88
HEBREW LIFE AND CUSTOM
FULLERS
Another common trade was that of the fuller,1 who
perhaps not only washed clothes but bleached fabrics.
Clothes were washed, by a method still practised in the
British Isles, by treading upon them. Ordinary washing
appears to have been done at home.2 The soap used was
made of carbonate of soda {néther),* presumably mixed
with oil or melted-down fat. In addition, lye was used,
i.e. ashes of vegetable substance, just as was the case in
rural districts of England almost within living memory.
Soap-balls are mentioned in the story of Susanna.* Per-
sonal washing done in courts or gardens appears to have
been restricted.5
PERFUMERS
Of luxury trades may be mentioned that of the per-
fumer. The preparation of perfume was carried out both
by men, whom in the days of Nehemiah we find forming
a guild,6 and by women.’ The scents used appear to have
been derived from spices or sweet gums,8 which were for
the most part imported from South Arabia.9 They were
mixed with oil for unction, but whether the art of extract-
ing the scent of blossom was known is uncertain.
PHYSICIANS AND APOTHECARIES
We hear of physicians or apothecaries in Jer. viii. 22
and in 2 Chron. xvi. 12. Those mentioned in Gen. 1. 2
are Egyptians rather than Hebrews. We read also of
poultices 10 and of bandages.1 ɪ There was salve,12 also the
resinous gum (/rɪ), which came from Gilead13 and had
long been a famous product of Palestine.14
, 2 Kings xviii. ɪ 7 ; Isa. vii. 3.
’ Exod. xix. ɪo, 14 ; Lev. xiii. 58 ; 2 Sam. xix. 24.
3 Jer. ii. 22. 4 Susanna 17.
5 See the tales of Bathsheba (2 Sam. xi. 2) and of Susanna.
6 Neh. iii. 8. 7 ɪ Sam. viii. ɪɜ.
* Ps. xlv. 8 ; Cant. iv. 14-16, v. 5. ’ ɪ Kings x. ɪo.
10 Isa. xxxviii. 2i. ” Isa. i. 6 ; Jer. xxx. 12, 13. α Isa. i. 6.
,3 Jer. viii. 22, xlvi. ɪɪ, ɪi. 8. 4 Gen. xxxvii. 25, xliii. ɪɪ.
TRADES AND PROFESSIONS 89
Other vegetable drugs may perhaps be implied by the
‘ tree ’ of Exod. xv. 25. There is also wormwood,1 and
gall-water,2 the latter implying some decoction of bitter
herbs. ‘ Acid ’ and ‘ bitter ’ seem not to be distinguished.
Some sort of bitter drink, parallel with wormwood, seems
to be implied in Lam. iii. ɪʒ,ɜ
Even in the Greek period the popular estimate of the
healing art is summed up by Ben Sira :
‘ He that sinneth before his Maker—let him fall into
the hands of the physician.’4
JEWELLERS AND WORKERS IN PRECIOUS STONES
What in later times was worn merely for adornment5 was
in many cases originally connected with religion.6 From a
number of references it is clear that the jeweller’s art had
been brought to a high pitch of perfection. There were
lapidaries who could cut and engrave precious stones,7
which might be set as signet-rings.8 In addition to precious
stones, some of which cannot be identified with certainty,
they used also corals ° and glass.10 Ivory was in use, but
we do not hear of it as jewellery. Among the trinkets
made were crowns and tiaras, ɪɪ necklaces,12 perhaps chains
of beads,15 and armlets perhaps worn above the elbow.14
ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE AND LAW ɪ5
If we may estimate the importance of any factor of
national custom from the frequency of references to it in
metaphor there can be no doubt that the administration
, Deut. xxix. t8 ; Prov. v. 4. ’ Jer. vüi. 14, ix. 15, xxiii. 15.
3 See also Deut. xxxii. 32. 4 Ecclus. xxxviii. 15.
5 Isa. lxi. 10. 6 Hos. iɪ. 13.
7 Jer. xvii. ɪ ; of. Ezek. xxviii. ɪɜ ; Ps. xlv. ɪɜ.
8 Exod. xxviii. ɪɪ, 21, 26, xxxix. 6, 16, 30; cf. Hag. ii. 23.
9 Prov. iii. 15, &c. ; Job xxviii. 18; Lam. iv. 7.
” Job xxviii. 17. "2 Sam. i. 10; Zech. vi. ɪɪ ; Ps. xxi.
“ Gen. xli. 42. n Cant. i. ɪo.
*4 2 Sam. i. ɪo ; cf. Num. χχχi. 50.
ɪ5 Here the revised MS. begins again. (F. C. B.)
N