Dream

DREAM. The Dreams which were of Chalom. Somnium Græc. Ἐνύπνιον.God’s appointing, and were prophetical or significative, are generally called by this name. The eastern people, and in particular the Jews, had a very great regard to Dreams; they observed them, and applied to those, who pretended to explain them, for the interpretation of them¹. We see the antiquity of this custom among the Egyptians in the history of Pharaoh’s Butler and Gen. xl. 5, 8. Gen. xli. 15,16, &c.Baker, and in Pharaoh himself. Nebuchadnezzar is an instance of the same among the Chaldæans. God had very expressly forbidden his people to observe Dreams, and to consult those, who took Levit. xix. 26. Deut. xviii. 10. Deut. xiii. 1,2,3, &c.upon them to explain them. He condemned any one to death who pretended to have prophetick Dreams, and to foretel what was to come, tho’ what he should so foretel were to come to pass, if after this he would ingage the people in Idolatry. But they were not forbid when they thought they had any significative Dream, to address themselves to the Prophets of the Lord, or to the High-Priest dressed in his Ephod, in order to have it explained.

Wherefore in that very place, wherein God forbids the Hebrews to consult Divines, Magicians, and Interpreters of Dreams, he tells them, The people whose land ye are going to possess, consult Soothsayers and Diviners: but ye have not been so taught. The Lord shall raise up from the midst of you, and among your brethren, a Prophet like unto me; him ye shall consult and hearken to. The Israelites therefore were to address themselves to God and his Prophets to learn the explanation of their Dreams, and the prediction of things to come. Saul, a little before the battle of Gilboa, consulted a woman with a familiar Spirit, because the Lord had departed from him, and would not answer him, and discover the success of this war to him, neither by Dreams, nor by Urim, nor by Prophets.

In condescension to the Prejudices and Ideas of this People, who believed that Dreams often were significative, and sent by God, the Lord did indeed sometimes discover his will in Dreams, and raised up Persons to explain them. He informed Abimelech in a Dream, that Sarah was the wife of Abraham. He shewed Jacob the mysterious Ladder in a Dream; in a Dream he revealed to him the way of multiplying his flocks. Joseph was favoured very early with prophetick Dreams, the signification whereof was easily discovered by Jacob his father. The Dreams of the Butler and the Baker belonging to the King of Egypt, were explained by Joseph, as well as those of Pharaoh. God said, that he spake to other Prophets in Dreams, but to Moses face to face. The Midianites also gave credit to Dreams, as appears from that which a Midianite related to his Companion, whence Gideon took a happy omen of his success in Judg. vii. 13, 15.the Undertaking he was upon.

Jeremiah exclaims against the false Prophets, who pretended to have Dreams, and abused the credulity of the People, who hearkened to them. I have heard what the Prophets said, that prophesy lyes in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. The Prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream, and he that hath my word, let him tell it faithfully; what is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord. Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord, and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in Joel iii. 1.pieces. Joel promises from God, that in the new Covenant, and in the reign of the Messiah, the effusion of the Holy Spirit shall be more copious than formerly; that the old men shall have prophetick Dreams, and the young men visions.

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