the Week of Proper 26 / Ordinary 31
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Bible Encyclopedias
Bargain
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or Buying and selling in the East are very tiresome processes to persons unaccustomed to such modes of bargaining. When a shopkeeper is asked the price of any of his goods, he generally demands more than he expects to receive; the customer declares the price exorbitant, and offers about half or two thirds of the sum first named. The price thus bidden is, of course, rejected; but the shopkeeper lowers his demand, and then the customer in his turn bids somewhat higher than before. Thus they usually go on, until they meet about half way between the sum first demanded and that first offered, and so the bargain is concluded. To a regular customer, or one who makes any considerable purchase, the shopkeeper generally presents a pipe (unless the former have his own with him, and it be filled and lighted), and he calls or sends to the boy of the nearest coffee-shop and desires him to bring some coffee, which is served in the same manner as in the house, in small china cups placed within cups of brass. When a person would make any but a trifling purchase, having found the article that exactly suits him, he generally makes up his mind for a long altercation; he mounts upon the mastab'ah of the shop, seats himself at his ease, fills and lights his pipe, and then the contest of words commences, and lasts often half an hour, or even more. Among the lower orders a bargain of the most trifling nature is often made with a great deal of vehemence of voice and gesture. A person ignorant of their language would imagine that the parties engaged in it were quarrelling, and highly enraged. The peasants will often say, when a person asks the price of any thing which they have for sale, "Receive it as a present," as Ephron did to Abraham when the latter expressed his wish to purchase the cave and field of Machpelah (Genesis 33:11). This answer having become a common form of speech, they know that advantage will not be taken of it; and when desired again to name the price, they will do so, but generally name a sum that is exorbitant (Lane, Mod. Eg. 2:15 Kitto, Pict. Bible, note in loc. Gen.; Daily Bible Illust. 1:255). (See MERCHANT); (See CONTRACT).
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Bargain'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/b/bargain.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
