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AdullamAid to Bible Understanding
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known for the “cave of Adullam,” where David fled before King Saul. There are numerous limestone caves in this area.
Adullam was evidently an ancient city. Its first Biblical mention is in connection with Hirah “the Adullamite,” who became a companion of Judah prior to the transfer of Jacob’s family to Egypt. (Gen. 38:1, 2, 12, 20) At the time of Joshua’s invasion some three centuries later, Adullam was one of the thirty-one petty kingdoms that were vanquished by him. (Josh. 11:1-15; 12:15) Adullam was thereafter allotted to Judah along with other cities or the Shephelah.—Josh. 15:33-35.
David, as a fugitive from King Saul, escaped from the Philistine king Achish of Gath and went up to Adullam to a cave, where he was eventually joined by some 400 men. (1 Sam. 22:1-5) Some thirteen miles (21 kilometers) SW of Bethlehem, the area may have been known to David from his shepherd days. Its relative inaccessibility appears to have recommended it as David’s stronghold. In later times, in his kingdom David used it as an operational site in wars against the Philistines. It was from this point that the three warriors made their sortie into Bethlehem to obtain the cistern water that David later refused to drink as representing their blood risked to obtain it.—1 Chron. 11:15-19; 12:16; 2 Sam. 5:17, 18.
Adullam was one of the chain of fifteen fortress cities reinforced by Rehoboam of Judah. (2 Chron. 11:5-12) This chain, intended to provide protection from the W and S, was overrun by Sennacherib’s troops during Hezekiah’s rule (732/731 B.C.E.). (2 Ki. 18:13) Adullam is mentioned in the days of Nehemiah as among the cities resettled by the repatriated Jews who returned from the Babylonian exile.—Neh. 11:30.
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AdulteryAid to Bible Understanding
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ADULTERY
As used in the Bible, adultery generally refers to voluntary sexual intercourse by a married person with one of the opposite sex other than one’s mate, or such intercourse by any man with a married woman. Certain primitive societies allow free relations within the same tribe, but promiscuity outside tribal bounds is considered adultery. On the history of adultery, The Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend, Vol. One, p. 15, says: “It occurs in all parts of the world and though it is considered reprehensible by many cultures it has enjoyed a considerable popularity in all cultures and at all times.” Monuments attest to its prevalence in ancient Egypt; Potiphar’s wife, who proposed that Joseph have relations with her, was such an Egyptian. (Gen. 39:7, 10) Historically as well as at present, adultery is generally forbidden, but in the world penalties are seldom imposed.
Jehovah’s law separated Israel and raised the moral status of marriage and family life to a much higher level than that of the surrounding nations. The seventh commandment of the Decalogue stated in direct, unmistakable language: “You must not commit adultery.” (Ex. 20:14; Deut. 5:18; Luke 18:20) Adulterous invasion of another man’s domain was prohibited, as were other forms of sexual misconduct.—See FORNICATION; PROSTITUTE.
Under the law of Moses the penalty for adultery was severe—death for both guilty parties: “In case a man is found lying down with a woman owned by an owner, both of them must then die together.” This applied even to a betrothed woman, it being considered that she had committed adultery if she had relations with a man other than the one to whom she was duly engaged. (Deut. 22:22-24) If suspected of adultery, a wife had to stand trial.—Num. 5:11-31; see FALLING AWAY.
Christians, not under Mosaic law, must also refrain from adultery. “For the law code, ‘You must not commit adultery,’ . . . is summed up in this word, namely, ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’” There can be no hypocrisy in this matter. (Rom. 13:9; 2:22) In teaching Bible principles, Jesus raised the moral standard still higher for spiritual Israel. He broadened out the matter of adultery, saying it was not limited to sexual contact a man might have with a woman not his mate: “Everyone [that is to say, every man married] that keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Such men are among those who “have eyes full of adultery.”—Matt. 5:27, 28; 2 Pet. 2:14.
Jesus also pointed out that if a divorce was obtained by either husband or wife, except on the ground of adultery, the remarriage of either one would constitute adultery. Even a single man who took such a divorced woman as his wife would be guilty of adultery.—Matt. 5:32; 19:9; Mark 10:11, 12; Luke 16:18; Rom. 7:2, 3.
Adultery is “actually sin against God.” (Gen. 39:9) Jehovah will judge those guilty of adultery, and none who persist in such a course “will inherit God’s kingdom.” (Mal. 3:5; 1 Cor. 6:9, 10; Heb. 13:4) How true the proverb: “Anyone committing adultery with a woman is in want of heart; he that does it is bringing his own soul to ruin.”—Prov. 6:32-35.
In a spiritual sense, “adultery” denotes unfaithfulness to Jehovah on the part of those who are joined to him in a covenant. Natural Israel in the Law covenant was, therefore, guilty of spiritual adultery due to false religious practices, some of which included sex-worship rites and disregard for the seventh commandment. (Jer. 3:8, 9; 5:7, 8; 9:2; 13:27; 23:10; Hos. 7:4) For similar reasons Jesus denounced the adulterous generation of Jews in his day. (Matt. 12:39; Mark 8:38) Likewise, if Christians who are dedicated to Jehovah and who are in the new covenant today defile themselves with the present system of things, they commit spiritual adultery.—Jas. 4:4.
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AdummimAid to Bible Understanding
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ADUMMIM
(A·dumʹmim) [red places or objects].
The Ascent of Adummim is a steep pass about midway between the cities of Jericho and Jerusalem, leading up from the low Jordan valley to the mountainous region of Judah. From ancient times till the present the road between the two cities has gone through this pass. It is mentioned in the Bible record, however, only as a boundary mark between the territories of Judah and Benjamin.—Josh. 15:7; 18:17.
The pass today is called Talʽat ed-Damm, meaning “Ascent of blood.” While some ancient writers have ascribed the name’s origin to the spilling of blood by robbers and highwaymen, the more likely explanation is the reddish color of the soil due to exposed patches of ocher. The route was always a dangerous one because of the desolateness of the region and the prevalence of thievery, and from early times a fort was maintained there to protect travelers. Because of this the site has been suggested as the scene of the attack on the traveler ‘on his way down to Jericho,’ as mentioned in Jesus’ illustration of the “Good Samaritan.” (Luke 10:30-37) The “torrent valley” mentioned at Joshua 15:7, in relation to which the Ascent of Adummim lay to the S, is evidently the Wadi el Qilt that runs fairly parallel to the road and passes just to the S of Jericho on its way to the Jordan River.
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AdversaryAid to Bible Understanding
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ADVERSARY
(Heb., tsar; Gr. an·tiʹdi·kos).
An enemy that contends with or resists; an antagonist or opponent. The most wicked adversary, Satan the Devil, caused men and angels (see DEMON) to join his opposition to God and man. Satan first showed his opposition in the Garden of Eden, where, through cruel and underhanded action, he turned Eve and then Adam into a course of rebellion that brought sin and death upon all mankind. In the courts of heaven Satan displayed his antagonism, charging Jehovah with bribing Job for his loyalty, a charge which, in effect, became an issue of universal importance.—Job 1:6-11; 2:1-5; see SATAN.
Worshipers of Jehovah in all ages have endured similar opposition from the Adversary by means of his agents. For example, when the remnant of God’s
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