female employment of drawing water; the Disciples sent into the city for food, by which its situation out of the town is so obviously implied; the question of the woman referring to existing prejudices which separated the Jews from the Samaritans; the depth of the well; the Oriental allusion contained in the expression, "living water;" the history of the well, and the customs thereby illustrated; the worship upon Mount Gerizim; all these occur within the space of twenty verses: and if to these be added, what has already been referred to in the remainder of the same chapter, we shall perhaps consider it as a record, which, in the words of Him who sent it', "WE MAY LIFT UP OUR EYES, AND LOOK UPON, FOR IT IS WHITE ALREADY TO HARVEST." CHAP. XV. (4) See p. 443, Note (1), of this Volume. (5) John, iv. 35. THE HOLY LAND-NAPOLOSE TO JERUSALEM. Journey to Jerusalem- Singular Cultivation of Judæa-Jacob's Field -Bethel-Beer-Prospect of the Holy City-Formalities of a Public Entry-Reception by the Inhabitants-Gate of Damascus -Identity of "the Holy Places"-Visit to the Governor-Convent of St. Salvador-Appearance of the Monks-Dormitory for TravellersPilgrim's Chamber- Convent Stores - - Library Exactions of the Turks-Manufactures of Jerusalem-Mecca Fruit-Fetid Limestone -Water of the Dead Sea-Visit to "the Holy Places"-Sepulchre of the Messiah-Its Identity disputed-Its present AppearanceOther Reliques - Plan for the Survey of the City-Sion GateDiscovery made by the Author-Inference derived from it-Possible Site of Golgotha, or Calvary Greek Inscriptions Remarkable Tomb-Hebrew Inscriptions - Conjecture respecting Mount Sion. CHAP. XVI. WE left Napolose one hour after midnight, that we might reach Jerusalem early the same day. We were, however, much deceived deceived concerning the distance. Our guides represented CHAP. XVI. Jerusalem. the journey as a short excursion of five hours: it proved Journey to a most fatiguing pilgrimage of eighteen'. The road was moun (1) Authors disagree very much concerning this distance. Reland, who compares the computed measure, by time, with the Roman miles (Vid. "Mensuræ quibus veteres locorum intervalla metiuntur," Palæst. Illust. lib. ii. c. 1.) makes an hour's journey equivalent to three miles; and this corresponds with its relative proportion to a French league, or to three English miles. But, in the valuable map wherein he has exhibited the distances of places in Roman miles, from Josephus, Eusebius, Arrian, Diodorus Siculus, and the Itinerary of Antoninus, (Vid. cap. 5. id. lib.) he states the distance between Napolose and Jerusalem as equal to forty Roman miles; that is to say, twenty-eight from Napolose to Bethel, and twelve from Bethel to Jerusalem. Again, in estimating the extent of the Holy Land (Vid. tom. I. p. 423. Traj. Bat. 1714.) he gives, from Josephus, Eusebius, and an antient anonymous Itinerary, the following distances: Ab Hierosolymis ad Bethel, ex Itinerar. veter. Hieros. et Eusebio ... mil. 12. mil. 28, vel 29. "A 11. 35 min. Adapting, therefore, Maundrell's time to Reland's scale, the distance would be little more than thirty-four miles and a half. We considered it to be much more; but it is difficult to obtain accurate measure, even by actual observation of the country, owing to its mountainous and rugged nature. CHAP. XVI. Singular Judæa. mountainous, rocky, and full of loose stones': yet the cultivation was everywhere marvellous: it afforded one of the most striking pictures of human industry which it is possible to behold. The limestone rocks and stony valleys of Judæa were entirely covered with plantations of figs, vines, and olive-trees; not a single spot seemed to be neglected. The hills, from their bases to their upmost summits, were entirely covered with gardens: all of these were free from weeds, and in the highest state of agricultural perfection. Even the sides of the most barren mountains had been rendered fertile, by being divided into terraces, like steps rising one above another, whereon soil had been accumulated with astonishing labour. Among the standing crops, we noticed millet, cotton, linseed, and tobacco; and occasionally smal fields of barley. A sight of this territory can alone convey any adequate idea of its surprising produce: it is truly the Eden of the East, rejoicing in the abundance of its wealth. The effect of this upon the people was strikingly pourtrayed in every countenance: instead of the depressed and gloomy looks of Djezzar Pacha's desolated plains, health, hilarity, and peace, were visible in the features of the inhabitants. Under (1) If the following passage from Phocas afforded the only internal evidence to be found in his Work, of his having visited the country, travellers, who follow him, will deem it satisfactory. Ἡ δίοδος πᾶσα λιθόστρωτος, καὶ ταῦτα, κατάξηρος ἔσα ἡ πᾶσα τοιαύτη χώρα, καὶ αὐχμηρὰ ἐστὶ καὶ κατάμπελος καὶ ὑπόδενδρος. “ Via est omnis lapidibus strata; et, licet tota ea regio siccitate arescat, et squalleat, ubique tamen vitibus et arboribus constipatur." Phocæ Descr. Terr. Sanct. c. 14. Colon. 1653. The extraordinary cultivation of this singular country, and the mode of it, is also noticed by Maundrell. See Journ. from Alep. to Jerus. pp. 64, 65. Under a wise and a beneficent government, the produce of CHAP. XVI. the Holy Land would exceed all calculation. Its perennial harvest; the salubrity of its air'; its limpid springs; its rivers, lakes, and matchless plains; its hills and vales;—all these, added to the serenity of its climate, prove this land to be indeed "a field which the Lord hath blessed*: God hath given it of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine." The first part of our journey led through the valley lying between the two mountains Ebal and Gerizim3. We passed (2) "The seasons," says Josephus, seem to maintain a competition, which should be most productive." See his account of the country around the Lake of Genesareth, (lib. iii. de Bell. c. 18.) as cited in a former chapter of this Work. (3) We saw neither mosquitoes nor locusts; nor did the croaking of toads or frogs denote the vicinity of any of those deadly marshes which poison the atmosphere on so many shores of the Mediterranean. (4) Gen. xxvii. 27, 28. (5) Ebal, sometimes written Gebal, is upon the north; and Gerizim, or Garizim, upon the south. The streets of Napolose run parallel to the latter; which overlooks the town. (Vid. Joseph. lib. v. Antiq. c. 9.) "And it shall come to pass, when the Lord thy God hath brought thee in unto the land whither thou goest to possess it, that thou shalt put the blessing upon Mount Gerizim, and the curse upon Ebal." (Deut. xi. 29.) Also, in the record of the covenant, (Deut. xxvii. 5.) the people are directed to build an altar of whole stones upon Mount Ebal. "And Moses charged the people (ibid. v. 11.) the same day, saying, These shall stand upon Mount Gerizim, to bless the people;" " and (ibid. v.13.) these shall stand upon Mount Ebal, to curse." (See also Josh. viii. 33.) The Samaritans have now a place of worship upon Mount Gerizim. (See Maundrell. Journ. from Alepp. to Jerus. p. 59.) Reland (tom. II. p. 1006. tom. I. p. 344. Traj. Bat. 1714.) wrote the name of this mountain both Garizim and Gerizim. The Samaritans, according to Phocas, believed, that upon Mount Gerizim, which stands upon the right hand of a person facing the east, Abraham prepared the sacrifice of his son Isaac. τὸ δεξιώτερον ὑπάρχει τὸ ὄρος ἐν ὦ οἱ Σαμαρεῖς λέγεσι χρηματίσαι τῷ ̓Αβραὰμ τὸν Θεὸν, καὶ τὴν θυσίαν ζητῆσαι τὸ Ἰσαάκ. "In dexteriore montium (Samaritanorum ea traditio est) Deus Abrahamo responsum dedit, et Isaacum in sacrificium petiit." Phoca Desc. Terr. Sanct. c. 13. Col. 1653. |