AHITHOPHEL, brother of foolish-ENON; Aivóv. ness. A remarkable name for a man who, during the time of David, was renowned for his wisdom. 2 Sam. xv. 12. He was a native of Giloh, the intimate friend and counsellor of David, and one of the most eminent counsellors of his day. 2 Sam. xvi. 23. He was persuaded by Absalom to join the conspiracy against David. The cunning schemes of Ahithophel were, however, defeated by the counsel of Hushai. He foresaw the defeat of Absalom, and, dreading a traitor's death, deliberately hanged himself, B.C. 1023.

AHITUB, brother of goodness. 1. The son of Phinehas, and grandson

astron, in Egypt, where there was a | Alexander the Great, who saw that a manufactory for small vessels or pots city, occupying such a site, could not for holding perfumes. They were made fail to become the great emporium of from a stone found in the neighbouring traffic, both for the eastern and westmountains. The name was eventually ern world, by means of the Nile, and applied to the stone itself. The ala- the two adjacent seas, the Red Sea and bastra were not always made of the the Mediterranean. It was peopled soft white gypsum, to which the name with colonies of Greeks and Jews, is now principally confined, but of a who were made free citizens, and had stone called onyx alabaster, on ac- all the privileges of Macedonians count of the approach of its colour to granted to them. For a long time it the finger-nails (óvvž, a nail). The was the greatest of known cities. gypsum is sulphate of lime; the onyx, Rome had not then risen to become carbonate of lime. The phrase, "She the mistress of the world; and, subbrake the box," merely refers to the sequently, when Rome had acquired unsealing the vessel. It was cus- wealth and glory, Alexandria was tomary to seal anything with wax, called a second Rome. Its free popuwhich might be injured by exposure lation amounted to three hundred to the air. The breaking the wax thousand; and, including slaves, prowould be denoted by the expression bably to six hundred thousand. Its used in the sacred text. ancient glory may be ascertained from the spacious ruins, and fragments of obelisks, and colonnades, and temples. The Pharos, erected on an islet at the entrance of the harbour, was esteemed one of the wonders of the world. cost eight hundred talents: equal to £165,000, if Attic money; but if Alexandrian, equal to double that sum. It was the regal residence of the Ptolemies for upwards of two hundred years, and was enriched by them with numerous splendid buildings, and with a remarkable library, containing a collection of seven hundred thousand volumes, which was burnt by the Saracens, A.D. 642. It was in this city that the version of the Seventy, called the Alexandrian version, or the Septuagint, was made. It was the residence of Clement and Origen.

ALEXANDER, helper of men. 1. Alexander the Great was the son of Philip, king of Macedon, whom he succeeded. His history is alluded to in the book of Daniel. He is symbolised by a leopard with four wings, and by a one-horned he-goat running over the earth so swiftly as not to touch it. He attacks a ram with two horns, overthrows him, and tramples him under feet, without any being able to rescue him. Dan. vii. 6; viii. 4-7. In the statue seen by Nebuchadnezzar in his dream, Dan. ii. 39, the belly of brass was the emblem of Alexander and the Greeks. He was appointed by God to destroy the Persian empire, and to substitute in its stead the Grecian monarchy. He succeeded his father B.C. 336. The various events of his remarkable life may be found in the histories of Greece, to which the reader is referred. A useful manual of ancient history by Dr. Taylor may be consulted with advantage. 2. Four individuals of the name of Alexander are mentioned in the New Testament. The son of Simon the Cyrenian, Mark xv. 21. One of the council who took part against Peter and John. Acts iv. 6. A Jew of Ephesus. Acts xix. 33. A coppersmith, and an apostate from Christianity. 1 Tim. i. 20.

ALEXANDRIA. The chief maritime city, and long the metropolis, of Lower Egypt. It was founded by

It

The modern city is built of the ruins of ancient Alexandria. It is one hundred and twenty-five miles north of Cairo, and may be considered as the port of that city. Many European merchants reside there. Alexandria is only mentioned incidentally in the New Testament. Acts vi. 9; xviii. 24; xxvii. 6.

ALGUM, ALMUG. Two forms of the same word, differing only in the transposition of the letters. It is a kind of wood or tree, large quantities of which were brought from Ophir, by the fleet of Solomon, of which he made pillars for the temple, and for his own house. It was also used in

ALLELUIA, or HALLELUJAH. Hebrew words, signifying, "Praise ye the Lord." A common expression of praise and joy in the Jewish church, found at the beginning of many of the Psalms, and now appropriately transferred to the worship of the Christian church. Some Psalms were denominated "Hallel." Rev. xix. 1, 3, 6.

ALMOND. A tree similar to the peach in its leaves and blossoms. The outer green coat of the fruit is thinner and drier when ripe, and the shell not so rough. It flowers in January, and gives its fruit in April. The Hebrew word for almond, SHAKED, means to make haste; and, probably, is derived from its early maturity. Allusion is made to this in Jeremiah i. 11, 12: "The word of the Lord came to me, saying,Jeremiah, what seest thou? And

the manufacture of musical instru- | tween the immediate and ultimate ments. The opinions held respecting representation is sufficiently apparent. the nature of the wood are numerous; See Marsh's "Lectures." but the most plausible is that which supposes it to be sandal-wood. This is highly prized for fineness, fragrance, and durability, and the beautiful polish which it takes. In more modern times, this wood has been used in buildings. The Hindoo temple of Somnat, in Guzerat, which was plundered and destroyed by Mahomed of Ghizni, had gates made of sandal-4, wood. They were carried off by the conqueror, and afterwards formed the gates of his tomb. After eight hundred years, they were taken by the British, and brought back to India, in 1842. ALLEGORY. This word is found in Gal. iv. 24, but does not in the Greek exist as a noun. The apostle says, "Which things," events in the history of Isaac and Ishmael, "are an allegory;" that is, "have been allegorised." He does not mean that this portion of the Old Testament is an allegory, which ordinarily means a fiction, but that these facts are allegorically applied. An allegory is a continued metaphor, or a series of metaphors, in one or more sentences. The term "allegory" denotes a representation of one thing, which is intended to excite the representation of another thing. There are, then, two representations, the immediate and the ultimate; and the former is only important as it leads to the latter. It is the application of the allegory which constitutes its value. The immediate representation is understood from the words, and with them we are concerned; the ultimate must be gathered from the things signified by the words. Every parable is a kind of allegory; and the above definition will apply to compositions of this class. In the parable of the sower, we have the statement of a few simple and intelligible facts: this is the immediate representation. The narrative being finished, Christ furnished the explanation, or the ultimate representation. "The seed is the word of God," &c. Luke viii. 5-15. Allegorical narratives are, however, frequently left to explain themselves; especially, when the resemblance be

I said, I see a rod of an almond-tree. Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it;" or, "I am watching over my word to fulfil it." In Eccles. xii. 5, the hoary head is beautifully compared to the blossoming of the almond-tree, both on account of the snowy whiteness and the winter blossoming.

ALMS. This word is abridged from | Greek alphabet, corresponding to the the Greek. We find in the Anglo- Hebrew Aleph. Both the Greeks and Saxon and early English dialects, Hebrews employed the letters as nuMatt. vi. 4, almosen, almesse, almose, merals; and (A) Aleph or Alpha almes. 'EXεnμooúvn. The word is denoted the first. This explains our derived from Xɛoç, pity; and hence Saviour's words: "I am Alpha and comes to signify the manifestation Omega, the first and the last." The of pity; namely, benefactions to the terms denote his perfection and eterneedy. Under the Mosaic law, the nity; and the force of them will be poor had every kind consideration. apparent by comparing Rev. i. 8, 11; Poverty, implying absolute want, was xxi. 6; xxii. 13; with Isai. xli. 4; prevented by the regulations respect- xliv. 6; and xlviii. 12. ing property; and, for the relief of comparative want, specific laws were passed, and a spirit of tenderheartedness inculcated. See Lev. xxv. 35; Deut. xv. 7, et seq. National degeneracy, however, produced, in many instances, absolute want; so that we find begging common in the days of Christ. Mark x. 46; Acts iii. 2. The language of Christ and his apostles is designed to create a feeling of pity, and to enforce a merciful and practical regard to the distresses of the indigent. Luke iii. 11; vi. 30; xi. 41; Acts ix. 36; x. 2, 4. A principle of vast importance and value is involved in the reflection of Christ on the widow's mite. The magnitude of an offering is to be estimated by the disposition of the heart; and all merit attaching to alms-giving is absurd.

ALOES. A plant with broad, thick, prickly leaves. A gum is extracted from it which, when boiled, produces the medicinal article; and it was formerly used in embalming the dead. Nicodemus is said to have brought one hundred pounds' weight of myrrh and aloes, to embalm the body of Jesus. The lign aloe, or agallochum, is a different plant from the former. Numb. xxiv. 6; Psalm xlv. 8. It is exceedingly fragrant and valuable. In India, scent is obtained from this tree at the present time. The natives cut into the wood till they observe dark-coloured veins, yielding the perfume: these generally extend but a short way through the centre of the trunk or branch. An essence, or attar, is obtained by bruising the wood in a mortar, and then infusing it in boiling water, when the attar floats on the surface.

ALPHA. The first letter of the

ALPHEUS. 1. The father of James, the less, and husband of Mary, the sister of our Lord's mother: consequently, James is called the Lord's brother. See Matt. x. 3; Luke vi. 15; John xix. 25. It appears that Alphæus is the same person as Cleopas, mentioned Luke xxiv. 18; Alphæus being his Greek, and Cleopas the Hebrew or Syriac name, according to the custom of the time, when men had two names, one by which they were known to their countrymen, and the other to Romans or strangers. 2. The father of the evangelist Matthew. Mark ii. 14.

ALTAR. A structure appropriated to the offering of sacrifices, and also for incense. It is evident sacrifices were offered long before the flood; but the first mention of an altar in Scripture is when Noah left the ark. Mention is made of altars reared by Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses. In patriarchal times the building of them was generally in connexion with the invocation of the name of God. Moses was commanded to build an altar of earth. Exod. xx. 24. If stone was employed, it was to be rough, and not hewn; probably, lest the Israelites might, through sculpture, be led to violate the second commandment. It was not to be furnished with steps. See Deut. xxvii. 2-6. It was also to have horns: these might be for the purpose of confining the victim.

The altars of the tabernacle and temple were two. One for burntofferings; the other for incense. 1. The altar of burnt-offering. (See the accompanying engraving.) It was made of shittim-wood, and about seven feet six inches square, and four feet six inches high. It was hollow, and overlaid with plates of brass. In

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