Easton's Bible Dictionary

(Kiana) #1

  • HERON (Leviticus 11:19; Deuteronomy 14:18), ranked among the
    unclean birds. The Hebrew name is ’anaphah, and indicates that the bird
    so named is remarkable for its angry disposition. “The herons are
    wading-birds, peculiarly irritable, remarkable for their voracity, frequenting
    marshes and oozy rivers, and spread over the regions of the East.” The
    Ardea russeta, or little golden egret, is the commonest species in Asia.

  • HESHBON intelligence, a city ruled over by Sihon, king of the Amorites
    (Joshua 3:10; 13:17). It was taken by Moses (Numbers 21:23-26), and
    became afterwards a Levitical city (Joshua 21:39) in the tribe of Reuben
    (Numbers 32:37). After the Exile it was taken possession of by the
    Moabites (Isaiah 15:4; Jeremiah 48:2, 34, 45). The ruins of this town are
    still seen about 20 miles east of Jordan from the north end of the Dead Sea.
    There are reservoirs in this district, which are probably the “fishpools”
    referred to in Cant. 7:4.

  • HESHMON fatness, a town in the south of Judah (Joshua 15:27).

  • HETH dread, a descendant of Canaan, and the ancestor of the Hittites
    (Genesis 10:18; Deuteronomy 7:1), who dwelt in the vicinity of Hebron
    (Genesis 23:3, 7). The Hittites were a Hamitic race. They are called “the
    sons of Heth” (Genesis 23:3, 5, 7, 10, 16, 18, 20).

  • HETHLON wrapped up, a place on the north border of Palestine. The
    “way of Hethlon” (Ezekiel 47:15; 48:1) is probably the pass at the end of
    Lebanon from the Mediterranean to the great plain of Hamath (q.v.), or the
    “entrance of Hamath.”

  • HEZEKIAH whom Jehovah has strengthened. (1.) Son of Ahaz (2 Kings
    18:1; 2 Chronicles 29:1), whom he succeeded on the throne of the kingdom
    of Judah. He reigned twenty-nine years (B.C. 726-697). The history of
    this king is contained in 2 Kings 18:20, Isaiah 36-39, and 2 Chronicles
    29-32. He is spoken of as a great and good king. In public life he followed
    the example of his great-granfather Uzziah. He set himself to abolish
    idolatry from his kingdom, and among other things which he did for this
    end, he destroyed the “brazen serpent,” which had been removed to
    Jerusalem, and had become an object of idolatrous worship (Numbers
    21:9). A great reformation was wrought in the kingdom of Judah in his day
    (2 Kings 18:4; 2 Chronicles 29:3-36).

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