bdh

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Habaiah
The head of a family of priests who returned with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2: 61; Neh. 7: 63). Their genealogy was imperfect, and so they were not allowed to serve.

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Habakkuk
A prophet of Judah. The date at which he prophesied is uncertain - possibly in the reign of Josiah or of Jehoiakim (c. 600 B.C.). Nothing beyond this is known about him. In ch. 1 the prophet complains that his outcries against wrong-doing in Judah remain unheard by God; but he is assured that punishment by the Chaldeans is close at hand. This raises the problem as to why the pure and holy God should use for the working out of his purposes such a sinful nation. Ch. 2 supplies a solution to the problem: the Chaldeans themselves will come under judgment (cf. Morm. 4: 5). Ch. 3 contains a lyrical poem, describing the coming of Jehovah to judge and to deliver his people.

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Habergeon
A smaller kind of hauberk, a coat of mail covering the neck and breast (Ex. 28: 32; Ex. 39: 23).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hadad
Although not mentioned as a pagan deity in the O.T., it is learned from the Ras Shamrah tablets that Hadad was the name of the sun god, or storm god of Syria and Edom. Hadad appears in the O.T. in compound with other names and also standing alone, as the name of several persons (Gen. 36: 35; 1 Kgs. 11: 14-25; 1 Kgs. 15: 18-20; 1 Kgs. 20: 1-34; 1 Chr. 1: 30, 46, 50; Amos 1: 4; Zech. 12: 11), the most prominent being Ben-Hadad, king of Damascus (Syria).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hades
See Hell .

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hagar
Flight.

An Egyptian handmaid of Sarah and mother of Abraham’s son Ishmael (Gen. 16: 1-16; Gen. 21: 9-21; Gen. 25: 12). After the birth of Isaac, the “child of promise,” Hagar and her son were expelled. Paul uses the story as an allegory to show the difference between the two covenants, the one a covenant of bondage and the other one of freedom (Gal. 4: 24).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Haggai
A prophet in Jerusalem soon after the return from the Exile (Ezra 5: 1; Ezra 6: 14). His prophecy was spoken about 520 B.C. The two chapters of the book of Haggai contain an exhortation to the people to be more zealous about the public worship of God and the rebuilding of his temple. His preaching produced the desired effect (Hag. 1: 14-15). In ch. 2 he consoles those who were distressed by the mean appearance of the temple in comparison with its former beauty, by the assurance that the day of the Lord is near, and that then the glory of the latter house should be greater than that of the former. But he warns them that just as the touch of the unclean pollutes all about it, so the worldly spirit of the people had brought a curse on all their labor and increase. He looks forward into the future hopefully, certain that in spite of present depression the nation is capable of greater things.

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hagiographa
A Greek word meaning sacred writings. Although the word Hagiographa does not occur in the English Bible, it is used frequently in commentary and historical works, having reference to the third division of the O.T., commonly called the Writings. It consists of the books of Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, and Chronicles, making 11 in all (in Hebrew Bibles Ezra-Nehemiah are counted as one book, as are also 1, 2 Chronicles).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Halah
A district of Assyria, north of Thapsacus, to which the captive Israelites were taken by Shalmaneser (2 Kgs. 17: 6; 2 Kgs. 18: 11; 1 Chr. 5: 26).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hallel
A name given to the group of Psalms (113 - 118) recited by Jews at the great feasts (cf. Matt. 26: 30; Mark 14: 26). Ps. 136 was generally known as the “Great Hallel.”

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hallelujah
Praise ye the Lord.

A doxology found at the beginning or the end of a large number of Psalms (e.g., see Ps. 146: 1; also Rev. 19: 1-6).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Ham
Hot.

Son of Noah (Gen. 5: 32; Gen. 6: 10; Gen. 7: 13); cursed (Gen. 9: 18-22). The names of his descendants are given in Gen. 10: 6-7; they were the southern nations

Cush = the dark-skinned race of eastern Africa and southern Arabia.

Mizraim = Egyptians.

Phut = Libyans.

Canaan = inhabitants of Palestine before arrival of the Semitic races.

See also Abr. 1: 21-27 , where we learn among other things that Ham’s wife and daughter were named Egyptus, and that a portion of Ham’s descendants settled in Egypt. Cf. Ps. 78: 51 ; Ps. 105: 23 ; Ps. 106: 22 .

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Haman
Chief minister of Ahasuerus ( Esth. 3 - 9); his unsuccessful attempt to destroy the Jews gave rise to the Jewish Feast of Purim.

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hamath
An important city of Syria, in the valley of the Orontes; the “entering in of Hamath” was the northern limit of the Promised Land (Num. 34: 8; Josh. 13: 5). Toi, king of Ham, was on friendly terms with David (2 Sam. 8: 10). The city seems to have come under the dominion of Solomon (1 Kgs. 4: 21-24; 2 Chr. 8: 4). It was afterwards taken by the Assyrians (2 Kgs. 14: 28). It is still a town of considerable importance.

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hananeel
God is gracious.

A tower in the wall of Jerusalem, at the northeast corner of the city (Neh. 3: 1; Neh. 12: 39; Jer. 31: 38; Zech. 14: 10.

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hannah
Grace.

Mother of Samuel, who was given to her in answer to prayer (1 Sam. 1: 2 - 2: 21). Her song of thanksgiving may be compared with that of Mary (Luke 1: 46-55). It contains the first reference to the title Messiah (“his Anointed”) (1 Sam. 2: 10).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hara
A place in Assyria, position uncertain, to which some of the northern tribes were taken captive (1 Chr. 5: 26).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Haran (1)
(1) Son of Terah and brother of Abraham. The father of Lot and also the father of Abraham’s wife Sarah (Abr. 2: 2), he died as the result of a severe famine in Ur of the Chaldees (Gen. 11: 26-31; Abr. 2: 1).

(2) A Levite (1 Chr. 23: 9 ).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Haran (2)
The place of Abraham’s (Abram’s) first settlement on leaving Ur of the Chaldees; apparently named in memory of Abraham’s deceased brother Haran. It was a place of many flocks, and Terah, Abraham’s father, tarried there. The Lord appeared to Abraham at Haran (Gen. 11: 29-32; Abr. 2: 4-6). It was in the district near the source of the Euphrates, and was a trading center of great importance, frequently mentioned in Assyrian inscriptions. It continued to be a flourishing city for many centuries. Acts 7: 2 renders the word “Charran.”

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hare
Mentioned only in Lev. 11: 6 and Deut. 14: 7 as an animal forbidden as food, not having a cloven hoof.

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Harp
First mentioned Gen. 4: 21. The favorite musical instrument among the Jews (cf. Ps. 137: 2), it corresponded to the modern guitar or small harp.

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hart
A fallow-deer or a roebuck, mentioned as fit for food (Deut. 12: 22; see also Ps. 42: 1; Isa. 35: 6; Song. 2: 8-9).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hasidaeans
Pious.

A religious party among the Jews (their Hebrew name being Chasidim), devoted to the observance and maintenance of the Mosaic law (1 Macc. 2: 42; 7: 13; 2 Macc. 14: 6). From them were descended the Pharisees of N.T. times.

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hasmonaean
The family name of the Maccabees.

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Havilah
(1) One of the five sons of Cush, the son of Ham; the Cushites occupied Upper Egypt.

(2) Son of Joktan, a descendant of Shem; the Joktanites were settled in the south of Arabia (Gen. 10: 29 ; 1 Chr. 1: 23 ).

(3) A land mentioned in the description of Eden (Gen. 2: 11-12 ).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hazael
King of Syria from about 886 to 840 B.C. Frequently mentioned in the lives of Elijah and Elisha (1 Kgs. 19: 15, 17; 2 Kgs. 8: 8-14). He became king by murdering his master Ben-hadad (2 Kgs. 8: 15), and soon started on a war with Israel and Judah for the possession of Ramoth-gilead (2 Kgs. 8: 28-29; 2 Kgs. 9: 14-15). We learn from Assyrian inscriptions that he was attacked and defeated in Damascus by Shalmaneser, king of Assyria; but a few years later he was again strong enough to attack Israel (2 Kgs. 10: 32; 2 Kgs. 12: 17-18; 2 Kgs. 13: 3-7, 22; 2 Chr. 24: 24).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Health
In old English this word denoted healing power, deliverance, salvation. In Isa. 58: 8 it means healing, in Ps. 67: 2 saving health = salvation; in Acts 27: 34, health = safety.

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Heaven
This term has several meanings in the scriptures. It is first of all the place where God lives and the future home of the saints (Gen. 28: 12; Ps. 11: 4; Matt. 6: 9). It also means the expanse around the earth, as the heavens (Gen. 1: 1, 17; Ex. 24: 10). It is usually thought of as being “up,” or above the earth (cf. Alma 18: 30-32). In the sense of being God’s home and the ultimate place for the faithful, it is clearly distinguished from paradise, which is the temporary abode of the faithful spirits of persons who have lived and died on this earth. Jesus visited paradise after his death on the cross, but on the third day thereafter, he informed Mary that he had not yet been to the Father (see Luke 23: 39-44; John 20: 17).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hebrew
The name is first found in Gen. 14: 13, where it may mean “one who had come from beyond (the Euphrates),” from ‘Eber, to cross; or it may be derived from the Eber mentioned in Gen. 10: 25. The Hebrew language is one of a family called the Semitic languages (spoken by the descendants of Shem, the son of Noah). It was probably learned by Abraham after his settlement in Canaan and adopted by him in place of the Aramaic of his earlier years. It was spoken by all Israelites until after the return from captivity. About the 4th century B.C. it began to be replaced by what is called Western Aramaic. Hebrew remained the language of the learned, of the law, and of religious literature; but in the time of our Lord Aramaic was the language of ordinary intercourse.

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hebrews, Epistle to
See Pauline Epistles .

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hebron
An ancient city of Judah, 3,040 feet above the Mediterranean, 20 miles south of Jerusalem; known also as Namre and Kirjath-Arba (Gen. 13: 18; Gen. 35: 27). It was the burying place of Abraham and his family (Gen. 23: 2, 19; Gen. 49: 29-32), and became the property of Caleb (Josh. 14: 13-15). It was one of the six cities of refuge (Josh. 20: 7), a Levitical city (Josh. 21: 11, 13), and David’s capital during the earlier part of his reign (2 Sam. 5: 3-5). During the later history of the nation it continued to be a place of importance, and it still has a large population.

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hell
An English translation of the Hebrew word Shoel, hell signifies an abode of departed spirits and corresponds to the Greek Hades. In common speech it generally denotes the place of torment for the wicked, although it has been often held, both in the Jewish and the Christian churches, that Hades (meaning broadly the place of all departed spirits) consists of two parts, paradise and Gehenna, one the abode of the righteous and the other of the disobedient. “Gehenna,” or “Gehenna of fire,” is the Greek equivalent of the “valley of Hinnom,” a deep glen of Jerusalem where the idolatrous Jews offered their children to Moloch (2 Chr. 28: 3; 2 Chr. 33: 6; Jer. 7: 31; Jer. 19: 2-6). It was afterwards used as a place for burning the refuse of the city (2 Kgs. 23: 10), and in that way became symbolical of the place of torment (Matt. 5: 22, 29-30; Matt. 10: 28; Matt. 18: 9; Matt. 23: 15, 33; Mark 9: 43, 45, 47; Luke 12: 5; James 3: 6). Expressions about “hell-fire” are probably due to the impression produced on men’s minds by the sight of this ceaseless burning, and are figurative of the torment of those who willfully disobey God.

In latter-day revelation hell is spoken of in at least two senses. One is the temporary abode in the spirit world of those who were disobedient in this mortal life. It is between death and the resurrection, and persons who receive the telestial glory will abide there until the last resurrection (D&C 76: 84-85, 106 ), at which time they will go to the telestial glory. In this sense the Book of Mormon speaks of spiritual death as hell (2 Ne. 9: 10-12 ). Hell, as thus defined, will have an end, when all the captive spirits have paid the price of their sins and enter into a degree of glory after their resurrection. Statements about an everlasting hell (Hel. 6: 28 ; Moro. 8: 13 ) must be interpreted in their proper context in the light of D&C 19: 4-12 , which defines eternal and endless punishment.

On the other hand, the devil and his angels, including the sons of perdition, are assigned to a place spoken of as a lake of fire - a figure of eternal anguish. This condition is sometimes called hell in the scriptures (2 Pet. 2: 4 ; D&C 29: 38 ; D&C 88: 113 ). This kind of hell, which is after the resurrection and judgment, is exclusively for the devil and his angels, and is not the same as that consisting only of the period between death and resurrection. The one group are redeemed from hell and inherit some degree of glory. The other receive no glory. They continue in spiritual darkness. For them the conditions of hell remain.

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hellenists
The word denotes those who adopt the Greek language, and possibly also Greek modes of life. The KJV does not use the word itself, but translates it “Grecians” (Acts 6: 1; Acts 9: 29, etc.). The Hellenists were Jews who had settled in Greek-speaking countries, and themselves used that language. It was for their use that the Greek translation of the O.T., the Septuagint, was made.

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Helps
In Acts 27: 17 the word denotes cables passed around the hull of a ship and tightly secured on deck to prevent the timbers from starting, especially amidship, where in ancient ships with one large mast the strain was very great. The technical English word to describe the operation is frapping. In 1 Cor. 12: 28 the word is used in describing the gifts of the Spirit, and denotes administrative offices, programs, and other like provisions placed in the Church, designed to assist the members to obey the commandments and strengthen one another.

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Helve
The handle of an axe (Deut. 19: 5).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hem of garment
An important part of an Israelite’s dress, owing to the regulation of Num. 15: 38-39. It was really a tassel at each “wing” or corner of the tallith or mantle (Matt. 14: 36). The law required that it should be bound with a thread of blue, the color of heaven. The strict Jews to this day wear these tassels, though they are usually concealed. The Pharisees made them conspicuously large (Matt. 23: 5). It would be the tassel that hung over the shoulder at the back that the woman with the issue of blood came and touched (Luke 8: 44; also Ex. 28: 33-34).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hemlock
A bitter and poisonous herb growing in the furrows of fields (Hosea 10: 4; Amos 6: 12).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hephzibah
My delight is in her.

Mother of King Manasseh (2 Kgs. 21: 1). Isaiah (Isa. 62: 4) applies the name to Jerusalem.

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hermon
A mountain, 9,400 feet high, in the extreme northeast of the Holy Land, being the southern point of a range of hills called Anti-Libanus. It is visible not only from a great part of Galilee, but also from various places as far south as Jericho. The Hermonites (Ps. 42: 6) are the three peaks of Mount Hermon. Jewish poetry contains several allusions to this mountain (Ps. 89: 12; Ps. 133: 3; Song. 4: 8). It is probable that our Lord’s transfiguration took place either on Hermon or on one of the adjacent heights (see Matt. 16: 13; Matt. 17: 1).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Herod
The Herodian family were Idumaeans by birth, but had become converts to the Jewish faith. Their object was to found, under the protection of Rome, a semi-independent kingdom. By his marriage with Mariamne Herod the Great allied himself with the family of the Maccabees, who had been for several generations the leaders of the patriotic party among the Jews. Herod was a successful ruler and was on terms of friendship with Augustus, the Roman Emperor. In order to gain favor with his subjects, with whom he was most unpopular, he rebuilt the temple at an immense cost. (See Temple of Herod.) His reign was disgraced by many acts of cruelty. In a fit of jealousy he had his wife, whom he dearly loved, put to death; later on he had her two sons Alexander and Aristobulus, also murdered. In the same year in which he gave the order for the massacre of the infants at Bethlehem, he had Antipater, another of his own sons, put to death. A few months later Herod himself died. His kingdom was then divided between three of his sons: Archelaus, who received Judaea, Idumaea, and Samaria; Antipas, who had Galilee and Peraea; and Philip, who had the northeast districts of Palestine.

After a reign of nine years Archelaus was deposed by Augustus, and Judaea was attached to the Roman province of Syria, being governed by A Procurator. Antipas (called in the N.T. “Herod the tetrarch”) built as his capital Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee; he is frequently mentioned in the Gospels (Matt. 14: 1 ; Mark 6: 14 ; Luke 9: 7 ; Luke 13: 31 ; Luke 23: 7-15 ). He took as his wife Herodias, the wife of his half-brother Philip. He was deposed by the Emperor Caligula and banished to Lugdunum in Gaul, A.D. 39. Philip made Caesarea Philippi (previously called Panias) his capital, and remained in possession of his tetrarchy until his death in A.D. 33. His territory then became part of the province of Syria, but in A.D. 37 it was given by Caligula, along with Abilene (the tetrarchy of Lysanias), to Agrippa, who was allowed to assume the title of king. On the deposition of Antipas he obtained the tetrarchy of Galilee, and in A.D. 41, on the accession of the Emperor Claudius, he received Judaea and Samaria as well, and so became ruler of the whole territory governed by his grandfather. He lived in Jerusalem and was anxious to be regarded as an orthodox Jew. He began a persecution of the Church, and put James to death, Peter escaping by a miracle (Acts 12: 1-23 ). His death is described in Acts 12: 20-23 . His son Agrippa II, was allowed by the Emperor Claudius to succeed to only a small part of his father’s dominions. He is mentioned in Acts 25: 13 . He was the last of the Herods.

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Herodians
A political party among the Jews, supporters of the Herodian family, and therefore to some extent in opposition to the Roman government, and also the Pharisees who were in favor of purely religious theocracy (Matt. 22: 16; Mark 3: 6; Mark 12: 13).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Herodias
Sister of Herod Agrippa; married to her uncle, Herod Philip, by whom she had a daughter Salome (Matt. 14: 6). She eloped in order to live as the wife of her step-uncle, Herod Antipas. It was for his rebuke of this crime that John the Baptist was put to death (Matt. 14: 8-11; Mark 6: 24-28; Luke 3: 19).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Heth
A descendant of Ham, and father of the Hittites (Gen. 10: 15; Gen. 23; Gen. 27: 46).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hezekiah
(1) King of Judah, and a great religious and political reformer (2 Kgs. 18 - 21: 3; 2 Chr. 29 - 33: 3; Isa. 36 - 39). He suppressed idolatry and reconstituted the temple services. In his reforms both in church and state he had the assistance of the great prophet Isaiah. The early part of the reign was prosperous. Hezekiah made a successful expedition against the Philistines (2 Chr. 28: 18; 2 Kgs. 18: 8), and refused to pay the usual tribute to Assyria (2 Kgs. 18: 7). Soon after came two Assyrian invasions. The first, under Sargon, is referred to in Isa. 10: 24-32. The second, under Sennacherib, is more fully described in 2 Kgs. 18: 13 - 19: 7. After a time of great anxiety the city was at length delivered, probably by a pestilence that broke out in the Assyrian camp. A year later Hezekiah died, after a reign of 29 years.

(2) Three others (1 Chr. 3: 23 ; Neh. 7: 21 ; Neh. 10: 17 ).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hezekiah’s Tunnel
An elaborate engineering scheme extending about 1770 feet through limestone rock, bringing the waters of Gihon spring inside the walls of Jerusalem to the pool of Siloam. The tunnel was built in the days of Hezekiah, about 701 B.C., as a defense against possible attack from the Assyrian army under Sennacherib (2 Kgs. 20: 20; 2 Chr. 32: 4, 30). Workmen dug from both ends, in a zig-zag course, until they met. A dramatic account of the meeting of the workmen is told by an inscription carved in stone near the Siloam end of the tunnel. It reads: “The boring through is completed. Now this is the story of the boring through. While the workmen were still lifting pick to pick, each towards his neighbor, and while three cubits remained to be cut through, each heard the voice of the other who called his neighbor, since there was a crevice in the rock on the right side. And on the day of the boring through the stonecutters struck, each to meet his fellow, pick to pick, and there flowed the waters to the pool for a thousand and two hundred cubits, and a hundred cubits was the height of the rock above the heads of the stonecutters.”

The inscription has been removed from its original location and is now kept in the Turkish Archaeological Museum at Istanbul. The tunnel is still in use today.

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hiel
The Bethelite who rebuilt Jericho (1 Kgs. 16: 34); and in whom was fulfilled the curse pronounced by Joshua (Josh. 6: 26).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hierapolis
A city of the Roman province of Asia, in the valley of the Lycus (Col. 4: 13). The three towns Hierapolis, Colossae, and Laodicea were all close together.

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
High Places
Among early nations it was the custom to erect altars on hilltops (Gen. 12: 7-8; Gen. 22: 2-4; Gen. 31: 54). After the settlement in Canaan heathen altars were found set up on various hills and were ordered to be destroyed (Num. 33: 52; Deut. 12: 2-3). Altars to Jehovah were built at several high places (Judg. 6: 25-26; 1 Sam. 9: 12-25; 1 Sam. 10: 5, 13; 1 Chr. 21: 26; 1 Kgs. 3: 2-4; 1 Kgs. 18: 30). Such altars became local centers of the worship of Jehovah. When idolatry came in, many of these altars were desecrated and used for heathen worship. Religious reformers like Hezekiah and Josiah tried therefore to centralize the worship more and more in Jerusalem, where it could be better kept under control, and the high places were ordered to be removed, i.e., no sacrifices were to be offered anywhere except in Jerusalem (2 Kgs. 18: 4, 22; 2 Chr. 31: 1; 2 Kgs. 23; 2 Chr. 34: 3; cf. Deut. 12: 11-14).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
High Priest
(1) An office in the Melchizedek Priesthood. Adam and all the patriarchs were high priests (D&C 107: 53; Abr. 1: 2).

(2) Under the law of Moses the presiding officer of the Aaronic Priesthood was called the high priest. The office was hereditary and came through the firstborn among the family of Aaron, Aaron himself being the first high priest of the Aaronic order.

The duties of the high priest and his special vestments are outlined in the books of Exodus and Leviticus, the chief references being Ex. 28: 6-42 ; Ex. 29: 6 ; Ex. 39: 27-29 ; Lev. 6: 19-23 ; Lev. 21: 10 . The clothing was colorful, often white and blue, ornamented with golden bells and varicolored needlework. A breastplate of judgment was worn, containing the Urim and Thummim and precious stones representing the tribes of Israel. On the high priest’s head was the mitre or turban, made of fine linen (Ex. 39: 28 ). Upon the forefront and attached to it by a blue lace was a plate or crown of pure gold (Ex. 28: 36 ; Ex. 29: 6 ). On the plate was engraved the legend “Holiness to the Lord.”

The high priest was privileged to use the Urim and Thummim (Num. 27: 21 ), and we read of it during Saul’s time, but not afterward. It was apparently missing, but its restoration was hoped for during the time of the second temple (Ezra 2: 63 ).

The high priest’s main duties, in addition to the duties of a regular priest, were to perform the service of the Day of Atonement; to inquire God’s will by the Urim and Thummim in the breastplate of his office; and to offer the sacrifices on Sabbaths, new moons, and yearly festivals. He also had to offer a meat offering twice daily for himself (Lev. 6: 19-23 ). (See Meat Offering .) His consecration differed from that of ordinary priests in anointing and robing: on the high priests’ head alone was the anointing oil poured (Lev. 21: 10 ; Ps. 133: 2 ); and his garments were of special significance and magnificence.

The office was usually a lifetime calling and, when rightly appointed, was by revelation from God, “as was Aaron” (Heb. 5: 4 ). It was in the family of Eleazar, Aaron’s third son, until the time of Eli, a descendant of Ithamar, Aaron’s youngest son, into whose family it passed until it was restored to the family of Eleazar in the person of Zadok; it then continued in his family till the time of the Maccabees. During the Maccabaean period the high priest was also political head of the nation. After this family was overthrown, high priests were inappropriately appointed and deposed at pleasure by Herod and the Romans alike. The office was filled by 28 different men between 37 B.C. and A.D. 68. Since the latter year the office has ceased to exist among the Jews, but they were in apostasy long before that time.

The epistle to the Hebrews discusses at some length the manner in which Jesus Christ is the great High Priest, of whom all the others were pre-figures (Heb. 5: 1-10 ; Heb. 9: 28 ).

See also Aaronic Priesthood ; Breastplate .

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hill country
A geographical term of frequent occurrence (Josh. 13: 6; Josh. 21: 11; Luke 1: 39, 65), denoting the ridge of hills extending from Jezreel to Beersheba, attaining a maximum elevation of about 3000 feet near Hebron. The hills are sometimes bare but more often covered with herbage and shrubbery; the lower slopes are adapted for the culture of the vine, and the valleys are often very fertile.

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hinnom, valley of
South and west of Jerusalem, it was the scene of the idolatrous worship of the fire-god Moloch (2 Chr. 28: 3; 2 Chr. 33: 6; cf. 2 Kgs. 16: 3; 2 Kgs. 21: 6; Jer. 7: 31; Jer. 32: 35), and was afterwards used as a place of refuse (2 Kgs. 23: 10-14. In N.T. times it was called Gehenna, and was regarded by the Jews as symbolical of the place of torment.

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hiram
(1) King of Tyre, a friend of David and Solomon (2 Sam. 5: 11; 1 Kgs. 5; 1 Kgs. 9: 11-14, 27; 1 Kgs. 10: 11); called Huram (2 Chr. 2: 3-12; 2 Chr. 8: 2, 18; 2 Chr. 9: 10, 21).

(2) A Tyrian workman sent to Solomon (1 Kgs. 7: 13, 40, 45 ); called Huram (2 Chr. 2: 13 ; 2 Chr. 4: 11, 16 ).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hittites
The ancient people descended from Heth (Gen. 10: 15). They were a branch of the Canaanites, and in the Bible the name denotes all the Canaanite (as distinguished from the Aramaean or Syrian) nations that lived north of Palestine from the Orontes to the Euphrates (1 Kgs. 10: 29; 2 Kgs. 7: 6). Their empire extended to the extreme northwest of Asia Minor, and they were strong enough to contend on equal terms with the kings of Egypt and Assyria. Their love of literature may be traced in the name of the Hittite Kirjath-Sepher (“city of books”); their art is evident by the curious sculptures found at Carchemish, one of their capitals, and elsewhere. Judging by the representations of them on Egyptian monuments, they had dark hair and eyes, yellow skin, and receding foreheads and chins.

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hivites
A Canaanitish race (Gen. 10: 17; Gen. 34: 2; Ex. 3: 8, 17; Ex. 13: 5; Josh. 9: 7; Josh. 11: 19). A colony of Hivites, settled in Gibeon, made a treaty with Joshua, having deceived him by a stratagem; but the main body appear to have lived in northern Palestine (Josh. 11: 3; Judg. 3: 3; 2 Sam. 24: 7).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Holiness
According to the O.T. things or places were holy that were set apart for a sacred purpose; the opposite of holy is therefore common or profane (1 Sam. 21: 5; Ezek. 22: 26; Ezek. 42: 20; Ezek. 44: 23; Ezek. 48: 13-15). Similarly a holy person meant one who held a sacred office. The Israelites were a holy people because they stood in a special relationship to Jehovah. under the guidance of the Prophets it was seen that what distinguished Jehovah from the gods of the heathen was his personal character. The word HOLY therefore came to refer to moral character (Lev. 11: 44; Lev. 19: 2; Lev. 21: 8; Isa. 6: 3-8). Israel must be holy in character because the God of Israel was holy (Jer. 7: 4-7; cf. Matt. 5: 48). The Law of Holiness (Lev. 17 - 26) shows how the attempt was made by means of ceremonial observance to secure this holiness of character. The attempt failed because the later Jews observed the letter and neglected the spirit; they attached more importance to the ceremonial than to the moral; and the result was a lapse into formalism. But in the writings of the Prophets it is clearly laid down that the value of worship in the eyes of God depends upon the personal character of the worshipper.

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Holy Ghost
The third member of the Godhead and, as the name implies, a personage of Spirit, not possessing a body of flesh and bones (D&C 130: 21-22). The Holy Ghost is manifested in every dispensation of the gospel since the beginning, beinng first made known to Adam (1 Ne. 10: 17-22; Moses 6: 51-68). The Holy Ghost is manifested to men on the earth both as the power of the Holy Ghost and as the gift of the Holy Ghost. The power can come upon one before baptism, and is the convincing witness that the gospel is true. It gives one a testimony of Jesus Christ and of his work and the work of his servants upon the earth. The gift can come only after proper and authorized baptism, and is conferred by the laying on of hands, as in Acts 8: 12-25 and Moroni 2: 1-3. The gift of the Holy Ghost is the right to have, whenever one is worthy, the companionship of the Holy Ghost. More powerful than that which is available before baptism, it acts as a cleansing agent to purify a person and sanctify him from all sin. Thus it is often spoken of as “fire” (Matt. 3: 11; 2 Ne. 31: 17; D&C 19: 31). The manifestation on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) was the gift of the Holy Ghost that came upon the Twelve, without which they were not ready for their ministries to the world.

For some reason not fully explained in the scriptures, the Holy Ghost did not operate in the fulness among the Jews during the years of Jesus’ mortal sojourn (John 7: 39 ; John 16: 7 ). Statements to the effect that the Holy Ghost did not come until after Jesus was resurrected must of necessity refer to that particular dispensation only, for it is abundantly clear that the Holy Ghost was operative in earlier dispensations. Furthermore, it has reference only to the gift of the Holy Ghost not being present, since the power of the Holy Ghost was operative during the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus; otherwise no one would have received a testimony of the truths that these men taught (cf. Matt. 16: 16-17 ; 1 Cor. 12: 3 ). When a person speaks by the power of the Holy Ghost that same power carries a conviction of the truth into the heart of the hearer (2 Ne. 33: 1 ). The Holy Ghost knows all things (D&C 35: 19 ) and can lead one to know of future events (2 Pet. 1: 21 ).

Other names that sometimes refer to the Holy Ghost are Holy Spirit, Spirit of god, Spirit of the Lord, Comforter, and Spirit.

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Holy of Holies
Also called Most Holy Place. The most sacred room in the tabernacle and, later, in the temple as contrasted with the Holy Place.

See Tabernacle .

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Holy One of Israel
A name for the Savior used 34 times in the Old Testament, most frequently by Isaiah, who cites it 28 times (27 times in the book of Isaiah and once in 2 Kgs. 19: 22). It appears three times in the Psalms (Ps. 71: 22; Ps. 78: 41; Ps. 89: 18), twice in Jeremiah (Jer. 50: 29; Jer. 51: 5), and once in Ezekiel (Ezek. 39: 7). Some references in Isaiah are Isa. 1: 4; Isa. 5: 19; Isa. 12: 6; Isa. 30: 11, 12, 15; Isa. 48: 17; Isa. 60: 14. The term is used frequently in the Book of Mormon, especially in 1 and 2 Nephi. The Holy One of Israel is identified as Christ in 2 Ne. 25: 29.

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Holy Place
A sacred room in the tabernacle and also in the temple. For particulars see Tabernacle .

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Holy Spirit
See Holy Ghost .

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Homer
See Weights and Measures.

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hor
A mountain, 4580 feet high, some 60 miles due south of the Dead Sea, on which Aaron died (Num. 20: 22-29; Num. 33: 37-41). A Mohammedan chapel indicates the traditional site of his tomb.

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Horeb
Another name for Sinai (Ex. 3: 1; Deut. 1: 6; Deut. 4: 10; 1 Kgs. 19: 8; Mal. 4: 4; 3 Ne. 25: 4).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Horse
Most of the allusions to horses that occur in the Bible refer to their use in war. They were not used at all by the early Hebrews; Solomon introduced them from Egypt. The Canaanites, in the time of Joshua, made use of warhorses and chariots (Josh. 11: 9), but they could only be used in plains and level country. In Job 39: 19-25 there is a description of a war-horse. There is only one allusion to the horse being employed for agricultural purposes among the Jews, namely, for threshing grain (Isa. 28: 28).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hosanna
= save now.

The word is taken from Ps. 118: 25, one of the Psalms of the Hallel. The chanting of this psalm was connected at the Feast of Tabernacles with the waving of palm branches; hence the use of the word by the multitudes at our Lord’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matt. 21: 9, 15; Mark 11: 9, 10; John 12: 13).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hosea, or Hoshea
Son of Beeri, and the only prophet of the northern kingdom who has left written prophecies. He began to prophesy during the latter part of the reign of Jeroboam II. He probably died before the accession of Pekah, 736 B.C., for he makes no allusion to the Syro-Ephraimitic war nor to the deportation of the northern tribes by Tiglath-pileser two years later. He lived during a time of national decline and ruin, the result of the sin of Israel. Hosea’s fundamental idea is the love of God for his people. In love God redeemed them from Egypt (Hosea 11: 1); their history has been but an illustration of his love (11 - 13); all his chastisements are inflicted in love (Hosea 2: 14; Hosea 3); and their restoration shall be due to his love (Hosea 2: 19; Hosea 14: 4). In contrast with this moral Being, who is Love, Hosea sets Israel, characterized always by want of affection, by treachery and infidelity. Yet he is able to look forward to a final redemption (Hosea 2: 19; Hosea 11: 12 - 14: 9). The profound thought and pathos of this prophet of the north deeply influenced succeeding writers (see Isa. 40 - 66); Jer. 2; Jer. 3; Ezek. 16; Ezek. 33).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hospitality
This has always been regarded by Eastern nations as a duty of the highest importance. Gen. 18: 1-5; Gen. 19: 1-3; Ex. 2: 20; Judg. 13: 15; Judg. 19: 20-21 tell of instances of the readiness with which hospitality was offered to strangers. Such hospitality was a necessity of desert life. A host was bound at all cost to protect the life and property of his guest, even though previously unknown to him. To taste another man’s salt was to establish a claim on his protection. The N.T. enjoins the duty even more emphatically (e.g., Matt. 10: 42; Matt. 25: 43; Rom. 12: 13; 1 Tim 3: 2; Titus 1: 8; Heb. 13: 2; 1 Pet. 4: 9).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hough
To cut the houghs or hamstrings of animals, so as to disable them (Josh. 11: 6; 2 Sam. 8: 4).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hour
The division of the day into hours was probably borrowed by the Jews from the Babylonians, who were careful astronomers and at a very early time invented the system of hours, minutes, and seconds that we still use. In the O.T. no divisions of the day are mentioned beyond morning, noon, and evening. The night was divided into three watches, afterwards increased to four. In the only passages in O.T. in which hour occurs (Dan. 3: 6; Dan. 4: 19, 33; Dan. 5: 5), it denotes an indefinite length of time. In the N.T. period the use of the hour was well established. The hours of the day were counted from sunrise, the hours of the night from sunset, and they varied in length at different seasons of the year.

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
House
The ordinary dwelling-houses of the Jews were of brick, less often of stone, cemented with gypsum, and roofed in with wooden beams. They seldom exceeded two stories in height. The houses of the rich were built around a court. The roofs were invariably flat, and could in many cases be reached by an outside staircase, guarded by a balustrade to prevent accidents (Deut. 22: 8). Upon the roof a chamber was often built, which served as a parlor or as a place for taking the midday siesta (Judg. 3: 23, 25). Windows were closed in with latticework, glass being an extremely costly material. The principal articles of furniture were the bed, consisting of a rug or mattress, rolled up during the day and spread when required on the floor or on a ledge by the wall, or in summer on the roof of the house; the lamp stand; and the table, with couches around it on which the guests reclined at full length.

See also Furniture .

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hur
One who, with Aaron, supported the hands of Moses in the battle with Amalek (Ex. 17: 10, 12; Ex. 24: 14).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Husks
The pods of the carob tree (Luke 15: 16). They are sweet to the taste and steeped in water, make a pleasant drink, but they are chiefly used for feeding cattle and horses. The pods are sometimes called St. John’s Bread, from the notion that they are the locusts on which the Baptist fed.

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hyksos
See Egypt .

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hymns
There are various references in the N.T. to the use of hymns; e.g., in the account of the Last Supper (Matt. 26: 30), where the hymn would be part of the Hallel (Pss. 113-118; Acts 4: 24; Acts 16: 25; 1 Cor. 14: 15, 26; Eph. 5: 19; Col. 3: 16; James 5: 13). Psalmody and hymnody were highly developed in the religious services of the Jews and were thus easily continued in Christian worship. The Gospel hymns, such as the Magnificat (Luke 1: 46-55), the Benedictus (Luke 1: 68-79), the Gloria in Excelsis (Luke 2: 14), and the Nunc Dimittis (Luke 2: 29-32) have from early times been used in public worship.

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hypocrite
The word generally denotes one who pretends to be religious when he is not (though it is sometimes used to mean simply a bad man, e.g., Job 8: 13; Job 13: 16; Isa. 9: 17; Isa. 33: 14). Hypocrisy was the besetting sin of the Pharisees, and was severely condemned by the Lord (Matt. 23: 13-33; Mark 12: 38-40; Luke 11: 37-44; Luke 20: 46-47).

The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Hyssop
A kind of wild marjoram, used at the Passover (Ex. 12: 22); for sprinkling purposes in the purification of lepers (Lev. 14: 4, 51) and in the sacrifice of the red heifer (Num. 19: 6; see also Ps. 51: 7; 1 Kgs. 4: 33). According to John (John 19: 29), the sponge with the vinegar offered to our Lord on the cross was “put upon hyssop.” Matthew and Mark do not mention the hyssop, but only the reed by which it was raised to Jesus’ mouth.