# LXIII explained — Seven Pillars of Wisdom

> Chapter companion for Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T. E. Lawrence.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/lxiii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters