuteronomy 2:37; Deuteronomy 3:16. It was on the south bank of the Jabbok that the interview took place between Jacob and Esau, Genesis 32:22; and this river afterward became, toward its western part, the boundary between the kingdoms of Sihon and Og. Joshua 12:2, Joshua 12:5. Its modern name is Wady Zurka. SBD Jabbok.2
Jabbok (Wady Zurka). SBD Jabbok.3
Ja’besh (dry). SBD Jabesh.2
1. Father of Shallum, the fifteenth king of Israel. 2 Kings 15:10, 2 Kings 15:13, 2 Kings 15:14. (b.c. before 770.) SBD Jabesh.3
2. Jabesh-gilead, or Jabesh in the territory of Gilead. In its wildest sense Gilead included the half tribe of Manasseh, 1 Chronicles 27:21, as well as the tribes of Gad and Reuben, Numbers 32:1-42, east of the Jordan; and of the cities of Gilead, Jabesh was the chief. It is first mentioned in Judges 21:8-14. Being attacked subsequently by Nahash the Ammonite, it gave Saul an opportunity of displaying his prowess in its defence. 1 Samuel 11:1-15. Eusebius places it beyond the Jordan, six miles from Pella on the mountain road to Gerasa; where its name is probably preserved in the Wady Yabes. SBD Jabesh.4
Ja’bez (sorrow). SBD Jabez.2
1. Apparently a place at which the families of the scribes resided who belonged to the families of the Kenites. 1 Chronicles 2:55. SBD Jabez.3
2. The name occurs again in the genealogies of Judah, 1 Chronicles 4:9, 1 Chronicles 4:10, in a passage of remarkable detail inserted in a genealogy again connected with Bethlehem. ver. 1 Chronicles 4:4. SBD Jabez.4
Ja’bin (whom God observes). SBD Jabin.2
1. King of Hazor, who organized a confederacy of the northern princes against the Israelites. Joshua 11:1-3. Joshua surprised the allied forces by the waters of Merom, ver. Joshua 11:7, and utterly routed them. (b.c. 1448.) During the ensuing wars Joshua again attacked Jabin, and burnt his city. Joshua 11:1-14. SBD Jabin.3
2. A king of Hazor, whose general, Sisera, was defeated by Barak. Judges 4:2, Judges 4:13. (b.c. 1316.) SBD Jabin.4
Jab’ne-el (building of God). SBD Jabne-el.2
1. One of the points on the northern boundary of Judah, not quite at the sea, though near it. Joshua 15:11. There is no sign, however, of its ever having been occupied by Judah. Josephus attributes it to the Danites. There was a constant struggle going on between that tribe and the Philistines for the possession of all the places in the lowland plains, and it is not surprising that the next time we meet with Jabneel it should be in the hands of the latter. 2 Chronicles 26:6. Uzziah dispossessed them of it and demolished its fortifications. Called also Jabneh. At the time of the fall of Jerusalem, Jabneh was one of the most populous places of Judea. The modern village of Hebna, more accurately Ibna, stands about two miles from the sea, on a slight eminence just south of the Nahr Rubin. SBD Jabne-el.3
2. One of the landmarks on the boundary of Naphtali, Joshua 19:33, in upper Galilee. SBD Jabne-el.4
Jab’neh (building of God). 2 Chronicles 26:6. [JABNEEL.] SBD Jabneh.2
Ja’chan (affliction), one of seven chief men of the tribe of Gad. 1 Chronicles 5:13. SBD Jachan.2
Ja’chin (he shall establish). SBD Jachin.2
1. One of the two pillars which were set up “in the porch,” 1 Kings 7:21, or before the temple, 2 Chronicles 3:17, of Solomon. [BOAZ.] SBD Jachin.3
2. Fourth son of Simeon, Genesis 46:10; Exodus 6:15; founder of the family of the Jachinites. Numbers 26:12. SBD Jachin.4
3. Head of the twenty-first course of priests in the time of David. 1 Chronicles 9:10; 1 Chronicles 24:17; Nehemiah 11:10. SBD Jachin.5
Jacinth, a precious stone, forming one of the foundations of the walls of the new Jerusalem. Revelation 21:20. Called hyacinth in the Revised Version. This is simply a different English rendering of the same Greek original. It is probably identical with the ligure of Exodus 28:19. The jacinth or hyacinth is a red variety of zircon, which is found in square prisms of a white, gray, red, reddish-brown, yellow, or pale-green color. The expression in Revelation 9:17, “of jacinth,” is descriptive simply of a dark-purple color. SBD Jacinth.2
Ja’cob (supplanter), the second son of Isaac and Rebekah. He was born with Esau, probably at the well of Lahai-roi, about b.c. 1837. His history is related in the latter half of the book of Genesis. He bought the birthright from his brother Esau, and afterward acquired the blessing intended for Esau, by practicing a well-known deceit on Isaac. (Jacob did not obtain the blessing because of his deceit, but in spite of it. That which was promised he would have received in some good way; but Jacob and his mother, distrusting God’s promise, sought the promised blessing in a wrong way, and received with it trouble and sorrow.—Ed.) Jacob, in his 78th year, was sent from the family home to avoid his brother, and to seek a wife among his kindred in Padan-aram. As he passed through Bethel, God appeared to him. After the lapse of twenty-one years he returned from Padan-aram with two wives, two concubines, eleven sons and a daughter, and large property. He escaped from the angry pursuit of Laban, from a meeting with Esau, and from the vengeance of the Canaanites provoked by the murder of Shechem; and in each of these three emergencies he was aided and strengthened by the interposition of God, and in sign of the grace won by a night of wrestling with God his name was changed at Jabbok into Israel. Deborah and Rachel died before he reached Hebron; Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob, was sold into Egypt eleven years before the death of Isaac; and Jacob had probably exceeded his 130th year when he went thither. He was presented to Pharaoh, and dwelt for seventeen years in Rameses and Goshen, and died in his 147th year. His body was embalmed, carried with great care and pomp into the land of Canaan, and deposited with his fathers, and his wife Leah, in the cave of Machpelah. SBD Jacob.2
The example of Jacob is quoted by the first and the last of the minor prophets. Besides the frequent mention of his name in conjunction with the names of the other two patriarchs, there are distinct references to the events in the life of Jacob in four books of the New Testament—John 1:51; John 4:5, John 4:12; Acts 7:12, Acts 7:16; Romans 9:11-13; Hebrews 11:21; Hebrews 12:16. SBD Jacob.3
Ja’cob’s Well, a deep spring in the vicinity of Shechem (called Sychar in Christ’s time and Nablûs at the present day). It was probably dug by Jacob, whose name it bears. On the curb of the well Jesus sat and discoursed with the Samaritan woman. John 4:5-26. It is situated about half a mile southeast of Nablûs, at the foot of Mount Gerizim. It is about nine feet in diameter and 75 feet deep. At some seasons it is dry; at others it contains a few feet of water. SBD Jacob’s Well.2
Jacob’s Well at Shechem. SBD Jacob’s Well.3
Ja’da (wise), son of Onam and brother of Shammai, in the genealogy of the sons of Jerahmeel by his wife Atarah. 1 Chronicles 2:28, 1 Chronicles 2:32. (b.c. after 1445.) SBD Jada.2
Jada’u (loving), one of the Bene-Nebo who had taken a foreign wife. Ezra 10:43. (b.c. 459.) SBD Jadau.2
Jaddu’a (known). SBD Jaddua.2
1. Son and successor in the high priesthood of Jonathan or Johanan. He is the last of the high priests mentioned in the Old Testament, and probably altogether the latest name in the canon. Nehemiah 12:11, Nehemiah 12:22. (b.c. 406–332.) SBD Jaddua.3
2. One of the chief of the people who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah. Nehemiah 10:21. (b.c. 410.) SBD Jaddua.4
Ja’don (judge), the Meronothite, who assisted to repair the wall of Jerusalem. Nehemiah 3:7. (b.c. 446.) SBD Jadon.2
Ja’el (mountain goat), the wife of Heber the Kenite. (b.c. 1316.) In the headlong rout which followed the defeat of the Canaanites by Barak, at Megiddo on the plain of Esdraelon, Sisera, their general, fled to the tent of the Kenite chieftainess, at Kedesh in Naphtali, four miles northwest of Lake Merom. He accepted Jael’s invitation to enter, and she flung a mantle over him as he lay wearily on the floor. When thirst prevented sleep, and he asked for water, she brought him buttermilk in her choicest vessel. At last, with a feeling of perfect security, he fell into a deep sleep. Then it was that Jael took one of the great wooden pins which fastened down the cords of the tent, and with one terrible blow with a mallet dashed it through Sisera’s temples deep into the earth. Judges 5:27. She then waited to meet the pursuing Barak, and led him into her tent that she might in his presence claim the glory of the deed! Many have supposed that by this act she fulfilled the saying of Deborah, Judges 4:9; and hence they have supposed that Jael was actuated by some divine and hidden influence. But the Bible gives no hint of such an inspiration. SBD Jael.2
Ja’gur (lodging), a town of Judah, one of those farthest to the south, on the frontier of Edom. Joshua 15:21. SBD Jagur.2
Jah (Jehovah), the abbreviated form of Jehovah, used only in poetry. It occurs frequently in the Hebrew, but with a single exception, Psalm 68:4, is rendered “Lord” in the Authorized Version. The identity of Jah and Jehovah is strongly marked in two passages of Isaiah—Isaiah 12:2; Isaiah 26:4. [JEHOVAH.] SBD Jah.2
Ja’hath (union). SBD Jahath.2
1. Son of Libni, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi. 1 Chronicles 6:20. (b.c. after 1706.) SBD Jahath.3
2. Head of a later house in the family of Gershom, being the eldest son of Shimei, the son of Laadan. 1 Chronicles 23:10, 1 Chronicles 23:11. SBD Jahath.4
3. A man in the genealogy of Judah, 1 Chronicles 4:2, son of Reaiah ben-Shobal. SBD Jahath.5
4. A Levite, son of Shelomoth. 1 Chronicles 24:22. SBD Jahath.6
5. A Merarite Levite in the reign of Josiah. 2 Chronicles 34:12. (b.c. 623.) SBD Jahath.7
Ja’haz, also Jaha’za, Jaha’zah and Jah’zah (trodden down). Under these four forms is given in the Authorized Version the name of a place which in the Hebrew appears as Yahats and Yahtsah. At Jahaz the decisive battle was fought between the children of Israel and Sihon king of the Amorites. Numbers 21:23; Deuteronomy 2:32; Judges 11:20. It was in the allotment of Reuben. Joshua 13:18. Like many others relating to the places east of the Dead Sea, the question of its site must await further research. SBD Jahaz.2
Jaha’za (trodden down). Joshua 13:18. [JAHAZ.] SBD Jahaza.2
Jaha’zah (trodden down). Joshua 21:36; Jeremiah 48:21. [JAHAZ.] SBD Jahazah.2
Jahazi’ah (whom Jehovah watches over), son of Tikvah, apparently a priest. Ezra 10:15. SBD Jahaziah.2
Jaha’zi-el (whom God watches over). SBD Jahazi-el.2
1. One of the heroes of Benjamin who joined David at Ziklag. 1 Chronicles 12:4. (b.c. 1055.) SBD Jahazi-el.3
2. A priest in the reign of David. 1 Chronicles 16:6. SBD Jahazi-el.4
3. A Kohathite Levite, third son of Hebron. 1 Chronicles 23:19; 1 Chronicles 24:23. SBD Jahazi-el.5
4. Son of Zechariah, a Levite of the Bene-Asaph in the reign of Jehoshaphat. 2 Chronicles 20:14. (b.c. 896.) SBD Jahazi-el.6
5. The “son of Jahaziel” was the chief of the Bene-Shecaniah who returned from Babylon with Ezra. Ezra 8:5. (b.c. before 459.) SBD Jahazi-el.7
Jah’da-i (whom Jehovah directs), a man who appears to be thrust abruptly into the genealogy of Caleb, as the father of six sons. 1 Chronicles 2:47. SBD Jahda-i.2
Jah’di-el (whom Jehovah makes joyful), a chieftain of Manasseh on the east of Jordan. 1 Chronicles 5:24. (b.c. 320.) SBD Jahdi-el.2
Jah’do (united), a Gadite, 1 Chronicles 5:14, son of Buz and father of Jeshishai. SBD Jahdo.2
Jah’le-el (hoping in Jehovah), the third of the three sons of Zebulun, Genesis 46:14; Numbers 26:26; founder of the family of Jahleelites. (b.c. 1706.) SBD Jahle-el.2
Jah’ma-i (whom Jehovah guards), a man of Issachar, one of the heads of the house of Tolah. 1 Chronicles 7:2. (b.c. 1491.) SBD Jahma-i.2
Jah’zah (trodden down). 1 Chronicles 6:78. [JAHAZ.] SBD Jahzah.2
Jah’ze-el (whom God allots), the first of the four sons of Naphtali, Genesis 46:24; founder of the family of the Jahzeelites. Numbers 26:48. (b.c. 1306.) SBD Jahze-el.2
Jahze’rah (whom God leads back), a priest of the house of Immer. 1 Chronicles 9:12. SBD Jahzerah.2
Jah’zi-el (whom God allots), the same as Jahzeel. 1 Chronicles 7:13. SBD Jahzi-el.2
Ja’ir (enlightener). SBD Jair.2
1. A man who on his father’s side was descended from Judah, and on his mother’s from Manasseh. (b.c. 1451.) During the conquest he took the whole of the tract of Argob, Deuteronomy 3:14, and in addition possessed himself of some nomad villages in Gilead, which he called after his own name Havoth-jair. Numbers 32:41; 1 Chronicles 2:23. SBD Jair.3
2. Jair the Gileadite, who judged Israel for two-and-twenty years. Judges 10:3-5. (b.c. 1160.) He had thirty sons, and possessed thirty cities in the land of Gilead, which, like those of their namesake, were called Havoth-jair. SBD Jair.4
3. A Benjamite, son of Kish and father of Mordecai. Esther 2:5. (b.c. before 598.) SBD Jair.5
4. The father of Elhanan, one of the heroes of David’s army. 1 Chronicles 20:5. SBD Jair.6
Ja’irite (descendant of Jair), The. Ira the Jairite was a priest (Authorized Version “chief ruler”) to David. 2 Samuel 20:26. SBD Jairite.2
Ja’irus (whom God enlightens). SBD Jairus.2
1. A ruler of a synagogue, probably in some town near the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. Matthew 9:18; Mark 5:22; Luke 8:41. (a.d. 28.) SBD Jairus.3
2. Esther 11:2. [JAIR, 3.] SBD Jairus.4
Ja’kan (sagacious), son of Ezer the Horite. 1 Chronicles 1:42. The same as Jaakan. [And see AKAN.] SBD Jakan.2
Ja’keh (pious). [PROVERBS, BOOK OF.] SBD Jakeh.2
Ja’kim (whom God sets up). SBD Jakim.2
1. Head of the twelfth course of priests in the reign of David. 1 Chronicles 24:12. (b.c. 1014.) SBD Jakim.3
2. A Benjamite, one of the Bene-Shimhi. 1 Chronicles 8:19. (b.c. 588.) SBD Jakim.4
Ja’lon (abiding), one of the sons of Ezra. 1 Chronicles 4:17. SBD Jalon.2
Jam’bres. [JANNES AND JAMBRES.] SBD Jambres.2
James (the Greek form of Jacob, supplanter). SBD James.2
1. James the son of Zebedee, one of the twelve apostles. He was elder brother of the evangelist John. His mother’s name was Salome. We first hear of him in a.d. 27, Mark 1:20, when at the call of the Master he left all, and became, once and forever, his disciple, in the spring of 28. Matthew 10:2; Mark 3:14; Luke 6:13; Acts 1:13. It would seem to have been at the time of the appointment of the twelve apostles that the name of Boanerges was given to the sons of Zebedee. The “sons of thunder” had a burning and impetuous spirit, which twice exhibits itself. Mark 10:37; Luke 9:54. On the night before the crucifixion James was present at the agony in the garden. On the day of the ascension he is mentioned as persevering, with the rest of the apostles and disciples, in prayer. Acts 1:13. Shortly before the day of the passover, in the year 44, he was put to death by Herod Agrippa I. Acts 12:1, Acts 12:2. SBD James.3
2. James the son of Alphæus, one of the twelve apostles. Matthew 10:3. Whether or not this James is to be identified with James the Less, the son of Alphæus, the brother of our Lord, is one of the most difficult questions in the gospel history. By comparing Matthew 27:56 and Mark 15:40 with John 19:25, we find that the Virgin Mary had a sister named, like herself, Mary, who was the wife of Clopas or Alphæus (varieties of the same name), and who had two sons, James the Less and Joses. By referring to Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3 we find that a James and a Joses, with two other brethren called Jude and Simon, and at least three sisters, were living with the Virgin Mary at Nazareth. By referring to Luke 6:16 and Acts 1:13 we find that there were two brethren named James and Jude among the apostles. It would certainly be natural to think that we had here but one family of four brothers and three or more sisters, the children of Clopas and Mary, nephews and nieces of the Virgin Mary. There are difficulties, however, in the way of this conclusion into which we cannot here enter; but in reply to the objection that the four brethren in Matthew 13:55 are described as the brothers of Jesus, not as his cousins, it must be recollected that ̓αδελφόι, which is here translated “brethren,” may also signify cousins. SBD James.4
James the Less, called the Less because younger or smaller in stature than James the son of Zebedee. He was the son of Alphæus or Clopas and brother of our Lord (see above); was called to the apostolate, together with his younger brother Jude, in the spring of the year 28. At some time in the forty days that intervened between the resurrection and the ascension the Lord appeared to him. 1 Corinthians 15:7. Ten years after we find James on a level with Peter, and with him deciding on the admission of St. Paul into fellowship with the Church at Jerusalem; and from henceforth we always find him equal, or in his own department superior, to the very chiefest apostles, Peter, John, and Paul. Acts 9:27; Galatians 1:18, Galatians 1:19. This pre-eminence is evident throughout the after history of the apostles, whether we read it in the Acts, in the epistles, or in ecclesiastical writers. Acts 12:17; Acts 15:13, Acts 15:19; Acts 21:18; Galatians 2:9. According to tradition, James was thrown down from the temple by the scribes and Pharisees; he was then stoned, and his brains dashed out with a fuller’s club. SBD James the Less.2
James, The General Epistle of. The author of this epistle was in all probability James the son of Alphæus, and our Lord’s brother. It was written from Jerusalem, which St. James does not seem to have ever left. It was probably written about a.d. 62, during the interval between Paul’s two imprisonments. Its main object is not to teach doctrine, but to improve morality. St. James is the moral teacher of the New Testament. He wrote for the Jewish Christians, whether in Jerusalem or abroad, to warn them against the sins to which as Jews they were most liable, and to console and exhort them under the sufferings to which as Christians they were most exposed. SBD James The General Epistle of.2
Ja’min (right hand). SBD Jamin.2
1. Second son of Simeon, Genesis 46:10; Exodus 6:15; 1 Chronicles 4:24, founder of the family of the Jaminites. Numbers 26:12. (b.c. 1706.) SBD Jamin.3
2. A man of Judah, second son of Ram the Jerahmeelite. 1 Chronicles 2:27. SBD Jamin.4
3. One of the Levites who expounded the law to the people. Nehemiah 8:7. (b.c. 410.) SBD Jamin.5
Jam’lech (whom God makes king), one of the chief men of the tribe of Simeon. 1 Chronicles 4:34. SBD Jamlech.2
Jam’nia. [JABNEEL.] SBD Jamnia.2
Jan’na (flourishing), son of Joseph, and father of Melchi, in the genealogy of Christ. Luke 3:24. In the Revised Version written Jannai. SBD Janna.2
Jan’nes and Jam’bres, the names of two Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses. Exodus 7:9-13; 2 Timothy 3:8, 2 Timothy 3:9. (b.c. 1492.) SBD Jannes.2
Jano’ah (rest), a place apparently in the north of Galilee, or the “land of Naphtali”—one of those taken by Tiglath-pileser in his first incursion into Palestine. 2 Kings 15:29. No trace of it appears elsewhere. SBD Janoah.2
Jano’hah (rest), a place on the boundary of Ephraim, Joshua 16:6, Joshua 16:7, east of Neapolis. A little less than twelve miles from Nablûs, and about southeast in direction, two miles from Akrabeh, is the village of Yanûn, doubtless identical with the ancient Janohah. SBD Janohah.2
Ja’num (slumber), a town of Judah in the mountain district, apparently not far from Hebron. Joshua 15:53. SBD Janum.2
Ja’pheth (enlargement), one of the three sons of Noah. The descendants of Japheth occupied the “isles of the Gentiles,” Genesis 10:5—i.e., the coast lands of the Mediterranean Sea in Europe and Asia Minor—whence they spread northward over the whole continent of Europe and a considerable portion of Asia. SBD Japheth.2
Japhi’a (splendid). The boundary of Zebulun ascended from Daberath to Japhia, and thence passed to Gath-hepher. Joshua 19:12. Yûfa, two miles south of Nazareth, is not unlikely to be identical with Japhia. SBD Japhia.2
Japhi’a (splendid). SBD Japhia.2
1. King of Lachish at the time of the conquest of Canaan by the Israelites. Joshua 10:3. (b.c. 1450.) SBD Japhia.3
2. One of the sons of David born to him in Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 5:15; 1 Chronicles 3:7; 1 Chronicles 14:6. (b.c. 1046.) SBD Japhia.4
Japh’let (whom God delivers), a descendant of Asher through Beriah. 1 Chronicles 7:32, 1 Chronicles 7:33. SBD Japhlet.2
Japh’leti (the Japhletite). The boundary of the “Japhletite” is one of the landmarks on the south boundary line of Ephraim. Joshua 16:3. SBD Japhleti.2
Ja’pho (beauty). Joshua 19:46. The Hebrew form for the better-known Joppa. 2 Chronicles 2:16; Ezra 3:7; Jonah 1:3. In its modern garb it is Yûfa. SBD Japho.2
Ja’rah (honey), a descendant of Saul; son of Micah and great-grandson of Mephibosheth. 1 Chronicles 9:42, comp. 1 Chronicles 9:40. SBD Jarah.2
Ja’reb (adversary) is to be explained either as the proper name of a country or person, as a noun in apposition, or as a verb from a root, rûb, “to contend, plead.” All these senses are represented in the Authorized Version and the marginal readings, Hosea 5:13; Hosea 10:6, and the least preferable has been inserted in the text. Jareb is most probably the name of some city of Assyria, or another name of the country itself. SBD Jareb.2
Ja’red (descent), one of the antediluvian patriarchs, and father of Enoch. Genesis 5:15, Genesis 5:16, Genesis 5:18-20; Luke 3:37. In the lists of Chronicles the name is given in the Authorized Version Jered. SBD Jared.2
Jaresi’ah (whom Jehovah nourishes), a Benjamite, one of the Bene-Jehoram. 1 Chronicles 8:27. SBD Jaresiah.2
Jar’ha, the Egyptian servant of Sheshan, about the time of Eli, to whom his master gave his daughter and heir in marriage. 1 Chronicles 2:34, 1 Chronicles 2:35. (b.c. before 1491.) SBD Jarha.2
Ja’rib (adversary). SBD Jarib.2
1. Named in the list of 1 Chronicles 4:24 only, as a son of Simeon. Perhaps the same as Jachin. Genesis 46; Exodus 6; Numbers 26. SBD Jarib.3
2. One of the “chief men” who accompanied Ezra on his journey from Babylon to Jerusalem. Ezra 8:16. (b.c. 459.) SBD Jarib.4
3. A priest of the house of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, who had married a foreign wife, and was compelled by Ezra to put her away. Ezra 10:18. (b.c. 459.) SBD Jarib.5
4. 1 Maccabees 14:29. A contraction or corruption of the name Joarib. ch. 1 Maccabees 2:1. SBD Jarib.6
Jar’imoth (heights). 1 Esdras 9:28. [JEREMOTH.] SBD Jarimoth.2
Jar’muth (high). SBD Jarmuth.2
1. A town in the low country of Judah. Joshua 15:35. Its king, Piram, was one of the five who conspired to punish Gibeon for having made alliance with Israel, Joshua 10:3, Joshua 10:5, and who were routed at Beth-horon and put to death by Joshua at Makkedah. ver. Joshua 10:33. Its site is probably the modern Yarmûk. SBD Jarmuth.3
2. A city of Issachar, allotted with its suburbs to the Gershonite Levites. Joshua 21:29. SBD Jarmuth.4
Jaro’ah (moon), a chief man of the tribe of Gad. 1 Chronicles 5:14. SBD Jaroah.2
Ja’shen (sleeping). Bene-Jashen—“sons of Jashen”—are named in the catalogue of the heroes of David’s guard in 2 Samuel 23:32. (b.c. 1046.) SBD Jashen.2
Ja’sher (upright), Book of (“the book of the upright”), alluded to in two passages only of the Old Testament. Joshua 10:13 and 2 Samuel 1:18. It was probably written in verse; and it has been conjectured that it was a collection of ancient records of honored men or noble deeds. It is wholly lost. SBD Jasher.2
Jasho’be-am (to whom the people turn), named first among the chief of the mighty men of David. 1 Chronicles 11:11. (b.c. 1046.) He came to David at Ziklag. His distinguishing exploit was that he slew 300 (or 800, 2 Samuel 23:8) men at one time. SBD Jashobe-am.2
Ja’shub (he turns). SBD Jashub.2
1. The third son of Issachar, and founder of the family of the Jashubites. Numbers 26:24; 1 Chronicles 7:1. (b.c. 1706.) SBD Jashub.3
2. One of the sons of Bani, who had to put away his foreign wife. Ezra 10:29. (b.c. 459.) SBD Jashub.4
Jash’ubi-le’hem (turner back for food), a person or a place named among the descendants of Shelah, the son of Judah by Bath-shua the Canaanitess. 1 Chronicles 4:22. SBD Jashubi-lehem.2
Ja’si-el (whom God made), the last named on the list of David’s heroes in 1 Chronicles 11:47. SBD Jasi-el.2
Ja’son (one who will heal), called the Thessalonian, entertained Paul and Silas, and was in consequence attacked by the Jewish mob. Acts 17:5, Acts 17:6, Acts 17:7, Acts 17:9. (a.d. 48.) He is probably the same as the Jason mentioned in Romans 16:21. It is conjectured that Jason and Secundus, Acts 20:4, were the same. SBD Jason.2
Jasper, a precious stone frequently noticed in Scripture. It was the last of the twelve inserted in the high priest’s breastplate, Exodus 28:20; Exodus 39:13, and the first of the twelve used in the foundations of the new Jerusalem. Revelation 21:19. The characteristics of the stone as far as they are specified in Scripture, Revelation 21:11, are that it “was most precious,” and “like crystal”; we may also infer from Revelation 4:3 that it was a stone of brilliant and transparent light. The stone which we name “jasper” does not accord with this description. There can be no doubt that the diamond would more adequately answer to the description in the book of Revelation. SBD Jasper.2
Jath’ni-el (whom God gives), a Korhite Levite, the fourth of the family of Meshelemiah. 1 Chronicles 26:2. (b.c. 1014.) SBD Jathni-el.2
Jat’tir (pre-eminent), a town of Judah in the mountain districts, Joshua 15:48, one of the group containing Socho, Eshtemoa, etc. See also Joshua 21:14; 1 Samuel 30:27; 1 Chronicles 6:57. By Robinson it is identified with ’Attir, six miles north of Molada and ten miles south of Hebron. SBD Jattir.2
Ja’van (clay). SBD Javan.2
1. A son of Japheth. Genesis 10:2, Genesis 10:4. Javan was regarded as the representative of the Greek race. The name was probably introduced into Asia by the Phœnicians, to whom the Ionians were naturally better known than any other of the Hellenic races, on account of their commercial activity and the high prosperity of their towns on the western coast of Asia Minor. SBD Javan.3
2. A town in the southern part of Arabia (Yemen), whither the Phœnicians traded. Ezekiel 27:19. SBD Javan.4
Javelin. [ARMS.] SBD Javelin.2
Ja’zer (Jehovah helps). [JAAZER.] SBD Jazer.2
Ja’ziz (whom God moves), a Hagarite who had charge of the flocks of King David. 1 Chronicles 27:31. (b.c. 1046.) SBD Jaziz.2
Je’arim (forests), Mount, a place named in specifying the northern boundary of Judah. Joshua 15:10. The boundary ran from Mount Seir to “the shoulder of Mount Jearim, which is Cesalon”—that is, Cesalon was the landmark on the mountain. Kesla, seven miles due west of Jerusalem, stands on a high point on the north slope of a lofty ridge, which is probably Mount Jearim. SBD Jearim.2
Je-at’era-i (whom Jehovah leads), a Gershonite Levite, son of Zerah. 1 Chronicles 6:21. SBD Je-atera-i.2
Jeberechi’ah (whom Jehovah blesses), father of a certain Zechariah, in the reign of Ahaz, mentioned Isaiah 8:2. (b.c. about 739.) SBD Jeberechiah.2
Je’bus (threshing-floor), one of the names of Jerusalem, the city of the Jebusites, also called Jebusi. Joshua 15:8; Joshua 18:16, Joshua 18:28; Judges 19:10, Judges 19:11; 1 Chronicles 11:4, 1 Chronicles 11:5. [JERUSALEM.] SBD Jebus.2
Jebu’si (from Jebus), the name employed for the city of Jebus. Joshua 15:8; Joshua 18:16, Joshua 18:28. SBD Jebusi.2
Jeb’usites (descendants of Jebus), The, were descended from the third son of Canaan. Genesis 10:16; 1 Chronicles 1:14. The actual people first appear in the invaluable report of the spies. Numbers 13:29. When Jabin organized his rising against Joshua, the Jebusites joined him. Joshua 11:3. “Jebus, which is Jerusalem,” lost its king in the slaughter of Beth-horn, Joshua 10:1, Joshua 10:5, Joshua 10:26; comp. Joshua 12:10, was sacked and burned by the men of Judah, Judges 1:21, and its citadel finally scaled and occupied by David. 2 Samuel 5:6. After this they emerge from the darkness but once, in the person of Araunah the Jebusite, “Araunah the king,” who appears before us in true kingly dignity in his well-known transaction with David. 2 Samuel 24:23; 1 Chronicles 21:24, 1 Chronicles 21:25. SBD Jebusites.2