An echo back 150 years
Professor Horatio Hackett
visited Israel about 150 years ago and his book is a fascinating glimpse into
the world of that time with a view to better understanding the Bible. He noted
the hospitality in his own time. He said the following about Middle Eastern
hospitality. “A regard for the rights of hospitality still distinguishes the
natives of the East. A stranger cast by any accident upon their kindness seldom
has occasion to complain of cruelty or neglect. To receive freely such
civilities as their simple mode of life may enable them to extend to him.
Having lost our way, after leaving Samaria at a late hour in the afternoon, and
being overtaken by night, without our tents, which had been sent forward in
another direction, we were obliged to seek shelter in an Arab village among the
mountains. I inquired of the guide, when the necessity of this course was
stated, whether we could expect a favorable reception, especially as it was a
part of the country where foreigners are seldom seen. Of that he assured us we
need have no doubt; for every village, he said, has a house appropriated to the
use of strangers; an understanding exists that some particular family shall
always be ready to receive them under their roof. We were not disappointed. On
reaching the place, the guide inquired of the first man that we met, for the
Menzel (the name of the stranger’s house); the villager went forward at once
and showed us the way thither. No hesitation or parleying ensued. The gate of
the court was thrown open, we entered, were established in the best room, which
the house afforded, and supplied with milk and bread, all that we asked for or
needed. No compensation or present is expected in such cases.
More testimonies of Middle
Eastern hospitality
Other travelers bear
testimony to this trait of the oriental character. Dr. Shaw, who traveled so
extensively in Northern Africa and Asia says: In most of the inland towns and
villages is a house set apart for the reception of strangers, with a proper
officer to attend to them; there they are lodged and entertained, for one
night, at the expense of the community.” In the Hauran (modern day Jordan),
east of the Jordan, says Mr. Elliot, ‘a
Syrian never thinks it necessary to carry with him on a journey any
money for food or lodging, as he is sure to be supplied without it. Our money
was sometimes refused, and never asked for; nor can there be a doubt that we
should have been received and welcomed in almost every house of the Hauran.”
Now Hackett connects this
idea to a Scriptural passage from Luke’s Gospel in a very ingenious way. We who
live overseas never having set foot in Israel can’t see these nuances that
Hackett (and others) have seen in traveling in this country.
He continues: “There is an
incident in the life of the Saviour which connects itself with this usage. In
one of his journeys to Jerusalem, in passing through Samaria, he sent
messengers, towards the close of the day, no doubt into a certain village to prepare
a night’s lodging; the people, offended because he was going to Jerusalem,
whereas they held Gerezim (a mountain in Nablus holy to the Samaritans to this
day) to be the proper place of worship, refused to receive him. This treatment
was not only an incivility, but a violation of the rights of hospitality. The
Saviour and his friends, acquiring to the recognized laws of oriental
civilization, had a claim to be entertained in some house in that village. It
was this view of the outrage, unquestionably, which excited James and John.
They asked if they should not command fire to come down from heaven and consume
the inhospitable Samaritans. I must quote, also, the reply of him who spake as
never man spake. ‘He turned and rebuked them, and said, you know not what
manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man is not come to destroy men’s
lives, but to save them. See Luke 9:51-56.” (Illustrations of Scripture
suggested by a tour through the Holy Land by Horatio Hackett – 1863 – pgs.
72-74)
No comments:
Post a Comment