Part 14
5. The Christian Quarter is in the northwestern part of the city, between the Jaffa and Damascus Gates, in the picture. Its most important locality is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where tradition has fixed the scenes of the crucifixion and resurrection. The church is a group of buildings, crowned with a dome, and erected at various periods. The Holy Sepulchre itself is a marble shrine within the cathedral, 26 feet long, by 18 broad, and 20 feet high. If the ancient wall can be certainly shown not to have been _outside_ of this place, then the identity of the holy places may be deemed measurably sure, since the cross and the sepulchre were undoubtedly near the wall, but without it. Another place of interest is the Muristan, a ruined castle, which was the headquarters of the Knights Hospitallers during the Crusades.
V. =Fountains and Pools.= Most of these are without the walls, and only one is shown in the picture. The identification of the ancient pools is not easy, and explorers are not agreed with regard to their position and modern name. 1. The _Birket Mamilla_, supposed by many to represent the Upper Pool of Gihon (2 Kings 18:17; Isa. 7:3), lies 2,000 feet west of the Jaffa Gate, and is now 240 feet long by 144 wide, but anciently much larger. 2. The _Birket es Sultan_, supposed to be the Lower Pool of Gihon, where Solomon was crowned (1 Kings 1:38), lies just outside the southwestern corner of the wall, in the Valley of Hinnom. It is narrow, but 500 feet long. 3. The _Birket es Silwan_, or Pool of Siloam (John 9:7), is in the Tyropoeon Valley, near its junction with the Kedron Valley, just outside the limit of the picture, on the left. It is 52 feet long, and 18 wide. 4. The _Birket el Hamra_ ("red pond") lies south of the Pool of Siloam, still further outside of the picture, and is larger, but now nearly filled up, and without water. Some think that this is the pool dug by Hezekiah. (2 Chron. 32:30.) 5. The spring _En-rogel_, called by Christians the Fountain of the Virgin, and by Moslems _'Ain Umm ed Deraj_ ("the spring the mother of steps," from the 28 steps leading down to it), is the only natural fountain near the city. It lies in the narrowest part of the Kedron Valley, opposite the stone Zoheleth. (1 Kings 1:9.) Its action is intermittent, rising and falling suddenly, sometimes oftener than once a day. From this fact, some have thought it to be the Pool of Bethesda. (John 5:2-9.) 6. But most of the explorers regard the Pool of Bethesda as identical with the _Birket Israel_, which may be found on the picture just within the eastern (foreground) wall, between the gate of St. Stephen and the northern wall of the Temple Enclosure, just behind the little domed building by the wall, to the left of St. Stephen's Gate. This is 360 feet long, by 120 feet wide, and 80 feet deep, but half filled with rubbish. 7. The _Birket Hamman_ ("Pool of the Bath"), generally known as the Pool of Hezekiah, is within the wall, adjoining the Muristan on the west, and hidden by it in the picture. It is supplied with water by an underground conduit, from the _Birket Mamilla_. 8. To this list we might add the vast covered reservoirs under the Temple, on Mount Moriah. These aggregated in their capacity five million gallons, and furnished an abundant supply of water for the Temple services.
VI. =Outside the Walls.= Some of the important places without the wall have been already noticed. The Tomb of David (traditional) is on Mount Zion, near the Gate of Zion; and just a little to the left of it, where several small domes are seen, is the Coenaculum, or traditional place where the Last Supper was held. Mount Zion is now, fulfilling prophecy, "a plowed field," and has but few buildings. On nearly all sides of the city, outside the wall, are Moslem graves. Northwest of the city, toward the Russian Colony, is the place where the Assyrian messengers encamped in the time of Hezekiah. (2 Kings 18.)
[Illustration: MODERN JERUSALEM.]
[Illustration: ENVIRONS OF JERUSALEM.]
THE ENVIRONS OF JERUSALEM.
THE city of Jerusalem occupies a prominent place, not only in the history but also in the topography of the Holy Land. It is one of the most elevated sites in a land whose important places were among the mountains. There are many peaks higher than Mount Zion, on which the city stands; but few cities in Palestine are built upon a site so lofty. This fact explains many of the allusions in the Psalms. "Beautiful for situation," "I will look unto the hills," etc.
There are six roads leading to Jerusalem from different parts of the land. Starting from the city by each one of these roads, let us notice the important places upon either side of it.
[Illustration: DEFILE BETWEEN JERUSALEM AND JERICHO.]
I. =The Northern Road.= This starts from the Damascus Gate and leads almost due north through the centre of the mountain region, toward Shechem and Damascus, passing more of the historic localities than any other. Explorers, however, are not agreed upon the identification of all the places; and our space permits us only to give conclusions without naming reasons or authorities for the opinion in all cases.
1. About a mile north of Jerusalem, on the west of the path, we find _Scopus_, the eminence from which Titus, the Roman conqueror, obtained his first view of the doomed city. According to some authorities this was also the location of _Mizpeh_, the place of assembly for Israel during the time of the Judges. But later investigators place Mizpeh at _Neby Samwil_, on the northwestern road, and we have accepted their conclusions. (See next page.) Both the location of Mizpeh and that of Ramah are uncertain. One word means "watch-tower," the other "height," so they may be identical, though the references seem to point to different localities.
2. A mile further, and on the west of the path, is _Nob_ (_el Isawiyeh_), named as a city of the priests. At this place the Tabernacle was kept during the reign of Saul; David visited the high-priest and received the sword of Goliath; and the priest and 70 of his associates were slain by command of Saul. (1 Sam. 21:1-9; 22:9-19.)
3. _Gibeah_ (_Tuleil el Ful_), "hill of beans," lies on the east of the road, 2-1/2 miles from the city. The place is first mentioned in the painful story of the Levite (Judges 19); but its principal interest is in the fact that it was the home and court of King Saul. "It is now dreary and desolate, with scarce any ruins save a confused mass of stones, which form a sort of cairn on the top."--_Tristram._
4. _Anathoth_ (_Anata_), the birthplace of the prophet Jeremiah, and a priestly city, is 3 miles northeast of Jerusalem, upon a path branching out of the main road. It is now a village of about 20 houses.
5. Some locate _Ramah_, the home of Samuel, at _Er Ram_, on the east of the road; but others favor the place at _Neby Samwil_, to be noticed below.
6. _Michmash_, the scene of Jonathan's daring exploit, lies on a hill adjoining a ravine, 7 miles northeast of the city; and a mile away, in plain sight, lies _Geba_, the camping place of Saul's army at the time of the battle. (1 Sam. 13.) It is now called _Mukmas_.
7. _Ai_--the place where Joshua's army was repulsed by the Canaanites, on account of the crime of Achan (Josh. 7), and which, after his punishment, was taken and destroyed by the Israelites--is 9 miles from the city; a desolate heap, known as _el Tell_.
8. _Beeroth_ (wells), now _el Bireh_, 10 miles north, was one of the Gibeonite cities which made peace with Israel. (Josh. 9:17.) According to tradition, this is the place where Joseph and Mary, returning from Jerusalem, first missed the boy Jesus (Luke 2:44); and it is now the halting place of caravans going north.
9. _Bethel_, "the house of God" (now _Beitin_), 10 miles north, is a place of many Scriptural associations. Here Abraham pitched his tent and built his altar, on his entrance upon the Land of Promise (Gen 12:8); here Jacob lay down to rest and saw the glorious vision of the heavenly ladder (Gen. 28:11-22), and on his return from Syria again consecrated the place to God's service. (Gen. 35:6-15.) During the period of the Ten Tribes it was a sanctuary of idols, but also the seat of a prophetic school. (1 Kings 12:29-33; 2 Kings 2:2, 3.) It is now an uninhabited ruin.
10. East of Bethel, and 11 miles north of Jerusalem, is the rock _Rimmon_ (now _Rummon_), where the remnant of the tribe of Benjamin found a refuge after the civil war. (Judges 20, 21.)
11. Two miles north of Rimmon is the site of _Ophrah_, in the New Testament _Ephraim_, the retreat of Jesus after the raising of Lazarus. (John 11:54.) It is in a wilderness, on the edge of the Jordan Valley, and outside the line of travel; now called _et Taiyibeh_.
[Illustration: SOLOMON'S POOLS.]
II. =The Eastern Road= from Jerusalem leads through a barren region of crags and ravines, almost without inhabitants, except the robbers who have haunted it since the days when "a certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves." (Luke 10:30.) The road is a continual descent from a height of 2,700 feet above the sea to 1,300 feet below it, in 20 miles.
The only place passed on the route is _Bethany_ (now _el Azariyeh_), the home of Mary and Martha, the place where Lazarus was raised from death, and near which Jesus ascended. (Luke 24:50.) It is on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, and about a mile and a quarter from Jerusalem. Beyond this place the road grows more steep, descending toward the Jordan Valley.
III. =The Southern Road=, leading along the crest of the hill country toward Hebron, also passes few places of historical interest.
1. Just south of the city is the _Plain of the Rephaim_, where, after the capture of Jerusalem, David twice met and vanquished the Philistines. (2 Sam. 5:18-25.) The name may be a reminiscence of the most ancient people who inhabited the mountain region of Palestine, before the Amorites were in the land.
2. Four miles from the city the traveler passes _Rachel's Tomb_. This may represent the place where Jacob, while journeying southward, lost his beloved wife Rachel, the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. (Gen. 35:16-20.) The monument now standing is of comparatively recent date; but it may occupy the site of one more ancient.
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 sanctity 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 God."
6. The region between Hebron and the Dead Sea is wild and desolate, with but few inhabitants. It was called _Jeshimon_, "the waste," and is the place generally recognized as "the wilderness of Judæa," 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 passes 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 passes _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-shore 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 compassed 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 class 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 class, and have each text read by a student as its event is named.
REVIEW.
I. _Northern Road._ 1. Scopus. (Titus.) 2. Nob. (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. Jeshimon (Wilderness).
IV. _Southwestern Road._ "Jerusalem to Gaza." (Philip.)
V. _Western Road._ 1. Emmaus. (Risen Christ.) 2. Kirjath-jearim. (Removal of ark.)
VI. _Northwestern Road._ 1. Mizpeh. (Samuel.) 2. Gibeon. (Solomon's choice.) 3. Beth-horon. (Joshua's victory.)
[Illustration: GETHSEMANE.]
[Illustration: THE DIVISION OF SOLOMON'S EMPIRE.]
THE DIVISION OF SOLOMON'S EMPIRE.
ON the death of Solomon, B.C. 935, the empire which had been won by the sword and consolidated by the statesmanship of David, fell asunder, and five kingdoms took the place of one. These were:
1. The portion of Solomon's empire north of Mount Hermon and extending to the Euphrates revolted, and formed the =Kingdom of Syria=, having Damascus for its capital. This kingdom, at first small, soon rose to power, and at its height, under Hazael, was the leading nation in Asia, west of the Euphrates. It fell, about B.C. 750, under the power of Assyria.
[Illustration: CHRONOLOGICAL CHART OF KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH.]
2. South of Syria was the =Kingdom of Israel=, or the Ten Tribes, founded by Jeroboam, B.C. 935, soon after the death of Solomon. This included by far the larger portion of Palestine Proper, having 9,400 square miles, while the rival kingdom of Judah had but 3,400. It received the allegiance of all the tribes on the east of the Jordan. The boundary line between the two kingdoms ran south of Jericho, Bethel and Joppa. This line was, however, very variable, being moved northward or southward, according to the relative power of the kingdoms. Over this kingdom reigned nineteen kings, representing several dynasties, with intervals of anarchy and frequent change. Its capital was at first Shechem, then Tirzah, until Omri, the founder of the third dynasty, chose a permanent location at SAMARIA, which soon became to Israel all that Jerusalem was to Judah, and in time gave its name to the entire province. Its two religious sanctuaries were at Dan on the north, and at Bethel on the south, where the national worship to Jehovah, was maintained under the form of a calf or young ox.
3. =The Kingdom of Judah= included the tribe of that name, a portion of Benjamin, and perhaps of Simeon also, though the southern boundary was always uncertain. The Shefelah, or low hills, and the sea-coast, were probably controlled by the Philistines, though nominally belonging to Judah. This kingdom remained loyal to the house of David during all its history, and was ruled by twenty-one kings, all of one family. It was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, B.C. 587.
4. =Moab= lay east of the Dead Sea, between the brooks Arnon and Zered. It was nominally subject to Israel (the northern kingdom); but, from the indications of the history and of the Moabite Stone (a monument of Mesha, the king of Moab, erected in the time of Elisha the prophet), it may be inferred that it had its own government, and only occasionally paid tribute to the Ten Tribes. Strong kings, like Omri, Ahab and Jeroboam II., may have held power over it; but during most of the time it was practically independent.
5. =Edom=, south of the Dead Sea, had been conquered by David, and remained subject during the reign of Solomon. After the disruption it held to Judah about the same relation that Moab held to Israel, dependent and tributary, but not annexed as a part of the realm. There was a king of Edom during the reign of Jehoshaphat (2 Kings 3:9), but evidently subject to Judah. The Edomites finally gained their independence during the reign of Jehoram, the son of Jehoshaphat (2 Kings 8:16-22), despite a defeat which they suffered at Zair (probably Seir, or Sela). Like all the kingdoms around it, this kingdom fell under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar.
These five provinces or kingdoms are represented upon the map according to their general boundaries during most of the time from the age of Solomon to that of Nebuchadnezzar, when all the East was united under one mighty sceptre. Historically, the epoch requires the consideration of several periods, as follows:
1. =The Period of Division= (B.C. 935-842), during which three kingdoms--Syria, Israel and Judah--strove for supremacy. This extends from the reign of Jeroboam to that of Jehu in the north; and from Rehoboam to Joash in Judah. During the first half-century of this period, wars were constant between Israel and Judah. During the latter half-century the growing power of Syria compelled an alliance between the rival kingdoms, and nearly all the battles were between Israel and Syria. The leading events of this period were: (1.) The accession of Rehoboam, followed by the disruption of the kingdom, and the breaking up of Solomon's empire. (2.) The invasion of Judah by Shishak, king of Egypt, and the loss of all the treasures of David and Solomon (2 Chron. 12), which permanently crippled the kingdom. (3.) The wars of Jeroboam with Judah, culminating in the battle of Zemaraim, near Bethel, a signal defeat for Israel. (2 Chron. 13.) (4.) The invasion of Judah by the Ethiopians under Zerah, and the victory of Asa at Mareshah. (2 Chron. 14.) (5.) The introduction of the worship of Baal into Israel, by Ahab, and with it the appearance of the prophet Elijah. (1 Kings 16-19.) (6.) The wars with Syria, with the victory of Israel at Aphek, and the defeat at Ramoth-gilead. (1 Kings 20-22.) (7.) The invasion of Judah, in the reign of Jehoshaphat, by the allied forces of Ammon, Moab and Edom, and their slaughter at Berachah. (2 Chron. 20.) (8.) The allied war of Israel and Judah with Moab, and the battle of Kir-haraseth, commemorated by the Moabite Stone, recently discovered. (2 Kings 3.) (9.) The revolt of Edom from Judah, in the reign of Jehoram. Jehoram gained a victory at Zair (probably Sela, or Petra), but could not retain supremacy over the Edomites.
[Illustration: MOABITE STONE.]
[Illustration: THE SYRIAN PERIOD, B.C. 884-840.]
2. =The Syrian Period=, B.C. 842-799, began with revolutions in the same year in Damascus, Samaria, and Jerusalem; by which Hazael mounted the throne of Syria, Jehu of Israel, and Athaliah, the queen-mother, usurped the throne of Judah. Hazael established a powerful kingdom. (2 Kings 8:7-15.) He conquered all of Israel east of the Jordan (2 Kings 10:32, 33), reduced Israel under Jehoahaz to a condition of vassalage (2 Kings 13:1-8), took Gath from Judah, and was only withheld from besieging Jerusalem by the payment of a heavy tribute. (2 Kings 12:17, 18; 2 Chron. 24:23, 24.) We insert an outline map of his kingdom and conquests.