MIZRAIM. The son of Ham. Gen. x. It is the word generally rendered Egypt; and its dual form may refer to the two Egypts, Upper and Lower. This ancient title is still retained in the Arabic MISR. See EGYPT. MNASON. "An old disciple," with whom St. Paul lodged at Jerusalem. He was a native of Cyprus, and, from the designation given to him, must have been a convert during Christ's life. He was perhaps one of the seventv. Acts xxi. 16. MOAB, father's progeny. The son of Lot and his elder daughter. Gen. xix. 30, et seq. He was born about the same time as Isaac. From him descended the Moabites, whose country lay east of the Jordan and Dead Sea, on both sides of the Arnon. The country formerly appears to have been fertile; but it is now cursed with barrenness, and traversed only by wandering Arabs. Zeph. ii. 9. Their principal city was called Ar, or Rabbath-moab, or Kir-haresh. There was always great antipathy between the Israelites and the Moabites, which occasioned numerous wars. For various particulars see Numb. xxv. 1, 2; Judges iii. 12, et seq.; 2 Kings iii. 4, 5; xiii. 20. In the beginning of the reign of Hezekiah, Isaiah threatens them with a calamity, which was to happen in three years, and which probably referred to the war that Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, made with the ten tribes and the other people beyond Jordan. See also Amos i. 13, &c.; 2 Chron. xxvi. 7, 8; xxvii. 5. They were also carried away beyond the Euphrates, as the prophets had threatened. Jer. ix. 26; xii. 14, 15; xxv. 11, 12; xlviii. 47, et seq. The prophecies concerning Moab are remarkable and numerous. For an examination of the various predictions, see Keith's "Evidence of Prophecy." Ancient prophecy has been minutely fulfilled in the history and destiny of this people. MOLE. Lev. xi. 30. Some think that the word translated "mole" in this verse signifies chameleon, and that the mole is indicated by the term CHOLED, rendered weasel in the preceding verse. There is a similarity in sound between the Arabic KHULD, a mole, and the Hebrew CHOLED; so that it is probable that in verse 29, as well as in Isai. ii. 20, the mole is the animal intended. MOLECH. Lev. xviii. 21. MO LOCH, king. Acts vii. 43. MILCOM. 1 Kings xi. 5. The name of an idol among the Ammonites, which was worshipped with human sacrifices. The account given of this idol by the rabbins is, that it was made of brass, and placed on a brazen throne, and that the head was that of a calf with a crown upon it. The throne and image were hollow, and a furious fire was kindled within it. The flames penetrated into the body and arms of the idol; and when the arms were red-hot, the victim was thrown into them, and was almost immediately burned to death. Its cries were drowned by drums, &c. Some have supposed that they contented themselves by making their children leap over a fire, or pass between two fires opposite to each other, and that this was the act of their consecration. The following passages, however, are proof that the victims were actually murdered. Deut. xii. 31; Psal. cvi. 37, 38; Jer. vii. 31; xix. 5; Ezek. xvi. 21. In the latter periods of the Jewish kingdom, this idol was erected in the valley of Hinnom, in a particular part called Tophet, so named from the word TOPH, a drum, because drums were beaten to drown the cries of the children thus sacrificed. Isai. xxx. 33; 2 Kings xxiii. 10. The Jews applied the name GE-HINNOM, or GE-HENNA, to the place of future torments. Some think Moloch is Saturn, to whom it is well known human sacrifices were offered. MONEY. Mention is often made in Scripture of gold, silver, brass, &c., of purchases made with money, of current money, of money of a certain weight; but coined or stamped money was not used at an early period. The use of money is readily traced to an early felt necessity of a common medium of exchange to obviate the inconvenience of barter. Aristotle MONEY-CHANGERS. bankers, in Judæa, who made a trade of receiving money in deposit, and paying interest for it. Matt. xxv. 27. Some of them had established themselves within the precincts of the temple at Jerusalem, chap. xxi. 12, where they were in the practice of exchanging one kind of money for another. Persons who came from a distance to worship at Jerusalem, would naturally bring with them the money current in their respective districts; and it might therefore be a matter of convenience with them to get their money changed at the door of the temple. They had established themselves in the courts of the temple in our Lord's time; a profanation which had probably grown up with the influence of Roman manners, which allowed the argentarii to establish their tables close by the statues of the gods. tells us that at first money consisted | gods on their coin. See MEASURES. of masses of metal or other convenient Our English word money is from substance, determined by size and Moneta, which was a surname of weight; and lastly by marks stamped Juno, in whose temple the standards upon them, to save the trouble of of weight, measure, and money were always weighing them. In the preserved. early state of commerce, described in A kind of the Homeric poems, and other ancient works, the transfer of commodities was effected by means of quantities of unstamped gold, silver, or copper, which were determined by weight: properly money did not exist. A reference to various passages of Scripture will prove the same point. See Gen. xxiii. 15, 16; xxiv. 22; xliii. 21; Exod. xxx. 24; 2 Sam. xiv. 26. Hence the various allusions to the deceitful balances of the merchant, which would increase the weight of the shekel. Hence also the prohibition of the law, "Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights." Deut. XXV. 13. We read, as early as the time of Jacob, of a kesitah. Gen. xxxiii. 19. Job's friends each gave him a kesitah; but this was not a coin, but something weighed out, and is supposed by Gesenius to have been heavier than the shekel, or equal to about four shekels. The ancient interpreters understand a lamb; but he says there is no authority for this, either in the etymology or the cognate languages. The adarcmonim, or daric, was not a Jewish coin but foreign, and first issued by Darius Hystaspes. It is difficult to decide at what time the Jews first coined money. Antiochus Sidetes, king of Syria, is represented to have granted to Simon Maccabæus the privilege of coining money in Judæa. 1 Maccab. xv. 6. This is supposed to be the first mention of Hebrew money, so called. It consisted of shekels and demi-shekels, the third part of a shekel, and the quarter of a shekel, of silver. The Jewish shekel never bore a head, but was impressed with an almond-rod and a pot of manna. The heathen impressed the effigies of their MONTH. Probably a contraction of MOONETH. Months are sometimes called in Hebrew new moons, from their commencing with the new moon. The Hebrews formerly called the months, "first, second," &c. The length of the month was regulated by the changes of the moon. After they left Egypt they had two courses of months; one making the civil, the other the sacred, year: the former commenced from the first new moon in October, and this was used in civil and agricultural concerns only; and the latter from the first new moon in April, because they left Egypt on the fifteenth day of that month, and was used in regulating their feasts, &c. The prophets use this reckoning. The names of the Hebrew months follow: Beginning with the New Moon. As twelve lunations were equal to three hundred and fifty-four days and about eight hours, and as this period did not correspond with the sun's annual course, the Jews used an intercalary month which they called VE-ADAR, or the second Adar. By this means of intercalation they made the lunar year equal to the solar. Beginning with the New Moon. May or June, Esther viii. 9. July or August. August or September, Neh. vi. 15. tect him from the moon-beams. The MORDECAI. Derived by some from the Persian, and meaning, little man, mannikin; by others, from the idol MOON. The moon is a planet, Merodach, thus signifying a votary of revolving round the earth at the Merodach. A captive Jew, of the distance of two hundred and forty family of Kish, resident at the court thousand miles: her surface is highly of Ahasuerus. He had under his care diversified with hill, precipice, and his niece, Hadassah, or Esther, who valley in every variety of form. She afterwards became queen of Persia. always presents the same face to us. Mordecai fell under the displeasure of The new moon regulated many of Haman, one of the king's principal the sacrifices and festivals among officers of state, a proud and ambitious the Jews, and the first day of the man, and, to be revenged on the desmoon was celebrated as a feast. The pised Jew, he laid a plan for the heathen generally worshipped the extermination of the whole body of moon as the queen of heaven; the Jews in the empire. His purpose was, Greeks and Romans, as Artemis and however, defeated by the interpoDiana. She was also adored as Ve-sition of the queen. Haman lost his nus, Ashtaroth, Succoth-benoth, and life, and Mordecai was elevated to Hecate. The psalmist seems to refer wealth and power. See HAMAN, to the injurious effects of the light of ESTHER, and PUR. the moon: "The sun shall not smite MORIAH, vision. A hill situated thee by day, nor the moon by night." north-east of Jerusalem, and originAnderson, in his "Description of the ally separated from that of Acra by a East," says, "One must here" (Ba- valley, which, according to Jewish tavia) "take great care not to sleep in historians, was filled up by the Asmothe beams of the moon uncovered. Ineans, and the two hills converted have seen many people whose neck has become crooked, so that they look more to the side than forwards. I will not decide whether it is to be ascribed to the moon, as people imagine here." In some of the southern parts of Europe, a similar opinion as to the pernicious influence of the beams of the moon is entertained. An English gentleman, walking, in the evening, in the garden of a Portuguese nobleman in Lisbon, was most seriously admonished to put on his hat to pro into one. In the time of David it stood apart from the city, and was under cultivation; for here was the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite, from whom David bought it. 2 Sam. xxiv. 15-25. On this spot Solomon built the temple. 2 Chron. iii. 1. Here also Abraham is supposed to have been directed to offer up his son. Gen. xxii. 1, 2. MOSES, drawn out of the water. The legislator of the Jews was of the tribe of Levi: his father's name was Amram, and his mother's Jochebed. | commissioned by God as his chosen The time of his birth is ascertained instrument, he proved among the by the exode of the Israelites, when Israelites, by a succession of most Moses was eighty years old. Exod. extraordinary miracles, that the God vii. 7. By a singular providence, the of Israel was the only true God, and infant Moses, when exposed on the at last overcame the opposition of the river Nile through fear of the royal Egyptians. According to a divine decree, after his mother had hid him decree, the people were commanded three months, because he was a goodly to quit Egypt, under the guidance child, was taken up and adopted by of Moses. The punishments of God Pharaoh's daughter, and nursed by were poured down on their opponents, his own mother, whom she hired at and increased in a fearful ratio till the suggestion of his sister Miriam. they terminated in the death of the Thus did he find an asylum in the first-born of every family in Egypt. very palace of his intended destroyer, Thus Paganism bowed before truth. while his intercourse with his own The Egyptians paid tribute to the family and nation was still most emigrating Israelites. Exod. xii. 35. naturally, though unexpectedly, The enraged king vainly attempted maintained so mysterious are the to destroy them; but Moses, firmly ways of heaven. And while he was relying upon the miraculous interinstructed "in all the wisdom of the position of Jehovah, led them Egyptians," and bred up in the midst through the Red Sea into Arabia, of a luxurious court, he acquired at and the army of Pharaoh perished in home the knowledge of the promised the waters. Exod. xii.-xv. redemption of Israel; and, "by faith in the Redeemer Christ, "re-ant functions of Moses as a lawgiver. fused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ,' or persecution for Christ's sake, "greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward," Exod. ii. 1-10; Acts vii. 20-22; Heb. xi. 23-26; or looked forward to a future state. Then commenced the most import By his instrumentality the people entered into intimate communion with God through a sacred covenant. They were at Sinai bound to God by new legislation. They then proceeded to Paran, and sent spies to explore the land of Canaan. (Numb. x.-xiii.) Here a violent rebellion broke out against Moses, which, by divine assistance, he energetically suppressed. Numb. xiv., xvi. The Israelites frequently murmured When Moses had grown up, he re- during forty years. Moses fell into turned to his brethren, and, in spite sin in the desert of Kadesh, and was, of their degraded condition, resolved on that account, deprived of the priupon their deliverance. He showed vilege of leading the people into his indignation against their oppres- Canaan. He was allowed to lead sors by slaying an Egyptian whom he them only to the border, to presaw ill-treating an Israelite. This pare all that was necessary for their act induced him to flee to the land of admission, and to give them his Midian, where he married Zipporah. blessing. It was by God's appointExod. ii. 11, et seq. Here, in the ment that they should reach their solitude of pastoral life, he was pre- destination after having vanquished pared for his important mission. His many difficulties. Amidst the nuentrance on this vocation was not the merous trials to which they were result of the mere natural resolution subjected, it was very important that of Moses. His constitutional timidity they should have such a man at their seemed to unfit him for such an un-head. His authority was a powerful dertaking. God appeared to him on preservative against despondency. Mount Horeb, and in an extraordinary manner appointed him his work. Supported by his brother Aaron, and Having in vain attempted to pass through the territory of the Edomites, the Israelites marched round its boundaries by a tedious route. Two the chrysalis, and emerges in the powerful kings were conquered. moth. The following are among the Moses led the people into the plains of Moab over against Jericho. Numb. xx., xxi. The oracles of Balaam became blessings to the people. Moses averted the danger threatened by the Midianites. Numb. XXV.-xxxi. references to the devastations of this After having made arrangements for the conquest and distribution of the whole country, he took leave of the people with the most powerful admonitions and impressive benedic-princes were a treasure on which they tions, transferring his authority to set a particular value. These, of Joshua. He died on Mount Pisgah, course, would be exposed to the deat the age of one hundred and twenty predations of the moth. vears. He was vigorous in mind and body to the last. His body was not carried into the holy land, but was buried by God; and his grave remained unknown, lest it should become an object of superstitious worship. No greater prophet than Moses was ever found among the Israelites. Deut. xxxiv. 10-12. MOTE. Matt. vii. 3. The word means any small dry thing, as chaff; or, a small splinter, in opposition to the beam. Many interpretations of this passage destroy the antithesis. The intention is to reprove that disposition which is keen to discover faults in others, and to overlook those in ourselves, which are much greater, as a beam is larger than a splinter. This was a proverb in common use among the Jews, as it occurs in their writings precisely in the meaning of our Lord. Freedom from vice is necessary to true spiritual discernment. It is not enough to see the mote in the eye, we must see how to cast it out, and that without injury, with tenderness and charity. MOTH. The references to this insect in Scripture are very numerous, and especially to one species which, in its caterpillar state, is very destructive to cloth. The egg of the moth is deposited in the cloth or fur: in due time this becomes a small white insect, which immediately forms a habitation for itself among the threads by cutting in all directions. In this manner, by feeding upon the nap and threads, the insect continues to live, till the period when it is changed into MOTHER. The Hebrew word AM, a mother, is supposed to be a primitive, or simple sound, produced by closing the lips. It is found in many languages, Sanscrit, Coptic, German, French, and English: by a simple transposition, AM becomes MA. So AB, a father, PAPA, PA. See AB, ABBA. "Before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother,' Isai. viii. 4; the first and simplest sounds. In addition to the ordinary meaning of the word, it signifies grandmother, 1 Kings xv. 10; and even any female ancestor. Gen. iii. 20. It is put for a chief city, 2 Sam. xx. 19; for a benefactress, Judges v. 7. In Hebrew, as in English, a nation is called a mother, and the inhabitants her children. Isai. iii. 12; xlix. 23. The "mother-country" is an expressive phrase. The fond affection of a mother is often referred to in Scripture; and God has employed it, as well as the love of a father, to illustrate his tender regard for his people. Isai. xlix. 15. It was the anxious ambition of every Hebrew wife to be a mother, especially of sons. A mother's influence in the church of Christ is remarkable. Scarcely an individual of eminence has appeared that has not confessed his obligations to maternal influence. When Napoleon asked Madame Campan, what the French nation most wanted, her reply was expressed in one word, "Mothers." MOUNTAINS. The mountains named in Scripture are referred to under the different names. The word |