JA JAPHET, the eldest son of Noah, was a witness of the deluge, and one of those who were saved in the Ark. His descendants first settled in the isles of the Mediterranean Sea, and on the coasts of Asia Minor and of Europe, whence they spread into the north and west. JARHAH, the Egyptian slave of an Israelite named Sheshan, who gave him his daughter in marriage and consequently gave him his liberty. It is not improbable that Jarhah was a proselyte to the religion of Israel. (1 Chron. ii. 34.) JAVELINS of the Hebrews, notice of, 233. JAZER, a city beyond the Jordan, given to the tribe of Gad: it afterwards became one of the Levitical cities. (Josh. xiii. 25.) The SEA OF JAZER, mentioned in Jer. xlviii. 32., Dr. Blayney is of opinion, is the Dead Sea, Jazer being in the north border of Moab. JEBUS, the son of Canaan, the father of the JEBUSITES (Gen. ii. 16.) who dwelt in and around Jerusalem in the mountains, where they continued until the time of David, when Joab took the place. (2 Sam. v. xxiv.) JEDUTHUN, a Levite, one of David's choristers. ( Chron. ix. 16. xvi. 38. 41, 42. xxv. 1.) His sons were employed as musicians. (2 Chron. xxxv. 15. Neh. xi. 17.) JEHOAHAZ: 1. JEHOAHAZ, or Shallum, the second son of Josiah king of Judah, whom he succeeded on the throne. He reigned only three months, being taken captive and carried into Egypt by Pharaoh-Necho. (2 Kings xxiii.) 2. JEHOAHAZ, the son and successor of Jehu king of Israel. He followed the evil example of Jeroboam I. during a reign of 17 years. His dominions were ravaged first by Hazael, and afterwards by Benhadad, kings of Syria; but, Jehoahaz humbling himself before God, he and his people were delivered by his son Joash. 1 JEHOASH. See JOASH, p. 686. infrà. JEHOIAKIM or Eliakim, son and successor of Jehoahaz, king of Judah. After a wicked and inglorious reign of 11 years, Jerusalem was taken, and Jehoiakim carried as a prisoner to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. (2 Kings xxiii. 34-37. Chron.iii. 15.) He was succeeded by his son, JEHOIACHIN, who was also called Coniah and Jechoniah. (1 Chron. iii. 16. Jer. xxii. 24. xxiv. 1.) After a reign of three months he was carried to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, together with a multitude of his people, and all the spoils of the city and teinple. (2 Kings xxiv. 8. 2 Chron. xxxvi. 9.) Through the kindness of Evil JE merodach, the son and successor of Nebuchadnezzar, he was restored to his personal liberty, and was supported at Babylon by the king's bounty. (2 Kings xxv. 27. Jer. lii. 31.) JEHOIADA, the successor of Azariah in the pontificate; who with his wife JEHOSHEBA, preserved his nephew Joash from the massacre of the royal family by Athaliah, and placed him on the throne of Judah. He reached the advanced age of 130 years, and was honoured with a burial among the kings, in consideration of his piety and disinterested patriotism. Kings xi. 4, &c. xii. 1, 2. 2 Chron. xxii. 10-12. xxiii. xxiv. 1-3. 15, 16.) (2 JEHOIARIB, the head of the first of the twenty-four classes of priests established by David (1 Chron. xxiv. 7.), from whom the family of the Maccabees were descended. (2 Macc. ii. 1.) JEHORAM: 1. JEHORAM, the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, with whom for a short time he was associated on the throne, and then succeeded him as sole monarch, B. c. 889. He married Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab, who seduced him into idolatry. He began his reign by murdering his brothers, and was succeeded by Ahaziah, after a wicked reign of eight years. (2 Chron. xxi.) On the nature of his disease, see p. 552, suprà. 2. JEHORAM OF JORAM, king of Israel, the son and successor of Ahab, whose impieties he followed. He was slain in the twelfth year of his reign by Jehu, B. C. 884. JEHOSHAPHAT, the son and successor of Asa king of Judah: he was a pious prince ; and in the third year of his reign he sent some of the chief officers of his court, together with certain Levites and priests, throughout his dominions, to instruct the people in the book of the law and their consequent duties. After a reign of 25 years, he died in peace, B. c. 889. (2 Chron. xvii.-xx. 1-34.) Sepulchre of Jehoshaphat, 66. JEHOSHAPHAT, Valley of, account of, 65. JEHOVAH, the incommunicable name of the self-existent Being, for which the Jews substituted Adonai, in conformity with an ancient superstition. In our authorised translation, this word is rendered "the LORD," in order to distinguish it from Lord, signifying a governor. Concerning the pronunciation of Jehovah, see Gesenius's Hebrew Lexicon, voce -Land of Jehovah, 2. JEHU : 1. A prophet, the son of Hanani, who was sent to denounce the divine judgments against Baasha king of Israel. (1 Kings xvi. 7.) 1 JE 2. The son of Jehoshaphat, and grandson of Nimshi, who conspired against Jehoram king of Israel, B. c. 884, and reigned 28 years. He abolished the worship of Baal at Samaria, but is mentioned with horror in Hos. i. 4. In his reign the kingdom of Israel was ravaged by Hazael king of Syria, who weakened its power, and prepared the ruin of that kingdom. (2 Kings x. 32.) JEMIMA, KEZIA, and KEREN-HAPPUCH, the three daughters of Job, born after his restoration to prosperity. They obtained a portion of their father's inheritance, privilege which in those days could be conferred only by very rich parents. -a JEPHTHAH, the ninth judge of Israel, succeeded Jair in the government of the people, whom he delivered from the Ammonites. His administration lasted six years. Concerning his vow, see Vol. I. p. 605. JEREMIAH, the second of the four greater prophets, was the son of Hilkiah, of the sacerdotal race, and a native of Anathoth. He was distinguished for an ardent love of his country, for the pathetic tenderness with which he deplored her fate, and for the ungrateful treatment which he received from his countrymen. The time and manner of his death are unknown. On the Prophecies of Jeremiah, see Vol. II. pp. 868-885. JERICHO, a celebrated city in the tribe of Benjamin, of which frequent mention is made in the New Testament. It was the first city taken from the Canaanites by Joshua, who rased it to the ground, and denounced a severe curse on the person who should rebuild it. (Josh. vi. 20. 26. Heb. xi. 30.) This curse was literally fulfilled, in the days of Ahab, upon Hiel the Bethelite, by whom the city was rebuilt. (1 Kings xvi. 34.) After this event it was ennobled by the schools of the JE prophets which were established there "The whole of this road," says Mr. Buckingham, "from Jerusalem to the Jordan, is held to be the most dangerous about Palestine, and, indeed, in this portion of it, the very aspect of the scenery is sufficient, on the one hand, to tempt to robbery and murder, and on the other, to occasion a dread of it in those who pass that way. It was partly to prevent any accident happening to us in this early stage of our journey, and partly, perhaps, to calm our fears on that score, that a messenger had been despatched by our guides to an encampment of their tribe near, desiring them to send an escort to meet us at this place. We were met here accordingly, by a band of about twenty persons on foot, all armed with matchlocks, and presenting the most ferocious and robber-like appearance that could be imagined. The effect of this was heightened by the shouts which they sent forth from hill to hill, and which were re-echoed through all the valleys, while the bold projecting crags of rock, the dark shadows in which every thing lay buried below, the towering height of the cliffs above, and the forbidding desolation which every where reigned around, presented a picture that was quite in harmony throughout all its parts. It made us feel most forcibly the propriety of its being chosen as the scene of the delightful tale of compassion which we had before so often admired for its doctrine, independently of its local beauty. (See Luke x. 30-34.) One must be amid these wild and gloomy solitudes, surrounded by an armed band, and feel the impatience of scribed at length by Prof. Robinson. (Bib. Res. vol. ii. pp. 273—304.) JEROBOAM I., son of Nebat, and the first king of Israel. He was a wicked prince, who from political motives established idolatry, and changed the order of the Hebrew calendar. He is never mentioned in the Old Testament, but in terms of detestation. See a notice of the golden calves set up by him, in p. 368. He died after a reign of 22 years. JEROBOAM II., the thirteenth king of Israel, succeeded his father Jehoahash. He fought against the Syrians with so much success, that he invaded their country, and penetrated even to Damascus, their capital. He reigned 41 years; and is recorded to have done evil in the sight of God, following the example of Jeroboam I. JERUBBAAL. See GIDEON. JERUSALEM (city), situation of and the names by which it was called, 19-22. Fortifications and walls, 23. Its state before the war of the Jews with the Romans, 24, 25. Remarkable buildings, 25, 26. Supply of water, 26. Cisterns, fountains, and pools, 26-28. Temple, 248-256. Successive captures of this city, 29. Its present state and population, 30-32. cumstance marks the admirable propriety with which our Lord made it the scene of his beautiful narrative of the good Samaritan. (Luke x. 30-37.) Jericho is, at present, a wretched village, consisting of about thirty miserable huts, called Rihah, (compared with which the worst Irish cabin is a palace,) so low, that, at night, one might almost ride over them, without being aware of the fact. The only trace of the city of Jericho, found in 1849 by the Deputation sent to the East by the Committee of the Malta Protestant college, is a square tower of the middle ages. (Journal of the Deputation. Part II. p. 372.) The once celebrated "City of Palms cannot now boast of one of those beautiful trees in its vicinity. The plain that surrounds it (through which the Jordan flows) is watered by a beautiful fountain, called the Fountain of Elisha: it has ever been venerated as the same which the prophet Elisha healed (2 Kings ii. 19-22.), the water of which was naught (or bitter) and the ground barren: and there is every reason to regard it as the scene of Elisha's miracle. "The stream, which is clear and full, is at its source received into a reservoir, some five yards in length, ten in breadth, and about a foot deep, but not now in good repair." (Wilson's Lands of the Bible, vol. ii. p. 12.) Several streams, continually running from it, refresh and fertilise the surrounding soil. The water is sweet and refreshing. Credulous pilgrims are still shown the sycamore tree into which Zacchæus climbed in order to see Jesus. (Luke xix. 1—10.) (Carne's Letters, pp. 322, 323. Three Weeks in Palestine, p. 83. Robinson's Travels in Palestine, vol. i. p. 56. Lord Lindsay's Letters on Egypt, &c., vol. ii. p. 63. Stephens's Incidents of Travel, p. 520.) Dorr's Notes of Travel in Egypt, &c., pp. 219-223.) The history and present state of Jericho and its environs are dethe traveller who rushes on to catch a new view at every pass and turn; one must be alarmed at the very tramp of the horses' hoofs rebounding through the caverned rocks, and at the savage shouts of the footmen, scarcely less loud than the echoing thunder produced by the discharge of their pieces in the valleys; one must witness all this upon the spot, before the full force and beauty of the admirable story of the Good Samaritan can be perceived. Here, pillage, wounds, and death would be accompanied with double terror, from the frightful aspect of every thing around. Here, the unfeeling act of passing by a fellow-creature in distress, as the Priest and Levite are said to have done, strikes one with horror, as an act almost more than inhuman. And here, too, the compassion of the Good Samaritan is doubly virtuous, from the purity of the motive which must have led to it, in a spot where no eyes were fixed on him to draw forth the performance of any duty, and from the bravery which was necessary to admit of a man's exposing himself, by such delay, to the risk of a similar fate to that from which he was endeavouring to rescue his fellow-creature.”—(Buckingham's Travels in Palestine, pp. 292, 293. See a good illustration of the nature of the road to Jericho, and of the banditti who infest it, in Sir F. Henniker's Notes during a Visit to Egypt, Nubia, &c. pp. 289 -291. London, 1823, 8vo.) JESUS, that is the Saviour, the name of the Messiah, the Son of God, and the Divine Author of the Christian religion, who is constituted by God the Lord of all things. He is called Jesus, because he came to save his people from their sins. (Matt. i. 21. Eph. i. 21, 22. Heb. i. 2.) The history of his life, miracles, doctrine death, resurrection, and ascension, is related in the four Gospels. In 2 Cor. i. 19. Jesus is, metonymically, put for the Gospel or religion of Jesus. JETHRO, or Raguel, a priest of Midian, and the father-in-law of Moses, to whom he gave the wise counsel, of instituting inferior judges, to hear and determine JE minor causes; while questions of moment were brought before the Hebrew legislator himself. JETHRONIAN PREFECTS, 96, 97. JEWS. After the captivity, most of those persons who returned and rebuilt Jerusalem and the temple, and restored the rites of the Mosaic worship, having sprung from the kingdom of Judah, the term JEWS became a general appellation for all the inhabitants of Palestine, and afterwards for those descended from them. (Dan. iii. 8. Esth. iii. 10. 2 Macc. ix. 17.) | For the political state of the Jews, from the patriarchal times to their final dispersion, see pp. 92-131. Their courts of judicature, legal proceedings, criminal law and punishments, 131–185. Their mode of computing time, 187-202. Tributes and taxes paid by them, 203-206. Their genealogical tables and memorials of events, 207-209. Treaties, covenants, and contracts, 209–213. Oaths, 213 214. Military Affairs, 218-245. The whole nation why accounted holy, 289. Account of the Jewish church and its members, 288-294. All male Jews required to be at Jerusalem at the three great annual festivals, 330, 331. Corruptions of religion among them, and their idolatry, 363–377. Did not worship an ass's head, 370, 371. State of religion and sects in the time of Jesus Christ, 386 -405. Their private life, manners, customs, arts and sciences, 411-524. Commerce and navigation, 524-528. Amusements, 532, 533. Their treatment of the dead, and funeral rites, 556-570. Their extreme corruption during the time of Christ, 406-410. In the New Testament, the terms "Jews" is employed : (1.) With reference both to nation and religion. (Matt. xxviii. 15. Mark vii. 3.) (2.) With reference to religion only. (Rom. ii. 28, 29. Rev. ii. 9. iii. 9.) (3.) With reference to nations only. (Acts xix. 34. xxi. 39. xxii. 3. Gall. ii. 13.) JEWS OF THE DISPERSION, who they were, 293, 294. JEZEBEL: :- 1. The daughter of Ethbaal or Ithobalus king of the Zidonians, and wife of Ahab king of Israel. She was infamous for her idolatries, and for her cruel persecutions of the worshippers of the true God, particularly the prophets. She at length perished miserably, according to a prediction of the prophet Elijah. (1 Kings xvi. 31. xviii. 4. 13. xxi. 23. 2 Kings ix. 30-37.) 2. In Rev. ii. 20. Jezebel is put as a generic term for an idolatrous and infamous JO woman, the emblem of corrupt teachers. See p. 597. suprà. JEZREEL, a celebrated city, situated in a valley of that name, in the canton of the half-tribe of Manasseh, on the west of the river Jordan, and on the confines of the tribe of Issachar. (Josh. xix. 18.) Here Ahab had a palace; and here the retributive justice of God overtook Jezebel. (2 Kings ix. 30-37.) Jezreel is now reduced to a small village called Zerin. Dr. Wilson found here eleven sarcophagi, entire or in fragments, of great antiquity, which may even be Israelitish. (Lands of the Bible, vol. ii. p. 303.) JEZREEL, Plain of, account of, 69, 70. 1. JOAB, the son of Seraiah and the grandson of Kenaz (1 Chron. iv. 13, 14.), nephew of Othniel the first judge of the Hebrews, was the founder of a colony of artisans, or "craftsmen," at Ono in the tribe of Benjamin, not far from the river Jordan. The valley, where he settled, obtained the name of the Valley of Craftsmen, an appellation which shows, that the arts practised by them were of the first utility; and Nehemiah gave it the same appellation. (xi. 35.) The establishment of Joab, towards the time of the first judge, from whom he was descended, proves that the Hebrews had not forgotten the arts which they had acquired in Egypt, and shows in what estimation trades were held. The people, who had erected the tabernacle in the wilderness, we may readily conceive, would, in no long time, form establishments of this kind, after they were settled in Canaan. 2. JOAB, the son of Zeruiah, and nephew of David. With his brothers Abishai and Asahel, he commanded his uncle's troops against Abner. He was one of the greatest generals and most valiant men in David's army, but was of an imperious and revengeful disposition. Having conspired to raise Adonijah to the throne of his father David, Joab was put to death by command of Solomon. JOANNA, the wife of Chuza, steward of Herod Antipas. She is enumerated among those women, who having been healed by Jesus, followed him out of Galilee, and assisted in supporting him. (Luke viii. 3. xxiv. 10.) JOASH, the eighth king of Judah, was the son of Ahaziah. On the massacre of his family by Athaliah, he was preserved by Jehoiada the high priest and his wife Jehosheba, and secreted for six years in one of the apartments of the temple, where he was brought up. At the age of seven JO years, the courageous fidelity of the high priest placed him on the throne of his ancestors. During the life of Jehoiada, he ruled well but on the death of that wise and pious counsellor, he listened to the advice of some of his courtiers; fell into gross idolatry; and at length put to death the son of his benefactor. From this time, his reign became disastrous; his kingdom was invaded by the Syrians under Hazael; his armies were totally discomfited by very inferior forces; and he could only save his capital, by delivering to the Syrians the treasures which had been consecrated by his predecessors, and those which he had himself offered in the temple. A lingering illness seized him: the blood of Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada, found avengers; and after reigning | 40 years, Joash was assassinated by three of his servants. (2 Kings xi. xii. 2 Chron. xxiv.) JOASH OF JEHOASH, king of Israel, the son and successor of Jehoahaz. Possessed of more talents than virtues, by his fortunate wars he prepared the splendid reign of his son Jeroboam II.; and wanted nothing but piety. He reigned 16 years, during which he "did evil in the sight of the Lord, and departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin." (2 Kings xii. 10-12. xiv.) JOB, an inhabitant of the land of Uz, or Idumæa, whose piety and afflictions are celebrated in the poetical book which bears his name. For an analysis, &c. of which, see Vol. II., pp. 704-736. and for a notice of the disease with which he was afflicted, see p. 528. of this volume. JOEL, the son of Pethuel, and the second of the minor prophets. His history is entirely unknown. From internal evidence he appears to have prophesied during the early days of Joash king of Judah, B. c. 870-865. He is one of the eldest of the Hebrew prophets, whose predictions have come down to us. (Dr. Henderson's Minor Prophets, p. 90.) See further, Vol. II. pp. 946-950. JOHN: 1. JOHN the Baptist, the son of Zecharias and Elizabeth, was the kinsman and precursor of Jesus Christ, and distinguished for the simplicity and integrity of his life. Notice of his dress, see p. 427. He was beheaded by order of Herod Antipas, whom he had reproved for his incestuous marriage. (Matt. iii. 1. xiv. 2-4. 8. 10.) 2. JOHN the Apostle and Evangelist, was the son of Zebedee and Salome, brother of James the elder, and originally a fisherman. He seems to have been of a mild JO and affectionate disposition, and peculiarly dear to Jesus Christ. His name is prefixed to the fourth Gospel, to three Epistles, and to the Apocalypse: for analyses of which, see the Fourth Volume of this work. 3. JOHN, surnamed MARK, the companion of Paul and Barnabas in their journies. 4. JOHN, one of the chief men among the Jews, a member of the Sanhedrim, and perhaps related to the high priest. (Acts iv. 6.) JOKTAN (or KAHTÁN, as the Arabs write the name), was the eldest son of Eber, from whom many Arabian - tribes were descended. (Gen. x. 25-30.) Kahtán is still the patronymic of the large Arabian tribes, which are scattered over the whole southern portion of Arabia. It is also the name of a district of Yemen or Arabia Felix, and of its capital. (Dr Wilson's Lands of the Bible, vol. ii. p. 742. In pp. 743-746. he has traced the probable settlements of the JOKTANITES, or descendants of Joktan. JOKTHEEL : 1. JONAH, the son of Amittai, and the fifth of the minor prophets, who was swallowed by a large fish, and continued three days and three nights in the stomach of the monster. See observations on his prophecy in Vol. II. pp. 956–960. He is the most ancient of all the Hebrew Prophets, whose writings have come down to us. His predictions were delivered against Nineveh. The pretended tomb of Jonah forms part of the great group of Assyrian ruins opposite to Mosul, which some have believed to represent the real site of ancient Nineveh. A mosque has been erected over it: and the pretended tomb is in a dark inner room. The tradition which places the tomb on this spot is a mere fable. A large Turcoman village, called Nebbi Yunus, has risen around the mosque. (Layard's Discoveries in Nineveh, &c., p. 596.) 2. JONAH or JONAS, the father of the apostle Simon Peter. He was a fisherman. (John i. 42. xxi. 15-17.) JONATHAN, the son of Saul, and the faithfully attached friend of David in all his persecutions. Jonathan displayed signal valour in the wars with the Philistines. |