This
verse is quite straightforward except for the term 
= 'or'which had a standard meaning of 'light'. It is
clearly a statement by the Shining Onesthat they wanted
light - but, in our context, they had all the light that they
needed. What they were short of was enlightenment;
they needed enlightenment about conditions in the unexplored
Lowlands - a land that they had only seen from the air - in
order to make a decision whether the area was suitable for
agricultural development.
We are
encouraged in making this interpretation by reference to the
Urim. This was a device, carried in Aaron's breast-pocket,
which enabled him to communicate with Yahweh at a distance
- in effect, to obtain enlightenment from Yahweh on how to
deal with the problems of the day. Urim is a plural word,
of which the singular form is 
= 'light'or 'enlightenment'.
| JERUSALEM
BIBLE |
(ALTERNATIVE
GENESIS) |
|
God
said, 'Let there be light', and there was light.
|
The
Shining Onessaid, 'Let us enlighten ourselves'
[concerning this land] Ø and they explored it.
|
We believe
that the Shining Onesdecided to start by exploring
the Highlands in the hope of finding a suitable place for
their principal agriculturally-based Settlement; they intended
to leave the exploration of the Lowlands (the Jordan Valley)
until later. This would have been dependent on a successful
reconnaissance of the Highlands.
next
page GEN 1:4
