Smith's Bible Dictionary

(Frankie) #1

Moses was the entire representative of his people, feeling for them more than for himself, absorbed
in their interests, hopes and fears, so, with reverence be it said, was Christ. (2) In (Hebrews 3:1-19;
12:24-29; Acts 7:37) Christ is described, though more obscurely, as the Moses of the new
dispensation—as the apostle or messenger or mediator of God to the people—as the controller
and leader of the flock or household of God. (3) The details of their lives are sometimes, though
not often, compared. (Acts 7:24-28; 35) In (Jude 1:9) is an allusion to an altercation between
Michael and Satan over the body of Moses. It probably refers to a lost apocryphal book, mentioned
by Origen, called the “Ascension” or “Assumption of Moses.” Respecting the books of Moses,
see Pentateuch, The.
Moth
By the Hebrew word we are certainly to understand some species of clothes-moth (tinea).
Reference to the destructive habits of the clothes-moth is made in (Job 4:19; 13:28; Psalms 39:11)
etc. (The moth is a well-known insect which in its caterpillar state is very destructive to woollen
clothing, furs, etc. The egg of the moth, being deposited on the fur or cloth, produces a very small
shining insect, which immediately forms a house for itself by cuttings from the cloth. It east away
the nap, and finally ruins the fabric. There are more than 1500 species of moths.—McClintock and
Strong’s Cyclopedia.)
Mother
The superiority of the Hebrew over all contemporaneous systems of legislation and of morals
is strongly shown in the higher estimation of the mother in the Jewish family, as contrasted with
modern Oriental as well as ancient Oriental and classical usage. The king’s mother, as appears in
the case of Bath-sheba, was treated with special honor. (Exodus 20:12; Leviticus 19:3; 5:16;
21:18,21; 1 Kings 2:29; Proverbs 10:1; 15:20; 17:25; 29:15; 31:1,30)
Mount
(Isaiah 29:3; Jeremiah 6:6) etc. [SIEGE]
Mount, Mountain
The Hebrew word har, like the English “mountain.” is employed for both single eminences
more or less isolated, such as Sinai. Gerizim, Ebal, Zion and Olivet, and for ranges, such as Lebanon.
It is also applied to a mountainous country or district.
Mountain Of The Amorites
specifically mentioned (1:19,20) comp. Deuteronomy 1:44 It seems to be the range which rises
abruptly from the plateau of et-Tih, south of Judea, running from a little south of west to north of
east, and of which the extremities are the Jebel Araif en-Nakah westward and Jebel el-Mukrah
eastward, and from which line the country continues mountainous all the way to Hebron.
Mourning
One marked feature of Oriental mourning is what may be called its studies publicity and the
careful observance of the prescribed ceremonies. (Genesis 23:2; Job 1:20; 2:12)
•Among the particular forms observed the following may be mentioned: (a) Rending the clothes.
(Genesis 37:29,34; 44:13) etc. (b) Dressing in sackcloth. (Genesis 37:34; 2 Samuel 3:31; 21:10)
etc. (c) Ashes, dust or earth sprinkled on the person. (2 Samuel 13:19; 15:32) etc. (d) Black or
sad-colored garments. (2 Samuel 14:2; Jeremiah 8:21) etc. (e) Removal of ornaments or neglect
of person. (21:12,13) etc. (f) Shaving the head, plucking out the hair of the head or beard. (Leviticus
10:6; 2 Samuel 19:24) etc. (g) Laying bare some part of the body. (Isaiah 20:2; 47:2) etc. (h)
Fasting or abstinence in meat and drink. (2 Samuel 1:12; 3:35; 12:16,22) etc. (i) In the same

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