The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-10-28
Foa THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.


FoR THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
SUMMER IN THE EAST.
Nehemiah, chapter IL verse 3 reads "And
went out by night by the gate of the Va'Ie5
even before the dragOn.weU, and to the dung,
port and viewed the walls of Jerusalem which
were broken down." In the next chapter,
Is verse, it is written, ''But the gate Of the
fountain repaired Shallum the son of Colhozeh
** and the wall of the pool of S'loah
by the Kings garden and unto the stairs that
go down from the city of David" Descend
ing from the dung-gate (n the Southern WALL
into the Kedron valley where it sweeps around
the South western angle of the city, one
finds to day deep spring or well. It's level
is 30 low that the descent is made by fight
of stone stairs. Following the course of
the valley to the base of Zion Tor David s
city) and passing cluster of luxuriant vege-
table and fruit gardens, one reaches pool
of considerable size-the pool of Siloah.
These | believe to be the dragon well and
the Siloah pool mentioned above by Nehe-
miah A short distance above in the Kidron
vale is another spring which many identify
as the fountain of Nehemiah, the one al
luded to in chapter ii: verse 13. But aside
from the greater Typographical correspon-
dence of the first named, another degree of
probability is added by an argument drawn
from the name. Nehemiah speaks Of a
dragon-weH. The fret mentioned spring,
owing perhaps, to some syphon-like coiduits
in the underlying rocks OfJsrusalen, has
periodical flows and ssuissis3 s. 81. las
given rise to supss 5titie n
sleans aesd-' N6f
down the water, but sieeEng 81 20
Gov out. In this popular superstition is
probably preserved the origin of the name.
DIR. Robinson held that this was the pool
of Bethesda whose waters, according to st.
John, healed whoever first touched them
after the periodical visit of the angel. But
may it not be both Nehemiah fountain and
Bethesda? 1t answers best of all the con-
ditions of the first. With regard to the
second, the principal rival, the grass grown
excavation on the North side of the Harem,
may never have been anything more than a
ditch, supposition borne out by its appear
ance, leaving the weight of probability in
favor of Nehemiah's fountain at Bethesda.
1t bears the name, however, of "Mary'S foun-
tain" or fountain of Siloah. Legend de-
clares that the Virgin Mother was accustomed
to wash the raiment of the infant Jesus at
this spring.
In the so-called Christian quarter, not far
from the Jaffa gate, and between the "Medi-
terranean Hotel" and Christian Alley" is
situated the Pool of Hezekiah, or more COM
monty called that of the Patriarchs. 1t is
entirely surrounded and enclosed by houses
whose Easements rest upon its walls. 1t is
nearly 25O feet in length, less in breadth,
and twenty feet deep. Standing motionless
and exposed to the action of the sun, this
water is by no means inviting in appearance
even to thirsty man, yet is valuable for
many domestic purposes. 1t is brought by
subterranean canal from the upper spring
of Gihon in the rainy season. In view Of
its contiguity to Zion and the west side Of
the city, and of the fact that there is nc
other pool in Jerusalem, there can be little
doubt that the existnce of this pool is right
ly attributed to Hesekiah according to Enc
Chronicles, chapter xxi verse 3O "Thii
same Hezekiah also stopped the upper water
course of Gihon, and brought it straight
down to the west side of the city of David.
1t is worthy of mention in this connection
that these fountains and pools, together will
the lower spring of GihOn, the fountain il
the Huram-place, supplied by conduits frou
the Pool of Solomon (beyOnd Bethlehem,
and the cisterns within the city, constitute
the sources of water for Jerusalem.
King David was buried in his own city
Tradition points out the very spot-eVen tn
stone sarcophaguS containing his dust. |
is on the slope of Mt. Zion, outside the pre-
sent walls. As Mohommedans revere Davi
as prophet of their own, they appropriate
the traditional spot of his burial, and to-da
the tomb of this prince of Israel is Mosque
In the upper story tradition shows the ROOF
in which the Last Supper was spread. Thi
is pure assumption. According to a Secon
assumption the great gathering on the da
of Pentecost was in the same room. Br
, Peter declares in the course of his address
speaking of David, "his sepulchre is with I
unto this day." By the logic of legends
. follows that in the mosque is the Sepulchl
t of David. Peters remark indicates, hoV
r ever, that the sepulchre was still known