ON

NEGLECTED TEXTS

BY

CHAS. S. ROBINSON, D.D.,

Pastor of the Memorial Church, New York City.

Author of "Studies on the New Testament," 'Bethel and Penuel," &c.

LONDON:

R. D. DICKINSON, 89, FARRINGDON STREET, E.C.

This volume of sermons, selected from those delivered in the course of ordinary pastoral work, is peculiar in that the discourses are founded upon passages of Scripture seldom chosen for the pulpit. It is hoped that some freshness may be secured, and a wider study of God's Word may be encouraged by this suggestion of neglected texts.

CHAS. S. ROBINSON.

MEMORIAL CHURCH, New York, 1884.

STUDIES OF

NEGLECTED TEXTS.

I.

THE VALE OF TEARS.

"BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE STRENGTH IS IN THEE; IN WHOSE HEART ARE THE WAYS OF THEM: WHO, PASSING THROUGH THE VALLEY OF BACA MAKE IT A WELL; THE RAIN ALSO FILLETH THE POOLS."-Psalm lxxxiv. 5, 6.

To most Scripture readers this seems a confused passage. In our English version the sentences come to us clogged with italics, thus showing that even the venerable translators found it obscure, and did their best to give it clearness. Many interpretations have been offered, the best of which are these:

1. Some have said that Baca is a real place-bearing, down even to modern times, a somewhat similiar designation-a plain now called Wady Bakaa, lying in Northern Palestine, on the direct route of the pilgrims who came up to the Passover Feasts. In explanation of the name, which certainly means weeping, they tell the interesting story of a Bedouin, who, fleeing before his enemy, lost here his favourite dromedary, and fell into tears, not only because of his broken attachment, but because of his inevitable capture in the deprivation of his means of escape.

B