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•AMETHYST one of the precious stones in the breastplate of the high priest (Exodus 28:19; 39:12), and in the foundation of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:20). The ancients thought that this stone had the power of dispelling drunkenness in all who wore or touched it, and hence its Greek name formed from a, “privative,” and methuo, “to get drunk.” Its Jewish name, ahlamah’, was derived by the rabbins from the Hebrew word halam, “to dream,” from its supposed power of causing the wearer to dream.
It is a pale-blue crystallized quartz, varying to a dark purple blue. It is found in Persia and India, also in different parts of Europe.
•AMITTAI true, the father of Jonah the prophet, a native of Gath-hepher (2 Kings 14:25; Jonah 1:1).
•AMMAH a cubit, the name of a hill which Joab and Abishai reached as the sun went down, when they were in pursuit of Abner (2 Samuel 2:24). It lay to the east of Gibeon.
•AMMI my people, a name given by Jehovah to the people of Israel (Hos. 2:1, 23. Comp. 1:9; Ezekiel 16:8; Romans 9:25, 26; 1 Peter 2:10).
•AMMIEL people of God. (1.) One of the twelve spies sent by Moses to search the land of Canaan (Numbers 13:12). He was one of the ten who perished by the plague for their unfavourable report (Numbers 14:37).
(2.) The father of Machir of Lo-debar, in whose house Mephibosheth resided (2 Samuel 9:4, 5; 17:27).
(3.) The father of Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, and afterwards of David (1 Chronicles 3:5). He is called Eliam in 2 Samuel 11:3.
(4.) One of the sons of Obed-edom the Levite (1 Chronicles 26:5).
•AMMIHUD people of glory; i.e., “renowned.” (1.) The father of the Ephraimite chief Elishama, at the time of the Exodus (Numbers 1:10; 2:18; 7:48, 53).
(2.) Numbers 34:20. (3.) Numbers 34:28.