Have been common from the earliest times as tokens of affection, honor, or respect. The dues to a king were often rendered in this form, 1 Samuel 10:27 Isaiah 36:16; and men of high position were approached with presents, Genesis 43:11 Judges 6:18 1 Samuel 9:7 1 Kings 14:3 . Kings made gifts of garments to those they wished to honor, Genesis 45:22,23 1 Samuel 18:4; and of treasures to other princes, out of esteem or of fear, 2 Kings 16:8 18:14 2 Chronicles 9:9,12 . Conquerors scattered gifts from their triumphal cars, and special privileges in token of generous joy, Psalm 68:18 Acts 1:2,4 . Prophets received gifts, or declined them, as duty required, 2 Kings 5:15 8:9 Daniel 2:48 5:17 . The word gifts often denotes bribes, Exodus 23:8 Psalm 15:5 Isaiah 5:23 . The same word is also applied to the offerings required by the law, Deuteronomy 16:17 Matthew 5:23,24; to the blessings of the gospel and eternal life, which are preeminently gifts, Acts 8:20; to the Christian grace, for the same reason, Ephesians 4:8,11; and to the miraculous endowments of the apostles, 1 Corinthians 12:1-14:40 . See TONGUES.