Smith's Bible Dictionary

(Frankie) #1

(Heb. pethen), translated (adder in) (Psalms 58:4; 91:13) Probably the Egyptian cobra, a small
and very poisonous serpent, a dweller in the holes of walls, (Isaiah 11:8) and a snake upon which
the serpent-charmers practiced their art.
Aspalathus
the name of some sweet perfume mentioned in Ecclus. 24:15. The Lignum rhodianum, is by
some supposed to be the substance indicated by the aspalathus, the plant which yields it is the
Convolvulus scoparius if Linnaeus.
Aspatha
third son of Haman. (Esther 9:7)
Asphar
the pool in the “wilderness of Thecoe.” 1 Macc. 9:33. Is it possible that the name is a corruption
of lacus Asphaltites?
Asriel
the son of Gilead and great-grandson of Manasseh. (Numbers 26:31; Joshua 17:2) He was the
founder of the family of the Asrielites. (B.C. 1444.)
Ass
Five Hebrew names of the genus Asinus occur in the Old Testament.
•Chamor denotes the male domestic ass.
•Athon, the common domestic she-ass.
•Air, the name of a wild ass, which occurs (Genesis 32:15; 49:11)
•Pere, a species of wild ass mentioned (Genesis 12:16)
•Arod occurs only in (Job 39:5) but in what respect it differs from the Pere is uncertain. The ass in
eastern countries is a very different animal from what he is in western Europe. The most noble
and honorable amongst the Jews were wont to be mounted on asses. (With us the ass is a symbol
of stubbornness and stupidity, while in the East it is especially remarkable for its patience,
gentleness, intelligence, meek submission and great power of endurance.”—L. Abbott. The color
is usually a reddish brown, but there are white asses, which are much prized. The ass was the
animal of peace as the horse was the animal of war; hence the appropriateness of Christ in his
triumphal entry riding on an ass. The wild ass is a beautiful animal.—ED.) Mr. Lavard remarks
that in fleetness the wild ass (Asinus hemippus) equals the gazelle and to overtake it is a feat which
only one or two of the most celebrated mares have been known to accomplish.
Asshur
second son of Shem, (Genesis 10:22) also the Hebrew form for Assyria. [Assyria, Asshur]
Assir
(captive).
•Son of Korah. (Exodus 6:24; 1 Chronicles 6:22)
•Son of Ebiasaph, and a forefather of Samuel (1 Chronicles 6:23,37)
•Son of Jeconiah, (1 Chronicles 3:17) unless “Jeconiah the captive” be the true rendering.
Assos, Or Assus
(approaching), a seaport of the Roman province of Asia in the district anciently called Mysia,
on the northern shore of the Gulf of Adrn-myttium, and about seven miles from Lesbos. (Acts
20:13,14)
Assur
(Ezra 4:2; Psalms 83:8) [Asshur, Assyria, Asshur; ASSYRIA]

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