Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Shur

(Encyclopedia)Shur shŭr [key], landmark of the Egyptian border N of the Red Sea, also called the Wilderness of Shur. In the Bible it is associated with the the wandering of Hagar, the journeying of Abraham, the se...

Kings, books of the Bible

(Encyclopedia)Kings, books of the Bible, originally a single work in the Hebrew canon. They are called First and Second Kings in modern Bibles, and Third and Fourth Kingdoms in the Greek versions, where the books o...

Delcassé, Théophile

(Encyclopedia)Delcassé, Théophile tāôfēlˈ dĕlkäsāˈ [key], 1852–1923, French foreign minister. He began his career as a political journalist and then turned to politics. First undersecretary and then min...

Coltrane, John

(Encyclopedia)Coltrane, John kōltrānˈ, kōlˈtrān [key], 1926–67, American jazz musician, b. Hamlet, N.C. He began ...

hajj

(Encyclopedia)hajj häj [key], the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, one of the five basic requirements (arkan or “pillars”) of Islam. Its annual observance corresponds to the major holy day id al-adha, itself...

Elihu

(Encyclopedia)Elihu ēlīˈhyo͞o [key], in the Bible. 1 Ancestor of Samuel. An alternate form is Eliel. 2 One of Job's comforters. 3 The same as Eliab (3.) 4 Manassite captain of David. 5 Korahite doorkeeper. ...

Eliphelet

(Encyclopedia)Eliphelet ēlĭfˈəlĕt [key], in the Bible. 1, 2 The same as Eliphalet. 3 Companion of Ezra. 4 One of David's mighty men. An alternate form is Eliphal. 5 Benjamite. 6 One who had married a foreign w...

Jeremiah, persons in the Bible

(Encyclopedia)Jeremiah jĕrĭmīˈə [key], in the Bible. 1 Prophet of the book of Jeremiah. 2 Father-in-law of Josiah. 3 Rechabite contemporary with Jeremiah the prophet. 4, 5, 6 Three who joined David at Ziklag. ...

Jether

(Encyclopedia)Jether jēˈthər [key], in the Bible. 1 Eldest of Gideon's sons. He was killed by his brother Abimelech. 2 Husband of David's sister Abigail. An alternate form is Ithra. 3 Descendant of Asher. See It...

Mobile Bay

(Encyclopedia)Mobile Bay, arm of the Gulf of Mexico, SW Ala., from 8 to 18 mi (12.9–29 km) wide, extending c.35 mi (56 km) from the Gulf to the mouth of the Mobile River. A ship channel connects Mobile Bay with t...