Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1848-11-09
HOLY LAMP.
Jacobs Well and the sa,narita rs.
sy HARnrEr MAarrsgAu.

By HARRIEE MARrrsgAu
Our last view Of Jerusalem was very fine. We
looked back upon ridge on The northern road, aud
saw lying, bright and stately on its everlasting hills
bat II looked lower than from most other points OF
view, from Moab mountains forming its lofty back
ground. we descended the slope before US, and los,
sight Of the Holy City forever
Again We were struck with the vivid coIoring OF the
scenery. All this day the hills were dressed in bril-
liant hues--ihe soil red, grey and brown the titled
portions OF the brightest green. and the shadows p,r-
pie or lilac. All the hills show races or having beeo
once trrraced; and they were still completely so ia
the neghoorhood of our encampment, this evening
the terraces follow the strata OF the sons which all
lay sanliny This gives singular air Of wildness 10
The most cultivated spots. Here and there were ba
SINS among The hills the red soil dropped all over with
fig and olive trees, or full Of corn aud the upland
tracks winding among slopes all strewn with csius,
IRIS, cvclamen. and anemones and brisug with tall
Towering holly hooks. On we went past deep old
wells yawnng in the holows, stone cs,erns where
the cattle were crowding TO drink; pas, few camels
here and there, browsing in the dells past groups Of
Arabs with their asses, carrying the city past
stone villages crownng the sleeps, ill, al p Nj we
encamped beside beautiful old pool. We were I'M
der the shelter of rock whose moist creyices were
frnged with delicate ferns While dinner was pre-
pairing, went back our road--,he narrow stony
road which wound round the verdant promonotory
opposite or rock-io find honeysucke which |
had seen climbing and poisoning 10 a great height,
abu 4 btObSHt udSk CudIuug nanQIuI oil Mowers.
| While we were at dinner in the tent, sound OF
scufiilng was heard outside; and when our drsgoman
next entered, he was out of BREATH We afterward,
heard the whole story. and were amused 10 hear how
zealons our Mahommedan servants could be in the
cause OF Christians. Some Arabs with their loaded
mules, had come with the intention of eucamping be-
side the pool and on finding the ground partly sccn-
pied, though there was plenty OF room lafihe be-
came abusive, aad wondered aloud what business
these cursed Christians had in their country. Orr
1y1n tni I'll. ~.
the tent ropes. There then a stout sculTlle and
our cook coming 10 help, and the Arabs falling one
upon anoiher over the tent pegs IN the dark they had
the worst of il, and went OIL vowiag vengeance. We
heard no more Of them, however.
The next morning we saw the Mediterranean ike
a basin oil deep blue water between two hills. We
were not going toward it, however but TO Nablous the
ancient Sycliar; where lies the jacobs Well al which
the woman Of Samara wont to draw water
Our road lay through most fertile valley, now cal
led Hawaiah, where the crops splendid for miles
and the villages were thlcAly planted on the hills
The ground rose in series o. table lands of which
there was succession Of three when we We're leay
ing the rich Hawarrah valley. The roads in this part
oil the Hoy Land were mere lanes, between walls or
tracks through olive grounds and meadows or paths
running along shelves OF the rocks with b, OF rocky
staircase al each end, about ascending or descending
which our good horses made no d ffculty.
Before entering the valley where old Sychar lay.
between the mountains Eha and Gerizim, we came
10 the fine fertile parce OF ground which Jacob bought
The valley opens into this wide basin and near The
junction OF the valley and the basin is the old well
which IS the supposed acene of The conversation oil
Jesus with the Samaritan woman. Some OF our par
y wound round the base Of the hill 10 the WELL and
some (and for one) rode by The Upper PATH over the
shoulder Of the hill, and down on the other side
had thus 6ne view OF the whole locality Of the val
ley where the city lies, valley, rich with fig
and olive groves, and overhung BY the rocky basis o
Eba and Gerizim. where the square block entrance,
of tombs dotted the strata Of the rocks. From this
height Jacobs land looked beautiful expanse. The
well is mere rough heap Of stones, with hole in the
middle, nearly closed up. What there is below ground
cannot say but this is all that is to be seen on the
surface. Ii is not well likely be in use now loi
there are many springs and hollow cisterns (ihough
no weld between this and the town. which lies ab3u
a mile and half off
Every body knows that the Jews had no friendly
dealings with the Samar;tans in the time Of Jesus
The quarrel had then lasted abou, FIVE bundled years
i How many suns had gone down upon their wrath
The Samariians had wished to assist the Jews in re
building the temple al Jerusalem but the Jews haec
them mixed race, and would not admit that they
had any right 10 share in temple worship or any 9th
er Jewish privileges. II really most serious OBJ
lection 10 The Samaritans, that they mixed
because the inter marriages Of the former Samaritan
lsaeles with Assyrlans and others disposed them tc
idolatry, or at least 10 worship mixed ibe
race. So the Samartans were excluded from the re
building Of the temple, about five hundred years B
C. And not being permitted TO help, they did all they
could 10 hinder. About one hundred years AFTER they
Obtained leave Of the Persian court. 10 which both
the Jews and they were subect,) TO build second
temple 10 Jehovah; and they built il On Mount Ger
zm. This was shocking impieiy in the sight OF The
Jews; and II was the occasion of number of lax
minded Jews, who had broken the law by marry ins
heathern wives. otherwise, and who yet wished to
worship Jehovah IN his temple resorng 10 Schayr, 10
join the Samaritans and render their yet more
mixed. This was the quarrel which The woman of Sa
maria referred 10 when she spoke o. the question
whether linen ought 10 worship in the mountains OF
in Jerusaem" and thus is explained her wonder
thai Jesus being Jew. should ask water OF her. who
was Samaritan. There quarrel about their
Scriptures; the Jews insisting this day that the
Samarians had altered two three texts, relating 10
these two mountains. Ebal and Gerz i'm, in their own
sacred copy Of the books Of Moses; the Saaariians
insisting, of course, that theirs the true copy
From my earl, youth. ! had always taken strong
interest in this old quarrel. feeling sympathy with
both parties. and keen delight in the soothing words
Of Jesus concerning il. What truth il was for both
parties 10 hear, that God was now TO be worshipped
every where and that all places were henceiorlh Il
be as sacred as the jerusalem temple, or the noun
tain al Sychar! And what lesson ia iberality i
was to the Jews, when he gave honor 10 the Sainar
tan parable account OF good works, above the
sacred priest and the servant OF the temple at Jerusa
lem. Both parties were, of course, wrong IA iheil
fierce anger bui each had much 90 plead on his own
side. The Jews were bound 10 keep their race and
worship pure /; and held, as ap essential matter 81
faith, that Jehovah would hare but enc dwelling
place; which was their view Of Their temple. Az,
The Samarans were surely right in persising 10 lhe
endeavor 10 worship Jehovah. 10 accordance with thu
law Of Moses as they did not beleys IN strange gods
il the jews could moi admit them 70 worship 10 the
temple VI Jerusalem, they could not BE- blamed iol
building one for themselves.
i Such was always my view Of The matter; and
therefore il was with indescribable interest that look
ed this day upon Mount Gerizim, and remembers.
that somewhere in the city we were approaching