- ESHEAN a place in the mountains of Judah (Joshua 15:52), supposed to
be the ruin es-Simia, near Dumah, south of Hebron. - ESHTAOL narrow pass or recess, a town (Joshua 15:33) in the low
country, the She-phelah of Judah. It was allotted to the tribe of Dan
(Joshua 19:41), and was one of their strongholds. Here Samson spent his
boyhood, and first began to show his mighty strength; and here he was
buried in the burying-place of Manoah his father (Judges 13:25; 16:31;
18:2, 8, 11, 12). It is identified with the modern Yeshua, on a hill 2 miles
east of Zorah. Others, however, identify it with Kustul, east of
Kirjath-jearim. - ESHTEMOA obedience, a town in the mountains of Judah (Joshua 21:14;
1 Chronicles 6:57), which was allotted, with the land round it, to the
priests. It was frequented by David and his followers during their
wanderings; and he sent presents of the spoil of the Amalekites to his
friends there (1 Samuel 30:28). It is identified with es-Semu’a, a village
about 3 1/2 miles east of Socoh, and 7 or 8 miles south of Hebron, around
which there are ancient remains of the ruined city. It is the centre of the
“south country” or Negeb. It is also called “Eshtemoh” (Joshua 15:50). - ESPOUSE (2 Samuel 3:14), to betroth. The espousal was a ceremony of
betrothing, a formal agreement between the parties then coming under
obligation for the purpose of marriage. Espousals are in the East frequently
contracted years before the marriage is celebrated. It is referred to as
figuratively illustrating the relations between God and his people (Jeremiah
2:2; Matthew 1:18; 2 Corinthians 11:2). (See BETROTH.) - ESSENES a Jewish mystical sect somewhat resembling the Pharisees.
They affected great purity. They originated about B.C. 100, and
disappeared from history after the destruction of Jerusalem. They are not
directly mentioned in Scripture, although they may be referred to in
Matthew 19:11, 12, Colossians 2:8, 18, 23. - ESTHER the queen of Ahasuerus, and heroine of the book that bears her
name. She was a Jewess named Hadas’sah (the myrtle), but when she
entered the royal harem she received the name by which she henceforth
became known (Esther 2:7). It is a Syro-Arabian modification of the
Persian word satarah, which means a star. She was the daughter of Abihail,
a Benjamite. Her family did not avail themselves of the permission granted
by Cyrus to the exiles to return to Jerusalem; and she resided with her
kiana
(Kiana)
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