- HAIL! a salutation expressive of a wish for the welfare of the person
addressed; the translation of the Greek Chaire, “Rejoice” (Luke 1:8). Used
in mockery in Matthew 27:29. - HAIL frozen rain-drops; one of the plagues of Egypt (Exodus 9:23). It is
mentioned by Haggai as a divine judgment (Hag. 2:17). A hail-storm
destroyed the army of the Amorites when they fought against Joshua
(Joshua 10:11). Ezekiel represents the wall daubed with untempered
mortar as destroyed by great hail-stones (Ezekiel 13:11). (See also 38:22;
Revelation 8:7; 11:19; 16:21.) - HAIR (1.) The Egyptians let the hair of their head and beard grow only
when they were in mourning, shaving it off at other times. “So particular
were they on this point that to have neglected it was a subject of reproach
and ridicule; and whenever they intended to convey the idea of a man of
low condition, or a slovenly person, the artists represented him with a
beard.” Joseph shaved himself before going in to Pharoah (Genesis 41:14).
The women of Egypt wore their hair long and plaited. Wigs were worn by
priests and laymen to cover the shaven skull, and false beards were
common. The great masses of hair seen in the portraits and statues of kings
and priests are thus altogether artificial.
(2.) A precisely opposite practice, as regards men, prevailed among the
Assyrians. In Assyrian sculptures the hair always appears long, and
combed closely down upon the head. The beard also was allowed to grow
to its full length.
(3.) Among the Greeks the custom in this respect varied at different times,
as it did also among the Romans. In the time of the apostle, among the
Greeks the men wore short hair, while that of the women was long (1
Corinthians 11:14, 15). Paul reproves the Corinthians for falling in with a
style of manners which so far confounded the distinction of the sexes and
was hurtful to good morals. (See, however, 1 Timothy 2:9, and 1 Peter 3:3,
as regards women.)
(4.) Among the Hebrews the natural distinction between the sexes was
preserved by the women wearing long hair (Luke 7:38; John 11:2; 1
Corinthians 11:6), while the men preserved theirs as a rule at a moderate
length by frequent clipping.
Baldness disqualified any one for the priest’s office (Leviticus 21).