Religion: Who’s Who

The loves, deeds, progeny, businesses of all Biblical characters who amounted to anything—they have been properly set down at last by the Rev. E. Fletcher Allen, M. A., in a book with a cover as blue as the Sea of Galilee entitled Who’s Who in the Bible*

From Aaron “who began his career well, as brother of Moses, but made the fatal mistake of trying to combine the goldsmith’s craft with religion,” to Zipporah, “the Midianite wife of Moses,” this book embraces many characters that appear in the modern Who’s Who under a different guise; several names, indeed, may be found in both books. In the Rev. Allen’s, the name of Baruch belongs to “a young nobleman”; Cain, says Author Allen, is the same name as Smith. David gets the most space, nigh four pages; Paul is second, Moses third. Goliath who, says the author, “was probably ten feet high,” gets only a paragraph for all his bulk, nor do Og, Gog and Magog, those hairy monsters, rate more. Noah is “accredited with having discovered the process of making wine.” Joseph is referred to with consummate discretion: “Presumably being attractive of person, he suffered from a malicious and entirely unfounded accusation leveled at him by Potiphar’s wife —whose passion Joseph did not share.” Obadiah, says Author Allen, “is a very common name in the Scriptures and none of its bearers has any claim to particular distinction.” Neither, it may be added, has Author Allen’s book. It is entertaining, harmless, perhaps useful.

*Published by Putnam, $2.00.