- ANATHOTH the name of one of the cities of refuge, in the tribe of
Benjamin (Joshua 21:18). The Jews, as a rule, did not change the names of
the towns they found in Palestine; hence this town may be regarded as
deriving its name from the goddess Anat. It was the native place of
Abiezer, one of David’s “thirty” (2 Samuel 23:27), and of Jehu, another of
his mighty men (1 Chronicles 12:3). It is chiefly notable, however, as the
birth-place and usual residence of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:1; 11:21-23; 29:27;
32:7-9). It suffered greatly from the army of Sennacherib, and only 128
men returned to it from the Exile (Nehemiah 7:27; Ezra 2:23). It lay about
3 miles north of Jerusalem. It has been identified with the small and poor
village of ‘Anata, containing about 100 inhabitants. - ANCHOR From Acts 27:29, 30, 40, it would appear that the Roman
vessels carried several anchors, which were attached to the stern as well as
to the prow. The Roman anchor, like the modern one, had two teeth or
flukes. In Hebrews 6:19 the word is used metaphorically for that which
supports or keeps one steadfast in the time of trial or of doubt. It is an
emblem of hope.
“If you fear, Put all your trust in God: that anchor holds.”
- ANCIENT OF DAYS an expression applied to Jehovah three times in the
vision of Daniel (7:9, 13, 22) in the sense of eternal. In contrast with all
earthly kings, his days are past reckoning. - ANDREW manliness, a Greek name; one of the apostles of our Lord. He
was of Bethsaida in Galilee (John 1:44), and was the brother of Simon
Peter (Matthew 4:18; 10:2). On one occasion John the Baptist, whose
disciple he then was, pointing to Jesus, said, “Behold the Lamb of God”
(John 1:40); and Andrew, hearing him, immediately became a follower of
Jesus, the first of his disciples. After he had been led to recognize Jesus as
the Messiah, his first care was to bring also his brother Simon to Jesus.
The two brothers seem to have after this pursued for a while their usual
calling as fishermen, and did not become the stated attendants of the Lord
till after John’s imprisonment (Matthew 4:18, 19; Mark 1:16, 17). Very
little is related of Andrew. He was one of the confidential disciples (John
6:8; 12:22), and with Peter, James, and John inquired of our Lord privately
regarding his future coming (Mark 13:3). He was present at the feeding of
the five thousand (John 6:9), and he introduced the Greeks who desired to
see Jesus (John 12:22); but of his subsequent history little is known. It is