Page images
PDF
EPUB
[graphic][merged small]

PROCESSION FROM BETHANY TO JERUSALEM.

411 Castle of Herod, on the supposed site of the palace of David, from which that portion of Jerusalem, emphatically 'The City of David,' derived its name. It was at this precise point, as He drew near, at 'the descent of the Mount of Olives'-may it not have been from the sight thus opening upon them?—that the shout of triumph burst forth from the multitude, Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the kingdom that cometh of our father David. Hosanna, peace,

glory in the highest!' There was a pause as the shout rang through the long defile; and, as the Pharisees who stood by in the crowd complained, He pointed to the 'stones,' which, strewn beneath their feet, would immediately 'cry out' if these were to hold their peace.'

"Again the procession advanced. The road descends a slight declivity, and the glimpse of the city is again withdrawn behind the intervening ridge of Olivet. A few moments, and the path mounts again; it climbs a rugged ascent, it reaches a ledge of smooth rock, and in an instant the whole city bursts into view. As now the dome of the Mosk el Aksa rises like a ghost from the earth before the traveller stands on the ledge, so then must have risen the Temple-tower; as now the vast enclosure of the Mussulman sanctuary, so then must have spread the Temple-courts; as now the gray town on its broken hills, so then the magnificent city, with its background-long since vanished away—of gardens and suburbs on the western plateau behind. Immediately below was the valley of the Kidron, here seen in its greatest depth as it joins the valley of Hinnom, and thus giving full effect to the great peculiarity of Jerusalem, seen only on its eastern side-its situation as of a city rising out of a deep abyss. It is hardly possible to doubt that this rise and turn of the road-this rocky ledge-was the exact point where the multitude paused again, and 'He, when He beheld the city, wept over it.'

[ocr errors]

We have gladly followed thus far the triumphal procession from Bethany, with Dean Stanley for our guide. The picture he so graphically outlines, even though imaginary, is substantially true— the legitimate expansion of the gospel narrative-and the topo1 Stanley, Sinai and Palestine, p. 189–191.

graphical details are vividly accurate; nor can you do better than to fix them at once and forever upon the indelible tablet of your

memory.

Let us pause on this smooth ledge of rock, and survey this most impressive panorama.

There is no other in the world of equal interest; and as first impressions are often the most permanent, I am thankful that mine are just such as I wish ever to retain after this my first view of the Holy City.

The evening wanes, and we must seek our tent, pitched under a spreading fig-tree in the open court of a cottage farther up, on the north-west side of the Mount of Olives.

The Mount of Olives, April 26th. Evening.

Our present position commands a comprehensive view of the city, the suburbs, and the scenery round about in all its extent. Most devoutly thankful am I to have reached in health and safety this true capital of the Christian world; and I anticipate many days of profitable activity in walking through the streets of Jerusalem, "the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King." I shall need no prompting from prophet or poet to "walk about Zion, and about her: tell the towers thereof. Mark well her bulwarks, consider her palaces.'

[ocr errors]

go round

By the arrangement we have made, we shall be able to prolong our walks and rides as best suits our convenience. Before I forget it, however, and ere we retire for the night, I must give you a preliminary warning for your guidance in the study of the many sites and scenes in and around Jerusalem. It is a very discouraging reflection, yet a true one, that on approaching the Holy City you enter upon an arena of great uncertainty and endless controversy. Nearly every author who has written about Jerusalem has some special theory in regard to questions Biblical, theological, topographical, or legendary, which he seeks to explain and defend. With the exception of the general outlines of the city, there is scarcely an

[blocks in formation]
[graphic][merged small]
« PreviousContinue »