- WARD a prison (Genesis 40:3, 4); a watch-station (Isaiah 21:8); a guard
(Nehemiah 13:30). - WARS OF THE LORD, THE BOOK OF THE (Numbers 21:14, 15),
some unknown book so called (comp. Genesis 14:14-16; Exodus 17:8-16;
Numbers 14:40-45; 21:1-3, 21-25, 33-35; 31. The wars here recorded
might be thus designated). - WASHING (Mark 7:1-9). The Jews, like other Orientals, used their
fingers when taking food, and therefore washed their hands before doing
so, for the sake of cleanliness. Here the reference is to the ablutions
prescribed by tradition, according to which “the disciples ought to have
gone down to the side of the lake, washed their hands thoroughly, ‘rubbing
the fist of one hand in the hollow of the other, then placed the ten
finger-tips together, holding the hands up, so that any surplus water might
flow down to the elbow, and thence to the ground.’” To neglect to do this
had come to be regarded as a great sin, a sin equal to the breach of any of
the ten commandments. Moses had commanded washings oft, but always
for some definite cause; but the Jews multiplied the legal observance till
they formed a large body of precepts. To such precepts about ceremonial
washing Mark here refers. (See ABLUTION.) - WATCHES the periods into which the time between sunset and sunrise
was divided. They are so called because watchmen relieved each other at
each of these periods. There are frequent references in Scripture to the
duties of watchmen who were appointed to give notice of the approach of
an enemy (2 Samuel 18:24-27; 2 Kings 9:17-20; Isaiah 21:5-9). They were
sometimes placed for this purpose on watch-towers (2 Kings 17:9; 18:8).
Ministers or teachers are also spoken of under this title (Jeremiah 6:17;
Ezekiel 33:2-9; Hebrews 13:17).
The watches of the night were originally three in number, (1) “the
beginning of the watches” (Lamentations 2:19); (2) “the middle watch”
(Judges 7:19); and (3) “the morning watch” (Exodus 14:24; 1 Samuel
11:11), which extended from two o’clock to sunrise. But in the New
Testament we read of four watches, a division probably introduced by the
Romans (Matthew 14:25; Mark 6:48; Luke 12:38). (See DAY.)