as Israel’s real King and their God, set aside such right when it suited his purposes, as in the example of Solomon.—1 Chron. 28:5.

Jesus Christ, as the “first-born of all creation,” always faithful to his Father Jehovah God, has the birthright through which he has been appointed “heir of all things.”—Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:2; see INHERITANCE.

BIRZAITH

(Birʹza·ith) [well of the olive tree].

A name in the genealogy of Asher of the family of Malchiel. (1 Chron. 7:30, 31) Some commentators suggest it to be the name of a woman; however, women were rarely included in Jewish genealogies and, when they were for special reasons, they were generally clearly identified as women. (1 Chron. 7:24, 30, 32) Because Birzaith is the only name of those listed in 1 Chronicles 7:30, 31 that is not found in the parallel genealogical record of Genesis 46:17, and also because of the meaning of the name, others consider Birzaith to refer to a site around which the descendants of Malchiel settled, or an area in which Malchiel was a chief inhabitant, even as Shobal is spoken of as the “father of Kiriath-jearim” and Salma as the “father of Bethlehem.” (1 Chron. 2:51, 52) Supposing Birzaith to have been the name of a place, some would identify it with Birzeit (4.3 miles [6.9 kilometers] N of Ramallah); but, despite the similarity of the names, Birzeit’s location near the southern border of Ephraim (instead of in the territory of Asher) does not lend much support to such a conclusion.—See ATROTH-BETH-JOAB.

BISHLAM

(Bishʹlam) [possibly, son of peace].

An opposer of the postexilic temple rebuilding who shared in writing a letter of false accusation against the Jews to Persian King Artaxerxes.—Ezra 4:6, 7.

BITHIAH

(Bi·thiʹah) [daughter (that is, worshiper) of Jehovah].

Daughter of a Pharaoh and wife of Mered of the tribe of Judah.—1 Chron. 4:1, 18.

BITHYNIA

(Bi·thynʹi·a).

A Roman province in the northern part of Asia Minor. It was located in what is now NW Turkey, extending eastward from Istanbul along the southern shore of the Black Sea. On Paul’s second missionary journey, after he and Silas had been joined by Timothy at Lystra, they endeavored to travel into Bithynia, but “the spirit of Jesus did not permit them.” (Acts 16:7) The area if not mentioned as being the scene of apostolic preaching, but there obviously were Christians there when Peter wrote his first canonical letter about 62-64 C.E. (1 Pet. 1:1) Pliny the Younger, writing from Bithynia to the Roman emperor while Pliny was special commissioner, makes mention of numerous Christians in the province, stating that at the beginning of the second century Christianity was “not confined to the cities only, but has spread its infection among the neighbouring villages and country.”

In pre-Christian times the area was governed by a line of independent kings, the last of whom, Nicomedes III, bequeathed it to the Roman Republic in 74 B.C.E. In the days of the apostles it was bounded by Propontis and Mysia on the W, by Asia and Galatia on the S and by Pontus on the E, although the latter territory had been added to it by the Romans to make the one province of Pontus and Bithynia (65-63 B.C.E.). Bithynia contains fertile, generally mountainous country that lends itself to the cultivation of the vine. The southern “Mysian” Olympus range is thickly wooded with oak, beech, chestnut and walnut trees.

At later times Bithynia was accorded some prominence by professed Christians, two of its cities, Nicaea and Chalcedon, being selected as centers for notable councils. The former was the site of the formulation of the Nicene Creed in 325 C.E.

BITTER GREENS

[Heb., m^ero·rimʹ].

Along with the roasted lamb and unleavened bread, the Israelites were to eat bitter greens or herbs on the Passover night (Ex. 12:8), and this continued to be the arrangement in all future Passover celebrations. (Num. 9:11) Nothing specific is stated as to the kind or kinds of bitter greens. The significance of the bitter greens is thought by some as intended to remind the Israelites of the bitterness of the experience during the Egyptian bondage.

The same Hebrew term (m^ero·rimʹ) occurs at Lamentations 3:15 and is usually rendered “bitterness,” or “bitter things,” though some suggest “bitter herbs (or greens)” as a suitable translation to correspond with the mention of wormwood in the same verse.

BITUMEN

(Bi·tuʹmen).

The same black or brownish mineral asphaltum is referred to by three Hebrew words. Two of these describe the difference in hardness: pitch (zeʹpheth), its liquid form; bitumen (hhe·marʹ), its solid state. The third word, tar (koʹpher), describes its usage: how it is applied in overlaying woodwork.

Neither the discoveries of the centuries nor the technology of modern science have found a natural substance more waterproof and verminproof. Because of these qualities its usefulness to man predates the flood, for Noah, on being instructed to build the Ark, was told to “cover it inside and outside with tar.”—Gen. 6:14.

The papyrus ark in which the baby Moses floated among the Nile reeds was watertight because it had been impregnated with both “bitumen and pitch” (Ex. 2:3) The Egyptians used bitumen for sealing their boats and perhaps in embalming. The word “mummy” is from the Persian mumiai, meaning asphalt.

The city builders of Babylon learned that bitumen’s waterproof characteristics were combined with adhesive qualities that made it a most useful mortar for their kiln-dried bricks.—Gen. 11:3.

At one time the Valley of Siddim, located near Sodom and Gomorrah at the southern end of the Dead Sea, was noted for its “pits upon pits of bitumen” (slimepits, AV). (Gen. 14:10) Even today bitumen is occasionally washed ashore, suggesting that Siddim is presently located beneath the waters of the Dead Sea. Bitumen is also a flammable material and is so described by Isaiah, who prophesied that the land of Edom would “become as burning pitch.”—Isa. 34:9.

BIZIOTHIAH

(Biz·i·o·thiʹah).

Listed after Beer-sheba as one of the towns in Judah’s tribal inheritance in the Negeb region. (Josh. 15:21, 28) The location is unknown. The Septuagint here reads “and their villages” instead of the proper name Biziothiah.

BIZTHA

(Bizʹtha) [possibly, eunuch, or, bound].

One of seven court officials whom King Ahasuerus sent to bring Queen Vashti.—Esther 1:10, 11; see COURT OFFICIAL.

BLACK

See COLORS.

BLACK CUMMIN

See CUMMIN.

BLACK MULBERRY TREE

[Gr., sy·kaʹmi·nos].

This tree is mentioned but once, in Jesus’ statement to the apostles relative to their faith. (Luke 17:5, 6) The Greek word used was regularly applied to the mulberry tree, and the black mulberry (Morus nigra) is commonly cultivated in Palestine. It is a sturdy tree growing to a height of about twenty feet (6 meters), with large heart-shaped leaves and dark-red or black fruit resembling the blackberry. The white mulberry (Morus alba) is used to feed silkworms, and their culture was evidently introduced into Syria during Roman times and continues there.