Smith's Bible Dictionary

(Frankie) #1

Degrees, Songs Of
a title given to fifteen Psalms, from 120 to 134 inclusive. Four of them are attributed to David,
one is ascribed to the pen of Solomon, and the other ten give no indication of their author. With
respect to the term rendered in the Authorized Version “degrees” a great diversity of views prevails,
but the most probable opinion is that they were pilgrim songs, sung by the people as they went up
to Jerusalem.
Dehavites
mentioned only once in Scripture, (Ezra 4:9) among the colonists planted in Samaria after the
completion of the captivity of Israel. They are probably the Dai or Dahi, mentioned by Herodotus
(i. 125) among the nomadic tribes of Persia.
Dekar
(a lancer). The son of Dekar, i.e. Ben Dekar, was Solomon’s commissariat officer in the western
part of the hill-country of Judah and Benjamin, Shaalbim and Bethshemesh. (1 Kings 4:9) (B.C.
before 1014.)
Delaiah
(freed by Jehovah).
•A priest in the time of David, leader of the twenty-third course of priests. (1 Chronicles 24:18)
(B.C. 1014.)
•“Children of Delaiah” were among the people of uncertain pedigree who returned from Babylon
with Zerubbabel. (Ezra 2:60; Nehemiah 7:62) (B.C. 536.)
•Son of Mehetabeel and father of Shemaiah. (Nehemiah 6:10) (B.C. before 410.)
•Son of Shemaiah, one of the “princes” about the court of Jehoiakim. (Jeremiah 36:12,25) (B.C.
604.)
Delilah, Or Delilah
(languishing) a woman who dwelt in the valley Of Sorek, beloved by Samson. (Judges 16:4-18)
There seems to be little doubt that she was a Philistine courtesan. [SAMS0N] (B.C. 1141.)
Deluge
[Noah]
Demas
(governor of the people), most probably a contraction from Demetrius or perhaps from
Demarchus, a companion of St. Paul, (Philemon 1:24; Colossians 4:14) during his first imprisonment
at Rome. (A.D. 57.) At a later period, (2 Timothy 4:10) we find him mentioned as having deserted
the apostle through love of this present world, and gone to Thessalonica.
Demetrius
(belonging to Ceres).
•A maker of silver shrines of Artemis at Ephesus. (Acts 19:24) (about A.D. 52). These were small
models of the great temple of the Ephesian Artemis, with her statue, which it was customary to
carry on journeys, and place on houses as charms.
•A disciple, (3 John 1:12) mentioned with commendation (about A.D. 90). Possibly the first
Demetrius,converted; but this is very doubtful.
Demon
In the Gospels generally, in (James 2:19) and in Reve 16:14 The demons are spoken of as
spiritual beings, at enmity with God, and having power to afflict man not only with disease, but,
as is marked by the frequent epithet “un-clean,” with spiritual pollution also. They “believe” the

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