Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-01-24
Interesting Article On Jerusalem.

Jerusalem has been known as u
city from the earliest ages. Just when
it was founded history does not relate.
In the time of Abraham il was known
as Salem. but when it fell into the
hands of hte Jebusites it was named
Jebus; then the two names were united
in one and called Jerusalem, which
means habitation of peace.
Some time after Joshua died, the
tribes Of Judah and Of Simeon fought
against the Canaanites, drove them
out of the city, and burned Jerusalem
to the ground. The city was after
ward rebuilt and fell into the hands Of
tribe after tribe. The most important
conquest made later by the Jews was
under David, when he marched from
Hebron, captured the city and named it
City Of David.
1t is interesting to note that the
present British forces marched from
Hebron to Jerusalem and took it from
the Turks. Hebron is the city where
David was made king for the first seven
years of his reign.
Under the reign of Rehoboam, $40
B. c., Shishak, king of Egypt, came up
against Jerusalem, conquered it, and
pillaged the treasures of the temple;
and while Amaziah was king, Joash,
king of Isarel, broke down four hund-
red cubits of the wall of the city and
took all the gold and silver vessels
from the temple.
UP to this time the city was in the
hands of the Jews, except for brief
periods of thine. 1t was not until oS8
B. c., when Nebuchadnezzar, king OF
Babylon, captured Jerusalem, that for
any appreciable length of time did the
Jews lose control of their city. Some
historians give this as the time when
the heel of the Gentle was first max
ing itself felt upon the city Of Jerusa-
lem. Others claim that the time of the
Gentiles' began with Titus, 70 A. D. Be
that as it may, more will be said Of it
later.
After Nebuchadnezzar's conquest Of
Jerusalem, Babylonia, as an empire,
gave way to the Medes and Persians,
and the city of David was under the
rule of Cyrus and the ArtazerXes. How
ever, under their rule the Jews were al
lowed more freedom than formerly.
Jerusalem passed from the Per-
slams to the Greeks under Alexander,
the Great, who at first threatened to
punish them severely for their fidelity
to the Persians while he was engaged
in a siege against Tyre. He finally re-
Tented, after listening to the pleading
of the high priest Jaddua.
After the death of Alexander, B. G.
324, Ptolemy took the Jews by surprise
by coming against them on the Sabbath
day, when they refusted TO fight, plund-
cred the city, and took many away cap
tive.
The Maccabees obtained possession
of Jerusalem, l65 B. c., repaired the
temple and instituted the sacrifices as
of old.
Pompey was the next conqueror OF
Jerusalem, in B. C. 63. Twelve thou
sand Jews were massacred in the
temple courts, including many priests.
For GOO years Jerusalem remains in
the hands of the Roman empire. 1t
was during the early stages Of Roman
rule that the temple was rebuilt under
Herod the Great, with magnifcence
exceeding that of Solomon's. 1t was
at this very temple that Jesus talked
with the doctors when twelve years Of
age, and later performed many mi
racles and taught Of his glorious king
dom.
In 70 A. D. Titus destroyed the city,
according to the prophecy of Jesus. The
walls were torn down and the temple
gutted with fire. The very foundations
of the temple were dug away. so that
not one stone was left upon another
that was not thrown down. This siege
Of Jerusalem was one Of the most Sc
we're OF any in the history Of the world.
1t lasted three and one-half years, and
was so disastrous that around the altar
heaps of dead bodies were piled high
and the conduits ran red with blood.
Titus at last starved the city into sub
mission. So great was the lack Of
food that Mary, daughter of Eleanor,
from Perea, lady Of rank, killed her in
fant child and cooked it for food.
During the reign of Adrian, emperor
of Rome, the city was partially re-
built. This idolatrous emperor invited
the Jews to return, but insulted them
by putting a statue of hog over the
gate facing Bethlehem, and built a
temple to the god Jupiter This so en-
ragged the Jews that a rebellion arose
under the notorious Barchochebas, who
claimed to be the Messiah. He was
soon defeated by the Roman troops,
and after that the Jews were demanded
to stay out of Jerusalem. For some
time after that any Jew approaching
the city was Immediately put to death.
During Constantine's reign, great in
terest was taken in the city, and many
pilgrimages were made to Jerusalem.
Julian, the apostate, accepted pagan
ism instead Of Christianity, and as a
matter of policy, endeavored to concil-
late the Jews. He gave them free ac-
cess to Jerusalem, and in 362 A. D. they
began the foundation Of their temple.
They failed to get far in the building Of
their edifice when they were again driv-
en- out Of the city.
The Persians in GA A. D. again at
tackled the city and took it by storm.
The Crusaders (bands OF Christian
followers) later attacked the city under
Godfrey of Bouillon and, an the ff-
teenth day Of July, 1899, captured the
city. Godfrey was made king Of Jeru-
salem.
In the year 1887 A. D. the Sultan
Saladin took the city from the Chris
tians. From that time until the other
day, when England captured the city,
At