eponymous hero. Lotan, which is the name of an Edomite clan,
(_Gen_. xxxvi. 20, 29), is a racial adjective, derived from
Lot.

*** _Gen._ xii. 9-20, xiii. 1. Abraham's visit to Egypt
reproduces the principal events of that of Jacob.

[Illustration: 093.jpg THE TRADITIONAL OAK OF ABRAHAM AT HEBRON]

Drawn by Boudier, from a photograph brought home by Lortet.

On his return he purchased the field of Ephron, near Kirjath-Arba, and
the cave of Machpelah, of which he made a burying-place for his family*
Kirjath-Arba, the Hebron of subsequent times, became from henceforward
his favourite dwelling-place, and he was residing there when the
Elamites invaded the valley of Siddim, and carried off Lot among their
prisoners.

* _Gen_. xiii. 18, xxiii. (Elohistic narrative). The tombs
of the patriarchs are believed by the Mohammedans to exist
to the present day in the cave which is situated within the
enclosure of the mosque at Hebron, and the tradition on
which this belief is based goes back to early Christian
times.

Abraham set out in pursuit of them, and succeeded in delivering his
nephew.* God (Jahveh) not only favoured him on every occasion, but
expressed His will to extend over Abraham's descendants His sheltering
protection. He made a covenant with him, enjoining the use on the
occasion of the mysterious rites employed among the nations when
effecting a treaty of peace. Abraham offered up as victims a heifer, a
goat, and a three-year-old ram, together with a turtle-dove and a young
pigeon; he cut the animals into pieces, and piling them in two heaps,
waited till the evening. "And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep
fell upon Abraham; and lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him,"
and a voice from on high said to him: "Know of a surety that thy seed
shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them;
and they shall afflict them four hundred years; and also that nation,
whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out
with great substance.... And it came to pass, that when the sun went
down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that
passed between those pieces." Jahveh sealed the covenant by consuming the
offering.

* _Gen._ xiv. 12-24. 2 Gen. xv., Jehovistic narrative.

Two less important figures fill the interval between the Divine
prediction of servitude and its accomplishmen