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ceed the former in glory, and be filled with the presence of the Messiah, the desire of all nations. Haggai is quoted in the epistle to the Hebrews.

Zechariah co-operates with Haggai in exhorting the Jews to rebuild the temple. Under various emblems of figurative representations, he predicts the future prosperity of his countrymen, and their union with the Gentile nations, under the blessed government of Christ. Zechariah is frequently quoted in the New Testament.

Malachi, who appears to have lived about 400 years before Christ, was the last of the Jewish Prophets. He reprehends both the Priests and the people, for their disregard of God, and of his laws; foretelling punishments to the wicked, and recompence to the righteous. He announces the coming of the Messiah, "the Son of righteousness, with healing in his wings;" and of his forerunner, John the Baptist, to preach repentance, in the spirit and power of Elijah. He closes the sacred volume with a solemn command to observe faithfully the law of Moses, until the manifestation of the promised Redeemer. The writers of the New Testament afford the clearest attestations to the prophetic character of Malachi '.

To this Chapter, we subjoin a collection of remarks illustrating various passages in the writings of the Prophets, by reference to the peculiar customs and manners of the times in which they lived.

I Sam. ii. 19. Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year."

The women made wearing apparel, and their common employment was weaving stuffs, as making clothes is now. We see in Homer, the instances of Penelope, Calypso, and Circe. This custom was retained at Rome, among women of the first rank. The Emperor Augustus commonly wore clothes made by his wife, sister and daughter.

SUET. Aug. 73, and FLEURY's Hist. of the Israelites.

I Sam. xxii. 6. Saul abode in Gibeah, under a tree in Ramah.”

And we have seen that Deborah the Prophetess, who judged Israel, dwelt under a palm tree, between Ramah and Bethel. It may seem extraordinary to us, that kings and judges should not be better accommodated; but, according to eastern customs, it was perfectly natural. Thus, when Pococke was travelling in the company of the governor of Faiume, who was treated with great re

spect as he passed along, they spent one night in

a grove of palm trees.

HARMER, vol. 2, page 127.

II Sam. xx. 9. "And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand, to kiss him."

This is the custom still among the eastern people. The Indians take one another by the chin, that is the beard, when they would give a hearty salute to a person; at the same time saying Bobba, i. e. father, or Bii, brother.

See PETER DELLA VALLA's Travels, page 410.

1 Kings xix. 12, 13. "And after the fire, a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle."

The Jews account it a token of reverence to have their feet bare in public worship, and to have their heads covered. This was the practice not of the priest only, but of the people also; and the latter practice remains to this day. Thus on the Divine appearance to Moses in the bush, he hid his face, afraid to look upon God. And in the extraordinary manifestation of the Divine presence to Elijah, he wrapt his face in his mantle. On the same account, perhaps, the angels were represented in vision to

Isaiah, as covering their faces with their wings, in the presence of Jehovah. Isaiah vi. 2.

Oriental Customs.

1 Chron. xxii. 8. "Thou shall not build a house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth."

The custom which prohibits persons polluted with blood, performing any offices of Divine worship before they are purified, is so ancient and universal, that it may almost be esteemed a precept of natural religion, tending to inspire an uncommon dread and horror of blood shed. In the case of David, it amounted to a disqualification, as it respected the building of the temple. And with regard to some of the Israelites, it was the cause of the rejection of some of their prayers. Isaiah i. 15.

The Greeks were influenced by the same principle; and Homer makes Hector say:

Ill fits it me with human gore distain'd,

To the pure skies, these horrid hands to raise,
Or offer heav'ns great Sire polluted praise.

POPE ll. vi. 336.

Psalm xvi. Six of the Psalms are distinguished by the title of Michtam, which, according to Ainsworth, signifies a golden jewel, and has given rise

to an opinion, that they were written in letters of gold, and hung up in the sanctuary. Writing in letters of gold still continues in the east. Maillet, speaking of the royal Mahommedan library in Egypt, says, the greatest part of these books were written in letters of gold.

Lett. xiii. page 189.

Psalm xxvi. 6. "I will wash mine hands in innocency, so will I compass thine altar, Oh Lord!”

It was usual for the priests to go round the altar, when they had laid the sacrifice upon it, and bound the victim to the horns of it, at the four corners, and there sprinkled, and poured out the blood. In order for which, they washed their hands from the blood of the sacrifice.

In the worship of the heathen, the same ceremony was performed, so Tibullus:

But come ye pure, in spotless robes array'd,
For you, the solemn festival is made;

Come follow thrice, the victim round the lands;
In running water purify your hands.

GRAINGER.

Prov. xi. 22. "A jewel of gold in a swine's

snout."

"It is the custom in almost all the east, for the women to wear rings in their noses, in the left nostril, which is bored low down in the middle.

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