Incense
from the Latin “to burn,” “a mixture of gums or spices and the like, used for the purpose of
producing a perfume when burned;” or the perfume itself of the spices, etc., burned in worship.
The incense employed in the service of the tabernacle walls compounded of the perfumes stacte,
onycha, galbanum and pure frankincense. All incense which was not made of these ingredients was
forbidden to be offered. (Exodus 30:9) Aaron, as high priest, was originally appointed to offer
incense each morning and evening. The times of offering incense were specified in the instructions
first given to Moses. (Exodus 30:7,8) When the priest entered the holy place with the incense, all
the people were removed from the temple, and from between the porch and the altar. Cf. (Luke
1:10) Profound silence was observed among the congregation who were praying without, cf.
(Revelation 8:1) and at a signal from the perfect the priest cast the incense on the fire and, bowing
reverently toward the holy of holies, retired slowly backward. The offering of incense has formed
part of the religious ceremonies of most ancient nations. It was an element in the idolatrous worship
of the Israelites. (2 Chronicles 34:25; Jeremiah 11:12,17; 48:35) It would seem to be symbolical,
not of itself, but of that which makes acceptable, the intercession of Christ. In (Revelation 8:3,4)
the incense is of as something distinct from offered with the prayers of, all the saints cf. (Luke 1:10)
and in Reve 6:8 It is the golden vials, and not the odors or incense, which are said to be the prayers
of saints.
India
The name of India does not occur in the Bible before the book of Esther where it is noticed as
the limit of the territories of Ahasuerus in the east, as Ethiopia was in the west. (Esther 1:1; 8:9)
The India of the book of Esther is not the peninsula of Hindostan, but the country surrounding the
Indus, the Punjab and perhaps Scinde. The people and productions of that country must have been
tolerably well known to the Jews. An active trade was carried on between India and western Asia.
The trade opened by Solomon with Ophir through the Red Sea consisted chiefly of Indian articles.
Inheritance
[Heir]
Ink, Inkhorn
[Writing]
Inn
The Hebrew word (malon) thus rendered literally signified “a lodging-place for the night.” Inns,
in our sense of the term were, as they still are, unknown in the East, where hospitality is religiously
practiced. The khans or caravanserais are the representatives of European inns, and these were
established but gradually. The halting-place of a caravan was selected originally on account of its
proximity to water or pasture, by which the travellers pitched their tents and passed the night. Such
was undoubtedly the “inn” at which occurred the Incident in the life of Moses narrated in (Exodus
4:24) comp. Genesis42:27 On the more frequented routes, remote from towns, (Jeremiah 9:2)
caravanserais were in course of time erected, often at the expense of the wealthy. “A caravanserai
is a large and substantial square building... Passing through strong gateway, the guest enters a large
court, in the centre of which is a spacious raised platform, used for sleeping upon at night or for
the devotions of the faithful during the day. Around this court are arranged the rooms of the
building.”
Inspiration
frankie
(Frankie)
#1