The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-25


II.
How carly In tho history Of the ancient He
brews did writing come into use among themi
This Ia, as our author shows, a matter Of infer
ence from a variety OF indications. The Ian
Ruage of tho Hebrews was substantially the
same as that of the other Semitic peoples about
them, including tho Canaanite tribes which
they had subjugated, and their alphabet
WINS derived from their neighbors on
tho northwest. the Phnnicians. 1t must
have been lato in tho period of the
Judges from eleven to twelve centuries be-
fore the Christian era. and two or three CEN
turies at least after the Israelite invasion OF the
land of Canaan. that the language was reduced
to writtcn form. and there Is no trace OF literary
production in that form before the time OF David,
! unless It be found in the statement that the
prophet Samuel made a record of the manner Of
| settino nm the frat kingdom. n statement which
is contained in an account compiled long after
the event. Tho first Hebrew writings of which
we have any actual trace were those which en-.
bodied the traditions of the escape from bond.
noe in Epvnt- md the strurple for the possess
aion NJ tho land occupied at the time when tho
writings were made. These traditions had been
preserved by oral repetition. until they could DO
gathered up in a more enduring vehicle OF trans
mission. Tho ..Book Of the Wars of Jehovah"
and the Book of Jasher' whether these were
| independent productions or parts of one collec-
ton cannot DO clearly were the first
receptacles of the legends connected with the in.
yasion and conquest of Canaan. and tho con-
hicts which preceded the establishment of the
kingdom. Tho lament of David over the death
Of Saul and Jonathan ia said BY tho compiler of
the Rock of Samuel To be written in tho "Book
of Jasber." which at least indicates that the COL
lection had not been closed when David became
King of Israel.
II seems 10 have boen after tho division of tho
kingdom and the estab li shment of Jeroboam an
the first ruler of the Northern realm that tho
ethnic myths known as the stories of tho
patriarchs first appeared, It has been common
even for those who admit that their ORIGINAL
production could not hive been enrlier than that
time to assume that they were based upon tra-
ditions of the nomadic DAYS. before tho miera-
ton into Egypt. preserved from generation to
generation by oral transnission The scholars.
however. whom Mr.. Fiske prefers To follow.
consider n more likely that these storiea were
the IMAGINATIVE ofsprine of the genius of the
time and place first mentioned. The aspects of
nomadic life were still familiar In the neigh.
boring plains on the east and the nomadic in
stinct of the Hebrews was always warming for
its freedom and simplicity. There Is. however.
no distinct evidence that they carried memories
or definite traditions OF their own nomadic days
through the dark bondage in Egypt and the long
ensuing struggle. The impress. indeed, OF the
infant days of their race was indelible, and there
were. no doubt. cherished associations of name
and locality which survived through ages of
trial. but tho actual persons and deeds OF their
ancestors were. in all likelihood. forgotten.
When The first Hebrew writer's began to supply
the lack OF a primitive history by their own
creations, the two Kingdoms of Judah and
Ephraim, the latter monopolizing the ancient
name of Israel. were at the height OF tho anti.
patty engendered blythe division of the first king
dom. and were engaged In their earliest rivalry
as separate nations, with Ephraim the stronger
and more confident. Being the immediate
neighbor of Phnnicia, and having as Its ruler a
man of uncommon ability and energy, who had
enjoyed the advantage Of a long sojourn In
Egypt. under the favor of the monarch OF that
country. Ephraim entered upon q period of in
tellectual and literary activity of which Judah
under the feoble and reactionary reign OF Reno
beam. showed no sign. 1t was at this time, In
the kingdom Of tho North, that the patriarchal
stories first appeared. They seem to have
formed a series without any distinct sequenc,
or coherency, and to have undergone variations
which in time produced different versions.
Before examining in detail the origin of III,
written tales. Mr.. Fiske has a word to saw abou,
the p~utatiyo ancestors of the Isrselite tribes
1t is pointed out.in the first place that Abrau
or Abraham was a reyered name among all tn,
Semitic peoples; the Syrians. Arabians. ant
Phpnicians, as well as the Hebrews. had thei
separate lines OF traditions connected with him
1t even figured in the fabulous history of tn,
Chaldeans. When the Israelites. however. be
gan to produce their ethnic myths, explainin,
their special claim to the land of which they hac
taken possession. and ~exaltlne their God abov,