Index 


Hough To hamstring, i.e., sever the "tendon of Achilles" of the hinder legs of captured horses (Jos 11:6; Sa2 8:4; Ch1 18:4), so as to render them useless.

Hour First found in Dan 3:6; Dan 4:19, Dan 4:33; Dan 5:5. It is the rendering of the Chaldee shaah, meaning a "moment," a "look." It is used in the New Testament frequently to denote some determinate season (Mat 8:13; Luk 12:39). With the ancient Hebrews the divisions of the day were "morning, evening, and noon-day" (Psa 55:17, etc.). The Greeks, following the Babylonians, divided the day into twelve hours. The Jews, during the Captivity, learned also from the Babylonians this method of dividing time. When Judea became subject to the Romans, the Jews adopted the Roman mode of reckoning time. The night was divided into four watches (Luk 12:38; Mat 14:25; Mat 13:25). Frequent allusion is also made to hours (Mat 25:13; Mat 26:40, etc.). (See DAY.) An hour was the twelfth part of the day, reckoning from sunrise to sunset, and consequently it perpetually varied in length.

House Till their sojourn in Egypt the Hebrews dwelt in tents. They then for the first time inhabited cities (Gen 47:3; Exo 12:7; Heb 11:9). From the earliest times the Assyrians and the Canaanites were builders of cities. The Hebrews after the Conquest took possession of the captured cities, and seem to have followed the methods of building that had been pursued by the Canaanites. Reference is made to the stone (Kg1 7:9; Isa 9:10) and marble (Ch1 29:2) used in building, and to the internal wood-work of the houses (Kg1 6:15; Kg1 7:2; Kg1 10:11, Kg1 10:12; Ch2 3:5; Jer 22:14). "Ceiled houses" were such as had beams inlaid in the walls to which wainscoting was fastened (Ezr 6:4; Jer 22:14; Hag 1:4). "Ivory houses" had the upper parts of the walls adorned with figures in stucco with gold and ivory (Kg1 22:39; Ch2 3:6; Psa 45:8). The roofs of the dwelling-houses were flat, and are often alluded to in Scripture (Sa2 11:2; Isa 22:1; Mat 24:17). Sometimes tents or booths were erected on them (Sa2 16:22). They were protected by parapets or low walls (Deu 22:8). On the house-tops grass sometimes grew (Pro 19:13; Pro 27:15; Psa 129:6, Psa 129:7). They were used, not only as places of recreation in the evening, but also sometimes as sleeping-places at night (Sa1 9:25, Sa1 9:26; Sa2 11:2; Sa2 16:22; Dan 4:29; Job 27:18; Pro 21:9), and as places of devotion (Jer 32:29; Jer 19:13).

Hukkok Decreed, a town near Zebulun, not far from Jordan, on the border of Naphtali (Jos 19:34). (See HELKATH.)

Hul Circle, the second son of Aram (Gen 10:23), and grandson of Shem.

Huldah Weasel, a prophetess; the wife of Shallum. She was consulted regarding the "book of the law" discovered by the high priest Hilkiah (Kg2 22:14; Ch2 34:22). She resided in that part of Jerusalem called the Mishneh (A.V., "the college;" R.V., "the second quarter"), supposed by some to be the suburb between the inner and the outer wall, the second or lower city, Akra. Miriam (Exo 15:20) and Deborah (Jdg 4:4) are the only others who bear the title of "prophetess," for the word in Isa 8:3 means only the prophet's wife.

Humiliation of Christ (Phi 2:8), seen in (1.) his birth (Gal 4:4; Luk 2:7; Joh 1:46; Heb 2:9), (2.) his circumstances, (3.) his reputation (Isa 53:1; Mat 26:59, Mat 26:67; Psa 22:6; Mat 26:68), (4.) his soul (Psa 22:1; Mat 4:1; Luk 22:44; Heb 2:17, Heb 2:18; Heb 4:15), (5.) his death (Luke 23; John 19; Mar 15:24, Mar 15:25), (6.) and his burial (Isa 53:9; Mat 27:57, Mat 27:58, Mat 27:60). His humiliation was necessary (1.) to execute the purpose of God (Act 2:23, Act 2:24; Psa 40:6), (2.) fulfill the Old Testament types and prophecies, (3.) satisfy the law in the room of the guilty (Isa 53:1; Heb 9:12, Heb 9:15), procure for them eternal redemption, (4.) and to show us an example.

Humility A prominent Christian grace (Rom 12:3; Rom 15:17, Rom 15:18; Co1 3:5; Co2 3:5; Phi 4:11). It is a state of mind well pleasing to God (Pe1 3:4); it preserves the soul in tranquillity (Psa 69:32, Psa 69:33), and makes us patient under trials (Job 1:22). Christ has set us an example of humility (Phi 2:6). We should be led thereto by a remembrance of our sins (Lam 3:39), and by the thought that it is the way to honour (Pro 16:18), and that the greatest promises are made to the humble (Psa 147:6; Isa 57:15; Isa 66:2; Pe1 5:5). It is a "great paradox in Christianity that it makes humility the avenue to glory."

Hunting Mentioned first in Gen 10:9 in connection with Nimrod. Esau was "a cunning hunter" (Gen 25:27). Hunting was practiced by the Hebrews after their settlement in the "Land of Promise" (Lev 17:15; Pro 12:27). The lion and other ravenous beasts were found in Palestine (Sa1 17:34; Sa2 23:20; Kg1 13:24; Eze 19:3), and it must have been necessary to hunt and destroy them. Various snares and gins were used in hunting (Psa 91:3; Amo 3:5; Sa2 23:20). War is referred to under the idea of hunting (Jer 16:16; Eze 32:30).

Hur A hole, as of a viper, etc. (1.) A son of Caleb (Ch1 2:19, Ch1 2:50; Ch1 4:1, Ch1 4:4; compare Ch2 1:5). (2.) The husband of Miriam, Moses' sister (Exo 17:10). He was associated with Aaron in charge of the people when Moses was absent on Sinai (Exo 24:14). He was probably of the tribe of Judah, and grandfather of Bezaleel (Exo 31:2; Exo 35:30; Ch1 2:19). (3.) One of the five princes of Midian who were defeated and slain by the Israelites under the command of Phinehas (Num 31:8).