merely as a very precious article of commerce, and was weighed. In the Scriptures it is the symbol of great value, duration, in- corruptibility, strength (Isa. xiii. 12; Lam. iv. 2; 2 Tim. ii. 20; Job xxxvi. 19). It is used metaphorically of Christian character (Apoce. iii. 18). In the Earthly Paradise, Dante describes trees like gold. ‘* A little farther on, seven trees of gold In semblance the long space still intervening
Between ourselves and them did counterfeit.” “* Purgatorio,” xxix., 48-45.
13. Seven. Omit.
The Son of Man. The article is wanting in the Greek. Rev., ““a son of man.” But the reference is none the less to the Lord, and is not equivalent to a man. Compare John v. 27; Apoe. xiv. 14.
A garment down to the foot (zrodipn). Compare Dan. x. 5. From srovs, the foot, and dpa, to fasten : hence that which connects head and foot. The word is properly an adjective, reaching to the foot, with yirwy garment, understood. Xeno- phon speaks of the heavy-armed soldiers of the Persians as bearing wooden shields reaching to their feet (arodjpecs EvAdvats domvow) ‘ Anabasis,” i., 8, 9). The word occurs only here in the New Testament, but several times in the Septuagint; as Ezek. ix. 2, 3, 11, where the A. V. gives merely dénen ; Exod. xxvill. 4, A. V., robe; of the High-Priest’s garment, Levit. xvi. 4; of Aaron’s holy linen coat.
The long robe is the garment of dignity and honor. It may be either royal, or priestly, or both. Compare Isa. vi. 1.
Girt about the paps (epieCwopévoy mpos tois pacrtois). Rev., more correctly, “girt about at (mpos) the breasts.” Com- pare ch. xv. 6. The ordinary girding was at the loins. Ac- cording to Josephus, the Levitical priests were girded about the breast.
A golden girdle. The girdle is an Old Testament symbol of power, righteousness, truth (Isa. xxii. 21; Job xii. 18; Isa.