The Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Volume 2 : Goliath - Papyri)

For people who do not have access to primary research materials, the dictionaries come very handy. Even for specialists such works serve as a useful starting point. I have found the Illustrated Bible Dictionary edited by J.D. Douglas and N. Hillyer very helpful and would recommend it to other readers. It is a work of considerable dedication and careful scholarship. The authors do not only offer a strong grasp of the basic facts but also present the range of existing views on the topics covered. This is a very good book on an extremely important subject.However, I want to make some comments on the general methodology which I believe have very important repercussions. I feel that the authors do not take adequate note of the close links of the early Jewish people with Indo-Iran. Abraham came from Ur but where exactly was this city? As in all other works, the authors identify it with the city excavated by Woolley but this may be wrong. The authors make no mention of the fact that Woolley's identification was strongly disputed by none other than W.F. Albright. Secondly the recent discovery by the Italian archaeologists of a city larger than contemporary Ur at Shahr-I Shokhta in Seistan has totally changed the scenario. Seistan is of great antiquity and I have suggested (www.geocities.com/ranajitda) that Kuh-I Khwaja in Seistan was the abode of Gomata who was none other than Gotama Buddha. Incidentally, the great Iranologist E. Herzfeld suggested that the three Magi may have hailed from Kuh-I Khwaja. Immediately after his enlightenment, Gotama preached at Uruvela which is a clear echo of Ur(Vela=Bala=City). This would imply that Ur was in Seistan. Ur may correspond to Urva of the Iranian tradition. Early Islamic writers referred to an Indian city Ubulla in this locality which is clearly Uruvela. Herzfeld noted that there is a local tradition that links Kuh-i-Khwaja with Ibrahim or Abraham. Herzfeld did not attach any importance to this tradition but I think the new archaeological scenario demands a more careful approach.Again, like all others, the dictionary equates Shinar of the Bible with Sumer in Iraq. This also is not only etymologically unsatisfactory but clashes with other data. I wish to mention that some of the 19th century dictionaries did not equate Shinar with Sumer. It is well known that the Sumerians had migrated to southern Iraq and many scholars wrote that they had gone from the east. Furthermore, the Indian texts refer to the land of Usinara which I think is Shinar of the Bible. Usinara was near Sibi which echoes Sibistan or Seistan. The encyclopedia of Islam gives Usha as the name of the mother of Abraham. This also would indicate Seistan as Abraham's abode. Seistan is the home of all ancient Iranian tradition.I could go on and on but shall point out that Kudur Lakhamar of the Book of Genesis could be the great Lakshmana of the Indian Ramayana, brother of Ram-Sin who ruled Sumer just before Lakhamar. The authors do not seem to be aware