hebrew hieroglyphics
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nnanon nratyoHEBREW HIEROGLYPHICS.
nnaion
HEBREW CHARACTERSDERIVED FROM
HIEROGLYPHICS.THE ORIGINAL PICTURES APPLIED TO THE INTERPRETATION OF VARIOUS WORDS AND PASSAGES IN THE SACRED WRITINGSAND ESPECIALLY OF
THE HISTORY OF THE CREATION AND FALL OF MAN.
SECOND EDITION.
TO WHICH
IS
ADDED
AN INQUIRY INTO THE ORIGIN AND PURPORT
RITES OF BACCHUS.
BY
JOHN LAMB,CAMBRIDGE:
D.D.
MASTER Of CORPUS CHR1STI COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE.
PRINTED AT THE PITT PRESS, BY JOHN SMITH, PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY.
LONDON:JOHN W. PARKER,
WEST STRAND.
M.DCCC.XXXV.
,
~'
-^-'
c*,
^^-
^cc.y^
V
BequestIb,
of
ersiti?
of Toronto
1901
SIGNA SUNT VERBA VISIBILIA; VERBA SIGNA AUDIBILIA.
THE
HEBREW ALPHABET.
HIEROGLYPHIC.
HEBREW ALPHABET.HIEROGLYPHIC.
HEBREW ALPHABET.HIEROGLYPHIC.TBANSITION.
HARACTER.
ANCIENT NAME.
MEANING.
p D
SAH.
THE MOON.
A t
X
y
AUL.
THE
LEGS.
PHEH.
THE FACE.
Tzi.
A HOIINED BEAST
P1
KAV.
A BOAT.
RAH.
A HAWK.
SHISH.
THE
SUN.
A
n
THATH
A
TENT.
MASCIJOTH HAMMEDABBEROTH,
IT has long been my opinion that considerable light might be thrown upon the early history of mankind, asfirst chapters of Genesis, by the 3 of hieroglyphic or picture-writing In all probastudy bability this was the only mode of recording events.
contained in the eleven
and communicating ideas until after the separation of the descendants of Noah, and the consequent foundation of many distinct nations. Each family or tribe would carry with them the picture history of mankind from the creation until the dispersion; and these records would be carefully preserved by them as sacred writings, and wereprobably the origin of all their mythological systems. And if this were the case, there must have been a period
by the descendand through Noah transmitted to Abraham ants of Seth, and his posterity became Phonetic; and could we possibly obtain a copy of this ancient record it would unscripture history as preserved
when the
doubtedly throw
much light upon many obscure parts of the early history of mankind. Of these nations, some under favourable circumstances
of climate
and
situationarts,
wouldfor a
make muchlong period
greaterothers.
progress in literature,
and sciences than
Some would probably remain
with
little
originala
more knowledge than they derived from their founders. Some might even retrograde and notthis
sense,
Throughout this work the word "hieroglyphic" is used in and not in its more correct meaning of " sacred writing."
A
retain
that
small
stock with which they commenced.
After a few centuries the literature of each nation (ifso it
may be
called)
would be more
or less
advanced;
is, the system of picture-writing would be rendered more simple by a gradual transition from the real image
that
to
some emblematical mark of the original. Now among these early nations we have reason to believe that one did advance far before the rest in arts, sciences, andbeyond the reach of any was a most populous and authentic historic powerful nation, with knowledge to contrive, and skill
literature.
Egypt
at a period
records
which still remain monuments of their former grandeur, and excite the admirationto execute various works,
and astonishment of the traveller*. This people having carried the picture-writingvery high covery of Phonetic characters.state of perfection
to a
made
the important disThis event is now as-
certained to have taken place at a very early period. " " J'ai du conclure," (says M. Champollion) et j'ai conclu avec toute raison
de ces
faits
si
nombreux
et
si
evidens d'abord que 1'usage de 1'ecriture
PHONETIQUE
EGYPTIENNE, dans ma lettreplus reculee."
donta
M.
j'ai premier 1'alphabet Dacier, remontait a 1'antiquite la
publie le
Whencharacters
once this important discovery was made, these would shortly be reduced to the same, or
The number nearly the same as we now find them. of consonants does not depend upon the genius of each b particular language , but upon certain organs of theanimal man;a
and,
as
these are uniform
throughoutf
See Lectures on Hieroglyphics, by the Marquis Spinetto, 20 26. pp. b This is generally true, for although the number may be increased to a certain extent
by the
nasal
and guttural organs, theyy.
can be reduced to about twenty- two distinct sounds,
3
same alphabet would be appliThis discovery would soon every language. be known by the neighbouring nations, and in no very long time it would be generally adopted. Each separate people would not repeat the process by which the first inventor had arrived at so happy a result, but eachthe whole race,to
the
cable
wouldtheir
(if
I
may bepictures
own
into
allowed the expression) translate the two-and-twenty sounds
And hence it is that we already provided for them. find almost every nation claiming to itself the discoveryofletters.
Each one no doubt may putasfar
in a claim for
this
honour,to
as
it
consists
in having reducedafter
pictures discoverers
that the first language, had given them the key. And this process would take place in the following manner.
a Phonetic
select from among their hieroglyphics each one being the representative of a letter, twenty-two, and containing that simple -sound. For example, suppose they had among their characters the picture of a
They would
Lion, and in their language this beast was called Li, they would take this figure to represent L, and whereever it appeared it would become the letter L. Again,
suppose that
they had the picture of a face, and in their language it was called PEH, then in the same
manner they would obtain the character of the letter P. And if they had the hieroglyphic of a Cup, and it wascalled
NA, they would from
it
obtain the figure of the
letter N. And proceeding thus they would obtain twoand-twenty letters, representing all the sounds of the
alphabet.
they had selected these, there would probably remain many other pictures; but with Each figure these the process would be very simple.after
Now
sound.
would be changed into that letter, which contained it's For example, suppose they had among their characters the picture of a Foot, and it was called AL;
4
they would, wherever they met with it, render it by the letter L, which contains the sound of that wordIf they had the picture of a Bird, and called it OP, they would in the same manner render it by P*
'
And
proceeding thus with very little difficulty, they would reduce the whole of their pictures, were they many or few, to the letters of the alphabet; andevery word would contain as many distinct consonants, as the corresponding Hieroglyphic Cartouche did pictures.
Such being the
case,
this question
arises,
is
there
any language which remains
so little altered since the
time of this translation, as to afford us the means of retranslating a part of it into its former picture charespect to spoken languages, this must be a hopeless case, so great is the change which in But the lapse of ages must have taken place in them.racters.
With
there
is
the
Hebrew
in the
same
state, in
which
it
was
at least in the days of Moses, i. e. about 1500 years before the birth of Christ, and not more than 700 or
800 years
after the
building of the tower of Babel.
sacred books of the Jews having been written in this dialect, and the nation in process of time adopting
The
another vernacular tongue,
it
has not undergone those
changes which are inevitable to any spoken language. If we could now succeed in obtaining the exact picture,
which each of the Hebrew characters represented, there would undoubtedly be much light thrown upon the manner in which the language was constructed and if it should be the case that they had not a great;
numberableto
of pictures, but frequently repeated those, whichfor letters,
they have adoptedobtain words.
the correctthis
we should probably be meaning of many ancientafter once the
But more than
:
language
became written, every new word would be formed by
these letters, each retaining
its ideal
sense
;
there would
be now asall
were but one picture for each letter, and words afterwards formed would undoubtedly belongit
to this class.
In
the
early period
of the world,
and especially
without any written characters, language would be very concise, and no more words would be used than wereabsolutely necessary for the simple concerns of mankind. But after their characters became Phonetic, and their
would be and probably the majority of words equally extended now found in Hebrew, are of a date posterior to its It transition from hieroglyphic to written characters. is clear that this mode of forming words from theincreased,their language;
commerce greatly
continued down to a very late period, as I shall have occasion to shew. Hence, in a philological point of view, it is of considerableideal
meaning of the
letters
importance to establish the true meaning of theas
letters,
by
so doing
we may
obtain the correct meaning of
many
words,
ignorant. may lead to the explanation of some difficult passages in the Bible, and to the confirmation, or illustration of
And
concerning which we are now perfectly the exhibition of their original pictures
those important truths in whichinterested.
mankind
are so deeply
In this undertaking there are three distinct thingsto be accomplished.I.
To OBTAIN THE IDEAL MEANINGLETTER.
OF EACH
II.
TO DISCOVER THAT HIEROGLYPHIC, WHICH CONTAINS THIS IDEA, AND AT THE SAME TIME MAY EASILY HAVE PASSED INTO THE FORM OF THE I.FTTKK AS NOW W1UTTKN.
6III.
To FIND THE HEBREW WORD OF
ONE
SYLLABLE, BEGINNING WITH THIS LETTER, WHICH WAS THE ANCIENT NAME OF THE HIEROGLYPHIC.
With respect to the first part, To OBTAIN THE IDEAL MEANING OF EACH LETTER, I will give Oneexampleto
shew the manner in which
this
may bere-
accomplished. Every reader of the
Hehrew Bible must havesignifying
marked the frequent occurrence of 3 with the pronominal"smiting."affixes
or
prefixes,:
the
action
of
For example
ntf
-p
"And"
he smote the Egyptian."
Exod.-p
ii.
12.
nil POD ojn
mm
And
Jehovah smote the people with a great smiting.xi.
Numb."
33.
And
he smote her with theletter
edge of the sword."D contains the whole
Josh. x. 28.
idea of " smiting."
In these examples the
Again we
find
whenby
this 3 has3 or
no
pronominal
prefix, the place is supplied
n,
as,
"
Andalso
I will smite Egypt."rr
Exod.it,
iii.
20.
And"
is
frequently affixed to
as
nmAndJehovah smote
b3
nan
mmExod.xii.
all
the first-born."five
29.
This word occurs aboutBible in exactly this sense.
hundred times in the
Grammarians give us
a
triliteral,
as the root of this
word
;
but
it
is
quite
evident,letters
that however
may be for compliance with some canon of the language, they have no effect upon the ideal power of D, which contains within itself the
necessary euphony, or for
these
two formative
action of smiting. find then in
We
a
Hebrew word commonlysense
calledletter,
a root, that the whole
may
rest in
one
and the two others be merely formatives, and in this case 3 and n serve this purpose. Again, we have a word "jttO containing 3, and another letter in combination
with 3, and signifying "to bite," i.e. "to smite with the teeth ;" and in a metaphorical sense " to lend on usury." have also ntM , where V is
We
in combination with
on usury."obtainsits
Nowor
signifying also "to lend whether in the former word D lends3,
n and
its ideal sense,
" a tooth."teeth.
merely formative, this latter word whole meaning from the letter ttf, signifyingis
But although
thisis
may
be the
case, it does
not follow that the letter
the representative of the
This may be a derived or second meaning, as in truth it is, or it may have nothing to do with the form of the letter, being borrowed from some other But I give this example to shew how the picture. ideal meaning of the letters may be traced out; and
how
I
obtained the following results.
I
took each letter
separately, and examined well every root, that is, every word of two or three letters, in which it was found, especially those in which it was connected with n or 1 Having collected the various meanings, and reduced them by rejecting those of doubtful authority, or of
succeeded in bringing each to one primary idea derived from a noun substantive. With respect to the second object, viz., THE DISr
I
The word It is the representative of a cup. found nearly in its primitive sense, Exod. xii. 9ND
NA,
A
CUP.
Hence
its ideal
meanings.
CUP. Pouring. Motion,Giving.
(as of liquid).
REPETITION.
This letter occasionally imparts a diminuti\ e meaning.
DTheMoon.primitive
ideais
of this
letter is
that4.
of the
The word"
found in Psalm Lxxxi
HD31with
(Bac-ce-seh),
at the full
moon
;"
the word
is spelt
17
N instead of nND SA,
in Proverbs
vii.
20.
ND3n (Hac-ce-sea)ideal meanings.
" the the full moon, viz.
moon
circular."its
THE Moox.Brightness.
Hence
MOON.
Whiteness.
MOON-SHAPED.
Motion, (revolving).
/andall its
/
V.feet of a
This character represents the legs and
man
;
meanings relate to this image. We do not know the original sound of the letter. It was prohably not very unlike that of N; and as K in its primitivesense was soon only found in union with T, so y in its primitive sense was soon only found in union with b , " as we now have it in the verb J"6y (A-lah), to go up ;" " over." " and in the preposition by (Al), upon," It occursin its original meaning in DV2 (Paam), signifying " et iterum," step upon step."
"
semel
by
AL.
LEGS AND FEET.Two.
Hence
its ideal
meanings.Biped.
LEGS AND FEET. MOTION.
fThisletter derives its ideal character chiefly
from
the mouth, but was probably represented by the wholeface as its present form seems to indicate.
N3
or
H3
PHA
or
PHEH. FACEBreath.
or
MOUTH.HOLE.
Hence
its ideal
meanings.Aperture.
FACE.
MOUTH.
B
18
the representative of some horned have the letter with its origianimal lying down. xiii. 21. and Jer. L. 39.) nal meaning. (Isai.
This
letter
is
We
"
And
the horned beasts shall couch there."cattle."
It is
found also in ]$x (Tson), " small horned
^Henceits ideal
TSI,
A HORNEDHORNS.
BEAST.
meanings.
HORNED ANIMAL.stance)
HORN
(the
sub-
Moon.
Branches.
PThisinletter represents a boat
and
its oar.
As
boats
wooden
early times were trees hollowed out, any hollow The vessels seems to have borne this name.is
Coptic for a boat
xoi, the same as the oldis
Hebrew
word Np (Kha), whichthe verb
obsolete, but
still
found in
mp
(Kavah), literally "to
float."
BOOT nnro nwr vp"
And Elohim
said,
Let the waters under the heavens
float to
one place." Gen. i. 9This word is used in the same primitive sense inLX. 9-
Isai.
PIT-TO -pai
wy rawmme
ewnn
MTWForto
D2DD
the islands shall
float,
yea the ships of
19
Tarshish among thetheir silver
first
to bring thy sons from afar,
and
their gold with them."
uses a bold and appropriate metaphor comparing the ships of Tarshish to islands.
The Prophet
Np
KHA,(in
Aor
Boat.
Hence
its ideal
meanings.
BOAT.
HOLLOWNESS.good
Lightness.
EMPTINESS,
bad sense) Purity
or Desolation.
ibird, which and most common ideal meaning. gives primary Various noises of joy or of mourning were represented by this letter: probably some mark distinguished aits
This character derivesits
form from a
particular bird in each case, according to the character of its notes. This letter is found in its original sense in the word il*O (Rah), a Hawk, Deut. xiv. 13. Theparallel passage in Leviticus, (n. 14.) is a false reading,
rn
for
run (Dah
for
Rah).
rwi RAH,
A
Hawk.
Hence
its ideal
meanings.
HAWK.
BIRD.
Flying.
Swiftness.
Noise (of Joy
or Sorrow.)
Sight.
was the representative of the rising sun. That luminary was drawn with six rays like a doubleThislettera
3
ofIP,
W
any decided difference between the meanings and itf the latter seems to borrow its sense sometimes from and at other times from D.I cannot trace out:
B2
20ty
($), and three appearing form this letter. 3 in the word ttrDty (Shemesh).
It is
found
iwy
SHISH, The Sun.
Hence
its ideal
meanings.
SUN. RISING SUN. Rising.
Fire.
Light.
White.
TEETH.is
The last meaning which I have given of this letter a very common one. It might be derived from the colour of the teeth, or from the form of the letter,or from both.
Or
it
may have been taken from some
other picture.
J\Thisletter is
the representative of a tent.
The
original Nfi exists in a
borrowed sense.
It is also found8.,
in the verb Htfn (Tah), "to stake out."Nfi
Numb,Hence
xxxiv. 7,
signifying
THA,
A
Tent.
its
ideal meanings,
TENT. POLE.
TREE.
I shall now proceed to shew by examples, how the Phonetic language was formed from the hieroglyphic
But first I must repeat, that I conceive the at the time when this transition took place language to have been purely monosyllabic, and consequently nopictures.
cartouche or word contained more than three distinctideas or sounds, asa
we know that more
letters
cannot"the
Theis
original hieroglyphic
from which the word
tyQttf,
Sun"
obtained
may have been
W D &
,
" half the Sun above the water,
and half below the water ;" or D may only be formative.
21
be pronounced with one vowel. For example, such a as "ISO was not sounded, as it now is "13D (Sepher), but as if it were pointed thus "jap (Sephr), :nN was not sounded riN (Eretz), but (Artz); and in this
word
^K
corresponded exactly with the Chinese. The present form of these nouns has been substituted for the original, in order to prevent a disrespect
the
language
agreeable occurrence of sounds ; but when the word is increased at the end, this reason no longer exists, and then the original form is generally restored as(Artzah), from 2ng (E-retz), and "O^D (Malci), from Hence each cartouche would contain one, two, (Melee). or three pictures.
When
the constructors of the lan-
guage found only one, they added, to form the Phonetic word, two formative letters when they found two, they added one formative letter; and when they found three, they retained them unaltered; and thus they reduced;
the entire language to triliteral words. I am aware that there are many nouns which
now
consist of only two letters, but all such words originally doubled one of their letters, or have dropped 3, n, 1 or '. Such a word as IN (Ah), "a Father," was originally
nitf
,
or
U
(Abah
or Abi), as
we
find
by:
its
taking:
>
in
J"Q is the representative of final n a daughter," was fOl (Benath) T ( Yod), a Hand (Bath), wasTT* (Yod): tfN (Esh), "Fire," wasttm (Esh): DN (Em),
construction, which
"
"a Mother," was DDK (Emm),dagesh with a vowelaffix.
as
we
find
by
its
taking
every word in the Phonetic language consisted either of one radical letter and two formatives;
Hence
of two radical letters andradicalletters.l,
The
one formative, or of three formatives most commonly usedD,3
were N, n,
\
3, b,
and 1; they might per-
haps use all the letters as such occasionally. It will be seen, that the following examples are entirely con-
fined to nouns.is
The
reason of thisis
is,
that the noun
the word from which the verb
formed.
And
I
believe every verb in the language owes its origin to some noun, although many of these are now obsolete,
and of course the derivation of the verb cannot betraced.
clearly
There
is
also
an usage of the
letter
tf,
which
it is
important to observe, and which I did not discover until I had fixed the meanings of nearly all the letters, orI
should have been saved
much
trouble.
This cha-
racter is used withletter is to
any other letter, implying that such be taken in its primitive sense. It seems that after a picture came to bear several derived meanwas necessary to have some mark to shew that
ings, itit
idea.
was intended to convey to the mind the original For instance, when b the picture of a Lion had come to signify " any quadruped," " strength," or " fortitude," if they wished to define "a Lion" it was necessary to make some distinction, and this was done by an N, signifying "first," i. e. "the first meaning."thistf
And
in forming the Phonetic
word frequentlyone peculiar
became n. I must
also call the reader's attention to
idiom of the Hebrew language, the frequent use of the words p (Ben), and ni (Bath). Whenever the age of any individual is mentioned, it is always by the para" The son " or " daughter of so many years." phrase of
For example
:
HND
p
"
Abraham wasyears."
the son of an hundred
n
m
" Sarah was the daughter of ninety years."likewise
Wephrases.
have
the
following
and many
like
"JYiD"p
A
son of death."death.
i.
e.
Ai.
mane.
deserving
"" "
A son A sonThe
of a quiver or bow," of valour,"i.
Anman.i. e.
arrow.
e.
A brave
daughters of the song,"
Singing
women." Son ofchaff.
my
threshing
floor,"
i.
e.
Corn or
"
Daughter of a
year."
i.
e.
An
ewe lamb
or
goat of a year old.
This being so common an idiom in the language, we must not be surprized at finding it equally commonin the formation of words.ter is
1 signifying a son or daughin the same manner, and with the used precisely same latitude, as and Jil (Ben and Bath), generally " " in." within," or implying
p
24I will
now
and proceedN.1.3.
recapitulate the meanings of the letters, to select some examples of each.Priority.
MAN.HOUSE.
Superiority.
Any
building.
Within, In.
SON.
DAUGHTER.
ARMLIPS.
and HAND. Carrying. Lifting up. Height. Power.
Pride."7.
Speaking.
Opening.Life.
Shutting.
RED.
H.1.
NOSTRILS.
Breath.
LIVING CREATURE.in air.
FEATHER.KNIFE.
Lightness.
Motion
BIRD.
?.
BLOOD.Love.
Sprinkling.
Drops.
RED.BLACK.(of
n.D.
BOSOM.SPADE.
Concealment. Expansion.
Darkness.
Plough.
TOOL
or
INSTRUMENT
\
any kind). EYE. Brightness. LIGHT. Sparkling. DISTINCTION. MAN, Used in the last sense in forming proper names.SLING.Smiting,
3.b.
CURVATURE.
Circular.
SIMILITUDE.
D.
QUADRUPED (any). Four. Motion, (walking). To or For. (sign of Dative) Strength. WATER. MULTITUDE. Number, (Distributively) Part.Of.
LION.
From.Pouring.
1
CUP.
Motion (as ofletter
liquid).
TITION.
This
occasionally
Giving. REPEgives a diminutive
meaning.D.
MOON.
Brightness..
Whiteness.
MOON-SHAPED. Motion
(revolving)
V.3.X.
LEGS and FEET.FACE.
MOTION.Breath.
Biped.
Two.
MOUTH.
HORNED ANIMAL.Moon.Branches.
Aperture. HOLE (any). HORNS. HORN (the substance).
p.
BOAT.or
HOLLOWNESS.sense).
bad
Lightness. EMPTINESS (in a good Purity or Desolation.Swiftness.
1.
HAWK.
BIRD..
Flying.
Noise
(of joy or
sorrow)ttf.
Sight.
n.
SUN. RISING SUN. Rising. Fire. Light. WHITE. TEETH. TENT. POLE. TREE.
In the following examples, I shall exhibit each word as it would appear in its Hieroglyphic Cartouche, supposing each letter to represent its respective picture; and to this I shall subjoin the word as it was renderedPhonetic.
Some
of these words
probably were never
written in the original character, being of later formation ; but still they were formed from the ideal meaning
of their letters, and
may be
properly exhibited as they
would have been depicted.
(Adam),
"
Man
red,"
i.
e.
Adam, D
formative.
(Abah),
" Chief of House,"
i.
e.
A
Father,
DKDDK (Emm),"First of many,"i.
e.
A
Mother.
71K"(Achi),
Man
of
breast,"
(i.
e.
same
A
breast),
Brother.
"(Aleph),
The
chief beast Bull.
of
mouth,"
(i.
e.
of
bellowing),
A
(Gamal),
" Beast of
much
burden,"
i.
e.
A
Camel.
Hence
the verb tej (Gamal), "to load" (either " with favours or injuries), to requite good or evil."
(Daleth),
"Lips
to tent,"
i.
e.
A
folding door.
n"(Chai),
The
eye of the bosom,"live."
i.
e.
Life.
Hence
verb
mn
"to
n(Chub), lin,
"House
of Bosom,"
i.
e.
The Lap.
Hence(Chaba),
(Chabab), "toself."
love."
And Kin
"to hide one's
inBird son of Lips," i. e. word. Hence "in (Dabar), " in Greek we have errea TTTepoevra, winged words.""
A
(Chaleb),
Child (or produce) of the breast of the have also UNDO (Cheanimal," i. e. Milk. mah), another name for milk; literally "the
"
We
water or liquid of the breast."
" Height, Height," (very high), (Ga-ga), roof of the house.
i.
e.
the
or
NU
"(Geba),
House of
Hill,"
i.
e.
A
den or a
cistern.
33pj (Giben),"
Son of Hillock,"
i.
e.
Hunchbacked.
CHDT (Dam),"
Red
water,"
i.
e.
Blood.
DT(Dama), "Blood of treading," i. e. juice of pressed Hence grapes or olives, wine or oil. " a " to weep. tear," and yDT (Dama), (Dim-ah),
DV (Yom), " Light much,"
i.
e.
Day.
W?
"(Lyl),
Light
for beasts."
i.
e.
Night.the 104th
Theideal
Psalmist
seems to have had in his mind the
meaning of these words,:
when he pennedrfybit is
Psalm
lyn/vrHxD"
^mmi
M^I
i^n n^n:
Thou makest
darkness, and
night
wherein
all
the
beasts of the forest do creep forth."
(Ver. 20.)
DIN
mrngather themselves
"
The Sun
ariseth,
theyin
together,
and lay them down unto his work and(Verses 22, 23.)
their dens.
Manuntil
goeth forthevening."
to his labour
the
28
fl>n
(Dath),
"Knowledge," Produce of"
lips.
Or yT
(Yedah), light of the lips," not found as but as a verb yp (Yada), " to know." a noun,
The
Ipl (Boker),
"Bird's house empty." Bird's time of leaving nest, i. e. the morning, ppl (Bakak),
"to empty, to make desolate."
(Areb),
" Bird
up
to its
house."
Time
of bird
going to nest,
i. e.
the evening.
" Son of a sling," i. e. This word stone. (Caab), is the root of the verb 1*O (Caab), and explains its different significations, Gen. xxxiv. 25. Job
A
v.
18.
2 Kings
iii.
19.
Isai. xvii. 11.
From ID
(Cab), signifying a stone, is derived ill (Cebod), " " " heaviness," metaphorically weight," glory," " honour," (Prov. xxvii. 3.) In Isaiah xxi. 15. 113(Co-bed), seems to be used inits original sense.
(Co-bed-Milchamah), "the stone of war,"
And the verse may be rene. the sling-stone. dered thus, " For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, " to from the stone of the *Oii.
sling."
bruise,"
" to break in " pieces," from 1 lips," *O " of sling ;" sling doubled, used for various purposes, of threshing, &c.
(Daca),
29
a(Chosec),
"As Suni.
concealed," (as
when Sun
is
concealed)
e.
darkness.
(Shachah)vandderivation,
nnttf
"
to hide
(Shachach), are of the same " to bow the face," hence
down," (see Job
xxii. 29, 30.).
(Page 14.)
(Geshem),shower.
"
Water
lifted
up,"
i.
e.
rain,
heavy
ton
D"
(Mathar),
Flying instrument of water,"
i. e.
cloud
or rain, light shower.
nn(Hegeh), "Breath, breath, going up," i.e. Repetition of breathings. (See Job xxxvii. 2.)
mn"
The sound
that goeth out of his mouth."Jl
In this passage we haveits
in its first sense;
and
meaning explained by the writer.
(Habel),
" Son
of
living
animal,"i.
i.
e.
breath.
Hence tan (Habel),
"vanity,"
e.
mere breath,
and the verb tan (Habal), "
to be vain."
30
or
ff
(Eish),
" Produce of the sun."
Fire.
Hencewere
probably10.
is
derived the word CMDttftfl, Isai. Lix.
"We
stumble at mid-day, as
if it
dark, and in the MERIDIAN LIGHTblind."
as if
dead
3
K(Shenah),"
V
same
root
hence its various meanings, all originally borrowed from the idea of the rising Sun.:
up." in the language
Returning of Sun," i. e. A year. From comes the verb NtM (Nasah), " to lift This is probably one of the oldest verbs
"
(Nesheph),
Returning of face of Sun,"
i.
e.
morn-
ing twilight.
(Shuph),
Flying of the face of the Sun," i. e. This word is obsolete, but evening twilight. that such a word existed appears from a passagein Ps. cxxxix. 11.
"
" If I say verily the darkness, it shall cover me," (come See also Job ix. 17. over me as twilight.)
This word became obsolete, and t)tM (Nesheph), was used indifferently for morning or evening twilight. The verb 21ttf (Shuph), Gen. iii. 15. which signifies "to bite,"
31although consisting of the same letters, is very different in its meaning, borrowing it from 2 the mouth, and a tooth. itf
"(Naal),
Giving strength to
feet,"
i.
e.
sandals.
JM(Naar), Giving swiftness to feet," i. e. youth. The verb 1V3 (Naar), is used in the sense of " shakingoff fetters,"xvi. 20.)33 3
"
"setting free the
feet."
(Judges
n2(Naphah),HSfl
n a
iy
a
(Naphach), jtfStt (Naphash), or 2tttt (Nashaph), "Giving breath from nose, breast, or teeth," all signifying, "blowing." Also
(Anaph), of same derivation and meaning.
IV (Ab), "Son of thea cloud.
feet," i.e.
cloud of dust; henceto labour,"
Hence verb liy (A-bad), "11V (A-bar),"
" to dig." originally
to
go
over."
T3N (E-pher), " Bird of breath or wind,"
i.
e.
Dust.
(A-pher),
"Bird of wind of
feet,"
i.
e.
Dust.
or
miNi.
(Eber or Eb-rah),
"Son
of the bird,"
e.
the wing.(A-bar), "to fly," "to derived the name ffUN (ABRAM),
Hence came the verb ilfly over."
Whence
is
literally "one, who (flies or) passes over the water." The name was probably given the Patriarch upon hiscall.
(See Josh. xxiv.
3.)
GodDTT,
afterwards changed 0,
signifying,
"water," intoxvii. 5.)
signifying,
"multitude,"
"
many." (Gen.
(Amm),nation.
"
Legs or
feet
many,"
i.
e.
A
people or
DJF" The lips of the peo(A-mad), or TiDV (Am-mod), ple, or the words of the people," i. e. pillar.
A
In early agesfirst
pillars
public events: upon
hieroglyphics. explains to us the reason of our finding accounts of " speaking stones," among so many ancient nations.
were set up to commemorate them were probably engraven the And the meaning of the word
A
pillar
was called TDy (A-mad), or by some word of
the same signification, according to the language of the In process of time, as the name remained people.after the
meaning offor the
to account
was lost, fables were invented title, and traditions were handedit
downsomefrauds
to posterity of the stone having spoken occasion ; and an artful priesthood might
upontake
advantage of the credulity of the people, and by pious keep up the delusion. Such I believe is the
33true account of the famous statue of b "
Memnon
a.
Giral-
dus in his
mentions a large flat stone about ten feet long, six wide, and one foot thick, which in his time served as a bridge over theItinerarium Cambriae,"
Alun, at St David's, Pembrokeshire, and was worn smooth by the feet of passengers, called " LECHriver
LAVAR,"and he
the speaking stone ;" relates the tradition of the people, respectingi.
e.
"
Lapis Loquax,"
"
the origin of the name, that dead body being placed on it. In the history of Waterford
it
called
out upon
a
there
is
an account of
a rock to the west of Bally-caroge, which the inhabitants call "CLOUGH-LOWRISH," that is, "the speakingstone," so called from
swore falsely by it. stones were originallyinhabitants
having contradicted a person who Now there can be no doubt thesepillars,
of the
country,
up by the ancient recording some nationalset
event, and that, long after the characters engraven upon them were worn out, they were preserved as sacred relics.
In"in
Cornwallancient
thereor
is
a
"
KARN-IDZHEK,"There was
i.
e.
The soundingthe
"
TOLL^KARN,"I
speaking Kara." language of that county the word " a Kara with holes in explained asalso
it."
believe that
"
whence our participle tolled," Kara " was the " TALE-KARN," the same as the Poet's " storied urn." Toll-Korn was " a trumpet," i. e. " speaking horn." KARN is the Hebrew word pp KERN, orhorn," or "pillar, like a horn." Josephus states that the descendants of Seth, having made discoveries respecting the heavenly bodies, upon
Toll "
"
is
"
" the old form of tell," " and that Tolltold,"
KEREN, "a
Adam'sRb
prediction, that the world
was
to
be destroyedChap.3.
Vid. Kircher. GEdip. Egypt. Class, Lib.Iii.
vm.
Cap.
1.
c
quote this from Borlase's History of Cornwall.
C
34at one time
by the
force of
fire,
and
at another time
by the violence and quantity of water, o-r^Xas SvoGCLjULCVOlj
TY\V fJLV
K 7T\iv9oV9 TY)VTO.
$
T6paV
K \l9wV,pillars,
Tepois
eveypa^sav evprjfjieva, one of brick", the other of stone,coveries on
making two
the
inscribed
their dis-
them both, that
in case the pillar of brick
should be destroyed by the flood, the pillar of stone might remain and exhibit those discoveries to mankind,
andbrick
also inform
them that there was another
pillar of
by them. Josephus adds; remains in the land of Siriad to this day."erected
"Now
this
Although
we may not be
inclined with the Jewish historian to
believe that this pillar was antediluvian, yet it must have been of very high antiquity to give rise to such It was probably erected by a tradition concerning it.
some branch of the Cuthites: andfact,
it is
a very curiousIre-
that
we"
should find in Cornwall,
Wales and"
land,
traces of the
same memorial,
JVDttfD ptf
ABEN
MASCITH,"
This were colonized at a very early period, probably during the ninth century after the deluge, by a tribe of Cuthic shepherds, who pushed westward from the borders ofthe Euxinesea.
the hieroglyphic stone." (Levit. xxvi. 1.) confirms the general opinion, that these places
From
this
wordi.
is
" to stand firm,"
e.
derived the verb IDy (A-mad), " to be as a pillar."
3H1X3
(Na-zab), or 1^3 (Nezib), building like a horn."
"House
of a horn,
or
A pillar,
pyramid.
This
word
generally found in its Heemantive form, niSD (Mazzebah), or fil^E (Mazzebeth) ; from " to it is derived the verb 1^3 (Nazab), stand," " to be like a pillar."is
351
zy"
(Oph),
Flying, two legged, beaked,"
i.
e.
A Fowl.
T3X
(Zip-par),
Bird with horny heak," i. e. Bird. This word may originally have heen especially applied to hirds of prey, and the preceding to
"
the graniverous kinds, hut in process of time " a hird." they each came generally to signify
Hence pax (Zipporen),"little birds."
nails
or
fingers,
i.
e.
(Bitz),
eye ," An egg. The shell being something of the substance of From horn, and the contents not unlike an eye. " to this word is derived the verb X1T (Rabatz), " to sit close to the couch," ground," as (T) a bird
"
The horny house
of an
a
(\>1)
on
its
rally
to
It was afterwards applied geneeggs. animals. have the word in its
We
original sense in one passageIN
:
xjmIN
ITU
-ps
Tisx-p
TP
rpn xb Dnrarrty"
DTna^n
by nxiT
Dm
uwway
If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the
in
any
tree, or
on the ground, whether there be young
ones or eggs, and the dam SITTING UPON the young or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam withthe young."*
(Deut. xxii. 6.)is
In Anglo-Saxon, eas
an eye and an egg.
36In Genesis xLix. 25. and Deuteronomy xxxiii. 13. construed with reference to its
the word should be
hatchoriginal meaning; viz., that of sitting on eggs, as in each case the produce of the deep is the ing;subject alluded to.
Hence
also
(See the passages.) " vio" V^l (Ba-za), implying crushing,"
" lence:" (Exod. xviii. 21.), and also profit," (Gen. xxxvii. And the verb Jttl (Ba-za), "to crush," or "de26.) stroy," (Job vi. 9.), and "to finish," or "complete,"
and Zech. iv. 9-) both metaphors from breaking of an egg; in the first case by violence, in the second by hatching. Also Vlp (Ka-baz), " a collect(Isai.x.
12.
" ing together," literally a nest of eggs." " to gather together." (Ka-baz),
And
verb yip
(Yin),
"Liquid Wine.
full
of eyes;" "very sparkling,"
i.
e.
"
(Yekeb),
Hollow house
for wine,"
i.
e.
A
wine-vat.
nip (Kebah),
hollow house," i. e. The stomach or "a recess." See Numb, belly, and nip (Kub-bah), xxv. 8. In which verse both words occur. Ofthe same derivationis
"
A
"Ip3 (Na-kab),
to hollow(obsolete),
out;" and Ip3 (Nekeb), "the
womb"
whence
nip!)
(Nekebah), "a female."
37
"(Keber),
The
The
tomb.
hollow house of mourning," Probably ") has this meaning.
i.
e.
It
would be distinguished in the picture writing by some bird of a dolorous note. Hence theverb
"Up (Kabar),
"
to
bury,"
and our word
KB(Mat-teh),
"A2.
staff."
"A
walking
stick,"
vide
Exod.
iv.
OBM3" staff, son of ivory." (She-bet), Gen. XLix. 10.
A
i.
e.
A
sceptre.
" (Tang), would be an instrument with two prongs," "a " i. e. fork ;" and hence qjKD (Tarn), to taste." " " To to pack upon," (Gen. XLV. load," BKD (Tan), " xiv. a ls and17.)>
to
pierce,"
(Isai.
9-),
"
(Natang),
to plant,"
"
to pitch a tent."
TW
(Shadd),lence,
"Teeth
red,
red,"
destruction.
"very red." VioThe metaphor is borrowedi e.
from a beast of prey. Hence the verb TKtf (Sha" to spoil," and Hltf (Shad-dai), the title of dad) ;
God
as
"the avenger."
A"
(Lebab),
Son of house of animal,"
i.
e.
The
heart.
38
Lion. Son of a Lion," i. e. (Lebi), or N' ! ? (Lebia), in this word has been variously The final Aleph11
"
A
KUis
accounted for by commentators. ? (Lebia), the female of1
^
Someits
consider
(Lebi); but
K
only a
mark of
h
being used in
primitive
sense; ^,
O
1
?,
and Wlb are words of precisely the
same
signification.
A"(Melee),
Like a Lion,"
i.
e.
A
king, (D being
formative).
Here we might expectis
to find
K with
b, as this letter
certainly used in;
its
primitive sense.
And
so it
was
originally written
we have once D'Oifen (Ham-melacim),
xi. 1.), where some ancient comKings," (2 mentator has added the Keri, 2* TTP ; and thus the letter
"
The
Sam.
may have beenIt isstillis
omitted in other passages, as superfluous.
which
preserved in ftfte (Malac), the same word.
"a
messenger,"
"(Celeb),
Like the Lion of house,"
i.
e.
A
dog.
A
wild animal domesticated.
PHD (Rah),
"A
Hawk, and
n
(Ari), or
rm
(Ar-jeh),
Anand
Eagle.
This word signified a beast as well as a bird of prey, latterly was confined to the second meaning;
39In Genesis xLix. 9. (Nesher), being used for an Eagle. the word should be construed an eagle ; rrnN (Ar-jeh),
and
N'O*?
(Lebia), in the
same verse cannot both
signify
a Lion; and the introduction in our translation of the " It should be rendered old," weakens the sense. epithet
"Judah is a young Eagle; from the prey, my thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched son, as an Eagle and as a Lion, who shall rouse him up ?"thus:;
The
verb
primitive;
rendered "couched," in its sense belongs to a bird, as I have before\U"i
(Rabatz),in
shewn and it most frequently
is
these poetical passages find words thus used.
that
we
It should also be rendered the same,
Numb,
xxiii. 24.
DJTp"
Behold
this
peoplesoar."
shall
rise
up
as a
Lion, as an
Eagle
shall
he
From"tosee:"
this
word
is
derived the verbsfear."
nl
(Raah),
and
NT
(Yarea), "to(i. e.
The word"(V),
O'y (Ait),
"(D)
weapon
or talons,"
on
feet"),
was
also used to signify either a bird
or beast of prey.
"(Cesea),full
The Moon
circular,"
i.
e.
The time
of
Moon.D3 (Nes), DD (Ces),
and fED (Samec), all The signify a signal or banner from D, "The Moon." letter Samec in some ancient alphabets is represented by a pole with a half Moon at the two of these words in Exodus xvii. 15, TOTTDtop.
The words
We
have
16.
mm
IDP
mpi
ra?D
mwD pi
^DVI nurrb norto PP DD-^
T
40"
And MosesFor he;
built an altar
and
called the
name
of it
JEHOVAH,"
MY
said.
BANNER." As his hand was on
the
BANNER OFfor
JAH
There is war between Jehovah and Amalek ever and ever."
Hencesharptool,
also
comes
"fitf
(Sec),
and
roitf
(Secah),
" a
Here D is changed for itf, probably to distinguish this word from "|D (Sec), and rDD (Secah), "a tent," words of same derivation, "jitf (Sec), or roitf (Secah), was the instrument with which Hence rroitf (Seciah), or JTDitfD the ancients engraved.inoonshaped.""
(Masciah),
the engraving," or
"picture."
which were employed, and with which the Egyptian Hieroglyphics were cut, as we may judge from those now in use among the Hindoos, were a short steel chisel, about twice the breadth of the hand, and a mallet of iron a little longer than the chisel, buttools,
The
" The Hindoos," not weighing more than a few pounds. " Dr Kennedy, with such simple instruments formsays ed, fashioned and scarped the granite rock, which
forms the tremendous fortress of Dowlutabad, and excavated the wonderful caverns of Ellora; for it seems
by no means probable that the Hindoo stone cutters ever worked with any other tools."[See Library of Entertaining Knowledge, Egyptian Antiquities. A small volume containing much valuable information respecting ancient Egypt.]
Hence
also
comes the word MOSAIC
(TttfD).
In
all
probability the deep cut hieroglyphics upon ancient pillars were filled with a cement of different colour from the
stonefectly
itself.
The
visible,
characters would thus become perand the surface be rendered even andsort of pictures they called "piMD (Mosaic),
uniform.
This
41
and the word
is
still
retained in
its
original meaning,
being applied to inlaid work of stone. have also DD (Cus), "a Cup," i.
We
e.
"shaped
like
moon."
And
" to forgive." (Gen. xxxviii. 14.), and " Also NDD (Cis-see), a circular seat in
hence the verb HDD (Casah), "to cover,"shape of
moon,"bute,"
"a
throne,"
and
also
2DDalso
(Me-sab),
"The"tri-
Divan," "Circular seat."at firsttent, in shape of moon."
Hence
DD (Mas),
monthly payment. And ODD
(Succah), " to count." (Casas),
JTDD
"A
D2 (Pas),In
"
The
face of the
Moon."xiii.
Genesis xxxvii.,
and 2 Sam.
18.,
we have
DtJSrroro (Cethoneth Pas-sim), rendered in our trans" a lation garment of divers colours."
D2 (Pas), or D^DS (Pas-sim), face of moon;" it wasZTTO2 (Pish-tim), whichbeing changed for"ttf),
signifies in colour
"like
"fine white linen." probably is nearly the same word, (D
signifies flax,i.
and ^ymr^S)
(Pishtiii.
Haetz),
The
flax of the tree,"
e.
"cotton," (Josh.
6.)
The
old word
for
cotton was
rrflro (Cothnoth),
literally
(D), as
or "like" ()n),
"the
little tree," (n),
"of thei.
tree."
Hence ruro (Cethoneth),cotton."
"
a garment,"
e.
"
one of
In Daniel
v. 5.
NT
a (Yeda), of the hand, writing upon the wall, was NT'DS (PasYeda), i.e. "the back of the hand," in shape as face of Moon. As D3 (Pas), signified the back of the hand,so it did the upper or convex part of the foot, and hence the verb HD2 (Pa-sach), "to pass over," literally
"
we have the same word joined with hand." The part which Belshazzar saw
"
upper part of foot concealed," aspasses
is
the casealso
when
the foot
over
any
one.
Hence
the verb
42"signified
to
be lame,"
"
to
halt,"
literally
to
have
The Greeks generally changed n " the passover," from nD2 (Pasach), and our word "Paschal."into x, hence irdd-^a
" foot bent under."
DD(Ceseph),this
a
" Face like Moon,"is
i.
e.
"
Silver."
From
word probably
melt," applied to all
derived ODD (Casas), "to metals.
(Za-hab), or derives itsof
am
(Da-hab),
"Gold."t
name from
its colour,
This word and l, each
" red " " or signifies purple." And I may here remark, that the letters which occasionally change place with each other, will be found to
them
have some common meaning.
DD(Sepher),
Faces of Moon," (l formative), i. Almanack," and hence a book generally.
"
e.
"
an
(Receb),
"
A
house like a bird,"
"
"A
waggon, a chariot."
Hence
a flying house." the verb 131
(Racab), "to ride." " Rechabites."
And D^m
(Re-ca-bim),
(Co-cab),
" Son of the concave,"
i.
e.
A
star.
We have from (D) p (Con), "a knee," i. e. bending, Exod. xxx. 18., the old word superseded by *pl (Berec).
43
Hence we have pD (Con), " to stand up." |i"Q (Cohen), " A priest," and "pi (Barac), " to bless," from the attitude of kneeling.mative).
Also "ODalso
(Cic-car),
"a circle,"
(")
for-
Hence
to
(Col),
"all,"
and ^3
(Celi),
" circular vessels," afterward any vessels or instruments.
"
(Canaph),
The knee
of face,"
"
upper knee,"
i.
e.
A
wing.to
10(Satan),
"An
instrument with teeth."Satan.
Hence an
adversary.
DM
"
(Basam),matics.
Child of
much Sun,"
i.
e.
Spice,
Aro-
(Shish),
White, white," i. e. very white." of a marble, and of a fine linen.
"
Name
(A-lam),
"
Two,
four,
many,"
i.
e.
A long
unlimited
time, frequently rendered,
"
for ever."
or ^V (Etz),
wood.
Root and branch," i. e. And nay (Atzab), "a wooden
"
A
tree or
idol," lite-
44rally
3W
And hence the verb "to form or make;" and also "to (Atzab),son of a block."
"
The verb is used by Jeregrieve, or provoke." miah xLiv. 19. in the sense of setting up an idol."
We
formed
for
her
supports
to
make her image
stand up."
The word o^O"it
cakes
";"
We
(Conim), in our translation is rendered did make cakes to worship her." May
not mean the same as
p
(Con), used in Exod. xxx. 18.
as the supporter of the
Brasen Laver ?
" roots and (Etzem), from the same metaphor of branches," signified the skeleton, and bones, orbone.or
Hence
the verb D^V (Atzam), "to grow
become powerful."is
See Exod.
i.
7-
and
20.
where the verb
evidently used in sense, borrowed from a tree.
its
primitive
(Nachash),
The 3 signifies "motion" like that of water " "a the breast or tooth," and n poured out, Wconcealment."sting."
Hence " a serpent with concealed
)r>>
(Pethen),
"Serpent of the hole,"
i.e.
An
Asp.
Hence Python.
" (Ziph-an),
mouth."
Serpent with two (horns) Translated Cockatrice.
stings
in
45
"(Saraph),
A bird,
i.
e.
flying with sting in mouth."^ttn
"A
flying
serpent."
(Reseph),its
whichthecalls
is
precisely the same word, having in a different order, has occasioned
pictures
comit
mentatorsdifficult
much
trouble.
Gesenius
a
word,various
whichtained,it;
concerning the signification of opinions and views are entersignifications of
and he merely gives the;"
"flame, glowing fire;" "lightning;" "veno" mous disease " bird of arrow."prey,"
Every
one of which meanings are borrowed from the
metaphor of a flying serpent.
(Shal-hebeth), "Daughter of strong teeth, or This word rendered flame. bars of furnace."
A
according
to
but"
it is left
hell
"
may
analogy would be l^itf (Shalab) ; us in its original form. *?$$} (Shaol), be of same derivation, viz., " bars
of a prison ;" and also lUttt (Shabib), a flame, " literally, bright daughter of house of bars."
" Hollow horn," i. e. handle, or haft (Khazaz), The word is found in this sense in of a knife.
A
Psalm xLvi. 10./van
2p)
iittr
rwp
"
He
breaketh the
bow and
the handle of the spear."
The wordverb:
2E*p (Khazaz), is generally rendered as a " he cutteth the spear."
46also "a knife." p (Khez), or " the " " that cut off," end," p (Khezah), extremity." " " to to exterminate." 2Sp down," chop TOp (Khazah), " to shear " to cut off," isp (Khazar), sheep." (Khazab), " to mow."
The word
signifies
to reap,"
TWp (Khesheth),
"
Hollow
for
(poles with
teeth,
or),
This was probably the first arrows," "quiver." of the word ; it was afterwards used for meaningthe bow.of arrows.Itsignifies
an archer,
i.
e.
a bearer
Gen.
xxi. 20.
"
(Dehash),
(Son), Produce of the lips, white,"
i. e.
honey.to
is an epithet constantly applied ancient writers. honey byTiOeicri
White
re
Kripia
\evKa.
(Hes. 596.)
"
(Napheth),or honey.first
Flowing from mouth."
Honeycomb,its
Hence the verbPs. Lxviii. 10.
213
(Noph), inor
sense,
" to pour out," signifying
" to
sprinkle."
DDDID(Sus), "Swift for horse.
and moonshaped,"
i.
e.
Hoof, used
47
B
HD13 (Parsah),
"
Hoof withit
(a
mouth) opening,"its first
i.
e.
AD"1S
cloven foot.
This was
meaning
;
hut
was used generally as a hoof. Hence ens (Parash), " a horseman," or " riding horse." Isai. Lviii. 7. And ens (Paras), "to divide."afterwards(Paras),
"to divide or separate."
This word
is
used in Prov. xxxi. 20. with a reference tooriginal derivation.
its
rrcns
"
She openeth her hand
to the poor."
Compare
this passage with Isai. Lviii. 7.
A"
(A-kheb),
Hollow son of the
feet,"
i.
e.
the heel.
" (Arab),
Son of
swift feet,"
An
Arab.
Also fourth
plague of Egypt.
(Ta), This word is now only found in the sense of an upper chamber, but its original meaning is that of a tent. The Orientals built their houses
with
flat
roofs,it
and hence
upon which they erected tents, came to signify the uppermost room.form in thesignifying
Wei.
haveDfi
this letter in its primitive
worde.
(Tarn),
"
one who staid
"a domestic man," much within the tent," for
so it is explained to us in Genesis xxv. 27-
48ap&n rrw"
EW TO yr
r
wy vn onynon Esau was a man knowing;
the youths grew : and in hunting, a man of the field(a
And
but Jacoh was
Dfi (Tarn),
man
of the tent) staying within the tent."(Tarn), from D
The word onis
much, and P a
tent,
Hence explained by D^HN IIP* (Yosheb Ohalim). " " inno" the word came to signify, peace," security,"
cence," "integrity," "simplicity," "truth." It gives us a pleasing idea of the manner of thisearly people, to find that
among them
Dfi
(Tarn), the
domestic man, was the model of every thing good and perfect. They seem to have entertained a very contrary opinion of the man of the field ; 1^"")1J (Gib-bor" the Zaid), mighty hunter," was synonymous with them, " the son of violence." for
"(Nabi),
The
distinguished son of the cup."
A
Prophet.
This is a word of very curious derivation, and could not be understood but from the Egyptian hieroglyphics.
The word is first used (Gen. xx. 7.), as applied to Abraham. God said unto Abimelech the king of Gerar in a dream, "Restore the man his wife," Kin ^13 O "forhe
NABI." It is next met with (Exod. vii. 1.), when Moses and Aaron are going into the presence of Pharaoh. " And the Lord said unto Moses, See I have made thee a God to Pharaoh, and Aaron thy brother shall be"is
"[^13
"
THY
NABI."
In the Egyptian hieroglyphics, a
49prophet is invariably represented by a man sitting down, and a cup pouring out its contents over him, as represented above, implying probably "the In the Coptic ne& (Neh), is " a tcup ;" and anointed." rtK& (Neb), " a lord or master." And we have the same " words in the Hebrew, a cup," and (Na), (Nabi), " a noble man orpriest or
w
WU
prophet." N3 (Na), signifies "a cup," whence came the interjection M, "obsecro," first used in asking for a cup ofwater.
We
find the
word
in
Exodus
xii.
9.,
where
ac-
cording to the received translation the Israelites are commanded not to eat the passover HAW*, a most unThe force of the passage is, that necessary injunction. " it shall be roasted by fire," and not " boiled withwater,"
ICW^-ON
"O
D^l ^1D ^11it
N3
13DD
fatffi
*Mnor in
"Ye
shall
not eat of
SODDEN IN WATER,
any manner boiled
in water, but roasted at the fire."
WWe"
(Na)"
signifying
* (Na), "a cup," " immersed in water." watered," or
is
an adjective, from(Nod),
have
TM
cupa
for lips."
leathern bottle," literally Also Nttn-JTUM (Neoth-desheh), " well
"a
I am aware that Dr Spencer in his work, "De legibus Hebraeorum, ritualibus, et earum rationibus," appropriates a whole
section to prove that (Na) in this passage signifies RAW MEAT, and that the injunction was given to the Israelites to guard them against the to/j.o^d'Yia practised by the votaries of Bacchus in the celebration of their mysteries ; and to the same cause he assigns the injunction, Even if that not a bone of the paschal lamb should be broken. the word N3 (Na) would bear this interpretation, I should not be
W
convinced by the arguments of that learned writer, that the various commandments respecting the passover had not an immediate reference to the(Spencer.sacrifice,
De
of which I conceive Heb. Lib. it. Cap. iv. Leg.
it
to
have been
typical.
Sect. 2.)
D
50watered pastures," Ps.in thexxiii. 2.
Is not the
word usedver. 13.
same sense in Ps.
cxvi. 14. 18. ?
Compare
is
In that beautiful passage in Isaiah borrowed from this word:
Lii. 7-,
the metaphor
JPDMD "MID"
^n
onnn
by
How
REFRESHING on
the mountains are the feet
him that bringeth tidings, preaching peace; of that bringeth good tidings, preaching salvation."of
him
There
is
another passage in which the wordits original sense,
M (Na)
may
be used inoar)
Judges
xiii. 4.
r
Tit^n
bw
w
nDttn rmyithee,
"
NowIf
therefore beware,
/ pray
and drink not
wine, nor strong drink."
and fourteenth verses, we find the same repeated, in the form of a command. The verse above may be thus rendered:refer to the thirteenth
we
"
Now
therefore take heed to your cup,
(i. e.
as to
what
you drink), and drink not wine, nor strong drink."
The word mayxxiv. 45.
also
be inis
its first
sense in Genesis
In each case N3
ceding verb by Mappik, asBjiD-D1
is
not joined with the preusually the case.(Pi-Hachiroth).
(Yam-suph), and
mTfmaIsraelites,
In the Exodus of the
we
are told that
they encamped by the sea,
beside Pihachiroth.is
The
word mTima (Pi-hachiroth),rangement of theletters
evidently put for
nmms
(Pi-Hirachoth), or (Pi-Haj-jarechoth).
The
present ar-
the sake of euphony. The word signifies " the mouth of the Moons," i. e. the entrance or defile of the mountains
may have been
adopted for
51so called.
The word"
*|1D
(Suph)1
is
(3),
"the mouth,"
andsea
the Moon," and BpDTJ (Yam-Suph), is " the (D), of the mouth of the Moons." Hence it appears
(Pi-hachiroth), and qio (Suph), although so different in their characters, are in meaning the same
that
rrmrP3
words, and that both were derived from the mountains in that district called " The Mountains of the Moon," " or The Moons." TD (Sinai), is of the same signi-
Moon (a mountain) with two peaks." Ezekiel mentions a place in Egypt, called nDT"3 (Pibeseth), a word of the same derivation, the modernfication,
"A
Tel-Basta, situate to the north of the gulf of Suez.
mjEKmIn Isaiahpassage:
D'NXNxn Haz-zezaim Vehaz-zephioth.(xxii.
23,
24.)
we have the following
^3" "
bi
IBM oipM wypro rnyssm D^NSTT vax-jra TQD ta r6y ftmtiro
m
mm
w
trtirr ^3-^3I
un ninn
"630;
ppn
will fasten
him
as a nail in a sure place
and he
shall
be for a glorious throne to his Father's house."they shall hang upon himall
And
the glory of hisISSUE,all
Father's house,
THE OFFSPRING AND THE
vessels of small quantity,
from the vessels of cups even
to all the vessels of flagons."I
should be " a poletent,
may first remark that "TTV;" it
(Jathed), rendered "a nail" was the centre pole of a circular
which supported the whole, and was supplied with
various vessels. pegs for the purpose of hanging thereon rendered "throne," is the circular seat NDD (Cis-see),
round the tent on which the Orientals reclined, as their Thus the metaphor is quite descendants do to this day.clear.
The
individual alluded toD 2
is
described a
a tent
52firmly fixed,ture.
Now
and well supplied with all necessary furniwhat can he the meaning of hanging up
on the pole of the tent, THE OFFSPRING AND THE ISSUE? The word DWtttit (Zazaim), is the letter (s) used twice in its primitive sense of "a horn;" and " myss (Zephioth), which signifies drinking horns."Geseniusterms" a verydifficult
word,"3
is
literally
"horns
for the
mouth with two
feet
."
And
thus the
passage becomes perfectly clear by taking these words in their true meaning of drinking vessels. From KS (Za), "a horn," was derived the verb *P " " to ( Yaza), to sprout up as a horn," grow ;" and hence DWtttit (Zazaim), does signify "offspring:" and rnya*(Zephioth),"signify
being found joined with it was made to issue." This is not a solitary instance of one
word being misinterpreted, and of another being forced to comply with its meaning.-12b
(Zar)
and
p*
(Aretz).
"12
(Zar)
,
is
literally
for
the Moon, a planet. explains a difficult passage in Isaiah.
"horns flying," a metaphor This meaning of the wordIn Chapter v.
we have
in the
28th
verse,
YDID
mo-
translated thuslike
:
" Their horses' hoofs shall be counted
FLINT."
Andhave,a
immediately following in the 30th verse
we
In this college we preserve as a valuable memorial of our founder a drinking vessel of this kind: it may properly be called HyS^ (Zephiah), being a large horn mounted on two feet.b
"*TS a stone,
i.
q. ")k, "Ttt.
Isai. v. 28.
In
Isai. v.
30.
Saa-
and some Hebrew interpreters (cited by Rashi), explain it by Moon, which is applicable, but the ground of the interpretation isdias
not sufficiently demonstrated."
(Gesenius.)
53TINI -is
f&n
rramland, hehold
translated thus:
"If one look unto thethe lightis
darkness
and SORROW, and
darkened in
the heavens thereof."
dered inthefirst
In these passages we have the word IS (Zar) renone FLINT, and in the other SORROW. Init
should be, "their horses' hoofs shall be as(i. e.
There is a pecuflying horns). liar force in the word as used in this The passage. word DID (Siis), " the hoof," is literally as I have beforeas
the Moon,"
shewn "a flying moon," i. e. swift and moonshaped; and the prophet keeps the same metaphor, but borrowed from two other letters; and it is the same as saying; " their horses' hoofs shall indeed be tomeaning, nothorn."
their according only in shape as a moon, but hard as
The
second passage should be thus rendered
:
"Oneto the
looketh to the earth, and behold darkness; and Moon, and her light is darkness, as when she
veileth her face."
JTSnyi (Ba-ariphejah), probably " to blind," eclipse, from Tiy or mya skin over the eyes," (Exod.
meansliterally
a "
total
to put19-),
xxiii. 8.
Deut. xvi.
and ITS "her
face."is
the chief or primary with reference to IS (Zar), the Moon, planet," probably And the beauty of the passage a secondary planet consists in understanding the words according to their " One looketh to the Earth,correct significationall isis:
SIN (Aretz), " the Earth,"
"
planet
one looketh to the Moon, and her light It may be objected the darkness of a total eclipse."darkness:
presuming upon a knowledge of Astronomy far beyond that which existed at the early period when I have no doubt, before Ianthese words were formed.that thisis
54guages became Phonetic, the system of Astronomy, now universally adopted was to a great degree understood.that curious fragment of Phoenician cosmogony, to which I shall soon have occasion more fully to refer,it is
From
evident that Sanchoniatho understood 2TIN (A-retz), " the " KOI e%tXa/m\l/ MWT jj\ios Earth," to be a planet " And re, Kai ae\rivri dtfrepes re /ecu a;crai/,*'
/
evpvooeirfs
N' apya\eoiaiv'
X7
*
'
JNt/c^(Tai/TS ^epcriv 9Tocrcroi'Io"oi/
virepuvjuiovsytjs,
Trep
eoyras-,
evepO/
VTTO
bcrov ovpavos ecrr
a?ro
Y
T "7ro yfo
GS
TapTapov yepoevra"(Deor. Gen. 716.)
them they drove Vain glorious as they were, with hands of strengthOvercoming them, beneath the expanse of earth, And bound with galling chains so far beneath;
This earth, as earth
is
distant
from the sky
:
So deep the space
to
darksome Tartarus."
And"
again,ovo(j)eprj^,/cat /cat
ILv6a.Se yrjs
Taprapov yovpavovTreipar
HOVTOV T cLTpvyeToio,E^ec^s TTCLVTWVTrrjyal,TO./ce
/cat
*Apya\,
evjowei^ra,
TG aTvyeovffi 9eoiTra^ra Te\ea-(j)6pov* r
OVw,/,voas IKOIT)
Xaoyxa pey*
Ov$e
ijnanfall
Swear unto
me
that ye will
not
upon me your-
selves."
(Judg. xv. 12.)
b " It must be plain from scripture that D/IJ? (Olam) is so far from implying a necessary perpetuity, that it is applied to such things as can have no long duration, as Exod. xxi. 6, and he shall
serveit,
him
aTljf) (Lolam), that
is,
as the
Jews themselves expound
to the next jubilee, though it were near or far off. So 1 Sam. i. 22, where Samuel is said to abide before the Lord for ever D^TJTTV
(Ad-6lam)."c
Stillingfleet,
Orig. Sacrae,
Booke.
n. Chap.
?.is
See Noldius.
"]3 NE.
Prohibitivum.";"i.
The
particle |2
" turn merely the imperative of H3Sthat
turn away from doing
which the following verb
implies.
124
rni rron p"
Thou
shall not
make
a covenant with the inhabitant
of the land."
(Exod. xxxiv. 15.)
(inrf^l) from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken." " And he drove out the man and he ; placed at thesenteast of the garden of
"
And
the Lord
God
him
Edenway
sword turning every of lives."
to
the cherubim, and a flaming keep the way of the tree
here observe that the word pitw (Vay-yash" he placed," is a word used cen), which is translated the Deity it is the root of constantly respecting
We
may
:
HDW
"
presence of God." rosnnZDPT mnrr " the (Ha-chereb Ham-mith-hap-pe-ceth), flaming sword " the wheels" deturning every way," is analogous to scribed in Ezekiel (i. and x). This emblem of the
SHEKINAH," "the
Creator was placed here to keep
men
in awe,
and to
guard them against transgressing the commandment of God; for such is implied by "keeping the way ofthe tree of lives."I have, according to the order in
which we find them,
connected the twenty-third and following verse with the preceding one ; but I believe this is not the orderin
twenty-third and twenty-fourth verses should immediately follow the nineteenth.
which they should stand.(See note, p. 108.)
The
HEATHEN COSMOGONIES.I
BEG now
to call the reader's attention to three
by whence these were
ancient cosmogonies, which have heen preserved to us heathen writers. When we consider the sourcederived,
we
shall
he convinced that
they are of considerable value, as connected with the Mosaic account of the Creation and Fall of man. These
cosmogonies were not the inventions of their reputed authors, although they may have mixed with themvarious apocryphal notions of theiras
own; nor
are they,
many have imagined, borrowed from the records of the Jewish legislator. When mankind were dispersedsome centuries after the deluge, each tribe would take with them the same hieroglyphic pictures of the history of the creation, fall, and deluge, and from these theyderived their respective histories of these events. These narratives are as similar to each other as we could
expect to find them under these circumstances. They all exhibit the same grand features, but differ in their minor points. The outline is the same, but the details
vary both in their proportions and colouring and such must necessarily be the case, as these hieroglyphics;
were transferred to phonetic characters by nations more and probably or less advanced in literature and science;
long before this event took place,
many
idolatrous rites
had been established, the knowledge of the true God was in a great degree lost, and " men had become vain in their imaginations, and their foolish hearts weredarkened."
The
above considerations render the
fol-
lowing cosmogonies highly important, as connected with the Mosaic history of the Creation and Fall.
THE COSMOGONY OF THEEUSEBIUS hasTheogonyByblius.itis
PHCENICIANS.
preserved to us an account of the of the Phoenicians written by Sanchoniatho,far
and translated from the original into Greek by Philo-
As
as
it
goes respecting thewill give the
Creation,
very
curious.it:
I
whole passage asKO!
we now have"Triv
TWV oXwvrj
dp-^rjv
VTToriOerai
depa
a
9eoV Qeov, (Eur. Bacch. 84.)
" Bromius the child God of God."
Amongfc
the Orphic fragments
is
the following line:3'
Kjoa?i/e /xeV
ovv Zeu? irnvra traTtjp BaKi^o?
eireKpaivc."
"ZeusThisfirst
the
FATHER
originated
all
things,
and BACCHUS
origi-
nated them."is a very curious passage, verses of St John's Gospel.
when compared with
the three
E./
159always connected with the history of Bacchus an account of his descending into Hades, and returning thence triumphant over the powers of dark-
There
is
ness, to this
Horace alludes:vidit insons
" Te
Cerberus aureoleniter atterens
Cornu decorum,
Caudam, Ore pedes
et recedentis trilingui
tetigitque crura."
" With golden horn supremely bright
You
darted round the bending light,:
Far beaming through the gloom of Hell
WhenAndBacchusis
Cerberus, with fear amazed,1
Forgot his rage, and fawning gazed,at thy feet adoring"fell.
(FRANCIS.)
" thrice-born." The " born of Semele, latter word is explained as signifying, his father's thigh, and Proserpine;" the descent into
and
"
termed in the Orphic hymns
Tpiyovos,
of three natures,"
is represented by making him the son of Prosera form of expression so agreeable to the Hebrew pine, language, in which JTiD'p, "The son of death," signifies
Hades
a person sentenced to death. This notion also corresponds Isaiah, concerning the Messiah.Ei/
with
a prophecy
of
(Liii. 12.)
top related