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spring, the house of Rahab used to be shown to travellers, and some Roman pavement is still to be seen hard by.

If the traveller ascends the mound above the spring, he will be well repaid, as he will take in at a glance all the principal features of the surrounding country. He will see, too, what a splendid scope there would be here for a few energetic English farmers. It is estimated that there are about 40,000 acres of land which, if irrigated from the Jordan, would yield the finest of grain. From here the mountains of Gilead and Moab are in full view, as well as the Dead Sea and the whole stretch of the Jordan valley.

Among the minor reminiscences of Jericho may be mentioned that it was here that Hanun, the son of Nahash, took David's servants, and shaved them. "Then there went certain, and told David how the men were served. . . And the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return" (1 Chron. xix. 5). It will be remembered that this incident has given rise to a well-known English vulgarism. In Jericho Herod died, and was buried at Herodium (p. 200).

Not the least imposing feature in the landscape is the high, precipitous mountain called Quarantania (Forty Days), the traditional scene of our Lord's temptation. “And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time." The side facing the plain is perpendicular, white, and naked, and mid-way is burrowed by holes and caverns, where hermits used to retire for fasting and prayer, in imitation of the example of our Lord. It is possible to reach the summit, where there are ruins of an ancient convent, and also to climb to the hermits' caves; but neither excursion should be attempted by any except practised climbers, and then only with a qualified guide. The tradition as to

this being the scene of our Lord's temptation only dates from the time of the Crusaders, by whom it was named Quarantania; in Arabic, Jebel Karantel.

There is another fountain in the plain, called 'Ain Duk, near which was the Castle of Docus, the scene of the assassination of Simon Maccabæus.

Close by are remains of buildings and mills, known as Tawâhîn-es-Sukkar (or Sugar Mills). The ruins are extensive, and the cultivation of the sugar-cane is mentioned as being in a flourishing state by William of Tyre in 1174, and Jacob de Vitry, Bishop of Akka, in 1220. It has been said that the hermits who dwelt in Quarantania accounted the sugar-cane to be the honey of John the Baptist.

FROM JERICHO TO JERUSALEM

used to be an exceedingly difficult and dangerous route. Within the past few years, however, it has been greatly improved.

"Speaking of roads that lead to the capital of this ancient land of promise, those who, a couple of years ago, 'went down from Jerusalem to Jericho' will be astonished and gratified to hear that a road has been constructed over which a carriage might be driven, except in the more precipitous parts, which are terraced by wide steps, the natural pavement of limestone, and jagged rocks, having been quarried or blasted. so that horses may now tread in safety, and pilgrims can make their way to the Jordan with less than half the former toil. The great improvement is said to have resulted from an accident that befell a Wallachian princess, who, to save her poorer pilgrims from falling, has given a thousand pounds for the making of the new road. Princes and princesses are sometimes sadly in the way of tourists, when they monopolize and enhance the cost of

travelling and hotel accommodation; but on Saturday last the blessings of two-score ladies and gentlemen, to say nothing of as many saddle-horses, three-score mules, and onescore donkeys, with nearly three-score muleteers, dragomans, and camp-servants, were cheerfully awarded to the lady who honoured her title by this useful outlay of money. Who can tell that this improvement may not lead to the cultivation of those once fertile plains which lie between the fountain of Elisha and the Jordan? What the Nile does for Egypt, the Jordan on one side, and copious fountains on the other, might do for the plains of Jericho and the Jordan, if practicable, and every means of irrigation were adopted."Cook.

Looking back, several very interesting views; a few ruins are passed on the road, and several interesting valleys are crossed.

After riding about three hours from 'Ain-es-Sultan, we come to an old ruined khân; no accommodation can be obtained here, the few buildings are uninhabited, and the water is unfit to drink. This is the traditional scene of the parable of the Good Samaritan, who rescued the certain man going "down from Jerusalem to Jericho."

In two hours from the khân, the traveller reaches another khân, where the water is excellent, and where travellers usually halt for their mid-day meal. There are now but few traces of the old khân, which once stood here, or of the arch covering the cistern, into which the water flows from the spring. It has been called the Apostles' Spring, from the legend that here the Apostles tarried on their journeyings; there is little doubt that this fountain of 'Ain-el-Haud, or 'Ain-Chot, is identical with En-Shemesh (Spring of the Sun), a fountain on the boundary between Judah and Benjamin (Joshua xv. 7, xviii. 17).

When the traveller, proceeding on his journery, ascends to the top of the hill and turns to the right, Bethany is before him (p. 176).

From Bethany to Jerusalem (see p. 171).

FROM JERUSALEM TO BETHEL, BY
ANATHOTH, MICHMASH, AND AI.

Leave Jerusalem by the Damascus Gate, turn to the north-east, cross the valley, and ascend to the Hill Scopus (p. 175). Then down into the bed of another valley, and on the ridge of the opposite hill will be seen the little village of 'Anata, corresponding with the Anathoth of Scripture. It was a town of the Levites in the territory of Benjamin (Joshua xxi. 18), to which Abiathar was banished by Solomon. "So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the Lord; that he might fulfil the word of the Lord, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh (1 Kings ii. 26, 27). Here Jeremiah the prophet was born; he was "the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were of Anathoth in the land of Benjamin " (Jer. i. 1). Here the word of the Lord came unto him, and he received commandment to prophecy against the men of Anathoth, who sought his life. "Behold, I will punish them . . by famine: and there shall be no remnant of them: for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation (xi. 21-23). Isaiah prophesying of the destruction coming upon it, as it stood in the direct line of the march of the Assyrians as they advanced to Jerusalem-cried, “O poor Anathoth!" (Isa. x. 30). There are still some ruins here dating from a very early period, amongst them traces of a ancient wall and rock-hewn cisterns. The View from here is very extensive.

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A sharp descent towards the north into the valley, and then

up to the opposite ridge, and the modern village of El Hizmeh will be seen. A green and pleasant valley stretching at our feet is crossed, and then, ascending another hill, we reach Jeb'a, the ancient Geba of Benjamin, which, like Anathoth, was a priestly city (Joshua xviii. 24). It was for some time in the possession of the Philistines, but Jonathan took it from them. Notwithstanding this, the Philistines soon gathered together again at Michmash (p. 240) (1 Sam. xiii.), and the Israelites, under Saul, took up their position at Geba, the deep ravine called the Passage of Michmash separating the two armies. The traveller should read the whole story in 1 Sam. xiii. and xiv. ; how Jonathan started out with his armour-bearer, and the people knew not that he was gone. "And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines' garrison, there was a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Geba." To the garrison Jonathan went, "and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they have hid themselves." Jonathan, undaunted, "climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armour-bearer after him, and ”—even as Horatius kept the bridge—“ they fell before Jonathan, and his armour-bearer slew after him. And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armour-bearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land. . . And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people." The noise that was in the host of the Philistines reached the ears of Saul while he was consulting with the high-priest. All Israel went forward to the battle, and the Philistines were driven before the Israelites, and did not attack them again until in that battle

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