Return to Canaan-Lot separates from Abram-The Cities of the Invasion from Shinar - Kings engaged - Chedorlaomer; his expedition against the West-Battle in the vale of Siddim-De- feat of the Sodomites and capture of Lot-His rescue by Abram A vision bringing comfort- Promise of a son and numerous posterity-Abram's faith counted for righteousness-Jehovah's covenant with him-Nature of such covenant-Mode of ratifica tion-Prophecy of the future--Chronology of the period of four hundred years-Dispossession and destruction of the Canaanites Sarai's impatience-She gives to Abram Hagar as secondary wife -Concubinage-Hagar a type-Her flight-She is met by the angel of the Lord-Promise of a son-Character of the Ishmael- ites-Ishmael born-Renewal of the covenant-Abram's name changed-Extension of the promise-Circumcision; its nature Three heavenly visitors-Renewed promise of a son to Sarah- Abraham intercedes for Sodom-Ramet-el-Khalil-Destruction of the Cities of the Plain-Testimonies of ancient writers-Physi- cal agents of the catastrophe-Site of the five cities-Treatment of the angels in Sodom-Lot saved-Lot's wife-Catastrophe taken by Abimelech ; saved by God's interposition-Abimelech's conduct-His rebuke-Beersheba-Treaty between Abimelech and Abraham-Origin of the name Beersheba - Isaac born; signification of his name - Ishmael's conduct He and his mother cast out- Reason of this explusion-Peril in the wilder- ness; relieved by the angel of God-Ishmael's subsequent history The great trial-Abraham commanded to sacrifice his son-The command examined-Objections answered-Meaning of the trial -Human sacrifice-Explanation by Bishop Horsley and others -Rationalistic views-Jewish legends-Abraham obeys-Moriah Sarah dies; her character-Burial-places-Abraham buys Mach- pelah-The contract-Money-Mosque of Hebron and Abra- ham's burial-place described-Life beyond the grave and resur- Choice of wife for Isaac-The steward's mission-His promise and oath ; arrival at Haran; simple faith-The sign--Rebekah- Laban-Consent obtained-Rebekah accompanies the steward— CHAPTER I. ABRAM'S BIRTHPLACE. Ur; Chaldæa: its aspect; Former fertility; Religion of its inhabitants; Population; Civilization-Abram born -His family-Selection of a centre of true religion-Legends of Abram's early life-Truth underlying such myths. SOME five thousand years ago, when civilization first visited the alluvial plain of Babylon, and the Babylonian monarchy came into existence, the Persian Gulf extended inward far beyond its present limits, and sites now more than a hundred miles distant from the sea were then close to the coast, and enjoyed all the advantages and participated in all the dangers of such proximity. The alluvium brought down by the two great rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates, encroaches on the gulf with marvellous rapidity. The present rate of increase is estimated at one mile every seventy years, and it is upon grounds satisfactory to geologists considered that the average growth during the historic period has been as much as a mile in every thirty years. We must take this fact into account in estimating the extent of the country called Chaldæa and the position of many of its towns. Among the cities which were thus placed was that which is called in the Bible "Ur of the Chaldees," now known as Mugheir, situated on the right bank of the Euphrates, some six miles distant from the stream, and nearly opposite the point where the river Shat-el-Hie, which comes from the Tigris, Prof. Rawlinson, "Ancient Monarchies," i. 4. joins the Euphrates. The name Ur, or Uru, is the Semitic form of the Accadian eri, meaning "city," and was probably given to this place as being the most important in the locality or as the first settled dwelling of its once roving inhabitants. It was, in fact, "the capital of one of the oldest of the pre-Semitic dynasties, though it had probably passed into the hands of the Semitic Casdim" (Chaldees) before this time. Of course, this adjunct, Casdim, does not appertain to the original name, but is an explanation added by the Hebrew narrator. The modern name of this place means the bitumined," and is appropriate owing to the quantity of bitumen which is found in the neighbourhood. If it was not actually on the coast, it was placed so low down the Euphrates as to be practically a maritime town and to serve as the port of Babylonia. The native inscriptions constantly speak of the ships of Ur and of the brisk commerce carried on by its inhabitants.3 It was a city of great importance, and B.C. 2000 was the capital of a powerful monarch called Urukh, or Lig-Bagas (for the reading is uncertain), who founded the great temple dedicated to the moon-god, Hurki, the remains of which are still to be seen. This monarch was an independent sovereign, and exercised a sway over a tract of country extending as far north as Niffer, the ancient Calneh. The magnificence of his buildings and the extent of his constructive operations prove him to have possessed large resources and high conceptions. A mistaken tradition, followed by many commentators ancient and modern, identified Ur with the Greek Edessa, the modern Orfa, which seems to have had the name Orrha at one time. This city, situated in Upper Mesopotamia, which became famous in Christian times as the capital of that king Abgarus who is supposed to have written a letter to Christ, still retains some traditions of Abraham in the names of its mosque and lake. But all the most probable notices that have come down to us place Ur in Chaldæa proper, the alluvial country on the Persian Gulf; and there can be no reasonable doubt that Mug This identification, which we owe to late researches, removes the necessity for discussing at length the claims of other cities to be the birthplace of Abram. Prof. Sayce, "Fresh Light from the Monuments," p. 46; Rawlinson, "Ancient Monarchies," i. 6. 3 Prof. Rawlinson, "Monthly Interpreter," ii. 331. 4 See Prof. Sayce's note in G. Smith's "History of Babylonia," p. 72. |