Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/138

 The Book of Genesis

120

Sodom and Gomorrah, was current in The probable site of Zoar is occupied today by a small Arabian village, still known by the similar and closely related name, Seghur cf. XIX, 22f. and 30. Vv. 5f. The Rephaim, Zuzim, Emim and the Horites were early legendary inhabitants of Canaan and Edom cf. Deuteronomy H, 10-12; 20-23 (here the Zuzim are called by the fuller name, ZamZehoiim, similar to that about

ancient

Israel.





zumim).

The Amalekites were a nomad people inhabiting the desert south Palestine. They were conquered by Saul and David (I Samuel XV and XXX). The Amorites were a people dwelling in Palestine of

and

to

the

of

east

the Jordan before the

Israelite

conquest of the

land.

V.

Numerous

asphalt or l)itumen w^ells are found near the Some, in fact, exist in the bed of the sea itself, and in places where the water is not deep, the asphalt rises and floats upon the surface, where it is gathered by the Arabs of the neighborhood, who carry it to market and sell it. By "slime pits" such asphalt wells are meant cf. note to XI, 3. V. 11. It will be well to point out on the map that, as vv. 14 and 15 show, they go northward. A glance at the map will show why. To the east and south of Palestine is the great desert, which because of scarcity of water and food, is almost impassable. Hence to come from Babylon and Assyria in the far east, caravans and armies had always to make a wide detour to the north, along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. For this reason the books of the Bible always describe the enemies of Israel as coming from the north. V. 13. Indicate on the map the location of Hebron and of the grove of Mamre just outside the city. Abraham, of course, being a nomad, would dwell not in the city, but outside in the grove, where he could pitch his tent. We shall hear of this same grove again very soon. Even today, not far from Hebron a very old and very large oak tree is called "Abraham's Oak," and is supposed, though probably incorrectly, to l;e the only tree remaining of this ancient

Dead

10.

Sea.



grove;

cf.

picture, p.

123.

"These were confederate with Abraham", e. they had entered into a covenant with Abraham. Explain that a covenant means a kind of alliance l^etween two parties, which obligates each to help the other in case of trouble, and makes them virtually brothers. In the flood-story we read that God made a covenant with Noah and his descendants. Explain what a covenant with God would mean. We i.