conquests on a large scale. He subdued Northern Syria and Hamath, and
the kings of Syria rendered him homage and paid him tribute. His ambition
was to found in Western Asia a kingdom which should embrace the whole
civilized world, having Nineveh as its centre. Menahem, king of Israel, gave
him the enormous tribute of a thousand talents of silver, “that his hand
might be with him” (2 Kings 15:19; 1 Chronicles 5:26). The fact that this
tribute could be paid showed the wealthy condition of the little kingdom of
Israel even in this age of disorder and misgovernment. Having reduced
Syria, he turned his arms against Babylon, which he subdued. The
Babylonian king was slain, and Babylon and other Chaldean cities were
taken, and Pul assumed the title of “King of Sumer [i.e., Shinar] and
Accad.” He was succeeded by Shalmanezer IV.
(2.) A geographical name in Isaiah 66:19. Probably = Phut (Genesis 10:6;
Jeremiah 46:9, R.V. “Put;” Ezekiel 27:10).
- PULPIT (Nehemiah 8:4). (See EZRA.)
- PULSE (Daniel 1:12, 16), R.V. “herbs,” vegetable food in general.
- PUNISHMENT The New Testament lays down the general principles of
good government, but contains no code of laws for the punishment of
offenders. Punishment proceeds on the principle that there is an eternal
distinction between right and wrong, and that this distinction must be
maintained for its own sake. It is not primarily intended for the
reformation of criminals, nor for the purpose of deterring others from sin.
These results may be gained, but crime in itself demands punishment. (See
MURDER; THEFT.)
Endless, of the impenitent and unbelieving. The rejection of this doctrine
“cuts the ground from under the gospel...blots out the attribute of
retributive justice; transmutes sin into misfortune instead of guilt; turns all
suffering into chastisement; converts the piacular work of Christ into
moral influence...The attempt to retain the evangelical theology in
connection with it is futile” (Shedd).
- PURIFICATION the process by which a person unclean, according to the
Levitical law, and thereby cut off from the sanctuary and the festivals, was
restored to the enjoyment of all these privileges.
The great annual purification of the people was on the Day of Atonement
(q.v.).