Tyropæon divides these two mounts; the spring of the arch of a bridge is still visible in the ancient masonry, and proves that the hills were once connected. David's tomb is shewn on Mount Zion, and on its southern slope lies the Pool of Siloam, to which Christ sent the blind man. 37. By reference to the map it will appear that at the foot of Mount Zion lies the valley of Hinnom, or Tophet. 38. It is a question of deep interest, whether the true sites of Calvary and the holy Sepulchre can be traced. The piety of the crusaders and of the Empress Helena has erected a vast church over the supposed sacred spots of the crucifixion and the resurrection. There is every reason to believe that these places are the true ones. The nature of the ground is such that there is but a limited space for conjecture. We know that Calvary was without the city gate, and yet not in the valley, and we are hence led to infer that the shrines now reared in memory of those hallowed events are rightly placed. There is also a probability that those who witnessed the crucifixion would hand down to their descendants accurate details of that sacred locality. We read that after the siege and destruction of Jerusalem many of the Christian fugitives returned to the holy city, and they would doubtless revisit the scene of man's redemption. 39. The Emperor Hadrian, in order to deride the faith of the Christians, erected idol temples on the sites of the cross, the tomb, and the manger. These profanations were overruled for good, by serving to point out to subsequent ages the scenes of the very events which they were designed to ridicule. 40. We venture then to conclude, that, since the crucifixion took place on Mount Moriah, (where Isaac, the type, was on the point of being offered up,) and since there is no reasonable objection to the credibility of the received opinions, the sites which tradition has assigned are the true ones. 41. There is on Calvary a remarkable fissure in the rocks, which may be presumed to date from the moment of our Lord's death, when "the rocks were rent." Travellers of the last century examined this convulsion in the rock, and report it to be unquestionably the effect of an earthquake: it is now encased in silver, so that it has become impossible to form any opinion. III. "Coats of many colours" are worn by the natives". IV. Wine is carried in leathern bottlesa. V. The guests at a meal recline on one another's breast, and water is poured upon the hands before and after the repast. VI. The loaves of the country are flat cakes baked on the hearthd. The corn is often made into flour by "two women grinding at a mill," a process which we observed in the Arab tents in Moabe. 64. The road northward from Jerusalem passes through the hill country of Ephraim, near the site of the ancient Bethel, the exact position of which is unknown. The decay of Bethel, where the sin of idolatry was encouraged by Jeroboam, who set up there one of the golden calves, appears to be a proof that the more guilty cities of Canaan were doomed to utter destruction, whilst those have been partially spared which were less sinful, such as Tiberias, Tyre, Bethlehem, &c., which continue to this day. . 65. On the journey towards Samaria the usual resting-place is Michmash, where the Gen. xxxvii. 32. b John xiii. 25. Gen. xviii. 6. • Matt, xxiv. 41. • Josh. ix. 13. 2 Kings iii. 11, f 1 Kings xii. 28. Philistines were defeated by Saul and Jonathan . It lies in the tribe of Benjamin. 66. The daylight was supernaturally lengthened in this region at the prayer of Joshua, whilst he pursued the Amorites through Gibeon and Ajalon 1. The birth-place of Saul, in Gibeah, lay amongst this range of hills. 67. The recapitulation of the details of Judæa is as follows. Jerusalem: the capital, site of the crucifixion, &c. Bethlehem site of the nativity. : Hebron: the home of Abraham. Jericho besieged by Joshua. : Jaffa (Joppa): principal seaport. Modin: home of the Maccabees. Gath, Gaza, &c.: cities of the Philistines. 1 Sam. xiv. 31. Josh. x. 12. CHAPTER II. SAMARIA. 68. THE boundaries of Samaria are not easy to trace, but may be described generally as follows; Northward; the great plain of Esdraelon and Galilee. Eastward; the river Jordan. Westward; the Mediterranean. Southward; Acrabatene (according to Josephus). 69. This region fell mainly to the share of Ephraim and the half-tribe of Manasseh. The chief towns are Samaria, called also Sebaste, and Sychar or Shechem, now called Nablous. 70. The ancient city of Samaria stands on a hill, fertile in olives and pomegranates. We cannot wonder that Omri chose this situ |