A modern commentator remarks upon this verse, " He had forbidden a carved image, and they may not set up even a pillar: they must resist all approaches to idolatry." It is curious that this pillar-worship still lingers in Egypt. Dr. Van Dyck thus describes it:- " In a corner of the small open space near the Hotel d' Orient at Cairo, a most interesting ceremony occurs once a year. A number of Moslems set up a large wooden pole; around it, for three days, a large crowd of men is to be seen, from about nine in the morning till sun-down, gathered in aisles, all facing towards the pole, and crying out incessantly ' Ya Allah,' which means O God.' They bow and wave their arms down, upwards and inwards, towards the pole. The time for beginning these incessant cries is about half-way between sunrise and mid-day... that is, the hour for the morning sacrifice... and precisely at sunset the cries stop, to be again taken up the second and third days." Thus the prophets of Baal " called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us."
Dr. Van Dyck adds:-"It is indeed wonderful to see how this high place,' or more properly speaking, this `pole' ceremony still holds its own through many ages. The Koran, and the doctrine of a single unique God, has not been able to root out this custom of worshipping round a pole, or upright beam, a remnant of the old worship of Astarte, or Ashtoreth, and what was most emphatically forbidden in the Mosaic books, is to-day practiced upon the banks of the Nile."
The word "pillar," as given in the margin, occurs also in the following places, amongst others: Ex. 23:4; 24:4; 34:134If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. (Exodus 23:4)
4And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. (Exodus 24:4)
13But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: (Exodus 34:13); Lev. 26:11Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 26:1): Deut. 7:5; 12:35But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire. (Deuteronomy 7:5)
3And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. (Deuteronomy 12:3); 1 Kings 14:2323For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree. (1 Kings 14:23); 2 Kings 3:2; 17:102And he wrought evil in the sight of the Lord; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made. (2 Kings 3:2)
10And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree: (2 Kings 17:10); Jer. 43:1313He shall break also the images of Beth-shemesh, that is in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the gods of the Egyptians shall he burn with fire. (Jeremiah 43:13).
R. A. W.
"We can testify that during the siroccos the clothes are not only warm but hot. This sensation is only experienced at such a time; and on such a day too, we understand the other effects mentioned by the prophet-bringing down the noise and quieting the earth. There is no living thing abroad to make a noise. The birds hide in thickest shades; the fowls pant under the walls with open mouths and drooping wings; the flocks and herds take shelter in caves and under great rocks; the laborers, retire from the field, and close the windows and doors of their houses; and travelers hasten to take shelter in the first cool place they can find. No one has energy enough to make a noise, and the very air is too weak and languid to stir the pendant leaves even of the tall poplars. Such a south wind with the heat of a cloud does indeed bring down the noise and quiet the earth."-Dr. Thomson in "The Land and the Book."
Courtesy of BibleTruthPublishers.com. Most likely this text has not been proofread. Any suggestions for spelling or punctuation corrections would be warmly received. Please email them to: BTPmail@bibletruthpublishers.com.