Litter
LITTER
A light, covered conveyance, resembling a sedan chair, or a palanquin; borne by men, but oftener at the present day in Syria between two mules or camels. Solomon’s chariot, Son 3:9, or bed, is supposed to have been an elegant mule-litter. The Hebrew word translated litters in Isa 66:20, is rendered wagons in Num 7:3 .
Fuente: American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
Litter
occurs in the Auth. Vers. as a translation of (tsab, from , to move slowly), in Isa 66:20, (Sept. ), where a sedan or palanquin for the conveyance of a princely personage, borne by hand or upon the shoulders, or perhaps on the backs of animals, is evidently referred to. The original term occurs elsewhere only in Num 6:3, in the phrase (egloth’ tsab, carts of the litter kind, A.V. “covered wagons”), where it is used of the large and commodious vehicles employed for the transportation of the materials and furniture of the tabernacle, being drawn by oxen. The term therefore signifies properly a hand-litter, and secondarily a wain or wheel-carriage. Litters or palanquins were, as we know, in use among the ancient Egyptians. They were borne upon the shoulders of men, and appear to have been used for carrying persons of consideration short distances on visits, like the sedan chairs of a former day in England (see Wilkinson, Anc. Eg. 1:73). In Son 3:9, we find the word , appiryon’ (perhaps a foreign [Egyptian] word), Sept. , Vulg. ferculum, which occurs nowhere else in Scripture, and is applied to a vehicle used by king Solomon. In the immediate context it is described as consisting of a framework of cedar-wood, in which were set silver stanchions supporting a gold railing. with a purple-covered seat, and an embroidered rug, the last a present from the Jewish ladies.
This word is rendered “chariot” in our Authorized Version, although unlike any other word so rendered in that version. It literally means a moving couch, and is usually conceived to denote a kind of sedan, litter, or rather palanquin, in which great personages and women were borne from place to place. “The name as well as the object immediately suggests that it may have been nearly the same thing as the takht-ravan, the moving throne or seat of the Persians. It consists of a light frame fixed on two strong poles, like those of our sedan chair. This frame is generally covered with cloth, and has a door, sometimes of lattice-work, at each side. It is carried by two mules, one between the poles before, the other behind. These conveyances are used by great persons when disposed for retirement or ease during a journey, or when sick or feeble through age; but they are chiefly used by ladies of consideration in their journeys” (Kitto). Some readers may remember the “litter of red cloth, adorned with pearls and jewels,” together with ten mules (to bear it by turns), which king Zahr-Shah prepared for the journey of his daughter (Lane’s Arabian Nights 1, 1:528). This was doubtless of the kind which is borne by four mules, two behind and two before. In Arabia. or in countries where Arabian usages prevail, two camels are usually employed to bear the takhtravan, and sometimes two horses. When borne by camels, the head of the hindmost of the animals is bent painfully down under the vehicle. This is the most comfortable kind of litter, and two light persons may travel in it. “The shibrieyeh is another kind of camel-litter, resembling the Indian howdah, by which name (or rather hodaj) it is sometimes called. It is composed of a small square platform with a canopy or arched covering. It accommodates but one person. and is placed upon the back of a camel, and rests upon two square carmel-chests, one on each side of the animal.” SEE CART; SEE CAMEL.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Litter
(Heb. tsab, as being lightly and gently borne), a sedan or palanquin for the conveyance of persons of rank (Isa. 66:20). In Num. 7:3, the words “covered wagons” are more literally “carts of the litter kind.” There they denote large and commodious vehicles drawn by oxen, and fitted for transporting the furniture of the temple.
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Litter
liter (, cabh): (1) Used upon backs of camels for easy riding, made of a wooden frame with light mattress and pillows, also a covering above, supported by upright pieces, sometimes having also side awnings for protection from the sun’s rays. Mule litters were made with pairs of shafts projecting before and behind, between which the animals were yoked (Isa 66:20). Litter-wagons ( , ‘eghloth cabh) are mentioned in Num 7:3; the horse litter (, phorion) is mentioned in 2 Macc 9:8; compare 3:27. (2) , mittah, palanquin or litter of Solomon (Son 3:7; compare Son 3:9). See PALANQUIN.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Litter
Fig. 245Egyptian Litter
The word translated litter, in Isa 66:20, is the same which, in Num 7:3, denotes the wains or carts drawn by oxen, in which the materials of the tabernacle were removed from place to place. It was not, therefore, a litter, which is not drawn, but carried. This is the only place in which the word occurs in the Authorized translation. We are not, however, to infer from this that the Hebrews had no vehicles of the kind. Litters or palanquins were, as we know, in use among the ancient Egyptians. They were borne upon the shoulders of men (fig. 245), and appear to have been used for carrying persons of consideration short distances on visits, like the sedan chairs of a former day in England. We doubt if the Hebrews had this kind of litter, as it scarcely agrees with their simple, unluxurious habits; but that they had litters borne by beasts, such as are still common in Western Asia, seems in the highest degree probable.
Fig. 246Persian Litter
In Son 3:9 we find a word which occurs nowhere else in Scripture, and is applied to a vehicle used by King Solomon. This word is rendered ‘chariot’ in our Authorized Version, although unlike any other word so rendered in that version. It literally means a moving couch, and is usually conceived to denote a kind of sedan, litter, or rather palanquin, in which great personages and women were borne from place to place. The name, as well as the object, immediately suggests that it may have been nearly the same thing as the moving throne or seat of the Persians. It consists of a light frame fixed on two strong poles, like those of our sedan-chair. The frame is generally covered with cloth, and has a door, sometimes of lattice work, at each side. It is carried by two mules, one between the poles before, the other behind. These conveyances are used by great persons when disposed for retirement or ease during a journey, or when sick or feeble from age. But they are chiefly used by ladies of consideration in their journeys (fig. 246).
Fig. 247Litter with Camels
The popular illustrators of Scripture do not appear to have been acquainted with this and the other litters of Western Asia; and have, therefore, resorted to India, and drawn their illustrations from the palanquins borne by men, and from the howdahs of elephants. This is unnecessary, as Western Asia still supplies conveyances of this description, more suitable and more likely to have been anciently in use, than any which the further east can produce. If the one already described should seem too humble, there are other takht-ravans of more imposing appearance. Some readers may remember the ‘litter of red cloth, adorned with pearls and jewels,’ together with ten mules (to bear it by turns), which the King Zahr Shah prepared for the journey of his daughter. This was, doubtless, of the kind which is borne by four mules, two behind and two before. In Arabia, or in the countries where Arabian usages prevail, two camels are usually employed to bear the takht-ravan, and sometimes two horses. When borne by camels, the head of the hindmost of the animals is bent painfully down under the vehicle. This is the most comfortable kind of litter, and two light persons may travel in it.
Fig. 248Camel Litter
The shibreeyeh is another kind of camel-litter, resembling the Indian howdah, by which name (or rather hdaj) it is sometimes called. It is composed of a small square platform with a canopy or arched covering. It accommodates but one person, and is placed upon the back of a camel, and rests upon two square camel-chests, one on each side of the animal. It is very evident, not only from the text in view, but from others, that the Hebrews had litters; and there is little reason to doubt that they were the same as those now employed in Palestine and the neighboring countries, where there are still the same circumstances of climate, the same domestic animals, and essentially the same habits of life, as in the Biblical period.
Fuente: Popular Cyclopedia Biblical Literature
Litter
Sedan or light coach, mentioned among the various means by which the Jews will be conveyed to the promised land. Isa 66:20.
Fuente: Concise Bible Dictionary
Litter
An Oriental contrivance for carrying persons.
Isa 66:20