Smoke (usually]עָשָׁ, ashan, καπνός; but in Ge 19:28; Ps 119:83, the stronger word קַיטוֹר, kitor, is used, like τύφομαι, Mt 12:20). On the expression "pillars of smoke" (Joe 2:30-31; Ac 2:19-20) Thomson remarks (Land and Book, 2, 311) that they "are probably those columns of sand and dust raised high in the air by local whirlwinds, which often accompany the sirocco. On the great desert of the Hauran I have seen a score of them moving with great rapidity over the plain." SEE WHIRLWIND.
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