Mexico weekly ledger., 1904-12-29

10 Tue A1ius bAiat AfAlJA1 ht1S fhSR1cts /
lived, spoke against King Jeroboam
and cut OF his descendants; that eli
received the news OF the capture OF
the ARK Of the Covenant" by the
PhilIstines, fell from his seat by the
gate OF the city and gave up the ghost;
that the wickedness OF the people
caused Jehovah to destroy IL. "But
20 We now unto my place which was
in shiloh, where caused my name to
dwell at the first, and see what ! did to
IL for the wickeness OF my people
Israel"
The road leads southwest down a
rocky cliff, through large, profitable
fe orchard, and across a small pro-
ductive plain. In the latter we saw
the Arab women gathering the tares
out OF the wheat and piling them at
the borders OF the field. This caused
us to reconsider the parable of the
tares We camped for the night at
one OF the best camping grounds in
Palestine
| From the camping place 1t Is Just
one days journey to Jerusalem, ana
we have carriage road TO the Holy
City" The general direction Is south
with an occasional angle TO the west.
The day was ideal, the road superb,
the scenery delightful, and the historic
places numerous.
We soon came TO Robbers Valley"
1t is a long, narrow gorge between
precipitous hills. Twenty-Five years
ago, along the highway and In the
present empty caves, lived many rob
bers. They would, In bands, attack
people travelling, alone or In small
parties, rob them, oftentimes leaving
them half dead and dead. Then only
large parties, well protected and
guarded, could pass through this haz-
ardous place. About half way through
the gorge, on the west side OF the road
and at the base of the precipice, is a
large spring called ''Robber's Foun-
tain," which supplied the outlaws
with water. Robbers Valley" is a
ldreary, desolate looking place, and, in
case of attack, escape was impossible
Leaving this narrow gorge the road
ziyzaps as it ascends Baal Hazor.
Large fig orchards occupy the noun
tain side on the right and left OF
the road. The scenery enhances, the
mountain air invigorates, and the en-
joyment enlarges as you climb tie
mountain. The summit is the high
est point in the hill country Of Eph-
riam, and affords the matchless view
of the Orient. To the north rises the
hills Of Ephriam and Napthali with
the crown of Hermon in the distance;
to the east the hills Bashan, Gilead
and Moab; to the south the hills OF
benjamin., Judea and Mizpah; to the
west lies the Plain Of Sharon and the
Great Sea. This thrilling view arouses
the imagination, paints a vivid and
lasting picture, and enriches the mind
for coming years.
Soon after leaving the summit OF
Baal Hazor we followed path to the
left OF the carriage road across the
hills Of Benjamin TO sacred Bethel. II
is Moslem village, consisting Of
, about twenty mud novels, and a few
ancient ruins. 1t was here that
, Abraham pitched his tent the first
night on his journey from Shechem to
5 the south country erected an altar un-
/ to Jehovah, and called upon the name
{ | OF the Lord; that Lot beheld the rich
! and well watered valley of the Jordon,
ham, and pitched hTmself Uo@aYfs
: sin; that Jacob had bis vision Of the
D open heaven, heard the mighty voice
5 OF God come roaring down the dismal
heights, and saw the angels ascend
1 ing and descending on the celestial
0 | ladder; that King Jeroboam repudiat'
ed the worship OF Jehovah, erected Q
4 golden calf for idolatrous worship, and
: made Israel to sin before the
d Lord; that a prophet of Judah fore
!, told the birth of Josiah, caused the
4 kings hand to wither, restored the
( withered hand by prayer, disobeyed
the voice of God and met bis death by
; the roadside;that Elijah opened pro.
a phetic school, instructed the people in
a the word OF God and visited them on
G the day of his translation to heaven.
e The present condition Of Bethel is
4 told in the prophecy Of Amos: "Bethel
1 shall come 10 naught."
b Two miles to the southwest across
e a bleak, roek-strewn moor, and on
O one slope of small elevation is the
+ ancient village Of Beeroth. 1t was in
J, the Kingdom Invites, and given to
!, the tribe Of Benjamin b. allotment.
e This was the customary halting place
D OF the pilgrims on their return from
s the great Jewish feasts In Jerusalem.
In this village Joseph and Mary miss
e ed the boy, Jesus, returned to Jerusa-
lem and found him In the temple con-
!, versing with the lawyers and doctors.
D Beeroth has pleasant historic remin-
e iscences.
8 Some three miles southeast, across
a afe rtile plain and on a lonely cone.
' shaped hill, are the ruins OF Ramah.
E Baasha, king of Israel, fortified this
e village, ordered communication to
e cease with Jerusalem, and forbid the
people leaving his kingdom. In later
! years il Was destroyed by Asa, king OF
I Judah, who took stones and the tim
9 Der TO strengthen Geba and Mizpah.
4 Ramah is one OF the many thigh
!. places" spoken Of in the Old Testa-
q ment and the birth and burial place
q OF the prophet Samuel.
E Across the public highway 10 the
/ southwest about ten furlongs is Glib
: con. The people Of this village a2-
peared unto Israel, praeticed decep-
tion upon them and Joshua cursed
and made the Inhabitants "hewers OF