- RIVER OF EGYPT (1.) Hebrews nahar mitsraim, denotes in Genesis
15:18 the Nile, or its eastern branch (2 Chronicles 9:26). (2.) In Numbers
34:5 (R.V., “brook of Egypt”) the Hebrew word is nahal, denoting a
stream flowing rapidly in winter, or in the rainy season. This is a desert
stream on the borders of Egypt. It is now called the Wady el-‘Arish. The
present boundary between Egypt and Palestine is about midway between
this wady and Gaza. (See Numbers 34:5; Joshua 15:4, 47; 1 Kings 8:65; 2
Kings 24:7; Isaiah 27:12; Ezekiel 47:19. In all these passages the R.V. has
“brook” and the A.V. “river.”) - RIVER OF GAD probably the Arno (2 Samuel 24:5).
- RIVER OF GOD (Psalm 65:9), as opposed to earthly streams, denoting
that the divine resources are inexhaustible, or the sum of all fertilizing
streams that water the earth (Genesis 2:10). - RIVERS OF BABYLON (Psalm 137:1), i.e., of the whole country of
Babylonia, e.g., the Tigris, Euphrates, Chalonas, the Ulai, and the
numerous canals. - RIVERS OF DAMASCUS the Abana and Pharpar (2 Kings 5:12).
- RIVERS OF JUDAH (Joel 3:18), the watercourses of Judea.
- RIZPAH coal; hot stone, the daughter of Aiah, and one of Saul’s
concubines. She was the mother of Armoni and Mephibosheth (2 Samuel
3:7; 21:8, 10, 11).
It happened that a grievous famine, which lasted for three years, fell upon
the land during the earlier half of David’s reign at Jerusalem. This calamity
was sent “for Saul and for his bloody house, because he slew the
Gibeonites.” David inquired of the Gibeonites what satisfaction they
demanded, and was answered that nothing would compensate for the
wrong Saul had done to them but the death of seven of Saul’s sons. David
accordingly delivered up to them the two sons of Rizpah and five of the
sons of Merab (q.v.), Saul’s eldest daughter, whom she bore to Adriel.
These the Gibeonites put to death, and hung up their bodies before the
Lord at the sanctuary at Gibeah. Rizpah thereupon took her place on the
rock of Gibeah (q.v.), and for five months watched the suspended bodies
of her children, to prevent them from being devoured by the beasts and
birds of prey, till they were at length taken down and buried by David.