Gift: 1. An gratuity
(Proverbs 19:6) to secure favour
(Proverbs 18:16; 21:14) a
thank-offering
(Numbers 18:11) or a dowry
(Genesis 34:12)2. An oblation or proppitatory gift
(2 Samuel 8:2,6; 1 Chronicles 18:2,6; 2 Chronicles 26:8)
(Psalms 45:12; 72:10)
3. A bribe to a judge to obtain a favourable verdict
(Exodus 23:8)
(Deuteronomy 16:19)
4. Simply a thing given
(Matthew 7:11; Luke 11:13; Ephesians 4:8)
(a) sacrifical
(Matthew 5:23,24; 8:4)
(b) eleemosynary
(Luke 21:1)
(c) a gratuity
(John 4:10; Acts 8:20)
In
(Acts 2:38) the generic word dorea is rendered "gift." It differs
from the charisma
(1 Corinthians 12:4) as denoting not miraculous powers but
the working of a new spirit in men, and that spirit from God. The
giving of presents entered largely into the affairs of common life in
the East. The nature of the presents was as various as were the
occasions:
1. food
(1 Samuel 9:7; 16:20)
2. sheep and cattle
(Genesis 32:13-15)
3. gold
(2 Samuel 18:11)
4. jewels
(Genesis 24:53)
5. furniture, and vessels for eating and drinking
(2 Samuel 17:28)
6. delicacies, as spices, honey, etc.
(1 Kings 10:25; 2 Kings 5:22)
The mode of presentation was with as much parade as possible: the
presents were conveyed by the hands of servants
(Judges 3:18) or still
better, on the backs of beasts of burden
(2 Kings 8:9) The refusal of a
present was regarded as a high indignity; and this constituted the
aggravated insult noticed in
(Matthew 22:11) the marriage robe having
been offered and refused.
