Hebrew Literature Part 67

But if the heathen neglected it during the confusion of war, there was no proof that they would not wors.h.i.+p it at another time.

_ 460 I.e._, triumphal arches with statues upon them.

461 Because the idolater might have made an idolatrous libation from both flasks.

462 Exod. xxi. 29.

463 Deut. xxi. 4.

464 Num. vi. 18.

465 This refers to the killing or slaughtering of cattle and fowls for profane or domestic purposes. They were called profane to distinguish them from the holy sacrifices.

466 Num. x.x.xi. 23.

467 The men of the great synagogue were the "Scribes" who flourished from the return out of Babylon till the Graeco-Syrian persecution, 220 B.C. Their object was to preserve the sacred text with scrupulous minuteness, and make a "fence" for the law. They added numberless directions for the better observance of the old precepts.

The Scribes were succeeded by the "learners," the "repeaters," and the "master builders," who continued from 220 B.C. till 220 A.D. In their time fall the Maccabaean revolution, the birth of Christ, the overthrow of the Temple by t.i.tus, the rebellion of Barchochba, the complete destruction of Jerusalem, and the dispersion of the Jews.

468 Supposed by some to be the Sameas and Pollio of Josephus. Though others try to identify Sameas with Simon, son of Shetach.-"Antiq."

xiv. ix. 4, etc.

469 Ps. x.x.xvii. 21.

470 Deut. vi. 4, etc.

471 Joel ii. 13.

472 Ps. i. 1.

473 Mal. iii. 16.

474 Lam. iii. 28.

475 Isa. xxviii. 8.

476 Ezek. xli. 22.

477 Ps. lx.x.xii. 1.

478 Amos ix. 6.

479 Ps. lx.x.xii. 1.

480 Mal. iii. 16.

481 Exod. xx. 24.

482 1 Chron. xxix. 14.

483 Deut. iv. 9.

484 Deut. iv. 9.

485 Gen. ix. 6.

486 Deut. xiv. 1.

487 Prov. iv. 2.

488 Jer. xvii. 6.

489 Jer. xvii. 8.

490 Ps. cxix. 99.

491 Prov. xvi. 32.

492 Ps. cxxviii. 2.

493 1 Sam. ii. 30.

494 The Rabbis reckon that the expression "G.o.d said" is used nine times in the first chapter of Genesis, and that the tenth expression is to be found in the first verse, "In the beginning G.o.d created the heaven and the earth."

495 Num. xiv. 22.

496 The shameer is the worm which knows how to hew stones, and helped Solomon to build the Temple.

497 Num. xv. 20.

498 Deut. x.x.xiii. 21.

499 1 Kings xiv. 16.

500 Prov. viii. 21.

501 Ps. lv. 23.

502 Or, perhaps, "for meditation."

503 Prov. viii. 14.

504 Prov. xi. 22.

505 Ex. x.x.xii. 16.

506 Num. xxi. 19.

507 Ps. lv. 13.