Smith's Bible Dictionary

(Frankie) #1

catechetical teaching in school. At twelve he became more directly responsible for his obedience
of the law; and on the day when he attained the age of thirteen, put on for the first time the
phylacteries which were worn at the recital of his daily prayer.” In addition to this, Jesus no doubt
learned the carpenter’s trade of his reputed father Joseph, and, as Joseph probably died before
Jesus began his public ministry, he may have contributed to the support of his mother. (IV. PUBLIC
MINISTRY.—All the leading events recorded of Jesus’ life are given at the end of this volume
in the Chronological Chart and in the Chronological Table of the life of Christ; so that here will
be given only a general survey. Jesus began to enter upon his ministry when he was “about thirty
years old;” that is, he was not very far from thirty, older or younger. He is regarded as nearly
thirty-one by Andrews (in the tables of chronology referred to above) and by most others. Having
been baptized by John early in the winter of 26-27, he spent the larger portion of his year in Judea
and about the lower Jordan, till in December he went northward to Galilee through Samaria. The
next year and a half, from December, A.D. 27, to October or November, A.D. 29, was spent in
Galilee and norther Palestine, chiefly in the vicinity of the Sea of Galilee. In November, 29, Jesus
made his final departure from Galilee, and the rest of his ministry was in Judea and Perea, beyond
Jordan, till his crucifixion, April 7, A.D. 30. After three days he proved his divinity by rising from
the dead; and after appearing on eleven different occasions to his disciples during forty days, he
finally ascended to heaven, where he is the living, ever present, all-powerful Saviour of his people.
Jesus Christ, being both human and divine, is fitted to be the true Saviour of men. In this, as in
every action and character, he is shown to be “the wisdom and power of God unto salvation.” As
human, he reaches down to our natures, sympathizes with us, shows us that God knows all our
feelings and weaknesses and sorrows and sins, brings God near to us, who otherwise could not
realize the Infinite and Eternal as a father and friend. He is divine, in order that he may be an
all-powerful, all-loving Saviour, able and willing to defend us from every enemy, to subdue all
temptations, to deliver from all sin, and to bring each of his people, and the whole Church, into
complete and final victory. Jesus Christ is the centre of the world’s history, as he is the centre of
the Bible.—ED.)
Jesus The Son Of Sirach
[Ecclesiasticus]
Jether
(his excellence).
•Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses. (Exodus 4:18) (B.C. 1530.)
•The first-born of Gideon’s seventy sons. (Judges 8:20) (B.C. 1256.)
•The father of Amasa, captain-general of Absalom’s army. (B.C. 1023.) Jether is another form of
Ithra. (2 Samuel 17:25) He is described in (1 Chronicles 2:17) as an Ishmaelite, which again is
more likely to be correct than the “Israelite” of the Hebrew in (2 Samuel 17:1) ...
•The son of Jada, a descendant of Hezron, of the tribe of Judah. (1 Chronicles 2:32)
•The son of Ezra. (1 Chronicles 2:32)
•The chief of a family of warriors of the line of Asher, and father of Jephunneh. (1 Chronicles 7:38)
He is probably the same as Ithran in the preceding verse.
Jetheth
(a nail), one of the “dukes” who came of Esau. (Genesis 36:40; 1 Chronicles 1:51)
Jethlah
(height), one of the cities of the tribe of Dan. (Joshua 19:42)

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