II. Supplication, when addressed externally to man, cannot possibly be exhibited in any other forms than those which are used in supplication to God. Uplifted hands, kneeling, prostration, are common to both. On the Egyptian monuments suppliant cap- tives, of different nations, are represented as kneeling or standing with outspread hands. This also occurs
iv, 37 ; Esth. viii, 3 ; Matt, xviii, 29 ; xxviii, 9 ; Marl- v, 22 ; Luke viii, 41 ; John xi, 32 ; Acts x, 25). In the instance last referred to, where Cornelius threw himself at the feet of Peter, it may be asked why the apostle forbade an act which was not unusual among his own people, alleging as the reason, " I myself also am a man." The answer is that, among the Romans, prostration was exclusively an act of adoration, render- ed only to the gods, and therefore it had in him a sig- nificance which it would not have had in an Oriental (Kuinoel, ad Act. x, 26). This custom is still very general among the Orientals ; but, as an act of rev- erence merely, it is seldom shown except to kings ; as expressive of alarm or supplication, it is more frequent (Hackett's I/lustra, of Script, p. 109).
2. Sometimes in this posture, or with the knees bent as before indicated, the Orientals bring their forehead to the ground, and before resuming an erect position either kiss the earth, or the feet, or border of the gar- ment of the king or prince before whom they are al-
Ancient Egyptian Suppliants.
in the sculptures of ancient Persia (Persepolis). The first of the accompanying figures is of peculiar interest, as representing an inhabitant of Lebanon.
1. Prostration, or falling at the feet of a person, is often mentioned in Scripture as an act of supplication or of reverence, or of both (1 Sam. xxv, 24 ; 2 Kings
Oriental Kissing the Feet.
lowed to appear. There is no doubt that a similar practice existed among the Jews, especially when we refer to the original words which describe the acts and attitudes of salutation, as HS'n&fl ^53, to bend doicn to the earth, HlpX iTIrTO'Ori, to fall prostrate on the earth, ns^N C^EN; 2^3, to fall with the face to the earth, and connect them with allusions to the act of kissing the feet or the hem of the garment (Matt, ix, 20 ; Luke vii, 38, 45).
3. Kissing the hand of another as a mark of affection- ate respect we do not remember as distinctly mention- ed in Scripture. But as the Jews had the other forms of Oriental salutation, we may conclude that they had this also, although it does not happen to have been specially noticed. It is observed by servants or pupils to masters, by the wife to her husband, and by chil- dren to their father, and sometimes their mother. It is also an act of homage paid to the aged bj the young, or to learned and religious men by the less instructed
Oriental Kissing the II
or less devout. Kissing one's own hand is mentioned as early as the time of Job (xxxi, 27), as an act of homage to the heavenly bodies. It was properly a salutation, and as such an act of adoration to them. The Romans in like manner kissed their hands as they passed the temples or statues of their gods. See A\u oration. It appears from 1 Sam. x, 1 ; 1 Kings xix, 18; Psa. ii, 12, that there was a peculiar kiss of horn* age, the character of which is not indicated. It was probably that kiss upon the forehead expressive of high respect which was formerly, if not now, in use among the Bedouins (Antar, ii, 119). See Kiss. III. Bowing. — In the Scriptures there are different
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words descriptive of various postures of respectful bowing: as Tip, to incline or bow down the head; 2H3, to bend down tin- bad// very low ; 7p2, to bend the knee, also to bless. These terms indicate a conformity with the existing usages of the East, in which the modes of bowing are equally diversified, and, in all likelihood, the same, 'these are, 1, touching the lips i 2
Modern Orientals IJowing.
(is this the kissing of the hand noticed above ?) and the forehead with the right hand, with or without an inclination of the head or of the body, and with or without previously touching the ground ; 2, placing the right hand upon the breast, with or without an in- clination of the head or of the body; 3, bending the body very low, with folded arms ; 4, bending the body and resting the hands on the knees : this is one of the postures of prayer, and is indicative of the highest respect in the presence of kings and princes. In the Egyptian paintings we see persons drop their arms toward the ground while bowing to a superior, or standing respectfully with the right hand resting on the left shoulder. See Bowing.
Ancient Egyptians Bowing. It is observable that, as before noticed, the word "p2, barak, means to bless and to bend the knee, which suggests the idea that it was usual for a person to re- ceive a blessing in a kneeling posture. We know also that the person who gave the blessing laid his hands upon the head of the person blessed (Gen. xlviii, ! 1). This is exactly the case at the present day in the East, and a picture of the existing custom would furnish a perfect illustration of the patriarchal form of blessing. — Kitto, s. v.