The Scripture Almanack FOR 1826: PURPORTING TO EXHIBIT SOME OF THE MEMORABLE EVENTS AND SACRED SEASONS OF THE BIBLE, TOGETHER WITH An Arrangement of the Scriptures, in Chronological Order, TO BE READ THROUGH THE YEAR, WITH THE RESPECTIVE PORTIONS OF EACH DAY.1 THE present month's assignment of Scripture reading introduces us to the very middle and heart of the poetic age of the Bible. With the songs and supplications of " the sweet singer of Israel," we are now to hold intercourse; and who but must be benefited by privileges like these? "O may my heart in tune be found Like David's harp of solemn sound!” Among the "remarkable events" whose memory is now perpetuated, we cannot tell at which the more to wonder, whether the murmuring of the Israelites, or the unceasing providential bounty of God. Never be that " manna forgotten, of which Christians happily partake!" the true bread which has come down from heaven." The "productions" of eastern climes are now beginning to shew their luxuriancy, and most impressively to teach men to " rise through nature up to nature's God." O that those countries were again blessed with the Scriptures and ministers of salvation! then "should the land yield its increase :" "And God would bless us, And all the ends of the earth would fear him." VOL. IV. 1 Continued from page 53. M Weather. The latter rains" (p, Ousc) now fall, as Korte asserts, ("Reise nachdem gelobten Lande," p. 489:) and Shaw affirms, that none are observed after them until summer-Travels, p. 290. The rain ceases about the close of the month, and the sky is generally fair and serene. The sun's heat is excessive in the plain of Jericho; but in other parts of Judea, the spring is now most delightful. -Maundrell's Jour. p. 96. Concerning the meteorology of Palestine, some interesting observations are made by Mariti, ("Viaggi," tom. iii. p. 226,) and Dr. Shaw, Travels, p. 289. Productions. The harvest depends upon the duration of the the rains cease, the corn soon arrives at maturity. and barley, now ripen.-Korte's "Reise," p. 187. p. 93. The spring fig is still hard.-Shaw, p. 290. The almond and orange trees now produce fruit.-Maundrell, p. 62; and the turpentine tree (58, Cels. Hierobot. p. 34) is in blossom.-Sandys, p. 176. A new shoot, bearing fruit, springs from that branch of the vine that was left in the former month, which must now be lopped.-Borchard, "Exactis. Descript. T. S. in N. O." p. 332. Syria and Palestine produce honey-canes, from which they obtain sugar.-Ignatius von Rheinfelden, Hierosolym. Bilgerfahrt, pp. 46, 47. Tulips, Ranunculuses, Anemonies, &c. &c. are now in flower at Aleppo and Tripoli, in Syria.-Thevenot, tom. iii. p. 92. Rauwolf, p. 58 of p. i. The grass is now very high, and the Arabs lead out their horses to pasture.-Mariti, tom. ii. pp. 25, 28. The same is likewise done in Persia.-Chardin, tom. iii. p. 12. Jewish Calendar. 3. The lessons were,Lev.xvi.1; xix.1; and seventeen verses of Ezek. xxii. 6. A fast of three days, for excesses committed during the feast of the passover; that is, on the Monday, Thursday, and the Monday following-Calendar, Bartoloccè. 7. The dedication of the temple, when the Asmoneans consecrated it anew, after the persecutions of the Greeks.-Megil. Taanith, c. 2. 10. A fast, for the death of the high-priest Eli, and for the capture of the ark by the Philistines, 1 Sam. iv. 5. 11. The lessons were, Lev. xix. 1.—xx. 1 ; and from Amos, ix. 7, to the end; or else Ezek. xx. 2—21. 14. The second Passover, &c. &c. see above, in the " Sacred Seasons." 19. The lessons were, Lev. xxi. 1.—xxv. 1; and Ezek. iv. 15, to the end. 23. Feast for the taking of the city of Gaza, by Simon Maccabeus, 1 Mac. xii. 43, 44; or, for the taking and purification of the citadel of Jerusalem, by the Maccabees, 1 Mac. xiii. 49, 53.-xvi. 7, 36. Also, a feast for the expulsion of the Canaanites out of Jerusalem, by the Asmoneans or Maccabees.-Meg. Taanith. 26. The lessons were Lev. xxv. 4.-xxvi. 1; and Jer. xxxii. 6-28. 27. Feast for the expulsion of the Galileans, or those who attempted to set up crowns over the gates of their temples, and of their houses; and even on the heads of their oxen and asses, and to sing hymns in honour of false gods. The Maccabees drove them out of Judea and Jerusalem, and appointed this feast to perpetuate the memory of their expulsion. Megil. Taanith. 28. A fast for the death of Samuel, (1 Sam. xxv. i.) who was lamented by all the people. [MAY in the next.] Sacred Geography. CANAAN, OR THE HOLY LAND.1 Tiberias. THIS was a celebrated city of Galilee on the south western shore of the sea of Gennesareth or Tiberias. Lightfoot believes it to have been the same place as was given to the tribe of Naphthali, Josh. xix, 35, but this is disputed by Reland, and others, and is perhaps, too doubtful to warrant our belief. Tiberias was built by Herod the tetrarch, and named by him in honour of the emperor Tiberias, with whom he was a great favourite. It was endowed with considerable privileges, in order to induce persons to settle there, it having been built on a scite full of ancient sepulchres. Its convenient situation soon rendered it considerable, and it became the metropolis of Galilee. When Agrippa left Rome, he retired to Tiberias with his uncle Herod, and the emperor Claudius soon after bestowed it upon him; hence it is called on some of the medals, Claudia Tiberias. After the dispersion of the Jews, a number of their learned Rabbis assembled here, and laid the foundation of an academy, which was rendered famous by the production of the Mishna. It was also the seat of a Patriarch, who acted as supreme 1 Continued from Vol. iii. p. 550. |