RECENT DISCOVERIES IN THE REALM OP ASSYRIOLOGY, ETC. 183 



was brought eastwards with hardy enterprise for the sculptors of 

 Gudea. 



These primaeval rapports of the great races of the Nile and the 

 Euphrates are among the most attractive problems of history. 



I wish to add a few words on the researches of Mr. Pinches in 

 their Biblical bearing : p. 124. — Is it possible that the name Lagash, 

 transplanted to Southern Palestine, is the name of the celebrated 

 Canaanite city ^^~>, Lahish, whose ruins Dr. Flinders Petrie has 

 been exploring at Tel-el-Hesy ? I do not see any difficulty in the 

 name being identical, and I should like to know what Assyriologists 

 say to this suggestion. 



In my book, Studies on the Times of A braham, I tried to show the 

 value of an enlarged view of the conditions of life under the 

 great primaeval civilisations of the Old World as illustrating the 

 narratives of the Old Testament. All that Assyriology and 

 Egyptology can tell us of these things have that specific interest, 

 I mean in their Biblical aspect, as well as the importance that 

 belongs to them in their general bearings on universal history, 

 anthropology, and the like. 



For instance, what we learn from these sources of the status of 

 daughters and wives (p. 138), of the confidential and easy condition 

 of house-slaves, of the solemnity of marriage (144), of the strong 

 and trusty special alliance of friends (142-6), and the well-known 

 legal assurances and transfers of property, all bear out the con- 

 ditions of life under which we find Abraham and his family to 

 have fulfilled their course. I need not refer to well-worn Bibles 

 for proof of these congruities. 



Again, the methodical care of registrations and records, of 

 pedigrees and muniments of title ; the minute elaboration of the 

 commercial system of securities, and of testamentary dispositions, 

 both in Chaldaaa and in Egypt, all show how ludicrously defective 

 were our familiar notions of Old World affairs. 



But time does not allow me to add more. 



This sort of inquiry is making excellent progress ; and the 

 readers and lovers of Holy Scripture have nothing to fear, but 

 everything to hope, from such lore as this. 



