A BIBLICAL AND THEOLOGICAL DICTIONARY: EXPLANATORY OF THE HISTORY, MANNERS, AND CUSTOMS OF THE JEWS, ⚫ AND NEIGHBOURING NATIONS. WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE MOST REMARKABLE PLACES AND PERSONS MENTIONED IN SACRED SCRIPTURE; An Exposition OF THE PRINCIPAL DOCTRINES OF CHRISTIANITY: AND NOTICES OF JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN SECTS AND HERESIES. BY RICHARD WATSON. O [REVISED BY THE AMERICAN EDITORS.] ΛΙΜΗΝ ἐςιν ἀκύμαντος, καὶ τεῖχος ἀρραγές, καὶ πύργος ἄσειςος, καὶ δόξα ἀναφαίρετος, καὶ δ' πλα [An intimate acquaintance with the Holy Scriptures is a secure haven, and an impregnable bulwark, NEW-YORK, PUBLISHED BY B. WAUGH AND T. MASON, FOR THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, AT THE CONFERENCE OFFICE, 14 CROSBY-STREET. J. Collord, Printer. 1833. "Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1832, by B. Waugh and T. Mason, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District of New-York." PREFACE BY THE AUTHOR. In the following Dictionary, compiled from the best sources ancient and modern, with the addition of many original articles, the selections have been made with reference to what was thought most useful; and thus many things of minor importance, usually found in similar works, have been excluded. Every article too, taken from preceding Dictionaries, has been carefully weighed, and in a great number of instances modified, corrected, or enlarged; and numerous other writings variously illustrative of the Holy Scriptures have been made to contribute a portion of their information under different heads. This general acknowledgment renders a particular reference to the works inade use of unnecessary. The fact is, that many of the most valuable of them are compilations from preceding compilations, and so have no title to be referred to as original authorities; while in other instances the articles in this Dictionary have been collected from several sources, and so altered, or combined with original corrections or enlargements, that it would be difficult to assign each portion to its proper original. Where, however, any particulars of fact or history required confirmation, the authority has been given. It will be observed that all the places and persons mentioned in the Bible have not been noticed, for this would only have made the same unprofitable display of proper names which is seen in several other Dictionaries; but those have been selected on which any thing important for the right understanding of the Scriptures seemed, more or less, to depend. The same rule has been observed as to the natural history of the Bible, on which department great light has been thrown by Dr. Harris, whose learned work has been rather freely used. The leading sects and heresies, ancient and modern, have also been introduced; but with no design to embody a complete account of religious opinions: those only, therefore, have been inserted with which it is most necessary that the theological student should have a general acquaintance. All that is important in those useful modern works which have been published upon the manners and customs of the east will be found embodied under different heads so far as it tends to elucidate the sacred volume; and many interesting extracts are given from the most intelligent of our modern travellers in Palestine, and neighbouring countries, pointing out the present condition of places celebrated in sacred geography, and especially when the account illustrates and renders remarkable the fulfilment of prophecy. At the close of the whole, a complete alphabetical list of proper names occurring in the Bible, with their significations and right pronunciation, is appended. LONDON, August 20, 1831. 47X ADVERTISEMENT TO THE AMERICAN EDITION. No other improvements have been attempted in this edition of Mr. Watson's Biblical and Theological Dictionary, than adding a few notes in relation to some matters existing in this country, which had escaped the attention of the author, and rendering those passages and phrases into English which had been left untranslated. Such translations are included in brackets. It may be proper to remark, that only that part of the work from the eight hundred and forty second page has been printed under the superintendence of the present editor; the former part having passed through the press previous to the last general conference. It is not necessary to say any thing in commendation of this work. Whatever merit, however, may be attached to others of a similar character which have preceded it, we think it will be conceded by all, that Mr. Watson, by furnishing this Dictionary, has supplied a desideratum, in the department of Biblical and Theological literature, which had long been felt, and for doing which the religious community will not be backward in acknowledging its obligations. NEW-YORK, Sept. 25, 1832. N. BANGS. |