arisen from objections on the part of the Egyptians; see Gen. xliii. 32. The Jews in our Saviour's time did not eat with the Samaritans, John iv. 9, and they objected to our Lord's eating with publicans and sinners, Matt. ix. 11. This custom was so strictly observed, that when the Lord was about to extend his church to the Gentiles, he sent an especial vision to St. Peter, to show that it might be discontinued. Peter was blamed by the other apostles for eating with Cornelius, Acts xi. 3; and from several passages in the epistles, we find that the early Christians abstained from meat offered unto idols. As these sacrifices were offered at all solemn feasts, and on many occasions of less importance, they were separated from eating with the heathens in general.

It is still the custom in China, Persia, and many other countries, for the guests to have little tables or trays placed on the floor, upon which dishes are set for them. In India, many persons never eat out of the same dish as others, believing it would be sinful to do so, and thinking that their dishes, &c. are polluted and spoiled if touched by persons of another religion. If so touched, they break them, as the Jews were to break their earthen vessels when touched by an unclean animal. This assists in explaining the apostle's words: "Touch not, taste not, handle not." Dr. Clark found similar customs among the Turks. He was one night entertained very kindly by a Turk and his family; after leaving the place, the next morning, Dr. C. returned for a book he had left behind, when he found his kind host and all the family employed in breaking and throwing away the earthenware plates and dishes from which his guests had eaten, and purifying the other utensils and articles of furniture by passing them through fire or water ; see Lev. xi. 33. This may well teach us, that the followers of Christ are to keep themselves apart from the world, and shows that we should be ready even to suffer loss that we may do so. Indeed, one object of the numerous injunctions to which the Israelites were commanded to attend, appears to have been, to render it a matter of duty, as well as inclination, to keep themselves a separate people.

Elkanah, the father of Samuel, distributed portions of

1

provisions to each of his wives separately, 1 Sam. i. 4, 5. It is still the custom in all the countries of the east, when there is more than one wife, for each to be separate, as much as the means of the family will afford. When entertaining strangers, as well as in eating and drinking in general, there appears to have been great plenty, but not much care or delicacy in preparing the provision. It was deemed a mark of favour to send the guests a great deal of any dish; thus the mess or portion which Joseph sent to Benjamin was five times greater than was sent to any other of his brethren, Gen. xliii. 34. It is an honour to receive any portion from the table of the master of the feast, if he is a great man. A modern traveller, who dined in the presence of an eastern king, describes his majesty as tearing a handful of meat from a quarter of lamb, which stood before him, and sending it to his guest as a mark of honour. This custom also prevails in China. Van Braam, the Dutch ambassador, relates that some bones of mutton, with half the meat gnawed off, were sent to him from the table of the emperor, and he was told it was a great honour! Knives and forks never have been used in the east, as among us.

It was not usual for women to appear and eat with men ; this was observed by all ranks. Vashti refused to come to the feast of the king Ahasuerus, Est. i. 12. The ancient Hebrews probably sat down upon the ground at meals, round a low table or a mat, upon which the dishes were placed; see 1 Sam. xvi. 11, marginal reading, and Psa. cxxviii. 3. The Babylonians and Persians used to recline or lie down upon table beds, something like our sofas, while they were eating; and some among the Jews, after a time, adopted this custom, Amos vi. 4—7. The guests at the royal banquets or feasts, Est. i. 6; vii. 8, were placed on beds. Our Lord reclined in this manner, when Mary anointed his feet, John xii. 3, and when the beloved apostle John leaned his head upon his bosom, John xiii. 25, at the last supper. His feet were not placed like ours when we sit, but as he reclined they were easily touched, or wiped, by any one coming behind him. See the representations of reclining at table, pp. 16 and 34.

The following custom, observed by the modern Jews, after the practice of their forefathers, strongly reminds us of what passed at the last supper. Before they sit down they wash their hands very carefully, like the Pharisees of old, Mark vii. 3; they say that it is necessary to do so. A blessing is then asked. The master or chief person takes a loaf, and breaking it, says, "Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, the King of the world, who producest bread out of the earth." The guests answer, "Amen," and the bread is distributed to them. He then takes the vessel which holds the wine in his right hand, and says, Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the world, who hast created the fruit of the vine." The 23rd Psalm is then repeated. When the meal is finished, the master takes a piece of bread which has been left on purpose, and filling a glass or cup with wine, says, "Let us bless Him of whose benefits we have partaken:" the company reply, "Blessed be He who has heaped his favours on us, and has now fed us on his goodness." The master then repeats a prayer, thanking God for his many benefits granted to Israel, entreating him to have pity upon Jerusalem and the temple, to restore the throne of David, to send Elias and the Messiah, and to deliver them from their low state. The guests all answer, Amen," and repeat Psalm xxxiv. 9, 10; then each guest drinks a little of the wine that is left, and goes from the table.

66

These customs are appointed to be observed by the modern Jews, as well as those of old; but, like asking a blessing among those who are called Christians, it is too often forgotten. An author well observes, "A graceless meal cannot be expected to prove a wholesome meal."

It is still usual among eastern nations to break their bread into small pieces, and dip them into such dishes as contain liquids. The Israelites used to do so. Boaz told Ruth to dip her morsel in the vinegar, Ruth ii. 14. By giving one of these sops to Judas, our Lord pointed him out as the person who would betray him, Matt. xxvi. 28; John xiii. 26.

F

THERE were no inns like ours for travellers in Judea and the neighbouring nations, so that the people were obliged to carry every thing they wanted with them, and to wait upon themselves, or upon each other. For this reason, as well as to protect each other, they usually travelled in companies. They did so when they went up to Jerusalem at the great festivals directed, Exod. xxiii. 17. Psalm lxxxiv. 6, 7, is descriptive of this custom. It was in one of these companies that Joseph and Mary were returning home, when they missed Jesus, Luke ii. 42-44. Psalms, called the Psalms of Degrees, Psalms cxx. to The cxxxiv. are supposed to have been sung by the devout Jews, while travelling to Jerusalem, on these occasions. When on their journeys, their clothes would be tucked up, or "their loins girded." They usually carried staves in their hands, Numb. xxi. 18; Matt. x. 10.

Although there are no inns like ours in the east, there are some places called caravanseras, in which travellers rest themselves, and find shelter for their cattle. are large buildings, consisting of a court-yard, with small These rooms around it. They are quite empty, and the travel

lers take possession of them, paying a sum of money to the keeper of the caravansera. In the very early times, however, when Jacob's sons returned from Egypt, the inns mentioned, Gen. xliii. 21, were only places which, on account of some trees and water, were used by travellers as halting places. Christ was born in one of the caravanseras at Bethlehem, and, as all the rooms were full, his parents were obliged to take shelter in a cattle-shed.

But, in general, travellers, wherever they went, were received by the inhabitants with great kindness. Thus Abraham and Lot received the angels, supposing them to have been travellers. St. Paul refers to their receiving angels without knowing it at first, Heb. xiii. 2, to encourage Christians to be kind to strangers. Our Lord himself commends this, Matt. xxv. 41-45; and the first Christians, in general, were very attentive to practise it. St. Peter requires it, 1 Pet. iv. 9; and St. Paul does the same, 1 Tim. iii. 2; Tit. i. 8, and in other passages.

Most of the travelling mentioned in the Bible was on foot. The journeys of our Lord and of his apostles all