KNIFE. The purposes for which knives are mentioned in Scripture as being used are—for the slaying of sacrifices (Gen. xxii. 6), for circumcision and other ritual purposes (Exod. iv. 25 ; Josh. v. 2, 3 ; Kings xviii. 28 ; Ezra i. 9), for cutting in pieces a body (Judg. xix. 29), for shaving off the hair (Ezek. v. t), and for mending pens and other purposes of the scribe (Jer. xxxvi. 23). Knives were also doubtless used in dividing into portions the animals sacrificed (Lev. viii. 15, 20, 25 ; iN. 13 ; Num. xviii. IS ; I Sam. ix. 24, etc.) In the Talmudic Tract Tamid (4. 3) are detailed instruc tions for the cutting up of the victims. That they were also used at meals may be inferred—t. from the primary meaning of the common Hebrew word for knife rb D, from b, to tat ; 2. from the allusions in Pray. XXX. ; XXiii. 2 ; and 3. from the statement of Josephus (Antiq. xvii. 7 , Bell. yuel. i. 33. 7) concerning the use of a knife for the paring of apples.
Of the shape and material of the knives used by the Hebrews we know little. The earliest knives were probably of flint or sonae other species of hard stone.; hence the name (Exod. iv. 25), KNATCHBULL (Sir NORTON), Bart., the tions for the cutting up of the victims. That they the Hebrews we know little. The earliest knives
and the combination "i'S: (Josh. v. 2 ; LXX., naxalpas 7rerpevas di< 7rerpar ciKporagou) and -olv zin (Ps. lxxxix. 44). But that metal knives were „, also used by them cannot be doubted. That the 2111, which signifies both sword and knife, was of metal, is shewn both from the uses to which it was put, and from the allusions to its shining (Nah. iii. 3 ; comp. Gen. iii. 24).
The probable form of the knives of the Hebrews will be best gathered from a comparison of those of other ancient nations, both Eastern and Wes tern, which have come down to us. No. re presents the Roman culler used in sacrificing, which may be compared with No. 2, an Egyptian sacrificial knife. Nos. 3, 4, and 5 are also Egyptian knives, of which the most remarkable, No. 3, is from the Louvre collection ; the others are from the Monumenti Rea of Rosellini. Nos. 6-9 are Roman from Barthelemy. In No. 7 we have pro bably the form of the pruning-hook of the Jews onvn, xviii. 5), though some rather assimi late this to the sickle 6Fp). It was probably with some such instrument as No. 9 that the priests of Baal cut themselves.—W. L. A.