JEWRY

of aluminium), felspar (silicate of aluminium with sodium, potassium or calcium), beryl and common emerald (silicate of aluminium and beryllium), lapis lazuli or ancient sapphire (silicate of aluminium, calcium and sodium), garnet (sihcate of aluminium and calcium, or a similar combination).

A third group consists of aluminium oxide (alumina), and includes the opaque corundum, of which emery is an impure form, and the transparent modern sapphire (blue). Oriental ruby (red). Oriental topaz (yellow), Oriental amethyst (violet), and Oriental emerald (green).

Lastly, we have an cUuminate (alumina in combination with a metallic oxide) in the spinel ruby (aluminate of magnesium).

Alabaster in the modem sense is gypsum or sulphate of lime. The ancient or Oriental alabaster, however, was a form of carbonate of lime, and was largely used for vases, which were thought to be specially adapted for preserving unguents (Phny, HiVxiii.3). The term 'alabaster 'seems to have been appUed in a general sense to vases even when not made of this material. There are two well-known instances in NT in which an alabaster 'box' (AV) or 'cruse' (RV) of ointment was used (Lk 7". Mt 26', Mk 14').

James Patrick.

JEWRY. — This old form occurs frequently in the older versions, but rarely in AV. In Dn 5" it stands for Judah; in Lk 23^ Jn 7' and occasionally in the Apocr. for Judaea,

JEZANIAH. — A Judahite military officer who joined GedaUah at Mizpah (Jer 40'). He is called in 2 K 25'" Jaazaniah, and is apparently to be identified also with Azariah of Jer 43'.

JEZEBEL (meaning uncertain). — Daughter of Eth-baal, king of Tyre and previously high priest of the Tyrian Baal; wife of Ahab, king of Israel, of the dynasty of Omri. Jezebel's evil influence in the land of Israel, especially in combating the reUgion of Jahweh in the interests of Baal-worship, was exercised not only during the twenty-two years of Ahab's reign, but also during the thirteen years of the rule of her two sons, Ahaziah and Joram; moreover, this influence extended, though in a less degree, to the Southern Kingdom of Judah, where AthaUah, the daughter of Jezebel, seems to have followed in the footsteps of her mother (2 K 8"). In her strength of character, her lust for power, her un-shrinking and resolute activity; her remorseless brush-ing aside of anything and everything that interfered with the carrying out of her designs, she was the veritable prototype of Catherine de Medicis.

In the OT the figure of Jezebel is presented in con-nexion with some dramatic episodes which are probably recorded as illustrations, rather than as exceptionally flagrant examplePbf her normal mode of procedure. These are: the account of the trial of strength between the prophets of Baal and Elijah (1 K 18i»-19'), the narrative about Naboth and his vineyard (1 K 21'-"), and, as illustrating her obstinate, unbending character to the very end— note especially her words to Jehu in 2 K 9" — the story of her death (2 K 9"-").

In Rev 22" the name of Jezebel occurs; she calls herself a prophetess, and tempts men to wickedness. It is questionable whether the mention of the name here has any reference at all to the queen Jezebel.

W. O. E. Obsterley.

JEZELUS.— 1. 1 Es 8« =Ezr 8« Jahaziel. 2. 1 Es 8" =Ezr 8» Jehiel.

JEZER.— The head of the Jezerites (Nu 26", 1 Ch 7").

JEZIEL.— A Benjamite (1 Ch 12').

JEZRAHIAH.— The leader of the singers at the dedication of the walls of Jerus. (Neh 12«). In 1 Ch 7'*" the same name is rendered Izrahiah.

JEZREEL. — The Hebrew name from which is derived the name of the Plain of Esdraelon (see Esdraelon). The plain is called 'the Valley of Jezreel' in Jos 17", Jg 6", Hos 1'.

JOAB

1. Primarily, however, it denotes an important city overlooking the Plain on the south in the border of the tribe of Issachar. Here, by ' the fountain of Jezreel ' — probably the powerful spring known as 'Ain JalUd — the Israelites encamped against the Philistines before the battle of Gilboa (1 S 29'). It is named as an important town in the short-lived kingdom of Ishbosheth (2 S 2'). Under Solomon it was in the administrative district of Baana (1 K 4'^). But the chief interest of the town's history centres in the time of the reign of Ahab, who established here a royal residence, to which he retired when the three years' drought came to an end (1 K 21' 18"), and whence he saw and coveted the vineyard of Naboth (21). It is probable, however, that the 'ivory palace ' of 1 K 22'* was not at Jezreel, but at the capital, Samaria. To Jezreel came Joram to recover from the wounds received in battle with the Syrians (2 K 8^"); and here, on the revolt of Jehu, were that king and his mother Jezebel slain (ch. 9), as well as all that remained of the house of Ahab (ch. 10). This is the last we hear of Jezreel, which thereafter seems to have sunk into insignificance. The place is represented both in situa-tion and in name by the modern village of Zer'in, a poor and dirty hamlet. Except a few ruined tombs and fragments of sarcophagi, there are no remains of antiquity to be seen in the neighbourhood.

2. There was a second Jezreel, of which nothing is known save that it was in the territory of Judah (JoslS") and was the native place of one of David's wives, Abi-noam (1 S 25«). 3. A Judahite (1 Ch 4'). 4. The symbolical name of Hosea's eldest son (Hos 1<). 6. Jezreel ('whom God soweth') is a title symbolically appUed to Israel in Hos 2"'-. R. A. S. Macalisteb.

JEZRIELUS (1 Es 9") =Ezr 10" Jehiel.

JIDLAPH.— A son of Nahor (Gn 22«).

JOAB ('Jahweh is father'). — 1. One of the sons of Zeruiah — the eldest according to 2 S 2", the second according to 1 Ch 2" — and thus the nephew of David. It is perhaps not too much to say that, humanly speaking, the Davidic dynasty would not have been established had it not been for the military genius and the loyalty of Joab. So consistently loyal was Joab to the royal house (see Adonijah), that one is tempted to question whether the passage, 1 K 2'- ', which describes David's ingratitude, is genuine; certain it is that if David really felt with regard to Abner and Amasa as he is described as feeling in this passage, it is surprising that he should have left to the wisdom of Solomon the duty of inflicting the punishment due; Joab's death would seem to have been due rather to his loyalty in supporting David's rightful heir, Adonijah.

Above all, Joab was a skiiled general; this is seen by the number of victories he gained, namely, over the army of Ishbosheth under the leadership of Abner (2 S 2^'-"); over the Jebusites (1 Ch 11'-"); over the Syrians and Ammonites (2 S lO'-" 11' 12»'-2»); over Absalom (18'-"); over Sheba (,20*-^^). These are specifically mentioned, but there must have been very many more, for those which are spoken of generally as David's victories were in all probabiUty due to Joab, who is repeatedly spoken of as David's commander-in-chief (.e.g. 2 S 8" 20» etc.).

Secondly, his loyalty to the house of David is illustrated by his whole life of devoted service, and especially by such conspicuous instances as his desire to make his victory over the Ammonites appear to have been gained by David (2 S 12mb); his slaying of Abner [though other motives undoubtedly played a part in this act, it is certain that Joab regarded Abner as a real danger to the State (3"- »>)]; the reconciUation which he brought about between David and Absalom (14'»); his slaying of Absalom when he realized his treachery to David (18'*ff- 19»); his words to David in 2 S 19'-' — one of the most striking instances of his attachment; and lastly, his championship of the rightful heir to the

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