Hello my spiritual Iriends,

It has been a while since I last corresponded with you. As we venture ever Iorward in time and make
great strides in science, it is interesting to observe how very little in the ways oI customs in which we
both express our selves.
Below, all Irom the book oI Genesis, one can readily see many ancient customs still practiced today.

All verses cited are Irom Genesis
19: 20. However, his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
1. Roberts says that the expression 'Irom behind him, seems to imply that she was Iollowing her
husband, which to this day is the custom in India.
2. He also states that when men or women leave the house they never look back, as 'it would be very
unIortunate. Should a man, on going to his work, leave anything which his wiIe knows he will require
she will not call aIter him lest he turn or look back, but will either take the article her selI or send it by
another. II a palankeen came up behind any persons who are walking in the road they will not look behind
to see it, but careIully step a little on one side until it has passed, when they will gratiIy their curiosity.
22: 3. Abraham rose up early ... and saddled his ass.
1 The habit oI early rising is all but universal in Palestine. The climate makes this a necessity Ior the
greater part oI the year, the heat being so great that hard labor is oppressive a Iew hours aIter sunrise. At
early dawn laborers go to their work and travelers start on their journeys. Scriptural reIerences to this
custom are numerous. ,See, or instance, Gen. 19: 2- 21, 28: 18, Lxod. 34, 4, Job 1: 5, Psa. 63: 1,
2 We are not to imagine by the term 'saddle any thing similar to what we reIer to by that name. The
ancient saddle was merely a piece cloth thrown over the back oI the animal on which the rider sat. ,See
Matt, 11: , 'No nation oI antiquity knew the use oI either saddles or stirrups. ,Goguet, Origiv of ar.. Cited
by Burder., ,1he stirrup was deeloped among the luns` Bro. Smith SGS.,
24: 4. ou shall go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.
The bridegroom does not make the choice oI his bride; the parents negotiate this important business
between themselves, and the young people are expected to acquiesce in the arrangement. In this instance
Abraham sends a trusty servant hundreds oI miles away to select Ior his son a wiIe whom he never saw.
Hagar chose a wiIe Ior Ishmael. ,See Gen. 21: 21, Isaac gave command to Jacob on this important subject.
,See Gen. 28: 1, Judah selected a wiIe Ior Er. ,See Gen. 38: 6, Young men who chose wives Ior themselves
without parental mediation usually aIIlicted their parents in so doing. ,See Gen.26: 35, 2:46, The sons,
however, had sometimes the privilege oI suggesting their personal preIerences to their parents. Thus
Shechem did, ,see Gen. 34:4, and also Samson. ,See Judges 14:2, ,1his is custom remains iable in small segments
o India. Bro. Smith SGS,
A note, a new book ISBN# 98-1-936392-1-9, Great Spiritual \orks` by Jean Gerson, two o our
treatises hae neer been readily made aailable to the Lnglish speaking audience.

. It came to pass, as the camels had done drinking that the man took a golden ear ring of half a
shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold.
1. The 'ear-ring here spoken oI (nezem) is more properly a nose-ring. The servant says, (verse 47,) 'I
put the ear-ring upon her face. The present oI a single earring would be strange; to put it on the Iace
would be stranger still.
Nose-jewels are reIerred to in Prov. 11: 22, Isa. 3, 21, and Ezek. 16:12, where Ior 'Iorehead in the text
the margin has 'nose. The nose-ring is generally oI silver or gold, but sometimes oI coral, mother-oI-
pearl, or even oI horn, according: to the taste or means oI the wearer. This curious ornament varies
considerably in size and thickness. The metal rings art; usually Irom one inch to one inch and a halI in
diameter and sometimes are as largo as three inches. Beads, coral, or jewels, lire strung upon them. They
are usually hung Irom the right nostril, though sometimes Irom the leIt, and occasionally they are
suspended Irom the middle Iilament oI the nose. In India, according to Roberts, the nose jewels are oI
diIIerent shapes, resembling a swan, a serpent, or a Ilower. Anderson saw them in Egypt, made oI brass,
but worn only by women oI the lower class. Graham Fays that in Syria, as well as in Egypt, these
ornaments are not worn among the respectable classes oI society, but are Iound among the AIricans and
slaves; so that the Iashion seems to have changed since Rebecca`s day, and since the time when Isaiah
wrote.
2. The weight oI the nose jewel given to Rebecca (a halI shekel) was nearly a quarter oI an ounce, troy.
3. Bracelets are almost universally worn by women in the East. They are sometimes made oI gold,
sometimes oI mother-oI-pearl, but usually oI silver. The poorer women wear thorn made oI plated steel,
horn, brass, copper, and occasionally nothing but simple strings oI beads. The arms are sometimes
crowded with them Irom wrist to elbow. They are sometimes Ilat, but more Irequently round or
semicircular, and are oIten made hollow to give, by their bulk, the appearance oI greater weight. Bracelets
(tsemedim) arc also reIerred to in Num. 31: 50; Ezek. 16:11; 23: 42. The other passages in which
'bracelets occur have diIIerent words in the original, which will be explained under the several texts
where they are used.
4. The weight oI the bracelets presented to Rebecca (ten shekels) was over Iour and a halI ounces. They
are sometimes worn heavier than this, so as to seem more like manacles than bracelets.
53. The servant brought forth fewels of silver, and fewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to
Rebecca.
1. Rich and splendid apparel, especially such as was adorned with gold, was very general among Eastern
nations Irom earliest times, and is still quite common. ReIerence is made to this in Ps. 45: 9, 13: 'Upon
your right hand did stand the queen in gold oI Ophir. 'Her clothing is oI Iashioned gold.
2. These beautiIul and costly bridal-presents are given to the intended bride by the expectant bridegroom
Ior the purpose oI binding the contract. ,See note on Matt. 1:18,
Peace,
Bro. Smith SGS Http://Revleationinsight.tripod.com