The Moon God’s City in Abraham’s Day.

Glimpses of the environment in which this "Friend of God” was reared.
MODERN archeological research has made it possible for us to visualize the scenes, through which Abraham passed, and acquaint ourselves with the political, commercial, and religious conditions of that period in the history of the world.
Stephen declared that “the God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran” (Acts 7: 2). This was when he lived in Ur of the Chaldees, a great city of which the modern Mugayyar, located on the west bank of the Euphrates, is the site now generally accepted. Ur is considered to have been the most important city in the southern region of Babylonia, and when Abraham lived there, it appears to have been the chief center of culture, devoted to the arts and sciences, a place of wealth and luxury.
It was a city of empire. Its rulers held sway for centuries, having the titles of “King of Ur, Sumer and Accad” (embracing the Biblical lands of Shinar and Chaldea down to the Persian Gulf, and at certain periods assuming the proud title, “King of the four quarters, or of the world.” Dynasties changed frequently and at times, Ur was obliged to yield in rank to other cities, like Isin, and Larsa (the Biblical Ellasar).
Ur was famous as the city of the moon-god Sin, accounted “the lord of wisdom.” Thus, it was. one of the ancient seats of world-idolatry, confirming the word of Joshua, “Your fathers dwelt of old time beyond [or on the other side of] the River, even Terah, the father of Abraham . . . and they served other gods (Josh, 24: 2, R.V.). Notice the specific relation to the river Euphrates mentioned by Joshua. It plainly intimates that Terah’s family dwelt on the east of the river. As mentioned above the present site of Ur is to the west of the river. “But before the period of Rim-Sin, the Euphrates seems to have run west of Ur. Then Ur would be on the east, or on the other side of the River. This shows the accuracy of Joshua’s statement, though made five hundred years later.
The Eight Empire Cities.
The Babylonia of those days was a land of cities. Besides Ur, we know of Erech, Eridu, Larsa, Lagash, Isin, Nippur, Babylon. Their unearthed ruins, or other records, enable us to form a picture of them before our mind’s eye. Unquestionably, they were rich, luxurious and spacious.
Though the fortunes of empire were now with one and then another of these early city-states, they maintained throughout great importance as religious centers, having their own gods and cults. However, in the age of Hammurabi, Babylon attained supremacy, and accordingly, its god Marduk (the Biblical Merodach) was accorded headship in the idolatrous pantheon of the vassal states. Even the rival god En-lil of Nippur, of which Bel was the common designation (the Bel of the Bible), lost chief place. After the Hammurabic age, this cult was restored to the preeminent place which it had previously enjoyed. It is well to remember the statement of Scripture, that what the nations “sacrifice [to idols], they sacrifice to demons” (1 Cor. 10: 20; Acts 17: 22; Deut. 32: 17; Psa. 106: 35-37). In other words, idolatry represented a strange and awful power of spiritual wickedness.
In these cities, guarded by thick walls and fortified gates, their rulers erected palaces; raised great temples to the gods; built the famous seven-staged towers so remarkable for height, mass, and brilliant color obtained by the use of glazed tile facing. These buildings were adorned with bas-relief sculptures, and decorative designs in which the lotus played a prominent part.
In contrast with Egypt where the great structures were built of stone, in these districts of the Tigris and Euphrates, the buildings were almost always constructed of sun-dried brick, burnt brick being used in the main only for the outer casing of the walls. The country afforded neither timber nor stone (Gen. 11: 1-3).
These Babylonian builders covered the brick walls of their public and private buildings, sometimes with stone slabs probably brought from the quarries around Sinai, and sometimes with plaster and asphalt ornamented with mosaic-work formed of glazed terra-cotta, in the making of which these people excelled. Their buildings abounded in colorful decoration which, in the intense sunlight of that southern clime, made their cities glow with many hues. This gave to their streets an aspect of lightness, variety, and gaiety, not seen in the somber, colorless thoroughfares of present-day cities.
The influences of Babylonian architecture ruled Elam and Assyria. Other nations, like Persia and the Hittites, borrowed from it; and traces of its influence appear in far-distant China and India.
Abraham came out of the midst of this land in which. one of the grandest civilizations of the world was developed,—indeed was at its zenith, for he certainly lived near to “the golden age of Hammurabi.”  “The God of glory” called him out to a path of pilgrimage, and separation from the world’s wealth, power, and pleasure; from father’s house and kindred, to make a distinct break with the past, to seek another country, even a heavenly (Heb. 11: 8-16). From the luxury of being a city-dweller, he became a nomad: “dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob {Jacob was born fifteen years before Abraham died], the heirs with him of the same promise” (Heb. 11: 9). Such, ever since has been the character of the path of faith—to esteem suffering with the people of God, and obedience to His Word, greater riches than the world’s treasure. Faith is called to sacrifice. God calls by His own glory to present suffering and future inheritance, even joint heirship with Christ (2 Pet. 1: 3; Rom. 8: 17).
Abraham probably lived shortly after Hammurabi’s reign, during which, and for more than a hundred years after, the city of Babylon was foremost. Ur, Isin, Erech, and Elam came under the masterly hand of Hammurabi who was not only a successful warrior but a wonderful administrator, as the famous code of law which bears his name gives witness. Abraham, then, would be familiar with life in Babylonia under the conditions which prevailed during this epoch. He was born and educated under the rule of the first dynasty of. Babylon.
He lived in Ur. To the west of the city lay the broad expanse of the Euphrates, and a few miles in a southeasterly direction was the great lake, called “sea” by the Babylonians, near the edge of which the city of Eridu stood in those days. From the territory around this lake, called the “sea-land,” came the kings of the “sea-land, or country” dynasty.
The country through all this part lies low. The banks along river and lake are fringed with willows and reeds except where plantations reach to the shore.
Far off to the east might be seen the mountains of Elam from which the Kassite raiders descended upon Babylonia and finally ruled the country.
Licentious Idolatry of Ur.
Abram grew up under the shadow of Ur’s famous Ziggurrat and doubtless knew well the magnificent temple to the moon-god which stood near. He would be familiar with its ritual, know something of its musicians, its singers, its host of priestesses and sacred harlots who served in more ways than one and were looked upon as the god’s harem, for the gods must be like the men who worshiped them.
These deities were thought to be very human in their ways, much like men and women, only having extraordinary powers. It was supposed their favor could be secured and their powers used for man’s benefit by abundantly providing all that would gratify their emotions and lusts—which were like those of the worshipers, and to which they gave free rein to please these gods at the sacrificial feasts. In the light of this, how true the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans is seen to be!
The temples of these idolatrous and licentious cities were also the great financial centers of the community. The records show how the priestly officials arranged interest-bearing loans for commercial and agricultural purposes, and in cases of necessity, supplied the demands of the king. These temples also controlled large territories, and accumulated great riches from the lease of lands, the levy of taxes upon dependent cities, various tolls or dues, and revenue from cattle raising. A staff of collectors looked after these interests.
The temple, too, was the chief scene of justice. There the courts sat, cases were tried, decisions rendered, and all of this was considered in relation to the god who was supposed to exercise judgment. There were also courts of appeal and as a last resort, appeal could be carried to the king.
Thus, the temple was intimately connected with the entire round of daily life, private and public, commercial and political, They were enriched by abundant tithes of cattle, sheep, the first-fruits of crops, beer, and wine.
In Ur, Abraham would meet many traders and husbandmen, for around the city there were extensive grain fields and many groves of palm and fruit-trees. In the markets he could purchase a great variety of commodities—grapes, figs, dates, melons, many vegetables, corn, barley, wheat, flocks, and fish.
The society Abraham knew was divided into three general classes, and these were recognized by law with special legislation for each—the patrician, the plebeian, and the slave. The priest, scribe, physician, and chief government officials ranked highest in the occupations of life; then merchants, teachers, mechanics, and other workmen. The slave was treated like a chattel—sold or pledged—and for damage done to him, his master received compensation. Still, he could acquire wealth and transact business, but all under his master’s supervision. He could purchase freedom with his savings.
Then Abraham would be acquainted with the shipping trade and general business operations of those days. Much business was done by boat on the rivers and numerous canals of Babylonia. The boats varied in size, and were either propelled by a pole, or towed by men, and in some cases aided by sails. The business records of the time show operations of various kinds, similar to those of today. The contracts cover storage, loan, exchange, sale, lease, and mortgage. Though there seems to have been no coinage system, yet gold and silver changed hands in both religious and commercial transactions. Much work was done in copper, and there was the manufacture of pottery and jewelry.
Though no great number of literary productions have yet been found, still enough has come to light to indicate that literature had its place in Abraham's day. That it had been abundant would cause no surprise, when we consider the quantity of business documents, private correspondence, and temple archives already known.
Abraham’s Knowledge, Natural and Divine.
In the main, the literature we now know deals with the creation, the deluge, the gods, and certain heroes concerning whom narratives were written in romance form. With these, Abraham must have been acquainted. As to the supernatural element, only germs of truth remained, for idolatry and superstition had so polluted the stream of tradition that all seemed enveloped in midnight darkness when we compare these remains with the clear light of God’s own Word.
They make apparent the utter impossibility of our knowing anything worthy, the name of truth, except God had in due time brought in by inspired men, the written revelation we now possess. From it the glorious light of unquenchable and imperishable truth shines out to dispel the abysmal darkness of vain human imaginings. We may take it for granted that Abraham knew the Babylonian accounts of creation and the flood; and the Sabbath, too, was known. Are we to think God did not clear away many of these mists and dark clouds, bringing him out of superstition into the possession of true knowledge? We can scarcely read Hebrews 11: 8-16 without feeling that Abraham knew more, I think much more than appears from the account of his life in Genesis. The light of a heavenly city shone before the eyes of his faith revealed to him by the God of glory. This had eclipsed all the worldly glory of Ur, held him fast when he moved amid the pomp and splendor of ancient Egypt, led him back to the place of his tent at Bethel, where again God spoke to him.
Such were the immediate surroundings of our patriarch. In them we can see mirrored the general features of the age in which he lived. For centuries, amazingly little change took place in the life and customs of these eastern lands. The more we learn of them from other sources, the more evident it becomes that many passages in the Old Testament prophets give a faithful view of the general life of even this early period, though written long after Abraham’s age.
PLAINFIELD, N. J.
"The Sunday School Times" April 24, 1926