Smith's Bible Dictionary

(Frankie) #1

(1 Kings 6:38) and Ethanim, the seventh. (1 Kings 8:2) In the second place we have the names
which prevailed subsequent to the Babylonish captivity; of these the following seven appear in the
Bible: Nisan, the first, in which the passover was held, (Nehemiah 2:1; Esther 3:7) Sivan, the third
(Esther 8:9) Bar. 1:8; Elul, the sixth, (Nehemiah 6:15) 1 Macc. 14:27; Chisleu, the ninth, (Nehemiah
1:1; Zechariah 7:1) 1 Macc. 1:54; Tebeth, the tenth, (Esther 2:16) Sebat, the eleventh, (Zechariah
1:7) 1 Macc. 16:14; and Adar, the twelfth. (Esther 3:7; 8:1) 2 Macc. 15:36. The names of the
remaining five occur int he Talmud and other works; they were, Iyar, the second, Targum; ( 2
Chronicles 30:2) Tammuz, the fourth; Ab, the fifth; Tisri, the seventh; and Marcheshvan, the eighth.
The name of the intercalary month was Ve-adar, i.e. the additional Adar. The identification of the
jewish months with our own cannot be effected with precision on account of the variations that
must inevitably exist between the lunar and the solar month. Nisan (or Abib) answers to March;
Zif or Iyar to May; Sivan to June; Tammuz to July; Ab to August; Elul to September; Ethanim or
Tisri to October; Bul or Marcheshvan to November; Chisleu to December; Tebeth to January; Sebat
to February; and Adar to March.
Moon
The moon held an important place in the kingdom of nature, as known to the Hebrews. Conjointly
with the sun, it was appointed “for signs and for seasons, and for days and years;” though in this
respect it exercised a more important influence, if by the “seasons” we understand the great religious
festivals of the Jews, as is particularly stated in (Psalms 104:19) and more at length in Ecclus 43:6,7.
The worship of the moon prevailed extensively among the nations of the East, and under a variety
of aspects. It was one of the only two deities which commanded the reverence of all the Egyptians.
The worship of the heavenly bodies is referred to in (Job 31:26,27) and Moses directly warns the
Jews against it. (4:19) In the figurative language of Scripture, the moon is frequently noticed as
presaging events of the greatest importance through the temporary or permanent withdrawal of its
light. (Isaiah 13:10; Joel 2:31; Matthew 24:29; Mark 13:24)
Moon, New
[NEW MOON] NEW MOON - 3185
Morasthite, The
that is, the native of a place named Moresheth. It occurs twice— (Jeremiah 26:18; Micah
1:1)—each time as the description of the prophet Micah.
Mordecai
(little man, or worshipper or Mars), the deliverer, under divine Providence, of the Jews from
the destruction plotted against them by Haman the chief minister of Xerxes; the institutor of the
feast of Purim. The incidents of his history are too well known to need to be dwelt upon. [Esther,
Book Of] Three things are predicated of Mordecai in the book of Esther: (1) That he lived in
Shushan; (2) That his name was Mordecai, son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish the Benjamite
who was taken captive with Jehoiachin; (3) That he brought up Esther.
Moreh
(teacher).
•The plain or plains (or, as it should rather be rendered, the oak or oaks) of Moreh. The oak of
Moreh was the first recorded halting-place of Abram after his entrance into the land of Canaan.
(Genesis 12:6) It was at the “place of Shechem,” ch. (Genesis 12:6) close to the mountains of Ebal
and Gerizim. (11:30)

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