- NAPHTUHIM a Hamitic tribe descended from Mizraim (Genesis 10:13).
Others identify this word with Napata, the name of the city and territory
on the southern frontier of Mizraim, the modern Meroe, at the great bend
of the Nile at Soudan. This city was the royal residence, it is said, of
Queen Candace (Acts 8:27). Here there are extensive and splendid ruins. - NAPKIN (Gr. soudarion, John 11:44; 20:7; Lat. sudarium, a
“sweat-cloth”), a cloth for wiping the sweat from the face. But the word is
used of a wrapper to fold money in (Luke 19:20), and as an article of
dress, a “handkerchief” worn on the head (Acts 19:12). - NARCISSUS daffodil, a Roman whom Paul salutes (Romans 16:11). He
is supposed to have been the private secretary of the emperor Claudius.
This is, however, quite uncertain. - NATHAN given. (1.) A prophet in the reigns of David and Solomon (2
Chronicles 9:29). He is first spoken of in connection with the arrangements
David made for the building of the temple (2 Samuel 7:2, 3, 17), and next
appears as the reprover of David on account of his sin with Bathsheba
(12:1-14). He was charged with the education of Solomon (12:25), at
whose inauguration to the throne he took a prominent part (1 Kings 1:8,
10, 11, 22-45). His two sons, Zabad (1 Chronicles 2:36) and Azariah (1
Kings 4:5) occupied places of honour at the king’s court. He last appears
in assisting David in reorganizing the public worship (2 Chronicles 29:25).
He seems to have written a life of David, and also a life of Solomon (1
Chronicles 29:29; 2 Chronicles 9:29).
(2.) A son of David, by Bathsheba (2 Samuel 5:14), whose name appears
in the genealogy of Mary, the mother of our Lord (Luke 3:31).
(3.) Ezra 8:16.
- NATHANAEL given or gift of God, one of our Lord’s disciples, “of Cana
in Galilee” (John 21:2). He was “an Israelite indeed, in whom was no guile”
(1:47, 48). His name occurs only in the Gospel of John, who in his list of
the disciples never mentions Bartholomew, with whom he has
consequently been identified. He was one of those to whom the Lord
showed himself alive after his resurrection, at the Sea of Tiberias. - NATIVITY OF CHRIST The birth of our Lord took place at the time and
place predicted by the prophets (Genesis 49:10; Isaiah 7:14; Jeremiah
31:15; Micah 5:2; Hag. 2:6-9; Daniel 9:24, 25). Joseph and Mary were