Acdah a name given by the idolatrous Arabs to a species of arrows without iron and feathers, which were used for purposes of divination. "The ancient idolatrous Arabs used a sort of lots, which were called lots by arrows. They were three in number. — Upon one of them was written 'Command me, Lord;' upon the second, 'Forbid or prevent, Lord'; while the third was blank. When any one wished to determine on a course of action, he went with a present to the diviner (the chief priest of the temple), who drew one of his arrows from his bag, and if the arrow of command appeared, he immediately set about the affair; if that of prohibition appeared, he deferred the execution of his enterprise for a whole year; but if the blank arrow came out, he was to draw again. The Arabs consulted these arrows in all their affairs, particularly their warlike expeditions."
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More