JERIBAI

JEBIBAI.— One of David's heroes (1 Ch 11«).

JEBIOHO. — A city situated in the Jordan valley about 5 miles from the north end of the Dead Sea, now represented by the miserable village of er-Riha. It was the first city conquered by the Israelites after their passage of the Jordan. The course of events, from the sending of the spies to the destruction of Achan for infraction of the tabu on the spoil, is too well known to need repetition here (see Jos 1-7). A small hamlet remained on the site, belonging to Benjamin (Jos 18^'), which was insignificant enough for David's ambassadors to retire to, to recover from their insulting treatment by Hanun (2 S Kfi. 1 Ch 19*). The city was re-founded by Hiel, a Bethelite, who apparently endeavoured to avert the curse pronounced by Joshua over the site by sacrific-ing his sons (1 K 16"). A college of prophets was shortly afterwards founded here (2 K 2*), for whose benefit Elisha healed its bitter waters (v."). Hither the Israelites who had raided Judah, in the time of Ahaz, restored their captives on the advice of the prophet Oded (2 Ch 28«). Here the Babylonians finally defeated Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, and so destroyed the Judahite kingdom (2 K 2S>, Jer 39s 528). Bacchides, the general of the Syrians in the Maccabaean period, captured and fortified Jericho (1 Mac 9''"); Aristobulus also took it (Jos. Ant. xiv. i. 2). Pompey encamped here on his way to Jerusalem (i6. xiv. iv. 1). Its inhabitants, whom the great heat of the GhOr had deprived of fighting strength, fled before Herod (ib. xiv. xv. 3) and Vespasian (.BJ IV. viii. 2). In the Gospels Jericho figures in the stories of Bartimffius (Mt 20", Mk 10", Lk IS^s), Zacchaeus (Lk 19'), and the Good Samaritan (Lk lOS").

The modern er-Rlha is not exactly on the site of ancient Jericho, which is a collection of mounds beside the spring traditionally associated with Ehsha. The Boman and Byzantine towns are represented by other sites in the neighbourhood. Ancient aqueducts, mills, and other antiquities are numerous, as are also remains of early monasticism.

The site, though unhealthy for man, is noted for Its fertility. Josephus (BJ iv. viii. 3) speaks of it with enthusiasm. Even yet it is an important source of fruit supply. The district round Jericho is the personal property of the Sultan. R. A. S. Macausteh.

JERIEL.— A chief of Issachar (1 Ch T).

JERUAH (1 Ch 26'').— See Jeriah.

JEEIMOTH.— 1. 2. Two Benjamites (1 Ch 7' 125). 3. 4. 6. Three Levites (1 Ch 24m [called in 2S« Jeremoth] 25S 2 Ch 31"). 6. A son of David and father of Kehoboam's wife (2 Ch 11"«).

JERIOTH.— One of Caleb's wives (1 Ch 2^'), but almost certainly the MT is corrupt.

JEROBOAM is the name of two kings of Israel.

1. Jeroboam I, was the first king of the northern tribes after the division. His first appearance in history is as head of the forced labourers levied by Solomon. This was perhaps because he was hereditary chief in Ephraim, but we must also suppose that he attracted the attention of Solomon by Ms abiUty and energy. At the same time he resented the tyranny of the prince whom he served, and plotted to overthrow it. The design came to the knowledge of Solomon, and Jeroboam fled to Egypt. On the king's death he returned, and although he did not appear on the scene when the northern tribes made their demand of Rehoboam, he was probably actively enlisted in the movement. When the refusal of Rehoboam threw the tribes into revolt, Jeroboam appeared as leader, and was made king (IK IIM, 121-1421). Jeroboam was a warlike prince, and hostilities with Judah continued throughout his reign. His country was plundered by the Egyptians at the time of their invasion of Judah. It is not clearly made out whether his fortification of Shechem and Penuel was suggested by the experiences of this campaign

JERUSALEM

or not. His religious measures have received the reprobation of the Biblical writers, but they were intended by Jeroboam to please the God of Israel. He embellished the ancestral sanctuaries of Bethel and Dan with golden bulls, in continuance of early Israelite custom. It is fair to assume also that he had precedent for celebrating the autumn festival in the eighth instead of the seventh month.

2. Jeroboam n. was the grandson of Jehu. In his time Israel was able to assert its ancient vigour against its hereditary enemy Syria, and recover its lost territory. This was due to the attacks of the Assyrians upon the northern border of Damascus (2 K 1428-29). The temporary prosperity of Israel was accompanied by social and moral degeneracy, as is set forth distinctly by Amos and Hosea. H. P. Smith.

JEROHAM.— 1. The father of Elkanah and grand-father of Samuel (1 S 1>). 2. A Benjamite family name (1 Ch 82' 9«). 3. A priestly family (1 Ch 912, Neh ll'^). 4. 'Sons of Jeroham' were amongst David's heroes (1 Ch 12'). 5. A Danite chief (1 Ch 2722). 6. The father of Azariah, who helped Jehoiada in the overthrow of Athaliah (2 Ch 23").

JERTTBBAAL. — A name given to Gideon (Jg B" 71

829. 35 91. 2. 6. 16. 19. M. 28. 67). U is = 'Baal StrfveS,'

Baal being a name for J", as in Ishbaal, Meribbaal; it cannot = ' one who strives with Baal,' as Jg ^ would suggest. This name was altered to Jerubbesheth (6esfte«A='shame') when Baal could no longer be used of J" without offence (2 S I121); cf. Ishbosheth, Mephibosheth.

JERUBBESHETH.— See Jerdbbaai..

JERTTEL. — The part of the wilderness of Judiea that faces the W. shore of the Dead Sea below En-gedi. It was here that Jehoshaphat encountered a great host of the children of Moab, Ammon, and other trans-Jordanic tribes (2 Ch 20'=).

JERUSALEM.— I. Situation.- Jerusalem is the chief town of Palestine, situated in 31° 46' 45" N. lat. and 35° 13' 25" E. long. It stands on the summit of the ridge of the Judsan mountains, at an elevation of 2500 feet above the sea-level. The elevated plateau on which the city is built is intersected by deep valleys, defining and subdividing it.

1. The defining valleys are: (1) the Wady en^Nar, the Biblical Valley of the ^dron or of Jehoshaphat, which, starting some distance north of the city, runs at first (under the name of Wady el-JBz) in a S.E. direction; it then turns southward and deepens rapidly, separating the Jerusalem plateau from the ridge of the Mount of OUves on the east; finally, it meanders through the wild mountains of the Judsean desert, and finds its exit on the W. side of the Dead Sea. (2) A deep cleft now known as the Wady er-Rababi, and popularly identified with the Valley of the son of Hinnom, which com-mences on the west side of the city and runs down to and joins the Wady en^NBr about half a mile south of the wall of the present city. In the fork of the great irregular T which these two valleys form, the city is built.

2. The chief intersecting valley is one identified with the Tyropoeon of Josephus, which commences in some oUve gardens north of the city (between the forks of the Y), runs, ever deepening, right through the modern city, and finally enters the Wady en-NOr, about i mile above the mouth of the Wady er-Bababi. There is also a smaller depression running axially across the city from West to East, intersecting the Tyropoeon at right angles. These intersecting valleys are now almost completely filled up with the accumulated rubbish of about four thousand years, and betray themselves only by slight depressions in the surface of the ground.

3. By these valleys the site of Jerusalem is divided into four quarters, each on its own hill. These hills are

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