i. n-r. This always (even in I K 15'», 2 K IG' practically) means a ' bribe.' The taking of bribes by those appointed to dispense justice is forbidden in E\ 23' (repeated in Dt Iti"), and is frequently aUuded to in OT, e.g. Dt 10" 27-^, Is l-^ 5^ 33", Mic 3", Ezk 22'-', Ps 15», Pr 17^. ' It blindeth them that have sight' (c--p5, Ex 23' ; or ' the eyes of the wise,' D'?2q -j-y Dt 16"), and 'pervertetli the words of the rigliteous.'
5. Tjj (Baer nij) and jnj each occur only in Ezk 16^^ of a ' gift' in the sense of the hire of a harlot. Tlie ordinary term for this is [jiix, which occurs in the same context, Ezk 16^'-=" (cf. Dt 23'^ Is 23"'-, Hos 9', Mic 1').
In NT, while Supof and Sd/ia have generally a material sense, Suiped (once in Jn, 4 times in Ac, 5 times in Paul, once in He) appears always to be used of a 'gift' belonging to the spiritual or supernatural order. The ' gifts ' (AV ' otierings,' RV a.va.O-/inaTa.) to which the attention of Jesus was called (Lk 21°) would be such as Josephus {lij v. V. 4) describes, most of which had been presented to the temple by Herod. The Greek word in the same sense occurs (only) in 2 Mac 9" (cf. for the idea 3' and 3 Mae 3"). For the gifts (xaplffMOTo) of the early Church, see Church, pp. 427 f., 434 f.
The above analysis will show the variety of occasions upon which a ' gift ' miglit be ollered and the variety of forms it might take amongst Orientals. It had its place in their dealings both with their fellow-men and with their God or gods. One did not come before prophet (1 S 9') or King (1 K lO") or God (Ex 23") with empty hands. The English words ' gift ' and ' present are apt, in- deed, to convey an idea of spontaneity about the transaction which was ■'enerally absent. Tlie 'present' of Ehud to Eglon (Jg S""-) was really tribute, beloni'ing to the same category as that ottered by Jehu to Shalmaneser (see Moore on Jg 3"). It is very important also to remember that while a man might ofl'er a ' present ' to his bride-elect, the ' dowry ' (^cl,■r) was not a ' gift ' but a price paid to the family of the bride as com- pensation for the loss ol her services (W. R. Smith, Kinship and Marriage in Early Arabia, 78 f . ). The mOnar might consist of money (Gn 34'-, Ex 22", Dt 22-'»), of personal service (Gn 29-'>'- '■"), or of military services (Jos 15", Jg 1'^ 1 S 17^ 18=^, 2 S 3"). From Dt 22=» we may probably infer that an average mOhar was 50 shekels of silver (see Driver, adloc.)
So lirmly established is the custom in the East of giving a present upon certain occasions that the latter is demanded as a right. Lane (Modern Eqiiptiana, Gardner's ed. p. 168) mentions that wliile male servants at Cairo are paid verj' small wages (from four to eight sliillings a montli), they receive many (iresents from their master as well as from his visitors and from the tradespeople with whom he deals. An Oriental servant, on quitting his master's service, always expects not only his wa<;es but a present as well, in token of friendship and sati.sfaction. This rule holds good from the lowest menials up to the highest olhcials. (For interesting eNaniples.see Truniliull, Oricntid Snrial Life, 327 li.). Tliis practice may throw light upon the asking (not ' borrowing ') by the Israelites of
• In Eph 4», aa is well knon-n, 8t Paul (rives u jwculinr turn to thiM p.o.'tjia^ce, hid i^MKi* Sa^xATs r«r( «>"j^T«tc corrcttpondin^ca^ littk' to Ule L.X.X iXa.}K iiwara i. «>(l/»n^« as to the ilT p-^) D"Jk; mjrQ. This is not the place to examine the iejotiniacy or the' motives of the B^Kxitle's procedure. A full diwussion of the whole question will he found iu Meyer, ad. l'>c. (cf. l>river, Bxpotitor, Jan. 1SS8, p. 20(1.). See also art. (^uotatioks.
jewels of gold and silver, etc., from the Egyptians (Ex 11- 12"), altlioiigh it is more than doul)tful whether it accounts for the iJossession by the people of such stores of gold as are said to have been used in the construction of the Tabernacle of the Piiestl v Code.
Many of the usages connected with ' gifts ' cluster round marriage. Abraham's servant gave a present to Rebekah when he went to woo her on behalf of Lsaac (Gn 24--'). After the con- clusion of a marriage contract. Lane tells us, presents are expected bj- various functionaries connected with the difl'erent families. Presents are sent to the bridegroom's house by his friends and by all who are invited to tne wedding. The bride's presents, including her trousseau, are sometimes borne in procession to her home in advance of her going to the house of her husband, or tliey are borne before her upon that occasion (Trumbull, op. cit. 44). At his iirst inter\'iew with his bride after the marriage ceremony, the bride- groom makes her a present of money, which is called ' the price of the uncovering of the face.' A marriage-portion (D-n''?') might be given to the bridegroom by the fatlier of the bride (IK 9" Pharaoh and Solomon, cf. Jg 1'"- Caleb and Othniel).