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computation of Thenius seems too large, bearing in mind that cattle and sheep in the
East are much smaller than in the West.
(^87) We translate literally.
(^88) Comp. 1 Chronicles 2:6. Ethan, 1 Chronicles 6:44; 15:17, 19; Psalm 89 (inscr.)
Heman, 1 Chronicles 6:33; 25:5; Psalm 88 (inscr.) Chalcol and Darda, sons of Mahol,
perhaps "sacras choreas ducendi periti."
(^89) A hyperbole not uncommon in antiquity. I feel tempted here to quote the similar
expression of Horace (Odes, 1:28): "Te maris et terrae numeroque carentis arenae
Mensorem cohibent, Archyta."
(^90) Of these "Proverbs" only 915 verses have been preserved in the Book of that name;
of "the Songs," besides the Song of Songs, only Psalm 72 and 127.
(^91) The word rendered "hyssop" in the Authorized Version is either the mint, the
marjoram, the Orthotricum saxatile, or, according to Tristram (Nat. Hist. of the Bible,
p. 457), the caper (Capparis spinosa).
(^92) Also written Hirom. (1 Kings 5:10, 18 - in the Hebrew, 4:24, 32), and in 2
Chronicles 2. Huram.
(^93) Comp. the quotations in the Speaker's Comment. (2, p. 507a,)and Movers, Phoniz. 2,
- pp. 86, etc.
(^94) Our Authorized Version translates wrongly, "stone-squarers" (1 Kings 5:18), where
the original has "Gebalites," i.e., inhabitants of Gebal.
(^95) There has been much controversy as to the meaning of the word berosh, rendered in
the Authorized Version (1 Kings 5:8, and many other passages) by "fir." Differing
from Canon Rawlinson, it seems to me, for many reasons, most improbable that it was
"the juniper," and on the grounds explained in Gesenius' Thesaurus 1. 946 b, 247 a, I
regard it, with almost all authorities, as the cypress. The Targumim and the Talmud
have the words berotha and beratha, with apparently the same signification. Comp.
Levy, Chald. Worterb. 2 d. Targ. p. I I8 b. Canon Tristram, who is always trustworthy
(Nat. Hist. of the Bible), speaks of it with caution.
(^96) Most commentators are agreed that it was the "red sandal" wood. It is curious to
notice that this was apparently an article of ordinary commerce. The "Ophir" (or Red
Sea) fleet of King Solomon, on the other hand, is only said to have brought "gold" (1
(^)