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12. Beside the grape many other fruits abounded in Judea, especially the olive, which, was extensively cultivated, and produced a valuable oil, of which frequent mention is made in the Scriptures. 1 Kings v. 11. with Ezek. xxvii. 17; Hos. xii. 1; Mich. vi. 15. Dates, figs, pomegranates, melons, cucumbers, &c. were also common. In his visit to upper Egypt, Jowett observes, "extensive fields of ripe melons and cucumbers, adorned the sides of the river, and produced in great abundance." This gives light to the murmurs of the Israelites, - "We remember the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, &c. ; but now our soul is dried away.” Numb. xi. 5, 6. He continues, "Some guard is placed over them, however. Occasionally, but at long and desolate intervals, we noticed a little hut, made of reeds, just capable of containing one man; being, in fact, little more than a fence against a north wind. In these, I observed, sometimes, a poor old man, perhaps lame, feebly protecting the property." This admirably illustrates Isa. i. 8. "And the daughter of Zion is left... as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers," — expressive of loneliness and desolation.

QUESTIONS ON CHAPTER VII.

1. What is said of the institutions of Moses respecting the agriculture of Judea? What effect did this have? What was Cain's occupation? Abel's? What is said of

Abraham and Lot? What fact is mentioned of Jacob? How was it customary to estimate a man's wealth in those days?

2. What is said of the occupations of husbandry, as to their being honorable? Give some examples of distinguished persons being so employed. What of several of the prophets? Examples. Of women of rank? Examples. What is said of the power and dignity of priests in the age in review? What moral lesson do the foregoing facts teach us?

3. What is the substance of the extract touching the understanding which existed between the herdsman and his cattle, &c.? What is the testimony respecting the names of sheep? What passage is illustrated by these particulars?

4. What is said of the plough? Of the preparation of the earth? Was the soil of Judea naturally fertile ? What is the substance of the parable of the Sower? What remarkable method of sowing seed is mentioned ? What passages are happily illustrated by a knowledge of this practice? Give the meaning of Ecclesiastes, xi. 1.

5. What part of our year was their seed-time? When did the former or early rains commence? How many rainy seasons were there? Why are these so frequently alluded to in Scripture? Give an example of this allusion. What was done at the time of the early rains?

6. When was their harvest season? What is said of the latter rains? What time elapsed from sowing to full harvest? Give a sketch of the harvest labors. Repeat the passage in Matt. xiii. 30. Who are represented by the wheat? Who by the tares?

7. In threshing their grain, did they use the flail? What other method is named? Does Moses allude to this? In what countries is this mode of threshing con

tinued at the present day? What other method is mentioned? What is said of this instrument's being used as a figure?

8. Describe the threshing-floors. Describe the method of separating the grain from the chaff. What was done with the chaff? What passage in Matt. iii., is illustrated by these practices? The unquenchable fire is used as a figure of what? Why is it called unquenchable? (Be cause it does not cease till all is consumed?) Give an example from Ezek. xx. 47, 48.

9. 10. What methods of preparing corn for food are mentioned? Give an account of the mills, and the process of grinding. What passage is illustrated by this custom? How was the employment of grinding regarded? Give an example. How does this explain Isa. xlvii. 1, 2?

11. When did the gathering of grapes take place? What was done? For what was Palestine celebrated? How were the vineyards guarded? Describe the eastern bottles. How does this explain Matt. ix. 17? What other passage is illustrated by it?

12. What is said of the olive? What other fruits abounded in Judea? What does Jowett say of the melons, &c. of Egypt? What passage is illustrated by this? What is further said in relation to guarding the fields? What passage is explained by this circumstance? What does the figure express ?

CHAPTER VIII.

Dwellings and Domestic Affairs.

1. In the earlier ages men lived in Tents, the invention of which is ascribed in Scripture to Jabal, son of Lamech. Gen. iv. 20; xviii. 1, 2. These were followed by the erection of houses, or huts, constructed of the branches and bark of trees, mud, &c. The Saviour seems to allude to houses of this last material (Matt. vii. 27), which would be easily swept away when "the rains descended, and the floods came." The richer sort erected buildings of wood and stone, which united security and convenience.

2. The style of eastern houses was, and is, very different from that which prevails in this country and in Europe. Connected with almost every house was a court, enclosed or surrounded with a cloister, over which, if the house was more than one story, was erected a gallery of equal extent, having a balustrade or lattice work going round it, to prevent people from falling into the court below. Deut. xxii. 8. To protect this court from the rain and from the heat of the sun, an awning or canopy was extended on rope from one side to the other, which could be unrolled, or rolled up at pleasure. A flight of stairs was placed on the outside of the

building, by which a person might ascend to the gallery or roof, and descend again, without entering the house.

3. These particulars will illustrate Mark ii. 1-4; Luke v. 18, 19. The friends of the paralytic did not "break up the roof" and "tiling," as represented by our translation; but, finding, the crowd so great, that they could not gain entrance to the court where Christ was teaching, they carried the sick man up the stairs, on the outside into the gallery, took away the balustrades, and, removing or rolling up the awning, lowered him down at the very feet of Jesus.

4. The roof was always flat, and was used for a variety of purposes, as sleeping, walking, devotional exercises, &c. "All sleep upon the tops of their houses, their beds being spread upon the terraces, without any other covering over their heads than the vault of heaven. And, as we generally rode out on horseback at a very early hour, we perceived on the tops of the houses people either still in bed, or just getting up." Morier. 1 Sam. ix. 26. Samuel had probably slept on the housetop. "We supped on the top of the house, for coolness, and lodged there likewise." Pocock. Peter went up to the house-top to pray. Acts x. 9. And from Jer. xxxii. 29; 2 Kings xxiii. 12; Zeph. i. 5, it appears that religious ceremonies were not uncommon there.

5. Guests were also entertained on the roof on festal occasions. "I have in view two houses,"

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