Knife is the representative in the Auth, Version of several Ileb. terms : !3"ltl (che'rch, from its laying waste), a sharp instrument, e. g. for circumcising (Josh, v, 2, 3) ; a razor (Ezek. v, 1) ; a graving-tool or cliisel (Exod. xx, 25) ; an a.re (Ezek. xxvi, 9) ; poet, of the curved fusks of the hippopotamus (Job xl, 19) ; elsewhere usually a "sword." r?2X"5 {maake'leth, so called from its use in enthuf), a large knife for slaughtering and cutting up food ((ien. xxii, 6, 10; Judg. xix, 29;"Prov. xxx, 14). ■j^SilJ {snkkin', so called from sejmraiing parts to the view), a knife for any purpose, perhaps a table-knife (Prov. xxiii, 2). C^5n^ (inachalaph', so called from f/lidiiiff through the flesh), a hitfcher's knife for slaugh- tering the victims in sacrifice (Ezra i, 9). See Sword.
Ancient Etruscan Sacrificial Knife.
"The jirobable form of the knives of the Hebrews wiU be best gathered from a comparison of those of other ancient nations, both Eastern and Western, which have come down to us. No. 1 represents the Roman cultcr, used in sacrificing, which may be compared with No. 2, an Egyptian sacrificial knife. Nos. 3, 4, and 5 arc also Egyjitian knives, of which the most remarka- ble, No. 3, is from the Louvre collection; the others are from the MonnmcnH Reali of KosclUni. Nos. G-9 are liomau, from Barihelemy. In No. 7 we have probably the form of the jiruning-hook of the Jews (m^T'2, Isa. xviii, 5), though some rather assimilate this to the sickle ('^;). It was probably with some such instru- ment as No. 9 that the priests of J'aal cut thepiselves" (Kittol. See Akmor. The knife used by the fisher- man fur splitting his fish ((j. v.) was of a circular form, wit!) a handle, as likewise that used by the currier for cutting leather ((\. v.), only larger and heavier. In the
Ancient Egyptian semicircular Knives.
British Museum various specimens of ancient Egj^itian knives may be seen. There are some small knives, the blades of bronze, the handles composed of agate or hem- atite. There is likewise a species of bronze knife with lunated blade ; also the blade of a knife composed of steatite, inscribed on one side with hieroglyphics. There is also an iron knife of a late period and peculiar con- struction : it consists of a broad cutting-blade, moving on a pivot at the end, and working in a groove by means of a handle. The following summary comparison of the Biblical instruments of cutlery with those used at vari- ous times in the East, as to materials and application, is chiefly from Smitli's Dictionary of the Bible, s. v.
Various Forms of ancient Knives.
1. The knives of the Egyptians, and of other nations in early times, were probably only of hard stone, and the use of the fiint or stone knife was sometimes re- tained for sacred purposes after the introduction of iron and steel (Pliny, J/ist; Xat. xxxv, 12, § 1G5). Herodo- tus (ii, 80) mentions knives both of iron and of stone in different stages of the same process of embalming (see Wilkinson, A nc. Eyypt. ii, 1 G3). The same may perhaps be said, to some extent, of the Hebrews (compare Exod. iv, 25).
KNIGHT
121
KNIGHTHOOD
AiicieutEgyptiau Flint Ki;ivL-- Jr.uii un- Berlin Museum).
No. 1 for general purpotes; No. ■.: probably lor incisions
in embalming.
2. Ill their meals the Jews, like other Orientals, made little use of knives, but they were required for slaughter- ing animals either for food or sacritice, as well as for cut- ting up the carcase (Lev. vli, oo, 3-i ; viii, 15, 20, 25 ; ix, 13; Numb.xviii, 18; lSam.ix,24; Ezek.xxiv,4; Ezra i, 9 ; jNIatt. xxvi, 23 ; Russell, .1 liqjpo, i, 172 ; Wilkinson, i, 1G9 ; Mishna, TamV/, iv, 3 ). See Eating.
Ancient Egyptian Slaughteriug-kuivcs. No. 1 is cutting up an il)ek. No. 2 is sharpening a knife on a steel at- tached to his apron. Over them is the hieroglyph for the act.
Asiatics usually carry about with tliem a knife or dagger, often with a highly-ornamented handle, which may be used when required for eating purposes (Judg. iii, 21 ; Layard, Mn. ii, 342, 200 ; Wilkinson, i, 358, 300 ; Chardin, Vo'jugc. iv, 18 ; Nicbuhr, Voyarie. i, 340, pi. 71). See Girdle.
Ancient Assyrian Knive^ (from the British ^Museum). Two of them have a hook at the handle, as if for sus- pending in the girdle. For another form used by sol- diers, see Bucket.
3. Smaller knives were in use for paring fruit (Jo- sephus, Ant. xvii, 7; War. i, 33, 7) and for sharpening pens (Jer. xxxvi, 23). See Penknife.
4. The razor was often used for Nazaritish purposes, for which a special chamber was reserved in the Temple (Numb, vi, 5, 9, 19 ; Ezek. v, 1 ; Isa. vii, 20 ; Jer. xxxvi, 23 ; Acts xviii, 18 ; xxi, 24; Mishna, Midd. ii, 5). See ILvzou.
5. The pruning-hooks of Isa. xviii, 5 were probably curved knives. See Pruning-iiook.
6. Tlie lancets of the priests of Baal were doubtless pointed knives (1 Kings xviii, 28). See Lancet.
Knight, James (1), D.D., an English divine, who floiirished in the early part of the 18th century, was vi-
car of St. Sepulchre's, London. Nothing further is known to us of his personal history. He wrote in Defence of the Doctrine of the Trinity two treatises (1714-15), which are highly commended by Dr. Waterland (INIoyer's Lec- tures), knight also pnlilished five separate Sermons (1719-36), and eight sermons delivered at lady Meyer's Lecture in 1720-21 (1721,8vo).— AllibonCjZ'ic^o/iw^r- ^wA and American Authors, vol. ii, s. v.