ABRAHAM'S BOSOM--An allusion to the posture in which the Jews and other eastern nations placed themselves at table. The Jews and Romans reclined on couches while eating; the upper part of the body resting upon the left elbow, and the lower lying at full length upon the couch. When three reclined upon the same couch, the most worthy generally reclined at the head, sometimes in the middle: the next in dignity lay reclining with his head in the bosom of his superior; as John did on the bosom of Jesus at supper. Hence Abraham's bosom denotes both honor and felicity.

      ANATHEMA MARANATHA--In Syriac Maranatha means, "The Lord comes," or "The Lord comes quickly." In devoting any person to destruction, or in pronouncing an anathema, they sometimes added, "The Lord will put this sentence in execution when he comes." Hence originated the Anathema Maranatha--"He will be accursed when the Lord comes."

      BEATING THE AIR--It was usual for those who intended to box in the Grecian games, in order to obtain greater agility, to exercise their arms with the gauntlet on, when they had no antagonist before them. This was "beating the air." Not so when they had an antagonist before them.

      BOOK OF LIFE--Some ancient cities kept registers containing all the names of the citizens, from which the names of infamous persons were erased. The good and orderly citizens were continued on the register, and the disorderly blotted out. Phil. iv. 3. may be an allusion to this, as the persons mentioned were honorable citizens in the Christian kingdom. [25]

      BOTTLES--Were anciently made of skins.

      BRIDEGROOM COMES--It was a custom in some countries to conduct the bridegroom to the house of the bride with torches and lamps. The ancients Greeks conducted the new married pair with torches and lamps. In Persia and India nothing was more brilliant than the nuptial solemnities. At 5 o'clock in the evening the bridegroom arrives at the house of the bride, when the Mobed, or Priest, pronounces the nuptial benediction. He then brings her to his own house, gives her some refreshment, and then the relatives and friends reconduct her to her father's house. Then again the Mobed repeats the nuptial benediction: this is generally about midnight. Immediately after, the bride, accompanied by a part of her attendants, is reconducted to the house of her husband, where she generally arrives at 3 o'clock in the morning. A number of lighted torches, and the sound of musical instruments give great brilliancy to the scene.

      BRIDEGROOM'S FRIEND--It is said that after espousals, and before marriage, there was a chamber or covered place, where it was usual for the bridegroom to converse familiarly with his espoused bride in order to increase their affection before marriage, which was never supposed to be perfected until the bridegroom came out of his chamber rejoicing. This illustrates Psalms xix, 5. Whilst this intercourse was going on, the friend of the bridegroom stands at the door to hearken; and when he hears the bridegroom speak joyfully, he rejoices himself, and communicates the intelligence to other friends. John iii, 29.

      BURNING AND SHINING LAMP--The Jews called any one distinguished for knowledge, "a candle."

      CAMEL GOING THROUGH A NEEDLE'S EYE--The plundering Arabs commonly ride into houses, and commit acts of violence; on this account doors were made low, frequently not more than three feet high. Those who keep camels, and often want to introduce them into the court yard, find this a great inconvenience. To surmount this, they train their camels to fall on their knees while they unload them, and often succeed in teaching them to pass through these low doors on their knees. This was considered a great difficulty; and, therefore, gave rise to the proverb of the camel passing through the needle's eye.

      CANTON--A territory assigned to a tribe. The phrase, Land of Judea, generally denotes the whole country; whereas, the canton of Judah denotes that portion that belonged simply to the tribe.

      CAPTAIN OF THE TEMPLE GUARD--The Romans allowed the Jews a company of Roman soldiers to guard the temple, which was under the command of the rulers of the Jews. To this Pilate alludes when he says, "You have a guard."

      CAST AWAY--Those whom the judges of the games disapproved, as not fairly deserving the prize, were called adokimoi, not approved, or cast away.

      CASTOR AND POLLUX--It was the custom of the ancients to have images on the ships, both at the head and stern; the first was called the sign, from which the ship was named; the other was the name of the tutelar deity, to whose care the ship was committed.

      CHARGES WITH THEM--Acts xxi, 24--It was meritorious among the Jews to contribute to the expences of sacrifices and offerings, which those who had taken the vow of Nazaritism were to offer when the time of the vow was to be accomplished; whoever paid a part of these expences were reputed to partake in the merits of him who fulfilled the vow.

      CHILDREN OF THE BRIDEMEN--Great mirth and cheerfulness accompanied the celebration of nuptials among the Jews. The friends and acquaintances of the parties were called the children of the bride chamber.

      COHORT--A company of soldiers which guarded a Roman governor or magistrate, when he went into any province.

      CORBAN--A gift consecrated to God; but generally given to the priest. [26]

      DRINK OF MY CUP--As each guest received his own cup at entertainments, it became a proverb to denote a person's portion or lot.

      ESPOUSED, or BETROTHED--Betrothing was a solemn promise of marriage made by two persons, each to the other, at such a distance of time as they agreed upon. It was sometimes done by writing, and sometimes by a piece of silver given to the bride, with these words, "Receive this piece of money as a pledge that you shall become my spouse." The woman often continued with her parents several months afterward.

      EUROCLYDON, or LEVANTER--A very fierce wind, which sometimes greatly agitates the Mediterranean sea, and the Archipelago.

      EXAMINE BY SCOURGING--The Romans put persons to the question, or endeavored to extort confession by scourging the accused.

      FAST--Fasting in all ages and among all nations, has been usual in times of mourning, sorrow, and affliction.

      FEET OF GAMALIEL--The disciples of the Rabbies sat on low seats, while they received instructions; but it is said they sometimes stood before them--and certain antiquarians contend at the feet means near to--thus, They laid the money at the Apostles' feet, that is, presented it to them. In the Maccabees it is said, "They saw death lying at their feet:" the Syriac translator renders this phrase, "They saw death approaching."

      FIERY DARTS--Javelins or arrows on whose points was combustible matter smeared, and when set on fire, were darted at the enemy. Livy calls them falarica. To these the Apostle alludes, Eph. vi, 16.

      GRASS CAST INTO THE OVEN--Shaw tells us that in Barbary, myrtle, rosemary, and other plants were used to heat ovens.

      HANG ALL THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS--When the laws were written in old times, they were hung up in a public place, that all might see them.

      HOSANNA TO THE SON OF DAVID--At the feast of tabernacles they carried boughs in their hands, and sung psalms and hosannahs. The Greeks practised the carrying of branches, and singing of songs, at their sacred festivals.

      KEY OF KNOWLEDGE--Authority to explain the law and the prophets was given, among the Jews, by the delivery of a key. When Rabbi Samuel died, they put his key and his tablets into his coffin.

      KEYS OF THE KINGDOM--Stewards always wore the keys; and the giving of a key was the token of this office.

      LIVING STONES--Stones in the quarry, not detached from the natural bed, are said to be living; contrasted with those which are taken out. Ovid compares firmness of mind, a steady and inflexible purpose, to a living rock.--Et saxo, quod adhuc vivum radice tenetur.

      LOCUSTS--Several travellers affirm that, to this day, the animal called locust, among the Indians at the East, is an article of food. Dampier, Shaw, and Ives give instances of the manner of dressing and eating them.

      LONG HAIR--Chardon says, "The eastern women are remarkable for the great length of hair and the number of the tresses of their hair. Their hair hangs at full length behind, divided into tresses braided with ribbon or pearl. Lady Montague counted one hundred and ten tresses, all natural, on the head of one lady. The men wear but very little on their heads. Young men who wear their hair in the East, are regarded as effeminate and infamous."

      LOTS--Acts i, 26. Grotius says, (in deciding whether Joseph or Matthias should supply the place of Judas, or the place made vacant by his death,) "They put their lots into two urns, one of which contained the names of Joseph and Matthias, and the other a blank, and the word Apostle. In drawing these out of the urn, the blank came up with the name of Joseph; and the lot on which was written the word Apostle, came up with Matthias."

      MEASURING INTO THE BOSOM--The eastern garments being long, and folded and girded with girdles, admitted of carrying much corn and fruits of that kind in the bosom. Luke vi, 38. [27]

      MINSTRELS--This custom of having musical instruments at funerals, was by the Jews, borrowed from the Greeks.

      MONEY-CHANGERS--Those who supplied the Jews, who came from different parts in Judea and foreign countries, with money to be paid back at their respective homes, or which they had paid before they began their journeys. The half shekel, paid yearly to the temple, was collected with great exactness in the month of Adar. In changing the shekels, the changers exacted a kolbon as a fee. Perhaps they also exchanged the money of other countries for that current in Jerusalem.

      OIL IN THEIR VESSELS--In the East, in many places, instead of the torch and flambeaux, when they go out at night, they carry a pot full of oil in one hand, and a lump of oiled rags in the other.

      OUTER DARKNESS--Feasts were anciently given in illuminated rooms. Those who were turned out at night, in contrast were said to be cast into outer darkness. This is alluded to in the New Testament.

      PURSES--The ancients were flowing robes: these required a girdle round the waist; and of these girdles, one end, doubled and sewed, served for a purse.

      RIGHT AND LEFT HAND--The Sanhedrim placed those to be justified on the right hand, and those to be condemned on the left hand.

      RISE UP IN JUDGMENT--Among the Jews and Romans, when witnesses accused criminals, they rose from their seats.

      ROARING LION--"The lion has roared, who will not fear?" The lion does not usually set up his horrid roar till he beholds his prey, and is just going to seize it.

      SACKCLOTH AND ASHES--Luke x, 13. This expression of sorrow was common in all eastern countries. Homer, three thousand years ago, thus represents Achilles, when he heard of the death of Patrocolus:--

      SALT HAS LOST ITS SAVOR--Maundrel, in his travels near Aleppo, says, "I found veins of salt, of which the part exposed to the air, sun, and rain, had lost its savor, whilst that below the surface preserved its saltiness."

      SALUTE YOUR BRETHREN--The Easterns salute according to rank. The common salutation is laying the right hand on the bosom and a little declining the body. In saluting a person of rank they bow almost to the ground and kiss the hem of his garment. Inferiors kiss the feet, the knees, or garments of superiors. Equals kiss the beard, the cheek, or the neck. "Salute no man by the way," was an order given when great despatch was required.

      STONE SHALL FALL--The Jews had two methods of stoning; one was by throwing a person down among great stones--the other was, by throwing stones, or letting a great stone fall upon him. Luke xx, 18.

      STRAINING OUT A GNAT--An allusion to the filtering of wine for fear of swallowing an unclean insect.

      STRAIT GATE--At the banquets of the ancients, the guests entered by a gate, designed to receive them. On the coming of the guests this gate was made narrow, the wicket only being left open; and the porter standing to prevent the unbidden from rushing in. When the guests were arrived, the door was shut, and not to be opened to those who stood and knocked without. Matth. vii, 13, and xxv, 11.

      UPPER MILL-STONE--The Syrians rolled up some in sheet lead, and hung a heavy weight upon the necks of others, whom they cast into the rivers and lakes, as a capital punishment. [28]

      UPPER ROOM AT FEASTS--At great feasts, the seats or couches were arranged like the Greek letter pi, the table placed in the middle; the lower end was open for the waiters. The other three sides were enclosed with three couches, when it was named triclinium--the middle or upper seats were the most honorable, and to these the Scribes and Pharisees aspired.

      VIALS--Were of common use in the temple service. They were not like those small bottles which we call by that name; but were like cups on a plate, in allusion to the censers of gold.

      VINEGAR--Vinegar and water were the constant drink of the Roman soldiers. It was kept by the cross for the benefit of the soldiers who waited there.

      WATER FOR MY FEET--It was a universal custom among the Easterns, to entertain their guests at their entrance into their houses, with clean water and sweet oil--oil for the head, and water for the feet.

      WEDDING GARMENT--It was usual for persons to appear at marriage feasts, in sumptuous dress, adorned with florid embroidery. But as travellers were sometimes pressed in, and as they could not be provided with such garments, robes out of the wardrobes of the rich, were tendered to them. If such persons refused this offer, and appeared in their own apparel, it was highly resented, as a token of their pride and contempt for those who invited them.

      WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH--Unfaithful stewards, (who were often slaves,) if they proved unfaithful in the absence of their masters, were condemned to work in the mines. When they first entered, nothing was heard among them but weeping and gnashing of teeth, because of the intolerable fatigue to which they were subjected. To this the Messiah seems to allude.

      WHITED SEPULCHER--The square chambers or cupolas erected over the remains of the great, were kept very clean, and frequently whitewashed.

      WHITE STONE--In popular judicatures a white stone was a token of absolution or justification, and a black stone, of condemnation. Rev. ii, 17.

"It was an ancient custom by white and black stones to absolve and condemn--to condemn the accused by the latter, and to acquit by the former."

      WILD HONEY--The rocks in Judea were said to be frequented by wild bees; also, the hollow trunks and branches of trees abounded in honey. Thus we find, Psalms lxxxi, 16. Deuteronomy xxxii, 13. "honey out of the stony rock."

[TLO4 25-29]