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.

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    ing of the Druzes, says, “ whoever presents himself at their door in the quality of a suppliant or passenger, is sure of being entertained with lodging and food in the most generous and unaffected manner. I have often seen the lowest peasants give the last morsel of bread they had in their houses to the hungry traveller. When they have once contracted with their guest the sacred engagement of bread and salt, no subsequent event can make them violate it.” “ An engagement with a stranger is sometimes ac- cepted as an excuse for not obeying the summons of a great man, when no other apology, hardly even that of indisposition, would be admitted.” (Russell’s Hist, of Aleppo, vol. i. p. 231.) The Hindoos extend their hospitality sometimes to enemies, saying, u the tree does not withdraw its shade even from the wood-cutter.” No. 514.—xii. 15. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. ] This verse seems to refer to the two gates of the temple, one called the gate of the bridegroom, and the other the gate of the mourners, into which two sorts all kinds of persons are divided. The first contained all those who continued unblemished members of the church, under no kind of censure ; the other contained those who were under any degree of excommunication, who, though they might come into the temple, must come in at the mourner’s door, with some mark of discrimination from other men, that they who saw them might pray for them, saying, “ He that dwells in this house comfort thee, and give thee an heart to obey.” Hammond m loc. No. 515.—xii. 20. In so doing thou shall'heap coals of fire on his head.] Many interpreters conceive that here is an allusion to artificers that melt metals by heaping