G. E. Post.
SPRING.— See Fountain, vol. iL p. 62.
SPY.— See Ebpy, vol. i. p. 767.
STACHYS
STEPHEN
613
STACHYS (i:Tdxi'r).— The name of a Christian greeted by St. Paul in Ko IG-', and described as ' my beloved.' The name is rare, but found among members of the Imperial household (OIL vi. 8GU7). He -s commemorated Oct. 31, and later legends will be found in Acta Sanct., Oct., vol. xiii. p. US/.
A. C. Headlam.
STACTE (•;?} natfiph).— The Heb. word occurs twice : Ex 30=» (cf. Sir 24"'), L.XX (ttokti), Vulg. ttactc, KVm opobalsnmum ; Job 36-' (LXX arayovei, Vulg. stillw, both of which signify 'drops,' and refer to water). The Heb. '■|¥j nalaph ( = Arab. na(a/) signilies to drop or dUtU. As the exuda- tion of all gums U in drojis, the etymology does not help us. But it is evident from the context in Exodus that a fragrant gum is intended. Many identify the ffTo/tr?) here mentioned with the gum from the lilmeh {=sturiix, see POPI.AK). But <rra.KT-fi means primarilj- myrrh. Myrrh, how- ever, is mentioned b^'its proper narae"c m6r{v.'^), coupled with "ih- dcrur, which AV tr. ' i)ure,' and RV 'flowing.' The LXX tr. this expression by duSos aiiiipvris ixXcKTiji ; Vulg. primcB myrrhcB et electa;. Dioscorides describes two kinds of stactr, one of which is pure myrrh, and the other made from storax and fat. It is unlikely that any such inferior compound as the latter would be used in making the sacred incense. It is most likely then that nd(a/ih, and its LXX and Vulg. equiva- lent stacte, refer to myrrh in drops or tears, which is the purest form. G. E. Post.
STAFF.— See Rod and Sceptue.
STAGGER.— In Ro 4»> ' stagger ' has the mean- ing of ' stumble,' and so literally ' waver ' (as IIV), ' He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief (oi) SieKplO-q). Tindale uses the stronger form of the same word, 'He stackered not'; Khem. is the first to use 'stagger.' The word is of Icel. origin, strakra, freq. of stnka, to push. Cf. Mt 2P' Rhem. 'Amen, I .say^ to you, it you shal haue faith, and stagger not, not only that of the figtree shal you doe.' J. Hastings.
STALLION (rTTiros ch ixflav, only in Sir 33').— Most of the horses used for riding and driving, and many of those employed as pack animals, in the East, are entire. Geldings are made only of the inferior breeds.
STANDARD.— See Banner and Polk.
STAR. — The Bible treats the stars as the noblest work of the Creator (Ps 8» 10', Job 2.">', Wis 7-"), insisting on their brightness (Dn 12'), their heiglit above the earth (Is 14", Ob *, Job 22'-), and especially their number (Gn 15» 22" 26\ Ex 3'2'3, Dt 1'" 1U« 28«^ Jer 33-'^, Neli 9=», He 11'^ etc.). They are sometimes poetically rejiresented as living beings ('sang together,' Job 38'; 'fought against Sisera,' Jg 5*), and the darkening of the stars is treated as a sign of coming distress (Jl 2'" 3'°, Am 8», Is 13'» 34«, Ezk 32' », Mt 24-», Mk 13-», Lk 21'«>, Rev pass.), liut tliey were created by God (Gn 1'*, Am 5", Ps 74" 13G', Job 9', Sir 43") to give light (Gn 1'", Jer 31"°) ; He gave them their paths according to fixed laws (Jer 33^, Job ,38^), and Uiey are .subject to Him (Job 9', Is 4.')'^ Ps 147*, Bar 3", Ep. Jer '"), who calls tliem by tlieir names (Is 40"). It follows that star-worship is rigorously forbidden (Dt 4'» 17"-"); though introduced by Manasseh (2 K 21», cf. 23<- »• " ; Am .5^ does not nece».sarilj| imply its existence at an earlier date, cf. Driver in Smitli, Dll, art. 'Amos'), and several times mentioned at a later date (Zcph 1", Jer 7'" 19" 44", Wis 13'), it is always spoken of with reproba- tion (cf. also 2 K 17", Jer 44'"-"). On the sources
of this star-worsliip among the Jews see W. Lotz in Hcrzog, BE- xiv. ()"J4. For the stars known to the Israelites and for astrological views see Astro- nomy AND Astrology ; for the star of the Magi see Magi. P. V. M. Benecke.
STATER.— See Money, vol. iii. p. 428^
STEALING.— See Crimes and Punishments, vol. i. p. 522'', s. ' Theft,' and Man-stealing.
STEEL is a form of iron intermediate in com- position between cast iron and wrought iron, and combining the most useful properties of both (see Iron). The word occurs thrice in AV for nvin: (2S 22", Job -JO'^, Ps 18"), and once for nii'n; (Jer 15'-). In these eases the reference is not to steel but to brass (so RV) or bronze (see Brass).
' Steel ' appears in RV only in Nali 2', where it is the translation of mS? (AV 'torches'). The word ni^^ occurs nowhere else, but its Arabic and Syriac cognates have the meaning of steel, or iron of fine quality. The ' fire ' or ' flashing ' of steel in this passage may be understood either of the appear- ance of the metal-plated chariots themselves or of the glitter of the 'scythes' attached to their wheels. Against this latter supjiosition is the fact that such scythes are never represented on Assyrian chariots, but appear to have been introduced for the first lime by the Persians (see Chariot).