The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1868-10-30
BETHLEHAM,

|
Bethlehem was Il small city among
tthe thousands OF Judah.n and is little
mentioned in Jewish history. Yetin0
city cxeeptJer salem is dcarer TO Chris
tiahs.as. it was the birthplace ofoHr Sa-
lfyior. Micah $50. s- i,Hoa II
1t lies six miles south of Jerusalem.
by II rugged and inlly road;and is now
bcalled by ihe natives Beit-lalnn in going
TO il from Jerusalem you pass near IRA
chefs Ponb,' less than twOmlies from
Bethlehem, and little west of the rpad
very possibly on the true Site which
we know was long marked by muiltI-
ment. Gen. 80: 10. 20. Some what
/ nearer Bethlehem is a high ridge, offer
| ing the view both of that city and the
Dead Sea; the latter. though twenty
miles { II. seeming very near. The view
of Bethlehem rising from this point, ri
sing beyolld deep valley, is striking
and pleasant. Midway oil the road Is
a well OF pure delicious water, suppos-
setl to be the one of which David SO
lohged to drink. Sam. %. Ia.
The houses of Belt lahnl are solidly
but roughly built on very narrow streets
and many are in a rllinous condition.
The most consl icicus object is huge
fortress like m0nesrary. at the eastern
and lower end of the town, enclosing
various buildings; one of which the
Greek Chapel covers the Probationary
'cave OF the nativity.' The very spot
rs the monks pretend, Is marked bya
star made OF silver and gems aroiind
with an inscriptioni in latin states that
"here Jesus Christ was born of the vr-
gin Mary" 1t is Known that the A rabs
in case of need. shelter themselves and
ilocks in aud caverns; but it is not pro-
bable that sabturanean cave difficult of
access, such as is now visited, was the
stable OF the inn at Bethlehem. ttro
recent traveller, DIR. Orlin, says :
"Ihe environsof Bethlehem are beau
tiiHl, bur cannot be said TO be well cul-
tivated. The soil is fertile, but encum-
bered With rocks. The deep valley on
the northern side of the town. over
looked by the road to Jerusalem. pre-
sents scene ut luXuriance and beauty
so far as 1 have yet seen, in
Palestine. The steep hillsides by when
it is bounded are terraced with great |
labor and care, and covered " it'll fine
fruit-trees. This delicious spot may be |
tn zen as a specimen of the general ap- |
pearance Ofthe hill country in the pros |
porous days of the Jewish state, ald OF |
what it might once more become under |
care OF good government. |
1t is only under the walls of eonsidera- |
Bile towns that agriculture is practical |
bic. Within two miles of b ,tlIlehem |
fields are permitted to lie waste. which |
once employed aud amply rewarded !
the labor OF numerous peasantry. !
Beeoilins who are always in the vicinity |
seize she fruit and corn even before |
they come to maturity. Under such |
little attentions If paid |
to agriculture. The people of Bethle- |
hem make crosses, beads. and various |
of pearl, and of the wood |
and kernels of the olives thar grow a.
bout the gardens of Gethsemane. |
They supply with these the bazaars |
of Jerusalem. and pressthem upon |
with inoying importani- |
ty. They are most nominal chi istians |
md Number perhaps aboni 1000.
{ lnthe valley of Bethlehem more than |
-hree thousand years ago. Ruth the Mo-
lhitess CLEANED after the reapers. in the
larle, harvest; inlthe gate OF the city
'he was publicly betrothed. to Boaz, |
md from them David and Christ de-
cended. Ruth Ia. Here David the
hepherd king was born, and annoint-
ID by Samuel the propliet t, his royal |
,ffice. lst Sam. l6 On the hills and
ic,ls around, she fed her fathers docks,
md praised Godwith harps and ps aims.
over the same fields ten centuries la
els'sa gi'eaU multitudes of the heaven
y host. "sung in honor of CnrIst's adj
ient !; while in a corner of the half COW
,red court of the inn OF Bethlehem
he Retleemer was born. Here He re-
;eived the worship of the wise men and
IT the shepherds and here bloody
1erod sought him in vain. The pro-
)hecy Of Mizah. SO, was fulfilled. so
will be the prophecy in the Angels song
Glory to God in the highest and on
,afth peace good will towards men," |