ty were irrecoverably ruined: Artaxerxes then, to the joy of his subjects, applied himself to redress their disorders. same time, the Athenians so terribly harassed the Persian empire, that Artaxerxes was obliged to make peace with them, on these terms, That all the Greek cities of Asia should enjoy full liberty; that no Persian ships of war should enter the sea between the Euxine and the Pamphylian coast; In the 7th year of his reign, in which perhaps he made Esther his queen, Esth. ii. 16; he authorized EZRA, with as many Jewish attendants as pleased, to return to Judea.-nor any of their land-forces approach He allowed him to collect what mo- nearer the shore than three days journey he could in Chaldea, for the use ney; and that the Athenians should of the temple; he complimented him attack no place belonging to the Perwith a variety of sacred vessels; he sians. After five years importunity, ordered his collectors on the west of Artaxerxes gave up Inarus, and the the Euphrates to pay to him, from other Egyptian princes to the will the public revenue, 100 talents of sil- of his mother. To revenge the blood ver, 100 measures of wheat, 800 gal- of Achimenides, she put them to a lons of wine, and as much oil, and cruel death. Megabysus, who had whatever salt was necessary for the taken them prisoners, and promised use of the temple; he exempted from them safety, enraged hereat, retired tribute all the priests, Levites, and to Syria, levied an army, to take reNethinims; he authorized Ezra to venge on the king and his mother.— promote the service of his God, and Twice he routed the royal army of the welfare of his nation, to the ut- 200,000, and obliged Artaxerxes to most; and empowered him to fine, pardon, and recall him to court. imprison, or kill, every one that dared to oppose the laws of God or the king, Ezra vii. In the 20th year of his reign, he, perhaps instigated by Esther, empowered Nehemiah to go and rebuild the city of Jerusalem, and or-polis, Tit. iii. 12. dered Asaph, the keeper of the royal forest, to allow him whatever timber he had use for, Neh. ii. ARTEMAS seems to have been a noted preacher. Paul intended to send him, or Tychicus, to Crete; probably to supply the place of Titus, while he came to visit the apostle at Nico ART, skill in any particular business, as compounding of spices, engraving, &c. Exod. xxx. 25. ARTIFICERS, persons skilful in handy-work; as smiths, weavers, &c. Chron. xxix. 5. ARTILLERY, armour, I Sam, The Egyptians, weary of the Persian yoke, had revolted about the 5th || year of his reign, and made Inarus, king of Lybia, their sovereign; and entered into a league with the Athe-xx. 40. nians. An army of 300,000, commanded by Achimenides, the brother or son of the king's mother, was sent to reduce them. Inarus and his allies defeated this powerful host, killed the general, and 100,000 of his troops.The rest filed to Memphis, and there defended themselves for three years, till Megabysus and Artabasus, with another Persian army, relieved them; defeated the Egyptians, and reduced them to their wonted slavery; took Inarus, and many others of their chief men, prisoners. About the ARTOTYRITES, a Christian sect, in the primitive church, who celebrated the eucharist with bread and cheese, saying, that the first oblations of men were not only of the fruit of the earth, but of their flocks. It is derived from a Greek word signifying bread, and another word importing cheese. Ency. ARVAD, ARADUS, a city of Phonicia, situated in a small island, southward of Tyre, and about a league from the continent. The Arvadites, descended of Canaan, built and peo pled it in the earliest ages after the || bolished the idols, and the altars, flood. It was anciently famous for high places, and groves belonging to navigation and riches, and ordinarily them; and commanded his subjects shared in the fate of Tyre and Zidon. to worship only the true God. These In Ezekiel's time, the Arvadites ser- abominable creatures, the Sodomites, ved as mariners in the Tyrian fleets, he entirely extirpated. Meanwhile, and as guards on their walls, Gen. x. he fortified the principal cities on his 18. Ezek. xxvii. 8, 11. It is now frontiers, took such care to train up called by the Turks Ruwadde; and his subjects in war, that he quickly though, by reason of the height of had a militia of 300,000 Jews, armed the island, it appears beautiful from with shields and spears, and 280,000 the shore, yet, on the spot, it is very Benjamites, armed with shields and pitiful; having scarce any thing but bows. He had scarce reigned 12 or a ruinous fort, and a few old cannon 14 years, when ZERAH, king of Eto defend it. THIOPIA, invaded Judea with a milAS. (1.) Like, 1 Pet. iii. 8. (2.)||lion of foot, and 300 scythed chariots. While, Acts xx. 9. (3.) Because, After prayer to God, Asa attacked John xv. 12. and xvii. 2.-As, im-them at Mareshah with an army ports, (1.) Likeness only in appear- vastly inferior, routed them, pursued ance, Matth. xxvi. 25. (2.) Same-them as far as Gerar, on the southness, John i. 14. Heb. xii. 7. (3.) west of Canaan, smote the cities Likeness in reality or quality, but thereabout in alliance with them, and not degree: thus saints are united returned home laden with booty. to one another as really as Christ is In gratitude to God, and obedience to God; are perfect as God; righte-to his prophet Azariah, Asa applied ous as Christ; and loved of him as himself further to reform his kinghe is loved of God, John xvii. 22. dom. He and his subjects engaged Matth. v. 48. 1 John iii. 7. John xv. themselves by covenant to serve the 9. (4.) Likeness in both quality and Lord; and agreed that it should be degree, John v. 23.* held, according to the law, a capital crime to worship an idol. He deprived his grandmother Maachah of He was edu-what authority she held, because she was a worshipper, if not priestess, to some idol, perhaps a very obscene one. ASA succeeded his father Abijah on the throne of Judah, A. M. 3049, and reigned 41 years. cated by Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom, a noted idolater; but was pious himself. The first ten years of his reign he had no war, and applied himself to reform his kingdom. He did not destroy the high places, where his subjects, contrary to order, worshipped the true God; but he a-things of his father, with a great part Her idol and its grove he trampled under foot, burnt with fire in the valley of Hinnom, and cast the ashes into the brook Kidron, to mingle with the filth of the city. The dedicated of his late spoils, he devoted to the service of God; and having repaired the altar of burnt-offering, he sacrificed thereon 700 oxen, and 5000 sheep, of his Ethiopian booty. The fame of his reformation, and the blessings attending it, encoura As, in antiquity, a particular weight, consisting of 12 ounces; being the same with libra, or the Roman pound. As was also the name of a Roman coin, which was of different weights and different matter in different ages of the commonwealth.As was also used to denote any integer orged vast numbers of the pious Iswhole. Whence the English word ace.Thus as signifies the whole inheritance; whence hares ex asse, the heir to the whole Ency, art. As. estate. raelites to transport themselves into his kingdom. To prevent the loss of his subjects, Baasha king of Israel, in the 16th year of Asa, and 36th AS A 120 to ashes, and these only interred, 1 from the division of the tribes, engaged in a war with Judah; took Ramah, and began to fortify it, as a means to prevent all communication between the two kingdoms. On this occasion, Asa digged a remark-tremely swift of foot. At the battle able pit; but for what purpose, whe- of Gibeon he so obstinately pursued ther to hide himself, or rather to hide Abner, that he obliged that general to kill kim. Joab, afterward resenthis wealth, or to entrap Baasha, we are not told, Jer. xli. 9. To thwart Ba-ed this slaughter in the murder of ASAPH. His ancestors, reckonasha's designs, Asa took all the sil- Abner, 2 Sam. ii. 18, 19. and iii. 26, 27. ver and gold he could find in his own exchequer, or in the temple, and sent ing upwards, were Berachiah, Shiit to Benhaded king of Syria; beg-mea, Michael, Baaseiah, Malchiah, ging that he would break his league Ethni, Zerah, Adaiah, Ethan, Zimwith Baasha, and enter into one with mah, Shimei, Jahath, Gershom, Lehiin. Instigated by the valuable pre- vi; his sons were Zaccur, Joseph, sent, and the hopes of extending his Nethaniah, and Asarelah. He was one power, Benhadad fell upon the north of the three principal singers, and his parts of Baasha's kingdom, and took children constituted the 3d, 1st, 5th, Meanwhile, and 7th class of the temple musici several cities thereof. It seems their station Asa from the south, retook Ramah, ans, 1 Chron. vi. 39-43. and xxv. and carried off the materials prepar- 2, 9-14. was on the south side of the brazen ed for its fortifications, and therewith altar. The 50th, 73d, and ten folfortified Geba, and western Mizpah. lowing psalms are ascribed to Asaph; but it is certain he could not compose them all, as sundry of them relate to Perhaps their title latter times. means no more, but that they were ASCEND, to rise higher in place chiefly sung by his posterity. God's essence being eveor dignity; to go or climb upwards, Josh. vi. 5. wars. Asa's distrust of the divine power and goodness, which had so lately rendered him victorious over a more formidable enemy, and his treacherous application for heathenish aid, highly displeased the Lord. By divine direction, Hanani the prophet, sharply reproved him; and assured him, that henceforth he should have Instead of thankfully receiv-ry where present, is incapable of moing the admonitions of God, he out- tion; his ascent can therefore mean rageously imprisoned the prophet, no more than the upward motion and oppressed such of his subjects, or departure of some visible token of as, it seems, marked their displeasure his presence, Gen. xxxv. 12. Christ's He and Baasha ascending to Jerusalem, imports his with his conduct. continued thereafter in a state of war. going to a city high in honour and In the last part of his life, he appears situation, Luke xix. 28. His ascendto have become extremely peevish;ing into heaven, while he continued and in the 39th year of his reign he was seized with the gout, or some other ailment in his feet. He rather applied to his physicians than to his God for relief. After two years illness he died. We are tempted to think, that the noisome smell of his corpse obliged them to fill his bed with odours and spices: nor can we say, whether his body was first burnt in his debased estate, denotes his per- and his agents, Rev. xi. 7. Christ's revived WITNESSES ascend to heaven in a cloud; amid fearful confusions they shall, in a marvellous manner, constitute themselves into a glorious church-state, and therein enjoy great knowledge, purity, honour, safety, and fellowship with God, Rev. xi. 12. ASCRIBE, to avow that a thing was done by, or belongs to one, 1 Sam. xviii. 8. ASENATH, the daughter of Potipherah, and wife of JOSEPH. Some have imagined her the daughter of Potiphar; and that her discovering to her father her mother's wicked behaviour towards Joseph, endeared her to that young patriarch, Gen. xli. 45. or on the Son of man, import their earnest prying into the mystery of our Saviour's incarnation and Mediatorial work; and their active ministration to him and his people, Gen. xxviii. 12. John i. 51.* The Angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God, is Jesus Christ gradually exalting his name, and shewing glory from Judea in the east, to the western parts of the world; and by his Word and Spirit sealing his people up to the day of redemption, Rev. vii. 2. Some think it is Constantine, a professed Christian, ordering his governors every where to procure peace to the Christians. The ascent of the smoke of the ceremonial sacrifices, and incense, and the ascent || of the smoke of the incense before GoD, out of the angel's hand, signify how savoury and acceptable the sacrifice, merit and intercession of Christ is to his Father; and how effectual to procure his favour and blessings to us, Rev. viii. 4. To ascend the hill of God, is to turn our heart from the world, enter Christ's church, attend his ordinances, and enjoy special fellowship with him therein, Psal. xxiv. 3. The ascent of the Chaldean king to heaven, imported his advancing himself to supereminent power, honour and greatness, Isa. xiv. 13.- ASHAMED, filled or covered with The ascent of the beast from the bot- SHAME. True hope maketh not ashamtomless pit, imports Antichrist's ob-ed, as it never will be disappointed taining of great power and authority, by the contrivance and aid of Satan ASH, a well known tree, which grows quickly, and is of almost universal use where the wood can be kept dry. Its flower is of the apetalous kind; and its stamina have usually double heads; the pistil at last becomes a fruit of the figure of a tongue; and which contains a seed of the same figure. Tournefort inentions four kinds of ash. Of part of this wood the idolaters formed their idols and baked their bread, and warmed themselves with the rest, Isa. xliv. 14.t of what good it expects; and has the love of God shed abroad in the heart as an earnest thereof, Rom. v. 5. ASHDOD, or Azoтus, a strong * The connexion between these texts is city of the south-east coast of the represented in this paraphrase: "Hence- || Mediterranean sea, about 25 miles, forth it will clearly appear to you by many or, according to Diodorus, 34 north infallible proofs, and particularly by the of Gaza, 13 or 14 south of Ekron, angels attending to pay their homage to me, and to minister for my sake to the faithful, who are my mystical body, that I am he who was represented to Jacob under the symbol of a ladder, and consequently that I am the true Mediator between God and men; the only medium of gracious communication between heaven and earth; the only way of God's mercy to sinners; and of their access to and acceptance with God." VOL. I. † A slight infusion of the ash appears of a pale yellowish colour when viewed betwixt the eye and the light; but when looked down upon, or placed betwixt the eye and an opake object, appears blueHorses, cows, sheep and goats eat of the ash; but it spoils the milk of cows. Encycl. Art. A6. ૨ and 34 west of Jerusalem. It was || Judg. i. 31, 32. This tribe was one the property of the tribe of Judah, of the six who echoed AMEN to the Jash. xv. 47; but the PHILISTINES curses from mount EBAL. They either retained or retook it. Here tamely submitted to the oppression stood the famous temple of DAGON. of Jabin king of Canaan; and some Here the captive ark of God was first time after assisted Gideon in his purbrought, and broke to pieces that idol, suit of the Midianites; Judg. v. 17. and plagued the inhabitants, 1 Sam. and vii. 16, 23. Forty thousand of y. 1—6. Uzziah demolished the walls them, all expert warriors, attended at of this place, and built some adjacent David's coronation to be king over forts to command it, 2 Chron. xxvi. 6. Isracl. Baanah the son of Hushai, Tartan the Assyrian general took it was their deputy governor under Soby force, and it seems put a strong lomon; divers of them joined in Hegarrison into it, who held out 29 years zekiah's reformation, 1 Chron. xii. 36. against the siege of Psammiticus king 1 Kings iv. 16. 2 Chron. xxx, 11. of Egypt, Isa. xx. 1. Nebuchadnezzar's troops took and terribly ravaged it. ASHES, the remains of burnt fuel, Lev. vi. 10. Man is compared to The forces of Alexander the dust and ashes, to denote his meanGreat did the same. Jonathan, theness, insignificancy, vileness, and Jewish Maccabee, burnt it and the readiness to be easily blown from off temple of Dagon to ashes; but it the earth, Gen. xviii. 27. To be cowas rebuilt. Here Philip the evan-vered with ashes, to eat ashes, to begelist early preached the gospel; and come ashes, and to be ashes under the a Christian church continued till per-soles of the feet, is to be reduced to a haps the ravage of the Saracens, poor, contemptible, distressed, and Zeph. ii. 4. Zech. ix. 6. Acts viii. 4. ruinous condition, Lam. iii. 16. Psal. ASHER, the son of Jacob by Zil- cii. 9. Job xxx. 19. Mal. iv. 3. To pha his maid, and father of one of the cast ashes on the head, to spread ashes Hebrew tribes. His children were under one, or wallow in dust and ashes, Jimnah, Ishua, Issui, and Beriah, of imports great humiliation and grief, whom sprung the Jimnites, Jesuites, 2 Sam. xiii. 19. Isa. lviii. 5. and lxi. Beriites, and Serah their sister. 3. Jer. vi. 26. Trusting in idols is how vain, base, vile, shameful, and destructive it is, Isa. xliv. 20.*† * A lie of lustral or purifying water was which the people were purified after touchupon the great day of atonement, with ing a dead body, Numb. xix. 9. Forty and one thousand and five hun-called a feeding on ashes, to mark dred of this tribe of war came out of Egypt, under the command of Pagial the son of Ocran. Their spy, for searching the promised land, was Sethur the son of Michael; and their prince, for the division of it, was A-made of the ashes of an heifer sacrificed hihud the son of Shelomi, Gen. xlvi. 17. 1 Chron. vii. 30. to 40. Numb. xxvi. 44. and i. 13, 40. and xiii. 13. and xxxiv. 27. They increased in The ancient Persians had a sort of punthe wilderness to 53,400, Numb. ishment for some great criminals, which xxvi. 47. Their inheritance fell by criminal was thrown headlong from a tower consisted in executing them in ashes. The lot in the N. W. of Canaan, where 50 cubits high, which was filled with ashes the soil was extremely fertile, and the to a particular height, (2 Mac. xiii. 5, 6.) mines plentiful; but through faint- The motion which the criminal used to ness and cowardice, they suffered the disengage himself from this place, plunged Canaanites to retain the cities of Zi-him still deeper into it, and this agitation don, Ahiab, Achzib, Helbon, Aphek, and Rehob, Gen. xlix. 20. Deut. xxxiii. 24, 25. Josh. xix. 24-31. stirred the ashes continually about him till |