of the kingdom of Judah, on account of the wickedness and impenitence of the people. 845. The carnelian. The word (odem) signifies "redness," and may very well be applied to the carnelian, which is generally of a red colour. The name "sardius" was given to it by the ancients, from the island of Sardus or Sardinia, where it seems to have been first found. 846. The Syrians (2 Sam. viii. 6), the Edomites (ibid. 14), the Amalekites (2 Sam. viii.11, 12), the Philistines (2 Sam. v.), the Moabites (2 Sam. viii. 2), and the Ammonites (2 Sam. xii. 29—31). 847. In the reign of David; when we read that "all they of Edom became David's servants" (2 Sam. viii. 14). 848. In the reign of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, when, we are informed (2 Chron. xxi. 8,10), they rebelled against Judah, and made themselves a king. 849. It should no doubt be rendered "the plane-tree," as we find it in several ancient versions. It is derived from the root y (arom) "to be stripped," and this agrees very well with the plane-tree, as the bark peels off and leaves the tree bare. 850. (Manasseh) means "forgetting;" "for God," said he, "hath made me forget all my toil and all my father's house" (Gen. xli. 51). 851. The word (Ephraim) means "fruitful"; and Joseph so called him, "for God," said he, "has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction" (Gen. xli. 52). 852. With an army of a million of men, and three hundred chariots (2 Chron. xiv. 9). 853. By Ezra, after the captivity, from documents written at the time the different events occurred. 854. No; as they do not contain many particulars, which from these references we should be led to expect. It is most probable that the books of Chronicles referred to above, were the public records of the two kingdoms, which have been lost, and from which the present books of Chronicles were composed. 855. Thebes, the ancient capital of Egypt, of which stupendous remains still exist. According to Diodorus Siculus, the Greek historian, "The great Diospolis, which the Greeks have named Thebes, was six miles in circumference. Busiris, who founded the city, adorned it with magnificent edifices and presents. The fame of its power and wealth, celebrated by Homer, has filled the world. Never was there a city which received so many offerings in silver, gold, and ivory, colossal statues, and obelisks." 856. Forty years (Judg. v. 31). 857. It relates only to the Levitical laws, and not to historical events. 858. Thirty-nine years. 859. The northern extremity of the Red Sea divides itself into two parts; and in the peninsula formed between them, Mount Sinai is situated. 860. The southern part of the city was SO called after David had taken it from the Jebusites. It was the highest part of the city, and contained the citadel. 861. Mount Seir (Deut. ii. 5). 862. No; but on the contrary, the king of Edom assembled an armed force to stop them in case of their attempting to force a passage (Num. xx. 20). 863. The Ethiopians were defeated with great slaughter (2 Chron. xiv. 12, 13). 864. The Amorites seem to have been the principal nation, and their name is sometimes put for the whole of the Canaanites, as in Gen. xv. 16, and Amos, ii. 9. 865. From the fourth son of Canaan, the son of Ham (Gen. x. 16). 866. From Canaan the son of Ham (Gen. x.6, 15-19). 867. They were descended from the third son of Canaan (Gen. x. 16), and they inhabited the country about Jerusalem. 868. The word (eshcol) means "a bunch," as of grapes, etc. 869. Yes; mention is made of this (2 Kings, ix. 26). 870. No; the words do not imply that God approved of his going, but it was as if he said to him," "Since you know what you ought to do, if you are still determined to act to the contrary, I give you up to your own heart's lust.” 871. The words do not allude to David's righteousness in general, as in another place he says, that “his iniquities were more in number than the hairs of his head," but he asserts his innocence of the particular charge which Cush the Benjamite brought against him. 872. One hundred and twenty-three years (Num. xxxiii. 39). 873. Till the death of the High-priest; and afterwards he might return home (Num. xxxv. 25). 874. In the character of Elihu (Job. xxxii. 6—11). 875. Deut. xi. 26-28. 876. Thirteen years (Gen. xxxvii. 2, and xli. 46). 877. In Eastern countries the impression of the king's ring gives authority to all public acts and proclamations. This custom is also referred to in the book of Esther. 878. It refers to the circumstance, that the kingdom of Persia was composed of the two kingdoms of the Medes and Persians; and the latter state, though it rose into importance later than the kingdom of the Medes, eventually became the more powerful of the two. 879. After the death of Alexander the Great, his kingdom was divided between four of his generals. 880. As the Psalms are a guide in our intercourse with God, so are the Proverbs in our intercourse with men. 881. They mean that the Israelites received their instruction from God. It was a custom in Eastern countries for scholars to sit at their masters' feet. They were thus reminded of the humility due from pupils to their instructors. 882. In the East the bottles in use are made of leather, and these if placed in the smoke are dried up and become useless. Thus he means that affliction had so destroyed his beauty and strength, that he seemed to himself useless and despicable. 883. Assigning an equal number of females this would make one million two hundred thousand; and as the males and females under twenty |