Of course, these fragments of half history/half legend have great political resonance today. Pity, isn't it? I have just come home from a script meeting discussing a play about Moses and the Promised Land. Uncomfortable subject. God,in the Bible, warned Joshua and the Israelities to slaughter everyone in Canaan: anyone they left would have descendants that would be prickles in the Israelites eyes. Hmmmmmm. That's one prediction one could say was pretty spot on.
   How anyone could imagine that Ishmael ia Muhammed's father or grandfather is a little worrying.