Even movable property was disposed of by its owner during his lifetime or by the laws of inheritance at the time of his death. In Jesus’ illustration of the prodigal son, the younger son, on request, received his share of the property before his father’s death.—Luke 15:12.

Benefits of hereditary laws

The laws governing the hereditary possessions and the dividing of them into smaller portions as the population increased were in themselves a contributing factor to greater family unity. In a land such as Palestine, consisting of much hill country, as in Judea, this was advantageous in that it caused the Israelites to make the optimum use of the land, even terracing hillsides, resulting in clothing the land with beauty and greenery, the olive, the fig tree, the palm and the vine, providing food for a great population. The fact that every man was a possessor of land created a greater love for the soil on which he lived, promoted industriousness and, along with the Jubilee regulation, restored the nation to its original theocratic status every fiftieth year. This helped maintain a balanced economy. However, as with other features of the Law, abuses eventually crept in.

As Jehovah had told Israel, he was the real Owner of the land. They were alien residents and settlers from his standpoint. Therefore, he was able to put them out of the land at any time he saw fit. (Lev. 25:23) Due to their many violations of God’s law they were sent into exile for seventy years under the power of Babylon and remained under Gentile domination even after their restoration in 537 B.C.E. Finally, in 70 C.E., the Romans took them completely off the land, selling thousands into slavery. Even their genealogical records were lost or destroyed.

CHRISTIAN INHERITANCE

Jesus Christ, as the son of David, inherits the throne of David. (Isa. 9:7; Luke 1:32) As the Son of God he inherits heavenly kingship through the covenant Jehovah made with him. (Ps. 110:4; Luke 22:28-30) Christ, therefore, inherits the nations, to break to pieces all opposers and to rule forever.—Ps. 2:6-9.

The anointed members of the Christian congregation are spoken of as having a heavenly inheritance, sharing Jesus’ inheritance as his “brothers.” (Eph. 1:14; Col. 1:12; 1 Pet. 1:4, 5) This includes the earth.—Matt. 5:5.

Because God redeemed Israel out of Egypt, they became his possession or “inheritance.” (Deut. 32:9; Ps. 33:12; 74:2; Mic. 7:14) They foreshadowed the “nation” of spiritual Israel, whom God considers his “inheritance” because he possesses them, having purchased them by means of the blood of his only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ.—1 Pet. 2:9; 5:2, 3; Acts 20:28.

Jesus Christ pointed out that persons who give up valuable things for the sake of his name and for the sake of the good news “will inherit everlasting life.”—Matt. 19:29; Mark 10:29, 30; see BIRTHRIGHT; BROTHER-IN-LAW MARRIAGE; FIRSTBORN, FIRSTLING.

INK

The Hebrew word d^eyohʹ, found only at Jeremiah 36:18, comes from a root word meaning “slowly flowing,” according to some scholars; others think it is from a root meaning “to be dark.” In the Christian Greek Scriptures meʹlan occurs only three times (2 Cor. 3:3; 2 John 12; 3 John 13), and is the neuter form of the masculine adjective meʹlas, meaning “black.”—Matt. 5:36; Rev. 6:5, 12.

Generally speaking, inks were made of a pigment or coloring material dispersed in a medium containing gum, glue or varnish that acted both as a carrying agent or vehicle and as a binder to hold the pigment on the surface to which it was applied. The oldest ink formulas, and the oldest specimens found, show that the pigment was a carbonaceous black, either in the form of amorphous soot obtained from burning oil or wood, or a crystalline charcoal from an animal or vegetable source. The pigments of red inks were iron oxides. Certain tinctures were also used by the ancients. Josephus says the copy of the Law sent to Ptolemy Philadelphus was written in gold letters. (Antiquities of the Jews, Book XII, chap. II, par. 11) If vegetable juices or dyes were ever used in inks they long ago disappeared due to their perishable nature.

To make the best inks much time was required to grind and disperse the pigments in their vehicles. The inks were then usually stored as dried cakes or bars, which were then moistened sufficiently by the scribe as he applied the ink to his brush or reed.

The Chinese inks long enjoyed the reputation of having the deepest tone and being the most durable. Documents written in some of these inks can be soaked in water for several weeks without washing out. On the other hand, inks were also made so they could be erased with a wet sponge or damp cloth. This may have been the basis for Jehovah’s saying, in a symbolic way, “Whoever has sinned against me, I shall wipe him out of my book.”—Ex. 32:33; see also Numbers 5:23; Psalm 109:13, 14; WRITING.

INKHORN

See RECORDER’S INKHORN.

INN

A place where travelers could find accommodations for themselves and their animals. Perhaps ancient Middle Eastern inns resembled those built there in more recent times. These commonly consist of a walled square with only one entrance. Along the walls on a raised platform there are a series of unfurnished rooms for sheltering travelers and goods, entrance being gained from the inner courtyard. The animals are left in the large court, which often has a centrally situated well. Innkeepers of ancient times furnished a few necessary provisions to travelers and cared for persons left in their charge, receiving compensation for their services.—Luke 10:33-35.

INSECTS

These invertebrates are distinguished, in the adult stage, by a body consisting of three segments, head, thorax and abdomen, with six legs, a pair of feelers and generally two or four wings. Insects develop in one of two different ways. The transformation from egg to larva, to pupa and then finally to adult, as in the case of butterflies and moths, is termed complete metamorphosis. Other insects, such as the locusts, pass through only three stages (incomplete or gradual metamorphosis); the nymph hatches from the egg and after a series of successive molts the change to adult insect is complete.

The picturesque language of the Bible refers to insects as ‘going on all fours.’ Obviously Moses was familiar with the fact that insects have six legs. So the reference is undoubtedly to their mode of travel rather than to the number of their legs. There are winged insects, including the bees, flies and wasps, that walk with their six legs in the manner of four-legged animals. Other insects, such as the locusts, are equipped with two leaper legs and thus literally use the other four legs for crawling.—Lev. 11:20-23.

The more than 800,000 known varieties of insects present a panorama of contrast. While some are somberly colored, others are arrayed in bright hues and with beautiful designs. All the shades of the rainbow are represented. In size, insects vary from beetles that are small enough to get through the eye of a needle to curious “walking sticks” that measure more than a foot (c. .3 meter) in length. Among the insects can be found organized communities, builders, agriculturists, manufacturers, long-distance fliers, expert jumpers, swimmers and burrowers. Through study and observation man can learn much from the insects, most importantly that they are God’s creations, endowed with instinctive wisdom, not by chance, but by the Source of all wisdom, Jehovah.—Job. 12:7-9.

Although many are inclined to view insects as pests that damage crops and man’s possessions as well as spread disease, actually only a very small