THK LATEST DJSCOVERIKS IN BABYLONIA. 



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Gesetz. which gives iis numerous iUustiatious of the enactments 

 contained in his Code of Liws. This, naturally, has considerable 

 bearing on the manners and customs of the people, but I do 

 not propose to go into that subject now, as it would lead 

 me too far, and take up too much time in a general lecture 

 likf this. 



An interesting detail, however, is that published by Professor 

 Clay's Docuuicnts in tJie Temple Arckurs of Nippur dated in the 

 Tei()n>i of Cassite rulers. This is contained in an archaic picture, 

 copied from impressions of a cylinder-seal, representing 

 ploughing. It was a seal made for a personage named Warad- 

 Nin-Aar, who was probably a farmer. The plough is drawn by 

 two bum})ed oxen, such as the Babylonians often used, and a 

 man vvilh a short beaid, raising his arms, seems to 1)6 directing 

 till' operations. Tlie handles of the plough are held by a longer- 

 bearded agriculturalist, draped to tiie het, and his long skirts 

 must liuve hampered liis movements to a certain extent. The 

 mosi interesting figure, however, is one walking beside the 

 jilough, who, with bis skirts bunched up to hold the grain, is 

 engaged in ])Ouring the seed down a vertical tube with which 

 tlie im[)lement is fitted. Two emblems occupy the field above, 

 the larger l)eing in the form of a Greek cross surrounded by an 

 outline — as commonly found during the Kassite period, and 

 possil)ly an emblem of divinity in general. 



Similar ploughs to this are shown on other monuments — 

 iiiAably Esarhaddon's black stone in Babylonian script, now in 

 the British Museum — and it is clear tliat such " improved " 

 agricultural implements were common in tlie East — the Semitic 

 East — of ancient times. But the noteworthy thing about it is 

 that the seetUng de\'ice was regarded by the Jews as being an 

 invention of Abraham. This interesting fact has been pointed 

 out by the American Professor James A. Montgomery, who 

 quotes the very interesting statement concerning it made in the 

 Book of Jubilees — a kind of Midrash on Genesis composed 

 abfuit the second century B.C. According to this work, the 

 made idols, and indulged in all kinds of abominable 

 ]»i id ices, instigated thereto by Satan, who tried in every way 

 to corrupt and destroy the people of the land. Among other 

 tlungs, Prince Mastema " sent ravens and other birds to destroy 

 tlie land, and rob the children of men of their labours. Before 

 they could plough in the seed, the ravens snatched it from the 

 surface of the ground. And it was for this reason that he 

 called his (Al)raham's father's) name Terah, because the ravens 

 and (other) birds reduced them to destitution and devoured 



