The author of "Scripture Illustrated," quotes Mr. Pennant 25, as counsel on the other side;" but his judgment cannot avail, for he misquotes Dr. Shaw, who is his chief authority, and confounds the Jerboa with the animal which, after Dr. Shaw, he calls "Daman Israel 26"

Dr. Shaw remarks," the daman Israel is an animal of mount Libanus, though common in other places of this country. It is a harmless creature, of the same size and quality with the rabbit, and with the like incurvating posture and disposition of the fore teeth; but it is of a browner colour, with smaller eyes, and a head more pointed. The fore feet likewise are short, and the hinder are near as long in proportion as those of the Jerboa. Though this animal is known to burrow sometimes in the ground; yet, as its usual residence and refuge is in the holes and clefts of the rocks, we have so far a more presumptive proof that this creature may be the saphan of the Scriptures than the Jerboa. I could not learn why it was called daman Israel, i. e. Israel's lamb, as those words are interpreted 27."

The author of "Scripture Illustrated" displays his usual ingenuity in attempting to explain the word daman, not aware that it should have been written ganam. So Mr. Bruce says, "in Arabia and Syria the ashkoko is called Gannim Israel, or Israel's sheep, for what reason I know not, unless it is chiefly from its frequenting the rocks of Horeb and Sinai, where the children of Israel made their forty years peregrination. Perhaps this name obtains only among the Arabians 28 "

I add that Jerom, in his epistle to Sunia and Fretela, cited by Bochart, says that "the are a kind of animal not larger than a hedgehog, resembling a mouse and a bear," (the latter I suppose in the clumsiness of its feet) "whence in Palestine it is called αρκτόμυς, the bear mouse;" and there is great abundance of this genus in those countries, and they are wont to dwell in the caverns of the rocks and caves of the earth." This description well agrees with Mr. Bruce's account of the Ashkoko; and, as this animal bears a very considerable resemblance to the rabbit, with which Spain anciently abounded, it is not improbable that the Phoenicians might, from pw, call that country Spanih, whence are derived its Greek, Latin, and more modern names; and accordingly on the reverse of a medal of the emperor Adrian,

25 Hist. Quadrup. p. 427. 4to.

26 Sub nomine agni Israelis hoc animal descripsit Shaw, ubi tamen false scriptum Daman Israel pro Ganam Israel; qui error in plures alios libros irrepsit. Rosenmuller, not. in Bochart, Hieroz. v. 2. p. 414.

27" Animal quoddam humile, cuniculo non dissimile, quod agnum filiorum Israel nuncupant." Pros. Alpinus, Nat. Hist. Ægypt. part 1. c. xx. p. 80. et 1. iv. c. 9.

28 Travels, p. 348. ed. 4to.

Spain is represented as a woman sitting on the ground, with a rabbit squatting on her robe 29.

COPPER.

NEHESH.

Copper is one of the six primitive metals; and is the most ductile and malleable after gold and silver. Of this metal and lapis calminaris is made brass.

Anciently copper was employed for all the purposes for which we now use iron 30. Arms, and tools for husbandry, and the mechanic arts, were all of this metal for many ages. Job speaks of bows of copper, ch. xx. 24; and when the Philistines had Samson in their power, they bound him with fetters of copper. To be sure our translators say " brass," but under that article I have pointed out their mistake.

In Ezra, viii. 27, are mentioned "two vessels of copper, precious as gold." The Septuagint renders it σnɛun xaλ8 ÇIλBOVTOS, the Vulgate and Castalio, following the Arabic, "vasa æris fulgentis;" and the Syriac, vases of Corinthian brass. It is more probable, however, that this brass was not from Corinth, but from Persia or India, which Aristotle describes in these terms. "It is said that there is in India a brass so shining, so pure, so free from tarnish, that its colour differs nothing from that of gold. It is even said that among the vessels of Darius there were some respecting which the sense of smelling might determine whether they were gold or brass 31" Bochart is of opinion that this is the chasmal of Ezek. i. 27; the xaλnoλßavov of Rev. i. 15, and the electrum of the ancients.

cum.

It is difficult to determine what is meant by any. Dr. Hudson, in his note upon Josephus, supposes it to be the aurichalMr. Harmer quotes from the manuscript notes of Sir John Chardin a reference to a mixt metal in the East, and highly esteemed there; and suggests that this composition might have been as old as the time of Ezra, and be brought from those more remote countries into Persia, where these two basins were given to be conveyed to Jerusalem. “I have heard (says he) some Dutch gentlemen speak of a metal in the island of Sumatra, and among the Macassars, much more esteemed than gold, which royal personages alone might wear. It is a mixture, if I remember right, of gold and steel." He afterwards added this note, (for Mr. Harmer observes that the colour of the ink differs), Calmbac is this metal, composed of gold and copper. It in colour nearly resembles the pale carnation rose, has a fine grain,

29 See an engraving of the medal in Scheuchzer, Phys. Sacr. tab. ccxxxv. and in Addison, on medals, dial. ii. series 3. fig. 6.

30 Hesiod. Theog. v. 722, 726, 733. Opera, v. 150. Lucret. 1. v. v. 1286. Varro apud Aug. de Civ. Dei, 1. 7. c. 24. Schol. Apollon. ad lib. 1. v. 430. Isiodor. orig. 1. viii. c. 11. p. 71. et. 1. xvi. c. 19, 20. 1. xvii. c. 2.

31 De mirabil.

and admits a beautiful polish. I have seen something of it, and gold is not of so lively and brilliant a colour.”

From the Greek word opɛixaλnos, which means mountain copper, I should suppose a natural mineral intended by what the Latins called "orichalcum" and "aurichalcum;" and that it is the same with xaλnoλibavos, ore of mount Lebanon 32.

It is, however, generally thought to be a compound substance, and those who speak of it as such, distinguish it into three kinds: in the first, gold was the prevailing metal, in the second, silver; in the third, gold, silver, and copper were equally blended. This composition was very famous; extolled for its beauty, its solidity, its rarity; it was even preferred to gold itself. It was capable of receiving an exquisite polish; and might be the metal used for the mirrors mentioned, Exod. xxxviii. 8; Job, xxxvii. 18; and Isai. ii. 3. In these qualities platina, which is a native mineral, much resembles it. The Syriac version of the Bible pretends that the vessels which Hiram gave Solomon for the temple were made of this composition. Esdras is mentioned by Josephus as delivering up to the priests, among other treasures, vessels of brass that were more valuable than gold 33. Upon which Dr. Hudson takes notice that this kind of brass or copper, or rather mixture of gold and copper, was called aurichalcum; and was of old esteemed the most precious of metals."

Corinthian brass seems to be of a similar metalic substance. This is said to have been made of the united gold, silver, and copper statues, vessels, &c. which were melted together when Corinth was burnt by the Romans 34. This mixture was for ages held in the highest estimation. Its rarity seems to have been the principal cause of its exorbitant value. It became, hence, a proverb, that those who would appear more perfect than others in the arts, had smelt the purity of Corinthian brass. This makes the subject of a lively epigram of Martial.

"Consuluit nares an olerunt æra Corinthum,

Culpavit statuas, et Polyclete tuas."

Ezekiel, ch. xxvii. 13, speaks of the merchants of Javan, Jubal, and Meshech, as bringing vessels of nehesh (copper) to the mar

σε Χαλκό

32 Bochart, I am aware, gives a different explanation of the word. Bavo; est æs in igne candens, quia 12↳ libben Hebræis est aliquid in igne candefacere. Misna ubi de operibus quæ die Sabbathi prohibita sunt, 78 30 12, gladium in igne candefacit, Unde libbon metallorum in igne candefactio. Firmatur hæc conjectura ex iis quæ sequuntur in sacro textu, xai oi modes autu όμοιοι χαλκολιβωνω, ως εν καμίνω πεπυρωμενοι; pedes ejus similes erant chalcolibano, ut in fornace ardentes." Hieroz. vol. iii. p. 894. And J. C. Schwarz finds a like derivation in the Greek, 66 χαλκολιβανον ex nomine χαλκε et λιβαν, quod est Leßw, fundo stillo." Monum. Ingeniorum, tom. iv. p. 283.-I have myself followed the definition of Suidas, and the authorities quoted in Bochart, v. 3. p. 895. ed. Rosenmuller.

33 Antiq. lib. xi. c. 5. sect. 2. and 1 Esdras, ii. 13.

34 At the end of the 2d volume of Heron's Elegant Extracts from Natural History is a very particular account of the Orichalcum.

kets of Tyre. According to Bochart and Michaelis these were people situated towards mount Caucasus, where copper mines. are worked at this day 35.

The rust of copper is a solution or corrosion of the metal by some kind of salt; and it is remarkable that whereas other metals have their peculiar dissolvents, copper is dissolved by all. Even the salts floating in the common air are sufficient powerfully to corrode it. This remark is made in order to explain Ezek. xxiv. 6, 11, 12, where the word nn rendered "scum" must mean rust, which not being removable by any other means, was to be burnt off by the fire, and so was a dreadful emblem of Jerusalem's punishment.

CORAL. RAMUTH 36.

Occurs Job, xxviii. 18, and Ezek. xxvii. 16, only.

A hard, cretaceous, marine production, resembling in figure the stem of a plant, divided into branches. It is of different colours, black, white, and red. The latter is the sort emphatically called coral, as being the most valuable, and usually made into ornaments. This, though no gem, is ranked by the author of the book of Job, xxxviii. 18, with the onyx and sapphire. Mr. Good observes, "It is by no means certain what the words here rendered corals and pearls,' and those immediately after-, wards rendered rubies and topaz,' really signified. Reiske has given up the inquiry as either hopeless or useless; and Schultens has generally introduced the Hebrew words themselves, and left the reader of the translation to determine as he may. Our common version is, in the main, concurrent with most of the oriental renderings, and I see no reason to deviate from it."

Pliny informs us, lib. xxxii. c. 2, that the coral was highly esteemed anciently. "The Indians value coral as highly as we value pearls. Their priests and predictors attribute to it even something sacred, and affirm that it has the virtue of protecting from dangers those who carry it; so that two things contribute to render it valuable, superstition and beauty." Experience confirms this relation of Pliny, for often in that country a collar of coral sells for a price equal to one of pearls.

CORIANDER. 7 GAD.

Occ. Exod. xvi. 31, and Numb. xi. 7.

35❝ Cupri fodinas in hunc usque diem Caucasus habet, in quo et Kubescha, vicus elegantia vasorum aeneorum nobilitatus. Arzeri præterea, quæ est urbs. Armeniæ montanæ, adeoque in vicinia Moschicorum montium sita, plurima vasa aenea fieri, cuprique fodinas tridui abesse, auctor est Buschingius." Mich. Spicel. Geogr. 50.

36 This word is formed from a verb whose primary and usual signification is to lift, or raise up, and in Isai. ii. 13, and x. 33, to have lofty branches. Coral lifts itself to some height above the water, and therefore might very properly be called "the branching stone." From л may, perhaps, be derived the Latin word ramus, a branch.

A strongly aromatic plant. It bears a small round seed of a very agreeable smell and taste.

Celsius quotes an author who has explained the names of plants mentioned in Dioscorides, as remarking AyuUTTIO 10XIOV, A good, coriander is called ochion by the Egyptians, and goid by the Africans 37.?

The manna might be compared to the coriander seed in respect to its form, or shape, as it was to bdellium in its colour. See MANNA.

Occ, Levit. xi. 17, and Deut. xiv. 17.

A large sea bird. It is about three feet four inches in length, and four feet two inches in breadth from the tips of the extended wings. The bill is about five inches long, and of a dusky colour; the base of the lower mandible is covered with a naked yellowish skin, which extends under the throat and forms a kind of pouch. It has a most voracious appetite, and lives chiefly upon fish, which it devours with unceasing gluttony. It darts down very rapidly upon its prey; and the Hebrew, and the Greek name иaтaganтиs, are expressive of its impetuosity 38. Dr. Geddes renders it "the sea gull," and observes, "That this is a plunging bird I have little doubt. Some modern critics think it is the 'Pelicanus Bassanus' of Linnæus. The Chaldee and Syriac version, fish-catcher, favours this rendering, nor less, the Greek cataractes, which, according to Aristotle, draws for its food fishes from the bottom of the sea."

At any rate, this is meant of a water bird; and therefore demonstrates the impropriety of the preceding and following bird being rendered "owl."

The word N KAATH, which in our version of Isai. xxxiv. 11 is rendered "cormorant," is the pelican. See PELICAN.

CORN. The generic name in Scripture for grain of all kinds; as wheat, rye, barley, &c.

In Levit. xxiii. 14, p, commonly rendered as if they were two different things, as in our public version," nor parched corn, nor green ears," Dr. Geddes, from a comparison with ch. ii. 14, is convinced are to be considered as meaning only one, namely, full ears of corn roasted, or parched. So the Septuagint understood them.

Parched ears of corn still constitute a part, and not a disagreeable one, of the food of the Arabs now resident in the Holy Land.

CRANE. In Isai. xxxviii. 14, and Jerem. viii. 7, two birds are mentioned, the ww sis, and they OGUR. The first in our version is translated "crane," and the second "swallow;" but

37 Hierobot. V. 2. p. 81. Dioscorid. p. 364. Conf. Kircher, prodrom.. et Lexic. copt. suppl. y. 603.

38 Bochart, Hieroz. V. 3. p. 20.