[713] Scissâque Polyxena pallâ. Juvenal. Satyr. 10.
[714] Majoris ætatis funera ad tubam proferre solebant: minoris vero ætatis ad tibias. Servius. Æneid. lib. 5.
[715] Tibia cui teneros suetum deducere manes Lege Phrygum mesta. Statius. Theb. lib. 6, ver. 121.
CHAP. VI.
Of their Oaths.
The manner of swearing was sometimes by lifting up their hands towards heaven; Abraham said to the King of Sodom, I have lifted up my hand unto the Lord; that is, I have sworn, that I will not take from a thred, even to a shoe-latchet, Gen. 14. 22. Unto which custome the Psalmist seemeth to allude, Psal. 106. 26. He lifted up his hand, that is, he swore. Sometimes he that took the Oath did put his hand under the others thigh, which administred the Oath. We read this manner of administration to have been used by Abraham, Gen. 24. 2. and Jacob, Gen. 47. 29. Which ceremony some[716] interpret to be as a token of subjection; others[717] as a mystery of circumcision; the sign wherof they bore about that place of their body: Others[718] more probably think it to be a mysterious signification of Christ the promised seed, who was to come out of Abrahams loyns, or thigh; as the like phrase is used, Gen. 46. 26. the souls that came out of Jacobs thigh. Sometimes also the manner of deposing, was to stand before the Altar, 1 Kings 8. 31. Which was also the custome of the Athenians,[719] the Carthaginians,[720] and the Romans.[721]
[716] Aben Esra. Gen. 24. 2.
[717] Solomon Jarchi, ibid.
[718] August. quæst. super Gen. 62.
[719] Alex. ab. Alex. lib. 5. cap. 10.