Difference between revisions of "Brook"

<p> <b> [[Brook]] </b> <b> ( </b> &nbsp;John 18:1; (Revised Version margin) ‘ <i> ravine </i> , Gr. <i> winter torrent </i> ,’ χείμαρρος) is the usual LXX [[Septuagint]] equivalent of נַחַל, and seems to correspond in meaning with the Arab. [Note: Arabic.] <i> wâdy </i> = ‘valley,’ but, more particularly, the watercourse in the bottom of the valley. The winter rains, rushing down from the mountain range, have hollowed out great channels westward, towards the Mediterranean. Much deeper are the gullies eastward, where the descent is steeper, towards the Jordan. Most of these are quite dry during the greater part of the year. Although some are called ‘rivers,’ <i> e.g. Nahr el-ʽAujeh </i> , in the Plain of Sharon, and the Kishon, while others, such as <i> el-ʽAmûd </i> , which crosses the Plain of Gennesaret, and <i> el-Yarmuk </i> , which comes down from the eastern uplands, draw abundant supplies from perennial springs, yet ‘brook’ more accurately describes them. </p> <p> The <b> [[Kidron]] </b> contains water only after heavy rains. It is the one ‘brook’ mentioned in the Gospels. Over it Jesus passed from the upper room to [[Gethsemane]] on the night of His betrayal. </p> <p> The name קִרְרוֹן, from קדר, is usually referred to the dark colour of the stream or ravine. The various forms of the name in Gr. are τοῦ κέδρου, τοῦ κεδρών, and τῶν κεδρων. WH [Note: H Westcott and Hort’s text.] in ‘Notes on Select Readings,’ after reviewing the evidence, conclude in favour of τῶν κέδρων. ‘It probably preserves the true etymology of קדרון, which seems to be an archaic (? Canaanite) plural of קדד “the [[Dark]] [trees]”; for, though no name from this root is applied to any tree in Bib. Heb., some tree resembling a cedar was called by a similar name in at least the later language (see exx. in Buxtorf, <i> Lex. Talm </i> . 1976); and the Gr. ΚΕΔΡΟ is probably of Phœnician origin.’ They suggest that isolated patches of cedar forests may have survived from prehistoric times. Lightfoot quotes (Chorag. Cent. 40) a Talmudic reference to two gigantic cedars standing on the Mt. of [[Olives]] even in the latest days of the [[Temple]] (Jerus. [Note: Jerusalem.] <i> Taanith </i> , fol. 69. i), which may be taken as supporting this view. </p> <p> The valley begins in the wide hollow between the city and Mt. [[Scopus]] on the north. [[Turning]] southward, and passing under the eastern battlements, by a deep ravine it cuts off [[Jerusalem]] from Olivet. It is joined by the Valley of Hinnom, and thence, as <i> [[Wady]] en-Nâr </i> , ‘Valley of Fire,’ it winds down an ever deepening gorge, through the [[Wilderness]] of Judaea, to the edge of the [[Dead]] Sea. The name <i> Wady er-Râhib </i> , ‘Valley of the Monks,’ attaching to part of it, comes from the convent of [[Mar]] Saba, built on the right-hand face of the gorge, a sort of reformatory for refractory monks, in the midst of the wilderness. </p> <p> The modern name of the brook Kidron is <i> Wady Sitti Maryam </i> , ‘Valley of the Lady Mary.’ As early as [[Eusebius]] and [[Jerome]] it was known as the Valley of Jehoshaphat, &nbsp;Joel 3:2 [&nbsp;Hebrews 4:2]. According to a tradition, common to Jews, Moslems, and Christians, this is to be the scene of the final Judgment. As against the Temple, which overlooked it, the valley ranked as an unclean district, and it seems to have afforded burying-ground for people of the humbler orders (&nbsp;2 Kings 23:6). To this day the [[Jews]] greatly covet a grave in the Kidron valley. </p> <p> W. Ewing. </p>

<p> &nbsp;1 Samuel 17:40 (c) This may be taken as a figure of the Word of GOD from which we may take portions and passages (stones), to hurl at GOD's enemies. </p> <p> &nbsp;1 Kings 17:5 (c) This may be taken as a picture of the temporary character of the pleasures and programs which the world offers to the soul. </p> <p> &nbsp;Job 6:15 (b) Here we have an indication of the vacillating character of human relationships. The best of friends separate. The sweetest fellowships often turn to bitter animosities. </p> <p> &nbsp;Psalm 42:1 (b) This is a type of the rich blessings found in the Word of GOD, and in His fellowship by those who seek Him with the whole heart. </p> <p> &nbsp;Psalm 110:7 (b) Possibly this brook refers to the intimate fellowship that [[Jesus]] had with His Father as He communed with Him in prayer, and learned of Him in His study of the Word. </p> <p> &nbsp;Proverbs 18:4 (b) Here is described the refreshing, life-giving character of man's helpful counsel to his fellowmen. </p> <p> &nbsp;Isaiah 15:7 (c) Possibly this is a reference to the transient character of possessions which will soon be carried away by the stream of time. We too should remember to keep short accounts with GOD. When we fail or falter, when we drift around and wander, let us come back to [[Calvary]] and look up to that precious One who is living on the [[Throne]] and whose blood cleanseth from all sin. There is no excuse for any [[Christian]] remaining out of fellowship with GOD. </p>

<div> '''1: '''''Χείμαρρος''''' ''' (Strong'S #5493 — Adjective — cheimarrhos — khi'-mar-hros ) </div> <p> lit., "winter-flowing" (from cheima, "winter," and rheo, "to flow"), a stream which runs only in winter or when swollen with rains, a "brook," &nbsp;John 18:1 . </p>

<p> '''''Aphiquw''''' . A torrent sweeping through a mountain gorge, in the poetical books alone. Yeor, the Nile canals, &nbsp;Isaiah 19:6-8; &nbsp;Isaiah 23:3; &nbsp;Isaiah 23:10, but general in &nbsp;Daniel 12:5-7. Mical, a rivulet (&nbsp;2 Samuel 17:20). Nachal, the torrent bed, and the torrent itself (&nbsp;Numbers 21:12; &nbsp;1 Kings 17:3); the Arabic '''''Wady''''' ; Indian '''''Nullah''''' ; Greek '''''Cheimarrous''''' . </p>

<li> In &nbsp;Isaiah 19:7 the river Nile is meant, as rendered in the Revised Version. <div> <p> '''Copyright Statement''' These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton [[M.A., DD]]  Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by [[Thomas]] Nelson, 1897. Public Domain. </p> <p> '''Bibliography Information''' Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Brook'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/b/brook.html. 1897. </p> </div> </li>

<p> '''(1):''' (v. t.) To deserve; to earn. </p> <p> '''(2):''' (v. t.) To bear; to endure; to put up with; to tolerate; as, young men can not brook restraint. </p> <p> '''(3):''' (v. t.) To use; to enjoy. </p> <p> '''(4):''' (v. t.) A natural stream of water smaller than a river or creek. </p>

<p> ''''' brook ''''' ( נחל , <i> ''''' naḥal ''''' </i> , אפיק , <i> ''''' 'āphı̄ḳ ''''' </i> , יאור , <i> ''''' ye'ōr ''''' </i> , מיכל , <i> ''''' mı̄khāl ''''' </i> ; χείμαρῥηος , <i> ''''' cheı́marrhos ''''' </i> ): In Palestine there are few large streams. Of the smaller ones many flow only during the winter, or after a heavy rain. The commonest Hebrew word for brook is <i> ''''' naḥal ''''' </i> , which is also used for <i> river </i> and for <i> valley </i> , and it is not always clear whether the valley or the stream in the valley is meant (&nbsp;Numbers 13:23; &nbsp;Deuteronomy 2:13; &nbsp;2 Samuel 15:23 ). The Arabic <i> ''''' wādy ''''' </i> , which is sometimes referred to in this connection, is not an exact parallel, for while it may be used of a dry valley or of a valley containing a stream, it means the valley and not the stream. <i> ''''' 'Āphı̄ḳ ''''' </i> and <i> ''''' ye'ōr ''''' </i> are translated both "brook" and "river," ר , <i> ''''' ye'or ''''' </i> being generally used of the Nile (&nbsp;Exodus 1:22 , etc.), though in &nbsp;Daniel 12:5-7 , of the Tigris. <i> ''''' Cheimarrhos ''''' </i> , "winter-flowing," is applied in &nbsp;John 18:1 to the Kidron. Many of the streams of Palestine which are commonly called rivers would in other countries be called brooks, but in such a dry country any perennial stream assumes a peculiar importance. </p>

<p> (very generally '''''נִחִל''''' , ''Nachal';'' Sept. and N.T. '''''Χείμῤῥος''''' ), rather ''A Torrent.-'' </p> <p> It is applied, </p> <p> '''1.''' to small streams arising from a subterraneous spring and flowing through a deep valley, such as the Arnon, Jabbok, Kidron, Sorek, etc., and also the brook of the willows, mentioned in &nbsp;Isaiah 15:7; </p> <p> '''2.''' to winter-torrents arising from rains, and which are soon dried up in the warm season (&nbsp;Job 6:15; &nbsp;Job 6:19). Such is the noted river (brook) of Egypt so often mentioned as at the southernmost border of Palestine (&nbsp;Numbers 34:5; &nbsp;Joshua 15:4; &nbsp;Joshua 15:47); and, in fact, such are most of the brooks and streams of Palestine, which are numerous in winter and early spring, but of which very few survive the beginning of the summer. </p> <p> '''3.''' As this (Heb.) word is applied both to the valley in which a brook runs and to the stream itself, it is sometimes doubtful which is meant (see Gesenius, ''Thes.'' p. 873). (See [[Stream]]). </p> <p> To deal " deceitfully as a brook," and to pass away "as the stream of brooks" (&nbsp;Job 6:15), is to deceive our friend when he most needs our help and comfort; because brooks, being temporary streams, are dried up in the heats of summer, and thus the hopes of the traveller are disappointed (see Hackett's Illustra. of Scripture, p. 16). (See River). </p>