Teraphim (Hastings' Dictionary)

The word is plural accord- ing to its form. But its derivation, the purpose of that which it denoted, and the method of its use, still present many obscurities. Several of the older Jewish commentators derive the word from l^iB toreph, which means ' foulness,' and especially pudendum ; but, if this is correct, it is plausible to suppose that this word, expressive of contempt, was substituted for and finally supplanted the original name, in which case that name is entirely lost (cf.

n;-3 for Sy3). Among the numerous later derivations the one which most deserves consideration is that suggested by Schwally (Leben nach dem Tode, p. 36 n.), who connects the word with nn rdphah, a derivation which would bring it into contact with the riphd'im or ' shades ' of Is 14. Teraphim are generally supposed to have been household deities (cf. Gn 31'», 1 S W- ", but see Ezk 21-').

Hence it has for long been the habit to compare the reverence paid to them with that which was otlered to the Lares and Penates in Roman times. Further, almost every passage in which the word occurs in OT shows that their use was bound up with the practices of magic and soothsaying (cf. especially Ezk 2P'). The above passage in Samuel makes it also certain that the figures sometimes represented the human form. It is unknown whether these were always full life- size.

Tims, on the one hand, the fact that Michal could deceive the messengers from her father by leading them to believe that the muffled teraphim which she bad laid on the bed was the figure of her husband, makes it probable that some were so.

And, on the other hand, the fact that Rachel (Gn 31**) could hide those which she had stolen from Laban beneath her in the camel-litter, while her father searched the baggage for his lost pro- perty, is sufficient to prove that others were con- siderably smaller. Again, there is nothing in the incident with Michal to show conclusively whether such a figure represented the entire human form, or whether it was simply a head or at most a bust.

Thus the suggestion of some among the Jewish commentators (see Moore, Comm. on Judges, p. 382) is not devoid of probability, viz. that the teraphim, at least in the early period, were mummied human heads, for which the refinement of later centuries substituted more or less rude representations in wood or in the precious metals.

One might then bring their use (of which among the Hebrews we hear very little) into comparison with the customs of divination by means of such heads among the Hauranians (cf. Chwolsohn, Die Ssabier u. der Ssabismus, ii. pp. 19 ft'., 150 ft".) With great likeli- hood then do Stade {GVI i. p. 467) and Nowack (Heb. Archdol. ii. 23) consider that the teraphim came to represent the figures of ancestors, and make the consulting of them a kind of Manes oracle.

This would further make it easy to understand how their use was common to the Israelites and the Aramaeans (cf. Gn 35^- ), and how Nebuchad- nezzar is represented as resorting to this method of divination (Ezk 21'). And it would ser\'e to explain, since they were used for oracular pur- poses, why in 2 K 23" they are set alongside ' those who consult familiar spirits 'and 'wizards.'

The reverence paid them as household deities, and the fact that their use was common to all the nations of the region, make it more natural that, though the teraphim were abolished by Josiah, they re- appear during the years of the Exile (Zee 10^).

And if we recognize that they were used for such oracular purposes, and were not honoured with supreme worship, we can find it easier to under- stand how men who sincerely worshipped 3" might not note the inconsistency of their pres- ence in their homes. See, further, art. Sooth- saying. It may be added that in Hos 3 and Jg 17 teraphim are mentioned along with the ephod, as though they were in some way connected with that. It was an old suggestion by Spencer (De legibus Hebr. ritualibus, 1.

lii. diss. 7, sec. 2), that the Urini were of the same nature as, and even- tually took the place of, the teraphim. The LXX at tlos 3 reads 5^Xo for o-j-in, and this may imply that the translator found in the Heb. text c-nK. A. C. Welch. TEREBINTH does not occnr at all in AV, and only thrice in RV, being substituted in Is 6' for ' teil tree,' in Hos 4'* for ' elm,' and in Sir 24" for ' turpentine tree.' Strong reasons, however, can be urged (see the very full discussion in Ges. Thes. s.v.)

for rendering by 'terebinth' when TERLBINTH TERTULLUS 719 ever the Heb. is '>')< [only in constr. Vn and plur. C'^'k] or i^N or pSx, and for reserving the tr. ' oak ' (by whicli these words are commonly rendered in AV and liV)* for j'lVx [in Jos 24-" .!;•», unless, as is probable, we should read here .i^n]. See esp. Del. and Dillm. on Gn 12", cf. Oxf. Heb. Lex. s.vv., and note that in IIos 4" and Is 6" a^K and p^N are clearly distinct.

The references to the terebinth in Scripture would thus be the following : t — (1) ''•N: Is I^ 'They shall be ashamed of the terebinths which ye have desired,' 57° ' ye that inflame yourselves anion" the terebinths,' 61' ' that they might be called terebinths J [prob. the figure is derived from the strength and durability of this tree] of righteousness,' Ezk 31'* ' nor lluit their terebinths § [perh. fig. of pride] stand up in their might.' Elim, the second station of Israel after pa.

ssing the lied Sea (£.1 15" 16', Nu SS'-'- '"), may have derived its name originally from the presence of terebinths, although latterly associ- ated more with palms. (2) .

i^N : Gn 35'' ' the terebinth which was by Shechem,' Jos 24-" [reading n^x for n^N] ' the tere- binth that was in the sanctuary of the LORD,' Jg 6"-'» 'the terebinth which was in Ophrah,' 2S 18'- '"• ' tlie terebinth in which Absalom was en- tangled, 1 K 13' the terebinth under which the ' man of God ' sat, 1 Ch 10" the terebinth in Jabesh under which the ashes of Saul and his sons were buried [this tree is called in 1 S 31" a tama- risk ||], IIos 4" (]||'i<'Nand njn^) 'they bum incense . .

under oaks and poplars and terebinths,' Kzk 6" ' their idols . . under every thick terebinth,' Is l*" Judah is to be 'as a terebinth tliatwithereth,' 6" (II pVx) ' as a terebinth and as an oak whose stock remaineth when they are felled.' This tree gives its name to the Vale of Klah (rhnn p-y) 1 S 17'''- " 21»('»i, and to Elah Gn 36" ( = El-paran Gn 14", Elath Dt 2», 2 K W^ 1G», and Eloth 1 K 9=", 2 K 16"). In On 49^ we should probably tr.

' Naphtall U a slender terebinth (reading nSx for np^'K], the one who sends out jeautifu! tops' [referring to the heroes and national leaders sjininK from this tribe]; so Dillni. and man^' modern com- nientatorSL For otiier supgested renderings, with their Justifi- cation and the riero^sary textual emendations, see Gunkel (* NaphtAli is a nimble hind, which drops fine Iambs,' as an alternative to Dillm.

's rendering), Hall (' Naphtali is a branch- ing vine that yietdcth comely fruit'), Ifomtnel (' Naphtali is a hind let loose, which drops he-goat Iambs,' i.e. which has a numerous male progeny [Expos. Timejf, Oct 1900, p. 46^]), (3) I'l'^Ni: Gn 12" (so Dt 11") 'the terebinth of MOREH' ('director's terebinth'), 13" 14" 18' 'the terebinths of Mamre,' Jg 4" ' the terebinth in Zaanannim ' (cf.

Jos 19^ [reading pSx not pW] 'the terebinth of ISezaanannim '), 9' 'the tere- binth of the i)illar that was in Shechem ' (see art. I'ri.LAR [Plain of the]), 9" 'the terebinth of Meonenim' ('soothsayers' terebinth'), 1 S IC ' the terebinth of Tabor ' [where it is possible that we should read ^"f^-i ' of Deborah ']. The terebinth is repeatedly (see, amongst above pa,s.saTOs, esp.

Gn 12» 35*, Jos 24'-»', Jg 6"- '», Is 1» 57°, Hos 4", Ezk 6") mentioned in connexion with Canaanitish or Israelitish religious rites (see art. Sanctuary, p. Sgs""). The tr. 'terebinth' we • The distinction between the Heb. terms is no more main- tained in the 1„XX than In the EV. Cf. the conspectus of renderings in art- Oak. t In many of tliese passages RVm ^ves 'terebinth.' t AV and RV poorly ' trees of righteousness,' LXX yiwmi iiMAtififr.t, Vulg. (taking from a different ^'H]/ortstjuBtitia.

I AV ' trees," RV [taking from a dlderent h'H] ' mighty ones.' The text Is very doubtful ; Cornill strikes out Dn-Sn ; for con- jectural emendations sec Bertholet and Kraetzschmar, ad Ice. I It la possible that the Chronicler may have substituted .17^ for ^^^'K aa being a leas distinctively sacred tree marking a •hrlne.

have contended for is supported by the circum- stance that this tree was less common in Palestine than the oak and would thus be better suited to mark a locality, while the higher age it attains would cause it to be esteemed as more sacred. The terebinth (Pistachia terebinthits, L. ) grown in Palestine to the height of 15-17, rarely 20, feet It has a thick gnarled trunk, numerous long branches with slender twigs, feathery leaves with 7 oval lanceolate leaflets, which are at fir.

st of a reddish, but afterwards of a glossy dark-green colour. In Palestine the tree is deciduous, being an evergreen only in more southein l.ititudes. The male and female flowers grow u] 0.1 different trees, the fruit consists of small oval berries which are produced in grape-like clusters. Turpentine of a very pure quality may be obtained by making incisions in the stem and branches, and collecting the resin which exudes. In modern Palestine this practice appears to be u.iknown (Rob. BRP^ ii.

222 f.) J. A. Selbie.