Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
(beech). Letters were at first engraved on stone, brick, or metal (Deut. 27:2-3; Job 19:24); later, on papyrus, bark of trees, tablets of wax, cloth of linen or cotton, the latter in long rolls, or “scrolls,” which were the books of the Hebrews.
“Book” From Concise Bible Dictionary:
The form of ancient books was a long roll with a roller at each end. These rollers were held one in each hand and the book was unrolled from off the one and on to the other as the book was read; and this had to be reversed before the book could be read again. They were made of skins, and the writing was usually on one side only; to be written on both sides would show a full record (Ezek. 2:9-10; Rev. 5:1). The form of a roll explains how a book could have several seals, a portion being rolled up and a seal attached; then another portion rolled up and another seal, like the seven-sealed book of Revelation.
By the ancient nations records were made on cylinders or slabs of stone, or on clay, which was then baked or sun-dried. Many such tablets have been found in the excavations made at Nineveh, Babylon and other places. When Ezra was at work on the city and temple of Jerusalem his opponents wrote to the king of Persia asking that “the book of the records” might be searched for corroboration of their assertion that Jerusulem had been rebellious (Ezra 4:15). The “book of the records” was doubtless a collection of stone or clay tablets. In some cases these have been found in such numbers as to form quite a library.
The word BOOK is used symbolically for what a book might contain, as prophecy or predictions. Ezekiel and John were told to eat the books presented to them (Ezek. 2:8-9; Ezek. 3:1-3; Rev. 10:9: Compare Jer. 15:16). It is also symbolical of the records that are with man usually written in a book (Psa. 56:8; Dan. 7:10; Mal. 3:16; Rev. 20:12).
Various books are mentioned in scripture which are not now in existence.
1. The wars of the Lord (Num. 21:14). The quotation is poetry, so that the book may have been a collection of odes by Moses on the wars of Jehovah.
2. Book of Dasher, (Josh. 10:13; 2 Sam. 1:18). These quotations also are poetry.
3. Book of Samuel, concerning “the manner of the kingdom” (1 Sam. 10:25); which was laid up before the Lord.
4. The Acts of Solomon (1 Kings 11:41): probably the public records of the kingdom.
5. Books of Nathan, Gad, Ahijah, and Iddo, concerning the acts of David, and of Solomon, which were doubtless the public records of the nation, with which are associated prophecies of Ahijah and the visions of Iddo (1 Chron. 29:29; 2 Chron. 9:29).
6. Book of Shemaiah the prophet (2 Chron. 12:15).
7. Book of Jehu (2 Chron. 20:34). These various references show that when the historical parts of the Old Testament were written, further information respecting the kingdom was obtainable from the books referred to, if such had been needed; but which was not required for the inspired volume of God.
“Letter, The” From Concise Bible Dictionary:
This expression occurs in Romans 2:29; Romans 7:6 and 2 Corinthians 3:6, where the apostle contrasts it with “the spirit”; “the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” Whether of the law or of the gospel, the mere intellectual reception of the words only leads to formality and death; it is only what is “of the Spirit” that can result in life. The Lord is the spirit of all that is written in letters in scripture.
Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew Words:
Meaning:
or (feminine) ciphrah (Psa. 56:8 (9)) {sif-raw'}; from 5608; properly, writing (the art or a document); by implication, a book
KJV Usage:
bill, book, evidence, X learn(-ed) (-ing), letter, register, scroll