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Esau

(Encyclopedia)Esau ēˈsô [key] [Heb.,=hairy], in the Bible, son of Isaac, who sold his birthright to his younger twin, Jacob, for lentil stew and who was tricked by Jacob out of his father's blessing. Also known ...

Nicolay, John George

(Encyclopedia)Nicolay, John George nĭkˈəlā [key], 1832–1901, biographer of Lincoln, b. Bavaria. In 1837 he was brought to the United States, and his family settled in Pike co., Ill. He worked on the Pittsfiel...

patriarch, in the Bible

(Encyclopedia)patriarch pāˈtrēärk [key], in biblical tradition, one of the antediluvian progenitors of the race as given in Genesis (e.g., Seth) or one of the ancestors of the Jews (e.g., Abraham, Isaac, Jacob,...

Rebecca

(Encyclopedia)Rebecca or Rebekah both: rēbĕkˈə [key], wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob. One day, as was her custom, she drew water at the city well; while there she showed kindness to Eliezer, Abraham's servan...

Nathans, Daniel

(Encyclopedia)Nathans, Daniel, 1928–99, American microbiologist, b. Wilmington, Del., M.D. Washington Univ., St. Louis, 1954. He became a professor at Johns Hopkins in 1962. Nathans worked with Werner Arber and H...

Kadmonites

(Encyclopedia)Kadmonites kădˈmənīts [key], in the Bible, unidentified tribe whose land was promised to Abraham's descendants. ...

Keturah

(Encyclopedia)Keturah kētyo͞oˈrə [key], in the Bible, mother of six sons of Abraham. ...

Aner

(Encyclopedia)Aner āˈnər [key], in the Bible. 1 Ally of Abraham. 2 Levitical town, E of the Jordan. ...

Milcah

(Encyclopedia)Milcah mĭlˈkə [key], in the Bible. 1 Wife of Abraham's brother Nahor. 2 Daughter and coheiress of Zelophehad. ...

Hamor

(Encyclopedia)Hamor hāˈmôr [key], in the Bible, head of the family from whom Abraham bought his tomb. An alternate form is Emmor. ...