in honour of their idols.

by the drunken Chaldeans, they rushed in, and filled the city with terrible bloodshed and confusion. Gobrias and Gadata, two Babylonian deser ters, with some choice Persian warriors, rushed into the palace, killed the guards, plunged their swords into the

bles, whilst they were scarce awaked from their sleep and drunkenness.—— It seems the king's corpse had not so much as a decent burial.

An angel's forming the appearance of an hand, and writing the king's condemnation on the wail, checked their mirth, and filled them with terror. Belshazzar was struck into such a panic, that the joints of his thighs loosed, and he trembled exceedingly. None pre-bowels of king Belshazzar and his nosent could either read or explain the writing. The magicians, astrologers and others famed for wisdom, were Called; and a scarlet suit of apparel, a golden chain for his neck, and the Christian historians sufficiently aoffice of third ruler in the kingdom, gree, that by the Persians, Medes, was the reward promised to him who and Armenians, Babylon was taken, should read and interpret it. Igno-and the empire translated to the rant of the characters or struck with Medes, and thence to the Persians.-a panic, none of them could pretend || All agree, that after Belshazzar no to read or interpret the writing. The Chaldean reigned at Babylon; but as sagacious Nitocris, hearing of the Herodotus relates the affair so diffeperplexity of her son and his cour-rently from scripture, they are not atiers, desired that Daniel, who, it greed that Belshazzar was Naboneseems, had been long a stranger to dus, or whether he was Nebuchadthe court, should be sent for; who, nezzar's grandson. Scaliger will she hoped, would read and interpret have him the infant Laboroschard, it. He was immediately brought, and the son of Neriglissar by Nebuchadthe reward offered him, which he mo-nezzar's daughter. Marsham will destly refused. After a faithful re- || have him Evil-merodach. But it is cerproof of the king for his idolatry, and tain, that God promised the service of ungrateful abuse of the sacred vessels the nations to Nebuchadnezzar, and of the Jewish temple, he read the wri- his son, and son's son. It is plain, ting, which was Mene, tekel upharsin; || therefore, Belshazzar could not be MENE, said he to the king, imports, || Evil-merodach, who was but the son that God hath numbered the days of of Nebuchadnezzar. Nor could he thy royalty, and is just finishing it be Laboroschard, who was but NeTEKEL, thou art weighed in the ba-buchadnezzar's daughter's son, and lances of God's purpose and law, and art found wanting in goodness, and suddenly to be cut off: PHERES, thy kingdom is divided, wrested from thee, and given to the Medes and Persians. Daniel immediately received the promised reward; and it seems the king and his courtiers returned to their cups. Cyrus the general of the Persian troops, and his uncle Darius the Mede, had already besieged Babylon two years without success. Foreseeing this feast, he diverted the Euphrates from its channel. That very night he marched his troops along the channel: the brazen gates on the river being left open

besides, reigned but a few months, and died an infant; whereas Belshazzar reigned several years, and had wives and concubines, Jer. 1. and li. Isa. xiii. and xiv. Dan. v. and viii. 1. BEMOAN; to mourn over, Jer. xv. 5.

BENAIAH, the son of Jehoiada, was one of David's valiant men, and captain of his guards. He killed the two famed Ariels of Moab. He killed a lion that had slipped into a pit in the time of snow. Arined with a staff, he attacked an Egyptian champion armed with a spear, plucked his spear out of his hand, and slew him therewith. Having adhered to Solomon

against Adonijah, and assisted at his || are often so called, when they scarce coronation, he was made general in- deserve the name; but their office res stead of Joab; and by Solomon's or- quires them to be such, Luke xxii. 25. ders, put Joab and Adonijah to death, 2 Sam. xxiii. 20. 1 Kings i. and ii. BENCHES, seats in ships for the rowers. The Tyrians had some of ivory, Ezek. xxvii. 6.

BENEVOLENCE, kindly affec1 tion; the sober use of the marriages bed, 1 Cor. vii. 10.

BENEFIT; (1.) The gifts and favours of God, 2 Chron. xxxii. 25. (2.) The favours and useful deeds of men one to another, 2 Cor. i. 15. Philem. 14. Salvation from sin and BEND; to bow; to yield or stoop. misery, to holiness and happiness, is To bend a bow, is to bow it by draw-called the benefit; it is the greatest ing the string, that the arrow may fly display of God's favour to us, and off with great force, Jer. 1. 14. God's comprehends all kindness, 1 Tim. vi. bending Judah for himself, and filling 2. To benefit, is to do good to one, the bow with Ephraim, is his enabling Jer. xviii. 10. them to defeat the Syro-grecian forces in the time of the Maccabees, Zech. ix. 13. The vine the royal family of Judah, bent her roots towards the king of Egypt, when king Zedekiah entered into a covenant with, and depended on him for assistance against the king of Babylon,|| Ezek. xvii. 7. The Gentiles come bending to the church, when, in the apostolic or after ages, they join themselves members, with great readiness, affection, and humility, Isa. lx. 14.— To be bent to backsliding, is to be earnestly set upon it, Hos. xi. 7.

BENHADAD, the son of Tabri mon, and king of Syria. Instigated by Asa's presents, he broke his league with BAASHA king of Israel, and ravaged the northern parts of his king. dom. In the reign of Omri, or Ahab, he made streets, market-places, or rather citadels, for himself in Sama, ria, 1 Kings xv. 18. and xx. 34.

The Is

2. BENHADAD, the son and succes, sor of the former, was a still more terrible scourge to the kingdom of Is, BENEATH, under, or lower than rael. In the reign of AHAB he ra some other thing; so earth is below vaged the country, laid siege to Samathe heavens in respect of place; slaves | ria the capital, insolently claimed his and servants are beneath their masters || wives, children, and wealth, and every in power and dignity, Isa. li. 6. Deut. thing valuable in the city. xxviii. 13. Men, especially if wick-raclites rejected his absurd conditions, ed, are from beneath: they are sprung and were miraculously enabled with of the earth, their bodies live on it, a few troops to route his powerful ar and their affections sadly cleave to it, my. Remembering that God gave the and they are children of hell, John law from a mountain, and had his tem viii. 23. ple on another, his servants persuaded BENEDICITE, among ecclesias-him that the Hebrew God was only tical writers, an appellation given to the song of the three children in the hery furnace, on account of its beginning with the word benedicite. The use of this song in Christianed; and displacing his 32 tributary worship is very ancient, it appearing to have been sung in all the churches as early as St. Chrysostom's time.

Ency.

God of the hills; and that if they had fought them in a plain, they should certainly have gained the victory.→ This stupid fancy he readily believ

kings from their place in his army, he filled it with captains, which he hoped to be more skilful or trusty in war, and next year returned to make a fuil conquest of the kingdom of Israel. To chastise his wickedness, God, by an handful of Israelites, Ꮓ

gave him a terrible defeat. An hundred thousand of his forces were slain on the spot. An earthquake tumbled the wall of Aphek upon 27,000 more, and crushed them to death. Reduced to the brink of dispair, Benhadad, by his servants' advice, threw himself on Ahab's mercy. The insolent blasphemer had not only his life granted him, but liberty to return to his kingdom on the easiest terms. Contrary even to these, he detained Ramoth-gilead,|| a city of Israel, in his hands: and when Ahab attempted to wrest it from him, he most ungratefully ordered his troops to aim their strokes chiefly at him, who, by a sinful excess of pity, had so lately given him his life and kingdom, 1 Kings xx. and xxii.

ley, would be sold for about 55 cents. That very night the Lord terrified the Syrian host; they imagined they heard a terrible noise, and concluded that Jehoram had hired a prodigious army of Egyptians, Hittites, and others, to swallow them up. In great consternation they fled from their camp, leaving it furnished as it was: by the way they flung off their garments, and cast from them what they had taken with them. Four lepers, whom hunger had forced to cast themselves on the Syrian mercy, finding the camp deserted, informed king Jehoram thereof. After some precautions taken to try whether the Syrians had really fled, the Hebrews plundered the camp, and the plenty answered the prophet's prediction, 2 Kings v. vi. and vii. Next year Benhadad sickened; and being informed that Elisha was somewhere near to Damascus, he sent Hazael his general to him, with a present of forty ca

of Syria, to inquire if he should recover. Elisha replied, that there was nothing mortal in his distemper; but, however, he should certainly die.— Hazael informed his master, that the prophet foretold his recovery; but to prevent it, took a thick cloth, dipped it in water, and spread it on his master's face, and so stifled him to death, and seized on his throne, 2 Kings viii.

Soon after he made war on Jehoram, Ahab's successor, and carried off a number of Hebrew captives. Informed by one of these, that an Hebrew prophet could cure Naaman his general of his leprosy, he sent himmels' load of the most precious things to king Jehoram for that effect. The general had scarce returned home, cured of his loathsome disease, when Benhadad poured his ravaging troops into the kingdom of Israel, chiefly aiming to cut off Jehoram himself. Informed that Elisha revealed his designs to Jehoram, he sent a party to apprehend the prophet. At Elisha's request, God smote them with a partial blindness, and he led them to Sa- 3. BENHADAD, the son of Hazael, maria, where king Jehoram would was also king of Syria. Under him have killed them; but, advised by E- that kingdom was reduced to the lisha, gave them a refreshment, and brink of ruin. Jehoash and Jeroboam dismissed them in safety. Terrified kings of Israel, did beat his troops in at Elisha's power, or moved with Je-a variety of pitched battles, and forhoram's generosity, Benhadad for a-ced him to restore to the Israelites bout four years withdrew his plunder- whatever his predecessors had seizing bands. At last he invaded the ed, 2 Kings xii. 3. and xiii. 25. and country, and besieged Samaria, till xiv. 25. the famine was excessive. The head BENJAMIN, the youngest son of an ass was sold for almost 45 dol- of Jacob and Rachel, born A. M. lars and about 3 gills of doves' dung, || 2272. His mother, dying in childor coarse pulse, gave almost 3 dolls. bed, called him BENONI, the son of my women did eat their own infants.sorrow; but, unwilling to have his Elisha foretold, that next day a bushel name a constant memorial of his beof fine flour, and two bushels of bar-loved Rachel's death, Jacob called

:

him BENJAMIN, the son of the right || this tribe patronised the lewd wretches hand. He married young; and was of Gibeon, and drew a war upon themscarce 32 years of age when he had selves. They were then famed warten sons, Belah, Becher, Ashbel, Ge- riors, especially in using the bowra, Naaman, Eli or Ahiram, Rosh, Twice they, with 25,000, defeated aMuppim or Shupham, Huppim or bout 360,000 of the other tribes, and Hupham, and Ard, five of whom died slew 40,000. In the third battle they childless, Genesis xxxv. 16—18. and were defeated; and except 600, who xlvi. 21. When a famine obliged fled to the rock Rimmon, their whole Jacob to send his other ten sons to tribe was cut off. The extirpation Egypt for corn, he kept Benjamin at of this tribe exceedingly grieved their home with himself, reckoning him brethren, as soon as they had leisure the only surviving child of his beloved to think: they therefore, from the wife. Joseph ordered them to bring || virgins of Jabesh-gilead and of Shihim down with them at their return, loh, procured wives to the 600 that or they should be held for spies.- remained, Judg. xx. and xxi. It was With no small reluctance, Jacob was perhaps scarce 60 years after, when at last persuaded to let him go. To EHUD, one of this tribe, judged Istry his brethren's affection to him, rael, and delivered them from the Joseph, after giving him superior ho- Moabites. Saul and Ishbosheth, the nours at his feast, soon brought him first kings of Israel, were of this tribe. into great appearance of danger, by About 20 of the most valiant of this the silver cup being found in his tribe came over to David before Saul's sack, as if stolen by him. He soon death, 1 Chron. xii. 2-7; and 3000 after gave him five suits of apparel, more soon after the death of Ishboand about 156 dollars in money. In sheth, 1 Chron. xii. 1-7, 29. When his last benediction, Jacob foretold, David numbered them a little before that this tribe should, in the begin- his death, there were of the Belaites ning and end of the Jewish state, be 22,034 warriors; of the Becherites remarkable for valour and ravage; 20,200; of the Jediaelites 17,200, beand Moses, that it should have safe sides others, 1 Chron. vii. 6—12. residence just by the temple of God, The captain of their 24,000 trained Gen. xliii. to xlv. and xlix. 27. Deut. bands, was Abiezer the Anetothite; xxxiii. 12. When this tribe came and their chief prince was Jaasiel the out of Egypt, it consisted of five fa- son of ABNER, I Chron. xxvii. 12, 21. milies, the Belaites, Ashbelites, Ahi- When the other ten tribes revolted ramites, Shuphamites, and Hupham- to Jeroboam, the Benjamites clave to ites; their chief prince was Abidan Judah, and the house of David; and the son of Gideoni: the number of all along shared in the religion and their armed men under him was fate of that tribe. Under Jehoshaphat, 35,400. In the wilderness they in- their militia amounted to 380,000.creased to 45,600. They marched After the captivity, a vast number in the camp of Ephraim, and pitched of them dwelt at Jerusalem, 2 Chron. their tents behind the tabernacle.- xi. and xvii. and 1 Chron. viii. and Their spy to search the promised ix. But the great honour of this tribe land, was Palti the son of Raphu; was the apostle Paul, who, in the their prince to divide it, was Elidad morning of his life, ravened as a perthe son of Chiston. Their inheritance secutor; and in the latter part, conlay to the north, and north-east of the verted multitudes to Christ, Phil. iii. lot of Judah, Numbers xxvi. 38-41. 5. Gen. xlix. 27. and i. 11, 36, 37. and ii. 18-22. and xiii. 9. and xxiv. 21. Josh. xviii. Not long after the death of Joshua,

BERA, king of Sodom, had his country terribly ravaged by CHEDORLAOMER and his allies. When Abram

BEREA, a city of Macedonia: it was a little distant from Pella, where Alexander was born. Here Paul preached with great success; and his hearers were exceeding careful to compare what they heard with the scriptures of the Old Testament. Sopater, one of them, attended him to Asia. Acts xvii. 10-13. and xx. 4. BEREAVE; to cause to want, Deut. xxxii. 25.

berries left in the uppermost or outmost branch of an olive-tree, Isaiah xvii. 6.

BERYL, a transparent jewel, of a

defeated the co.querors, and recovered the spoil, Bera offered him the whole booty, the persons excepted; but Abram refused any part of it, lest it should be said, that not JEHO-bluish green colour. It easily loses VAH, but the king of Sodom, had its colour in a small fire, and is then inade him rich, Gen. xiv. reckoned of very little value. It neBERACHAH. See VALLEY, and ver receives any admixture of foreign JEHOSHAPHAT. colour; but its native one is of very different degrees, from a deep dusky, to the palest colour of sea-water. It seems to have received its Hebrew name from the resemblance of its coIts size is from that lour to the sea. of a small tare, to that of a bean or walnut. Its hardness often approaches that of the garnet. It is chiefly found in the East-Indies, and about the goldmines of Peru in America. There are beryls found in Silesia; but they are much inferior to the other, and perhaps are but a kind of crystal.The beryl is the 8th foundation of the new Jerusalem; and Christ's body is compared to it, to denote his heavenly BERITH. See BAAL-BERITH. beauty, mysterious person, and digBERNICE, the daughter of Agrip-nity, Rev. xxi. 20. Dan. x. 6. It was pa the Great. She was first betrothed to Mark, the son of ALEXANDER, governor of the Jews at Alexandria She next married her own uncle, Herod king of Chalcis. After his death, she married Polemon king of Pontus, on condition of his being circumcised. She quickly after abandoned him, and returned to Agrippa her brother, with whom, it is supposed, she lived in habitual incest. They both appeared with great pomp, to hear Paul's defence at Cæsarea, Acts xxv. 13, 23. and xxvi.

BERENGARIANISM, a name given by ecclesiastical writers to the opinion of those who deny the truth and reality of the body and blood of Christ in the eucharist. Ency.

BERODACH. See MERODACH. BEROTH, BEROTHAH, OF CHUN, a city of Syria, conquered by David; perhaps it was Berytus in Phoenicia, 2 Sam. viii. 8. 1 Chron. xviii. 8.

BERRY, a small fruit growing on trees, bushes, &c. The kinds and qualities of berries are almost innumerable. Some are poisonous; but most are nourishing and medicinal. The few Israelites left in their land by the Assyrians, are likened to a few

the 10th stone in the high-priest's breastplate; and might denote the saints in their heavenly nature and affection, and the mixture of their case and lot, Exod. xxviii. 10.

BESEECH; to entreat with great earnestness, Exod, xxxiii. 18.

BESET; to assault, as an army making a general attack on a city or fort, Judg. xix. 20. God besets men behind and before; he exactly knows, upholds, and governs them, that they can go no where but as he permits, and where they are surrounded with his presence, Psal. cxxxix. 5. Men's sinful doings beset them, when they appear charged upon them, and with mighty force entangle them in their deserved punishment, Hos. vii. 2.— The sin that easily besets men, is the sin of their nature, or their predominant lust, which being so deep rooted in their heart and affections, and so connected with their outward circumstances of life, readily, and without much opposition, instigates, and, as