abounding in agricultural wealth." It is surrounded by beautiful gardens, and groves of fruit and shade trees.

15. It has a population of from eight to ten thousand. About one hundred and fifty Samaritans, the last remnant of this singular people, are still clinging here to their customs, worshiping four times a year at their great festivals upon Gerizim, and waiting for the coming of Christ.

16. Clarke, the traveler, makes the following interesting observations upon this place: "While Capernaum, the capital of Galilee, which was exalted unto heaven, or to the highest prosperity, when Jesus and his apostles preached there in vain, is brought down to hell or entire destruction, being nothing now but shapeless ruins; and while Samaria, the capital of the country which bore its name, is cast down into the valley-Sychar, then one of its inferior cities, from which the inhabitants came forth to meet Jesus, and in which many believed in him as the Saviour, when they heard his word, is ranked by every traveler who describes it among the most striking exceptions to the general desolation which has otherwise eft but a remembrance of the cities of Judah, Samaria, and Galilee.”

CHAPTER VII.

JUDEA.

1. THE third division of Palestine is Judea This embraces the remainder of the Holy Land lying between Samaria on the north, and the desert upon the south, the Mediterranean upon the west, and the Jordan and Dead Sea upon the east. This is by far the most celebrated of all the divisions.

2. It comprises the territory formerly belonging to the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, Simeon, and a part of Dan. In general fertility it was surpassed by the other provinces; still it affords the most interesting field of observation to the Bible student and the traveler, on account of the numerous and important events that have transpired within its limits. Its capital, and the metropolis of the whole country, is Jerusalem, a description of which has already been given.

3. The other cities and towns rendered interesting from their connection with Scripture history are-Bethlehem, Hebron, Jericho, Joppa, Lydda, Rama, Bethany, Bethphage, and Arimathea.

4. Next to Jerusalem in interest is the small town of Bethlehem, from being the birthplace of the Saviour of the world. Its name signifies a house of bread, expressive of its former fruitfulness, and extremely significant, when we

recollect the character of the wonderful person age born within its walls. It was called Beth lehem of Judea, to distinguish it from another town of the same name in the tribe of Zebulon.

5. It was first called Ephrath or Ephrata, and is also sometimes styled the city of David, because that illustrious king was born and educated there. Near this place the patriarch Jacob was bereaved of his favorite wife Rachel, as she was giving birth to Benjamin, and here he buried her, placing a pillar over her grave: this site has been preserved through all ages and the vicissitudes of the Holy Land, and is now marked by a Turkish monument.

6. In this city the wealthy Boaz resided, and in his extensive fields the modest Ruth gleaned provisions for herself and mother-in-law, Naomi, and by her attractions, winning the affections of the master, became his wife, the mother of Obed, who was the father of Jesse, the father of David. When a boy, upon the adjoining hills, David, that "ruddy stripling," led his father's flocks, and passed his leisure hours in the study of God's works, and the sweet music of his harp. Here Samuel the prophet found him, and anointed him to be king of Israel. And here, at the appointed time, in a stable of the caravansary, Jesus Christ our Saviour was born into this world.

7. The Arabs now call this place Beit Lahm, or house of flesh. It is about six miles south of Jerusalem, conspicuously situated upon an eminence, and appearing to good advantage,

from is buildings being painted white. It contains about three thousand inhabitants. Around the town are a number of olive and fig orchards and vineyards, while the adjacent fields pro. duce crops of grain.

8. The most important edifice in the town is a large convent, built over the reputed place of Christ's nativity: little reliance however can be placed upon this tradition. Instead of being shown an humble manger, as the place of Christ's birth, the traveler is conducted first into a vast church, and then down into a cave under ground, having a marble floor; its walls are covered with tapestry, and lighted with splendid lamps, continually burning. Even below this he must descend two feet into another chamber, also paved, and lined with marble, illuminated with ever-burning lamps, and adorned with rich paintings, and this is shown as the place where our Redeemer was born.

9. How sadly does all this magnificence and idle parade compare with our Saviour's character, and the circumstances of his birth, as described by the evangelist: "And she brought forth her first-born son, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."

10. Hebron. This is one of the most an cient still-existing cities in the world. It is situated about twenty-seven miles south of Jerusalem, upon the east side of a chain of hills that intersect the country from north to south, in what was called the "hill country of Judea.'

This was, and is still, to a great degree, a fertile and highly cultivated region. Its ancient name was Kirjath-arba.

11 Near the site of this town is a broad plain called Mamre, where Abraham pitched his tent after he separated from Lot: here was the oak, or terebinth, under which he received the visit from the angels. Gen. xviii, 1. Here, at the advanced age of one hundred and twentyseven, he buried Sarah his wife in the cave of Machpelah, and mourned her death, Gen. ii, 3; and in succeeding years he was laid himself by her side, together with Isaac and Rebecca, and Jacob and Leah. Gen. xlix, 29-31.

12. Hither the spies from all the tribes came, while the children of Israel were in the Arabian desert, and from the neighboring valley of Eshcol cut down from the rich vines one cluster of grapes so large that it was necessary that two men should bear it upon a staff between them. Num. xiii, 21, &c. For his bravery, Caleb, who along with Joshua brought a good report of the land, received Hebron as an inheritance

13. It was afterward appointed as one of the cities of refuge and residence of the priests. David reigned here over the tribe of Judah, until he was anointed by the elders king of all Israel. 2 Sam. v, 3: Here his wicked son Absalom raised the standard of rebellion, and met with a merited death for his unnatural crime It is supposed that Zacharias and Elizabeth had their residence here, and that it was the birth place of their son, John the Baptist.