- HANDBREADTH a measure of four fingers, equal to about four inches
(Exodus 25:25; 37:12; Psalm 39:5, etc.). - HANDKERCHIEF Only once in Authorized Version (Acts 19:12). The
Greek word (sudarion) so rendered means properly “a sweat-cloth.” It is
rendered “napkin” in John 11:44; 20:7; Luke 19:20. - HANDMAID servant (Genesis 16:1; Ruth 3:9; Luke 1:48). It is probable
that Hagar was Sarah’s personal attendant while she was in the house of
Pharaoh, and was among those maid-servants whom Abram had brought
from Egypt. - HANDWRITING (Colossians 2:14). The “blotting out the handwriting” is
the removal by the grace of the gospel of the condemnation of the law
which we had broken. - HANES a place in Egypt mentioned only in Isaiah 30:4 in connection
with a reproof given to the Jews for trusting in Egypt. It was considered
the same as Tahpanhes, a fortified town on the eastern frontier, but has
been also identified as Ahnas-el-Medeeneh, 70 miles from Cairo. - HANGING (as a punishment), a mark of infamy inflicted on the dead
bodies of criminals (Deuteronomy 21:23) rather than our modern mode of
punishment. Criminals were first strangled and then hanged (Nu. 25:4;
Deuteronomy 21:22). (See 2 Samuel 21:6 for the practice of the
Gibeonites.)
Hanging (as a curtain). (1.) Hebrews masak, (a) before the entrance to the
court of the tabernacle (Exodus 35:17); (b) before the door of the
tabernacle (26:36, 37); (c) before the entrance to the most holy place,
called “the veil of the covering” (35:12; 39:34), as the word properly
means.
(2.) Hebrews kelaim, tapestry covering the walls of the tabernacle (Exodus
27:9; 35:17; Numbers 3:26) to the half of the height of the wall (Exodus
27:18; comp. 26:16). These hangings were fastened to pillars.
(3.) Hebrews bottim (2 Kings 23:7), “hangings for the grove” (R.V., “for
the Asherah”); marg., instead of “hangings,” has “tents” or “houses.” Such
curtained structures for idolatrous worship are also alluded to in Ezekiel
16:16.