Smith's Bible Dictionary

(Frankie) #1

modern times; but about three miles to the west of Hebron is a deep and secluded valley called
the Wady Nunkur, enclosed on the north by hills, of which one bears a name certainly suggestive
of Debir—Dewir-ban.
•A place on the north boundary of Judah, near the “valley of Achor.” (Joshua 15:7) A Wady Dabor
is marked in Van Deuteronomy Velde’s map as close to the south of Neby Musa, at the northwest
corner of the Dead Sea.
•The “border of Debir” is named as forming part of the boundary of Gad, (Joshua 13:26) and as
apparently not far from Mahanaim.
Deborah
(a bee). (B.C. 1857.)
•The nurse of Rebekah. (Genesis 35:8) Deborah accompanied Rebekah from the house of Bethuel,
(Genesis 24:59) and is only mentioned by name on the occasion of her burial under the oak tree
of Bethel, which was called in her honor Allon-bachuth.
•A prophetess who judged Israel. Judges 4,5. (B.C, 1316.) She lived under the palm tree of Deborah
between Ramah and Bethel in Mount Ephraim, (Judges 4:5) which, as palm trees were rare in
Palestine, “is mentioned as a well-known and solitary landmark.” She was probably a woman of
Ephraim. Lapidoth was probably her husband, and not Barak as some say. She was not so much
a judge as one gifted with prophetic command (Judges 4:6,14; 5:7) and by virtue of her inspiration
“a mother in Israel.” The tyranny of Jabin, a Canaanitish king, was peculiarly felt in the northern
tribes, who were near his capital and under her jurisdiction. Under her direction Barak encamped
on the broad summit of Tabor. Deborah’s prophecy was fulfilled, (Judges 4:9) and the enemy’s
general perished among the “oaks of the wanderers” (Zaanaim), in the tent of the Bedouin Kenite’s
wife, (Judges 4:21) in the northern mountains. Deborah’s title of “prophetess” includes the notion
of inspired poetry, as in (Exodus 15:20) and in this sense the glorious triumphal ode, Judges 5,
well vindicates her claim to the office.
Debtor
[Loan]
Dedan
(low country).
•The name of a son of Raamah, son of Cush. (Genesis 10:7; 1 Chronicles 1:9)
•A son of Jokshan, son of Keturah. (Genesis 25:3; 1 Chronicles 1:32) (B.C. after 1988.)
Dedanim
descendants of Dedan I. (Isaiah 21:13) [Dedan]
Dedication, Feast Of The
the festival instituted to commemorate the purging of the temple and the rebuilding of the altar
after Judas Maccabbeus had driven out the Syrians, B.C. 164. 1 Macc. 4:52-59. It is named only
once in the canonical Scriptures. (John 10:22) It commenced on the 25th of Chisleu (early in
December), the anniversary of the pollution of the temple by Antiochus Epiphanes, B.C. 167. Like
the great Mosaic feasts, it lasted eight days, but it did not require attendance at Jerusalem. It was
an occasion of much festivity, and was celebrated in nearly the same manner as the feast of
tabernacles, with the carrying of branches of trees and with much singing. In the temple at Jerusalem
the “Hallel” was sung every day of the feast.
Deer
[FALLOW-DEER]

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