Zabud
An historical personage at the
court of King Solomon, whose name appears in several of the advanced Degrees.
In that of Select Master in the American Rite, it has been corrupted into
Izabud. He is mentioned in First Kings (iv, 5) where he is described in the
authorized version as being "principal officer and the King's friend." The
original is Zabud ben Nathan cohen regneh hahmelek, which is literally Zabud,
son of Nathan, a Priest, the friend of the King Adam Clarke says he was "the
king's chief favorite, his confidant." Smith (Dictionary of the Bible) says:
"This position, if it were an official one, was evidently distinct from that
of Counselor, occupied by Ahithophel under David, and had more of the
character of private friendship about it."
Kitto (Cyclopedia of Biblical
Literature) says of Zabud and of his brother Azariah, that their advancement
in the household of King Solomon' may doubtless be ascribed not only to the
young King's respect for the venerable Prophet (their father), who had been
his instructor, but to the friendship he had contracted with his sons during
the course of education. The office, or rather honor, of 'friend of the King,'
we find in all the despotic governments of the East. It gives high power,
without the public responsibility which the holding of a regular office in the
state necessarily imposes. It implies the possession of the utmost confidence
of, and a familiar intercourse with, the monarch, to whose person 'the friend'
at all times has access, and whose influence is therefore often far greater,
even in matters of state, than that of the recognized ministers of government.
"to Clay probably by Preston, and so it still remains This conception has been
fully carried out in the (see Fervency and Freedom), Legend of the Select
Master's Degree.
Zadok
Zadok was a
joint-high priest with Abiathar in the time of David, and was designated by
David for the anointing of Solomon as his successor, Abiathar having allied
himself with the claims of Adonijah for the throne. Zadok then became
high priest under Solomon, and Josephus says that "Zadok, the high priest, was
the first high priest of the Temple which Solomon built." It is thought,
however, by some authorities that he died before the dedication of the Temple.
Zaphnath-Paaneah
This was the
Egyptian title of Joseph, given by the Egyptian king under whom he served as
viceroy. The name has been interpreted as meaning "Revealer of secrets,"
and is used in an important sense in the old rituals of the Scottish Rite.
Egyptian title of Joseph... Gen. 41:45
Zarthan
And Zeredathah
In the description of the casting of
the two pillars Boaz and Jachin in the plains of the Jordan, we find it says
in 1 Kings, that the clay ground was between Succoth and Zarthan. Also
in 2 Chron., it is recorded that they were cast in the clay ground between
Succoth and Zeredathah. The two names refer to the same place.
1
Kings 7:46 - 2 Chron. 4:17
Zeal
Ever since the
Revival in 1717, for it is found in the earliest lectures, it was taught that
Apprentices served their Masters with "Freedom, Fervency, and Zeal";
and the symbols of the first two of these virtues were
Chalk and
Charcoal. In the oldest instructions, earthen pan, was designated
as the symbol of Zeal; but this was changed to Clay probably by
Preston, and so it still remains. The instruction of the Operative Mason
to serve his Master with freedom, fervency, and zeal--to work for his
interests willingly, ardently, and zealously--is easily understood. Its
application to Speculative Freemasonry, for the Masters of the Work we
substitute the Grand Architect of the Universe, and then our zeal, like our
freedom and our fervency, is directed to a higher end. The zeal of a
Speculative Freemason is shown by advancing the morality, and by promoting the
happiness of his fellow-creatures.
Zebulon
The fifth
point of the old English Lectures, and alluded to the prayer, for the blessings of Jacob were given to
Zebulon in preference to his brother Issachar. Gen. 49:13
Zechariah
- Jehovah has remembered
Zechariah was
a post-exilic prophet of the Jews, born in Babylon during the Captivity, and a
companion and supporter of Zerubbabel in rebuilding the Temple. His name
therefore appears in Royal Arch Masonry.
Zedekiah
- justice of Jehovah
Zedejiah was
the twentieth and last king of Judah and was placed on the throne by
Nebuchadnezzar after the little kingdom had been subjugated by him, and prior
to the destruction of Jerusalem. Although he was pledged under oath to
loyalty to the Chaldeans, at the first opportunity he rebelled against king
Nebuchadnezzar. As a result the siege and utter destruction of Jerusalem
took place and the Jews of Judah were carried away captive to Babylonian
territory. A legend of the Superexcellent Master's Degree covers the
gathering of his officers and advisers in the Temple, after the city had been
entered by Chaldean soldiers, in his plot for escape.
Zenith
That point in the heavens which is vertical to the
spectator, and from which a perpendicular line passing through him and
extended would reach the center of the earth. From of old the documents of the
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite are dated "under the Celestial Canopy of
the Zenith which answers to" the latitude of the place whence the document is
issued being then given to fill the blank space. The latitude alone is
expressed because that indicates the position of the sun's meridian height.
Longitude, however, is always omitted, because every place whence such a
document is issued is called the Grand East, the specific spot where the sun
rises. The theory implied is, that although the South of the Lodge may vary,
its chief point must always be in the East, the point of sun-rising, where
longitude begins.
Zerubbabel
- begotten in Babylon
He was known as Sheshbazzar at the Persian court before
Cyrus. Born at Babylon, commissioned governor of Judea by the Persian
king, Cyrus. Leader of the Israelites returning from seventy years
captivity to Jerusalem. Carried orders from Cyrus to rebuild the temple,
but was hindered by local petty Persian intrigue for seventeen years, finally
by the aid and power of Darius, finished the Temple.
Book of Ezra.
Zion
Mount Zion was
the southwestern of the three hills which constituted the high table-land on
which Jerusalem was built. It was the royal residence and hence it is
often called the City of David. The name is sometimes used as
synonymous with Jerusalem.
Zogan
Japanese term
for inlay that is often applied to gold inlays, usually in black oxidized
metal, enamel, or paint.
Zohar
The Hebrew word, meaning Splendor. After the surrender of
Jerusalem, through the victory of Vespasian, among the fugitives was Rabbi
Simon Ben Jochai, who remained an Anehorite for twelve years, became
visionary, and believed he was visited by the prophet Elias. His son, Rabbi
Eliezer, and his clerk, Ptabbi Abba, when visiting him, took down his
pronounced divine precepts, which were in time gathered and formed into the
famous Sohar or Zohar. From this work, the Sepher Jetzirah, and the Commentary
of the Ten Sephiroth was formed the Cabala. The Zohar, its history, and as
well that of its author, overflow with beautiful yet ideal mysticism.
Zoroaster
More correctly, Zarathustra.
He was the Legislator and Prophet of the ancient Bactrians, out of whose
doctrines the modern religion of the Parsees has been developed.
The Parsees say that their Prophet was a contemporary of Hystaspes, the father
of Darius, and accordingly place his era at 550 B.C. The religion of
Zoroaster finds its origin in a social, political, and religious schism of the
Bactrian Iranians from the primitive Aryans. These latter led a nomadic
and pastoral life in their native home, and continued the same habits after
their emigration. But a portion of these tribes, whom Haug calls the
proper Iranians, becoming weary of these wanderings, after they had reached
the highlands of Bactria abandoned the pastoral and wandering life of their
ancestors, and directed their attention to agriculture. This political
secession was soon followed by wars, principally of a predatory kind, waged,
for the purpose of booty, by the nomadic Aryans on the agricultural
settlements of the Iranians, whose rich fields were tempting objects to the
spoilers. The political estrangement was speedily and naturally followed
by a religious one. It was at this time that Zoroaster appeared, and,
denouncing the nature-worship of the old Aryian faith, established his
spiritual religion, in which, says Bunsen, "the antagonisms of light and
darkness, of sunshine and storm, become transformed into antagonisms of good
and evil, of powers exerting a beneficent or corrupting influence on the
mind." The doctrine of pure Zoroastrianism was monotheistic.
The Supreme Being was called Ahuramazda, and Haug says that Zoroaster's
conception of him was perfectly identical with the Jewish notion of
Jehovah. He is referred to as "the Creator of the earthly and
spiritual life, the Lord of the whole universe, at whose hands are all the
creatures." He is wisdom and intellect; the light itself, and the
source of light; the rewarder of the virtuous and the punisher of the
wicked. Zoroaster taught the idea of a future life and the immortality
of the soul. The doctrine of the resurrection is one of the principal
dogmas of the Zendavesta. He also clearly inculcated the belief of a
heaven and a hell. The former was called the House of Hymns, because the
angels were supposed to sing hymns there; and the latter the House of
Destruction, and to it were relentlessly consigned the poets and Priests of
the old Aryian religion. The doctrine of sacred names, so familiar to
the Hebrews, was also taught by Zoroaster. In one of the Yashts, a
portion of the Zendavesta, Ahuramazda tells Zarathrustra that the utterance of
one of his sacred names, of which he enumerates twenty, is the best protection
from evil. Of these names, one is ahmi, meaning I am, and
another, ahmi yat amhi, I am who I am. The reader will be
reminded here of the Holy Name in Exodus, Ehyeh asher Ehyeh, or I am
that I am.
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