Dict: easton - Media

easton:

Media @ Heb. Madai, which is rendered in the Authorized Version

(1) "Madai," kjv@Genesis:10:2;

(2) "Medes," kjv@2Kings:17:6 kjv@2Kings:18:11;

(3) "Media," kjv@Esther:1:3 kjv@Esther:10:2; kjv@Isaiah:21:2; kjv@Daniel:8:20;

(4) "Mede," only in kjv@Daniel:11:1. We first hear of this people in the Assyrian cuneiform records, under the name of Amada, about B.C. 840. They appear to have been a branch of the Aryans, who came from the east bank of the Indus, and were probably the predominant race for a while in the Mesopotamian valley. They consisted for three or four centuries of a number of tribes, each ruled by its own chief, who at length were brought under the Assyrian yoke ( kjv@2Kings:17:6). From this subjection they achieved deliverance, and formed themselves into an empire under Cyaxares (B.C. 633). This monarch entered into an alliance with the king of Babylon, and invaded Assyria, capturing and destroying the city of Nineveh (B.C. 625), thus putting an end to the Assyrian monarchy kjv@Nahum:1:8 kjv@Nahum:2:5-6 kjv@Nahum:3:13 -14). Media now rose to a place of great power, vastly extending its boundaries. But it did not long exist as an independent kingdom. It rose with Cyaxares, its first king, and it passed away with him; for during the reign of his son and successor Astyages, the Persians waged war against the Medes and conquered them, the two nations being united under one monarch, Cyrus the Persian (B.C. 558). The "cities of the Medes" are first mentioned in connection with the deportation of the Israelites on the destruction of Samaria ( kjv@2Kings:17:6 kjv@2Kings:18:11). Soon afterwards Isaiah (13:17; 21:2) speaks of the part taken by the Medes in the destruction of Babylon (comp. kjv@Jeremiah:51:11-28). Daniel gives an account of the reign of Darius the Mede, who was made viceroy by Cyrus kjv@Daniel:6:1-28). The decree of Cyrus, Ezra informs us (6:2-5), was found in "the palace that is in the province of the Medes," Achmetha or Ecbatana of the Greeks, which is the only Median city mentioned in Scripture.

Mediator @ one who intervenes between two persons who are at variance, with a view to reconcile them. This word is not found in the Old Testament; but the idea it expresses is found in kjv@Job:9:33, in the word "daysman" (q.v.), marg., "umpire." This word is used in the New Testament to denote simply an internuncius, an ambassador, one who acts as a medium of communication between two contracting parties. In this sense Moses is called a mediator in kjv@Galatians:3:19. Christ is the one and only mediator between God and man ( kjv@1Timothy:2:5; kjv@Hebrews:8:6 kjv@Hebrews:9:15 kjv@Hebrews:12:24 ). He makes reconciliation between God and man by his all-perfect atoning sacrifice. Such a mediator must be at once divine and human, divine, that his obedience and his sufferings might possess infinite worth, and that he might possess infinite wisdom and knowlege and power to direct all things in the kingdoms of providence and grace which are committed to his hands kjv@Matthew:28:18; kjv@John:5:22 kjv@John:5:25, 26, 27); and human, that in his work he might represent man, and be capable of rendering obedience to the law and satisfying the claims of justice kjv@Hebrews:2:17-18 kjv@Hebrews:4:15-16), and that in his glorified humanity he might be the head of a glorified Church kjv@Romans:8:29). This office involves the three functions of prophet, priest, and king, all of which are discharged by Christ both in his estate of humiliation and exaltation. These functions are so inherent in the one office that the quality appertaining to each gives character to every mediatorial act. They are never separated in the exercise of the office of mediator.