HarperCollins Bible Dictionary

1320 Pages·1996·4.05 MB·English

by  Paul J. Achtemeier

H A R P E R C O L L I NS
ïï£3$feh
B I B LE
DICTIONARY
PAUL I. ACHTEMEIER
General Editor, With the Society of Biblical Literature
USA $47.50
CAN $71.50
"[This is] a magnificent Bible dictionary . . . a mine
of information for the beginning Biblical student, the
seasoned scholar, and the layperson."
—Biblical Archaeology Review ^""""N
The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary, Revised Edition,
is the most complete, up-to-date, and accessible
guide for the study of the Bible available today.
With more than 3,700 lively, informative, and
easy-to-use entries, this essential reference book
provides all the information you need to fully
understand the Bible.
Whether you're a member of the clergy or a student
of Scripture, you'll find all the important names,
places, and subjects that make Bible study come
to life. From Aaron to Zurishaddai, here are all
the people, events, and ideas of biblical times—
whether it's the ages of the patriarchs, judges,
kings, and prophets or the world of the New
Testament and the early church. Other signif
icant topics include the Dead Sea Scrolls, the
Nag Hammadi Library, the archaeology of the
biblical world, and the history of the English
Bible, as well as new sections on African-Americans
and the Bible, feminist interpretations of Scripture,
and a completely updated pronunciation guide.
More than a quarter of the articles in this book
are new or totally revised from the first edition
of the Bible Dictionary.
Each of the 193 contributors to The HarperCollins
Bible Dictionary—Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish
affiliates of the Society of Biblical Literature-—is
a leading authority in his or her field. Each entry
presents the nonsectarian, consensus view of those
most knowledgeable in the area.
(continued on back flap)
(continued from front flap)
Filled with explanations of biblical beliefs and
language and insights into the culture and cus
toms of the people who lived in biblical times,
The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary will help any
one interested in Scripture more fully appreciate
the meaning and message of the Bible.
PAUL J. ACHTEMEIER, Th.D., is Professor
of Biblical Interpretation at Union Theological
Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. A widely
respected authority on the Bible, he is the author
or coauthor of fourteen books, former editor of
the quarterly Interpretation, and New Testament
editor of the Interpretation Biblical Commentary
Series. Professor Achtemeier has also been chief
executive officer and president of the Society of
Biblical Literature and president of the Catholic
Biblical Association.
The Editorial Board of the revised edition of The
HarperCollins Bible Dictionary includes associate
editors Roger S. Boraas, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus
of Religion, Uppsala College; Michael Fishbane,
Ph.D., Nathan Cummings Professor of Jewish
Studies, University of Chicago Divinity School;
Pheme Perkins, Ph.D., Professor of Theology
(New Testament), Boston College; and William
O. Walker, Jr., Ph.D., Professor of Religion,
Trinity University.
The Society of Biblical Literature is a seven-
thousand-member international group of experts
on the Bible and related fields.
Jacket design: Laura Beers
Front cover photograph: Torah Ark Doors, Cracow,
Poland. Seventeenth century. © Z. Radovan, Jerusalem
THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES
(The Masoretic Text, MT)
The Law The Prophets The Writings
Genesis Former Prophets Psalms
Exodus Joshua Job
Leviticus Judges Proverbs
Numbers Samuel Ruth
Deuteronomy Kings Song of Songs
Latter Prophets Ecclesiastes
Isaiah Lamentations
Jeremiah Esther
Ezekiel Daniel
The Twelve:
Ezra-Nehemiah
Hosea
Chronicles
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
THE SEPTUAGINT (LXX)
(The Greek Version of the Hebrew Scriptures)
Law and History Poetic and Prophetic Books
Genesis Psalms Nahum
Exodus Odes Habakkuk
Leviticus Proverbs Zephaniah
Numbers Ecclesiastes Haggai
Deuteronomy Song of Songs Zechariah
Joshua Job Malachi
Judges Wisdom (of Solomon) Isaiah
Ruth Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) Jeremiah
1-4 Kingdoms (1-2 Psalms of Solomon Baruch
Samuel; 1-2 Kings) Hosea Lamentations
1-2 Paralipomena Amos Letter of Jeremiah
(1-2 Chronicles) Micah Ezekiel
1 Esdras Joel Susanna
2 Esdras (Ezra-Nehemiah) Obadiah Daniel
Esther
Jonah Bel and the Dragon
Judith
Tobit
1-4 Maccabees
THE OLD TESTAMENT (OT)
Genesis 2 Chronicles Daniel
Exodus Ezra Hosea
Leviticus Nehemiah Joel
Numbers Esther Amos
Deuteronomy Job Obadiah
Joshua Psalms Jonah
Judges Proverbs Micah
Ruth Ecclesiastes Nahum
1 Samuel Song of Solomon Habakkuk
2 Samuel Isaiah Zephaniah
1 Kings Jeremiah Haggai
2 Kings Lamentations Zechariah
1 Chronicles Ezekiel Malachi
THE NEW TESTAMENT (NT)
Matthew Ephesians I lebrews
Mark Philippians James
Luke Colossians 1 Peter
John 1 Thessalonians 2 Peter
Acts 2 Thessalonians 1 John
Romans 1 Timothy 2 John
1 Corinthians 2 Timothy 3 John
2 Corinthians Titus Jude
Galatians Philemon Revelation
Deuterocanonical Books/Apocrypha: In Roman Catholic Bibles, the OT includes the
following deuterocanonical books: (following Nehemiah) Tobit, Judith, Esther with the
additions, 1-2 Maccabees; (following Song of Songs) Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus; (following
Lamentations) Baruch including the Letter of Jeremiah; (following Ezekiel) Daniel with
the additions.
In addition to these books, the Bible of the Greek Orthodox community includes 1 Esdras,
the Prayer of Manasseh, Psalm 151, 3 Maccabees, with 4 Maccabees as an appendix.
Protestants regard the deuterocanonical books as not part of the OT canon and either
do not include them in their Bibles, or print them in a separate section ('Apocrypha")
following the OT or at the end of the Bible.
2500 2000 1500 1250 1000 800 700 600
U I X
PATRIARCHAL EXODUS/ I DIVIDED MONARCHY EXILE
PERIOD WILDERNESS Rehoboam
leroboam I KINGDOM OF JUDAH
Omri Josiah
EGYPTIAN Ahab Hezekiah
SOJOURN Jehu
MONARCHY Amos Jeremiah
Abraham Saul Isaiah of I Ezekiel
land Sarah David Jerusalem
Solomon
FALL OF I
SAMARIA Siloam
(722/721) Inscription
DESTRUCTION OF
JERUSALEM (587/586)
ANCIENT ISRAEL AND
EARLY CHRISTIANITY
^ H
FIRST (SOLOMONS) TEMPLE
SUMER1AN CITY-STATES NEO-ASSYRIAN EMPIRI
Hammurabi Mesha | Sennacherib
Inscription conquers
Lachish (701)
EGYPT: EGYPT: NEW KINGDOM
OLD KINGDOM PERIOD Sargon II
PERIOD
Harnesses II
EGYPT: MIDDLE Ugaritic Ishtor
KINGDOM cuneiform iGate
HYKSOS texts I
Darius I
Megiddo (522)
ivories
EBLA Nebuchad
Hiram of Tyre nezzar II
Merneptah (605)
Stele
Cyrus II
EMPIRES AND KINGDOMS OF Philistines (538)
THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND migrate to
MEDITERRANEAN BASIN southern coast
of Palestine
CHALCOLITHIC MIDDLE BRONZE EARLY IRON
(BEGINS 4500)
EARLY BRONZE LATE BRONZE MIDDLE IRON
ARCHAEOLOC
PERIODS
400 300 200 150 100 50 B.C. A.D. 50 100 150
PERSIAN PERIOD
(BEGINS S38)
HE .LENISTIC moo REVOLT AGAINST ROME
MACCABEAN PERIOD
Judas Maccabeus
RO UAN RULE IN PALESTINE
Jesus
Herod
the Great Mark
Matthew
Peter Luke
Paul John
1 Thessaionians
Romans
1
_l
SECOND T EMPLE PEI <IOD 1 HERODS TEMPLE '
PERSIAN EMPIRE (I EGINS 550) ROMAN EMPIRE,
Augus tus
Alexander Tiberius
the G •eat Claudius
Vespasian
AntiocusIV Nero
(Epiphanes)
Arch o/Titus
• in Rom •
ALEXANDRIA
FOUNDED
(EGYPT. 332)
• ROMAN DESTRUCTION
or i ÏRUSALEV (70)
1 LATE IRQN
NOTE The peri od oftime between v?ir tical bar s increases at
intervals from right to left; this allows a wide range of events to be
shoivn across the breadth of two pages.
1 1 1 1 1 1 1
KM I Kl N't I ( I IK is I I.Win
"THE BEST COMPREHENSIVE, ONE-VOLUME
DICTIONARY NOW ON THE MARKET."-BiblicalArchaeologist
The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary puts the latest and most comprehensive biblical
scholarship at your fingertips. 11ère is everything you need to know to fully under
stand the Old Testament, the Apocrypha, and the New Testament. An unparalleled
resource, The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary explains every aspect of the Bible,
including biblical archaeology, culture, related writings such as the Dead Sea Scrolls,
the Bible's influence ^n Western civilization, biblical history, theological concepts,
modern biblical interpretations, flora and fauna, climate and environment, crafts
and industry, the content of individual books of the Bible, and more.
The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary features:
• Contributions by 193 noted experts on the Bible and the ancient Near East •
• More than 3700 entries covering the Bible from A to X • Outlines for each
book of the Bible • 590 black-and-white photographs • 53 color
photographs • An updated pronunciation guide • 72 black-and-white maps •
• [8 color maps * Dozens of drawings, diagrams, and tables •
The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary