Psalms of Degrees, see in DE GREES. PSALTERY. (See HARP.) The modern instrument called psaltery is flat, and in the form of a trapezium, or triangle cut off at the top, and is strung with thirteen strings. It is struck with a plectrum, or small iron rod. This instrument, however, can hardly be said to be in use at the present day; and is most certainly not the ancient nabla. PTOLEMAIS, see Accнo. PUBLICAN, an officer of the revenue, employed in collecting taxes. Among the Romans there were two sorts of taxgatherers some were general receivers, who in each province had deputies; they collected the revenues of the empire, and accounted to the emperor. These were men of great consideration in the government; and Cicero says, that among these were the flower of the Roman knights, the ornaments of the city, and the strength of the commonwealth. But the deputies, the under-collectors, the publicans of the lower order, were looked upon as so many thieves and pickpockets. Theocritus being asked, which was the most cruel of all beasts, answered, Among the beasts of the wilderness, the bear and the lion; among the beasts of the city, the publican and the parasite." Among the Jews, also, the name and profession of a publican was excessively odious. They could not, without the utmost reluctance, see publicans exacting tributes and impositions laid on them by foreigners-the Romans. The Galileans, or Herodians, especially, submitted to this with the greatest impatience, and thought it even unlawful. Those of their own nation who undertook this 66 office they looked upon as heathen. See Matt. 18:17. It is even said, they would not allow them to enter the temple, or the synagogues; to partake of the public prayers, or offices of judicature; or to give testimony in a court of justice. There were many publicans in Judea in the time of our Saviour; Zaccheus, probably, was one of the principal receivers, since he is called chief among the publicans," Luke 19:2; but Matthew was only an inferior publican, Luke 5:27. The Jews reproached Jesus with being a "friend of publicans and sinners, and eating with them." Luke 7:34. PUBLIUS, a wealthy inhabitant of Malta, when Paul was shipwrecked on that island, A. D. 60. Acts 28:7-9. Publius received the apostle and his company into his house very kindly, and entertained them three days with great humanity. PURPLE. It is related that the fine purple color was discovered by Hercules Tyrius, whose dog having by chance eaten a shell-fish called murex, or purpura, and returning to his master with his lips tinged with a purple color, occasioned the discovery of this precious dye. Purple, however, is much more ancient than this, since we find it mentioned by Moses in several places. It comes from the seamuscle, purpura, and is of a reddish or crimson purple hue. There was another kind of bluish purple, or purple blue, made from a species of snail, conchylium, helix ianthina of Linnæus. This word is usually rendered in the English Bible by blue. ses used much wool of this crimson purple color in the work of the tabernacle, and in the orna Mo ments of the high-priest. It was the color used by princes and great men, by way of distinction. Judg. 8:26. Luke 16:19. The Babylonians also clothed their idols in habits of a purple and azure color. Jer. 10:9. Roman colony. Here Paul abode seven days. Acts 28:13. PYGARG, (white-rump.) This is properly the name of a species of eagle; but is applied, in Deut. 14:5, to a quadruped, apparently a species of gazelle or antelope. So the Syriac version and Targums. Both the Arabic versions refer it to a PUTEOLI, (the wells,) now Pozzuoli, a city in the Campania of Naples, on the northern side of the bay, eight miles north-species of mountain goat. west from that city. It was a Q. Acts consisting of four men. QUAILS. The oriental quail is a bird of passage, and about the size of a turtle-dove. Hasselquist states that it is plentiful near the shores of the Dead sea and the Jordan, and in the deserts of Arabia; and Diodorus affirms that it is caught in im-HOURS.) When, therefore, Hermense numbers about Rhinocolura, in the south-west corner of Palestine. Burckhardt also found great quantities of them in the regions south of the Dead sea. The flocks of quails, therefore, which came up to the camp of Israel, are entirely credible; and the miracle consisted in these immense flocks being directed to a particular spot, in the extreme emergency of the people, by means of "a wind from the Lord." Numb. 11:31. QUATERNION of soldiers,|| i. e. a detachment or division RAAMSES, or RAMESES, a city built by the Hebrews, during their servitude in Egypt. Gen. 47:11. Exod. 1:11. It was situated in the land of Goshen; and appears to have been the R. od, who adopted the Roman customs, is said to have delivered Peter to four quaternions of soldiers, it is to be understood that he was guarded by four men at a time, viz. two in the prison with him, and two before the doors, (comp. vs. 6,) and that they were relieved every three hours by four others; making in all sixteen men. QUEEN OF HEAVEN, a name given by the Hebrew idolaters to the moon. Jer. 7:18. 44:17,18. capital of that country. It was most probably the same with Heroopolis, situated on the great canal between the Nile and Suez, where are now the ruins of Aboukeyshid. quently became masters of it, with the tribes beyond Jordan. Towards the conclusion of the kingdom of Israel, Tiglath-pi part of the Israelites, the Aminonites were guilty of many cruelties against those who remained; for which the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel pronounced very severe prophecies against Rabbath, their capital, and against the rest of the country, which probably had their completion five years after the destruction of Jerusalem. Antiochus the Great afterwards took the city. It is now called Amman, and is about fifteen miles south-east of Szalt. Burckhardt found there extensive ruins, which he has described. RAB, RABBI. The word rab in Hebrew signifies chief; thus Nebuzaradan is the chief or captain of the guard, 2 K. 25:8; in Heb. rab; so Ashpe-leser having taken away a great naz is the rab, chief or master of the eunuchs. Dan. 1:3. At a later period, it was introduced as a solemn title of honor in the Jewish schools, and means master, teacher, doctor. There were various distinctions and degrees; the term rab was accounted the least honorable; that of rabbi, signifying my master, being of higher dignity. Another form of the word was rabbān or rabbon, from which comes also rabboni, John 20:16; this was regarded as the highest title of honor, and was never formally bestowed on more than seven persons, who all belonged to the celebrated school of Hillel, and were preeminently distinguished by their rank and learning. The more common and usual appellation afterwards was rabbi; and this has descended among the Jews to the present day. Matt. 23:7, 8. John 1:38,49. RABBATH, or RABBATHAMMON, OF RABBATH OF THE CHILDREN OF AMMON, afterwards called Philadelphia, the capital of the Ammonites, was situated in the mountains of Gilead, near the source of the Arnon, beyond Jordan. It was famous even in the time of Moses. Deut. 3:11. When David declared war against the Ammonites, his general, Joab, laid siege to Rabbath-Ammon, where Uriah lost his life by a secret order of his prince; when the city was reduced to the last extremity, David himself went thither, that he might have the honor of taking it. From this time it became subject to the kings of Judah; but the kings of Israel subse RABBI and RABBONI, see RAB. RAB-MAG, a general officer of Nebuchadnezzar's army, at the taking of Jerusalem. Jer. 39:3. It means more probably chief of the magi, a dignitary who had accompanied the king of Babylon in his campaign. See MAGI. RAB-SARIS, an officer sent with Rab-shakeh and Tartan, to summon Hezekiah. 2 K. 18:17. Jer. 39:3. It signifies the chief of the eunuchs. RAB-SHAKEH, that is, the chief butler, or cup-bearer, was an officer sent by Sennacherib, king of Assyria, to summon Hezekiah to surrender; which message he delivered in a most insolent and oppressive manner. The history is told in 2 K. 19:17, &c. 2 Chr. 32:9, &c. Isa. c. 36. RACA, a word derived from a Hebrew word signifying vain, trifling, brainless; otherwise, beggarly, worthless. It is thus translated by the Vulgate, in Judg. 11:3; in the English, vain men. The word includes a strong RACHEL, a daughter of Laban, and sister of Leah, was married to Jacob, by whom she had Joseph and Benjamin. She died in childbirth with the latter, whom she named Ben-oni, son of my pain; but Jacob named him Benjamin, or the son of my right hand. See her history in Gen. c. 29.-35. RAIN. In Scripture the early and the latter rain of Palestine is spoken of. The former falls in the latter part of October, the seed time of Palestine; and the weather then continues variable, with more or less rain the whole winter, until after the latter or spring rain, in the latter part of April. Afterwards, the weather becomes serene, and the crops ripen. The harvest takes place in May; by the first or middle of August,the fruits are gathered in ; and from that time till the coming of the first or October rains, prevail the scorching heats and droughts of summer. RĂM, or BATTERING RAM, a well-known engine of war, for battering down the walls of cities, mentioned in Ezek. 4:2. 21:22, and used by Nebuchadnezzar at the siege of Jerusalem. RAMAH. This word signifies an eminence; and hence so many places in Palestine are named Ramah, Ramath, Ramoth, Ramathaim, &c. Sometimes the same place is called by one or other of these names indiscriminately, all signifying the same. Comp. in 2 K. 8:28,29. Sometimes Rama, or Ramoth, is joined to another name, to determine the place of such city, or was a eminence; and it is sometimes put simply for a high place, and signifies neither city nor village. The principal Ramah city of Benjamin, between Geba and Bethel, toward the mountains of Ephraim, six miles from Jerusalem north, and on the road from Samaria to Jerusalem. Baasha, king of Israel, caused it to be fortified, to obstruct the passage from the land of Judah into that of Israel. This is probably the Ramatha, or Ramathaim-zophim, of the prophet Samuel. 1 Sam. 1:1,19. 2:11, &c. (See ARIMATHEA.) It was on the frontiers of Ephraim and Benjamin; and frontier cities were often inhabited by both tribes. RAMATHAIM, see RAMAH. RAMESES, see RAAMSES. RAMOTH, a famous city in the mountains of Gilead; often called Ramoth-Gilead, and sometimes Ramath-Mizpeh, or the Watch-tower. Josh. 13:26. It belonged to Gad, was assigned to the Levites, and became one of the cities of refuge beyond Jordan. Deut. 4:43. Josh. 20:8. 21:38. It was famous during the reigns of the later kings of Israel, and was the occasion of several wars between these princes and the kings of Damascus, who had conquered it, and from whom the kings of Israel endeavored to regain it. 1 K. c. 22. 2 K. 8:28,29. 2 Chr. 22:5,6. RÁVEN, a bird similar to the crow, but larger. It feeds on dead bodies; and in its general characteristics resembles entirely the crow of America. REBEKAH, the wife of Isaac. The manner in which she was sought and obtained as his wife, exhibits a striking picture of oriental manners and customs. Read the history in Gen. c. 24. || revenge the blood of his mur c. 25:20.-c. 28. RECHABITES. Scripture acquaints us, Jer. 35:2-11, that Jonadab, son of Rechab, in the time of Jehu, king of Israel, laid an injunction on his posterity not to drink wine, not to build houses, not to plant vineyards, to have no lands, and to dwell in tents all their lives. This they continued to observe for above 300 years; but in the last year of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar coming to besiege Jerusalem, the Rechabites were forced to take refuge in the city, still, however, lodging in tents. During this siege, Jeremiah received orders from the Lord, to invite them into the temple, and to offer them wine to drink. But they answered, "We will drink no wine; for so Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us," &c. REDEEMER, a name given by way of eminence to Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world; because he redeems or delivers mankind from the bondage and burden of their sins. In the law of Moses, Lev. 25: 25,48, this title is given to one who has the right of redemption in an inheritance, or even to a near kinsman, who may redeem it from a stranger, or any Jew who had bought it. Such was Boaz, who, being one of the nearest relations of Elimelech, married Ruth, the heiress of Elimelech, and thereby reentered into the possession of her estate. Jeremiah redeemed the field of his nephew Hanameel, which was on the point of being sold to another. Jer. 32:7,8. The same person, i. e. the nearest kinsman, was also called The Redeemer of Blood, (Eng. Tr. The Avenger, or Revenger of Blood,) and had a right to dered kinsman. Numb. 35:12, 19,21. Deut. 19:6,12. To curb the resentment of these avengers, or redeemers, God appointed cities of refuge throughout Israel. See REFUGE. RED SEA, see SEA. REFUGE, Cities of. Το provide security for those who should undesignedly kill a man, the Lord commanded Moses to appoint six cities of refuge, or asylums, that whoever should have thus spilt blood, might retire thither, and have time to prepare his defence before the judges; and that the kinsmen of the deceased might not pursue and kill him. Ex. 21:13. Numb. 35:11, &c. Of such cities there were three on each side Jordan. On the west were Kedesh of Naphtali, Hebron and Shechem; on the east, Bezer, Golan and Ramoth-Gilead. Josh. 20:7,8. These cities served not only for Hebrews, but for all strangers who resided in the country. Deut. 19:1-10. The Lord also commanded, that, when the Hebrews should multiply and enlarge their land, they should add three other cities of refuge. But this command was never fulfilled. In our country, we do not discover that distinguished wisdom in the institution of the cities of refuge, which there really was, With us, murder or manslaughter is prosecuted so regularly, that we are apt to overlook the policy of this national appointment of cities of refuge. But in the East, travellers inform us, that such is the vindictive and irritable spirit of the Arabs and other inhabitants, that if one sheikh should seriously say to another, |