From Dan to Beersheba / A Description of the Wonderful Land, with Maps and Engravings and a Prologue by the Author Containing the Latest Explorations and Discoveries - John Philip Newman

[CHAPTER XIII.]

Jerusalem and Capernaum the great Centres of our Lord’s Ministry.—Christ a limited Traveler.—Judea and Galilee contrasted.—Provinces of Galilee.—The Herods.—Meaning of Galilee.—Sea of Galilee.—Its Characteristics.—Hallowed Associations.—Imperial City of Tiberias.—Founded by Herod Antipas.—His Crimes.—John the Baptist.—It became a Jewish City and the Metropolis of the Race.—Home of eminent Scholars.—Now an Arab Town.—Citizens.—Miraculous Draught of Fishes.—Jesus never visited it.—Warm Baths of Tiberias.—Site of Tarichea.—Naval Engagement.—Bridge of Semakh.—River Jarmuk.—City of Gadara.—Ruins.—Tombs.—Not the Scene of the Destruction of the Swine.—Argument.—Ruins of Gamala.—Near here was the Scene of the Miracle.—Mouth of the Jordan.—Bethsaida Julias.—Feeding of the Five Thousand.—Our Lord Walking on the Sea.—Home of Mary Magdalene.—Rich Plain of Gennesaret.—Parables.—Site of Capernaum.—Fountain of the Fig.—Thrilling History of the City as connected with Christ.—The Woe.—Desolation.—Bethsaida.—Birthplace of Peter, James, and John.—Not Bethsaida Julias.—Influence of natural Scenery upon the Formation of Character.—Chorazin.—Sudden Gale upon the Sea.—Extensive Remains of the City.—Without an Inhabitant.—Upper Jordan.—Waters of Merom.—Tell el-Kâdy.—City of Dan.—Its Fountain.—Cæsarea Philippi.—Town of Hasbeiya.—Fountain.—Highest perennial Source of the Jordan.—Mount Hermon.—Vast and grand Prospect from its lofty Summit.—Scriptural Allusions.—“Valley of the Pigeons.”—Sublime Ravine.—Mount of Beatitudes.—Battle of Hattin.—Defeat of the Crusaders.—Triumph of Saladin.—Route to Nazareth.—Its authentic History is not older than the Christian Era.—Its Valley and Mountains.—Population.—Schools.—Legendary Sites.—Scene of the Annunciation.—House and Shop of Joseph.—Pictures.—Fountain.—Beautiful Girls of Nazareth.—Mount of Precipitation.—True Mount.—View.—Scene of our Lord’s Childhood and Manhood.

[CHAPTER XIV.]

Phœnicia.—Its Extent and Fertility.—Origin of the Phœnicians.—Their Commerce.—Their Learning.—Departure from Nazareth.—Cana of Galilee.—First Christian Wedding.—Beautiful Vale of Abilin.—Plain of Accho.—City of ’Akka.—Names.—Metropolis of the Crusaders.—Their Destruction.—Gibbon.—The Moslem Nero.—Napoleon’s Defeat.—Road to Tyre.—Summer Palace.—Excavations.—Wild and dangerous Pass.—Antiquity of Tyre.—Three Tyres.—Stupendous Water-works.—Continental Tyre.—Sins and Judgments.—Glory departed.—How Prophecy was fulfilled.—Insular Tyre.—Tyre of the Crusaders.—Cathedral.—Tomb of Hiram.—Wonderful Temple.—Sarepta.—Zidon.—Gardens.—Ancient Glory.—Wars.—Harbor.—Citadel.—Tombs.—Interesting Discoveries.—Ornaments.

[CHAPTER XV.]

Mountains of Lebanon.—Grand Scenery.—Sublime View.—Mountain Traveling.—Scriptural Allusions.—Cedars of Lebanon.—Their Number, Appearance,and symbolic Character.—Population of the Mountains.—Districts and Peculiarities of the Druzes and Maronites.—New Road.—Crossing the Mountains.—Plain of the Bukâ’a.—Leontes.—A swollen River.—Ancient Cities.—Imposing Cavalcade.—Wives of the Pasha of Damascus.—First View of Damascus.—Splendor and Enjoyments of the Interior of the City.—Great Plain of Damascus.—Abana and Pharpar.—Scene of St. Paul’s Conversion.—City without Ruins.—Antiquity and thrilling History of Damascus.—House of Judas.—Home of Ananias.—“Street called Straight.”—Naaman’s Palace.—Tombs of the Great.—Location of Damascus.—Walls and Gates.—Old Castle.—Great Mosque.—Gardens of Damascus.—Commerce of the City.—Curiosities in the Bazars.—Population.—Christian Citizens.—Origin of the Massacre of 1860.—Its Progress.—Terrible Scenes.—American Vice-Consul.—Ruins.—Sad Results.—Defense of the Christians by Abd-el-Kader.—Visit to the Chieftain of Algiers.—Our Reception.—Testimonials.—His Appearance.—Conclusion.—Political History of Palestine.—Its Condition under the Turks.—It is now in a Transition State.—Possessions of European Nations.—Future of the Holy Land.—Christian Missions.—Decline of Mohammedanism.—Religious Liberty.—Future Glory.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

[ 1]Jerusalem.
[ 2]Maps of Southern and Northern Palestine.
[ 3]Immense Stones of Solomon’s Age.
[ 4]Golden Gate—Interior View.
[ 5]Mount Zion and Tower of Hippicus.
[ 6]Jews’ Place of Wailing.
[ 7]Solomon’s Bridge.
[ 8]Mount Moriah, with a View of the Mosque of Omar.
[ 9]Solomon’s subterranean Passage-way.
[10]Tombs of the Judges.
[11]Tombs of the Kings.
[12]Absalom’s Pillar restored.
[13]Tombs in the Valley of Jehoshaphat.
[14]Fountain of the Virgin.
[15]Pool of Siloam.
[16]Lower Pool of Gihon.
[17]Pool of Hezekiah.
[18]Bethany.
[19]Gethsemane and the Mount of Olives.
[20]Via Dolorosa and the Arch of the Ecce Homo.
[21]Church of the Holy Sepulchre—Front View.
[22]View of the Holy Sepulchre.
[23]Ground Plan of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
[24]View of Modern Jerusalem, from the Mount of Olives.
[25]Raven.
[26]Plain of Jericho and View of the Dead Sea, from the North.
[27]Shooting the Rapids.
[28]Dead Sea.
[29]Masada.
[30]Convent of Mâr Sâba.
[31]View of Bethlehem.
[32]Cave of the Nativity.
[33]Interior of the Church of the Nativity.
[34]Tomb of Herod the Great—Herodium.
[35]Hebron.
[36]Urtâs.
[37]Solomon’s Pools.
[38]Gaza.
[39]Ruins of Askelon.
[40]Ashdod.
[41]Joppa from the North.
[42]Ramleh, or the “Look-out”.
[43]Church of St. George.
[44]Gibeon.
[45]Nablous.
[46]Jacob’s Well.
[47]Samǎria.
[48]Ancient Cæsarea.
[49]Women grinding at a Mill.
[50]Arab Encampment.
[51]Jezreel.
[52]Nain.
[53]Mount Tabor.
[54]Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee.
[55]Ruins and Tombs of Gadara.
[56]Plain of Gennesaret and Home of Mary Magdalene.
[57]Upper Jordan.
[58]“Valley of the Pigeons.”
[59]Nazareth
[60]Acre from the East.
[61]Ladder of Tyre.
[62]Tyre.
[63]Has el-’Aĭn.
[64]Tomb of Hiram.
[65]Sidon.
[66]Cedars of Lebanon.