[102] For on account of these ancient superstitions and idolatries still practiced, see W. Robertson Smith’s “Religion of the Semites” and his “Kinship and marriage in Early Arabia.” The mass of purely Mohammedan superstition can be studied in books like the Arabian Nights and Lane’s “Modern Egyptians.” [103] This chapter is an enlargement of a paper on “The Star-Worshippers of Mesopotamia” read before the Victoria Institute, Adelphi Terrace, London, 1897. [104] Kessler. [105] Surah ii. 59; v. 73; xxii. 17 [106] According to Gesenius, Sabeans should be _Tsabians_ from _tsabaoth_, the “host of heaven.” Nöldeke and others say it comes from a root _subba_ to wash, baptise, and refers to the manner of their worship. Gibbon is perhaps correct when, on the authority of Pocock, Hettinger, and D’Herbelot, he states the origin of their other name thus: “A slight infusion of the gospel had transformed the last remnant of the Chaldean polytheists into the Christians of St. John at Bussora.” In regard to their name _Sabeans_, Lane’s Arabic dictionary says that it comes from a root meaning “one who has departed from one religion to another religion.” The Arabs used to call the prophet _as-Sabi_, because he departed from the religion of the Koreish to El-Islam. Nasoreans is the name given them by some authors. According to Petermann they themselves give this title only to those of their number who are distinguished for character or knowledge. It doubtless comes from [Greek: Nazôrãioi], the early half-Christian sect of Syria. [107] The only grammar of the language is the elaborate _Mandäische Grammatik_ of the indefatigable scholar Nöldeke. One great drawback of the book however is that the _Hebrew_ character is used throughout and not the Mandâitic. [108] Leviticus xiv. 4-7, 49-53. [109] Cf. Job xxxi. 26-28. [110] The first printed and translated edition of the _Sidra Rabba_ was by Math. Norberg (Copenhagen, 1815-16), but it is said to be so defective that it is quite useless critically; Petermann reproduced the Paris MSS. in two volumes at Leipsic, 1867. Besides the _Sidra Rabba_ there are: _Sidra d’Yaheya_ or Book of St. John, also called _Drasche d’Malek_ (discourse of the King); The _Diwan_; The _Sidra Neshmata_, or book of souls; and last, but not least, the books of the zodiac called _Asfar Malwashee_. Except for the _small_ portion of the _Sidra Rabba_ found in Brandt’s recently published _Mandäische Schriften_ (1895) all of the above still await critical study and editing. [111] See the history of Gnostic teaching, especially that of the Ophites and Sethians. All the evil characters in the Old Testament, with Cain at their head, were set forth as spiritual heroes. Judas Iscariot was represented as alone knowing the truth. I find no large account of the serpent in the Sabean system; this may be otherwise accounted for. [112] Gibbon. [113] Sale’s Koran. [114] Galatians i. 17. [115] Gal. i. 18; Acts ix. 9, 25.