Some think him the devil, who goes about seeking whom he may devour. Without excluding Satan, who was a murderer from the beginning, we suppose the Spirit of God, by this king of the locusts, this angel of the bottomless pit, directly designs the Popes, these sons of perdition, who, at the head of unnumbered clergy, and other agents, ruin the souls, and murder the bodies, of inconceivable multitudes of men ;-and Mahomet and his inferior agents, who, partly with delusion, and partly with ravage and murder, have destroyed infinite numbers. It would be shocking to relate, what thousands and millions were murdered by Hejajus, and Abu Moslem, Saracens, Tamerlane the Tartar, Bajazet, and Mohamed II. Turks, Shah Abbas the Persian, and|| Israel. Abana is probably the same other heads of the Mohamedan party, Rev. ix. 11. See in ANTI-CHRIST, ARABIANS, SCYTHIANS. led upon. Edessa, which some have placed on the Euphrates, was at the distance of a day's journey from it: the river upon which it is situated is the Scyrtus, the overflowing whereof is dangerous and frequent. In the reign of Justin, it was entirely ruined by inundations; the emperor rebuilt it, and gave it the name of Justinopolis; but it was afterwards called Orfa. There were kings of Edessa before the reign of Augustus, and they generally bore the name of Abgarus. M. Valliens has preserved a succession of these kings, who from the first century were all Christians. [The following, though a fabulous article, we insert from Calmet's Dictionary, more as a matter of curiosity than of belief.] ABAGARUS, or Abgarus, king of Edessa, so called because he was lame; we should not therefore give him the name of Abgar, as if it were derived from the Arabic,. Akbar, which signifies Great. The city of Edessa, where he resided, goes generally by the name of Orfa; it is a common tradition among the eastern people, both Christians and Mahometans, that this prince wrote a letter to our Saviour, and received an answer from him, together with a handkerchief with the impression of our Lord's face upon it. This we are told by M. D. Herbelot, in his oriental library, which, however, does not destroy what we have heard of Abgarus, nor is it sufficient to confirm the au-thenticity and truth of Abgarus's pretended letter to Jesus Christ, and our Saviour's reply to Abgarus. The eastern people are generally not very exact in matters of history, and their traditions are not always to be depend ABANA and PHARPAR, two rivers of Syria, which Naaman the leper thought more fit to cure him of his unclean disease, than all the rivers of with Barrady or Chrysorroas, which, Springing from mount Lebanon, glides pleasantly towards the south; and, after running some leagues, is divided into three streams; the middlemost and largest runs directly through the city of Damascus, and the other two run one on each side of the city, and fertilize the gardens to an uncommon degree. The streams uniting to the southward of the city are, after a course of about five leagues, lost in a dry desart. Benjamin of Tudela will have that part of the Barrady, which runs through Damascus, to be Abana, and the streams which water the gardens without the city to be Pharpar; but perhaps the Pharpar is the same with Orontes, the most noted river of Syria, which, taking its rise a little to the north or north-east of Damascus, glides through a delightful plain, till, after passing Antioch, and running about 200 miles to the north-west, it loses itself in the Mediterranean sea. Kings v. 12. 2 ABARIM, a general name given to a ridge of rugged hills on the east of Jordan; on the south and north of the river Arnon. They reached into the territories of both the Reubenites and Moabites. It is probable they had ABDON, (1.) The son of Hillel this name from the ABARIM, or an Ephraimite. He succeeded Elon passages, between the particular hills A. M. 2840; and judged the Israelites of PISGAH, NEBO, PEOR, &c. all eight years; after which he died, and which were part of them. Near these was buried at Pirathon in the land of mountains the Israelites had several Ephraim. He left forty sons, and encampments, Numb. xxxiii. 44.-thirty grandsons, who rode on ass48. and xxvii. 12. colts, according to the manner of the ABARON, is the surname of Elea-great men of that age, Judg. xii. 13. zar, the fourth son of Judas Macca-(2.) The son of Micah, one of Josibeus. Abaron in Hebrew signifies AH's messengers sent to consult HULanger, passionate, or passing away. DAH, 2 Chron. xxxiv. 20. (3.) A ciJosephus calls him Auran or Avran, ty, which belonged to the tribe of and the first book of the Maccabeus Asher; and was given to the Levites Savaren; 1 Mac. vi. 43. He got a of Gershom's family, Josh. xxi. 30. great deal of honour by his death, having been crushed to pieces under an elephant, which he slew by piercing him with his sword. [a] ABEDNEGO, is the Chaldee name given by the king of Babylon's officer to Azarath, Daniel's compani on. This name imports the servant of Nago or Nego, which is the sun or morning star, so called for its brightness. See Shadrack. [a] ABEL, the second son of Adam To ABASE, signifies to treat with contempt; to reduce to meanness and poverty, Dan. iv. 37. Job xl. 11. One is abased when deprived of honour and wealth, and laid under poverty, afflic-and Eve, was born, perhaps with a tion, contempt, Philip iv. 12. One abases himself when he behaves in an humble and debased manner, as Paul did, when he, though a preacher, laboured with his hands for his daily bread, 2 Cor. xi. 7. To ABATE, to grow lower, less, Gen. viii. 3. Deut. xxxiv. 7. to make less, Lev. xxvii. 18. twin sister, A. M. 2d. or 3d. It seems his parents, by this time were sufficiently convinced of the vanity of all created enjoyments, and hoped but little from him; and so marked hisname with vanity. When he was grown up, he commenced shepherd of his father's flock. In process of time, or, as the Hebrew words in Gen. ABBA, a Syriac word signifying fa- iv. 3. signify, At the end of the days, that ther. It being the same whether we is, on the Sabbath, or on the beginread it backward or forward, may per-ning of the year, he, by faith in haps hint to us, that God's fatherly the divine institution of sacrifices, affection to his people is the same and in the promised Messiah thereby whether he smile on them by prospe- prefigured, offered unto God the best rity, or chasten them by heavy cros- of his flock.t By consuming his obses and sore adversity. The apostle's using the word Abba, a word of the Syriac, (the Hebrew dialect being commonly used in his time,) and his giving its signification in Greek may intimate, that by the influence of the Spirit of adoption both Jews and Gentiles, as one united body, have the most assured faith in, love to, and familiar intercourse with God, Rom. viii. 15. Gal. iv. 6.* The learned Mr. Selden, from the Babylonian Gemera, has proved, that slaves were not allowed to use the title of Abba in addressing the master of the family to † It is evident, that the faith, by which, according to the apostle in Heb. xi. 4. Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, was founded on the command and promise of God: For unless he had known the Divine appointment of sacrifices, he could not have had any satisfying persuasion, lation with a flash of fire from hea- || of his field, he conceived an implacable ven, or some other visible token, God grudge at Abel, on account of his homarked his regard to him, and to it.ly behaviour, and the peculiar regard No such honour being done to Cain, who at the same time, offered the fruits which had been shewn him by God. He rested not, till he murdered him in the field; and it seems secretly buthat his offering of the firstlings of the flock ried him in the earth, about A. M. would be acceptable to God. The offer128. His murder was divinely reing of sacrifices appears to have been appointed, soon after God had given our first sented with distinguished vengeance parents the promise of the seed, that is, of on the head of Cain; who together Jesus Christ, who was to bruise the head with his seed, were cast out from the of the serpent: for when God clothed our church of God, Gen. iv. 2.-16. Heb. first parents with skins, these seem to have xi. 4. Abel being dead yet speaketh ; been the skins of animals, that were ap- his example teacheth us to live by pointed to be offered in sacrifice. Besides, it appears from the directions given to No- faith on a crucified Redeemer; and ah about receiving the animals into the ark, to behave soberly, righteously, and Gen. vii. 2, 3. that the distinction between godly in this present world, whatever clean and unclean beasts, which primarily persecution it may expose us to, respected those which were or were not to be offered in sacrifice, obtained before the Heb. xii. 4. His blood cried for venuniversal deluge. Thus Abel offered sa-geance on Cain the murderer, Heb. crifice by faith; 1, because he offered it xii. 24. from a regard to the command and promise of God: 2, because he did so with a believ-by ing reference to the Lamb of God, or the great propitiatory sacrifice, which the Messiah was to offer for the remission of sin. Dr. Kenicot, as quoted by Dr. Guise on Heb. xi. 4. observes that the Greek word, rendered in our translation more excellent,|| signifies greater or fuller or more in number, rather than in value, in which last sense it is not used in the whole New Testament. Thus, it intimates, that Abel brought more sacrifice than Cain, that is, not only, as Cain did, the mincha or meat offering of the fruits of the earth; but also the bloody sacrifice of the firstlings of his flock with the fat thereof, which he presented to the Lord under an humbling sense of guilt, and of his need of atonement. This part of the offering, Cain, in the pride and unbelief of his heart, entirely neglected. Some suppose this token was the appearance of an angel from heaven: some think, that it was inferred from the different success which the two brothers had in their affairs: some decline to give any opinion upon this subject. But many judicious interpreters agree that it is highly probable, that God shewed his acceptance of Abel's sacrifice by sending fire from heaven to consume it; there being so many examples in aftertimes of God's declaring in this manner his acceptance of the sacrifices offered to him, Levit. ix. 24. Judg. vi. 21. 1 King. xviii. 38. 2 Chron. vii. 1. and' xxi. 26. In Psal. xx. 3. the word rendered Corpse, as they carried it to Machpein our translation, accept, may be rendered, || Iah. It is thought to have lain between Jordan and Jericho, where the turn to ashes. Was our adored Jesus prefigured this first martyr? He grew as a root out of dry ground, appeared in the likeness of sinful flesh, and had his name covered with the basest, the vilest, reproach. He is the great Shepherd of his Father's flock of ransomed men. In the faith of his Father's call and assistance, he offered the infinitely excellent sacrifice of himself. The horrid murder of him by his malicious brethren the Jews, issued in the terrible judgments of Heaven on them and their seed. And he yet speaketh to men in his example, oracles, and ordinances. 2. ABEL, and which was otherwise called the field of Joshua, a place near Bethshemesh, so called, to commemorate the mourning of the Hebrews, for their friends who were struck dead for looking into the ark. It seems a great stone was erected in memory of that wrathful event, 1 Sam. vi. 18, 19. 3. ABEL-MIZRAIM, a place otherwise called the threshing-floor of Atad. It was so called from the great mourning of the Egyptians over Jacob's but we can hardly think it was so far east, Gen. 1. 11. See JOSEPH. city Bethhoglah was afterwards built; || red to Christ, imports his hiding his face from him, and executing the punishment due to our sins upon him, 4. ABEL-SHITTIм, a place 7 or 8 Psalm lxxxix. 38. God's not abhorring miles eastward of Jordan, over against the affliction of the afflicted, imports, Jericho, in the country of Moab, and his not overlooking it, but sympathiznear the hill Peor. Here the He- ing with, and helping and comforting brews encamped, a little before the || them under their troubles, Psal. xxii. death of Moses, and fell into idolatry || 24. Job's clothes abhorred him, in and uncleanness, through enticement marking the loathsome disease which of the Moabitish, and chiefly the Mi-his sins had brought on him, Job ix. dianitish women; and were punished 31. The carcases of the rejected with the death of 24,000 in one day. Jews; of the ruined heathens under It was probably their mourning over Constantine, &c. and of the Antithis plague, that gave the name of christians and Mahometans, about ABEL to the spot, Numb. xxv. the beginning of the millennium, are 5. ABEL-MEHOLAH, a city or place an abhorring to all flesh: vast numon the west of Jordan, pertaining to|bers of slain did, or shall, pollute the the half-tribe of Manasseh, 1 Kings very air. Such Jews as remain, since iv. 12. Jerom will have it 10 miles, the destruction of their city and tembut others think it to have been about || ple, are hated and contemned by all 16 miles south from Bethshean. Not nations.[A] Under and after Constanfar from this city, did Gideon mira- tine, the heathens and their idols were culously defeat the MIDIANITES, detested by multitudes; and such Judg. vii. 22; but its chief honour shall, in a little, be the case of all was, to be the native place of Elisha idolaters, Is. lxvi. 24. the prophet, 1 Kings xix. 16. ABIATHAR, the tenth high6. ABEL, ABEL-BETHMAACHAH, A- priest of the Jews, and fourth in deBEL-MAIM, a strong city somewhere || scent from ELI. When Saul murabout the south frontiers of mount || dered АHIMELECH, his father, and Lebanon. It probably belonged to the other priests at Nob, Abiathar the tribe of Naphtali. Sheba the son escaped to David in the wilderness, of Bichri fled here, when pursued by and joined his party; and by him David's troops. To free themselves David consulted the Lord at Keilah from Joab's furious siege, the inhabi- and Ziklag, 1 Sam. xxii. and xxiii. tants, advised by a prudent woman, 9. and xxx. 7. beheaded the rebel, and threw his dok, a descendant of Eleazar, in the Saul had placed Zahead over the wall, 2 Sam. xx. 14,-high-priesthood, instead of Abiathar; 18. About 80 years after, Benhadad, but when David came to the throne, King of Syria, took and ravaged it, he made Abiathar, and Zadok next 1 Kings xv. 20. About 200 years to him, the chief priests: and thus after which, Tiglath pilezer took it, matters continued while David reignand carried the inhabitants captive to ed, 2 Sam. xx. 25. Abiathar and Assyria, 2 Kings xv. 29. It was af- Zadok designed to have attended terwards built, and was capital of the David with the ark, as he fled from canton of Abilene. Absalom ; but he advised them to return with it, and procure him proper information, 2 Sam. xv. 24,-29. To ABHOR. (1.) To loathe, de- Just before the death of King David, test, Deut. xxxii. 19. Job xlii. 6. (2.)|| Abiathar treasonably conspired to To despise, neglect, Amos vi. 8. (3.) || render Adonijah his father's succesTo reject, cast off, Psalm lxxxix. 38. sor; and was forbidden the execuGod's abhorring his anointed, if refer- tion of his office, by Solomon, on that ABEY, a city belonging to the tribe of Issachar, Josh. xix. 20. room, account; and confined to his city of|| make their abode with one, when they Anathoth; and Zadok was put in his bestow frequent and familiar influen1 Kings i. and ii. Thus was ces of power, kindness, and inward the family of Eli wrathfully for ever comfort, on his soul, John xiv. 23. put from the priesthood, 1 Sam. ii. Men abide in Christ, and his love, 29,-36. It is not Abiathar, but his | when, being united to him by faith, son, that is called АHIMELECH, or they continue cleaving to his person, Abimelech. Nor is it Abiathar's fa- believing his love, and walking in his ther, but himself, that is mentioned, way, John xv. 6, 10. Christ's word, Mark ii. 56. for it is certain he then or doctrine, abides in men, and they in lived, and might have a great hand it, when the knowledge and faith of in procuring the shew-bread for Da- its truth and excellency, the experivid: nor does that text insinuate, ence of its power, and an open prothat Abiathar then executed the office fession and careful observance of it, are continued in a fixed and constant of high-priest. manner. ABIDON, the son of GIDEONI, Numb. i. 11. ii. 22. vii. 60, 65. [a] ABI-GABAON, in 1 Chron. viii. 29. is in our translation, the Father of Gibeon. He was the same with Jehiel, as appears from 1 Chron. ix. 35. [a.] ABIB, or NISAN, the name of the first sacred, and seventh civil month of the Jewish year. It contained thirty days; and answered to our moon of March. This word signifies green ears, or ripe fruit; and was given to this month, because, in the middle thereof, the Jews began their ABIGAIL, (1.) The sister of King harvest. On the 10th day of this David, wife of Jether, and mother of month the Paschal lamb was taken: AMASA, 1 Chron. ii. 17. (2.) The on the evening of the 14th day they wife of NABAL. She was a woman did eat the passover; and on the se- of great prudence and wisdom; but, ven days following they kept the feast perhaps, by the covetousness of her of unleavened bread, the last of which parents, was married to a rich sot. was held as a solemn convocation, When his rude behaviour to David's Exod. xii. xiii. On the 15th day they || messengers had brought him and his gathered their sheaf of the barley || family into the utmost danger, Abifirst-fruits, and on the 16th they of- gail hearing of it by some of her serfered it; after which they might be- vants, loaded several asses with progin their harvest, Lev. xxvi. 4,-14. || visions, and went to meet David. In On the first day of it, the modern the most polite and prudent manner, Jews observe a fast for the death of she tendered him her present. Her Nadab and Abihu: on the 10th a fast prudent address not only disarmed for the death of Miriam: on the 27th his rage, but procured his highest a fast for the death of Joshua: on the esteem for her virtue. Returning to 29th they prayed for the latter-rain. || her husband, she told him the danger Their Megillath Taanith, however, they had been in by his folly; and takes no notice of any of these super-how she had prevented their ruin. added solemnities; which to me is an He quickly died of a stupid melanevidence that they never universally choly and she, not long after, was married to David. She bare to him obtained. two sons, Daniel and Chileab; if these two names do not rather denote the same person. She was taken captive by the Amalekites when Ziklag was burnt; but in a few days was recovered by David her husband, 1 2 Sam. iii. 3. Sam. xxv. and xxx. 1 Chron. iii. 1. To ABIDE, (1.) To stay; tarry, Gen. xxii. 5. (2.) To dwell, or live in a place, Gen. xxix. 19. (3.) To endure; suffer, Jer. x. 10. (4.) To continue, Eccl. viii. 15. (5.) To wait for, Acts xx. 23. (6.) To stand firm, Psal. cxix. 90. Christ and his Father : |