Explorations in Bible lands during the 19th century - H. V. Hilprecht

748 EXPLOBATIONS IN BIBLE LANDS
Buz, for which country see above in connection with Esarhaddon,
p. 740. The robbers invading 'Us are Saba'
(Sheba) and Chaldeans ;
the former, according to the South
Arabian inscriptions, in the Minean period were still Bedouins,
and with the Havileans attacked the Minean caravans,
while the Chaldean robbers were from the vicinity of Ur-
Kasdim. Along 1 with the rarely used name Yahve we
commonly find Shaddai (from Shadu Ai 2 ; but the most
)
common name for God is Eloah, whence, by analogy with
Elonim, the Canaanite plural of majesty, the ordinary
Hebrew form Elohim arose. As in the prophecy of Balaam,
Ashur and 'Eber are mentioned as neighbors of Edom
(Job 5 : 5, see above, p. 743), and the robber caravans from
Tema and Saba' (Sheba) we meet in Job 6:19. Star-worship
(see especially 31
: 26) is still universal in the region
around Job's place ; and the gold of Ophir (like Magan,
designation of East Arabia) 3 and the precious stones of
Arabia are often spoken of as familiar things. Especially
interesting is the passage, Job 29 : 18, where Khol, 4 the
incense-bearing messenger of the gods, appears in the
familiar role of the Phoenix, being burned amid the smoke
of incense and rising again from his ashes.
Thus the Book
of Job forms the chief source of evidence as to the authenticity
(so strikingly confirmed by the inscriptions and
proper names) of Hebrew tradition concerning the East
Arabian origin of the children of Israel and concerning the
otherwise close relationship between the Hebrews and Arabs.
Not until the time of Joshua did the former exchange their
1
Comp. the variant Havtlim to be inferred from the Septuagint.
2
This etvmologv seems rather doubtful. — The Editor.
3
Comp. Apir situated opposite on the Persian coast, which Rawlinson has
already associated with Ophir.
In the Hebrew Text. The English Version translates "the sand."
4
There was a god of the same name in Hadhramot. Compare Part II.,
above.