• Zeus
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • The ship on which Paul as a prisoner set sail from the island of Malta bore the figurehead “Sons of Zeus,” that is, the twin brothers Castor and Pollux.—Acts 28:11; see CASTOR AND POLLUX.

  • Zeus, Sons of
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • ZEUS, SONS OF

      [Gr., Di·oʹskou·roi, Sons of Zeus].

      According to Greek and Roman mythology, Castor and Pollux were the twin sons of Leda and the offspring of the god Zeus (Jupiter), thus being called Dioscuri or “Sons of Zeus.” Among other things, they were regarded as protectors of mariners, able to save sailors imperiled at sea. The Alexandrian boat on which the prisoner Paul sailed from Malta to Puteoli when en route to Rome bore the figurehead “Sons of Zeus,” perhaps having the image or symbol and possibly the name of Castor on one side of the bow and those of Pollux on the other.—Acts 28:11; see CASTOR AND POLLUX.

  • Ziba
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • ZIBA

      (Ziʹba).

      The servant of Saul’s household from whom David, on inquiry, learned of Jonathan’s lame son Mephibosheth. David brought Mephibosheth to Jerusalem and made Ziba, his fifteen sons and twenty servants, all care for Mephibosheth’s inheritance. (2 Sam. 9:2-12 [The reference to “my table” in verse 11 is generally thought to be a scribal error for “David’s table”; another possibility is that Ziba may have been repeating David’s exact words.]) When David fled from Jerusalem on account of Absalom’s rebellion, Ziba brought him much needed supplies of food and animals. However, he left Mephibosheth behind even though he wanted to come, and told David that Mephibosheth deliberately stayed in Jerusalem, expecting to recover the kingdom for Saul’s house. In response, David transferred Mephibosheth’s property to Ziba.—2 Sam. 16:1-4.

      When David returned after the rebellion was crushed, Ziba was among the early ones to greet the king. Then Mephibosheth met David, welcomed him back, and informed him of Ziba’s trickery and slander. This caused David to modify his mind about the property. In the light of these new developments, David now decided that the property should be divided between Mephibosheth and Ziba, and in this way he would be acknowledging Mephibosheth’s loyalty, while at the same time not forgetting Ziba’s services and supplies. Mephibosheth, however, declared: “Let him [Ziba] even take the whole, now that my lord the king has come in peace to his house.”—2 Sam. 19:17, 24-30.

  • Zichri
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • ZICHRI

      (Zichʹri) [mindful, remembrance].

      1. Third-named son of Izhar; grandson of Kohath, a Levite.—Ex. 6:18, 21.

      2, 3, 4. Three family heads in the tribe of Benjamin, residents of Jerusalem. They were sons or descendants of Shimei, Shashak and Jeroham respectively.—1 Chron. 8:1, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28.

      5. A son of Asaph, and forefather of the postexilic musician Mattaniah. (1 Chron. 9:15) Elsewhere he may be called Zabdi (Neh. 11:17) and Zaccur.—1 Chron. 25:2, 10; Neh. 12:35.

      6. A Levitical descendant of Moses through Eliezer, and father or ancestor of the Shelomoth appointed, during David’s reign, over the treasures of the things captured in war.—1 Chron. 26:25-27; 23:15, 17.

      7. A Reubenite whose son Eliezer was tribal chieftain during David’s reign.—1 Chron. 27:16.

      8. A man of Judah whose son Amasiah was a military chief for King Jehoshaphat.—2 Chron. 17:12, 14, 16.

      9. Father of the Elishaphat who helped Jehoiada to overthrow Athaliah.—2 Chron. 23:1.

      10. A mighty warrior from Ephraim in the army of the northern kingdom which invaded Judah around 760 B.C.E. Zichri killed three prominent members of King Ahaz’ household, including a royal prince.—2 Chron. 28:6, 7.

      11. A Benjamite whose son Joel was an overseer of the Benjamites living in Jerusalem after the exile.—Neh. 11:3, 4, 7, 9.

      12. Head of the priestly paternal house of Abijah during the time of High Priest Jeshua’s successor Joiakim.—Neh. 12:12, 17.

  • Ziklag
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • ZIKLAG

      (Zikʹlag).

      As originally assigned, this was a Simeonite enclave city in S Judah. (Josh. 15:21, 31; 19:1, 2, 5; 1 Chron. 4:24-30) Later, Ziklag was under Philistine control. Achish, king of Gath, gave it to the fugitive David as a place of residence (and it thereafter became the possession of Judah’s kings). (1 Sam. 27:6) The Amalekites raided and burned the city, taking captives, including David’s wives Ahinoam and Abigail. After defeating the marauders and recovering the captives and things taken, David, from Ziklag, sent some of the spoil of battle to his friends, older men of Judah in various cities. (1 Sam. chap. 30) Many armed mighty men joined David at Ziklag, and there he received news of King Saul’s death. (2 Sam. 1:1, 2; 4:10; 1 Chron. 12:1, 2, 20-22) After the Babylonian exile, some of the sons of Judah settled in this city. (Neh. 11:25, 28) Though its exact site is uncertain, Ziklag is generally identified with Tell el-Khuweilfeh, some five miles (8 kilometers) SW of the suggested site of Debir.

  • Zillah
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • ZILLAH

      (Zilʹlah) [shadow (protection)].

      One of the two wives of Lamech, the first polygamist of Bible record. She was the mother of Tubal-cain and of his sister Naamah. Lamech composed a poem for his wives Adah and Zillah.—Gen. 4:19-24.

  • Zilpah
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • ZILPAH

      (Zilʹpah).

      Leah’s maidservant and Jacob’s secondary wife. Zilpah had been a servant of Leah’s father Laban until Leah and Jacob were married in 1774 B.C.E., when she was given to Leah. (Gen. 29:24) After Leah had four sons, and she thought she