No. 1028.-xxiv. 11. If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain.] It was allowed among the Jews, that if any person could offer any thing in favour of a prisoner after sentence was passed, he might be heard before execution was done: and therefore it was usual, as the Mishna shews, that when a man was led to execution, a crier went before him and proclaimed, "This man is now going to be executed for such a crime, and such and such are witnesses against him; whoever knows him to be innocent, let him come forth, and make it appear." DODDRIDGE's Works, vol. iii. p. 236, note. No. 1029.-xxiv. 31. The stone wall.] Stone walls were frequently used for the preservation of vineyards, as well as living fences. Van Egmont and Heyman (vol. ii. p. 39.) describing the country about Saphet, a celebrated city of Galilee, tell us, "the country round it is finely improved, the declivity being covered with vines supported by low walls." HARMER, vol. i. p. 456. No. 1030.-xxv. 26. A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain and a corrupt spring.] One method of rendering streams of water unfit for use to an enemy was, by throwing filth into them. This was sometimes practised, (Gesta Dei per Francos, p. 1031.) and in particular it was done by the people at a place called Bosseret. Accident has also sometimes had the same effect. The same writer mentions a large quantity of water collected in cisterns, as being spoiled by locusts perishing in it. A circumstance of this kind might be alluded to by Solomon in these words. HARMER, vol. ii. p. 234. No. 1031.-xxv. 27. It is not good to eat much honey.] Delicious as honey is to an eastern palate, it has been thought sometimes to have produced terrible effects. Sanutus (Gesta Dei per Francos, vol. ii. p. 224.) informs us, that the English who attended Edward the First into the Holy Land died in great numbers, as they marched, in June, to demolish a place, which he ascribes to the excessive heat, and their intemperate eating of fruits and honey. This circumstance seems to illustrate both the remark of Solomon, and the prophetic passage, which speaks of a book sweet in the mouth as a morsel of honey, but bitter after it was down. Rev. x. 9, HARMER, vol. i. p. 299. 10. No. 1032.-xxvii. 6. The kisses of an enemy are deceitful.] It was not customary among the Greeks and Romans to give the kiss of adoration to their idols; but at Agrigentum in Sicily, where it seems the worship of the Tyrian Hercules was introduced by the Phenicians, who, it is well known, settled many considerable colonies in that island, we meet with a brazen image of Hercules, whose mouth and chin were worn by the kisses of his worshippers. The kiss of adoration is still practised by the Siamese pagans, for in their public worship, "after the priest's benediction, every one goes to an image, and kisses or bows to it, and then marches off in good order." Complete Syst. of Geog. vol. ii. p. 288. No. 1033.-xxvii. 27. milk enough for thy food.] diet of the eastern people. with some part of it, and Russell tells us (p. 53.) are chiefly kept for that purpose; that they yield it in no inconsiderable quantity; and that it is sweet and well tasted. This at Aleppo is however chiefly from the beginning of April to September; they being generally supplied the other part of the year with cow's And thou shalt have goats milk, such as it is: for the cows being commonly kept at the gardens, and fed with the refuse, the milk generally tastes so strong of garlic or cabbage-leaves as to be very disagreeable. This circumstance sufficiently points out how far preferable the milk of goats must have been. HARMER, vol. i. p. 288. No. 1034.-xxx. 17. The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.] That ravens were understood to prey on criminals who had been executed, appears from many passages in ancient writers. The Greeks often speak of throwing to the ravens. The old man Mnesilochus, in Aristophanes, intreats for a mitigation of his sentence, and that he may not be hanged to serve as food for ravens. So we read in Horace, -non pasces in cruce corvos. Thou shalt not hang on a cross and feed ravens. Lucretia with her maids husband Collatinus paid Tanaquilis, or Caia Cæ No. 035. xxxi. 13. She seeketh wool and flax.] It was usual in ancient times for great personages to do such works as are mentioned in these words, both among the Greeks and Romans. was found spinning, when her a visit to her from the camp. cilia, the wife of king Tarquin, was an excellent spinner of wool. (Valerius Maximus, 1. x. p. 348.) Her wool, with a distaff and spindle, long remained in the temple of Sangus; and a garment made by her, worn by Servius Tullius, was reserved in the temple of ForHence it became a custom for maidens to accompany new-married women with a distaff and spindle, with wool upon them, signifying what they were principally to attend to. (Plin. Nat. Hist. 1. viii. c. 48.) tune. Maidens are advised to follow the example of Minerva, said to be the first who made a web; and if they desired to have her favour, learn to use the distaff, and to card and spin. (Ovid. Fast. 1. iii.) So did the daughters of Minyas, (Ovid. Met. 1. iv. f. 1. v. 34.) and the nymphs. (Virgil. Geor. 1. iv.) Augustus Cæsar usually wore no garments but such as were made at home, by his wife, sister, or daughter. (Sueton. in Vit. August. c. 73.) No. 1036.-xxxi. 22. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry.] Homer, who was nearly contemporary with Solomon, represents both Helen and Penelope employed at their looms, Il. iii. 125. Od. ii. 94. et vi. 52. Aud to this day in Barbary, " the women alone are employed in the manufacturing of their hykes, or blankets as we should call them: who do not use the shuttle, but conduct every thread of the woof with their fingers." SHAW's Travels, p. 224. No. 1037.-xxxi. 24. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchants.] Herodotus informs us, that the Egyptian women used to carry on commerce. That trade is now however lost; and the Arabs of that country are the only people who retain any share of it. Maillet (Lett. xi. p. 134.) says, that the women used to deal in buying and selling things woven of silk, gold, and silver, of pure silk, of cotton, of cotton and thread, or simple linen cloth, whether made in the country or imported. This is precisely what the industrious Israelitish women are supposed to have done. HARMER, vol. ii. p. 414. VOL. II. No. 1038.-ECCLESIASTES vii. 26. I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands. THE following insidious mode of robbery gives a very lively comment upon these words of Solomon. The most cunning robbers in the world are in thi country. They use a certain slip with a running noose, which they cast with so much sleight about a man's neck when they are within reach of him, that they never fail, so that they strangle him in a trice. They have another curious trick also to catch travellers. They send out a handsome woman upon the road, who, with her hair dishevelled, seems to be all in tears; sighing, and complaining of some misfortune which she pretends has befallen her. Now, as she takes the same way as the traveller goes, he easily falls into conversation with her, and finding her beautiful, offers her his assistance, which she accepts: but he hath no sooner taken her up on horseback behind him, but she throws the snare about his neck, and strangles him, or at least stuns him; until the robbers who lie hid come running in to her assistance, and complete what she hath begun." Thevenot, part iii. p. 41. No. 1039.-x. 1. Dead flies cause the apothecary's ointment to stink.] "A fact well known," says Scheuchzer, (Phys. Sacra, in loc.) "wherefore apothecaries take care to prevent flies coming to their syrups and other fermentable preparations. For in all insects there is an acrid volatile salt, which, mixed with sweet or even alkaline substances, excites them to a brisk intestine motion, disposes them to fermentation, and to |