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Bible Encyclopedias
Defense

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

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This word, besides its ordinary and proper use, stands in the English Bible as a mistranslation of two Heb. terms. 1. Matsotr' מָצוֹר, in connection with יְאֹרַים, streams, rendered in 2 Kings 19:24, "rivers of besieged places," Sept. ποταμοι συνοχῆς, Vulg. aquae clausae; in Isaiah 19:6, "brooks of defense," Sept. διώρυες τοῦ ποταμοῦ, Vulg. rivi aggerum; in Isaiah 37:25, "rivers of the besieged places," Sept. συναγωγὴ ὕδατος, Vulg. rivi aggerum), a proper name for EGYPT, alluding to its canals, i.e. the branches of the Nile. The derivation of the term is obscure; perhaps it is only another application of the Heb. word of the same form, elsewhere signifying (literally straitness, hence) a mound or fortification, and applied to Egypt, especially Lower Egypt, as being strongly fortified, both by nature and art. (See MAZOR).

2. Be'tser (בֶּצֶר, probably something dug out of a mine, occurring only in Job, and rendered in chap. 22:24, "gold," Sept. πέτρα, Vulg. silex; in Isaiah 37:25, "defense," Sept. βοηθὸς ἀπὸ ἐχθρῶν, Vulg. contra hostes; in chap. 36:19, gold," Sept. δυνατὸς ἐν ἀνάγκῃ, Vulg. tribulatio), precious ore, i.e. of gold or silver, in its native state; an interpretation evidently required by the corresponding terms in the parallel members of the hemistichs where it occurs. (See GOLD).

Bibliography Information
McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Defense'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​tce/​d/defense.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
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