The first recorded prophecy, at Genesis 3:15, foretold that the “serpent” would bruise the ‘seed of the woman’ in the heel. Though painful, a heel bruise is not permanently disabling. Jesus, the “seed” (Gal. 3:16), was put to death by the earthly agents of the great “Serpent” Satan the Devil (Rev. 12:9), but on the third day was recovered from this ‘heel bruise’ when his Father Jehovah resurrected him.—Acts 2:22-24; 10:40.

HEGAI

(Hegʹa·i) [perhaps, the sprinkler].

A eunuch of King Ahasuerus’ court; the guardian of the women who prepared Esther with special beauty treatments before she was taken to the king.—Esther 2:3, 8, 9, 15.

HEIFER

A young cow that has not produced a calf. A heifer was among the animals that Abraham cut into two parts, and he then saw “a smoking furnace and a fiery torch that passed in between these pieces.” This was in connection with God’s concluding of a covenant with him.—Gen. 15:9-18.

In Israel one who touched a human corpse, a human bone or grave, or who came into a tent in which lay a corpse, was unclean. He was required to undergo a specified cleansing procedure on pain of being “cut off from the midst of the congregation.” In this procedure the ashes of a sound red cow on which no yoke had come were used. Water in which some of these ashes had been mixed was sprinkled on the unclean one. Paul makes reference to this procedure, showing that it only had the effect of sanctifying to the extent of cleanness of the flesh, but that it typified the real cleansing of conscience through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.—Num. 19:1-22; Heb. 9:13, 14.

A young cow was also used when bloodguilt rested on a city due to a murder in which the murderer was unknown. The older men of the city nearest the one found slain, accompanied by some of the priests the sons of Levi, were required to take the young unworked cow and break its neck in an uncultivated torrent valley in which there was running water. Then the older men of that city were to wash their hands over the young cow and to appeal to God not to put bloodguilt on the city. God would hear the plea and relieve the city of the guilt of shedding innocent blood. Evidently the fact that the cow’s neck was broken, instead of the cow’s being slaughtered as a sin-offering, indicated that, in symbol, the cow suffered the punishment that should have been borne by the unknown murderer, and this procedure did not serve in any way to benefit the murderer as expiation for his crime. To Jehovah God, who sees all, was left the judgment of the actual murderer. Of course, if the murderer should later be discovered, he would be put to death for murder, as the Law required. The ceremony involving the young cow would make the matter publicly known and would tend to assist in the uncovering of the murderer.—Deut. 21:1-9; Num. 35:30-33.

The prophet Jeremiah speaks figuratively of the nation of Egypt, when settled prosperously and well fed in her land, as “a very pretty heifer,” but foretells that her defeat is to come. (Jer. 46:20, 21) The same prophet also likens the Babylonian conquerors of God’s people to a heifer pawing in the tender grass, because of their exultation over their capture of Israel. (Jer. 50:11) Hosea speaks of Ephraim, the ten-tribe kingdom, as having at one time been like a trained heifer, under God’s instruction and blessing, having plenty, as a threshing animal was allowed to eat of the fruitage of its work, which was comparatively light.—Hos. 10:11; Deut. 25:4.

HEIR

See INHERITANCE.

HELAH

(Heʹlah) [necklace].

One of Ashhur’s two wives. Three of her sons are listed in the genealogies of Judah.—1 Chron. 4:1, 5, 7.

HELAM

(Heʹlam).

The site where David’s army defeated the military forces of Syrian King Hadadezer under his army chief Shobach. (2 Sam. 10:15-19) Some scholars link it with “Alema” mentioned in the apocryphal book of 1 Maccabees (5:26, JB). It may thus be the same as modern ʽAlma, about thirty-four miles (54.7 kilometers) due E of the Sea of Galilee.

HELBAH

(Helʹbah) [fatness, a fertile region].

A city in the territory of the tribe of Asher. It is mentioned as being one of the towns from which the tribe of Asher did not drive out the Canaanite inhabitants. (Judg. 1:31, 32) Its exact location is not certain.

HELBON

(Helʹbon).

A place noted for its fine wine, which was highly valued by the city of Tyre. (Ezek. 27:18) Helbon is generally identified with the modern village of Helbun, about ten miles (16.1 kilometers) N-NW of Damascus. The village lies in a narrow valley with terraced vineyards located far up the mountain slopes. In ancient times, not only Tyre but also Assyria, Babylonia and Persia obtained the wine of Helbon.

HELDAI

(Helʹdai) [possibly, mole rat].

1. The head of the twelfth monthly service group that David organized; a descendant of Othniel. (1 Chron. 27:1, 15) Being a Netophathite, he is likely the mighty man called Heleb and Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite.—2 Sam. 23:8, 29; 1 Chron. 11:26, 30.

2. A man who returned from Babylon and whose silver and gold went into the making of a crown for High Priest Joshua. (Zech. 6:10, 11) This Heldai is called Helem in verse 14.

HELEB

(Heʹleb) [fatness].

One of David’s mighty men. (2 Sam. 23:8, 29) A son of Baanah the Netophathite, he is also called Heled in the Chronicles listing, and likely is the same as Heldai.—1 Chron. 11:30; 27:15.

HELED

(Heʹled) [duration, world].

A mighty man in David’s army. He was a son of Baanah the Netophathite. (1 Chron. 11:26, 30) He is also called Heleb in the parallel list and likely is the same as Heldai.—2 Sam. 23:29; 1 Chron. 27:15.

HELEK

(Heʹlek) [portion], Helekites (Helʹek·ites)

The second-listed son of Gilead, and great-grandson of Manasseh. He founded the family of the Helekites that was numbered in the census at the end of the Israelites’ wilderness trek and that received an inheritance in Manasseh’s territory.—Num. 26:3, 4, 29, 30; Josh. 17:2.

HELEM

(Heʹlem).

Two names translated “Helem” in English are slightly different in Hebrew, giving them different meanings.

1. [Heb., Heʹlem, a stroke]. A descendant of Asher whose family is listed in the genealogy of the tribe. (1 Chron. 7:35, 40) He is likely the same as Hotham of verse 32.

2. [Heb., Hheʹlem, strength]. Also called Heldai, he was one who contributed gold and silver for High Priest Joshua’s crown after the remnant’s return from Babylon.—Zech. 6:10, 11, 14; see HELDAI No. 2.

HELEPH

(Heʹleph).

A site in Naphtali’s inheritance. (Josh. 19:32, 33) Its exact location is uncertain. However, some geographers tentatively place it at Khirbet ʽArbathah, about nine miles (14.5 kilometers) W of the southern end of the Sea of Galilee.

HELEZ

(Heʹlez) [vigor].

1. One of David’s mighty men, a Paltite or Pelonite. (2 Sam. 23:8, 26; 1 Chron. 11:26, 27) When David