God of Israel. The sin of Asa was not, therefore, in seeking medical advice,
as we understand the phrase, but in forgetting Jehovah.”
- PI-BESETH (Ezekiel 30:17), supposed to mean. “a cat,” or a deity in the
form of a cat, worshipped by the Egyptians. It was called by the Greeks
Bubastis. The hieroglyphic name is “Pe-bast”, i.e., the house of Bast, the
Artemis of the Egyptians. The town of Bubasts was situated on the
Pelusian branch, i.e., the easternmost branch, of the Delta. It was the seat
of one of the chief annual festivals of the Egyptians. Its ruins bear the
modern name of Tel-Basta. - PIECES (1) of silver. In Psalm 68:30 denotes “fragments,” and not
properly money. In 1 Samuel 2:36 (Hebrews agorah), properly a “small
sum” as wages, weighed rather than coined. Joshua 24:32 (Hebrews
kesitah, q.v.), supposed by some to have been a piece of money bearing
the figure of a lamb, but rather simply a certain amount. (Comp. Genesis
33:19).
(2.) The word pieces is omitted in many passages, as Genesis 20:16;
37:28; 45:22, etc. The passage in Zechariah 11:12, 13 is quoted in the
Gospel (Matthew 26:15), and from this we know that the word to be
supplied is “shekels.” In all these omissions we may thus warrantably
supply this word.
(3.) The “piece of money” mentioned in Matthew 17:27 is a stater=a
Hebrew shekel, or four Greek drachmae; and that in Luke 15:8, 9, Act
19:19, a Greek drachma=a denarius. (See PENNY.)
- PIETY Lat. pietas, properly honour and respect toward parents (1
Timothy 5:4). In Acts 17:23 the Greek verb is rendered “ye worship,” as
applicable to God. - PIGEON Pigeons are mentioned as among the offerings which, by divine
appointment, Abram presented unto the Lord (Genesis 15:9). They were
afterwards enumerated among the sin-offerings (Leviticus 1:14; 12:6), and
the law provided that those who could not offer a lamb might offer two
young pigeons (5:7; comp. Luke 2:24). (See DOVE.) - PI-HAHIROTH place where the reeds grow (LXX. and Copt. read
“farmstead”), the name of a place in Egypt where the children of Israel
encamped (Exodus 14:2, 9), how long is uncertain. Some have identified it
with Ajrud, a fortress between Etham and Suez. The condition of the