Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Jehu

(Encyclopedia)Jehu jēˈhyo͞o [key]. 1 King of Israel. He was anointed king by Elisha, who led the revolt against the house of Ahab. Jehu murdered King Jehoram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah and the rest of t...

plagues of Egypt

(Encyclopedia)plagues of Egypt, in the Bible, the plagues and other troubles brought on Egypt by God through the hands of Moses, because Pharaoh would not let the people of Israel go out of Egypt. The account, in t...

Carmel, Mount

(Encyclopedia)Carmel, Mount kärˈməl [key] [Heb.,=garden land], mountain ridge, NW Israel, extending 13 mi (21 km) NW from the plain of Esdraelon to the Mediterranean Sea, where it ends in a promontory marking th...

Palestine Liberation Organization

(Encyclopedia)Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), coordinating council for Palestinian organizations, founded (1964) by Egypt and the Arab League and initially controlled by Egypt. Composed of various guerrill...

Nephtoah

(Encyclopedia)Nephtoah nĕftōˈə [key], in the Bible, fountain, on the border between Judah and Benjamin. The site is identified with the modern Me Neftoah (Israel). ...

Peculiar People

(Encyclopedia)Peculiar People, an alternate rendering for the biblical phrase “chosen people” (of Israel), applied to numerous Protestant dissenting sects such as the Plumstead peculiars. This group, founded in...

Neballat

(Encyclopedia)Neballat nēbălˈăt [key], in the Bible, Benjamite town, W central ancient Palestine, NE of present-day Lod, Israel. It was reoccupied after the return from captivity. ...

Othniel

(Encyclopedia)Othniel ŏthˈnēĕl [key], in the Bible, first judge of Israel after the death of Joshua. For capturing a city he was given as wife Caleb's daughter Achsah. ...

covenant

(Encyclopedia)covenant kŭvˈənənt [key], agreement entered into voluntarily by two or more parties to do or refrain from doing certain acts. In the Bible and in theology the covenant is the agreement or engageme...

Pekahiah

(Encyclopedia)Pekahiah pēˌkəhīˈə [key], in the Bible, king of Israel, son and successor of Menahem. His reign was ended by his murder at the hands of his general Pekah. ...