were often very splendid, and the frames ornamented, made of fine wood or ivory, Amos vi, 4; and the coverlids were often richly embroidered, Prov. vii, 16. But most of the beds were rolled up, and put away in the day-time. In the latter times of the Jewish nation, they lay or reclined on couches while taking their meals, their heads towards the table, with their feet in a contrary direction, as represented on page 18. These particulars explain Amos vi, 4; Luke vii, 36–38; John xiii, 23; and other passages.

The other articles of furniture were but few in number. The furniture of the prophet's chamber, prepared for him by the Shunammite, (2 Kings iv, 10,) probably, was more than usual; but it was only a bed or couch upon the floor, a table, a stool, and a candlestick or lamp. Lamps are constantly used in the East; they are of clay or metal, filled with oil or grease, with cotton or linen yarn wicks. The lamps alluded to in the parable of the ten virgins, (Matt. xxv,) perhaps, were like those used in the East Indies now in marriage processions, a dish, or lamp, with old rags, and a pot of oil to pour on them from time to time. Others are like what formerly were called cressets in England, an iron frame, or basket, filled with flaming wood, or other fuel; these could be carried by watchmen. We give an engraving of these latter in the chapter on MARRIAGE.

Keys are mentioned, Judg. iii, 25; Rev. xxi. Sometimes they were large, so as to be rested upon the shoulder, Isa. xxii, 22. A recent traveler met a man with a wooden key hanging over his breast, and an iron one over his shoulder. He describes a door-key as a piece of wood with pegs in it; this would be passed through a hole in the door, (Cant. v, 4,) and fit the notches of the bar within. The entrance, as already described, is very often mean, and the passage from the street made with turnings, so that a passer by does not see into the house. Buckingham describes the house of the governor of Damascus as appearing very mean on entering, but within there was a gorgeous display of wealth and luxury.

Pots, pans, and dishes of earthenware or metal, with a few chests and boxes, supplied the place of many articles with which our houses are crowded. The mill was a very necessary article, but this will be mentioned in another place. The kneading-troughs, described Exod. xii, 34, like

many of those used in the East in the present day, were small wooden bowls, or leathern bags. There were several sorts of earthenware vessels, of different shapes and sizes, from the smallest size, like the cruse of Saul, (1 Sam. xxvi, 12,) or the pitchers of the woman of Samaria and the water-bearer, (John vi, 28; Mark xiv, 13,) and Rebekah, (Gen. xxiv, 15,) to the large ones mentioned John ii, 6. When Dr. Clarke was at Cana, in Galilee, a few years since, he saw several large stone water-pots, like those just men

tioned, which contained from eighteen to twenty-seven gallons each. Paxton describes such jugs or pots at Beyrout, holding from two to four gallons each.

But the Jews, like the modern Arabs, often kept their water, wine, milk, and other liquors, in bottles, or, rather, bags made of skins, which could be patched and mended when old. Such was the bottle given to Hagar, Gen. xxi, 14. Such were the bottles of the Gideonites, Josh. ix, 4. This explains the allusion of our Lord, Matt. ix, 17; Mark ii, 22; Luke v, 37, 38; which texts have been objected to by some ignorant infidels, who think that what they daily see at home must resemble everything in former times, and in other countries. If the new wine fermented after it was put into the leathern bottles, it is evident that an old worn skin would be more likely to burst than one which was new and strong. This was the sort of bottle opened by Jael, Judg. iv, 19.

Sometimes these bottles are made of the skin of a kid, or other animal, the head, and legs, and tail being cut off, and the openings sewed up; but more frequently they are square bags, made of large pieces of leather, which will hold several gallons of any liquid; so that Abigail's two bottles, (or skins of wine,) (1 Sam. xxv, 18,) were not out of proportion to the rest of her present, as two glass bottles of the present day would have been. Many of these leather bottles, or bags, are made of the skin of an ox, cut square, the edges sewed double, and the whole skin smeared with grease on the outside; such water-bags sometimes hold sixty gallons. The Psalmist, when describing himself as wasted with affliction and trouble, compares himself to a bottle in the smoke, Psa. cxix, 83. A leathern bottle, if hung in the

smoke for a length of time, would become shriveled and dried up; the tents of the Arabs are very smoky, having no openings but the doors.

There are no grates, or fireplaces like ours in the East; the fires are kindled on flat stones, or hearths. If fire is wanted in the sitting-rooms, it would probably be charcoal, kindled in a brazier, or metal vessel, used for the purpose. Such probably was the fire in which Jehoiakim burned the admonitory roll, Jer. xxxvi, 22, 23.

Horns were used for keeping liquors in, as the oil used for anointing by Samuel, 1 Sam. xvi, 13; by Zadok, 1 Kings i, 39. These were sometimes made of metal in the shape of a horn, and also used for drinking. Cups of gold, silver, and other materials, were commonly used, as Pharaoh's, Gen. xl, 11; Joseph's, xliv, 2, and those of Solomon, 2 Chron. ix, 20. Barzillai supplied cups, 2 Sam. xvii, 28. Jeremiah set pots and cups before the Rechabites, Jer. XXXV, 5. The word cup is often used figuratively, as for blessings, Psa. xvi, 5; xxiii, 5; but more commonly for afflictions or sufferings, Psa. lxxiii, 10; Isa. li, 17; Jer. xxv, 17; our Lord thus used the word, Luke xxii, 42; John xviii, 11.

DRESS, CLOTHING, AND ORNAMENTS.

IN the first ages, dress was very simple. God clothed Adam and Eve in the skins of beasts, Gen. iii, 21. Skins have continued to be the dress of savage nations, especially in cold climates; and Burkhardt describes the Bedouins as wearing leather aprons. After a time, other articles were used for dress, made of wool or flax see Lev. xiii, 47; Prov. xxxi, 13. At length garments of finer linen, and even of silk, were used by the rich, 2 Sam. i, 24; Prov. xxxi, 22; Luke xvi, 19. These were often dyed purple, or crimson, or scarlet, Judg. viii, 26; Dan. v, 29; Rev. xviii, 16. Jacob gave Joseph a coat of many colors, because he loved him more than his brethren, but it excited their envy, Gen. xxxvii, 3, 4. The daughters of kings and rich persons wore vests, or garments richly embroidered with needlework: see Psa. xlv, 13, 14; Judg. v, 30; also other texts. Such needlework still forms a principal part of the

employment of females in the Eastern nations. It was a regular business, Exod. xxxv, 35.

Dr. Shaw has given a very particular account of the Eastern dress, which, with what other travelers relate, explains many passages of Scripture. He says, the usual size of the hyke (the upper garment commonly worn) is six yards long, and five or six feet wide. Arundell describes the white felt, or coarse cloth, as being the fairweather and foul-weather companion of the camel-driver. It protects him against heat or cold by day, and at night makes his bed and bedding. It serves for dress by day, and to sleep in at night, as it did to the Israelites, Deut. xxiv, 13. A covering is necessary in those countries, for, although the heat by day is very great, the nights generally are cold. Such a garment was loose and troublesome to the wearer; he was obliged to tuck it up, and fold it round him. This made a girdle necessary whenever they were actively employed; and it explains the Scripture expression, "having our loins girded," when called upon to be active in performing any duty.

Ruth's veil, which held six measures of barley, (Ruth iii, 15,) was a garment of this sort. The kneading-troughs of the Israelites were bound up in their hykes, Exod. xii, 34. The plaid worn by the Highlanders is much the same sort of garment: the principal article of dress worn in Java, and other parts of the East, is similar; it is of many colors, like the Scottish plaid, and reminds us of Joseph's

coat.

A wooden or metal pin was used to fasten the folds of this garment together at the shoulder. The upper or the outer fold, (Neh. v, 13,) served for an apron to carry anything in, as the lap full of wild gourds, 2 Kings iv, 39. See also Ruth iii, 15; Prov. xvi, 33; and other texts. Paxton says nothing comes amiss; it is put into the bosom, Luke vi, 38.

It

The burnoose is a sort of cloak worn over the hyke. has a cape, or hood, to cover the head, as a shelter from rain. Under the hyke is worn a close-bodied frock, or tunic. These are the cloaks and coats mentioned Luke vi, 29; a precept meant to be observed in the spirit of it, not in the letter. The coat of the high priest (Exod. xxviii, 39) was a tunic, and so was Tamar's garment, 2 Sam. xiii, 18.