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Godden, Rumer

(Encyclopedia)Godden, Rumer (Margaret Rumer Godden) gŏdˈən [key], 1907–98, English novelist. Godden was highly praised for the subtlety of her characterization (particularly of children), the charm of her styl...

Arab-Israeli Wars

(Encyclopedia)Arab-Israeli Wars, conflicts in 1948–49, 1956, 1967, 1973–74, and 1982 between Israel and the Arab states. Tensions between Israel and the Arabs have been complicated and heightened by the politic...

Alexander I, king of Scotland

(Encyclopedia)Alexander I, 1078?–1124, king of Scotland (1107–24), son of Malcolm III and St. Margaret of Scotland. He succeeded his brother Edgar, who had divided the kingdom so that Alexander ruled only N of ...

Utah Lake

(Encyclopedia)Utah Lake, c.145 sq mi (380 sq km), N central Utah; largest freshwater lake in the state. It drains through the Jordan River to the Great Salt Lake. Utah Lake is what remains of the prehistoric Lake B...

Arabah

(Encyclopedia)Arabah or Araba both: äˈräbä, ărˈəbə [key], depression, on the Israel-Jordan border, extending c.100 mi (160 km) from the Dead Sea S to the Gulf of Aqaba; part of the Great Rift Valley complex...

Zaretan

(Encyclopedia)Zaretan zärˈthăn [key], in the Bible, unlocated place in the valley of the Jordan, associated with the crossing of the Jews. Variants, all probably referring to the same place, are Zartanah, Zereda...

Samuel

(Encyclopedia)Samuel, two books of the Bible, originally a single work, called First and Second Samuel in modern Bibles, and First and Second Kingdoms in the Septuagint. They are considered part of “Deuteronomist...

Eliab

(Encyclopedia)Eliab ēlīˈăb [key], in the Bible. 1 Chief of the tribe of Zebulun. 2 Father of Dathan. 3 Brother of David. 4 Musician of David. 5 A follower of David. 6 The same as Elihu (1.) ...

Saul

(Encyclopedia)Saul, first king of the ancient Hebrews. He was a Benjamite and anointed king by Samuel. Saul's territory was probably limited to the hill country of Judah and the region to the north, and his proximi...

Maan

(Encyclopedia)Maan məänˈ [key], town (1996 est. pop. 18,000), S Jordan. It is the terminus of the country's main rail line (which extends to Damascus, Syria) and carries on trade in agricultural produce. Importa...