LIBRARY OF PRINCETON
OCT 0 3 2007
THeOLOGKiAL SEMI^iARY
h
'^ PRINCETON, N. J. ''^ ^^B
/J>rx<uw//..O.L.^C> ^H
:,::.■■;■■ ,_,:■/• ;,^l^:: ;-;,
Great Russell Street, British Mus^m, London, W.C. /s
'^T96 SEXUAL Intereo^rse in Varioi!?
Nations: Untrodden Fields of Anthro-
pology, Observations on the Esoteric Manners
and Customs of Semi -Civilized Peoples, a Record
of 30 Years' Experience in Asia, Africa, America
and Oceania, by a French Army Surgeon •''
vols wztk Portfolio of Coloured Plates, to'-ether
3 vols, roy 8vo,^^^/z, ^3 35 Pans', 1898
l.oln''''°?P?"?""° ■^•" ""'" astoundin- work is a set of 2.
, coloured plates ff.vmg many full-length undraped fi.n.ret
of women of different nationalities, showing their attftude
nature are passed in review "ipiJeiiiino
8, Broad Street
145 Pliallic Worship, Nature Wor-
slliW etc., 10 vols, post 8vo, vdl am uncut
S coMVLETK SET, £2 10., ov 5s6d each
separately Privately Prmted
A Masculine Cuo.^s (The), or History ot Ancient
and Modern Crosses, and their couuection with
the Mvsttvles of Sex JFonhip, also au Account
of th-^ Kindred Phases of Phallic Faiths and
Practices ... p
B Phallicism : A Description of the Worship o|
Lingham-Youi in various p.irts ot tlu.- World
and in dilVereut Ages, with an Account o
Ancient and Modern Grosses, particularly ot
the Crux Ansata (or Handled Cross) and other
Symbols connected with the Mysteries of Sex
Worship , „
C Phallic Objects, Monuments, and Remains :
Illustrations of the Rise and Development ot
the Phallic Idea (Sex Worship), and its
emhodiment in Works of Nature and Arc
D Opiiiolatkeia : An Account ot the Rites and
"Mysteries connected with the OriKH^.Rise, and
Davelomueut of Seuvknt Worship in various
parts of the Worhl, euriched with Interest' ng
Traditions, iMid a full description ot the cele-
biate.l Su-peut Mounds aul Temples, the whole
forming an exposition of one of the phases ot
Phallic or Sex Wokshu-
E. Fishes, Flowers, and Fiue, as hLEMSNTs&
Deities iu the Phallic Faiths and ^Vorship ot
the Ancient Religions of Gueeje Babylon
Rome, India, etc., with llhistrated Myths and
Legends ,,.
F Nature Worship, or an Account ot Phallic
Faiths and Practices, Ancient and Modern,
iucludiugthe Adoration of the Male and Female
Powers, and the Sacti Puja of Indian-
Gnosticism, by the Author of PhalUcHm
G Phallic Miscellanies : Facts and Phases ot|
Ancient and Modern Sex Worships, as llhis-
trated chietly lu the Religions of India,
an Api.eaiix of Additional and b^xplauatory
Matter' to the Volumes Phallism and Natuui
Worship , „. ^
H Mysteries of the Rosie Cuoss,or the history
of that Curious Sect of the Middle Ages known
as the RosicRUCiANS, with Examples of tneir
Pretension ; and Claims
I CULTUS Arborum : A Descriptive Account ct
" Phallic Tree Worship, with Illustratn
Let'ends Superstitious Usages, etc., exhibitiu^
its" Origin and Development amongst the
Easteru"an 1 Western Nations of the World
fi-om the Earliest to Modem Times
J Archaic Rock Inscriptions : An Account o
the Cup and Ring Marking on the Sculptural
Stones of the Old and New World
146 Philpot (J. H.) The Sacred Tree ;
or, the Tree in Religion and Mylh, 2« lUustra-
tions, 8v.^ doth gilt extra. UNcrT, unopeneii
AND QUITE NEW, 4s6d (pub at 8s6d net)
Macmillan, 1897
Chapters on Tr«e Worship, its Uistrilnition ^nd
Origin: Ttie God ;mllheTit.e, Woo.l iMMiona r.iid
Tree Spirits, The Tree in its Relation t. Human
l,ife, The Tree as Oracle, Panidise, Maj t^elebra-
tion», L'hristmag Observances.
3S Rovinxi Towers of Irelam
(O'Brien's) ; o •, the Hi^tn-y of the Tuatli.
de-Dauaans lor the first time unveiled, loith
• ill the uriginal Illustrations, to vjhkli is
'iiltlrd ((■ portrait of the Author, reproduced
from Marlise's wcll-J:rown drdiving, thick
large 8vo, do'h gilt topa, AS NEW, 10s6d (pub
at 12-;f3d net) 1898
"Tliis new edition contains all th:it is to be
found ill the previous editions, including' the
curiijus p.-ffice, tu^etlier with valuable sup-
plementary matter co.nprisins: an Introduction,
a minute .-iyiiopsis of the Work, and a copious
Index.
It m ly be added that the text of the original
has not been subjected to any alteration or
modification, even its paging being preserved.
Tlie first edition was pub'.i.slied so far back as
I^:>1,.'hk1 a second edition was issued the same
year.
No standard work on the Round Towers of
Irel;uid lias ^iven rise to so luiich controversy as
O'Briens. To readers interested in Archaeology
and kindred subjects this new edition will
doubtless present many advantages owing to its
completeness.
The early editions having long been out of print,
coi'i'.s of the work are very searce. and when the,-
oi.cur for sale, usuilly fetch from 35s to 40s
.Messrs. Brough have just secured a few copies of
Eh'i above book at a reduced price, it cannot be
procured e'sewherefor less ihan 12s'id. Intending
purehiisers should therefore apply early to avoid
disappointment
<\4
•viJi^
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J^^a^ /^^iZ^ ^v^^zC M^
ANCIENT FAITHS
EMBODIED IN ANCIENT NAMES:
Olt AK ATTE3IPT TO TRACE
THE RELIGI0U8 BELIEF, SAGRED RITES, AND HOLY EMBLEMS
OE CERTAIN NATIONS
by an interpretation of the names
(tTven to children by priestly authority, or assumed by
prophets, kings, and hieearchs.
THOMAS iNMAN, M.D. (London),
CONSULTING PHYSICIAN TO THE ROYAL INFIRMARY, LIVERPOOL ;
LECTURER SnCCESSrVELT ON BOTANY, MEDICAL JURISPRUDENCE, MATERIA MEDICA WITH
THERAPEUTICS, AND THE PRINCIPLES WITH THE PRACTICE OP MEDICINE.
LATE PRESIDE>;T OP THE LIVERPOOL LITEP.ARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.
AUTHOR OF "TREATISE ON MYALGIA:"
" FOUNDATION FOR A NEW THEORY AND PRACTICE OP MEDICINE ; "
"ON THE HEAL NATURE OF INFLAMMATION," "ATHEROMA IN ARTERIES,"
"SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION," " THE PRESERVATION OF HEALTH,"
" THE RESTORATION OF HEALTH,"
kNn "ANCIENT PAGAN AND MODERN CHRISTIAN SYMEOLISJI EXPOSED AND EXPLAINED."
VOL. I.
SECOND EDITION.
LONDON:
TUilBNER & CO., PATERNOSTER ROW.
//7/
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187 a.
LIBRARY OF PRINCETON
OCT 0 3 20C7
THEOLOGrcAL SEMIf^RY
LIVERPOOL :
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TjO-RT) STriF.FT.
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TO THOSE
WHO THIRST AFTER KNOWLEDGE,
AND ARE NOT DETERRED FROM SEEKING IT
BY THE FEAR OF IMAGINARY DANGERf
THIS VOLUME IS INSCRIBED, WITH GREAT RESi^ECT,
THE AUTHOB.
■ OvTOi 8e rjcrav evyeveo-repoi rav ev Qfcra-aXoviiq-j. oirti/es e8ef,nvTo
Tov koyov ixeTci naa-rjs Tvpo6vp.'ias. ro kciB' Tjixepav dvanpivovres ras
ypacfihs el e^"' ravra durcos." — AcT'. KVII. 11.
Tfiis volume is the result of an inquiry, "How it comes
to pass that John and Jack are synonymous '? " The
question, once propounded, led me onwards to such other
names as Elizabeth, Isabella, Anna, Annabella, William
and Bill, Mary and Miriam. The investigation proved
very fascinating, and in prosecuting it I found myself
surrounded by a mass of facts of which I had no
previous conception. These have been almost entirely
ignored by English writers, and those few who have
treated on them have imparted their vieAvs only to
a select private circle. Those who are acquainted with
the systematic way in Avhich certain subjects are avoided
in modern society can well understand, and perhaps
easily forgive,, the reticence referred to. But when it is
known that the suppression of truth has given rise to
a series of theological errors, which none could have
adopted with a knowledge of the sources from which they
were derived, it becomes a grave question whether the
interests of literature, and even of divinity, do not
demand a removal of the veil of ignorance.
Having already experienced in my own profession the
advantages of attempting to sweep away the false practices
arising from perverted facts and wrong views of nature,
it is natural to believe that theology will be equally
benefited by a rigid and impartial examination of the
basis on which it has been founded. In medicine the
old reasoning ran, " Onr forefathers believed and acted
thus, the colleges teach the same, Ave have learned the
practice when young, and we stick to it when old ;
consequently, the practice of medicine, as at present
adopted, must be true, because it has stood the test of
time." Absurd as this is in medicine, in divinity the
arguments are even still more puerile, and run thus, "It is
written ; I am taught to believe ' The word ; ' I do so,
and therefore it is true;" or "It is true, and therefore
I believe it." " The Church is a witness for ' The
word,' and 'The word' testifies to the Church, and
both niast be right." But a moment's consideration
shows that the same assertions may be applied to prove
the truth of the Vedas, of the Koran, and of the book of
Mormon. If faWi in it is to be the test of the
infallibility of any religious system, we must allow that
the ancient Egyptians, Assyrians, Persians, and the
modern Hindoos had and have as sincere a belief as we
ourselves, for nothing can be more complete than their
entire trust in their spiritual guides. We, who in our
missionary zeal believe that our religion is superior to
any other, have no scruple in trying to shake the
childlike confidence of the Hindoo, the subtle reasoning
of the Brahmin, or the fierce orthodoxy of the l\Iahometan,
and to make them dissatisfied Vv'ith their religious books.
Yet we are intolerant of the faintest suggestion that
our own faith is faulty. The rude knights and
churchmen of old tried to demonstrate the truth of their
doctrine by the streuftth of their riuht arms, and he who
was the hardest hitter was supposed to be the most
favoured by the Ahnighty. Modern theology, on the
contrary, declines the arbitrament of the s^v•ord, and
calls reason to her aid in deciding controversy. There
is indeed a widespread feeling that those who appeal
LO such carnal weapons as persecution, cursing, excom-
munication, and the like, do so only because they have
no mental armoury from which they can equip them-
selves for a successful light. It is human to oppose
obloquy against obnoxious proofs, it requires magnanimity
to acknowledge ourselves in the wrong, and to kiss the
rod that chases away a cherished delusion. There are
very lev.' thoughtful men who have not been discontented
with the developments of modern Christian divinity.
From many professional theologians strictures appear
from time to time, which show the workings going on
below the surface. To these have been opposed the dead
weight of persecuting orthodoxy. The world beyond them
sometimes watches vvith interest the battles of those who
profess to lead opinion, and the layman does not scruple
to give his adhesion to the combatant who seems to be
the strongest in argument. When the controversy raged
between rival sects in medicine, the clergy assumed to
be arbiters between them ; and the Author acknowledges
the advantages which he reaped from hearing the opinions
of independent minds. En revanche, now that the
Church has its disputations, medicine sometimes presumes
to form an opinion of its own, and thinks it may assist
the development of truth by pointing out some consi-
derations of which the controversialists are ignorant.
The intrusion of a bystander, however, into a quarrel,
invariably brings upon him the hostility of all parties, and
he who suggests to many opposing dogmatists that all are
in the wrong, will certainly not escape more fortunately.
As I have in the following pages done much violence to
my own preconceived opinions, and to prejudices lodged
in my mind from my earliest infancy, I am certain
to give offence to others. Whenever the ci'itic finds
that those principles v^'hich are called "the holiest
instincts of the mind " are thwarted, he allows the
wildest license to his senseless lash, and flogs unsparingly
the author who has shaken his repose. Such castigation
I anticipate, as certainly as does the traveller expect
an eruption of boiling Avater from an Icelandic geyser,
whose waters he has rufiied by throwing into them a clod
of earth. Yet though there may be much vvild hitting,
I entertain the hope of meeting with some logical
argument or quiet reasoning, which may serve to point
out error, and help to set that right which is really
wrong. There are observant pedagogues, who know that
some boys under their care will submit almost to be
flayed alive, rather than acknowledge a fault when they
consider themselves wrongfully punished, yet who melt
at once at a loving word or kind remonstrance. Authors,
being human, are not very different to boys, and are more
readily subdued by philosophical argument than by vulgar
abuse. In my second volume, I hope to demonstrate my
due appreciation both of the one and the other.
PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION.
In presenting- to the Public a Second Edition of "Ancient
Faiths Embodied in Ancient Names," in a condition
nearly identical with the First, the Author begs to
state, that it had been his intention to revise, and
in some places to re-v\^rite, those parts wherein his
advanced knowledge led hiin to believe that the opinions
propounded required modification. But he has been pre-
vented from carrying out his plan by a tedious illness,
and the necessity to take a long Continental tour to
recover health. During the time wdien he was invalided,
the demand for the First Edition increased so greatly
as to exhaust the whole impresssion. Being physically
incapacitated from undertaking the labour of re-writing,
and being wholly debarred from the power of using any
library, the Author resolved upon a simple "re- issue,"
those parts only being altered where clerical errors had
crept in.
The supervision of the work w^as left wholly to the
Printer, and the Author gladly takes this opportunity of
bearing testimony to his zeal and carefulness. He has
indeed proved himself to be a critical coadjutor, as well
as a genial friend.
DEBCEIPTION OF THE PLATES
IN v;OTH VOLUMES.
VOL. I.
The oval ou the side of \"ol. I. represents Ass^'rian priests offering in
the 2)resenee of what is supposed to be Baal — or the representative of
the snu — and of the grove. The iirst is tjpiiied bj^ the Gya, vith
wings and a tail, which make it symbolic of the male triad and the
female unit. The eye. with the central pupil, is in itself emblematic
of the same, 'ihe grove represents mystically le verier dc Ctj}Jiii<.
Ou the right, stands the king ; on the left are two priests, the foremost
clothed with a fish's skin, the head forming the mitre, tlius showing
tlie origin of modern Christian bishops' peculiar head-dress. Ar-ranged
about tlie figures are, the sun ; a bird, perhaps the sacred dove, whose
note, coa or coo, lias, in the Shemitic, some resemblance to an invita-
tion to amorous gratification : the oval, symbol of the yoni ; the basket,
or bag, emblematic of the scrotum, and apparently the lotus. The
trinity and unity are carried by the second priest. The othei' figures
on the side of the book are ex])lained clsewliere.
FRONTISPIECE.
This is taken from a photograph of a small bronze image in the
Mayer collection of Brown's IMuseum, iii Liverpool. The figure stands
about nine inches high, and represents Isis, Korus, and the fish. It is
an apt illustration of a custom, still prevalent amongst certain Chris-
tians, of reverencing a vii'gin giving suck to her child, and of the
association of Isis, Venus, and Mary with the fish.
PLATE I.
Is supposed to represent Cannes, Dagon, or some other fish god.
It is copied from Lajard, 8ur le C'ltlte de Venus, pi. xxii., 1, la, and is
xn
thus described. • Statuette iuedite, de gres houillei- on micace, d'un
brim verdatre. EUe porte par devant, siir una bande perpendiculaii'e,
im legends en caraeteres Syriaques tres anciens' {Cabinet de M. Lamliert.
a Lyon). I can find no clue to the signification of the inscription.
PLATE II,
Figs. L and 4 are illustrations of the respect for the antelope
amongst the Assyrians. The first is from Layard's Nineveli ; the
second, showing the regard for the spotted antelope, and for "the
branch," is from Bonomi's Nineveh and its Palaces.
Fig. 2 illustrates Bacchus, with a mystic branch in one hand,
and a cup in the other ; his robe is covered with spots arranged in
threes. 'Ihe branch is emblematic of the arhor vitce, or tree of Life.
It will be noticed tli?-t on the fillet round the god's head are arranged
many crosses. From Hislop's 'Two Bahylons and Smith's Dictionanj,
p. 208.
Figs. 3 and 5 are intended to show the prevalence of the use of
spots on priestly dresses ; they are copied from Hislop's Two L'ahijlons,
and Willdnson, vol. vi., pi. 38, and vol. iv., pp. 3-1=1, S53. Other illus-
trations of spotted robes, etc., will be seen in other figures. For an
explanation of the signification of spots, see Vol. I., p. 3G0, and Vol. 11.,
p. ?(i9.
PLATE III.
Fig. 1 represents an Assjaian priest worshipping by presentation
of the thumb, which had a peculiar signification. Sometimes the
forefinger is pointed instead, and in both cases the male is symbolised.
It is taken from a piate illustrating a paper by E. C. Ravenshaw, Esq.,
in Journal of Roijal Asiatic Society, vol. IG, p. 114.
Fig. 2 is a Buddhist emblem ; the two fishes forming the circle
represent the mystic yoni, the sacti of Mahadeva, while the triad
above them represents the mystic trinity, the triune lather. Siva, Bel,
or Asher. From Joimial of Royal Asiatic Society, vol. 18, p. 392,
]5late ii.
Fig. 3 is a very remarkable production. It originally belonged to
Mons. Lajard, and is described by him in his second Memoire, entitled
Uechcrclies sur le Chdtc, les Syi}d)oles, les Attributes, ct les Monumens
Fir/ures de Venus (Paris, 1837), in pages 32, et seq., and figured in
plate i., fig. J . The real age of the gem and its origin are not known,
but the subject Lads that author to believe it to be of late Babylonian
workmanship. The stone is a white agate shaped like a cone, and the
cutting is on its lower face. The shape of this gem indicates its dedi-
cation to Venus. The central figures represent the androgyne deity,
Balaam, Astaroth, Elohim, Jupiter genetrix, or the bearded Venus
Myhtta. On the left side of the cutting we notice an erect serpent,
whose vnyeA head makes us recognise the solar emblem, and its mun-
dane representative, mentula ar recta; on a spot opposite to the centre
of the male's body we find a lozonge, symbolic of the yoni, whilst
opposite to his feet is the amphora, whose mystic signification may
readily be recognised ; it is symboUc of Om-anos, or tlie Sun fructifpng
Terra, or the earth, by poiu-ing from himself into her. The three stars
over the head of the figure, and the inverted triangle on its head, are
reiH-esentations of the mythological fom-, equivalent to the Egyptian
s}Tnbol of life (figs, 21, 32). Opposite to the female are the moon, and
another serpent of smaller size than that characterising the male,
which may readily be recoguised by physiologists as symbohc of tensio
ditoridis. In a part corresponding to the diamond, on the left side, is
a six-rayed wheel, emblematic, apparently, of the sim. At the female's
feet is placed a cup, which is intended to represent the passive element
in creation. As such it is analogous to the crescent moon, and is
associated in the Eoman church with the round wafer, the sjnnbol ol'
the sun ; the wafer and cup thus being synonymous with the sun and
moon in conjimction. It will be observed that both serpents in the
plate are apparently attacked by what we suppose is a dragon. There
is some difficulty in imderstanding the exact idea intended to be con-
veyed by these, onr own opinion being that they symbolise Eros,
Cupid, or desii-e, whilst Lajard takes them to indicate the bad principle
in natm-e, darkness, night, Satan, Ahriman, etc.
Fig. 4 is also copied from Lajard, plate i., fig. 10. It represents
the reverse of a bronze coin of Vespasian, struck in the island of
Cj^prus. It represents the conical stone, under whose form Venus was
worshipped at Paphos, and a conjimction of the sim and moon sunilar
to that which may be seen in the chapels of Mary in Papal churches.
The framework around the cone indicates an ark.
Fig. 6 represents the position of the hands assumed by Jeu-ish
piiests when they give their benediction to tlieii- flock. It wiU be
recognised that each hand separately indicates the trinity, whilst the
jimctiou of the two indicates the uuit; the whole being symbohc of
the mystic Arba. One of my informants, who told me that, being a
"colien" or priest, he had often admuiistered the blessing, whilst
showing to me this method of benediction, placed liis joined hands so
that his nose entered the central aperture. On his doing so, I
remarlced, " bene itasatus," and the expression did more to convince
him of the probabiHty of my views tlian anj-thing else.
Fig. 6, modified in one form or another, is the position assumed
by the hand and lingers, when Roman and i\iigiican bishops or other
hierarchs give benediction to their people. The same disposition is to
be met with in Indian mythology, when the Creator doubles himself
into male and female, so as to be in a position to originate new beings ;
whilst the male hand symbolises the masculine triad, the female hand
represents the mystic feminine circle, and the dress worn by the
celestial spouse is covered with groups of spots arranged in triads and
groups of four.
PLATE IV.
Is a copy of a mediaeval Virgin and Child, as painted in Delia Robbia
ware in the South Kensington Museum, a copy of which was given to
me by my friend, Mr. Newton, to Vvdiose kindness I am indebted for
many illustrations of ancient Christian art. It represents the Virgin
and Child precisely as she used to be represented in Egypt, in India,
in -Assyria, Babylonia, Phoenicia, and Etraiia; the accident of ch'ess
being of no mythological consequecice. In the framework around the
group, we recognise the triformed leaf, emblematic of Asher ; the
grapes, typical of Dionysus; the wheat ears, symbolic of Ceres, Vahrieot
fonclu, the mark of womankind, and the pomegranate timmou, which
characterises the teeming mother. The li-\ing group, moreover, are
placed in an arch-way, dfJta, or door, which is spnbolic of the female,
Like the vesica irisois, the oval or the cii'cle. The identiiicatiou of Mary
with the Sacti is as complete as it is possible to make it.
FIGURES IN THE TEXT.
Figure 1, page 53, is fully explained, and tlie autliority whence it
was drawn given in the paragraphs following it.
Figures 2, 3, page 78, are taken from Ginsburg's Kahhalah, and
illustrate that in the arrangement of " potencies " two unite, like
parents, to form a third.
Figures 4, 5, page 79, are copies of figures found in Carthage and
in Scotland, from Forbes Leslie's Early Races of Scotland, vol. i.,
plate C, page 40 (London, 1860). This book is one to which the
reader's attention should be dii'ected. The amount of valiiable infor-
mation which it contains is very large, and it is classified in a ijhilo-
sophical, we may add attractive, manner.
Figure 6, page 90, is fi'om Bonomi, p. 292, Nineveh and its Palaces
(London, 1865). It apparently represents the mj-stic yoni, door, or
delta; and it may be regarded as an earlier form of the framework in
Plate IV. It will bo remarked by those learned in sj'mbols, that the
outline of the hands of the priests who are nearest to the figure is a
suggestive one, being analogous to the figure of a key and its shank
(Fig. 4, Vol. II.';, whilst those who stand behind these officers present
the pine cone and bag, symbolic of Ann, Hoa, and their residence. It
is to be noticed, and once for all let us assert our belief, that every
detail in a sculpture relating to rehgion has a signification ; that the
first right hand figure carries a pecuharly shaped staff; and that the
winged symbol above the yoni consists of a male archer in a wmged
circle, analogous to the symbolic bow, arrow, and target.
Figures 7 to 13, page 98 to 102, are representations of the goddess
mother, the virgin and child, Ishtar, Mj^litta, Venus, Sacti, Mary,
Yoni, Jimo, Mama Ocello, etc. Fig. 7 is a copy of the deified woman or
celestial mother, from Idalium, in C3'prus. Fig. 8 is from Egj-pt, and is
remarkable for the cow's horns (for v»'hose signification, see Vol. I.,
p. 54=1, which here replace the lunar crescent, in conjunction with the
sun, the two being synaboUc of hermaphroditism, whilst above is a seat
or throne, emblematic of royalty. The two figm-es are copied from
RawHnson's Herodotus, vol. 2, p. 447, in an essay by Sir Gardiner
Wilkinson, wherein other illustrations of the celestial virgin are given.
Fig. 9 is a copy of plate 59, Moor's Hindu FantJteon,v/hei-em it is entitled
" Chrisna nursed by Devald, from a highly finished picture." In the
accoimt of Krishna's bii-th and early history as given by Moor {Op cit.,
pp. 197, et seq ), there is as strong a resemblance to the story of Christ, as
the pictiu-e here described has to papal paintings of Mary and Jesus.
Fig. 10 is an enlarged representation of Devald. Fig. 11 is copied from
RawUnson's Ancient Monarchies, vol. •S,p. -390. Fig. 12 is a figure of the
mother and child found in ancient Etruria at Volaterra; ; it is depicted
iu Fabretti's Italian Glossary, plate 20, figure 349, who describes it as
a marble statue, now in the Guarnacci Museum. The letters, which
are Etruscan, and read from right to left, may be thus rendered into
the ordinary Latin characters from left to right, J\II : GANA :
LARTI-IIAS ZANL: VELKINEI : ME — SE.; the translation I
take to be, " the votive offering of Larthias (a female) of Zaual, ( =
Zaucle = Messaua in Sicily) (wife) of Velcinius, in the sixth month."
It is uncertain whether we are to regard the statue as an effigy of the
celestial mother and child, or as the representation of some devout
lacly who has been spared during her pregnancy, her parturition, or
from some disease affecting herself and child. Analogy would lead us to
infer tliat the Queen of Heaven is intended. Fig. 13 is copied from
Hislop's Two BaJjijlons ; it represents Indranee, the wife of ludra or
Indur, and is to be found in Indur Subba,tlie south front of the Oaves
of EUora, Asiatic JResearclws, vol. vi., p. 81)3. Indra is equivalent to
Jupiter Tonans, and is represented as seated on an elephaut ; " the
waterspout is the trunk of this elephant, and the iris is his bow, which
it is not auspicious to point out," Moor's Pantlieon, p. 2G0. He is
represented very much as if he were a satyr, floor's Pantheon, p. 204 ;
but his wife is always S])okeu of as personified chastity and propriety.
Indrani is seated on a lioness, which replaces the cow of Isis, the
former resembling the latter in he]- feminine aud maternal instincts.
Figures 14, 15, pago 105, are copies of Diana of the Ephesians ; the
first from Hislop, who quotes ICitto's Illustrated Commentanj, vol. 5,
p. 205 ; the second is from Higgins' Anacah/jJsis, who quotes Montfau9on,
plate 47. I remember to have seen a figure similar to these in the
Royal Museum at Naples. The tower upon the head represents
virginity (see Vol. I., p. 144) ; the position of the hands forms a cross
vidth the body; the nimierous breasts indicate abundance; the black
colour of Figure 14 indicates the ordinary colour of the lanuijo, or, as
some mythologists imagine, " Night," who is said to be one of the
mothers of creation. (See Vol. II., p. 382.) The emblems upon the
body indicate the attributes or symbols of the male and female
creators.
Figure 10, p. 100, is a comi^hcated sign of tlie yoni, delta, or door
of life; it is copied from Bonomi's Palaces of Nineveh, p. 30!).
Figure 17, p. J07, signifies the same thing; the priests adoring it
present the pine cone and basket, symbolic of Anu, B[oa, and tiieii-
residence. Compare the object of the Ass.yrian priest's adoration with
that adored by a Christian divine, in Fig. 47, Vol. II., p. 048. (See
Vol. I., p. 83, et seq.)
Figure 18, p. 107, is a fancy sketch of the hnga and the yoni
combined. There is infinite variety in the details, but in all the plan,
as given in the figure, is observable, except m the pointed end, which
ought to be open, so as to allow the fluid poured over the linga to flow
away.
Figure 19, p. 112, is copied from Lajard {Op. ci^.j, plate xxii.,fig. 5.
It is tlie impression of an ancient gem, and represents a man clothed
with a fish, the head being the mitre: priests thus clothed, often
bearing in tlieir hand tlie mystic bag, are common in Mesopotamian
scnlptnres ; one such is figured on the back of the first vohime of this
work. In ahuosfc ever}'- instance it will be recognised tliat the fish's
head is rej)resented as of the same form as the modern bishop's mitre.
Figure 21, p. 119, represents two equilateral triangles, infolded so as
to make a six-rayed star, the idea embodied being the androgyne nature
of the deity. The pyramid with its apex upwards signifying the male,
that with the apex downwards the female. The line at the central
junction is not always seen, but the shape of the three parallel bars
reappears in Hindoo frontlet signs in conjunction with a delta or door,
shaped hke the " grove " in Fig. 17 ; thus shov/iug that the lines serve
also to indicate the masculine triad (see Fig. 62, Vol. II., p. 649).
Fio'ures 22, 23, p. 124, are other indications of the same funda-
mental idea. The first represents Nebo, the Nahbi, or the navel,
characterised by a ring with a central mound. The second represents
the circular and upright stone so common in Oriental villages. The
two indicate the male and female ; and a medical friend resident in
India has told me, that he has seen women mount upon the lower
stone and seat themselves reverently upon the upright one, having
lu-st adjusted their dress so as to prevent it interfering with her perfect
contact mth the miniature obehsc. During the sittmg, a short prayer
seemed fhtting over the worshipper's lips, but the Avhole affair was
soon over.
Figures 24, 25, pp. 142, 143, are discs, circles, aiu-eoles, and wheels.
to represent the sun. Sometimes the emblem of this luminary is
associated with rays, as m Plate in.. Fig. 3, and in Figure 10, p. 100 ;
occasionally, as in some of the ancient temples in Egypt discovered in
1854, the sun's rays are represented by hues terminating in hands,
sometimes one or more of these contain objects as if they were gifts
sent by the god ; amongst other objects, the crux ansata is shown
conspicuously. In a remarkable plate in the Transactions of the Royal
Society of Literature (second series, vol. i., p. 140), the sun is identified
with the serpent ; its rays terminate in hands, some holding the
handled cross or tau, and before it a queen, apparently, worships.
She is offering what seems to be a lighted tobacco pipe, the bowl being
of the same shape as that commonly used in Turkey ; £i-om this a wavy
pyramid of flame rises. Bebind her, two female slaves elevate the
systrmn ; whilst before her, and apparently between herself and her
husband, are two altars occupied by round cakes and one crescent-
shaped emblem. Fi;^ure 24 was used in ancient days by Babylonian
artists or sculptors, Avheu the}- wished to represent a being, apparently
human, as a god. The sanie plan has been adopted by the moderns,
who have varied the symbol by representing it now as a golden disc,
now as a ter'-eslrial orb, again as a rayed sphere. A writer, when
describing a god as a man, can say that the object he sketches is
divine ; but a painter thinks too much of his art to put on any of
his designs, " this woman is a goddess," or " this creature is divine " :
he therefore adds an aureole round the head of his subject, and thus
converts a very ordinary man, woman, or child into a deity to be
reverenced ; modern artists being far more skilful in depicting the
Almighty than the carpenters and goldsmiths of the time of Isaiah
(xl. 18, 19, xli. G, 7,xliv. 9-10)
Figure 25 is another representation of the solar disc, in which it is
marked with a cross. This probably originated in the wheel of n
chariot having four spokes, and the sun being likened to a charioteer.
The chariots of the sun are referred to in 2 Kings xxih. 11 as idolatrous
emblems. Of these the wheel was symbolic. The identification of
this emblem with the sun is very eas}-, for it has repeatedly been
found in Mesopotamian gems in conjunction with the moon. In a
very remarkable one figured in Fiawlmson's Ancie)it I\lonarc]tics,\ol ii.,
p. 249, the cross is contrived as five circles. It is remarkable, that in
many papal pictures the wafer and the cup are depicted precisely
as the sun and moon in conjunction. See Pugin's Architectural
Glossary, jilate iv., fig. 5.
Figures 20, 27, 28, p. Ho, are simply varieties of the solar wheel,
intended to represent the idea of the sun and moon, the mystic triad
and unit, the " ar'ha," or four In Figure 27, the mural ornament is
introduced, that being symbolic of feminine A'irginity. For explana-
tion of Figure 28, see Figures 30, 37.
Figura 29, p. 145, is copied from Lajard, Op. (Jit., plate xiv. F.
That author states that he has taken it from a drawing of an Egyptian
stele, made by M. E. Pjisse {Monum. Eyyjit., plate xxxvii.). and that
the original is in the British Museum. There is an imperfect copy of
it in Ptawlinsou's Herodotus, vol ii. The original is too indelicate to
be represented fully. I^is, the central figure, is ■\^■holly nude, with the
exception of her h^ad-dress, and neck and l)reast ornaments. In one
hand she holds two blades of corn apparently, wdiilst in the o;her she
holds three lotus flowers, two being egg shaped, whilst the central
one is expanded ; with these, wliich evidently symbolise the mystic
triad, is associated a circle emblematic of the yoni, thus indicating the
fouvfolcl creator. Isis stands upon a lioness ; on one side of her stands
a clothed male figure, holding in one hand the crux ansata, and in the
other an upright spear. On the opposite side is a male figure wholly
nude, like the goddess, save his head-dress and collar, the ends of
which are arranged so as to form a cross. His hand points to a
flagellum, hehind him is a covei't reference to the triad, whilst in front
Osiris offers undisguised homage to Isis. The head-dress of the
goddess appears to be a modified form of the crescent moon.
Figures 30. 31, -Vz, 33, pp. 145, l-iG, represent the various triangles
and their union which have been adopted in worship. Figure 30 is
said to represent iire, which amongst the ancient Persians Avas depicted
as a cone, whilst the figure inverted represents water.
Figure 3-i, p. 147, is an ancient Hindoo emblem, called Sri lantra,
which is fully explained in its place. It has now been adopted in
Christian churches and Freemasons' lodges.
Fio'ure 35, p. 148, is a very ancient Hindoo emblem, whose real
signification I am unable to divine. It is used in calculation ; it forms
the bnsis of some game ; and it is a sign of vast import in sacti worship.
A coin, bearing this figure upon it, and having a central cavity Avith
the Etruscan letters SUPEN placed one between each two of the
angles, was found in a fictile urn, at YolaterriB, and is depicted in
Fabretti's Italian Glossary, plate xxvi., fig. 35S, his a. As the coin is
round, the reader will see that these letters may be read as Supen,
Upens, Pensu, Ensup, or Nsupe. A search through Fabretti's Lexicon
affords no clue to any meaning except for the third. There seems,
indeed, strong reason to believe that ^leiisu was the Etruscan form of
the Pali^)rtHC«, the Sanscrit ^5('^7!(?/i, the Bengalh 2^duch, and the Greek
penta, i. e. five. Five, certainly, would be an appropriate word for the
pentangle. It is almost impossible to avoid speculating upon the value
of this fragment of archasological evidence in support of the idea that
the Greeks, Aryans, and Etruscans had something in common ; but
into the question it would be unprofitable to enter here
But, although declining to enter upon this wide field of inquiry, I
would notice that whilst searching Fabretti's Glossary my eye fell upon
the figure of an equilateral triangle with the apex upwards, dc])icted
plate xliii., fig. 2440 ter. The triangle is of brass, and was found in
the territory of the Falisci. It bears a rude representation of the
outlines of the soles of two human feet, in this respect resembling a
Buddhist emblem ; and there is on its edge an inscription which mny be
rendered thus in Roman letters, KAVI : TERTINEI. POSTIKNU,
wliicli probably signifies " Gavia, the wife of Tertius, offered it." Tlie
occuiTeiice of two Hindoo sj-mbols in ancient Italj^ is veiy remarkable.
It must, liOM-ever, be noticed that similar symbols liave been found on
ancient sculptured stones in Ireland and Scotland. There may be no
emblematic ideas whatever conveyed by the design ; but Avhen the
marks appear on Gnostic gems, they are supposed to indicate death,
i. c. the impressions left by the feet of the inchvidual as he springs from
earth to heaven.
Figm'es 3G, 37, p. 151, are Maltese crosses. In a large book of
Etrurian antiquities, which canre casually under my notice about
twenty j'-ears ago, when I was (mdeavouring to master the subject of
the language, theology, etc., of the Etruscans, but whose name and
other particulars I cannot now remember, I found depicted two crosses
made up of four mascuUne triads, each asher being erect, and united
to its fellows by the gland, forming a central diamond, emblem of the
yoni. In one instance, the limbs of the cross were of equal length, in
the other the asher of one Avas three times as long as the rest. A
somewhat similar cross, but one united with the circle, was found some
time ago near Naples. It is made of gold, and has apparently been
used as an amulet and suspended to the neck. It is figured in plate
35 of An Essay on the Worship of the Generative Powers during the
Middle A(jes (London, privately printed, 1R65). It may be thus
described : the centre of the circle is occupied by four oblate spheres
arranged like a square ; fi'om the salient ciuwes of each of these springs
a yoni (shaped as in I'igure 18), mtli the point outwards, thus forming
a cross, each ray of which is an egg and fig. At each junction of the
ovoids a yoni is inserted with the apex inwards, whilst from the broad
end arise four asliers, which project beyond the shield, each terminating
in a few golden bead-like drops. The whole is a graphic natural
representation of the intimate union of the male and female, sun and
moon, cross and circle, Ouranos and Ge. The same idea is embodied
in Figui-e 28, p. 143, but in that the mysterj^ is deeply veiled, in that the
long arms of the cross represent the sun, or male, indicated by the triad ;
the short ones, the moon or the female (see Plate vi.. Fig. 4, Vol. II.).
Figure 38, p. 151, is copied from the Journal of the Royal Asiatic
.Society, vol. xviii., p. 393, plate 4. It is a Buddhist emblem, and repre-
sents the same idea under different aspects. Each hinb of the cross
represents the fascinum at right angles with the body, and presented
towards a barley corn, one of the symbols of the yoni. Each Umb is
marked by the same female emblem, and terminates A\ith the triad
triano'le; beyond this again is seen the conjunction of tlie sim and
moon. Tlie whole therefore represents the mystic arba, the creative
four, by some called Thor's hammer.
I'igures 39 to 43, p. 152, are developments of the triad, triangle^ or
trinity.
Fio-m-e 44, p. ]f)2, is by Egyptologists calUd the 'symbol of life.'
It is also called the 'handled cross,' or crux ansata. It repre-
sents the male triad and the female unit, under a decent form.
There are few sjonbols more commonly met \di\\ in Egyptian
art than this. In some remarkable sculptures, where the sun's rays
are represented as terminating in hands, the offerings which these
bring are many a crux ansata, emblematic of the truth that a fL-uitful
union is a gift from the deity.
Figures 45, 46, p. 155, are representations of the Hindoo arba, or
the four elements in creation.
Figures 47, 48, p. 155, are representatives of the ancient male triad,
adopted by moderns to symbolise the Trinity.
Figm-es 49, 50, p. 156, represent the trefoil which was used by the
ancient Hindoos as emblematic of the celestial triad, and adopted
by modern Christians. It will be seen that one stem arises from three
curiously shaped segments, each of wliich is supposed to resemble the
male scrotum, " pm-se," " bag," or " basket."
Figure 51, p. 156, is copied fi-om Lajard, Culte de Venus, plate i.
fig. 2. He states that it is fi'om a gem cj^hnder in the British iNluseum.
It represents a male and female figure dancing before the mystic pahn-
tree, into whose signification we need not enter beyond sajdng tbat it is
a symbol of Asher. Opposite to a particular part of the figures is to
be seen a diamond, or oval, and ajleur do hjs, or sjTnbolic triad. This
gem is peculiarly valuable, as it illustrates in a graphic manner the
meaning of the emblems in question, and how "the lilies of France '
had a pagan origin.
Figm-es 52 to 61, p. 157, are various representations of the union of
the four, the arba, the androgyne, or the Imga-yoni.
Figure 02, p. 159. is a well known emblem in modem Europe; it is
equally well known in Hindostau, where it is sometimes accompanied
by pillars of a pecuUar shape. In one such compomid the design is
that of a cupola, supjiorted by closely placed pillars, each of which has
a " capital," resembling the " glaus " of physiologists ; in the centre
there is a door, wherein a nude female stands, resembling in all respects
Figm-e 62, except in dress and the presence of the child.
The same emblem may be found amongst the ancient Italians.
In modern Christian art this symbol is called vesica juscis, and is
usually surrounded A^ith rays. It connnonly serves as a sort of
framework in which female saints are placed, Avho are generally the
representati\'es of the older Juno, Ceres, Diana, Venus, or other imper-
sonations of the feminine element in creation (see Vol. II., Fig. '18,
p. 64Sj.
Figure G3, p. 159, represents one of the forms assumed by the
systrum of Isis. Sometimes the instrument is oval, and sometimes it
terminates below in a horizontal line, instead of in an acute angle.
The inquirer can veiy readily recognise in the emblem the mark of the
female creator. If there should be any doubt in his mind, he will
feel at rest after a reference to Maffei's Gentuie xiiitiche Fiijurate
(Home, 1707), vol. ii., plate 01, wherein Diana of the Ephesians
is depicted as having a body of the exact shape of the systrum
figured in Payne Knight's work on the remains of the worship of
Priapus, etc. The bars across the systiiim show that it denotes a pure
virgin (see Vol. II., pp. 710 - 710).
Figures 01 to 07, pp. 100, 101, are all drawn from Assyrian sources.
The central figure, which is usually called " the giove,'' represents the
delta, or female " door.'' To it the attendant genii offer the pine cone
and basket. The signification of these is explained in the text. I was
unable at first to quote any authority to demonstrate that the pine cone
was a distinct masculine symbol, but now the reader may be referred
to Mafl'ei, Gemme Anticlie Figurate (Rome, 1708), where in vol. in.,
plate 8, he will see a Venus Tir&igera. The goddess is nude, and
carries in one hand the tripliform arrow, emblem of the male triad,
whilst in the other she bears a thyrsus, terminating in a pine or fir
cone. Now this cone and stem is carried in the Bacchic festivities,
and can be readily recognised as viyga cum ovo. Sometimes the thyr-
sus is replaced by ivy leaves, which like the fig are symbolic of the
triple creator. Occasionail}^ the thyrsus was a lance or pike, round
which vine leaves and berries were clustered, Bacchus cum vino bemg
the companion of Venus cum Cerere. But a stronger confirmation of
my views may be found in plate xl. of the same volume. This is
entitled ISaoraJizio cli Priajw, and represents a female ofi'eriug to
Priapus. The figure of the god stands upon a pillar of three stones,
and it bears a thyrsus from which depend two ribbons. The devotee is
accompanied by a hoj, who carries a pine or fir cone in his hand, and
a basket on his head, in which may be recognised a male eftigy. In
Figure 65 tbe position of the advaiicecl hand of each of the priests
nearest to the grove is verj^ suggestive to the physiologist. Figure Cli
is explained on page 163. It is to be noticed tliat a door i.-3 adopted
amongst modern Hindoos as an emblem of the sacti. (See Vol. II.,
Fig. 34, p 491.)
Figures 08, 09, TO, page 164, are fancy sketches intended to repre-
sent the "sacred shields" spoken of in Jewish and other history.
The last is draA\'n from memory, and represents a Templar's shield.
According to the method in which tbe shield is viewed, it appears
like the os tincce, or the navel.
Figures 7], 7:2, p. 104, represent the shape of the systrum of Isis,
the fruit of the fig, and the yoni. When a garment of this sliape is
made and worn, it becomes the "pallium" donned alike by the male
and female individuals consecrated to Roman worship.
Figures To, 74, p. 105, represent an ancient Christian bishop and
a modern nun \^'eariug the emblem of the female sex. In the former,
said (in Old Emjlaiul Pictonalhj Ilhtstrated, by luiight) to be a
drawing of St. Augustnie, the amount of symbolism is great. The
"nimbus" and the tonsure are solar emblems; the pallium, the
feminine sign, is studded witii phallic crosses ; its lovrer end is the
ancient T, the mark of the inasculuie triad ; the right hand has the
forefinger extended, like the Assyrian priests whilst doing homage to
the grove, and within it is the fruit, tajijniacJt, which is said to have
tempted Eve. When a male dons the pallium in worship, he becomes
the representative of the arba, or mystic four. See A'ol. II., pp. 915-918.
Figure 75, p. 167, is a well known Christian emblem, called "a
foul anchor." The anchor, as a sj^mbol, is of great antiquity. It
may be seen in an old Etruscan coin in the British Museum, depicted
in Vtteruin Foptdorum ct Eeijum Numi, etc. (London, 1814). plate ii.,
iig. 1. On the reverse there is a chariot wheel. The foul anchor
represents the crescent moon, the argha, ark, uavis, or boat ; in this is
placed the mast, round which the sei-pent, the emblem of life in the
'■ verge," entwines itself. The cross beam completes the mystic foiu-,
symbolic alilce of the sun and of androgyneitj^
Figures 7G to 80, p. 168, are Asiatic and Egyptian emblems in use
amongst ourselves, and receive their explanation on the page indi-
cated.
Figure 81, page 202, is copied from Godfrey Higgius' Anacahjpsis,
vol. ii., fig. 27. It is drawn from Montfau9ou, vol. ii., p]. 132, fig. 6.
In liis text, Higgius refers to two similar groups, one which exists in
the Egyptian temple of Ipsambul in Nubia, and described by AVilsou,
Oil Buddhists and Jeijncs, p. 1-27 ; another, found in a cave temple iu
the south of India, described bj^ Col. Tod, in his History of Rajpoot-
aiiah. The group is not explained by Montfau^on. It is apparently
Greek, and combines the story of Hercules Avith the seductiveness of
Circe. The tree and serpent is a common emblem.
Figure 81, p. 273, is copied from Lajard, C'ldte de Venus, plate xix.,
fig. 11. The origin of this, which is a silver statuette in that author's
possession, is unknown. The female represents Venus bearing in one
hand an apple ; her arm rests upon Avhat seems to be a rei^resentative
of the mystic triad (the two additions to the upright stem not being
seen in a front view), round which a dolphin {8e\<pis, 'dolphin,' for
BeXcpvs ' womb ') is entwined, from whose mouth comes the stream of
Ufe.
Figure 82, p. 27U, is from Lajard (Oj). Cit.), plate xiv. b, lig. S.
The gem is of unknown origin, but is apparently Babylonish ; it repre-
sents the male and female in conjunction : both ajjpear to be holding
the symbol of the triad in much respect, whilst the cmious cross
suggests a new reading to an ancient symbol.
Figure 83, page 343, may be found in Fabretti's Corpus Inscrlp-
tlonem Itcdicarum (Turin, 1867), plate xxv., fig. 303 f. The coins
which bear the figures are of brass, and were found at Volaterrte. In
one the double head is associated with a dolphin and crescent moon on
the reverse, and the letters Velathri, in Etruscan. A similar inscrip-
tion exists on the one containing the club. The club, formed as in
Figure 83, occurs frequently on Etruscan coins. For example, two
clubs are joined with four balls on a Tudertine coin, having on the
reverse a hand appaventlj'- gauntleted for fighting, and foiu- balls
arranged in a square. On other coins are to be seen a bee, a trident,
a spear-head, and other tripliform figures, associated with three balls
in a triangle ; sometimes two, and sometimes one. The double head
with two balls is seen on a Telamoniau coin, having on the reverse
what appears to be a leg with the foot turned upwards. In a coin of
Poperlonia the club is associated with a spear and two balls, whilst
on the reverse is a single head. I must notice too that on other coins
a hammer and pincers, or tongs, appear, as if the idea was to show
that a maker, fabricator, or heavj^ hitter was intended to be symbolised.
What that was is farther indicated by other coins, on which a head
appears thrusting out the tongue. At Cortona two statuettes of silver
have been found, represeuliug a double-faced indi\idual. A lion's head
for a cap, a collar, and biiskius are the sole articles of dress Avoru.
One face appears to be femiuiiie, aud the other masculine, but neither
aie bearded. The pectorals and the general form indicate the male,
l.iut the usual marks of sex are absent. On these have been found
Eirussan inscriptions (1) v. cvinti arntus culi'iansi alpan turck :
(2) V. cviNTE ARNTiAS SELANSE TEZ ALPAN TURCE. Wliicli may be ren-
dered [1} " V. Quintus of Ai'untia, to Culpian pleasing, a gift " : (2) " V.
Quintus of Aruntia to Vulcan pleasing gave a gift," evidently shomug
that they were e.v voto offerings.
Figure Si, p. 351. The tigure here represented is, under one form
or another, extremely common amongst the sculptured stones in Scot-
land. Four varieties m;\y be seen in plate 48 of Col. Forbes Leslie's
Early Races of Scotland. In plate 49 it is associated with a sei-pent,
apparently the cobra. The design is spoken of as " the spectacle orna-
ment," and it is very commonly associated with another figure closely
resembling the letter Z- It is very natural for the inquirer to associate
the twin circles mth the sim and earth, or the sun and moon. On one
Scottish monument the circles represent wheels, and they probably
indicate the solar chariot. As yet I have only been able to meet with
the 2. ^^^ " spectacle ornament" once out of Scotland; it is figm-ed on
apparently a Gnostic gem {The Gnostics and their Bemains, by C. W.
I^g, London, 1864, plate ii., hi:. 5). In that we see in a serpent car-
touche two Z figures, each haiiiig the down stroke crossed by a hori-
zontal line, each end terminating in a cu-olc ; besides them is a six
rayed star, each ray termmating in a circle, precisely resembling the
star in Plate in.. Fig. 3, sitjirii. I can offer no satisfactory explanation
of the emblem. But I would strongly urge xipon those who are
interested in the subject to read The Early Races of Scotland, quoted
above (2 vols., Bvo., Edinburgh : Edmonson and Douglas, 1806).
Figures 85, 8(5, page 352, represent a Yorkshke and an Indian
stone circle. The first is copied from DescrijUions of Calms, Crom-
lechs, Kistvaens, and other Celtic, Druidical, or Scythian Monuments
in the DeMan, by Col. Meadows Taylor, Transactions of the Royal
Irish Academy, vol. 24. The mound exists in Twizell Moor, aud
the centre of the circle indicates an ancient tomb, very similar to
those foimd by Taylor in the Dekkan ; this contained only one single
urn, but many of the Indian ones contained, besides the skeleton of
the great man buried therein, skeletons of otlier individuals who bad
been slaughtered over his tomb, and biuied above the kistvaen con-
taining his bones; in one instance two boches aud three heads were
fouud in the principal grave, and twent_y otliei- skeletons above and
beside it. A perusal of this very interesting paper -will well repay the
study bestowed upon it. Figure 86 is copied from Forbes Leslie's book
mentioned above, plate 59. It represents a modern stone circle in the
Dekkan, aud is of very modern construction. The dots upon the
stones represent a dab of red paint, which again represents blood.
The figures are introduced into my text to show that Palestine contains
evidence of the presence of the same rehgious ideas as existed in
ancient England and Hindostan, as well as in modern India. The
name of the god worshipped in these modern shrines is Vetal, or
Betal. It is worth mentioning in passing that there is a celebrated
monolith in Scotland called the Newton stone, on Avhicli are inscribed,
evidently with a graving tool, an inscription in the Ogham, aud another
in some ancient Arj-an character (see IMoore's Ancient Pillar Stones
of Scotland).
Figure !S7, page 859, indicates the solar wheel, emblem of the
chariot of Apollo. This sign is a very common one upon ancient coins ;
sometimes the raj's or spokes are four, at others they arc more nume-
rous. Occasional!}' the tire of the wheel is absent, and amongst the
Etruscans the nave is omitted. This solar cross is very common in
Ireland, and amongst the E,omanists generally.
Figure 88, p. SOU, is copied from Hysloj), who gives it on the autho-
rity of Col. Hamilton Smith, who copied it from the original collection
made by the artists of the French Institute of Cairo. It is said to
represent Osiris, but this is doubtful There is much that is intensely
mystical about the figtire. The whip, or fiagellum, placed over the tail,
and the head passing through the yoni, the circular spots mth their
central dot, the horns with solar disc, and two curiously shaped fea-
thers (?j, tlie calf reclining upon a plinth, wherein a division into three
is conspicuous, all have a meaning in reference to the mystic four.
Figiu'e 80, page 402, is copied from Higgins' Anacalypsis, plate 2,
fig. l-l. Figiu'e 92, page 411, is from the same source. That author
appears to have taken them from Maurice's Indian Antiquities, a copy
of which I have hitherto been unable to procure.
Figitre 90, page 402, is also from Higgins, who has copied it from
Moor's Hindu Pantheon. Having been able recently to procure a copy
of this work, I lind that ]\Ioor distinctly expresses his opinion that it is
of European and not of Indian origin, and consequently that it is
worthless as illustrating the life of Cristua.
Figure 9 i , page 410, is stated by Fliggins, Anacalypsis, p. 217, to be
a mark on the breast of an Egyptian mummy in the I\Iuseum of Uni-
versity College, London. It is essentially the same symbol as the
crux cinsata, and is emblematic of the luale triad and the female unit.
Figure 92, page 411, is from the same authority, and I have not yet
bee2i able to conlirm it.
Fig. 'J;3, page 445, is the IMithraic lion. It may be seen in Hyde's
Religion of the Ancient Persians, second edition, plate 1. It may also
be seen in vol. ii., plates ID and 11 of Maffei's Gemme Antiche Figurate
(Rome, 1707). In plate 10 the Mithraic lio^^ has seven stars above it,
around which are placed repectively, words written in Greek, Etrus-
can and Phamician characters, ZEDCFI, TELKA2n. TELKON. TEL-
KON. QIDEKH. UNEULK. LNKELLP. apparently showing that
the emblem was adopted by the Gnostics. It would be unprofitable to
dwell upon the meaning of these letters. Alter puzzling over them,
I fancy that " Bad Spirits, pity us," '• Just one, I call on thee," may
be made out by considering the words to be %-ery bad Greek, and the
letters to be much transposed.
Figure 04, page 495, is copied by Higgins, Anaccthjpsis, on the
authority of Dubois, who states, vol. iii., p. ^3, that it was found on a
stone on a church in France, where it had been kept rehgiously for six
hundred years. Dubois regards it us wholly astrological, and as
having no reference to the story told in Genesis. It is unprohtable to
speculate on the draped ligures as representative of Adam and Eve.
We have introduced it to show how such tales are intermingled with
Sabeanism.
Figure 95, page 497, is a copy of a gem h^ured by Layard {Nineveh
and Babylon, p. loOj, and represents a deity seated on a lotus, adoring
the muudane representative of the mother of creation. I have uA yet
met witli any ancient gem or sculptiu-e which seems to ideuLiiy theyoni
so completely with various goddesses. Compare this with Figure 4«,
Vol. II., p. C4«, wherein the emblem is even more strikingly identified
^ith woman, and with the virgin Mary.
Figure 9U, page 5:c9, is copied from plate 2i, iig. ei, of Lajard's CuUe
de Venus. He states that it is an impression of a cornelian cylinder, in
the collection of the late Sir William Ouseley, and is supposed to
reijreseut Bel and two fish gods, the authors of fecimdity.
Figure 97, page 030, is copied from a small Egyptian statuette, in
the Mayer Collection of the Free Museum, Liverpool. It represent.s
Isis, Horns, the fish, and the serpent. The figure is ciuious, as shoAving
the long persibLeuce of reverence for the vlrgni and child, and the iden-
tilicatioii of the fish with the eye symbol, both indicating the yoni,
whilst the serpent indicates the hnga.
Figure 98, p. 531, is a fancy sketch of the Jieiir de hjs, the hly of
France. It symbohses the male triad, whilst the ring around it repre-
sents the female. The identification of this emblem of the trinity mth
the tripliforui TMahadeva, and of the ring w'ith his sacti, may be seen
in the next figure.
Figure 90, p. 532, is copied from i^late i., fig. 2, of Lajard, who
states that it is a copy of the impression of a cylhider of grey chal-
cedony, in the British Museum. It appears to be intensely mystical,
but it is unnecessary to go into its minute signification. It has been
introduced to show the identification of the eye, fish, or oval shape,
with (he yoni, and of iliefleai- de hjs with the lingam, which is recog-
nised by the respective positions of the emblems in front of particular
parts of the mystic animals, who both, on their part, adore the sj^mbolic
palm tree, and its pistil and stamens. The sunilarity of the palm tree
to the ancient round towers in Ireland and elsewhere will natm-ally
strike the observer.
VOL. II.
On the side of the cover is a representation of Siva, taken from
Moor's Hindu Pantheon, plate xiii. He is supposed to be the oldest
of the Indian deities, and to liave been worshipped by the aborigines
of Hindostan before the Aryarjs invaded that country. It is thought
that the Vedic religion opposed this degrading conception at the first,
but was powerless to eradicate it. Though Siva is yet the most popu-
lar of all the gods, he is venerated 1 understand only by the vulgar.
Though he personifies the male principle, there is notanytliing indecent
in pictorial representations of him. In one of his hands is seen the
trident, one of the emblems of the masculme triad ; Avhilst in another
is to be seen an oval systriun-shaped loop, a symbol of the feminine
unit. On his forehead he bears an e.ye, symbolic of the Omniscient,
the sun, and the union of the sexes.
At the back of the cover is seen a figure of Venus standing on a
tortoise, whose symbolic import is explained on page 881, Vol. II. It is
copied from Lajard, Siir le C'ulte de Venus, plate iii., fig. 5, and is stated
by him to be a ch-awing of an Etrascan candelabrum, existing in the
Royal Museum at Beilin. See fig. 7i, hifr<i.
The frontispiece is a copy of a small Hindoo statuette in the Maj^er
Collection (Free Museum, Liverpool). It represents Parvati, or Devi,
the Hindoo vii-gin and child. The right hand of the figure makes the
symbol of the yoni with the forefinger and thumb, the rest of the
fingers typifying the triad. In the palm and on the navel is a lozenge,
emblematic of woman. The child Christna, tlie equivalent of the
Egyptian Horus and the Christian Jesus, bears in its hand one of the
many emblems of the linga, and stands upon a lotus. The monkey
introduced into the group plays the same part as the cat, cow, lioness,
and ape in the Egyptian mythology, being emblematic of that desire
which eventuates in the production of offspring.
PLATE I.
Is a copy of figures given in Bryant's Ancient MythoJofjy, plates xiii.,
xxviii., thii-d edition, 1807. The first two illustrate the story of Pale-
mon and Cetus, introducing the dolphin. That fish is symboUc of the
female, in consequence of the assonance in Greek between its name
and that of the womb. The tree symbohses the arbor vlUc, the life-
giving sprout ; and the ark is a symbol of the womb. The third figure,
where a man rests upon a rock and dolphin, and toys with a mother
and child, is equally suggestive. The male is repeatedly characterised
as a rock, hermes, menhir, tolmen, or upright stone, the female by the
dolpliin or fish. The result of the junction of these elements appears
in the child, whom both parents welcome. The fourth figure represents
two emblems of the male creator, a man and trident, and two of the
female, a dolphin and ship. The two last figures represent a coin of
Apamea, representing Noe and the ark, called Clhotiis. Bryant labours
to prove that the group commemorates the story told in the Bible
respectmg the flood, but there is strong doubt whether the scriptm-al
story was not of Greek origin. The city referred to was in Phrygia,
and the coin appears to have been struck by Phihp of Macedon. Tlie
inscription round the head is AYT. K. lOVA 4>IAinn0C. AYr. ; on tlie
reverse, EnMA. VP. AA. ESANAP. OYB. APXI. AHAMEflN. See
Vol. II., pp. 12:3, and 385-392.
PLATE II.
Is a copy of an original drawing made by a learned Hindoo pundit for
Wm. Simpson, Esq., of London, whilst he was in India studying its
mythology. It represents Brahma supreme, who in the act of creation
made himself double, i. c. male and female In the original the
central part of the figure is occupied by the triad and the unit, but far
too grossly shown for reproduction here They are replaced by the
crux ausata. The reader will notice the triad and the serpent in the
male hand, wiiilst in the female is to be seen a germinating seed, indi-
cative of the relative duties of father and mother. The whole stands
upon a lotus, the symbol of androgyneity. The technical word for this
incarnation is " Arddlia Nari." See infra. Fig. 44, p. 04-3, representing
the same idea, the androgyne being however decently draped.
PLATE III.
Is Devi, the same as Parvati, or Bhavani. It is copied from Moor's
Pantheon, plate xxx. The goddess represents the feminine element
in the universe. Her forehead is marked by one of the symbols of the
foiu- creators, the triad, and the unit. Her dress is covered -with
symbolic spots, and one foot peculiarly placed is marked by a circle
having a dot in the interior. The two bear the same signification as
the Egyptian eye. I am not able to dehne the symbolic import of the
articles held in the lower hand. INIoor considers that they represent
scrolls of paper, but this I doubt. The raised hands bear the unopened
lotus flower, and the goddess sits upon another.
PLATE IV.
Consists of six figures copied from Maurice's Indian Antiquities,
vol. vi., p. 273, and two from Bryant's Mythology, vol. ii., third edition,
pp. 2n.3 and 40'.). All are symbolic of the idea of the male triad: a
central figure, erect, and rising above the other two. In one an altar
and fire indicate, mystically, the linga ; in another, the same is pour-
trayed as a mim, like Mahadeva always is ; in another, there is a tree
stump and serpent, to indicate the same idea. The tAvo appendages
of the linga are variously descrilied : in two instances as serpents, in
other two as tree and concha, and snake and shell. The two last seem
to embody the idea that the right '• egg" of the male germinates boj^s,
whilst the left produces girls ; a theory common amongst ancient
physiologists. The figure of the tree encircled by the serpent, and
supported by two stones resembling " tolmen," is very signihcant. The
whole of these figures seem to point unmistakably to the origin of the
YQvy common belief that the male Creator is triune. In Assyrian
theology the central figure is Bel, Baal, or Assliur; the one on the
right Ann, that on the left Hea. See Vol I., pp. 83-85.
PLATE V.
Contains pagan sjunbols of the trinity or linga, witli or without the
unity or yoni.
Fig. 1 represents a s_ynibol frequently met with in ancient arcliitec-
ture, etc. It symbolises the male and female elements, the pillar and
the half moon.
Fig. 2 represents the mystic letters said to have been placed on the
portal of the oracle of Delphi. By some it is proposed to read tlie two
letters as signifjdng "he or she is ; " by others the letters are taken to be
sjanbolic of the triad and the unit. If they be, the pillar is a very
unusual form for tlie yoni.
Fi<^. 3 is a Hindoo sectarian mark copied from Moor's Hindn
Pantheon, and is one out of many indicating the union of the male and
female.
Fig. 4 is emblematic of the virgin and child. It identifies the two
with the crescent. It is singular that some designers should unite the
moon with the soh>r sjmibol, and others with the virgin. We believe
that tlie first indicate ideas like that associated with Baalim, Alvhtaroth
in the plural, the second that of Astarte or Venus in the singular.
Or. as we may otherwise express it, the married and the immaculate
virgin.
Fig. 5 is copied from Sl.arpe's Eyyjdian Mijthologij, p. 15. It
represents one of the Egyptian trinities, and is highly symbohc, not
only indicating the triad, liere Osiris, Isis, and Nepthys, but its union
with the female element. The central god Osiris is hunself triune,
as he bears the horns symbohc of the goddess Athor and the feathers
of the god Pta.
Fig. C is a Hindoo sectarial mark, from Moor's Hindu Pantheon.
The lozenge indicates the yoni. For this assertion we not only have
evidence in Babylonian gems copied by Lajard, but in Indian and
Etruscan designs. We find, for example, in vol. v., plate xlv., of
Antiquites Etrnsques, etc., par F. A. David (Paris, 1785), a draped female,
wearin" on her breast a half moon and mural crown, holding her hands
over the middle spot of the body, so as to form a '• lozenge " with the
forefingers and thumbs. The triad in this figure is very distinct, and
we may add that a trinity expressed by three balls or three circles is
to be mat with in the remotest times and in most distant countries.
Fi"s. 7, 8, 'J and 10 are copied from Cabrera's account of an
ancient city discovered near Palenque, in Guatemala, Spanish Ame-
rica (London, 18-22). Although they appear to have a sexual design,
yet I doubt whether the similarity is not accidental. After a
close examination of the plates given by Cabrera, I am inclii^ed
to think that nothing- of the liug^v-yoni element prevailed in the
mind of the ancient American sculptors. All the males are care-
fully draped in appropriate girdles, although in some a grotes-jue
or other ornament, such as a human or bestial head, a flower, etc.
is attached to tlie apron or '■ fall " of the girdle, resemhhng the
sporran of the Highlander and the codpiece of mediaeval knights and
others. I may, however, mention some very remarkable sculptures
copied ; one is a tree whose trunk is surrounded by a ser[ient, and
whose fruit is shaped like the vesica 2^1^013 ; in another is seen a youth
wholly unclothed, save l)y a cap and gaiters, who kneels before a
similar tree, being threatened before and behind by some fierce animal.
This fig-ure is peculiar, differing from all the rest in lia-\ing an Euro-
pean rather than an American head and face. Indeed, the features,
etc., remind me of the late Mr. Cobden, and the cap is such as yachting
sailors usually wear. There is also another remarkable group, consist-
ing apparently of a man and woman standing before a cross, propor-
tioned like tlie conventional one in use amongst Christians. Every-
thing indicate American ideas, and there are ornaments or designs
wholly unlike any that I have seen elsewhere. The man appears to
offer to the cross a gTotesque human figure, mth a head not much unlike
Punch, wdth a turned-up nose, and a short pipe shaped like a fig in his
mouth, The body is well formed, but the arms and thighs are rounded
oft' like " flippers " or " fins." Resting at the top of the cross is a bird,
like a game cock, ornamented by a necklace. The male in this and
the other sculptures is beardless, and that women are depicted, can
only be guessed at by the inferior size of some of the figures. It
would be unprofitable to carry the description farther.
Figs. 11, 12, are from vol. i., plates xix. and xxiii., of a remarkably
interesting work, RecJiercJies sur V ovlijine V esprit et les 2>^'ocires cles
Arts lie la Orcce, said to be wiitten by D'Harcanville, pubhshed at
London, 1785. The first represents a serpent, coiled so as to symbolise
the male triad, and the crescent, the emblem of the yoni.
Fig 12 accompanies the bull on certain coins, and sj-mbohses
the sexual elements, le baton et V anneaii.
Fig. 18 is, like figure 5, from Sharpe's E<jypiian Mythology, p. 14,
and is said to represent Isis, Nepthys, and Osiris. One of the many
Mizraite triads. The Christian trinity is of Egyptian origin.
Fig. 14 is a spmbol frequently seen in Greek churches, but
appears to be of pve-cliristian origin. The cross wc have ah'eacly
described as being a compound male emblem, ^vllilst the crescent
symbolises the female element in creation
[''igure 15 is from D' Hiircanville, Oj). cit., \o\. i., p. xxiii. It
resembles Figure 11, supra, and enables ns by the introduction of the
sun and moon to verify the deduction drawn from the arrangement of
the serpent's coils. If the snake's body, instead of being curved above
the 8 like tail, were straight, it would simply indicate the linga and the
sun; the bend in its neck, however, indicates the j^oni and the moon.
Figure IG is copied from plate xvi., fig. 2, of Eecueil de Pierres
Antiques Graves, foHo, by J. j\1. Ptaponi (Rome, 178G). The gem
represents a sacrifice to Priapus, indicated by the rock, pillar, figure,
and branches given in our plate. A nude male sacrifices a goat ; a
di-aped female holds a kid ready for immolation ; a second man, nude,
plays the double pipe, and a second woman, draped, bears a vessel on
her head, probably containing wine for a lib:ition.
Figure 17 is from vol. i. Beclicrclies, etc., plate xxii. In +his medal
the triad is formed by a man and two coiled serpents on the one side
of the medal, whilst on the reverse are seen a tree, surrounded by a
snake, situated between two rounded stones, with a dog and a conch
shell below. Sec supra, Plate iv., Fig. G.
PLA.TE VI.
— With two exceptions, Figures 4 and 9, — exhibits Christian emblems
of the trinity or hnga, and the unity or yoni, alone or combined;
the whole being copied from Pugin's Glossary of Ecclesiastical
Ornament (London, 18G9).
Fig. 1 is copied from Pugin, plate x^•ii., and indicates a double
union of the truiity with the unity, here represented as a ring,
I'anneau.
Figs. 2, 3, are from Pugin, plate xiv. In figure 2, the two
covered balls at the base of each limb of the cross are extremely
significant, and if the artist had not mystified the free end, the
most obtuse worshipper must have recognised the symbol. We
may add here that in the two forms of the Maltese cross, the position
of the liugam is reversed, and the egg-shaped bodies, with iheii"
cover, are at the free end of each limb, Avhilst the natural end of the
organ is left unchanged. See Vol. I., Figs. 3G, o7, p. ir)l. This
form of cross is Etruscan. Fig. 3 is essentially the same as the
preceding, and both may be compared with Fig. 4. The balls iu
this cross are uncovered, and the free end of each limb of the cross is
but shglitly modified.
Fig. -i is copied in a conventional form from plate xxxv., fig. 4,
of TiLO Essays on the Worship of Friapus (London, 1805). It is
thus described (page 147): "The object was found at St. Agata di
Goti, near Naples. .....It is a frH.f ansata formed by four phalli, with
a circle of female organs round the centre ; and appears by the look
to have been intended for suspension. As this cross is of gold,
it had no doubt been made for some personage of rank, possibly an
ecclesiastic." We see here very distinctly the design of the egg- and
systrum-shaped bodies. When we have such an unmistakable bi-
sexual cross before our eyes, it is impossible to ignore the signification
of Figs. 2 and 8, and Plate vii., Figs. 4 and 7. See supra, Figs. 86,
37, Vol. I., p. 151.
Figs. 5, 6 are fi-om Pugiu, plates 14 and 15, and represent the
trinity with the unity, the triune god and the virgin united in one.
Fig. 7 represents the central lozenge and one limb of a cross,
figured plate xiv. of Pugin. In this instance the Maltese cross is
united with the symbol of the virgin, being essentially the same as
Fig. 9, infra. It is a modified form of the crux ansata.
Fig. 6 is a compound trinity, being the finial of each Umb of an
ornamental cross. Pugin, plate xv.
Fig. 9 is a well known Egyptian symbol, borne in the hand of
almost every divinity. It is a cross, with one Hmb made to represent
the female element in creation. The name that it technically bears is
crux ansata, or "the cross with a handle." A reference to Fig. 4
serves to verify the idea which it involves.
Fig. 10 is from Pugin, plate xxxv. In this figure the cross is
made by the intersection of two ovals, each a vesica piscis, an emblem
of the yoni. Within each limb a symbol of the trinity is seen, e;ich
of which is associated with the central ring.
Fig. 11 is from Pugin, plate xix., and represents the arbor vitcE,
the branch, or tree of life, as a triad, with which the ring is united.
PLATE VII.
Contains both pagan and Christian emblems.
Fig. 1 is from Pugin, plate xviii., and is a very common finial
representing the trinity. Its shape is too significant to require
an explanation ; yet with such emblems our Christian churclies
abound !
Fig. 2 is from Pugin, plate xxi. It is a combination of ideas con-
cealing the union patent in Fig. 4, I'l. vi., .sujira.
Fig. 3 is from Moor's Hiitdti FaidJwoii. It is an ornament borne
by Devi, and symbolises tlie union of the triad with the unit.
Fig. 4: is from Pugin, plaLe xxxii. It is a double cross made iip of
the male and female emblems. It is a conventionalised form of Fig. 4,
Plate vi., sitpra. Such eight-rayed figures, made like stars, seem
to have been very ancient, and to have been designed to indicate the
junction of male and female.
Fig. 5 is from Pugin, plate xvii., and represents the trinity and the
imity.
Fig. 0 is a Buddhist emblem from Bivmali, Journal of Roijal Asiailc
SocieUj, vol. xviii., p. 392, plate i., hg. 52. It represents the short
sword, le hracquemard, a male symbol.
Fig. 7 is from Pugin, plate xvii. See plate vi., fig. 3, supra.
Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 are Buddhist (see Fig. 6, supra), and sjm-
bolise the triad.
Figs. 13, 14, 15, 10, 17 are from Pugin, and simply represent the
trinity.
Figs. IS and 19 are common Grecian einblems. The first is
associated with Neptune and water, the second with Bacchus. "With
the one we see dolphins, emblems of the womb, the name of the two
being assonant in Greek ; with the other, must be coupled the saj'ing,
sine Baccho et Cerere frUjet Venus.
PLATE VIII.
Consists of various emblems of the triad and the xmit, drawn almost
exclusively from Grecian, Etruscan, Roman, and Indian gems, figm-es,
coins, or sculptures, Maffei's Gemme Anticke Figurate, Raponi's Recueil,
and Moor's Hindu Pantheon, being the chief authorities.
FIGUEES IN THE TEXT.
Figures 1, 2, page 191, represent the Buddhist cross and one of its
arms. The first shows the union of four ]>halii. The single one beino-
a conventional form of a well-known organ. This form of cross does
not essentially differ from the Maltese cross. In the latter, Asher
stands pei-pendicularly to Anu and Hea ; in the fonner it is at right
angles to them. " The pistol " is a weU-known name amongst oiu-
soldiery, and foiu- such joined together by the muzzle would form tlie
Buddiiist cross. Compare Figure 38, Vol. I., p. 151.
XXXVl
Figures 3, 4, 5, page 191, indicate the union of the four creators,
the trinity and the unity. Not having at hand any copy of an fincient
key, I have iTsed a modern one; hut this makes no essential difl'erence
in the symhoL
Figures 0, 7, p'ige 191, are copied from Lfijard, Snr le Citlte de
Venus, plate ii. They represent ornaments hekl in the hands of a
great female hgure, sculptured in has relief on a rock at Yazih Kaia,
near to Boghaz Keni, in Anatolia, and described by M. C. Texier iu
1834-. I'he goddess is crowned with a tower, to indicate virginity; in
her right hand she liolds a staff, sliown in Figure 7, iu the other, that
given in Figure G ; she stimds iipou a lioness, and is attended b}' an
antelope. Figure G is a complicated emblem of the ' four.'
Figure 8, 12, pages 220, 222, aie copied from Moor's Hindu Pan-
tlieon, plate Ixxxiii. They represent the lingam and the yoni, Avhich
amongst the Indians are regarded as emblems oi God, much in the
same way as a crucifix is esteemed bj' certain modern Christians.
Figures 9, 10, 11, pages 221, 222, from Moor, plate Ixxxvi., are
forms of the argha, or sacred sacrificial cup, bowl, or basin, which
repiesent the yoni and many other things besides. See Moor, Hindu
Pantheon, pp. 393, 391.
Figure 14, page 254. Copied from Eawlinson's Ancient MonarcJdes,
vol. i., p. 170, represents Ishtar, the Assyrian representative of Devi,
Parvati, Isis, Astarte, Venus, and INIary. The virgin aud child are to
be found everywhere, even in ancient Mexico.
Figures 15, 10, page 2o9, arc copied from Lajard, Sur le C'uJte de
Venus. The first is from plate xiv. b, fig. 5, and represents a male aud
female, the sjanbolic tiiad and unit. The star on the left appears to
indicate "the foin-." The staff' below is mystical, and as yet I have
not met with anything to explain its meaning. The second represents
the male aud female as the sun and moon, thus ideutif^'iug the symbolic
sex of those luminaries. The legend in the Pehlevi characters has not
been interpreted. Lajard, plate xix., fig. 0.
Figure 17, page 200, is taken from a mediaeval woodcut, lent to
me by my friend, iMr. John Newton, to whom I am indebted for the
sight of, and the privilege to copy, many otlier figures. In it the virgin
Mary is seen as the Queen of Heaven, nursing her infant, and identified
with the crescent moon. Being before the sun, she almost eclipses its
light. 'Ihan this, nothing could more completely identify the Christian
mother aud chikl with Isis and Horus, Ishtar, Venus, Juno, and a
host of other pagan goddesses, who have been called ' Q.ueeu of
Heaven,' ' Spouse of God,' the ' Celestial Virgin,' etc.
Figure 18, page 201, is a common device in ])a.y)al churches and
pao'an symbolism. It is intended to indicate the sun and moon in
conjunction, the union of the triad with the unit. I may notice, in
pas&ing, that Mr. Newton has shov\'ed to me some mediaeval woodcuts,
in which the yoimg unmarried women in a mixed assemblage were
indicated by wearing upon their foreheads a crescent moon.
Figure 19, page 262, is a Buddhist symbol, or rather a copy of
Maitnya Bodhisatwa, from the monastery of Gopach, in the valley of
Nepaul. It is taken from Journal of Roijal Atiiaiic Society, vol. xviii.,
p. 894. The horseshoe, like the vesica 2}i3<-'is of the Roman church,
indicates the yoni ; the last, taken from some cow, mare, or donkey,
being used in eastern parts where we now use their shoes, to keep ofi'
the evil eye. It is remarkable that some nations should use the female
organ, or an effigy thereof, as a chann against ill luck, whilst others
adopt the male sjnnbol. In Ireland, a female shamelessly exliibiting
herself was to be found sculptured over the door of certain churches,
within the last centmy. See Vol. I., p. 114, and Vol. II., p. 2G2. The
male in the centre sufficiently explains itself
That some Buddhists have mingled sexuality with their ideas of
religion, may be seen in plate ii. of Emil Schlagmtweit's Atlas of
Buddhism in Tibet, wherein Vajarsattva, " The God above all," is
represented as a male and female conjoined. Rays, as of the sim,
pass fi-om the group ; and all are enclosed in an ornate oval, or horse-
shoe, like that in this figure.
I may also notice in passing, that the goddess Doljang (a.d.
617-98) has the stiijmata in her hands and feet, like those assigned to
Jesus of Nazareth and Francis of Assisi.
FigTU-e 20 is a copy of the medal issued to pilgrims at the shrine
of the vii'gin at Loretto. It was lent to me by Mx. Newton, but my
engi-aver has omitted to make the face of the mother and child black,
as it ought to be. Instead of the explanation given in the text, of the
adoption of a black skin for Mary and her sou, D'Iiarcan-\Tlle sug-
gests that it represents night, the period during which the feminine
creator is most propitious or attentive to her duties. It is unnecessary
to contest the point, for almost every symbol has more interpreta-
tions given to it than one. I have sought in vain for even a plausible
reason for the blackness of certain virgins and children, in certain
-C-
XXXVlll
XDapal sliriiies, wliicli is compatible with decency and Cliristiauit}^ It
is clear tliat the matter Avill not bear the light.
Figiu-e 21, page 276, is from Lajard, Oji. cit., plate iii., fig. 8. It
represents the sun, moon, and a star, probably Venus, The legend is in
Phoenician, and may be read LNBRB, the diamond being a sjanbol
of Venus or the yoni ; or it may stand for the letter y ain = a, g,
or 0.
Figm-e 22, page 277, is from Lajard, plate i., figure S. It represents
a priest before a vacant throne or chair, which is surmounted by the
sun and moon, and a curious cross-shaped rod and triangle : before the
throne is the diamond or oval, v\rhich symbolises the female, and behind
it is the palm tree, an emblem of the male. In the temple of the
Syrian goddess the seat of the sun was empty. See Vol. II., p. 788.
Figure 2-3, page 278, is Harpocrates, on a lotus, adoring the
emblem of Avoman ; see Figure 95, p. 497, ante. Lajard and others state
that homage, such as is here depicted, is actuality paid in some parts of
Palestine and India to the Hiring symbol ; the worshipper on bended
Imees offering to it, la houchc inferleure, with or without a silent
prayer, his food before he eats it. A corresponding homage is paid by
female devotees to the masculine emblem of the scheik or patriarch,
which is devoutly kissed by all the women of the tribe on one
solemn occasion during the year, when the old ruler sits in state to
receive the homage. The emblem is, for many, of greater sanctity
than a crucifix. Such homage is depicted in Picart's Ecligious
Ceremonies of all tJie people in the World, original French edition,
plate 71. See also The Deih/stan, translated from the Persian
(London, ISJ-j, vol. ii., pp. 148-153).
Figiu-es 24, 25, pages 325, 320, are explained above, Figure 18.
Figure 20, page 329, is copied from Brj^ant's Ancient Mythology,
Srd edition, vol. iii., p. 193. That author states that he copied it from
Spanheim. Init gives no other reference. It is apparently from a Greek
medal, and has the word CAMI12N as an inscription. It is said to
represent Jimo, Sami, or Selenitis, mth the sacred peplum. The figure is
remarkable for showing the identity of the moon, the lozenge, and the
female. It is doubtfid whether the attitude of the goddess is intended
to represent the cross.
Figure 27, page 329, is a composition taken from Bryant, vol. iv..
p. "^SC. The rock, the water, the crescent moon as an ark, and the dove
hovering over it, are aU symbolical ; but though the author of it is right
in his grouping, it is clear that he is not aware of its full signification.
The reader will readily gather it from our articles upon the Arac and
Water, and from our remarks upon the dove.
Figure 28, page 351, is explained. Fig. 16, page 100, Vol. I., ante.
Figure -29, page 352. See Figure 10, page 25'J, Vol. II., ante.
Figure 30, page o5-i. See Figure 9, page 99, Vol. I., ante.
Figure 31, page 398, is from Lnjard, plate xxii., fig. 3. It is the
impression of an archaic Babj'-lonian cj-lindcr, and is supposed to
represent Cannes, or the fish deity. It is supposed that Dagon
of the PhiUstines resembled the two figures supporting the central
one.
Figure 32, page 399, is from Lajard, i^late xxii., fig. 5, and is sup-
posed to represent a priest of the fish god. The fish's head appears to
be the origin of the modern bishop's mitre.
Figure 33, page 475. See Figure 19, suiora.
Figm'e 34, page 491, is copied from Maffei's Gemme Anticlie Ficju-
rate, vol. 3, plate 40. In the original, the figure upon the pillar is very
consjpicuously phaUic, and the whole composition indicates Avhat Ti'as
associated with the worship of Priapus. This so-caUed god was
regarded much in the same light as St. Cosmo and St. Damian were
at Isernia, and St. Foutiu in Christian France. He was not reaUy a
deity, only a sort of Saint, whose business it was to attend to certain
X^arts. As the Pagan Hj^men and Lucina attended upon weddings and
parturitions, so the Christian Cosmo and Damian attended to spouses,
and assisted in maldng them fruitful. To the last two v/ere offered,
by sterile -nives, wax efligies of the part cut ofl' fi'om the nude figm-e in
our plate. To the heathen saint, we see a female votary ofi'er quince
leaves, equivalent to la feu'iUe de scnuje, egg-shaped bread, apparently
a cake ; also an ass's head ; whilst her attendant ofi'ers a pine cone,
and carries a basket containing apples and phalli. Tliis gem is valu-
able, inasmuch as it assists us to understand the signification of the
pine cone offered to ' the grove,' the equivalent of le verger de C'l/pris.
The piUar and its base are curiously significant, and demonstrate how
completely an artist can appear innocent, whilst to the initiated he
imveils a myster3^
Figm-es 35, 30, 37, page 493, are various contrivances for indicating
decently that which it is generally thought rehgious to conceal, la
bequille, ou les instrumens.
Figm-e 38, p. 494, represents the same subject; the cuts are grouped
so as to show how the knobbed stick, le baton, becomes converted either
into a bent rod, la verr/e, or a priestly crook, le baton j)astoral. There
xl
is no doubt that the episcopal cr-^zier is a presentable eingy of a veiy
private and once highly venerated portion of the linman frame.
Figures 39, 40, 41, p. 495, are, lilce the preceding four, copied from
various antique gems ; Fig. 39 represents a steering oar, le timon, and
is usually held in the hand of good fortune, or as moderns Avould say,
" Saint Luck," or honncs fortunes; Fig. 40 is emblematic of Cupid, or
Saint Desire; it is synonymous with Jo darrl, or la pique; Fig. 41 is
a form less common in gems ; it represents the hammer, le viarteau
qui fmppe V cndame et forge les eufans. The ancients had as many
pictorial euphemisms as ourselves, and Avlien these are understood
ih.bj enable us to comprehend many a legend othermse dim; e.g.,
when Fortuna, or luck, always depicted as a v.^oman. has for her charac-
teristic Je t'uiion. and for her motto the proverb, " Fortune favoiu's
the bold," we readily understand the douhle entendre. The steering oar
indicates power, knowledge, sldll, and bravery in him who wields it ;
without such a guide, few boats would attain a prosperous haven.
Figure 42, page G12, is copied from plate 29 of Pugin's Glossary of
Eeclesiasticcd Orncment (Lond., 1868) . The plate represents " a pattern
for diapering," and is, I presume, thoroughly orthodox. It consists of
the double triangle, see Figures 21, 31, 32, Vol. I., pp. 119-14G, the
emblems of Siva and Parvati, the male and female ; of Pdmmon the
pomegranate, the emblem of the'^'^ertile womb, vvdiich is seen full of
seed through the "■ vesica pisc'is" la fente, or la jiorte de la vie. There
are also two new moons, emblems of Venus, or la nature, introduced.
The crovni above the pomegranate represents the triad, and the number
foiu' ; whilst in the original the gToup which w^e copy is surroimded by
various forms of the triad, all of which are as characteristic of man as
Kimmon is of woman. There are also circles enclosing the triad,
analogous to other symbols common in Hindostan.
Figure 43, page G42, is copied from Moor's Hindu Pantheon, pi. 9,
fig. 3. It represents Bavani, Maia, Devi, Lakshmi, or Kamala, one of
the many forms given to female nature. Slie bears in one hand the
lotus, emblem of self -fructification, whilst in the other she holds her
infant Krislma, Christna, or Vishnu. Such groups are as common in
India as in Italy, in Pagan temples as in Christian churches. The
idea of the mother and child is pictured in every ancient country, of
whoso art any remains exist.
Figure 44, page G45, is taken from plate 24, fig. 1, of Moor's Hindu
Pantheon. It represents a subject often depicted by the Hindoos
•cindthe Greeks, viz., androgynism, the union of the male and female
xli
creators. The technical word is Ardclha-Nari. The male on the right
side bears the emblems of Siva or Mahadeva, the female on the left
those of Parvati or Sacti. The bull and lioness are emblematic of the
masculine and feminine po'svers. The mark on the temple indicates
the union of the two ; an aureole is seen around the head, as in modern
pictures of saints. In this picture the Ganges rises from the male, the
idea being that the stream from IMahadeva is as copious and fertilising
as that mightj^ river. The metaphor here depicted is common in the
East, and is precisel}' the same as that quoted from some lost Hebrew
book in John vii. 38, and in Num. xxiv. 7. It will be noticed, that the
Hindoos express androgyneity quite as conspicuously, but generally
much less indelicately, than the Grecian artists.
Figure 45, page U47, is a common Egyptian emblem, said to signify
eternitj', but in truth it has a wider aneaning. The serpent and the
ring indicate f aiulouiUe and /' (innenu, and the tail of the animal,
which the mouth appears to swallow. In queue ihins la houdie. The
sjaiibol resembles the crux ansata in its signification, and impoi'ts that
life upon the earth is rendered perpetual by means of the union of the
sexes. A ring, or circle, is one of the symbols of Venus, who carries
indifferently this, or the triad emblem of the male. See Maffei's Gems,
vol. iii., page 1, plate 8.
Figure 40, page (J-i7, is the vesica piscis, or lish's bladder: the em-
blem of woman and of the virgin, as may be seen in the two following.
Figures 47 and 48, page 048, are copied from a Rosary of the
Blessed Yirgiu Mary, printed at Venice, 1582, with a Hcense from the
Inquisition ; the book being lent to me by my friend, Mr. Newton.
The first represents the same part as the Assyrian grove. It may
appropriately be called the Holy Yoni, The book in question contains
other analogous figures, all resembling closely the Mesopotamii'.n
emblem of Ishtar. The presence of the woman therein identifies the
two as sj'mbolic of Isis, or la nature ; and a man bowing down in
adoration thereof shows the same idea as is depicted in Assyrian
sculptures, where males ofter to the goddess sjTiibols of themselves.
Compare Figs. 02, 04, G5, 07, Vol. I., pp, 159-101.
If I had been able to search through the once celebrated Alex-
andrian library, it is doubtful whether I could have found any pictorial
representation more illustrative of the relationship of certain symbolic
forms to each other than is Figure 48. A circle of angelic heads, form-
ing a sort of sun, having luminous raj^s outside, and a dove, the em-
blem of Venus, darts a spear {la 2yiqi(e] down upon the earth (la terre).
xlii
or the virgin. Tliis being received, fertility follows. In Grecian
story, Onriinos and Ge, or heaven and earth, were the parents of
creation ; and Jupiter came from henven to impregnate Alcmena. The
same mythos prevailed throughout all civilised nations. Christianity
adopted the idea, merely altering the names of the respective parents,
and attributed the regeneration of the world to " holj- breath" and
Mar}-. livery individual, indeed, extraordinarily cousricuous for
wisdom, power, goodness, etc , is said to have been begotten on a virgin
by a celestial father. Within tlie resicn jiincis, artists usually repre-
sent the virgin herself, with or without the child ; in the figure before
us the child takes her place. It is difficult to believe that the eccle-
siastics Avho sanctioned the publication of such a print could have been
as ignorant as modern ritualists. It is equal!}' difficult to believe that
the latter, knowing the real meaning of the symbols commonly used
by the Roman church, would adopt them.
Figures 49 to 63, page 049, are copied from Moor's Hindu Pan-
theon ; they are sectarial marks in India, and usually traced on the
forehead. Many resemble what are known as masons' marks, i.e.,
designs found on tooled stones, in various ancient edifices, like our own
'trademarks.' They are introduced to illustrate the various designs
employed to indicate the union of the ■' trinity '' with the " unity," and
the mnnerous forms representative of " hi nature.'' A priori, it appears
absurd to suppose that the eye could ever have been symbolical of
anything but sight ; but the mythos of Indra, given in note 129, page
649, proves that it has another and a hidden meaning. These figures
are alike emblematic of the "trinity," " the virgin," and " the four."
Figure 04, page 650, represents a part of the Roman vestments,
called, I believe, a pnllium ; in shape it resembles the systrum of Isis,
and is indicative of the yoni ; wlien donned by a Christian priest, he
resembles the pagan male worshippers, who wore a female dress when
they ministered before the altar or shrine of a goddess. Possibly the
Hebrew epliod was of this form and nature.
Figure 6o, page 050, is taken from Pugin'^? Glossary of Ecclesiastical
Ornaments; it represents the c7(rtSi/iZi?, and the yoni. When worn by
the minister, " the four " are completed. The priest also thus worships,
with the emblem of the virgin as part of his dress. Tlie alh, which is
also worn by Roman ecclesiastics, is a ^^•oman's chemise ; so that these
priests are clothed as far as possible in garments intentionally feminine.
Even the tonsured head, adopted from the priests of the Egyptian
Isis, represents"/' cuuieau ;" so that on head, shoulders, breast, and
xliii
body, we may see in Christian chnrclies the relics of the worshii? of
Venus and the adoration of woman ! See Vestjients, Vol. II., p. 914.
Figure 06, page 650, is from Pugin, plate 5, figure 8. It is the out-
line of a pectoral ornament worn by some Roman ecclesiastic in Italj',
A. D. 1400; it represents the Egyptian rni.v ansatit under another I'o'm,
the T signifying the triad, the Q tiie unit.
Figure 67, page 650, is taken from Knight's Pictorial History of
Enfjland, and represents a medieval bishop. The aureole, the tonsure,
the pallium adorned with the phuUic cross, and the apple in the hand,
are all relics of pagandom, and adoration of sexual emblems.
Figure 08, page 651, represents the cup and wafer, to be found in
the hands of muny effigies of papal bishops ; they are ahke symbohc
of the sun and moon, and of the "elements" in the Eucharist. See
Pugin, j)late iv., figs. 5, 6.
Figures fiS*, 69, jiages 744, 745, are different forms of the sistrum,
one of the emblems of Isis. In the first, the triple bars have one signi-
fication, which will readily suggest itself to those who know the mean-
ing of the triad. In the second, the emblem of the trinity, which we
have been obhged to conventionalise, is shown ui a distinct manner.
The cross bars indicate that Isis is a virgin The cat at the top of
the instrument indicates ' desii-e,' Cupid, or Eros The last is copied
from plate x., R. P. Knight's Worslii}) of, etc.
Figure 70, page 740, represents the various forms svmbolic of Juno,
Isis, Parvati, Ishtar, Mary, or woman, or the virgm.
Figures 71, 72, 73, page 767, are copied from Audsley's Ghristian
Symbolism (London, 1868). Tliey are ornaments worn by the Virgin
Mary, and represent her as the crescent moon, conjoined with the
cross (in Fig. 7l),witli the collar o' Isis (in Fig. 7o), and with the double
triangle (in Fig. 73).
Figure 74, page 881, represents a common tortoise, with the head
retracted and advanced Wlien it is seen that there is a strong
resemblance between this creatuie and the linga, we. can readily
understand why both in IncUa and in Greece the animal should be
rej-'arded as sacred to the goddess personifying the female creator, and
why in Hindoo mythoses it is said to support the world.
Figures 75, 76, page 885, represent a pagan and Christian cross
and trinity. The first is copied from R. P. luaight (plate x., fig. 1), and
represents a figure foimd on an ancient coin of Apollouia. The
second may be seen in any of our chiu-ches to-day.
Figui-e 77, page 887, is from an old papal book lent to me by
xliv
Mr. Ne"ni;ou, Missale Romanum. T\Titten by a monk (Venice, 1500). It
represents a confessor of the Roman church, who Avears the crux
ansata, the Egyptian symbol of Hfe, the emblem of the four creators,
in the place of the w&wal jniVhim. It is remarkable that a Christian
church should haye adopted so man}- pagan symbols as Ptome has done.
Figure 78, page 887, is copied from a small bronze figure in the
Ma3-er collection in the Free INIuseum, Liyerpool. It represents the
feminine creator holding a ^vell marked lingam in her hand, and is thus
emblematic of the four, or the trinity and the virgin.
Figure 79, page SS7, represents two Egyptian deities in worship
before an emblem of the triad
Figure 80, page 917, represents the modern jxtUt'.un worn by Romfiu
priests. It represents the ancient systrum of Isis, and the yoni of the
Hindoos. It is symbolic of the celestial virgin, and the unit in the
creative four.
Figure 81, page 917, is a copy of an nncient palliioii, worn by papal
ecclesiastics two or three centuries ago. It is an old Egyptian s^ymbol,
representing the male and female elements united. Its common name
is crux ansata.
Figure 82, page 917, is the alb worn by Ptoman and other eccle-
siastics when ofliciatiug at mass, etc. It is simply a copy of the
chemise ordinarily worn by women as an under garment.
Figure 83, page 917, represents the chasuble worn by papal hier-
archs. It is copied from Pugin's Glossary, etc. Its form is that of the
vesica juscis, one of the most common emblems of the yoni. It is
adorned by the triad. When Avorn by the priest, he forms the male
element, and with the chasuble completes the sacred four. When
worshipping the ancient goddesses, Ayliom ]\Iarv had replaced, the
officiating ministers clothed themselves in feminine attire. Hence the
use of the chemise, etc.
Figure 84, page 925, is a very common form of yoni and Hnga in
Hindostan. In Avorship, glice, or oil, or Ayater, is poured over the
pillar, and alloAA^od to run off by the spout. Sometimes the pilLir is
adorned by a necklace. See Moor's Hindu Pantheon, plute xxii.
INTKODUCTOEY.
CHAPTER I.
The origin of names. Assumecl by or given to adults. In ancient time names were
conferred on individuals in infancy. Names given Ly Parents, or by Priests,
or by Oracles. Not hereditary in early times. God-given names tell us of the
names and nature of the God or Gods ■worshipped at the time -when certain
appellatives were given. Some names appear to be appropriate to the character
or career of the individuals who bore them. This indicates mythic writing.
The judgment required in recognising mythoses. The motives which influence
moderns in their selection of names for their children. Descent of names of
unknown significance. Puritan idea of names. Example of ancient names
current at present. Names are carried from old to new countries. Examples
of Spanish names in America, telling of religious faith — of English names,
telling of men ov towns in the old country. Names adopted by explorers from
aborigines — how changed — sound — the origin of spelling — propensity to
assimilate an unknown sound to a known word: Examples — Green, Brown.
Varieties in spelling with similarity in sound.
The Red Indian of America assumes no name, until be has
been, by many painful probations and sundry rites and
ceremonies, introduced into the ranks of men and warriors.
He then assumes some sucb title as " The Agile Deer,"
" The Fierce Bear," " The Cunning Snake," and the like ; be
changes it at will, and always on an upward scale. But the
name is personal, it does not descend to his children.
Amongst the American aborigines, there are " medicine
men," but there is no regular class of i^riests to any settled
worship. Belief in the present suffices for the savage : like a
child he is cowed by imaginary terrors, but those terrors
A
have not been recluced to a system. The Negro resembles
the Red Indian. Dread of the unseen is perhaps common to
us all.
The comparatively savage denizens of some of our
mine districts, and elsewhere, resemble the American too —
they are " Long Bill," " Broad Bottom," " Squinting Dick,"
or any other name apjn-opriate to the individual. These
names do not descend to their offspring. In some parts the
father has a single name, and his son takes for a second one
that of his parent, and "Tom of Jones," or " WilHam ap
Richard," is the name of a person who neither receives nor
transmits a family cognomen.
In no country at the present day, that I know of, is the
name of an individual given ostensibly by Divine authority.
Yet in days gone by, in Chald^ea, Assyria, Egypt, Judea, and
in Phcenicia, names as a rule were given apparently by the
Oracle of God, but really by the Priest officiating thereat.
In fixing the cognomen he was judicious enough always to
introduce the name of the God of whom he said he was the
mouthpiece.
As there were Schools of Prophets founded by Samuel in
Judea, so we may believe that there were schools of a similar
kind elsewhere, whose model he followed. These Schools
would bring about a certain uniformity of doctrine, and would
prevent, to a great extent, individual caprice in those educated
for the Oracle. Consequently, we should expect diversity in
detail in the names given, but unity of purpose — -the glorifi-
cation of the God. When all persons, from the King to the
meanest slave, owe their names to the Priest of the Temple
which they attend, we can easily understand that none would
presuu-ie to choose a name for his offspring so long as he had
access to the holy man.
But if by the chances of war, or by a voluntary or forced
emigration, a man Avas not altle to have liis child named by
Divine command, he would naturally give to the young boy
or girl his own name, and unite it v/ith some other old
one. If "God-given " to J/'nii, it could not be unlucky for
liis child. Thus, we may infer, it happened, that certain
names became hereditary ; and if we allow this reasoning,
we conclude that hereditary names tell of a past race of
devout religious men, governed by an earnest priesthood,
who, like the Eomish ministers in the eternal city, used to
take part in every important event of life. They tell also
of a severance between priest and people, and compulsory,
rather than optional succession.
We find that in Chaldrea and Assyria evcnj child was
named by the Oracle or the Priest — and one cognomen
recorded in the Cuneiform inscriptions was translated by
Rawlinson as " Nebo gave the name."
All the Old Testament kings, priests, captains, and other
great men seem in like manner to have had names given to
them as individuals, each one expressive of some religious
dogma ; and the name was given at circumcision, or soon after
birth.' The practice seems to have disappeared during the
troubled times following the return from " the Captivity " —
for we find that when John the Baptist was ready to receive
his name, he was about to be called after the name of
some of his kindred, until his father authoritatively dictated
a new one. This is the first evidence we have in the
Bible of hereditary names. = This episode teaches us, that
names were given at that period to the child while still
young ; and we infer that a similar practice existed in the
time of David, for shortly after the birth of his second son
by Bathsheba, he receives the name of Solomon from his
father, and the name of Jedidiah through the intervention
1 See Gen. iv. 1. xxix. xxs., Sam. i. 20, Lute i. 59.
3 From otliei- evideuce, — see Kitto's Cj/clopcedia, uew ediliou, article
Education, — it appears tbnt names were hereditary iu co tain families for more
tlian two centuries before Clirist.
of Nathan the Prophet. It is of importance to note, that the
practice thus indicated seems to have been universal ; and
the exceptions are few in which the original God-given name
was changed. It would indeed have been blasphemous to
alter, or even to supplement, the original cognomen given by
the Oracle, and such alteration can only have been effected
by a second divine command ; or (as in the case of Daniel
and his fellows) vdiere the original name, telling of a heretic
faith, was by royal or divine authority suppressed, to give
place to one telling of a more orthodox belief. When once
this point is conceded, — and all v.'ho know Scripture history,
the naming of Cain, Abel, Seth, Eeuben, Gad, Samuel, Esau,
Jacob, and many others, as children, must concede it readily, —
it Avill follow, that the name given can have nothing to do
\vith the future of the infant. It would be absurd to call a
baby " The warrior of Jehovah," or a female nursling " The
fair one of El," or a puling infant " A cord with a noose." ^
We conclude, therefore, that the cognomen must refer to
the deity after Avhom the child is called, rather than to any
thing peculiar to the individual case. In this view we are
supported by the fact, that the Avord NoaJi is given to the hero
of the Deluge, and to one of the daughters of Zelophehad
alike; and that in the Cuneiform inscriptions of Assyria
and Chaldoea no distinction can be found betvx-een male and
female appellatives.
¥/e expect then to find, in the ancient names of what are
called the Shemitic races, the names of the Gods worshipped
by the parents of the children — either alone or joined to
some attribute; as "God the good "--" The jnst" — " The
merciful " — " The strong," or " The warrior God." But as the
Almighty had then as now ]nany appellatives, the changes
were rung upon these, and Ave haA'e '' God (is) El," or " God
the El," or " God Jah," or " El Jah," '' El, or II, the Mother,"
^ See Eebiililiab. in A'ooalniLiiy.
or " The mother El," "El tlie father," or "The father Jah,"
" Jah is high," " El is hriglit," &c.
By analysing Ancient appellatives in different nations,
we are able to trace ont the names and attributes of their
divinities, and to compare their respective faiths. When
the cognomens used by various nations resemble each other
closely, we naturally presume that they have something
in common; and when we find the names in one people differ
so greatly from those of another that no resemblance can be
traced in any, vre conclude that the two are distinct in their
origin and faith.
But another inference to be drawn from the practice of
naming children in infancy cannot be passed by in silence ;
viz., if we, in any past history, find that the only name given
to an individual has strict reference to some peculiar quality
of the full grown man, or woman, it is far more probable
that such name was given by some ^v•riter in his study, than
by parents, or by an oracle of God.
As yet feAv names have been found in Chaldrea, Assyria,
Phoenicia — and, I think, in Palestine generally — which do not
contain the name of a deity, his attributes or his qualities,
&c. To take the name of a Grod and apply it to a man could
only be done by one who did not know, or care for, the
Majesty of the Supreme, or who wished to elevate his hero
to equality with the Most High.
An illustration of my meaning is furnished by the two
well known names of Abraham and Sarah, both of whom were
Chaldees, born of Chaldee parents, and most probably named
by a Chaldee Priest. Their meaning is "The Great Father,"
and "The Celestial Mother." Yet the historian speaks of
them as if their appellation was given to them on account of
something which happened nearly a century afterwards. The
names are taken by the historian as the basis of a sort of
Prophetic pun. This would lead the philosopher to consider
the story as mytliical ; and I shall, in the courst! of the
inquiry, show far stronger reason than this to believe that
it is so. It is usual to say, in cases of the kind adverted to,
that a name has been given prophetically — we have a few
such examples in profane writers — and tlien the explana-
tion is, that the prophecy or the oracle was a fiction of the
historian. I see no reason to believe that the same fiction
was unknown to those called sacred authors. Each writer on
divine subjects wishes to demonstrate that the theology he
has adopted is superior to all others ; and we, who know the
falsification of modern history for religious purposes, may
well believe it to have existed in ancient times, when there
was far less regard to truth than even exists now.
A Chaldrean of old might have believed the stories of
Berosus and rejected those told by Samuel ; a Jew would
do just the reverse ; the impartial critic, weighing both in
the same scale, might doubt them all, though he could
persuade neither Jew nor Babylonian to modify his faith in
each respectively.
The Eomanist, taught by his Church to put implicit faith
in all her teachings, credits, as he is bound to do, all the
stories of miracles Avorked by Saints and Virgins which are
put forth by authority ; to disbelieve them is an act of
impiety. Yet there are others, of different faith, who do not
scruple to laugh at them all as transparent frauds. The
Protestant divines of former days made no difficulty in
expunging from the Sacred Scriptures books which they
called Apocryphal ; those of the x^reseut day seem to think it
impossible that other books may contain absurdities to the
full as great as those told of in ' Tobit.'
I know of no law which takes the Scriptures called
' Sacred ' away from the same criticism which applies to all
vv'ritiugs, and would fain hope that none will formally uphold
that l)lind faith is superior to impartial reason.
til modern times, and in most Christian countries, we
have now two sets of names, one for the most part hereditary,
the other given shortly after oirth, with or without some
form or ceremony.
The hereditary, or surname, can in many cases be traced
back unchanged into the dark chambers of modern antiquity.
Into those recesses we shall not attempt to follow it, hoping
rather to find or take it up again in the remoter, yet com-
paratively clear, period of the ancient historic times. Just
as the geograjDher, who sees a river disappear down into some
obscure cleft, v\'ould rather seek in a distant spot for its
emergence, than trust himself to travel v/itli the stream
through the sombre caverns along vvhieh it flows.
The birth, or Christian, name is in many instances as
old as ancient surnames ; and to find out hov\- this happens
it is Avell to pause, and ask ourselves the motives which guide
us at the present day in the selection of an appellative for our
children.
1. "We call them after our father, brothers, mother,
sisters, or friends. As we do, so did our progenitors; and
Eobert, Thomas, Charles, George, &c. can be traced as
family names in many genealogies, as certainly as any
physical peculiarity, from the present to the remote past.
2. We call them after kings, queens, princesses, or
other great, wise, or noble beings ; and they, in their
turn, have been called after some persons who went before
them.
3. W^e call them after some eminent Scripture charac-
ter, and thus, in a Christian country, perpetuate the
names of what we now would call heathen deities; for, as
we shall show, the names of eminent Jews resembled
those borne by eminent Chaldeans, Assyrians, Phoeni-
cians, &c.
4. We call them after some Saint, whose legendary
8
history lias taken our fancy, whose virtues, as told to us,
we admire, and, if we believe such things, whose very
particular intercession we wish to bespeak for our child.
The names given to the late Eoyal Family in Spain
are eminently religious, and tell not only of the saints
which are adored, but of certain dogmas in faith believed.
5. In comparatively modern times, we have seen the
Greeks name their children " Theodore," or " The gift of
God; " " Theophilus," " The friend of God; " and amongst
the Eomans ''Augustus" was used to express "The
Majesty " of an Emperor. English history tells us of
Puritans whose children were named " In the Lord I put
my trust," or any other pious formula; and one of the few
names which are retained in my recollection of the
history of those times is " Praise God Barebones."
These cognomens, though exceptional, we mention to
show, first, that the Puritan scholars, amongst whom we
must class Milton, knew the real significance of many of
the names current amongst us ; and, secondly, that they
wished to imitate, in the vernacular, the piety which
dictated to the Jews the Hebrew equivalent to that they
used. To their minds it was more reverent to call their
children, or themselves, " The Lord careth for me,"
than "Jehoiada;" and "The Gift of God," rather than
"Jonathan ; " and " The Beloved," rather than "David."
It is unnecessary for me to go into the subject of Nick-
names, for they rarely descend, except as occasional surnames,
from father to son.
Of the long duration of the descent of particular names,
I may point out the Avord Melech, which stood for King
before Abraham's time, as it does in Arabia at the present ;
and Elimelech is a cognomen still to be found in our post-
office directories. We find that other names, besides those
given to human beings, have had a sacred origin, and have
9
enjoyed an immense duration of life. Sunday and Monday
tell of a Primitive Clialdrean faith, as surely as Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday tell of that faith heiug
modified by Scandinavian Priests. Whilst the junction of
" St. Columha," '* The blessed dove," with "The sacred Ai,"
Hii or lona, and the holy " Aodh " in Scotland, represents
faithfully the sacred dove, the Jonah of the Assyrian race,
nestling in a strange and remote nest, side by side with
some Phoenician " Judah.''
Let us now turn our attention for a moment to the results
of European enterprise in distant lands.
We find that the fierce Spaniards, under Cortez and
Pizarro, took with them Missionaries, who carried with them
all the religious zeal, doctrine, and practice which charac-
terised them at home. They forced the natives, conquered
vi et aymis, to change their own faith, and assume that of
the victors. To the places they conquered or colonised, they
gave names derived from their own religion, and " Santa
Cruz," " Trinidad," " Santiago," " Monte Christo," " San
Lorenzo," " St. Helena," "Los Angelos," " Concepcion,"
and other places in America, tell of the religious names held
in respect by old Spain.
On the other hand, "New York," Boston," "Troy,"
"Louisiana," "Melbourne," "Sydney," and a number of
similar names, carried by the more Northern Europeans into
America and elsewhere, tell of the names of towns and
eminent persons in the old country, without any intermixture
of religion. No English explorer has yet named a new
island " The Virgin Mary," or " The Holy Ghost; " nor can I
recal a single locality which he has named " Jesus," " Christ,"
or " God." Yet all these are names reverenced more or less
by the Anglo-Saxon.
We infer, then, that the names given by explorers may
10
tell of laitli, of tlie iiumes of towns ov of persons in the old
country, or of all, according to the ideas of the discoverers.
But when once a lodgment in a new continent is effected,
there are always pioneers to he found on the outskirts of the
" factory," " fort," or " settlement," who, like skirmishers
in an army, are in advance of the main hody, and prepare
the way for them. These come into contact with the Abori-
gines, whom,, taking America for a pattern, v>'e will call
Indians, In their wild life, the pioneers league with some
tribes, and oppose others, or trade with all. From this
intercourse they learn the geography of unknown parts, and
the names of rivers, hills, peaks, and passes, till then
unknown. These names subsequently become incorporated
into the language of the invader, just as we have incorporated
into ours the word Nyanza, the native name for one of the
vast lakes whence the Nile flows.
A number of names Avill therefore be found, in. almost
every large continent, which are not derivable from the
language of the original conquerors ; and perhaps, as will
soon be the case in Eastern America, these names will be the
sole remembrances we have of a defunct race.
But there will always be a tendency to approximate the
outlandish name to something like the current diction, and
Mississippi, Missouri, and Chesapeake may, and very probably
will, become Mrs. Ippi, Miss Houri, and Cheese Peak. Just
as the old inn, whose sign was the motto, "God encompasseth
us," became the "Goat and Compasses," and "Wavertree,"
near Liverpool, has become " Watery."
I am not quite sure v\'hether some of our very common
names have not this origin. With us Green is a familiar
word, and Mr. Green is supposed to be a lineal descendant
of somebody Avho was ' Jolly Green.' A minute's thought,
however, will show us that our present association of ' Green '
with absui'dity is very modern; and when we find Greenan
11
in Ireland unci Scotland, Grecnann in Clair, and Gyeewdlgh
in Lancashire ; Greene in Brunswick, Greenock in Scotland,
and Greenove in Ireland ; Grinun in Switzerland, and Grind,
G/'indalytbe, Grivtdenwald, Gr'mdon, Grinnel, Grinsione,
and the like in Switzerland and Britain, we may fairly doubt
whether there is not some other meaning of the word than
colour. Especially when we remember that Grian Avas an
ancient name of the Sun — now Gran or Graun in Ireland.*
We may say the same of Broirn. We imagine that the first
of the race may have been tanned by the sun, and so earned
a cognomen ; but where all alike are so tanned, as our more
savage forefathers were, the use of the word as a distinctive
appellation is absurd. When Ave find, moreover, that Bran,
Brana, Branas, Branca, Brancas, Branche, Branchon, Brand,
Brandeis, Brant, Brantomc, Brenes, Brent are names found
all over Europe, specially in the maritime districts, we may
fairly doubt the connection of the word Brown with the
colour alone. My present ideas would lead me to associate
it Avith the honourable title of Baron, Avhich coincides with
the Phoenician Bar-On, " Son of the father," or " Son of On."
Not only do nations change an unknown into some
familiar Avord, but they often change one outlandish form
into another equally barbarous and unknoAvn. As Ave hope
to shoAV by and by, the origin of Jolui Avas Jonah ; this has
become, as we learn from Miss Yonge, Ian, Jan, Shawn,
Eoin, Hans, Jens, Jantje, Jehan, Hanncs, Johan, Han,
Jean, Juan, Joao, Giovanni, J annes, Joannes, Vanni, Nanni,
Giankos, Ivan, Vanja, Yan, Jovan, Jonas, Janos and Japan,
and Evan, in various countries of Europe.
Yet, though there be a variety in the spelling of all these
Avords according to the phonetic value Ave give to the various
letters in use amongst us, the difference betAveen them all
* The scholar will lemcmlier lh;\t thf Gens Grnuia was one of the oldest
families of aucient llome.
12
Avill be found comparatively insignificant if we give to J its
proper sound of Y, and consider that G and J are often used
interchangeably ; we must also consider that U and Y are
essentially the same. The Ancient Romans, like the Hebrews,
and I suppose the Phcenicians also, had only one sign for the
two, which represented U or V according to its position in a
word. If we read for Ivan, Juan, Ave should call the word
as if it were spelled Jew-an ; but if we retain the pure value
of the I, we should pi'ouounce the word Yuan or Yawn.
These observations introduce us to the difficulties attached
to the study of names, which we must consider in the
ensuing chapter.
CHAPTER II.
In tracing names, is sound or spelling to be most trusted ? Speech precedes writing.
Correctness in spelling is rarely met with amongst writers recording the names
of their countrymen— is more rare when foreign names are reduced to the
alphabet of the historian. Varying value of the same letters in different
nations. The value of assonance, and of spelling — neither to be trusted.
The Ariau and Shemitic languages. Their radical words contain few letters.
Difficulty in determining whether any long name is simple or compound —
Omphelos, Rebecca, Elizabeth. Necessity for the inquirer to identify himself
with those of whom he writes. Ancient and modern ideas of propriety in
conversation.
In pursuing the study of names, there are two or three diffi-
culties which have to be faced, and, if possible, surmounted.
The first is, Whether, in tracing their descent, we are to trust
more to spelling or to sound ? The second is, Whether we
must refrain from tracing a word or name to a foreign
language, when there is any interpretation for it in the
tongue of the people using it ?
In considering the first question, we naturally turn our
minds to some apparently foreign, bub strictly analogous
subjects. I know that over the world there are many races of
men with black skins. They receive various names— Negroes,
Nubians, Caffres, Kroomen, Papuans and the like ; but the
philosopher does not therefore conclude that they are essen-
tially distinct from each other. As we found the belief of
the paternity of a child on its resemblance to its parent, and
the genus of a plant by its resemblance to others of the same
class, so we judge of the alliance of a man more by his colour
than his name, and of a name more by its sound than by the
way that sound is or has been spelled.
14
It is clear that words must have been uttered, ere any one
thought of committing them to writing ; and, from what we
know of the early times of oar own country, we may be sure
that incorrectness in speUing was common, even when the
knowledge of writing was considerable. Lysons states
that he has seen his own name spelled in seven different
methods in one document ; and " Shakespeare" was so uncer-
tain how to spell his own, that he spelled it in various ways ;
and since his time no one has been able to discover the true
orthography.
This difdculty, bad enough as it is in our own language,
is increased greatly when we try and reduce to Avriting the
names current in lands to whose tongue we are strangers. I
may write Father, Murder, Tuscany, and pronounce them in
our ordinary way ; but the German, the Irishman, and the
Italian will, in reading those letters, trying to imitate us, say
' Vater,' ' Murther,' and ' Thoscano.' Those being the nearest
sounds to which they can bring their lips, they will, in
educating their countrymen, change the English spelHng,
just as we have changed the foreign spelling of proper names
to suit our own tongue; e. (/., Buonaparte into Bonaparte,
and Louis into Lewis.
Not only so, we vary the pronunciation of our own words
capriciously; and though both a/-c//angel and «rc/^bishop
have the same first syllable, we talk of it as ark in the one,
and artch in the other.
When we have determined, however, to trace names by
sound rather than spelling, and yet not to cast aside the last
completely, we begin to study the nature of the departures
from strict rule. We can do this to a great extent amongst
ourselves, if we carefully note the pronunciation current in
the various parts of our island. The Welshman pronounces
"ooman " for "woman," "Pilly"for "Billy," while the Scotch-
man turns out into not. I was once profoundly puzzled by a
15
north country gardener, -who, while praising his peaches,
assured me they were Dutch Hesses, and bothered me still
more by asking rne to procure him some sJur-eeds from my
tailor. At last I discovered that he meant " Duchesses " and
" shreds."^
We find, as a general rule, that B and P, V and F, S and
Z are interchangeable, and that one vowel is very generally
interchangeable with all the rest. "
Under all circumstances we must, I think, look very
suspiciously, both to similarity of sound and spelling, ere we
venture to build any theory upon those grounds alone. ^
I may speak of a do, a dew, adieu, a Jeic, a c?«plex move-
ment, a f^etbious statement, a long duvatiou, a duty, and a
duel ; but though the sounds of den-, do, &c., are similar,
their meanings are unlike. Yet I may speak of o'uws, vinum,
and u-'nie as being essentially the same, though the appear-
ance of the words does not suggest identity. So, j^m^pe?",
2:)aper, 'pejyper, ^^iper, poppy, puppil, though sounding much
1 See tlie way tlie writers in tlie Septuagiut have altered the Hebrew proper
names; e.(j., ElisbeLa into Elizabeth.
" The following letters are intercliaugeable :
A, E, I, 0, u, w, Y. ^' with n, y. 1, ^ b ^itii :- °i- ?o-
B, Y. T, P, M. 1 -. 3- D >. n, 2, 1,?-
C, K, G, S. V '. .S% J- 3. p. V. 3 „ b, '<.
J) rr 3 >, S, VD- D „ £^', T, V-
o'./y ^ - 3.p-y,,n. s „ 2,12.
J' ^' ^- T ,■ y, 0,1^', "1- n >, Si y, T-
Q, T'. c- n „ no- c^ „ b', D.-'if.T.
X, z. to „ V, n, 1- cr .. T- ^*-
3 „ isp>n- n ■, D-
" 111 Yol. 1, 2ufl Series, of the Transactious of the Royal Society of Literature,
there is au Essay on this snhject by Sir T. Phillips, in which he attempts, and I
think successfully, to show that the names of Ciugetorix, Yercingetoiix, and Orge-
torix, given by Cresar as those of certain German chieftains, was the nearest approach
that the Pioman writer could make to frame in his own language the German sounds
for King Dietrich, Yildng Dietrich, and Herr Dietrich ; and he concludes the paper
with the remark, " that the names ol' persons and jilaces are the nearest ap])roaclies
which we have left to the most ancient mode of orthography, either of lost or of
living languages.''
16
the sfime, are essentially different ; while on the contrary ham,
am, and cham ; Anna, Hannah, and Channah ; Camaclia and
Gamakh ■ Tamyras and Damiiras, though looking different,
are essentially alike.
Amongst the many phases the difficulty we have adverted
to presents, one of no slight magnitude is — How far can we
assume similarity of origins, in words of identical sound and
somewhat similar meaning, in nations widely separated from
each other ? We find, for example, in Grecian and Roman
Mythology, a god called "Bacchus.'" He is frequently
attended with a tiger, or leopard. He conquered India. But
he is also represented as a young man, handsome, jolly, full
of fun and frolic, and one making free use of wine and
women. In Indian Mythology, we have Baghis, or Yafjis, as
a name for Siva, the terrible — the destroyer. It means, I
understand, " Lord of Speech." Bdgli is the name for a tiger,
and, putting the two together, fancy may see the origin of the
western god who conquered Ind. But the philosopher refuses
to see, or rather is unable to see, any connection between the
awful Siva, the murderous bagh, and the rollicking vine-
god seated on a cask. He prefers rather to seek another
origin for the word, and finds in the Hebrew, one of the
living representatives of the language spoken by the colonists
from Tyre and PhoBuicia generally, the word Packaz IH?, which
signifies " full of fun," " enjoyment," " luxury," &c., " indul-
gence in luxuries of every kind ; " and he thinks that this latter
is so similar in sound and character to Bacchus, that it is
preferable to deduce the European god from a Phoenician,
rather than an Indian source. It is possible that neither
solution is correct, but the last is sufficiently near truth to
pass for it until something nearer presents itself.
Another difficulty consists in the fact, that, in the great
families of languages, there are certain words of great
similarity in sound, but materially differing in their signifi-
17
cance ; and this difficulty is the greater when we can recognise
in the tongue used a mixture of roots. In the following
Vocahulary, I have introduced many Aryan or Sanscrit words,
to show their general diversity with the Shemitic, and
yet their occasional resemblance. One philologist recognises
in Greek, Latin, German and English words, in forms of
inflexion of verbs, and in construction of tenses, cases, &c., a
strong Aryan and Sanscrit element ; while another enlarges
upon the strong evidence there is that our language has been
framed on a model similar to that of the Hebrew ; and
l:)oth probably are right. In the former, there is a word
Ar, which signifies "to plough " or " till the earth," — from
(I understand) the idea of driving something forwards ;
and from this biliteral many other words are formed. But
in the Shemitic languages, and especially in the ancient
Chaldee and Assyrian, " the Moon God " had a name
pronounced like liar, and another one called Aii-, Aer, or
Ar, was " the God of the Atmosphere," the " Jupiter " of
the Greeks.
The inquirer who has studied Sanscrit attempts naturally
to derive all names containing Ar from an Aryan, wdiile the
Shemitic scholar wishes to trace them to a Chaldrean origin.
The first would make the name of the renowned Arthur, kiug
of Britain, to mean " Thor the Ploughman " — the second
would read it as " the Celestial Thor," the " Prince of the
Power of the Air," " Jupiter Tonans," or " Pluvius." While
the two are contending which is the prettiest conceit, and
demonstrating the relative merits, or absurdities, of their
own or their opponents' interpretation, another might step
in and say that both are wrong, since Arthur comes from
the Persian Atliar, which means fire, and since its prede-
cessor may be recognised in the word Ithuricl.
This imaginary discussion leads us to notice another
form which the verbal difficulty assumes, viz., how far we are
18
justified in dividing any word into two or more elements ?
A great deal depends upon tins, of which I give the following
as an example. Onipltalos in Greek signifies " the navel,"
pure and simple ; hut if we cut the word in two, we find that
om signifies mater nitij, and pliallos, paternity. This result
would be only a curiosity, unless it led us farther. If we
pursue the idea of the navel, we come upon an Ancient Indian
Myth, to the efiect that Mahadeva and Sara-iswata, I.e., the
celestial phallus and celestial womb, had a great contest as to
their respective power over creation, and the combat was so
sharp that neither would have anything to do with the other,
the consequence of which Avas that all creation died out. But
Vishnu took upon himself to make all things right. To
do this, he slept on the sea on his back, Avhile from his
navel sprung a new world.'* From the shape of the navel
we conclude that the Myth was intended to veil the well
known fact enunciated by St. Paul, 1 Cor. vii. 4, that union
is necessary for the continuance of animated nature. If,
then, we find that the single word omphalos signifies this
union, we are entitled to believe the word a compound rather
than a simple one.
When we consider that, normally, all Scripture names of
Jewish Kings in the later period are compound — that, as
a rule, Oriental cognomens are long, and their common
words very short, we are justified in assuming, that it is
more probable that any given name, if it be a long one, is
compound rather than simple. We are, however, sometimes
driven to extremities in our choice, of which the following
is an example. The name Rebecca is stated by the learned
Gesenius to mean "a rope with a noose;" adding, that
" it is not unfit, as the name of a girl who ensnares men by
her beauty." But (1) the name Avas given to her in Chaldnea
while a baby and without beauty — (2) "the noosed cord "
* See NaLlii, Nebo, &c., in a subsequent chapter.
19
comes from an Arabic, rather than a Bab^doniaii root, and
(3) " a cord with a noose " is more likely to remind one of
hanging a cat, dog, or oneself, than of a " Avoman allurino-
men by her beauty." Consequently, we reject this inter-
pretation, and go to the Chaldee. We then find that Rab
or iic/' means " chief," ''great," (as in Rahsaris, Rahmag,)
and that haJiak PDI is a very old word for " whiteness," or
"brightness;" and, putting these together, we conclude that
the name signifies " The great Avliite one," or " The chief
white shiner," i.e., "The Moon," a God in Chaldrea. And
in this deduction we are strengthened, when we find that
she was the daughter of Naltor, which means light. It is
spelled l-l'"!^ Nachtii', which means "snorting!" the real
signification is "i-1^^ NaJuir, " light."
In venturing to divide any word, it is I think essential,
first, that the division shall be, phonetically, natural, —
secondly, that the idea wrapped up, so to speak, shall be
consonant with the opinions current at the time. The
word " Elizabeth," or " Elisheba," to which we shall have
to refer shortly, is an example of the various ways there are
of dividing Avords, and of the meanings which may result
therefrom ; in one form it is derivable from El, issa, and
heth, in the other, Ell and Slicha ; and for the latter word
we can find two distinct meanings. ''
In the succeeding pages I have endeavoured, as far as
possible, to avoid any derivation Avhich seems incompatible
with sound deduction. It has been my endeavour to identify
myself with the ideas, forms of belief, dogmas of faith,
habits of thought, manner of speaking, &c., which existed
amongst the Orientals then, rather than apply to the compa-
ratively coarse Eastern the modem refined ideas of a highly
civilised Englishman. I do not know anything which illus-
trates the difference between ancient and modern times
^ See Elizabeth, in tlie Vocabulary.
20
more tlifin the frequency with which circumcision is spoken
of in the sacred books, and the carefuhiess with which the
subject is tabooed now. To speak of any man as being
worth}' or contemptible, as men and women did amongst the
Jews, according to the condition of an organ never named,
and very rarely even alluded to, in a mixed company of
males and females amongst ourselves, shows us that persons
holding such ideas must have thought far more of these
matters, and spoken of them far more freely, than we have
been taught to do ; and we shall see in the sequel how
all, or nearly all, of the blessings promised to the faithful,
culminated in the abundance of offspring ; an occurrence
which could not happen, except the parts destined to that
purpose were in an appropriate condition.
Another difficulty in ascertaining the meaning of certain
proper names arises from the critical canon, " that if a
word can be explained in the language of the persons using
it, such explanation must be held to be the good and true
one, against all others.'"'
The value of such criticism we may best appreciate by
adducing a few examples. We have in English the words
burrow and borough. The two mutually explain each other;
one is a residence of a community of rats, rabbits, mice, or
foxes ; and the other is a town, where great and small people
live together, and to which they can run, after having made
an excursion abroad to pillage from their neighbours [?].
We have, too, a irick in a candle, and a wick a town. The
first represents a sort of tower in a plain, whence it draws
c The following paraoraplis are inserted in answer to strictures -wliicli were
made by an individual on the autlior's views, when he read the draft of this Essay
at the Liverpool Literary and Philosophical Society. It was then alleged, that if
in the language of JS'orthmen, Danes, Saxons, Germans, &c., a word conld he found
which seemed to explain another, such explanation must take precedence of any
attempt to trace a particular word or name to a Phoenician, or to nuy other source,
more remote than the comparatively moiler.! one.
21
a supply of fuel to keep the flame burning ; the second
denotes an erection of houses in the middle of a fertile
country, which finds in the town a market for its produce,
and helps to keep the citizens alive ! ! We will leave to the
imagination of our readers the task of multiplying such
absurdities, and pass on to another answer to the canon.
There is cause to beHeve " that things have been as they
are now, unless we have reason to believe them different,"
is a fair assumption to go upon. Human nature is not
different now to what it was in the days of yore, though
education has done much to modify its manifestations.
Amongst ourselves there are singularly few names of purely
English origin, or which can be explained by our own
tongue. Robert, Thomas, Charles, George, John, William,
Caroline, Mary, Margaret, convey to us no meaning what-
ever ; not only so, but the few names which do exist, such
as "Asse,-' "Boots," "Cheese," "Dunce," "Goose,"
" Cheeke," " Sponge," " Spittle," " Teat," " Bugg," and
a lot of others,' are considered so mean and vulgar, that
their possessors wish to change them, and ultimately will.
Moreover, we do not find that an invader of a country
compels the natives to learn the meaning of the victors'
names, and to adopt those names for themselves, adapting
them to their OAvn language. It was so in days gone by ;
for we find a celebrated oracle laying down the maxim that
"it was not right to destroy the names of barbarians, for
that many of them were important in the mysteries."
But we do see, on the other hand, that fierce fanatics
like the Spaniards have at times forced new names upon
their conquered foes ; and we know that, at his or her taking
religious vows, the monk or nun rejects his or her worldly,
7 A catalogue of these, copied from The Times newspaper, may be fonua
iu Anderson's Surnames, page 139.
22
and assumes some sacred, name ; but nuder none of these
circumstances has there been any eftort to explain the new
name which supplants the okl one.
Now we do not for a moment deny that many ancient
names find their meaning in the language of the country
which has initiated them — indeed the whole of our argument
is based upon that fact ; but what w^e deny is the universality
of the law in modern times. AVe hold that names, like
faiths, have been imported into nations from without, and
that, though such names are twisted by those who adopt
them, yet they may still be traced by the philologist to
their origin.
The positive mischief done by converting an occasional
fact into a constant law may be seen in the stories in which
topographists occasionally indulge, and by which they often
stifle further enquiry. Thus, for example. Bury St.
Edmonds is said to take its name from being the burial
place of St. Edmond, and Bury in Lancashire is of course
a vast cemetery for the whole county ; but when we find
Bcrrl in France, Berry in France and Devonshire, Burai in
Bengal, Bure in Switzerland, Belgium, Sweden, and Abys-
sinia, Buri in Bombay and Bengal, Beera as an old Jewish
name signifying " a pit," and Burry in Wales, we may
conclude that they all have something in common, and that
the bond is not an idea of funereal rights.
Being discontented with referring this name to Anglo-
Saxon, German, Danish, Latin, &c., we turn to some other
source. Considering that the Hebrew may help us to the
Phoenician, Ave look to the Lexicon, and find that ^>^3 (beiri)
means "a fountain, well," or "spring;" that '^y^ {hiraJi)
is " a fortress " or " castle ; " " that there is a Persian word,
baru, meaning the same thing, and that there are Sanscrit
words, hura, hurl, pw, = -Trupyog and l^upic [purgos and haris),
23
with similar meanings."* Finding the same, or nearly the
same, word in the Aryan and the Shemitic families, we
conclude that the most probable meaning of Bury is a
stronghold, and that it has a very close affinity to the word
Boromjh. The one etymology is the result of indolence
of mind, and indisposition to think more than is absolutely
necessary ; the other involves much labour and considerable
thought. The one leads us on to the vast plans of anti-
quity ; the other bids us "rest and be thankful" in the
dark ages of modern antiquarianism.
This same canon is, however, capable of convenient
stretching in the hands of those who use it. If, they say,
you cannot find an explanation of an English name in the
British tongue, and you can find one in Latin, Greek,
German, Scandinavian or other north-conntry part, that
mnst suffice, Avithout going any farther. This observation
is essentially the same as the last we animadverted upon ;
but we may take it as a text for some additional remarks.
A recent writer (Lysons) has noticed, that when one of our
old invaders conquered any place, or built any town, it went
by the name of Ham, or " The town." When it again
was subdued by anothei' horde, speaking a different tongue,
the place would be named " The toicn called Ilani," or
" Ham-ton ; " and when it, again, w^as captured by another
tribe, speaking a different tongue to the foregoing, the
place would be called " irick " (or town), and designated
as the one before called Hampton. Thus a cert;un locality
has become " Hamptonwick ; " and by a similar process we
have " Berkhampstead." The etymologist cannot fail to see
that such names tell of a succession of possessors, and there
perchance his interest w^ould end. If, on the contrary, he
were to trace these very words farthei-, they would tell a
8 Geseuius, p. 115, eel. Bagster.
24
more interesting tale. He woitIcI find that Dn {cJiain or ham).
in tbe Hebrew and Plioenicio-Sliemitic, means joined together
by relationship or niarriage ; and that ^^07 (latah) is to cleave
to the (jround ; and he would infer that liam and hamlet
meant the settlement of a tribe or family who builded huts,
rather than used tents or makeshifts. Ton, again, tells
us of njn (taiiah) habitations, and of ^P (tin.) clay. We
remember T]iu)i in Switzerland, Ton in Belgium, Tona in
Spain, Tonal in Austria, Tonava in Sardinia, Tun or Toon
in Persia, Tun in Norway, &c., &c.; and we conclude that
the w^ord ton, or town, toon in Scotland, comes from the
ancient mariners, the preceders of the Anglo-Saxon in
colonisation, namely, the indomitable Phojnicians. Wick
we can only trace to Viciis, the Roman name for a straight
collection of houses. How this little bit of philology may
affect my readers I know not. To me it has given a thrill of
pleasure to believe that we have evidence around us of
being really lineal descendants from some Tyrian colonists,
and that, after long years of inglorious repose, the spirit of
the old Phoenician has revived, to carry us onwards far
beyond the points they reached.
I will not, however, indulge this fancy now, as I hope
to enlarge upon this part of the subject in a subsequent
chapter.
Another perplexity, and one far more difficult to avoid, in
the study of names, is the propensity to attribute all those
which have a similar sound or spelling to some common root,
to mistake a coincidence for a relationship, and to see in a
recently adopted or coined word the lurking of some grand
or ancient idea. This propensity has been happily hit off by
Shakspeare, who makes Pistol argue about the identity of
Monmouth and Macedon, as a river flows by each ; by Sir
Walter Scott, in The Antiquary ; and by Dickens, in Pick-
ivick, a;pro})os of Bill Stumps his mark.
25
We might naturally consider that it would be easy to
avoid failing into this error in every case, but I confess to
the belief that the most careful author is liable to it occa-
sionally. Where I can trace, over a large extent of time and
geographical space, a set of names so closely allied as Bury,
Berri, and Beeri, I feel on tolerably safe ground ; and after
I have traced a number of others over the same track, I feel
emboldened to draw a deduction that others, which I cannot
trace by intermediate steps, may be equally closely related.
Thus, I may conclude that Ballapur, in Bengal and Madras,
owes its name to a similar source to which BaUyporeen in
Ireland does, after I have ascertained the readiness with
which kindred words may be traced along the course of the
Indo - Germanic migration, and yet the particular words
selected as typical of lineage may appear to be allied by the
merest chance, i. e., not really related at all.
Being conscious of all this, I have avoided, as far as
possible, using as the basis, or even the support, of an
argument or position, any word which I could not so lairly
trace as to take it out of the " probable coincidence " class.
Whether or not I succeed in ray attempt time will show.
CHAPTER III.
Origin and menning of tlie name of John. The proper proumiciatiou of the
English J. The meaning of Jonah, JMystical names assumed by prophets.
Connection between John and the Dove. Artistic ideas of John. John a
solar name — the idea,5 it involves. Joannes a compound word. Jao. Nature
of ancient faith. Cannes. Hoa and Anunit. John the Baptist — particulars
of his birth and parentage. Eli. Elias. Dionysus. i3acclius. Jacchus,
Jack, Jacques, or Jacob. Female ideas predominate over male in certain
forms of faith.
The name of John is not only a common and a favourite
appellative in England, but it is equally so all over the
world. A glance at Miss Yonge's pages shows us the way
in which it is spelled in tireiity-scren difierent languages, a
few of which I have already given.
In analysing the sound of these and other forms of the
word, we find two leading facts : first, that there is in one
form the simple syllable Yon- — -I scarcely need repeat that
the letter J has, or ought to have, the sound of Y; — this
is commonly pronounced sharply, but originally it had a
breathing sound after it, as in the word Jonah : secondly,
many of the forms have two elements in them — Jo or
Yo, and an. This is very distinctly seen in the Greek form
'Icouvvs:, in Joan, and Johanna.
I propose to consider the word under both these forms.
The sound of Yon gives us the idea that it is identical
Avith n:i'', Yonah, or Jonah of the Hebrews. Now the same
word means a dove, which bird was held in peculiar honour
amongst the x\ssyrians, Chaldosans, and Jews ; the reason
we shall give in a subsequent chapter. The Yoni is an
Indian emblem, the meaning of which we must also post-
27
pone, merely remarking, that there is a close connexion of
ideas between the -words Jonah and Yoiit. Knowing tliat
amongst ancient nations generally, and (dicays amongst
the Chaldreans, names were given by the priesthood with
reference to some divine emblem or being, we can well
understand the nse of the name Jonah amongst them,
and its being assmned by a prophet, Avho declares himself,
as it were, affiliated with the Almighty, and to be his
mouthpiece upon earth. ^
How closely the idea of the Dove is united to the word
John, we may see from the frequency with which both the
Baptist and the Evangelist of that name are accompanied
by the bird, in Roman Catholic • countries and elsewhere, as
an emblem. I would also call attention to the way in which
St. John himself is ponrtrayed. He, of all the Apostles, is
characterised as feminine in his appearance. The artist
loves to give to the favourite of our Lord all the physical
graces that adorn Avoman, with scarcely sufficient beard to
show that he is male. The devout equally love to dwell
upon the tender affection which breathes in all his Avritings,
and which, though so thoroughly contrary to the fierce
denunciations of a Boanerges, yet have the captivating
gentleness of a loving mother.
If we attempt to examine into the meaning of this sound,
Yon, we shall find ourselves in a maze of curious facts. The
learned Godfrey Higgins, who gives us a great deal upon
the subject, quoting from Jamieson's Hermes ScytJiicas,
writes thus :
1 As fur as I have been able to investignte the matter, I conchnle that the uames
of the prophets were invariably assumed by them. When they entered upon the
profession, they dropped their birth name, and adopted a sacred one, just as any
moult, nun, or preaching friar would do. This appellation affords us au idea of
the name of the God they piofessed adhesion to; e.y.. Samuel is au adorer of El;
Isaiah and Jeremiah, of Jdh ; Ezekiel adopts .E^ ; Joel adopts both Jah and El;
Daniel's God is £'Z, the Judge: Hoshea's God is the Saviour; Cheuaauah adopts
Ami ; Balaam, both Bel and Am.
28
" Valleucy dit que Jonn etait le meme que Baal. En
G-allois Jon, ' le Seigneur, ' Oieu,' 'la cause premiere.' En
Basque Janna, Jon, Jona, S:g., ' Dieu et Seigneur Maitre.'
Les Scandinaves appelaieut le soleil Jolin .... des Troyens
adoraient le meme astre sous le nom de Jona. En Persan
le soleil est appele Jaivnali. Tons ces noms ont un rapport
evident avec le Janus des Etrusques, que etait considere
comme le Dieu supreme. On pourrait encore rapproclier ces
denominations de 1' Arab Janah, ' majeste,' et du Persan
Jauan, ' uu chef.' "" The author calls attention, too, to the
fact that the Apostle Peter is spoken of as Bar Jonah, or the
son of Jonah, and the frequent connection there is between
Peter as a fisherman, and Peter as the door-keeper of heaven,
having the keys of the Janna.
We may still further extend our interest in the name
when we remember that amongst the Greeks and Ptomans
Juno was the spouse of the Almighty, the Maker of all
things, and the Queen of Heaven.
We find, then, that the word John combines the idea
of the sun, of the dove, and the tenderness of a loving
mother.
In the Sanscrit, Yauna, or Yoni + a, signifies "uterine,"
also " nubile man ; " and Yauvana, or Yauvan + a, signifies
"juvenile," "manhood," "puberty."
We now proceed to inquire into the signification of the
two sounds, which we presume are elements in the Greek
form of the word 'Ic/jawsc, and in Joan, Johanna, &c.
The first I look upon as Jo or Jao, or Jah, and the
other Anna, Ana, Hannah, &c. Now, who or what were
these ?
It would not be profitable to reproduce here all the
arguments adduced by the ingenious Bishop of Natal, to
show the origin of the first name ; but I may say that
■^ AnacuLypsi^, p. 650.
29
I have satisfied myself, from a close examination of the
names current prior to David's reign, and after it, that the
word Jalt was introduced into Jadcta by that king himself,
or b}- the prophet Nathan, after sojourning amongst the
Philistines and Phoenicians ; and that an old oracle of the
Clarian Apollo says that the names of Zeus, Aides, Hehos,
Dionysus, and Jao represent the sun at different seasons.
Macrobius tells us that another oracle of Apollo says that
Jao is the greatest of all the gods ; and he adds, that Jao
is the sun. 3
Jao, or JaJi, is one of the appellations of God the
Father, and I must now, I think, anticipate a little of what
will come at greater length hereafter, and tell of the nature
of the ancient faith.
It may be described thus : — The world above, around, and
below us was made by an Almighty being, whose attributes
the human mind could not grasp, and to whom no substan-
tive name could be given, for a substantive name must imply
a person. He was, therefore, spoken of with reverence,
under names implying self-existence, as, " I am," " He is,"
" Supreme Wisdom," &c.
No man ' could by searching ' find Him out, but the
devout might hope to attain to some knowledge of Him by
studying His works.
Of all His works none wore more glorious than the sun,
the moon, the stars, and the Avandering planets : to study
their courses was to study the Almighty who created them.
As the knowledge of astronomy increased, the system of
« Macrobius — Saturn., i. 18. I quote from Colen^o, vol. &, p. 305, and the
trauslatiou in preference to the Grctlc.—-' Helios (tlie Snu), whom men surname
Dionysus; " again, " One Zeus, one Aides, one Helios, one Dionysus; " nud again,
" It was right that those knowing should hide the iueff.ible orgies, for in a little
deceit there is pradence and an adroit mind. Explain that Jao is the most high
God of all — iu winter Aides, and Zeus in commenniug spring, and Helios in
summer, and at the end of Autumn the tender Jao."
30
thought was developed, and the sun in its various phases
was spoken of under different names ; c. (/., Creator in spring,
Preserver in autumn, Avhen it ripened fruit, Destroyer in
winter, when its face was hidden or modified by storms.
It was natural that the Almighty should be invoked against
enemies under His name of Destroyer, and under His name
Creator, or Preserver, by those who wished for offspring or
success in life.
With various names came the idea of person, and a
person, to human ideas, must have a sex. Observation told
men that the male was a finer animal than the female, but
that both were necessary to reproduction. The sun, then,
darting his beams upon the earth, was said to be the male,
and the earth the female. That idea might suit terrestrial,
but not the celestial worlds. The fiction then was started
that the Almighty was both male and female. As it was
blasphemy to think that carnal connexion could take place,
the female idea was associated with Virginity.
It is necessary to know thus much before proceeding to
the word Annes, or Oanncs. The former we shall speak of
under the head Anna; the latter was a name given by
Sanchoniathon and Berosus to an Assyrian deit}", who was
the teacher of mankind, and who was mystically united
with the form of the sacred fish. Sardanapalus has epithets
given to him, in some Cuneiform inscriptions, of " the Sen-
tient Guide," " the Intelligent Fish." The Fish was a
female emblem.
Of the nature and meaning of the fish as an emblem I
shall treat hereafter, and here content myself with saying
that it is intimately associated with the worship of the
Divine Mother, or the Queen of Heaven.
We conclude, therefore, that the word Joannes has an
androgynous signification, and that it denotes the belief in
the Almighty as both our Father and our Mother.
31
We now return to consider the writings of St. John the
Apostle, find the position of his predecessor, the Bcaptist.
Of the general tenour of the former's writing I need say no
more than what I have already said, and will only refer
specially to the account which he gives of the vision he saw
and described in the Apocalypse. In the 13th verse of the
first chapter, he depicts the Son of man as having the paps of
a woman ; the words in the original being s^wo-p-evov Trpoc xoij
jaaa-ToI;', the last being the same word as is used in the
passage, " Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the 2^<^'ps
which thou has sucked." The corresponding word used for
the small male breasts would have been /xa^o7j. It seems
very curious, at first sight, that the idea of androgynism
should ever have attached itself to Jesus Christ ; still, that
it has done so, no one acquainted with the old Italian
paintings can doubt.
The Baptist was born of parents who had become
aged. His birth was foretold by an angel. His name was
dictated beforehand. His father was " Zacharias," or " the
Watchful Sun." His mother was "Elizabeth," or '-the
Temple of the Sun the Helper," or "of Alitta ; " and
bis mission was to be as " Elias," >?Aioj, the Sun. The
name of the Angel was Gahricl, or "the mouthpiece of the
Royal Sun." We find our Lord saying of this John, that
he was the " EHas which was foretold." We turn to the
prophecy, and find in the Septuagint version (Malachi iv. 5),
kjM aixocTiWOi v[xiv "ll?.lu-j tov 0ao-/3(T>jv, " I will send to you
Elias the Tishbite." The name of that prophet was Elijah,
or " El is Jah." " El" and " Ilos " are both Shemitic names
for "the Sun," or God, and"HAjor, heelios, was " the Sun "
in Greek.
John, therefore, was the personification of the Sun's
power on earth, the idea being the same as that expressed
32
subsequently by the Samaritans in regard to Peter (Acts
viii, 10), " This man is the great power of God."
Though I am unable to say whether the Jews generally
associated the idea of the Godhead with the sun, I cannot
see how any of those who wrote or spoke in Greek could fail
to see the connexion. I may, in passing, express surprise
at the remarks made by the bystanders at our Saviour's
dying cry, "EH, Eli, lama sabacthani." They said, "He
calleth upon Ellas {'Hxluv) ; let be, and let us see whether
Elias (Hxlag) will come to help him." I cannot help
thinking that the spectators believed that the sufferer invoked
the bright orb of day, in whose sight he endured such unde-
served anguish, to come and help him ; and it is remarkable,
when we consider the great reverence in which the Jewish
nation held the name Jah, or Jehovah, — a name which almost
entirely superseded i?^, or Elohim, — that the word Eli should
have been selected by our Saviour. God never told the Jews
expressly that His name was Eli, but He did tell them — so
at least we read — that His name was Jehovah. That our
Lord selected the name known to Abraham {Eli) is pregnant
with significance, but it is beyond the scope of the present
chapter to follow the subject up.
Having come to the conclusion that John is an appellation
signifying " The Androgynous Sun," let us now exam.ine one
of the other names which that luminary has obtained.
Dionysus is one of the names which was specially favoured
by the Greeks. I sccarcely like to speculate upon the
meaning of the Avord, beyond expressing the suspicion that
it means " The Divine On, the Saviour ; "* but we know that
another of his names was Bacchus. This, it will be seen, I
deduce from a Hebrew word, Padiaz, meaning " to be jolly."
Another name for the same deity w^as Jacchus, which I
take to be THi^ achaz, "the one who conjoins," and sorae-
* See flic -word Diouvsns and Bncclnis, in the Vocabnlavv.
33
what similar to Ahaz ;^ or possibly it may be from another
word, ^'Pl yahosh, signifying "to ensnare." But, whatever
its meaning, John Avas indcntical with Elias, Helios Avith
Dionysus, Dionysus with Jacchns, from which legitimately
comes our Jack; and from the same derivation, Ave presume,
comes Jacques.
In continuation of the same subject Ave note the expres-
sion, "EA^ery Jack has his Gill," being a homely phrase for
every man is mated. Now, Gill Avas one of the many names
of the sun amongst the ancient races Avho used the Shemitic
language, and Avhom, for brevity's sake, I propose to call
the Pliens, being an abbreviation for Phoenicians. In the
Cuneiform we have it as Gull, or Gal ; in Scotland it is Gill,
aa in GiUia,n ; in France it is Guill, as in Guilhnm.e.
Jacques or Jacob cannot, hoAA'eAxr, be traced Avith equal
facility to mean the sun. We hope to shoAV by and by that
the AA'ord implies the feminine idea of the Creator, and that
James and John may be brothers in the same mystic sense
as are Esau and Jacob. While writing, I am struck with
many coincidences, which seem to shoAV that Avliat I am
noAv speaking of AA'as familiar to the religious writers and
teachers in days long gone by. In the Old Testament, we
find Jacob preferred before Esau — the female idea before
the male — the one personifying gentleness and love, the
other turbulence and licentiousness. In the Noav Testament,
John is the " beloved " disciple, Avho outlives all the rest ;
and in Roman Catholic countries, the Avorship of the
Mother— the Celestial Virgin — the Queen of Heaven, has
practically superseded that of "the Father" and of "the
Son." The idea of love is more attractive than that of
power or Adgour.
5 Compare -witli '"l^'lO.' Jachazi-al (Jahazicl iu our version), aud nnn: Jaclias-Jah
(Jaliaziali of our Tersion), Lut which literally means " Jacclms is Jah," the transla-
tion of the Hebrew being "Jah, the watcher."
0
34
Moreover, it will be remembered that the name of the
mother of John the Baptist was Elizabeth. This name I
proceeded to analyse in my Essay ; but if I were to follow
the same plan now, I should feel so strongly the incon-
venience of referring my readers constantly to something
yet to come, that it would be almost as intolerable to them
as to myself.
I must, therefore, suspend the consideration of any more
names until I have sketched the history and the mythology
of antiquity.
CHAPTEK IV.
A Leaf from the Books of Ancient History. The story of Columbus. Progress
of Spanish enterprise in America. Of England and Holland. The American
family — its unity all over the "Western Continent — compared with Paissia.
Progress of an English settlement in America— collision with natives — exten-
sion of territory. Sketch of the early Bnhylouians — their progress inland —
collision with natives. Phoenician enterprise — their colony at Sidou — spread
over the basin of the Mediterranean and along the shores of Europe —
influence of their language on natives — extent of their traffic. Abraham, a
Chaldee, travelling overland, comes into contact with the branch of the old
family who had travelled by sea— similarity of faith and language. Arian
influences evident in early Babylonia. Similarity of Hindoo and Chaldtean
ideas in matters of faith. Assumption of supernatural powers common to all
hierarchs. Modern history coloured by the prejudice of its writers —Ancient
history was no better.
It has been well remarked that " what is, hath already
been." Believing in the saying, we look around us at the
present, as a prelude to an examination of the past.
Our libraries teem with books which tell us the stirring
story of the exploits of the great Columbus. They tell
how, barely four hundred years ago, he set sail in some
small barks, on an unknown sea, to search out an unheard-
of land. They tell us, too, of his arrival at the Western
shores, and how he found a primitive people, differing from
all the world besides. They tell us of scores and hundreds
of hardy adventurers who followed in his wake, and took
great towns, adorned with vast piles of cumbrous archi-
tecture ; how they went pushing on, over thousands of
obstacles, until they came to the Pacific Ocean, a sea
undreamed of; and how they established on its shores a
number of new towns, on the ruins of an ancient empire.
They tell us how those stubborn warriors took with them
36
their own faith, and that fierce intolerance, which preferred
the destruction of those who differed from them in creed,
to permitting them to live in the faith of their ancestors.
A love of gold drove the Spaniard to this enterprise,
but in process of time religious dissensions in England
drove a colony of its sons to the Western world, where thej'
could indulge uninterruptedly the faith and the discipline
which were denied them in the Eastern world. A legitimate
love of trade and the spirit of enterprise multiplied expedi-
tions, and ere a century had elapsed there were vessels from
Spain and Portugal, Holland and England, to be met with
in every part of the world. Two hundred years have sufficed
for Britain to enable her to plant colonies in Canada on the
North and New Zealand on the South, Shanghai and India
in the East, and Australia and the Cape of Good Hope to
the South East. Her language is spoken over a continent
whose shores were unknown in 1496 a. d. ; and where the
Red-man roved and trapped, hunted and fought, farms and
factories, steamboats and warehouses, and all the para-
phernalia of peace and trade abound. But though the Indian
has well nigh disappeared from the lowlands, he still survives
in the highlands ; and ere he departs, entirely, the philo-
sophers amongst his supplanters are trying to rescue him,
his traditions, and his religions from entire oblivion.
Conspicuous amongst these is Mr. Squier, who has written
most ably on the subject. He tells us that, from North to
South, in every portion of the two vast continents of
America, the natives are of the same race, bearing the same
general features, having the same colour, varying only in
shades, and speaking a language common to all, distinct, it
may be, in detail, but not to a greater extent than the
Somersetshire differs from the Yorkshire dialect of England.
We turn thence to Piussia, in Europe and Asia, and find
37
the same tongaie spoken in the far East and in the near
West, where civilisation has been hitherto unable to alter
it. The same may be said of the vast empire of China, and
to a certain extent of the great continent of Africa.
Before, however, going to the ancient times, let ns
investigate our own more closely. "When colonising any new
country, Australia for example, a maritime nation makes a
settlement on the coast, close by some eligible bay, or near
the mouth of a navigable river. That place, by whatever
name it may go, is strengthened by art, and furnished with
materials to stand a smart attack. It usually contains a
church, and slowly, if trade be prosperous, increases in bulk.
The jealousy of the natives rouses them to war with the
invader, and thus gives him a reason for extending the bounds
of his domain at the expense of the vanquished. With
increased prosperity comes increase of numbers, and the
intruder supersedes the aborigines. The natives are driven
farther and farther back from the settlements, until they
take their stand in some mountain land not worth fighting
for, and to which the colonist cares not to send an army.
Few are the Red-men now to be found on the plains
of Eastern North America, but they still exist as a miserable
remnant in and beyond the Rocky Mountains.
Three hundred years have sufficed to effect this change ;
and when we compare the size of Great Britain on the map
with the extent of country more or less dependent upon,
affiliated with, or proceeding from her, we feel a pardonable
pride in the enterprise of our nation.
Let us now turn to remote antiquity.
Some four thousand and three hundred years ago there
was a maritime nation, as adventurous as the Spanish, and
equally religious, (i. c, possessing as firm a belief in the
sanctity of the faith which it had been taught,) which
planted a colony near the mouth of the Euphrates.
38
Whence that people came, whether from the East, or from
the West, North, or South, we cannot divine. All that we
know is, that they had certain of the arts of civilisation :
they had the power of writing, and of course of reading too,
and they used characters which, in their st3de, remind us of
the Chinese method of expressing ideas and sounds, by
the arrangement of lines. The people were devout, had a
somewhat elaborate theological system, knew something of
astronomy, and their kings, influenced by the priests, built
temples to the planets and "the greater Gods." The settle-
ment was surrounded by tribes who spoke a different
language to that of the maritime people, but who were
sufficiently friendly to hold intercourse with them, to such
an extent as to influence somewhat the language of the new
comers, and jDossibly to modify or extend their religious faith
and the number or names of the deities. These natives
seem to have spread over a wide space of country, if they
did not extend over the whole continent of Asia and of
Europe, as the Red-Indians did over America when the
white man invaded it. Either in consequence of increase
of trade, fecundity, or of fresh importations from the mother
country, the colonists multiplied, and gradually spread
upwards, along the course of the Euphrates and the Tigris,
absorbing in their march the original inhabitants, or driving
them away before them.
Though a nation, they do not seem to have had any very
close cohesion together, and each large town appears to have
possessed a separate king. Things ajDparently went on
smoothly with them till their settlements touched upon the
mountains to the East and North ; they then came into
frequent and hostile collision with their predecessors in the
soil, and were sometimes so signally defeated, that the rulers
of the people were not of their own blood.
But the colonists had also quarrels amongst themselves :
Babylon and Nineveh were in turn conquerors and con-
39
quered; just as we heave seeu the Northern fightmg with
the Southern States of America. Tlie nation was more
trading than pastoral, and the records, whicli have been
rummaged out of its ancient archives, tell of busy traffic,
and of merchants whose country was Egypt, Tyre, Pales-
tine, &c., resident in their towns.
To the people whom we have described the names of
Chald^eans, Babylonians and Assyrians have been given.
Leaving them for the present, we return to their
brethren. They had a settlement on the Persian Gulf,
which, not being suitable for them, they abandoned, and
went up the Red Sea. With bold enterprise, they crossed
the Isthmus of Suez, and finding a new and unknown sea,
of apparently vast magnitude, they settled on an appropriate
part of its shores. I cannot find any evidence of an abori-
ginal stock here, nor do the emigrants appear to have met
with any opposition. They scattered widely, and peopled
the whole of Palestine, and were known as Phoenicians,
Canaanites, &c.
From their seats in Tyre and Sidou they traded with all
the known world: they brought curiosities from China,^
ivory, apes, and peacocks from Ceylon ; elephants, gold,
spices, and precious stones from India. They once circum-
navigated Africa, and traded largely on its Western shores,
most probably for slaves, which they paid for in gold made
in a peculiar form, and of some curious alloy not yet
discovered.
A colony from the mother country built Utica and
Carthage in North Africa, and they made settlements in all
the islands of the Mediterranean, and along its northern
1 Fortune found uucient Egyptian curiosities in virtic sliops iu China, and
Chinese curiosities have been found iu ancient Egyptian tombs. Antique Chinese
seals have been dug up iu Ireland, some 17 feet below the surface, and the Ancient
Ring money found in the bogs of the Green Islo is identical with that used stiU
as coin iu Africa.
40
banks. The nation extended its commerce around the shores
of France and Spain, Holland and Scandinavia, even
reaching as far as Iceland. It traded largely with, if it
did not colonise, our own group of islands, and Avith its
ships it brought its religion, faith, and customs. Where-
ever it landed its sons, they found a race allied to that with
which the Chaldfean settlers came into contact, and by the
influence of communion of interests, or trade, there would be
a considerable fusion in their respective languages. The
maritime nation would pick up much from the nomade, and
the latter would get more from the sea rovers ; and, conse-
cjuently, we should expect, wherever the two met, a mingling
of tongues, a sort of ancient lingua Franca, similar to that
existing in the Mediterranean of to-day. On the sea coast
the maritime element would be the strongest, while in the
interior little of it Avould be known. England, originally
colonised largely by this nation, has since been invaded by
other maritime people, bat all, having had in themselves a
strong infusion of the old Phoenician blood, have not materi-
ally modified British nomenclature.
To this offset of the old stock the name of Phoenicians
has been given in modern books.
They had a written language, differing from that in use
in Chaldsea, and their alphabet became the model after which
the Greek, the Hebrew, and, subsequently, the Ptoman one
was formed.
Since England has spread her fame and her language
round the world in three centuries, it is not too much to
suppose that the Phoenicians might have done the same
in two thousand years.
Let us now examine another phase of the story. We
have a book of ancient date which tells us that, so far as we
can judge, some six hundred years after the first settlement
41
in Clialclasa, one of its iuliabitaiits joined liis father," wife,
and other kindred, to emigrate to a distant land. Havino-
travelled along the Euphrates for a distance, they turned
to^Yards Palestine, where the traders had doubtless told them
that there was room for emigrants in plenty. The father
died by the way, the rest proceeded. On their arrival, they
found cities of greater or lesser magnitude, and kings and
priests whose God, faith, religion, and language were the
same as their own. There may, however, have been some
trifling difference in ritual, or other littleness, which is
even yet thought of so much importance as to lead to the
estrangement of friends ; seeing that when the Chaldtean
sought a Avife for his son, he sent to his own country,
that his offspring might have a consort accustomed to the
old orthodox faith and practice.
As this Abraham is spoken of especially as " the friend
of God," and as he sent to Babylonia to get a wife for his
devout sou, it is tolerably clear that the religion of Chald^ea,
or at any rate of Ur of the Chaldees, was conformable
to the will of the Being whom Abraham adored. Now it is
equally clear that Eebecca, like Abraham, preferred for her
favourite son, the God-chosen of the twins, a wife imbued
with Chalda3anism to one belonging to Palestine. We
conclude, therefore, that the faith of the early patriarchs was
the same which was held and taught in the old country of
Babylonia.
The examination of that faith we must postpone to a
subsequent chapter.
The careful reader of the ancient story cannot fail to be
struck with the fact, that the Babylonian patriarch spoke
2 " Aud Tciiih took Abram his sou. and Lot the son of Ilaiau, his sou's sou,
and Sai-ai his datighter-in-law, his son Abram's wife ; ftud they went fortli with
them from Ur of the Chaldoes, to go into the land of Canaan ; and thej' came unto
Haran, and dwelt there Aud Terah died in Haran." — (Jen. xi. 31, 32.
42
familiarly with kingg^ priests, and peoples in Palestine
without the intervention of an interpreter. We have a
graphic description of his bargaining with the children of
the land for a possession wherein he could bury his wife.
The chieftains of town and country, Ephron and Abraham,
Lot and the Sodomite, spoke together v/ith facility, and
each interlocutor appealed in a common tongue, to a common
God, of whom Melchizedek, a Canaanite, was priest.
That an interpreter was not required we infer from our
having been told that such an officer was necessary between
the Hebrews and the Egyptians. The mention of this fact
at one time, and not at another, shows that the histoiian
paid attention to such points. We, therefore, conclude that,
when not specified, interpreters were unnecessary.
We observe subsequently that the Israelitish spies, who
continued to talk their own tongue, notwithstanding their
long sojourn in Egypt, could converse with the harlot Rahab
as freely as with their own countrymen ; and that the
Gibeonites of old could talk to Joshua with the ease of
brother Germans of to-day. David, too, consorts easily with
the Philistines, without the aid of an interpreter ; and
Hiram, his friend, sends a congratulatory message to
Solomon, the text of which is retained in sacred history.
The ancient Hebrew alphabet is almost identical with the
Phoenician ; and there is a very close resemblance between
the words discovered in Assyrian, Chaldean, and Tyrian
inscriptions and writings, and those current in Hebrew.
NoAV, the first three languages have all but perished ;
the Hebrew, Avhether it be really of the JoAvish, or later
Chaldee family, remains an almost spoken tongue at the
present moment. We consider, then, that we may appeal to
it to explain many words in the Phoenician or Assyrian
language, using only such license as we are justified in, by
43
noting the variety of dialects in Greece and England, Italy,
and S^jain.
If we give any credence to the preceding sketch, which
is certainly not drawn from fancy, but is the result of much
reading and thought, we can see that Hebrew is of importance
in the explanation of many words which are supposed to be
of Phoenician origin.
The Chaldees, Assja-ians, Phoenicians, Hebrews, &c., are
called " the Shemitic group : " they are distantly allied to
the Arian group, having had a common ancestor.
To prevent the unity of my design being interfered with,
I have thought it unnecessary to introduce into this history
any speculations upon the Arian, Turanian, or Indo-Euro-
pean races. We must, however, say a few words respecting
the first, to enable the reader to understand the frequent
references which will be made to Hindoo mythology.
Sir Henry Eawlinson informs us that it is certain that a
strong Arian element is to be detected in the earliest Baby-
lonian records, about 2400 b. c.^ We find elsewhere that
there is strong reason to believe that the old Vedic or Hindoo
mythology is of Arian origin ; at what period of time it is
unnecessary to inquire. If, as we shall show, there is a
great resemblance between the Phen and the Hindoo faith,
it does not therefore follow that the one has been a co]3y of
the other, but that both may have had a common origin ;
and if so, we may fairly use the one to assist in the
explanation of the other, and argue from the known to that
which is somewhat doubtful.
One thing, however, is clear, namely, that there is little
resemblance between the names of the Hindoo and Chaldee
deities, though there is considerable affinity in idea. Some
few words, however, must be excepted, to which we shall
s See Rawlinsoii's Herodotus, vol. 1. page 510, note ! ; also. Journal of Royal
Asiatic Society, vol. 1, New Series, p. 230, note 4.
44
refer at length by and bye. I am quite alive to the fact that
the human mind will form the same conceptions about the
Creator, and His will towards us, in one place as in another ;
and so similar may be the religions resulting therefrom,
that they may seem to be cognate, and yet not be related
at all. This fact does not influence my argument in the
smallest degree, for it is clear, in the case of similarity of
mythology, religion, or faith, either that the system has been
founded on direct revelation from the Almighty, or that it
has emanated from men who, having the same premises to
argue from, and all possessing a human mind, have naturally
fallen into the same, or very similar, trains of thought. If
a religion, said to be Clod-given, resemble in all important
points another of human origin, the philosopher may doubt
w^hether the first has really a claim to the title it assumes,
or Avhether the latter is not unduly depreciated. Similarity
in worship indicates a common idea on religious points,
which has been given either by revelation to all alike, or
been dra^vn by men from a common source.
If the philosopher wish to ascertain the amount of the
divine or the human element, he will carefully abstain from
using a different standard for different nations. He will not
believe a priest or prophet on his own Ij^se dixit, because
he is of one nation, and discredit all others with equal
pretensions, because they speak another language, and belong
to a different nation.
I know no people whose priests, oracles, sibyls, pytho-
nesses, &c., have not assumed to be of divine origin, and
to have supernatural powers ; nor do I know a religion
whose promulgators have not attempted to bolster ;t up
by the use of miracles, and in some instances by fabricated
documents. Even with the care of the modern historian,
there are to this day two sets of English histories, and
Henry the Eighth, Mary and Elizabeth, Cromwell and
45
Charles the First, are alternately painted as good or
bad according to the predilections of the writer towards
Romanism or its opponent creed. As it is at present it
doubtless always has been.
We will now attempt, as impartially as we are able,
to draw a sketch of the Religion of the Early Babylonians.
CHAPTER V.
The Eeligion of early CliE-ldfea. The Sacerdotal profession exists in every nation —
how established — terror a powerful agent — transmission of religious piower —
in families, schools, or colleges. History falsifio-.L The Philosopher's idea of
the Almighty sketched, contrasted with the idea of ancient hierarchs. The
Mosaic, Mahometan and Mormon codes of law compared with each other and
the Papal code. Ancient Gods of Babylonia — Gingei, Guthiher, Mir-mir and
Hubishaga — signification of their names — development of Chaldee theology.
From the earliest ages known, to the present day, amongst
the most savage heathen and the most polished Christian
nations, there has been, and always wall be, a set of
men who assume to have some peculiar, mysterious, God-
given power. Amongst barbarous nations this power is
gained by sleight of hand, natural magic, or some combi-
nation with a confederate, which enables the acute trickster
to triumph over the careless mind. Even to this day
has come down the annual juggle, at Naples, of the lique-
faction of St. Januarius' blood. Here let me note, in
passing, that fear of the supernatural is not confined to
the human race. Dogs, bears, tigers and other fierce
animals are cowed by a heavy thunderstorm ; the watch-dog
will not bark at a naked thief; and the horse will go wild with
terror at the rattling of a chain. It very rarely can " pay "
any one to take the trouble to vwvk upon this feeling in
quadrupeds, but there is much encouragement to do so with
man, where immunity from manufactured terrors may be
bought by an offering to him that produces them. The
more the thinking faculties of man remain undeveloped, the
greater is his fear of the supernatural, the stronger is
47
his belief in the power of the priest^ to procure good
and avert evil ; the more profound is his faith in religious
dogma, and the greater is his trust in agencies wielded
by the hierarchy. The child who shuns " Old Bogy " in the
dark, because a lad like himself has told him that such a
thing haunts cellars, will, if he exercise not his reason,
believe, as a man, in " Old Scratch," with a long tail
nicely barbed at the end, who amuses himself with pitching
those who do not pay the priest for hush money, from a
bed of burning brimstone to another of eternal ice.
Faith and superstition always go hand in hand, for
" faith " means simply credence in that which you are
told by somebody else to believe ; and superstition is acting
upon and clinging to that faith to the exclusion of reason.
We have been taught implicitly to believe what our fathers
did, and must therefore not abuse the heathen or the
Chaldee for crediting what thei]- fathers told them.
How large a portion of the religion of Babylon has
come down to us, we shall have frequent occasion to show.^
The priest who assumes to possess superior power, avers
that it comes to him from on high, or that he is the
personification on earth of the Creator in heaven. We have in
Lucian's story of Alexander, the false prophet, an interesting
account of the details by which this belief may be instilled
into the mind of the commonalty. Those whose memories
are good, and their reason clear, need not, however, go farther
back than to the " seances " given by Davenport brothers and
sundry other " spiritualists " amongst ourselves, who assume
to be media by which the living can converse with the dead.
Sometimes the supernatural power is said to be imparted
1 1 use this word as I wonlcl that of Physician — the name of Priest to include all
whose profession it is to influence the mind religiously, the name of Doctor to
era 'brace those who endearour to influence the hody when diseased.
*For much information on this head, see Hyslop's Tirn Bahylovs, 3rd edition.
48
by the parent, himself snj^ernatnral, before birth ; ^ and it
remains through life. Sometimes it runs in the family, as
did " second sight " in Scotland ; sometimes it comes on
with Jits, as in the Sibyls and Pythonesses of old, and
the dancing Dervishes of to-day. Sometimes, nay very
frequently in the East, it is an appanage of insanity ; nor
can the educated physician wonder at this, for none are so
earnestly religious, so fanatically enthusiatic, and so replete
with visions, and direct communications from on high, as
the religious monomaniac, of whom we believe Swedenborg
and Irving to have been apt illustrations.
Sometimes the poAver descends through schools and
colleges, and a man is taught to wield the prong of the devil's
tail, as easily as the lawyer is taught to draw a brief, or the
doctor to amputate a limb.
But by ^rhatever method the supernatural power is
assumed, its wielder is always certain to be cross-examined
as to the individual who grants the power. Moses was quite
conscious of this, when he asked Him in the burning bush,
what he should answer to those demanding the name of
the God who gave His commission to lead them. In
answering the question put to him, the priest will naturally
give his own construction of the character, style, and title of
the Almighty. By lapse of time, and the acquiescence of
sons in their fathers' judgment, or by the descent of the
writings of some distinguished hierarch, the description
becomes more or less uniform. Yet even in our own day,
with scriptures of venerable antiquity, our God is described
as loving, merciful, just, revengeful, taking vengeance on
them that know Him not, &c., punishing children unto the
third or fourth generation of those that hate Him, or damning
for ever those who whistle on Sunday, but looking leniently
^ For an account of which, see " The Proiobecy '' iu The Ladij of the Lake — " Of
Brian's birth strange tales were told," &c.
49
on those who tipple whiskey on the same day to enable them
to sit devoutely still, according to the peculiar views of the
exponents of "the word."
Before we describe the ideas held by other people
respecting the Almighty, it will be well if we endeavour to
form some conception of the Deity for ourselves.
Let any one go out on a calm evening, and contemplate
the heavens f let him think of the vast distance of the fixed
stars from us, and from each other ; and then let him try
to imagine a limit to the space before and around him ;
he will be baffled; yet he feels that the Maker of them
pervades all.
Let him again take up a drop of dirty water, and examine
the various forms of life which it contains, all beautiful,
finished on an exquisite design, and in their way enjoying
life. Through the means of the microscope he will become
familiar with thousands of details which tell of creative
power, but which no mortal eye can view, if unaided by
glasses that few can afford to buy. Leaving the micro-
scope, let us allow our thoughts to roam over the myriad
forms of life to be seen in the air, the water, and on land;
over the lovely flowers and luscious fruits, which gladden
the eye and charm the palate ; then turn to spring-time
and harvest, blighting heat and killing frost ; to the fruitful
field laid low by the dread hail-shower, and herds and
shepherds destroyed by the thunder-bolt.
We shall observe that certain animals are made to cat
grass ; that the carnivorous, again, are made to eat the
graminivorous ; and that provision is made for the greatest
amount of enjoyment in every animal compatible with its
powers. The sickly hare, the feeble rabbit, and the
diseased rat fall victims to death sooner than the aching
man, who strives to prolong a painful and pleasureless
* ComiJare Psalm viii. 3.
D
50
existence. We see that, tbrougliout the organic creation,
means are ever contrived to bring forward new beings as
the old die off; and be must be bbnd who does not
perceive that the primary part of that duty devolves upon
the male, who experiences fierce pleasure in the performance
of bis task, and that the labour is preeminently one of love.
In farther contemplation, the mind recognises its supe-
riority, or the reverse, to others with which it measures
itself ; it recognises a similar disparity in bodily strength and
constitutional vigour. In fine, we begin, detail by detail, to
see and feel that the Universal Maker does everything that
He' sees fit: that everything is perfect in its kind— that
everything has its appointed place in the economy of the
world ; and we feel that He is every where present, making,
and ruHng, and governing all things. Of all His apparent
works, the sun and moon seem the greatest, but that is only
because we are nearer to them than we are to the more distant
stars. As the greatest of His works, we may in a, thoughtful
mood apostrophise them ; but we know that God is in every
part of our body as much as He pervades the sun. To such
a being we are always present — nor could we, if we wished,
reach him better through the intervention of another mortal
than by the secret utterance of our own thoughts. That
' presence ' knows what I now write, as it will know the
thoughts of him who reads. For such an one my reverence
is profound.^
Admitting this conception, necessarily imperfect, of the
God recognised by a Christian philosopher, let us now
examine the idea presented by priests, to common mortals,
in ancient, and partly in modern times.
Few systems of theology have been completed at once.
6 I say He from habit, anci to save circumlocution, but, respecting sucli n
being, it is impossible to form an idea of lie, she, or it.
*> Compare Psalm cxxxix., also Pliny's Natural Uisforv. b. ii., c. .0-7.
51
The Mosaic laAv, given as we are told directly by the
Almighty, was not consummated till the death of the
great lawgiver. Questions were constantly arising which
required continual recourse to revelations, and the code was
perfected through the gradual recognition of the failures of
the first draft. It is precisely the same with the Maho-
metan law; and with that which is still being developed
amongst the Mormons ; and I need hardly tell the educated
Englishman how the system of Popery, current in the
greater part of Europe, has required centuries to attain its
present dimensions. The careful historian can give the
date of the introduction of each new dogma, which, when
once introduced by authority, became an article of faith.
The last new doctrines, the Immaculate Conception and
Papal Infallibility, are quite modern.
The Chaldee mythology was no exception to this rule. At
first there was no very clear conception framed of the nature
of the Creator. AYhen the priests were asked by their
votaries, "who He was, whence He came," &c., they
answered with stories such as I remember to have been
told to me, when, as a child, I asked, whence the little
babies came, which we found in the nurse's arms on our
return from some unusual walk.
Eawliuson tells us that he reads the names given to the
Proto-Chald^an gods as follows : —
Gingir — who was subsequently replaced by Ishtar.
Guthiber—equivalent to the later Merodach.
Mir Mir — the god of the air.
Hubishaga — the same as Cronos, or Time.^
If we attempt to analyse these words, we find that Jan in
the Aryan tongue is a woman, and the compounds of the
word are all connected with generation and parturition. Gin
is a wife, or woman, in Austraha ; ywr] (gune) is a woman
1 See Journal of the PiOi/al Asiatic Societi/, vol. 1, New Series, page 231, note.
52
in Greek ; recjina, or female king, is a Latin word ; 1| {(jan)
is a garden in Hebrew, also a chaste 2voman;^ ''fl^ guni, is
*' painted with colours," as women used to be, and still
often are ; and Ganesa is a Hindoo deity.
In Hebrew, '^'''^ gur, bas, amongst other meanings, that of
suckling ; ■°'\^ gir, is " swelling up like lime does ; " and !^7^
garah, is " to be hot," "jealous," or "active."
I conclude, then, that the word " Gingir " may mean
" the nursing mother," which answers precisely to the
Hebrew word SJiaddai.^
8 Compare Song of Solomon iv. 12 — " A gnrcleu enclosed is my sister, my spouse,
a spring sliut up, a fountain sealed ; " upon -wliich Grii.sburg's note is as follows : —
" The trees of Lebanon referred to at tlie end of tlie last verse suggested this
beautiful metai^hor of a garden, under which the shepherd describes the un-
sullied purity and chastity of the Shulamite. Gardens in the East were generally
hedged or walled in, to prevent the intrusion of strangers. (Isa. v. 5 ; Joseph.
de Bell. Jud. YU.) From this arose the epithet of 'closed garden,' for a virtuous
woman shut up against every attempt to alienate her affection. The contrary
figure is used in viii. 9; there accessibility is described as a door, i.e., open
to seduction. A ' sealed fountain ' is another metaphor to express the same
idea. The scarcity of water in arid coimtries renders fountains very valuable.
To secure them against the encroachment of strangers, the proprietors formerly
fastened their fountains with some ligament, and the impression of a seal upon
clay, which would quickly harden in the sun, that would soon dissolve wax.
This mode of rendering pits safe is found in Dan. vi. IS ; Matt, xxvii. 66. A
fountain, sealed in this manner, indicated that it was private property. Hence its
metaphorical use to represent chastity as an inaccessible fountain." (Song of
iSonc/s, with a Historical and Critical Commentary, by Christian D. Ginsburg,
p. IBO ; Longmans, 1857.)
9 rtTOJ -S'7jaf?rt7i. signifies "to shoot," "to pour out;'' "a teat;" a^i Sitidah, it
signifies "the Lady," "the Princess," "the Mistress," equivalent in the feminine
to Baal in the masculine ; also " Spouse," " Yv^ife."
IV Shad, sig-nifies " the breast " or " pap," and nMJ signifies '' my breast," and.
figuratively, "my mother."
'TO Saddai, signifies " a field," an euphemism for a female ; and 'TO ShadJai.
signifies "the most xjowerful," "the Almighty."
53
Figiire I.
Figure 1. — The woodcut represents Isis aucl Horns, and is an apt illustration of
the " nursing mother." It has, however, much interest on other accounts.
The shape of the "glory," proceeding from the hodies, resembles the Assyrian
" gi'ove," snd pourtrays to the initiated tlie door through which all living
beings pass into life. The flowers are those of the cihorium, or Egyptian
bean, and represent both a bell and a teat. Bells were much used in
old rituals. Aaron wore on his priestly garment a fringe of "bells and
pomegranates" (Exod. xxviii. 3-1). The latter (Rimmon) symbolises the full
womb, the former by their shape remind us of the mamma, which is supple-
mental to the litems. Diana of the Ephesians, and the Indian Bhavani,
Iiave their statues covered with paps, indicating that teeming nature has
noui-ishment for abundance of offspring. The matiu-ed fruit of the cihorium
is somewhat lilie the male organ, and we are told by Herodotus (b. 2, c. 37),
that the Egyptian priests would not even look upon the lecjiime, since it was
considered impure.
The bells in the woodcut have an especial interest when we consider one of their-
uses in Oriental countries. No greater reproach can be cast upon a woman,
than that she has carried into married life the evidence of precedent impurity.
Those who are familiar with the Mosaic law will remember the stress laid upon
" the tokens of virginity," and the importance which the mother attached to
being able to produce them for her daughter (Deut. xxii. 13-21).
There is a belief, that what physiologists call " the hymen " may be destroyed by
such an accident as too long a stride in walldug, running, or stepping over a
stile, or by a single jump. To prevent the possibility of such an occurrence,
and the casualty which it involves, all maidens have their- dress furnished with
a light cord or chain about the level of the knees. This enables them to take
short paces, but not to " straddle " over anything. To make the fetter as
ornamental as possible, the ligature is furnished with bells. This custom is
referred to in the sentence, " I\Ioreover, because the daughters of Zion are
haughty .... walldng and mincing (or tripping nicely) as they go, and
maldng a tinkling with their feet" (Isa. iii. 16-18). The custom also prevailed
in ancient Arabia, as is evident from Mohammed's injunction in the Koran,
54
"Let them (i.e. tlie women) not make a noise with their feet, that the
ornaments they hide may therehy not he discovered." (Sale's Koran, eh. xxiv.;
see the note.)
When marriage is consummated there is no occasion for the use of the jingling
chain. " To bear away the hell," therefore, is eciuivalent to "taking a virgin
to wife." In Pompeii and Hercnlaueum, where paintings still tell us of
the inner life of Italian and Grecian cities, a vast uumher of bronzes and
pictures have been found, in which the phallus is adorned with ony or more
bells. The intention is clearly to show that, like Solomon, it Iiad many
wives, all of whom brought with them the tokens of vu-ginity.
To surround, therefore, " the nursing mother " with hells, is to indicate that she is
still a vii'gin, and we recognise in the picture the same dogma which is still
current in many parts of Christendom, viz., that the celestial mother is, and
always has been, virgo ititacta. Whatever may be the value of the doctrine
amongst modern theologians, it is clear that it was held in equal reverence by
the Egyptians, the Assyrians, and the Hindoos.
Upon the head of Isis are placed horns, as of a cow, with a globe, apparently
the sun, between them ; but possibly the sphere denotes the planet Yenus, that
goddess being sometimes symbolised by a globe jjlaced between the sun and
moon. We know that the same divinity is also depicted as a cow, giving suck
to her calf. The idea veiled under the symbol is given by ^Elian {d.e Natur.
Animal., X. 27, thus, Kio/j,») MyvmLa Xoucrai. to 6i/o;xa, TeA-EL Se €s to;' 'Ep/xouTroAiTTji/
voii.6v, Ka.1 fi-txpa fj-kv &OKel xapt'e<rcra jxi^v — iv TavT-q cripovcyiv 'AippoSC-n)v OvpavCav avTijv
KaXoOi'Tes. Ti^uieri. 6e kol 6-q\eLav ^ovv, Koi tt}U alrCav eKeimiv \eyov(TL, TreTricrreu-
Kttcrtv avrds Trpoo^Keti' TTJSe rfj SaCixovi. UrOLav yap eU a(f>poSCa-ia la-xvpav exa ^oO;
BrjXvs, KOI opya tov appei/o; fiaA.Aov aKOvaaaa 7001/ toO iivKruxaro^ eU Tr)v fxi^iv
6epfi.6ra.Ta. e^-qveixiuTai Ka.\ eK7re'<|)A.eKTat' Koi ol ravra. ye crvvSeli' Sei.vol Ka\ aiTO TpkaKovra'
<rraSiu>v OKOveti' Taupou ^ovu, epiaTiKOv crvvO-qjxa. Kal arjipoSCa-iov ;auKiO|U.eVou, <j)aa-C ; koI
avTYiv 6e TTji' 'Icriv AlyviTTiOi. ^ovKspiDV kccI TrAacrTovcri. Kal ypa(fiov(TL ; which may
thus he rendered into English : — There is a place in Egypt called Chusea ;
it belongs to the Hermopolitan uomos, and thoiigh small is very attractive.
The Aphrodite is worshipped in it under the name of Urauia. The people also
worship a cow, and state, as a reason for their faith, that cows belong to this
divinity. For the cow has an intense burning for copulation, and longs more
for it than the male, so much so that when she hears the bellowing of the
bull she becomes exceedingly excited and inflamed. Indeed, those who are
acquainted with the subject aver that when the hull indicates the sign of life
by his bellowing, the cow hears it at the distance of thirty stadia. The Isis
herself, however, the Egyptians deijict witli horns like a cow. For farther
remarks upon this subject, vide infra, s. v. Athor, Caleb.
The figure before us forms a sort of introduction to the import of many of the
mysteries which we have to unfold. It is copied from a cox^per vase, covered
with symbols, found near Cairo. The original is to be seen in a book
entitled Ex]}lication de divers momunens singuUers qui out rapjwrt a la
religion des ]}lus anciens ijeuyles, par le R. P. Dom Martin, a Paris, 17o9.
Guthiher has probably the same origin as the word GatJi,
viz., " a wine-press," " the pkice where grapes are
trodden;" it has also a hidden meaning, referring
55
to the female door of increase. The addition of "'?y=
ahar, " to pass over," which also signifies " to impreg-
nate," or " to cover," leads to the belief that the name
is equivalent to "Ceres," "the female Creator." Ahr,
in the Babylonian, meant "strengthening;" Heb. "i?^?
ahar, "strong," "to mount upwards;" the word may
then mean " The mother who gives strength," or,
" quc"e facit arrigere concha."
Hithishaga means probably " the being whose paternity,
or generation, is not known;" from ^^^ Haba, "to
lie hid," and ^)^ Shagah, " to be great," or ^^"^' Shagal,
"to copulate." In the Cuneiform, Shaga is "holy."^"
The god was equivalent to Chronos, or Tiine,^^ and it may
be that the real meaning was " The Great Unknown."
Mir Mir is, I conclude, one of the prototypes of Myrrha,
Miriam, or Mary, and means " The Celestial Virgin."^'
10 The connection between tlie three words iu the text opens to our view a
strange chapter of human life. To ns it is inconceivable that the indulgence of
' i^assion ' could be associated with religion, but so it was. The words expressive
of " Sanctuary," " consecrated," and " Sodomite," are in the Hebrew essentially the
same. It is amongst the Hindoos of to-day, as it was iu the Greece and Italy of
classic times ; and we find that " holy women " is a title given to those who devote
their bodies to be used for hire, which goes to the service of the temple. The word
ShcKjal, current in the early Jewish times, seems to have been thought by more
modern Hebrews to be unfitted for the sacred pages of the Bible, and the law
obtained that it should be changed for an euphemism. We find, for example, the
following words from the pen of a learned writer : " Exegetical Keris, or marginal
readings, which substitute euphemisms for cacophonous tenns used iu the text, in
accordance with the injunction of the ancient sages, that ' aU verses iu which
indecent expressions occur are to be replaced by decent words,' e.g., n3"?:i"vD' by
™i3C' [of which the Keri exhibits four instances, viz.. Dent, xxviii. 30, Isa. xiii. 16,
Jerem. iii. 2, Zech. xiv. 2]." (Giusburg, ui Kitto's Cydopccdia of Biblical Litcra-
hire, s. V. Keri and Kethiv, &c.) Further obsei-vations will be found under the
words Bit Shaggatiia and Kedesh in the Vocabulary.
The reader who wishes to obtain a definite idea how religion and immorality
may be conjoined, will find much curious information iu the Ilistoyij of the Sect of
the Maharajuhs iu Western India, p. 300 ; Trubuer and Co., Loudon, 1SG5.
u We still speak of Time as if it were a person ; c. g., Time flies. Time con-
sumes aU things. A Time wiU come. Time tries all things. Time makes all
but true love old. &c.
13 See MiUY, iu the Vocabulary
56
We, who have no less than three creeds in our ritual
have yet an indefinite notion of the faith held by ourselves.
We talk of a Father, and a Son, and speak of them as being
co-eternal — a necessary contradiction in terms. We speak
of the Sou as begotten by his Father before all worlds, and
say that it is necessary to salvation that the dogma shall be
held as true, yet think it blasphemy to assign a wife to the
Creator. We talk of angels as messengers, yet beheve that
the Almighty is everywhere present, and cannot require any
one to carry his wishes to a distant part. We contrive to
mix up the idea of Omnipresence with two localities —
Heaven and Hell. We speak of the "All powerful" and wise
God, and invoke His aid against an '"' adversary " as omni-
present, and almost as powerful, as He is — more powerful
indeed, if we arc to judge from the number of the subjects
assigned to him by theologians. We talk of God as one,
and yet subdivide him into three beings, to which we add
Satan as a fourth. In prayer we lift up our eyes unto
heaven, as if the Creator resided above us, rather than
in and around us, and yet pity the heathen who see His
residence in the sun. We are told that the Creator burns
" throughout eternity " those who do not believe the indivi-
duals calling themselves His ministers or vicegerents on
earth, and yet reprobate those who immolated their children
to Moloch, the Great King, that he might receive them
purified by fire. We believe that the Almighty maketh
His sun daily to rise on the evil and on the good, yet act
as if we thought He took pleasure in seeing His creatures
abuse, torment, and even kill each other, if they differ in
matters of faith. We talk of a Holy Ghost, proceeding
from the Father and the Son, and yet co-eternal with both —
another contradiction in terms, which no sophistry can
harmonise, however much it may muddle it ; and we
speak so constantly of the Spirit as to lead outsiders to
67
think that the Father and the Son must be material. We
are taught to beHeve that the Almighty talked familiarly
with various men, from Adam to Malachi, during some four
thousand years, and yet never told them of a future life ;
and not only so, but gave them to understand that all
rewards and punishments are meted out to each individual
during his life on earth.
Again, amongst those who call themselves Christians,
we have " the Virgin " held in as much reverence to-day
as she was in Chaldea four thousand years ago ; and
controversy is still rampant about the homage due respec-
tively to the Father, the Son, and " the Mother of God."
But no matter which is the side taken by theologians, all
pertinaciously hold to, and fight fiercely for, their individual
influence over their respective flocks. Heresy is still treated
by some Christians as it was by the heathen in the days
of Socrates ; and Priests and Popes anathematise sovereigns,
as did the Priests of Meroe the Egyptian kings, and with
greater impunity."
13 " The influence of tlie Egyi'tian priests at Meroe, tlirougli tlie belief that
they spoke the commands of the Deity, is fully shown by Straho ancT Diodorus, who
say it was their custom to send to the Iring when it pleased them, and order him to
put an end to himself, in obedience to the will of the oracle imparted to them ; and
to snch a degree had they contrived to enslave the understanding of those in-inces,
by superstitious fears, that they were obeyed without opposition. At length a l;ing,
called Ergameues, a contemporary of Ptolemy Philadelphus, dared to disobey
theii- orders, and, having entered the golden chapel with his soldiers, caused them
(the priests I presume) to be put to death in his stead, and abolished the custom.
Ergamenes had studied the philosophy of Greece, and had the sense to distinguish
between priestly rule and religion, Icnowing that blind obedience to the priests
did not signify obedience to the divine wiU. But these vested rights on man's
credulity seem to have been afterwards revived among the Ethiopians ; and the
expedition sent by Mohamet Ali up the White Nile learnt that the same custom, of
ordering the king to die, now exists amongst some of their barbarous descendants."
Note by Sir Gardner Wilkinson in Eawlinson's Herodotus, vol. ii. p. 36.— While
wi-iting'this note, I am reminded of the days of the English Henry II. and John,
of the submission they made to priestly power, and contrast it with the effect of
the excommunication, or interdict, hurled by the present Pope against the King
of Italy, and with the imprisonment of a recent Pope by Napoleon. There are few
of US who do not applaud resistance to theological influences iu those of a different
68
But although we cannot construct a system of the
ChalcTee faith, we find sufficient to lead us to the belief
that it acknowledged the power of a supreme Being, as
maker, preserver, director, and destroyer of every thing.
To that Being many names were given, whose full signifi-
cance is unknown. Like the Hindoos, and the Shemitic
nations generally, the Chaldees had the idea of a trinity.
They personified the great works of that Being, and spoke
of them as active agents. They had a " god of the air," "
just as we have amongst us a ' clerk of the weather office,'
whom we only name to laugh at. With them the Priest
was consulted, and a God propitiated, for freedom from
stoi'm and hail ; whilst we consult the barometer, and can
foretel the coming gale without going to the oracle. Baker
tells us that " rain-makers " are common in Northern Africa,
and held in high esteem.
Like ourselves, the Phens described the Almighty as
resembling man. We talk of his right hand and his left,
his face and his back parts ; they thought of him as
requiring a wife. Each division of the trinity had his own
spouse, who played no active part in the heaven or world,
and seems only to have been introduced to be invoked by
women.
There was a second trinity as well as a first, consisting
of the sun, moon, and the heavens generally, which was
subo]'dinate to the first.
My present idea is, that the main characteristics of the
faith to ourselves ; but there are not many who will shake off the fear they have
of their own teachers, and the powers assumed by them.
W " There are angels who preside over all the phenomena of nature ; an angel
presides over the sun (Rev. six. 17) ; angels guard the storm and lightning (Ps. civ.
4 ; Heh. i. 7) ; four angels have charge over the four winds (Rev. vii. 1, 2) ; an
angel presides over the waters (Rom. xvi. 5) ; au angel also presides over the altar
in the Temple {ibid. xiv. 18)." Coheleth, commonly called the Booh of Ecclesiastes,
by Christian D. GLnsburg, p. 342. London, Longmans, pp. 628.
59
Phens' faith and worship resembled those of the medieval
Komau CathoHcs.
The Chaldees believed in a celestial virgin, who had
purity of body, lovehness of person, and tenderness of
affection ; and who was one to whom the erring sinner
could appeal with more chance of success than to a stern
father. She was pourtrayed as a mother with a child in
her arms, and every attribute ascribed to her showed that
she was supposed to be as fond as any earthly female ever
was. Her full womb was thought to be teeming with
blessings, and everything which could remind a votary of
a lovely woman was adopted into her worship.
The worship of the woman by man naturally led to
developments which our comparatively sensitive natures
shun, as being opposed to all rehgious feehng. But
amongst a people vdiose language was without the gloss
of modern politeness, — whose priests both spoke and
wrote without the least disguise, — and whose God, through
his prophets and lawgivers, promised abundance of offspring
and increase in flocks and herds, as one of the greatest
l)lessings He had to bestow, — we can readily believe that
what we call "obscenities" might be regarded as sacred
homage or divine emblems." '''
In India, at the present time, both the thoughts and the
conversation of the lords of the soil turn, unpleasantly to
us, upon the power possessed by each to propagate his
race, and European doctors are more frequently consulted
for the increase or restoration of this power than for any
other cause.
Not only does the man think thus, but the female has
her thoughts directed to the same channel, and there has
been a special hell invented by Hindoo priests for childless
15 Vide infra, s. v. Asheu.
60
females. ^"^ It is curious to see at India's antipodes a similar
idea started amongst the offshoots of a Christian community;
but so it is, and Mormon women join themselves in numbers
to one man, from the belief that without union with him
they cannot attain to celestial glory.
The Bible student will remember the plaintive entreaty of
Eachel — " Give me children, or else I die ; "" the earnest
prayer of Hannah, and the spiteful persecution of Peninnah;'^
and he will recall the longing for offspring which induced
Abraham to connect himself with a black (Egyptian) slave
girl, and how complaisant his wife was in delegating for a
time her rights. ^°
In Deuteronomy xxviii. 4, we find "the fruit of the body"
promised as one of the special blessings for obedience to
the law ; and in Psalm cxxvii. 3, we are distinctly told that
" children are an heritage of the Lord, and the fruit of the
womb is his reward."
If abundance of offspring was promised as a blessing, it
is clear to the physiologist that the pledge implies abun-
dance of vigour in the man as well as in the woman. With
a husband incompetent, no wife could be fruitful. The
condition, therefore, of the necessary organs was intimately
associated with the divine blessing or curse, and the impotent
man then would as naturally go to the priest to be cured of
his infirmity, as we of to-day go to the physician. We
have evidence that masses have been said, saints invoked,
and offerings presented, for curing the debility we refer to,
w " The practice of marrying a second wife, in the event of the first having no
issue within ten years, also ohtaiueJ in Italy, till ahout the fifteenth century ;
the Pope giving a special dispensation for it." Giusburg, in Kitto's Cydopccdia,
s. V. Marriage. This certainly did not condemn barren women to an eternal
hell, but it was equivalent to inflicting misery upon them so long as they subse-
quently might live.
17 Gen. XXX. 1. 18 \ Sam. i. 10, et seg.
" Gen. xiv. 2-5.
61
in a church in Christianised Italy during the last hundred
years, and in France so late as the sixteenth century, —
evident relics of more ancient times/"
Whenever a votary applied to the oracle for help, to
enable him to perform his duties as a prospective father, or
to remove that frigidity which he had been taught to beHeve
was a proof of Divine displeasure, or an evidence of his being
bewitched by a mahgnant daemon, it is natural to believe
that the priest would act partly as a man of sense, though
chiefly as the minister of a God. He would go through, or
enjoin attendance on, certain rehgious ceremonies — would
sell a charmed image, or use some holy oil, invented and
blessed by a god or saint, as was done at Isernia — or he
would do something else.
We can readily see, then, how some sacred rites might be
intentionally provocative of sexual ideas; how desirable it
might have been for hierarchs to compose love philtres,
or satyrion, and to understand the influence over the
sexual powers possessed by various kinds of aliment ; and
we can also understand how certain Gods would be invented
whose images should act as amulets, and who, like special
Roman saints, would take charge of this particular part of
the body.
Even after " the Reformation," France introduced Saint
Foutin into the Christian calendar, to whom oflerings
were made by the faithful who found themselves unable
to procure the blessing of fertility ; — they are thus
described : —
" Temoin Saint Foutin de Varailles, en Provence, auquel
sent dediees les parties honteuses de 1' un et de 1' autre sexe,
formees en cire ; ie plancher de la chapelle en est fort garni,
et quand le vent les fait eutrebattre, cela debauche un pen
ao See 11. 1'. Knigbt's work on the Worship nf Priapu-i.
62
les devotions a 1' hoiineur de ce saint." {La Confession
de Sancy, vol. v. Journal de Henri III., by Pierre de 1'
Etoile, ed. Dnchat, pp. 383, 391.)
" Other saints were worshipped for similar purposes, as
St. Guerlichon, or Greluchon, at Orange, Porigny, Gives,
Vendre, Aiixerre, Puy en Velay, in the convent in Girouet,
and at Bonrg Dieu ; St. Gilles in Brittany, St. Reni in
Anjoii, St. Regnaud in Burgundy, St. Arnaud and St.
Guignole near Brest and in Berri. The worship of many
of these was in full practice in the last century." {Two
Essays on the Worship of Priapus, London, 1865 ;
privately printed.)
If, with all the vaunted enlightenment of Christian
Europe, there are several canonised mortals whose special
care, in the heaven to which they have been promoted by
men on earth, is to help unfortunates who require their
aid " pour les parties honteuses," we cannot wonder that
sexual saints should be found amongst the heathen races
of Asia; nor can we refuse credence to the idea, that the
act of propagation was sometimes the end of certain forms
of worship, which were specially adapted to bring about
that act.
As a Physician, I know how much intense misery is
felt by those men who, from any cause, are unable to do
their part in multiplying their race. I can readily under-
stand that a cure of impuissancc would raise to the highest
pitch, in the mind of a sohciting devotee, his estimate of
the saint who wrought it; and I do not see why masses
should not be said to St. Greluchon, for raising the courage
of the living, as much as to St. Denis (or Dionysus), for
the consolation of the dead. At any rate, the Chaldees
used some of their Gods, or divinities, for comparatively a
holy worship, and for a cult as peculiar as that paid to the
modern Priapus, St. Foutin.
63
In the next few chapters, I propose to give an account of
some ancient Deities. My information is mainly derived
from Eawlinson's Herodotus, and the various papers written
by Cmieiform scholars in the Journal of the Iloyal Asiatic
Society ; but which I neither servilely copy nor implicitly
believe.
CHAPTER VI.
The gods On fiucl Am. On is not known in the Cuneiform as a God — the word
enters largely into composition in ancient Syrian names. On, an Egj'ptian
Qq{[ — its prohahle significance — its etymology in Hebrew identical with the
Sun. List of names into which On enters, and their probable significance.
Am, a feminine deity — the name is still reverenced in India — it is equally
honoured in Thibet and Tartary. There are no traces of the name in the
Cuneiform. List of names into which Am, Aum, or Cm enters in composition.
I DO not find in the Cuneiform translations, or in the Essaj^s
by General Rawlinson, or others, any distinct mention made
of the name of On or Am. The nearest approach to the
former is Anu : there is no name like the latter. On is
only once mentioned as a God in the Bible. The first
time we meet with the word 0)i as the compound of a name
is in Ephron, a Hittite of Canaan, and friend of Abraham ;
and in the same chapter we find the word Hebron intro-
duced. We find it again in the family of Judah as Onan,
and we find it also in Zibeou, the wife of Esau, Simeon.,
the son of Jacob, and I think also in Zido)/.
We do not meet with it as the name of a deity until we
come to Joseph's history, when we find that he marries the
daughter of the Priest of On. It is not clear whether
Potiphera is the high Priest in a town called On, or the
minister to a god of that name ; but, as cities were often
called after the deity therein worshipped, we may take
either interpretation. It will be most convenient to adopt
the latter.
History tells us that the name by which the town was
known to the Greeks was 'llXto7r6\ig, or city of the sun ; in
Mahometan times, " Am Shems," or "the sun's eye;" and
65
duriug the time of Jeremiali it was " Betli Sliemesh,'^ or
"the sun's temple." "In the Coptic books," I qnote from
the Lexicon, "the place is constantly called On, and it can
hardly be doubted that, in the ancient language, this
signified light, especially the sun." An obelisk is said to
be still standing^ to mark its sight; and obelisks, spires,
minarets, tall towers, upright stones (Menhirs), or rocks,
and, generally speaking, all erections conspicuous for height
and slimness, were representatives of the Sun, or the Creator,
under his male emblem.
When we turn to the Hebrew we find that the word |'ii<
or fx. Ami or On, signifies strength, ijoicer, and specially
virile idower."^ We therefore conclude that the word, when
used in its religious sense, implies the idea of the Sun,
or the Creator, as being masculine, and ready to operate.
There is another form of the word occasionally found,
1 Kitto's Cyclopcvdia, s. v. On.
2 Phallic eml)lems abouudecl at Heliopolis, iu Syria. Not having any know-
ledge of their existence at Heliopolis, in Egypt, I took means to ascertain it from
a brother Physician, -who had recently visited the country. The following is his
reply to my query :— " I am very sorry that I am not enough of an antiquarian to
give you much information on the subject you are interested in. I was in Egypt
last winter (1S65-G), and there certainly are numerous figures of Gods and Kings
on the walls of the temples at Thebes, depicted with the penis erect. The great
temple at Karnak is, in particular, full of such figures, and the temple of Danclesa
likewise, though that is of a miich later date, and built merely iu imitation of the
old Egyptian art. I remember one scene, of a king (Ramses II.) returning in
triumph with captives, many of whom are undergoing the operation of castration,
and in the corner of the scene are numerous heaps of the complete genitals which
have been cut off, many hundreds in all, I should think. This is on the walls of
Medinet Haboo, at Thebes," &c. This letter is very interesting, for it showa
(1) how largely the idea of virUity was interwoven with reUgion ; (2) how completely
English Egyptologists have suppressed a portion of the facts in the histories which
they have given to the world; (3) because it tells us of the antiquity of the practice
which stiU obtains among the negroes of Northern Africa, of mutilating entirely
every male captive and slain enemy. (Compare 2 Iviugs xx. 18, and Isa. xxxix. 7 ;
also 1 Sam xviii. 25-27.) In AssjTia and Palestme, conquerors counted the
heads of the slain, which were piled in heaps before them. The learned Egyptians
were content with a less bulky emblem. A man when beheaded is u.seless ; if
only emasculated he is of value as a slave. The Asiatic gratified a temporary
revenge ; the African had an enduring triumph.
£
66
viz,, Aven. This onty differs from the former in the way in
which the Hebrew letters are pointed, and in the pronun-
ciation we give to Vav. Of course, reading the v as u the
word becomes Aim or Auen, and we recognise in Beth-aven
the same idea as in Beth Shemesh, viz., the House of the
Male Sun.
The word On, or Aim, is frequently found as a compound
in ancient names. Jupiter Ammo??, was the Greek name for
a deity adorned with ram's horns (NeapoHtans still carry
horns in their pockets for hick). Amnion was an offshoot
from the stock of Terah, Abraham's father. Amim Ra
was the appellative of a powerful Egyptian king, Amou
was the son of the Jewish Manasseh, and Zoan is another
name for No-Amow or Ammon.
Amnion, r""^^, means, amongst other things, "a ram :"
the ram was held sacred in Egypt, and especially at
Mendes. The figure of Amon, given in Kitto,° has a ram's
head and horns, holding in one hand the crozier, or what
has inappropriately been called the shepherd's or Apostolic
crook ; and in the other hand the crux ansata, the emblem
of the male and female organs. Sheep were held sacred
by his followers^ and a ram was annually sacrificed in his
honour, the hide being used as a covering to his image.
His colour was blue, or slatelike. There can be little
doubt that he represented "The Sun in Aries."
In the Scriptures we find the word On repeatedly in
combination with other words, which help us to understand
the nature of the God : —
On, pN, is a prince of Reuben : Onaii is the son of Judali.
Aaron, PH^', is the brother of Moses. His name seems to
be a compound of the Aar, Aer, or Air of the Chaldee,
the avpa, avpat, or oupavog, of the Greeks ; and the whole
word signifies "The Heavenly On," "The God of the
Air."
3 Kitto's C'l/rh.pa'Jid of Bthlical Literature, k. r. Amon.
67
Ahdon, P^^y, means the slave of Ou.
Aijalon, lv>^', Aialon, signifies tlie Great Ram, On ; ^l^, All,
meaning a ram.'
AsJicalon is a town amongst the Philistines, and its name
is very significant. It is sijelled in Hehrew I'lS^^^,
Ashkelon. No meaning is assigned to it hy Gesenius,
and Fiirst only calls it the holm-oah ; but "=1^^', eshech,
is a testicle, and ^^t^'^',^ escJiol, is a cluster, not of
grapes necessaril}^ but metonymically, meaning the
whole phallic emblem, which resembles two full plums
hanging from a long stem. Accordingly, Ashcalon would
mean "the cluster of the Sun," or " the cluster of On."
I shall have frequent occasion to show the curious
designs used to indicate to those initiated in the ancient
mysteries the idea of the male organ — the fleur-de-lys
and the trefoil are amongst them. To the vulgar, a
cluster, a lily, and a clover leaf have no significance —
to the scholar, they are pregnant with meaning.
Chilion, |i'^?, I take to be, n^^?, Chilah and On; i.e., "The
loins of On," or " The inmost mind of On." The idea
of calling an infant boy "wasting away," the meaning
given by Gesenius to the word, is preposterous.
Ezhon, P^V^, seems to come from ^V^*, atzah, and on, or
"The On toiling, or ready for work;" or it may be
from i'^y?, ctzha, a finger, used in (lipping.'^
* See Accno, in the Vocabulary
6 " Quacliiliterals are sometimes formed for triliterals, [a) by inserting "j after
the first radical, as n?; ^'1} {^) l>y adding "? at the end, a form which, perhaps, in
Phenicio-Sheniitic, as well^as in Greek, Latin, and German, has heeu used in o.
diminntive sense ; by adding b to the end of TjiCN we get "jac^, with only a sHght
difference iu the vowel-points."— Gesenius, Thesaurus, s. v. "j.
c The idea of toiling and dipping is often used iu couuection with paternity.
See Isa. li. 1, 2 — "Look to the rock whence ye are hewn, aud to the hole of
the pit whence ye are digged. Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah
that bare you." The idea is very conspicuous iu the Hebrew words 131 and nii?3,
sachar, and nJcehah. The former, amongst other meaniugs, signifies the male
or"an, from the idea of its digging, penetrating, infixing. We have continued the
68
Elzaphau, 1?>7^'> is " El, the Shining On."
Enon, Alvaov, P^^^, is the "Eye of On," similar to Ain-
shems.
Eglon, V^^V., is the " revolving On," from ^\V, agal, to roll.
Ekron, l^'^P^, has a meaning similar to that of Ezbon, "l?^,
acar, being " to dig, to till the ground, and to prepare
it for seed;" and the word would signify the "Digging
On," or, euphemisticallj-, " On, the Husbandman."
I confess to have been staggered when I found cities
called by names which, to our ideas, are grossly obscene ;
but reflection, and my medical experience, led me to
see that the emblem of On was one which was in
itself characteristic of strength of body, courage, vigour,
and boldness — every thing, in fine, of which the natural
man would be proud ; and familiarity with words from
infancy takes away any sense of shame couched in
them . ^
I would note, too, in passing, that the Philistine
towns generally had names strongly connected with
sexual ideas. Ashdod, *i'n^\N'^ jg ^ compound of ^^,
aish, ash, or esh, which means "fire, heat;" and ^■T^,
clod, denoting " love — to love, to boil up, to be agitated,"
&c. ; the whole meaning "the heat of love," or "the
fire which impels to union."
Eshton, V^^'^, signifies " the uxorious On."
Gath, ^^, means a trough in which grapes were trodden —
the poultry fancier still uses the word tread in a certain
sense- -and I find that in PhcBnicio-Shemitic the ivine-
press was an euphemism for the j^udenda muUehria.
appellation to the present day, for the uotiou of iivicldug is embodied iu a substan-
tive. The latter signifies a hole, a pit, a place which has been dug out ; — an idea
expressed by our -words, nick, nock, notch. In Genesis i. 27, we have in our
version, " 3Iah and /cJuaZe created he them ; " in the original the words used are
sachar and nlcehali — the part put for the whole.
7 Vide infra, p. 79, note 2.
69
We have the word combined with Rimmou in Dan's
towns, and Hepher in Zebulon's, the former being
significant of the full womb, the latter, of the sacred
heifer.'
Gaza, '"'jy, simply means " very strong," a double entendre.
Gerslton, V'^'l^., a son of Levi, signifies " The driving or
thrusting On ;" ^11, garash, meaning to push, to spoil or
plunder, to put forth fruit, or that which is propelled
or put forth, according to the vowel-points.
Gideon, '0^'}^., I think, is from .^"7^, gadl, = good fortune, i. e.,
" The Fortunate or happy On."
Giheon, Pi'^^, signifies " On erected, lifted up," elevated, y?!,
gaba, meaning something high, raised up, a hill, &c.
Helbon, P^-?'!', a Syrian city, suggests ^?^, halah, and on, or
" The fat, or smooth On."
Hebron, P"'^'!!', is a very significant word. It is derived
from "1?!^, Habar or Chabar, which is given as, "to
join together, to bind, to fascinate (a Avord whose origin
was fascinum), to connect together," Sec. Accordingly
it signifies the On which causes connexion. Hebron
had another title, i. e., Klrjath Arba, the last half of
which, viz. ^X^V., erva, signifies mcmbrum virile. This
Arba was one of the sons of Anak, " The Great I, I by
myself." Another, or the same Arba, was reverenced in
ChaldEea, where it was said to mean " The four great
Gods," the very ancient ones, more revered than all the
others. The name Arbela is classic : it designates the
sun as being the four great ones ; and these, I surmise,
were Mahadeva and Sacti, Eschol and Nun — the triple
male in union with the single female organ, thus
bringing about creation.
In the Cuneiform, abr signifies " strengthening," and
■»*3N^ ahir, is " strong, the bull." The word Hebron may
8 See Gath Rimjion and Gath Hepher, in the Vocabulaiy.
70
accordingly denote The Strong On. See Arha, Heb-
ron, &c.
Hezron, lil^n = enclosed or guarded by On.
Horon, |hn, as in Beth Horon, is The Moon On, Hiir
being the moon, a male Ood at first, and still so in
German.
Hermon, 'i'^^'T}, = hiid Avaste by On, a barren mountain.
Heshhon, \^^^!^, is the thinking On.
Helen, |i^D, the God Sun, or El is On.
Jaclon, P'It, the loving On.
Kislion, P*^^?, the firm or hard On.
Mahlon, 1'"''?™, the filling On,
Maon, ni^P, the pudenda of On, V^, mea, = pudenda.
Madon, P?, the lengthened On, ™, mada = to extend.
Migron, l'^"'^'?, the On who throws down, "^^9, magar, = to
throw down.
Naaman, V^^.?-, the pleasant On.
Naashon, li^H?, the shining On.
Paran, ]'^^^, the boring or digging On, or the proud, erect,
or beautiful On, '^^^, iJaar, = to dig or bore.
Pithon, fin'?, the inflated On.
Padon, l'^"'?, the preserving On.
Pimon, p-IB, the setting On.
Rimmon, t'""^"!, the erect On ; also a pomegranate.
Shimon, P^T, the glory of On.
Shimson, or Samson, Y'^^^^^, the shining On.
Shimron, I'l^^?^, the watchful On.
Shicron, l''"'?^, the rewarding On.
Simeon, f'^^^ the hearing On.
Shomeron, V^^^, the marginal reading of " Samaria "
(1 Kings x\i. 24), the watchful On.
Shushan, ]^^^, the white On, the moon.
Sion, li-'V, the elevated On, ^'J, tzla, elevated.
71
Salvion, \''^^y^, the strong On, from ^i?^.
Shihon, \''^^''^, the elevated or erected On.
SUwn, 11^''!?, the furious, the expanded On, n^?, saah, = to
expand, i^i?p, saa//, = to rush on.
Sidon, !''"''>', the inflated On, ^I, zaid = inflated, proud, erect.
Typhon, Tv^^v. the inflated On, ^?9, taphah, = to spread
out.
Ziplnon, P^?V, the watching On, ^?^', zapha, = to watch over.
Zephron, P"i?!, the shining On, ">?!, zapUar, == to shine.
All these epithets suffice to show that there was through-
out Palestine a great reverence for the Sun God under the
phallic emhlem.
In searching through the Lexicons for the etymology of
the preceding names, I have been struck with the frequency
with which the only word supplying a sensible or proper
meaning, harmonising alike with myth and common sense,
is designated either as "old" or "unused." I infer from
this that the full significance of the names which I have
interpreted was not known to the more modern Jews.
From the time of David there was, in general, an absence
of the sexual or astrological element in proper names ; still,
a glance at Ezekiel's writings will show that there is not
in that prophet's language any thing like the euphemism
enjoined by the later Rabbins.
As On represented the male idea of the Creator, so Am,
Om, Aum, or Umma represented the feminine idea.
We have evidence of its use in the most remote
antiquity, and of its being held in supreme reverence to this
day by the Hindoos. Aum is the mystic syllable which,
like the Jave of the Hebrews, is never uttered except
on holy festivals, or in hallowed rites. We recognise its
presence in the W^est of Europe and in the East of Asia.
72
" Omraaiii pamiee," or " 0?nmani padmi hoiim," is the
"Ave Maria purissima " of the Tartar; and 0;«ar Pacha
commands a Turkish army to-day. It is in use amongst
the Freemasons all over the world. We find Ammoii and
^?/iun, ^7;mou and Anion in Palestine and Egypt, and
^7?iulius and ^??!elia in ancient Ptome and modern London.
It is combined sometimes with On, as in Am-on and
On-am. Sometimes, but rarely, it stands alone, and the
epithets conjoined with it difier materially from those used
with the former.
The Hebrew form is ON, or am, signifying " a mother,"
and also Diy, "to veil round," "to cover," " to protect."
In the time of Abraham we find an Ela??i in Mesopo-
tamia, which signifies " The Sun Mother." Later on we
find P^.W, ^7?ialek, or "The Mother King." We subse-
quently find ^^"^V., K(\x\\\am, ox "The Mother is Just," or
" The Just Am."
Amam, ^^^, the mother of mothers.
Amana, ^^^% the mother Ana ; though it is probable that
the correct reading of this word is Abana, as in our
version = Father Anu.
Amnon, li^9^', I think, is a compound of Am and nun, the
fish. The difference between -1 = «, and i = o, i.e. |-1J,
nun, j'u, non, being insignificant.
Amariah, I^^"??^, and Omri, ^y^^, appear to mean {a) " The
Maternal Sun is Jah," (5) "The Maternal Sun."
Amorite, '''}'>^% Emmor, Hamor, "''"^lI, may signify " The
Celestial Mother."
Ammiel, ^^'^?^, is "The Maternal Sun."
Ammishaddai, '''!}^''^V, and Zurishaddai, '•!'^'''"1-1^', connect the
ideas of Zur, " The rock," or Phallus, with Am, " The
mother," and SJiaddai, " The nursing mother," i. c, the
mother with the child.
Enam, ^\^V., is " The mother's eye."
73
Mamre, ^Ip'P, is a Hittite, associated with Aner and Eschol,
whose names respectively seem to indicate " The maternal
sun," "a man," and '* a cluster."
^77iillarus, 'A[j.l\kapos, and ^??imenon, 'A/Xjas'vov, were early
kings in ChaldEea.
At first sight it is a matter of surprise that so little
evidence should be found in the Scriptures of the Maternal
Creator. I think it must he accounted for by the fact
that most of the nations with whom the Hebrews came
into contact had adopted the male idea. Baal Peor was
evidently masculine, for he could not open anything
without an appropriate instrument. Moses always speaks
of the God of Israel as a male. The worship of the
Groves, or Asheras, leads to the same conclusion. The
Tyrian Hercules was, I think, phalHc power personified,
and we find Maachah making " a horror " in a grove,
evidently a fasciiium, from the context ; and, though we
would not like to lay much stress upon it, yet we cannot
omit altogether the fact that boys were consecrated and
attached, during certain reigns, to the Hebrew Temple,
where, as Sodomites, they suffered from the lusts of
those who showed their faith in the all-sufiiciency of On,
refusing, in the excess of their zeal, to associate with the
representatives of Am.
Apart from Palestine, we find that O^zadeus was the
name of Bacchus, and /l?/iadeus is still a name in the royal
family of Piedmont. The mythic ^?«azons were prior to
Bacchus and Hercules, and, though said to be of Scythic
origin, they came to help at the siege of Ilion. In Carthage
we have ^;«ilcar ; in Italy, Amelia was a city older than
Rome.
There is, however, in the Scriptures, an allusion to a
doctrine about which much has been said both in ancient
and modern times ; namely, that, after the lapse ol a
74
certain number of years, a portion of the Deity became
incarnate. These incarnations pass in India by the name
of Avatars. AVhen they occurred, the Celestial Virgin was
said to have conceived an individual who was essentially
a portion of the Almighty-incarnate; but as all human
beings must have a human mother, the myth obtained
that the " virgin of the spheres " herself became incarnate
as a woman, and as such remained "riirio intacta,''
and yet became a mother. She, like her own offspring,
must be without the taint of human flesh, consequently
she must be, like her child, the offspring of a pure virgin :
farther back than this it was inconvenient to carry the
myth. The dogma of the Immaculate Conception is older
than Rome. We see, in the writings of Isaiah, that, as
a portentous sign to Uzziah, the Virgin should conceive a
son, whose name should be Immanuel. With that easy cre-
dence which leads men to beUeve absurdities, provided they
are propounded as matters of faith, it is believed that the
Prophet gave, as a sign to Uzziah of that day, something
which was to happen seven hundred years after his death.
No one reading Isaiah, chapters vii. and viii., by the light
of common sense, can fail to see that every word there
refers to a portent sent for the benefit of Uzziah, who
himself declines to ask for one. This being the case, it
shows — 1st, that Isaiah had, like the Hindoos, a behef
in Avatars ; and 2nd, that he considered a new Avatar
approaching. This idea is carefully worked out in Higgins'
Anacalypsis.^
9 There is strong evideuce to prove that Astrology was very largely cultivated
iu ancient times. How firm lias been its hold, we may judge from its existence
amongst ourselves, in spite of our boasted civilisation and Christianity. "Fortune-
telling " has ever been a power assumed by Priests ; and where they have disclaimed
it, as has been done generally amongst the followers of the Saviour, a special order
of individuals assumed the cast-off garment. To some, an insight into the futiu-e
is more captivating than physical enjoyment of the present, and it is natural that he
who professes to be able to afford the one should also assert his power to give the
75
The Roman church, that repertory of Ancient Heathen
belief, rites, ceremonies, dogmas, and practices, has recently
adopted the idea that the Virgin Mary was born as imma-
culately as her son ; so that now two virgins are striving
for preeminence amongst the faithful — the mother and
the grand-mother of God. Though we shall see in the next
chapter much that is shocldug to our ideas, there will be
nothing so utterly absurd as that the Son, who was co-
eternal with his Father, and begotten before all worlds,
had two virgins for his ancestors, one of whom preceded
the other !
other. To the Pliilosoplier, there is something fascinating in the inquiry, whether
Astronomy was the father or the child of Divination, and whether sages were not
ohliged to " humhug the pnhlic and XDocket the fee," as a means to euahle them to
prosecute pure science. " Vixere fortes ante Agamemnona ; " and we can recognise
in the past the existence of intellects as powerful, and knowledge as extensive in
many subjects, as is to be found to-day. There was certainly as much false science
then as there is now. As it would be difficult for a modern writer to give an
account of all the current forms of "fortune-telling," so it woiild he hard for any
one to describe those of antiquity. On a futui'e occasion, I may perhaps be able to
give some account of ancient oracles ; but in the present volume, they will only
receive occasional notice. Amongst the many hundred names which I have examined,
very few have any apparent connexion with astrology, and a moderate number only
with astronomy. I have thought it better, therefore, to postpone any lengthened
notice of these subjects to a future period.
CHAPTER VII.
The Gods of Babylonia aucl Assyria ariauged iu triads, to wliicli triad a female is
added. Ideas associated with triads. Asshur — his various titles and names —
the same as On, or Mahadeva. Ann — a God, resembles Diana, is food — his
relation to Asshur — his titles. Hea or Hoa — his titles — he is water per-
sonified— his relation to Asshur and Ann. Ideas of water — its influence in
creation. The Phallic element in Egyptian worship. The origin of the triad
in India and Babylonia — Moses, Aaron, Hur, and Miriam — peculiarity in the
history of the latter. The modern Trinity — amongst Protestants and Papists.
The second Assyrian triad, Shamas, Aer, and Hur. The Sun — The moon —
The Heavens — Vul. The names of Moses, Aaron, and Hur almost identical
^vith the second Assyrian triad. No names of Egyptian origin to be found
amongst the Jews iu Moses' time.
There is so much difficulty in finding " who was who,"
and "who was what," in these ancient mythologies, that
we must content ourselves with a meagre description, and
a very halting or inconsecutive statement. I learn from
Rawlinson that there were two triads of divinities, with each
of which was associated a female. The first, or most sacred
trinity, - and I use the word intentionally, to signify, as it
does with us, three persons and one God,^ — consisted of
Asshur, — whose other names were II, Ilos, Ha, B>]X, BoAa^>]v,
and Ra, — Ami, and Hea or Hoa. Beltis was the Goddess
1 It is a curious subject of speculation to inquire how far the triune character
of the male emblem of creation has influenced the introduction of the number three
into theological systems. The Hindoos have a triad of gods, and another of
goddesses. The Babylonians had a double triad of males, and a double triad of
females ; and the Kaljbalists had a triple triad, each containing a masculine and
feminine element, and a third proceeding from the union of the two. They are
thus described . — " When the Holy Aged, the concealed of all concealed, assumed
a form, he produced everything in the form of male and female, as the things
could not continue iu any other form. Hence "Wisdom, which is the beginning of
development, when it proceeded from the Holy Aged, emanated iu male and female,
for Wisdom expanded and Intelligence proceeded from it, and thus obtaine male
77
associated with them. These four together made up Arha,
or Arha-il, the four great Gods, the quadriLateral, the
perfect creator. Let us study their names as best we may.
Asshur is spelled alternately with one s or two, and in
the Samaritan text of Genesis it is written Astun. " He
is the King of all the Gods, and the Father of the
Gods," Sometimes he is called KM. In inscriptions he
is constantly associated with A^ji and Nercjal, and "he
defeats enemies by his arrows." If we turn to the Hebrew,
we find a word ii^eWed. ^^'^, Ashar, which signifies "to be
straight, upright, erect, firm ; " "to prosper," " to guide,"
&c. ; and a name derived from this root is given to a
grandchild of the Chalda3an Rebecca, son of the Syrian
Zilpah.
Again, we find that the word Astun is very similar
to ^^:^, asheth + On, and ^^, is another form for ^^^,
or ishah. Variously pointed, the word signifies "to prop"
or "sustain," "fire," "a sacrifice," "' a woman ; " and Nip,
koa, means "'to cover," as does a camel its mate, and also
" a stallion," and " a prince," — a metaphor of frequent use
amongst the Hebrews and the Arabs ; i. e., princes were
assumed to be powerful in " manliness " as well as " state."
and female; viz., Wisdom the father, aud lutelligeuce tlie mother, from whose
union the other jjairs of the SepUroth successively emanated." " These two
opposite potencies, viz.. Wisdom and lutelligeuce, are joined together hy the first
potency, the Crown, thus yielding the first triad of the Sepldroth."
'' From the junction of the foregoing opposites, emanated again the masculine
or active potency, denominated il/t';r(/, or I,oi>e, also called Greatness —ih.& foiu-th
Sephira, which among the divine names is represented by El. From this, again,
emanated the feminine or passive potency Justice, also called Judicial Poiver—
the fifth SejyJum, which is represented hy the dinne name Eloha, and amongst the
angels hy Seraphim ; and from this, again, the uniting potency Beauty, or Mild-
ness— the sixth Sephira, represented by the divine name Elohim, . . . and
thus the second trinity of the Sephiroth is obtained."
" The medium of union of the second trinity, i. e., Beauty, the sixth Sephira.
beamed forth the masculine or active potency. Firmness — the seventh Sepliira,
corresponding to the divine name Jeliovali-Sahaoth ; aud this, again, pave rise to
the feminine or passive potency, Splendour — the eighth Sephira, to which answers
the divine name Elohini-Sabaoth ; aud fi-om it, again, emanated the Fmindation,
78
Amongst the neighbouring nations of the Jews, the
worship of '^'P'^, Ashcrali was common, and, at times,
it obtained even amongst the Jews themselves. Putting ail
these facts together, I conclude that Asshur was the same
or the Basis — i]ie niutli Scpliira, represented by tlie divine El-Cliai, and
amongst the Angelic hosts by Ishim, which is the nuitiug point between these two
opposites ; thus yiekliug the third trinity of Sephiroth. Prom the ninth Sephira,
the Basis of all, emanated the tenth, called Kingdom, and Schechinah, which is
represented by the divine name Adonai. and amongst the Angelic hosts by
Cherubim. In the arrangement of this trinity of triads, so as to produce what
is called the Kabbalistic Tree, denominated the Tree of Life, the first tiiad is
placed above, the second and the third are ijlaced below, in such a manner that the
three masculine Sepliiroth are on the right, the three feminine are on the left,
while the four uniting Sepliiroth occupy the centre, as shown in the following
diagrams : —
Figure 3.
Abridged from 1'hc Kabbalah, by C. D. Ginsbnrg, LL. D., pp. 180; Longmans,
1860. The above figure recals to the antiquarian that a figiire like the following
79
as the Mabadeva of the Hindoo theology i. e., The
PhaUus.'
(Fig. 4) lias been fonucl in Carthage ; and another, of -wliich the next figure (Fig. 5)
is a/rtC simile, on an ancient sculpturecl stone in Scotland.
Figure 4. Figure 5.
2 Since writing the above, I have met with the following observations from the
pen of Dr. Giusburg, in Kitto's C'lldopcedia, which confirm my views on certain
points in a very decided manner. When writing upon Oaths, he says, " Another
primitive custom whicli obtained in the patriarchial age was, that the one who tool:
the oath 'jrat his hand under the thigh ' of the adjurer (Gen. xsiv. 2, xlvii. 29).
This practice evidently arose from the fact that the (/enital memher — which is meant
by r,he euphemic expression thigh (-[t) — was regarded as the most sacred part
of the body, being the symbol of union in the teudo)'est relation of matrimonial life,
and the seat whence all issue proceeds, and the perpetuity so much coveted by the
ancients. (Compare the phrase -jT 'SSr, Gen. xlvi. 2G, Exod. i. 5, Judg. viii. 30.)
Hence this creative organ became the symbol of the Creator, and the object of
worship among all nations of anticjnity (compare Ezek. xvi. 17 ; St. Jerome, Com-
mentary in Hos. iv., &c.) ; and it is for this reason that God claimed it as the sign
of the covenant between himself and his chosen people in the rite of circumcision.
Nothing therefore could render the oath more solemn in those days than touching
the symbol of creation, the sign of the covenant, and the source of that issue who
may at any future period avenge the breaking of a compact made with theii-
progenitor."
From this we learn that Abraham, himself a Chaldee, had reverence for the
Phallus, as an emblem of the Creator ; and we infer that the same faith existed
in Damascus, to which his steward, who took the oath, belonged. Thus we have
80
Whilst attending hospital practice in London, I heard
a poor Irishman apostrojihise his diseased organ as " You
father of thousands ; " and in the same sense Asshur is the
Father of the Gods. I find that a corresponding part in
the female is currently called " The mother of all Saints."
The idea thus put forward would be simply too coarse
for the common people to be allowed to understand it.
There can, therefore, be no doubt that, in Ohaldsea, as it is
to this day in Hindostan, the doctrine was veiled, and the
emblem religiously kept secret in the penetralia of Temples,
to which few, if any, except the Priest had access.
It will be seen that Asshur is only another name
for On.
Of Ea, II,' El, Ilos, Helos, Bil, Baal, Al, Allah, Elohim,
I cp.nnot get any farther information than that they were
names given to the sun, as the representative of the Creator,
who was spoken of reverentially as my Lord, the Lord, &c.,
the King, &c.*
The number of words, into the composition of which one
or more of these words enter, is enormous. The following
eviileuce that the symbol was recognised by the okl inhabitants of Babylonia, by the
Syrians, and by the father of the Jewish iDeople ; profane history tells us of Phallic
worship in Phoenicia, and that the Syrians learned circumcision from the Egyptians.
Comp. Herodotus, ii. 10-i.
With such strong corroborative evidence as the preceding quotation supplies, I
feel little doubt respecting the truth of my other deductions. If the organ was
reverenced at all, every thing connected with it would receive attention. Its
condition would be considered as a gauge of the amount of favour in which the
individual was held by the Almighty, and everything which seemed to increase its
prosperity would receive honour, esteem, or reverence.
My impression is very strong that the " strange gods '' mentioned by Jacob
(Gen. XXXV. 2) were images of a feminine character, and that the Canaanites
generally were more inclined to adore the female than the male symbol ; but it
would be unprofitable to pursue the subject further in this place.
s I fiud a Sanscrit word, Hil, which means "to express amorous inclination, to
dally." Though the word tallies with my ideas, I dare not trust myself to accept it
as an etymon. An " Asher " cei-taiuly can be said to express amorous iucliuation,
but I distrust the Sanscrit generally to explain the Chaldee.
■• See AccHO, &c., in the Vocabirlary.
81
fire derivations of Ra or Ee. The Greek Rhea, 'Pea ; in
Latin rex, regis, and the feminine ^rgina {ps ywri) ; Italian,
re ; French, rol ,- English, roi/al. We have it as a com-
pound with cl in the word Gabriel, rcale, and I think
in such English names as Ell-evay.^ Having already
identified On with the Sun and its phallic emblem, we
shall have now no difficulty in identifying II, El, Ra,
Bel, &c., with Asher, with the Sun, and with God.
No sensible man can imagine that any one ever mistook
a part of the body for the Being who made all things.
Such an idea would be as absurd as to say that women
adore a plain gold ring. Yet the thoughtful can readily
see how much of good or evil might lurk under the sign.
I speak as a philosophic student of natural history, when
I say that there is no chapter throughout all the book of
creation more replete with the w^onderful than that which
treats of the renovation of life. The formation of a new
being out of old matter is quite sufficient to arrest our
thoughts. Hence we are not at all surprised that it should
be taken as a type or symbol of creation.
The second God in the triad is called Ami, but historians
have found great difficulty in arriving at definite notions
about him. Whatever may have been his nature, his name
was, at any rate, a popular one. Anna was one of the
names of Dido, and Eawlinson quotes the names of
'AvvyjhjTog, ^n;2<?dotus =" given by Anna," and 'Avoj/Spsr,
Anohret, signifying "beloved by Anna," as the name
of a Phoenician nymi^h." ^Jiodaphus, 'Ava)^a<^o§, and Ane-
m-entus, 'Avyjixevto;, are mentioned by Berosus as Chald£ean
kings. Hannah ('""^C), which seems to be the same word,
only with the rough Hebrew aspirate, is the name given
5 Gnl, Gal, or Gil is another name for the Suu, and ue have the word
Gil-ray amongst us.
<> We still have current amongst us the name Anna, and its various forms, as a
Christian appellative, and Brett as a surname.
82
to the mother of Samuel; whilst Anna, a prophetess, the
daughter of Phanuel (or the shining sun), and of the trihe
of Ashei',^ welcomes our Saviour in the temple, and testifies
of His mission. In Assyria there was, in Warka, a great
temple, the oldest in the country, called Bit-anu ; and in
Palestine, Beih.-amj was a place to which our Saviour was
partial.
Annas was the name of the High Priest before whom,
our Saviour Avas arraigned ; and ^ manias was the cognomen
of him who first welcomed Saul as a brother Christian.
Anali was the father of one of Esau's wives ; Haniel was
a chief, and hero of the tribe of Asher. We find the
word, in combination with other sacred names, as in Anah,
Anael, Aoiairih, ^^a-mmelech, .4;irtniah ; and again as in
Bnsanna and Johanna, Isanna and SusifMic;. In the
Carthaginian colony, we meet with Hamio and Rannihal,
which is amongst us Hrninihol and Honcijhall. An'ais was
a son of Apollo, into whose history I need not enter ; and
^neas was a son of Venus.
But though the name was so popular, no direct clue to
its meaning has yet been given. Pv,awlinson says that Anu,
or Anna, signifies The God; but this will hardly satisfy the
etymologist, when he finds the name Anann in Egypt, Anna
Perenna in Eome, and Anna Poorna in Hindostau ; since it
is certain that Anna Avas not The God in all those places.
I do not find in the Hebrew any word which satisfies
me as being explanatory of the name, since ''^>', anl, is a
ship, -l^-', ami, is ivc, and ^-3^*, anna, signifies I pray.
Remembering that there is evidence of Aryan influence on
the early settlers in Chalda3a, we turn to the Sanscrit
dictionary, and find that anna means food ; we then
■? The inentiou of the tiihe of Asher, oi- Aser, here is very remarljable. There
is uo evidence, if I recollect rightly, either that any of the ten tribes taken away
into Assyria ever retnrued to Palestine, or that they became reconciled to the tribe
of Judali.
83
inquire into the ideas connected with Anna Perenna, and
her counterpart in India, and, finding that hoth are
Goddesses of Plenty, and that their festivals are specially
marked by eating and drinking, we conclude that our
etymology is tenable. We are confirmed in this conclusion
by reading the account of the Indian Goddess BhuYani, who
appears to have been the prototype of the Greek Diana
of the Ephesians. Both the Hindoo and the Greek God-
desses are respectively represented with innumerable breasts,
typifying the abundance of food prepared for their children.
At this period of my enquiry, the thought suggests
itself to me that Anna must have some sort of mj-thical
relationship to Asher, " The erect one," and I am reminded
of the classical aphorism, " Sine Cerere et Baccho frige^
Venus," i. c, that food and wine favour love, union, and
creation.
But there is still another idea wraj^ped up in Auu and
Hoa, an idea which has probably been adopted prior to that
oi food, namely, that the cognomen Anu has been given to
the right testis, whilst that of Hoa has been given to the
left. If Asshur represents the Phallus, it is natural that
bis appendages should be deified with him. The idea thus
broached receives confirmation when we examine the opi-
nions which obtained in ancient times respecting the power
of the right side of the body and compare them with the
titles given to Anu. It is believed that the right
testicle produced the masculine seed, and that when males
were begotten, they were developed in the right side of
the womb. Benjamin signifies "son of my right side,"
and the name seems to attest the existence of the notion
referred to in the mind of his father. The name Benoni
'•^i'^ 1|, given to the same indivdual by his mother, may
mean literally, either "Sou of Anu" or "Son of ray
On." The male, or active principle, Avas typified by the idea
84
of "solidity" and " firmuess " ; the female, or passive prin-
ciple, by " water," "fluidity," or "softness." It is, then,
a 2Jriori, probable that Ann was the name assigned to the
testis on the right side. Now, any one who will look at
himself, or at a correctly-designed statue Hke the Apollo
Belvidere, will see that the right " egg " hangs on a lower
level than the left ; for which there is a physiological reason.
If our surmise be true, we shall expect to find that some
of Ann's titles express this fact, while others show his
simple function of producing seed. We therefore think
that the reader will allow the titles "' King of the lower
world," " Ruler of the far off city," to be of the former
order. To these titles we subjoin Eawlinson's remark:^ "A
very extensive class of synonyms, however, extending to
about twenty names, which are found on the tablets, are
quite unintelligible, except on the supposition that they
refer to the infernal regions." As, however, " infernal
regions," such as we now believe in, were not then known,
we consider it to be more probable that the epithets have
reference to the anatomical fact, rather than to the mythic
Hades. Of the second order of titles are "The Original
Chief," " Father of the Gods," " The Old Anu," &c., all of
which indicate the belief that Anu prepared the material of
which Asher made use. The one is comparatively useless
without the other, but of the two Anu might claim pre-
cedence, inasmuch as he Avho makes money must be
antecedent to him who spends it.®
8 Herodotus, vol. i., page -18G,
9 The idea aliove enunciatecT rscciyes nuexpectecl coufirmatiou from a contem-
plation of the Kabbalistic diagrams, given on page 78. In those Tve see that all
the male ]iotenoies are placed upon the right side of the fignre, and the feminine
npnn the left, whilst the whole of tliem are attached to the upright central stem -
the crown of heanty, and the foundation of the kingdom. When there arc so many
corrohorative evidences respecting the nature of the ancient ideas about the
creation, it would be unpardonable to pass them by as idle stories, or as the fitful
fancies of a modern bookworm.
85
We have seen that the second of the triad was in one
resjDect equivalent to Ceres ; let us now examine whether the
third does not in some degree correspond to Bacchus. The
third divinit)^ in the triad, EaAvlinson states, was probahly
named Hea or Hoa, and he considers that this deity cor-
responds to Neptune. He is the presiding deity of the great
deep, "Euler of the Abyss," and "King of Pavers." He
also regulates the Aqueducts, and waters generally.
There is something to be noticed in connection with
water, which has never hitherto been observed in discussions
on the part which it plays in cosmogony. We find in the
Sacred Writings that " darkness was upon the face of the
deep, and the Spirit of God moved upon (or brooded over)
the face of the waters^ The Hindoo legend is substantially
the same. Berosus tells us that the Chaldee belief was, that
" There was a time in which there existed nothing but dark-
ness and an abyss of waters, wherein resided most hideous
beings, which were produced of a twofold principle."" San-
choniathon first speaks of a chaos which embraced the wind,
"and brought forth mot, which some call Ilus (mud), but
others the putrefaction of a watery mixture, and from this
sprung all the seed of the creation and the generation of the
universe." The Hindoos consider that water is sacred ;
and in one of their prayers the fluid is invoked thus : —
" Waters, mothers of worlds, purify us ! " ^"
Again, the Ancient Egyptians, and the Jewish people to
the present day, have the custom of pouring out all the
water contained in any vessel in a bouse where a death has
taken place, under the idea that as the living being comes
by water so does it make its exit through water. Hence to
drink, or to use in any way, a fluid which contains the life
10 Coij's Ancient Fragments, p. 23. ii Ihid., page 1.
12 Colebrooke, On the Beligion of the Hindoos; page 86. New Edition.
Williams and Norgate, London, 1808, 8vo. pp. 325.
86
of a human being, would be a foul offence. We are all
familiar with the use of Avater in our own sacred rites, in
which it typifies a new birth, as is proved by the expression,
"born of water." Amongst all nations water has over been
used as a symbol of regeneration. In Assyrian theology,
Hea or Hoa is associated with Hfe and with water, and
his name equally signifies the serpent." There is, I think,
no reasonable doubt that Avater plays a multifarious part in
mythology. As it falls from heaven into the earth, and is
the main cause of the growth of plants, it is considered
as the seed of the Gods, and as such especially holy.
The most important part of the myth which water is
made to veil is, I think, the physiological fact that every
human being is living, during its intra-uterine life, sus-
pended therein. Almost as soon as the embryo is formed,
the " amnios " secretes a fluid in which the fostus floats
loosely, and in the midst of that liquid it continues until
it has arrived at maturity. When birth begins, a gush of
aqueous matter is the first symbol of the imminent approach
of the infant ; and when it has emerged into life, a second
gush of water follows it. As the Priest took the place of the
Physician in days gone b3^, he must have been cognizant
of this. Knowing the constant occurrence of this phenome-
non, and believing that Grod worked in creation on high as
He did amongst men on earth ; considering, moreover, that
man was made in the likeness of the Creator — an idea
which we recognise in the verse, " So God created man in
His own image, in the image of God created He him, male
and female {■perforantem et i)crforatmn) created He them "
(Gen. i. 27) ; and that everything which told of His work
here would be a clue to it in creation, the Priest dressed
up the phenomena of conception, growth, and parturition
i-* See Eve, in the Vocabularj-.
87
in mystic garments, and deified the representatives of
reproduction.
When once the myth obtained, it was easy to interweave
it with others, so as to form a compact web. As the " fruit
of the womb " is both solid and fluid, it was natural to
imagine that the two male appendages had a distinct duty ;
that one made the infant, the other the water in which it
lived ; that one generated male, and the other female off-
spring ; and the inference was then drawn that water must
be feminine, the emblem of the passive powers of creation.
The use of water would then become the emblem of a new
birth ; it would represent the phenomenon v/hich occurs
when the being first emerges into day. " The night, which
favours connubial intercourse, and the dark interior of the
womb, in which, for many months, the new creature is
gradually framed, are represented by "darkness brooding."
It was night when the world was formed out of a chaotic
mass ; because it was obscure when the mingling of the
male and female fluids started a nevv being into existence.
Over that tiny speck of life the care of the Creator watched
for months ; and its emerging as male or female into the
world of men was the prototype of the emergence of animal
life from the bosom of the Earth, or the womb of Time,
into actual existence.
To the philosopher, the mythic stories of the geneiation
of the world are as clear as if he had been initiated into
" the mysteries " by the priests who invented them. As
man cannot invent a cipher which another cannot read, so
no theologian can frame a narrative or propound a dogma
which another, equally learned, cannot fathom.
It is often a thankless task to sweep away the cobwebs
which enthusiasts have mistaken for costly hangings sur-
H See CuNNi DiABOLi, in the Vocabulary.
88
rounding a body whose mysterious awe no eye can bear to
witness. While Mokanna remained veiled, the poetic fancy
of his votaries painted his visage to themselves as one of
ineffable lovehness ; when, at rheir request, he drew his
veil aside, they started with horror at his intense ugHness,
and received Avith icy blood his sarcastic sneer, " Ye would
be dupes and victims, and ye are." There is many a
votary in the world of to-day who reverences the mihinery
which veils a form as repulsive as that of the prophet of
Khorassan, and who would prefer to hug the sham rather
than to know the reality.
Since writing the above, I have met with the following
passage: — " Velim equidem ut pauca qure de Osiride
supersunt, silentio prtetermittere mihi integrum esset ; quin
vel officio meo, vel Eeligione iEgyptiacas deesse viderer :
Ees enim occurrunt quoe deformem turpemque aspectum
exhibent, ac versantur in cogitationibus qu[e mentes castas
et incorruptas ad obscoena deflectunt. Sed alta mente
repostum habere debemus, id descriminis intercessisse
semper mysteria inter ^gyptiaca atque Hellenistica, id
est cceterarum omnium nationum, ut quae apud ^gyptiacos
nativa sunt imago rerum cum divinarum, tiim naturalium
a Grfficis primum delude a Romanis ad lasciviam, et
morum corruptelam traducta fuerint. {Hanc turpitudinem
ah ocuUs suhmovere rclif/w fait.) Facessunt igitur qui
peni quem hie Osiris porrectum prrefert, flagitia ilia qupe
in Bacchi, et Cereris sacris peragebantur affingerunt.
^gyptii enim quotiescunque Oslridem humana specie
rejjresentahant, erectum penem ipsi indchant ,• ut docerent
Soli innatam esse vim gignendi et alendi
Videntur itidem supra tripodem tres phalli : qui quidem
Pamyliorum festa indicant : iis enim diebus circumferebatur
simulacrum triplici veretro instructum ; ut teste Plutarcho
constaret Deum esse omnium principium : porro principium
89
vi propria geuerancli multiplicat id cujus est principiiim.
Multiplicitas autem ternario nnmero clesignatur ut cum
dicitur 0 ter felices ter tot vincula. Quamqtiam veteres
proprie forsaii triplici pene designare potueriut tria prima
elementa," Sec, Scc.^''
To this I might add many quotations from the writings
of E. Payne Knight, but content m3''self with referring
the reader to his Inquiry into the Meaning of Symholical
Language, and with expressing my own conviction that the
origin of the three emblems mentioned above, and of the
triple idea of the Creator, is to be found in "fascinum cum
testibus duobus." Semen quod veretrum emittat ova duo
parant. Tria unum est; singula, singulo, necessaria sunt
singulumque singulis. Languet mentula si ova sint sicca.
Ova et repleta, sine Asher sive fossore inutilia sunt. After
this triad of Gods, and associated with it, comes the
Supreme Goddess, but it will be more convenient to postpone
a full account of her to the next chapter, as her history is
too important to be hurried over, or confounded with that
of the Gods.
I must, however, again advert to the fact that the Trinity
is allied with a feminine element. If the opinion expressed
above be true, that the origin of the Chaldee triad is to
be found in the phallus and its two appendages,"' it is clear
that the addition of the female was to indicate that union
of the sexes is essential to creation. The thi-ee-fold Lin-
gam and the single Yoni, the male and female organs,
formed Arba-il, the four great Gods = "pn* yaix = bxniN.
This idea is corroborated by an examination of the symbolic
worship offered by the priests in Assyria and Babylonia to
Ishtar, the female element in creation. One priest presents
15 Explication de divers moimmens singuliers qui out rapport a la religion
desplus aitciens peiiples,i^a.v Dom ilaitiu, Eeligieux Beuedictine de la congrep;atiou
de St. Maur, a Paris, 1739, p. ISO.
16 See the Articles Apples aud Eggs, in the A'ocabnlaij.
90
a pine cone, an emblem of the testis, with one hand, AA'hilst
he holds in the other hand a basket, to indicate the scrotum ;
another priest projects the clenched hand, Avith the thumb or
finger pointing to the sacred "grove" (Fig. 6). That portion
lap '54.--, P'l/0,
mi
of the hand, amongst Orientals, and some nations of Europe,
has always been used as a symbol of the male organ. Ip3
hohen, and f?^'^ etzhaJi, had a similar signification amongst
the Hebrews. Nor is it to be altogether passed by without
notice, that the Pope, who has inherited so much of the
ancient heathen mythology and practice, still uses the thumb
and two fingers when he pronounces his benediction on the
people — the first representing " the Father," and the others,
the remaining members of the Trinity.
An idea so gross could not, however, be made presentable
in all its bareness ; it was, therefore, wrapped up in mys-
teries. Amongst the Hindoos, Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva
are spoken of as Creator, Preserver, and Destroyer ; they
are in one myth made to proceed from Mahadcva, and in
another they are represented as identical. With them
comes Maia, as the Celestial Virgin, forming "the four."
In the Chaldee we do not find a division of the three into
Creator, Preserver, and Destroyer, but one into Asshur,
91
Food, unci JJriuk, and with them is associated the Queen of
Heaven. In the Hebrew wc find Moses, Aaron, and Hur,
joined with Miriam as the feminine element, thus making-
four leaders of the Jews. To the thoughtful inquirer this
would he pregnant with meaning if it stood alone ; but when
we find still further that the names we have spoken of form
the second Assyrian triad, Ave shall be still more interested.
Nothing is more conspicuous throughout Scripture than
the earnest desire of the females for legitimate offspring.
To be barren was a reproach, and not to marry was equi-
valent thereto. Jephthah's daughter associates with her
female friends "to bewail her virginity," and modern theo-
logians as well as Jews account for this particular desire
by the hope Avhich each woman entertained that she miglit
become the mother of the Messiah. We will not dwell
upon the reason thus assigned, further than to say that it
is very strange to find the ideas of marriage, and offspruKj
■proceeding from matrimonial union, Avith the notion that
the Messiah Avas to be born of a pure virgin! and yet the
idea is said to have been prevalent. If the statement proves
anything, it ought to prove that all the Hebrew women
shunned marriage, so that they might be more likely to be
the mother of the Promised One. Be this as it may, it
is certain that marriage was desired by all HebroAV women,
and virginity deplored ; and yet the sister of the Lawgiver,
and of the Great High Priest, remained unmarried all her
life. This circumstance is of itself singular. It becomes
more signiticant when we examine her name, and its re-
semblance to that of the Virgin Mary : one is Marl, or
Mlri + am (the mother) ; the other is Mary, the mother
of the Lord."
This leads us to consider the Trinity as it appears in
modern Europe, but specially in the Church of Eome.
" bee Mauy, iu the Vocabulary.
92
We have not Creator, Preserver, Destroyer, &c., but Father,
Son^ aud Spirit ; to these the Protestant adds only the
Devil ; while the Eomanist, true to the ancient traditions,
adds the Virgin, the Mother of the Saviour, Mary-am.
Coincidences such as these operate strongly on the thought-
ful mind, and urge it to penetrate through the region of
doubt, in search of the land of certainty.
The second Assyrian (and I use the name as inclusive
of Babylonia or Chaldfea) triad consisted of the Sun, Moon,
and atmosphere, or heavens — Shamas, Aer, and Hur.
The Sun, which was thought less of than the Moon,
had a great number of names, San and Sansi, Samas and
Shamas, afterwards Savas and Saos ; and he also had a
name Parra, which seems to be an altered form of the
Egyptian Phra, or Pira. These were the names of the
male Sun. Ai, Gula, and Anunit Avere the female names.
The Hebrew word '^^', slian'i, signifies to shine, or bright,
whence, or from a word of kindred meaning and signification,
we get the words shine, sheen, Shinar, Beihshan, and
probably, the Irish words Slianc and MacChcane. San
got the titles, "Lord of Fire," "Light of the Gods,"
"Eegent of all things; " he was the motor power, inciting
to war, ardour and love. He had a temple at Larsa, or
Ellasar, words which remind us of the name of Lars
Porsenna, which would literally signify Lars, the son of
Anna. The name of Lars is still common in Norway;
Largo and Lark are in Scotland ; and Ellis, Ellistou, and
Allister, have something in common with Ellasar.
In Palestine, Shemesh was substituted for Shamas,
and the name of Bit-Parra, the temple of the Sun, at
Larancha, reappears as Bcthaharah beyond Jordan, where
John was baptising in later days. In the same paragraph
in which Rawlinson speaks of Bit-Parra, he tells us that
the Sun had another temple at Sippara, a coincidence we
93
shall refer to by and by. With one or other of these titles
of the sun, under a modified form, a number of names are
compounded.
The Moon M'as named Sin and Hur. Hurki, Hur, and
Ur Avas the chief place of his Avorship, for the Satellite was
then considered as being masculine. One of his most
ordinary titles was Belzuna, often contracted into Belzu ;
a word which I cannot write without thinking of the inde-
fatigable Belsom, who toiled so hard to increase our know-
ledge of ancient Egypt.
Hur, the city of the Moon God, was called, in a later
age, Kamaxme, from Kamar, an Arabic term for the Moon.
Kama is, however, the Hindoo God of love, and the con-
nexion between the Moon and making love is well known :
" She has been ever the go-between friend
Of all true love, from beginning to end.''
We have these names, Sin and Hur, reproduced in the
wilderness of Sin^ and in /S'cnuacherib, in /S'anballat, >S'inai,
Siniva, and S'uiiie, Hor, Horeh, Horem, Hor Nagidad,
Hori, and Horonaim. Again as U?' in Uriah, Uri]i\h,
Uriel, and Uri, the son of Hur.
The name for the Moon in Armenia was Klialdi, which
has been considered by some to be the origin of the word
Chaldee, as signifying Moon-worshippers. The people of
Babylonia, however, did not call themselves Chaldees. (See
Daniel ii. 2, and elsewhere, in which they aTe associated
with magicians, astrologers, and sorcerers, as if they were a
class in a nation, and not the nation itself.)
The third in the second triad (I did not refer to rank
or position) was the Air, the heavens, the atmosphere,
the ffither, " space," or the expanse around us. Rawlinson
informs us that there is singular difficulty in finding out
the true reading of this deity's name. Phul, Vul or Pul,
Ben, Iva or Eva, Air or Aur, have all been suggested.
94
Vnl is equivalent to pJupiter Tonans. Vnlcnu, the fire
worker, was the Prince of the Power of the Air ; as burner,
destroyer of trees and crops, he holds a flaming sword ; he
makes storms and tempests ; yet he gives rain, and so is
benevolent.
A son of Ismi Dagon was called Shamus Vvl. He
reappears, in later times, as Deva-il, the holy sun, the
Devil, lord of hell-fire, the devouring flame, the roaring-
lion, Satan the adversary, Azrael the angel of death. Once
he was Lord of Urea, then became Lord of Orcus, the dark
grave, and of "the storm-swept Orcades." It is difficult to
decide which of all these names, or whether more than
one, is to be selected. Eawlinson brings forward many
Babylonian and Assyrian proper names which begin with
Eva, and Ivalt Lush is given doubtfully as a royal name.
Amongst the conquests of Sennacherib was a town called
Ira by the Hebrew writer, and the Avlm are said to be
aborigines of Palestine, being associated very closely with
the Horim (see Deut. ii. 22, 23). Gesenius mentions a
place in Phoenicia or Arabia called Avatlin. Ptemembering
that the Hebrev/s aspirated Anna with their harsh guttural,
Ave turn to '"')?> ^lava, and find that it means "to breathe,"
"to live," "to shew," which reminds us of the "breath of
life," and of the Psalmist's exjn-ession, "The heavens declare
the glory of God," &c.^* But, on the other hand, we have
Aer in Latin for the heavens, and oupuvoc, ouranos, in Greek,
and we have Aaron the brother of Hur ; his name is spelled
Aharon, and Aliar, "^C^^', is described as an unused and
uncertain root, and is evidently an ancient word ; but in
its place we have Auor, "iik, or Or, which signifies "to be
or to become light," or "bright," "light," "light of Hfe ; "
and "1-1K, Ur, signifies much the same thing.
18 See Eve, infru.
95
Putting these considei-fitions together, I conchTde that
the Atmosphere has at least two, and probably three names ;
V'ul represents it in its storniy aspect, when he appears as a
draped figure wielding a triple thunderbolt, Eva or Iva
represents the Air as giving life, and Acr the brightness
of the sky, and the galaxy of stars, &c. The idea of this
trinity is poetic, and declares that God is to be seen in the
Sun, in the Moon, and in the vast space through which
they move. We meet with the same notion, differently
expressed, amongst the Greeks, viz., that every thing is made
by " fire, air, earth, and water; " i.e., that the Maker of all
Creation is present in the sun, in space, in the earth, and
in the water.
No one who reads Psalm cxxxix. can fail to see how fully
David entertained this view ; nor does the sentiment seem
out of place in the mouth of the warrior. We are told
that the king was a particular friend of Hiram, ruler in
Tyre, the centre of the Phoenician faith. If so, we may
well believe that this monarch had thoughts as lofty as those
of David, though he has left no memory of his cogitations.
The Sun's wife, the female of this triad, was Ai = life
= ^0, hal, or Giila or Anunit = the female power. Gida =
rabu = great. Compare 'p-ij, gul, to rejoice, to move in a
circle. Giila is goddess of fecundity ; she presides over life,
is Mistress of Life, Mistress of the Gods, presides over births
(Juno Lucina). Her emblem is an eight-rayed star ; some-
times a six-rayed one.
One of the most curious points which I have encountered
while studying this subject, is that INIoses, Aaron, and
Hur make a triad, with Miriam, the virgin, for a fourth ;
and that the names of the three are close copies of the
second Chaldfean trinity. The Sun was Shamas in Assyrian,
or Shemsi. He was reproduced amongst the Hebrews as
96
Shammah or i^'l^, in proper names, and SJtcmcsh or ^'^-^'^^
The name of Moses is spelled "^.''^ or Moslich ;" the single
transposition of the first two letters gives us n?^"i^.' Shemmah,
which is allied to the Sliim, Shem, Sham, &c., so frequently
found in the composition of ancient Jewish names. His
brother is Aaron, or the God Acr ; and Hur, Avho assisted
Aaron to hold up Moses' hands during the fight with
Amalek, is the Moon."' (The name was borne by a
Midianite king, and was not exclusively Jewish.)
Again, Moses, who bears a name, sHghtly transposed, of
the sun, marries for a wife Zipporah; and Sippara, we find,
was a place in Babylonia, where there was a very famous
temple to the solar God, and whose present name is Mosaib
(Rawlinson's Herod, vol. i., p. 501.) Zippor, it will be
remembered, was a king of Moab. This coincidence be-
comes intensified when we remember that the successor of
Moses was Joshua, the son of Nun, i.e., the Saviour, the son
of the Fish. In an inscription on one of the Great Bulls
in the British Museum, is to be found, " I am Sardanapalus,
the intelligent priest, the sentient guide or fish ; " and in a
note, Rawlinson adds, " The use of the same signs which
represent a fish, and which with that meaning would be
19 It is i)i-oLable that a transposition similar to tliis has taken place in other
names. Wc find the elements men in il/as/(chil, intellect ; 3IasJi, a son of Aram
(Gen. X. 23). He appears in 1 Ghron. i. 17 as Mesliech. 3Iashal ^vas a Levitical
city ; it comhiues tlie two names of the Sun, Shamas and El. It was also called
il/jVieal and iVishtd. Meshech. was a son of Japheth. Mcsha, was a geographical
tract, and the name of a king of I\Ioab. yl/es7(aeh was the Babylonian name given
to iHslitiel, the Hebrew. Mishn.e\ is the son of Uzziah, and uncle of Moses. Mash,
which we may read Mashah, Mesha, Misha, Mosha, or Musliah. Mislial is one of
the towns of Aslier. MisJiam is a Benjamite, son of Elpaal. Jlishma is a sou of
Ishmael. il/is7imanuali was one of David's heroes, il/is/ira was one of the families
of Kirjath Jearim. MusJii was a common name. It is probable that this form of
the Sun"s name is still common amougst us, as Maslia^m and Mashitev. I abstain
for the present from pursuing the train of thought wliich the apposition of some of
these names suggests.
20 Sec Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, new series, vol. i., p. 2.30. From
a remark there made, I conclude that Hur is equivalent to Sin. It will also be seen
that Hur was a Phccnician as well as a Babylouinn God.
97
pronouncecl in Assyrian as Nun, as titles of honour, is very
remarkable, and can only be explained as a relic of the
mythical traditions of Hea and Cannes. ""^
It astonishes the critic to find that all the leaders of a
people, who have been resident as slaves in Egypt for four
hundred years (as we are told in one part of Scripture that
they were), should have cognomens which tell of Assyrian
mythology, and that neither priests, princes, nor any of
the vast multitude which they lead, possess a name akin
to the Egyptian language," — and he must either wilfully
blind his eyes, to avoid seeing the significance of the fact,
or he must pursue it carefully to its logical conclusion.
For the present we pass it by, and return to the Great
Mother of the Gods.
21 Rawlinson's Herodvtus, vol. i., p. 494.
22 This is tlie more remarkable, when we see tliat the short cajjtivity in
Babylon, amongst the Persians, altered the uomeuelature materially.
CHAPTER VIII.
labtar, or Beltis. The Celestial Virgin — lier names, titles, and statues — the
idea involved — picture of a mother's love, and a virgin's loveliness. Mary
and Molly — the nursing mother- love-philtres and amulets. Nature of
symbols representing Ishtar— the Delta, the sistrum, the grove — the nature
of the worship. Laws made by priests. Virginity made a sacred thing, and
claimed in some form by the Deity, or his representatives. The ancient
ways not always the best. The dove's note and its signification. The fish,
its shape and resemblance — "i-x^v^- Dagou.
With tlie triune male deity we find a single female asso-
ciated. She is called by various names, and many are
Figurt
99
the epithets she bears. She is ''The Virgin," conceiving
unci bringing forth from her own inherent power. Now
she is wife of Bel Nimrod, now of Asshur, and now of
Nin. Then she is the mother of all the Gods, the Lady,
the Queen. Her names are innumerable. She is Multa,
Mulita, or Mylitta, or Enuta, Bilta or Bilta Nipruta, Ishtar,
or the bright pure being ; sometimes Ei, Alitta, Elissa,
Beltis, Ashtoreth, Astarte, Saruha or Sara, Nana, Asurah.
The same great being is recognised elsewhere as Athor, Dea
Syria, Artemis, Aphrodite, Tanith, Tanat, Rhea, Demeter,
Ceres, Diana, Minerva, Juno, Venus, Isis, Gjhele, Seneb or
Seben, Venus Urania, Ge, Hera. As Anaitis (Fig. 7) she
is "The mother of the Child" ; rejjroduced again as Isis
and Horns (Fig. 8) ; Devaki with Christna (Figs. 9, 10) ;
100
Figiu-e 10,
^^#^14
and Aurora with Memnon. Even in ancient Mexico the
Mother and Child were worshipped. Again she appears
as Davldna, Gula Shala, Zirbanit, Warmita Laz. In
modern times she reappears as the Virgin Mary and her
Son. There were Ishtar of Nineveh and Ishtar of Arbehi,
just as there are now Marie de Loretto and Marie de la
Garde.
She was the Queen of fecundity or fertility, Queen of the
lands, the beginning of heaven and earth. Queen of all the
Gods, Goddess of war and battle, the holder of the sceptre,
the beginning of the beginning, the one great Queen, the
Queen of the spheres, the Virgo of the zodiac, the Celestial
Virgin, Time, in whose womb all things are born. She
figures in many ways, and specially as a nude woman
carrying a baby in her arms (Figs. 11, 12, 13) ; a group
which, if draped, would pass current to-day as " the Virgin
and Child " in any Eoman Catholic country.
101
From what has abeady been said res^Dectiug Asshur,
there can be no reasonable doubt that the primary significa-
tion of the deity Ishtar is the personification of the female,
and of the part she takes in Creation. Of her many names
there is one which seems to me to be very significant of her
attributes, viz., Multa, Midita, or Mijlitta. I conceive this
to be derived from some words resembling the Hebrew ''V^,
meal, "the place of entrance," and ^?, ta, "a chamber." The
whole being " a place of entrance and a chamber." The
cognomen Multa, or Malta, signifies, therefore, the spot
through which life enters into the chamber, i, e., the womb,
and through which the fruit matured within enters into the
world as a new being. The part is made to represent the
whole, and beyond the indication of sex we see many
recondite thoughts, which may he divided into two heads —
woman as we would wish her to be, and woman as she is ;
or, perhaps, it would be preferable to speak of the ideal
and the real, the mental and the physical.
I hope that there are few of my readers who cannot
remember a mother's love to them in childhood. To her
all our infantile sorrows are told ; she is the sharer of our
joys, and makes us happy by smiling on our school-day
triumphs. If we are ill, no bed is so sweet to us as a
mother's arms ; and to those of imaginative temperaments,
nothing is more dehcious than to be soothed to sleep by the
musical voice of "Mamma." If, with the impetuosity of
youth, we have been in mischief, or destroyed accidentally
103
some valued possession of Papa's, Ave hasten to the mother,
to enlist her sympathies, and to avert the heavy blow which
would otherwise make our ears to tingle. Mamma teaches
us our lessons, but we know that we can play tricks with
her and indulge escapades, and yet woo her into forgive-
ness ; her nature is soft as her flesh, and gentle as her
voice is pleasant. The boy, proud of his manhood, may look
fierce and bluster, and defy the weak arm which the woman
wields, but a silent tear brings the roysterer to her feet, and
with passionate kisses he woos back the smile he chased
away. Then, if Papa keeps his pockets too closely buttoned
upon pennies and sixpences, and is obdurate against sugges-
tions of new bats and balls, skates, or ponies, whips or
dogs, and the like, it is Mamma who acts as ambassador
and tells the tale we dare not utter. Such is the idea we
form of women when we are children. As we emerge into
manhood our admiration becomes kindled by reading of,
hearing, and seeing those who are the ornaments of their
sex. Beauty of form and loveliness of feature fascinate our
boyish thoughts, and in every young damsel wreathed in
smiles we think we see an angel who has visited earth ;
furtively, or otherwise, we offer flowers to her, as we would
to a divinity, and to see a bunch of violets we have plucked
adorning her belt, or a rose we have laid in her pathway
picked up and noticed, thrills us with delight ; while a
glance at us, and a smile to thank us for our pains, make
us wild with joy, though crimson at being caught. For such
a woman we would gladly fight, and we revel with pleasure
at fulfilling an order from her when it gives us trouble.
After a time, adoration of those older than ourselves
merges into admiration of some individual of an age resem-
bling our own. Around her our fancy weaves a net of
roseate hue, through which we see everything, and after a
104
courtship of longer or shorter dnrfitioii, we are, Ave think,
made supremely happy, But when she Avhom we wor-
shipped as a hride has worn out her wedding clothes, and
the cares of maternity sit heavy on her head, the angelic
delusions vanish, romance gives way to reality, and the
matron sometimes sighs for the delicious moments which
she enjoyed with him who was her lover ere her ring was
donned, but who is now a cross-grained fellow, thinking
more of eating a good dinner than of making pleasant
speeches. The mature man and the matron, then, can
both agree that woman is most full of charms and sweet-
ness while she is yet a virgin, and the beau ideal of a
female is one who combines the loveliness of a virgin with
the tenderness of a mother. Some such idea possessed
Mahomet when he peopled (for, in his case, no good
Christian believes that Allah did it) his paradise with
houris of perpetual youth for the benefit of the faithful.
When Beltis was worshipped by the devout she was
regarded as a mother is by a child ; and when the Eoman
Cathohcs address themselves to Mary they do it with the
same idea — the gentle mother being supposed to intercede
with the stern father. With us, in current language, Molly
frequently replaces Mary, but I never heard, even in the
fiercest controversy, the Virgin spoken of as Molly. If I
have space to carry out my intention, I shall show that Mary
is the Virgin, Molly is the fertile mother. The Celestial
Virgin, as the mother of all the Gods, must in some way
be designated as one who can nourish a large offspring.
As women have special parts for giving food to their
children, it is natural that a multiplicity of these should
stand for the mark of abundance : it did so, and there is
no essential difference between Ishtar, Bhavani, and Diana
of the Ephesians. (Figs. 14 and 15.) This is the refined
105
way of looking at the goddess Ishtar, or Mylitta ; the othe
is very different.
Figure 14. Figure 15.
Throughout the Eastern countries of Europe and in Asia
men have considered themselves to be the lords of creation,
106
and looked upon women as made for their gratification. It
was so in Western Europe for a considerable period. The
pleasure sought in their society was a purely sensual one. It
is difficult to believe that Solomon, with his three hundred
wives and seven hundred concubines, could have had one
intellectual friend amongst them all. When bodily grati-
fication is all that is sought on the one side, it is natural
that it should be cultivated on the other, and the art of
pleasing thus became a science. It has been the business
of modern charlatans to sell what are called love philtres,
and I do not doubt that the magicians, sorcerers, astrolo-
gers, and Chaldteans did the same in days gone by. When
such persons exercise their art they usually have recourse
to visible emblems. But as those emblems were generally
held both sacred and secret, we do not know what they
were in days gone by. We may, however, divine their
nature by noticing the signs which have come down to us.
Fin-ure IG. '^'^ Symbol is more common amongst
the Assyrian sculptures than a mystic
figure, to which the name of grove has
been given. That its nature has not
yet been generally deciphered I infer from
its being used as an ornament on the
back of Smith's Dictionary of the Bible.
Nor is this to be wondered at, for great
pains have been taken to disguise its
meaning. To the initiated every portion
of it is plain ; to the outsider it is
simply a mystic emblem of some very holy thing. (Figs.
16, 17.)
But ere I attempt to explain it I must state the process
which initiated me into its meaning. There is in Hindostan
an emblem of great sanctity, which is known as the Linga-
Yoni. It consists of a simple pillar, in the centre of
107
ii figure resembling the outline of a conical earring or
Figure 17.
an olcl-iasliiouecl wooden battledore. (Fig. 18.) A conical
figure, similar to this, only supported by a handle, formed
the emblem of Isis ; but across its open space Figure is
bars are inserted and turned down on each
side, to indicate that entrance through it is
effectually barred. A farther exploration of
the world of books brought out the fact that,
in the most celebrated of all the temples of
Venus, the sole image of the Goddess Avas a
conical black stone. As a scholar, I had
learned that the Greek letter Delta (A) is
expressive of the female organ both in shape and idea.
The selection of name and symbol was judicious, for the
word Daleth and Delta signify the door of a house and the
outlet of a river, while the figure reversed (v) represents the
fringe with which the human Delta is overshadowed.
It was not, however, the door only wdiich had its
significance ; but the fig, the almond, the barleycorn,
and the pomegranate had also a mystic meaning. There
was in Palestine Beth-Tappuah, the temple of the apple ;
108
G-ath Eimmoii, or tlie wine-press of the pomegrtiuate ; and
Rimmon was a deity in Damascus. To the physiologist,
familiar with the human body, it seems clear that the
sistrum of Isis and its handle, the fig and its stem, represent
what is technically called the uterus and the vagina in a
virgin state, while the pomegranate represents the teeming
womb, full and ready to bring forth. When I had ascer-
tained that the Celestial Virgin, the immaculate mother of
creation, was worshipped amongst the Assyrians, it was
natural to conceive that some sign would be found which
could be recognised as analogous to the sistrum of Isis and
the conical stone of the Goddess of Love.
The Grove, as it is called, fulfils all requirements.
There we have the door as a line in the centre, barred by
linked rings inserted into both sides and into each other,
to show that entrance is forbidden. On three sides is the
fringe, fantastically, but I think designedly, tied up into
thirteen knots, representing the lunar months, as well as
the menstruation which affects the female as those months
come round, and which has its name therefrom. Above the
door, arranged as a fan in shape, but marked by seven
divisions, to represent the planets, is to be seen that
which is technically called the clitoris.
HoAvever plausible, I did not dare to adopt the belief
fully until I found that Ishtar, under the name of Luz,
was Avife to Nergal and to Ninip. Luz means an almond,
or almond-shaped ; and those who are familiar with blank
walls, on which our youth are apt to draw objects offensive
to the general eye, will at once perceive that Luz was the
consort appointed in nature for the father of thousands,
the prosperous Asher. When such emblems are used in
worship we can readily understand that devotion Avould be
likely to cultivate the sensual, rather than the sacred ideas
they involved. In India, I am told, there are two sets of
109
worshippers ; one who refuse to see anything grovelling in
such matters, and another who refuse to see anything else.
Doubtless it was so in Ur of the Chaldees ; we are told
that it certainly was so in Sodom.
As a general rule Ave may assume that priests, who make
or expound the laws which they declare to be from God, are
men, and, consequently, too often think of the gratification
of the masculine half of humanity. The ancient and modern
Orientals are not exceptions. They lay it down as a certain
fact, that virginity is the most precious of all the possessions
of a woman, and, being so, it ought, in some way or other,
to be devoted to God. We need not go into details about
the manner in which the sacrifice was made ; but we must
call attention to the fact, that a Christian Church still
promulgates the some idea under a spiritual form, and that
the nunneries of Christendom are decent counterparts of
those Oriental establishments, where women consecrated
their bodies and themselves to fulfil, as they were taught,
the special duties of their sex, in the name and for the
glorification of their Deity. There was a temple in Baby-
lonia, where every female had to perform once in her life
a (to us) strange act of religion, viz., prostitution with a
stranger ; its name was Bit-shagatha, or " The Temple, the
Place of Union." There are some chapters in the history
of faiths and religions which are scarcely presentable now.
This is one of them.^
We would gladly bury the past in oblivion ; but, when we
are solicited on so many sides, " stare super vias antiquas,'"
or to adopt the opinions and practices of " The Fathers," it
is well to ascertain what we are invited to take up ; and if,
as we dive deeper into antiquity, we rake up more and more
of thick mud, it behoves us to do as the Reformers
did, and, like them, sweep away from our teachings every-
1 See Bit Shaggathu, in the Vocabnlaiy.
110
thing wliicli has an origin that we dare not trace, or,
having traced, dare not speak of openl3\
There is one point in the history of Ishtar, or Beltis,
which is pecuHarly pregnant with significance as regards
ancient rites, and another as regards modern, viz., the
homage due to the dove, and the veneration of tlie fish.
Throughout the Eoman and Grecian states the Dove was
sacred to Venus. That Goddess had her car drawn by them,
and every device v/as resorted to, in order to introduce those
birds into pictures, mosaics, or sculptures, which had an
amorous design. Under the Mosaic law, doves are amongst
the offerings prescribed to be made by Avomen under certain
circumstances ; " and to the time of our Saviour a traffic in
these birds was carried on within the Holy Temple.^ This
could scarcely have been allowed by the Jews had not the
dove been accounted sacred.
Amongst the Assyrians and Babylonians the dove was
a very sacred emblem. The winged circle, which in later
tunes was adorned by a man armed with a bow, supposed to
represent the tutelar Deity, was originally a dove with out-
spread wings and legs, resembling thus the Roman letter X ;
a cross of peculiar sanctity, from its connection Avith the
doA'e, and one selected, we are told by St. Peter, as being
appropriate for his crucifixion. We have already noticed,
that the Hebrew name for the dove is Yonalt, i^^''^\ and
shewn its close resemblance to the Hindoo or Arj^an Yoni.
We cannot, however, associate directly the bird with the
part signified by the latter.
In endeavouring to ascertain the probable reason why
doves, rather than any other birds, were selected as sacred
by the Assyrian and the Hebrew, the Greek and the Roman,
I come to the conclusion that it could not be simply because
they were pre-eminently loving, for the sparrow is infinitely
more so than the dove, " mi passer," or " passerculus," being
- Comp, Luke ii. 24, aud Levit. xii. 6-S. 3 Comp. Joliu ii. 14-1(5.
Ill
a cant name for a Roman friend, just as a lively and
enthusiastic man is called " a cock sparrow " amongst our-
selves ; whereas the doves are a quarrelsome, rather than
an amiable, set of birds. While dissatisfied with the old
interpretation, m,y eye fell accidentally on the word V'P, Koa,
in the Hebrew Lexicon ; and as I pronounced it aloud,
I recognised at once the coa coa of the dove. Gesenius
describes it as an obsolete, and, I presume, an ancient
word, signifying " to cover the female," as a male camel
does. Turning to the Grreek, we find that the word x6m
signifies "to be pregnant," "to kiss," "to be tumid,"
"swell," "teem." In Latin, we have the term "coco," of
which the imperative is col, a word which, as a substantive,
assists us in forming the name implying close union. From
this, it is evident that groves of trees were sacred, because
they were shelters for doves ; and doves were sacred, because
their note invited all, throughout the vernal night, to mutual
endearments. An explanation like this dissipates the charm
with which we have clothed antiquity, and it reads a good
lesson to those whose aim is to restore the past rather than
to improve the present.* Like the Dove, the Fish was
sacred to Ishtar, and to many of her representatives in
other countries. There was Dagon, a fish god amongst the
Phcenicians, and Durga,- a fish deity amongst the Hindoos.
Both represent a full grown man emerging from a fish's
mouth, and both have a signification akin to fche words of
Job, (xiv. 1) — "Man tliat is born of a jro))ian, is," &c.
In studying the meaning of the fish as an emblem
sacred to Ishtar and Venus, we first notice its extraordinary
^ There seems to liave been amongst the early Christian painters a frequent
desire to pourtray the story of Leila and the Swau. In the heathen designs, Jupiter
is often represented as a spectator looking from on high. These pictures have
been copied into missals — Leda being replaced by a fully draped Mary — the Swan
by the Dove — and Jupiter by God the Father, or by the Pope with a triple cro^vn.
In a small sculpture over God's Providence House at Chester, the Viigiu is repre-
sented as being impregnated by a large bird — the dove — which breathes strongly
np her dress while she sleeps.
112
fecundity ; but if that were all, the wasp, the bee, the ant,
the locust (of course I refer to the females, and not to the
neuters), are far more strikingly j)rolific ; shoals of fish are
not more dense than swarms of flies, fleas, and lice, in hot
countries, and we therefore doubt the interpretation. We
next note that the fish selected is not cylindrical like the
eel, spherical like the diodon, winged like the skate, or flat
like the turbot ; it is one which, when looked at from above,
is almond shaped. A gold carp may stand as the type of
the sacred fish. To the surgeon or anatomist, to whom
every part of the body is familiar, the side view of a carp
is suggestive ; the fork in the tail reminds him of what he
knows by the French word la fourcUctte ; for medical men
are like others, who find it easier, or think it more grand,
to use foreign rather than vernacular expressions. The
accoucheur will remember how frequently he has heard of
the " OS tincre," and may recollect, as I can, how anxious
he was to catch a tench, that he might see the reason why
the opening into the womb was called the tench's mouth.
The figure of a priest is given in one of the works on
Figure 19. Niueveli, wliere part of the clothing
consists of a big fish. (Figure 19.)
The head of the minister is sur-
mounted by its head, which, having
its mouth open, indicates the origin
of the Bishop's mitre. Putting these
things together, we conclude that the
fish was sacred, because the form of
its body represents one door, and the
form of its mouth the other door,
through which all the animal creation
passes into life.°
^ For a further account, see the article Fish, in the Vocabulary ; and for door,
see p. 52, note, and p. 107.
113
If we now attempt to investigate how this affects
ourselves, the first thing which arrests our attention is that
the Saviour himself is designated The Fish, or lx^u5.° The
usual explanation of this is, that the words " Jesus Christ,
of God, the Son, the Saviour," when Avrittcn in Greek, form
by their initials the name referred to ; but our Saviour
was a Hebrew, not a Greek. Besides, I. N. R. I., another
of his emblems, is attributed to a Latin source.
It is particularly interesting to see the intimate rela-
tionship between Christ, fish, and fishermen indicated in
the Gospels, to mark the feminine representations of our
Saviour given by ancient painters in Italy, and to notice
the pertinacious use of fish=eating as a sacred diet in the
Roman Church, on the day dedicated to Venus. The
scholar may, I think, trace, in a series of paintings from
early times to our own, a gradual change of thought in
the Ecclesiastical mind. At first the Saviour is represented
with feminine attributes, whilst the Virgin Mother is in the
background ; but as time rolls on, the Virgin becomes the
female, and her Son is painted with more masculine charac-
teristics. We cannot fail to remember that the women
who dedicate their virginity to God are still called nuns,
the Shemitic name of " the fish ; " and that one of their
garments, on being laid out fiat, resembles this aqueous
creature. The meaning of the emblem called Dagou is
now apparent; it signifies that man is born of woman,
and is dependent upon her for life, &c.
Amongst ourselves we repeatedly hear discussions upon
the relative value and importance of the sexes, and women
6 The Greek legend runs thus : 'Irjtrov? Xpio-ros 0eou Ylbs 2ur>)p, Jesits Christ
of God— the Son — the Saviour. The initials of these words, when put together,
form the word l^Ov^ ichthus, the fish. I.N.E.I., ou the other hand, is from Jesiis
Nazarion Rex Juchcortim, whose initial letters mate the ahove. We shall see in
a sulsequeut page the prohahle signification of the letters. See the Vocahulary,
s. u.I.N.R.I.
114
are alternately estimated as angels, and as demons. I have
myself heard arguments so fiery on this matter as almost
to lead to enmity. What is with ns a matter of inte-
resting speculation was once a point of rehgious helief,
and the cause of religious wars. The votaries of the male
idea induced young men to consecrate themselves to act as
women for fanatic worshippers ; ^ while those of the female
idea enjoined that the priests should emasculate themselves,
and thus approach as nearly as they could to the feminine
condition.*'
It is not without significance that the Church, which
exalts a modern Ishtar to a higher place than her son, —
which perpetuates the use of fish on Venus' day, and
encourages the growth of nuns, — should also use eunuchs
in her most holy Temple; and that under her teaching the
horse-shoe, a rude representation of the Assyrian "grove,"
should be used as a talisman to bring good luck. Before
horses wore shoes, the female parts of a covv^, mare, &c.,
were adopted ; and a personal friend of mine told me that he
had seen, in a church in Paris, a relic of very especial
sanctity, which was said to be the "pudenda muliebria
Sanctse Virginis."° While upon this subject, I must call
attention to the shape of the Shield which was worn by the
V See Eom. i. 26, 27.
8 See Kadesh and Eunuchs, in the Vocabulary.
9 It is too extensive a subject for minute comment, but I may mention that,
both in the Eastern and the Western ^yorld, natural chasms in rocks or holes in the
earth, of uulmown origin, have been taken as emblems of the celestial mother.
There is much curious information on this point in Godfrey Higgius' Anacalypsis ;
where we are told that the early Christian preachers found the custom in Yorlcshii-e,
and tried to abolish it by cursing the sacred chasms, and naming them Cunui
Diaboli ; Lysons, in Our British Ancestors, also gives some interesting observations
on perforated stone entrances to Tolmen or Sepulchres, Holes in the Wall, Ilell
Holes, &c., and quotes from a Journey to the East, by Miss Ellwood, as follows : —
" There is a sacred perforated stone at Malabar, through which penitents squeezed
themselves in order to obtain a remission of their sius." — (Page 160.) It is very
interesting to the philosopher to notice how figurative language, in the course
of time, assumes a literal form.
115
Templars, or which at any rate figured on their tombstones
and effigies. It symboHses the broadside of the sacred
fish, the central boss represents another emblem, of which
I shall shortly speak, namely, the Navel of Vishnu,- or the
Assyrian Nebo. Before speaking of Nebo, it will be well
to ofter a few remarks upon the names of minor Gods,
CHAPTEK IX.
The minor GocTs of Chaklfea aud Assyria. Angels, Demons, Devils. Insanity
mistaken for clemouiacal possession. Shala or Tala. Nergal. Niu, tlie Piscine
God — probaWy a female. Woman a cause of war. Merodacli. List of Gods.
Altars. Nebo. Legend of Mabadeva and Sara. Visbnu decides tbe quan-el —
decides tbat both are best. Cbaracteristics of the Navel— etymology of word.
Proper names compounded witb Nebo.
There is great difficulty in separating a name expressive of
an attribute from the individual to whom that attribute is
given. AVe speak of God the Creator, God the Saviour,
and God the Holy Ghost as three persons, but one God.
In hke manner we speak of " The Vine," " The Lamb,"
"The Lion of the tribe of Judah," "Emmanuel," "The
Shepherd," " The Word," " The Messiah," " Jesus,"
"Christ," "The Son of God," "The Son of Man," "The
Judge," "The Saviour," &c., &c., and yet mean all these
epithets to apply to one divinity. We may therefore believe
that the ancients, notwithstanding the idea of many persons
and of many names, yet indicated the same deity, and
acknowledged one great Being as Lord of all.
History and tradition alike tell us of a belief that was
current that the air or heaven Avas peopled with intelligences,
who influenced the affairs of men. Our Saviour speaks
repeatedly of "Angels ; " in Matt, xviii. 10, he intimates that
every infant has a "presence " augel to guard or watch over
it ; and in xxvi. 53, he speaks of twelve legions of Angels.
At an earlier date, we find in the sacred narrative Elisha
showing to his servant how he was surrounded by chariots
and horses of fire, 2 Kings vi. 17. St. Paul gave credence
117
to the idea that there was " a Prince of the power of the
air " (Ephes. ii. 2) ; the Pharisees, we are told, beHeved
both in angels and spirits, though the Sadducees, who took,
amongst the Jews, the place now assumed by the High
Church party amongst ourselves, refused to give credit to
what they believed to be a comparatively modern inno-
vation, derived from the heathen ; whilst the labours of
Layard and Eawlinson, which have shown us how strongly
the Babylonians believed in astrology, demons, genii, angels,
and the like, give us an idea who the heathen were.^ In
the time of our Saviour, and up, we may say, to the present
century, persons who are insane have been considered as
favoured residences of divine or demoniac spirits. If the
madness tallied with current ideas of faith, the "possessed"
were hailed as prophets ; if, on the contrary, the insanity
was malignant, horrible, or expressed by heresy, the poor
folk were said to be possessed by the Devil. It is not fifty
years since ministers of the Church of England tried to
cure insanity by prayers, religious ceremonies, and exor-
cism.'^ Of course they did not recognise the presence of
a diseased hody, nor imagine that the phenomena of insanity
were the natural result of a disordered brain, just as indi-
gestion results from an impaired stomach. The want of
this recognition illustrates how completely the idea of minor
deities is current amongst ourselves ; whilst our newspapers
frequently demonstrate that a belief in witchcraft, i.e., the
malignant interference of disembodied spirits mth the affairs
of men, has a firm hold amongst the lower, and some even
of the higher orders.^
1 For a full account of tbe Jewish belief iu Angels, Demous, or Demi-Gods,
see CoJieleth, by C. D. Ginsburg, pp. 340-4.
2 See Demons, Exorcism, and Charms, iu tbe Vocabulary.
8 Twentj- years have scarcely elapsed since a geutlemau. now, and for many
years, a member of Parliament, represeutiug one of England's largest " consti-
tuencies," lirmly believed, and endeavoured to convince me, that a certain
case which had recently occurred iu the Midland Counties was a powerful
118
Objection will doubtless be taken to the word deity ; it
is used only to denote a power, person, or presence which
is superhuman, external to man, and therefore not under
his guidance or control. To the severe etymologist the
devils are as much deities as the angels ; the only difference
being that one set are, in our opinion, orthodox, and the
other heterodox. We look upon the planets as wandering
stars, whose place in the sky enables the mariner to tell
his position when far away from land, and the movement
of whose satellites helps the philosopher to test the speed
of Hght. Yet it is not very long since Enghsh Christians
thought that comets were portents, sent by the Creator to
warn men of impending calamities. We can therefore easily
understand, and readily pardon, the ancients, who beheved
that the planets influenced the fate of mortals. It is all
but certain that the minor deities of the Babylonians and
Phens represented the planets, but the process of identifica-
tion is not yet complete enough for general use. Whatever
was the status of the so-called minor Gods, it is unnecessary
to make any classification of them. Such remarks as will
serve to point out their nature, and the names compounded
with or from them, will be sufficient for my purpose.
Simla, or Tala, was the wife of Vul, " The Princess of
the Sky" — (the title " Queen of Sheba " signifies " Euler of
the Heavens,") — Sar, Shah, Sheruhtx, and ^SVM'a, were her
other names, all of which signify '' chief," or " ruler."
From her appellatives we may trace Sheh, Slialem, Sliallnva,
Shalisha,,* Shalman, SJialraanezev, Sliiloh, and Shaul (Saul).
The equivalent of the Roman Mars is supposed to be
testimony to tbe tnith of demoniacal possession, so constantly referred to in the
Scriptures. Yet the documents he placed in my hand proved incoutcstahly —
(1) that the patient was insane — (2) that the writers of the papers Imew nothing
of lunacy — and (3) that they knew little, and thought less, of the laws of evidence.
There are still many to whom " it is written " is synonymous with " it is true."
4 We have a Baal Shalisha in Palestine. I take it to denote Baal of the triaua;le ;
PLATE i.
l^~
:x>1
'-1 rll I \ V I
-t
a5in»
% Kxy,
119
Ncrfidl:'' He is represented as strong, powerful, terrible,
"Leader of Armies," "Lord of Strength," and under a
variety of other titles, all of which are compatible with
"courage," " chieftancy," &c., as well as with his title,
"The Strong Begetter."*^ As his wife is Luz, or "the
almond-shaped one," we can readily believe that he is Assher
under another name.
Another God is Niii. He is spoken of as the Fish God,
but I very strongly suspect that for God v^'e should read
Goddess. Anu is a God in Babylonia ; Anna is a Goddess
in other countries. Amongst Nin's titles are " Lord of the
Brave," "The God who giA-es strength and courage"; but
his name is very similar to the Hebrew |-13, nun, or fish
(Fig. 20) ; he is himself the Piscine deity, and this would lead
us to the belief that iV«7i is feminine. "We seldom," says
connectiug it with Sliala as ;i wife, I presume the triangle to be the A. The
Double Delta formed the celebratetl amulet called '' David's Shield," m po (Fig. 21)
Figure 21.
./\
/
\,/
A
A
/\
\ /■
6 The uame of Norgal is probably derived from the Hebrew Nahcir (m), light,
Gal is the Sun in Babjiouian. Hence Noor-gal would be equal to the solar light.
We are familiar with the first half of the word, as it exists in " Koh-i-noor," the
Diamond Mountain of Light, a gem which was at one time a common topic of con-
versation amongst us.
•^ See Kergai., in the Vocabulary.
120
Rawlinson, "find bis name used openl}' as an element in
the ro3'al appellations ; it was usual to speak of him under
a periphrasis." '' If my surmise is true, I should explain
this by saying that men are more proud of their descent
from men than from women. A warrior might he proud of
his descent from Mars ; he would scarcely vaunt a descent
from a female. Even the pious ^neas, as he is called,
has the general character of tenderness, rather than of
vigour, from his supposed descent from Venus. We love
our mother, hut are proud of our father, provided he is
deserving of esteem. Thus all nations trace their pedigree
through the male parents ; and an extensive inquiry into
the experiences of the breeders of horses, cattle, and sheep
leads me to the belief that the custom is founded on
sound principles. I know, moreover, that sometimes a
poiut is strained, and Koyalty is allowed to follow, as
in the case of our own queen, the course of a female
branch ; but as soon as a son comes upon the scene, the
male inheritance reassumes superiority. If then Nin were
a female, she would certainly not be often mentioned.
That she, or he, was held in great favour we presume,
from Ninev and Nineveh taking their names therefrom. If
we take the feminine idea of Nin, we need not go far to
explain how it is that she as a woman can give strength
and courage. There is a saying, " Cunnus belli teterrima
causa," i, c, a pretty woman is the cause of many a dreadful
fight. The long Trojan war was all about the possession of
the beautiful Helen; — the wrath of Achilles, "to Greece
the direful spring of woes unnumbered," was the result of
the lovely Briseis being taken from him by the chiefs. The
long Peloponnesian war, if I remember rightly, had its
origin in a female. And, without multiplying instances, we
may say, that current experience tells us that men's passions
■? Ancient Monarchies, vol. ii., p. 254.
121
are sooner roused to energy, courage, find fierceness by the
influence of a woman whom Ave love than by any other
cause.''
Of Mcrodach, or Bel Meroclocli, there is little infor-
mation. We find the name of Merodach Baladan as a
king of Babylon, which would road as if it were " Merodach
given by Bel." Though written as I have copied from the
Scripture, in the Cuneiform it is written as Marduk, whence
Mardocheus or Mordecai."
The following, as far as can be made out, were the
Gods and their spouses : —
Asshur, El, II, or Ra, Ilos, Sheruha, whence Sarah (who
or Helos.
was a Chaldee).
Ann.
Anuta.
Bel.
Beltis or Ishtar.
Hoa.
Davkina or Daukina, compare
the modern "Dawkins."
Sin or Hur.
The Great Lady.
San, Sansi, Shamas.
Gula.
Iva, or Vul, or Aer.
Shala.
Nin.
The Queen of the Land.
Merodach.
Zirbanit, compare Bennett.
Nergal.
Laz or Luz, compare Lazarus.
Nebo.'"
Warmita, or Ishtar.
8 See NiNiP, in the Vocabulary,
*^ See Merodak, iu tlie Vocalnalary.
10 The following are to be foimcl on a mouolith of Ashur-akh-bal, as road by
Mr. Talbot :—
Asshnr, the Great Lord, King of the whole of the Great Gods.
Ann, the Exalted King.
Bita, King of the Ocean, Lord of Kings, the Flying Fish.
San, the Sovereign, Lord of Crowns, full of splendour.
Marduk, Lord of?
Yem, the King of the Exalted Gods.
Bar, (or Minev), hero of lieroes, destroyer of heretics.
Nebo, the Judge who carries the Golden Sceptre. [Murilu
122
It may be stated in passing, — to show bow much the
Persian, Medic, or Aryan theology differed from that of the
Shemitic races, — that the chief Gods amongst the Medes
and Persians were Mithra, Armaita, Oromasdes, Vayu, and
Agni.
The altars used in the rites of worship were of varied
form. Some were simply round pillars, miniature repre-
sentations of a tower, evidently intended, like the round
towers of Ireland, to represent the Phallus. Others, again,
were of triangular shape, to imitate the Delta; and others
were combinations of the two. Smith, in his Greek and
Roman Antiquities, p. IIG, depicts an altar surrounded by a
serpent, Avhich is taking up one of two olive-shaped bodies.
The group so closely resembles the Hindoo Liuga, with
the snake biting its summit, that its meaning can scarcely
be doubtful. In the same wood-cut is seen another altar,
square, which seems to have been used for sacrificing to
Venus or some other Goddess. In the print, the words
" Genius hujus loci moutis," is evidence of the association
of Asher with high places and mountains.
Neho was a very ancient Babylonian deity. He is men-
tioned B.C. 1300 ; but a long time elapsed, we are told,
before he became popular in Assj'ria. As he was not
amongst the earliest of those knouai in Chaldaea, we infer
that he was introduced between b. c. 2400 and b. c. 1300.
Before I go into his etymology, I must give a short history
of the name as it appears in the Vedic or Hindoo mythology.
Muvilu, (JMyrilla — compare with Muriuna. a Trojan Goclcless), Lady of the world,
wife of Bel, and mother of the Great Gods — compare with Mylitta.
The God Acheiih, King of War.
Bel, the highly Exalted Father of the Gods, the Sire who created me.
The oun, ruler of heaven and earth, inspector of the universe.
Ishtar, Queen of heaven and earth, who is the leader of all heroism.
These Great Gods are the Givers of Crowns, and they are the supporters of all
lioyalty. — Transactions Roijal Society of Lit., 2ud series, vol. ii. part ii., p. lo8.
123
We arc informed by Captain Wilford, in the Asiatic
Researches, that there were in ancient times as strong feuds
between those who adored the Liuga (or Liugacitas), and
those who respected the Yoni (or Yonigas), as there were
between the Romanists and the Protestants in days not
long gone by, if indeed they have yei passed away ; and
that after centuries of contests some priest, prince, or
prophet received a mission to preach the Nabhi, and its
virtues, as superseding both that of Linga and Yoni. This
historical fact, — if fact it be, for it is difficult to find
whether mythoses are made to fit history, or history is
imagined to tally with the mythos, — seems to be recorded or
wrapped up in the following story : —
Mahadeva, the most ancient and the father of all the
Gods (corresponding to Asher) quarrelled with Saraswati,
or Sara-iswati, i. e., " the lady Queen, or Princess Sara," his
sacti, or wife (corresponding to Beltis or Luz), as to which
of the twain was the greatest, or had the most power in
creation. The controversy grew so sharp between them
that they separated, and never spoke to each other again.
This quarrel had a dreadful efiect upon the earth and its
inhabitants : wild beasts devoured the tame, and then ate
each other, for no young kids, lambs, or heifers replaced
the old and infirm. The race of cuckoos perished, for no
sparrows built nests into which they might drop their eggs,
but this did not signify, since they had no eggs to drop.
The old folks died, and there was no one to fill their mouths
with holy mud, and throw them into the Ganges as the
highway to heaven. The race of priests expired, for there
were no votaries to bring them the means of living ; and the
great Gods themselves became weak and thin, from the depriv-
ation of the offerings of the faithful, the smoke of incense,
and the prayers of the devout. Being naturally alarmed,
and of course distressed, at such a state of things, the great
powers attempted to mediate and bring about the old entente
124
conUale, but tliey were unable to do so, and the desolation
still went on. In despair, the Gods laid their fears before
Vishnu, and entreated him to find some remedy for this
disastrous state of things. He heard their petitions, and
as a judicious individual does now, he slept upon it, and
took counsel in dreams. To soothe himself completely, he
made the sea his bed, and was rocked into a profound
slumber. While still unconscious, his navel began to swell ;
and as he wore no girdle to confine it, it had room to
expand, like the grain of mustard-seed, until it filled the
Avhole earth and heaven. From its branches new fruit
arose, and different from each twig. The Gods saw, with
intense admiration, the world re-peopled. Fresh crops of
grain sprang up, grass grew again, and plenty of lambs
appeared, for men to eat, for priests to sacrifice, and for
Gods to smell. Men married and paid their fees to the
minister, had children and paid the oracle for naming
them ; and all the world rejoiced together in adoration of
Nahbi, or Navel, whence the state of things arose.
Now anyone who will take the trouble to examine
the navel will find, in a fat
a lean one a conical eleva-
tion arising but a trifle above
the abdomen, and in one of
moderate size that it is like
a lunar crater with a central
hill (Fig. 22). In all these
there is an outer ring and an
inner protuberance, and, by a
flight of imagiUation, these were
supposed to represent the union
of the Liuga and the Yoni (Fig.
23), under the name of Argha."
person a depression, in
Figure 22.
11 Sec Nahbi, in tbe Vocabulary.
125
We will not pursue this jioint now, but proceed to
inquire tlie meaning of the word. Nahhi in the Sanscrit
means "the navel." In the Hebrew, one of the modern
representatives of the ancient Babylonian, ^'?^, naha, means
"to cause to bubble up," as of inspired human discourse,
like the Greek psco. Hence we may compare the Nahbi
with liJiea the Goddess, i^?^, nahah, an old word, signifies
"to be prominent," " to project upwards in the form of an
arch ;" i^?, n'ho, or Nebo as it is spelled, signifies " a hill ;"
^'^^^, nahotlt, denotes "fruit," or "produce," also " j^romi-
nence," "distinction;" ^''^^, nahlua, is a prophet; i'?^,
nahha, means "to bubble forth,"" to gush out;" ni:, iiuh,
signifies "to sin-out," "to germinate;" ^''^, nibJi, is "fruit,"
" produce ; " ^^''.■?, nchai, is " the marrowy," having the vigour
of life. All these words are ai)propriate to the sacred navel
of Vishnu ; and we may consider them as equally appropriate
to Nebo, who is evidently identical with the mystic Nahbi.
The number of Assyrian and Chaldee names compounded
with Nebo is immense. This arose from the God being
very popular, — from his oracle being generally consulted
ere the name of a child was settled, — and from the priest
always introducing the title of his God into the prescribed
cognomen. One hierarch, however, must on one occasion
have been bankrupt in imagination ; for the appellative
which he ordered is read by Rawdinson as " Nebo gave
the name." We may, I think, trace the knowledge of this
God extensively in Palestine. There are two towns and
one mountain, near Moab, called by that name. Nabal,
though spoken of as meaning churlish or stupid, also
signifies "Nebo is God." Accordingly, Nahoth may signify
" the fruit bearers," as well as " fruits." Nehaioth, the
eldest son of Ishmacl, certainly signifies "the fruit bearers."
Again we have, as a variant, N'ob, a priestly city, and
126
Nohah, a town in Bashan. Nalihi is given as one of the
twelve spies. ^" Nehat is the father of Jeroboam. In Great
Britain we find man}- Nahs and Nehs — McNah is an old
Scotch name ; and we not only have these names as memo-
rials of Nebo, but we have remains in stone and earthworks
evidently used in worship by the so-called Druids, which
consist essentially of an enceinte surrounding a central
conical hill, as at Avebury (see Fig. 23). We think we
recognise the word in the Latin NcBvius, and we feel
almost sure of its descent by finding this associated with
Enniiis, the Roman form from Ann.
12 Compare this name with the remarks made in the last jDaragraph of the
seventh chapter, s7qDra, p. 97. See also Nahbi, in the Vocabulary.
CHAPTER X.
The Babylouian faith iu Palestine. Scripture names during the first epoch.
Manners and customs. Circumcision. Traffic. Slaves. Teraphim — tlieir
nature. Mandrakes. Names during the second epoch. The names of the
Patriarchs analysed. Evidence of alteration. Euphemisms. The third
epoch. Condition of the Israelites at the Exodus — their hinguage unchanged —
they communicate Tvith the Canaanites readily. A Babylonish garment recog-
nised as such by Achau. List of new names — remarkable points to be noted
respecting them. Epoch of the .Judges. Samuel's rise. Origin of the kingdom.
Saul — condition of Hebrews in his time. David. List of new names. David
crowned. Litioductiou of the name Jah, associated with a new faith— evidence
of resistance on the part of the people — separation of the tribes. Deductions
drawn from the preceding chapters.
In the preceding chapters we have attempted to describe
the rehgion with which Abraham was famiHar in his youth,
and the faith iu w'hich Sarai was educated. It was to a
people possessing such a form of worship as that we have
depicted, and who were supposed to have amongst them
the knowledge of the true God, that the patriarch sent
for a wife to his son Isaac. Yet it is clear that the
distinction between the cult of the Canaanite and that of
the Babylonian cannot have been very great, wheu we,
taking the Scriptures for our authority, examine a few of
the names current in Palestine and elsewhere at the time
of Abraham, viz..
Abimelech
Assliur
Ellasar
Mash
Abram
Bela
Hadoram
Mclchizedel^
Amalek
Bethel
Hai
Meshach
Amor
Canaan
Hamath
Milcah
Amraphcl
Ebcr
Ishmael
Pharaoh
Aram
Eden
Javan
Sara
Arioch
Elam
Jebus
Sheba
Arka
Ehezer
Lamech
Sidon
Arva
Elishah
Mamre
Zoar
128
Though, with two exceptions, these are all non-Jewish names,
yet we recognise amongst them ah, father; ar and or,
light; ram, high; hetli, house of; el, God, Sun; hel,
Lord; eza, Saviour; am, mother; shall, ruler; liai, life;
zedeJc, justice; mash, sun; meleclt, king. In addition to
the ahove, we recognise am, "The Maternal Creator," and
ar, "The Heavens," L e., "The Celestial Mother," in
Amor, and Aram ; " The Eoyal Mother," in Amalel ; " The
Celestial Father," in Ahim.clech ; "The Giant Solar Mother,"
in Amraphel ; and "The Sun" in M a si i, and Meshach, a
name we meet with again in Bahylon ; and " Sheriiha, the
wife of Asshur," in Sara. As these words are Hebrew, we
may presume that Abraham's language was similar to that of
the Canaanites, and infer that his religion was equally so,
for all those with whom he comes into contact seem to
worship the same God as himself, and to one priest of
especial sanctity he pays tithes. We do not know much of
the manners and customs of that time ; but an episode
in Sodom tells us of an affair both of vileness and violence,
in the midst of which ''just and ru/liteons Lot " sees
no horror in offering his daughters for prostitution, in
order that his guests may escape Sodomy ; nor do his
children subsequently scruple to adopt their father in place
of their lost husbands, and to name their children after
him as being his offspring. ^ We see no evidence that
Abraham was astonished at having to sacrifice his son, any
more than was a king of Moab in after times ; and to the
same patriarch God reveals himself as " a fire " and " a
lamp," whilst turtle doves are used in his ceremonials.
In addition to this we note that "circumcision" is intro-
duced— a rite which tells us unmistakeably that the
Almighty did not think it contrary to purity and propriety
to take especial care of that organ which represented cre-
1 See Moab, in the Vocabulary.
129
ative power. It is, however, worthy of note, thut the
ceremony did not take place till after the Patriarch had
visited Egypt ; and historians tell us " that the Syrians
of Palestine acknowledge that they adopted the custom from
the Egyptians."^ It is also interesting to notice in passing
the evidence of commerce which existed. Abraham pays for
land in money " current wdth the merchant," and he has
no qualms whatever in encouraging the slave trade, by
purchasing human beings from the dealers in them.^
Leaving the time of Abraham, let us in the next place
fix our eyes upon the period of Jacob's death. AYe still
find that slave traders pass along, in companies, from one
distant spot to another, and that the materials and nature
of their traffic tell of climes in the far East. In the brief
period which has elapsed since Abraham's time, we find
the use of " Teraphim " introduced, and we notice that
these images are first spoken of in that very family to
which Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob resorted for wives. Laban
had images, which he called " his Gods," and Piachel,
his daughter, stole them. V^'e do not know much of these
" Tera23him," but we infer that they were diminutive, or
they could not have been concealed by a woman sitting
on them. If small, they must have been symbolical, and
their signification must have been known to Piachel — they
were " Gods " to her and to her father, and the parent
and child had a reason in common for desiring thein." Now
2 Herodotus, ii. 101.
8 E. g., Hagar was a boucl-womau, bonglit out of Egypt ; and from Gen. xvii. 1'2,
13, it is clear that Abialiam bought slaves with money from strangers. If we believe
that our God and the God of Abraham are the same, it is difficult to understand
the dictum of many of our contemjioraries, that slavery is a design of the devil.
4 The critic might fairly say, looking at Genesis xxsv. 2 — " Put away the strange
Gods from among you " — that there were images of God which were not strange,
and that in those early times tliere were orthodoxy and heterodoxy in images, as
there are now. In ancient times the emblem of life-giviug energj' was an ortliodox
emblem — it is now " a horror," and its place is talceu by an image of death. "We
infer from the context that Lriban's Gods were orthodox.
I
130
Laban was a covetous man, very anxious for an increase
to liis flocks and herds, and Rachel herself was desirous
of being prolific. Hence we infer that the images were
figures in some way related to fecundity.® The root in
Hebrew of the word in question is '^^'^, rapha, the mean-
ing of which is "great, strong, high, erect.'^ Almost
immediately after the affair of the images Jacob is promised
a wonderful amount of fertility by God, in thankfulness for
which he sets up a inllar, one of the many emblems of the
Phallus, and pours oil thereon, and adds a cairn. ° In
connection with the same family we have a story of man-
drakes being used as a charm, and those who are familiar
with botany are well aware of their shape, and of the ideas
suggested thereby. As a visitor to the British Museum,
in days gone by, I was familiar with scores of little figures,
in which the central organ was disproportionate in size to
all the rest. They were, I presume, " Teraphim," represen-
tatives of the Mahadeva and Asher. Of late years, these
images have been withdrawn from public gaze. Putting all
these considerations together, it is natural to conclude that
the Teraj^him were phallic emblems, and as such supposed
to have fertilising powers. It is clear that figures such as
these were not likely to produce a feeling of shame amongst
a family' who would not consent to their sister marrying a
prince, until he, as well as all his people, had been duly
mutilated, or improved, as a sacrifice to the God of Israel.
" In this conclnsiou we are corroboratecl, by noticing that iu tlie family of Jacob
there was a belief that the coutemplation of certain external forms had an influence
upon fecundity. "\Ve see, iu Genesis xxx, 37 - 42, that Jacob presented to the
gaze of those of the flock from -which he desired to breed, certain rods (the waud
was then a phallic emblem), prepared in a particular form ; uudcr the iufluence of
this, offspriug with particular marks and of conspicuous strength were formed.
Such images thou being useful for the inferior animal, similar ones were considered
to be of equal value to man, and competent to produce strength and vigour alOie
in the parent and in the offspring.
''' See GiLGAL, iu the Vocabulary.
■^ Vide sii/irn, p. 70.
131
Amoiigs
t the lle^y names introduced s
hortly ])efore, or
during, the
Ufetime of Jacob,
arc —
Ammou
Epher
]\Iaachah
Potiphera
Allah
Ephron
Machir
Rachel
Arcl
Er
Moab
Shammali
Areli
Gnni
Naaman
Shaul
Ashhel
Hebron
Omar
Shuah
Bela
Hezron
On
Timna
Beor
Hori
On an
Zephou
Bethuel
Husham
Peniel
Zibeon
Elon
Jachin
Phallu
Ephah
Laban
Potiphar
We met with Am, "The Celestial Mother," in onr first
category, we now find that On, " The Strong Father," is
introduced. The word Nath appears also in A&enath, Tim-
natli, Zaph»a//i. We find, also, a Beliohoth in Canaan as
well as. in Assyria; and AhoUhamah, a Canaanite, bears
nearly the same name as one mentioned in Ezeldel, cen-
turies afterwards, as Aliollhali.^
Having reached this point in my inquiry, I was induced
to examine critically into the names of the patriarchal
families, and found that Abraham signified " the father
on high," or "the high father;" that he had for a wife
Sara, who may be either '"'J^, Sharai = "the beginning; "
i^Tibf, Sar-ra, "the mother is God," or ™, "a princess," or
"the great lady;" or SJtcnilia, "the celestial Queen." Sara-
iswati, or "my lady Sara," in the Hindoo Theology, was wife
to Mahadeva. As the genealogy progresses, "the celestial
father" and "the celestial Queen" produce Isaac, which
means "sporting," "frolicking," "toying," or "laughing."
Isaac marries Rchekkali, "the great white one," or "the
moon," whose father was Nalwr, or "light." Their offspring
** Genesis xxxvi. 2 ; Ezeldel xxiii. 4.
132
fire Esau, Edom, "the hairy red one," and Jacob, "the
round smooth one."° Their children are
Reuben ^ The Mother's Son; Ra-Ben, ri, or ra, being the
name of the Celestial Mother, or of God,
amongst the Chaldees, equivalent to our
Benson, or li^^' ^^, Bab On, my great
strength.
Simeon = The hearing On.
Levi = Conjunction — the circling one.
Judah ^ Udli-a, a warrior, in Sanscrit ?
Dan = The Judge.
Naphtali = Belonging to Phthali ?
Gad = Good luck.
Aslier = Straight up — the erect one,
Issachar = Abundance of sport.
Zebulon = The dwelling place of On.
Joseijh = The Increaser.
Benjamin = Sou of the right side. Of these Dan, Gad, and
Asher have the same names as Phoenician
Gods,^" whilst Naphtah contains that of an
Egyptian deity.
It is true that the Bible gives another account of the
significations of these names ; but there is sufficiently strong
internal evidence to warrant the belief that the present
version does not truly represent the original writings. It
appears to me that some names, current in old stories,
have been softened down during transcription, by variations
in spelling, or by the historian inventing a tale which puts
a new view upon the old matter. ^^ It is certainly a hardy
9 These uamca will be fouud, with their derivations, in the Vocahulary.
1" For a particular account of these names, see the Vocabulary, s. i\
11 E. (/., Jacob is at oue time said to get his name from grasping his brother's
heel at birth, and at another is said to have been named so because he was a
cunning one, and outwitted his brother Esau. C^omj). Gen. xxv. 26 with xxvii. 36.
See also Jacob, iu the Vocabulavv.
133
thing for any one to make such assertions ; but surely,
when we find the writer of " Chronicles " altering names,
which contain Baal in " Kinc/s," and changing that word
into boslieth ;'^'- and when we find it to have been an ancient
legal enactment amongst the Jewish Rabbis that every
anthropomorphism and indecent expression met with in the
Scriptures is to be altered into an euphemism, ^^ the charge
cannot be evaded. An instance, drawn from a prophet,
whose book has always been highly praised for beauty of
imagery and loftiness of thought, affords us at once an
illustration of the coarseness of thought and language
indulged in, even by the courtly, and of the euphemism
which tones it down ; viz., " In the same day shall the
Lord shave with a razor that is hired, the head, and the
hair of the feet, and it shall also consume the beard "
(Isaiah vii. 20. Comp. also 2 Kings xviii. 27, margin).
The next period which we select for the examination
of names is four or five generations after the preceding-
one. There are just three generations between Levi and
Eleazar, i. e., Levi, Kohath, Amram, Aaron, Eleazar ; and
the length of time passed by is, we are told, four hundred
years. We do not stop to enquire into this curious fact,
but transport ourselves to the period of the return to
Canaan. The miseries of slavery in Egypt have passed
by ; huge flocks and herds, a very fit appanage for those
whose time was spent in brick-making, have gone through
a wilderness, where there was naturally neither food, water,
nor yet space to exist in ; arms have been found for a race
of fugitives, and courage has succeeded to pusillanimity.
The nation living in Egypt, in the most abject slavery,
12 See 1 Chrou. viii. 33, 31; ix. 39, -10; xiv. 7; and 2 Sam. v. 16; ii. 8
iv. 4; is. 6, 10.
1' See Levita's Massoreth Ha-Massuretli, by Ginsburg. p. 191, &c. : Longmaus,
134
with taskmasters on every side, and with a leader learned
in Egyptian lore, nevertheless retain their own language
intact, and have no difficulty in conversing with the kings
of Edom, Moab, and Ammon. Twelve men, speaking
Hebrew, go as spies throughout Canaan without arousing
suspicion, and others, forty years later, talk familiarly
with one of the harlots of Jericho. The men of Gibeon
converse with Joshua and Israel's elders, and the latter
believe that distant lands speak the language of Canaan.
The country, erst so thinly peopled that two men could
kill all the inhabitants in a town, is now, in the fourth
generation, densely populated ; and there are cities with
walls exceeding in height the tower of Babel, — for that
was only intended to reach into heaven, Avhereas these walls
actually did so (Deut. i. 28). AVe do not hear much of
trade, but we find incidentally that Achau coveted a goodly
Babylonish garment, which shows that there was traffic of
some kind between Palestine and Chaldfea ; and seeing that
Achan, who had been living and brought up in the wilder-
ness, recognised it as Babylonian, we conclude that he must
have gained his experience by meeting wdth some caravan
of merchants in the desert, and that he had seen rich stuffs
which he had coveted, although unable to buy them.
In the list of new Jewish names at this period- -it would
be an useless waste of time to repeat old ones, which are
precisely the same as those already noticed — we find
Aaron
Asriel
Elizur
Hor
Achan
Dathan
Elkanah
Hori
Ahiram
Eleazur
Elzaphan
Hur
Ammishaddai
Eliasaph
Gamaliel
Joshua
Amram
Elim
Gideoni
Miriam
Anak
Elisheba
Helen
Mishael
Ashbel
Elizaphan
Hezron
Mushi
135
Naaman Pallu Shclumiel
Naasbon Pithom Sodi
Nalibi Rameses Susi
On Sbammuab Uri
Of new Canaanite names, tbere are —
Of Persons — Adonizedek Of Places -
Agag
Abiman
Arad
Balaam
Balak
Cbemosb
Evi
Horam
Hur
Og
Piram
Ptabab
Pteba
Sbecbem
Sibon
Zippor
Zipporfib
Zepbon
Zuar
Zurisbaddai
-Acbsapb
Adam
Ai
Ajalon
Apbek
Aram
Arnon
Asbkalon
Dibon
Egion
Ekron
Gibson
Hermon
Hesbbon
Madou
Makkedab
Merom
Petbor
Sbimron
Taanacb, &c.
Tbat wbicb arrests our attention, ou reading over tbe
first part of tbis list, is tbat not a single new name can be
traced to Egypt. Tbis is tbe more remarkable, since a
sojourn for only seventy years under tbe Cbaldasans, Per-
sians, and Medes sufficed to introduce a number of new
appellatives, drawn from Aryan or Babylonian sources, and
wbicb continued until tbe final destruction of Jerusalem.
We also see tbat tbe leaders of tbe Israelites, Moses,
136
Aaron, Hur, and Joshua, have all of them Assyrian,
PhcBnician, or Babylonian names, analogous to those of
the kings of the Amorites. Asriel, Ashbel, Helon, Hezron,
Mushi, Nahbi, Pallu, Shelumiel, are all derived from names
in the Asiatic, not in the Egyptian mythology. Moreover, we
note that no name has yet been introduced which is com-
pounded with Jab, or ^IJ}^, eJiieh, or " Jehovah," although
for upwards of sixty years it has been known as the name
by which God desired to go (Exod. vi. 2, 3) ; and we notice
still farthei that the use of circumcision has been wholly "
ignored by the lawgiver who imposed it.
"VVe next pass on to another period. Four generations
have passed away since our last review ; the Israelites have
been subjected to various kings, and have had times of rest,
which amount altogether to about four hundred years. The
powerful heroes have mostly died out ; and no metropolis
seems to be occupied by the descendants of Jacob. Samuel
arises as a prophet and a judge, and under his supremacy
quiet is established. Up to this time there is no evidence
of the existence of any writings, besides those in the Ark,
which were graven upon stone, like the records of the
Assyrians. If in the times after David, " the law " could
be so completely lost, that no copy was extant in the early
days of Josiah, a fortiori, it is probable that such a loss
occurred during the time of the Judges. It is certainly
clear that there was no law which prevented the Hebrews
worshipping Baalim and Ashtaroth. Micah has " a house
of Gods ; " and we read in the Book of Judges of ephods,
teraphim, molten and graven images. Even Jephthah, who
is specially raised up as a deliverer, does not scruple to offer
up his own child as a sacrifice to the Almighty, any more
than did Abraham a few centuries before.
As Samuel advances into years, his sons turn out almost
ii See Exod. iv. 24-26; Josh. v. 5, et seq.
137
as badly as did Eli's. A kin,u' is sought for, and, the
prophet having the management of the election, the choice
falls upon the biggest man. Though of large mould, he is
not sufficiently large-hearted to adopt implicitly, and carry
out faithfully, the orders of the seer, who, being unable
to use him as a cat'spaw, looks out for another man.
Accordingly, he on the second occasion selects a youth of
sanguine temperament, of soft mind, easily moulded, and
possessed of a courage which we should call dauntless,
were we not told how abjectly he could play the madman
when he was in real terror of his life.
During the reign of Saul, the fortunes of the Jews were
so low, that there was scarcely a man who possessed a single
implement of iron, and many men had to hide in caves and
holes in the earth. We are not told of any trade having
been carried on by the Hebrews at this time. But as we
find from bilingual inscriptions on certain weights found at
Nineveh that the Assyrians traded with, and that their
language was used by, the Phoenicians, b. c. 1000, we must
presume that caravans must have passed through Palestine,
and brought with them information from each end of their
journey.
The new names which we find at this epoch in Israel's
historv are as follows : —
Abdon
Aphiah
Daniel
Eshbaal
Abiel
Araunah
David
Gaal
Abimelech
Arumah
Deborah
Gaash
Abinadab
Azel
Ebenezer
Gideon
Abner
Barak
Elab
Hannah
Absalom
Bathsheba or
Eli
Ishui
Adonijah
Shua
Eliab
Jesse
Ahiah
Bethaveu
Elimelech
Joasb
Amasa
Boaz
Elishama
Joel
Amnion
Carmel
Elkana
Jonathan
138
Jotham
Micah
Peninnah
Shimea
Jezreel
Mical
Phalti
Shimshon
Joezer
Michael
Pithon
Solomon
Kisli
Michmash
Pammou
Tamar
Maon
Nabal
Shalisha
Tola
Matri
Nathan
Shammah
Zebul
Melcliishua
Ner
Shanl
Zei'uiah
Merab
Nethaneel
Shemiiel
Ziph
Meribaal
Obed
Shephatiah
An analysis of these names will be given hereafter. In
this list appear for the first time a few words compounded
with Jft/i/' almost all the rest tell of an origin either from
the people of the land, or from a distant Chaldee som-ce.
David, whom we read of as the chosen successor of Saul,
is driven into exile. After a certain number of adventures
he goes into the land of the Philistines, and while there
makes the acquaintance and gains the friendship of the king
of Tyre. Imviediately after his return, ive meet in com-
jwsltion the name of Jah in almost every nciv apijellative,
and the word never wholly disappears to the end of the
Jewish history, although it is in abeyance for a long period
after the return from Babylon. With the new name it is
evident that a new style of religion is introduced, one
which David by his personal influence can enforce on his
own tribe, though not upon the nation generally. Twice do
the other tribes revolt from him during his life-time unsuc-
cessfully, and a third time do they revolt, and successfully,
from under his grandson. As soon as the secession is
complete, the old religion is restored among the mass of
the Jews. They doubtless considered themselves and their
opponents much in the same Hght as catholics and pro-
testants esteem each other now, each beheving himself
See Jah, iu tlie Vocabuliir) .
139
right, and inventing all sorts of stories, good, bad, and
indifferent, about his opponents. The stories current among
the seceded ten tribes about ^•vhat happened in Jerusalem
have not come down to us, although we are quite familiar
with the tales told about the occurrences in Samaria;
miracles being ever performed at a distance from those
who hear of them.
Having attained this point in our investigation, let us
pause awhile, and read over the lessons we have learned :
1. We have learned to doubt the strict truth of history,
even when it comes to man as sacred and infallible. This,
however, is a fact which Ave knew before, as regards other
faiths, although we refused to include our own Scriptures
amongst those to be distrusted.
2. We have learned the value of proper names as indi-
cative of the name and the nature of the deities then wor-
shipped.
8. We have learned the long duration of certain forms of
faith, which have been due to priestly interference with the
individual from the cradle to the grave.
4. Wc have seen that names were not originally here-
ditary, and that they did not become so until individual
families, or nations, were deprived of their ancient priest-
hood.
5. We have seen changes in names tell of a change of
Gods, and that with the alteration new mythoses have been
invented.
As it is always well to try to judge the past by the
light of the present, we may compare the literature of Judah
with that which Eome adopts to adorn her canonised Saints.
With her neither Saint nor Martyr is elevated to his high
place until long after his death, Avhen all those who knew
him personally during life have deceased, and the field is
open for a crop of miracles,— the growth of which is strong
140
and hardy, according to the time and distance intervening
between the faithful and the Saint. The miracles per-
formed by St. Francis Xcavier, in India, surpass by far those
performed in Europe by any other Saint ; and Komish
miracles are far more abundant in those countries where the
papal faith has supremacy, than in protestaut districts, where
the acumen of the people is exercised by the habit encouraged
by their pastors of thinking for themselves in matters of
religion. Protestants do not scruple to deride or pity the
unreasoning faith which induces the devout Romanist to
believe implicitly the sacred stories of canonised moderns;
yet they i-esent, with all the might of superlative bigotry,
the idea that similar stories may have been written by astute
Jewish 23riests in ancient Palestine.
6. We have learned that certain appellatives have de-
scended from the earliest times to our own. Ah, the father,
in the days of Abraham, became Ahha in later times, and in
our own is still to be seen in Abbot and Abbe ; and Melech
or Melchi is still current as Melek and Melchior.
7. We have seen that the Jews adopted into their
nomenclature the names of the Gods of Mesopotamia and
Phoenicia, and from the junction between the Samaritan
Ahab and the Zidonian Jethebaal, in the person of his
daughter Jezebel, we may infer that the religion of the two
famihes was substantially the same. How completely our
views are borne out, will be shown in the subsequent
Vocabulary, by an investigation into all the names of the
Old Testament.
CHAPTER XI.
Symbols — their autiquitj'. The disc or circle. The wheel — its varieties. The
mural ornament. The crescent. The triangle. The double triangle. The
double triangle and the circle. Phallio crosses. Maltese cross. Buddhist cross.
Emblems of the triad. The fleur de lys. The T sign. The cnix ansata. The
shamrock. Pillars in porch of temples. Gilgal. JVIeuhirs and stone heaps.
Symbols of Arba-il. Hindoo signs of the Linga Yoni. Female emblems. The
shell. Sistrum of Isis. The female sign of Assyria — its meaning. The pine
cone and basket. The delta. Sacred shields. The stole. The ship — its
meaning. The mast of the boat. The anchor. The ark. The broad arrow.
Chinese emblems. Biiddhist signs — the fish and triad. The method of
benediction by priest and pope. The mitre. Concluding remarks.
Up to the present time we have been concerned chiefly
with the descent of names from a remote antiquity to our
own days, with their signification when they were first
bestowed by the priest who dictated them, and with the
nature of the Gods worshipped when those names were
current. We now propose to show that certain figures or
symbols enfokl a meaning similar to that enveloped in
many cognomens, and have had a descent equally long.
A vast number of the mystic signs once common in Pagan
worship are still domiciled amongst ourselves ; and the
High Churchman of to-day decorates the edifice in which
he officiates witb symbols similar to tliose which awed the
worshippers of Aslier, Ishtar, or the Sun. To the vast
majority, the signification of the symbols used amongst
moderns is unknown, nor is their origin even suspected ;
but, as is usual amongst theologians, whose policy is to
adapt new ideas to ancient ones, the Church, which adopted
its symbols from Paganism, has invented some story to
account for their existence, which by constant repetition
has been at last adopted as truth.
As it is difficult to arrange symbols according to order,
142
we shall only attempt to do so in a rudimentary fashion.
As all are familiar Avith the serpent and the dove, the obelisk,
the pyramid, the round tower, the menhir, or tall upright
stone, it will be unnecessary to figure them. We may con-
sider, first, the circle or disc in all its varied forms ; secondly,
the triangle ; thirdly, the cross ; fourthly, the signs used to
express the triad; fifthly, the symbols of Arha-il, or the
four great ones, which will be followed by what may be
called female emblems, and other miscellaneous ones.
1. Tlie circle or disc. — This is seen in its rudimentary
T,. „, form in " the Aureole " round the
Figure 24.
^.- head of those endowed with divine
/ \ attributes. At Pompeii and Hercu-
/ \ laneum, numbers of Heathen figures
/ 1 were adorned by this circlet — a pro-
1 1 ceeding very necessary when Gods
'^ / and Goddesses were, and still are,
"""x / pourtrayed by painters as men and
" '" women, who are often wholly nude.
Without such a contrivance, Venus would be simply a naked
woman, and the Virgin Ishtar, or Mary, e. g., the Maria
del Sedia, without a circlet round her head, would resemble
any matron who had a child in her arms.
In modern as well as in ancient art, a variety of plans
have been adopted to make the circle move mysterious.
Sometimes it is painted as if solid, the colour adopted
being golden ; and sometimes it is actually gilded. Some-
times the cross is inscribed therein, in as many different
varieties, or difierent forms, as it is possible to conceive.
Sometimes, by shading, the disc is made to represent an orb,
and that orb is divided into four compartments by a cross
made with triangular arms. The origin of the aureole, or
disc, was the solar orb, which was represented as a circle,
to distinguish it from the moon, whose symbol was the
crescent. Being round, it was soon likened to the wheel of
143
Figure 25.
a, chariot ; and the sun was spoken of as a charioteer driving
through the sky, as Ave see in the chissic story of Phiietou
and his father. A wheel, therefore, was often used as an
emblem of the God (comp. Ezek. i. 16, 20), Fig. 25.
But the sparkling fancy of priestly artists soon improved
upon this plain symbol, and adopted
plans by v,'hich it might be made
to infold an increased amount of
mystery. The outer end of each
spoke was designed thus -"Tj^ as
emblematic of the triad ; or another
design was adopted, as being more
artistic, viz., ''
thus
thus (
Figure 27.
The obvious intention of the last three is to pourtray,
(26), the solar cross, and the mystic four; (27), the solar
cross, the mystic four, and the triad; (28), the solar cross,
the mystic triad, and the eight-rayed star, emblem of the
sun in conjunction with the moon.
144
Great numbers of small leaden medals have been found
in the Seine at Paris, in which one or other of these symbols
is depicted on one side, while on the obverse is the character-
istic emblem of the male or female sex.
To this day, the very ancient parish church of Bebington,
Cheshire, has not only the Solar Wheel, each spoke of which
terminates in a triad, as one of the adornments of the
Reredos, but it abounds with Deltas, Acorns, Maltese crosses,
infolding triangles, and Virgins, who, like the ancient Isis,
are crowned with the inverted crescent, the chaplet being
still farther adorned with the seven planets.
A further development of the solar emblem seems to
have been adopted by some. This may have arisen from a
Chaldee source, since a circle so adorned exists in the
Assyrian Collection in the British Museum, viz., the addi-
tion of something like fortifications round the outside ring,
as represeuted in the lower half of Fig. 27; a device which
reminds us of the mural crown, and of ISIan/, the mother
of the world. Now the addition of the tower to the head
of female deities (see Fig. 14, p. 105), was to indicate
that the individual was a pure virgin, unapproachable to
the forces of temptation. We see the use of this metaphor
in the Song of Solomon viii. 9, 10, which in Ginsburg's
translation, p. 189, is, " If she be like a wall, we will build
upon her a silver turret," Hence we conclude that the
addition of the mural design to the outer circumference
of the Solar Wheel was to indicate the belief of the
artist who adopted it, that the Sun was feminine as well
as masculine. As the disc was sometimes used without
the cross, so the cross was used sometimes without the
disc ; a fact to which we shall refer shortly. The crescent
has always been, as it is now, a lunar emblem, and a sign
or symbol of the Celestial virgin. As such it appears on
ancient gems and sculptures. Sometimes it is associated with
the Sun, the latter orb fitting in as it were into the hollow
145
Figure 29.
between the moon's horns. Sometimes the two are poiir-
trayed side by side. Occasionally the sign is inverted, and
attached to the head of a female deity, as in the annexed
figure of Isis. A figure of a similar
design, though slightly differing in
detail, is said by archaeologists to
have been worn by the Arch Druids;
and many Avill remember that the
most ancient forms of money with
which we are acquainted were golden
crescents, of varying size and weight,
which are to be found equally in
the bogs of Ireland, and along the
coasts of Africa. As coins were first
adorned by effigies of the favourite deity, so the shapes they
assumed ere dies were invented Vvere those of the crescent ;
and the ancient " ring money,"' as it is termed, tells us of
the worship of the Yoni in primeval times.
The triaiuilc plays an important part in the mysteries of
India, and amongst the Freemasons generally; it seems to
have been equally important in the olden time. I cannot
remember to have seen it fignred on any Assyrian or Chaldee
sculpture, birt it is conspicuous enough in ancient Egypt,
where the triangle and the four-sided pyramid may be seen
towering high above the ground, the form usually adopted
Figure 30. bciug equilateral ; it is at once
an emblem of a trinity, three
in one, and of Arha, where all
are co - equal. The triangle
resembles the flame of sacred
fire emerging from the holy
lamp ; and placed (as in Fig.
30) with its apex uppermost, it
typifies the phallic triad. With
its base upwards, it typifies
146
what is known to anatomists as the Mous Veneris, the Delta,
or the door through which all come into the world. The
Figure 31. uuion of these two triangles
(as in Fig. 31) typifies the
male and female principles
uniting with each other, and
producing a new figure, a
star, while each retains its
own identity.
With a line drawn across
(at (?),the symbol became the
shield of David, or the cele-
brated seal of Solomon, with
which he mastered the Ge-
nii.^
Fig. 32 is practically the same symbol as Fig. 31 ; it exists
on the celebrated gates of Somnauth ; and Fig. 33 is a
Figure 33.
Figure 32
See KiTTo's Cyclopccdia, article Amulet.
147
Bnddhist emblem, in 'Rliicli the two triangles instearl of
intertwining are nnited b}- the serpent, the emblem of desire.
This also is to be seen on Somnanth's gates.^ From the
same source as the last two, the next diagram is taken.
This is a mnch more complicated symbol than any others
we have yet seen. In Hindostan it is called the Sri lautra,
s\y
WEST
and is a Buddhist emblem. It is an ornament in the Royal
Masonic Arch, and is to be met with in our old parish
churches. The use made of it by the faithful is this : — the
triangles are placed according to the points of the compass,
Siva being to the North; — or rather Brahma to the East,
and Laksmi to the West; then a sacred relic, or small
image of Buddah, is placed in the central circle, and prayers
are then uttered, whatever they may be. The symbol signi-
fies, the world within the universe, as well as the male and
- Journal Hoijal Asiatic >':>ociety, vol. xiii., p. 79.
148
female trinities, combined with each other, yet distinct, i. c,
two triads, where each is equal to the other. Amongst
the Buddhists this symbol has a great variety of forms:
in one the central circle is raised like a dome, which may
either represent the round world, the full womb, or the navel
of Vishnu ; in another it is complicated with the Lotus, the
emblem of self-fertihsing power ; but I have not reproduced
them here, as the signs are never used amongst ourselves.
There is yet another combination of triangles, which is repre-
sented by Figure 35 ; it is both Indian and Figm-e 35.
Greek; but I am unable to divine its use, A
or, if it be symbolic, its meaning, farther ^ /\ ^
than to suppose that it describes in mystic \/ \ /
form the union of perfection under the double / ../\ \
five or ten lines— ten being the emblem of ' ' A
perfectness — with the double and infolding triangles.
Another form of triangle is, as I have mentioned, the
four-sided pyramid, where the numbers three and four are
united. Another is the cone, the representative of the
Paphian Venus ; the most popular one of antiquity was a
conical stone. Tacitus thus speaks of it : " The statue of
the Goddess bears no resemblance to the human form. It
is round throughout, broad at one end, and gradually tapering
to a narrow span at the other, like a goal. The reason of
this is not ascertained. The cause is stated by Philostratus
to be symbolic." ^
"In all Cyprian coins," says Lajard, Recherchcs sur la
Culte de Venus, p. 36, &c., "from Augustus to Macrinus,
may be seen in the place where we should anticipate to find
a statue of the Goddess, the form of a conical stone. The
same is found placed between two cypresses under tbe portico
of the temple of Astarte, in a medal of .^lia CapitoHna; but
in this instance the cone is crowned. In another medal,
8 Tacitus, HUtory, book ii., c. b.
149
struck by the elder Philip, Venus is represented between
two genii, each of whom stands upon a cone or pillar with
a rounded top. There is reason to believe, that at Paphos,
images of the conical stone were made and sold as largely
as were effigies of Diana of the Ephesians."
Again we read in the same Author, " JNIedals and
engraved stones demonstrate that the hieratic prescriptions
required that all those hills which were consecrated to
Jupiter should be represented in a conical form. At Sicony,
Jupiter was adored under the form of a pyramid."
Again, — " The cone w^as one of the symbols peculiar to
many of the gnostic sects. It had sometimes a funereal
sense. A cone in the possession of Mons. Lajard, which
was found at Aleppo, proves that in the first centuries
of our era the conical form was also employed for Christian
monuments, since the one in question has engraved upon
it the bust of Christ, with the letters XP I C T 0 Y. Below
the bust there is a fish.
Both the cone and the phallus had the double sense of
life and death.
The union of ideas about the cone, the square, and
the pillar are seen in the pyramids and obelisks, and the
frequency Avith which altars were made conical, square,
cylindrical, or with an union of all these forms.
The cone was essentially a female emblem. The pillar
was a male sign. The square, or the four-sided cune, w^as
the emblem of the union of the sexes.
Lajard also adds (ibid. p. 63, &c.), that "Monsieur Creuzer
found amongst the ruins of Carthage a large conical stone,
which he considered to be a representation of the female
Venus." He also mentions many smaller cones which he
had found in Greece, some of them bearing the name
Aphrodite. In Gozo a conical monumental stone was found
in one of the niches oi the ruins of a temple which had been
150
sacred to Astarte. Man}' other small cones have been found
which have evidently been worn in personal ornamentation,
or as charms, and these have iisuall}^ been engraved with
doves or other mystic devices. It must be noted that
Lajard is speaking of the Androgynous Venus, not the
Grecian Goddess of desire.
The ordinary pawnbrokers' sign, often called the Lom-
bards' sign, is another form of the triangle, as old at least
as the Babylonian empire.
There can be no doubt, I think, in the mind of any
student of antiquity, that the cross is not originally a
Christian emblem ; nay, the very fact that the cross was
used as a means of executing criminals shows that its
form was familiar to Jews and Romans. It was used
partly as an ornament, and partly in certain forms of
religious worship. The simple cross, with perpendicular
and transverse arms of equal length, represented the nave
and spokes of the solar wheel, or the Sun darting his
rays on all sides. As the wheel became fantastically
developed, so did the cross, and each limb became so
developed at the outer end, as to symboHse the triad.
Sometimes the idea was very coarsely represented ; and I
have seen, amongst some ancient Etruscan remains, a
cross formed of four phalli of equal length, their narrow
end pointing inwards ; and in the same work another was
pourtrayed, in which one phahus was made of inordinate
length, so as to support the others high up from the ground ;
each was in itself a triad. The same form of cross was
probably used by the PhcEuicians, Avho appear to have
colonised Malta at an early period of their career ; for they
have left a form of it behind them, in the shape of a cross
similar to that described above, but which has been toned
down by the moderns, who could not endure the idea of an
union between grossness and the crucifix, and the phalli
151
became fis innocent as we see them in the Maltese Cross
of to-day.
Figure 3fi.
V
In this form of cross the male organ is depicted as per-
pendicular to the scrotum and its contents. In another
form — one which is chiefly used amongst the Buddhists, but
which is sometimes spoken of, I know not on what authority,
as Thor's hammer — Asher is represented at right angles
with Ann and Hoa. In the one depicted below (Fig. 38),
Figure 38.
there is an union of four male organs, which are compHcatcd
farther by four emblems of the Yoni, in shape resembling a
barley corn, four triple triangles, and four conjunctions of the
Sun and Moon. The figure goes by the name of Swasti.*
i See Journal of Royal Asiatic Society, vol. xviii., p. 391, a reference to which
152
Besides these, tliere were many other forms of cross adopted
which would symhoHse in one emblem a multiplicity of
doctrines ; for example, each of the three upper limbs has
been modified in this manner —
Figure 39.
M-T— • ' 01" still farther
Figure 4C
.
^
--A
^~
.^-^-
both of which are suggestive of the trinity and the triangle
and we occasionally see the same upper limbs modified thus
0
=^
forms which are not only suggestive of the trinity, but of the
nature of the triad as it was originally understood. Another
and very ancient form of the cross is similar to our
letter T, as f ; the ancient Tan, If, in Phcenician ; X T
in ancient Hebrew ; and 4 ~f in old Greek. In the form
of "f , it symbolises the Phallic triad ; and when a handle
was given to it, as in the crux ansata, as in Figure u.
Fig. 44, it became the " emblem of life," under , ^ |
which name it is familiar to the Egyptologist, |
and to most antiquarians. It typifies the arha-il, the four
great Gods of the Assyrian mythology, to which we have
already referred. It was with the cross, in the form of the
Tau, that Ezekiel was directed to stamp the foreheads of the
men of Judah, who feared the Lord (Ezek. ix. 4) ; ^ and
will show that three leathers joiued together, like those in our Prince of Wales' cap,
is also a Buddhist emhlem.
B The words iu the Hebrew are in H'-inni, translated by the Vulgate, et signa
rAa«, i.e., marked Tau on their foreheads, whicli letter, in the ancient Hebrew,
was formed thus : J— or ^x;|_
153
our Christian kings find queens still use the old Egyptian
symbol of life as the coronation orb/' "p^
The particular form of cross which is connected with
Saint Andrew, and called after his name, is of Assyrian
origin. At first it represented the dove attached to the
nave of the solar wheel, with wings and legs extended ;
and in later times, the cross was used in this particular
form to depict the holy dove — the bird sacred to Venus.
When we see a symbol like this descend from the remotest
antiquity to current times, and often without its meaning
being suspected, we may well believe that names, which
have essentially the same meaning, may have descended
in like manner. The genius of mankind generally is
eminently conservative : Ave copy, as far as we can, the
past. In coronations, prorogations, proclamations, and
everything which relates to royalty and government, pre-
cedents are sought for ; and past practice has more power
than present needs. There are not many, who, like the
first Napoleon, will crown themselves, instead of submitting
to be crowned by a priest ; and few, like the present
Napoleon, who would venture, when on a throne, to consult
(in the choice of a consort) private feelings more than state
customs. It is this constaut clinging to examples and
antiquity which enables us to-day to recognise the past
in the present, as clearly as if our individual age had been
prolonged equally with that of Methuselah.
The symbols which are intended to represent the triad,
or trinity, arc numerous ; they stand either alone, or in com-
bination with other signs, e.g., the cross and the triangle.
The most conspicuous is the compound leaf of the trefoil.
Modern story has attributed to St. Patrick the idea of
demonstrating a trinity in unity, by showing the shamrock
6 For faitlier iuformatiou on the cross, see the article Cross, iu the Vocivbulury.
164
to his hearers ; but, like many other things attributed to
the modems, the idea belongs to the ancients. In a very
celebrated temple of the Sun at Marttand, in Cashmere, the
trefoil ornament abounds, and its intention has evidently
been to expound the Vedic trinity. Close to the temple once
stood, but now lies in ruins, an enormous and curiously
carved emblem of Mahadeva, the Assyrian Asshur. In
the entrance court to this temple are two emblematic
pillars. Two similar pillars stood before the temple of the
Syrian Goddess, or the Female Sun ; they were so built
that their likeness to the thing signified was unmistake-
able, and fi-om their summits the prayers of the people
were offered up. The account given by Lucian' is to the
effect, that at a certain festival a man worked himself
up on the outside by means of a rope, and that when he
reached the top he let down a string. To this the faithful
attached a basket containing offerings and forms of prayer,
which were drawn up to the summit. The man remained
on duty for seven days and nights. It is not without
interest that we observe Solomon, the special friend of the
Phoenician Hiram, erecting two pillars before his temple,
one of which he called Jachin, and the other Boaz — =the
one meaning "the strong one," the other, "the active one."
Few who are familiar with the notions then current can
doubt the meaning of the symbol ; nor can we refuse to
see in them the origin of the two spires or towers which
adorn so many continental and some British Cathedrals.
I cannot also help believing that the liir/Ji places, so often
spoken of in Scripture as having been erected by some and
pulled down by other kings, had a phallic origin. Nor,
while upon this subject, can I refrain from noticing that
Colonel Leslie® calls attention to Galgals, or circular heaps
7 Dc ded Syria.
8 The Eurlij Baccs of Scotland, vol. ii., 8vo. ; Ediiiburgli, Edmonstone & Douglas.
155
of stones siirmounted by a tall pillar, which are abundant in
England and Western France. He ably demonstrates that
they were used for council and for justice, and calls our
attention to the influence of Gilgal in the time of Samuel
the Judge. His circuit courts were held at Bethel, Gilgal,
and Mizpeh — "the house of the Sun," "the wheel" (or
" circuit," or "the Sun's heap "), and " the tower " (Asher)
respectively. Even in the book of Joshua, we find that
Gilgal had a phallic significance; there it was that a huge
heap of foreskins from all the host of Israel's men was
made. We may, however, comparing this Syrian heap with
those elsewhere, conceive that it had a difierent origin, and
a different meaning. There is in all Galgals a central
menhir and a circular heap of stones, to which all passers-by
used to add one. The outline of the mound thus produced
Figure 45.
is this II in perspective thus :
Now one of the most common of the emblems of the phallic
Fig. 47. Fig. 4S.
A A
triad is A \ or "x y and we can readily c-onceive that
the fertile fancy of the devout might induce them to increase
the proportions of each part, — the perpendicular and the
horizontal indefinitely, — and pourtray Mahadeva with as
many emblems of virility as they have given emblems of
nourishment to Diana of the Ephesiaus. We might willingly
shut our eyes to a few isolated facts, but when all bear so
unmistakeably in one direction, we cannot do so. Even
156
the trefoil has been selected as an emblem, because it
contains a double or a treble mystery;
the shape of the Avhole leaf is this —
Each leaflet is notched in its outer mar-
gin, and when taken separately, thus, V
Fig. 50. (^ig- ^0') i^ suggestive of the up-
right pyramid, and the sacred bag,
/ \ the scrotum ; and if there were a
LvJ fourth leaflet, we should recognise
the same idea as in the Etruscan
Maltese cross.
Another favourite emblem of the triad, or, as the moderns
believe, of the sacred trinity, is the Fleiir de Lys of France,
a symbol Avhich Avill readily be recognised in the following
figure as emblematic of the male organ, as the corres-
ponding figure on the left is of the female —
The use of this flower in modern heraldry reminds us
of the time of Solomon, and the famous temple which he
built. In it were sundry carvings of lilies, open flowers,
pomegranates, and palm trees, as well as the cherubim,
the bull-headed creatures which figure so largely in the
Assyrian palaces. Now there cannot be a doubt that
Solomon did not know our modern trinity, for the second
and third persons in it had not then been manifested ; but
157
Figure 53.
he did know the mystic meaning of the lotus, the
granate (Rimmon), and the pahn tree (Asshur), and
these have reference to male and female attributes, we
conceive the lily had the same.
We awhile ago spoke of the Tan, T, a sa cross;
also an emblem of the triad. I doubt not that the
leg of ancient Sicilia, and now j^j„,^j.g 50.
adopted by the Isle of Man, as
the Insular emblem, had a similar
significance. The Lombard sign
o o Qp o ^^,j^g ^igQ emblematic of 1
000 I
the same. The symbols of Arha- |
il or the four great Gods, were —
Figure 55. Figure 56.
t
pome-
as all
must
il -9-
o
{b
A
The Hindoo forms are
Figure 57.
Figure 61.
This, of which the large earth-
work of Avehury is possibly an
example, represents the Arba
under another form. It is also
Neho and Arglia.
158
The celebrated Golden Shields, of Solomon and others,
will be referred to under the next heading.
We come now to speak of what Ave may designate female
emblems. It may easily be nnderstood that few peo^ole, if
any, would be so gross as to nse in religious worship true
simulacra of those parts, which their owners think it shame-
ful to speak of, and a punishment or reproach publicly to
show.® There is therefore circumlocution in language,
symbolism in sculpture, &c., wherever reference is made
to them. Words and figures are adopted which are suffi-
ciently veiled not to be understood by the multitude,
yet significant enough to indicate them to the initiated.
The palm-tree and the pomegranate, the tower and the
winepress, are quite innocent in common conversation, while
in mythoses they have a hidden meaning. The scholar is
of course aware that there were occasions on which no such
reticence was used, and where an excessive shamelessness
prevailed. Of their nature it is unnecessary to speak, farther
than to say that the exposures were made with a religious
idea, such as that, probably, which actuated David when he
leaped and danced before the ark."
The moderns, who have not been initiated in the ancient
mysteries, and only know the emblems considered sacred,
have need of both anatomical knowledge and physiological
lore ere they can see the meaning of many a sign, I have
already referred to the triangle, — the Greek "Delta," the
door of life, — which is simply another name for the part
known also as Concha,^^ a shell. This little fact leads us
9 See Geu. ix. 21-27, Isca. iii. 17, Hos. ii. 3., etc.
10 See 2 Sam. vi. 14, IG, 20, 21, aucl Ecfod. ii. GO.
11 " The female organs of generation were revered {August de Civ. Dei., lib.
vi., c. 9) as symbols of the generative powers of nature or matter, as the male were
of the generative power of God. Tbey are nsnally represented emblematically, by
the shell, or Concha Veneris, which was therefore worn by devout persons of
antiquity, as it still continues to be by pilgi'ims and many of the common women
of Italy. The union of both was expressed by the hand, mentioned in Sir William
Hamilton's letter, which, being a less explicit symbol, has escaped the attention of
159
on to notice that the Roman Chm-ch, specially adapted as it
is to the worship of the female element in the Virgin Mary,
enjoins npon her pilgrims to wear a shell as I'ignre G-2.
part of their dress, and a hat resembling the
shield of Solomon ; while pilgrims to the shrine
of an old black Venus, but now known as the
Virgin of Amadou, in France, wear a medal
whose shape tells of its hidden meaning.
Another of the names for "the door " is navis,
a ship or ark, to which we shall refer at length by and by.
A glance at the Hindoo figures on page 157 will show
that one of the conventional signs adopted to express
Saraiswati, the sacred Sacti, or female principle, was shaped
somewhat like an ear-drop, or a boy's battledore. Its union
with the pillar prevents our doubting the signification.
When we meet, therefore, with the sistrum of Isis, we have
Figiu-e 63. little difficulty in recognising the same
idea. But the latter symbol embodies a
J} different idea to the Yoni ; the bars across
it, bent so that they cannot be taken out,
show that the door is closed. It repre-
sents the mother who is still virgo intacta,
a true alma mater. The pure virginity of
the celestial mother was a tenet of faith
for two thousand years before the Virgin
now adored was born. The ^bars signify
a religious, not a mundane, idea ; and it
is probable that the symbol typifies both
the vagina and the uterus ; but this may
be refining too far.
Amongst the Assyrians we have the
same idea typified under a difierent form.
the reformers, and is still -worn as -well as the shell by the women of Italy, though
without being imderstood. It represented the act of generation, which was con-
sidered as a solemn sacrnment in honour of the Creator, as will be more fully
shown hereafter." K. P. Knight, Oh the ^i'orsldi) of Priapus, new edition, p. 28.
160
la
^__=iiii
Fio-ure 06.
161
In each of these figures there are
certain things in common — a central
fissure, the '^?P.^, or nekehali of the
Hehrews — the entrance to which is
barred, in all, by curiously contrived
rings, somewhat more artistic than the
single rods in the Sistrum. Above
each fissure is a fan-like ornament,
Avhich represents the clitoris, divided
into seven parts, apparently to indicate
the planets ; and around the w'hole is a fringe, the lanugo,
fantastically arranged, moix aitticjuo, in tufts by ribbons.
At first sight there appears to be a difterence between Figure
64 and Figures 65 and 66 ; but there is not so much as
there seems. The Figures 64 and 67 have thirteen tufts
in all ; whilst Figure 65, counting the top knot as common,
has thirteen on each side. This number suggests an
explanation. iVt every lunar period the female has an
affection which, by its regularity, has received the name of
menses, or catamenia, and there are thirteen of these periods
in a year. In Figure 64, six stars are seen on the left ; these
we presume are six of the planets, the symbol itself standing
for the seventh ; but for which of all the planets it is intended
to pass, we have small indication. As the six are divided
into groups of two and four, we presume that it is neither the
Sun nor the Moon which is symbolised. Of the other planets,
inference would lead us to select Venus, Alitta, or Mylitta.
In Figure 65, we find four attendants pointing towards
the symbol; each one of the inner pair points a finger,
leaving the rest of the hand clasped. The shape of the
hand is of itself suggestive of the signification of the
symbol. Behind the first devotees are two others, each one
of whom carries in one hand a bag, while with the other he
I.
162
presents a pine cone, which in shape resembles the testis of
the male. The bag, sometimes called a basket, puzzled me
for a long time, and I could find no satisfactory explanation
of its meaning. The first clue was given by noticing that
it was sometimes adorned by doves, which suggested the idea
that the symbol had an amatory design. The shape of the
pine cone, which resembles so closely those organs found in
the scrotum, commonly called " the purse," induced me to
search for the Hebrew word signifying the same. I found it
to be D''?, Cls or Kis, a name borne by the father of Saul, a
Benjamite, and consequently having a mystical meaning.^^
'Another link in the chain was afforded by a discovery of the
true etymology of Ashcalon ; whilst a reference to Proverbs
xvi. 11, with the marginal reading, and another to Deut.
xxviii. 4, 11, 17, 18, served to increase the presumption.
The links are scarcely yet so complete as to make a perfect
chain, yet I think there is quite sufficient evidence to lead to
the belief that the signification of " the bag " is that it forms
one of the many other symbols of abundant manly vigour,
and hence is one of the offerings presented to the symbol
of the female."
In Figure 65, the winged figure above seems to repre-
sent the celestial bowman, who stands in the pennate
emblem, which was originally formed by the body and wings
of the dove. He is identical with the god known to the
Greeks as " the far darting Phoebus Apollo." Both the bow
and arrow have a hidden meaning ; the classical scholar will
remember that they are the weapons borne by Cupid.
For an explanation of the Figure 66, copied from
12 In searching for tbe siguification of the various names of the Israelites, I
have founcT that there are more names, of what may be called idolatrous and
amatory origin, in the tribe of Benjamin than in any other — a fact which tallies
closely with the account given in Judges xix. 22-25 of their general character.
w Compare Num. xxiv. 7, " water out of ids buckets."
163
Layard's Nineveh, I am indebted mainly to the Rev. S.
Lysons. "On the left," he remarks, "stands a tower —
(Thor, Tor, Qupu, y?^") door (Dutch), diilira (Sanscrit), doar
(Hindoo) — with a door open. 'I am the A,' originally A
amongst tent livers; hut j j and fl amongst those dwelling
in stone, &c., habitations. Through thft door of the tower
is seen the sacred fire burning; the priest approaches in
adoration, with sacrificial knife in hand ; the tree of life
stands behind him, and the victim bull behind." I am not
sure whether there may not be another signification. The
bull, with the serpent round its neck, is an emblem of
desire and power, yet it comes to salute the Yoni. The
tower, emblem of the Linga, is useless without a door ; that
door is the gate of life, and the priest does homage to
the combination. When we remember that there was a
Temple in Babylon where, once in a lifetime, an act of
prostitution was enforced as an act of religion, we can fancy
that the sculpture may have adorned it.
It will be in the recollection of the Biblical student, that
Solomon made a great number of golden shields, which he
placed in the forest palace at Lebanon; that these shields
were subsequently taken away by Shishak, and replaced by
Rehoboam with brazen ones. It is clear that the first could
not have been for use in war, and the chronicler distinctly
tells lis that the second were only used when the king went to
the temple to worship." They had, then, a mystic^meaning.
There were sacred shields also in ancient Rome. So far as I
can judge from analogy, I think that the shape of the shield
was like Figures 08 and 69, in full view and profile. Figure
68 represents the os uteri or os tincce ; whilst Figure 69
represents the navel of Vishnu, the Nahbi or Nebo. Amongst
the Templars, whose order was the storehouse of many an old
i-i lin or in, thor, or tor, is a turtle dove.
16 2 Chron. xii. 10, 11.
164
heathenism, the shield adopted for their tombs Figure 70.
was shaped like Figure 70. We can, by a
stretch of imagination, fancy that the form
was peculiarly adapted for warfare, but we
cannot so explain the use of the central
boss. The whole so closely resembles the
Nebo, and the Hindoo Argha, that we can
scarcely doubt its mystic meaning.
I have already mentioned that liimmon, the pomegranate,
typified by its shape the full womb. The same idea is
apparent in designating the sacti as ncid^is, or a ship. There
were many varieties of the sacred ship, ark, or boat : it was
represented by a cymbal (emblem also of Nebo), a tambourine,
a dish, the crescent moon, a long narrow oval, &c. The
Mast, Mat, or Mate of the boat was represented as a pole,
or an erect man. The Hebrew word for Mast is ]~}^ (toren),^^
which has a meaning analogous to tower, &c.
Now the myth might be symbolised by a small figure in
a small boat, or by a man surrounding himself as it were by
a symbolic figure. The Sistrum of Isis and the Hindoo
Argha was shaped thus
the mystic boat was
Figure 72.
shaped thus
The priest had but to perforate these and wear them over
his shoulders, and he then became the representative of the
male and female elements combined.
Compai-e Torrens, Torr, Tur, &c.
165
This portion of dress, which was called a stole, was
originally worn in such a manner, that the hack view of
the wearer resembled the front. Subsequently, however, the
form of the stole was made on the pattern of the Isian
Sistrum, and we see it worn by priest and nun, as in the
following wood-cuts.
FiRure 73. Figure 74.
It is curious to recognise in the nun the ancient name of
the fish, and in her dress to recognise the navis ; whilst she
personifies, as best she may, the role of a celestial virgin.
Equally strange is it to see the mediaeval priest adorned
around" his head by the solar disc, on his crown by the
pagan tonsure, whilst on liis shoulders he bears the Isian
mantle, adorned by Phallic crosses, and terminating in the
mystic T- In l^is ^^^^> ^bich is shaped like that of the
priests who officiate before the Assyrian Yoni, he holds the
pomegranate, apple, or other emblem of the full womb, and
166
his seat is aclornecl by heads and claws, coarse imitations
of Nineveh's symbolic representations of divinity. If the
artist had given him a mitre, the hnk between the Assyrian
and the Koman priest would have been complete, inasmuch
as the mitre, which adorns the heads of bishops, both in the
Roman and our own church, is one of the many remains of
Paganism in Christendom — the mitre being nothing more
nor less than a representation of the head of a fish with
an open mouth. Many priests or divinities in Nineveh are
depicted as being clothed with a huge fish, whose head
towers above their own. As it would of course be incon-
venient to wear the whole animal, the head was used to
typify the body generally, and the mitre was formed to
represent the head. (See Fig. 19, page 112.)
We have said that one of the names for the female organ
is navis, or the ship. The idea connected with the word
is a complicated one. Cicero remarks" '' Non ignoramus
vocabulum navis adhiberi interdum ad significandas corporis
cavas illas partes quas qui dividit naufrag'mm facere solet."
Macrobius'® tells us of a saying of the dissolute Julia, — "At
enim ait ilia nunquam nisi navi plena tollo vectorem." The
ship, or boat, is in Egyptian mythology closely associated
with the ark, or an ark; and we are told by Eawhnson^"
that every Assyrian divinity had an ark or a ship, whose
Semitic equivalent Avas Elippa, or Chaldee ^??''5, Alpa ; and I
think we may consider such names as Bartsippa, or Borsippa,
to mean the Son of the Ship. It is singular to find that
there is in the Cuneiform the very name of Shqo, which is
translated "monarch." The idea of a ship, carrying safely to
a sure haven all who embarked in her, gave the title nave to
the long body of a cathedral ; and, to carry out the metaphor,
w Scip., Saturnalia, lib. i., cap. xsviii.
18 See Sat. i. 11 ; vi. 5.
19 Journal of Royal Asiatic Society, vol. xviii., p. 23 — note.
167
the mast was replaced b}^ a tower and spire. The
ship required an anchor, and this became a Chris- i^'
tian emblem. This symbol is cmionsly made up. C/"^
The curve represents the crescent moon and the ^"^<__
female navis ; the mast of the boat was the linga,
wreathed by the serpent ; the yard across the mast made it a
Christian emblem ; and there are many who speak of it as
" an anchor of the soul, sure and stedfast." It is unfortunate,
however, for the metaphor, that the anchor thus pourtrayed
is one which is called by the sailors a foul one, i. e., one
which icill not hold. Sir G. Wilkinson tells us, that some
of the sacred boats or arks contained the emblems of life,
stability, &c., ; and a glance at the article Ark, in Kitto's
CydopcBdia, will show how intensely mythical the ark was.
The reader of it will notice the union of the mural orna-
ment with a moon-shaped boat, whose stem and stern are
adorned by the Solar Virgin, and whose steersman uses a
rudder held by a serpent, — in the centre is a chest over-
shadowed by the sun, the serpent, and the dove's (?) wings.
The iimral ornament associates the symbol with Ceres, the
fruitful mother, while the crescent moon associates it with
Diana, the chaste virgin, yet the presider over births. Putting
all these considerations together, it seems probable that the
navis signifies the organ in which everything sails into life.
Nor, when we speak of life as a river, and time as an ocean,
is it an unfair metaphor to call that by which we are carried
on to the waters " a boat ; " and it still holds good when it is
spoken of receiving the most precious store of man, carrying
it as cargo, and ultimately discharging it at another port.
Though we have long ceased to use the ship metaphorically,
the Komish Church still uses the ark as a receptacle for that
she holds most precious, and amongst her hierarchy it goes
by the name of Pyx.
168
It is curious that the broad arrow now used Fig. 76.
in England as a mark of royal ownership is but a
modification of the anchor mentioned on the last
page, and a sign long in use in Hindostan to mark
Fi£;. 77. Fig. 78.
the female principle, or Sacti.
H-=-j=°H
and
+'
signs used to seal the jars of holy water taken from the
Fig. 79.
Nile and Ganges ; and
tti
the trident which Britannia
sways is one of the symbols of Siva, the terrible.
Figiu-e .80.
Fig. 80 is a well known pattern amongst us to-day, and
at the same time an ancient Chinese emblem of the equal
division of the world into Sun and Moon, Gods and God-
desses, Males and Females, and goes by the name of
Taekieh.
ao Figure 78 is the same as that represented as Tlior's Hammer, in page 151.
169
One of tlie most remarkable of ancient Biiddhist emblems,
is Figure 2, Plate III. It consists of two fishes, so inclined
towards eacli otlier as to represent an irregular circle. Above
them is a representation of the phallic triad ; the whole
forining a representation of the four great gods— Arha-il.
On the same page will be seen three human hands ; the
single one typifies the triad, and is a representation of
the form adopted by the Pope while he blesses the faithful.
The joined hands depict the figure adopted by the Hebrew
Priest to the present day, when he pronounces a benediction
on his flock ; each hand typifies the triad, whilst their
junction symbolises the single element ; the whole thus
forming, like the Buddhist sign, an emblem of the " four
great gods," from whom all creation was said to have arisen.
Amongst the emblems of antiquity used by us to the
present day, the cock stands foremost. His Latin name
Gallus comes directly from Gal or Gula, the Shemitic sun ;
and he has evidently been supposed to be sacred to that God,
because he is the most noisy of all the birds who proclaim
returning day. I do not find any reference to it in Hebrew,
nor any word which seems to be nearer to our word than
">??, which is identical with cicar,— the meaning being
" a circle," " a globe," " a cake." The name Gal, Gula,
or Gallus, resembles the Hebrew ^^5^ galah, "to be or to
make naked;" the same letters, pointed as Gla, !^?^, signify,
in Chaldee,' "to reveal;" as Gula, "a fountain," "spring,"
" source," " bowl," " ball," or " small globe," The Latin
scholar will readily remember the number of names com-
pounded with Gal in that language ; e.g., Gallus, Galba, &c.;
whilst the Briton can point to Galbraith, Galan, Galatti,
Gailey, Gale, Gallaher, Gallia, Galloway, &c. In the dawn
of Roman history we hear of a mighty nation known as
Gauls, whose leader, Brennus, is almost as famihar to
our ears as Brown ; and at the present day the French
170
still have the name of Gauls, whilst their national emblem
is a cock. The curious in such matters know that the
cock is a word not solely descriptive of the bird, and that
there are many names amongst us compounded from it;
e.g., Alcock, Cockburn, &c., as there were Roman appel-
latives derived from the Latin Gallus.
We have thus seen how much, even in trifling details,
of what once was ancient has come down to present times,
and we may fairly conclude that names of certain families
and places may be equally old.
171
In the originn,] draft of this Essay, I proceeded to
demonstrate the antiquity of many of the names in current
use in Great Britain ; but finding that the ground had
been ah-eady occupied by the Eev. S. Lysons/^ I altered the
plan of my work, and determined to begin by investigating
ancient names, and to work down the stream of time,
rather than continue to inquire into modern appellatives,
and work up against the current of ag<.is. After various
alterations in design, my labours assumed the form of a
Vocabulary, which is intended to assist the independent
student, and to record ancient names, with a view to show
their etymology.
It has been my desire to avoid, as far as possible, the
reproduction of the lucubrations of others ; where I have
assented to current ideas, it has not been without examining
them for myself; and where I have dissented, it has been
thought unnecessary to quote statements simply to refute
them.
Here and there, under Rebekicah, for example, the old
or common explanation will be found in addition to my own,
in order that the reader may compare the two, and judge of
their relative value. The Vocabulary could be made far more
complete, by quoting largely from Mr. Lysous' book. But if
it were fair to that author that I should do so, such a pro-
ceeding would be unfair to my reader, who might think he
had thus obtained the cream of Mr. Lysons' book, and deem
it unnecessary to go for the milk, thus losing a great treat.
It will be found that the majority of the names given
are of Biblical origin. I have not, to my knowledge,
21 Our British Ancestors : Who and What were They ? By tlie Bev. 8. Lysous,
M.A., F.S.A. Parker, Oxford and Loudou, 1865.
172
omitted one single proper name which is found in the Old
Testament. Until I had laboriously worked them all out, I
was not justified in drawing any general conclusions. Nor,
until I found that all formed a sort of harmonious whole, did
I dare to allow myself to form a theory. In going once over
the list, my knowledge increased so much, that it was
advisable to go over the whole a second time. After doing
so, I felt justified in drawing the conclusions which have
been enunciated in the preceding chapters. Amongst the
Scriptural names which follow, are intermingled Assyrian,
Phcenician, Carthaginian, Egyptian, and some Hindoo names,
for the purpose of comparison. There are also a few Hebrew
roots, which are introduced to show the probable origin of
some of our current Enghsh words. There will also be
found a few articles on subjects cognate with the inquiry
into ancient and modern faiths.
It will be evident to the reader that a Vocabulary, the
printing of which succeeds that of the Introductory Chapters,
may differ from them, in consequence of the Author having
increased opportunities for studying his subject. Where-
ever, therefore, he has seen occasion to modify his views, his
more matured opinions will be found in the following pages.
VOCABULAEY.
A, N, or Aleph, " a bull," the first letter in the Phoenician and
the Hebrew alphabets, was originally formed in such
a manner as to depict, coarsely, the horned head of a
bull. It closely resembled our own A inverted, i. e.,
y. It has been always used to express the idea of
power or energy, and amongst the Phoenicians it
represented both a memorial stone and a man. As a
numeral it stands for 1 ; and it is curious to notice
how naturally we ourselves combine the idea of the
head of the Alphabet and the first numeral, in
speaking of certain ships being A 1 at Lloyd's. The
name of the letter is reproduced in Greek as "AAcf;«,
and fancy considers that Aleph may be the parent
of the Danish Ohf. We may certainly recognise the
name in E^cjj//ant — the beast being supposed to
be a big bull, when first it appeared amongst the
Phoenicians. As the bull was supposed to open the
year with his horns at the vernal equinox, so the
letter ultimately was adopted as a symbol of the bull
and all his power ; and, as such, it was occasionally
used as a talisman. The Biblical student is familiar
with its use as, "AA$«, in theology, the Alpha and
Omega, the first and the last, being one of the means
of designating the Almighty. Amongst the Hebrews,
Aleph and Tati held the place of ^/jj/w. and Omega ;
and the Tau, originally formed like St. Andrew's
174
A, &c.] cross, St. George's cross, or the letter "J", was used
as a sacred sign, as well as the Ale2:>Ji. AVe find the
idea expressed in the Apocalypse, in Isaiah xli. 4, and
xlviii. 12, while in xliv. 6, we have the same idea
associated with the Creator as the Eedeemer, viz.,
" Thus saith the Lord, the King of Israel, and his
Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts, I am the first and I
am the last, and heside me there is no God." A
somewhat similar idea is contained in the Urim
and Tlmmmim, the first of which begins with Ale2}h,
the second with Tcm.. Throughout the whole of these,
there is the belief that the two letters include between
them the beginning and the end, the whole of every-
thing, time and eternity, life and death, &c.
The mystical importance of the letters n* and
n was evidently known to the writers of the Septua-
gint, as the following quotation, condensed from Dr.
Ginsburg's CoUeleth, p. 496, proves: — " The particle
^^, eth, the sign of the accusative, which occurs as
such seventy-one times in Coheleth, is in forty-two
instances regarded as the accusative, whereas in the
other twenty-nine instances it is rendered by cruv =
" with." Commentators have been perplexed to account
for this barbarism and violation of grammatical pro-
priety ; but a reference to the Hagadic exegesis will
show that this Hebrew particle was looked up to as
having a mystical significance, because the two letters
N* and n of which it is composed are the alpha and
omega of the Hebrew alphabet. Hence the anxiety
of the translator to indicate this particle in Greek
when a passage appeared to him to be fraught with
special mysteries." ^
• As it ia advisable for au author — wlieu assuming the jjower to interpret
worils as if they had been originally spelled differently to what they are now — to
175
A, &c.] Grammaticall)% n occurs as a prefix or prostatic
sound in many words whose beginning appears too
hard to be uttered by two consonants ; it does not
therefore form an essential part of every word in
which it is found. It may therefore be dropped by
the philologist when he is seeking for the original
form of any current word. In some nouns, especially
in the Aramaic, the letter N is placed at the end of
the word, to serve as the article, instead of the usual
n in Hebrew, whose place is at the beginning. N is
moreover interchangeable with n, as in "^''^ for TD ;
it is also interchangeable with y, as in t^iX for ^?.^ ;
and sometimes, but more rarely, with i and *, as in
nxa for nv, and ^^^ for "??:.
The numerical value of ^' is one, i. ; and it is
important to notice that the fact of all names having
a numerical value, as well as a theological and
phonetical one, explains certain things which would
otherwise be inexplicable; e.g., A certain Assyrian
king, when stating the reasons that induced him to
build an edifice to the gods, says, that it was built
so many cubits square, according to "the number of
his name." As each letter stands for a number, the
dimensions of a temple might thus depend wholly
upon whether the king's name contained letters
which represented units, tens, or hundreds.
Aaron, \'^'^i\^. Aharon. We have already, p. 96, indicated
sliow that lie has some reason for cloiug so, it is well to quote here the followiug
remarks of Ginsburg, a propos of the Septuagiut version, C'oJiehth, p. 406 :— " As
the ohject of this mode of interiiretation is more to show the reconclite and spiritual
meaning of every detached verse and clause, than to elucidate the design of the
inspired book, such sentences as apparently savoured of heterodoxy are made
orthodox, by adding or explaining away some words. Changing letters or words
for those which are similar in appearance or sound is one of the rules whereby the
many meanings of the text are obtained."
176
Aaron] the probability of Aaron representing, as the God
Aer, one of the second Assyrian triad, in conjunction
with the Sun and Moon, the celestial Virgin in this
instance being represented by Miriam ; the whole
forming the Arha. Eespecting this God, Sir H.
Eawlinson, when speaking of the difficulty in deci-
phering the phonetic value of the atmospheric God,
writes thus : " A more probable reading would seem
to be Air or A in; well known Gods of the Meudean
Pantheon, who presided over the firmament ; and
we might then compare the Greek Oupavoc (Aiiran,
the God Ur) as a cognate title, and might farther
explain the 'OporuX of Herodotus as a compound
term," inclading the male and female divinities of
the material heaven, Szc.^
It is then probable that in the Phoenicio-Shemitic
At, Ac'V, Oup, had the same sound and meaning as
our Air.^ In Hebrew, "lis*, aur, or, signifies " light ; "
and a great number of old Canaanite names are
compounded v/ith Ar, which is only a variant of
Or; e.g., Aroer, Araunalt, or Oman, Anion. &c. ;
Latin, Auron.
Aaron then may possibly signify " the atmospheric
God," = " Jupiter, tonans," or " pluvius." It is
possibly, however, identical with l"'l^', Aron, but
modified by the introduction of the soft breathing
2 Ra-wlinson's Herodotus, vol. i., p, 498 ; etlitiou of 1862.
s Lajarcl, iu his Researcltes upon the n'orsJiip of Venus, establishes, I think,
that the Venus, whose emhlem was a glohe of fire placed between the emblems of
the Sun and Moon upon ancient coins, was in one sense considered as the Air,
intermediate between the heavens and tlie earth ; and that she had amongst her
many attributes that of being a mediator. Her star, the smooth hall, was sitpposed
to effect a sort of junction between the male and female powers of creation, as its
orbit seemed to be between the Sun and Moon. If his hypothesis be true, the
name Aaron, or the God Air, would be appropriate to a priest, who represents
himself as a mediator between tlie Creator and his creatures.
177
Aaeon] sound n. In that case it m^ouIcI signify " The ark;"
nor can we consider the derivation inapijropriate,
when wo think of the important pkace which the
ark occupied in the theological systems of Egypt,
Assyria, Palestine, Greece, and, more recently, in
that of the Papacy. It was an emblem of the female
Creator, retaining within herself the most sacred
offering which she could receive ; and as such it
was used to conserve those emblems of mundane
origin which faith regarded as most holy. It was
allied to the mystic boat, Argo, or Argha, and was
sometimes figured as a cup, or a shield with a central
boss.' Whether '^iaron " means " the holy ark,"
or "the God Aar, or Aey;" both are of Assyrian,
rather than of Egj^^tian origin ; and if our surmise
respecting the ark being an emblem of the presence
of the Almighty is correct, it is clear that the
Hebrews were not the only nation who could lay
claim to that august honour, for the ark was sacred
in Nineveh, Babylon, and Egypt.
But there is yet another interpretation of this
word, which deserves the closest attention, inasmuch
as it may assist us in our future efforts to ascertain
the probable period when the story of the Exodus was
first written. The reader will find under the names,
Adah, Cherethites, Lamech, &c., evidence of Greek
influence in certain portions of the Old Testament :
he may probably be able to recognise the same
here. According to the construction of the Hebrew
language, the Alejjh, in }nnx, may simply be pros-
thetic ; and the terminal Vav and Nun may be
nothing more than a formative, and of no use in the
word itself. "When these are removed, we have in.
' Tor inoio iiarticulars about this subject, see Auk.
M
178
Aaeon] The propriety of such proceeding has been recog-
nised by the Je\ys, who consider that the Great High
Priest may have been named thus by his mother
because she was pregnant with him when the decree
went fortli to destroy male infants, ^')^, harah, signi-
fying to be pregnant.
This, however, is not sufficient to arrest our
attention. We proceed, therefore, to consider whe-
ther the word may not originally have been the same
as Hue, l-in, and the character drawn so as to repre-
sent the Greek Hermes. Like Hermes, he is the
messenger of the Almighty, and the mouthpiece of
Moses (Exodus iv. 16), — who was to be to him as
God, — he has an Urim and Thummim, whereby to
give oracular answers. Like the Greek God, who
had a blossoming club (Pausanias, xi. 31, 13), he
has a rod v/hich buds. Hermes has a rod adorned
with serpents, Aaron has a rod which becomes a
serpent, and swallows up the serpent-rods of the
opposing priests (Exodus vii. 10-12). Hermes
also has a staff by which he works magic, and a rod
by the touch of which he brings some into life, and
ushers others to death ; and Aaron is represented as
standing between the living and the dead with a
censer, and thus staying a plague (Num. xvi. 48).
Hermes was said to ha,ve been the inventor of
chemistry, and Aaron must have had some such
knowledge, when he could so contrive as to put golden
earrings into the fire and bring them out as a calf
(Exodus xxxii. 24) ; the which, when Moses put it
into the fire, was capable of being ground to powder,
and dissolved in water. Hermes offered sacrifices to
the twelve gods ; and those who wrote the story of
Aaron in like manner divided the children of Israel
179
Aaeon] into twelve tribes, so artisticall^y fis to represent the
twelve signs of the Zodiac, introducing- Simeon and
Levi as the twins, Manasseh and Ephraim for the
fishes, or vice versa, and Dinah as the virgin.
Hermes was said to have originated divine worship
and sacrifices, and to have invented the lyre ; and if
Aaron did not exactly do this, it is clear that Moses is
said to have instituted the method of Jewish worship,
and Miriam is the first to use the timbrel, and both
the one and the other have Aaron for a brother.
Hermes was the god who taught eloquence, and was
an adroit speaker : Aaron Avas eloquence personified
(Exod. iv. 14-16). The resemblance between Hermes
and Aaron, though not established in every particular,
points apparently to the fact, that the author of the
story was dimly acquainted with Greek mythoses,
either from having travelled, like Solon, Pythagoras,
and Herodotus, or from having come into contact with
Grecian traders, books, or priests. It is evident, how-
ever, that he also was acquainted with Babylonian or
Assyrian myths.
Now, the first time that we find any evidence
of Assyrian interference in Palestine is in the reign
of Azariah (2 Kings xv. 17-19) ; and in the reign
of Hczckiah, two generations later, we read of
Sennacherib's invasion, and of an embassy ^of Baby-
lonians. In 2 Kings xvii. 17-23, Ave read certain
moral reflections, such as might have been in the
mind of the writer of the history of Aaron ; and
there is some probability that the Pentateuch was
composed about this period. We cannot, how-
ever, amply discuss this subject in the present
article, but hope to be able, in the second volume,
to enter into a full inquiry as to the probable period
180
Aaeon] at v/liich certain portions of the Old Testament
were compiled.
Ahron, Aah, Alia, loli, Iho = Moon (Egyptian).
Abari (Cuneiform) = celestials, "i^^^^', originally the deities ;
then °*1'?b' (Psalm Ixxviii. 45), ^nf/eZs.— (Talbot.)
Ab, 3K (2 Kings xviii. 2), (modern Ih, as in Ibrahim),
in all the Phcsnicio-Shemitic languages means
"father;" "my father," in a restricted, and in
a general sense. It is frequently introduced into
names, and by collating these, as far as we can, we
may form an idea of the nature of the religious belief
in the Father, entertained by those who used his
name. We have the word existing amongst us
to-day, in Abbot, Abbe, Abbey, Abbott, Abson,
Abbinett, Abelard, &c.
Abad, "^5^' (Numb. xxiv. 20), "to be lost;" also "a slave
or servant," because lost to his kindred; also "a
worshipper of." We have as variants of this word,
Ahd, as in Ahd-slla ; Ohed, as in Obcd-edom and
Ohad-iah. ; Ebd, as in Ehed-meiech, and Abed, as
in Abed-chal, Abed-nego.
Abadan (Cuneiform), " The lost one, The sun in winter,
or darkness." (Compare Abaddon.) This word is
interesting to us in consequence of the reference
made to it in Rev. ix. 11, where we are told that
the king of the devils, the angel of the bottomless
pit, is called in the Hebrew tongue Abaddon, whilst
in the Greek tongue he has the name of Apollyon.
If we pursue this word through all its forms, we
find that i?^^', abad, signifies "to wander abroad, to
be lost;" "^^^j obaid, is "destruction;" and that
'^^?^', ahadoh, P"^?^, abaddon, and H?*^', abdan, also
signify " destruction." We have i^"^?^, ahadoh, trans-
lated, Prov. xxvii. 20, ' destruction,' and coupled
181
Abadan] with Hell in Exod. xxii. 9, Lev. vi. 3, 4, and Deut.
xxii. 3, we have '"i"]?^f, ahcdaJi, translated as 'a lost
thing;' and in Job xxvi. G, xxviii. 22, xxxi. 12;
Psalm Ixxxviii. 11 ; Prov. xv. 11, and xxvii, 20, we
have the word ti'^?i>, ahaddon, translated 'destruc-
tion ; ' in Esther viii. 6, and ix. 5, 11^^, ahdan, is
translated in the same manner.
In none of these instances is ahaddon represented
as a devil, as an angel, or a king ; the word simply
embodies the idea of ' loss,' or ' death,' whether
brought about by voluntary or compulsory absence,
by destruction, or by the processes of nature. As the
Arabs poetically speak of Azrael, the ' Angel of death,'
so the Hebrews speak of Abaddon or Apollyon, the
' Angel of destruction.' It is very necessary, when
reading the account of such a vision as that called
TJie ApocalyjJse, that we should carefully guard
ourselves from raising any theory upon the literal
signification of the words employed. From want of
this caution, the name ' Abaddon ' has been brought
forward as one of the proofs by which the doctrine
of fallen angels, so beautifully worked out by Milton,
is supported (see Angels) ; but a very short con-
sideration suffices to show that an abstract idea can
under no circumstances be ' a person,' still less a
person who was at one time different from what he is
now. This will appear in a stronger light, if we
compare with the name in question the following
words from the same source (Rev. vi. 8), " And I
looked and beheld a pale horse, and his name that
sat on him was death, and hell followed with him."
In this instance power and locality are personified,
and it would be as absurd for us to adopt the literal
signification of the passage, as it would be to attempt
182
Abadan] to depict on canvas all London and its beauty going
to " the Derby," or for a sculptor to try and represent
the " wings of the wind " as a stone image, or " the
clouds " as a modern chariot.
Abda (Sanscrit) means ' a cloud.'
Abda, ^^^V (1 Kings iv. 6), " The work, or the servant of
El," the final h being dropped, and the vowel-point
altered in accordance with the usual practice of
obliterating the divine name.
Abdeel, AS^?y (Jer. xxvi. 36), " The work or servant of El."
Abdhi (Sanscrit) means ' the ocean.'
Abdi, ''y^V (1 Chron. vi. 44), " The work or servant of Jah,"
the final n being dropped.
Abdiel, ?N'^?3y (] Chron. v. 15), "The worshipper or servant
of El."
Abdon, Ii'^fb', " Servant of On ; " (Cuneiform,) ' He was a
son of Hillel,' ' The morning star.'
Abednego, ^iJ^ ^?y. (Dan. ii. 49), " The Servant of Nebo,"
the letter Gimel and the vowels having been changed.
Abel, Heb. ^'^^ (G-en. xxxvii. 35), ' to mourn,' also ' a pasture
or meadow.' Abel, the son of Adam, is not the
same as this : his name begins with n, is written
Hehel, and is designedly postponed. (See Habel.)
Abel Beth-Maacha, n3_3;p-n^3 hii^ (i Kings xv. 20). (See
Beth and Baacha.)
Abel Keramim, ^'^"^^ ^^^ (Judges xi. 33), ' The vineyard-
green ; ' ^'^'^, or ' the plain of the vineyard."
Abel-maim, ^:^^^^ (2 Chron. xvi. 4), "Abel of the
waters."
Abel-Meholah, nbino h2i$ (Judges vii. 22), ' The dancing
green;' ^^n^^ Machol, 'dancing.'"
6 It is a questlou wliat the real significance of this word is. Miriam and her
fellows have timbrels and dances. In the East individuals do not dance for pleasure,
but hire giiis to dance for them. These dances are provocative of desire, and, to
our ideas, ohscene. (See also Atlicncvvs, xiii., 86.)
183
Abel-Mizraim, e:^V?^ ^n.\ (Oen. 1. 11), ' The Egyptian
green ; ' ^\1f^, Mitzraim, Egypt.
Abel-Shittim, D^£i)q'n ^3K (Numb, xsxiii. 49), "The Acacia
green;" ^]^, shaith, plural sJtittbn, 'thorny hushes,'
but possibly from ''K^'^, ' drinking or carousing.'
Abez, r^K (Josh. xix. 20), " He shines or glitters; " "he is
high."
Abpia (Sanscrit), " splendour, light." Compare with Ahha,
"Father of Light," &c.
Aei, ""^^o This word, which enters into composition with a
great number of others, so as to form cognomens,
may be rendered in two distinct Avays. It may be
that it is formed simply by the addition of '' i, which
is the mark of the possessive pronoun, and gives to
the word the signification of " my father ; " or, as
Fiirst considers, it may mark that the name has
been originally compounded with the sacred name of
Jehovah, and that the final >^ of '^l has been dropped.
There is great difficulty in selecting the best alterna-
native. If the word ah'i signifies ' my father,' there is
often great difficulty in making any sense of the
sentence enshrined in certain cognomens ; if, on the
other hand, Ave take (thi to be equivalent to i^^?^,
ahiah, we shall find that it is borne by an individual
Abimael (Gen. x. 28), who existed prior to the time
when the sacred name Jah was said to liave been
revealed to Moses : involving the certainty that one or
other portion of the sacred narrative is incorrect.
Another difficulty arises from the fact that many names
bore in full the name of Jah, c. r/., Abijah, Elijah,
Adonijah, &c., in AA'hich no elision of the n at the
end has been made by scribes subsequent to those
who first wrote the names. Now we have already
seen that the cognomens which are compounded
184
Abi] with Jail were apparently given after the accession of
David to the throne, and we shall subsequently
demonstrate that Jah entered into names borne by
many of the Phoenician kings, and that it was also
borne by some of the Assyrian deities.
Under these circumstances we may consider ^?^^
ahi, (1) as a simple variant of ^^, ah ; or (2) as
signifying " my father;" or (3) as being an elided
form of ^l?^, ahiah.
Abia, !^*?^' (1 Sam. viii. 2), the same as Abiah and Abijah,
•" The father is Jah." (1 Chron. ii. 24.)
Abi-albon, li3^^?^^ (2 Sam xxiii. 31), "My father is the
bright On," or "father, strength;" from '?^, aU,
' my father ; ' ^^^, alah, ' he is strong ; ' )-UV, aim,
' On.'
Abi-asaph, ^9^^?^ (Exod. vi. 24), " My father is enchanting,"
or " the Enchanting Father." This word is usually
derived from ^P?, asaj^h, ' collector ; ' I think that it
comes from '^^?, ashaph,^ ' to use incantations, an
enchanter, a magician.' (Compare Enoch.)
G Wlieu assuming, as I do tbroiigliout this Vocabulary, that the spelling of any
particiilar name iu the Bible as given iu the current Hebrew text is not necessarily
the correct one, it is advisable that some reason or authority should be given for
this course of proceeding.
I shall perhaps best effect my purpose ii I state my system of procedure.
When the name for examination was selected, the first point was to examine the
interpretation given of it by Gesenius and other writers, whom I could consult, and
subsequently Fiirst. If the signification they assigned seemed reasonable, all that
I did was to verify it, and ascertain by examinati' n that there was no other mean-
ing equally probable, and then to adopt it. But if the rendering was unsatisfactory,
I then uudertooli a more extended inquiry. I not only investigated all possible
divisions of the word as it stood — with or without attention to the vowel-points —
but I inquired into its sound, with a view to ascertain whether it might have been
misspelled by inadvertence, and, still fai'ther, whether the reading may not have been
intentionally varied, in consequence of the true orthography containing something
which was offensive to the doctrines held iu the days wlicu each copy of the Scripture
was made by hand. Under such names as Abram, Adah, Edom, Eve, Mary, Sara, and
others, the method is indicated on the face of the article itself. In the majority, however,
it has been retrenched, from a desire to economise time and space. As my researches
extended, the conclusion gradually became forced upon me. that a systematic altera-
185
Abi-athar, '^'01^^ (1 Sam. xxii. 20), " My father is abun-
dance ; " '^^l, jatJiar, " to be abundant, to increase; "
whence possibly may have descended our Arthur.
Abi-da, Vy2ii_^ (Gen xxv. 4), " My father is knowledge, or
wisdom;" <^^'^, daiali, 'knowledge' (aMidianite name).
Abi-dan, l7^?^: (Numb. i. 11), "My father, the judge;" H,
dan, "a judge." (See Benhael.)
Abi-el, '?'^'2vS (1 Chron. xi. 32), "My father is El," or
" Father EL" We have the same name in a different
form in the word Eliab. It is to be noticed, how-
ever, that whilst the vowel-point of "?n is Tzere in
Abiel, because the syllable denoting God is at the
end of the word, in Eliab, vvdiere ■?« commences the
word, the N has a Segol, in accordance with the
uniform practice of obliterating this name of the
deity whenever it begins a personal name.
tiou of tbe original text liacT taken place ; Lut that tlie change was comparatively slight,
i. c, one vowel was suhstituted for another, or such consonants as n /i, b ^ 1 »,
and D s, were iised instead oi ■n h, n t, -2 z, XD s, or vice versa. Very frequently
a vowel or soft sound was dropped, or one or more letters were transposed. After
ascertaining this, I next found out that almost every cognomen which had been so
treated was originally of such a nature as to offend the ear of the pious Jews of the
Pharisaic type, either from its indelicacy or from its implying a heterodox faith.
Whenever, therefore, an appellative which could not be interpreted according to the
current spelling was found, I began to search for some other etymology which would
produce a name similar in sound but different in meaning, and generally found the
clue above-mentioned a perfect one. After having dra\TO these conclusions from
what I may caU the force of logic, I met wilh Ginshnrg's translation of Levita's
Exposition of the JMaasorah, which was published in January, 1867— after three
fourths of this Vocabulary were in mamiscript, and a large portion or the preceding
pages was in type. In that I found that Levita spealis of the law by which the
Eabbis enforced the propriety of so modifying certain words, when transcribing from
old copies, that the new ones should not offend the ear of the faithful. His words
run thus: " Our TuaLbis of blessed memory say that all the words which are written
in the Scriptures cacophonically must be read euphemically." " The rule which
obtained is, that every cacophonous expression was changed for an euphemism, so
that man nright not utter anything indecent." Page 194.
This distinctly demonstiated, iirst, that there were indecent or coarse expressions
in the original Scriptures, and the examples given show that a style of faith was
indicated in the eariy writers, which was so offensive to the more modern Hebrews,
as to be entirely ignored. This then seemed perfectly to justify the conclusions
which I had drawn, and showed me still farther reusons than I had already enter-
186
Abi-ezee, ir^b: (Josh. xvii. 2), ''My fotlier the helper;"
"^l^., escr, ' helper.'
Aei-gail, '^^r?.^? (1 Sam. xxv. 3, 14), "My father, the circle/'
or "the circular father," i.e. the Sun. The meauirig
assigned by Gesenius is, "whose father is exulta-
tion ; " but this is too far-fetched to be trusted.
We have already seen that one of the names of the
Sun in the Chaldee was Gil, Gal, Gul, or Gulla;
and in Hebrew ^''-?, (j'll, or (jail, is " to go in a circle,"
or " a circle." Now the Sun's fete days were Gala
days, and boisterous mirth was always associated with
them. Hence we use the phrase Gala-day for any
occasion where nothing but merriment is thought of.
tainecT for iuquiving into tlic primitive faith of the so-called 'chosen race,' and their
original ideas of the Creator.
Bnt Levita gives very few illustrations of the working of the Kabbiuical rule,
and I could form no idea of the extent to which it was applied, nor frame an opinion
as to the effect it might have in modifying the value I placed upon any Biblical
passage. This hiatus has, however, been bridged over to a very great extent, by a
work from the pen of the learned Dr. Giusburg, whose first pai't is to appear
whilst this sheet is in the press.* Il is impossible, in the compass of a note, to
give the whole gist of tlie matter which he briugs forward ; we may summarise it
thus— (1) The sacred Sc.viptures, as they were first known to the Talmudist, con-
taiaed matter which was offensive («) from its apparent obscenity or coarseness,
(&) from its being heterodox. (2) Those things which were considered opposed to
orthodoxy were — («) those which seemed to assert the plurality of God; (i) those
which attribiited to the God of any other nation a name or a power similar to
that possessed by the God of the Jews ; (c) those which were anthropomorphic ;
id) those which attributed to God anything which was deemed erroneous; (e) those in
which the sacred name was used ia short cognominal sentences, or stood for the
name of a man ; (/) those which attributed to the patriarchs anything derogatory
to their s.aintly character ; [g) those which were prejudicial to the fair fame of the
Holy nation ; [h) those which attributed to men the functions of God ; (i) those
which spoke leniently of the nations whom the Jews had been taught to hate ;
(j) to introduce into the text certain legal changes. (3) The alterations were to be
made with as little departure from the text as possible ; they consisted in transposing
letters, in dropping one or more, or in substituting one letter for another, which
would give a word a different meaning. (4) These variations were not assented to
universally, and a comparison of ancient versions of the Bible enables a modern to
judge of the extent to which the perversion of the origintil text has been carried.
To this book we shall have frequent occasion to refer in subsequent articles.
* Ginsburg, The Encjlisli Bible in relation to the ancient and oilier Versions.
187
Abi-gail] Wc consider it more appropriate to speak of the
Sun as " The Father on High," than to conceive of
him as a man like David, leaping, dancing, and
uncovering himself, &c. Gal also signifies " a heap
of stones, a cairn " (see Gilgal). These cairns were
ancient phallic emhlems, heing always decorated by
a central erect stone, which they served to adorn.
They were often surrounded by a circle of upright
stones ; and there is little doubt that the old fashion
of dancing in a circle on f/ala days had its origin in
the same idea which arranged the form of Stone-
henge.
Abi-hail, '?*n'3N (2 Chron. xi. 18), "My father is strong."
There is some doubt about the spelling of the latter
part of the word, ^1^ and ^]^, hail or duill, being
the variants. If we pursue the word, we find ^ri]?,
hcllel = "the bright star," "Lucifer, the morning
star;" ^^O? hala, means "remote, far oft';" ^-in, chul,
means " to turn in a circle," or a circular dance ; and
^]^, cliaU, means " strength and power," a word which
is not far removed in sound from gall, in Abigail.
The name may then signify " The father the Sun,"
or " The father is far oft'," or " The father is strong;"
the last is most probable. One Abihail was the
wife of Rehoboam, but the name was also masculine.
Abi-hu, ^^-^nUN; (Exod. vi. 23), "My father is," or "He
is the father," or "The father breathes;" N-in, huah,
" he is," or " he breathes ; " or more probably NliT'nx
is a compound of n^{ ' father,' and in'' Jcliovah, with
Aleph added at the end to obliterate the divine name.
Compare this name, borne by a son of Aaron, with
the Assyrian Hoa.
Abi-hud, I'l^'?^? (1 Chron. viii. 3), " My father is splendour,
glory, ])Ower, or beauty ;" Dn, hod = ' beauty,' &c.
188
Abijah, ^l?^: (1 Sam. A-iii. 2 ; 1 Cbron. ii. 24), " The father
is Jah ;" ^l, Jah, ' Jehovah.' (See Abijam.)
Abi-jam, 13^?^^ (1 Kings xiv. 31). This name was borne by
a son of Jeroboam, who, in 2 Chron. xiii. 1, &c., is
called ^*3b', "the father is Jah," the Q being here
substituted for the n, to obliterate the divine name.
Abil (Cuneiform), ' son.' (Compare Abel.)
Abi-mael, '??^'^'?^: (Gen x. 28), "My father covers;" ^^9,
maal, " to cover," or ^''P^?, mil, an upper " garment."
Abi-melech, ^^?-^?« (Gen. xx. 2), "My father the king;"
■^V?? mclech, "king, ruler, supreme."
Abi-nadab, 3^r^?^: (1 Sam. xvi. 8), " My father the gene-
rous, the noble;" ^1^^, nadah, "he incites, impels, or
gives spontaneously."
Abi-ner or Abner, '°'?.''?^ (1 Sam. xiv. 51), is said to mean,
"Father of light;" l-IJ, nur, means 'to lighten'
(compare Koh-i-noo?- and iVoi/rmahal, A^oit7'eddiu,
&c.) ; and in Chaldee it means ' fire.' Ncrgal was
an Assyrian God. I presume that the true etymo-
logy of the word is " The father is light," or " The
father the Sun."
Abi-noam, Dyl)"''3^' (Jud. iv. 6), "My father is pleasantness;"
DV:"!, naam, "loveliness, pleasantness."
Abib, "'''r'^ (Judges V. 22), " The strong one," used for God,
' the bullock and the horse.' (Compare Abari.)
Abi-ram, ^y?^. (Numb. xvi. 1), " My father on high;" this is
the same as Abram ; D-n, rum, high ; ^"J, ram, or ^''1,
raim, signifies the buffalo, the strongest of wild bulls.
It is very probable that this word is really the same
as Abram, with the addition of '» , so as to prevent
any other man than the patriarch using his cognomen.
Ab-ishai, ''^'?^ (1 Sam. xxvi. 6), may signify " The father
exists," or " The father is erect or stands ; " or " The
father is broad, or aids," according as we derive ''^\,
189
Ab-ishai] isliai, from ^^., aisJi ,- ^'^'l, aslia (= esse); ''^\ islia
(commonly written Jesse) ; or ^'^l, jasha. Or we may
read it as ahi-shai. V, shai, is a gift ; ^l^, shai, is to
impel. I think it means " The father is assistance."
Abi-shag, ^^"'^^^ (1 Kings i. 3), " My father who multiplies,"
or " who makes us great." The ordinary meaning
assigned to this name, viz., "Father of error," seems
absurd. ^^^\ sagah = ' to increase, to cause to
increase;' i^J^, sltagali = ' to be great,' There are
many significations to words resembling shag. ^\^,
shcKja, is ' to wander, to go astray ; ' also, ' to be
great.' '^P^, shagal, is 'to lie with,' and, differently
pointed, the same letters mean ' a king's wife.' I^^i^,
shaga, means ' to be strong, brave, vigorous, impe-
tuous, excited,' &c. Coupling the name with the
nature of the individual who bore it, and what her
function was, I conceive that the word may have
had a phalHc significance, and signifies " The father
who enables men to procreate," "He who makes
small things great, erect, or strong."
Abi-shalom, D^y^?^; (1 Kings xv. 2), " My father is per-
fect;" ^Z^^, shalaim, 'perfect.' Difierently pointed,
the word signifies 'he completes,' &c.
Abi-shua, V^'^>-'2^_ (1 Chron. viii. 4), "My father is liberal,"
or "The father is wealth;" V^L'^, slioa, 'rich;' V'\^,
skua, 'wealth.'
Abi-shuk, "i-lti-'-'-nN (1 Chron. ii. 28). Ey Gesenius, this is
translated as 2)ater muri, " Father of a wall !" The
word deserves a much better explanation, "i-}^, shaur,
an old root,' signifies 'to leap forwards, or upon,' 'to
7 In passiug through a gi-eat list of names used in aucient times, I have rejieatedly
found that the means of anivini; at the most sensible meaning for many coguooieus
is to adopt some old and unused word as their probable root ; and I have come to
think so much of the point, that it has had great weight with me in the analysis
of the aucient names.
190
Abi-shur] be strong;' pointed as Shor, it means "a bull"
(taurus) ; as Sliur, it means ' to go about,' ' to
journey,' also ' a wall ' (from its being round a
town). The signification of the word then is solar,
and phallic, and it may best be rendered, " My
father the strong one."
Abi-tal, '?9^?^; (2 Sam. iii. 4). It is difficult to assign a
meaning to this word; ^^, tal, means, "dew," —
rather an absurd name for a father ; '?-1D, till, means
"to be long;" '^^^, talah, which is an old root,
means "to be fresh," and the same, differently
pointed, is " a young lamb ; " ^^, tail, is a hill ;
^^^, tala, is "to hang up," or "to dangle." Abital
was a wife of David, and was probably named during
the time of Saul, when there was a different style of
belief to what prevailed afterwards. I incline to the
opinion that the signification is, " My father is long,"
and that On is the father referred to, or Eshcol.
Fiirst considers that ^?, tal, is derived from ^?^,
talal, to protect, and thus makes the word " Ab is
protection;" but the same word, talal, also signifies
"to be juicy," and thus " Ab is juicy" is deduced,
which resembles the interpretation already given.
It is proper that I should explain that more than
half the Vocabulary was in manuscript before
Furst's Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon was published
in English, and that I can only use the information
gained from him in a supplementary form.
Abi-tub, 2-1t3^3^^, (1 Chron. viii. 11), " The father is good-
ness," or "The good father;" nito, toh, "to be good,
or good."
Abn, 1^^', Heb. commonly written Ehen, which see. In
Cuneiform, abn, ' a stone,' is said to have the pho-
netic value of tag or tak.
191
Abnil (Cuneiform), an Assyrian stouo God of late origin,
Ab-eaham, Dn"^3?.< (Gen. xvii. 5), " The father is multitude,
or of multitude;" ^^^, raluim (Arabic), 'multitude.'
The other and original name for the Patriarch was
Ahram, ^'^^^, derived apparently from the two Chaldee
words ah and ram, which signify " The high father,
or the father on high." Ah sometimes enters into
composition as a terminal syllable, as well as an
initial one. We have seen Ahicl, by and by we
shall enter upon EUah. (See Abeam,)
Abeam, Dn:?N (Gen. xi. 31), is the name borne by an
Assyrian, or Chaldee, who emigrated from Ur of the
Chaldees into Palestine, in company with his father
and his family. As the name must be assumed to
be Chaldaic, it shows us that the faith which was
current in Mesopotamia at the time of the Patriarch's
birth did not essentially differ from that held in
Canaan. The word is compounded of two syllables,
the first of which, 3^% ah, signifies " The father ; "
respecting the second, viz., m, ram, we have either
to select one signification out of many, or we must
consider that a second syllable has been selected to
qualify the first, of so very ambiguous a meanino-
that nothing but a "double entendre " was designed.
^^7, ram = 'he is high,' 'he lifts himself on high,'
'he is prominent,' 'he cries,' 'he rages,' 'he
roars,' 'he is red,' like coral.
2^7, rem or raim, = ' a buflalo, or wild bull.'
D-n, rum, ' he is grown high,' ' he is exalted,' ' he is
haughty,' 'he is mighty,' 'he exalts himself.'
Dh, rom = ' a height.'
nn, mm = ' a height.'
CiT, Q-am = ' high,' ' prominent.'
0!i?, ram, ' a j^roper name.' Gen. xxii. 21.
192
Abeam] A glance at these words will demonstrate that
the second syllable of the word Abram may signify
an idea analogous to our notions of a heaven in the
sky above us, or one which is substantially the same
as Mahadeva. If in doubt ourselves, we may turn
to the later writers, who invented the plan of
changing the original name, to suit the purpose of a
time long subsequent to that of the Patriarch. They
converted the name into Abraham, the signification
of which is " The father of a multitude ; " this,
although in itself a "double entendre," was less
conspicuously so than the original cognomen; and
we infer that the necessity for change arose from the
ambiguity of Abram being so glaring that any one
who thought upon the matter would recognise it.
The history which is given to us of the patriarch
is as mythical as his name, and its incidents tell of a
strange state of morality existing at the period when
the legend was composed. Leaving his aged father
with his only other son, Abram starts with Lot and
Sarai, and pitches his tent between Bethel and Hai —
places which had no nominal existence at the time —
but being driven by famine, he goes down into Egypt,
when at the age of seventy-five years, taking with
him Sarai, who was sixty-five. Full of fear for his
own life, and having clearly no retinue upon whom
he could depend for defence, he bargains with the
King of Egypt, whose amatory propensities are tickled
at the sight of the old woman Sarai, and who pur-
chases the use of her from her husband, for such
worldly wealth as sheep and oxen, asses and camels,
and male and female slaves. With the price of his
wife's dishonour, Abram has become wealthy, and Lot,
of whom we hear nothing whilst his uncle was in
193
Abeam] Egypt — althongii he lificl many virgin daughters,
who were more Hkely to he attractive than a septuage-
narian wife — having also become wealthy, they are men
of too great substance to live together, and they there-
fore separate. We shortly find that Abram had no
less than three hundred and eighteen soldier slaves,
and that with them he is more than a match for five
kings, who are on a warlike expedition. Being child-
less at eighty, a matter which could scarcely have
distressed him much, seeing that his father had been
seventy years old before he had a family, he adopts a
slave for a consort, and has his first son at the age of
eighty-six. After this, he and all the males of his
household are circumcised ; when he has attained the
age of ninety-nine, and his wife is eighty-nine, a
period when, according to the testimony of both
husband and wife (Gen. xvii. 17, and xviii. 12), they
were sterile by reason of their age ; and before the
promised child appears, Abram, apparently denuded of
all his armed retainers, goes down to Gerar, and again
passes his wife off as his sister,® and again a monarch,
becoming enam.oured of the old woman, takes her as
a wife, and again the complaisant husband receives
great worldly wealth as the price of what we must call
his wife's and sister's infamy. The promised son at
length arrives, and after a while Abram is told to
sacrifice him ; yet he who pleaded boldly for mercy
to be shown to the Sodomites has not a word to say in
favour of his son. But before this incident takes place
we find that Sarah, proud of her own child, cannot
tolerate the existence of the son of Hagar, even though
she had herself brought about the connexion with the
8 It is to be remembered that Isis -was said to be the wife aud sister of Osiris,
and that Ceres was also said to be the wife aud sister of Jupiter.
N
194
Abram] common father. The lovely old woman, who has
fascinated two mighty kings, becomes suddenly a
termagant, and the cowardly Abram, who has twice
profited by his wife's disgrace, again shows the white
feather, and consigns to almost certain death his
eldest son, and her by whom he first attained the
blessing of paternity. It is curious that Hagar
should wander in the wilderness of Beersheba, a spot
which then had no more nominal existence than
Bethel and Hai; and it is equally curious to notice
the facility with which Abram resolves to sacrifice
both his sons. We conclude, however, from the
narrative, that he did plead for Ishmael with Sara, his
wife, who, on this occasion, certainly did not call him
lord (1 Pet. iii. 6), although he made no pleadings
subsequently for Isaac. Abram's wife at last dies,
being one hundred and twenty -seven years old, and
Abram ten years older. She is buried, and then
Abram seeks for a consort for his son. He swears
his servant on his thigh (i. e., the fascinum), and
sends him off' to his father's house ; on the return of
the messenger with a wife for Isaac, the old patriarch,
now at least twenty-seven years older than when
Sarah had told us of his incapacity to beget off'spring,
marries again, and has six children. Tliough very
particular about the kindred and religion of the wife
of his son, we are not told that he had any such idea
about his own second consort, who is called a wife.
Gen. XXV. 1, and a concubine, 1 Chron. i. 32. At
his death, Abram gives everything to Isaac, who like
his father goes to Gerar, and tells the same tale as
Abram had done of his wife being his sister. We find
moreover that Isaac increased his wealth, and had a
great store of cattle and slaves, yet, notwithstanding
195
Abeam] bis princely condition, he sends away from his own
home the youngest of his two sons, to seek for a
wife amongst his relatives, without a single attendant,
and with no more wealth than his clothes and a
walking stick. It is impossible for any thoughtful
mind to accept such a story as a true narrative. It
is difficult to understand how any nation could be
proud of such an ancestor as Abraham. The careful
reader cannot fail to notice how completely the course
of time has falsified the statements, said to be made
directly to the patriarch by the Almighty, respecting
the future power of his descendants ; for the Jews
never wholly possessed the land of Canaan, and the
posterity of Ishmael has been more numerous and
more prosperous than that of Isaac, though probably
less influential in the main. From the foreo-oino-
considerations, we think it far better to consider the
story of Abraham and the patriarchs as a pious
legend of human invention, than to believe it as a
strictly true history, written by the spirit of the
Almighty.
Abrech, V^^ (Gen. xli. 43), "tender father;" a Hebrew
title, said to have been given to Joseph in Egypt, by
the natives, who did not know the country of their
benefactor, or the language which was most familiar
to him. Some think this word to be of Egyptian
origin = ' bow the knee ; ' considering that it has
its present form, because Moses, although speaking
Egyptian as his mother-tongue (Exod. ii. 10, Acts
vii. 22), was unable with Jewish letters to write the
word properly.
Absalom, Di'?*^3X (2 Sam. iii. 3), " The father is peace."
AccAD, "J?^* (Gen. x. 10), an Assyrian fortress = " a fortified
place ;" "'?'?, acliacl, 'to fortify or strengthen.'
196
AccHo] "l3y for ip^^ (Judges i. Bl), aclio for ako, a roebuck.
I had great diftici-ilty in satisfying myself that the
signification of this word was " The Roebuck." Two
days after I had completed the MS., I met with
Hislop's ' Tiro Bahylons,' and while cutting the leaves
was arrested at page 140, 3rd edition, at a copy of a
Tyrian coin, representing the Lingam and Serpent,
the former of which is under the form of a short and
thick stump. Upon one side of it is a pyramidal
shell, the " concha," usually called cornucopia, and
on the other a palm tree, an euphemism for the
phallus. Appended to the figure is this note, which
I copy almost verbatim. "Ail, or 11, is a synonyme
for Gheber, The mighty one. ... It signifies
also a wide speadiug tree, or a stag with branching
horns (Parkhurst). Therefore at different times the
Great God is symbolised by a stately tree, or by a
stag. On an Ephesian coin he is symbolised by a
stag cut asunder, and there, a palm-tree is repre-
sented as springing up at the side of the stag, just
as here it springs up at the side of the dead trunk.
In Sanchoniathon, Kronos is expressly called 'Ilos,'
i. e., the mighty one. The Great God being cut off,
the cornucopia at the left of the tree is empty, but
the palm-tree repairs all." If the reader remembers
what has been already said of Asshur or Asher, El
or II, obelisks, standing stones, the stocks of trees,
&c., as indicative of the active male organ ; of the
concha and inverted pyramid, as emblematic of the
female organ ; and then recals the story of the feud
between Mahadeva and his Sacti, he will understand
the mythos depicted on the coin, and the hidden
meaning which exists in naming a mighty man after
the Roebuck. (See Beth-Nimrah, and Nimrod.)
197
AcHBOK, an Iduuipeaii Prince. This name may serve as an
example of the method which I have usually followed
in ascertaining the most probahle meaning of a word.
The cognomen is spelled in the Hebrew "'^■^??^, AcJ)or,
or Aclihor ; and the meaning assigned to it is 'a
Mouse' I cannot, however, believe, that any great
man would submit to be called after so tiny a
creature, and I cannot find any other word either
with 3 or p which satisfies me. Supposing the name
may be a compound one, I turn to ^^, ach, which
means ' brother,' and to lia, ho)-, ' a pit : ' otherwise
pointed, ' to search out; ' we find also -|3, ho)-, 'purity ;'
and which when pointed signifies bar, ' beloved : ' the
word then may mean, ' brother to the pit,' 'to purity,'
or ' to the beloved one ; ' and we conclude that the
idea intended to be conveyed is " Like to the Pure
One, i. c, the Celestial Virgin." Furst considers
that i^^"^* acJi, is a name expressive of the divine Being ;
if so, the word denotes ' Ach is pure.'
AcHiSH, A king of Gath, written ^''?^, achhh or akish,
(1 Sam. xxi. 10.) Here again, taking the ordinary
spelling, Ave find no adequate signification ; if on the
contrary we take the sound — and it must be remem-
bered that this w'as all which the Hebrew writers
could go by — and consult t:^'^'?^^, acJiisJt or aliislt, we
get the meaning of " Brother to the self-existent one."
Compare Jacchus. Perhaps from '^'^^, achash, ' rolled
up like a serpent.' Compare Nahash. Recollecting
the possibility of the Philistines being Grecians, we
may surmise that the w^ord is a Hebraic form of
'ax(V, akis, " an arrow," one of the emblems of El,
Bel, and Baal.
AcHAN, l?y I (Josh. vii. 18, 2G.) These words are both
AcHOR, "'?yj explained in the Scriptures to mean trouble,
198
Achan] and are associated with a story to account for the
AcHORJ names being there. These stories I have gradually
learned to distrust more and more, until indeed I
have come to recognise their existence as aifordiug a
certainty that they veil a hidden meaning, to which
they thus become a clue ; as the peewit, by feigning
injury and trying to lure the traveller from her
nest, occasionally conducts him thither, when once
he has become acquainted with her wiles ; i. e., the
story has been fitted to the name, and not the name
to the story. Taking Achish and Achbor for a guide,
I should read these words as meaning " Brother of,
or Like to On," and " Like to Hur," "Brother of the
sky." ^^, ach, 'brother;' px, aim, On; ^-1^*, a^w, 'the
sky,' or ' Ach is On or Hur.'
AcHMETHA, '^'^^9'?^ (Ezra vi. 2), a proper name, probably of
Persian origin. I insert it here simply to note tnat
the Hebrews wrote its first syllable as I conjecture
the other Achs ought to have been written, viz., as ^5?.
AcHSAH, i^^^y (Josh. XV. 16), is said to be " an anklet " by
Gesenius, and " a serpent " by Fiirst ; but it is impro-
bable that religious priests, who always introduced
sacred ideas into names, would call Caleb's daughter
after a female ornament. It was consonant with their
ideas to give her the name of "the serpent," a
creature worshipped in Jerusalem till the time of
Ezekiel. We may reconcile the two significations by
the fact that anklets were often in the form of
serpents,' and that both words imply the idea of
twining round. It may come from the verb ^5^, acJias,
with the addition of the feminine pronoun n. If so,
the meaning would be, " She is tinkling, with bells,"
i. e., a virgin ; or " She surrounds, or twines round
199
Achsah] us." There is {mother possible etymology — ^^^ or
'"'^ and nXj ach, saJi, or saaJt, i. e,, " Kindred to the
mother, or to the cleft," or " acJi breaks forth."
AcHSHAPH, ^^9^' (Josh. xi. 1), I take to mean " Ach is
abundance;" ^5^', skaiilia, meaning 'to overflow,
abundance,' or ' acli, the uniter,' W^ + |^^\
AcHziB, ^''t^?^ (Josh. six. 29), is another name which has, I
think, been misspelled ; as it stands, it has no known
signification, but if we take ^^, ach, to mean ' kindred
with,' or 'the god Ach,' we have only to search out
for Zib. Such a name was borne by a Prince of
Midian, and we have Zehah, Ziba, Zahdi, Zehulon,
&c. Now 3NT^ Zaah, is an old root, signifying ' to
be yellow like gold ; ' and ' The Golden One ' was an
epithet of the Sun. Aclizih would therefore mean
' kindred of the Sun,' ' Ach is the Sun.' The name
seems to have been Phoenician.
Ad, "i^:- — compare with Had and Hod — 'an exhalation or
vapour, which forms the clouds.' Hod, lin, means
' swelling, lifting oneself up, becoming lofty, eminent,
majesty, splendour, freshness, beauty ; ' spelled as
"IJ?, ad, it signifies ' eternity.' The idea seems pri-
marily, or secondarily, to have been phallic.
Apad, '^'[^ the name of the chief deity of the Syrians —
the Sun ; ^ seen in Benhadad, Hadadezer, Hadad-
rimmon. In Syriac it means one. (See Hadad,)
Adadah, ^^^1^ (Josh. XV. 22). Probably the same as adad,
with a terminal n added, either to represent the
feminine of the Syrian God, or, by taking away the
identity of the Heathen deity, to sanctify it for
Israel.
Adah, ^7^ (Gen. iv. 19 ; xxx. 2, 4). This is a difficult word
to interpret. She is one of the wives of Lamecb (* the
" Macrobius, quoted in Kitto's Cijclopcedia, s. v. Hadad.
200
Adah] strong j'Oung man,' or ' the warrior,') and her consort
wife is Zillali. '^7^, adali, is an old root, meaning
'to pass by;' '^^V? (tdali, lias a similar meaning, but
it also means ' to adorn ; ' also ' to come and go ; ' ' an
assembly,' ' an ornament,' ' a witness,' ' the monthly
period of women ' — witnessing their nubility. Being
doubtful which of these meanings to select, we turn
to Zillah, and find that ^^l, zala, is an old word
meaning "to draw out;" '^^^j tzal, is "to be thin,"
"the wild prickly lotus;" ^W, tzla, is "to pray;"
n^V, tzalah, is "to roast, or pray;" pointed as Zillah
it is said to mean "shadow;" as ^?.'i, tzlacha, it
means "to go over," "to flow," " to be prospered."
CoupHng the idea of " the strong young man," and
both names having a reference to " a flowing out,"
I conclude that both were just nubile, and his speech
to them was an ebullition of jealousy — a threat what
he would do if they allowed any young man to come
near them. (See Lamech.)
Since writing the above, I have met with the
following in Donaldson's Christian Theology, p. 253 ;
quoting Ewald, he says, " The man's name, Aa/xaxoj,
lamachos (Gen. v. 25 : iv. 18), recurs in Pisidia.
{Corpus Inscr., No. 4379 ;) the woman's name, "ASa,
ada (Gen. iv. 19, 23 : xxxvi. 2, 4), likewise in that
district {Corpus Inscr., c. iii., p. 333). This coin-
cidence is all the more remarkable, as neither name
ever occurs again in the history of Israel."
Adaiah, nny (2 Kings xxii. 1), -1^^^ (2 Chron. xxiii. 1),
" Jah is eternal."
Adalia, ^'!)?>^. (Esther ix. 8), a Persian name. Compare the
Greek 'I8aA<ov, a town in Cyprus, near which was a
forest sacred to Venus.
Adam, ^7^' (Gen ii. 15). This word demands a close
201
Adam] attention. It was borne, we are told, by the first
man — the father of the human race. We remember
that all nations have had some myth respecting such
a being, and that the priests, who have invented
them, have generally founded the figment which they
told on some basis of truth. The Vedic story tells
of Mahadeva and Parvati ; the Assyrian, of Asher
and Beltis ; whilst the Hebrew writings say that
Adam and Eve were the parents of all mankind, just
as "the great father " and the " celestial princess "
were the parents of the Jews. In searching out the
myth, we naturally associate Adam with Edom,— also
Esau, who dwelt in Seir (all of which see). We
find that Q"]^?, Adam, means " to be red," or "ruddy;"
also "a man." Edom is spelled with the same letters;
the same word, differently pointed, means " a red
gem ; " but it also conveys an idea of whiteness and
comeliness. Those who are conversant with the
organ represented by Mahadeva, whose image amongst
the Hindoos is always painted red, cannot fail to see
that the word in question, combining whiteness and
redness, would accurately describe it. The idea
seems to us a coarse one, and no doubt it is so
in our times; but when the story was written, no
squeamishness of such a nature existed ; a spade was
a spade — a man was a digger, viz., ""^T, zachar, and
the woman nnp:^ n'keha, was a field to be dug. It will
be seen in the margin of the Eible that the man
was called Ish, '^ =^:., which means "existence,"
"being," " standing upright." There was a town of
the same name as that borne by the first man, in
Canaan (Jos. iii. 16). There were some words ajDpa-
rently compounded with it, c. r/., Adamah, Adami,
which seem primarily to have reference to the earth,
202
Adabi] or soil. It is in reality nothing more thcan ;i covert
name for the phallus, whilst Eve, the consort,
signifies the Youi. (See Eve.)
In Figure 81, — which is copied from a drawing
by Colonel Coombs, in a cave temple in the South of
India: G. Higgin's Anacahjpsis, p. 403, — is seen
the nature of the temptation of Adam, in which it
is well shown. The introduction of Hercules and
the three-headed dog is equally significant.
Ficrui'e 81.
Since writing the above, I have met with the
following. In Gregorie's Notes and Observations
iqjon several i:)assa(jes in Scripture, vol. i., 4to,
Lond. 1684, there is a passage to the effect, that
' Noah daily prayed in the ark, before the body of
Adam, i. c, before the Phallus (Adam being the
primitive Phallus), the great procreator of the human
race.' I will not pursue the myth farther ; the above
is sufficient to show that others have adopted the
same opinion as I have expressed above.
203
Adam, °»' (Joshua iii. 16), " He miites together."
Adamah, nonx (Joshua xix. 36), "A fortress." This word
may represent the feminine of ^1^, Adam, i. c,
woman ; it certainly signifies ' the earth,' and in the
Scriptures, equally with Grecian writings, the earth
is spoken of as ' the universal mother.' See Ps.
cxxxix. 13, 15, Joh i. 21, and Eccles. v. 15 ; and
compare this with the ideas associated with Tyj, ge,
by the Greeks. See also Pliny, ii. 63 : " The earth,
on which alone of all parts of nature we have
bestowed the name that implies maternal veneration."
Compare this again with Ecclus. xi. 1 : " till the day
that they return to the mother of all things."
Adami, ^9?i^ (Joshua xix. 33), " A fortress." Both this word
and the preceding one, though said to signify "a
fortress," are most probably altered forms of "!^^'!l^',
adamiali, the ■• being dropped in the one case and the
n in the other. If this interpretation be correct, the
real signification of the words is " Jah unites toge-
ther," or "Jah is Adam," or 'creator.'
Adan (Cuneiform), " a tune."
Addan, t?^* (Ezra ii. 59), probably an obliteration of H?,
Lord, the name of a man ^vho returned with Zerub-
babel.
Adar, "?7']5, " swelling out, great, glorious; " a Hebrew month,
in which was the vernal equinox ; 'V.^, addr, to swell
out, to become great. The idea is phallic, spring
being the time when animals, birds, &c., began to
pair, and when strength in the male was essential
to the increase of flocks and herds. Sec. There was
also a son of Bela of the same name, but sometimes
called Ard.
Adbeel, ''^!?"!'^' (Gen. xxv. 13), " The glorious Baal," from
"'7'^, adad, dropping the final i, or " Baal is eternity;"
204
Adbeel] from "^y, ad, the y being cliauged for n, to escape from
the appearance of giving the attribute of Jah to Baah
Addar, "i?^"? (1 Chron. viii. 3), " He is krge."
Ader, T^^ (1 Chron. viii. 15), " He sets in order."
Adiel, ^^'yj._ (1 Chron. iv. 36), "El is the noblest."
Adin, r"'i? (Ezra ii. 16), "delight, pleasure." Compare rjSovrj.
Adina, ^^'T'^V, (1 Chron. xi. 42), "The gentle one;" P^,
adin, ' soft, dehcate.' Compare Edin and Edinhurcih,
and Edlnhurg, the maiden city.
Adino, ^^'7^ (2 Sam. xxiii. 8) ; also ^'J'"}^, adina, probably
altered from ^^^ T'i'y, "El gives pleasure," literally
" El gives the power to enjoy sexual pleasure."
Adithaim, Q:n'"?y (Joshua xx. 36). This \Yord is probably
compounded with "i^, ad, '^], or "i^, or ^^, ath, oth,
or altli, and ns ivi, the dual termination. If so, its
signification is " The two eternal beings."
Adlai, ''^7^' (1 Chron. xxvii. 29). As this word is now
spelled, no adequate meaning can be assigned to it.
It is very probably an altered form of ''T., ada, or
idi, + ^^:>, el, which would make it to signify " The
friend of El," or " El is a friend."
Admah, !^^f'7'? (Gen. x. 19), "A fortress."
Admathah, l^'Cm!^ (Esther i. 14), a Persian word, = " given
by the highest being." Fiirst.
Adna, ^}y. (Ezra x. 30), " El is miost lovely," the iinal ^ of
^^, el, being dropped, and P^ being substituted for
Adnah, "^^7^ (2 Chron. xvii. 14), "Jah is most lovely;"
most probably this word has been altered from the
form n^, adan, '^Ijjah.
Adon, li""?, "Lord and master;" Adonim, ' My lords ; '
Adonai, 'The lord; ' Pi^, adon, ' lord, master.'
Addon was the name of a certain town, in the Cuneiform.
Adoni-bezek, P]i"^?'^^' (Judg. i. 6), "My lord, the radiant
205
Adoni-eezek] one ; " P]2, ha~ak, ' to scatter or disperse rays,
like the iSun ; ' an old root.
Adoni-jah, ^"^It^^. (2 Sam. iii. 4), '• The Lord is Jah."
Adoni-kam, ^^^V'^.^ (Ezra ii. 13), written in Nehemiah x. 17,
as ^'J~^^_, Adonljah. The first signifies "The Lord
the heljDer," the second, "The Lord Jah," or "Jah
is Lord."
AD0NI-EA3I, ^yi'^^, (1 Kings iv. 6), "My Lord is on high ;"
D-n, rum, high, exalted.
Adoni-zedek, P^T'i''^'^: (Josh. x. 1, 3), " My Lord is the Just
One;" PT'-?, tzecVih, 'just, righteous.'
Adoeaim, ^\'i'^~^^. (2 Chron. xi. 9), "the mighty ones;" dual
of """J^'. Whence comes also Adar, "to be great and
glorious."
Adrammelech, "^^i!}!?^? (2 Kings xvii. 13). I think this
means "the swelling ones, the king," and that it
refers to the phallic triad. It will be remembered
that Hadrian, .l^rcides, Atrewi^, and .-l(//'(7myttium,
all show that TIadr or Atr had some mystic signifi-
cance. Adr, "i7^:j signifies ' swelling and tumid ; '
and "V^, hadar, has the same meaning. The idea
has reference plainly to strong virility. Eawlinson
surmises {Journal of Rorjal Asiatic Society, vol. i.,
N.S., p. 200), that this word ought to be written
■|'p?3TiN% aradmelech, and that arad is a variant of
ardu = ' a slave,' equivalent to ahd. (See Edkei,
below.)
Adhiel, '^^''I'^V (1 Sam. xviii. 19), means "The swelling, or
powerful El ; " from the same root, mx, as above.
Adullam, opiy (Josh. xii. 15), means " The just mother;"
'"^V, (idcd, 'to be just or equitable;" and ^'l?, <t)n,
' mother.'
Adummim, Q^'?^^' (Josh. XV. 7), The red ones, plui-al of Adam.
Ad, ^ the Almighty ; also " to eat."
206
Adami, = (Sanscrit) the first.
Adharya, = the Sun.
Aditi, = a Veclic Goddess, mother of the Gods.
Aditya, = the Sun, = Suyya.
^NON, A'ivJjv (John iii. 23), " the fountam of On." 1!^, am,
|.\s, aun, On.
Agabus, "Aya/3oc (Acts xi. 28), probably simihir to Agahlm ;
' IDleasures,' ' thmgs which please God.'
Agag, 33^ (Numb. xxiv. 7), from an old root, ' to blaze as fire.'
Agali (Cuneiform), goats. Compare Eglou, Egiah, Aglae.
Agbah, ^W., signifies 'immodest love,' e>wc ; plural, aghim,
'delights.' Compare Okba, the Arab name for one
of the evil spirits, or magicians.
Agee, ^^^ (2 Sam. xxiii. 11), "He is swift in flight,"
equivalent to Phygellus, or ^uysXoc (2 Tim. i. 15).
The reference is to the sun, "who rejoiceth as a
strong man to run a race " (Psalm xix. 5).
Agur, ■'•''2? (Prov. XXX. 1). There is much difficulty about
this word; it may signify "the collector;" from ^5^',
agar. ^^7- (Cuneiform), 'a field;' Heb., -I3N*, acre.
The same word is met with in Dent, xxxii. 27, in
which it is connected with a very strong anthropo-
morphism, and in that passage it is translated "Were
it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy ; " but
we can scarcely imagine that Agur, as a proper name,
signifies " I feared."
Ag, = ' to move tortuously.' Agha, Lord (Turkish).
Aga (Sanscrit), = 'a mountain or tree;" Aga-jah, mountain
born, = Parvati.
Agha, ,, ' sin, impurity.'
Agni, r/ = 'fire,' Latin ignis (from anj, 'to shine');
the holy or sacrificial fire,' for which a lamb was
generally used. Latin, Agnus.
x\gra, „ ' point, summit, front, beginning, best.'
207
Ah (Sansci'it), means "dawn : " and
Ahab, ^i^n^? (1 Kings xvi. 30), "brother to the father;" nx,
acli, 'brother to;' ^^, ah, 'father;' or possibly a
variant of ^l"^, aliah, 'a Hcentions man, or idolater;'
^'I'^, aliah, ' a lover,' Fiirst considers that ^^, ach or
ah, is one of the Divine epithets ; it may be so, for
there is an old signification of the word which proves
it to have been analogous to ' fire.' Fiirst, s. v.
Ahae (Sanscrit), means " day." If Ave take this as the
origin of Aharon, the name wonld still be an equiva-
lent for Jupiter, as the God of day.
Aharah, n;inx (i Chron. viii. 1). This is translated by
Fiirst as "following Ach, I.e., God;" though unsatis-
factory, no better meaning can be found.
Aharhel, ?070^. (1 Chron. iv. 8), following the preceding,
we conclude that the signification of this word is
" following Ach £1."
Ahasai, ^V)^ (Nehem. xi. 13), = ^1"^.^% 'laying hold on Jah.'
(See Ahaziah.)
xIhasbai, *5PD^ (2 Sam. xxiii. 34), "Jah is shining, or
blooming."
Ahasuerus, t^'i-ii^-nx (Ezra iv. G), " Akharhdarpan = Satrap."
Furst.
Ahava, ^3^^ (Ezra viii. 15), the name of a river.
Ahaz, ^[}^, "one who has laid hold on, possessing."
Ahazl\.h, ^l\^^ (1 Kings xxii. 40), "one who has laid hold
on Jah."
Ahbax, !2DN (1 Chron. ii. 29), " Son of Ach," or, as Furst
suggests, "Ach is knowing."
Aher, "V^ (1 Chron. vii. 12), the same as Ahiram, (Num.
xxvi. 38.)
Am, '!?^?. (1 Chron. v. 15), "Jah is Ach," or "kindred with
Jah."
208
Ahiah or AcHiAH, ^l^^, (1 Sam. xiv. 3), "brother to Jali,"
or " Acli is Jah ; " the same word as the following.
Ahiam, Q^'D^: (2 Sam. xxiii. 33), " Grod of fellowship."
Ahian, 11^^ (1 Chron. vii. 19), " Ach is clearness."
Ahiezer, ""J^'^-'f (Numb. i. 12), " Ach is a helper." (See
Abi-ezer), which shows '^'l? as = ''?^:.
Ahihud, ^-l^'ns (1 Chron. viii. 7), "brother to the glorious
one," or " Ach is splendour;" Tin, hiul 'majesty,
splendour,' &c.
Ahijah, •I'^^^O^'?. (1 Kings xiv. 4), " Ach is Jah," the same word
as Ahiah and Ahiam.
AmiCABi, 0^'!?^' (2 Kings xxii. 22), "Ach is a helper."
Ahilud, "i-l^^n^: (2 Sam. viii. 16), " Ah, or Ach, is creator, or
procreator, or producer, or one who gives offspring."
Compare Psalm cxxvii. 3, " Lo children are an
heritage of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is his
reward."
Ahimaaz, 1'y?''D^; (1 Sam. xiv. 50). The ordinary interpre-
tation of this word is " brother of anger," a name
which seems to be very unsuitable to anybody. The
reading of YV^, maatz, as the second syllable, is the
cause of this. I believe that this spelhng has been
somewhat varied from the original. The individual
who bore the name was a father of Saul's wife ; and
at that period the Jews were conversant with many
heathen gods and priests. Amongst the Syrian
deities was a God, apparently, Maoz, ^lyo. (See
Daniel xi. 38, and the marginal Mauzzim.) He
was the Clod of fortified cities or munitions of war ;
supposed, by Gesenius, to be the same as Mars,
between which name and Maoz there is in sound but
scant difference. The real meaning of the word,
therefore, I conceive to be Brother of Mars.
Ahiman, 9'''?^; (Numb. xiii. 22). "Ach is man, or Mrjv, the
209
Ahbian] male divinitj of Mt^vvj, ^jd ; " Fiirst s. v. (See
Man.)
AniMELEcn, ^^'P^■^^; (1 Samuel xxi. 2), "brother to the
king."
Ahimoth, riio\>s; (i Chron. vi. 25). This word is spelled, in
1 Chron, vi. 35, ^riD^ machath ; MaaS, in Luke iii.
26. The signification is " Ach is death ; " and we
have the analogue of it in MarSaToc, = rio^ math (is),
"^l, jah, or 'god.' This is so strange a name for
an infant just entering life, that it seems better to
derive the second element from i^.^^'P, michjath, when
the meaning would be, "Ach is the renewing of
life."
Ahinadab, ^'^l''^^ (1 Kings iv. 14), " brother to the prince."
or "Ach is prince," or "Ach gave."
Ahinoam, Dyj'ns; (i Sam. xiv. 50), " brother to the lovely
one." (See Abinoam.)
Ahio, "I'^^wN (2 ga,m. vi. 3). This word deserves notice. It is
said to mean "brotherly; " but as names were given
by the priesthood at the time of infancy, such a cog-
nomen would be inapplicable. Its etymology aj)par-
ently yields the signification, "the brother of lo; "
("Ach or God is Jo." Fiirst.) We postpone the
inquiry into the name lo, and only notice the name
of Joah, which is merely a transposition of Ahio,
and remark that the meaning assigned to it by
Gesenius is "Jehovah, the brother," or, "whose
brother is Jehovah."
Ahiea, ^y^^_ (Numb. i. 15), "brother of, or Ach is the
Sun," Ra being both Shemitic and Egyptian for the
Sun. Compare Heb. '"i^*!?, raah, 'to see,' and Greek
opucu.
Ahiram, D7D^; (Numb. xxvi. 38), " brother of, or Ach is the
High One."
0
210
Ahisamach, '^^D'n^? (Exocl. xxsi. 6), " Acb, the siipporter."
AmsHAE, '^t:'"'ns* (i Chron. vii. 10), " Acli, the righteous."
(See Jashee.)
Ahishahae, "1']?^''C?? (1 Chron. vii. 10), " Ach, the Aurora."
Ahitophel, '?|>J^''C'>' (2 Sam. xv. 12). Amougst the customs
of the Orientals, which obtained from the remotest
antiquity, and still exist to the present day, is the
practice of heaping contumely upon an adversary
whenever his name is uttered, or praise upon any
one who is held in repute ; much as Englishmen used
to say, " The king, God bless him." It has more-
ever been, and still is, a common usage to falsify the
name of some detested man, or to change it altogether,
in order to make his memory detested. The word
in question is an example of the custom ; for the
recreant councillor, once famed for wisdom, is now
called "brother to nastiness," or " brother to lies,"
according as we derive the last part of the word
from '???, tapixd, "to spit out," " unsalted,"
"insii^id," "foolish," "false," or ^?9j tciljhal, "to
frame lies."
Ahitue, 31D\nN' (1 Sam. xxii. 12), "brother of, or Ach the
good one," or "goodness." (See Abitub.)
Ahlab, 2^0'^' (Jud. i. 31), " The father protects," the ^^ being
elided before the n-
Ahlai, '•''0^^ (1 Chron. ii. 31), " Jah protects," the n being
dropped at the end.
Ahoah, L''"^^? (1 Chron viii. 4), probably "Ach is Jah."
Aholah, '!^)^^ (Ezek. xxiii. 4); Aholihali, ^f KH? ; Aholiab,
^^')\}^; AhoUhamah, '^P^'t^^'- The first two of
these words were given figuratively to Jerusalem
and Samaria on account of their whoredoms, of which
a very graphic account is given. The idea conveyed
seems to be — of the fii-st two, that they had each a
211
AholahJ tent for fornication, or were themselves a tent for
any one to take lodging with ; and of the two latter,
that they were habitations for the father, ^^, or for
the high one, '^'P'?. The connexion of ideas between a
tent and fornication was, apparently, current in more
ancient times, as we learn from Numb. xxv. 6-8,
where it is related that Phinehas pursued the man
of Israel into the tent. The passage in which this
shameful occurrence is narrated, is one that Dr.
Ginsburg points out (oj). clt.) as having been softened
from its original coarseness. The true significa-
tion is retained in the Vulgate, viz. — " Et ecce
unus de filiis Israel iutravit coram fratribus suis ad
scortum Madianitidem, vidente Moyse et omni turba
filiorum Israel, &c. Quod cum vidisset Phinees * * *
iugressus est post virum Israelitem in luijcinar et
perfodit ambos simul .... in locis genitalibus."
Now the word rendered tent in our version is '^?P,
kuhah, which signifies a peculiar form of dome-shaped
covering which was carried about by prostitutes, and
was at once an indication of their business, and a
means of conducting it. The part through which
Phinehas drove the spear is a word of similar
spelling, viz., "^^P, Jiohah, which signifies 'the vulva.'
The ideas associated with these two words closely
resemble those used by Ezekiel, who declares,^ accord-
ing to the Vulgate (xvi. 24, 25), " et redificasti tibi
liipanar, ^^, gah, et fecisti tibi prostibulum in cunctis
K^-^A plateis ; ad omne caput vias redificasti signum pros-
titutionis tu?e, et divisisti pedes (inguina) tuos omni
transeunti." Again, in verse 31, we find still greater
shamelessness attributed to Jerusalem : " fabricasti
lupanar tuum in capita omnis via3 — nee facta es quasi
meretiix fastidio augeus pretium sed quasi mulier
212
Aholah] adultei-ca quro super virum simm inducit alienos,"
&c. NoAV ^1, gcih, has, amongst others, a signification
precisely similar to that of i^?!?. kuhah, and it was
used for similar purposes. Associating all these facts
together, the philosopher is disposed to conclude that
the episode of the Midianitish woman, and the
frightful plague which followed, was introduced in the
times of Ezekiel hy some devout man, who, heing
scandalised hy what he saw around him, and impotent
to prevent such abomination, endeavoured to act upon
the fears of the nation, by showing how dreadfully
God had visited such sins upon their forefathers.
But in his zeal he has forgotten his discretion, and
has furnished the women of Midian with the trade
marks in use at Jerusalem.
Ahumai, ""'p-inK (1 Chron. iv. 2), " Ach is mi," or " semen ;"
" Ach effects propagation." Fiirst.
Ahuzam, ^^['^* (1 Chron. iv. 6), " Am is preservation," the
N being dropped between t and D.
Ah (Vedic)), same as Aio, "I say."
Ahi „ serpent.
Aham „ I.
Ahan „ day.
Ahana „ the dawn.
Ahn „ serpent or throat sweller, same as Deva, Dao,
Deus, Divus ■-- Holy.
Ahura ,/ same as Asura.
Ahuzzath, n^rnx (Gen. xxvi. 26). This name was borne by
a Philistine in the time of Isaac. (See PniLiSTiEA,
Lamech, and Adah) ; and it may be a Hebrew adap-
tation from aX^zTai, azetai, "he stands in awe of the
Gods." I should take it to be an irregular plural,
signifying " The preservers," from ^nx^ aJiaz, and to
indicate the " arba."
213
Ai, y. (Gen. xiii. 3), sometimes written Hai (wbicli see),
signilies " a heap of ruins," the city of that name, v/e
are told, being the heap, &c.; but ''^, Al or I, means
" an Island " (one of the names of lona was li).
Neither of these etymologies, however, accords suffi-
ciently with others to be accepted ; my impression
is, either that the existence of the town was a myth,
or that it was called after a large cairn or mound,
which, like Gilgal, by Jericho, was near its gates.
(See Gilgal.)
Ai or Aa, in the Assyrian, signifies " the female power of the
sun.''
AiN, ry, "an eye, or fountain ; " frequently occurring in com-
position, but then usually spelled Eoi, as En-dor, &c.
AiEAN, an old name for Persia. Compare Yrun, Erin,
Arran.
Akh, one form, and the correct one, of writing the Hebrew
^^, brother, "kindred to," or "like to."
Akhi-umah, Assyrian name, = " brother of the mother."
Compare Ahab.
Akissu (Cuneiform), " a heretic." Compare " akish, [^pv,
a perverse man."
Akkad (Assj-rian), " a highlander."
AKRivJBBiM, ^'''^y^ (Jndg. i. 36), " the great stags ;" ''P^', aJco,
stag; '■'?7j rahah, "great," possibly "a flagellum,"
generally rendered " scorpion-height."
Al, the A being pronounced like the a in ale, fate, hate,
gate, &c., whence many write the words as El, &c.,^"
in which case it is necessary to give the E the French
sound of e in mer. We find from Dr. Ginsburg's
10 I prefer the spelling in the text to that in ordinary use — (1) because the
tidoptiou of the hard or long a represents the sound of N hatter than e, which in
English is ueyer used as a, aiid which is ahnost invariably pronounced as if a short
or soft vowel; (2) because it is the representative of the modern "Allah," the
Aiabic form of God.
214
Al] Versions of the Bible, to which we referred in the
note, pp. 184-6, that very great Hherties have heen
taken with the names El and Elohim by the
modern redactors of the sacred Scriptures. They
have indeed been carried to snch an extent, that it is
necessary for the philosophical student to divide his
inquiries into two parts ; one of which relates to the
real signification of the words, the ideas which they
involve, and the extent of country over which the
names, or some variants of them, were recognised as
belonging to the Creator; the other relates to the
manner in which the names have been treated in
our Bible.
In examining into the meaning of the word El,
we must first advert to the ordinary method of spelling
it, and its variants ; we find one form of it written
as ^^, which consists of a and I, but which is so
pointed as to be pronounced ail. The plural of
this word is ^P\^, ailiiii. It may be considered as
cognate with the Assyrian II, or Ilu, which Eawlinsou
says {Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, p. 193,
vol. 1, N. s.) is the Shemitic value of "a God; for
which, however, Yahu is sometimes substituted, as
in Hebrew." Another form, of which the plural is
more commonly used than the singular, is ii!"i^.^', eloah,
and in the plural ^''0^?f:, elohim. This termination
indicates that the noun is in the masculine gender ;
but as there are two other forms, both of which, viz.,
n^'N, alath, and nib\s^ aloth (Deut. ii. 8, 1 Kings
ix. 26), indicate feminine terminations, we must pre-
sume that there was an idea that the Deity was
androgyne ; a notion which equally pertained to Baal,
whose plural form is Baalim and Baalath. The
modern representative of Al is Allah, and that name
215
Al] is adored over all the localiiies where once Al was
worshipped.
That this appellative for the Almighty was not
confined to the Jews, we have abundant proof in
Scripture. We find, for example, that Amraphei
is a name born by a Mesopotamian king, whilst
Abraham was as yet childless (Gen. xiv. 1) ; we see
that jEZlasar" is the name of a kingdom in Chaldea,
and we find that £klaah is the cognomen of a
Midianite (Gen. xxv. 4). We have still farther
proof in the difficulty which it is evident that the
modern Jews have felt in modifying their Scriptures
to demonstrate the reverse. The Rabbins recognise
the fact that those whom they called Heathen wor-
shipped Elohim, just as did their own Hebrew
forefathers ; but they endeavour to explain it away
by such contrivances as Dr. Ginsburg has com-
memorated.
When, therefore, we have examined into the signi-
fication of the name, and endeavoured to ascertain
its nature, we shall have an idea of the early faith of
the Jews, as well as of that of other Shemitic races.
Now, '?'''>', ail, pronounced il, is an old word denoting
the idea of rolling, strength and power, ' a ram,'
' a pine tree,' ' an oak,' ' a post,' ' pre-eminence,' ' the
belly,' ' the body,' &c. ; also as ajal, ' a stag, or hart,'
' a great ram,' ' a wild goat.' As a means of intro-
ducing the name of the Great One by periphrasis,
' the goat,' and ' the deer,' and ' the pine or palm
tree,' were used in metaphor, as in Ajalon, V^l^, the
meaning of which is " On, the stag," or " The strong
u Ellasar is spelled with a double 1 iu Euglisli, aud witli V in the Hebrew,
apparently -srith the intention of showing that the El of Ellasar was not the same
as the El of the Hebrew.
216
Al] one," from ^^>', ajal, ' stag,' and \^^, ami, as 1'"'?'''^,
Elon ; tlie same signifies " an oals: ; " whilst in the
later redactions of the ancient Scriptures, ^''^, or <V,
ail, is substituted in many places for ?«, al, princi-
pally in passages where something is said in the text
which the modern Hebrews think to be derogatory
to the Almighty.
^i^, al, pronounced as ail or el, means " strong,"
" a mighty one," " a hero." It is also used to
represent the Most High. Though spelled ?'^, the
word is, I think, closely alHed to ^^, al, which
signifies "most high," and to 'vVj rt^«/^ which means
"to be high, elevated, raised erect," also "to glow,
to burn, to ghtter, to sprout." We can readily see
that all these meanings have a double entendre,
and apply equally to the Almighty in the skies and
his emblem upon earth, ^i^, ala (1 Kings iv. 18),
usually written elah, is "a pine tree," a symbol of
the "fascinum." '^)^, alah, " to be round," "thick
or fat;" also "an oath," " an oak," " a pine," and
" God." In all these there are the same letters, nhn,
pointed differently ; but as the vowel points are a
comparatively modern invention, we must take the
word to have all the meanings assigned to it. It is
still used as ' The Supreme Being ' by Mahometans ;
and those who are conversant with the writings of
Mahomet, and his idea of domestic enjoyment on
earth and ecstatic bliss in heaven, can readily see
how closely the idea of phallic power was connected
in his mind with that of happiness and almightiness.
In that he resembled all the more ancient Orien-
talists.
Closely aUied with the foregoing words are 'I''''^^*,
Eloha, plural ^T^?^^, Eloliim, signifying " God," "any
217
Al] God." But althougli the plural Eloliim seems to
indicate a masculine God as sensual as that of
Mahomet's religion, we must not forget that the
words Elath and Eloth indicate one in which the
female element preiDonderates ; in this it resembles
such words as Ashtoreth and Baalath. Now, without
going deeply into ancient and Hindoo history, there
is, we think, a suf&cient amount of evidence to show
that a religion based upon the idea of the Creator
being male, preceded that which was founded upon
the belief that the Almighty was a loving mother.
We presume, therefore, that the feminine idea,
incorporated in the word Eloth, &c., is of later deve-
lopment than the masculine one found in Elohim.
It is probable that it obtained about the time of
Solomon (see 1 Kings iv. IG).
Now it is very remarkable that the expression
Jah, or Jehovah, is never used in the plural;
consequently we should surmise that the worship
of the great Being under this name was a subli-
mation from the worship of El. In the process
known to chemists by the names distillation, or
sublimation, those light or spiritual particles which
are intermixed with the heavy and gross parts in
the original substance are separated from it, and
presented to us in nearly a pure condition; but
though on a first process a division between the
worthy and the worthless is effected to a great degree,
the result is not so pure as it may be made after a
repetition of the trial by fire. Thus we may conceive
that the worship of El, though coarse, gross, and
even in some senses obscene, possessed a certain
amount of goodness, which after sublimation appeared
as the worship of Jah; whilst this again became
218
Al] purified still farther by another distillation, and
emerged as pure Christianity. We may even carry
the simile farther. The chemist knows that during
distillation some of the ingredients which he would
wish to be retained in the alembic will be found in
the receiver, and that there are oflensive empyreu-
matic oils which taint the spirit even after a second
distillation. So it is with our own current religion,
which, though infinitely superior to that which has
been coffined in many of those names whose meaning
we are exploring, yet retains in conjunction with it
a heavy offensive oil, from which its admirers would
gladly see it freed. Some, indeed, there are who
admire blemishes, declare assafoetida an aromatic
odour, and love the smell of sulphuretted hydrogen,
when it is of their own production ; with such we
have no sympathy ; and we prefer to recommend a
more scientific re-distillation of ancient ideas, similar
to that which occurred at the Reformation, rather
than to preach peace when all around us is fer-
menting.
Much has been said and written about the plural
form Eloldm'^^ having some connexion v\dth the
modern Trinity. That it may have some reference
to a triad I do not doubt, for the idea of the Creator
of all things has been wrapped in the mundane con-
ception of the father of offspring. This was a triad
throughout all the animal kingdom which was known
to the Ancients. If, it was argued, man was the
likeness of God, then the Celestial Father must be a
trinity like his earthly emblem.^^ The object presented
12 See Baalim.
13 The same argument lias been used to demonstrate that Elohim was androgyne
and dual, rather than triple; Elohim, in the plural, says, Let us make man in
our image, after our likeness ; and Elohim created man in his image, i. e., of
219
Al] to the e5'e was gross, but the idea which it symbohsed
was grand ; and reverence for the thing signified
was proved by paying abundant honour to the sign.
Whilst this sheet was going througii the press, I
heard, through a missionary in India, of a Fakir, who
was endeavouring to make himself acceptable to the
Creator by a contrivance which should augment the
proportions of his emblem. As he dragged a stone
painfully along, an European clergyman placed his
foot upon the latter. The act was construed into
a deliberate insult to religion, and the bystanders
threatened his life. Though he escaped a death by
stoning, the sustained indignation of the natives was
such that he was obliged to resign his position, and
retire from that part of the country. What happens
in India now, there is reason to believe existed also in
Palestine. A man whose symbol had not been duly
circumcised was to be cut off from life. We are told
that even the Lord himself resented this omission on
the children of the laAvgiver of his people (Exod. iv.
24, 25), although he passed by without notice during
forty years the neglect of the rite amongst the whole
nation (Josh. v. 5), with whom, too, he was always
present. We find, moreover (Deut. xxiii. 1), that a
man was not to be allowed even to worship, or to be
in the congregation of the Lord, in whom any part
of the symbolic triad was injured or wanting; and
throughout the Old, and even in some parts of the
New Testament the highest reproach cast upon the
heathen was, that they bore a triad upon which no
holy knife had passed to fit it as a sacred symbol.
The historian might be tempted to linger on the
Elohim ; iiiul (he image was duplicate, i. e„ male aud female ; tlierefore it is
argued, if " mau " is male and female, and in the likeness of Elohim, it is clear
that the Maker must have been dual, i.e., male and female.
220
Al] use of circnmcisiou as having been originally adopted
by the Egyptians, and copied by the Syrians from
them; and on the other evidence which there is to
show, that the Hebrews derived their religion from
the nations around them ; but as it would occupy too
much space here, we must postpone the matter to a
succeeding volume.
In the Cuneiform, the various names of the Great
God have been read as Al, El, II, Ilos, Ra, Asshur,
Bel; in the Greek we meet with the same, as eXvj,
"brightness," and^'HXioc, "the Sun;" and few will
forget the prominence in Jewish history of Elias, also
known as Elijah, who was again to appear before the
incarnation of the Godhead (Malachi iv. 5). The word
Elijah being ^t?^, or " El-Jah," the counterpart of
the II, Yahu, mentioned by Rawlinson. (See supra,
p. 214.) In Greek we have still farther — 'iKacu, "1
am propitious ; " sk6m, " I roll round ; " "lAAoj, is
"the eye;" and sIXsm, "to turn round." These
would serve to identify the Sun with Al or El. There
is corroboration to be found in the emblem of Asshur
and Apollo ; both appear with bended bow launching
forth their arrow, the bow and arrow being mystic
signs of the fascinum •,'^'^ and fancy would see in the
Greek Apollo a resemblance to ^^', ah, "father;"
and ^7^, alah, "the strong one," "the mighty
Father On."
We believe, from our examination of ancient
myths, that xil or El is the Sun, as a representative
of the Almighty, typified under a phallic emblem as
a sign of his creative power. This emblem was a
triad : Asshur was the central organ, Anu was the
1-^ See Apulktus, Gohlen As?, Book ii. ; sceue between Fotis and Lucius.
221
Al] right, and Hoa the left "testis" or egg. To the
initiated, all these ideas were familiarly known.
The Greeks used the phallus sometimes triple as a
symbol, the meaning of which seems to have been
among the last discoveries revealed to the initiated.
In R. P. Knight's Dissertation on tlie Symholical
Language of Ancient Art and Mythology, p. 6, he
quotes the following : — " Post tot suspiria epoptarum,
totum signaculum lingute, simulachrum membri virilis
revelatur." Tertullian adv. Valeutinios. Many
others, however, saw in the emblems referred to
nothing but their apparent meaning, and adopted
forms of worship in which they played very matter
of fact parts.
It is impossible for the scholar to disguise from
himself the fact, that a form of religion existed in
primitive times all over the known world, similar to
that which obtains now in some parts, and amongst
certain sects, in Hindoostan, whose basis was sensu-
ality ; and that there were few emblems, if any,
which had not hidden i-eferences to the male or
female organs or principles. Of this form of belief
the Hebrews largely partook (See Aholah, &c.), and
we can trace some of its remains still amongst
ourselves.
Having now concluded this long investigation
into the signification of the words in question, let
us inquire, in the second place, how Elohim is
treated in the ancient Scriptures. Notwithstanding
the various liberties which have been taken with
this word, by writers who have professed to copy
from ancient documents, Elohim is really described
in the current Scriptures of to-day in the following
fashion. In Gen. i. 1, Elohim makes both the
222
AlJ heaven and the earth; in verse 26, Elohim sohlo-
quises thus : " Let ns make man, in our image," and
he made them so, male and female ; in iii. 8, Elohim
walks in a garden, enjoying the cool air, requiring
companionship, and calling for a man's presence ; in
iii. 21, Elohim makes coats; in xvih 1-3, Elohim
appears to Abram and talks with him; and, 9-14,
gives personal directions respecting circumcision. In
Gen. xviii., we find that Jehovah is the word used,
instead of Elohim, whose identity we recognise by
Gen. xix. 29 ; and that on this occasion the Deity is
triple, appearing as three men, one of whom is
superior to the other two, but all of whom talk, eat,
drink, and act like human beings.
In Gen. xx. 3, Elohim appears to Abimelech in
a dream, a fact which implies that the king recog-
nised him as God ; in Gen. xxiv. 3, we find that there
is an Elohim of the heaven and of the earth. Gen.
xxxi. 30-32 tells us that the images of Laban are
"Elohim." In Gen. xxxii. 28, Elohim is repre-
sented as inferior to Jacob, with whom he is wrestling,
and hence less mighty than a man, whose form and
fashion he assumes. In Gen. xxxv. 2, Jacob tells his
people to put away the strange Elohim which were
amongst them. In Exod. i. 17, 20, Elohim is repre-
sented as rewarding the Jewish midwives for deceit ;
and in ii. 23-25 he is spoken of as if suddenly alive
to the fact that Israel was in trouble, of which he
would have known nothing, unless they had cried and
reminded him of a covenant he had made. In Exod.
vii. 1, we find that Moses becomes Elohim ; and in
xii. 12, the gods of Egypt are designated by the same
word ; whilst in xx. 2 the commandment runs, " Thou
ehalt have none other Elohim but me" — a passage
223
Al] which clefirly shews thaL the gods of other nations
were designated by the same name as the God of
Israel ; in Exod. xx. 23, we read of Elohim of silver
and Elohim of gold ; in xxi. 6, Elohim appears as
a name of ordinary judges ; the same occurs again in
xxii. 9, and in the 20tli verse of the same chapter
the word reappears as the name of a strange god;
whilst in the 28th verse it is difficult to know dis-
tinctly what the signification of Elohim may be,
whether gods or magistrates ; in xxiii. 13, Elohim
is the name given to the gods of other people ; the
same idea is repeated in verses 24, 32, 33. In
xxiv. 10, 11, Elohim has a visible appearance, and
talks like a man. In xxxii. 1, 4, 8, 23, 31, and in
xxxiv. 15, 16, 17, we find that Elohim is the name
given to false gods and molten images. The same is
also seen in Levit. xix. 4. In Numb. xxii. 9-20, et. scq.,
it is clear that Elohim was the God of Balaam, and
from the twenty-fifth chapter of the same book it is
certain that the Midianites and Moabites knew that
name as appertaining to their deities ; and we find a
confirmation of the fact in ch. sxxiii. 4. We find the
name again applied to the gods of other nations in
Deut. iv. 28, and also in the repetition of the first
commandment, Deut. v. 7, and again in Deut. vi. 14,
vii. 4, 16, 25 ; viii. 19 ; xii. 2, 3, 30, 31 ; xiii. 2, 6,
13; xxviii. 14, 64 ; xxxii. 17. Jud. ii. 3, 12, 17, 19 ;
iii. 6 ; v. 8 ; vi. 10, and in a variety of other places
in the later books of the Bible. In Judges xvi. 23,
Dagon is designated as Elohim, and the same occurs
again in 1 Sam. v. 7. In ch. xxviii. 13, the witch of
Endor sees Elohim coming up out of the earth, clearly
like an evil spirit ; in 1 Kings xi. 33, both Chemosh
and Milcom arc spoken of as Elohim.
224
Al] Now whenever the word in question is applicable
to the deities of other nations, it is translated into
English as gods, in the plural. If, therefore, there
be anything like precision in that rule of grammar
which demonstrates the termination D^ to be a sign
of the plural, and if there is any truth in rendering
the "Elohim " of other nations by the word " gods,"
it is clear that the " Elohim " of the Jews must also
be a plural form, and signify amongst them the same
as it did amongst surrounding nations. But in Dent,
vi. 4, v/e have the enunciation, " Hear, 0 Israel,
the Lord our God is one Lord." This rendered it
impolitic and morally impossible for our translators
to render "Elohim," when it referred to the true
God, by a plural noun ; in all instances, therefore,
where the Jewish God is designated by the name in
question, they have interpreted it in the singular, as
God.^^
We conclude, then, that the inexorable logic of
facts demonstrates that the early Jewish writers, —
those whom so many amongst us regard to have been
inspired by the Almighty, and as composing under
the direct influence of His will, — considered that the
Creator was a plurality ; whilst a reference to Gen.
xviii. 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, and xix. 2, 13, 16, 17,
18, 22, 24, shovv'S us that the Lord is at one time
represented as a trinity, a tria juncta in uno ; at
another, as a dual being. As a triune Elohim, he
did not differ from Asher, Hea, and Hoa of the
15 There are, as Dr. Ginslinrg observes {oji. cil.), many ijassages in which the
translators of our authorised version have rendered Elohim as ' Gods,' with the
erroneous idea that the word refers to a heathen, and not to the Jewish God. There
is one verse in which the word Elohim is translated in one part in the singular and
in another in the plural, viz.. Gen. iii. 5 ; " For God (Elohim) doth Imow;" "and
ye shall be as Gods (Elohim)."
225
Al] Clialdees,— the people whom we learn from Abraham's'
history were worshippers of the true God ; or from
Osiris, Isis, aud Horus, or any other of the Egyptian
triads. As a dual being, Elohim was analogous to
Baalim.''^
If Elohim originally represented the same idea as
Mahadeva, we can well understand that the style of
worship rendered to him, and the writings of those
who reverenced him, would be too coarse for the
more modern Jews to tolerate (See Aholah) ; and
we can readily understand how greatly they would
desire to expunge from their holy books all evidence
of the prevalence of impropriety, in religion or in
nomenclature. Notwithstanding all their care, hovr-
ever, we shall find that there are a gieat number
of cognomens which are compounded v/ith El, the
majority of which have a primary reference to the
condition of Asher or the Triad, although they bear
a relationship to the Creator as well.
The remarks which we have made upon Elohim
are, mutatis mutandis, applicable to its singular form,
kP^, eloJtaJi. It is applied m 2 Chrou. xxxii. 15, to
any god of any nation ; and in Dan. xi. 37, 38, 39,
and in Hab. i. 11, we see the same thing. We
cannot help noticing, moreover, that this form of
the word, which indicates tmitp, is veri/ rarely used ;
it is only found twice in the Pentateuch, Deut. xxxii.
15, 17, once in Chronicles, once in Nehemiab, four
times in the book of Psalms, once in the Proverbs,
once in Isaiah, three times in Daniel, and twice in
Habakkuk; but though so rare in other books, it
is abundantly used by Job, it being found in that
IG lu Sauchoniatliou WO road. "The auxiliaries of Ilus, wbo is Cronus, were
called Eloeim ('EAwel/x), as it were the allies of Crouns." Cory's Frcigments, p. 11.
P
226
Al] portion of Scripture upwards of forty times, whilst
the form of Elohim onl}^ occurs seventeen times.
Hence Ave must conclude that the writer of Job had a
clearer idea of the unity of the godhead, as enunciated
in Deut. vi. 4, than any other Biblical writer. This
curious fact assumes some significance, when we find a
scholar like Sir H. Eawlinson assigning the Achreme-
nian period as that during which the book was composed
{Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, vol. i., new
series, p. 238, note), a time when, under the influence
of the Persian monarchs, a tolerably pure form of
monotheism was displacing the Shemitic Triads.
In like manner ^^., el, is used for 'strange' deities,
as, for example, we find, Judges ix. 46, El Berith,
the God Berith, spoken of; like ^'i^?:, aloak, it is
used in the book of Job in not less than fifty-five
instances; nor can we be much surprised at this,
seeing the proximity of Job's residence to Mesopo-
tamia, where the word II was constantly used for
God: in Psalm Ixxxi. 9, 10, the word El is used
thus — "there shall no strange El be in thee, neither
shalt thou worship any strange El ; " again, in Isaiah
xlvi. 6, Ave fiud the Avord attributed to an image —
" he maketh it an El ; " in Ivii. 5, we find it again
used to signify idols ; and in Ezek. xxxii. 21, the
same Avord is translated in our version as " The
strong." As regards this signification of the Avord,
we learn from Dr. Ginsburg {op. cit.) that so great
was the dislike to confound the El of heaven Avith
the El on earth, that the Avord Avas actually pointed
•?>'5, ail, in some passages. This affords a singular
additional argument in favour of our interpretation
of the original Elohim, for ail signifies " a ram " and
" a post," both of which had hidden meanings.
227
Al] The plural of ^N', cl, is D!^N*, flhn, a name which
occurs for a locality iii the wilderness, Ex. xv. 27,
where the mystic numbers t^Yelve and seventy are
prominently to he noticed. The name thus written,
as Ginsburg has observed in the work before quoted,
would signify a polytheistic idea ; it was therefore
changed by the scribes into £2P\\\, ailiin, by the simple
transposition of and s and the word thus became
'the rams,' instead of the ' Great Gods.' There was
also, as the same author shows, a Moabite city called
Elim, a name which was practically a proof that El
was known to this heathen race. To obviate this
idea, a i was inserted between h and n' , and the
city became Eglaim, Q^^^^- = '' drops." In Exod.
XV. 11 (we are still drawing our information from
Ginsburg's Versio)is of the Bible), we find in our
English version, " AVho is like unto thee, 0 Lord,
amongst the Gods ? " the Hebrew Avord for which is
Civ?<2, ha-cl'nx ,- this, however, seemed to attribute
power to the heathen Gods, which, although not
equal to that of the Jewish El, was analogous thereto ;
the word was therefore altered in some versions to
C^^^ Ucm, " The dumb ones." There is a similar
change in Hah. ii. 18, in which Ave meet Avith the
words D'9^^> ^'T^^:, eliliiii Uin'nii, instead of eliin
ilinini. Again, in Psalm Iviii. 1, wc have the Avord
^)j^, clem, in the present redaction of the HebrcAv
text, a Avord which originally Avas intended to signify
"Judges," but Avhich is translated in the Authorised
Version, " 0 ye congregation ; " the ancient Avord Avas
°''?^^ cllm, but as this appeared to be attributing the
power of God to man, it AA'as changed, by dropping >
and altering c///;vA- into shcva, to ^i^, alem = con-
gregation. This form of the plural is masculine ; Ave
228
Al] find ulso ft feminine plural, to wliicli we have already
referred, viz., f^i^^>, and ^^.^, cloth and elath, which
signified " The Goddesses ; " this interpretation,
however, offending the later Jewish writers, they
added '' between the h and the N' , making the words
ni^^^ and ^^''^, eiloth and eilath, the meaning of which
is " the rams." There is one passage in which a
similar alteration has been made, which we regard
with much interest. The twenty-second Psalm is
said to have been written by David, who once dwelt
amongst the Phihstines, and was a friend of Hiram
of Tyre. We have quite sufficient evidence that
amongst those nations the deity was worshipped
mider a feminine form, c. g., Ashtoreth. Now in the
verse, Psalm xxii. 19, we have, in the authorised
version, " Be not thou far from me, 0 Lord ; 0 my
strength, haste thee to help me." But the original
word, translated " 0 my strength," was '^"^^^ clothi,
or "■ my eloth," which is put in parallelism with, and
metaphorically equal to, " 0 Lord," = ^)^\, Jehovah.
But to call upon "the Goddesses," as being analogous
to Jehovah, savoured of blasphemy in the eyes of
the modern followers of David, so they changed the
eloth of the Psalmist into ri-l'p^s^ eiluth, which we
presume must signify " ewes," i. c, the feminine of
" rams," though we cannot be sure, since the word
only occurs in this one place throughout the Bible.
AVe may admire the zeal which prefers breaking the
ninth rather than the first commandment, but we ques-
tion the taste which made David appeal one moment
to Jehovah, and the next to a flock of sheep.
We find, still farther, from the author above
quoted, that the modern, or post-Babylonian Jews,
v/ould not allow the name of (.^, el, to remain, in the
229
Al] cognomens of individuals who had borne it, in con-
nection with other words to form a sentence. Thus
Tabeal, signifying " The Good God," or " God is
good," was intolerable, if borne by a human being;
consequently the N was dropped in certain proper
names, or else the spelling was varied sufficiently to
remove from the aiDpellative the obnoxious element.
Here, again, we meet with a complete justification of
the plan which I have adopted in the examination of
Scriptural cognomens, and a proof that I have not
violated the laws of sound philology in trusting to
common sense rather than to the despotic laws of
pedantry, which insist that everything which is
written and spelled as we find it now, must be
accepted as indubitably correct, and, if it be in the
Bible, written by the hand of God.
There are numerous words compounded with Al,
which, being usually spelled as El, we shall intro-
duce in their ordinary form, under the letter E. A
comparison of these with others compounded with
Jah, will go far to increase the strength of the posi-
tion which we have taken.
Alameth, l^?^y„,, (1 Chron. vii. 8; 1 Chron. vi. 10). This
name was borne by a man and by a town, which, in
Joshua xxi. 18, is found to have been Almon ; now
the signification of the last is " The strong On," and
it is masculine; that of the first is feminine; and,
notwithstanding its present 'pointing,' we conclude
that the word is the plural of ^^^V, nlma, and signi-
fies " The virgins."
Alammelech, n^?^^' (Josh. xix. 26), "Al the king." In
this word we have another illustration of the con-
trivances which have been adopted to expunge the
sacred form "?^', from names which have been used
230
Alammelech] by the Heathen. The change adopted has
been to transform the tsere into pathach, and to add a
dagesh to the h to show that a letter has been ehded.
It is somewhat curious to find that Gesenius and Furst
have accepted this idea, and attempt to explain the
name by conceiving that n has been elided between
h and D, thus rendering the word as V.'^ ^t^^, alath
mdech, "The king's oak," which Fiirst says "has
reference to the Phoenician oak Avorship, remains of
which were preserved amongst the Hebrews." As if,
however, to indicate that he felt himself upon some-
what tender ground, he adds " The assimilation of n
is rare, and possibly only in a proper name." (See
MOLECH.)
Alba, an old Italian or Etruscan name. Compare Albion ;
possibly from the Phasnician root ^r*^)', alah, or alb,
'to be strong.' Compare Elvas, Alp, Elbe, Helboii,
&c.
Aleph, ^^^^ (Phoenician), "An ox," "cow," "bull;" whence
Elep]ia.iit, which, when they first came to be known
in Palestine, were thought to be big bulls ; comp.
1?^*, alaph, ' to make or bring forth thousands.'
Aliah, ^t^'^ (1 Chron. i. 51). This is another of the words
which have been modified ; as it stands, it signifies
" perverseness ; " it is clearly the same as ^t^^, aliali,
which signifies " The most High Jah." The altera-
tion has been made because the cognomen was borne
by an Edomite. This was felt to be the more neces-
sary, inasmuch as the Jews would not tolerate such a
name amongst their own brethren, still less amongst
the uncircuuicised. The margin reads it ^f^^, 'Alvah,'
as it appears in Gen. xxxvi. 40.
Alian, \t^^ (1 Chron. i. 40), also written \f?V, alvan (Gen.
xxxvi. 23), which signifies " A high sublime one."
281
Alian] Fiirst. It is probably a variant of ]^^^^, alon, "On
is most hio-h."
Alilat, an Assyrian name for the Goddesses, or " The God-
dess " under all her names.
Alitta (Cuneiform), = Alissa, = Eliza," = Ashtarte, = Ishtar
(Easter ?) = Mylitta, = Ashtoreth, = Karnaim, = Me-
litta, = Anaitis ; " The child bearer ; " " The mother
of the Child." Her temple at Paphos, in Cy^irus,
which was the most celebrated one in Grecian times,
contained no other representation of her than a
conical black stone, the significance of which mythos
we explained, pp. 107, 148. (See Mylitta.)
Alleluiah. See Hillel.
Allon, V^''^ (Joshua xix. 33), " The oak, or the strong On."
Allon Baclmth (Gen. xxxv. 8) ==^ " The oak of weep-
ing."
Almodad ™^)^ (Genesis x. 26) = I^P ^^, " God is
love."
Almon, I'l'^^i' (Josh. xxi. 18), "On the young," or "the
youthful On;" Cipy^ alman, 'nubile youth.'
Aloth, r\''hv (Joshua xv. 24, 1 Kings iv. 10). "The
Goddesses," feminine plural of ^I^, aleli, alah, or
" most high."
Alush, ^'^^^ (Numb, xxxiii. 13) probably a variant of ^V'^,
dish, or " El exists," or " El is upright."
Alvah, i^-V^' (Gen. xxxvi. 40), variant of Aliah = " Jah is
most high."
Alvan ]}^V (Gen. xxxvi. 23), variant of Alian = "On is
most high."
Am, !2^', "Mother" (literally and figuratively), "Metropolis,"
&c. ; Ammcn is the name of a wife of Siva, to whom
were offered human sacrifices ; um, in the Cuneiform,
1' Compare wth Eluzai, 1 CLiou. xii. 5.
Am] signifies 'a mother,' and 'the womb."^ ^V, avi,
' people,' ' a tribe or communion.'
Amad, "^ypy (Josh. xix. 26). This is probably the modern
form of ^WS, amad, or emad, "The mother," or
" Am is eternal."
Amah, ^^^, "A handmaid," compare French ami; "?'>',
amali, 'a handmaid,' 'beginning,' 'head, ' foandation,'
'cubit,' or 'people,' according to vowel-points. '^'PV,
amaJt, "he or she unites or joins together."
Amal, ^^'^ (1 Chron. vii. 35), "He toils or labours," "is
vigorous or alert."
Amalek, P^?y (Gen. xiv. 7, xxxvi. 12), Of doubtful signi-
fication.
Amam, ^9^;^ (Josh. XV. 26), probably from ^''^^, an old root,
= ' to conjoin ; ' or ^'9^, amam, ' to join together.'
(See Gen. ii. 24.)
Amana, n^^N: = Abana (2 Kings v. 12), "The faithful;"
pK, aman, 'to prop,' 'to be faithful,' 'to trust,' 'a
workman,' 'firm,' 'faithful,' 'true,' as pointed by
vowels.
Amaeiah, !^'7°^: (1 Chron. v. 33), " Jah decrees;" na«,
amar, ' to say,' 'command,' 'a word,' 'a lamb,' 'a
hymn,' or 'promise,' according to the vowel-points
used.
Amasa, ^'?''?y (2 Sam. xvii. 25). The word was originally
written as ^^'^^V? amesel, or amdsdl, which signifies
18 Tliis wonl is still cui-rent amongst ourselves, in tlie name ^wzelia, or
Emily. Its comiDositiou is very simple, being from Am and ilus, or Jielios, and
signifies the Maternal Snn ; and it is interesting to ns, as illnstrating the descent
of names from a remote age. Amongst the Roman peojjle, Julius seems to have
been a slight variant of the solar appellative. RomMZws resolves itself into the
Shemitic ram, high, and ihts, the Sun, and signifies " The High Sun." Amelia
was the name of a city which was much older than Some. Amulius was the
father of that mythical king, and the JEmilil were amongst the most ancient
of the Eomau citizens ; and from their time till now, Amelia and Emily have
been favourite appellatives in the Western world.
233
Amasa] "El is firm," "strong, or vigorous;" but the
recLactors of the present text have dropi^ed the V of
^^, and altered the vowel points.
Abiasai, '''^^i! (1 Chron. vi. 25). In the preceding word we
found the h of ha elided from the word ; we find
in the present one that the n of rTi has been dropped.
The word originally signified " Jah is firm," "power-
ful," &c.
Amashai, '?P'»I! (Nehem. xi, 13). This word is evidently
a variant of the preceding, with the addition of a
D between the '» and i!;}, so as to make the original
introduction of the divine name of Jehovah into a
human cognomen, — an ancient practice which was
very oflensive to the modern Jews, — more difficult of
discovery. The appellative as it stands has no
signification, " a booty-making hero," the meaning
assigned by Fiirst being preposterous.
Amasiah, ^l^^V, (2 Chron. xvii. 6), "Jah is vigorous, strong,
or firm," from n'' and ^V}^, jah, and amesli. But
there is another verb from which the first element
of the cognomen may be derived, which is too im-
portant to be passed by ; ^':?V, amaish, signifies ' he
is strong,' &c,, whilst '^'P^, amas, signifies 'he speaks
in a way hard to be understood.' This at once recals
to our memory the verse, Ezek. xx. 49 : " Then said
I, Ah Lord God, they say of me, Doth he not
speak parables?" and small though the reference may
be, it suffices to show that there was quite as much
ambiguity in the utterances of the prophets of the
Jews, as in the oracles of the Egyptians, Greeks, or
Romans.
Amassu, (Cuneiform,) "He took away;" Don, hamas.
Compare our word "amass," to collect riches by
plunder.
234
Amaziah, ^^"f?^: (2 Kings xii. 21), "Jab is strong." (See
Am ASA.)
Ament, Amenti, Ement, (Egyptian,) = Hades = Erebus -
Darkness = West = Sundown. (See Mattheav.)
Ami, V^ (Ezra ii. 57). Tbis word is rendered "Amon,"
Nebem. vii. 59. As it stands, we sbould consider
tbat it was an altered form of '^''P^S, cdmlah, " Tbe
motber is Jab." (See Amon.)
Amir, "^V^, " Tbe bead," " top," " cbief," wbence Emir and
Ameer ; "^V^, amir, bead, &c.
Amittai, ''^P^! (2 Kings xvi. 25). As it is written, tbis
word bas no meaning ; we conclude tberefore tbat it
bas been altered from its original form ; ^^^i_, emeth,
signifies " firmness, duration, peace, security, fidelity,
integrity, trutb;" to tbis triliteral, ^l 'Jab,' a portion
of tbe tetragrammaton '^'1^1, ' Jebovab,' bas been
added, and, tbe last letter baving been elided, we bave
tbe cognomen as it stands. Its real signification is
" Jab is trutb," &c.
Ammah, or i^lif, Ummab, "Motber" (in Assyrian), and in
Josb xix. 30 ; in Cbaldiiea sbe was represented witb
a cbild in ber arms, and was tbe same as Islitar.
Tbe name is essentially tbe same as A))i ; and I
would note in passing tbat many Welsb and some
Scotcb pronounce (and I tbink correctly so) woman
as if it were written ooman, wbicb certainly gives us
reason to surmise tbat Ammon and ivoman are in
some way connected witb eacli otber. Tbe name
assigned to tbe motber, as read by Talbot in one of
tbe Cuneiform inscriptions, is Ri, e.g., in i^i Ri
ummu hanit = "In tbe boly name of Ei, tbe motber
wbo bore me."^°
i'-* Talbot, in I'ruiisdctio/iS of the Royal tSucicti/ of Literature, 2ncl series,
vol. viii., pt. 2, p. "243.
2B5
Ammah, i^'^^5 (2 Sam. ii. 24). It is very difficult to dissociate
this name from the preceding one, especially when
we find '-'the hill of Ammah" lying "before Giah."
This last word reminds us so strongly of the Greek
y^, yici, and yu'la, and of the words, "when I was
made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lower
parts of the earth " (Ps. cxxxix. 15), that we are
driven to conclude that there is some relation between
Ammah and Ge ; and we may infer that the word
^^^^ is an elided form of ^^'^'>', amiali = '' S&h. is a
mother." In this conclusion we are supported by
some of the following words. (See also Adawah.)
Ammiel, "^K^'fy (Numb. xii. 12), "Friend of Al." Note here
that "^9^, amali, ' friend,' is an old word signifying
'association' and 'fellowship,' 'conjunction' and
'communion,' and it seems to be reproduced in the
Latin amo, and the French ami.
Abimiel, ^'^''^V (Numl). xiii. 12), we consider to be an altered
form, in which V has taken the place of ^, and that
the word signifies " my mother is EL" As it stands,
the only interpretation feasible is ' my people God.'
Ammihud, 'i-invpy (2 Sam. xiii. 37). This is a word which
has been translated by some, " splendid people," by
others, " one of the people of Judah," and by another,
"God is renown." This of itself sufficiently shows
that the cognomen has been so altered as to render
it perfectly unintelligible. If, however, we restore
the reading to "'■I'T'P^, almihud, we get the significa-
tion, " my," or " the mother is great," or " majestic,"
or " majesty." We see a similar change to that
which we recognise here, in the following word.
Amminadab, ^^J'py (Exod. vi. 23), "The mother is noble ;'^
or ^^^, aimi, ' My mother ; ' ^Vr, nadah, ' gives freely.'
Ammishaddai, ^'}^'^?V (Numb. i. 12). This word being spelled
236
Ammishaddai] Avith y, and not Avith N, would appear to
mean " conjoined with, or kindred to, or my people,
Sbaddai." But in the same chapter (Numbers i. 6-12)
we meet with the word ' Zurishaddai ; ' and there
is reason to think that the two names may have
been given by the same individual, who had, when
selecting them, a definite idea. The last word means
'my rock (is) Shaddai;' the rock having a masculine
meaning. We may take 'Ammishaddai' to have a
feminine signification, and to denote ' my mother (is)
Shaddai;' or ''ON, ami, 'my mother;' ™, sliidah,
'the lady,' or ' my mistress ; "° or ''^^, shaddai, 'the
most powerful.' If this deduction be correct, then
the names are evidently intended to indicate the
idea which was once entertained, that God is both
the father and the mother of his people.
Ammizabad, °i3?n3y (i Chron. xxviii. 6). Here again we find
that ^'?y, amii, takes the place of ^^^, aimi,, or ^^,
aim, and occupies a position similar to that of El
and Jab in Elzabad and Jozabad. It is preposterous
to believe that ^y, am, "a people," could give any
parent a child, or that a priest would tolerate a
parallelism between El, Jab, and a ' nation.' We
are driven then by the force of logic to conclude
that ''P^, ami, or ^^, am, is the individual referred
to, "the Alma Mater," "the Celestial Virgin," " Sara
the princess," "the Queen of Heaven," to whom, in
later times, offerings were made by the Jews, though
denounced by such a prophet as Jeremiah (xliv. 17).
The cognomen in question we therefore translate,
" The mother gave."
Ammon, 1*""^^ (Gen. xix. 38). In Egyptian, Amun and
Amim-ra ; known also in later times as Jupiter
2° See page 52, note.
237
Ammon] Amnion. The association of the words, signifying
"mother" and "father," indicate that it is to such
conjunction we must refer creative power. With
such an androgyne element the Sun was associated
by ancient mythologists. Jupiter was himself some-
times represented as being female ; and the word
Hermaphrodite is in itself a union between Hermes
and Aphrodite, the male and female creative powers.
We may fairly conclude, from the existence of names
like the above, that there was at one time in Western
as there was in Eastern Asia, a strong feud between
the adorers of On and Am, the Lingacitas and the
Yonijas, and that they were at length partially united
under Ammon, as they were elsewhere under Nebo
or the Nabhi of Vishnu.-'
There are many variants of the idea conveyed in
the word Ammon ; the first of which we notice is
Moab, which, by a very slight transposition, becomes
Om and Ah. Om, or Awn, is the ordinary form under
which the Almighty, the Queen of Heaven, is still
reverenced in the East, as the following anecdote will
show : — One of my brothers, a freemason, in reading
certain books of the craft, came upon the word, and,
wishing to test the truth of what he read, uttered
this word as Aum, in casual conversation, to a very
high-caste hindoo, a clerk in his office in Bombay.
The man was at once so awe-struck that he scarcely
could speak, and, in a voice almost of terror, asked
^ In the coiuse of iuvestigatmg the ceremouies of the Hindoos, aucl in attempt-
ing to elucidate their meaning, it will be found necessary to di-aw an analogy
between them and most of the Egyptians. The resemblance is very striliiug, they
mutually serve to explain each other. When the Sepoys who acconiijanied Lord
Hutchinson in his Egj'ptiau expedition saw the temple at Hadja Silsili, they were
very indignant with the natives of the place for allowing it to fall into decay, con-
ceiving it to be the Temple of theii' own God Siva Osii-is is the same
as Brrtlima ; Horus, as Vishnn ; Typhon, as Siva ; nud Ibi.>s, as Parvati.
238
AbimonJ where my brotlier had learned that word. To the
Hindoo it was that incommunicable name of the
Almighty, which no one ventured to pronounce except
under the most religious solemnity. And here let
me pause to remark that the Jews were equally reve-
rent with the name belonging to the Most High ;
and that the Third Commandment was very literal
in its signiiicatiou.^^ In Thibet, too, where a worship
very nearly identical in ceremony and doctrine with
that of the Eonian Papists still exists, amongst the
Lamas, the name of Om is reverenced, and " Om
mani pannee," and " Om mani padmi houm," of the
Eastern worshipper, takes the place of the " Ave
Maria," and "Ave Maria purissima," of the Western
devotee.
Both Ammon and Moab, we are told in the
Hebrew myth, were the offspring of a father with his
virgin daughter, just as Adonis was the son of Cinyras
by his daughter Myrrha. It simply is a gross way
of saying Ammon and Moab are a coalescence between
ideal creative sexes, i. c, that " The High Father "
and " The Celestial Virgin " were one and the same
individual, or essence, or creator.
Oiiani is another variant ; and G. Higgins suggests
the idea that the mystic Niima is Amun transposed.
If so, his name would be found to be doubly mystical,
as his surname was Pompilius, i. e., no/xTr^, ' divine
impulse and inspiration,' and"HAioc, 'the Sun.' It
is, however, more probable than Numen, a deity, had
something to do with Numa, the king, and possibly
both may come from ^^^, Naam, the voice of God.
The original Hebrew form of the first syllable of
Anion, was probably Diy, which signifies 'to cover,'
"- See JuJg. xiii. l-S, "Why askest thou thus after my name, seeijig it is secret?"
239
Abimon] 'to veil round/ ' to enwrap,' all of which metaphors
are api^licable to the residence of the infant in the
maternal womb. As illustrations of the idea beino-
present to the mind of some writers, we may quote,
for example, " Thou hast covered me in my mother's
womb" (Psalm cxxxix. 13): and again, "My sub-
stance was not hid from thee when I was made in
secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of
the earth" (Psalm cxxxix. 16). Again, the word
signifies 'to glow,' 'to burn,' 'to gape,' ' to thirst; '
which recals the verses — "There are three things
that are never satisfied, yea four things say not,
It is enough : the grave, and the barren womb,"
&c. (Prov. XXX. 15, 16). The word is alHed to DX, Dj;
and Dn, and ail are evidently closely connected with
that idea of union which obtains in the whole process
of reproduction. In that mysterious work, father and
mother unite as one, and form a third, who is united
equally to both its parents ; the young being is
united to the mother during its intra-uterine life, and
to her breast during its suckling season. It is the
desire of union between the sexes which induces
families to dwell together, and it is the desire to keep
up unity amongst our own flocks which makes men
join to fight fiercely against those who would spoliate
them.
Amnon, V^^^iS, (2 Sam. iii. 2), is said to mean "faithful," but
it is sometimes written Aminon, I'^'P^^, Avhich may be
read as signifying ' My mother the Fish; ' an etymology
which receives support by Joshua being frequently
designated as the sou of the Fish (Nun).
A.MOK, pv^V (Nehem. xii. 7), " The unfathomable," or " (he
is) incomprehensible."
Amon, W^, was an Egyptian God, ram-headed, bearing in
240
Amon] one hand the crozier or crook, similar to that adopted
by bishops of the Roman Church, and in the other
the handled cross (crux ansata), emblem of the two
sexes.
In Hebrew, Amon means " an artificer," and I
presume that the word is applied to the power which
makes us all. The crux ansata, and the two sylla-
bles am, on, indicate an union of the sexes ; and
the God would thus be the same as Nebo, under
another name. Amon was a name borne by the son
of Manasseh (2 Kings xx. 18), wdio was even more
intensely idolatrous than his father had been. !'?'>',
anin, also signifies " firm, strong." It is very pro-
bable that the name was originally written Ammon,
but was changed by the redactors of the present text,
so as to prevent the appearance that one of their own
kings was no better than a heathen.
Amoeite, ^i'^^,, (G-en. xv. 16). There are many words which
come from the Hebrew i D «, a, m, r, viz., I'pN', amar,
aimer, imer, omcr, emor. There are also liamor and
chamor. The meanings of these imply " speaking,"
and " flowing." " Homer " would thus, if his name
came from a Phcenician source, signify ' an eloquent
man,' ' an improvisatore,' &c. Another meaning is
" a lamb," and a third is " to be red," " boiling up,"
" erecting or swelling up." Considering the nature
of the other ancient names adopted in Palestine, I
incline to believe that ' Emmor,' ' Hamor,' 'Amor,'
signified the Sun, as Mahadeva. It is said to mean a
" mountaineer ; " if so, it would be of general, rather
than of restricted use. In the Pentateuch we meet
with the expression, " The Amorites dwell in the
mountains " (Numb. xiii. 29), which, if the words
have the signification alleged, would mean "the
241
Amorite] mountaineers dwell in the mountains," which
seems too absurd for us to attach importance to it,
and hence induces us to prefer the etj-mon suggested,
rather than the one currently received.
We are also told that the son of Hamor, or Emmor,
was Shechem, Q?^, = ^p^, Shaham, which means "he
is firm, or durable," or "the earnest doer;" and his
character accords with the idea which the name would
imply, for he, as all folks then aimed to be, was
impetuous in love.
Amos, ^^^-y, (2 Kings xix. 2), is said to mean "a burden ; "
ri'^^', cimotz. I cannot help beheviug that its true
signification is ' to be alert,' ' firm,' ' strong,' ' active,'
'nimble,' from Y^^, and equivalent to Amoz, T'l^^',
amotz, and that it has reference to the emblem of
the Creator, and not to the man.
Amoz, T'''^^* (2 Kings xix. 2), "(He is) valiant or strong."
Ameam, ^^?y, (Exod. vi. 18). We have in this word another
instance of Kabbinical alteration, and the substitution
of V for ^. There can be no reasonable doubt that
this cognomen is derived from ^»>', am, and '^■1"', rum,
■which signify " The Mother on High," or "' kindred
to the High." In the Scptuagint the word is written
Amhram, which Avould signify ' the Mother the
Creator.' Coupling with this the strong Assyrian
element in the early Jewish names, I conclude that
Amram is a counterpart of Ahram, i. e., ' The
Father on High,' and that both are of Mesopotamian
origin.
Amkaphel, '??7?^', (Gen. xiv. 1-9), w\as a king of Shinar in
the time of Abraham, and if we assume that he
flourished at the time which the writer of Genesis
would lead us to suppose, his name aftbrds us a
strong evidence of the comparative unchangeableness
Q
242
Ameaphel] of language in the East. It signifies "the
maternal giant Sun." ^^,a)ii, 'mother;' '^^'i, rajihali ,
'giant;' ?^, cl, God, or Sun, the Aleph, as usual,
being elided before the Lamed, to obliterate the name
of the Deity. In later times we find that Eaphael
is the name of an angel in the Babylonian mytho-
logy ; and the ntime Eaffaele is well known to
moderns. Fiirst tells us that Raphcl was the Ara-
mrean Saturn. (See Raphael.)
Amzi, ''V'?^ (1 Chron. vi. 46), " Jah is valiant," from 1''?^,
amaz, and ^\, the He, after the lod, being elided, to
obliterate the name Jah = Jehovah. It may, however,
also be rendered " Jah glistens or shines."
Amae, Arabic for " man." Compare with Amor and the
present Omar.
Ami, Assyrian for "water."
Am, Vedic, " To be hard," " strong," " powerful."
Amb, „ " To go," "to sound."
Amba „ "A mother."
Ambhas, ,/ "Water."
Ambhoya, „ " The Lotus flower."
Ambudhi, „ " The ocean."
Amh, „ " To go," " to send," " to shine," " to
speak."
Ammaea, „ " The immortal Gods."
Amei, "The tops of high mountains," or "High tops
of hills."
Anab, ^jy, (Josh. xi. 21). This is simply another form of
3?y, anah, "He is thick, or round."
Anah, i^^y, (Gren. xxxvi. 20). It is possible that this name
is a variant of Ami, an Assyrian God {vide supra,
pp. G4, 77), whose name is associated with such an
idea, as to lead us to suppose that his name is
connected with ^^'^, ' he is low, or sunk ; ' more
243
Anah] 2)vol)al)ly the word is derived from n:y^ auaJi, ' he
answers.'
Anahaeath, ^?n^^: (Josh. xix. 19). This word cannot be
satisfactorily explained as it is now spelled ; it is
probably an altered form of ^'^\} i^, on haraisli, the
n being used instead of 6' , as rr in modern Greek
replace the harsh cro-. This derivation would give
us the signification of " On shines or glitters, sprouts
or grows."
Anaiah, 'i,^jy (Nehem. viii. 4), " Jah hears, or answers."
Anak, P^i^, or pi^y (Num. xiii. 22). It is difiicult to trace
the signification of this word, and the current idea
is that it denotes " a long neck or collar." If
we take the ordinary spelling of the Hebrew as
infallibly correct, we shall often meet with similar
difficulties. Whenever, therefore, it is found that
the usual orthography leads to apparent absurdity,
it is better to trust to the ear for assistance. Now
Anak is spoken of in connection with Arha, or Arva,
and Hebron; and these, as Ave have already seen (vide
supra, p. 89), have a solar, divine, or sexual meaning.
Mahadeva was the great Creator ; he was 0)i or
Ann; and the sjdlable ^^, acJi, which is equivalent
to Pt, signifies 'brother of,' or 'like to.' Anak would
accordingly mean " kindred with," or " brother to
(the creative) On." (See Area.)
Anam, or Onam, ^}''^^, "ability," "power" (Gen. xxxvi. 23,
1 Chron. ii. 26). An Edomite and Jewish name.
Anamim, ^'9^y (Gen. x. 13). "The firm, the strong ones."
Annamelech, "^'^^^.y (2 Kings xvii. 38). One of the gods
imported into Samaria by the Sepharvites. No such
name has been found in the Cuneiform inscriptions;
and as the Hebrew word without points is written
Anmelccli, "H^^^V, I presume that the name signifies
244
Annamelech] "An, On, or Ann, the king." (See Adram-
MELECH, and MOLECH.)
Anani, ''^^V. (1 Chron. iii. 24), "Jali protects, or covers," for
■^T l^^, ancm iah ; or possibly "Ann is Jab."
Annaniah, or Annanias, ^V->K, (Nehem. iii. 23, and Acts v. 1).
This word, occurring in the later Jewish history,
tells of the combination of Judaism with Chaldean
mythology ; for we have here " Jah," the chief name
of Israel's God, joined to Anna, Anu, or Anunit
of the PhcBuicians and Babylonians.
Anath, n3_y (Judg. iii. 31), " Hearing, or answering."
Anathoth, Anathothijah, ^' ^''^^)% " The club of Anna or
Anu ; " io e., nnin^ thothah, or tliothach, ' a club,' and
Anu. It appears from certain coins, a copy of one of
which I find in Hislop's Two Bahylons, that a club
of peculiar form was one of the emblems of Bel, and
of his associates Anu and Hoa. The form of the
club cannot fail to remind any one, familiar with the
ideas prevalent in those times, of Ashcalon, the
cluster of On ; it is simply a fasclnum cum multis
testibiis. The usual explanation of the word is
" answers to prayers " ! !
Andrew, 'AvSpsaj. A word of Greek origin, = 'avS/seToj,
" manly."
Anesh, ^'^,^., "a Man;" oftener used as ^''^, isJi. (a man).
Compare Tnes, On^simus, Onesiphorus.
Angels, ^''?^/'!?. To treat this word as it deserves would
require a small volume. We should have to trace the
idea of "messengers" from the Almighty, through-
out the sacred Scriptures and profane writings — to
show the origin of the belief in such beings — the
time and place where it first obtained — the gradual
development of the dogma, and its analogies in other
creeds or nations ; and we should have to sum up
245
Angels] by pointing out the deductions to be drawn from
the historical sketch.
As we cannot afford space for all this, the reader
must be content with a summary of the deductions
which w^e have ourselves drawn, during the course of
our reading — (1) The idea of the Hebrews as to the
existence and nature of Angels does not differ from
that held by the Greeks and Romans respecting the
gods Mercury, Cupid, Hymen, and other minor
deities ; and just as Homer and others represent the
gods as eating, drinking, &c., so the Psalmist
represents the angels as living upon manna, the food
of the Deities = nectar, Ps. Ixxviii. 24, 25, whilst the
writer of Genesis regales his angels with veal, butter,
milk, and bread, Gen. xviii. 5-8. (2) It is doubtful
whether the notion of Angels was in existence
amongst the Jews prior to their intercourse with the
Babylonians ; it is certain that none are mentioned
by name. (3) It is certain that the Chaldreans before
the time of Nebuchadnezzar had framed a scheme
of angelic interference. (4) It is equally certain
that the Jews, after their residence in the capital of
Nebuchadnezzar, knoAv, or at any rate wrote, more
of Angels than they ever did before. (5) It is equally
certain that the early Christian writers adopted the
Babylonian ideas, and developed them still farther.
(6) And, as a result, the modern heaven is peopled
with a greater number of ' demigods ' or ' intelli-
gences ' than were laiown in Greece and Eome."''
The etymology of the names of the principal
Angels recognised by the later Jews of itself tells
a tale. Jah, or Jehovah, was the name of Judah's
23 See Coheleth, by C. D. Ginslurg, LL.D., pp. 3-l0-3i4, 528. Loudon,
Longmans, 186 L
246
Angels] God. El was the ntime which Jah superseded ;
and El was the title given to the supreme Lord in
Babylon, Avhich ultimately replaced Jah, or Jehovah,
and all the Archangels are called after him; e.g.,
Michac/, Eaphae?, Gahviel, UrieZ, PhanieZ, RagueZ,
and Sarakie?.. These are all messengers of El.
There are no messengers who have taken the name
of Jah in any form.
Some of the ancient Jews seem to have been
aware that the introduction of the doctrine of Angels
and Spirits took place in the modern times of their
history, for we find that the Sadducees denied the
existence of both one and the other, and accounted
in a very prosaic way for utterances which the
Pharisees thought fit to attribute to some angelic or
celestial dictation (Acts xxiii. 9). Like the Saddu-
cees of old, the physician of to-day sees in a lunatic
the existence of a diseased brain rather than the
presence of a devil, and cures him by attention to
the body rather than by appeals to the spirit.
It is difficult to find out the basis upon which
the current ideas respecting the fallen angels have
been founded, unless it be in the Babylonian legends
with which the Jews became familiar during their
residence in the laud of the Chaldees, and in the
development which those doctrines farther received
from the residence of some of their principal men at
the Persian court.
The nature of the Chaldpean doctrines we may
learn, to some extent, from a perusal of the inscrip-
tions found on certain Babylonian bowls, which
have been exhumed in recent researches, and whose
translations are to be found, with the fac-similes
of the originals, in Layard's Nineveh and Bahylon,
247
AngelsJ pp. 512-523. After their residence in that locality,
the Jews not only affected to know the names of all
the good angels, but the names of the bad, and to
know everything which had passed in Heaven before
the creation of man. If they received the knowdedge
through the Chaldaeans; and if, after they adopted the
belief, we must consider their reception of it as
the result of a Divine interference, or as an indirect
revelation ; it is clear that we must consider the
Babylonian priests to have been more favoured by
the Almighty, than were the " chosen race." If, on
the other hand, we, with the Sadducees, or Con-
servative party in the time of our Saviour, decline to
give credence to the modern Jewish notions, because
they come entirely from a heathen source — from
which we must remember that Abram, the father of
the faithful, sprang — we cease to give that unreason-
ing reverence which we have been accustomed to
render to the writers of the New Testament.
The Sadducees, in the age referred to, adhered
strongly to the writings of Moses and of the prophets,
and, finding no angels named there, refused to
believe in those influences to which such names
as Eaphael, Asmodeus, &c., had been given. To
them the idea that there were angelic spirits, who
were known by their names to mortals, was com-
paratively of modern growth. Hence they refused to
receive it, much in the same way as the Puseyites of
to-day decline to entertain certain doctrines of the
Puritans. We, on the contrary, who believe that
time is a means of proving the truth of any dogma,
implicitly believe the statements, that there are
angels who, though once upright, are now prostrate
and imprisoned, but nevertheless go about as roaring
248
Angels] lions, seeking whom they may devour ; and that
the cognomens of all these are as certainly known
hy men, as are their forms.
Putting aside all the iDoetic imagery of Milton, we
have no evidence whatever on which to sustain our
current notions ahout the fallen angels, beyond the
very apocryphal book of Jude, which tells us, ver. 6,
that " the angels which kept not their first estate, but
left their own habitation, are reserved in everlasting
chains under darkness, unto the judgment of the
great day." Of the value of this testimony, persons
will judge for themselves ; and there are few who will
believe that the testimony of a man is inspired, when
he quotes from the book of Enoch, " the seventh from
Adam." But even Avere his testimony true, it is clear
that an imprisoned angel cannot be the active devil,
the prince of the power of the air. The only other
scrap of evidence on which the superstructure is built,
is the use of the Avord Abaddon, Rev. ix. 11, to which
we have already referred. This meagre evidence
being wholly inadequate to support the assevera-
tions, that the devil was once an angel of light,
that he fought with the Almighty, that he was
conquered, that he was sent to hell, that he comes
out daily to try and vex his original master, and
yet is kept in chains under darkness ; we naturally
ask ourselves whence we have imbibed that faith,
which is by many guarded as " the apple of the
eye." We can find no traces of it prior to the
Christian era, except in such individuals as Ahri-
man, Typhon, and Chimera ; but after the short
period of pure Christianity had passed away, we find
abundant evidence of human imagination running
riot in describing hell and the devil, and the
249
Angels] eloquence or astuteness of preachers showed itself
in the description of that place to which all who
differed from them in belief were to be consigned.
Those who credited the teacher, necessarily im-
bibed the lessons taught, and thus in the course of
time each Minister of rehgion has himself learned to
believe, and determines to teach others, as gospel
truth, a series of fond fables, which have no more
solid ground than the saying that the moon is made
of cheese, because it is in the milky way. There are
some who always feel implicit confidence in the truth
of any assertion which has been held uninterruptedly
for one or two thousand years. Such resemble
those who punished Galileo for asserting that the sun
did not move around the earth. With them we have
no sympathy. Instead of pinning our faith upon the
wisdom of the ancients, we prefer to adhere to the
thoughtfulness of the moderns, who refuse to believe
that Heaven is a locality where a king or queen
reigns, surrounded by such ministers as are to be
found at London, Paris, or Berlin ; and that Hell is
to Heaven what England was to France during the
last century. We cannot understand literally that
there is now, or ever was, " war in heaven " (Rev.
xii. 7) ; and we would as mercilessly reject the
testimony of the man who affirms that he knows
all about it, as we do the stories told by the Greeks
of the wars between Jupiter and the Titans. We
regard with the same feeling the man who believed
that Jupiter dethroned his father Saturn, and him
who believes literally the statement that God had
a fight with the devil, and, having beaten him,
chained him up.
The natural answer to the doubt which we have
250
Angels] expressed whether we are to receive Chalclfean fan-
cies for sacred truth is, that our Saviour often spoke
with evil spirits, and that St. Paul says (Eph. vi. 12),
" we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of
the darkness of this world, against wicked spirits in
heavenly things ; " and that Isaiah, who wrote prior
to the time of the captivity, says (xiv. 12), " How art
thou fallen from heaven, 0 Lucifer, son of the
morning ; " to which may be added the obscure verse
in 1 Pet. iii. 19, 20, " By which also He went and
preached unto the spirits in prison ; which sometime
were disobedient," &c. But if we grant all these
points, they do not serve in any way to connect the
devil with the fallen angels ; on the other hand, the
episode mentioned in Job i. 6-12 and ii. 1-7, would
lead us to the opposite conclusion, that he was at
large.
The statements made in the New Testament
respecting Angels, Spirits, Thrones, PrincipaHties,
Powers, have naturally great weight with us : but it
will not suffice to the philosophic inquirer to assume,
in the first place, that every thing which we read in
the gospel and epistles are to the letter infallibly true,
and then to use the assumption as incontrovertible
argument. For, though the Apostles were holy men,
neither they, their words, their writings nor their actions
were indisputably divine. St. Peter was reproved by
St. Paul, for halting between Judaism and Christianity;
and if we credit the account given in Mark xi. 13, we
must conclude that the knowledge possessed by their
master and ours, even upon matters of common occur-
rence, was not so perfect as we are apt to assume ;
since from the passage in question, it is clear, first,
261
Angelsj that He did not know the time of figs, secondly, that
He could not tell till He came to look at it closely that
the tree did not bear the fruit He sought. The son of
God was also the son of man, and as a man He gained
human knowledge by ''hearing and asking questions,"
(Luke ii. 40, 46, 52), and by close observation. He
spoke too the current language, and adopted many
of the current opinions of the day. To cast out
devils was then a familiar expression, to intimate
the cure of lunacy; and, though we regard all our
Saviour's words with due reverence, we cannot
consider them as intended to convey any distinct
information respecting the spiritual Avorld. (See
Demon, Devil, &c.)
Anna, is one of the names borne by the Tyrian or Cartha-
ginian Dido, and still a favourite one amongst
ourselves. We have already referred to its probable
signification (pp. 81-84), and the association of the
name with the Baal of the Phoenicians ; and it is to
be found in the modern words Annabel, and Anna-
bella. The word Anna, so far as I can find, was
more popular, in one form or another, amongst the
Hebrews and Phoenicians than amongst the Greeks
and Eomans. In the first we have Annas, Ananias,
Anaui, Isanna, Susanna, Susianna, &c. Amongst
the second we have Hanno and Hannibal ; and it is
mentioned by Miss Youge, in her History of Chris-
tian Names, that Hannibal is a favourite name in the
county of Cornwall. If we refer to the Geographical
Index, we find that the word has been extensively
adopted for places, as well as for persons. We have
Annahevg in Austria, Saxony, and Silesia ; Anna
Cariga,^ljin« Carty, and Annach. in Ireland; Annack
Water in Scotland ; Anna Clay, Annacotty, Anna-
252
Anna] clorn, Annagassan, Annagh, Annaheg, Annamore,
Annahill, all in Ireland; the number of Annaghs
being eight. There is Annak in Egypt; and, again
to return to Ireland — so strongly marked, both in
language and antiquities, by Phoenician evidences —
we have Annakisha, Annalee, Annalong, Annamoe,
Annamoj. In Scotland we have Annan, Annat ;
and in Indian parts we have Annatom, AnnaYavam,
^«?iawutty, Anncmtagavhi.
Anthropomoephism. When a Christian hears of any people
or nation reverencing Gods whom their own hands
have made, his first impulse is to consider them
as " poor benighted heathen," to think of them
with contempt, and to speak of them with pity.
Eemembering the forty-fourth chapter of Isaiah,
where the makers of graven images are denounced
in eloquent terms by the Prophet, he is prepared
to execrate all those in whose worship any likeness of
the human form holds a place. Greeks and Komans,
Papists and Hindoos, Assyrians and Egyptians, are
all alike anathematised, because in their temples
are to be found statues, of elegant or grotesque
forms, ' fashioned by art and man's device.' With
sturdy iconoclastic views, like those which inspired
John Knox, he sees in the image the personi-
fication of devilry, and associates with it every
evil thing. In this estimate of those who used
' idols,' as they are called, he is fortified by the
clergy, whose propensity to paint in the blackest
colours all whose religious faith and practice difier
from their own has been conspicuous, from the
earliest times to our own. Those who leave their
classic studies behind them when they leave school
have no means of correcting these impressions, but
253
Anthropomoephism] those whose reading extends over a
larger surface know full well that the use of symhols,
which can be seen, is not incompatible with a life
of purity, and a piety and reverence for the great
Creatoi', in every respect equal, and in some respects
superior, to that which obtains in Great Britain ; a
subject to which we shall refer at length in our
second volume.
If we proceed to analyse the reason why we so
strongly object to a graven image, it is found to
consist mainly in the idea enunciated by Isaiah,
viz., that it is absurd to present the Almighty to the
senses under the gross figure of man, w^oman, or
any mundane being which a human creature has
himself conceived. But what, we may ask, is the real
difference between pourtraying the features of the
Almighty in a visible or tangible form, and depicting
them in words which appeal to the ear alone ? The
word which stands at the head of this article is
defined to signify " the representation of the Deity
under a human form, or with human attributes and
affections."
Now a representation like this may be effected
by the sculptor, the painter, or the writer ; the first
designs with the chisel, the second with the brush,
and the third with the pen ; and all are equally
anthropomorphists, who describe Him that fills all
space, as having the parts of a man. If a prophet
chooses to depict the God who sends him as having
a head, a nose, cars, eyes, hands, &c., he cannot
blame an artist for attempting to realise his de-
scription. We cannot ourselves impugn a man who
describes a vision which he has seen, for attempt-
ing to figure it on canvas ; but we can, when we
254
Anthropomobphism] see it ponrtvc\yecl, demonstrate to our-
selves how completely tlie appearance was of terrestrial
rather than of celestial origin. As there is, strictly
speaking, no difference between the man who is a
word-painter, and the man who embodies in stone
ideas which the other presents, so there is no
essential distinction between an artist and an orator
anthropomorphist.
There is, however, often a strong antagonism
between the two, for the one who loves to revel in
poetic imagery is disgusted at seeing his ideas reduced
to vulgar and ocular prose. Hence the theologian, who
indulges in rhetorical figments, pursues with hatred
those who endeavour to understand his words, and give
to the eye what he intends solely for the ear. Many
of the Jewish Rabbis have been quite conscious of this,
and have done much to alter in the sacred Scrip-
tures all those texts which describe the Almighty
as a man. Notwithstanding all their care, however,
our Bible abounds in anthropomorphisms, and its
writings teach us to regard the Almighty as a man,
as completely as did the chisel of Phidias, and
the brush of Apelles.
In G-en. i. 26, God is represented as talking
either to himself or to others. In Gen. ii., he is
represented as having been fatigued with six days'
labour, and requiring rest and refreshment (Exod.
xxxi. 17) ; after this he is said to have planted a
garden. In Gen. iii. we find that he suffers from
heat, and only walks in the garden in the cool of the
day ; and that he wants companionship, and calls for
Adam. He is then pourtrayed as acquiring informa-
tion by viva voce examination, and, after having
obtained it, he treats his old companions as a father
255
ANTHROPOi\roRPniSM] would bis iiatiglity family. Now let me
appeal to any of my readers, and ask whether he
could or would tolerate a picture representing any
one of these scenes. Could he endure to see a com-
position showing God resting, and being refreshed
thereby? or God walking in the garden in the cool
of the day ? or God talking to himself, or to his
equals, in the words, "Behold the man is become as
one of us " ? (Gen. iii. 22.) I cannot conceive a
sensible being who would bear the sight of a painting
or sculpture of such a group ; and yet we find ortho-
dox divines of the present day, leaders in the national
church, sturdy standard-bearers of the Christian faith,
and even some who pretend to the name of profound
scholars, asserting that the word-painting in the
Bible is of divine origin, and the account literally
and strictly true.
When we examine still farther into the subject,
we shall find that our Scriptures are as full of
anthropomorphisms as any heathen temple was of
chiselled gods, or any Papist cathedral is of painted
ones. Take, for example, the account which we
have in Job i., where God is represented as holding
a sort of court, wherein Satan is present, who twits
Him with entertaining a belief in the real goodness
of a man. What artist dare depict the idea thus
grossly presented to our minds, so that we should see
what our ear tolerated ; and complete the pair by
sketching the parellel scene brought before us in
1 Kings xxii. 19-22, wherein God is represented
as sitting on a throne, surrounded on His right
and left hand with the host of heaven, yet puzzled
how to accomplish a certain thing on earth, and
finally availing Himself of a lying spirit, &c.?
256
Antheopomorphism] Now the Proi:)het tells ns that he saw
all these things, and what a man sees with his eyes,
his hands, if they be skilful, can pourtray. But if
Micaiah, the son of Imlah, had depicted the scene on
canvas, and had left a copy thereof to us, should we
have had any scruple in assigning a human origin to
the vision : and if a modern artist were to show the
true reflection of the meaning of any word-painting,
should we not be equally aghast at what we have been
taught to believe as inspired truth ?
Let us, in the next place, proceed to examine
another picture (Mai. iii. IG), in which God is
described as having a memory as weak as that of
mortal man, and requiring "a book of remembrance,"
in which should be inscribed before His face the
names of those who feared Him ; and choose for a
companion painting a view (Eev. xx. 12), wherein
is presented to our mind's eye a scene similar to
that which occurs when a large school breaks up,
and the good marks or the bad ones of each boy are
counted up. We read of a throne, and some one sitting
on it, who had a face, who kept books, examined
them, and judged according to what Avas written
therein, not according to his own memory. Now
John said that he saw these things ; and if he saw
them, and tells us so, there is no reason why we
should not paint them. Yet who would tolerate a
picture in which the Almighty is represented as an
individual consulting his day-book and ledger?
The answer made by all varieties of authropo-
morphists is, that the Almighty, being so much
above human comprehension, can only make Himself
known to us by using words and ideas which are
familiar to man ; and that expressions similar to
257
Anthropomorphism] those we have referred to tire conven-
tional only, or metaphorical. A few minutes' con-
sideration, however, will show the weakness of this
repl}'. It assumes, in the first place, that man is a
judge of the power of the Almiglit}^, and can safely
affirm that a description of Himself cannot be given by
Him to man, except in certain words ; an idea, the
blasphemy of which every thoughtful mind must recog-
nise. It assumes, in the second place, that prophets
like Micaiah and Malachi, and an apostle like St. John,
either did deliberately tell falsehoods, and said they
saw things which they did not really behold, or that
they saw visions similar to those which present them-
selves to lunatics. In neither of these cases can a
real inspiration from the Almighty be credited.
The weakness of the reply is farther recognised by
the rejoinder, that it is much more probable that man
would be unable to describe to his fellow-mortals the
nature of the G-od who made them all, except by
using human words and ideas, than that God should
be so impotent. There is no blasphemy in the
statement that the power of man is limited ; and
it is therefore far more safe to ascribe the faults
of anthropomorphism to defective power in the so-
called "prophet," or "messenger of God," than
to attribute want of skill to the Almighty. When-
ever, therefore, a man declares himself to be on
earth the accredited agent of the Creator on high,
we must judge of the value of his credentials by
the description he gives of the donor of them ;
and when all his sketches are anthropomorphic, we
shall feel disposed to distrust him, as completely as
we should disbelieve a man, who, calling himself
ambassador plenipotentiary from China to Britain,
258
Anthropomorphism] brings credentials written in English,
and only speaks our mother tongue.
When once the good sense of an inquirer begins
full}' to appreciate the significance of anthropo-
morphism, he naturally investigates the motives
which have given it so very prominent a place
in the sacred writings and utterances of all nations.
These he readily finds in the exigencies of the
priesthood. Without the fiction that the Almighty
heard and spoke in reply to a special class only,
the hierarchy could not exist. They feign therefore
to have divine powers, a pretension readily conceded
by those who are unable or unwilling to think for
themselves. By this division of labour, the ecclesi-
astic becomes as implicitly trusted as the lawyer
and the physician. But as there is in all edu-
cated men a propensity to search out the foundation
of the claim to superiority which is advanced by
professional men generally, so there is in some
a strong determination to examine the claims of
those who assume the power to dictate to the
Almighty what He is to do with mortals, when
they become immortal.
As an Englishman is permitted to select the
''denomination" which he joins, and to accept or
reject, at the present time, the words of any one
who declares himself to be a messenger from God ;
so he is equally justified in inquiring into the
credentials of those who lived in days gone by.
Should he then find them to be human beings, who,
though professing to be ambassadors plenipotentiary
from heaven, can only talk the language of earth,
he will then as certainly distrust them as he would
" a medium " who brought a message to him from
259
Antheopomoephisim] Homer, composed and written in modern
English, find speaking of the Electric Telegraph,
Guided by the principle of impartial sifting of
evidence, and taking Anthropomorphism as a text,
and dividing the parts of man as conveniently as we
can, we shall find the following evidences of human
invention in the sacred Scriptures.
A head is attributed to the Almighty, Ps. Ix. 7,
and cviii. 8 ; c. r/., " Ephraim is the strength of my
head ; " and in the same passage we are told that
God has ' a washpot ' and wears ' a shoe.' In
Isaiah lix. 17, the head is associated with a helmet,
and in the same part we read of a breastplate,
garments, and a cloak, God throughout all the
passage being described as a ' man of war ' (comp.
Exod. XV. 3). AYe find too that the Lord saw, and
was displeased, that no man came forward, and so
He bared His OAvn arm, and became furious as a
conqueror. Is. Ixiii. G. In Eev. xix. 12, the head
is associated with many crowns, Avith fiery eyes,
bloody clothes, and a written name which none but
He could decipher.
Nostrils, nose, &c., are attributed to the Almighty
by David, Psalm xviii. 8, xxii. 9, " There went up
a smoke out of His nostrils, and fire went out of
His mouth, which kindled coals." " He rode upon
a cherub," &c. They have too a blasting breath,
c. f/., " the blast of the breath of His nostrils."
2 Sam. xxii. 16, Ps. xviii. 15 ; " by the blast of
God they perish, by the breath of His nostrils are
they consumed," Job iv. 9. Compare this with the
description of Leviathan, Job xli. 1-34. In Isaiah
Ixv. 5, we find that His nose is affected as a man's
would be by the smoke from fire, whenever He
260
Anthropomorphism] finds any one who considers himself
holier than his neighbours, and who sacrifices in
gardens and builds altars of brick. In Levit. xxvi.
31, we are told that the nostrils could be so closed
that the smell of sweet savours should not be recog-
nised ; and in Gen. viii. 21, and Ezeldel xx. 41,
we find them enjoying a delicious odour. In Gen.
viii. 21, God is said to smell a sweet savour, and
to like it so much, that He ' said in His heart,' I
will not again curse the ground, &c.
The eyes, and the eye of God, are referred to
repeatedly, of which we see examples, Ezra v. 5,
" The eye of their God was upon the elders of the
Jews;" Deut. xxxii. 10, "He kept him as the apple
of His eye;" Psalm xxxiii. 18, "The eye of the
Lord is upon them that fear Him," xciv. 4, " Shall
not He see?" Prov. xv. 3, "The eyes of the Lord
are in every place beholding;" and " seeing," "look-
ing," and " regarding," are constantly met with as
actions of the Almighty.
The ears are referred to as constantly as the
eyes ; as a specimen, we may adduce Numb. xiv. 28,
"As ye have spoken in mine ears;" Ezek. viii. 18,
" Mine eye shall not spare, and though they cry in
mine ears I will not hear them ; " Psalm xxxiv. 15,
" The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and
His ears are open unto their cry."
The moutli, and speeeli, are referred to in passages
almost innumerable, of which we may cite a few :
Numb. xii. 8, " With him will I speak mouth to
mouth, and the similitude of the Lord shall he
behold;" Lam. iii. 38, "Out of the mouth of the
most High ; " Matthew iv. 4, " Word which pro-
ceedeth out of the mouth of God ; " Prov. ii. 6,
261
Antheopomoephism] " Out of his month cometh knowledge
and understanding. ' '
The hands are also repeatedly alluded to, of
which the following are examples ; Exod. ix. 3, " The
hand of the Lord is upon thy cattle ; " Numb. xi. 23,
" Is the Lord's hand waxed short ? " Josh. iv. 24,
" That the hand of the Lord is mighty ; " Jud. ii. 15,
" The hand of the Lord was against them ; " 1 Sam.
V. 6, " The hand of the Lord was heavy on them of
Ashdod ; " Psalm Ixxiv. 11, "Why withdrawest thou
thy hand, even thy right hand ? pluck it out of thy
bosom;" Psalm Ixxv. 8, "In the hand of the Lord
there is a cu]), and the wine is red," &c. ; Isaiah li.
17, "Which hast drunk at the hand of the Lord the
cup of His fury; " Jer. li. 7, "Babylon hath been a
golden cup in the Lord's hand; " Ezek. iii. 14, " The
hand of the Lord was on me;" Luke i. 66, "The
hand of the Lord was with him;" Acts xiii. 11, " The
hand of the Lord is upon thee.
The feet are likewise referred to ; Lam. i. 15,
" The Lord hath trodden under foot mighty men;"
Psalm Ixxvii. 3 9, "Thy footsteps are not known;"
Ixxiv. 3, "Lift up thy feet;" Isaiah vi. 2, "With
twain He covered his face, and with twain He covered
His feet;" Rev. i. 15, "His feet like unto fine brass."
The bosom is also referred to; Psalm Ixxiv. 11,
and John i. 18, " The Son which is in the bosom of
the Father."
The hack is spoken of; Isaiah xxxviii. 17, "Thou
hast cast my sins behind thy back;" Jerem. xviii. 17,
" I will show thee the back and not the face ; " Exod.
xxxiii. 23, "Thou shalt see my back parts."
Not only is God represented with the parts of a
man, as those whom we call ' heathen ' represented Him
262
Antheopomoephism] in statues, but He is also pourtrayed as
being subject to human passions. We are very severe
in our remarks upon the Greeks, who pretended that
Jupiter, Apoho, Neptune, Venus, and Juno had such
weaknesses as love and hate and jealousy, that they
were partial in their likes and dislikes, and took
opposite sides as they were said to do at the siege
of Troy ; yet we tolerate complacently the description
of the writers of our own Bible, who depict the
Almighty as loving and hating, indulging in revenge,
making mistakes and repenting, being ignorant until
told of a matter, enjoying such a mundane exercise as
wrestling (Gen. xxxii. 24-30), in which, however, he
was not equal to a being of his own creation ; and
still farther, as cohabiting with "the virgin," Matth.
i. 18, 20 ; Luke i. 35. (See Maey.) A few quota-
tions will sufiice to show how intensely human the
Creator has been represented, by those who declared
themselves to be his messengers.
Anger is referred to; Numb. xxv. 4, " The fierce
anger of the Lord; " Deut. xxix. 20, " The anger of
the Lord shall smoke ;" 2 Kings xxiv. 20, " Through
the anger of the Lord it came to pass ; " Gen. xviii.
30, " Let not the Lord be angry ; " Psalm vii. 11,
"God is angry with the wicked every day;" Isaiah
xii. 1, " Though thou wast angry with me ; " Jud. ii.
12, "And provoked the Lord to anger;" 2 Kings
xxi. 15, "And they have provoked me to anger;"
Isaiah i. 4, " They have provoked the Holy One of
Israel to anger ; " Jer. xxxii. 30, " The children of
Israel have only provoked me to anger."
We have hatred attributed to the Almighty ;
thus, Deut. vii. 10, " He will not be slack to him
that hateth Him, He will repay him to his face;"
263
Anthropomoephism] Isaiah Ixi. 8, "I bate robbery for burnt
offering;" Dent. i. 27, "Because the Lord hated
ns;" Jerem. xii. 8, "Therefore have I hated it;"
Hos. ix. 15, " There I hated them, I will love them
no more;" Mai. i. 2, 3, "Jacob I have loved, but
Esau have I hated." In this passage it will be
noticed that a preference Avas shown ere the twins
were born, which bears comparison with Jupiter's love
for the unborn offspring of Semele, which he regarded
with such affection as to keep him in his thigh.
Again, we have the Almighty described as being
jealous, just as the Greeks depicted Juno and Apollo.
Exod. XX. 5, " I the Lord thy God am a jealous
God;" Deut. xxxii. 16, "They provoked Him to
jealousy with strange gods; " Josh. xxiv. 19, "He is
a jealous God ;" Joel ii. 18, " Then will the Lord be
jealous for His land;" Nahum i. 2, "God is jealous,
and the Lord revengeful ; " Zech. i. 14, " I am jealous
for Jerusalem ; " Ezekiel xvi. 38, " I will give thee
blood in fury and jealousy." Upon this presumed
weakness of the Almighty, we find Moses playing, as
it were, repeatedly; in Ex. xxxii. 12, the lawgiver
pleads for the people, and urges as a reason, "Where-
fore should the Egyptians speak, and say," &c. ; and
again in Numb. xiv. 13-16, the same argument is
put still more strongly, " Then the Egyptians shall
hear it, and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this
land, and the nations which have heard the fame of
thee will speak, saying. Because the Lord was not
able to bring this people unto the land which He
sware unto them, therefore He hath slain them in
the wilderness ;" and so far from appearing to resent
this style of intercession, we are told, ver. 20, " The
Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word."
264
Anthropomorphism] The same idea is even more forcibly
exi^ressed, Deut, xxxii. 26-27, "I Avonld make the
remembrance of them to cease from among men,
were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, lest
their adversaries should behave themselves strangely,
and should say, Our high hand and not the Lord
(marginal reading) hath done all this,"
Even the so-called enlightened Christianity of the
Anglican church perpetuates a similar notion in her
Avorship, and appeals to the Almighty as if He were
a man to be piqued to jealousy by such trivial con-
siderations as affect mortal men ; e. g., we have in
the morning service, " 0 Lord, arise, help us and
deliver us for thine honour;" then comes a recitation
of the deeds of which we have heard and read of God
in the old times, and this is followed by the prayer
that the Almighty would arise and deliver us " for
His name's sake." We can well understand a Jewish
prophet, like Ezekiel and others, speaking and writing
as if the Great Creator was jealous respecting "His
name, His great name " (Ezek. xx. 9, xxxvi. 23),
more than about Himself, as if orthodoxy consisted
in a cognomen. But to the finer sense of the present
generation, to address the same style of representa-
tion to the Almighty, as we should to a mercantile
firm of long duration and established worth, seems
to savour of blasphemy. A man would not scruple
to say to a partner of such a company, " You must
help me out of my difficulties, or j'our own names
will be dishonoured ;" but he would pause for a long
time ere he addressed the Lord of the universe in
such terms.
It is to be hoped, when our Liturgy is purged
from the many blots which disfigure it, that an
265
Anthropomorphism] aiithropomorpliism so offensive as the
one indicated will be removed.
We find evidence of ignorance attributed to the
Almighty, and the necessity for asking questions, in
Gen, iii. 9, iv. 9, and very conspicuously in Gen.
xviii. 21, "I will go down now, and see whether they
have done altogether according to the cry of it which
is come unto me, and if not I will know ; " sec also
1 Kings xxii. 20-23, and Job i. 7, and ii. 2, in
which Satan is asked about his doings.
We find the Almighty represented as laughing,
like a coarse Eastern potentate, at the discomfiture of
enemies ; in Psalm ii. 4, " He that sitteth in the
heavens shall laugh, the Lord shall have them in
derision ; " and again, lix. 8, " Thou, 0 Lord, shalt
laugh at them, thou shalt have all the heathen in
derision."
Love is attributed to the Creator in passages
innumerable, from which we select a few ; Jer. ii. 2,
"I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the
love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me; "
xxxi. 3, "I have loved thee vnih. an everlasting love,
therefore, with lovingkindness have I drawn thee ;"
Ezek. xvi. 8, " Thy time was the time of love, and I
spread my skirt ^■' over thee, and covered thy nakedness,
and entered into a covenant with thee, and thou
becamest mine, and I decked thee with ornaments,"
&c. ; Mai. i. 2, " I have loved you, saith the Lord; "
Deut. vii. 7, " God did not set His love upon you,"
&c.; Psalm xlvii. 4, "The excellency of Jacob,
whom He loved."
Again, we find a common human failing, which is
disallowed in the community of modern Quakers,
21 For the import of this phrase, see Ruth iii. 9, et seq.
266
Anthropomorphism] attributed to the Omniscient, namely,
"change of mind," and alteration of purpose, or, as
we designate it, ' repentance.' In Gen. vi. 6, we are
told that "it repented the Lord that He had made
man, it grieved Him at His heart."
But there is by no means uniformity in this
anthropomorphic attribute amongst the sacred writ-
ers; for in Ex. xxxii. 14, we read, "The Lord repented
of the evil which He thought to do unto His people; "
and in 1 Sam. xv. 29, " The strength of Israel will
not repent, for He is not a man that He should
repent ; " Psalm cxvi. 45, " He repented, according
to the multitude of His mercies ; " Jonah iii. 10,
" God repented of the evil that He had said ; " Jer.
xviii. 8, " If a nation turn, I will repent of the evil."
See again, 1 Kings xxi. 21-29.
There yet remains to be noticed the manner in
which those terrible human weaknesses, revenge and
vengeance, are attributed by mortal beings to the
Lord who made the universe. See, for example,
Exod. XX. 5, where we are told that He will visit the
iniquities of the fathers upon three generations of
their unborn children; Deut. vii. 10, "He repay-
eth them that hate Him, Lo their face to destroy
them," &c. ; 1 Sam. xv. 2, 3, Ave find " Thus saith
the Lord of Hosts, I remember that which Amalek did
to Israel (some four hundred years before) ; how he
laid wait for him," &c. " Now go and smite Amalek,
and utterly destroy all that they have, slay man and
woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and
ass." Did ever a more terrible mandate pass from
the lips of the most blood-thirsty Eastern tyrant; and
must we, on the peril of our salvation hereafter,
believe that this injunction came from the Creator
267
Anthropomorphism] rather than from the month of the
cruel-minded Samuel, who slew in cold blood the
king of Amalek, as ruthlessly as Jehu smote the
family of Ahab, and as Nebuchadnezzar slew the sons
of Zedekiah before his eyes ? 2 Kings xxv. 7 ; see,
again, Isaiah xlvii, 3, "I will take vengeance;"
Ixiii. 4, " The day of vengeance is in mine heart; "
Eom. xii. 9, " Vengeance is mine," &c.
Now in no single instance that we have brought
forward would any British Christian tolerate a statue
or incture, in which the Almighty Father was depicted
as a human being giving way to worldly passions; yet
when the ear alone is appealed to, we not only tolerate
the idea, but worshij) it so lovingly, as to persecute
with the direst hate any individual who does not fall
down before it in prostration. Of its worthlessness,
however, any one may readily convince himself, who
propounds for his own consideration the questions.
Can the God who affirms, "I am the Lord, I change
not " (Mai. iii. G), be described by different indi-
viduals as constantly varying, unless those persons
were giving utterance to their own human conceptions
of what a God should be, and in this differed
amongst themselves ? Is it not more consonant with
sound philosophy and logical deduction to believe
that God has been clothed with human attributes
by man, rather than that the Lord of all creation
puts on the contemptible dress worn by mortals,
who live in one of the smallest of the worlds which
He has made ?
It is clear that an opinion similar to our own
has been held by many of the Jewish redactors of
the Hebrew text, and the translators of the original
into other languages, who, on recognising offensive
268
Anthropomorphism] untliroiDomorplnsms in the Biblical
account of the Almigiity, have frequently tried to soften
them down, or to obliterate them altogether. These
suppressions are abundantly noticed by Ginsburg, in
his Versions of the Bible, from which we extract two
very striking examples. In Gen. xviii. 22, ' the
original ' text runs thus : " But Jehovah still stood
before Abraham; " and we can recognise, from verse
33, that the oneness of the story requires this con=
struction ; for therein we are told, that as soon as the
Lord left off communing with Abraham, " He went
His way." Now, to suppose that Elohim, or Jehovah,
would stand before a man, shocked the sacred jealousy
of the scribes ; consequently they so changed the
exi^ression as to make it read, " Abraham stood before
the Lord." This is one of the eighteen instances
mentioned by Ginsburg (Kitto's CyclopcBdia, s. v.
Scribes, col. iv.) in which the Sopherim altered the
sacred text to remove offensive expressions.
Another very remarkable change has been adopted
elsewhere, to remove an anthropomorphism of the
grossest kind. We have already referred to the occa-
sional coarseness of the language of the prophet Isaiah,
who does not scruple to use metaphors which in their
nakedness would be intolerable (e. g. iii. 17, vii. 20).
We cannot wonder, then, that such as the following
should be toned town. In chap. Ixiii. 6, the original
text carries the meaning, " I (the Lord) will vomit
the people in mine anger, and spue them out in my
fury." The words used being those wiiich are applied
to men who are sick from over-eating, and defile
themselves with the force and copiousness of their
ejections. To get over this, a trifling alteration is
Anthropomoephism] made in the mode of writing the objec-
tionable parts, and they arc then rendered, "I will
tread down the people in mine auger, and make
them drunk in my fury." The Septuagint, not
altogether liking to adopt so false a metaphor, as
punishing a nation by making it drunk, thought
it best to suppress the second clause of the verse
altogether.
Surely the simple statement of facts like these
should serve to wean us from that bhnd reverence
of the identical words of Scripture in which most of
us have been educated ; they should also serve to
demonstrate the necessity for a revision of the sacred
books, such as took place amongst the Jews after
their return from Babylon. There is scarcely a head
of a household who does not, whilst reading prayers
in his family, wish that there were "expurgated"
editions of the Bible, as there are of Shakspeare.
We liave actually heard it said, that a selection of
certain Scriptural stories, with pictorial illustrations,
would make a book which every magistrate would
condemn unhesitatingly as obscene. Ought we not
then to determine boldly to wipe such a reproach
from amongst us, and cease to allow our children
to read with impunity, in a diluted form, that which,
if it were concentrated, our laws would prohibit and
destroy ?
Ana-arba-il, an Assyrian proper name, denoting "Ana and
the four great Gods."^^
25 As a geueral rule, it has beeu fonacl more convenient to postpone the
uon-Hebrew wortls — Pliceuician, Assyrian, Vedic, &c., — until the Hebrew proper
names have been gone through. The iucouveuiencc to the reader is obviated by
a copious iudex.
270
Anab, a Median God.
Anaku, Assyrian, meaning " I am."
Anand, Assj'i-ian, "Joy," "sexual pleasm-e," "happiness,"
" delight."
Anat, a Phen. Goddess. Greek Anaitis. See Vogue, Phen.
Ins. p. 41.
Anem, t^jy (1 Chron. vi. 73), m.ay signify " Two fountains ;"
but Anim is an equivalent word, which means "the
strong ones," plural of J-1N, aun = the triple phallus.
The place Anim was also called En gannim, ' the
fountain of the garden ; ' and a garden is an euphem-
ism for a woman.
Anee, "i.^y (Gen. xiv. 13). This word is a variant of '^^^,
anar, " he pushes, or drives, sprouts, or grows."
The name was borne by a Canaanite chief, brother
to Eshcol and Mamre. Gesenius suggests a resem-
blance to the Greek av>jp, aner, ' a man.'
Ani, ^f^*; Anochi, ^3jk^ "I." The personal pronouns are
nearly the same in Egyptian, Hebrew, Assyrian, and
Phoenician. " I find that in the old Hamitic lan-
guage Ani meant ' heaven,' and therefore I conjecture
that Ani and Anu meant the same." (Talbot, in
Transactions of the Royal Society of Literature,
vol. vii., part 2, p. 363.)
Aniam £3y^3K (1 Chron. vii. 19). Probably, "I am the
mother," being a compound of ''^>', ani, I, and ^V
= ^^, em, mother.
Anim, D'^V (Josh. xv. 50). " Springs," a variant of Anem,
which see.
Anna. See ante, pp. 81-84. Anna kinni, Babylonian,
' worthy of grace.'
Anna seems the equivalent in some places to annus, "the
year."
271
Anna, Sanscrit, " food; " annada, " giving food ; " annadya,
" proper food."
Anna, tin Assyrian deity.
Annedotus, = " Given by Anna," avIio was an Assyrian
as well as a Phoenician deity. This was an epithet
of Cannes, who himself bears a name composed
of Hoa and Ann. The word has a familiar
sound to our ear, for we still use Anna as a
proper name ; and we have still dote, dotal,
dotation, from the Latin datus, all having the
meaning of (jiving. The name above is Chal-
diean.
Anobbet, = "Beloved by Ann," was a Phoenician name.
Like the preceding, it sounds familiar to the
ear ; there are many Anna-Bretts in England.
The meaning of Brett or Brit, Brith or Berith,
was ' feasting with,' or ' in covenant with ; '
hence, probably, come Bright, Bride, Bridson,
Byrth, Perth, Peret, Pritt, Pratt ; possibly
Britain; e. (/., Ano-bret, Bret-anno, Brit-anna; also
Brut-US.
Anu, Assyrian, any God or Goddess.
Anub, 2-1Jy (1 Ch. iv. 8). A variant of 3?^, anah, "he is
thick or round."
An, Vedic, " Air," " to blow," " to breathe."
(Compare
Ana, „
" Mother."
Anas ,,
" A burden." (Cnus ?)
Andhra, „
Name of a royal Indian family.
Andrew.)
Anga, „
"A limb," " membrum virile."
Angada,
"A bracelet." (Engedi?)
Angutiya „
" A finger ring."
AnJ, ,;
" To shine," "to be beautiful."
272
Anka, Vedic, "A hook," "mark or cijDlier," "an
anchor," from ankh, to take /\
hold. It is one of the symbols
of Siva.
Ankuea, „ "A sprout, or intumescence," "an erection" ?
Anna, „ " Plenty."
Ansa, „ Name of a deity.
Angus, an ancient Italian Name. (Compare the Scotch
Angus.)
Anunit, "the Sun at noon," also "the Babylonian Goddess,"
who is addressed as " Great lady " (billat rahiti),
daughter of Sen, the moon God.
Anutagil, an Assyrian name, meaning " attached to Anu."
AoDH, Sanscrit, " The hand or power."
Aphaesachites, ^.^99"??^ (^2- ""■ ^)- Etymology doubtful.
Aphek, Pr>^* (Jos. xii. 18), " Strength." It is doubtful whether
this epithet has not reference to On, rather than to the
particular place being fortified. The town was also
called Aphekah (Jos. xv. 53), probably ' the strong
Jah.' It was a city of the tribe of Asher.
Apple. There is much mystery surrounding this fruit, or
rather the Tajjjmach, which is translated " ajjple "
in our Bibles. As there was a Beth Tappuach, or
a temple dedicated to the apple, we presume that it
had some mystic meaning, which the following
remarks will assist in discovering : —
1. The word is supposed to refer to the citron,
which includes the orange, rather than to our apple.
(See Kitto's Cyclod^sdia, s, v, Tappuach.)
2. The citron and palm tree, i. c, the fruit of one
and a branch of the other, were borne by every Jew
at the Feast of Tabernacles. The same appear on
some old Samaritan coins. (Kitto, I. c.)
273
Figure 81.
Apple] 3. The shape of the citron, or lemon, resembles
that of the pine cone, which is
borne in the hands of the Assyrian
priests, who present it to the
mystic grove, the symbol of the
female. The same priest, I must
also remark, carries a basket,
emblem of the scrotum, or purse,
or "store,'' in which the testes lie.
4. It was with such a fruit
that Eve was tempted.
5. The fruit had an amorous
significance. See Song of Solomon
ii. 2, 5, " Comfort me with apples,
for I am sick of love." "^
6. We also see it associated with the palm tree in
the Song of Songs vii. 8. It was so associated with it
in the hands of the faithful at the feast of tabernacles ;
who appear to have brandished the two, conjointly,
upwards, as I have seen folks shake two turnips
and a carrot at the carnival in Eome. (See Kitto's
Cyclodoidia, s. v. TabePvNacles, Fea.st of.)
7. We see it associated with love and parturition :
" Under this apple tree I won thy heart. Here thy
mother travailed. Here labouring, she gave thee
birth." (Song of Songs viii. 5, Ginsburg's trans-
lation, pp. 18G, 187.)
8. It is associated with the fig, the pomegranate,
and the palm, in Joel i. 12.
2G Fig. 81 is copied from a drawing by l^ajard (■^ui- le Culte de Venus). The
statuette is of silver, aud of nulcnown origin. It depicts Vemis in conjunction with
the apple and the fisli. In the original, the device of tbe staff, on which the hand
is rested, is strongly suggestive of tlie phallus, being double at one end and single at
another. This cannot, liowever, Le shown in the front view. From the fish's moath
flows an abundant stream. The allegory is obvious.
274
Apple] 9. The ancients, and many in modern days, have
entertained the belief that the shape of anything in
the vegetable world is an indication of its utility
in diseases of those organs which have a similar
shape,
10. We have abundant evidence, in ancient and
modern times, that certain organs have received
their names from things resembling them. Thus, the
fig leaf is still an euphemism for the parts which it
was intended to hide ; whilst the fig itself was
intended to typify the virgin womb, and the pome-
granate the full one, ?. e., the female element in
creation.
11. The palm tree and the pine were emblematic
of the active male organ. Putting all these considera-
tions together, I conclude —
12. That the citron represented the testis, without
which the tree would be sapless. Compare this
conclusion with the Hebrew word ??V., ^'P^mI, which
signifies "to swell up, to be tumid;" and which
closely resembles our own word ajyjjlc, and the
German ajifel. "'
27 Since -writing the above, 1 have met with the following passage, which
deserves, I think, to be quoted entire, as it accords closely with the view
which I have ;;dopted : '-Cliez tons les peuples de I'autiquitc la pomme
fut im ewblcme de generation, tant ii cause de sa forme, qui est roude
comma celle du moudc cree, qu' a cause de ses qualities reputees aphrodisiaques
et de I'epoque de sa maturite, I'automne, saisou uefaste qui passait pour etre
favorable a la descente des ames dans les votes de la generation et au developpement
de la vie daus les semeuce coufices ii la terre. Aussi voyons nous I'equiuox automnal
caracterisu, uou suulmeut par des pommes ou par uu pommier charge de ses
fruits, mais aussi ])ar nn iusecte venimeuse de qui Ton a pu dire : Hahet in cauda
veneimni, ct qui jouait un grand role daus les rites institueus a Hierapolis en
I'honncur de la Dt^esso de Syrie. C'ette remarque me conduit a supposer que
daus les 1 lugues de lAsie occideutale les mots qui siguifiaieut nue pomme,
dureut avoir une socoiide acception que j'appellerai philosophique. S'il est permis
de mcler le sacrc un profaue, la Bible ne nous montre-t-elle pas Satan, sous la
forme du mauvais serpent conseillant a Eve de cueiller et de manger la pomme,
275
Ar ^y (Num. xxi. 15), a city of the Moabites; if Rpellcd with
Ain, its signification is "an enemy." We presume,
therefore, that the true etymology is 1^', denoting
"Strong man," "hero," "giant," particularly the
supreme Baal, in the mythology of the Phoenicians;
hence in compound proper names of deities, persons,
localities. Ftirst.
Ara, ^*!^^' (1 Chron. vii. 38), "He is strong, powerful, or
courageous;" compare "Aprjc, 'the strong one,' 'the
hero,' Mars — also our own name Harry.
Arab (Jos. xv. 52), as ^"i'';^* with Aleph, signifies "to knot,"
"weave," "lie in wait," "ambush;" as ^^i', with
Ain, it signifies "to mix," "exchange," "become
surety," "to pledge," "to be sweet," "to set, as
the Sun," "to be arid, sterile, or dry," "to be
white or glistening," " a very nasty sort of fly,"
" Arabia," " the woof," " strangers," " evening,"
"a raven," according to the difference of pointing.
Arab, "^^^ (Num. xxi. 1). Thus spelled, the word signifies
' place of fugitives ; ' a very unlikely cognomen for a
king. It is more likely that the Ain has been substi-
tuted for Aleph by the modern redactors of the text,
who have thought it improper that a Canaanite king
should bear the same name as a son of Benjamin, a
Hebrew patriarch ; it is, probably, identical with Ard,
which see.
frnit de I'ai bre cln bien et du mal ? D'autre part, les pdetes postcrieurs a Homcre
ne transforment-ils pas en hu brilliaut episode uu des dogiues dii culte de la
Veuus Asiatique, lorsqu'ils nous racoute que la DiscorJe poiir aveujjer de I'oubli
des Dieux, lan^a au milieu du banquet celeste uue pomme avec 1' inscription a
la j)lns belle. Cette meme pomme ne nous la moutreut-ils pas eusuite otferte a
Venus sur la mout Ida p:ir uu Phi-ygieu, le bergei- Paris ? Eufiii daus la laugne
latine derivce des langues de 1' Asie, comme tous les idiomes d' Europe, le mot
malum, mal, n'est-il pas le meme que le mot muhm, pomme, identique avec
le gi'ec firjXov? " Lajaed, Sur le Culte tie Venus, pp. 213, 214.
276
Arad, Assyrian, ' a slave, or servant ; ' variants of this are
Arc], Arclu, Alxl, Abed, Obed, &c.
Arad-asha, " Servant of Asha," an Assyrian cognomen.
Arah, nnN' (l Chron. vii. 39). " He wanders," i. e., the sun,
or some planet.
Aram, C)"3^ (Gen. x. 22), is closely connected with Ram,
"high." There is an old verb, ^'}^, aram, the
signification of which is "to SAvell up," "to exalt
oneself;" hence mountains, &c. It is also equivalent
to D^I^, aram, "to uncover, or be naked," also "to
be high."
Aran, i»; (Gen. xxxvi. 28), signifies "a wild goat," "power,"
" strength; " pointed as Oren, the same letters signify
"abeam," " a pole," " a cedar," " a pine, or mast."
The name has a phallic meaning, and was borne
by one of the descendants of Esau. (Compare with
Araunah and Aaron.)
Ararat, ^J}^^ (Gen. viii. 4), comes, I think, from lus, or,
"light," and nnn, rathach, = t^"} rat, "to boil up;"
and might mean "bursting up into light." The
mountain usually represented by that name is, I
believe, of volcanic origin ; and though there is no
record of any eruption, a fearfully prolonged earth-
quake shook the vicinity in 1840. (See Kitto's
Cycloclcsdla of Blhlical Literature, sub voce.)
Aras, '^>^, "To erect," "to build," "a nuptial bed," &c.,
"to espouse a woman," " to long for union." This
word appears to be closely allied with "spojc, the Greek
God of love and desire, and "Apr,c, the equivalent to
Mars. The idea of manly vigour and bodily strength,
impetuosity in fight and ardency in love, ever seems to
have been present to the minds of the ancients. Its
connexion with ''^^,, ari, " a lion," will be at once
apparent, as well as with the Sanscrit arya, " noble."
277
Araunah, _ ^Jn^: (2 Sam. xxiv. 16); also spelled Ornah,
np^- Ornan, IJ>X (1 cin-on. xxi. 15); and Araniah,
'C?>>. ('2 Sam. xxiv. 18, marginal reading).
This cognomen was borne by a Jebusite, in the
time of King David; and the various contrivances
which have been adopted to prevent the readers or
hearers of the word recognising in it the sacred
^l, Jah, of the Hebrews^ shows how very eager the
redactors of the sacred writings were to obliterate the
idea that the holy name was ever borne by a heathen
Jebusite. Perhaps they were more particularly de-
sirous to dislocate n;, jah, from its union with such
a word as px, "he stretches," or "extends," "ho is
firm, or hard," "a firm, hard tree," 'cedar,' 'pine/
or 'mast,' "power or strength," according as it is
pointed, as aren or oren. Now, this gives to the
cognomen in question the meaning, "Jah is firm, or
strong;" and the idea intended to be conveyed in
" strength " is indicated by a cognate word, signifying
a " pine tree," or " mast," both of which were sym-
bolic of the male organ.
For a long time I was under the impression that
the name ^l, Jah, the common form in which the
tetragrammaton appears in composition, was never
connected with what may be called sensual ideas.
This behef was shaken to its foundation after the
perusal of Dr. Giusburg's work (o^j. cit.), from which
it is apparent, that systematic "correction" of ancient
texts has been made to fit them for modern ideas.
The word before us is a very striking illustration of
his researches. We also learn from it that ' Jehovah '
was not a name of God revealed only to the Jews :
and that to some votaries, at least, Jah was phallic
like EL
278
Area, y?""^^' (Gen. xxiii. 2). Respecting tins name, Fiirst
remarks, that it signifies " gicDit-Baai, or Baal
Hercules, the proper name of the progenitors of the
giants in Phoenician and Babylonian mythology, also
the founder of the oldest cities;" and he considers
that the name is abridged from ^^^^'7'^, ar-haal. In
support of his opinion, he adduces the cognomen
yii-1.^^, juha, = 'lo^ug, for "^V:!^^], ju haal, = "Baal is
loveliness." But we doubt very much whether the
correct etymons are not •'^^ '^r'^^, (trha el, or "God
is fourfold ; " or simply the Aramaic ^^'^^, arha,
" four." The idea implied by the word in question
we have already referred to (see pp. 69, 89). It is
allied with i^17^, erva, = "the pudenda," both of man
and woman.
Arbel, in Beth Arbel, '^''^'2"'^' ^''? (Hos. x. 14). Amongst
bilingual inscriptions found in exploring the remains
of Assyria, is one which transfers a female slave,
"Arba-il Khirat," to " Bil- Akhisu." A learned
dissertation upon Arba-il is given by Piawlinson,
in the lloyal Asiatic Society's Journal, vol. i., new
series, p. 190, et scq. He tells us that the name
was a very popular one, adducing many instances
in which it has entered into composition, e. g.,
Mannuld-^r&ft-iZ ; Arha-ilai ; Vaga-ans.-Arha-il, &c.
The Pha3nician characters corresponding to ' Arba-il '
are ^n"iN% Arhal, unpointed; it is in another part
written "pniK, and signifies the four gods ; but there is
some doubt about this, says Bawlinson, as II is not in
the plural number. This objection, however, is obvi-
ated by reading the Avord as 'the four-fold god.' There
is an " kp^y]Xa. = Arha-ilu, mentioned as existing in
Galilee (1 Maccab. ix. 2), in which case the il of the
Assyrian, which equals ' god,' is in the plural. As
279
Akbel] towns were usually named after some sacred name,
and as in Hosea the word Arbel is conn-cted with
Beth, " a temple," Ave presume that Arbel had a
religious, or s^'mbolic, meaning. From the con-
siderations advanced in the preceding article, we
conclude that it refers to the four-fold god, i. e., the
male and female elements combined.
The accompany- Figure s-2.
ing wood-cut of the
impression of a
Babylonian gem,
copied from one
figured in Mons. F.
Lajard's work, Siu- \
Ic Cultc de Venus,
will show clearly the
nature of Arba-il.
It is curious to be able to notice, in the present day,
how the four-fold idea of the unseen powers exists
amongst ourselves. Throughout our churches a
Trinity is Avorshipped, and a fourth power deprecated ;
the beneficent Being is represented as triple, the
malignant one, = Typhon, is depicted as single. In
Eoman Catholic countries, on the other hand, the
Godhead is painted as it was in Babylon ; and it is
said to consist of a male triad and a female unit.
There is, indeed, no single papal church, whether
chapel or cathedral, to which the name of Beth- Arbel
would not apply; for all are spots in which adoration
is paid to the undivided trinity in unity, and the
celestial virgin, the mother of God and man. The
name has also been traced to in, ar, and hn, bel,
i. c, ' a hero is Bel,' or 'Bel is iiowerful.'
Archi and Archite, ^?7'^* (Jos. xvi. 2). This is considered
280
Archi [ to be the same as 'Opxoy}, orclioc, and as the Chal-
Aechite) dfean Erech, and that its inhabitants are the
same as the 'Op%y]vo(' mentioned by Ptolemy as existing
in South AVestern Babylonia. Now, the very same
word is translated, in 2 Sam. xv. 32, " the Archite ; "
and we find that Hushai, who was an Archite, was a
particular friend of king David. We wish to call
special attention to this, for it affords us an oppor-
tunity to refer to the Chalda?an element in the
Hebrew^ writings, and in the Psalms of the son of
Jesse. In our succeeding volume, we shall discuss
the condition of the Jewish court, at its first foun-
dation under David, and show that amongst the
chief military officers were Greeks, Phoenicians,
Philistines, Cariaus, and Chaldpeans, all of whom
were likely to modify the theological ideas of the
prophets or priests who came into contact with them.
Vv^e can scarcely imagine that David could have been
followed in his misfortunes by such men as Ittai the
Gittite, and Hushai the Archite, unless they had
been intimate friends. It is impossible to believe
that the royal Psalmist could have been friendly with
those whom he believed to be idolaters, since he
always expresses the most intense hatred for them.-^
We therefore conclude that all the three were in
unison on religious matters. We shall refer to this
subject hereafter.
Ard, "^y^ (Gen. xlvi. 21). This name is borne by a son of
Benjamin, one of whose brothers was Ashbel, and
another Naaman, which words tell of a Phoenician or
Syrian origin. We have already seen that the Canaan-
29 See, for cxamiDle, Psalm cxxxix. 21, 2'2 : " Do uot I liate them, O Lord, that
hate tliee ? and am uot 1 grieved with those that rise ixp agaiust thee ? I hate them
■with perfect hatred ; I count them mine enemies."
281
Aed] ites had a king avIio was called Arab, consequently
we infer that the nomenclature of the Hebrews
resembled that of the rest of the people of the
land. Now the only signification which can be found
for Arab, or Ard, is " a sprout," or, *'he descends
from;" but this etymology is so very improbable,
that we must seek another. Knowing the facility
with which words can be altered in the Hebrew, by
a very small interchange of letters, either in writing
or in the sound, or in both, we look again at TiK,
and compare it with mn. The AlciyJi is interchanged
with the He ; and it is well known that, in old MSS.,
Dalctli and Rcsli are often wrongly used, on account
of the similarity of their forms. This has actually
occurred in this word, for in 1 Chron. viii. 3, it is
spelled ^^^', Addar, the Daleth and Resh mutually
supplanting each other.
If our surmise be correct, we shall then discover
the name of Benjamin's son to be Hadad, who was
in the Syrian mythology the king of the Gods. This
conclusion is rendered more probable by the con-
sideration of the names of the other sons, which
were Belah, or "Bel is Jah," Becher, or "He breaks
through;" Ashbel, or " fire is Bel ; " Gera, or "the
abode of El;" Naaman, "the pleasant one;" Ahi, or
"Ach is Jah;" Rosh, "he is firm or strong;"
Muppim, "the splendid one;" and Hupi^im, "the
protector," all of which savour strongly of Syrian
theology.'"
3« The prevalence of what may be called heathen names in the tribe, or family,
of Benjamin, is veiy remarkable ; it is, too, very curious that a family, in -nhom
the reverence for foreign Gods was so well marked, should have associated so firmly
as it did with Judah. We strongly suspect, however, that the faith of Judah was,
like that of Benjamin, imported from without ; a consideration which will receive
full attention in our second volume.
282
Ardan, servant of On or Ann, an Assyrian cognomen.
Aedon, fi'^1'5 (1 Cliron. ii. 18), is probably compounded from
^~j'!^, arad, and i\ on, which Avonld give the signifi-
cation "he is descended from On."
Aeeli, ''?^'^7^ (Oen. xlvi. 16), from ^^'}^, ercl, and ^l, Jah,
the n as usual being elided. The word thus signifies
" Jah is powerful." It is possible, however, that it
may contain three elements, "i^', ^^ and ^l, and signify
"the strong God is Jah." The root i^^^, am, "He
is strong or powerful," seems to be allied with the
Sanscrit "Aryra," 'noble,' and "Aprjc, arees, "The
warrior God " amongst the Greeks.
Aroob, 2.n^ (Deut. iii. 4), " The stony district," or "a heap
of stones ; " it is situated on a large plateau of rock,
rising almost as abruptly as a wall from the plain.
Aeidai, ^7>^ (Esther ix. 9), from the Zend airja and ddo,
" giving what is worthy." Furst.
Aridatha, ^OT?- (Esther ix. 8), from airja-data, Zend,
denoting " a worthy gift." Fiirst.
Arieh, ^!7^' (2 Kings xv. 25), " Jah is strong," from '^^*, ar,
and ^l,jah. The first root signifies "a strong man,
a giant," the supreme God amongst the Phoenicians
and Babylonians. From it we have most probably
the Her in Hercules ; Phoenician ?3nN, archal (Fiirst).
From the same root we have —
Ariel, "^^'^^ (Isaiah xxix. 1), a compound of ^^, ar, ^l, Jah,
and ^^., el, the n being elided. The name signifies
" The strong god Jah," or " The strong Jah is El;"
the word is thus ascertained to be a variant of Areli.
It may, however, be also read as ?>* ]^, "My strong
one is El."
Arim, ^''?-^ (Ezra ii. 25), is found in conjunction with
Kirjath. This is probably an altered form of Ci^?^,
arim, and signifies "The strong ones," or "The
283
Arimi heroes," refcning either to the masculine triad in
heaven, or to warriors on earth.
Aeiocii, V'}'^. (Gen. xiv. 1 ; Dan. ii. 14), " noble," from
the Sanscrit chja, and the adjective suffix ka.
Fiirst.
Arisai, ''?^»! (Esther ix. 9), a Persian name, denoting, " Lion
like." Gesenius.
Ark. It is impossible for any Biblical student to pass over
in silence the subject of the ark; an object which,
more than any other material form, was worshipped
or venerated by the Hebrews. We naturally ask
ourselves, How came it to pass that a box was regarded
with reverence, v\'hen a statue was abhorred ? How
came it that He, whom the heaven of heavens cannot
contain (1 Kings viii. 27), was in some way identified
with a small chest, which was kept in a peculiarly
small chamber, and to which the priest only had
access once a year ? (Heb. ix. 7.) We shall best
answer these questions by inquiring — (1) Into the
probable etymological relations of the word ; (2) Into
the history of the ark, and the ideas with which it
has been associated amongst different nations ; and,
(3) The signification of the mythoses with which it
is connected.
The name given to the ark in which Noah sailed
is narij tehah, which signifies " a chest," " a ship,"
and even "a sarcophagus." From it Thebes is sup-
posed to have taken its name. The root seems to
be n2ri^ tabuli, "to lie bellied, or hollowed out."
The ark in which Moses floated is called by the
same name, = Greek 0//3o5, 0i/3rj. The ark of the
covenant has the name I'l"!^, awn, which signifies
"a box," "a mummy case," or "a money chest."
We may add that P'^, aran, means "he is firm;"
284
Aek] D^, oren. " a certain bard-wooded tree ; " and 0^,
aren, denotes "strength," or "power."
When we attempt to trace our own Avord " ark,"
we find in the first pkce that in the Sanscrit there
are four expressions which somewhat resemble it ;
viz., ar]:a, "a ray of light," "the Sun;" Argha, "a
particular form of ofieriug in a certain shaped vessel,"
also "inestimable, priceless;" arghya, "deserving
worship," " a,n offering made to gods or to great men,
a portion of which is water, and which may consist of
water entirely;" there is also arlc, "to praise," or
" to heat." These assume some importance, inasmuch
as there is very close relationship between the Aryan,
the Latin, and the Greek tongues. Although we can
scarcely show much affinitv between these and the
Hebrew, there is yet in the last language something
to associate our modern "ark" with it; ^>>', arag,
is " to plait, or weave," an operation necessary in
making a boat of bulrushes ; also "to shut up." A
word which is derived from this root is absolutely
used in 1 Sam. vi. 8, 11, 15. The word in question
is "^f}^, argaz. The final r Fiirst considers to be an
unimportant postfix, adding, "for arg, compare area,
opx-ocvYj, orkancc, "an enclosure;" arx, "a citadel,
or bulwark," &c. The words apxicu, arkeo, "I am
powerful, suffice, or satisfy;" up-x^uios, archaios,
"ancient, primeval, time-honoured;" a/5%^, archee,
"the beginning, or origin," "the first place, or
power," "magistrate," "ruler," &c. ; oipy^M, archo,
" I make a beginning ; " and «p%oc, archos, " a
leader," equal to our arch in such names as
' archangel,' ' archbishop,' &c., are all worthy of
remembrance.
In Latin, area denotes " a chest, coffer, or trunk ; "
Aekj
285
arcanns, " secret, private, hidden, a mystery," &c. ;
arcco, "I enclose," "I keep together," "I ward,"
"I keep ofl'," Sec.
Small though the relationship may he, we do well
to rememher that the English word ardi may have
originally heen little more than the inverted crescent
moon, which was throughout ancient times held to
be an emblem of the female.
Nor can we fo]-get that the word 'Apyslu, argeia,
is one of the names of Hera, or Juno, or the Celestial
Mother (Pans. iii. 13, § G) ; it is said that she
received this name from being worshipped at Argos ;
but it is at least probable that both the one name
and the other are connected with "the ark," In
Smith's Dictionary,^' we are told that "Argeia" is the
name of several mythical personages, amongst others
of the wife of Argus, who built the ship Argo. We
have also such appellatives in the Greek, as Argalus,
Argelius, Argennis, Argileouis, Argiope, in which we
may recognise the association of Arg with helios,
" the Sun," " Anna," " the Lion," and ottyj, opee, " a
hole, chink, or orifice, through which light comes."
The xirgonauts, apyovaurai, argonautai, were literally
sailors navigating "the Argo," and they were in
search of a golden fleece ; a myth, of whose signifi-
cance those who know the reputed origin of the
Spanish order of that name may form a notion.
Throughout these etymologies, the following dis-
tinct ideas may be traced : —
(a) A great, noble, primeval Being from which
all created beings sprang ; {h) A something which
guards, keeps, encloses, and protects ; (c) A vessel
which can convey an individual from one part or
81 Dictionary of Mi/tholof/y and Biociraplnj, s. v. Argeia.
286
Are] country to another ; (d) Tlie Celestial Mother ; and
(c) The crescent moon.
2. We now direct our attention to the. history of
the ark amongst the different nations, and the ideas
indicated therein.
As regards the Chaldees, from whom we are told
that the Jews descended, and whose rehgiou Abram
practised, we find, from Eawlinson {Journal Royal
Asiatic Society, vol. xviii., p. 23, note), that " the
Babylonian Gods appear to have each had several
arks, or tabernacles, distinguished in the inscriptions
by the old Scythic or Hamite names, which they
bore from the remotest antiquity. The tabernacle
itself is indicated by the same signs, which represent
'a ship,' and of which the Semitic equivalent, or
synonym, was Elippa (Chaldee ^i^^, ilioa) ; and some
of the bilingual vocabularies exhibit complete lists
of the names. The word which thus occurs in the
last line but one of the third column of the great
East India House inscription, in connection with
the temple of the planets of the seven spheres, at
Borsippa, and which is also the proper name of a
river, is explained in the vocabularies as the special
*-^ appellation of the ark of the God Nebo ; and it may
be presumed, therefore, that although the temple of
Borsippa wns designed and named after the seven
spheres, the particular God who was worshipped there
was Nebo, or Hermes, who indeed was supposed to
have the arrangement of the heavenly bodies under
his particular control." ^'
S2 This paragrapli is a uote to the following text iu R.awlinsou's pajier ou the
great temple at Borsippa: — "This portion, then, of brickwork 1 propose to allot
to a superstructure, or chapel, which may have crowned the pile, as iu the description
that Herodotus gives of the temple of Belus at Babylon ; a description which, iu all
prohahility, was borrowed from this site. If such a chapel really existed, containing
287
Ark] We next notice tliat the use of the ark was very
general in Egypt, iu which country it was also
frequently associated with a ship or boat ; a succinct
account of whose varied forms may be seen in
Rawlinson's Herodotus, vol. ii., p. 85, and in
Kitto's Cyclopcedia, s. r. Ark. In the latter article
will also be found the statement, that "the discoveries
which have been made in Egypt incoutestably prove
that the tabernacle, made with hands, with its utensils
and ministers, bore a designed external resemblance
to the Egyptian models."
We next proceed to notice that the ark was
equally used in religious ceremonies by the Greeks.
We find, for example, Lucian (Met. xi. 250), when
describing a procession of the goddess Isis, speaks
to this effect — "The chief ministers of the sacred
rites carried the insignia of the mighty gods, exposed
to full view. The first was a brilliant lamp of gold,
of a boat-like form, which emitted a flame of con-
siderable magnitude, from an aperture in the middle :''
apparently intended to represent "the ship "and "the
mast," i.e., the female and the male principles of
nature. " The third bore a palm tree." " The
fourth carried a golden vessel, shaped like the
mamma, from which he poured forth milk on the
ground." " Then followed the figure of a cow, being
the prolific resemblance of the all-parent goddess,
borne on the shoulders of one of the blessed devotees
of this divinity, icho acted gcsticidatingly as he
u-alked. Another carried a chest, containing the
the ' ark,' or tabernacle of the gotl, its height was probably fifteen feet, like that of
the stage which supported it." This meusnrement is iu close accordauce with that
of the Holy of Holies, which coutaiucd the Hebrew arlc, for it was a cube of ten
cubits, or fifteen feet ; a fact iu which we see another instance of Chalda;au influence
iu the Hebrew religion.
288
Ark] secret utensils of this stupendous mystery." Can
any one, reading this, fail to recal the scene of David
leaping and dancing before the ark ? (2 Sam. vi. 14, 15)
A similar ark to that of Ceres was carried in the
BacchanaHan rites. This one, however, contained
branches of trees, pods, ivy, cakes of different kinds,
salt, poppies, hearts, and the phallus. (Clem. Alex.
Protr.) It is thus referred to by Aristophanes : —
{Acharnians, 1. 242, et seq.)—"'Let the basket-bearer
advance a little forward. Let Xanthias set up the
phallus erect." " Well, now, 't is right, 0 sovereign
Bacchus, that I, having led this procession, agree-
able to thee, and having sacrificed with my house-
hold, should celebrate the rural Dionysia happily."
" 0 Xanthias, you, too, must hold the phallus
erect, behind the basket-bearer, and I, following,
will sing the phalHc hymn." The use of the
chest in the processions at the festival of Ceres
existed also amongst the Romans. This is referred
to by Ovid, in his Art of Love, b. ii., 609, &c.—
"If the mysteries of Venus are not enclosed in
chests, and if the hollov^' cymbals do not resound with
frantic blows, although, amongst ourselves, they are
celebrated by universal custom, yet it is in such a
manner that, amongst us, they demand concealment,
j Venus herself, as oft as she lays her garments aside,
1 conceals her groin with the left hand." It is also to
be noticed that the mediaival artists who depicted
Venus always associated her with an ark, or chest,
into which Cupid, or some female attendant, appears
to be looking. In all these cases, there are clear
indications of the chest, ark, or basket being a femi-
nine symbol. We find this conclusion strengthened
by the following considerations :
280
Ark] 1. The box, coffin, sarcophagus, or grave, which
receives the body after death, is clearly a rei^resen-
tative of mother earth, "who receives us at our birth,
nourishes us when born, and ever afterwards supports
us ; lastly, embracing us in her bosom, when we
are rejected by the rest of nature, she then covers
us with especial tenderness." (Pliny, Nat. Hist.,
b. ii., c. 63.)
2. We are told by Sir Gardiner "Wilkinson (Raw-
linson's Herod., vol, ii., c. 63), that " some of the
sacred boats, or arks, contained the emblems of life
and stability, which, when the veil was drawn aside,
were partially seen." It is superfluous here to indi-
cate what those emblems were.
Mythology informs us that the body of Osiris,
when killed by Typhon, was carried in a chest to
Byblos, there found by Isis, and brought back to
Egypt ; but the malignant demon cut up the body,
and threw the pieces away. All were recovered but
the pudenda, which were replaced by a model thereof;
and this image, enshrined in an ark, became one of
the symbols of the God. The missing parts were
said to have been eaten by fish. Thus we see " the
ark" and "the fish" brought into parallelism. We
are also told that the holy chest of Isis was carried
once a year, in November, to the sea-side; the priests,
during the passage, pouring into it drink-offerings
of water from the river (De Iside et Os'ir., c. 39).
The signification of this must at once be apparent to
those who know that VD, ml, signifies equally "water"
and "semen virile."
Ancient stories again abound with anecdotes, in
which the offspring of some god, or king, is com-
mitted to an ark or chest — just as Moses and Apollo
T
290
Ark] are represented to have been in Egypt; and their
similarity obhges us to recognise that they conceal
some myth. In searching for a clue to the mystery,
we may readily find it in the surmise, that a female
who had been impregnated by some great man was,
like Hagar of old, and too many at the present
day, cast adrift as soon as her pregnancy became
apparent. The poor mother then wandered abroad,
as lo did, until she found a resting-place for herself
and offspring.
3. Remembering the strong similarity between
Egyptian and Hindoo worship, we turn to the Asiatic
Reseai'clies (vol. iii., p. 363), where we find the follow-
ing, from the pen of Colonel Wilford : — "There is a
sect of Hindoos, by far the most numerous of any, who,
attempting to reconcile the two systems, tell us, in
their allegorical style, that Parvati and Mahadeva
found their concurrence essential to the perfection of
their offspring; and that Vishnu, at the request of
the o-oddess, efiected a reconciliation between them.
Hence, the navel of Yishnu, by which they meant
the 03 tinea, is worshipped as one and the same with
the sacred yonl. This emblem, too, was Egyptian;
and the mystery seems to have been solemnly typified
in the temple of Jupiter Ammon, by the vast umbi-
licus, made of stone, and carried by eighty men in a
boat, which represented the fossa naricularis (see
fio-. 61). Such, I believe, was the mystical boat of
Isis, which, according to Lactantius, was adored in
Egypt (Div. Instlt., 1. i., c. 2)." "We are assured
by Tacitus that the German Suevi adored Isis, under
the form of a ship" {Genuania, c. 9); "and the Chal-
di^ans consider that the earth, which is the same as
Parvati, is shaped like a boat."
291
Aek] The form of the crescent moon affords the type
of the sacred shij) or ark.
"We find another reference to this subject, in
a paper in the Transactions of the Royal Asiatic
Society, from the pen of the Rev. Joseph Roberts
(voL i., p. 87). The commencement of the essay
runs thus: — "In presenting to the Ro^^al Asiatic
Society a model of the tabernacle ^^ of the Hindus, in
which they take their principal deities out in proces-
sion, it may be necessary to observe, that a number
of men, having placed it on their shoulders, proceed
to the appointed spot, accompanied and preceded
by priests, singers, players on musical instruments,
and the dancing girls of the temple." The author
then quotes Numb. i. 50, and draAvs a parallel
between the Jewish and the Hindoo ark. He next
points out that the Jews bore tabernacles for other
gods, e.g., "Ye have born the tabernacle of your
Moloch and Chiun, your images, the star of your
god, which ye made to yourselves " (Amos v. 26) ;
and adds, that "the object which the Jews and the
heathen had in view, in carrying about these taber-
nacles, was probably to show that they were under
the protection either of the true God or of those false
deities whom they respectively served. The Hindus
at this day carry out theirs in time of sickness, or at
the stated festivals of the deity, to avert the evil, or
to show that they are under his protection." The
description of this so-called tabernacle tallies with
that given of many ancient arks ; and its use in
procession may be compared with the peregrination
83 Wliicli consists of .1 quadraugnlar pedestal, ou the surface of which fire four
columns, suppoi-tiuj; a roof, or canopy ; at the bottom of the pedestal are fixed four
rings, and through these staves are passed.
292
Aek] of the Hebrew ark round Jericho, and its being sent
for in Eli's time by a worsted army, to restore the
fortunes of the field.
4. It is scarcely necessary to recal to the recol-
lection of my readers, how from the three sons of
Noah, and the ark or chest, the world became
repeopled after its total destruction ; a statement
which is only a mythical form of putting the simple
fact, that it is by union of the st-xes that the young
arise to take the place of those who die ; and that
a wife may produce even after her husband's decease
a new scion of his race, which has been preserved
in her womb until its time has become full. That
the ancients had such an idea is manifested by the
ferocity with which successful soldiers killed pregnant
women, whenever they wished to extirpate a hostile
race or tribe.
We are then driven to the conclusion that the
holy ark was a feminine emblem, destined to receive
and retain the male symbol or principle, just as the
Eoman Catholic "pyx" is made to retain " the body
of the Saviour." This being so, we can readily
understand the idea of David's leaping and dancing
and shamelessly uncovering himself before it. But
though this monarch acted thus, we do not see
any other evidences of the ark being associated with
indecencies. AVe recognise, however, the same
accompaniments to the Hebrew ark which Lucian
saw elsewhere {vide supra, p. 287), viz., the sacred lamp
and candlestick ; altars ; palm trees in columnar
form ; a symbol of truth ; golden bowls, some of
v.hich were to be made like almonds, Exod. xxv. 33,
whilst a table and shew-bread replace the golden corn,
fan and amphora.
293
Arkj There are, however, a few indications of the
possibility of such a thing, \Yhich wo ma}^ briefly
notice. (1) The ark is called the ark of the testimony
n-ny, eduth, Exod. xxv. 22, &c. ; (2) nn^, edah, is
also used as a " witness," Gen. xxi. 30, and as
"testimonies," Dent. iv. 15, &c. ; (3) both these
come from the root '^^', ad, which signifies "eternity,"
"perpetuity;" whence also come the words >^'^^, adah,
"to march along," "to veil or to cover," "ornament,"
and "beauty;" and Vy^, yadali, which signifies amongst
other things "to lie with," in Avhich sense it is
used in Gen. iv. 1, "Adam knew his wife;" and
again in Gen. xxiv. 16, " neither had any man
known her; " and Gen. xix. 5, " bring them out that
we may know them." This shows that there is Avhat
may be designated a punning resemblance between
the ark of testimony and the ark of propagation,
the organ through which all life is perpetaated.
Bat there is still more significant evidence in the
pillars of stone which the ark contained, and on
which the law was said to be written. From time
immemorial these have been figured as two cylinders
or flat pillars, with rounded tops, such as we see
to-day in most of our churches. In the earlier
representations of them there is always an opening
between the two. Coupling this with the reverence
which was shown in the Jewish worship to the
male organ, there is strong reason for the belief that
the two stones, thus arranged, rej)resented the male
and female organs in mystic union. In the ark was
also placed a sprig of almond tree, which had a
particular sexual signification.
Hence it is possible that the ark really was a
symbol originally intended to typify " the fruitful
294
ArkI mother," although it was at an early period purified
from all gross ideas.
From the preceding considerations, we may safely
affirm that one, at least, of the religious emblems
amongst the Jews very closely resembled those of the
heathen around them ; and that there was as much
improvement in Judaism over idolatry as we see in
the protestantism of the Anglican over the paganism
of the Roman church. We cannot, however, declare
with equal certainty that the Hebrew symbol, and
the ritual connected with it, were God-given. If
we grant such an assumption, we must go farther,
and allow that the oiiginal of the copy, notwith-
standing all its flaws, was equally from a divine
source. No one refuses credence to the belief that
the papal faith and worship, covered though it now
is with blots, is from an apostolic origin, and coming
direct from the Saviour. From this degraded Chris-
tianity our British faith has come ; but though many
of our community consider it as sacred as if it had
been revealed, yet all must allow that it is the
legitimate and improved descendant from a more
ancient but corrupted faith ; just as Judaism is an
improved form of Chaldrean, Phoenician, Grecian,
and possibly Egyptian worship. To this subject we
shall return in our second volume.
Ark, Noah's. Whenever an intelligent reader finds, in the
book which he is reading, a story so extragavant that
it is utterly impossible to be true, his impulse is —
(1) to distrust the writer entirely ; (2) to inquire
if there is any foundation for it ; (3) to consider it
a mythos ; or (4) to reject it entirely.
It is perfectly certain that if any Christian were
to meet with the story of Noah's ark in one of the
295
Ark, I Hindoo Vedas, or in any other ancient record, he
Noah's j would scout it as an ahsuvdity. The idea of pLicing
a pair of all animals and l)irds, and seven pairs of
clean beasts — (what was meant by a " clean " beast, in
the time of Noah, wdio is not supposed to have known
the Mosaic law, we are not told) — in a box a little larger
than some of our finest w'ar ships, and considerably
less than the " Great Eastern," is preposterous. The
idea of keeping them therein for upwards of a year is
monstrous in the extreme ; for not only had room to
be found in such an ark for the creatures themselves,
but for their food, which would exceed the bulk of the
creatures by fourfold ; inasmuch as, in the space of a
year, each animal consumes at least four times its
own weight. Moreover, there would be no chance
of keeping the carnivorous animals alive, without the
graminivorous being eaten, and fourteen sheep, goats,
bulls, cows, antelopes, buffaloes, bisons, &c., would
be a poor supply for two lions, two tigers, tw^o
leopards, two bears, &c., for a whole twelvemonth.
2. If, then, we discredit the story in its entirety,
as every intelligent being must do, we next inquire
whether it can be traced to any basis. We find in the
Greek a story about Deucalion and Pyrrha being saved
in an ark daring an inundation ; and we can easily
understand that if a Jewish waiter had heard of it, he
would, with that hyperbole of language, that want of
exactness in the unity of detail, and that spirit of
exaggeration which characterise so many of the
Hebrew authors in the Bible, have expanded some
local inundation which lasted for a day or two, into
an universal deluge which lasted for a year. In like
manner, a big corn chest has developed itself into
a vast ark, and a couple of human beings into a
296
Ark. ] menagerie of men and animals. But in magnifying
Noah's I the story, the artist has forgotten details, and has
thus exposed the falsity of his narrative. During a
small local flood, we can well understand a man and
his wife being saved in a large box ; but we cannot
imagine them subsisting in such an ark for twelve
months, since the art of preserving provisions for an
indefinite time, and that in an eastern climate, did
not exist in ancient days. We must, moreover, add
that there is a story about a deluge told in the
Hindoo writings, but it is not necessary for us to give
it in detail.
3. Considering the Biblical story as a mythos, we
proceed to ascertain the elements which exist for its
solution. We have, in the first place, a box, in which
are four pairs of men and women, single pairs of the
unclean, and seven pairs of the clean, animals and
birds ; but no trees, no materials for cooking, and no
store of water. The omission of cuttings or seeds of
trees, and of water, is one which shews more than
anything else the utter impossibility of the Biblical
story of the deluge and the ark being a true one.
For it is certain that all the trees would be killed
by the salt water, proceeding from the foundations
of the great deep ; and as leaves which remain
twelve months in water are certain to rot, the whole
vegetable world would be represented by dead
and leafless stumps. Even if seeds and cuttings
had been preserved, we know that land recently
saturated by salt water is inimical to vegetation ;
consequently, there would not be, at the end of the
twelve months during which the salt water deluge
prevailed, an olive branch for a dove to find, a
spot on which a vine could flourish, or grass for
297
Ark, ] the cattle to eat. Beyond these things, we see in
Noah's J the mythos no other elements than a flood of
water, universal destruction, the salvation of a few,
and the dove as a harbinger of good news.
Out of these meagre materials we are unable to
frame any other idea than that "nature," "the
earth," or " the womb," all of which the ark typifies,
rei^eoples the world again, after even so severe an
infliction as an inundation. In the pairs we cannot
see anything more than the plain fact that male
and female are necessary to the creation of a new
offspring ; nor can we see in the sevens anything
more than the adoption of a mystic number as a
preparation for food and sacrifice.
4. All this, however, is so meagre that we cannot
accept the idea that any mythos is wrapped up in the
story; and we consequently regard the narrative as
utterly devoid of truth, or, at the most, as a very
exaggerated account of some local inundation, such
as is common in Australia, in Hindostan, and in
Egypt.
Of the deluge, from which the ark saved Noah,
it is unnecessary to speak farther than to say that
such a phenomenon is as apocryphal as is the assumed
migration of kangaroos from Australia, elephants
from India, hippopotamuses from Africa, mammoths
from Siberia, and polar bears from Kamschatka,
lions from the forest, and tigers from the jungle, in
comfortable pairs ; at such times too, and in such a
manner, that they should all meet at a certain spot
in Asia, at a definite period ; and that, when there,
they should all amicably enter a big dark box.
We shall, however, revert to the subject in the
introduction to our second volume.
298
Aekite ''i?"?- (Gen. x. 17), "A Phoenician city nortli of
Tripolis, in SjTia, belonging to the Damascene king-
dom ; at a hiter period in Greek" Apx-q, archea, and
"Apxai, rtrc//ai, Latin ' Arce,' now 'Areas.'" Fiirst.
(See Archi.)
Aemenia, ^Ti^,, or Ararat (2 Kings xix. 37), the moun-
tainous district about the range of Mount Ararat.
Armi, Cuneiform, "a mountain goat."
Armoni, ''i'''^^^' ("2 Sam. xxi. 8). In this instance, again, the
n of ^l has probably been elided, the original form
being t^'"^X\ armoniah, or "A fortress is Jah."
Arna, T"'^"?^, or Arnon (Numb. xxi. 13), in Syriac means
"a mountain goat," or "Aries;" \}'}'^, arnan, is 'a
strong one,' ' a hero.' As Arnon, the Moabite river's
name, it signifies ' the rushing one.' There is some-
thing connected with the goat which does not come
out fully in mythology. There is strong reason
to believe that, when the sun entered Aries in the
Zodiac, the fact was known to the chief priests of
Egypt, and elsewhere, and the animal was commen-
surately honoured. But what placed the goat in the
Zodiac at all ? Why should kings call themselves
" He-goats," and why did the Romans call Nero
" an old goat," in derision ? Why amongst the Jews
was one goat sacrificed to God, and another to Azazel,
or the Devil, on the most solemn day of the year, the
great day of atonement ? My impression is that the
animal, being peculiarly salacious, became an emblem
of enduring manly vigour, bodily strength, bravery,
boldness, and endurance, and thus emblematic of the
great powers of both the upper and lower regions.
Hence it was that goats' flesh was eaten in the hope
that it was aphrodisiac. 'Apvoc, arnos, is ' a lamb ' in
Greek, and 'Apvrj, arne, was the nurse of Neptune.
299
Arna] Probabl}' our Harnet, Arnold, Arnsidc, may be from
the same stock.
Aenan, l^J'y (1 Chron. iii. 21), one of the names which has
been substituted for Araniah. See Araunah.
Arnon, li^T"?? (Numb. xxi. 13), " A rushing stream."
Arod, *i^"i^ (Numb. xxvi. 17) a variant of Arad. See Ard.
Arodi, '"7^"'^ (Gen. xlvi. 16), "name of the Phooniciau island
state, Araclus, founded by Sidon, through the instru-
mentality of refugees. Fiirst.
Aroer, "i.Vi^J^ (Numb. xxii. 34), probably from "'J^'?^, arar,
"naked," "poor," "bare."
Arpad, '^^l^ (2 Kings xviii. 34), etymology doubtful, possibly
"1^, ar, and i^^?, iJucluli, " The great one redeems,
delivers "?
Arphaxad, 1^9?7^ (Gen. x. 22), " Ar, with overflowing
breast;" '^?7', jjacMa, signifying 'to drop down as
water; ' and "^'^y sJiad, " a breast or teat."
Artaxerxes (Ezra iv. 7), a Persian name, the true reading
of which is not accurately known, and which in
the Hebrew is spelled three different ways, ?'. c,
NJ^pl*'^^nl^^, Artachsliaseta ; ^^^V^'^l^, Artachshashte ;
and ^^'P'P'ri?>^\ Artachshashtali. Fiirst considers the
name to be the same as that of Artha-Shetr, found
on certain Pehlvi medals, and = Arta-chshatar, or
" mighty king."
Aredu, (Cuneiform) " I rode," from the root red, " to-ride."
Hebrew, racliah, rad, or road, is " to tremble or
quake." I think we have amongst us many words
from this old Shemitic root; e.g., Ryde, Ptyder, Rydal,
Ben-PJiyddiug, Ptidout, Ridalgh, &c. : Wright, Piead,
Ready, Reddish, Redditch ; and many others, of simi-
lar sound, have possibly come from the same root.
Aruboth, rii^!}^ (1 Kings iv. 10), " The dovecotes," or the
holes, plural of ^?>>!, arubcJt.
300
Arumah, !^'9'''"'^' (Judges ix. 41). It is probable tbat the
original spelling of this word was '^^r^^', aramjah, or
" Jah is high, strong, or firm," and that it has been
changed to obliterate the appearance of the sacred
name. It is analogous to Ramah, in which the
alteration is more extensive.
Arvad, l^l^^' (Ezek. xxvii, 8), a town in Palestine larger than
Tyre or Sidou ; "place of fugitives," as Eome was
(x\radus), founded by Sidon, through the instru-
mentality of refugees, whose inhabitants were skilful
seamen and valiant warriors. (Strabo, xvi., 2, 13.)
Arza, ^'^'7^ (1 Kiug^ ^^'i- 9)' "-^1 is strong, or firm," the
Lamed being elided, and the vowel dropped from
?^*, el. The first part of the name signifies " the
earth;" and I have heard an orientalist pronounce
this word as ertz, being unable to frame his mouth
so as to express the sound involved in our tli.
Asa, ^?^' (1 Kings xv. 8), " El is a physician," or " healer,"
the h of '''>', el, being elided. It is possibly a variant
of m, Asah. (See Asahel.)
AsAHEL, '???nby (2 Kings ii. 18). This word is evidently
formed from ^^', and another root ; but that this sacred
name should have been retained is curious. The com-
bination assists us, however, in our researches upon
the nature of the original conception of El. The first
two syllables of the name in question come from nbu,
flsa/;, which signifies "to labour," "to create," "to build
up," "to bring forth out of oneself," "to beget," "to
press," "to squeeze immodestly," " to be shaggy," or
"rough haired," according to the pointing. The cogno-
men, therefore, must be taken to indicate, " El created,
or creates ; " the idea being much the same as is
involved in ordinary paternity. (See Al, Esau, Adam.)
We have the same derivation in the following word : —
301
AsAiiiAH, or AsAiAH, H^^-'i? (2 Kings xxii. 12). " Jali is the
Creator ; " in which Jah replaces El.
Asaph, ^1?^' (2 Kings xviii. 18). See Abiasaph. Since
writing that article, it has occurred to me that the
word may be a variant of, or play upon, ^^'^'^, ashpali,
"the quiver," in which are stored the arrows, or
children, of the mighty one. Compare the metaphor,
" happy is he who hath his quiver full of them."
AsAEEEL, and Askiel, ^i??;''?'!^/''* (1 Chron. iv. 16). Of this
name, Fiirst remarks, that it is equivalent to the
Phoenician 'V^, aser (Osiris), an epithet of Baal,
husband of Asherah. We are, however, more inclined
to consider it as being an altered form of Ashreel,
and to signify "El is Asher," or " Asher is El."
The idea tlius conveyed is identical with that em-
bodied in the cognomen Asahel. (See Asher.)
Asaeelah, ^)^yi<^ (1 Chron. xxv. 2), " The creating God
is Jah." In this cognomen we have a juxtaposition
of sacred names which greatly astonishes the inquirer,
viz., 'Osiris, or Asher,' 'El, or Allah,' and ' Ja, or
Jehovah ; ' and, as if to allow of a complete identi-
fication of this first element of the name with Asher,
the upright one, we find it spelled (1 Chron. xxv. 14)
^???7'-'*:5 Jcsharelah, in which jeshar is allied both to
isli, asher, and jasliar, 'the male,' 'the upright
organ,' and ' the upright man.' We may probably
recognise, in the cognomen in question, a succession
of sacred names. Ashee was the first worshi^jped ;
he was simply ' the creator ; ' when ' El ' became
sacred, ' the creator is El ' was used ; and, sub-
quently, the creating God is Jah. (Compare, with
"■^ Aziael is to the present time, in the Arabic mythology, " The angel of death,"
and affords a good indication of the perpetuity of names amongst the Shemitic
302
Asaeelah] this the remarks made, page 23, supra, upon
Hamptonwick and Berkhamstead.)
AscALON, or AsHKELON, '0^\^'^^ (Judges i. 18), " The cluster
of On." (See page 67.)
AsENATH, ^.^9^* (Gen. xli. 45), said to mean "dedicated
to Neith " (the Minerva of the Egyptians) ; but I
very much doubt whether the name is Egyptian
at all. It certainly is very unlike any of the words
which have come to our knowledge. We have '^^9^,
Asnah, the name of a man (Ezra ii. 50) of Persian
birth ? and ^^^^, Asnath (written in our Bibles
Asenath), very closely resembles it. Again, we have
^S7iappar, a Persian satrap ; and Ave have already
given an account of many Hebrew names compounded
with as.
In the Vedic, asna signifies "great, or distin-
guished;" Natli, or Naiit, means "the Lord;" and
in the Hebrew Nathan signifies "he gave." The
word then may mean, " The Lord the Creator," or
" the Creator gave."
Ash, or EsH, ^^', " a man," "a being," "essence," "fire,"
" foundation," &c., according to the vowel points
used.
AsHA, is one of the readings adopted provisionally by
Kawlinson for the great goddess of Nineveh {Journal
Royal Asiatic Society, new series, vol. i., pp. 205-7) ;
it appears to be a variant of ni^iS, or mn^'bS, = Ishtar
and Ashtoreth.
AsHAN, 1?'V (Jos.. XV. 42), said to be " a smoke," but though
1^'y, ashan, has that meaning, the appellative is not
ajDpropriate to a town. It is probable that it was
originally spelled 1^^, ashen, which signifies, "he is
hard, firm, or strong."
AsHBAAL, ^y?^s^, or EsHBAAL (1 Chrou. viii. 33), "My lord
303
AsHBAALJ fire," a son of Sanl. In the Chronicles, in which
EsHBALLJ the first apijears, names are repeatedly found
spelled diflerently to what they are elsewhere ; if it
were not thus, we prohably should never have known
that both Saul and Jonathan had sons called after
Baal. The reason given by Dr. Ginsburg for this is,
that the Rabbins, when making corrections in the
sacred text, expended their labours on the parts which
were in general use, and passed by those which were
seldom read in public or private.
AsHBAN or EsHBAN, I?^'^* (Gen. xxxvi. 26), "The son of
fire," or " of strength," i. e., " he is fiery, hard, firm,
or strong ; " or possibly the word may be a variant of
jb^N'^ Eslimun, the Phoenician Esculapius, or Her-
cules; the name was borne by an EdomiLe.
AsHBEA, or EsHBEA, ^3^'^' (1 Chron. iv. 21), is, I think, an
euphemism for Ashbaal. (Compare Ashby, &c.)
AsHBEL, ^^^'^ (Gen.xlvi. 2i), signifies the same as Ashbaal,
i. e., " My lord fire," or " Baal is fire ; " fire and the
sun being used interchangeably. It will, however, be
remembered, that ^^, esh, has many significations
besides " fire/' e. g., masculinity, as being the male of
^^^, isha, "the feminine." It is indeed equivalent
to "i?J, zachar, "the piercer." We must also remem-
ber that the idolatrous male images used in the
worship of Baal were called pST^ zicharon (Fiirst,
5. v.), or " On the digger," or " the sturdy workman."
All this helps us to recognise the fact that the heat of
the sun producing fructification on earth, and the
male fructifying the female, formed the basis of the
early ideas of the Creator being phallic. This inter-
pretation is based upon the idea that Bel and Baal
are identical. Some, however, hold that Bel is an
independent deity ; but we find the attributes given
304
Ashbel] to each are so much alike, that we consider the
objection to be of no moment.
AsHCHENAZ, '^^r''^^ (Gen. x. 3). I can get no satisfactory
meaning for this word. The name is still used by
the modern Jews to designate the Germans.
AsHDOD, "ii^w^5< (Josh. xi. 22), "Fire or ash given." (Com-
pare Anne(r?o!'i(s, Hevodotus.)
AsEER, T^>' (Gen. xxx. 13) = "To be straight," "upright,"
"fortunate," "happy," "happiness," &c. ; " unus
cui membrum erectum est, vel fascinum ipsum." ^"
My impression is that the name is essentially the
same as Asshur, the supreme God of the Assyrians ;
and I have already stated my belief that he was
represented as the Vedic Mahadeva, the human
emblem of male creative energy. In India and
the East, in Judtea, Egypt, Phoenicia, along the
shores of the Mediterranean and the Western coast
of Europe, as far north as Denmark, there are still
to be seen remains of this idea of the Creator- One
country has elaborate obelisks ; another, gigantic
phalli ; another, spires, round towers, columns, or
minarets ; whilst another, far poorer in skill, has
contented itself wi'^h upright stones or logs of wood.^"
In ancient Britain and Brittany, an upright stone
represented the deity, much as a similar stone
represented him at Bethel. In all the places where
he was thus worshipped, he was anointed Avith oil
to make his top shine. Ajjvopos of this we may
notice, that the high priest of any nation has always
assumed to be the vicar of God upon earth ; we can
S5 Over a door at Pompeii, is aiill to be seen tlie " fasciunm " as a sign, with
the words underneath, " hie est felicitas."
3S Vide Sitj^ra, p. 78; see also Pillnr Stones and Ancient Monnments. By
Thomas Inman, M,D. 32 pp. 8vo. Liverpool : A. Holdeu, ISfi?.
305
Ashek] therefore readily imagine that, in the ceremony which
attended his consecration, there ^Yonld he a process
simihir to that which ohtained in the dedication of
an emblem representing the Almighty. We do not
know exactly what the initiatory ceremony was among
other nations, but we are told that amongst the Jews,
both Aaron and his successors were anointed with
a holy oil, to sanctify them (Lev. viii. 12). The same
idea is to be recognised in the consecration of a
king (1 Sam. ix. 16 ; x. 1) ; and the context shows
that the pious David considered the monarch who
had the anointing oil poured over him was equivalent
to God's vicegerent upon earth. A connexion is thus
established between the idea of the pillar stone, the
priest, the king, and the Almighty El, which we
cannot pass by in silence. In some instances the
oil was replaced by wine ; and the libation, poured
upon the head of the emblem, was collected and
stored for future purposes. The wine thus collected
was allowed to grow sour, and was then administered
to sterile women, who desired to be mothers of
offspring.
AYe have already adverted to the frequent pro-
mise of increase of offspring given in the Bible to
the Jews {vide supra, p. 60). So much was this
thought of as a special appanage of the Hebrews,
that David was unable to understand how it was that
the wicked, i. e., those who dijBfered from him in faith,
were able " to have children at their desire " (Psalm
svii. 15, Prayer-book version) ; or, as the original has
it, " that thy hidden treasures fill their bellies,
and they have abundance of sons." Ere fertility,
however, can be secured, everything necessary to
implanting the seed must be in proper condition.
306
Asher] There can be no v\'oncler, then, that abundance of
religious charlatans should have arisen in every age,
who promised abundance of manhood, or a restoration
of it, if lost, to their worshippers. Hence arose the
prevalence of idolatry, i. e., the seeking from the rites
or the worship of a strange god, that solace, comfort,
or power which had not been found in the old religion.
Hence also arises the fulmination of wa'ath, which is
so common in all denominations, against religious
quacks ; for the very desire of secession in a wor^
shipper is a declaration of the belief that the system
Avliich is shunned is not a perfect one; that it is
inadequate to do what it professes to effect; and
that, in the opinion of the ' heretic,' another plan
of religion, prayer, or ritual will be found more
efficacious than the one with which he is familiar.
Discontent with one's instructor is sure to be followed
by the desire of changing him, whether the practi-
tioner be one in divinity or in physic ; and there
is not any essential difference between the odium
thcologicum et mecUcum,
So far as I can see, David was the first to abolish
the gross idea about the Almighty which had prevailed
throughout the whole of Palestine from the earliest
period until his ascent to the throne ; Solomon, how-
ever, evinces, in the pillars Jachin and Boaz, a leaning
towards it ; Eehoboam stuck to the pure form of
faith established by David, and lost four-fifths of
his kingdom thereby. Subsequent kings of Judah
coquetted seriously with the old forms of faith and
practice ; but, in the main, they retained the belief
and practice of David, and refused to see the Maker
of all creation under the image of a phallus, a
pillar, or any other form. That their piety, however.
307
AsHER] was not popular amongst the people generally, we
have abnndant evidence in the writings of Jeremiah
and Ezckiel.
AsHEEAH or AsHRAH, nX"N (Ex. sxxiv. 13), translated grove
in the English Bible. There is some difficulty about
the meaning of this word, inasmuch as it is associated
with "image pillars." These being emblems of the
male organ, would lead to the belief that the deity
was masculine; but the n at the end of the word
indicates a feminine idea, and suggests that Asherah,
i.e., the female organ, was the counterpart of Asher;
if so, the emblems would be offerings to the Goddess.
That they were so, we may judge by the inscription
which Lucian records as existent on the two enor-
mous phalli in the vestibule of the temple of the
Syrian Goddess, i. e., that they were erected by Bac-
chus to his mother Juno. Amongst the Phoenicians,
Asherah was a Goddess. We may fairly conclude,
then, that the word in question typified the female
creator uuder her mundane form. Asherah and
AsHTORETH are equivalent to each other.
The idea embodied in our word grove has nothing
to do with a clump of trees, for we find (1 Kings
xiv. 23) that groves were erected " under every green
tree," and that they were objects of worship (Judges
iii. 7). When worshipped, they were associated with
Baalim, as husband and wife. It has been abun-
dantly proved, that the image of Baal, or Asshur,
was characteristic of his sex ; we presume, then, that
the emblem of Asherah would be equally so. That it
was so in many instances, the learned author of
The Remains of the Worship of Priajms in the
Middle Ages has demonstrated, for he has figured four
stone images of women (which existed till within
308
Asherah] very recently over the porches of certain churches
AsHRAH ) in Ireland, and may still be seen in museums),
in Avhich the " Asherah" is exposed in so flagrant a
manner, that we cannot exhibit it pictorially. The
same author depicts other images which have existed,
or which may still be seen, in ecclesiastical buildings
elsewhere, wherein attention is drawn by a female
to that part which characterises her sex.
The same writer remarks that, amongst the
Irish, the figures in question were considered as
charms to bring good fortune ; and we have already
mentioned (p. 114) that the feminine emblem for a
very long period, and over a vast extent of country,
has been considered as a talisman to bring good luck.
Now, amongst the Phoenicians, Aslicvah, or ' the
grove,' was the Goddess of good fortune, and we
thus obtain evidence confirmatory to our views. But
it is probable that the naked truth was generally
veiled under certain emblems, and it behoves us to
ascertain what these were. The most simple form
which was adopted was the closed, or slightly opened,
mouth, placed uprightly. Such a figure may be seen
in the article Eve {infra), wherein some Egyptian
God, seated upon a lotus, is adoring the mother of us
all. A farther development of the symbol, which
showed it in conjunction with Baal, was the eye ; and
amongst the most common of all Egyptian charms is
that organ open, which was at once the emblem of
the Omniscient Creator, and of the '\^7^, crva, or arba,
the male and female elements conjoined.
The same sort of idea may be recognised in the
mystic composition on page 156, wherein the emblems
of the sexes are conspicuous, though veiled. The
" Asherah," amongst the Assyrians and Babylonians,
309
Asherah] was much complicated (see figs. 62-67, pp. 159,
AsHEAH J 160, 161). It is interesting to find that the
symbols which I ha^-e identified with the sacred
mother {vide suj^ra, pp. 158-169), and which were wor-
shipped in Mesopotamia, are called ' groves ' by many
Cuneiform scholars. The most difficult part of the
subject is to ascertain what is to be understood by
the expression, ''where the women wove hangings
(or houses) for the grove " (2 Kings xxiii. 7). The
explanation, however, is simply this, that the wor-
shippers of " Asherah " paid their homage in a
very matter of fact fashion {vide infra, Bit-Shag-
gatha). After some public devotion, a private shrine
was sought ; and that one might readily be found iu
the immediate vicinity of the temple, retreats were
constructed, over the entrance of which the votaries
threw a veil when they occupied them. These hang-
ings, then, which converted a public spot into a
devotional cell, were as much necessaries in the
worship of " Asherah," as are the vast piles of chairs
which we see in continental churches. We may enter
such a building from simple curiosity, or we may
prefer to offer up our orisons, " leaning upon the
top of a staff," in which case we pay nothing for the
privilege ; but if we wish to consult our creature
comfort, we hire a chair or two. In like manner,
a worshipper of Asherah might adore the Virgin
gratuitously ; but if he chose to indulge in luxury,
and required a votaress with a veil, he paid accord-
ingly. The more beautiful the curtain (see Ezekiel
xvi. 16) and the wearer of it were, the higher was
the price which was paid into the treasury. Our
authorities for this use of the "hangings," or
" houses," in the text referred to, are certain fres-
310
AsHERAHi coes wliicli have been removed from Pompeii
AsHEAH 1 into the secret chamber of the Miisee del Re at
Naples.''
AsHiMA, ^^^'^^: (2 Kings xvii. 30), a divinity of Hamath.
I think that the word signifies " The maternal fire,"
or " The mother exists." " Umma," or "ammah,"
is "mother," and ash, "fire, or existence." It is
probable that many English words, compounded with
ash, have a similar origin, c. g., Ash-by, Ash-bourne,
Ash-leigh, &c. We have, too, ash and asJtes, con-
nected with the idea of fire.
AsHKELON, P^k"^^^ (Judges i. 18). See page 67, sujJva.
AsHNAH, ^W^ (Josh. XV. 33), probably for ^^^^,, Jeshanah,
" The old one ; " equivalent to Ilos, Time, Cronos,
or Saturn.
AsHPENAZ, P.^t^'^' (Dan. i. 3), of doubtful origin and import.
AsHTORETH, n^D^y (1 Kings xi. 5), or nnn^^y^ Ashtaroth
(Deut. i. 4). I should feel disposed to derive this
word from ^f^, isha, 1^, tor, "The woman dove,"
Ashtoreth being the plural form. "^^P^, ester, sig-
nifies the star Venus, the goddess of good luck with
wealth and love. (Compare Esther.) The name
has also been rendered, ' The spouse, or wife ' (of
Mahadeva), ' Goddess of love,' &c. Ishtar was one
of the names given to the celestial virgin mother
in Assyria, and Ishtaroth would be the natural
Hebrew plural for " the Ishtar s," i. c, as virgin and
mother, or as the androgyne mother. (See Baal and
Ishtar).
Ashtaroth, Astarte, and Ishtar, (Cuneiform,
lastara,) seem to have been essentially the same
deity under different names ; and fancy sees in our
English Easter a modern variant of this ancient
37 nrrculaneum et Pompeii, par Mons. Rous Aine.
311
Ashtoreth] goddess. Some Phanician names, compounded
witli Astarte, have come down to us through the
Greek, e.(/., A§oa(jTapTo;, ahdastaytos; BaWaa-rcipTos,
ballast artos ; BoSoVrwp, hodostor; AeXiao-Taproc, deli-
astarios; and we may possibly trace to this origin the
English names Startin, Star, Starleigh, &c.
Pillars, columns, &c., seem to have been erected
to Astarte, the meaning of which may be ascertained,
not only from Lucian's account of the Syrian God-
dess, but from the pine cone offered at the Assyrian
shrines. The erection of the tower indicated one
part, and the pine cone, or egg, the other part, of On
and his cluster. Hence we conclude that Ashtoreth
is practically the same as Asheeah.
Ashtoreth Karnaim, ^)-rP. nnwy (Gen. xiv. 5), is simply
the Goddess Astarte, adorned by the ram's horns,
('^!'^7?5 karnaim, denoting tico horns), just as Isis is
represented with the horns of a cow. The female
deity, when represented with the horns of a mas-
culine animal, is supposed to be androgyne, and the
figure becomes the emblem of divinity and power.
Probably the same as Succoth Benoth.
AsHUR, "i-int^^N (1 Chron. ii. 24, and iv. 5). It is evident that
this name, which was borne by two Jews, is essentially
the same as Aslier and Assher ; but it has been
altered so as to remove the semblance of relationship
with the Assyrian. We have amongst ourselves
evidences of similar change ; thus Abraham, by
dropping the first a, becomes "Braham;" by other
styles of change Levi becomes Elvi ; Chajim becomes
Hime, or Hyam ; Smith, Brown, Green, appear as
Smythe, Browne, and Greene ; and sometimes the
desire of change will convert the homely looking
" Stirrup" into the aristocratic " de Styrap."
312
AsHYATH, n^'^y (1 Chron. vii. 33), " A stout, firm, or strong
one." Fiirst.
AsiEL, ^^^''"^y (1 Chron. iv. 35), a variant of Asahel, signifying
"El creates ; " or possibl}^ it comes from i^'^V, asa, and
^^, el, "El is shaggy, or hairy." In this case the
^^, el, was allowed to remain unchanged ; the early
redactors of the modern text having let the books
of Chronicles alone, as they were not often read or
consulted by the Jews.
AsNAH, '%^?''-' (Ezra il. 50). This word is an indication,
apparently, of Persian iiifluence over Jewish nomen-
clature, for we very naturally associate it with the
name, Asnapper ; if so, it signifies "great, or distin-
guished." If we seek for a Hebrew derivation, we
cannot find one nearer than ]'^^, ashen, and >^l, jah,
of which last the yod is elided ; this would give the
meaning, " Jah is firm, hard, or strong." Fiirst
assigns the meaning as " dwelling in a thorn-bush " !
AsNAPPEE, "iSJpx (Ezra iv. 10), " Greatly distinguished."
AsPATHA, ^^napx (Esther ix. 7), Persian, " The horse
given " (Gresenius). The horse was sacred to the
Sun in Persia. Here the sign is used for the thing
signified. Fiirst states that the emblem of the God
Behram was a horse.
AsRiEL, ^^'''?^^ (Numb, xxvi. 31). See Asaeeel.
AssHUR, l-l^^^* (Gen. x. 11), " A mighty man," " a hero ; " a
variant of Asher, which see.
AssiR, "i"'?^ (Exod vi. 24), a variant of ""D^', asar, "He
binds together," " he unites," sexually ; the name
is also allied to the Phoenician deity "ip^^', Aser, who
is the equivalent of Osiris, and every other of the
primeval male deities. It is a covert form of express-
ing the masculine emblem.
Assyria and Assur are other forms of the Hebrew Asshur,
813
AssiTvIa) tlie same name standing in Hebrew alike for the
AssuR i founder of the monarchy and his kingdom.
AsHA-DUR-KALi, a masculiue cognomen in Assyria.
AsHAH, Cuneiform, = " The woman ; " ^'^?, " to be fitted
together." A variant of Ishtar; also Atha, Isha,
Ashr.
AsHAE, or Athar. " A place," ''tl'^..
AsHUR-Tzu and Ashur-liah, Cuneiform, male names, — ■
"Asshur conquers," and "is victorious."
AssARAK, a modern Arab daemon. Probably from ^^^, asha,
and ns, akli, l. c, " like to Ishtar," or " Hke to fire,"
or "like to the w'oman."
AssHUR-AKH-iDDiN. The Cuneiform reading of Esar Haddon.
An-asura, Yedic, " a demon."
As ;/ " to exist," "to be," the origin of is.
Ash, ;/ "to go," " to take," " to shine."
Asi, ,/ " a sword."
AsPARAS, „ or Apsaras. Nymphs for the gods to
disport with.
AsTRi, ,/ "a shooter." Astra, ' a missile weapon,'
* an arrow.'
AsuRA, „ " eternal."
AsuEAS, „ " enemies of Cristna," " lightless." Have
they anything to do with Osiris ?
Atar-sura, the name of an Egyptian, living at Nineveh.
(Compare Sara, and Surya.)
Atarah, nn^y (1 Chron. ii. 26), "A crown, or diadem;"
Ataroth is its plural. Crowns were emblems of the
Sun's disc ; we often call them aureoles, when they
adorn the heads of saints, re being one of the solar
names.
Ataroth, r\\^\2V (Numb, xxxii. 3). See Atarah.
Ataroth-adar, "i"^t5-nnoy (josh. xvi. 5), "The top of
Ataroth."
314
Ater, "^^^^ (Ezra ii. 16), for l'?^>', atar, " He sinTouucls us,"
or "he binds together." (Compare Assir.)
Athach, ^pi! (1 Sam. XXX. 30) "He is bold, or impudent."
(Compare Ithaca, 'Uolxy}.)
Athaiah, ^'^y (Nehem. xi. 4), " Jah assists;" from ^^V,
atliah, and ^\, Jah.
Athaliah, ^yX}V, (2 Kings xi. 1), " The Jah sending earth-
quakes; " from ^t^^, athal, "to shake violently," and
'"1^, Jail. It seems probable, from the history (see
Amos i. 1), that this queen was born shortly after a
destructive earthquake ; and hence the name. (Comp.
Isaiah xxix. 6, " Thou shalt be visited of the Lord
with earthquake.")
When writing the preceding, Gesenius was my
chief Hebrew authority ; but I now find that Fiirst
assigns to ^f^, athal, the following meanings : " to
knot, or tie together," "to be vigorous, strong, and
able ; " if this be correct, the cognomen signifies
"Jah ties together," or "is strong and firm." We
may compare this with Ater and Assir. AVe have
already seen that Jah, like El, was sometimes asso-
ciated with the sensual idea of the Creator ; we now
see that the ten tribes who seceded from the Jews
carried with them the same reverence for the name
of Jah as the latter retained. It is, however, sur-
prising that the modern redactors of the sacred text
should have allowed the word to be spelled in full,
thus showing that their own sacred name was borne
and respected by one of the offspring of idolatrous
Ahab ! This is only to be accounted for by the
cognomen occurring in the Books of Kings, which,
like those of Chronicles, were very little read. (Comp.
Jehu.)
Athlai, '^Jpy (Ezra x. 28), "Jah ties together," "is
315
Athlai] vigorous," " strong," " able." This is an elided
form of the jj receding word.
Athor. The name of one of the divinities of Egypt, which
we may best render as " the sacred cow," or Isis,
with the bovine head. The fruitful mother of all
creation was represented under an infinite variety
of forms ; very frequently as a cow giving nourish-
ment to her calf, and caressing it with her tongue,
as quadrupeds are accustomed to do. We should
naturally imagine that a cow might be selected for
worship simply as the consort of the bull, but we
learn from ^lian, whom I have already quoted (page
54), that there was a reason why she should be
chosen independently of such connection. It is
remarkable that the lioness has a like propensity
with this creature to roar out, in hoarse bellowings,
the want she feels. This instinct directly tends to
keep down the race of lions, which, being individually
long lived, and too powerful to be killed by other
animals, would soon become formidable by their
numbers. As is the case with rats, there are a great
many males to one female ; and when the latter roars
for indulgence, all the lions within hearing rush to
enjoy her company; and if there are more than one,
they fight until all but one are killed, or put to flight.
Hence it happens that many of the Goddesses are
represented in connection with, or are symbolised by,
the lioness, just as others are by the cow. The amount
of knowledge possessed by the ancients respecting the
habits of the lower animals seems to have been far
gi-eater than is usually thought. (See Heifer.)
Atroth, J^'^^py (Numb. xxii. 35), a variant of Ataeoth,
which see.
Attai, ^W (1 Chron. ii. 35), a variant of Ittai, said to mean
316
Attai] " opportune." I copy the following from Ancient
Pillar Stones of Scotland, by George Moore, M.D. ;
the passage occurs in the attempt to decipher
two inscriptions on an upright stone : " The word
is Aithie, Aittie, or Ettie. This is the precise form
of the Aramaic word Aittai, which occurs twice in
the Old Testament as a proper name ; once in
Chron. xi. 31, as ''t^''^, Itlia'i, and again in Samuel
xxiii. 29, as ''^^, Ittai ; the name being that of the
same person in each instance This name
is well represented by the Scotch ])atronymic Ettie.
This name appears under many spellings, as Aeddie,
Eadie, Eaddie, Edie, Adie, Adey, Ade, Ada, Eddy,
Eathie, and Etty." There is much more in his
book respecting this name, which he takes to mean
"the living one," "the vigorous and distinguished
person," pp. 33, 31. I am glad to see that the learned
author of this book, which only came into my hands
when I had composed almost the whole of the pre-
ceding matter, holds the same opinion as myself, as
regards the extent of travel, trade, and missionary
enterprise in the days of the Phoenicians, although
he differs from me very materially in the idea
which he supports, viz., that the traders were Jews,
of the tribe of Dan.
At, Sanscrit, "To go," " to move continually."
Atmou, Atbioo, Atum, Atm (Egyptian) = " darkness," (the
atmosphere?)
Attan, Cuneiform, "I gave," from natan ; same as l^i^,
Nathan, ' he gives, or gave.'
Attata, Scythic, = " father ; " Esquimaux, attatak ; Gothic,
atta ; Magyar, «^7/« ; Syriac, aZ;6rt ; Gaelic and Irish,
aithair ,- Manx, Ayr ; Bohemian, Otee.
Attala, Sanscrit, " High," " lofty," " top room of a house.''
317
Attala] (Compare Atilla, ' king of the stars ; ' and Attains,
a royal name in ancient Asia Minor.)
AvA, '^jy (2 Kings xvii. 24). See Avau,
Ayah, a variant of Ivali. This is one of the readings of the
name of the God of the air by Rawlinson, the Arabic
word for which he tells us is hiva. I will not
copy his remarks, but refer simply to Eawlinson's
Herodotus, vol. i. p. 498, second edition.
AvEN, 1.)^' (Josh. vii. 2), or Aun = jix, on, a variant of On.
This is probably the origin of such names as Avon,
Avonmorc, Avon, Avison, and many others.
AviM, Ci*iy (Deut. ii. 2B). Also called Avims, and Avites ;
possibly " The nomads," a verbal substantive ; pro-
bably from the root <^]^, avah, ' to move about a thing,
as tents or huts.'
Az, Vedic, "To be strong."
AzA, «^^„ " To be hot," " to kindle."
Azal, ^V^ (Zech. xiv. 5), "He is distinguished."
AzALiAH, -li^i^H'^! (2 Kings xxii. 3), " Jah is distinguished, or
noble ; " from ^V^, azal, ' noble,' ' choice,' ' select.'
AzANiAH, n;:TK^ " Jah hears ; " 1!^>', azan, ' to hear, weigh,
ponder.'
AzAR, AzzuK, "••l-^y (Jer. xxviii. 1), " He strengthens."
AzAREEL, ^^HV, (1 Chron. xii. 6). (Compare with Asariel.)
"El is a helper," or "God helps." (Compare also
Aznel.) Gesenius compares Hasdrubal, * ths help
of Baal,' or ' Baal the helper.'
AzATJAH, nnTt< (2 Kings xiv. 21), " Jah the helper."
AzAZ, U.V (1 Chron. v. 8), is equivalent to "strong," "to be,
or make strong."
AzAZEL, ^^^% translated scape-goat in our ordinary version ;
but from the context it would seem that he was some
imaginary being, analogous to our devil, or Satan,
i. e,, the adversary. Fiirst speaks of him as being
318
Azazel] the same sort of conception as the Etruscan and
Greek Typhon. (See Scape-Goat.)
AzAZiAH, •"''^V:''-^!? " The strong Jah," or " Jah is strong or
firm."
AzBON, V^y^, ezhon, "On shines;" ^V^, asab, 'to shine.'
AzEUK, p-^2?y (Neh. iii. 16), "He sets free."
AzEKAH, ^\>)V, (Joshua X. 10), "He will break through;"
Pl^, ' to chop, break, or dig through.'
AzEL, ^^^ (1 Chrcn. viii. 37), "He is strong, noble."
AzEM, 2.)'.?^, or EzEM (Joshua xv. 29), "He is powerful,
firm."
AzGAD, ^IP. (Ezra ii. 12), " Good luck is protection."
AziEL, ^mi (1 Chron. xv. 20), "El judges," from IIV, azali,
' to judge,' and ^^, el, &c.
AzizA, ^Try (Ezra x. 27), "Strong," "the Syrian Mars."
The name of the Sultan of Turkey is Abdul Aziz,
in which the scholar can readily see ' the servant
of El, the strong one.'
AzMAVETH, Tr\\0]V (2 Sam. xxiii. 31), "Strong to death;"
from fy, ez, and n-io, maveth. (See Beth Azmaveth )
AzMON, |i»>7 (Numb, xxxiv. 4), " The might of On ;" °H,
ezem, or i^^Vy, aziiia, 'might,' ' strength.'
AzNOTH Tabor, ^^nn ni^T^ (josh. xix. 34), " Summits of
Tabor; " \l^}, ' a point, or top.'
Azpjel, ^^^?ry (i Chron. v. 24), "El shuts up;" '^^t azar,
' to enclose.' Hence " the angel of death," who shuts
up the dead in the grave.
AzRiKAM, 2|^'"?;y (1 Chron. iii. 23), "God is helper;" Dp,
kam, 'assistant,' is a periphrasis for >^l, Jah, in proper
names, e.g., Adoni-kam. Fiirst.
AzuLAH, nn-iTi; (i Kings xxii. 42), "A heap of stones,"
" desolation."
AzuR, "^-l-ty (Jer. xxviii. 1), " He hedges us about, or
protects " = Ijy, azar.
319
AzzA, or Gaza, nw (Gen. x. 19), '* Strong," " fortified ;" '«
tV, 02, ' strength,' &c.
AzzAN, ll'^y (Numb, xxxiv. 26), " He is sharp or strong,"
B. This letter, which is called in the Hebrew '^''?, heth, or
ha'ith, and in the Greek /Svjxa, heeta, takes its name
from a house, or, as many say, from a tent. In
support of the latter statement, it is averred that the
original form was conical, and that in the Ethiopic
it has still a form resembling a tent. The point
is only of importance, inasmuch as it is advanced as
an argument to prove that the originators of the
alphabet were nomads, not living in houses, and
Hebrews, rather than Phoenicians. But a reference
to alphabetical signs in general does not disclose any
appreciable resemblance to the thing whose name the
letter bears. It is true that ' aleph,' in the Phoeni-
cian, bears some likeness to a bull's head ; but 3,
gimel, would never be mistaken for ' a camel,' or J,
nun, for ' a fish.'
. As a matter of fact, 2 resembles a square house
more than a conical or other marquee ; but then the
letters n, n. n, D. he, cheth, tau, and Jinal mem, are
still better outlines than n of an oriental mansion.
Moreover, in the Ethiopian alphabet, even the letters
I, ItJi, a, and t, are more like a tent than the letter
b ; of which, for the reader's convenience, we give
wood-cuts, in the order named, —
ArhHA
/. /'/', 0, ,(, (,
88 There are two mcftiiings to rwj?, Aus:a, or Ga-na ; the one " he is hard, or
stiff," the other "he shuts, or encloses ;" cUHoreutly puiutecl, we have the meanings
" wood " and " the spine." Comparu^ the uiime with that of the other Philistine
towns, I conclude that the signification is, " he is ready to generate."
320
B] From this it will be seen that all resemble tents,
•with or without the ' lodge-pole.' In none of the
alphabets which I have yet seen, does B in any way
resemble either a house or a tent ; and we consider that
no valid argument can be founded on the assertion
that it did so once upon a time.
In the Phcenician, Hebrew, and Greek, the letter in
question, when it is used as a numeral, stands for 'two.'
In compound proper names, it is stated by Fiirst,
that I is occasionally used instead of If, hen, e.g.,
17?, h'dan, is equivalent to ITt?, hen-clan ; sometimes
instead of "^V?, haal, e. g., \V^, Von, instead of 1^ ^^^^
haal-on, and 2t?f, Vtam, for ^^9 "^V?, haal taam ;
sometimes for ^'•3, hetli, e.g., '^'^^f'^}, heshterah, for
n'iri^y'n''3j heth-aslitarah. The same author also
states, that in Phoenician proper names, ^''2, heth is
reproduced by ^, te.
Being a labial, 2, h, is interchangeable with
others, and occasionally takes the place of s, j), 10,
m, and 1 v. We have in our own country a good
illustration of this in the words Billy, Willy, and
Pilly, which are variants of each other. The letter is
also used as a preposition, and as such added to
the commencement of words ; its signiflcation then
corresponds to the Latin in. It is the most general
preposition for motion, near, and may signify ' in,'
'amongst,' 'within,' 'at,' 'by,' 'near,' 'on,' 'before,'
'in the presence of,' 'upon,' 'to,' 'over,' 'against,'
' opposite to,' ' near,' ' like to,' ' as,' ' for,' ' on account
of,' ' concerning,' ' together with.'
Baal, ^V?^ plural, Baalim.^" There is strong reason for believ-
es baalim. — Lajard, in his researelies on the worship of Venus, writes: " The
names Baalim, Baaloth, Eloim, Elooth, Alonim, unci Alonoth, employed iu the
plural, sometimes in the masculine, sometimes iu the feminine ; aud the plural
321
Baal] iug that this word has origuiall}^ heen a compound
one, consistmg of ^^, cl, and ^^"^j ah, i. c, ah-cl, which
has been contracted b}^ one family of the Phens into
''V?, haal, and by another into ^^'^, hcl or hail ; ??, hal,
as in Bahadan (Isa. xxxix. 1) ; or ^^, hil, as in Bilgah
(1 Chron. xxiv. 14). In this case, the original mean-
ing of the word would be = " Father El," an equi-
valent to Saturn, Cronos, Jupiter, or any other name
by which the father of Gods and men is known.
Without dwelling upon the derivation, wc may say
that lexicographers assign to the word in question
the meanings *' lord," "master," "owner," "pos-
sessor," "husband;" it also signifies "to be big,
strong, mighty." Sanscrit, hala, "strength." Speak-
ing generally, it is a Avord used vaguely, much as we
use "Lord," i.e., "The Lord" has one meaning,
" The lord of the manor" has another, and " My lord "
another. Originally, the name Baal Avas respected
amongst the Jews, for Saul, Jonathan, and David
called sons after him, viz., Esli-haal, Mcrihhaal,
and Beclida (see 1 Chron. viii. 33, 34, and iii. 8,
marginal reading). Now we are told (Judges x. G)
that the children of Israel served Baalim and
Ashtaroth. As these deities are placed in conjunc-
femininc uamc, Aschtaroth, ■which the Septungint have reuclered iu Greek by
'Ao-Tdprai, appears to attest that, iu the hiiiguage as well as iu the figured
inouumeuts, the aucieuts sought, by certain artifices, to express that the ideas
of unity, of duality, and of audrogyuism are inseparable from the idea of divinity."
And lie adds, iu a note, " One of the consequences of the employment of the plural
forms to connect the idea of divinity with that of androgynism, was to give to the
words Baal aud Allah the mutual faculty of being emjiloycd either as masculine or
feminine ; when, iu cou=eqneuce of a theologic reform, the diviuity was found
divided into male aud female. \Vc have the proof of this in Plosea ii. 8, in which
part the Septuagint ti-auslate Baal as if a feminine deity ; aud again iu Rom. xi, 4,
where Baal is ag.aiu spoteu of as a female diviuity." The Babylonian figure
(see Plate II., Fig. 3) is described by him as answering equally to Baalim and
Ashtoreth. And he adds, '• that the Greek word Ocos is also both of a musculiue and
feminine gender." (Page 111, edit. 1.)
X
322
Baal] tion, and ns the termination 'of the phiral form shows
them to be masculine and feminine, and moreover as
we know that Ashtoreth is a female, it is tolerably
clear that, whatever form Baal assumed, he was a
male deity. My impression is, that he Avas the same
as the Hindoo Mahadeva. I doubt whether there were
really more Baals or Ishtars than one. We should
ourselves be indignant if any one said that we had
polytheism amongst us ; and yet, in our Prayer
Books, we have suppHcations addressed to three
distinct persons, and in Papal books of devotion a
fourth is added; and besides these, there are an
innumerable host of saints to whom prayers are
offered.
Amongst the Romanists, there are "Mary of the
Guard," " Mary of Sorrow," " Mary of Loretto," and
many others. In our own Scriptures, the appellations
of the Creator, &c., are very numerous, yet they all
have reference to one (see 1 Cor. xii. 4, 5, 6, et seq.)
As a foreigner, studying our English books, receives
an idea of the British estimate of God by the appel-
lations which we use, e. [/., " God of love, " of
"mercy," of "judgment," of "life," "death," &c.,
so we may form an idea of the notions of Baal
which were held by the ancients, by ascertaining his
varied appellatives, and their nature. We take them
seriatim. i
Baal-eeeith, nn^-?y3 (Judges viii. ^3), "Baal the cove-
nanter," " the lord of the coveuant," i. c, consenting
to do good, &c., to those who agreed to worship him.
So far as we can judge, the idea of men making a
covenant with the Almighty was a very ancient, and is
still a very common one. Now " a covenant," in
plain English, signifies " a bargain ; " and to the
323
Baal-Beritii] pliilosoplier, the notion of making a bargain
with the Omnipotent savours of blasphemy. But
setting this aside, let ns try to form a notion what
sort of a bargain would be made between Baal-Berith
and his votaries. Being a so-called heathen god, he
would promise them, as gypsies do silly men and
women of to-day, "good luck in everything," "hand-
some and rich spouses," "great wealth," " success in
business," " abundance of 'bonnes fortunes,' " every-
thing, in fact, which earth could bestow to yield and
intensify pleasure.
Let us turn next to the covenant proposed by
" Jah, or El Berith " (Deut. xxviii. 1 to end). We
find that He promises " pre-eminence amongst
nations ; " " blessings in the city and in the field,
in the fruit of the body, of the ground, of the cattle,"
cl'c. ; "blessings of basket and store;" "blessings
against enemies;" "courage unlimited; " "abundance
of manly vigour," &c. {Ibid., verse 11, see marginal
reading). On the other hand, if El Berith was not
worshipped as his priests prescribed, a variety of
curses are menaced, being the opposite of the
blessings promised.
After this, let us ask ourselves the real difference
between Baal- and El-Berith. Both, through their
priests, equally promise sensual gratification ; and both,
through the same medium, would doubtless be able to
attribute any misfortune which happened to a votary
to a breach of covenant, or a breaking of the bargain.
Even at the present day, our ideas are the same
as those of the votaries of any ancient covenant god.
AVe believe, as we are told, that the terms of the
bargain with the Almighty are to be found in the
Bible ; and when any misfortune befals us, no matter
324
Baal-Beeith] in what shape soever it may come, we are
assured by those who assume to be divine ministers
that we have broken the terms of the covenant, and
hence have come to grief. We are thus constantly
led to attribute results, which emanate entirely from
our own stupidity and thoughtlessness, to the interven-
tion of a being who lies 'at the catch ' for our destruc-
tion. Now if a man ruins his health by dissipation,
then becomes 'pious,' marries, and loses his children
by scrofula, he may regret it ; but he has no right to
say that the death of his dearest is a punishment
sent because he broke the covenant of God. As a
matter of punishment, a prolonged life of suffering
in the person of a darling child is a greater curse than
its sudden or speedy death. In like manner, if a
nation neglects all sanitary precautions, and then is
decimated by pestilence, it is not right to assume that
the scourge is a chastisement for a national sin.
But there never has been, and probably there never
will be, a people amongst whom the priesthood do
not attribute every calamity to offences against the
god which they Avorship ; to propitiate whom, some
offering is to be made, which serves to aggrandise
the power or extend the influence of the hierarchy.
(See Berothah.)
Baal-Gad, T'^^'7 (Josh. xi. 17), a combination of one of the
names or attributes of Astarte with that of Baal,
equivalent to "the lord of good fortune; " probably
the same as the " fortuna virilis " of the Eomans,
and of the Greeks at Pompeii.
Baal-Hamon, n'^n-bya (Cant. viii. 11), "The God of riches;"
I'l'^V', hamon, " riches; " or "l^^^^, amon, "Ammon," or
" Amun " of Egypt. Equivalent to the Greek and
Roman " Plutus."
325
Baal-Hanan, ll^'^^V^ (Clen. xxxv. 38), "Bad is gracious,"
or " tlie merciful Baal."
Baal-Hazoe, "il^'n-^ya (2 Sam. xiii. 23), " The Lord of
safety," "my fortress," "deliverer," &c. "^l^, liazar,
"to surround, to protect."
Baal-Hekmon, li»^0'^^? (Judges iii. 3), " The Lord of
Hermou," " worshijDped on Hermon." It is stated
that the remains of a shrine for Avorship are still to
be recognised on the summit of the mountain.
Baal-Meon, liyp-^y? (Josh. xiii. 17), " The Lord of the
heavenly habitation ; " X^V'O, '^ncon, "the dwelling of
God," &c. In this appellative we see the same idea
associated with Baal as we find elsewhere with Jah
(see Deut. xxvi. 15, and Psalm Ixviii. 5) ; by which it
is clear that there was as exalted an idea of Baal, as
there was of the Jewish God. (But see Beth-Baal-
Meon, infra.)
Baal-Peor, •i'iy2-'?y2 (Numb. xxv. 3) ; ^'ws, iicor, signifies
" the opening of the maiden's hymen." (See Peor,
compare Belphegor.) The word in question therefore
signifies " My Lord the opener." This particular
form of god is Mahadeva, Siva, Crishua, Bramah, El,
Asher, Ash, Dionysus, Bacchus, Ab, Saturn, Jao or
Jupiter, Osiris, Adonis, Hercules, under a different
name. Every ancient god has nearly as many s3'no-
nymes as our own. By multipying the names of
a god, we do not divide the essence of which we
speak ; nor by the cognomen which we select, do we
clothe the Almighty with a form. We speak of the
Almighty as HE — a word, a pronoun; the ancients
SA'mbolished the Creator by the 'organ,' rather than
by the pronoun, which characterises man. This
Baal-Peor was reproduced in later times as Priapus,
under Avhich name modern Europeans speak of him.
326
Baal-Peoe] There is sometliing very interesting to the phi-
losopher, who studies the gradual development of the
coarse ' past,' into the Christian and somewhat moral
' present.' When once he has overcome his disgust
at the idea involved in the name of this deity, he will
find a somewhat similar notion to that which obtained
about the ancient gods is still current in Europe, in
the days of what is called Christianity, though it
deserves another name. From time immemorial, the
virginity of woman has been spoken of as her g]'eatest
treasure. Hence it has been claimed for the Deity.
Amongst the Roman Catholics the claim is made and
allowed to this day, in a metaphorical sense. In
ancient times the claim was made by the god, as
personated by, or inhabiting the body of, his priest on
earth. Sometimes the demand was made for the god
as represented by his image, which was specially
formed for the purpose. When these practices fell
into disuse, the claim was made by the emperor of a
nation, or by the lord of the soil; and in France,
the " Droits de Seigneur" were not abohshed till the
Pk,evolution.
It is hard to believe that the sacrifice of a maiden's
virginity could ever now be in any way the occasion
of a religious ceremony; yet we see that it is so still in
the church of Rome. In Eastern countries, too, we
find at the present time that maidens dedicate not
only their maidenhood but themselves to their god,
just as they do in Europe, though in a less mystical
and vei-y matter of fact manner.
Amongst men, the "prepuce" was the portion
claimed for the Deity.
Baal-Perazim, Q'^'^2 hv2 (2 Sam. v. 20), "Baal of the
fissures," Ci'V^?. Clefts in the earth were at one
327
Baal-Perazim] time considered sacred, and persons went
into and came out again, so as to be born anew. (See
page 114, note 9.)
Baal-Shalisha, n-c^t^n (2 Kings iv. 42). This name
involves some curious inquiries ; ^^^, shalosh, signifies
"three," and ib is also written as Shclcsh, Shlashah.
As Shelesh (a proper name), it signifies ' the chree,'
'triad, or trinity.' Another variant is Shilshah,
and Shalisha, both meaning triad; we may read the
word, then, "My Lord the trinity," or "My Lord
is three," i. e., the complete phallus. But I think
we may equally read it " The Lord of the triangle."
We have already said how ancient, as an emblem of
the Deity, the equilateral triangle has been. The
double triangles were known to David and Solomon
(see pages 119, 14:5 -U7 , supra) ; and such a figure
formed the celebrated seal of Solomon, by which
he conquered the genii ; they still possess sufficient
sanctity to figure in our churches. Though the two
meanings are apparently different, they are in reality
the same, the latter being emblematic of the former.
I do not find any indication that the trinity was
openly talked of in ancient times, though I beHeve
it was taught in the mysteries, and signified the
triple genital organ of the male. We may notice,
too, that the Bible contains nothing which directly
bears upon it. The most diligent student of Holy
Writ, w^hose theological ideas are derived solely from
the Bible, could never from its pages frame an idea
of the Trinity such as is current in the Roman and
Anglican Churches. Let him, however, start with the
heathen dogma, and he can then find sufficient
evidence, both in the Old and in the New Testament,
to make the Pagan doctrine appear to be the Christian
328
Baal-Shalisha] one. There are many avIio believe tliat if
Christ had thought the doctrine of ' the Trinity '
important, He would have taught it. The same may
be said, though with less force, of the Apostles.
Now^, the triangle is a sacred symbol in our
modern churches, and it was the sign used in ancient
temples before the unitiated, to indicate the Trinity —
three persons ' coeternal together and coequal ; ' and I
conclude that "Baal of the trinity, or of the triangle,"
is the intei'pretation of the word in question.
Baal-Tamar, ™-^y? (Judges xx. 2, 3), "Baal, the palm
tree." In the last half of this word we have
a clear indication of the nature of the God. It
signifies " My Lord who is, or causes to be erect,"
or "My Lord the palm tree;" this tree being, like
the pine, an euphemism for the male organ. We
have no doubt that there were pilgrimages made
to his shrine for the cure of infirmity, or sterihty
{maleficia vel imxiotcntia) , just as there were to the
shrine of Saint Cosmos, at Isernia, near Naples,
almost to the end of the last century.
The word Tamar, ' the palm tree,' was a favourite
appellative for females ; and we have the name still
existing amongst our Enghsh rivers, e.g., Tamar,
Thames. With us the poplar is a favourite emblem
for a handsome young man.
Baalzebub, or Beelzebub, ^i-l^r'pya (2 Kings i. 2), is usually
said to mean " My Lord of flies ; ''' but this seems to
me to be absurd. The word 2?J, zahah, signifies ' to
murmur,' ' hum, or buz ; ' and when we remember the
Memnons in Egypt, which give out a murmur at
sunrise, I think it more consonant with w^hat v>^e know
of priestly devices, to consider that the word signifies
" My Lord who murmurs." The appellation would
329
Baalzebub ] certainly have suited " the Meraiioiis," and they
Beelzebub! were held very sacred. In the temples of Isis,
at Pompeii, may yet be seen a contrivance, by which
a priest could creep under a statue, unseen by the
worshipper, and utter through a hole, placed behind
the feet of the goddess, any response which he might
fancy. Such a deity we might ourselves characterise
as the one who ' mutters ; ' for no distinct speech
would be adopted, lest the human voice should be
too clearly recognised."" (See Deborah.)
Baal-Zephon, I'lsr'py] (Exod. xiv. 2), signifies "My Lord
the shining On ; " '"'?>', tzivpha, ' to be bright.' There
is, however, some doubt whether this name has not
another origin. Fiirst thinks {Lexicon, s.v.) that
Zephon is equivalent to ' Typhon,' the heavenly ruler,
' the lord of the storm and the whirlwind.' But as
the Hebrews, whenever they adopted a Greek word,
seem to have copied the Greek spelling as far as
possible, it is difficult to conceive that Tzephon
would be made the equivalent of Typhon. The pro-
nunciation might raise an idea as to relationship
with ' Tiesiphone,' one of the "Furies," and ' Tisi-
phonus,' a Greek general, who lived prior to the time
of Philip of Macedon ; but these etymons are both
unsatisfactory. Another and more probable conjecture
is, that Zeplion is a Hebrew form of ^i>oj, xvphos,
' a sword ; ' in which case Baal Zephon would be
' Baal with the sword,' as contradistinguished from
' Baal with the club.' Whichever idea Ave adopt, the
M " The name of Baal, at Eki-on, as ' the averlei- of the insect.' Similarly Zt^is
dTTonvio! (Pans. S, 26, 4), the deus Myiagi-us of the Eomaus (Soliu. chap, i.)
Compare the epithets, Ittoktoi/os vermin killer, (copron-tui/ locust killer." — Fiust's
Lexicon, sub voce 2^2^. The reader may select the interpretation which best
pleases him.
330
Baal-Zephon] name affords us another illustration of Gre-
cian influence in the Pentateuch.
Baalah, !^?^;3 (Josh. xv. 9), signifies " My Lady," and refers
to Ishtar, or Astarte ; and I presume that —
Baalath, J^^y? (Josh. xix. 24), is probably the plural of
the same, and is identical with Ashtoreth, = " My
Ladies the Goddesses," and possibly with Baalim.
(See Baaloth.)
Baaliah, or Bealaiah, ^f^^^ (1 Chron. xii. 6), means "My
Lord, or Baal, is Jah." This name, which was
borne by one of David's mighty men, is one of the
cognomens Avhicli has escaped alteration. It tells us
clearly that, in the ears of David, the word Baal was
not associated with the idea of idolatry ; to him Baal
and Jah v/ere the same deity, under two names. The
cognomen in question has been changed to Eliada
(2 Sam. V. 16).
Baalidah, or Beeliada, ^'jf^^^ (1 Chron. xiv. 7), means
" My Lord the Seer." I may notice here that V^],
add, or ida, seems to be the progenitor of our idea,
the Greek Ida and Ei'Sw, and the Latin Video, ' to
see.'
Baalis, ^''^i'? (Jer. xl. 14). It is probable that this is a
variant of ^7.^2, haallsh, and signifies "Baal is self-
existent," or "Baal the upright one," or "My Lord
exists ; " D'' being placed for v:}\ ' upright,' or * self-
existent.' (See Bel.)
Baaloth, or Bealoth, ^'ipys (Jos. xv. 24), "The ladies," or
"the androgyne Baal."
Baana and Baanah, ^}'^^ (1 Kings iv. 12; 2 Sam. iv. 2),
" Son of Anna, or Anu ; " ^}'^^, — I^ and ^^^* : also
spelled ^l'^,^ ; it is equivalent to Benoni.
Baara, ^"^?{? (1 Chron. viii. 8), "She," i.e., the celestial
Virgin, "burns, glows, or sets fire to,"
331
Baasetaii, ny^'>'- (1 Cliroii. vi. 40), " Jali is valiant;" ^"V?,
' to be valiant.'
Baasha, ^^'V^ (1 Kings XV. G), possibly from ^'\ and t-"V3, haasli
and is]i, " The valiant man."
Babel, ^^^ (Gen. xi. 9). The Scriptural writers have made
the name derivable from '^r'?, hallal, = ''^f?, halhd;
but as the tower was in Chaldrea, it is to the
language of that country that we should look for its
meaning ; and in the Cuneiform, its meaning is
"the gate of El ; " Babylon, "the gate of Ilos;''
Babilee, Babilam, Babil." There are many instances
in which the historian, not finding a meaning for a
name occurring in an older myth, has invented a
story to agree with it. The tower was most probably
11 phallic emblem, resembling, on a large scale, the
round towers of Ireland.^- (See Bel, Eschol, and
ASHKELON.)
Baeylon, '^^3 (2 Kings xvii. 24). The town has the same
name as the tower Babel, or Bavel.
B^tuli, Bai'ruXoc, plural, Bc<iTuAo(, were Phoenician deities.
They consisted of meteoric stones, which, having
fallen from heaven, were supposed to partake of the
divine essence. History tells us of many celebrated
stones. The Paphian Venus was a stone of conical
shape ; Diana of the Ephesians was said to have
fallen down from Jupiter ; the same was said of
the Palladium of Rome and Troy.
As to the etymology of the word, it is, I think, a
corruption, or Greek rendering, of Bethel. Bit, or
Beth, = B>]T, or BaiV, = ' habitation of,' and yjA/oj,
*i See Rawlinson, Royal Asiatic Joxirnal, vol. i., uew series, p. 195.
^ See Ancient Pillar Stones and Cairns, by Tuomas Inmax, 31 .D. (Loud.)
Holden, LiTerpool, 1807.
332
B^TULi! hcllos, 'the Sun,' which is equivalent to El, II, or
Ilos, in the Shemitic.
A God called Bital, or Vital, is still worshipped
in India, and his emhlem is an upright stone. Siva
is worshipped under the form of a stone, in at least
forty places, in Hindostan. Indeed, throughout that
country, there are a vast numher of shrines, where
the God is represented as a stone; though only a
few, as ahove, are of peculiar sanctity. The stone
under the coronation chair at Westminster Abhey is
said, if I remeujiber rightly, to he a Bretulus, and it
has been reverenced for many centuries, and perhaps
is so still, for it performs an important, though silent,
part in the coronation ceremony.
Bahurim, 2''Tin3^ " The shining ones ; " plural of "^i]?, hahar,
"to shine,' ' to he white.'
Bajith, ^^3 (Isa. XV. 2). Probably signifies 'the temple,'
equivalent to Beth, or Bit.
Bakbakhae, "ip3p3 (1 Chron. ix. 15). This name, and the
following, are very curious. In both of them, philo-
logists consider that they see reduplications ; this one
is said to be a doubled form of '^i?.?, biker, "he rises
in the morning," i. c, the sun. But we may also
derive it from ^??, haca, " the flowing one cleaves,"
the meaning of which is obvious.
Bakbukiah, '^'P3i^? (Neh. xi. 17). This cognomen is said to
be a doubled form of p-13, huk, with '"i), J ah, added,
and to be equivalent to " earnest speech of Jah." But
P?P?, hakhiik, signifies "the bottle," as all the readers
of Old Eabelais will remember ; and thus the name
may mean "the bottle of Jah." This recals at once
the remarkable expression (Ps. Ivi. 8), "Put thou
my tears into thy bottle, are they not already in thy
book? " In this verse the word "bottle" is 1XJ, nod,
333
Bakbukiah] find " book," "i??, ncpluir. There is then some
unison of ideas between the metaphor of a "book"
and "bottle," as being used by Jehovah; both
are strongly anthropomorphic; and the prayer of
David seems to consider that God will find the one a
better receptacle than the other for what has to be
retained in the memory — the book may remain at
home, the (water) bottle was constantly at hand.
Baka, VP^, " To cleave asunder," " a valley." ' To cleave
the mountain,' is an euphemism for 'to cut open
pregnant women.' Compare Baca, Psalm Ixxxiv. 6 ;
in which place, however, the word is spelled ^'23^ and
is supposed not to be a proper name.
Balaabi, ^vh2 (Numb. xxii. 5), signifies, I think, " My Lady
the mother," from n^^?, halah, and °^, am, ' mother.
(Compare Balah and Biliiah.)
Baladan, P^"?? (2 Kings xx. 12), signifies "My Lord of
pleasure, or delight," from ^^., hel, and H^, eden.
Baladam, Balatha, Malatha, Cuneiform, " Abundance."
Balah ^^^ (Jos. xix. 8). For this word we may find many
etymons ; but, though distinct from each other, they
are all alHed. It may be a 'corrected' form,— of which
we have seen many, and shall see more, — in Avhich the
yod in ^', JaJi, has been elided, so as to suppress
the fact that Jehovah and Bel were under any
circumstances associated together; or it may be a
form of ^^,^, halah, " she is tender ; " possibly it may
have relationship with Bala rama, "the strong high
one," a name of Cristna ; or ' Baly,' an Indian
deity.
Though these connections are possible, the most
probable conjecture (to us) is, that the word in
question is an altered form of ^C^-^, haalah ; and as
the addition of a n at the end in the Hebrew is
334
Balah] equivalent to the termination ess with its, we con-
ckicle that Bahih is the same as "the governess,"
"V impei-atrice," "my kcly," "the wife, or female
form, of Bel, or Baal," i. c, " the celestial virgin."
Balak, P^3 (Numb. xxii. 2). When once the presence of a
systematic alteration of cognomens in the sacred
writings is recognised, the task of discovering an
appropriate etymon for a particular name requires
much care. When examining the appellative before
us, we may consider that the word has been changed
(ft) accidentally, or {h) that it is an invented name like
Ahitophel. (ft) If it is a cognomen really apper-
taining to a king who once existed, we may see in it
an union of Bel and Ach, which signifies "Bel is
a brother," or " related to Baal." {h) If it be an
opprobrious epithet, we recognise the etymon in P?2^
halah, " he wasted, destroyed, or caused a separation."
My own impression is, that the first interpretation is
the best.
Bali, is one of the names given to a wife of " Siva," under
which appellation she assumed the form of a girl of
twelve years of age ; and in Madura, Balane, and
other places, beautiful virgins used to go to the
temple once in their lives to offer themselves in
honour of the Goddess. The story was that a God
had converse with them. There is a grossly indecent
festival, resembling the Roman Saturnalia, in her
honour, under the name of Sakti, in which, amongst
other things, were introduced fighting of cocks and
rams. — Roberts, in Journal Royal Asiatic Society,
vol. i., p. 90."
^^ The paper from -wliicli the iihove excerpt is talceu is too long for me to
reprocliice it here. It corroborales very fullj' the statemeuts I have already' made
respecting the resemhlance of the worsh'p and the gods of the Hindoos, the Bahy-
loniaus, Assyrians, Phosniciaus, and Jews.
335
Bamah, !^9? (Ezek. xx. 29), "Castle," "fortress;" Bamoth,
niD3 (Numb. xxi. ID), plnral, "High places." High
places were either natural elevations, such as moun-
tains or hills, or they were erections in the form of
pillars, or mounds artificially raised. The round
towers in Ireland, and at Avehury in England, are
examples of these. High cairns had a similar desig-
nation ; and I think we may call the Tynwald Mount,
in the Isle of Man, a ' high place,' though it is barely
ten feet high. Gibbon gives us an interesting record
of Hermits in the East who dwelt on pillars ; and
these I conceive were a form of ' high place.' The
idea of worshipping on high places is distinctly given
in Lucian's account of the Syrian Goddess ; wherein
we are told that prayers were uttered from the summit
of the tall phallus, because the man then was so much
nearer to the God than he was on earth. To those
who believe that God resides above us, it is very
natural to pray and offer sacrifices on the top of a
mountain, Moses himself is represented to have
had this idea, when he went up to the top of
Sinai to commune with the Almight}', and receive
the law.
We still have a relic of the ancient idea in the
high or raised altars of the Roman Catholic clmrches.
Bani, *^3 (2 Sam. xxiii. 36). This may be a variant of >^^^,
hanali, ' he erects, or builds ; ' but it is more probable
that it is equivalent to i? and ^l, hen, jah, the n, as
usual, being elided, and that it signifies ' the son
of Jah.'
Bar, ""^j Ijoth in the Assyrian and in the Hebrew, has many
significations, according to the vowels with which it
is associated; as bar, it signifies 'corn,' 'grain,'
'afield.' 'tried,' 'approved,' 'pure,' 'clear,' 'select,'
336
Bar] 'beantifnl,' * a son,' 'open country;' as to?', it signi-
fies 'cleanliness,' 'purity,' 'integrity.'
Baea, ^""I, " To cut, form, fashion, create ; " as ^"^^^ hare,
it signifies 'to be filled full,' 'to be fat, strong, or
lusty.' In these words we see clearly the phallic
idea of creative power. There is close resemblance
between this word and Brahm, or Brahma, the
Omnipotent God in the Hindoo mythology.
Barabbas, Ba.poc^(3ccs (Matt. XX. 16), "Son of the father."
Barachel, ^^^'}^, (Job xxxii. 2), "He adores El," from V},
harach, 'he adores,' and ^^, cl.
Baeachias, Bapay^la; (Matt, xxiii. 35), " Son of the striking
Jah ; " yp^j raka, ' to strike the earth,' &c.
BxVRAK, P7?j harah (Judges iv. 6), "Lightning ; " or P"]^, ' he
shines.'
Bariah, nn2 (1 Chron. iii. 24), " The Son of Jah." (See
Beriah.)
Baejesus, Bciphi(Tovi (Acts xiii. 6), " Son of Jesus." This
cognomen was borne by a Jew at Paphos, who
strongly oj^posed the introduction of the Christian
faith ; it is not, tlierefore, probable that his name
was imitated from that borne by our Saviour. We
presume then that Jesus was a common name at
that time. The man's other appellation, Elymas,
signifies "El is wonderful," from ^^, cl, and i^^'?,
massa.
Barjonah, Bup-'lcjjva (Matt. xvi. 17), "Son of the dove;"
i^^l'', yonali, ' a dove.'
Barkos, Dip"!? (Ezra ii. 53). This cognomen aj^pears to be
derived from '^^, bar, " son," and tyip, Jwsh, " a bow,"
and to be equivalent to " son of a bow," which may
have been equal to 'a bowyer,' or have had a hidden
meaning.
Barnabas Bap-ja^ac (Acts iv. 36), " Son of Nabuz, or
337
Barnabas] Nibliaz ; " ^'?J, nahash, 'to glitter, or bum.'
(Compare Nebuz-aradan.)
Barsabas, B«po-a|55j (Acts i. 23), " Sou of abundance ; "
J'?^', saha, ' abundance,' kc.
Bartholomew, B2^|j9oAo,a«ioc (Matt. x. 3), " Son of Tolmai."
One Talmai was a sou of Auak ; another was a
father-in-law of David. Talma is a current French
name ; it may be from the same root as Ptolemy.
We have amongst ns Tolmen, or Dolmen, which
signifies ' a tall, upright stone.' '''P?^, talmai, is a
'bold, spirited one;" and D?9> talam, is 'to be
courageous, stout-hearted.'
Bartimeus, Buprlixciioc (Mark x. 46), " Son of uucleanness ; "
^^^, temcs, 'in slime, slimy'? i.e., 'a very filthily
dirty fellow.'
Baruch, ^113 (Nehem. iii. 20), "Blessed," "Benedict."
Barzillai, "'i'!"?? (2 Sam. xvii. 27), " The son of prayer ? "
i^^V, zalah, ' to pray; ' or '^i'V, zilali, ' protection,' &c.
Bashan, 1^''3 (Numb. xxi. 33), "Basalt land." (Fiirst.)
Bashemath, rirpc^'S (Gen. xxvi. 34), "Sweet-smelling;" from
^^^, hasam, 'to have a sweet smell,' ' to be fragrant.'
Basket, "Blessed shall be thy basket {^?.^, tcneli), and thy
store " (Deut. xxviii. 5). A basket is borne by all the
Assyrian priests who offer at the shrine of Ishtur.
They offer a pine cone, shaped like the mystic egg.
The egg is euphemistic for testis ; it is probable that
the basket represents the " scrotum." To this belief
we were drawn by the following considerations : We
have, 2 Kings x. 7, Jerem. xxiv. 2, the word in, ditd,
rendered 'basket;' and in Jerem. xxiv. 1, ''1'^'^,
cludai, is also rendered 'baskets;' but this word
dudai is rendered ' mandrakes,' or ' love apples,' in
Gen. XXX. 14-16, and Cant. vii. 13.
Now the ' mandrakes ' are like our plant the
Y
338
Basket] Orcliis mascula, and their roots closelj' resemble
the ' scrotum,' or the two testicles ; consequently they
were supposed to have potency in love affairs, and
were offered to Venus. There is a picture at Pompeii,
in which a loving couple are presenting offerings
to the God of the Gardens, amongst which the man-
drakes may be recognised. (Compare also Gen. xxx.
14-16.)
It is clear that the ancients thought that a full
' basket ' was an appropriate offering to Ishtar ;
hence we conclude that the word in question is an
euphemism, into which it is undesirable to enter
more fully.
Babil, Cuneiform, = " The gate of II, or God."
Baeius, „ " A son of Belus," = " gate of life."
Badia, „ an Assyrian female name. (Compare
Biddy.)
Badones, „ Genii amongst the Babylonians.
Bakhar, „ " The eldest son." Baker ? Barker ?
Bal-Shamin, ,/ "Lord of the heavens." (Compare
Shimmiu.)
Barkat, Bil, Bin, Ara, Cuneiform, an Assyrian name.
(Compare Birkett, Bill, Ben, &c.)
Barmuri, Cuneiform, name of a deity. Assyrian, " Son of
Myrrha? Mari, or Mri-am."
Bartsippa, or Borsippa, Cuneiform, " Son of the ship."
Each ot the Babylonian Gods had an ark, or ship,
called ' elippa ' and ' alpa,' as well as ship.
Bacha, Vedic, " To speak clearly." (Compare Backer,
Bache, Bacon.)
Bad, or Vad, „ "To bathe." (Baden-Baden.)
Bagh, „ is also the name for the female organ.
Bagha, „ " Sacred tiger," an attendant on Bacchus.
Baghis, „ also VaCtIS, a name of Siva,
339
Bala, or Vad, "Strength;" Baladeva, "air, or wind,"
" elder brother of Cristna." (Compare
Baly, Bailey.)
Bali, „ also Pali, a name of Cristna.
Balin, „ "Strong," "a bull," "a camel." (Palin,
Baleine, Bellona.)
Bandh, „ "To bind, fasten, or unite;" Bandhu, "a
kinsman."
Bake, ,; " To go." (Barb, a horse, Old English.)
Bakta, „ " A word." (Compare Bard, Barden,
Barter, Burton, &c.)
Bath, ^5, " Daughter," " maiden," " virgin," " woman,"
" disciple, or worshipper."
Bath-rabbim, Ci''3vn3 (Cant. vii. 4), a name given to a gate
in Heshbon. It has been translated " The populous
gate," by Ginsburg {Song of Songs, p. 179). My
impression is that it indicated a favourite place of
resort for lovers. ^"^1, vahali, 'to couch down,' 'to
lie,' ' to lie with,' &c. ; for it is coupled with i\\efisli
ponds, and fish were emblematic of love.
Bath-sheba, y?i^"n? (2 Sam. xi. 3), " Daughter of the
heavens," or " of Sheba." The name is rendered in
the Septuagint By^pa-ufi^s, hcersahce, which would
enable us to read the name as daughter of J-'?'^,
saha, or ' abundance.' (See Beeesheba.)
Bath-shua, y-lt^Ti2 (Gen. xxxviii. 12), " Daughter of a noble
one."
Bavai, ^5? (Nchcm. iii. 18). The man bearing this name
is a son of Henadad, which looks so very like a
variant of Benhadad, that I conclude that Bavai is
also a variant, possibly of ^^', ah, and '^l, JaJt, and
signifies " Jah is a father."
Bebai, '?? (Ezra ii. 11), Persian? "The fathers." (In
Pehlevi, hah signifies ' father.') Gesenius.
340
Becher, ^3? (Gen. xlvi. 21), " A yoimg camel;" i=?, hccher,
"a youtb." (Compare Beecher, Beechy, Abubeldr,
&c.)
Bechorath, "^'■'2? (1 Sam. ix. 1), " First born?" from ^"^^r,
hlchrah, " a young slie camel, or virgin, or the first
born," probably " the heifers."
Bedad, ■':? (Gen. xxxvi. 35), "The basket," from 1^?,
hadad, "to be intertwined." " Possibly rrtcZaf/, or
equivalent to Ben-hadad, dedicated to Adad." Fiirst.
Bedaiah, ^n? (Ezra x. 35), " Dedicated to Jah." Furst.
Bedan, n^i (1 Sam. xii. 11), "Dedicated to Dan." Furst.
Beer, ^??2 (Numb. xxi. 16), " A Avell, or a pit." " A Avell,"
Cuneiform, h'lri.
Beer-elim, ^'^^^ >^? (Isaiah xv. 8), " The well of the Gods."
It is remarkable that the ' correctors ' of the sacred
text should have allowed this word to remain un-
changed, in such close contact with the word Eglaim,
which they have altered so as to obliterate the idea
that a Moabite city should be called after El.
Beer-lahai-roi, ^:<^^n^-iN| (Gen. xvi. 14), "Well of the
living God," or "well of the living one, my seer."
Beer-sheba, V?^ ~^^'^, " The well of the heavens." (See Eli-
SHEBA and Bath-sheba.) I think this is another of
those places where a modern story ha's been invented
by a late writer, to explain away names which were
familiar to the people, but whose real etymology it
would be convenient to ignore. There is no doubt
that both the Roman and the Protestant Churches
have softened down much that they have adopted from
the heathen. To such an extent have later Scrip-
tural writers done this, that a story about a name
invariably leads to some curious fact, if we ignore the
tale ; it is like the crafty lapwing's device to draw
intruders from her nest. I may also notice here, that
341
Beek-sheba] the whole of my inquiry has convinced me of
the correctness of conchisions, as to the non-historical
character of the earlier canonical writings, arrived, at
by Bishop Coleuso and other Biblical scholars.
Beera, *^>^3 (1 Chron. vii. 37), " The well of the Sun."
Beeeah, <^'^^^ (] Chron. v. 6), is a variant of the jireceding
word, Ea being the Egyptian and Assyrian name
for the Sun. (Compare >^^'^, roeJt, or ''^'^, rai.)
Beeei, ^^^^ (Gen. xxvi. 34), "My pit, or well, or fountain,"
" My mother." (Compare next w^ord). It is very
remarkable that this cognomen should be borne both
by a Hittite in the time of Esau, and by the Israelitish
father of the prophet Hosea. Now between the time
of the one and of the other, a thousand years had
elapsed, and the family of Isaac had passed through
more trials than any other nation — trials which must
have modified their language materially. Hence we
conclude that the fact in question proves either the
exceptional persistence of some words, or the com-
paratively modern date of the story about Esau's
wives.
Beeeoth, J^ilJ^S (Joshua ix. 17) "The fountains, pits, or
wells," plural of '^^}, leer ; possibly a form of Ash-
toreth, meaning 'the mothers.' A pit, or hole, is
often put for a mother. "Look to the hole of the
pit whence ye were digged" (Isaiah li. 1). We must
notice, too, that "?t?i', nekehah, ' a hole,' signifies a
woman.
Beeshteeah, !^:;''T9'P (Joshua xxi. 27), "House, or temple,
of Astarte." = ^'3 and ^'}^'^V, heth eslitcraJi.
Bel, '?2 (Isaiah xlvi. 1), Bel Merodach at Babylon; BsKtSav,
or BrAirav, in PhcEuicia; " The old Bel," or " Bel the
grave old man." This word is not altogether under-
342
Bel] stoucl.*"* Herodotus tells ns of Jupiter Belus (book i.,
c. 181, p. 255, Eawliuson's translation), that in his
temple was no statue of any kind, only that "in the
topmost tower ..... was a couch of unusual size,
richly adorned, with a golden table by its side.
The chamber was not occupied by night, except by
a single native woman, who, as the Chaldteans, the
priests of this God, affirm, is chosen for himself by
the deity out of all the women in the land ; they
declare, but Herodotus says that he does not believe
it, that the God comes down into this chamber, and
sleeps upon the couch ; and he then compares this to
a temple at Thebes, where a woman always passes
the night in the temple of Jupiter," Szc."^
Whatever may have been the veil by which such a
divinity wap^ concealed or covered, there can be no
" In a note to " Bilingual Eeadings " {Journal of Royal Asiatic xSociety , vol. i., new
series, p 216), Rawliusou gives reasons for his belief tliat the Babylonian Bil, or
Bilns, was the same as II or Illiu. Bilu, ' a lord,' may stand for ' the Lord ; ' and he
then continues, " Indeed, we have the authority of Damascius for using the two
names indifferently (St. ^oCv.k.s /cal 2vpo. rbv Kpo-ov "HA «al Bi,,\ kcI BoAae,,;. e™,.0Ma-
fouo-u', Phot. Bit. Edit. HiBschel, col. 1050, wliere BoAiflT,.. is perhaps ■p- b^] for
•ffi; bs-n, with the usual change of the Hebrew Shin to the Aramaic Tau ; Jid if the
generality of authors identify Belus and Saturn, Sanchoniathon, on the other hand,
says distinctly, 6 "IAos toOt' ta-rlv b Kpom-;."
« See also Rawlinson's Reivdotus, vol. ii., p. 47, second edition, note about
women of Amun.
In the original cast of my Essay, it was my intention to enter into a detailed
account of the various locaUties in Great Britain, where in one form or other the
name of Bel is introduced, and to give a description of all games, festivals, or
customs, which still bear his name. So much, however, has been done upon this
subject in Lyson's work, entitled Our British Ancestors, and in Colonel Forbes
LesHe's Sarhj Races of Scotland, that my intention is abandoned. The resolution
was adopted more readily when I found how far more completely they had investi-
gated the subject than I could ever hope to do. In many points those writers and
myself disagree, as is natural when independent authors take up the same subject
from different points of view ; but in the main we appear to agree as cordially as if
we had been brought up by the same tutor. I cannot hope, nor would I try, to
induce a minister of our church to give assent to the views which I have expressed ;
nor can the priest succeed in persuading the philosophic scholar that the Hebrews
were a powerful colonising race, which sent ships, organised colonies, and pro-
secuted commerce all over the Eastern, and probably a portion of the Western hcmi-
sphere. Upon these points we may agree to differ.
343
Bel] reasonable doubt that it was connected with the
phallic idea of the creator ; and as such, Bel would be
equivalent to On, or Asher/^ In the Hebrew, ^5, hal,
means 'heart,' 'mind,' 'care;' a signification equiva-
lent to that assigned to the words Brahma and Buddah.
■''' I slionld -wisli here to refer the reader to Hislop's Two Bahylov.s, pp. 38,
39, 3rd ed., wliere he will see au attempt to indeutify Bel with Bel-athii of the
Etruscans and the Janus of Rome. He will see a copy of a medal, which is repro-
duced in Fig. 83, wherein a club is introduced, with a triad of balls, not very unlike
the well-known Lombard sign ; the weajiou seems to be emblematic of On and his
cluster ; a comparatively flimsy veil for " fasciuum cnm testibus multis." '• The
Etrnscau name on the obverse of the above medal — Bel-athri, 'Lord of spies,'
is probably given to Janus, in allusion to his well-known title 'Janus Tuens,'
which may be rendered 'J;inus the Seer,' or ' A.ll-seeing Janus.'" — From Sir
W. Betham's Etruscan Literature and Antiquities investigated. Plate 2, vol. ii.,
p. 120. 18-12.
From the Assyrian and Phoenician Bel, we may ti-ace Beta., Belesis, ^eZisarins,
^cHienus, iJc'ial, i?e/sliazzar, i?cZteshazzar, Belws, and possibly i?a?adau, BaUam,
5i7eam, often spelled /iZeam, (compare William, for which name Bill is 'short,')
and BalaAi ; possibly also Bil-iai, Bil^ah, Bih-ali. Bilham, Belgve. BaKKrjv,
ballecn, was the Phrygian royal name. Compare Btdan (India) ; Balann, (Greece) ;
^rtHina, a very common geographical name in Ireland; Balin (Palestine) ; Balemi
and 7?aZlenach (Scotland) ; Bnhn (Switzerland) ; 7?«?iugen (Wurtemburg) ,- BalUn
(France) ; also Ballan, Balnian, Z?c(/maiu, and other surnames common amongst
ourselves.
It is probable that some of our snrn;unes arc derived from this word ; e. g. Bayle,
Bales, Beales, Bailey, Baley, Ball, ]5ell, Bull (which animal niiiy have been named
after the God, as being so strong and powerful). Balleny combines Bel with Ann ;
and Ballard, Balingall, Ballistou, Balman, Balmanuo, Balmer, are all readily
esi^licable by a reference to the Shemitic languages ; Belcher, Beley, Ballard, Bellis,
Bellas, Bellion, Beloe, and a vast variety of others, appear to come from the same
old stock.
[I am told by a Scotch friend, what I also find in Jamiesou's Dictionart/, that
in Scotland oe, o, oy, oye, means a grandson. Beloe would therefore mean a-gi-aud-
son of Bel.]
344
Bela, y^l (Gen. xiv. 2; xxxvi. 32; xlvi. 21). Tins name is
borne equally by one of the Sodomite and Edomite
towns, and by a son of Benjamin. It is probably a
' corrected ' form of Baal, the y and the h being
transposed, and the vowel changed.
Belat, Assyrian, feminine of Bel.
Belial, ^)^')} (1 Kings xxi. 10), "Without God," from the
words V?, hell. ' without,' and ^^, el, God.
Belshazzae, i-y^^r?? (Dan. viii. 1). Probably "Bel j^reserve
the king." In the Cuneiform, ' Bel-sar-uzzur.'
Belteshazzak, "'r'^P'P?? (Dan. ii. 26). " Beltis preserve the
king." In the Cuneiform, ' Beltis-sar-uzznr.'
Ben, !?, " The son of." (Compare such current names as
Benson, Penson, Bennett, &c.)
Ben-al-^h, ™ (2 Sam. xx. 23), "The son of Jab;" or,
possibly, ' Jah builds us ;' i^^?, hanah, 'to build up.'
Ben-ammi, ''?>y"I? (Gen. xix. 38). This name is given to a
son of Lot by his own daughter. As the son borne
by one of his children is called Moab, which signifies
*' conceived from the father," we may assuredly con-
sider that the other bears an equivalent cognomen,
viz., "the son of my father;" ''^y, ami, standing for
'2N\ ahl, in accordance with the frequent interchange
of alejjh with ain, and hetJi Avith nicm.
Benebarak, P:!r'^2 (Josh. xix. 45), " The son of blessing."
BENEJAAiciN, ip.V: '?.} (Numb, xxxiii. 31). " Sons of Jaakan"
(Gen. xxxvi. 27).
Ben-hadad, "^IlII? (1 Kings xv. 18), " The son of the
glorious one," or of ' Hadad, the supreme deity of
the Syrians.'
Ben-hail, ^]!?'\^ (2 Chron. xvii. 7), " Son of strength, might
or power;" Hail, properly chail, glial, or chil ; '^!0,
chail, may possibly be the origin of Gael and Gaelic ;
we meet with the word so pronounced in Abigail ;
345
Ben-hail] if we ma}- clcduce the word from that root. This
cognomen would then signify "the father is strength."
See Abigail. From the same source maj' come Gill,
Chikle, Cheil, Shell, cl-c.
Ben-hanan, Ij'C''I| (1 Chron. iv. 20), " Son of the gracious
one;" IJC, luoiait, 'merciful.' (Compare Anna,
Annas, &c.)
Beninu, "';!2 (Neh. x. 13), "The son of Ann"? or "son of
suffering;" from 1^^, ana, "a suffering one;" or
" son of a pious one ; " from i^^^, anak, " he testifies
to." Pen, as in Pendarvis, is a very common syllable
in Cornish names ; and Ben and Pen are common
names for mountains in Scotland and Wales, but I
doubt their af&nity with the Hebrew I?, hen, ' a son.'
Ben-jamin, V'?^']^ (Gen. xxsv. 18), "Fortunate;" V^?], janiin,
signifies 'the bright side,' 'the right hand,' &c. As
the right is far more useful to most of us than the
left, everything Avliich is said to be done by it is pre-
sumed to be done Avell. We have many metaphors
current amongst ourselves which convey the same
idea. There are some whom we call " right-hand
men," as indicating their usefulness to us. In the
Scriptures, we see the same notion in the words,
"He is on my right hand, therefore," &c. As most
of us are clumsy with our left-hand, we should never
think of calling anything after it which was compli-
mentary; e.g., "a left-handed marriage," is under-
stood to mean one of which we must say that "all
is not right." " Son of my right-hand " is then a
metaphor, and the name is quite in keeping with
those given to the brothers of Benjamin, viz., Asher,
Gad, Issachar, &c. I shall have frequent occasion to
note the prevalence of heretical or heathen nomen-
clature in persons of this tribe.
346
Ben-oni, '"^il^'^'ll (Gen, xxxv. 18), may signify " The son of
my On;" |us% on, 'strength,' or 'son of Ann,' or
' son of my sorrow.'
Ben-zoheth, ^D'"'^"!? (1 Chron. iv. 20), "Son of firmness;"
n-l^*, tzuah, 'to set up,' 'an erection,' 'a cippus.'
Beon, li'? (Numb, xxxii. 3). It is probable that this is a
variant of Me on. (See Baal Meon.)
Beor, "''■'y^ (Gen. xxxvi. 32), possibly a variant of Peor.
Geseuius translates it "torch," and Fiirst, "a shep-
herd." A torch, a piece of pine wood, or other
straight thing, burning at the end, was an euphe-
mism. Hogarth, in his curious engraving "before"
and " after," has symbolised the same idea by a
skyrocket. It is, of course, well known to all, that
Cupid (or desire) bears a torch as an emblem, with
the flame burning upwards ; at death, or at funeral
ceremonies, the torch hangs down, extinguished, or
effete.
Berachah, i''?'^? (1 Chron. xii. 3), "A blessing."
Beraiah, HKn? (1 Chron. viii. 21), " Jah is fat, thick, or
vigorous ; " from ^''1?, har'i, j^ossibly ' created.'
Fiirst.
Berechiah, '°'^?!?| (1 Chron. vii. 20), "Jah blesses;" "^^'S,
harak, ' to bless,' &c.
Bered, T^I (1 Chron. vii. 20), "The leopard, spotty." For
a length of time I doubted the real significance of the
spotted robe of the Egyptian and Assyrian priests, or
of the leopard skin borne by kings, and the spotted
attendant of Bacchus.*'' It appeared that some pun
was involved, which might be compared with the simi-
larity between Bacchus, Baghis, and Bagh ; Bacchus,
Siva, and the tiger, or ' the vulva : ' but there was
good reason for doubting whether this Vedic pun
■^'' See Plate 11., Fig. 3, at the eud of the Volume.
347
Beked] could have been known in Palestine. (See Beth
NlBIRAH.)
From this root the Greek Tvapdoc, pardos, the
Latin ' pardus/ and the English ' pard/ are derived.
Gresenius.
Beri, ^1| (1 Chron. vii. 37), "He creates," or "he is
vigorous," from '^I'l. May we derive from this root,
Berri, Bury, Berry ?
Beriah, nr?? (Gen. xlvi. 17), "My Creator is Jah," or
" Jah is vigorous." (See Bar and Bara.)
Berith. (See Baal-Berith, and Berothah.)
Berodach Baladan (2 Kings sx. 12), variant for Merodach.
Berothah, or thai, ^I;i'i"'? (Ezek. xlvii. 16), " The cypress."
Berytus, or Beirout ? BpaSu, hratku, is a name given
by Sanchoniathon to a deity in Lebanon, who was
called in Phcenician Br^pov^, heerouth, i. c, 'T'?, heroth
— herith ? being the female principle of Jao Adonis
amongst the Syrians of El Adan. Fiirst, suh voce
"0"^?. (Compare Baal-Berith.)
Besai, ''P? (Ezra ii. 49), "A conqueror, or subduer." Fiirst.
Besodeiah, ^'T°? (Neh. iii. 6), "In the counsel of Jah,"
or " friend of Jah."
Besor, liD? (1 Sam. xxx. 9), " To be sour."
Betah, nt?n (2 Sam. viii. 8), " He cuts off."
Beten, I!?2 (Joshua xix. 25), a town of Asherites.
We have already seen the meaning of Asher — we
shall not therefore be surprised to lind, amongst the
towns of that tribe, one whose name was as charac-
teristic of the female, as Asher was of the male sex.
The word in question signifies "the womb," or
" the round belly ; " also " the female organ."
Beth, ri^5, Baith, like Bit in the Cuneiform, and Beit
in modern Palestine, signifies "the house," "dwell-
ing," "habitation," or " tem^jle of." It may also be
348
Beth] designtited 'place/ and thus be equivalent to "'town,'
'village,' 'hamlet,' 'station,' &c. When used in
association with any divine being, or one supposed
to be such, its only meaning can be that of ' temple,'
'church,' ' shrine,' ' chapel,' &c.
Now, since there are many ' sects ' amongst Protest-
ants, and many 'orders,' often rival ones, amongst the
Eomau Catholics, and since there are almost as many
Virgins Mary as there are towns who own her sway,
so we may expect to find in Palestine many rival
'orders,' 'systems,' or 'temples.' If a local 'Mary'
will not cure some disease, a pilgrimage to " Our
Lady of Loretto " is resorted to; and " St. Jacques de
Compostella " is supposed to effect what the " St.
Jacques of Madrid " declines to perform. In like
manner, when the " Baal " of Samaria could tell
nothing of the result of a certain king's illness, the
royal patient sent to the Baal of Ekron (2 Kings i. 2).
In the same way as churches are now consecrated to, or
supposed to be under the patronage of, certain saints ;
so there were in Palestine sacred shrines, which were
said to be under the protection of one or more divine
or supernatural beings, who were supposed specially to
d.vell therein. As Macaulay's New Zealander might
find the names of the saints which we acknowledge
at the present day by collating the titles of our
churches, so we may find the cognomens, and pos-
sibly the natures, of ancient divinities by the names
of their shrines. Let us notice, too, in passing, that
in their way, the ancients of whom we are speaking
were far more devout than ourselves. With them
the shrine of God attracted a town around it ; whilst
with us the town is often built long before a church
is thought of.
349
Beth] It is with the intention of develoiiing as far as
possible the nature of the ancient faith, that the
following and other lists are given.
Beth-abaea, B»56a/3apa, or Betpibaea, !^^? J^''? (John i. 28),
" Temple of the Sun; " bara = 'the Sun' in Assyrian ;
in Hebrew "'?^, ahar, signifies "to mount upwards."
We have, amongst the Cuneiform writings, Bit-harra,
or i:)arra, spoken of as a solar temple.
Beth-anath, n:rn'3^ and anoth, rii:y"n^3 (Joshua xix. 38),
" Temple, or shrine, of the God answering prayer ; "
J^i^y, anoth, signifying ' a cry,' ' alternate song,'
'rejoicing,' or ' a hearing,' or 'granting.'
Beth-any, B=9av/a (Matt. xxi. 17), " The temple of Ann ; "
it may read, ' of the ship ; ' ''^^, ani = ' ship.' (See
Ark.)
Beth-arabah, ^^ny-JT'a (Josh. xv. 6), " Temple of Arba," or
i^P^, erva. (See Arba.) Or it may be the temple
in the desert, from '"'^T'^, arhali, ' a waste.'
Beth-akam, D^n-n^n (Josh. xiii. 27), " Temple of the
High one," from 2?^^', aram, 'the high one.' (See
Aram.)
Beth-arbel, '?'<?7'>""'? (Hos. X. 14), " Temple of the four
Gods." (SeeARBEL.)
Beth-aven, n?"^'? (Josh. vii. 2), " Temple of On," pN.
(See On.)
Beth-azmaveth, ^H.^/rn'-a (Neh. vii. 28), " Temple of Azma-
veth." This name is probably compounded of ^y, az,
' strong, powerful, impetuous,' and ^)}^, viaveth =
n-10, m/'it, mot, or viavct being a name of the deity of
the lower world = Pluto amongst the old Shemites.
Fiirst, s. v. ^}.^]^. (See Ahimoth.)
Beth-baal-meon, liyp-^y3-n^3 (Josh. xiii. 17), " Temple of
Baal's dwelling place," or " the celestial mansion,
the abode of bliss."
350
Beth-baal-meon] There is, however, another etymology of
meon, or maon, besides the ordinary one, which we
must not pass by, as it is very consonant with the
ancient myths. We have the words, "'i'?, maar, i^vp,
maali, and ^'P, mea, all of which have the signification
of " the female organ." Now "i, resit, and J, nun, are
interchangeable; and J, nun, "is often a post-fix,
or termination, to form adjectives, concretes, and
abstracts " (Fiirst). If we a^Dply these observations
to the word in question, we find that it will signify
equally "a habitation," "the female organ," i.e.,
the dwelling place of Baal under his phallic symbol,
and "the womb, the residence of the infant ere it
sees the light." Meon is thus a punning euphemism
for the ' vulva ; ' and Beth-baal-meon was doubtless
a temple where lascivious rites abounded, in honour
of the god and goddess of creation. That worship
and venery were frequently mixed up together, we
conclude from 1 Sam. ii. 22, and Hosea iv. 13-16.
It must also be remembered that the town belonged
to Heshbon, and thus bore a heathen name. (See
Mary, infra.)
Beth-Barah, nnn-n^n (Jud. vii. 2-4), " Temple of the Sun,"
or "of the Creator," from the Assyrian hara, or from
the Hebrew ^^2, hara, 'he creates.'
Beth-birie, ''^^P?'^''? (1 Chron. iv. 81), probably a variant of
the preceding.
Beth-car, i?'J^''3 (1 Sam. vii. 7), "Temple of the ram,
Aries," which is itself closely allied to "Aprjg, arccs,
= Mars, 'a warrior,' or 'valiant man,' or of "fat
sheep," or of the " leaping. God." Compare with the
places frequented by dancing dervishes in modern
Palestine ; compare also such words as Caria,
Cfwchemish, Carinthia, Corinth ; also Carr, Carron,
Kerr, Kerry, &c.
351
Beth-dagon, V^T^'^ (Jer. xlviii. '22), " Temple of the Fish
God." (See Dagon).
Beth-diblathaim, Q.''|?^t^'?"^''? (Jer. xlviii. 22). " Temple of
the two circles." Diblathaim, a word which we shall
explain at greater length Figure 84.
under the name Diblaim. /'""""''^s^ ^ X
We can readilj' conceive \ I \ )
that this shrine would be ^-^ ^^ -is^. ^
mai-ked by some such mystical figure as the one
here depicted. It is similar to those which are found
in great numbers on ancient sculptured stones in Scot-
land, and whose sanctity we infer from their being so
constantly associated with other sacred emblems.
Beth-eden, n.V"^''? (Amos i. 5), "the temple of pleasure,"
from V.V, edcn, 'pleasure.' (Compare rilovy].)
Beth-eked, "t^r^^? (2 Kings x. 12). Possibly from the
same root as Accad, in Assj'ria ; ^^^, acad, signifies
' strength,' ' fortified ; ' it may simply mean ' a castel-
lated dwelling house,' or ' the shrine of the strong
one ; ' in the authorised version of the Bible it is
called ' the shearing-house.'
Beth-el, ^^'^'j^ (Gen. xii. 8), " The temple of El, or II,"
" the Sun," or " God." It has been objected that el
is not Hebrew for the Sun ; but it must be remem-
bered that Jacob spoke the language of Babylonia,
the country of his grandfather and his relatives, and
of his own mother ; and we are told by various
Cuneiform scholars that in the Mesopotamian tongue
II, or Ilos, was at the same time God and the Sun.
Beth-emek, P'^V.C"^'? (Jos. xix. 27), "Temple of the chasm;"
P^y, emek, being probably a variant of P'^^, amak,
"the deep one," also " a valley." As the place was
in Asher, we may conceive that the house or shrine
somewhat resembled that of Delphi, and was built
over one of those deep earth fissures, which were
352
Beth-emekJ supposed to be emblems of, and entrances into,
the maternal earth, called by Latin priests Cunni
DiahoU. (See page 114, note 9.)
Beth-esda, Br]9£(rSa (John v. 2), " House of the springing
fountain; " "^'i'^, cslied, "outpouring of brooks, or a
ravine."
Beth-ezel, ^.>>'n"J^^? (Micah i. 11), " Temple of the noble
one," from ^V^, azal, "noble, choice, or distinguished."
It is said by Gesenius to signify " the house of
firm root," which is too strange an idea to be adopted.
Beth-gadek, "in3"ri''3 (1 Chron. ii. 51), "The temple enclosed
by a wall ; " from '^'}\, gadar, " to enclose, or hedge
round." Compare this with Stonehenge, Avebury,
and other circular fanes in England, the altars sur-
rounded by circles, or gilgals, and the Nahbi of
Vishnu. Compare it also with the Hindoo circles
of Pillar Stones, in which the place of sacrifice is
within the enclosure.
Fig. 86.
'gt^
Fig.
353
Beth-Gamul, ^•^'^r^'? (Jer. xlviii. 26), "Temple of the Giver;"
from ^^?l, fiamal, 'to do good,' 'to benefit,' &c.
Beth-Gilgal, ^i?K^'i^ (Nell. xii. 29), " The circular temple,"
or " the shrine at Gilgal." (See Gilgal.)
Beth-haceerem, 0?}?l'"'^^? (Jer. vi. 1), "House of the vine-
yard;" ^1}^, kerem, ' fruitland or vineyard.' When we
consider how very common vineyards were all over
Palestine, I cannot fancy that any one place would he
called after a particular garden ; it would be as if we
called London, ' town of houses.' I presume, there-
fore, that some mystic meaning is concealed in the
latter part of the word, and that it is equivalent to
^1"^, caj'itjn, which signifies "he is bright red;" the
original verb-idea is to glow, to hum, then to give
light, to sliiiie, to glitter ; whence again arises, to be
of a fiery colour, to he red.'' (Furst, s.v.) It is to
be noticed that Mahadeva, the emblem of the male
creator of the Sun, is always painted red. Thus red,
or scarlet, has ever been a sacred colour. It was so
amongst the Jews (See Exod. xxv. 4 ; Lev. xiv. 4 ;
Numb. iv. 8.) It is so amongst the Eoman Catholics
of to-day. From being a sacred colour, it ultimately
became a royal one ; kings being supposed to be vice-
gerents upon earth of the Almighty in heaven. (See
Garmi.) But ^"]3, caram, has also another meaning,
which associates it on the one side with the vineyard
or garden, and on the other with Mahadeva, viz.,
"he breaks through, labours, ploughs, or makes
fruitful." Now, there can be no doubt that wine has
ever been regarded as an adjuvant to those pleasures
which terminate in 'fertility;' consequently, "the
house, or temple of the vineyard," may of itself have
been a covert expression for those resorts which, in
Japan, are called " tea houses." There is strong
z
354
Beth-hackeeem] reason indeed for adopting this idea, offered
to us in tlie Song of Solomon, in which we find the
expression, " He brought me to the banqueting
house ;*^ and his banner over me was love." " Stay
me with flagons, comfort me with apples, for I am
sick of love." Upon this passage the learned
Dr. Ginsburg remarks :'' — '^ The words T*'^ ^'?,
mean hover of delight, wine being frequently used
in this book for delight, and are but a designation
for the manifestations of love denoted in the pre-
ceding verse. The rehearsal of their past union and
enjoyment kindled the Shulamite's affections, and
made her wish again for that delicious fruit, i. e., the
tokens of his love." After this, there can be little
doubt of the true signification of the word Beth-
HACKEREai ; which, with the definite article ■], would
make the name in question signify, 'the bright red
one,' or ' the shiner,' I. c, " The temple of the Sun."
Beth-hanan, IJO'^^? (1 Kings iv. 9), "Temple of grace;"
from l^v", hanan, ' grace.'
Beth-haeam, or Haran, "a^n-n^2 (Jos. xiii. 27), " Temple
of the high one," from ^'}^, haram, " to be high,"
i. e., " Temple of the lofty one." In the days of
Eusebius its name was Beth-ramphtha, viz., ' temple
of the high Pldhali ' (Kitto's Cycloyadia, s. v. Beth-
haran) .
Beth-hoglah, n73n-n''3 (Josh xv. 6), " The house or temple
of the partridge ; " '^'^^_^, liaeilali, is " a partridge," or
"magpie;" but I cannot believe that this is the true
derivation. It may possibly come from ^y.^^^, eglaiin,
' a double spring,' and signify that the temple, or
■'^ n'3, hcth; rTt, liajaiii, "the house of wine," or " the house of delight."
^9 Song of Songs, ^jage 142.
355
Beth-hoglaii] house, Avas one situated at the meeting of
some waters.
Beth-hoeon, pin-n*? (Jos. x. 10), " Temple of the noble
one ; " from PC? haran, ' to he noble.'
Betii-jesimoth, niD^:?;?n-n^3 (Nnmh, xxxiii. 49). This Avas
an ancient town, named apparently by the aborigines,
or PhcEnicians. The termination n'l, oth, a plural
noun, reminds us of ' Ashtoreth.' The early syllables
remind us of ' Ashima ; ' we may, therefore, read the
word as "Temple of the Ashimas," or " tontes les
deesses ; " which would be equivalent to our ' All
saints,' or 'All souls ' churches.
Beth-leapheah, ^'}^^Y^'^ (Micah i. 10) ; the h being simply
the genitive sign, "^S^, cqjhra, or q^ltcr, is the word
which Ave have to study. It is usually translated
fau-n, and the whole is said to signify, " The temple
of the fawn." Although it is very probable that
such is the meaning, the question arises. Why was
a fawn held sacred ? That it was so is undoubted,
as one of the Assyrian deities is represented as carry-
ing one in one arm, while in his hand he carries
the mystic branch of Bacchus. (See Plate II.,
Figs. 1, 4.)
I do not knoAv any particular reason why a fawn
should be sacred, except because of its name, or
because its skin is spotted. The word accJto has
taught us something of verbal puns, but I do not
see how to apply them here, except to notice that
"i?y, aphar, signifies 'to be strong, or vigorous,' 'he
is fruitful ; ' and that "i??^, cplicr, signified, as it does
Avith us, ' a heifer, a calf, the young of any animal ; '
and in nomenclature we have Epher, Ephron, just
as we have Ophrah in old time, and Aphra as a
current name amongst ourselves. We know that
356
Beth-leapheah] the calf was an object of idolatry both iu
the desert and in Dan.
Amongst other matters, it will be seen from the
drawing referred to, that the fawn carried by the
priest is a spotted one. We may also remark that
the s2)ots on the leopard had some mystic value ; the
creature was sacred to Bacchus, and Egyptian priests
wore a leopard skin on great religous occasions
" Athor, the female Egyptian divinit}', corresponding
to Apis, is well known as a sjjotted cow, and it is
singular that the druids of Britain also worshipped
a spotted cow." Hislop's Two Babylons ; pp. 62
to 72, 3rd edition, where much interesting matter
is given respecting the spotted robe, &c. ; at p. 67
is given another form of fawn like that I have copied,
Plate II., Fig. 4, and at p. 65 is seen a calf
covered with a spotted robe, with the feminine emblem,
or the sistrum of Isis, round its neck. (See Fig. 88,
p. 360.) Above its back is a scourge, and on its head
is a pair of horns, a globe and two figures, which
from their shape I take to be inverted phalli ; the
whole signifying the power of the sun fructifying
the earth. In this figure the ideas of spots, and
heifer or calf, are combined. Hislop, moreover, calls
attention to the important fact that, "i?^, namer,
or nimr, signifies "a spotted one;" and that *'?"',
racial, means •' subduing." Hence, he sa3^s, Nimrod
means " the leopard tamer," and that the spotted
fawn, or the spotted one, was a symbol of Nimrod.
See Nimrod.
But it is remarkable that no name like Nimrod has
yet been deciphered in the Cuneiform inscriptions,
nor, if I remember rightly, does any Assyrian priest
officiate iu a spotted dress. It may be that in ancient
Assyria a worship prevailed something similar to that
357
Beth-leaphrah] of iincieiit Egypt, find that it included reve-
rence for the spotted calf. Ijut this worsliip was put
down entirely l\y some king, to whom the name of
Nimrod has been given, as Bomha was to Ferdinand
of Naples. And just as St. Patrick got credit for
killing all the real snakes in Ireland because he erased
serpents from the crosses on which they were found,
so Nimrod got the credit of being a mighty hunter
because he abolished the Bacchic emblem, the spotted
skin. If this surmise be true, we should presume,
from the figures which still survive, that the worship
had not been entirely annihilated.
Whatever interpretation we choose to adopt, it is
a very significant fact that the shrine, or house, or
temple of the fawn, or calf, should be found in
Judah (see Micah i. 10). Whilst the prophet puns
upon the name "i^V? apJun-, which means " dust,"
he associates Avitli it in the same verse the words
Gath and Aphrah, and wo may remember that
the two are conjoined in the town of Gatli-
heplier.
The Septuagint translates the word as the house
of laughter. (Compare Isaac, or Issachar P)*""
Bete-lebaoth, riiX2'?-n^3 (Josh. xix. 6), " Temple of the
lionesses." (See page 315.)
tso Tliere is an old root "ips, ophar, wliicli signifies ' to cover.' The name of Apis in
Egyptian is Ilcjn, or Hcqn, wliicli is evideutly from the Chaklee Haj), ' to cove)'.'
In Egyptian, Hap signifies ' to conceal ' (Hislop, p. 65), also ' to hoil up,' or ' lying
down.' Now the calf which I have referred to in the text has over its back a
flagellum. The figure of Osiris (Plate II., Fig. 5), copied from ■\Vilkinsou, holds
a flagellum in one hand, and a shepherd's crook in Ihe other ; in both cases the
thongs are triple. Now it has long been known to the leai-ued, that flagellation
has been repeatedly resorted to for restoration of the virile power, but the crook
has a hidden meaning, which it is difficult to indicate; on the head of the figure
are two sei-peuts, piiCed up and erected. The vestment worn is spotted. Putting
what we have said in the text and this together, we must conclude that Beth
leaphrah signifies ' the temple where virility was restored,' or the power of
enjoying concubitus given.
358
Beth-lehem, ^[}f^''i^, Bi]SAs5,a (Matt. ii. 1). We approach
this name with peculiar interest. The latter part is
spelled ^^4, and pointed lechcm ; if we take the
original letters as unpointed, and the h to he the
genitive sign, as in the last word, we find that,
amongst other meanings, ^'I', Jiam or cJiain, signifies
'Egypt.' Accordingly Beth l-ham denotes "The
house of Egypt; " and the saying, " out of Egypt
have I called my son " (Matt. ii. 15, with Hos. xi. 1),
at once recurs to our mind. We become still more
interested when we remember that one a2">pellative for
the place was Ephrath, or Ephrata, which is allied
to aplira. See Beth Leaphrah.
But on signifies also "heat, union, marriage;"
the same letters spell Noah's son. Ham ; and any of
these may be intended.
Though not mentioned in Joshua, we are told
in another part of the Scripture that Bethlehem
was an ancient place (Gen. xxxv. 19). In all the
other Beths, save the last, the Hebrew genitive
sign is not found; it is probable, therefore, that
we must look to some root including the lamed;
we find nrh, laham, variously pointed, to mean ' to
eat,' 'to fight,' 'war,' 'siege,' 'food,' 'bread;' and
we have the cognomen Lachmi, ""Pn^, a name borne
by a son of Goliath. Bethlehem was also the
name of a man, the son of Ephratah (1 Chron. iv.
4) ; and " The house of bread " seems to be a poor
etymology for a man. It is true that ' Lachmi ' was
the Hindoo Goddess of Fortune; but there are too
few words of Hindoo origin in Palestine to allow
us to dwell upon the similarity of the names. Put-
ting all these considerations together, I incline to
the belief, that the real meaning of Beth-lehem is
"The temple of the hot one," analogous to Beth-el.
359
Beth-maacpia, n^y?3-n>3 (2 Sam. xx. 14), ''The temple of
the striking one" (see Maacha). Compare onr word
' Siin-strokc.''
Beth-marcaeoth, nn3nOTi^3 (Josliua xix. 5), " House, or
temple, of the chariots ; " also Maclmannah (the
measure of Anna '?) Mr. Pater, in Kitto's Cyclo-
pcedia, takes this literally, and considers it may have
been a posting house for chariots. It may be so, but
if it were, there ought to have been many such places
so named (2 Chron. viii. 6, ix. 25 ; 2 Kings xxiii. 11).
When we"'cousider that a king of Judah consecrated
chariots and horses to the Sun, and that a chariot wheel
amongst the Babylonians ^.^ ^.^
was an emblem of the Sun , ^
God, and that it is still
common with us as a reli-
gious emblem ; I think it
is more probable that the
place was a temple where
the Creator was worship-
ped under the form of
sacred chariots.
Fiirst's article on this word runs thus: "Place
of the Sun chariots. The worship of the Sun
was practised in Canaan by the Phoenicians ; hence
names of persons and places have a reference
thereto."
Beth-:\ieon, r'>i'9"J^'? (Jer. xlviii. 23). See Beth Baal-meon.
Beth-millo, Ni'?9"n^3 (Judges ix. 20), " The fortified house,
or temple, or bastion."
Beth-nimrah, '^^9-'"*" (Numbers xxxii. 36) ; "ip,^ nimar,
signifies " leopard; " and Beth-nimrah would be "the
house of the leopard, or spotted one." (See Beth-
LEAPHRAH.) The usual explanation of it is that it
means " the house of pure water," a sort of shrine
360
Beth-nimrah] built over a holy well, like the Avell of St.
Kejne and Holywell.
I have long been puzzled respecting the mystery
Figure 88.
concealed under
the symbol of a
spotted animal,
whether leopard
or antelope, and
the meaning of
the spotted robe
of Athor, in Fig.
88 (copied from
Hyslop's Tivo
Bahylons, and by him from Colonel Smith, and by
him from the original collection made by the artists
of the French Institute in Cairo). It appears to me
that the clue to the myth is the following: The
flagellum has ever been used to excite desire in those
who are almost effete. The cow is conspicuous for
the strength of her 'heat.' The collar round the
neck of the Goddess represents the sistrum of Isis,
or the 'concha.' We conclude, then, that there is
some amorous idea lurking under the spotted robe.
Now ^PJ, namer, signifies " cut in, indented, notched."
Compare napj^ nekehah = "a fissure," or a "woman,"
the whole being named from a characteristic part,
as well as " striped," and "spotted; " and Fiirst says
that it is cognate with 1?n^ hahar. On turning to
this root I find that it means "to be associated, or
connected," " an associate, male or female, in a good
or a bad sense ; " ' an enchanter, or magician,' ' a
spell,' &c., according to the vowel points. Putting
all these things together, I conclude that the spotted
robe signified "the power to have connection with
361
Beth-nimrahj an associate;" and, when worn by an idol
and its priest, it indicated that they assumed to
possess the secret of restoring viriHty, temporarily or
otherwise. Betpi-nimrah would thus signify the
temple or shrine where this cure was effected, and
be a legitimate ancestor of that Italian Church at
Isernia, to which Christian votaries went yearly to
be cured of ' frigidity.'
To moderns it seems strange how such a contriv-
ance as the flagellum should have been discovered;
but any one who has ever witnessed the punishment
of soldiers by scourging, could not fail to notice one
of its physical effects, and would thus learn to con-
vert a painful process into a great luxury.
Beth-palet, or phelet, P^f n^3 (Joshua xv. 27) ; ^^2^,
ixdat, signifies "to be sleek, or smooth," "to deliver,
liberation;" and the shrine would be equivalent to
" Temple of the Saviour." It is very probable that
the Roman Filate comes from this source.
Beth-pazzez, r>'?"n'? (Joshua xix. 21), " The house of the
leaping one;" from ^l^, ixizaz, 'he moves to and fro,'
or ' he divides.'
Beth-pege, ">iyS"n^? (Deut. iii. 29). (See Baal-peoe.)
Beth-phage, -Q-nHay^, V^.f J^^? (Mark xi. 1), V^?, imgah,
signifies ' to push, or to strike upon a person, or a
thing,' consequently the word in question means
" the temple of the striking one." I am inclined to
associate the w^ord with Belphegor, for V??, paka,
which appears to be the root of the last two sylla-
bles, signifies 'he cleaves,' 'divides,' 'is firm,' or
' hard ; ' 'a pointed cucumber,' or " Bel, the fasci-
uum," another form of Baal-peor. The scholar will
remember how frequently Ikihphage and Bethany
are spoken of together ; the name of the last was
362
Beth-phagej emiuently of Clialdee origin ; the other pro-
bably was so too.
Beth-rapha, ^?Tf^^? (1 Chron. iv. 12), " The habitation of
the giant." The name was borne by a son of Eshton.
This name gives ns an idea of the apparent extent
and duration of the Shemitic language, kmrapliel,
king of Shinar, smites the Rephaim in Ashteroth
Karnaim, in the time of Abraham ; Raplia is the
name of a giant in Gath in the time of David.
Raphael is the cognomen of an angel in Babylon, an
Assyrian in the time of Tobit (iii. 17), and of a
painter in modern Eome ; and there are abundance
of English 'Kalphs.' (See Eapha).
Beth-rehob, 3'inTn^3 (Judges xviii. 28). The word 3im^
rehoh, whatever may be its various vowel points,
conveys the idea of " size, breadth, space," " streets
and squares," &c. We find that the word was used in
Assyria in a sacred sense, for the name RehohotJi is
simply a plural form of the same word. We see in
the same word Rahab, the harlot ; and in Psalm
Ixxxvii. 4, it is associated with Babylon. The same
word seems to be used indefinitely in Ps. Ixxxix. 10.
The signification probably is "the great, or large
one ; " and the Ass^Tian Relwhoth is probably equiva-
lent to " the great ones," /'. c, the female creator
and her consort, the triad and the unit, Isis and
Osis, Bel and Ishtar, Adam and Eve, Mahadeva and
Parvati, Abraham and Sarah (see Baal, Area, &c.) ;
it would have much the same meaning as Kapha and
Rephaim. (See Rachel.)
I cannot imagine any people calling a town
' streets,' or ' squares,' ere any existed ; or a temple
' street-shrine. ^^
51 Since writing the above, I iiud tliat tlie Cuneiform Rihitu should be pro-
363
Beth-saida, Bn&a-aidu (Matt. xi. 21). Tliis is nsnally inter-
preted as " The house of fishing," from '">TV^ t^idah,
or more iDroiDerly the "' house of food." We may
fairly doubt both of tliem, inasmuch as wc can
scarcely imagine a tem^jle or shrine devoted to
catching fish, or preparing victuals. I feel more
inclined to compare the name with the oriental
Said, and with Sidon. From a cultivation of euphe-
mism, the Scripture copyists write the name of the
latter town with v, tsaddi, which is pronounced tz,
like the Italian z : Avhen thus spelled, it means
FisJiiufj. It is probable that the original was spelled
with T, zahi, the English z. If so, we shall find the
root in the word '^l,zaid, "proud, impudent, wanton;"
or V^l, zadon, "swelling with pride;" and we then
recognise that Sidon has a phallic meaning, just as
have Tyre, Ekron, Gaza, Ashkalon, and Gath.
If we adopt this interpretation, Bethsaida will
signify much the same as "Bethrehob."
Beth-shan, |Nt^"ri''2 (Josh. xvii. 11), " Temple of concord,"
or "tranquillity," from ]^'^, slian, 'concord, rest,
security.' (Compare Shain, Shaen, Shane amongst
ourselves.)
Beth-shemesh, ^'ff'n^l (Josh. xv. 10), " Temple of the
Sun," from ^!f^, shemesh, ' The Sun ; ' Shamas in
Assyrian, scJioiisch in Maltese. (Compare Shimson
and Simpson.)
Beth-shittah, ''^^^''T^''? (Judges vii. 22). It is generally
said that this word means "House of the Acacia;"
"^P^, sliitak ; and that it represents a locality where
uouncsd rihu. — Talbot, iu 2'ransac/ioiis of Royal Society of Literature, yo\. 2,
part 2, new series. If this be bo, Hehob might signify " The glorious father,"
Eibitu signifying ' gi-eat, glorious,' &c. ; and liehohoth would be " The gi-eat ones,"
feminine.
364
Beth-shittah] acacia trees were common. If, however, the
word represents a shrine, house, or temple, it is
probably derived from ^m, shat, plural, shathim, which
signifies 'columns,' or 'pillars,' in which case the
meaning is " The temple of the pillars."
Beth-tappuach, n-1Si^"ri''3 (Josh. xv. 63), " Shrine of the
Apple." (See the article on Apple ; and compare
this word with "the house of Rimmon," or of the
Pomegranate, 2 Kings v. 18.)
Beth-uel, ^^^^^ (1 Chron. iv. 30), " Habitation of El."
Bethulia, n>in3 (Judith iv. 6), "A virgin, a betrothed
woman, not yet joined with man." Fiirst.
The most probable etymon for this word is, that
it is equivalent to f^'^'l^^, hcfJi, and '^l, Jah, the ''
being elided from the last name. This will give the
signification to the word, " habitation for the God
Jah ; " and it would indicate the ancient opinion that,
so long as a woman remained a virgin, she was not
only ' fit to be,' but really was, a dwelling-place for
the Holy Spirit.
Beth-zachariah, BaiS^axciplci (1 Maccab. vi. 32), " Temple
of the celebrated Jehovah." (See Zachariah.)
Beth-zue, "i-1^'"n''2 (Josh. xv. 68), i)^, tsor, " a rock," or
"upright stone," wliicb, according as its shape was
elongated, or short and conical, had distinct signifi-
cations ; '1'''^', tzir, also signifies ' a messenger and an
idol.'
All the preceding places or temples are desci'ibed
as existing in Palestine. The follov/ing existed in
Babylonia and Assyria generally.
Betzal, ^^*^ Cuneiform, " Tem2)le of the Protector."
BiLAT, Cuneiform, " Tribute." (Compare Bill of Costs,
&c.)
BiT-GALLA, „ v/as either " a large temple," or " temple
365
Bit-galla] of the Sun." Gula. (The word Galla may be
compared with Gallus, "the cock," sacred to Apollo.)
BiT-GALLA-KUMTA, Cuneiform, " The large, or new temple
of the Sun."
BiT-NiTsmxi, Cuneiform, " House of treasure."
BiT-SHAKUEi, „ " The black temple."
BiT-SHAGGATHU is the name given to the chief temple in
Babylon : and we may trace the signification of the
word thus : ^''5, hctli, means " a temple ; " ^^^,
shagah, is "to press into," "to be constantly occupied
wdth ; " and ^^^, sliagal, the former part of which
we still have extant amongst ourselves, means " to
have connection;" whilst "^^^f, atliar, signifies "a
place." The compound word, therefore, we consider
to be equivalent to "the temple, the place for sexual
congress."
Shaga signifies "a feast" in the Assyrian language;
and of the nature of the feasts of the Babylonians,
Diodorus Siculus gives some curious particulars.
Our Gala or Solar days often end in Hke manner,
feasting being merely the prelude to another form of
sensual enjoyment.
The above-named temple induces me to reproduce
at length certain observations of Herodotus and
another writer, which show, (1), that purification
for ceremonial uncleanness was not peculiar to the
Jews, (2), that religion has been combined^ with
sensuahty, (3), that the custom was by the higher
orders held in abhorrence.
" As often as a Babylonian has intercourse with
his wife, he sits over burning incense, and his wife does
the same in another place ; at break of day both
wash, for they will not touch any vessel till they have
washed. The same practice is observed by the
366
BiT-SHAGGATHu] Amloicans. The most disgrticeful of the
Babylonian customs is the following ; every native
woman is obliged once in her life to sit in the temple
of Yenns and have intercourse with a stranger. And
many disdaining to mix with the rest, being proud on
account of their wealth, come in covered carriages, and
take up their station at the temple with a numerous
train of servants attending them. But the far greater
part do thus : many sit down in the temple of Venus
wearing a crown of cord round their heads ; some are
continually coming in and others are going out;
passages marked out in a straight line lead in every
direction through the women, along which strangers
pass and make their choice. When a woman has
once seated herself, she must not return home till
some stranger has thrown a piece of silver into her
lap and lain with her outside the temple (Compare
1 Sam. ii. 22). He who throws the silver must say
thus, ' I beseech the Goddess Mylitta to favour thee;'
for so the Assyrians call Venus, Mylitta. The silver
may be ever so small, for she will not reject it, inas-
much as it is not lawful for her to do so, for such silver
is accounted sacred. The woman follows the first man
that throws, and refuses no one. But wdien she has
had intercourse, and has absolved herself from her
obligation to the Goddess, she returns home; and after
that time, however great a sum you may give her, you
will not gain possession of her. Those that are
endowed with beauty and symmetry of shape are soon
set free, but the deformed are detained a long time
from inability to satisfy the law, for some wait for a
space of three or four years. In some parts of
Cyprus there is a custom very similar." ^^
S2 Pp. 8(;, 87, Gary's trauslation of Herodotus. Kohu's edition, London, 1858.
367
BiT-SHAGGATHu] We presume that the following translation,
from a portion of a cylinder of Sargon, has reference
to the above worship, anil the king's opinion there-
upon. " I watched over (or protected) their female
children until they married. I would not permit
handsome damsels of the upper classes to ofter prayers
and supplications in the temple of the Babylonian
goddess." ^^ Sargon was I understand an usurper, and
when he came to the throne, he, like Jehu, Jeroboam,
Athaliah, Henry YIII., Mary, Elizabeth, Cromwell,
Eobespierre, and a vast number of other rulers of
strong energy, swe])t away as far as possible the
remains of a worship which had become hateful to the
most powerful sections of the community.
BiT-TZiDA, or ZiDA, Cuneiform, " The house of sacred
things " ? It is curious that there is still a temple of
this name amongst the Kaffirs of the Indian Caucasus.
We still have the word Beth amongst us : in
EHzabeth, Macbeth, Bethell, Lambeth, Elspeth.'*
Betonim, Q'^^? (Josh. xiii. 26). This word may signify
simply ' the hills,' a curious name for a town. It is
more consistent Avitli ancient nomenclature to con-
sider that it is a plural form of l^l, heten, " the
round belly," or " the cupola heights."
Bezai, 'V? (Ezra ii. 17), " Shining, or high," from I'l^,
blitz. (Compare Bootes.)
Bezaleel, ^^^''^^ (Exod. xxxi. 2), is said to mean ''Al is
protection," as if from ''^'^^n^, ben zalal. (Fiirst.)
It is more probably a corrected form of '''^flf, basalel,
63 Talbot, in Transactions of Royal Society of Literature, luA series, vol. 7, p. 176.
5J The following are the names of certain places taken by Sennacherib, all
of which begin ivith Beth: —
Beth-Ammon, Beth-Car, Beth-Imbiah, Beth-Ritziah,
„ Aktami, ., Dagon, „ Kilniausakh, „ Yalsina,
„ Barn, „ Gabir, „ Kubitti, „ Zitti.
„ Buuald, „ Gitzi, „ Kumri.
Bezaleel] and is derived from ^.^3^ hazal, to be 'hard,' or
'firm,' or ' tliiclc,' a word from wlieuce comes our
basalt ; the Dame would thus read as ' El is firm,
or hard.'
Bezek, PJI (Judges i. 4), "Lightning,'' from P!^, hazak ;
when pointed as hezek, the word signifies " a fissure."
Adoni-Bezek signifies " the lord of Bezek," or " My
lord lightning," or "the shining one."
Bezek, "^^'^ (Deut, iv. 43), "Dispersion," or "digging out."
It also signifies gold or silver ore, from being cut or
dug out; as "V^, hasar, it signifies 'he is full,'
'thick,' 'swelling; ' also, 'he utters sounds.'
Belie, or Belibus, Cuneiform, an Assyrian proper name.
Bel-rabu, Cuneiform. " The great lord."
Bel-sar, or Shar-uzzar, Cuneiform, '
(Compare Belcher, Pilcher.)
Belni, Assyrian, "Lord," or "Lords.
Bel, ,, "Lord."
Belzuna, Cuneiform, " The moon.''
A son of Nabonidus.
(Compare Belzoni.)
Bed, Vedic,
Bha
Bhaga, „
Bhama,
Bhanda,
BnARGAVA
Bhash,
Bhatu,
Bhava-ja,
Writings." (Compare " The Venerable
Bede, Bedesman, Bedel.)
" To shine,'
" The sun
" virtue,'
" a tiger,
and his
female organ.'
" Light."
' Any vessel, pot, or cup."
" An elephant."
"To speak; " Bliasha, "language."
bosh ?)
" The sun."
" Love."
"light," " the sun."
" "Siva," "divine power,"
"beauty," " the vulva." Bagb,
A possible origin of Bacchus
leopard skin robe ; also ' the
(Hence
369
Bhavana, Veclic, "Nature," "the wife of Siva," "creator,"
" founder," " mental perception."
Bheatei, ,,. "A brother " (frater).
Bhrud, „ " To cover," " to collect " (to brood).
Bhuti, „ " State of being," " birth," " prosperity,"
" wealth." (Hence booty.)
BiCHRi, "193 (2 Sam. xx. 1). This name is probably a cor-
rected form of l^^??^, or ^''P)^^, hachriah, or hickeriah,
the terminal n being elided. If so, it would signify
" Jah breaks forth," " Jah is the dawn."
BiDKAE, "IP7? (2 Kings ix. 25), either "The servant of the
ram," T? for ^35< and "i?, or "worshipping Melkar;"
T being abridged from ■>i?'^9- (Furst.)
BiGTHA, ^'^^^ (Esther i. 10), signification unknown.
BiGTHAN \^}^ (Esther ii. 21), of doubtful import.
BiGTHANA, ^^^^.^ (Esther vi. 2), signification unknown.
BiGVAi, '']^^ (Ezra ii. 2), of doubtful import.
BiLDAD, "^7^2 (Job ii. 11), ^^ and ■'■'''^, " To love, or to be
united with, Bel," or "he loves Bel."
BiiiEAM, also Ibleam, Ciy?3 (1 Chron. vi. 70), "Baal is
Am"? = ^^^ and ^^, haal and am. It is possible
that this may be the origin of our word William.
BiLGAH, nj'?2 (1 Chron. xxiv. 14), "Bursting forth," "first-
born." (Fiirst.)
BiLGAi, ^^f3 (Nehem. x. 8), " Bursting forth," or "firstborn."
BiLHAH, ^^"^^^ (Gen. xxix. 29), from '^S and ^)^, "Bel
creates," or "Bel moves round us."
BiLHAN, in*?? (Gen. xxxvi. 27), " He fears On " ? from ^^^,
hala, " to fear ; " or " Bel is On " ?
BiLSHAN, r^'^2 (Ezra ii. 2), "Peace of Bel." "Concord
with Bel," or " Bel is peace," ^^_^ and \^^.
BiMHAL, ''7^p3^ (1 Chron. vii. 33), "God is my fortress;"
from 7^', al, and 'IP7, havuili, "God," "A high place,
a fortress."
370
BiNCHODESCH, n Phceiiiciaii name, "son of tlie consecrated
one " ?
BiNEA, ^^^^. (1 Chron. ix. 43), and "^^^3 (1 Cliron. viii. 37).
Both of these words seem to be corrected forms of
^l']^, which signifies ' Jah is intelhgent,' or ' Son of
Jah,' according to the vowel points.
BiNNUi, '-I^S (Ezra viii. 83), " Son of rest," from \^, hen, son,
and n-1^ ' to rest.' (Compare Noah, Benaiah.) The
usual interpretation is 'building,' in which it is
difficult to see any sense.
BmsHA, y'^">2 (Gen. xiv. 2), this cognomen is said to mean
" son of wickedness." The interpretation must cer-
tainly be rejected, unless, as in the case of Ahitophel,
the name has been given by the recorder to show his
own feelings, for no one would bestow such a name
upon a child. If the historian called a king of
Gomorrah by that cognomen intentionally, it appears
to be clear that he has not written truthfully. There
is an old root ^''}^, harash, or birsh, which seems to
have had a meaning of " cutting or carving out, or
splitting as with an axe ; " and as Birsha was con-
temporary with Abram, ' the High father,' it is
probable that the name in question really means
"the Creator." (Compare Persia.)
Birzavith, n)n3 (1 Chron. vii. 31), " Son of splendours, the
splendid ones," from the plural of "i!, ziv, ' splendour,'
and "I?, har, a ' son.'
Bisk, t:^^ " Causing shame." " If the derivation of dog
from 2'?, dog, pro-creation, i. c, salacious, lecherous,
be accepted, then there can be no reason why bitch,
from ^'^, hish, should not be received. The propen-
sities of these animals Avere notorious to the ancients
as well as to the moderns, and remarks to that effect
are to be found in the classical and Scriptural
371
Bish] writers." — Our BritisJi Ancestors, p. 370; Rev. S.
Lysous. Parker, London find Oxford.
BiSHLAM, ^^'^^ (Ezra iv. 7), A Persian word, of doubtful
etymology.
BiTHiAH, ^l^^ (1 Cbron. iv. 18), "Worshipper of Jali."
BizjOTHJAH, n^nVTB (Josh. XV. 28), There is great doubt
about the meaning of this appellative ; the usual
interpretation being "contempt of Jehovah." This
involves the proposition that the word Jehovah was
known to the Canaanites, before it was revealed to
Moses, if the town were old ; or if the town Avere
recent, that those who named it knew all that passed
amongst the Israelites in the wilderness, as well as
if Moses bad issued a weekly gazette.
Although the proposition that Jab or Jehovah
was a common name of the Almighty is not gene-
rally accepted by the unlearned, there are many
concurring circumstances which lead the inquirer to
believe that Jah was a sacred name amongst the
Canaanites, or Phoenicians, prior to the settlement
of the Jews ; e. r/., Jabin is king of Canaan, and his
name would read Ben Jah, ' the son of Jah ; ' and
there are many other words of a similar nature.
But as the Jews claimed the name as that of their
own especial God, their writers "corrected" the
Heathen names in which Jah aj^peared. (See Jah,
infra.) Furst translates the word as " place of
excellent olives."
BiZTHA, ^^'J}^?, (Esther i. 10), the word is said to mean
"an eunuch."
BiL, " The grave old man." The same as Bel?
BiL-AKH-isu, Cuneiform, a man's name; Assyrian, signifying
"Bel (is) brother of Isu " (or Jesus, or Hosi), the
sanour or helper ; he is the son of Merodach-Abua ;
372
BiL-AKH-isu i and it is noteworthy here that the son has not
the father's name, each person having an individual
name given by a priest, and involving some theological
doo-ma. It is very interesting to the inquirer, to find
Isu a sacred name in Assyria, Jesus a holy name in
Palestine, and Hesus equally so in ancient Gaul.
There are other forms of the words, such as Joshua,
Hosea, and Hosi, which are as closely alHed in
meaning, as our English words ' save ' and ' help.'
Billu-Ballat, Assyrian, a man's name. (Compare Billy,
Ballet, &c.)
BiRKET, Assyrian, means "blessed; " Birket-Baal, "blessed
by Baal," Both are male names ; so familiar do
they sound, that we have no difficulty in believing that
the modern cognomen, Bill Birkett, may have been as
old as Sennacherib or Abraham. One of the names
read by Eawlinson was Barkat-Bil-bin-ara (Ninevite).
BiL-SHAMiN, is another cognomen which sounds familiar to
our ears, for we have Shimmius in abundance
amongst us, and still more Bills. It signifies
"Lord of the heavens."
BiLDAD, Assyrian name = " Given by Bel." (Compare the
Jewish Eld AD and Medad.)
BiLLAT, Assyrian, " Queen " ?
BiTH-KHEiRA, Assyrian, " Mistress of the house."
BiT-RAB PuL-SAR-RABU, "The great palace of Pul, the great
king."
Boar (The). Cristna is represented to have appeared on
earth as a boar; and the animal is sacred to him. A
boar is represented as having killed Adonis. A boar's
head is a Christian Christmas dish. For a very
interesting account of the boar, in Western Asia and
Europe, see Hislop's Two Babylons, p. 143, et seq.
BoAZ, "^y^ (Euth ii. 1). There is considerable difficulty
378
BoAz] iu assigning a meaning to this word ; it is said to
mean "alacrity;" it may signify "in strength," =
3 and ?y. It was a name given to one of the
pillars in Solomon's temple. We find it in con-
junction Avith the sun, ra, in Bozrah. We find Buz,
a son of Nahor (light) ; and Buzi was the name of
Ezekiel's father. We have also seen the names of
Bezai, Bezaleel, and Bazluth, which may or may not
be variants of Buz. Fiirst states that ^i??, Baaz,
signifies ' to split, or divide,' also ' to be valiant, or
bold,' or 'strength and firmness.' 'To split, or
divide,' is still used as an euphemism ; and hardness
is supposed to be the quality alike of a A-aliant man
and of the phallus. We may therefore, I think,
conclude that Boaz is one of the many by-names
for the male organ.
BocHERU, •I'l^^ (1 Chron. viii. 38), "He is the first-born"
(Gesenius) ; "youth" (Fiirst).
BocniM, ^''?2 (Judges ii. 1), " The weepers." I doubt
the etymology ; if correct, it may refer to some
dropping wells, similar to that at Knaresborough, in
Yorkshire. It is, probably, a variant for hacliim,
'3^'?3, or D^y''p2 hkiim, 'the chasms, or fissures;' and
chasms, &c., were held sacred. In Englnnd they
were called by the early Christians Cunni Diaboli.
It was over a chasm, Avhence certain mephitic vapours
were said to arise, that the priestess of Delphi placed
herself before she prophesied.
We have the word V?^, hiikia, used for chinks, or
fissures, by Amos (vi. 11), and Isaiah (xxii. 9); and
Bukki and Bukkiah are both proper names.
BoDOTKiA, an ancient name of Scotland.
The first syllable of this word may be from
K''^, hada, 'to form, or fashion;' or it may be a
374
Bodotria] variant from the Sanscrit l)?(rff?hi, 'nnclerstandiug,'
'intellect,' 'mind;' ov Budli, 'to know;' ov Bocllia,
'wise.' As to tlie probability of the latter surmise,
see Dr. Moore's Ancient Pillar Stones of Scotland ;
in an inscription on the Newton stone is a ^
cross, one of Buddha's emblems, and the i— i— ,
writing generally resembles ancient Pali ; like J
that which has been found in old caves in India.
Budd, in the Erse, signifies the phallus. (See
BUDUEL, jX'Si.)
BoHAN, \D^ (Josh. XV. 6), a sou of Reuben. The word
signifies "to be short and thick, fat;" also "the
thumb." This is one of the numerous emblems of
the fascinum, and is still used amongst the Sclavonic
nations. Compare the modern Bohun, Bohn, Bowen.
BoLiTHO, is an old Cornish name, still extant ; it probably
comes from ]^''^ ^V?, hacdithan, the BsAirav of Strabo.
BoRSiPPA, the ancient Bartsippa, " Son of the ship."
Bow (The), a phallic emblem ; amongst the oriental nations
a bended bow signified ' ' a peculiar state of pros-
perity."
BozGATH, i^i"?>7 (Jos. XV. 39), "The swellers up;" from
pys, hatsak, ' to swell up.' Compare Bozrah, and in
England, Bosworth, Boscawen.
In Gesenius the word is rendered " stony, or
elevated ground;" scarcely an appropriate name for
a town, at a time, too, when religion entered into all
appellatives. " Height, hill." (Fiirst.)
BozEZ, r^'^^ (1 Sam. xiv. 4), said to mean "shining"
(Gesenius), "height" (Fiirst) ; Tl^, huz, signifies 'to
be, or make white, or bright,' also ' very fine white
linen cloth,' or ' byssus.'
BozRA, '"^^P (Gen. xxxvi. 36), said to mean simply "a
sheep-fold," or " castle, or fortress."
375
Brahma, " Goddess of speech ; " wife of Brahma.
Beahman, Vedic, "Prayer," "austere devotion," "holy know-
ledge," " chastity," " the Scriptures," " the highest
caste," "the divine cause and essence of the world,"
"the incomprehensible God."
Brahmya, one of the live sacraments. The Romanists, who
have adopted so many of the ancient and oriental
heathen religious ceremonies, faiths. Sec, have pro-
bably adopted the Yedic sacraments, and added them
to the Christian two, and thus obtained their seven.
Branding. Esarhaddon branded a captive king with the
emblem of Asshur, some short time before he executed
him by beheading. He piles the heads of his enemies
in heaps by his city gates. (Compare 2 Kings x. 7.)
Buddhi, " Understanding," " the God Buddah, or Budh."
Burn, " To know."
Budha, "Wise."
BuDUEL, the name of a king of Ammon in the time of
Sennacherib. Here Rawlinson supposes that the first
syllable may be a form of Beth, = " house; " but it is
more likely to be from the Hebrew or Phoenician ^'7?^
bada, "to create." This, then, would read, "El
created me." At the same period, " Padiah," or
Father Jah, or Jah my father, was king of Ekron ;
a proof, if any additional testimony were needed,
that both El and Jah were sacred names amongst
others than the Jews.
BuKKi, \'?? (Numb, xxxiv. 22). See Bochbi, above.
BuKiaAH, '^^IP^ (1 Chron. xxiv. 4). „ „
BuLi, " The vulva " (the belly ?).
Bull. There is an immense number of mythoses in which
this creature plays a most important part. For an
account of them, the reader is referred to Lajard's
Culte de Venus and Rolle's Cidte de Bacchus. It will
376
Bull] SLiffice to say, that the animal was inteucled to sym-
bolise power of body and unwearied masculine energy —
two attributes especially coveted by ancient kings
and great men. The bull seems to have been in a
manner sacred to Venus, whilst the lion was emble-
matic of the male creator. The bull and the lion,
amongst the Assyrians, occupied much the same
places as the lion and the unicorn do in modern
heraldry.
When the sacred bulls are mentioned in Esar-
haddon's inscriptions, the expressions used become
mysterious, or symbolical. (Talbot, Transactions of
the Royal Society of Literature, vol. vii., page 601.)
It Avould be impossible, within the limits of a
short article, to give an account of all which has been
written respecting the significance of the Bull, from
China on the east, to England on the west, as a
divine emblem. All my readers are probably aware
that it symbolised strength and masculine vigour;
and, in consequence of those attributes alone, may
have been held sacred; but there seem to have
been other hidden causes, which I find tolerably well
summed up by F. Lajard in the following words : —
" Les deux principaux attributs caracteristiques
de Venus furent, en orient comme en Occident, le
taureau et le lion, 1' un, symbole du principe de la
chaleur et du pouvoir generateur actif, 1' autre,
symbole du principe humide et du pouvoir generateur
passif ; et tons les deux signes du zodiaque, mais avec
cette difierence que le taureau etait le premier signe
de r cquinoxe vernal et le domicile de la lune a 1' epoque
de sa plus grande exaltation, et que le lion place au
solstice d'ete etait le domicile du soleil pendant la
canicule. Ces deux animaux furent done aussi les
377
Bull] bierogiyplies ideognipliiqucs de 1' hermaphroditisme
de Yenus, divinite a laquelle les aucieiines traditions
assigneut, comme a Mitlira, une place entre les
equinoxes et les solstices, et doimeut pour monture
le taureau." {OjJ. Cit., p. 243.)
In another passage he writes thus —
"Premier etre sorfci des mains d'un dieu createur
du monde, le taureau, symhole de vie, est appele d'un
nom qui signifie a la fois 'vie ' et ' taureau.' Par une
consequence immediate d'une doctrine qui enseignait
que les premiers etres vivants etaient ne dans 1' eau,^^ il
est, en meme temps, le symbole du principe humide, du
pouvoir passsif de la generation, ou du sexe feminin.
... A peine ne, ce taureau protogone, de nature pure
et lumineuse, devint un sujet d'envie et de jalousie pour
le mauvais genie et ses demons ; ils 1' empoisonnent
et le mettent a mort. . . . A ce moment, du corps
du taureau mourant sortent les prototypes de I'homme,
de la femme, de tons les animaux, de toutes les
plantes, de tons les arbres qui peuplent la terre. La
semence du taureau est portee dans la lune, et la,
par r action fecondante du soleil, elle devient la
source inepuisable de la reproduction de tous les
etres," &c. (P. 221.)
65 It is very interesting to the moclern physiologist to be able to trace the origin
of certain mythological ideas which have obtained in ancient days. We see in the
text the idea that all living beings were born in the water. This is sunply the
expression of the fact, which thehierarchs had learned, that Providence has supphed
in the maternal womb an aqueous fluid in which the fcetus is suspended during its
intra-uterine life. When parturition occurs, this fluid, which is contaiued in a strong
envelope, has much to do in preparing the way for the exit of the baby. When the
birth approaches, it is heralded usually by a gush of " water; " and when the new
being is ushered fully into life, it is followed by a final gush of water, there being no
further use for the fluid. Few, very few, there are amongst women, whose womb
during pregnancy does not contain a large quantity of this fluid, hence the female
was said to be of a humid nature ; hence the idea of fecundity of the waters, and
the division of creation into the hot and dry, and the hot and moist. Vida sitjyra, p. 85.
378
BuNAH, nj-13 (1 Cbrou. ii. 25), for Banah, "he built," or
"he erected me." (See Buns.)
BuNAKi-BETH, a towii taken by Sennacherib.
BuNNi, '?3 (Neh. xi. 15), "Built, or erected," "upright;"
from <^^}, ' to erect, or build up.'
Buns. I introduce this word to enable me to copy one of the
very interesting pages from Hislop (Op. Cit.): — "The
hot cross buns of Good Friday, and the dyed eggs
of Pasch, or Easter Sunday, figured in the Chaldsean
rites just as they do now. The 'buns,' known too by
that identical name, were used in the worship of the
Queen of Heaven, the Goddess Easter (Ishtar), as early
as the days of Cecrops, the founder of Athens, that
is, fifteen hundred years before the Christian era.
'One species of bread,' says Bryant, 'which used to
be offered to the gods, was of great antiquity, and
called Bonn.' Diogenes Laertius, speaking of this
offering being made by Empedocles, describes the
chief ingredients of which it was composed, saying,
'He offered one of the sacred cakes called Bonn,
which was made of fine flour and honey.' The
Prophet Jeremiah takes notice of this kind of offering,
when he says, ' The children gather wood, the fathers
kindle the fire, and the women knead the dough, to
make cakes to the Queen of Heaven ' (Jer. vii. 18,
and xliv. 19). At the present day the buns are not
offered, but eaten, on the festival of Astarte; but this
leaves no doubt as to whence they have been derived."
(Pp. 154, 155.)-^^' The author of the book in question
does not add that the ' buns ' offered to the queen
of heaven, and in sacrifices to other deities, were
framed in the shape of the sexual organs of the male
515 The FIcbrew, or Phojuician, name for tbe cakes otl'tirecT to Astarte, is pg
cavan, which reminds us strongly of Kavauagh, Cavan, &c.
379
Buns] or female, or of both combined ; but that they were so
in ancient and comparatively modern times, we have
abundant evidence. IMartial distinctly speaks of such
things, in two epigrams, lib. xiv., ep. 69, wherein
the male organ is spoken of, and lib. ix., ep. 2,
wherein the female part is commemorated, the cake
being made of the finest flour, and kept especially for
the palate of the favoured fair one. We can under-
stand how such things could be allowed in licentious
Rome, but we can scarcely comprehend how they
could ever have been tolerated in Christian Europe,
as we find that they were from the second part of the
Remains of the Worsli'qy of Priapus ;'^ that in
Saintonge, in the neighbourhood of La Eochelle,
small cakes, baked in the form of a phallus, are made
as offerings at Easter, and are carried and presented
from house to house. Dulaure'' states that in his
time the festival of Palm Sunday, in the town of
Saintes, was called le fete des 2nnnes; and that during
its continuance the women and children carried in the
procession a phallus made of bread, Avhich they called
a j^inne, at the end of their palm branches ;^° these
' pinnes ' were subsequently blessed by the priest, and
carefully preserved by the women during the year.
A similar practice existed at St. Jean d' Angely,
where small cakes, made in the form of the phallus,
and called fateaux, were carried in the procession of
the Fete Dieu, or Corpus Christi. The same author
states that in some of the earlier inedited French
books on cookery, receipts are given for making cakes
57 A cODtinnatiou of E. P. Kuights Worlr, and wLich is uuderstood to be from
the pen of one of our most distinguished antiquarians.
88 Histoire Ahregie des Diferents CjtZies, toI. ii., p. 2S5, printed 1825.
69 We have already noticed that ' the palm ' is an euphemism, and it is curious
here to see it united wilh the phnllus in Christendom.
380
BuNSJ of the form in question, ^Yhicb are broadly named.
An author, Johannes Bruerinus Campegius, who
wrote in the sixteenth century, describes these con-
trivances as a proof of the degeneracy of manners
amongst Christians. Dulaure informs us that when
he wrote (1825), such like cakes Avere still common ;
that the male was symbolised chiefly in Lower
Limousin, and especially at Brives, whilst the female
emblem was adopted at Clermont, in Auvergne, and
in other places. (Pp. 158-160.)
In our own country, I do not knoAv that cakes or
buns are ever pubhcly made in these grossly obnoxious
forms ; but from the ancient conventional female
emblem being adojDted as the form of some, there is
reason to suppose that England can yet show the
relics of ancient usages. For example, there was,
and perhaps still is, a custom at Nottingham for the
bakers to send round to their customers, at Christmas,
the modern representative of the ancient saturnalia,
large cakes or buns, which are made in a lozenge
form ; *^° upon these are moulded sometimes the form
of the cross, but more frequently the Virgin and Child ;
a coincidence which stamps the custom as having
been religious at a former period, and probably as
commemorative of the worship of Astarte.
Buz, "3, Buzi, n-ia (Gen. xxii. 21), (See Boaz). It probably
is a variant of ''V3, or Y^^, bus, " to be high, or
shining."
C. There is no single letter in the Hebrew which entirely
corresponds to the third letter of our alphabet. Those
CO See Fig. 51, page 156, where a lozenge of similar shape to the buns
described is to be seen between the real and the mystic man. Such a lozenge was
the symbol of Ishtar, or the celestial virgin.
381
C] names vdiicli, in onr authorised version, begin with 0,
are written with 3, c, or p, k, except once (viz.,
Charashim), where it is Avith n, h. There is so much
similarity between D, and c, that we may well imagine
them to be the same signs ; the one being written
from right to left, and the other from left to right.
But even if we allow this, Ave can scarcely identify
the tAvo in sound, for D has either a guttural or
k sound, according to the absence or presence of the
dagesli, whilst c has the value both of k and s : for
example, cart = kart, and rice = rise ; even in the
same word the difference is apparent, as scarcely =
skairsly. It remains to be added, that 3 is inter-
changeable with 3 [/, 1 j, p k, n ]i.
Cabbon, P23 (Jos. XV. 40), signifies, I think, "On is round,"
from an old root, 2??, cahah, 'he is round.' Gesenius
thinks that the Avord signifies ' a cake ; ' whilst Fiirst
considers it equivalent to ' a hamlet, or circle of huts.'
Cuhhou is still a common name in the Isle of Man,
and Gibbon is familiar to all scholars.
Cabiri, Ka^zipoi, Deities or angels amongst the Phoenicians,
Avhere they Avere described as the seven sons of P7^',
Zadik. The name ajDpears to be allied to '^''^^, cabir,
Avhich signifies "great, mighty, or overpowering."
I presume that, like the seven archangels amongst the
Chaldajans, the Cabiri were the seven ijlanets amongst
the Phoenicians.
Cabul, ^-123 (Josh. xix. 27), i. q. ^-I^n, " A dry, parched
place ; " the 3 and n being interchanged ; vide supra,
under letter C ; and see also 1 Kings ix. 13.
CocHA, or Coach, D^, " Strength," esjjecially virile power,
Avealth, &c. (Compare Caciis, the giant Avho fought
Avith Hercules, and the modern Cock.)
Cain, T? (Gen. iv. 1 ; Jos. xv. 57), "A spear," "to pierce,"
dS9.
Cain] "a smith," ''to create," 'La jjiqiie,'' ' le clard,
'fascinum.' (Compare Khan.) In Assyrian, kenu
signifies 'eldest,' and «&//, 'son.' Is this the origin
of Cain and Abel ?
Cainan, PN'' (Gen. v. 9). This word is probably a variant of
1^3, cluinan, or kanan, "he stands upright," "he is
set up," equivalent to a " Hermes." (See Gilgal.)
Calah, '°'?3 (Gen. x. 11), " Perfection," also " a trunk,
or pillar;'' also n?3, "he is firm," or "pining with
desire." This name was borne by an Ass^-rian city,
and it may have been derived from a word like HPS^
calaJi, 'adorned,' 'crowned,' 'a bride,' equivalent to
' the Virgin,' or Ishtar; if so, we may compare it with
KciXYi, kalec, ' beautiful.'
Calcol, ^373 (1 Kings iv. 31), also written Chalcol. This
word is possibly an altered form of ^'^f^^, k'alcol,
^l^'^, k\d, being equivalent to ^^, al, " above," ?'3,
" all," i. e., " above all."
Caleb. 2^3 (Numb. xiii. 6). This name is one of par-
ticular interest, because it was borne by one of the
only two Israelites who were allowed to enter Canaan
after leaving Egypt. The usual signification assigned
to ^r.^, Caleb, is " the bold," " the valiant," &c.; but
if, neglecting the vowel points as a comparatively
modern invention, we pursue the meaning of the
letters, we find that they signify " to lay hold on with
violence, pressing, enduring, raging ; " hence ' a dog,'
and sometimes very figuratively 'a Sodomite,' or "a
despicable unbehever " (Rev. xxii. 15). It also means
"to pierce, to penetrate anything, to push in." Now,
it is well known to modern travellers that the dogs of
Palestine are unclean scavengers ; and, with few excep-
tions, they were not much better in olden times. When,
therefore, we find that Divinities were represented mth
383
Caleb] canine heads, we are surprised, and naturally seek a
solution of the mystery. Isis is often depicted as a
cynocephalic goddess ; and, if painted under another
form, she is attended hy dogs, or by dog-headed
mortals, male or female. Sometimes amongst her
attendants we see monkeys, whose heads have some
likeness to those of hounds. We find a clue by
which the problem may be solved, in examining
the other forms assumed by the goddess, who
appears sometimes as a cow (see Athor), and again
is like a sheep.
Now we know that these animals are conspicuous
for their strong sexual passion, and for the care which
they take of their young ; and we remember that
the dog exhibits its desires in a manner most offen-
sive to us, whilst the sexual habits of the monkey
are equally disgusting. Yet each variety obeys the
instinct which the Creator has implanted ; and the
Egyptians studied His works, and adopted some of
them as mystic signs of His power. Memory now
takes us to the mummied cats and sacred crocodiles ;
the former are still notorious for discordant love-cries,
and the latter are patterns for domestic mothers, as
none nurse their broods more tenderly. Amongst
the same people, too, the frog was regarded with
superstitious reverence ; and than it, we know of no
animal more prolific, for its size. The mass of ova
which she expels appears to exceed her own bulk; and
the frog is adored by some, and eaten by others, who
wish to imitate her powers.
To call a man therefore " a dog," implies that he
is as fierce in love as he is courageous in fight, and as
ready for the boudoir as for the battle.
Calf. (See Heifer.)
384
Calneh, or Calno, ^3^3 (Geii. x. 10). Signification unknown.
Cama, '"^ps, " To pine, or long for." This is the name of the
Hindoo God of love, or desire.
Camon, P^P (Judges x. 5), " The erect On " ? from Q-ip, cum,
" to be erect," and |K% On. In this case the word is
a counterpart of Kemuel (Gen. xxii. 21), in which El
takes the place of On.
Canaan, li'^s (Gen. ix. 18). Compare Cainan. PP, kanan,
signifies, '' he creates, or sets up;" p3, canan, "he
stands upright;" as ^}P, kanah, "he mounts up,"
"he is set up, straight, or stiff," the 3 and p being
interchangeable. (See above, under letter C.) From
this word we get Canna, Cane (compare Caen, in
Normandy), Canning, l^c.
Although it is possible that the word originally
had a phallic meaning, when borne by a man, ' the
son of Kam,' it is probable that, when borne by a
district, the name is derivable from '^^^, cana, ' to lie
low,' ' a plain ' (as contradistinguished from Abam,
' the mountain '), with the addition of |k, On, which
would make it equivalent to " the valley of On ; " and
" thus it may be considered as equivalent to to [xeyu
ttsSjoV, ' the great plain,' as the two Sidonian States
were called by Josephus {Ant. v. iii. 1)." Fiirst,
s. v., \P.^ In later times the word Cauaanites was
used as " mei-chants," a fact which corroborates the
belief that they were the same people known to
history as the Phoenicians.
Canneh, n33 (Ezek. xxvii. 23), probably a variant of ^^3,
cana, or Canaan.
Canon of Scriptuee. When the author of these pages was
a young man, there were few expressions which were
more incomprehensible to him than the words ' Canon
of the Scriptures.' They seemed to have some hidden
385
Canon of Scripture] meaning, whereof everybody had an
idea, but of which no one conkl give a definite
explanation. By dint of close attention to the sense
in which the words were employed, the conclusion
arrived at was that the " canon " was some unseen,
incomprehensible power, which made certain writings
bearing the name of one individual ' inspired,' and
those of others ' apocryphal,' or of doubtful value.
The more closely the nature of this ' canon ' was
investigated, the more mystical, or mythological, did
it become. In vain were hierarchs consulted, and
books ransacked, the ' canon ' still became more pro-
blematical than before. It is doubtful whether I should
ever have attained any definite result, unless common
sense had been consulted more than theological jargon.
If we wish to ascertain strictly the value of one
class of writings, it is well to compare them with
another ; it is proper, therefore, to compare theological
with medical treatises. Now, at one period of medi-
cine, Hippocrates and Galen were the only writers
who were trusted; they were 'canonical,' and stars of
such magnitude, that none other were allowed to
shine in their sphere. It was right to annotate them,
it Avas wrong to supersede them. After a long period,
these distinguished men were supplemented in Eng-
land by Sydenham. Yet during the lifetime of this
illustrious physician — one to whom the name of the
British Hippocrates was subsequently given — he was
met by the asseveration that the canon of medical
writers was closed, and he was opposed with all the
virulence of professional jealousy. After his death,
however, his writings were added to the "canon."
Since his period, every fresh author has been subject
to the same trial ; and, as a result, every original
B B
386
Canon of Scripture] medical writer trusts to posterity, rather
tiian to bis contemporaries, for a correct judgment.
As it is in pliysic, so it is in theology. Isaiah,
Jeremiah, Ezeldel, and others were treated with con-
tumely during their lifetime, but after their decease
they were glorified. There are many saints also in
the Papal calendar, who during their existence were
regarded by all as lunatics, but who now, when time
has shed its halo around them, are authoritatively
declared by the court of Rome on earth to be powerful
intercessors for men in the court of the Almighty
in heaven.
This clue assists us to understand the expression
" Canon of Scripture." During the early days of the
Jewish kingdom it is doubtful whether any authori-
tative writings were known. The episode of the
finding of a copy of the law in the reign of King
Josiah, and the absence of the original, if any really
existed, lead us to the belief that no written law was
known during the days of Josiah's predecessor. We
know from their own account that neither Isaiah,
Jeremiah, nor any other prophet was considered by
his contemporaries as inspired.
The time of "the captivity" at length came round,
and this, to a great extent, suspended the propensity
to prophesy. It might " pay " any one to assume the
office of ' seer,' whilst there was a probability of
gaining wealth or position ; but a nation of slaves
could not afl'ord to remunerate a prophet, nor would a
task-master tolerate in a servant the proclivity to
preach rather than to work. Hence, when the He-
brews returned to Canaan, they had only the remem-
brance of past vaticinations, which were edited by
the head men of the nation. Whether this council
387
Canon of Scmptuee] .admitted evcrytliing which was ancient,
or whether it made a selection from all older writings,
if any really existed, it is certain that the Canon of
the Scriptures, such as it Avas then framed, was a
collection of writings made by human beings, and
jiromulgated as sacred by the fiat of a human tribunal.
After the captivity, those utterances alone were
respected which harmonised with the feelings or
political views of the Jewish rulers, or of the great
council. Thus Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi had
their prophecies added to the ancient canon, because
they favoured the idea of the restoration of the Jews
to political power.
To the more ancient Jewish writings others were
added, much in the same way as Spenser and
Shakespeare have been added to Chaucer in the list of
English poets. But just as these men were slighted
in their own day, so were Jesus the son of Sirach
and other writers neglected in theirs. One set of
Christians have allowed a place in the Canon of
Scripture to those whom another set of " believers "
reject. Here again man sets himself in judgment
over works which purport to be divine.
At the time of our Saviour, the Jews considered
the Canon of the Sciipturc to be absolutely closed ;
although it is true that they believed in the certain
advent first of a second Elias, and subsequently of a
Saviour who was to restore the kingdom of Israel.
There are many amongst ourselves who equally anti-
cipate a second coming of Christ. But the ancient
Hebrews considered, and the modern Christians think,
that no one can be recognised as Elias or Christ,
unless the men tlien existing should allow the claim.
There have been, and still are, many who assume to
Canon of Scripture] be the second saviour, but very few
credit tbeir mission.
With Jesus, the Lord, a new style of teaching
beo'on ; and respecting Him and His doctrines, a new
literature arose. There are writings which purported
to give His biography, that recorded His life. His
ministry, His doctrines. His death and His resur-
rection. The number of these was considerable,
and many of them are still extant, in addition to
those which are familiar to us all. Besides these
histories, which passed by the name of Gospels, there
were many other compositions, which passed by the
name of E^Distles, letters written by one or other
Apostle to one or more 'churches.'
Every christian who could write was able to com-
pile a biography or to manufacture a letter. There
is scarcely a distinguished man amongst ourselves
who does not meet with many historiographers ;
and there are few popular writers whose style is not
copied and vdiose letters are not falsely multiplied.
To take one instance out of many ; there are
biographers of Cromwell, who depict him either as a
saint or a demon, according to the predilections of
the writer. Now it is clear that if the ' Protector ' had
been the founder of a new sect, or a new set of laws,
like the ' Code Napoleon,' all his admirers would
systematically ignore every writing which painted
their hero in any other guise than the one they could
admire. In collecting therefore every extant history,
they would reject as apocryphal the writings that
displeased them, whilst those which suited their pur-
pose would be retained and published ' by authority.'
. It was precisely thus with the scriptures relating
to Christianity ; after the lapse of about two or three
389
Canon of Sceiptuee] liiTnclred years from our Saviour's death,
a body of men considered it to be desirable to select
from the current literature those compositions which
they deemed most orthodox, and to stamp them as an
authorised collection, to be used amongst the con-
fraternit}', and to be considered as 'canonical.' In
this instance, again, we see man sitting in judgment
upon the sacredness of writings, which, when thus
stamped by a human seal, are accepted as divine.
After this authoritative selection, the 'canon' was
undisturbed until the time of the great reformation,
when another body of men decided to expunge from
the list of scriptures, which a preceding body had
compiled, the writings known as the Apocrypha.
Whenever men sit in judgment upon any matter,
we know that they are liable to err. Three cen-
turies have barely elapsed since Shakespeare wrote,
yet there are doubts about his identity, about his real
writings, and about the text of those works Avhich
pass by his name. Each of us may exercise his
judgment upon any one of these matters, but no one
would consider himself bound by a decree passed by
a self-elected committee, and give up his individual
opinion in deference to those of a council.
The same right of private judgment exists about
the Gospels and the Epistles. The doctrine of a
council demands respect, but it does not supersede
the judgment of individuals ; and every one to-day is
as much justified in dissenting from the decision of
the majority of a self-elected committee on the
Scriptures, as if he had lived in the time of the
council, and formed one of its body whilst the dis-
cussion was in progress, and before the division was
taken.
390
Canon of Scripture] From the foregoing considerations,
we conclude that the Ctmon of Scripture is nothing
more nor less than a selection of books, made by a
set of individuals who assumed the power to judge
which of those before them were to be especially
patronised. In this respect, the canon resembles the
volumes authorised by an educational committee for
the use of schools, or by the college of cardinals for
Eoman Catholic reading.
When once such a decision is made, it is incon-
venient that the question should be reopened. It
is always particularly difficult to decide upon the
writings or the words of a living man. Even if
our Saviour were to come again, as we are assured
that He will, He would find no more favour with the
Protestant and Papal hierarchy than He did with
the Pharisees and Sadducees, unless indeed He came
in a far nobler guise and with a more imposing
presence than He did at first. He would find no
favour with Sabbatarian Scotchmen, Eitualistic
Englishmen, and the Virgiu-adoring Irishmen. He
who taught us to love God and our neighbour as we
love ourselves, would seem a heretic to those who think
that "doctrine" is superior to "good works." He
who describes the Great Judge as dealing out His
sentence according to what has been done by the
individual, rather than according to the dogmas
which he held, would not now be allowed to add
writings containing doctrines such as these to the
Canon of Scripture.
Under these circumstances, it behoves all earnest-
minded men, who believe in and admire the Saviour in
preference to any body of men, be they who they may,
to do their utmost to strip away from religion every
391
Canon of ScKirTURE] false garb, and to attempt to restore it
to that simplicity witii which He presented it to man ;
and as this can scarcely be done without a thorough
revision of the Canon of Scripture, it is to be hoped
that a council of the learned amongst ourselves will
do for us what the council of the Jews did for the
"peculiar people," on their return from the captivity.
"What man has done, man may do again." It is,
however, almost too much to expect that any modern
ecclesiastic concours, or Pan- Anglican Synod, will
equal that of the ancient Jews in earnestness and
honesty of purpose.
Caphtoe, ^i^33 (Deut. ii. 23), "The circle," "the pome-
granate ; " something round, or of ball form ; the
island of Crete ; also called "13, chercth. (Furst.)
Car, ^3, (1 Sam. vii. 11), signifies "he shuts around,"
"he encloses." (See Beth-car.) "^?, car, signifies
"a fat lamb, or sheep, or ram;" but it also, as 13,
<Yir, signifies "piercing through," "a piercer;" the
root "i^S, carar, signifies "to be strong, firm, power-
ful, or fruitful." When we find so many contrivances
used to refer covertly to the fascinum, it is possible
that this is one of them. It is certain that the ram
has the male organ extraordinarily large, and a pro-
portionate salaciousness.
We do not see that there is a particular reason,
from any peculiarity of the lamb, sheep, or ram; why
it should be selected as a divine emblem, except its
great stupidity and ugliness, which are certainly not
appropriate. It is therefore probable that the facts
indicated above caused it to be chosen ; and the devout,
being kept in the dark as to this reason, saw in the
creature some mystic resemblance to the Creator.
The lamb, as an emblem, has descended from the
392
Car] most remote antiquity to the present time, and even
now represents the Sou, as the Maker, Monarch, and
Saviour of all. We have many words compounded
wdth it, c. g., Assyrian, Car-Ilus ; Latin, Carolus ;
English, Charles, Carr, Ker, Kerr, Carson, Curzon,
Cardon, Cardeu, &c., Caroline is from Car, and the
Assyrian Ilin, or Ilinos.
Car is also the Hebrew equivalent of Kapia, caria — whence
came the Cherethites.
Carcas, D3-13 (Esth. i. 10), a Persian name, "The severe
one." (Fiirst.)
Carchemish, t^'?^fi3 (2 Chron. xxxv. 20), " Citadel of Che-
mosh," = KipKyjo-iov, ccrcitslnm. (Fiirst.)
Careah, nn3 (2 Kings xxv. 23), is said to mean "bald." I
surmise that its real etymology is '"iT? karah, signi-
fying 'he fits together, he joins together,' or that it
is from "T^S, charah, ' he digs.'
Carmel, '?'^;i3 (Jos. xii. 22), is said to signify "a fruitful
field," "a garden;" a curious name for a mountain.
It is far more probable that its etymology is derived
from Cins^ caram, and ^^, el, and that it signifies
" El breaks through, or makes fruitful." It is possible
that the name signifies "The ruddy God," or "The
crimson one." It may be compared with Asshur,
Bel, Mahadeva, Adam, Edom, Esau, On, and others.
Nor must it be forgotten that whenever the God of the
Hebrews is spoken of, it is always as a male. The
idolatry which was not tolerated was what we may call
the feminine heresy. From time immemorial Carmel
has been a sacred mount ; and even now there is an
order of the Monks of Mount Carmel, or Carmelites.
In the ancient shrine no figure of the deity was
kept.
Carmi, ''':^13 (Gen. xlvi. 9), "' Jah breaks through, or makes
393
Carbii] fraitfal ; " from D"i3, caram, an old root, siguifving
'to plough,' or ' make fruitful;' and from ^l, JaJi, the
n as usual being obliterated. The name is thus a
counterpart of Carinel, and is remarkable as showing
that the name of Jah Avas known to Eeuben long
before the time of Moses, and that, like El, it had
originally a phallic signification. It has close affinity
to carmll, crimson, the colour still assigned to
Mahadeva. From this root too comes our carmine.
Compare, " And the priest shall take cedar wood, and
hyssop, and sc^rrZei " (Numb. xix. 6), with the fol-
lowing account of a Hindoo custom: — " Eed Powder"
{fjuldl) is a sign of a bad design of an adulterous
character. During the Holi holidays, the Maharaj
throws gulal on the breasts of female and male
devotees, and directs the current of some water of
a yellow colour from a s_yriuge upon the breasts of
females. {History of tJte Sect of the Malidrajalis,
p. 14, Appendix. Trubner & Co., Loudon.)
Caeshena, ^^f r*? (Esth. i. 14), a Persian name ; signification
unknown.
Casiphia, ^-^^^ds (Ezra viii. 17), very like Casiyapa (Hindoo),
and Cassiopeia (Greek). Its signification is doubtful.
Casluhim, Q^n^DS (Gen. x. 14), probably from ^^^'^,, kesalah,
plural kescdim, "the loins, or flanks." "Inhabitants
of Cassiotis and Colchis." (Fitrst.)
Cal, "pip, " To call," "the voice," "time." Sanskrit, Kal,
'to sound ; ' xaAew, ' to call; ' Latin, ' calo,' 'calendre ; '
also ''pP, kalial, ' to call,' ' an assembly.'
Cam, Vcdic, " Love." Cama, " the goddess of love ; " also
spelled Kam and Cama. Heb. '""??, chamah, 'to pine
with longing for anything;' 'to become pale,' as
women do in ' green sickness,' a complaint very
cruelly supposed to arise from disappointed desire.
394
Cam] Kama is the Hindoo God of desire or love ; Ivam,
Sanscrit, is ' desire; ' Greek, xajj.vw (compare on, liam,
or cliam.) I think Cliemosh is derived from ^9?,
cliama, and ^'^5, csli, and signifies 'the longing fire,'
fignrativelv, the fascinum, but, taken literall}^ ' the
fire king,' who devours everything (see Prov. xxx, 16).
CarthaCtE = Ivereth, or Garth = City. Hebrew '^'V, also
Ktrjalh; Persian, c'lrta. There was a Cirta in Nu-
midia, and Tigranocn'to in Armenia, and kartat in
Zebnlun ; Carthadam signified ncic state in Phoeni-
cian. Utica was the old city near which Carthage
was built ; an old name for Carthage w^as Origo.
Caspar, a common word introduced amongst Assyrian
names, corresponding to '^f^'-', gaspa, " soothing,"
i. e. " the comforter."
Cesari, Sanscrit or Vedic, one of the names of Christna;
also " a lion," from its hairy name. Casa and Casara
signify "hair." (Compare Cresar, Csesarea.) Before
the time of Julius Coesar, India had become well
known, and Roman gold coins of Adrian, Faustina,
and Trajan, have been dug up in Hiudostan. [Asiatic
Ecscarcltcs, vol. ii. p. 332.)
Cephar-hammonai, ''^isyn'nDS (Josh, xviii. 24), Probably " the
village of Ammon," or of "the artificer."
Chald^a, or Chaldean, usually written Casdi, ''°'^'*3. There
is something difficult in these v^'ords, which I cannot
altogether get over. Casdi signifies " an astrologer,"
"a magician." And the Chaldasans are spoken of in
Daniel as a certain class of fortune-tellers in Babylon.
In the Bible, the name is given to the whole district
of Babylonia. Chesed, '^'^'^., was the name of a son
of Nahor, but Babylonia w-as a kingdom for some
centuries before his time, and he was not likely to
have given the name to it.
395
Chald.tia, I It is possible that the word Chaldce is derived
CfiALDiEAN, ) from i^^S, calaJi, to he perfected, and V^, dai,
knowledge, uc, 'of perfect laiov.dedge.' There can
be no doubt that in Eome the Chaldreans assumed
to have a perfect knowledge of what is called the
Black Art. They had, too, attained to a wondrous
perfection in priestcraft, in which they have been
successfully imitated by the Koman Catholics, who
have adopted a vast number of their dogmas, cere-
monies, vestments, feasts, fasts, angels, devils, &c/^
There is no doubt that the Israelites copied from the
Chaldee faith, much in the same way. See Ezekiel
xxiii. 15, et scq.
Charashim, O'^''?^! (1 Chron. iv. 14), " The skilled work-
men."
Charms and Amulets. — There is nothing which shows
more completely the persistence of ancient ideas in
modern times, than the use of certain symbols,
that are worn to avert some imaginary evil, or to
bring about some fancied good. Our museums
contain enormous numbers of ancient Egyptian
amulets, which sometimes took the form of a beetle
or scaraboeus, at another of an eye, at another of a
serpent, at another time of a ring, containing an
invocation to the deity. The Assyrians and Baby-
lonians seem to have been equally desirous of carrying
about their persons some talisman, Avliich would
confound the evil genii. That the Jews had a
similar faith Layard shows, by giving descriptions of
certain bowls inscribed with Hebrew characters, and
found amongst the ruins of ancient Babylon. (See
Layard's Nineveh and Babylon, pp. 510-523;
«i Ivhaldi was " the iiir.ou " in Assyria, but it is unlikely that tliis is the origin of
the uame Chaldee.
396
Charms ] London, 1853). Their lawgiver himself indeed
Amulets] seems to have encouraged the practice, and
adopted certain passages from the law in the place of
other charms, just as the Arah of to-day uses verses
of the Koran,
It would appear that the sale of talismans was at
one time the source of a very profitable business. The
ejjisode of the riot at Ephesus, wdiich is related in
Acts, chap, xix., when the craft associated with the
manufacture of charms was in danger, tells us that
the trade was in the hands of comparatively few, and
that those were connected with the priesthood. When
Christianity at first spread, we conclude, from the
story referred to, that the use of idolatrous emblems
as charms was repressed. But as the fervour of the
church gradually subsided, and as its apostles found
their warfare with the gentile world increase in
difficulty, a spirit of compromise arose, and the
Christian priest adopted much of the guile of the
Koman flamen. It could not be tolerated that the
votary of Jupiter should w'ear a talisman which saved
his life in battle, whilst a worshipper of that Jesus
who had upset the ancient idolatry could have nothing
of the kind.
The modern hierarch therefore invented a charm
for his own flock, and used the name of the Virgin
Mary, where perhaps Cybele had figured before. When
the idea was once adopted, the custom was found too
lucrative to remain in a rudimentary form, and it was
expanded until talismans were used for the future
world as well as for the present. We find, from the
pages of Boccacio and Chaucer, that a great traffic
existed in ' pardons,' ' the relics of saints,' ' agnus
dei,' and other ' blessed images.' Modern history is
397
Charms ] full of tho stories of ' indnlgences ' granted to
AbiuletsJ the faithful who pay for them. It would occupy
a volume were we to describe the various forms of the
charms which we have heard or read of ; it will suffice
us to say that they have been divided by the Roman
hierarchy into orthodox and heterodox, the first being
those which have been blessed by and paid for to
a priest, the second are those vrhich have brought
nothing into the saintly treasury, but which may
become orthodox by being blessed, and the usual
fees being paid.
Chebae, "^^3 (Ezek. i. 1), "Length," "strong," "mighty,"
"'powerful;" like "i?^^ cliahar, it signifies 'union,
'joining together,' the 3 and n being interchanged.
ChedoklaomePv, ^P'i'^?;?? (Genesis xiv. 1). There is no
satisfactory explanation of this word; possibly, it is
from I"]!?, kadar, 'covered, or protected,' b, 'of,' ""?^*,
amar, 'The high one,' i.e., 'protected by God on
high.'
Chelal, ^"^P (Ezra x. 30), "He perfected " (me).
Chelluh, ''?"i'?3 (Ezrax. 35), a Persian word? or from n'??,
clialeh, ' perfection.'
Chelubai, ''^■^'^3 (1 Chron. ii. 9). This is another name for
Caleb. It signifies " Jah is valiant," or " Jah
pierces," Sec.
Chemosh, tJ'los (Numbers xxi. 29), Clmosli, the Moabite
God, supposed to be equivalent to Mars. I think it
comes from ^^, chain, ' heat,' and '^^:, esli, ' fire,'
i. €., ' the hot fire ; ' or ^\, jesh, ' the being,' i. c, 'the
one who is hot,' ' the ardent one ; ' or from '""??,
camali, and ^\, jesh, " the being causing desire ; "
or from ^P^, chamash, " he glows or burns," i. e.,
the sun in his destructive capacity.
Chenaanah, i^^H?? (1 Kiugs xxii. 11), is spelled precisely like
398
Chenaanah] '^^^^'^t', Canaanah, or Phoenicia. It is used,
however, as a jnan's name, in 1 Chrou. vii. 10, as well
as in 1 Kings xxii. 11 ; and is probably a corrected
form of i^^^.^P, hrnanjali , or "Jah creates."
Chenaki, ''^ip (Nell, ix. 4), Chenaniah, Conoxiah, are vari-
ants of the preceding word, and as the two last are
clearl}^ compounded with Jab, we conclude that their
signification is ' Jah creates.'
Chephirah, '^7''?"? (Joshua ix. 17), A Hivite town. Probabty
" Jah forgives, or breaks through," being a corrected
form of '^'!°J-^^, caphar'inh. It ma_y, however, signify
simply 'the hamlet.'
Chekan, P^ (Gen. xxxvi. 26), "He binds, or knots together,"
"union." This name was borne by one of a family,
all whose names ended in an : a variant of |wX, On.
If it is a variant of jN', it signifies 'On, the shooter,
or digger.'
Cherethites, '^^J"i'^3 (1 Samuel xxx. 14), " Executioners,"
" Pelethites," = "runners" (Gesenius) ; "archers
and slingers ; also, citizens of some town amongst
the Phcenicians. inhabitants of Crete or Cyprus."
(Fiirst.)
Cherith, ^^3 (1 Kings xvii. 3), "Dividing," "cut into two
parts," name of a river, " boundary " ?
CiTERun, Cherubim, D^n-ina (i Kings vi. 27), Mystical figures
of various fanciful designs, "griffins, dragons, lions,"
&c., Avhich occupied conspicuous places in Egyptian,
Assyrian, Babylonian, and Jewish theology. They
have been reproduced in the Christian theology in the
form of winged heads, or winged men and women ;
the wings being, with the usual carelessness of early
designers, made independent of the arms, and placed
in positions where, from the absence of muscles to
use them, they could never be employed. Possibly
399
Cherub, \ the word is derived from ^"13^ cltarah, "to seize,"
Cherubim j "to lay hold on." (Whence crab?) It is
probably alHed to ^T, karah, 'to draw near,' and the
word ' Cherubim ' signifies those in attendance on the
Almighty. For various forms of them, see Kitto's
Ci/clopcsdia, siih voce.
Chesalon, l-l'?!?^ (Jos. XV. 10), "Strength," " fruitfulness,"
"the loins, or strength; of On."?
Chesed, T? (Gen. xxii. 20), " The Chaldean" ?
Chesil, '?'D3 (Josh. XV. 30), "He is thick, or fleshy," "the
loins, or flanks." This may be one of the roots of
the word Chesalon ; which, in that case, Avould
signify " tlie loins of On;" and we naturally recal
the expression, " Levi was yet in the loins of his
father {h tyj ocn^ui rov Trarpoc) when Melchizedek met
him " (Heb. vii. 10). The loins being an euphemism
for the male organ.
Chesullgth, ni'?D3 (Josh, xix. 18), a town of Issachar,
signifies "the loins, or flanks;" and
Chisloth-tabor, "i'2Jii"n'?D3 (Josh. xix. 12 j, means " the flanks
. of Tabor."
Chezib, 2'!3 (Gen. xxxviii. 5), " The deceiver."
Chidon, P""'? (1 Chron. xiii. 9), "A dart," "a javehn;"
" le danJ," one of the many euphemisms for the
fascinum ; the name belonged to some spot near
Jerusalem.
Chileab, ^^^'^2 (2 Sam. iii. 3), "The father surrounds us;"
or nVs, calah, ^^, ah, ' The father is firm.'
Chilion, P'^3 (Ruth i. 2), " The loins of On ; " from
'Vb, cJiilali, =■- ' loins ; ' and ]in% On, or ' On is firm.'
'Longing desire.' (Fiirst.)
Chilmad, *t^^3 (Ezck. xxvii. 23), a Persian name, signifi-
cance unknown.
Chimham, °^'^2^ (2 Sam. xix. 37), " Longing with desire."
400
Chinneroth, nn33 (Josh. xi. 2), " The basin-shaped " ?
(Fiirst.)
Chittbi, ^^j"^3 (Gen, x. 4), " The inhabitants of C3'prus."
The singuhir is probabl}^ Citiinn (Kyjtiov, Khtov,
K/ttiov) ; the word also refers to the Mediterranean
ishmds general!}' (Gesen.), and Macedonia and Italy
(Fiirst), " The singular form of the word is never
found in the Old Testament, but it occurs in a bilin-
gual inscription discovered at Athens, wherein the
name of a man of Citium, buried at Athens, is written
in Grreek, Noi)[xyjviqc Kitievc, Noumccnios Ktticus, in
Phoenician letters, TiSi^'t^rc^in |3, hen liodesh alsh
hitJii, i. e., ' son of the new moon,' ' a Citian man.' "
CmuN, l'^''^ (Amos v. 26), "The dog star;" Greek, xuoov,
" the dog-headed Apis," Saturn, as some think.
Chiven, or Chiuen, is one of the many names of Siva,
one of whose wives is Ammen, to whom human sacri-
fices were offered. Chiun, Baal-peor, and Siva were
all typified by 'the fascinum.'
Choeashan, jt^'l^'iis (1 Sam. xxx. 30). na, car, signifies
"to be hot," "a furnace" (compare Coire) ; l^''';^',
askan, signifies smoking, i. c, ' the smoking fur-
nace.'
Chozeba, ^'2Ti) (1 Chron. iv. 22), "El shapes beautifully;"
from 2^'P, katzah, and ^':>, cl, the h as usual being
elided, and T3 substituted for ]'P, both being inter-
changeable.
Christna, or Chrisna, also Vishnu, is one of the most
popular of all the Hindoo deities. An immense
number of legends are told respecting him, which
are not worth recording here, but the following, con-
densed from the Anacahjpsis of Godfrey Higgins, will
well repay perusal. He is represented as the son of
Brahma and Maia, and is usually called ' the Saviour,'
401
Christna or] or ' tlie preserver.' He, being a god, became
Cheisna j incarnate in the flesh. As soon as he was born,
he was sakited by a chorus of dcvatars or angels. His
birth place was Mathurea. He was cradled amongst
shepherds. Soon after his birth he was carried away
by night to a remote place for fear of a tyrant, whose
destroyer it was foretold he would become, and who
ordered all male children to be slain (an episode
marked in the sculptures °' at Elephanta). By the
male line he was of Royal descent, though born in a
dungeon, w^hich on his arrival he illuminated, whilst
the face of his parents shone. Christna spoke as soon
as he was born, and comforted his mother. He was
preceded by his brother Eam, who helped him to
purify the world of monsters and demons. Christna
descended into Hades, and returned to Yaicontha.
One of his names is ' the good shepherd.' An Indian
jDrophet, Nared-Saphos, or wisdom, visited him, con-
sulted the stars, and pronounced him a celestial being.
Christna cured a leper ; a woman poured on his head
a box of ointment, and he cured her of disease. He
was chosen king amongst his fellow cowherds. He
washed the feet of Brahmins, and Avhen Brahma stole
the sheep and cowboys of his father's farm (Nanda's),
Christna made a new set. Christna had a dreadful
fight with the serpent Caluga. He was sent to a tutor,
whom he astonished with his learning. Christna^ was
crucified, went into hell, and afterwards into heaven.
Christna and his mother are almost always repre-
sented as black. Christna's statue in the temple at
Mathura is black," and the temple is built in the form
62 Over the heart of this slaiight.eiiut; figure, siirrouuded hy supplicating mothers
and slaughtered male iufauts, are a mitre, a cro::iei; and a cross.
•53 The Bambino at Eouie is black; so are the Virgin and Cliild at Loretto.
C C
402
Chkistna or) of a cross (Ptolemj' calls the place Matura
Chrisna J Deorum). As Visliuu lie is paiuted with a
Parthian coronet round his head when crucified. As
Wihtoba he is painted sometimes with stigmata in
his hands, sometimes in the feet, and one of the
pictures representing him has a round hole in the
403
Chkistxa oi'l side; to his collai- liaiigs u heart; and on his
Chkisna j head is a Linga yoni ! In another picture
he is caUed Ballaji, and is contending Avith a seven-
headed cobra. His most celebrated temple is at
Terputty. The date of Christna's first mystic birth
is about GOO B.C., and of his second a. d. GOO. The
historian may desire to ascertain the origin of this
legend ; but as there is every reason to believe that
it is more ancient than the Christian era, it is not
desirable to enter upon the subject here.
Chub, n-is (Ezek. xxx. 5). Etymology uncertain. Probably
a variant of Cj-ip, knp, '' he moves in a circle."
Chun, jia (1 Chron. xviii. 8), "To stand upright;" also
"establishing or founding the world ; " also "a cake
or yvafev of particular shape, used for offerings to
idols ; " a town in Phoenicia ; Latin conna. (Compare
with certain names in which con is introduced : Con-
stantine, Constant, Conde, Coiiclx.) Can, " fomiding
the world," " Saturn." (Fih'st.)
It is to be noticed that these cakes were fashioned
into certain shapes representing the 'delta,' the
' fasciuum,' or the union of both. For such cakes
the Slmlamite longed (comp. Ginsburg's Soncj of
Songs, ii. 5, p. 142). The scholar will have no diffi-
culty in concluding what was the shape of the j-iB, cun,
and will also see to what a high antiquity one of our
very vulgar words can lay claim ; he will also remark
how ancient is the conceit which calls the pa, can,
" the mother of all mankind."
Circumcision (see Gilgal).
Cis, tJ^V (1 Sam. ix. 1), also spelled Kish ; probably from
0^3, elds, = " A purse, or bag." An euphemism for
the ' scrotum.' (Compare the basket borne by the
Assyrian priests, from which they present a piue coue
404
Cis] to the goddess.) Or from ^''P, lash, = ' a bow, or
power; ' one of the eiipliemisms for the male organ.
Cohen, ]^'^ "a priest," probably also "a prince," ]>}'^, calian,
signifies, ' to presage,' ' to predict,' ' to be the medium
of executing a business ; ' and a similar word in
Arabic signifies ' a prophet,' ' a soothsayer.' The
strict meaning, therefore, of '' 'pr'iest'' is one who is a
mediator between God and man, or at least one who
professes to be so. This of course involves the
farther idea, that the priest assumes the power of
selecting the nature of the God he shall proclaim, and
the nature of the offerings to be made by those who
trust to him as an intermediate agent. As it is, and
always was, optional with every man what priest he
would select as his special mediator, so it is equally
optional which form of deity he selects for worship.
It is clearly the interest of all Cohens, that the idea
of the existence of a deity shall never be lost sight of
by the multitude ; consequently, in all ages, the sacer-
dotal body have combined to keep up the doctrine of
a God, and an intermediate class ; they have only
disagreed as to the particular form which their god
shall assume. Hence the variety of sects. For
ourselves we do not doubt in the smallest degree
the existence of the Deity ; but we have no faith in
the assumption that every one who professes to be
an intercessor, or intermediate agent, is really what
he assumes to be, and that the Almighty in heaven
has delegated his power to a set of men on earth.
Comb. This is one of the many symbols of the female
emblem, y-Ts'ic ywaixsl&oc 6 eoriv ev^prjfxojc ttai [xuaixcui
sjTrefv, iJ.6piov yvvaixuahv, quoted by Dom. Martin, from
Clem. Alexand., ProtrejJf., p. 14 ; Theodoret, Tlicra-
yeut., lib. 3.
405
CoNiAH, -in^^a (Jcr. xxii. 24), "ILibitation or place of Jali."
Conical Stone (Bojtulus), one of the forms uucler which
Aphrodite was worshipped, probably equivalent to
"pN-JTin, or Bethel.
CoNONiAH, ■'''"'^^?|', canan-jali-u (2 Chron. xxxi. 12), "Habita-
tion of Jab," being a variant of Coniah.
CooEY. This is the note of the dove, as far as it can be
rendered by letters. It closely resembles the Hebrew
word yip, and the Greek kum, kiio. Compare xuojv,
kuon, ' the dog star ; ' Latin, coin', col in the impera-
tive mood second person singular. The word as a
substantive signifies ' a stallion,' or ' a prince ; '
as a verb, it signifies " to have sexual intercourse."
Hence the dove's note, which is heard on the return
of spring in every grove, invited the Shemitic races
(compare Song of Songs ii. 12), with the Greeks and
Ptomans, to dalliance, and made the bird sacred to the
goddess of love. It was equally sacred to Jehovah
(Gen. XV. 9, Levit. i. 14, v. 7, John ii. 14).
Coz, |*ip, (1 Chron. iv. 8), Cozbi, '^Tli (Numb. xxv. 15),
" the deceiver," or " the fasciuum ; " ^J^, chazah,
' to bind together.'
Ckeation. It is perfectly clear to every philosophic mind,
that man neither knows nor can know any of the
details of creation. Geology may do much to instruct
him about the course of past events on earth, whilst
research into the domains of natural history will tell
him a great deal of what exists at present ; but no
amount of investigation can bridge over that myste-
rious gap between the finite and the infinite, the
maker and the made. It is true that our Bible gives
us an account of the details of creation, Avhich many
persons believe as if it were a direct communication
from the Creator to the creature ; but the statements
406
Ceeation] are so opposed to facts, and so evident!}' mythical,
that we are obhg-ed to reject them as positive truths.
The orginal aiithoi' of it, as has been ingeniously
remarked b}' Kalisch {Coiiimentary on Genesis, p.
63), arranged his plan as it were upon a table, on the
one side of which was represented the three great
divisions of the universe, while on the other was
represented the particular things which peopled them.
Thus—
1. Light is created, and the celestial orbs.
2. Water and sky are created, and fishes and
birds.
3. Dry land is created, and animals, plants, and
men.
A subsequent author has apparently read the table
differently to the first, and has arranged creation for
six days instead of three, and made an interval of
three days to elapse between the formation of the
inanimate and the animate. As it is clear that
the account was written with a special reference
to the Mosaic institution of the Sabbath, we presume
that the date of the mythos is subsequent to " the
Law." Now it is always a matter of interest to trace
the signification of a myth, and by attempting to do
so we often gain a clue to other mysteries. We find,
from the coins of Tyre and Greece, that there was an
idea that the whole world came from an egg (see
Egg infra). We know that the ancients, hke the
modern Hindoos, typified the Almighty under the
symbols of the male organ, the female organ, or the
union of the two. They presumed that man, the
noblest creature as regards intellect, must resemble
his maker, and that the Creator of the world would
operate after the same fashion as He taught His
407
Creation] creatures to do. Compare Matt. i. 18; Luke i. 35.
Speculating on this, tliey naturally investigated all the
phenomena attending the formation of a new being.
They noticed that matrimonial congress usually takes
place at night, and in obscurity; that the "egg"
prepares the seed which grows in the dark interior of
the mother, in the midst of ' waters,' from which it
emerges completely formed. To frame every being
a similar process is gone through, and a double
process night and morning is considered to produce
twins. With such ideas, it was natural for them
to conclude that the world, ere it was formed, was as
shapeless as the germen of man ; that darkness con-
duced to give it form ; and that a process of incuba-
tion took place, similar to that which occurs in the
interior of the womb. An evening and a morning
sufficed to produce twins, viz., light and the heavenly
bodies ; another evening and morning sufficed to give
other twins, water and air, fishes and birds ; and
another evening and morning gave rise to land and its
inhabitants. If we found such an account in any
ancient Hindoo legend, we could not fail to recognise
its origin ; nor can we refuse to mete out the same
measure to ourselves which we would mete out to
others.
Cross. In the year 1829, the late Godfrey Higgins, than
whom few more original thinkers and more indefati-
gable readers have existed, wrote, in a work entitled
Celtic Druich, the following words. "Few causes
have been more powerful in producing mistakes in
ancient history than the idea, hastily taken up by all
ages, that every monument of antiquity marked with
a cross, or with any of those symbols which they
conceived to be monograms of Christ, were of
408
Ceoss] Christian origin."' He then proceeds to point out the
existence of the cross as an emblem even in the time
of the Phoenicians, the evidence being that of an old
coin found in the ruins of Citium, where the cross is
united to a 'rosary;' and after many other quotations
he concludes the chapter with the following remark.
"The cross is as common in India as in Egypt and
Europe," The Eev. Mr. Maurice says {Indian Anti-
quities, voL ii. p. 361), "Let not the piety of the
Catholic Christian be offended at the preceding
assertion, that the cross was one of the most usual
symbols among the hieroglyphics of Egypt and India.
Equally honoured in the Glentile and the Christian
world, this emblem of universal nature, of that world
to whose four quarters its diverging radii pointed,
decorated the heads of most of the sculptured images
in the former country, and in the latter stamped its
form upon the most majestic of the shrines of their
deities. In the cave of Elephanta, in India, over
the head of the principal figure, again may be
seen this emblem, and a little in the front the huge
Lingham. The two principal pagodas of India,
those of Benares and Mathura, are built in the form
of a cross."
Higgins, moreover, in his very learned book entitled
Anacalyijsis, page 217, states that the general opinion
had settled into the belief, that the cross symbolised
eternally renewing life, but that his own opinion
was that it was an emblem of generation and rege-
neration.
Eespecting the same emblem, K. P. Knight
remarks {On the WorsJi'q) of Pria'pus, pp. 28, 29) :
" The male organs of generation are sometimes repre-
sented by signs which might properly be called the
409
Cross] symbols of symbols. One of the most remarkable
of these, is a cross in the form of the letter T, which
thus served as the emblem of creation and generation,
before the Church adopted it as a sign of salvation.
To the representative of the male organs was some-
times added a human head, which gives it the appear-
ance of a crucifix, as it has on the medal of Cyzicus.
On an ancient medal found in Cyprus, which from the
style of workmanship is certainly anterior to the
Macedonian conquest, it appears with the chaplet, or
rosary, such as is now used in the Eoman churches."
A similar cross, with the rosary attached, has been
found in use amongst the Japanese Buddhists and
the lamas of Thibet by the Abbe Hue.
In one of the frescoes of Pompeii, published by
Mons. Roux Aine, at Paris, 1840, will be found,
vol. 5, plate 28, the figure of a phallic cross, of the
ordinary shape of the crucifix, associated with two
small figures of Hermes.
We have pointed out on a previous occasion how
the cross was amongst the Etruscans a phallic sym-
bol, how it was associated with the female emblem
amongst the Egyptians, and how in Ezekiel's time
it was used as a sign by which the faithful
might be known ; the "set a mark '" mentioned in
eh. ix. 4, being in the original " sign with a tan,''
which letter in the Prophet's time was a cross.
We may now consider some of the other forms which
the emblem assumed.
" Mr. Maurice describes a statue in Egypt as
bearing a kind of cross in his baud, that is to say
a phallus, which amongst the Egyjjtians was the
symbol of fertility." " Upon the breast of one of the
mummies in the museum of the Loudon university,
410
Cross] is a cross exactly in the shape
of Fig. 91, viz., a cross upon a
calyai-}-." {Anacalypsls, by Gr.
Higgins, p. 217.) The following
remarks are condensed from the
pages of the same author. Justin
remarks that Plato, in his Timte-
ns, philosophising about the Son of God, says, He
expressed him upon the universe in the figure of
the letter X? his words being — "The next power
to the supreme God was decussated, or figured, in
the shape of a ci'oss, on the universe." The cross
was also a symbol of the British Druids. (Borlase,
Antiquities of Coriucall, p. 108 ; Maurice's Indian
Antiquities, vol. vi.. p. 68.) The Egyptians marked
their sacred water jars dedicated to Can opus with
J
the Hindoos do the same,
times usiuo- instead another form, thus
!— j-H
The distinctive badge of the sect of Xaca Japonicus
1
c
Higgins then gives (p. 750) an acouut of the cru-
cifixion of Salivahana, Wittoba, and Buddha, Hindoo
divinities ; and gives a drawing of Ball-ii, from the
famous temple of the crucified Wittoba at Triputty,
which ditiers in no respect from the picture of the
crucified Saviour with which we are familiar. A halo
of glory shines upon his head, on which there is a
crown, serrated with sharp angles on its upper margin;
411
Cross] the hands are extoiuTed, the feet arc shghtly separated,
and all are marked with stigmata ; the body is nude,
save a simple givdle round the loins. See Figures 89
and 90, p. 402. Christna, whose history so closely
resembles our Lord's, was also like him in his being
crucified. Fig. 92. There was a crucified Saviour
amongst the Romans, for Minucius Felix, a Christian
father, in a defence of his religion, has the following
passage : " You certainly, v/ho worship wooden gods.
Fig. 9-2.
are the most likely people to adore wooden crosses,
as being parts with the same substance as your
deities. For what else are your ensigns, flags and
standards, but crosses gilt and purified ? Your victo-
rious trophies not only represent a simple cross, but
a cross with a man upon it."
" When a pure worshipper adores the true God
412
Cross] with bands extended, he makes the figure of a cross.
Thus you see that the sign of the cross has either
some foundation in nature, or in your own religion,
and therefore not to be objected against Christians."
Anacalypsis, voL ii., p. 116.
Higgins subsequently concludes a paragraph thus :
"' It is certainly proved, as completely as it is pos-
sible in the nature of things for a fact of this kind
to be proved, that the Romans had a crucified object
of adoration ; and this could be no other than an
incarnation of the god Sol, r-apresented in some v/ay
to have been crucified." The same author speaks of
the crucifixion of many ancient Gods and Hindoo
deities, but it is unnecessary to follow him farther.
Enough has been said to show that the use of the
cross as a sacred emblem is not peculiar to Christi-
anity. The next question for consideration is, " What
idea was the cross intended to convey ?" The junc-
tion of the yoni with the cross, so commonly found
on Egyptian monuments, as seen in Fig. 44, page
162, sufficiently proves that it had a phallic or male
signification ; a conclusion which certain unequivocal
Etruscan remains fully confirm, the double tau =1=
or -L is the same idea intensified. We conclude,
therefore, that the ancient cross was an emblem of
the belief in a male creator, and the method by which
creation was initiated. But it was also a representa-
tion of the chariot wheel, the symbol of the sun ; and
it is interesting to observe that the use of ' the wheel,'
as an instrument of punishment, extended from the
fabulous times of Ixion, until the seventeenth century
of the Christian era, if indeed it is entirely abandoned
even now. But though the cross was an emblem of
413
Ceossj the sun, it is remarkable how rarely we recognise it
in the Assyrian or Babylonian sculptures ; in none of
the ancient gems depicted by Lajard is any form of
cross excejjt the crux ansata to be found. The most
remarkable which I have heard of is a votive offering,
found in Numidia in 1833, on which was a man
surrounded by a wreath of beams, with both his arms
stretched out, and holding a branch in each hand,
thus representing a perfect cross ; below him there
was an inscription, which was translated by Gesenius
as " Domino Baali, Solari Kegi feterno, qui exaudivit
preces," i. c, " To the Lord Baal, the solar king-
eternal, who has heard prayers; " a x>^'opos of which
it must be noticed that in many ancient pictures of
our Saviour, in Italy, the Avords Deo soli are inscribed,
which siguiiy alike, "to the only Grod," and " to the
god Sol."
It is, however, singular that the punishment of
the cross is not to be seen in any ancient sculpture.
In the Niuevite remains, the punishment which is
depicted as inflicted on the vanquished is impalement.
We are told by Herodotus, b. iii. 159, that after the
taking of Babylon, Darius impaled about three
thousand of its principal citizens, and Seneca tells us
{Cons, ad Marc, xx.; Ejnst. xiv. 1) that this plan was
one of those carried out amongst the Eomaus. When
a cross was made of two pieces of wood, there seems
to have been no orthodox shape, and the victims were
sometimes tied, and sometimes nailed, being usually
left to perish by thirst and hunger. We find from
Juvenal (vi. 28), " Pone crucem servo," that cruci-
fixion was a punishment for slaves.
Now we see no reason to doubt that our Saviour
was crucified, although there is much reason for
414
Ckoss] questioning' Avhetlier His cross had a iig-ure similar to
that now adopted as the conventional form of such
instrument, Avhich, in a country where wood is scarce
and very dear, would imply an amount of extravagance
in the execution of criminals which was very impro-
bable. Onr interest lies in the idea which possessed
the minds of the council of Christian Bishops which
met in the third century at Nicfea, and determined
that the cross should be the characteristic emblem of
the Catholic faith. We cannot doubt that they
regarded the emblem as a sign of the death of the
Eedeemer by a painful method ; but we must also
believe that the astute Bishops of Africa and the East
recognised in it the emblem of fertility ; their doctrine
was that all were dead in sins, but that through
Christ they received life. Shorn of all its offensive
indications, thei-e was nothing in the symbol to offend
the eye, whilst there was much in it which suggested
certain doctrines ; from it alone, as from a text, one
hierarch might expatiate on the sufferings of the
Saviour, whilst another might dwell on the glories of
the resurrection; one might paint the horrors of
eternal death, another the glories of eternal life ; one
might view it as a man with arms outstretched so as
to receive the whole world under his care, another as
an emblem pointing the way to heaven and hell, and
to all the world besides.
Whatever may have been its precedents, one thing
seems to be perfectly certain, that its form was
extremely simple, and that every modern addition,
viz., the addition of the circle and the triple
ornaments, are a return to ancient heathenism, a
commingling of ancient tenets with modern doo-mas
415
Ckoss] and fi clepartnre from the pure simplicity of the faith
taught by the ' Son of INLin.'
CuNNi DiABOLi. Vie have had occasion frequently to refer
to the earth as an emblem of the universal mother.
When once the idea obtained that our world was
feminine, it was easy to induce the faithful to believe
that natural chasms were typical of that part Avhich
characterises woman. As at birth the new being-
emerges from the mother, so it was supposed that
emergence from a terrestrial cleft was equivalent to a
new birth. In direct i^roportion to the resemblance
between the sign and the thing signified was the
sacredness of the chink, and the amount of virtue
which was imparted by passing through it. From natu-
ral chasms being considered holy, the veneration for
apertures in stones, as being equally symbolical, was
a natural transition. Holes, such as we refer to, are
still to be seen in those structures which are called
Druidical, both in the British Islands and in India.
It is impossible to say where these ideas first arose ;
it is certain that they survive in India to this day.
We recognise the existence of the emblem amongst
the Jews, in Isaiah li. 1, in the charge to look "to
the hole of the pit whence ye are digged." We have
also an indication that chasms were symbolical
amongst the same people in Isaiah Ivii. 5, where the
wicked amongst the Jews are described as "inflaming
themselves with idols under every green tree, and
slaying the children in the valleys under the clefts of
the rocks.'' It is possible that the "hole in the
wall" (Ezek. A'iii. 7) had a similar signification. In
modern Rome, in the vestibule of a church close to
the Temple of Vesta, I have seen a large perforated
Btone, into the hole of which the ancient Romans are
416
CuNNi DiABOLi] said to have placed their hand when they
swore a solemn oath, a counterpart of Abraham swear-
ing his servant upon his thigh, i. e. the male organ.
Higgius writes of the things in question: — "These
stones are so placed as to have a hole under them,
through which devotees passed for religious purposes.
There is one of the same kind in Ireland, called St.
Declau's stone. In the mass of rocks at Bramham
Craggs there is a place made for devotees to pass
through. We read in the accounts of Hindostan that
there is a very celebrated place in Upper India, to
Avhich immense numbers of pilgrims go, to pass
through a place in the mountains called the Cow's
Belly. In the Island of Bombay, and on Malabar
Hill, there is a rock, upon the surface of which there
is a natural crevice, which communicates with a
cavity, opening below. This place is used by the
Gentoos as a purification of their sins, Avhich they
say is effected by their going in at the opening below,
and emerging out at the ca,vity above. The ceremony
is in such high repute in neighbouring countries that
the famous Conajee Angria ventured, by stealth, one
night upon the island, on purpose to perform this
ceremony, and got off undiscovered." Pp. 225, 226.
"The early Christians called these holes Cunui
Diaboli." Anacalyps'is, p. 3-16.
Curtain. As in the Hindoo temples of to-day, and in the
tabernacle of the Jews, so in the Assyrian temple, a
veil existed. AVc have, in an inscription of Nebu-
chadnezzar, "Before the curtain of His sanctuary I
bowed down my head." (Talbot, in Transactions of
Royal Societij of Literature, vol. vii., part 2, page 341.)
The veil was covered with embroidery, and Sirdi was
the name both in Assyrian and Hebrew. In some
417
Curtain] Hindoo temples English soldiers have penetrated,
and seen the God represented by a phallic stone ; and
the priest has all but signed to them not to talk about
it to the natives. The British might laugh, but that
the soi-disant holy man did not mind. So long as
he received his dues, and retained his influence
amongst his followers —
" Populus mo sibilat, at uiilu pLuulo ipsa domi."
CusH, t'-13 (Gen. x. G), "Black, or dark coloured."
CusHAN, l^*'-"'3 (Habak. iii. 7), is said to signify Ethiopia.
CusHAN-KiSHATHAiM, I^^WCpn^lK'-is (Judges iii. 8), I take to
signify " The bow of On, he shakes it opportunely."
From Knp, JlOsJi ; ]ii, on; ^'V"}, raash ; and '''H^, atlii.
The metaphor of a bow and arrows, as typical of the
Almighty and the Sun, has been in common use
from very ancient times. The Assyrian Asshur and
the Jewish Jah, the Greek Apollo and the Roman
Cupid, all were armed with the bow and arrows.
There were two meanings to the metaphor, but we
need not discuss them. The usual translation of the
word in question is 'most ivicked,' a name certainly
not likely to be assumed by a king, or given to a
child. Of course, we may conclude that the name
was given by the historian ; in which case we assume
that the story may be as mythical as the name.
CusHi, ^^-13 (2 Sam. xviii. 22), " The Negro," a name
equivalent to our " Sambo."
CuTH, n-ia (2 Kings xvii. 30), Etymology unknown; proba-
bly a variant of Cush, equivalent to "dark skins."
Cynocephali. These were canine-headed figures, intended
to represent Isis. The dog and monkey tribe are
more conspicuous for their constant solicitation of
love than any other auinials. "Isis was represented as
D D
418
Cynocephali] attended by Cynocepbali, and was sometimes
caninely-lieaded herself. Under this form she was
adored at Hermopolis ; and we are told by Strabo that
the inhabitants of Memphis honoured her under this
form. The Phcenicians also adopted the Cynocephalus
as a sort of tutelar deity, and placed one upon the
prows of their vessels. Vulcan was said to have been
nourished by canine-headed beings" {Rcclierclics surle
Quite de Bacchus. Par P. N. Eolle, a Paris, 1824,
tom. iii).
This idea has been reproduced in modern times,
and Albert Durer's picture of the Virgin and the
monkey is too well known to require description.
(See Athor, Heifer, and Gingie, p. 52).
Cyrus, ^^'^ (2 Ch. xxvi. 22), said to be the Persian name for
the Sun; otherwise pointed, it signifies "a bended
bow," "anything bended or round," c.;/., "the abdo-
men of a pregnant woman." I find, from Godfrey
Higgins' Anacalypsis, that there Avas a general
Oriental belief that a portion of the Almighty was
supposed to become incarnate at the end of a cycle
of about 600 years ; that about the period of Cyrus
such an incarnation was looked for; and another
about the period of our Saviour's advent. He gives,
moreover, a very interesting account of the Ptoman
idea of this incarnation, as expressed in Virgil, Ec-
logue 4. Cj^'us was supposed to be one of the Divine
incarnations — the Sun in person ; hence he favours
the idea that his name signifies 'the Sun.' As he was
neither Chaldee, Phoenician, Hebrew, nor Assyrian, I
doubt whether we are in a position to form a good
opinion as to the real etymology and signification.
D, 1, or dalcth, ' a door,' is no more similar in shape to a
door of any kind, than 2 heth is like a house. The
419
D] present form of the Hebrew letter has undergone very
considerjible change. The original shape in the
Hebrew was identical with the Phaniiciim and ancient
Greek type, and may be described as an ordinary, or
angular, form of the figure 9. The modern Greek
A, delta, retains the angular part, but has dropped the
tail. It is difficult to see whence the modern Hebrew
has come. It is a remarkable fact that the shape of
the daleth resembles very closely that of the resh, both
in the Phoenician and ancient Hebrew ; my own eye
cannot easily detect the distinction between the
Phoenician r and d. It is very extraordinary that the
less ancient Hebrews, who must have been aware of
the difficulty in distinguishing these letters amongst
their neighbours, should in their present square
characters have perpetuated the embarrass. Few
except keen observers are able to distinguish between
n and -| ; and in consequence of this similarity errors
have crept into the old manuscripts, and are retained
in the printed text of the Hebrew Scriptures.
The confusion which might thence ensue we
recognise, by substituting ram for dam, delay for
relay, or vice versa. The facility with which the
error might be 'worked,' was a recommendation to
the correctors of the ancient text, for, by the use of
one, rather than the other letter, they could change
the signification of a word or sentence.
1 d, is interchangeable with i r, and a ^, D ^, n th,
sometimes with "? I, and t ^^ ; "i and n have been used
thus in consequence of the similarity of their forms,
the rest on account of a resemblance in sound ; we can
readily understand how amongst ourselves ' Todd '
might become 'Dodd,' or vice versa; by many, ' three '
can only be pronounced as ' dree,' whilst in Greek we
420
Dj have '"Q^vaa-evc, Odiissscus, darjp, clacer, [xsKstuoj, mele-
tao, for which the Latin has Ulysses, levir, meditor."
As a numeral, n stands for 4, with two dots
horizontally above it becomes 400.
Dabbasheth, ^'^!^^ (Josh. xix. 11), " The round hump of a
camel," or " a bee hive " ? " the hill place."
Daberah, nnn^ (Josh. xix. 12). A variant of Deborah,
which see.
Dagon, V^^ (1 Sam. v. 2), means " the dear little fish ; "
J?, dag, signifies ' fruitful,' also ' a fish; ' |.iwS*, mm, =
' power, vigour.' For the signification of the emblem,
see Fish, below. !^?, dagan, is however a very old
root, and signifies ' to cover,' ' to grow,' ' to put forth
fruit;' i^^'^, dagah, = "to increase greatly;" and
1^?, dagan, ' the fruit,' 'or ears of corn.'
There Avere abundance of puns in ancient times,
and it may be that the same sounds signify 'he
grows,' or 'he covers,' also 'a great fish,' and 'corn
ears,' and that the latter was substituted as a sign
of the former. Ceres used to bear ' ears of corn.'
Dalphon, lis'f!' (Esther ix. 7), a Persian name, of doubtful
origin.
Damascus (Gen. xiv. 15); P'^''^"?, damesek, said to signify
"damask," a silk stuft", for which the town was
famous.
Dan, 1? (Gen. xiv. 14), " The judge," " supreme Lord."
" Compare Don.)
Daniel, V^^i (Dan. i. 6), "The judge El, or II," or "my
judge (is) El."
There is something very fascinating to Biblical
students in the book which goes by the name of
Daniel, the prophet. In it is to be found a sketch
of the inner life of the kings of mighty Babylon.
There are also marvelloas accounts of the triumph of
421
Daniel] ceremonial virtue, find tlie fall of imperial inide.
There are also prophecies in Avhich, for the first time
in the Bible, we see a date given to coming- events.
From my earliest years I have heard and read
speculations upon the signification of the vaticina-
tions by the prophet Daniel : and the differences of
opinion which commentators have shown lead me
to doubt greatly wiiether the laws of interpretation
usually employed by them are not radically wrong,
and whether it is possible to discover a sound hypo-
thesis respecting the man and his writings.
In undertaking the task, we first ask about
Daniel himself. From his name being compounded
Avith El, rather than with Jah, we infer that he was
born and named during or after the Captivity ; for, as
a rule, the later princes of Judah were named after
Jehovah, rather than after Elohim. Yet there is a
chapter in Ezekiel which purports to have been
written prior to the destruction of Jerusalem, in which
Daniel is twice coupled with Noah and Job, as being
an unusually pious man (Ezek. xiv. 14, 20) ; but w^e
can scarcely believe that this refers to the Daniel of
Babylonian fame, for he was an unknown strip-
ling, or famous only for being handsome and clever,
when first he went to the Chakhiean com-t (Dan. i.
4-6). It is possible that the particular chapter in
Ezekiel was written, as so many other true j)ro]phe-
cies have been, during or after the Captivity, and thus
Daniel's worth became known to his contemporary.
It is by no means improbable that the same hand
penned both Ezek. xiv. and Dan. x. 11, but the
surmise is too vague for us to trust.
Abandoning the hope of obtaining any certainty
about the man, let us examine his writings. We
422
Dakiel] find, in the first place, that he fattens upon " pulse"
more than others do upon meat ; an occurrence by
no means improbable, as graminivorous creatures are
always fatter than the carnivorous, provided they get
enough to eat.
In the next place, we find him giving an account
of a forgotten dream, and its interpretation ; at both
of which we marvel; but as the king did not know
whether Daniel told him his real vision, and no
one can understand the interpretation as the only
one applicable, we may omit the consideration of
the matter. If Ave found such a story in ' Homer,'
or ' Virgil,' we should only laugh at it as an ex yost
facto production.
The next account we meet with is the formation
of a wondrous statue, which some commentators
consider to be the counterpart of tha image that the
king had not been able to remember, even if he saw.
Into the furnace wherein the gold had been melted
the king throws three friends of Daniel, who is for
the nonce separated from them, and thus escapes.
Nevertheless Daniel relates all the occurrences which
happened to his friends ; what the monarch said to
them, and their rejoinder,— what the king s? aw with
his own eyes, — how he was astonished to see four
men, Avhere only three had been,— and how, through
the fiery atmosphere, he recognised the new comer
as a son of God, T^Ii'.^"""?, har-elahin, a deity with
whom he certainly was not familiar.
We next encounter a long history of another
dream of Nebuchadnezzar, who seems to have formed
a text whereon a Shakespeare has founded the sermon,
" Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown ; " and
after the vision the king becomes insane. In this
423
DakielJ condition the natural cliaracteristics of the man are
changed, for his hair becomes lilve eagles' feathers,
and his nails like birds' claws. We are told, too,
that the monarch ate grass like oxen ; but, seeing that
his nose would be very much in the way of his doing
so, it is doubtful whether the simile is just. This
state of things lasted for " seven times," "the mean-
ing of which is doubtful. But throughout their dura-
tion the kingdom of the despotic monarch ruled itself,
and the head men never thought of despatching the
royal madman. When the period was ended, the
human beast, with eagles' feathers and birds' claws,
walked quietly into the palace, and assumed at once
the guidance of the state. The whole of this sounds
so very like a fairy tale, that we hesitate to believe
it, without examining farther. In the chapter follow-
ing, we find that a king named Belshazzar is seated
upon the throne of Babylon. There is a feast
described to us by Daniel, at which it is clear that
he was not present, until he Avas summoned to
interpret a writing that suddenly appeared upon a
wall. The story runs that the king and his wives,
his lords and his concubines, were revelling, when
the mystic hand came forth ; and on their outcry,
' the Queen ' entered into the banquet house, having
clearly not been included amongst ' the wives ' of the
king ; by her counsel Daniel is summoned, and imme-
diately becomes master of the situation. In that
night Belshazzar is slain, and the kingdom is taken
by Darius, the Mede.
This remarkable and curious statement staggered
me even in the days of my childhood, for we are told
in the last verses of the book of Chronicles that it
was Cyrus who re-established the Jews, in conse-
424
Daniel] quence of his having conqnerecl all Idngdoms ; a
statement which is reiterated by Ezra, i. 1-11, iv. 3,
V. 13, vi. 1-5, Avith the distinct intimation that Cyrus
had conquered Babylon. History records this con-
quest as occurring about B.C. 538; it equally records
another capture of Babylon, by Darius, about B.C. 616.
Now it is clear that if Daniel was a resident in
Babylonia during the reigns of Nebuchadnezzar and
his son E'.elshazzar, he must have been cognizant
of the capture of the city by Cyrus, and of the pro-
clamation made by that monarch. But apparently he
knows scarcely anything of Cyrus, and chiefly speaks
of Darius. This remarkable ignorance of Daniel
becomes still more conspicuous when we find him
writing — "In the first year of the reign of Darius,
I Daniel understood by books the number of the
years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah
the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years
in the desolations of Jerusalem " (chap. ix. 2). In
the verses immediately following this, there is a
touching prayer for the restoration of Jerusalem,
which the writer regards as being then desolate
(vv. 17, 18) ; at the end of which there is a com-
munication that the consummation prayed for has
been decided upon in the court of heaven, and that
in seventy weeks (not ninety days, the favourite period
during the war in North America for bringing about
political changes) the restoration of Jerusalem should
be effected. A matter that had been accomplished
already. (2 Ch. xxxvi. 22, 23; Ezra 1. 1-11.)
To my young mind it seemed improbable that a
man who knew nothing of the things which had taken
place under his own eye, who talked about Darius and
the Medes when he ought to have spoken of Cyrus
425
Daniel] and the Persians, would be likely to know anything
about futurity.
On finding, however, that these difficulties were
made light of by devout Christians, it seemed to me
to be more judicious to study the real worth of the
vaticinations than to reject them as being necessarily
valueless. This I was readily enabled to do, as my
professional career was begun in the house of a rela-
tive, whose devotion was sincere, whose respect for the
verbal inspiration of the Scriptures was profound,
and to whom the interpretation of prophecy was a
favourite study. It behoved me to sit and listen, not
to argue. With an active and tenacious memory, I
soon found that certain opinions, which were hazarded
as " interpretations," were not consonant Avith the
facts themselves ; that occurrences had to be twisted
to meet words, and that words had to be twisted to
meet facts. Though the verbal inspiration of the
Bible was held as the firmest article of faith, it was
evident that no respect was paid to its words. A
'father' (Dan. v. 2, 11, 18) became a 'grandfather'
whenever the exigency of the case required it.
Such a change was necessary, to reconcile the facts
given by Daniel with the words of Jeremiah : " Thus
saith the Lord, I have given all these lands into the
hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Bab3don, my
servant ; and the beasts of the field have I given him
also to serve him.^"' And all nations shall serve him.
and his son, and his son's son, until the very time of
his land come; and then many nations and great kings
shall serve themselves of him." (Jer. xxvii. 4-7.)
From this it is necessary that Belshazzar shall be the
'^* It wUl be observed here that, with all his apparent exactness, the Prophet
Imows nothing about Nebuchadnezzar ever being a beast himself.
426
Daniel] grandson of Nebucliadnezzar, else Jeremiah's pro-
phecy is worthless. Daniel's language is therefore
held to be uncertain, lest his predecessor should be
shamed. But again, it is to be noticed that many
nations and great kings are to serve themselves of
him ; it was necessary, therefore, to manipulate the
language of Daniel, so that Darius, the Mede, and
his liundred and twenty princes, should come prior
to Cyrus, the Persian (Dan. vi. 1-28). Again, it is
to be noticed that Jeremiah uses the expression "the
very time of his land come." It is clear that the point
of time thus indicated must necessarily be indefinite ;
but it was considered more judicious to make it
definite, and to signify the reign of the grandson.
Thus, by a manipulation of words, the verbal inspira-
tion of the sacred volume was by the same process
both refuted and sustained.
Yvliilst puzzling over many of the difficulties which
the subject in question involved, I was requested to
attend a seance, in which a Avoman was to act as a
prophetess, seer, or mesmeric pythoness ; and as I
was suspected of being a sceptical philosopher, I was
challenged to discover any imposture therein. Instead
of accepting the challenge as such, an opportunity was
taken to examine the laws of evidence which the com-
pany acknowledged. Two individuals left the room,
and were to do something which the blindfolded lady
would describe to us. It was my part of the business
to take down her words. Twice was the experiment
essayed, but on both occasions her failure was signal.
But, like peculiar passages in Holy Writ, ' the diffi-
culty ' Avas explained UAvay. Those who had before
been confident, now urged a different style of trial,
and we were told that if we joined hands with the
427
Daniel] gifted female, and thouglit intently of any place, she
would describe it. My business was again to record
the i2)sisswia verba of the sibyl, so that any inde-
pendent observer might judge of their Yaluo. A
father who was present thought of his own house,
and told the son so, and both listened to the portrait
which the woman drew ; both were satisfied, but not
contented; each complained of some feature which
was superfluous, and of others which were wanting.
Even in this they could not agree. At length it
turned out that the one was thinking of their town
dwelling, the other of their country villa ; yet each
believed the description adequate. On examining the
words used, it was clear that each ' assistant ' had
interpreted the same word, or form of words, in a
great many difierent significations. Whilst they did
thus unconsciously, they were astonished at the
knowledge of the charlatan, and they trusted her
implicitly ; but when their attention was aroused,
such transparent humbug was recognised. A man
surrounded by clean plate glass, and looking at a
distant object, is unconscious that he is imprisoned ;
but when once a fly, walking upon a pane of his
chamber, calls his eye to the glass, he cannot again
enjoy the illusion that he is free.
On applying these considerations to the study of
Daniel's prophecy, it became clear to the author that
those who believe in the prophet's writings resemble
those who credited the mesmerist. In one verse
(chap. iv. 16), " seven times " are considered to be
equal to seven years ; in another part (chap. ii. 8, 9),
the word ' time ' cannot by any consideration be
made equal to ' a year ; ' in another (vii. 12), the
words " season and time" are wholly indefinite. Yet,
428
Daniel] notwitlistanding the vagueness, tlie words " a time,
times, and the dividing of time" (chap. vii. 25) is
taken definite!}', and, by an arbitrary interpretation,
said to signify twelve hundred and sixty years. Surely
if "time, times, and a half" equal so many years,
" seven times" the period of Nebuchadnezzar's beast-
ship can only just have expired. Again, we are told
that a certain powerful beast shall think to change
"times and laws" (vii. 25) ; in which case we know
not what interpretation to give.
Not only are vague significations given to the word
' time,' but 'weeks ' also are similarly treated. The
seventy weeks which are spoken of as " determined
upon thy people, and upon thy holy city, to finish
the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and
to make a reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring-
in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision
and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy " (chap,
ix. 24), are variously read as seventy v/eeks, seventy
years, four hundred and ninety years, and I know not
what besides ; and all sorts of devices are adopted to
make real history square with the so-called prophecies.
Now let us suppose for a moment that Daniel signifies
seven years by a week, we shall then find that he
fasted twenty-one years, or three full weeks (chap.
X. 3).
There is another difficulty, of the same class, about
the use of the word ' days,' by the so-called prophet;
he speaks of " one thousand two hundred and thirty-
five days " (chap, xii. 11, 12.) Some take these
expressions literally, others as metajDhorical ; but both
are equally unable to make any scheme out of them
which satisfies the mind of an individual who has
respect to the intrinsic value of evidence. Indeed,
429
Daniel] wg need not be surprised at this, ns Daniel himself
declares that he does not know the signification of
what he has written.
The foregoing considerations lead us, at the pre-
sent time, to attach no value whatever to the Book of
Daniel ; and, such being our estimation of it, there
is no necessity for us to discuss its literary merits, the
probable period of its manufacture, and its possible
authorship.
Danjaan, \T.^l^ (2 Sam. xxiv. 6), " The judge speaking
openly; " from ]Vl,jaan, or " Dan playing the pipe,"
Danjaan being the equivalent of Pan. Dan was one
of the names of the Phoenician Eshmun = Esculapius
= Apollo = Elias = the Sun.
Dannah, nn (Josh. XV. 49), " Jah is judge; " the ^ in ^l
being, as usual, elided.
DaPvA, y.!"? (1 Chron. ii. 6), "He lifts up," or "he bears."
Darda, ^"iJV (1 Kings iv. 31), " Pearl of wisdom." (Fiirst
and Gesenius.)
Dari, Cuneiform, " Eternal."
Darius, ^.^'7? (Ezra iv. 5), a Median. Signification of the
name not known.
Darkon, VPl'^ (Ezra ii. 56), Persian. Signification of the
name not known.
Dathan, 1^7 (Numb. xvi. 1), "The fountain of On"?
Dad, "•'?, "The breast, or pap;" dadi, or dadUi (compare
English " titties "), " the two breasts; " Greek, ti't9*j.
Dalv, Old Babylonian, = " exalted." Compare Dehlah,
Dtilujah, or Dal-el-jah.)
Dacar, "'?"^. We insert this word, as it indicates one
' hidden meaning,' or punning contrivance. It signi-
fies either "a ram," "to bore," " to press into," or
the " membrum virile" in a state of activity. To
speak, then, of a male sheep might indicate some-
430
Dacar] tiling more than wan apj^areut to the ear ; and the
sacrifice of a ram would he appropriate for one who
Avished to recover his lost power " to press into."
(Compare Dacre, Dacres, Dagger, Daggers, Dakin,
Dicker, Docker, &c. Greek, ^/ukvcv, 'to bite, or prick;'
'^uKoc, ' a bite,' &c.) Compare Accho.)
Dainu-kueban, Assyrian proper name, = " Grift of the
judge." (Compare " it is Corhan.'') AVe have in
England the word Corhijn as a proper name.
Dalah, n?^, signifies " to hang down," "to be pendulous ; "
''?^, clalal, ' to be languid, with desire,' ' feeble,'
'weak;' V?J}, dala, signifies 'to thrust out the tongue;'
and ''^'^, dal'i, 'semen emittere.' Hence probably
Belilali and Dalliance."'
Dandanni, Assyrian, "Greatest of the great."
Dashon, i^'"^, signifies "To be fat," "wealthy," "juicy,"
&c. (Compare Dash, Dashwood, Dashing, &c.)
David, 'T?^ (Euth iv. 7), " Beloved." Although I do not find
any more satisfactory etymon for this word than the
above, yet I object to it, inasmuch as the title applies
to the after part of the king's life, Avhich could not,
and unquestionably was not, known when he had his
name given. David certainly does not seem to have
been any special favourite either with his brothers or
his father. He was not beloved by Saul, though he
was by Michal and Jonathan. The idea intended to
G5 Kespectiug tliis word, Gesenius lias tlie following :— " Numb. xxiv. 7 : Ilanat
aqua ex situlis ejus, i. e., larga erit posteiitas ejus, metapliora ah nqna de siUUa
destillante ad semeu virile translata, ex uostro sensu obsoceua sed Orientalitus
familiari." TJics, s.v. This shows, as I tbiulc, that one of the emphemisms of the
scrotum and its contents was a bucket ; others were 'a purse,' 'a hag,' 'a basket.'
It will he remembered that the Assyrian priests officiate before the sacred ' grove,'
emblem of the ' concha,' with a pine cone in one hand, and a basket, or bucket, in
the other, clearly typical of the storehouse of the male. Compare also Deut.
xxviii. .5: "Blessed shall be thy basket, and thy store." nbo = ' basket,' also 'a
thing dangling about ; ' also Prov. xvi. 11 : " Tlie stones in the bag." (Marginal
reading.)
431
David] be conYej-ecl by the appellation is that he was beloved
by the Almighty; and I think his historiographer has
habitually spoken of hinj thus, instead of using the
name he originally Avcnt by, i. e., ''^'^ = ' love
ajjples,' or ' the basket.' The name of David thus
resembles Issachar, and both clearly refer to the idea
entertained by the ancient orientals, that " love
apples," or mandrakes, could enable a man who is
advanced in life to perform his marital duties. If
our surmise be correct, we see how easily n"""^, dndl,
became "'^H? David, by the transposition of a letter
and changing points.
In investigating the nature of ancient faiths, the
inquirer will be assisted in fixing upon one or more
individuals who may be designated ' representative
men.' For the purpose which we have in hand, few
can serve us better than the first powerful king of
Judah, of whom we are assured that he was a man
after God's own heart, which should perform all his
will. It is clear that, by stud3dng the character and
acts of David, we shall obtain an insight into the
character of that God who was worshipped and
preached by Samuel, and all those other hierarchs
who described the Psalmist (1 Sam. xiii. 14; Acts
xiii. 22).
To understand the subject aright, our history
must involve that of his predecessors. Samuel, by
force of individual will, had established his authority
as an envoy from God, when his sons became a
source of discontent ; and the people demanded a
Idng, who should be a leader against enemies.
Judging that thews and sinews were appropriate for
such a chief, he caused to be selected (for no one
can believe under the circumstances that God did it
432
Dayid] directly) a man ^Yllo towered above the multitude in
stature, and exceeded an}- one of them in strength.
The king thus selected feels that he owes his position
to Samuel ; and the seer, believing that he will act as
his tool, orders him to make war upon those whom the
prophet unaided dare not fight. Thus it is ever ;
religion promotes war, but its ministers prefer to
fight by deputy rather than in person. It is always
easier to convert by the sword, than by words or
argument.
But the. monarch is not duly obedient to the advice
of the prophet, find presumes to act without his assist-
ance (1 Ham. xiii. 8-14) ; therefore, within two years
of his accession to the throne, the prophet announces
an intention to abolish the d5aiasty. This threat is
renewed upon a subsequent occasion (1 Sam. xv. 10
-23). The reason of the reproof in both instances is
clear, viz., a refusal to be implicitly guided by the
man who assumed to be the mouth-piece of the
Almighty.
From this short history we gather, that Saul
believed in the power of Samuel to make and unmake
kings, and that Samuel only respected a king who
would be ductile in his hands.
Hot with displeasure at the gigantic king whom
he had made, Samuel proceeds to elect another. A
young man, of comparatively tender j^ears, and of what
is known amongst physiologists as a sanguine tem-
perament, ardent in war, impetuous in love, sudden
in determination, and readily dominated by religious
impressions, is selected; and means are at once taken
to advance his position. With courage and skilfulness,
the young protege of the ProjDhet soon gains an impor-
tant advantage over the Philistines, and becomes
433
David] entlnisiastically praised by the peoijle, whose con-
dition under Saul had been very miserable. Beautiful
to look at, and modest in manner, he engages the affec-
tions of tlie king's son, and becomes installed at the
royal court. He marries also the king's daughter,
his portion of ' the settlements ' being two hundred
Philistine foreskins, obtained by a most unjustifiable
massacre. But the inquiries of Abner soon lead the
king to the knowledge that David is the man whom
Samuel has selected to succeed him (1 Sam. xx.
31) ; and that Jonathan also knows the fact is
evident, from the same text. As a natural result, the
present ruler attempts to destroy the future king, and
endeavours to induce his courtiers to do the like.
The astute captain, unable to make head against a
combination of enemies in the precincts of the palace,
flees away, as Rhoderick Dhu is represented to have
done, in the Lady of the Lake. For such a pro-
ceeding, no one can blame him.
Hoping to find security from the persecution of
Saul, David flies to the Philistines, as Napoleon
the First fled towards England. His reception being
unfavourable, he plays the madman before the king,
who, being disgusted with him, allows him to depart.
He then, like many a brigand under similar circum-
stances, betakes himself to a cave ; and, being joined
by others equally unfortunate with himself, he becomes
the captain of banditti (1 Sam. xxii. 1, 2). The
monarch is no more able to destroy his refractory
subject and his troop than the governors of Italy
have been tible to extirpate brigandage from their
Christian country. Though David resj^ects the per-
son of the king, he is by no means so proper towards
Nabal, whom he determines to destroy, simply
E E
434
David] because the man would not send him a supply
of food. The reason why the life of the monarch
is regarded with scrupulous care is to be traced to the
reverence which Davul felt for the ceremony of
consecration. To his mind it was evident that, if
he raised his hand against the anointed one, his own
position would be as precarious as that of Saul.
Feelings such as his have existed in Europe to a
late period, if indeed they are not current now.
At leugth, wearied with his miserable life in
Judtea, David passes the frontier once more, and
again takes refuge with the king of Gath (1 Sam.
xxvii. 1-12). On the present occasion, however, he
comes as a leader of ' condottieri,' and has a place
assigned to him in Philistia, as of old the pirate
Danes had in our own country. AVhilst there, he
makes expeditions against innocent people, and
destroys them utterly, leaving not a single soul alive
to tell the tale. He then prepares, without a mur-
mur, to assist in a Philistine attack upon his own
country, and remonstrates against the edict which
prevents his doing so (1 Sam. xxix. 8).
On his return to his new home, David finds that
the Amalekites, Avho have been already twice destroyed,
once by Joshua (Exod. xvii. 18), and once by Saul
(1 Sam. XV. 8), have served him as he had served
them (1 Sam. xxvii. 8); but he succeeds in avenging
himself, and on his return hears of the success of
the Philistiues and the death of Saul.
When he receives certain information of the king's
decease by the hand of him who brings the tidings,
he dooms the individual to death, as having shown
disrespect to the ceremony of consecration. After a
long war between the son of Saul and himself, David
435
DavidI hears of the death of Ishhoshotli hy the haiul of a
deserter; and him he also kills, although that king
was not "• anointed." At this period the treatment
of the house of Saul by David is noble.
"When once firmly established in the kingdom, by
the capture of the strong town Jerusalem, David
increases his seraglio largely, but he by no means
loses his warlike ardour. He fights with his old
friends the Philistines, and reduces them ; and he
conquers Moab, Syria, Edom, Amnion, &c. After these
campaigns he abides at home, whilst his generals lead
his armies ; and he gives the rein to adultery, deceit,
and finally to the deliberate murder of one of his faith-
ful servants. For these crimes, being reproved by
Nathan, he duly repents; but shows a very small sense
of his crimes, by going again to the fair woman who
was the indirect cause of his guilt ; and the second son
of the adulterous Bathsheba becomes the favourite child.
David now rouses himself from his quiescence, and
repairs to Eabbah, whose inhabitants he slaughters in
a horrible fashion, causing them to be put under saws,
harrows, and axes of iron, and to go through the
brick-kiln (2 Sam. xii. 31). Many who know the
punishments inflicted by the Chinese upon their
criminals think them dreadful, but they are exceeded
by those which David inflicted upon individuals whose
only crime Avas fighting for their country.
We next notice the style of justice which the
king showed when he came to the throne, and subse-
quently. We find (2 Sam. iii. 27-39) that David
became acquainted with the treacherous assassination
of Abner by Joab ; but instead of requiting this, as
be did the slaughter of Saul, and that of Ishbosheth,
he simply tells the guilty man, and all his own
436
David] surroiinclings, to weep and lament. In this respect
lie resembled Napoleon, who considered it good policy
to wink at the crimes of his successful generals.
The king is equally lenient to his own family ; his
daughter Tamar is outraged by her brother Amnon,
but the only effect upon the father is to make him
very wroth (2 Sam. xiii. 21). A^Oieu Absalom,
Tamar's brother, revenges himself, the king expresses
grief, but he soon is comforted again, and consents to
receive the murderer at court.
The favour which Absalom thus received induces
him to conspire against his father ; and the latter,
whose system and policy must have been contempti-
ble, gives in without a stroke in his own defence,
flees from his capital, and crosses the Jordan. At
length,— and why he did not thus act earlier is incom-
prehensible,—the king makes a stand ; his captains
overcome his son. When the tidings of Absalom's
death reach David, he bemoans the loss, but is
again powerless to avenge it. Not long after this the
redoubtable son of Zeruiah again commits cowardly
assassination (2 Sam. xx. 10), and again the monarch
winks at the offence ; thus giving us a scanty idea
of his power and justice. We next notice the occur-
rence of a famine, and the deliberate sacrifice of seven
men to the Almighty; men, too, who were of the
family to whom the king had previously acted so
nobly. The reason of the change of pohcy it is not
hard to find. There had been two formidable rebel-
Hons against the power of David, and it was possible
that some descendant of the old dynasty might raise
another insurrection against the usurper. It was
perhaps difficult to murder in cold blood the most of
them in the name of the king. It was easy to do so,
437
David] when famine pressed, in the name of the Lord.
This is by no means a solitary instance of reh'gion
effecting the removal of an enemy, whom policy has
wished, yet feared, to destroy. A handsome funeral
over the bones of all the dreaded race completes the
transaction, and God interferes no more with the
land ; or, in other words, the necessity for priestly
intervention has ceased.
Like a sensible ruler, David desires to know the
number of his subjects ; but Joab very much dislikes
the business ; and, a pestilence arising, the monarch
is induced to believe that it has been sent in conse-
quence of his own acts. The monarch may have
thought that the difference between seven men being
hanged because their father did something over which
they had no control, and the slaughter of seventy
thousand because the king wished to act as a judi-
cious ruler, was very disproportionate ; but as we are
not told his inward views upon this, we forbear to
descant upon them.
At length the conqueror of Goliath becomes aged,
powerless in love, and feeble for battle. Urged by his
advisers, however, he selects a successor, whilst yet
alive ; and, having done so, gives to him his legacy of
blood. There is something awful in the idea of a
man going to face his Maker, so to speak, with lips
yet red from the command to murder those who have
been left behind. Can any one believe the mandate,
" Thou shalt do no murder," and yet face the august
Lawgiver with the words still hanging on his tongue,
" His hoar head bring thou down to the grave with
blood " (1 Kings ii. 9) ? The last utterances of David
are frightful.
Having thus examined the political history of the
438
Datid] man tiftcr God's own heart, we proceed to inquire
into what we may designate his religions acts.
We find that he has sufficient regard for Baal
to call a son after him, viz., Beelidah, i'"^/^'-?
(1 Chron. xiv. 7). He has such a respect for
idols that he keeps one in his house ; and that
this must have been something very like what Ave
call a heathen god; such as Apollo, is probable, inas-
much as Michal uses it to personate her husband
(1 Sam. xix. 13). The word is 'image' in the
authorised version, and " teraphim " in the Hebrew.
We find him having so little respect for the priest
Ahimelech (1 Sam. xxi. 1-6), that he tells him
a deliberate falsehood, and in a manner compels
him to give up for human use the food which was
prepared for the Almighty. He takes, moreover,
from the sacred treasury, Avithout compunction, the
sword of Goliath, Avhich has been presented by some-
body, probably even by David himself, to the Lord.
We find the king is constantly reported as enquiring
of the Lord respecting his proceedings ; but we are
utterly ignorant of the meaning of the phrase, except
that in some way it Avas connected with an ej^hod, or
linen robe. Such inquiries were common throughout
antiquity; the sale of "dream-books of fate" tells
us that they are so yet. There are many in every
country Avho believe that consulting 'chance' is equiva-
lent to inquiring of the Lord. Few could, in his OAvn
Avay, haA^e consulted the Lord more pertinaciously
than Haman, for he had ' the lot ' cast daily before
him, from the first month till the twelfth (Esther
iii. 7); yet he has received the name of " Avicked "
(Esther vii. 6), Avhilst David, Avho never took half the
trouble, is called ' the beloved.'
439
David] "Wc can tell nothing respecting David's religious
acts during his residence in Philistia and in Tyre.
That he was in Tyre we presume, from the statement
that Hiram was ever a lover of David (1 Kings v. 1),
which he could not be, unless he had seen and known
him. On his return from the Phoenician territory,
we find him introducing, or reproducing, the worship
of the ark ; but it is clear from the context that he
did not kno\v much about the symbol, nor about the
deity whom it typified ; for, when an accident occurred
to Uzzah, David is so displeased that he declines to
have anything more to do with the affair (2 Sara. vi.
6-10). We are next struck with the curious fact that
the ark, which was the harbinger of woe to those of
Gath in a previous j'ear, should now be the herald of
good fortune to a Gittite, and can only explain the
matter by supposing that the hierarchs, who overdid
their part in the matter of Uzzah, were anxious to
reconcile the king to the accident, by showing that
the ark brought good luck even to a Philistine.
When thoroughly imbued with the belief that this
particular box brought good fortune to those who
retained it, David once more determined to secure it
for Jerusalem.
Now let us at this point pause to consider in
what respect this veneration for a wooden chest differs
from adoration of the Palladium of Troy, of the
Ancilia and Sibylline books of Ancient Rome, of
Diana of the Ephesiaus, of the sacred stone of Paphos,
or of the stone from Scotland which now reposes
under the roof of Westminster Abbey, beneath the
coronation chair. In Avhat way does this estimate of
the ark, which is given us in the Book of Samuel,
differ from the belief in charms, talismans, winldug
440
David] virgins, blessed images, bambinoes, bones of saints,
toe-nails of martyrs, bits of wood, holy coats, rnsty
nails, ancient pocket-handkerchiefs, and those thou-
sand-and -one relics which are respected amongst
Mahometans, Hindoos, and Roman Catholics ? We
are told at the present time that these are means to
excite piety, and are never themselves adored ; but
when we find that the tarsus of a saint who lived in
filth some few hundred years ago will cure ague, and
that the blood of St. Januarius brings good luck to
Naples, we cannot fail to see that the holy object is
supposed to possess specific inherent virtue, and that
it is considered as an absolute portion of the deity.
Those who believe in the influence of a black bambino,
and a consecrated wafer, may well admire the venera-
tion of David for the ark ; but those who prefer to
worship the Father in spirit and in truth can only see
in the monarch's adoration of the ark, an idolatry as
gross as that prevailing in a heathen country. We
can see no distinction between bowing to the stock of
a tree, to a statue made therefrom, or to a box
fashioned from it. Nor can we allow that David
excelled other kings in goodness, because he adored
a wooden cofi'er more than a stone image.
After bringing the ark into his capital, with a
ceremonial Avhich involved obscenity, he feasts the
people individually, and goes home. To his wife's
remonstrance about his indecency, he retorts an
assurance that he will be yet more vile, or low
(2 Sam. vi. 22), and base in his own sight; and
thus that he will become honoured amongst his hand-
maidens, if not amongst his wives. Small as this
episode is, it shows us that David held the opinion
that the worship of God involved immodest cere-
441
David] mouies, which, though repugnant to the royal mind
of the man, became sanctified whensoever they were
performed for the honour of God. We are, more-
over, left to infer that in this matter the king judged
correctly, for we find Solomon thus addressed : " If
thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and
commandments, as thy father David did walk, then
will I lengthen thy days" (1 Kings iii. 14).
When once the ark has come into Jerusalem,
David shows his reverence for it by wishing to build
a temple to the honour of the Almighty, who is
recognised under the emblem of the mystic chest.
In this idea he is at first supported by Nathan ; but
the prophet, on second thoughts, considers that for
such an unscrupulous aud cruel warrior to build a
religious house would not be seemly. He has suffi-
cient good feeling to know that a foundation of
rapine, wrong, and slaughter is not proper for a
temple ; so he therefore counsels the king to allow
his son to construct the sacred edifice. Solomon
has not engaged in bloody exterminations to amass
wealth; he may, therefore, with a good conscience,
use the money which his father has collected.
Contented with the decree of Nathan, the king
becomes quiescent, and little disturbs the even tenor
of his way until his crimes in respect of Bathsheba ;
but, on being reproved by the prophet, he suddenly
repents ; to him the voice of Nathrai was equivalent
to the voice of God. The Icing is ductile in the
hands of the seer ; and whenever the latter alleges
an interference by the Almighty, the former believes
in the dispensation, and commits murder to avert
the divine wrath (1 Sam. xxi. 1-9).
A rigid examination of David's history compels
442
David' us to believe Ihat tlie king knew nothing Avliatever
of the Mosaic law. His own will, and that of Nathan
or the priest, Avere the sole guides of his actions ;
but the subject is too large for discussion in the
present article.
The most ardent admirers of David as a king
being unable, even with large allowances, to support
by his actions his claim to preeminent piety, turn to
the Psalms that are attributed to his pen, in proof
of the position which they sustain. We proceed,
therefore, to analyse the sentiments cxpres^-ed in all
those which bear his name, irrespective of tlie critical
accuracy of their superscription.
They consist of passionate appeals to the Almighty
for personal protection ; they often imply a doubt
whether He is as powerful as his worshipper has been
led to believe, and whether the gods of other people
do not treat them better than he is treated ; then,
again, as if afraid that his unbelief should operate
against him, he reiterates his trust. There are few
Psalms in which all these conceptions do not appear.
In some the distrust is most prominent, c. fj., Ps.
ii., vi., X., xii., xiii., xiv., xvii., xxii., xxxi., &c. In
others confidence seems to be uppermost, e.g., Ps.
ix., xxi., xxiii., xxviii. There are many in which
admiration is expressed of the works of the Creator
in general, and others in which the works of His
hands are said to be destroyed with pleasure ; e. g.,
"' I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them,
neither did I turn again until they were consumed;
I have wounded them that they were not able to rise.
Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies,
that I might destroy them that hate me. They
cried, but there was none to save them ; even unto
443
David] the Lord, but He luiswered tlicm not" (Ps. xviii.
38-41). In fine, throughout the whole body of his
writings, the ear is almost wearied with the expres-
sion of the belief that God looks especially after indi-
viduals— that every thing which they receive of good
comes from His hand — and that every misfortune
results from His displeasure ; if David conquers,
robs, or murders on a large scale, he thanks his
God; if, on the contrary, he is himself in trouble,
he deprecates His wrath. But the robust sense of
the man shows him that others are fortunate besides
himself, and he is therefore tempted to doubt whether
God looks after him aloiie. When he sees those
whom he calls wicked, — i. c, those who do not
worship in the same way as himself, — in great
prosperity, be is greatly perplexed, nay, he declares
himself envious of them (Ps. Ixxiii. 3).
It is clear, then, that with all the beautiful
utterances of the Psalmist, his conception of the
Almighty was essentially selfish ; he could not con-
ceive of God as being loving unto all men, and
hating wrong, robbery, and uncleauness. Nor did
he have any other idea of rewards and punishments
than those which exist in this world.
Putting all the foregoing considerations together,
we cannot believe that David received the character
of "a man after God's own heart" from his own
intrinsic worth, or from the subhmity of his theolog}',
which does not difi'er in any way from that of devout
Greeks and Mahometans. We can believe that he
gained the panegyric from inaugurating a style of
monarchy in which the royal was subservient to the
priestly power. In ancient times, certain kings of
Assyria were eulogised by their bierarchs, just as
444
David] David was for his devotion to one form of worship,
and his persecution of every other ; whilst in modern
times we find that potentates are praised or blamed
for certain actions, according as the historian's faith
and theirs are united or opposed. By some, queen
Mary of England is still regarded as a saint ; by
others, as a demon. The same may be said of Henry
the Eighth. Doubtless king David was once estimated
in the same way ; but as only the writings of the
eulogists have survived, he has the advantage over
the British monarchs.
Debir, 'T'^'l' (Josh. X. 3), signifies " The seat of the oracle,"
"the holiest place of all in the temple; " but it is
very doubtful whether this is the true meaning of
the name, which was borne alike by a king and a
town (Josh. xii. 13).
Deboeah, iip'^ (Gren. xxxv. 8, and Judges iv. 4), " A bee."
(Compare Greek and Latin MsXia-cra, Melissa ; German
Emma, i. e., Emme, Imme, = " a bee.") Fiirst's
Lexicon, suh voce.
While investigating this word, and the idea
involved therein, I found a very interesting essay on
it, in Hislop's Two Bahijlons, pp. 280-289. The
article is too long for transcription. It points out
that the custom of using lamps and candles in wor-
ship is very ancient, having prevailed in Babylon
(Baruch vi. 19), in Pagan Rome, in Egypt, and in
Koordistan ; tliat the Tungusians use wax tapers in
honour of their gods, as do the Buddhists in Ceylon
and elsewhere ; that the lights are typical of the sun.
His conclusion is that the bee was a punning con-
trivance for " the word." The pun existed in Persia
and Babylonia, as well as in Palestine ; and he gives
a wood-cut, which I copy, to show that the three bees,
445
Deborah] ^Yhi(•h arc the insignia of a deceased Pope, are of
very ancient date. The lion in the Mood-cut has a
star above his head, , j„ r,.._
which identifies him
with the sun ; the
bee in his month
is held in such a
position as to typify
the holy triad. The
bee was also the
symbol of the great
revealer. It was one of th
emblems of Diana. I
have a very strong suspicion that the wax candles
which are used in worship, in preference to lamps,
were originally intended to represent the phallic
emblem, under which the Almighty, in days gone by,
was reverenced ; and that wax was preferred to tallow
on account of its being the product of the bee, which
was a punning emblem of "the word," and of Him
who made the world. Hislop has taken the wood-cut
from Wilkinson's E(j]jptians, vol. iv., p. 189.
It is possible that Beelzebub, ' the lord of flies,
or buzzers,' was really ' the lord of bees,' i. e. ' of
words,' = •' Baal who prophesied.'
Dedan, ]'}^ (Gen. x. 7), of doubtful meaning. (Compare
Dodona. Gesenius.)
Dekar, ^i?!l (1 Kings iv. 9), " He pierces through," or " the
piercer," or "lance-bearer." (Compare La inque ;
also Digger, Degge, Dick, Dicker, Dickson, Diguan,
Diguum, Dickie, &c.)
Delaiah, ^tV\ (1 Chron. iii. 24), " Freed by Jehovah." The
Phcenicians had the name AsXaiao-ra^Toj, or " freed
by Astartc."
Delilah, "^''?"i' (Judges xvi. 4), " Pining with desire "
446
.Delilahj (Gesenius) ; "unfortunate," or "miserable " (Fiirst).
I doubt this meaning, and think it more consonant
"vvith Philistine practice that the etymology was '^l'!''/'^,
DdlUali, from 7^^, dali, " a pail," also " the testicles,"
as in Numb. xxiv. 7 ; {, the sign of the genitive case,
and '"!', Jail, or " the bucket of Jah." Compare "He
shall pour the water out of his buckets," and "his
seed shall be in many waters " (Numb. xxiv. 7).
Demon, to ^ai[x6viGv. It would be unprofitable to discuss
the question whence demonology has come down to
us. We know that a conception of demons was pos-
sessed by the Etruscans, who were old as a nation
when Eome was an infant ; and we are equally certain
that the Chaldasaus were familiar with it. From the
latter it spread to the Hebrews ; and, being improved
upon by them, its development was conspicuous at
the period of the Christian era. As a physician,
tolerably conversant with the phenomena of insanity,
I do not hesitate to aver that the demoniacal posses-
sion, which used to be considered as a manifestation
of some mysterious being having entered the body of
the victim, was nothing more than ' mania.' Epilepsy
was known under the name of ' morhus sacer ' by the
Eomans of old. The Asiatics of to. day believe that
the lunatic is inspired ; and the late Dr. Wolff, in his
Journci/ to Bohhara, often attributes his escape from
death to the reverence paid to him as the habitation
of Allah; his strange manner having led to the general
idea amongst the Mussulmen that he was insane.
Some there are who experience — long before
society is able to recognise the existence of insanity
in them — visions of various kinds, and hear messages
whispered in their ear, or thundered upon their
hearts. If they happen to be devout, they consult the
447
Demon] priest ; nncl he, if he knows nothing of ph_ysiology,
naturall}- considers that the effects result from the
direct presence of his God. Since it is so in many
Christian countries at the present da^y, we can
readily conceive that it was the same in days gone
by, when foAv, even of medical men, had aiiy know-
ledge of diseases of the brain. When the mono-
mania is comparatively harmless, as was the case with
Swedenborg, the (hemoji is thought by observers to be
a good one ; when it is murderous, like the evil spirit
of Saul, it is considered as a bad one. The one is
regarded as an emanation from Jehovah, the other
as proceeding from Satan. "When once this theory, —
that the symptoms of insanity are due to spiritual
agency, — possessed the mind, the disease was de
scribed by reference to the nature of the supposed
devil ; and where we should talk of mania, melan-
cholia, dementia, the ancients talked of ' tearing,'
' deaf and dumb,' or simply ' evil ' spirits. ^°
'''5 1 take this opportuuity to record the important clian.qe •n-liich has taken place
of late years in the ideas respecting insanity. In days gone by, this terrihle
infliction was considered as the result of demoniac possession. When this belief was
abandoned, the complaint was regarded as a disease of the mind. Acting on this
idea, patients suffering from insanity were treated as naughty and wayward children,
and hence were subjected to castigatious and other punishments. If a man's mind
allowed him to be strange, he was argutd with quietly at first, but if he persisted in
his fancies, he was subjected to tortures of gradually increasing severity. Now, on
the contrary, insanity is regarded as one of the symptoms of a diseased hraln — one
which tells of some physical change within the head as completely as " cough " tells
us of disease within the chest. The condition of the mind depends upon the
integrity or otherwise of the brain. When this organ is affected, it may be bo
Avith such suddenness that the transition from health to mania is almost instan-
taneous, but, as a general rule, the approach of the disease is slow. As the
consumptive commonly have some indication of the approach of phthisis long ere
any change can be detected in the lungs, so the lunatic has some intimation of the
existence of disordered brain for Mceks, months, or years before any physical
alteration of that organ can be observed. Wliilst in this latent condition, the mind,
wielded by the healthy portion of the brain, can resist a disordered fancy ; but this
resistance has no more tendency to cure the complaint, than a determination not to
cough can stop " consumption." The experienced physician can recognise the early
448
Demon] The time has iscarcely yet gone by in England
when tlie old belief existed ; for I can remember
reading a pamphlet given to me by a gentleman, who
has now a seat in Parliament, in which a case of
demoniacal possession was detailed. The young
woman was clearly insane ; yet her parents, and the
neighbouring clergy, could not be convinced of this,
and tried all sorts of ' exorcising ' projects ; nor could
I repress my surprise at finding that my informant
credited the priests in preference to the physicians.
The belief that lunacy was a proof of the existence
of some evil demon has tinctured the phraseology of
a large portion of the Sacred Writings ; and has led
us to the conclusion that it is far safer to trust to the
spirit of those records than to their ijmssima verba.
When used so largely in the sacred writings, we
can readily understand that words descriptive of
demoniac possession would appear in the compositions
of the earlier Christians. Amongst them no doubt
whatever was entertained that the devil had power to
make himself apparent to mankind, and to do them
mischief in one manner or another. Thus we learn,
from the legendary lives of certain saints, that Satan
appeared to them under various disguises — as a goat,
a ram, a crocodile, a boar, and sometimes even as a
iudicatious of appvoacliing iusanitj' as readily as lie cau those of phthisis, or of water
in the head ; hut those who are not accustomed to observe closely, or have no oppor-
tunity of doing so, cannot Bce any disease until it is fully developed. Hence we
find, that those who know most ahout lunacy are derided, under the name of
" mad doctors," by those who are wholly ignorant of it. Now it does not follow that
all those who are threatened with consumption and have a cough die of " decline • "
many indeed recover completely their usual health ; in like manner, every one who
shows indications of lunacy does not become insane, he may be perfectly restored.
But as the physician would not attempt to cure phthisis by ordering his patient not
to cough, so would he not try to cure monomania by logically demonstrating its
absurdity. In both, and indeed in all cases, he attempts to cure disease by the
closest attention to all the requirements of the bodily health.
449
Demon] lovely woman. So far, indeed, were these ideas
carried, that man.y a learned council has discussed the
question, whether it was possible for devils in any
form to engender with human beings. During the
dark ages of superstition, advantage was taken of the
abject terrors of the mind ; and, in the obscurity of
night, a designing man or woman would steal iuto the
bed of youth, and accouple Avitli him or her. These
supposed demons received the name of " succubi "
and " iucubi." As we may well imagine, they always
disappeared before daybreak. It was this habit which
was supposed, more than any other, to stamp them as
supernatural and demoniacal.
Yet why a ghost or a demon, whether good or bad,
should always think it incumbent upon him or her
to disappear ere the day dawned, we cannot divine,
unless it is that all are the creatures of distorted
imagination, or the result of some jugglery which the
light discloses (John iii. 19-21, 1 Thess. v. 5). It is
not without a doubt about the truth of the whole
narrative, that we read of the "man" who wrestled
with Jacob being obliged to depart when the day
broke (Gen. xxxii. 24-26) ; for verse 28 tells us
that the "man" was "God;" and we cannot see
any obligation upon the Creator to shun the daylight.
He who lives in light, and is Himself the light of
the world, cannot fear the approach of day. If then
Jacob wrestled with one who dreaded the brightness
of the sun, it is questionable whether he was what
he is represented to be.
Deuel, '^^■"'y"!' (Numb, i, 14), "Invocation of God" (Gcscu.)
"El is knowing (Fiirst)."'
"^ It is probable tbnt there is o close connection between th's word and Deva,
or Di, the Hindoo for holi/, Latin f/«c«w (compare Divoi). llicLes were often taken
as a inaik of God > favour, and tbcir owner accounted holy.
F F
450
Devil. — If we pursue this word through its more ancient
forms, we find it in the Anglo-Saxon as dcofl, dcofol,
diofiil, diohnl ,- in Old Saxon, as diahlial. Low
German, diiwel. Danish, dicivel. Dutch, duivel.
Swedish, djcvid. Icelandic, diofall or dijjill. High
German, diufall or tlufall, or tcufel. Gothic, diabula,
diahulus. Latin, diaholus. Italian, diavolo. French,
diahle. Spanish, diahlo. Greek, lia^oKoc, diaholos —
which is translated ' slanderer, or calumniator.'
Now, although all these names appear to he
derived from the Greek, there is reason to believe
that the idea of the devil did not originate at the
Christian era. If it be so, the Greek word may itself
have come from some older language. If we seek
for an etymon in the Hebrew, we find '??'^, david,
which means 'to press together,' 'to embrace amor-
ously;' and ^?!', dcvcl, signifies 'coition;' of the
first, Gesenius remarks, " In usu fuisse videtur hoec
radix etiam de giobuHs stercoris — unde stercus ;" a
very appropriate name for one anathematised by a
zealous hierarch. But amongst the Hebrews, the
devil went by the name of l^'^, Satan, "the adver-
sary;" we can scarcely imagine, therefore, that either
of these etymons is satisfactory. Consequently we
conclude that the Greek derivation of the current
word is correct. From the various ideas respect-
ing him, which have been expressed by different or
opposing theologians, from the earliest times to the
present, I gather that the Devil is considered to be
the moving spirit of the heterodox; all those who
believe the priest then speaking and acting, are the
children of God ; all who do not, are children of the
Devil: e.g., those who believed Calvin and Luther
thought that the papists were children of Satan, while
45]
Devil] the last returned the compliment ; both could not be
right. In the Bible, Satan, when spoken of, is called
the adversary ; and all the names given to him
demonstrate that he was considered to be the moving
spirit of those who obstinately refused to give cre-
dence to priests and prophets. Of course, when a
people believe that there is no salvation for those of
an opposite creed to themselves, such unbelievers
will naturally be called children of the lost one. But
a man is not always what he is called.
As to the very existence of such a being, and
whether he has horns and hoofs, &c., &c.,*'® there is
room for much doubt. If the Almighty be omni-
present, and omnipotent, it is difficult to comprehend
how any separate being, opposed to omnipotence, can
find a part to exist in ; much more difficult is it to
believe that the Almighty and the Devil can chat
familiarly together, as they are represented to do in
the book of Job, chapters i. and ii., and 1 Kings xxii.
21-22.
How much the ipsissima verba of Scripture are to
^ There is a pleasant stoiy toUl of a practical joke plnjccl upon tlie learned
Cnvier, which is illustrative at once of the abstuility of the meilieval conceptions of
the Devil, and the contempt with which a philosopher regards them. The account
runs thus : Some earnest Koman Catholic, anxious to withdraw the great naturalist
from evil pursuits, viz., the study of all the works of i>od, which the Church
cousidei-s as certain to lead to everlasting perdition, attempted to fiiphten the
bold enquirer by personating the Devil, and in his guise summoning the infidel
to his court, very naturally concluding that the apparition would diive the victim
to such sacerdotal relief as " masses," itc, could afford. A dim twilight enabled
Cuvier to see something in his room, and the philosopher asked " Who are you?''
The reply was "I am the Devil,' iSrc. ; but the naturalist soon noticed the horns
worn on the head, and the hoofs on the feet of the joker, and all the remark
he made was "Horns and hoofs — horns and hoofs — must bo gramiuivorons.
I dont core for yon," and turned round to go to sleep again. (SV iioii i vciu
i hen trovato. '1 he story should serve as a bint to those priests who delight
to paint the Devil, that it would be safer to use St. Paul b simile, and depict
him OS a lion, than to figure him as a giass-eatiug creature, to whom flosli moat
is not n luxury.
452
Devil] be relied on \vlien taken literally, we may see by a
comparison of 2 Sam. xxiv. 1, ^vitli 1 Chron. xxi. 1,
where the Lord and Satan are spoken of as if they
were the same individuals.
When we attempt to trace the belief in the
Devil, we find it apparently coexistent v\'ith man.
Nothing can be more natural than for the savage
to consider that there is a good power, which gives
him health, strength, plenty, Avarmth and luxury--
and that there is a bad one, who sends darkness,
storms, famine, cold and desolation. Such ideas
are found wherever our missionaries have learned to
understand the language of aborigines. As a natural
result, the leaders of thought amongst them teach
their votaries to deprecate the wrath of the bad,
and to propitiate the good deity. This has been
the basis of all systems of religion. In the Hebrew
we find Eloliim and Satan, Jehovah and Azazel as
mutually opposed : in the Persian, Oromasdes and
Ahriman ; in the EgjqDtian, Osiris and Typhon are
the antagonists. We have the same conception
amongst ourselves : we believe that there are two
opposing powers, who contend against each other, in
air, on land, and within us all. We people the
unknown immensity with innumerable beings, who
sit or act on adverse sides, like whigs and tories,
radicals and conservatives, and style the Devil the
leader of the opposition. Sometimes we believe
that he positively becomes the prime minister — the
head of the strongest party. It is doubtful, hoAV-
ever, whether Ave understand the subject any better
than did the ancient Etruscans, from AAdiom most
of the medieval conceptions of Satan are draAvu.
The mind of the thoughtful philosopher is some-
453
Devil] times agitated by the consideration that it is down-
right blasphemy to entertain the idea of the existence
in the universe of any other power than that of the
Ahnighty — for it is a contradiction in terms to say
that He is Omnipotent and Omnipresent, and yet
that He is habitually tlnvarted, and His acts con-
trolled, by some adverse jiOAver. Yet as the observer
sees in the Devil one of the most useful means
whereby human beings can be terrified into doing
good, and avoiding wrong, robbery, and rapine, and
the most potent weapon in the hieratic armoury
whereby a sinner may be dragooned into heaven,'^' he
is unwilling to urge his philosophic doubts too far.
DiBLATH, ^i?1 (Ezekiel vi. 14). We have already seen a
variant of this word in Beth-Diblatpiaim. The
original idea conveyed by the root hll, dhl, is " to
"press or squeeze," "anything pressed or heaped
up;" hence one form ''?'!?, dehd, came to signify
sexual congress — and '^7?"i', dehdah, "a cake of figs."
These, being round then, as they are now, gave an
extension of meaning, and i^???, dihlah, became " a
circle." When a word had so many and such signi-
''S The expressions in the text will not be considered too strong by any one ■who
is acqnninted with the plan adopted by the Papal hievavcliy to influence the niiuda
of their votaries. Though not very conversant with llie devotional works used by
the Ifiity nmougst the Eoman Catholics, I am tolerably familiar with the piclorial
designs by means of which the weak minded are terrified. In our own country, I
have seen gaudily painted piciurcs exposed for sale, in poor districts where iioman
Catholics abound, wherein are represented the death-beds of saints and sinners ;
by the former stand a priest and an attendance of angelic beings ; by the latter
stand a host of demons, who are depicted with f;rotesqne ferocity. When once the
worshipper's mind becomes imbued with the (error of these objects, he is driven by
his fear to seek for priestly aid. There is scarcely a medieval history in which we
do not see some lawless king or turbnleut noble driven in his old age into the arms
of the church, by the terrors of the devil which he was saturated with iu youih.
We have indeed heaid many divines of our own church express the opinion thai
men were diiveu to do good, and kept Irom gi-i.;vous sin, to a far grea'.er extent by
the fear of the Devil than by the love of God ; and there is strong reason to believe
that their idea i.s correct.
454
Diblath] fications, there is reason to believe that it was
intentionally adopted by the ancient priesthood, for
a cake of figs might be typical of the sun and moon,
of both, or of amorous embracements.
DiBLAiM, 2')?^ (Rosea i. 3), dual of ^^'^, and signifies
" double copulation." This name was possessed by
the mother of Gonaer (see Hosea i. 3). In verse 2
the prophet is told to take a wife of whoredoms,
D^:i3I r]li'i<^ eshetii-zenunim, and children of whore-
doms, that he may be a sign to the children of
Judah.
Whilst sitting as a listener in church, I have
been repeatedly struck with the profound credence
which is given to ancient men, when they assert
that the Lord speaks by them ; although to modern
men is accorded a totally difterent reception. We
are told, from many a pious preacher of to-day, that
the sins of Britain have called down from heaven the
murrain upon our cattle and the cholera on ourselves;
or, in Scriptural language, that our cities are defiled
with sins, and our villages steeped in wickedness, just
as was Judffia and Jerusalem in Hosea's time. But
could we tolerate that any one of our shining lights
of the pulpit should adopt — as the means of con-
vincing us of our great iniquities — the plan of taking
a harlot to his bosom, and holding a feast at the
baptism of his bastards ? If he announced that a
message from God had told him to do so, none would
allow the plea, and it would be a question Avhether
the guol or the lunatic asylum was the most fitting
place for liim. Had we lived in the time of Hosea,
with our present lights, we should probably have
thought the same ; and, this being so, I think we are
bound to believe that many an ancient '"' Thus saith
455
Diblaim] the Lord " onglit to be read as, " Thus saith a
man who is a lunatic," or "who is a criminal, hiding
his innate imnioralitj' under the guise of a cantiug
hypocrisy." There is more of blasphemy in believing
such an one than in denouncing him.
DiBON, P'!' (Numbers xxi. 30), " River place" (Fiirst).
DiBEi, or Divm, ^'?^!' (Leviticus xxiv. 11), " Jah arranges ; "
from "•?■?, dahar, and ^\, jah, the n being elided.
DiKLAH, l^'?!?!' (Gen. x. 27), " The place of palms."
DiLEAN, li'r''!' (Joshua xv. 38), said to be '' a cucumber
field"! it really signifies "On is thick," or "On
thrusting out the tongue;" from ^Hj dalah, and \\i,
on, "to be thick," or 'to thrust out the tongue."
There are in Payne Knight's work copies of two coins,
in which a male God is represented with the tongue
thrust out. There is therefore no doubt, as coins
were at first embodiments of religious faith, that the
reading given above is consonant with classical know-
ledge. Of the significance of the emblem it is
unnecessary to speak.
The name was given to a town in Judah.
DiMASHK, Assyrian, Name of Damascus, whose king, temp.
Sennacherib, was Mariah. (Compare with Mor-iah
and Mar-ia.)
Dbii-shemsi, Assyrian, "The Sleep of the Sun," "the
west; " also Shalam, Shemsi, "Peace of the Sun."
DiMNAH, !^,^9? (Joshua xxi. 35), " A dunghill " (Geseuius),
"river, place" (Fiirst).
Ddion, li'^'T (Isaiah xv. 9), " Ptiver, place " (Fiirst). Pro-
bably " the semen, or viscous discharge, of On."
DiMoxAH, ^,3"'^?' (Joshua xv. 22). It is probable that both
this word and the preceding are the progenitors of
the name " Demons," the first being equivalent to
" incubus," the second to " succubus."
456
Dinah, '^T'^ (Gen. xxx. 21), "Judged " (Geseu.)j "fivenged"
Fiirst). A name which leads us to infer that it
was given by the historian after her adventure with
Shechem.
DiNHABAH, J^^^P? (Gen. xxxvi. 32), " A lurking place for
robbers " (Gesenius), " a little place " (Fiirst).
Dionysus, was an ancient God, often identified with Bacchus.
He was stated to be the same as Aides, or Aidoneus,
Helios, Jao, Pluto, and Osiris. In the eighth volume
of Transactions of tlie Royal Society of Literature,
p. 296, Mr. Talbot has endeavoured, and I think
successfully, to prove that the name is of Assyrian
origin, the formula for it being Dian-nisi, or Dayan-
nisi, words signifying "Judge of men," the Dian, or
Dayan, being equivalent to the Hebrew Dan ; and he
quotes a line from the Michaux inscription, running
thus, " Shemesh dayan rabu shamie u irtsit," l. e.,
"The Sun, the Great Judge of heaven and earth."
He goes on to say that one of the most curious
traditions respecting Dionysus was, that he some-
times assumed the shape of a bull, with a human
countenance, and was then called Hebon. By a very
ingenious argument, Mr. Talbot also shows that the
Greek Rhadamanthus, Judge of Hades, was a God of
Egyptian origin, his name in that language sounding
as Rad-amenti, and signifying " Judge of the dark-
ness." He also adduces an Assj'rian inscription,
where the Sun has the following title : " The Sun,
judge of men {dian-nisi) , whose flail, Zalul (flagel-
lum), is good. This flail, or whip, was one of the
emblems of Osiris Nebuchadnezzar built a temple
to Dionysus in Babylon. He was often called Ea/3oi."
DiSHON, V'^"^ (Gen. xxxvi. 31), l^';", dashen, signifies "to
be fat, juicy, fall of marrow, strong, large, power-
457
Dishon] ful." l^'"'?, dislion, signifies " a mouiitnin goat,"
or "antelope." Now the antelope, like the ram, was
a sacred, or mystical animal ; he was carried in the
arms of the priests in Assyria and Babylonia. See
Plate II., Figs. 1, 4. For a long period I could find
no clue by which to explain the meaning of the
symbol. The word in question appears to afford it ;
for by a sort of pun, apparently very common amongst
the ancient hierarchy, the same word may express
the animal, or the fact that a certain organ is fat,
thick, or strong. Double entendres arc not exclusively
of modern origin, and they have descended from the
priests to the people.
DiZAHAB, ^rj^"?, (Dent. i. 1.) "A place abounding with
gold" (Gesenius).
Dreams. The subject of dreams is one which is full of
interest to tlie philosophic student. The educated
man and the mental philosopher recognise in them
nothing more than the workings of a tired or dis-
eased brain, which reproduces grotesquely the ideas
formed during waking hours under the domina-
tion of the will. All ahke refuse to see in dreams
any direct communication with the divine mind, and
reject the idea that God speaks thus to man in modern
times. Yet though this is the general feeling, I
have known a pious Christian gentleman so influenced
by his sleeping thoughts, as to mould his waking
opinions upon them, and to refuse, under the influ-
ence of dreams, to do what his judgment, and that of
others under whose advice he had begun to act,
dictated as a proper course. But the philosophic
Englishman is very diflfereut from the child-like
Oriental, whose uncultivated mind swallows every-
thing which is presented to it in the way of rehgiou,
458
Dreams] and refuses to reject, or even to moclif}^ the belief
which is first instilled into his soul. To him a dream
is something very mysterious ; and its explanation
must be sought from those who profess to be learned
in such matters, viz., priests, prophets, diviners,
soothsayers, and the like. They, not laiowing, nor
perhaps caring to learn, much respecting psychology,
readily attribute the visions of the night to celestial
agency, and declare that dreams are as completely
the means of communication with the God whom
they worship, as the utterances of a madman were
considered in Asia, those of a shrewd pythoness in
Ancient Greece, or those of an insane dervish in
Modern Turkey.
Yv-'e see abundant evidence of the importance
attached to dreams in the Old Testament. In
Gen. XX. 3, Elohim speaks to Abimelech Avhen the
latter is asleep. Jacob and Laban have each commu-
nications from God in a dream. Gen. xxxi. 11-24.
The dreams of Joseph, of Pharaoh, his butler and
his baker are well known. Moses was so strongly
imbued with the celestial origin of dreams, that we find
him reporting the following as the words of Jehovah —
" If there be a prophet amongst you, I the Lord
will make myself known unto him in a vision, and
will speak unto him in a dream" (Num. xii. 6). A
similar idea is expressed by Job (xxxiii. 14-16), "For
God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man pcrceiveth it
not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep
sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed,
then He openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their
instruction." We have some indications of the use
made of dreams in Jeremiah xxiii. 25, " I have
heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in
459
Deeams] my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.
How long shall this be in the hearts of the prophets
which ihink to cause my people to forget my
name by their dreams Avhich they tell every man to
his neighbour ? . . . . The prophet that hath a dream,
let him tell a dream," &c. Every reader of Daniel is
familiar with the respect in which dreams w-ere held in
Babylon ; whilst we find, from Matthew's gospel, that
dreams continued to be held in estimation up to the
time of our Saviour, both amongst the Jews and
Romans (Matt, xxvii. 19). Though Solomon had a
memorable dream (1 Kings iii. 5), we nevertheless
find him estimating them as ordinary occurrences
(Ecclesiastes v. 3).
Throughout the whole Bible we find no plan
described by wliich the real value of a dream could be
discovered, but we do find that dreamers are repeatedly
associated with diviners, enchanters and sorcerers.
For those men who pretended to be diviners, no
machinery could be found more valuable than dreams
to effect their purpose. By this means, the shrewd
man was able to gain time for reflection. Throughout
the quiet hours of night he could ponder over the
questions which Lad been submitted to his notice
during the day. If the matter admitted of an
easy solution, and one the truth of which circum-
stances were not likely to oppose, he, the diviner,
could readily feign to have had a dream, in which the
answer to the proposed question had been revealed ;
but if the matter was one of which the most astute of
fortune-tellers must have felt considerable doubt, —
for example, whether a Saul, who had never shown
himself a particularly skilful general, after the defec-
tion of his lieutenant David to the opposite side,
460
Dreams] would be able to conquer the Philistines in the
coming strife, — the diviner very judiciously decided
not to dream at all ; so that even a king might
complain that he could get no answer from priest,
prophet, or dreamer (1 Sam. xxviii. 15), i. e., from
those who claimed to be inspired by day, or those
who averred that their inspiration came on by night.
In considering the subject of dreams from a
religious point of view, we must look upon them
as being of either divine or human origin ; if we
regard them as the first, we are driven by logic to
allow that God has spoken equally to all nations, to
kings, priests, and diviners who are "heathen," as to
those who are orthodox, and by thus treating all alike
He has demonstrated His friendliness alike to all
mankind, which He has " made of one blood" (Acts
xvii. 26). If, on the contrary, we adjudge that dreams
are of human origin, it is impossible to accord to the
dreamers the authority which they claim, and when
we read " Thus saitli the Lord," we must understand
the words to mean " Thus saith the visionary." If,
desiring to steer clear from both these horns of the
dilemma, we assert that some dreams are real com-
munications from the Almighty, and others not, we
only get into another difficulty, namely, the means by
which the two are to be discriminated, nay, even how
we can ascertain with certainty that the diviner has
dreamed at all. If we allow the claim of Moses, and
believe that he received direct communications from
the Almighty by day, whenever any new difficulty
required to be adjusted ; how can we refuse the claim
of the Arab lawgiver Mahomet, who claimed to have
intercourse with Allah during the darkness of night,
in visions on his bed ? Some there are who would
461
Dreamsj make the fulfilment of the prophecy the test of the
divinity of his message ; but from this even we are
precluded by the dictum in Dcut. xiii. 1-5 : " If there
arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams,
and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, and the sign or
the wonder whereof he spake of thee come to pass,"
&c., he shall not be believed if he be not thoroughly
orthodox. If we take orthodoxy as the standard by
which to judge of the sacred nature of the message
divulged in a dream, it is clear that what was a divine
dream in Samaria v:ould be considered a human one
in Jerusalem, and vice versa. This again raises the
question as to who has the power of deciding as to
what orthodoxy is. By no possible definition of the
word can we consider that our Saviour was orthodox
during His lifetime ; it is impossible that any one who
promulgates a new religion or ritual can be otherwise
than " heterodox" in the estimation of the believers
in the old. " The great reformers," as they are called,
were heterodox in their day. Yet although we
believe in their worth and commend their doctrine,
which being established amongst ourselves is held to
be orthodox, there are nevertheless others in Christian
Europe who regard them as dreadful heretics, incar-
nations indeed of the Devil.
If, in default of all logical methods of distin
guishing between dreams of divine and human
origin, we content ourselves with the belief that all
those which are admitted into our sacred writings are
true, we must allow those who profess a religion
other than our own to use the same plea. If we
once permit ourselves to argue that ' such a doctrine
is true because I believe it,' we must in fairness allow
the same argument to be used by another ; and thus
462
DeeamsI we are compelled, by oiir own logic, to admit that
the dreams of Grecian and Eoman soothsayers are of
equal value with those of the Jewish diviners ; or, by
refusing to admit this, we must put everything, as
did the Mahometans and the Christians, to the
arbitrament of the sword, and consider that those
visionaries whom the Almighty loves the most must
win the day ; a conclusion which asserts that brute
force is better than intelligence, and that the religion
of Mahomet is superior to that of the Saviour.
Now Avlien a sensible priesthood, trammelled by
these difficulties, finds itself unable to contend with
the intelligence of the present day, it is a grave
matter for their consideration whether it is not
advisable to abandon all the weak points of doctrine,
and strengthen the main bulwarks of Christianity.
" The reformers " did not scruple in their days to
expunge from the canon of scripture fifteen books, out
of eighty-one ; and Luther even went so far as to
exclude the epistle of Saint James, because it opposed
his doctrine of faith without works, calling it a truly
straw epistle, since it does not contain any evangeli-
calism. I consider that we of to-day have power
equal to that of the reformers, if we choose to exercise
it. How any one can reject the story of Susannah
and the three elders as apocryphal, and yet retain the
words of Hosea as inspired, is to many moderns
incomprehensible.
We have introduced dreams in this place, simply
because it was in conformity with them that some
cognomens were given ; see, for example the account
given in Luke i. 11, 22, C3, where that which we
must presume to have been a dream is described as a
vision ; and again, consult Matthew i. 20, 21, where it
463
Deeams] appears that the name of Jesus was prescribed to
Joseph in a dream ; see also ch. ii. 13.
DoD, in is a word which signifies " sexual love," = e^wj ;
a fit offering to make to the lovely alma-mater.
Hence Dod, Dodd, Dodson, Dodgson, Doddridge,
Ashdod, Eldad, Medad, &c.
DoDAi, ^7"'''^ (1 Chro. xxvii. 4), signifies "loving, amatory;"
also a certain root, mandragora,'" which was supposed
to have influence in sexual matters (Gesenius). Now
tiiis word is precisely the same as '''"l"?, David, except
that in this the yod i comes before, instead of after,
the final daleth i, or d. A change so simple could
readily be made by a scribe, and thus a name, origi-
nally ' tlte mandrake,'' would become ' beloved.'
Dodo, ''ii ("2 Sam. xxiii. 9), and Dido, are both variants of
the word ''T"'"^. In passing, I must notice that Dudai,
or ''I'l'^, signifies "a basket," as well as " mandra-
gora;" and it is possible that from such a pun arose
the practice of the priests carrying a basket, when
worshipping at the shrine of Ishtar.
DoEG, J'^'"^ (1 Sam. xxi. 7)- This cognomen signifies simply
"The fish;" which was a sacred symbol, in eon-
sequence of the extraordinary quantity of milt or roe
which each one contains at breeding times, thus being
an emblem of fecundity.
DoPt, ii (Jos. xvii. 11), "An age," "generation," "habi-
tation ; " also " to go in a circle," — the sun ? Assy-
rian, Dar, " a habitation." Compare En-c/or, Dorcas,
Dorah, Doran, Dor'mg, Dorrington, &c.
DoTHAN, IC"^ (Gen. xxxvii. 17), "The two wells, or doulde
fountain" ?
Do^-E (see page 110) ; a possible etymon for our English
70 For an account of this plant see Iutto's Cycloj}mlia of BMical Literature.
s. V. DUDAd, anil Soiif/ of Songs, by Dr. Ginsburg, p. 183, Note.
464
DoyeJ word is nn, dur, wliicli signifies "to pine away,"
" to languish."
Dud, n-n, signifies "to love erotically," "a beloved one,"
"a friend." Pointed as '^)^,, it reads " David," and
signifies 'beloved,' in an amatory way ; every mean-
ing, indeed, given to n-n, in the lexicons, seems to
have reference to love matters. (Compare Dudley,
Dz/fZding, .Duc^dingstone, D^Json.)
DuDAi, '''^■^^, "love apples." Dudaim, mandrakes, used
for aphrodisiac purposes.
DuMAH, f^?"!"^ (Gen. xxv. 14), " The silent one." It may
be from ^"H, ' likeness.'
DuKA, ^:}^^ (Daniel iii. 1). Dur, in, signifies "to go in
a circle," "a circle," "a ball," "a burning pile, or
round heap of wood." In the Cuneiform, it is read
as Duni.
E. There is no Hebrew letter which corresponds to the
second vowel of our own language, Those Jewish
and other names, which in our Bibles are found to
commence with E, begin in the Hebrew with Aleph,
or Ayin, which are marlced with certain vowel-points
that give them the sound of the French e, equivalent
to our ai, of which Elohim is an example, wherein
the E has the sound of a in " ale ,• " it has also the
ordinary sound of our own e as in "ell." The e is
also introduced into the English form of Jewish
names, when the initial letter in the Hebrew has
sWva, (:) under it, and is immediately followed by
another consonant, in which case e is pronounced as
faintly as possibly.
Eagle, Tf?., neslicr. This bird has always been a sacred
emblem, and an attendant upon the Great God, as
being the largest known bird, and one which takes the
465
EagleJ highest flight into the air. Its sight too is us keen
as its flight is powerful, and it thus becomes a symbol
of the all-seeing Creator. (Compare Nisroch, Mac-
neish, Neish, Nash, &c.)
There is, in Deuteronomy xxxii. 11, a very
curious mistake respecting the habits of this bird,
and one for which it is difficult to find any explana-
tion, viz. " As an eagle stirrctli up her nest,
fluttcreth over her young, takcth them, bearcth them
on her wings, so the Lord did lead him," &c.
Now the closest observers of the eagle tell us, that
she not only does not stir up her nest, but that she
makes a new one every year on the top of the old one,
and neither she nor any other known bird bears its
young upon its wings.
Earth, V^^', aretz ; yr;, gee, in Greek ; terra in Latin.
The earth has played a very important j^art in all the
ancient theologies which we know. All the great
gods are said to have descended from the marriage
of heaven and earth ; sometimes they are also said
to have "time" for a grandfather, and for their
destroyer. In other words, the idea of there being
a god at all is the result of human considerations
about heavenly things, Avhich time brings to per-
fection, but again swallows up. Just as Sennacherib
inquired. Where are the gods of Hamath and of
Arpad ? so we may ask. Where are the gods of Gre^e,
Phoenicia, and Egypt ? Time has destroyed them.
The supposition, that the earth is the universal
mother, is a very natural deduction for a semi-
civilised man to form. He sees how all things
spring from the soil ; how all animals are refreshed
and strengthened by resting on the ground ; he sees
that all creatures take their sustenance from the
G o
466
Earth] products of the soil ; and wlieu he contemplates the
process of feeding, he sees that every portion of the
human body has at one time been a portion of the
ground on which he treads ; still farther, he sees
that all things become converted into earth again.
The gigantic tree, when dead, is decomposed like the
humblest leaf ; whilst man, the lord of creation, is no
better in this respect than the vilest worm ; " dust he
is, and unto dust he doth return."
When once this sentiment obtained, it was very
natural that every thing connected with the pheno-_
mena of germination should be noticed, and the
observer would soon recognise the influence of the
sun and rain upon the earth ; without these, vege-
tation languishes or dies, just as the female remains
sterile without her natural consort. It was easy,
therefore, to compare the earth to a fruitful mother,
and the heaven to a fructifying father.
The poetical Greeks embodied these consider-
ations in a legend, and made Demeter the mother
of all below. Of the Roman idea, Pliny gives us a
good account [Natural History, book ii. c. 63), of
which the following is the opening sentence : " Next
comes the earth, on which alone, of all parts of
nature, we have bestowed the name that implies
maternal veneivation." It is not, however, so much
with these that we have to deal, as with the ideas
which we find in the Hebrew scriptures, as being
held by those whom many persons at the present
day consider as divinely inspired. If Ave find in
the Bible the same doctrines as those held by other
nations, we must accept them as of divine origin,
or of human invention. It may be that one people
has borrowed the faith and copied the practice of
467
Earth] another, or that both have been taught by inspira-
tion, or simply by their own cogitations. To decide
into which category Ave are to place the idea that the
earth is our mother, we must ascertain that which
our sacred scriptures enunciate.
We find the maternal idea at the very threshold
of the Bible. No sooner is the woman cursed, by
having an accession of pain on the occasion of par-
turition, than the earth is associated with her, and
the sentence goes forth — "Cursed is the ground,
. . . thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to thee,"
Gen. iii. 16, 17, 18 ; or, in other Avords, there shall
be an infliction of misery even upon the soil, which,
instead of bringing forth trees pleasant to the sight
and good for food, with trees of knowledge and of
life, should travail with briers and all sorts of
prickly bushes. Adam, himself, is also informed
that he was taken from the ground, and that to it
he should return. The same idea is expressed with
equal strength in the account of the creation. Gen.
i. 11, 12 ; " Let the earth hyimj forth grass," &c.,
" and the earth hrowjht forth grass and herbs," &c. ;
and again, we have in verse 24, "let the earth
brinci forth the living creature, cattle, and creeping
things, and beasts."
We next find the earth treated as an individual :
in Gen. ix. 13, "It shall be a token of a covenant
between Me and the earth ; " and again, in Num-
bers xvi. 32, where the earth is said to have opened
her mouth and swallowed up Korah and his company.
The idea in question is very clearly enunciated by
David, in Psalm exxxix. 15, thus : " My substance
was not hid from thee when I was made in secret,
and curiouslv wrought in the lowest parts of the
468
Eaeth] earth." (See Isaiah li. 1, also Job i. 21, and
Eccles. Y. 15, with Ginsburg's remarks chereon, p.
852.) From these passages it is evident that no
difference exists between the Hebrew and the Greek
idea. The former distinctly avers that the earth
brought forth plants and animals of all kinds, at the
commandment of the God of Heaven. The latter
says that Demeter is the earth when called into
activity by heaven ; and the story of Prometheus,
who made a man of clay, but could not animate it
until he acquired some iire from on high, is precisely
a counterpart of the making of Adam out of dust
and breathing into him the power of life. In both,
there is a recognition that the earth is sterile without
the influence of heaven ; but whether this knowledge
is of higher origin than human invention, we may
leave to the decision of men who are more acute in
recognising the marks of divine interference than we
feel ourselves to be.
Ebal, or AiBAL, ^^'V. (Gen. xxxvi. 23), also read as Gaibal
and Hebal, signiiies " a bare mountain, or rock."
Ebed, "^1}^ (Judges ix. 26), the same as Abd, " A servant."
Ebed-melech, V^. "i^y (Jerem, xxxviii. 7), " The king's
slave."
Eben, 15^', signifies "A rock, or stone." Amongst the
ancients generally, and amongst the Hebrews them-
selves, an upright stone indicated the Creator ; as
a phallus at Cyprus, the celebrated Paphian Venus,
was a conical stone.
Ebenezer, IJ^C I?? (1 Sam. iv. 1), " Stone of strength."
Eber, ^?y (Gen. x. 14), a part situated on the other side
of a river, sea, or desert, " to pass over." It is also
spelled ^?y, abar, and may be pronounced in strictness
dvar, and be the origin of Havre. Various Abers in
469
Eber] Scotland, Wales, and England, and our word over,
. are all but identical with it.
■|3X, ahav, also signifies ' to be strong, firm, pow-
erful, vigorous,' also ' to veil,' ' to cover,' and ' the wing-
er pinion of a bird,' according to the vowel-points.
Ahari, in the Cuneiform, signifies "the celestials."
Ebiasaph, '19^?^^' (1 Chron. vi. 23). See Abiasaph.
Ebna, Assyrian, signifies "created;" Ahna iieho = ' Nebo
made me ; ' Sliemschna = ' the sun made me.'
(Compare Abi-ner.)
Ebriu, Assyrian, signifies "purified," also "dividing into
parts," either victims or the heavens ; and thus
"priests" or "astrologers," or both.
Ebronah, rip?y (Numb, xxxiii. 34), "A place by the coast."
Eden, HV (Gen. ii. 8), "Delight, softness, pleasure," equiva-
lent to ^Sovrj. (Compare the garden of the Hesperides
in Greek fable, also the names Aden, Edensor, and
St. Aidan, one of the Culdees.)
Eder, "^y. (Josh. XV. 21, 1 Chron. xxiii. 23), "He arranges,"
or " the disposer of events," also " a flock."
Edom, i3'"''''>« (Genesis xxv. 30). The three letters mN signify
"to stamp firmly," "man," " to "be red," or "red,"
according to the vowel points. There is something
mystical about red as a colour. Red powder is used
to-day in Hindoo worship. For the priest to throw
it on a woman's breast is equivalent to soliciting to
adultery. Jaganath is painted red ; Linganrs are
usually so coloured. Scarlet and hyssop were burned
with the sacred red heifer (Numb. xix. 26). Earns'
skins for the temple were dyed red (Exod. xxv. 5).
Zechariah speaks of red horses (chap. i. 8) ; and
in Rev. vi. 4, and xii. 3, wc read of a red horse and
a red dragon : and in chap. xvii. 3, the woman sits
on a scarlet coloured beast, and is herself clothed
470
Edom] in tlie same hue. In the Romish church the preva-
lent colours for sacred dresses, &c., are purple and
scarlet ; and the same are seen in our Universities.
There is still faith in red flannel ; and a scarlet dress
is very attractive to those of the opposite sex to the
wearer. We find, too, that the hull is readily excited
to fury hy a red flag ; and that a turkeycock is made
very fierce by a crimson rag. But though the phy-
siologist may readily account why red should be
adopted by the followers of Mahadeva, the reason
will not apply universally. Many have doubtless
used the colour simply because it was handsome,
attractive to the eye, and not much given to fade by
exposure to the sun. (See Esau.)
Edeei, ''VTl'^ (Numb. xxi. 33), signifies " strong ;" the name
was borne by a town in Bashan and in Naphtali.
The word is probably a variant of "^l^, adar, which
means " to shine, to be sj)lendid, renowned," &c. ; also
" great, swelling, inflated, magnificent, large." (Com-
pare Hadriim, Adramjiimm, &c. ; Addar, and the
Puff Adder.)
Egg, i^Vr^, Bezel, compare Besai, Bezaleel, Beza, &c.
Omne vivum ex ovo, — "Every living thing comes
from an egg," — wrote Haller, one of the most distin-
guished physiologists of modern times. No wonder
then that the egg has figured in sacred mysteries.
We have it alike in Hindostan and Greece, Egypt
and England, amongst the Babylonians of ancient and
the Eomanists of modern times. It was related to
the crescent moon in Heliopolis ; and in other places
was to be seen surrounded by a serpent. In Cyprus,
there is a huge specimen of one, which is adorned by
a bull, in a recess, arched over by a crescent, sup-
ported on two fan-like ornaments. In Assyria, the
471
Egg] egg is associated with Yenus and the doves. The
aphorism of Haller would of itself go far to account
for the reverence in which the egg was held, if
it could only be shown that the ancients knew that
mammals ever existed in an egg condition. As
thej did not know the fact, it is clear that we must
look elsewhere for the origin of the myth. If the
reader will refer to what we said of the apple and
the pine cone offered to the female deity — if he
will still farther remember the ideas connected with
the worship of Mahadeva, and our surmise of the
bidden meaning of the Assyrian triad, he will pro-
bably conclude that the shape of the egg is intended
to typify that of the testis ; and he will be still
farther convinced of the truth of his surmise when
be finds that the small organs, to which we give the
name of "witnesses," are called, in ancient and modern
oriental languages, the " eggs." As Mahadeva or
Assbur 2^er se would be powerless, and as be derives
all his fertilising jjower from bis dependents, we can
readily understand the myth which created the mun-
dane egg before the oldest of the Gods, and which
made the egg to be brooded over by the Holy Spirit,
thus bringing about creation.
Eglah, n^jy (2 Sam. iii. 5). " The calf, or a heifer ; " ^^V,
agal, " is to roll or to revolve ; " agol is " round." It
is possible that the calf become a sacred animal
because its name resembled that of the round or
revolving one, the Sun. In the later period of Jewish
history, the worship of the golden calf was held in
such horror, that every contrivance was adopted to
keep it out of sight. It is therefore very remarkable
that we should find certain coguomeus apparently
derived therefrom. The name Eglah was borne by
472
Eglah] one of David's wives ; but we can scarcely imagine
that lie would have tolerated sucli an appellative, had
he felt like the modern Jews. It appears, therefore,
probable that the monarch did not know of the story
of Aaron's shame. There are many indications that
the Pentateuch had no existence in the time of David,
as we shall show in our second volume. This is one
of them.
i^/^y, agalah, also signifies " a waggon or chariot,"
from its rolling, and it is possible that we derive
eagle, French aiglc, from the wheeling flight of the
bird. Aglae is still an appellative in France. (See
Heifer.)
Eglaim, ^tl^^^ (Isaiah xv. 8). This word was originally
written without the gimel, and signified the same as
Elohim ; but the early redactors of the sacred text,
unwilling to allow that the sacred name of El was
known to the Moabites, inserted gimel between the
two first letters. Ginsburg's Versiojis of the Bible ;
also p. 227, supra.
Eglon, Jl'^J?^ (Josh. X. 3, Judg. iii. 12), probably " On is
round ; " from '^^y, agal, and jK*, on.
Egypt, Q^^V^ (Gen. xii. 12), Mitzrim, signification doubtful.
Ehi, ^^^ (Gen. xlvi. 21), "My brother, or friend." It may
also signify " Jah is a brother, or friend," the yocl
being elided from ^l; or if, with Fiirst, we consider
that ^^, ach, is one of the names of the Almighty,
the word in question will signify " Jah is Ach."
Ehud, "i-inK (Judg. iii. 15), "Conjunction, union;" also
"powerful," " strong," or " the One;" "the incom-
parable."
Eker, l^y (1 Chrou. ii. 27), "A shoot, stock, or trunk."
One of the euphemisms for the testes; "he is a
son of Kam," or "the high one." '\^V., aiker, is
473
Eker] liowcvev probabl_y a later euphemism for i?'";?, acluo;
or icJiar, ' to plough, or dig,' whence we have
EivRON, I''"'?^ (Josh. xiii. 13). Vide supra, page 68.
El, See Al.
El, Cuneiform, " The name of any God," plural El-im,
or Ilin.
Eladah, n^J^^'^ (1 Chron. vii. 20), "El is lovely."
Elah, 'V^' (1 Kings iv. 18), '' An oak." Probably a *? is
elided, and the name means '"El is strong as the
oak." It is spelled i^?'^, 1 Sam. xvii. 2, which is
perhaps an elided form of "El is Jah," or is simply
" an oak." (See Elealah.)
Elam, ^f^ (Gen. x. 22), of doubtful signification.
Elamu, Cuneiform, one of the Kings of Elam.
Elasah (1 Chron. ii. 39). See Eleasah.
Elath, ^T^ (Deut. ii. 8), = "the goats," or simply " the
loving ones," or " the mighty women." Originally
it has been a feminine plural of 'I"''?., Eloali, signi-
fying "the goddesses;" but, this being offensive to
the modern Jews, the word has been modified, by
converting ^^^, el, into ^''^, dl. Aloth, ^'i^V (1 Kings
iv. 16), is clearly a variant of the same word.
Eldaah, '^^'il^. (Gen. xxv. 4), = " El is knowledge," or
"omniscient," from V"!! '"'V?., dea or da'iah, 'know-
ledge.' He was a sou of Midian ; thus clearly show-
ing that El was not an exclusively Hebrew word for
God.
Eldad, '^f?^ (Numb. xi. 26), "Beloved by El," nn, 'love,'
literally " El loves."
Elead, li'^fj (1 Chron. vii. 21), "El the witness;" from 1^,
aid, ' witness,' and ^^, el. Compare this with Galced
or Gilead, where Gal or Gil, the Sun, is the witness,
whose sign is a menhir, or upright rock, with a heap
of stones at its base.
474
Eleadah, n^tyJjN (1 Chron. vii. 20), " The El passing over
us ; " from ^'}^, ada, ' to jDass by, or over.'
Elealah, ^'^y^^: (Numb, xxxii. 3), "El the high one (the
morning Sun);" n^u% 'to be round or thick,' 'an
oath,' 'an oak,' or 'pine,' or 'God,' according as
it is pointed; <^'^^, alah, 'to go up;' possibly k^'py,
alai, is written for ^^^^, alia, and the word signifies
"El is strong as the oak," we may also read the
name as "El is Allah," or "El goes up." (Com-
pare sXri, 'splendour;' ej'Aw, sIAso;, "HAioc.)
Eleasah, ^^'V"?^ (1 Chron. ii. 39), "El the Creator,"
possibly, 'El is hairy,;' from ^'^'y, asah, 'to be
covered with hairs ' (Compare Esau) ; it may come
from ^'^'^, a shah, 'to sustain.'
Eleazar, '^l: (Exod. vi. 23), " El is a helper."
Elel, an Assyrian God. (Compare Ellel, Lancashire).
Elhanan, ]}^>;^< (2 Sam. xxi. 19), " The merciful El," or
"El is merciful;" ]l^, chanan, 'he is gracious.'
Eli, '^.V (1 Samuel i. 9), means " The goer up," " The high
one." (Compare the Greek sixr^ = 'ixri, and TArj, the
modern Ali, and the Latin ille.
Eli, in Cuneiform, signifies "to ascend."
Eliab, ^^'% (Numb. i. 9), " The strong Father."
Eliada, y::S>' (2 Sam. v. 16), " El is knowing."
Eliahla, ^'sn^bt? (2 Sam. xxiii. 32), "Protected by El;"
'■^?C, chaha, ' to hide, to protect,' &c.
Eliakim, DV^Vn* (2 Kings xviii. 18), "El sets us up." (Com-
pare Jakim.) Jachin, a twin pillar with Boaz in
Solomon's temple, and Hakeem, the present Arabic
name for " doctor," in the East. It is the expe-
rience of European physicians, practising their pro-
fession in Oriental countries, that they are more
frequently consulted by men, j^ropter impotcntiam
virllem, than from any other cause.
475
Eliam, ^T^^. (2 Sam. xi. 3), " El the mother." (See Am.)
Eliasaph, '^^li}:^ (Numh. i. 14), " El the fascinator, or
enchanter," possibly " collector." (See Asaph.)
Eliashib, '^^'^t?^. (1 Chron. iii. 2-1), "' El is a requiter."
Eliathah, !^nX"'^wS (1 Chron. xxv. 1), " El is wonderful," the
^^^ being probably a variant of ^^>' or nis', atli or oth.
Elidad, "i^'S^, (Numb, xxxiv. 21), "Beloved by El;" Tn,
clod, ' a friend, or lover,' ' love.'
Eliel, ^^'^^ (1 Chron. v. 24), "My God is El."
Eliexai, ^^T^^^ (1 Chron. viii. 20), " To El my eyes are
directed." Eiirst.
Eliezer, ir'?'>; (Gen. xv. 2), " El the helper."
Elihoreph, ^T'^.^: (1 Kings iv. 3), " The Eli of harvest;"
^!}n^ ]iorepli, ' harvest.'
Elihu, -i^'S:?: (1 Chron. xxvi. 7), " El, He is ; " n-^n, huh,
' to breathe,' 'to be,' ' desire ' (see Hoham) ; possibly
compounded of El and Hoa, he is son of Barachel,
i.e., son of the Ewe.
Elijah, ^t^.^ (2 Kings ii. 6), "El is Jah." Also called
"Ehas," a variant of "HXioc, or Ilus, "the Smi, or
God."
There are two methods by Avhich w^e may judge of
the theology or of the principle that influences a
Avriter, and those who adopt his accounts as inspired.
One is by the observation of what he says and
does, the other by noticing the words and actions
which he attributes to some one else, whom he sets
up as a hero.
Now it is perfectly clear, from the nature of
things, that the Jewish writer of Kings could not
know all the events which took place in Israel whilst
the two nations were antagonistic. It is equally
clear that, if the dynasty of David had a greater
claim upon the favour of the Almighty than had
476
Elijah] the rnlers of the revolted tribes, there would have
been a greater manifestation of the divine power in
Jerusalem than in Samaria. A Protestant of to-day
would not think it a mark of divine favour to his
cause, if the Creator were to send prophets to modern
Rome and neglect London ; but if he heard that the
messengers were commissioned to uphold the doctrine
of Luther, and to destroy all those who opposed it,
he would naturally be proud. If he were a philo-
sopher, and had the means to gratify his desire, he
would go to Ptome to examine the truth of the report
which had reached him. Until he was able to do so,
the logical observer of to-day would hesitate ere he
acknowledged the mission of the alleged prophet.
As we Avould act in respect to the present, we may
do as regards the past. We see no means by which
the chroniclers of Jerusalem were able to compile
the history, even the very words, of an individual
who resided in a hostile kingdom ; consequently we
prefer to see in the history of Elijah the beau ideal
of a prophet, such as a Jewish priest would have
manufactured, if he had the power, rather than one
which the Almighty designed and produced.
Let us for a moment pause to consider what a
good Roman Catholic of Italy would like to see done
to heretical England, or what a thorough-going low
churchman would be glad to notice as happening to
a red hot ritualistic congregation. Without entering
into particulars, we believe that both would rejoice
to see some conspicuous indication of their opponents
being wrong, and to witness the infliction of condign
punishment. If I am not mistaken, the Popish
literature possesses many evidences to show the union
of Protestantism with the Devil ; and we cannot
477
Elijah] therefore be surprised that the orthodox Jews should
have am23le proof of the complicity of the ten revolted
tribes with Satan.
Guided by this light, let us examine the history
of Elijah, as written by an historian of JudiBa. We
first hear of him (1 Kings xvii. 1) as predicting a
drought, a fearful occurrence even amongst ourselves,
which should afflict only the land of Israel. With
curious carelessness of detail, however, the prophet is
said to get his water from a brook for an indefinite
time ; and when the rivulet at length dries up, Elijah
is sustained entirely by meal of some sort and by oil,
a diet upon which no one could live long. In the
continuation of the story of the Tishbite, we find that
Obadiah had on an occasion fed a hundred of " the
Lord's prophets," in two caves, with bread and water;
a business of no small difticulty during a drought,
for the required supply would not be much less than
an eighteen gallon cask per day. Without inquiring
into the propriety of Jezebel slaying the Lord's
prophets, we pass on to the very wonderful scene in
which, after a long absence of rain, at the top of an
arid mountain, Elijah orders men who are his enemies
to collect water to saturate a sacrificial pile. We are
somewhat struck with the curious circumstance that
Ahab the king should personally search the land to
find some fountain, brook, or grass, that the horses
and the mules should be kept alive, — which shows
the excessive scarcity of animals, — and yet that ' the
Tishbite,' the king's enemy, should be able to per-
su;ide the monarch to find two bullocks, as a test
whether Elijah was what he pretended to be. At any
rate, after the scene described 1 I\iugs xviii., the
Tishbite succeeds in killing all Baal's prophets ; an
478
Elijah] acliievement tliat must be compared to the murder
of the Huguenots at Paris, on the day of Samt
Bartholomew. AVe cannot fairly eulogise Elijah, and
3'et despise the rulers of France. The human holo-
caust being completed, rain arrived for Israel. The
benefit that arose for France from her bloody sacrifice
has not yet been discovered. After the scene referred
to, Elijah has a solitary adventure, the upshot of
which is that he is commanded to anoint one man as
king, and another as a prophet. The first order he
neglects altogether, the second he duly fulfils. We
pause here for awhile, to notice this specimen of
priestly or prophetic assumption. Feigning an order
from the Creator, a man assumes the power to elect,
and therefore to depose, sovereigns. We know that
ancient hierarchs arrogated this faculty, and history
tells us that Christian Popes have assumed the same
authority. As the English Protestant refuses to
accord to the Bishop of Ptome the right to select
the successor to Queen Victoria, so he must deny to
Elijah the right to name and anoint the successors
to the Israelite Ahab, and the Syrian Benhadad.
In the twentieth chapter of the same book we find
no mention made of Elijah, who disappears entirely
at the time of Israel's need, and is re|)laced by some
other prophet. But in the subsequent portion of the
scripture he again comes on the scene, to denounce
the rapacity of the king, and to foretell his decease.
Having arrived thus far, we are perfectly staggered
to find, from 1 Kings xxii., that Elijah is apparently
unknown both to Ahab, the monarch of Israel, and
Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah. We cannot possibly
conceive how a chronicler in JudaBa could record all
the deeds of Elijah, and yet that the ruler should not
479
Elijah] know of his existence ; nor can wc understand how
Ahab, who had seen so much of the power of Ehjah,
shoukT have sent for Mieaiah rather than the Tish-
bite. The next chapter, however, reintroduces Ehjah
upon the scene ; and he again appears as a theologi-
cal champion, denouncing the son of Ahal). Whilst
acting thus, he does not scruple to destroy a hundred
men. We might ourselves doubt whether this deed
was one that could be commended ; but we have the
certaintj' that it was reprehensible, from the judg-
ment of the Sa\iour, which is recorded in Luke ix.
54-56. It is impossible to believe that " the Father"
authorised a deed which "the Son" condemned; v/e
prefer, therefore, to believe that the story of Elijah
is apocryphal, rather than allege, as many good men
do, that he was the chief of the Old Testament
j)rophets, and is to return again as the forerunner
of a second Saviour.
Over the last days of "the Tishbite'" we must draw
a veil ; all that we are informed of him is that he and
Elisha were alone, and that the last only returned
to their companions. The story of the chariot and
the horses of fire is sublime ; it is doubtful whether
any novelist at the present day could invent a more
ingenious plan for the disappearance of his hero.
Many great men — Moses, Romulus, and King Arthur
amongst the number — have disappeared from the
scenes of their greatness without their bodies being
found ; but no one in our own times would believe
the account of any man who declared, on his return
alone from a walk with a friend, that the latter had
been "translated." We might listen to the statement
about the fiery chariot, but we should suspect, in
spite of ourselves, that murder had been committed.
480
Elika, ^TH: (2 Sam. xxiii. 25), " olDecTieut to El;" ^lll,
ihali, 'to obe}',' 'to reverence,' &c.
Elim, the masculine plural of El. (See Al.)
Elbielech, t?;^''^^.., (Ruth i. 2), ' El the king.' (See Melech.)
Elin, or Ilin = " The Assyrian Gods." (Com^^are Helen.)
Elioenai (1 Chron. iii. 23), a variant of Elienai.
Eliphal, ^?''?^; (1 Chron. xi. 35), "El the wonderful"?
^)^, 2^ala, ' he is wonderful ; ' ^i^?, paaZ, ' he
makes.'
Eliphaleh, •1''^5?f'Hl (1 Chron. xv. 18), " El the distingaished."
Eliphalet, ^^f^^., (1 Chron. iii. G), "El the smooth, or the
deliverer;" U^^, iJcdet, 'to be smooth,' &c.
Elippiaz, TEi''p5s* (Gen. xxxvi. 4), "El the pure;" ^2, phaz,
' purified,' ' pure.'
Elisha, ^'^'''r''^ (1 Kings xix. 16), " El is deliverance."
This name is very conspicuous in Samaritan history ;
he was a prophet — a bald headed, and, from his
age, probably a hoary and venerable man. The
first element in his name is Al, or El, the equiva-
lent of the Assyrian // ; the second may be ^"fl,
jasliali, 'to stand upright,' 'to be strong,' 'to exist,'
'to be,' i.e., " Al is upright;" or from <^^'^, ashah,
"to be firm." Wl, jeslui, signifies "deliverance,"
and pointed as asha, is "to save;" and it may be
that the name Elisha signifies "El is the deliverer."
It must not be forgotten that Elisha was supposed
by Naaman to be essentially opposed to the worship
of Rimmon — the Pomegranate, emblem of the full
womb or of the celestial mother ; and that he lived
at Mount Carmel. (See Carmel and CaPvMI.) Put-
ting all these together, we come to the conclusion
that the name is intended to signify — though to
our modern notions in a coarse form — " God is the
father."
481
Elishaj When once a writer of fiction, whether rehgious
or otherwise, has conceived a story which experience
shows to he popuhir, it is a very common thing to
find that he has imitators. The wonders which Moses
is said to have wrouglit were copied hy Jaunes and
Jambres ; whilst, in our own days, the wonders of
mesmerism have been echpsed by table-turners,
spirit-rappers, and other jugglers. It was the same
in olden time, and the character of Elisha was
pourtrayed to improve upon that of Elijah.
From the earliest indication of his career, we find
that his fame is to eclipse that of his master ; he is
represented as having a double portion of the spirit
of Elijah (2 Kings ii. 9-14). He restores one dead
being, and his bones restore another (2 Kings iv.
34-36; xiii. 21). He cures leprosy, and is so clever
as to be able to lead a whole army into a trap
(2 Kings vi. 18-23). "\yith the same carelessness of
detail, however, which is so common amongst the
ancient Hebrew writers, the holj prophet, who has
command over horses and chariots of fire, and who
can blindfold a host of enemies (2 Kings vi. 17-23).
has no influence in preventing Samaria being besieged,
and a woman killing, cooking, and eating her son.
As we discredit the story of Elijah, we are equally
incredulous of the account of Elisha. Yet, though
we reject the account of their life and doingy as
historically true, we accept it as an indication of the
belief and practice of the writer who has written the
histories of these prophets in our Scriptures.
Elishah, "^"'P^ (Gen. x. 4), " El is uprightness," " El is,"
" The erect El." (See Elisha.)
This name is given to a region of the Mediter-
ranean sea, whence purple was brought to Tyre. It
n II
4S2
ElishahI is mentioned in Genesis x. 4, and again in Ezekiel
xxvii. 7. It can scarcely be pretended that this
was a Hebrew name, and we may fairly assume that
it had a common origin with Elisha. This we must
compare to Ehssa, Ehza or Alitta, a name which we
have still amongst us, as Elizabeth, and which is
associated with Mylitta, Astarte, and Venus.
Elishamah, y'^^'^^^ (Numb. i. 10), "El is on high, or in
heaven ; " '"'9^', sliamalt, ' he is high, or he who
hears ; ' also ytotr.
Elishaphat, '^r'"^''r'^ (2 Chron. xxiii. 1), "El is the judge,"
or "El ordains; " ^^^, shaphath, 'to put in order; '
tSSE^, sliapliat, ' to judge, or a judge.'
Elisheba, ^^^'''r'?:^ (Exod. vi. 23). This word is rendered by
the Septuagint " Ehzabeth," and is commonly said to
signify " the oath of God," which gives us the notion
of oaths and swearing going on in heaven. It is
true that we are told that "God swore an oath unto
David " (Ps. cxxxii. 11), and that, " as He could
swear by no greater. He sware by Himself" (Heb.
vi. 13) ; but few would take this literally, and say that
Elisheba, the wife of Aaron, was the oath sworn.
The word is spelled thus y?^'^^^ Of the signifi-
cation of All there can be no doubt; I^^^, sliaha, is
'he swears,' and pointed as sJteha, means 'seven, or
The seven.' Now there was a Queen of SJieha ; the
same name was also borne by an Israelite, and
Beei'slieha was a well in Canaan. I can scarcely
conceive a "Queen of an oath," or "Her swearing
majesty," or a man called " curse " — for oaths imply
curses, if they are broken — but I can readily con-
ceive a name signifying " The seven." Seven was a
mystic number, from that being the number of the
planets known ; and " The seven " meant the whole
483
Elisheba] of the moving lights in the sky. We conckide,
therefore, that the name signiiies, " Al is sevenfokl,"
or " Al is the seven."
Elisiiua, y•1^^''?^^ (2 Sam. v. 15), " El is deliverance, El of
riches," y-l^, sliua, ' to be large, wide, free, noble,'
cl'c, whence probably shall; Uli^', is also ' to thunder,'
and the name may be equivalent to " Jupiter tonans."
Elizabeth, 'Exiaa^-T (Luke i. 5), " The house of EHssa,"
possibly daughter of Ehssa, or EHza, or "El the
helper." Eliza was one of the names of Dido, or
of Alitta, a softened form of Eliza, and equivalent to
Venus Urania.
Elizaphan, \^T^^: (Numb. iii. 30), " El is secret, unsearch-
able ; " 1?Vj saplian, ' to hide,' ' conceal,' &c.
Elizur, ■^•''^V^^ (Numb. i. 5), "El the rock;" li^,', zor, 'a
rock.' When we come to speak of Gilgal, we shall
attempt to show that a stone pillar, or a long stone
set upright, was emblematic of the Almighty through-
out the East, and all over Europe. The idea can
readily be traced from Babylon to Kome and Britain,
by the cairns erected to Hermes. It must be clear
to the critic that to call El ' a rock ' is metaphorical.
The idea is that El is ever firm, hard, strong,
unchanged, and never soft. Nor is it surprising that a
piece of rock should be adopted to express this senti-
ment. The rock in general gives a high conception
of the symbol ; the pillar rock, or menhir, gives a
low one ; but both were used (Isaiah li. 1).
Tyre was literally " The rock ; " and if we com-
pare it with the names of Eshcol, Accho, Gatii, &c.,
we must believe that it was used metaphorically for
the strong On, i. e., the fasciuum.
Elkanaii, ^\\i^^ (1 Sam. i. 1), " El the erect one," or
"El the tall reed," or "El burning with desire;"
484
Elkanah] i^.^P, kanali, 'to erect,' 'create;' Avhence Khan,
Caniia, Cane ; and probably canis, ' a dog ' (from its
salacity) .
Elkoshi, ^^^'>' (Nalmm. i. 1), " El the hard one ; " '^P,
kslii, ' hardness.'
Ellasae, "1?^^^ (Gen. xiv. 1, 9), " The angry Sun ; " "i?, sar,
'angry,' a variant of Eleazar ; possibly from "^P^',
' to bind,' or ' make fast,' i. e., •' El makes firm."
Elnaam, ^Vt^^ (1 Chron. xi. 46), "El is delight."
Elnathan, ]^f?^ (2 Kings xxiv. 8), " God ttie Giver," or
" God's gift."
Elon, iH> (Gen. xxvi. 34), "An oak," or "pine tree;" for
V^i^, elon.
Eloth. See Elath.
Elpaal, '^i'sb.s^ (1 Chron. viii. 11), "El the maker;" ^V?,
}?aal, 'to make,' 'to do.' Probably the word was
origiuall_y El-baal.
Eltakah, nf5^h? (Josh. xix. 44), "El my hope"? ^^^,
tachali, ' to lean upon.'
Eltekon, P^^^ (Josh. XV. 59), " El the straight one ; " Ii?^,
takaii, ' to be or become straight.'
Eltolad, '^'?w'?^^ (Josh. XV. 30), signification doubtful.
Eluzai, 'J-iy*?? (1 Chron. xii. 5), "El the strong one; " ^Pr,
iisal, 'strength,' 'firmness,' 'majesty.'
Elzabad, ^JT^N (1 Chron. xxvi. 7), " God-given."
Elzaphan, \^t!^ (Numb. iii. 20), "The shining El;" n?^,
tzaphah, 'to shine, or be bright;' P^)', tzaphon,
' the North quarter ; ' 1?^', tsapkan, ' to hide,' ' to
conceal.'
Emins, n?3\s! ((^en. xiv. 5), "Terrors;" apropos of the
word " terrors," Coverdale renders the passage now
read as " Thou shalt not be afraid of the terror by
night," by "Thou shalt not be afraid of the hugs
by night." The origui of this word was hog, = 'a
485
Emins] place for ghosts ; heiice hofiic. There is, too, a
river Bug, which takes its rise in a bog.
En, or AiN, V.^ (Numb, xxxiv. 11), "tin eye, or u fountain."
Either may be read in the following : —
En-am, D^'J/ (Josh. xv. 34), " The eye, or fountain, of the
mother."
En-an ir^ (Numb. i. 1), "The eye of On, or Ann"?
En-dor, "'^'^ V)! (Josh. xvii. 11), '' The eye of the circling
one, the Sun."
En-eglaim, ^'^^^ Py (Ezek. xlvii. 10), " The eye of the
calves."
En-gannim, ^'n r?; (Josh. xv. 34), "The eye of the pro-
tectors."
En-gedi, ''1^. VV (Josh. XV. 62), " The eye of good luck,"
''"l^, [iddi, "fortunate." (See Gad.)
En-haddah, iT^l' ry (Josh. xix. 21), " The eye of the protec-
tors, or of the glad one ;" '^IC, hadali, ' to rejoice,' &c.
En-hakkore, ^y^^ \1. (Judges xv. 19), " The well of him
who called."
En-harod, "T^n VV. (Judges vii. 1). This is probably au
altered form of En-hadad, " The fountain of Hadad,"
a god amongst the Syrians and Edomites.
En-hazor, ^i^'C VV. (Josh. xix. 37), " The eye of the rolling
one ;" "'IC'j hazar, = "to turn, or wind about."
En-mishpat, t^^p'P r.V (Gen. xiv. 7), "Fountain of Judg-
ment;" ^^'^^ = "judgment," "sentence," &c.
En-rogel, '^.r r.V (Josh. XV. 7), '0, vagal, signifies-" to
move the feet." " A fountain with a tread-wheel "
would explain the name.
En-shemesh, '^"?^' VV. (Josh. xv. 7), " The eye of the Sun."
(See Beth-shemesh.)
En-tappuah, C'"'S'? ry (Josh. xvii. 7), "The fountain of the
apple." (See Apple.)
Enocu, V'^Q (Genesis xiv. 17), signifies " initiated," also
486
Enoch', " a teacher," There were four persons of this
name, (1) eldest son of Cain, (2) father of Methu-
sehih, (?>) eldest son of Reuben, (4) a son of Midian.
There is something about this word which leads us
to think much. One bearing the same name as
the eldest son of "the accursed Cain" is a special
friend of the Almighty ; and one of the profane
Midianites has a cognomen similar to one who was
taken Hving from the earth to live on high. If
names were given after people's death, or when they
had grown up, "initiated" (in the mysteries?), or
" a teacher," would be an appropriate appellation ;
but as we learn that the custom was to give a cog-
nomen in infancy, indicative of the faith held or the
God worshipped, this may not be the correct signi-
fication, but it is difficult to find any other."
Enos, or Enosh, ^'^^.^: (Gen. iv. '26), a practical way of
signifj-ing " man."
Epaphroditus, 'EirucppodiTog (Philip, ii. 25), is, we conceive,
a mongrel word, probably from ^?, ah, ' father,' or
the Greek 'uvo, ' from,' and 'A^jpoSirv], Aphrodite, or
Venus, and signifying "Love was my parent," or
" given by Venus."
Ephah, ns^y (Gen. xxx. 4), Ephai, '^'}? (Jerem. xl. 8). I
have some doubt as to the real meaning of these
Avords ; they imply ' flying,' ' fainting,' ' brandishing,
or darkening;' it is possible that they are altered
forms of ^l^'^, aplicjah, ' Jah is darkness.'
Epher, "i^y, aiplicr, signifies "a calf," "a fawn," "a
heifer," also "to join," "to be strong," "to grow
71 Enoch. " I'liilo finds the astronomical uumLer of the folav year in the 365
years of Enoch's life ; the name miist therefore mean beginner (initiator) ; e.g., of
the new year, which becomes new after 3(i5 clays, whence perhaps arose the legend
that he was the first teacher of astronomy." Fiirst, s. v.
487
EpherJ white," Gath-hepher literally signifies " the heifer's
wine press ; " i. e. jmclcnda vaccce.
Epher, 13^ (Gen. xxv. 4), This is evidently au altered
form of "^E>i'\ cplier, "the heifer." (See Heifer.)
Ephesdammim, S''??? 9^55 0- ^i^m. xvii. 1), I take to mean
"the flowings of Apis." ('^'p^, from damah, to flow
viscous and slow).
Ephlal, ^^?^' (1 Chron. ii. 37), "Judgment" (Gesenius).
' ' Judging ' ' (Furst) „ ' ' The baking Sun ' ' ? from ^s^«^
aphali, ' to cook or Lake.'
Ephod, "Tip^, an upper garment worn by priests when
officiating at certain rites. Whatever its form may
have been, the thing itself was imitated by others,
and used as a sacred emblem, an object of worship.
(See Judges viii. 27.) I cannot help associating it,
in my own mind, with the sacred stole used by the
Roman Catholic priests and nuns ; its shape when
off the body is this
The latter is the form of the sistrum
of Isis, and represents the female organ, the sacred
mouth through which oracles were supposed to be
delivered. The former is almost identical with the
old Babylonian <<>^ which was the conven-
<>-
tional representation of the same organ on coins tind
signets. The Papal religion is essentially feminine,
and built on an ancient Chaldiean basis. I think
we may recognise the same kind of cultus in the
lamb's wool worn by Academic Bachelors on their
hoods.
Epheaim, D.''!!?^' (Gen. xli. 52). This word is rendered
" twin-land " by Gesenius, whilst Fiirst translates it
488
Epheaim] ''!'?^* = '''!'?, "fruit, posterity," as "formed as a
2:)liTral from a singular noun." Both these etymo-
logies are unsatisfactory. If we take the word as
spelled with }?, instead of with ^5', sounds which do
not materially differ, we can then readily find a deri-
vation from "i^y^ C2)hcr, D\ im, being the plural
sign. To call a son after the emblem of Isis would
not be an unlikely thing for an Egyptian priest to
do. The mother of Ephraim was daughter of the
Priest of On, and to him she would naturally turn
for the name by which his grandchild might be
introduced into the congregation of the faithful. We
all remember the worship of "the calves," and are
not surprised to find some one named after them.
It seems curious to the philosopher to find an Egyp-
tian priest, or prince, giving his child a Hebrew or
Phoenician name ; it is equally so to find that writers
in ancient times considered such thing as very
natural. Compare with Ephraim the name of Ei:)hc.r,
Oprah, Ephvon, and in later times, '' Ap)hra,'" which
is in use amongst ourselves.
Epeath, nn?« (G-en. xxv. 16, 1 Chron. ii. 19). This word
is probably the feminine plural of "^l^V., and signifies
"the heifers;" or it may be the plural from '^"^7'^,
" a hamlet."
Ephron, r^py (Gen. xxiii. 8), signifies, probably, "the calf,
or fawn, is On."
Er, m (Gen. xxxviii. 3), " The watcher." This is one of
the many names given to the Almighty. Some
ancients typified his presence with them by wearing
the figure of an eye, as a charm. Such amulets
were very common in Egypt. Eri, in ancient
Chaldee, is translated by " I watched over."
Eran, Xy^. (Numb. xxvi. 36). " The watcher On."
489
Erebus, an Assyrian word for " darkness," Ereb is the
West, whence Arabia and Europe. 2"]^^, arah, in
Hebrew is "to lie in wait," L c, where the sun rests
till day. (Compare Oreb, Hoeeb.) Amongst the
Greeks, spBJooc was the place where the dead went
to, and it is associated in idea with Hell, ' the hole,
and darkness.'
Erech, '^!!^;? (Genesis x. 10), almost identical in meaning,
as in sound, with " erect.''''
Eri, ■'f.V (Genesis xlvi. 16), ahi, " Guarding," compare
eyrie, " the eagle's nest; " eyre, " a court of justice,"
(Bailey's Diet.) Earey, Eyre, Airey, ear and hear.
Eros, "Epujc, was the name of a well known divinity amongst
the Greeks, called Cupid by the Latins. In both
languages the word simply means what I would call
" instinctive love." We find in the Hebrew (and
Phoenician), that there is bny, ara^ or ei'cs, 'to bind,
unite, or fit into one another,' also 'a bed, or couch
for love.' We see here the idea that framing a bed,
or preparing a covering, a sort of arched roof, not
unlike a gypsy's tent, Avas associated with Eros, or
erotic love. This helps us to understand what is
meant by ' hangings for the grove,' &c.
The ' hangings for the grove,' which we read of
in 2 Kings xxiii. 7, were light screens, which could
be hung up in certain appropriate places by those
smitten by Eros, to conceal themselves from the public
eye. In Pompeii have been found two wall paintings
illustrating this, too coarse for reproduction here ;
but we may notice that in one, the Hermes is covered
with a lion or leopard skin, while in another there
is an altar of three stones before another form of
Hermes ; amongst the offerings to him we readily
recognise the pine cone, the orchis mascula, and man-
490
Eros] drake. Hern, "Hpa, was one of the many names of
Juno, and we have still Harry amongst ourselves,
also Zicrries, Jiarris, Harrison ; German Hcrr.
EsARHADDON, HD"^?^:^ (2 Kiugs xix. 37). Etymology un-
known. " The victorious conqueror " (Fiirst). I
think it is more probably " Asshur is the Judge."
-iDK or lE^'K |n n, asar ha-dan.
Esau (Genesis xxv. 25). This name is allied to Edom, or
Adam, and also to Seir, or Mount Seir ; and he
who bore it is represented as a hairy man, a rough
fellow, and a hunter. He was twin son with Jacob.
His name is spelled 1^''^, asau. Now ^f^, asaJi,
signifies "to make, to press, to dig, to build up, to
press or squeeze immodestly." There is an older
form, which signifies "to be covered with hairs;"
(and we have the word Asahel, which may mean
"The hairy El," or simply "El made.") The
story tells us that Esau meant hairy. But Esau
v/as Edom, red (see Adam), (compare Carmel and
Carmi,) and he frequented Mount Seir. The appel-
lation, therefore, involves the idea of "hairiness,
redness, and creative power, jiroducing by digging."
This clearly indicates "the fascinum." The twin
brother, at first Jacob, signifies " the female ele-
ment," "the swelling womb." Seir signifies 'hairy,'
and Mount Seir ' the hirsute mount ; ' and the phy-
siologist sees a confirmation of the philologist's
deduction, qitum phalluin frequeiitare veneris montem
arvaque cofjnoscit, since we are told that Esau,
Edom, frequented Mount Seir.
EsEK, Pfy (Gen. xxvi. 20), " Strife."
Esh-baal, ^P^f^ (1 Chron. viii. 33); ^^, aish, signifies
"fire;" pointed as isJi, it signifies 'is, or are;' ^'\,
aish, signifies 'existence.' Sanscrit, as; Zend, astl ;
491
EsH-BAALj Latin, esse. We presume that Eshbaal signities
" the Fire Lord," " the Fire King," or " my Lord is "
(Hero Baal — Fiirst). This name ^vas borne by a
sou of Saul, who is called (2 Sam. ii. 8) Ishbosheth ;
the real name of Baal being changed into hoslieth,
or shame. This, if it stood alone, would sufiice to
show that the early redactors of the Bible have not
scrupled to alter the text materially, where they
considered that the interests of religion required it.
EsHBAN, |3^'V (Gen. xxxvi. 2G), "The son of fire, or Ish."
'■' Intelligent hero," Fiirst.
EsHCOL, '^^E^K (Gen. xiv. 13), "A cluster." {Vide supni,
p. 67.)
EsHEAN, ]V^^ (Josh. XV. 6-1), "Fire of On;" or probably
W^, cshen, or cshain, — 'he is hard, firm, strong.'
EsHEK, P^V (1 Chron. viii. 39), "He presses, squeezes,
penetrates into."
EsHMUN, P^^*, is the name given to a god amongst the
Phoenicians, equivalent to Esculapius ; the Avord
signifies, it is supposed, "the gleaming, shining,
or warning one ; " it is probably another form of
" Ashima." It is possibly derived from ^^^, asham,
and I'N, on, i.e., "the shining On," viz., the sun.
From this ancient god come probably the modern
names Esmond, Desmond, Ashman.
EsHTAOL, vSriC'N (Josh. XV. 33), " The hero Hermes ; "
^^ tel, signifies ' a heap of stones, a cairn, a hill ; '
' hollow way.' (Fiirst.)
EsHTEBioH, ^"^^^^ (Josh. xxi. 14), a Levitical city. It
signifies " The fire of the erect one," or possibly
"miraculous fire," according as we read "''P^, or ^^^,
for nbn, or Vbr\,
EsHTON, 1"'^^^', possibly " the power of woman," from nK'N^
isha, and IN, o.v, "rest." (Fiirst.)
492
Esther, "^^^^ (Esther ii. 7), supposed to be the same as
ua-TYjp, aster, ' a star.' (Compare Ishtar, Ashto-
RETH.)
Etam, Etham, '^^'■y (Judg. XV. 8), " A lair of wild beasts."
Fiirst.
Ethan, JW (1 Kings iv. 31), " He is firm, hard, enduring,"
" a rock, or crag."
Ethbaal, ^^t'^'^' (1 Kings xvi. 31), " From, or near to,
Baal."
Ether, '^'^'^ (Josh. xv. 42), "Plenty, abundance," "to
burn incense to a God," " to smoke with perfume,"
"odoriferous smoke," "a worshipper of God." The
word yet survives unchanged.
Ether, a God in the second Assyrian triad, his colleagues
being the Sun and Moon ; his name may be read as
Era, Iva, Air, Aer, Aur, Er, Ar, also Vnl. He
seems to be the same as 'Oupavo'j, Uranus, Jupiter
Pluvius, or Jupiter Tonans, and probably also Vulcan.
Hchraice, '^^^, ether = "fulness."
Ethnan, P^^5 (1 Chron. iv. 7). This Avord literally signifies
" a harlot's fee," or "begotten by harlotry."
Ethni, ^^"^^ (1 Chron. vi. 41), "He is bountiful," "muni-
ficent."
Eunuchs. We need not do more in this place than describe
this mutilation when it v/as regarded as a sacred
rite, and I avail myself of the following description
of the Feast of Atys, from a French pen: — " Atys
sleeps, the Phrygians say, and he ought to a vake
with nature. The third day of the feast recals his
mutilation. At length, joy breaks out, and is mani-
fested by delirious movements. Then are to be seen
the frenetic Priests of Cybele rushing about in bands,
with haggard eyes and hair disordered, like troops
of Bacchanals, or foaming Pythonesses. In one
493
Eunuchs] hand they brandish the sacred knife, in the other
they carry burning firebrands from the pine tree.
They dive into the recesses of the woods and valleys,
and climb rocks and mountains, uttering while they
do so the most horrible groanings. An intoxicating
draught has carried madness to their brain ; upon
themselves they turn their active hands, and beat
each other with heavy chains ; they dance, and regard
with joy the blood which flows from their bodies ;
they pierce their bodies, flagellate their backs, and at
length mutilate themselves completely, in honour of
the Grod whose coming they await, and they invoke
his name while ofieriug to him their gaping wounds
and the bleeding spoils of their virility." " These
mutilations are also made in honour or commemo-
ration of the dismemberment suffered by Osiris,
Mithras, Adonis, Esmun, and Bacchus ; and by
them is explained, in allegorical style, the cessation
of the active male or fecundating power of the sun
at the Autumnal equinox." The author then quotes
Matthew xix. 12, where it is said approvingly, " that
some have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of
the Kingdom of Heaven," and states that " Origeu,
one of the Christian fathers of the Church, reduced
himself to the same condition as did the Priests of
Cybele." '"
When recovered from the self-inflicted injury, the
Galli, as the Eunuchs were called, adopted the
female dress. (See Lucian's account of the Syrian
Goddess ; and for an account of the habiliments worn
by some of the fraternity, see the Golden Ass of
Apuleius, book 8.) There is little doubt that the
72 Fetes et Courtisaiies de la Qrcce. Supplement mix Vutjiiffcs <V Anar.haiitix
tt d' Antenor. — Aiiouyme, a Paris, JSfi3.
494
Eunuchs] " Sodomites," which are referred to iu the '' Books
of Kings," were individuals who had been emasculated
at wild orgies similar to those described above, the
intention being that they might conserve as long as
possible the softness and graces of youth. It is cer-
tain that the Gralli gave themselves up to pederasty,
and, like the luodern Vallabhachixryas of India,
mingled horribly the profane with the sacred.
In ancient times, and the custom still survives
in Eastern countries, all the male attendants on the
person of the king, and on his women, were eunuchs;
so much so that the word literally signifies bed-
keeper. It has often appeared to me a strange thing
in the story of Joseph that he was allowed to have
access to his master's wife without having been made
an eunuch ; this in itself would induce me to doubt
the truth of the affecting tale. I may also notice, as
a most remarkable fact, that the church of Rome,
whose worship resembles in so many particulars that
offered in various places to Ishtar, Astarte, Venus, or
Cybele, still retains the use of eunuchs in her church-
in the eternal city. The idea seems to be that the
Almighty delights in what men call fine music, and
that it is better that the treble notes shall be
chanted by mutilated men than by ordinary women.
For ourselves, we see no reason why female voices
now may not be raised in St. Peter's at Rome, just
as Miriam sang of old. But if such a practice were
to be adopted in the chief temple of Poperj'-, she
would lose one of the links v/hich connect her with
paganism.
Euphrates, ^"^^ (Gen. ii. 14), signifies " Sweet water."
Eve, ^^^\} (Gen. iii. 20), chavah. So much interest .surrounds
this word that it deserves a very close attention. Let
us first examine into the various meanings of those
words, the characters of which closely resemble the
name in question ; and in doing so, we must remem-
ber that the n and the n are interchangeable,- and
that the present vowel points did not exist in the
primitive Hebrew writings.
'^1'}, havah, or haiiah =
blow," " a breath," &c.
^)\}, liauah, or havah, =
in a good or bad sense.
" to breathe," '• to
eagerness," "lust,"
™ For au explanation of this Figure, see DuBOid, lielii
'jion umvtrselle, vol. 3, p. 3i;
496
Eve] l'^, haifah, = "to be," sl[j.l — 'I live, am,
exist.'
i^*'?, hayali, = " ealnraity."
"^^^0? cJiavaJt, = "to live,' = vivo; also 'to say,
or relate,' ' to move in a circle about a thing,'
'to wind round a thing,' 'a serpent,' also 'to
put or bind together.'
'^l'^, cl Lay all, = '"'the vital force, — life."
'"■JC, chavooh, = "a circular tent."
i^.'!'?, cJiiveli, = " a hamlet."
C'-l'^, cJioocha, = " to cut into, to pierce."
'!?'""°', chucha, = " a thorn."
^Y}, chavacli, = "a cleft, fissure, or gap." There
is a goddess in Ass3a-ia whose name is read as
NTi, hiya, = " ev'iva," "viva,'' "vivc."
Ere we proceed farther let us turn to the words,
" Male and female created he them " (Gen. i. 27).
The Hebrew words are "i?! and "^^P^, zachar, and
n'keha, which signify literally "digger," and "hole."
If we turn to Adam, we find that it means "the
red one," " the male." We then find, that the
word which signifies life in the majority of the
Shemitic tongues, also signifies the serpent ; while
in those called Indo-Scythic, the bull and life have
the same words to express them.^*
All these considerations lead us to the belief
that the word Eve, in strictness, signifies "the
concha," or " the female fissure." "VVe are told that
Adam gave the name to his wife " because she was
the mother of all hving " (Gen. iii. 20). And some
modern dictionaries of to-day tell us, that the part
in question is designated as "the mother of all
saints," or " the mother of all men."
''■' La.takd, EecheixJies sur le Culte de Venus, \-.. 30. Paris, 1837.
497
Eve] In the annexed wood-cut, Fig. 95, Fig. 95.
which is copied from an Egyj^tian seal,
by Layard {Nineveh and Bah/Ion, p.
156), the Egyptian god, Harpocratcs,
is seen seated on the mystic lotus, in
adoration of the Yoni, or '"iin, or havali, "the mystic
mother of all." In other words, Adam and Eve
signify the same idea as " Abraham and Sara,"
"Esau and Jacob," man and woman ; thus embody-
ing in the Hebrew the Indian notion, that all things
sprang from Mahadeva and his sacti, ' my lady Sara '
(Saraiswati).
This deduction enables us at once to recognise,
as did the early Christians, the mythical character of
the account of the creation ; and we must conclude
that the story means, that the male and female
lived happily together so long as each was without
passion for the other, but that when union took place
between them, the woman suffered all the miseries
inseparable from pregnancy, and the man had to toil
for a family, whereas he had previously only thought
of himself.'' The serpent is the emblem of " desire,"
75 It is I think evident, that one of the writers in Genesis lias had a similar
opinion to my own, and bj the introductiou of the words, " MJiilominns mariti tui
consuetv.dinem deiiuo aj)petes, — thy desire shall ho to thy husband," — has inten-
tionally made a pnn.
The following is from the pen of Jlons. Felix Lajakd. " Le role particulier
dn serpent dans tons les systt-mes religieux de I'antiquite nous montre que I'on'con-
siderait le serpent comme un symbole de vie, et que pour cette raison, on I'attribuait
dana sa bonne acceptionanx divinites dont la principale fonction est de prd-sider a'
la creation dn nioude, a la reproduction des ctres, k la conservation de la vie ou de
la sante. Aussi voyons nous, dans la plupart des lanques dites Scmitiques le mot
qui signifie la vie, hayy ou hay, haya, Uyo, huyya, signifier egalement lesei^^ent; de
meme que dans certaiues langues appellos Iiido-scylhiques, le mot qui sert a designer
le taureau, autre symbole de vie, a la double signification de vie et taureau."
liecherches svr le Culte de Venus, pp. 35, 3G. The connexion between life and
that which is tj^ified by the serpent, is seen more conspicuously in the French
language than in any other modex-n tongue which I am acquainted with. In it
498
Eve] indicated by the maii and recognised by the woman.
After writing thus far, I consulted the hook of Jashar,
by the hate learned Dr. Donaldson,""' and found that
his conclusions were similar to my own ; differing
only in such small details as are usually found to
exist in accounts drawn up by independent observers.
There is a striking resemblance between the
Hindoo and the Hebrew myths. The first tells us
that Mahadeva was the primary Being, and that
from him arose the Sacti. The second makes Adam
the original, and Eve the product of his right side ;
an idea which is readily recognisable in the word
Benjamin. After the creation, the Egyptian, Vedic
and Jewish stories all place the woman beside a
citron, or pomegranate tree, or else one bearing both
fruits ; near this is a cobra, or asp, the emblem of
male desire, because these serpents can inflate and
erect themselves at will. The unopened flowers of
the citron and its fruit resemble a testicle in shape ;
the floAver of the pomegranate is shaped like a bell,
which closely resembles the female breast, and when
arranged in bunches of three recalls to mind the
phalHc triad. The frait of the pomegranate typifies
the full womb. The eating of the apple is equivalent
the phallus aud existence have the same souud, the former being, however,
masculine, while the latter is feminine.
7G Jashar, 2cl edit. Lond. and Edin., Williams & Norgate, ISGO. His words are :
" Ac primum quidem ii;rT3 ille sive serpens, qui iucentivas struit mulicri non viro
insidias, phallicum Baal-Peoris signum denotat. Quanta iutersit inter hoc signum
et generationis organon similitudo uou opus est ut fusius expouam." Jashar, editio
secunda, p. 48. Once again I find m}' views sixpported by him, in his remarks upon
the legend of the temptation : " Ut omnia uno tenore currant redeamns ad mysticam
serpentis siguificatiouem. Si igitur sub serpentis imagine phallicum signum
intclligimus, quam plana sunt et coucinna cuncta picture lineamenta." " Neque
enim pro phallo poneretur serpens nisi res significata cum typo accurate congru-
eret," p. 51.
For a farther confirmation of this view, see Jacob, mfra.
499
E^Ti:] to receiving to o-irspfLa, which is at this da^^, to manj'
a young and fair daughter of Eve, " the direful
sjDring of woes unnumhered."
It is rude thus to destroy the groundwork of some
of our finest poetic images, hut the philosopher ought
not to indulge in fancy, nor allow the prejudices of
early teaching to set aside the stern logic of facts.
The Christian fathers considered the hook of Genesis
as mythical, their sons will not he less Christian if
they adopt the same belief.
Evi, ''l^. (Numb. xxxi. 8), sigriifies "desire."
Evidence. There are few words with which we are more
familiar than this, yet there are none which we
interpret more vaguely. The mathematician, the
physicist, and the lawyer consider it a part of their
business to investigate rigorousl_y, and cross-examine
closely, every thing that offers to give testimony in
establishing a particular truth. The theologian, on
the contrary, takes for fact every statement which
is consonant with his own views, and only thinks
it right to cross-examine witnesses when they are
on the side opposed to his own. If a man comes
to a chemist, and declares that an ornament is gokV
though it is lighter than silver, the professor's first
impulse is to call the man a goose for believing
such nonsense, his second is to examine what the
counterfeit actually consists of. In like manner,~if
an individual comes to a philosopher with a book,
and says this is the infallible word of God, whilst it
abounds with blunders, and is dotted with obscenities,
there is an inclination to say something uncompli-
meutaiy to the bearer, and a propensity to inquire
into the real nature of the volume. In the case of
spurious gold, the opinion and assistance of the
500
Evidence^ cliemisi are gratefully taken, for in so worldly
a matter as the value of money, all can feel an
interest ; but in the case of the book, which only
concerns something far more valuable than hard cash,
both the assistance and opinion of the philosopher
are despised. The theologian lays down the evidence
in favour of his assertion thus : The Bible must be
inspired, because it has always been beheved to be
so ; it must be the word of God, because it says that
it is so, and tluit cannot err; adding, as a rider —
because, if it is wrong, Avhat can be right ? To
bolster up this assertion, every testimony which seems
to be favourable is fostered and expanded to the
utmost, but it is not rigidly tested under any circum-
stances. Like Don Quixote's second helmet, it is
not tried by a sword-stroke, lest it should be found
weaker than it looks. On the other hand, every effort
is made to prove that an opposing witness is of bad
reputation, that he is speaking from hearsay, and
knows nothing about the subject. If the testimony
succeeds, however, in escaping the ordeal unscathed,
it is by no means respected, and if possible is shelved
under the name of a " difBculty," and carefully con-
cealed from observation.
Such a style of treating evidence is not calculated
to eHcit truth. As an illustration of its operation,
let us examine the effect produced by 1 Kings xiii.,
which is read annually in our churches on the eighth
Sunday after Trinity. The thoughtful boy, just
breeched and taught to respect his Bible, considers the
chapter as a wonderful illustration of the foresight of
a prophet, of the vindictiveness of "the Lord," and
of the magnanimity of a lion. But as his familiarity
with the subject increases, he wonders how it was that
501
Evidence] the seer, who could foretell all about Josifih, knew
nothing about the beast ; how it happened that he
who knew " the word of the Lord " so well, could not
ascertain that the other prophet was telling lies. The
lad then feels surprised that there was any necessity
for the prophet to go from Judah, to tell the disagree-
able news which he did to Jeroboam, whilst the old
Bethel seer, who lived on the spot, knew all about
it (sec ver. 32). "When, in our youthful days, we
propounded such considerations to our elders, we
were ' put off ' with such observations, that we could
not fail to see that our questions were " difficulties."
As year by year came round, our imagination was
fired by the secession of the Southern from the
Northern United States of America, and we endea-
voured to compare and contrast this with the rebel-
lion of Jeroboam. We tried to realise the story of
the Prophet going from an ancient Washington to
an ancient Richmond. Our eye saw the venturous
missionary start upon his pony and reach the line
of sentries, the outposts of Judah ; there, when
challenged by the outposts, he would declare that
he had a divine message to carry, and must advance.
If he escaped being shot as a deserter or as a spy,
he might then reach the advanced guard of the
Southern army, where, if he again escaped the fate
of a spy, he would be fortunate. We now see him,
in fancy, arrived at Richmond, and thundering out
a statement that at some future time a President
in AVashingtou, named Queechy, would gobble up
Richmond ; we then imagine that we see him
attacked by a mastodon, which, having killed him,
quietly looks on. Now it will be noticed that wo
have "been obhged to draw upon our imagination
Evidence] for our description of every step takeu after the
fanatic left the friendly lines of his own people. We
have no means of knowing what he said and what
he did, whom he saw, and what he talked about,
except by the enemy's narrative. Wherever, then,
there is no communication between the capitals of
foes, there can be no true narrative given in the
one, of the transactions and conversations occurring
in the other. If any one, therefore, were to narrate
a history, resembling that of the false prophet, as
having occured at Richmond during the late war,
it would be utterly scouted. The evidence in favour
of the story told in the Book of Kings is equally
valueless.
By attempting to analyse the testimony^ still
farther, Ave shall probably ascertain the true character
of the witness. We notice that the denunciation of
the prophet against the altar erected by Jeroboam
is directly against the king and the rebellious Israel-
ites ; yet the seer cannot foretell that the acts of
Josiah, of whom he speaks, will be directed against
men " from Babylon, from Cuthah, from Ava, from
Hamath, and Irom Sepharvaim " (2 Kings xvii. 24).
He who tells by name the prowess of the future
king cannot see that the annihilation of Israel will
precede Josiah's accession to the throne.
Again, the writer of the story makes the Jewish
augur to be killed by a lion. Let us examine, for a
moment, what this involves. There are not lions
without there being thickets for them to dwell in,
and there are not thickets large enough to harbour
wild beasts except when the land is very sparsely
populated. With the cultivation of the ground, and
the spread of inhabitants, all wild woods are cut down.
508
Evidenck] Now, during the reign of Solomon, the prosperity
of Juclah and Israel is described in such terms as to
lead us to the belief that no place of habitation for
lions could have existed between Bethel and Jeru-
salem, or in any part of Palestine. To su^jpose that
within a year of his death the high roads throughout
the kingdom could be infested with wild Ijcasts,
would be a blot upon the fair fame of Solomon.
This antagonism between population and ^\ild beasts
is recognised by the writer of Deuteronomy (chap,
vii. 22), consequently we are standing on strict Biblical
analogy when we say that the presence of the lion
on a public highway indicates a thinly inhabited
country. Now in the time of Josiah Palestine had
been greatly depopulated. The Syrians had devas-
tated Israel ; Syria and Israel, combined, had ravaged
the whole of Judah, with the exception of Jerusalem.
The kings of Assyria had carried away all that
remained of the ten tribes ; and though they brought
some other men to take their place, still it was clear
that lions had begun to multiply in the land (2 Kings
xvii. 25). At a subsequent period, again, Senna-
cherib had harried the land with an army, which,
for so small a country as Palestine, was enormous.
In the very years of Josiah's father, the Assyrians
had again entered Judaea, and, Ave presume, had
taken Jerusalem, for they carried away its king,
Manasseh. There was, then during the reign of
Josiah, valid reasons for the frequency with which
lions were seen ; and that they were common, we
infer from the small surprise which was manifested
when the adventure of the prophet became known.
If we next turn to the political condition of
Palestine at the period in question, we find, both
504
EviDENCEj from tlie Bible aud from the Cuneiform writings
deciphered hy Rawliuson and others, that the whole
country had been repeatedly ravaged by the Assy-
rians ; and even if Jerusalem had escaped, — which,
from the captivity of Manasseh, we greatly doubt, —
the amount of men left, who would be able to form
an army, must have been miserably small. Even
after a series of successful wars, we have seen, in
Napoleon's day, a country so large as France denuded
of strong men so completely as to make the raising
of a powerful army impossible. AVhilst king over
a miserable remnant only, Josiah and his court could
not fail to be humiliated when they heard of the
glorious memory of Solomon. To compensate for
this, it was natural that some scheme should be
adopted which would promise something great. Now
that Samaria was ruined, it was easy to ravage
Bethel ; if there were no men left for them to
encounter, there were the bones of the ancients
which could be burned ; to revenge oneself upon the
dead is much easier than to conquer the living.
Some astute writer was then found to concoct a
story, which gave the flattering unction to the king,
that his coming had been forseen, and the nature
of bis acts foretold ; the desired expedition was
then made, and thus the royal vanity and the
priestly pique against an ancient foe were both
rewarded.
We conceive, then, that the rules of evidence
oblige us to conclude that the thirteenth chapter of
the first book of Kings is as untrue as are the fables
which strew the histories of Greece and Eome ; that,
so far from being a prophecy, it is nothing more than
a contrivance to effect an ignoble purpose, and wholly
505
Evidence] undeserving a place in a book whose every page
is said to be inspired.
The sole objections ofi'ored to the testimony
here adduced are, that they shake one's faith in the
verbal inspiration of Scripture, and stultify certain
modern preachers.
We shall best understand the value of the state-
ment by putting an imaginary case. Let us suppose
that the government of a country issues the whole
of the gold coinage in the realm, and warrants every
piece to be the pure unalloyed metal ; let us
imagine, still farther, that the authorities act at
hrst with good faith, and that the practice of
issuing the same coinage has continued for many
hundred years without any decided complaint. Let
us now conceive that, by the development of trade,
merchants have had to exchange or to compare their
coins with those current elsewhere, and have been
unable to demonstrate to others that the gold is as
genuine as it professes to be. The merchants then
will naturally complain to the executive about the
baseness of the standard. If the government respects
honour, truth, and justice, it will thank the dis-
coverers for their information, and inquire into the
subject ; if, on the contrary, its members are
indolent, careless of honour, and content to allow
counterfeit to pass for sterling coin, tliey will im-
prison, exjjel, or otherwise persecute — if possible to
destruction — the pioneers of knowledge, and enact
penalties upon every one who questions the purity
of its gold.
But a time will come in which the increase of
knowledge becomes more general, and all who are
able scientilically to investigate the fineness of gold
606
Evidence] recognise the fact that the metal, which passes
current as being unalloyed, contains in reality a
great deal of dross. In direct proportion to the
number of these discoverers, is the executive per-
plexed. To acknowledge the errors of former govern-
ments is thought to be a fatal step, for they have
been adopted by the present ; and for a ministry
to acknowledge itself fallible, is to abdicate its
power. The most natural result is, that all sceptics
of the coin are condemned to outlawry, and the
spurious gold is more fiercely thrust upon all those
who can be made to receive it than it ever was
before, whilst ' bigot ' and ' infidel ' become the watch-
words of opposite parties. This is the last step
towards the catastrophe which occurs, when all who
are in the realm alike refuse to believe in the
genuineness of the government gold. Even the
bigots become infidels, as happened in France prior
to the revolution. Such a misfortune seems to be
approaching towards us.
The Church of England has long been circu-
lating as pure gold, or absolute truth, that which
has been long recognised by the thoughtful as alloyed
with base metal ; but she has hitherto adhered to
her own coinage, and despised the warnings of her
disciples. She very determinately closes her eyes
to the signs of the times, and looks upon every
complainant as a sworn enemy ; if, however, she
will investigate evidence, and set herself to examine
rigidly the value of that which she puts forth as
pure and unadulterated gold, she may yet retain
the power of uttering our coinage. Assuredly, if she
does act thus, she will find a sympathy, which is
withheld so long as the belief exists, that she knows
507
EviDENCEj but dare not acknowledge the intrmisic value of
that which she calls truth.
EviL-MERODACH, V'^P ^']^, (2 Kings xxv. 27), I should read
as " Merodach is I,ord of the Air."
EziiAi, ''^^, (1 Chron. xi. 37), spelled thus instead of Etzba,
ys^x^ "the forefinger," a phallic emblem; ^!^*, a:^ah,
"to sprout," "to grow;" also "to shine," "to be
beautiful."
EziiON, l'''3>\S (Gen. xlvi. 16), "The finger of On," or "On
the finger."
EzEKiEL, ^^\?.\^] (Ezekiel i. 3), or Jahezakal, "El
strengthens."
A study of the writings and character of this
individual will give us a good insight into the nature
of those claims upon which we have been accustomed
to award the title of prophet to a man. In the first
chapter of the book w-e find a vision, in which the
Almighty is described much in the same way as he is
depicted by the heathen — L c, as many-faced and
many-limbed — combining a likeness of the human
figure with that of the bull, the lion, and the eagle ;
these being again united with the figure of a wheel,
the typical representation of the sun. After thus
describing ' the Lord ' as resembling the sacred em-
blems of the Assyrians and Babylonians, the prophet
tells us that he was sent to the children of Israel.
Ere he started, he is told to eat a book, and does so.
Now in this trait the physician at once recognises
the existence of lunacy ; one of the most common and
characteristic features of insanity being the frequency
with which hallucinations occur, during which strange
sights are witnessed, and queer mandates are beard, to
which implicit obedience is rendered. For example,
some power becoming visible to the lunatic will order
508
Ezekiel] him to plant himself as a tree in the garden, so
that he may bear fruit; forthwith, in obedience to
order, the patient digs a hole, stands in it, heaps the
earth around him, and calls himself an apple-, pear-,
cherry-tree, &c., according to his fancy. To the book-
eating the prophet now adds (chap. iii. 15) an obsti-
nate silence of seven days, although the mandate given
to him Avas to preach. Forgetting this order, he has
another vision, which speaks to him alone ; and then,
under the influence of the spirit, he goes to shut him-
self up in his own house (chap. iii. 24). After farther
converse with "the Lord," the prophet takes a tile,
and pourtrays upon it a town, which he calls Jeru-
salem; and he " makes believe" to besiege it, using
an iron pot for a bulwark. To accompHsh his end,
he lies down on his one side three hundred and ninety
days, iu consequence of the sins of Israel, and forty,
more days on his other side for the house of Judah ;
and as he thinks that each day symboHses a year,
he imagines that he is doing some stupendous work
(chap. iv. 1-6). After this, apparently, he lies upon
his back, but this process is interrupted by the neces-
sity for food ; but even in procuring the necessaries
of life the diseased brain is apparent, for the man
attempts to cook his food with human dung (ver. 12) ;
but as this cannot be managed, he betakes himself
to the droppings of cattle, just as do the majority of
orientals when wood is scarce. The next freak of
the poor prophet is to shave off all his hair, to weigh
it into three parts, to burn one, to subdivide another,
and to scatter the rest to the winds. Some of these
are then collected and treasured up in a pocket ; but
again taken out and burned ; and when this is done,
there is afterwards a message given to the prophet.
509
Ezekiel] the burden of which is .1 denunciation of wrath for
alleged sins, which have been committed by every
nation which has ever existed, as much as by the
Jews. Now it must be noticed, that, uj) to the
period at which we have arrived, Ezekiel has appa-
rently uttered no sound; the Lord speaks to him,
so he says, but he in his turn does not communi-
cate with the people.
In chapter vi. we find that he sets his face
towards the mountains of Israel, and thunders his
denunciations to the empty air, and ends by smiting
himself with his hand and stamping with his foot,
and muttering to himself lamentations, and mourn-
ing, and woe. Chapter vii. is a continuance of the
communication from the Lord to Ezekiel, but there
is no evidence that the message is imparted to the
people.
We then find, chapter viii., that whilst Ezekiel
is sitting in his own house — which we presume
was in Tcl-abib, by the river of Chebar — he has
some elders of Judah before him. Without any
warning, he ceases to observe what is before him,
but sees a flame and brightness, which, being also
furnished with a hand, carries him oft" by a lock of
his hair right away to Jerusalem ; but as the prophet
clearly tells us that all this was visionary, we
cannot attach any weight to the description which be
gives us of what he saw there. The delusion then
continues, and Ezekiel hears a mandate given to six
men to go and destroy certain individuals in Jeru-
salem ; and, finally, the vision changes into that
which was first seen by the river of Chebar. Again
the vision changes, and the prophet is in the presence
of twenty-five men, and his Mentor whispers into
510
Ezekiel] his ear what dreadful fellows they are, and what
shall be their doom. One of them then seems to
fall dead, and the prophet is horror-stricken ; but
after awhile the glorious vision reappears, and carries
him into Cbahlea. On his imaginary arrival there,
he gives a visionary discourse, chapter xi. 24, 25 ;
after which we conclude that he finds himself wide
awake in his own house. The lunatic affection now
assumes another phase ; for he makes a parcel of
his goods and carries them about from place to place,
and makes lielieve to be a captive going into slavery :
then he digs through a wall, and eats and drinks
as if in horrible distress (chapter xii. 3-5, 18, 19);
but even yet there is no communication made to
outsiders ; all that we have hitherto read has been
revealed to the prophet alone. In chapter xiv. we
again find the prophet in the presence of some
elders of Judah, when another message comes, with
orders for it to be delivered ; but we seek in vain
for evidence that the communication ever passed the
prophet's lips. In this chapter we find references
made to Noah, Daniel, and Job (vv. 14, 20), and to
"the house of Israel and the stranger that sojourneth
in Israel " (ver, 7) — anachronisms which it is impos-
sible to explain ; for Israel at the time of Ezekiel had
not any land of their own in which a stranger could
dwell, and Daniel - at least he whom we know as
such — had not then arisen. In the sixteenth chap-
ter, Ezekiel is told to let Jerusalem know her
abominations ; but this he could not do as long as
he was in the captivity by the river of Chebar.
He does, however, receive the message, and a more
foul one it is difficult to conceive. After other
communications, we find once more that some elders,
511
Ezekiel] on this occasion elders of Israel, sat before him
to inquire about the word of the Lord. Without
noticing this ajsparent anachronism, we turn our eyes
to the message which reaches Ezekiel, but again are
unable to find any evidence whatever that the com-
munication reaches the elders. The sole sentence
on which we can build the idea that he was not a
dumb prophet is, " Ah ! Lord God, they say of me.
Doth he not speak parables?" (chapter xx. 48);
words which have not necessarily any reference to
the message which he tells us that he had received.
Ezekiel once again, in chapter xxi., vaticinates to
the winds, or rather towards distant Jerusalem ; and
in the two subsequent chapters, he again receives
" from the Lord " a description of the sins of Sama-
ria and Jerusalem, which exceed in coarse obscenity
all other parts of the sacred writings. Passing by
a few chapters, we come to the twenty-sixth, seventh
and eighth, wherein we iSnd the real value of the
"word of the Lord" as it came unto this so-called
prophet. Li the first of the two named, Ezekiel
distinctly asserts that Nebuchadnezzar shall conquer
Tyre, and raze the city to the ground ; if all his
other vaticinations have been vague, tliis is clear
as the day. But, though unequivocal, the prophesy
is absolutely false ; for in the twenty-ninth chapter,
verses 18 to 20, we find " the Lord " again speaking,
to the effect that Nebuchadnezzar did not gain any
advantage against Tyre, but that he should have
Egypt again.
After this, it is utterly impossible to believe that
the formula, " Thus saith the Lord," signifies any
more than * thus thinketh the prophet.' We are
unable to give any more wciglit to the writings or
512
EzekielJ utterances of sncli a man than we would give to
those of any other astute observer, whose mind, being
occasionally touched with insanity, evinces that
wonderful apitude for close observation, vigorous
thought, powerful declamation, and bizarre imagery
which is common amongst those lunatics whose
malady is not very severe. If we may believe the
testimony of the late Dr. Wolfi', who travelled across
from the west coast of Asia to Bokhara, a man who is
insane is still considered by Orientals as a prophet ;
but that is no reason why VvC ourselves, who are
familiar with all phases of lunacy, should do so too.
In studying the lives of the prophets, the reader
will find few things more striking than the want of
cohesion amongst the individual seers. Each man
seems, to use a current expression, ' to go upon
his own hook ; ' Elisha, Jonah, Amos and Isaiah are
all more or less contemporary, so are Nahum, Hosea
and Micah, so also are Habakkuk, Jeremiah and
Zephaniah, and the interval between Obadiah, Ezekiel,
Haggai and Zechariah is by no means great, yet
not one of them seems to be aware of the existence
of the other. Ezekiel does not seem to have known
that the utterances which went no farther than to his
own mind, Jeremiah was speaking aloud to the
people at Jerusalem. Yet none can doubt that the
message of both when united would have been
stronger than when separately given. Each prophet
might have solaced his companion, and compared the
message before it was delivered. We Avill not attri-
bute the want of union to antagonism ; we presume
that it was due to a strong feeling of individuality.
It is this very yielding to a natural propensity which
makes us doubt so strongly as we do the divine
613
Ezekiel] inspimtion of their utterances. We shall, how-
ever, postpone what we have to say upon this sulyect
for the present. See Prophets, Prophecy, &c.
Exorcism. The belief that the air is peopled by a variety of
beings called angels, or demons, is very naturally
associated with the idea that these essences can enter
into the body of a human being, and produce therein
a series of strange phenomena. When a man pre-
viously quiet, and differing in no appreciable manner
from other mortals, suddenly takes to preaching,
prophesying, starving himself, and scolding other
people, it is very natural for him to assume, and
for other people to believe, that ho is in reality
divinely possessed; nor can the modern physician
wonder at this, for his experience of insanity shows
that many of its victims see visions of the Almighty,
and hear utterances from His lips, which have no real
existence. Such men have a profound l^elief that they
are in reality that which their diseased brain leads
them to suppose. Again, when either man or woman
is affected with mania, and rages more like a wild beast
than a human being, tearing into shreds every article
of clothing which he or she possesses, not abstaining
even from murdering others, injuring himself or
herself, or yelling out day and night the most
horrible blasphemies or obscenities, it is equally
natural that the idea should prevail that the victim
is possessed by an evil spirit. The former have been
canonised as saints, the latter have been subjected
to the most ingenious system of religious exorcism.
The first indication of a belief in demoniac pos-
session which appears in the Bible is the statement
that Saul was troubled with an evil spirit from the
Lord (1 Sam. xvi. 14) ; but it is very doubtful whether
K K
514
Exorcism] the meauing of tlie passage is not simply that
Sanl's temper became moody; so that we lay no stress
iipon it. We again find evil or unclean spirits men-
tioned in Zechariah xiii. 2, but here it is clear that
the words are used to signify the propensity to com-
mit idolatry, with all its attendant iniquity.
It was not until the Hebrews came into close con-
tact with the Greeks that their modern notions of
demonology prevailed. The first evidence we find of
it is in the apocryphal book of Tobit, wherein we are
told that Eaguel had a daughter who was loved by a
wicked spirit, who killed all those that attempted to
marry her, seven men having fallen in succession
before him. Tobias is then instructed by the angel
Raphael, in disguise, that the demon can be driven
away by the smoke of the heart and liver of a fish ;
the young man acts accordingly, and overcomes the
wicked spirit. In this instance it is clear that the
historian wishes the reader to believe that a demon
was in love with a female, and not that the latter was
simply so intensely vicious as to kill seven husbands
))ecause she did not get the one she wanted. Leaving
Palestine for a time, and turning our eyes to Greece,
we find that demoniacal possession and exorcism were
believed therein at least as early as the time of
Demosthenes, who refers to it, b. c. BoO, in his
Oratio tie Corona, wherein he reproaches ^schines
with being the son of a woman vvho gained her
livelihood as an exorcist ; and his brother Epicurus
seems to have been equally taunted by the Stoics.
From the Greeks the practice spread amongst the
Jews, and in our Saviour's time we find that there
were many Hebre\vs who practised the profession of
exorcists, for we find, Luke xi. 15, the words, ''and if
515
ExoEciSM] I by Beelzebub cast ont devils, by whom do your
sons cast them out?" Again, we find, shortly after
this period that there were " vagabond {7rsp,;pxoiJ,--vm)
Jews, exorcists," seven of whom were of one family
(Acts xix. 13, 14). These appear to have gone round,
like itinerant charlatans, to various towns. At a
later period, Josephus {Antiquities, viii. 2, 5) states
that he sayv a Jewish practitioner drive out a devil
from one possessed therewith, in the presence of
Vespasian and a large party of soldiers, and that,
to prove the reality of the expulsion, he ordered
the spirit to upset a certain basin of Avater, placed
for the purpose.
Now we can readily understand how individuals
could attain the appearance of power over unclean
spirits. Each practitioner would have in his service
some, who would, whenever it was thought necessary,
feign insanity of various kinds ; these, being duly
tutored how to act, might raise the reputation of the
master to the utmost extent. It is indeed highly
probable that some of the seven sons of Sceva were
alternately decoys and attendants. Their practice, I
doubt not, resembled that of our modern thimble-
riggers, who always travel with a gang of men whose
business it is to bring dupes to the net of the masters.
A plan like this, with the addition of some leger-
demain, or the judicious employment of horsehair,
would suffice to gull a superstitious multitude ; and
that only such were deceived, we infer from the
bold manner in which Demosthenes speaks of the
contemptible trade of the mother of ^Eschines.
But though we may speak thus of the vagabond or
itinerant Jews, we cannot speak so of our Saviour ;
uor can we believe that He would reaUv give such an
516
Exoecism] evidence that demons had actually been expelled,
by directing them to enter into a herd of swine. We
therefore conclude that those portions of the New
Testament which give detailed accounts of the exor-
cism practised by our Saviour are apocryphal, being
most probably additions by his successors, who, with
an amiable desire to prove that he was superior to all
the world besides, have recorded occurrences which
had more foundation in imagination than in reality.
With the belief then current amongst all nations,
we cannot understand how the EvangeUsts could
describe the cures of insanity which they say our Lord
effected otherwise than they did. He who could cure
disordered brain as indicated by palsy, could equally
well cure another which produced lunacy; but it is
to be regretted that His words should thus have been
given so literally as to enforce the belief on so many
succeeding generations, that insanity can better be
cured by exorcisms and prayer, than by attention to
the bodily health.
We may conclude this article in the words of
J. F. Denham (Kitto's CydopcEdia, s. v. Exoecist),
" The office of exorcist is not mentioned by St. Paul
in his enumeration of the miraculous gifts (1 Cor. xii.
9), though it was a power which he possessed himself,
and which the Saviour had promised (Mark xvi. 17.
Matt. X. 8). Mosheim says that the particular order
of exorcists did not exist till the close of the third cen-
tury, and he ascribes its introduction to the prevalent
fancies of the Gnostics {Cen. iii. 11, c. 4). Fairness
also induces us to notice Jahn's remark upon the
silence of St. John himself, in his Gospel, on the sub-
ject of possessions, although he introduces the Jews
as speaking in the customary way respecting demons
517
Exorcism] nnd demoniac possession, and altliongii he often
speaks of the sick who were healed by the Saviour.
This, coupled with the fact that St. John wrote his
Gospel in Asia Minor, where medical science was
very flourishing, and where it was generally known
that the diseases attributed to demons were merely
natural diseases, is very significant."
Ex-voTo, is a name given to offerings which are presented
by individuals as a thanksgiving for some favour
received, or as a means of propitiating the deity to
grant some particulai request, or remove some inflic-
tion. The idea involved in the custom, is that the
god or saint to whom the gift is made, either requires
a constant reminder of the nature of the prayer which
is offered, or to see before him or her the constant
token of a votary's devotion, ximongst Koman Catho-
lics the use of ex-votos is very conspicuous ; the
chapel of St. Mary de la Gard, at Marseilles, contains
an immense number ; its walls are literally covered
with pictures, of varied merit, which depict the condi-
tion of the individual who made a vow to the Virgin
and obtained deliverance. This forcibly reminds me
of an anecdote quoted by Lord Bacon, to the efi"ect
that some ancient, when shewn a collection of ex-
votos, from those who had prayed to the god of the
place, and obtained safety in consequence, naively
asked if any record was made of those who offered
vows to the same deity, yet never lived to pay them.
It was the custom of offering ex-votos of Priapic forms,
at the church of Isernia, in the Christian kingdom of
Naples, during the last century, which induced
Mr. Knight to compile his remarkable work on
Phallic worship. As a general rule, the ex-voto is
formed after the likeness of the particular thing
518
Ex-voTo] respecting which prayer is offerecL Thus Aaron's
rod, which by its budding insured the priesthood in
his family, was laid up in the ark of the covenant,
beside the pot of manna, the emblem of the super-
natural food which sustained the Israelites for forty
years. YV'hen the people are afflicted by fiery serpents,
they are cured by looking at the effigy of another,
equally fiery. We find the same idea amongst the
Philistines, for they are instructed by the diviners
(1 Sam. vi. 4, 6), to make an offering to the God of
Israel of five golden mice, the images of chose which
marred their land, and of five golden emerods, similar
to those from which they suffered, under the hope
that he would then relieve them of the affliction under
which they laboured ; and the offering seems to have
been accepted. We find, from the classic writers of
Greece and Rome, that a similar idea prevailed in
those countries, both men and women offering cakes,
or other material, in the form of those parts to which
they wished the gods to be gracious. In Knight's
work, before alluded to, is a good specimen of a
female, who is offering such "ex votos " on an altar.
A description of votive ofierings, of a similar nature,
will be found on pages 61, 62, supra.
Ez,'^V.aiz, signifies ''a she goat," also " Aries " '? It also,
differently pointed, signifies " strong,'' " vehement,"
" firmness," " splendour, majesty, glory, praise."
As VP., aitz, it signifies " a tree," " a staff, a bone."
Originally having a phallic meaning, it subsequently
had the idea of "counsel," " advice;" and some of the
learned will recal an ancient representation of
" Priapus taking counsel with himself," which was
found in Pompeii or Herculaneum.
For a long period I H S, lEES, was a monogram
519
Ezl of Bacchus ; letters now adopted by Ftomanists.
Hesiis was au old divinity of Gaul, possibly left by the
Phoenicians. We have the same IRS in Jezebel,
and reproduced in our own Isabel.
The idea connected with the word is "phallic
vigour ; " from it come Ezbon, and possibly Heshbon
and Ezbia.
KzEM, D.>7 (1 Chron. iv. 29), "To fit firmly to one another,
to be strong, or firm ; " also " a bone," so called from
its firmness and strength.
EzRiR, "'>'^* "A leader or prince," also "stay, strength,
help," also " dominion, rule."
KzioN Gaber, "^^^ i'^'y (Numb, xxxiii. 35), " The backbone of
the Giant."
Ezra, ^ (Ezra i. 7; 1 Chron. iv. 17), "Help;" ^7>*y,
'born on the feast day,' would be a more probable
etymology, if we suppose the name to have been given
to him when an infant.
There is something so remarkable in the book
which passes in the Bible under the name of this man
that it deserves an extended notice. It purports to
tell of the return of the Jews to their own land ; and it
must be read in conjunction with the book that goes
by the name of Nehemiah, which relates to the same
subject, and with which indeed it erst formed one.
Now it is certain that the Jews did return from
Babylon to Jerusalem, that they did rebuikl the walls
of the town, and that they did reconstruct the temple.
These main facts are indisputable ; but there is
strong reason for doubting whether the details of the
process are literally such as have been handed down
to us. We have seen how the Northern States con-
quered the Southern States in America, and yet,
throughout the war, there were very few of the
520
Ezra] publisliecl accounts of bcattles gained by the Northern-
ers which were truthfuL We equally recognise that
Juclah returned from captivity, although we disbelieve
that he was at the same time rich and poor.
In the first chapter of the book in question, we are
told that Cyrus encouraged the Jews to return to
Jerusalem, and that he restored to them all the vessels
of gold and silver that Nebuchadnezzar had taken
away, in number five thousand and four hundred.
Throughout the portion referred to, we recognise two
very striking facts, viz., that the ark of the covenant,
rich in gold though it was, was neither carried away
to Babylon nor returned therefrom, and that, amidst
all the treasures that were presented by Cyrus, there
is not a single roll book nor manuscript. There is
not even the faintest allusion made to the existence
of any ; consequently, we infer that the King of
Babylon either did not find, or, finding, did not care
to keep, any of the records of the ancient Jews.
Hence we conclude that the authentic history of the
Jews can only date from the time of the restoration.
We are next informed that the Jews who went up
with Sheshbazzar amounted in number to about fifty
thousand persons in all, and they were accompanied
by eight thousand beasts of burden and two hundred
choristers. There is no mention made of cattle,
goats or sheep ; nor can we well understand how a
nation, who had been slaves till recently, could pos-
sess flocks and herds. It is curious that in their
flight from Egypt, which was a land of horses, the
Jews should have had uo beasts of burden; it is equally
curious that in their escape from Babylon they should
be attended by horses, mules and camels only. Not-
withstanding the omission, we are led to infer that
621
Ezra] flocks unci herds did accompany the returniug Jews,
for their priests offered the daily sacrifice (ch. iii.
3-0), whicli consisted of two lambs per day (Num.
xxviii. 3) ; offerings which could not be made without
there being u flock of about three thousand sheep.
We soon lose sight of the horses, mules, camels,
&c. ; a necessary consequence perhaps, inasmuch as
there was no pasture for them in a ruined city ; and
we find that the forty thousand Jews are in terror of
the Samaritans. But though the work of the quon-
dam captives is hindered, we find, from the account
of their enemies (ch. iv. 12), that the walls of Jeru-
salem were set up, and the foundations joined together.
In this condition matters stood for an indefinite time ;
but although nothing was done to the city wall, those
of the temple were raised, and the hands of the
faithful were strengthened by the prophets, Zechariah
and Haggai (ch. v. 1, 2). By and by, however, the
opposition offered by the Samaritans is reversed by an
order from Darius, who ordains that the elders of the
Jews shall be helped with "that Avhich they have need
of, young bullocks, rams and lambs, for the burnt
offerings of the God of heaven" (ch. vi. 9). This
verse is contradictory of the inference which we have
already drawn, and the reader must select between
the opposing statements.
The temple at length is finished, in the sixth year
of Darius (ch. vi. 15), after a period of forty and six
years, as we learn from the New Testament (John ii.
20). There is a grand feast of dedication, but we
search in vain for any particular style of worship.
The only mention which is made of sacred days is in
ch. iii. 6, wherein we are told that the new moons
were kept, to which is added vaguely, " all the set
522
Ezra] feasts of the Lord." It is well worthy of remark that
neither Moses nor the Sabbath is mentioned, and the
writer appears only to know "the ordinance of David"
(ch. iii. 10).
In the seventh chapter, Ezra makes his appearance
on the scene, and he puzzles us no little ; for we find
that the very Artaxerxes, whom v/e are told in ch. iv.
hindered the rebuilding of the city, now enjoins it.
He makes the same decree for Ezra that Cyrus had
made for Sheshbazzar, and gives him abundance of
gold and silver to buy "bullocks, rams and lambs,'"
as well as ail the vessels which Cyrus had already
sent to Jerusalem ! (Comp. ch. i. 6, 7, with ch. vii.
15-19). Ezra was ordered to appoint magistrates
and judges in the land, and was enjoined to teach
the laws of God to those who knew them not. To
him was also given power to kill, banish, im-
prison, or confiscate the goods of those who would
not do the law of God and of the King (ch. vii.
25, 26). We are, moreover, told that Ezra was a
" ready scribe " (ch. viii. 6), and that he prepared
his heart " to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it,
and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments " (ch.
vii. 10). This statement implies, firstly, that the
people did not know " the law of the Lord," that even
Ezra himself had to seek it ; consequently we infer
that there vras not then in existence any authoritative
" book of the law : " a conclusion that bears out the
deduction which we drew from the first chapter. As
we advance towards Judea with Ezra, we are sur-
prised to find that he is doing again what had been
already done by Sheshbazzar — of whose existence he
is apparently ignorant — but he evidently has not forty
thousand men with him, or he would never have
523
Ezra] thought of a band of soldiers and horsemen as a safe-
guard. After the arrival of Ezra at Jerusalem (ch.
ix.), we find to our utter astonishment that the people,
priests, and Levites are able to find wives amongst
the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Am-
monites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites, and have
married accordingly. The resuscitation of nations
long since destroyed is as remarkable as the ordinance
which Ezra enjoins for an almost universal divorce ;
for Moses allowed the Jews to marry the daughters of
the Midianites (Num. xxxi. 18), although he prohibited
them from intermarrying with the tribes of Canaan
(Deut. vii, 3) ; but though ive can find the prohibition
now, it is clear that neither Solomon nor the Jewish
priests and Levites, in the time of Ezra, were cogni-
zant of it. After Ezra has enforced the decree which
he himself has made, his name disappears from the
pages of the Bible.
If we ask ourselves in what way he has distin-
guished himself, we can only answer, as a law-maker.
In him v\^e recognise all the characteristics necessary
for organising a code, for the benefit of a compara-
tively ignorant people, who have just emerged from
slavery. In this capacity we find him recognised by
Nehemiah, who, although living at the court of
Artaxerxes during the lifetime of Ezra, seems to
have known nothing about him, or the orders which
the king had given to him respecting Jerusalem. At
the command of the pious Nehemiah, and of the
people, Ezra produces "The book of the Law of
Moses" (Nehemiah viii. 1), and reads it out to the
people, who, by their attentive consideration, give clear
evidence of the fact that they were unacquainted with
it previously.
524
Ezra] Guided b}' this light, we can readily understand
why we find so complete an apparent retrospect of the
history of the children of Israel in Nehemiah ix. ; we
find no such knowledge shown by Samuel, David,
Solomon, or subsequent kings ; neither Isaiah, Jere-
miah, nor Ezekiel gives such a recapitulation. It is
true that such an one is to be found amongst the
Psalms, e.g., Ixxviii., but it is clear that this was not
written by David, any more than was the succeeding
one, and the cxxxviii.
In continuation of the narrative, we now proceed
to the history given in the book of Nehemiah.
Therein we find that in the time of Artaxerxes, the
second in succession at least after Cyrus, and in the
twentieth year of his reign, the wall of Jerusalem
was broken down, and the gates burned. Nehemiah
then is instrumental in building the wall of Jerusa-
lem, which we find, from Ezra iv. 12, had been built
already.
In the eighth chapter we find Ezra comes again
upon the scene^, and on this occasion he attends with
a clean copy of the law of Moses; and in the last
chapter we find Nehemiah doing over again what
Ezra before had done, separating husbands from their
wives, because the latter were the people of the land.
We find, also, for the first time in Jewish history,
an authoritative enforcement of the Sabbath. From
the fifteenth and twenty-second verses it is clear that
neither the ordinary Jews nor the Levites had known
anything of this institution before, nor does even
Ezra himself, or Sheshbazzar, make any mention
of it.
With contradictions such as we have noticed, we
525
Ezea] cannot assign any more historical value to the hooks
of Ezra and Nehemiah than we did to the Prussian
bulletins of the progress of the allied forces before
Sebastopol, or the partizan accounts of the English
or the American rebellion.
Now it is perfectly clear to the scholar, and even
to the ordinary reader of the English version, that
many hands have been employed in writing the books
of the Old Testament. Two individuals at the least
have been concerned in Isaiah, and two probably in
Jeremiah. The visions of Ezekiel have no relation
with the foul practices of Hosea, nor can we attribute
Deuteronomy to the same author as Leviticus. This
being so, we cannot for a moment suppose that Ezra,
either with his own hand, or by the assistance of
others, fabricated the whole of the Old Testament.
It is much more probable that he and his coadjutors
had some manuscripts to manipulate, which purported
to be the work of bygone days. These could readily
be collated and digested, — a word, a sentence, a
paragraph, or a whole chapter being introduced,
whenever the exigency of the history seemed to
require it.
This supposition entirely removes the idea that
the ijmssima verba of the Bible are inspired. It
distinctly affirms that the Old Testament is as much
the work of man, as were the laws of Numa, pro-
pounded to him by the nymph Egeria, or the codes of
Mahomet, Joe Smith, and Brigham Young. It asserts
that the so-called sacred books of the Jews have no
more especial claim to sanctity than have the Shasters
and Vedas of the Hindoos, the Chinese book of Con-
fucius, or the Zend Avesta of the Persians.
526
Ezra] Into the traditional accounts of Ezra, and the
peculiarities of the hook which hears his name, we
forbear to enter ; hut we must request the reader of
these pages to cohate the account given hy Daniel,
Ezra and Nehemiuh. The first knows nothing of
either Ezra or Nehemiah, nor of the decree of Cyrus.
The second knov/s nothing of the wonderful Daniel,
although, as he informs us, he resided in Bahylou
(Ezra vii. 9). The third is apparently equally igno-
rant both of Daniel and of Ezra, until he reaches
Jerusalem, when he hears of the latter. When all
were residing at the same court, and all were inte-
rested in the same subject, it is impossible to beheve
that they could have been strangers to each ether,
except upon the hypothesis that the existence of two
out of the three, if not of the whole, is apocryphal.
EzRi, ^'?]^ (1 Chron. xxvii. 26), " Jah is a helper."
F, /Is there is no letter ^ in the Hebrev/ alphabet, there are
no Jewish names in which it occurs. The sound of
our /■ is equivalent to the Hebrew D, which may
be rendered by j;/(, whose pronunciation in English
does not materially differ from _/'.
Fui. — The fig tree is repeatedly joined with the vine by
the sacred writers. Both the trees have particular
significance to the initiated. The vine, amongst the
Greeks and Komans, was specially sacred to Bacchus.
The wine made from its fruits promoted jollity ; and
as there are many to-day who find a higher poetic
inspiration from the naoderate use of champagne
than from an extravagant use of " tea," so there were
many amongst the ancients who recognised a similar
influence, and saw therein the advent of a god. The
527
Fig] very word " spirituous," which wo tipply to certain
liquors, tells of the same idea.
The fig tree has a similar signification. Its
Hebrew name is '"'^^''p, tenah, and it is derived
from the root I^^, which signifies "to be crookened
or bent," like the stem of a fig tree ; also "to copu-
late," " to pant, toil, work, strive, groan, sigh or
complain." The word expressive of the fig tree is
the same as that used for coitus. It was of the
leaves of this tree that aprons were made to cover
our naked parents, and none can see the leaf with-
out understanding the reason of the selection ; it
resembles the "trefoil," the " fleur de lys," and
sundry other emblems suggestive of the triad.
It was from this cause, we presume, that fig leaves
were carried in processions in honour of Osiris in
Egypt, and that in Glrecce and Rome the wood of
the fig tree was selected for phallic statues. The
tree itself was sacred to Bacchus. The fruit of
the tree resembles in shape the virgin uterus ; with
its stem attached, it symbolises the slstrum of Isis.
Its form led to the idea that it would promote
fertility. To this day, in Oriental countries, the
hidden meaning of the fig is almost as well known
as its commercial value."
We can point to other fruits which have been
used to symbolise things which it might be incon-
venient to express. The pine cone, the apple or
citron, the quince, the pomegranate and the almond
" We have in use amongst us to-iLvy tbe expression, " I do not care a tip; ; "
for au explanation of whicli, the reader must be referred to Ttco Essays on the
]Vorshii> of Priapus. Loudon, 1855, wliarein tliis expression is traced to its original
628
Fig] bad all a well-known significance in ancient times.
The apricot is an eupliemisni to-day amongst the
French. We cannot doubt, when we put the<=!e con-
siderations together, that " to sit under the vine and
the fig tree," was an expression equivalent to enjoy-
ing all the luxuries of life — as an old prayer-hook
expresses it — " at bed and at board."
We see, in pictures, that the virgin and child are
associated in modern times with the split apricot,
the pomegranate, r'lmmon, and the \i\\e, just as was
the ancient Venus.
Felix, seems to owe its origin to an old Latin word, feo,
Greek, <^vq), to fertilise or render fruitful ; and there
are many frescoes taken from Pompeii which show
the idea the ancients had of fehcity.
Fish = ^'^^ dag = "to be fruitful"; also jl], nun, = "to
sprout, to grow, increase, endure." The fish was as
sacred amongst the Babylonians, Assyrians, and
Phoenicians as it is amongst Ptomanists of to-day.
Christ is called Ix^vc, or the fish. Jonah was
swallowed by a fish. The Jews were led to victory
by the Son of the Fish, whose other names were
Joshua and Jesus (the Saviour). Nun is still the
name of a female devotee.
The fish selected for honour amongst the ancients
was neither flat, globular, nor cylindrical ; it was
more or less oval, and terminated in a forked tail.
In shape, it was like the almond, or the 'concha,'
with the ' nates.' Its open mouth resembles the " os
uteri," still called " os tincfe," or tench's mouth.
Ancient priests are represented as clothed with a
fish, the head being the mitre (Fig. 19, p. 112). The
fish's head, as a mitre, still adorns the heads of
529
Fish] Eomisli bishops. The fish was sacred to Venus,
and was a favourite esculent amongst the hrxurious
Romans. Fish was an emblem of fecundity. The
word nun, however, in the Hebrew, signifies to sjv-out,
to 2mt forth, as well as f.sh ,■ and thus the fish
symbolises the male principle in an active state.
The creature had a very strong symbolic connection
with the worship of Aphrodite, and the Romanists
still eat it on that day of the week called Dies
Veneris, Venus' day.
At the present time, there are certain fish which
are supposed to give greatly increased virile power
to those who eat them. I have an indistinct recol-
lection of a similar fact having been recorded in
Athenajus, who quotes Theophrastus as his autho-
rity. The passage is to the effect, that a diet on
a certain fish enabled an Indian prince to show
one hundred proofs of his manhood in a single
day. The same writer mentions goat's flesh as
having something of the same effect. The Assyrian
Cannes was represented as a man fish, (Plate I.,
Fig. 20, page 119;) and the Capricorn or Goat, mth
fish tail, in the Zodiac, is said to have been an
emblem of him (Fig. 96).
Fi". 96.
530
Fish]
The tisli was also asso- ^^S- ^'^•
ciatecl with Isis, who, like
Venus, represented the fe-
male element in creation.
This will readily be recog-
nised in Fig. 97, which is
copied from a small bronze
statuette in the Mayer
Museum, in the Free Li-
brary, at Liverpool. It
would be almost impossible
to find a group more illus-
trative of the connection
betAveen the modern and the
ancient ideas of the virgin
and child and the fish.
The fish was also a sacred emblem amongst the
Buddhists, and Fig. 2, Plate III., shows very distinctly
the feminine nature of the type ; it is associated with
the triad, the whole group forming the arha-il, the
four great gods, the originators of living beings. A
similar idea may be recognised in Figures 5 and 6, in
the same Plate. Fig. 6 represents the episcopal
method of giving benediction, in the name of the
Trinity ; whilst Fig. 5 illustrates the position of the
hands of the Jewish priest, when he blesses the
congregation ; the union of the male triad with the
single virgin is therein quite as conspicuous as it is
in the Buddhist emblem and the Assyrian theology.
Since writing the above, I have ascertained that
eating fish for supper, on Friday night, is a Jewish
custom or institution. As amongst that nation
fecundity is a blessing specially promised by the
Omnipotent, so it is thought proper to use human
631
Fish] means for eusurinr.' the blessing on the day set apart
to the Almighty. The Jewish Sabbath begins at sun-
set on Friday, and three meals are to be taken
during the day, which are suiDposed to have a
powerful aphrodisiac operation. The ingredients
are meat and fish, garlic and pepper; and the
particular fish selected, so far as I can learn, is the
skate —that which, in the Isle of Man, is still sup-
posed to be a powerful satyrion. The meal is
repeated twice on a Saturday. Mons. Lajard bears
testimony to the extent of this custom in the followint^
passage, though he does not directly associate it
with the fish, except that the latter are constantly
seen on coins, with the other attributes of Venus.
After speaking of the probable origin of the cult, he
says : "In our days, indeed, the Druses of Lebanon,
in their seci-et vespers, offer a true worship to the
sexual parts of the female, and pay their devotions
every Friday night — tlint is to say, the day which
was consecrated to Venus ; the day in which, on his
side, the Mussulman finds in the code of Mahomet,
the double obligation to go to the mosque and to
perform the conjugal duty." — Reclierches siir le Culte
de Venus, p. 53. For the association of the fish with
Mylitta, see Moladah, infra.
Fleur de Lys (Fig. 98). The flower is known
as one of the Royal emblems of Ancient
France. It has been adopted, apparently,
in consequence of its embodying the idea
of the Trinity, or Tria jmicta in tuio. But the
very fact of its being so will enable us to see that the
original idea of the triad Avas very different from
that which now obtains. In the following wood-
cut, the position occupied by the lozenge and the
532
Fleur de Lys] fleur de lys, tell unmistakably that the
latter had a phallic signification ; and, by implication,
we leai-n hence that the modern Christian Trinity
is a modest adaptation of an ancient and indecent
myth. In no part of the New Testament is the word
' Trinity ' to be found ; nor can the idea be seen,
distinctly, either in the Gospels or the Epistles.
When the later followers of Christ adopted the
heathen notion of a triune God, they very naturally
endeavoured to make the Apostolic doctrines square
with the new views, and some went so far as to
interpolate passages to suit their purpose.
The wood-cut below is copied from Plate I.,
Fig. 2, Lajard's Culte de Venus — having been taken
by him from a cylinder in the British Museum.
The central tree corresponds to the Hebrew "i^??
tamar, " the palm tree," one of the emblems of the
phallus. The fruits hanging therefrom are appa-
rently intended to represent the testes, while the
tall stamen, with its two anthers, equally symbolise
the masculine. The diamond, in front of the male,
is a conventional form of the female element. The
fleur de lys, in front of the female, we have already
Fi-. 09.
'CoiJied from a Babylouian gem, figured by Lajard,
533
Fleur de Lys;1 described. The {inimal itself is the spotted
goat, Leaphrah ? (See Beth Leapiirah.)
The pahn tree, i^")*^, Sarali, is au emblem of the
celestial goddess, because the same letters have the sig-
nification of ' being prominent,' as during pregnancy.
G, in Hebrew 3, gimel, the third letter in the Phcenician,
Hebrew, and Greek alphabets, is named after a camel.
In all three its original form resembled the English
L, transposed thus 7 ; when the style of writing from
right to left became changed, as it did in Greece, to
our present fashion, the t; became F, a form it still
retains as c/ainma. In sound, i is related closely- with
n ch, 3 k, p qu, or k, and y ; it is interchangeable
with all of them, and more rarely with '^ y,ih, and h I.
Gaal, ^V^ (Judges ix. 26), " The proud or erected Al," or "Al
is high or lofty," from ^} and ^^. We must, I think,
associate this word with Gil, Gal, Gallus, Gaul, Gull,
and a great number of other modern words of similar
sound. It also signifies ' impurity,' but in the later
Hebrew it may signify ' pushed up,' equivalent to
our ' 2^^'^^} ov pike.'
Gaash, ^W (Joshua xxiv. 30), "to push," "to thrust."
Gaebi, ^'^, (Neh. xi. 8), " au cxacter of tribute," Gesen.
This word may be a contraction of ^l, ^^', and ^
ge, ah, and i, and equivalent to "High is my father."
Gabriel, ^^^'l^a, (Daniel viii. 16). This is the name of
one of the Assyrian or Babylonian Angels, adopted
into the Jewish and Christian Theology. We may
readily find two etymologies. In the Cuneiform, (jahah
signifies " to speak," and gah is " the mouth,"
whilst riel (which we have repeatedly as reel, e.g. Jez-
reel,) is the same as regal, roijal. Ra, re, or ri was
an ancient name for the Sun, now roi, rex, re, ' regina,,'
534
GtAbeiel] and At, El, or II, was ' The Almighty.' Thus the
whole word would have the meaning of " The mouth-
piece of the Almighty, Sun, or God." Nor does this
etymology seem inappropriate to Gabriel's character,
inasmuch as he is often sent by the Almighty to
communicate with men by word of mouth. AVe have
the word Gab amongst us, signifying ' to prate.'
Gahey, is a fool, who goes about open-mouthed.
" The Gift of the Gab " represents eloquence; and we
still have the word Gob, which means ' a mouthful.'
The Hebrew etymology would be "°'?^, gahar, and ^^^,
el. The first signifies to be ' strong,' 'proud,' 'erect,'
also ' a man.' The second denotes ' God,' the ' Sun,'
or ' Asshur,' and this rendering would make Gabriel
'the Man God,' or 'the Strong Al ; ' or ' Al is
strong, erect ; ' or ' Al is a Hero.' I prefer the first
etymology, as more consonant with probability.
Gad, '^^ (Gen. xxx. 11), means 'Luck,' ' Good Fortune,' in
every way. It was a name borne by a Phoenician
and Babylonian goddess, who has been identified with
Astarte or Ishtar. We infer from the meanings of
n^l, gadah, i. e. " to swell up on high, swelling flesh,
to cast out, the fruit of the body, an epithet of Venus ; "
that the Good Fortune implied, was that which
brought Ics bonnes fortunes, increase of offspring, as
well as of material riches. Lajard tells us that, to
this day, the Arabs call Jupiter the star of Great
Fortune, and Venus that of Small Fortune. Amongst
the Romans, Venus was called 'the fortune of heaven.'
{Op. Cit. p. 77.) The Greek equivalent to the name
was Tv^Y), whence comes the modern Tycho. The
word Gad resembles the modern Good.
That Gad was a name used by nations whom the
Jews called Heathen, we see in 2 Sam. xxiv. 6, Num-
535
Gad] bcrs xxxiii. 45, 46, Josh. xv. 37 ; and we may fairly
express surprise that a prophet, respected by David,
should have borne the name of a Phosnician goddess,
Astarte ; but when we remember that king's dancing,
performed in honour of the ark, the wonder ceases.
We can readily believe that his mind was essentially
religious and moulded by prophets, just as that of the
modern Queen of Spain is influenced by the confessors
to whom she trusts her conscience. Almost all
ancient, and tlie bulk of modern, history has been
written by individuals of the priestly order, or by moi
who have themselves a strong opinion as to the supe-
riority of their faith over every otb.er ; and a king is
painted as superlatively good, or outrageously bad,
according to the measure of power he allows to the
hierarchy, and the extent to which he permits him-
self to be influenced by their chiefs. Solomon is
depicted by the sacred scribes in very different guise
to that in Avhich he appeared to the people. To the
former, he was almost a demigod ; to the latter, he
was a grievous tyrant, who indirectly brought about
the rupture of the kingdom — just as the glories of
Louis Quatorze and the dissoluteness of Louis Quinze
were the causes of the Eevolution in the days of
Louis Seize.
Gaddi, '''^^_ (Numb. xiii. 11), is very probably an altered form
of rr^li!^ (/adiah, or * Jah is good fortune^' the n being
as usual elided. This etymology is strengthened by
the following word, in which Gad is associated with
El. (Compare Cadi, Gades, Cadiz.)
Gaddiel, '?«^"^5 (Numb. xiii. 10), " El is Gad."
Gadi, ^1^ (2 Kings xv. 14), a variant of Gaddi.
Gaham, Cina^ (Genesis xxii. 24), = "He is flaming." See
Nahor, whose son he was ; also Rebekah.
536
Gahae, "'l!| (Ezra, ii. 47), 'A liidiug pkce.'
GrALAH, '""^^ ; galali, signifies "To be, or to make, naked."
Compare tlie feast iu wliicli David figured, Avliich
his wife saw, and described thus bitterly: "How
glorious was the king of Israel to-day, who uncovered
himself to-day in the eyes of the handmaids of his
servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly
uncovereth himself" (2 Sam. vi. 20); David pleading
not that he had not done so, but that it was ' before
the Lord ; '' thus giving us an indication of the
coarse (as v^'e think) nature of certain holy ceremo-
nials. Compare this, we say, with our galas, and the
ancient feasts on gala days in Babylon ; in the
former of which there is usually a vast amount of
licentiousness, while in the latter, the partakers of
the feast threw off their dress, as the heat of wine
and wassail increased, until they became entirely
nude.
Galal, ?^^ (1 Chron. ix. 15), "the roller," "he rolls like a
stone." A variant of Gallim ; possibly from '^^•',
gelah, and ^^, el — 'El reveals.'
Galilee, ''7^ (Josh. xx. 7), I think signifies " the rolling
sun."
Galli, See Eunuchs.
Gallim, ^^y^ (1 Sam. xxv. 44), signifies "the balls, or small
globes," "oil cruets," "bowls, reservoirs, springs."
A town of the Benjamites, most probably the plural
of ^<}, ' the testes.' The usual translation is, ' the
two fountains,' which is more euphemistic.
Gallus. The connection between the cock, the sun, and
the idea of masculinity, has existed from the earliest
known times to the present. We do not find any
Hebrew name for the bird; the Greek word is aAsxTojp.
or axkxTpvMv ; nor have I any knowledge whether
537
GallusJ the name Gcallas is anterior, or posterior, to the
Sbemitic Gnla, the Assyrian name for the female sun;
Hebrew h)i, gul, ' to move in a circle.' The union
of ideas appears to be— 1. That the cock proclaims
the sun-rise. 2. That the cock is for its size
unusually strong, 'plucky,' and courageous. 3. That
it seems to have milimited powers amongst the
hens.
In myths, it is associated with the head, and
sometimes with the body, of a man, and sometimes
with the head of the ram. There is a very remark-
able figure copied in Payne Knight's Avork, in which
we see on a man's shoulders a cock's head, its beak
being the zachar ; whilst on the pediment are placed
the words 20THP K02M0T, Soter Kosmou, 'the
Saviour of the world,'
Gamaliel, ^'S^^»5 (Numb. i. 10), probably ''El expects," or
"El is strong," "El recompenses:" from '"i^f, (jamah,
and ^^, el.
Gammadims, C1"'7?'' (Ezek. xxvii. 11), "warriors, mercenaries,
or professed soldiers."
Gareb, ^^^ (2 Sam. xxiii. 38), "he scratches, or scrapes;'
hence Grub, Grab. The name was borne by one of
David's captains ; and Gesenius renders it ' scabby ; '
it was probably a nickname.
Gard, Cuneiform, "Powerful." Compare Lago di Garda,
Marie de la Gard, the Saint par excellence of
Marseilles ; also Guard.
Gakmi ^9?f (1 Chron. iv. 19), "He is bony, or strong;"
most likely a variant of Carmi, * the crimson one.'
GaspuPv, Caspar, Kasper, Cuneiform, means " The Omni-
scient," "the comforter;" Hebrew ^P^^, gashpa, =
' attentive listening ; ' also ' to soothe tenderly.'
Gatam, ^^^^ (Gen. xxxv. 11), said to mean " Their touch"
538
Gatam] (Gesenins), " a dried up valley " (Fiirst) ; more
probably a variant of Gittaim, " the wine presses."
Gath, ^^ (Josbiia xi. 22), signifies " A wine press," or
rather " the trough in which the grapes are trod-
den ; " also " slit, pit, hole, well." This is one of
the many euphemisms used for the vulva. It was
also one of the names of Ashtoreth. Its etymology
may be ^^, fiatJt = "J^, gad (Fiirst). (See Gad.)
Gath-hephek, "iS)n-ni (Josh, xix. 13), signifies " The heifer's
trough; " and
Gath-rimmon, i'i'^T^^ (Josh. xix. 49), signifies "The pome-
granate's wine press ; " whilst Gittaim, a town of
Benjamin, is named after the troughs of all the
goddesses. Gathibie was the name of one of the
four very old Babylonian gods. (See supra, p. 54.)
Gaza, W (Gen. x. 19), signifies "Strong;" and ^Jf, geza,
signifies ' the trunk of a tree.' A phallic emblem.
Gazzam, ^l^ (Ezra ii. 48), "A swaggerer" (Fiirst).
Gazez. fl^ (1 Chron. ii. 46), " He or it is firm or strong; "
also "the strengthener." It is sometimes rendered
" Azaz."
Geba, Gibeah, Gaba, y?^ (Josh, xviii. 24), "Hill," (Gesen.)
The word convevs the idea of anything (7iZ>&o;fs. In
Arabia the mountains are still called Jibel, or Djebel.
That there is union in idea between the full womb
and a hill, cannot be doubted by those who attend
to the marginal readings of our Bibles, for in them
we find that the phrase translated "ripping up women
with child" signifies literally "dividing the moun-
tains." We may accept the etymology of " a hill "
for any town on a rising ground, but not as the
proper name of a man ; and though Geha may
simply signify ' a town,' Glhca, as a man's name, will
signify something different.
539
Gebal, ^2^ (Ps. Ixxxiii. 7), is simply "a moiuitain," or
" mountain of El."
G-EBEE, "^9^. (1 Kings iv. 19), "A man," or "strong, mighty,
impetuous."
Gebim, C^-I (Isa. X. 81), " The high ones ; " plural of n3]i.
Gedaliah, ^f^-j^ (2 Kings xxv. 22), prohahly "Jah is
majestic."
Geder, '^'J^ (Josh. X. 13), " He surrounds with a wall."
Gederah, nn-j^ (Josh. xv. 36), "The fortress," or "she
surrounds, or guards."
Gederoth, Gedeeothaim, ^"nnii (Josh. xv. 41, 36), plural
of the preceding word.
Gedor, "•'■^i' (1 Chron. iv. 4), "Wall of defence."
Gehazi, *fn^j or ''l^^^ (2 Kings iv. 12). There is no satis-
factory etymon for this word.
Gemalli, ^^^^ (Numb. xiii. 12). This is rendered by Gese-
nius and Fiirst, " one who possesses camels ; " it may
be so, but as names were given, as a rule, shortly
after birth, we can scarcely fancy such a name appro-
priate to an infant. It is probably from ^P\, gamal,
and '"i^, jah, the n, as usual, being elided, and sig-
nifies " Jah makes perfect," or "Jah is strong."
Gemaeiah, i^l^ipf (Jerem. xxix. 3), " Jah is perfection," or
"Jah perfects;" from "ip|, gamar, and >^l, jah ; in
this instance the n being retained.
Gentiles, °y., goim, (Josh. xii. 23), simply signifies "The
nations," "other peoples," " the heathen."
Genubath, ^333 (1 Kings ii. 20;. I find no satisfactory
etymon for the name. Fiirst reads it as " connected
with Kvoucf;<f."
Gera, ^"^^ (Gen. xlvi. 21), signifies " El glows, burns, or
is jealous," " El splits; " from i^^^, garali, and ^^, el,
the h being, as usual, elided. The name was borne
by a Beujamite, and it is amongst that tribe that
640
Geka] the most coarse allusions in the nomenclature are
found.
Gerar, I")^ (Gen. x. 19), " The circle, or region" (Fiirst).
Gerizim, ^''■p} (Jucl. ix. 7, Dent. xi. 9), " Desert mountain."
Gerizite, or Girzite, V^- (1 Sam. xxvi. 8), " Desert land,"
or " waste places " (Fiirst).
Gershon, ii*^*";'^. (Exod. ii. 22), " On thrusts, or puts forth
fruit," from ^?|, garash, and pN, On.
Gesham, P'^. (1 Chrou. ii. 47), "Firm or strong" (Furst).
Geshem, ^^ (Nehem. ii. 19), = "rain," or "he rains;"
probably altered from Q^r^^, gasliam, ' he is thick, or
firm.'
Geshur, 'i-l^''! (2 Sam. xiii. 37), = " He binds," also " a
bridge," "bridge-land" (Fiirst).
Gether, T'^ (Genesis x. 23), Etymon unknown; possibly
a variant of Geder.
Geuel, ^^^^^ (Numb. iii. 15), " El is magnificence," or
" El is on high; " ^^^., geeh, 'to be high, or lifted up.'
Gezer, or Gazar, "^^^ (Joshua x. 33), compare Gaza. If
njy = Gaza, Gezer may be derived from ""jy. The
usual etymon is " a piece cut off," or "a precipice ; "
a very absurd name for a royal city. That adopted
from the one suggested would be either "he strength-
ens," or " he hedges us round about," and this would
be analogous to Gaza.
GiAH, i]^^ (2 Sam. ii. 24), "He bubbles up," "a fountain."
GiBBAR, "135 (Ezra ii. 20), "A hero, or soldier," or "i-l^^, gihnr,
' he is strong, mighty.'
GiBEON, V^?^ (Joshua ix. 3), " On is exalted," " Heights
of On ; " '"^^l, gahah, 'to be high,' and |u^. On.
GiBEA, ^'^'^} (1 Chron. ii. 49), probably " El is high, or
arched," from V?^, gaha, and ^^, the h being as usual
elided.
GiBEAH, !^y^5 (Joshua XV. 57), probably " Jah is high," the
541
Gibeah] '• being elided from ^l, to obliterate the name of
Jeliovali from a Canaanite village.
GiBBETHON, inaji (Joshua xix. 44), " A high place."
GiDDALTi, ''^('■^f (1 Chron. xxv. 4). I can find no satis-
factory etymon for this name.'*
GiDDEL, ^"^^ (Ezra ii. 47), "the great one," probably an
altered form of ^^y., gadal, "El is good fortune, or
Gad," the n of ba being elided.
Gideon, I'^^l^ (Judges vi. 11), " On breaks asunder."
GiDEONi, '•^yi^ (Numb. i. 11), a variant of the above.
GiDGAD, tn3 (Numb, xxxiii. 32), " The cleft."
GiDOM, ^Vy_ (Judges XX. 45), " Desolation." Fiirst.
GiHON, V^'^ (Gen. ii. 13), "A stream."
Gil, b^^^ signifies "exultation, rejoicing, to leap for joy, to
rejoice ; " and ^^, is ' a heap of stones,' ' a circle,'
*he goes in a circle,' i. c. the sun (see Gilgal).
Compare Giles, St. Giles, GilHan, Gilchrist, Gillillan,
Gilbert, Gilbrid, Gilcolum, Gildas, Gileber, Gilescop,
Gilfred, Gill, Gillespie, Gillel, Gilli, Gillies, Gil-
michel, Gilmony, Gilmour, Gilmore, Gilpatrick,
Gilbey, Gilpin, Gylbyn ; also, possibly, Julia, Jill,
and others.
GiLALAi, '^^^ (Neh. xii. 3G), most probably from ^??, gallal,
W Fiirst's explanation of this word is too interesting to be omittecl. He remarks
that Giclclalti is one of the musical sous of Heman ; ancl they are thus given (1 Chron.
XXV. 4) : " GicTdalti aud Eomamti-ezer, Joshhekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Maha-
zioth;" and that liis name, with the names of four of his brothers, form an old
prophetic saying, i. c, " I have dealt out fame aud victorious help ; I have spoken
oracles in fubiess ; " one with which an oracle began. The words in Hebrew are the
following: niv 'nno=n. 'nb-i3 nw'ino Tnin 'ni?p, which reads Mallothi, Hothir,
Mahazioth, Giddalti,' ami liomam'ti-exer.
I cannot fail to acknowledge the superior sagacity of Fiirst, nor to express my
interest in the clue thus afforded as to the methods adopted by the oracle, or by the
historian for the selection of cognomens. If the names were given consecutively by
the former, we must admire liis memory; if by the latter, we presume that he was
familiarly acquainted with the usual oracular formula. In whichever way we regard
it, the appellative is evidence of the existence of Oracles amongst the Jews, whose
nature resembled that of Delphi, Dodona. or Jupiter Ammnn.
542
GILAI.AI] and ^', jah, the n being clroppecl, and signifying
"Jail moves in a circle."
GiLBOA ^3^^ (1 Sam. xxxi. 1), " The Smi is Baal," from >15
gul, 'to move in a circle' = Smi = Gnla (Assyrian) ;
and J^2, being an elided form of ^'^!^, just as ^^: and ^^^
are represented by ^' and * , the h and n being dropped.
GiLEAD, '^y'?^ (Gen. xxxi. 21), "the Sun," 'the witness.'
GiLGAL, ^l^^ (Deut. xi. 30), 'A wheel,' 'a circle,' or 'the
Sun's heap of stones.' ^^ Gal, signifying 'a heap of
stones,' also ' a bowl,' so called from its being round.
It also signifies 'a rolling,' or *a rolling away.' The
word is translatedFoXyoX, TaXyaXoc, ^.^ ^^^
and TaXyaXci, by the Septuagint.
Three Gilgals are mentioned, one
near Jericho, one a royal city of
the Canaanites, and one in the
mountains.
The one near Jericho consisted of a circle of twelve
stones ; and we are told that Samuel came regularly
in circuit to it. It was also a sort of rendezvous for
Saul's army.
Though a circle, it was also a hill — "the hill of
the foreskins;" and I would notice, in passing, that
circumcision forms a link between the stone and iron
age, inasmuch as Zipporah circumcised the sons she
bore to Moses with a sharp stone, and the sharp knives
which Joshua employed were flint, a material still
used amongst the Jews when an adult is circumcised.
I doubt the value of the link, for shell knives were
used for castrating the Galli ; very probably, because
'concha' meant both 'a shell,' and 'the female organ; '
and ^^f^r", chalmish, 'flint,' the hardest known rock,
may have been used, as foreshadowing the stony
hardness which the adult would desiderate. The word
543
Gilgal] Gilgal is specially interesting to us, as we have
almost the identical word amongst ourselves, in Gaelic
Scotland and Brittany, to designate a " cairn," or hill
of small stones, usually circular, and with a central
■mcjiliii-, or tall stone in the centre. The modern
word is Galgal, and a very interesting account of the
nature of the erection will be found in Colonel Forbes
Leslie's Early Eaces of Scotland. Galgals, dedicated
to Betal or Vital, wonderfully Hke to the Bfetuli of
the Phens, are to be found in India, where they are
both of ancient and modern construction, and alon"
all the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, in Central
Europe and Asia, and in almost every part of the
British Islands, including the Orkneys, where the
number is considerable.
They were common in the time of the classic
Greeks and Romans, and through them we have
tolerably good proof of the ideas with which they
were constructed. By them they were known as
Hernial.
The learned Dr. Ginsburg, in his Life of Levita,''^
apropos of an observation in a letter, "Do you think
that I would throw stones to a Hermes?" has the fol-
lowing note, which, thought short, is pregnant with
meaning: — " Levita alludes to the ancient mode of
worship offered to the heathen deity Hermes, which
consisted in mere heaps of stone, called 'Epjxaloi Xo'i^oi,
spfjiciia or epfjiUKEs, being the symbol of Phallus, and
thus giving rise to the ithyphallic arrow-form of
Hermes. These heaps of stones were more especially
collected on the road-sides, and each traveller paid
his homage to the deity by throwing a stone to the
T" Note 28, page 98, T/ie Afassorctli Ha-Massoreth of Elias Levita, London,
Lougmaus, 18G7, pp. 307.
544
Gilgal] heap as he passed by, or anointed the heap of stones
in which a Hermes was frequently set up, or offered
up the firstlings. Comp. Gen. xxviii. 10-22, xxxi.
45-48 : Sanlicdrin 61a- Qia; Midrash on Prov. 26fl-,
D^blpiob pkS p°ilTn b''D3"? 1123 p^PlH^' ''O '?3, being the law
referred to by Levita. Pauly, Real Encychpddie der
classisclien AlUrthumswisscnschaft, s. r. Mercurius."
Any worshipper, or any sufferer who wished to
invoke the God's aid, might set up a Hermes, This
was originally nothing more than an upright stone ;
Dolman, Tolman, or Menhir. It varied, however,
according to the fancy or wealth of the devotee, and
became a hewn obelisk, or a sort of inverted long
pyramid, surmounted by a head ; and then, as if to
show the idea unmistakeably, the ujDright stone was
adorned by the phallic triad. After being once set
up, every traveller was expected to add a stone to the
original heap. In India, at the present day, where
Galgals are still erected, all those who wish to join in
the religious ceremony take each a stone, which they
set upright in a circle, leaving a larger space between
a certain two than between the others, to indicate the
entrance for the procession (Figs. 85, 86, p. 352).
The parties then form in line, and proceed round the
enclosure, in the course of the sun. In some places
each stone is sm.eared with red paint at the top — the
present form, it is surmised, of a baptism of blood —
the older custom being to sacrifice one of the party
selected by lot, his blood being used to anoint the
pillars ; the place thereafter became sacred. When
the party was numerous, the stone circle was filled up
and became a Cairn or Galgal. Whether in the form
of one or other, the chief performer, whether regular
priest or local magician, was represented by the
545
GiLCxALj largest stone, where he took his place. Such lieaps
were used as trysting places, Avhcncc judo-meut decrees,
&c., were given. The Tynwald mound, modern repre-
sentative of the Danish " Thingwell," in the Isle of
Man, is prohahly such a hill. It is still resorted to
on certain occasions, and at it new laws are confirmed
and promulgated.
Those who will take the trouble to read Forbes
Leslie's hook will he struck with the identity of cus-
toms prevalent over a large surface of the globe ;
and will see, I think, reason to believe that two
nations have existed over Asia and Europe, the one
nomadic, and ramifying entirely by land, the other
maritime like ourselves, and extending itself by ships.
As the respective families have spread themselves, so
their religions have accompanied them, and the Philo-
sopher, when he sees heathen rites, ceremonies, or
customs still extant among ourselves, in spite of
centuries of Christian preaching, cannot fail to put
to himself the questions — how far the ancient has
modified the modern faith ? to what extent certain
ecclesiastical practices are the modern representatives
of ancient healhendoni ? and how far the ancient
theological dogmas have given rise to those which are
current now ? The Gilgal near Jericho forcibly brings
to mind the subject of circumcision. We are told that
this rite was specially given by God to Abraham, in
token of a covenant ; and when the ordinance was
given He declared the penalty of death against a man-
child who had not been duly circumcised (Gen. xvii.
14) ; yet Moses neither circumcised his own offspring,'
nor took any pains whatever to see that the Israelites,
who were under his guidance and rule for forty years,
should regularly undergo this operation. So careless
M M
546
Gilgal] was he indeed about it, that Josliua had to superin-
tend the circumcision of the whole of the male popu-
lation. We conclude, then, either that Moses did not
order or enforce the rite, or that he thought nothing
of it. Moreover, we must believe that the Almighty
cared no more about circumcision than Moses him-
self; for we are told that He habitually visited the
lawgiver and the camp, and punished with severity
such sins as discontent with the manna and gathering
sticks on the Sabbath, and yet habitually passed by
in silence the neglect of the most important rite, the
very sign of His covenant with Abraham ! ^^
Again, if we turn to such contemporary history
as is open to us, we find that the Eg^^itians were all
circumcised ; as were also the Syrians of Palestine,
who, according to Herodotus, copied it from the for-
mer. By the nature of the rite it could only be used
80 It is impossible for a tliouglitful mind to overlook tlie vast importance of tliia
fragment of circumstantial evidence. As the crime of murder is frequently
detected by a scrap of paper, or a bit of rag, so the crime of hearing false witness
is detected by incongruities in testimony. Vi'e remember the story of Susannah with
the elders, whom Daniel convicted of perjury, and we may to a certain extent
imitate his example.
The theory advanced by our theologians is, that the Bible is the infallible word
of God — that the books which it contains were written by those whose names they
bear— that Moses wrote the Pentateuch, aud that every thing therein contained is
real history. But when we examine the witnesses brought forward to support
this assertion, we find that their testimony does not agree together. Genesis asserts
that the rite of circumcision was given to Abraham as the token of a covenant,
between him and his seed on one side, aud the Almighty on the other. Exodus is
all hut silent on the point ; it merely tells us that Zipporah circumcised her sou to
save him from the Lord (Ex. iv. 2-4-26) ; but it does not tell ns that circumcision was
then an Egyptian custom, aud, when cross questioned, it demonstrates that Moses
either did not know or did not care anything aboirt the rite, although, being brought
up as an Egyptian, he must himself have been circumcised. Leviticus and Numbers
not only testify that Moses knew nothing of the subject, but that the Almighty was
equally indifferent about it. Yet Deuteronomy speaks as if the ordinance was fami-
liar to the Jews in the wilderness ; c. £/., what possible idea could men form of the
metaphor, " Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart" (Deut. x. 16), iTuless
they knew what was meaut by circumcision, and how could they tell this uuless
they habitually practised it? We fiud the same metaphor repeated in Deut. xxx. 6.
547
GiLGAL] for males; consequently, if it were a mark of a cove-
nant between the Almighty and man, it is clear that
women were not inclucTecT in that covenant. With this
accords the ancient and modern idea, that females
only enter Paradise if franked by males. The surgeons
to-day tell us that circumcision was adoi)ted as an
effectual preventive of certain forms of disease to
which the natural organ is peculiarly liable. I
cannot myself imagine that the God whom we adore
as the maker of all things, would only tolerate the
worship of those who adopted the plan of mutilating,
in one particular part, all the males which He had
formed, thus allowing that man had been buuglingly
made ; but I can readily understand how a priest,
himself a man, should promulgate such a rite, and
dignify his sanitary direction with the pretended
sanction of Divine authority. Such things are done
in Mormondom to-day. It is a question whether
tliere is greater blasphemy in disbelieving the man
who assumes to wield the authority of the Most High,
or in giving him credit, and endeavouring to believe
that the Deity is intensely carnal. Of one thing we
may be assured, that the rite during its palmy days
Josliua, the uext witness, tells us that the Lord himself cndiu-cil for forty years
in tlie wilderness tlio culpable ueglcct of Moses, hut that Joshua inaugurated his
own rule by a sweeping revolution. Now the testimony of these wituesscs is hope-
lessly ii-reconcileable, and, instead of supporting the theory advaucedr-sucli evidence
leads us to infer,
1. That tlie law, as found in Exodus, Numbers and Leviticus, was wi-itten before
the Jews had leai-iied the rite of circumcision, or after it liad become so very Bcneral
that no legislation on the subject was neccssaiy. 2. That Genesis was written about
the time when the custom was rmpo)-tod from the Egj-ptians, either iliiectly in the
time of Solomon, or indirectly through the Philistines or Phrcnicians, about the
time of Saul. 3. That the Jews certainly did not learn the practice jnior to their
alleged sojonm in the land of Pharaoh. 4. That Deutcronouiy was written after
the practice of circumcision had become general. Ti. Tliat Joshua was written
between the promulgation of Genesis and of Deuteronomy. To this subject we
shall return hereafter.
648
GiLGALj shows as complete^ the fleshlj- idetis that entered
into the human conception of the Creator, as the
disuse of the ceremony, and the adoption of baptism
in its place, typifies a spiritual faith, the abasement
of brute instincts, and an endeavour to cultivate
mental virtues rather than corporeal powers.
GiLOH, ^^^ (Jos. XV. 51), = "The revealer;" ^^^, signifies
'to be, or make, naked,' 'to uncover, disclose, or
reveal.'
GiMZO, '"'^9- (2 Chron. xxviii. 18), " A place abounding with
sj'camores." (Gesenius.)
GiNATH, ^.^'1 (livings xvi. 21), probably " the virgins";
plural of \l or '^^l or " the goddesses." (See sujyra,
pp. 21, 22.)
GiNNETHON, I'l^?! (Neh. X. 6), "The power of the virgins"?
j'^^)-', ginath, and jiK, on.
GiEGASHiTE, ''^^y (Genesis x. 16), " Dwelling in a clayey
soil"? (Gesenius.)
GiSPA, ^^'^^ (Nehem. ii. 21), "Soothing," or "attentive
listening."
GiTTAiM, i^!^^ (2 Sam. iv. 3), " The two troughs, or slits,"
' wine presses ; ' possibly a plural form of Gad, or
'Alma Mater,' 'the Mother of the Child.' 'Diana
and Ceres.' ' Alitta and Ishtar.'
GiTTiTE, ''^1 (2 Samuel vi. 10), " An inhabitant of Gath."
The cithera or harp was said to be of Gittite origin,
whence its name. (Gesenius.)
GizRiTES, ''yj (1 Sam.xxvii. 8), compare Gezer and Gerazim ;
as (jizrah, niT-l, signifies 'the form or figure of a
man, from cutting and forming,' it is possible that
it may also mean ' tattooing ; ' or it may come from
">!|, and signify 'astrologers.'
GoATH, i^V^ (Jer. xxxi. 39), " The heifers." "^^l signifies 'to
low as an ox,' whence the Greek, youM ; Sanscrit,
649
Goath] (/ail ,■ Malab. ho,- Persic, haii,gau; German, /lO, cow,
kali. (Gesenius.)
GoE, 2^ (2 Sam. xxi. 18), " A pit, or don."
God, ^^, inx^ nin\ ^ word used very indefinitely^ 1. For
any one held in reverence by the ancients, and of
the male sex. 2. As a convenient method of express-
ing our ideas of the Almighty, e.g. God of Love,
Mercy, &c. 3. To express the Being whom we
ourselves reverence. Any one, who will carefully
analyse his own thoughts on the subject, will readily
see in what way that confusion which exists in
Theology has been produced.
To grasp, however faintly, the idea which we
endeavour to express by the word in its third signifi-
cation, involves an examination, so far as we can
make it, into the wonders of creation ; the more we
know of the heavens, and their vastness, — of the
earth, and the changes it has undergone, — of the
innumerable varieties of living beings, similar in
some things, unlike in more,- — resembling each other
in the mass, j^et distinct in detail ; the more we
see of the surpassing beauty of animalcules, which
are invisible to the unaided eye of man, and yet are
found to possess forms so lovely, and movements of
such exquisite grace, as almost to make the micro-
scopist shout with delight ; the more we think on
the mysteries of reproduction, growth, maturity,
decay, and death, — of the infinite variety of plants
and trees, and many more wonders of a similar
character; the more exalted do our minds become,
and the more impatient are we of the human dress
in which our teachers have clothed the Eternal. I
cannot conceive a philosopher doubting the existence
of a Power, great beyond conception. I can hardly
550
God] conceive any being, of full reasoning capacity, who
could believe that great One is such a Being as
He is painted by those who profess themselves His
messengers, His mouth-pieces, or His vicegerents
on earth, The Hebrew forms to express the idea
-jv-ere ^^ ^^^^, Li'nhii na^ ])ii< m^ nSn' nj, byn^ f^nd
perhaps jV; ; Assyrian, II, or El, or Ilus, = " the
strong onCo" Elohim, "the strong ones," in the
dual ; possibly in the plural, as three or four, i. c,
the t)iad, ov arha-il. Baal, "my Lord;" Adonai,
" my Lord ; " Shaddai, "the holy One." Afterwards
Jah, or Jehovah. Our word God may come from
Good, or from the Phoenician '^^j Gad, or from the
Sanscrit Gad, ' to thunder ; ' Gada, ' s]3eech ; ' Gard,
' to sound ; ' or Gardh, ' to desire ; ' or Gadh, ' to
stand, to desire ; ' or Gud, ' to defend ; ' possibly
from the Persian khoda or goda, 'lord,' 'master,'
&c. ; or it may have nothing to do with any of
them. Bailey, in his Dictionary, gives God, Saxon;
Gild, Danish ; Gocd or Gott or Gutt, Teutonic ; all
signifying ' good.' Possibly the name is the same
as "i^, (jad.
Goddess, the Great, Cuneiform, = Asha or Ashat = "The
woman " (Eve was called Isha) = " the female creator,
or queen of fecundity," equivalent to " Piegina," i. c,
re, 'the Sun, or the king,' and yuv:^, 'the woman/
or 1^, c/an, ' a garden, or virgin.'
GoG, yiii (1 Chron. v. 4), Etymology unknown.
GoL, 7^^| (Gen. xliv. 2), "A bowl, or cup; " such as were
nsed for divination (See Gen. xliv. 5). As far as I
can learn, there is no evidence whatever that divina-
tion by the cup was ever common in Egypt, whilst
there is very strong evidence that it was general in
Greece, Assyria, Persia, and India.
651
Golan, l^"lii (Dent. iv. 43) ''A circle, or region " (Fiirst).
Goliath, ri^^| (i Sam. xvii. 4). Tliere is great doubt about
the et}mology of this word, 'i'he one -u'liich suggests
itself as being the most probable, is Gula, "the
Sun," and ^^, atli, " a portent." If the giant was
as large when a baby as he was great when a man, the
name, " a wonder from Gula," would be appropriate.
This assumes that Goliath Avas his real cognomen.
If the historian coined the name, we should then
derive it from ?^'^, fioel and atli, and read it ' a wonder
of pollution,' or 'portent of defilement.'
GoMER, ""^^ (Gen. x. 2), Etymology unknown.
Gomorrah, spelled '^y^^. (Gen. x. 19), " A fissure or cleft "
(Fiirst). Probably a town situated like Petra.
Goshen, 1^'^ (Gen. xlv. 11), Both the etj-mology and the
locality are doubtful.
GozAN, ip^ (2 Kings xvii. 6), " A stone quarry " ? (Gesen.)
" A pass or ford " (Fiirst).
GuNi, '?-1^, signifies "Painted with colours" (Geseuius) ;
hence, I presume, the Greek yuvri, ' a Avomau.'
GuR, l-lii (2 Kings ix. 27), "a calf;" also " a dwelHng
place."
Gur-Baal, '^yn'i-lii (2 Chron. xxvi. 7), " Temple, or sojourn-
ing of Baal."
H. n and n is with the Hebrews, as with ourselves, the sign
of an aspirate, and as we have many words in which
the h is mute, and others in which it is pronounced
forcibly, so the Jews have some in which n is used,
and others in which the strong or rough n is adopted ;
both being aspirates, the two are interchangeable
with each other and with N a, whilst n is in addition
interchangeable with 1 v or n, and n with ji g. In
consequence of the above mentioned peculiarity of
552
H] this letter, it is occasionally necessary to give the
meanings to be found under both forms of spelling.
Habel, or Hebel, ^^'^, or ^^'"^ iCIeu. iv. 2), " To breathe,
to exhale," " breath, vapour, mist." This etymology
is to me very unsatisfactory, but I cannot suggest a
better. Ah'd, in the Cuneiform, is ' a son.'
The intention of the myth respecting the sacrifices
of Cain and Abel, is to show that a preference is
given by the Deity to an ofiering of flesh over one of
vegetables, and to enforce an offering of which the
priests could partake with satisfaction. It was gene-
rally an understood thing that " they which ministered
about holy things lived by the things of the temple,
and that they Avhich waited at the altar were par-
takers with the altar" (1 Corin. ix. 13). Hence those
ministers who preferred flesh meat to a vegetable diet
prescribed offerings of lambs, heifers, &c., as being
most acceptable to the Almighty ; thus affording us
another example of the frequency which which hier-
archs assume the powers of the Almighty, and profess
to be his vicars upon earth.
Since writing the above, I have seen Dr. Donald-
son's remarks upon Abel {Jaslier, second edition,
pp. 96-8). He considers that the true orthography
is ''^'^'T', Jiahail, and that it signifies either 'he who
offered a grateful offering to God,' or 'beloved by,'
or ' the friend of God.' Like myself, he objects to
the current method of explaining the word.
Habaiah, '^l^^ (Ezra ii. 61), " Jah is a protection."
HaBxVkkuk, p-1p^n (Habak. i. 1), " Embrace of love."
Habar, inn, signifies " To be bound together," " to practise
magic," " to cut into, or wound," "to be striped, as
the panther," "an associate, male or female," both
in a good or bad sense, " a conjuror," " an enchant-
553
Habae] ment," "a community," &c., according to the vowel
points ; and tliiis the word gives us a chie to the use
of the spotted robes of the priests, and the sanctity
of the spotted antelope. Sec.
Habaziniah, "^^^^-yp/^i (Jer. xxxv. 3), "Lamp of Jehovah."
Haboe, "ii^'3' (2 Kings xvii. 6), " Conjunction, associated to
idols."
Hachaliah, i^.y^Q (Neh. i. 1), " Jah is darkness."
Hachilah, n^^?q (1 Sam. xxiii. 19), " Obscure, dark."
Hachmoni, ''^'""-3'!' (1 Chron. xi. 11), "Jah is wise," from
Q^Oj hacam, and r\\ jah, the n being as usual elided.
Hadad, *T]l| (Gen. xxxv. 35), "Powerful, mighty;" the name
of a Syrian god. " The Sun was worshipped under
this name at Heliopolis, and Macrobius {Satur. i. 23)
states that he was venerated as the greatest and the
highest of the gods, adding the words, tJie interpre-
tation of his name signifies ONE " (Gesenius).
Remains of the Phcenicians, page 385, &c. Leipsic,
1837. From this, it appears that some of the heathen
had as distinct an idea of tlie unity of the Almighty
as we have ourselves, and only appeared to be poly-
theists by speaking of gods where we should speak
of angels.
Hadadezee, "'jn'^P (2 Sam. viii. 3), "Hadad is my help."
HADAD-EnoioN, r""^?7"^'^: (Zech. xii. 11), " Hadad the pome-
granate."
Hadae, "^U} (Gen. sxxvi. 39), " He is large, or tumid,"
" shines, or glitters."
Hadaeezee, "^JH"?!!! (2 Sam. x. 16), " The strong one is my
help."
Hadassah, i^?!!'^ (Esther ii. 7), " She sprouts," or " the
myrtle,"
Hadashah, nt^in (Jos. xv. 37), " Newly built." (Furst.)
Hades, ^If} (Isa. xxxviii. 11), "The place of rest;" Hades
554
Hades] in Egypt = Ament or Amenti r= Erebus = West
= Ement. (See Hell, infra.)
Hadid, ^^^n (Ezra ii. 33), '' Sharp."
Hadlai, ^^10 (2 Cbron. xxviii. 12), " Eest," probably a
variant of '^^Y-^^. Adalia, a Persian name.
Hadoeam, s:^'nn (Gen. x. 27), " The high director."
Hadrach, ■^^7- (Zeeh. ix. 1), a Syrian God ; possibly signi-
fying " the circling one."
Hagab, 2,^0 (Ezra ii. 46), "He pierces," "a prick, or
thorn."
HAC4ABAH, ^^^^ (Neh. vii. 48), " She is hollow," or " the
love-apple tree."
Hagar, "^^.^ (Gen. xvi. 1), "He flies " (modern Hegirah).
Hagarites, ^^'5"?^D (1 Chron. v. 10), "Fugitives."
Haggai, ^^O (Ezra v. 1), "Festival," "festive;" "born at
the Feast of Tabernacles " (Fiirst). Haggi (Gen.
xlvi. 16), probably variants of Haggiah.
Haggiah, '^^!ID (1 Chron. vi. 30), " Jah is festive;" compare
a-ytoc, " hoty."
Haggith, JTi^^n (2 Sam. iii. 4), " The festive ones."
Hai, ''0, is a word which signifies " life, living, existence,"
&c. Assj'rian aa, or ai, ' the female power of the
Sun.'
Hakkoz, VP^ (1 Chron. iv. 8), "The thorn;" ko;<;, coz, are
variants of the same.
Hakupha, ^'|)-1pn (Ezra ii. 15), " bent " (Gesenius) ; " incite-
ment, urging on" (Fiirst).
Halah, ^?Q. (2 Kings xvii. 8), " She is lovely."
Halhul, >''I^7- (Jos. XV. 58), " The defence is strong."
Hali, ''% (Jos. xix. 21), probably "Jah is lovely," from ^\^,
halah, and '^l, jah, the n being dro])ped from both
words.
Hallal, ?r'0 signifies "To be clear, or brilliant," "to
rejoice, sing praises;" "ell, ell, ell !" was the shout
655
Hallal] of the Etliiopic women on occasions of rejoicing,
signifying "he sliines ; " "we still have the chant in
Alleluiah, or Hallelnjah, n^ib^n.
Halohesii, t^nibn (Nehem. iii. 12), The "enchanter," "the
whisperer," "the oracle-giving one."
Ham, ^^ (Genesis xiv. 5), " A father-in-law," " connected
by marriage" (yap-oc) ; also "hot, warm," oiij.a,
'together ' {ai)io, ai)ikus) ; Ham is a name of Egypt;
it also signifies "dark coloured, black."
I would notice in passing that the descendants of
Ham were not black ; that they were never known to
be in subjection until the rise of the Persian power ;
that there is not a scintilla of evidence that the Negro
race have anything in common with the Assyrian
nation, or any other descendant of Ham. That the
Egyptians in old times were not blacker than the
Jews is clear, from the story of Joseph, who is, by
his own brothers, mistaken for an Egyptian. Indeed
we gather from Egyptian paintings, and from a figure
now in the museum of the Louvre, of which an
accurate copy may be seen in the frontispiece to
Nott and Gliddon's Indigenous Races of the Earth
(London : Triibner, 1857), that the colour of the
Egyptians was a peculiar red, like that of the North
American Indian, and equally far removed from the
white and from the black.
Haman, P^" (Esther iii. 1), probably from Sanscrit, Heman,
' the planet Mercury' (Gesenius).
Hamatii, npn (Numb. xiii. 21), "To be hot," also "defence,"
" a citadel," " warm baths." Its king was Sell, or
Saul.
Hamman, I'fn (2 Chron. xxxiv. 4), "Some form of Sun images
standing on the altars of Baal." An epithet of Bel
among the Phoenicians (Fiirst). lu a work recently
556
Hamman] published by the British Museum, on Phcenician
Inscriptions at Cartliagc, edited b}' Mr. Davis, the
god Baal-Hamau is the ouly male deity named.
Hambiolecheth, J^.?.?^'] (1 Chron. vii. 18) " The Queen,"
" the moon," Ishtar = ^i]^ N>]'^5 = Phcenician ^}.^ =
Tavaic, or Tuvciiric, taiiais — Na/r, with the Egyptian
article (Fiirst). In Phcenician InscrijMons at Car-
tilage ; London, 1863 ; Tanith is the only goddess
named to whom vows are made.
Hammon, P'^'f (Joshua xix. 28), a variant of Hamman. In
Toison cV or de la Langue PJienicienne, by L' Abbe
F. Bourgade, 2nd Edition, Paris, 1856, we find
an account of many Phoenician inscriptions from
Tunis, in about half of which pv hv2, Baal Hammon,
is named as the god. This shows that a very strong
similarity existed between the deities of the Jews,
Carthaginians, and Phoenicians generally. (Compare
the Jupiter Ammon of the Greeks, and the people
of Ammon.)
Hamonah, ^P^ii, (Ezek. xxxix. 16), "Multitude."
Hamor, "li'-^D (Gen. xxxiii. 19), "The swelling up one," or
"the red one," from "^PC" ; also "to be dark red."
" Sudden in rising," also " an ass," an animal
notorious for its salacity, and one which was said, in
derision, to be the god of the Jews (Tacitus, Plist.,
B. v., c. 4) ; we may readily see the connection of ideas
in his mind, when he speaks, a few lines farther
on (c. 5), of the Jews as a people given to unbridled
lust, " projectissima ad libidinem gens." (Compare
with Amor, Amour.)
Hamuel, S^-1'^n (1 Chron. iv. 26), "El is a sun " (Furst).
Hamul, ^-l^n (Numb. xxvi. 12), " The heat of El."
Hamutal, "^P-lJ^n (2 Kings xxiii. 31), " God is fresh life "
(Fiirst).
557
Hanameel, ^^^^^_[} (Jerem. xxxii. 7), "The graces of El,"
" El is n rock, or safety " (Fiirst).
Hanan, ijn (1 Cliron, viii. 23), "He is gracious, or merciful."
Hananeel, 7^'ii?n (Jerem. xxxii. 7), "El is gracious."
Hanani, Hanini, or Hananiah, <^}^^^ (1 Clirou. iii. 19), "He,
or Jail, is merciful ; " subsequently Ananias.
Hanes, D^n (Isaiah xxx. 4), a town of Egypt, called by the
Greeks, "the town of Hercules," = ""Avucrij, 'the
merciful Isis ' ? (Fiirst.)
Hannah, >^l^ (1 Samuel i. 2), "He is gracious," "grace,
compassion; " also " he pierces." Possibly from the
Assyrian Ann, and the Phoenician Anna.
Hannathon, pnan (Joshua xix. 14), " On is gracious," or
" the graces of On."
Hanniel, ^^}^[} (Nehem. iii. 1), "El is gracious."
Hanochi, '•^^n (Numb. xxvi. 5), "Initiated into mysteries."
(See Enoch.)
Hanun, l-l^n (2 Sam. x. 1), "The gracious one," "the
given one " ? An Ammonite king.
Haradah, ninn (Numb, xxxiii. 24), " Terror, fear."
Haran, pn (Genesis xi. 31), "Parched by the Sun," also
" a noble, or free man."
Harbonah, '"I-'"'^7'^' ^ Persian name, of doubtful significa-
tion.
Hareph, V[^ (1 Chron. ii. 51), " The powerful, or strong
one."
Harhaiah, ^l^'j[^ (Xehem. iii. 8), " Jah is burning."
Harhas, Dnnn (2 Kings xxiii. 14), probably a variant of Din,
heres, " the sun."
Harim, Q'?'} (1 Chron. xxiv. 8), " The devoted, or conse-
crated."
Harnepher, i^^in (1 Chron. vii. 36), "The strong heifer;"
probably a compound of pii, haran, and l^y^ cpJier.
Haroeh, HNhn (1 Chron. ii. 52), " The prophet."
558
Hakod, "'"'l': (Judg. vii. 1), "He sends earthquakes," or "lie
terrifies."
Harosheth, n::nn (judges iv. 2), "The enchanters." There
are so many significations to the singuLir form
of this word K>in, that our choice is emharrassed ;
it signifies ' to engrave, cut, or plough,' ' to shine,'
' to groAv,' ' to whisper, or mutter ' (compare with
Isaiah viii. 19, wizards that peep and mutter), 'to be
soft, or viscous, like cla}-,' 'loam,' 'a forest,' 'deaf,'
' a worker in brass,' ' a cutting tool.'
Harsha, ^T?D (Ezra ii. 62), "An enchanter."
Haeum, ^'}[) (1 Chron. iv. 8), " The high one."
Harumaph, '=1'?-1"15 (Nehem. iii. 10), "Flat-nosed" (Gesen.) ;
" snub nosed " (Fiirst).
Haruz, P""^ (2 Kings xxi. 19), "the borer;" also "judg-
ment; " also, as pn, "the loins.' A father-in-law of
Manasseh. Harutz and Marutz are judges in hell,
according to Arab tradition. They were angels,
attracted by earthly women, to whom they told the
incommunicable name of the iVlmighty ; the women
rose to heaven, and the angels were condemned to
hell, though to an exalted rank therein.
Hasadiah, nnon (i Chron. iii. 20), "Jah is love, or
benignant."
Hashabiah, r^l±m (i Chrou. vi. 45), "Jah takes thought; "
also written Hashaenah and Hashabniah (Nehem.
X. 25, and iii. 10).
Hashbadanah, !^^3^?^'D (Nehem. viii. 4), "The judge is wise,"
"Eshmun is a friend" (Furst).
Hashem, CiL"ri (1 Chron. xi. 34), " He is fat," " he shines, or
glitters ; " also " rich, wealthy."
Hashmonah, i^ppr] (Numb, xxxiii. 29), "Fulness of Jah."
Hashue, ^•It^'n (1 Chron. ix. 14), "Understanding" (Geseu.);
" associate, or friend " (Fiirst).
559
Hashubah, nn^n (i chron. iii. 20), "Estimated" (Gesen.);
" association " (Fiirst). Probably " Jali is a fricud."
Hashum, Qt^n (Ezra ii. 19), " Eicli."
Hasrah, n^Dn (2 Chron. xxxiv. 22), " Jali protects, or is
strong; " from "^jn, Ita^ar, and ^l, jali, the ^ being
elided.
Hasupha, ^5S-1£^n (Ezra ii. 35), ''Uncovering," ''nakedness,"
probably a variant of Hashubah.
Hatach, ^nn (Esther iv. 5), a Persian word, ''Truth"?
(Gesenius.)
Hatath, nnn (i Chron. iv. 13), "He terrifies," "he is
terrible."
Hatipha, ^'S^tr^n (Ezra ii. 54^, " Seized, caught " (Gesenius) ;
"robbery, violence" (Fiirst). Possibly a variant from
n3Pi-n^ = ' the thick, or swelled one.'
Hatita, ^'t^^^n (Ezra ii. 42), " The digger, the explorer."
Hattil, '?'^n (Ezra ii. 57), "He is pendulous," "he waves
to and fro."
Hattush, C-''-1t2n (1 Chron. iii. 22), "He conquers."
Hauran, pin (Ezek. xlvii. 16), "The boring On," or "On is
white, splendid, or noble," from "i-in and |X, "Cave
district " (Fiirst).
Havilah, n^')n (Gen. ii. 11), " A circle, or district" (Fiirst).
Hazael, ?^5jn (1 Kings xix. 15), " He sees El or Al," or "Al
sees ; " hence we find that El was a God amongst the
Syrians, as well as amongst the Hebrews and Chaldees.
Hazaiah, '"inn (Nehem. xi. 5), "He sees Jali," or " Jah
sees, or decides." nrn being 'to split, or divide,' 'to
see,' or 'a prophet,' according to the vowel points.
Hazae-addar, "i'Ji:N°"ii\n (Numb, xxxiv. 4), "A court, or temple
of Addar," or " splendour."
Hazar-enan, r'^T"'Vn (Ezek. xlvii. 17), " A court, or temple
of Enan," " the holy fountain."
Hazar-gaddah, '^"?r^V'!l (Josh. xv. 27), " A court, or temple
560
Hazar-gaddah] of Gaddfih, or Venus Urania, possibly = DH,
i. e., 'the goddesses of fortune.'
Hazae-haddatah, i°'^t'n "^'"'^'0 (Josh. xv. 25), "New Hazor."
Hazar-hatticon, r'i3''?in°ivn (Ezek. xlvii. 16), "A court, or
temple of Hatticon," ''the middle Hazor."
Hazar-ma^tsth, J"°'!'.':p7^*^ (Gen. x. 26), " A court, or temple
of Maveth, or Mut, the God of the lower world." ''
Hazar-shual, ^y-lii'nyn (Joshua xv. 28), " A court, or temple
of Shual." This may be derived either from ^^*t^, or
from ^J^'^'', or from both, and may mean ' a chink
in the ground,' whence oracles proceeded, as at
Delphi.
81 Mu, Mut, Mot, Maut, was a name applied to tlie Great Mother in Egyjit ;
one of her symbols was a wiugetl eye, whose form is sufficiently suggestive of a
douhle entendre, to make us helieve that the symbol had one signification for the
initiated, another for the multitude. Sanchouiathon says that " Chaos hnew not its
own production, hut from its embrace with the wind was generated Mot, which some
call Ilus, but others the putrefaction of a watery mixture ; and from this sprung all
the seed of creation, aud the generation of the universe " (Cory's Ancient Fragments,
p. 1) . I think that the physiologist may here be allowed to surmise that the myth
is founded upon the phenomena of conception, in which the male semen seems to be
converted in the female into a new being, and a quantity of ' water.' Again, the
same author states that Cronus had a sou by Rhea, who was called Muth, which
the Phcouicians esteem the same as "Death and Pluto" (Ji?"cZ., p. 15). It would
seem that the myth enfolds the idea that heaven ordains us to die. Time brings
about the death, and after that man sleeps in the bosom of his mother Gaia, ' the
earth.' We see this idea enunciated in Ecolesiastes v. 15: "As he came forth
from his mother's womb, naked shall he return, to go as he came." On this verse
the erudite Dr. Ginsburg remarks : " The innermost recess of the earth is rejire-
sented as the bosom where the embryo of all things living is generated. The earth
receives us at our birth, nourishes us when born, and ever afterwards supports us,
and finally receives us into her embrace, when we are rejected by the rest of nature,
and covers us with special tenderness. Hence the Psalmist speaks both of the
womb of his mother (d« ]ti3), and of the earth (yns! nvrinn), as the place where
he was formed (Ps. exxxix. 13-15) ; aud Job, when deprived of all things, spake of
his departure as returning to the bosom of the earth in as destitute a condition as
when he came from the hosom of his mother, using the very words of the passage
before us, ' Naked came I forth from the bosom of my mother, and naked I return
thither' (Job i. 21j," et seq. [Cohelcth, p. 352, note). "Maut," says ■Wilkinson
(Eawlinson's Heroduf.iis, vol. 2, p. 448, foot note), "was without any child, the
abstract idea of mother." To this day we have the words mot and viotte, in
Western Europe, to signify 'the female organ, the universal mother.' The Hebrews
changed mo, mtUh, into mn (Furst).
561
Hazar-susah, "DID-nvn (Joshua xix. 5), " A court, or temple,
of Susah," or of the ' horse of the suu.'
Hazazon-tamae, ^»^"^'>'n (Geuesis xiv. 7), " The row of the
pahii trees."
Hazelel-poni, '^i^-r'?^ (1 Chroii. iv. 3), "The shadow
looking at me" (Geseuius). "Protection of the
Presence" (Fiirst).
Hazerim, D^^vn (Deut. ii. 23), "The enclosures, villages,
or caravanserais."
Hazerotii, ni^vq (Numb. xi. 35), "Camps, hamlets, or
villages."
Haziel, ^?<nn (i Chron. xxiii. 9), "He sees El," or "El
watches over."
Hazo, 'TH (Genesis xxii. 22), "The seer," "a vision," "he
sees."
Hazor, l^vn (Joshua xi. 1), " The castle, or strong fortress."
Hazoe-hadattah, nrinn-nn'n (Joshua xv. 25), "The new
castle, or new Hazor."
Heaven, ^]^f, signifies "The sky;" in other words, "the
abode of the sun."
Our English word, which is a direct descendant
from the Phoenician, appears in the Anglo-Saxon as
hcofon, or hehcn ; Old Saxon, lichUan, liehan, or
hcvan ; Low German, heveu, or lichen. These words
seem to have been derived from the Teutonic word
lichhan, 'to raise,' 'to elevate,' or from the Anglo-
Saxon word hefan, 'to be arched,'
The current idea responds to the definition, for
the general belief is that its locality is in the sky
above us, just as we locate Hell in the centre of the
Earth beneath us. In all ages the vast expanse of
sky has been spoken of as the residence of the
Almighty, and the throne assigned to Him on earth
has been some hill of commanding height.
N N
662
Heaven] Of the nature of His dwelling the ancients for
a long period professed to be ignorant, but as time
rolled on, and the hieratic exigencies increased, the
knowledge assumed by mortals developed itself, the
eyes of the priests penetrated into the invisible world,
and the Creator was described as a king, holding a
court, with- prime ministers around him for trans-
acting business, other ministers to attend upon them,
and a bureaucracy almost as extensive as that of the
United States. His palace had seven courts, and
the seventh was His particular abode. To it the
prayers of the faithful reached through the interven-
tion of officers, much as mundane petitions arrive at
the presence of an earthly monarch ; and from that
empyrean height He promulgated His decrees, which
He sent down by messengers to certain men.
Those who drew up this scheme developed it still
farther, and held out to their votaries the hope of
attaining a place in the celestial court. To make the
proffered reward attractive, it was necessary to con-
sider what things human beings most coveted ; with
these the Heaven was stocked, whilst Hell was filled
with every thing that men most dread. As most
earthly joys are corporeal, so were those painted in
the Avorld above. Fine clothes, abundance of gold,
music, singing, an absence of hunger, thirst and dark-
ness, and the pleasure of seeing enemies overthrown,
formed the attractions held out by one school ; ^"
^2 It is clear that mauy Anglicau diviues of the present clay consider that one
of the deliglits of Paradise will be to gloat over tlie Heliisli miseries of those with
whom they had contended upon earth. I shall not soon forget the shock with which I
read, in a sort of manifesto issued not many years ago by some eminent theologians, —
whose names it rejoices me that I have forgotten, — a paragraph to this effect ; "We
do not believe that the happiness of the blessed would be perfect in Heaven, unless
they were perpetual witnesses of the tortures of the damned ; " the exact words were
clothed in ecclesiastical garb, but there w;>s no mistaliing the meaning. Now I can
563
Heaven] while another prochiimecl a paradise well stocked
by Houiis, with whom the faithful could everlastingly
disport with ever-recurring freshness and delight.
The philosopher may doubt the certainty of the infor-
mation thus detailed, and hesitate to accept from
heathendom, and specially fi'om the Babylon of yore,
an account of His court which the Almighty withheld
from His chosen people and His personal friends for
more than four thousand years.
Hebee, "i?n, (G-en. xlvi. 17), signifies " to join together," "to
bind," " to fascinate," "an associate or companion;"
as nnn, hhr, it signifies "to cut," "to practise
magic," "to cut out or divide the heavens as an
astronomer;" as nnwS, ahr, it signifies "to soar
upwards," "a wing feather;" as -TiaN', ahlr, it signifies
" the strong and mighty one, like a bull ; " ' bulls of
Bashan ' is ' ahirl Bashan,' in the Hebrew.''
In the Cuneiform, ahy is rendered as ' strengthen-
ing;' Ninih-dil ahari, is read by Norris, or Oppert, as
' Lord of mighty deeds ' (see Ninip).
imagiue a fierce bigot like Torquemada revelliut; witb delight at Ijuniiug heretics in
this world, and preaching to his brethren that one part of the bliss of Heaven was
to see such combustion going on everlastingly. I can imagine snch an one giumbliug
that human victims die too soon, and that the necessity to eat and drink takes
away from the continuous pleasure of an Auto da Ft, but asseverating that in
Heaven the victims would live iu the fires for cverlastiug, and the faithful would
enjoy the sight of their tormeut with ever recurring delight. I can credit that snch
may have been the doctrine of an Inquisitor. I cauuot believe, however, that any
protestant minister is able to adopt such a doctriue, until he has joined that party
of the Apostles who wanted fire to come down from Heaven tc-£onsnme their adver-
saries, even as E lias did; and were told by the Savioni- that they knew not what
spirit they were of. To myself, the idea of carrying hatred into Heaven is awful ;
and the knowledge that some diviues entertain the opinion that the sight of torture
is to be one of the pleasures of the blessed fills me with such horror, that I dare not
utter in words the sentiments which crowd upon my mind, except to say that the
reformed Christianity of to-day demands as much radical amendment as the Romish
faith required iu days gone by, and still requires.
83 We are justified iu examining all these roots, because " n is interchanged
wilh n and other gutturals."
564
Heber] The philologist, in looking over these different
meanings and spelling?, finds one idea running
through all. Fascination, " a kind of magic which
was applied to the binding of magical knots" (Gesen.)
' Dividing the heavens, as an astrologer.' ' Soaring,
or rising upwards,' and ' strength, like that of a
bull,' or ' strengthening.' This seems to point, first,
to a god, priest, or man, who assumed to remove
impotence by charms ; secondl}', to one whose power
had been originally strong, then weak, and religiously
restored.
As we find the word in conjunction with on, as in
Hebron, we incline to the belief that the primary
meaning is " phallic vigour."
It closely resembles the word chebar "^3?, ' to be
great,' 'to be long,' 'to multiiDly,' 'to bind together,' &c.
Heber is still an Enghsh name, and I remember
that a Bishop Heber, writing from India, speaks of a
Mahratta prince called Alijah, and translates it
" exalted of the Lord."
Hebron, l^"i?n (Gen. xiii. 18), the name of a city, and of
certain men. It signifies " The strong On." or "On
strengthens."
Heifer, nns^ -ip|^ and nbjy, yarah, hakar, and cr/lah. The
idolatrous worship of the calves is well known ; but
we have no intimation whatever of the sex of either
Aaron's calf or Jeroboam's calves. It is probable
that the latter were of both genders. Both the male
and female beeve were offered amongst the Jews in
sacrifice; but the most sacred of them all was a
young cow of a red colour. One of this nature was
offered yearly, and its ashes were used for special pur-
poses (see Numb. xix. 2-9).
The period of life at which the animal was
565
Heifer] slanghterecl was three years of age, a time when its
sexual propensities became developed. We have seen
that Idne were sacred to the celestial mother. Isis
was depicted frequently as a milch cow, but she was
also represented as a virgin. The red heifer was also
to be a virgin. The connection between the Egyptian
myth and the sacrifice deserves investigation, and
etymology will assist us much. ">?, par, signifies " a
young bull," "youth and vigorous manhood;" nna
signifies " to break through," or " to bear offspring,"
"a young cow," "a pit or hole," or "beauty and
sijlendour," according to the vowel points; '^^'3, pa?-,
has the meaning of " digging or boring," also of
" shining brightly," or " being glorious," and of
"ornament, beauty and head-dress;" and "^^^^3 is
" a leafy sapling," " a young and tender tree."
The idea conveyed in these words is the union of
youth, loveliness, sexual vigour and fertility. Every-
thing which conduced to the latter was held in high
esteem. There was and still is a notion amongst
Eastern nations, that the flesh of an animal imparts
to one who eats it the virtues which the creature pos-
sessed. The flesh of the beeve, as being both power-
ful and strongly virile, was supposed to give fertility
to those who ate it. The use of beef and fish is
enjoined by the Talmud for Jewish husbands on
Friday night and for Saturday's dinner, to enable
them fully to enjoy the company of their wives.
Mahomet has copied in this respect an ancient
custom, for he enjoins upon the faithful that they
shall make the Friday {dies Veneris), a day for
connubial enjoyment as well as one of public
worship.
But in countries where the ox is much used in
566
Heifer] agriculture, there was and still is a strong disin-
clination to slaughter it. This feeling amongst a
poor race could only be overcome by a cogent reli-
gious faith. By teaching the belief that God demands
a bull or cow for His service, the priest can insure for
himself and the worshippers an occasional supply of
beef. Being desirous to have one whose flesh would
be most appropriate for the purpose, it was ordained
that the animal should have a particular colour. Eed,
as symbolising masculine virtue, was the tint selected.
In the case of one Jewish sacrifice, the heifer thus
chosen was not eaten, but burnt, yet its ashes had a
talismanic value, and were used as a sort of charm ;
and that a large portion of it was generally eaten,
both by the people and the priests, we infer from
1 Sam. ii. 13-16.
When once we recognise the fact that beef was
used as an a]3hrodisiac, we can well understand that a
feast upon a young cow or bull would be accompanied
by dissolute orgies ; that they were so, we infer from
the verse, " the people sat down to eat and drink, and
rose up to play" (Exod. xxxii. 6). What the nature
of the play was we may gather from the words " that
the people were naked, for Aaron had made them
so," &c. {Ibid. ver. 25.) Compare also Deut. xxi. 3-8.
We find that many ' proper names ' have been com-
pounded with ms hiV ; for example, Pharaoh, Peri,
Eglah, Eglon. We have some representatives of it
yet amongst ourselves, in Farr, Poit, Parson ; and in
the Greek and Latin the old root is recognised in
^spoj iindfero.
There is something so mysterious in the respect
paid to the golden calf in the Avilderness, Z^V., egel,
and by the Israelites under Jeroboam and succeeding
567
Heifer] kings to the calves in Bethel and in Dan, ^7}^., tliat
the subject deserves a closer examination.
The first thing Avhich we notice is, that ^7^^. and
'.^y are respectively feminine and masculine. The
use therefore of the latter leads us to infer that
the golden calf made by Aaron was of the male sex.
The same word describes the calves of Samaria in the
books of the Kings. But in Hosea, the feminine noun
is employed generally ; although in Hosea x. 2, the
calves, '^.V-'.V, cglaim, which are to be kissed, are put
in the masculine. It is therefore a legitimate con-
clusion to draw, that the calves used in idolatrous
worship were sometimes male and sometimes female.
Of the sanctity of the heifer we have evidence,
inasmuch as Abraham is especially ordered, on the
occasion of Grod's making a covenant with him (Gen.
XV. 9), to sacrifice one, of the age of three years,
together with a she-goat of the same age. Now
Abraham, being a Chaldee, was familiar with the
worship of Ishtar. Ishtar and Iai£L-,were the same
divinity under different names, and the latter was
depicted as a heifer, or a young cow.
In Egypt, the goat, being an emblem of the male
creator, was sometimes used in the same manner as
was the effigy of Baal-peor, see Herodotus, B. ii. c. 46.
As the male representative of the Deity was occa-
sionally consorted with by women, so the female was
resorted to by males. We have direct- evidence of this
in Hosea xiii. 2, where we find the coarsely-speaking
prophet intimating that the worshippers of idols
might go and 'kiss the calves.'^' That such practices
existed, we learn with apparent certainty from Le\nt.
xviii., in which the Israelites are commanded not to
fr^ For an explanation of tliis passage, see Hosea, ivfra.
568
Heifer] do after the doings in tlie Laud of Egypt, and of the
hind of Canaan (xviii. 3) ; and when the particulars of
the various crimes are given, we find that congress
with brutes is one of the things that has been indulged
in both by man and woman (xviii. 23-30). The com-
mand to abstain from this sin is reiterated Levit. xx.
15-17, and with such a severe penalty, that it is clear
that, whoever gave the law, was aware tliat such things
were done, and that he desired to eradicate the
frightful practice. The law is again promulgated in
Exod. xxii. 19 ; and as we have a similar command
in Deut. sxvii. 21, there are no less than four distinct
repetitions of the order ; a sufficient proof of the
necessity for making it, inasmuch as no legislator
denounces a crime vs'hich is to him unknown.
We conclude, from the preceding considerations,
that the practices alluded to were associated in some
manner with religious rites, such as particular festivals
at the winter solstice, or the vernal equinox ; if so, we
can well imagine the severity with which such idolatry
would be cursed by the more virtuous amongst the
Jewish priesthood. We gain some insight into such
a feast as we suppose was common, in Exodus xxxii.
Therein we are told that Aaron makes a calf, builds
an altar, proclaims a feast to the Lord ; on the
appointed day the people bring offerings of various
kinds, sit down to eat and drink, and then rise up to
play. That sport was a veritable saturnalia !
Now in the preface to the second volume, I shall
attempt to show that there is a strong probability
that the nation called Israel, i. e., the ten tribes who
seceded from Kehoboam, were what may be designated
aborigines, and that they thus had amongst them the
customs denounced in Levit. xviii.-xxiv. During the
569
Heifer] reigns of David and Solomon, supported as they
were by an army of mercenaries, the religion of the
first king who took Jerusalem was, like that of the
Norman William of England, the dominant one; all
others were suppressed. Though abated, however,
the faith was not destroyed, but blazed out at the
time of the Aveak-minded Eehoboam. The worship of
the calves was the watchword or rallying cry, by which
the long pent up vexation at the ne\v regime, and the
hankering after the old feasts, showed themselves.
Hence it was, as we may surmise, that the episode in
the wilderness was introduced into the Pentateuch by
its author ; and as the idolatrous practices of Baal-
peor were added to the orgies of the calves, we
imagine that another episode was introduced, wherein
that abomination might be duly reprimanded. Into
these points, however, we cannot fully enter at present.
Hege, or Hegai, ^?.[} (Esther ii. 8), Persian ; Aga, " an
eunuch."
Helah, '^'2^ (1 Chron. iv. 6), "He is sweet, or lovely," or
"he is smooth, or polished;" n'pn, hcdali, signifies
also " a sacrificial cake."
Helam, i^^" (2 Sam. x. 16), "He is fat, or fleshy," "firm,
or strong."
Helbah, '""^^Q (Judges i. 31), "Fatness."
Helbon, li^i^n ^Ezek. xxvii. 18), " The fat On," or "On is
fat."
Heldai, '''t?^ (1 Chron. xxvii. 16), "He dig«," or "he lasts
enduringiy," or "he moves smoothly and quickly,"
or "my enduring one."
Heleb, 2^n (2 Sam. xxiii. 29), " He is fat."
Helek, \h^ (Numb. xxvi. 30), "He is smooth," also "he
creates, or frames."
Helem, q!?0 (1 Chron. vii. 35), "He is fleshy," also "he
570
Helebi] dreams; " pjobably a variant of ^7^, Halam, = ' he
is strong.'
Heleph, n^n (Josh. xix. 33), "He glides," or "he causes
conjunction," "he unites."
Helez, nD (1 Chron. xi. 37), " He is firm, manly, or
strong."
Helkai, ''i^?'!' (Neh. xii. 15), " Jah is my lot, or portion,"
from P;2D, hclek, and <^l, jah , it is a variant of Hil-
IQAH.
HelivATH, ^P^^ (Joshua xix. 25), " The flatterers," also " a
field, portion, or lot ; " it was a Levitical, or priestly
city, and I presume a place resorted to, like Delphi
and Dodona.
Helkath-hazzurim, Q^>1-^'D"^?^C (2 Sam. ii. 16), "Field of
swords " (Gesenius).
Hell. Anglo-Saxon Hell, Danish Hel, German H'olle,
from Hella, or Hela, ' the goddess of death,' so called
from the root helan, ' to conceal ; ' in Hebrew Shaul,
Hades, and Gehenna. There is much interest for
the student in the study of this name, and the
history of the idea which it embodies. It signifies,
primarily, nothing more than the hollow, grave, hole,
pit, cavern, or other receptacle which receives the
dead. At first no particular attention was paid by
the hierarchy to the condition of those who had
died. That they were at rest was enough — they
had ceased from labour and strife, and there was the
end. We are told that during many centuries the
Almighty talked personally with men ; he conversed
face to face with Abraham and Moses, he talked
to Adam almost daily, and spoke to Enoch, Noah,
Jacob, Joshua, Elijah, Elisha, and many others ;
yet he never is represented as telling any one of
them of the condition of the dead, or even of a
571
Hell] future state. Hence we naturally conclude — (1) that
God did not think it a matter of importance to speak
about Hell ; or (2) that it did not then exist ; or (3)
that the alleged conversations never occurred ; or (4)
that hierarchies had not then learned the value which
the modern idea of Hell has in theological systems.
We now proceed to enquire into this subject.
Where the power of the Priesthood was supreme,
whether directly or indirectly, their strong authority
in this world sufficed for their ambition ; where they
could punish the living man, they did not seek to
wreak their vengeance on the dead. But when the
hierarchy were no longer able to inflict punishment
on the offender during his life, they naturally turned
their attention to w^hat they could do with him
afterwards.
It was easy to invent the idea that there was life
after death, and that punishments could be inflicted
on the disembodied spirit, at the will of an embodied
priest. Visions, superhuman voices, oracles, and
mysterious writings were as common in days gone
by, as winking statues, moving pictures, and radiant
virgins are in modern Europe, and were far more
powerful in establishing new dogmas, and new objects
of sanctity.
The introduction of the idea of our modern Hell
into the religious belief of a race, has marked the
decadence of supreme power in the hiea-archal class. It
is interesting to see how much farther advanced the
Hindoos and the Egjq^tians were in their conceptions
of Pandemonium than were the Jews, the veiy
people with Avhom alone the Almighty was said to
have held direct communication, and whose laws and
ordinances were dictated by Him, if not written with
672
Hell] His very hand. We conclude therefrom that the
rulers in HindosLan, Egypt, and we may add Etruria,
emancipated themselves from visionary terrors wielded
by the arm of a priest at a far earlier period than
their Western neighbours ; e. g., Samuel executed
with his own hand a king whom Saul had spared,
at a period when the kings of Hindostan permitted
no such liberty.
The philosopher might doubt whether a subject
on which the Creator had been silent for some
thousands of years could be of very much importance
to man, and might wonder that the dissolute Hindoos
and the isolated inhabitants of Etruria should know
so much more of the topography, nature and history
of Hell than those who had possessed, for a score of
centuries, writings emanating from the Most High.
The sage would cease his speculations, however,
when he saw that the existence of a place of torment
was necessary in every theological system, where the
j)riests were numerous and their systems of divinity
opposed to each other. It is the assertion of every
hierarch that the Deity whom he serves sends all
forms of prosperity to those who worship, love, honour
and obey him. But stubborn facts shew that heretics
often conquer the faithful, that bad men may be far
more wealthy than the devout, and that those who are
called the most wicked are frequently the most
persistently happy. This being so, the flamcn has the
option either to change his system of teaching and
the doctrines that he enforces, or to sujjplement
them by some new invention. Human nature cannot
allow him to do the first, and thus proclaim his late
dogmas as being false. To do the second involves
nothing more than a new vision or a mysterious dream.
573
Hell] King David, or Asaph, was puzzled when he saw
the wicked in prosperity (Psahn Ixxii.), and coukl not
account reasonably for the occurrence. Wc who have
lived since the adoption of the last revelation are far
more learned.
We know all about Pandemonium, its fires, its
frozen shores, the dress of its inhabitants, and all the
manners and customs of the place ; we know the
name of its king, and of his prime minister, and of
all its bureaucracy ; we know who on earth is
able to sign the passports required at its gates, and to
enforce their delivery ; yet it is very possible that our
knowledge is quite as vague respecting Hell, as it is
about the court of Heaven. Milton, though a sublime
poet, never assumed to be a prophet ; even St. Paul,
who asserted that he knew a man who had been
caught up into Heaven, did not tell what he witnessed
there ; and our Saviour, who, accoj'ding to St. Peter,
went and preached to the condemned spirits in Hell,
did not tell us of its locality, nature, or management ;
all that we know from His lips is that He adopted,
\vheu speaking of Hell, the notions which were
current amongst the majority of His countrymen at
the time, and which were derived exclusively from
Babylonian, Persian, Grecian, and possibly from
Roman sources.
It was an unfortunate thing for the theologians in
ancient times when the promises and- threatenings of
the hierarch were falsified in this world; it is very
fortunate for them that in modern times there is no
one to show how similar anathemas are disregarded
in the other world, and thus to destroy the priestly
influence. As a weapon in the sacerdotal armoury.
Hell has wonderful power, but its edge is blunted
574
HellJ when it strikes upon the firmour of calm reason and
dehberate thought.
We see, in comparative!}' recent times, a notable
instance, where the head of a pious community has
invented a falsehood to make the decrees of the
Almighty square with mundane vieAvs. The Pope, as
the leader of Christendom, naturally proclaimed that
the God he worshipped was the only supreme One,
and that His worshippers would be prosperous in this
v.'orld, and happy in the next. But, unfortunately,
there arose another prophet, Mohammed, who said
that the Allah who inspired him was the all powerful
one, and that He would not brook opposition to His
will ; and the followers of this Apostle beat down
the soldiers of Christ, in every Asiatic or African
city, where they contended. The Mahometans subse-
quently invaded Europe, subdued Christian Spain,
then marched northwards into France, where they
received their first check; they destroyed the Chris-
tians in the Mediterranean islands, and ultimately
took Constantinople (which rivalled Rome in sanctity),
and positively besieged Vienna. Surely, argued the
followers of the Pope, the God which you teach us to
adore cannot be so strong as He is represented to be
or He would not allow our fellow Christians to be
beaten down by Mahoun.
The Pope, in answer to this argument, thought it
advisable to invent a kingdom, and the exigencies of
the case demanded that it should be so far distant
as to preclude any casual adventurer from travelling
in search of it.
Middle Africa was selected for the kingdom's site,
an imaginary Prester John was placed at its head, and
the European multitude was told that in that happy
675
Hell] spot, a Moslem joiucd the true faith of Jesus in the
phice of every Chiistiau destroyed by the Turks in
the Northern half of the eastern hemisphere, and thus
a balance was struck, the southern half just gaining
what the north had lost. The Christians of Europe
were still farther consoled by the idea that the Pope
had consigned the souls of all the Mahometans to
certain, perdition ; and this would doubtless have
sufficed for future generations, had not travellers told
the faithful that the Christians were consigned by
the Moslems to Hell after their death, and endured
persecution from them during life.
When promulgated by authority as an article of
faith, Prester John and his kingdom were profoundly
believed in, as are, at the present time, all the medi-
aeval particulars about Hell and its rulers.
Extended travel has at length exploded the false-
hood of the Christian kingdom in Africa. The regions
of the dead in which the living rule will ever be free
from such a catastrophe. As long as there are bodies
of men whose interest it is to terrify their fellow
mortals into the belief that they possess the "great
power of God," and can open the gates of Heaven or
the portals of Hell as easily as the vergers can place
the worshippers at a cathedral in a place of honour,
or in uncomfortable " free sittings," so long such
hierarchs may say what they will of their influence
in purgatory or Hell, being sure that^ they never will
be confronted with one who has visited the "bourne
from which no traveller returns.''
It is impossible for a thoughtful man of modern
times to compose an Essay such as the preceding,
without thinking deeply upon the subject of which it
treats. Yet as soon as he endeavours to reduce his
576
Hell] lucubrations into writing, he feels the inadequacy of
words to describe the sentiments which fill his mind.
They may be briefly indicated thus : Granted there
is a Hell, for whom is it intended ; for the heterodox?
for the vile ? or for the wicked ? If for the first,
what man dares to assert that he can judge of what
passes through the mind of the Almighty. If priests,
and devout worshippers in their own way, could have
had the power of deciding about orthodoxy in a.d, 29,
our Saviour would have been consigned to Hell, as
certainly as Luther, Calvin, and Melancthon have
been subsequently ! If Hell be for the vile, there can
surely be no quadruped which can escape it, for all
are to our ideas vile in their habits ! If again it be
reserved for murderers of fathers, mothers, brothers,
sisters, friends, or enemies, Hell would be peopled
with rats, and a vast variety of other beings, in whom
the instinct is implanted to give a speedy death to
all those whose failing powers prevent them living
by their own exertions !
Now the Almighty has instructed all those which
we term dumb animals to perform His will, and can
we think that man is alone exempt ? When He has
taught rats, cats, dogs, fishes, birds, &c., to manage
their affairs amongst themselves, surely it is reason-
able to believe that he has taught man to do the
same. We do not believe that there are prophets or
priests amongst the conies, or the locusts, yet the
first " make houses in the rocks, and the second go
forth by bands " (Prov. xxx. 26, 27) ; " birds in their
little nests agree," but yet the mother will kill and
turn one out if she has too many to feed ; and the
cuckoo's young one will destroy all the brood of the
hedge-sparrow who has hatched it. Everywhere the
577
Hell] Almighty does tliat \Yliicb secmotli best to Him ; and
surely it is more consonant Avith llio position of man,
as a reasonable being, to seek to investigate His
works, acknowledging that tbey are so far above out
of his sight that he will never know them fully, than
to give credence to visionaries Avho declare that they
are God's vicegerents. If any one could see a set of
ants listening to a big pismire discoursing about the
Bank of England or the respective value of consols
and green-backs, and another set of ants listening to
an emmet avIio derides all that the former says in
consequence of superior knowledge, he would then
have some idea of ourselves, who fight for dogmas
about which we can know nothing. To the ant and
dormouse its winter hole is Hell ; to us the grave
is the same place ; of our real condition beyond it
we are absolutely ignorant, however much any one
may profess to the contrary.
These thoughts lead us onwards to the consider-
ation of the future condition of animals in general.
It is quite as reasonable to conclude that horses and
rats have a future existence as that worms have. We
are told that in Hell there is a worm that never dies.
We find, too, that the prophet Zechariah is a witness
to an angelic vision, wherein a man is seen riding upon
a red horse, which was followed by other horses that
were red, speckled or bay, and white : and Zechariah
is told by the angel, that these were sent by the Lord
to walk to and fro through the earth (ch. i. 8-11). We
find additional evidence that horses exist in heaven
from the Apocalypse of St. John, wherein the Apostle
declares, "I saw, and behold a white hoi'se ; and he
that sat on him had a bow " (ch. vi. 2) ; in other
places he speaks of a red. a black, and a pale horse
578
Hell] (cli. vi. 4-8). Now it is perfectly clear that, if John
really saw what he says lie did see, horses must exist
iu heaven, and if so, it is quite as reasonable to con-
clude that they came from earth as that they were
created in the sky. It is equally certain that in the
mediteval representations of Hell there were number-
less animals introduced, whose business was to tor-
ture disembodied spirits, Vv'hich the skill of Komish
artists represented as material. There is not a single
argument in Butler's Analogy of Religion, as to the
probability of a future life, which does not apply as
forcibly to all the lower animals as it does to mankind.
The Indian peoples his future paradise with horses
and dogs — the Christian adorns his heaven with
golden harps and rivers of pure crystal ; and the
one idea is just as reasonable as the other.
Now let us for a moment allow that there is a
future for lions and lambs, tigers and oxen, wolves
and sheep, horses and dogs ; we then have to examine
the question. Do the vicious horses and dogs go to
hell, and those ^yho take to training kindly go to
heaven ? Do the spaniels and domesticated dogs go
to the good place, and the curs and savage mongrels
to the bad ? Or can one dog, who has been vexed Avith
another, seud him to the bad, whilst he himself takes
to the good quarter ? Can the murdered ox or sheep
send the fierce lion or tiger to hell, and go itself to
heaven ? To put these questions is to answer them.
Can we assign any greater power to " man that is a
A'v'orni, and the son of man which is a worm " (Job
XXV. 6) ; even if that man should be as high as David,
who himself estimates his worth thus, "I am a worm,
and no man " (Ps. xxii. 6) ? It is true that we find in
the Gospel of St. John (xx. 23), "whose soever sins
579
Hell] ye remit tliey are remitted unto tlicm, unci wliose
soever sins ye retain they are retained ; " but no one
can understand tliat tliese Avords give to any earthly
man jurisdiction either in heaven or hell.
'We thus again come to the conclusion that it
would be better for us to acknowledge our ignorance,
as regards futurity, and to do our utmost to cultivate
the Christian graces, instead of asserting dogmas,
and persecuting all those who do not adopt them.
Helon, PO (Numbers i. 9), '*' The standing oak," also
" strong, powerful."
Heman, Sanscrit, "Mercury, the planet;" I^D, Jiaman, 'the
Sun's image,' ' Sun pillar.' " In the Phoenician
theology l^D, haman, was an epiphet of ^V^, haal "
(Fiirst). (Compare Hemans.)
Hemdan, n'pQ (Gen. xxvi. 36), " The pleasant one ; " '^'!19'?>
signifies ' desire, deliciousness, beauty ; ' "^V^ ^"^'rC^
hemdath nashim, 'the best of women,' was a name of
the Persian Artemis ; also Nava/a (i. c. the mother) ;
also called 2J»^n Jns^D^ melcccth ha-shamaim, or
' queen of heaven ' (Jerem. vii. 18) : also ^}^, thanetli,
under which name she was worshipped by the Cartha-
ginians (Fiirst). In my youth I heard much of types
and symbols, and constant endeavours were made to
show that everything in the Law foreshadowed some-
thing in the Gospel. I did not then believe what wap-
told to me, but am now perfectly convinced that the
Virgin with the child of modern Christianity is the
same individual as Artemis, Astarte. Isis, Tanith,
Milcom, &c.
Hen, V} (Zech. vi. 14), " Grace, favour, goodwill."
Hena, V\r} (2 Kings xviii. 34), probably a variant of the
Assyrian Anu ; surmised by Fiirst to be e(juivalent to
y?-3, %va = ' low ground.'
580
Henadad, ''!7-"I' (Ezra iii. 9), "Grace given;" possibly
" given by Ann ; " " Haclacl is kindness." Fiirst.
Hephee, °i?n (Numb. xxvi. 32). We meet here again witli
the ''heifer," in sound, and an examination into the
connections of the word will probably afford us an
insight into some of its mysteries. The root of the
word is said by Fiirst to be nD-n, = "the young,
vigorous, and powerful one," or "manly youth,"
"abounding in every manly quality;" i^^?, parah,
is the feminine form, and this carries us at once to
the name Pharaoh , the Hebrew title of the Egyptian
Kings. "^ICj haphar, is "to dig, to v/ork the ground; "
pointed as /;ajj/a'?', it signifies " to become red;" as
hcphcr, it signifies "a well," or "digging," also
"beauty; " as haphor, it means "a hole, hollow, or
pit." These significations would justify the use of
the word as an euphemism. The names of one of
the kings of Egypt was Pharaoh-hophra ; the last
name is spelled ^D??, which may be read as ^D?"'^?
'the prominent one,' 'the leader; ' '^^7^, = 'a prince.'
There is another form, v^'ith which this is closely
associated, viz., "^?P"'"', li-ephcr, which signifies 'the
calf, or young animal,' and vrhich, pointed as hopher,
means ' the young gazelle, fawn, or deer.'
We conclude, from these considerations, that the
word in question is a punning contrivance to indicate
" the virgin mother," " a strong man," or " the
gazelle." (See Beth-leaphrah, and Heifer.)
Dro Donaldson calls attention {Christian Ortho-
doxij, p. 255, Williams and Norgate, London, 1855,)
to the fact, that one Hepher (1 Chron. xi. 36), is
designated as the Mecheratliite, i. e., as one wielding
fjia'x^uipa, a sword ; and his general conclusion is that
the use of swords was introduced into Judea by the
581
Hepher] Carians, or Clierctlntcs, who were mercenary
soldiers of David; and on this he founds an argu-
ment to show that the last chapter but one of Genesis
must have been written subsequent to the accession
of David to the throne, inasmuch as '^!^''n"'?9>
mechcrotliaUiem, the Hebrew form of the Greek
word for " swords," are put into the hands of two
of Jacob's sons.
Hephzibah, '^?"*V?0 (2 Kings xxi. 1), " Pure delight," or
" my delight in her."
Heres, cnn (Judges i. 35), " The Sun," "he shines," &c.
Heresh, t^TlO (1 Chron. ix. 15), " He shines, sprouts, or
grows."
Hermai, were originally "boundary marks," "heaps of
stones," or " an upright block." At first they were
emblematic of God ; then of God as Hermes. " The
phallus formed an essential part of the symbol,
probably because the divinity represented by it was
in the earliest times, before the worship of Dionysus
was imported from the East, the personification of
the reproductive powers of nature " (Smith's Diction-
ary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, s. v. Hermai).
These Hermai were placed in front of temples, just
as Jachin and Boaz were placed in the porch of that
built by Solomon.
Hermon, r">07n (Deut. iii. 8), " Waste of On ; " ^'?^, is
'to ban, or curse;' or "the prominent On;" from
^T'C, 'to be high, or prominent.'
Hesed, ^^\}_ (1 Kings iv. 10), "He is ardent," e^^c.
Heshbon, T'l^^'C (Numb. xxi. 25), "On makes firm, or
defends," " stronghold." (Fiirst).
Heshmon, V^'^'[} (Joshua xv. 27), "On is rich, or fat;"
from Dtyn^ linsham, and l"'^, on, ' On shines, or
glitters.'
582
Heth, ^^ (Gen. x. 15), " Giant," " the terrible one,"
Khatti is a name for Hittities, Pliceniciaus of the
sea coast and of Cyprus, same as Chittim (Talbot).
Hethlon, pnn (Ezek. xlvii. 15), " On is straight, firm, or
strong;" from ^^^, hailial, and i"^^, on. (Compare
Athlone.)
Hezeki, ^P^'"^ (1 Chron. viii. 17), " Jah is strength, or a
strong one : " being a variant of the following word,
Hezekiah, ^*PTn (2 Kings xviii. 1), " Jah is strength, or a
strong one." Hezzakn in Cuneiform is 'they bound,'
and Talbot thinks that Hezekiah signifies ' bound by
covenant to Jah.'
Hezion, ]'"'''!'] (1 Kings XV. 18), "On divides, or cleaves;"
from ^\^, liazali, and i'"'^'^', on.
Hezie, "^Ti^ (1 Chron. xxiv. 15), " The defence," or " He
surrounds me as with a wall."
Hezeai, ^^^*^ (2 Sam. xxiii. 35), " Jah surrounds, or
protects;" from "^VO, hazar, and K,jah, the n being
dropped.
Hezron, P^'O (Josh. XV. 3), "On is lovely;" from ™,
hazar, and \^^, on.
HiDDAi, ^^^ (2 Sam. xxiii. 80), is probably a corrected form
of "^1^., hadacl, " He is strong, or powerful." "Mighty
chief" (Fiirst).
Hiddekel, ^P^J^ (Gen. ii. 14), "The rapid river " (Fiirst).
HiEL, ^^^''^ (1 Kings xvi. 34), "El is life." The word '^, hi,
signifies "existence, being, the vital power;" the
nearest English word appears to me to be " essence."
HiLEN, t>'^ (1 Chron. vi. 68j, probably " On is strength,"
from ^\^, hail, and i'^^, on; the word is spelled Holon,
Josh. xxi. 15.
HiLKiAH, ^]P^^ (2 Kings xviii. 37), " Jah is my portion."
HiLLEL, "^^n (Judges xii. 13). This word deserves investi-
gating, as it is closely allied with praise, and has
583
Hillel] remained amongst ourselves till now in "Halle-
lujah."
^?V = ' lie is clear, lie is bright, he shines,' also
' he sings praises, he wanders about, raves, or is mad.'
^ •?'!? = 'splendour,' ' brilhancy of light,' 'morning
star;' ?^n, halal, signifies 'to be bored through,' also
' to turn in a circle.' " In Ethiopia, the women,
on occasions of pubHc rejoicing, are accustomed
to repeat the sounds elldlcll-cllelldl, whence to
make ellell is i. q. ' to rejoice.' " (See Isenberg,
Amhar. Lex., p. 112, Geseu. Lex., Bagster's edition,
s. V. ^^n.)
After reviewing the ideas which these significa-
tions convey, w^e conclude that praises were sung to
the restored Sun, Osiris, Tammuz, Adonis, or Atys,
after a period of wailing ; that the hymns were very
frequently chanted by performers, who, having joined
hands, whirled round in a circle, according to the
course of the sun ; and that many of the devotees
worked themselves up to such a pitch of excitement
as to ajDpear frenzied. Vfe know that Delphic priest-
esses and dancing dervishes have associated religious
or spiritual manifestations with frantic gesticulations;
and the close observer may see in modern revivalism,
and in the mediaeval dancing mania, a resemblance to
the tremendous saltatory feats of David, the king of
Israel, before the recovered ark, which made him
desj)icable in the eyes of quondam royalty, but lovely
and glorious in the ej^es of the servile class. (2 Sam.
vi. 14, 16, 20, et seq.)
HiNNOM, !23n (Joshua xv. 8), "Ptich," or "endowed with
goods."
HiRAH, '^T'? (Gen. xxxviii. 1), "The noble one," i)robably
from i^^l^, harali, ' he glows, or burns.'
584
HiR\M ^y^ (1 Kings V. 10), probably a word equivalent to
D.^n^ havam, " he is higli."
HiTTiTES, ''^D (Gen. xv. 20). Altlioiigh we have very circum-
stantial accounts of the Hittites, in the early books
of the Old Testament, there is much doubt about
the value of the stories. We are told that Heth
and Sidon were the sons of Canaan, inhabitants
of Palestine, and of that cursed brood which the
Hebrews were to destroy ; yet David makes a per-
sonal friend of one (1 Sam. xxvi. 6), and Uriah
is one of his chosen warriors. Again, we are told
that Solomon loved strange women amongst the Hit-
tites (1 Kings xi. 1), who are here associated with
the PhcBuician Zidonians. At a subsequent period
we find the Syrians in flight, under the impres-
sion that the King of Samaria had hired against
them the Kings of the Hittites and the Egyptians
(2 Kings vii. 6). Now we cannot conceive that David
would be friendly with two " hewers of w^ood and
drawers of water," or that Solomon Avould take a
Avife, or even a concubine, from the "pariah" class;
nor can we imagine that the Syrians would be
alarmed at the opposition of the kings of a servile
class. Consequently we seek elsewhere for the
locality of the nation to which the name Hittites or
Chittim has been given. Now we learn from the
researches of Gesenius that ^^, cheth (equivalent to
nn JictJi), was the name of a certain town in the
Island of C^qn-us, which was known to the Greeks as
Ki'ttjov, KiTiov, or KrjTiov, Avhose inhabitants were of
Phoenician origin, and called ''^? and ''^0, chitti and
hitti, but apparently so much associated with the
Greeks, that they may be regarded in the same
light as our own people, Avherein French, Germans,
585
HiTTiTEs] Danes, Normans, Celts, Saxons, Welsh, Irisli,
and Scotch have become blended into English. Now
it is most probable that the writers of the earl}- books
of the Old Testament, thinking that the Hittites came
originally from Phoenicia, endeavoured to show that
the Hebrews were the cause of their emigration to
Cyprus ; but then we must also conclude that the
books which treat the Hittites as ' Pariahs ' were
written subsequent to the period when they enjoyed
the friendship of David and Solomon, and were
considered by the Syrians to be formidable, like the
Zidonians and Eg^-ptians.
HiviTES, ^?n (Gen. x. 17), " Villagers."
HoBAE, 2?n (Numb. x. 29), "Beloved," or "he loves," "he
cherishes."
HoBAH, 9""^ (Gen. xiv. 15), *' Jah conceals himself;" from
'°'?V'7 hahah, and ^^, jah, a variant of the name which
follows.
HoBiAH, i^'^n (Ezra ii. 16), " Jah hides himself," or simply
' Jehovah hides, covers, or defends.'
Hod, nin (1 Chron. vii. 37), "Majesty, splendour, freshness."
HoDAiAH. See Hodevah.
HoDAViAH, n^pi'i (] Chron. v. 24), " Praise ye Jah " (Gesen.);
"Jah is renown" (Fiirst).
HoDESH, ^7^ (1 Chron. viii. 9), " The new moon" = Hadath,
Hadassah ? The new moon was welcomed by a
festival amongst the Jews, as it was amongst the
Greeks, Romans, &c.
Hodevah, ^1^^ (Nehem. vii. 43), the same as Hodiah, ^H""^
(1 Chron. iii. 24), and Hodijah (1 Chron. iv. 19), or
" Jail is majesty."
HoDSiii, V^^ (2 Sam. xxiv. G). This name occurs in con-
nection with Tahtim, and it is possible that Tahtim
HoDSHi signifies the land of "the new, bright, or
586
HoDSHi] pure Jab," from ^'1^, liadash, and ^\, jah, the n
being as usual ebdecl.
HoCxLAH, n^^C" (Nnmb. sxvi. 33), " A partridge," possibly an
altered form of ^k^^., cglah, 'a calf.'
HoHAM, i^nin (Josbna x. 8). It is evident that this" word has
undergone some alteration ; the most probable suppo-
sition is that it was ^r'!'""'''"'!, yahu-h-cm, " Jehovah
the mother;" or it may signify " she is my motber,"
from ^^^, liu, and Ci^?, em. If the former reading be
the correct one, we can understand that the alteration
has been made to obliterate the name of Jehovah
from the name of a king of Hebron. We subsequently
meet the word yaliu in Jehu, the king of Israel.
The mother referred to is Astarte, or Milcom.
HoLON, pVn (Joshua xv. 51), " On revolves, or is strong,"
from b-in, Ind, and \m<, on.
HoMAN, ^?'l^ (1 Chron. i. 39), "Destruction"? (Gesenius.)
"raging" (Furst). Probably = i^??, hamam, 'he
disturbs, or terrifies ; ' or for ^'^^, hamam, ' he is hot.'
HoPHNi, ''^^C' (1 Samuel i. 3), is interpreted by Gesenius
as "fighter," or "fists," "pugiHst;" by Fiirst, "a
strong, powerful person." It may, however, be an
altered form of Hophniah, and signify " Jah is
strong, firm, or powerful;" from \^^, haphan, and
nj, jah, the n being dropped as usual.
HoPHEA, y"DSn (Jerem. xliv. 30), " A king of Egypt," or
" Priest of the Sun " (Fiirst).
HoPHRAiM, Q?!i?n (Joshua xix. 19), " Two pits " (Gesenius).
I think this to be simply a variant of Ephraim,
" the calves."
HoPt, "lin (Numb. xx. 22), " A mountain." There is pro-
bably some connection with Hup., which see.
HoEAM, ^"^^ (Joshua X. 33), compare with Hieam. Pro-
bably ^"^j^, harcDii, 'he is high,' or 'the high ones.'
HoKEB, ^i^, and ^y^ (Exocl. iii. 1), " He is bigli, or firm ;"
also " dry and burnt up."
HoREM, °":)C1 (Joshua xix. 38), ''' He is high, or prominent."
HoRi, ''i^ (Gen. xiv. 6), Horites, said to be " cave dwellers "
(Gesenius). We may consequently compare them
with a tribe of Eed Indians, to whom the name ' the
diggers ' has been given. No reader of the Bible can
forget how frequently pits, holes, or caverns w^ere
spoken of as hiding places. In such an one as is
described in Judges vi. 2, did Josephus hide himself
after the capture of Jotopata. The modern philo-
sopher will also associate in his mind the Horites of
mount Seir, with the cave dwellers whose habitations
have been recently explored in France, England, and
other countries, and are so well described by Sir
John Lubbock, in his book on Pre-historic Times
(London, 1867). When he remembers too the
absence of iron amongst the remains of the cave
dwellers, he will remember the condition of the Israel-
ites at the period of the invasion of Midian (Judges
vi.), and during the time of the Philistines, when
there were only two metal weapons amongst the
Jewish nation (1 Samuel xiii. 19-22).
HoRMAH, '"i??C (Nnmb. xiv. 45), "Devoted — to destruction,"
" fortress."
HoRONAiM, ^:P^ (Isaiah xv. 5), "The two holes," "cave
district, or caverns."
HoEUS, an Egyptian God. The son of Isis = " Cupid."''
HosAH, non (Josh. xix. 26), " A refuge ; " " He is refuge."
HosEA, y^i^ (Hosea i. 1). This word is a variant of
HosHAiAH, and signifies " Jah is a deliverer," from
y?;^in, hoshah, and ^l, jah, the last letters being
85 HoRUS = Rising Suu; Re, or Abn = Hia-day Sun; Atin Re, or Atom Re,
= Setting Sun. Compare Autumn imd Authuurc' in Ireluud.
588
Hosea] dropped in the present name. The word is also
Assyrian, and is ahvays used in the sense of saving,
delivering, or helping.
A consideration of the life and Avritings of this
Prophet will come under our notice when we enter
upon the subject of prophecy generally (see Peo-
PHETS, Prophecy). We may, however, inquire into
the character of the individual, and his preachings,
in the present article.
A reference to the opening verses of Hosea and
Isaiah informs us that the two were contemporaries ;
but the closest examination fails to demonstrate that
they were friendly, or familiar with each other, or
even knew of each other's existence. We can readily
understand how the courtly Isaiah might be ashamed
of consorting with a prophet whose morals were
questionable ; but we cannot so well comprehend how
Hosea should not seek to associate himself Avith
another, who was a prophet like himself, and yet high
in the monarch's favour. We recall indeed to mind
how a subsequent Prophet speaks, viz., " Then they
that feared the Lord spake often one to another, and
the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of
remembrance was written before him," &c., &c. (Mai.
iii. 16.) Now the extent of country which the whole
of Judaea covered was very small, and the size of
Jerusalem was inconsiderable, about two miles and
a quarter in circumference inside the walls ; it would
therefore be almost impossible for one prophet not
to know the other. If against this it is urged that
Hosea preached to the Israelites, and not to the Jews,
the reply is, that under those circumstances nothing
could have been known of his prophecies, as he would
have been carried away by the king of Assyria, in the
589
Hosea] reign of Ahaz, whereas we find him jirophesying in
the time of Hezekiah. AVe conchide, from these con-
siderations, that if Isaiah knew Hosea, he considered
him as a disrepntable acquaintance. That he was so,
his own account of himself proves. The ideas which
pervade the first chapter arc very extraordinary, and
the prophecy at the conchision is still more so. They
run thus: "The land is defiled by whoredoms;"
therefore Hosea is to add thereto, that he may have
illegitimate children, then call them fancy names,
and assure the people that the cognomens were God-
given, to intimate that the children of Israel should
still be as the sand of the sea, and be united once
again with the children of Judah under one head !
Now since it is clear that this augury has not
yet been fulfilled, and never can be so in the future,
inasmuch as the people of Israel, i. e., the ten tribes,
have entirely disappeared, we might content ourselves
with dismissing Hosea summarily from the list of
Prophets. But though satisfied on this point our-
selves, there are so many who, seduced by those
words, ' Thus saith the Lord,' which come so glibly
from the mouth of all vaticinators, still believe that
the lost families of Israel will be found, and united
under one head, it becomes desirable to examine more
minutely into the pretensions of the son of Beeri.
Passing by the incoherence of the second chapter
of the book, which seems to contain ' nothing more
than threats as to what the Prophet will do to his
foul yet God-given mistress, and rhapsodical phrases
of future good, we come to the third, wherein this
Prophet gravely informs us that the Lord ordered him
to consort with a woman, who was not simply a pros-
titute, but an adulteress ; and the reason alleged for
590
HosEAj the command, is much the same as that given for
the union with " Gomer, the daughter of Dibhiim."
It ahnost takes our breath away to meet with such
a chapter in the Bible, and to find moreover that
AngHcan divines can be met with, who beheve that
the prophet in question is altogether superior to a
Eoman augur, or Cumfean sibyi. Can any one, who
believes that God gave the seventh commandment
amidst the wondrous x)henomeua on Mount Sinai,
also believe that the same Lord, of whom it had been
said, "The strength of Israel will not repent, for He
is not a man that He should repent," ordered a pro-
phet to commit adultery ? Let us for a moment
consider what our estimate would be of a devoted
preacher in our own times, who thought the best way
to attack abuses was to murder the individuals who
were guilty of them. It is true that religious acerbi-
ties always cause murderous thoughts to arise in the
heart. Sometimes they give rise to fierce and bloody
wars ; for it is much easier to cleave an unbeliever to
the chin, if you are mighty and he is weak, than to
upset his arguments ; but in spite of all this, no one,
even though he consider himself inspired, is per-
mitted to rob and to commit homicide in the name of
the Almighty. Even the Inquisitors of Spain, who
caused the death of so many heretics, were sanctioned
by the law of the country, and would not permit any
individual to imitate their example. If any one were
to do bO, ho would be condemned to the gibbet or the
madhouse ; nor can we doubt the justice of the course.
In like manner, when religious zeal is made the
ostensible reason for licentiousness, society should
stamp with infamy the man who makes the excuse.
Passing by this consideration without further
591
Hosea] notice, let us enquire into the Prophet's idea of the
blessings which are, in wrath, to be taken from Israel;
they are " a king, a prince, a sacriiicc, an image, an
ephod, and teraphim " (ch. iii. ver. 4). Now of these,
the image '"'?■>"?', matzehah, Avas a pillar, or Hermes,
whose use was expressly forbidden ; the very name
matzehah being used in Levit. xxvi. 1. The ephod
was a means of divination in some form, and tera-
phim were graven or molten images, the very making
of which was prohibited in the second commandment.
It is clear, then, that Hosea either did not know, or,
knowing, did not care for, orders which purported
to be the direct commands of God ; and yet we con-
sider him as "inspired."
After reading the third chapter, we are amazed at
the beginning of the next, for therein the prophet
upbraids the people with want of knowledge of the
Almighty, and with committing adultery. Surely
such a man should know that practice is better than
precept, and that it would be useless for one who
lived openly in fornication and adultery to reprove
others for such vileuess. The incoherence of the
fourth chapter is too great for us to understand its
purport, but we find, from the verses 13 and 14, that
idolatry in the parents is to be punished by whoredom
and adultery in the daughters, and that these in
their turn are to escape all correction. " I will not
punish your daughters when they commit whoredom,
nor your spouses when they commit adultery" (v. 14).
We have a somewhat similar metaphor in Jere-
miah, wdierein excess of sensuality is spoken of as a
punishment, c. (j., " I will make them drunken,
that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep,
and not wake, saith the Lord " (Jcr. li. 30) ;
592
Hosea] again repeated at ver. 57, with slightly altered
phraseology.
We do not find anything to arrest our attention
strongly in the chapters following those which we
have already examined. They form a disconnected
rhapsody, in which we find at one time a few such
sublime statements as "I desired mercy, and not
sacrifice ; and the knowledge of God more than burnt
ofi"erings" (ch. vi. 6); and absurdities like the
following: "Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and
buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced
cities; but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it
shall devour the palaces thereof" (ch. viii. 14). We
find, incidentally, that there were gold and silver
idols in Israel, and that the calf was worshipped in
Samaria {ch. viii. 4, 5,) ; that sacrificing flesh and
eating it was of no avail (ch. viii. 13); that libations of
wine were ofi'ered to Jehovah, just as they were to
the heathen gods (ch. ix 4). (Compare Numb, xxviii.
7.) We notice, moreover, a remarkable utterance,
which, though repeatedly quoted by our divines, is
never analysed in the pulpit. It is an instance of
a false prophecy, and runs thus : " How shall I give
thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel?
how shall I make thee as Admah ? how shall I set
thee as Zeboim ? mine heart is turned within me,
my repentings are kindled together. I will not
execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not
return to destroy Ephraim; for I am God, and not
man; the Holy One in the midst of thee ; and I will
not enter into the city" (ch. xi. 8, 9). Remembering
the destruction of Samaria and Jerusalem, the perma-
nent captivity of Ephraim, and the long captivity of
Judah, the only place which we can assign to Hosea
593
HosEA] is that wherein Jeremiah phiced him, thus : "' from
the prophet even unto the priest, every one dealeth
falsely ; for they have healed the hurt of the daughter
of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace, when
there is no peace" (Jerem. viii. 10, 11); or else in
the category Avhich Hosea himself gives (ch. ix. 7, 8) :
" The days of visitation are come, the days of recom-
pense are come; Israel shall know it; the prophet
is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, the
prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and
hatred in the house of his God."
^Ye now examine a verse which is extremely
curious. In the authorised version we find, after
the statement that Ephraim's craftsmen carried on
a trade in gold and silver idols, " they say of them,
Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves " (Hosea
xiii. 2) ; and a marginal reference to 1 Kings xix. 18
recalls to our mind the fact that Baal was kissed
by his worshippers. Being puzzled by this quota-
tion, we searched through the various versions of the
Bible, and found that in the Vulgate the passage is
rendered —" They say to these, Sacrifice men who
adore the calves ; " whilst the Septuagint renders the
words — "Sacrifice men, for the calves have come
to an end." In the original it reads — " To these
images they say that those who sacrifice men worship
the calf." Whence we infer that Ephraim, having
found offerings of quadrupeds fail, resorted to the
sacrifice of men. (See Saceifice.)
As a specimen of the style of Hosea's reasoning,
we may cite the verse — " I gave thee a king in mine
anger, and took him away in my wrath " (ch. xiii. 11}.
Now it is perfectly clear, if diametrically opposite
things are to be regarded as evidence of one and the
p p
594
Hosea] same cause, that an}^ one single occurrence may be
taken at pleasure as a proof of God's love, or of his
wrath ; and a pro])liet can see, in the ' abundance '
which produces intoxication, a mark of the favour of
the Almighty (compare Deut. xiv. 26), or the ven-
geance of that King who makes the nations drunk in
his fury (Jerem. li. 39, 57).
From a strict examination of the writings of
Hosea, we conclude that he has no valid claim to
be regarded as a true prophet of Jehovah ; but that
he was an earnest fanatic we do not doubt, notwith-
standing his infirmities. That his language is at
times beautiful, and his aspirations after God are
emphatic, we readily allow ; yet these are not neces-
sarily characteristics of a prophet. If they were,
we must admit such men as Demosthenes and Cicero
into the roll. The so-called Orphic Hymns of the
Greeks, the Vedas of the Hindoos, the Kitual for the
Dead of the ancient Egyptians, the writings of
Zoroaster, and the language of Confucius, such as
we know them, are all equal, if not superior, to the
utterances of such Hebrew prophets as Hosea. The
fervent piety, zeal, religious faith, beauty of imagery,
love of right, and faithfulness in teaching, which
mark the letters apostolic of the Holy See, suffice to
stamp the Pope as a messenger of God, if once we
allow such things to be the mark of Divine inspi-
ration. Such a claim we cannot allow, nor can we
accord to Hosea a place in our esteem one whit
higher than that held by the modern Mahomet.
HosHAiAH, n^^I'^^n (Jerem. xlii. 1), " Jah the Saviour."
HoPHAMA, y^fl^ (1 Chrou. iii. 18), "Jehovah, or Jehu,
hears, shines, or is on high; " from •l'^^, jaJm, and
'^?^', sliamaJt.
595
HosHEA, V^\n (Numb. xiii. 8), " Jeliovali, or Jcbu, is help;"
from •1'"'^, jahu, and ^^!, shea, the i being elided.
HoTHAM, QJ:''!n (1 Chron. vii. 32), " The signet ring."
HoTHiK, I'nin (1 Chron. xxv. 4). See Giddalti.
Hu, Cmieiibrm, = " A lord " (Rawlinson, Journal Royal
Asiatic Socicti/, new scries, vol. i., p. 202). Hu, or
Yu, Babylonian God of the sky, a very ancient God.
Compare Jab, Jao, Juinter, Allah, Hu; Pul was
called Huzabad, or " Hu-given warrior." Hu, or
Huan, was a Druidic name of the Sun {Jouynal of
Royal Asiatic Society, vol. xvi., p. 99). Compare
this with the Arabic cry of Allah-hu, and our o\yn
Hugh, Hughes, &c. (See Jah.)
HuKKOK, pi'^n (Josh. xix. 34), " He decrees, or establishes."
HuL, ^■'in (Genesis x. 34), " He encircles," " brings forth,"
"is strong, or firm," "he is clear, enlightens,"
&c.
HuLDAH, ^"^{^ (2 Kings xxii. 14), " She gives birth," having
reference to the Queen of Heaven ; from "^71, jalad,
' to break through,' ' to give birth.'
HuMTAH, '"'9'-'^ (Joshua XV. 54), "An enclosure, or fortress."
HuppiAM, Q2-in (Numbers xxvi. 39, " The mother protects ; "
'"is-in, hupliah, 'she covers, veils, protects,' and ^^,
cm, ' the mother.'
HupPAH, nsn^ and Huppim (1 Chron. xxiv. 13), " The pro-
tectors."
Hue (Exod. xvii. 10), or Hukki, a Chaldee name of the
Moon, also nin, hur, 'to be white,' nin, hor, 'a hole,
or cavern' (hoar or hoary). The name of a Midiau-
itish king. (Compare Hoare, Houri, Horus, &c.)
Hur = ' Hurki ' = ' Sin ' == ' Moon ' = ' a male
God ' = ' Shishaki.' Shish, in Hamite = ' brother.'
Akku, Shemitic = ' brother.' Shesech in Scripture
is used for Hur. Hur = Nazar.
696
HurJ Hur, the city, was called by the Greeks, Kaf^apivr]
Kamar = ' the moon,' in Arabic. (Compare Came-
ron, Cameroons, &c., gammer.)
The man who bore this name seems to have been
introduced to make the male deliverer of Israel a
triad, to which Miriam is added to make up "the
four."' Nothing is known of him, except that he was
constantly associated with Moses and Aaron, the three
names together being the ' sun,' ' moon,' and ' sky.'
HuRAi, '^''n (1 Chron. xi. 32), " Jah is shining," from n-in,
liur, and ^l.jali, the n being dropped.
HuEi, ''1^^ (1 Chron. v. 1-i) = " My noble one," a variant of
HURAI.
HusHAH, '^t:^in (i Chron. iv. 4), " Jah is help," a variant of
HOSEA.
HusHAi, V^^ (2 Sam. xv. 32), "Jah is help," being the same
as the preceding word, only that in the one the ■• is
elided, and in the other the n. The man who bore this
name was an Archite, or inhabitant of Erech, and we
presume a Babylonian ; being a particular friend of
David, Ave may conclude that his religion coincided
with that of the king; possibly he was instrumental in
introducing the name of Jehu, or Jah, to the Psalm-
ist, for it seems to have been as well, if not better,
known in Babylonia and Assyria, than in Palestine.
HusHAM, Cif 'in (Gen. sxxvi. 34), probably an altered form of
ND^-in^^ Jehushaina ; or from •I'^l', jelui, and °^, shem,
tlie first signifying " Jehu is bright," the latter " a
token of Yah, Y'ho, or Jehu."
HusHiM, ^''t^'in (1 Chron. viii. 8), " The active ones." A
common Eastern name still.
HuzoTH, nivn (Numb. xxii. 39), " A prophecy." It is con-
nected with the word Kirjath, or city, and we should
read the whole as ' the city of seers,' ^''^"0 being
597
HuzoTH] .vritten instead of nnn,, the latter being equivalent
to 'vision, or revelation.'
I. The English letter i has many sounds. At the com-
mencement of a word, and followed by a consonant,
we pronounce it as a short ee, into being equal to
a rapid utterance of ^ento ; whenever the initial i is
followed by a vowel, it generally receives the sound of
G, and we pronounce Jezebel as if the first letter
was a soft g. But though the English practice is the
most common amongst us, it is not the correct one;
the proper sound of i before a vowel being repre-
sented by 7/ ; for example, we talk of Gakob instead of
Yakob, and Games instead of Yames. By adhering
to this pernicious custom, we miss much of the
knowledge which we should gain if we adopted the
more ancient plan. Thus it might happen that an
EngHsh philologist would imagine that some relation-
ship existed between George and Jah, because the
initial sound in both words is identical; but when
he knows that Gc in George comes from the Greek
yi and that Jah represents the Hebrew ^l, yah, he
would not continue in the error. In the following part
of the Vocabulary, I and J are treated as the same
letters ; I being used before a consonant or vowel,
and J when before a vowel only. In Hebrew, the letter
is represented by the sign \ which is rendered in our
English Bible as I or J according to its position
liefore a vowel or consonant ; when before a vowel it
should be sounded as Y. The name 7jod which is given
to it signifies ' the hand,' but its form had nothing in
common with that organ. Being a vowel, it is inter-
changeable with all the others, N a, i «, y, and some-
times with n h.
598
I, IvA, Eva, Iba, Cuneiform, " A female," " any woman,"
" female nature." This will at once suggest to the
reader the idea that the name of Eve, to which
reference has already heen made, does really signify
what we surmised that it did, viz., the ^in, Jiavali, or
chavach, through which life makes its ingress into,
and the being makes its egress from, the mother.
Jaakobah, ^?'P^,! (1 Chron. iv. 86), variant of Jacob.
Jaalam, ^^^1 (Gen. xxxvi. 5), equivalent to ^^^1, lalali, " The
lovely virgin." (See Jael.)
Jaani, '}Z (1 Chron. v. 12), " He hears, or grants ; ' from
Jaasau, %*V1 (Ezra x. 37), "Jehovah makes, or creates."
Jaaz, ^J^^ signifies "he is hard, firm, stifi'; " also "he
commands, rules, decides ; " and is a word which is
combined with 'El,' 'Jah,' and 'Ezer,' as we shall
see in many of the following cognomens.
Jaazaniah, ^l}]^^. (Jerem. xxxv. 3), "Jehovah hears."
Jabal, '^'^\ (Gen. iv. 20), "He rejoices," or "he flows out; "
also "he is strong, or firm." Pointed as Jahcl, the
word signifies ' to shout in joy, or triumph ; ' as
Johel, it signifies ' a he-goat, or ram.'
Jabbok, P^^ (Gen. xxxii. 32), "Running, or flowing forth."
Jabesh, t^?^ (Judg. xxi. 8), "Dried up; " possibly a variant
of the following name.
Jabez, Xr-'^\ (1 Chron. ii. 55). "Two verses about the history
of Jabez are inserted in 1 Chron. iv. 2, 10, taken
from an old source, in which I'^i'*. is derived from
nyy " (Fiirst, sub voce) ; if we adopt this suggestion,
Jabez signifies "an image of Jah," or "Jah formed
him," from 2^'^, and J^J, the n being dropped. This
derivation accounts for the saying, that "Jabez was
more honourable than his brethren" (1 Chron. iv. 19).
Jabin, r^'' (Josh. xi. 1), " The son of Jah (See Jah). This
599
Jabin] word seems to me to show that Jah was a name of
the Ahiiighty amongst the Canaanites. I presume
that the real name was ■"'^^f^, hcnjah, and a variant
of Benaiah ; but one which has been aUercd to
obliterate the idea that Jah was a name known to the
Canaanites.
Jabneel, ^^}}l (Josh. XV. 11), " El builds." A Canaauite
town.
Jabneh, ^^^l (2 Chron. xxvi. 6), " He built." A Philistine
town.
Jachan, i^y^ (1 Chron. v. 13). This word is usually trans-
lated afflicting, and taken to be the same as "1?^,
acliar ; but it is very unlikely that the priest Avho
gave the name could foresee the untimely end of
its bearer. It is far more probable that it comes
from It'V, ' ^ snake charmer ; ' and is similar to
Achish, Nahash, Nashon, and other words of serpent
origin ; or that it is a variant of Jachin.
Jachin, r?I (Gen. xlvi. 10), " He strengthens " ? Jachin
signifies ' to be hot with desire, to have intercourse.'
One of the names of the j)i//rtrs Solomon erected in
the Temple porch was Jachin ; the other was T^'^,
Boaz, which means ' alacrity, always ready for work.'
Both apparently had a phallic signification, and may
be compared to the two phalli, described by Lucian
as standing in the vestibule of the temple of the
Syrian goddess.
Jacob, '^'PV^. (Gen. xxv. 26). We may investigate this word
philologically and historically. By pursuing it care-
fully, we gather much curious information : ^PV,
akah, signifies 'to be high, or hill-shaped,' 'to be
cunning, and lay snares,' ' to mislead,' ' to be behind,
like the heel,' 'the rear guard of an army,' also 'to
be gibbous ; ' 3|pj, iakah, is ' to make hollow,' and ' to
600
Jacob] be deep, as of a pit;' pointed as iekeh, it signifies
' the vat of the wine-press.'
When we look to the history of Jacob, we find
that he was the twin brother of Esau-Edom ; and he
is represented as being born second, his hand grasp-
ing his brother's heeh This being a physical impos-
sibility,— for it is well known to accoucheurs that
an "arm presentation" is death to both mother and
child, unless the position be altered, as it was in
the case of Tamar's twins (Gen. xxxviii. 28-30), — I
presume that some hidden meaning is conveyed in
the statement.
The first indication of what we imagine to be
the true signification of the myth (and Ave may here
notice that in every mythos there was a hidden, or
'esoteric' meaning, known only to the initiated, as
well as one 'exoteric' which appeared on the face of
the story) is to be found in Gen. xxv. 23, where
Rebecca feels the children struggling together within
her, and goes to inquire of the Lord, when she
is told that two nations are in her womb, &c.,
and that the elder shall serve the younger. This
points to a struggle between Lingacitas and Yonigas,
similar to that which has taken place in many
ancient nations, — so far as we can judge by their
remains, — and which has even taken place in the
Christian church, inasmuch as we find the worship
of the Virgin gradually superseding that of 'the Son.'
It would indeed appear to be natural that the dei-
fication of a male should in every rude state precede
that of a female, but the latter follows very closely
upon the former, just as Jacob is represented as
holding his brother's heel when he emerged into
the world.
GOl
Jacob] 'When we pursue tliis idea, we fiud that there are
many indications of one of the twins representing the
masculine, and of the other typifying the feminine
element in creation.
Esau is represented as being man-like, red, hairy,
rough-voiced, a cunning hunter, passionate, and easily
beguiled ; he was the favourite of his father. Jacob,
on the other hand, was a plain smooth man, soft-voiced,
living in tents, an adept in cookery, abounding in
guile, and the favourite of his mother. Esau's name,
moreover, is as suggestive of the male " nature," as
Jacob's is of the female ; and the elder was to serve
the younger, just as man generally is subservient to
woman whilst she is lovely.
This interpretation receives corroboration from the
fact that, when Jacob became " The Patriarch," his
name was changed from the feminine Jacob to the
masculine Israel.
The historian, telhng about ' the Supplanter,'
leads the reader to suppose that the real signi-
fication of the name given to Jacob at his birth
indicates the existence of an old myth respecting the
origin of man and woman, which resembles the Hindoo
story of Mahadeva and Sara, and which was modified
to suit the sacred narrative. The real meaning of
Jacob appears to me to be " the full womb."
After the above remarks were in manuscript, I met
with " The Book of Jashar," by the late Dr. Donald-
son, and in it found a dissertation upon the word ^P^,
akah, which is translated lied in Gen. iii. 15. He
adduces Jeremiah xiii. 22, and Nuhum iii. 5, and,
comparing the words made use of in the original,
shows that the heel is an euphemism, as are the feet
in Isaiah vii. 20. His exliaustive argument demon-
602
Jacob] strates that the part intended to by signified by the
word is imdenda mulk'bria. His conchision is, that the
specific part intended is the "antrum;" my conchision,
ere I saw his work, pointed to the " uterus," and
practically the two are the same. But the Doctor's
interpretation suits the myth of Esau and Jacob
better than mine, for then the twins signify literally
the male and female organs, just as we have it in
Genesis i. 27, " male and female {i. e., "^^J, zachar,
gladium, ' sword,' i^?!??, n^kehah, vagina, ' sheath ')
created he them." On the other hand, my inter-
pretation suits the myth of Adam, Eve, and the
serpent better than his, for then the interpretation of
the sentence, "thou shalt bruise his head, and he
shall bruise thy heel," would be glorlam fascini con-
gressio tollit et caput ejus Jiumile facit, sed infligit
injuriam movituva mentula, quum impregnationem
efficit et %itcri p)cr novas menses tumoreni profert.
Dr. Donaldson, like all other accomplished orientalists,
considers that the serpent is the emblem of that
desire which is typified in and by the Phallus.
When once the philologist recognises the proba-
bility that Esau and Jacob are in reality embodiments
of the same idea as Adam and Eve, Mahadeva and
Saraiswati, Abraham and Sarah, he will find many
circumstances of less importance which make the
identification clearer. Though spelled ^P.^-. Jacob,
the word is closely alHed to ^Pl, jacab, which signifies
' hollowed out, a hole, or pit,' a meaning which closely
resembles that expressed by ^^P?, nlccbah, wherein
the part which characterises the female is used for
' the woman ' herself. Another alliance of the word
is with 2py, ahab, 'to weave,' 'cunning,' 'to lay wait,'
' to deceive ; ' also ' to be hill-shaped ; ' both of which
603
Jacob] are feminine attributes. Nor must we forget alto-
gether tliat Jacob is described as worshipping a
God wliom he represents by an erect pillar stone,
which recalls to our nrind the urgent appeal of Rachel,
" Give me children, or else I die" (Gen. xxx. 1) ; and
the statement (Gen. iii. 16) that the wife shall still
desire the company of her husband, notwithstanding
the pain she experiences therefrom.
It remains for us now to investigate the history of
Jacob, and consider how far he is deserving a niche
in the true chronicle of the past. We find him
spoken of as a plain smooth man, dwelling in tents,
the favourite of Rebekah, and a tolerable cook, for
he makes a mess of pottage which is so tempting,
that it suffices to purchase the birthright from his
elder brother. We next find him in league with his
mother, to cheat old Isaac and his hunter son ; and he
succeeds so completely, that his father gives to him
the blessing which was intended for Esau.
It is very difficult to understand the ideas which
are associated generally with this benediction in our
days. It is assumed that the words of Isaac were
prophetic, and that they had some influence over the
coming fortunes of his offspring; that he intended
Esau to be the chief, but Jacob forestalled him ; the
whole affair being an illustration of the saying,
" L' homme propose, Dieu dispose." We cannot
however, beheve in the power of a prophet to see the
future, and yet be unconscious of a lie enacted in his
presence. W'e are, moreover, familiar with other
accounts which record the words of some founder of a
race wherein long predictions are given that tally
with future events. Such will be recollected by the
readers of Yirgil; but in all these cases we recognise
604
Jacob] the hand of a clever author, who puts a speech iuto
the mouth of a mythical iudividual, and thus des-
cribes the present as the result of a prophecy in the
past. It may be thus with the so-called blessing
of Isaac.
In consequence of this second trick played
upon Esau by Jacob, he is advised to fly from his
father's country, and to visit Laban the Syrian.
Setting out upon his journey, without any worldly
wealth, he sleeps upon the bare ground, and has a
dream, in which he sees angels, and a visible appear-
ance of Jehovah, the latter of whom addresses him
and makes him a promise. In consequence of this
vision, Jacob makes a vow, that if Jehovah Elohim
will keep him safe, &c., then that Jehovah shall be his
Elohim. As the aj^pearance of Jehovah was only in
a dream, it would scarcely be fair to recall the dictum
of the same great Being to Moses, " there shall no
man see Me and live " (Exod. xxxiii. 20) ; but, on the
other hand, it is clear that if the vision was unreal,
so was the promise which it held out. Far more
strange is it to find that Jacob is famihar with the
name Jehovah. We are assured ostensibly by that
very God, that he was not known to Jacob by His
name Jehovah (Exod. vi. 3). This episode, then,
like the preceding, suggests the belief that the story
is the i3roduction of a later age, and that the person
of Jacob is mythical. It is clear that the notion
which the Patriarch had of God was represented by
an upright stone, the emblem of Mahadeva.
We may pass by the account given to us of Laban
and his early relationship with Jacob, the birth of the
patriarch's children, the names which they bore, and
the contrivances of the herdmaster to increase his
G05
Jacob] flocks and herds, to take up the thread of our dis-
course when Jacob proiaares to lead his family back
again into Judoea. Although he has been in Syria for
about thirty years or more, having a Syrian master
and Syrian wives and concubines, he still retains his
own language, and has so far instructed some of his
people therein, that he is able to send an intelligible
message to his brother Esau. Of him he feels great
fear ; but, when left alone, he not only has no terrors
at the apparition of a man, but he wrestles with Him
all night till the breaking of the day. There is some-
thing very wonderful in this contest, and its results.
The story leads us to infer that God suddenly appeared
as a man, and as a man wrestled with another dui-ing
a night, and yet unsuccessfully; but when the morning
approached, this same Being could not dissolve Him-
self into the same air from which He took His form.
Unable to conquer by the ordinary means. He physi-
cally injures Jacob; yet still the patriarch wrestles,
and refuses to let his oj)ponent depart until He blesses
him. The other agrees thereto, and changes Jacob's
name to Israel, and gives him a benediction, whose
nature we do not know. This Man, Jacob recognises
as the Deity in the sentence addressed to Him, " As a
prince hast thou power with God and with men, and
hast prevailed; " which the Vulgate translates, "for if
against God thou hast been strong, how much rather
shalt thou prevail against men ; " and the Septuagint,
" for thou hast prevailed 'svith God, and shalt be
mighty with men ; " i. c, he had a contest with his
brother and overcame him, and then with God and
prevailed over Him.
We are astonished that any people so reverent as
the Jews of modern times could reallv believe this
606
Jacob] passage in tlieir aiicieut history to be true ; and,
Ktill more, tliat Christians should beUeve it literally.
That any man can be mightier than his Maker, is a
proposition which is intolerable to the philosopher.
Let ns pass by in silence the cruel slaughter of
the Hivites, the enslavement of their wives and
little ones, and the taking of their cattle, to notice
that at this period Jacob still retains his name, not
receiving the cognomen of Israel till afterwards (Gen.
XXXV. 9, 10). This anomaly may arise from the thirty-
fifth chapter being a duplicate of the thirty-second ;
but if it be so, the question still remains. Which
has the nearest approach to truth? We will not
linger over the death and burial of Isaac, but pass on
to the time of the famine. At that period, Jacob sends
his sous to Egypt to buy corn, and they, being unable
to talk the language of the country, apply to the
superintendent of food through an interpreter (Gen.
xlii. 23). After a time Jacob follows, with his whole
family, and when he is summoned into Pharaoh's
presence, he appears to be able to converse with the
Egyptian king. We do not, however, dwell upon this
point, for the next chapter gives us cause for much
greater surprise. In that part of it which contains what
is said to be the prophetic blessing of the patriarch,
we find a Greek word introduced, viz., °^'^"^?'^, meche-
vothchem, an Hebraic form of ^j^uy^aipu, macliaira, for
which there is no derivation in any of the Shemitic
lano-uages.^° In the same chapter we find a verse to
the effect, " that the sceptre shall not depart from
Judah, nor a law-giver from between his feet, until
66 There is fartlier evidence of Greek influence iu tlie story of Jaeoli, iu tlie
fact tliat Acrisius, Idng of Argos, is saicT to have quarrelled in the womb with his
brother Prcetus, and after some contests, in which the elder brother was at first
the strongest, the younger was at length successful in asserting his rights.
607
Jacob] Shiloli come," or " until lie come to Shiloh." Now
this involves the idea that the sceptre was in the hands
of Judah at the time, for there can be no departure
without an arrival. It is clear, therefore, that there
is an anachronism here. There is a more conspicuous
defect of this kind in the remarks made upon Issa-
char, who is spoken of as "a strong ass, crouching
down between two burdens ; and he saw that rest was
good, and the land that it was pleasant, and bowed
his shoulder to bear, and became a servant to tri-
bute." To speak of the future in the past tense
appears nonsensical, and can only be accounted for
by the inadvertence of the composer, who describes
current history under the guise of proi^hecy.
Now throughout the whole history of Jacob we
see nothing that demonstrates him to have been what
we call a good, or even a pions man ; his character
shows a mixture of crafty guile and helpless timidity ;
he is alternately pusillanimous and bold, hopeful and
despairing ; his conduct to his brother Esau, who
held out to him the right hand of fellowship, and
desired to be friendly in a fraternal way, is con-
temptible. All the good that can be said of him is,
that he acknowledged Jehovah (Elohim), an adoration
which, if we believe Exodus vi. 3, we know to have
been impossible.
My own impression is that Esau or Edom and
Jacob are mythic names for ' a man ' and ' a woman,'
and that round these historians wove a web of fancy ;
that ultimately the nature of the cognomen ' Jacob '
was recognised ; and that to allow the Jewish people to
trace their descent from a male rather than a female,
the appellation of Israel was substituted in later
productions. There is indeed strong reason to doubt
608
Jacob] whether the Jewish nation existed tis such prior to
the time of David, and to beheve that none of their
wi-itings have an earher date than his accession to the
throne of Jerusalem. But a subject so krge as this
we must postpone till our next volume. (See Israel.)
Jada, J^'?' (1 Chron. ii. 28), "He is wise," "he sees." This
name is almost identical with Mount Ida, on which
Paris delivered his judgment. It is almost the same
with iSsTv and idea, and closely resembles Ada.
Jadau, -I"!' (Ezra x. 43), "A favourite."
jADDAr, y"! (Nehem. x. 21), "He is wise."
Jadon, P^, for Adon (Nehem. iii. 7), "The Lord, or the
Master." Possibly Jah-Dan, " Jah the Judge."
Jagur, ^-1^: (Josh. XV. 21), "The rolling one;" from ^^y,
agar. (Compare Ague.)
Jah, or Jehovah, ^l, ^\^], -1^' (Exod. xv. 2, &c.), one of the
names of the Almighty amongst the Hebrews. As
many a sermon is composed to elucidate a single
sentence in the Bible, so a single word may suffice
for a learned dissertation. It is doubtful whether
any name is of more importance than that of '^]'^], in
the Old Testament. Upon it hang the questions —
whether the Pentateuch was the production of a
single hand ; whether its composition took place at
the time usually represented, or at a period subse-
quent to the coming of David to the throne ; whether
Jah was a name specially revealed to the Jewish
nation, or one adopted by them from another people.
Indeed, we may say that upon this mysterious Avord
hinges the whole superstructure which moderns have
built upon the absolute truth and inspiration of the
Old Testament.
Deeply impressed as the philosopher must feel with
the issues which depend upon his inquiries, he never-
609
Jah] tlieless nnclcrstaiKls that his jnclgment must depend
upon testimony, mtber than upon feeling; and that
it is safer to trust to the inexorable logic of facts,
than to the flimsy weh of theory.
In searching out my evidence, I very naturally
turned to those writings which have been left by
ancient authors ; but these have been already given
to the world so largely by ]\Iovers, and other inquirers,
and have been so ably condensed by the Bishop of
Natal, in his exhaustive work upon the Pentateuch,
that it is unnecessary for me to reproduce them here.
We therefore turn our attention to other points,
which have not yet been so prominently advanced
before the public eye.
Throughout my investigations into the proper
names, two facts stood forward with startling promi-
nence— 1, that there is not a single Egyptian name
amongst the Hebrews, before or after the alleged
exodus from the land of Pharaoh ; and '2, that the
use of the name Jah in cognomens comes in like
a flood amongst the Hebrews after the return of
David from the land of the Philistines and the
Phoenicians. It is this second consideration which
we have now to discuss.
To appreciate the full value of this, let us recapi-
tulate the statements v»-hich we have elseAvhere made.
Proper names, amongst the Shemites^in general,
were given by a priest. Into them be introduced
the name, or one of the characteristic attributes, of
the god whom he adored. Hence an examination of
cognomens discloses the title or nature of the deity
which was popular when the child was born or named.
Now ])rior to the time of David almost every Jewish
name was compounded with El, Ab, Ach, Shemesii,
610
Jah] On, Am, Baal, or some word indicating ' life,' ' exist-
ence,' ' brillianc}',' 'might,' 'strength,' ' giory,' etc.
It is fihnost impossible to find one into -u'hose
composition Jah enters. On the contrary, after the
period of David's accession to the kingdom, there are
scarcely any cognomens which are not distinguished
by the name of Jehovah." The conclusion to be
drawn from this fact is inevitable, viz., that the
sacred name, which is said to have been revealed to
Moses in the burning bush, was really unknown to
the Jews in the earlier days of David. It is equally
remarkable, but we cannot stay to consider the subject
fully now, that the name of Moses was as much
unknown to Saul, and to the young David, as was
Jehovah. Another fact, of singular importance, is
the complete disappearance of the sacred word at the
time of our Saviour. Though used by the prophets
subsequently to the captivity, we do not find any
evidence of its existence in the New Testament ;
even our Lord Himself either does not know it, or
else avoids its use.
Considering it then as a certain fact that the word
Jah, or Jehovah, was introduced into Judea by David
and his hierarchy, our next consideration is, whence
he obtained it. Ere we attempt to decide, let us con-
template the character of this king. Of a singularly
superstitious character, he was driven from his own
country, whilst his mind was still young and ductile,
into a land whose religion differed from that of his
own. It is improbable that he possessed a copy of the
f? I adhere to the ciTi'reut method of sjielliii.c; this ^vord, although it is not strictly
correct. I fiud, from the IJistori/ of Israel to the death of Moses, by Heinrif.h
Ewalcl, edited in English by Professor Paissell JIartineau, %yhich appeared whilst
this sheet was in the press, that Jahveh or Jahve is the form which is supposed to
be ueai-est to the real pronunciation.
Gil
Jahj Pentateuch, even if it then existed, and if he was
able to read it. We know, from his behaviour with
Achish, that he -was timid. There was, therefore,
every element in him necessary for the adoption of
a new faith. During his absence from Judca he
became frieudl}' with Hiram, Ki]ig of Tyre.
On his return to Judea, ])avid brought with
him Carians of Asia Minor; Cypriotes, probably of
Grecian extraction : Gittites, or Philistines, possibly
Pehisgians, and Hellenists, or Italians ; whilst his
bosom friend and counsellor was Hushai, an inhabitant
of Erech, and of Babylonian or Assyrian proclivities.
We therefore examine the names of divinities recog-
nised by the Greeks, Phoenicians, and Babylonians,
to ascertain if there are any names corresponding to
Jah. As the true pronunciation of this name is lost,
we can but determine the question approximately.
Amongst the Greeks Ave find the word 'lao;, lao, which
corresponds clearly to the Jii in Jupiter, amongst
the Italians, and the "la in Iacchus.^* The name Lvo is
explained in many ancient passages to be the equiva-
lent of Helios, Aides, Zeus, Dionysus, Adonis, Attys,
lacchus, and Bacchus, and I see no reason to doubt
the value of the quotations adduced by Movers to
confirm his views. Now this word 'laco may be con-
sidered as an archaic form of the Greek 'jaoju,a»,
laoinal, 'I heal, or cure.' It thus becomes the
equivalent of the Greek Apollo and the Phoenician
EsmiUN, and it is associated with Up6c, hieros, 'holy,'
'sacred,' 'connected with the Goiis.'
** It is verj- probable tliat Bacchus was at the first spelled with the letter which
is equivalent to the Hebrew 1 v ; this would be read by some as I, and by others as
B, which iu the Phoeuician has the sound of v as well as that of h.
It is quite possible that Jacchus contains one element of in% or mn', and
Bacchus another; but no dependence c:ui be phiced on this etymolog}-.
612
Jah] Passing from the Greek language, we turn to the
Phoenicians, in which name we inchrde all the
people living on the western shores of Palestine.
Amongst these we find such names as Araunah,
Jahin, Uriah, Moriah, Hiram, and Tobiah, which are
compounded with some variant of Yho, lah, lao,
In, &c. Still further, we find that David and Solomon
worship the same God as the King of Tyre, for Hiram
affords great assistance in building a temple to His
honour. Again ; we find from Mr. Talbot's transla-
tion of the Annals of Sennacherib, Journal of Royal
Asiatic Society, vol. xis., p. 143, seq., that the name
of one of the kings of Sidon was ~Li\liah ; Zedekiah
was King of Ascalon, Vndiali was the name of another
Phcenician king; Mania/; is another; Tdtziah and
Vhiali are also met with; all of which are apparently
compounded with jah, just as Hezehiah, Isaiah, and
other Jewish names are. These cognomens may be
thus explained : —
LuLiAH is equivalent to n^^-P^ "Jah moves in a
circle."
Zedekiah is the same name as that of a Jewish
king, and signifies "Jah is righteousness."
Padiah is equivalent to ^^''^7?, "Jah is a re-
deemer." (Comp. Pedaiah, 2 Kings xxiii. 36.)
Maniah is equivalent to ^'^"^9^ " J^h is a per-
fecter ; " a name which we may compare with
the Hebrew Manoah.
KiTZiAH is equivalent to ^l']'^'}, "Jah is a friend."
Ubiah is probably equivalent to ^l^^^, " Jah
protects, or covers."
Again ; amongst Phoenician proper names we find
AMalos mentioned by Josephus, Antiq. i. 18, Bithirts,
by Virgil, JEn. i. 38, and Juha, which seems to be a
613
Jah] corrupted form of 'i^?''"^!!, ydbcud, or ''Jao is Baal."
Again, Napavvuc, the name of a Numidian, mentioned
by PolijhiHS, i, 78, can best be rendered by nnyj^
naryah, ' tbe boy of Jebovah ' (Geseu., Mon. Phcenica,
p. 412). fi>=-Ay}j, the name of a king of Tyre mentioned
by Josepbus, can best be explained by considering it
equivalent to ^>7f, pdaialt, or 'Jah is distinguished ';
and PhaMx\.IxVS, a cognomen of Himilco, is probably
the same as '^l^^.^, 'phamlah, ' the hammer of Jah.'
SiCH^us, the name of the husband of Dido, and one
with which we are more familiar as Zaccheus, is
probably the same as '"'^''^T, zacluah, 'Jah is pure.'
Zaunas, the name of a god in Tyre, is probably
equivalent to ^l^}"^, zuniah, 'Jah fills, or impregnates;'
all of Avhich appear to have been compounded with a
form of Jah. We arc also told by Eusebius {Pracp.
Evang.,^ i. G), that 'I sua;, leiio, was the name of 'l'^''.,
amongst the Phoenicians. (Gesen. Op. Cit.)
The evidence that a name very similar to Jah, or
Ju, or Jao, was used amongst the Syrians, Assyrians,
and Babylonians, is very strong. Rawlinsou, for
example, states {Journal of Royal Asiatic Society,
new series, vol. i., p. 193) that II, or Ilii, is the
Shemitic value of a certain sign, for which, he adds,
Yahu is sometimes substituted, as in Hebrew. Again ;
Talbot, in the Transactions of the lioyal Society of
Literature, second series, vol. viii., p. 273, gives
" JaJiu-hiiu. " as the name of a Syrian king, " Jalm-
biadi " as a Eling of Hamath. In both of these
the sacred name closely resembles that of Jehu, the
King of Israel. Talbot adds, that the word "Jaliu"
is sometimes changed for Ilu, showing that it means
' God ' in the Syrian language ; and the word has even
the divine sign prefixed in some inscriptions of Sargon.
614
JahI Still farther, lie enables us to identify JaJi vdtli Jahu,
by pointing- out that the Assyrian way of spelling
Hezekiah is Hazak-irt/i!t. Ya-ilii, Sha ya ilii, was the
battle-cry of the Assyrians, equivalent to our Hurrah
(Talbot ,in Journal of Royal Asiatic Society, vol xix.,
p. 181). (Compare " Allah il Allah.")
To this testimony we may now add the statement
of Fdrst, s. V. '^^l, with whose Lexicon I only became
acquainted after the preceding remarks were penned.
" The veiy ancient name of God, Ydho, which is
preserved only in proper names as an enclitic, written
in the Greek 'Ium, appears, apart from its derivation,
to have been an old mystic name of the supreme
deity of the Shemites. In an old reHgion of the
ChaUhpans, whose remains are to be found amongst
the new Platonists, the highest divinity enthroned
above the seven heavens, representing the spiritual
light principle, and also conceived of as demiurge,
was called 'Um, ''^^l (Lydus, De mens, iv. 38, 74, 98 ;
Cedrenus, i. p. 296), who was, like the Hebrew Ydho,
mysterious and unmentionable (Proclus, in Tim.,
p. 11), and whose name was communicated only to
the initiated (Julian, Oirit., in Matrem Dcorum,
p. 172). The Phojnicians had a supreme god, whose
name was triliteral and secret, invented (Sanchon., p.
40, ed. Orelli), as is alleged, by the hierophant Istris,
the brother of Cltna, Vl^ {i.e., since the origin of the
Phoenician people), and he Avas "law (Lydus, 1 c,
Cedranus, 1 c). This Phoenician Ydho, a knowledge
of whom spread farther, represented the Sun god
{sol,"H\ios), in a fourfold variety of senses, agreeable
to the oracle of Apollo Clarius (Macrobius, Saturn.
1. 18) ; according to an account in EustatJiius (see
Munter, Religion du Kartli, p. 40), he represemtid
615
Jah] Baal, whose image was set up in the temple by
Manasseh, Suidas, s. r. Mayao-o-j^r, be represented also
Dionysns and Adonis. The identification of the 'law
of the heathen Semites, with YdJio, or Jehovah, of
the Hebrews, is already in Tacitus {Hist., v. 5),
Plutarch {Symp. 1, iv., quant. 5, seq.), Julian, &c.,
Cyril, adv. Jul., which makes it necessary to seek a
Shemitic origin alone for the name."
Notwithstanding the 02:»inion which Fiirst thus
expresses, we may remark that there is great difficulty
in finding any valid Semitic explanation of this mys-
terious word, AA'hilst there is very little difficulty if we
refer it to an Aryan or a Sanscrit source. In that
language there are two words, Jah and Jaya, which
signify ' the Almighty ; ' they are sometimes Avritten
Jaa and Jaga. It appears under the latter form in
the word Jaga-nath.. But — and the objection is a
strong one — we do not find much evidence of the
existence of Yedic influence in ancient Palestine.
. Consequently, before we can entertain the Sanscrit
origin of the name, we must have some show of
reason for the belief. Now there are two sources
whence the Aryan influence in western Asia might
spring, one on land, in the parts where the Semites
and Aryans touched, the other where they became
acquainted with each other in voyaging, or through the
medium of travel generally. We have the testimony
of Rawlinson {Journal of Roy. As. Sac, new series,
vol. 1, p. 230), that there are proofs of a Vedic or an
Aryan influence on the early mythology of Babylon ;
and we have evidences from ancient history that many
philosophers travelled into distant countries to study
their products, their inhabitants, and their religion.
The country of India was visited by some Europeans
616
Jah] ill comparatively very fincieiit times. During the
reign of Solomon, it is all but certain that the Phceni-
cians were familiar v.'ith the route to India. As a
voyage lasted three years, it is clear that much of
the time of the travellers must have been passed on
shore. At every port vast pagodas were to be seen,
then as now ; and we can readily imagine that inqui-
ries would be made respecting the god who was
adored. Much like king Ahaz (2 Kings xvi. 10), it
is probable that some wealthy merchant, attended by
his diviner, may have brought from India to Tyre the
pattern of a new altar, and the name of a new god,
that of the supreme one of India. That Elohim, or
the popular deity, had his nomenclature changed, is
certain, from the introduction of Nebo into the Assy-
rian theology. As there is great reason to believe
that the name of this divinity was Indian, we may
conceive that Jah was equally so.
It is impossible for any one, at all familiar with
the sacred literature of the Hebrews, to pass by the
extreme reverence with which the word Jehovah was
associated. To such an extent was this carried, and
so careful were all wdio knew it not to divulge it
lightly, that the true word, or rather the pronunci-
ation thereof, is lost.
It is very probable that the majority of readers
consider this veneration for a particular cognomen
peculiar to the Jews. There is, however, no doubt
that a similar reverence for a name, peculiarly sacred,
has obtained in Oriental countries from time im-
memorial, and still exists among the Hindoos {vide
supra, p. 237). Upon this subject, there is a very
interesting essay by W. H. Talbot {Tyansactlons of
Royal Socirfj) of Literature, 2nd series, vol. viii..
617
Jah] p. 274, svq.), of whicli the following is ci condensa-
tion.
Tluat the Greeks believed the hiuguage of the Gods
to be altogether unlike the speech of men is certain,
from the boldness with which Homer makes assertions
like these, " The gods call it Xanthus, but men say
Scamander," and " Men call it BciTl=iu. bat the gods
the tomb of Myrinna." This is illustrated by refe-
rence to an Assyrian inscription, wherein are found
the words "In the language of the gods, Ninev had
a divine name ; " this occurs in the reign of Ashu-
rakhbal ; another inscription of Neriglissar contains
the sentence, " In thy celestial name, which is never
pronounced aloud ; " whilst another tablet of Nebu-
chadnezzar's has almost the same words, viz., "In
thy divine name, wiiich is not spoken aloud."
Now Ninev was not the celestial name, the real
one being indicated in the sentence, "At the first he
was called in the s])CGch of the gods " (the dash
represents a Cuneiform word, which is provisionally
rendered Hercules). Two lines after this sentence,
whicli comes in an invocation to the Assyrian gods,
the line concerning Ninev occurs, " Whom men do
not call by his real name ; " and another, which is
thus rendered Ninev — " The king, whom men call not
by his royal name, nor by his great title, 'Chief of a
hundred gods,' and mystically he is the "Meridian
Sun." In an inscription of Shamas Phul, the king
again invokes Ninev, and calls him the Meridian
Sun," and "inspector of all things;" and adds,
"mystically called , whose real name they do not
receive {do not know ?) ; Arubnaki in the language
of the gods." This name Arubnaki was evidently
very holy, and probably very ancient, but other gods
618
Jahj Thau Ninev claim it. The clearest evidence of the
existence of an ineffable name amongst the Assyrians,
is the sentence in the first mentioned inscription,
"Ninev, whose divine name by which he is called in
the language of the gods no one must lightly pro-
nounce in vain." Mr. Talbot then demonstrates
that the third commandment in the Jewish decalogue
is to be taken literally, and has always been under-
stood to mean that "the name" was never to be
pronounced lightly ; and he finishes the essay by a
reference to the Egyptians, amongst whom it was an
injunction, " Speak not in the name of the great God."
It would be easy to multiply passages from the
Old Testament to show the vast importance which
the Jews assigned to the name of the Almighty ; nay,
we can find many in vrhich the Creator Himself is
made to appear as if He thought more of His name
than of anything else. See, for example, Jerem.
xliv. 26 : "I have sworn by my great name, that my
name shall no more be named in the mouth of any
man of Judah in all the land of Egypt ; " and again,
Ezok. XX. 9: "I wrought for my name's sake, that
it should not be polluted before the heathen," &c.
Now this extreme veneration for the ' great name '
of the iVlmighty suggests the consideration that
the word, whatever it was, could not have been
indigenous amongst the Jews, nor a vernacular one
amongst other nations. We cannot suppose for an
instant that the mystic syllables signified simply
" He is," "He exis-s," "He gives life," or denoted
any similar ideas ; for in that case the name must
necessarily have been profaned daily in ordinary
language. We conclude, therefore, that the name
was either imported from a foreign country, or was
619
Jahj compounded of certain initial letters ; and thus it
would never be necessarily used in ordinary language.
We may well illustrate tlie ancient practice by the
modern. Amongst the devout, there is at the present
day a great disinclination to use the v^'ords God and
Jesus Christ, except in prayer and worship, the
names being considered too sacred to be used in
general conversation ; and such expressions as " the
Deity," "the Creator," "the Saviour," "'the Lord,"
&c., are substituted for them. Even where it is requi-
site to use the very names in question, they are uttered
with bated breath, as being too holy to be uttered in
an ordinary tone. In other words, we use our own
vernacular circumlocutions, which we do understand,
with far less reverence than certain foreign sounds,
of whose signification we have but a faint idea ; so
true is the adage — Omne ujuotum 2^ro magmfico. It
is probable that the Greeks had equal reverence for
the divine names of other nations, for conquerors were
especially told by an oracle not to obliterate the titles
of the gods of the people whom they vanquished, as
the names were of importance in the mysteries.
If we now closely examine ourselves, we shall
readily understand the discontent which would be
felt if our spiritual guides attempted to persuade
us that the Omnipotent was known amongst the hosts
of heaven by an English name. A similar idea has
doubtless pervaded all nations who had any concep-
tion of an Almighty. Hence the power to communi-
cate to man the appellation by which He passed
sufficed to demonstrate that the one who has had
direct intercourse with the King on high knew it.
The selection, then, of some ineffable name has been
an exigence in the foundation of all new religious.
620
Jah] It is a very remarkable fact, however, that onr
Saviour, " who Avas in the bosom of the Father "
(John i. 18), never laid any stress u^^ou "the name,
the great name, Jehovah ; " and throughout His
ministry spoke of the Almighty as ''' my Father,"
'• the Father," or " Tlieos." This leads us to ponder
more deeply the ideas conveyed in the ancient
theology that the Almighty had a sacred name by
which He was known on high. It is clear that
there is no necessity for nomenclature in heaven,
unless more than one Being exist there. To assign'
therefore, a name to the Creator, involves the idea
that there are others besides Him. That such an
opinion really prevailed amongst the Jews, and
others, we recognise by such expressions as the
following : —
"Who is like unto thee, 0 Lord {Jehovah),
amongst the gods?" (Eloldin) — Exod. xv. 11.
" Now I know that the Lord {Jchovali) is greater
than all gods " {Elohim) —Exod. xviii. 11.
" Among the gods [Elohim) there is none like
unto thee, 0 Lord" {Adonal) — Ps. Ixviii. 1.
" For the Lord (El) is a great God (Jehovah),
and a great King above all gods " (Eloldm) —
Ps. xcv. 3.
"Worship Him, all ye gods" {Elohim) — Ps.
xvii. 7. " Our Lord {Jeliovah) is above all gods "
{Eloliim) — Ps. cxxxv. 5.
" Great is our God {Eloali) above all gods "
(Eloliim) — 2 Chron. ii. 5.
" The Lord (Jeliovah) will famish all the gods of
the earth " (Elohim) — Zepli. ii. 11.
The same idea is very conspicuous in 1 Kings
xii. 19 — "I saw Jehovah sitting on His throne,
621
Jah] and all the host of heaven standing by Him;" and in
Job i. G— "No\y there was a day when the sons of
Elohim came to present themselves before Jehovah,
and Satan came also amongst them." The cogency
of onr argument derived from these passages may be
seen from the fact, that, in all the ancient versions,
these texts have been altered to obliterate the poly-
theistic idea which they embody. (See Ginsbnrg on
The Enfjlish Bible in its relation to the aneient and
other versions.)
These, and many other passages, demonstrate that
the idea of " a great name " was associated with that
of the existence of a court above, in every respect
similar to one on earth except in its inconceivable
vastness ; and we are thus brought again by another
route to the subject of anthropomorphism. Let us
now pause awhile to contemplate the Grecian concep-
tions of heaven, and those of the iDhilosophic student.
In the first there is a powerful king, father of gods
and men, Ju-pater, and associated conjugally with him
is Ju-no (nj noli, consolation?); they have with them
the lords of the sea and land, wisdom, beauty, love,
light, darkness, war, and song ; they are served by
attendant spirits, who fulfil their behests; they have
messengers to send to distant quarters, and to men ;
nay, the antiiropomorphism is carried so far that
these celestial rulers have passions, just as have men
and women upon earth. Change but "the names of
'gods' for 'angels,' suppress the sexual passions, and
read Our Father Jah, for The Father Ju, and we
then have the Old Testament idea of heaven.
Contrast this with such conceptions as have been
formed by thoughtful minds. With them the Creator
is a Being who fills all space, whom the mind of
622
Jah] man cannot conceive. Pervading all things, there is
nothing so large that He cannot treat it as He Avould
the smallest atom. Present alike in the sun and the
most distant star, He governs the universe, and at
the same time knows when a sparrow fails. Under
His power is builded up the most stately mountain,
from whose sides, clothed with everlasting snow, flow
down mighty rivers, to irrigate and fertilise plains of
equal vastness ; and from the same power come
animalcules of wondrous beauty, too small for man
to see. In the attempt to gain a faint idea of such
a Being, the understanding is lost in immensity, and
gladly turns to repose upon the words of some deep
thinker of old — "0 Lord, how manifold are thy
works; in wisdom hast thou made them all; the
earth is full of thy riches " (Ps. civ. 24).
Our attention is now arrested by the consideration
if a Being such as the Almighty does really care
whether His creatures address Him in Latin, Greek,
Hebrew, or English ; whether they wear robes of
pink, scarlet, green, or white ; whether they burn
lambs, rams, wax-candles, or incense. To such a
Being, is it not better for each to offer up a silent
prayer direct, rather than through the intervention of
another man ? nay, have we not a warranty for the
practice in the words — "The hour cometh, and novv^
is, -when the true worshippers shall worship the
Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh
such to Avorship Him : God is a spirit, and they that
worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in
truth " ? (John iv. 23, 24)
In writing the preceding article, I have ab-
stained, as far as possible, from going over again
the ground already trodden by the Bishop of Natal
G23
Jah] and those whose opinions he quotes. Although I
carefully perused Dr. Colenso's book on the Penta-
teuch, I have thought it unnecessary to use it in the
present volume, as the task undertaken by me has
been wholly independent of any individual writer.
Being, as I believe it to be, an independent work,
it is corroborative of, rather than dependent upon,
such writers as the Reverend Bishop. Moreover,
I am too profoundly impressed with the momentous
result which follows from the establishment of the
fact, that the name of Jehovah only came to be known
and used by the Hebrews after the return of David
from Phcenicia, to treat the subject lightly.
This result may be briefly stated as follows. A
very large portion of the Old Testament is certainly
of no more value than a Hindoo, Greek, or Latin
legend ; in other words, the JeAvish history, prior to
the time of David, is entirely mythical, and its laws
and ordinances are wholly of human origin.
The consequences which flow from this it is
almost unnecessary to consider at present; it is
perhaps more appropriate that we should leave them
until we have laid before the reader the whole of the
evidence on which we ground our conclusions.
In announcing such a result of my labours, I am
perfectly conscious that I shall give much pain to
many earnest and devout minds, and to many of my
personal friends ; I have indeed done much violence
to m3'self. But my aim has been to examine impar-
tially the claims of our modern churchmen, and the
foundation of those claims. I had it very early incul-
cated into my mind that it was the duty of every
Christian to be thankful to any man who convinces
him of a fault, and enables him to see himself
624
Jah] as others see him. In the course of my life I have
heard very many sermons and speeches made by
missionaries, and have perused very many of their
written reports and books. In these we see con-
spicuously a contempt for the absurd belief of ' the
heathen,' and sneers at the theology of their priests.
But I have also heard that " those who live in glass
houses should not throw stones;" and I know that
it is useless to defend an argument unless its
foundations are certain. To me, then, it has seemed
of the utmost importance to examine into the con-
dition of our own premises ere we attack those of
others. As the whole of our system of theology is
based upon the Bible, it appears to be of fundamental
importance that the real value of the book should
be ascertained. I am profoundly impressed with
the belief that no system of religion ought to be
based upon fable, and that no priest is deserving of
respect who dares not examine closely the foundations
of his teaching. True and pure Christianity will
survive, even though the Old Testament is grouped
with the Apocrypha ; and it will not be altogether
for the injury of mankind if greater stress is laid
upon what a man does, rather than upon the dogmas
which he holds. There is u tolerably high authority
for the assertion that " pure religion and undefiled
before God and the Father is this, to visit the father-
less and widows in their affliction, and to keep
himself unspotted from the world " (James i. 27).
Such religion all can exercise, even though they
think that the Old Testament is not what it pro-
fesses to be.
Jahaz, T'}^ (Numb. xxi. 23, Isa. xv. 4), a town of Moab =
" Jah shines " ? '^'^l, ;i'a(i]i, ' to shine,' ' to be fair,' or
625
Jahaz] 'to be proud,' "a place trodden down" (Fiirst) ;
possibly from ^V!, j':ici^, 'lie is hard/ 'he is firm,'
'he commands, or rules.'
Jahaziah, ^l]^\ (Ezra x. 15), '' Jah watches over," of which
the two following names are variants.
Jahaziel, ^^'''H', or Jahzeel (1 Chron. xii. 4), " El watches
over," or " El is firm, or rules."
Jahdai, ^;^n> (1 Chron. ii. 47), ''Jah directs," or " Jah is
sufficient " ?
Jahdiel, ^i^'^P'. (1 Chron. v. 24), " El makes glad " ?
Jahdo, i"^"^ (1 Chron. v. 14), " He unites."
Jahleel, ^^^[^] (Gen. xlvi. 14), "He trusts in El."
Jahmai, ''^^\ (1 Chron. vii. 2), " Jah is hot."
Jahzeel, h^\^] (Gen. xlvi. 24), " El allots."
Jahzeuah, '^7''?! (1 Chron. ix. 12), " Jah brings back."
Jaie, "i''"^^ (Numb, xxxii. 41), " Eulightener ; " for ^«', 'he
shines, glitters, blooms, sprouts, flows,' &c. Jairus
was a modern form, in which the Jair is united with
"Epooi, Eros.
Jakeh, >^Pl (Prov. XXX. 1), "He fears, is pious, or obe-
dient."
Jakbi. ^y^ (1 Chron. viii. 19), "He sets up," from Dip, which
has both the meaning of 'standing erect,' and of
' raising seed to.'
Jalon, P*^^ (1 Chron. iv. 17), "He is abiding," "he is
eternal; " from |"i'? 'to abide.'
Ja:\iix, V^^l, is a Avord which signifies "The right hand," "the
bright side," " good fortune." Just as the right-
hand is more helpful and useful than the left, so a
son of the former would be a complimentary title,
while the left, if it were ever used, would be the
reverse. We may take Jamin then to express " good
luck," or " good fortune."
Jamlech, V^\ (1 Chron. iv. 34), "He shall reign," or "He
R R
626
Jamlech] is the ruler." We have Imlach as a surname
amongst ourselves.
Janoah, ni3^ (2 Kings xv. 29), " Rest."
Janum, ^'^^l (Joshua xv. 53), " Sleep ; " also ' flight (of sun).'
Compare Janus, r\^\ jaiiah, ' to oppress hy heat.'
Japheth, ^?''. (Gen. v. 32). It is extremely cloubtfiil whether
this cognomen has any Shemitic etymon.
In the ensuing volume we propose to examine
into the evidences of Greek influence in the writings
of the Old Testament. One of the witnesses which
we shall examine is the name Japheth. There is
little doubt that this word ^^\, japhetli, is substan-
tially the same as ^^\, japct ; and both are Hebraic
forms of 'laTTJToj, ja-petos, who in Grecian story was
one of the sons of Uranus and Ge (heaven and earth).
The Grecian word may be derived from the same root
as the J a in Jupiter ; and as the latter signifies Ju,
' the father,' so the former may signify ' the active or
flying Ju ; ' from Ju and tietoij.ch, whose root is vrsr,
pet, Sanscrit pat, ' I fly.'
Japhia, V^?! (Josh. X. 3), " He is bright," " splendid."
Japhlet, t^^?! (1 Chron. vii. 32), " He frees " ?
Japho, '1^^ (Joshua xix. 46), " Beauty " = >^^l = Joppa, or
" widely extending," from i^^^, pathah, " to spread
out ; " also to ' seduce, persuade.' Compare -kbI^m,
'to persuade;' also Pithom, Python, 'a serpent,'
'emblem of desire,' ' self erecting.'
Jarah, ^y\ (1 Chron. ix. 42), "He boils up" = HT^ ''to glow,
to burn, to pour out abundantly."
Jared, ""7- (Gen. v. 15), probably a varied form of 1>';^, arad,
' a sprout, or descendant.'
Japeziah, ^''^'y.l (1 Chron. viii. 27), " Jah nourishes," or
" Jah is a home giver."
Jareb, 2^' (Hosea v. 13), " One fighting an adversary, an
627
Jaeeb] enemy ;" a symbol of the Avarlike Asshur. Compare
2n^, rahah, for Egypt. It is possible tbat it is an old
Assyrian word; others take Jareb to mean 'great,'
'powerful,' wjjich the Syrian word actually sio-nifies
(Fiirst).
Jariia, VHT ^ HT (1 chron. ii. 34), " The moon." The
name was borne by an Egyptian.
Jarib, nn^ (i ciiron, iv. 24, xxiv. 17, Nehem. xi. 10),
" One fighting; " a variant of Joreb ; elsewhere called
Jachiu (Gen. xlvi. 10, and the marginal reading in
1 Chron. iv. 24).
JABMrTH, n.lDT_ (Josh. X. 3), - The high ones." (Compare
Yarmouth.)
Jaroah, nn> (i chron. v. 14), " The moon." " Born at the
new moon " (Fiirst).
Jashar, or Jesher, ^^l (2 Sam. i. 18), " He is straiglit,"
" Ui^right."
Jashobeam, ^V2^l (1 Chron. xi. 11), "Dwelling with the
mother"? or "dwelling place of the mother," /". e.
Astarte ; from 3E^>^ jashah, and DN*, em, the V and N
being interchanged. Furst translates the name " the
people turn home."
Jashub, ^^^l (Numb. xxvi. 34), " He returns, he comes back
again," referring to the sun, which returns after night.
Jashubi-lehebi, Qn^-^?:^'^ (i Chron. iv. 22). There has been
great difficulty in finding a satisfactory etymon for this
name. Fiirst renders it " returner home to Lehem,"
which seems a preposterous cognomen for a child.
It is probable that it denotes " He returns again to
them," and has, like the last word, reference to the
sun, which was supposed by the ancients to depart
from the world at night, and to return to it at sunrise.
Many appellatives have more distinct reference to the
sun than to anything else.
628
Jasiel, '^^'''^!^'! (1 Chron. xi. 47), " El creates ; " we see the
same idea in the word Jahaziah (Ezra x. 15), Avhere
Jah creates, instead of El.
Jathir, 1'J^' (Joshua xv. 48), " A height " (Gesenius) ;
"extraordinary," '-'powerful" (Fiirst). Possibly a
contraction of ^^"^^^l, jahtara, which signifies "Jah
is powerful."
Jathniel, ^^'^.^\ (1 Chron. xxvi. 2), " El gives."
Javan, P^ (Gen. x. 2, Joel iii. 6), a name given to \X\eIon\ans,
or the Johnians ; probably the same as Evan, Ivan, or
Huan, "the sun ;" V['^,javen, is ' to be soft, lax, weak,
tender, mild.' Kespecting P^, Fiirst writes, s. r. "The
form of the name is closely connected with the Greek
'Ic/jv, 'lav, 'ISvrc, &c., for the basis of all seems to have
been 'laovsj, with the digamma 'laOovsj. As to the
meaning, that of ' the yonmi ' has been adopted,
opposed to the TpuiKol, the old ; the Greeks them-
selves relating that the Hellenes were formerly called
TpaiKQi. Compare Sanscnt juvan, Zend,jawan,i.e.
"juvenis." In our own view, these remarks tend to
show that " tlie young" is indicative of " tlie virgin,''
who is always painted as a lovely girl just budding
into womanhood.
Jaziz, ^'^,1 (1 Chron. xxvii. 31), "Brightness, ornament,
grace ; " probably the same as Isis.
Janus, an Etruscan deity, "the Sun."
Jacchus, a name of Bacchus ; miA, acJia^, ' to join ; ' ' coire' ?
'^'?l, ' to lay snares ' ? Fiirst tells us, s. v. ns that
Jacchus was the god's primitive name, and that B
was added from some mystic reason.
Ibhar, "^^n^ ('2 Sam. v. 16), " He chooses."
Ibleam, W^^\ (Josh. xvii. 11), probably from ^l?l, jahalah,
and °^*, am, "The mother (i. c. Astarte) is a power-
ful one," the V and K being interchanged.
629
Ibneiah, >^l^^^\ (1 Chron. ix. 8), "Jehovah builds up."
Ibnijah, ^l^^\ (1 Chron. ix. 8), a variant of the above.
Ibzan, i>'35:' (Judges xii. 8), '' Splendid, beautiful " (Fiirst).
IcHABOD, in3-\H (1 Sam. iv. 21), "AVhere the glory?" from
'^?|' cJichcd, and ''^':?, ai ; possibly a variant of Joche-
hed,^\\ic]i^eQ. "Fameless," exjDlained, 1 Sam. iv. 21,
by ^^\, '^''33. But this signification is only used by
the narrator aecommodatively, and the proper name
has probably been abridged from 'in3-''2K^ ahl-chahod
(Fiirst). This derivation would give ''the father,
Jah, is thick, or shining," for the signification of
the name.
Ida, my, Cuneiform, '"Age, time, eternity."
Idalah, '"'^'^7''. (Josh. xix. 15), "Memorial stone of El"
(Fiirst). This etymon is very unsatisfactory, but it
is diJScult to find one which entirely commends itself
to us; possibly it comes from ^y,,jeda, or ^"^l, jadah ;
and ^i^, alah, or ^t^^, cljali, and signifies " he
worships or praises the strong one, or the God Jah."
Compare Ida and Idalia, in Phrygia and Cyprus.
Idbash, ^'^y. (1 Chron. iv. 3), " A stout fat one" (Fiirst).
Iddo, "IT (Ezra viii. 7, v. 1, 1 Chron. xxvii. 21), said to
mean "timely, or loving." The etymology is not
satisfactory. Possibly it is contracted from ■in^'^n^. or
i^^'^^T' adaijahu or jadaltiah, and signifies "he wor-
ships Jah."
Jeatekai, 'D^^] (1 Chron. vi. 21), "He is firm, or stedfast;"
possibly a variant of '^'^y., or ~0r^\, Jethro.
Jeberechiah, •'''^^9'^?- (Isa. viii. 2), "Jah blesses."
Jebus, D-n'; (Judg. xix. 10), etymology doubtful; probably
from ]'*?y, 'he shines, or glitters,' 'he is high, lofty,
or distinguished.' Possibly a variant of Jabez.
Jecoliah, "^,7?: (2 Chron. xxvi. 3), "Jehovah shows himself
strong."
630
Jedaiah, ^ly,, also ^^Jy. (1 Clirou. iv. 37), " Jehovah cares,
or kno^ys."
Jediael, ^^'^'^''y (1 Chroii. vii. 6), " El cares, or knows."
Jedidah, >^yy (2 Kings xxii. 1), " Jah is a friend."
Jedidiah yyy (2 Sam. xii. 25), " The friend of Jah."
Jeduthan, 1-in-^"'* (1 Chron. ix. 16), " Praising," " The leader
of the hand " ?
Jehiah, '"'^^'T'.'' (1 Chron. xv. 24), "Jah lives;" or a variant
of '^']y, Jcliovah. The name was home hy a man
Avho was one of the door-keepers of the ark in the
time of David ; and it occurs in a chapter in which
the majority of cognomens are compounded with Jah.
It very naturally recalls the passage — " One shall say,
I am the Lord's, and another shall call himself by
the name of Jacob, and another shall subscribe with
his hand unto the Lord and surname himself by the
name of Israel" (Isa. xliv. 5); which shows that
venerated names were sometimes adopted by the
Jews.
Jehiel, ^^y. (2 Chron. xxix. 14), " El lives."
Jehoadah, r^y'^y (i Chron. viii. 36), "Jah is lovely."
Jehoaddan, ]y)^\ (2 Kings xiv. 2), " Jah is lovely." " Yeho
is the provider of sexual pleasure " (Flirst).
Jehoahaz, "^^^y (2 Kings x. 35), " Jehovah attaches, or
helps."
Jehoash, ^^y (2 Kings xi. 21), "Fire of Jah," or "Jah
is fire."
Jehohanan, \iyy (1 Chron. xxvi. 3), " Jehovah has given."
Jehoiachin, Vy}y (2 Kings xxiv. 6), " Jehovah establishes."
Jehoiada, y^yi^l (2 Sam. viii. 18), " Jah is lovely, or wise."
Jehoiakim, ^y}y (2 Kings xxiii. 24), " Jehovah sets up."
Jehoiarib, '^'''}''}y (1 Chron. ix. 10), " Jehovah will defend."
Jehonadab, "^y^y (2 Sam. xiii. 15), Jehovah gives freely."
Jehoram, ^yy (1 Kings xxii. 50), " Jah is high."
631
Jehoshaphat, t^D^'i.T (2 Sam. viii. 10), " Jeliovali judges."
Jehoshkba, y^C'in^ (2 Kings xi. 2), "Jehovah is the heaven,"
or " Jah is sevenfold."
Jehovah, '^l'^] (Gen. ii. 4). This word may be rendered by
" Yeho is Jah." (See Jah.)
Jehozabad, "^^r^: (2 Kings xii. 21), "Jehovah gave," or
" gift of Jehovah."
Jehozadak, P']y'^^] (] Chron. vi. 14), "Jah is righteous."
Jehu, ^-in;; (1 Kings xvi. 1), a variant of Jah, or " Jehovah
is he." It is deserving of notice that Jehu, whose
name is ahnost identical with the supreme God
amongst the Assyrians and the Israehtes, was the
one who abolished the worship of Baal in Israel.
Jehiibbah, narr; (i Chron. vii. 34), "Jah is pm-ity."
Jehuchal, ^?'1^^ (Jerem. xxxvii. 3), "Jah is powerful."
Jehud, '^^^\ (Josh. xix. 45), "Jah is majesty." (See Judah.)
Jehudi, ''y^] (Jerem. xxxiv. 9), "Loved by Jah," or simply
" a Jew."
Jekabzeel, '''!^^*9P^ (Nehem. xi. 25), "El gathers."
Jekameam, ^^J^P\ (1 Chron. xxiii. 19), " The Mother gathers; "
Ciy being written ^IN, to obliterate the idea that any
Jew could be called after Astarte.
Jekamiah, >^l^P] (1 Chron. ii. 41), "Jah gathers."
Jekuthiel, ^'^''^•Ip' (1 Chron. iv. 18). Etymology doubtful.
" El is Almightiness " (Fiirst).
Jemimah, nmp*^ (Job xlii. 14), "A dove" (Gesenius) ; "the
pure " (Fiirst). Possibly " the pure virgins."
Jemuel, ^^-1^^^ (Gen. xlvi. 10), "El is the beginning" ? from
^^^, (tmah, ' head, foundation, beginning.' " El is
splendour " (Fiirst), from ^\ (Compare Abimiel,
Ammah.)
Jephthah, nriD^ (Judg. xi. 1), " The beautiful gazelle"? from
^r!> japheli, ' beautiful, good, excellent,' and ixn, tho,
' gazelle ; ' or we may derive it from ^^\, japhc, ' beauty,'
632
Jephthah] and ^\'i}, tarali, an old word whicli signifies 'to
dwell.' Hence the Avord might he "the abode of
beauty," a name which ^vould be applicable to him if
given b}- the historian : or we may derive it from ''^!,
japlii, "beauty, brightness, splendour,' and i^^^, jxtthah,
'to persuade, or seduce (whence ttsiSm, 'I persuade,'
' the goddess of persuasion : ' and Pithom and Python).
This derivation would make the word signify " His
beauty seduces." It is possible that it signifies "Jah is
Phthah," the latter being the name of a god of Egypt.
This derivation is the more probable, as we find a
variant of the word Pethahiah (Ezra x. 23). It is
evident that Fiirst favours the idea, for he translates
theAvord as "a breaker through," from ^0?, i-i'-, ' caus-
ing to bear,' viz., Jah is : if it be not already in itself
an epithet of the supreme deity, like the Egyptian
Phtah, and Phcenician Pataic, from the same stem.
If we adopt this idea, we find another evideuce of the
association between Jah and Mahadeva; for it is clear
that " the breaker through which causes to bear " is
the same as Baal Peor. When v\-e remember that
Jephthah was the son of a harlot, or strange woman ;
that he was also a mighty man of valour, and that he
subsequently sacrificed his daughter ; we can believe
that he bore a coarse name, and had a faith very
similar to those who adored the Creator under his
mundane emblem.
Jepthel-el, '^^"'^^t'.^ (Joshua xix. 14) ''' El, the beautiful
gazelle." "El is a begetter" (Fiirst).
Jerah, n-i^^ (Gen. x. 26), " The Moon," from an old nT=. pn^,
* to be yellow.'
Jerahmeel, '^^^onT (i Chron. ii. 9), "El is a pitier'^ (Furst).
Jeremiah, "^l^^y. (2 Kings xxiii. 31), " Jah is high."
The prophet Jeremiah, who lived during the last
(533
Jeremiah] clays of the Davidic dynasty, and who saw the over-
throvv of Jerusalem, is a character full of interest to
the historian. 13cing a priest, he was familiar with
the learning which the office involved, and, being
literary, he was able to commit to writing whatsoever
he chose. There is strong reason to believe from
the style of his writing tliat he penned the book of
Deuteronomy, which is supposed to be the copy
of the law found in the temple in the time
of Josiah. Yv'hether this supposition be true or
false, it is very remarkable that Jeremiah makes
more familiar use of the story of Israel in Egjpt
than any of his predecessors. To select one passage
out of many, " Cursed be the man that obeyeth not
the words of this covenant, which I commanded your
fathers in the day that I brought them forth out
of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying,
Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which
I command you : so shall ye be my people, and
I will be your God ; that I may perform the oath
which I have sworn unto your fathers, to give them a
land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day"
(Jer. xi. 3-5). Again, like the second Isaiah, who
wrote about the end of the Babylonish captivity, he
mentions Moses, whose name throughout the Old
Testament is almost ignored, except in the Pentateuch,
and in the early part of the books of Kings, and
amongst those who returned from Chaldiea (see
Isaiah Ixiii. 11 ; Jer. xv. 1 ; 2 Kings xxiii. 25).
Not only do we find in the writings of the
prophet a reference to the covenant generally, but we
see also an allusion to the Sabbath day, as if it
had been of recent appointment, and one which
had found no favour. " Thus saith the Lord ;
634
Jee^emiah] Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on
the Sabbath day, nor bring- it in by the gates of
Jerusalem ; neither carry forth a burden out of your
houses on the Sabbath day, neither do ye any work,
but hallow ye the Sabbath day, as I commanded your
fathers. But they obeyed not, neither inclined their
ear," &c. This is followed by other verses, promising
permanence to the city and a continuance of the
Davidic dynasty if the Sabbath is kept, but lasting
destruction if the ordinance be neglected (Jer. xvii.
21-27). Here again it is singular that the second
Isaiah should be in such close accord with Jeremiah,
for Ave find him declaring, " Thus saith the Lord unto
the eunuchs that keep my Sabbaths, and choose the
things that please me, and take hold of my covenant ;
even unto them will I give in mine house a name
better than of sons and of daughters ; I will give
them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off"
(Isa. Ivi. 4, 5). (See S-ABBATh, infra.)
There is, moreover, a very remarkable resemblance
in the style of thought which permeates the books of
Deuteronomy and Jeremiah. In the former there
is a recitation of the deeds which God has done to
show His power, a promulgation of His laws, a
denunciation of the gods and j^ractices of the heathen,
a stedfast promise of prosperity if those laws are
adhered to, and a fierce threatening of wrath if they
are neglected. There is precisely the same in the
latter ; at one time there is an assurance that the
Lord will most certainly destroy the city and kingdom,
on account of the atrocious wickedness of Manasseh
(ch. XV. 1-6); then again Jeremiah assures the people
thus: "Therefore now amend your ways and your
doings, and obey the voice of the Lord your God ;
635
Jeremiah] and the Lord will repent Him of tlie evil that He
hath pronounced against you" (cli. xxvi. 13; see also
vii. 3-7). In both books too is found the same funda-
mental idea, that the Jews are especially a chosen race,
and that human power will always be weak before
them, provided only they arc obedient to the priest-
hood who announce to them the law of Jehovah.
There seems to have been a total ignorance of the
maxim enunciated by the great Frederick, Que le hoii
Bleu est toujours au cote des i^us gros hattaillons ;
consequently, when the nation was overpowered by
numbers, recourse was had to religious rites, rather
than to the ordinary practices of diplomacy. The
decadence of Judtea's power being attributed to the
vengeance of the Almighty, it was natural for the
people to consider under which of all His names He
had been neglected. Under the title of Jehovah,
God had been painted to them as sending dreadful
plagues upon their fathers in the desert ; under His
rule they had been subjected to many ruthless
conquerors during the times of the Judges; under it,
too, the kingdom had been broken up, Jerusalem
plundered by the Kings of Egypt ; and under it, too,
Josiah was destroyed by Necho. On the other hand,
the gods of Moab, Ammou, Media, Philistia, Syria,
Egypt, Israel, Assyria and Chaldsea had been suc-
cessful in warfare ; and the chosen of the Lord had
been routed by the gods of those very nations which
they were told to bear an enduring hatred to.
Under these circumstances, the people adopted the
plan suggested by the magician to Thalaba, viz., "If
Allah does not save, call on the powers that will."
This adoption of the gods, the ritual, and practice
of Judah's most formidable enemies very naturally
636
Jeremiah: exasperated the prophets of Jehovah, for it was a
practical proof that their assertions were not to
be trusted, and that piety was not an adequate
shield against powerful armies ; a dogma the truth
of which all history has demonstrated.
Beyond the constant and almost unvarying denun-
ciation of God's wrath against Jerusalem, and vague
joromises for the future, there is very little to be
found in the book Jeremiah except a declaration of
his policy, that it was advisable for the nation quietly
to submit to the Chaldfeans. He assures them that
*' the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of
the King of Babylon, and serve him, those Avill I let
remain still in their own land, saith the Lord ; and
they shall till it, and dwell therein " (Jerem. xxvii. 11).
We seek in vain throughout Jeremiah for any
prophecy, worthy of the name, which has been fulfilled,
except indeed in those cases where one has been written
after the event. There are, on the other hand, many
which are notably incorrect. Let us take, for exam-
ple, the v\'eIl-kuown verses, " The days come, saith the
Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch,
and a King shall reigii and prosper, and shall execute
judgment and justice in the earth. In his days
Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely ;
and this is his name whereby he shall be called, The
Lord our Eighteousness " (ch. xxiii. 5, 6), to which is
added (xxxiii. 17, IS), "For thus saith the Lord, David
shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the
house of Israel ; neither shall the priests the Levites
want a man before me to offer burnt-offerings, and
to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continu-
ally." Now it is perfectly clear that this vaticina-
tion has reference to a temporal Davidic king who
637
Jeremiah] should restore and keep up the old sacrificial
customs, and cannot by any possibility refer to a
spiritual king who abolished sacrifices, and in whose
time neither Judah nor Israel was safe. We must
also add to this so-called prophecy another, which
distinctly depicts Jeremiah's meaning ; " Then shall
there enter into the gates of this city kings and
princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in
chariots and on horses, they and their princes, the
men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and
this city shall remain for ever. And they shall come
from the cities of Judah . . . bringing burnt-offer-
ings, and sacrifices, and meat-offerings, and incense,
and bringing sacrifices of praise unto the house of
the Lord" (ch. xvii. 25, seq., and xxii. 4).
Whatever may be our opinion of Jeremiah as a
prophet, in the ordinary sense of the word, we may
fairly give him credit for describing those religious
practices of the nation — which he specially abhors.
Whether these were indigenous with what I would
call the " aborigines " whom David conquered, or
whether they ^,vere imported from neighbouring
nations, is of little consequence to us, who are
seeking the primitive faith which was held by the
inhabitants of Canaan generally. By collating these
accounts with those which are given by Ezekiel, we
shall get a moderately clear insight into the early
religion of the Phoenicians. We take "them in the
order in which they occur.
"Saying to a stock {XV., etz=-' a shortish cylindrical
tree stump,' or anything that is round) Thou art my
father (^^^* ahi), and to a stone (P^^* chcn), Thou hast
begotten me." From this we cannot fail to see that
Mahadeva, under the form of an upright stone or a
638
Jeremiah] block of wood, both of which are his emblems,
wns worshipped as the Creator (ch. ii. 27 ; compare
iii. 2, 6, 9). Again (ii. 34): "Also in thy skirts is
found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents,"
which we supplement by — "they sacrificed their sons
and their daughters unto devils (^^7'^ sJiedlm — ' the
powerful ones,' the plural of Shaddai, one of the
names of the Almighty), and shed innocent blood,
even the blood of their sons and of their daughters,
whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan ; and
the land was polluted with blood" (Ps. cvi. 37, 38).
Again, " Seest thou not what they do in the cities
of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem ? The
children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire,
and the women knead their dough to make cakes
(^''?Jr, cnnini, see Buns; Fiirst, s.v. P^ ; and compare
Kovvlc) to the queen of heaven (^^f'^'? ^p^'p? '>nele-
chcth ha-shainaiim), and to pour out drink-ofterings
unto other gods " (ch. vii. 18). This is rendered
more fully in ch. xliv. 15, scq. " Then all the men
which knew that their wives had burned incense unto
other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great
multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land
of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah saying. As
for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the
name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee.
But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth out
of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of
heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings unto her, as
we have done, we, and our fathers, our kliu/s, and our
2)r'uices, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of
Jerusalem ; for then had we plenty of victuals, and
were well, and saw no evil. But since we left off to
burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour
639
Jeremiah] out driuk-offerings unto her, wo have wanted all
things, and have been consumed by the sword, and
by the famine. And when we burned incense to the
queen of heaven, and poured out drink-offerings unto
her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour
out our drink-offerings unto her without our men
(•1:''L^':x an-isli-nu = our husbands or male consorts) ?"
This cogent argument of the women, Jeremiah met
by one equally powerful, viz., that they were now
afflicted because, in paying attention to the lady of
heaven, they had neglected the Lord. Without
dwelHng upon the worthlessness of both allegations,
we remark how completely both the women and the
Prophet acknowledge that the kings of Judah did
worship the celestial virgin.
Again, we find that astrology was cultivated
amongst the Jewish people in the later days of the
monarchy, just as it had been amongst the Egyptians
from time immemorial. See, for example, the verse,
" And they [the Chaldeans] shall spread them [the
bones of the kings, princes, and priests of Judah]
before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of
heaven, whom the}- have loved, and whom they have
served, and after whom they have walked, and whom
thay have sought, and whom they have worshipped,"
&c. (ch. viii. 2); compare this with Deut. iv. 19,
"And lest thoa lift up thine eyes to heaven, and
when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the
stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be
driven to worship them, and serve them," &c. A
conjunction of texts which, when coupled with the
absence of homage to the hosts of heaven during the
early times of the monarchy, gives us great reason to
associate together the writer of Deuteronomy and
640
Jeremiah] Jeremiah. That Jeremiah felt strongly about the
astrological studies of the heathen is very evident,
from his recurring to the subject in the tenth chapter,
e. a., " Be not dismayed at the signs of heaven/^ for
the heavens are dismayed at them " (ch. x. 2).
Jeremiah then describes an idol : " One cutteth
a tree out of the forest with the axe, they deck it
with silver and gold ; they fasten it with nails and
hammers, that it move not; they are upright as the
palm tree, but speak not ; .... but they are all brut-
ish and foolish ; the stock {TV, etz) is a doctrine of
vanities " (ch. x. 3-8). It is clear that these idols
were nothing more than the rudest form of the
phallus, analogous to IpiJ-ai, liomai, of the Greeks
(see Ancient Pillar Stones and Cairns, by T. Inman,
M. D., pp. 36, Liverpool, Holden, 1867). That this
adoration of the sexual emblems was associated with
the gross practices current elsev\diere, Ave conclude
from the following passage : I have seen thy adulte-
ries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whore-
dom, and thine abominations on the hills in the
fields " (ch. xiii. 27 ; compare Isa. Ixv. 7, and Ezek.
vi. 13). From ch. xiv. 13, 14, we learn that there
were a vast number of prophets in Jerusalem, just
89 We may again take the ojiportniiity thus afforded us to express our belief that
astronomy was not cultivated Ijy the Jews until they came into contact with the
Babylonians. Throughout the whole of their nomenclature, there is scarcely a
single name v/'hich seems to demonstrate any knowledge of the heavens, beyond that
which every one must possess from his own observation. Hence it has been found
unnecessary in the preceding pages to enter upon the subject of theology, as
Dupuis has done in his celebrated work, lich'f/i'n UniverseUe. When the present
inquiry was instituted, the Author expected that he would find Sabreanism, or
celestial philosophy, at the base of every difficult problem ; but as he proceeded, the
absence of such presumed science was more and more evident. After a while, a
suspicion arose in his mind whether his being unable to find maiks of astrology was
not a proof that the deductions which he had drawn were wrong ; and it was long
ere he could form the conclusion enunciated above with any certainty.
G41
Jeeemiaii] fis there were in other cities ; and that divination
was a sort of profession. It is clear also that, in the
competition for custom, the seers professed to see
such visions as were most likely to he ])leasant to
the popular mind.
Yery shortly afterwards we alight upon a custom
common in Jerusalem, which reminds us very
strongly of the ' wakes,' that are held hy the Irish
over their dead. The analogy is all the more curious
when we rememher the many traces of antiquity in
Old Ireland, which tell of Phcenician influence.
The custom which we refer to consists in the relatives,
friends, and acquaintances of the deceased assembling
around his corpse, for one or more nights after the
death, and there celebrating a great orgy, eating and
drinking, singing and bewailing, recounting the vir-
tues and applauding the valour of the one who lies
before them. In these cases, there are few who do
not become the 'worse for liquor.' Compare this
now with Jerem. xvi. 6-8 : " Both the great and
the small shall die in this land; they shall not be
buried, neither shall men lament for them, nor cut
themselves, nor make themselves bald for them;
neither shall they break bread for them in mourn-
ing, to comfort them for the dead; neither shall
men give them the cup of consolation to drink for
their father or for their mother. Thou shalt not also
go into the house of feasting, to sit with them to eat
and to drink." In the nineteenth chapter we alight
upon a custom which tells us very clearly of the
horrible practices then prevalent : "Because they have
filled this place with the blood of innocents ; they have
built also the high places of Baal to burn their sons
with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal; therefore,"
s s
642
Jeremiah] Szc, (cli, xix. 4-6.) But if we tire horrified
fit tliis custom, still more so are we at the puiiisli-
ment wliicli the Prophet threatens in retribution.
"I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sous and
the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat everj^
one the flesh of his friend " (ch. xix. 9). In other
words, the Prophet says — ' Because you have mur-
dered your children from religious motives, you shall
be compelled to kill more of them, and to eat them
too ! ' It is difiicult to understand to which of the
two this matter would be most penal, the one who
was killed and eaten, or the one who, killing that he
might eat, got enough to keep him alive (compare ch,
xxxii. 84-40).
From the thirteenth verse of the same chapter Ave
find that the roofs of houses were a common place
from which incense might be ofiered to the host of
heaven, and drink-offerings poured ; hence we learn
that religious worship was domestic as well as public,
and we conclude that there were family prayers then
as now, though differently conducted.
There is in the twenty-sixth chapter a remarkable
illustration of the absence of, or else an utter contempt
for, "Extradition Treaties;" since we find that the
Jewish king sends a body of men into the dominion
of the King of Egypt, simply to fetch a Hebrew
prophet who has sought refuge on the banks of the
Nile. It is clear from this that there was no great
respect for frontiers in those days.
We pass by the episode to Avhich we have before
referred, wherein Jeremiah and the Hebrew women in
Egypt diff"er in their respective estimates of the value
of the offeiings to the Queen of heaven, and go for-
wards to ch. xlviii. 37, in which we have curious
643
JEEEMi.m] particulars about certain ceremonies of mourning,
e. g., " For ever}' head shall be bald, and every beard
clipped ; upon all the hands shall be cuttings, and
upon the loins sackcloth;" an extremely inconvenient
method of showing one's grief. No sooner have
we written the words, than the recollection starts
upon the mind that there was a law which prohibited
the adoption of this custom of Moab amongst the
Israelites, viz., "Ye shall not make any cuttings in
your flesh for the dead" (Lev. xix. 28) ; and again,
Lev. xxi. 5, says, " They shall not make baldness
upon their head, neither shall they shave off the
corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their
flesh." When a custom and a law are thus stated,
the philosopher believes that the law was intended
to abrogate the custom, or to prevent its adoption.
In either case, we must conclude that the prohibition
in Leviticus was made subsequently to the time when
the Jews knew that the practices in question existed
amongst the Moabites, and this we infer was sub-
sequent to the time of David and Solomon.
After this we find no more references to local
customs, which are Avorthy our consideration ; but we
see that the pen of Jeremiah, like that of Isaiah, has
been taken up by a supplemental writer, Avho lived
in a period subsequent to that of the Jeremiah who
went to Egypt, very probably after the destruction of
Babylon. I must, however, call the attention of the
reader to the forty-ninth chapter in the boolv, in
wdiich Jeremiah speaks of the prospective destruction
of Edom ; and I would then direct his eye to the
twenty-fifth chapter of 2 Chronicles, wherein we find
that Amaziah destroyed the Edomites ; and lastly, I
would invite him to peruse the first chapter of Amos,
6U
Jeremiah] wherein the Edomites fire rei^resented as pur-
chasing the cai)tives of Jerusalem for slaves. As a
nation cannot be destroyed and again resuscitated
in the course of a few years, we must oppose the
testimony of the writer of Chronicles to that of Jere-
miah and Amos, and as both are partially supported
hy Joel, we conclude that the book of ''Chronicles "
cannot be depended upon as being historically true.
(See Joel.)
Now throughout the book of Jeremiah, we find
that every evil which happens to Judah is caused
by her iniquities ; these she has adopted from her
neighbours ; and yet they are the whips which scourge
her. This leads us to consider the question, "Is it
better to regard tribulation as the consequence of
national guilt, or as the result of violating certain laws
of nature ? Is it better to adopt the judgment of
Jeremiah, or that of the Saviour, given thus; 'There
were present at that season some that told him of the
Galiloeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their
sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them,
Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above
all the Galiheans, because they suffered such things ?
I tell you. Nay,' &c. (Luke xiii. 1-S) " There are
few thoughtful minds that cannot readily reply to the
question thus propounded.
Jeeemoth, r^\}yi\ (i chron. vii. 8), " The high ones," or
" fearing Miith." (See Jeeimoth.)
Jeribai, '^'y, (1 Chron. xi. 46), " Jah is a leader in combat,"
the n being elided.
Jeeicho, inn^^ (Numb. xxii. 1), This Avord is spelled i''^^,
(Josh. ii. 1), and nhn^^ (1 Kii^g.g ^^.|^ g^^^ -p^,^^_^
there being three different forms of etymology, we
infer that there is something which the Scribes have
646
Jekicho] attempted to conceal. Now avc have already found
that ■1'^^, yalio or yaliu, was one of the ancient names
of the Almighty amongst the Canaanites, and was
reproduced amongst the Hebrews as i^^, jaJt, or ^y^],
Jehovah. We have also found that the redactors of
the Old Testament in Hebrew adopted a variety of
plans whereby to obliterate the existence of their
own sacred name amongst the heathen around them.
"We can readily understand their motive, for the
occurrence of the title ^^\ in a Canaauite town
would contradict the assertion that the sacred name
was first communicated to Moses by God himself;
consequently, we conclude that \n\ T\n\ and in all
represent •in'-. The first element of the word is
probably ^"^l', yarc, or '^^'^'., irah, which signifies
" fearing, or reverencing." The whole name there-
fore may be read as " reverencing Yaho, or Jah, or
Jehovah." This interpretation makes the name of
the town accord with the most common plan of
nomenclature; and we must add that it is a more
probable one than that previously adopted, viz.,
" fragrant with spices," or " a fragrant place," for
" spices " are not indigenous in Palestine, nor are
any towns fragrant. We shall see in the next word
that ^^, el, is used instead of n% jah, whilst in the
ne which follows that we have the very name which
we believe to have been borne by the town first
conquered by the Jews on their entrance into
Palestine.
Jeriel, ^i^'l] (1 Chron. vii. 2), "Fearing El;" «T. and ^^,
or " He reverences El."
Jeeijah, -inn;, or nn^ (1 Chron. xxvi. 31), "Fearing Jah,"
or " He reverences Jah." (See Jemcho.)
Jekimoth, nion^ (i Chron. vii. 7), probably u variant of
646
Jepjmoth] Jeremoth, " Fearing Mutli, or Mot," (See p.
560, note).
Jeeioth, ri'^i^'l' (1 Cliron. ii. 18), "Curtains" (Gesenius) ?
' shyness, timidity ' (Fiirst) ; probably altered from
the preceding word, the y being used in place of ID.
We recognise thus, in four consecutive cognomens,
four different sacred names, Yaho, El, Jah, and
Moth, and the Avorship of as many forms of God.
Jeeoboam, ^py^ (1 Kings xi. 26), " The mighty mother,"
from ^y^, yareh, and 2>^5, cm, the n being used, as it
frequently is, instead of y. We are assisted some-
times, in our search after an etymon, by considering a
few coltateral circumstances. Thus, for example, Ave
find that Jeroboam is a native of Epeath, v/hich
tells of the worship of the heifer ; and that he was
addicted to the worship of the calves we know, inas-
much as he established it in Israel. His mother's
name, again, is Zeruah, which signifies " she drops
forth," or " full-breasted." When we find the female
element to be so marked in the names which are
associated with Jeroboam, we conclude that tlie expla-
nation of his name, as given above, is the correct one.
Jeeoham, ^^y (1 Sam. i. 1), " A beloved, or favoured one "
(Furst).
Jeeubbesheth, ^'^'^■y. (2 Sam. xi. 21) ; also Jeeubbaal,
'''^^y (Judges vi. 32), " Baal is mighty," or " Jerab
is Baal, or shame." ^°
80 It is desirable to notice hore the connecticu of tlie names JcnihhaaJ, Jevuhhe-
sJieth, aucl Gideon. The hxst represents the union of Gad, the Phosniciau Venus,
and On, the masculine deity. If we take Jareb to mean ' mighty,' or equivalent to
Asshur, the iirst name -will signify "Baal is mighty," or " Baal is the Phallus." A
later writer, who has found this last cognomen under his pen, has, according to the
modern custom, been disgusted that the name of Baal should be held oy so worthy an
Hebrew warrior as the coutiueror of the Midiauites, and has changed the obnoxious
word for besheth, which signifies ' shame.' We have other specimens of this kind of
alteration in lahhosheth and IVlephiios/je£/( , names given by the writer in Samnel for
647
Jeeuel, '?^^•n^ (2 Chron. xx. IG), "God founded/" probably a
variant of Jemel.
Jerusalem, D'^L-'n^ (Josli. x. 1), "The abode of peace.""'
from -ns 'u'li, and i^?^*, sldctDi, 'place of prosperity.'
We postpone tlie consideration of this city and its
people until our next volume.
Jeeusha, ^'^''•I"'';, or ^^-l"!^ (2 Kings xv. 33), " Possession, i. e.
of Jah,' (Fiirst).
Jes, I H S. Pliggins, in his Anacaljjpsifi, to which I have
already referred, and in his Celtic Druids, gives the
following account of this Avell-known cipher. " But
the most curious of all the monograms of Christ, is
that inadvertently adopted by the Protestants from
the Piomish monks of the dark ages. It is of no great
consequence, but it is rather curious. *PH, j^re, or
2'>hre, is a word which Martianus Capella, in his hymn
to the Sun, tells us was expressed in three letters,
making up the number 608.
" Salve vera Deiim facies, vultusque paternre
Octo et sexcentis muncris, cui litera triiia
Couformet sacrum nomeu, cosuomeu, ot Oraeu."^-
Eslibaal and Meribbaal, tlie sou aud grandson of Saul ; aud Eliada for Beliada, a
son of Da^ad. We recognise in tlie words, I tbiulc, — 1. A heathen or Phoenician
name; 2. A uarr.'.tive made to account for its being possessed by an Israelite;
3. That a later wi'iter, who has transmitted the story, has thought it belter to mutilate
the name, than to perpetuate one which his association with Assyria or Babylon
has told him might signify " the mighty Bel," or " Bual is the masculine member."
^1 There are very many words in Greek compounded with "pos, sacred, of
which 'lepouo-a-yrj/ji, or Jerusalem, was one; all contain the idea of being possessed by,
or being the abode of, the Deity. Salora signifies ' peace,' and to" the sacred city
peace was alw.ays promised. The expression, " abundance of peace so long as the
moon endureth " (Psalm Ixxii. 7), is an evidence of the belief that peace was a gieat
earthly blessing. The name in the Cuneiform is read as Ursalimma, 'the perfect
city ' ?
92 The whole passage from which this is quoted, is given in Anacahjpsis, pp.
191, 192, and is thus translated : " Latium calls thee Sol, because thou alone art in
honour, after the Father, the centre of light ; .and they affirm that thy sacred head
bears a golden brightness in twelve rays, because thou formest that number of
months and that number of hours. They s.ay that thou guidest four vdupau steeds,
648
JesI
608
" But tli8 Coptic numerals not corresponding with
those of the Greeks, they formed the word Y H S, as
an enigmatical name for the sun, or Bacchus, from
their numerals,
T = 400
H = 8
S = 200
608
because thou alone rnlest the chariot of the elements. For dispelliDg the darlmessi
thou revealest the, sliiuiug heavens. Ilc-nce they esteem thee Phffihus, the discoverer
of the secrets of the future ; or liecause tliou preventest nocturnal crimes. Egj^pt
worships thee as Isfsau Serapis. and Memphis as Osiris. Thou art worshipped by
different rites, as Mithra, Dis, and the cruel Typhon. Thou art also the beautiful
Atys, and the fostering sou of the bent plough. Thou art the Ammou of arid
Libya, and the Adonis of Byblos. Thus, under a varied appellation, the whole
world worships thee. Hail, thou true image of the Gods, and of thy Father's face.
Thou loliose sacred name, surname, and omen, three letters, make to agree with the
number COS. Grant us, O Father, to reach the ethciial intercourse of mind, and
to know the starry heaven under this sacred name. May the great and universally
adorable Father increase these his favours." (JMartianus, CajKlla de NujJtiis
rhilologice, lib. ii., p. 32).
I have already remarked how Christ has been identified with the sacred fish
under his name ''■x^v';, and thus made to represent a sort of modern Dagou ; and
whilst this sheet was going through the jDress, I found, in a very interesting work,
entitled To2vers and Temj^les of Ancient Ireland, by Marcus Keaue (Hodges, Smith
& Co., Dublin, 1867), p. 126, a copy of a small piece of sculpture, from an ancient
Irish cross at Kells, in county Meath, wherein seven figures are all bent in devotion
before a long narrow upright fish, with a forked tail; thus evidently representing
the Yoni. On the same page is also depicted a mermaid, who holds in her hand
a book, and who is marked at the lower part of the abdomen with a ring. This,
which IS copied from a sculpture in the cathedral of Clontarf, county Galway, is
almost au exact representatiou of Dagon, except in sex ; or of such figures as are
to be seen in Fig. 19, p. 11'2, aud Fig. 96, p. .029.
Christ has also been identified by St. John with the Greek Adyo?, under the form
of <1.«5. I-Ie resembles the Egyptian Horus, the Etruscan Janus, and the Latin Sol ;
in the first verse of the Gospel by that Evangelist, we find them described as
eijuivaleut to croc^ta, "the Eu Soph, the endless, the boundless," of the Kabbalah.
649
Jes] "This is the real origin of our I H S, Jcsns
Homiitiuii Salvator, mistaken by the Priests of Ftome,
and copied by ours." This monogram j j i is of
the same kind ; it is X H ; and X = 600 ; H - 8,
[CcUic Dniids, p. 128 : London, 1827. Compare
also Anacalypsis, pp. 191, 192.)
For the benefit of those who are not familiar
with such matters, I may mention that amongst
the Assyrians, Babylonians, PhoBnicians, Greeks,
Egyptians, Jews and others, letters were used as
figures, in addition to their ordinary purpose. The
coincidence Avas occasionally used to determine difii-
cult questions, just as certain occurrences in the
world are reduced to figures by those who compile
lottery books for the people in Ptome who desire to
find "lucky" numbers. For example, we find in one
The ITHJ, naliiiu, of tlie Clialdee, whose origiu wtis in:, nahar, "tlie shining one;"
and min, tomh, brother of nin, tor, 'au ox,' or iumus, 'the Lull; ' aud rrpn, tushiu,
which ^siguiiies alike '■ wisdoiu, aid, counsel," and also "to rnahe erect."
As the Evaugelist, and all the other early Christian writers, desired to show
that in Him dwelleth "all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" (Colos. ii. 9),
we cannot be surprised that laier writers endeavoured to sliow that He was the
embodiment of every deity, which had ever been called God or Lord. He was
not Dagon, but if that being hud any power, it was only by Him that it came;
and He therefore had a right to assume the style and title and attributes of any
power which He overcame, just as a warrior is entitled to bear the arms and armour
of the vanquished, and to sit on his throne. This idea is prominently put forward
by 3t. Paul, in the words, "having spoiled priucipalities and powers, he made a
show of them openly, triumphing over them in it (or himself) " (Colos. ii. 1.5).
The mingling of Cliristiau doctrine with Pagan practice, which arose from this
idea, has come down from the time of St. Paul to our own days. When writing to
the Galatiaus, he says, " But now after that ye have Imowu God, or rather are
Iniown of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereuuto ye
desire again to be in bondage? Ye obsoivo days, and mouths, and times, and yeai-s.
I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour iu vaiu " (G.al. iv. 9-11).
If the Apostle were writing to Christian Europe now, his worc's would be far
more weighty, for our Churches teem with symbols drawn from the heathen temples;
our priests are robed with vestments resembling those which covered pagau hierarchs ;
our worship is swelled out with litanies based upon those uttered to Baal ; we
reiterate our prayers, that we may be heard by our much bpeakiug; we observe days.
650
Jes] of tlie Cuueatic inscriptions, that tlie Idug determines
to bnilcl a certain structure, so that the measurement
in cubits of its side shall coincide with the number
of his name. This coincidence was "played upon"
in every possible form by Hebrew writers, and pro-
bably by those of other nations. Amongst the former,
the art of interpreting "names" by "numbers,"
and "numbers" by "names," received the name
KnLJnj, which is a form of the Greek ypa[j.fjiaTeia.
(See Ginsburg, The Kahhalah, p. 181, London :
Longmans, 1865 ; and Coheleth, p. 31 ; 1861.)
The illustration of this subject, however, which
is most familiar to the English reader, is the very
remarkable text, " Here is wisdom. Let him that hath
understanding count the number of the beast; for
it is the number of a man; and his number is six
and months, and years as rigorously as the Greeks and Eomaus ; aud dedicate to
saints, mamifactured for the purpose, the identical days which onr idolatrous fore-
fathers regarded with veneration. We have promoted the Virgin Mary to the place
iu heaven from which Ishtar was deposed, and with the " mild sway of the gentle
Jesus," there has been inaugurated a hloody-miudedness on earth, which has culmi-
nated in human sacrifice ; for what were the fires of Smithfield and the Autos daft
of Spain, hut oflerings of human beings, made by fire, as an acceptable proof to
the Deity of hierarchical orthodoxy, aud as a gift to induce him to turn away that
fierce wrath which might come upon them, unless they exterminated heretics?
He who piayed for his murderers has been represented by brutal fanatics, who
showed their zeal by roasting iu His name the descendants of those v.'hom their
Master had pardoned on the ground of ignorance. V.'ho can read without horror
that a Christian " Bishop, Hinderbach, had the whole Jewish community at Trent
burned (1470), iu consequence of a base calumny that they had killed for their
Passover a Christian boy named Simon." Certainly, if we had to select into which
of two communities we would cast our lot, as being the most approximate to the
mind of Christ, we should prefer the rcviled, despised, rejected, aud persecuted
faith of ^the modern devout Jew, to the intolerant, fanatical, aud murderous faith
of the Eomish Christian, as represented by its fierce priests of Moloch, who show
their affinity mLh Satan by their aptitude in the use of demoniacal flames. We
have imported greater ferocity into our scheme of the lower world than the most
heathen nation of antiquity; aud have exceeded all the fancies of the Hindoo,
Etruscau, Greek, and Eomau, iu the Chribtiuu Hell. Oh for some modern Apostle,
to denounce us as we deserve ! yet, perchance, if one came, be would gain no more
attention that his Master did, wheu He preached to the priests of Jerusalem.
651
Jes] liuiuliecl three score and six " (Rev. xiii. 18). The
coiichision dra^Yn from this verse is, that the Apostle
had in his mind's eye — but whether prophetic or
otherwise none can know — some individual whom
he characterised as a beast, and, knowing his name,
the number thereof could well be given, without
libelling the man. To moderns, however, who know
nothing of what was going on in St. John's thoughts,
this number G66 has been the source of the wildest
absurdities. Some have attempted to prove that a
great vvarrior's name contained the number ; some
that it marked out an heresiarch ; and, strangest of
all attempts, some in our own times have endeavoured
to prove themselves to be designated by the myste-
rious number. There is indeed one individual, who
has endeavoured to make out that my cognomen, like
his own, brought me into the category of those, the
letters of whose name, when taken as Greek figures,
amounted to 666 ; but as I had no wish to be recog
nised as "a beast," I opposed the impeachment.
Jesaiah, ■1'"'*?': (1 Chron. iii. 21), " Jah the Saviour;" a
variant of Isaiah.
Jeshaiah, '^IV'^'] (1 Chron. iii. 21), "Jah is Salvation;"
variant of Isaiah.
Jeshanah, i^^^': (2 Chron. xiii. 19), "She shines;" from
1^', jashan, with n, li, the feminine suflix, having
reference to Astarte, or Ishtar.
Jeshaeelah, '"'^'>'1^1 (1 Chron. xxiv. 13), ".Jlight before
God " (Gesenius) ; " Belonging to Jesharel, or Israel "
(Fiirst). Probably a variant of '?\>'"'!'p^.* = 'El governs.'
(See Israel.)
Jeshebeab, ^^Wl (1 Chron. xxiv. 13), "The father is
enthroned."
Jesher, '^f'!. (1 Chron. ii. 18), " He is upright."
652
Jeshishai, ''P"^'7 (1 Cliron. v. 14), "He is very ancient."
Jeshohaiah, n^niL"^ (i Cliron. iv. 36), "Jehovah casts
clown."
Jeshua, V^^'l (1 Chron. xxiv. 11), " The Saviour."
Jeshurun, I'li'^'^^ (Dent, xxxii. 15), " The good httle people "
(Fiirst).
Jesimiel, ^'^f?''^'; (1 Chron. iv. 36), "El creates."
Jesse, V., or '^'''i^? (Ruth iv. 17, 1 Chron ii, 13), "The
upright one," or " my being, stay, support," possibly
" Jah is existence," from ^".'!, esli, '^l, jah, the n being
elided. I feel much diffidence in proposing "^l, with
elision of either letter as part of an etymon : 1,
because the whole word jah is very common in post-
Davidic words, and in them is but rarely shortened ;
2, because the word jah seems not to have been
known or used by the Jews prior to David's reign.
We can understand why the word jali should be
obliterated from heathen names, but it is not easy
to understand why it should be expunged from the
Hebrew cognomens.
Jethee, "i^X (Exod. iv. 18), "He abounds, excels, is
superior."
Jethro, '■'■'n^ (Exod. iv. 18), "He abounds, excels, is
superior," or "he is prominent;" a variant of the
preceding.
Jetheth, riD? (Numb. xxxv. 40), " The abounding ones," or
"the always ready ones;" or it may be the plural
from i^n^, = n-1^s'^ = 'the self-existent ones.'
Jethlah, n^n: (Josh. xix. 42), " The high one."
Jetur, "'•^'^) (Gen. xxv. 15), " Protector, or circle" (Fiirst).
Jeuel, Jeiel, Jehiel, ^^f^^^'' and ^^^V] (1 Chron. ix. 6),
probably "Jah is El;" -V = in'' = ' Yho, or Jah;'
thus the word is similar to Joel. It is possible that
the v/ords are corrected forms of ^^"^"il, the T replacing
653
Jeuel] 1 ; if so, the word signifies "El is firm/' and " the
strong upright one."
Jeus, V'^V] (1 Chron. viii. 10), " He is counsellor."
Jeush, ^''■l^: (Gen. xxxvi. 5, 14), Jah the collector, or
gatherer," a variant of Joash, which see.
Jew, Jews; '>1^*, °'>^^', jelnuli, jchiidim (2 Kings xvi. 6).
We propose in the ensuing volume to institute an
inquir,y into the most probable origin of the people
kno^n to us as Hebrews, Jews, or Israelites, and to
trace, as far as can be done, a comparison between
them and other nationalities. Our present impres-
sion is that there is a close resemblance between
the origin of Eomo and that of Jerusalem ; but it is
incompatible with our design to enter at length into
the subject here.
Jezebel, ^^i;^ (1 Kings xvi. 31). There is much difficulty
in explaining this name. Gesenius considers it to
mean, " without cohabitation ; " in which case we
presume the signification would be, " she is a -virgin,"
the reference being to the Alma Mater, Astarte, Isis,
Ceres, &c. Fiirst, on the other hand, considers that
it is a contracted form of '^^V^^, ahi-zehcl, and that
it signifies "the father enthroned on high;" zehel
being equivalent to vieon, and Jezebel similar to
Baal-meon.
But as both of these interpretations are unsatis-
factory, we shall attempt to find one that is more
appropriate. It is clear, from the name having
survived to our own day under the form of Isabel, or
Isabella, that it expressed both a popular and an
enduring idea. Of its Tyrian, or Phoenician, origin
we can\ave no doubt, seeing that it is common
amongst those nations where Tyrian or Carthaginian
Colonies existed. We therefore turn to the iuscrip-
654
Jezebel] tions which hnve recentl.y heeii exhumed at Car-
thage by Mr. Davis, and find, amongst a hundred and
eighty-nine names therein recorded, that eight are
compounds of Azcr and Baal, and one in which az is
joined to Melcarth. In all these instances the az is
spelled W- We are justified, therefore, in concluding
that there is some connection bet\veen Azer, or Az
Baal, of Carthage, and Jezebel, or Az-Baal, of Zidon;
and hence are lead to consider that the royal name
was written bynry, azhaal. Now '^V, a;:, signifies
"strong, powerful, or impetuous;" and '^l^^, azah,
means '"'he decides, judges, or rules." Of the two,
we select the former, as being the most probable
element in the etymology. Then considering that
^1, hel, is equivalent to ^^?, haal, we consider that
Jezebel signifies " the strong Baal," or " Baal is
strong;" and having once arrived at this conclusion,
we recognise that such a name was particularly
appropriate to one who was a devoted worshipper of
Baal.
When we examine into her character as it has
been handed down to us by her enemies, we find that
she had as exalted ideas of the powers of royalty as
any other despot, and did not scruple to destroy any
one who stood in her own, or in her husband's way.
But even in her tyranny she seems to have been a
constitutional monarch, and went through the forms
of law when she devised the death of Naboth. Since
her time there have been very many Christian kings,
eldest sons of the Church even, \A\o have immured
their subjects in prison, and allowed them to die there
without any form of law whatever. We find more-
over that Jezebel was as devotedly attached to the
faith in which she had been brought up, as our own
655
Jezebel] Queen Mary was to the old religion, and was as
hostile to those n-ho were desirous to examine their
own faith, as was our James II. to his Protestant
subjects. Wo cannot in our own history point to the
execution of the "prophets of the Lord" (1 Kino-s
xviii. 4) ; but we can remember the trial of the
seven bishops, the burning of the bishops Craumer,
Ridley, and Latimer by Mary, and of Servetus by
Calvin. The truth is, that all earnest religionists
are more or less intolerant to their opponents. This
was eminently the case with Elijah ; for when he got
the prophets of Baal, a host of four hundred and fifty
men, into his power, he mercilessly slew them in cold
blood. The historian might fancy that He who could
send fire down from heaven to consume a bullock,
could equally direct His lightning upon the priests
of Baal, had He Avished for their destruction; and
may be induced to ask whether it is not probable
that the whole story resembles a modern monkish
legend, such as may be found in the Gesta Roman-
orum. Much has been said about the painted face of
the widow of Ahab, whose name still passes current
for one who uses cosmetics. Any one, however, who
will take the trouble to investigate the probable age
of the queen dowager at the time, will entertain very
little surinise. Supposing that Jezebel was only just
marriageable when she joined Ahab, she would be
somewhere about sixty at the time of hei- death ; and
we well know that it is, and probably ever has been,
the custom of elderly females to make themselves as
little ugly, or rather as good looking, as possible,
when they go into society. So long as Jezebel was
wdth her women she might be content to be dowdy,
but when she had to appear before the world she duly
656
Jezebel] tired her head and painted her face, just as any
elderly lady would do to-day.
Jezee, "i^'! (Gen. xxvi. 44), "He fashions (us)." Compare
" Thy hand hath made me and fashioned me "
(Psalm cxix. 73).
Jeziah, '^IV. (Exod. X. 25), probably a variant of iT'-K''^'^^
Jaziah, = " He is son of Jah."
Jeziel, ^^PV: (1 Chron. xii. 8), probably " He is the son
of El."
Jezliah, '^^y}'! (1 Chron. viii. IS), "Jah will preserve," or
" Jah is a deliverer " (Fiirst).
Jezoae, "ip^' (Gen. xxiii, 8), "He is white," i. q., °^'"l^\
Jezreel, ^^^77!- (Josh. XV. 56), "El fashions," or "formed
by El;" "^T^, 'to form, frame, or fashion.'
Igdaliah, -in^P^lJ^ (Jerem. xxxv. 4), "Jah shall make great,"
or " Jahu is a great one."
Igeal, ^^^] (Numb. xiii. 7), " Al afflicts;" from ^^l, arjali,
or ' El flees ; ' from l^l^^', (kjc. Under this word Fiirst
has — "equivalent to ^uysAoc, 2 Tim. i. 15;" v/hich
may mean 'the sun flies.' Fiirst also refers to A(jce,
the Hararite, 2 Sam. xxiii. 15, whose name would
read as ' the fleeing one.'
JiBSAM, ^^"^^ (1 Chron. vii. 2), "Pleasant" (Gesenius) ;
" The lovely one " (Fiirst).
JiDLAPH, ^1] (Gen. xxii. 22), " He will drop down, flow,
or melt away=" This word has two associations,
which assist us in discovering its real signification.
On the one hand, we have the metaphor, " He shall
pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall
be in many waters " (Numb. xxiv. 7), to signify ' great
masculine potency ; ' and on the other hand we find
that Jidlaph is a brother of Bethuel, Avhose name is
interpreted by one of the Talmudists as ' the ravisher
of virgins.' We conclude, therefore, that the appella-
657
Jidlaph] tive in question has a covert reference to the
Ahnighty under the masculine emblem.
Jim, D^*y (Numb, xxxiii. 45),, " Pleat."
JiMNAH, n3p^_ (Gen. xlvi. 17), "Brightness/' ''prosperity,"
" clearness."
I can find no satisfactory etymon for this word in
either Gesenius' or Fiirst's Lexicons. Taking into
consideration that the name was borne by a son of
Asher, and that his brothers are Ishua, Isui, Beraiah,
and his sister is Serah, we conclude that his name
will be in some way allied to theirs. Now if we take
^l for the first element, and '\^'? for the second, we
get ^}^^\, jahmena, and by ehding the n jam'na,
which signifies " Jah splits, or divides," wherein he
resembles Asher; or we may consider the word as
the imperfect, or future, of V?, mcna, or ^3?^^ mana,
in which case the meaning would be, "he splits, or
divides;" the name in either case having reference
to Mahadeva.
JiPHTAH, nris; (Josh. XV. 43), variant of Jepiithah, which
see.
Ijeabaeim, D^^yn^fy (Numb. xxi. 11), " Ptuinous heaps (or
cairns ?) of Mount Abarim."
Ijon, I'l'V (1 Kings XV. 20), " Circle, or cairn, of On."
Ikeesh, ^'PV (2 Sam. xxiii.'26), probably a variant of Achish,
wdiich see.
Ilai, ^^7 (1 Chron. xi. 29), "Jah is Most High," from "b,
and ^\ ; the alterations necessary to obliterate the
divine name from a liuman cognomen, having been
adopted as usual by the Sopherim. (Compare Ilion,
the name of Troy.)
Imla, ^)^^\ (2 Chron. xviii. 7, 1 Kings xxii. 8), "He fills up."
Immanuel, ^?<-"'3y (isti. ^n. 14), "El with us." On a future
occasion I shall have to call attention to the jjassage
T T
658
Immanuel] in wliicli this word occurs, to show that the
language is not prophetic in the sense usually sup-
posed, but that it refers simply to the approaching
end of that cycle of years, whose successor would be
marked by the celestial Virgin giving birth to some
conspicuous man, who v/ould be a sort of ' avatar,' or
incarnation of a portion of the deity, as Cyrus was
subsequently considered to be.
Immer, ~'?^' (1 Chron. ix. 12), " He is high, elevated,
directed upward, erect," &c,, for ""P^', amar.
Imrah, >^yp] (1 Chron. vii. 36), " Jah is elevated," i.e., '^l"^^l.
Imei, ''y?'^ (1 Chron. ix. 4), '' Jali is high, or projecting
forth," from "iDK, and r\\ the n being elided. The
word is a variant oi Amariali, or of Immer, according
to the pointing of the word "i?os\
Infidelity, Infidels, &c. On Good Friday all pious
churchmen pray that God will have mercy upon all
Jews, Turks, Infidels, and Heretics ; and careful
Christian fathers, who give spiritual instruction to
their children, explain what is meant by the words
mentioned in the Collect. If the son of such a
parent is content to believe what is told him, and to
retain it as a matter of faith for the rest of his life,
he will consider that every one who holds a belief
widely different from his own is an infidel. If, on
the other hand, he is of a thoughtful and inquiring
disposition, he will discover that the very Christians
who use the p]'ayer for Turks and Infidels are them-
selves considered as "Infidels" by the Turks, and
designated Giaours and Dogs. It then becomes plain
to his mind that the word in question has a relative
rather than an absolute signification.
In consulting the dictionary and the derivation
of the word, we find that the strict meaning: of
G59
Infidelity] lufidel is one wlio is not faithful, or who is not
in the faith ; hence we draw the conclusion that the
word is aiDplied to one who has no faith at all, or one
who has a faith different from that of him who uses the
objectionable epithet. Thus amongst the Mussulmans
the Turks are "the faithful," and the Franks are
"infidels; " whilst amongst the Christians, the Caliph
is regarded as an infidel, and themselves they regard
as the faithful. On farther examination it will be
clear to the thoughtful man that, under any cir-
cumstances, the designation of an individual by the
by- word of ' infidel ' must be a matter of opinion.
The Turk, the Buddhist, the Brahmin, the Hindoo,
the Lama, the Wahabce, the Obeah man of Africa,
the Medicine man of America, the Benedictine, the
Carmelite, the Dominican, the Jesuit, the Anglican,
the Roman, the Wesleyan, the Trinitarian, the Uni-
tarian, the Baptist, the Quaker, —each believes his
own faith to be the correct one, and that all who
hold an opposite creed are infidels. Yet they may
all be wrong together, and as much infidels in the
sight of God as the aborigines of the Andaman
islands. It is a question whether holding a degrad-
ing faith in the Almighty is not worse than having no
belief at all. I can well imagine an orthodox divine
reproaching a man with infidelity because he refuses
to believe in the mission of Moses, and even denies
his existence ; but I can equally well imagine the
withering reply, "that any one who believed that God
was a bungler, and could not perfect his plan of
salvation in a second 'dispensation' until He had
seen the failures in the first, must be an infidel of
the deepest dye, inasmuch as his god was no better
than a man."
660
Infidelity] Let us now for a, while turn our thoughts to
fi scene in Palestine. There, in long array, fancy sees
the leaders of the current faith, Scribes, Pharisees,
Priests, Saclducees, Sinners, Publicans, Fishermen,
and even women of doubtful rejDutatiou, all being
imbued Avith a certain deference for religion in general,
and each having a particular reverence for his own
individual faith. Before them, there comes a man
apparently like themselves ; He preaches a doctrine
to the effect that men must be poor in spirit rather
than proud, that mourning is preferable to feasting,
that meekness is better than pride, that the thirsting
after doing right is better than polemically striving
to prove oneself to be correct in doctrine, that it is
preferable to be merciful rather than to indulge in
thoughtless neglect of one's fellow men, and to be
pure in heart rather than perfect in theology. We
then hear Him denouncing woe unto certain Scribes,
Pharisees and hypocrites ; and we follow Him until
He is arrested before a blind man, who petitions
for a restoration of his sight ; the merciful Saviour
brings back vision to the sightless orbs, and then
we learn that it has been decided by the hier-
archy, that all who believe in His teaching and
power shall be excommunicated. Jesus Christ Him-
self we thus see was as completely put under a
ban by Jewish priests, as were King John of Eng-
land and the present King of Italy by Christian
pontiffs. Our Saviour was considered in His own
time an infidel, and a blasiDhemer, and as such was
crucified.
Going down the stream of time we find that one
of our Lord's followers had a similar judgment passed
upon him; for the Jews tell Gallio respecting St.
661
Infidelity] Paul, that "this fellow persuadctli men to wor-
ship God contrary to the law." This Apostle was,
to the Jews, equally with his master, an "infidel."
Let us now pause for a moment, and notice the
dictum of the Eoman judge — "If it were a matter
of wrong, or wicked lewdness, 0 ye Jews, reason
would that I should hear with you ; hut if it be a
question of words or names, and of your law, look ye
to it ; for I will be no judge of such matters " (Acts
xviii. 13-15) — and ask, "May not Christian hicrarchs
copy his example with advantage?" After a time we
see what is the sentence of the chosen race upon such
an infidel as St. Paul. " Away with such a fellow
from the earth, for it is not fit that he should live "
(Acts xxii. 22) ; and the general opinion is again
enunciated in the words, " we have found this man a
pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition amongst all
the Jews," &c. (Acts xxiv. 5.) Hence we see that
both those w4iom we now respect with veneration, and
whom we w^ould gladly imitate if we could, were in
their own days considered infidels of the deepest dye,
so deep indeed, that Barabbas, a robber, murderer,
and ringleader in a riot, was thought a better man
than the " Prince of peace."
Facts like these should make the Christian pause
ere be scatters broadcast accusations of infidelity. We
fear, however, that the followers of the Saviour are but
men, and whether they profess the tenets of one sect
or another, they will ever find it more easy to revile
and persecute those who disagree with them, than to
wi-estle with them in argument. It always has been
far easier to wield the sword than the pen, to decry
heresy than to practise good works. "VVe have in
our own dav met with many whom the orthodox call
662
Infidelity] infidels ; j-et we have never lound one of the
latter who did not admire and do his best to encou-
rage that Christian minister, who takes his Master
for his model, small differences of opinion being
merged in the desire to assist him in doing good,
even to the unthankful and the evil. On the other
hand, there seems alwaj-s to be implacable enmity
between the so-called infidel, and him who practically
says, "I go, sir, and goes not." Of them, the modern
heretic thinks that "they bind heavy burdens, and
grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's
shoulders, but they themselves will not move them
with one of their fingers ; for all their works they
do to be seen of men ; they do much to shut up the
kingdom of heaven against men, for they neither go
in themselves, neither do they sufier them that would
enter to go in ; they think much of tithe and ritual,
but omit the weightier matters of the law, judgment,
mercy, and faith ; they appear outwardly righteous
unto men, but within are full of hypocrisy and ini-
quity " (Matt, xxiii.)
It is far from my meaning to say that such a
character as is here sketched describes faithfully
the majority of the Protestant clergy; but I cannot
blind my eyes to the fact that hierarchs are, as a body,
more unscrupulous and more unmerciful to those with
whom they difter theologically, than are any other
professionals towards their opponents. In direct pro-
portion to the senselessness and the ferocity of their
attacks upon each other, do the leaders of theo-
logy demonstrate the groundlessness of their faith,
and compel thoughtful minds to investigate the
causes of such unseemly quarrels. Now it is clear
that in direct proportion to the attainment of real
663
Infidelity] truth, controversy must languish; hut truth
lies at the hottom of a well, not upon the surface
consequently those who wish to find her must dig
deej^ly. In theology, however, there arc many who
hold that truth is on the surface, and that they have
found her. These do their utmost to deride and
persecute those who wish to dig more deeply.
If, laying aside preconceived notions, all those
whose minds are sufficiently logical to test the value
of evidence, would join to seek after truth, there
would he no haudying of such terms as infidel
and higot, which are so common in Christendom.
No later than yesterday, I heard from the pulpit a
discourse to the effect that religion was far more
severely threatened by infidelity or scepticism than
by what is called the ritualistic movement. Whilst
listening to the discourse, I could not fail to be struck
at the tone which pervaded it throughout. In effect,
it laid down the law that religion consists in belicAdng
what is told by a minister of the Church of England,
and that every desire to make inquiry into his teach-
ing is presumption and pride, which, as such, are to
be carefully shunned. To such a man, every indi-
vidual is an infidel who challenges his doctrine.
From the same pulpit we have also heard that
the use of reason in things divine is to be depre-
cated ; that the mental powers of man ought only
to be exercised upon matters relating to mundane
affairs ; that nothing is more prejudicial to religion
than to place reason on a higher pedestal than faith ;
and consequently that the free exercise of thought
ought to be checked as soon as it becomes occupied
with considerations which concern the soul.
When such contracted ideas arc enunciated by
664
Infidelity] those whose duty it is to tecach, the hiity may
well complain of the dearth of intellect amongst
hierarchs, for such an opinion is equivalent to the
statement that "'priests" ought not to examine into
theology, and need not study anything else; that
their duty is to take things as they find them, and
never to inquire into the arguments of those who
hold different opinions to their own. These are
standard bearers who faint in the day of battle, and
are proud of the feat. To any one of reasoning
capacity, it Avill be apparent that, if faith is superior
to reason, sincere believers in Buddhism and the
Papacy are as pious as any Anglican.
We have sometimes pondered what such divines
as those which we here describe would have said to
St. Paul, when he withstood St. Peter to the face,
because he was to be blamed ; what they would have
thought of Him who opposed the high priest under
Moses' law ; or how they would have comported
themselves in the times of Luther, Calvin, and
Melancthon, when it was necessary to choose between
the blind faith of the Pioman church, or the enlighten-
ment of the Eeformation. Tbe only conclusion which
we have been able to draw in this matter is, that
such ministers would have adhered — 1, to the old
faith, with all its faults ; 2, to the faith authorised
by the government, whatever that might be ; or, 3,
that they might toss up a coin, and decide by the
way in Avhicli it fell whether it was the will of Provi-
dence that they should remain in the old groove or
enter the new.
Now when we consider the cause of the anta-
gonism between those Avho are called " infidels," or
" free-thinkers," and the theologians whom we have
665
Infidelity] described, we find it in tlie utter absurdity of
some of tlie dogmas which are taught by the latter,
with which men of independent minds are unable to
ao-ree. The tendency of the current creeds is to make
men intolerant and persecuting. The good which
we find done by many Christian men we gladly
acknowledge, but we affirm that it proceeds from their
setting aside a great part of the Church's teaching,
and adhering closely to that of our Saviour. AVhen
once polemics are cast aside, and our ministers
confine their preaching to the words and example
of Jesus Christ, it is very doubtful whether the
word infidelity will ever be heard again in our
laud.
But there is still another point, to which the
philosopher would call attention. To the question,
namely, Whether those governments which have
punished infidelity as a crime have not by this very
circumstance proclaimed their own belief in the power-
lessness of the God they worship ? If they believed
their deity to be all-powerful, surely they would leave
the insurgents against His law to be punished by
Himself. We cannot conceive that a monarch would
call in the assistance of another power to enable
him to chastise his rebelHous subject until he had
tried in vain to do so himself. Even if he did call
in the assistance of another power, we cannot conceive
that he would apply to the weakest state in the
whole country. Yet some men do believe that the
Almighty requires human aid in carrying out His
designs. Surely such deserve the name of infidels
far more than they, who, believing the Almighty to
be omnipotent, leave Him to deal with any rebel
according to His own good will.
666
Inspiration. This word, in theological language, signifies a
mysterious something which existed in the persons of
those who wrote the Bihie, and which compelled them
to write that only which was strictly true. It implies,
still farther, that the power in question was a portion
of the Godhead, and consequently that whatever was
written under its influence must be regarded by man
as a direct communication from the Almighty. This
behef is embodied in the verse — "All scripture is
given by inspiration of Grod, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness " (2 Tim. iii. 16). Now if St. Paul,
who thus wrote, were himself infallible, there would
be no farther doubt about the plenary inspiration of
the Bible, provided only that what he penned was
the same as that which we have now. But we know
that he was nothing more than a man like ourselves,
and brought up with the same reverence for the
Jewish writings in the old Bible, as are the children
of pious Christians now for both the Old and New
Testaments. In St. Paul's time there was probably
not one single devout Hebrew who did not entertain
the same behef as did the Apostle in the inspiration
of the Old Testament. It is clear that the writer of
the Second Epistle of St. Peter had a similar behef
when he wrote - - " For the prophecy came not in
old time by the will of man, but holy men of God
spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost"
(2 Peter i. 21). But if we decline to accept the ijjse
dixit of one man as a proof of any doctrine, we
equally decline to receive the assertion of two, and
regard the unity of ideas simply as demonstrating an
unity in education. The dictum, "the sun goes round
the earth," was not established truth, although all
GG7
Inspiration] ChristeiKlom, and the Pope himself, dcclarecl
that such was the fact.
But even if, for the sake of argument, we grant
both the authenticity and the authority of the verses
which we have quoted, we have then to notice, that
2 Tim. iii. 16 has had as many different interpreta-
tions as there are commentators, and that, indeed, the
whole of the writings of the Bible have been subjected
to the most opposite interpretations. There is scarcely
a theological writer who does not differ from every
other author about some particular expression in a
text. Rival schools of divinity, indeed, have been
founded upon the different methods in which the
sacred Scriptures are to be expounded ; one affirming
that everything is to be taken literally, another, that
nearly all the language of the Bible is figurative;
thus resembhng the parables of our Lord. Those,
again, who adopt the last idea differ amongst them-
selves as to the signification of the mystical language.
For example, when they read the twenty-fourth chap-
ter of St. Matthew, the thirteenth of St. Mark, and
the twenty-first of St. Luke, and see that, in answer
to a question — "What shall be the sign of thy
coming, and of the end of the world ? " a number of
portents are described : " Immediately after which
the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not
give her light; " and "the sign of the Son of Man
shall appear in heaven ; " and He " shail come in the
clouds of heaven, with power and great glory," &:c.;
■ adding, " Verily I say unto you, this generation shall
not pass till all these things be fulfilled " (Matt,
xxiv. 34) ; — some, like the moderns, explain the
passage away, by saying that it refers only to the
siege of Jerusalem ; whilst others, like the ancients,
668
Inspiration] consider " that the resurrection has passed
ah-eady" (2 Tim. ii. 3 8).
We cannot imagine any writing to be inspired
when the only signification which can rationally be
assigned to it is conspicuously falsified by the flux of
time. Scholars, and even divines, have long refused
to see in the oracular responses of Delphi, and else-
where, anything of a divine afflatus, in consequence
of their incomprehensible or ambiguous wording ;
and we cannot see why the same style of reasoning
does not apply to all those parts of our own Bible
which require to be explained away. We shall,
however, enter more largely into this subject when
we examine into Prophecy generally.
We presume that no philosophic mind would ever
mistake an assertion for a fact, and allow that any
individual was theojjneustos (the Greek word for
" inspired by God " ), simply because he alleged
himself to be so. If we were once to permit such
an idea, we should be obliged to consider that the
oracles of Delphi, Abee, Dodona, Amphiaraus, Tro-
phonius, Branchidfe, and Ammon were all divinely
inspired; and we should have to put faith in the
laws of Egypt and Hindostan, of Numa, Confucius,
Zoroaster, Mahomet, and Mormon, as being to the
full as much inspired as those of Moses. There is
scarcely a civilised nation, indeed, which does not
claim a heavenly origin for its religion and polity.
Even the Mexicans and Peruvians were said to be
taught by children of the sun, who remained in Peru
as a special race up to the period of the Spanish
invasion.
Now when various nations have many different
creeds, and each has strong faith in that which was
669
Inspiration] held by his ancestors as being superior to every
other, it would be highly uuphilosophical in the stu-
dent, who wishes to examine tneir respective merits,
to assume that one of the faiths is absolutely correct,
and then measure the rest thereby. It would be
wrong to say that all but one arc false, and equally
so to allow that all are true. Whilst seeking for
some means by which to test the merits of any, the
inquirer would notice the plans which are adopted by
the hierarchs of opposite creeds, when they come into
collision with one another, to prevent the desertion of
their votaries, and to recruit their own numbers from
the enemy's ranks. The tactics of such parties may
readily be examined at the present day ; for the
observer can study the proceedings adopted between
the High Church and the Low Church in England,
between the Unitarians and Trinitarians, between
Episcopacy and government by Elders, between an
Establishment in Scotland and a Free Church,
between Roman Catholics and Protestants, and
between all these and Infidels. If the student
extends his observations, he will find, in such books
as The Life of Ilenrij Martijn, how a Protestant
Christian attempts to convert the Mahometan and
Hindoo ; whilst a study of the missionary records of
Papists, Protestants, Baptists, Wesleyans, Moravians,
and Unitarians shows him how these respective bodies
endeavour to make proselytes, in the^ dark corners
of their own, and in distant, lands. He may also
notice the plan of propagandism so successfully
carried out by the followers of Mahomet; and he will
still farther recall the attempts which have been made
by Papists to evangelise Europe, Mexico, and Peru,
by fire, sword, bullets, and dragoons.
670
Inspiration] As a result of the inquiries which the observer
has instituted, he will be disposed to class the hier-
archs into — 1, those who endeavour to persuade their
hearers by argument; 2, those who rely mainly upon
precept; 3, those who trust chiefly to force, of one kind
or another ; and 4, those whose requirements are so
small that any outward sign suffices to demonstrate "a
conversion." In all these instances the Missionary
attacks the faith of those amongst whom he labours ;
he attempts to point out its absurdity, and thus to
destroy its authority. In his letters home, the same
individual holds uj) to execration the theology of the
Buddhist, the Brahmin, or the Mahometan ; descants
upon the flagrant sins which he sees around him,
and eulogises his own faith, whose brightest points
he expands before his reader ; whilst he as carefully
conceals the darker parts of his own Scriptures,
and the fearful blots Avhich mar the morals of the
denizens of his own land. In some of his accounts, —
and unfortunately these have multiplied since com-
mercial enterprise has spread more widely over the
seas, — the Missionary rehearses with distress and
shame that the conduct of Europeans, who come
into contact with his flock, does much to destroy his
influence over the heathen, inasmuch as the latter
are astute enough to see that, in their dealings with
their fellow men, the whites can be as brutal as
the yellow-, brown-, red-, or black-skinned races.
When we turn our eyes from our own religious
wanderers to those of the Moravian Brethren, we
see a far different style of report. These are con-
tented for a while with few manifestations. They
treat the savage as a child, and endeavour to make
him love, admire, and respect them first, knowing
671
Inspiratiotn-] well that, to Ji man whose mind is undeveloped,
all doctrine about religion is useless. Such seem to
take for their guide of action the desire to do good
unto all men, so that all may " take kuowledo-e of
them that they have been with Jesus " (Acts iv. 13).
Putting on one side now the arbitrament of the
sword, as a proof of the value of any faith and of the
inspiration of the Scripture, we conclude that the
test of the value of any creed is the effect which it
produces upon the lives, habits, and customs of its
votaries ; and that the reality or otherwise of the
claim to inspiration of any Scriptures is their freedom
from manifest absurdity, and their uniform inculca-
tion of peace, goodness, mercy, and individual self-
control.
Passing by the question, whether Christendom is
upon the whole superior to Hindostan in personal
piety, in the exercise of love towards its neighbours,
&c., let us fix our attention uj)on those writings which
are said to be insj^ired, and examine whether they are
free from great inconsistencies, we may even say con-
tradictions. We find, for example, in " Genesis," an
account of a talking serpent, and in "Numbers," of
a speaking jackass ; we find an account of four rivers
starting from a single garden, two of which compass
two whole lands, as if rivers ran in circles and
returned to their sources. The Almighty we are told
makes man, animals, and plants, all of which he
pronounces very good ; and after He has made them,
He rests and is refreshed (Gen. ii. 2, Exod. xxxi.
17); but man displeases Him, and then God resolves
to destroy man, beasts, creeping thing, and fowls,
for it repents Him that He has made them (Gen. vi.
5, 7); yet once again the Almighty repents, and He
672
Inspiration] determines to save a few men, and a pair of
every sort of animals, leaving the vegetables only to
die ; but even here tliere is room for a farther change
of purpose, and the beasts are to be increased to seven
pairs instead of one. Surely these statements are
inconsistent with the saying in Isaiah xl. 28, " Hast
thou not known ? hast thou not heard, that the ever-
lasting God, the Lord, the creator of tlie ends of the
earth fainteth not, neither is weary ? there is no
searching of his understanding; " and again, "I am
the Lord, I change not" (Malachi iii. 6). It is
morally impossible that both statements can be right;
if one is inspired, the other cannot be so. Again, we
find the commandment, " Thou shalt do no murder,"
delivered amidst the thunders of Sinai ; yet, ere the
mountain has ceased to quake, the man who has
received this order goes to the camp and says, " Thus
saith the Lord God of Israel, Pat every man his
sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to
gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his
brother, and every man his companion, and every man
his neighbour ; and the children of Levi did according
to the word of Moses, and there fell of the people
that day about three thousand men " (Exod. xxxii.
27, 28). Surely it is preposterous to allege that He
who said " Thou shalt do no murder," ordered within
a few hours all the sons of Levi to become assassins.
If we assert, as some individuals do, that it is not
only pardonable, but that it is a work of merit, to
exterminate those who dificr froni us in religious
opinion on any point, we must allow that other differ-
ences may be punished equally, and a man is as justi-
fiable for destroying a rival in love or trade, as one in
religion. But if it be affirmed that the slaughter of
673
Inspiration] heretics is pleasing- to the Ahiiighty, how can
we beheve that lie is omnipotent enough to work
His own will ? If, in the spirit of cavil, the execu-
tioners believe themselves to be simple instruments
in the hand of the Judge on high, how can they
refuse to see in the Assyrians, Babylonians, Romans,
and Mahometans favourites of the Almighty ?
Again, we find in numerous passages, and notably
in Deut. xxxii. 11, that the Hebrews were the chosen
peoj)le of the Lord ; yet when we analyse their history,
there is not one single trait to be found therein which
indicates the truth of the assumption, except the bare
assertion of their historians. In their early days, by
their own shewing, the Jews were an unwarlike race ;
they are so sail ; their forte has ever been in mental
vigour rather than in corporeal strife ; princes on the
exchange and in literature, they shun the clash of
arms. Like the Italians over the Northmen, they
had the advantage of being able to write records,
which the conquerors were unable to gainsay, not
being able to read them. In their later days, the
Hebrews have been quite as unfortunate as they were
of jove ; not one of the promises vouchsafed to them,
ostensibly by revelation, and proffering abundance
of Avorldly power, prosperity, &c., has been fulfilled ;
yet they remain to the present day characterised
by literary and administrative abilities, eloquent in
the senate, powerful in the commerce "of Europe,
and all but emperors in the world of music and
painting; they have not received that which they were
promised, but they have achieved a position such as
the prophets, their forefathers, never contemplated
nor foresaw. But, apart from the worldly position
of the Jews, we learn that God had personal
u u
674
Inspiration] communication witli Adam, Enoch, Noah, Ahra-
ham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David,
Solomon, and man}' prophets, yet He never told them
of a future world ; the information respecting this
was reserved for later times. Surely it is absurd
to suppose that He, to whom one day is as a
thousand years, and a thousand years as one day
(2 Pet. iii. 8), can change His mind about the impor-
tance of futurity between the time of Moses and
Christ ; consequently we must either believe that the
idea of rev^^ards and punishments in this world alone
is tlu'opncnstos, or that the later revelations about
Heaven and Hell are inspired. Whichever is the
hypothesis selected, it is clear that the two are incon-
gruous.
The subject of inspiration may moreover be
approached in a different manner to that which we
have adopted. The student, desirous of "proving
all things," may allow, for the sake of argument,
that God has inspired some men to speak and write.
He has, nevertheless, even then, to investigate —
1, who were the men *? and, 2, what means were
adopted for keeping their sayings unchanged? "Now it
has been written — "If the trumpet give an uncertain
sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?"
(1 Cor. xiv. 8) ; and in like manner we may ask, If
" Versions " differ about the writers, and about the
matter Avritten, how can any one arm himself for the
fight? It has been alleged that the same Holy
Spirit which inspired the writers was the theo-
jJiieust also of the translators, and consequently
that our English version of the Bible is as much
"inspired" as was the original. In one sense we
may indeed agree with the belief; in another we are
675
Inspiration] constrained to differ from it, for Ginsbnrg lias
unequivocally shown that the Hebrews themselves
have tampered with the text of their own book ; and
those who scruple not to alter a sacred text when
found, would not scruple to fabricate one whenever
necessary. "Ye are the children of your fathers,
and the deeds of your fathers ye will do." The
fathers fabricated history, and the sous altered their
words. (See Joel, infra.)
Our own inquiries into the stories told of Elijah,
Elisha, and Jonah have led us to regard them as
pious frauds, or relij;ious tales, composed to magnify
the name of Jehovah ; and Ave have come to the
conclusion that the Avritings of Isaiah, Jeremiah,
Ezekiel, and Hosea are nothing more than the
utterances of earnest men, some of whose minds were
partially affected by lunacy, though not to an extreme
degree. No scholar who carefully investigates the
subject can give any credence to the story of Moses,
and the marvels detailed in the Pentateuch and
Joshua ; unless, indeed, he is one of those illogical
theologians, with whom the words " it may be " are
equivalent to "it is."
If then the mass of the Old Testament is recog-
nised as being the work of human hands and human
brains, it necessarily follows that the whole system of
divinity which is founded upon it is unsound, and
not one whit better or more rational than Ihe religion
promulgated by Zoroaster.
When ideas such as the preceding pass through
the mind, — and it is probable that they have so
passed through that of every scholarly divine, — they
are generally repelled by the questions, How could
God tell His will to man except by revealing it?
676
Inspiration] How can He reveal it except in current lan-
guao-e ? These questions then assume the position of
arguments, and the deductions run thus. God must
have taught man His will — therefore, He has —
therefore, the men who received the revelation were
exclusively of the Jewish nation ; the revelations
made to these men are contained in the Bible, and
therefore the Bible is an inspired book, and all others
are of no value. We have only to state the argu-
ment thus to prove its utter worthlessness.
The thoughtful man, when discontented with a
style of reasoning which lands him in the region of
absurdity, very naturally investigates all the steps of
his argument, and examines whether he has not
mistaken an assumption for a fact. With this idea
he asks, Avhether it is absolutely true that Clod must
necessarily reveal His will to man in words ? He
then remembers that the world which we inhabit is
only as it were a speck in the universe ; and he sees
that man forms but a small item in the mundane
creation. The Philosopher believes that everything
which the Almighty has made has been framed with
a purpose, and that every bird in the air, every fish
in the sea, and every living thing upon earth, from
the huge mastodon to the tiny rotifer, performs the
Divine command, and executes His will. An investi-
gation into the book of nature tells us that certain
animals have certain instincts, whilst others act in a
totally different manner. Both the wasp and the bee
frame dwellings for their young, but each operates
with a different material and on a distinct plan ; the
titmouse and tailor-bird build nests, yet each adopts
a design pecuhar to itself. The seagulls lay their eggs
on the naked rock, the ostrich deposits hers on the
677
Inspiration; sand, and the tallogalla places hers in a heap of
grass. The crocodile lays ahundance of eggs, -which
the ichneumon seeks out that he may devour ; whilst
the male alligator reserves his destructive powers for
his young ofispring after they leave their shells. The
lion eats flesh exclusively, even though he lives in the
same forest with the ponderous elephant, who feeds
on the leaves and boughs of trees ; and the deer only
eats herbs, although he could readily destroy a lamb.
The shark again is voracious, and eats large fishes,
Avhilst the huge whale lives only upon " squid."
Mice and rats occasionally congregate together, and
emigrate in vast herds, destroying everything edible
in their passage to the sea or river, in which they
destroy themselves ; whilst the swallow, the cuckoo,
&c., come and go from our shores without doing us
any mischief. In some places locusts are a periodical
scourge ; whilst in others blight or mildew are the
ravagers ; some countries are blasted by prolonged
droughts, and others devastated by fearful hurricanes.
Now it is clear that all animals perform the
will of the Creator, and that all the phenomena of
nature are subservient to it ; yet we know of no
revelation amongst the race of tigers, or of prophets
amongst wolves. The thoughtful student therefore
concludes that the Almighty can influence all creation
to do His will without uttering a word. It is He
who teaches the squirrel to lay up a winter store, the
dormouse to sleep during the winter's cold, and the
seal to make a dwelling wherein her young are safe
from the polar bear ; what indeed is pure instinct, but
the will of God carried out by dumb animals?"
53 By instinct is to be nndevstood, the performance of some action, for wiiich it
is impossible tbat the animal couUl find a reason, e.r/., a biril. who has never laid
678
Inspieation] Now when once we acknowledge that God
has taught the lower ammals to iDerform His will, it
hecomes a matter of interest that we should study
their character. Are all, are any, such as our theolo-
gians tells us that man would be, but for the divine
revelation in the Bible which guides him? Let us
ask ourselves. Do the birds of the air detest their
parents ? Do cows and sheep, lions and tigers,
commit murder amongst themselves ? Is adultery
common amongst the feathered creation ? does the
cock allow it in his seraglio, or the deer permit it
amongst the hinds ? Stealing the goods of each other
cannot exist amongst the lower animals, where none,
or very few, can have private stores ; and false witness
is equally impossible. Covetousness can only exist in
the same sense as when a hungry man may be said to
covet a banquet. But the observations of some lovers
of natural history inform us that they have witnessed
intrigues in an aviary ; and amongst pigeons too,
close observers tell us that adultery is occasionally
witnessed ; and whenever it occurs, and is detected,
the injured husband punishes fiercely not only the
invader of his family, but the erring wife as well.
Observers have also witnessed attempts at murder
amongst chickens, and deliberate theft amongst crows,
ravens, dogs, and other animals; but, in every instance,
there has also been noticed an attempt to punish the
an eg!?, canuot know why she bnilcls a uest, nor can she know why she sits upon the
eggs when once laid; the hen's young ones have no propensity to go into the water,
but can give no reason why they avoid it, any more than can ducklings tell why they
seek the pond ; this instinct is quite independent of the reasoning power of the
lower animals, which is the result of memory, education, and judgment. It is
instinct which makes a hen seem distressed when, after sitting on ducks' eggs,
she sees the young ones go into the lake ; it is reason which induces her to look
calmly on whilst another such brood does (he same ; and it is the result of education
when she at length leads another Lrood of ducklings to their proper feeding quarter.
679
Inspiration] offenders. If iiideecl wc may put any credit in
the anecdotes told by some of onr naturalists, we can
believe that amongst crows an inrlividual is arraigned,
tried, condemned, and executed by his fellows.
Again, if wo turn our attention to those parts of
the human race, to Avliom, according to our divines, no
revelation has ever reached, we do not find man so
utterly worthless as the theory of the necessity for an
inspired communication from the Almighty would
make him. The New Zealander noAV does not difler
from the New Zealander in the time of Captain Cook,
except that he is not a cannibal. When first disco-
vered, the inhabitants of Owhyee were described as a
lovable, gentle and winning race, and their land as a
paradise ; but since the missionaries have preached to
them, and the white man has corrupted them, they
have become hypocrites of a deep dye. If we turn to
Europe, we find that the Etruscans and the Phoeni-
cians vie in everything with the modern English;
and we can nowhere find that Greece and Rome had
men more utterly demoralised than many of our own
people. Loudon, Yienna, and Paris are as full of
crime as was Corinth, Athens, or the home of the
Cfesars. We may look at the same subject from yet a
different point of view, and examine what the crimes
are to which human beings are most prone. They
are simply adultery, murder or fighting, theft and
drunkenness. Offences against theologjs the philo-
sopher does not reckon in this category. When we
examine into these misdeeds, Ave find that they are
to a certain extent common amongst brutes. The
Almighty has implanted an instinct in the males of
many animals, which impels them to fight for their
females, and, as a result, the breed is kept u]) in the
680
Inspiration] best form for strength, us the weakest sires are
killed. Amongst men, on the contrary, contests such
as these are forhiclden, and, as a result, the constitu-
tional vigour of the human race declines in direct
proportion to its civilisation ; for wherever money buys
for the male that which his individual or physical
qualities would have been unable to obtain for him in
the battle of life, an inheritance of debility or disease
is given to the offspring. Again, let us examine the
propensity to fight; this exists equally in some
animals and amongst men, and is equally punished
by both ; the rogue elephant is driven from the herd,
the rat who is disgusting to his fellows is eaten. If
man is quarrelsome, he is sometimes sent to Coventry,
and sometimes he is transported. Novv the propensity
to fight over a bone, over a female, or from simple
viciousness, cannot be said to be a sin against God
when we meet with it in a dog, nor can we judge
differently of it when it occurs in a man.
Moreover, as the Almighty has given to some
animals the power to organise themselves into a sort
of society, governed by laws, so He has enabled man
to do the like ; and we, knowing the viciousness of
one, the weakness of another, and the might of a
third set amongst ourselves, have contrived a code of
laws, by which we attempt to ensure for all as much
comfort as is com]Datiblc with their well-being. But
laws are the result of organisation, and the proposal
to organise a system is always due to the influence
of an individual. But it very seldom happens that
the man who is astute enough to organise, is powerful
in thews and sinews. He must, therefore, associate
himself with the brute force of a chief, or he must
clothe himself with imaginary power. To associate
681
Inspiration] himself with a chief, as Samuel did with Saul,
may prove a false step, if the leader be quarrelsome,
or obstinate. It has, therefore, generally been con-
sidered the safest plan for the organiser to clothe
himself with some unseen power. Savages, like doo-s
and horses, are very timid, and the biggest of them
are cowed by the supernatural. The organiser, there-
fore, has generally resorted to superstitious terrors,
and has averred that the laws Avhich he enunciates are
of divine origin. But it is the business of such an
one to provide for the permanency and dissemination
of his code, as well as to prepare it ; consequently he
seeks out pupils whose minds he can mould to suit
his views. To them he gives the necessary instruc-
tion, and he shows them how they can best utilise
the instincts of their fellow men, in favour of order
generally, and of their own order in particular.
Hence arises the doctrine of inspired law, and its
comparative permanence.
This deduction involves the idea that there are
two distinct classes of offences — 1, those against
society ; 2, those which controvert the reality of the
inspiration story of the organiser. To the first none
are disposed to be merciful, for all suffer equally from
crimes against order. To the second the hierarchy
may be lenient, if the offender chooses to atone for
his contumely by a money payment, and thus to
acknowledge his submission. This is "evidently the
view taken by the Papal priesthood, which has esta-
blished a code of mortal and venial sins. In our own
church all sins alike are deadly, and heresy and mur-
der are regarded as equally damnable. If Protestant
bishops were as astute as the Papal, they would
contrive a plan for the laity to buy ofi" the penalties
682
Inspiration] incurred for sinning, casnally or doctrinally, uml
they would allow looi^-lioles, by means of which any
of their recalcitrant members might pass unscathed.
Ere Ave leave the subject, let us examine it from
3^et another point of view. The current doctrine of
Anglican, Presbyterian, and probably Papal divines,
is that the Bible is the inspired word of God. They
are compelled to allow tbat the works of creation
are also emanations of His Avill. Consequently we
should infer that the study of His works, as seen in
nature, would be that most highly cultivated by
theologians. We can scarcely conceive how any one
can profess to adore the Creator, and yet studiously
withdraw attention from His works. Yet this has
been done by divines in the past times, and is done at
the present day. It is true that some have cultivated
the physical sciences, with a view to establish the
truth of the Bible ; but I have never read any of
their works without a painful feeling that there was
a sui-)2-)ressio verl. As a rule, however, the theologians
of to-day seem to abhnr physical science, like the
Papists did in the time of Galileo. To them criticism
is a snare of the Devil, and the cultivation of geology
a preparation for hell. AVe have heard the British
Association denounced as a hot-bed of infidelity, both
in England and Scotland, by earnest preachers, who
professed to love the Almighty, and to be able to
teach the people His w^ays and works. Such men
have, indeed, stereotyped their belief in the saying —
iihl tres medicl ibi duo athei, which, being interpreted
freely, means " two out of three cultivated minds
disbelieve our teaching."
Now it is morally impossible that a real " inspira-
tion " can be at variance with the other works of the
683
Inspiration] Almighty, and if there be a difference, it is
certain that a man who professes to be theopneiistos
is far more lilcelv to be ^yrong than the whole cvea,-
tion. If then any writer asserts that death came
into the world only some six thousand years ago, in
consequence of two people eating an apple, whilst
the rocks tell us that they have existed myriads of
years, and we see that they abound with the bodies
of defunct animals, it is clear that the author is not
to be trusted. Now the philosopher considers that
when such difference is shown to exist between the
assertions in a book and in nature, it behoves both
the divine and the geologist to inquire closely into
their respective assertions. This plan is conscien-
tiously carried out by the physicist, it is systemati-
cally neglected by the divine. For the theologian
it is easier to objurgate a man than to investigate
into the truth of an assertion.
When once it has been recognised that it is
advisable to bolster up the theory of plenary inspira-
tion by ecclesiastically tabooing physical science, it
follows, as a matter of course, that only those are
eligible for the church, who are too weak minded to
think for themselves, too indolent to think at all, or
who have a conscience sufficiently elastic to enable
them to promulgate a doctrine to which they give
no credence.
It is impossible for any one, who is observant of
such matters, to doubt that the priests of the Roman
church have ever been (except in few conspicuous
instances) the most narrov; minded of all professional
men. Their ranks, we find from a recent trial in a
court of law, are mainly recruited in England from
the lowest orders of " middle life." For a long
684
Inspiration] iDeriod also, in our own churcli, there has been
an adage that the ecclesiastical profession is the best
suited for the " fool of the family," and the experi-
ence of existing bishops shows that the position of
an Anglican minister of faith is no longer a tempta-
tion for a man of powerful intellect ; an university
education is now a means to enable a gentleman to
avoid entering into the "establishment," rather than
a stepping stone to such emoluments as it offers ;
whilst theological colleges have been established to
enable "literates" (lucns a non lucendo) to enter
into our ancient pulpits.
Hence the doctrine of the plenary inspiration of
the Bible had, and still has, a direct tendency to
divide the world into bigots and philosophers ; per-
sons who resolve never to think about the most
important object for man to contemplate — the works
of Clod, and persons who resolve to think over every-
thing with which they come into contact. The
doctrine has, moreover, a tendency to deteriorate
steadily the intellectual condition of the clergy, for
none dare cultivate their minds when they feel that
one subject for thought is closed to them ; and whilst
the dogma stunts the mental powers of the teachers,
it increases the moral slavery of their followers, or it
provokes the antagonism of their hearers. When the
pulpit is filled by the fool of the family, the congre-
gation is divided into those who are willing to be led
by him, and those who look upon his doctrine in its
true light. Such things ought not to be. It is pos-
sible that this warning from a layman may meet the
eye of some ecclesiastical liierarch. If it do, we can
only add that it is our earnest hope that theology may
be cultivated as an exact science, with the Church of
685
Inspiration] England for u professor; rather thim that she
should, by her culpable bigotry, ally herself to Eome,
and again endeavour to enslave the human mind,
until the only individuals permitted to live are those
who are greater fools than the biggest one in "the
family," or at any rate who profess themselves to be
so. If our clergy would only take for their motto,
MiKjna est Veritas, et j^n'cevalchlt, they would do far
more good to themselves and their flocks, than by
continuing to adhere to their present motto, Audi
Ecclesiam. In other words, if our divines show that
they dare to think, they w-ould do more to convince
the gainsayers, than by practically saying, I am Sir
Oracle, and when I ope my lips, let no dogs bark.
But it must still farther be noticed, that one of
the necessary accompaniments of insufficient educa-
tion, in the leaders of religious thought, is the
constant tendency in the interpretation of the ' word,'
Avhich is said to be inspired, to lean to the animal pro-
pensities of men rather than to appeal to their better
aspirations. Some preachers desire to be real Boa-
nerges, or sons of thunder, and rouse the passions
of their hearers by flaunting before them the zeal of
Moses, who ordered the murder of some thousands of
his followers, when, being guilty of heresy, they
thought more of a figure than of the unseen God ;
or they applaud the holy indignation of Samuel, who
hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord; and preach
from such texts as "Do not I hate them that hate
thee, and am not I grieA^ed with those that rise up
against thee ? Yea, I hate them right sore, even
as though they were mine enemies" (Psalm exxxix.
21, 22 ; Prayer-book version). Others, of a revengeful
disposition, quote authoritatively such passages as
686
Inspiration] "Happ_y shall he he that rewardeth thee as
thou hast served us. Happy shall he he that taketh
and dasheth thy little ones against the stones"
(Psalm cxxxvii. 8, 9) ; or " God shall wound the head
of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one who
goeth on still in his trespasses " (Psalm Ixviii. 21).
Such an one was John Ivnox ; and such were Peter
the hermit, and all the Crusaders; such were Torque-
mada and all the Inquisitors ; such were the bigot
Spaniards in America and the Low Countries; and
such were the Puritans, the Covenanters, and the
Koyalists ; such were the English invaders of Ireland,
and such were the savage Irish who opposed them ;
such even are the majority of modern as well as
ancient hierarchs; such probably the class will ever
be. The words of Butler describe many of to-day, as
truly as they depicted the same race in his own times.
"For lie was of tliat stubborn crew
Of errant saints, whom all men grant
To be tlie true cliurcli militant.
Such as do build their faith upon
The holy text of pike and gun ;
Decide all controversy by
Infallible artillery;
And prove their doctrme orthodox
By apostolic blows and knocks ;
Call fire and sword and desolation
A godly thorough reformation ;
Which always must be carried on,
And still be doing, never done ;
As if religion was intended
For nothhig else but to be mended ; "
and who
" Compound for sins they are inclined to,
By damning those they have no mind to," &c.
HuDiBKAS, Canto I., lines Ibl, seq.
687
Inspikation] Some preachers, on the other hand, perhaps
fine specimens of their sex, with reguhxr and hand-
some features, bkie eyes, bushy whiskers, lirown curly
hair, a fine voice, winning manner, and gushing over
with love towards every one who is young, beautiful,
and charming amongst the gentler sex, prefer to dwell
upon such parts of the inspired word as enable
them to talk of love. Such an one, not long ago,
was preaching in Liverpool, and used the following
language, which was taken down in writing by one
of my friends : " Which of you, my beloved, hath
said to Him, ' Spread Thy skirt over thine handmaid,
for thou art a near kinsman ' ? If any of you have
done so, then hath He answered thee in the words
of Ezekiel (ch. xvi.) : ' AYhen I passed by thee, and
looked on thee, behold thy time was the time of love,
and I spread my skirt over thee and covered thy
nakedness ; yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into
a covenant with thee, and thou becamest Mine.' "
Such are the popular preachers who get up bazaars,
or exhibitions, wherein they can show all the lovely
slippers, or other embroidery, which have been worked
for them by their devoted hearers.
Another set of preachers delight to dwell upon
such texts as " Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which
strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel " (Matt, xxiii.
24), and hang thereupon fierce tirades against Papists,
Unitarians, Ritualists, and all who differ from them
in creed. Such delight to quote the passage, " Think
not that I am come to send peace on earth ; I came
not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set
a man at variance against his father, and the daughter
against her mother, and the daughter-iu-law against
her mother-in-law : and a man's foes shall be thcv of
688
Inspiration] his own household " (Matt. x. 34, 35). Or, if
speaking of such rivals as Jesuits, or Ritualists, they
gloat over the descrijjtion, " having a form of godli-
ness, hut denying the power thereof ; of such sort are
they that creep into houses and lead captive silly
women" (2 Tim. iii. 6), Or, in a fiercer mood, they
adopt the language of Isaiah, and say, " Ye sons of
the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore,
are ye not children of transgression, a seed of false-
hood?" (Is. Ivii. 3, 4); or with the language which
Matthew puts into the mouth of the Saviour, " 0
generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak
good things?" (Matt. xii. 34), or "Ye serpents, ye
generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation
of hell?" (Matt, xxiii. 33).
Surely, when we find that the Bible lends itself
so readily to the justification of murder in a religious
cause, and of adultery as a sacred emblem, and when
we find that it contains a selection of such abusive
terms as deserve,the modern name of "Billingsgate,"
it is justifiable for us to consider it to be the word
of man, rather than the inspired outpoudngs of the
Almighty. (See Kevelation.)
JoAB, ^^^'"''' (1 Sam. xxvi. 6), " Jo the father."
JoAH, ^^'^'' (2 Kings xviii. 18), " Brother to Jo."
JoASH, ^^''^'^ (Judg. vi. 11), " Jo, or Jah, is fire."
Joe, ^'i'^^' (Gen. xlvi. 13, Job i. 1), " The ill-treated one,"
from ^.^^\
JoBAB, ^?''^ (Gen. X. 29), etymology doubtful ; most probably
a variant of ^^^, liohah, Avhich see.
JocHEBED, "'99''^ (Exod. vi. 20), " Jao is glorious." This
name was borne, we are told, by the mother of
Moses ; at a time, therefore, — i. e. if we are to believe
the testimony of the latter, — that the name Jehovah
689
Jochebed] was first revealed to him (see ExocT. vi. 3) when
he was about eighty years old. We must conclude
that her cognomen was given to her by some his-
torian who has overlooked the anachronism.
Joed, "'^1'' (Nehem. xi. 7), " Jao is duration,"' or " Jao is
witness."
Joel, ^^^'i'' (1 Sam. viii. 2), "Jao is El,"
Respecting the book in the Bible which goes by
the name of this prophet, we have very little to say,
except that all the vaticinations therein contained
resemble those of ancient oracles generally, being
couched in language of which none can divine the
meaning ; or, if a few here and there are sufficiently
clear to be understood, they have been proved by
subsequent events to be worthless prophecies. Yet
there is an episodical allusion contained in the third
chapter, which supplies a missing link in a chain of
evidence, upon which we may profitably dwell. We
find, in the fourth and following verses, " What have
ye to do with me, 0 Tyre, and Zidon, and all the
coasts of Palestine ? Because ye have taken
my silver and my gold, and have carried into your
temples my goodly pleasant things ; the children
also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have
ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove
them far from their border. Behold, I will raise
them out of the place whither ye have sold them,
and will return your recompense upon your own
head ; and I will sell your sous and your daughters
into the hand of the children of Judah, and they
shall sell them to the Sabieaus, to a people far off,
for Jehovah has spoken it."
We supplement the information thus gained, from
Amos i. 1-15, wherein we learn that Damascus
X X
690
JoELj tln-eshecl Gilead, and that Gaza, Aslidod, and Tyrus
" delivered up tlie whole captivity to Edom." Now
in these few verses two things are noteworthy, first,
that the Prophet speaks of some conquest of which
we have not hefore heard, and, secondly, that the
Grecians ^''?)l, jaranim, are mentioned for the first
time in the Bible.
In pursuing these points, we ascertain from the
opening verse of Amos, that he prophesied during the
reign of Uzziah, and there is great reason to believe
that Joel was contemporary with him, for both equally
refer to one particular captivity of Judah and Jeru-
salem, by the Tyrians, the Philistines, and Syrians.
From the joint production of these writers, we learn
that the armies of Tyre and Zidon, associated with
the Philistines, and probably with Grecian mercena-
ries and the Syrians, attacked Judah and Jerusalem,
and carried away a considerable number into slavery.
We can, moreover, come to no other conclusion than
that these events happened in the time of Uzziah, or
possibly in that of his immediate predecessor. We
turn therefore to the history of Amaziah and his
son, where, to our amazement, we find that the first
completely annihilated the Edomites (2 Chron. xxv.
11-14), but that he v/as subsequently conquered by
Joash, King of Israel, who brake down the wall of
Judah and Jerusalem, and took all the gold and silver
from the house of the Lord, and from the king's house,
and then returned to Samaria. By the same autho-
rity, we are informed that Uzziah "warred against
the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and
the wall of Jabnch, and the wall of Ashdod, and built
cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines ; and
God helped him against the Phihstines, and against
691
Joel] the Arabians, and against the Mehunims (Edoniites?).
And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah, and his
name spread abroad to the entering in of Egypt,"
&c. (2 Chron. xxvi. 6-9). The writer in the book
of Kings says nothing of Uzziah, whom he calls
Azariah, except that he built Elath (2 Kings
xiv. 22).
Now it is utterly impossible that the accounts in
the writings of Joel and Amos, and those in the so-
called historical books, can both be true. If we give
credence to the former, and believe that Jerusalem
was pillaged by Syrians, Tyrians, Zidonians and
Philistines, and that the captives were sold to
Grecians and Edomites, we must believe that the
writer of the Chronicles has deliberately falsified
history, and described a signal defeat as if it had
been a glorious conquest effected by the victims.
He probably was not the only scribe in those days
who acted thus, and assuredly he has had many
imitators since. If, on the other hand, we trust the
historian, what credence can we give to prophets who
bewail the misery of a victorious people, and denounce
wrath upon nations v.dio have not sinned ? When we
consider how prone all braggarts are to boast, we
feel much more disposed to credit Joel and Amos
than the historical writers.®'
The second point which we observe in " Joel " is
91 Compare 2 Chron. xxviii. 17-19, Isa. xi. 14, Jerem. sxviii. 2, 3, xlis. 7, 20,
Ezek. XXV. 12-14, all of wliich show thai Edom vas a xiowerfui people to a period
Ion" after Amaziah. If we consider that the events recorded as nccurriug iu tho
time of Ahaz, ahont eighty years after the reign of Ahaziah, really ha])peued prior
to Iho time of Amos and Joel, we are still more astonished at the account of the
Chronicler. It wonld be incomprehensible how he ever persuaded himself to
describe the miserable condition of Aliaz, did we not see that the king who followed
him was Hezelaah, whose glories shone the brighter from contrast with tlie
misfortunes of his predpcessor.
692
Joel] the mention of Grecians, and the fact that some Jews
were reall}'- sold to that people. As this is the first
time in the Jewish history that we find this name
introduced, we naturally inquire whether there is any
other reference to the nation. Passing by Grenesis
for a time, we find them first noticed by the second
Isaiah, where Javan is spoken of as some distant
place, imperfectly known, and in Ezek. xxvii. 13,
where it is spoken of as trading with Tyre. In
Daniel we find Grecia mentioned as if the writer
were familiar with the name. Hence we conclude
that the Jews had no intimate knowledge of Javan
or the Greeks until a very late period of their
history, very probably not until the time that some
of the captives sold to the Grecians returned to
their home in Judiea. Now it is perfectly clear that
if a writer only knows the name of a country, as
at one time we knew that of Japan, he cannot
name its towns correctly. Consequently we are driven
to the conclusion that the writer in Genesis, who
described the sons of Javan to be Elishah, Tarshish,
Kittim and Dodanim, must have been subsequent
to those authors who only knew Javan as we knew
Cathay. The knowledge of "Citium" succeeded the
knowledge of "Grecia" in the minds of the Jews.
When we have recognised these deductions, we
naturally conclude that some if not all of the other
passages where the " Chittim," or inhabitants of
Citium, are referred to, are of later date than the
prophets Joel and Amos. Thus, for example, we feel
obliged to place the story of Balaam at a very late
period of the Jewish history, when ships of Chittim
were known to exist. This acquaintance seems to have
been made in, ov shortly before, the time of Jeremiah,
693
Joel] who is the first to speak of the " Isles of Cliittim "
(Jer. ii. 10).
Thus we sec that the ciisual meiitiou of the
Grecians by Joel proves to be a link in the long
chain of circumstantial evidence, which demonstrates
that the Old Testament generally is not to be
depended upon for absolute truthfulness, and that
even its historical books cannot be relied upon as
trustworthy,
JoELAH, i^^'^'i'""!'' (1 Chron. \ii. 7), " Jao is high," or "he
worships Jao ; " from ^'^l, yaho, the n in the word
being dropped; and ^2^, alah, 'to adore;' or ^i^,
alali, ' to be elevated,' ' to glow, burn, or shine,' ' to
be round,' ' to sprout.'
JoEZER, "^IVy (1 Chron. xii. 6), "Jao is a helper."
JoGBEHAH, '^v'??! (Numb, xxxii. 35), "Lofty" (Gesenius) ;
"high place" (Fiirst). Possibly "He will gather
in," being the future of ^^^„ gahah.
JoGLi, v^l (Numb, xxxiv. 22), translated " led into exile "
by Gesenius and Fiirst. This signification being
very inappropriate, we seek another, and turn to ^5^,
aged, or '^7^V., eglali, and i^l, jah, of which the n is
dropped, and then discover the meaning to be *Jah
is a rolling one,' 'the calf,' or 'the chariot.' Any of
these significations being unbearable to a modern
Jew, it is probable that later historians gladly altered
it from n^'p^V, to ')>}:.
JoHA, ^'P'''' (1 Chron. viii. 16), probably one of the forms of
Jao (see Jehu) ; " Y6 is living" (Fiirst).
JoHANAN, l^^ni^ (2 Kings xxv. 23), " Jeho bestows."
JoiAKiM, ^"P'!}'' (Nehem. xii. 10), " Jao sets up."
JoiARiB, ^'yy (Ezra viii. 16), "Yeho is a combatant"
(Fiirst).
JoKDEAM, ^VTiPr (Josh. XV. 56), "The mother is burning;"
694
JokdeamJ from "^i?^, jahad, ' to glow, to burn/ and C)^), em,
' mother.'
JoKiM, S^^i' (1 Cliron. iv. 22), '' Jcao sets up."
JoKMEAM, sy?fp^ (1 Kings iv. 12), " The mother is ever-
LT,stiug."
JoKNEAM, ^Wp^ (Josh. xii. 22), "Possessing the mother."
JoKSHAx, i^"i?^ (Gen. xxv. 2), "On is enticing, or lays
snares " ?
JoKTAN, 19i?T (Gen. X. 25), etymology doubtful; possibly from
n^^, tanah, 'to adore,' &c.; ^^^.!^, ien<", 'a basket; ' or
^^'^, tana, ' to weave, to erect ; ' W^, ako, ' the roe-
buck;' i.e. "the roebuck's basket." (See Accho,
and compare Ashkelon.)
JoKTHEEL, ^^^Pl (Josh. XV. 38), " Serving El."
JoLAis, a Carthaginian name, " lao is strong," from ^*^)?, lais,
or ^•l'^, lasli, 'bold, strong,' 'a lion; ' and ^'^l, yalio.
(See Jah, supra. Compare iEolus.)
JoNADAB, 2nyin^ ("2 Sam. xiii. 3), " Jao gave," or " gift
of Jao."
Jonah, '"'/l^ (2 Kings xiv, 25), " A dove." We have already
pointed out that this bird was sacred in the Baby-
lonian, Assyrian, HebreAv, Greek, and Eoman systems
of religion, and that it is equally sacred amongst
ourselves, at least in words, pictures and sculptures.
The reason why it was sacred to Venus is, I think,
pretty clear, namely, that its amorous note in spring-
is a direct invitation to mutual fruition. (Compare
Song of Songs ii. 11.)
Let us now examine the etj^mology of the word.
Taking it for granted that the letters lo may be ren-
dered hy Jao as in preceding names, our next concern
is to find out some appropriate signification for the
syllable ^\, nah. We find the word '^^^, nah, signifies
'to sit,' 'to dwell' (Greek va/w), 'a seat,' 'a dwelling;
695
Jonah] also to be 'lovely, bctuitiful, or pleasant;' <^[}^, naali,
is 'to wail,' or 'to lament;' also 'to collect,' 'to
come close together;' nb, noh, = 'lamentation;'
'^P,, navcli, signillcs 'inhabiting,' lI'c; i?-1^, una, means
'to move to and fro,' 'to wag,' 'to shake;' and
'^J'^, noali, signifies ' motion.' We may conclude,
I think, that Jao-nak signifies primarily ' the abode
of Jao.' If wc now test the correctness of this
idea, by an appeal to certain scriptural episodes,
and to the legendary stories embodied in medieval
and modern painting and sculpture, we shall find
that the dove is suj^posed to be the special residence
of the 'Holy Spirit.' In Matthew iii. 16, Mark
i. 10, Luke iii. 22, John i. 32, 33, the dove and
the Holy Spirit are spoken of as almost identical.
In media5val art, the dove is made to impregnate
Mar}-, much in the same fashion as the swan is
represented to have fertilised Leda. Doves were a
sacred offering in ' the temple,' and we know that
they were sold therein. Our Saviour did not object
to the bird, but only to its being sold in the holy
place.
Having already referred to the meaning of the
dove's note, " Coa," it is scarcely necessary to do
more than mention the idea involved in the word
y-12, nuah, which signifies ' moving to and fro,' or
' agitating perpetually,' as a dove is supposed to do
when hovering with her wings. It wiH suffice if I
quote Gesenius resioectiug his idea of the etj'mology
of Jonah, — " the dove : " "« lihid'inis ardore qiice in
proveyhiiun ahlit ita d'lctam censco?'
If we turn to the proj^het who bore this name,
we find the materials for an ancient fairy tale : (Jonah,
or) The dove is ihe sou of (Amittai) the mother on
696
JonahJ liigii, lie lives at (Gath Hepber) the village of the
cow's tail, and he is told to go to (Nineveh) the
dwelling-place of Ninus, hut shirks the duty ; pre-
fering to go to (Tarshish) the female, or possibly the
upright dove, he is swalloAved up by (nun) a big fish,
and he remains therein for three days and nights
(which provokingly reminds us of Jupiter and Alc-
mena) : and then the huge creature, made for deep
water, becomes somehow able to get near enough the
land to eject its tenant harmlessly upon the land
(which again provokes us, by reminding us of Arion
and the dolphin). Then, in some curious fashion,
forty days are compressed into two, during which a
gourd, another female emblem, rises up to full growth
and dies again ; and the man, who could rejoice at
the destruction of a million fellow creatures, weeps
over the loss of a melon. As good a conclusion as
many another similar story has.
We see no more reason to believe the tale to be
real, than to believe in the loves of Asmodeus and
Sara. (Tobit vi. and vii.)
A Greek form of Jonah was Jonas, and an inge-
nious friend has suggested to me that this may be
the origin of the celebrated Venus. There is little
doubt that Juno and Jonah are closely related. It is
curious — and the fact tends to confirm me in my
belief of the apocryphal nature of the story — that
JonaJi is the only name in the Bible derived from
the dove, until we come to John, whose feminine
attributes are so conspicuous.
Jonathan, IC^i'^) (Judges xviii. 30, 1 Sam. xiv. 16), " The
gift of Jao."
JoppA, ^^l (Josh. xix. 46), "Beautiful," " beauty," or " she
is lovely."
697
JoEAH, 'I';!"!'' (Ezra ii. 18). This name was borne by one
who returned to Jerusalem from Babylon, and it is
probable that it ^vas given to him in that city. From
the Ouneatic, we find that ri, re, or ra, was one
of the titles of the supreme God, in Assyria and
Babylonia ; and it is possible that the cognomen
JoRAH expresses the belief of the priest who gave the
name that Jao and Ra were the same deity, under
two names. But on reference to the books of Ezra
and Nehemiah, we find that the man is represented
as having another name, viz. Hariph (Nehem. vii.
24). We conclude, therefore, that he had a cogno-
men of considerable length, one part of which w^as
dropped by several of the writers. The original
form was apparently 'nr"^-1i^*, yholmraph, which signifies
" Jah is juicy, vigorous, strong, or proud." This
has theu been contracted into '^t'''', jorah, by one
writer; into ''!''''', joral, by another; and ^'"^D, liariph,
by a third.
Jorai, ''^'i'' (1 Chron. v. 13), a variant of the above.
JoRAM, ^y (1 Kings xxii. 50), "Jao is high."
Jordan, \T}\ (Genesis xiii. 10), "Flowing," (Compare
Eridanus.)
JoRKEAM, '^^i^T't (1 Chron. ii. 44), " The pale mother, or the
mother is pale; " " the moon."
Joseph, ^?i^ (Gen. xxx. 24, Psalm Ixxxi. 5), "He shall add "
(Gesenius), It is possible that the first syllable of
this name has reference to Jao, and the second may
mean "the bowl, or cup," ^?, saph, a name reminding
us of a son of the giant in Gath, with a significance
recalling to our minds the episode of the cup out of,
or by which, Joseph "divined;" or the second word
may be ^^^, saphah, ' to open the lips,' ' speech,'
which brings Sappho to remembrance; or it may be a
698
Joseph] variant of ""l"^', shcpher (blie final r being softened
into h), signifying "to be bright, or beautiful," which
makes us think of the statement made, " that Joseph
was a goodly person and well favoured." As there is
little evidence that Jao was a name known in Jacob's
time, I incline to the interpretation, " he will
increase." Fiirst considers it a variant of Josiphiah,
and equivalent to " Jah is an increaser,"
JosHAH, i^p^ (1 Chron. iv. 34), "Jao sustains;" '^^'''^, ashah,
' to sustain, prop, heal, solace.'
JosHAViAH, n^l4^i^ (1 Chron. xi. 46), "Jah raises up."
JosHBEKASHAH, '^'^i'^t'^'t (1 Chrou. XXV. 4). I find no satis-
factory etymology for this.
Joshua, y-^^in^. (Exod. xvii. .-), "Jao the helper."
JosHiA, <^l^'^\ or •in.^c;'.'-.^ (2 Kings xiii. 2), "Jao heals."
JosiEiAH, !^^?^'i'' (1 Chron. iv. 35), "Jah raises us."
Josiphiah, n;^^pV (Ezra viii. 10), " Jao will increase."
JoTBATH, '^n^'pT (Numb, xxxiii. 33), " The waters, or abun-
dant springs " ?
JoTHAM, Q^'"''' (Judges ix. 5), "Jao is upright, or perfect."
JozABAD, ■'?Ti'' (1 Chron. xii. 4), " Jao gives."
JozACHAR, 1?^'''^ (2 Kings xii. 21), "Jo, the male, Jo is Maha-
deva," " Y6 is worthy of remembrance" (Fiirst).
Iphediah, '^l^P\ (1 Chron. viii. 26), "Jehovah makes free."
Ir, "ly (1 Chron. vii. 12), "He is hot, or ardent," "i''^; also
" a guard, a watcher, or angel," " a city, or tower."
Ira, ^T^ (2 Sam. xx. 26), "watchful."
Irad, ^TV (Gen. iv. 18), etymology doubtful.
Iram, ^y^ (Gen. xxxvi. 43). There is great difficulty about
the signification of this word. Fiirst renders it
"city district," which is a very incongruous name
for a duke of Edom. It may be rendered "the
watcher on high," from "'''V, ir, and ^^, ram; or it
ma}^ be a variant of Hiram, which would be as
699
Ikam] appropriate a cognomen for a ruler in Edom as for
a Icing of Tyre. Of the two etymologies we prefer
the fii'st, as being most in accorJance with the two
following names.
Iri, ''TV (1 Chron. vii. 7), " Jah is a watcher," equivalent
to "Jah is omniscient."
Ieijah, '^''l^y. (Jerem. xxxvii. 13), " Jah is a watchman ; " a
variant of the preceding word.
Ir-nahash, ^np''y (1 Chron. iv. 1'2), "City of serpents."
Irpeel, ^^^y. (Josh, xviii. 27), " El heals."
Irshemesh, ^^^^'i^y (Josh. xix. 41), " City of the sun."
Iru, •11''^ (1 Chron. iv. 15), " Yaho, or Jah, is a watcher;" a
variant of Iri.
Isis, a celebrated Egyptian goddess. In searching through
the various religions of remote antiquity, the observer
very naturally is arrested by the one which has been
the most enduring. The worship of Isis has this
character, for it appears to have been extremely long-
lived. The goddess was almost coeval with Eg^'pt as
a nation, and her fame flowed long upon the stream
of time, and broadly around the Mediterranean. A
temple dedicated to her was found in Pompeii, when
part of that city was exhumed ; and her worship Avas
common in Greece at the time when 7'/tc Golden Ass
of Apuleius was written. Without going very deeply
into her history, we may say that she was always
represented as the spouse, and sometimes as the
mother, of Osiris ; the two representecl the female
and the male element in creation. Isis was repre-
sented by emblems similar to those which were sym-
bolic of Ishtar. A comparison between Fig. 1, p. 53;
Fig. 6, p. 90 ; Figs. 16 and 17, pp. 106, 107 ; Figs.
62 and 63, p. 159; Fig. 51, p. 150, and Fig. 2,
Plate III., will suffice to demonstrate that Isis was
700
Isis] the deified personification of the female organ, the
counterpart of Mahadeva ; she also had the name of
Myrionymous, or in other words her titles were
innumerable ; she was Neith, Hathor, Moyth and
Methyer, or, as we should render it, she was the
" mother of all men," Isis had a feast dedicated to
her honour, as the one who brought forth the New
Year ; and there is some, though not yet conclusive
evidence, that our own Christmas, with its saturnalia,
is a Christianised form of the orgies which attended
the festival of Isis. She was the Virgin and child of
Egypt, and her worship Avas associated with veneration
for the fish. It would he almost impossible to find
anything which is a stronger link between the past
and present than the figure in Mayer's Museum, at
Liverpool, a copy of v.diich is given on the cover of
this book, and also as a frontispiece, and on p. 530.
If these again are compared with Fig. 95, p. 497, we
shall see that the Roman Catholic faith is in reality
a modern form of the ancient worship, in which the
physical beauty of woman was adored, and in which
the votaries of the goddess were encouraged to pay
such homage as human nature most desired.
Whenever mutual indulgence in the animal pro-
pensities which exist in man and woman was made a
part of religious worship, we can readily understand
that the priests who ministered thereto would be
unscrupulous iu the methods by Avhich they retained
influence over their votaries. We have two remark-
able testimonies to the truth of this — one which
the scholar will remember in the Golden Ass, and
another that the traveller who has visited the remains
of Pompeii will recal to his mind. There, in what
remains of the temple of Isis, we see a raised spot on
701
Isis] which a figure of the goddess stood. The profane
had access to its face aloue, and could not see either
the hack or side. The reason why is ohvious, for
uuder the statue ran a cavity, into which one of the
attendant priests coukT crawl unseen hy any devotee ;
and hehind the drapery of Isis was an aperture, hy
which could he heard a question propounded to the
goddess, and through which the hierarch could utter
his oracular response. As there was imposture in
some religious communities then, so there is now ;
and the picture of a virgin who winks with her eyes,
and a bottle of blood which liquefies or congeals at
pleasure, are in our own days the representatives of
the religious imposture of the past.
Isaac (Gen. xvn. 19), P^T-> i-t^chak, signifies " To laugh,
sport, frolic." (See page 131, supra, and Ishakku,
infra.)
Isaiah, ^"^IV^] (2 Kings xix. 2), " Jah is the Saviour."
This name was borne by one who has long been
considered as chief amongst the prophets of Judah,
and as such a representative man. Having been
familiar from my earliest years with the theology
enunciated from our Protestant pulpits, and having
been during that period a close observer, as well as
a thoughtful hearer, I have no hesitation in saying
that more texts have been drawn from, and more
theories built upon, the book of the prophet Isaiah
than any other portion of the Old T^estameut. It
is to this book that advocates of the Society for
promoting Christianity amongst the Jews most com-
monly appeal ; and to it the preacher constantly
refers when he speaks of Jesus Christ as the Messiah,
whose advent was foretold many hundred years ere
he came into the world. In my own early years,
702
Isaiah] when I believed all that was tokl me, and accepted
everything in the sense in which ni}^ teachers thought
it right to accept it, I can well remember admiring
the imagery of the writer, and I revelled in finding
significations for his mysterious words. But as age
increased, and the powers of thought developed,
it became clear that the prophecies, which were so
much admired, were really no prophecies at all ; that
they were not anything more than the vaticinations
which are frequently heard in our own Houses of
Parliament. There is scarcely a year in which some
fervent orator in the House of Commons does not
denounce something or other in unmeasured terms ;
now threatening England with invasion, and its
people with annihilation ; now prophesying destruction
to the National Church, and the impending triumph
of the Papacy in Great Britain. The last of such
effusions has been to the effect that England's sun
has set, now that she has become more democratic
than she was before. In like manner we have seen
French and American prophets busy themselves about
their neighbours, quite as much as about their ovrn
nation ; and speedy desolation is foretold to all who
offend the national sense of dignity. In like manner
we hear from our own pulpits constant denunciations
against the sins of England ; and divines attribute
fever and murrain, cholera and the potatoe-rot, mone-
tary panics and desolating wars alike to the sius of
the people. Some go so far as to select the particular
sin for which the scourge is used ; and one denounces .
luxury, another swearing, another Sabbath-breaking,
another the free use of thought, another the want of
liberality at the bidding of the church, according
to the ideas of the preacher. Some of opposite
703
Isaiah] creeds are more extended in their views ; and whilst
the Protestant sees the cause of Ireland's miseries
in the existence of Maynooth, the Papist sees it in
the existence of a Protestant state chm"ch.
Now in none of these cases does any one, who
exercises an independent judgment, trust the orator.
The thinker finds that the curses and the blessings
of this world come alilce to the good and to the bad ;
that disease and death fall equally upon Jew, Turk,
Infidel, Papist, Protestant, and Mormon. But he
also finds that the majority of the population in all
countries prefer to be led rather than to be leaders;
and consequently that he who denounces most fiercely,
who scourges our acknowledged vices most con-
stantly, and who holds out to us in our hours of
need the brightest hopes, is certain to have consider-
able power. Just such an one was Isaiah ; but ere
we analyse his character and history, we must examine
whether the book which bears his name was written
by a single individual.
It would be incompatible with our design to
compress into the compass of an article everything that
has been advanced respecting the unity of the author-
ship of "The book of the prophet Isaiah." We must
content ourselves with the expression of our own
views, and give a reference to Kitto's and to Smith's
CydopcEcllas of Biblical Literature, and to a very able
article in the Revue des deux Mondes, July 1, 1867,
pp. 146-179, the last of which will repay perusal.
There is, we think, very strong evidence to prove
that two hands at least have been engaged in the
production of the book in question. The first declares
that he saw his visions in the days of Uzziah, Jotham,
Ahaz, and Hezekiah, an extent which reaches a
704
Isaiah] period of about one luindred and ten 3'ears. If we
presume, however, that he did not assume the pro-
phetic office until the hist year of King Uzziah, about
758 B, c. (see chap, vi. 1) ; and if he were then of
full age and lived to the end of Hezeldah's reign, 696
B. c, he would have attained the age of about 83.
The Talmud tells us that he was killed by Mauasseh.
The second writer has apparently lived about the time
of the rise of the Persian power. The forty-fifth
chapter, indeed, seems to have been composed at the
very period vv'hen Babylon was besieged by Cyrus,
V\^ho is mentioned by name ; and we must imagine
that the forty-sixth chapter was penned when Bel and
Nebo were the familiar names of the false gods. We
will, hov/ever, describe the book as we find it.
The first few chapters record the desolation of the
land of Judah and the miseries of Jerusalem; the city
had been plnndered, and a large portion of its walls
destroyed (2 Chron. xxv. 23, 24) by the Israelites,
whom we consider to have been the people of the land,
originally subjugated by David, though lost by his
seed. And though under Uzziah a partial recovery was
effected, yet in the time of Ahaz, Syria and Israel
combined together, and again threatened the small yet
holy city v/ith destruction. To escape from the danger,
the services of the King of Assyria Avere purchased by
the Jewish King ; and his capital escaped desolation
at the cost of the temple treasury. At the same time
he saw his ancient enemies, the Israelites, carried
away from his neighbourhood, and thus might count
on a prolonged peace. After this time Hezekiah, who
was tributary to the Assyrians, revolted, and was
attacked by an overwhelming force ; but, though it
desolated Judah, it collapsed during the siege of the
705
Isaiah] capital. The king has a serious illness, but recovers.
After a time certain Babylonian ambassadors arrive,
and the monarch gives them a sight of the royal
treasury; for this act of ostentation the Prophet
reproves the king, and utters a painful augury. So
far as we know from his writings, the career of Isaiah
ends about this time.
Now during the whole of this period the utterances
of the Prophet resemble closely the utterances of such
pulpit politicians as Mr. Beecher, of New York. He
recalls point by point the misery of the people, and
the losses which they have sustained. With natural
vehemence he rebukes his auditors for their sins,
forgetting, as such enthusiasts ever do, that if success
is a test of orthodoxy, the conquerors must be more
friendly with the Almighty than the vanquished.
The orator next proceeds to assert his own divine
mission, and, in the name of the God who has revealed
Himself personally to him, he promises abundance of
blessings for the future, provided only that the God
whom the j^rophet adores be adopted as suj)reme.
When Jerusalem was surrounded with the armies
of Eezin and Pekah, Isaiah (ch, vii. 1), boldly asserts
that they will not only be unsuccessful, but that
the nation's enemies shall be signally destroyed.
Prophecies such as these were rife in the siege which
inaugurated the final destruction of the Holy City as
the Jewish capital, but they were vain. The rulers
then had no means by which to bring about the ful-
filment of their auguries. Ahaz, on the contrary,
could send gold to the Assyrians, probably also to the
Philistines (Isa. ix. 12), and the Prophet, knowing
the power of money, was able, not only to marry in
comfort, but to name his sons, in confident cxpecta-
Y Y
706
Isaiah] tion that their cognomens would be a standino-
witness to liis astuteness.
After the signal deliverance of Jerusalem and the
establishment of his reputation, Isaiah then proceeds
to express his opinion as to the probable fate of other
nations — Moab, Damascus, Egypt, and others. Like
his successor, Ezekiel, he denounces Tyre, and both
are equally unfortunate in the results of the vaticina-
tion. " The burden of Babylon " (ch. xiii.) we must
consider an interpolation ; for, during the time of
Isaiah, that city was not sufficiently powerful to
attract attention. Having once gained a reputation
for prophetic knowledge, the orator, like Demosthenes
in later times, attempted to force his political views
upon the ruling powers. The monarch and his
ministers considered it judicious to ally themselves
with some neighbouring power. Situated as Jerusa-
lem was, between Egypt and all her foes, her territory
was likely to be the battle-field of nations, and the
people, unable to cope single-handed with either the
Assyrians or the Egyptians, were likely to be destroyed
by either. Egypt being the nearest empire, it was
natural that help should be sought from her, rather
than from distant Nineveh. This Isaiah denounces (ch.
xxxi.), and urges as a counter-proposition that Judea
should remain neutral, or, as he puts it, that it should
trust in the Lord of Hosts (verse 5). To this policy
of neutrality, Hezekiah, who appears to have taken
Isaiah as his councillor, adheres, when Sennacherib
attempts to make an alliance with him (ch. xxxvi. 16),
and for a time the plan is successful. We may,
however, notice in passing, that the policy is abandoned
by the ])rophet's successor, Jeremiah, who urges upon
Edom, Moab, Ammou, Tyrus, Zidon, and Jerusalem
707
Isaiah] to yiekl to Nebuchadnezzar, for if they do so be
will fillow them to remain in their own land (Jerem.
xxvii. 1-17). When Isaiah had advanced far into
years, and age had increased his power of political
observation, he meets with an embassy from Babylon,
and hears from them privately the news of their
country. From indications of growing strength in
Chaldsea, and divided counsels in Assyria, he augurs
the rise of Babylonia, and concludes that her monarchs
will take the same course as did those of Nineveh ;
he cannot hope for a second miraculous escape for
the Holy City, and thus he boldly propounds the
saying that the Babylonians will desti-oy Jerusalem.
Indeed, when once it was attacked by such nations
as those dwelling in and about Mesopotamia, there
could be no more hope for the continued independence
of Judea than there would be for the Belgium of
to-day if France or Prussia were to attack her, either
singly or united.
Now throughout the whole of Isaiah's time, dread
of the Israelites, S3a-ians, and Assyrians was the
dominant feeling, but no catastrophe had occurred
similar to that which had been brought upon Israel by
the gold of Ahaz and of the temple treasury (2 Kings
xvi. 7-9, xvii. 1-6) — there had been war, devasta-
tion, battles, and a siege — but Jerusalem was still
an independent city. We omit here the -catastrophe
which is indicated by Amos and Joel (2 Kings xiv.
]3, 14), because it happened prior to Isaiah's time, and
because, although a great number of Jews were taken
captive, a sufficient number were left behind to people
the city, which, though greatly injured, was not irre-
parably destroyed.""*
'■^^ See Joel, stipm, and note 91, p. 091.
708
Isaiah] We pass from the thirty-ninth to the fortieth
chapter of the book, and find that all is chanoed,
there are no more remonstrances, no more denuncia-
tions, the threatened punishment has fallen, the time
of expiation has arrived, and the people who still
mourn are to be comforted ; Jerusalem has received
from the Lord's hand double for all her sins (ch. xi.
2). There is no more mention made of Syria, Egypt,
Israel, and Assyria, as nations to be feared. Babylon
is the sole power existent, but it is clearly tottering
before the growing might of Persia. Under the new
dynasty, the captives may hope for deliverance, and
now that hope has arisen, it grows amazingly. As a
man long bowed down by adversity, and daily longing
for relief, is generally extravagant in his expectation
when his desire seems near to satisfaction; so he who
is called, for want of a better name, the second
Isaiah, overflows with exaggerated promises. He
scents from afar the coming deliverance, and hails it
with satisfaction ; but he finds that his enthusiasm is
not universally shared, many are too comfortable in
their new homes to face the disagreeableness of
removal ; to them a home in Babylon, is ' a bird in the
hand,' and a house in Jerusalem, unbuilt and desert,
is ' a bird in the bush.' To stir up such lethargic
minds requires a great effort, and the orator was
equal to his work. In the range of language I know
no description of a return homewards so vivid, and
so exalted, as that of the second Isaiah ; if the
language were not oriental, we should call it quixotic,
but either term will suffice. Yet we do not find any
such character mentioned in the books of Daniel,
Ezra, or Nehemiah, since his stvle is too exalted for
709
Isaiah] It is unfortunate, perbups, for modern Christians
that there is amongst us a propensity to take in
their cold literalitj the warm effusions of eastern
enthusiasts. We thus have identified the hopeful
words of a Hebrew captive, telling bis views of
impending events, with the words of an inspired
prophet of about 53 b. c, describing events in what
is, to us, two dozen centuries later, a doubtful future.
When this error has been corrected, we shall each of
us try earnestly to discover the meaning of every
portion of the sacred writings, rather than labour to
demonstrate that each signifies that which favours
our preconceived notions. The task of teaching
" religious " people to think is almost a hopeless one,
yet we do not despair. The judgment of many is
sufficiently matured at the present day to distinguish
the difference between a mere expression of opinion
in plain terms, and in those which are ambiguous, and
we may fairly hope that the same power of reason
will be extended to the past ages. Isaiah will then be
recognised as a close observer, an earnest man, and a
hard-headed politician ; it will also be ascertained that
he had one or more imitators, whose lucubrations
have come down to us under the shadow of his name.
IscAH, ^PP\ (Gen. xi. 29). This word may be taken to
signify "He will see," being the future or imperfect
tense of "?D, sachah. The name was borne by a
sister of Lot.
IsH, Cuneiform, signifies " The, or an, old man."
IsHAKKU, Cuneiform, "Priests." This word is interesting,
as it suggests a query whether the word Isaac, given
to the son of ' the Father on High ' (Abraham), may not
be derived from the Cuneatic word Ishak, " a priest."
There is some probability in the surmise, for the
710
IsHAKKu] names of the twelve patriarchs are in some
instances derived from non-Hebraic sources.
IsHBAH, ''°i?ff''! (1 Chron. iv. 17), "Praising" (Gesenius) ;"''
"an appeaser" (Fiirst). More probably "he will call,
or praise, or worship," being the future of ^^^, sliahah.
IsHBAK, P?^''! (Gen. XXV. 2), "Leaving behind " (Gesenius) \'"^
"a free one" (Fiirst); probably "He will set free/'
from P?^, shahak.
IsHBi-BENOB, ^j^-'n^;' (2 Sam. xxi. 16), "His seat is at
Nob" (Gesenius);'""^ "dwelling on the mountain"
(Fiirst). I can find no satisfactory etymon for this
name.
IsHi, '•y^'"'. (1 Chron. ii. 31), "The upright one;" " Jah is
salvation " (Fiirst).
ISHIJAH, '""I^'! (1 Chron. vii. 3), "Jah is upright, or lives."
06 Tlie etymologies giveu by Gesenius for tlie above words, are to me
very unsatisfactory. Since tliere are so many names whicli begin witli isJi, it
will be well if we make an attempt to discover etymons more consonant wilh
probability. There are — 1, The word rrffl', iashah, sometimes read as Jashci; which
signifies 'upright,' 'to be or stand erect,' the equivalent of the Latin esse. '2, the
word m;, icsh, which siguiiies 'existence.' 3, '«'_, isJicti, usually written Jesse,
signifying 'a stem, branch, shoot.' 4, 5"©% iasha, signifying 'to be large, ample,
broad,' ' to aid, to succour.' 5, m:^, esh, signifying ' fire.' 6, nisx,zs/(e/i, signifying 'a
sacrifice.' 7, niTN, ishaJi, signifying ' a v.'oman.' And S, 'CI'', asJi, is ' a bright constella-
tion ' (iirsa major). In the margin of Our Bible we are told that the Lord called
Adam and Eve, Ish and Isha ; but when we have got thus far there is still great
difliculty in determining which of the two last, or of the precedent words, we shall
select. There is still a farther difficulty in finding the real value of the b 2, in
certain of the names. Hence, to get anything like a probable etymon, we are driven
to one or more of the letters interchangeable with it. J\J D, and h i, are inter-
changeable; if we try to fit them to nri", Islihali, we find that naffi;, ishnia!i,
signifies 'the ish,' or 'his ish is fat;' and Ishmak is precisely the same, p having
been used instead of n, ^. c. instead of cli ; and Ishbi-ben-ob would read as Ishmi-
ben-ab, "the son of the father hears," or possibly "the son is obedient to the
fatlier ; " but as the U may represent n«n, h'ah, ' entrance,' or nrra, bahah, 'purity,'
or '3, hi, ' prayer,' we may read it as " the man of ])urity, or prayer, is the sou of
the father." nVl, haali, is 'to swell up,' 'seek for,' 'to be swoln iip,' and that
might make the word mean, "the swoln upright one is the son of the father."
These etymons, however, are all of them unsatisfactory. It is, indeed, possible
that the initial /, in ish, is simply the sign of the future or imperfect tense of a
verb ; it is in many words desirable to consider it as such.
711
IsHMA, n?x;'^ (1 Chron. iv. 3), "He hears," or "he will
shine," from nnb'; or "he will be high," from ^^^.
IsHMAEL, W?^: (Gen. xvi. 11), "El hears, is high, or
shines," from ^'r^''.
ISHMERAi, ';^';^^". (1 Chron. viii. 18), " Jah pierces, or presses
into : " from '^'?^' fi-iicl '^\
ISHPAN, l^Lv^. (1 Chron. viii. 22), " Son of the erect one;"
]Si for |3.
IsHTAR, Cuneiform, " The celestial queen," or Regina Coeli,
and sometimes called Ri, or 'Pia ; also " the pm-e
bright being."
IsHUA, ^l^\ (Gen. xlvi. 17), " The erect one."
IsBiACHiAH, ■'''"'^9'r?''. (1 Chron. xxxi. 13), "Jah props, or keeps
erect."
ISMI-DAGON, was an ancestor of Tiglath Pileser, b. c. 1861.
Abraham gives, about c. c. 1900, the name of Ish-
mael, or Ismi-cl, to his first son. Here we have
Bel-Dagon and El all in apposition with Ismi, or Ish.
IsPAH, '^^'f\ (1 Chron. viii. 16), " The smooth, or shining
one," or "the firm strong one."
Israel, ^^-^^j^] (Gen. xxxii. 28), is usually said to mean
" Contender or Soldier of El." I doubt this etymo-
logy strongly. The name was given to one whose
name previously had been feminine ; it is therefore
likely to be significative of some male attribute. Now
"^^l, iashcr, signifies ' to be straight or upright ; '
metaiDhorically, ' to be powerful, as a man, a soldier
or prince ; ' and ' Al is upright,' or * the- upright Al,'
would be an appropriate name for a mau whose idea
of worship is to set up a pillar, and pour oil thereon,
this being the ordinary mode of representing Maha-
deva, and of paying homage to him by making him
sleek and shining.
We remember that one son of Israel was called
712
Israel] Asher, another Gad, after a Phoenician goddess,
another Kenben, or the sun's son, and that the hitter
knew the virtue of the mandrake, a common offerino-
to the pillar, or its priapic representative. In due
time, after this feast of mandrakes, and apparently
owing his origin to the virtues of the plant, Issachae
is born, whose name is significant of the influence of
the mandrake upon Jacob.
We may yet find another etymon for Israel
in the hifil of ^"^l, zara (see Sarah, infra), where
Typ., Idzria, signifies 'to bear seed,' which, with
the addition of ?'>', cl, would signify 'El bears seed,'
or 'El is fruitful.'
Issachar, "i^bi'^'' (Gen. xxx. 18), which comes I think from
^\, isli, ' abundance,' and "^"^^^ , shecliar , 'strong drink,'
signifies ' abundance of hilarity.' This is one of
the words Avhich some of the later redactors have
softened down, and about which they have woven
the idea that Issachar means ' wages.' It will be
remembered that Keuben found mandrakes in the
field, and gave them to his mother. With these she
tempted her husband to give her his company, which
he had long withheld. If the love-charm was effica-
cious, we can well imagine that the name was given
to celebrate the feast.
Isui, ^}t^'. (Gen. xlvi. 17), "The comforter;" also "deliver-
ance, welfare, victory," or " my helper; " V^), iasha.
Ithamar, "^^n^x (Exod. vi. 23), is translated by Gesenius,
"Land of palms," and by Fiirst, "The father the
palm tree," being a contracted form of ~'9^'''?'^:- The
more probable etymology, however, is ^^, eth, "T^^,
tamar, l. e. ' near to the palm tree.' Compare
Sithhaal, 'living with, or joined to, or near to Baal.'
It will be remembered that the palm tree was one
713
Ithamar] of the symbols of the Almighty umoiigst the
Phoenicians, and us such appears on the back of the
book respecting them which was written by Kenrick.
Ithiel, ^^^'{1'^ (Ps. xxs. 1 ; Neh. xi. 7), ' near to, or dwell-
ing with EL'
Ithmah, ^^n^ (1 Chron. xi. 46). I find no satisfactory
etymon for this word as usually spelled. My opinion
is that it was originally '^^^'^, which signifies ' she
glows.' The bearer of the name was a Moabite, and
possibly a worshipper of the female sun.
Ithnan, P^"'. (Josh. XV. 23), "Given" (Gesenius) ; "a for-
tress " (Fiirst).
Ithobaal, a Phoenician name, "The upright Baal," or " Baal
is upright."
Ithran, \~}^\ (Gen. xxxvi. 2G), " He is pre-eminent," or
" abundance."
Prr, Cuneiform, signifies " signs, prodigies;" Heb., nx, ath.
Ithream, ^^""^! (2 Sam. iii. 5), " The mother is abundance,"
or " mother abounding."
Ittah-kazin, rVp'^y (Josh. xix. 13), "The judge himself;"
read "N, cth, for ^y, eth.
Ittai, ''^'^ (2 Sam, xv. 19), a variant of '^^^^j which signifies
" existence," or possibly " Jah is an essence, or
being ; " from ri\x^ ith^ and '^l, jah, the n being
droi^ped. It is possible that it may have a Greek
origin, from Itbu, and signify "he is a shield," or
simply " a shield."
IvA, the Assyrian "Prince of the power of the air;" also
called Eva, Air, Aer, Our, Ar, Er and Yul ; his
emblem was a draped male, carrying a rod, from
whence sprung three thunderbolts. Iva and Anu
were gods in Babylonia, b. c. 2411.
IvAH, ™y (2 Kings xviii. 34), is the same as ^}^, " a circular
place, a village."
714
JuBAL, ^9''''' (Gren. iv. 21), " Yalio is Baal." It is probable
that Jn, Bel, or Bed, is strictly analogous to, and
perhaps the ancestor of, the word Evoe, Euoe, chanted
in honour of Bacchus. Higgins states, on the
authority of Maurice, that the Hindoos use the word
Jeve, or Jeuc, when singing praises to their gods.
We have clearly the same Avord in Jubilee, which is
spelled precisely the same as Juhal, ^^'^\ one of
whose signitications is ' a ram.' At the Jubilee, rams'
horns v/ere blown as trumpets, and none can read of
this without associating the Jewish worship with that
of the nations round about, who used the ram for an
emblem of vigour, and its horns as an emblem of
perpetual masculine, or creative power.
Halleluiah is as old as the ancient Egyptians, and
the song of Jubilee may be said to date from the
most remote antiquity.
JucHAL, ^9''''' (Jerem. xxxviii. 1), " The voice of Jah ; " ^P,
kal, 'a voice,' or 'Jah is everything;' "p's, col, 'the
whole, totality, all.'
JuDAH, '^^■1'^^ (Gen. xxix. 35), is usually said to signify
* praised,' an unlikely et_ymon, for no baby is specially
deserving of praise ; and to call an infant by such a
title would be equivalent to calling him ' he was held
in esteem,' an opinion which could only be formed
after the man had lived for some years, and not when
his life was commencing. My own impression is that
the word is an altered form of '^I'^'^l, jhudad, which
signifies " a friend of Yaho, or Jah." If this surmise
be correct, we shall then find that Jacob introduced
the names of the following gods of the "Heathen "
into the cognomens of his children : B.a, Re, or Ri,
the Egyptian and Assyrian name for the Sun ; Dcm,
the Phoenician name of the Supreme ; Gad, the
715
JuDAH] Tyrian o'oddess of good-luck ; A slier, Maliadevti ;
Ycho, Cauaaiiite ; and possibly PliOiah, an Egyptian
god.
Judith, ri>nin; (Gen. xxvi. 34), was the name of a wife of
Esau, a contemporary probably with her nephew
Judah, and apparently having a name derived from
the same source. As we derived Judah from •'''■'),
yahu, and 1"], dad, the final 1 being converted into n,
so we may conclude that Judith is i'rom •1'"'^, yahu,
and ^1, dath. The signification would then be " The
law, decree, appointment, religion, counsel, plan, or
purpose of Jab."
The individual who bore the name was a Hittite,
and whether we conclude that the word Judith is a
feminine variant of Judah, or is simply derived from
•1'^^, yahu, it is apparent that the early form of the
name Jehovah was common to the Jews and to the
Hittites.
Jushab-hesed, '^PP"^^-1"' (1 Chrou, iii. 20), "The abode of
ardent love;" "'^O, chesed, 'ardent love;' 3t^'^J ashah,
'to dwell in, to inhabit.'
Juttah, "^^x (Josh. XT. 55), "He covers over," or "he pro-
tects," nt?y.
Izhak, '^^^^ (Ezra vi. 18), " Smooth as oil, or shining."
IzLAHiAH, i^^ri^f!' (1 Chron. vii. 3), " Jah brings to light."
IzRi ^1^'!' (1 Chron. xxv. 11), " Jah forms, or fashions."
Compare Psalm cxix. 73, " Thy hands have made me
and fashioned me."
PLATE II
PLATE IV.
^xK:r\(y.p::>--::</mf^^
INDEX I.
TEXTS OF SCRIPTURE REFERRED TO, EXAMINED, OR
EXPLAINED.
Genesis.
Genesis.
Chapter
Verse
Page
Chapter
Verse
Pago
i.
1
221
xviii.
21
265
11, 12
467
22
268
26
222, 254
30
262
27
68, 86, 602
xix.
2,24
224
i.
2
G71
5
293
iii.
5
224
29
222
9
265
XX.
3
222, 458
15
601
xxi.
30
293
16
603
xxiv.
3
222
16-18
467
16
293
20
496
XXV.
1
194
21
222
4
215
22
255
23, 25
600
iv.
1
293
26
132
9
265
xxvii.
36
132
18
200
xxviii.
10
544
19, 23
200
XXX.
1
60, 603
Y,
25
200
14, 16
337, 338
vi.
5-7
671
37-42
130
6
266
xxxi.
11-24
458
viii.
21
260
30, 32
222
ix.
13
467
45
544
21
158
xxxii.
24
262, 449
X.
23
96
28
222
xi.
31, 32
41
XXXV.
2
80. 129, 222
xiv.
1
2, 5
215
60
9
19
606
358
XV.
. 405, 567
xxxvi.
2,4
200
xvii.
1, 3, 9
12, 13
222
129
xxxviii.
xlii.
28
23
600
606
14
545
xliv.
5
550
17
193
222
EXODCS.
xviii
2-17
224
i
17,20
222
5-8
215
ii
10
195
12
193, 224
23, 25
222
718
Exodus.
Leviticus.
Chr-iJtcr
Verse
Page
Chapter
Verse
Page
iv.
16
. 178, 179
xiv.
4
353
24,26
. 219, 546
xviii.
. 567, 568
vi.
2, 3
136
3
588
3
604
23, 30
568
vii.
1
222
xix.
4
223
10, 12
136
28
648
ix.
3
261
XX.
15-17
568
xii.
12
222
xxi.
5
643
XV.
3
11
259
- 227, 620
xxvi.
31
260
xvii.
IS
434
Numbers.
xviii.
11
620
i.
6-12
236
XX.
2
222
50
291
5
. 263, 266
iv.
8
353
23
223
xi.
23
261
xxi.
6
223
xii..
6
458
20
223
8
260
28
223
xiii.
29
240
xxii.
9
. 181, 223
xiv.
13-16, 20
263
19
5 68
23
260
xxiii.
13,24,32,33
223
xvi.
32
467
xxiv.
10, 11
223
4S
178
XXV.
4
353
xix.
2-9
564
0
469
6
393
22
293
26
469
33
292
xxii.
9-20
223
xxviii.
34
53
xxiv.
7 4
30, 446, 656
xxs.
23
261
XXV.
4
262
xxxi.
17
. 254, 671
6, 8
211
xxxii.
1, 4, 8, 23, 31
223, 568
xxviii.
3
521
6
568
7
592
12
263
xxxi.
18
523
14
266
xxxiii.
4
223
24
178
45
535
xxxiii.
27
20
672
604
Deutekonom
Y.
23
261
i.
27
263
xxxiv.
15,16, 17
223
28
134
Leviticus.
ii.
8
22
214
94
i.
14
405
iv.
15
293
V.
7
405
19
639
vi.
3,4
181
28
223
viii.
12
305
V.
7
223
xii.
6,8
110
vi.
4
226
719
Deutekonomy.
Judges.
Chapter
vi.
vii.
..4
Verse
U
3
IC, 25
Page
223
523
223
Chaiitoi
vi.
ix.
xvi.
Vcisc
10
46
23
Pago
223
226
223
10
22
262, 260
503
1 Samuel.
viii.
19
223
i.
10
60
xii.
2 seq.
223
ii.
13
566
xiii.
1-5
461
22
. 350, 366
2
223
V,
6
261
xiv.
26
594
7
223
xxi.
3-8
566
vi.
8-15
284
xxii.
2-13
181
ix.
16
305
13
53
X.
1
305
15, 17
225
xiii.
8,14
432
xxiii.
1
219
14-22
431, 432
xxvi.
15
325
19
587
xxYii.
21
568
XV.
2,3
266
xxviii.
1 seq.
323
10-23
432
4
60
29
266
5
337, 430
xvi.
14
513
14-64
223
xviii.
25-27
65
30
55
xix.
13
438
xxix.
20
262
XX.
31
433
xxxii.
11
465, 673
xxi.
1-6
438
10
260
1-9
441
16
263
xxii.
1,2
433
17
223
xxvi.
6
584
26
264
xxvii.
1-12
434
JOSHDA.
xxviii.
13
15
223
460
iv.
24
261
x.\ix.
8
434
V.
5
6
219
374
2 Samuel.
XV.
28
371
ii.
S
133
37
535
iii.
27
435
xxiv.
19
263
iv.
2
133
V.
16
133
•Judges.
vi.
6, 10
439, 530
ii.
3-19
223
14-21
158, 288
12
262
22
440, 583
15
261
ix.
6, 10
133
iii.
6
223
xii.
31
435
7
307
xiii.
21
430
V.
8
223
XV.
2
280
vi.
2
587
xs.
10
436
'20
2 Samdel.
2 Kings.
Chapter
Verse
P.age
Chaptei
Verso
Page
xxii.
16
259
xvii.
24,25
. 502, 503
xxiv.
1
452
xviii.
27
133
5
534
XX.
18
65, 240
1 Kings.
xxi.
xxiii.
15
7
262
. 309, 490
ii.
9
437
xxiii.
11
359
lii.
5
469
25
633
14
441
xxiv.
24
262
iv.
16
18
217
216
XXV.
7
267
V.
1
439
1 Chronicles.
viii.
27
283
i.
32
194
ix.
26
214
iv.
4
358
XJ.
1
584
18
371
33
228
19
598
xii.
19
620
viii.
33,34
133
xiii.
1 srq.
500
ix.
39,40
133
xiv.
23
307
xiv.
7
. 133, 438
xvi.
24
70
xxi.
1
452
xvii.
1
477
xviii.
478
2 Chronicles.
4
655
ii.
5
620
xix.
18
593
viii.
6
359
XX.
478
XXV.
11-14
690
xxi.
21
,29
266
23
704
xxii.
19
255, 478
xxvi.
6-9
691
20
-23
2 Kings.
265, 451
xxxii.
xxxvi.
15
22, 23
Ezra.
225
424
i.
2
348
i.
1
424
ii.
9
,14
481
21
560
iv.
34
481
iii.
3,6
521
V.
IS
364
iv.
3
424
vi.
17
116
7
371
17
-25
481
12
521
vii.
6
584
V.
1,2
521
s.
7
337, 375
5
260
xiii.
21
481
\\
13
424
xiv.
13
707
vi.
1-5
424
22
691
9, 15
521
XV.
17-
-19
179
The whole Book
619, 526
xvi.
10
616
7-9
707
Nehemiah.
xvii.
L-6
707
vii.
24
697
17,
23
179
The whole Book
519, 526
721
ESTHEE.
Chapter Verse
iii. 7
vii. 6
viii. 6
ix. 5
Job.
1-7
6
21
ii.
1-7
iv.
0
xiv.
1
XXV.
G
xsvi.
6
xsviii.
22
xxxi.
12
xxxiii.
14-1 G
xli.
1-34
250,
203
265
Psalms.
vii. 11
viii. 3
ix., X , xii., xiii., scq.
xiv.
XV ii. 7
15
xviii. 8, 15
. . 38-41
xxi.
xxii. 6
9
10
xxiii., xxviii., xxxi.
xxxiii. lb
xxxiv. 15
xlvii. i
Iviii. 1
Ux. 8
Ix. 7
Ixviii. 1
259
Psalms.
Page
Chapter
Verse
Page
43S
l.K\iii.
21
686
438
Ixxii.
7
647
181
Ixxiii.
3
443, 573
181
Ixxv.
3, 11
201
8
201
Ixxvii.
4
:;02
7
647, note
451
265
621
19
2G1
Ixxviii.
24, 25
245
45
180, 524
, 468
, 451
2.: 9
111
Ixxxi.
9, 10
22G
Ixxxvi.
4
362
Ixxxviii.
11
181
Ixxxix.
10
362
578
xciv.
4
260
181
181
xcv.
3
4
620
58
181
civ.
24
622
458
c-^a.
37,38
638
259
cviii.
8
259
cxvi.
45
266
cxxvii.
3
60
,442
cxxxii.
11
482
442
cxxxv.
5
620
262
cxxxni.
8,9
686
49
cxxvviii.
524
442
cxxxix.
95
442
13, 15 2
03, 467, 560
620
k;
239, 235
,442
•21
280
259
443
Pkovehes.
442
578
ii.
6
260
,442
XV.
3
260
228
11
181
442
xvi.
11
430
200
xxvii.
20
. 180, 181
2 GO
XXX.
15,10
. 239, 394
265
• •
20
576
227
265
ECCLESIASTE
s.
259
V.
3
459
620
15 2
03. 468, 560
325
722
Song of Solomon.
Isaiah.
Chapter
ii.
Verse Page
2-5 . 373
Chapter
Ixv.
Verse
5
Pase
259
11 . 694
7
640
It.
12 . 52
Tlie whole Book
701-709
vii.
8 . 273
\dii.
13 . 337
5 . 273
9 . 52
9-10 . 144
ii.
Jekemi.ah.
2
10
27
265
693
638
Isaiah.
iii.
2
84
55, 638
638
i.
4 . 262
vii.
3-7
635
iii.
16-18 . 53
18 3
78, 579, 638
17 . 158, 268
viii.
2
639
V.
5 . 52
10
593
vi.
1 . 704
X.
2
640
2 . 2G1
xi.
3,5
633
5 . 52
xii.
8
263
vii.
1 . 705
xiii.
22
601
20 74, 133, 263, 601
27
640
viii.
19 . 74, 558
xiv.
13
640
ix.
12 . 705
XV.
1
633, 634
xi.
2 . 708
xvi.
6, 8
641
xii.
1 . 262
xvii.
21-27
n34
xiii.
706
25
637
16 . 55
:-.viii.
8
266
xiv.
12 . 250
17
261
xxxi.
5 . 706
xix.
4-9
642
xxxvi.
16 . 706
xxii.
4
637
xxxviii.
17 . 261
xxiii.
5,6
636
xxxix.
7 . 65
25
458
xl.
28 . 672
xxiv.
2
337
xliv.
252
XX vi.
635. 642
xlvi.
6 . 228
XX vii.
1-17
707
xlvii.
3 . 267
4, 7
425
li.
1 67,341,415,468,483
11
636
17 . 261
xxxi.
3
265
Ivi.
4, 5 . 634
xxxii.
30
262
Ivii.
3, 4 . 688
34
642
5 . 226, 415
xxxiii.
17, 18
636
lix.
17 . 259
xliv.
15
638
Ixi.
8 . 263
17
236
Ixiii.
4 . 267
19
378
6 . 259, 268
20
618
11 . 633
xlviii.
37
642
723
Jekemiah
Daniel.
Chaiitci
Verse
Page
Chiiptei
Versa
Page
li.
7
261
vii.
25
428
39
. 592, 594
X.
3
428
57
594
11
421
The whole Book
. 632-644
xi. 2
, 17,18
424
24
428
Lamentations.
37-39
225
i.
15
261
38
208
iii.
38
260
xii.
11, 12
428
The whole Book
420-429
EZEKIKL.
i.
1(3, 20
143, 507
HOSEA.
iii.
1-1
261
i.
3
454
15,21
508
ii.
3
158
iv.
1-6
508
iu.
13,16
350
T.
12
508
iv.
13,16
350
vi.
509
ix.
15
263
13
640
xi.
1
858
Tiii.
7
. 415, 509
xiii.
2
567
18
260
The whole Book
587, 594
ix.
4
152
xi.
24
510
Joel.
xii.
3-19
510
i.
12
273
xiv.
14,20
421, 610
ii.
18
263
xvi.
8
16
265, 687
309
iii.
4
689
24, 25
211
Amos.
38
263, 687
i.
1-15
689
XX.
9
41
264,618
260
V.
26
291
48
511
Jonah.
49
233
iii.
10
266
xxvi., xxvii., xxviii.
511
xxvii.
13
692
Micah.
xxxii.
21
226
i.
10
357
xxxvi.
23
264
The whole Book
507-513
N,VHUM._
i.
2
263
Daniel.
iii.
5
601
i.
4,6
421
ii.
8,9
427
Hadakicck.
iv.
16
427
i.
11
225
V. 2
11,18
425
ii.
18
227
vi.
1-28
426
18
52
Zephakiad.
vii.
12
427
ii.
11
620
724
Zechaeiah.
Luke.
Chapter
Verse
Piige
Chapter
Verse
Page
i.
8
469
i.
66
261
8-11
577
ii.
24
110
14
2G3
40-52
251
xiii.
2
514
iii.
22
695
xiv.
2
55
xi.
15
514
xiii.
1-3
644
Mala CHI.
xxi.
667
i.
2, 3
263
iii.
6
267, 672
John.
16
256, 588
i.
IS
261
iv.
5
31, 220
32, 33
695
ii.
14, 16
110, 405
Apocrypha
20
521
Tobit
514
iii.
19-21
448
vi. vii.
696
iv.
23
622
Ecclesiasticus .
203
XX.
23
578
Baruch v
. 19
444
Acts.
iv.
13
671
Matthew.
vii.
22
195
i.
18-20
. 262, 462
viii.
10
82
ii.
15
358
xii.
11
261
iii.
16
695
xiii.
22
431
iv.
4
260
xvii.
26
460
X.
8
34, 35
516
688
xviii.
xix.
13-15
661
396
xii.
34
688
13,14
515
sviii.
10
116
xxii.
22
661
xxiii.
662
xxiii.
9
246
24
687
88
688
xxiv.
5
66i
xxiY.
667
EOMANS.
34
667
i.
26, 27
114
xxvi.
53
116
xii.
9
267
xxvii.
19
459
xiv.
18
58
66
52
xvi.
5
58
Mark.
1 CORINTHIAI
<IS.
i.
10
695
ix.
IS
552
xi.
13
250
xii.
4, 5, 6
322
xiii
667
9
516
xvi.
17
516
xiii.
4
18
xiv.
8
674
Ldke.
i. 11
22, 63
462
Galatians
35
262
iv.
9-11
649
725
Chapter
Ephesians.
Verse
12
COLOSSIANS.
15
1 Thessalonians.
250
2 Timothy.
18
fi68
6
CBS
Ifi
mC), 667
Hebtsews.
7
58
13
482
7
283
James.
27
624
Cha;)ter
iii.
XUi.
xvii.
xix.
1 Peter.
Ver.se
6
19
2 Peteu.
21
REVEL.VriONS
13
15
2
4
S
1, 2
11
3
7
18
3
12
17
12
15
PaRo
104
250
31
261
577
469
181
58
248
469
249
651
469
259
58
256
382
INDEX II.
HEBREW PllOPEK NAMES.
Page
!<
173
nV'7ii;'2^»
IN
180
■\n^2S(
in«
180, 211
"^?«
181 n55?o-n'5 basi
67, 182 O'oijs ''?«
183, G37 nbinp b3^»
''«'?^
185
c:p i;3s
n?^'?^
'':-???»
184
180
i7'2-^
185
1?':'
^■"Tr-^
185
""^y? 1?^
n;?^ ^
L83, 18-4, 188
i5?'>'
i<in';^
187
v?«
Nin^N
187
l??!^
iin'?^<
187
■>?$>
■5;?"?^
653
cn-;3N
TU"???
187
T??^
3r^'3N
190
d;)2>?
'''f?!i
190
«•?«
c;??«
188
^?M
''«?'??»
188
-iijN
^!?P'?t»
188
C'bpN
188
188
1?;?^
188
IIN
184, 409
180
184
<i9, 180, 188
^7?
180, 188
189
yvi"3^»
1H9
CHN
nri-'is
189
™7«
"i^'if*
18»
'p:^
□ibC'lN
ISO
^:^:^
•200
Page
195
184
182
182
182
182
182
183
183
!. 0:37
408
188
183
029
55
191
195
191
200
206
206
472
199
203
199
199
029
400
204, 540
205
204
203, 4(59
203
208
203
354,
728
13«
'^?™
^^«
•■SIX
■^^1Pl n'lDW
n«
ins
■•nN
32.
Page
204
'HK
203
□>^'n«
204
wn«
205
nn^riN
205
vn«
205
"'P''?'^
205
irL^'FTN
204,470
iib'iiN!
20o
nin'riN
205
"I^P'n^
470
l'?'"??
207
yyn'nx
136
i;r"?
207
^l^^'PTN
472
□srnx
210
T[?Dp'i7«
210
-in-'ns
210
cp;n^«
210
DTns'
GO, 175
!>Ti7^«
176
in\p'nN
499
"\tt;'n,^
507
bci-i^n^
06
^J!?^
94
'^nx
94
Nnnn«
507
'?cn«
318
ins!
317
nn«
198, 199
nnrrsi
207
'^nnn^
207
ffiiniffiriN
472
•ie>?
210
3VN
212
'?r«
212, 028
-liiD--^!
32
'':«
207
rr«
199
V''t''^
207
ni'^'^fi
212
D.r«
212
]V^.
472
nVTN
Page
207
208
208
208
209
208
210
208
209
209
208
208
208
209
209
210
208
208
209
209
210
210
210
210
210
199
207
207
94
207
207
207
314
688
653
629
215
67,215
215, 231
:14, 228
214
484
473, 484
729
Page
473
484
052
310
713
712
105
199
-\v2^bx
Page
480
483
483
480
474
475
482
481
197
ins;
483
475
214, 54!)
2U>, 473
492
480
478
470
482
227
231
473, 029
•214, 225, 223
1^^
227
229
o'rt'.vi
214, 210
crrt;!
484
pVi.
4S4
i'7-"'''
484
^^^>
4M4
■'?i^'
484
ni:«
228
ii-'7«
473
M^V:.^
231
T?^??
473, 474
'nV-s»
228
'nr'-'S!
484
ti^p.
4S4
^r?^
474
IJv?^
474
«7r':)^
474
l.s'''7«
474
n'fr'\^
474
'•>'?*:?
475
n"*^
230
'^?^''r'^
47 5
K^X
100, 280
ITb^
475
484
rr:N
474
l?V'^
08, 484
i?'?'.'
220,
475, 029
nif^v
483
"i^'T^
475
'•i^-N
484
'r?7«
47 5
-i;-ir\v
484
>'3n:?si
474
^v"''
484
rinir'':.^
475
W^""
484
'^??'7>:»
480
C!<
231
n?;':^
475
n^!^
232. 235
Ti:"':«
47 5
]io«
60, 230, 230
'r?'?^?
475
yiTi«
241
crb^5
475
"?NI
234
iP'-N
480
P'r?f
239
Vr?>»
480
C'J!^
. 7 2.233
in':?'?*?
480
™?«
. 72, 232
730
■^^^^^
^:«
n3p«
Nn|cx
IpN
IFIpN
nnDN
^;)«
72
a^N
242
an«
234
11«
658
r"!"!'^
72
"I]-)!<
G5S
ii-i«
72, 232
npTi«
241
>\«
234
^j?:!?*
65
m«
82
'>^
486
■^Nns?
82
nn^
300
!<nnn>*
312
^.'!")^
312
ri^
312
'P'7«
84, 301
v^
312
'??i?
312
l3^^
489
C^«
492
'ranx
487
n-^
272
p™
487
i;!!^
487
-i37«
487
™??i«
487
'n^
488
'^¥7«
67
BI^N
07, 507
iinx
67
sinriL-rTri-iN'
317
•iS!
317
■7Nn\i'N
519
b«Ti"w
196
'5^'N
75, 282
11??
282
?'-|?">P>?
75, 489
byacx
89
liiip.:}
80
n-i^^
299
-nl2:\s»
278
s)p>tt:-N
Page
288
282
280
282
300
298
300
283
277
276
276
282
282
282
282
283
283
489
279
282
276
298
276
298
298
298
298
465
300
276
276
298
68
301
312
303
303, 490
303
303, 491
68, 304
480
312
310
731
1^^^
07
pm
biS-is;
. (i7,4'.)l
112
iPf-P^
;i04
'D?
^Tbrx
y08, 491
n:i3
n:ps'
.Sl-2
VV^2
1?^^
302,491
-ii2
i3E'ri<
810
rj'nvn
1^'R^'^
. 67,310
^W^
Ti'X
. 77,304
P.}?
n^v^x
. 78,307
xni2
^i^'!'?^
301
Dnin?
'i?j><
77, 302
n?3
bixri-t'K
491
m
]in-TO
OS, 491
D'pTOi
rrori^x
491
^^"2
n'lri-i?^
30-2
^^r
n><
174
n:?
'y?'?^
492
ji«-n':
'nx
316
"'«''"!'?
'?ns!
49-2
iSNrrn'i
1=^1?
492
wzi.vsTi':
lO^?
365
\vn2-n^3
2
319
nn2-n'2
°'N^j
227
ni|-n'2
1N2
340
'5;brn\2
**?'^T
22, 341
7iorn'2
D"7« -in;
340
c;n;2--n'2
'^."''^?
341
^]^'r^'^
nii«i
341
VT^-^r
'■?>:?'
341
^iN-n-.T;
\s-i -p) in;
old
chtt;
■522
nj2
Nn:2
-112
-\pn2
309
n::rfn\2
809
liiirrp"
369
|:n-n':
369
:^^^0'•C'7\■n-.
.•i4n
iitt;
34(1
cizn-p-
340
nixirn'a
369
DnJTI'3
374
rpGr'j-n'i
34
Page
19
3>^0
339
378
374
197
370
307
368
371
332
347
367
367
470
22
332, 347
349
351
352
349
349
350
349, 350
352
353
353
351
351
354
352
349, 354
351
354
354
355
354
355
860
853
857
868
355
732
Page
Page
K'lVn-n^a . . . 350
nim . . . 335
p-^-m
359
15 . •
344
mi:p-B'2
35'.)
'pix ]i
83, 346
nii|-i-5'n^2
359
""^n 1?
344
n^*prn\3
359
'^32
370
pr-iT'S
351
nnii 1?
340
nTOir-n'?
349
Vn •;3
344
n:rn'3
3-19
m 1?
345
ij7i''"n'3
351
'??
335
ni7,;ri-n'3
349
'32
378
^■='n'?
3G1
P']3"\??
344
"iii-D"n'a
301
T??
344, 599
V^-=-n'?
361
.r^l
344
-ni:-n'2
364
W-.- '?■?
344
ain7"n'3
302
rp;??
345
NDi^n^a
362
«'32
345
l«?-n'a
303
iv'n2
370
nci?n"n'3
363
"-Qi- ]2
344
'a:n-i''"n'3
303
rTniD2
347
mEri"n\H
364
\^D2
347
miDa
340
■'02
347
□'Di
373
niy2
346
132
340
n-2
372, 599
i-iDi
373
^P
320
'-\D3
369
in'« ^??
375
'%
341
nn2 '7^2
322
17^)?
331
13 'W2
324
n:ba
369
'i'^^:?
330
'?^?
309
linn ^1-3
324
T???
369
ni:i-2
330
nbi
832
iniT b?2
328
nn73
369
1^7 ''??
325
1?'??
369
"\i:L'n ''?rH
325
nsxcTcba
344
■jiQ-in bvii
325
■ji'l^a
344
^^t'^?'?
330
5?>l
344
^???
330
^^?
331
D'TJl
330
Dl-^H
331, 369
\\Vr2 W2
325
r^i
3o3
-lii-is ':i-2
325
I^Xti)!
334
D'>np '71-2
320
m
369
|iQ2 by?
329
nn|
211, 385
nu.i'7ttj bvi
327
bnna
369
n^^'i
330
733
-inn 71-3
tea
'•'????
Kin
nins
nw2
Dip"??
MJ13
3;>S
ru:"-j3
Sir;
ni?
3. so
nm?
330
'n^?
330
r-12
331
notoj
331
DTf2
341
not-3
3G7
I'fT
3G4
^U'i
307
n?
373
■jNina
308
nbin2
374
'X'"'?
332
D'??-n?
33-2
y?xp-n2
33-2
STi'-n?
375
331
3
375
«?
197, 335
7«W3
422
32
330
i;
347
sz:
340
''V.
340
T?|
337
C'22
347
^3?
370
y??
337
«?r?
332
^V?'
347
P^'.
340
■QJ
330
^?
336, 347
w'na?
347
]'>'"'??
330
-\2
340
^iV
340
nii3
340
'1!
336
n:
330
V''^
370
''■>.3
Page
370
347
347
347
370
837
871
837
337
868
339
804
304
371
839
339
339
533
533
540
211
549
538
533
550
539
539
69
540
540
. 69,540
539
534, 540
533
541
634
641
539
535
69, 535
535
541
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IS
364
m-B . . 55,
189, 365
bra
55, 365
n?P .
211
VT^
189
^np^
393
•••w »Ti' nittj lyj
52,236
■JV .
393
□'TO
638
5>ip
77, 111,405
"ir'p
189
n^p
403
l^iffl
70
rp- •
381
p^'-ij
71
irp. .
382
pn'ttj
70
ffi'p
403
Dp or D5-JJ
241
]iffi'p
70
]iiD\iJ
70
p'^p.
384
xdV^
327
™p.
384
nam
96
^?p.
400
pl-p'ij
70
^^Px
399
piattj
70
"??
392
]r£ip-«p
70
nnp
394
'??
92
yp-a
199
nxn
209
n_TO
131
D«-i Dt;«n
191
n^ ,
364
]i« 1"!
132
5.''in
339
^n
104
•iin
356
1^?
527
3nT
027
mstn
527
DT nm
191
nnn
283
mi
241
nin
632
□i-l DTI
191
lin
649
■C'T
276
niin
649
1™^-!
70
n;cin
649
Dn mi Di
188, 191
n'^^n
190
HDI
130, 242
'o'Ji^
337
ninyi
612
inn
532
nni
276
n:n
24
bpn . .
210
mto
131
]1^
164
hi
52
i?in
163
GENERAL INDEX.
Aar, page 177.
Aaron, 66, 95.
his name explained, 175.
resembles Hermes, 178.
Ab, 180.
Abaci, 180.
Abadan, 180.
Abaddon, 181, 2^8.
Abari, ISO.
Abda, 182.
Abdeel, 182.
Abdi, 182.
Abdiel, 182.
Abdon, 66, 182.
Abednego, 182.
Abel, &c., 182, 552.
Abba, 183.
Abi, 183.
with compounds, 184.
Abimelech, 222.
Aborigines of Canaan, their wor-
ship, 637.
Abraham, a rock, 67.
deals in slaves, 129.
has a slave wife, 60.
his life and character, 192.
his migration, 41.
his name, 191.
the great father, 5.
Abram, 191, 192.
Abrech, 195.
Absalom, 195.
his rebelhon, 436.
Absm-dities in the Bible, 671.
Abundance of offspring promised
as a blessing, imphes vigour,
Accad, page 195.
Accho, 196.
Ach, 199.
a divine epithet, 207.
Achau, 197.
recognises a BabylonLsh gar-
ment, 134.
Achaz, 33.
Achbor, 197.
Achilles angry at the loss of Bri-
seis, 120.
Achish, 197.
Achmetba, 199.
Achor, 197.
Achsah, 198.
Achshaph, 198.
Acbzib, 199.
Acorn, 157.
Ad, 199.
Adad, 199.
Adalah, 199.
Adah, 199.
Adaiah, 200.
Adalai, 200.
Adam, a companion of Elohim,
254.
his name, &c., 200.
the phallus, 202.
Adamah, 203.
Adami, 203, 206.
Adan, 203.
Adar, 203.
Adbeel, 203.
Addan, 203.
Addar, 204.
Addon, 204.
Ader, 204.
Adharya, 206.
748
Adiel, page 204.
Adin, 204.
Adina, 204.
Adino, 204.
Adithaim, 204.
Aditi, 206.
Aditya, 206.
Adlai, 204.
Admah. 204.
Admatbah, 204.
Adna, 204.
Adnah, 204.
Adon, 204.
Adonibezek, 204.
Adonijab, 205.
Adonikam, 205.
Adouiram, i05.
Adonizedeb, 205.
Adoption of faitbs, 294.
of old mytbs, 294, 340.
Adoraim, 205.
Adi-ammelecb, 205.
Adriel, 205.
AduUam, 205.
Adultery a sacred emblem, 68E
in birds, 678.
ordained to Hosbea, 589.
Adummin, 205.
iElian quoted, 54.
^non, 206.
Affinities of names, 13.
Africa, its people, 37.
Aga, 206.
Agabus, 206.
Agag, 206.
AgaU, 206.
Agbab, 206.
Agee, 206.
Agba, 206.
Agni, 206.
Agra, 206.
Agm-, 206.
Ab, 207, 212.
Abab, 207.
Ababel, 207.
Abam, 212.
Aban, page 212.
Abana, 212.
Abar, 207.
Abarab, 207.
Abasai, 207.
Abasbai, 207.
Abasuerus, 207.
Abava, 207.
Abaz, 207.
Abaziab, 207.
Abban, 207.
Aber, 207.
Abi, 207.
Abiab, 208.
Abiam, 208.
Abian, 208.
Abiezer, 208.
Abibud, 208.
Abijab, 208.
Abikam, 208.
Abilud, 208.
Abimaaz, 208.
Abiman, 208.
Abimelecb, 209.
Abimotb, 2; 9.
Abinadab, 209.
Abinoam, 202.
Abio, 209.
Abira, 209.
Abiram, 209.
Abisamacb, 210.
Abisbabar, 210.
Abisbar, 210.
Abitopbel, 210.
Abitub, 210.
Ablab, 210.
Ablai, 210.
Aim, 212.
Abobab, 210.
Abolab, 210.
Abron, 180.
Almmai, 212.
Abura, 212.
Abuzam, 212.
Abuzzatb, 212.
Ai, 95, 213.
749
Aijalon, page 67.
Ailim, 214.
Ain, 213.
Ain-shems, 64.
Airau, 213.
Air, god of the, 58, 93, 177.
Akhi-ummab, 213.
Akissu, 213.
Akrabbim, 213.
Al, usually written El, 213.
Alametb, 229.
Alammalech, 229.
Alath, 214.
Alba, 230.
Aleph, 173, 177, 230.
Alexander, the false prophet, 47.
Allah, 230.
Ahan, 230.
Ahlat, 231.
Ahtta, 31, 231,
Allon, 231.
All powerful, the, 56, 202.
Alma mater, 159.
Almighty, 221, 252.
described as man, 58, 259, 263.
opinions respecting, 48.
requires human aid ? ! 065.
talking with man, 57, 222,
254, 260.
venerates his own name, 618.
Ahnodad, 231.
Almon, 229.
Almond, a female emblem, 107.
Aloth, 231.
Alpha, 173.
Altars, 122.
Alteration in Bible, necessity for,
269, 462.
Alterations of names in Scripture,
132, 133.
Alush, 230.
Alvah, 231.
Am, 71, 231.
Amad, 232.
Amadeus, 73.
Amadou, virgin of, 159.
Amah, page 232.
Amal, 232.
Amalek, 232.
smitten from revenge, 267.
Amalekites twice destroyed, 434.
Amam, 72, 232.
Amana, 72, 232.
Amar, 242.
Amariah, 72, 232.
Amasa, 232.
Amasai, 233.
Amashai, 233.
Amasiah, 234.
Amassu, 233.
Amaziah, 234.
and the Edomites, 690, 691.
Amba, 242.
Ambassadors from heaven, 257,
258.
Ambhas, 242.
Ambhoya, 242.
Ambutlbi, 242.
Amelia, a city older than Eome, 73.
Ament, 234.
America, peopled by one race, 36.
compared to Assyi-ia, 39.
Amh, 242.
Ami, 242.
Amishaddai, 235.
Amisshadai, 72.
Ammah, 234, 235.
Ammara, 242.
Ammiel, 72, 235.
Ammihud, 235.
Amminadab, 235.
Ammizabad, 236.
Ammon, Amon, 66, 236.
Amnon, 72, 239.
Amok, 239.
Amon, 239.
Amorite, 72, 240.
Amos, 241.
Amos, Joel, and Chronicles, 691.
Amoz, 241.
Amram, 241.
Amraphel, 241.
750
Amri, page 242.
Amulets, 395.
Amzi, 242.
Ana, 271.
Ana-arba-il, 2G9.
Anab, 242, 270.
Anacalypsis quoted, 28, 74, 202,
400, 407, 416, 647.
Anachrouisms in Ezekiel, 510.
Anah, 242.
Analiaratli, 243.
Anaiah, 243.
Anaitis, 270.
Anak, 243.
Analiu, 270.
Anam, 243.
Anamim, 243.
Anaud, 270.
Anani, 244.
Anas, 271.
Anasura, 313.
Anatb, 244.
Auathoth, 244.
Anchor, emblem, 167.
Ancient names tell of ancient
gods, 5.
Aucilia at Eome, 163.
Ancus, 272.
Andaman islands, 659.
Andrew, 244.
St., bis cross, 153.
Andbra, 271.
Androgynous ideas of tbe Creator,
30, 32, 218, note.
Anem, 270.
Aner, 270.
Anesb, 244.
Anga, 271.
Angada, 271.
Angels, another name for gods, 621.
belief in, 116, 244.
fallen, 246.
names of, 246.
salute Christua, 401.
their business, 58.
Anger of God, 262.
Anglican church anthropomorphic,
page 264.
Anglo-Saxon and Spanish nomen-
clature contrasted, 9.
Angutiya, 271.
Aui, 270.
Aniam, 270.
Anim, 270.
Animals all obey divine commands,
676.
fear the supernatural, 46.
their habits and vices, 678.
their power to send each other
to hell examined, 578,
Anj, 271.
Anha, 272.
Ankurah, 272.
Anna, 28, 81, 251, 270.
Annamelech, 243.
Aunauiah, 244.
Annedotus, 81, 271.
Anobret, SI, 271.
Anodaphus, 81.
Ausa, 272.
Anthropomorphism, 216, 221, 222,
• 252.
Antiquity an unsafe guide, 109.
of Babylon, 43.
of the Aureole, 142.
referred to, 37.
Ants talking politics, 577.
Auu, 81, 83, 271.
Anu, an Assyrian God, 64, 76.
Anub, 271.
Anunit, 95, 272.
Anutagil, 272.
Aodh, 272.
Apharsachites, 272.
Aphek, 272.
Aphrodisiac meat, 566.
the fish, 529, 565.
Aphrodite, 53, 54.
Apocalypse, 31, 181.
Apocryphal writings, 6.
Apollo and Jah, 611.
Apollyon, 181.
751
ApiDle, page 272.
Eve's, signification of, 498.
Apricot split, an emblem of the
Virgin, 528.
Ar, 176, 275.
Ai-, to plough, 17.
Ai-a, 275.
Arab, 275.
Arad, 275, 276.
Aratlasha, 276.
Arab, 276.
Aram, 276.
Ai-an, 276.
Ai-arat, 276.
Aras, 276.
Araimah, 277.
Arba, 69, 243, 278, 308.
Arba-il, 89, 152, 157, 278, 530.
cross and circle, 143.
Arbela, 69.
Arbitrament of the sword, 671.
Arbel, 278.
Archangel and Archbishop, 14.
Archangels, 624.
Archite, 279.
Ard, 280.
Ai-dan, 282..
Ai-edu, 298.
Areli, 282.
Argeia, 285.
Argha, 157, 164, 177.
Argo, 177.
Aridai, 282.
Aridatha, 282.
Arieh, 282.
Ariel, 282.
Aiim, 282.
Arioch, 283.
Arisai, 283.
Ai-k, 164, 166, 167, 177.
compared with Palladimn, etc..
439, 440.
Hindoo, 291.
history of in David's time, 439.
ideas respecting, 439.
meaning of, 283.
Ark, Noah's, page 294.
Arkite, 298.
Armaita, 122.
Ai-meuia, 298.
Armi, 299.
Armoni, 298.
Arna, 299.
Arnan, 298.
Arnon, 298.
Arod, 298.
Arodi, 298.
Aroer, 298.
Arpad, 298.
Arphaxad, 298.
Arrow, broad, 168.
form of Hermes, 543.
Artaxer.\es, 298.
and the Jews, 522.
Artemis the best of women, 579.
Arthur, speculations on name, 17.
Aruboth, 299.
Arumah, 300.
Arvad, 300.
Aryan influence on Shemites, 615.
Aryan roots, 17.
Ai-za, 300.
Asa, 300.
Asahaiah, 301.
Asahel, 300.
Asaph, 301.
Asareel, 301.
Asarelah, 301.
Ascalon, 67, 302.
Asenalh, 302.
Ash, Asha, 302.
Asha-dur kali, 313.
Ashah, 313.
Ashan, 302.
Asbar, 313.
Ashbaal, 302.
Ashban, 303.
Ashbea, 303.
Asbbel, 303.
Abbcakm, 07, 162.
Ashch.uaz, 304.
Ashdod, 304.
752
Asher, page 304.
AsLerah, 307.
Ashkelon, 310.
Ashima, 310.
Asbnala, 310.
Aslipeuaz, 310.
Ashtoreth, 310.
Karuaim, 311.
Ashur, 311.
Aslivath, 312.
Asi, 313.
Asiel, 312.
Asmodeus, 247.
Asnah, 312.
Asuapper, 312.
Asparas, 313.
Aspatba, 312.
Asriel, 312.
Assafostida, 218.
Assarak, 313.
Asshur, 77, 312.
Asshm--akh-iddin, 313.
Asshur-tzu, 313.
Assir, 312.
Association, British, denounced by
preachers, 682.
Assyria, 312.
Babylonia, Persia, 707, 708.
Assyiiuns, 39.
trade with Phoenicians, e.g.
1000, 137.
Assyrian grove, 159, 160.
names borne by Jews, 95.
sacred names, 613.
triad, Moses, Aaron, and Hur,
95, 96.
triads, 76, 92.
■winged figure, 162.
Astarte, 311.
Astri, 313.
Astronomy in old times, 29.
Asm-as, 313.
Atarah, 313,
Ataroth, 313.
Atasura, 313.
Ater, 314.
Athach, page 314.
Athaiah, 314.
Athahah, 314.
Atblai, 314.
Athor, 315.
Atmon, 316.
Atroth, 315.
Attai, 315.
Attalah, 316.
Attan, 316.
Attata, 316.
Aum a sacred name, 237.
Aureole, the, 142.
Ava, 317.
Avah, 317.
Avatar referred to, 658.
Avatars, 47.
Aven, 317.
= On or Ann, 65.
Avim, 317.
Aza, 317.
Azal, 317.
Azahah, 317.
Azaniah, 317.
Azar, 319.
Azareel, 317.
Azariah, 317.
Azaz, 317.
Azazel, 317.
Azaziah, 318.
Az-Baal, 654.
Azbou, 318.
Azbuk, 318.
Azekah, 318.
Azel, 318.
Azem, 318
Azer-Baal, 654.
Azgad, 318.
Aziel, 318.
Azmaveth, 318.
Azmon, 318.
Aznoth, 318.
Azrael, 94.
Azrikam, 318.
Azubah, 318.
Azur, 318.
753
Azza, i^age 318.
Azzan, 319.
Azzur, 319.
B
B, 819.
Baal and Baalim, 320.
= Mahacleva, 322.
etymology of, 321.
Baal-Berith, 322.
Baal-Gad, 321.
Baal-Hagor, 325.
Baal-Hamou, 321.
Baal-Hanan, 325.
Baal-Hermon, 324.
Baal-Meon, 325.
Baal-Peor, 325.
Baal-Perazim, 326.
Baal-Sbalisba, 327.
Baal-Tamar, 328.
Baal-Zephon, 329.
Baal aud Bosheth, 133.
Baalah, 330.
Baaliah, 330.
Baalidab, 330.
Baalis, 330.
Baalotu, 330.
Baalzebub, 329.
Baauab, 330.
Baara, 330.
Baaseiab, 331.
Baasba, 331,
Babel, 331.
Babil, 337.
Babius, 338.
Babylon, 331.
Babylonia, its orthodoxy, 41.
Babylonian customs, 365.
faith in Palestine, 127.
Babylonians believed in genii, <fcc.,
117.
Babylons, two, 244,
Bacchus, 32, 331.
his name derived, 16.
fig tree sacred to, 527.
monogram Cbristiauised, 647.
Bacba, page 338.
Back of Almighty, 261.
Bacon, Lord, on "ex vote," ftl7.
Bad, 338,
Badia, 338.
Bfidoues, 338.
Ea>tuli, 333.
Bag, symboUc, 162.
Bagh,'33S.
a tiger, 16.
Bagha, 338.
Bagbis, 338.
Bag or purse, 403.
Baburim, 332.
Bajith, 332.
Baka, 331.
Bakbakhar, 332.
Bakbukiah, 332.
Bakhar, 338.
Bala, 339.
Balaam, 331
story of, when compiled, 692.
Baladam, 331.
Baladan, 331.
Balah, 332.
Balak, 333.
Ballypur and BallyiDooreu, 25.
Bali, 334, 339.
Balin, 339.
Bal-Shamiu, 338.
Bamab, 335.
Bandb, 339.
Banditti, David a captain of, 433.
Bani, 335.
Baolath, 330.
Bar, 335.
Bara, 336.
Barabbas, 336.
preferred to Christ, 661.
Barachel, 336.
Barachias, 336.
Barak, 33G.
Barb, 339.
Barbaiiau names not to be de-
stroyed. 22.
Bariah, 336.
754
Barjesns, page 336.
Barjouah, 336.
Barkat, 338.
Barkos, 336.
Barley-corn, a female erablem, 107.
Barmuri, 338.
Barnabas, 336.
Barsabas, 337.
Barta, 339.
Bartholomew, 837.
Bartimeus, 337.
Bartsippa, 338.
Barncli, 337.
Barzillai, 337.
Base metal used by the church as
true, 506.
Bashan, 337.
Bashemath, 337.
Basket, 90, 337.
and Mandragora, 403.
Bath, 339.
Bath-rabbim, 339.
Bath-sheba, 339.
Bath-shim, 339.
Battle cry of Assyrians, Gl-i.
Bavai, 339.
Beast, and his number, 650.
Bebai, 339.
Bebiugton Churcl>, 144.
Becher, 340.
Bechorath, 340.
Bed, 368.
Bedad, 340.
Bedaiah, 340.
Bedan, 340.
Beelida, 321.
Beer, 340.
Beera, 341.
Beerah, 341.
Beerelim, 340.
Beeri, 341.
Beeiiahairoi, 340.
Beeroth, 341.
Beersheba, 340.
Beeshterah, 341.
Beeve, flesh of, 565.
Bel, page 341, 368.
is Ashm-, 81.
Merodach, 121.
Bela, 344.
Belat, 344.
Behal, 344.
Belib, 368.
Bells, significance of, 53.
Belni, 368.
Belrabu, 368.
Belsar, 368.
Belshazzar, 344.
Belteshazzar, 344.
Beltis, 104.
Belzuna, 368.
the moon, 93.
Ben, 344.
Benaiah, 344.
Ben-ammi, 344.
Benebarah, 344.
Benediction, how given, 530.
of Isaac examined, 603.
Eenejaakan, 344.
Benhadah, 344.
Benhail, 344.
Benhauan, 345.
Benjamin, 83, 345.
names in tribe of, 539,
tribe of, 162.
Beninu, 345.
Benoni, 83, 346.
Beuzoheth, 346.
Beon, 346.
Beor, 346.
Beraiah, 346.
Berachah, 346.
Berechiah, 346.
Bered, 346.
Beri, 347.
Beriah, 347.
Berith, 347.
Berkhampstead, the name, 2:-
Berodach, 347.
Berosus on Cosmogony, 85.
Berothai, 347.
Besai, 347.
755
Besodeiab, i^age S47.
Besor, 347.
Betali, 347.
Betal, 543.
Beteu, 347.
Beth, 347.
Bethabarah, 92, 349.
Bethanatli, 349.
Bethany, 349.
Betharam, 347.
Beth Arbel, 278.
Beth-arbel, 349.
Beth-aven, 349.
Beth-azmaveth, 349.
Beth-baal-meou, 349.
Beth-bara, 350.
Beth-bu-ie, 350.
Beth-car, 350.
Beth-dagon, 341.
Beth-diblathaim, 351.
Beth-eclen, 351.
Beth-eked, 351.
Beth-el, 351.
Beth-emek, 351.
Beth-esda, 352.
Bcth-ezel, 352.
Beth-gader, 352.
Beth-gilgal, 353.
Beth-gamnl, 353.
Beth-hackerem, 353.
Beth-hanau, 354.
Beth-haram, 355.
Beth-hoglah, 354.
Beth-horou, 355.
Beth-jesimoth, 355.
Beth-leaphi-ah, 355.
Beth-lebaoth, 357.
Beth-lehem, 358.
Beth-maacha, 359,
Beth-marcaboth, 359.
Beth-ineou, 359.
Beth-millo, 359.
Beth-nimrah, 859.
Beth-pal.'t, 361.
Beth-pazzez, 361.
Beth-peor, 361.
Beth-i)hage, page 361.
Beth-rnpha, 362.
Beth-rehob, 362.
Beth-saidn, 363.
Beth-shau, 363.
Beth-shemesh, 65, 863.
Beth-shittah, 363.
Beth-tappnach, 364.
Beth-iiel, 304.
Beth-ulia, 364.
Beth-zachariah, 364.
Beth-zur, 364.
Betzal, 364.
Bezek, 368.
Bezer, 368.
Bhaga, 362.
Bhama, 368.
Bhanda, 368.
Bhargava, 368.
Bhash, 368.
Bhatu, 368.
Bhavaja, 368.
Bhavaua, 369.
Bhavaui, 53, 83.
Bible, absurdities of the, 671.
accounts of " ex voto," 518.
an expurgated edition wanted,
264.
compared to the laws of Numa
and others, 525.
contains what may be called
Billingsgate, 688.
incongi-uities in the, 671.
its claim to inspiration exu-
mined, 666.
jianders to human passions,
685.
the book of pei-secutors, 686.
value to be ligidly examined,
624.
Eichri, 369.
Bidkar, 369.
Bigoti7 amongst Protestants, 140.
Bigtha, 369.
Bigthan, 369.
Bigvai, 369.
/.
756
Bil, page 371.
Bil-akli-isu, 371.
Bilat, 364.
Bilclacl, 869, 372.
Bileam, 369.
Bilgah, 369.
Bilgai, 369.
Bilbali, 369.
Bilhan, 369.
BiUat, 372.
" Billingsgate " biblical, 688.
Bilhi-ballat, 372.
Bil-shamin, 372.
Bilsban, 369.
Bimhal, 369.
Bincliodescli, 870.
Binea, 370.
Binuui, 870.
Birth, new, typified by water, 86.
phenomena of, 86.
Birket, 372.
Bii-sha, 370.
Birzavith, 370.
Bish, 370.
Bishlam, 371.
Bishops, trial of seven, 655.
Bitch, 872.
BitgaUa, 364.
Bitgalla-knmta, 365.
Bithiah, 371.
Bith-kheira, 872.
Bit-nitsirti, 365.
Bit-rab Pul-sar-rabu, 372.
Bit-shaggatha, 109.
Bit-shaggathu, 365.
Bit-shakuri, 865.
Bit-tzida, 367.
Bizjothjah, 371.
Biztha, 671.
Black Venus, 159.
Blasphemy, question of, 264, 547.
in limiting Almighty power,
257.
Blessing by Priest and Pope, 169.
Boanerges, 27, 688.
Boat, mystic, 166.
Boats, sacred, page 289.
Boar, sacred to Cristna, 372.
Boaz, 372.
and Jachiu, 154.
Boeheru, 873.
Bochim, 373.
Bodotria, 373,
Bohan, 374.
Bohen, 90.
Bohtho, 374.
Bomba, 357.
Borough, meaning of name, 23.
Borsippa, 374.
Bosheth, note, 646.
Bosom of Almighty, 261.
Bow, 374.
and Arrow, 162.
the weapons of old
gods, 417.
Bower of delight, 354.
Bowman, celestial, 162.
Boys consecrated, 73.
Bozcath, 374.
Bozez, 374.
Bozra, 374.
Brahma, 875.
Brahman, 375.
Brahmins and Missionaries, 670.
Bramhya, 375.
Branding, 375.
Brennus and Brown, 169.
Briseis and Achilles, 120.
British Museum conceals Tera-
phim, 130.
Association denounced by
preachers, 682.
Broad Arrow, 168.
Brown, essay on the name, 11.
Budh, 375.
Budha, 375.
Buddhi, 375.
Buddhist signs, 147, 148, 151, 152,
168.
Buddhists held up to execration,
670.
Buduel, 375.
757
Bugs, or terrors, page 481.
Bukki, 375.
Bukkiab, 375.
BuU, 375.
Bull, 375.
Buuah, 378.
Buuaki-beth, 378.
Bungler, the Almightj' described
lis a, by divines, G59.
Bunni, 378.
Buns, their origin and antiquitj-,
378.
Burrow and Borough compared, 20.
Bury St. Edmunds, its name ex-
amined, 22.
Butler's Analogy of Religion, 578.
Butler's Hudibras quoted, 686.
Buz, 380.
C, 380.
Cabbon, 381.
Cabiri, 381.
Cabul, 381.
Cain, 381.
Caiuan, 382.
Cau-n made by Jacob, 130.
Cakes, 378.
Cakes of figs, 453.
Cal, 393.
Calah, 382.
Calcol, 382.
Caleb, 382.
Calf, 383.
golden, play before, 566.
kissed, 567, 593.
sex of, 567.
Calneh, 384.
Caluga, the serpent, 401.
Calves, idea of in Hosea, 593.
Cam, 393.
Cama, 384.
Cam on, 384.
Canaan, 384.
Canaanites resuscitated, 523.
Canueh, 384.
Canon of Scripture examined and
explained, page 384.
Cnpella, M., hymn to sun, 647.
Caphtor, 291.
Capricoruus and fish, 529.
Car, 391.
Carcas, 392.
Carchemish, 392.
Careah, 392.
Carians and David, 611.
Carmel, 392.
Carmi, 392.
Carshena, 393.
Carthage, 39, 394, 653.
Carthageuian inscriptions, 654.
Casiphia, 393.
Casluhim, 393.
Caspar, 394.
Catamcnia, ICl.
Catheda-al towers, 154.
Cathohc Nave, 166.
Cave dwellers, 587.
Celestial mother (Sarah), 5.
Celestial virgin, 74.
Celtic Draids quoted, 407.
Cepharhammonai, 394.
Ceres, 85, 167.
why she carries ears of corn,
420.
Ceylon known to i'hoenicians, 39.
Chairs in Cathedrals, 309.
Chaldiva, 394.
Chalda?aus, 39, 93.
more favoured by the Deity
than the Hebrews, 247.
teach augehc law to Jews, 245.
Ghaldee Mythology, ancient, 51,
244.
Chaldee faith, 58.
Chance used ns " The Lord," 438.
Change of text in Bible, note, 55.
Change of names, 132, 311.
Changes in outlandish names, 10.
Charahim, 381, 395.
Chariot of Suu, 143, 359.
Charlatans, rehgious, 306.
758
Charms, i^age 395.
Chasms, 373.
Chebar, 397.
Chedorlaomer, 397-
Clergy, Protestant, sketched, 662.
Chelal, 397.
CheUnh, 397,
Chehibia, 397.
Chemosh, 397.
Chenaauah, 397.
Cheuani, 398.
Chephirah, 898.
Cheran, 398.
Cherethites, 398.
Cberith, 398.
Cherub, 398.
Chesalon, 399.
Chesed, 399.
Chesil, 399.
ChesuUoth, 399.
Chezib, 399.
ChidoD, 399.
Chileab, 399.
ChiUon, 67, 399.
Chilmad, 399,
Chimera, 248.
Chimham, 399.
China, extc-ut of her empire, 37.
will not send envoj's who do
not speak Chinese, 257.
Chinese symbol, 168.
Chiuueroth, 400.
Chisloth Tabor, 399.
Chittim, 4!i0, 692.
Chinn, 291, 401.
Chorashau, 400.
Chosen race, a, 635.
Chozcba, 400.
Christ invested with the attributes
of other gods, 648.
Christ denounced as an infidel, 660.
Christendom and Hiudostau com-
pared, 670.
Christian ideas compared, 56.
Christians and Heathens com-
pared, 679.
Christua, history of, page 400.
is black, 401.
is crucified, 402.
has his side pierced, 403.
Church of England adheres to
errors, 506.
Church of England Ministers
aspire to be dictators, 663.
Church of England ought to ori-
ginate a plan for treating
religion as an exact science,
684.
for the fool of the family, 684.
is deteriorating in mind, 684,
685.
Church of Rome, its four great
gods, 912.
and her saints and martyrs,
139, 140.
encourages the growth of
nuns, and uses eunuchs,
114.
Churchmen, High, use heathen
symbols, 141.
Chronicles and Joel, 691.
Chronicles opposed to Jeremiah,
644.
Cicero and Hosea compared, 594.
Cingetorix and other German
names mentioned by Cresar,
explained, note, 15.
Ciphers and myths compared, 87.
Circles, stone, 352, 425.
Circular fanes, 352, 542.
Circumcision, 128, 129, 193, 545.
a sanitary provision, 547.
e-,idence drawn from it, 546.
flint knives used, 542.
in conversation, 20.
Joshua is particular, 546.
Moses is careless of, 545.
Cis or Kish, 162.
Citium, 692.
Citron, 272.
Ciitoris, 108, 161.
Cobwebs to be swept, 87.
759
Cock, the, page 169.
Goguomens given by priests, 3, 4,
609.
Coheleth quoted, 58, 117, 175.
Cohen, -104.
meaniug of the term, 404.
Coinage of a country and its re-
ligion compared, 505.
Coincidence and relationship, 24.
Colenso quoted, 29, 623.
Colenso's ^York supplemented by
that of the author, 623.
Colonies, Tji'ian or Carthaginian,
653.
Colonising, its progress, 37.
Colonists quarrel with aborigines,
as.
Columbus referred to, 35.
Comb, 404.
Comforter, the, 537.
Comets considered portents, 118.
Coming of Elias and Christ, 387.
Commandment, third, to be taken
literally, 618.
Compounding for sins, 681, G86.
Conception, the immaculate, 51.
Concha, the, 158.
Condottieri, David a leader of, 434.
Cone sacred to Venus, 148.
Confucius and Moses compared,
668.
Congress with brutes, 567, 568.
Coniah, 405.
Conical stones, 405.
Conna, a peculiar wafer, 403.
Cononiah, 405.
Consecration of kings respected,
434.
Consecration by oil, 305.
Conservative tendencies, 153.
Contradictions in Bible, 671.
Controversy languishes where all
are logical, 663.
Conversation unpleasant in the
East, 59.
Cooey, the note of the dove, 405.
Coronation orb, page 153.
Costume of nun and priest, 165.
Oomt of the Almighty, 502.
Covenant, Baul and Jah compared,
322, 323.
Covenanters, 686.
Cow, why sacred, 54.
Cow, lioness, and rat, 315.
Cow's belly, a sacred aperture in
India, 416.
Coz, 405.
Creation, account of, 405.
arranged for three days by one
■vNi'iter, 406.
associated with darkness, 87.
ideas of, 86, 406, 407.
myths respecting, 497, 498.
phenomena of around us, 677.
the mythos examined, 406.
Creator, conceptions of, 44.
his acts, 676.
our idea of, 49, 621.
preserver, destroyer, 30.
Creeds do not convey definite
ideas, 56.
Crescent, its meaning, 144.
Criticism, a snare of the Devil,
682.
Cromwell's biographers, 388.
Cross, 407.
adopted at Nicaa, 414.
chariot wheel, 412.
doctrines illustrated by, 414.
Etruscan, 409.
form of, 414.
form of Hindoo temples, 408.
Higgins' remarks upon, 407,
408, 410, 412.-
in ancient Cyprus, 409.
in Pompeii, 409.
Miuutius Felix upon, 411.
not essentially Christian, 407.
Komau, 411.
the tau, 409.
used for slaves, 413.
various forms of, 143, 151,
760
Cross — varioiTS forms of, page
152, 153, 157, 167, 163, 410,
411, 412,
and circle, 143.
and triuity and arba-il, 157.
as an emblem, 150.
Crozier, cross, and mitre at Ele-
plianta, 401.
Crucifixion of Christna, 402.
Cruelty of David, 435.
Crusaders, bad Christians, 686.
Crux ansata, 152, 240.
Cun, a cake, 403.
Cunni Diaboli, 114, 415.
extent of their existence, 415.
in use in India now, 416.
their relation to the idea of
the earth as a mother, 415.
Curiosities in Egypt, 39.
Curse on Serpent explained, 602.
Curtain in Assyrian and Jewish
temples, 416.
what it hides, 416, 417.
Cush, 417.
Cusham, 417.
Cushan-rishathaim, 417.
CusM, 417.
Cuth, 417.
Cuttings in the flesh, 643.
Cuvier and the devil, 451.
Cynocephah, 383, 417.
Cypriotes and David, 611.
Cyprus aiul the Hittites, 584.
Cyrus, 418.
and the Jews, 520.
D
D, 418.
Dabbasheth, 420.
Daberah, 420.
Dacar, 429.
Dad, 429.
Dagon, 111, 113, 420.
Dainu-kurban, 430.
Dalah, 430.
Dalu, 429.
Dalphon, page 420.
Damascus, 420.
Dan, 420.
Danclesa, phallic scenes in, 65.
Daudanui, 430.
Daniel, 420.
coupled with Noah and Job,
421.
his ignorance of Ezra and
Nehemiah, 526.
his prophecies vague, 427.
his use of words, ' times,'
' weeks,' ' days,' 428.
his writings analysed, 422.
knows only El and not Jab,
421.
seems to be ignorant of Cyrus,
423.
the prophet gives dates to
prophecies, 421.
Danjaan, 429.
Dannah, 429.
Dara, 429.
Darda, 429.
Dari, 429.
Darius, 429.
aud the Jews, 521.
Darkness brooding. 87.
Darkou, 429.
Dashou, 430.
Dathan, 429.
Davenport Brothers compared with
ancient humbugs, 47.
David, abolishes grossness in re-
ligion, 306.
addresses the goddesses, 228.
adores the Ark, 439.
a leader of condottieri, 434,
611.
a representative man, 431.
becomes a bandit, 433.
dances before Ark, 158.
does not know Moses' law,
422.
= "beloved," 430.
estimate of his Psalms, 442.
7G1
David flies to Achislj, page 433.
liis auger at Nabal, 433.
his autccedents, 431.
his conduct at Babbah, 435.
his dancing, 535, 53G, 583.
his marriage, 433.
his name analysed, 431.
his old age, 437.
his private character, 438, 534.
his rise, 137.
his shield, 119.
his style of justice, 435.
his temperament, 432, 610.
ignores Moses, 610.
introduces Jah, 29, 60S.
is friendly with two Hittites,
584.
respects Nathan, 441,
summary of his life, 443.
takes Jerusalem, 435.
Davis, his Carthageniau inscrip-
tiou, 654.
Dead, feasts for, 641.
Deborah, 444.
Debir, 444.
Decoys in old times, 515.
Dedan, 445.
Deductions from premises, 139.
Deity, definition of word, 118.
Dehar, 445.
Delaiah, 445.
Dehlah, 445.
Delphic priestesses, 583.
Delta, the, 107, 146.
double, 119.
Deluge, apochryphal, 297.
Demigods are angels, 245, 621.
Demon and demoniac possession,
446, 513.
Demons depart at break of day , 449.
Demoniacal possession, 117, 446,
513.
Demosthenes as good as Hosca,
594.
Denham's opinion on exorcism,
51G.
Denis, St., page 62.
Deo soli, 413.
Descent of names, 83,
by the ear, 14.
traced through male line, 120.
Destruction of Jerusalem the end
of the world ! C67.
Deterioration of priestly class ft
necessary result of the doc-
trine of plenary inspiration,
684.
Deucalion, 295.
Deuel, 449.
Deuteronomy and Jeremiah, 633,
634.
Devatars salute Christna, 401.
Development of theological sys-
tems, 51.
Devil, 94, 450.
a potent agency, 453.
apparent to mankind, 448.
Cuvier and the apparition of,
451.
his name examined, 450.
his nature considered, 451.
leads " the opposition," 452.
Devil's tail, men taught to wield
it, 48.
De'vils are angels, or vice vcrsci,
according to human judg-
ment, 118, 245, 021.
Diana, 167.
Diana of the Ephesiaus, 53, 83,
104, 105.
Diblaim, 454.
Diblath, 453.
Dibon, 455.
Dibri, 455.
Dictators deprecate thi. >..,. ...
reason, 063.
in "the Chm-ch," GG3.
Dido, 251, 463.
Difficulties iu study of names, 13,
16, 24.
in the Bible explained away,
■\-j<
i; E E
762
Difficulties — scriptural shelved,
page 500.
Digger ludiaus and Horites com-
pared, 587.
DiMah, 455.
Dilean, 455.
Dimashk, 455.
Dimishemsi, 455.
Dimnah, 455.
Dimon, 455.
Dimouali, 455.
Dinah, 455.
Diahabah, 456.
Dionysus, 32, 456.
Disc, the, or aiu'eole, 142.
Dishon, 456.
Dispensation, a second follows a
a first, 659.
Distillation, the process referred
to, 217.
Diversity of names, whence aris-
ing, 2.
Dividing a mountain, 538.
Divine names not to be spoken
aloud, 617.
Divines, Anglican, ideas of about
heaven and hell, 562.
orthodox, how to decide be-
tween Peter and Paul, 604.
very inexact in their logic,
683.
Division of labour, 258.
Divorce, by Ezra, 523.
Dizahab, 457.
E, 464.
Eagle, 464.
Ear endures what the eye will not,
255.
Ears of Almighty, 260.
Earth, &c., 465.
mother, 289, 465, 560.
once believed to be stationary,
666.
regarded as mother^ 467.
Ebal, page 468.
Ebed, 468.'
Ebedmelech, 468.
Eben, 468.
Ebenezer, 468.
Eber, 468.
Ebiasaph, 469.'
Ebna, 469.
Ebuu, 469.
Edad, 473.
Eden, 469.
Eder, 469.
Edom, 469.
Edom not destroyed in Jeremiah's
time, and yet stated to be
destroyed before, 643.
Edrei, 470.
Egg, 337.
its mystical signification, 470.
Eglah, 471.
Egiaim, 472.
Egion, 68.
Egypt, 472.
Egyptian and Hindoo worship
similar, 290.
names not found amongst
Jews, 96, 97, 135.
religion contained obscenities,
88.
Egyptians circiimcised, 546.
pour out water after a death,
85.
Ehi, 472.
Ehud, 472.
Eker, 472.
Ekron, 68.
EI and Ilos, 31.
angels called after him, 246.
used for strange deities, 226.
El, Elohim, see Al, 213.
Eladah, 473.
Elah, 473.
Elam, 473.
Elamu, 473.
Elasha, 473.
Elath, 473.
7G3
Elclaah, page 473.
Elead, 473.
Eleadah, 474.
Elealah, 474.
Eleasar, 474.
Eleazar, 474.
Elel, 474.
Elephant, 173, 330.
Eleplianta, caves of, 401,
Eli, 32, 474.
Eli, Eli, lama, sabachtliaui, 32.
Eliab, 474.
Eliada, 474.
Eliahba, 474.
Elialdm, 474.
Eliam, 475.
Elias, 31.
Eliasapli, 475.
Eliashib, 475.
Eliatbab, 475.
Elidacl, 475.
Eliel, 475.
Elienai, 475.
Eliezer, 475.
Elihorepb, 475.
Elihu, 475.
Elijah, 475.
assumes power to anoint
kings, 478.
destroys soldiers, 479.
his history analysed, 476.
his murders, 655.
is unknown to Jehoshaphat,
478.
kills prophets, 478.
slaughters 450 men, 655.
Elilca, 480.
Elim, 480.
Elim, plural of El, 227.
EUmelech, 480.
Elin, 480.
Elioenai, 480.
Eliphal, 480.
Eliphaleh, 480.
Eliphalet, 480.
Eliphaz, 480.
Elippa, page 106.
Eli-ha, 480.
his history, 481.
his name analysed, 480.
EUshah, 481.
Elishamah, 482.
Elishaphat, 482.
Ehsheba, 482.
the name analysed, 482.
Elishua, 488.
Elizabeth, 483.
the name examined, 19.
Elizaphan, 483,
Elizur, 488.
Elkanah, 483.
Elkoshi, 484.
Ellasiir, 484.
Eluaam, 484.
Eluathan, 484.
Elohah, 225.
Elohim = baalim, 225.
= gods, 224.
supplanted by Nebo, 616.
Elon, 484.
Eloth, 484.
Elpaal, 484.
Eltakah, 484.
Eltekou, 484.
Eltolad, 484.
Eluzai, 484.
Elzabad, 484.
Elzt-.phan, 68, 484.
Emasculation of prisoners by
Egyptians, 65.
Emblem of Ufe, 152.
Emblems veil hidden meanings,
87, 158, 308.
Emims, 484.
Enam, 73, 485.
En-au, 485.
Endor, 485.
En-eglaim, 485.
En-gauuim, 485.
Eugedi, 485.
England colonised by the PhcDiii-
clans, 40.
764
Englishman selects Ms own reli-
gion, page 258.
Eu-liadclali, 425.
Eu-hakkore, 485.
Eu-HarocI, 485.
Eu-Hazor, 485.
Euoeli, 485.
Enou, 68.
Euos, 486.
Eurogel, 485.
Eu-Tappuah, 485.
Enterprise, European, result oi' in
new lauds, 9.
EpaiDlrroditus, 486.
Epliah, 486.
Epher, 486.
Ephesdammim, 487.
Epliod, 487.
Ephraim, 487.
Ephratli, 488.
Ephron, 488.
Epilepsy a sacred disease, 446.
Epochs in Jewish story, 127.
Eran, 488.
Erech, 489.
Eri, 490.
Eros, 489.
Esarhaddon, 490.
Esau, 490, 600.
and Jacob, 33.
Esbon, 67.
Esek, 490.
Eshbaal, 490.
Eshbau, 491.
Eshcol and On, 67.
Eshcol, 491.
Eshean, 491.
Eshek, 491.
Eshmun and Jah, 611.
Eshtaol, 491.
Eshtemoh, 491.
Eshton, 68, 491.
Esther, 492.
Etam, 492.
Ethan, 492.
Ethbaal, 492.
Ether, page 492.
Ethnan, 492.
Ethni, 492.
Etruscan crosses, 150.
Etruscans vie with modern Eng-
Hsh, 679.
Eunuchs, 492.
used in St. Peter's, 114.
Euphemisms prescribed by Kabbis,
133.
Euphrates, 494.
its banks colonised, 38.
Eva, 95.
Eve, 495.
Evi, 499.
Evidence, dissertation on, 499.
of traffic, 129.
Evil j\Ierodach, 507.
Evil spirits, ideas about, 513, 514.
Excommunication of the followers
of Christ, 660.
Esecutioners for God, 673.
Exodus, condition of Jews at, 133,
134.
Exorcism, 513.
in Greece, 514.
Exorcisms, 117.
Extermination of heretics, a godly
work! 672.
the idea involves the behef
that God is powerless,
673.
Ex voto, 517.
Eye is the Yoni, 260.
of Almighty, 497.
Ez, 518.
Ezbai, 507.
Ezbon, 507.
Ezekiel, 507.
uses the tail, for a stamp, 152.
Ezekiel's description of Jews, 211,
212.
writings, 507.
Ezem, 519.
Ezer, 519.
Eziou Gaber, 519.
765
Ezra, page 519.
Ezri, 52G.
F.
F, 52G.
Fables often toIcT pass for truth,
2i9.
Factories, forts, and settlements,
10.
Fainting in battle, a noble feat !
664.
Faith, a degrading one worse tbau
none, G59.
adopted, 29-i.
ancient, summarised, 29, 30.
each believes his own the best,
659.
in one's own religion common
to aU, 6.
of Abraham and Sarai, 127.
overrides other feelings, 566.
superior to reason ! 663.
the weakness of, shown by
ecclesiastical quarrels, 662.
Faiths, how to be examined, 669-
676.
Fakir, act of, 219.
Fallen angels, 180, 247-219.
False Prophet, story of, 501.
Falsification in history, 6.
of a prophecy, its effects, 667,
668.
Father and the Son superseded by
the virgin, 33.
of thousands, 80.
the, GUI' ideas of, 56.
Fathers, the, not good guides, 109.
Fawn, 355.
Fear attributed to God, 264.
Feasts for the dead, 641.
Fecundity and fish, 529.
favoured by amulets, 130.
Feet, an euphemism, 601.
hah- of, 133.
of Almighty, 261.
Felix, 528.
Female creator, 101.
Female — deity, page 98.
her names, 99, 100, 101.
Biugers not allowed at St.
Peters, 494.
sun, 154.
Females, a special hell for the
childless, 59, GO.
desire of ofi'spriug, 91.
Fig, its signification, 526.
leaf, 274.
the, a female emblem, 107.
tree, episode, 251.
Finger, its signification, 67, 90.
pointed, 161.
Fire king, the, 491.
Fish, a deity, 30.
and ark, 289.
and Budchsts, 530.
and fecundity, 530.
and Isis, with figure, 530.
and the triad, 169.
an emblem, 420.
an emblem of Venus, 531, 5G5.
eaten on Friday by Jews, 530.
head, the mitre, 166.
its signification, 528, 531.'
on Friday, 531.-
sacred to Venus, why, 111,
112.
the intelligent, 96.
Fleiu- de lys, 156.
its signification, 531.
Flesh, cuttings in the, 643.
Flint Icnives, for castration, 542.
Flock of sheep, David seems to
appeal to, 228.
Fluidity, 84.
Food, Anna, 82.
of Angels, 245.
Fool of the family enters the
Chm-ch, 684.
Forbes Leslie, his Early Races of
Scotland, 543.
Fountain sealed, 52.
Four great gods, 69, 89.
Four, the, 69, 89, 169.
766
Foutiu, St., his business, page 31, 62.
his chapel at Varailles des-
cribed, 61.
France, phallic feasts in, 379.
its fleur de l.ys, 531.
its phallic Christian saints,
61, 62.
Frederick the great, his saying
about large armies, 035.
Freemasons use triangle, 145.
Free-thinkers, 664.
Friday and females, 531.
and fish, 530, 565.
Frigidity, a cnrse, 61, 361.
Fruit of the body promised to
faithful, GO.
Fiirst on Jah, 614.
Future condition of animals, 577,
578.
state, 562, 571, 576.
world not revealed to ancient
Jews, 674.
G, 533.
used for Jin pronunciation, 12.
Gaal, 533.
Gaash, 533.
Gab, a current word, 534.
Gabbi, 533.
Gabriel, 81, 533.
the angel, 81.
Gad, 534.
a friend of David, 535.
Gaddi, 535.
Gaddiel, 535.
Gadi, 535.
Gaham, 535.
Gahar, 536.
Gala days, 186.
Galah, the word explained, 536.
Galal, 536.
Galgals, 154, 542, 544.
in India, 544.
Galilee, 536.
GaUi, 493, 536, 542.
Gallim, jjage 536.
Gallio, his judgment on Paul, 661.
Gallus, 169, 536, 537.
Gamaliel, 537.
Gammadims, 537.
Gard, 537.
Garden, metaphor for virgin, §2.
Gareb, 537.
Garment, Babylonish, 134.
Garmi, 537.
Gaspur, 537.
the same as |;he Comforter,
537.
Gatam, 537.
Gath, 68, 538.
Gath-hepher, 538.
Gath-rimmon, 538,
Gauls, 169, 170.
Gaza, 69, 538.
Gazez, 538.
Gazzam, 538.
Geba, 538.
Gebal, 539.
Geber, 539,
Gebim, 539.
Gedaliah, 539.
Geder, 539.
Gederah, 539.
Gederoth, 539.
Gedor, 539.
Gehazi, 539.
Gemalli, 539,
Gemariah, 539,
Generations, extraordinary dura-
tion of three, 133.
Genesis, mystical character of,
497.
Gentiles, 539.
Genubath, 539.
Geology denounced by preachers,
682,
Gera, 539.
Gerar, 193, 540.
Gerizim, 540.
Gerizite, 540.
Gershon, 69, 540.
767
Gesliam, page 5-10.
Geslaem, 540.
Gesbiir, 5-iO.
Gesta Romauoium referred to, 055.
Gesticulations aud worship, 583.
Gather, 540.
Geuel, 540.
Gezer, 540.
Giah, 540.
Giaours, dogs and infidels, 658.
Gibbar, 540.
Gibbethou, 541.
Gibea, 540.
Gibeah, 540.
Gibeou, 69, 540.
ambassadors of, talk with
Joshua, 134.
Giddalti, 541.
Giddel, 541.
Gideon, 69, 541.
Gideoui, 541.
Gidgad, 541.
Gidom, 541.
Gihon, 541.
Gil, 541.
Gilalai, 541.
Gilead, 542.
Gilgal, 155, 542, 548.
connected with circumcision,
545.
description of cairns, 543, 544.
Forbes Leshe on, 545.
still called " galgals," 543.
Gill and Jack, 33.
Giloh, 548.
Gimzo, 548.
Ginath, 548.
Ginger, an old god, 51.
Ginnethon, 548.
Ginsburg quoted, 52, 55, 58, 60,
76, 79, 117, 133, 180, 211,
213, 215, 224, 226, 227, 268,
277, 354, 543, 650, 675.
Gii-gashite, 548.
Gispa, 548.
Gittaim, 548.
Gittite, page 548.
Gittites and David, Oil.
Gizrites, 548.
Goath, 548.
Gob, 549.
God, feebleness of purpose attri-
buted to Him, 672.
mother of, 57.
one, 549, 553.
one, and sub-divided, 56.
pourtrayed as having likes and
dislikes, 262.
requu-es the assistance of men
in carrying on His govern-
ment! 005.
Sol, or only God, 413.
Goddess, 550.
Goddesses, addressed by David,
473.
the, 228.
God-given names, 2, 3.
Gods, 224, 549, 550.
aud angels compared, 021.
Ass3Tian, have wives, 58.
images called, 129.
language of the, 017.
minor, of Assyria, 115, 121.
sexual, 61, 62.
strange, 129.
God's promises, 59.
Gog, 550,
Gol, 55.1.
Golan, 551.
GoUath, 551.
Gomer, 551.
Gomorrah, 551.
Good luck aud women, 114, 308,
534.
Goshen, 551.
Governments, folly of the, who
punish infidelity, 605.
Gozan, 551.
Graven images and word pointings,
253.
Greek gods compared with tho
Bible God, 262.
768
Greek influence, page 177.
Greeks had sacred names, 619.
knew language of the gods,
617.
practised exorcism, 514.
Green, essay on the name, 10.
Grehichon, Saint, a sexual aid, 62.
Ground cursed, 467.
Grove explained, 108, 161.
the sacred, 90, 106.
Groves, 307.
hangings for, 490.
Growth of nuns encouraged, 114.
Gula, 95.
Guni, 551.
Gur, 551.
Gur Baal, 551.
Guthiber, an old Chalda^an god,
51, 54.
H.
H, 551.
Habaiah, 552.
Habakkuk, 552.
Habar, 552.
Habazirdah, 553.
Habel, 552.
Habitation of Baal, 350.
Habits of men and animals com-
pared, 678.
Habor, 553.
Hachilah, 553.
Hachaliab, 553.
Hachmoni, 653.
Hadad, 553.
signifies one, 553.
Hadadezer, 553.
Hadadrimmon, 553.
Hadashah, 553.
Hadassah, 553.
Hadar, 553.
Hadarezer, 553.
Hades, 553.
Hadid, 554.
Hadlai, 554.
Hadoram, 554.
Hadrach, page 554.
Hagab, 5.54.
Hagabah, 554.
Hagar, 554.
a slave, 129.
Hagarenes, 554.
Haggai, 554.
Hagtjiah, 554.
Haggith, 554.
Hai, 554.
Hair of the feet, 133.
Hairy mount, 489." /-*rt {■
Hakkoz, 554. ' '' "
Hakupha, 554.
Halah, 554.
Halhul, 554.
Hah, 554.
HaUal, 554.
Halleluiah, 583.
Halohesh, 555.
Ham, 23, 555.
Hamau, 555.
consults " chance," 438.
Hamath, 555, 613.
Hamlet, a, what, 24.
Hamman, 555.
Hammolecheth, 558.
Hammon, 556.
Hamonah, 556.
Hamor, 556.
Hampton wick, 23.
Hamuel, 556.
Hamul, 556.
Hamutal, 556.
Hanameel, 557.
Hanr.n, 557.
Hanaueel, 557.
Hanani, 557.
Hand, symbohc, 161.
Hands of Almighty, 261.
Hanes, 557.
Hangings for the grove, 309, 490.
Hannah, 557.
her desire for offspring, 60.
Hanuathon, 557.
Hauniel, 557.
769
Hauocb, iDage 557.
Hamm, 557.
Haradah, 657.
Harau, 557.
Harbouah, 557.
Hareph, 557.
Harbas, 557.
Harliiab, 557.
Harim, 557.
Hameplier, 557.
Harod, 558.
Haroeb, 557.
Harosbetb, 558.
Harry, 275.
Harsba, 558.
Harum, 558.
Harumapb, 558.
Haruz, 558.
Hasadiab, 558.
Hasbabiab, 558.
Hasbbadanab, 558.
Hasbem, 558.
Hasbmonab, 558.
Hasbub, 558.
Hasbubab, 559.
Hasbum, 559.
Hasrab, 559.
Hasupba, 559.
Hatacb, 559.
Hatatb, 559.
Hatipba, 559.
Hatita, 559.
Hatred attributed to God, 262.
carried into heaven, 562, 563.
Hattil, 559.
Hattusb, 559.
Hauran, 559.
HaviLab, 559.
Hazael, 559.
Hazaiab, 559.
Hazar-addar, 559.
Hazar-enau, 559.
Hazar-gaddab, 559.
Hazar-baddatab, 560.
Hazar-batticou, 560.
Hazar-mavetb, 560.
Hazar-sbnal, page 560.
Hazar-susab, 561.
Hazazou-tamar, 561.
Hazelel-poui, 561.
HazerJm, 561.
Hazerotb, 561.
Haziel, 561.
Haze, 561.
Hazor, 561.
Hnzor-badattab, 5G1.
Hea, 85.
Head of Almighty, 259.
Heathens and Christians com-
pared, 679.
Heaven, Anglican divines' opinion
of, 562.
and hell, how stocked, 562.
ideas respecting it, 561.
males frank women into, 547.
war in, 249.
Heber, 563.
Hebrew idea of angels, 245.
language resembles the Phoeni-
cians, 40.
roots in Canaanite names,
128.
Hebrews, a chosen people, their
claim examined, 673.
and sacred name, 616.
Hebron, 69, 564.
Heel, the, an enphemism, 601.
Hege, 569.
Heifer, 564.
analysis of the idea respecting,
565.
Helab, 569.
Helam, 569.
Helbah, 569.
Helbou, 69, 569.
Heleb, 569.
Helek, 569.
Helem, 569.
Helen caused Trojan war, 120.
Heleph, 670.
Helez, 570.
Heliopohs, 65.
F F F
770
Helkai, page 570.
HelkatL, 570.
Helkath Hazziirim, 570.
Hell, 570.
all opponents of all religious
consigned thereto, 575.
comparetl wdth kingdom of
Prester John, 574, 575.
did not always exist, 571.
for childless -women, 59, 60.
for the lower animals, 576.
ideas respecting, 570.
invented by other nations
before the Jews, 571.
its earthly managers, 575, 576.
necessity for, in every theolo-
gical system, 572.
Hellenists and David, 611.
Helon, 70, 579.
Heman, 579.
Hemdan, 579.
Hen, 579.
Hena, 579.
Henadad, 580.
Hepher, 580.
Hephzibah, 581.
Hereditary names, first notice of,
3.
and sacred names, 616.
Heres, 581.
Heresh, 581.
Heresy, treatment of, 57.
Heretic, 306.
Heretics, infidels, and Turk;, 658.
Hermai, 581.
Hermes, 548.
and Aaron compared, 178.
Scythicus quoted, 27, 28.
Hermon, 70, 581,
Herodotus on circumcision, 5-16.
quoted, 53, 57, 367.
Hesed, 581.
Heshbou, 70, 581.
Heshmon, 581.
Hesus, 371.
Heth, 582.
Hethlon, page 582.
Hezeki, 582.
Hezekiah, 582.
Hezer, 582.
Hezion, 582.
Hezrai, 582.
Hezron, 70, 582.
Hiddai, 582.
Hiddekel, 582.
Hidden meanings, 158.
Hiel, 582.
Hierarchs, classified, 670.
dearth of intellect amongst,
664, 683.
Hierarchy, exigencies of, 258.
Higgins on I H S, 647.
High Churchmen used heathen
symbols, 141.
High places, 154.
Hilen, 582.
Hilkiah, 582.
Hillel, 582.
Hindoo and Egyptian worship
similar, 290.
and Jewish ceremonial, 291.
deities, fcc, referred to, 43.
gods, 417.
Hindoos consider water sacred, 85.
and sacred name, 616.
Hindostan and Christendom, 671.
Hinnom, 583.
Hirah, 583.
Hiram, 95, 584.
a friend of David, 611.
Hislop quoted, 244, 378.
Hislop's two Babylons, 196.
Historian, Jewish, writes Samari-
tan history, 477.
History and m.ythos, 123.
falsified, and prejudice, 44.
of Abraham, 192.
variously written, 535.
Hittites, 584.
who they were, 584.
Hivites, 585.
slaughter of, 606.
771
Hoa, page 70, 85.
Hobab, 585.
Hobali, 585.
Hobiah, 585.
Hod, 585.
Hoclaiab, 585.
Hodaviab, 585.
Hodesb, 585.
Hodevab, 585.
Hodsbi, 585.
Hogbib, 5SG.
Holiam, 586.
Hole and liell, 577.
see Hell.
Holon, 586.
Holy Ghost, the, 56.
Holy water, Hindoo, 168.
Homau, 586.
Homer, 240.
Hopbni, 586,
Hophra, 586.
Hoj^hraim, 586.
Hor, 586.
Horam, 586.
Horeb, 587.
Hor em, 587
Hori, 587.
Horim, 9-i.
Hormab, 5S7.
Horouaim, 587.
Horse shoe, its use as a symbol,
114.
Horse-hair helps in tricks, 515.
Horses iu heaven, 577.
of the sun, 359.
Horus, 587.
Hosoh, 587.
Hosea, 554, 587.
a disreputable character, 589.
a whoremaster, 589, 590.
analysis of his book, 588, 594.
contemporfiry wiih Isaiah,
588.
his character summed up, 593.
his idea of blessings, 591.
reproves adultery, 591.
Hosea — some of liis utterances
analysed, page 592.
style of reasoning, 593.
Hoshea, 454, 595.
Hotham, 595.
Houris iu paradise, 503.
Hu, 595.
Hubishftga, an old Chaldean God,
51, 55.
Hudibras, quotation from, G86.
Hukkok, 595.
Hill, 595.
Huldah, 595.
Human aid required by Almighty !
605.
conceptions of God intoler-
able, 267.
judgment on divine wntiugE,
387.
passions attributed to God,
262.
Humtah, 595.
Hupham, 595.
Huppah, 595.
Hur, 595.
name of moon, 93, 96.
Hurai, 590.
Huri, 596.
Hushah, 596.
Hushai, 596.
his nationality, is a friend of
David, introduces " Jab."
&c., 596.
Husham, 596.
Hushim, 596.
Huz, 596.
I. "
I, Iba, Iva, Eva, 598.
Ibleam, 028.
Ibueiah, 629.
Ibzaii, G29.
Iceland, visited by PLuiuioiuiiH. 4<i.
Ichabod, 629.
•ixflut, 113.
Mn. (I'J'.i.
772
Iclalah, ijage 029.
Iclbash, 629.
Ideas of heaven and hell, 562.
Ideas, oriental, ancient, modern,
and western, coiuisared, 19.
Ideas resijectiug the Almighty, 49.
Igdaliah, 656.
Igeal, 656.
Ignorance attributed to God ! 265.
Ignorance, our real, as regards
futurity, 579.
I H S, 518, 647.
Ijeabarim, 657.
Ijou, 657.
Ikkesh, 657.
II is Asher, 81.
Ilai, 657.
Ilos, 31, 196.
Ilus, 85.
Image in David's house, 4£8.
Images, 129.
charmed, 61.
Imlah, 657.
Immaculate conception a modern
dogma, 51.
an old belief, 74.
Imma,nuel, 657.
Immer, 58.
Immorality compatible with reli-
gion, 55.
Impalement, 413.
Impotence dreaded, 59.
Impotency of descrijDtion in man,
257.
Impuissance, masses said for, 62.
Imrah, 658.
Imri, 658.
Incarnations of the deity, 418.
Incompetency in husband, 60.
Inconsistencies in Bible, 671.
Incubi, 449.
India known to Phoenicians, 616.
traded with Phojuicians, 39.
two sets of worshiijpers, 108,
109.
Infidelity, and St. Paul, 661.
Infidelity — and Turks, page 658.
assigned to Jesus Christ, 660.
if punished by law, proves the
disbelief of the government
in power of God, 665.
signification of discussed, 658.
Infidels api^arently made by the
absurdity of certain dogmas,
665.
desire to seek out truth, 663.
not opposed to good men,
662.
Influence fought for, 57.
" Inquiring of the Lord," meaning
of term, 438.
Inquisitors and Aughcan divines
compared, 563.
Inquisitors, 563, 686.
I N E 1 , 113.
Insanity considered a divine mani-
festation, 446.
modern ideas of, 447.
Insanity, mistaken for demoniacal
possession, 448, 513.
in the East, 48.
considered demoniacal jDosses-
siou, 117.
Inscriptions, Carthaginian, 654.
Inspiration, 666.
arguments for, 500.
assumed to exist in every na-
tion, 668.
attributes feebleness of pur-
pose to God, 672.
blighting influence of upon
the church, 684.
claims of iuveitigated, 669.
did not tell of heaven or hell
to Adam, Moses, &:c., 674.
does not consist in mere alle-
gations, 668.
does not explain the meaning
of mysterious utterances,
667.
does not prevent the use of
figurative language, 667.
773
Inspiration — favonrs religions mnr-
clers and adnlterj-, page (588.
favonrs the animal propensi-
ties of man, GS5.
incongvnities and absnrdities
in, 672.
ongbt not to oppose the works
of creation, 682.
its supporters analj^sed, 670.
makes bigots, 683.
necessity for, examined, 676.
none in falsities, 668.
none scruple to explain away
evident falsities in, 667.
opponents to, and defenders
of, 681.
probable fabrication of books,
675.
prophecies falsified, 673.
St. Paul and St. Peter upon,
666.
supposed to exist in transla-
tions, 674:.
the sword does not prove the
truth of, 671.
Instinct and civiUsation compared,
680.
and reason, 677.
effects of in animals and
man, 678, 679.
is inspiration, 676.
Instincts, 676, 677.
Intelligences, angels, demigods.
245.
Intellect, dearth of amongst hier-
archs, 664, 683.
Interchangeable letters, 15.
Interdicts, 57.
Intermediate class between God
and man, 404.
Intei-pretatiou of Bible modified,
how, 48.
Intei-pretations of Bible, various,
667.
Intoxication, a proof of divine ap-
proval and wrath, 594.
Introduction of name of Jah into
Judea, page 138.
Introduction to vocabulary, 171.
Invaders of a country import new
names, itc, 21.
Inverted crescent, 145.
lo, 209.
Iphediah, 698.
Ijjse dixit not an authority, 44.
Ipsissima verba of scriptm-e unre-
liable, 525.
Ir, 698.
Ira, 698.
Irad, 698.
Iram, 698.
Ireland, wakes in, 641.
Phcenician influence in, 641.
Iri, 699.
Irijah, 699.
Irish, 686.
Ir-nahash, 699.
Iron and stone age, 542.
Irpeel, 699.
Irshemesh, 699.
Iru, 699.
Isaac, 194, 701.
his benediction examined, 603.
Isabella, 653.
Isaiah a representative man,
701.
character summarised, 709.
coarse, 133.
friendly with Hezekioh, 706.
he dies, 707.
his character and writings
analysed, 701, 709.
his opinions on the position
of other nations, 706.
his policy successful, 706.
knows the power of money,
705.
narrative of the first, 704.
resembles Eev. Mr. Beecber,
705.
resembles modem oralors,
702.
774
Isaiah — the secoud, page 708.
how differs from the first,
70S.
two hands engaged iu book of,
703.
Iscah, 709.
Isernia, 361.
Ish, 709.
Ishakku, 709.
Ishbah, 710.
Ishbak, 710.
Ishbi beuob, 710.
Ishbosheth's death avenged, 435.
Ishi, 710.
Ishijah, 710.
Ishma, 710.
Ishmael, 194, 711.
Ishmerai. 711.
Ishpan, 711.
Ishtar, 101, 711.
Ishua, 711.
Isis, 107, 315, 699.
attended by cynocephali, 417.
beai s inverted crescent, 145.
with Horns, 53, 530.
Ishmachia, 711.
Ismi Dagon, 94, 711.
Ispah, 711.
Israel, 711.
Issachar, 712.
Isid, 711.
Italians and David, 611.
Ithamar, 712.
Ithiel, 713.
Ithmah, 713.
Ithnah, 713.
Ithobaal, 713.
Ithran, 713.
Itt, 713.
Ithream, 713.
Ittah-Raziu, 713.
Ittai, 713.
Iva, 95, 713.
Ivah, 713.
Izhar, 715.
Izrahiah, 715.
Izri, page 715.
J, 597.
J, proper pronunciation of, 12.
Jaakobah, 598.
Jaalam, 598.
Jaani, 598.
Jaasau, 598.
Jaaz, 598.
Jaazaniah, 598.
Jabal, 598.
Jabbok, 598.
Jabesh, 598.
Jabez, 598.
Jabin, 598.
Jabneel, 599.
Jabneh, 599.
Jacchns, 628.
Jacchus and Jah, 611.
Jacchns a name of Dionysus, 32.
Jack has his Gill, 33.
Jachan, 599.
Jachin, 599.
Jachin and Boaz, 154, 306.
Jacob, 599.
couqi^ers God, 605.
his character, 001, 603.
his history, 603.
his name, 599.
in Egypt, 606.
Jacob's contrivance for insuring
fertility, 130.
Jada, 608.
Jadau, 608.
Jaddau, 608.
Jadon, 608, 680.
Jagur, 608.
Jah, 60S.
a sacred name, 616.
amongst Phcenicians, 612.
amongst Syrians, Assyrians,
and Babylonians, 613.
associated with polytheistic
ideas, 620, 621.
compared with Jupiter, 621.
775
Jah comes in with a flood after-
\Yards, page GIO.
eqiiivaleDt to Jehovah, COS,
from ludia, 616.
Fiirst upon, 614.
importance of word, 608.
in cognomens, 652.
in Greece, 611.
is introduced, 138.
modern conception of, 621,
622.
Movers and Colenso upon, 609.
nature of evidence respecting
the word, 609.
no angels called after him,
246.
not an Hebraic name, 618.
not to be named in Egypt,
618.
not used by our Saviour, 620.
not used prior to David, 609.
probable origin of, 615.
results of author's conclusions,
623.
Talbot upon, 613.
the king of all gods, 620.
Jah's name implies the existence
of other gods, 619. 620.
Jahaz, 624.
Jahaziah, 625.
Jahaziel, 625.
Jahdai, 625.
Jahdiel, 625.
Jahdon, 608.
Jahleel, 625.
Jahmai, 625.
Jahzeel, 625.
Jahzerah, 625.
Jair, 625.
Jakeh, 625.
Jaldm, 625.
Jalon, 625.
James and John, 33.
Jam«s II. and Jezebel compai'ed,
655.
James, St., on pm-e rehgion, 624.
Jamieson quoted, page 27.
Jamiu, 625.
Jamlech, 625.
Jauoah, 626.
Januarius, the juggle of, 46.
Janiun, 626.
Janus, 343, 628,
Jao, 28, 29, 611.
Jao and Jah, Gil.
Japheth, 626.
Japhia, 626.
Japhlet, 626.
Japho, 626.
Jaques, or Jacob, 33.
Jarah, 626.
Jareb, 626.
Jared, 626.
Jarcziah, 626.
Jarha, 027.
Jarib, 627.
Jarmuth, 627.
Jaroah, 627.
Jashar, 627.
Jasher, book of, 601.
mythos about Jacob, 601, 602.
Jashobeam, 627.
Jashub, 627.
Jashubi-lehem, 627.
Jasiel, 628.
Jathir, 628.
Jathuiel, 628.
Javau, 628.
Jaziz, 628.
Jealousy of God, 262, 263.
Jeaterai, 629.
Jeberechiah, 629.
Jebus, 629.
Jecohah, 629. -
Jedaiah, 630.
Jedaiel, 630.
Jedidah, 6:10.
Jedidiah, 630.
Jehiah, 630.
Jehiel, 630.
Jehoadah, 630.
Jehoaddau, 630.
776
Jelioabaz, page 630.
Jelioash, 630.
Jeliohanan, 630.
Jehoiachin, 630.
Jelioiada, 630.
Jelioiakim, 630.
Jelioiarib, 630.
Jelionadab, 630.
Jehoram, 630.
JehosbaiDhat, 631.
Jebosbeba, 631.
Jebovab's uame not lucky, 635.
Jebovab (also see Jab), 631.
stands before Abrabam, 268.
superseded by Elobim in gos-
pel, 32.
' vomits ' tbe people, 268.
Jebozabad, 631.
.Jebozadak, 631.
Jebu, 631.
Jebiibbab, 631.
Jebucbal, 631.
Jehud, 631.
Jebudi, 631.
Jekabziel, 631.
Jekameam, 631.
Jekamiab, 631.
Jekutbiel, 631,
Jemimab, 631.
Jemuel, 631.
Jepbtbab, 631.
sacrifices bis daugbter, 136.
Jeptbel-el, 132.
Jerab, 632.
Jerabmeel, 632.
Jeremiab as a propbet, 636.
as an bistorian, 637.
depicts an idol, 640.
describes buman sacrifices,
638, 641.
does little more tban denoiince
wratb, 636.
his idea of punisbing idolatry
by cannibalism, 6-12.
bis name, 632, 634.
his political views, 634, 636.
Jeremiab — bis reference to tbe
Sabbath, page 633.
his time, 633,
on cuttings of tbe flesh, 643.
on extradition treaties, 642.
opposed to Chronicles, 644.
refers to Queen of Heaven,
638.
refers to " wakes " for tbe
dead, 641.
resembles the writer of Deu-
teronomy, 633, 634.
tells of bouse roofs as spots
for sacrifice, 642.
tells that astrology was culti-
vated, 639.
tbe leading features of his
writings summarised, 644.
tbe second, 643.
Jerememoth, 644.
Jeribai, 644.
Jericho, 644.
Jeriel, 645.
Jerijab, 645.
Jerimoth, 645.
Jerioth, 646.
Jeroboam, 646.
Jeroboam's rallying cry, 569.
Jerobam, 646.
Jerrubesbeth, 646.
Jeruel, 647.
Jerusalem, 647.
Jerusha, 647.
Jes, I H S , 647.
Jesaiah, 651.
Jesbaiab, 651.
Jeshanab, 651.
Jesharelah, 651.
Jeshebeab, 651.
Jesber, 651.
Jeshishai, 652.
Jeshobaiab, 652.
Jeshua, 652.
Jeshurun, 652.
Jesimiel, 652.
Jesse, 652.
777
Jesus Christ clsuonuced as au iu-
fidel, page 660.
iDvested with names of other
Gods, 6-lS.
Jesus, Isu, Hosi, Hesus, 371.
Jether, 652.
Jetheth, 652.
Jethkh, 652.
Jethro, 652.
Jetur, 652.
Jeuel, Jeiel, Jehiel, 652.
Jeush, 653.
Jew, 653.
Jewish women desire offspring,
91.
Jews, 653.
Jews and Mussulmans respect Fri-
day, 531.
condition of in SauFs time,
137.
their claims examined, 673.
their first restoration dis-
cussed, 519.
Turks, infidels, and heretics,
658.
Jezebel, the name explained, 653.
her character, 654.
her age at death, 655.
Jezer, 656.
Jeziah, 656.
Jeziel, 656.
Jezliah, 656.
Jezoar, 656.
J2zreel, 656.
Jibsam, 656.
Jidlaph, 656.
Jim, 657.
Jimnal), 657.
Jipthuh, 657.
Joab, 6S8.
Joab's murders, 435, 436.
Joah, 638.
Joash, 688.
Job, 688.
Job, book of, uses the singular
form of God, 225.
Job, book of, periol of its being
written, imgo 22G.
Jobab, 688.
Jocliebed, GS8.
Joed, 089.
Joel, 689.
Joelab, 693.
Joezer, 693.
Jogbehah, 693.
Jogli, 693.
Joha, 693.
Joliauau, 693.
Joliannes, 30.
John, allied to Jonah, 26.
Prester, 575.
St., does he tell falsehoods?
257.
St. sees horses in heaven,
577.
the Apostle, depicted with fe-
minine attributes, 27.
the lieloved disciple, 33.
the name combines the ideas
of the sun, the dcve, and a
loving mother, 28.
varieties of spelling, 11, 26.
Joiakim, 694.
Joiarib, 694.
Jokmenm, 694.
Jokneam, 694.
Jokshau, 694.
Joktan, 694.
Joktheel, 694.
Jolais, 694.
Jonadab, 694.
Jonah, 694.
Jonathan, 096.
Joppa, 696.
Jorah, 697.
Jorai, 097.
Joram, C97.
Jordan, 097.
Joikcau), 697.
Joseph not nu eunnch, a singular
thiug, 494.
name explained, 697.
O GO
778
Josephus saw a devil expelled !
pcage 515.
Joslaah, 698.
Joshaiiah, 698.
Josbbekashali, 698.
Joshua son of Kun, 96.
name explained, 698.
Josiah, GUS.
condition of Palestine in his
time, 504.
Josibiah, 698.
JosejDbiab, 698.
Jotbatb, 698.
Jotbam. 698.
Jozabad, 698.
Jozachar, 698.
Jubal, 714.
Jucbal, 714.
Oudab, 714.
Judisb, 715.
Juno, 621.
Jupiter, 176.
Belus, 342.
and Jab, 611.
Jusbab-besed, 715.
Justice of David ? 435.
Jullab, 715.
Kabbalah places male potencies on
the right, 84.
Kabbalist triads, 76, 77.
Karnak, Temple of, abounds with
Phallic emblems, 65.
Keturah and Abraham, 194.
Kbaldi, name of moon, 93.
Iving, a, given in anger, and taken
away in wrath, 593.
Kish, 162.
Kishou, 70.
Knox, John, 252, 686.
Laban, his images, 129.
Lachmi, 858.
Lajard quoted, 148, 149, 176, 274.
Lamb, why chosen, page 391.
Language of Abraham, 42, 128.
of Caanan, and of Jews, 42.
of Gods, 617.
of men with God, 622.
Lanugo, 161.
Larsa and Lars, 92.
Laughter of God, 265.
Law, its existence dmiug Judges,
156.
Laws, the result of organisation,
680.
Layard quoted, 24, 26.
Leaders of Jews have Assyrian
names, 95.
Leaflets of Sbamrock, 156.
Leda and Swan, note, 111.
Legend of Mahadeva, 123.
Legs, three, of Isle of Alan, 157.
Leopard, 359.
skin, 356.
Les parties honteuses. Saints for,
62.
Leslie, Colonel, on Galgals, 154,
543.
Letters and Numbers, 647.
interchangeable, 14, 15.
Levita refers to Hermes, 543.
Levitcs ordered to commit miu'der,
672.
Life a river, 167.
Likeness betv/een ideas of creation
and reproduction, 86.
Lihes, 156, 531.
Linga, 163.
Lingaoitas and Yonigas, 600,
quarrel, 123.
Lingua franca, 40.
Liouesse,--;, cows, and rats, 315.
Lions, incompatible with dense
populations, 503.
List of Assyrian gods, 121.
Lombards' sign, 150, 157.
Lot and bis daughters, 128, 192.
and Sodomites talk the same
tongue, 42.
779
Lottery and lacky numbers, page
6-19.
Love fiud apples, 273.
attributed to God, 26D.
the theme of handsome
preachers, 687.
Lower world, Ann, king of the, Si.
Lozenges and fieiu- de Ijs, 531.
Lubbock, Sir John, Pre-liistoric
Times, 587.
Luciau, and Syrian goddess, 154.
describes ark, 287, 292.
gives an account of Alexander,
47.
Lucky nirmbers in Rome, 649.
Lupanar, or brothel, 211.
Luz, a name of Ishtar, 108.
is wife of Nergal, 119.
Lysons' book referred to, 171.
interpretation of a symbol,
163.
remarks by, 23, 114.
M
Maachah, 73.
Macaulay's New Zealander, 848.
Macrobius quoted, 166.
Mahadeva, 192, 240, 243.
= Asshur, 78, 79.
and Sacti, 69.
emblems, 130, 155.
in Judah, 637, 640.
legend of, 123.
painted red, 353, 470.
Mahlon, 70.
Mahomet and Moses compared,
668.
his ideas of celestial bliss, 216.
Mahometans and Missionaries, 669,
670.
Malachi, 257.
Male and female, note, 68.
descent, 120.
influence of, 50.
Maltese cross, 151.
Mamma and papa contrasted, 103.
Mamre, page 73.
Man and woman, 497.
sou of, his feminine attributes,
31.
Mandragora, 463.
JMaudrakes, 337.
Mania, dancing, 5S3.
mistaken for demoniac pos-
session, 513.
Maoz, Mauzzim, 208.
Mars, 208.
Marriages by money, and by
strength of arm, compared,
680.
Martianus Capella, his hymn to
the sun, 647.
Marttaud, 154.
Mary, 55.
Queen of England and Jezebel
compared, 655.
Masses said for impotence and
sterility, 60, 61.
Master of boat, 164.
Maternal creator, 73.
Maturea, birth-place of Christna,
401.
Maut, 560.
Medals found in the Seine, 144.
Mediator priests, 176.
Medical writers, 385.
Medicine men amongst Eed In-
dians, 1.
Medinet Haboo, phalUc emblems
in temple of, 65.
Mediterranean sea colonised by
Phoenicians, 39.
" Mediums " to be disti-ustcd, 258.
Melchizedek talks fhe same lan-
guage as Abraham, 42.
Melech, a name of great antiquity,
8.
Men, their estimate of themselves,
105, 106.
Menhirs, 544.
Menses, 161.
Mephiboshetb, 646.
780
Mercenaries of David, page 611.
MerodacL, 1-21.
Meroe, lories ts of, order kings to
f'ie, 57.
JJesmeric seance described, 426.
Messengers, angels, 211:.
questioned, 47, 257.
to be tested, 258.
Method adoiDted in Vocabulary,
184.
author's of working, 197.
Mexican piiesti claim to be in-
sjDired, G6S.
Mexico evangelised by fire and
sword, 6G9.
Micah has a house of gods, 136.
Micaiah, 256.
Michal personates David with an
image, 438.
Midianite woman, 211.
Migron, 70.
Millinery preferred to reality, 83.
Milton on angels, 248.
Ministers, Anglican, are infallible !
663.
Miracles performed at a distance,
139, 140.
Miriam the virgin with Jewish
triad, 91, 95.
Mirmir an old Chaldffiau god, 51,
55.
Missionary reports analysed, 670.
Mithra, 122.
Mitre, crozier, and cross at Ele-
phauta, 401.
is a fish's head, 166,
Mokanna, 88.
Molly differs from Mary, 104.
Moloch, 291.
Money, 129.
bore divine emblems, 145.
Monkeys, 883.
sacred to Isis, 417.
Monogram of Christ, 647.
Moon's names, 93.
Morals in Canaan, 128.
Moravian plan of missions, page
670.
Mormon and Hindoo ideas com-
pared, GO.
laws developing slowly, 51.
and Moses compared, 668.
Morning dreaded by ghosts, 605.
Mosaib, 96.
Mosaic law not completed, &c., 51.
Moses, Aaron and Hur, 95.
his mission doubted, 659.
and Jeremiah, 633.
at the bush, 48.
careless of circumcision, 545.
compared with Numa, Confu-
cius, Mahomet and others,
668.
knows no angel bj' name, 247.
not known to Saul, 610.
ordains murder, 672.
treats God like a man, 263.
Mot, 560.
Mother, 102, 237, 241.
and child, 53, 59.
ark an emblem of, 293, 294.
earth, 560.
of all saints, 80.
of God, 57.
the divine, 30.
Motto proposed for Church of
England, 685.
Mount Seir, what, 489.
Mountain, dividing the, meaning
of, 538.
Mouth of the Almighty, 260.
Movers on Jah, 609.
Mu or Mut, 560.
Mural crown, 144, 167.
Murder by Ehjah, 478, 479.
examples of, 478, 654, 655,
672.
for religious differences or-
dered, 672.
justified in Bible, 683.
Mussulmans and Jews respect
Friday, 531.
781
Mussnlmaus, the faithful, page
C59.
Mylitta, 101.
Mysteries iuveiitecl by some, dis-
coverod by others, 87.
Mjfstic words, 71.
Mystificiition by charlatans, 427.
Myth respecting Jacob, 600.
Mythical evidence of the, 6.
Mythology, Chaldee nud Je\yish,
similarities in, 44.
Mythos and history, 123.
Myths respecting creation, 406,
498.
N
Naaman, 70.
Naashon, 70.
Nabhi, 124, 125.
Nahor, 19.
Name persistent for a thousand
years, 341.
Names amongst savages, 1.
amongst the vulgar Eughsh, 2.
after David, 610.
Arthur, 17.
assumption of, note, 27.
attempt to restore pronuncia-
tion of ancient German
ones, 15.
carried from old to newly dis-
covered countries, 9.
changes in outlandish, 10.
compounded with Nebo, 125,
12G.
contain allusion to one or
more deities, 4.
difficulties of the subject, 13.
divinities, 611.
evidence of defunct races, 10.
female and male alike, 4.
from the cock, 169.
given at, or shortly after birth,
4.
given by divine authority, 2, 3.
given by historians, 5.
Names given by priests, page 3, 4,
600.
had numbers, 175.
hereditary and Christian, 7.
how selected, 7.
imported, twisted, 22.
many not always iiulicalive of
many persons, 110.
many of same deity, 322.
new, adopted on taking reli-
gious vows, 21.
of a family composing a sen-
tence, 541.
of God used by Jesus, 620.
of Israelites modified by the
captivity in Babylon, 135.
of Moses and Jehovah not
known to Saul, 610.
of Ninev, 617.
Omphalos, 18.
Patriarchal examined, 132.
persistency of, 8.
Phoenician, containing Jab,
612.
phonetic value of, 11.
pronunciation varies, 14.
puritan, 8.
Rebecca, 18.
of the weak tell then- story, 9.
sacred, 613-616.
Scriptural, 127, 131, 132, 134,
135, 137, 138.
strange, in England, 21.
those prior to David, 609.
Napoleon compared with David,
436.
crowns himself, 153.
Narrow-mindedness of Romish and
other priests, the reason of,
683, 684.
Natal, Bishop of, quoted, 28, 29,
609.
Natm-e, study of, neglected by
priests, 682.
Navel of Vishnu, 124, 163.
Navis, nave, 164.
782
Nebo supplants Eloliim, page 122,
157, 163, 161, 616.
Nebucliaduezzar's dreams ex-
amined, 422, 423.
Nehemiah and Ezra, 519, 524.
Nekebah, 67, 161, 602.
Nergal, 77.
equivalent to Roman JIars,
118, 119.
Nick, its metaphorical use, 68.
Nicknames, 8.
Nimrod, 356.
Nin, 77, 119.
Ninev has a sacred na^me, 617.
Nineveh, 120.
Noah, a male and female name, 4.
Nose of the Almighty, 259.
Note of the dove. 111.
Nottingham Christmas cakes, 380.
Numa and Moses compared, 668.
Numa's divine lavv-s, 525.
Number of a beast, 651, 666.
of a name, 175.
Numbers represented by letters,
649.
lucky, 649.
Numbering of people by David,
437.
Numerous names for one deity,
322.
Nun, 96.
Assyrian, 97.
figured -with stole, 165.
Nuns bear the same name as fish,
113.
Nunneries, 109.
Nursing mother, 52, 53.
Nyanza, a name incorporated from
Africa, 10.
Cannes, 30.
and fish, 529.
Oaths 79.
Obadiah feeds prophets, 477.
Obelises, 196.
Obscenities, divine emblems, page
59.
Obscenity in sacred writings, 269.
in edibles, 379.
in David's religion, 440.
in the writings of Ezekiel, 511.
Obsolete words give a clue to
ancient names, 71.
Odium theologlcum, 306, 662.
Offences against laws spiritual and
temporal, 681.
Offerings after vows, 517.
Offspring, abundance of, 305.
Oil, holy, 305.
used as Isernia, 61.
Old Bogy, 47.
Old Testament, value of, 623,
675.
Old words valuable, 189.
Om, Am or Aum, 71.
a sacred name, 237.
Omega and Alpha, 174.
Om maul pannee, 238.
Omnipresence of the Creator, 50.
Omphalos, the word dissected,
18.
On, 32, 64, 71.
Oracles in Judaea, 641.
their value compared, 668.
Orb, 142.
Orcades, 94.
Orcus, 94.
Organisation amongst animals and
men, 680.
Orgies, dissolute, before the golden
calf, 566.
Oriental customs referred to, 210.
Oromasdes, 122.
Orthodox divines who wont think,
how can they test any new
doctrine ? 664.
individuals challenged as infi-
dels, 665.
the Saviour not so, 461.
Orthodoxy in gods, 129.
Os utcrL 168.
783
Osiris, story of, page 289.
Our lady of Loretto, 348.
Ovid's Art of Love, 288.
Pacific Ocean, 35.
Padon, 70.
Pagan symbols adopted by the
Ciaurcb, 141.
Paganism and Christianity, 166.
Palestine, an imaginary scene in,
660.
names in, 127.
Palladium of Troy and ark com-
pared, 439.
Palm tree, 156, 157.
and citron, 272.
mystic, 532.
Pan, equivalent to Danjaau, Esh-
mun, Esculapius, Apollo,
Elias, and the Sua, 429.
Papa and mamma, 103.
Papal division of sins, 681.
religion, feminine, and built
on Chaldajan basis, 487.
Paphian Venus, a conical stone,
468.
Paradise, ideas of, 562, 578.
Paran, 70.
Pariahs and Hivites, 584,
Passions and Religion, 55.
human, attributed to God, 262.
of men encouraged by Bible,
685.
Patriarchal names examined, 131,
132.
Paul, St., on Scripture, 666.
reproves Peter, 250.
Pawnbroker's sign, 150, 157.
Pelasgi and David, 611.
Penninuab, 60.
Pentateuch and the name Jah, 608.
Pereuna, 83.
Periphrasis, 215.
Persian gods, 122.
Persistence of ideas, 153.
Peter, St., on Scripture, page 666.
called Bar-jouali, 28.
the power of God, 32.
Peru evangelised by fire and Eword,
669.
Peruvian priests claim to be in-
spired, 668.
Phallic statues made of fig tree,
527.
Phallus = Mahadeva = Asshur,
79.
and El, 216.
a Hindoo emblem, 217, 219.
care of amongst the Jews, 219.
revealed in the mysteries, 221.
reverenced by Abraham, 79.
worship, 306.
Phanuel, 82.
Phens, short for Phoenicians, 33.
how they described the Al-
mighty, 58.
Phenomena of creation, 677, 678.
Philistines talk Hebrew, 42.
Philosophers, Christian, idea of
God, 50.
Phcebus Apollo, 162.
Phoenicinn influence in Ireland,
641.
language, 40.
language allied to the Arj-an,
43.
spirit, 24.
travel, 38.
voyages, 39.
Phoenicians, history of, 37, 38.
traded with India, 616.
vie with modern English, 679.
Phra, 92.
Physical science a snare of the
De\-il! 682.
tabooed by theologians, 688.
Physician and priest defined, note,
47.
their relations, GO.
Physicians consulted for impo-
tence, 62.
784
Physicist and diyiue compared,
page 683.
Piety cannot conquer armies, 636.
Pillar set op by Jacob, 130.
Pillars and kings, 305.
in temple, 154.
of stone in Ark, 293.
Pine cone, 90.
and fig, 527.
and testis, 162.
Pismire on consols, 577.
Pithon, 70.
Plan of salvation lias two stages,
659.
Planets supposed to influence fate,
lis.
Play, meaning of word, 566.
Pliny's description of the earth,
466.
Plural form of God, 217, 218, 223.
singulars, 217, 230, 321.
Pluto, 560.
Polytheistic ideas associated with
Jah, 621.
Pomegranate, a female organ, 107,
528.
Pompeii, 142.
Pontiffs treat kings as jDriests
treated Christ, 660.
Pope blesses with thumb and two
fingers, 90, 169.
his letters models of piety, 594.
Popery a progressive system, 51.
Possession, demoniac, ideas re-
specting, 513.
PotiiDhei'ah, 64.
Powerlessness of man to describe
God, 257.
Prayer book, anthropomorphic,
264.
Pre, or pbre, '/w, 647,
Preachers of various passions, each
can feed them from the
Bible, 685.
Predictions made after events, 603.
Prester John, 575.
Presumption, another name for
thought, iDage 663.
Priapic " ex votos,'' 517.
Priapus, the modem, 62.
Pricking, metaphorical use of,
68.
Pride and thoughtfulness con-
founded by Churchmen, 663.
Priest, figure of, 165.
Jewish and Christian Pontiff,
660.
of On, 64.
the word defined, note, 47.
Priests, ancient, spoke freely, 59.
and infidels, 662.
and Popes anathematise Kings,
57.
are men, 109.
how they attain power, 46.
meaning of the name, 404.
neglect natural phenomena,
682.
ought not to study theology,
and need study nothing else,
664.
take place of physicians, 86.
took the place of modern
doctors, 60.
Priesthood, exigencies of, 258.
origin of a, 680, 681.
Priestly ideas of the Creator, 50.
Prince of the air, 117.
Principelities and powers, 250.
Progress of civilisation, 36.
Prometheus, story of, 408.
Promises made by various priests,
or God and Baal, 323.
Pronunciation of some letters
varies, 14.
Propagandism, means of effecting
it, 669, 670.
Prophecy, The, note, 48.
Prophet, beau ideal of, 476.
the disobedient one, his storv
examined, 500.
Prophets after captivity, 387.
78;
Prophets — exasperated -wlieu dis-
believed, page 636.
Prophetic names given by the
historian, 6.
Prostiti;tion, vrhere sacred, 109,
366.
Protestant clergy, 662.
their ways when opposed to
Mahometans and Hindoos,
and to each other, 669.
Protestants, their unreasonable-
ness, 140.
Proto-Chaldrean gods, 51.
Psalms of David examined, 442.
Ptolemy, 387.
Pudenda of Virgin Mary shown
as a relic, 114.
Pulpit discourses, 663.
Pun, in'ophetic, 5.
Punishment of infidelity, a politi-
cal blunder, 665.
Punning contrivance, 429.
Punon, 70.
Pure religion defined, 624.
Puritan names, 8.
Puritans, 686.
Purpose, feebleness of, in the
Almighty ! 671, 672.
Purse or bag, 403.
the scrotum, 162.
Puseyites and Piuritans, 247.
Pyramid, a sigu of Arba-il, 145.
Pyx, an ai-k, 167, 292.
Quacks in religion and medicine,
306.
Quadi-iliterals, how formed, note,
67.
Quarrels of hierarchs proclaim
their senselessness, 662.
Queen of heaven, 30.
Quotation, Latin, from Dom Mar-
tin's book, 88.
R
Ea, page 80.
Eabbius alter the text of Scripture,
note, 185, 315, 241, 254.
Rachel, her desire for offspring,
60.
steals images, 129.
Eaffaele, 242.
Eahab talks Hebrew, 42.
Eam, an euphemism, 429.
sacred, 66.
Raphael, 247.
and Tobit, 514.
Eats and Lionesses, 315.
Eawlinson, Sir H., on Aryan influ-
ence, 615.
referred to, 43, 117, 615.
Ee, or Ra, 81.
Reason and instinct, 677.
and faith contrasted, 644.
the use of, deprecated by
divines, 663.
Reasoning, style of, adopted by
theologians, 500.
Rebecca, a Chaldee, 41.
her name examined, 18.
Red colour, 353, 693.
heifer, 469, 565.
Lidians, almost superseded,
36.
Indians, names assumed by, 1.
l^owder, 469.
Redaction of the Hebrew text, 184,
227.
Eegina, 81.
Eehoboam, 306.
lost ten tribes, 568.
Rejoinder of infidel to divine, 659.
Relations between Chi-ist, fish and
fishcimou, 113.
Religion, according to some divines,
consists in believing tb3
preacber, C63.
and coinage compared, 505.
of early Babylon, 51.
pure, defined, 624.
HHH
786
Eeligions, definition of the worcl,
page 47.
rites and dissolute orgies, 566.
Kemembrauee, book of, 256.
Renovation of life, 81.
Repentance of God, 266.
Residence of Almigbty, 561.
Restoration of Jews after Babylon
discussed, 519.
Resurrection passed already, 668.
Resuscitation of Oanaanites, 523.
Revelation, idea of, examined, 675.
of God as fire, 128.
Revelations to Moses, Mahomet,
and Mormon elders, 51.
Revenge of God, 266.
Revision of Scripture desirable,
269, 391.
Revolts under David's ritle, 138,
486.
Rhea, 81.
Rhoderick Dhu and David com-
pared, 433.
Right hand, 845.
Rimmon, 70, 157, 164, 528.
Ring money of Africa and Ireland,
note, 89, 145.
Rites, feasts and orgies, 566, 568.
Ritualism and infidelity, 663.
Rocky mountains a barrier, 37.
Roman Catholic faith hke the
Phen, 58, 59.
Roman church, a heathen reper-
tory, 74.
Roman chm-ch orders her mem-
bers to eat fish on Venus'
day, 113, 528, 531.
Rome, lottery at, 649.
Romish priests, their low origin,
683.
Roots of words, Aryan, and Shemi-
tic, 17.
Royalist, 686.
Royalty descends in male line, 120.
Russia, extent of the race, 36, 37.
Sabbath day and Jeremiah, page
684.
Sacred and profane authors com-
pared, 6.
both open to the same criti-
cism, 6.
murders, 655, 672.
names, 71, 237, 617.
names imported, 618^ 619.
rites and sexual ideas, 61.
Sacredness of fish, 528.
Sacrifice, human, 128, 136.
men for calves, 593.
why flesh selected for, 565,
566.
Sacti, 69, 159.
sign of, 168.
Sadducees are conservatives, 247.
considered angels a modern
invention, 246.
high churchmen, 117.
Saint James of Gompostella, 348.
Saint Patrick, 153, 357.
Saints in Italy and France for
cure of barrenness, 61.
lunatics canonised as, 513.
sexual, 62.
Salmon, 71.
Sambo and Gushi equivalent words,
417.
Samson, 70.
Samuel's circuits, 155, 542.
rise, 136.
San, the sun, 92.
Sanchoniathon on cosmogony, 85.
Sanctuary, 55.
Sanscrit origin of Jah, 615.
Sara and Aljram, 192.
= Sheruha, 128.
Sarah and Abraham, 5.
the hole of a pit, 67.
the palm tree, 533.
Saraiswati, 159.
her (xuarrel with Mahadeva,
123.
787
Sarclauapalns, page 96.
called the intelligent fish, 30.
Satau, 56, 450, 453.
aud God couverse, 255.
Saturn aud Jupiter, 249.
Saul, 137, 423, 434.
his history in brief, 431, 432.
Savages cowed bj' the super-
natural, 1, 681.
Saviour gains knowledge by asking
questions, 251.
of the world, 537.
the, was not orthodox, 461,
660.
with feminine attributes, 113.
would be thought heretical
now, 390.
Saviour's, the, teaching, 665.
Scarlet colour mystical, 469.
Scene in Palestine, imaginary, 660.
Sceva and his seven sous, 515.
Schools of Prophets, 2.
Scotland, early races of, 543.
Scratch, Old, 47.
Scriptm-es, their inspiration ex-
amined, 666.
Scrotum, 162.
Seance, mesmeric, described, 426.
Seances, Davenports', 47.
Seat, modern symbolic, 165, 166.
Secession of tribes under Jero-
boam, 13S.
Second Assyrian triad, 92.
sight in Scotland, 48.
Seine, curious medals foimd in,
144.
Seir, Mount, mystic meaning, 489.
Sephiroth, 77.
Sei-pent, emblem of desire, 497,
498, 602.
life and water, 86.
Settlements of invaders, their in-
fluence, 10.
Sets of histoiy, 44, 444.
of names, hereditary and
Christian, 7.
Sexes, their relative value, page
113.
Sexual rites sacred,'^61.
saints in France, 62.
Shaddai. 52.
Shaga, 305.
Shagal an offensive word, note, 55.
Shakespeare, uncertainty of ety-
mology of, 14.
Shala, or Tala, a minor god, 118.
Shamas, 92.
Shame, sense of, scanty, 130.
Shammah, 96.
Shamrock, 154, 156.
Shape of fig, 527.
Sheen, 92.
Shell, 159.
Shemesb, 92.
Sbemitic races, names amongst, 4.
Sheshbazzar leads the Jews fi'om
Babylon, 520.
Shicron, 70.
Shields sacred, 114, 115, 163.
Solomon's, 163.
Templars', 164.
Shihon, 71.
Shimon, 70.
Shimron, 70.
Shimson, 70.
Ship, sacred, 166, 290.
Shomerou, 70.
Shushau, 70.
Sibyls and Pythonesses, 48.
Sidon, 39, 71.
Signification of names in Bible is
not reliable, 132.
Sihou, 71.
Simeon, 70.
Similaiity in sound, dissimilarity
in meaning, 15, 16.
Sin, 93.
Singers, female, replaced in St.
Peter's by eunuchs, 494.
Singular name of God rare, except
in Job. 225, 226.
plurals, 217, 219, 227, 321, 520.
788
Sins, mortal and venial, page 681.
SioD, 70.
SipiDaia, 92.
Siatrum of Isis, 108, 159, 164, 527.
Slave trade, 129.
Slaughter by kings, qneeus, and
piojDbets, 655.
Sodomite, 55.
Sodomites, 73, 494.
Solidity, 84.
Solomon, a friend of Hiram, 154.
compared with Louis XIV.,
535.
Lis character differently
painted, 535.
had two names, 3.
married Hittites, 584.
seal, 146.
shields, 163.
trades with India, 616.
Somnanth, gates of, 146.
Son, the, our ideas of, 56.
Song of Solomon, 52, 273.
Soothsayers resemble priests, 404.
Soter Kosmou, 537.
Sound grades us in spelling names,
14.
Spaniards, 686.
give sacred names to new
places, 9.
practice of the conquering, 21.
their discoveries, 30.
Speech, dying, of David, 437.
Spelling altered by Eabbins, 184.
not to be trusted, 14.
Spirit, the, 56.
Spirits discredited by Sadducees,
246.
evil ideas respecting, 513.
in prison, 250.
Spiritual power, how transmitted,
48.
instruction for wielding it, 48.
Spiritualists, modern, 47.
Spirituous, meaning of the word,
527.
Spots, symbolical, page 356, 360.
Spotted robe, 346, 352.
Spouses for the gods, 58.
Squier, Mr., referred to, 36.
Sri lautra, 147.
Stag metaphorical, 196.
Standard-bearers proud of fainting
in battle, 664.
Statue of Christna black, 401.
Sterile wives, hov/ treated, 60.
Avonien take iiriapic wine,
305.
Stigmata in Christna, 402.
Stocks of trees emblematic, 637.
Stole, the, 165.
Stone age in Judea, 587.
and i:on age, 542.
upright, indicates the Creator,
463.
Stonehenge, 352.
Stones, conical, sacred, 148, 149.
standing, 196.
uiDright Hermai, 581.
used for circumcision, 542.
Stories about creation, 406, 498.
childish, told by prissts, 51.
of the Bible, 675.
Strange names in England, 21.
Strength in the male commands a
consort, when, 679, C80.
Study of nature neglected by hier-
archs, 682.
Sublimation, the process referred
to, 217.
Succubi, 449.
Sim, apostrophised, 50.
feminine and masculine, 144.
Martianus Capella's hymn toi
647.
some of his names, 31.
Supernatural power, given by
parents, 48.
assumed by fanatics or luna-
tics, 48.
the fear of, 46, 681.
Supireme wisdom, 29.
789
Snppressio veri in writiugs of
" diviues," page 682.
Swa?ti, the, 151.
Sweclenborg, a religious mouo-
mauiac, 48, 4-17.
Swiue, herd of, story apocryphal,
516.
Sword easier to wield than peu,
661.
Swords used by Jacob's sons, 606.
when introduced into Judea,
581.
Sydenham, 385.
Symbol of Bull explained, 376.
Symbolic worship of Ishtar, 89,
90.
Symbols, 141.
of Arba-il, 157, 167.
their duration, 153.
Syrian goddess, 154.
Syrians talk the Jewish language,
605.
Tabeal, 229.
Tactics of opposing priests, 669.
Taekieh, 168.
Tail of Old Scratch, 47.
Talbot on names, 613, 617.
Talismans, 396.
Tamar and Amnou, 436.
Tappuach, 272.
Tau, the, a symbol, 152.
Templars' shields symbolical, 115.
Temple, rebuilt, 521.
why not built by David, 441.
Ten tribes aborigines, 568, 569.
Tent or brothel, 211.
Terah emigrates by laud, 41.
Teraphim, 129, 130.
used by David, 438.
Terrors = bugs, 484.
Testament, Old, Ezra's share in,
525.
many hands employed in, 521.
of himiau origin, 675.
Testament, Old, value of, page G23,
624.
Testis and pine cone, 1C2.
Text, ancient, varied, 174, 184.
redaction of Hebrew, 184, 227.
Thalaba, advice of magician to,
635.
Theology based on the Bible, 624.
systems of, not completed at
once, 50, 531.
Theologians, how would they have
decided between popery and
protestantism ? C64.
their style of reasoning, 500.
thinlc that truth is superficial,
663.
Theological leaders quarrel, 662.
word painters, 254.
Theoijhrastus and fish, 529.
Theopueustos, what, 668.
Thickets necessary for lions, 501.
Thigh, the word an euphemism,
note, 79.
Thimble riggers and exorcists com-
pared, 515.
Third commandment to be taken
Uterally, 618.
Thor's Hammer, 151.
Thought not to be allowed in
things divine ! 663.
Three legs of man, 157.
Throne in heaven, 255.
Thrusting out the tongue, 430.
Thumb, an emblem, 90.
Thus saith the Lord, the phrase
examined, 455.
Tigris, a place of settlement, 38.
Time and times, meaning of word,
428.
deified, 55.
destroys all thiug.s, 465.
Titles of Churches and of saints,
348.
Tithes paid by Abraham, 128.
Tobit, book of, referred to, G, 514.
diives a demon away, 514.
790
Tolmen, page 327, 544.
Ton, 23.
Tongue thrust out, 430.
Torch, fiu emblem, 346.
TorquemacLa, G85.
and Anglican divines com-
pared. 5G2.
Toss up a coin, to decide judg-
ment, GG4.
Towers and temples in Ireland,
G48.
Trees, certain, sacred, 526.
Triad, second Assyrian, 92.
the nature of, 218,
Triads in divinity, 76.
Triangle, a symbol, 145.
Tribulation, a consequence of
guilt? 644.
Tricks of Jacob, 604.
Trident of Siva, 168.
Triliterals become quadriliterals,
how, 67.
Trinity a myth, 532.
and cross, 152.
and ileur de lys, 156, 531.
and shamrock, 154, 158.
and triangle, 145.
associated with female ele-
ment, 76, 89.
Chaldee, 58.
divisions of, 90.
in modern Europe, 91.
in Eome and England, 92.
the perfect form of Mahadeva,
89.
Triple idea of Creator, its origin,
89.
Trojan war caused by a woman,
120.
Truth lies at the bottom of a well,
6G3.
Turks, infidels, and heretics, 658.
Turtle doves, 12S.
Typhon, 71, 248, 279, 289.
Tyre, an ancient city, 39.
prophecies about, 511.
U, V.
U and \, their relative sounds,
page 12.
Ubi tix's mcdici ibi duo athel,
682.
Uniformity in divine story, how
attained, 48.
Universal maker, 50.
Unseen, dread of the, common to
all, 2.
Ur, 94.
Ur of the Chaldees, 41.
Utica and Carthage, 39.
Uzziah, 74.
Valiancy quoted, 28.
Value of evidence, past and pre-
sent, 454, 499.
Variations in ancient texts, 174.
Variety of crosses, 151, 157.
Vayu, 122.
Venus, 161.
and apple, 273.
fish sacred to, 529.
mysteries of, and ark, 288.
Urania, 53, 54.
worshipped as black stone,
107, 148.
Verbal inspiration of scripture,
425.
Versions of the Bible, 186, 674.
Vespasian sees a devii expelled,
515.
Vesta, temj^le of, 415.
Vicegerents of God, 577.
Vices of lower animals and men
compared, 678.
Vice a sacred tree, 526.
Vineyards, 353.
Virgil writes i^redictions after
events, 603.
Virgil's idea of the incarnation,
418.
Virgin, assumes the place of Jesus,
113.
and child, 99, 100.
and child very ancient, 579.
791
Vii'gin — more cliiM-ming tliau
matrou, page 10 i.
of Amadou, 159.
practical \A'orsliip of, 309, 531.
represeuted by mural crowu,
lU.
the, 52, 57.
the celestial, 33, 59, 74, 100.
Virginity, care for, 53.
state of, slimmed by Jews, 91.
Vishmr's navel, 124, 1G3.
Vision, any may be depicted, 253.
Visions are all real, 257.
their value, 48, 457, 463.
Vital, a Hindoo God, 334, 543.
Vocabulary, 173.
Votaries of the Linga and the
Yoni, 114.
Vul, 93, 94.
Vulcan nourished by Cyuocephali,
418.
Vulgate, the, quoted, 211.
W.
Wafer shaped peculiarly, 403.
Wakes in Judea, 641.
War in heaven, 249.
Wars of Jupiter and the Titans,
249.
Water, holy, 168.
in connection with intra-ute-
riue life, 86.
poured out after a death, 85.
the part it plays in Cosmo-
gony, 85.
Wax candles, use of, 444.
Weeks, meaning of the term, 428.
Wheel, the, as an emblem, 143.
Wick, 23.
Wine and oil, 305.
for sterile women, 305.
bouses, 353.
press, meaning of, 533.
Wilford, Captain, 123.
Witchcraft still beheved in, 117.
Wittoba, 402.
Woolf, Dr., supposed to have been
insane by Mussulmans, page
446.
Woman passes night with Jupiter
Belus, 342.
Women and good fortune, 308.
angels or demons, 114.
how estimated, 106.
the cause of war, 120.
Word painting and sculpture, 253.
the, 444.
the, various expositions of, 49.
Words, and numbers, 647.
old, 71.
old, help to discover modem,
note, 189.
Works of the Almighty, 29.
World, future, not revealed to
Abraham and Jews, 674.
Worms said to exist in hell, 578.
Worship of calves, the rallying
cry of Jeroboam, 569.
of El, coarse, &c., 217.
of the Virgin, 59.
of woman, 59.
on roofs of houses, 642.
sexual and sacred, 62.
shields used iu, 163.
Wrestler, God as a, 262, 449, 605.
X.
X, the form of a particular cross,
110.
Xavier, St. Francis, 140.
Tahu, a sacred name amongst
Assyrians, 613.
an element iu Jericho, 645.
You, the BOimd analysed, 27.
Yoni, a'lored by Harpocrates, 497.
and sistrum, 159.
identical with Evi;. the mother
of oil living, 490.
in Asisyria, 100, 105.
on Buddhist cross, 151.
792
Yoni— the, page 26, 89, 106, 145. Zepliron, page 71.
Tonigas and Lingaijitas, 123, 600. Zipbion, 71.
Zippor, 96.
Z. Zipporab, 96.
Zacbaiias, meaning of, 31. circumcises her son, 542.
Zechariah sees celestial horses, Zoroaster and Moses compared,
577. 6G8.
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