Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
number of such dreams were granted, for prediction or for warning, to those who were aliens to
the Jewish covenant. And where dreams are recorded as means of God’s revelation to his chosen
servants, they are almost always referred to the periods of their earliest and most imperfect knowledge
of him. Among the Jews, “if any person dreamed a dream which was peculiarly striking and
significant, he was permitted to go to the high priest in a peculiar way, and see if it had any special
import. But the observance of ordinary dreams and the consulting of those who pretend to skill in
their interpretation are repeatedly forbidden. (13:1-5; 18:9-14)—Schaff.
Dress
This subject includes the following particulars:
•Materials;
•Color and decoration;
•Name, form, and mode of wearing the various articles;
•Special usages relating thereto.
•Materials .—After the first “apron” of fig leaves, (Genesis 3:7) the skins of animals were used for
clothing. (Genesis 3:21) Such was the “mantle” worn by Elijah. Pelisses of sheepskin still form
an ordinary article of dress in the East. The art of weaving hear was known to the Hebrews at an
early period, (Exodus 25:4; 26:7) and wool was known earlier still. (Genesis 38:12) Their
acquaintance with linen and perhaps cotton dates from the captivity in Egypt, (1 Chronicles 4:21)
silk was introduced much later. (Revelation 18:12) The use of mixed material, such as wool and
flax, was forbidden. (Leviticus 19:19; 22:11)
•Color and decoration.—The prevailing color of the Hebrew dress was the natural white of the
materials employed, which might be brought to a high state of brilliancy by the art of the fuller.
(Mark 9:3) The notice of scarlet thread, (Genesis 38:28) implies some acquaintance with dyeing.
The elements of ornamentation were— (1) weaving with threads previously dyed, (Exodus 35:25)
(2) the introduction of gold thread or wire, (Exodus 27:6) ff; (3) the addition of figures. Robes
decorated with gold, (Psalms 45:13) and with silver thread, cf. (Acts 12:21) were worn by royal
personages; other kinds of embroidered robes were worn by the wealthy, (Judges 5:30; Psalms
45:14; Ezekiel 16:13) as well as purple, (Proverbs 31:22; Luke 16:19) and scarlet. (2 Samuel 1:24)
•The names, forms, and modes of wearing the robes.— The general characteristics of Oriental dress
have preserved a remarkable uniformity in all ages: the modern Arab dresses much as the ancient
Hebrew did. The costume of the men and women was very similar; there was sufficient difference,
however, to mark the sex, and it was strictly forbidden to a woman to wear the appendages, such
as the staff, signet-ring, and other ornaments, of a man; as well as to a man to wear the outer robe
of a woman. (22:5) We shall first describe the robes which were common to the two sexes, and
then those which were peculiar to women. (1) The inner garment was the most essential article of
dress. It was a closely-fitting garment, resembling in form and use our shirt, though unfortunately
translate “coat” in the Authorized Version. The material of which it was made was either wool,
cotton or linen. It was without sleeves, and reached only to the knee. Another kind reached to the
wrists and ankles. It was in either case kept close to the body by a girdle, and the fold formed by
the overlapping of the robe served as an inner pocket. A person wearing the inner garment alone
was described as naked. (2) There was an upper or second tunic, the difference being that it was
longer than the first. (3) the linen cloth appears to have been a wrapper of fine linen, which might
be used in various ways, but especially as a night-shirt. (Mark 14:51) (4) The outer garment
consisted of a quadrangular piece of woollen cloth, probably resembling in shape a Scotch plaid.
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William Smith