[49] See Prov. vii. 16: “Intexui funibus lectulum meum, stravi tapetibus pictis ex Ægypto”; Ezech. xxvii. 7; Pliny, _Nat. Hist._, xix. 2. [50] Euseb., _Evang. Prep._, 1. vii. c. viii.; _Pat. Grec._, 1. xxi. p. 530. [51] “The Hebrews have so much affinity with the rites, sacrifices, ceremonies, and sacred customs of the Egyptians that I am fully persuaded we have before us either Hebraizing Egyptians or Egyptizing Hebrews.” [52] Exod. xii. [53] The Apis of gold, worshipped by the Israelites in the desert. [54] Acts vii. 22. [55] See in Sir J. G. Wilkinson’s work, _A Popular Account of the Ancient Egyptians_, vol. i. pp. 267 and 270, two arks, covered with the symbols of divinity. The long wings of the genii are there represented as veiling the face of Ammon Ra and Ra Keper――the _Creator-God_ and the _Hidden God_. The two genii are face to face, and veil the divine mystery with their wings, like the cherubim over the Ark of the Covenant. [56] The following episode in the life of David shows the importance and purpose of the ephod in Israel: “Now when David understood that Saul secretly prepared evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest: Bring hither the ephod. And David said: O Lord God of Israel, thy servant hath heard a report that Saul designeth to come to Ceila, to destroy the city for my sake: will the men of Ceila deliver me into his hands? and will Saul come down as thy servant hath heard? O Lord God of Israel, tell thy servant. And the Lord said: He will come down. And David said: Will the men of Ceila deliver me, and my men, into the hands of Saul? And the Lord said: They will deliver thee up.”――1 Kings xxiii. 9. See also 1 Kings xxx. 7, 8. Thus God answered by the ephod. [57] We find the following, for example, in Suidas, under the word _ephod_: “_Ephod_ signifies in Hebrew _science_ and _redemption_. In the middle of this vestment there was, as it were, a star of gold, and on its sides two emeralds; between the two emeralds a _diamond_. The priest consulted God by these stones. If Jehovah were favorable to the projects of Israel, the diamond flashed forth light; if they were displeasing to him, it remained in its natural state; and if he were about to strike his people by war, it became the color of blood; or by pestilence, it turned black.” (Suidas is here commenting upon Josephus.) _Ant. Jud._ i. iii. c. 8, n. 9. [58] Exod. xxviii. 6: “And they shall make the ephod of gold, and violet, and purple, and scarlet twice-dyed, and fine twisted linen, embroidered with divers colors.” [59] Exod. xxxix. 3: “And he cut thin plates of gold, and drew them small into threads, that they might be twisted with the woof of the aforesaid color.” (Douai).