Columbia Encyclopedia

(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...

(Encyclopedia) Paran pāˈrăn [key], desert, the eastern region of the Sinai peninsula. In accounts in the Bible, Ishmael settled there. It was also the Israelites' first resting place after their stay at Sinai, an...

(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...

(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. ...

(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...

(Encyclopedia) Shammua or Shammuah both: shămˈyo͞oə [key], in the Bible. 1 Son of David and Bath-sheba. 2 Reubenite spy. Num. 13.4. 3 Father of Abda (2.) An alternate form is Shemaiah. ...

(Encyclopedia) Burnet, William, 1730–91, political leader in the American Revolution, b. near the present Elizabeth, N.J.; father of David G. Burnet. A physician practicing in Newark, Burnet was chairman of the Re...

(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. ...

(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...

(Encyclopedia) megachurch, large Protestant church with an average weekly attendance of 2,000 or more; relatively uncommon until after 1970. In the United States, where most megachurches are located, there were more...