* the inn.
43:21 44:11 Ex 4:24 Lu 2:7 10:34
* inn.
{Malon,} from {loon,} to stay, abide, lodge, denotes any
place to stay and lodge in, particularly a place where
travellers usually stop to lodge, which is generally near a
well, where they fill their {girbehs,} or leathern bottles,
with fresh water, and having unladen and clogged their
camels, asses, etc., permit them to crop any little verdure
there may be in the place, keeping watch over them by turns.
Our word inn here gives us a false idea, there were no such
places of entertainment in the desert which Joseph's brethren
had to pass; nor are there any at the present day. The only
accommodation such a place affords is either a well, or a
{khan,} or {caravanserai,} which is generally no more than
four bare walls, perfectly exposed, the place being open at
the top, and furnishing a wretched lodging: and even these,
it is probable, were not in use at this early period.
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