The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-08-10
MISCELLANEOUS.
LETTERS FROM THE OLD WORLD.
By Lady Of Nsw York.
Mourn IIERMoN,

We are now encamped beside rapid
stream issuing from the east side OF Mount
Hermon, in that district Of country anciently
called Trachonitis, beyond the Jordan, and on
the borders of Bashan. As there is neither
village nor ruin within some distance OF us,
have dated this letter from the most remark
able place in our vicinity. The mountain
called Hermon is the most southern peak OF
the range of Anti-Lebanon, from which point
two spurs branch off; one running west into
Upper Gallilee, the other southeast toward
Mount Gilead The latter is but continue
ton or resumption Of the Lebanon chain,
stretching away TO the Red Sea. and ending
with Mount Sinai
will now return to where | last left you,
under our tent at Jericho.
The " City Of Palm-trees" is no more to
be found: few trees are clustered around
an ancient tower "heaps" Of earth and rub
bsh mark the site Of It's former palaces, and
long mounds indicate the lines of its walls !;
not those which fell down at the sound of the
trumpet Of Joshua and the voices of his hosts.
nor those built by Hiei the BetheHte," who
laid the foundations thereof in Adrian, his
first born, and set up the gates thereof in his
youngest son Legub according to the words
Of the Lord, which he spoke by Joshua, the
son Of Nun, Ii Kings, xvi. 34) Thus lite
rally accomplishing the remarkable prophetic
denunciation Of Joshua wi. 26) against whom
soever should rebuild the city of Jericho.
" He shall lay the foundation thereof in his
first-borc, and in his youngest son shall he
set up the. gates Of it,"
The walls were, no doubt, repeatedly re-
built on the site Of those previously DESTROY
ed, for this city fourished under the reign
Of every conquering nation, from that Of the
Jews down to the brief rule of the Crusaders,
who were its last destroyers, since which
time it has gradually become like many other
I" fenced cities into ruinous heaps"
Jericho is situated in the midst of the plain
on the west side Of the Jordan, at some dis.
lance from the "hill country of Judea-
There is fine stream of water running past
it, which issues from the hills and falls into
the Jordan. ~..,..
While at Jericho we were prevented by
circumstances from visiting tina, part of the
Jordan where the miraculous interposition of
Divine power was manifested, by cutting off
the waters so that The priests who bare the
Ark Of The Couenant Of the Lord stood firm
on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all
The Israelites passed oper on dry ground, and
all The people rere passed clean ouer Jordan"
The sacred historian describes the place to
be situated "right against Jericho" You are
aware how much pains infdel writer's take to
do away the idea Of Divine interposition in
the case Of the separation of the waters Of
the Red Sea, by accounting for that phenome-
| a. Ill Il Ar,.
ing Of the tides, or the prevalence Of strong
north winds.
Now, if even the context of that very &C
count does not contain sufficient re!utation Of
any such theory, (which think it does most
amply,) surely the instance now alluded to-,
in the case Of the passage of the Jordan,
abundan'ly confirms the probability of the
former miracle. The country in the vicinity
of Jericho possesses peculiar interest, from
the fact that it was the place by which the
Children of Israel first entered the promised
land and while gazing on the mountains Of
Moab, which bounded the lower Jordan and
the Dead Sea on the side of the wilderness,
| could almost fancy saw the hosts of the
Israelites encamped upon their sides, prepar-
ing 10 obey the commands Of their leader
Now, therefore, arise and go over this Jor-
dan, thou and all this people, into the land
which do give TO them, even to the Children
Of Israel" The borders were to extend
westward j." unto the Great Sea-" (the Medl-
rerranean.) have traversed the extent OF
the promised land, in all its breadth from west
to east, and it is melancholy to reflect on the
fate of that once highly favored people who
once inhabited it, and on the direful changes
which the country itself has undergone, as
the fruits of their disobedience
l, is impossible to observe the one, and re-
fleet upon the other, without having brought
forcibly to ones mind the exact fulflment OF
the denuncialions pronounced by the Almighty
as punishment for their backslidings.
but if thine heart turn away, so that thou
wilt not hear, but shall be drawn away and
worship other Gods, and serve them; ! de-
nounce unto you this day. that we shall surely
perish, and that We shall not prolong your
DAYS upon the land whittier thou passest over
Jordan to go to possess it." (Deut xxx. II,
ls--see also verses Is and 20.)
| And yet this is the land so often described
as flowing with milk and honey, and abound
ing in all the good things of the earth; the
perpetual inheritance Of which was promised
to Gods chosen people, :" if they would love
the Lord their God, to walk in his ways and
keep his commandments, and his statutes ant
his ludgmen,s-And the Lord thy God shall
bless the in thee land whittier thou goest To
possess it,"
How deplorable is its condition now! The
very face Of the earth is reduced, in many
places to a waste-howling wilderness, with
wre,ched population ,hinly scattered over 1t
with scarcely the means to live, and without
any inducements to labor. Nor do the Juds
ments Of an offended God seem yet to have
ceased storms and earthquakes are ever
now at work, as if to complete the utter desc
lation Of the country
Even this valley of the Jordan whose Ter
tile soil lin many places where streams cross