LAMPS. There is frequent Mention made in Scripture of Lamps, and it may be worth observing what the Form of them was anciently. The Ancients did not commonly make Use of Wax or Tallow, but rather burnt Oil in their Lamps. The Lamp or Candlestick with seven Branches which Moses placed in the Holy, and those which Solomon placed afterwards in the Temple of Jerusalem, were Chrystal Glasses filled with Oil, and fixed upon the Branches of the Candlestick. The Lamps or Candlesticks made Use of in Houses were commonly put upon a pretty high Stand on the Ground. The Lamps of Gideon’s Soldiers, and those of the foolish and wise Virgins mentioned in the Matt. xxv. 1, 2, &c.Gospel were of another Sort. They were a Sort of Torches made of Iron or Potters Earth, wrapped about with old Linnen, which was moistened from Time to Time with Oil. M. Bernier says, that in the Indies M. dethey still make Use of Lamps of this Kind. They are nothing, says he, but a Piece of Iron let into Sticks, the Ends whereof are wound about with old Rags, which from Time to Time are moistened with Oil. He that carries the Light moistens it out of a Vessel made of Brass or Tin, with a long Neck, which he carries continually in his Hand. Gallonius says, that there are some of the ancient Lamps still to be found in the Ruines of Martyr.Rome, whereof I shall here give you a Description. They were Vessels made of Iron or Potter’s Earth, large, and with Holes on the Top about four Inches wide, or something more, ending in a Point below, and grafted into a Piece of Wood, which served for an Handle. In these Vessels they put Oil, or some other combustible Matter, to keep up the Fire or Light. In Homer they light up a Fire with a Sort of oily, sweet smelling Wood upon high Candlesticks, placed in the Middle of the Chamber. Notwithstanding what we have been saying, we must acknowledge Odyss. Σ. v. 106.likewise, that anciently they made Use of Wax-Candles, Flamboys, and Lights done over with Wax, and other combustible Materials, and even of oily, gummy Woods in particular Ceremonies: For Example, when Jason, High-Priest of the Jews, received King Antiochus at Jerusalem by Torch Light, with great Acclamations. Cum facularum luminibus, & laudibus.
Besides the common Signification of this Word, it signifies likewise in the figurative Sense of it, the Hope, Heir, Resource, and Guide of the People. After the Danger which David had been exposed to, in the Attack made upon him by the Giant Ishbibenob, the Israelites said to him; Thou shalt go no more out to War with us, least thou extinguish the Lamp of Israel. God would not suffer all the Tribes to shake off the Yoke of Rehoboam, that David might have a Lamp always before the Lord in Jerusalem; that there might be always a Prince of his Family. See the same Expression, 1 Kings xv. 4. and 2 Kings viii. 19. and 2 Chr. xxi. 17.
H Quoties lucerna impiorum extinguetur. And Prov. xxiv. 20. and Psalm cxxxi. 17. Paravi lucernam Christo meo, are to be understood in the same Sense.
The Lord is called the Lamp of his Servants, their Hope, their Succour: Lucerna 2 Sam. xxii. 29. Job. xxix. 3.mea Dominus. And Psalm xvii, 29. Tu illuminas lucernam meam Domine. And Job speaking of his first Prosperity; Oh that I may again see those Days of old, wherein his Lamp shined upon my Head, and by his Prov. xiii. 9.Light I walked through Darkness? And Solomon; The Light of the righteous rejoyceth; but the Lamp of the Wicked shall be Prov. xx. 20.put out. And in another Passage; Whoso curseth his Father or his Mother, his Lamp shall be put in obscure Darkness: Which may be understood as meaning either the Death of such Sons, or the abandoned State which they will be left in.
Lamps sometimes signify Lightning, and Fire from Heaven. Populus ridebat voces Exod. xx. 18. Judith iii. 10.& lampades: The Thunder and Lightning.
The People received Holofernes cum coronis & lampadibus, in Order to do him Honour. They observed the same Custom in their Compliments to new married People, as Matt. xxv. 1, &c. Ps. cxviii. 105.appears by the Parable of the ten Virgins.
The Commandments of God are, as it were, a Lamp to guide the righteous: Lucerna pedibus meis verbum tuum. And in Proverbs vi. 23. Mandatum lucerna est. See Light. St. John Baptist is called a burning and a shining Light, John v. 35. And in the Revelations our Saviour is the Lamp of the new Jerusalem. Rev. xxi. 2.