The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-25
(BY WILLIAM II. ELLsD

Review.
CBY WILLIAM T. ELLIS-)
lin the lordly liberalism OF the
WMN times, among some persons,
it is the vogue to pooh-pooh
ia al the importance OF the an
Il cient Hebrew nation, and TO
speak of the Jews as few
pastoral tribes, settled on an unlm-
portant strip of the Mediterranean
coast. If any one will take the trou-
BILE to look at a map OF the ancient
world he will be surprised to note
the central position OF Canaan anu
he will be inspired to new thoughts
about the wise providence of Jehovah.
The Land of Promise Is IN most
strategic position. The children OF
israel are not the only ones who have
fought for it; part of their history is
applicable only on the basis OF the
great political desirability OF the ter
fitorv. Phoenicians, BabyIonians, As
syrians, Egyptians, Greeks, Entities.
Romans. Arabs, Crusaders, Turks, all
have waged war for the possession or
this little bit of territory. There are
doubtless a greater variety OF ruins
to be found in Palestine than any
where else; each of the passing civil
hzations has left its traces behind
Now, in the present day, there Is
keen and skilful struggle going on for
the possession of the old land. The
Chosen People may again settle W1tn1n
the borders promised to Abraham.
Turkey. with a revived sense OF ma
tional pride, DEGREES anew pan upon
this project. In the meantime, the
great powers, with Germany easlly IN
the lead, are maneuvering for adVant-
ageous positions, in the hope that the
Holy Land may fall to them, in the
final breakup of Turkey. The high
towers which Germany and Russia
have erected on the Mount of Olives,
and which are the most conspicuous
objects from both sides of the Jordan,
are commonly believed to have other
than a purely religious purpose. Even
as il was in the old days, Palestine is
still of strategic importance to trade
and empire.
The Land That Fits the Book.
The best way to review this three
months of study of the first hundred
years of the history of the divided
kingdom is by a general historical
and geographical look at the territory
and peoples involved. Incidentally 1t
will appear how wonderfully the land
fits the book. No ancient could know
enough of geography and history to
fabricate this book, of which Profess
sor Albert T. Clay, the eminent arch
aeologist says, Whatever in the Old
Testament reference is made to con-
tact with foreign powers, and we have
temporaneouS records of those powers,
in nearly every instance reference to
such contact with Israel has been
found
Whoever goes east of the Jordan,
as l have gone, from Damascus down
to Petra, and looks upon the ruins of
the great cities there-Baalbeck
HONS, Jerash, FIishbon, Amman, Mad
cha, not to mention the cities in what
We know as Palestine proper-Wil1
carry away a new respect for this sup
posedly small and pastoral people. He
will get a new conception of the
forces which were arrayed against
Israel, and of the magnitude of that
nations conquests. This nation which
was to be the exem plifier and revealer
of the nature and viii of the one true
God was set in the right place for it's
mission.
The Great Division.
. The split in the Kingdom of Israel
had lasted for about a hundred years.
at the time to which the review car
ries us. The northern kingdom had
been going steadily farther and farth-
er away from the ideals which had
brought into being the Hebrew nation.
It's ambition seems to have been to
become as like as possible to the sur
rounding peoples; whereas Jehovah
had distinctly enjOined upon them
that they should be a peculiar people.
Judah had done somewhat better;
with frequent ups and downs it had
yet remained measurably loyal to the
God of Abraham.
Both were recreant to a great past.
They remind one of a common sight to
other Bible lands today, in that they
made a worse use of the better. The
eommonest quarry in the Near East
today is the ruins Of some ancient