Sinai and Palestine, in connection with their history

Front matter

ELEVATIONS OF THE HEIGHTS Tlie modern names in Ma us where Tht Mast.* ham hem ccrustracted , mth th, help "sJ£ Petermann purity snnt , F ECYPT. SINAI & PALESTINE. 8i .■. . _■ saunai , JS56 a'aiu-p winch tht> rnmitrv rirtL-JK' iir^siuit'-.. watt A Basalt ri/sti in vat, shirr /art// % land. 'its. * Genre? of t/u Desert tie L t/j/ est me, Salt tr Shot. ■ iwi are mixed ait in brackets. rvaturt m thf spet .patihfront the m apt < 4 Ituwegrr, Kiepert «fc vm Razww- SINAI AND PALESTINE IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR HISTORY. BY ARTHUR PENRHYN STANLEY, M.A. CANON OF CANTERBURY. WITH MAPS AND PLANS. LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. 1856. LONDON I BRADbURT AND EVANS, PRINTERS, WHlTEFUIAsifl. CONTENTS.

ADVERTISEMENT.

vii

Introduction

: Egypt in relation to Israel. 1. Nile on the Delta. 2. View from the Citadel at Cairo. 3. Heliopolis. 4. Valley of the Nile. 5. Tombs of Beni-Hassan. 6. Tombs and Hermits. 7. Thebes— Colossal statues. 8. Thebes — Kamac and the Royal Tombs. 9. Nile at Silsilis. 10. At the First Cataract. 11. Philæ. 12. Nile in Nubia. 13. Ipsambul. 14. Nile at the Second Cataract. 15. Dendera. Id. Memphis. 17. The Pyramids ...... xxvii

Chapter 1. Taut

1.— PENINSULA OF SINAI. I. General configuration — the Mountains, the Desert, and the Sea. 1. The Two Gulfs. 2. The Plateau of the Tih. 3. The Sandy Tract of Debbet-er- Eamleh. 4. The Mountains of the Tor. a. The Kaa — the Shores. b. The Passes, c. The Mountains ; the Three Groups — the Colours — the Confusion — the Desolation — the Silence, d. The W&dys — the Vegetation — the Springs — the Oases ......... 2 II. General Adaptation to the History. The Scenery — the Physical Phenomena — the Present Inhabitants — Changes in the Features ofthe Desert . . 20 III. Local Traditions of the History. 1. Arab Tradition — Traditions of Moses. Loss of the Ancient Names. 2. Greek Traditions. 3. Early Traditions of Eusebius and Jerome .......... 29 IV. Route ofthe Israelites. 1. Passage of the Red Sea. 2.

Marah and Elim. 3. Encampment by the Red Sea. 4. Wilderness of Sin. 5. Choice between Serbal and Gebel Mousa as Sinai. 6. Special Localities of the History . 35 V. Later History of the Peninsula. 1. Elijah's Visit. 2. Josephus. 3. Allusions of St. Paul. 4. Christian Hermitages ; Convent of St. Catherine. 5. Mosque in the Convent : Visit of Mahomet. 6. Present State of the Convent. 7. Sanctuary of Sheykh Sak-h 43 Note A. Mussulman Traditions of the Exodus and Mount Sinai . . . . 57 Note B. Sinaitic Inscriptions 59

PART IL

— EXTRACTS FROM JOURNALS. I. Departure from Egypt ; Overland Route ; First Encampment. II. The Passage of the Red Sea. 1. Approach to Suez. 2. Suez. 3. Wells of CONTENTS. Moses. III. The Desert, and Sandstorm. IV. Marah ; Elim. V. Second Encampment by the Red Sea; "Wilderness of Sin." VI. Approach to. Mount Serbal ; Wady Sidri and Wddy Feiran. VII. Ascent of Serbal. VIII. Approach to Gebel Mousa, the traditional Sinai. IX. Ascent of Gebel Mousa and of Ras Sasafeh. X. Ascent of St. Catherine. XL Ascent of the Gebel-ed-Deir • ■ , • b4 XII. Route from Sinai to the Gulf of Akaba. 1. Tomb of Sheykh Saleh. 2. Wady Sayal and Wady El Ain. Hazeroth. XIII. Gulf of Akaba ; Elath. XIV. The Arabah. XV. Approach to Petra. XVI. Ascent of Mount Hor. XVII. Petra : Kadesh 78 XVIII. Approach to Palestine. XIX. First Day in Palestine. XX. Hebron. XXI. Approach to Bethlehem and Jerusalem. XXII. Fiist View of Bethlehem. XXIII. First View of Jerusalem 99

CHAPTER IL

— PALESTINE. The Highland of Syria : Lebanon ; the Four Rivers : the Orontes, the Leontes, the Barada, and the Jordan 109 PALESTINE. I. Seclusion. II. Smallness and narrowness of its territory. III. Central situation. IV. Land of Ruins. V. "Land of Milk and Honey." VI. Variety of climate and structure. VII. A Mountain- Country ; the Views of Sacred History. The fenced Cities, and High Places : Political Divisions and Conquests. High-lands and Lowlands. VIII. Scenery : Character of hills ; Vegetation : Flowers ; Olives ; Cedars — confined to Lebanon ; Oaks and Terebinths ; Sacred Trees : Palms ; Sycomores ; Oleanders. IX. Geological Features : 1. Springs and Wells ; 2. Sepulchres ; 3. Caves ; in ancient times ; in modern times ; 4. Legendary curiosities ............ 112

Chapter III

— JUDÆA AND JERUSALEM. Judæa : I. The "south" frontier — Simeon. II. Mountain country of Judah — Lion of Judah — Vineyards — Fenced cities — Herodion. Bethlehem: Hebron ............. 159 Jerusalem : I. Exterior aspect. 1. Long obscurity — Jebus — Mountain fastness. 2. Ravines of the Kedron and of Hinnom. 3. Compactness — Growth. 4. Surrounding mountains. 5. Central situation. II. Interior aspect. 1. Hills of the city. 2. Temple-mount — Rock of the Sakrah — Spring in the Temple Vaults. 3. Walls and Towers — Palaces — Ruins. III. Mount of Olives — Slight connection with the early history. Connection with the Gospel History — Presence of Christ — Bethany — Scene of the Triumphal entry — The Ascension — Conclusion . . . . . . . .165

Chapter IV

— THE HEIGHTS AND THE PASSES OF BENJAMIN. Benjamin, the frontier tribe of Judah and Ephraim — Its independent power. I. The Passes of Benjamin. 1. The Eastern Passes, a. Battle of Ai. 6. Battle of Michmash. c. Advance of Sennacherib. 2. The Western Passes — Battle of Bethhoron under Joshua. Later battles of Bethhoron . 195 II. The Heights. 1. Nebi-Samuel or Gibeon ; 2. Bethel : Sanctuary — View of Abraham — Sanctuary of Jacob and of the Northern tribes — Jeroboam's Temple — Josiah ...... ..... 209 Note on Ramah and Mizpeh ........ 2°0

Chapter V

— EPHRAIM. Mountains of Ephraim — Fertility and central situation — Supremacy of Ephraim. 225 I. Shiloh. II. Shechem. 1. First halting-place of Abraham. 2. First settlement of Jacob. 3. First capital of the oonquest. Sanctuary of CONTENTS. V Mount Gerizim. 4. Insurrection of Abimelech. 5. Sanctuary of the . Samaritans. 6. Jacob's well 227 III. Samaria : Its beauty — Its strength — Sehaste. IV. Passes of Manasseh. Dothan ' . . 239 Note on Mount Gerizim. Abraham and Melchizedek. Sacrifice of Isaac. Mount Moriah 245

Chapter VI

— THE MARITIME PLAIN. I. The Shephelah, the Low Country, or Philistia : 1. Maritime character of the Philistines. 2. The Strongholds ; their sieges. 3. Corn-fields— Contact with Dan. 4. Level plain — Contact with Egypt and the Desert . . 251 II. Plain of Sharon— Pasture-land — Naphath-Dor— Forest — Cæsarea — Connection with Apostolic History 255 III. Plain and Bay of Acre — Tribe of Asher 259 IV. Plain of Phcenicia : 1. Separation from Palestine. 2. Harbours. 3. Security. 4. Rivers : Tyre and Sidon— Local Prophecies . . . 262

Chapter VII

— THE JORDAN AND THE DEAD SEA The Four Rivers of Lebanon in their courses : — The physical peculiarities of the Jordan — Unfrequented — Historical scenes 275 I. Vale of Siddim. 1. Battle of the Kings. 2. Overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah. 3. Appearance of the Dead Sea. 4. Vision of Ezekiel. 5. En-gedi 2S1 II. Plain and Terraces of the Jordan Valley. 1. Plain of Abel-Shittim — Encampment of the Israelites — Views from Pisgah by Balaam and by Moses — Burial-place of Moses — Passage of the Jordan — Drying up of the River. 2. Jericho — At the time of the capture — In the time of the Prophets and of Christ. 3. Scene of the Preaching of John — Bethabara — Scene of the Temptation — -Baptism in the Jordan — Bathing of the Pilgrims . . . 290

Chapter VIII

— PEREA AND THE TRANS-JORDANIC TRIBES. I. General character of the scenery. II. First view of the Holy Land. III. Frontier land. — First victories of Israel. IV. Isolation. V. Pastoral character of the country and its inhabitants. Nomadic Tribes — Reuben — Gad — Manasseh — Elijah the Tishbite. VI. Land of exile, l^ast view of the Holy Land 313

Chapter IX

— PLAIN OF ESDRAELON. General features. I. Boundary between northern and central tribes. II. Battlefield of Palestine. 1. Victory over Sisera. Battle of Kishon. 2. Victory over the Midianites. 3. Defeat of Saul. Battle of Mount Gilboa — Bethshan and Jabesh Gilead. 4. Defeat of Josiah — Battle of Megiddo . .327 III. Richness and fertility of the Plain — Issachar : Jezreel — Engannim. IV. Tahor: Fortress and Sanctuary of the Northern Tribes. V. Carmel — Scene of Elijah's sacrifice. VI. Nain 340

Chapter X

— GALILEE. Scenery of Northern Palestine— The Four Northern Tribes — Their wealth— their isolation — Galilee in the New Testament ...... 353 I. Nazareth — Its upland basin — Its seclusion — Sacred localities . . . 356 II. Lake of Gennesareth. 1. Plain of Hattin and Mountain of the Beatitudes —Battle of Hattin. 2. View of the Lake of Gennesareth. 3. Jewish History of Tiberias. 4. Plain of Gennesareth. Traffic— Fertility of the Plain- Villas of the Herods— Fisheries of the Lake. 5. Scene of the Gospel VI CONTENTS. Ministry— " Manufacturing district"— The Beach— The Desert— The storms of wind— The Demoniacs— The Feeding of the Multitudes— The Plain of Gennesareth — Capernaum ......... "°0

CHAPTER XL

— THE LAKE OF MEROM AND THE SOURCES OF THE JORDAN. I. Upper Valley of the Jordan — Hills of Naphthali and Manasseh — Kedesh- Naphthali. II. Lake of Merom— Battle of Merom. III. Sources of the Jordan— Tel-el-Kadi— City and Tribe of Dan— Cæsarea Philippi— Hazor— Paneas — Hermon — Mount of the Transfiguration .... . 381

Chapter XII

— LEBANON— DAMASCUS. Lebanon. I. In relation to Palestine and the Jordan. II. To the Leontes. III. To the Orontes. IV. To the Barada. Damascus .... 397 Note A. — The Traditional Localities of Damascus ...... 403 Note B. — Patriarchal Traditions of Lebanon ....... 404

Chapter XIII

— THE GOSPEL HISTORY AND TEACHING, VIEWED IX CONNECTION WITH THE LOCALITIES OP PALESTINE. I. The stages of the Gospel History. 1. Infancy of Christ. 2. Youth. 3. Public ministry. 4, Retirement from public ministry. II. The Parables. 1. Parables of Judæa, a. The Vineyard. b. The Fig-tree. c. The Shepherd, d. The good Samaritan. 2. Parables of Galilee, a. The cornfields, b. The birds, c. The fisheries. III. The Discourses — The Sermon on the Mount. 1. The city on a hill. 2. The birds and the flowers. 3. The torrent 409 IV. Conclusions. 1. Reality of the teaching. 2. Its homeliness and universality. 3. Its union of human and divine ........ 423

Chapter XIV

— THE HOLT PLACES. I. Bethlehem: Church of Helena — Grotto of the Nativity — Jerome. II. Nazareth : Grotto in Latin Convent — Spring near the Greek church — House at Loretto — Compared with site at Nazareth- Origin of the Legend. III. Jerusalem' : Lesser localities — Church of the Ascension — Tomb of the Virgin — Gethsemane — Cœnaculum — Church of the Holy Sepulchre Greek Easter — Conclusion •••-....., 431

Appendix

.— VOCABULARY OF HEBREW TOPOGRAPHICAL WORDS. I. — Valleys and Tracts of Land ...... II. — Mountains, HiUs, and Rocks ..... 457 III. — Rivers and Streams . . . . . . 400 IV. — Springs, Wells, and Pits _ 5™ V.— Caves 50g VI. — Forests and Trees ........ jqq VII. — Cities, Habitations ........ g . q VIII.— The Sea and its Shores 51s INDEX

ADVERTISEMENT.

. What is personal in this book may be briefly told. In the winter of 1852, and in the spring of 1853, in the company of three friends,* to whose kindness I shall always feel grateful for having enabled me to fulfil this long-cherished design, I visited the well-known scenes of Sacred History in Egypt, Arabia, and Syria. Any detailed description of this journey has been long since rendered superfluous by the ample illustrations of in numerable travellers. But its interest and instruction are so manifold, that, even after all which has been seen and said of it, there still remain points of view unexhausted. Much has been written, and still remains to be written, both on the History and the Geography of the Chosen People. But there have been comparatively few attempts to illustrate the relation in wdiich each stands to the other.

To bring the recollections of my own journey to bear on this question, — to point out how much or how little the Bible gains by being seen, so to speak, through the eyes of the country, or the country by being seen through the eyes of the Bible, — to exhibit the effect of the ' Holy * I trust that I may be permitted to name Mr. Walrond, Mr. Fremantle, and Mr. Findlay. vm

ADVERTISEMENT.

. Land ' on the course of ' the Holy History,' — seemed to be a task not hitherto fully accomplished. To point out the limits of this connection will be the object of the following Preface. As a general rule, it has been my endeavour, on the one hand, to omit no geographical feature wdiich throws any direct light on the history or the poetry of the sacred volume ; and, on the other hand, to insert no descriptions except those which have such a purpose, and to dwell on no passages of Scripture except those which are capable of such an illustration. The form of narrative has thus been merged in that of dissertation, following the course of historical and geographical divisions. Whenever I have given extracts from journals or letters, it has been when it seemed necessary to retain the impression not merely of the scene, but of the moment.

Only in a few instances, chiefly confined to notes, the main course of the argument has been interrupted in order to describe in greater detail particular spots, which have not been noticed in previous accounts. I have, as much as possible, avoided the con troverted points of sacred topography, both because they mostly relate to spots which throw no direct light on the history, and also because they depend for their solution on data which are not yet fully before us. The Maps have been framed with the intention of giving not merely the physical features, but the actual colourino offered to the eye of the traveler at time. In the use of the geographical terms of the Old and New Testament, I have aimed at a greater precision than has been reached or perhaps attempted in the Authorised Version ; and have thrown into an Appendix a catalogue of such words as a help to a not unimportant field of u

ADVERTISEMENT.

. philological and geographical study. For the arrangement of this Appendix, as well as for the general verification of references and correction of the press I am indebted to the careful revision of my friend, Mr. Grove, of Sydenham. Throughout the work I have freely used all materials within my reach to fill up the deficiencies necessarily left by the hasty and imperfect character of my personal observation. It is unnecessary to describe more particularly the nature of these sources ; they are mostly given in the long catalogues of writers affixed to Robinson's ' Biblical Researches,' and Ritter's volumes on Sinai, Palestine, and Syria ; and I may perhaps be allowed to refer for a general estimate of then relative value to an Essay on ' Sacred Geography ' in the Quarterly Review for March, 1854.

Filially, I have to express my deep sense of all that I owe to my friend and fellow-traveller Mr. Theodore Walrond, Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford. Without him the journey, to which I shall always look back as one of the most instructive periods of my life, would in all pro bability never have been accomplished : on his accurate observation and sound judgment I have constantly relied, both on the spot and since ; and, though I have touched too slightly on Egypt to avail myself of his knowledge and study of the subject where it would have been most valuable, I feel that his kind supervision of the rest of the volume gi.J&a, strong ' guarantee for the faithful representation of the scenes which we explored together, and of the conclusions to be derived from them.

PREFACE.

. THE CONNECTION OF SACRED HISTORY AND SACRED GEOGRAPHY. The historical interest of Sacred Geography, though belonging in various degrees to Mesopotamia, Egypt, Asia Minor, Greece, and Italy, is, like the Sacred History itself, concentrated on the Peninsula of Sinai and on Palestine. Even in its natural aspect the topography of these two countries has features which would of themselves rivet our attention ; and on these, as the basis of all further inquiry, and as compared with similar features of other parts of the world, I have dwelt at some length.1 But to this singular conformation we have to add the fact that it has been the scene of the most important events in the history of mankind ; and not only so, but that the very fact of this local connection has occasioned a reflux of interest, another stage of historv, which inter mingles itself with the scenes of the older events, thus producing a tissue of local associations unrivalled in its length and complexity.

Greece and Italy have geographical charms of a high order. But they have never provoked a Crusade ; and, however bitter may 1 See Chapters I. II. VII. and

PREFACE.

. XI have been the disputes of antiquaries about the Acropolis of Athens or the Forum of Rome, they have never, as at Bethlehem and Jerusalem, become matters of religious controversy — grounds for interpreting old prophecies or producing new ones — cases for missions of diplomatists, or for the war of civilised nations. This interest in Sacred Geography, though in some respects repelled, yet in some respects is invited by the Scriptures themselves. From Genesis to the Apocalypse there are — even when not intending, nay, even when deprecating, any stress on the local associations of the events recorded — constant local allusions, such as are the natural result of a faithful, and, as is often the case in the Biblical narrative, of a contemporary history. There is one document in the Hebrew Scriptures to wdiich pro bably no parallel exists in the topographical records of any other ancient nation.

In the Book of Joshua we have what may without offence be termed the Domesday Book of the conquest of Canaan. Ten chapters of that book are devoted to a description of the country, in which not only are its general features and boundaries carefully laid down, but the names and situations of its towns and villages enumerated with a precision of geographical terms which invites and almost compels a minute investigation. The numerous allusions in the Prophetical writings supply what in other countries would be furnished by ' the illustrations of poets and orators. The topographical indications of the New Testament, it is true, are exceedingly slight ; and if it were not for the occurrence of the same names in the Old Testament or Josephus, it would often be impossible identify them. But what the New Testament loses

PREFACE.

. XII Influence on the national character. by the rarity of its allusions, it gains in their vividness ; and, moreover, its general history is connected with the geography of the scenes on which it was enacted, by a link arising directly from the nature ofthe Christian religion itself. That activity and practical energy, wdiich is its chief outward characteristic, turns its earliest records into a perpetual narrative of journeyings to and fro, by lake and mountain, over sea and land, that belongs to the history of no other creed. It is easy in all countries to exaggerate the points of connection between history and geography ; and in the case of Palestine especially, instances of this exaggera tion have sometimes led to an undue depreciation of any such auxiliaries to the study of the Sacred History.

But there are several landmarks which can be clearly defined. I. The most important results of an insight into the geographical features of any country are those wdiich elucidate in any degree the general character of the nation to which it has furnished a home. If there be anything in the course of human affairs which brings us near to the ' divinity which shapes men's ends, rough-hew them as they will,' which indicates somethino' of the prescience of their future course even at its very com mencement, it is the sight of that framework in which the national character is enclosed, by wdiich it is modified, beyond which it cannot develop itself. Such a forecast, as everv one knows, can be seen in the early growth of the Roman commonwealth, and in the peculiar conformation and climate of Greece.1 The question which the geographer of the Holy Land, which the historian of the Chosen People 1 For the sake of convenience I may graphy of Greece," in the first number here refer to an essay on " The Topoof the Classical Museum. xm Influence on forms of expression.

PREFACE.

. has to propose to himself is, ' Can such a connection be traced between the scenery, the features, the boundaries, the situation of Sinai and of Palestine, on the one hand, and the history of the Israelites on the other ? ' It may be that there is much in one part of their history, and little in another ; least of all in its close, more in the middle part, most of all in its early beginnings. But whatever be the true answer, it cannot be indifferent to any one wdio wishes — whether from the divine or the human, from the theological or the historical point of view — to form a com plete estimate of the character of the most remarkable nation wdiich has appeared on the earth. If the grandeur and solitude of Sinai wras a fitting preparation for the reception of the Decalogue and for the second birth of an infant nation ; if Palestine, by its central situation, by its separation from the great civilised powers of the Eastern world, and by its contrast of scenery and resources both with the Desert and with the Egyptian and Mesopotamian empires, presents a natural home for the chosen people ; if its local features are such, as in any way constitute it the cradle of a faith that was intended to be universal ; its geography is not without interest, in this its most general aspect, both for the philosopher and theologian.1 II.

Next to the importance of illustrating the general character of a nation from its geographical situation is the importance of ascertaining how far the forms and expres sions of its poetry, its philosophy, and its worship, have been affected by it. In Greece this was eminently the case. Was it so in Palestine? It is not enough to answer that the rebgion of the Jewish people came direct from God, and that the poetry of the Jewish prophets and See Chapters I. and

PREFACE.

. XIV Pxplana tions of particular events. psalmists was the immediate inspiration of God's Spirit. In the highest sense, indeed, of the words this is most true. But it must be remembered, that as every one acknowledges that this religion and this inspiration came through a human medium to men living in those particular ' times ' of civilisation, and in those particular ' bounds of habitation,' which God had ' before appointed ' and ' determined ' for them, we cannot safely dispense with this or with any other means of knowing by what local influences the Divine message was of necessity coloured in its entrance into the world.1 Again, as thera are some who would exaggerate this local influence to thejfeighest, and others who woidd depreciate it to the lowe-SOdegree possible, it is important to ascertain the real facisL what ever they may be, which may determine our judgment in arriving at the proper mean.

And lastly, as there was in the later developments of the history of Palestine, in the rabbinical times of the Jewish history, in the monastic and crusading times of the Christian history, an abundant literature and mythology of purely human growth, it becomes a matter of at least a secondary interest to know how far the traditions and the institutions of those times have been fostered by local considerations.2 III. Iii the two points just noticed the connection between history and geography, if real, is essential. But this connection must always be more or less matter of opinion, and, for that very reason, is more open to fanciful speculation on the one side, and entire rejection on the other. There is however a connection less important but more generally accessible and appreciable, that, namely, which, without actually causing or influencing, explains 1 See Chapters II. aud XIII. : See Chapters I. II. aud

PREFACE.

. XV the events that have occurred in any particular localitv. The most obvious example of this kind of concatenation between place and event is that between a battle and a battle-field, a campaign and the seat of w-ar. No one can thoroughly understand the one without having seen or investigated the other. In some respects this mutual relation of action aad locality is less remarkable in the simple warfare of ancient times than in the complicated tactics of modern times.^ But the course of armies, the use of cavalry and diaries, of of infantry, the sudden panics and successes of battle, are more easily affected by the natural features of a country in earlier than in later ages, and accordingly the conquest of Palestine by Joshua and the numerous battles in the plain of Esdraelon 1 must be as indisputably illustrated by a view of the localities as the fights of Marathon or Thrasymenus.

So again 2 the boundaries of the different tribes, and the selection of the various capitals, must either receive considerable light from a consideration of their geographical circumstances, or, if not, a further question must arise why in each case such exceptions should occur to wdiat is else the well-known and general rule which determines such events. It is to the middle history of Palestine and of Israel, the times of the monarchy, where historical incidents of this kind are related in such detail as to present us with their various adjuncts, that this interest especially applies. But perhaps there is no incident of any magnitude, either of the New or Old Testament, to wdiich it is not more or less were so closely blended, it seemed most natural not to attempt a separation. 1 See Chapters IV.

VII. IX. and XI. In these portions of the work I have ventured on a more continuous narrative than would elsewhere have been ad missible. Where history and geography 2 See Chapters III. IV. V. VI. VIII. aud X.

PREFACE.

. XVI Evidences of the truth ofthe History applicable. Even in those periods and those events which are least associated wdth any special localities, namely the ministrations and journeys described in the Gospels and in the Acts, it is at least important to know the course of the ancient roads, the situation of the towns and villages, which must have determined the movements there described in one direction or another.1 IV. Those who .visit or who describe the scenes of Sacred history expressly for the sake of finding confirma tions of Scripture, are often tempted to mislead themselves and others by involuntary exaggeration or invention. But this danger ought not to prevent us from thankfully wel coming any such evidences as can truly be found to the faithfulness of the Sacred records. One such aid is sometimes sought in the supposed fulfilment of the ancient prophecies by the appearance which some of the sites of Syrian or Arabian cities present to the modern traveller.

But as a general rule these attempts are only mischievous to the cause which they intend to uphold. The present aspect of these sites may rather, for the most part, be hailed as a con vincing proof that the Spirit of prophecy is not so to be bound down. The continuous existence of Damascus and Sidon, the existing ruins of Ascalon, Petra, and Tyre, showing the revival of those cities long after the extinction of the powers which they once represented, are standing monuments of a most important truth, namely that the warnings delivered by ' holy men of old ' were aimed not against stocks and stones, but then, as always, against living souls and sins, whether of men or of nations.2 Fee Chapters VI. and XIII. : See Chapters VI. and X. xvu

PREFACE.

. But there is a more satisfactory ' evidence ' to be derived from a view of the sacred localities, which has hardly been enough regarded by those who have written on the subject. Facts, it is said, are stubborn, and geographical facts happdy the most stubborn of all. We cannot wrest them to meet our views ; but neither can we refuse the conclusions they force upon us. It is by more than a figure of speech that natural scenes are said to have ' witnessed ' the events which occurred in then presence. They are ' witnesses ' which remain when the testimony of men and books has perished. They can be cross-examined with the alleged facts and narratives. If they cannot tell the whole truth, at any rate, so far as they have any voice at all, they tell nothing but the truth. If a partial advocate like Volney on one side, or Keith on the other, has extorted from them a reluctant or partial testimony, they still remain to be examined again and again by each succeeding traveller ; correcting, elucidating, developing the successive depo sitions which they have made from age to age.