GREAT SEA (grat se), (Hcb. • gaw-dole' yawm, Num. xxxiv:6). The ;Mediterranean Sca; called also "utmost sca" and "the hinder sca" (Joel ii:2o; Zech. xiv:8). (See SEA.) The Mediterranean was essentially the 'Great Sea' and 'Hinder Sea' to thc writers of the Bible; being the western boundary of thc Holy Land, beyond which their geographical knowledge did not far extend. Maritime adventure and com merce was not thc direction in which Israelitish ambition extended, except perhaps for a short period during the reign of Solomon; and although the lands allotted to the tribes of Judah, Dan, Ephraim, Manasseh, Zebulun, and Asher touched the coast of the Mediterranean at various points, the waters of the Great Sea were seldom traversed by their ships. This was due to several causes; first, the history of the Israelites previous to the curious details of the fabrication of idols, see Isaiah (xxx:22; x1:19; xliv:12-15).
5. Paw-thakh' (Heb. 'ILI'', to open) would ap pear to describe figures in relief, rather than stat ucs, such as the cherubic figures on the temple walls (2 Chron. iii:7).
6. Alik-lah'ath (Heb. rV2r.:, a sculpture) is ren dered "carved figures" 0 Kings vi:29), (Mc. & Str. Bib. Cycl.) FiguratiVe. (i) The engraving of the names of the twelve tribes in the stones of the high priest's shoulder and breastplate denoted Christ's perpetual remembrance, esteem, and support of his people, and the impossibility of their separation from him (Exod. r, and xxxix : 14. (2) God's engraving the graving of the choice stone may denote his conferring on Christ every saving office, his preparing for him a human nature adorned with all gracious excellences (Zech. iii :9). (3) So the saints arc graven on the palms of God's hands; he perpetually thinks of, cares for, and does them good (Is. xlix :16).
GRAY (gra). See HAIR.