Sidon, sidonians

See Zidon, Zidonians. SIGN (n'lN, atinetov, signum) is used throughout the IJible of any sj'mbol or token, but more especi- ally of such as mark the relation of man to God anil the providential care which God lavishes upon men. Tlie rainbow was the first sign of this (Gn 9'-) as the token of a Divine covenant. The Jews, from the beginning of their chequered hiscory, counted themselves God's chosen people ; and the Dead Sea, see vol. iii. p. 151»- >>, and art. Zoar ; it is at the S.\V.

corner of the Dead Sea, also, that, accordintr to Blancken- hom (pp. 60, 63, and Profll iv. in Tafel iv.), bitumen deposit* (cf. Gn 141^) are particularly abundant. • See Blanckenhorn's Geol. map. t ilMh. der kaU. kiin. Uuogr. GV«. in Wim, 1897, pp. 1-22. i Prof. Hull does not seem either in his PEF Memoir nn tht Geol. 0/ Arabia I'etrma and PaJestiru or in ilount Seir (pp. inDff., 133) to have discussed the special question of the forma- tion of the Sebkha. Ulanckenhorn (1898, p.

76) denies that it U a purely alluvial formation. SIGNET SIHON 513 circumcision wiia the sign of the covenant relation in wliich a .Jew stood to the God of Abraliam (Gn 17", Ko 4"). Living under the direct rule of J", they looked for signs of His power and pledges of Uis care at every crisis of their fortunes. Such were the plagues of Egypt (Ex 10-) ; such was the visitation vouchsafed to Gideon (Jg 6") ; sucli were the events b^' which Saul was assured of his future dignity as king (1 S lU').

The projihets frequently allege their forecasts of the future as signs that their message is from J" (Is 7" 38', Jer 44=^, Ezk 14"). St. Paul's observation that '.lews ask for signs' (1 Co I—) is abund.antly illustrated by the Gospels (Mt 12™ 16', Lk ll''*- =», Jn 4«) ; they demanded of Christ credentials of His authority to speak in the name of God. It will be observecl that a sign need not nccessarilv be miraculous (see I S 2", and esn.

Is 8" 20 where the expression sign and wonder is applied to events which were only extraordinary because unexpected) ; the dis- tinction between nntunU and supernatural pheno- mena was not clearly conceived by the simple piety of the Jews. But (although Joiin did no si^n, Jn W) a sign is closely associated with the idea of prophetical prediction and warning. That was the motive of the sign of Jonah (Mt 12").

A sign was given to the shepherds (Lk 2'-); Simeon de- clared that Jesus Himself was tls a-rjfietoi' di'TiXeyi- luvov (Lk 2^). Christ's miraculous works are spoken of all through St. John's Gospel as His signs (Jn 3' 4" etc.) ; they are the signs of one who declares 'His almighty power most chiefly in showing mercy and pity.' So signs were >vrought in His name by the apostles (ilk 16-, Ac 4'"), by Stephen (Ac 6), and by Philip (Ac 8«- ") ; and the signs of an apostle are claimed by St.

Paul (2 Co 12', cf. Ac 15'). And, though we m.ay not recog- nize them when they come, the end of the present dispensation shall be ushered in by signs (Mt 24'", Lk 21", 2 Th 2», Rev 12' \Z^ 15' 16" ly-"). To seek a sign is not necessarily a mark of faithlessness (see Jn 6) ; on the contrary, faith will naturally look for .such tokens of the Divine protection. It is the demand for prodigies, ripara, which is the mark of an ill-instructed and undisciplined mind (Jn 4*"). See Miracle, Nature.

J. H. Bernard.