men verily swear by the greater Genesis 21:23; Genesis 24:3; Genesis 26:30-31. The passage is important as shewing the lawfulness of Christian oaths (see our Article xxxix).

strife Rather, "for an oath is to them an end of all gainsaying" (or "controversy" as to facts) "with a view to confirmation." It is meant that when men swear in confirmation of a disputed point their word is believed. There is an exactly similar passage in Philo, De sacr. Abel. et Cain(Opp. i. 181).

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