53. Men Kissing

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This custom of embraces and kisses among men, though strange to us, is common enough in the East. Jacob kissed his father (Gen. 27:2727And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed: (Genesis 27:27)). Esau embraced and kissed Jacob (Gen. 33:44And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept. (Genesis 33:4)). Joseph kissed all his brethren (Gen. 45:1515Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him. (Genesis 45:15)). Jacob kissed and embraced Joseph’s sons (Gen. 48:1010Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them. (Genesis 48:10)). Aaron kissed Moses (Ex. 4:2727And the Lord said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him. (Exodus 4:27)). Moses kissed Jethro (Ex. 18:77And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent. (Exodus 18:7)). David and Jonathan kissed each other (1 Sam. 20:4141And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded. (1 Samuel 20:41)). The father of the prodigal is represented as kissing him when he returned home (Luke 15:2020And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. (Luke 15:20)). The elders at Miletus fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him (Acts 20:3737And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, (Acts 20:37)). Modern travelers make frequent mention of this custom.