[455] See Fuerst’s Heb. Chald. Lex., s. v.
[456] See Freytag’s Lex. Arab. Lat., s. v.
[457] See Lane’s Arab.-Eng. Lex., s. v.
[458] In the Chinese language, likewise, “the word for faithfulness means both to be trustworthy, and also to trust to, and refers chiefly to friendship.” (Edkins’s Relig. in China, p. 118.)
[459] The Rabbis give a preeminent place to circumcision as the rite by which Abraham became the Friend of God. They say (see citations from the Talmud, in Nethivoth Olam, p. 367): “Abraham was not called perfect before he was circumcised; and because of the merit of circumcision was the covenant made with him concerning the inheritance of the Land. It [circumcision] also saves from the punishment of hell; for our sages have said, that Abraham sits at the gates of hell and suffers no one to enter in there who is circumcised.”
[460] James 2 : 23.
[461] Exod. 4 : 21-23.
[462] Exod. 4 : 25, 26.
[463] See Fuerst’s Heb. Chald. Lex., s. v.
[464] See Deut. 22 : 13-21. To this day, in the East, an exhibit of blood-stains, as the indubitable proof of a consummated covenant of marriage, is common. See Niebuhr’s Beschreibung von Arabien, pp. 35-39; Burckhardt’s Arabic Proverbs, p. 140; Lane’s Mod. Egypt., I., 221, note.