Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Cucumbers
(Heb. kishshuim). This word occurs in (Numbers 11:5) as one of the good things of Egypt
produces excellent cucumbers, melons, etc., the Cucumis chate being the best of its tribe yet known.
Besides the Cucumis chate, the common cucumber (C. sativus), of which the Arabs distinguish a
number of varieties, is common in Egypt. “Both Cucumis chate and C. sativus,” says Mr. Tristram,
“are now grown in great quantities in Palestine. On visiting the Arab school in Jerusalem (1858) I
observed that the dinner which the children brought with them to school consisted, without exception,
of a piece of barley cake and a raw cucumber, which they ate rind and all.” The “lodge in a garden
of cucumbers,” (Isaiah 1:8) is a rude temporary shelter erected int eh open grounds where vines,
cucumbers, gourds, etc., are grown, in which some lonely man or boy is set to watch, either to
guard the plants from robbers or to scare away the foxes and jackals from the vines.
Cummin
one of the cultivated plants of Palestine. (Isaiah 28:25,27; Matthew 23:23) It is an umbelliferous
plant something like fennel. The seeds have a bitterish warm taste and an aromatic flavor. The
Maltese are said to grow it at the present day, and to thresh it in the manner described by Isaiah.
Cup
The cups of the Jews, whether of metal or earthenware, were possibly borrowed, in point of
shape and design, from Egypt and from the Phoenicians, who were celebrated in that branch of
workmanship. Egyptian cups were of various shapes, either with handles or without them. In
Solomon’s time all his drinking vessels were of gold, none of silver. (1 Kings 10:21) Babylon is
compared to a golden cup. (Jeremiah 51:7) The great laver, or “sea,” was made with a rim like the
rim of a cup (cos), with flowers of lilies,” (1 Kings 7:26) a form which the Persepolitan cups
resemble. The cups of the New Testament were often no doubt formed on Greek and Roman models.
They were sometimes of gold. (Revelation 17:4)
Cupbearer
an officer of high rank with Egyptian, Persian and Assyrian as well as Jewish monarchs. (1
Kings 10:5) It was his duty to fill the king’s cup and present it to him personally. (Nehemiah 1:11)
The chief cupbearer, or butler, to the king of Egypt was the means of raising Joseph to his high
position. (Genesis 40:1,21; 41:9)
Cush
the name of a son of Ham, apparently the eldest, and of a territory or territories occupied by
his descendants. The Cushites appear to have spread along tracts extending from the higher Nile
to the Euphrates and Tigris. History affords many traces of this relation of Babylonia, Arabia and
Ethiopia.
(black), a Benjamite mentioned only in the title to (Psalms 7:1) He was probably a follower of
Saul, the head of his tribe. (B.C. 1061).
Cushan
(blackness), (Habakkuk 3:7) possibly the same as Cushan-rishathaim (Authorized Version
Chushan-) king of Mesopotamia. (Judges 3:8,10)
Cushi
Properly “the Cushite,” “the Ethiopian,” a man apparently attached to Joab’s person. (2 Samuel
18:21-25,31,32)
Cuth, Or Cuthah
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William Smith