Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-01-31
AN ANCIENT CITY.
Hebron, Captured By the British, was
Famous in Biblical T1mes.


with the exception Of Jerusalem
Bethlehem and Damascus, there Is not
a city in the Holy Land which holds
greater interest for the Bible student
than the ancient town of Hebron
whose capture by British forces under
Gen. e. H. Il. Allenby was announced
recently" says a war geography bull
letin issued by the National Geographic
society from its Washington headQuar-
ters.
Hebron is a ribbon Of a town rum
ming along the eastern slope Of mar
row valley, above which are terraced
vineyards and fruit orchards Of great
fertility. It 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 q
half hours.
Until captured and pillaged by the
Calebites Gas 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 found
ed. according to the Books Of Numbers.
Seven years before zoan in Egypt"
THE name Of Hebron mean The
Friend of Cod in other words the city
Of Abraham. A tree standing in the
Russian hospice garden, half mile
from the city, Is known as the Oak of
Abraham. 1t will be remembered that
1t 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 Canaan Hebron was one of the
cities visited. It was here that David
was anointed king over Judah, and
that six Of his sons were born. includ-
Ing Absalom who at later date made
this place the headquarters Of his re-
bellion against his father. 1t was also
here that Abner. captain Of Sauls hosts
and guardian Of Saurs son Ishbosheth,
was killed by Joab.
Hebron was fortified Rehoboam and
was repeopled after the return Of the
children Of Israel from captivity.
Following the Biblical days Hebron
was destroyed by the Romans. 1t be-
came a place Of Importance under Mos
lem rule, not only on account Of Its
commerce but also because of it's con-
nection with Abraham, who Is vener-
ated by the followers of Mohammed.
During the Crusades 1t was occupied by
the Christians for a short time and be-
came the seat of q Latin bishop in 1857,
but 1t was recaptured by the Moslems
under Saladin twenty years later
"The most conspicuous building In
Hebron is the Haram, with It's ram
parts dating from the Herodian period
Within the enclosure are modern ceno-
taphs of Abraham. Isaac, Jacob. Sarah,
Rebecca, and Leah. These are above
the double cavern of Machpelah, which
was purchased by Abraham from Eph-
ron the Hittite as a family burial place
when Sarah died. The tombs of the
patriarchs are covered with richly en-
broidered 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 thriving trad
ing center before the war; the Bed.
ouins finding here an active demand
for their bales of wool and camers
hair. The chief manufactures Of the
community were glass bracelets, leath-
er water bottles, and lamps.
According to medieval tradition
Adam. the father Of mankind, died In
Hebron"