CHAP. XXV.

"Solo

The brass of all these vessels was without weight.-Verse 16. mon left all the vessels unweighed, because they were exceeding many: neither was the weight of the brass found out." (1 Kings vii. 47.)

To say the vessels were "without weight," or were "unweighed," may mean they were so very numerous, or so very heavy, that it was not easy to speak accurately. In Num. vii. 85, 86, mention is made of weighing the spoons and charger; but I think it very likely that some of the vessels were so sacred as to make it improper to weigh them. The tāli, on which is stamped a representation of a deity, though made of gold, is not weighed. The javelin or spear of Scandan, or of the other gods, is deemed so sacred as to make it unlawful to weigh any one of them. Idols of silver and gold are never weighed to find out their value.

1 CHRONICLES.

CHAP. X.

They sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to carry tidings unto their idols.-Verse 9.

AFTER Saul had fallen on Mount Gilboa, his enemies stripped him, and took off his head, and sent the tidings to their idols.

When the Heathen of the present day gain a victory over their enemies, they always take the tidings to their idols. There is the king, and there are his general and troops, with the priests and people, all marching in triumph to the temple. Then they relate to the gods all their proceedings; how they conquered the foe, and have now come to them to give the glory.

But the people resort to the same practice in the common affairs of life. A man delivered from prison, or any great emergency, always goes to his gods, to carry the joyful tidings. Hear him relate the story: "Ah! Swamy, you know Muttoo

wanted to ruin me; he therefore forged a deed in my name, and tried to get my estates. But I resisted him; and it has just been decided before the court, that he is guilty. I am therefore come to praise you, O Swamy!"

CHAP. XVIII.

Now when Tou king of Hamath heard how David had smitten all the host of Hadarezer king of Zobah; he sent Hadoram his son to king David, to inquire of his welfare, and to congratulate him.— Verses 9, 10. See also 2 Sam. viii. 9.

Here again we have a beautiful and simple picture of Eastern manners. Tou, the heathen king, sent a messenger to compliment David on his success over his enemies. Who, in the East, has not witnessed similar scenes? Has a man gained a case in a court of law? has he been blessed by the birth of a son? has he given his daughter in marriage? has he gained a situation under government? has he returned from a voyage or a journey, or finished a successful speculation?-then his friends and neighbours send messengers to congratulate him, to express the joy they feel in his prosperity; "so much so, that had it come to themselves, their pleasure could not have been greater."

CHAP. XXII.

Bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the Lord.Verse 19.

In all heathen temples, there are numerous vessels of brass, silver, and gold, which are especially holy. Those, however, of the highest castes may be allowed to touch them, and even to borrow them for certain purposes. Thus a native gentleman, on preparing to give a feast, borrows the large caldron for the purpose of boiling the rice. Should his daughter be about to be married, he has the loan of the silver salvers, plates, and even jewels; which, however, must all be purified by incense and other ceremonies when returned to the temple.

"The ark" finds a striking illustration in the keadagam

of the Hindoos,-a model of which may be seen in the house of the Royal Asiatic Society.* In it are placed the idols, and other sacred symbols, which are carried on men's shoulders.

CHAP. XXVI.

And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate. And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counsellor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward. To Obed-edom southward; and to his sons the house of Asuppim. To Shuppim and Hosalı the lot came forth westward.-Verses 13-16. See the remarks on Prov. xviii. 18.

Thus the gates were assigned to the different officers by lot. On the death of a parent, the whole of his fields and gardens are often divided amongst his children; and great disputes generally arise, as to whom shall be given this or that part of the property. One says, "I will have the field to the east." "No," says another, "I will have that." And it is not till they have quarrelled, and exhausted their store of ingenuity and abuse, that they will consent to settle the matter by lot. The plan they take is as follows: they draw on the ground the cardinal points thus: they then write the

names of the parties on separate leaves,† and mix them all together. A little child is then called, and told to take one leaf and place it on any point of the compass he pleases; this being done, the leaf is opened, and to the person whose name is found therein will be given the field or garden which is in that direction.

I think it, therefore, probable, that the lots eastward, westward, northward, and southward, which fell to Shelemiah, Shuppim, Zechariah, and Obed-edom, were drawn in a manner somewhat similar.

CHAP. XXIX.

All the princes, and the mighty men, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king.-Verse 24. The Hebrew has, for submitted, "gave the hand under."

"To give the hand under," is a beautiful Orientalism to denote submission. See the man who wishes to submit to a superior: he stands at a short distance, then, stooping, he unceasingly moves his hands to the ground, and says, "I submit, my lord."-" You recollect having heard that Kandan and Chinnan had a serious quarrel?" "Yes, I heard it." "Well, they have settled the matter now, for Chinnan went to him last evening, and 'gave his hand under.'"-"The Modeliar is no longer angry with me, because I have put down my hand to the ground."

"That rebellious son has, for many years, refused to acknowledge his father's authority; but he has at last put his hand under;" that is, he has submitted to him, has become obedient.

2 CHRONICLES.

CHAP. XIV.

He took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images.-Verse 5. The Hebrew has "sun images." "They brake down the altars of Baalim in his presence; and the images, that were on high above them, he cut down." (Chap. xxxiv. 4.) The Hebrew has again, "sun images." "The groves and images shall not stand up." (Isai. xxvii. 9.) Heb. sun images." "Your images shall be broken." (Ezek. vi. 4.) Heb. "sun images.”

WE see these "sun images" were connected with the altars and worship of Baal. (2 Chron. xxxiv. 4.) This is in addition to the Peor; and the Lingam gives another confirmation of the identity of Baal and Siva. The "sun-images" are principally, if not exclusively, kept in the temple of Siva. They are made of black granite, in the shape of a man, and about his size. There are, however, many of them with only a head, having a halo or numerous coruscations to reprcsent the orb of day. Thus, in the houses of rich natives may be seen, near a niche, on one side, the representation of the sun; and, on the other, a figure of the crescent moon.

The temple-images are placed on the east side, and offerings are sometimes presented to them before they are taken to the Lingam. See the observations on Baal and Siva, Deut. iv. 16; and Amos v. 26.

CHAP. XVI.

And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries' art: and they made a very great burning for him.Verse 14.

CHAP. XXI.

He died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers.-Verse 19. "But thou shalt die in peace and with the burnings of thy fathers, the former kings which were before thee, so shall they burn odours for thee; and