Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Abraham’s life are marked by but few incidents. After Isaac’s marriage with Rebekah and his
removal to Lahai-roi, Abraham took to wife Keturah, by whom he had six children, Zimran, Jokshan,
Medan, Midian, Ishbok and Shuah, who became the ancestors of nomadic tribes inhabiting the
countries south and southeast of Palestine. Abraham lived to see the gradual accomplishment of
the promise in the birth of his grandchildren Jacob and Esau, and witnessed their growth to manhood.
(Genesis 25:26) At the goodly age of 175 he was “gathered to his people,” and laid beside Sarah
in the tomb of Machpelah by his sons Isaac and Ishmael. (Genesis 25:7-10)
Abram
(a high father), the earlier name of Abraham.
Absalom
(father of peace),third son of David by Maachah, daughter of Tamai king of Geshur, a Syrian
district adjoining the northeast frontier of the Holy Land. (Born B.C. 1050.) Absalom had a sister,
Tamar, who was violated by her half-brother Amnon. The natural avenger of such an outrage would
be Tamar’s full brother Absalom. He brooded over the wrong for two years, and then invited all
the princes to a sheep-shearing feast at his estate in Baalhazor, on the borders of Ephraim and
Benjamin. Here he ordered his servants to murder Amnon, and then fled for safety to his
grandfather’s court at Geshur, where he remained for three years. At the end of that time he was
brought back by an artifice of Joab. David, however, would not see Absalom for two more years;
but at length Joab brought about a reconciliation. Absalom now began at once to prepare for
rebellion. He tried to supplant his father by courting popularity, standing in the gate, conversing
with every suitor, and lamenting the difficulty which he would find in getting a hearing. He also
maintained a splendid retinue, (2 Samuel 15:1) and was admired for his personal beauty. It is
probable too that the great tribe of Judah had taken some offence at David’s government. Absalom
raised the standard of revolt at Hebron, the old capital of Judah, now supplanted by Jerusalem. The
revolt was at first completely successful; David fled from his capital over the Jordan to Mahanaim
in Gilead, and Absalom occupied Jerusalem. At last, after being solemnly anointed king at Jerusalem,
(2 Samuel 19:10) Absalom crossed the Jordan to attack his father, who by this time had rallied
round him a considerable force. A decisive battle was fought in Gilead, in the wood of Ephraim.
Here Absalom’s forces were totally defeated, and as he himself was escaping his long hair was
entangled in the branches of a terebinth, where he was left hanging while the mule on which he
was riding ran away from under him. He was dispatched by Joab in spite of the prohibition of
David, who, loving him to the last, had desired that his life might be spared. He was buried in a
great pit in the forest, and the conquerors threw stones over his grave, an old proof of bitter hostility.
(Joshua 7:26)
Absaloms Pillar, Or Place
A monument of tomb which Absalom had built during his lifetime in the king’s dale, i.e. the
valley of the Kedron, at the foot of Mount Olivet, near Jerusalem, (2 Samuel 18:18) comp. with
2Sam 14:27 For his three sons, and where he probably expected to be buried. The tomb there now,
and called by Absalom’s name was probably built at a later date.
Accad
one of the cities in the land of Shinar. (Genesis 10:10) Its position is quite uncertain.
Accaron
[Ekron]
Accho
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William Smith