Leviticus 19:27
"Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the
corners of thy beard."
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Round the corners of your heads - This may allude to such a custom as that of
the Arabs described by Herodotus. They used to show honor to their deity Orotal
by cutting the hair away from the temples in a circular form. Compare the margin
reference.
Mar the corners of thy beard - It has been conjectured that this also relates to
a custom which existed among the Arabs,
According to Herodotus, the ancient Arabians believed in only two gods:
"They believe in no other gods except Dionysus and the Heavenly Aphrodite; and
they say that they wear their hair as Dionysus does his, cutting it round the
head and shaving the temples. They call Dionysus, Orotalt/ Allahu Ta'ala; and
Aphrodite, Alilat."
Orotalt - The name which the Arabians used to denote Dionysos. According to the
historian Herodotus, the Arabians only worshiped Aphrodite (goddess of Love) and
Dionysos. Aphrodite was worshiped under the name Alilat, i.e. The Goddess.
Herodotus mentions this connection between Dionysos and Orotalt when he was
relating the pledge of peace that the Persian king, Cambyses, made to the
Arabians so they would assist the Persian army by providing water for crossing
the desert of the Sinai Peninsula and thus allowing the Persians to attack King
Amasis of Egypt. The two men making the pledge would allow a third man to cut
their hands and smear their blood on seven stones, all the while calling on
Orotalt (Dionysos) and Alilat (Aphrodite) to witness the pledge. Herodotus says
that Orotalt and Alilat were the only two Immortals the Arabians honored and
that men would crop their hair like Dionysos by cutting it round the head and
shaving the temples.
Laqad sadaqa Allahu rasoolahu alrru/ya bialhaqqi latadkhulunna almasjida
alharama in shaa Allahu amineena muhalliqeena ruoosakum wamuqassireena la
takhafoona faAAalima ma lam taAAlamoo fajaAAala min dooni thalika fathan
qareeban
Transliteration
Allah hath fulfilled the vision for His messenger in very truth. Ye shall indeed
enter the Inviolable Place of Worship, if Allah will, secure, (having your hair)
shaven and cut, not fearing. But He knoweth that which ye know not, and hath
given you a near victory beforehand.
"Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the
corners of thy beard."
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Round the corners of your heads - This may allude to such a custom as that of
the Arabs described by Herodotus. They used to show honor to their deity Orotal
by cutting the hair away from the temples in a circular form. Compare the margin
reference.
Mar the corners of thy beard - It has been conjectured that this also relates to
a custom which existed among the Arabs,
According to Herodotus, the ancient Arabians believed in only two gods:
"They believe in no other gods except Dionysus and the Heavenly Aphrodite; and
they say that they wear their hair as Dionysus does his, cutting it round the
head and shaving the temples. They call Dionysus, Orotalt/ Allahu Ta'ala; and
Aphrodite, Alilat."
Orotalt - The name which the Arabians used to denote Dionysos. According to the
historian Herodotus, the Arabians only worshiped Aphrodite (goddess of Love) and
Dionysos. Aphrodite was worshiped under the name Alilat, i.e. The Goddess.
Herodotus mentions this connection between Dionysos and Orotalt when he was
relating the pledge of peace that the Persian king, Cambyses, made to the
Arabians so they would assist the Persian army by providing water for crossing
the desert of the Sinai Peninsula and thus allowing the Persians to attack King
Amasis of Egypt. The two men making the pledge would allow a third man to cut
their hands and smear their blood on seven stones, all the while calling on
Orotalt (Dionysos) and Alilat (Aphrodite) to witness the pledge. Herodotus says
that Orotalt and Alilat were the only two Immortals the Arabians honored and
that men would crop their hair like Dionysos by cutting it round the head and
shaving the temples.
Laqad sadaqa Allahu rasoolahu alrru/ya bialhaqqi latadkhulunna almasjida
alharama in shaa Allahu amineena muhalliqeena ruoosakum wamuqassireena la
takhafoona faAAalima ma lam taAAlamoo fajaAAala min dooni thalika fathan
qareeban
Transliteration
Allah hath fulfilled the vision for His messenger in very truth. Ye shall indeed
enter the Inviolable Place of Worship, if Allah will, secure, (having your hair)
shaven and cut, not fearing. But He knoweth that which ye know not, and hath
given you a near victory beforehand.
RSS Feed