Eastern Manners and Customs: "The Gift of God"

John 4:10  •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 7
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No cry (in Egypt) is more striking than the short and simple cry of the Water-carrier. “The gift of God,” he says, as he goes along with his water-skin on his shoulder. It is impossible to hear this cry without thinking of the Lord’s words to the woman of Samaria: “If thou knewest the gift of God and who it is that saith to thee, give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water” (John 4:1010Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. (John 4:10)). It is very likely that water, so invaluable, and so often scarce in hot countries, was in those days spoken of; as now, as “the gift of God,” to denote its preciousness; if so, the expression would be very forcible to the woman, and full of meaning. —Miss M. I. Whately.
The remarkable feature (in Gaza) was the numerous mounds of a kind I have not observed elsewhere. Each is round, and of white sand, and each is girt with weeds or plants, and each looks precisely like the bald pate of an old man. —Rob Roy.
It was customary to smear the shields (made of hide) over with oil, to render them smooth, so that the weapons of the enemy might slide off, and also to preserve them from being injured by rain. This was done before engaging in battle. —
Henderson.
In 2 Samuel 1:2121Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. (2 Samuel 1:21), David laments that the shield of Saul had been “vilely cast away... as though it (as the word sup plied should be) had not been anointed with oil “; in which case it would have been worthless.