(3.) The “master workman” whom Hiram sent to Solomon. He was the son
of a widow of Dan, and of a Tyrian father. In 2 Chronicles 2:13 “Huram
my father” should be Huram Abi, the word “Abi” (rendered here “my
father”) being regarded as a proper name, or it may perhaps be a title of
distinction given to Huram, and equivalent to “master.” (Comp. 1 Kings
7:14; 2 Chronicles 4:16.) He cast the magnificent brazen works for
Solomon’s temple in clay-beds in the valley of Jordan, between Succoth
and Zarthan.
- HIRELING a labourer employed on hire for a limited time (Job 7:1; 14:6;
Mark 1:20). His wages were paid as soon as his work was over (Leviticus
19:13). In the time of our Lord a day’s wage was a “penny” (q.v.) i.e., a
Roman denarius (Matthew 20:1-14). - HISS to express contempt (Job 27:23). The destruction of the temple is
thus spoken of (1 Kings 9:8). Zechariah (10:8) speaks of the Lord
gathering the house of Judah as it were with a hiss: “I will hiss for them.”
This expression may be “derived from the noise made to attract bees in
hiving, or from the sound naturally made to attract a person’s attention.” - HITTITES Palestine and Syria appear to have been originally inhabited by
three different tribes. (1.) The Semites, living on the east of the isthmus of
Suez. They were nomadic and pastoral tribes. (2.) The Phoenicians, who
were merchants and traders; and (3.) the Hittites, who were the warlike
element of this confederation of tribes. They inhabited the whole region
between the Euphrates and Damascus, their chief cities being Carchemish
on the Euphrates, and Kadesh, now Tell Neby Mendeh, in the Orontes
valley, about six miles south of the Lake of Homs. These Hittites seem to
have risen to great power as a nation, as for a long time they were
formidable rivals of the Egyptian and Assyrian empires. In the book of
Joshua they always appear as the dominant race to the north of Galilee.
Somewhere about the twenty-third century B.C. the Syrian confederation,
led probably by the Hittites, arched against Lower Egypt, which they took
possession of, making Zoan their capital. Their rulers were the Hyksos, or
shepherd kings. They were at length finally driven out of Egypt. Rameses
II. sought vengeance against the “vile Kheta,” as he called them, and
encountered and defeated them in the great battle of Kadesh, four centuries
after Abraham. (See JOSHUA.)