Abrech (lie!., abreh', TpSK, Sept. «%»>£, Vulg. iji mi j/i cterent), a word that occurs only in the original of Gen. xli, 43, where it is used in proclaiming the au- thority of Joseph. Something similar happened in the cise ofMordecai, bul then several words were em- ployed (Esth. vi, 11). If the word be Hebrew, it is I
I probably an imperative (not directly, Buxtorf, Thes. Gramm. p. 134; nor the first pers. fut., as explained by A ben-Ezra, but the infin. absolute used imperative- ly, Gesenius, Thes. Ileb. p. 19) of tpS in Hiphil, and would then mean, as in our version, " bow the knee" (so the Vulg.. Erpenius, Luther, Aquila, and the Ven. Gr. version). We are indeed assured by Wilkinson (Anc. Egyptians, ii, 24) that the word abrelc is used to the present day by the Arabs when requiring a camel to kneel and receive its load. But Luther (subse- quently) and others (e. g. Onkelos, the Targum, Syr. and Persic versions) suppose the word to be a com- pound of TjH"X, " the father of the state," and to be of Chaldce origin. The Sept. and Samar. understand vaguely a herald. It is, however, probably Egyptian, slightly modified so as to suit the Hebrew ; and most later writers are inclined with De Kossi (Etym. Egypt. p. 1) to repair to the Coptic, in which Aberek or Abrek means " bow the head" — an interpretation essentially agreeing with those of Pfeiffer {Opp. i, 94) and Ja- blonski (Opzisc. i, 4, 5, cd. Water). See Salutation. But Origen (Hexapla, i, 49, ed. Montfaucon), a native of Egypt, and Jerome {Comment, in loc), both of whom knew the Semitic languages, are of the opinion that Abrech means "a native Egyptian;" and when we consider how important it was that Joseph should cease to be regarded as a foreigner [see Abomination], it lias in this sense a significance, as a proclamation of naturalization, which no other interpretation convej-s (see Ameside, Be Abrech sEgyptior. Dresd. 1750). Os- burn thinks the title still appears in Joseph's tomb as Itb-n sh, " royal priest" {Mon. Hist, of Eg. ii, 90).
Abro'nali. See Ebuonaii.
Abronas. See Arbonai.
Ab'salom (Ileb. Abshalora , DlbdnX, fully Abi- shalomf, Oi5D*12X, 1 Kings, xv, 2, 10, father of peace, i. e. peaceful; Sept. 'AfSiao-aKriip, Josephus, 'AipdXw- poc, Ant. xiv, 4, 4), the name of three men.
1. The third son of David, and his only one (comp. 1 Kings i, G) by Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur (2 Sam. iii, 3; 1 Chron. iii, 2), born B.C. eir. 1050. He was particularly noted for his personal beauty, especially his profusion of hair, the incon- venient weight of which often (not necessarily " every year," as in the Auth. Vers.) compelled him to cut it off, when it was found to v.ci zh " 200 shekels after the king's weight" — an amount variously estimated from 112 ounces (Geddes) to 7| ounces (A. Clarke), and, at least, designating an extraordinary quantity (2 Sam. xiv, 25-26; see Journal de Trevoux, 1702, p. 17G; Diedrichs, TJeb. d. JIaara Absalom's, Gott. 1776; Handb. d.A. T. p. 142 sq. ; Bochart, Opp. ii, 384).
David's other child by Maacah was a daughter named Tamar, who was also very beautiful. She be- came the object of lustful regard to her half-brother Amnon, David's eldest son ; and Mas violated by him, in pursuance of a plot suggested by the artful Jonadab (2 Sam. xiii, 1-20), B.C. cir. 1033. See Amnon. In all cases where polygamy is allowed we find that the honor of a sister is in the guardianship of her full In-other, more even than in that of her father, whose interest in her is considered less peculiar and intimate (see Niebuhr, Beschr. p. 39). ' We trace this notion even in the time of Jacob (Gen. xxxiv, 6, 13, 25 sq.). So in this case the wrong of Tamar was taken up by Absalom, who kept her secluded in his own house, and brooded silently over the injury he had sustained. It was not until two years had passed that Absalom found opportunity for the bloody revenge he had meditated. He then held a great sheep-shearing at Baal-hazoi near Ephraim, to which he invited all the king's sons j and, to lull suspicion, he also solicited the presence cf his father. As he expected, David declined for himself, but allowed Amnon and the other princes to attend. They feasted together; and when they were warm
ABSALOM
35
with wine Amnon was set upon and slain by the ser- ! vants of Absalom, according to the previous directions j of their master. The others fled to Jerusalem, filling the king with grief and horror by the tidings which they brought. Absalom hastened to Geshur, and re- mained there three years with his grandfather, king Talmai (2 Sam. xiii, 23-38). See Geshdr.