MIDNIGHT

and Greeks, the city of Midian was on the Arabian side of the Arabian Gulf, where in all probability lay the true land of Midian.

MILALAI

not positively known. Knobel supposes it to be the small hill known as Jedeideh, others (Van de Velde and Schwarz) identify it with el-Mejdel, a little northeast of Ascalon.

MIG'DOL(Heb. 27, mig-dole', tower), a town in lower Egypt named as one of the stages in the march of the Israelites (Exod. 14:2; Num. 33:7; It was "upon the eastern frontier of the kingdom, comp. Ezek. 29:10; 30:6, A. V. “tower of Syene"), and said by classical geographers to have been only twelve miles from Pelusium. There must, however, have been a second Migdol or Tower,' This is evident from the letter which relates to the pursuit of the two slaves. Here the Migdol of King Seti Meneptah' is stated to be on the east side of the great wall, southward of 'the Khetem of Thuku" (Sayce, High. Crit., p. 254). Dr. Trumbull (Kadesh-Barnea, p. 378) says: "We find that Migdol' is not the name of a single city, but is a common name applied to an outlook tower in Egypt and beyond. And especially are there traces of a Migdol at or near each of the three great highways out of lower Egypt eastward. This leaves still untouched the question, Which Migdol is referred to in the Bible story of the Exodus ?

4. In the time of Balaam, Moab, then ruled by Balak, son of Zippor, conferred with the elders of Midian in regard to Israel, and the resulting embassy to Balaam consisted of elders both of Moab and Midian. In the chapters which relate the prophecies of Balaam (Num., chaps. 23, 24) only Moab is mentioned. In 25:1 it is the daughters of Moab who entice Israel; but in 25:6-15 it is Midian, and in vers. 16-18; 31:1-16, vengeance is executed on Midian, and in 31:8, 9 it is among the Midianites that Balaam perishes. We may therefore conclude that Midian had a prominent part in the transaction (for connection of Moab with Midian, see MOABITES). When Midian appears again (Judg. 6:1-8, 21) it is not as an organized army of warriors, nor as a nation powerful enough to bring the Israelites under its despotic sway. Israel by idolatry lost the divine protection and the national cohesion which would have protected the nation against such marauders. The Midianites united with the Amalekites and the children of the East, men, women, and children, as we suppose, with their belongings, certainly with their cattle (6:5), forming an innumerable horde of tramps; and they oppressed Israel, not MIGHTIES (Heb. 7, ghib-bore', powerful, by a strong military despotism, backed by chariots 1 Chron. 11:12, 24), the titles given to the three of iron, like Jabin and Sisera (4:2, 3), but by great captains of David, elsewhere called “mighty coming up when the harvest was ripe, "like grass-men" (2 Sam. 23:8), and meaning a warrior, leader hoppers," and destroying "the increase of the in war. earth." The story is best read in the inimitable language of the Bible itself. The whole account (6:1-8, 28), from the Midianite invasion at the beginning to the panic and route and final disappearance at the end, is the story of a mob, formidable from its numbers and its hunger. This ends the story of Midian. Henceforth it is hardly mentioned, except as a historical reminiscence (but see Isa. 60:6; Hab. 3:7). Certainly Midian is never again mentioned as a source of terror. It is probable that from the beginning they had intermarried with the Ishmaelites, and that in the end they were merged in the roving peoples of the northern part of the Arabian desert, under the -general name of Arabs. Midian has been called the Judah of the Arabians.-W. H.

MIDNIGHT. See TIME.

MIDWIFE. See DISEASES, TREATMENT OF. MIGʻDAL-EL (Heb. 87, mig-dal-ale', tower of God), a fortified city that fell to Naphtali | (Josh. 19:38). A number of places are claimed as the original site. The only reason for not identifying it with Magdala is that the towns about the Lake of Gennesaret have been already named (v. 35). Knobel connects Migdal-el with Chorem so as to form one name, and finds Migdal el Chorem in the present Mejdel Kerum, west of Rameh. Grove mentions Mujeidei in the Wady Kerkerah while Van de Velde and Porter suggest Mejdel Selim.

MIG'RON (Heb. 772, mig-rone', precipice), a town of Benjamin, apparently on the route of the invading Assyrian ariny southward (Isa. 10:28), From Michmas a narrow valley extends northward out of and at right angles with what has been identified as the passage of MICHMAS (q. v.). Saul was stationed at the further side of Gibeah, "under a pomegranate tree which is by Migron" (1 Sam.

14:2).

MIJ'AMIN (Heb. 77, the same as MINIAMIN (q. v.).

me-yaw-meen'),

1. The head of the sixth division of priests in the time of David (1 Chron, 24:9), B. C. before 960.

2. One of the priests who sealed the covenant made by Nehemiah and the people to serve Jehovah (Neh. 10:7), B. C. 445.

MIKʼLOTH (Heb. nibe, mik-lohth', rods).

prince) of Gibeon, and father of Shimeah (or 1. One of the sons of Jehiel, "the father" (or Shimeam). He was one of the Benjamite residents of Jerusalem (1 Chron. 8:32; 9:37, 38), B. C. about 536.

2. The principal officer of the second division of the ariny under Dodo, in the reign of David (1 Chron. 27:4), B. C. after 1000.

MIKNEʼIAH (Heb. 3, mik-nay-yawʻhoo, possession of Jehovah), a Levitical doorkeeper of the temple and harper, appointed by order of David (1 Chron. 15:18, 21), B. C. about 966. MILALA'I (Heb. 2, mee-lal-ahʼee, eloquent),

MIG'DAL-GAD (Heb. 2 mig-dal gawd', tower of fortune), a town in the plain of one of the "priests' sons" who took part in the Judah, between the hilly region and the territory dedication of the walls of Jerusalem (Neh. 12:36), held by the Philistines (Josh. 15:37). Its site is ❘ B. C. about 536,

dance (Gen. 49:12; Ezek. 25:4; Joel 3:18, etc.), 1. The daughter of Haran and the wife of but more frequently with honey, "milk and honey" Nahor, by whom she had eight children, one of being a phrase which occurs about twenty times whom, Bethuel, was the father of Rebekah (Gen. in Scripture. Milk is also illustrative of the bless11:29; 22:20, 23; 24:15, 24, 47), B. C. about 2200.ings of the Gospel (Isa. 55:1; Joel 3:18), the first 2. The fourth named of the five daughters of Zelophehad of the tribe of Manasseh, to whom, as they had no brothers, an inheritance was given in the division of the land (Num. 26:33; 27:1; 36: 11; Josh. 17:3), B. C. 1170.

MILLENNIUM

stones were of far greater power and dimensions, and this could only have been turned by cattle or asses, like those of the ancient Romans and of the modern Cairenes." It was the millstone of a mill of this kind, driven by an ass, which is alluded to in Matt. 18:6, With the movable upper millstone of the handmill the women of Thebez broke Abimelech's skull (Judg. 9:53) (Smith, Bib. Dict.). MILLENNIUM (Lat. mille, a thousand, and annus, a year), a period of a thousand years, and in its religious use is applied to the prophetic era mentioned in Rev. 20:1-7. The Millenarians believe that the second advent of Jesus will be ac

MINERAL KINGDOM

against the toe of the other. The women whom the prophet rebuked could only take short steps, because of the chains by which the costly foot rings worn above the ankles were connected to. gether. Tripping is a child's step. Although well versed in sin and old in years, the women of Jerusalem tried to maintain a youthful, childlike appearance. They therefore tripped along with short, childlike steps.

MINERAL KINGDOM.

For the sake of continuous study we give the different objects in the mineral kingdom in alphabetical order. See also METALS, PRECIOUS STONES. ADAMANT. See DIAMOND.

AGATE(Gr.axarns, from the river of that name in Sicily). This name is applied to those varieties of semitransparent quartz (chalcedony) which have the general character of being clouded, banded, or

companied by the resurrection of the martyrs and saints, who will reign with him on earth in a state of blessedness for a thousand years. Our Lord's supposed reign on the earth was largely held by the Jewish Christians, and was, apparently, part of the residue of their carnal Messianic expectations so tenaciously held. In the 2d century this doctrine was largely held by the orthodox Chris-lined in several shades or colors. When the layers tians, and was adopted by the Montanists. It was are even, and black and white, it is properly called undoubtedly the faith of some of the Fathers. onyx; and when red and white, sardonyx, though While there are many who hold to the doctrine to- the terms are often used somewhat loosely. In day, still we are inclined to accept the theory that these latter cases the cutting down from one the thousand years of Revelation are to be taken layer to another gives the beautiful cameo effect symbolically. "They embody an idea, and that of a raised device of one color upon a ground of idea, whether applied to the subjugation of Satan another. All the agates were favorite stones with or to the triumph of the saints, is the idea of the ancients, and are abundant in collections of clascompleteness or perfection. Satan is bound for a sical and oriental jewelry, being hard enough to take thousand years, i. e., he is completely bound. The and retain a high polish, and not too hard to be saints reign for a thousand years, i. e., they are cut and engraved readily by means of corundum introduced into a state of perfect and glorious points. In the Bible the word occurs in the A. V. victory" (Milligan, Com., on Rev., in loc.). "Our four times, twice in the accounts of the breastLord expressly speaks in one and the same dis- plate (Exod., chaps. 28 and 39; Isa. 54:12; Ezek. course (John 5:28, 29) of a first resurrection, un- 27:16). The first two are represented by the word derstood spiritually, and of a second resurrection, (sheb-oo'; in the LXX, ȧxarns), and may be understood physically. If we apply the same principle here, this much contested prophecy is made presumably taken as correct in the modern sense. perfectly harmonious with the rest of Scripture, In the other two cases the original is (kad and the most substantial ground of the premil-kode', rendered by the LXX iaomis, ee-as-pis, in lennial advent is taken away”(Pope, Christ. Theol., iii, 396, 397).

MILLET. See VEGETABLE KINGDOM. MIL'LO (Hebrew, always with article, &, ham-mil-lo', a rampart consisting of two walls, with the space between them filled in).

1. The name of the citadel of Shechem (Judg. 9:6, 20), all of the garrison of which joined in proclaiming Abimelech their king.

Isaiah; and xópxop, khor'-khor, in Ezekiel). The
former is very uncertain, but probably means some
light-colored chalcedony (see JASPER, below), though
The word in
this is a case of figurative use.
Arabic root denoting redness, and hence thought
Ezekiel is obscure, by some connected with an
to denote ruby, or some precious stone resembling

it, but very vaguely (see further under OxYx and
SARDONYX).

2. The Millo at JERUSALEM (q. v.) was some ALABASTER (Gr. åλáßaoтpov, al-ab'-askind of fortification, probably a large tower or tron, Matt. 26:7; Mark 14:3, and Luke 7:30) is castle on the wall. The definite article before pretty well identified with the substance now called Millo indicates that it was a well-known fortress, oriental (or Egyptian) alabaster, also "onyx marprobably one that had been built by the Jebusites. ble" and "Mexican onyx." This is a variety of “David built (i.e., fortified) round about from Millo" carbonate of lime, usually stalagmitic in origin, (2 Sam. 5:9; 1 Chron. 11:8), as did Solomon (1 Kings with a layered structure due to its deposition from 9:15; 11:27). It formed a prominent part of the for-water, giving it a banded aspect of slightly varying tifications by which Hezekiah prepared for the approach of the Assyrians (2 Chron. 32:5). The same place is probably meant by the "house of Millo," where Joash was killed (2 Kings 12:20, 21). MINA, the rendering in the margin (Luke 19: 13) of the Greek ra, but in the text as "pound." See METROLOGY, III.

shades and colors, often very delicate and beautiful. This banded character has led to its being called onyx frequently among the ancients, and onyx marble and Mexican onyx among ourselves, is a variety of agate and very hard. The name although it is very different from true onyx, which alabaster among the moderns, on the other hand, is applied to a still softer stone, the compact variety of gypsum, or sulphate of lime, used for small statuettes, paper weights, and little orna

MINCING (Heb. E, taw-faf, Isa. 3:16), to take short steps, just putting the heel of one foot

Amber

MINERAL KINGDOM

Brass

the black masses looking like dark rocks among the trees. Asphalt is a mixture of hydrocarbons, in part oxygenated, the softer kinds graduating toward the mineral oils or petroleums. By exposure to the air it hardens, partly by evaporation and

ments of no great value. The alabastrites of Theo-
phrastus, Pliny, and the ancients generally was
largely quarried and worked at Alabastron, a well-
known locality near Thebes, and was the favorite
material for the little flasks and vases for oint-
ment and perfumery that are so abundant in Egyp-partly by oxidization.

or

'as the

tian tombs and almost all ancient collections. BDELLIUM (Heb. 2, bed-oʻ-lakh, Gen. Such articles were called áñáßaorpa; but by a frequent change of usage the word was transferred 2:12; Num. 11:7). There are various speculations to any perfume flask, or the like, without special refers to an aromatic gum, as the Vulgate and as to the meaning of this word, but it probably regard to its material or to its source; as "a piece Josephus indicate. The passage in Numbers, if of delf" or "china" (originally Delft ware China ware) now signifies any article of crockery. described as white, sufficiently disposes of the idea compared with Exod. 16:31, where the manna is So the LXX translates (tsal-lakh'-ath, that bedo'lakh can refer to beryl or emerald, as 2 Kings 21:13, A. V., “a dish"), by аžáẞaorpov; some have fancied. There is no reason to think Horace, Ode, iv, 12, 17, uses onyx for a perfume that it refers to a stone at all; the word Kpierał. flask; and other classical writers in the same way. 2oç (LXX, Num. 11:7)-properly ice, though often AMBER (Heb., khash-mal'; LXX K used of glass, quartz, etc.-corresponds quite Tpov, ay'-lek-tron, only in Ezek. 1:4, 27; 8:2, R. V. strikingly with the statement that it was "electrum"). In all these cases it is used, in the at-hoar frost on the ground” (Exod. 16:14)—little tempted description of the visions of the divine white drops or grains. See MANNA. glory, in close connection with "brightness" and BERYL (Gr. ẞýpvλλoç, bay'-rool-os, Rev. 21:20, the appearance of fire." The Greek word had a for Heb., tar-sheesh). The modern name twofold sense the fossil resin known to us as am- designates the pale-colored varieties of silicate of ber, and an alloy of gold and silver, now called elec-glucina, the deep-green variety being emerald. In trum by mineralogists. It is uncertain whether Rev. 21:20, beryl is no doubt correct, but in the amber proper was known to the Hebrews; but the Old Testament all is uncertain. The R. V. gives idea meant to be conveyed in these passages is "beryl" in the margin for "onyx" in the text, in plainly that of a brilliant glowing yellow, like am-repeated instances; but in some of these, at least, ber, or like some highly polished metallic alloy, such as brass or electrum. The same idea is clearly brought out in Rev. 1:15, and suggested in Ezra 8:27-" fine copper, precious as gold."

AMETHYST (Heb., akh-law’-maw ; Gr. åμétvoros, am-eth'-oos-tos, the Greek name al luding to a notion that the amethyst prevented intoxication; used only in Exod. 28:19; 39:12; Rev. 21:20). This is one of the few cases in which there is little doubt as to the correctness of the rendering, the name having been used from Theophrastus's day to the present for the purple or violet-colored variety of quartz. It was a favorite stone among the ancients, often finely cut or carved in intaglio; and though not rare enough to be of great value, yet is still used in fine jewelry, from its rich and almost unique color, there being very few purple gem-stones. The Greek name alludes to a notion that it prevented intoxication if worn at feasts, etc.; the Hebrew name signifies dreamstone, as though supposed to induce, or to interpret, dreams.

ASPHALT, BITUMEN (Heb. 2, khaymawr, boiling up, to be red, Gen. 11:3; 14:10; Exod. 2:3, A. V. "slime;", zeh'-feth, flowing, or fluid, Isa. 34:9; while in Exod. 2:3 both words are used with some sense of difference implied). Much of the asphalt of ancient times came from the Dead Sea, which was called Lacus Asphaltites. The use of it as a cement for bricks at Babylon is described by Herodotus and other ancient writers, and may be seen in great ruins to this day, e. g., the so-called wall of Media, not far from Babylon. The chief modern source is the asphalt lake-over a mile in width-on the island of Trinidad, West Indies. Here it is liquid and boiling up in the cenortion, and hard and solid around the shores;

แ

this rendering cannot be correct. The passages in which (tar-sheesh') occurs are: Exod. 28:20, in which there appears to be some confusion as to the places of the stones in the breast

plate, as the next stone,, doubtless onyx, is
rendered ẞupov, and ovxov appears in the
In Cant. 5:14;
next place and in Exod. 39:13.
Ezek. 1:16, and Dan. 10:6, it is rendered without
translation by the LXX (apoiç or Bapoviç, Eng.
'beryl "), the R. V. giving "topaz" in the margin
in Canticles. In Ezek. 10:9 and 28:71, the LXX
gives 200 avopakoç and avopaž (again Eng
'beryl"); here there is a strange confounding of
this with a deep-red stone such as anthrax (or
carbuncle), as appears also in regard to emerald
(q. v.), indicating the uncertainty of the Greek
translators as to the meaning of
sheesh'); as does also their merely transliterating
the word in other cases, as noted above, into
Oapoiç etc. But Jerome's rendering of Ezek. 1:
16-" quasi visio maris" (Vulgate), almost estab-
lishes the impression of a green or blue-green
stone like beryl, or, as Luther suggests, turquoise,
rather than anything red or yellow. See EMERALD.

BITUMEN. See ASPHALT.

(tar

BRASS (Heb., nekh-oʻ-sheth; Gr. xaλKóç, khal-kos'; Lat. aes), should in the Scriptures be generally rendered bronze, or sometimes copper. Brass, the alloy of copper and zinc, is largely a modern material, while bronze (copper and tin) was used to an enormous extent in ancient times. It was the principal material for all manner of articles, both of ornament and use, far back in the prehistoric Bronze Age. Great interest attaches to the source of the tin so largely used in the manufacture of the ancient bronzes, as tin occurs

in but few localities. Most of it is understood to have been brought from the great tin mines of the Cornwall peninsula and the Scilly Islands by the Phoenicians, who maintained for many centuries steady commerce thither by sea. The bronze articles then manufactured in the Punic cities and

Brick

and constantly to express conceptions of physical strength, power, durability, etc. (Job 6:12; 40:18; 41:27; Psa. 107:16; Isa. 45:2, et sæpe); or of moral qualities, as firmness (Jer. 1:18), obstinacy (Isa. 48:4), and the like.

BRICK (Heb., leb-ay-naw', whiteness, i. e., colonies were exported all over the world in ex-made from white, chalky clay). In addition to the change for the products of every region, to enhance the wealth of Tyre and Carthage. The brick were much larger than with us, those of Egypt article BRICK we present the following: Ancient bronze, however, varied a great deal in composi-varying considerably, but generally about twice the tion, and some contained an admixture of zinc, approaching more to brass. Such may have been the "fine copper, precious as gold" (Ezra 8:27; 1 Esdr. 8:57). The zinc mines at Laurium, in Greece, were extensively worked in ancient times; and it seems probable that various proportions of the three metals were employed, giving alloys all the way from bronze to brass; but the former is much the more ancient and frequent. See TIN.

Brass (bronze) was abundant among the Hebrews and their neighbors from very early times (Exod., chap. 38; 2 Sam. 8:8; 1 Chron. 18:8; 22:3, 14; 29:7). The last passage is interesting as showing that in David's time iron was yet more abundant, and that the "bronze age was entirely past before 1000 B. C. so far as Palestine was concerned. The word occurs in both a literal and figurative sense. As applied to mining, it, of course, means copper (Deut. 8:9; Job 28:2), and, probably, Gen. 4:22, R. V. marg.). As in Ezra 8: 27, so in 1 Kings 7:45; 2 Chron. 4:16; Ezek. 1:7; Dan. 10:6, it seems probable that brass is meant. To the many other passages describing various objects, as mirrors (Exod. 38:8), weapons, and armor (1 Sam. 17:5, 6, 38; 2 Sam. 8:8, 12; 21:16, etc.), the "brazen serpent" (Num. 21:9; 2 Kings 18:4), or the furnishings of the tabernacle (Exod. 26:11, 37), or of the temple (1 Kings 7:14; 2 Chron. ch. 4; Jer. 52:17, 22), etc., the preceding remarks as to bronze and mixed alloys, or occasionally copper, will apply.

size of ours in each direction, so as to have much and thinner. The Babylonian bricks were differthe same proportion, though sometimes narrower ent in shape, about one foot square, or a little more, and three and one half inches thick. It was common to stamp on the bricks the name of the monarch in whose reign they were made—a custom of priceless value to archæology in giving us the cartouches of Egyptian kings and the cuneiform names of those of Babylon to fix the dates of many ruined edifices. This practice prevailed in Egypt, especially between the eighteenth and and twenty-first dynasties; and some of the wooden stamps used for the purpose have been found. In Egypt the bricks were generally unburned, and the word mal-bane' (Heb. 12, A. V. “brickkiln," Jer. 43:9) may mean here only brickyard; but in 2 Sam. 12:31; Nah. 3:14, it is uncertain which is intended.

Throughout the East generally sun-dried bricks (adobe) have been the usual material for dwellings and all common purposes. The finer and more permanent structures of brick were largely covered or faced with either stone slabs or glazed or enameled bricks, such as those described by Diodorus at the tomb of Semiramis and by Layard at Nineveh. Splendid wall decorations of such enameled bricks, representing the "procession of lions" and the "procession of archers," from the palace of Artaxerxes II, or Mnemon, at Susa (Shushan), are now in the Louvre, and are reproduced in fac-simile in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

In the New Testament khal-kos' (Gr. xaλkóç) is used for money (Matt. 10:9; Mark 6:8; 12:41), and for a noisy musical instrument (1 Cor. 13:1). The word khal-kol-ib'-an-on (Gr. xahкohiẞavov, In Egypt, where the climate is practically rainRev. 1:15; 2:18) is much disputed as to its mean-less, the sun-dried bricks have remained firm and ing. There seems to be an evident reference to hard for all the centuries since they were made Dan. 10:6, or to Ezek. 1:7, 27, which renders the and laid; but in Mesopotamia the use of them for ordinary rendering probably very suitable; but the the interior mass of walls, although faced with a term itself is to us obscure, though doubtless waterproof casing of either stone or glazed brick, familiar at the time. Very probably it was the has led to a complete ruin. Water finds entrance name for some bright-colored alloy, brass or near through crevices in the roofing or casing, and the to it, employed for handsome articles and highly process of softening and breaking down soon esteemed. It may be a reference to orichalcum, begins, and then rapidly goes on until the whole the alloy of copper and gold; or to electrum, gold structure is reduced to one of those shapeless and silver, which is the LXX rendering of khash-"mounds" of earth, filled with fallen slabs and mal' (Heb. 2) of Ezek. 1:4, 27; 8:2, A. V., "amber;" R. V., marg. "electrum." See COPPER. Figurative. In some cases the word is used, by metonymy, for a bond or fetter (Lam. 3:7; and in the dual, Judg. 16:21; 2 Sam. 3:34; 2 Kings 25:7)-much as we say "in irons." It also appears in many metaphors, as for a hot, rainless sky (Deut. 28:23), or a parched soil (Lev. 26: 19); for baseness as contrasted with the precious metals (Isa. 60:17; Jer. 6:28-here also with the opposite idea of value, as compared with wood);

sculptured fragments, that Assyrian exploration been recently pointed out how speedily Eastern has made so familiar. In the same way it has villages, once abandoned or desolated, pass into "tells," or low mounds; such is probably the idea in Job 4:19.

Between Exod., ch. 5, and the frequent sculptures and paintings illustrating the process, we have a very distinct idea of Egyptian brickmaking. The material was usually Nile mud, dug and trodden, and mingled with straw or reeds, sometimes merely with sand or pebbles. After being carried to the