George Livingston Robinson
Encyclopedia
George Livingston Robinson (August 19, 1863 - July 18, 1958) was a noted author, biblical scholar, explorer, and lecturer.
He was born in West Hebron, New York
to William Robinson and Mary (Archibald) Robinson. He earned his undergraduate and an advanced degree at Princeton University
. He traveled to Europe and the Levant
extensively. He met his wife, Jessie Harvey, and was married in Egypt
. He received his doctorate in Ancient languages at Berlin University. He accepted instructor positions at Knox College in Scotland
and Beirut College in Beirut
. While working as the Director of the School of Oriental Research
in Jerusalem (1913–1914), he had an opportunity to explore many ancient sites in the Holy Land. He was credited with recognizing the religious significance of the High Place at Petra
, an Iron Age
sacrificial alter dating to biblical times. He was also one of a select few Western scholars to be granted permission by the Caliph
to visit the Cave of Macpelah
(where Abraham
, Isaac
, and Jacob
are reputed to have been buried).
He spent his later years as a professor of Theology at the University of Chicago
. He was fluent in Latin, German, Hebrew, Classic Greek, and Assyria
n cuneiform
. He composed and published the psalm "Reflections." His published books include "The Sarcaphocus of Civilization" (MacMillan, 1930), "Leaders of Israel", "The Book of Isaiah", "The Twelve Minor Prophets", and The Auobiography of George L Robinson, A Short History of a Long Life" in addition to hundreds of essays, monographs, and research puplications.
He died in Saint Paul, Minnesota
on July 18, 1958.
He was born in West Hebron, New York
Hebron, New York
Hebron is a town in Washington County, New York, United States. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town population was 1,773 at the 2000 census...
to William Robinson and Mary (Archibald) Robinson. He earned his undergraduate and an advanced degree at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
. He traveled to Europe and the Levant
Levant
The Levant or ) is the geographic region and culture zone of the "eastern Mediterranean littoral between Anatolia and Egypt" . The Levant includes most of modern Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, the Palestinian territories, and sometimes parts of Turkey and Iraq, and corresponds roughly to the...
extensively. He met his wife, Jessie Harvey, and was married in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. He received his doctorate in Ancient languages at Berlin University. He accepted instructor positions at Knox College in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Beirut College in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
. While working as the Director of the School of Oriental Research
American Schools of Oriental Research
The American Schools of Oriental Research, founded in 1900, supports and encourages the study of the peoples and cultures of the Near East, from the earliest times to the present. It is apolitical and has no religious affiliation...
in Jerusalem (1913–1914), he had an opportunity to explore many ancient sites in the Holy Land. He was credited with recognizing the religious significance of the High Place at Petra
Petra
Petra is a historical and archaeological city in the Jordanian governorate of Ma'an that is famous for its rock cut architecture and water conduits system. Established sometime around the 6th century BC as the capital city of the Nabataeans, it is a symbol of Jordan as well as its most visited...
, an Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
sacrificial alter dating to biblical times. He was also one of a select few Western scholars to be granted permission by the Caliph
Caliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
to visit the Cave of Macpelah
Cave of the Patriarchs
The Cave of the Patriarchs or the Cave of Machpelah , is known by Muslims as the Sanctuary of Abraham or Ibrahimi Mosque ....
(where Abraham
Abraham
Abraham , whose birth name was Abram, is the eponym of the Abrahamic religions, among which are Judaism, Christianity and Islam...
, Isaac
Isaac
Isaac as described in the Hebrew Bible, was the only son Abraham had with his wife Sarah, and was the father of Jacob and Esau. Isaac was one of the three patriarchs of the Israelites...
, and Jacob
Jacob
Jacob "heel" or "leg-puller"), also later known as Israel , as described in the Hebrew Bible, the Talmud, the New Testament and the Qur'an was the third patriarch of the Hebrew people with whom God made a covenant, and ancestor of the tribes of Israel, which were named after his descendants.In the...
are reputed to have been buried).
He spent his later years as a professor of Theology at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
. He was fluent in Latin, German, Hebrew, Classic Greek, and Assyria
Assyria
Assyria was a Semitic Akkadian kingdom, extant as a nation state from the mid–23rd century BC to 608 BC centred on the Upper Tigris river, in northern Mesopotamia , that came to rule regional empires a number of times through history. It was named for its original capital, the ancient city of Assur...
n cuneiform
Cuneiform
Cuneiform can refer to:*Cuneiform script, an ancient writing system originating in Mesopotamia in the 4th millennium BC*Cuneiform , three bones in the human foot*Cuneiform Records, a music record label...
. He composed and published the psalm "Reflections." His published books include "The Sarcaphocus of Civilization" (MacMillan, 1930), "Leaders of Israel", "The Book of Isaiah", "The Twelve Minor Prophets", and The Auobiography of George L Robinson, A Short History of a Long Life" in addition to hundreds of essays, monographs, and research puplications.
He died in Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
on July 18, 1958.