ABJECTS, most despicable persons, Psal. xxxv. 15.

ABILENE, a small canton in Hol

It appears to have lain westward of Damascus; and took its name from Abila, which probably was the same with Abelmaim. Lysanias was governor here in the 15th year of Tiberius, Luke iii. 1.

ABIMELECH, King of the Philistines, who dwelt in Gerar. Captivated with the beauty of SARAH, and informed by Abraham that she was his sister, he took her into his palace, intending to make her his wife. God

ABIJAH, ABIJAM, or ABIA, was the son of REHOBOAM, by his wife MAACHAH. He succeeded his father in the throne of Judah, A. M.*3046.|| low Syria, between Lebanon and AnHe married fourteen wives, by whom | tilibanus. he had twenty sons, and sixteen daughters. He reigned but three years; and imitated the impiety of his father. He was almost constantly at war with Jeroboam king of Israel. Once he took the field with 400,000, against Jeroboam and 800, 000. The armies being drawn up, very near one to another, Abijah got him up to the top of mount Zemaraim, and harangued the troops of the enemy, to persuade them to re-permitted him not to take her to his turn to their wonted subjection to bed; but appeared to him in a dream, the house of David, and to the true and threatened him with a sudden worship of God. Meanwhile, Jero- death if he did not immediately restore boam detached a part of his army her to her husband: nay, already he around the hill, to attack the rear of had smitten him, and the women of Abijah's. Abijah and his forces, seeing his family, with a distemper, that renthemselves surrounded, cried to the dered them incapable of procreation, Lord for help, and the priests sound-or child-birth. Abimelech excused ed the silver trumpets. Such a sud-himself to his Maker, from Abraden panic seized the host of Jerobo-ham's pretence, that Sarah was but am, that Abijah's army cut off 500, his sister. He nevertheless restored 000 of them on the spot; and, pursu- her next day, severely chiding the ing the victory, took Bethel, Jeshanah, patriarch for imposing on him. AbraEphraim, and a multitude of other ham confessed she was indeed his places, from the ten tribes. 1 Kings wife; but was likewise his sister, beXv. 1-7. 2 Chron. xi. 20. and xiii. gotten on a different mother. Abimelech gave Abraham a number of valuable presents, and offered him a sojourning place in any part of his kingdom. He too, begged his prayers for the healing of his family; and cautioned him to beware of like dissimulation for the future. He also gave Sarah 1000 pieces of silver, in value about 510 dollars, to purchase a veil for covering her face, which still, at 90 years of age, was comely and 3. ABIJAH, the wife of Ahaz, and sparkling: thus she was publicly inmother of King Hezekiah. Some structed and reproved. Abraham praysuppose her the daughter of Zecha- ed for Abimelech's family, and they riah the high-priest, who was slain by were cured of their distemper. AKing Joash. Nothing is more ground-bout fourteen years after, Abimelech less. If she had been so, she must have been about 90 years of age, when Ahaz, a boy of ten years, married her, and had by her a child, 2 Chr. xxix. 1. VOL. I.

2 ABIJAH, the only gracious son of JEROBOAM. When he fell sick, the prophet АHIJAH told his mother that he should certainly die, and be the only one of Jeroboam's family | who should die a natural death, and be dignified with funeral honours. He died the very moment of his mother's return to her house, and was greatly lamented by the people. 1 Kings xiv. 1-18.

dreading danger to himself or posterity, from the increase of Abraham's power, caine, with Phichol his chief captain, and begged he would enter

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into a covenant of friendship; which ||ple of their idol Baalberith seventy was readily granted, Gen. xx. and xxi. shekels of silver, in value thirty six 22,-32. dollars. With these he hired a band

2. ABIMELECH, the son and succes-of vagabonds, who assisted him to sor of the former, was like to be im- murder, on one spot at Ophrah, all posed on by Isaac, in the same man-his seventy brethren, JOTHAM, the ner his father had been by Abraham: youngest only escaping. The Shebut happening, from his window, to chemites then made him king. It espy some sportive familiarity be- was on the occasion of the coronatween Isaac and Rebekah, he imme- tion, or soon after, that Jotham, from diately concluded she was his wife, the top of mount Gerizim, an adjanot his sister, as both Isaac and her-cent hill, pronounced his parable to self had pretended. He immediately the men of Shechem; importing, that sent for Isaac, and reproved him, as their bestowal of the government on guilty in what tended to involve him the only naughty person of Gideon's and his subjects in guilt and punish-family, and the ungrateful murderer ment. Fear of losing his life, for the of the rest, should issue in the speedy sake of his beautiful consort was the on- ruin of all concerned. The event ly thing which Isaac plead in his own quickly verified his prediction. Abiexcuse. Abimelech therefore immedi-melech had not reigned above three ately issued orders, that none of his years, when there happened a variance subjects, under pain of death, should, between him and the men of Shein the least injure Isaac or Rebekah. chem. While, it seems, Abimelech Abimelech, finding that his subjects removed his residence to Arumah, a were terrified at, and mightily envied, place near Shechem, and left Zebul the great prosperity and power of to inspect the city, Gaal the son of Isaac, he politely required him to Ebed, and his friends, excited and leave his territories, because he was headed the conspiracy. At one of become mightier than they; or much their idolatrous feasts, they, in the increased at their expense. Some most outrageous manner, contemned time after, Abimelech, mindful of the and cursed Abimelech. Informed of league his father had made with this by Zebul his officer, he marched Abraham, and dreading danger from his troops by night, in four bodies, the increase of Isaac's power and against the Shechemites: Gaal and wealth, took with him Ahuzzath his his friends, having no time to prepare friend, and Phichol his chief captain, themselves, were easily routed. On and repairing to Isaac, solemnly re- the morrow after, when the men of newed the covenant with him at Beer-Shechem came out to the field, persheba, and were there entertained by him with a splendid feast, Gen. xxvi. 3. ABIMELECH, king of Israel, was the bastard son of GIDEON, by his concubine at Shechem. He was a most wicked, aspiring, and bloody wretch. To procure the government for himself, he insinuated to the people of Shechem, how much better itpecting the sanctity of the place would' would be for them to have him, their own citizen and blood relation, to be their governor, than to have all the threescore and ten sons of his father to rule over them. His Shechemite friends took for him out of the tem

haps to the reaping, Abimelech and his troops fell upon and murdered them. He next took the city by assault, and murdered the inhabitants, and demolished the buildings. thousand of the Shechemites fled to the temple of Baalberith, hoping there to defend themselves, or ex

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protect them: Abimelech and his troops carried fuel from an adjacent wood, set fire to the temple, and consumed it, and all that were in it. He next marched to Thebez, a place about nine miles to the eastward.

The inhabitants fled to a strong tower || Sheba the son of Bichri, 2 Sam. ii. 18 built in the midst of their city: Abi--24. and x. 10-14. and xvi. 9—11. melech assaulted it with the utmost and xviii. 2. and xx. 6, 7. and xxi. 15 fury, and was just going to set fire to -17. and xxiii. 18, 19. 1 Chron. ii. it, when a woman from the top of it 16. and xi. 20, 21. and xviii. 12. struck him with a piece of a mill- ABLE; of great or sufficient powstone, and brake his skull. He or-er, wisdom, or wealth, Heb. vii. 25. dered his armour-bearer to thrust him through with his sword, that it might not be said he had been killed || by a woman. His orders were executed, and he died, A. M. 2798; and his troops were dispersed. Judg. ix. 4. ABIMELECH. See АCHISH, and AHIMELECH.

ABIRAM. (1.) The son of Eliab the Reubenite. He, with his brother Dathan, and Korah, conspired to divest Moses and Aaron of the powers conferred on them by God; and on account hereof, was, with his whole family and substance, swallowed up alive by the earth. (2.) The eldest son of HIEL the Bethelite: he lost his life as his father founded the walls of Jericho, 1 Kings xvi. 34.

Numb. xiii. 30. Exod. xviii. 21. Lev. xiv. 22. ABILITY; (1.) Measure of wealth, Ezra ii. 69. (2.) Sufficiency of wisdom and prudence, Dan. i. 11.

ABNER, the son of Ner. He was the uncle of King Saul, and the general of his army. Being mostly in the camp, and in high station, it is not surprising he knew not David at Ephes-dammim: but it was more culpable that he guarded his master so ill in the camp at Hachilah, when David and Abishai entered it, and went off, without being perceived, 1 Sam. xiv. 50. and xvii. 55-58. and xxvi. 5,-14. After Saul's death he made Ishbosheth king; and for seven years supported the family of Saul, in opposition to David; but in the most of his skirmishes came off with

troops rested near one another, hard by Gibeon, Abner barbarously challenged Joab to advance twelve of David's warriors, to fight with an equal number of his. Joab consented: the twenty-four engaged; and, taking each his fellow by the beard, and thrusting his sword into his side, they together fell down dead on the spot: a fierce battle ensued; Abner and his troops were routed: Abner himself was hotly pursued by Asahel: he begged him to stop his pursuit; on his refusal, he killed him by a backstroke of his spear. He was however pursued by Joab and Abishai, till he, who in the morning sported with murder, was obliged at even to beg that Joab would stop his troops from their hostile pursuit, 2 Sam. ii.

ABISHAI the son of Zeruiah, the sister of David. He was a noted war-loss. While Ishbosheth and David's rior, an early assistant, and steady friend to his uncle. Entering Saul's tent along with him, he insisted for leave to despatch that tyrant, but was not allowed, 1 Sam. xxvi. 7,-11. He served in David's wars with Ishbosheth, and vigorously pursued the flying enemy. In the war with the Edomites he cut off 18,000 of them in the valley of Salt. In the war with the Syrians and Ammonites he commanded the troops which engaged with, and routed the latter. In the war with the Philistines he killed Ishbibenob, a noted giant, who was just going to murder his uncle and king. At another time he alone attacked a body of three hundred, and killed them to a man. Highly provoked with SHIMEI's raillery he begged his uncle's leave to cut off the insolent wretch, but was not permitted. He commanded a third part of the army which defeated Absalom, and headed the household troops who pursued

Not long after, Abner, taking it highly amiss for Ishbosheth to charge him of lewd behaviour with Rizpah, Saul's concubine, vowed he would quickly betray the whole kingdom in-.

to the hands of David; he had scarce threatened it, when he commenced a correspondence with David, and had an interview with him at Hebron for that effect. Abner had just left the splendid feast wherewith David had entertained him, when Joab, informed of the matter, warmly remonstrated to his uncle that Abner had come as a spy. At his own hand he sent a messenger to invite him back, to have some further communication with the king. Abner was just come into Joab's presence, when he, partly from jealousy that Abner might become his superior, and partly to revenge his brother Asahel's death, mortally stab-|| bed him, as he pretended to salute him. Informed hereof, David heartily detested the fact, exclaimed against Joab, and honoured Abner with a splendid funeral, and a mournful elegy, 2 Sam. iii.

ABOARD, into the ship, Acts xxi. 2.

ABOLISH: (1.) To do away; make void; annul the obligation of, 2 Cor. iii. 13. Eph. ii. 15. (2.) To destroy; make to cease, Isa. ii. 18. 2 Tim. i. 10.

the eyes of their worshippers are oft amused with, and, in adoration, lifted up to them, Ezek. xx. 7, 8. Idolaters and proud persons are an abomination, being detestable to God, and to all good men, Isaiah xli. 24. Prov. xvi. 5.

ner,

Incense is an abomination to God, and the solemn meeting is iniquity. The observance of the Jewish ceremonies, without dependence on Christ by faith, and an universal endeavour after conformity to his moral law; or the mere observance of these ceremonies, after their abolishment by the gospel, was in God's account highly detestable and criminal, Isa. i. 13. and Ixvi. 3. The sacrifices and prayers of the wicked are an abomination, because their principles, manand ends are sinful, Prov. xv. 8. and xxviii. 9. Probably shepherds were an abomination to the Egyptians, because a band of foreigners, called shepherds, had just before, from Ethiopia or Arabia, invaded and tyrannised over the country; or because the land was sore plagued on the account of Abraham and Sarah his wife, Gen. xlvi. 34. The Hebrews sacrificed the abomination of the Egyptians, ABOMINABLE, ABOMINATION; i. e. their sacred animals, oxen, goats, a thing very hateful and loathsome, lambs, rams, which the Egyptians as unclean flesh and things offered adored, and thought utterly unlawful to idols, Lev. vii. 21, 18. Isa. Ixvi. 17. to offer, Exod. viii. 26. The abominaSin is called abominable, or abomina- tion that maketh desolate, may denote, tion: it is the reverse of the divine (1.) The image of a swine on the perfections and law; it defiles per- brazen altar; and that of Jupiter sons in God's sight; and ought to Olympius in the Jewish temple, be hated, detested, avoided, and op- which Antiochus Epiphanes erected posed by us, Jer. xliv. 4. Isa. Ixvi. 3. to stop the worship of God, Dan. xi, False doctrines, and horrid or inde- 31. (2.) The Roman armies, comcent practices, contrary to the very posed of Heathenish idolaters, who light of nature, are called abomina- had the images of idols and emperors tions: they are hated and loathed by painted on their banners; and who, God and his saints, Rev. xvii. 4.- highly detested of the Jews, entered Idols and their worship are called and burnt their temple, and spread abominations. Not only is the wor-ravage and desolation through their ship of idols hateful in itself, render-country, Dan. ix. 27. Matth. xxiv 15. ing men odious to God; but is often (3.) Antichrist, who horridly defiles attended with a variety of base and and wastes the church of God, Dan. indecent ceremonies, 1 Kings xi. 7. xii. 11. Deut. vii. 26. and xii. 31. Idols are

called abominations of the eyes, because

ABOVE; (1.) High; overhead, Gen. vi. 16. (2.) Upwards, Exodus

much more abounds in saving the clief of sinners, and forgiving, conquering, and destroying, the greatest sins in them that believe: grace in us much more abounds in resisting and morti

taking full possession of these inward powers where sin had been superlatively strong and active, Rom. v. 20. The truth of God abounds when his revelations are clearly and widely displayed; when his promises are eminently fulfilled; and his word ren

xxx. 14. Lev. xxvii. 7. (3.) Beyond, 2 Cor. i. 8. (4.) More than, Gen. iii. 14. (5.) Higher than Neh. viii. 5. It is used metaphorically, to denote the dignity or excellency of persons or things, Psal. cxiii. 4. Matth. x.fying the strongest corruptions, and 24; or rank, authority, and rule, Numb. xvi. 3. Deut. xxviii. 13. It also denotes what is spiritual and heavenly, Gal. iv. 26. Col. iii. 1; nay heaven, or God himself, who is above all in dignity and authority, James i. 17. To ABOUND; (1.) To growdered effectual for the conversion of great or numerous, 2 Pet. i. 8. Matt. xxiv. 12. (2.) to increase, and have plenty of temporal or spiritual bene- ABRAM, the son of Terah.fits, Prov. xxviii. 20. 2 Cor. ix. 8. Though mentioned before his breGod abounds in grace towards us, in thren, Nahor and Haran, he appears all wisdom and prudence, in graciousiy to have been the youngest, born in the choosing a fit person to be our Me-130th year of his father's life, and A. diator; in appointing him his proper M. 2008. The first seventy years

vast multitudes; and is boldly professed by them, Rom. iii. 7.

work, in its whole form and periods; of his life he resided in his father's in ordering the circumstances of his family, in Ur of the Chaidees; and incarnation, debasement, and glory; no doubt concurred with them in their and of all the mercies, afflictions, and idolatrous worship. After the death deliverances of his people, to the best of his brother Haran, God appeared advantage. In forming and publish- to him; doubtless hinted the detesting the gospel of our salvation, and able nature of idolatry; and, it is thereby rendering men wise, circum-certain, ordered him to leave his naspect and prudent, who are naturally tive abode. He and his father's foolish and rebellious, he eminently household removed to the northwest displays and exerts his infinite mercy of Mesopotamia, and settled at Haran and grace, wisdom and prudence, or Charran, a place so called, perEph. i. 7, 8. Men abound in the work haps, to commemorate his deceased of the Lord, when, with noted and in-brother. After about five years concreasing pleasure and activity, theytinuance here, Terah died; and God perform a multitude of good works, appeared again to Abram: he assur1 Cor. xv. 58. Men abound in trans-ed him of a numerous seed, who gression when, with increasing acti- should be a blessing to the nations vity, they proceed from one evil way to another or worse, Prov. xxix. 22. || Sin abounds inwardly, when it renders our rational powers more vigorous, active in and delighted with sin: it abounds outwardly, when the number of sinners, or of sinful acts, and the number and degrees of their aggra-country, nor the way whither he vations do increase: it abounds relatively, when its facts, criminal nature, power, and pollution, are more fully and convincingly manifested, Matth. xxiv. 12. Rom. v. 20. Grace in God

around: he ordered him to leave his father's family, and travel to a land to which he would direct him. All obedient, Abram took with him Sarah his wife, and Lot his brother Haran's son, and all their substance, and went toward Canaan, neither knowing the

went, Gen. xi. 26-32. and xii. 1-5. Deut. xxvi. 5. Josh. xxiv. 2, 3. Isa. xli. 2. Acts vii. 2-4. Heb. xi. 8.

A. M. 2083, he entered Canaan, crossing the Jordan, south of the Ga