The Sun-god and the male or generative principle in nature. The principal seat and source of his cult was Phoenicia (1 Kgs. 16: 31). He was worshipped with different ideas and rites (cf. plural Baalim) in different places; by Moabites, etc., as Baal-peor (Num. 25: 1-3, 17-18); at Shechem as Baal-berith (Judg. 8: 33; Judg. 9: 4); at Ekron as Baal-zebub (2 Kgs. 1: 2). Baal is by some identified with Bel of Babylon and Zeus of Greece. The word Baal expresses the relation between lord and slave. Becoming utterly abominable from its associations, its use was abjured and Bosheth (shame) was substituted in names compounded with it. (Cf. Ishbosheth, Jerubbesheth = Gideon.) The prophets call Baal The Shame (Jer. 11: 13; Hosea 9: 10). Ashtoreth was the goddess generally worshipped along with Baal.

Compounds of Baal with a second word denote (1) an attribute of the god, (2) the place or manner of his worship, or (3) something that a place possesses.

(also called Elymas), a Jew who had obtained an influence over Sergius Paulus, the Roman proconsul in Cyprus (Acts 13: 6-12). He is called a sorcerer or magician, and a false prophet. Paul destroyed his influence by calling down upon him a proof of the divine anger (Acts 13: 11).

a surname of Simon Peter (Matt. 16: 17; John 1: 42).

Name of the man released at the feast instead of Jesus at the time of the crucifixion. A “notable prisoner,” he is identified as an insurrectionist and a robber (Matt. 27: 16; Mark 15: 7; Luke 23: 18; John 18: 40).

At Deborah’s command, leads the army of Israel (Judg. 4: 5-22; Judg. 5: 1, 12, 15; Heb. 11: 32).

The word barbarian is not used in the O.T., but is synonymous with such words as stranger, alien, sojourner, and gentile. In the N.T. it connotes peoples of the Mediterranean area who are not of the Graeco-Roman culture (Rom. 1: 14; Col. 3: 11), and/or those whose language is not familiar to the hearer, as in 1 Cor. 14: 11. See also Acts 28: 2.

A name given to Joseph, a Levite of Cyprus, who sold his possessions and gave the proceeds to the apostles (Acts 4: 36-37); was of service to Saul after his conversion (Acts 9: 27); was sent by the apostles to Antioch, where he worked with Saul (Acts 11: 22-30; Acts 12: 25); with Paul on missionary journey (chs. 13 - 14); and at Jerusalem, (ch. 15); they parted (Acts 15: 39). See also 1 Cor. 9: 6; Gal. 2: 1, 9, 13; Col. 4: 10. Though not one of the twelve, he was regarded as an apostle (Acts 14: 4, 14).

Jeremiah’s scribe (Jer. 32: 12 f.; Jer. 36); taken to Egypt (Jer. 43: 2-6; Jer. 45).

The home of Abraham (Gen. 21: 31); Isaac (Gen. 26: 23); Jacob (Gen. 28: 10), so called from the covenant Abraham made here with Abimelech, king of Gerar (Gen. 21: 31). It was afterwards in the tribe of Simeon (Josh. 19: 2) and was regarded as the southern limit of Israel (Judg. 20: 1; 1 Sam. 3: 20; etc.). The district contained much rich pasture land.

Sometimes translated wicked (2 Sam. 23: 6); sons of Belial. i.e., wicked men (Deut. 13: 13; Judg. 19: 22; Judg. 20: 13; 1 Sam. 1: 16; 1 Sam. 2: 12; 1 Sam. 10: 27; 1 Sam. 25: 17, 25; 1 Sam. 30: 22; 2 Sam. 16: 7; 2 Sam. 20: 1; 1 Kgs. 21: 10 , 13; 2 Chr. 13: 7; 2 Chr. 6: 15).

Hence, Ben-Abinadab, Reuben, Benjamin, Benhadad, etc.

(1) One of David’s officers (2 Sam. 8: 18; 2 Sam. 23: 20-23; 1 Chr. 11: 22-25); opposed to Adonijah (1 Kgs. 1: 8-44), and slays him, Joab, and Shimei (1 Kgs. 2: 25-46; 1 Kgs. 4: 4; 1 Chr. 18: 17; 1 Chr. 27: 5-6.)

(2) One of David’s mighty men (2 Sam. 23: 30 ; 1 Chr. 11: 31 ; 1 Chr. 27: 14 ); and many others.

There are three kings of Damascus of this name

(1) the ally of Asa (1 Kgs. 15: 18-20 ; 2 Chr. 16: 2-4 );

(2) at war with Ahab (1 Kgs. 20: 1-34 ); besieges Samaria (2 Kgs. 6: 24 ); death of (2 Kgs. 8: 7-15 );

(3) son of Hazael (2 Kgs. 13: 3 ); smitten thrice by Joash (2 Kgs. 13: 25 ; Jer. 49: 27 ; Amos 1: 4 ).

(1) Son of Jacob and Rachel; his birth, Gen. 35: 18; how brought to Egypt and treated by Joseph, chs. 42-45; blessing of, by Jacob, Gen. 49: 27; by Moses, Deut. 33: 12; border and cities, Josh. 18: 11-28; Josh. 21: 4, 17; Judg. 1: 21. The Benjamites were a warlike race, and did great service in resisting the Philistine oppression. The tribe provided the first king in the person of Saul (1 Sam. 9: 1) At the division of the kingdom Benjamin joined the northern tribes (1 Kgs. 12: 21), but the nearness to Jerusalem seems to have caused Benjamin gradually to become part of the kingdom of Judah. The most distinguished Benjamite was the apostle Paul (Rom. 11: 1).

(2) 1 Chr. 7: 10 .

(3) Ezra 10: 32 ; Neh. 3: 23 ; Neh. 12: 34 .

First name of Benjamin (Gen. 35: 18).

The pass of Beth-horon was part of the vital road from Jerusalem to the sea. The lower end widens out into the valley of Ajalon. The area has seen many battles, including the defeat of the Amorites by Joshua assisted by a hailstorm (Josh. 10: 8-11). See also 1 Sam. 13: 18; 2 Chr. 25: 13.

Three miles from Jordan on the edge of plain of Jezreel, on the road from Damascus to Egypt, and to Jerusalem via Shechem (Josh. 17: 11, 16; Judg. 1: 27; 1 Sam. 31: 10, 12; 2 Sam. 21: 12; 1 Kgs. 4: 12; 1 Chr. 7: 29). It was at Beth-shan that the dead bodies of Saul and three of his sons were fastened to the city wall (1 Sam. 31: 10-13). It was afterwards known as Scythopolis, and in our Lord’s time was one of the cities of Decapolis. Beth-shan has been an extremely fruitful archaeological site, containing Egyptian and Canaanite ruins of early Palestinian history.

(1) Probably = Ir-shemesh (Josh. 19: 41); a priestly city on the border of Judah (Josh. 15: 10), about 12 miles southeast of Ekron; ark taken to Beth-shemesh (1 Sam. 6: 9-20; see also 1 Kgs. 4: 9; 2 Kgs. 14: 11, 13; 1 Chr. 6: 59; 2 Chr. 25: 21, 23; 2 Chr. 28: 18).

(2) For On, or Heliopolis, see Jer. 43: 13 ; probably same as the “city of destruction” (Isa. 19: 18 ). Two other cities: Josh. 19: 22, 38 ; Judg. 1: 33 ).

A place where John baptized in the Jordan River, the exact site of which is unknown today, although traditionally it is near Jericho. It was at this location that John baptized Jesus, beheld the Holy Ghost descend in the sign of a dove, and was interviewed by a delegation of priests and Levites from Jerusalem (John 1: 19-34; 1 Ne. 10: 7-10). Cf. JST John 1: 34, which indicates that all of the above events were done at Bethabara, whereas the KJV leaves the matter in question.

Village two miles from Jerusalem, on the southeast slope of Olivet; the home of Lazarus (John 11: 1-18; John 12: 1) and of Simon (Mark 14: 3); the village in which our Lord stayed during Holy Week (Matt. 21: 17; Mark 11: 11).

(1) Formerly called Luz (Gen. 28: 19), on the border between Benjamin and Ephraim, and one of the most sacred spots in Israel. Here Abraham built his altar on his first arrival in Canaan (Gen. 12: 8; Gen. 13: 3); here Jacob had his dream, set up a pillar, and gave the place its name (Gen. 28: 19). It was a sanctuary in the days of Samuel (1 Sam. 7: 16; 1 Sam. 10: 3). Jeroboam selected it as one of the places in which to set up the calf worship (1 Kgs. 12: 29 ff.; 2 Kgs. 10: 29; Amos 7: 13). See also 1 Kgs. 13; 2 Kgs. 23: 4, 15-30; Hosea 12: 4).

(2) Josh. 12: 16 ; 1 Sam. 30: 27 .

Pool at Jerusalem, having five porches or cloisters. It seems to have had medicinal properties, popularly attributed to the “troubling” of the waters by an angel (John 5: 4). There was possibly an intermittent spring flowing into the pool, which produced a bubbling at the surface. It was here that Jesus healed a man who had been an invalid for 38 years.

(1) Bethlehem-Judah, also called Ephrath (Gen. 35: 19; Gen. 48: 7), 5 miles south of Jerusalem (Judg. 17: 7-10; Judg. 19: 1-2, 18), see Ruth; Samuel anoints David at Bethlehem (1 Sam. 16; 1 Sam. 17: 12, 15; 1 Sam. 20: 6, 28; 2 Sam. 2: 32); well of Bethlehem (2 Sam. 23: 13-17, 24; 1 Chr. 2: 51, 54; 1 Chr. 4: 4; 1 Chr. 11: 15-19, 26; 2 Chr. 11: 6; Ezra 2: 21; Neh. 7: 26; Jer. 41: 17); Christ’s birthplace (Matt. 2: 1-8; cf. Micah 5: 2; Luke 2: 4, 15; John 7: 42); Herod slays children at Bethlehem (Matt. 2: 16).

(2) In Zebulun (Josh. 19: 15 ; Judg. 12: 8, 10 ).

A village of district near Bethany to which Jesus sent disciples to obtain a donkey on which he could ride in the triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matt. 21: 1; Mark 11: 1; Luke 19: 29). Its site has never been exactly determined, but it is near the Mount of Olives and the road from Jericho.

Probably there are two places of this name mentioned in the N.T. The older city was on the northeast end of the sea of Galilee, near Capernaum, and was the home of Peter, Andrew, and Philip (John 1: 44; John 12: 21). For his capital, Philip the Tetrarch built a city that he called Bethsaida-Julias, after Julia, daughter of Caesar Augustus. The rebuilt portion was north of the older city and apparently nearer the place where Jesus fed the 5,000 (Mark 6: 45; Luke 9: 10) and healed a blind man (Mark 8: 22). When Jesus denounced Bethsaida for its unbelief (Matt. 11: 21; Luke 10: 13) he probably referred to the pagan city (Philip’s capital), not to the older city, composed largely of fishermen settled on the shore of the lake.

Name applied to the land of Israel as the spouse of God and of her own sons (Isa. 62: 4-5).

Surname given by our Lord to James and John, sons of Zebedee, probably on account of the intensity of their character (Mark 3: 17; cf. Mark 9: 38; Mark 10: 37; Luke 9: 54).

(1) See Ruth.

(2) Name of a pillar in Solomon’s Temple (1 Kgs. 7: 21 ).

Present in most of the hot springs of Palestine; mentioned in the account of the destruction of the Cities of the Plain, and hence symbolic of God’s anger (Deut. 29: 23; Ps. 11: 6; Isa. 34: 9).