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On the Shores of the Great Sea, 01. The Home of Abraham

01. The Home of Abraham

"In the faith of little children, we went on our ways. " —KIPLING. It is strange to think of a very old world, when men knew nothing of the great salt sea that washed their shores, and nothing of the wonderful lands, that lay beyond. Each day the sun rose and set as it does to-day, but they did not know the reason why: the rivers flowed through the land, but they did not know whence they came, or whither they went.

These men of old, knew one great fact. They knew that they must live in a land, where there was plenty of water. How else could their sheep and oxen stay their thirst? how else should they and their children get food and drink? and how should the grain grow to save the land from famine?

So wherever a man settled down with his family in the old days, he chose some place near a river or spring. Perhaps others would wander over the land till they came to the same river, and there they would settle too, until there would be quite a little colony of families all attracted to the same spot by the fact that fresh, clean water, was flowing through the land.

And so it was that, long ago, the old stories tell us of a group of men, women, and children, who came and settled around a great river, called the Euphrates, away in the far East. It was one of the four rivers that watered the garden of Eden—a very beautiful and fertile spot.

This little group of settlers—known as the Chaldeans—grew corn in their rich country and became very prosperous, while other men were wandering about the trackless land with no fixed abode or calling.

These Chaldeans taught themselves many things. They made bricks and built houses to live in, they looked at the deep blue sky over their heads and learnt about the sun; they wandered about by night and learnt about the moon and the stars, they divided their time into seven days and called the days after seven stars, they taught themselves arithmetic and geometry. Of course they had no paper and pens to write with, but they scratched simple pictures on stones and tablets. For instance, a little drawing of one nail meant the figure I., two nails meant II., three nails in a row meant III., and so on.

Even to-day men go out to this old country, which has long since ceased to take any part in the world's history, and they find the old stones and tablets scratched by the Chaldeans, and learn more about these industrious people. The Chaldeans knew a great deal, but they knew nothing beyond their own country, for how should they? There were no carts, no trains, no bridges over the rivers, no ships, in those early days. Travelling was very slow and difficult. On the backs of camels or asses the journeys must be made, under the burning sun and over the trackless desert land: food must be carted, and even water; for how could they tell where rivers ran in those unknown, unexplored regions?

But the day was at hand when one man with his whole family should travel from this land beyond the Euphrates, travel away from the busy life of the Chaldean cities into a new and unknown country.

That man was known as Abraham.

He was a great man in the far East; he was well read in the stars, and had learnt much about the rising and setting of the sun and moon. Why he was called to leave his native land is not known. "Get thee out of thine own country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee. " These were Abraham's orders. And one day he rose up, and taking his old father Terah, his wife Sarai, and his fatherless young nephew Lot, with camels and asses bearing all his possessions, he left Chaldea.

The little party journeyed for a day, perhaps more, until they came to the frontier fortress of their own country, and here the old father Terah died before ever he had crossed that river that bounded the land of his birth.

And Abraham started off again to travel into the unknown land. The great river Euphrates rolled its vast volume of waters between him and the country to which his steps were bent. Two days' journey would bring him to the high chalk cliffs, from which he could overlook the wide western desert. Broad and strong lay the great stream below. He crossed it, probably near the same point where it is still forded. He crossed it and became known as the Hebrew—the man who had crossed the river flood—the man who came from beyond the Euphrates.

01. The Home of Abraham 01. Das Haus von Abraham 01. The Home of Abraham 01. El hogar de Abraham 01. La maison d'Abraham 01. La casa di Abramo 01. Dom Abrahama 01\. A Casa de Abraão 01. Дом Авраама 01. İbrahim'in Evi 01. Дім Авраама 01\. 亚伯拉罕之家 01. 亚伯拉罕的家 01. 亞伯拉罕的家

"In the faith of little children, we went on our ways. "Im Glauben wie kleine Kinder machten wir uns auf den Weg. «С верой детей мы шли по своим путям. "V veri majhnih otrok smo šli po svojih poteh. “本着小孩子的信念，我们继续前进。 " —KIPLING. ”——基普林。 It is strange to think of a very old world, when men knew nothing of the great salt sea that washed their shores, and nothing of the wonderful lands, that lay beyond. Es ist seltsam, an eine sehr alte Welt zu denken, in der die Menschen nichts von dem großen Salzmeer wussten, das ihre Küsten umspülte, und nichts von den wunderbaren Ländern, die dahinter lagen. Странно думать об очень древнем мире, когда люди ничего не знали о великом соленом море, омывающем их берега, и ничего не знали о чудесных землях, лежащих за ними. 想到一个非常古老的世界是很奇怪的，那时人们对冲刷海岸的巨大盐海一无所知，对远处的美妙土地一无所知。 Each day the sun rose and set as it does to-day, but they did not know the reason why: the rivers flowed through the land, but they did not know whence they came, or whither they went. Jeden Tag ging die Sonne auf und unter wie heute, aber sie wussten nicht, warum; die Flüsse flossen durch das Land, aber sie wussten nicht, woher sie kamen und wohin sie gingen. Каждый день солнце всходило и заходило, как сегодня, но они не знали причины: реки текли по земле, но они не знали, откуда они пришли и куда ушли. 每天太阳升起落下，就像今天一样，但他们不知道原因：河流流过这片土地，但他们不知道它们从哪里来，也不知道它们流向何方。

These men of old, knew one great fact. Эти люди древности знали один великий факт. 这些古老的人，知道一个伟大的事实。 They knew that they must live in a land, where there was plenty of water. Они знали, что должны жить в стране, где много воды. 他们知道他们必须生活在一个有大量水的土地上。 How else could their sheep and oxen stay their thirst? Wie sonst könnten ihre Schafe und Ochsen ihren Durst stillen? Как еще их овцы и волы могли утолить жажду? 他们的牛羊怎么能不渴呢？ how else should they and their children get food and drink? как еще они и их дети должны получать еду и питье? 他们和他们的孩子应该如何获得食物和饮料？ and how should the grain grow to save the land from famine? и как должно расти зерно, чтобы спасти землю от голода? 谷物应该如何生长以拯救土地免于饥荒？

So wherever a man settled down with his family in the old days, he chose some place near a river or spring. 所以从前，凡是与家人安家的人，都会选择靠近河流或泉水的地方。 Perhaps others would wander over the land till they came to the same river, and there they would settle too, until there would be quite a little colony of families all attracted to the same spot by the fact that fresh, clean water, was flowing through the land. Возможно, другие скитались по земле, пока не подошли к той же реке, и там они тоже поселились, пока не образовалась довольно маленькая колония семей, привлеченных в одно и то же место тем фактом, что свежая, чистая вода течет по реке. земля. 也许其他人会在这片土地上徘徊，直到他们来到同一条河流，他们也会在那里定居，直到有相当多的家庭都被新鲜、干净的水流过而吸引到同一个地方。那片土地。

And so it was that, long ago, the old stories tell us of a group of men, women, and children, who came and settled around a great river, called the Euphrates, away in the far East. Так и случилось, что давным-давно старые истории рассказывают нам о группе мужчин, женщин и детей, которые пришли и поселились вокруг великой реки, называемой Евфратом, далеко на Дальнем Востоке. 就这样，很久以前，古老的故事告诉我们，一群男人、女人和孩子来到远东的一条叫做幼发拉底河的大河周围定居。 It was one of the four rivers that watered the garden of Eden—a very beautiful and fertile spot. 它是灌溉伊甸园的四条河流之一——一个非常美丽和肥沃的地方。

This little group of settlers—known as the Chaldeans—grew corn in their rich country and became very prosperous, while other men were wandering about the trackless land with no fixed abode or calling. Эта небольшая группа поселенцев, известная как халдеи, выращивала кукурузу в своей богатой стране и стала очень процветающей, в то время как другие люди скитались по бездорожью без определенного места жительства или призвания. 这小群定居者——被称为迦勒底人——在他们富裕的国家种植玉米，变得非常繁荣，而其他人则在没有固定住所或呼唤的无轨之地徘徊。

These Chaldeans taught themselves many things. Эти халдеи научились многому. 这些迦勒底人自学了很多东西。 They made bricks and built houses to live in, they looked at the deep blue sky over their heads and learnt about the sun; they wandered about by night and learnt about the moon and the stars, they divided their time into seven days and called the days after seven stars, they taught themselves arithmetic and geometry. Sie stellten Ziegel her und bauten Häuser, um darin zu wohnen, sie schauten in den tiefblauen Himmel über ihren Köpfen und lernten etwas über die Sonne; sie wanderten nachts umher und lernten etwas über den Mond und die Sterne, sie teilten ihre Zeit in sieben Tage ein und nannten die Tage nach sieben Sternen, sie brachten sich selbst Rechnen und Geometrie bei. Они делали кирпичи и строили дома, чтобы жить в них, они смотрели на глубокое синее небо над головой и узнавали о солнце; они бродили по ночам и узнавали о луне и звездах, они делили свое время на семь дней и называли дни в честь семи звезд, они учились арифметике и геометрии. 他们砌砖盖房子住，仰望头顶深蓝的天空，了解太阳；他们在夜里游荡，了解月亮和星星，他们把时间分成七天，称七天后的日子，他们自学算术和几何。 Of course they had no paper and pens to write with, but they scratched simple pictures on stones and tablets. Конечно, у них не было бумаги и ручек, чтобы писать, но они царапали простые картинки на камнях и табличках. 当然，他们没有纸和笔可以写字，但他们在石头和石板上划了些简单的图画。 For instance, a little drawing of one nail meant the figure I., two nails meant II., three nails in a row meant III., and so on. Eine kleine Zeichnung eines Nagels bedeutete zum Beispiel die Figur I., zwei Nägel bedeuteten II., drei Nägel in einer Reihe bedeuteten III. und so weiter. Например, маленький рисунок одного гвоздя означал цифру I, два гвоздя — II, три гвоздя подряд — III и т. д. 例如，一个钉子的小图表示图 I.，两个钉子表示 II.，三个钉子连续表示 III.，依此类推。

Even to-day men go out to this old country, which has long since ceased to take any part in the world's history, and they find the old stones and tablets scratched by the Chaldeans, and learn more about these industrious people. Даже сегодня люди отправляются в эту древнюю страну, которая уже давно перестала принимать какое-либо участие в мировой истории, и находят старые камни и таблички, исцарапанные халдеями, и узнают больше об этих трудолюбивых людях. 即使是今天，人们也到了这个早已不再参与世界历史的古老国家，他们发现了迦勒底人划过的古老石头和石碑，并更多地了解这些勤劳的人。 The Chaldeans knew a great deal, but they knew nothing beyond their own country, for how should they? Die Chaldäer wussten viel, aber sie wussten nichts über ihr eigenes Land hinaus, denn wie sollten sie auch? Халдеи знали очень много, но ничего не знали за пределами своей страны, ибо откуда им знать? 迦勒底人知道很多，但他们除了自己的国家之外一无所知，因为他们应该怎么做？ There were no carts, no trains, no bridges over the rivers, no ships, in those early days. В те далекие времена не было ни повозок, ни поездов, ни мостов через реки, ни кораблей. Travelling was very slow and difficult. Путешествие было очень медленным и трудным. 旅行非常缓慢和困难。 On the backs of camels or asses the journeys must be made, under the burning sun and over the trackless desert land: food must be carted, and even water; for how could they tell where rivers ran in those unknown, unexplored regions? Auf dem Rücken von Kamelen oder Eseln müssen die Reisen unter der brennenden Sonne und durch das unwegsame Wüstenland zurückgelegt werden: Lebensmittel müssen herangeschafft werden und sogar Wasser, denn woher sollten sie wissen, wo in diesen unbekannten, unerforschten Regionen Flüsse fließen? На спинах верблюдов или ослов должны совершаться путешествия под палящим солнцем и по бездорожной пустынной земле: еду нужно возить и даже воду; ибо как они могли сказать, где текут реки в этих неизвестных, неизведанных областях? 旅行必须骑在骆驼或驴背上，在烈日之下，在无路可走的沙漠土地上进行：必须用车运送食物，甚至是水；因为他们怎么知道河流在那些未知的、未开发的地区流过？

But the day was at hand when one man with his whole family should travel from this land beyond the Euphrates, travel away from the busy life of the Chaldean cities into a new and unknown country. Aber der Tag war gekommen, an dem ein Mann mit seiner ganzen Familie das Land jenseits des Euphrat verlassen und aus dem geschäftigen Leben der chaldäischen Städte in ein neues und unbekanntes Land reisen sollte. Но был близок день, когда один человек со всем своим семейством должен был отправиться из этой земли за Евфратом, уйти от суетливой жизни халдейских городов в новую и неизвестную страну. 但是有一天，一个人和他的全家应该从幼发拉底河以外的这片土地旅行，离开迦勒底城市的繁忙生活，进入一个新的未知国家。

That man was known as Abraham.

He was a great man in the far East; he was well read in the stars, and had learnt much about the rising and setting of the sun and moon. He was a great man in the far East; he was well read in the stars, and had learnt much about the rising and setting of the sun and moon. Он был великим человеком на Дальнем Востоке; он хорошо разбирался в звездах и много знал о восходе и заходе солнца и луны. 他是远东的伟人；他对星象有很好的了解，对日月的升起和落下有很多了解。 Why he was called to leave his native land is not known. Почему его призвали покинуть родные края, неизвестно. 为什么他被召唤离开他的祖国尚不清楚。 "Get thee out of thine own country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee. " "Geh aus deinem Land und aus deiner Verwandtschaft und aus deinem Vaterhaus in ein Land, das ich dir zeigen werde. " «Пойди из земли твоей, и от родства твоего, и из дома отца твоего, в землю, которую Я укажу тебе». “带你离开自己的国家，离开你的族人，离开你父亲的家，到我将指示你的地方去。” These were Abraham's orders. And one day he rose up, and taking his old father Terah, his wife Sarai, and his fatherless young nephew Lot, with camels and asses bearing all his possessions, he left Chaldea. И однажды он встал и, взяв своего старого отца Фарру, свою жену Сару и своего молодого племянника Лота, оставшегося без отца, с верблюдами и ослами, неся все свое имущество, вышел из Халдеи. 有一天，他起来，带着他的老父亲他拉，他的妻子撒莱，和他没有父亲的小侄子罗得，带着骆驼和驴，带着他所有的财产，离开了迦勒底。

The little party journeyed for a day, perhaps more, until they came to the frontier fortress of their own country, and here the old father Terah died before ever he had crossed that river that bounded the land of his birth. Die kleine Gruppe reiste einen Tag lang, vielleicht auch länger, bis sie zur Grenzfestung ihres eigenen Landes kamen, und hier starb der alte Vater Terah, bevor er jemals den Fluss überquert hatte, der das Land seiner Geburt begrenzte. Маленькая группа шла целый день, а может быть, и больше, пока не подошла к пограничной крепости своей страны, и здесь умер старый отец Фарра, еще не перейдя реку, которая ограничивала землю его рождения. 小队走了一天，也许更久，直到他们来到了自己国家的边境要塞，老父亲特拉赫还没渡过那条以他出生地为界的河流，就死在了这里。

And Abraham started off again to travel into the unknown land. Und Abraham brach erneut auf, um in das unbekannte Land zu reisen. И Авраам снова отправился путешествовать в неизвестную землю. 亚伯拉罕再次启程前往未知之地。 The great river Euphrates rolled its vast volume of waters between him and the country to which his steps were bent. Der große Fluss Euphrat wälzte seine gewaltigen Wassermassen zwischen ihm und dem Land, in das seine Schritte führen sollten. Великая река Евфрат неслась своими огромными водами между ним и страной, к которой тянулись его стопы. 巨大的幼发拉底河在他和他的脚步所弯曲的国家之间翻滚着浩瀚的水流。 Two days' journey would bring him to the high chalk cliffs, from which he could overlook the wide western desert. Два дня пути приведут его к высоким меловым утесам, с которых он сможет обозревать широкую западную пустыню. 两天的旅程将把他带到高高的白垩悬崖，从那里他可以俯瞰广阔的西部沙漠。 Broad and strong lay the great stream below. Внизу протекал широкий и сильный поток. 宽阔而强劲的河流铺设在下面。 He crossed it, probably near the same point where it is still forded. Er überquerte ihn, wahrscheinlich an der Stelle, an der er heute noch durchquert wird. Он пересек его, вероятно, недалеко от того места, где он все еще находится вброд. 他越过了它，可能在它仍然被涉水的同一点附近。 He crossed it and became known as the Hebrew—the man who had crossed the river flood—the man who came from beyond the Euphrates. Er überquerte ihn und wurde als Hebräer bekannt - der Mann, der die Flut überquert hatte - der Mann, der von jenseits des Euphrat kam. Он перешел ее и стал известен как Еврей — человек, перешедший реку через разлив — человек, пришедший из-за Евфрата. 他渡过了河，被称为希伯来人——渡过洪水的人——来自幼发拉底河以外的人。