"allud,

Pfal. civ. 1, &c. "Clothed with honour and majefty,
ing to the high priest's facred and magnificent robe. ❝ Co-
vereft thyself with light," to the Schechinah, "Stretcheft
out the heavens like a curtain," that which covered the ta-
bernacle. 66 Layeth the beams of the chambers in the wa-
ters," to the many parts of the tabernacle easily put toge-
ther. "Maketh the clouds his chariot, walketh on the
wings of the wind," to the Schechinah when the ark moved,
aloft in the air. "Maketh the winds his meffengers, a flame
of fire his fervants," to the minifters ferving conftantly in

the tabernacle.

Lowth, ib.

537. There are, in Scripture, images taken from the customs and manners of other nations befides the Ifraelites, which may be explained from thefe.

31, &c.

From hieroglyphical fymbols. The luminaries, for empires.
Lions and bears, for generals and warriors. From ordinary
cuftoms. Dan. ii.
In Nebuchadnezzar's vifion,
"A great image of human form," reprefents empire and
dominion in medals, cities and nations are thus represented,
v. 32, 29. "The belly and thighs of brafs;" the Macedo-
pian empire, on account of their brazen armour.
Antiq. 1. 10, c. 10.

Newton on Proph. Diff. 13,

Jofeph,

538. The facred writers often allude to particular customs, both of the Ifraelites, and of other nations, without at all explaining them; and, it is only by ac counts of thefe cuftoms, that the paffages which contain such allufions, can be rendered intelligible,

Exod. viji. 26. "Shall we facrifice the abomination of the Egyptians?" what they thought it impious to facrifice, and would have refented, heifers, rams, goats, &c. Herodot. 1. 2. c. 41, 42, 45, 65.

Warburt.

Warburt. Div. Leg. b. 4. f. 3.

Ifa. xlvii. 2. "Take the millstones and grind meal; "a ftrong metaphor; grinding was the work of flaves; in the east, of female flaves, low, severe.

Lowth in loc.

Cor. iv. 9. "The apoftles fet forth laft, as it were appointed
to death."
This alludes to the fhows, the last of which was,
perfons combating with wild beafts; and this the moft danger-
ous, and appointed to the greatest criminals. The apostles
mot hated, and expofed to the moft imminent danger of
death. '

Grotius, Locke, and Macknight in loc. Benfon, Hift. of
Chrift.

There are frequent allufions to the Grecian games. 1 Theff.
ii. 19. to the victor crowned by the judge, at the end of the
course. 1 Cor. ix. 24-27. to the crown, and to the frict
abftinence by which the competitors prepared themselves, in
the Ifthmian games, near Corinth. 2 Tim. ii. 5. "ftrive
lawfully," according to the rules prefcribed, viz. contend-
ing naked, an image of being divefted of love to the world.
Ch. iv. 7, 8. to two of the exercifes, boxing and running,
and to the manner of crowning the victor. Phil. iii. 13, 14.
to running, the goal, and the fufpended crown. Heb. xii.
1, 2, to many particulars. Acts xiii. 1. " Manaen συντρο
dos Heads. It alludes to princes educating at their own
expenfe, companions, along with their fons. Polyb. Plu-

tarch.

Raphel. Benfon, and Macknight, in loc.

539. There are paffages of Scripture, in which customs and manners are exprefsly mentioned, and in part defcribed; but which receive further light from a more particular defcription of thefe.

Gen, 1. 2, 3. The embalming of Jacob, alludes to feveral E

gyptian

1

gyptian cuftoms. They had many phyficians; one for every difeafe, (Herod. 1. 2. c. 84.) After laying a body in nitre for 30 days, it was anointed and seasoned with spices 40 days; this laft was the proper embalming. The mourning continued all the time it was in the hands of the embalmer, (Herod. ib. c. 85, 86. Diod. Sic. 1. 1.) that is, 70 days.

Warburt. Div. Leg. b. 4. f. 3.

Acts xiv. 13. Garlands, either (Grot. in loc.) to crown the apostles as gods; which was cuftomary, (Paufan. Dionyf. Hal.) or, on the heads of the oxen, the victims; which was likewise customary. Lucian. The Jewish cuftom of reading the Scripture weekly, in the fynagogues, is often alluded to. Acts xv. 21. "Mofes ;" the law alone read most anciently. ch. xiii. 15. "Law and prophets; " only these ever read. Luke iv. 16. Jefus reading at Nazareth, was by the appointment of the directors; the 50th haphtharoth of the prophets, which he read, was the lesson of the day; and fixes the time to about the beginning of September. It was cuftomary, alfo, to have difcourfes by defire, or permiffion; v. 20. &c. Mat. xiii. 54. Mark i. 21. Afts xiii. 15, &c. xiv. 1, &c.

Benfon in loc.

Macknight.
fobre, Introd.

Lardner, Credib. Beau

Excommunication is often mentioned; Ezra, x. 7, 8. Neh. xiii. 25. John ix. 22. xvi. 2. It is explained by accounts of its nature and kinds. 1. Private reproof, confinement to home for seven days. 2. Niddui, removal four cubits from the fynagogue and fociety. 3. Shematta, perpetual exclufion from the fynagogue; and this generally meant in the New Teftament. Alluded Mat. xviii. 15-18. John xii. 42. Rom. xvi. 17. I Cor. v. I, 2. 2 Cor. ii. 6, 7. 2 Theff. iii. 10. Tit. iii. 10. 2 John 10. Beaufobre, Introd.

Acts xii. 6, 7. xxi. 33. "Two chains;" it was the Roman manner to chain a prisoner to two foldiers, his keepers. Lardner, Credib. p. 1. b. 1. c. 10.

Benfon in loc.

Mat. x. 9, 10. Ev (rais carrying a large fum.

"girdles; "this was the manner of

Ingav, " fcrip," a large bag for hold

ing provifions;" take not a great quantity.

540. There are facts related in Scripture, the reafon, or propriety of which, arifes from certain cuftoms, or manners, and is discovered by juft accounts of them.

" which is a

they were permit

Mat. iii. 4. John ate angides, not " buds of trees, rare fenfe of the word, but "locufts; ted to be eaten, Lev. xi. 22. and were common food in the Eaft.

"Minstrels and noife;" the manner of mourning

for the dead.

Mat. xi. 17. "Piped, not danced; mourned, not lamented;" the fame; and also the manner at feafts. Both were imitated by children in their games; hence they became a proverb; very appofite here. Of old, and in the Eaft ftill, inns are not for entertaining, but only for lodging. Many texts have a reference to this. Judg. xix. 19. Mat. xv. 32. Luke x. 33, &c.

2 Cor. xi. 24. "Forty ftripes fave one. "Deut. xxv. 3. forbad

exceeding 40; the Rabbies had decided for 39; the manner of fcourging with three thongs confined it to this number.

SECT.

SECT. IV.

Of Chronology.

541. Chronology, as diftinguished from history, is employed in afcertaining the dates, and the order of events.

542. Time is very naturally distinguished into dif ferent periods, terminated by remarkable events; and feveral fuch being clearly pointed out in Scripturë, they fix the proper divifion of facred chronology.

543. The chronology of the first great period, from the creation to the deluge, can be gathered only from the Scripture itself; which, however, gives no other marks of time, but the age of each patriarch at the birth of his eldeft fon, and the duration of his life; but from thefe it might be exactly fixed, were it not that the Hebrew, Samaritan, and yo verfion, differ from one another in fome particulars; with refpect to which, though the two former, agreeing moft nearly, would feem to deferve the preference, ftrong arguments are produced in proof of their being corrupted, and of the laft giving the true numbers.

Uffer. Capell. Chronol. Sacr. Wall's Notes. Univerfal Hift. b. i. c. 1. f. 3. Pearfon, Epift. ad Bernard. in Sprott. Chron. Jackson's Chronol. Kén. Diff. Gen. § 3073 76, 81-83, 91, 93. Playfair's Chronel.