ページの画像
PDF
ePub
[blocks in formation]

2519. [11-22.] After touching a dead body, the Kamtschadales use the following purification. Going to the wood, they cut some rods, of which they make a ring, and creeping through it twice, they carry it back to the wood, and throw it towards the west. Those who have been employed in removing a corpse out of the hut where it expired, are obliged to catch two birds, one of which they burn, and then participate with the whole family in eating the other. Such purification is performed on the very day of defilement; for they must not enter any other hut, nor wili any person enter theirs, before they are purified.

SMITH.

2524. [Num. xxi. 6.] Nechashim seraphim (Hebr.): These flying fiery serpents, bred in Arabia and Egypt, are of a shining yellowish color like brass (verse 9), and by the motion of their wings, and vibration of their tails, reverberating the sun-beams, make a glorious appearance. Supposed to be the hydra.

[blocks in formation]

the woods are seen sparkling with them in every direction. Their light is emitted from the tail; each having the power of emitting it or not, at pleasure. (They are undoubtedly flying glow-worms, still emitting light from the tail-part.) WELD'S Trav. through N. America, vol. i. p. 198.

2527. [Num. xxi. 6.] One night, says BERNIER (in the account of his Voy. to the East Indies), when there was not a breath of wind, and the air was so hot and stifling that we could scarcely breathe in the creek where we had retired out of the main channel, the bushes around us were so full of those little shining worms, that they seemed to be ou fire; and there arose flies here and there, which were like flames, and frightened my seamen, who said, they were devils. Among the rest there arose two, that were very extraordinary one was a great globe of fire, which in falling and spinning lasted above the time of saying a Pater-noster; and the other, which lasted about a quarter of an hour, was like a little tree all in a flame.

See No. 1001. See Pinkerton's Coll. part xxxii. P. 229.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

2536. [Num. xxiii. 1.] The blessing of the bridegroom consisted of seven blessings. See GILL on Matt. xxv. 1.

[blocks in formation]

it ap

2537. [8.] From this and the 21st verse, pears to have been Balaam's firm belief, that God's people could never be hurt, unless they were seduced into sin.

See a testimony to this purpose, not only in the xxv. ch. following, but more remarkably in Judith v. 5-21.

From Chap. xxxi. 16, following, and Rev. ii. 14, it appears further, that Balaam wickedly seduced the Israelites to idolatry by the Midianitish Church-women.

Verses 20, 21. He hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it] Intimating, that it were in vain to expect God ever to desert his people, so long as they continued in their duty; and therefore the only way to hurt and distress them would be, to tempt them to idolatry and disobedience. See No. 2553.

JOSEPH. Antiq. b. iv. c. 6.

2538. [ 9.] In 1758, a Bill was passed by the British Parliament to naturalize the Jews; but after a few months it was repealed, the voice of the people demanding that the devoted nation should not be reckoned with them. Thus, we may say, our last national deliberation concerning that people, was influenced according to prophecy. But it is predicted again, that Israel shall return to the LORD

their God. Agreeably to this, and to promote their conversion, let our nation procced, without delay, to take away the reproach of the Jewish people; and announce the Christian Act in the most public and solemn manner, as an example to the rest of the world.

Christian Researches in Asia, p. 212.

[ocr errors]

2539. [Num. xxiii. 22.] The word rim (Hebr.), translated unicorn, wherever it occurs in the Sacred Writings, will be found to be distinguished by its fierceness, its strength, or the prominency of its horn; properties, which all naturalists ascribe in an eminent degree to the rhinoceros. (BURTON.) After the elephant, says BUFFON, the rhinoceros is the most powerful of all quadrupeds. He is at least twelve feet in height, and the circumference of his body is nearly equal to his length, Deprived of all feeling in the skin, he has nothing instead of a trunk, but a moveable lip, in which centers all his dexterity. This muscular and flexible lip, which can be lengthened six or seven inches, is indeed a sort of trunk, very incomplete, yet well calculated for strength and facility in gathering and dividing the grass into small quantities, as the elephant does with his trunk. Without being ferocious, or carnivorous, or even wild, he is nevertheless untameable. He is of the nature of a hog, blunt and grunting, without intellect, without sentiment, and without tractableness. He fears neither the claws of the tyger nor the lion, nor even the fire and weapons of the huntsman. Yet his superiority consists solely in his strength, size, and in the offensive weapon which he carries on his nose, and which is peculiar to him. This weapon is a very hard horn, solid throughout, and so placed as to defend all his vulnerable parts, the muzzle, the mouth and the face from insult: so that, on account of this horn and the tremendous claws ou his huge feet, the tyger more readily seizes the elephant than the rhinoceros, which he cannot attack in front, without incurring the danger of being instantly killed.

[blocks in formation]

unfrequented retreats. "At least," says SPAREMAN, "they describe an animal exactly corresponding with the usual character of that creature, whose existence has been so much doubted by naturalists."

Also, in the proximity of the Cordilleras in South America, there is an animal called Danta or grand bestia, the size of a bullock, and very swift, its color generally white, and its skin very much valued for making buff leather; which has, says ULLOA, in the middle of its head, a horn bending inward. Voyage, Edit. 4th. vol. i. p. 362.

2543. [Num. xxiii. 25.] To curse is to disinherit; and to bless is to settle in an inheritance.

2544. [Num. xxiv. 5-9.] This poetic prophecy, says Bp. LowтH, abounds in gay and splendid imagery copied immediately from the tablet of nature, and is chiefly couspicuous for the glowing elegance of the style, and the form and diversity of the figures.

2545. [6.] No aloe-trees grow in Mesopotamia, which was Balaam's country; nor in the land of Moab, where these words were originally expressed. What we call the wood of aloes comes to us from the Indies, and the best of it from Sumatra and Molucca. We should therefore translate Ahalim by tents, as the Septuagint, the Vulgate, the Syriac and the Arabic Versions have done.

The aloes is of a bad smell, and cannot enter among the perfumes which are mentioned in Ps. xlv. 8. Prov. vii. 17. and Cant. iv. 14 (See Prov. vii. 17). See Essay for a New Translation, part ii. pp. 153, 155.

But the Indian calambac, which appears to be here meant, is the most resinous and fragrant of all woods. The Indians account it holy, and burn it as incense in their temples. Dr. GEDDES.

2546. [7.] Near Rosetta in Egypt, the land that is well watered produces three crops in each year; the first of clover, the second of corn, and the third of rice. The rice-grounds are inundated from the time of sowing nearly to harvest the seed is commonly cast on the water. Eccles. xi. 1.

CLARKE'S Trav. in Greece, and the
Holy Land.

2542.

That yellow-skinned nation, the Inise Hottentots, declare that the unicorn is found in some of their

2547.

The native Indians, or Gentoos, who

[blocks in formation]

2549. [- —17.] Bp. NEWTON applies the literal meaning of this prophecy to the person and actions of David. See his Dissertations on the Prophecies, vol. i. p. 139.

2550. [20.] The kingdom of Amalek was bounded by Canaan on the north; by Egypt, on the south; by Edom, on the east; and on the west, by the deserts towards the sea, or by the margin of the sea itself.

Univer. Hist. vol. ii. p. 150.

2554. [ 4. Hang them up] Let them be put on their trial, whether they be guilty or not. See Deut. xxviii. 66. Hosea xi. 7.

Gen. xl. 19.

2555.

Essay for a New Translation, p. 69.

At Paris, so late as the 7th of Jan. 1816, there were burnt in the square of Falaix, different emblems of Buonaparte's Government, such as cockades, flags, prints and busts.

Deut. xxi. 22. Esth. vii. 9.

Public Prints.

It was a custom among the Jews at the Feast of Purim, or of Lots, instituted in remembrance of Haman's wicked attempt to destroy them, to erect a gibbet, and hang upon it the figure of a man, which they called Haman. Esther ix. 13.

MARTIN'S Magazine of Arts and
Sciences, vol. iii. p. 122.

The Effigy of Count de Lavalette, who had escaped from
prison after being condemned to suffer death, was burnt in
Paris Jan. 1816, agreeably to an antient law of France.
Josh. x. 22 - 27.
Public Prints.

2551. [21.] The Grecian fortresses are invariably placed on high and commanding rocks; in which excavatious were made, to serve as wells, and as grauaries. This rational mode of adapting the works of art to those of nature, obviated the necessity of ditches. - Vallies, ravines, and the beds of torrents, generally form their dykes and intrenchments, and the precipices above them are nearly as inaccessible as the walls which they support.

Archæologia, vol. xv. p. 323.

2556. [———— 6. One of the children of Israel led to his brethren &c.] With the cords of a husband, with bands of love, Hosea xi. 4.- These cords were the marriage yoke. 1 Kings xx. 31, 32.

N. B. Covenants between God and man, Ps. oxviii. 27; - between a king and his subjects, Ps. ii. 3; between a master and his servant, Matt. xxiv. 51; and between a husband and wife, Hos. xi. 4, were all formed by girdles, cords, and belts of wampum. JOSEPHUS says expressly, that Zimri had married Cozbi. Antiq. b. iv. chap. 6.

2552. [ 24. Shalt afflict Eber] Shall afflict the other side of the River. (HYDE de rel. vet. Pers. p. 57.) When this prophecy came to be fulfilled, Ashur was reduced to its primitive bounds, and in subjection to Elam or the Persians; as were also the Babylonians, and the inhabitants of Aram, or Mesopotamia: who, we think, say the Editors of the Univer. Hist. (vol. i. p. 259) are to be understood by Eber, or the other side of the River, that is, the Euphrates.

See No. 1006, 1003.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

2561. [ 21.] What this Urim and Thummim was, has been the subject of great and extensive controversy: but if, without stating the grounds of it, I might briefly mention my opinion, says MICHAELIS, it was three very antient stones, which the Israelites before Moses' time used as lots; one of them marked with an affirmative; a second, with a negative; and the third, blank, or neutral; and which Moses commanded to be kept within what was called the chosch, or breastplate of the priest; but which had no connexion with the twelve precious stones therein set. See No. 2116, &c.

Smith's Michaelis, vol. i. p. 261.

[blocks in formation]

2565. [Num. xxx. 4, 5.] Thus fathers were to determine, what might be reasonable for their children, while under their care, to vow and promise; because the vows made by such children signified nothing without a father's consent. And it appears from the case of Jephthah's daughter, that if a father vowed any thing in the name of his child, such father might be released from his vow, unless it were sanctioned and confirmed by the daughter's consent.

Judg. xi. 30, 31, &c. See No. 514, &c.

See Essay for a New Translation, p. 91.

2566. [Num. xxxi.] According to the Mosaic law as laid down in this Chapter, when intruders were dispossessed or usurpers disinherited, the spoil in persons and cattle did not belong to the individuals who took it, but was collected, reckoned, and distributed, 1. To those who went against the enemy, one half; of which however, they had to give every five hundredth individual to the priests: 2. To all the other Israelites, the other half; but with the deduction of every fiftieth individual for the Levites. Whilst things inanimate belonged to the individual who seized them; see v. 48, 54. Smith's MICHAELIS, vol. iii. p. 51,

[blocks in formation]

2563. [Num, xxix. 7.] This solemn day of propitiation was instituted among the Jews to preserve the memory of the pardou proclaimed to their forefathers by Moses on the part of God; who thereby remitted the punishment due for their worship of the golden calf.

REES.

2568. [

10.] Among the Celtes, Gauls, and Scythians, it was an antient custom for every tribe to have a separate canton assigned to it, and to be governed by magistrates of its own election. These cantons were by the Romans called pagi (ch. xxxii. 41), which took up more or less ground, according to the largeness of the tribe; and,

« 前へ次へ »