by Cunningham Geikie, D.D.
Philologos Religious Online Books
Philologos.org
The Holy Land and the Bible
A Book of Scripture Illustrations gathered in Palestine
Cunningham Geikie, D.D.
With a Map of Palestine and Original Illustrations by H. A. Harper
Special Edition
(1887)
Philologos.org would like to thank N. Ridley, Israel for sending us this book for inclusion on this website.
This book is over 900 pages long and some of the chapters and most of the beautiful illustrations within each typed chapter will unfortunately not be reproduced here due to time constraints. This, however, is open to debate if there is enough of a public interest. Please let us know if you find this book interesting and would like to see more.
Contents
CHAPTER 1—JOPPA AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD
The First Sight of Joppa—Landing under Difficulties—Through the Streets—Orange Groves and Orchards—Why Jaffa Oranges are not Round—Water and
Water Wheels—Irrigation—Prevalence of Arches—Prowling Dogs—The Bazaar—Tattooing—Inside a Cafe—Burdens Heavy to be Borne—Tanning—The
Roofs—Traditional Sites—Jonah and the "Whale"—Past and Present—A Massacre
CHAPTER 2—LYDDA—RAMLEH
The Finest Fountain in Palestine—The Water Supply—Ibn Ibrak—Beit Dejan—Kefr Ana —El-Yehudiyeh—Rantieh —Lydda—Its Associations with
St. George—The Road to Ramleh—Ancient Crusading Church—The White Tower—Why the Hebrews Failed to Keep the Lowlands
CHAPTER 3—THE PLAIN OF SHARON
The Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Valley—Peasants Ploughing—Beit Nebala—Midieh—The Home of the Maccabees—The Turtle-Dove—Nature in the Bible—Tibneh—A Remarkable Rock-Tomb—Is Joshua Buried Here?—Trees in the Holy Land—"Yaar"—Roman Road to Antipatris—El-Yehudiyeh—What Houses are Built of in Palestine—Rainy
Roofs—Antipatris—"Preparing the Way"—Kefr Saba—Gilgal—Zeita—The "Club-bearers"
CHAPTER 4—CÆSAREA —ATHLIT
Cæsarea and the Early Church—The Building of the City—Its Ruins—The Country to the North—Timber in Palestine—The Zerka—Crocodiles—The Ma-Mas—A Suburb of Cæsarea—North to Carmel—Athlit—Its Connections with the Templars—Dor, or Tanturah—Local Feuds—A Nest of Assassins—Mukhalid and its Melon Crops—Dry, yet Fertile—The Explanation—The Dew of the Morning—The Pastures of Sharon—El-Falik—Arsuf—The Carob, or Locust-Tree—Locusts as Food—The Aujeh—Skin Jars—A German
Colony
CHAPTER 5—THE PHILISTINE PLAIN AND SAMSON'S COUNTRY
The "Turn-out"—Derivation of "Palestine"—The Philistines—Their Origin—Their Relations with the Hebrews—Their Character—Hittites, Girgashi, Amorites, Canaanites, and Jebusites—Women as Carriers—"Teben"—Irruption of Sand—A Sign of Civilisation—Yabneh or Jamnia—The Scene of Barcochba's Insurrection—Ekron and the
Ark—"The Lord of Flies"—Troublesome Insects—Tell Jezer—Wady es Surar—Birthplace of Samson—Tibnah or Timnath—Marriage, Present and Past—Jackals—Bethshemesh
CHAPTER 6—LOCALITIES FAMOUS IN DAVID'S LIFE
The Scene of David's Victory over Goliath—The Sling as a Shepherd's Implement—The Ancient Socoh and Ephes-Dammin—The Cave of Adullam—Houses not Made with
Hands—Keilah—The Valley of Elah—A Desperate Rush—Tell Zakariyah—The Wady Akrabeh—Tell es Safieh—El Safieh—Entertained by the Sheikh—One Dish to Four Eaters—Burning Thorns—Big Fires—The Lamp Goes Out: a Fatal Omen—Morning—The Blanche Garde—A Magnificent View—A Cloud of Doves—The Probable Site of Gath—Philistine Giants—David's Stratagem—Lunatics as Saints—Scarcity of Timber in Palestine—Manure as Fuel—Tell et Turmus—The Road to
Ashdod—Winter Floods—"As Pants the Hart"—"Deep Calleth unto Deep": the Probable Meaning of the Phrase
CHAPTER 7—ASHDOD—MEJDEL
Ashdod—A Plague of Sand—Dagon and Derketo—The History of Ashdod—The Capture of the Ark—Dagon's Defeat—Votive Offerings—An
Unwelcome Offer—The Sycamore: Its Fruit and its Wood—Wandering Arabs—El-Mejdel—The Olive: Its Antiquity—How it is Propagated—The Gathering of the Berries—Different Methods of
Expressing the Oil—The Country beyond Mejdel—A Generous Arab Girl—The Mole-Rat—Poverty of the Hebrew Language—Nalia and Burberah—Harvest on the Plains and in the Mountains—The Threshing-Floor—Treading out the
Corn—A Wheeled Threshing-Sledge—Tearing Prisoners of War to Pieces—Winnowing—Scriptural Images taken from the Threshing-Floor—A Mistranslated Passage—The Oriental Mode of Swimming—Subterranean Storehouses—Diminished
Fertility
CHAPTER 8—GAZA
Carrying Children on the Shoulder—Boys and Girls—Deir Sineid—Job's Dung-hill—Cattle that know their way about—Beit Hanun: A Misnomer—Gaza—The Filthiness of Eastern Towns—A Prohibited Craft—Cocks and Hens: their Record—The Mosque at Gaza—Heathen Gaza—The God Marnas—A Discovery—Traditional Scene of Samson's last Feat—What the "House" of Dagon was
like—A Turkish Court of Justice—Blood Feuds—A Typical "Inn"—The Industries of Gaza and of the Hebrews—Grinding at the Mill—The Cemetery—Hired Wailers—A
Memorial Service—Funeral Processions—The Fig-tree—Fruit Time—"Abbas" and "Izars"—Children with Shaved Heads—A Cosmopolitan Structure—Infant Mortality in Palestine—Polygamy—Facility of Divorce—A Visit from the Kadi—El-Munter and what it has seen
CHAPTER 9—ASCALON
A Trip to Ascalon—A Sand Ocean—The Prevalence of Potsherds—Ancient Pottery—General Gordon's Place of Prayer—A Short and Easy Method of Filtration—The Approach to
Ascalon from the Sea—Shalots: Origin of the Term—A Chat with Arabs—Ruins of the Ancient Fortress—Reminiscences—New Ascalon or El-Jurah—An Olive Wood—A Definition of Turkish Rule—Bashi-Bazouks as
Tax-Collectors—The "Apple Tree" of the Bible—A Wild Adventure—The Muezzin's Summons—Prayer in the East—The Palm Tree
CHAPTER 10—ON THE WAY TO GERAR
A Picturesque Conductor—How They Dress in Southern Palestine—Milk, Sour and Sweet—Cheese and Butter—Wady Ghuzzeh—A Bible
Wilderness—Shepherds, Good and Bad—Robbers and Wild Beasts—Watching Flocks by Night—"Putting Forth" Sheep in the Morning—"Rod and Staff"—Taking Care of the Lambs—Goats—The Bright and
the Dark Side of a Shepherd's Life—How Shepherds are Paid—Sheep with Huge Tails—Statistics—Seething a Kid in his Mother's Milk—Basis of the Prohibition
CHAPTER 11—GERAR
Wells near Gerar—Are they the ones mentioned in Genesis?—The Wady Ghuzzeh—Brittle Pottery—Antiquity of Gerar—A Spirited Guide—The Serpents of Palestine—The Cockatrice and the Basilisk—The "Adder"—Serpent-Charming—Inventive Theologians—The Horned Snake—The Viper—"Fiery Serpents"—"Wise as Serpents"—From Gerar to Beersheba—AnArab and his Spear—Excessive Courtesy
CHAPTER 12—BEERSHEBA
The Wells at Beersheba—Ruins of the Ancient Town—Personal Ornaments, Modern and Ancient—Trinkets as Charms—The History of Beersheba—Broom and its Uses—The Desert of El-Tih—Ancient Native Houses—Cairns—"Grape-Mounds"—Ruins of Christian Churches—Sebaita and its Ruins—The Hebron Valley—Cave Dwellings at Dhahariyeh—Tell Arad, Moladah, and
Aroer
CHAPTER 13—FROM GAZA TO FALUJEH
The Start—The Composition of the Party—Prevalence of Ophthalmia—Beit Hanun—An Abusive Moslem—Nejid—Simsim—The Winter, the
Early and the Latter Rain—Bureir—Subterranean Reservoirs—The Gazelle—Falujeh—Poverty in Ancient Times and in These—Arab Tents—A Girl instead of a Boy—A Lay Casuist—A Seeing Eye—Arab
Hospitality—Skin Bottles—"Good Measure"—How Arabs Dress—Paternal Authority
CHAPTER 14—FALUJEH TO BEIT JIBRIN AND HEBRON
Arak—A Ticklish Descent—Beit Jibrin—Taking Refuge in the Sheikh's House—How the Turks Govern—Roughing it—The Site of Gath—Artificial Caverns—Cave-Dwellers of To-day—Evading Conscription—A Relic of Byzantine Times—The Crescent Victorious over the Cross—Oriental Salutations—Through the "Desert"—Stone Walls
CHAPTER 15—HEBRON
Vineyards in Palestine—Treading the Wine Press—Famous Wine-growing Districts—Where was Eshcol?—Walls—The Grape
Harvest—Red and Green Grapes—Grape "Honey"—An Injudicious Mixture; A Sober Country—The Road from Adullam to Hebron—The Russian Hospice at Hebron; "Abraham's Oak"—Interviewing the Governor; Filthy
Streets—Conventional Greetings—The "Scrip"—Glass Works—Houses at Hebron—"Othniel's Pool" and "Abraham's Pool"; Splendid Cursers—The Cave of Machpelah and the Mosque of Abraham; Mock Tombs—Commercial Transactions in the East; The Consummation of a Bargain—Historical Reminiscences
CHAPTER 16—THE COUNTRY SOUTH OF HEBRON
The Juttah Plateau; The Traditional Birthplace of John the Baptist—Kurmul (Carmel); Nabal and David—Semua (Eshtemoa); The Dimensions of Palestine—Its Suitability to be
the Scene of a Divine Revelation—The Negeb—The Mirage—David's Wandering; Ziph—Hachilah—Debir and its History; Achsah's Diplomacy—The "Book-Town"—Dhaheriyeh—El Dilbeh—Visit to a Tannery—The Contradictions of Palestine—The Threshing-Floors of Hebron—A Typical Dinner
CHAPTER 17—THE COUNTRY NORTH OF HEBRON
The Jerusalem Road—The Ass and his Uses—"The House of Abraham"; Jonah's Mosque; The Gourd—Tarshish; A Hebrew Ship—El Dirweh and the
Maccabees—Bereikut; An Unpleasant Digression—Russian Pilgrims—Solomon's Pools; The Wady Urtas and Solomon's Pleasure Gardens—Aqueducts in Palestine—Ants: The Natural History of the Bible
CHAPTER 18—URTAS
The Frank Mountain and its Connection with Herod—View from the Summit—David's Wanderings—Concerning Locusts—Their Place in the Mosaic Law—Khureitun and the Cave of Adullam—St. Chariton; Hermits and Monks in Ancient Times—The Wady Khureitun—The Great Cavern—Tekoa—Its Associations with Amos and the Maccabees—The Region Round
About—"The Swellings of Jordan"—The Wady Urtas Again; Another View of the Great Pools
CHAPTER 19—BETHLEHEM
From El-Burak to Bethlehem—Among Christians; The Tomb of Rachel—Female Dress—General Appearance of Bethlehem; Its Industries—The Streets—The Church of the Nativity—The Chapel of the Nativity—The Probable Place of Christ's Birth—Superstition Rampant—The Fields of Boaz; Harvesting and Gleaning—Practical Equality and Fraternity; The Joy of
Harvest—The Duty of the Deceased Husband's Brother—An Illustrious Stock—"David's Well"—Overlooking Bethlehem—The Women of Bethlehem—Housetops and their Uses
CHAPTER 20—BETHLEHEM TO JERUSALEM
The Littleness of Palestine—Rachel's Grave—The Patriarchs and Sun-worship—Jacob and his First Love—The Unchanging East; Marriage
Customs—Jacob and Esau—At the Well—The Mandrake and its Supposed Properties—Teraphim—Horses and Asses in Ancient Times—The Starry Heavens—The Monastery of Elias—A Glorious View—The Valley of Rephaim
CHAPTER 21—JERUSALEM
The Joppa Gate—Characteristic Street Scenes—The Size of Jerusalem—The Tower of David—General View of the City; The Surrounding Hills—The "Upper Pool"—David Street—Christian Street; The Church of the Holy Sepulchre; "Holy Fire"; "The Centre of the World"—Chapel of St. Helena and of the Invention of the Cross—"Golgotha"
CHAPTER 22—JERUSALEM (continued)
Hospice of the Knights of St. John —Professional Letter-Writers—Writing in Ancient Times—The Seal and its Importance—The Bazaars—How the People Dress—The Damascus Gate; A Characteristic Scene; The Via Dolorosa—Pilate's Judgment Hall; The Pool of Bethesda—Church of St. Anne—Mosque of Omar: the Top of Mount Moriah—Mosque El-Aksa—View from the Temple Area
CHAPTER 23—JERUSALEM (continued)
Herod's Temple; Court of the Gentiles—Court of the Women; The Gate Beautiful—The Entrance—Robinson's Arch—The Wailing Place—The Jews' Quarters; Observance of Traditions—A Second Bridge; The Tower of Antonia—Tombs of the Hebrew Kings; Herod's Palace—The Walls of the City—Lepers and Leprosy; Tacitus on the Origin of the Jews—Evangelical Effort at
the Present Day—Unscrupulous Traders—Bishop Gobat's Schoolhouse—The Population of the City; Its Religious Sub-divisions; Invasions by Pilgrims
CHAPTER 24—ROUND ABOUT JERUSALEM
The Summit of Mount Zion—Professional Mourners—Quick Burial—"Tomb of David" and "Room of the Last Supper"—The Sultan's Pool—The Valley of Hinnom and its Associations—The Hill of Evil Counsel; Aceldama—Cheesemakers' Valley—Pool of Siloam—An Ancient Inscription—The Virgin's Well; A Curious Phenomenon—The Royal
Gardens—En Rogel; "God Save King Adonijah"—Hill of Offence—Valley of Jehoshaphat; The Village of Silwan (Siloam)
CHAPTER 25—GETHSEMANE AND CALVARY
The Scene of the Last Judgment; Tombs of Zechariah and Absalom—Cursing upon System—Tomb of Jehoshaphat—The Kedron Valley—Gethsemane—Chapel of the Tomb of the Virgin—The Ascent of Olivet—Its three Summits—The Finest View around Jerusalem—The "Cotton Grotto": where the Stone was Quarried and Squared for Solomon's Temple; Forced
Labour—The Grotto of Jeremiah—The Site of Calvary—Joseph of Arimathæa's Tomb
CHAPTER 26—JERUSALEM AND BETHANY
The Damascus Gate—A Suburb for the Rich—A Good Road and How it came to be Made—The Daily Life of Ancient Jerusalem—The Water Supply; Almost
Impregnable—To Bethany—Rock Tombs—The Village as it now is; The Redeemer's Last Ascent to Jerusalem
CHAPTER 27—STILL ROUND JERUSALEM
The "Potters' Gate"—Pottery in the East; Scripture Allusions to it—The Wall of Jerusalem near St. Stephen's Gate—Tombs of the Kings—Tombs of
the Judges—Defilement from Sepulchres—The Climate of Jerusalem; The Seasons in Palestine—The Desert Storm-Wind
CHAPTER 28—THE PLAIN OF JERICHO
The Road to Jericho—A Khan where Jesus must have Rested—The Wady Kelt and the Monastery of St. John; The "Swelling" of Jordan—The "Pool of Moses"—The Spina Christi—A Land of Thorns—The Sultan's Spring—Site of Jericho; History of the City; Its Modern Successor—What Eastern Christians are thought of—Mountain of the Temptation—Beth-Hogla
CHAPTER 29—THE JORDAN
The "Glory" of the Jordan—Locale of the Baptist's Ministry—Mouth of the River—The Jerboa and the Cony—Associations of the Jordan—Pilgrimages to the Supposed Scene of the
Baptism—Gilgal of the Jordan Plain, and how it was discovered—The other Gilgals—The Valley of the Jordan—Its Sources—Its Length—Historic Crossing Points—The Hill of Surtabeh and its ancient
uses—From North to South—A Memorable Voyage
CHAPTER 30—THE DEAD SEA
The distant Past and the Present—The Jordan near its Mouth—The Waters of the Dead Sea—Its Tributaries—Evaporation Extraordinary—How the Sea was
formed—The Original Dimensions of the Sea—The Winter Storms—Baked Rock—The View from the Mouth of the Jordan—The Plain of Engedi—Henna and the Apple of Sodom—The Fountain of
Engedi—Situation of the Cities of the Plain—The probable Mode of their Destruction—Lot's Wife—The Abode of Silence and Death
CHAPTER 31—MAR SABA
Saint Sabas—A Scene of Stern Grandeur—Foundation of the Monastery—Gaining Admission—The Saint's Grave—The Church—How the Monks Live—Their Gardens—Tameness of Wild Creatures—An Evening at the Monastery—The Baking of Bread—The Essenes—"The Watch Tower"—The Scapegoat—Getting round the Mosaic Law—Character of the Monks
CHAPTER 32—TO EMMAUS AND KIRJATH JEARIM
The Convent of the Holy Cross—Malhah—Sherafat—Ain Hanniyeh—Bittir (Bether)—The Final Downfall of the Jews—"Hewers of Wood"—How Orientals
Sing—Bethshemesh—Timnath—Ebenezer—Probable Sites of Emmaus and Kirjath Jearim—Artuf—Ain Karim and its Monastery—Kolonieh—Festival on the Day of Atonement—Land Tenure in Palestine: Division by Lot and Line—Landmarks—Salting Infants
CHAPTER 33—NORTHWARDS
British Influence in Palestine—View from the Summit of Scopus—Its Associations—"The Village of Jesus" and Shafat: Nob—Birthplace of Jeremiah—His Great Predecessor—Two Women Grinding at the Mill—Tel el Ful—Gibeah—A Great Crime and its Punishment—David and the Sons of Rizpah—Neby Samwil and its Memories—El Jib (Gibeon)—Er Ram (Ramah)—Geba (Gibeah)—Mukhmas (Michmash)—The Feat of Jonathan and his Armour-bearer
CHAPTER 34—BETHHORON, BETHEL, SHILOH
El Tell: the Site of Ai—The Pass of Bethhoron—The Valley of Ajalon—The Defeat and Pursuit of the Amorites—The Bethel of To-day—Bethel and
Shechem as Holy Places—Striking Tent—The Tent-Life of the Hebrews—Village Life now and in Christ's Day—Travelling Expenses in Palestine—Ain Haramiyeh—Traces of the Crusaders—The Scarabæus—Seilun (Shiloh)—The National Sanctuary of Israel—A Parallel with Roman History—The Prevalence of Ophthalmia
CHAPTER 35—TO GERIZIM
The Valley of Shiloh—Lubban (Lebonah)—Sawieh—Kefr Haris—The "Green Trees" of Scripture—Awerta: The Tomb of Phinehas—El
Mukhnah—The Oak of Shechem—The Well of Samaria—Askar (Sychar): View of Gerizim and Ebal—Traditional Tomb of Joseph—Nablus (Shechem): its Mosque—Marriage Customs—The Summit of
Gerizim—Scene of the Cursings and Blessings—The Views from Gerizim and Ebal—A Samaritan Community: Their Sacred Writings: The High Priest: The Protestant Mission—The Associations of Shechem—Salem and Ainun (Enon)
CHAPTER 36—THE CITY OF SAMARIA
Leaving Shechem—At the City of Samaria—The Church of St. John—The Crusaders as Architects—Pagan and Christian: a Comparison—The Site of Baal's Temple—Herod's Temple—From the Days of Omri to the Fall of the City—The Origin and Career of the Northern Kingdom—The Southern Slope of the Hill—The Unspeakable Turk again
CHAPTER 37—DOTHAN, GILBOA, SHUNEM
Burka—Birds of Prey: How Eagles Learn to Fly—Sanur—Plain of Dothan—"Well of the Pit"—Jenin—Mountains of Gilboa—Plain of Esdraelon: Teaching the Bedouins a Lesson—Scene of Saul's Defeat and Death—Site of Jezreel—Solam (Shunem)—Endor—Roof Chambers in Palestine—Associations of Shunem
CHAPTER 38—BEISAN, JEZREEL, NAIN Beisan (Bethshan): the Modern Village and the Ancient City—"Bethabara"—Ain Harod: the "Spring of Trembling"—Gideon's Great Triumph—Jezreel and Josiah—Megiddo and Armageddon—Barak and Sisera—Joel's cruel Treachery—Jezebel's Crime and its Punishment—Neby Duhy: the "Little Hermon"—Nain
CHAPTER 39—NAZARETH
The Scene of a Great Battle—The First View of Nazareth—What the Missionaries are Doing—The "Virgin's Fountain"—Christian and Mahommedan Women—The
Shops—The "Evil Eye"
CHAPTER 40—TABOR, EL-MAHRAKAH, CARMEL From Nazareth to Tabor—Summit of the Hill—Traces of the Crusaders—A Franciscan Monastery—Odium Theologicum—The View from Tabor—Reminiscences—Tabor and the Transfiguration—At Nazareth again—Marriage Festivities—The Position of Women in the East—The Palm Tree—Scene of Elijah's Triumph over the Priests of Baal—Sheikh Abreik—The Pre-eminence of Carmel
CHAPTER 41—HAIFA AND ACRE
A Druse Village—A Carmelite Monastery—Haifa—The Road to Acre—The Kishon and the Belus—Acre and its Fortifications—Its
History—Its Trade—The Cemetery—The "Eye of a Needle"
CHAPTER 42—EL-BUTTAUF, CANA, THE MOUNT OF BEATITUDES
Roman Roads—Damun—Kabul—Tell Jefat: The Fortress of Jotapata—El-Buttauf—Yielding a Hundredfold—Seffurieh (Sepphoris)—Kefr Kenna
(Cana?)—An Audacious Legend—The Khan Et Tujjar—How Time is Reckoned—The Piety of the Lip—Cursing as an Art—The "Horns of Hattin" and the Sermon on the Mount—Decline and Fall of Christian Rule in Palestine—Solitude—"Clear Shining" after Rain
CHAPTER 43—TIBERIAS
A Storm at Night—Next Morning—Tiberias—Earthquakes in Palestine—Tiberias a Holy Place—Worship with Action—Tiberias in the Time of Christ—The
Climate—The Hot Baths—The City in the Great Jewish War—Its Associations with Jewish Literature
CHAPTER 44—THE SEA OF GALILEE
Size and Shape of the Sea of Galilee—A Day's Sail—The Boat and the Sailors—A General View—Mejdel (Magdala)—"The Valley of Pigeons": The Scene of a
Great Military Feat—The Plain of Gennesaret—Meaning of the Name—A Storm on the Lake—The Story of Jacob and Rachel repeated—Khan Minieh—Tell Hum (Capernaum?)—The Site of Bethsaida Julias—Tomb of Herod Philip—Nets and Fishing
CHAPTER 45—KHAN MINIEH, KHERSA, CHORAZIN
At Khan Minieh—The Papyrus—Greek Pilgrims and Their Behaviour—Is Khan Minieh Capernaum?—Correctness of the Gospel Topography—The Centipede and
the Scorpion—Mosquitoes and Fleas—Umm Keis—The Site of Gadara or Gergesa—Ain Tabghah: Supposed Site of Bethsaida—Kerazeh (Chorazin)—A Crop of Boulders—From Kerazeh to Safed—The Bedouins and Their Ways—Khan
Yusef
CHAPTER 46—SAFED, GISCALA, KADESH
At Safed—Its Ancient Glory and Present Squalor—Polygamy—View from the Castle—Traditional Tomb of Hillel at Meiron—El-Jish (Giscala)—Yarun—Lake Huleh—Joshua's Victory at Merom—Kadesh—The Peasantry of the Holy Land—Their Superstitions
CHAPTER 47—MEROM, DAN, BELFORT
Beauty of the Lake of Merom—Sacred Trees—The Goad—Gorge of the Hasbany—A Memorial of Sun Worship—Tell el-Kadi—A Source of the Jordan—Site of Dan—Wheat and Tares—Abil—Khian—Belfort
CHAPTER 48—CÆSAREA PHILIPPI
The Beauty of Banias—Healing the Sick—A Cavern Fountain—Cæsarea Philippi in our Lord's Day—Legend of the Woman with the Issue of Blood—The Scene of the Transfiguration—The Temple of Pan—The Great Fortress, and why it was Built
CHAPTER 49—THE LEBANON MOUNTAINS
The Ascent of Hermon—The Druses—The Summit of the Pass—A Night at Kefr Howar—Mahommedans and their Formalism—The Power of Islamism—Dress in the Lebanon—Katana—The Approach to Damascus
CHAPTER 50—DAMASCUS
A Sight for Sore Eyes—A Mean City—In the Bazaars—The Houses—Damascus as a Centre of Trade—An Earthly Paradise—The Barada (Abana) and Pharpar—The Jewish and Christian Quarters—Mahommedan Fanaticism—The Great Mosque—Scriptural References to the City—The Tomb of Saladin and of his Lieutenant
CHAPTER 51—BAALBEK AND THE CEDARS OF LEBANON
From Damascus in a Diligence—Shtora—Bekka, or "The Cleft"—At Baalbek—The Great Temple—Temple of the Sun—Vaults of the Great Temple—A Third Temple—The Quarries—The Slow Spread of Christianity—Ainita—The Remains of the Cedars of Lebanon
CHAPTER 52—BEIROUT
From Shtora to Beirout—Animals in the East—At Beirout—Mixture of East and West—The American Presbyterian Missions—Orphanages—A Trip to the Dog River: A Series of Ancient Inscriptions—A Curious Feminine Decoration—A Visit to the Dead River
CHAPTER 53—SIDON
The Vicinity of Sidon—Historical Details—Population, &c.—The Ancient Dye-Works—Buried Treasures—Sarcophagus of Esmunazar—A Fulfilled Curse
CHAPTER 54—SAREPTA AND TYRE
Site of Sarepta—The Leontes—Tyre of To-day—Remnants of Antiquity—The Ancient Industries
CHAPTER 55—CONCLUSION
Preface
I must urge it in explanation of my adding to the already copious literature treating, from one aspect or another, of the Holy Land, that the aim I have had in view in writing this book has been different from that of nearly every other work on Palestine, and that, if I have been able to carry it out successfully, the result should unquestionably prove very useful.
I visited Palestine with the intention of gathering illustrations of the sacred writings from its hills and valleys, its rivers and lakes, its plains and uplands, its plants and animals, its skies, its soil, and, above all, from the pictures of ancient times still presented on every side in the daily life of its people. Nothing is more instructive or can be more charming, when reading Scripture, than the illumination of its texts from such sources, throwing light upon its constantly recurring Oriental imagery and local allusions, and revealing the exact meaning of words and phrases which otherwise could not be adequately understood. Its simple narratives, its divine poetry, its prophetic visions, its varied teachings, alike catch additional vividness and force when read with the aid of such knowledge. The Land is, in fact, a natural commentary on the sacred writings which it has given to us, and we study them as it were amidst the life, the scenery, and the local peculiarities which surrounded those to whom the Scriptures were first addressed.
While describing the various districts of the Holy Land and noting their ancient sites, their past history, and their present state, I have sought to gather at every step contributions towards the illustration of the inspired text from every local source. A glance at the Table of Contents will show that all the country is brought before the reader in successive portions, from the extreme south to its northern limits: that is, from Beersheba to Damascus, Baalbek, and Beirout—an area including the whole Palestine of the Old and New Testaments.
The numerous Scripture passages quoted have been taken, as seemed most advantageous for the reader, from the Authorised or the Revised Versions, or from the Greek or Hebrew texts; and variations from the ordinary renderings have been made where, in order to express the full meaning of the original, such a course seemed necessary.
C.G.
Special thanks to Moza, a research member of Philologos and Bible Prophecy Research, for providing this electronic copy. THIS BOOK HAS BEEN EDITED. Any corrections or questions may be directed to the following address: research-bpr@philologos.org
The Holy Land and the Bible by Cunningham Geikie, D.D.
Philologos Edition: Mar0802
"... freely ye have received, freely give." (Mat 10:8)
