ZERETH-SHAHAR

(Zeʹreth-shaʹhar) [brightness of the dawn].

A site in Reuben situated “in the mountain of the low plain.” (Josh. 13:15, 19) The exact location of Zereth-shahar is now unknown. However, the name may be reflected in that of Zarat, situated at the hot springs of Callirhoe on the Dead Sea’s E shore.

ZERI

(Zeʹri).

One of Jeduthun’s six sons, all of whom were temple musicians. (1 Chron. 25:1, 3) With the Hebrew letter yohdh prefixed, his name is spelled “Izri” in verse 11, where he is identified as head of the fourth of David’s twenty-four divisions of temple musical service.

ZEROR

(Zeʹror) [pebble].

An ancestor of King Saul; listed as son of Becorath and father of Abiel; of the tribe of Benjamin.—1 Sam. 9:1.

ZERUAH

(Ze·ruʹah) [leprous].

Mother of King Jeroboam (I); a widow at the time that Jeroboam began to lift up his hand against King Solomon.—1 Ki. 11:26.

ZERUBBABEL

(Ze·rubʹba·bel) [seed of Babylon].

First governor of the repatriated Jews (Hag. 2:21); a descendant of King David and an ancestor of Jesus Christ; likely the actual son of Pedaiah but legally reckoned as the son of Shealtiel. (1 Chron. 3:19; Matt. 1:12, 13; Luke 3:27; see GENEALOGY OF JESUS CHRIST [Problems in Matthew’s Genealogy of Jesus].) The genealogical listing of 1 Chronicles (3:19, 20) names seven sons of Zerubbabel (Meshullam, Hananiah, Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, Jushab-hesed) and one daughter (Shelomith). Zerubbabel’s official or Babylonian name appears to have been Sheshbazzar.—Ezra 1:8, 11; 5:14, 16; compare Ezra 3:8.

After the liberation from Babylonian exile, Zerubbabel, in 537 B.C.E., led a Jewish remnant back to Jerusalem and Judah. (Ezra 2:1, 2; Neh. 7:6, 7; 12:1) As the governor appointed by King Cyrus, Zerubbabel had been entrusted with sacred gold and silver vessels that had years earlier been taken from the temple by Nebuchadnezzar. (Ezra 5:14, 15) At Jerusalem, under the direction of Zerubbabel and High Priest Jeshua, the temple altar was erected in the seventh month (Ethanim or Tishri, September-October) (Ezra 3:1, 2) and, in the second year in the second month (Ziv or Iyyar, April-May, of 536 B.C.E.) the actual construction of the temple began. (Ezra 3:8) Recognizing the bad motive of the non-Jews who asked to have a share in the rebuilding work, Zerubbabel, Jeshua and the heads of the paternal houses stated: “You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God, for we ourselves shall together build to Jehovah the God of Israel, just as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.”—Ezra 4:1-3.

These non-Jews, however, continued to dishearten the temple rebuilders and finally succeeded in having an official ban placed on the work. Later, stirred up by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, Zerubbabel and Jeshua (Joshua) courageously resumed the construction of the temple despite the ban. (Ezra 4:23, 24; 5:1, 2; Hag. 1:1, 12, 14; Zech. 1:1) Thereafter an investigation of the Persian archives vindicated the legality of their work. (Ezra 6:1-12) Throughout, the prophets Haggai and Zechariah continued to encourage Zerubbabel, strengthening him for the work and assuring him of divine favor. (Hag. 2:2-4, 21-23; Zech. 4:6-10) Finally (probably in 515 B.C.E.) the temple was completed. (Ezra 6:13-15) Also during Zerubbabel’s governorship the needs of the Levites were cared for, the singers and gatekeepers receiving their portion “according to the daily need.”—Neh. 12:47.

ZERUIAH

(Ze·ruʹiah) [perfumed with balsam].

King David’s sister and mother of Joab, Abishai and Asahel. (1 Chron. 2:16) Since Zeruiah and her sister Abigail are both called “daughters of Nahash,” never daughters of Jesse, it is likely that they were daughters of Jesse’s wife by a previous marriage to Nahash, therefore only half sisters of David. (2 Sam. 17:25; see NAHASH No. 2.) Apparently Zeruiah was considerably older than David, for her sons seem to have been about the same age as David. Zeruiah’s name is usually associated with her three sons, who were all valiant fighters for David. (2 Sam. 2:13, 18; 16:9) The only reference made to the boys’ father is that he was buried at Bethlehem.—2 Sam. 2:32.

ZETA

[Ζ, ζ].

The sixth letter of the Greek alphabet; from it the English “z” originates. Zeʹta had the diphthongal sound of the English dz, later the sound of z.

Its equivalent in Hebrew is zaʹyin. Though zeʹta is the sixth letter in order, numerically it is equal to seven when it has the acute accent (ζ΄), and, 7,000, with the subscript (,ζ). For the number six, the digamma (====) or the accented final form of sigma (ς΄) is used.

ZETHAM

(Zeʹtham) [olive tree].

A Gershonite Levite descended from Ladan. He beaded a paternal house and was assigned to care for the temple treasures.—1 Chron. 23:7-9; 26:22.

ZETHAN

(Zeʹthan) [olive tree].

A descendant of Benjamin through Jediael and Bilhan.—1 Chron, 7:6, 10.

ZETHAR

(Zeʹthar) [conqueror, slayer].

One of the seven court officials whom Ahasuerus sent to bring Vashti before him.—Esther 1:10, 11.

ZEUS

The supreme god of the Greeks, corresponding to Jupiter of the Romans. Zeus was a god of the sky and viewed as having control of the winds, clouds, rain and thunder, exercising his power over these natural forces for both a destructive and a beneficial purpose. The ancient poet Homer represents Zeus as having greater strength than all the other gods combined. Zeus, however, was not regarded as being supreme in an absolute sense, but is at times depicted as becoming a victim of deception and having to yield to the will of the Fates and Destiny.

Aside from relating the events of his birth, childhood and acquisition of the throne, the legends are chiefly concerned with the many love affairs of Zeus. The mythological accounts tell of his seducing goddesses and earthly women, and fathering a host of illegitimate children. Paradoxically, it is related that Zeus killed Iasion (a mortal) for having committed immorality with the goddess Demeter. Besides being marred by Zeus’ many acts of unfaithfulness, the marriage of Zeus and Hera was beset by other troubles. Zeus, it is said, was so much plagued by incessant scolding from his wife Hera that he on occasion complained bitterly concerning this before the assembled deities.

At times the pure worship of Jehovah came into direct conflict with the worship of the false god Zeus. King Antiochus IV Epiphanes, in his attempt to stamp out the Jewish religion, directed that the temple at Jerusalem be profaned and rededicated to Zeus of Olympus. See the apocryphal book of Second Maccabees 6:1, 2.

In the first century C.E., the townspeople of Lystra, upon seeing Paul heal a lame man, considered Paul and Barnabas to be gods, identifying Paul with Hermes and Barnabas with Zeus. The priest of Zeus even brought out bulls and garlands in order to offer sacrifices with the crowd. (Acts 14:8-13) Two ancient inscriptions discovered in 1909 in the vicinity of Lystra testify to the worship of these two gods in that city. One of the inscriptions refers to the “priests of Zeus” and the other mentions “Hermes Most Great” and “Zeus the sun-god.”