The levity of the Jewish nation in regard to oaths, though reproved by some of their doctors (Othon. Les. p. 351; Philo, ii, 194), was notori ous; and when we find it entering as an element into popular poetry (Martial, xi, 9), we cannot ascribe the imputation to the known injustice of heathen writers towards the Israelites. This na tional vice, doubtless, had an influence with the Essenes (see ESSENES), in placing the prohibi tion of oaths among the rules of their reforma tory order. J. R. B.
(7) Attitude. It was usual to put the hand under the thigh (Gen. xxiv :2; xlvii:29). The more usual employment of the hand was to raise it towards heaven; designed, probably, to excite attention, to point out the oath-taker, and to give solemnity to the act (Gen. xiv :22, 23). In the strongly anthropomorphitic language of parts of the Scripture, even God is introduced saying, 'I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever' (Deut. xxxii:4o). It can only be by the employment of a similar license that the Almighty is represented as in any way coming under the obligation of an oath (Exod. vi:8; Ezek. xx:5). Instead of the head, the phylactery was some times touched by the Jews on taking an oath (Maimon. Schebhuoth, c, xi).
(8) Christian. Our Lord condemned the use of oaths, even when taken with the best inten tion, declaring that whatever went beyond "yea, yea, or nay, nay," was of the evil one (Matt. v :33-37). He was delivering the Sermon on the Mount and correcting various perversions of the law which the scribes had introduced; and among other evils, he condemned swearing in ordinary communications between man and man. But the judicial oath is lawful; for it was enjoined by God (Exod. xxii :ti), and Christ himself did not hesitate to answer when he was put upon his oath by the high-priest ( Matt. xxvi:63). The oath was recognized as lawful by the apostles also, for they called on God to witness to the truth of what they said (2 Cor. xi:31; Gal. i:2o). The mischief which may arise from a rash oath was well illustrated in that of Herod the tetrarch, which made him, against his will, the murderer of John the Baptist (Matt. xiv :3-i2; comp. James v :12). (Davis, Bib. Diet.; mond, Sys. Theol., vol. iii, p. 161-2.)