(5.) “Falling on sleep” (Psalm 76:5; Jeremiah 51:39; Acts 13:36; 2 Peter
3:9.
(6.) “I go whence I shall not return” (Job 10:21); “Make me to know mine
end” (Psalm 39:4); “to depart” (Phil. 1:23).
The grave is represented as “the gates of death” (Job 38:17; Psalm 9:13;
107:18). The gloomy silence of the grave is spoken of under the figure of
the “shadow of death” (Jeremiah 2:6).
Death is the effect of sin (Hebrews 2:14), and not a “debt of nature.” It is
but once (9:27), universal (Genesis 3:19), necessary (Luke 2:28-30). Jesus
has by his own death taken away its sting for all his followers (1
Corinthians 15:55-57).
There is a spiritual death in trespasses and sins, i.e., the death of the soul
under the power of sin (Romans 8:6; Ephesians 2:1, 3; Colossians 2:13).
The “second death” (Revelation 2:11) is the everlasting perdition of the
wicked (Revelation 21:8), and “second” in respect to natural or temporal
death.
THE DEATH OF CHRIST is the procuring cause incidentally of all the
blessings men enjoy on earth. But specially it is the procuring cause of the
actual salvation of all his people, together with all the means that lead
thereto. It does not make their salvation merely possible, but certain
(Matthew 18:11; Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 1:4; 3:13;
Ephesians 1:7; 2:16; Romans 8:32-35).
- DEBIR oracle town; sanctuary. (1.) One of the eleven cities to the west of
Hebron, in the highlands of Judah (Joshua 15:49; Judges 1:11-15). It was
originally one of the towns of the Anakim (Joshua 15:15), and was also
called Kirjath-sepher (q.v.) and Kirjath-sannah (49). Caleb, who had
conquered and taken possession of the town and district of Hebron
(Joshua 14:6-15), offered the hand of his daughter to any one who would
successfully lead a party against Debir. Othniel, his younger brother
(Judges 1:13; 3:9), achieved the conquest, and gained Achsah as his wife.
She was not satisfied with the portion her father gave her, and as she was
proceeding toward her new home, she “lighted from off her ass” and said
to him, “Give me a blessing [i.e., a dowry]: for thou hast given me a south
land” (Joshua 15:19, A.V.); or, as in the Revised Version, “Thou hast set
me in the land of the south”, i.e., in the Negeb, outside the rich valley of