Bible Side-Lights from the Mound of Gezer. By R. A.
Stewart Macalister. (Hodder and Stoughton. 5s.)—Gezer—the site was most felicitously identified by M. Clermont-Ganneau—has recently been explored. Mr. Macalister tells here the story of the exploration, and takes the opportunity of explaining, by the help of what has been discovered, various obscure passages in the Old Testament. Gezer, though assigned to the Levites as one of their cities, remained practically in possession of its Canaanite inhabi- tants till these were destroyed by the Egyptians,—the town was part of the dowry of Solomon's Egyptian wife. We have conse- quently an opportunity of learning from its remains something of Amorite manners and customs. These, also, are full of suggestion about other things. One of the commonest of the objects found, for instance, was the pottery model of a cow. Here we have a Parallel to the calf worship practised in the wilderness, and reappearing in the Northern Monarchy. (Mr. Macalister rightly maintains that this was an Amorite, not an Egyptian, form of devotion.) Then, again, we have reason to believe that the foundation sacrifices which we hear of in connexion with the rebuilding of Jericho were practised at Gezer. In one very ancient house was found the skeleton of an aged woman, with two food vessels by it. It had been put there, it was evident, when the walls were built. The skeleton showed that she had been crippled by rheumatism. Another skeleton was found similarly placed. In this case the man had lost his left hand. The builders economically used unprofitable members of the community. This is a most interesting volume.
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