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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    a naked sword between their teeth, and a musket in their hands, beat offtheir adversaries.” How this naked sword was used in combat does not appear, but if this ever had been part of a military custom, the figure of a sword issuing from the mouth seems as if it might he justi- fied by matter of fact; and this expression may rank among those which occurrent circumstances may have formed. No. 584.——ii. 17. A white stone.] The stone here referred to is such an one as was used in popular judi- cature, or in elections, the custom beingtogive the votes in either of these bv such stones. These were either J' white or black ; the white was a token of absolution or approbation, the black of condemnation or rejection. There were judges in the agonistical games, who awarded the prizes to the conqueror by the use of these stones, a white one, with the name of the person and the value of the prize, being given to such as were victorious. Ovid expressly mentions, that black and white stones were used to absolve or condemn persons at Argos. Mos erat antiquus, niveis atrisque lapillis, His damnare reos, illis absolvere culpa. Metam. lib. xv. lin. 42. No. 5S5.—ii. 17. A new name written, which no man knoweth, saving he that receivetli it.] Doddridge on this passage says, I have sometimes thought o may signify one that hath received it, as it seems a name given to any person must be known to others, or it would be o-iven in vain; and then it intimates, that honour should be conferred upon such an one, which shall only be known to the inhabitants of that world to which he shall be admitted, and who have already received it ; other- wise it must refer to a custom which has sometimes prevailed among princes, of giving particular names,