Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
•Seventy, as compounded of 7 X 10, appears frequently e.g. seventy fold. (Genesis 4:24; Matthew
18:22) Its definite use appears in the offerings of 70 shekels, (Numbers 7:13,19) ff,; the 70 elders,
ch. (Numbers 11:16) 70 Years of captivity. (Jeremiah 25:11)
•Five appears in the table of punishments, of legal requirements, (Exodus 22:1; Leviticus 5:16;
22:14; 27:15; Numbers 5:7; 18:16) and in the five empires of Daniel. (Daniel 2:1) ...
•Four is used in reference to the 4 winds, (Daniel 7:2) and the so-called 4 corners of the earth; the
creatures, each with 4 wings and 4 faces, of Ezekiel, (Ezekiel 1:5) ff.; 4 Rivers of Paradise (Genesis
2:10) 4 Beasts, (Daniel 7:1) ... and Reve 4:6 The 4 equal-sided temple-chamber. (Ezekiel 40:47)
•Three was regarded, by both the Jews and other nations as a specially complete and mystic number.
•Twelve (3X4) appears in 12 tribes 12 stones in the high priest’s breastplate, 12 apostles, 12
foundation-stones, and 12 gates. (Revelation 21:19-21)
•Lastly, the mystic number 666. (Revelation 13:18)
Numbers
the fourth book of the law or Pentateuch. It takes its name in the LXX. and Vulgate (whence
our “Numbers”) from the double numbering or census of the people, the first of which is given in
chs. 1-4, and the second in ch. 28. Contents .—The book may be said to contain generally the
history of the Israelites from the time of their leaving Sinai, in the second year after the exodus till
their arrival at the borders of the Promised land in the fortieth year of their journeyings It consists
of the following principal divisions: 1, The Preparations for the departure from Sinai. (Numbers
1:1; Numbers 10:10)
•The journey from Sinai to the borders of Canaan. ch. (Numbers 10:11; Numbers 14:45)
•A brief notice of laws and events which transpired during the thirty-seven years wandering in the
wilderness. ch. (Numbers 15:1; Numbers 19:22)
•The history of the last year, from the second arrival of the Israelites in Kadesh till they reached
“the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho.” ch, (Numbers 20:1; Numbers 36:13) Integrity .—This,
like the other books of the Pentateuch, is supposed by many critics to consist of a compilation
from two or three or more earlier documents; but the grounds on which this distinction of documents
rests are in every respect most unsatisfactory, and it may, in common with the preceding books
and Deuteronomy, be regarded as the work of Moses. The book of Numbers is rich in fragments
of ancient poetry, some of them of great beauty and all throwing an interesting light on the character
of the times in which they were composed. Such, for instance, is the blessing of the high priest.
ch. (Numbers 6:24-26) Such too are chants which were the signal for the ark to move when the
people journeyed, and for it to rest when they were about to encamp. In ch. 21 we have a passage
cited from a book called the “Book of the Wars of Jehovah.” This was probably a collection of
ballads and songs composed on different occasions by the watch-fires of the camp, and for the
most part, though not perhaps exclusively, in commemoration of the victories of the Israelites
over their enemies.
Nun
(fish, or posterity), the father of the Jewish captain Joshua. (Exodus 33:11) etc. His genealogical
descent from Ephraim is recorded in (1 Chronicles 7:1) ... (B.C. before 1530.)
Nurse
In ancient times the position of the nurse, wherever one was maintained, was one of much honor
sad importance. See (Genesis 24:59; 36:8; 2 Samuel 4:4; 2 Kings 11:2) The same term is applied
to a foster-father or mother, e.g. (Numbers 11:12; Ruth 4:16; Isaiah 49:23)
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William Smith