the Week of Proper 26 / Ordinary 31
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Bible Encyclopedias
Defense
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or This word, besides its ordinary and proper use, stands in the English Bible as a mistranslation of two Heb. terms. 1. Matsotr' מָצוֹר, in connection with יְאֹרַים, streams, rendered in 2 Kings 19:24, "rivers of besieged places," Sept. ποταμοι συνοχῆς, Vulg. aquae clausae; in Isaiah 19:6, "brooks of defense," Sept. διώρυες τοῦ ποταμοῦ, Vulg. rivi aggerum; in Isaiah 37:25, "rivers of the besieged places," Sept. συναγωγὴ ὕδατος, Vulg. rivi aggerum), a proper name for EGYPT, alluding to its canals, i.e. the branches of the Nile. The derivation of the term is obscure; perhaps it is only another application of the Heb. word of the same form, elsewhere signifying (literally straitness, hence) a mound or fortification, and applied to Egypt, especially Lower Egypt, as being strongly fortified, both by nature and art. (See MAZOR).
2. Be'tser (בֶּצֶר, probably something dug out of a mine, occurring only in Job, and rendered in chap. 22:24, "gold," Sept. πέτρα, Vulg. silex; in Isaiah 37:25, "defense," Sept. βοηθὸς ἀπὸ ἐχθρῶν, Vulg. contra hostes; in chap. 36:19, ‘ gold," Sept. δυνατὸς ἐν ἀνάγκῃ, Vulg. tribulatio), precious ore, i.e. of gold or silver, in its native state; an interpretation evidently required by the corresponding terms in the parallel members of the hemistichs where it occurs. (See GOLD).
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Defense'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/d/defense.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
