and went over to David. At length Ishbosheth was assassinated at noonday, by two of his officers, who fled to David with his head, expecting to be rewarded for the deed; but the monarch testified his abhorrence at the act, slew the murderers, and placed the head of Ishbosheth in the tomb of Abner with all due respect. 2 Sam. iii. 6-39; iv. Thus ended the dynasty of Saul, who forfeited the sovereignty by his sins. of no consistent interpretation except | as they are applied to Christ and his kingdom, are the following: Isai. vii. 14-16; ix. 6, 7; xi. 1-10; xxxii. 1, et seq.; xlii.; 'xlix. 1–9; ́lii. 13; liii.; Íxi. 1—3. These may be regarded as remarkable specimens. The three great offices of Christ, which embrace his whole work on earth and in heaven, are clearly pointed out. His astonishing person,-"Immanuel, God with us,"-his wonderful birth, his benevolent life, his divine teaching, his death, vicarious in its character and saving in its results, his triumphs over the tomb, his kingly authority and omnipotent sway over all the nations of the earth,-all are described with the utmost precision of language. This inspired book is a precious treasure to the church of Christ, and has been the means of the conviction of many sinners, and the source of comfort to many believers, and so will it remain till the whole earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord. As to the style of the prophet, he is energetic, bold, and uncompromising. In his descriptions he is minute, discriminating, and graphic. His expostulations are pathetic and urgent; his exhortations earnest and powerful; his images are dignified and diversified, and often of the most sublime description. His pro-apparently to die. God appeared for phecy is considered, as a composition, one of the most finished poems ever presented to the world. ISHBI-BENOB. 2 Sam. xxi. 16. A giant of the Philistines, who attempted to kill David, "but Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him." ISHBOSHETH, man of shame. The son of Saul, and the only one that survived him. He was persuaded by Abner to go to Mahanaim and assume the government while David reigned in Hebron. 2 Sam. ii. 8-11. He was acknowledged king by a majority of the nation, guided by the law of succession. Á battle soon after occurred at Gibeon, between the army of David, under Joab, and the army of Ishbosheth, under Ábner, in which the latter was utterly defeated. After this Abner forsook Ishbosheth, in consequence of the rebuke of the king, His ISHMAEL, God hears. Gen. xvi. 11. Abraham's son by Hagar. Previous to his birth, his mother, wandering from her master's house towards Egypt, was informed by an angel what would be the character of her unborn child, and that his posterity would be innumerable. birth took place B.C. 1910. For some time Abraham supposed that the promises of God respecting his seed were to be fulfilled in Ishmael, and nourished him with great care. Gen. xvii. 18. After the birth of Isaac, Abraham was persuaded by his wife to dismiss Hagar and her son. It is probable that she made up her mind to return to her kindred in Egypt; but when she had reached the wilderness of Beersheba, her stock of water was exhausted, and the lad, overcome with fatigue and thirst, sunk down their deliverance, directed Hagar to a fountain of water, and renewed his promise to make of him a great nation. They remained in the wilderness, and he sustained his mother and himself by hunting. Gen. xxi. 13-20. At length he married an Egyptian woman; and so rapidly did their progeny multiply, that in a few generations afterwards they are spoken of as a trading nation. Gen. xxxvii. 25. We learn that he joined with his brother Isaac in paying the last tribute of respect to their father, and that he died at the age of one hundred and thirtyseven years, B.C. 1773. Gen. xxv. 9, 17. ISHMAELITES. The descendants of Ishmael. According to the Scripture account, they spread themselves "from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest towards Assyria." Havilah was situated near the junction of the Tigris and Eu phrates, and Shur near the isthmus they left Egypt until the revolt of that separates Arabia from Egypt, the ten tribes; when the ten tribes now called the isthmus of Suez. They constituted the kingdom of Israel, seem to have taken possession of a and the other two the kingdom of large part of Arabia. The prophecy Judah. It is generally supposed that that Ishmael should be a wild the separation of the Hebrew nation man," has been wonderfully verified had its origin in the early power and in the history of the Arabs. They ambition of the tribe of Ephraim. are universally known as robbers: all The rivalry of Judah and Ephraim who pass through the country do it began from the very conquest of the in caravans, and with arms. They land. From the first, Judah learned have never been driven from their to act by itself; but the central position country, but have maintained their of Ephraim, with its fruitful soil, independence and peculiarity of man- and the fact that Joshua belonged to ners to this day. They spurn the this tribe, and had long exerted an inchains of a foreigner, and still main-fluence in it, taught the other tribes, tain themselves by violence and plunder. No leader, till Mohammed arose, seems to have possessed the genius or address to concentrate their energies with a view to national aggrandisement. ISLAND, ISLE. These words in our version are not always to be taken in their strict geographical signification as portions of land surrounded by water. The words often mean maritime regions, whether islands, sea-coasts, or countries bounded by the sea. In some cases the terms have necessarily the ordinary signification, as Esth. x. 1; Jer. xlvii. 4; but most frequently they denote the maritime countries situated on the Mediterranean, including Greece, Italy, and other regions in the remote west from Palestine. Gen. x. 5; Psal. lxxii. 10; Isai. xxiv. 15; xli. 5; Jer. xxv. 22. The original word is derived from a root which signifies to dwell, to lodge. especially those west of the Jordan, to look up to it as their head. A still more important superiority was conferred upon this tribe, by the fixed dwelling of the ark at Shiloh for so many years. Josh. xviii. Various circumstances which transpired subsequently, only tended to strengthen the mutual jealousies. By the splendour of David's victories, and the peaceful and powerful sway of Solomon, a permanent union appeared to be brought about; but the death of Solomon was followed by the defection of the tribes, and Jeroboam, an Ephraimite, who had been suspected of treason during the reign of Solomon, and had fled to Shishak, king of Egypt, became king of Israel, that is, of the ten tribes, B. C. 975, or, according to Dr. Hales, 990. The legitimate descent, and the religious influence and sanction, remained with Judah; the territory and population were with Israel. From the danger of allowing the ten tribes to go up to Jerusalem to worship, the princes of Israel, in apparent self-defence, set up a rival worship; and the intimacy of Jeroboam with the king of Egypt may have led to the introduction of the calves at Dan and Bethel,-the calves being the adoption of Egyptian gods. All the successors of Jeroboam agreed in the maintenance of this worship, which seemed essential to their national unity. Instead of tracing the history of this kingdom, we shall content ourselves with furnISRAEL, LAND OF. See CANAAN. ishing a chronological list of the kings ISRAELITES. Josh. iii. 17. This of Judah and Israel, showing the was the name by which the twelve period of their reigns. The chronotribes were usually designated after | logy is according to Dr. Hales. ISRAEL, a prince with God. Gen. xxxii. 1, 2, 28, &c.; Hosea xii. 4. This name was given to Jacob by the Angel Jehovah, with whom he had wrestled all night and prevailed. The name not only designates Jacob, but also the whole of his posterity, 1 Cor. x. 18. In the historical books and minor prophets, it means the kingdom of the ten tribes as distinguished from Judah, 2 Kings xiv. 12. It is put for all true believers, Isai. xlv. 17; Rom. ix. 6. The | prediction of his father, recorded Gen. xlix. 14, 15, refers to his posterity, and intimates that they would be addicted to rural occupations, a people inured to labour and war. Judges | v. 15; 1 Chron. vii. 1-5. The tribe had its lot in one of the best parts of the land, along the plain of Jezreel, with the half-tribe of Manasseh to the south, Zebulun to the north, the Mediterranean near the western border, and Jordan, with the extremity of the sea of Tiberias, to the east. Megiddo, Shunem, Jezreel, Bethshan, were the principal towns. The mountains of Tabor and Gilboa, and the valley of Jezreel, lay within its borders, and Kishon flowed through it. ITHAMAR, palm island. The fourth son of Aaron. Exod. vi. 23; Numb. iii. 2, 3. He was consecrated to the priesthood along with his brothers, and the property of the tabernacle was placed under his care. Exod. xxxviii. 21. Ithamar and his descendants occupied the place of common priests till the high-priesthood passed into his family, in the person of Eli. Abiathar, whom Solomon deposed, was the last priest of the line. Zadok, who was then made priest, belonged to the line of Eleazar. anything could be laid up. The word BATH, a house, in Hebrew is used for anything that contains. In the description of female dress given Isai. iii., the term translated tablets is literally "houses of breath or scent," meaning "smelling boxes or bottles." The "ivory palaces" mentioned Psal. xlv. 8, are the wardrobes inlaid with ivory, in which the costly garments were laid up. Homer, describing the palace of Menelaus at Lacedemon, says, it was illustrious with 66 gold, and amber, and silver, and ivory." What is called the tusk of an elephant is not a kind of horn, but a genuine tooth. J JABAL, a stream. The son of Lamech and Adah, who is described as "the father of such as dwell in tents and have cattle." Gen. iv. 20. This means that he was the first to adopt a nomade life, and to move from one pasture-land to another, for the purpose of feeding his cattle. It is probable he invented the portable habitation, called a tent, perhaps formed of the skins of animals. The tribes of Arabia and Tartary follow this wandering mode of life at the ITUREA. A district which derived its name from Jetur, one of Ishmael's sons, Gen. xxv. 15; 1 Chron. i. 31; was situated in the north-east of Palestine, and formed the tetrarchy of Philip. It was of indefinite ex-present time. tent, according to the testimony of JABBOK. A small brook east of various writers. It lay beyond Jor- the Jordan, which rises in the moundan, south of Trachonitis. Burck-tains of Gilead, and, after traversing hardt describes it as lying east of Mount Hermon, and west of the Hadj road. The present Jedur is thought to comprehend the territory. IVORY. 1 Kings x. 22. The tooth or tusk of the elephant. In ancient times it was obtained from the hippopotamus. It was an article of merchandise at a very early period. Ezek. xxvii. 15. Solomon's throne was built of it. 2 Chron. ix. 17, 21. And so lavishly was it used in ornamental architecture as to justify the language of Amos, chap. iii. 15. In Ezek. xxvii. 6, there is an allusion to ivory shrines. Cabinets and wardrobes were also ornamented with this article. The ivory house which Ahab made, 1 Kings xxii. 39, seems to have been a case or box in which the country in a course nearly from east to west, falls into the Jordan, below the sea of Galilee. It is mentioned as the boundary-line which separated the kingdom of Sihon, king of the Amorites, from that of Og, king of Bashan, Josh. xii. 1-6; and it appears to have run through the centre of the territory assigned to the tribe of Gad. Jacob crossed it on his return from Mesopotamia. It is now called Zerka. Mr. Buckingham thus describes it: "The banks of this stream are so thickly wooded with oleander and plane trees, wild olives, and wild almonds in blossom, with many flowers, the names of which were unknown to us; with tall and waving reeds, at least fifteen feet in height; that we could not perceive the water through them from above, though the presence of these luxuriant borders marked the winding of its course; and the murmur of its flow, echoing through its long deep channel, was to be heard distinctly from afar. On this side of the stream, at a spot where we forded it, was a piece of wall, solidly built upon the inclined slope, constructed in a uniform manner, though of small stones, and apparently finished at the end towards the river, so that it never could have been carried across, as we at first supposed, either for a bridge, or to close the pass. This was called by the Arabs SHUGL BENI ISRAEL, or 'the work of the sons of Israel;' but they knew of no other traditions regarding it. The river, where we crossed it at this point, was not more than ten yards wide, but it was deeper than the Jordan, and nearly as rapid; so that we had some difficulty in fording it. As it ran in a rocky bed, its waters were clear, and we found their taste agreeable." JABESH, or JABESH-GILEAD, dryness. A town beyond the Jordan, in the land of Gilead, belonging to the half-tribe of Manasseh. It was sacked by the Israelites for refusing to join in the war against Benjamin. Judges xxi. 8. Afterwards it was besieged by the Ammonites, who would only spare the inhabitants on the condition that they would have their right eyes put out. During the suspension of hostilities for a week, they took the opportunity of securing the assistance of Saul, who collected an army and came to their relief. 1 Sam. xi. This service of Saul was gratefully remembered by the inhabitants forty years afterwards; for when the dead bodies of Saul and his sons were gibbeted on the walls of Bethshan, on the other side of the river, they made a forced march by night, took away the bodies, and gave them an honourable burial. 1 Sam. xxxi. JABIN, discerner. 1. A king of Hazor, who reigned over the northern part of Palestine, when it was invaded by the Israelites. He attempted by a formidable alliance to oppose the progress of Joshua. He and his allies were defeated in the battle of Merom, Hazor, the capital, was taken, and Jabin put to death. Josh. xi. 1-14. 2. Another king of Hazor, probably descended from the former. During the time of the Judges he oppressed the Israelites for twenty years: part of his formidable armament consisted of nine hundred war-chariots. At the instigation and under the direction of Deborah, the wife of Lapidoth, this oppressor was crushed. Sisera, the general of Jabin's troops, was defeated, and met with an ignominious death at the hands of Jael, the wife of Heber. Judges iv., v. JACHIN. The name of the righthand pillar of brass which was erected in the entrance of the temple. The other was called Boaz. 1 Kings vii. 21. Jachin was the name of the fourth son of Simeon. Gen. xlvi. 10. See also 1 Chron. xxiv. 17. JACINTH. A precious stone of a hyacinth colour, something like the amethyst. Rev. ix. 17. JACOB, one that supplants. The son of Isaac by Rebekah his wife. He was the younger brother of Esau, and a twin. A simple incident which is recorded as having transpired at his birth, gave him the name JACOB, a supplanter. As the two youths grew up to manhood their peculiar dispositions and character were developed by their pursuits. Jacob seems to have been mild, gentle, and retiring, and adopted the tranquil occupations of a shepherd's life. He spent his time near home, in tending the flocks and herds, and became a special favourite with his mother. There appears to have been a cunning selfishness in the dealings of Jacob with Esau, when he asked from his hungry brother no smaller a price for the mess of pottage which he had prepared, than the birthright. It is impossible to palliate this act. Esau, a brother, says, "I am at the point to die: this ought to have moved Jacob in a moment to supply his wants. No; he practises upon his necessities, and says, "Swear to me." The oath was made, the food eaten, and Esau "went his way," profanely parting with that which Providence |