- put dust:
- Rending the clothes, beating the breast, tearing the hair, throwing dust upon the head, and falling prostrate, were usual signs of deep affliction and distress among the ancient Israelites. In illustration of this custom, see note on "And there ranª° a manª of Benjaminª out of the army,ª¹ and cameª° to Shilohª the same¹ dayª with his clothesª rent,ª° and with earthª upon¹ his head.ª" {1Sm 4:12}, when the messenger brought tidings to Eli of the discomfiture of the armies of Israel by the Philistines; again, in the case of Tamar, "And Tamarª putª° ashesª on¹ her head,ª and rentª° her garmentª of divers coloursª that¹ [was] on¹ her, and laidª° her handª on¹ her head,ª and went²° onª° crying.ª°" {2Sm 13:19}, and in "Now in the twentyª and fourthª dayª of this¹ monthª the childrenª of Israelª were assembledª° with fasting,ª and with sackclothes,ª and earthª upon¹ them." {Neh 9:1}, when a whole nation, "assembled with fasting, and with sackcloth, and earth upon them." In the case of Mordecai, see note on "When Mordecaiª perceivedª°¹ all¹ that¹ was done,ª° Mordecaiª rentª°¹ his clothes,ª and put onª° sackclothª with ashes,ª and went outª° into the midstª of the city,ª and criedª° with a loudª and a bitterª cry;ª" {Est 4:1}. See note on "And when they lifted upª°¹ their eyesª afar off,ª¹ and knewª° him not,¹ they lifted upª° their voice,ª and wept;ª° and they rentª° every oneª his mantle,ª and sprinkledª° dustª upon¹ their headsª toward heaven.ª" {Job 2:12}, where his friends abased themselves to comfort him. See note on "And shall cause their voiceª to be heardª° against¹ thee, and shall cryª° bitterly,ª and shall cast upª° dustª upon¹ their heads,ª they shall wallow²° themselves¹ in the ashes:ª" {Ezk 27:30}, see note on "For wordª cameª° unto¹ the kingª of Nineveh,ª and he aroseª° from his throne,ª¹ and he laidª° his robeª from¹¹ him, and coveredª° [him] with sackcloth,ª and satª° in¹ ashes.ª" {Jna 3:6}, and see note on "Declareª° ye [it] not¹ at Gath,ª weep²° ye not at all:ª°¹ in the house¹ of Aphrahª rollª°°° thyself¹ in the dust.ª" {Mic 1:10}. In each of these instances it is worthy of remark, that putting dust on the head generally follows rending of the clothes, and was the usual mode of evincing poignant sorrow.
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