Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Their special seat was probably that southern portion of the country which is found to have so late
retained the name of Chaldea. In process of time, as the Kaldi grew in power, their name gradually
prevailed over those of the other tribes inhabiting the country; and by the era of the Jewish captivity
it had begun to be used generally for all the inhabitants of Babylonia. It appears that while, both in
Assyria and in later Babylonia, the Shemitic type of speech prevailed for civil purposes, the ancient
Cushite dialect was retained, as a learned language for scientific and religious literature. This is no
doubt the “learning” and the “tongue” to which reference it made in the book of Daniel, (Daniel
1:4) The Chaldeans were really the learned class; they were priests, magicians or astronomers, and
in the last of the three capacities they probably effected discoveries of great importance. In later
times they seem to have degenerated into mere fortune-tellers.
Chaldees, Or Chaldees
[Chaldeans, Or Chaldees]
Chalk Stones
[Lime]
Chamber
(Genesis 43:30; 2 Samuel 18:33; Psalms 19:5; Daniel 6:10) The word chamber in these passages
has much the same significance as with us, meaning the private rooms of the house—the guest
chamber, as with us, meaning a room set apart for the accommodation of the visiting friend. (Mark
14:14,15; Luke 22:12) The upper chamber was used more particularly for the lodgment of strangers.
(Acts 9:37)
Chamberlain
an officer attached to the court of a king, who formerly had charge of the private apartments
or chambers of the palace. He kept the accounts of the public revenues. The office held by Blastus,
“the king’s chamberlain,” was entirely different from this. (Acts 12:20) It was a post of honor which
involved great intimacy and influence with the king. For chamberlain as used in the Old Testament,
see [Eunuch]
Chameleon
a species of lizard. The reference in (Leviticus 11:30) is to some kind of an unclean animal,
supposed to be the lizard, known by the name of the “monitor of the Nile,” a large, strong reptile
common in Egypt and other parts of Africa.
Chamois
(pronounced often shame), the translation of the Hebrew zemer in (14:5) But the translation is
incorrect; for there is no evidence that the chamois have ever been seen in Palestine or the Lebanon.
It is probable that some mountain sheep is intended.
Chanaan
[Canaan, Canaan, The Land Of]
Chapiter
the capital of a pillar; i.e. the upper part, as the term is used in modern architecture.
Chapman
(i.e. cheap man), merchant.
Charashim, The Valley Of
(ravine of craftsmen), a place near Lydda, a few miles east of Joppa. (1 Chronicles 4:14)
Charchemish
(2 Chronicles 35:20) [Carchemish]
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William Smith