Engedi, appears from many passages of Scripture, Gen. xxxvii. 25; xliii. 11; Jer. viii. 22; xlvi. 11; li. 8; see also the History of Tacitus, book, v. c. 6; Josephus in his Jewish War, book iv. chap. viii. §. 3; compared with his Antiquities, book viii. ch. vi. §. 6; book xx. chap. iv. §. 2; Pliny's Natural Hist. book xii. 2; Diodorus Siculus, xix. c. 98; Strabo, 763; and Justin's Epitome of Trogus, xxxvi. c. 2. There are three species of the balsam, two are shrubs, the other is a tree. They yield their sap in June, July, and August, which is received into an earthen vessel. The fruit also, when pierced by an instrument, emits a juice of the same kind, in more abundance, but less rich. The sap, extracted from the body of the tree or shrub, is called the opobalsamum; the juice of the balsam fruit is denominated carpobalsamum, and the liquid, extracted from the branches when cut off, the xylobalsamum.

§. 75. THE PALM,, povi.

The palm tree is very common in the countries of the east and in Africa. As it requires men of skill and experience to cultivate this tree, it is now rarely met with in Palestine. Yet at an early period palm groves were abundant amongst the Jews. This we learn from Lev. xxiii. 40; Deut. xxxiv. 3; Judges, i. 16; iii. 13; iv. 5; and from many profane writers; and also from the ancient coins of the Jews and Romans, which exhibit the palm, a sheaf of wheat, and a cluster of grapes, as the symbols of the Jewish nation. Palms flourish best in a warm climate, and in clayey, sandy, and nitrous soils, when water is not deficient. They are, therefore, found in abundance in valleys and plains, Exod. xv. 27, and are straight, and lofty, destitute of limbs, except very near the top, surmounted with a crown of foliage, that is always green. The figure of the palm tree was carved in ornamental work, 1 Kings, vi. 32; and it is used figuratively, as a symbol of a beautiful person, Cant. vii. 8, and also of a religious, upright man, Psalms, i. 3; xcii. 12. The dates grow on small stems, which germinate at the angles formed by the stock of the tree and the branches. Palm trees are male and female, and, in order that fruit may be produced, the seed from the flowers of the masculine palm must be borne at the proper season to the tree of an opposite character. If this be not done, or if it take place too early or too late, the female palm, like the

male, bears no fruit. The productions of the palm are large clusters of dates, which become ripe in August, September, and October. Some of the dates are eaten in their crude state; the rest are strained through a press woven of osiers, and after the juice is forced out, are reduced into solid masses, and preserved. The expressed juice is the Date Wine, formerly very celebrated; under which name was also comprehended the beverage, which was procured from clusters of dry dates steeped in warm water, and then pressed. The Hebrews at the feast of tabernacles bore palm branches in their hands; they also strewed them in the way before the kings, as they entered on public occasions into their cities, Lev. xxiii. 40; 1 Mac. xiii. 51; Matt. xxi. 8. The palm was a symbol of victory, Rev. vii. 9. This tree is considered by the orientals superior to all others. Hence the saying, from the branch, i. e. the palm branch, to the rush or reed, expressions which are interchangeable with the head and tail,

, and mean the same thing, as the phrase "from the highest to the lowest," Isaiah, ix. 14; xix. 15.

§. 76. TEREBINTHS AND PISTACIAS.

etc., which ,אֵלָה אֵילִים, אֵלוֹן .Terebinths are called in Heb

words are sometimes confounded and interchanged with

and

, which mean the oak. The terebinths are large trees, loaded with branches and foliage, and green throughout the year. They live a thousand years, and when they die, they leave in their place a scion, which in time spreads in similar luxuriance, and attains the same age; so that where they once appear, they may be said to be eternal. It was for this reason, that places were named from them, as from cities, Gen. xiii. 18; Judges, vi. 11; 1 Sam. x. 3; Isaiah, vi. 13; Ezek. vi. 13. They are used figuratively as symbols of the good, who in Isaiah, Ixi. 3, are called terebinths of righteousness, P.

The pistacia is a tree much like the terebinth. It bears a rich species of nuts, which hang in clusters, D, Gen. xliii. 11; and which are ripe in October. In appearance they resemble almonds, but are of a better flavour; and therefore more esteemed by the orientals. Walnuts, , are common in Palestine; but hazel nuts are scarce, if indeed found there at all. The word, which some suppose to mean the hazel nut, is the name of the almond.

§. 77. BEES AND HONEY.

Palestine is called the land flowing with milk and honey; see Exod. iii. 8; xiii. 5; xxxiii. 3; Levit. xx. 24; Numb. xiv. 8, and various other passages of Scripture. This is a figurative expression, and is applied to any fruitful land; for instance, Egypt in Numb. xvi. 13. It appears that bees were numerous in Palestine, and were found not only in their hives, which were built of clay mixed with straw, but frequently in the woods, in the hollow trees, and the fissures of rocks, Deut. xxxii. 13; Psalms, lxxxi. 16. From their nature they figuratively represented violent and ferocious enemies, Deut. i. 44; Psalm, cxviii. 12. They could be allured, by any thing that made a hissing or rather a tinkling sound, to any particular place, Is. vii. 18. The Hebrews paid attention to these small insects; as is evident from the abundance of honey which they possessed, and which they exchanged in their traffic with the Tyrians, Ezek. xxvii. 17. Hence honey is often mentioned in the Bible, both the comb, D'DAY NEİ, μexico giov, and the liquid honey,

VET. It should be remarked, that the word, which means liquid. honey, may also mean the syrup of dates and new wine, Gen. xliii. 11. Wild honey, péri äypsoy, w, is likewise spoken of, 1 Sam. xiv. 25-27; Matt. iii. 4. This was not the honey of bees, found in the fissures of rocks; for this occurs under the phrase, o, Deut. xxxii. 13; Psalm, lxxxi. 16. Nor was it the liquid manna, called terengabin, although this manna was formerly comprehended under the common word for honey. It is the honey dew, i. e. the excrements, which certain little insects, called by Linnæus, Aphides, emit very copiously upon the leaves of trees, so much that it flows down upon the ground, 1 Sam. xiv. 15-27.

The ancients used honey instead of sugar, and were very fond of it; it is hence used figuratively as an image of pleasure and happiness, Psalm, cxix. 103; Prov. xxiv. 13, 14; Cant. iv. 11. When taken in great quantities it causes sickness, and is consequently used figuratively to express any nauseating sensation, Prov. xxv. 16, 17.

§. 78. FISHING.

Fish were considered a great delicacy by the Hebrews, and all

the orientals, Numb xi. 5. They were taken in great numbers from the river Jordan and the lake Gennesareth. Those only, which were destitute of scales or fins, were interdicted, Lev. xi. 9. The fish-gate, or the place in which fish were sold, at Jerusalem, is mentioned 2 Chron. xxxiii. 14; Neh. iii. 3: xii. 39. Fishermen are used figuratively for enemies, Isaiah, xix. 8; Hab. i. 15. Strabo says, there was a great trade carried on in fish at the lake Gennesareth. Some of the apostles living near the lake were fishermen, and this class of men were in general active, and skilful, Luke, v. 1, et seq. comp. Matt. iv. 19. The instruments used in fishing, were a hook, 2, Job, xli. 1; Isaiah, xix. 8; Hab. i. 15; an iron spear, b, Job, xli. 7, and a net,,, Job, xix. 6; Isaiah, li. 20.

§. 79. THE FALLOW YEAR.

Every seventh year was a sabbath of rest unto the land. There was neither sowing nor reaping; the vines and the olives were not pruned; there was no vintage, no gathering of fruits, even of what grew wild; for all spontaneous productions were left to the poor, the traveller, and the wild beast, Lev. xxv. 1— 7; Deut. xv. 1-10. Their sabbatical year was instituted in order that the land might be improved, and that the Hebrews might be taught economy and foresight; yet the Hebrews did not spend the seventh year in absolute idleness. They could fish, hunt, take care of their bees and flocks, repair their buildings and furniture, manufacture cloths of wool, linen, and of the hair of goats and camels, and carry on commerce. Finally, they were obliged to remain longer in the tabernacle or temple this year, during which the whole Mosaic law was read, in order to be instructed in religious and moral duties, the history of their nation, and the wonderful works and blessings of God, Deut. xxxi. 1013. This seventh year's rest, as Moses predicted, Lev. xxvi. 34, 35, was for a long time neglected, 2 Chron. xxxvi. 21. After the captivity it was more scrupulously observed.

CHAPTER V.

OF THE ARTS.

§. 80. THE ORIGIN OF THE ARTS.

AT first the Arts were imperfect and limited; but the inquisitive and active mind of man, seconded by his wants, soon caused them to extend and improve. In the fourth generation after the creation of man, we find mention made of artificers in brass and iron, and also of musical instruments, Gen. iv. 21, 22. Those communities, which, from local or other causes, were unable to flourish by means of agriculture, naturally encouraged the arts. Consequently they advanced with great rapidity, and we learn that as early as the time of Noah; that very large vessel, the ark, was built under his direction.

§. 81. STATE OF THE ARTS From the DeluGE TO MOSES.

Noah, together with his sons and servants, who were engaged with him in the construction of the ark, must have been well acquainted with some of the mechanic arts. They had also without doubt seen the operations of artificers in various other ways, and after the deluge imitated their works as well as they could. Hence not long after this period, viz. the deluge, we find edifices, various utensils, and ornaments mentioned, which imply a knowledge of the arts, Gen. ix. 21; xi. 1-9; xiv. 116; xii. 7, 8; xv. 10; xvii. 10; xviii. 4, 5, 6; xix. 32; xxi. 14; xxii. 10; xxiii. 13–16; xxiv. 22; xxvi. 12, 15, 18. xxvii. 3, 4, 14; xxxi. 19, 27, 34. Traces and intimations of which the attentive reader will find perpetually occurring down to the time of Moses.

§. 82. THE ARTS AMONG THE HEBREWS IN THE TIME OF MOSES.

Egypt in the early age of the world excelled all other nations in a knowledge of the arts. The Hebrews, in consequence of

G