The word most commonly used in the Old Testament for drinking-
vessel is (Gen. xl. 11, 13). first occurs in the story of Joseph
for the cup with which he "divined" (Gen. xliv. 2-12, Hebr.),
and from Jer. xxxv. 5 it appears that it was larger than the ,
corresponding to a goblet or crater. The was also one of the
ornaments of the golden candlestick, or menorah (Ex. xxv. 33 et
seq., xxxvii. 17-21), and is described as being "almond-shaped"
(), like the calyx of the almond-flower. Other words, like ,
which the English versions sometimes render by "cup" or "goblet"
(Isa. xxii. 24; Song of Solomon vii. 3; Num. iv. 7; I Chron.
xxviii. 17; Jer. lii. 19), were used to designate rather a
basin, or bowl-shaped vessel. It may be assumed that the cups of
the Jews were in general of the same material, design, and
workmanship as those of the Egyptians, Assyrians, and
Phenicians, whose craters were celebrated even in Homer's time
(Homer, "Iliad," xxiii. 743; idem, "Odyssey," iv. 615-618). The
cups used at present in synagogu