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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. ...

Jews

(Encyclopedia)Jews [from Judah], traditionally, descendants of Judah, the fourth son of Jacob, whose tribe, with that of his half-brother Benjamin, made up the kingdom of Judah; historically, members of the worldwi...

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. ...

Day, Benjamin Henry

(Encyclopedia)Day, Benjamin Henry, 1810–89, American journalist. He learned the printer's trade in the office of the Springfield (Mass.) Republican and opened a printing office in New York City. Lack of work duri...

Fire Island

(Encyclopedia)Fire Island, barrier beach, 32 mi (52 km) long, off the south shore of Long Island, SE N.Y., separating Great South Bay from the Atlantic Ocean. Robert Moses State Park is at its west end. Once access...

Unification Church

(Encyclopedia)Unification Church, church founded (1954) in South Korea by Sun Myung Moon; officially the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification for World Christianity. Moon moved to the United States in 1971. ...

Francken

(Encyclopedia)Francken frängk [key], family of Flemish painters in the 16th and 17th cent. Prominent members were Hieronymus Francken, c.1540–1610, student of Frans Floris, who worked mainly in Antwerp in a clas...

Hebrews, book of the New Testament

(Encyclopedia)Hebrews, an anonymous New Testament homily with closing greetings normally associated with the letter genre, written before c.a.d. 96. It is addressed to Jewish Christians who were being pressured to ...