writing in the chamber of Elishama who plentifully supplied David and the scribe, they waited on the king, his small host with provisions, as they and informed him of its contents. lay at Mahanaim, during the usurpaBy his order, Jehudi fetched and tion of Absalom. On David's return read it before him and his princes. to his capital, and to take possession Scarcely were four or five pages of his royal dignity, Barzillai attendread, when Jehoiakim in a rage, and ed him to the passage of Jordan. contrary to the intercession of se- David invited him to go and dwell veral princes, took it, cut it to with him at Jerusalem. Barzillai pieces, and cast it into the fire. He pleaded his old age and unfitness for gave orders to apprehend Jeremiah the court. His excuse was admitted, and Baruch; but they could not be and king David dismissed him with found. Soon after, Baruch wrote the kindest embraces; but, with his another copy, more enlarged, at the permission, retained Chimham his mouth of the prophet. Baruch, hav-son, at court, 2 Sam. xvii. 27-29. ing lost all probable access to honour and xix. 31, 40. (3.) A priest deand wealth, and being in danger of scended from the daughter of the his life, was extremely dejected. In- former Barzillai, and head of a numspired of God, Jeremiah reproved ber of priests who returned from the him for his ambition after great Babylonian captivity, Neh. vii. 63. things, when the ruin of Judah was BASE, a foundation for pillars, or at hand; and assured him of divine the like, to stand on. The visionary protection in every danger, Jer. ephah, and woman in it, being estaxxxvi. and xlv. blished on her own base, in the land of

In the 10th year of Zedekiah, Ba- Shinar, may signify, that the judgruch, by Jeremiah's direction, car-ments of God should, in a just and ried his charter of the field of Hana-proper manner, fall on Chaldea, meel, and put it into an earthen vessel, where his people had been abused, that it might remain safe till after the and himself so dishonoured; or racaptivity. After Jerusalem was ta- ther, that the wicked Jews, in their ken, Nebuzaradan allowed Jeremiah present dispersion, should be in miand Baruch to remain in Judea with sery, and loaded with due punishGedaliah. After the murder of that ment, Zech. v. 11.

good deputy, Johanan, and other BASE, mean, contemptible, Job principal men, falsely blamed Baruch xxx. 8. Acts xvii. 5. Many of God's for enviously exciting Jeremiah to people are so in their outward conforbid their going to Egypt; and car-dition, and before their conversion ried them both to that country. were base in spirit and practice, Whether Baruch, after the death of 1 Cor. i. 28. and. vi. 10. Paul was Jeremiah, removed from Egypt to represented by the false teachers as Babylon, we know not. An apocry-such to those that saw him, 2 Cor. phal book is falsely ascribed to him, x. 1. Since the time of Ezekiel, Jer. xxxii. 12-16. and xliii. 3, 6. Egypt has been a base kingdom, and BARUCH, the son of Zabbai, under the basest of all kingdoms; being the direction of Nehemiah, earnestly almost always subject to the most repaired a part of the wall of Jerusa- grievous oppression, under the lem. Perhaps too, he sealed the co- Chaldeans, Persians, Greeks, Royenant of reformation, and was the mans, Saracens, Turks, and even father of Maaseiah, Neh. iii. 20. Mameluke slaves, Ezek. xxix. 14, and x. 6. and xi. 5. 15. Zech. x. 11.

BARZILLAI, (1.) A Simeonite BASHAN, or BATANEA, one of of Meholah, and father to Adriel the the most fruitful countries in the husband of Merab, the daughter of world, lying eastward of Jordan and Saul, 2 Sam. xxi. 8. 1 Sam. xviii. the sea of Tiberias, northward of the 19. (2.) A Gileadite of Rogelim, river Jabbok, westward of the moun

tains of Gilead, and south of Hermon might flee for his life, 2 Cor. xi. 33. and the kingdom of Geshuri. Be- In baskets, the noblemen of Samaria sides villages, it contained sixty sent 70 heads of Ahab's children to fenced cities. It was peculiarly fa- Jehu at Jezreel, 2 Kings x. 7. The mous for its rich pasture, excellent three baskets seen by the Egyptian flocks and herds, and stately oaks. baker in his dream represented three Moses took it from Og, and gave it days of life, Gen. xl. 16, 18, Basto the half-tribe of Manasseh, Numb. ket is put for the provision in it, xxxii. Josh. xvii. 1. 1 Chron. ii. 21 Deut. xxviii. 5, 17. When our Sa--23. Deut. xxxii. 14. Amos iv. 1. viour feasted 5,000 with five loaves, Ezek. xxvii. 6. Bashan and Carmel there remained twelve baskets full of are used to represent fertile countries, fragments; when he fed 4,000 with or the flourishing condition of a na- seven loaves, there remained seven tion or church, Nah. i. 4. Jer. 1. 19. baskets full. On both occasions much Mic. vii. 14. God's bringing his peo- more bread was left than there was ple from Bashan, and the depths of the at the beginning, as a reward to the sea, imports his recovering the Jews disciples for their liberality, and a from their captivity and dispersion, proof of the power and goodness of into which they were driven by the God, Matt. xiv. 20. and xv. 37. Assyrians and Chaldeans, and others, BASON, a small vessel for holdon the east, and by the Romans and ing water, or other liquids, to wash others on the west; and his redeem- or sprinkle with, John xiii. 5. Some ing them from distress on every think the ceremonial basons, which hand, Psa. lxviii. 22. The Jews received the blood of sacrifices, or lifting up the voice in Bashan, import- holy water for washing, might reed that they had in vain looked for present the ordinances of the goshelp from thence, Jer xxii. 20. pel, that bring near to us the blood This mountain is mentioned in a very and spirit of Christ in their cleansremarkable manner, Psa. Ixviii. 15, ing and sanctifying virtue, Exod. xii. 16. which is considered as descrip- 22. and xxiv. 6. 1 Kings vii. 40. tive of the towering height of mount BASTARD, a child begotten out Zion, even above Bashan and Salmon. of a state of marriage. Perhaps the But it is not the height of mount bastards, excluded from rule in the Zion that is here celebrated, it is the congregation of Israel, were such as glory of the church of God. "Why had a Canaanite for father or mother, Leap ye?" bishop Horne justly trans- Deut. xxiii. 2. Jephthah, a bastard lates, Why look ye askance with envy? of extraordinary character, was deThe worshippers of Bashan were liverer and judge of Israel, Judg. idolaters, foes to Zion, and looked xi. The bastard who dwelt in Ashwith envy at the glory of Zion, and dod, might be any foreigner who in the same manner, bringing back had no right to the place, Zech. ix. from Bashan and the sea's devouring 6. Bastards, in the family of God, deeps-is delivering from the bond- are those who in profession have age of Antichrist, yea, from the the church for their mother, but grave itself. were never savingly regenerated and begotten of God, Heb. xii. 8.

BASHEMATH, perfumed, daughter of Elon, the Hittite, whom Esau married against the consent of his parents, Gen. xxvi. 34. and mother to Reuel, ibid. xxxvi. 10.

BASTINADO, a punishment used among the Greeks and Romans, some instances whereof we also find among the Hebrews, and consisted in beatBASKET, a light vessel made of ing the criminal with a stick. The twigs, rushes, or splinters, for carry-Romans called it fustigatio, fustium, ing victuals, or the like, Exod, xxix. admonitio, or fustibus cadi, which 23. In a basket Paul was let down differed from the flagellatio, as the over the wall of Damascus, that he former was done with a stick, the VOL. I. T

Bats were unclean under the law; though some render the word Hatalaph, a swallow, Lev. xi. 19. Deut. xiv. 19.

latter with a rod or scourge. The than hens, and are eaten by the infustigation was a lighter punishment, habitants. The larger bats in Braand inflicted on freemen; the flagel-zil, Madagascar, and Maldives, faslation, a severer, and reserved for ten upon persons whom they find slaves. It was also called tympa-sleeping with any member uncovernum, because the patient here was ed, suck their blood, and leave them beat like a drum. This punishment bleeding to death. still obtains among the Turks, and other nations in the east. The criminal is laid upon his belly, his feet are raised, and tied to a stake, held fast by officers for the purpose; in BATH, a measure for liquids, the which posture he is beaten by a cud- same as the ephah for corn; it congel on the soles of his feet, back, tained almost 1748 solid inches, was chin, &c. and sometimes receives equal to three pecks, three pints, and to the number of one hundred blows more than 12 inches of the Winchesor more, St. Paul (Heb. xi. 35.) ter measure; or seven gallons, four says, that some of the saints were pints and above an half, English wine tortured, (irvu@aviobnoav, i. e. suffer- measure. Some think there was a ed the torture of the tympanum,) common and sacred bath; the last hoping for a better resurrection. containing a third more than the BAT, a four-footed beast of the former; because, in one place, Soloravenous kind. In its upper jaw it mon's brazen sea is said to contain has six fore-teeth, acute and distant 3,000 baths, and in another 2,000; from each other: in the lower, six but, without supposing this, that vesacute, but contiguous. It has eight sel might ordinarily hold 2,000, and tusks, two above and two below on at a stretch, when filled to the brim, each side. Every foot has five toes, hold 3,000; or its foot might contain and those of the fore feet are con- the third thousand, 1 Kings vii. 26. nected with a membrane, and expand 2 Chron. iv. 5.

into a sort of wings. This animal To BATHE, to steep in water or has often been ranked with birds; but other moisture, Lev. xv. 5. God's it has the mouth of a quadruped, not sword is bathed in heaven, when his the beak of a bird; it is covered with judgments are prepared for a terrihair, not feathers; it produces its ble infliction, as swords are hardened young alive, not from eggs; and in for slaughter, by being steeped in ligeneral much resembles a mouse. quor, Isa. xxxiv. 5.

The female has two paps, and brings BATHSHEBA, daughter of the forth two young ones at a birth: oath, or the seventh daughter, or while these are incapable to provide BATHSHUA, the daughter of Eliam for themselves, she flies about with or Ammiel, perhaps grand-daughter them clinging to her paps, and some- of Ahithophel, and wife of Uriah the times hangs them on a wall. Dur-Hittite. While her husband was eming the winter bats cover themselves ployed in the siege of RABBAH, she with their wings, and hang asleep in happened to bathe herself, it seems, dry caves, or old buildings. During in her garden; David espied her the summer, they hide themselves in from the top of his adjacent palace; the day, and flutter about in the even-and, being informed who she was, ing, catching moths and other in- sent for her, and lay with her. Fallsects. Some bats have tails, and ing with child, she informed king others have none: they can hardly David of it, that he might devise be tamed, but feed on insects, oil, how to conceal their guilt. He sent cheese, tallow, &c. Some bats in directly for Uriah, as if he had inChina are said to be as large as pul- tended to learn the affairs of the siege, lets, and some in Golconda larger but the real design was to give him

an opportunity of being with his by Adonijah's instigation, she peti wife, and so be reputed the father of tioned for his being allowed to marry the child. Uriah came, and after a Abishag, his father's concubine, So few trifling questions concerning the lomon, however honourably he restate and progress of the army, Da-ceived her, did with no small spirit, vid ordered him home to his house, and with marks of displeasure, utterand sent a collation from his own ly reject her petition, 1 Kings i. and table after him. Determined by ii. 13—25.

Providence, and his own continence BATTLE, a warlike contest, or and bravery, Uriah thought it below engagement, Deut. xx. 3. The Jewhim to riot in pleasure, while his fel-ish wars are called the battles of the low-soldiers encamped in the field; Lord, because fought by his people and so slept with the guards at the against his enemies, and he often palace-gate. Informed of this, Da- expressly directed, and gave signal vid next day called him to his table, victory therein, 1 Sam. xviii. 17. and to inflame his appetite, made 2 Chron. xxxii. 8. To turn the bathim drink heartily, and then ordered tle to the gate, is to fight valiantly, him home. Uriah again slept with and drive back the enemy to his own the guards, and excused himself to the country, even to the gate of his city, king, by alleging, that it was impro- as Hezekiah did, 2 Kings xviii. 8. per for him to enjoy the embraces of Isa. xxviii. 6. The battle is not to his wife, while Joab and the army, the strong, is not always gained by nay, the ark of God, were encamped the most powerful, Eccl. ix. 11.in the open field. Vexed with this The Lord fought with Sennacherib's disappointment, David sent him army in battles of shaking; by the back to the army, with a letter, di-shaking of his hand, an easy display recting Joab how to accomplish his of power, he cut them off with a murder. Bathsheba quickly hear- terrible and alarming destruction, ing of her husband's death, and Isa. xxx. 32. and xxxvii. 36.having mourned in the ordinary Battle-ar, a heavy ax to cut down manner, David sent for, and married trees, houses, &c. in the way of an her. The child begotten in adultery army; or to hew down whatever was scarcely born when he sickened, stood in the way of victory. The and, notwithstanding David's repent-Chaldeans are called God's battle-ax ance and fasting, died, as had been and weapons of war; by them he dethreatened by Nathan in the name of stroyed the nations around, Jer. li. the Lord. Bathsheba was, however 20. Battle-bow, either a bow to honoured to bear David other four shoot with in war, or an army of sons, of whom were Solomon, and archers and excellent warriors, Zech. Nathan, both ancestors of Jesus ix. 10. and x. 4. Christ, 2 Sam. xi. and xii. 1 Chron. iii. 5: Matt. i. 6. Luke iii. 31.

BATTLEMENT, a wall around the top of flat-roofed houses, as those Bathsheba, it seems, was extreme-of the Jews and some other eastern ly careful in the education of her chil-nations generally were, to prevent dren, particularly of Solomon, con- falling from them, or to fight from cerning whom many promises had with an enemy; or it may signify been made: the last chapter of Pro- the towers, walls, and fortifications, verbs, it is thought, contains part of of cities, Jer. v. 10. Whatever Jew her instructions, Prov. iv. 3. and had not a battlement on his roof, was xxxi. David having promised her, held guilty of the death of him who that Solomon her son should be his fell from it, Deut. xxi. 8. successor, a warm remonstrance To BATTER, to beat down, 2 from her and Nathan the prophet Sam. xx. 15.

prevented Adonijah, and procured BAY, (1.) A reddish colour, inthe coronation of Solomon. When, [clining to chesnut; but some render

AMUTSIM, strong, starling-coloured; and his free, unchangeable, liberal, speckled with black and white, and everlasting communication of his Żech. vi. 3. (2.) BAY-TREE is of goodness, Exod. iii. 14. (3.) To be that kind of plants which have nine made, become, Jer. xxxii. 38. (4.) stamina, and one style in the flower. To be openly manifested, appear to It has no calyx, but the corolla con-be, Rom. xiv. 9. Matt. v. 45. Luke sists of six hollow, erect, and oval-vi. 35. John xii. 36. (5.) To be pointed petals. Its fruit is a drupe set apart to, Judg. xi. 31. To be of an oval-pointed figure; the seed is the Lord's, or for him, is to be es a single oval-pointed nut, and its poused to his Son, dedicated to his kernel of the same shape. This tree service, aim at his glory, and obey propagates by seed, in most coun- his commandments, Hos. iii. 3. Zech. tries which are moderately warm. ix. 7. The Lord's being with us, or It spreads wide, and hath a most for us, imports his favouring us with beautiful flourish. Unless the win-his love, assisting us by his power, ter be severe, it retains its verdure, and satisfying us with his goodness, but quickly grows old, and decays, Judg. vi. 14. Rom. viii. 31. 1 Chron. Tournefort mentions five kinds of it. xxii. 16. (6.) To be reputed, judgWicked men are likened to it; their ed, esteemed, 1 Cor. vii. 14. (7.) power and influence are often exten-To be highly esteemed among men; sive; their victories, honour, and and hence what is contemned is reprosperity, make a glorious appear-presented as not being, 1 Cor. i. 28. ance; but O, how soon are matters (8.) To be like unto; so Christ is changed, and they reduced to wretch-like a vine, John xv. 1. (9.) To edness and contempt! Psal. xxxvii. represent, signify; thus circumcision 35, 36. is called God's covenant, because a

BDELLIUM, a gum or resin, sign and seal of it, Gen. xvii. 10. the somewhat resembling myrrh. It is paschal lamb-the passover, because found in single drops of a very irre- a sign to commemorate the angel's gular size, some of which are as big passing over the houses of the Heas a hazel-nut. Its colour is dusky, brews, Exod. xii. 11. and xiii. 9. and its taste bitterish; it powerfully the kine and ears of corn in Pharaoh's softens and cleanses when it is new dream, were-years of plenty and and fresh. There was plenty of it famine, i. e. they signified them, near the river Pison, Gen. ii. 12. Gen. xli. 26, 27. so the Sabbath, and the manna resembled it in was the covenant of the Lord, Exod. colour, Numb. xi. 7. After all, the xxxi. 13, 16. the rock which suplearned exceedingly disagree about plied the Hebrews with water, was the nature of bdellium, and the man-Christ, 1 Cor. x. 4. the candlesticks, ner of its production; nor do we churches; and stars, ministers, Rev. know if the modern be the same with i. 20. Baptism is the washing away the ancient Some will have BEDO- of sins, Acts xxii. 16. the bread LAH in scripture, to signify a pre- and wine in the Lord's supper are cious stone, fine crystal, or steel; and Christ's body and blood, because the great Bochart contends, that it they signified these things, Matt. denotes pearls, plenty of which are xxvi. 27. 1 Cor. x. 16, 17. (10.) fished not far from the mouth of the To comprehend and bring forth.Pison in the Persian gulf. Thus, to be carnally-minded is death;

BE; AM, IS, ARE; (1.) To exist, it implies our lying under the power have a being, Rom. iv. 17. (2.) To of spiritual death, and brings forth exist in and of one's self, indepen- eternal death, Rom. viii. 6. and vi. dently of all others. Hence God's 23. To do to others as we wish they name, I AM THAT I AM, Or, I WILL would do to us, is the law and the BE THAT I WILL BE, denote his prophets, it comprehends whatever eternal, independent, self-existence; duty to man is required by them,