Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
for life three are mentioned in the Scriptures—Samson, Samuel and St. John the Baptist. The only
one of these actually called a Nazarite is Samson. We do not know whether the vow for life was
ever voluntarily taken by the individual. In all the cases mentioned in the sacred history, it was
made by the parents before the birth of the Nazarite himself. The consecration of the Nazarite bore
a striking resemblance to that of the nigh priest. (Leviticus 21:10-12) The meaning of the Nazarite
vow has been regarded in different lights. It may be regarded as an act of self-sacrifice, That it was
essentially a sacrifice of the person to the Lord is obviously in accordance with the terms of the
law. (Numbers 6:2) As the Nazarite was a witness for the straitness of the law, as distinguished
from the freedom of the gospel, his sacrifice of himself was a submission to the letter of the rule.
Its outward manifestations were restraints and eccentricities. The man was separated from his
brethren that he might be peculiarly devoted to the Lord. This was consistent with the purpose of
divine wisdom for the time for which it was ordained.
Neah
(shaking) a place which was one of the landmarks on the boundary of Zebulun. (Joshua 19:13)
only. It has not yet been certainly identified.
Neapolis
(new city) is the place in northern Greece where Paul and his associates first landed in Europe.
(Acts 16:11) where, no doubt, he landed also on his second visit to Macedonia, (Acts 20:1) and
whence certainly he embarked on his last journey through that province to Troas and Jerusalem.
(Acts 20:6) Philippi being an inland town, Neapolis was evidently the port, and is represented by
the present Kavalla . (Kavalla is a city of 5000 or 6000 inhabitants, Greeks and Turks. Neapolis
was situated within the bounds of Thrace, ten miles from Philippi, on a high rocky promontory
jutting out into the AEgean Sea, while a temple of Diana crowned the hill-top.—ED.)
Neariah
(servant of Jehovah).
•One of the six sons of Shemaiah in the line of the royal family of Judah after the captivity. (1
Chronicles 3:22,23) (B.C. about 350.)
•A son of Ishi, and one of the captains of the 500 Simeonites who in the days of Hezekiah, drove
out the Amalekites from Mount Seir. (1 Chronicles 4:42) (B.C. 715.)
Nebai
(fruitful), a family of the heads of the people who signed the covenant with Nehemiah. (Nehemiah
10:19)
Nebaioth, Nebajoth
(heights), the “first-born of Ishmael,” (Genesis 25:13; 1 Chronicles 1:29) (B.C. about 1850),
and father of a pastoral tribe named after him, the “rams Of Nebaioth” being mentioned by the
prophet Isaiah, (Isaiah 60:7) with the; flocks of Kedar. From the days of Jerome: this people had
been identified with the Nabathaeans of Greek and Roman history Petra was their capital. (They
first settled in the country southeast of Palestine, and wandered gradually in search of pasturage
till they came to Kedar, of which Isaiah speaks. Probably the Nebaioth of Arabia Petrea were, as
M. Quatremere argues the same people as the Nebat of Chaldea.—McClintock and Strong’s
Cyclopedia.)
Neballat
(hidden folly), town of Benjamin, one of those which the Benjamites reoccupied after the
captivity. (Nehemiah 11:34)
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William Smith