the surface, came upon a pavement of polished stones, formerly one of the
streets of the city. Under this pavement they found a stratum of 16 feet of
concrete, and among this concrete, 10
feet down, they found a signet
stonebearing the inscription, in Old
Hebrew characters, “Haggai, son of
Shebaniah.” It has been asked, Might
not this be the actual seal of Haggai the
prophet? We know that he was in
Jerusalem after the Captivity; and it is
somewhat singular that he alone of all
the minor prophets makes mention of a
signet (Hag. 2:23). (See SEAL.)
HAGGAI’S SEAL
- SIHON striking down. The whole country on the east of Jordan, from the
Arnon to the Jabbok, was possessed by the Amorites, whose king, Sihon,
refused to permit the Israelites to pass through his territory, and put his
army in array against them. The Israelites went forth against him to battle,
and gained a complete victory. The Amorites were defeated; Sihon, his
sons, and all his people were smitten with the sword, his walled towns
were captured, and the entire country of the Amorites was taken
possession of by the Israelites (Numbers 21:21-30; Deuteronomy
2:24-37).
The country from the Jabbok to Hermon was at this time ruled by Og, the
last of the Rephaim. He also tried to prevent the progress of the Israelites,
but was utterly routed, and all his cities and territory fell into the hands of
the Israelites (comp. Numbers 21:33-35; Deuteronomy 3:1-14; Psalm 135:
10-12; 136:17-22).
These two victories gave the Israelites possession of the country on the
east of Jordan, from the Arnon to the foot of Hermon. The kingdom of
Sihon embraced about 1,500 square miles, while that of Og was more than
3,000 square miles.
- SIHOR (correctly Shi’hor) black; dark the name given to the river Nile in
Isaiah 23:3; Jeremiah 2:18. In Joshua 13:3 it is probably “the river of
Egypt”, i.e., the Wady el-Arish (1 Chronicles 13:5), which flows “before