Oriental customs: or an illustration of the sacred Scriptures, by an explanatory application of the customs and manners of the Eastern nations, and especially the Jews. Therein alluded to, together with observations on many difficult and obscure texts, collected from the most celebrated travellers, and the most eminent critics / by Samuel Burder.

  • Samuel Burder
Date:
1802
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Oriental customs: or an illustration of the sacred Scriptures, by an explanatory application of the customs and manners of the Eastern nations, and especially the Jews. Therein alluded to, together with observations on many difficult and obscure texts, collected from the most celebrated travellers, and the most eminent critics / by Samuel Burder. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    375/448 (page 347)
    wav of speaking, to break bread is the same as to make a meal: and the meal here meant seems to have been one of those which was called ufunui, love-feasts. Such of the heathens as were converted to Christianity were obliged to abstain from meats offered to idols, and these were the main support of the poor in the heathen cities. The Christians therefore, who were rich, seem very early to have begun the custom of those uFukcIi, love-feasts, which they made on every first day of the week, chiefly for the benefit of the poorer Christians, who, by being such, had lost the benefit, which they used to have for their support, of eating part of the heathen sacrifices. It was towards the latter end of these feasts, or imme- diately after them, that the Christians used to take bread and wine in remembrance of Jesus Christ, which, from what attended it, was called the eucharist, or holy communion. No. 500.—xx. 9. There sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychusi\ Chardin informs us, that the eastern windows are very large, and even with the floor. It is no woijder Eutychus might fall out if the lattice was not well fastened, or if it was decayed, when, sunk into a deep sleep, he leaned with all his weight against it. IIarmer, vol. i. p. 164. No. 501.—xxi. 24. Take them, and'purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them.] The better to understand what is said in this passage, it may be observed, that among the Jews it was accounted meri- torious to contribute to the expences of the sacrifices and offerings, which those who had taken upon them a vow of nazaritism were to make when the time of their vow came to be accomplished. Thus Josephus, to magnify the zeal and devotion of Herod Agrippa,