TITLE, Titulus. This Word is used, 1. Genesis xxviii. 18.For a Monument. For example, Jacob rose up early in the Morning, and took the Stone that had served him for a Pillow, and made a Monument of it: Erexit in Titulum. The same Jacob, together with Laban, erected a Title or Monument of their Covenant, by heaping a Pile of Stones upon Genesis xxxi. 45. Genesis xxxv. 20.Mount Gilead. After the Death of Rachel, Jacob raised her a Monument. Absalom in his Life-time set up himself a Monument, or Title, which he called the Hand of Absalom.2 Sam. xviii. 18. In most of these Places the Hebrew Word is Matzbah,1 which, in general, signifies any thing that is set up as a Memorial, whether it be a Statue, a Pillar, a Stone, a Mound, &c. Moses forbids the erecting of superstitious Monuments, or Titles, through all the Coasts of Israel.2
- Title is taken for whatever is put upon any thing, as a Mark. So the Title of a Psalm, the Title of a Book. Thus we often find in the Inscriptions of the Psalms,3 Psalmus David in tituli inscriptionem. The Hebrew reads, Michtam le-David; which St. Jerome, Aquila, and Symmachus, have thus explained, A Psalm of David, the humble and the simple. Others have explained it, A Golden Psalm of David. We think it only means, A Psalm, inscribed, sealed, or marked, by the Name of David. Isaiah says, that the Time shall Isa. xix. 19.come, wherein shall be seen a Title (or Pillar) to the Lord on the Borders of Egypt; that there shall be an Altar, or Monument, inscribed to his Name. The Evangelists tell us, that that put a Title upon the Cross of our Saviour; that is, the Subject of his Condemnation, which was written in three Languages, in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin; the Purport of which was, Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews; which was as much as to say, that Jesus of Nazareth was condemned for assuming the Quality of King of the Jews.
U 3. Title
3. Title seems also to be put for Epitaphs, or Inscriptions; or, lastly, for Pillars, Tombs, or any other thing, that was put over the Graves of the Dead. We have already observed in this Sense the Titles of Rachel and Absalom. See also 2 Kings xxiii. 17. The Title of the Man of God, who was sent to reprove Jeroboam, and which was preserved by King Josiah; and those Titles (or Signs) mentioned by Ezekiel, xxxix. 15. which were put near the dead Bodies, that they might be buried.
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