nies of strangers, as Alexandrians, the affairs of the people, censure the Cyrenians, and others, had theirs, for scandalous, and provide for the poor. public prayer, and for reading the To procure a fund for the poor, they scriptures. The scattered Jews too keep two chests at the door of the had theirs about Babylon, and almost house, one for the sake of their own every where in the eastern part of poor, and the other to collect for the Roman empire; and in the syna- strangers; and into these people put gogues we find our Saviour and his what they please, as they go in or apostles often teaching the multi- out. On extraordinary occasions, tudes, till they were shut out. On the a collector asks each what he insynagogue-days the people assembled tends to give, and the money is gathrice, at the time of the morning thered at their houses when the Saband evening sacrifice, and in the bath is over. dusk of the evening; and thither devout persons often retired for their secret prayers: and the Pharisees stood, that their neighbours might hear them the better, Matthew vi. 5.

SYRACUSE, that draws violently, was a famous city on the southeast of Sicily, about 22 miles in circumference, which had a fine prospect both by sea and land, and was once the largest and richest city of the Greeks. It was built about A. M. 3269, and in a manner consisted of four cities united in one. For about 250 years, it was of little note in the world; but in the next 280, it cut a surprising figure in war, in sea-trade, and in wealth, under its kings Ge

Wherever there are ten Batelnim, i. e. according to some, ten free-men, who can attend the service of the synagogue, the Jews erect one. In each they have an ark, or chest of the size of the Mosaic one, for holding the five books of Moses, and which is placed in that part of the synagogue that looks towards the lon, Dionysius the elder and younger, place of the ancient temple. On that Dion, Agathocles, and Hiero. Here side are the chief seats for the elders, the famed mathematician, Archiwho sit with their backs to the ark medes, with astonishing inventions, the rest of the men sit on other seats, defended the place from the Romans; with their faces to the ark. The wo- but about A. M. 3800, it was taken, men sit by themselves in a gallery, and he was slain. The Saracens so inclosed with lattice-work, that seized on it A. D. 675, but in 1090, they hear and see, but are not seen it was taken from them by Roger by the men. Ministers were the sta- duke of Apulia. Here Paul tarried ted readers and singers in the syna- three days as he went prisoner to gogues; but the rulers might desire Rome; and here Christianity was any man present to read or speak. early planted, and still, at least in Hence our Saviour read and expound- name, continues; but the city has ed at Nazareth, Luke iv. 16. and lost its ancient splendour, Acts Paul and Barnabas exhorted at An-xxviii. 12.

tioch of Pisidia, Acts xiii. The SYRIA, sublime, or the slander of Sheliac-zibbor, or angel of the con- them, called in Hebrew Aram. The gregation, read the liturgy. The Syrians,or Arameans,descended from Chazan either read, or looked over Aram, possessed Mesopotamia, Chalsuch as read, that he might correct dea, and part of Armenia,and of them their mistakes; but his chief business Abraham and his friends were a part. was to expound the lesson of the day, But Syria, properly so called, had the or appoint another to do it for him; Mediterranean Sea on the west and or to preach a sermon on some pro- north, Cilicia on the east, and Pheper subject. These two, with the nicia, Canaan, and part of Arabia the other rulers of the synagogue, com- Desert, on the south. Its excellent posed a council, whose president was soil and agreeable rivers, the Euphracalled the chief ruler. They order tes, Orontes, Cassimire, Adonis, Bar

rady, &c. rendered it a most delight-mascus. Soon after, the European ful country. It was anciently divided croisaders took most of it, and after into a variety of cantons, as Aram-na- a terrible struggle, were, about 100 haraim, Aram-zobah, Aram-maachah, years after, driven out of it by SaAram-rehob, and Aram of Damascus, ladan sultan of Egypt, and his suc-Zobah, Damascus, Hamath, Geshur,cessors. In the beginning of the &c. were its most noted states about 16th century, it was seized by the the time of DAVID, who conquered it, Ottoman Turks, who retain it to 2 Sam. viii. and x. About 60 years af- this day. We know no place in it ter, Rezin, who had fled from HADA at present of note, except Aleppo DEZER his master, erected a kingdom and Damascus. Its principal rariat Damascus. He, and his successors, ties are the ruins of noted buildings, Benhadad and Hazael, did much mis- especially those of Tadmor and chief to the Hebrews, 1 Kings xv. Baalbek. A Christian church was and xx. and xxii. 2 Kings vi. viii. and early planted here, and was famous x. but Joash and Jeroboam, kings of at Antioch and other places of the Israel, sufficiently resented those in-country; and there is still a shadow juries, and brought the Syrian king-of Christianity, with a few professors dom to the point of ruin, 2 Kings xiii. of it, Acts xv. 23, 41. Amos i. 3— xiv. They recovered themselves, 5. and iii. 12. Isa. vii. 4. and viii. and under Rezin, their last king, they 4. and ix. 11, 12. and xvii. 1—3. made a considerable figure, and ter-Jer. xlix. 23-27. Zech. ix. 1, 2. ribly harassed Ahaz and his subjects, Isa. xi. 11. and even took Elath on the Red Sea. SYRO-PHOENICIA, red, purple, But Tiglath-pileser, instigated by drawn to. This is Phoenicia properly Ahaz, ravaged their country, demo- so called, of which Sidon or Zidon lished their cities, and carried the in- was the capital; and which having habitants to Media. During the de- by conquest been united to the kingcline of the Assyrian empire, the Sy-dom of Syria joined its old name of rians returned, and recovered them- Phoenicia to that of Syria, just as selves not a little; but Nebuchad- Palestine was called Palestine of nezzar again reduced them, 2 Kings Syria, because it was considered as xvi. Syria next fell under the Per- making a part of Syria. In the gossians. After Alexander's death, it be-pel, the Canaanitish woman is called came one of the four GREEK king-a Syro-Phoenician by Mark, vii. 26. doms, formed of his empire. After it because she was of Phoenicia, which had subsisted about 257 years in this was then looked upon as making a form, it was reduced to a Roman pro- part of Syria, and was in the jurisvince, about A. M. 3939. About diction of the governor of that pro696 years after, the Saracens seized vince. Matthew, xv. 22. calls her a on it. In the end of the 11th cen- Canaanitish woman, because this tury, the Seljukian Turks seized on country was really peopled by the it, and erected one of their four sul- Canaanites, Sidon being the eldest tanies at Aleppo, and another at Da-son of Canaan, Gen. x. 15.

AANATH-SHILOH, dissolv-, moveable lodging, formed of cloth,

about ten miles eastward of Shechem, and whereabouts was the village Thenath as late as A. D. 400. TABERNACLE, TENT, (1.) A

or

a son of Lamech the Cainite, was the inventor of such tents, that he might remove where he pleased, to feed his cattle, Gen. iv. 20. In such

lodgings did Noah, Abraham, and silver, and set in large sockets of other patriarchs, and the Rechab- brass. The only entrance to this ites dwell and to this day, the wild court was from the east, by a hangArabs, Tartars, and others, live in a ing vail of blue, purple, and scarlet, kind of tents. (2.) A house or dwell- and fine twined linen of needle-work, ing, 2 Chron. xxv. 22. Job xi. 14. The twenty cubits in length, and sustents of Shem, are either the countries pended on four pillars. Here, under or dwellings of his descendants, Gen. the open sky, stood the altar of ix. 27. Tents of wickedness, are places burnt-offering and brazen laver; where wicked men live, Psal. Ixxxiv. and hither every clean Hebrew, or 10. (3.) The dwellers in tents, Psa. proselyte of the covenant, might lxxxiii. 6. and the tents of Judah, are come with his offerings. At the west such Jews as dwell in unfortified cities, end of this court stood the tabernaZech. xii. 7. The church's tent was cle, properly so called, which was enlarged, and her curtains stretched a close tent, in the form of our out, her cords lengthened, and her houses. It was 30 cubits, or about stakes strengthened, when the Gentiles 18 yards 8 inches long, and 6 yards were converted to Christ, and her gos-and almost 3 inches broad, and as pel-state established, Isa. liv. 2. (4.) much in height. It was reared with That tent erected for the worship of 48 boards of Shittim-wood, each a God, called the tabernacle of testimo- cubit and a half broad, overlaid with ny, because it testified God's relation gold, and set upright in 96 large to, and presence with, the Hebrews, sockets of silver, and all supported and in it were the laws of God de-behind with five cross bars of Shitposited, Numb. ix. 15. or the cover-tim-wood overlaid with gold, and ing of it, Exod. xl. 19. God's taber- fastened to the boards by rings of nacle is with men on earth, when they gold. On this frame was suspended eminently enjoy his favour, Rev. xxi. a four-fold covering; the inmost con3. The church and her true mem- sisted of ten curtains of fine twined bers, are like the tents of Kedar; their lined, with blue, purple, and scarlet, outward appearance is mean and de-embroidered with figures of cheruspicable, and their condition in this bim of cunning work, each curtain world very unsettled, Song i. 5. 28 cubits long, and 4 cubits broad, Our bodies are a tabernacle, easily and all coupled together by loops of demolished, and removed to and fro; blue, and taches of gold. Next there and yet, in saints, is the dwelling of was a covering of 11 curtains of the Holy Ghost, 2 Cor. v. 1. and goats' hair, coupled together with 1 Cor. vi. 19. taches of brass. It had next a coAt Sinai, Moses set up a tent, and vering of rams' skins died red; and, called it the tabernacle of the congre- in fine, a 4th of strong leather, or gation, because thither the Hebrews badgers' skin. The whole east end, repaired to worship God, after their just before which the brazen altar idolatry in worshipping the golden and laver stood, was allotted for an calf, Exod. xxxiii. 7-10. Soon af entrance. It was hung over with a ter, a more noted TABERNACLE was vail of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine framed by Bazaleel and Aholiab. twined linen, curiously embroidered, Its form was in this manner: first and suspended by golden hooks, on there was a court of 100 cubits, or five pillars of Shittim-wood overlaid 61 yards long, and 50 cubits broad, with gold, and set in large sockets inclosed and hung round to the height of brass. The whole of the gold of 5 cubits, or 9 feet and a little more, about the tabernacle amounted to with curtains of fine twined linen, about 141,719. the silver to 37721. suspended by silver hooks, on 56 sterling. This tabernacle or sancpillars of brass, or of Shittim-wood, tuary was divided into two apartoverlaid with brass, and filleted with ments. The first apartment was 20

After

cubits long, and was called the holy cover, and it was death for the Le place, and into it only the priests vites to see them, Numb. iv. durst enter or look. At its inner end it had been carried about with the stood the golden candlestick, and the Hebrew camp for 46 years, it was altar of incense, and table of show-fixed at Shiloh; and on a particular bread; and here the silver trumpets, occasion, before Joshua's death, seems and standards of weight and mea- to have been brought to Shechem, sure, seem to have been kept. Be- Josh. xviii. and xxxiv. 26. Some yond this there was another apart-time after the death of Eli, the tament of 10 cubits square, which was bernacle was fixed for a while at separated by a vail of blue, purple, Nob: and thence it was carried to and scarlet, and fine twined linen Gibeon. At last, the ark, and other embroidered with cherubim of cun- principal parts thereof, were placed ning work, and suspended by golden in Solomon's temple, and the rest taches on four pillars of Shittim-disregarded, 1 Sam. xxi. 2 Chron. wood overlaid with gold, and set in i. 13. and v. 4, 5.

sockets of silver. Here, amidst gross Did this tabernacle represent our darkness, were deposited the ark of Redeemer, particularly in his manthe covenant, overshadowed by the hood? It was devised of God, was cherubim, between which hovered reared up with infinite skill, and conthe Shechinah or symbolic cloud of secrated by the anointing of the dithe divine presence: and here were vine Spirit, and his own bloody suf the golden pot of manna, Aaron's fering. In it dwells the fulness of budding rod, and a copy of the law Godhead; and after much toil and of Moses: into this apartment, only suffering on earth, it, dropping the high priest entered one day of the every infirmity, was solemnly introyear. The tabernacle being reared duced to the heavenly rest. He is on the first day of the second year of the mean of all our fellowship with the Hebrews' departure from Egypt, God, and the treasury of all that was, with all its utensils, conse- atonement, purification, light, food, crated by the sprinkling of blood, and acceptance, necessary for our and anointing of oil: and every year souls, Heb. ix. 21. and viii. 2. Did it was atoned for by the sprinkling of it not represent the gospel church, blood on the day of expiation. Af ter its erection, the twelve Hebrew princes solemnized the dedication of it, by presents and sacrifices, each in his day. The whole offering was 20 charges and 12 bowls of silver, and 12 spoons of gold, amounting in all to 2520 shekels in weight, or our faith and practice; and here are 45981. sterling in value, together the unsearchable riches and gospel of with a large quantity of incense, and Christ. After a little more exposure 36 bullocks, 72 rams, as many lambs, to storms, and various removals from and as many kids, Exod. xxv. to place to place, she, in all her true xxvii. and xxxvi-xxxviii. and xl. members and glory, will enter into Numb. vii. In the wilderness, the the temple above. tabernacle stood in the midst of the TABITHA, is a Syriac word, sig Hebrew camp: the priests alone nifying clear sighted: DORCAS, a feunreared it; but the Levites bare it male roe, a Christian widow at and its furniture to their waggons, Joppa, who much abounded in almsor on their shoulders. The ark, the deeds, and other good works, dying altar of incense, table of show-bread, of some ailment, she was washed, golden candlestick, nay, even the and laid on a table in order to be brazen altar, were carried under a buried. Peter was sent for, and the

the tabernacle of our mystical David? By the wisdom of God, she was planned: by his order she was erected by the inspired ministers of Christ. In her the glory of God resides: and here he is, worshipped. Here is the word of God, the true standard of

attending widows, who were all in drunkenness, Isa. xxi. 5. The eight tears, showed him the clothes which tables of hewn stone in Ezekiel's vishe had made for them, and reported sionary temple, may denote the freto him her other generous deeds. Pe-quently administered supper of the ter putting out the people, and pray- Lord,firmly established in the church, ing over her, bid her arise. She im- and accessible to Christians in every mediately opened her eyes, and, he corner, Ezek. xl. 41, 42. The table helping her a little, she stood up. of show-bread was of Shittim-wood He then called in the Christian neigh- overlaid with gold, two cubits in bours, and presented her to them, length, one in breadth, and one and alive and well, Acts ix. 36-42. a half in height. At the top, it was TABLE, (1.) A broad piece of surrounded with a double cornice, stone, brass, or the like, Hab. ii. 2. which preserved the loaves from fallLuke i. 63. Such the ancients used ing off. It was portable by staves to write upon, as they had no paper; of Shittim-wood overlaid with gold. and they wished what they wrote to It was consecrated by sprinkling of continue recorded to many genera-blood, and anointing with oil. It tions. Twice God wrote his law on stood on the north-west corner of tables of stone. The Romaus wrote the holy place, just before the inner their ancient laws on 12 tables of vail, and on it were set the 12 loaves brass. In allusion to this, man's of show-bread. Solomon made 10 taheart is represented as a writing-table, bles of show-bread. Did this table and a fleshly table, ready to receive represent Jesus's person, as in his inand be affected with divine truths, tercession, presenting all his chosen Prov. iii. 3. and vii. 3. 2 Cor. iii. 3. tribes before God; or the gospel, as (2.) A frame or seat used for meals, presenting Christ and his fulness for and other purposes, 1 Sam. xx. 29. our spiritual provision? Exod. xxv. It seems the Hebrews used the sacred 23-30. and xxx. 27. 2 Chron. iv. perfume of incense and oil at their 8, 19. common tables, Ezek. xxiii. 41. TABLET, an ornament, or, as The altar of burnt-offering is called some think, a box for perfume to God's table, because the sacrifices revive the faint, Exod. xxxv. 22. thereon offered were acceptable to TABOR, choice, purity, bruising, him, and were food to the hungry, contrition, (1.) A mountain somewhat Mal. i. 7, 12. The ordinances of the of the form of a sugar-loaf, near Kachurch are likened to a table, as they desh in Galilee, where the territories exhibit to us the fulness of God for of Issachar and Naphtali nearly met the nourishment of our souls, Psalm together, Josh. xix. 12, 22. It stood Ixix. 22. Luke xxii. 30. (3.) The almost straight west of Hermon, but provision set upon a table to be eaten on the other side of Jordan, and in or drunk, nay, all kinds of provision the great plain of Jezreel. Josephus spiritual and temporal; and God fur- says it is about four miles high, and nishes one's table, when he gives him on the top is a beautiful plain about prosperity in the world, or the bread three miles and a half in circumfer of life for his soul, Psalm xxiii. 5. ence, and inclosed with trees, except Men cannot be partakers of the towards the south; but according to table of the Lord, and of the table Maundrel, Thevenot, and Pocock, of devils; cannot consistently eat one may ride to the top, and is little of the things sacrificed to idols as more than one mile and a half of such, and partake of the Lord's sup-ascent; and on the top is but half a per, 1 Cor. x. 21. The preparing a mile long, and a quarter broad: whetable when Babylon was taken, im-ther an earthquake may have partly ports, either the Medes and Persians sunk it, and altered its form since the providing victuals for their army, or time of Josephus, I know not. The the Chaldeans' luxurious feasting and top, from whence is one of the most VOL. II. 3 8