- earrings:
- These rings were not worn as mere ornaments, but for superstitious purposes; perhaps as amulets or charms, first consecrated to some false god, or formed under some constellation, and stamped with magical characters. Maimonides mentions rings and jewels of this kind, with the image of the sun, moon, etc., impressed upon them; and Augustine describes them (Epist. 73), as used for this execrable purpose. "And Aaronª saidª° unto¹ them, Break offª° the goldenª earrings,ª which¹ [are] in the earsª of your wives,ª of your sons,ª and of your daughters,ª and bringª° [them] unto¹ me. ... And he receivedª° [them] at their hand,ª¹ and fashionedª° it with a graving tool,ª after he had madeª° it a moltenª calf:ª and they said,ª° These¹ [be] thy gods,ª O Israel,ª which¹ brought²° thee up¹ out of the landª¹ of Egypt.ª" {Exd 32:2-4} + "And Gideonª saidª° unto¹ them, I would desireª° a requestª of¹ you, that ye would giveª° me every manª the earringsª of his prey.ª (For¹ they had goldenª earrings,ª because¹ they¹ [were] Ishmaelites.)ª ... And Gideonª madeª° an ephodª thereof, and putª° it in his city,ª [even] in Ophrah:ª and all¹ Israelª went thither a whoringª°¹ afterª it: which thing became¹ a snareª unto Gideon,ª and to his house.ª" {Jdg 8:24-27} + "And I will visitª° upon¹ her¹ the daysª of Baalim,ª wherein¹ she burned incenseª° to them, and she deckedª° herself with her earringsª and her jewels,ª and she went²°¹ afterª her lovers,ª° and forgatª° me, saithª° the LORD.ª" {Hsa 2:13}
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