- ARTIFICER a person engaged in any kind of manual occupation (Genesis
4:22; Isaiah 3:3). - ARTILLERY 1 Samuel 20:40, (Hebrews keli, meaning “apparatus;” here
meaning collectively any missile weapons, as arrows and lances. In
Revised Version, “weapons”). This word is derived from the Latin
artillaria = equipment of war. - ARVAD wandering, (Ezekiel 27:8), a small island and city on the coast of
Syria, mentioned as furnishing mariners and soldiers for Tyre. The
inhabitants were called Arvadites. The name is written Aruada or Arada in
the Tell-el-Amarna tablets. - ASA physician, son of Abijah and grandson of Rehoboam, was the third
king of Judah. He was zealous in maintaining the true worship of God, and
in rooting all idolatry, with its accompanying immoralities, out of the land
(1 Kings 15:8-14). The Lord gave him and his land rest and prosperity. It
is recorded of him, however, that in his old age, when afflicted, he “sought
not to the Lord, but to the physicians” (comp. Jeremiah 17:5). He died in
the forty-first year of his reign, greatly honoured by his people (2
Chronicles 16:1-13), and was succeeded by his son Jehoshaphat. - ASAHEL made by God, the youngest son of Zeruiah, David’s sister. He
was celebrated for his swiftness of foot. When fighting against Ish-bosheth
at Gibeon, in the army of his brother Joab, he was put to death by Abner,
whom he pursued from the field of battle (2 Samuel 2:18, 19). He is
mentioned among David’s thirty mighty men (2 Samuel 23:24; 1
Chronicles 11:26). Others of the same name are mentioned (2 Chronicles
17:8; 31:13; Ezra 10:15). - ASAPH convener, or collector. (1.) A Levite; one of the leaders of
David’s choir (1 Chronicles 6:39). Psalms 50 and 73-83 inclusive are
attributed to him. He is mentioned along with David as skilled in music,
and a “seer” (2 Chronicles 29:30). The “sons of Asaph,” mentioned in 1
Chronicles 25:1, 2 Chronicles 20:14, and Ezra 2:41, were his descendants,
or more probably a class of poets or singers who recognized him as their
master.
(2.) The “recorder” in the time of Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:18, 37).