GAMES: A means of securing entertainment
and relaxation, as is indicated by the most general
Hebrew term "to play,"
;zih,.,hak ( = " to laugh long
and heartily "). The Old Testament gives no
detailed information about the games of children,
but it may be assumed that Hebrew young people
employed their
mental, muscular, and nervous
energy in the same way as the children of all other
peoples. Even the positive prohibition of images
by Islam has not prevented the children
from delighting in models of horses, sheep, and the like.
Since in spite of
Ex. xx. 4
there were varied products of the arts in animal and other forms in the
Temple; the Hebrew children doubtless had their
playthings made after similar models. A hint of a
mode of entertainment may be given in
Job xli. 5"
Wilt thou play with him [leviathan] as with a bird?
or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? " (cf. Baruch
iii. 17). The excavations in Taanach have revealed
bone implements such as the Arabs still employ in
playing dice. The Talmud (Rosh ha-Shanah i.
8) pronounces those who train doves for speed trials or
to lure other doves into their dove-cotes and those
who use dice incompetent to bear witness. There
is mention of a game of drafts in
Sanhedrin 25b. Early rabbis condemned card-playing. To win
money from a Jew by a game is robbery, to win it
from a Gentile is not robbery though a breach of
the law. "Odd and even" was a game of the
Egyptians; Assyrian dice of bronze with spots
of gold have been found; a similar game, played by
the drawing of arrows, was used by the ancient
Arabs; the,' Homeric Greeks had both drafts and
dice; and Tacitus reports that the Germans played
with dice. Doubtless the early Hebrews in their
moments of leisure, as they sat at their doors or
met in public gathering-places (Gem. xix. 1;
Lam. v. 14)
or on festal occasions
(Judges xiv. 10 sqq.),
amused themselves in similar manner, and it is
known that they sharpened their wits in the
propounding and answering of riddles
(Judges xiv. 14 sqq.;
I Kings x. 1;
Prov. xxx. 21 sqq.).
The drama does not seem to have been congenial to the
Hebrew character, and for this reason the interpretation of Canticles as a drama. seems less reasonable,
though in later times the Jews are reported to have
gone upon the stage and written dramas (Josephus,
Life, iii.; Clement of Alexandria, Strom., i. 155).
There were also what may be classed as sensuous
games in distinction from those already mentioned
which exercise primarily the mental faculties. In
these song and
music occupy prominent parts
(Ex. xv. 20-21;
I Sam. xvi. 16 sqq.;
Isa. v. 12;
Jer. xxx. 19;
Amos vi. 5;
see
Music, Hebrew).
Games which exercised the powers of body and will
were numerous; among
these dances take first place
(Job xxi. 11;
Jer. xxxi. 4),
in which the course of the seasons or national success or personal prowess
was celebrated in joyous
and concerted movement
(Judges xxi. 21;
I Sam. xviii. 6;
see
Dancing).
With such dancing to the accompaniment of music
and song Samson was probably expected to entertain his enemies
(Judges xvi. 25).
The foot-race is implied in
Ps. xix. 5,
and by the references to the speed of Saul, Jonathan, and Asahel
(II Sam. i. 23, ii. 18).
Skill of hand and arm were employed in a
game of ball
(Isa. xxii.18), which game is recognized
among Assyrian sports, is mentioned by the rabbis,
and was known to the Egyptians. The shooting of
arrows at a mark was likewise a means of entertainment
(I Sam. xx. 20;
Job xvi. 12;
Lam. iii. 12).
Throwing the stone is suggested by
Zech. xii. 3
(cf. C. eon Orelli, Durchs heilige Land, Basel, 1890, p.
291). The Jews raised energetic protest against
the adoption of Greek sports
(I Macc. i. 14;
II Macc. iv. 9-15);
but the Herodian faction had theaters and amphitheaters near Jerusalem and
Joppa, and Herod's interest in such
matters is reported by Josephus (Ant. XV., viii. 1, ix. 6, XVI., v.
1). Gladiatorial shows were most strongly con
demned by the Jews. In the New Testament Paul
makes frequent reference to the
foot-race and its
rewards
(
I Cor. ix. 24-27;
Phil. iii. 12;
II Tim. ii. 5;
cf.
James i. 12;
Rev. ii. 10).
(E. König.)
Bibliography:
H. J. Van Lennep, Bible Laude, . . Cue
toma and Manners 1llusimtive of Scripture, pp. 573-574,
New York-, 1875; J. G.
Wilkinson, Manners and Customs
of the Ancient
Egyptians,
London, 1878; E. Buchholz,
Die homerischen Realien, ii. 1, pp. 280-299, Leipsic, 1881;
J. 8. Howson, Metaphors of St. Paul, chap. iv., London,
1883; A. Huber, Udber das "Meiair" . Spiel der
heidnischen Araber, pp 9 sqq, Leipsic, 1883; A. Wünsche,
Die Rdtselweiaheit bei den Hebraern, ib. 1883; M. Lazarus,
Die Reize des Spieles, Berlin, 1883; T. Mommsen, R6mi
sehe Altertilmer, ii. 517 sqq., Leipsic, 1887; G. Dalman,
Paldstinischer Diuyan
