Dict: easton - Ash

easton:

Ash @ (Heb. o'ren, "tremulous"), mentioned only kjv@Isaiah:44:14 (R.V., "fir tree"). It is rendered "pine tree" both in the LXX. and Vulgate versions. There is a tree called by the Arabs aran, found still in the valleys of Arabia Petraea, whose leaf resembles that of the mountain ash. This may be the tree meant. Our ash tree is not known in Syria.

Ashdod @ stronghold, a Philistine city kjv@Joshua:15:47), about midway between Gaza and Joppa, and 3 miles from the Mediterranean. It was one of the chief seats of the worship of Dagon ( kjv@1Samuel:5:5). It belonged to the tribe of Judah kjv@Joshua:15:47), but it never came into their actual possession. It was an important city, as it stood on the highroad from Egypt to Palestine, and hence was strongly fortified ( kjv@2Chronicals:26:6; kjv@Isaiah:20:1). Uzziah took it, but fifty years after his death it was taken by the Assyrians (B.C. 758). According to Sargon's record, it was captured by him in B.C. 711. The only reference to it in the New Testament, where it is called Azotus, is in the account of Philip's return from Gaza kjv@Acts:8:40). It is now called Eshdud.

Ashdoth-pisgah @ kjv@Deuteronomy:3:17; kjv@Joshua:12:3 kjv@Joshua:13:20) in Authorized Version, but in Revised Version translated "slopes of Pisgah." In kjv@Deuteronomy:4:49 it is translated in the Authorized Version "springs of Pisgah." The name Ashdoth is translated "springs" in the Authorized Version, but "slopes" in the Revised Version, of kjv@Joshua:10:40 and 12:8. It has been identified with the springs under Mount Nebo, now called 'Ayun Musa.

Asher @ happy, Jacob's eigth son; his mother was Zilpah, Leah's handmaid kjv@Genesis:30:13). Of the tribe founded by him nothing is recorded beyond its holding a place in the list of the tribes (35:26; 46:17; kjv@Exodus:1:4, etc.) It increased in numbers twenty-nine percent, during the thirty-eight years' wanderings. The place of this tribe during the march through the desert was between Dan and Naphtali kjv@Numbers:2:27). The boundaries of the inheritance given to it, which contained some of the richest soil in Palestine, and the names of its towns, are recorded in kjv@Joshua:19:24-31; kjv@Judges:1:31-32. Asher and Simeon were the only tribes west of the Jordan which furnished no hero or judge for the nation. Anna the prophetess was of this tribe kjv@Luke:2:36).

Asherah @ and pl. Asherim in Revised Version, instead of "grove" and "groves" of the Authorized Version. This was the name of a sensual Canaanitish goddess Astarte, the feminine of the Assyrian Ishtar. Its symbol was the stem of a tree deprived of its boughs, and rudely shaped into an image, and planted in the ground. Such religious symbols ("groves") are frequently alluded to in Scripture kjv@Exodus:34:13; kjv@Judges:6:25; kjv@2Kings:23:6; kjvKings:16:33, etc.). These images were also sometimes made of silver or of carved stone ( kjv@2Kings:21:7; "the graven image of Asherah," R.V.). (
See GROVE 1.).

Ashes @ The ashes of a red heifer burned entire kjv@Numbers:19:5) when sprinkled on the unclean made them ceremonially clean kjv@Hebrews:9:13). To cover the head with ashes was a token of self-abhorrence and humiliation ( kjv@2Samuel:13:19; kjv@Esther:4:3; kjv@Jeremiah:6:26, etc.). To feed on ashes kjv@Isaiah:44:20), means to seek that which will prove to be vain and unsatisfactory, and hence it denotes the unsatisfactory nature of idol-worship. (Comp. kjv@Hosea:12:1).

Ashkelon @ =Askelon=Ascalon, was one of the five cities of the Philistines kjv@Joshua:13:3; kjv@1Samuel:6:17). It stood on the shore of the Mediterranean, 12 miles north of Gaza. It is mentioned on an inscription at Karnak in Egypt as having been taken by king Rameses II., the oppressor of the Hebrews. In the time of the judges kjv@Judges:1:18) it fell into the possession of the tribe of Judah; but it was soon after retaken by the Philistines ( kjv@2Samuel:1:20), who were not finally dispossessed till the time of Alexander the Great. Samson went down to this place from Timnath, and slew thirty men and took their spoil. The prophets foretold its destruction kjv@Jeremiah:25:20 kjv@Jeremiah:47:5-7). It became a noted place in the Middle Ages, having been the scene of many a bloody battle between the Saracens and the Crusaders. It was beseiged and taken by Richard the Lion-hearted, and "within its walls and towers now standing he held his court." Among the Tell Amarna tablets (see EGYPT) are found letters or official despatches from Yadaya, "captain of horse and dust of the king's feet," to the "great king" of Egypt, dated from Ascalon. It is now called 'Askalan.

Ashkenaz @ one of the three sons of Gomer kjv@Genesis:10:3), and founder of one of the tribes of the Japhetic race. They are mentioned in connection with Minni and Ararat, and hence their original seat must have been in Armenia kjv@Jeremiah:51:27), probably near the Black Sea, which, from their founder, was first called Axenus, and afterwards the Euxine.

Ashpenaz @ the master of the eunuchs of Nebuchadnezzar kjv@Daniel:1:3), the "Rabsaris" of the court. His position was similar to that of the Kislar-aga of the modern Turkish sultans.

Ashtaroth @ a city of Bashan, in the kingdom of Og kjv@Deuteronomy:1:4; kjv@Joshua:12:4 kjv@Joshua:13:12 kjv@Joshua:9:10 ). It was in the half-tribe of Manasseh kjv@Joshua:13:12), and as a Levitical city was given to the Gershonites ( kjv@1Chronicles:6:71). Uzzia, one of David's valiant men ( kjv@1Chronicles:11:44), is named as of this city. It is identified with Tell Ashterah, in the Hauran, and is noticed on monuments B.C. 1700-1500. The name Beesh-terah kjv@Joshua:21:27) is a contraction for Beth-eshterah, i.e., "the house of Ashtaroth."

Ashteroth Karnaim @ Ashteroth of the two horns, the abode of the Rephaim kjv@Genesis:14:5). It may be identified with Ashtaroth preceding; called "Karnaim", i.e., the "two-horned" (the crescent moon). The Samaritan version renders the word by "Sunamein," the present es
- Sunamein, 28 miles south of Damascus.

Ashtoreth @ the moon goddess of the Phoenicians, representing the passive principle in nature, their principal female deity; frequently associated with the name of Baal, the sun-god, their chief male deity kjv@Judges:10:6; kjv@1Samuel:7:4 kjv@1Samuel:12:10). These names often occur in the plural (Ashtaroth, Baalim), probably as indicating either different statues or different modifications of the deities. This deity is spoken of as Ashtoreth of the Zidonians. She was the Ishtar of the Accadians and the Astarte of the Greeks kjv@Jeremiah:44:17; kjvKings:11:5,33; kjv@2Kings:23:13). There was a temple of this goddess among the Philistines in the time of Saul ( kjv@1Samuel:31:10). Under the name of Ishtar, she was one of the great deities of the Assyrians. The Phoenicians called her Astarte. Solomon introduced the worship of this idol (kjvKings:11:33). Jezebel's 400 priests were probably employed in its service (kjvKings:18:19). It was called the "queen of heaven" kjv@Jeremiah:44:25).

Ashurites @ mentioned among those over whom Ish-bosheth was made king ( kjv@2Samuel:2:9).