628 
-second volume of Mr. Burner's “ Ori- 
ental Customs, containing an Illustration 
of the sacred Scriptures, by an explana- 
‘tory Application of the Customs and Man- 
ners of the Eastern Nations, and especi- 
ally of the Jews, therein alluded to. 
Collected from the most celebrated Tra- 
vellers, and the most eminent Critics.” Vhe 
first volume of this useful work made its 
appearance in 1802, and the second is 
not entitled to a smaller share of praise. 
As specimens we have selected three or 
four of the most interesting articles. 
No. 675, Exod. xii. 34.—‘* And the 
people took their deugh before it was 
leavened, their kneading-troughs being 
bound up in their clothes upon their 
shoulders.” The vessels which the Arabs 
make use of for kneading the unleavened 
cakes which they prepare, are only small 
wooden bowls. (Shaw’s Travels, p. 231.) 
In these they afterwards serve up their 
provisions when cooked. It is not cer- 
tam that these wooden bowls were the 
kneading-troughs of the Israelites; but 
it is incontestable that they must have 
been comparatively small and light, to be 
so easily carried away. 
No. 1153. Zephan. ii. 6.—“ And the 
-sea-coast shall be dwellings and cottages 
for shepherds, and folds for flocks.” 
“Archbishop Newcome has remarked, 
that many manuscripts and three editions 
have a single letter in one of these words 
more than appears in the common edi- 
tions; which, instead of cherith, gives us 
a word which signifies cuves; and he 
thus renders the words: and the sea- 
coast shall be sheep-cotes ; caves for shep- 
‘herds, and folds for flocks. This traus- 
dation will appear perfectly correct, if it 
-be considered that the mountains bor- 
dering on the Syrian cvuast, are remark- 
able tor the number of caves in them. 
In the history of the Crusades, it is parti- 
cularly mentioned that a number of per- 
sons retired with their wives and chil- 
dren, their flocks and herds, into subter- 
raneous caves, to find shelter from the 
enemy. (Gesta Dei per Francos, p. 781.) 
Harmer, vol. iti. p. 60. 
No. 1154. Zephan.. ii. 7.—“ In the 
heuses of Ashkelon shall ihey lie down in 
the evening.” An extract from Dr. 
‘Chandler’s Travels, (paze 115,)  fur- 
nishes a very lively comment on these 
words. “Our horses were disposed 
among the walls and rubbish of Ephesus, 
with their saddles on, and a mat was 
Spread for us on the ground. We sat 
here in the cpen air while supper was 
“preparing, when suddenly fires began to 
4 
Retrospect of Domestic Literature~Theology, Morals, Ke. 
blaze up among the bushes, and we saw 
the villagers collected’ about them ir 
sagage groups, or passing to and fro with 
lighted brands for torches. The flames, 
with the stare and the pale moon, afforded 
us a dim prospect of ruin and desolation, 
A shrill owl, called Cucuvaia from its 
note, with a night-hawk fitted near us; 
and a jackall cried mournfully, as if for- 
saken by his companions on the mouns 
tain.” . 
No. 1155. Zephan. ui. 14.—“ Flocks* 
shall he down in the midst of her, all the 
beasts of the nations ; both the cormorant 
and the bitiern shall lodge in the upper 
lintels thereof.’ Knobs or chapiters, 
marg. Chardin, (tom. iii. p. 108.) de- 
scribing the magnificent pillars that he 
found at Persepolis, tells us that the 
storks (birds respected by the Persians,) 
‘make their nests on the top of these 
columns with great boldness, and are it 
no danger of being dispossessed.” 
In the elucidation of scriptural pas- 
sages, Mr. Burder has not only exa- 
mined the observations and researches of 
modern travellers, but cousulted the 
ablest commentators on the sacred wri- 
tings, and obtained sonie illustrations 
even from the Greek and Roman clas- 
sics. It is perhaps enough to say that 
the mode of illustration in this work is 
one of the most rational to which we can 
possibly have recourse. 
Mr. Nisprri’s “ Attempt to display 
the original Evidences of Christianity in 
their genuine Simplicity,’ will be found 
both interesting and instructive. It is 
not inferior to any of his former publi- 
cations. He is of opinion that St. Paul’s 
Man of Sin was intended to apply to the 
Jews, and not to the church of Rome. 
“ The Rise, Fall, and future Restoration. 
of the Jews, accompanied by Six Ser= 
mons, addressed to the Seed of Abra- 
ham, by several Evangelical Ministers, 
aud an elaborate Discourse by Dr. 
Hunter, on the Fullness of the Gen- 
tiles,” forms a repository of information 
relating to the Jews, well worthy of the 
reader’s notice. The first compilation it 
contains, which occupies seventy-two out 
of two hundred and fifty-eight pages, is 
divided igsés six chapters: The first 
me. cral history of the people: 
ding a particular account 
of the fe birth of Jesus Christ; 
The tl 9 interesting narrative of 
the revolutions they 
gland: The tourth, 
detailing a variety of facts and anec- 
dotes relative to their present condition 
In 
