Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
which caused Joseph and Mary to visit Bethlehem. (Luke 2:2) The second enrollment is mentioned
in (Acts 5:37)
Cyrus
(the sun), the founder of the Persian empire—see (2 Chronicles 36:22,23; Daniel 6:28;
10:1,13)—was, according to the common legend, the son of Cambyses, a Persian of the royal family
of the Achaemenidae. When he grew up to manhood his courage and genius placed him at the head
of the Persians. His conquests were numerous and brilliant. He defeated and captured the Median
king B.C. 559. In B.C. 546 (?) he defeated Croesus, and the kingdom of lydia was the prize of his
success. Babylon fell before his army, and the ancient dominions of Assyria were added to his
empire B.C. 538. The prophet Daniel’s home for a time was at his court. (Daniel 6:28) The edict
of Cyrus for the rebuilding of the temple, (2 Chronicles 36:22,23; Ezra 1:1-4; 3:7; 4:3; 5:13,17;
6:3) was in fact the beginning of Judaism; and the great changes by which the nation was transformed
into a church are clearly marked. His tomb is still shown at Pasargadae, the scene of his first decisive
victory.
Dabareh
(pasture), (Joshua 21:28) or Daberath, a town on the boundary of Zebulun. (Joshua 19:12) Under
the name of Debarieh it still lies at the western foot of Tabor.
Dabbasheth
(a hill-place), a town on the boundary of Zebulun. (Joshua 19:11)
Daberath
[See Dabareh]
Dagon
(a fish), apparently the masculine, (1 Samuel 5:3,4) correlative of Atargatis, was the national
god of the Philistines. The most famous temples of Dagon were at Gaza, (Judges 16:21-30) and
Ashdod. (1 Samuel 5:5,6; 1 Chronicles 10:10) The latter temple was destroyed by Jonathan in the
Maccabaean wars. Traces of the worship of Dagon likewise appear in the names Caphar-dagon
(near Jamnia) and Beth-dagon in Judah, (Joshua 15:41) and Asher. (Joshua 19:27) Dagon was
represented with the face and hands of a man and the tail of a fish. (1 Samuel 5:5) The fish-like
form was a natural emblem of fruitfulness, and as such was likely to be adopted by seafaring tribes
in the representation of their gods.
Dalaiah
(freed by Jehovah) a descendant of the royal family of Judah. (1 Chronicles 3:24)
Dalmanutha
a town on the west side of the Sea of Galilee, near Magdala. (Matthew 15:39) and Mark 8:10
[Magdala] Dalmnnutha probably stood at the place called ’Ain-el-Barideh, “the cold fountain.”
Dalmatia
a mountainous district on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. St. Paul sent Titus there. (2
Timothy 4:10)
Dalphon
(swift), the second of the ten sons of Hamam (Esther 9:7) (B.C. 610.)
Damaris
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William Smith