Census.
It was a part of the Mosaic law that when the people were numbered, every one, from twenty years old and upwards should give unto the Lord a half shekel as a ransom for his soul, that there might be no plague among them. Exodus 30:11-16; Exodus 38:25, Exodus 1:38. The numbering was an opportunity when flesh might exalt itself as to their numbers collectively, as well as each individual being noticed. but there was to be the recognition that it could only be on the ground of redemption that they could be taken into account by Jehovah. They must be reminded that they belonged to God, Deuteronomy 7:6, and must pay a ransom each one for himself.
A census of Israel was taken several times. It comprised the males from twenty years old and upwards, able to go to war.
1. At Sinai in the second month of the second year when they declared their pedigree after their families; there were 603,550, Exodus 38:26; Numbers 1:1-46 (stated in round numbers as 600,000 in Exodus 12:37). The Levites from a month old were 22,000. These were taken for the tabernacle service as a redemption for the first-born of Israel whom God claimed; but of the latter there were 273 more than of the Levites, therefore the 273 were redeemed at 5 shekels each. Numbers 3:39-51.
2. On the plains of Moab, 38 years after, when the number was 601,730, the numbering at that time being needed for the division of the land. The Levites numbered 23,000. Numbers 26:51, Numbers 1:26.
3. by David, when there was no need for it, he being moved to it by Satan (being permitted by God, 2 Samuel 24:1), and which called down the judgement of God on his pride. In 2 Samuel 24:9 the number is 1,300,000; but in 1 Chronicles 21:5 itIsaiah 1:1is 1,570,000. We read that Joab did not finish the numbering of the people "because there fell wrath for it against Israel," 1 Chronicles 27:24: so that the number in Samuel may be of those actually counted, and that in Chronicles may include an estimate of the districts not canvassed. It is added "neither was the number put in the account of the chronicles of king David." If the above numbers be multiplied by 3.3 the result will give approximately the number of the population.
4. by Solomon, of the strangers that were in the land: they amounted to 153,600. 2 Chronicles 2:17, 2 Chronicles 1:2.
5. Of those who returned from captivity: there were 42,360. Ezra 2:64. InEzra 1:8, 1,754 males are also recorded.
In the N.T. the 'taxing' under Cyrenius is generally held to be a census: the word is apografh, an enrolment or register. Florus the Roman historian says, that a census comprised "every one's estate, dignity, age, employment, and office;" this occasion may therefore have been only a preliminary to taxing. The Jews were apparently allowed to conduct the census in their own way as to lineage. It has been proved that Cyrenius (Quirinius) was twice governor of Syria, which removes all difficulty as to the date of the census in Luke 1:2-5. The same Greek word is translated 'taxing' in Acts 5:37, when Judas headed an insurrection.
Centurion.
An officer over (about) 100 men: they were promoted to this office because of their good conduct and trustworthiness, and it is to be remarked how often centurions are favourably noticed in the Gospels and the Acts. Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 23:47; Acts 10:1, Acts 1:10; Acts 27:6, etc.
Cephas. [Ce'phas]
An Aramaic name, signifying 'a stone,' equivalent to 'Peter,' given to Simon. John 1:42; 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 Corinthians 1:15; Galatians 2:9.
Chaff.
The refuse of threshed and winnowed grain — the husk of the wheat. Used symbolically for that which is quickly consumed, or easily swept away by the wind — worthless people. Psalms 1:4;
Psalms 35:5; Isaiah 5:24; Jeremiah 23:28. The wicked also are compared to chaff to be burned up with unquenchable fire — eternal punishment. Matthew 3:12; Luke 3:17.
Chains.
These are mentioned in scripture
1. as the insignia, of office: Joseph and Daniel were invested with gold chains. Genesis 41:42; Daniel 5:7.
2. As ornaments: they were placed on parts of the temple; were worn on the neck, and found among the spoils of war: Exodus 28:14; Numbers 31:50; 2 Chronicles 1:3, 2 Chronicles 1:3; Song of Solomon 1:10.
3. Used to secure prisoners. Jeremiah 39:7; Lamentations 3:7; Acts 12:6, Acts 1:12; 2 Timothy 1:1; Jude 1.
Chalcedony.
A precious stone, mentioned but once: it forms one of the foundations of the wall of the heavenly Jerusalem: it cannot be identified with any certainty. Revelation 21:19.
Chalcol.
A wise man whose wisdom was excelled by Solomon. 1 Kings 1:4. Probably the same as CALCOL.
Chaldea. [Chalde'a]
This was strictly the southern part of Babylonia, but the many references in scripture to the Chaldeans show that the inhabitants of the whole of Babylonia are alluded to by that name. Perhaps Ur is the only place in Chaldea proper to which scripture definitely refers. This was apparently a maritime city, which agrees with the country extending to the Persian Gulf; but the Gulf has receded far from where the river once joined it. The land of Shinar adjoined Chaldea on the north, in which were the early cities of Babel, Erech, Accad and Calneh. Genesis 10:10. The whole district was situate between the rivers Tigris and the Euphrates, but extended west of the latter. It was anciently well watered by canals, and is judged to have been productive. Herodotus says mounds, were built where the river once spread like a sea through the whole plain. Now all is desolation, some parts very dry, and others a mere swamp, with lines of mounds in various directions. The prophecies declared that it would be so, but as stated above, they refer to the whole of Babylonia. Jeremiah 1:10; Jeremiah 51:24, Jeremiah 1:51; Ezekiel 11:24; Ezekiel 16:29; Ezekiel 23:15, Ezekiel 1:23.
Chaldeans, [Chalde'ans] Chaldees.
After the mention of Ur of the Chaldees in Genesis 11:28, Genesis 1:11; Genesis 15:7; and the Chaldeans who fell upon Job's camels (Job 1:17) we do not read of them for some fifteen hundred years, when God sent them to punish Judah. 2 Kings 24:2. Then, however, they cannot be distinguished from the Babylonians. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon was called a Chaldean, Ezra 5:12, and on the taking of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar it was the Chaldeans who destroyed the city, 2 Kings 1:25; and in 2 Chronicles 36:17 Nebuchadnezzar is called 'the king of the Chaldees.' It is evident therefore that the Babylonians are called Chaldees; and at one time the Assyrians were associated with the Babylonians. We read "Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, till the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness." Isaiah 23:13. This passage has been variously interpreted. The meaning appears to be that it was the Chaldeans that were going to destroy Tyre. They were a people that had not been reckoned among the nations until the Assyrians, consolidated them into a nation. They had formerly dwelt in the wilderness (as when they fell upon Job's camels, Job 1:17). This was the people that would bring Tyre to ruin. Lowth translates the verse thus: "Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was of no account; (the Assyrian founded it for the inhabitants of the desert; they raised the watch towers, they set up the palaces thereof): this people hath reduced her to a ruin." Herodotus says "the Assyrians built the towers and temples of Babylon." Isaiah 48:14,Isaiah 1:48; Jeremiah 21:4, Jeremiah 1:21,Jeremiah 1:21; Ezekiel 23:14; Daniel 5:30; Daniel 9:1.
It has been judged that the Hebrew word Kasdim, translated 'Chaldeans,' is from the Assyrian word Kasadu, 'to conquer,' and is applied to those who 'conquered' the Chaldean plain. The earlier inhabitants had an agglutinative language, such as the descendants of Cush would have: whereas the Chaldeans spoken of in the O.T. were a Semitic race, who then possessed the land. At first they were a number of tribes in South Babylonia, but were afterwards united and increased. They became merged by the mixing of races, intercourse, etc., so as not to be distinguishable from the Babylonians.
Chaldeans (Wise men).
These are mentioned repeatedly in Daniel along with magicians, astrologers, and soothsayers. These Chaldeans were a particular class of learned men, forming with others the Magi, or wise men of Babylon. In Daniel 5:11 it is said that Daniel had been made 'master' of them, doubtless because it had been discovered that he had more wisdom than all of them. When the Chaldeans, etc., were called in before the king to interpret the writing on the wall, Daniel was not among them, and we may be sure he kept himself aloof from such. See MAGI.
Chaldean Language.
At Babylon Daniel and his companions had to acquire 'the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans,' that is, their ancient literature and language. Daniel 1:4. The question is what was that language? In Daniel 2:4 we find that the wise men answered the king in the Syriac language, that is Aramaic: cf. Ezra 4:7. The Hebrew language is held to be closely related to the Aramaic: that the two are not the same is evident from Isaiah 36:11, where the Jewish leaders asked Rabshakeh to speak in the Syrian language, and not in the Jews' language, that the Jews generally should not understand what was said. There must be some reason why in Daniel it is said the wise men answered the king in 'Aramaic:' this is held to be not the learned and court language, but the common language of the people; and the wise men may have used it that all who heard it might judge of the reasonableness of what they said, though the king might condemn them. The language spoken at court would be different and has been judged by some to be a branch of the Aryan dialect, the ancient language of Central Asia; or perhaps it may have been the ancient Accadian.
As to the writing, the inscriptions found at Assyria, Babylon, and Persia are cut in stone or stamped on bricks in the cuneiform (that is, wedge-shaped) characters. It is known that there was an earlier mode of writing by hieroglyphics which could easily be painted upon papyrus, but which could not without great labour be cut in hard stone, and it is probable that this led to the adoption of the wedge-shaped characters, in which there are no curves: by the variation in position, and number of short and long wedges every sound could be represented, and every proper name spelled. Darius is thus represented on a Persian inscription at Behistun.
Chalkstone.
Idol-altars are compared to soft limestone, which will soon be reduced to powder when God's set time has arrived to bless Israel. Isaiah 27:9.
Chambering.
Licentiousness. Romans 13:13.
Chamberlain.
1. Eunuch who had care of the king's wives and concubines. 2 Kings 23:11; Esther 1:1-15; Acts 12:20.
2. Chamberlain, i.e., the treasurer or steward of the City of Corinth, whose salutations Paul sent to Rome. Romans 16:23.
Chameleon.
The Hebrew word is koach, Leviticus 11:30, and is thought to refer to a species of lizard. There are chameleons in Palestine, but they are unfit for food, whereas the lizards are eaten. The lizard was classed among the unclean animals.
Chamois.
The Hebrew word is zemer, Deuteronomy 14:5, which is held to signify 'leaper,' and would thus suit the chamois; but this animal is unknown in Palestine and is supposed never to have existed there. It has been suggested that the animal specified is the aoudad, the mountain sheep; others judge the wild goat to be referred to.
Champaign.
The word is arabah, Deuteronomy 11:30, and is elsewhere translated 'plain, desert, wilderness.' It is the wide valley in which the Jordan runs.
Chanaan. [Cha'naan]
Acts 7:11; Acts 13:19. Same as CANAAN.
Chancellor.
The word in the original signifies 'master of counsel or decrees.' It was the title of a Persian officer. Ezra 4:8, Ezra 1:4, Ezra 1:4.
Chapel.
Sanctuary, Amos 7:13, as miqdash is often translated elsewhere.
Chapiter.
Crown, head, or capital of a pillar. Exodus 36:38; 1 Kings 1:7-20; 2 Chronicles 1:3; Jeremiah 52:22; etc.
Chapman.
Travelling merchant. 2 Chronicles 9:14.
Charashim. [Chara'shim]
'Craftsmen,' as in the margin. 1 Chronicles 4:14: cf. Nehemiah 11:35.
Charchemish. [Char'chemish]
2 Chronicles 35:20. See CARCHEMISH.
Charger.
Dish. Numbers 7:13-85; Matthew 14:8, Matthew 1:14; Mark 6:25, Mark 1:6. In Ezra 1:9 it is bason or bowl. In the N.T. it is pinax, probably a wooden trencher.