Part 15 (1/2)

3. Six miles southeast of the city we come to _Bethlehem_, a small town, yet having the deepest interest as the birthplace of David, and of David's greatest descendant, the Saviour of the world. It lies upon the side and summit of a steep hill, and contains now about 2,000 inhabitants. Many places connected with the birth of Jesus are shown; but there is no authority for their precise location except tradition.

In a cave near this village Jerome wrote most of his translation of the Bible, the Vulgate version, recognized as the standard Bible by the Roman Catholic Church.

4. A little beyond Bethlehem is the head of the _Valley of Elah_, in which, but at a distance to the west, David fought with Goliath, and gained his earliest honors before Israel. (1 Sam. 17.)

5. There are no more places of interest to the Bible reader until we reach _Hebron_, 18 miles from Jerusalem. This is one of the most ancient towns in the world, occupied before the time of Abraham; the burial place of the Patriarchs, the capital of David's kingdom of Judah, and the place where Absalom's rebellion was begun. It is still a large town, inhabited by intolerant Mohammedans, who closely guard the sanct.i.ty of the Mosque which covers the graves of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It is now called _el Khalil_, ”the Friend,” _i. e._, Abraham, ”the friend of G.o.d.”

6. The region between Hebron and the Dead Sea is wild and desolate, with but few inhabitants. It was called _Jes.h.i.+mon_, ”the waste,” and is the place generally recognized as ”the wilderness of Judaea,” where David wandered during his exile when he was persecuted by Saul, and in constant danger of his life, and where Christ was tempted after his long fast of forty days.

IV. =The Southwestern Road= is that ”that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.” (Acts 8:26.) It pa.s.ses through ravines and among mountains, descending through successive plateaus, from the mountain region to the Shefelah, or low hills, and thence to the plain by the Mediterranean. It is ”desert,” in the sense that no towns lie along the route. The fountain where Philip baptized the Ethiopian treasurer is shown at _Ain Haniyeh_, 4 miles southwest of Jerusalem; but it has only tradition in support of its claim.

V. =The Western Road= leads to Joppa, descending from the mountains to the sea.

1. Four miles from Jerusalem it pa.s.ses _Emmaus_ (_Kuloniyeh_), the place to which the two disciples were walking when they were joined by the risen Christ. (Luke 24:13.) The place, however, is disputed. Dr. Thomson locates it at _Kuriet el Enab_, further from Jerusalem; and others at _el Kubeibeh_, 7 miles northwest of the city.

2. _Kirjath-jearim_, or _Baalah_, is 7 miles from Jerusalem, at _Kuriet el Enab_, named above. Here the Ark of the Covenant was brought from Beth-shemesh, after its return from the Philistines, and remained until it was removed by David to Jerusalem. (1 Sam. 6:21; 2 Sam. 6:2.) It is now a small village, with ruins and a church.

VI. =The Northwestern Road= branches from the Northern Road just beyond Gibeah, and winds down the mountains to the sea-sh.o.r.e at Joppa. Among its places of interest are the following:

1. _Mizpeh_, ”watch-tower,” is probably the hill known as _Neby Samwil_, 4 miles northwest of Jerusalem. Here Samuel gathered the people for reformation, and won his great victory over the Philistines. This may also have been _Ramah_, the birthplace and burial-place of Samuel.

2. _Gibeon_ is at _el Jib_, a hill 6 miles from Jerusalem. This was the head of the Hivite league of cities which made peace with Israel and were spared by Joshua at the time of the conquest (Josh. 9:17); which led to the battle of Beth-horon, the decisive event of the war. Here a skirmish took place between the soldiers of David and of Abner (while David was reigning over Judah), and Asahel, the brother of Joab, was killed. (2 Sam. 2:12-24.) At this place the Tabernacle was standing during David's reign, while the ark was at Zion; here was ”the great high place” where Solomon offered sacrifice at the opening of his reign; and here Solomon had a vision, and made his choice of wisdom. (1 Kings 3:4-14.)

3. Five miles beyond Gibeon is _Beth-horon_, celebrated as the place where was fought the great battle of the conquest, which, measured by its results, was the most important battle in the history of the world, since upon it was staked the world's religion. If ever the sun might stand still, it was then, when earth's destiny was in the balance.

(Josh. 10:9-14.) The ”upper Beth-horon” is at _Beit ur el Foka_, and the lower at _Beit ur et Tahta_, two miles beyond it.

In this brief view we have compa.s.sed the most important places upon the map within 15 miles around the city of Jerusalem.

OUTLINE FOR TEACHING AND REVIEW.

SUGGESTIONS FOR TEACHING.

1. Locate upon the blackboard Jerusalem as a centre, and in presence of the cla.s.s draw the general direction of the roads leading from it. It is scarcely necessary to draw the valleys and mountains, as they are but rarely referred to by name. The teacher may mark the line of the road in French chalk or common slate-pencil upon the blackboard, in advance of the lesson, making a faint line, which can be followed with the crayon afterward.

2. Then take each road in order, going out from Jerusalem, and indicate the places near it, stating the events of Bible History in connection with each place.

3. It would be a good plan to write on slips of paper the references to texts, distribute them among the cla.s.s, and have each text read by a student as its event is named.

REVIEW.

I. _Northern Road._ 1. Scopus. (t.i.tus.) 2. n.o.b. (Slaughter of priests.) 3. Gibeah. (Saul's court.) 4. Anathoth. (Jeremiah.) 5. Ramah.(?) (Samuel.) 6. Michmash. (Jonathan's exploit.) 7. Ai. (Achan.) 8. Beeroth.

(Gibeonites; Jesus lost in Temple.) 9. Bethel. (Jacob's ladder.) 10.

Rimmon. (Benjamin.) 11. Ephraim. (Christ's retirement.)

II. _Eastern Road._ 1. Bethany. (Lazarus.) 2. Steep descent. 3. Jericho.

III. _Southern Road._ 1. Plain of Rephaim. (David's victory.) 2.

Rachel's Tomb. 3. Bethlehem. (David, Jesus.) 4. Valley of Elah. (David and Goliath.) 5. Hebron. (Abraham's sepulchre.) 6. Jes.h.i.+mon (Wilderness).