Folk-Lore in the Old Testament: Studies in Comparative Religion, Legend, and Law

IN certain parts of Palestine there used to dwell a savage people who were called 'Ibhrim, or Hebrews, whose customs show that they were originally slaves to the same crude and cruel semireligious observances as may be found in any modern uncivilised tribe. If an explorer, well oequipped with all that science can endow for collecting, collating, and recording primitive folklore, had gone among them and studied them, his labours would show that these same Hebrews, who were to have such an effect on the Western world for at least two thousand years, were oscarcely different in their habits and customs from any other barbarians. As, however, this people has passed away from Palestine, the explorer cannot get into direct touch with them, and he must either dig up their records from their ancient cities, or so analyse their writings that he can trace the origins of obscure customs by comparison with those of other races.Folk-Lore in the Old Testament: Studies in Comparative Religion, Legend, and Law. In 3 vols. By Sir James G. Frazer. Vol. i., pp. xxv + 569; vol. ii., pp. xxi + 571; vol. iii., pp. xviii + 566. (London: Macmillan and Co., Ltd., 1918.) Price, 3 vols., 37s. 6d. net.