In addition to these senses in which the word son is used in Scripture, there are others which show the ex- treme looseness of its application. So when we read of sons of the bride-chamber (Matt, ix, 15 ; ]\Iark ii, 19) it merely indicates the youthful companions of the bridegroom, as in the instance of Samson. And when the holy mother was committed to the care of the apostle John (John xix, 36), the term son is evidently used with great latitude. — Calmet. See Daughter, etc,
2, The blessing of offspring, but especially, and some- times exclusively, of the male sex, is highly valued among all Eastern nations, wliile the absence is regard- ed as one of the severest punishments (Herod, i, 136;
SOX
876
SON OF GOD
Stralio. XV. 733. See Gen. xvi, 2 ; xxix, 31 ; xxx, 1,14; Deut. vii, 14; 1 Sam. 1,(5; ii. 5; iv, 20; 2 Sam. vi, 23; xviii. 18; 2 Kiiii,'s iv, 14; Isa. xlvii. 9; Jer. xx, 15; Hos. ix. 14 ; Kstli. V, 1 1 ; I'sii. cxxvii, 3, 6 ; Eccles. vi, 3. Comp. Dnisiiis, /'/or. /ien-Sini; in Crtt. Sticr. viii, 1887 ; Lane, .l/"</. A/Zi//''- '• -'^^"^' -•"' ! i*oo\e [ Jlrs.], Eiif/lUiw. in K;i!/pt, iii, K'^J; Niobuhr, Descr. de FAr. p. 07; Chardin, I'l/y. vii, 44(>; Husscll, AViid, p. 343). Childbirth is in the East usually, but not always, attended with little difficulty, and accdniplisiicd with little or no assistance (den. XXXV, 17; xxxviii, 28; Exod. i, 19; 1 Sam. iv, 19. 20; sec Hurckhanlt. \i>tes on /iiiloiiinx, i, 9t); Har- mer. Ohn. iv. 425; Montafju [ Lady "SI. W.], Leilerg, ii, 217, 219. 222). As soon as the child was born, and the um- bilical ctird cut, it was washed in a bath, rubbed with salt, and wrapped in swaddlinij-clothes. Arab mothers sometimes rub their children with earth or sand (Ezek. xvi, 4; .lob xxxviii. 9; Luke ii. 7; see IJurckhardt, /oc. riV.). ()n the eiijhth day the rite of circumcision in the case of a boy was performed, and a name .i;iven, some- times, but not usually, the same as that of the father, and generally conveying some special meaning (Gen. xxi, 4 ; xxix, 32, 35 ; xxx, 6, 24 ; Lev. xii, 3 ; Isa. vii, 14; viii. 3; Luke i, 59; ii, 21). Among Mohammedans, circumcision is most commonly delayed till the fifth, sixth, or even the fourteenth year (Spencer. De Legg. Ihbr. V. i;2 ; Sirabo. xvii. .S24 ; llerod. ii, 3(5, 104 ; Burck- harilt. III giip, ; Lane, Mad. Eggpt. i, 87 ; Poole [Mrs.], Eng- lUhtc. ill Egypt, iii. 158; Xiebuhr, Descr. p. 70). See CiR- ci'.Mcisios. After the birth of a male child the moth- er was considered unclean for 7-t-33 days; if the child was a female, for double that period, 14 -t-66 days. At the end of the time she was to make an offering of puriticaiion of a lamb as a burnt-offering, and a pigeon or turtle-dove as a sin-offering; or, in case of poverty, two doves or pigeons, one as a burnt-offering, the other as a sin-offering (Lev. xii, 1-8 ; Luke ii, 22). The pe- riod of nursing appears to have been sometimes pro- longed to three years (Isa. xlix, 15; 2 Mace, vii, 27; comp. Livingstone, Travels, vi, 12(5 ; but Burckhardt leads to a different conclusion). The Mohammedan law enjoins mothers to suckle their children for two full years if possible (Lane, Mod. Egypt, i, 83; Poole [Mrs.], Englishtr. in Egypt, iii, Uil). Nurses were employed in cases of necessity ((ien. xxiv, 59; xxxv, 8; Exod. ii, 9; 2Sam. iv,4; 2 Kings xi, 2; 2 Chron. xxii, 11). The time of weaning was an o(;casion of rejoicing (Gen. xxi, 8). Arab children wear little or no clothing for four or five years. The young of both sexes are usually carried by the mothers on the hip or tlie shoulder, a custom to which allusion is made by Isaiah (xlix, 22; Ixvi, 12; see I^ane, Mod. Egypt, i, 83). Both boys and girls in their early years, boys probably till their fifth year, were under the care of the women (Prov. xxxi, 1 ; see Herod, i, 13G; Strabo, xv, 733; Nicbuhr, Descr. p. 24). Afterwards the boys were taken l)y the father under his charge. Those in wealthy families had tutors or gov- ernors (C"5'CX, irtnCayMyoi), who were sometimes eu- nuchs (Numb, xi, 12; 2 Kings x, 1, 5; Isa. xlix, 23; (JnLiii. 24; Esth. ii, 7; .See .losephus, Ai/p, § 7C ; Lane, Mod. Egypt, i, M3). Daughters usually remained in the women's aparlmeuTa till marriage, or, among ihe poorer clnsMes, were employed in household work (Lev. xxi, 9; Numb, xii, 14; 1 Sam. ix, II; Prov. xxxi, 19, 23; Ec- cluH. vii, 25; xlii, 9; 2 Mace, iii, 19). The example, however, and authority of the moi her were carefully up- held to rhildren of both se.xcs (Deut. xxi, 20; Prov. x, 1; XV, 20; 1 Kings ii. 19).
The lirsl-lHirn male children were regarded as devoted toGcMl, and were to be redeemed by an offering (Exod. xiii, l;i; Numb, xviii, 15; Luke ii^22). Children de- voted by H|M-cial vow, as .Samuel was, appear to have U-en brought up from very early years in a seho<d or place of education near the tabernacle or temple (1 Sam. i, 24, 2M ). See El>t( atiox.