The case of Shimei (r Kings ii. 36) gives us no right to infer that Jerusalem itself was regarded as an asylum ; but we find that in later times such a privilege was granted to the temple and its liberties,' I Macc. x. 43.—F. W. F.
ATAD ('ltm.4) occurs in Judg. ix. 14, 15 ; Ps.
lviii. 9. In the first passage the atad, or bramble, is called to reign over the trees. From Ps. lviii. 9, it is evident that the atad was employed for fuel : Before your pots can feel the thorns.' Atad is so similar to the Arabic ansuj, that it has generally been considered to mean the same plant, namely, a species of buckthorn. This is confirmed by atadmi being one of the synonymes of Amines, as given in the supplements to Dioscorides. A species of rhamnus is described both by Belon and by Rauwolf as being common in Palestine, and by the latter as found especially in the neighbourhood of Jerusalem. It has been described by Prosp. Alpinus as having an abundance of long branches, on which are found many long and very sharp thorns. So Rauwolf : It puts forth long, slender, crooked switches, on which there are a great many long, strong, and acute thorns.' This has been supposed by some to be the true Christ's thorn, Rhamnus, now Zizyj5hus Spina Christi. The term used by the evangelist (John xix. 5) is akantha
(thccuieci), which also occurs in Matt. vii. 16 ; xiii. 7, 22 ; xxvii. 29 ; and also in the parallel passages of Mark and Luke. This word is used in as general a sense as is with us, and there fore it would be incorrect to confine it to any one species of plant in all the above passages, though no doubt some particular thorny plant indigenous in the neighbourhood of Jerusalem would be se lected for plaiting the crown of thorns. Hassel Quist says of the ZaVhhus Shinn Christi_ Arnhaz Paliurus A themai of Alpinus, 'In all probability this is the tree which afforded the crown of thorns put upon the head of Christ. It is very common in the East. This plant is very fit for the purpose, for it has many small and sharp spines, which are well adapted to give pain : the crown might easily be made of these soft, round, and pliant branches ; and what in my opinion seems to be the greater proof is, that the leaves very much resemble those of ivy, as they are of a very deep glossy green. Perhaps the enemies of Christ would have a plant somewhat resembling that with which emperors and generals were crowned, that there might be a calumny even in the punishment.' Some have fixed upon Paliurus aculeatus, and others upon Lyciurn harridum.—J. F. R.