Sorek, in the western
part of Palestine, northeast of Jerusalem. The whole story of Samson
is laid in this region, between Jerusalem and Joppa.

_Philistines_. A people which had taken the plains west of the hills
of Judaea, and for a long time were the rivals and enemies of Israel.

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_Nazirite_. A man who had taken a vow not to cut his hair, not to eat
grapes or drink wine, and not to touch a dead body. It was one way of
expressing devotion to God.

_Dagon_. The god of the Philistines.

DANIEL.

_Pulse_. A sort of pea; good, healthy food, but not delicate or
luxurious.

_Chaldeans_. Usually the people of Babylon. In Daniel, however, it
means a class of people who practiced sorcery.

_Medes_. The Persians and Medes were combined into the Persian empire.
It was they who took Babylon, and put an end to the Babylonian empire,
though the city of Babylon was still for many hundred years a great
center of commerce and of learning.

NEHEMIAH.

_Shushan_. See notes on Esther.

_Chislev_. A month corresponding to parts of November and December.
Nisan corresponds to parts of March and April.

_Artaxerxes_. King of Persia, the son of the Xerxes of the story of
Esther.

_Tirshatha_. An officer of the empire, appointed for a special
service.

_Feast of Booths_. One of the three great feasts of the Hebrews. It
was a joyful feast, a thanksgiving time. During the feast the people
lived in booths, from which comes the name.

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THE STORY OF THE DIVIDED KINGDOM.

_Ethiopians_. Just at this time the people of the distant south ruled
Egypt, and they were known as Ethiopians.

_Asherim, Asheroth_. (See note on Elijah and Elisha.) The name
Asheroth is formed as though there were a goddess Asherah.

_Ships of Tarshish_. That is, ships like those which were built to go
to Tarshish in Spain; just as ships built like those that sailed to
East India used to be called Indiamen.

_Ophir_. A place from which gold and other things were brought. Where
it was is still unknown.

_Valley of Salt_. The valley of the Dead Sea. Its southern part is
full of places where salt is found.

_Assyria_. This great empire, with its capital at Nineveh on the
Tigris, was for a long time greatly feared by Israel. It kept all the
small nations about under tribute, and was very cruel in all its wars,
so that when, after several generations, it fell, there was great
rejoicing.

_Carchemish_.