Mexico weekly ledger., 1904-12-15
THE GREAT SEA And
THE HOLY LAND.
LErrER no. o.

1t was q bright cheerful morning
when we mounted our Syrian horses
10 Nazareth and continued our Jour
ney to the sity made famous By The
trsaedy Of The cross About three
miles east o. the village We tode along
the western base OF Mount Tabor,
eazed on its beautiful dome summit
aad studied with pleasure its historic
On its browning summit Bar
ak assembled bis army 20 attack the
enormous forces of Sisera, and Zstan
and Zalmunna pot to the sword the
brothers Of Gideon. 1t was considered
the place Of the TRANSPORTATION OF the
divine Lord until the fourth century
Tabor Is the most beautiful, conspicu-
Gus and famous mountain 10 Central
Palestine.
some -four miles south Of Mount
Tabor. the summit OF Little Hermon
pierces the atmosphere, IL lisa lonely,
hut charming mountain near the cen
ter Of the eastern portion OF the fer
tile Plain OF Esdraelon. On the north
west slope, near the base OF the noun
tain, is the village OF Main. III was
here that Jesus met the sorrowing
nrocassIou and raised from the dead
ira WIDOWS son. Scattered around
the village are many old, ancient ana
ouen tombs. About two miles east OF
Main. near the base Of the northern
Stone 81 the maintain is the old village
ofEndor. 10 this place King Saul came
and consulted the wicked witch the
evening before his notable defeat and
death By the Philistines. These facts
give historic sacredness to the villages
and Little Hermon.
A short distance southwestof Little
Hermon, in the productive valley Of
Esdraelon, is Shunem. 1t is a small
hamlet of mud novels and decaylne
niles of filth. The inhabitants are in
need. and the children live-as they
were born-without clothing. 1t wa
the home of the Shunammite woman
who often entertained the propneI
Elisha; the fair maiden Aoishag, wnt
m~inistered to King David in his las
DAYS. and the beautiful and charming
maiden who is spoken of 10 the Som
of Solomon. 1t was here that Elishi
raised the Shunammite's son from I'd
dead, anu that the Philistines wer
encamped on the eve Of the destruc
tive battle of Gilboa. Shunem is
sad and doleful place.
A few miles soath Of Little Hermon
across the valley OF Jezreel, is Noun
Gilboa. The valley Of Jezreel is som
five miles wide, about fifteen miles Ions
and lies between Little Hermon an
Mount Gllboa. In this plain the chilli
rem OF the east have often scattere
along '1ike grasshoppers for mutt
tude.n IL was in this valley tina
Gideon and his three hundred chose
men triumphed In their unique battl
over the Midianites. Mount Gilbc
Is a lovely ridge some eight miles Ions
extending a little north Of west, an
rising from five hundred feet at II
east TO fifteen hundred feet at u
west end above the level OF the Med
terranean. On the "high places
this mountain King Saul and
three sons we're slain by the pote
forces OF the Philistines. At t
northern baseaof the ridge, near \
canter. Is Gideon's Fountain. IL for
a pool about three rods in diameter a
has been for ages a favorite place
armies, caravans and herdsmen.
this fountain Gideon's three hnndr
chosen men Tapped water as a dog, a
were ready TO attack the Midiani'
at a moments warning. The valley
Jezreel, Mount Gilboa and Gideo
Fountain have prominent places
sacred history.
On a knoll, just west Of Mount 6
boa, is the ancient village Of Jezr'
1t was the royal residence Of X
Ahab and wicked Jezebel. They IL
in an ivory palace and coveted
both's vineyard. Jezebel wrote fr
dulent letters, proclaimed a or
fast, secured two base fellows TO 6
testimony against Naboth, had
stoned to Geath, and delivered
vineyard to Ahab. During a be
~rain Elijah, the prophet of God,
tom. shabis chariot from Mo
thasso Jezreel, q distance Of ft
to tiles. In this royal city vic
tDel was murdered and partly ca
y the dogs; Jeforam met bis av
fate at the hands of Jehu, and Al
lab, King of Judah, fell by Jef
sword. The streets Of Jezreel b
often flown with human blood.
Fourteen miles northwest, &C
the productive Plain Of Esdraeloi
III Muhrakah-the place Of burniI
on the ever delightful range of
mel. On the summit Of this hist
mountain stands a Latin Cha
which is said to mark the plac'
Elijah's altar and sacrifice. But
place OF the assembled multitude
of the slaughter Of the four hunt
and fifty prophets of Baal, is no d.