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ARCHAEOLOGY
(Continued from page 21)
like El?" as does the Hebrew
Mika 'el.)
Yet alongside this is the
name Micah
(mi-ka -ya,
perhaps
meaning "Who is like Yahweh?").
Pettinato simply stated that the
two names occurred but refused to
draw premature conclusions from
th em. This is proper scholar–
ship.
The Future
Whether the material from Ebla will
really turn out to be "one of the
greatest discoveries of our time or
any other" remains to be seen.
Trying to compare the value of
scholarly findings can easily descend
into childishness, since al! finds have
their value. AU-whether big or
sma ll- take their place as resources
from which to draw for research
about the ancient world. Without
using hyperbole, however, one can
certainly state that the discoveries at
Ebla are of.grea.t significance.
Proper analysis of the texts will
take considerable time. Only pre–
limina ry conclusions can be drawn
for the next indefinite number of
years. Many hypotheses will be ad–
vanced ; many will have to be re–
jected or modified after further
study. But sorne will stand the test
and become part of a basis on which
to build further work.
lt
is not likely that the study of
the Bible will be revolutionized. The
significance of the Bible is in its reli–
gious, ethical and moral teachings.
But new discoveries can help us to
understand be tter the matrix in
which the Bible grew.
o
Dr. Lester
L.
Grabbe is on
the Jaculty of Ambassador Co!–
lege, where he teaches as assis–
tant professor of theology .
Specializing in languages and
/iteratures re/ating to the Bible,
he holds a Ph.D. from Clare–
mont Graduate School. Re–
prints are available of previous
articles Dr. Grabbe has written.
Please request them by title:
"How We ,Got the Bible" and
"Which Translations Should You
Use?"
The PLAIN TRUTH April 1977
W
-=--=-=-H~Y___!...N. ...:....:::
O=-=)f___!...?
___
-=by:Jon Hill
W~y
WereYou Born?
M
urray was a nice enough fellow. He was president of a company
that sold printing supplies, and 1 was in the printing business.
We were ata printers' convention in Los Angeles.
Printers are a strange lot: half their blood is ink and the other half
alcohol. They've seen the world, know all about it-if you don't think
so just ask one-and they don't like any of it. They are hard-bitten, but
generally friendly and most have a sense of humor. lt's from them 1
learned the phrase: "For the man who thinks, the world is comic; for
the man who feels, it is tragic. '' Since most of them thought they were
thinkers, but many were secretly concerned, it was an interesting tra–
gicomic time.
Murray asked, "What is it you guys print?" 1had a copy
ot
one
ot
our booklets with me, so 1handed it to him as a sample. The title was
Why Were You Born?
He glanced at the paper stock, size, printing
quality, was pleasantly surprised that this was only one among dozens
of booklets we print hundreds of thousands of-and then the title
caught his eye. "May 1have this?" he asked. "Of course," 1said. "We
giv~
all our.literature away free-it's a public service. ''
"Thanks!' ' he said with a grin. " l've just got to have this. l've al–
ways wondered why 1was born. l'm sure most people have the same
question, but 1never heard anybody ask anybody else. l'm·going to
ask everybody here!" And with that he disappeared to confront the
world of printer's devils.
Murray did ·ask nearly everyone there, "Why were
you
born?"
Sorne gave a short laugh, turned to another customer, and dismissed
good old Murray as having had one too many. Others paused to really
consider: "1 was born to make money!" Practica! , cosmopolitan .
"1 was born to make a living, get married, have children and die." Pe–
destrian. "1 was born to eat, drink and make merry, for tomorrow . ... "
Evading the quest'ion. "Nobody knows why he was born, stupid .
We're just here!" Belligerent, superior. "1 was born to learn sorne
lessons before 1die, and maybe develop a little character. " Getting
warm, but too serious for a printer. "1 was born to help make the world
a better place to live in-and failed so far": bitter, somewhat cynical ,
sarcastic. "Ask a priest!": passing the buck. "Why, you unprintable,
no good son ofan expletive, if you don't know why the blank you were
born why ask me?" Better move on, fight coming up!
Well, Murray had a·ball that day, and like to have broken up the
convention. Three months later 1asked him if he ever had read that
booklet. "No, not yet," he admitted , "but 1still ask everyone the ques–
tion when 1get a chance-their answers kili me!"
1don't know if Murray has ever read .the booklet yet, but why
don't
you?
There is a very good answer-one you probably never
heard before: fantastic, interesting and real.
And it's free-write for your copy today.
Why not?
45