Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
The custom of observing birthdays is very ancient, (Genesis 40:20; Jeremiah 20:15) and in (Job
1:4) etc., we read that Job’s sons “feasted every one his day.” In Persia birthdays were celebrated
with peculiar honors and banquets, and in Egypt those of the king were kept with great pomp. It is
very probable that in (Matthew 14:6) the feast to commemorate Herod’s accession is intended, for
we know that such feasts were common, and were called “the day of the king.” (Hosea 7:5)
Birthright
the advantages accruing to the eldest son. These were not definitely fixed in patriarchal times.
Great respect was paid to him in the household, and, as the family widened into a tribe, this grew
into a sustained authority, undefined save by custom, in all matters of common interest. Thus the
“princes” of the congregation had probably rights of primogeniture. (Numbers 7:2; 21:18; 25:14)
(Gradually the rights of the eldest son came to be more definite: (1) The functions of the priesthood
in the family with the paternal blessing. (2) A “double portion” of the paternal property was allotted
by the Mosaic law. (21:16-17) (3) The eldest son succeeded to the official authority of the father.
The first-born of the king was his successor by law. (2 Chronicles 21:3) In all these Jesus was the
first-born of the father.
Birzavith
a name occurring in the genealogies of Asher. (1 Chronicles 7:31)
Bishop
The word originally signified an “overseer” or spiritual superintendent. The titles bishop and
elder, or presbyter, were essentially equivalent. Bishop is from the Greek, and denotes one who
exercises the function of overseeing. Presbyter was derived from the office in the synagogue. Of
the order in which the first elders or bishops were appointed, as of the occasion which led to the
institution of the office, we have no record. The duties of the bishop-elders appear to have been as
follows:
•General superintendence over the spiritual well-being of the flock. (1 Peter 5:2)
•The work of teaching, both publicly and privately. (1 Thessalonians 5:12; Titus 1:9; 1 Timothy
5:17)
•The work of visiting the sick, (James 5:14)
•Among other acts of charity, that of receiving strangers occupied a conspicuous place. (1 Timothy
3:2; Titus 1:8) Peter calls Christ “the shepherd and bishop of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:25)
Bishopric
the district over which the jurisdiction of a bishop extended. (Acts 1:20; 1 Timothy 3:1)
Bithiah
(daughter of the Lord), daughter of a Pharaoh, and wife of Mered. (1 Chronicles 4:18) (B.C.
about 1491.)
Bithron
more accurately the Bithron (a craggy gorge or ravine), a place, doubtless a district, in the
Jordan valley on the east side of the river. (2 Samuel 2:29)
Bithynia
a Roman province of Asia Minor. Mentioned only in (Acts 16:7) and in 1Pet 1:1 The chief town
of Bithynia was Nicaea, celebrated for the general Council of the Church held there in A.D. 325
against the Arian heresy.
Bitter Herbs
107
William Smith