IMPRECATIONS. The Latin word Imprecor is sometimes taken in a good sense to signify wishing well; the making vows for the advantage of any one: for example, Rebekah’s Gen. xxiv. 60.brethren suffered her to go with Eliezer, in order to marry Isaac, wishing her all sort of prosperity: Imprecantes prospera sorori. And the young King Joash having been placed upon the throne of Judah by Jehoiada the High Priest, the diadem and book of the law were put upon his head, and they saluted him with joyful acclamations, saying, God save the King: Imprecatiq; sunt ei, atque dixerunt, Vivat 2 Chr. xxiii. 11.Rex.
But generally the word Imprecation, in Latin and in other languages, signifies to make imprecations, to devote any one to misfortunes. Thus the goat Azazel was loaded with Imprecations Lev. xvi. 21.and curses, and sent into the wilderness to be there thrown down a precipice. Joshua having taken and destroyed the town of Jericho, pronounced Imprecations against whosoever should rebuild it: Imprecatus est Josue dicens: maledictus vir coram Domino, qui suscitaverit, & ædificaverit civitatem Jericho. Moses commands, that if a woman is suspected of infidelity to her husband, she shall be obliged to drink the waters of jealousy, upon which the priest shall pronounce Imprecations and Curses. He moreover requires, that when the Hebrews entred the promised land, they should dispose themselves Numb. v. 18,19, 20. Deut xi. 28, 29.between the two mountains Ebal and Gerizim, and upon the top of mount Ebal should pronounce imprecations and curses against those who should violate the Law of God, and blessings upon the top of Gerizim upon those who should observe it.
We have spoken heretofore of the Imprecations and Devoting used by the ancients against their enemies, or against besieged cities. See the article Balaam and Devotings.
Ex. x. 10.The Hebrews frequently expressed Imprecations in terms signifying the very contrary of that they meant; for example, Pharaoh says to Moses and Aaron: Let the Lord be so with you, as I will let you go, &c. the quite contrary is intended: God forbid that I should let you go. And David, instead of pronouncing an Imprecation upon himself, uses these words; So and 1 Sam. xxv. 22.more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall. May God treat the enemies of David with rigour; instead of saying, may God treat me with all his severity. And elsewhere, Naboth is accused of having blessed God and the King; that is to say, of having 1 Kings xxi. 10.blasphemed against God and the King. And Job offered burnt offerings to the Lord, to make expiation for his sons, lest they should have blessed God; that is to say, on the contrary, lest they should have uttered any word contrary to the respect that is due to him. And Job. i. 5. Job. ii. 5.again, Satan says unto the Lord, Touch his bone and his flesh, and thou wilt see that he will bless thee to thy face; that is to say, that he will fly out into passion and curse thee.