Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Ahithophel

(Encyclopedia)Ahithophel əhĭthˈəfĕl [key], in the Bible, David's counselor who joined with Absalom against David. He killed himself when Absalom ignored his counsel. He may have been the grandfather of Bath-sh...

Charles VII, king of France

(Encyclopedia)Charles VII (Charles the Well Served), 1403–61, king of France (1422–61), son and successor of Charles VI. His reign saw the end of the Hundred Years War. Although excluded from the throne by the ...

Nabal

(Encyclopedia)Nabal nāˈbəl [key], in the Bible, wealthy sheep owner who resisted David's attempt at extortion. David's anger was appeased by the blandishments of Abigail, Nabal's wife. ...

Hanun

(Encyclopedia)Hanun hāˈnən [key], in the Bible. 1 King of Ammon. His insolent reception of David's messengers brought on a disastrous war. He may be the same as Shobi, an Ammonite who was kind to David. 2, 3 Two...

Ziklag

(Encyclopedia)Ziklag zĭkˈlăg [key], in the Bible, place of ancient Palestine, probably S of Beersheba, given to David by a Philistine ruler when he was in flight from Saul. David stayed there a while. ...

Holyrood Palace

(Encyclopedia)Holyrood Palace hŏlˈēro͞od [key] [i.e., holy cross], royal residence, Edinburgh, SE Scotland. In 1128, David I founded Holyrood Abbey on this site, where according to legend he was saved from an i...

Robert II, king of Scotland

(Encyclopedia)Robert II, 1316–90, king of Scotland (1371–90), nephew and successor of David II. He was the first sovereign of the house of Stuart, or Stewart (see Stuart, family), which eventually succeeded to ...

Joab

(Encyclopedia)Joab jōˈăb [key], in the Bible, son of David's sister Zeruiah and commander of his uncle's armies. A trusted and skillful administrator, he was often vindictive and cruel, as in his killing of Abne...

Henry III, king of France

(Encyclopedia)Henry III, 1551–89, king of France (1574–89); son of King Henry II and Catherine de' Medici. He succeeded his brother, Charles IX. As a leader of the royal army in the Wars of Religion (see Religi...

Absalom

(Encyclopedia)Absalom ăbˈsəlŏm [key], in the Bible, son of David. He murdered his half-brother Amnon for the rape of their sister Tamar, and fled. No sooner was he reconciled with his father than he incited a r...