Elijah is called a “hairy man” (2 Kings 1:8) from his flowing locks, or more
probably from the shaggy cloak of hair which he wore. His raiment was of
camel’s hair.
Long hair is especially noticed in the description of Absalom’s person (2
Samuel 14:26); but the wearing of long hair was unusual, and was only
practised as an act of religious observance by Nazarites (Numbers 6:5;
Judges 13:5) and others in token of special mercies (Acts 18:18).
In times of affliction the hair was cut off (Isaiah 3:17, 24; 15:2; 22:12;
Jeremiah 7:29; Amos 8:10). Tearing the hair and letting it go dishevelled
were also tokens of grief (Ezra 9:3). “Cutting off the hair” is a figure of the
entire destruction of a people (Isaiah 7:20). The Hebrews anointed the hair
profusely with fragrant ointments (Ruth 3:3; 2 Samuel 14:2; Psalm 23:5;
45:7, etc.), especially in seasons of rejoicing (Matthew 6:17; Luke 7:46).
- HAKKOZ the thorn, the head of one of the courses of the priests (1
Chronicles 24:10). - HALAH a district of Media to which captive Israelites were transported
by the Assyrian kings (2 Kings 17:6; 18:11; 1 Chronicles 5:26). It lay
along the banks of the upper Khabur, from its source to its junction with
the Jerujer. Probably the district called by Ptolemy Chalcitis. - HALAK smooth; bald, a hill at the southern extremity of Canaan (Joshua
11:17). It is referred to as if it were a landmark in that direction, being
prominent and conspicuous from a distance. It has by some been identified
with the modern Jebel el-Madura, on the south frontier of Judah, between
the south end of the Dead Sea and the Wady Gaian. - HALHUL full of hollows, a town in the highlands of Judah (Joshua
15:58). It is now a small village of the same name, and is situated about 5
miles north-east of Hebron on the way to Jerusalem. There is an old
Jewish tradition that Gad, David’s seer (2 Samuel 24:11), was buried here. - HALL (Gr. aule, Luke 22:55; R.V., “court”), the open court or quadrangle
belonging to the high priest’s house. In Matthew 26:69 and Mark 14:66
this word is incorrectly rendered “palace” in the Authorized Version, but
correctly “court” in the Revised Version. In John 10:1,16 it means a
“sheep-fold.” In Matthew 27:27 and Mark 15:16 (A.V., “common hall;”
R.V., “palace”) it refers to the proetorium or residence of the Roman