and again placed in the water (comp. Bruce, ii, 314). Such a ring is likewise called Pin, ckach, or Hit"!, cho'- ach (Job xl, 26 [21] ; comp. 2 Kings xix, 28 ; Isa. xxxvii, 29 ; Ezek. xix, 4 ; xxix, 4 ; xxxviii, 2), by the Arabs Chizdm. — Winer, ii, 137. See Nose-jeavel.
Attitude. From the numerous allusions in Scrip- ture to postures expressive of adoration, supplication, and respect, we learn enough to perceive that the usages of the Hebrews in this respect were very near- ly, if not altogether, the same as those which are still practised in the East, and which the paintings and sculptures of Egypt show to have been of old em- ployed in that country. See Salutation.
I. Adoration and Homage. — The Moslems in their prayers throw themselves successively, and ac- cording to an established routine, into the various pos- tures {nine in number) which they deem the most ap- propriate to the several parts of the service. For the sake of reference and comparison, we have introduced them all at the head of this article ; as we have no doubt that the Hebrews employed on one occasion or another nearly all the various postures which the Moslems exhibit on one occasion. This is the chief difference. (See Lane's Arabian Xights, passim ; Mod. Egyptians, i, 105 sq. ; Thomson's Land and Book, i, 26.) In public and common worship the Hebrews prayed standing (1 Kings viii, 54; Ezra ix, 5; Dan. vi, 10; 2 Chron. vi, 13); but in their separate and
Mohammedan Postures of Worship.
private acts of worship they assumed the position which, according to their modes of doing homage or showing respect, .seemed to them the most suitable to their present feelings or objects. It would appeal-, however, that some form of kneeling was most usual in private devotions. See Adoration.
1. Standing in public prayer is still the practice of the Jews. This posture was adopted from the syna- gogue by the primitive Christians, and is still main- tained by the Oriental Churches. This appears, from their monuments, to have been the custom also among the ancient Persians and Egyptians, although the lat- ter certainly sometimes knelt before their gods. In the Moslem worship, four of the nine positions (1, 2, 4, 8) are standing ones ; and that posture which is re- peated in three out of these four (2, 4, 8) maybe point- ed out as the proper Oriental posture of reverential standing, with folded bands. It is the posture in which people stand before kings and great men.
While in this attitude of worship, the hands were sometimes stretched forth toward heaven in supplica- tion or invocation (1 Kings viii, 22 ; 2 Chron. vi, 12, 29; Isa. i, 15). This was perhaps not so much the conventional posture (1) in the Moslem series, as the itural posture of standing adoration with out- spread hands, which we observe on the Egyptian mon-
Ancient I !gj ptiane Pray
ight) only
uments. The uplifting of one hand (the in taking an oath was so common, that to say " I have lifted up my hand" was equivalent to " I have sworn" (Gen. xiv, 22; comp. xli, 44 ; Deut. xxxii,40). This posture was also com- mon among other an- cient nations ; and we find examples of it in Ancient Persian and Roman Pray- the sculptures of Per- inS standing,
sia (fig. 1) and Rome (fig. 2, above).
2. Kneeling is very often described as a posture of worship (1 Kings viii, 54 ; Ezra ix, 5 ; Dan. vi, 10 ; 2 Chron. vi, 13; comp. 1 Kings xix, 18; Luke xxii, 41 ; Acts vii, 60). This is still an Oriental custom, and three forms of it occur (54 6, 9) in the Moslem devo- tions. It was also in use, although not very frequent, among the ancient Egyptians ; who likewise, as well as the Hebrews (Exod. xxxiv, 18 ; 2 Chron. xxix, 29 ; Isa. i, 15), sometimes prostrated themselves upon the ground. The usual mode of prostration among the
Ancient Egyptian kneeling in Prayer.
ATTITUDE
535
ATTITUDE
Mo.lern Oriental lYu.-trutiuii.
Hebrews by which thej' expressed the most intense humiliation was by bringing not only the body, but the head to the ground. The ordinary mode of prostration at the pres- ent time, and proba- - E$35-e== bly anciently, is that shown in one of the postures of Moslem worship (5), in which the body is not thrown flat upon the ground, but rests upon the arms, knees, and head. In order to express devotion, sorrow, compunction, or humiliation, the Israelites threw dust upon their heads (Josh, vii, 0; Job ii, 12 ; Lam. ii, 10 ; Ezek. xxiv, 7 ; Rev. xviii, 10), as was done also by the ancient Egyptians, and is still done by the modern Orientals. Under similar circumstances it was usual to smite the breast (Luke xviii, 13). This was also a practice among the Egyp- tians (Herod, ii, 85), and the monuments at Thebes
Ancient lVyptians Smiting the Breast.
exhibit persons engaged in this act while they kneel upon one knee.
3. In 1 Chron. xvii, 16, we are told that "David the king came and sat before the Lord," and in that posture gave utterance to eloquent prayer, or rather thanksgiving, which the sequel of the chapter contains. Those unacquainted with Eastern manners are sur- prised at this. But there is a mode of sitting in the East which is highly respectful and even reverential. It is that which occurs in the Moslem forms of wor- ship (9). The person first kneels, and then sits back upon his heels. Attention is also paid to the position of the hands, which they cross, fold, or hide in the oppo- site sleeves. The variety of this for- mal sitting which the annexed figure represents is highly respectful. Th prophet Elijah must have been in this or some other similar posture when he inclined himself so much forward in prayer that his head almost touched his knees (1 Kings xviii, 42). See Site.