imagination had woven a legend connecting it with the story of Lot. Whether it be identical with the huge cylindrical column, 40 ft. high, on the E side of Ǧebel Usdum, described by Lynch, is, of course, doubtful.[1] The fact that Ǧ. Usdum is on the SW side of the lake, while Zoar was on the SE, would not preclude the identification: it would simply mean that the whole region was haunted by the legend of Lot. But the disintegration of the rock-salt of which that remarkable ridge is mainly composed, proceeds so rapidly, and produces so many fantastic projections and pinnacles, that the tradition may be supposed to have attached itself to different objects at different periods. See Dri. DB, iii. 152.
27, 28. Abraham's morning visit to the spot where he
had parted from his heavenly guests forms an impressive
close to the narrative.—and he looked, etc.] an effective
contrast to 1816.—the smoke of the land was afterwards
believed to ascend permanently from the site of the guilty
cities (Wisd. 107).—The idea may have been suggested by
the cloud of vapour which generally hangs over the surface
of the Dead Sea (see Di.).
29. (From P: see p. 306.) Gu. conjectures that the v. formed the introduction to a lost genealogy of Lot; and that its original position in P was after 1312a. The dependence of P on J is very manifest.—the cities in [one of] which Lot dwelt] as 84, Ju. 127.
The destruction of the Cities of the Plain.—The narrative of ch. 19
appears at first sight to be based on vague recollection of an actual
occurrence,—the destruction of a group of cities situated in what is now
the Dead Sea, under circumstances which suggested a direct inter-*
- 27. (
Hebrew characters)—(Hebrew characters)] preg. constr.—27b. must have been interpolated after
the expansion of ch. 18 by vv.22b-33a.—28. (
Hebrew characters) does not occur elsewhere.
The variations of [E]GS warrant the emendation (Hebrew characters) (Kit.)—(Hebrew characters)]
the same simile in Ex. 1918 (also J).—(Hebrew characters)] Ps. 119[83} 1488† .—29.
(Hebrew characters) 'the overthrow, (Greek characters). The usual verbal noun is (Hebrew characters)
(Dt. 29{22}, Is. 17 [rd. (Hebrew characters) for (Hebrew characters)], 1319, Jer. 4918 5040, Am. 411† , which is
never used except in connexion with this particular judgement. The
unhebraic form of inf., with the fact that where subj. is expressed it is
always (even in Am.) (Hebrew characters) and not (Hebrew characters), justify the conclusion that the
phraseology was stereotyped in a heathen version of the story
(Kraetzschmar, ZATW, xvii. 87 f.). Comp, the use of the vb. 1921. 25. 29,
Dt. 2922, Jer. 2016, La. 46.—(Hebrew characters)] [E] (Hebrew characters) is easier, G (Hebrew characters).
- ↑ I cannot find the proof of Gu.'s assertion that this pillar is now called 'the daughter of Lot.'
