necessary to suppose that the art of preparing leather, and of forming shoes had, at that early time, arrived at such perfection as is described by Belzoni. In the absence of very definite information concerning the shoes and Sandals of the Hebrews, the statements we have given concerning those of the modern occupants of Western Asia, and of ancient nations with which the Hebrews were at different times acquainted, will furnish the best assistance which can now be obtained for the elucidation of the various passages of the Old and New Testament in which the equipment of the feet is mentioned.-KITTO. Shoes, in Scripture, are put for, "The ground under one's feet;" "The weakest means;' "h"Freedom from danger;" "A contemptible price;"k "To cast the shoe over a country, is to subdue that country;' "1 "To loose the shoe was a sign of reverence;" "of a contract;" ;"。 "of mourning."P "m "of disgrace;” n The Apostle exhorts the Ephesians to have their "feet shod with the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace ;q" that is, to have a prepared and resolved frame of heart, which the gospel teaches and works, and which, like leg or foot harness, would enable them to walk with a steady pace in the ways of religion, notwithstanding the hardships, dangers, and difficulties that attend it. To go barefoot was a sign of mourning and humiliation: David went up by the ascent of Mount Olivet s Deut. xxxiii. 25. k Amos ii. 6; viii. 6. n Deut. xxv. 10. h Ps. lx. 8; cviii, 9. 1 Ps. lx. 8. • Ruth iv. 7. 9 Ephes. vi. 15. i Cant vii. 1. m Exod. iii. 5. P Ezek. xxiv. 17. barefoot. The man that refused to raise up seed unto his brother deceased, had his shoe taken off by his brother's wife in presence of the elders. This was done partly as a sign of his resignation of his right to the woman, and her husband's inheritance, as the plucking off the shoe signifies in Ruth iv. 7; and partly as a note of infamy; to signify that he deserved to be treated like a servant or captive, who, in token of submission and obedience, went barefoot. It is said, "Over Edom will I cast out my shoe. I will take possession of them, I will trample upon them, and use them like slaves."u A pair of shoes, in Amos ii. 6, denotes a small inconsiderable bribe. To bear one's shoes, or untie the latchet of one's shoes, is to perform the meanest services for him."-CRUDEN. W John the Baptist says of himself, that he was not worthy to be Sandal-bearer to Our Saviour. Writers say, that when Hercules became slave to Omphale, she used to give him correction with her Sandal, which was the most degrading and effeminate kind of correction. So Lucian makes Venus say of Cupid, “Already I have given him some correction; and, taking him on my knee, have chastised him with my Sandal." But Mr. Morier, in his Second Journey to Persia, mentions a servant of the Ambassador, who was abundantly. beaten on the back with a stick, and on the mouth with a shoe-heel. The King of Persia examined some of r 2 Sam. xv. 30. See Isa. xx. 2-4; Ezek. xxiv. 17. s Deut. xxv. 9. ▾ See Matt. iii. 11. Mark i. 7. Luke iii. 16. u Ps. lx. 8. w Matt. iii. 11. his officers, who not answering as he desired, he exclaimed, 'Call the Ferashes, and beat these rogues till they die.' The Ferashes came and beat them violently; and when they attempted to say anything in their own defence, they smote them on the mouth with a shoe, the heel of which was shod with iron." He a's in a note, "This use of the shoe is quite characteristic of the eastern manners described in Scripture. The shoe was always considered as vile, and was never allowed to enter sacred or respected places; and to be smitten with it, is to be subjected to the last ignominy. Paul was smitten on the mouth by the order of Ananias."s Whether this were with a shoe, may deserve consideration; such ignominy, if that were the case, might well excite Paul's anger, and excuse his threat.—CALMET. Scripture Ellustration. And he (Goliath) had Greaves of brass upon his legs.y Gird thyself, and bind on thy Sandals.-Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. But be shod with Sandals.a Prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only.b And thus shall ye eat it (the lamb); with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord's passover. Keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee.d And he (Rehoboam) did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord.e * Acts xxiii. 2. a Mark vi. 9. y 1 Sam. xvii. 6. * Acts xii. 8. c Exod. xii. 11. d 1 Chron. xxix. 18. e 2 Chron. xii. 14. Nevertheless there are good things found in thee (Jehoshaphat), in that thou. . . . hast prepared thine heart to seek God. For as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers. So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God,h So the service of the house of the Lord was set in order. And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, "The good Lord pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary."k For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments. To make ready a people prepared for the Lord.-The day-spring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.TM For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle ?" Having your feet shod with the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace.o Thy shoes shall be iron and brass ; And as thy days, so shall thy strength be.P And the wicked shall be silent in darkness; If thou prepare thine heart, And stretch out thine hands toward him; The Preparations of the heart in man, And the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord. How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O Prince's daughter!" Prepare ye the way of the Lord, Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, And every mountain and hill shall be made low; And the crooked shall be made straight, And the rough places plain : And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; That bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; That saith unto Zion, "Thy God reigneth !"w Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, Take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people.x |