Vol 02 - Eastern Manners and Customs: Illustrating Various Passages in the Bible

Eastern Manners and Customs: Illustrating Various Passages in the Bible

"Neither shalt thou set thee up any image (margin, statue, or pillar) which the Lord thy God hateth."-Deu 16:22. A modern commentator remarks upon this verse, " He had forbidden a carved image, and they may not set up even a pillar: they must resist all approaches to idolatry." It is curious that this pillar-worship still lingers in Egypt. Dr. Van Dyck thus describes it:- " In a corner of the small open space near the Hotel d’ Orient at Cairo, a most interesting ceremony occurs once a year. A number of Moslems set up a large wooden pole; around it, for three days, a large crowd of men is to be seen, from about nine in the morning till sun-down, gathered in aisles, all facing towards the pole, and crying out incessantly ’ Ya Allah,’ which means O God.’ They bow and wave their arms down, upwards and inwards, towards the pole. The time for beginning these incessant cries is about half-way between sunrise and mid-day... that is, the hour for the morning sacrifice... and precisely at sunset the cries stop, to be again taken up the second and third days." Thus the prophets of Baal " called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us."

Dr. Van Dyck adds:-"It is indeed wonderful to see how this high place,’ or more properly speaking, this `pole’ ceremony still holds its own through many ages. The Koran, and the doctrine of a single unique God, has not been able to root out this custom of worshipping round a pole, or upright beam, a remnant of the old worship of Astarte, or Ashtoreth, and what was most emphatically forbidden in the Mosaic books, is to-day practiced upon the banks of the Nile." The word "pillar," as given in the margin, occurs also in the following places, amongst others: Exo 23:4; Exo 24:4; Exo 34:13; Lev 26:1 : Deu 7:5; Deu 12:3; 1Ki 14:23; 2Ki 3:2; 2Ki 17:10; Jer 43:13.

R. A. W.

"Thy garments are warm when he quieteth the earth by the south wind." Job 37:17.

"We can testify that during the siroccos the clothes are not only warm but hot. This sensation is only experienced at such a time; and on such a day too, we understand the other effects mentioned by the prophet-bringing down the noise and quieting the earth. There is no living thing abroad to make a noise. The birds hide in thickest shades; the fowls pant under the walls with open mouths and drooping wings; the flocks and herds take shelter in caves and under great rocks; the laborers, retire from the field, and close the windows and doors of their houses; and travelers hasten to take shelter in the first cool place they can find. No one has energy enough to make a noise, and the very air is too weak and languid to stir the pendant leaves even of the tall poplars. Such a south wind with the heat of a cloud does indeed bring down the noise and quiet the earth."-Dr. Thomson in "The Land and the Book."