DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.10357#0242
2 I 2
PICTURESQUE PALESTINE.
heather of Palestine—makes a marked contrast between the eastern and western slopes of the
King's Mountain. The grey plain of Jericho and the black snake-like line of the Jordan
jungle are dimly seen through the hot haze which generally hangs over the valley. The
noble ranges of Nebo and Mount Gilead close the view on the east, and the blue-grey
mountain of bare rock now called Tell 'Asur—probably the ancient Baal Hazor—forms the
sky-line on the north.
The little dust-coloured villages perched on the slopes and crowning the ridges are nearly
all famous in Jewish history. Nearest to the spectator is Hozmeh, the ancient Azmaveth,
standing on a hill-top above the curious rude stone monuments called " Graves of the
Amalekites"—or "of the Sons of Israel." Farther away is Jeba, the ancient Geba of
Benjamin, where Jonathan smote the Philistine garrison, and where the Benjamites were
almost exterminated. Michmash, on the opposite side of the great passage, lies low, and is
hidden by higher ground ; and Parah of Benjamin is recognisable in the ruins above the
beautiful pool of 'Ain Farah, in the gorge east of Jeba. Still farther away lie Bethel, Ai,
Rimmon, Ephron, and other sites of minor interest. On a lower spur between Anathoth and
Azmaveth is a ruin with ancient wells marking the site now called 'Alnut, and in the book
of Ezra, Almon or Alemeth. This place has an interest not generally recognised, for,
according to the Targums, Almon was identical with the long-sought Bahurim, famous in the
history of David. Of the position of Bahurim we have but little indication in Scripture. It
was on David's route from Jerusalem to the Jordan Valley, and apparently in the territory of
Benjamin, and certainly beyond the brow of the range of Olivet. It appears that the road
ran beneath the hillside near Bahurim, for Shimei " went along on the hillside," casting stones
on the patient monarch, who accepted his curses and his penitence with equal dignity. All
these requisites are found at 'Alnut. The ancient highway to Jericho descends by the spur
on which the city stood, after passing the brow of the hill near Anathoth ; the ruin lies well
within the limits of the territory of Benjamin, and Jewish tradition identifies the site by the
later name which the place still retains. It was then, perhaps, in one of those ancient wells
still existing in the ruins that Jonathan and Ahimaaz lay hidden beneath the parched corn
spread in the sun in the court of a man's house in Bahurim.
The thirty miles of road between Jerusalem and Shechem are probably better known to
the majority of travellers than any other portion of the country ; with exception, perhaps, of
the high-road between Jaffa and the Holy City. Yet there are many points of interest along
this northern route which are unnoticed in even the latest guide-book, but are not the less
worthy of attention from all who are interested in the antiquities of Palestine. Some of the
most interesting of these unnoticed sites may therefore be briefly described in the succeeding
pages.
Passing beneath the arch of the " Pillar Gate," as the Damascus Gate is called by the
Moslems—which, with its crenellated parapet and flanking towers, is the most picturesque
entrance to the city—the traveller sets out along a stony lane between drystone walls and
PICTURESQUE PALESTINE.
heather of Palestine—makes a marked contrast between the eastern and western slopes of the
King's Mountain. The grey plain of Jericho and the black snake-like line of the Jordan
jungle are dimly seen through the hot haze which generally hangs over the valley. The
noble ranges of Nebo and Mount Gilead close the view on the east, and the blue-grey
mountain of bare rock now called Tell 'Asur—probably the ancient Baal Hazor—forms the
sky-line on the north.
The little dust-coloured villages perched on the slopes and crowning the ridges are nearly
all famous in Jewish history. Nearest to the spectator is Hozmeh, the ancient Azmaveth,
standing on a hill-top above the curious rude stone monuments called " Graves of the
Amalekites"—or "of the Sons of Israel." Farther away is Jeba, the ancient Geba of
Benjamin, where Jonathan smote the Philistine garrison, and where the Benjamites were
almost exterminated. Michmash, on the opposite side of the great passage, lies low, and is
hidden by higher ground ; and Parah of Benjamin is recognisable in the ruins above the
beautiful pool of 'Ain Farah, in the gorge east of Jeba. Still farther away lie Bethel, Ai,
Rimmon, Ephron, and other sites of minor interest. On a lower spur between Anathoth and
Azmaveth is a ruin with ancient wells marking the site now called 'Alnut, and in the book
of Ezra, Almon or Alemeth. This place has an interest not generally recognised, for,
according to the Targums, Almon was identical with the long-sought Bahurim, famous in the
history of David. Of the position of Bahurim we have but little indication in Scripture. It
was on David's route from Jerusalem to the Jordan Valley, and apparently in the territory of
Benjamin, and certainly beyond the brow of the range of Olivet. It appears that the road
ran beneath the hillside near Bahurim, for Shimei " went along on the hillside," casting stones
on the patient monarch, who accepted his curses and his penitence with equal dignity. All
these requisites are found at 'Alnut. The ancient highway to Jericho descends by the spur
on which the city stood, after passing the brow of the hill near Anathoth ; the ruin lies well
within the limits of the territory of Benjamin, and Jewish tradition identifies the site by the
later name which the place still retains. It was then, perhaps, in one of those ancient wells
still existing in the ruins that Jonathan and Ahimaaz lay hidden beneath the parched corn
spread in the sun in the court of a man's house in Bahurim.
The thirty miles of road between Jerusalem and Shechem are probably better known to
the majority of travellers than any other portion of the country ; with exception, perhaps, of
the high-road between Jaffa and the Holy City. Yet there are many points of interest along
this northern route which are unnoticed in even the latest guide-book, but are not the less
worthy of attention from all who are interested in the antiquities of Palestine. Some of the
most interesting of these unnoticed sites may therefore be briefly described in the succeeding
pages.
Passing beneath the arch of the " Pillar Gate," as the Damascus Gate is called by the
Moslems—which, with its crenellated parapet and flanking towers, is the most picturesque
entrance to the city—the traveller sets out along a stony lane between drystone walls and