must be a “lover of hospitality (Titus 1:8) cf. 1Tim 3:2 The practice of the early Christians was in
accord with these precepts. They had all things in common, and their hospitality was a characteristic
of their belief. In the patriarchal ages we may take Abraham’s example as the most fitting, as we
have of it the fullest account. “The account,” says Mr. Lane, “of Abraham’s entertaining the three
angels related in the Bible, presents a perfect picture of the manner in which a modern Bedawee
sheikh receives travellers arriving at his encampment.” The Oriental respect for the covenant of
bread and salt, or salt alone, certainly sprang from the high regard in which hospitality was held.
Hotham
(signet ring), a man of Asher, son of Heber, of the family Of Beriah. (1 Chronicles 7:32) (B.C.
1490.)
Hothan
(signet ring), a man of Aroer, father of Shamu and Jehiel. (1 Chronicles 11:44) (B.C. 1046.)
Hothir
(fullness),the thirteenth son of Heman, “the king’s seer,” (1 Chronicles 25:4,28) and therefore
a Kohathite Levite. (B.C. 1014.)
Hour
The ancient Hebrews were probably unacquainted with the division of the natural day into
twenty-four parts; but they afterwards parcelled out the period between sunrise and sunset into a
series of divisions distinguished by the sun’s course. The early Jews appear to have divided the
day into four parts, (Nehemiah 9:3) and the night into three watches, (Judges 7:19) and even in the
New Testament we find a trace of this division in (Matthew 20:1-5) At what period the Jews first
became acquainted with the division of the day into twelve hours is unknown, but it is generally
supposed they learned it from the Babylonians during the captivity. It was known to the Egyptians
at a very early period. They had twelve hours of the day and of the night. There are two kinds of
hours, viz. (1) the astronomical or equinoctial hour, i.e. the 24th part of a civil day, and (2) the
natural hour, i.e. the 12th part of the natural day, or of the time between sunrise and sunset. These
are the hours meant in the New Testament, (John 11:9) etc., and it must be remembered that they
perpetually vary in length, so as to be very different at different times of he year. For the purpose
of prayer the old division of the day into four portions was continued in the temple service. as we
see from (Acts 2:15; 3:1; 10:9)
House
The houses of the rural poor in Egypt, as well as in most parts of Syria, Arabia and Persia, are
generally mere huts of mud or sunburnt bricks. In some parts of Palestine and Arabia stone is used,
and in certain districts caves in the rocks are used as dwellings. (Amos 5:11) The houses are usually
of one story only, viz., the ground floor, and often contain only one apartment. Sometimes a small
court for the cattle is attached; and in some cases the cattle are housed in the same building, or the
live in a raised platform, and, the cattle round them on the ground. (1 Samuel 28:24) The windows
are small apertures high up in the walls, sometimes grated with wood. The roofs are commonly but
not always flat, and are usually formed of plaster of mud and straw laid upon boughs or rafters;
and upon the flat roofs, tents or “booths” of boughs or rushes are often raised to be used as
sleeping-places in summer. The difference between the poorest houses and those of the class next
above them is greater than between these and the houses of the first rank. The prevailing plan of
eastern houses of this class presents, as was the case in ancient Egypt, a front of wall, whose blank
and mean appearance is usually relieved only by the door and a few latticed and projecting windows.
frankie
(Frankie)
#1