SALUTATION. The frequent allusion in Scripture to the customary salutations of the Jews invests the subject with a higher degree of interest than it might otherwise claim ; and it is therefore fortunate that there are few scriptural topics which can be better understood by the help of the illus trations derivable from the existing usages of the East.
Most of the expressions used in salutation, and also those which were used in parting, implied that the person who employed them interceded for the other. Hence the word inn, barak, which originally signified `to bless,' meant also 'to sa lute,' or to welcome,' and to bid adieu' (Gen. xlvii. 8-ii ; 2 Kings iv. 29 ; x. 13 ; Chron. xviii. to).
The forms of salutation that prevailed among the Hebrews, so far as can be collected from Scripture, are the following Blessed be thou of the Lord,' or equivalent phrases.
2. The Lord be with thee.
3. Peace be unto thee,' or upon thee,' or with thee.' In countries often ravaged, and among people often ruined by war, `peace' implied every blessing of life ; and this phrase had therefore the force of Prosperous be thou.' This was the commonest of all salutations (Judg. xix. 20 ; Rllth ii. 4 ; Sam. xxv. 6 ; 2 SaM. xx. 9 ; Ps. cxxix. 8).
4. Live, my lord' (*.YIN was a common salutation among the Phoenicians, and was also in use among the Hebrews, but was by them only addressed to their kings in the extended form of Let the king live for ever !' (1 Kings i. 31) ; which was also employed in the Babylonian and Persian courts (Dan. ii. 4 ; 9 ; v. to; vi. 6, ; Neh. ii. 3). This, which in fact is no more than a wish for a prolonged and prosperous life, has a parallel in the customs of most nations, and does not differ from the Vivat !' of the Latin, the Vive le Roi !' of the French, or our own — for ever t' 5. Xdpe, xalpere, jay to thee I joy to you! ren dered by Hail! an equivalent of the Latin Ave! Salve! (Matt. xxvii. 29 ; 9 ; Mark xv. ; Luke i. 28 ; John xix. 3).
The usages involved in these oral salutations seem not only similar to, but identical with, those sdll existing among the Arabians. These, indeed, as now observed, go upon the authority of religious precepts. But it is known that such enactments of the Koran and its commentaries merely embody such of the previously and immemorially wdsting usages as the legislature wished to be retained. Their most common greeting, as among the Jews, is, Peace be on you!' to which the reply is, On you be peace !' to which is commonly added, and the mercy of God, and his blessings !' This salutation is never addressed by a Moslem to one whom he knows to be of another religion ; and if he find that he has by mistake thus saluted a per son not of the same faith, he generally revokes his salutation : so also he sometimes does if a Moslem refuses to return his salutation, usually saying, `Peace be on us, and on (all) the right worshippers of God ! ' This seems to us a strildng illustration of Luke x. 5, 6 ; 2 John xi. Various set com Pliments usually follow this salam, which, when people intend to be polite, are very much ex tended, and occupy considerable time. Hence they are evaded in crowded streets, and by per sons in haste, as was the case, for the same reason, doubtless, among the Jews (2 Kings iv. 29 ; Luke x. 4). Specimens of this conventional intercourse are given by Lane Wort. Egyptians,i. 253), who says, that to give the whole would occupy a dozen of his pages. There are set answers, or a choice of two or three answers, to every question ; and it is accounted rude to give any other answer than that which custom prescribes. They are such as those by which the Israelites probably prolonged their intercourse. If one is asked, `How is your health ?' he replies, Praise be to God!' and it is only from the tone of his voice that the inquirer can tell whether he is well or ill. When one
greets another with the common inquiry, Is it well with thee ?' (see 2 Kings iv. 26), the answer is, God bless thee !' or God preserve thee !' An acquaintance, on meeting another whom he has not seen for several days, or for a longer period, generally says, after the salam, 'Thou hast made us desolate by thy absence from us ;' and is usually answered, May God not make us desolate by thy absence !' The gestures and inflections used in salutation varied with the dignity and station of the person saluted, as is the case with the Orientals at this day. It is usual for the person who gives or re turns the salutation to place at the same time his right hand upon his breast, or to touch his lips, and then his forehead or turban, with the same hand. This latter mode, which is the most re spectful, is often performed to a person of superior rank, not only at first, with the salam, but also frequently during a conversation. In some cases the body is gently inclined, while the right hand is laid upon the left breast. A person of the lower orders, in addressing a superior, does not always give the salam, but shows his respect to high rank by bending down his hand to the ground, and then putting it to his lips and forehead. It is a common custom for a man to kiss the hand of his superior instead of his own (generally on the back only, but sometimes on both back and front), and then to put it to his forehead in order to pay more ticular respect. Servants thus evince their respect towards their masters. 'When residing in the East, our own servants always did this on such little occasions as arose beyond the usage of their ordi nary service ; as on receiving a present, or on re turning fresh from the public baths. The son also thus kisses the hand of his father, and the wife that of her husband. Very often, however, the superior does not allow this, but only touches the hand extended to take his ; whereupon the other puts the hand that has been touched to his own lips and forehead. The custom of kissing the beard is still preserved, and follows the first and preliminary gesture ; it usually takes place on rneeting after an absence of some duration, and not as an everyday compliment. In this case, the person who gives the kiss lays the right hand under the beard, and raises it slightly to his lips, or rather supports it while it receives his kiss. This custom strikingly illustrates 2 Sam. xx. 9. In Arabia Petrzea, and some other parts, it is more usual for persons to lay the right sides of their cheeks to gether.
Among the Persians, persons in saluting under the same circumstances often kiss each other on the lips ; but if one of the individuals is of high rank the kiss is given on the cheek instead of the lips. This seems to illustrate 2 Sam. xx. 9 ; Gen !mix. it, 13; xxxiii. 4; 10-12; Exod. iv. 27; xviii. 7.
Another mode of salutation is usual among friends on meeting after a journey. Joining their right hands torrether, each of them compliments the other uponhis safety, and expresses his wishes for his welfare, by repeating, alternately, many times the words salamat (meaning, 'I congratulate you on your safety ') and teiyibeen (‘ I hope you are well '). In commencing this ceremony, which is often continued for nearly a minute before they pro ceed to make any particular inquiries, they join their hands in the same manner as is usually prac tised by us; and at each alternation of the two ex pressions, change the position of the hands. These circumstances further illustrate such passages as 2 Kings iv. 29 ; Luke x. 4. Other particulars, more or less connected with this subject, may be seen in ATTITUDES ; KISS • see also EPISTLES for epistolary salutations.—J.