Page:Judaism and Islam, a prize essay - Geiger - 1898.pdf/138

 120 JUDAISM AND

indeed imitated the wonders, but were so far surpassed by Moses and Aaron that they themselves became believers in spite of the threats of Pharaoh. 1 But a mighty judgment overtook Pharaoh and his people, who remained stubborn in their unbelief; and at last the Egyptians were drowned in the sea, while the Israelites were saved. 2 Nothing is related of the journey of the children of Israel before the giving of the Law, except the striking of the rock with the staff so that water flowed out, and this comes in only incidentally in two passages ; 3 in the former of which however other facts about the stay in the wilderness are related. Moses then received the Law, 4 and prayed to see God's glory. 5 During his absence the

1 Suras VII. 101-125, X. 76-90, XL 99-102, XX. 50-79, XXIII. 47-51, XXVI. 1552, XXVII. 1315, XXVIII, 36-40, XL. 24-49, XLIII. 45-54, LXXIX. 20-27.

2 Suras II. 4647, VII. 127-139, X. 9093, XX. 79-82, XXVI. 52- 69, XXVIII. 40-43, XLIII. 55.

3 Suras II. 57, VII. 160.

4

Sura VII. 142 and 149. On the first passage Elpherar hag : $\jj\ \$\ A>^>  JlS " Ben 'Abbas says that by Alwah he means the Torah ; " and on the second passage he says more correctly : l\^\ V&J ^\ " Wherein is the Torah."

6 Suras VII. 135147, 170, II. 52-55, 60, 87, IV. 152. In the Quran Mount Sinai is never mentioned in connection with the giving of the law, although it is so mentioned by commentators, e.g., Elpherar on VII. 140, But it was not unknown to Muhammad, seeing that it is mentioned on

other occasions. Thus it is used as an oath in Sura XOV. 2

probably on account of the rhyme. Compare 0^LJ\). Again it is men-

s tioned in the account of the creation of the olive tree. Sura XXIII. 20 :

.-^-,-0 > -*

"And a tree springing from the oV^ jj= } " in which passage the commen-

tators cited by llpherar take the name as an appellation. Among many

diverging explanations one is adduced which appears to me right, viz.,

A^-&S\i <_&W\ iLJlj.~Jb Jt> JJi * " It is said that in Syriac it means a

place thickly planted with trees ;" so that "O^P would be connected with

DISPUTE WITH KOBAH.