The first difference explains the second. The oniversal declarations in Alt require the spiritual conditions. The special declarations in Lk, being addressed to disciples, do not. Even for pagans, to be poor in spirit and to hunger after righteous- ness are bles.sed things : but it is only to the faithful Christian that actual poverty and actual hunger are sure to be blessings. To others these trials may be barren suffering, or may harden rather than chasten. The beatitudes omitted in Lk are the third, fifth, sixth, and seventh of Mt, viz. those relating to the meek, the merciful, the pure in heart, and the peacemakers.
The eight beatitudes may be regarded as an analysis of perfect spiritual wellbeing ; and nowhere in non-Christian literature shall we find so sublime a summary of the best elements in the felicity attainable by man. They correct all low and carnal views of human nappiness. But it is fanciful to find a gradation in the order in which they are recorded, e.g. that poverty of spirit is the death of self-righteousness ; mourning the burial of self-rigliteousness ; meekness the virtue that takes the place of self-righteousness, etc.
It is more to the point to notice that they do not describe eight different classes of people, but eight different elements of excellence, which may all be combined in one and the same man. Some of them, indeed, are almost certain to be so com- bined, e.g. being poor in spirit with meekness, and endurance of persecution with mourning. And perhaps it is not untrue to say with Ambrose that the four given by St. Luke virtually include the whole eight ; but to make each of the four cor- respond to one of the four cardinal virtues is to force the meaning of one or the other.
Tlie following table will show in a clear way the difference between Mt and Lk in the four beati- tudes which they have in common : —
St. Matthew. Blessed
1 . are the poor in spirit : for theirs is the kingdom oi heaven.
2. are they that mourn : for they shall be comforted.
4. are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness : for tliey shall be filled.
8. are ye when men shall re- proach you, and persecute you,
St. LUKB. Blessed
1. are ye poor : for yours U the kingdom of God.
3. are ye that weep now : for ye shall laugh.
2. are ye that hunger now : for ye shall be filled.
St. Lukk. Woe
1. nnto you that are rich t for ye have received your consolation.
3. ye that laugh now I for ye ■hall mourn and weep.
2. unto you, ve that are full now ! for ye shall hunger.
4. are ye, when men shall hate 4. when all men shall speak you, and when they shall sepa- well of you I for in the same
262
BEAUTIFUL GATE
BED
and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Re- loice, and be exceeding glad : for great is your reward in heaven : for bo persecuted they the propheta which were before yon.
rate you, and reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy : for behold, your reward is great in heaven : for in the same manner did their fathers to the prophets.
manner did their fathers to the falae prophets.
A. Plumhbb.
BEAUTIFUL GATE.— See Jerusalem.
BEBAI. — 1. ("33) The eponym of a family of returning exiles (Ezr 2" 8" 10^, Neh 7" 10'», 1 Es 6" 9^). See Genealogy. 2. {B-n^al) An utterly unknown locality mentioned only in Jth 15*. B and Vulg. omit. The text is probably corrupt.
J. A. Selbie.
BECAUSE was formerly used (and is still used locally) to express the purpose. Thus Burton, Anat. Mel. (1621) ' Anointmg the doors and hinges with oyl, because ( = in order that) they should not creak. There are two examples in AV, Wis 11^ ' And winkest at the sins of men b. they should amend' (RV 'to the end they may repent'); Mt 20" ' And the multitude rebuked them b. (RV 'that') they should hold their peace.'
J. Hastings.
BECHER (12J 'young camel ').—!. Son of Eph- raim, Nu 26"= 1 Ch 7* where the name appears as Bered. Patronymic in Nu 26" Becherites (AV Bachrites). 2. Son of Benjamin, Gn 46^\ 1 Ch l'-" and implicitly in 1 Ch 8' where for MT, '73t'¥ ''"I'l^? = his Jirst -born, Ashbel, we should probably read "95 'tif^f^^Becher and Ashbel. J. A. Selbie.
BECHORATH (ni^s?).— One of Saul's ancestors (1 S 9', 1 Ch 7*).
BECK (from verb ' beck,' which is a short form of beckon), now nearly displaced by 'nod,' occurs 2 Mac 81' AV and RV, ' Almighty God, who at a beck can cast down both them that come against us and all the world ' (Gr. M vctJfuiTi).
Beckon occurs more frequently, but only in NT. It deaerrea attention on account of the precision of the Greek words.
1. There is the simple ttvi, to nod, to make si^ns with the head^ Jn 13^ of Simon Peter's nod to John to ask who waa to be the betrayer ; Ac 24io of Felix's nod to Paul to speak.