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AXE

AZARIAH

AUGUSTUS (venerable), the title assumed by Octavius, who, after his adoption by Julius Cæsar, took the name of Octavianus (i. e. ErOctavius), according to the Roman fashion; and was the first peacefully acknowledged emperor of Rome. He was emperor at the birth and during half the lifetime of our Lord; but his name has no connection with Scriptural events, and occurs only once (Luke ii. 1) in the New Testament. A'VIM, called also AVITES and HIVITES, a people descended from Canaan (Gen. x. 17), who originally occupied the southernmost portion of that territory in Palestine along the Mediterranean coast, which the Caphtorim or Philistines afterwards possessed (Deut. ii. 23). As the territory of the Avim is mentioned in Josh. xiii. 3, in addition to the five Philistine states, it would appear that it was not included in theirs, and that the expulsion of the Avim was by a Philistine invasion prior to that by which the five principalities were founded. The territory began at Gaza, and extended southward to the river of Egypt' (Deut. ii. 23), forming what was the sole Philistine kingdom of Gerar in the time of Abraham, when we do not hear of any other Philistine states. There were then Avim, or Hivites, at Shechem (Gen. xxxiv. 2), and we afterwards find them also at Gibeon (Josh. ix. 7), and beyond the Jordan, at the foot of Mount Hermon (Josh. xi. 3); but we have no means of knowing whether these were original settlements of the Avim, or were formed out of the fragments of the nation which the Philistines expelled from southern Palestine. The original country of the Avim is called Hazerim in Deut. ii. 23 [GERAR; PHILISTINES].

AWL. The Hebrew word which denotes an awl or other instrument for boring a small hole, occurs in Exod. xxi. 6; Deut. xv. 17. Considering that the Israelites had at that time recently withdrawn from their long sojourn in Egypt,

mason, is by no means conclusive. The first text supposes a case of the head slipping from the helve in felling a tree. This would suggest that it was shaped like fig. 3, which is just the same instrument as our common hatchet, and appears to have been applied by the ancient Egyptians to the same general use as with us. 2. maatzad, which occur only in Isa. xliv. 12; and Jer. x. 3. From these passages it appears to have been a lighter implement than the former, or a kind of adze, used for fashioning or carving wood into shape; it was probably, therefore, like figs. 4 to 7, which the Egyptians employed for this purpose. The differences of form and size, as indicated in the figures, appear to have been determined with reference to light or heavy work: fig. 3 is a finer carving-tool. 3. qardom; this is the commonest name for an axe or hatchet. It is this of which we read in Judg. ix. 48; Ps. lxxiv. 5; 1 Sam. xiii. 20, 21; Jer. xlvi. 22. It appears to have been more exclusively employed than the garzen for felling trees, and had therefore probably a heavier head. In one of the

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there can be no doubt that the instruments were the same as those of that country, the forms of which, from actual specimens in the British Museum, are shown in the annexed cut. They are such as were used by the sandal-makers and other workers in leather.

AXE. Several instruments of this description are so discriminated in Scripture as to show that the Hebrews had them of different forms and for various uses. 1. garzen, which occurs in Deut. xix. 5; xx. 19; 1 Kings vi. 7; Isa. x. 15. From these passages it appears that this kind was employed in felling trees, and in hewing large timber for building. The conjecture of Gesenius,

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Egyptian sculptures the inhabitants of Lebanon are represented as felling pine-trees with axes like fig. 1. As the one used by the Egyptians for the same purpose was also of this shape, there is little doubt that it was also in use among the Hebrews.

The word rendered 'axe' in 2 Kings vi. 5 is literally iron;' but as an axe is certainly intended, the passage is valuable as showing that the axe-heads among the Hebrews were of iron. Those which have been found in Egypt are of bronze, which was very anciently and generally used for the purpose.

AZARI'AH (whom Jehovah aids), a very common name among the Hebrews, and hence borne by a considerable number of persons mentioned in Scripture.

1. AZARIAH, a high-priest (1 Chron. vi. 9, perhaps the same with Amariah, who lived under Jehoshaphat king of Judah (2 Chron. xix. 11),

about B.C. 896.

BAAL is often found as the first element of compound names of places. In this case, Gesenius thinks that it seldom, if ever, has any reference to the god of that name; but that it denotes the place which possesses, which is the abode of the thing signified by the latter half of the compound.

BA'ALAH, BAALE-JUDAH, KIRJATH-BAAL KIRJATH JEARIM].

BAALAH (Josh. xv. 29), BALAH (Josh. xix. 3), BILHAH (1 Chron. iv. 29), a town in the tribe of Simeon, usually confounded with Baalath; but, as the latter was in Dan and this in Simeon, they would appear to have been distinct.

BA'ALATH, a town in the tribe of Dan (Josh. xix. 44), apparently the same that was afterwards rebuilt by Solomon (1 Kings ix. 18).

BA'ALATH-BE ER, probably the same as the Baal of 1 Chron. iv. 33-a city of Simeon;

BAAL GAD

called also Ramath-Negeb, or Southern Ramath (Josh. xix. 8; comp. 1 Sam. xxx. 27).

BA'AL-GAD, a city in the valley of Lebanon under Mount Hermon '(Josh. xi. 17; xii. 7). We are also informed that among those parts of Palestine which were unsubdued by the Hebrews at the death of Joshua, was all Lebanon towards the sun-rising, from Baal-gad, under Mount Her mon, unto the entering into Hamath' (Josh. xiii 5). This position of Baal-Gad is not unfavourable to the conclusion which some have reached, that it is no other than the place which, from a temple consecrated to the sun, that stood there, was called by the Greeks Heliopolis, i. e. city of the sun; and which the natives called and still call Baalbek, a word apparently of the same meaning.

Baalbek is pleasantly situated on the lowest declivity of Anti-Libanus, at the opening of a small valley into the plain El-Bekaa. Through

this valley runs a small stream, divided into numberless rills for irrigation. The place is in N. lat. 34° 1' 30", and E. long. 36° 11", distant 109 geogr. miles from Palmyra, and 38 from Tripoli.

Its origin appears to be lost in the most remote antiquity, and the historical notices of it are very scanty. In the absence of more positive information we can only conjecture that its situation on the high-road of commerce between Tyre, Palmyra, and the farther East, must have contributed largely to the wealth and magnificence which it manifestly attained. It is inentioned under the name of Heliopolis by Josephus, and also by Pliny. From the reverses of Roman coins we learn that Heliopolis was coustituted a colony by Julius Cæsar; that it was the seat of a Roman garrison in the time of Augustus. Some of the coins of later date contain curious representations of the temple.

After the age of Constantine the splendid temples of Baalbek were probably consigned to neglect and decay, unless indeed, as some appearances indicate, they were then consecrated to Christian worship. From the accounts of Oriental writers Baalbek seems to have continued a place of importance down to the time of the Moslem invasion of Syria. They describe it as one of the most splendid of Syrian cities, enriched with stately palaces, adorned with monuments of ancient times, and abounding with trees, fountains, and whatever contributes to luxurious enjoyment. On the advance of the Moslems, it was reported to the emperor Heraclius as protected by a citadel of great strength, and well able to sustain a siege. After the capture of Damascus it was regularly invested by the Moslems, and-containing an overflowing population, amply supplied with provisions and milirary stores-it made a courageous defence, but

BAAL-GAD

length capitulated. Its importance at that period is attested by the ransom exacted by the conquerors, consisting of 2000 ounces of gold, 4000 ounces of silver, 2000 silk vests, and 1000 swords, together with the arms of the garrison. 't afterwards became the mart for the rich pillage of Syria: but its prosperity soon received a fatal blow from the khalif of Damascus, by whom it was sacked and dismantled, and the principal inhabitants put to the sword (A.D. 748). During the Crusades, being incapable of making ny resistance, it seems to have quietly subnitted to the strongest. In the year 1400 it was >llaged by Timour Beg, in his progress to Damascus, after he had taken Aleppo. Afterwards t fell into the hands of the Metaweli-a barbarous predatory tribe, who were nearly exterminated when Djezzar Pasha permanently subjected the whole district to Turkish supremacy. The ruins of Heliopolis lie on an eastern branch of the mountain, and are called, by way of eminence, the Castle. The most prominent objects visible from the plain are a lofty portico of six columns, part of the great temple, aud the walls and columns of another smaller temple a ittle below, surrounded by green trees. There is also a singular and unique circular temple, if t may be so called, of which we give a figure. These, with a curious column on the highest point within the walls, form the only erect portions of the ruins. The ruins at Baalbek in the mass are apparently of three successive eras: first, the gigantic hewn stones, in the face of the platform or basement on which the temple Stands, and which appear to be remains of older buildings, perhaps of the more ancient temple which occupied the site. These celebrated blocks, which in fact form the great wonder of the place, vary from 30 to 40 feet in length; but there are three, forming an upper course 20 feet from the ground, which together measure 190 feet, being severally of the enormous dimensions of 63 and 64 feet in length, by 12 in breadth and thickness. They are,' says Richter, the largest stones I have ever seen, and might of themselves have easily given rise to the popular opinion that Baalbek was built by angels at the command of Solomon. The whole wall, indeed, is composed of immense stones, and its resemblance to the remains of the Temple of Solomon, which are still shown in the foundations of the mosque Es-Sakkara on Mount Moriah, cannot fail to be observed.' In the neighbouring quarries, from which they were cut, one stone, hewn out but not carried away, is of much larger dimensions than any of those which have been mentioned. To the second and third eras belong the Roman temples, which, being of and about the time of Antoninus Pius, present some of the finest specimens of Corinthian architecture in existence, and possess a wonderful grandeur and majesty from their lofty and imposing situation (Addison, ii. 57).

The present Baalock is a small village to the east of the ruins, in a sad state of wretchedness and decay. It is little more than a heap of rubbish, the houses being built of mud and sundried bricks. The population of 5000, which the place is said to have contained in 1751, is now reduced to barely 2000 persons; the two handsome mosques and fine serai of the Emir,

mentioned by Burckhardt, are no longer distinguishable; and travellers may now inquire in vain for the grapes, the pomegranates, and the fruits which were formerly so abundant.

BAʼAL-GUR, or GUR-BAAL. We read in 2 Chron. xxvi. 7, that the Lord assisted Uzziah against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gur-Baal.' It was doubtless some town of Arabia-Petræa.

BA'AL-HAM'ON, a place where Solomon is said to have had a vineyard (Cant. viii. 11). There was a place called Hamon, in the tribe of Asher (Josh. xix. 28), which Ewald thinks was the same as Baal-Hamon. The book of Judith (viii. 3) places a Balamon or Belamon in central Palestine, which suggests another alternative,

BA'AL-HA'ZOR, the place where Absalom kept his flocks, and held his sheep-shearing feast (2 Sam. xiii. 23). It is said to have been beside Ephraim,' not in the tribe of that name, but near the city called Ephraim which was in the tribe of Judah, and is mentioned in 2 Chron. xiii. 19, John xi. 54. This Ephraim is placed by Eusebius eight miles from Jerusalem on the road to Jericho; and is supposed by Reland to have been between Bethel and Jericho.

BA'AL-HER'MON (1 Chron. v. 23; Judg. iii. 3). It seems to have been a place in or near Mount Hermon, and not far from Baal-gad, if it was not, as some suppose, the same place.

BA'AL-ME'ON (Num. xxxii. 38; 1 Chron. v. 8; otherwise BETH-MEON, Jer. xlviii. 23, and BETH-BAAL-MEON, Josh. xiii. 17), a town in the tribe of Reuben beyond the Jordan, but which was in the possession of the Moabites in the time of Ezekiel (xxv. 9). At the distance of two ailes south-east of Heshbon, Burckhardt found the ruins of a place called youn, or (as Dr. Robinson corrects it) Main, which is doubtless the same.

BA'AL-PER'AZIM. This name, meaning place of breaches,' was imposed by David upon a place in or near the valley of Rephaim, where he defeated the Philistines (2 Sam. v. 20; comp. 1 Chron. xiv. 11: Isa. xxviii. 21).

BAʼAL-SHAL'ISHA (2 Kings iv. 42), a place in the district of Shalisha (1 Sam, ix. 4). Eusebius and Jerome describe it as a city fifteen Roman miles north from Diospolis, near Mount Ephraim.

BA'AL-TA'MAR, a place near Gibeah, in the tribe of Benjamin, where the other tribes fought with the Benjamites (Judg. xx. 33).

BA'AL-ZE/PHON, a town belonging to Egypt, on the border of the Red Sea (Exod. xiv. 2; Num. xxxiii. 7). Nothing is known of its situ

ation.

BA'BEL, TOWER OF. From the account given in Genesis xi. 1-9, it appears that the primitive fathers of mankind having, from the time of the Deluge, wandered without fixed abode, settled at length in the land of Shinar, where they took up a permanent residence. As yet they had remained together without experiencing those vicissitudes and changes in their outward lot which encourage the formation of different modes of speech, and were, therefore, of one language. Arrived however in the land of Shinar, and finding materials suitable for the construction of edifices, they proceeded to make and burn bricks, and using the bitumen, in which