long tunic or under robe worn next the skin (1 Samuel 19:24; Isaiah 47:3;
comp. Mark 14:52; John 21:7). It is used figuratively, meaning “being
discovered” or “made manifest” (Job 26:6; Hebrews 4:13). In Exodus
32:25 the expression “the people were naked” (A.V.) is more correctly
rendered in the Revised Version “the people were broken loose”, i.e., had
fallen into a state of lawlessness and insubordination. In 2 Chronicles
28:19 the words “he made Judah naked” (A.V.), but Revised Version “he
had dealt wantonly in Judah,” mean “he had permitted Judah to break
loose from all the restraints of religion.”
- NAOMI the lovable; my delight, the wife of Elimelech, and mother of
Mahlon and Chilion, and mother-in-law of Ruth (1:2, 20, 21; 2:1).
Elimelech and his wife left the district of Bethlehem-Judah, and found a
new home in the uplands of Moab. In course of time he died, as also his
two sons Mahlon and Chilion, who had married women of Moab, and
three widows were left mourning the loss of their husbands. Naomi longs
to return now to her own land, to Bethlehem. One of her widowed
daughters-in-law, Ruth, accompanies her, and is at length married to Boaz
(q.v.). - NAPHISH refresher, one of the sons of Ishmael (Genesis 25:15; 1
Chronicles 1:31). He was the father of an Arab tribe. - NAPHTALI my wrestling, the fifth son of Jacob. His mother was Bilhah,
Rachel’s handmaid (Genesis 30:8). When Jacob went down into Egypt,
Naphtali had four sons (Genesis 46:24). Little is known of him as an
individual. - NAPHTALI, MOUNT the mountainous district of Naphtali (Joshua
20:7). - NAPHTALI, TRIBE OF On this tribe Jacob pronounced the patriarchal
blessing, “Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words” (Genesis
49:21). It was intended thus to set forth under poetic imagery the future
character and history of the tribe.
At the time of the Exodus this tribe numbered 53,400 adult males
(Numbers 1:43), but at the close of the wanderings they numbered only
45,400 (26:48-50). Along with Dan and Asher they formed “the camp of
Dan,” under a common standard (2:25-31), occupying a place during the
march on the north side of the tabernacle.