I,

When it relates to God, is ex-affair of Gibeah, were all put to the pressive of his dignity, Psa. sword, except 400 virgins, who were lxxxi. 10. his power, Gen. xvii. 1. bestowed on the surviving Benjahis self-existence and unchangeable- mites, Judg. xxi. About 310 years ness, Exod. iii. 14. or the certainty after, this city sustained a furious siege of his promises and threatenings, from Nahash, king of the Ammonites, Exod. vi. 2. Numb. xiv. 35. Re- and the inhabitants could obtain no ferring to men, it expresses their terms, but of having their right eyes pride, Isa. xlvii. 8. the certainty of pulled out, as a reproach to Israel. what they say, Gal. v. 2. Phil. iii. 19. Unwilling to submit directly, they and their readiness to perform their obtained a truce of seven days; beduty, Mic. iii. 8. Matt. xxi. 30. fore the end of which Saul at their JABAL. See LAMECH. request, gathered an army, routed JABBOK evacuation, or dissipa- the Ammonites, and raised the siege. tion, a brook on the east of Jordan, In the grateful remembrance of rising in the mountains of Gilead, which, the valiant men of Jabesh, and falling into Jordan, a little south about forty years after, at the hazard of the sea of Tiberias. It separated] of their lives, took the bodies of Saul the kingdom of Sihon from that of and his sons from the wall of BethOg, king of Bashan; and near to it shan, where the Philistines had hung Jacob wrestled with the angel of the them, and gave them a decent incovenant, and prevailed, Deut. ii. 37. terment, 1 Sam. xi. and xxxi. 1 Gen. xxxii. 22. Chron. x. 11, 12.

JABEZ, sorrow, sadness, grief, appears to have been a descendant of Judah by Ashur. His mother bare

His

JABESH, drought, confusion, shame, or JABESH-GILEAD, a city of the eastern Manassites, at the foot of mount Gilead, about six miles from him with much pain and sorrow, which Pella, where the Christian Jews found was the cause of his name. refuge amidst the ruins of Judea by noted religion, authority, and seed, the Romans. It was at no great dis-rendered him more honourable than tance from Gadara. The inhabitants his brethren. With distinguished ferof this city, neglecting to join their vour, he begged that God would brethren against the Benjamites in the truly and sigually bless him; would!

enlarge his family and inheritance; 2 Chron. xxvi. 6. There was a fawould assist and direct him in every mous university of the Jews in this undertaking; and preserve him from place some ages after Christ. every thing sinful and dangerous. JACINCT, or JACINTH, a preGod graciously granted his request, cious stone, of a violet and purple 1 Chron. iv. 5-10. colour, not unlike the amethyst. It JABIN, understanding, or build-is very hard: but the diamond will ing, (1.) A king of Hazor, in the make an impression on it. It was north parts of Canaan, and the most the 11th foundation in the new Jepowerful of all the sovereigns in these rusalem, Rev. xxi. 20. That which quarters. Struck with the rapidity some moderns call jacinth, has a yelof Joshua's conquests, he engaged all low colour, somewhat like a flame. the kings on the north of Canaan, JACOB, he that supplants, or unparticularly the kings of Madon, Jo-dermines, or the heel, the younger son bab, Shimron, Achshaph, &c. to assist of Isaac and Rebekah, was born A. M. him. Their whole forces rendezvous-2168 or 2173, with Esau. In the ed at the waters of Merom, to attack womb they had some struggling with the Hebrews; but the Lord deliver- one another, and the Lord informed ed them into Joshua's hand, who gave their mother, that she was with twins, them an entire defeat, pursued their who should become nations, but of fugitives as far as Great Zidon to a very different temper, state, and the north-west, and to Mizrephoth-condition; but the elder should serve maim on the east. He then marched the younger. In their birth, the back to Hazor and burnt it, and last took hold of the other's heel, killed Jabin its king, Josh. xi. (2.) and for that reason was called Jacob, Jabin king of Hazor, and perhaps the hecler, or supplanter. When he the great-grandchild of the former, grew up, he was of a quiet and was a very powerful monarch, had peaceable temper, and was much 900 chariots armed with iron scythes, at home with his mother; while his and an army under Sisera, his gene-brother was of a restless temper, ral, of 997,000 men, according to and passionately fond of hunting, Philo Eiblius. After he had twenty He bought the birthright of his broyears, from about 2699 to 2719, or ther for a mess of pottage. By prefrom 2747 to 2767, mightily oppress-senting some savoury meat, which ed the Hebrews, his army was routed his mother had prepared, to his dimby Deborah and Barak, and, it is pro-sighted father, and, pretending he bable, that a terrible storm of rain was Esau, he obtained his principal made the river Kishon sweep away blessing, of a fat land well watered, multitudes of them. Sisera the gene- and of the dominion over all his breral fled away on his feet, and was re-thren. Enraged at this, Esau received by Jael, the wife of Heber solved to murder him. Rebekah his the Kenite, with apparent kindness. mother, who had wickedly advised His fatigue occasioned his falling into him, being informed of it, desired a deep sleep. Jael, instigated against Jacob to retire to Mesopotamia, to this murderer of the Hebrews, killed her brother Laban's family, and abide him by driving a nail through his there till Esau's fury should be coolhead, and afterwards showed him to ed. Afterwards she communicated Barak, Judg. iv. and. v. the matter to Isaac, and told him JABNEH, the same as Jabin, or what an insupportable burden it JAMNIA, a city of the Danites, on the would be to her, if Jacob should sea-shore, and at no great distance marry a Canaanitish woman. Isaac southward of Joppa. It seems it had sent for Jacob, gave him his blessing, been in the hands of the Philistines for and charged him to go to Pandansome time before Uzziah broke down aram, and there marry one of Laban the walls of it, as also those of Gath, his uncle's daughters.

Jacob departed privately from her coming up, he affectionately saBeersheba. After sun-set, probably luted her, helped her to water her on the second day of his journey, he flock, and told her that he was the son lighted on a place called Luz, on of Rebekah her aunt. She hastily account of the multitude of almonds, informed her father, who came and or hazel-nuts, that grew thereabouts. conducted Jacob to his house. When Here he laid himself down to rest Jacob had continued here about a all night, under the open sky, with month, Laban proposed to give him a stone under his head for a pillow. wages. Jacob offered seven years' Here, in his dream, he saw a ladder, service for Rachel his younger, but whose foot stood on the earth, and most beautiful, daughter; and with its top reached unto heaven; the great cheerfulness he fulfilled his enangels of God ascended and de-gagement, from the great love which scended on the rounds of it. Above he bare to her. When the marriagethe top of it stood the Lord God, night came, as a providential pu and assured him he was the God of nishment to Jacob for deceiving his his fathers, Abraham and Isaac, and dim-eyed father, Laban conducted would give him and his seed the Leah, his elder daughter, whose land of Canaan for their inheritance, beauty was far inferior, to Jacob's make them numerous as the sand bed, instead of Rachel. Next mornby the sea-shore, and render all na-ing the cheat was discovered; and tions blessed in his seed. This lad-Jacob warmly upbraided his uncle der represented the providence of with it. He pretended that it was God administered by angels, and contrary to the custom of their counmanaged by God as a God in cove- try to marry the younger daughter nant; and Jesus Christ as the won-first; but showing himself a covetder, and Lord of angels, and ourous mortal, he told him he might Mediator between God and man, have Rachel too for seven years' and the way of access to him sprung more service. This Jacob agreed from Jacob in his humanity, but in his to. Of his two wives, Jacob much divine nature the Lord from heaven, preferred Rachel; but God favourand the means of all blessings from ed Leah with children, viz. Reuben, God to sinful men. Awakened from Simeon, Levi, and Judah; and, it his sleep, Jacob was struck with a seems, she had a thankful heart. But reverential impression of the divine Rachel was barren. Vexed at this, greatness, took the stone which he she begged that Jacob would make had for his pillow, erected it as a her conceive, or else she should die monument, poured oil on the top of of grief, or by some violent means. it, and called the name of the place With indignation at her rashness, he BETHEL, or the house of God; and told her he was not a God, to bestow he also engaged, that since God had or withhold the fruit of the womb at promised to protect, and provide his pleasure. She next ordered Bilfor him, and bring him back to Ca- hah her maid, whom her father had naan, he would serve him, give him given her, to take her place in her the tithes of all he acquired, and, husband's bed, that by her she might at his return, make Bethel a place have children to pass for her own. of solemn worship, Gen. xxv. xxvii. By this woman Jacob had two sons, and xxviii. the one Rachel called Dan, as if she Encouraged by this vision, he went hoped God would judge her, and forward to Haran, where Laban his avenge her want of children on her uncle lived. Near to the place, some sister; the other she called Naphshepherds informed him where La-tali, as if with great wrestling she ban dwelt; that his family was well, had prevailed against her sister. In and that Rachel his daughter was imitation hereof, Leah put her maid just coming to water her flock. At Zilpah to Jacob's bed, and she bare

him two sons, Gad and Asher, by loss of whatever was missing of his whose names Leah intended to hint flocks or herds. After Jacob had her expectation that a troop of chil-served other six years with great ladren was coming, and that the daugh-bour and fidelity, Laban and his sons ters would call her blessed.-Soon af- carried themselves very surly toter, Leah, with her son Reuben's wards him, pretending that he had mandrakes, hired her husband for made himself rich at their expense. Rachel's night to sleep in her bed, Meanwhile, God, in a dream, orand, in consequence hereof, bare dered him to return to Canaan. ReIssachar; and after that, she bare solving to do so, he acquainted his Zebulun, and a daughter called wives that he saw their father's deDinah: nor was it long ere the portment towards him changed, and Lord pitied Rachel, and gave her that he intended to return to Canaan. a son, whom she called Joseph, in They being sensible of their father's hopes that she should have another injurious behaviour, were glad to son added to him. part with him. So Jacob, his wives, Jacob's fourteen years' service for children, servants, and flocks, movhis two wives being finished, heed towards Canaan, and Rachel carbegged that Laban his father-in-law ried off some of her father's idols. would permit him to return to his On the 3d day after, Laban, informcountry, and his family along with ed of their departure, pursued them him, that he might provide for him- in no small fury; but God, in a self. Sensible of the advantage of dream, charged him to beware of his service, Laban offered him what giving Jacob so much as an injurious wages he pleased if he would stay. word. On the 7th day, he overtook To show his dependence on the pro- them in the mountain of Gilead. vidence of God, Jacob moved, that Some sharp words were exchanged, all the spotted cattle and brown and Laban heavily complained that sheep, henceforth produced, should they had carried off his gods. Jacob be his hire. Laban, expecting these desired him to rummage all his store, could not be many, readily consent- and if his gods were found with any, ed. To prevent ali disputes, and let the person be put to death. Lahinder as much as possible the future ban scarched with the utmost care; product of spotted cattle and brown but Rachel having taken the idols, sheep, all of these kinds were re- and put them into the camel's furmoved to the distance of three days' niture, sat upon them, pretending journey, and entrusted to the care that her indisposition hindered her of Laban's sons; and the rest were rising. Nothing of Laban's being committed to the oversight of Jacob. found, he and Jacob made a solemn Instructed by a vision, Jacob laid covenant of perpetual friendship; speckled, spotted, and ring-streaked, in testimony whereof, they reared rods of poplar, &c. in the watering- a heap of stones, which Jacob calltroughs, about the time when the ed Galeed, or Gilead, and Laban, stronger cattle coupled and conceiv-Jegar-sahaditha, both which desiged; these striking their imagination nations signified the heap of witness. as they drank, made them conceive After Jacob had offered sacrifice, a spotted offspring: but he laid them and given an entertainment to his not in when the weaker cattle con- friends, Laban and his company afceived: by this means all the strong-fectionately parted, and returned to er cattle were Jacob's, and his flocks Padan-aram, while Jacob and his faand herds exceedingly increased. mily went forward to Canaan, Gen. Laban therefore frequently changed xxix. xxx. and xxxi. When Jacob his hire but whatever was allotted had advanced to the ford of JABBOK, to Jacob, exceedingly increased. God showed him that he was guardLaban too, caused Jacob to bear theled by angels on every side, both