- 152-
(^267) Two terms are used in Hebrew for "the stocks." That here employed combined the
pillory for the body with the stocks for the legs. It was, in fact, an instrument of torture,
the neck and arms being confined, and the body in a bent position.
(^268) The verb really means "to crush." It is generally used in connection with cruel
oppression, as in Deuteronomy 28:33; 1 Samuel 12:3, etc.
(^269) According to the Talmud (Sotah 10 a) it was the gout.
(^270) So 2 Chronicles 16:12 literally.
(^271) It deserves to be noticed that, when the true seeking of Jehovah is referred to, the
original uses simply the accusative, as if to indicate the directness of the address; while
in all spurious inquiries or requests the preposition in or by is employed, as if, while
marking the means by which the object is sought, at the same time to indicate that any
result still comes only from God. For, the Hebrew may be designated as the only
theologically true language.
(^272) The former seems to me the most probable. It need scarcely be said that the heathen
practice of cremation was unknown. On this subject, and on the burning of spices at
such funerals, comp. Geier, De Ebraeorum Luctu, pp. 104-119. According to
Rabbinical writings, Asa was one of the model-kings.
(^273) This is the correct rendering of the original.
(^274) It is remarkable that in the older Assyrian monuments the city is still denominated
as that of Omri, its later name appearing only in the time of Tiglath-pileser, nearly two
hundred years after its building by Omri. This is a noteworthy confirmation of the
Scriptural narrative. According to tradition, John the Baptist was buried in Samaria.
(^275) See the very full description by M. Guerin (La Samarie, vol. 2. pages 188-210).
(^276) The Talmud (Sanh. 102 b) asks whether Omri was worthy of the Kingdom - the
answer being, that he added a city to the land of Israel.
(^277) The classical student will be interested to know that Jezebel was the grand-aunt of
Dido, the founder of Carthage. The notices in Josephus are taken from Menander.
(^278) With the article, the supreme Phoenician and Assyrian deity, worshipped under
different designations throughout that part of Asia. The critical study of the mythology
of these countries has yielded many interesting results, and shown, with striking
(^)