Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
contrast to our human legislation, our British statute-book for instance, which it would need an
elephant to carry and an OEdipus to interpret.”
Tent
Among the leading characteristics of the nomad races, those two have always been numbered
whose origin has been ascribed to Jabal the son of Lameth, (Genesis 4:20) viz., to be tent-dwellers
and keepers of cattle. The same may be said of the forefathers of the Hebrew race; nor was it until
the return into Canaan from Egypt that the Hebrews became inhabitants of cities. An Arab tent is
called beit, “house;” its covering consists of stuff, about three quarters of a yard broad, made of
black goat’s-hair, (Song of Solomon 1:5) laid parallel with the tent’s length. This is sufficient to
resist the heaviest rain. The tent-poles or columns are usually nine in number, placed in three groups;
but many tents have only one pole, others two or three. The ropes which hold the tent in its place
are fastened, not to the tent-cover itself, but to loops consisting of a leathern thong tied to the ends
of a stick, round which is twisted a piece of old cloth, which is itself sewed to the tent-cover. The
ends of the tent-ropes are fastened to short sticks or pins, which are driven into the ground with a
mallet. (Judges 4:21) Round the back and sides of the tent runs a piece of stuff removable at pleasure
to admit air. The tent is divided into two apartments, separated by a carpet partition drawn across
the middle of the tent and fastened to the three middle posts. When the pasture near an encampment
is exhausted, the tents are taken down, packed on camels and removed. (Genesis 26:17,22,25; Isaiah
38:12) In choosing places for encampment, Arabs prefer the neighborhood of trees, for the sake of
the shade and coolness which they afford. (Genesis 18:4,8)
Terah
(station), the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran, and through them the ancestor of the great
families of the Israelites, Ishmaelites, Midianites, Moabites and Ammonites. (Genesis 11:24-32)
The account given of him in the Old Testament narrative is very brief. We learn from it simply that
he was an idolater, (Joshua 24:2) that he dwelt beyond the Euphrates in Ur of the Chaldees, (Genesis
11:28) and that in the southwesterly migration, which from some unexplained cause he undertook
in his old age, he went with his son Abram, his daughter-in-law Sarai, and his grandson Lot, “to
go into the land of Canaan, and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.” (Genesis 11:31) And
finally, “the days of Terah were two hundred and five years; and Terah died in Haran.” (Genesis
11:32) (B.C. 1921.)
Teraphim
This word occurs only in the plural, and denotes images connected with magical rites. The
derivation of the name is obscure. In one case— (1 Samuel 19:13,16)—a single statue seems to be
intended by the plural. The teraphim, translated “images” in the Authorized Version, carried away
from Laban by Rachel were regarded by Laban as gods, and it would therefore appear that they
were used by those who added corrupt practices to the patriarchal religion. Teraphim again are
included among Micah’s images. (Judges 17:3-5; 18:17,18,20) Teraphim were consulted for oracular
answers by the Israelites, (Zechariah 10:2) comp. Judg 18:5,6; 1Sam 15:22,23; 19:13,16, LXX.,
and 2Kin 23:24 And by the Babylonians in the case of Nebuchadnezzar. (Ezekiel 21:19-22)
Teresh
(strictness), one of the two eunuchs whose plot to assassinate Ahasuerus was discovered by
Mordecai. (Esther 2:21; 6:2) He was hanged. (B.C. 479.)
Tertius
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William Smith