Wills

William Smith's Bible Dictionary

Under a system of close inheritance like that of the Jews, the scope forbid bequest in respect of land was limited by the right of redemption and general re-entry in the jubilee year; but the law does not forbid bequests by will of such limited interest in land as was consistent with those rights. The case of houses in walled towns was different, and there can be no doubt that they must, in fact, have frequently been bequeathed by will, (Leviticus 25:30) Two instances are recorded in the Old Testament under the law of the testamentary disposition, (1) effected in the case of Ahithophel, (2 Samuel 17:23) (2) recommended in the case of Hezekiah. (2 Kings 20:1; Isaiah 38:1) [Heir]

Related Words

Wills, James
(1790-1868) Poet and miscellaneous writer, younger s. of a Roscommon squire, was ed. at Trinity Col...

Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature by John W. Cousin
Chuck-Will's-widow
·noun A species of goatsucker (Antrostomus Carolinensis), of the southern United States; — so calle...

Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
Wills, William Gorman
(1828-1891) Dramatist, s. of above, b. in Dublin. After writing a novel, Old Times, in an Irish mag...

Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature by John W. Cousin
chuck-will's-widow
The common name of a bird of a bird of the whippoorwill family (capimulgus Caroniensis). Mr. Audubon...

Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.