VIII. Their Diet.

while he was

THE food of the Israelites, except on festivals, seems to have been very plain. Boaz, an opulent person, kindly complimented Ruth with "drinking of the same water, eating of the same bread, and dipping her morsel in the vinegar with him, and also with giving her some parched corn," Ruth ii, 14. The presents of victuals brought to David and his men, in a kind of exile, were bread, raisins, summer fruits, probably water melons, wine, figs, parched corn, several kinds of pulse, wheat, barley, flour, honey, butter, cheese, of kine, and some sheep. 1 Sam, xxv, 18; 2 Sam. xvi, 1; xvii, 28, 29. Their bread was either made of barley or wheat, baked into thin cakes, either in ovens, upon the hearth, or in a frying-pan, with or without oil. Parched corn was often used instead of bread. Honey, with which Canaan abounded, was highly esteemed: (Ps. xix, 10.) and the fleece of the flocks and the milk of the goats were thought by Solomon sufficient for food and raiment both for the master and the family. Prov. xxvii, 26, 27. Though fish was allowed to be eaten by the law, yet we find no mention of them in the early ages as an article of food. The feasts of the Hebrews consisted of substantial well-fed meat; and they reckoned milk, or butter and honey, as the sweetest and the greatest delicacy. Sugar was then unknown; so there was nothing in nature, known more agreeable to the taste than honey. They preserved fruit in it, and mixed it in their best parties.*

* Univers. Hist. vol. i, p. 695, fol. ed. Fleury, pp. 84--86.

IX. The Amusements of the Hebrews.

THE Scriptures frequently mention the simplicity of their lives, by the expressions of their sitting, eating and drinking, every one under his own vine, and under his own fig tree. 1 Kings iv, 25; Mic. iv, 4; Zech iii, 10. Barzillai, when he was too far advanced in years to relish the pleasures of life, gives us a correct account of the mode of living at king's courts in those ancient times; he bewails his incapacity of enjoying delicate meats and drinks, and the vocal music of male and female singers: these things constituted the court entertainments of those days, and do to the present day in most eastern courts. 2 Sam. xix, 35. Their entertainments were not very frequent; but only at their marriages, sheep-shearing, harvest, and vintage. Isa. ix, 3; xvi, 9, 10. The scriptures no where intimate that they had any places of public amusements, for games and theatrical exhibitions, as the heathens, particularly the Greeks and Romans had. Even Solomon himself, who had indulged himself in almost all vanities, or what he calls " the delights of the sons of men," does not mention any such amusements, as public games or plays. Eccl. ii, 8. The Talmudists, and other Jewish writers, say, that all kinds of games, and spectacles, were not only prohibited, but abhorred, by all good Israelites, because of the mischiefs which had befallen those who had ventured to be present at those of their neighbouring nations. The Talmud expressly condemns being present at any theatrical exhibition: and R. Simeon Ben Paki comments thus on Ps. Blessed is the man who hath not set his foot in

i, 1:

a theatre, &c." The commeut on the book of Ruth introduces Naomi dissuading her daughter-in-law from returning into the land of Israel, because it was not the custom there to go to the theatres, and other public amusements, as among other nations; and the comment on the Lamentations introduces the Jewish church expostulating with God that it had never entered into any such profane places. +

Instead of those profane games and theatrical amusements, so prevalent among all heathen nations, the Hebrews seem to be well satisfied with those grand and solemn festivals, which the Holy Scriptures enjoined them to observe; and when we duly consider the solemnity, the magnificence of those festivals, and the rejoicings which accompanied them, the grandeur of the temple where they were celebrated, together with the thirty two thousand Levites which officiated at the temple service, it is no wonder that they should prefer those festivals to any other entertainments. Į

X. The Arts, Commerce, and Literature of the Hebrews.

THE Hebrews were particularly eminent in the arts of war, agriculture, poetry, and music. A brief sketch of each of these is here given, compiled chiefly from the sacred Scriptures, but occasionally illustrated from other authentic sources.

Tract may, fol. 18.

+ Middr. in Ruth, c. i, a n, fol. 5, col. 4.

Univers. Hist. p. 694, vol. i, fol. ed. Fleury, p. 130.

1

1. WAR.---The ancient Hebrews were all soldiers, as many as were able to carry arms. Abraham, with his servants, attacked and routed the four petty kings; (Gen. xiv.) and he was well skilled in ordering his troops to attack the enemy at different points at the same time; and he chused the night season to commence his attack, that the smallness of his force might not be discovered.---It is worthy of observation, that Abraham undertook his war on the most honourable and conscientious motives; viz. to repel aggression, and to rescue the innocent from oppression and slavery: not for the purpose of plunder, nor the extension of territories; and therefore he took no spoils, and returned peaceably to his own possessions. The castramentation of the Israelites in the wilderness, the plan of which was given them by God himself, (Numb. ii,) was divided into three principal divisions. The first, which was the least in extent, but the strongest and most powerful, occupied the centre of the army; this was the throne of God, i. e. the Tabernacle. The second was composed of the priests and Levites, surrounding the first. And the third consisted of all the tribes of Israel, who pitched around, at a distance of about a mile from the tabernacle.* If we consider the immense number of the Israelites, their perverse disposition, the mixed multitudes who accompanied them, the great quantity of furniture and stuff which they carried with them, we can hardly imagine that any man, how wise and experienced soever, could possibly manage them

* Josephus tells us, that the nearest approach the people dared make to the ark, except during the time of worship, was a distance of two thousand cubits. Antiq. Juɖ, lib, iii, c. 4.

without divine help. Such immense company, consisting of, besides those on foot, undoubtedly many old and infirm persons, who rode on asses, camels, or horses, together with women and children, and also the mixed multitude, who chose Israel's God for their portion, and his people for their companions, moving on at once and regularly encamping together, the world never before nor since witnessed! No doubt upwards of two millions of souls, besides their "flocks and herds, even very much cattle." What but the providence of God could support such a multitude in a waste and howling wilderness, where to this very day the necessaries of life are not to be found.*

The Israelites, under Joshua, conquered the whole, or the greatest part of Canaan in the space of about six years, in spite of all the natural and artificial strength of the country, and the united opposition of its warlike inhabitants. From the days of Joshua to the reign of Solomon, they were almost continually engaged in war with some of the surrounding nations so that it is recorded as a wonder in Judg. v, 31, that the land had rest forty years. Their generals, whether judges, or princes, or officers acting under them, have exhibited themselves by their military prowess and skill to be not inferior to the bravest commanders of other nations, even of Greece and Rome. All the men of Israel, who were able to go out to war, were trained up till the reign of David; for we have no account of regular troops till them. Before that time it was

If we may credit Josephus, the Israelites in the wilderness had amongst them public markets, and a variety of shops, so that their camp might be considered a moveable city. Antiq. Jud. lib. iii, c. 12, s.5.