(Heb. gabish). The Hebrew word in (Job 28:18) probably means “crystal.” Pearls, however are
frequently mentioned in the New Testament, (Matthew 13:45; 1 Timothy 2:9; Revelation 17:4;
21:21) and were considered by the ancients among the most precious of gems, and were highly
esteemed as ornaments. The kingdom of heaven is compared to a “pearl of great price.” In (Matthew
7:6) pearls are used metaphorically for anything of value, or perhaps more especially for “wise
sayings.” (The finest specimens of the pearl are yielded by the pearl oyster (Avicula margaritifera),
still found in abundance in the Persian Gulf and near the coasts of Ceylon, Java and Sumatra. The
oysters grow in clusters on rocks in deep water, and the pearl is found inside the shell, and is the
result of a diseased secretion caused by the introduction of foreign bodies, as sand, etc., between
the mantle and the shell. They are obtained by divers trained to the business. March or April is the
time for pearl fishing. A single shell sometimes yields eight to twelve pearls. The size of a good
Oriental pearl varies from that of a pea to about three times that size. A handsome necklace of
pearls the size of peas is worth,000. Pearls have been valued as high as,000 or,000 apiece.—ED.)
Pedahel
(whom God redeems), the son of Ammihud, and prince of the tribe of Naphtali. (Numbers
34:28)
Pedaiah
(whom Jehovah redeems).
•The father of Zebudah, mother of King Jehoiakim. (2 Kings 23:38) (B.C. before 648.)
•The brother of Salathiel or Shealtiel and father of Zerubbabel who is usually called the “son of
Shealtiel,” being, as Lord A. Hervey conjectures, in reality his uncle’s successor and heir, in
consequence Of the failure of issue in the direct line. (1 Chronicles 3:17-19) (B.C. before 536.)
•Son of Parosh, that is, one of the family or that name, who assisted Nehemiah in repairing the
walls of Jerusalem. (Nehemiah 3:25) (B.C. about 446.)
•Apparently a priest; one of those who stood on the left hand of Ezra when he read the law to the
people. (Nehemiah 8:4) (B.C. 445.)
•A Benjamite, ancestor of Sallu. (Nehemiah 11:7)
•A Levite in the time of Nehemiah, (Nehemiah 13:13) apparently the same as 4.
•The father of Joel, prince of the half tribe of Manasseh in the reign of David. (1 Chronicles 27:20)
(B.C. before 1013.)
Pedarhzur
(whom the rock (i.e. God) redeems), father of Gamaliel, the chief of the tribe of Manasseh at
the time of the exodus. (Numbers 1:10; 2:20; 7:54,59; 10:23) (B.C. 1491.)
Pekah
(open-eyed), son of Remaliah, originally a captain of Pekaiah king of Israel, murdered his
master seized the throne, and became the 18th sovereign of the northern kingdom, B.C. 757-740.
Under his predecessors Israel had been much weakened through the payment of enormous tribute
to the Assyrians (see especially) (2 Kings 15:20) and by internal wars and conspiracies. Pekah
seems to have steadily applied himself to the restoration of power. For this purpose he contracted
a foreign alliance, and fixed his mind on the plunder of the sister kingdom of Judah. He must have
made the treaty by which he proposed to share its spoil with Rezin king of Damascus, when Jotham
was still on the throne of Jerusalem (2 Kings 10:37) but its execution was long delayed, probably
in consequence of that prince’s righteous and vigorous administration. (2 Chronicles 27:1) ... When
however his weak son Ahaz succeeded to the crown of David, the allies no longer hesitated, but
frankie
(Frankie)
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