The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-09-27

of former ages in creating his splendid
structures; in which event the debris
represents a pre-Herodian antiquity.
Against the city for its idolatry, Micah
and Hosea launched forth the invectives
of prophecy: 81 will make Samaria as
heap of the field, and as paintings of
vineyard; and will pour down the
stones thereof into the valley, and l
will discover the foundations thereof. -
"Samaria will become desolate, for she
hath rebelled against her God; they
shall fall by the sword; their infants
shall be dashed to pieces" etc. There
have been numerous literal fulfllments
of these predictions. Looking down
into the valleys as we rode around the
hill, we frequently discovered broken
columns and building rubbish.
We rode completely around the hill,
a circuitIof about two miles, tracing the
remains of Herod's magnificent colon
ade.
There were evidently four rows of
columns clear around the hill, support
ing porch above. The porch has van
ished, but great many of the massive
columns are still standing. Other pill
lars are broken in two, lie PROSTATE, or
are utilized in the construction of stone
walls. We counted nearly 100, and
Mr.. Floyd says that the great majority
have either been destroyed by the ma
tives or carted away to Europe to oc-
cupy inches in museums. The level
place at the extreme top of the hill was
adorned by sixteen very large columns.
1t was doubtless in the general inclos-
ure that the greattemple of Baal stood,
which was utterly destroyed BY Jehu,
after he had received the heads of
Ahab's seventy sons in baskets at the
gate of Jezreel. and mercilessly slaugh-
tered all the priests of Baal, as recorded
in the tenth chapter of the Second
Kings.
In was very near Samaria that Elisha
dwelt when the horses and chariot of
Naaman, the Mamascene leper, halted
before the door of his humble home.
Now, as then, leprosy holds carnival in
and is regarded as incurable
as it was by the King of Israel when he
rent his clothes under the impression |
that the audacious Naaman was tool |
Of Benhadad's to pick quarrel with |
him. Grasping, penurious Gehazi was
made to inherit the leprosy of the Syr-
an captain, which "should cleave unto
his seed forever" Perhaps some of the
modern Nablous lepers are the inherit
ors Of this fearful legacy of Gehazi.
My impression is that it was dreadfully
stupid of Naaman to put confidence in
he word of a native like Gehazi.
What terrible agony there must have
'een in Samaria during that memora-
lie siege of the interchangeable Benhadad.
after having travelled through the
orient it does not seem at all incredi-
lie to me that the people resorted to
oves' dung for food, until it actually
ecame costly luxury Oh Kings vi,
81.
Not only did Elijah and Elisha work
vonders in Samaria but even the Apos-
es wrought miracles and preached
here. The revival which was started
y Philip, who far eclipsed the witcher-
IS exercised by Simon the Sorcerer,
lduced the Apostles who had remained
ehind in Jerusalem to REINFORCE him
= sending Peter and John thither. |
hen was the Holy Ghost given, which
imon sought to buy with money (the
rst impulse of an Oriental when he
links there is no chance of getting a
ling as free gift.) We were shown I
le ruins of an interesting cathedral,
1own as the Church of st. John, in
hich, it is claimed, the beloved disci- ,
q met his deaf. These ruins are arch I
ecturallV interesting. .