The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-15
sA.ehsnl OF the ser4ptnrss.
AN INTERESTING SKETCH ON BIBLICAL uisrOE1.

west by ridge Of mountains five or STA
hundred feet high, and on the east by NJ
irregular line Of hills. Near the center O
the western range is the opening or valley
of Shrchem, which varies from Que. quar-
ter to ont-half mile in width, running
from east to west. 1t was facing this val
ley, aud within a short distance of it, or
the plains Of MOreh. that Jacob, when he
came from Padanaram, pitched his tent,
and-thvre, as it was written, He bought
a parcel Of n field, where he had spread
his tent, at the hand Of the children OI
llamor, Shechem's father for an hundred
pieces Of money. tGen. xxxiii, 10.)
The lands thus purchased lie on both
sides of aliviRg stream Of water, and nc
doubt afforded him an abundant suppOl
t>>c<. ' r.. ~; = -, = = : - : - ''.-. - Z I'S'' ''1|
Ous herds Of cattle. The mildness Of the
Climate at all seasons allowed Of the cattle
running ut large during the entire year.
The pasturing is much better during the
rainy or winter months than in the midst
OF summer; for then the soil is dry and
the heritage parched with the scorching
heats, except where the ground is irriga-
ted by u supply Of water, as is the case
Oh this great plain.
Jacobs well, Of which so much has
been spoken and written, is situated on
the south side Of this stream. Over il
formerly stood large church, built in the
form of a cross, erected by that great and
devout patroness of the Holy Land. the
Empress Helena. But the ravageS of time
aided by the sacriligious hand Of the Mos
lem, have left of it only few broken
cola,RRs- AID a Porii00 ri the foundation
walls. The well is now nearly filled with
rubbish, and no water is to be seen in it
On the north side of the stream, and
opposite to the well, stands JOseph's tomb
on the circular in form aud open Oh the
top. Within this tomb the body of Joseph
was deposited by the Israelites ON thtii
return from Egypt, and here il still re
poses. Joseph was one of the nobles'
characters depicted in the ancient history
of the world, even when contraSted with
illustrious kings, warriors or law-givers
His tomb and the small mosque within
which it is inclosed, are covered with the
names of the thousands who have visited
it, traced in every written language o.
which we have knowledge. This tomb
it is said, is now venerated equally by
Jews and Samaritans, Mussulmans anC
Christians. s..
The city of Scchem is called Nabelu,
by its present inhabitants. 1t is situated
between two and three miles from Jacob,
well, and is on the line of the centra
route from Jerusalem to Gailec. 1t con
tains upwards of ten thousand inhabitants
The famous submits Of Ebal and GeriZilr
the mountains of blessing and cursinl
bound the valley on the north anC
south, and rise about eight hundred fee
in height.
The town itself has ever been memora
BILE in the history of the Jewish nation
and is beyond all doubt. one Of the 0ldcS
cities within the limits of Palestine Long
before Greece or Rome was heard Of, il
meridian age had passed II was knowr
and distinguished as Shechem befor,
Abraham, by divine command, removed
with his kindred aud servants from Harar
in Mesopotamia to this, which then was
to him, strange land It was here tina
lie pitched his tent two thousand AM
thirty five years before Christ, and Will
the Cananites were still in possession. |
was on this hallowcd ground that tn
Lord appeared unto him and said. as W,
+, ad in the twelfth chapter OF Genesis
"Unto thy seed | give this land :" ant
here, as it also is written, "he buideth al
altar to the Lord"
felt satisfied while passing through
this city and beautiful valley. that III,
feet were pressing the very ground tina
rad been trod by that illustriouS patri
arch exactly three thousand nine hundre'
and ninety-EOur years ago. Here, too
Was enacIed the terrible tragedy, connec
ted with the dishonor of Dinah by She
chem, the son Of Hamor, the prince q
the couG:ry. In consequence of'this act
all the male inhabitants Of the city, to
gether with HamOr and Shechem, wcr
slaughtered by the sons of Jacob, who
with his entire household, immediately
thereafter removed to Bethel.
1t was here that the Israelites, afte
their return from Egypt, ratified the Law
Of the Lord. Six tribes on EbeJ, and d
many on Gerizin-th ark and the ut
tendant priests in the valley below--pro
nounced the blessing and the curse, ant
all the assembly responded to heaven will
a solemn amen. (Deut. xxvii) Ant
here Joshua assembled the hosts for tn
last time, and revoked and renOunced tn
(Joshua xxiv.) This place was also tn
scene of the treachery of Abimelech, an'
the parable Of lothian. (Judges ky An,
above all t was at Jacobs well, but
short distance from the city, that Jesus
in the middle of his second days journey
from Jerusalem seated himself for rest
while his disciples passed up the valley t
the city for the purchase of provisions
and it was while awaiting their retur
that the Savior conversed with the wome
from Samaria, who had come to dra,
water from the well. (John ivy
This city, after the return of the Israel
ties, was for centuries their great gather
ing place, and on Ebal an altar was erect
ed, upon which the law was inscribed
The Samaritan priests could not iuforr
me whether those great stones which Go
commanded Joshua to set up on Mour
Gerizim were yet standing. Twas showr
however, IN their synagogue in the city
copy Of the Pentateuch, on two roll
which the priest declaHd to be. the olde'
manuscript in the world. According
their statement, it was written by Abi'
nus. the son of Phineas, the son Of Ele,
zer, the son of Aaron. Mr.. Elliot, VIII
visited here several years ago, examine
it carefully, and cOincided with the pries
in regard to its antiquity.
Most Of the sacred localities in the Hol
Land have their advocates in respect:t
their identity. while many able writeI
deny their authenticity; but no one hI
ever questioned the identity Of the city
Shechcm of upwards Of four thousar
years ago. And while there Is -but-iitr
in the city itself TO attract the attertioRl
tourists, yet | regard itas one Of the mo
important points within the limits Of Pa