and also from the connection between Joseph and Potipherah(“he who belongs to Ela”) the priest
of On, (Genesis 41:45) After their removal to Canaan, the Hebrews came in contact with various
forms of idolatry which originated in the worship of the sun; such as the Baal of the Phoenicians,
the Molech or Milcom of the Ammonites, and the Hadad of the Syrians. The importance attached
to the worship of the sun by the Jewish kings may be inferred from the fact that the horses sacred
to the sun were stalled within the precincts of the temple. (2 Kings 23:11) In the metaphorical
language of Scripture the sun is emblematic of the law of God, (Psalms 19:7) of the cheering
presence of God, (Psalms 84:11) of the person of the Saviour, (John 1:9; Malachi 4:2) and of the
glory and purity of heavenly beings. (Revelation 1:16; 10:1)
Suretyship
In the entire absence of commerce the law laid down no rules on the subject of suretyship; but
it is evident that in the time of Solomon commercial dealings had become so multiplied that
suretyship in the commercial sense was common. (Proverbs 6:1; 11:15; 17:18; 20:16; 22:26; 27:13)
But in older times the notion of one man becoming a surety for a service to be discharged by another
was in full force. See (Genesis 44:32) The surety of course became liable for his client’s debts in
case of his failure.
Susa
(Esther 11:3; 16:18) [Shushan, Or Susa].
Susanchites
is found once only—in (Ezra 4:9) There can be no doubt that it designates either the inhabitants
of the city Susa or those of the country—Susis or Susiana. Perhaps the former explanation is
preferable.
Susanna
(a lily).
•The heroine of the story of the Judgment of Daniel. (The book which gives an account of her life
is also called “The history of Susanna,” and is one of the apocryphal books of the Bible.)
•One of the women who ministered to the Lord. (Luke 8:3) (A.D. 28-30.)
Susi
the father of Gaddi the Manassite spy. (Numbers 13:11)
Swallow
Heb. deror in (Psalms 84:3; Proverbs 26:2) Heb. ’agur in (Isaiah 38:14; Jeremiah 8:7) but
“crane” is more probably the true signification of ’agur [Crane]). The rendering of the Authorized
Version for deror seems correct. The characters ascribed in the passages where the names occur
are strictly applicable to the swallow, viz., its swiftness of flight, its meeting in the buildings of the
temple, its mournful, garrulous note, and its regular migrations, shared indeed in common with
several others. Many species of swallow occur in Palestine. All those common in England are
found.
Swan
(Heb. tinshemeth), thus rendered by the Authorized Version in (Leviticus 11:18; 14:16) where
it occurs in the list of unclean birds Rut either of the renderings “porphyrio” (purple water-hen)
and “ibis” is more probable. Neither of these birds occurs elsewhere in the catalogue; both would
be familiar to residents in Egypt, and the original seems to point to some water-fowl. The purple
water-hen is allied to our corn-crake and water-hen, and is the largest and most beautiful of the
frankie
(Frankie)
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