The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1918-01-24
HEBRON.
Famous Bible City Recently Captured
BY the British

Bethlehem and Damascus, there IS
not a city in the Holy Land which
holds greater interest for the Bible
students than the ancient town OF
Hebron, whose capture by British
forces under General E. H. E. AllenDy
was announced recently" says war
geography bulletin issued by the
National Geographic Society from It's
Washington headquarters recently.
Hebron is a ribbon of a town
running along the eastern slope of
narrow valley, above which are ter
raced vineyards and fruit orchards
of great fertility. 1t is not more
than 20 miles southwest of Jerusalem,
and in peace times tourists are
accustomed to make the journey by
carriage in four and half hours.
Until captured and pillaged by
the Calebites (as recorded in the
Book of Joshua) Hebron was known
.as Kirjath-Arba. 1t is one of the
most ancient cities in the world,
having been founded, according to
the Book of Numbers, seven years
before Zoan in Egypt
"The name of Hebron means The
Friend of Cod in other words the
city Of Abraham. A tree standing IN
the Russian hospice garden, half a
mile from the city, is known as the
Oak of Abraham. 1t will be remem-
bered that it was under the oaks of
Mamre that the patriarch pitched his
tents and he is supposed to have
built an altar here in 1920 B. c.
when Moses sent his spies into
the land of Gamma, Hebron was one
of the cities visited. 1t was here
that David was anointed king over
Judeah. and that six of his SONS were
born, including Absalom who at a
later date made this place the head
quarters of his rebellion against his
father. It was also here that A0ner,
captain of Saul's hosts and guardian
of saul's son Isbosheth, was killed
by Joab.
Hebron was fortified by Reho-
boam and was repeopled after the
return of the Children of Isreal from
captivity.
"Following the Biblical days Heb
ron was destroyed by the Romans. 1t
became place of Importance under
Moslem rule, not only on account OF
it's commerce but also because of its
connection with Abraham, who is
venerated by the followers of Mo-
hammed. During the Crusades it
was occupied by the Christians for
short time and became the seat of a
Latin bishop in 1176, but it was re-
captured by the Moslems under
Saladin twenty years later.
'The most conspicuous building in
Hebron is the Harem, with its ram
parts. dating from the Herodian
period. Within the enclosure are
modern cenotaphs of Abraham, Isaac,
Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, and Leah.
These are above the double cavern of
Machpelah, which was purchased by
Abraham from Ephron the Hittite as
a family burial place when Sarah
died. The tombs of the patriarchs
are covered with richly embroidered
green cloths, while those of their
wives are covered with crimson
draperies.
''The population Of Hebron is vari-
ously estimated at from 10000 to
$4,000, and the number of Jews at
from 500 to 1000. The town was
a thriving trading center before the
war. the Bedouins finding here an
active demand for their bales of wool
and camel's hair. The chief manu-
fantures of the community were glass
bracelets, leather water bottles and
lamps.
"According to mediaval tradition
Adam, the father of mankind, died
in Hebron"