The antiquity of rings appears from Scripture and from profane
authors. Judah left his ring with Tamar, Gen. xxxviii, 18. When Pharaoh
committed the government of Egypt to Joseph, he took his ring from his
finger and gave it to Joseph, Gen. xli, 42. After the victory of the
Israelites over the Midianites, they offered to the Lord the rings, the
bracelets, and the golden necklaces, taken from the enemy, Num. xxxi,
50. The Israelitish women wore rings, not only on their fingers, but
also in their nostrils and their ears. St. James distinguishes a man of
wealth and dignity by the ring of gold on his finger, James ii, 2. At
the return of the prodigal son, his father orders him to be dressed in a
new suit of clothes, and to have a ring put on his finger, Luke xv, 22.
When God threatened Jeconiah with the utmost effects of his anger, he
tells him, that though he were the signet or ring on his finger, yet he
should be torn off, Jer. xxii, 24. The ring was used chiefly to seal
with, and Scripture generally assigns it to princes and great persons;
as the king of Egypt, Joseph, Ahaz, Jezebel, King Ahasuerus, his
favourite Haman, Mordecai, King Darius, 1 Kings xxi, 8; Esther iii, 10,
&c; Dan. vi, 17. The patents and orders of these princes were sealed
with their rings or signets, an impression from which was their
confirmation. The ring was one mark of sovereign authority. Pharaoh gave
his ring to Joseph, as a token of authority. When Alexander the Great
gave his ring to Perdiccas, this was understood as nominating him his
successor.
authors. Judah left his ring with Tamar, Gen. xxxviii, 18. When Pharaoh
committed the government of Egypt to Joseph, he took his ring from his
finger and gave it to Joseph, Gen. xli, 42. After the victory of the
Israelites over the Midianites, they offered to the Lord the rings, the
bracelets, and the golden necklaces, taken from the enemy, Num. xxxi,
50. The Israelitish women wore rings, not only on their fingers, but
also in their nostrils and their ears. St. James distinguishes a man of
wealth and dignity by the ring of gold on his finger, James ii, 2. At
the return of the prodigal son, his father orders him to be dressed in a
new suit of clothes, and to have a ring put on his finger, Luke xv, 22.
When God threatened Jeconiah with the utmost effects of his anger, he
tells him, that though he were the signet or ring on his finger, yet he
should be torn off, Jer. xxii, 24. The ring was used chiefly to seal
with, and Scripture generally assigns it to princes and great persons;
as the king of Egypt, Joseph, Ahaz, Jezebel, King Ahasuerus, his
favourite Haman, Mordecai, King Darius, 1 Kings xxi, 8; Esther iii, 10,
&c; Dan. vi, 17. The patents and orders of these princes were sealed
with their rings or signets, an impression from which was their
confirmation. The ring was one mark of sovereign authority. Pharaoh gave
his ring to Joseph, as a token of authority. When Alexander the Great
gave his ring to Perdiccas, this was understood as nominating him his
successor.