to the pigs. (Luke 15:16) These pods grow on the carob tree, an attractive evergreen that grows throughout Palestine as well as in the rest of the Mediterranean area. The tree reaches a height up to thirty feet (9 meters), with small glistening leaves resembling those of the ash. The fruit or pods have a shiny leathery shell of a purplish-brown color and, in harmony with their name in Greek (ke·raʹti·on, meaning “little horn”), have a curved horn shape. They measure from six to ten inches (15 to 25 centimeters) in length and about one inch (2.54 centimeters) wide. Inside are several pealike seeds separated from one another by a sweet sticky pulp.

They are widely used till this day as a food for horses, cattle and pigs. The island of Cyprus alone now produces an annual crop of some thirty to forty thousand tons (27,216,000 to 36,288,000 kilograms) of carobs. Grafting of the trees is employed to produce a fruit of improved quality, equal in nutrition to wheat. People also eat them, and the dried-up pods are ground up and used in making candy. The ungrafted carob trees, however, produce fruit that is poor in sugar, thin and dry. It may be that the carob pods that Jesus had in mind in his illustration were of this kind. The carob tree is also known as the “locust tree,” and the pods are frequently called “Saint-John’s-bread” due to the erroneous idea that it was this fruit that John the Baptist ate, rather than insect locusts.

At one time the beans of the carob tree (Gr., ke·ra·teʹa) were used as standards of weight, and hence the word “carat” is derived from their name.

CARPENTER

An artisan, craftsman or worker in wood. The Hebrew and Greek equivalents are general terms applying to an artificer in stone, iron or copper as well as wood. The context often determines the application.

Noah and his three sons had much carpenter work to do in building the huge ark of wood of a resinous tree, according to the pattern given by Jehovah. (Gen. 6:14-16) Egyptian illustrations also show carpenters using saws and wood-carving instruments.

The carpenter in Israel would be employed in building houses and buildings such as synagogues. Although buildings were for the most part made of stone or earth, some wood was used, for example, in beams and doors. The things constructed by the carpenter in Bible times included furniture, such as tables, stools and benches. In the construction of the tabernacle and its furnishings, Bezalel and Oholiab were especially guided by Jehovah God. His spirit accentuated their ability to do the finest work in wood, as well as other materials. (Ex. 31:2-11) Skilled workers in wood were brought from Tyre for the building of David’s house. (2 Sam. 5:11) Zerubbabel used carpenters in building the second temple in Jerusalem.—Ezra 3:7.

The boats of the Tyrians were made of juniper and cypress, with masts of cedarwood and oars carved from wood. (Ezek. 27:5, 6) Ezra spoke standing on a podium made of wood. (Neh. 8:4) Many implements were partly or entirely made of wood, including plows, threshing sledges, and so forth. (2 Sam. 24:22) Some woodworkers also were carvers or sculptors. (Isa. 44:13) Idols were often carved of wood.—Deut. 29:17; 2 Ki. 19:18; Isa. 37:19; 45:20.

Jesus was called, not only the “carpenter’s son” (Matt. 13:55), but the “carpenter” as well. (Mark 6:3) Since the Hebrew father usually taught his son his trade, Jesus no doubt learned carpentry from his foster-father Joseph.

CARPUS

(Carʹpus) [possibly, fruit].

A Christian residing at Troas, with whom Paul had left his cloak. Likely Carpus was Paul’s host when the apostle visited there.—2 Tim. 4:13.

CARSHENA

(Car·sheʹna) [possibly, black].

The first listed of the seven princes of Media and Persia consulted by Ahasuerus on the matter of Vashti’s disobedience.—Esther 1:14; see MEMUCAN.

CARVING

The art of sculpturing wood, stone, metal and clay is of great antiquity. Under the broad aspects of this subject, carving and engraving are terms used interchangeably to translate a number of Hebrew words. However, the most frequently used Hebrew word, peʹsel, occurs only with reference to carved or engraved images.

The prohibition to Israel against making carved images for the purpose of worshiping them was first stated in the Decalogue (Ex. 20:4) and was later repeated. “Cursed is the man who makes a carved image.” (Deut. 27:15; 4:16, 23; 5:8) The prophets over and over again condemned the foolishness of making and worshiping carved idols. (Ps. 97:7; Isa. 42:17; 44:9-20; 45:20; Jer. 10:14, 15; Nah. 1:14; Hab. 2:18) For God’s covenant people to give reverential regard to carved images in their worship was to divide the exclusive devotion that was due Jehovah. So, whenever Israel fell away from God and worshiped the carvings of their own hands they understandably lost divine favor.—Judg. 18:18, 30, 31; 2 Ki. 21:7-9; 2 Chron. 33:7, 22; Ezek. 8:10; 23:14.

On the other hand, the carving work done for the tabernacle and the great temple of Solomon was not to be worshiped but was intended for decorative purposes and to convey symbolic meaning. Jehovah himself commanded that these carvings be made, and God placed his spirit on Bezalel and Oholiab, the skilled craftsmen chosen to oversee the tabernacle construction. (Ex. 35:30, 31, 34) Objects such as the lampstand, the cherubs on the Ark’s cover, the engraving on the jewels of the breastpiece and the gold plate on the turban of the high priest, are some examples of carved objects of gold and precious stones in the tabernacle arrangement. (Ex. 25:18, 19, 31-40; 28:2, 21, 36) In Solomon’s temple there were cedarwood carvings of cherubs, palm-tree figures, blossoms and gourd-shaped ornaments, all overlaid with gold. (1 Ki. 6:18-35; 2 Chron. 2:7) Similarly, there was a great array of carvings in the pictorial temple envisioned by Ezekiel.—Ezek. 41:17-20.

Because of the divine condemnation of carved idols and images for worship, it is no surprise that those found in Palestine by archaeologists show pagan origin or influence. Not only did the Israelites abstain from carving monuments of their great leaders, they also refrained from cutting reliefs depicting their military victories. However, reliefs, statues and other carved replicas from Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia and Persia shed light on the worship, warfare and daily life of those ancient people. Some of the more common things that have been found reveal that stone, clay, wood, glass, ivory, precious gems, bone, plaster, shell, metals, ebony and alabaster were used by the carver in making thrones, lions, columns, jewelry, signets and seals, sarcophagi, stone tablets, furniture, wall decorations and utensils.

The Greek word en·ty·poʹo occurs only once, where Paul described the Law code as “engraved [a form of en·ty·poʹo] in letters in stones.”—2 Cor. 3:7.

CASIPHIA

(Ca·si·phiʹa) [possibly, place of silversmiths].

A “place” evidently situated in Babylonia and apparently near the gathering point of the exiles returning with Ezra to Jerusalem in 468 B.C.E. (Ezra 8:17-20) Other than stating that it was the area from which Ezra recruited Levites and Nethinim while encamped at the river Ahava, the Bible does not precisely identify Casiphia as either a city or a district. Some authorities suggest Ctesiphon as the possible ancient site in view of the orthographical similarity and its suitable location on the Tigris River.