Sunday night lectures on "the Land and the Book,"

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Preface

This volume will possess at least the value of showing that a great amount of traveling can be done in Palestine in fifteen days. Many busy pastors and laymen are prevented from attempting to visit Palestine because their time is limited, and they think they must spend a month or six weeks in the Holy Land. Doubtless one might well remain as long as that, if he had sufficient time for that purpose. Special students do well to- spend years in this historic country ; but this volume will show that much can be done in two weeks. With the exception of Hebron, Tyre, Sidon, and a few other localities, all places of great interest west of the Jordan were visited ; but some points of the country in the vicinity of the Dead Sea had to be seen partly through the eyes of others. The country is small, and an energetic traveler, especially one who is not greatly fatigued by riding his horse, can accomplish much in fifteen days. Soon railways will be built over all the country, and while they will rob it of much of the archaic charm of its ancient customs, they will greatly facilitate travel over this rough and desolate, but still interesting and sacred land.

Many pastors and business men are deterred vi

PREFACE from visiting Palestine because summer is their usual holiday season. With most pastors the winter and spring are the harvest seasons for their churches ; to be absent then is virtually to lose a whole year's work. Of course, spring is the best time in which to visit Palestine. Then the grass is abundant and green ; then flowers of many kinds make the country beautiful with varied charms. Then also the weather is pleasant, and traveling in companies can more readily be arranged than at other seasons. In summer, or in the early autumn, the country is parched from the heat, vegetation has largely disappeared, and with it many attractions. But, on the other hand, prices are then much lower, hotels are not crowded, and dragomans are more easily secured. Those who speak of the heat as being so great in India, Egypt, and Palestine, are usually tourists from Great Britain or from northern Germany. The writer was in the Hawaiian Islands, in Japan, China, Ceylon, India, Egypt, and Palesstine between the months of June and October, arriving in Palestine at the end of September, and leaving about the middle of October ; and he found no day in any country as hot as were the closing days of May in New York before he left for his trip. A clerical friend spent the months of June, July, and August, in the city of Jerusalem, and he affirms that it was one of the pleasantest summer resorts he ever enjoyed. There is a vast amount of worthless tradition regarding the great heat of these countries. A visit to Palestine will be disappointing to

PREFACE

Vll many excellent Christians ; but if a tourist goes with the present condition of the country clearly in his mind, and prepared to experience some discomfort, and to judge rightly the changes which time and mis-government have wrought, he will come back with his faith strengthened, his knowledge greatly increased, and his Bible illumined. He will be able to say with Renan : " I had before my eyes a fifth Gospel, mutilated but still legible, and ever afterward in the recitals of Matthew and Mark, instead of an abstract Being that one would say had never existed, I saw a wonderful human figure live and move." Never before were both Testaments so real to this writer as now ; it is not too much to say that the Bible has become a new book.

Most of the chapters in this volume were delivered as Sunday evening lectures to the Calvary congregation ; a few did not seem to be sufficiently biblical and religious for that purpose. This use of the lectures will explain the blending of biblical exposition, geographical, historical, and experimental facts, with some elements of exhortation to practical duties in the Christian life. But, because of their primary use, these lectures are not robbed of whatever value they would have in any case as a help to one intending to make the journey or actually making it.

Many authorities have been consulted. Baedeker's " Palestine and Syria," and Cook's " Tourist's Handbook of Palestine and Syria," were, while on the journey, a daily and even hourly viii

PREFACE

" vade mecum" Among other authorities consulted are Smith's, McClintock and Strong's, Kitto's, and other Bible dictionaries ; Stanley's " Syria and Palestine" ; " Recent Discoveries on the Temple Hill," by Rev. James King, m. a. ; " Cleopatra's Needle," by the same author ; " The Diseases of the Bible," by Sir Risdon Bennett, M. D., Li*, d., F. r. s. ; " Fresh Light from the Ancient Monuments," by A. H. Sayce, LL. D. ; " Egypt and Syria," by Sir J. W. Dawson ; Geikie's " Hours with the Bible ; " " In the Levant," by Charles Dudley Warner ; u Bible Lands Illustrated," by Rev. H. C. Fish, d. d. ; " The Historical Geography of the Holy Land," by George Adam Smith, d. d. ; " Handbook of the Holy Land," by Henry B. Waterman, D. D. ; and " Galilee in the Time of Christ," by Selah Merrill, D. D. Where the writer's indebtedness is direct and conscious, he has striven to acknowledge it in the body of the text.

This hurried visit to the land of patriarchs and prophets, the land of evangelists and apostles, and above all the land of Jesus Christ, has given deepened love to Him who is the end of revelation, the ideal of character, the inspiration of life, and the glory of eternity. That this volume may honor the Bible and glorify Christ is the author's chief desire and prayer.

R. S. MacA.

Calvary Study, New York, Jan., 1900. '

LECTURE I The Land of the Book i

Different Names of "the Land" — Boundaries of Canaan — Size of the Country — Highway between Egypt and Assyria — Battlefield of the Nations — Beautifully Diversified — Its Plains — Valley of the Jordan — Its Rivers and Streams — Lakes or Seas — Its Glorious Mountains — Its Climate — Varieties in Productions — Land of Ruins above All Other Countries — Its Various Nationalities, Creeds, and Sects — Return of the Jews — Their Two Main Bodies — Possibilities of the Overthrow of "the Unspeakable Turk" — Good Government, and it Would Again be a "Land Flowing with Milk and Honey."

LECTURE II Joppa — "Beauty" 13

Sail from Alexandria to Joppa — First View of Joppa — Thoughts on the Holy Land — Difficulty in Landing — Classical Joppa — Biblical Joppa — Modern Joppa — Present Appearance — American and German Colonists — Oriental Associations.

LECTURE III "Going Up to Jerusalem" 24

Railway to Jerusalem — Plain of Sharon — Lydda, its Names, History, and Church of St. George — Ram-

ix

X leh, its Name, Traditions, Tower, Ophthalmic Diseases, as at Lydda — Ajalon — Jimzu — Beth-horon — Joshua's Prayer — Did Sun and Moon Really Stand Still? — Joshua's Famous March — Makkedah, where the Five Kings were Slain — Latrun and its Traditions — Emmaus, not that of Luke — Abou-gosch, named from Famous Robber — Kirjath-jearim, "City of the Woods," and its Great Memories — Gibeon and its Cunning Townspeople — The Country of Samson — Zorah, Timnath, Sorek, and Delilah — Nearing Jerusalem — Holy Land about Size of Wales or New Hampshire — Railway Station — Valley of Hinnom — Tower of David — Jaffa Gate — Jerusalem !

LECTURE IV Jerusalem — " Habitation of Peace" 37

Some Travelers Disappointed with Jerusalem — Doubt Regarding the Sacred Sites — Quotation from Renan Regarding Effect of Visiting Holy Land — Origin of Word Jerusalem — Location of the City — History : Where First Mentioned ; Salem, then Jebus ; David's and Solomon's Times ; Temple Built ; Captured ; Babylonish Captivity ; Alexander the Great ; Ptolemy ; Under the Maccabees ; Romans ; Destruction ; Constantine and Helena ; Caliph Omar ; Crusaders ; Turkish Sway in 1840 — Modern Jerusalem — Excavations Going Forward — The Chief Gates — The Leading Streets — Various Peoples and Faiths — The Charitable Institutions.

LECTURE V Church of the Holy Sepulchre 52

Approach to the Church — Clamorous Peddlers and Impudent Beggars — Synopsis of History of the Church — Question of Site — Claims of other Places to be the Site — Is the Traditional View Correct? — xi

Visiting the Church, its Rotunda, Chapels, and other Sacred Places — The Holy Fire — Horrible Scenes — Parts Owned by Different Churches.

LECTURE VI The Mosque of Omar 64

The Great Altar Mountain — Marvelous Spot — Its Wonderful Memories — Christ in the Temple — The Temple Area and its Names — The Mosque : its Dome ; Interior ; Windows ; the Sacred Rock ; Praying Places ; Mysterious Slab — Mosque el-Aksa — The Cradle of Christ — So-called Throne of Solomon — El Kas, or the Cup — Stirring Views — Historic Scenes.

LECTURE VII Various Interesting Places — Jaffa Gate . . . 77

Jaffa Gate with its Needle's Eye— The Tower of David — The Royal Quarries : their Discovery ; their Characteristics ; their Relation to the Various Temples — The Jews' Wailing Place : the Description ; the Wailers ; the Litany — The Via Dolorosa — The Tomb of David — The Ccenaculum — Was this Really the Place ?

LECTURE VIII "Round About Jerusalem" 92

Valley of Gihon — Valley of Hinnom — Worship of Moloch— "Field of Blood "— " Pool of Siloam"— King's Garden and Dale — Tombs of Zechariah and Absalom — Valley of Jehoshaphat — Garden of Gethsemane : Location ; Features ; Reality ; Tender Memories ; Significance.

xii

LECTURE IX

Bethlehem — " House of Bread

No Sweeter Name — Valley of Rephaim — Road to Bethlehem— Well of "The Star "—Mar Elyas— Tomb of Rachel — Ancient Zelyah — Solomon's Pools — Is Urtas Emmaus ? — Claims of El-Kubeibeh — View of Bethlehem — Historical Facts — Plain of the Shepherds — The Church of the Nativity : Its Fortress-like Appearance ; its Convents ; its Size, Nave, and Roof ; Chapel or Grotto of the Nativity — The Star in the Marble Slab — Kneeling Pilgrims — Latin Inscription — Ever-burning Lamps — Warring Faiths — Chapel of Manger — Altar of the Magi — Altar of the Innocents — Tomb of St. Jerome — Well of Bethlehem — Back to Jerusalem — Groups of Lepers.

Passing through St. Stephen's Gate — The Mount of Olives — The Doomed Fig Tree — Bethphage — Bethany — Was This the Grave of Lazarus? — The Alabaster Box — Place of the Ascension — Down to Jericho — Place of Desolation — Petrified Waves — Ferocious Bedouins — Wild Gorges — "Brook Cherith " — Valley of Achor — Jericho, "Place of Fragrance" — Abominable Riha — Ancient Gilgal — Bathing Place — Suggestive Memories — Our Lord's Baptism — His Instructive Example.

LECTURE X

LECTURE XI

Largest Lake in Palestine — Never Much Navigated — Its Names and Characteristics — History of the Dead Sea — Bathing in the Sea — Superstitious Views

Xlll

Largely Removed — Nauseous Character — Scientific Results — Beautiful and Terrible — The Earth May Contain all the Elements Necessary for the World's Destruction.

LECTURE XII The Cities of the Plain 140

Their Names and Number — "Were they at the South or the North End of the Lake?— The Destruction of the Cities — What were the " Slimepits " ? Sir J. W. Dawson's View — Natural Conditions and Divine Punishments — Natural and Supernatural — Petroleum in Canada — Recent Volcanoes — Meaning of "Brimstone" — Recapitulation of Argument — How About Lot's Wife?— Not a "Pillar" but a Mound — The Laws of Nature are the Laws of God — Way of Escape Then and Now.

LECTURE XIII Jerusalem to Bethel 150

Turning Northward Roads Become Permanent — Historic Travelers Over this Road — Last Views of Jerusalem — Shaphat, the Ancient Nob — Gibeah of Saul — The Motherly Love of Rizpah — Geba, Anathoth, Ramah — Beeroth, the Modern El Bireth — Ai, with its Memories of Achan, of Defeat and Victory — Bethel, the Household Word — Practical Lessons Suggested by the Journey over Desolate Hills and Ancient Roads, and the Sight of Bethel.

LECTURE XIV Bethel to Shiloh 159

Modern Name of Bethel is Betin — Luz Older Name than Bethel — Abraham and Lot Came from xiv the Jordan — Lot's Selfish Choice — Jacob's Journey — His Sleep and Dream — Erection of Altar — Thirty- Years Later — Ark of Covenant Here — Seat of Gross Idolatry — Bethel Changed into Bethaven — The Golden Calf — Jeroboam Punished — Elisha, Children and She-bears near Bethel — Ephraim — "Glen of the Robbers" — Approaching Shiloh — Lessons from Places Visited, Need of an Altar to God — Heaven .and Earth Still Near— Christ the True Ladder.

LECTURE XV Shiloh — " Peace' ' 167

Fruitful Fields of Ephraim — Jifha, the Ancient Gophnah — Tibneh, Supposed to be Timnath-Serah— Sinjil, Perhaps the Saint Giles of the Crusaders — Seilun, the Ancient Shiloh, Meaning "Peace " — Interesting Historical Events — The Daughters of Shiloh — Here the Ark and Tabernacle — The Ancient Well — Hannah's Prayer — Samuel's Boyhood— Eli and his Sons — Capture of the Ark — Death of Eli — Birth of Son, but Death of the Mother— Child Called " Ichabod " — The Prophet Ahijah — Traces of Tabernacle — Joshua's Tomb — Discovery of Flint Knives — Hasting to Jacob's Well — Plain of Mukhna — Discoveries of Science Endorsing Teachings of Bible — Professor Toy's Recent Assertion, and its Refutation.

LECTURE XVI Jacob's Well and Joseph's Tomb 177

Reaching Jacob's Well — Heaps of Rubbish — Jews, Christians, and Moslems Agree as to This Place — Here We are on Ground Trodden by Christ — Dr. Hanna's Words — Our Surroundings — The Well Described — Picture of Christ Here — Why Jacob Dug This Well — Why Did Woman of Samaria Come Here for Water? — Building over Joseph's Tomb —

XV

Valley of Nablus — Where Abraham's Oak Stood — Turkish Barracks — Beauty of the Valley — What Mohammed Said of Syria and the Mountain of Nablus — A Greater than Jacob, Joseph, or Joshua Here.

LECTURE XVII Nablus and the Samaritans 186

Meaning of Word Nablus — Other Names of the Town — The Biblical and Secular History — Glances at Mounts Ebal and Gerizim — Joshua's Pulpit — Marked Features of Nablus — Sublime Scene of the Ratification of the Law — The Samaritan People — The Samaritan Quarters — The Codex of the Pentateuch — Their Synagogue — Their Creed — Special Rites — Enmity between Them and the Jews.

LECTURE XVIII From Nablus to Samaria 195

Sun Hot, Roads Glaring — Climbed Over Part of Ebal — Tirzah — Salim — Samaria : Its Location ; Its History ; Modern Name ; Terrible Siege ; Visit of Elijah — Visiting Mohammedan School — Church of John the Baptist — His Alleged Tomb — Obadiah's Also — Superb Ruins — Noble Monoliths — Traditional Sites — Wonderful Fulfillment of Prophecy.

LECTURE XIX From Samaria to Dothan and Jenin 204

Valley of Barley — View of Abel-Meholah — Dothan, ' ' Two Wells ' '—Joseph, ' ' This Dreamer ' '—The Sons of Jacob with their Flocks — Came from Hebron — Joseph's "Coat of Many Colors," Not a Coat of Many Colors — Thrown Into and Drawn from the Pit — Taken Away to Exaltation in Egypt and Immorxvi tality in the World — Elisha at Dothan — Ben-hadad the Syrian — Compassing the City — Fear on the Part of Elisha's Servant — Elisha's Prayer — Mountain Full of Horses and Chariots — Syrians Blinded, Captured, Conducted to Samaria — Arriving at Jenin, the En-gannim of Scripture — Lessons for To-day from the Olden Time.

LECTURE XX The Plain of Esdraelon 215

Conspicuous in Topography of Palestine — Scarcely Less so in History of Israel — The Battlefield of the Nations — Name and Shape of Plain — Scripture Places Thereon — Most Noted Modern Contest, that Between the Turks and Napoleon in 1 799 — Great Richness of the Plain Naturally — Its Present Desolation — Farmed out in great Part by Rich Men in Damascus and Beirut — Prowling Bedouins — Summary of the Great Battles of Israel — God Raising Up Witnesses to the Truth of the Bible.

LECTURE XXI Zerin, the Ancient Jezreel 225

Starting from Jenin — Seeing Jaanach on our Left — Reaching the Historic Megiddo — Deborah and Barak Against Sisera — Jezreel, "God's Sowing" — What Memories Here ! — Jezebel's Malign Influence — Ahab's Fatal Weakness — Elijah's Curse Fulfilled — Death of Ahab — Fearful Fate of Jezebel — Continuance of her Influence in Israel and Judah — Weakness is Wickedness — Evils of Unholy Marriage — God Will Assuredly Punish Sin.

LECTURE XXII

Description of the Fountain — Dashing Soldiers of

XVII

Heroic Gideon — The Noble Three Hundred — The Country Devastated — Coming of the Children of the East — Their Gorgeous Display — Names of Chiefs — Meaning of the Names — Gideon, the Deliverer — His Family — His Employment When Called by God's Messenger — The Assurance Given Him — The Tests to which God Condescended — The New Era Dawns — The Men who Lapped — Meaning of the Act — Ground of Gideon's Choice — Sanctified Common Sense — Quality More Valuable than Quantity — The Mighty Host of Midian — The Stealthy March of Gideon and His Servant — Dream of the Midianite — Interpretation Thereof — The Mysterious Barley Cake — Midnight — Lamp, Pitchers, and Trumpets — Defeat and Victory — "Faint, Yet Pursuing" — Punishing the Unfaithful — Slaying the Foe — Refusing to be Made a King — Lessons for To-day.

LECTURE XXIII Mount Gilboa and its Battle 249

Battle of Gilboa — Proximity of Important Places — Near the Fountain of Gideon — The Camp of Israel — Israelites long Masters — Saul's Evil Case — Deserted of God and Man — Darkness in His Soul — Seeks the Witch of Endor, "The Mistress of the « Ob '"—See Him Go with Two Attendants —They Arrive — The Spirit of Samuel Apparently Aroused — The Woman Startled — Saul Overwhelmed — The Next Day Comes — The Battle Rages — See Saul and the Noble Jonathan — Saul Wounded — His Sons Dead — The Dizziness of Death — Falling on His Sword — A Wild Amalekite Gives the Last Stroke — David's Lament — Israel's Terrible Defeat — Saul's Downward Course — "The Mighty Fallen in the Midst of the Battle," and Fallen also in Early Moral Conflict.

xviii

LECTURE XXIV Shunem — " Double Resting-Place " 258

Sulem, the Shunem of Scripture — Approach to the Village — The Grove and the Streams — At Shunem the Philistines Encamped — Home of the Shunammite Woman — Elisha's Visit — Chamber on the Wall — Her Kindness — Her Deprivation — Elisha's Promise — Birth of a Son — His Illness — "My Head, My Head" — Taken to His Mother— At Noon Dead — Application to the Prophet — The Woman Hastening Over the Plain — Elisha's Servant — Elisha Himself— Her Return — The Servant and the Staff Powerless — Elisha Alone with Dead — "Take Up Thy Son " — Wonderful Moment — Sorrow Comes to All — All in Sorrow May go to God — Lesson of Hospitality — Greatest Men Powerless without God.

LECTURE XXV Nain and its Widow — Endor and its Witch . . 269

Nain Mentioned Nowhere in the Old Testament — Fine Location — A Few Hamlets — Nain Lives Ever in the World's Heart— Christ Glorified it by His Compassion and Power — The Woman's Double Sorrow — Christ's Discriminate Sympathy — His Words of Power — Glorious Moment — Contrast between His Miracles and Those of Elijah and Elisha — Nain Will Live When Nineveh, Babylon, Athens, and Rome are Forgotten — Endor — "Spring of Dor," or "Home Spring" — Endor Not Mentioned in the New Testatament — Location — Description of Caves — One Large — Squalid People — The Witch and the Apparition — Saul's Sad Straits — Explanations Offered — Are They Correct? — One Endorsed — Did Samuel Appear Before the Woman Began her Incantations ? — Terrible was the Effect on Saul — Saul at Times Seemingly Irrexix sponsible for his Acts — But Responsible for Earlier Tendency — God Not Mocked — Unbelievers in God and the Bible will become Believers in Things Absolutely Impossible and Supremely Silly.

LECTURE XXVI Bethshan — " House of Rest" 279

Known as Scythopolis and Now Beisan — Situation Unusually Attractive — Ruins Very Interesting — Description of Fragments of Columns, Pillars, and Other Remains — Traces of Massive Walls — The Amphitheatre — Many Nationalities Left their Impress — Early Mention of the Town — Its History through Different Civilizations — Bishops of Scythopolis — Place Desolate in the Middle Ages — In Time of Crusaders — Level Ground had Influence in Battles — Here on the Walls Decapitated Body of Saul was Placed by the Philistines — Men of Jabesh-Gilead Took it Down — They Cremated Flesh — First Case of Cremation Mentioned in Bible — They Buried Bones of Saul and his Sons Under Tree and Fasted Seven Days — Feeling Regarding Unburied Bodies — Similar To-Day in Several Countries — David's Appreciation of the Men of Jabesh-Gilead — The Suggestion for us Regarding David's Lord.

LECTURE XXVII

Rises Like a Dome — Its Attractive Appearance — Its Location — History of the Mountain — Deborah, the Joan of Arc of the Time — Both Poet and Patriot — Her Husband's Name — Her Own Means "Bee" — The WTiole Country Aroused — Barak, "Lightning" — The Tribes Gathering — Meet on Mount Tabor — Sisera Collects Forces — Battle Begins — "Stars in their Courses Fought" — Rains De-

XX scended — Floods Came — Chariots Mired — Horses Plunge — Sisera Flees — Jael's Tent — Gives Him "Lebben"— He Sleeps— Tent and Mallet— She Strikes — He Dies — Terrible Treachery — Deborah's Song — Bible and Jael's Act — Tabor in the Gallery of Memory.

LECTURE XXVIII Nazareth — "the Guarded One" 299

Tender Thoughts at Nazareth — Meaning of Word — Old Interpretations Set Aside — Location of Town — Population and Characteristics — Modern Name — History of the Town — Relation to Christ and his Family — Places of Interest : Church of the Annunciation ; Chapel of Joseph ; Legend of Holy House ; Workshop of Joseph ; Table of Christ ; Mount of Precipitation ; The Synagogue ; The Fountain of the Virgin — Religious Work in the Town — The Beauty of the Women — Grand Prospects — Lesson of Christ's Humanity, Industry, and Obedience — How he Learned Here.

LECTURE XXIX Cana of Galilee r ..... 310

From Nazareth to Cana — Birthplace of the Prophet Jonah — Is Cana Really Cana ? — Distance from Nazareth — Water-pots Still Used Here — The Church on Site of House where Miracle was Performed — Where Are the Six Jars ? — Here Healing for Nobleman's Son — His Imperfect Faith — Christ's Beginning of Miracles — He Bided his Time — Too Many Men in Hurry — This Miracle Symbol of his Earthly Work —So his First Parable of All his Teaching — First Miracle at a Wedding Feast — Christ No Ascetic — He Did Gently Rebuke his Mother — Marriage Holy as Celibacy — Christ Cares for the Wants of Others — He xxi

Made Good Wine — He Made it in Abundance — Religion Always Keeps the Best to the Last.

LECTURE XXX Mount of Beatitudes 319

Passing " Horns of Hattin " — Origin of Name — Is This True Site? — What in its Favor? — Coincides with Scripture Narrative — Famous Battle Fought Here July 4, 1187 — Gave Deathblow to Crusaders — Battle Described — Saladin's Revenge — Moslem Yoke on all Land — Contrast Fierce Battle With Christ's Sermon — Were there Two Sermons ? — Characteristics of Sermon — Does it Lower Moral Standard ? — Crusaders Gone — Saladin Dead — Christ and his Apostles Live — They Have "A Perpetual Contemporaneousness."

LECTURE XXXI The Sea of Galilee 329

First Glimpse of Sea — Hesitated to Take It — Too Good to be Real — What is its Appearance ? — Does it Disappoint ? — Picture Painted — Ride to the Town of Tiberias — Marked Change in Temperature — Various Names of Sea — Its Description — Its Size — Its Shores — Its Fish — Once Large Boats — Once Great Population — Dr. Selah Merrill Endorses Josephus — Dr. George Adam Smith Endorses Dr. Merrill — Many Ideas of Seclusion of Nazareth and Rudeness of Galileans Erroneous — The Number of Population Almost Certainly Great — Change of View Quite Sure to Come — McCheyne's Sweet Verses on Galilean Sea.

LECTURE XXXII

Christ Probably Never Visited It— Writer There xxii

During Feast of Tabernacles — History of Tiberias — Its Various Periods — Various Nationalities — Struggles of Christianity — Jewish Schools — Learned Rabbins — The Modern Town — Protestant Missions and Hospital — Different Sorts of Jews — Sacred Burial Ground — Maimonides and Other Great Jews Buried Here — Study of Talmud Still Flourishes — Jerome Learned Hebrew from a Rabbi of Tiberias — The Historic Baths — Why Christ Avoided Tiberias — Also Other Half-Greek Towns.

LECTURE XXXIII

From Tiberias to Tel Hum 348

Daybreak on Galilean Sea — Shores Aglow with Splendor of Sunrise — Road on Bluff — Horns of Hattin Again Seen — Wady Fik Opposite Tiberias — Site and Importance of Tarichese — Tiberias and the Residence of "The King of Fleas" — Magdala, its Wretched People — Poor Dwellings — Immortal Because of Mary Magdalene — Great Injustice Done Her — Coasts of Magdala — "Valley of Doves" — Overcoming Robbers by Soldiers Let Down in Cages — Land of Gennesaret — Shores of This Plain — "Children, Have Ye Any Meat?" — Khan Minyeh — Was This Capernaum? — Ain-et Tabigah — German Colony — Ground Trodden by Jesus — Christ-visited Shores — Vocal with his Words — Radiant with his Glory.

LECTURE XXXIV Capernaum, Chorazin, Bethsaida 357

Many Perplexing Questions of Sites — Capernaum Christ's "Own City" — Our Lord's Solemn Warnings — Where Was Capernaum ? — Different Authorities — Canon Tristram and the " Round Fountain " — Is Tel Hum Capernaum ? — Remains of Synagogue — Location of Chorazin — Is it at Kerazeh? — Interesting Remains — Bethsaida — Were there Two Bethsaidas ? — Charming Views — Glorious Moonlight on the Sea — Christ's Warnings Fulfilled.

LECTURE XXXV

From Capernaum to C^esarea-Philippi . . . .367

Khan Yubb Yusef— Safed— Was it the City on Hill? — One of Four Holy Cities — Names of the Others — Glimpse of its History — Manner of its Buildings — Large Population — How Divided — Dr. Thomson's Thrilling Description of Earthquake There — Meiron — Tombs of Celebrated Talmudists — Kefr Birim — Kadesh Naphtali — Hazor — Lake Huleh — "Waters of Merom " — Shape of Lake — Size — Character of Shores — Bedouins Fishing and Hunting in Vicinity — New and Prosperous Town of Jews — Meeting American Baptists — Tel el-Kadi, or Dan, Meaning Judge — One Source of Jordan — Arriving in Banias.

LECTURE XXXVI Banias, the Ancient Cesarea-Philippi . . . .377

The Sheik's "Upper Room" — Trouble Between Druses and the Metawilehs — Whence Comes Name Banias ? — Worship of Baal — Worship of Pan — Herod's Temple — Misinterpretation by Romanists of Christ's Words to Peter — Situation and Description of Banias — Environs Very Beautiful — So is Combination of Woods, Streams, and Hills — Ruins of Old Temples and Palaces — Most Attractive Spot — One Source of Jordan — Ancient Sanctuary of Pan — The Paneum — Wely of St. George — Cavern of Spring — The Rock— "Thou Art Peter "—Did This Historic Rock Suggest Form of Question and Answer of Christ? — Place of Our Lord's Transfiguration — Healing of Lunatic Child — Tender Thoughts — Glori-

XXIV ous Presence of Jesus — The Huge Castle — Dean Stanley Compares its Size with Castle of Heidelberg — The Three Chief Sources of the Jordan — The Course of the River Traced to the Dead Sea — Our Lord's Presence Glorified Every Place he Visited.

Leaving Banias — Druses' Sheik as Guide — An Imposition, but Was Helpless — Sunrise on Castle of Subeibeh — Glorious View of Hermon — Its Several Names and their Meanings — It as well as Lebanon the Mont Blanc of Palestine — Three Separate Heights — Transfiguration of Christ — Dean Stanley's Reference to Hermon in Hebrew Poetry — Breakfast at Winepress — Hot Ride Over Rough Roads — Wild Glens and Desolate Deserts — Then Abundant Streams and Luxuriant Vegetation — Traditional Burial Place of Nimrod — The Historic and Beneficent Pharpar — Yonder Damascus — Here Supposed Place of Saul's Wondrous Vision — Saul Smitten to the Earth — Here Repose Sought and Found in the New Khan — To-morrow on to Damascus, Oldest City in the World — Perpetually Young — Much Stirred by War between the Mountain Tribes — Tourist Contractors Charge Too Much — Grand Chance of Good Profits for Some American — He Could Make Money at Half- Rates — Syrian Wedding Party — Meeting Four American Clergymen — Charms of Damascus.