Seven Pillars of Wisdom · Chapter
LXIII explained
Lawrence returns to Akaba to secure camels and resolve tensions among the Arab tribes at Rumm, then returns to find a mysterious old man at a waterfall who utters a phrase about love that challenges Lawrence's theories on Semitic religion a
What happens
Lawrence returns to Akaba to secure camels and resolve tensions among the Arab tribes at Rumm, then returns to find a mysterious old man at a waterfall who utters a phrase about love that challenges Lawrence's theories on Semitic religion and Christianity.
Themes in this chapter
Culture and Otherness
Lawrence contrasts Semitic religious character with Christianity, reflecting on cultural and theological differences.
Suffering and Endurance
The old man of Rumm, a lifelong wanderer moaning strange things, embodies endurance and affliction.
Futility and Meaning
Lawrence's encounter with the old man and his reflection on love and God challenge his intellectual theories, hinting at the limits of understanding.
Characters to notice
- T.E. Lawrence
Narrator; reflects on Semitic character of Islam and Christianity after encounter with old man at waterfall; travels to Akaba to arrange camels and explosives.
- Emir Feisal
Lawrence reports to him in Akaba; provides baggage camels, camel-men, slaves, and Sherif Abdulla el Feir as mediator.
- Ibn Zaal
Arrives at Rumm and clashes with Gasim; Lawrence entrusts the two sergeants to his care.
- Gasim abu Dumeik
Dour and fierce; clashes with Zaal; his behavior causes other clans to defect to Lawrence's side.
- Sherif Abdulla el Feir
Sent by Feisal as mediator; smooths over tribal grievances at Rumm.
- Mohammed el Dheilan
Blows up the fire at the coffee-place while Lawrence tries to get the old man to speak.
Key passages
“The love is from God; and of God; and towards God.”
Love originates from God, belongs to God, and is directed toward God.
Spoken by the old man at the waterfall; prompts Lawrence's theological reflection.
“I had believed Semites unable to use love as a link between themselves and God, indeed, unable to conceive such a relation except with the intellectuality of Spinoza...”
Lawrence had thought Semitic peoples could not conceive of a loving relationship with God, only an intellectual one like Spinoza's.
Lawrence's preconception about Semitic religiosity is challenged by the old man's words.