DIV lawful means of inquiring into the future; they had the prophets or seers, and the Urim and Thummim; and God having thus made provision even for the infirmities of His people, all other modes of obtaining a knowledge of future events were forbidden under the severest penalties. To be stoned to death was the punishment denounced against diviners and those who consulted them; and it is to be observed, that none were likely to do so save those who, on account of the unlawfulness of their designs, could not consult the lawful oracles, or those to whom on account of their offences, those oracles were sealed. DIVORCE. The dissolution of the marriage relation. As the Hebrews paid a stipulated price for the privilege of marrying, they presumed that they were at liberty to renounce or divorce their wives whenever they pleased. (Mic. ii. 9; Mal. ii. 11-14.) This state of things was not equitable as regarded the women, and very often injurious to both parties. Moses, on account of the hardness of the people's hearts, did not see fit to prohibit divorce directly, but chose rather to evade and counteract the ancient custom, by laying a restriction upon the husband, in refusing him permission to repudiate the wife without giving her a bill of divorce, in which was set forth the date, place, and cause of her repudiation. He further enacted, that the repudiated wife was at liberty to marry whom she pleased. And, in case she had not, meanwhile been married to another person, the husband was at liberty to receive her back; but if she had been thus married, she could never afterwards become the wife of her first husband, a law which the faith due to the second husband clearly required. (Deut. xxiv. 1-4; Jer. iii. 1; Matt. i. 19; xix. 8.) Christ limited the permission of divorce to the single case of was this limitation adultery; nor unnecessary; for at that time it was common for the Jews to dissolve the union upon very slight and trivial pretences. (Matt. v. 31, 32; xix. 1-9; 223 | that period some of the more powerful DODAI=friendly. One of David's A Grecian people. DIG Pe 1: PLIED AMd those vic are sim vis af the hardim of beaten are called bars, surverers," Ber. In A DOMINICANS —See AxerL DR Anime the anciens Ezratiana, and Hebrews the doors, whether made of some wood were suspendel or moved by means of pivots, which projected from the ends of the two folds, both above and below. Themp per pirots, which were the longest, were inserted in sockets sufficiently DODO-friend 1. A man of Ine large to receive them in the lintel 2. The father of Klasan. (2 Sam, xxi. 24; 1 Caron, Why WA DODAL DOVY funeful. As Plomite, and ¦ the chat of Man's herdsmen's who, in i credence to the order of Haul, siew | the private, without scruple or relset. work. ( Wam. xxv. 7; xxi. 9. 19; Pel in the title) DOG. By the Mosaic law, this animal was declared unclean, and regard ed by the Hebrews with peculiar contempt. (V.z. zi. 7; zzú:31 ; Deut. xxiii. 18.) But among the ancient Egyptians, dogs as well as cats, were regarded with veneration. The state of dogs Among the Hebrews was the same as it now is in the East, where, having no owners, they prowl about the streets in troops, and get their living generally as they can, from the offals which are cast into the gutters, and are often on the point of starvation; and in the night even attack living men. (Ps. lix. 6, 14, 15.) They sometimes preved upon human flesh, and licked the blood of the slain. (1 Kings xiv. 11; xxi. 19; xxii. 38; 2 Kings ix. 10, 36.) The only useful purpose to which dogs appear to have been put was to guard the flocks. (Ex. xi. 6, 7; Job xxx. 1; Isa. lvi. 10, 11.) Among the Hebrews to compare a person to "a dog" was the most degrading expression possible. (1 Sam. xxiv. 14; 2 Sam. iii. 8; ix. 8; İsa. Ixvi. 3.) The Jews called themselves the "children," and the Gentiles "dogs." (Matt. xv. 26.) Violent and impure men are compared to dogs. (P's. xxii. 16; lix.6-15; Deut. xxiii. 18; lower ones were secured in a curresponding manner in the threshole. Prov. xxvi. 14.) Such doorK SIE DOW not uncommon in the East; and are usually fastened by a lock, or by s bar. (Judg. iii. 25: xvi §: Sol. Song v. 5; Job xxxviii. 16) A -door opened" denotes the free exercise and propagation of the gospel. (1 Cor. xvi. 9; 2 Cor. ii. 12; Cǝl. iv. §.` Christ applies the term to Himself. "I am the door." (John x. 9.) The expression in Ps. lxxxiv. 10, “I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God." is correctly read in the margin, “I would choose rather to sit at the threshold;" such a position being preferable to the splendid dwellings of the wicked, where the worship of God is unknown. DOPHKAH knocking, or propelling. A place in the wilderness of Sin. (Num. xxxiii. 12) Seetzen compares a place called el-Tobbacka with Dophkah. DOR a dwelling, habitation. A maritime city, about eight miles north of Cæsarea, situated on a kind of peninsula in the Mediterranean, at the pass where Mount Carmel commences. It was the capital of a kingdom at the time the Hebrews entered Canaan. It was assigned to the half-tribe of Manasseh. The region was called Napheth-Dor"-height of Dor, translated "border," "coast," and "region of Dor." (Josh. xi. 2; xii. 23; xvii. 11; Judg. i. 27; 1 Kings iv. 11.) The ruins of Dor are near Tantura, a miserable village of some thirty houses, the inhabitants are all Muhammedans. In 1866, the Palestine Exploration | Our Lord drove out those who traded Party saw men quarrying stone at Tan-in pigeons, because the house of prayer tura for the Joppa market; they had opened a great portion of the mound of the ancient city, but no remains of a temple or other public buildings were visible. DORCAS. = gazelle. This Greek name is the same as the Syriac TABITHA. It was the name of a charitable and pious Christian widow of Joppa, whom Peter raised from the dead. (Acts ix. 36-41.) DOTHAN=two wells. A place in the north of Samaria, were Joseph's brethren sold him; and also where the Syrian troops attempted to seize Elisha. (Gen. xxxvii. 17, 28; 2 Kings vi. 13.) Dr. Robinson describes its site, as a fine green hill covered with ruins, with a fountain at its southern base, about twelve miles north by west from Samaria, in a broad and very fertile plain. It is now called Dotan. DOVE. This beautiful genus of birds, comprising the pigeons, doves, and turtles, in their wild state build principally in holes in the rocks; but were frequently domesticated. (Gen. viii. 8-12; Sol. Song ii. 14; Jer. xlviii. 28; Isa. lx. 8.) Doves were accounted clean by the Mosaic law, and were used among the Jewish sacrifices. (Lev. xii. 6-8; Gen. xv. 9; Matt. xxi. 12; Mark xi. 15; Luke ii. 24; John ii. 14.) When a child was born, the mother was required, within a certain time, to bring a lamb and a young pigeon, or turtle-dove, for offerings; but if she was too poor to afford a lamb, she might bring two turtles, or two young pigeons. (Lev. xii. 6-8; Num. vi. 10.) Thus we may judge of the poverty of Mary, the mother of Jesus, when, upon His presentation, she brought to the temple at Jerusalem, the two birds instead of a lamb. This she could not have done, had she at the time been enriched with the gold and costly gifts of the Magi. (Luke ii. 24.) To supply mothers, who came from a distance, with the means of making the customary offerings, the priest permitted the sale of doves in the courts of the temple. was not a fit place for merchandise. (Matt. xxi. 12; Mark xi. 15; John ii. 14-16.) The dove is mentioned as an emblem of purity and innocence; (Ps. Ixiv. 19; Sol. Song i. 15; iv. 1; v. 2, 12; vi. 9 ;) and the symbol of mourning in solitude. (Isa. xxxviii. 14; Ezek. vii. 16; Nah. ii. 7; Matt. x. 16.) The Holy Spirit descended, as a dove descends, upon our Saviour at His baptism. (Matt. iii. 16; Mark i. 10; Luke iii. 22; John i. 32.) 66 DOVES' DUNG. In the famine in Samaria, it is said that "an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of doves' dung for five pieces of silver." (2 Kings vi. 25.) Some understand the passage literally; since it is not incredible that persons oppressed by severe famine should devour even the excrements of animals. In the account of the famine and pestilence in Egypt, A.D. 1200, 1201, written in Arabic by the physician Abd-allatif, we have a remarkable illustration of 2 Kings vi. 24-30. He says, vast multitudes also sought refuge in the cities of Misr and Cairo; and the poor already pressed by the famine which increased continually, were driven to devour dogs, and the carcases of animals and men, yea, even the excrements of both." In the famine in England, during the reign of Edward II., A.D. 1316, it is said that pigeon's dung was eaten by the poor. The general opinion, however, is that what is called "doves' dung," was a coarse, cheap kind of vegetable food, a kind of chick-pea, lintil, bean or tare, of which great quantities, parched and dried, are sold in Cairo and Damascus, and much used in journies, and particularly by the great pilgrim-caravan to Mecca. Thomson says, "the Arabs give the most quaint, obscure, and ridiculous names to their extraordinary edible mixtures." DOWRY. In the East, the bridegroom pays to the father of his bride, a sum of money, or value to his satisfac tion, before he can expect to receive his daughter in marriage. The sum which he is required to pay, as a nuptial present or dowry, is in accordance with the rank and station of her family. When Jacob had nothing which he could immediately give for a wife, he purchased her by his services to her father Laban. (Gen. xxix. 18; xxx. 20; xxxiv. 12; 1 Sam. xviii. 25; Ex. xxii. 16, 17; Josh. xv. 18; Hos. iii. 2.) -See MARRIAGE. DRACHMA. A Greek silver coin, equal to sevenpence half-penny, or, according to Boeckh, to tenpence in our money; but current among the Romans as equal to the denarius. This term is rendered "piece of silver," but the margin has the Greek term drachma; (Luke xv. 8, 9;) probably identical with the denarius. (Acts xix. 19.) DRAGON. The Hebrew word tannin rendered "dragon," probably signifies a great fish, sea monster; (Isa. xxvii. 1;) a crocodile; (Isa. li. 9; Ps. Ixxiv. 13; Ezek. xxix. 3; xxxii. 2, margin;) a "dragon," probably a boa constrictor; (Jer. li. 34;) a "serpent;" (Ps. xci. 13; Ex. xxvii. 9-12; Deut. xxxii. 33;) also a "whale." (Gen. i. 21; Job. vii. 12; Ezek. xxxii. 2; Ps. lxxiv. 13, margin.) The Hebrew word tan, rendered "dragon," designates the jackal; an animal dwelling in deserts, amidst solitude and desolation, (Isa. xliii. 20; xxxiv. 13; Ps. xliv. 19; Jer. ix. 11; x. 22; xlix. 33,) suckling its young, (Lam. iv. 3,) and uttering a wailing cry. (Job xxx. 29; Mic. i. 8.) In Lam. iv. 3, this term is rendered "sea monster," in the margin "sea calves." The term 66 dragon" is used, in the New Testament, symbolically for "that old serpent, called the devil." (Rev. xii. 3-17; xiii. 2, 4, 11; xvi. 13; xx. 2.) DRAGON-WELL.-See GIHON. DRAM. The Hebrew word darekmon, rendered "dram," (Ezra ii. 69; Neh. vii. 70-72,) and the word adarkon, also rendered "dram," (1 Chron. xxix. 7; Ezra viii. 27,) signify the bow or figure of Darius, hence, perhaps, royal, and are the names of a Persian coin of pure gold, common also among the Jews while British Museum, of which we give a copy, which weighs about 238 grains, about the value of two shillings and ninepence in our money. Those coins usually bear the image of an archer with a tiara. This ancient coin is probably the earliest coined money which was known to the Jews, and used as a circulating medium by them. DREAM. A dream is perhaps not so much our mental state and involuntary operations during sleep, as, at the moment or turning point, when we drop into sleep or awake from it. Such then at that point, is the extreme rapidity with which the mental operations are performed, or rather with which the material changes on which the ideas depend, are excited in the hemispherical ganglia, that the relations of time and of space are alike annihilated. So that, it would seem, that what we call a lengthy dream, in which the mind had passed over so much ground, and gazed upon such a variety of scenery, passed ideally through the mind at one instant, and could not have continued over two or three seconds. The Lord frequently made use of dreams to reveal His purposes or requirements to individuals, and enabled persons to explain them. The power of interpreting dreams was of course a supernatural gift, so far as the dreams had reference to future events; for these are necessarily un DRU known, except to the Supreme Disposer | of them. (Gen. xx. 3—6; xxviii. 12— 14; xl. 1-23; 1 Sam. xxviii. 6, 7; Judg. vii. 13-15; Joel ii. 28.) Jehovah expressly forbade His people from observing dreams, and from consulting pretended observers of them, under the penalty of death. (Deut. xiii. 1-4.) Since the fuller revelation of God's will has been made to us in the gospel, generally, confidence in dreams, as indicative of future events, is presumptuous and delusive. Still, for ought we know, some dreams may have a collateral bearing on the development of God's purposes even now.-See VISION. DREGS.-See WINE. DRESS.-See GARMENTS. DRINK-OFFERING.--See OFFER INGS. DRINK, STRONG.-See WINE. DROMEDARY.-See CAMEL. Our DROPSY. A well-known disease, mentioned only in Luke xiv. 2. Saviour performed, on the Sabbathday, the miracle of healing the man who was labouring under it. DROUGHT. From the middle of May to the middle of August, the land of Judea was dry. It was the "drought of summer." (Gen. xxxi. 40; Ps. xxxii. 4.) The grass was sometimes completely withered, and the parched earth broken into chasms. (Ps. cii. 4.) The heavens seemed like brass, and the earth like iron, and all the land and the creatures upon it suffered; (Deut. xxviii. 23;) and nothing but the very slight dews of the night preserved the life of any living thing. (Hag. i. 11; Deut. viii. 15; Isa. Xxxv. 7.) DROWNING. A mode of capital punishment in use among the Syrians. The emperor Augustus punished certain persons, who had been guilty of rapacity in the province of Syria or of Lycia, by causing them to be thrown into a river, with a heavy weight about their necks. Christ alludes to this mode of punishment. (Matt. xviii. 6.) DRUNKENNESS. The first instance of intoxication on record, is that of Noah, (Gen. ix. 21), who was probably ignorant of the effects of the ex 227 pressed juice of the grape. The sin of = DUKE. This word is derived from the Latin dux, and merely signifies a we find a long list of "dukes of Edom;" leader or chief. In Gen. xxxvi; 15-43, but the word chief, or "prince" ought rather to have been preferred. DULCIMER. The Chaldee word sumponjah, rendered "dulcimer," is the adopted into the Chaldee tongue. The Greek sumphonia, that is, symphony, Rabbins describe this musical instruof two pipes connected with a leather ment as a sort of bagpipe, composed strap, and of a harsh, screaming sound. At the present day the same instrument, which is the common pipe, or shalm, is in Italy called zampogna, and in Asia DUMAH = silence, land of silence Minor, sambonja. (Dan. iii. 5, 10, 15.) 1. A tribe and district of the IshmaelThe place is probably ites in Arabia, so called from one of the same which is still called by the Ishmael's sons. |