Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
images. (Genesis 31:30,32) During the plagues in Egypt the magicians appear. (Exodus 7:11;
8:18,19) Balaam also practiced magic. (Numbers 22:7) Saul consulted the witch of Endor. An
examination of the various notices of magic in the Bible gives this general result: They do not, act
far as can be understood, once state positively that any but illusive results were produced by magical
rites. (Even the magicians of Egypt could imitate the plagues sent through Moses only so long as
they had previous notice and time to prepare. The time Moses sent the plague unannounced the
magicians failed; they “did so with their enchantments,” but in vain. So in the case of the witch of
Endor. Samuel appearance was apparently unexpected by her; he did not come through the
enchantments.—Ed.) The Scriptures therefore afford no evidence that man can gain supernatural
powers to use at his will. This consequence goes some way toward showing that we may conclude
that there is no such thing se real magic; for although it is dangerous to reason on negative evidence,
yet in a case of this kind it is especially strong. [Divination]
Magog
(region of Gog). In (Genesis 10:2) Magog appears as the second son of Japheth; in (Ezekiel
38:2; 39:1,6) it appears as a country or people of which Gog was the prince. The notices of Magog
would lead us to fix a northern locality: it is expressly stated by Ezekiel that “he was to come up
from the sides of the north,” (Ezekiel 39:2) from a country adjacent to that of Togarmah or Armenia,
ch. 58:6 and not far from “the isles” or maritime regions of Europe. ch. (Ezekiel 39:6) The people
of Magog further appear as having a force of cavalry, (Ezekiel 38:16) and as armed with the bow.
ch. (Ezekiel 39:3) From the above data, may conclude that Magog represents the important race of
the Scythians.
Magormissabib
(terror on every side), the name giver. by Jeremiah to Pashur the priest when he smote him and
put him in the stocks for prophesying against the idolatry of Jerusalem. (Jeremiah 20:3)
Magpiash
(moth-killer) one of the heads of the people who signed the covenant with Nehemiah. (Nehemiah
10:20) The same as Magbish in (Ezra 2:30)
Mahalah
(disease), one of the three children of Hammoleketh the sister of Gilead. (1 Chronicles 7:18)
Mahalaleel
(praise of God).
•The fourth in descent from Adam, according to the Sethite genealogy, and son of Cainan. (Genesis
6:12,13,15-17; 1 Chronicles 1:2; Luke 3:37) Revised Version.
•A descendant of Perez or Pharez the son of Judah. (Nehemiah 11:4)
Mahalath
the title of p, 53, and Mahalath-leannoth, the title of Ps. 88. The meaning of these words is
uncertain. The conjecture is that mahalath is a guitar, and that leannoth has reference to the character
of the psalm, and might be rendered “to humble or afflict,” in which sense the root occurs in ver.
7.
(stringed instrument) one of the eighteen wives of King Rehoboam, apparently his first. (2
Chronicles 11:18) only. She was her husband’s cousin, being the daughter of King David’s son
Jerimoth.
(stringed instrument), the daughter of Ishmael, and one of the wives of Esau. (Genesis 28:9)
Mahali
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William Smith