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Four Forest Cantons, the

(Encyclopedia)Four Forest Cantons, the, Ger. Die Vier Waldstätten, in central Switzerland, the cantons of Unterwalden, Schwyz, Uri, and Lucerne, the first Swiss communities to win their freedom against the Hapsbur...

Imitation of Christ, The

(Encyclopedia)Imitation of Christ, The, Christian devotional book, of great popularity. It originated among the Brothers of the Common Life in the Netherlands and was written probably c.1425. Tradition (since c.144...

Israel, in the Bible

(Encyclopedia)Israel ĭzˈrēəl, ĭzˈrāəl [key] [as understood by Hebrews,=he strives with God], according to the book of Genesis, name given to Jacob as eponymous ancestor of the Hebrews, the chosen people of ...

Ira, in the Bible

(Encyclopedia)Ira īˈrə [key], in the Bible. 1 Chief officer of David. 2, 3 Two of David's guard. ...

Ar, in the Bible

(Encyclopedia)Ar är [key], city of Moab, probably one of the important centers E of the Dead Sea. The Greeks called it Areopolis, and later it was called Rabbath Moab. References to it in the Bible are numerous. ...

Joseph, in the Bible

(Encyclopedia)Joseph, one of the heroes of the patriarchal narratives of the Book of Genesis. He is presented as the favored son of Jacob and Rachel, sold as a boy into slavery by his brothers, who were jealous of ...

Arad, in the Bible

(Encyclopedia)Arad āˈrăd [key], in the Bible, royal town in the Negev, the modern Tell Arad (Israel), S of Hebron. The “king Arad” in the Book of Numbers is a mistranslation for “king of Arad.” It is the...

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