THE GNAT. 801

they were very punctilious with regard to small deviations from
the traditions which had been engrafted on the laws of Moses,
and which were in reality as innocuous to their souls, as the
swallowing of a gnat would have proved to their bodies.
But there is more in this expression than at first sight
would appear ; and it will be rendered more clear, by adopt-
ing the translation in Archbishop Parker's Bible, “Strain
out a gnat and swallow a camel.” “In the Hast, where
insects of all kinds and sizes abound, it is difficult to keep
clear of insects, liquors which are left for the least time
uncovered; for which reason, as well as because there are
some kinds which breed in wine, it was and is usual to
strain the wine before drinking, to prevent insects from
passing into the drinking-vessel. Besides the common
motive of cleanliness for this practice, the Jews considered
that they had another and more imperative one—that of
religious purity. For, as the law forbade them to eat
“flying creeping things,” they thought themselves bound
to be particularly careful in this matter. On this subject,
as usual, they refined very much; and the Talmud con-
tains many curious explanations and directions concerning
it: thus,—‘One that eats a flea or a gnat is an apostate,
and is no more to be counted one of the congregation.” It