Smith's Bible Dictionary

(Frankie) #1

Ishui
(quiet), the second son of Saul by his wife Ahinoam (1 Samuel 14:4) comp. 1Sam 14:50 (Died
B.C. 1053.)
Isle
The radical sense of the Hebrew word seems to be “habitable places,” as opposed to water, and
in this sense it occurs in (Isaiah 42:15) Hence it means secondarily any maritime district, whether
belonging to a continent or to an island; thus it is used of the shore of the Mediterranean, (Isaiah
20:6; 23:2,6) and of the coasts of Elishah, (Ezekiel 27:7) i.e. of Greece and Asia Minor.
Ismachiah
(Jehovah hears), a Gibeonite, one of the chiefs of those warriors, who joined David at Ziklag.
(1 Chronicles 12:4). (B.C. 1064.)
(whom Jehovah upholds), a Levite who was one of the overseers of offerings during the revival
under King Hezekiah. (2 Chronicles 31:13) (B.C. 776.)
Ispah
(bald), a Benjamite of the family of Beriah; one of the heads of his tribe. (1 Chronicles 8:16)
(B.C. before 588.)
Israel
(the prince that prevails with God).
•The name given, (Genesis 32:28) to Jacob after his wrestling with the angel, (Hosea 12:4) at Peniel.
Gesenius interprets Israel “soldier of God.”
•It became the national name of the twelve tribes collectively. They are so called in (Exodus 3:16)
and afterward.
•It is used in a narrower sense, excluding Judah, in (1 Samuel 11:8; 2 Samuel 20:1; 1 Kings 12:16)
Thenceforth it was assumed and accepted as the name of the northern kingdom.
•After the Babylonian captivity, the returned exiles resumed the name Israel as the designation of
their nation. The name Israel is also used to denote lay-men, as distinguished from priests, Levites
and other ministers. (Ezra 6:16; 9:1; 10:25; Nehemiah 11:3) etc.
Israel, Kingdom Of
I. the kingdom.—The prophet Ahijah of Shiloh, who was commissioned in the latter days of
Solomon to announce the division of the kingdom, left one tribe (Judah) to the house of David, and
assigned ten to Jeroboam. (1 Kings 11:31,35) These were probably Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh),
Issachar, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali, Benjamin, Dan, Simeon, Gad and Reuben; Levi being
intentionally omitted. Eventually the greater part of Benjamin, and probably the whole of Simeon
and Dan, were included as if by common consent in the kingdom of Judah. With respect to the
conquests of David, Moab appears to have been attached to the kingdom of Israel. (2 Kings 3:4)
so much of Syria as remained subject to Solomon, see (1 Kings 11:24) would probably be claimed
by his successor in the northern kingdom; and Ammon was at one time allied (2 Chronicles 20:1)
we know not how closely or how early, with Moab. The seacoast between Accho and Japho remained
in the possession of Israel. The whole population may perhaps have amounted to at least three and
a half millions. II. the capitals .—Shechem was the first capital of the new kingdom. (1 Kings 12:25)
Subsequently Tirzah became the royal residence, if not the capital, of Jeroboam (1 Kings 14:17)
and of his successors. cf. (1 Kings 15:33; 16:8,17,23) Samaria was chosen by Omri. (1 Kings 16:24)
Jezreel was probably only a royal residence of some of the Israelitish kings. III. History .—The
kingdom of Israel lasted 254 years, from B.C. 975 to B.C. 721. The detailed history of the kingdom

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