afterwards by the Romans. Its usual place of meeting was within the
precincts of the temple, in the hall “Gazith,” but it sometimes met also in
the house of the high priest (Matthew 26:3), who was assisted by two
vice-presidents.
- SANSANNAH a palm branch, or a thorn bush, a town in the south (the
negeb) of Judah (Joshua 15:31); called also Hazarsusah (19:5), or
Hazar-susim (1 Chronicles 4:31). - SAPH extension, the son of the giant whom Sibbechai slew (2 Samuel
21:18); called also Sippai (1 Chronicles 20:4). - SAPHIR beautiful, a town of Judah (Micah 1:11), identified with
es-Suafir, 5 miles south-east of Ashdod. - SAPPHIRA beautiful, the wife of Ananias (q.v.). She was a partner in his
guilt and also in his punishment (Acts 5:1-11). - SAPPHIRE Associated with diamonds (Exodus 28:18) and emeralds
(Ezekiel 28:13); one of the stones in the high priest’s breastplate. It is a
precious stone of a sky-blue colour, probably the lapis lazuli, brought
from Babylon. The throne of God is described as of the colour of a
sapphire (Exodus 24:10; comp. Ezekiel 1:26). - SARAH princess, the wife and at the same time the half-sister of
Abraham (Genesis 11:29; 20:12). This name was given to her at the time
that it was announced to Abraham that she should be the mother of the
promised child. Her story is from her marriage identified with that of the
patriarch till the time of her death. Her death, at the age of one hundred and
twenty-seven years (the only instance in Scripture where the age of a
woman is recorded), was the occasion of Abraham’s purchasing the cave of
Machpelah as a family burying-place.
In the allegory of Galatians 4:22-31 she is the type of the “Jerusalem
which is above.” She is also mentioned as Sara in Hebrews 11:11 among
the Old Testament worthies, who “all died in faith.” (See ABRAHAM.)
- SARAI my princess, the name originally borne by Sarah (Genesis 11:31;
17:15). - SARDINE STONE (Revelation 4:3, R.V., “sardius;” Hebrews ‘odhem;
LXX., Gr. sardion, from a root meaning “red”), a gem of a blood-red
colour. It was called “sardius” because obtained from Sardis in Lydia. It is