KNIFE . Of the various sorts of knives noticed in the OT mention may be made of the flint knives used for the rite of circumcision ( Joshua 5:2 f., cf. Exodus 4:25 ) an instance of conservatism in ritual, to which parallels may be found in all religions. The knives for ordinary purposes under the monarchy were mostly of bronze, of which, as of the earlier flint knives, the recent excavations have furnished many varieties. We also read of sacrificial knives ( Genesis 22:6; Genesis 22:10 , Ezra 1:9 ), of ‘a barber’s knife’ or razor ( Ezekiel 5:1 ), and of a scribe’s knife ( Jeremiah 36:23 EV [Note: English Version.] ‘penknife,’), used for sharpening his reed-pen and making the necessary erasures. Cf. House, § 9 .
A. R. S. Kennedy.