Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-09-04

From the Nashville Christian Advocate +
Letter from Bishop Marvin.
WEEK IN JERUSALEM.
We visited the 'Tombs of the King
This is an instance of the arbitrary man,
ner in which localities are designated
here. The name of place is not dtsDdys ]
misleading, but it is more frequently SO
than otherwise, perhaps. At least it is
yerv often so. It is certain that the
kings were not buried in these tombs.-
But they are full of interest, both on &C.
count of their antiquity and of their re-
markable workmanship. True, they are
not SO old as many other things about
the city, but they probably date back to
about the beginning of the Christian era.
They are hewed out of hill of solid
rock. First there is an open court, say
80 feet square, quarried out near the
base of the hill, with perpendicular walls
say 20 feet high on the upper side, and
or 10 on the lower. Into the hill on
the upper side of this open court a por-
tico was hewn, about Is feet on the wall,
and penetrating the rock or s feet
Two columns, equidistant from each
other and from the ends of the portico,
were left standing as supports of the
rocks overhead. From the north end of
the portico you enter through small
door into an inner court. Here you must
have candles, for you are now in an
apartment cut into the living rock with
no opening but the small, low door
through which you entered. This cham
Der is scarcely 20 feet square, and COM
amunicates with another Of about the
same dimensions. Around the chambers
the inches are cut into the rock, into
which the dead were introduced. These
inches. should think, were two feet
wide, two and a half high, and penetrate
which was differently placed, the open
ing feet, and then the receptacle for the
body cut transversely, so as to lie parallel
with the wall of the chamber. Over eY-
cry door and every niche the rock was
cut in the shape of an arch, the curve
being perfect, and the surface cut very
smooth. The dimensions give as they
impressed me. I made no measure
ments. There may, also, be some mac
curacy of detail, as I made no notes on
the spot, but write from memory. But
my description is substantially correct.
whether it is very perspicuous or not, I
The doors to the inner chambers were
stone slabs swinging on projections, top
and bottom, at one side, like rude gates
Ihave seen with the outer frame on one
side projecting into a socket in the sill
below, and extending into some support
provided for it above. The outer door
was closed by slab held to its place by
massive stone placed against it. This
stone itself was displaced and replaced
by an ingenious contrivance that can
not describe.
Tombs were often, if not generally
made in the rock in the sides of hills
All the hills about Jerusalem are Of
limestone, and generally very precipi.
stands perpendicular on the side Of a
hill. A plain one could be made with
comparatively little labor, and, where
labor was SO cheap, at small cost. The
stone would only require to be blocked
out, and the seems between the strata
would direct the line of clearage fol
floor and ceiling. The opening would
be narrow-a mere door-the interior
being of the dimensions which the pro
prietor might desire. When the body
was placed within, slab, neatly fitte6
to its place. was set up against the doc
having an epitaph cutupon it. Agains
y w
it in place.
In such tomb, no doubt, Lazarus
was buried at Bethany, and when tn
e slab was removed Jesus called to tn
dead man, commanding him not to ris
up, but to come forth, and he came forth
bound hand and foot with grave clothes
How natural all this seems to one who
has seen the old tombs here.
How I have realized here, what
knew before, the meaning Of the state
ment about the new tomb which JOSEPH
had hewn in the rock, into which tn
body of our Lord was laid. It was Gu
into the rock in one of the steep hill
sides near the city. A heavy stone wa
placed against the door. "Who shall
roll us away the stone ?' said the hear
broken women, as they were on thei
way bearing sweet spices-probably il
vessels on their heads, as women are seel
every moment here, now, carrying
whatever they have to carry thus-t
embalm his body. But we must pass
other topics.
walking along the north wall, on tn
outside of the city, east of the Damascu
Gate, when his dog started some smal
game which disappeared through a sma
opening at the foot of the wall. TIL
dog entered after it, and was gone Ion
time, coming back at last out of breath
as if after a considerable chase. Thi
opening is on the side of the hill O
which the Temple stood. The hin
which the dog had given was acted up
on. The place was entered, and cav
ofimmense extent found to be there
cave of which no one had any know]
edge. At first on entering there is a con
siderable descent. after which the foo
is horizontal, or nearly so, but yer
much broken by mounds. On and or
and on, it extends, and certainly reache
in under the Temple area.
A most remarkable cave it is certain
ly, but is it a cave? Look at the wall
there are singular marks on it All
there is no mistaking them-they al
the marks of tools, and they are every
where. Is this quarry? There can b
no doubt about. And these piles O.
and there loose, what are they? Brin
aelight and let us examine them. The
are clippings from the rough ashlers a
they were shaped by the masons. TIL
edges are as sharp as they were the da
they were Clipped off.
This, then, is not only quarry bu
something more-it is masOns' work
shop, in which the rough stones wer
dressed for use.
Can it be that this is the quarry wher
the stone of which the first Temple wa
built was procured? To my mind thi
is the most natural way to account fo
it. The fact that the stone which wa
gotten out here was evidently dresse
here, also, is in farther support OF thi
view. For it is expressly stated that ev
cry stone was prepared for its place i
the wall beforehand, so that in erectin
the Temple the stroke of the hamme
was never heard. Is it not most likel
that a shaft communicated with thi
quarry from the Temple area, or near il
the stones, already dressed and fitte'
each for its place, being there elevated
by machinery to be laid into the wall
So think intelligent men who have az