The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-04-09
He'll.

| He'll.
The following is principally from work
by VIM. Coventry II. Waddell:
If we can arrive at the undoubted mean
ing of an ancient word, and ascertain the
definition which was attached to it by the
people of that early day, we ought to apply
the same ancient meaning, and not be salts
fed by modern definition and such phrases
as "The word originally denoting, &c, &C.,
came at last to mean, &c, &C."
The Rev. VIM. Stanton, ID. D., (Protes-
tant Episcopaian), in his Ecclesiastical
History" says, "Hell originally signiied 'to
cover over,''or to conceal ; and it is still
used in some parts of England; for exam
| ple 'to cover house is to he'll it, and the
person by whom it is done is a hei'cr."
The Rev. Albert Barnes, d. ID (Presby-
terian), in his notes on the "Acts of the
Apostles III, 2D," says, "Hell is Il saxon
word, derived from Helen, to cover, and de-
noting literally covered or deep place."
There ere only four words in the Bible
translated hell, viz: SheoI, Hades, 7artarus
anu GeheHnd.
.Sheol is Hebrew word, and of course
only found in the Old Testament; it occurs
in sixty-four instances, in thirty.two of
which it is rendered hell, and in the other
thirty-two, "pit' or grave"
7artarus does not really occur at ALL but a
denominative verb derived from it, which q
Peter, ii, A. is rendered "cast down to hell. 4"
Gehenna occurs twelve times.
In the common English version the word
hell occurs in both Testaments fifty-fve
times. (Whittemore's Notes and Illustra-
tions, p. 5S)
DR.. Barnes says ,Aeola and Hades originally
meant "the dark, unknown regions of the
dead the abode of the spirits whether good
or bad the residence of departed men,
whether fixed in permanent habitation or
whether wandering about" As the ancients
were ignorant of the size and spherical
structure of the earth, they seem to have
supposed this region to be situated "in the
earth," far below us; and hence it is put in
opposition to heaven, Psalms, cxxxix, s: IF
| ascend to heaven thou art there if make
my bed in hell (SheoO thou art there (II 27. J
Professor Stuart. of Andover Theological
Institute whose learning cannot be doubted,
says, "The word GeheRna is derived from the
Hebrew Gee and HiaaOm. The valley of
Hinnow Gee HinnOm) is part of the east
ern section of the pleasant Wadi or valley
which bounds Jerusalem on the south lisa.
IN, nd
under some of the idolatrous kings, the
| worship of Moloch, the horrid idol of the
Ammonites was practiced. To this idol
children were offered in sacrifice q Kings
xiii, 10: Elk. xiii, 37-39; Chron. xviii.
3; Levitt. xviii. 81; Xxx, p. five may give
credit to the Rabbins, the head of the idol
was like that Of an OK, while the rest of the
body resembled that of a man. 1t was hol-
low within, and being heated by fire, child
rem were laid in its arms and literally roasted
alive. We cannot then wonder at the severe
terms in which the worship of Moloch is
everywhere denounced in the scriptures
Nor can we wonder that the place itscl
should have been called Tophet; that is
abomination, detestation from Toph, to
vomit with loathing), (Jer. XXI, 80; xix, 6
2 Kings xiii, 10). After these sacrifices
had ceased, the place was deserted and made
one of loathing and horror. The pious king
Jonah, caused it to be polluted z Kings
xiii, l0), that is, he caused to be carried
there all the filth of the city of Jerusalem
1t would seem that the custom Of desecrating
this place was continued in after days down
to the period when our Saviour was on earth
perpetual fires were kept up, in order to con-
sumo the ofal that was carried there; and a
the same ohal would breed worms (for so al
purifying meat does) hence comes the ex
preston, "Where the worm dieth not ant
the fire is not quenchcd" (Exeget, Essays, p
p. 40, l4l.)
Abundant evidence of the most orthodo,
character could be adduced as to the orgi
nal characteristics of these words, but W
refrain.
Will the reader please take copy of tn
, New Testament, and write the word Hade
, opposite the word Hell in each of the follow
ing passages, and peruse them carefully wit
the original meaning, as before noted by Dl
Barnes as applying to the words Sheol an
, Hades Matt. xi, 90; xvi, Is; Luke X, IL
xvi, %; Acts ii, 81, 81; Rev. i, Is; vi,
Xxx, l3, IA, and see how clearly the maste
draws the contrast between "Capernaum" o
, its hill site, and Hddes sin the earth far bt
. low u.s." &C., &c.
And then let the reader, in similar way
It mark the following passages, as having tt
. their original the word Gehenna, carrying
/ mind that place of abomination, the des
o Grated valley of Hinnom, and at the sam
n time remembering the high estimation tho
0 ancient people placed on the rites of sepu
4 ture, and the horror with which they won
l. entertain the idea of the possibility of the
l. bodies, or parts of their bodies, could be ca
IT into the Gehenna, and he (the reader) W
, appreciate the glowing language of Il
- Saviour when he referred thereto, viz: MAJ
RS V, %, 30, 80; X, 2S; xviii, 9, xiii, /
m Mark tx, 43, As, Al; Luke xii, 5; Jam
it iii, &.
le How terribly superstition, imbibed
" early education, fastens itself on the mil
Powerful will and earnest study can eraC
C, cate it.
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