Columbia Encyclopedia

(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...

(Encyclopedia) Robert, Léopold lāôpôldˈ rōbĕrˈ [key], 1794–1835, French genre painter, b. Switzerland; pupil of J. L. David. He excelled in depicting Italian folk life in a classical style. His two best-kn...

(Encyclopedia) Eliezer ēlīēˈzər, ĕlīēˈ– [key], in the Bible. 1 Servant of Abraham. 2 Son of Moses. 3 Prophet who rebuked King Jehoshaphat. 4 Priest under David. 5 Chief Reubenite. 6 Messenger of Ezra. 7 M...

(Encyclopedia) Elishama ēlĭshˈəmə [key], in the Bible. 1 Chief Ephraimite. 2, 3 Sons of David. One is called Elishua twice. 4 Grandfather of Ishmael (6.) 5 Scribe. 6 Priest under Jehoshaphat. ...

(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) New Thought, popular philosophical movement with religious implications; it affirms “the creative power of constructive thinking.” A successor of New England transcendentalism, New Thought grew ou...

(Encyclopedia) American Colonization Society, organized Dec., 1816–Jan., 1817, at Washington, D.C., to transport free blacks from the United States and settle them in Africa. The freeing of many slaves, principall...

(Encyclopedia) americium ămərĭˈshēəm [key], artificially produced radioactive chemical element; symbol Am; at. no. 95; mass no. of most stable isotope 243; m.p. about 1,175℃; b.p. about 2,600℃; sp. gr. 13....

(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...