Hand-Book of Bible Manners and Customs (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1874 Excerpt: ...I, 10. Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold. 1. Eastern women sometimes have a cord of gold around their head at the forehead, on which aro strung precious stones of various sorts, which hang down over the cheeks of tiie lair wearers. Thus their "cheeks are comely with rows of jewels." 2. Neck chains were made of gold or other metal, or else consisted of strings of pearls, corals, and precious stones. They were sometimes made of gold-pieces shaped like a half-moon. Such are referred to in Isa. iii, 18: "round tires like the moon." See also note on Judges viii, 21. These necklaces hung low down upon the breast, and were worn both by men and women. See Prov. i, 9; iii, 3. This was the custom among the Egyptians as well as the Hebrews; Joseph had a gold chain put around his neck by Pharaoh. Gen. xli, 42. The Medes, Persians, Babylonians, and other ancient nations, followed the same custom. See Dan. v, 7, 16, 29. Neck chains are also referred to in Sol. Song iv, 9; Ezek. xvi, 11. 477.--USE OF RAISINS. II, ft. Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples. Ashishoth, "flagons," is conceded by the best authorities to mean, not drinking vessels, but cakes of pressed raisins, such as are often used in the East, by travelers, for refreshment. The word also occurs in 2 Sam. vi, 19; 1 Chron. xvi, 3; and Hosea iii, I. In the last passage anabim, which is rendered " wine," should be translated "grapes," as it is in the margin. Instead uf "flagons of wine," we should then read "cakes of grapes." Some think there is a reference in that passage to the custom of offering such cakes in sacrifice to heathen deities. 478.--THE ROYAL LITTER. III, 9,10. King Solomon made himse...