Dancing in All Ages (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1899. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER V. RELIGIOUS, MYSTERIOUS, AND FANATICAL ELEMENTS IN DANCING. rpHERE are various Scriptural passages which tend to show that among the Jews dancing was always regarded as a becoming expression of religious fervour and joyful emotion. After a great victory over their enemies it was customary for the Israelitish women to welcome back their defenders with dances and songs of triumph. Of this we may find an example in the history of David, when, on his return from " the slaughter of the Philistine," the women came out from all the cities singing and dancing, "with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music," and aroused Saul's jealousy by comparing the thousands he had slain with the tens of thousands slain by David.* Another instance may be found in the tragic story of Jephtbah's * 1 Samuel xviii. daughter, who came dancing with gladness to meet her father after his subjection of the children of Ammon, little thinking, poor girl, that she was dancing to her death in consequence of the rash vow which Jephthah had made.* The dancing of Miriam and her maidens affer the passage of the Red Sea has been already referred to in connection with Egyptian dances; but the reader's attention may be called to an apocryphal passage from which we learn that after the victory of Judith over Holofernes the women of Israel assembled to meet her, "and made a dance among them for her," the words implying that it was arranged impromptu for the occasion. Then, we are told, they put a garland of olive upon Judith and her maid, and she herself "went before all the people in the dance, leading all the women," while the men followed in their armour, with garlands and songs.j Perhaps, however, the most familiar instance of dancing mentioned in the Old Testament is that o...