was also a witness of the Ascension (Acts 1:4, 12, 13). He was an
“Israelite indeed” (John 1:47).
- BARTIMAEUS son of Timaeus, one of the two blind beggars of Jericho
(Mark 10:46; Matthew 20:30). His blindness was miraculously cured on
the ground of his faith. - BARUCH blessed. (1.) The secretary of the prophet Jeremiah (32:12;
36:4). He was of the tribe of Judah (51:59). To him Jeremiah dictated his
prophecies regarding the invasion of the Babylonians and the Captivity.
These he read to the people from a window in the temple in the fourth
year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah (Jeremiah 36). He afterwards
read them before the counsellors of the king at a private interview; and
then to the king himself, who, after hearing a part of the roll, cut it with a
penknife, and threw it into the fire of his winter parlour, where he was
sitting.
During the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, he was the keeper of
the deed of purchase Jeremiah had made of the territory of Hanameel
(Jeremiah 32:12). Being accused by his enemies of favouring the
Chaldeans, he was cast, with Jeremiah, into prison, where he remained till
the capture of Jerusalem (B.C. 586). He probably died in Babylon.
(2.) Nehemiah 3:20; 10:6; 11:5.
- BARZILLAI of iron. (1.) A Meholathite, the father of Adriel (2 Samuel
21:8).
(2.) A Gileadite of Rogelim who was distinguished for his loyalty to
David. He liberally provided for the king’s followers (2 Samuel 17:27).
David on his death-bed, remembering his kindness, commended Barzillai’s
children to the care of Solomon (1 Kings 2:7).
(3.) A priest who married a daughter of the preceding (Ezra 2:61).
- BASHAN light soil, first mentioned in Genesis 14:5, where it is said that
Chedorlaomer and his confederates “smote the Rephaim in Ashteroth,”
where Og the king of Bashan had his residence. At the time of Israel’s
entrance into the Promised Land, Og came out against them, but was
utterly routed (Numbers 21:33-35; Deuteronomy 3:1-7). This country
extended from Gilead in the south to Hermon in the north, and from the
Jordan on the west to Salcah on the east. Along with the half of Gilead it