Smith's Bible Dictionary

(Frankie) #1

one of the countries whence Shalmaneser introduced colonists into Samaria. (2 Kings 17:24,30)
Its position is undecided.
Cuttings [in The Flesh]
Cuttings in the flesh, or the laceration of one’s body for the “propitiation of their gods,” ( 1
Kings 18:28) constituted a prominent feature of idolatrous worship, especially among the Syrians.
The Israelites were prohibited from indulging in such practices. (Leviticus 19:28; 21:5; 14:1;
Jeremiah 16:6)
Cymbal, Cymbals
a pecussive musical instrument. Two kinds of cymbals are mentioned in (Psalms 150:5) “loud
cymbals” or castagnettes, and “high-sounding cymbals.” The former consisted of our small plates
of brass or of some other hard metal; two plates were attached to each hand of the performer, and
were struck together to produce a great noise. The latter consisted of two larger plates, on held in
each hand and struck together as an accompaniment to other instruments. Cymbals were used not
only in the temple but for military purposes, and also by Hebrew women as a musical accompaniment
to their national dances. Both kinds of cymbals are still common in the East.
Cypress
(Heb. tirzah). The Hebrew word is found only in (Isaiah 44:14) We are quite unable to assign
any definite rendering to it. The true cypress is a native of the Taurus. The Hebrew word points to
some tree with a hard grain, and this is all that can be positively said of it.
Cyprus
an island of Asia in the Mediterranean. It is about 140 miles long and 50 miles wide at the
widest part. Its two chief cities were Salamis, at the east end of the island, and Paphos, at the west
end. “Cyprus occupies a distinguished place in both sacred and profane history. It early belonged
to the Phoenicians of the neighboring coast; was afterwards colonized by Greeks’ passed successively
under the power of the Pharaohs, Persians, Ptolemies and Romans, excepting a short period of
independence in the fourth century B.C. It was one of the chief seats of the worship of Venus, hence
called Cypria. Recently the discoveries in Cyprus by Cesnola have excited new interest.—Appleton’s
Am. Encyc. It was the native place of Barnabas, (Acts 4:36) and was visited by Paul. (Acts 13:4-13;
15:39; 21:3) See also (Acts 27:4)
Cyrene
the principal city of that part of northern Africa which was sufficiently called Cyrenaica, lying
between Carthage and Egypt, and corresponding with the modern Tripoli. Though on the African
coast, it was a Greek city, and the Jews were settled there in large numbers. The Greek colonization
of this part of Africa under Battus began of early as B.C. 631. After the death of Alexander the
Great it became a dependency of Egypt, and a Roman province B.C. 75. Simon, who bore our
Saviour’s cross, (Matthew 27:32) was a native of Cyrene. Jewish dwellers in Cyrenaica were in
Jerusalem at Pentecost, (Acts 2:10) and gave their name to one of the synagogues in Jerusalem.
(Acts 6:9) Christian converts from Cyrene were among those who contributed actively to the
formation of the first Gentile church at Antioch. (Acts 11:20)
Cyrenius
(warrior), the Greek form of the Roman name of Quirinus. The full name is Publius Sulpicius
Quirinus. He was consul B.C. 12, and was made governor of Syria after the banishment of Archelaus
in A.D. 6. He probably was twice governor of Syria; his first governorship extended from B.C. 4
(the year of Christ’s birth) to B.C. 1. It was during this time that he was sent to make the enrollment

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