- CONVOCATION a meeting of a religious character as distinguished from
congregation, which was more general, dealing with political and legal
matters. Hence it is called an “holy convocation.” Such convocations were
the Sabbaths (Leviticus 23:2, 3), the Passover (Exodus 12:16; Leviticus
23:7, 8; Numbers 28:25), Pentecost (Leviticus 23:21), the feast of
Trumpets (Leviticus 23:24; Numbers 29:1), the feast of Weeks (Numbers
28:26), and the feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:35, 36). The great fast,
the annual day of atonement, was “the holy convocation” (Leviticus 23:27;
Numbers 29:7). - COOK a person employed to perform culinary service. In early times
among the Hebrews cooking was performed by the mistress of the
household (Genesis 18:2-6; Judges 6:19), and the process was very
expeditiously performed (Genesis 27:3, 4, 9, 10). Professional cooks were
afterwards employed (1 Samuel 8:13; 9:23). Few animals, as a rule, were
slaughtered (other than sacrifices), except for purposes of hospitality
(Genesis 18:7; Luke 15:23). The paschal lamb was roasted over a fire
(Exodus 12:8, 9; 2Chronicles 35:13). Cooking by boiling was the usual
method adopted (Leviticus 8:31; Exodus 16:23). No cooking took place on
the Sabbath day (Exodus 35:3). - COOS (written Cos in the R.V.), a small island, one of the Sporades in
the Aegean Sea, in the north-west of Rhodes, off the coast of Caria. Paul
on his return from his third missionary journey, passed the night here after
sailing from Miletus (Acts 21:1). It is now called Stanchio. - COPPER derived from the Greek kupros (the island of Cyprus), called
“Cyprian brass,” occurs only in the Authorized Version in Ezra 8:27.
Elsewhere the Hebrew word (nehosheth) is improperly rendered “brass,”
and sometimes “steel” (2 Samuel 22:35; Jeremiah 15:12). The “bow of
steel” (Job 20:24; Psalm 18:34) should have been “bow of copper” (or
“brass,” as in the R.V.). The vessels of “fine copper” of Ezra 8:27 were
probably similar to those of “bright brass” mentioned in 1 Kings 7:45;
Daniel 10:6.
Tubal-cain was the first artificer in brass and iron (Genesis 4:22). Hiram
was noted as a worker in brass (1 Kings 7:14). Copper abounded in
Palestine (Deuteronomy 8:9; Isaiah 60:17; 1 Chronicles 22:3, 14). All sorts
of vessels in the tabernacle and the temple were made of it (Leviticus 6:28;
Numbers 16:39; 2 Chronicles 4:16; Ezra 8:27); also weapons of war (1