Affinity (Hastings' Dictionary)
In 1 K 3» 'Solomon made a. >vith Pharaoli ' ; 2 Ch 18' 'Jehoshaphat . . joined a. with Ahab'; and Ezr 9" '.Should we . . join in a. with the peo]>le of these aboniinalions?' a. has the s|ieiial sense of relationship by marriage, being distinguished from consanguinity or relationshi]! by blood. Cf. Selden, Laws of Eng. (1649), ' Many that by a. and consanguinity were become English- men.' See Makkiaoe. J. Hastings. AFFLICTION is now used only pa-ssively ; the state of being alllicted, misery.
So Ex 3' ' I have surely seen the a. of my people,' and el-sewhere. But It is also in the Bible used actively, as 1 K 22" ' feed him with bread of a. and with water ol a., until I come in peace' (•.«. bread and water that will alllict him). Cf. More, ' Let him . . purge the spirit by the a. of the tiesh.' J Hastings. 4G AFFRAY AGAIN
This topic also has an entry in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Both articles offer independent scholarly perspectives.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Affinity
Affinity a-fin'-i-ti (chathan "to join one-self"): This term is used three times in the Old Testament: (1) in 1Ki 3:1, where we read that "Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh King of Egypt", (2) in 2Ch 18:1, where it is stated that Jehoshaphat "joined affinity with Ahab," and (3). in Ezr 9:14, where it is asked "Shall we .... join in affinity with the peoples that do these abominations?" The Hebrew word thus rendered in the above three passages refers in each case to marriage alliances rather than to family or political relationships. ⇒See the definition of affinity in the KJV Dictionary See MARRIAGE; FAMILY. W. W. Davies ⇒See also the McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia.
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia