son, in

ing great reward: and repeated to him or princess. He assured him that Ishthe promise of a numerous seed, and mael should live, and have a numeof Canaan for their inheritance. By rous issue: and Sarah, now ninety an horrible darkness, and by a fiery years of age, should bear meteor passing between the pieces whose seed all the nations of the of the heifer, the she-goat, the ram, earth should be blessed. Immediturtle, and pigeon, he confirmed the ately after this vision, Abraham and covenant, prefigured their affliction, all his males were circumcised, Gen. and hinted, that at last their salvation xvi. and xvii. should go forth as a lamp that burneth. Not long after, the Son of God, atAt the same time he assured him his tended by two angels in human shape, seed should sojourn four hundred passed by Abraham's tent in their way years in a land not their own, and to destroy Sodom, and the cities adpart of that time be terribly oppres-jacent. Upon Abraham's kind ensed; and that in the fourth genera-treaty, they entered his tent, and tion, they should be brought, with were entertained by him as travelgreat wealth, from the land of their lers. The Angel JEHOVAH asking bondage, and take possession of Ca-for Sarah, assured her and her hus naan, from the Euphrates on the band that after nine months she north-east, to the border of Egypt should bring forth a son. Abraham on the south-west, Gen. xv. accompanied his guests part of their Hearing that a child of Abram's way towards Sodom. To reward him own body should be heir of Canaan, for his religious education of his faSarai imagining it impossible for one of mily, the Lord disclosed to him his her age and circumstances to be the intention to destroy that wicked city. joyful mother, advised her husband to Moved with compassion, especially make Hagar her maid his concubine, to Lot, Abraham interceded for its and procure children by her. Abram preservation. God granted him whatcomplied. Hagar no sooner found ever he asked. He offered to save herself pregnant, than she behaved to them, if fifty, if forty, if twenty, or her mistress in a haughty and surly even ten righteous persons could be manner. This occasioned bitter, but found therein: but as there was not unjust reproaches on Abram from his that number, Lot only and his daughwife, as if he had encouraged his ters were preserved, Gen. xviii. xix. maid in her pride. Hard treatment Scarcely had Sarah conceived, when from her mistress provoked Hagar to her own and her husband's dissimu flee from the family; but being com-lation at Gerar issued in her being manded by God, she returned and forced from him by ABIMELECH the submitted herself. She brought forth king. She was, however, quickly a son, whose name was ISHMAEL. restored, without receiving any stain For 13 years after his birth, we have on her marriage-bed, Gen. xx. In no account of any farther revelations A. M. 2108, Isaac was born, to the to Abram; but, A. M. 2107, God no small joy of Abraham and Sarah. repeated the promise of a numerous The first circumcised, and the other seed, and of the land of Canaan for suckled him. When Isaac was weantheir possession. To confirm this co-ed, Abraham made a splendid feast venant, to separate Abram and his for his household. On that occasion, family from the rest of the world, Ishmael probably showed his conand to seal them as heirs to the pro- tempt of Isaac. Sarah observing it, mises, God ordered him, and all the begged her husband to expel Hagar males of his family and seed, to be and her son from the family, as she circumcised. He changed his name would never allow him to inherit Cato ABRAHAM, which signifies the fa-naan with her son Isaac. This re ther of a multitude. Sarai's he chang-quest was extremely disagreeable to ed to SARAH, which signifies the lady Abraham; but, being admonished by

God, he readily complied therewith. Hebron, where her husband, it seems, Abraham now dwelt at Beersheba; then dwelt. He requested of the Hitthither Abimelech king of Gerar tites of that place to sell him a burycame to make a covenant of friend-ing-place: they offered him room in ship with him, moved perhaps by any of their sepulchres: he desired the report of the promise of Canaan the cave of Machpelah: Ephron, the to his seed. Abraham reproved the proprietor, begged he would take it king concerning a well which his in compliment; but Abraham insistservants had taken by force, but that ed on giving the full value, and paid being restored, a covenant was made for it 400 shekels, which amounted to between them, and ratified by oath. 46 pounds 5 shillings, or according Abraham also built an altar here unto to Prideaux, to 60 pounds sterling; the Lord, Gen. xxi. and there he buried Sarah his wife.

Isaac was twenty five, or, as some Three years after, he resolved to suppose, thirty-three years of age, provide a wife for Isaac his son. when God commanded his father He called Eliezer his principal serto offer him for a burnt-sacrifice on vant, and, after giving him his ina distant hill. In obedience to this structions, and binding him by oath, command, he rose early the next to take for his son a wife out of his morning, set off with Isaac and some own kindred, and to avoid every servants; and a knife, fire, and wood, step calculated to make Isaac return for the offering. After travelling to Mesopotamia, he sent him away three days, he came to Moriah, the with a suitable train and a number destined mount. The servants and of presents. Rebekah was obtained asses being left behind, Isaac bore for Isaac. Next year Abraham himthe wood, and his father the knife self espoused Keturah, by whom he and fire. By the way Isaac asked had six sons. Their names were where the sacrifice was? Abraham Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, replied, God would provide it. They Ishbak; and Shuah. These Abraham came to the appointed spot: an al-in his life-time portioned and sent tar was reared; Isaac was bound, and eastward into ARABIA the desert, stretched thereon. When Abraham where they became heads of tribes had just stretched his hand with the numerous and potent, A. M. 2183. knife to plunge it into his son; the Abraham died in the 175th year of Lord himself stopped him, and told his age: his sons, Isaac and Ishmael, Abraham he had now sufficiently who now lived at a small distance discovered his fixed faith in his pro- from each other, buried him in the mise, and regard to his precepts; cave of Machpelah, beside Sarah bis meanwhile, the patriarch looking be- wife, Gen. xxiii. xxiv. and xxv. hind him, observed a ram caught by Abraham is famous in the stories of the horns in a thick bush, which he the ancient Heathens, and of the caught, and offered instead of his Mahometans, Indians, and Jews, as son, and called the place JEHOVAH a king of Damascus; as a teacher JIREH; importing that God chiefly of arithmetic and astronomy to the manifested his favours in perplexing Egyptians, &c. It is probable hustraits, and would provide for his man sacrifices took their rise among people whatever they needed. After the Canaanites, from his intended God had renewed his promises, and oblation of Isaac. Severus, the Roconfirmed them by oath, Abraham man emperor, reckoned him one of rejoined his servants, and returned his deities along with Jesus Christ. home to Beersheba; and was there The sacred volume represents him informed that his brother Nahor had as the friend of God; as the father a numerous issue, Gen. xxii. and pattern of the faithful; as one Abraham's next work was the burial who, with joy unspeakable, foresaw of his beloved Sarah. She died at the coming of the promised Messiah;

as a noted possessor of the heavenly |derstood his intent, and went directs glory; and hence a share of it is re-ly to king David, and procured his presented as a lying in his bosom, admission to court. Scarcely was Rom. iv. Heb. xi. John viii. 56. this reconciliation effected, when Matt. viii. 11. Luke xvi. 20. Absalom prepared to usurp his fa

ABRAHAM'S BOSOM, a meta-ther's throne. He got himself a phorical expression, denoting a state number of horses and chariots, and of perfect happiness, Luke xvi. 22, fifty men to run before him. By 23. John xii. 23. kind usage of those who came to his ABROAD, from home, in foreign father for judgment, by indirect hints parts, Deut. xxiii. 10. Judges xii. 9. that their causes were good, but his ABSALOM, father of perfect peace, father neglected to do them justice, the third son of king David: his mo- and by wishes that it were in his ther was Maacah, the daughter of power to do them right, he won the Talmai, king of Geshur. He was one hearts of the people.

of the most comely men that ever About A. M. 2980, in the 40th year breathed: every year he cut the hair after David was anointed by Samuel, of his head, and it weighed 200 she- and the fourth after Absalom's return kels, or about six pounds English from Syria, he, under pretence of weight; or rather, it was probably va- fulfilling a vow, solicited his father's lued at the rate of 200 shekels of sil-permission to repair to Hebron, a ver; which at least is about 23, or, city southward of Jerusalem. Two according to Prideaux, 30 pounds hundred persons of note attended sterling. He had three sons, who all him thither, without suspecting his died in their childhood, and a beau-designs. He immediately opened tiful sister called Tamar, 2 Sam. iii. 3. his mind to them: and caused it to and xiv. 25-27. and xviii. 18. be proclaimed in all the cities of Is

When Tamar his sister was ravished rael, that he reigned in Hebron. Ahiby Amnon, she complained to him thophel, David's principal counsellor, of the injury done her. Absalom upon invitation, revolted to him, and resolved on a thorough revenge. the body of the Israelites followed Bent to execute it, he entirely con- his example. David, with a handful cealed his resentment. After two of such friends as he could depend years he invited his brethren to a on, fled from Jerusalem. Ahithophel, shearing feast at Baalhazor. When after making Absalom publicly defile Amnon had drunk freely, Absalom ten of his father's concubines, adordered his servants to kill him; vised him without delay to give him and then fled to his grandfather at the command of 12,000 chosen Geshur in Syria. He had continued troops, and he would directly pursue three years in exile, when Joab, ob- his father, and apprehend him before serving David's desire of a recon- he had time to recover from his eiliation, prompted an artful widow fright. This advice was extremely of Tekoah, by a feigned speech con- proper to answer his end. But Hucerning the danger of her son, who shai was also consulted; he pretendshe pretended, had in a passion kill- ed Ahithophel's counsel was not seaed his brother, to solicit it. Absa-sonable, as David and his friends lom was recalled; but lived two were brave and desperate fellows, years at Jerusalem without entering and would readily spring forth from his father's presence. Stung with pits, or the like hiding-places, and grief and indignation, he sent for all of a sudden cut off some of AbJoab, with a view to engage him salom's forces; and so dispirit the to be his advocate with the king. whole party before it was firmly esJoab at first refused to go; but Ab-tablished. To flatter Absalom's vasalom, by burning of his corn, ob-nity, and give David time to put liged him to it. On this, Joab un-himself in a posture of defence, he VOL. I. D