156 EEV. ANDREAV CKAiG EOBINSOX, M.A., ON THE BEARING OF 



away of all knowledge of a form of writing which had prevailed 

 throughout so many ages. Yet it does seem strange that the 

 learned of that time should have allowed a script, in which were 

 enshrined so many priceless historical records, and so many 

 literary treasures of Western Asia, to die out of all knowledge of 

 men. But so it was. And may we not in all this feel that 

 there was something of the avenging hand of Almighty God, 

 who not only caused to be reduced to ruinous heaps the proud 

 cities of Nineveh and Babylon, which had crushed and carried 

 away His chosen people into captivity, but also caused the very 

 script, in which in the days of pride and splendour their kings 

 had inscribed their boastful vauntings, to be buiied in oblivion 

 from the memory of men. 



The cuneiform system of writing, which thus faded out of the 

 knowledge of the world, remained in its mysterious sleep for 

 nearly 2,000 years. It is unnecessary to enter here into the 

 well-known story of how, by the ingenuity, learning, and labours 

 of Grotefend, and many others— but above all, of Eawlinson — 

 the secret of the cuneiform was discovered — the great enigma 

 solved — and a forgotten world restored once more to the domain 

 of history. Simultaneously, too, with the secret of the cuneiform, 

 the mystery of the hieroglyphics of Egypt was rev^ealed, and 

 thus there was disclosed the ancient history of Egypt's glorious 

 days, and all the high and immemorial civilisation of that 

 strange land. 



Eroni both these sources wonderful light has been shed on 

 Old Testament history. 



The Connection or Iskael with Babylonia in the Eakly 



Times, 



AhmhaitL. 



The Old Testament in simple fashion narrates how the 

 patriarch Abraham lived originally in Babylonia, in Ur of the 

 Chaldees — identitied with the present Mugheir — and from thence 

 in obedience, as it would seem, to a Divine call, removed 

 with his father to Haran. His original residence in Ur of the 

 (Jiialdees is simply mentioned as a fact, no particular point 

 being made of it one way or another; and if he had happened 

 to be born in Haran his call and setting forth at the command 

 (jf God to wander in the })romised land of Canaan would have 

 had just the same significance. The critics appear for some 

 reason anxious to make out that any early connection which the 



