The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-31

IM WH&.l pie III JeTuSdlGliis VI PCN0AS
small wares in the ghettoes
of the great cities. it is
far cry to the glories of Sol
mon, when the Jewish empire stretch-
ed from Egypt on the south TO inc the
Lebanon on the north. and from the
Mediterranean to the Euphrates- Even
at it's zenith the kingdom OF solomon
did not reach the extent, OF many OF
modern world. Yet no other nation
has ever affected human thought, ana
the currents of history so profoundly
as have the Jews
Now that the mighty host OF the
Sunday schools throughout the world
are to spend a year in studying the
history OF the divided Kingdom OF IS
rael. It is we'll to bear In mind the
person should know. The Promised
Land extends from the River Oron-
tes north of the Lebanon range, TO
the Egyptian desert on the soutn' anu
from the sea on the west to the oes-
ert on the east. The boundaries
have frequently changed. and there is
really no geographical division known
as Palestine. The territory SO desdg
mated Is in that strip of Asia oorder-
ing on tho Mediterranean sea, NORTH
of Egypt; it is approximately loo
miles long and 10 miles wlde: lso
present population ID about aov,0Vo
persons The present government Is
Turkish.
A Historic Territory.
Many of the great nations of history
have held sway over 1t, in wnole OF
in part, since the children OF IsraeL
under Joshua, wrested 1t from tne
tribes whom they found in possession.
The empire of Phoenicia, which was
consistent with Solomon's reign;
stretched along the coast nne aroun nv
Gather the fragments of shells from
which the famous Tyrian purple was
extracted; and he may buy either a
Phoenician sarcophagust OF pboen,cian n
glass, as his purse and fancy may oic-
Tonbs and other relics Of these
successive conquests abound IN
estine. Hittite, Roman, Egyptian, AS
syrian, Babylonian, Greek and Frank
Cor Crusader) antiquities are all oo-
fainable by a person Interested. Inese
Iyarious mowers have all disappeared
they have had their day and gone.
But the Jewish people persist as a
separate entity. This is one OF the
marvels of history. Force has been
absorb them. From the four cor
ners of the earth they gather IN Je-
rusalem in increasing numbers ano
as a few days ago, 1 watched tnat
pthetic line of young and old, MAZE
and female, fervently kissing the tenn
pie stones in the place OF waiiins'
thought that the ancient passion OF
the Jew for the city Of David wnicn
he mas AloO 6AO"-@ 49, -
the years.
solomon the Magnificent.
It is the fashion oflthose who affect
the detachment of modern scnoiar-
ship to speak of the Jews as II they
had been throughout their history a
mere handful comparatively. of pas
tora1 and semi-nomadic people we
may not forget that under solomon
the Hebrew nation was great Worlo
power, the vanQuisher of Egypt ana
Assyria. and a marvel of prosperity
and magnif1cence. From down at
the lower end of Arabia came the
Queen of Sheba to behold the state
Of the rich and wise king, who had
alliances with the other great rulers
of his day.
are learning today. imperialism pears ear
onions state had to be supported by
the humble toilers. His armamen
his stables (stiu shown beneath the
temple area in JerusaIem), ms PAL
the country One look into Solomon
Quarries win show what was involved
in the forced labor Of the people dur
ing all this magnificent building era
IThere is always an under side to the
glory of kings, and the ordinary folk
know IT best
A IAttIe Land and Its Hills.
Palestine Is a land OF ups and
downs. fertile valleys and rolling hills
and mountains. It is well adapted
for settlement by different groups or
people; to this day its population Is
split into regions Of Druses, Syr1ans'
Greek Catholics. Roman M GasnoiicS !,
Beduins and Jews. The separation
of the twelve tribes accords with the
natural division of the region.
David and Solomon had united the
people; but there were rival religious
capitals. Sechen, on the slope of Mt.
Gerazim, claimed priority over Mt.
Zion, even as 1t does today. Last
week the high priest OF the Samarl-
q pamphlet setting forth the claims
of Sechem. where he and his dimin-
ishing sect maintain a tiny syna-
gogue. A range OF nus ,,t diSl VIC, cor the
so that the line Of cleavage was al
The history Of Israel has centered
about its mountains, from Sinai to Oil
vet; the point is one deserving fuller
study.
The Cry OF the Poor.
The slopes of Gerazim and Ebal are
now bare and rocky. though Jacobs
well and Joseph's tomb may still be
seen in the valley between. What
they must have looked like wher
verdure clad and covered with the
encamped hosts of Israel we may only
image. The city OF Shechem, II
beam as his fathers successor, is the
modern Nablus, dirty. smelly city
with curious vaulted streets. and {
bigoted Moslem population. The small
boys throw stones at the foreigners
who visit it.
Always excitable, the city was new.
er more so than when the Jews gath
cred to consider the state of the ma,
ton, and to present their bill of griev
ances to the new king. They were
FESTIVE under the heavy yoke of Solo
mon. The gold and glitter and pomI
had been a sore burden The peo