All Things in the Bible: An Encyclopedia of the Biblical World PDF
Preview All Things in the Bible: An Encyclopedia of the Biblical World
All Things in the B ible Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Tischler, Nancy Marie Patterson. All things in the Bible / by Nancy M. Tischler ; Ellen Johnston McHenry, illustrator. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN: 0–313–33082–4 (set: alk. paper)—ISBN 0–313–33083–2 (Vol. 1: alk. paper)— ISBN 0–313–33084–0 (Vol. 2: alk. paper) 1. Bible—Encyclopedias. I. Title. BS440.T57 2006 220.3—dc22 2005034355 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available. Copyright © 2006 by Nancy M. Tischler All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, by any process or technique, without the express written consent of the publisher. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2005034355 ISBN: 0–313–33082–4 (set) 0 –313–33083–2 (Vol. 1) 0 –313–33084–0 (Vol. 2) ISSN: First published in 2006 Greenwood Press, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881 An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. www.greenwood.com Printed in the United States of America The paper used in this book complies with the Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National Information Standards Organization (Z39.48–1984). 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Contents Preface ix Alphabetical List of Entries xiii Guide to Related Topics xix Abbreviations xxv All Things in the Bible 1 Selected Bibliography 725 Index 731 Preface The Holy Bible is rooted in fact, in the common life of the people. The words of Scripture are thick with imagery drawn from everyday life: the voice of the turtledove in spring, the wondrous fl ight of the eagle in the air, the sturdy industry of the ant. Although the Bible reaches through time into eternity, from life on earth to mansions in Heaven, yet it is fi rmly rooted in things, people, and places. The Hebrews were a people whose way of thinking was concrete and vivid, fi lled with insights from the world around them. They were also a people with a genius for metaphor, seeing transcendent meanings behind simple things. Their history, that great drama of God’s love of his creation, their dis- obedience and suffering, their redemption and eternal hope, is narrated through a series of “books.” The Bible is this collection of poetry, stories, chronicles, proverbs, and prophesies that form their grand epic. To visual- ize the context in which the stories unfold and to understand the nuances of the prophetic words in Scripture, the reader must have a wide and deep knowledge of the “things” that were the everyday stuff of the ancient world. “Things”(as defi ned for the purposes of this study) need not be inani- mate objects: they can be animals, concepts, titles, or historical events. The term things is used here to refer to groups of people (such as professions, nationalities), commonly referenced cultures and places (such as Egypt, Galilee), theological constructs (such as the Fall of Man, the Resurrection), events and activities (festivals, the Great Flood), and pagan gods (Dagon, Asherah). They are the common reference points among the people who walk through the pages of Scripture. Preface This journey included the tending of sheep, the mending of coats, the selling of grain, and the swaddling of newborn babes. The Jews and Christians were also intensely aware of the neighboring peoples who threatened Israel’s existence or martyred the early Christians. The life presented in Scripture is full of kings and judges, priests and prophets, whose roles were fully understood by the community around them. The Jews believed that their history was the story of God’s covenant with them involving the call of the P atriarchs, the Egyptian captivity, the miraculous Exodus, the battles with the indigenous people of Canaan and with the Philistines, the many invaders, the Exile, the return—all watershed events in Israel’s history. It is clearly impossible to chronicle every thing, every group, every event, but this study is an effort to c apture those that appear most f requently in Scripture in both the Old and New Testaments. This book, which is a compilation of ideas and facts from hundreds of sources, is designed as a reference tool for the lay reader of Scripture. It has little of the scholarly detail and debate that advanced theological students would demand, nor the discussions of derivations from original languages that they would expect in their research. It is for those “common readers” who know something of Scripture, wonder about details and ideas, and are searching for fuller understanding. The book is organized alphabetically, with considerable cross-r eferencing. If items are not in the Contents, the reader should search the Index at the back of the second volume. Each entry has selected Bible sources, etymology (if possible and helpful), scholarly commentary, archaeologi- cal detail (when relevant), and occasional references regarding later infl u- ences on intellectual, artistic, or religious history. If the item has symbolic implications, those also appear in the entry. The cross-references are in bold type and are also listed after the entry. The bibliographical refer- ences are included in the text and in the concluding section of the entry. There is also a selected bibliography at the end of the second volume. These are by no means exhaustive. Scholarly studies of almost every one of these 200 plus entries are available in theological libraries and often on the Internet. In a few cases, the listings are clustered. Under Law or Cloth or Clothing, the related items appear one after another for more effi cient use of the material. In some cases, a drawing appeared necessary for better explana- tion of the process or the object. I owe my deepest thanks to Ellen McHenry and her assistants—Andrew McHenry, Hannah McHenry, Levi Staver, and Monica Houston—who supplied these beautifully drawn and carefully researched illustrations and maps that are scattered through both volumes. I also owe Jean Sherman a x Preface debt of gratitude for her careful, thoughtful, and tireless proofreading of these two volumes to ensure that they are coherent and clear. We all hope that this proves a handy resource for readers of Scripture, who will gain a richer understanding of vineyards and funerals, weddings and hospitality, Pharisees and Sadducees, kings and shepherds as a result of using these volumes. Nancy Tischler xi Alphabetical List of Entries Aaron’s Rod Ark Abomination Ark of the Covenant Abraham’s Bosom Armageddon Abyss Art: Christian Adoption Art: Jewish Afterlife Asherah, Ashtoreth, Ashtaroth Agriculture Assyria, Assyrians Alms, Almsgiving Atonement, Day of Alpha and Omega Altar Baal, Baalim Amen Babel, Tower of Ammon, Ammonites Babylon, Babylonia Amorites Baptism Anathema Bath, Bathing Angels Beard Animals Beatitudes Annunciation Bees, Honey Anointing Behemoth, Leviathan Antichrist Betrothal Apocalypse, Apocalyptic Literature Birds Apocrypha Birth Apostle Birthright Alphabetical List of Entries Blasphemy Covenant Blessing Creation Blood Crown Boats and Ships Crucifi xion, Cross Bread Cures, Medicine Bricks, Bricklayers Curse Camel Dagon Canaan, Canaanites Dance Candle, Candlestick Day of Judgment, Day of Carpenters, Carpentry the Lord Caves Demons Chaff Disciples Chariots Disease Chemosh Divorce Cherub, Cherubim Dogs Christian Donkey, Ass Church Dreams Circumcision Cistern Eden, Garden of Cities of Refuge Edom, Edomites Clean, Unclean Education Climate Egypt, Egyptians Cloth Epistles Cloth: Dyeing and Fulling Essenes Cloth: Goat’s Hair and Wool Eunuchs Cloth: Linen Exodus Clothing Clothing: Basic—Shift and Tunic Fall of Man Clothing: Girdle or Belt Family Clothing: Headdress Fast, Fasting Clothing: Mantle or Cloak Feasting Clothing: Sandals Festivals Cooking, Cooking Utensils Fish Cosmetics, Ornamentation Fishermen , Fishing Cosmology Flood, the Great Court Offi cials Food xiv Alphabetical List of Entries Fortifi cations, Fortifi ed Cities, Insects Fortresses Israel Furnishings, Household Ivory Gardens Jewelry Gates Judges Gemstones Geography Kenites Goad Kingdom of God Goats Kings Gospel, Gospels King’s Household Government, Civil Authority Lamentations Grain Lamp Graves Last Supper Greece, Greek, Hellenists Law Law, Civil and Criminal Hanukkah or Festival of Lights Law, Dietary Heaven(s), New Jerusalem, Law, Property Paradise Leather Hell, Sheol Locusts History in the Bible Lord’s Prayer Hittites Lord’s Supper, Mass, Eucharist, Holy Spirit, Holy Ghost Communion Horse Hospitality Magic Houses Manna Hunting Marriage Husband and Wife Meals Hypocrite Measures Messiah Idols, Idolatry Metal and Mines Illness Metal: Copper and Bronze Incarnation Metal: Gold Incense Metal: Iron Inheritance Metal: Silver Inns Metalsmiths xv Alphabetical List of Entries Midian, Midianites Prophet Moab, Moabites Proverbs Moloch Psalms Money Changers Punishments Monsters Purim Mourning Music Rabbi Musical Instruments Redeemer, Redeemer-of-Blood Resurrection Names for God Rome, Romans Names: Hebrews’ Names: Personal Sabbath Nazarites Sacrifi ce New Moon, Festival of the Sacrifi ce, Offerings Sadducees Oaths Salt Olives, Olive Oil, Olive Trees Sanctuary Olive Press Sanhedrin Ox, Oxen Scepter Scribes Palaces Seals Parable Sermon on the Mount Passover or the Feast of Unleavened Bread Serpent Pentecost or the Day of Sheep the First Fruits Sheepfold Perfume Shepherds Pharisees Slavery, Laws of Philistines Slavery, Slaves Physicians Song Plagues Sports Plants Stone Plow Stonemasons Pots and Pottery Swine, Pigs Potters and Pottery-Making Synagogue Potter’s Wheel Prayer Tabernacle Priest, High Priest Tax Collector xvi
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