enemies, they could laugh because they trusted in Jehovah, for “the name of Jehovah is a strong tower.”—Prov. 18:10.

These servants of God also had to endure much derisive laughter against them. Job said: “One who is a laughingstock to his fellow man I become.” (Job 12:4; 30:1) Jeremiah was an object of laughter all day long among his contemporaries. (Jer. 20:7) Jesus Christ himself was laughed at scornfully before raising the daughter of Jairus from death. (Matt. 9:24; Mark 5:40; Luke 8:41-53) These persons were happy, though, because they knew the strength and wisdom of God and were following the course ordained for them by God.—Matt. 5:11, 12.

Jehovah God is described as laughing in derision at the nations, at their boastful words which come to nothing, and at the confusion their foolish course against Him brings. (Ps. 59:8) He knows his own power and purposes, and laughs at the puny, futile opposition they bring against him and his people.—Ps. 2:1-4.

Therefore, one wants to avoid having Jehovah laugh at him. Turning the back upon God’s wisdom would result in dire calamity. (Prov. 1:26) While Jehovah has no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezek. 18:23, 32), he is unworried over their plots against his people and laughs because he sees the day of deliverance for the righteous, in which the schemes of the wicked will fail and wickedness will be ended forever.—Ps. 37:12, 13, 20.

LAUNDRYMAN

One who in Bible times washed used clothing and also processed new cloth by bleaching and shrinking it and removing the oils in preparation for dyeing. In Hebrew the term is from a word meaning “to trample,” that is, to wash by stamping with the feet to loosen the dirt. In Greek, the word used means one who dresses new cloth or washes and scours soiled garments.

Clothes cleaners of ancient times were likely able to whiten their clothing considerably by cleaning and bleaching. Yet, when describing the extreme whiteness of Jesus’ garments at the transfiguration scene, Mark says: “His outer garments became glistening, far whiter than any clothes cleaner on earth could whiten them.”—Mark 9:3.

ALKALI

In Hebrew the word for alkali is neʹther, a carbonate of soda, also called “natron.” It is called “mineral alkali,” to distinguish it from “vegetable alkali.” Natron was a native grade of the chemical, commercial grades of which are known as soda ash and sal soda. Its effervescence when mixed with a weak acid is alluded to at Proverbs 25:20. Though in some translations it is called “niter,” it should not be confused with modern niter (nitre), also called “saltpeter,” which may be either potassium or sodium nitrate.

By itself or as a soap builder this alkali is a very effective cleaner. This fact adds force to Jehovah’s words as to the depth of Israel’s sinfulness: “Though you should do the washing with alkali and take to yourself large quantities of lye, your error would certainly be a stain before me.”—Jer. 2:22.

The ancient world obtained this alkali from several sources of supply—from lakes or deposits in Syria, India, Egypt and along the southeastern shores of the Dead Sea. It is reported that, in addition to using it as a detergent, the Egyptians and others substituted it for yeast in breadmaking, employed it as a tenderizer when boiling meat, mixed it with vinegar for a toothache cure, and used it in embalming.

LYE

The Hebrew word bo·rithʹ, translated “lye” (in some translations, “soap”), refers to a “vegetable alkali” as distinguished from neʹther, the so-called “mineral alkali.” The distinction was not one of chemical composition, but, rather, was based on the difference in the source of supply. At Jeremiah 2:22 both words occur in the same verse. Chemically the lye of Bible times was sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate, depending on whether the ashes from which it was obtained were of vegetation grown near the sea on saline soil, or grown inland. The chemicals in the ashes were separated by leaching or filtering with water. This lye is different from the modern-day chemical called “lye,” the very caustic potassium hydroxide. The ancient laundryman’s lye was used not only for clothes cleaning (Mal. 3:2), but also for the reduction of such metals as lead and silver.—Isa. 1:25.

POTASH

The Hebrew word za·khakhʹ, having the thought of “making pure” or “clean,” is translated “potash” (NW), “soap” (Yg), “lye” (AT), at Job 9:30. There it is spoken of as being used for cleansing the hands. This cleanser is thought to be either potassium carbonate or sodium carbonate. The way it was made gives it the name “potash”: wood ashes were first leached, then the solution was boiled down in pots.

LAUNDRYMAN’S FIELD

Apparently an area close to the city of Jerusalem where laundrymen worked. Isaiah and his son Shear-jashub were to meet King Ahaz by the “highway of the laundryman’s field”; later, Sennacherib’s emissaries came to the same vicinity. (2 Ki. 18:17; Isa. 7:3; 36:2) While this “highway of the laundryman’s field” was obviously outside the city, it was near enough that the taunts of Sennacherib’s messengers could be heard by those on the city walls. (2 Ki. 18:18, 26, 27; Isa. 36:1, 2) A “conduit” is mentioned in connection with the “highway of the laundryman’s field.” This could not refer to what is called ‘Hezekiah’s tunnel,’ as that had not yet been constructed in Ahaz’ day. The conduit therefore seems to have been one that ran through the torrent valley of Kidron down to the S end of the city of David. The laundryman’s field appears to have been located either in this part of the valley or somewhat farther S, near the suggested site of En-rogel.

LAUREL

[Heb., ʼoʹren].

This tree is mentioned as the last of several trees in Isaiah 44:14, the only reference to the tree in the Hebrew Scriptures. Koehler and Baumgartner (Lexicon in Veteris Testantenti Libros, p. 88) identify the name with the laurel tree (Laurus nobilis), also commonly called “the sweet bay tree.” (See also The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, Vol. 2, p. 293.) The laurel is an evergreen, often growing as a shrub but capable of heights up to some fifty feet (15.2 meters). Hence Isaiah could speak of the pouring rain making the tree “get big.” The entire tree (leaves, bark, roots and fruit) contains an oil long employed in medicine. The leaves are oblong and leathery, with a glossy upper side. They are also used as a condiment. In spring the tree blossoms with small creamy-white flowers that ripen into purplish-black berries. The Laurus nobilis is found from the coast on up into the