(3.) The “keeper of the king’s forest,” to whom Nehemiah requested from
Artaxerxes a “letter” that he might give him timber for the temple at
Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:8).
- ASCENSION See CHRIST.
- ASENATH an Egyptian name, meaning “gift of the sun-God”, daughter of
Potipherah, priest of On or Heliopolis, wife of Joseph (Genesis 41:45).
She was the mother of Manasseh and Ephraim (50-52; 46:20). - ASH (Hebrews o’ren, “tremulous”), mentioned only Isaiah 44:14 (R.V.,
“fir tree”). It is rendered “pine tree” both in the LXX. and Vulgate
versions. There is a tree called by the Arabs aran, found still in the valleys
of Arabia Petraea, whose leaf resembles that of the mountain ash. This
may be the tree meant. Our ash tree is not known in Syria. - ASHDOD stronghold, a Philistine city (Joshua 15:47), about midway
between Gaza and Joppa, and 3 miles from the Mediterranean. It was one
of the chief seats of the worship of Dagon (1 Samuel 5:5). It belonged to
the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:47), but it never came into their actual
possession. It was an important city, as it stood on the highroad from
Egypt to Palestine, and hence was strongly fortified (2 Chronicles 26:6;
Isaiah 20:1). Uzziah took it, but fifty years after his death it was taken by
the Assyrians (B.C. 758). According to Sargon’s record, it was captured
by him in B.C. 711. The only reference to it in the New Testament, where
it is called Azotus, is in the account of Philip’s return from Gaza (Acts
8:40). It is now called Eshdud. - ASHDOTH-PISGAH (Deuteronomy 3:17; Joshua 12:3; 13:20) in
Authorized Version, but in Revised Version translated “slopes of Pisgah.”
In Deuteronomy 4:49 it is translated in the Authorized Version “springs of
Pisgah.” The name Ashdoth is translated “springs” in the Authorized
Version, but “slopes” in the Revised Version, of Joshua 10:40 and 12:8. It
has been identified with the springs under Mount Nebo, now called ‘Ayun
Musa. - ASHER happy, Jacob’s eigth son; his mother was Zilpah, Leah’s
handmaid (Genesis 30:13). Of the tribe founded by him nothing is recorded
beyond its holding a place in the list of the tribes (35:26; 46:17; Exodus
1:4, etc.) It increased in numbers twenty-nine percent, during the
thirty-eight years’ wanderings. The place of this tribe during the march