The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1901-10-11
A Region Repleto
With Sacred
Associations

the river Is sluggish and turbid, bus
Ia soon purified and becomes a tor
rent rushing between small Islands
and rocks thickly set with oleanders.
About two miles below Lake Meron
Is Jacobs Bridge. where Jacob on his
return from Mesopotamia Is said 10
have crossed. II was built after the
orusades.
About thirteen miles below this
bridge. the stream enters Lake IL
berias, or Gennesaret. more familiarity
known as
The Sea OF Oaiiiee.
About this tiny Inland sea which IA
only about seventeen miles long and
from six TO nine miles wide. and en-
vironed by the retiring hills the most
sacred scenes OF history were enacted.
From the troeless shores. bare rocks
and moadowless inclines now rise. Its
natural beauty Is in no way remark
able, but the associations surrounding
II lend a fascinating charm. It's east
orn side ia now infested by Bedoulns
whose homes are among the ruins OF
Boziah and who are as remorseless In
yaders as any who lived in the time
OF Gideon. The western coast Is now n
comparative waste, with but few
hamlets. In place Of the once densely
populated region. Here lived that
hardy race Of mountaineers. an ener-
getlc. remarkable people. favored by
Jesus. and industrious. skillful and
valorous. At any time they we're ready
20 muster 100000 men 10 defend Call
Ices against the Romans. On the shores
Of this sea Andrew and Peter dwelt,
mended their net and landed their
fish. There four Of the disciples were
summoned to become Fishers Of men,"
In the surface OF the sea IL mirrored
the mountain from which Jesus spoke
10 the multitude. on this sea hoated
the boat from the deck Of which the
Great Teacher spoke TO the multitudes
on the shore and around II rise tho
same mountains which echoed His
voice. The waters are the same as
those upon which He walked In the
fourth watch OF the night" and Winds,
similar TO those He babe BE still"
are casting waves upon the shores.
Most OF the cities in which he per-
formed His mighty works arc in ruins
and the multltudes and the Jealous
Herod and his hosts are gone, but His
word still remains.
Issuing from the southern extremity
Of the lake. the Jordan enters broad
valley. which is designated in the
Bible as the plain Its width varies
from 1--WE to ten miles. From Galilee 70
the Dead sea no bridge spans the
stream. Its course is through a deep
chasm or assure In tho earth's crust
A. IL Enters tho Dead Sen,
II Is very shallow. IT'S depth not ex-
ceedlng three or four feet. This body
OF water, which marks the southern
boundary OF the valley, is one OF tho
wonders OF the world. II lies between
the mountains OF Moab on tho east
ana those OF Hebron on the west. The
locality 10 that OF the ancient vale OF
Siddim, which Lot selected when part
Ing from Abraham. Tho sea is sup
posed TO have been formed by an
earthquake. accompanied by volcanic
action. The valley appears TO have
sunk to great depth and the waters
OF the Jordan flowing In produced the
sea which was made intensely salt by
the saline strata exposed to their ac-
ton. In this great catastrophe the
cities OF sodom and Gomorrah were do.
stroyed and II Is supposed TO have
taken place about 1900 years before
the mission Of Christ.
In this mysterious body OF water IL
Lost the river which drains the valley
OF the Jordan, the land which will for
ever live In story because II was the
scene OF the labors OF Him who prom
lsed eternal life.
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