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calf, golden

(Encyclopedia)calf, golden, erected by the Israelites on several occasions, as related in the Bible and the Qur'an. Aaron made one while Moses was on Mt. Sinai. Jeroboam placed one at Bethel and another at Dan. Hos...

Asch, Sholem

(Encyclopedia)Asch, Sholem or Shalom shōˈləm ăsh, shäˈləm [key], 1880–1957, Jewish novelist and playwright, b. Poland. He first came to the United States in 1909, was naturalized in 1920, and lived in vari...

Tabernacle

(Encyclopedia)Tabernacle tăbˈərnăkˌəl [key], in the Bible, the portable holy place of the Hebrews during their desert wanderings. It was a tent, like the portable tent-shrines used by ancient Semites, set up ...

Korah

(Encyclopedia)Korah kōˈrə [key], in the Bible. 1 Levite leader, with Dathan and Abiram, of the unsuccessful revolt in the desert against the exclusive priesthood of the Aaronic family and against the leadership ...

Hur

(Encyclopedia)Hur, in the Bible. 1 One who upheld a hand of Moses at Rephidim. 2 Grandfather of Bezaleel (1,) perhaps the same as 1. 3 Midianite king killed by the Hebrews. 4 Father of an officer of Solomon. 5 Fath...

Bourdon, Sébastien

(Encyclopedia)Bourdon, Sébastien sābästyăNˈ bo͞ordôNˈ [key], 1616–71, French painter. Bourdon was active in Rome (1634–37), in Sweden (1652–54) as Queen Christina's court portrait painter, and in Pari...

Kenites

(Encyclopedia)Kenites kēnˈīts [key], in the Bible, wilderness nomadic tribe friendly to the Hebrews. They came with the Hebrews and inhabited S Palestine up to the time of David. Moses' father-in-law was a Kenit...

Massah

(Encyclopedia)Massah mĕrˈĭbə [key], or Massah and Meribah, in the Bible, symbolic name of the place, near Horeb, where Moses brought forth water from the rock. A similar event and an equally symbolic name conce...

Nahmanides

(Encyclopedia)Nahmanides nähmänˈĭdēz [key], 1194–c.1270, Jewish scholar, exegete, and kabbalist, b. Spain. He wrote commentaries on the Hebrew Bible and the Talmud. A mystic, he rejected part of Maimonides' ...

Shuayb

(Encyclopedia)Shuayb sho͞ohāyb [key], Qur'anic non-biblical prophet, appeared later than Hud and Salih among “the people of the thicket.” His preaching is said to have consisted of a call to monotheism and so...