The sun., 1885-02-22
LIFE IN MODERN PALESTINE
Euins or the Synagogue at Cnpernaum where
ChrIst Tnugkt and Wrought Mirnciea.


which association ionds to places hNiiowcd
b. tho minlstra.ions Of the Founder OF
Christianity Is to bo found In a desert
rocs-strewn rromontory on the northwest
shore OF tho Lake Of Tiherias; for among these
piles Of hswn blocks OF black hasalt still re-
main tho ruins Of great syna9ogun. wllhin
whose wGa. tho foundations of which may
s.ill bo distinctly traced. wore collected tho
multltndos who hocked to hear the teaching OF
Christ. While modern tourists rcsor, In crowds
to Icrusnlem TO visit the mythical sites which
nre supposed. upon the vague basis Of cccicsi-
asticnl tradition. to DO identified with opisodes
in the life Of the great Teacher. scarcely
one over finds his way to this remote locality
lying Just out OF the beaten track along which
Cook leads his herds OF sightseers: and yet 1t
Is probable that tho greater part OF that period
IN Tho life Of Christ. the record OF which Is con-
tained in tho four Gospels. was spent at Capcr-
naum. which the most careful in estigation, by
tho highest authorities In such matters. has
identified with these ruins Of Tell Hum. amid
which was Just now standing. Here it was that
Christ cured Peters mother-in-law. restored
tho pnraiytic. called Matthew. curod the con-
turion's servant raised Jairus's daughter from
the dead. and obtained the tribute of money
from tho mouth OF a fish. 1t was here that he
spoke tho parallels OF the sower the tares. tho
treasure hid in the field. the merchant
seeking goodly pearls. and tho net
cast into the sea. Sir Charles Wilson. whose
researches on this spot led him to identify it as
boing tho sito OF tho city OF Capernauin. be-
tievos this synagogue was. without doubt. the
one built by the Roman centurion Like viii. 81
and. therefore. one OF the mos: sacred spots on
sarth." II was In this building II that bo the
case. that the wel-known discourse contained
In the sixth chapter Of John was delivered; and
II was not without strange feeling says the
Same explorer. that on turning over Il large
block We found tho pot OF mama engraved on
its face. and remembered the words i nm
that bread OF life. Your fathers did eat mama
In the wilderness and are dead"
This very synagogue was probably the scenc
OF the healing OF tho demoniac a nd of the de-
livery Of many OF those divine lectures on faith,
humility Drotherly love, and formalty in
worship. as We read ut the end Of one OF them:
These things said no in the synagogue as he
taught in Capernaum." Perhaps 1t was In the
little creek where boat was now riding at
anchor only q few fest from tho shore. that
Christ taught the people from the boat SO as to
avoid the crush OF the multitude. 1t was
doubtless in one Of these inlcts that James. the
son OF Zebedee. and John. his brother. were
mendng thoir nets when. being called. they
left their ship and followed Him; and it was
on this coast that Andrew and Peter were
casting their nets when they were summoned
to become fishers OF men. Ithas a higher claim
to obe called the birthplace OF the religion which
has since revolutioniZed the world than any
other spot upon it, and 1t Is matter Of some
surprise to me that neither the Greek nor the
Roman Catholic churches. in their zeal to dis
cover holy places. which may serve as levers
for political intrigue. have yet thought OF occu-
pying this one. which would sec m the holest
OF all. Perhaps 1t would lead to a comparison
between their practice. and the teaching OF
which II was the scene. which might give rise
to some inconvenent reflections.
Apart from their associations tho ruins
themselves are not particularly striking.
They cover an area OF about half mile in
length by a quarter in breadth. and consist
chiefly OF the black blocks OF basal,ic stone
which formed the walls OF the houses. Tho
traces OF the synagogue. however. remain
sufficiently for the building to be planned.
Built Of white limestone blocks. 1t must have
formed a conspicuous object amid tho black
6asalt BY which it WAS surrounded. II was rs
teet by 81. built north and south and at the
che columns and capitals have been carried
sway. but enough still remain to convey some
Idea OF the general plan and aspect OF the
order. and there were epistyia that rested
upon the columns and probably supported
Geavy cornics and frieze. ' The % estsror s y! was
probably decorated with attached pilast~rs.
Two miles north OF CaperInnm are the ruins
OF Chorazin. There Ia no difficulty in identi-
Tying the site, which may be determined part.
ly by the itineraries of early travellers. and
partly by the similarity Of the modern name.
hiraIeh. The path to them leads up tho slop-
ing rocky hillside. but owing to the peculiar
distinguished ID AZ 100 yards from the rocks which
surround il, the extent and Importance of these
They cover m ars as uh Ias TO-
larger than. those of Capernaum. and are sit
uatsl partly IL shallow valley, partly on
Wady ktrazeh, here q wild gorge eighty
feet deep. From this SPOT, there IS "A
southern end; and here. too. arc gathered the
most interesting ruins-a synagogue with CO.
iihthlan cap'iaIs and ncheheads cut. not rs at
oasat. The dimensions Of this building are
about the same as those OF the one at Caper-
naum but the interior is mass of ruins. Two
pedestals still remain IN situ. and a portion OF
the wall. The. he.characterstico OF this synagogueis
an excess OF nrnamentation Of rather a de- |
based kind. Tho inches are most eaborate.
ma m, remain ns sharp rs when they were cnt in
door posts are simi lar to those used in other
tynag9snes. and there are many stones cut
With deep mouldings md pieces Of classical
!ornices strewn among the ruins.
Many Of the dwelling houses are in tolera-
bly, perfect state. the walls being in some cases
% ak feet R high and. as they are probably Of the
dweIt description OF them may be interest
sizes, the largest however. not over thirty fest
square and have one or two columns down the
contre to support tho roof. which appears 10
have been fiat. as in the modern Arab houses
The walls are about two feet thick. built OF mn-
sonry or Of loose blocks OF basalI. There is a low
doorway in the centre OF ono OF the walls.
and each house has windows twelve inches
high and six wide. In one or two cases the
house was divided into four chambers.
We now pushed on to tha point where the
Jordan enters the lake. distant about three
miles. for it was only on the other sldo Of that
river that my exploration OF new ground might
be said to commence. | had been attracted
hither BY rumors which had reached me OF
remarkable stone which was said to be- in the
Possession of an Arab. on which were pictorial
representations and inscriptions. As my in
formation on the point WAS somewhat vague
rode up TO u lsdoun cncampment. near which
was Also collection o! mud novels Occn ped by
telhheen, which were situated tho wsst
bank Of therlyer. They woro naturally 40 sus-
picious that j pretend8a at first TO b.. merely
anxious to have guide To show mo tn" ford,
but 1t was not until The oid shek himself ap-
peared that could find any ono willing TO Of
fer me tho slightest assistance. They gazed at
me with open-mouthed stupidity. real or as
Sumed. and tho sght OF si ver scarcely
moved their s;odi,y. Far different was