Reference: GIFTS
American
Have been common from the earliest times as tokens of affection, honor, or respect. The dues to a king were often rendered in this form, 1Sa 10:27; Isa 36:16; and men of high position were approached with presents, Ge 43:11; Jg 6:18; 1Sa 9:7; 1Ki 14:3. Kings made gifts of garments to those they wished to honor, Ge 45:22-23; 1Sa 18:4; and of treasures to other princes, out of esteem or of fear, 2Ki 16:8; 18:14; 2Ch 9:9,12. Conquerors scattered gifts from their triumphal cars, and special privileges in token of generous joy, Ps 68:18; Ac 1:2,4. Prophets received gifts, or declined them, as duty required, 2Ki 5:15; 8:9; Da 2:48; 5:17. The word gifts often denotes bribes, Ex 23:8; Ps 15:5; Isa 5:23. The same word is also applied to the offerings required by the law, De 16:17; Mt 5:23-24; to the blessings of the gospel and eternal life, which are preeminently gifts, Ac 8:20; to the Christian grace, for the same reason, Eph 4:8,11; and to the miraculous endowments of the apostles, 1Co 12-14. See TONGUES.
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Then Israel their father said unto them - If so, then do this, - Take of the song of the land in your vessels, and carry down to the man a present, - A little balsam and a little honey, tragacanth gum and cistus gum, pistachio nuts, and almonds.
to all of them, gave he to each man changes of raiment, - but, to Benjamin, he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment. Moreover, to his father, sent he as followeth - ten he-asses, laden from the best of Egypt, - and ten she-asses laden with corn and bread and nourishing food for his father for the way.
And, a bribe, shalt thou not take, - for the bribe, blindeth the clear-sighted, and perverteth the words of the righteous.
every man according as his hand can give, - according to the blessing of Yahweh thy God, which he hath bestowed upon thee.
Do not, I beseech thee, withdraw from hence, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said: I, will tarry until thou return.
But, abandoned men, said - How can this one save us? So they treated him with contempt, and brought him no present, - but he was as one that was deaf.
And he returned unto the man of God, he and all his company; and came, and took his stand before him, and said - Lo! I pray thee - I know that there is no God in all the earth, save in Israel, - now, therefore, I pray thee, accept a blessing from thy servant.
So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present in his hand, even every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' burden, - and came, and stood before him, and said - Thy son, Ben-hadad king of Syria, hath sent me unto thee, saying, Shall I recover from this sickness?
And Ahaz took the silver and the gold that was found in the house of Yahweh, and in the treasuries of the house of the king, - and sent them to the king of Assyria, as a bribe.
Then sent Hezekiah king of Judah unto the king of Assyria, to Lachish, saying - I have sinned, Return from me, What thou shalt lay upon me, I will bear. So the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah, three hundred talents of silver, and thirty talents of gold.
His silver, hath he not put out on interest, nor, a bribe against the innocent, hath he taken. He that doeth these things, shall not be shaken unto times age-abiding.
Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led in procession a body of captives, Thou hast received gifts consisting of men, Yea even the rebellious, That, Yah, Elohim, might settle down to rest.
Who justify the lawless, for a bribe, - Whereas the righteousness of the righteous, they take from him.
Do not hearken unto Hezekiah, - for, thus, saith the king of Assyria, Deal with me thankfully, and come out unto me, Then shall ye eat, Every one of his own vine and Every one of his own fig-tree, And drink every one the Waters of his own cistern:
Then, the king, exalted, Daniel, and, many large presents, gave he unto him, and set him to be ruler over all the province of Babylon, - and chief of the nobles, over all the wise men of Babylon.
Then spake Daniel, and said before the king, As for thy gifts, thine own let them remain, and, thy presents, on another, bestow, - howbeit, the writing, will I read to the king, and, the interpretation thereof, will I make known to him.
If, therefore, thou be bearing thy gift towards the altar, and, there, shouldst remember that, thy brother, hath aught against thee, leave, there, thy gift before the altar, and withdraw, - first, be reconciled unto thy brother, and, then, coming, be offering thy gift.
Until the day when, having given command unto the apostles, whom through Holy Spirit he had chosen, he was taken up;
And being in company with them he charged them, from Jerusalem, not to absent themselves, but - To abide around the promise of the Father which ye have heard of me,
And Peter said unto him - Thy silver, with thee, go to destruction! Because, the free-gift of God, thou didst suppose could, with money, be obtained!
Wherefore he saith - Ascending on high, he took captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
And, he, gave - some, indeed, to be apostles, and some, prophets, and some, evangelists, and some, shepherds and teachers, -
Fausets
So common in the East that there are 15 distinct Hebrew words for them. Minchah, from an inferior to a superior (Jg 3:15). Maseeth, vice versa (Es 2:18). Berakah, "a blessing," i.e. complimentary (2Ki 5:15). Shochad, a bribe (Ex 23:8; 2Ki 16:8). Many were not voluntary, but a compulsory exaction: tribute (2Ki 17:3). "To bring presents" is to own submission (Ps 68:29). That to a prophet was his consulting fee (1Sa 9:7), not a bribe (1Sa 12:3). To refuse a present was an insult; the wedding robe offered and slighted was the condemnation of the disrobed guest (Mt 22:11).
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And, a bribe, shalt thou not take, - for the bribe, blindeth the clear-sighted, and perverteth the words of the righteous.
And the sons of Israel made outcry unto Yahweh, and Yahweh raised up unto them a saviour, Ehud son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man left-handed, - and the sons of Israel sent, by his hand, a present, unto Eglon king of Moab.
Then said Saul to his young man: Behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man, for, the bread, hath failed from our sacks, and, present, there is none to bring to the man of God, - what is there with us?
Behold me! testify against me, before Yahweh, and before his Anointed - Whose, ox, have I taken? or whose, ass, have I taken? or whom have I oppressed? Whom have I crushed? or at whose, hands, have I taken a bribe, to cover up mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it unto you.
And he returned unto the man of God, he and all his company; and came, and took his stand before him, and said - Lo! I pray thee - I know that there is no God in all the earth, save in Israel, - now, therefore, I pray thee, accept a blessing from thy servant.
Against him, came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria, - and Hoshea became his servant, and rendered him a present.
Then the king made a great banquet, for all his rulers and his servants, the banquet of Esther, - and, a remission, for all the provinces, made he, and gave a present, according to the bounty of a king.
Because of thy temple above Jerusalem, Unto thee, shall kings bear along a gift -
But the king, entering to view the guests, saw there a man, who had not put on a wedding-garment, -
Morish
These have a large place in the O.T. history, and several different words are used which are often translated PRESENTS. There were
1. Gifts from a superior to an inferior in good will and kindness and as rewards. Es 2:18; Da 2:6,48.
2. From an inferior to a superior. 2Ch 9:24; 17:5,11. This also took the form of tribute, an acknowledgement of submission. 1Sa 10:27; 1Ki 4:21. When Solomon reigned supreme, 'all the earth' sought to Solomon to hear his wisdom, and brought presents, as did the queen of Sheba. 1Ki 10:2,24-25. This is a type of Christ's kingdom as established on earth, when presents, as willing tribute, will be sent from all nations to the Lord Jesus. Ps 45:12; 72:10,15; Isa 60:9.
3. Gifts to judges: these were very apt to become bribes, and were strictly prohibited. Ex 23:8; De 16:19; 2Ch 19:7. It was usual also to take presents to prophets, 1Sa 9:7; and as the prophets were sometimes judges, the gifts were liable to become bribes, as they did with the sons of Samuel, though Samuel himself could challenge the people, and they admitted the fact, that he had never taken a bribe to blind his eyes therewith. 1Sa 8:3; 12:3.
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And, a bribe, shalt thou not take, - for the bribe, blindeth the clear-sighted, and perverteth the words of the righteous.
Thou shalt not wrest judgment, thou shalt not take note of faces, - nor shalt thou accept a bribe, for the bribe, blindeth the eyes of wise men, and perverteth the words of righteous men.
Howbeit his sons walked not in his ways, but stooped to extortion, - and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
Then said Saul to his young man: Behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man, for, the bread, hath failed from our sacks, and, present, there is none to bring to the man of God, - what is there with us?
But, abandoned men, said - How can this one save us? So they treated him with contempt, and brought him no present, - but he was as one that was deaf.
Behold me! testify against me, before Yahweh, and before his Anointed - Whose, ox, have I taken? or whose, ass, have I taken? or whom have I oppressed? Whom have I crushed? or at whose, hands, have I taken a bribe, to cover up mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it unto you.
Yea she came to Jerusalem with a very heavily-laden train, of camels bearing spices, and gold in great abundance, and precious stones, - and, when she was come to Solomon, she spake unto him all that was near her heart;
And, all the earth, did seek the face of Solomon, - to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. And, they, did bring every man his present - vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses and mules, - a rate of a year in a year.
and, they, were bringing in every man his present - utensils of silver, and utensils of gold, and mantles, armour, and spices, horses and mules, - the need of a year in a year.
Therefore did Yahweh establish the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah gave a present unto Jehoshaphat, - and he came to have riches and honour, in abundance.
And, from among the Philistines, were they bringing in unto Jehoshaphat a present, and silver as tribute, - even the Arabians, were bringing in unto him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams, and seven thousand seven hundred he-goats.
Then the king made a great banquet, for all his rulers and his servants, the banquet of Esther, - and, a remission, for all the provinces, made he, and gave a present, according to the bounty of a king.
Also, the daughter of Tyre, cometh in with a present! Thy face, shall the rich of the people appease.
The kings of Tarshish and of the Coastlands, A gift, let them render, The kings of Sheba and Seba, A present, let them bring;
Let him live, then! And be there given unto him of the gold of Sheba, - Let prayer also be offered for him continually, All the day, let him be blessed.
Surely for me, shall, Coastlands, wait, And the ships of Tarshish first, To bring in thy sons, from far, Their silver and their gold with them, - Unto the name of Yahweh, thy God, And unto the Holy One of Israel Because he hath adorned thee.
but, if, the dream and the interpretation thereof, ye will declare, gifts and a present and great dignity, shall ye receive from before me, - therefore, the dream and the interpretation thereof, declare ye unto me.
Then, the king, exalted, Daniel, and, many large presents, gave he unto him, and set him to be ruler over all the province of Babylon, - and chief of the nobles, over all the wise men of Babylon.
Watsons
GIFTS. The practice of making presents is very common in oriental countries. The custom probably had its origin among those men who first sustained the office of kings or rulers, and who, from the novelty and perhaps the weakness attached to their situation, chose, rather than make the hazardous attempt of exacting taxes, to content themselves with receiving those presents which might be freely offered, 1Sa 10:27. Hence it passed into a custom, that whoever approached the king should come with a gift. This was the practice and the expectation. The custom of presenting gifts was subsequently extended to other great men; to men who were inferior to the king, but who were, nevertheless, men of influence and rank; it was also extended to those who were equals, when they were visited, Pr 18:16. Kings themselves were in the habit of making presents, probably in reference to the custom in question and the feelings connected with it, to those individuals, their inferiors in point of rank, whom they wished to honour, and also to those who, like themselves, were clothed with the royal authority. These presents, namely, such as were presented by the king as a token of the royal esteem and honour, are almost invariably denominated in the Hebrew, ??? and ????, 1Ki 15:19; 2Ki 16:8; 18:14; Isa 36:16. The more ancient prophets did not deem it discreditable to them to receive presents, nor unbecoming their sacred calling, except when, as was sometimes the case, they refused by way of expressing their dissatisfaction or indignation, 2Ki 5:15; 8:9. In later times, when false prophets, in order to obtain money, prophesied without truth and without authority, the true prophets, for the purpose of keeping the line of distinction as broad as possible, rejected every thing that looked like reward. Gifts of this kind, that have now been described, are not to be confounded with those which are called ???, and which were presented to judges, not as a mark of esteem and honour, but for purposes of bribery and corruption. The former was considered an honour to the giver, but a gift of the latter kind has been justly reprobated in every age, Ex 22:8; De 10:17; 16:19; 27:25; Ps 15:5; 26:10; Isa 1:23; 5:23; 33:15. The giver was not restricted as to the kind of present which he should make. He might present not only silver and gold, but clothes and arms, also different kinds of food, in a word any thing which could be of benefit to the recipient, Ge 43:11; 1Sa 9:7; 16:20; Job 42:11. It was the custom anciently, as it is at the present time in the east, for an individual when visiting a person of high rank, to make some presents of small value to the servants or domestics of the person visited, 1Sa 25:27. It was the usual practice among kings and princes to present to their favourite officers in the government, to ambassadors from foreign courts, to foreigners of distinction, and to men eminent for their learning, garments of greater or less value, Ge 45:22-23; Es 8:15. The royal wardrobe, in which a large number of such garments was kept, is denominated in Hebrew ?????, 2Ch 34:22. It was considered an honour of the highest kind, if a king or any person in high authority thought it proper, as a manifestation of his favour, to give away to another the garment which he had previously worn himself, 1Sa 18:4. In the east, at the present day, it is expected, that every one who has received a garment from the king will immediately clothe himself in it, and promptly present himself and render his homage to the giver; otherwise he runs the hazard of exciting the king's displeasure, Mt 22:11-12. It was sometimes the case, that the king, when he made a feast, presented vestments to all the guests who were invited, with which they clothed themselves before they sat down to 2:2Ki 10:22; Ge 45:22; Re 3:5. In oriental countries, the presents which are made to kings and princes are to this day, carried on beasts of burden, are attended with a body of men, and are escorted with much pomp. It matters not how light or how small the present may be, it must either be carried on the back of a beast of burden, or by a man, who must support it with both his hands, Jg 3:18; 2Ki 8:9.
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Then Israel their father said unto them - If so, then do this, - Take of the song of the land in your vessels, and carry down to the man a present, - A little balsam and a little honey, tragacanth gum and cistus gum, pistachio nuts, and almonds.
to all of them, gave he to each man changes of raiment, - but, to Benjamin, he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment.
to all of them, gave he to each man changes of raiment, - but, to Benjamin, he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment. Moreover, to his father, sent he as followeth - ten he-asses, laden from the best of Egypt, - and ten she-asses laden with corn and bread and nourishing food for his father for the way.
if the thief be found, he shall give in restitution double, if the thief be not found, then shall the owner of the house be brought near unto God to swear that he hath not laid his hand on the property of his neighbour.
For as touching Yahweh your God, he, is God of gods, and Lord of lords; the great the mighty, and the fearful GOD, who respecteth not persons, nor accepteth a bribe;
Thou shalt not wrest judgment, thou shalt not take note of faces, - nor shalt thou accept a bribe, for the bribe, blindeth the eyes of wise men, and perverteth the words of righteous men.
Cursed, be he that taketh a bribe to shed innocent blood. And all the people shall say - Amen.
And so it was, when he had made an end of offering the present, that he sent away the people who had been bearing the present;
But, abandoned men, said - How can this one save us? So they treated him with contempt, and brought him no present, - but he was as one that was deaf.
And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe which was upon him, and gave it to David, - and his equipments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
Now, therefore, this blessing which thy maid-servant hath brought to my lord, let it even be given unto the young men who are going to and fro at the feet of my lord.
Let there be a covenant between me and thee, as between my father and thy father: Lo! I have sent thee a gift, silver and gold, Come break thy covenant with Baasha, king of Israel, that he may go up from against me.
And he returned unto the man of God, he and all his company; and came, and took his stand before him, and said - Lo! I pray thee - I know that there is no God in all the earth, save in Israel, - now, therefore, I pray thee, accept a blessing from thy servant.
So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present in his hand, even every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' burden, - and came, and stood before him, and said - Thy son, Ben-hadad king of Syria, hath sent me unto thee, saying, Shall I recover from this sickness?
So Hilkiah and they whom the king had named went into Huldah the prophetess, wife of Shallum son of Tokhath son of Hasrah keeper of the wardrobe, she, having her dwelling in Jerusalem, in the new city, - and they spake unto her accordingly.
And, Mordecai, went forth from the presence of the king, in royal apparel, of blue and white, with a large diadem of gold, and a mantle of fine linen and purple, - and, the city Shusan, was bright and joyful.
Then came unto him all his brethren and all his sisters, and all his former acquaintances, and they did eat bread with him in his house, - and shewed sympathy with him and comforted him, over all the calamity which Yahweh had brought upon him, - and they gave him, every one a weight of money, and every one, a ring of gold.
His silver, hath he not put out on interest, nor, a bribe against the innocent, hath he taken. He that doeth these things, shall not be shaken unto times age-abiding.
In whose hands is a plot, and, their right hand, is filled with a bribe.
The gift of a man, maketh room for him, and, before great men, setteth him down.
Thy rulers, are unruly, and companions of thieves, Every one of the people, loveth a bribe, and runneth after rewards, - The fatherless, they do not vindicate, And, the plea of the widow, reacheth them not.
Who justify the lawless, for a bribe, - Whereas the righteousness of the righteous, they take from him.
He that walketh righteously, And speaketh uprightly, - He that refuseth the gain of exactions That shaketh his hands free from holding a bribe, That stoppeth his ear from hearkening to deeds of blood, And shutteth his eyes from giving countenance to wrong,
Do not hearken unto Hezekiah, - for, thus, saith the king of Assyria, Deal with me thankfully, and come out unto me, Then shall ye eat, Every one of his own vine and Every one of his own fig-tree, And drink every one the Waters of his own cistern:
But the king, entering to view the guests, saw there a man, who had not put on a wedding-garment, - And saith unto him - Friend! how camest thou in here, not having a wedding-garment? And, he, was put to silence.
He that overcometh, shall, thus, array himself in white garments, and in nowise will I blot out his name, from the book of life; and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his messengers.