money; in early times not a coin but a weight
of money. In this story Abraham "weighed" the silver.

ISAAC AND REBEKAH.

_Mesopotamia_ means "between the rivers," the wide land far east between
the Euphrates and the Tigris.

_Cave of Machpelah_. In early times caves were often used as burial
places. The present inhabitants of Hebron believe the cave of Machpelah
is under a building in their city.

JACOB.

_Pottage._ A sort of stew of lentils, a vegetable like beans.

_Birthright_. In many parts of the world, the oldest child has, by his
birth, the right of becoming the head of the family {492} at the death
of his father, with sometimes other rights and responsibilities.

_Paddan-aram_ or _Padan-aram_. "The country of Syria," lying northeast
of Palestine, between Damascus and the river Euphrates.

_Pillars of stone_. Standing stones and heaps of stones were often set
up at places held sacred. Oil was poured on such stones as an offering
to God, or to express the idea that the places were holy. Such sacred
places are found in almost all lands, and were very common in
Palestine. The stones are still sometimes found standing.

_Jegar-sahadutha_ and _Galeed_ both mean "heap of witness," one in the
language of Canaan, the other in that of Mesopotamia.

_Jabbok_. A stream flowing into the Jordan from the east.

_Peniel_. "Face of God." Sometimes spelled Penuel.

_Seir_. A section of country southeast of Palestine. It is high and
rocky, sometimes called Mt. Seir.

_Succoth_, "booths." Its site is not known.

_Allon-bacuth_, "the oak of weeping"

JOSEPH.

_Dothan_. About ten miles north of Samaria. A story about Elisha is
also located at Dothan. _Tales of Old Judea, 148_.

_Caravan_. A train of camels or horses. In the East people traveled
together in caravans for protection against robbers.

_Egypt_. A land where civilization is very ancient. All through the
Old Testament times it was a powerful kingdom. Its king was called, in
the early stories of the Bible, the Pharaoh.

_Divining cup_. The custom of divining, that is, discovering hidden
secrets by magic, was widespread in the ancient world. Sometimes cups
of sacred water were used, and a special cup might be thought to have
special value for divination.

{493}

_Goshen_. A section in the northeast of Egypt, next to the Isthmus of
Suez.

_Rameses_. A city in the land of Goshen. "The land of Rameses" is the
country about this city.