geographical term, but it often occurs in the Hebrew as a local designation, “the Arabah." It signifies that most remarkable deep valley, unequalled on the face of the earth, which extends from Hermon, 150 miles in length, to the high cliffs which intercept it 10 miles south of the Dead Sea; and from which it stretches again to the Elanitic gulf of the Red Sea. In this last part, 100 miles long, must have been many of the journeyings of the Israelites. The portion through which the Jordan runs is now called el-Ghor, but the southern part keeps its old name. It is usually translated "plains," in connection with Moab, Jordan, Jericho; and often in the prophets it signifies a desert, or, as the word means, a place burned and parched up. ARABIA (1 Ki. x. 15)-called by the natives the peninsula of the Arabs, lies in Western Asia, south and south-west of Judea. Various derivations of the name have been given, and the most probable opinion is that which refers the name to the term arabah, found in Hebrew and the cognate tongues, which denotes a wide plain or waste. Such an appellation to a country of sand, rocks, and desert, is very appropriate. It is 1,500 miles from north to south, and 1,200 from east to west, or about four times the extent of the kingdom of France. It is bounded north by Syria, east by the river Euphrates and the Persian Gulf, south by the Indian ocean, and west by the Red Sea, Palestine, and part of Syria. It is described in three divisions, the name of each being indicative of the face of the soil and its general character: 1. ARABIA DESERTA (or the DESERT) is a wide waste of burning sand, with here and there a palm tree and a spring of brackish water. This was the country of the Ishmaelites, and is inhabited by the modern Bedouins. 2. ARABIA PETREA (or ROCKY) comprehends what was formerly the land of Midian. The Edomites and the Amalekites also dwelt here, and a very powerful and independent tribe of Ishmaelites. It was a land of shepherds, and the scene of some of the most interesting events in the history of man. Horeb and Sinai were within its bounds. Great attention has been paid to its localities by modern travellers, in order to identify, if possible, the places so often mentioned in early Scripture. It is verily a land of "drought and of the shadow of death." Moses might well name it the "great and terrible wilderness," for it consists of sandy wastes, precipitous ravines, and bleak and barren mountains "rocks, crags, and knolls confusedly hurled." The dreariness of its desolation is truly appalling. 3. ARABIA FELIX (or HAPPY) was an exceedingly fruitful land. The inhabitants, who claim their descent from Shem, were unlike the shepherds and robbers who occupied the other districts. They had permanent abodes, supported themselves by agriculture and commerce, and once possessed a high degree of wealth and refinement. Arabia was originally peopled by a variety of races, both Hamite and Shemite. The pos terity of Joktan, of Cush, of Abraham by Keturah, of Ishmael, and of Lot, seems all to have originally settled in Arabia. But the general character of all these oriental races did not very greatly vary, and in process of time they seem to have been almost amalgamated. It is supposed that many of the articles mentioned in Exod. xxx. 23, 24, particularly the balm, were imported from Arabia; and even at this day caravans of merchants, the descendants of the Cushites, Ishmaelites, and Midianites, are found traversing the same deserts, conveying the same articles, and in the same manner, as in the days of Moses. It has been said, that if any people in the world afford, in their history, an instance of high antiquity and great simplicity of manners, the Arabs surely do. Coming among them, one can hardly help fancying himself suddenly carried back to the ages immediately succeeding the flood. Of all nations, the Arabs have spread farthest over the globe, and in all their wanderings have preserved their language, manners, and peculiar customs, more perfectly than any other nation. The best illustrations of Bible customs and language come from Arabia. Its people are still, in appearance, habits, and modes of life, what they were when the Jewish republic was settled in Palestine. They still dwell in tents-the females live in seclusion, and they retain the old formalities of welcome, salutation, and hospitality. The salam aleikum-peace be with you that was heard in the desert when a traveller came to the tent door in the days of Abraham, is pronounced still. Many of the Arabians living by robbery, rejoice in the fleetness of their horses as in the period of the Hebrew prophets. The language of Arabia, as a sister tongue of Hebrew, but much more flexible and multiform, affords very great philological assistance to the interpreter of the Old Testament. The freshest illustrations of many Scriptural usages are thus brought from Arabia, and are to us more valuable and fragrant than the spices and gold of its famed and early merchandise. Its earliest names in Scripture are the East country" (Gen. xxv. 6), and its population are called "children of the East," (Judg. vi. 3; vii. 12; &c.) ARAD (Judg. i. 16)-a city in the southern border of Judea, whose king opposed the passage of the children of Israel. A hill called Tel Arad lies about eight hours from Hebron, and may represent the place. ARAM-high lands. (See SYRIA.) It denotes the elevated table-land, 2,000 feet above the level of the sea, which stretches from the head of the Jordan to the Euphrates. It is often joined to other terms-as Aram-Maachah, Aram-Naharaim, or Mesopotamia, lying between the Tigris and Euphrates. ARARAT-cursed (Gen. viii. 4)-an elevated plateau, lying near the centre of the kingdom of Armenia. It contained several cities, which were the residence of the successive kings and governors of Armenia; and hence the word Ararat is often applied to the whole (which was in 1829, apparently for the first time, ascended by a gentleman (Parrot) belonging to a Russian scientific expedition) is so very high, and its sides so very steep, rugged, and dangerous, that we cannot conceive it to be the spot where the ark rested. The safe descent of all the inhabitants of the ark from its summit would seem to be a miracle almost as great as their preservation from the waters of the deluge; and the idea of such a miracle we are not warranted to entertain. The Scripture narrative leaves the spot undetermined, and only says that the huge vessel grounded at length on one of the Armenian mountains. Some have found difficulty even in this statement, chiefly in consequence of the phraseology of Gen. xi. 2, which has been supposed to denote that the place where the ark rested was east of the plain of Shinar, whereas the Ararat of Armenia is west of it. But the phrase rendered "from the east" may be translated "eastward," or with Kalisch, "in the east." The prophet Jeremiah (Jer. li. 27) speaks of Ararat as one of the countries of the north, from which an invading force should come against Babylon; and this correctly describes the situation of Ararat in Armenia; it is almost due north of Babylon. kingdom. The word translated "the land of | Armenia" (2 Ki. xix. 37; Isa. xxxviii. 38) is, in the original, Ararat. In the north-east part of Armenia is a range of mountains, called Agridagh by the natives, on the summit of which the ark is supposed to have rested. There are two peaks, about 7 miles apart, the highest of which is 17,000 feet above the level of the sea, and is perpetually covered with snow. When viewed from the plain below, one would think that the highest mountains of the world had been piled upon each other, to form this one sublime immensity of earth, and rocks, and snow-this awful monument of the antediluvian world-this stupendous link in the history of man before and since the flood. Once the population of the whole wide world was embraced in one small family, and that family inhabited this spot. But one language was then spoken. Here, too, the bow of the covenant was set; and here was erected the first altar, after the dreadful catastrophe of the destruction of the world. The immediate vicinity of the mountain is inhabited by Kurds-a savage tribe of Mohammedans. And since the last war between Russia and Persia, the Russian boundaries have been so extended as to embrace Ararat; and now Russia, Persia, and Turkey meet around that mountain. There has been much controversy as to the fact whether the ark rested on this mountain, for the language of Genesis is quite indefinite, and speaks only of the mountains of Ararat. The mountain to which local tradition points ARAUNAH, or ORNAN (2 Sam. xxiv. 16) -was a Jebusite, and called "a king," who lived at Jerusalem, and owned a threshingplace or floor, where the temple was afterwards built. In consequence of the sin of David the king, a pestilence was sent through the nation, which had already, perhaps in one day, swept off 70,000 of its inhabitants. An angel was the equinoxes, to fix the time when the book seen hovering over the threshing-floor of Arau of Job may have been composed. nah, with his arm lifted up for the destruction AREOPAGITE, AREOPAGUS (Acts of Jerusalem. David was humbled and con- xvii. 19, 34). The first term is the title of the fessed his sin, and the Lord, by Gad the pro-judges of the supreme tribunal of Athens. The phet, directed him to go to that spot and build name is derived from Areopagus (the hill of an altar there unto the Lord. He obeyed, and Mars), which signifies either the court itself, when he came to the spot and made known his or the hill or spot on which it was held. It business, Araunah refused to receive anything was a rocky elevation almost in the centre of for it, but offered it to him, together with oxen the city, and commanded a wide range of prosfor sacrifices, and the timber of the threshing pect. The eye looked around and below on instruments for fuel. David refused to receive works and wonders of art-statues, altars, and them as a gift, as he would not offer to the temples; and on the glorious scenery of nature Lord that which had cost him nothing. He-mountains, islands, and seas. The tribunal therefore bought the oxen for 50 shekels of silver (2 Sam. xxiv. 24), and the whole place for 600 shekels of gold (1 Chr. xxi. 25), and offered his sacrifices, which were accepted, and the plague was stayed. ARBA. (See HEBRON.) that assembled here was most ancient in origin and venerable in character; and among other objects of trust and jurisdiction, civil, social, and political, had particular cognizance of all blasphemies against the heathen gods; and therefore Paul, who so pointedly condemned the idolatries of the city, while he urged them to seek and serve Jehovah, as the only living and true God, was esteemed "a setter forth of strange gods," and was brought to the hill of Mars for trial. He there exhibited the sin and folly of idol worship with such power, that Dionysius, one of the judges, and Damaris, and several other persons, believed his testimony. ARCHANGEL the prince or chief of angels. The Lord Jesus (1 Thess. iv. 16) is said to "descend with a shout, with the voice of the archangel." The awful scene of the resurrection is attended by angels, whose presence is indicated by the sublime shout of their leader -heralding and announcing the approach of the Son of God. Michael is called the archangel (Jude 9), and it is generally believed that It is said that the sessions of the Areopagus a created, though highly exalted, being is de- were held only in the night, that the minds noted by the term, and not He "whose goings of the judges might not be distracted or biassed forth have been from of old, from everlasting." by extraneous objects. The power of this Some have held the opinion that the archangel court gradually declined, as the state became is indeed Christ, the Lord of the armies of more corrupt. Its fame rested upon its traheaven. Such an opinion, however, has no ditionary integrity and glory; its members scriptural support. Others again have espoused ceased at length to be what they were for the notion that there were seven archangels-gravity and impartiality in the days of Solon, as if John meant them when he speaks of the seven spirits before the throne. when the archons, who had well served the state, were enrolled on its bench for life. At last, under Roman domination and degeneracy, it ceased to exist. (See ATHENS.) ARCHELAUS (Matt. ii. 22)—a son of Herod the Great. On the decease of his father, the same year that our Saviour was born, ARETAS (2 Cor. xi. 32)—the king of Syria Archelaus succeeded to the government of at the time the governor of Damascus attempted Judea and reigned there, when Joseph and to apprehend Paul (Acts. ix. 24, 25). He was Mary, with the infant Jesus, were returning father-in-law to Herod Antipas; but as Anfrom Egypt, whither they had gone to escape tipas divorced his wife, and she returned to the fury of Herod. Archelaus, however, was her father, war was declared against the Jewish much like his father in the jealousy and malig-prince, and Damascus during the struggle may nity of his temper, and "the holy family" were probably have been seized and held by a therefore still afraid to return to Bethlehem. Lieutenant of Aretas. He was deposed and banished in the tenth year of his reign. ARCHER (Gen. xxi. 20)— -one who is skilled in the use of the bow and arrows, as Ishmael and Esau were. (See ARMOUR.) ARCHI (Josh. xvi. 2)—a southern border of Ephraim, celebrated as the birthplace of Hushai, David's friend; but the site is unknown. (See HUSHAI.) ARCTURUS (Job xxxviii. 32)-the name of a constellation in the northern heavensprobably Ursa Major. Some have conjectured that Jupiter and his satellites were intended in the allusion of the poet. Others suppose this and other stars mentioned in Job to have been the leading constellations of spring and autumn in the days of the patriarch, and have sought, by calculations based upon the precession of ARGOB (Deut. iii. 4)—a district of Bashan, the kingdom of Og, belonging to the half tribe of Manasseh. It lay east of the sea of Galilee, and contained sixty fortified cities. This region of black basalt was afterwards called Trachonitis, and is now named the Lejah. 66 ARIEL-lion of God (Ezra viii. 16)—was, 1. The name of one of Ezra's chief men. 2. The original word means the lion of God," and Jerusalem being the chief city of Judah, whose emblem was a lion (Gen. xlix. 9), the word Ariel is applied to that city (Isa. xxix. 1). Some resort to the Arabic for the meaning of the term as applied to Jerusalem, and make it signify fire, or fire-hearth, as if it contained an allusion to the altar. ARIMATHEA. (See RAMA.) ARIOCH-lionlike, och being an intensive termination-the king of Ellassar (Gen. xiv. | Professor Piazzi Smyth insists on, the ark 1); also the captain of Nebuchadnezzar's guard (Dan. ii. 14). a ARISTARCHUS (Acts xix. 29) was Thessalonian, and one of those who accompanied Paul to Ephesus, and shared his labours there. He was nearly killed in the tumult which Demetrius excited in that city, and it is said that he was finally beheaded at Rome. Paul alludes to him both as his fellow-labourer and fellow-prisoner (Col. iv. 10; Phile. 24). ARK (Gen. vi. 14)-the vessel constructed by Noah, at God's command, for the preservation of himself and family, and a stock of the various animals, &c., when the earth was devastated by the flood. would be 625 in length, 104 in breadth, and 62 in depth, containing 4,068,984 cubic feet an amplitude beyond that of the "Great Eastern." The ark of Noah occupies a prominent place in the ancient Eastern mythology, and in various forms and with attendant images is often found among religious sculptures and medals. Whether every species of animal was in the ark is a question, the answer to which is modified by the opinion formed as to the extent of the deluge-i. e., whether it were universal in the literal sense, or only extended so far as the race of mankind had increased. If the former theory be adopted, many difficulties present According to ordinary calculation, it was themselves; if the latter, then every species 450 feet long, 75 in breadth, and 45 in height, frequenting the haunts of man, and indisand was designed to float, when borne up by pensable to his comfort, was preserved in the the waters. It had lower, second, and third floating receptacle with himself. (See FLOOD.) storeys, besides what, in common vessels, is ARK OF THE COVENANT. The Hebrew word called the hold. A door was placed in the denoting this is different from the preceding side, and it had also a window made of some (Exod. xxv. 10). A small chest, constructed translucent substance for the admission of light. in a particular form and manner, and for a The ark was constructed of gopher wood, and specific purpose, by the express command of covered with bitumen or pitch, to exclude Jehovah. It was 3 feet and 9 inches in water, as tar is now used for the like purpose.length, and feet 3 inches in width and The bitumen now found in the East, as we are height. It was made of shittim wood, and told by travellers, is so like the Stockholm covered with plates of gold. A border or crown pitch that they can be distinguished from each of gold encircled it near the top, and it was other only by the peculiar smell and superior surmounted by the mercy-seat, which was of hardness of the bitumen. solid gold, and answered the purpose of a cover or lid to the ark. On each end of the mercy-seat was placed a golden image, representing cherubim facing inwards, and bending down over the ark. Two rings of gold were attached to the body of the ark on each side, through which passed the staves or poles that were used in carrying it from place to place. These were made of the same wood with the ark, and were overlaid in the same manner. The ark contained-1. A golden pot, in which the three quarts of manna were preserved (Exod. xvi. 33); 2. Aaron's rod, which miraculously budded and blossomed, and yielded fruit (Num. xvii. 10); and, 3. The tables of the testimony, or the tables of the Ten Command It is doubtful where the ark was built, and also how much time was employed upon it. On the latter point the weight of opinion is, that it was from 100 to 120 years; the former period being inferred from comparing Gen. v. 32 and vii. 6; and the latter from comparing Gen. vi. 3 with 1 Pet. iii. 20. The form of the ark is supposed to have been an oblong square, with a flat bottom and sloping roof; it was a huge box for floating, not a ship for sailing, and has been the theme of much speculation. To show the variance of opinions, it may be enough to say, that in the single point of the number of apartments, the computation has varied from 72 to 400. Some of the results of modern investigations have, how-ments, written with the finger of God, and ever, been highly valuable. Cavillers have sometimes started difficulties respecting the capacity of the ark to contain what the sacred history informs us was put into it; and it has also been asked where Noah could have acquired skill sufficient to construct such a vessel for such a purpose. The degree of skill is after all a matter of small moment; for after the most accurate computations by those best versed in shipbuilding, and supposing the dimensions given in the sacred history to be geometrically exact, it is found that the vessel, in all its known parts and proportions, is in accordance with many received principles of naval architecture. And on the subject of capacity, the point has been satisfactorily established, that upon the smallest estimate of the cubit measure, the ark was fully adequate to the purpose for which it was prepared. If we adopt the Egyptian cubit of 25 inches, which | constituting the testimony or evidence of the covenant between God and the people (Deut. xxxi. 26). Hence it is sometimes called the ark of the testimony, and sometimes the ark of the covenant (Exod. xxxiv. 29; xl. 20; Heb. ix. 3, 4). The apparent contradiction between Heb. ix. 3, 4 and 1 Ki. viii. 9 may be reconciled either by supposing (what is not improbable) that the contents of the ark were different at the different periods referred to, or that the phrase, "wherein " in Hebrews, refers not to the ark, but to the remote antecedent-viz., "the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all." The ark was set in the Most Holy place-a small chamber into which the light of day never penetrated, as if such gloom were a symbol of Him who is incomprehensible to created intelligence, and who is ever to be approached with feelings of profound awe and veneration. Perhaps in allusion to the supposed form of the Hebrew cherubim. Such resemblances to portions of the furniture of Egyptian worship in the Hebrew ritual were a kind and wise adaptation to the circumstances of the ignorant and perverse people among whom Jehovah was pleased to institute his worship. (See BULRUSH.) to this the Psalmist says (xviii. 11), "He made | symbolic figures or sphinxes, somewhat similar darkness his secret place." The light necessary to guide the high priest through the various parts of the solemn ritual was afforded either by the reflection of the bright cloud or Shechinah, or from the glow of the coals which burned in the golden censer. The cherubim upon the ark were the guardians of the throne, or its bearers; hence, perhaps, the expression of the Psalmist (xviii. 10), He rode upon a cherub, and did fly." (See CHERUB.) On the mercy-seat which surmounted the ark rested the awful and mysterious symbol of the divine presence (Lev. xvi. 2; Num. vii. 89). The throne of God was on the ark, his glory was enshrined "between the cherubim.” Upon his seat of mercy he delivered his oracles and received the homage of the tribes. A vision of Jehovah on this throne was seen by Isaiah, and is described in the sixth chapter of his prophecies. This sacred chest was the most awful emblem of the Jewish religion, and it was covered from profane gaze while borne in solemn procession by the priests. ARKITE (Gen. x. 17). The Arkites were a branch of the family of Canaan which settled in Phoenicia and Syria. The ruins of the city which they are supposed to have inhabited are now to be seen at Arka, 12 miles north of Tripoli, and directly opposite the northern extremity of Lebanon. ARM (1 Sam. ii. 31)-metaphorically used for strength, power, or protection (Exod. vi. 6; Isa. liii. 10); in which last passage allusion is made to the custom of making the arm bare by throwing it out of the loose garment or fold, when engaged in close combat, so that its strength and action might be free and unembarrassed. ARMAGEDDON (Rev. xvi. 16)—the mountain of Megeddon, or Megiddo, a city at the foot of Mount Carmel, and noted for scenes of carnage (2 Ki. xxiii. 29, 30; Judg. v. 19). (See JEZREEL.) The name of this mountain, in consequence of its earliest history and events, is also used in the Apocalypse as the symbolical name of an awful battle-field. After the children of Israel had passed the Jordan, whose waters divided at the approach of the ark (Josh. iii. 14-17), the tabernacle was set up at Gilgal, and this sacred vessel remained in it for a season. It was then removed to Shiloh, where it was stationary between three or four hundred years (Jer. vii. 12-15); and being then taken out and borne before the ARMENIA-high land, Heb. charah (2 Ki. army which had lost its faith in God, and so xix. 37). It lay at the eastern extremity of degraded the symbol of his presence into a Asia Minor, 430 miles from east to west, and magical charm, it fell into the hands of the about 300 from north to south. It has the Philistines, at the defeat of the Israelites near Mediterranean on the south-west, the Black Aphek, (1 Sam. iv.) The Philistines took it Sea on the north-west, and the Caspian Sea on to Ashdod, and placed it by the side of their the east, and its western boundary is about 600 idol-god Dagon, (1 Sam. v.) But being taught miles east of Constantinople. The Euphrates, in a very surprising manner that their profane the Tigris, and other rivers rise within the use of the ark was highly displeasing to God, boundaries of Armenia. It is divided into they returned it by divine direction, and with fifteen provinces, of which the central one is signal tokens of divine oversight, to the people called Ararat. In this province was the mounof Israel, by whom it was lodged at Kirjath-tain on which the ark is thought to have rested, jearim, (1 Sam. vi., vii.) When David had fixed his residence at Jerusalem, the ark was removed thither with sacred ceremonies, and kept until the temple was prepared to receive it, and in which it was placed with solemn reverence, cherubim having been made for it of larger size than the original ones (1 Ki. viii. 1-11; 1 Chr. xv. 25-28). The second temple did not contain the ark; whether it was seized among the spoils when the city was sacked, or whether it was secreted and afterwards destroyed, does not appear. The Jews think it will be restored when their Messiah appears; but the prophet (Jer. iii. 16), if they would believe his testimony, would destroy this and many similar delusions. Wherever the Jews dwelt or wandered, they always worshipped towards the place where the ark of the covenant had rested (Dan. vi. 10). The monuments of Egypt have brought to light various representations of a sacred chest, not unlike the Hebrew ark, borne, like it, on the shoulders of priests, and having around it and here was the usual residence of the imperial court; hence this province is intended by the term Armenia in the Scriptures, and not the whole kingdom. See Smith and Dwight's volumes, entituled Researches in Armenia. (See ACCAD, ARARAT.) ARMIES, or HOSTS (1 Sam. xvii. 10). The armies of the Israelites embraced the whole male adult population of the country (Num. i. 2, 3; xxvi. 2); and when occasion_required, the entire body was readily mustered. Every yeoman who held land, held it on condition of military service; and martial law, as in the case of Jabesh Gilead (Judg. xx. 8), was executed on such as refused the summons to arms. The method which Saul took to raise the people is somewhat similar to that once in use among the Scottish clans, when the cross of fire was sent from glen to glen calling them to a general rendezvous (1 Sam. xi. 6, 7, 8). "The Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly. And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the |