ATTITUDES (rtt'it-Weis).
The allusions in Scripture to attitudes and pos tures expressive of adoration, supplication and re spect are very numerous. Front these we learn enough to perceive that the usages of the He brews in this respect were very nearly, if not altogether, the same as those which are still prac ticed in the East, and which the paintings and sculptures of Egypt show to have been of old employed in that country. These sources supply ample materials (or illustration, which it may be well to arrange tinder those heads into which such acts naturally divide themselves (1) Adoration and Homage. The Moslems in their prayers throw themselves successively, and according to an established routine, into the nine 18 various postures which they deem the most ap propriate to the several parts of the service. We have no doubt that the Ilehrews employed on one occasion or another nearly all the various pos tures which the :Moslems exhibit on one occasion. This is the chief difference. In public and com mon worship the Hebrews prayed standing (t Kings yin :54 ; Ezra iv:5; Dan. vi:to; 2 Chron. vi :13) ; but in their separate and private acts of worship they assumed the position which, accord ing to their modes of doing homage or showing respect, seemed to them the most suitable to their present feelings or objects. It would appear, how ever, that sonic form of kneeling was most usual in private devotions.
(2) Standing in public prayer is still the prac tice of the Jews. This posture was adopted from the synagogue by the primitive Christians, and is still maintained by the Oriental churches. This appears, from their monuments, to have been the custom also among the ancient Persians and Egyptians, although the latter certainly sometimes kneeled before their gods.
While in this attitude of worship the hands were sometimes stretched forth towards heaven in sup plication or invocation (I Kings yiit :22; 2 Citron. vi:12, 29: Is. xv). This was not perhaps so much the conventional posture in the Moslem series as the more natural posture of standing adoration with outspread hands, which we observe on the Egyptian monuments. The uplifting of one hand (the right ) only in taking an oath was so com mon, that to say, have lifted up my hands,' was equivalent to 'I have sworn' (Gen. xiv :22; Comp. xli:44; Dent. xxxii:4o). This posture was also
common among other ancient nations, and we Lind examples of it in the sculptures of Persia and Rome.
(3) Kneeling is very often described as a poF turc of worship (1 Kings :54; Ezra ix :5; Dan. vi :to; 2 Chron. VI :13 ; CoMp. I Kings xix :t8; Luke xxii :4t ; Acts vii :60). This is still an Oriental custom, and three forms of it occur in the Moslem devotions. It was also in use, al though not very frequent. among the ancient Egyptians. who likewise, as well as the Ilebrews (Exod. xxxiv:18; 2 Chron. xxix :29; Is. i:15), inmetimes prostrated themselves upon the ground. The usual mode of prostration among the He brews by which they expressed the most intense humiliation, was by bringing not only the but the head to the ground. The ordinary mode of prostration at the present time, and probably anciently, is that shown in one of the postures of Moslem worship, in which the body is not thrown hat upon the ground. but rests upon the knees, arms and head. In order to express de compunction or hilinlhatiOn. the Israelites threw dust upon their breads ( Josh. vii: 6: Job ii :12; Lam it:to: Ezek xxiv :7; Rev. as was done also by the ancient Egyptians. an I is still done by the modern Orientals. Under similar circumstances it was usual to smite the breast ( I.uke 13). This was also a practice among the Egyptians Herod 85). and the monuments at litchi's exhibit person. engaged in this act while they kneel upon one knee In I Chum. xvii:16, we are toll that 'David the king came and sat before the Lord.' and in that posture gave utterance to eloquent prayer, or rather thanksgiving. which the sequel of the chap ter contains. Those unacquainted with Eastern manners are surprised at this. lint there is a mode of sitting in the East which is highly re spectful and even reverential. It is that which occurs in the Moslem form of worship. The person first kneels and then sits back upon his heels. Attention is also paid to the position of the hands, which they cross, fold or hide in the opposite sleeves. The variety of this formal sit ting which the following figure represents is highly respectful. The prophet Elijah must have been in this or some other similar posture when he in clined himself so much forward in prayer that his head almost touched his knees (I Kings xviii: 42).