Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Dove
The first menton of this bird occurs in Gen. 8. The dove’s rapidity of flight is alluded to in
(Psalms 55:6) the beauty of its plumage in (Psalms 68:13) its dwelling int he rocks and valleys in
(Jeremiah 48:28) and Ezek 7:16 Its mournful voice in (Isaiah 38:14; 59:11; Nahum 2:7) its
harmlessness in (Matthew 10:16) its simplicity in (Hosea 7:11) and its amativeness in (Song of
Solomon 1:15; 2:14) Doves are kept in a domesticated state in many parts of the East. In Persia
pigeon-houses are erected at a distance from the dwellings, for the purpose of collecting the dung
as manure. There is probably an allusion to such a custom in (Isaiah 60:8)
Doves Dung
Various explanations have been given of the passage in (2 Kings 6:25) Bochart has labored to
show that it denotes a species of cicer, “chick-pea,” which he says the Arabs call usnan, and
sometimes improperly “dove’s” or “sparrow’s dung.” Great quantities of these are sold in Cairo to
the pilgrims going to Mecca. Later authorities incline to think it the bulbous root of the Star of
Bethlehem (ornithogalum, i.e. bird-milk), a common root in Palestine, and sometimes eaten.—ED.
It can scarcely be believed that even in the worst horrors of a siege a substance so vile as is implied
by the literal rendering should have been used for food.
Dowry
[Marriage]
Drachm
(Luke 15:8,9) 2 Macc 4:19; 10:20; 12:43, a Greek silver coin, varying in weight on account of
the use of different talents. In Luke denarii (Authorized Version “piece of silver”) seem to be
intended. [Money; Silver]
Dragon
The translators of the Authorized Version, apparently following the Vulgate, have rendered by
the same word “dragon” the two Hebrew words tan and tannin, which appear to be quite distinct
in meaning.
•The former is used, always in the plural, in (Job 30:29; Psalms 44:19; Isaiah 34:13; 43:20; Jeremiah
9:11) It is always applied to some creatures inhabiting the desert, and we should conclude from
this that it refers rather to some wild beast than to a serpent. The syriac renders it by a word which,
according to Pococke, means a “jackal.”
•The word tannin seems to refer to any great monster, whether of the land or the sea, being indeed
more usually applied to some kind of serpent or reptile, but not exclusively restricted to that sense.
(Exodus 7:9,10,12; 32:33; Psalms 91:13) In the New Testament it is found only in the Apocalypse,
(Revelation 12:3,4,7,9,16,17) etc., as applied metaphorically to “the old serpent, called the devil,
and Satan.”
Dram
[Daric]
Dreams
The Scripture declares that the influence of the Spirit of God upon the soul extends to its sleeping
as well as its waking thoughts. But, in accordance with the principle enunciated by St. Paul in (1
Corinthians 14:15) dreams, in which the understanding is asleep, are placed below the visions of
prophecy, in which the understanding plays its part. Under the Christian dispensation, while we
read frequently of trances and vision, dreams are never referred to as vehicles of divine revelation.
In exact accordance with this principle are the actual records of the dreams sent by God. The greater
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William Smith