Lap
Lap (בֶּגֶד 2. Kings 4:39, a garment, as elsewhere; חֵיק, Pr 16:33, the bosom, as elsewhere; חֹצֶן Ne 5:13, the armful, as in Isa 49:22), the fold of the raiment in which Orientals are accustomed to carry articles in lieu of pockets. Instead of the fibula or clasp that was used by the Romans, the Arabs join together with thread, or with a wooden bodkin, the two top corners of their upper garment; and, after having placed them first over one of their shoulders, they then fold the rest of it about their bodies. The outer fold serves them frequently instead of an apron, in which they carry hlerbs, loaves, corn, and other articles, and may illustrate several allusions made to it in Scripture: thus one of the sons of the prophets went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full (2Ki 4:39). The Psalmist offers up his prayers that Jehovah would "render unto his neighbors sevenfold into their bosom their reproach" (Ps 19:12). The same allusion occurs in our Lord's direction, "Give, and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom" (Lu 6:38). SEE BOSOM; SEE DRESS.
