Difference between revisions of "Dial"

<p> ma'alot , "degrees" or "steps" (&nbsp;Isaiah 38:8). The sun dial arid the division of the day into 12 hours were [[Babylonian]] inventions. As [[Ahaz]] copied the altar at [[Damascus]] (&nbsp;2 Kings 16:7; &nbsp;2 Kings 16:10) so he probably copied the sun dial 700 B.C. But the division into 12 hours is not implied in the Old [[Testament]] day. (See DAY.) The "degrees" were "steps" ascending to his palace (Josephus). The shadow of a column or obelisk fell on a greater or less number of steps according as the sun was high or low. </p> <p> The dial was of such a size and so placed that Hezekiah, when convalescent, could witness the miracle from his chamber; probably "in the middle court," the point where Isaiah turned back to announce to [[Hezekiah]] God's answer to his prayer (&nbsp;2 Kings 20:4; &nbsp;2 Kings 20:9; &nbsp;Isaiah 38:21-22). Ahaz' intimacy with Tiglath Pileser would naturally lead the "princes of [[Babylon]] to inquire of the wonder done in the land," which shows that the miracle of the recession of the shadow on the dial was local, perhaps produced by divinely ordered refraction, a cloud denser than the air being interposed between the gnomon and the "degrees" or "dial." </p>

<p> '''Dial.''' It was on the "dial of Ahaz" that the miraculous sign given to Hezekiah for bis recovery from sickness showed itself. &nbsp;2 Kings 20:8-11; &nbsp;Isaiah 38:7-8. It is uncertain what the "dial" of Ahaz was. The word so translated is elsewhere rendered "degrees," "steps," e.g., &nbsp;Exodus 20:26. Some have imagined it a hemispherical cavity in a horizontal square stone, provided with a gnomon or index In the middle, the shadow of which fell on different lines cut in the hollow surface; some think that it was a vertical index surrounded by twelve concentric circles; while some, with perhaps greater probability, believe it an obelisk-like pillar, set up in an open elevated place, with encircling steps, on which the shadow fell. Ahaz appears to have had a taste for curious things, &nbsp;2 Kings 16:10, and might have borrowed this dial from Assyria. The inquiry from Babylon in regard to it would seem to imply that the miracle was heard of, but not witnessed there. &nbsp;2 Chronicles 32:31. </p>

<p> is not mentioned in [[Scripture]] before the reign of Ahaz. Interpreters differ concerning the form of the dial of Ahaz, 2 Kings 20. The generality of expositors think that it was a staircase so disposed, that the sun showed the hours upon it by the shadow. Others suppose that it was a pillar erected in the middle of a very level and smooth pavement, on which the hours were engraven. According to these authors, the lines marked in this pavement are what the Scripture calls degrees. [[Grotius]] describes it as follows: "It was a concave hemisphere, and in the midst was a globe, the shadow of which fell on the different lines engraven in the concavity of the hemisphere; these lines were twenty-eight in number." This description answers pretty nearly to that kind of dial, which the Greeks called <em> scapha, </em> a boat or hemisphere, the invention (rather introduction) of which, Vitruvius ascribes to [[Berosus]] the Chaldean. It would seem, indeed, that the most ancient sun dial known is in the form of a half circle, hollowed into the stone, and the stone cut down to an angle. This kind of dial was invented in Babylon, and was very probably the same as that of Ahaz. </p>

<p> <strong> DIAL </strong> (&nbsp; 2 Kings 20:11 , &nbsp; Isaiah 38:8 ). The Heb. word commonly denotes ‘steps’ (see &nbsp; Exodus 20:26 , &nbsp; 1 Kings 10:20 ), and is so rendered elsewhere in this narrative (&nbsp; 2 Kings 20:9-11 , &nbsp; Isaiah 38:8; AV [Note: Authorized Version.] ‘degrees’). The ‘steps’ referred to doubtless formed part of some kind of sun-clock. According to Herod, ii. 109, the [[Babylonians]] were the inventors of the <em> polos </em> or concave dial, the <em> gnomon </em> , and the division of the day into 12 hours. The introduction by Ahaz of a device for measuring the time may be regarded as a result of his intercourse with the [[Assyrians]] (&nbsp; 2 Kings 16:10 ff.), but it is uncertain what kind of clock is intended. See also art. Time. </p>

<p> '''Dial.''' An instrument for showing the time of day from the shadow of a style or '''gnomon''' on a graduated arc or surface; rendered "steps" in Authorized Version, &nbsp;Exodus 20:26; &nbsp;2 Kings 10:19, and "degrees," &nbsp;2 Kings 20:9-11; &nbsp;Isaiah 38:8, where, to give a consistent rendering, we should read with the margin the "degrees" rather than the "dial" of Ahaz. </p> <p> It is probable that the dial of Ahaz was really a series of steps or stairs, and that the shadow, (perhaps of some column or obelisk on the top), fell on a greater or smaller number of them according as the sun was low or high. The terrace of a palace might easily be thus ornamented. </p>

<p> '''(1):''' ''' (''' n.) A miner's compass. </p> <p> '''(2):''' ''' (''' n.) The graduated face of a timepiece, on which the time of day is shown by pointers or hands. </p> <p> '''(3):''' ''' (''' n.) An instrument, formerly much used for showing the time of day from the shadow of a style or gnomon on a graduated arc or surface; esp., a sundial; but there are lunar and astral dials. The style or gnomon is usually parallel to the earth's axis, but the dial plate may be either horizontal or vertical. </p> <p> '''(4):''' ''' (''' v. t.) To measure with a dial. </p> <p> '''(5):''' ''' (''' v. t.) To survey with a dial. </p>

<p> DIAL, n. An instrument for measuring time, by the aid of the sun being a plate or plain surface, on which lines are drawn in such a manner, that the shadow of a wire, or of the upper edge of another plane, erected perpendicularly on the former, may show the true time of the day. The edge of the plane, which shows the time, is called the stile of the dial, and this must be parallel to the axis of the earth. The line on which this plane is erected, is called the substile and the angle included between the substile and stile, is called the elevation or highth of the stile. A dial may be horizontal, vertical, or inclining. </p>

<p> '''Bibliography Information''' McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Dial'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and [[Ecclesiastical]] Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/d/dial.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870. </p>