DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4592#0280
280
TROUBLING OF THE WATERS.
been cut westward through the solid rock. The vis*
itor descends sixteen long stone steps, which brings
him to a level place of about ten or twelve feet. He
then descends ten steps more, which brings him to the
water. The fountain is supposed to be some ten or
fifteen feet lower than the actual bed of the Kedron,
The basin of the fountain at the foot of the steps, may
be fifteen feet long, five or six wide, and four or five
deep. The bottom is strewed with small pebbles, and
the water flows off by a low passage southward. This
flow is through an excavated passage in the rock, to
the fountain of Siloam, which I shall notice presently.
At the time of our first visit to this fountain, a small
Arab girl came with her pitcher to get water. We
drank of it, found it clear, not very cold, and a little
brackish.
I had read in Professor Robinson's Researches, of
the occasional irregular flow, sudden rise, and occa-
sional rumbling commotion seen in this fountain. I
did not expect to be so fortunate as to witness it my-
self; but while I was standing on the lower step, look-
ing in the water, I suddenly perceived it was rising;
and soon I was obliged to step higher to keep my feet
from being wet, The water appeared in some com
motion, bubbling in different places, and making a gur
gling noise as it passed off. In a few minutes all was
over, and the water settled back again to the usual
depth. I can but believe, with Professor Robinson,
that this fountain is the real Pool of Bethesda. The
Sheep Gate appears to have been near the Temple;
and the wall of the ancient city probably ran along
this valley. May not that gate have stood near this
TROUBLING OF THE WATERS.
been cut westward through the solid rock. The vis*
itor descends sixteen long stone steps, which brings
him to a level place of about ten or twelve feet. He
then descends ten steps more, which brings him to the
water. The fountain is supposed to be some ten or
fifteen feet lower than the actual bed of the Kedron,
The basin of the fountain at the foot of the steps, may
be fifteen feet long, five or six wide, and four or five
deep. The bottom is strewed with small pebbles, and
the water flows off by a low passage southward. This
flow is through an excavated passage in the rock, to
the fountain of Siloam, which I shall notice presently.
At the time of our first visit to this fountain, a small
Arab girl came with her pitcher to get water. We
drank of it, found it clear, not very cold, and a little
brackish.
I had read in Professor Robinson's Researches, of
the occasional irregular flow, sudden rise, and occa-
sional rumbling commotion seen in this fountain. I
did not expect to be so fortunate as to witness it my-
self; but while I was standing on the lower step, look-
ing in the water, I suddenly perceived it was rising;
and soon I was obliged to step higher to keep my feet
from being wet, The water appeared in some com
motion, bubbling in different places, and making a gur
gling noise as it passed off. In a few minutes all was
over, and the water settled back again to the usual
depth. I can but believe, with Professor Robinson,
that this fountain is the real Pool of Bethesda. The
Sheep Gate appears to have been near the Temple;
and the wall of the ancient city probably ran along
this valley. May not that gate have stood near this