American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

136

Proverb, The Book Of

A collection of pointed and sententious moral maxims, the fruit of Solomon’s profound sagacity and unexampled experience, but above all, of the inspiration of God. Solomon is sa...

137

Providence

Ac 24:2, a superintending and forecasting care. The providence of God upholds and governs every created thing. Its operation is coextensive with the universe, and as unceasing a...

138

Psalms, The Book Of

The Hebrew name for this book is TEHILLIM, praises, though many of the psalms are rather elegiac. Most of the psalms have the superscription mizmor, a poem song. This word is re...

139

Psaltery

See HARP, and MUSIC.

140

Ptolemais

See ACCHO.

141

Publican

An officer of the revenue, employed in collecting taxes. Among the Romans there were two sorts of tax-gatherers; some were general receivers, who in each province had deputies; ...

142

Publius

The prefect of Melita when Paul was shipwrecked on that island A. D. 60, Ac 28:7-9. Publius received the apostle and his company into his house, and entertained them with great ...

143

Pul

1. An Assyrian king, about 765 B. C., when Assyria is first mentioned in Scripture after the time of Nimrod. He invaded Israel during the reign of Menhem, but was induced to ret...

144

Pulse

A general name for peas, beans, and all large or leguminous seeds.

145

Punishments

The penalties inflicted in ancient times for various crimes and offences, varied in different nations, and at different times. Capital punishment for murder is generally agreed ...

146

Purim

Lots, a Jewish festival instituted by Esther and Mordecai, during the reign of Ahasuerus king of Persia, in memory of the providential deliverance of the Jews from the malignant...

147

Purple

The famous and costly Tyrian purple, the royal color of the ancients, is said to have been discovered by the Tyrian Hercules, whose dog having by chance eaten a shellfish called...

148

Puteoli

The wells, now Pozzuoli, a maritime town in the Campania of Naples, on the northern side of the bay, eight miles northwest from that city. It was a Roman colony. Here Paul abode...

149

Pygarg

White-rump. This is properly the name of a species of eagle; but is applied, in De 14:5, to a quadruped, apparently a species of gazelle or antelope. So the Syriac version and T...