Islam - The Summit of Religious Evolution — Page 41
41 The boundaries of the Promised Land, as given in the Bible are shown in Figure 2. 7 God’s promise to Abraham was to let his descendant inhibit the Promised Land forever. This promise was, however, conditional. In addition to the condition about circumcision of all males, 8 another condition is stated in Psalm: 9* Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever. For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off; the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever. The Bible continues to record God’s promises about Ishmael: 10 I will make the son of the maidservant into a nation also, because he is your offspring. Another version of the Bible records the promise in slightly different words: 11 "And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed. " The above verse is reproduced from two editions of the Bible, the NIV and the RSV, to demonstrate how a slight variation of words can alter it’s meaning. Although the expressed message in both versions appears to be similar, the implications in them are significantly different. As stated earlier, such inconsistencies in Biblical text cause great problems for a critical study of this nature where the absolute meaning of the word is required. This delicate change of words to obliterate its meaning may be aimed at preventing such meaningful comparisons by Biblical scholars. The practice of referring to differing Biblical texts will be maintained in this book. The Bible continues to record God’s promises to Hager about Ishmael’s well being and prosperity and also records his whereabouts after their departure from Abraham's house. 12 Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the desert of Beer-Sheba. When the water in the skin was gone. She put the boy under one of the bushes. 'Then she went off and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she thought "I cannot watch the boy die. ' And as she sat there nearby. shed began to sob. * Newer versions contain different wording