step one：词汇
1.defile n.山间小径，峡谷
rocky mountain and barren defile
v.亵渎，污染
Hallam's tomb had been defiled and looted.
2.perch
be perched on / above etc sth
to be in a position on top of something or on the edge of something 处在某物的上面[边上]
its population were perched at times on almost inaccessible crags.
3.strip n.条，带，狭长地带
v.脱
the narrow strip of territory they inhabited
4.outpost n.前哨
England is the outpost of Europe on the side of the Atlantic
5.maritime
海上的，海事的relate to sea or ship
近海的，沿海的near the sea
marine n.海洋的 relate to the sea or creature live there
6.throw off 摆脱 。 the yoke of sth 束缚
Egypt threw off the yoke of its conquerors and prepared to win an empire for itself.
7.spoil n. the valuables taken by violence 常用复数形式
Canaan was the earliest of its spoils.
8.contend 竞争
contend for
contend for the mastery on the plains of Palestine
contend with 处理，应对
cope with
The rescue team also had bad weather conditions to contend with . 营救小组还得应付恶劣的天气情况。
9.people v.使居住
the highlands of Canaan had been peopled by Amorites.
10.akin 与某物相似
akin to sth
the highland of Canaan akin probably to the Berbers.
11.fair adj. （头发、皮肤）浅色的，白皙的
a tall fair race
12.intermingle v.使混合，使混在一起
as time went on，the invaders intermingled with the older population of the land.
13.fling v. 用力扔、掷
fling oneself into sth
14.originality n.独创性，创造力
original 原先的，最初的；新颖的，独特的；原作的，原稿的
The original painting is now in the National Gallery in London.
a highly original design 非常独特的设计
15.embody v.代表，体现（思想，品质）
intensify v.使加剧，使增强
the virtues and failings of different elements it embodies are alike intensified in it.
16.ascribe v. 归因于...
ascribe sth to sb/sth
居住的地理位置及特点：狭长地带，贫瘠多山，难以获得食物，所以人口少；
位于地中海沿岸，西亚的前哨，亚非大陆交汇的地方，不仅能够通过海上与欧洲通商，南接埃及，北边和东边与亚洲接壤。巴比伦人和埃及人交替占领这个地方，是古代东方历史的中心；
巴勒斯坦是东方世界的雅典，宗教的发源地。
种族特点：多人种混合，highland主要是来自非洲的Amorites 和当地的Kelts；lowland主要是Semitics，致力于贸易；零星在各处分散着其他种族。
以色列人的融合过程是缓慢的，刚开始的征服有屠杀，之后开始通婚，逐渐融合。
作为混合的种族，比纯粹的种族更加优秀，不同民族的优缺点都在其身上加倍的表现出来。又由于地域的原因，一方面是坚强的战士，另一方面也积极发展农牧业。即有航海贸易的冒险精神又有耕地的
有创见，有宗教信仰。
由于地理位置和人的特点以及在历史中的位置，谈以色列的历史离不开周围的国家和民族。
17. open to sth 易受某事物损害的
isolated and alone, its history is in large measure unintelligible or open to misconception.
18.without n.外部，外面
the keenest criticism is powerless unless it is assisted by testimony from without.
19.scrap n.碎片
20.glean v.收集
glean a scraps of information
21. sift v.筛选 torture v.歪曲
the information has been sifted and tortured as to yield almost any sense that was required.
22.ill adv. 难以承担某事的后果
ill adapted to the requirements of modern ships.
在一个世纪以前，仅存少量希腊和罗马关于以色列的描述，这些描述是经过筛选和扭曲的，有的还自相矛盾。
现在,发现装有大量黏土书籍的地下图书馆。
23.decipher v.辨认，解释 find the meaning that is difficult to read or understand
the libraries were lying underground,waiting to be disinterred by excavator and interpreted by the decipherer.
24.much less 何况，更不要说
三个圣经事件与佐证
1.故事：the story of chedor-laomer's campaign preserved in Genesis.
史料：the clay books of Babylonia record it as part of a larger story with the same chief actors name.
2.故事：Manasseh of Judah rebelled against his Assyrian master and was in consequence carried in chains to babylon, where he was pardoned and restored to his ancestral throne.
史料：cuneiform inscription
Manasseh was only part of the general revolt of Assyrian provinces under the leadership of Babylon
3.故事： Hebrew Exodus
史料：the Tel el-Amarna letter shows it was caused by political reason as much as religious.
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