DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.10358#0187
i6o
PICTURESQUE PALESTINE.
conspicuous hill now called Tel es Safy, on which was built the important fortress of Blanche-
garde by King Fulke during the Crusades (see page 161). It lies about sixteen miles from
the seashore, and is situated on the extremity of one of the spurs of the hills of Philistia, as
they melt down into the undulating plains. It obtained the name of Alba Specula during the
Middle Ages on account of the glaring white chalk cliff or scarp which surrounds it, and
which is most conspicuous for many miles to the south-west. It was a most important
stronghold of the Philistines, and com-
manded the mouth of the valley of ' """""""' -
Elah, from whence there went a main ^. ^%^\W|H 'I w|:^A
road to Jerusalem. Gath is not very y / 1 j^W
frequently mentioned except in con- ] '^fcl^ ^1 ^ I \| !//
nection with the other royal cities of ^5^^L^3^^^^^^^^ \ Wj^^
the Philistines, and is chiefly interesting ^'^^s^kl \ I jr
as having been a place ol resort which | J^^ffipsi^-- '"^W. wmw w
PLOUGHING IN THE PLAINS OF PHILISTIA, „; ^^im
In the neighbourhood of Tell es Safy. Ploughing and sowing for winter crops extends from ^jSii-ll^L
the end of November to the middle of fanuary, or later. ; ($*2r^tm ,„J "■
King David frequented during his troubles ; here out of fear of • ^'C, J v
Achish "he feigned himself mad, and scrabbled on the doors ' ^7^-
of the gate ;" and here again, some years later, he was received
with honour by the Philistine king, and again out of Gath came one of David's most faithful
of followers and firmest of friends, Ittai the Gittite (2 Samuel xv. 19—23). When Gath
was rebuilt under the name of Blanchegarde, it played a most important part in the wars of
the Crusades, and was witness to some of the chief adventures of Richard Plantagenet with
the Saracens who infested the plain. The hill on which the city stood is about two hundred
feet above the surrounding plain, and is of an irregular shape. A modern wely rests on the
highest level, and around are the remains of the ruined castle, and some large stones forming
PICTURESQUE PALESTINE.
conspicuous hill now called Tel es Safy, on which was built the important fortress of Blanche-
garde by King Fulke during the Crusades (see page 161). It lies about sixteen miles from
the seashore, and is situated on the extremity of one of the spurs of the hills of Philistia, as
they melt down into the undulating plains. It obtained the name of Alba Specula during the
Middle Ages on account of the glaring white chalk cliff or scarp which surrounds it, and
which is most conspicuous for many miles to the south-west. It was a most important
stronghold of the Philistines, and com-
manded the mouth of the valley of ' """""""' -
Elah, from whence there went a main ^. ^%^\W|H 'I w|:^A
road to Jerusalem. Gath is not very y / 1 j^W
frequently mentioned except in con- ] '^fcl^ ^1 ^ I \| !//
nection with the other royal cities of ^5^^L^3^^^^^^^^ \ Wj^^
the Philistines, and is chiefly interesting ^'^^s^kl \ I jr
as having been a place ol resort which | J^^ffipsi^-- '"^W. wmw w
PLOUGHING IN THE PLAINS OF PHILISTIA, „; ^^im
In the neighbourhood of Tell es Safy. Ploughing and sowing for winter crops extends from ^jSii-ll^L
the end of November to the middle of fanuary, or later. ; ($*2r^tm ,„J "■
King David frequented during his troubles ; here out of fear of • ^'C, J v
Achish "he feigned himself mad, and scrabbled on the doors ' ^7^-
of the gate ;" and here again, some years later, he was received
with honour by the Philistine king, and again out of Gath came one of David's most faithful
of followers and firmest of friends, Ittai the Gittite (2 Samuel xv. 19—23). When Gath
was rebuilt under the name of Blanchegarde, it played a most important part in the wars of
the Crusades, and was witness to some of the chief adventures of Richard Plantagenet with
the Saracens who infested the plain. The hill on which the city stood is about two hundred
feet above the surrounding plain, and is of an irregular shape. A modern wely rests on the
highest level, and around are the remains of the ruined castle, and some large stones forming