AGRIPPA

NT, the mass of grain, chaS, and chopped straw is tossed into the air in the western evening breeze. The chaff is carried farthest away (Ps 1*), the light morsels of straw to a shorter distance, while the heavy grains of wheat or barley fall at the winnower's feet. After being thoroughly sifted with a variety of sieves (Am 9», Is 302S), the grain was stored in jars for immediate use, and in cisterns (Jer 418), or in specially constructed granaries, the 'bams' of Mt e*".

4. Of several important matters, such as irrigation, the terracing of slopes, manuring of the fields, the conditions of lease, etc. — regarding which Vogelstein's treatise Die Landwirtschaft in PalUstCia is a mine of information tor the Roman period — there is little direct evidence in Scripture. Agriculture, as is natural, bulks largely in the legislative codes of the Pentateuch. Some of the provisions have already been cited. To these may be added the solemn injunction against removing a neighbour's 'landmarks,' the upright stones marking the boundaries of his fields (Dt 19". 27"), the humanitarian provision regarding strayed cattle (Ex 23*, Dt 221"), the law that every field must lie fallow for one year in seven (Ex 23'°'-; see, for later development. Sabbatical Yeah), the law forbidding the breeding of hybrids and the sowing of a field with two kinds of seed (Lv 19" RV), and the far-reaching provision as to the inalienability of the land CLv 258*).

The fact that no department of human activity has enriched the language of Scripture, and in consequence the language of the spiritual life in all after ages, with so many appropriate figures of speech, is a striking testi-mony to the place occupied by agriculture in the life and thought of the Hebrew people. A. R. S. Kennedy.

AGRIPPA.— See Herod, Nos. 6. 7.

AGUE. — See Medicine.

AGUB. — Son of Jakeh; author ot the whole or part of Pr 30, one of the latest sections of the book. His name may signify 'hireling' or 'assembler'; cf. Vulg. ' Verba, Congregantis filii Vomentis.' Some have thought that massa (AV 'the prophecy,' RV 'the oracle'), which otherwise is out of place, is the name of his country (Gn 25"). J. Taylob.

AHAB. — 1. Son of Omri, and the most noted member of his dynasty, king of Israel from about 875 to about 853 B.C. The account of him in our Book of Kings is drawn from two separate sources, one of which views him more favourably than the other. From the secular point of view he was an able and energetic prince; from the religious point of view he was a dangerous innovator, and a patron of foreign gods. His alliance with the Phoenicians was cemented by hisimarriage with Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, king of Tyre (1 K le^i), who was also, if we may trust .josephus, priest of Astarte. At a later date Ahab entered into alliance with Judah, giving his daughter Athaliah in marriage to Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat (2 K 8"). His wealth is indicated by the ivory palace which he built (1 K 21' 22").

The reign of Ahab was marked by frequent wars with the Syrian kingdom of Damascus. Benhadad, the king of that country, was so successful that he claimed suzerainty over Israel — a clafm which Ahab was at first disposed to admit (1 K 202«). But when Benhadad went so far as to threaten Samaria with indiscriminate plunder, Ahab resisted. In two campaigns he defeated the invaders, even taking their haughty leader prisoner. Contrary to the advice of the prophetic party, he treated his captive magnanimously, and concluded an alliance with him, stipulating only that the cities formerly taken from Israel should be restored. The alliance was one for trade and commerce, each party having bazaars assigned him in the capital of the other (1 K 20«). It is not improbable also that common measures of defence were planned against the Assyrians, who were showing hostile intentions in the region of the Lebanon. In the battle of Karkar, which was fought against these invaders

B 17

AHAZ

in the year 854, Ahab was present with ten thousand troops. This we learn from the Assyrian inscriptions.

The reUgious innovation for which Ahab is held responsible by the Hebrew writers, was the introduction of the Phoenician Baal as one of the gods of Israel. It is clear that Ahab had no idea of displacing Jahweh altogether, for he gave his children names which indi-cated his devotion to Him. But to please his wife he allowed her to introduce and foster the worship of her own divinities. Her thought was that with the religion of her own country she would introduce its more advanced civiUzation. The champion of Jahweh's exclusive right to the worship of Israel was Elijah. This prophet, by his bold challenge to the priests of Baal, roused the anger of Jezebel, and was obliged to flee the country (1 K 17-19). Other prophets do not seem to have been disturbed, for we find them at the court of Ahab in the last year of his life (22"). These, however, were subservient to the crown, while Elijah was not only a protestant against religious changes, but the champion of the common people, whose rights were so signally violated in the case of Naboth.

Ahab died fighting for his people. The Syrian war had again broken out — apparently because Benhadad had not kept his agreement. Ahab therefore tried to recover Ramoth-gilead, being assisted by Jehoshaphat of Judah. In the first encounter Ahab was slain, his reputationforcourage being vindicated by thedirection of his adversary to his soldiers — ' Fight neither with small nor with great, but only with the king ot Israel' (1 K 2231).

2. A false prophet 'roasted in the fire' by the king of Babylon (Jer 2921'). H. P. Smith.

AHARAH.— See Ahibam.

AHARHEL.— A descendant of Judah (1 Ch 48).

AHASBAI.— Father of EUphelet (2 S 238<), and a member ot the family of Maacah, settled at Beth-maacah (20"), or a native of the Syrian kingdom of Maacah (10«- »).

AHASUERUS (old Pers. KhshayarsM).—'rhe Persian king (B.C. 485-465) known to Greek history as Xerxes. Complaints against the Jews were addressed to him (Ezr 4«). It is he who figures in the Book of Esther; Dn 91 erroneously makes him father of Darius the Mede, confusing the latter with Darius Hystaspis, the father of Xerxes. The Ahasuerus of To 14is is Cyaxares.

J. Taylor.

AHAVA was a settlement in Babylonia lying along a stream of the same name, probably a large canal near the Euphrates. None of the conjectures as to the exact locality can be verified. It was here that Ezra mustered his people before their departure for Jerusalem (Ezr Si^- 21. ai). Some district north or north-west of Babylon, near the northern boundary of Babylonia, is most probable. J. F. McCurdy.

AHAZ, son and successor of Jotham, king of Judah, came to the throne about B.C. 734. The only notable event of his reign,' so far as we know, was the invasion made by his northern neighbours, Pekah of Israel and Rezln of Damascus. These two kings had made an • alliance against the Assyrians, and were trying to compel Ahaz to join the coalition. His refusal so exasperated them that they planned Ms deposition and the appoint-ment of a creature of their own to the throne. Ahaz did not venture to take the field, but shut himself up in Jerusalem and strengthened its fortifications. It was perhaps at this time of need that he sacrificed his son as a burnt-offering to Jahweh. Isaiah tried to encourage the faint-hearted king, pointing out that his enemies had no prospect of success or even of long existence. But Ahaz had more faith in political measures than in the prophetic word. He sent a message to Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, submitting himself unreservedly to him. The embassy carried substantial evidence of