182 JAMES NEIL, M.A., 
my, the measuring-line stands for that which it measures out. 
In this bold representation the inhabitants of earth are com- 
pared to a sadeh, or open stretch of common arable ground, 
consisting of a number of hhalakeem, or “ fields” each divided 
out into mawaress, or “strips,” of which Israel, His chosen, 
peculiar, elect nation is the allotted maress “that falls to 
Jehovah!” 
A precisely similar figure is used in describing Israel's 
assigned portion in the land of Canaan— 
“ Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, 
The measuring-line (30) of your inheritance,”* 
that is, 
“ Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, 
The allotted-maress [or strip] of your inheritance.” 
We may also conclude that in the terrible picture of judg- 
ment denounced against Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, on 
account of his falsely accusing the prophet Amos, the 
words, 
“ Thy ground shall be divided by the measuring-line (bana),"+ 
are a figurative expression for “ others shall farm thy ground,” 
that is, “take thy property from thee.” 
So too in the “doleful lamentation” in the prophet Micah 
against the cruel and extortionate oppressors in the land of 
Israel, we have clearly a similar reference. These, of whom 
it is said, 
“ They covet fieids and take them by violence,” 
are represented as being forced to cry, 
“ We are utterly spoiled ; 
He has changed the field (P91, Aiailek) of my people: 
How he has eed from me ! 
Surely, turning away, he has divided our sadehs (12°, sadainw) [to 
others]. 
Therefore thou shalt not have one casting a measuring-line (ban)i in 
a lot 
In the congregation of Jehovah.” 
That is, “thou shalt have none left to thee alive who have 
not been carried into captivity or sold into slavery, and thus 
* | Chronicles xvi. 18; Psalm ev, 11, 
+ Amos vii. 17. 
{ Micah ii. 4, 5. 
