Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1858-09-07
o, poor Anathoth
o, poor Anathoth
MadnIenah Is removed.
The inhabitants Of Gebim gather thernselves 10 Zee
As yet shall lie remain Al Sob that day
He shall shake lis hand against the mount o. the aau
O Zion

. =
He shall shake lis hand against the mount OF the dau
Of Zion
The Aiil Of Jerusaler-.'
Higher up, the valley becomes very
narrow, and the rocky precipices tower to
q sublime height, and at one point seem
to have been connected by an airy bridge.
In the perpendicular faces Of the lowering
walls are found many caves of great ex-
tent, and what might be taken for sepul-
chral excavations, but which we're found.
on further examination, 10 have served
for l.abitations for the living, furnished
with receptacIeS for water, and other con-
venlences; bat especially we'll devised for
defence. But though the eremite tenants
of these rock tenements have long since
been swept of by the blood -thrstv sons
OF Ishmal, whose hands are agai ST every
man, and every mans hand against them.
yet some kind of folks stiff dwell high
up IN the rocky cliffs. Now 'the comes
are bat feeble folk, yet make they their
houses In the rocks" and maintain pos
session their IN great force. \ short dis
tance below the upper fountain are the
remains of sugar or oil mill and scat
tered about are also tessara, fragments of
pillars, and other indications Of ancient
buildings. Here IS found large. some
what regular, though altogether natural,
henlspherlcal - or rather ampltheatrical
excavation IN the cliff, with lis over
hanging dome of dizzy height-a kind Of
natural clerestory or void-iike that over
the oracle of the Temple, unfathomable
by the sight Oh, what a devotion-inspir-
ing cathedral for the worship of that ex-
allied Being that ''dWelleth not in temples
made with hands, and who has made
this temple himself. with the exception of
the semi-circular ranges of seats that
have probably been chiseled out BY the
hands of the Crusaders.
The place Of Springs Is the source
Of many beautiful streams which once
watered the valleys below-some of these
are now dried up, while others lend fer
tllly to the gardens of mosks and con-
vents, and the grounds of Protestant Ms
sIonaries. In this vicinity Is shown the
venerated Irkhan Ibrahim Cave Of A bra
ham, on the top of a commanding hill,
where. according 10 Arab tradition, the
old patriarch watched his flocks as they
grazed in the nejghboring valleys and
plains, more than three thousand seven
hundred years ago Just as 10 this day
groups of pastoral people are seen tend
ing their nocks. while women, in their
picturesque garments, bear Jars of water
upon their heads, or pour out water into
trcughs for the cattle 10 drink. Life
seems at a stand point Ia these oriental
solitudes, and the usages of to-day SO
nearly represent those of centuries past,
that the intervening time seems like q
dream.
Here it was that David passed onward,
heart-broken 10y the recreaut Absalom,
and here was he cursed by one of the
evil-spirIts of his people. Did we read
the history of the Jew with the same in-
terest with which we read the wars of the
Greeks and Romans, we should find
much OF the old iomeric grandeur III the
battles of David, and his bold, unscrupu-
lous generals.
In The region OF the Place of Springs
the Prophet Elijah solourned for a period
Of time, fed by the winged messengers of
heaven. And, surely. a more admirable
place OF seclusion could nowhere be found.
Some Of lis yawning chasms are absolute
IL frighiful 10 behold. The ruius os an
old convent are to be seen reward the
lower end Of the valley, where possibly
tradition once located the retreat OF the
hermit prophet pro tem.. so situated that
nothing short of the ravens and o!her
priyeleced orders OF the feathered tribe
could reach Il, unless the most desperate
efforts Of the Arab species Of bi-manu-ped
Homo might succeed III scaling 1t. And
It Is s,il moolabIe point whether Elijah
was fed by the ravens or the Arabs. The
word rendered raven being pointed by
the AIasoretic Doctors so as TO read Ore
bln, is properly translated raven by King
James's transiatoTs but might also have
been pointed 50 as to mean Arabs! Il Is
little remarkable, however, that these
wlid fas,nesses should still be the favorite
abode of ravens and other rapacious birds
thai now dispute with the Arabs the mas
terry OF tins valley.
Here, also, later in history, John the
Baptist took up his abode, and banused,
s.because there was much water there;
nor Is there testimony tha, be exercised
his ministry anywhere else than al Euou,
in the wilderness, and at Jordan nor Is
i, at all probable that he erer preached
elsewhere, (uuless 1t was when he re-
proved Herod, curing his ministerial ca
reer.
The valley Of Jehosophat was used as
a place Of sepullure, according 10 the re
peated declarations of Scripture, as the
tombs that abound throughout lis length
and breadth amply testify. Vineyards,
igyards and ollyeyards, gardens and
patches Of green. occupy the entire ex-
tent. Valley of Shaveh, or Kings Dale,
was perhaps the name under which lis
lower portion was frs, known. Was II
called kedron (fIthy) on account Of re-
celvinr the blood and other otial frou. the
Temple Rabbi Akaba SAYS there was
a certain cave, (cesspool.) beneath the
altar, whereby filth and uncieaulineSS was
carried down into the valley Of the keG
ron /: aud the gardeners paid SO much as
-. :. .ras..ass nliarl--r EcE