legs above its feet, to leap withal.” The description plainly points to the
locust (q.v.). This has been an article of food from the earliest times in the
East to the present day. The word is rendered “cricket” in the Revised
Version.
- BEEVES (an old English plural of the word beef), a name applicable to all
ruminating animals except camels, and especially to the Bovidce, or horned
cattle (Leviticus 22:19, 21; Numbers 31:28, 30, 33, 38, 44). - BEG That the poor existed among the Hebrews we have abundant
evidence (Exodus 23:11; Deuteronomy 15:11), but there is no mention of
beggars properly so called in the Old Testament. The poor were provided
for by the law of Moses (Leviticus 19:10; Deuteronomy 12:12; 14:29). It
is predicted of the seed of the wicked that they shall be beggars (Psalm
37:25; 109:10).
In the New Testament we find not seldom mention made of beggars (Mark
10:46; Luke 16:20, 21; Acts 3:2), yet there is no mention of such a class as
vagrant beggars, so numerous in the East. “Beggarly,” in Galatians 4:9,
means worthless.
- BEHEAD a method of taking away life practised among the Egyptians
(Genesis 40:17-19). There are instances of this mode of punishment also
among the Hebrews (2 Samuel 4:8; 20:21,22; 2 Kings 10:6-8). It is also
mentioned in the New Testament (Matthew 14:8-12; Acts 12:2). - BEHEMOTH (Job 40:15-24). Some have supposed this to be an Egyptian
word meaning a “water-ox.” The Revised Version has here in the margin
“hippopotamus,” which is probably the correct rendering of the word. The
word occurs frequently in Scripture, but, except here, always as a common
name, and translated “beast” or “cattle.” - BEKAH Both the name and its explanation, “a half shekel,” are given in
Exodus 38:26. The word properly means a “division,” a “part.” (R.V.,
“beka.”) - BEL the Aramaic form of Baal, the national God of the Babylonians
(Isaiah 46:1; Jeremiah 50:2; 51:44). It signifies “Lord.” (See BAAL.) - BELA a thing swallowed. (1.) A city on the shore of the Dead Sea, not far
from Sodom, called also Zoar. It was the only one of the five cities that