Smith's Bible Dictionary

(Frankie) #1

on them, there is no doubt. (Genesis 47:6,17; Exodus 9:4,20) So the plague of hail was sent to smite
especially the cattle, (Psalms 78:48) the firstborn of which also were smitten. (Exodus 12:29) The
Israelites departing stipulated for, (Exodus 10:26) and took “much cattle” with them. ch. (Exodus
12:38) Cattle formed thus one of the traditions of the Israelitish nation in its greatest period, and
became almost a part of that greatness. The occupation of herdsman was honorable in early times.
(Genesis 47:6; 1 Samuel 11:5; 1 Chronicles 27:29; 28:1) Saul himself resumed it in the interval of
his cares as king, also Doeg was certainly high in his confidence (1 Samuel 21:7) Pharaoh made
some of Joseph’s brethren “rulers over his cattle.” David’s herd-masters were among his chief
officers of state. The prophet Amos at first followed this occupation.
Heres
(the sun), (Judges 1:35) a city of Dan, in Mount Ephraim, near Ajalon; possibly identical with
Mount Jearim (Ir-shemesh, city of the gun).
Heresh
(artificer), a Levite attached to the tabernacle (1 Chronicles 9:15) (B.C. 536.)
Hermas
(Mercury), the name of a Christian resident at Rome to whom St. Paul sends greetings in his
Epistle to the Romans. (Romans 16:14) (A.D. 55.) Irenaeus, Tertullian and Origen agree in attributing
to him the work called The shepherd. It was never received into the canon, but yet was generally
cited with respect only second to that which was paid to the authoritative books of the New
Testament.
Hermes
(Mercury), a Christian mentioned in (Romans 16:14) According to tradition he was one of the
seventy disciples, and afterward bishop of Dalmatia. (A.D. 55.)
Hermogenes
a person mentioned by St. Paul in the latest of all his epistles, (2 Timothy 1:15) when all in
Asia had turned away from him. (A.D. 64.)
Hermon
(a peak, summit), a mountain on the northeastern border of Palestine, (3:8; Joshua 12:1) over
against Lebanon, (Joshua 11:17) adjoining the plateau of Bashan. (1 Chronicles 5:23) It stands at
the southern end, and is the culminating point of the anti-Libanus range; it towers high above the
ancient border city of Dan and the fountains of the Jordan, and is the most conspicuous and beautiful
mountain in Palestine or Assyria. At the present day it is called Jebel esh-Sheikh, “the chief
mountain,” and Jebel eth-Thelj, “snowy mountain.” When the whole country is parched with the
summer sun, white lines of snow streak the head of Hermon. This mountain was the great landmark
of the Israelites. It was associated with their northern border almost as intimately as the sea was
with the western. Hermon has three summits, situated like the angles of a triangle, and about a
quarter of a mile from each other. In two passages of Scripture this mountain is called Baal-hermon,
(Judges 3:3; 1 Chronicles 5:23) possibly because Baal was there worshipped. (It is more than
probable that some part of Hermon was the scene of the transfiguration, as it stands near Caesarea
Philippi, where we know Christ was just before that event—ED.) The height of Hermon has never
been measured, though it has often been estimated. It may safely be reckoned at 10,000 feet.
Hermonites, The
Properly “the Hermons,” with reference to the three summits of Mount Hermon. (Psalms 42:6)
(Psal 42:7).

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