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decency, and the most profound silence, the slaves or servants standing at the bottom of the room, with their hands joined before them, watching with the utmost attention every motion of their master, who commands them by signs. De LA MOTRAYE (Travels, vol. i. p. 249.) says, that the eastern ladies are waited on

even at the least wink of the eye, or motion of the fingers, and that in a manner not perceptible to strangers." The Baron du Tott, (vol. i. p. 30.) relates a remarkable instance of the authority attending this mode of commanding, and of the use of significant motions. "The customary ceremonies on these occasions were over, and Racub (the new visir) continued to discourse familiarly with the ambassador, when the muzur-aga (or high provost) coming into the hall, and approaching the pacha, whispered something in his ear, and we observed that all the answer he received from him was a slight horizontal motion with his hand, after which the visir, instantly resuming an agreeable smile, continued the conversation for some time longer: we then left the hall of audience, and came to the foot of the great stair-case, where we remounted our horses: here, nine heads, cut off, and placed in a row on the outside of the first gate, completely explained the sign, which the visir had made use of in our presence." Hence we discover the propriety of the actions performed by the prophets. Ezekiel was a sign to the people in not mourning for the dead, (chap. xxiv.) in his removing into captivity, and digging through the wall. (chap. xii.) Such conduct was perfectly well understood, and was very significant.

No. 187.-cxxvi. 4. Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the South.] "This image is taken from the torrents in the deserts to the south of Judea; in Idumea, Arabia Petræa, &c. a mountainous coun

try. These torrents were constantly dried up in the summer, (see Job vi. 17, 18.) and as constantly returned after the rainy season, and filled again their deserted channels. The point of the comparison seems to be the return and renewal of these (not rivers, but) torrents, which yearly leave their beds dry, but fill them again; as the Jews had left their country desolate, but now flowed again into it."

Bishop HORNE's Commentary, vol. ii. p. 425.

No. 188.-cxxvi. 5, 6. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed.] The writer of the account of the ruins of Balbec, speaking of the valley in which it stood, observes that it has very little wood; and adds, "though shade be so essential an article of oriental luxury, yet few plantations of trees are seen in Turkey, the inhabitants being discouraged from labours, which produce such distant and precarious enjoyment, in a country where even the annual fruits of their industry are uncertain. In Palestine we have often seen the husbandman sowing, accompanied by an armed friend, to prevent his being robbed of the seed." The Israelites that returned from Babylon upon the proclamation of Cyrus, were in similar circumstances to husbandmen sowing their corn amidst enemies and robbers. The rebuilding of their towns and their temple resembled a time of sowing; but they had reason to fear that the neighbouring nations would defeat these efforts. (Nehem. iv. 7.) In opposition to this apprehension the Psalmist expresses his hope, perhaps predicts, that there would be an happy issue of these beginnings to re-people their country, HARMER, vol. i. p. 87.

No. 189.-cxxxiii. 2, 3. As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion.]

"A great difficulty occurs in the comparison which the Psalmist makes to the dew of Hermon that fell on the hill of Sion; which might easily be interpreted, if it had been observed, that the clouds which lay on Hermon, being brought by the north winds to Jerusalem, caused the dews to fall plentifully on the hill of Sion. But there is a Shihon mentioned in the tribe of Issachar, (Joshua xix. 19.) which may be Sion spoken of by Eusebius and Saint Jerome as near mount Tabor; and there might be a hill there of that name, on which the dew of the other Hermon might fall, that was to the east of Esdraelon. However, as there is no certainty that Mount Hermon in that part is even mentioned in scripture, so I should rather think it to be spoken of this famous mountain, and that Tabor and Hermon are joined together, as rejoicing in the name of God, not on account of their being near to one another, but because they are two of the highest hills in all Palestine. So that if any one considers this beautiful piece of eloquence of the Psalmist, and that Hermon is elsewhere actually called Sion, (Deut. iv. 48.) he will doubtless be satisfied, that the most natural interpretation of the Psalmist would be to suppose, though the whole might be called both Hermon and Sion, yet that the highest summit of this mountain was in particular called Hermon, and that a lower part of it had the name of Sion; on which supposition, the dew falling from the top of it down to the lower parts, might well be compared in every respect to the precious ointment upon the head that ran down unto the beard, even unto Aaron's beard, and went down to the skirts of his clothing, and that both of them in this sense are very proper emblems of the blessings of unity and friendship, which diffuse themselves throughout the whole society."

PocoCKE's Travels, vol. ii. p. 74.

No. 190.-cxxxv. 7. He maketh lightnings for the rain.] Russell (p. 154.) says, that at Aleppo a night seldom passes without lightning in the north-west quarter, but not attended with thunder. When it appears in the west or south-west points, it is a sure sign of the approaching rain; this lightning is often followed by thunder. Thus God maketh the lightnings for the rain; and when he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens; and as these refreshing showers are preceded by squalls of wind, he bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures. Jer. li. 16. HARMER, vol. i. p 67.

No. 191.-cxli. 7. Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth.] Whether this expression was designed to be understood literally or figuratively, Mr. Bruce relates a circumstance which shews that it might be literally verified. "At five o'clock we left Garigana, our journey being still to the eastward of north, and at a quarter past six in the evening arrived at the village of that name, whose inhabitants had all perished with hunger the year before, their wretched bones being all unburied, and scattered upon the surface of the ground where the village formerly stood. We encamped among the bones of the dead; no space could be found free from them." (Travels, vol. iv. p. 349.) To the Jews such a spectacle must have been very dreadful, as the want of burial was esteemed one of the greatest calamities which could befal them.

No. 192.-cxlvii. 16, 17. Who can stand before his cold?] The winters in the East are very cold and severe, at least in some places, and in some particular years; Jacobus de Vitriaco (Gesta Dei per Francos, p. 1130.) saw the cold prove deadly to man and beast. How forcible the exclamation of the Psalmist appears from this represen

tation! It is said also, that he giveth snow like wool. To illustrate this remark, Chardin says, "that towards the Black Sea, in Iberia and Armenia, the snow falls in flakes as big as walnuts, but not being either hard or very compact, it does no other hurt than presently covering a person." HARMER, vol. i. p. 16.

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