Jews? Where and under what name is it mentioned ? What material for writing is mentioned by Paul? In what Epistle? What kind of pens were used in writing upon papyrus, parchment, &c. ? Where are these mentioned? What other method of writing is described? How do you explain the person's drinking the curses written?

8. 9. What is said of the manner in which ancient books were written? How were these long sheets disposed of? On what occasion did the Saviour use a book of this kind? What is the literal meaning of the words rendered opened and closed in this account? What is meant by "the house of rolls" in Ezra vi. 1, 2? Why was it so called? What is the substance of Ezek. ii. 10? Why is the circumstance of the roll being written on both sides mentioned? Whence is derived our word volume? What is its literal meaning? What is said of scriptural figures drawn from the roll form of ancient books? What is the example from Isaiah? From Revelations ?

CHAPTER XX.

Modes of Reckoning and Dividing Time.

1. HOURS. The Jews divided the time between the rising and setting of the sun, into 12 equal parts, which were called hours. John xi. 9. These hours, at different seasons of the year, were of course of different lengths, being in winter considerably shorter than in summer. They were numbered from the rising of the sun, and not, as with us, from the middle of the day. Hence the hour of noon, which we call the twelfth hour, or twelve of the clock, was called by the Jews the sixth hour. So in Matt. xx. 3, 5, 6, 9; the third hour denotes nine o'clock in the morning of our time; the sixth hour denotes twelve; the ninth, three in the afternoon; and the eleventh, five in the afternoon. This correspondence is not, however, exact at all seasons of the year, owing to the different length of the days, and of course of the hours, the number being the same both in long and short days. The most ready method of harmonizing the Jewish hours with our own, is to add six to the hour given, which will show the hour by our own time. For example, if the hour in Scripture is the third, add six, and we have nine o'clock, if it be the ninth hour, add six, and we have three o'clock in and so in all other cases.

the afternoon,

2. The Jews appear to have had three stated hours of prayer, which are severally named in the book of Acts. The third hour (ii. 15); the sixth hour (x. 9); and the ninth hour (iii. 1). David seems to allude to this custom in Psalm lv. 17. The Jews scarcely ever ate, or drank, before the hour of prayer in the morning; and hence the propriety and force of Peter's defence on the day of Pentecost. Acts ii. 15. The word hour is frequently employed in Scripture to denote a particular occasion, or an indefinite period, of longer or shorter duration, as, "His hour was come" (John xiii. 1); "The hour cometh" (John iv. 21, 23); "This is your hour, and the power of darkness." Luke xxii. 53.

3. DAYS. The Jews reckoned their days from evening to morning, according to the order set forth in the first chapter of Genesis, in the account of the creation, "The evening and the morning were the first day." Hence the Sabbath began on the evening of Friday, or at the setting of the sun; and ended on the evening of Saturday at the same hour. This illustrates Mark i. 32. "And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased," &c. They thought it not lawful to heal on the Sabbath, and therefore, waited until even, or sunset, at which time the Sabbath ended. There were two evenings, or the evening consisted of two parts, the first, beginning just after the sixth hour, or twelve o'clock; and the second, at the going down of the sun. The

lamb of the passover, and of the daily evening sacrifice, was required to be killed between these evenings. Exod. xii. 6; xxix. 38, 39,-"in the evening," and "at even," being literally "between the evenings." In earlier times the Jews divided the night into three watches, called the first, the middle, and the morning watch, varying in length, according to the season of the year. The anxious looking of the watchman for morning is alluded to in Psalm cxxx. 6. In the time of the Romans, the night was divided into four watches, of three hours each. Mark xiii. 35. The first, or evening, was from six to nine; the second, or midnight, from nine to twelve; the third, or cockcrowing, from twelve to three; and the fourth, or morning, from three to six.

4. The word day, is also employed to denote any indefinite period of time, as will appear from the following. “He seeth that his day is coming.” Psalm xxxvii. 13. This is spoken of the wicked, and points to the time of his punishment and overthrow. "Abraham rejoiced to see my day," that is, the period of my coming. John viii. 56. "The night is far spent; the day is at hand" (Rom. xiii. 12); or the period of heathenish darkness is nearly over, and the time of gospel light, and saving knowledge, is at hand. So, "Now is the accepted time ; now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. vi. 2. And again, "God hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge (rule) the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordained," &c.

Acts xvii. 30, 31. The word "day," here means the gospel day, or dispensation, in which God, through Christ, will rule the world in righteousness, or by the influences of gospel truth. "It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city." Matt. x. 14, 15. "The day of judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah," says A. Clarke, " was the time in which the Lord destroyed them by fire and brimstone." So of "the great day of the Lord," "the day of wrath," &c. in Zeph. i. meaning the time of destruction to the people mentioned.

5. WEEKS. The Jewish week consisted of seven days, having no name but the first day of the week, the second day, third, &c. - the seventh being called the Sabbath. The day before the Sabbath, or Friday with us, because employed in making ready for the Sabbath, was called in later times the preparation. Mark xv. 42. Beside the week of days, the law appointed a week of years, making every seventh year Sabbatical, or a year of rest from cultivation to the whole land, as the seventh day was a day of rest from labor to the whole people. In addition to this, there were weeks composed of seven of those last periods, or seven times seven years, and then, on the fiftieth year, came the Jubilee, which was celebrated with great joy and festivity.

6. MONTHS. The Jews measured their months as did all other ancient nations, by the revolutions of the moon, and they were of course, therefore,