Lesson 10
“The Jordan’s Main Source, at Dan”
This is up among the hills in the northern part of Palestine. A high and beautiful mountain stands close by, though we cannot see it in the picture; those trees are in the way. Over beyond the trees there is a great spring, where clear, cold water comes pouring out of an opening in the earth at the foot of the mountain. These bubbling, splashing waters are hurrying away from the spring to make room for more that rush out to take their place. When Abraham and his men chased the robber chiefs to rescue Lot and save Lot’s property, they came away up here. They found the camp of the robbers on a hill beside this stream, and attacked the enemies in the night. Here they set Lot free, and here they recovered the stolen goods—probably things like silver and jewels, woven cloth and leather bags full of olive oil. All such things were very valuable. Here they packed the property in bundles, ready to be carried home again on the backs of camels and donkeys.
Lesson 11
“Ancient Tree, Traditionally Known as Abraham’s Oak, Near Hebron”
This is a very old tree. It is a kind of oak different from those that grow in America. There used to be groves of such trees in Palestine long ago, but now they are very rare. It was near a big tree of this sort that Abraham pitched his tent when he first settled down to live near Hebron. The Bible story (Genesis 18:1-8) tells how three visitors once came to see him, and how he asked them to rest “under the tree” while Sarah got dinner ready. And the Bible tells also (Genesis 15:5) how God one night called Abraham to look up into the sky and see the countless stars sparkling and twinkling there. It may have been near this very tree that Abraham looked up that night.
Lesson 12
“Church of the Nativity at Bethlehem, Built Where Jesus was Born”
This open space where the men are standing and talking is Bethlehem’s market square. For hundreds and hundreds of years men who have had barley or wheat, sheep or donkeys or cloth or firewood to sell have brought them here to find customers. It was so at the time when Joseph and Mary came to Bethlehem on Christmas Eve. That big stone building at the farther end of the square (it is really a church, though it does not look much like our churches) had not then been built. The ground where it stands was then a “khan” or camping-place, with a wall around it, where strangers could rest over night and feed their tired camels. When Joseph and Mary reached this khan (which our Bibles call an “inn”) it was so full of travelers that they could not find a good, comfortable place, but had to stay in a part of it which was meant only for animals. The place where the Child Jesus was first laid to sleep is now under that stone church. People from all parts of the world make journeys to Bethlehem, on purpose to pray here where our Lord was born.