The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-08-21
BETHLEHEM AND HEBRON.
THE FAMOUS POOLS OF SOLOMON.
The City of David-Blrthplace of the Saw.
ior-Tomb OF Rachel-Abrnham's
Oak-The Cave of
Macpelah

through the alley OF hepndlu, WutIe
David defeated the Phillistines by way of
the well of the Msgi," where tradition
says the wise men of the East first saw
the star that guided them to the infant
Savior at Bethlehem. Just beyond the
well is the Greek convent of "Mar- Elias"
erected at the spot where Elijah concealed
himself when pursued by wicked Jezebel.
At the foot of the monastery hill stands
the Tomb of Rachel" one of the best
authenticated of the holy sites OF Pales-
tine, and we have scriptural authority
that after giving birth to Benjamin here
Rachel died and was buried in the way
to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem, and
Jacob set pillar upon her grave. That
is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this
day" Genesis XIV, 1920 A few
hundred yards further and we pass
Belt Jala, the ancient Zelzah in the bor-
der OF Benjamin" where Samuels pro.
phetic messengers greeted "the choice
young man and goodly" Saul, the son of
Kish, and arrive at the picturesque and re-
nowned city of Bethlehem. Here all
about us is consecrated ground, the birth
place of the Savior, the land where the
youthful David tended his flocks, and the
scene where Ruth, the Moabitess"
cleaned latter the reapers among the
sheaves" in the felds OF "a mighty man
OF wealth of the family of Elimelech, and
his name was Boaz" Ruth ii, 10 Beth
lehem has population OF about 5000,
made up almost entirely of native Chris
tians. and whether or not it is due TO
Christianity, certain it is that they are q
much finer looking set OF people
than the residents of the other cities
OF Palestine. The women are
especially noted for their beauty and
wear a strikingly attractive costume pc
culiar 10 themselves. There are no Jews
in Bethlehem and but few Mohamme-
dams. OF course the chief center OF at
traction for all Christian visitors TO this
"CIty OF David" is the Church OF the
Nativity" which covers the site where
the mother OF Jesus brought forth her
first born, wrapped him in swaddling
clothes and laid him in a manger." luke,
Xi, g.
The main part OF the church is built in
the center of the Greek, Latin and Ar
menian converts and is the common
property OF all. 10 is said to be the old
est monument of Christian architecture in
the world" having been erected in the
fourth century by the sainted Empress
! Helena. The Chapel OF the Nativity is
| n cave or grotto in the natural rock and
a shining silver star set in the marble
| pavement near the altar is said TO mark
| the exact spot where the Savior
of mankind was born. In a circle
around il are the words in
Latin. "IIic de Nirgine Marie Jesus
| Christus natusest"-"Here Christ was
born Of the Virgin Mary" On the other
side of the room a small recess in the
wall marks the place where the manger
stood. As the chapel is used by all the
sects alike. Turkish soldier is always
stationed here 10 prevent the gentle
Christians from fighting. IL is said the
! Crimean war was brought about by the
! contests which occurred here among the
priests.
Among the other points OF interest con-
nected with the church are the ALTAR OF
! the Magi," where the wise men came
with their offerings; the ALTAR OF st.
/ Joseph" where the angel directed Joseph
to make the flight into Egypt; the Altar
| OF the Innocents," where the $4,000 in
fants massacred by Herod are declared
20 be inferred; the chapel OF st. Fuse
bus, where his writings were composed,
and the Chapel OF 81. Jerome" where the
great father OF the church and translator
OF the catholic version of the bible
lived died and was buried previous 10 the
removal OF his remains 10 Rome. few
steps outside below the church We come
to the milk grotto" where the virgin
and child we're concealed from the fury OF
Herod, and where the priests say drop
of the mothers milk fell upon the floor
and turned the black forbidding rock OF
the cave into a soft snowy white. IL is
believed that piece of this challSy sub
stance touched TO the lips OF barren wo-
men will cure them Of their defect, and
that when swallowed by those with chill
dren il increases the supply OF infantile
| nourshment, wherefore many young
mothers visit the place to secure this
sacred charm, which they eat after max
ing il into cakes mixed with barley.
Further on TO the right from here is the
Grotto or Greek chapel of the shep-
| herds" in the traditional plain
where the shepherds were keeping
watch over their flock by night
when there came TO them ''the heavenly
host praising God and saying glory to God
in the highest and on earth peace and
good will toward men," luke ii, s, IA
As we leave Bethlehem We stop at
"David's WELL" where, when David gath
cred his chiefs unto the cave of Adult
lam" his three mighty men" burst
through the ranks of the Phillistines TO
secure him water in response to his APP
peal: ooh, that one would give me drink
OF the water of the well of Bethlehem"
q Sam. xiii, Is, l6), and then continue
on over very rough road until the pools
of Solomon" are reached. Here there is
large Enclosure surrounded by high
stone wall, which is known as khan
in all countries under Turkish rule. These
places are something in the nature OF gov
eminent inns or taverns, being practically
camping places for travellers who
pay certain sum to the
custodian for the protection and
and shelter afforded. They are few and
far between. but are necessary In n coun
try where to camp in the open air with
out protection would most likely result IN
being robbed or murdered before morn
ing. These "pools of Solomon" are the
remains of the great reservoirs which sup
piled Jerusalem with water under the
splendid system of water works estab
lished by that wise and practical sover
eign. There are three OF them, gradually
rising one above the other, and all are in
fine state of preservation, while still
higher up the incline is the Sealed fount
ain" from which they obtained Their
original supply. A little way below tht
pools is the wretched Arab village o
Ortas (ancient Etam), where Samson il
said to have been surrendered to the Phil
listines, and where the summer palace
Al ha