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ZebadiahAid to Bible Understanding
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third year, 934 B.C.E., dispatched to teach Jehovah’s law in the cities of Judah.—2 Chron. 17:7-9.
7. A leader of the house of Judah, son of Ishmael, among those whom King Jehoshaphat appointed over legal cases.—2 Chron. 19:8-11.
8. Head of the paternal house of Shephatiah. Zebadiah, son of Michael, led eighty males of his paternal house back to Jerusalem with Ezra in 468 B.C.E.—Ezra 8:1, 8.
9. One of the priests of the house of Immer who was among those encouraged by Ezra to dissolve their foreign marriage alliances.—Ezra 10:19, 20.
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ZebahAid to Bible Understanding
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ZEBAH
(Zeʹbah) [sacrifice].
A king of Midian who was a party to oppressing Israel. Zebah and Zalmunna were rulers presumably for the seven years that Midian made raids against Israel, ruining fields and bringing about poverty. (Judg. 6:1-6) At some unspecified time they also killed members of Gideon’s household.—Judg. 8:18, 19.
When their army of 135,000 met defeat from Gideon, Zebah, Zalmunna and 15,000 managed to escape under hot pursuit and made their way to Karkor, quite some distance, but were there again defeated and finally captured. As Gideon was bringing their kings Zebah and Zalmunna back as humiliated captives at least as far as Succoth they must have been reminded of their boastful words (or at least the expression of their attitude), preserved in the psalm: “Let us take possession of the abiding places of God for ourselves.” (Ps. 83:11, 12) After they admitted to having killed his brothers, Gideon personally put to death the two Midianite kings.—Judg. 8:4-21.
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ZebedeeAid to Bible Understanding
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ZEBEDEE
(Zebʹe·dee) [gift of Jah].
Father of Jesus’ apostles James and John. (Matt. 4:21, 22; 10:2; 26:37; Mark 3:17; 10:35; Luke 5:10; John 21:2) Zebedee’s wife Salome is generally believed to have been the sister of Jesus’ mother Mary. This would make Zebedee Jesus’ uncle by marriage, and James and John, Jesus’ cousins.—Matt. 27:56; Mark 15:40; John 19:25; see SALOME No. 1.
Zebedee was in the fishing business on the Sea of Galilee and apparently did quite well with it, for there were hired men working with him. (Mark 1:16, 19, 20) His wife Salome was able to render material services to Jesus. (Mark 15:40, 41) So while there is no indication that Zebedee himself followed Christ, his family freely did so.—Matt. 20:20.
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ZebidahAid to Bible Understanding
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ZEBIDAH
(Ze·biʹdah) [gift].
A wife or concubine of King Josiah and mother of King Jehoiakim. Zebidah was the daughter of Pedaiah from Rumah.—2 Ki. 23:34, 36.
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ZebinaAid to Bible Understanding
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ZEBINA
(Ze·biʹna) [purchased].
A postexilic son of Nebo. Zebina and six of his brothers had married foreign wives, but sent them away, as counseled by Ezra.—Ezra 10:43, 44.
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ZeboiimAid to Bible Understanding
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ZEBOIIM
(Ze·boiʹim) [gazelles].
A site named in connection with the boundary of Canaanite territory. (Gen. 10:19) Zeboiim was one of the five city-states of the District that rebelled after twelve years of domination by Chedorlaomer. Its King Shemeber joined forces with the rulers of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Bela (Zoar), and apparently was vanquished with them in the Low Plain of Siddim by Chedorlaomer and his three confederates. This defeat resulted in the capture of Lot and Abraham’s subsequent victory over the Mesopotamian invaders. (Gen. 14:1-16) Later, Zeboiim was one of the wicked cities of the District destroyed by Jehovah along with Sodom and Gomorrah. (Gen. 19:24, 25; Deut. 29:22, 23; Hos. 11:8) Its exact site is unknown, but generally it is thought to have been located in the area now covered by the shallow waters at the S end of the Dead Sea.
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ZeboimAid to Bible Understanding
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ZEBOIM
(Ze·boʹim) [hyenas].
1. A valley in the territory of Benjamin, near Michmash. In King Saul’s day, a band of Philistine pillagers would sally forth from Michmash and “turn to the road to the boundary that looks toward the valley of Zeboim, toward the wilderness.” (1 Sam. 13:16-18) Though there is uncertainty about its location, the valley of Zeboim may be the Wadi Abu Dabaʽ (meaning, “Valley of the Father of Hyenas”) SE of Michmash and some eight miles (13 kilometers) NE of Jerusalem.
2. A town inhabited by Benjamites after their return from Babylonian exile. It is mentioned between Hadid and Neballat and with Lod (Lydda). (Neh. 11:31, 34, 35) The exact site is now unknown.
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ZebraAid to Bible Understanding
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ZEBRA
[Heb., peʹreʼ].
An animal of the horse family resembling the wild ass in appearance and habits, though easily distinguished from the latter by its dark or black stripes. The stripes distort the shape and unity of the zebra’s outline to such an extent that even sharp-eyed natives are often unaware of its presence just forty or fifty yards (c. 37 or c. 46 meters) away. Aside from its camouflage, the zebra’s keen senses of sight and smell, as well as its ability to run swiftly, serve as a protection from carnivores. The animal has been reported to travel at 40 m.p.h. (c. 64 k.p.h.) after its initial burst of speed. Also, its hoofs and teeth are effective weapons of defense.
The zebra is a wild animal that is hard to tame. (Job 24:5; 39:5; Isa. 32:14) Zebras feed chiefly on grasses. (Job 6:5; Jer. 14:6) They regularly quench their thirst (Ps. 104:11) and are seldom found more than five miles (8 kilometers) away from water.
The obstinacy of the zebra and the strong impulse that drives the female when in sexual heat were used to illustrate the independent and adulterous course of wayward Israel. (Jer. 2:24; Hos. 8:9) Jehovah’s angel foretold that Abraham’s son Ishmael would be a “zebra of a man.” Likely this had reference to a fiercely independent disposition, as suggested by the words: “His hand will be against every-one.”—Gen. 16:12.
The word peʹreʼ, rendered “zebra” (NW), has also been translated “wild ass.” (AV and others) Because of their similarities, both the zebra and the wild ass fit the context of the scriptures cited above. However, a recent Hebrew and Aramaic lexicon by Koehler and Baumgartner defines peʹreʼ as “zebra.”
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ZebulAid to Bible Understanding
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ZEBUL
(Zeʹbul) [lofty abode].
A commissioner of the city of Shechem, subservient to Gideon’s son Abimelech. When a certain Gaal and his brothers came to Shechem and attempted to arouse the city against Abimelech, Zebul informed Abimelech and later challenged the rebel leader Gaal to prove his boasts by fighting. The Shechemite rebels were defeated and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers from the city.—Judg. 9:26-41.
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ZebulunAid to Bible Understanding
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ZEBULUN
(Zebʹu·lun) [habitation, dwelling; or, perhaps, toleration, lordship].
1. The sixth son of Jacob’s wife Leah. Being the less-loved wife, Leah was especially pleased about the birth of the boy. The name she gave him reflected the hope that her standing with Jacob would be enhanced. Leah exclaimed: “At last my husband will tolerate me, because I have borne him six sons.” (Gen. 30:20; 35:23; Ex. 1:1-3; 1 Chron. 2:1) Zebulun eventually became the father of three sons, Sered, Elon and Jahleel. (Gen. 46:14) A distant descendant of Zebulun bearing the same name as one of these three sons, Elon, served as a judge in Israel.—Judg, 12:11, 12.
2. The name “Zebulun” also designates the tribe descended from him through his three sons. About a year after the Israelites were liberated from enslavement in Egypt, this tribe’s able-bodied men from
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