[Faith-talk] King james / audio Bibles

Wed Nov 16 17:44:42 UTC 2011

Hi All, The following information is taken from the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia at http://www.studylight.org/enc/isb/
These are found in Luke 3. Following is the proper spelling for the place names and then a little information about these areas.

www.studylight.org is an awesome bible study resource. You can search for scripture passages using all kinds of different versions. When your result comes up, you will see all kinds of reference materials associated with the scripture passage. There's too much information for me to explain right now. Just play around with the site. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised and you can study the word in ways that you might not have realized before.

Abilene, Ituraea, Trachonitis

Abilene
Mentioned in Luke 3:1 as the tetrarchy of Lysanias at the time when John the Baptist began his ministry. The district derived its name from Abila, its chief town, which was situated, according to the Itinerarium Antonini, 18 Roman miles from Damascus on the way to Heliopolis (Baalbec). This places it in the neighborhood of the village of Suk Wady Barada (see ABANAH), near which there are considerable ancient remains, with an inscription in Greek stating that a "freedman of Lysanias the tetrarch" made wall and built a temple, and another in Latin recording the repair of the road "at the expense of the Abilenians." The memory of the ancient name probably survives in the Moslem legend which places the tomb of Abel in a neighboring height where there are ruins of a temple. Josephus calls this Abila, he Lusaniou, literally, "the Abilene of Lysanius," thus distinguishing it from other towns of the same name, and as late as the time of Ptolemy (circa 170 AD) the name of Lysanias was associated with it. 

The territory of Abilene was part of the Iturean Kingdom, which was broken up when its king, Lysanias, was put to death by M. Antonius, circa 35 BC. The circumstances in which Abilene became distinct tetrarchy are altogether obscure, and nothing further is known of the tetrarch Lysanias (Ant., XIX, v, 1; XX, ii, 1). In 37 AD the tetrarchy, along with other territories, was granted to Agrippa I, after whose death in 44 AD it was administered by procurators until 53 AD, when Claudius conferred it again, along with neighboring territories, upon Agrippa II. On Agrippa's death, toward the close of the 1st century, his kingdom was incorporated in the province of Syria. See LYSANIAS. 

C. H. Thomson 

Ituraea
1. The Word an Adjective: 

The term occurs only once in Scripture, in the definition of Philip's territory: 

tes Itouraias kai Trachonitidos choras, which the King James Version renders: "of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis," and Revised Version: "the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis" (Luke 3:1). Sir W.M. Ramsay has given reasons for the belief that this word was certainly never used as a noun by any writer before the time of Eusebius (Expos, 1894, IX, 51, 143, 288). It must be taken as an adjective indicating the country occupied by the Itureans. 

2. The Itureans: 

The descent of the Itureans must probably be traced to Jetur, son of Ishmael (Genesis 25:15), whose progeny were clearly numbered among the Arabian nomads. According to Eupolemus (circa 150 BC), quoted by Eusebius (Praep. Evang. IX, 30), they were associated with the Nabateans, Moabites and Ammonites against whom David warred on the East of the Jordan. They are often mentioned by Latin writers; their skill in archery seems greatly to have impressed the Romans. They were skillful archers (Caesar, Bell. Afr. 20); a lawless (Strabo, xvi.2,10) and predatory people (Cicero, Philipp. ii.112). In the Latin inscriptions Iturean soldiers have Syrian names (HJP, I, ii, 326). They would therefore be the most northerly of the confederates opposed to David (supra), and their country may naturally be sought in the neighborhood of Mt. Hermon. 

3. Indications of Their Territory: 

There is nothing to show when they moved from the desert to this district. Aristobulus made war against the Itureans, compelled many of them to be circumcised, and added a great part of their territory to Judea, 140 BC (Ant., XIII, xi, 3). Dio Cassius calls Lysanias "king of the Itureans" (xlix.32), and from him Zenodorus leased land which included Ulatha and Paneas, 25 BC. The capital of Lysanias was Chalcis, and he ruled over the land from Damascus to the sea. Josephus speaks of Soemus as a tetrarch in Lebanon (Vita, 11); while Tacitus calls him governor of the Itureans (Ann. xii.23). The country of Zenodorus, lying between Trachonitis and Galilee, and including Paneas and Ulatha, Augustus bestowed on Herod, 20 BC (Ant., XV, x, 3). In defining the tetrarchy of Philip, Josephus names Batanea, Trachonitis and Auranitis, but says nothing of the Itureans (Ant., XVII, xi, 4; BJ, II, vi, 3). Paneas and Ulatha were doubtless included, and this may have been Iturean territory (HJP, I, ii, 333). It seems probable, therefore, that the Itureans dwelt mainly in the mountains, and in the broad valley of Coele-Syria; but they may also have occupied the district to the Southeast of Hermon, the modern Jedur. It is not possible to define more closely the Iturean country; indeed it is not clear whether Luke intended to indicate two separate parts of the dominion of Philip, or used names which to some extent overlapped. 

It has been suggested that the name Jedur may be derived from the Hebrew yeTur, and so be equivalent to Ituraea. But the derivation is impossible. 

W. Ewing 

Trachonitis
Appears in Scripture only in the phrase tes Itouraias kai Trachbnitidos choras, literally, "of the Iturean and Trachonian region" (Luke 3:1). Trachonitis signifies the land associated with the trachon, "a rugged stony tract." There are two volcanic districts South and East of Damascus, to which the Greeks applied this name: that to the Northwest of the mountain of Bashan (Jebel ed-Druze) is now called el-Leja', "the refuge" or "asylum." It lies in the midst of an arable and pastoral country; and although it could never have supported a large population, it has probably always been inhabited. The other is away to the Northeast of the mountain, and is called in Arabic es-Safa. This covers much the larger area. It is a wild and inhospitable desert tract, remote from the dwellings of men. It was well known to the ancients; but there was nothing to attract even a sparse population to its dark and forbidding rocks, burning under the suns of the wilderness. It therefore plays no part in the history. These are the two Trachons of Strabo (xvi.2, 20). They are entirely volcanic in origin, consisting of lava belched forth by volcanoes that have been extinct for ages. In cooling, the lava has split up and crumbled into the most weird and fantastic forms. The average elevation of these districts above the surrounding country is about 30 ft. Es-Safa is quite waterless. There are springs around the border of el-Leja', but in the interior, water-supply depends entirely upon cisterns. Certain great hollows in the rocks also form natural reservoirs, in which the rain water is preserved through the summer months. 

El-Leja' is roughly triangular in shape, with its apex to the North. The sides are about 25 miles in length, and the base about 20. The present writer has described this region as he saw it during two somewhat lengthened visits: 

>From Zor`a our course lay Northeast by East .... What a wild solitude it is! Far on every hand stretched a veritable land of stone. The first hour or two of our march no living thing was seen. .... Wherever we looked, before or behind, lay wide fields of volcanic rock, black and repulsive, .... with here and there a deep circular depression, through which in the dim past red destruction belched forth, now carefully walled round the lip to prevent wandering sheep or goat from falling in by night. The general impression conveyed was as if the dark waters of a great sea, lashed to fury by a storm, had been suddenly petrified. .... At times we passed over vast sheets of lava which in cooling had cracked in nearly regular lines, and which, broken through in parts, appeared to rest on a stratum of different character, like pieces of cyclopaean pavement. Curious rounded rocks were occasionally seen by the wayside, like gigantic black soap bubbles blown up by the subterranean steam and gases of the active volcanic age; often, with the side broken out as if burst by escaping vapor, the mass, having cooled too far to collapse, remained an enduring monument of the force that formed it. Scanty vegetation peeped from the fissures in the rocks, or preserved a precarious existence in the scanty soil sometimes seen in a hollow between opposing slopes. In a dreary waterless land where the cloudless sun, beating down on fiery stones, creates a heat like that of an oven, it were indeed a wonder if anything less hardy than the ubiquitous thistle could long hold up its head. .... When the traveler has fairly penetrated the rough barriers that surround eI-Leja' he finds not a little pleasant land within--fertile soil which, if only freed a little from overlying stones, might support a moderate population. In ancient times it was partly cleared, and the work of the old-world agriculturists remains in gigantic banks of stones built along the edges of the patches they cultivated" (Arab and Druze at Home, 30). 

In some parts, especially those occupied by the Druzes, fair crops are grown. Where the Arabs are masters, poverty reigns. They also have an evil reputation. As one said to the present writer, "They will even slay the guest." 'Arab el-Leja' anjas ma yakun is a common saying, which may be freely rendered: 

"Than the Arabs of el-Leja' greater rascals do not exist." Until comparatively recent years there were great breadths of oak and terebinth. These have disappeared, largely owing to the enterprise of the charcoal burners. The region to the Northeast was described by a native as bass wa`r, "nothing but barren rocky tracts" (compare Hebrew ya`ar), over which in summer, he said, not even a bird would fly. There are many ruined sites. A list of 71 names collected by the present writer will be found in PEFS, 1895, 366. In many cases the houses, strongly built of stone, are still practically complete, after centuries of desertion. 

There may possibly be a reference to the Trachons in the Old Testament where Jeremiah speaks of the charerim, "parched places" (17:6). The cognate el-Charrah is the word used by the Arabs for such a burned, rocky area. For theory that el-Leja' corresponds to the Old Testament "Argob," see ARGOB. 

The robbers who infested the place, making use of the numerous caves, were routed out by Herod the Great (Ant., XV, x, 1; XVI, ix, 1; XVII, ii, 1 f). Trachonitis was included in the tetrarchy of Philip (viii, 1; ix, 4). At his death without heirs it was joined to the province of Syria (XVIII, iv, 6). Caligula gave it to Agrippa I. After his death in 44 AD, and during the minority of his son, it was administered by Roman officers. From 53 till 100 AD it was ruled by Agrippa II. In 106 AD it was incorporated in the new province of Arabia. Under the Romans the district enjoyed a period of great prosperity, to which the Greek inscriptions amply testify. To this time belong practically all the remains to be seen today. The theaters, temples, public buildings and great roads speak of a high civilization. That Christianity also made its way into these fastnesses is vouched for by the ruins of churches. Evil days came with the advent of the Moslems. Small Christian communities are still found at Khabab on the western Luchf, and at Sur in the interior. The southeastern district, with the chief town of Damet el-'Alia, is in the hands of the Druzes; the rest is dominated by the Arabs. 

W. Ewing 

-----Original Message-----
From: faith-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:faith-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ashley Bramlett
Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2011 11:08 AM
To: Faith-talk,for the discussion of faith and religion
Subject: Re: [Faith-talk] King james / audio Bibles

Paul,
Does these recordings describe the city, what life was like, clothes, etc?
Who narrated them? As we all know, the bible was written hundreds of years ago, and I don't always know where places they reference are and where they are today or if they even exist. Palestine is next to Israel but its not a country, and I'm not sure where the Gaza strip is, a source of controversy as to who owns it.

Are you saying these narrations are on old records? What kind? Is it the big records which are 33 1/3 speed?
I actually still have a record and cassette players!

I could call the CRS and see if they have them if I know the magazine, title of articles and narrator.
You have a good question too. Not sure where those are.

Ashley

-----Original Message-----
From: Paul
Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2011 5:58 AM
To: Faith-talk,for the discussion of faith and religion
Subject: Re: [Faith-talk] King james / audio Bibles

Ashley and everyone else.  I don't know whether or not this is accessible but, beginning in 1970 and going through 1975, what is now Christian Record Services for the Blind, formerly Christian Record Braille Foundation, presented in great detail an around-the-world recorded anthology by its then editor, the late C.G. Cross and his wife Jessie.  He devoted three programs, almost three hours, to his visit to the state of Israel, which was very interesting and truly brought the listeners to what was then known as Christian Record Talking Magazine a clear picture of that land.  Fortunately I have it on the old hard records, but have no way of getting copies to you.
As for Nazareth, as Brother Cross reported then, this community existed with a population then of 4,000 Christians.  And as to geography, it mentions three places in Luke 2 that I'm curious about where they are today.  They are Iturea, Trachonitis and Abilene.  Does anyone know where they are today and their modern names? Thanks.  Your Christian brother, Paul
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
To: "Faith-talk,for the discussion of faith and religion"
<faith-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 9:47 PM
Subject: Re: [Faith-talk] King james / audio Bibles

> So then, the KJ version is  early modern english and the NKJ  is a modern 
> english translation.
> I don't understand "thee's" and "thou's" so glad that was done away with.
> I agree with the translator of it that
> archaic language is how to understand but unfamiliar vocabulary can be 
> learned. Such reading gives us a sense of what early writers meant as they 
> wrote the Bible.
>
> So  what resources do you all use for vocab or Bible 
> interpretation/knowledge? For instance, I don't want to admit this but 
> will. I cannot picture what the Tabernacle is when I read about Moses or 
> what anointed means.
>
> Also, I'm wondering about the geography. Where are these places in the 
> Bible? I know that some of it is now Iraq and some of it is Israel. Today, 
> is there such a place called Nazerith where Jesus went?
> I'd certainly like some tips so I can better understand and picture the 
> bible setting.
>
> Thanks
> Ashley
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Doris and Chris
> Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 8:24 PM
> To: Faith-talk,for the discussion of faith and religion
> Subject: Re: [Faith-talk] King james / audio Bibles
>
> Yes, the NKJV is a modern English translation. It
> mainly updated the archaic language and word
> forms and did away wiht the "thee's" and
> "thou's"  and also updated some of the language
> whose meaning has changed over the centuries.
> However, the majority of the words and language
> of the origional KJV was maintained, one of the
> philosophies being that unfamiliar vocabulary
> could and should belearned while archaic language
> and word forms  are hard to understand.
>
> If you can find the  preface , translation notes
> and such online, it will make for quite
> intersting reading. Bible Gateway should have at
> least some of this as should Thomas Nelson as the publisher of the NKJV.
>
> You guys are so blessed with the variety of English translations!
>
> hth
>
> Doris
>
>
>
>
> At 08:11 PM 11/15/2011 -0500, you wrote:
>>Hi, Wow if it was 1982 its recent. I know the New king james was not 
>>really rewritten but updated/translated with modern words. Early modern 
>>English still used thou, thee, and thy. I recall from reading Shakespeare. 
>>Early English sounds like a different language; I listened to it in 
>>intercultural communication. It sounds very foreign. Middle English we 
>>recognize more of the words we have now and familiar grammar and syntax. 
>>Okay so if King James is early modern English, what is the New King James 
>>written in? Standard English we know today? If it was copyright 1982 I 
>>suspect that. it was translated to words we know today. If I remember 
>>correctly, before translated to English in the Middle Ages, the Bible was 
>>in Latin. Theerefore scholars and monks could only read it. Then I think 
>>Greek and German came next. Then Guttenberg copied the bible with his 
>>invention of the printing press. Prior to that, monks transcribed then by 
>>hand and they were so valuable that they were either locked, stored, or 
>>chained up to prevent it from being stolen. Thanks for explaining. Ashley 
>>I found King James hard to understand, but may give New king james a try 
>>since you say it was -----Original Message----- From: Doris and Chris 
>>Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 7:34 PM To: Faith-talk,for the discussion 
>>of faith and religion Subject: Re: [Faith-talk] King james / audio Bibles 
>>Copyright for the nkjv is with Thomas Nelson 1982. It was not really 
>>"written" as much as it was tranlsated and revised, which is a process 
>>that usually takes several years. The English used in the KJV or 
>>Shakespeare is not Middle but early modern English. When reading Middle 
>>English, you will not understand nearly as much as with Shakespearean or 
>>KJV English. Even for me as a non-native speaker, the kjv and Shakespeare 
>>are quite readable and enjoyable.The difficulty does not lie as much with 
>>the readability of the language as in some changes in usage that make some 
>>passages unclear. additionally, while at the top of scholarship at their 
>>time, more modern translations have access to earlier manuscripts, i.e. 
>>earlier to to the time of the early church and the earliest versions of 
>>Christian writings, which by some scholars are considered more reliable as 
>>there was less of a chance of transcription   errors being made than with 
>>later versions. Finally, modern translationscan take into accounts the 
>>most recent findings of archeology and Biblical scholarship. For example, 
>>while the original RSV (Revised Standard Version 1947/52) is still 
>>considered one of the best scholarly and most widely accepted 
>>translations, it did not - could not - take into accounts recent 
>>discoveries as the Dead Sea scrolls as those had just been discovered in 
>>the late 1940's. hth and God Bless, Doris At 07:08 PM 11/15/2011 -0500, 
>>you wrote: >Do you know when the New king James was written? The king 
>>James was written >in 1600s I think and uses middle English, kind of like 
>>reading Shakespeare. >Ashley -----Original Message----- >From: Paul Sent: 
>>Monday, November 14, 2011 10:58 PM To: Faith-talk,for the >discussion of 
>>faith and religion Subject: Re: [Faith-talk] audio Bibles >Ashley and all, 
>>a portable Bible that many have recommended is something >called the 
>>BibleCourier available from the Lutheran Braille Evangelism >Association 
>>in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. You can call them for prices >and versions 
>>at 651-426-0469 or go to their website at http://www.lbea.org. >As to the 
>>New King James Version, it still retains some of the language of >the old 
>>KJV but with some modern renderings which make the meaning of some >words 
>>clearer.  For instance the word "prevent" actually means precede, and
>> >there are other similar modifications.  But all pronouns referring to
>>God, >The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are capitalized as in the KJV for 
>>two main >reasons, one to show respect to our Almighty God and also to 
>>clarify their >meaning which could be made more confusing without the 
>>capital letters.  In >Braille it's available from Braille Bibles 
>>International >(http://www.braillebibles.org. It is also available from 
>>Bible Gateway >and, I believe, even a BibleCourier version of the nKJV is 
>>available.  Hope >that helps. Paul ----- >Original Message ----- From: 
>>"Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> >To: "for the discussion of 
>>faith and religion Faith-talk" ><faith-talk at nfbnet.org> Sent: Sunday, 
>>November 13, 2011 5:20 PM Subject: >[Faith-talk] audio Bibles > Hi all, >
>> > Where can I get audio bibles? I am >thinking either CD or Mp3 format. >
>>I also thought there was something that >contained the bible in one device
>> > called a Pocket Bible or something like >that. > I have the Niv in
>>braille. IÃ¢€™d like the Good News Bible. Also, >anyonyone read > the New 
>>King James? I know the King James is in older >English, but do not > know 
>>if the New King James is is a more modern >version or is easier to > 
>>understand. > I might want that version too. Not >sure. > > > Everyone 
>>else can have a bible in their purse and  its >portable. Braille > is not 
>>that portable though. But audio would be. > > >Ashley > > 
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