Darkness (Isaiah 13:9, 10; Matthew 24:29) also is a symbol of the
judgments that attend on the coming of the Lord. It is a symbol of misery
and adversity (Job 18:6; Psalm 107:10; Isaiah 8:22; Ezekiel 30:18). The
“day of darkness” in Joel 2:2, caused by clouds of locusts, is a symbol of
the obscurity which overhangs all divine proceedings. “Works of darkness”
are impure actions (Ephesians 5:11). “Outer darkness” refers to the
darkness of the streets in the East, which are never lighted up by any
public or private lamps after nightfall, in contrast with the blaze of
cheerful light in the house. It is also a symbol of ignorance (Isaiah 9:2;
60:2; Matthew 6:23) and of death (Job 10:21; 17:13).
- DARLING Psalm 22:20; 35:17) means an “only one.”
- DART an instrument of war; a light spear. “Fiery darts” (Ephesians 6:16)
are so called in allusion to the habit of discharging darts from the bow
while they are on fire or armed with some combustible material. Arrows
are compared to lightning (Deuteronomy 32:23, 42; Psalm 7:13; 120:4). - DATE the fruit of a species of palm (q.v.), the Phoenix dactilifera. This
was a common tree in Palestine (Joel 1:12; Nehemiah 8:15). Palm branches
were carried by the Jews on festive occasions, and especially at the feast
of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:40; Nehemiah 8:15). - DATHAN welled; belonging to a fountain, a son of Eliab, a Reubenite,
who joined Korah (q.v.) in his conspiracy, and with his accomplices was
swallowed up by an earthquake (Numbers 16:1; 26:9; Deuteronomy 11:6;
Psalm 106:17). - DAUGHTER This word, besides its natural and proper sense, is used to
designate, (1.) A niece or any female descendant (Genesis 20:12; 24:48;
28:6). (2.) Women as natives of a place, or as professing the religion of a
place; as, “the daughters of Zion” (Isaiah 3:16), “daughters of the
Philistines” (2 Samuel 1:20). (3.) Small towns and villages lying around a
city are its “daughters,” as related to the metropolis or mother city. Tyre
is in this sense called the daughter of Sidon (Isaiah 23:12). (4.) The people
of Jerusalem are spoken of as “the daughters of Zion” (Isaiah 37:22). (5.)
The daughters of a tree are its boughs (Genesis 49:22). (6.) The “daughters
of music” (Ecclesiastes 12:4) are singing women. - DAVID beloved, the eighth and youngest son of Jesse, a citizen of
Bethlehem. His father seems to have been a man in humble life. His