leave," and the host, finding that he cannot longer detain the friend, replies, ma' Salameh, "with peace," that is, "Go in peace," and again the friend responds, "Peace to you." So the Bible story makes the old man say, "Peace be with thee."1 Thus Amasa responded to David, "Peace, peace be unto thee, and peace to thy helpers." See other instances, as the spies,3 and of our Lord to his disciples.* 95. Going with the Guest.-It is quite in keeping with Oriental politeness to accompany the departing guest a certain distance on the way, depending upon the rank or character of the friend. If of a lower rank, the host rises and goes toward the door; if equal, he accompanies him to the door, if superior, the host goes to the gate and a distance, sometimes for several hours. This is a high type of politeness, and is called "bringing the guest on his way." So Paul was accompanied from Tyre and from Cæsarea by Mnason and others.5 Mr. Haddad, out of his experience as a native Syrian, says, "When a person is going away, friends will go with him a few miles, and kiss at parting." "When I was leaving some Mt. Lebanon friends, they followed me for two hours until I was obliged to tell them that they must go no further." Compare the case of Naomi and Ruth. 6 96. Greeting and Parting.-Other residents of the East tell of embracing as characteristic of Oriental greetings and partings. Men as well as women throw their arms around each other's necks and kiss each other on both cheeks. In Syria, embracing is not clasping in the arms, but grasping the shoulders, as before described, and placing the head over one shoulder, and then over the other, often without kissing. This resembles the ancient mode of "falling on the neck." So Paul embraced his disciples. In like manner the father welcomed his prodigal son.8 In Syria, Prof. Grant observed a very graceful greeting, the right hand sweeping downward toward the ground, or touching 1 Judg. 19: 20. Luke 24: 36; John 20: 19. 21 Chron. 12: 18. Judg. 18: 15. the breast, then the lips and forehead. The response was prompt and by the same set of gestures. Kissing is more frequent among women friends, meeting after a separation, than among men. It is still true, as in our Lord's day, that some love public greetings, as in the market-place.1 1 Matt. 237. XII. SOCIAL INTERCOURSE-SALUTATIONS. 97. Salutations Important.-Salutations among Orientals precede and follow all intercourse. Half and sometimes ninetenths of many of their letters consist of salutations. Notice the many in Paul's letter to the Romans, 16th chapter.1 In some business letters the greetings may be spun out over one or two pages, and the business put into a single sentence. “Men will stop in the midst of conversation and exchange a series of complimentary expressions. A necessary prelude to intercourse between master and servant or monarch and subject is the salutation. As showing how rude the omission of it is regarded by Orientals, Prof. Post tells of a Caliph on a hunting expedition calling out to a shepherd lad: "Boy, fetch me that gazelle." The youth raised his head and replied: "You are ignorant of well-born men when you speak so contemptuously to me. Your words are the words of a giant, but your manners are the manners of an ass!" The Caliph, in anger, answered, "You wretch! Do you not know me?" The youth retorted, "Your want of manners has caused me to know you, but you began to talk to me without first saluting me!" This lack of salutation of Naaman by Elisha greatly angered the Syrian general. For the prophet merely sent a messenger to tell him what to do to be cured.2 98. Makes Bonds.—On the other hand, the customary salutation puts even the stranger within the charmed circle of kinship. Dr. Trumbull relates how he unwittingly brought himself and his whole party within the bonds of hospitality of a Sheikh and his tribe by politely saluting a passing Bedouin woman. He and his companions were compelled by the Sheikh to halt, dismount, wait for a fire to be kindled, coffee to be made 1 See 1 Cor. 16: 19-21; Gal. 1; Eph. 1; Col. 1. 22 Kings 5: 10. and served, and the Sheikh urged them further to remain until a lamb should be slain and cooked, and bread baked for the party. After all this trouble, the Oriental was profuse in his thanks for the opportunity to entertain them, he would take no payment of the chance stranger, but helped him to mount his horse and kissed the hands of the mounting guest, and blessed him with a parting Salaam, "Peace," as he departed. 99. Salaams.-These salaams and salutations take time, but time is of no value to the Asiatic. Business can wait, as of secondary moment. The amenities of life are a necessity; work, trade, learning, and other things are mere incidentals. The notables, civil and religious, require an exceptional amount of formality and deference in their salutations. Their hand or the hems of the garments must be kissed, the bowing and genuflections must be profuse, and their blessings invoked on every conceivable occasion. All this implies much delay. Several minutes are spent in bowing, gesturing, and repeating the words, Salaam, alai-Kum, "Peace be upon you," and the reply, Wa-alai-Kum as-salâm, "On you be peace," that is, "of God." So Elisha saluted the Shunammite-Shalom, "Peace to thee," "peace upon thy husband," "peace upon thy child." And the Shunammite answered by the customary salutation, "Shalōm, Peace.”1 Then the woman caught Elisha by his feet-a further customary act in salutation. In Syria the physician is now so saluted at almost every visit to a hospital. "So quickly is this done," says Prof. Post, "that there is no chance to prevent it." "It was peculiarly un-Oriental for Gahazi to endeavor to frustrate the woman's homage to Elisha, and to interfere with her petition. ... Syrian servants do not like to turn away street beggars even from their masters, lest they defraud them of some possible alms." 100. The Delays.-When these formalities in saluting are so punctiliously observed, we can imagine the delays. They may 12 Kings 4:26. She did not say, "It is well," as the A. V. incorrectly renders the greetings. be repeated ten times, and a long exchange of news, a chat in the shade of a tree, a narghileh or two, come fairly within the category of a salutation, says Prof. Post. The Arabs, according to Stapfer, still say, Marhaba, "May you be enlarged," which may correspond to the New Testament greeting, chairein, "hail" or "rejoice," while they have also the counterpart, eirene soi, “Peace to you," or chaire, "Be joyful." This was the same as the Roman salute in our Lord's day, salve, "Be in health" and vale, "well or fare (thee) well"; the latter was said at parting. W. M. Thomson asserts that there is such an amount of insincerity, flattery and falsehood in the terms of salutation prescribed by etiquette that our Lord wished his disciples "to dispense with them as far as possible." But the hindrance to their work was also a strong reason for the command. So, too, he forbade them to go from house to house.2 For when a stranger arrives in an Oriental village, strict etiquette requires all the families, one after another, to invite him to a meal. This would take much time, for formal salutations must be made to every person and upon every occasion. Any business calling for despatch could not be done were one to stop for salutations. Hence, the Scripture charge "not to salute" any by the way.3 1 101. The Strict Etiquette.-Modern Moslems have special customs to observe in salutations. Thus, one riding should first salute a person on foot; one who passes by should first salute persons standing or sitting; a small party those of a large party; a young person should be first to salute the aged. One who enters the house should first salute the people of that house, and do the same when leaving it. But in a crowded city, or on a road where many are passing, it is not necessary to salute many whom one may pass. And yet, some man of rank or a venerable Sheikh usually salutes another who appears to be of rank, of wealth, or of learning, even in a crowded street; a salutation must always be returned. If, however, one should salute another of a different religion by mistake, as a Moslem greeting 1 See Luke 10: 4. 2 Luke 10: 7. 2 Kings 4:29; Luke 10: 4. |