Following
are excerpts from several books and newspaper articles dating
from 333 through the 1800's that deal with Jerusalem, Palestine, its
inhabitants and the condition of the land. This will
give you, the reader, a glimpse into a viewpoint held down through the
ages of Jerusalem. These were written mainly from a Christian
viewpoint, and you may detect some anti-semitism in some of
them.
I present them to you to give you a glimpse into the past. |
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FROM
THE OHIO REPOSITORY, CANTON, OHIO
22 AUGUST 1839
LETTERS FROM
THE OLD WORLD
BY A LADY OF
NEW YORK
Mount Hermon
NEWS
ARTICLE
DESCRIBING
'THE
VERY
FACE
OF
THE
EARTH IS REDUCED, IN MANY PLACES, TO A WASTE, HOWLING
WILDERNESS WITH A WRETCHED POPULATION THINLY SCATTERED OVER IT..."
Jericho
is
situated
in
the
midst
of
the
plain on the west side of the Jordan, at some distance from the "hill
country" of Judea. There is a fine stream of water running past
it,
which issues from the hills, and falls into the Jordan.
While at Jericho we were prevented by circumstances from visiting that
part of the Jordan, where the miraculous interposition of Divine power
was manifested, by cutting off the waters, so that 'The priests who
bore the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, stood firm on dry ground in
the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground,
and all the people were passed clean over Jordan.' You are aware
how
much pains infidel writers have taken to do away with the Divine
interposition in the case of the separation of the waters of the Red
Sea, by accounting for that phenomenon in natural causes-the ebbing and
flowing of the tides, or the prevalence of strong north winds.
Now,
if even the context of that very account does not contain
sufficient
refutation
of
any
such
theory,
(which I think it does most
amply)surely the instance now alluded to, in the case of the passage of
the Jordan, abundantly confirmes the probability of the former
miracle. The country in the vicinity of Jericho possesses a
peculiar interest, from the fact that it was the place by which the
Children if Israel first entered the Promised Land; and while gazing on
the mountains of Moab, which bounded the lower Jordan and the Dead Sea
on the side of the wilderness, I could almost fancy I saw the hosts of
the Israelites encamped upon their sides, preparing to obey the command
of their leader:- "Now, therefore, arise and go over this Jordan, thou
and all this people, into the land which I do give to them, even to the
Children of Israel.' The borders were to extend westward 'unto the
Great Sea,' (the Mediterrainean). I have traversed the extent of
the Promised Land, in all its breadth from West to East and it is
melancholy to reflect on the fate of that once highly favored people,
who once inhabited it, and on the direful changes which the country
itself has undergone, as the fruits of their disobediance.
It is impossible to observe the one, and reflect upon the other,
without having brought forcibly to one's mind the exact fulfilment of
the denunciations pronounced by the Almighty as a punishment for their
backslidings.
'But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shall be
drawn away and worship other Gods, and serve them, I denounce you this
day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your
days upon the land whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess
it.' Deut. xxx, 17, 18-see also verses 19 and 20)
And yet this is the land so often described as flowing with milk and
honey, and abounding in all the good things of the earth; the perpetual
inheritance of which was promised to God's chosen people, ' if they
would love the Lord their God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his
commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments.- And the lord thy
God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.'
How
deplorable is its condition now! The very face of the earth is
reduced, in many places, to a waste, howling wilderness, with a
wretched population thinly scattered over it, with scarely the means to
live, and without any inducements to labor. Nor do the judgments
of an
offended God seem yet to have ceased, storms and earthquakes are even
now at work, as if to complete the utter desolation of the country.
Even this valley of the Jordan, whose fertile soil (in many places
where streams cross it from the mountains) once supported a
considerable population, is now almost without a house or fixed
inhabitant in its whole extent from Jericho to Tiberias.
In only one or two instances we observed signs of cultivation, and the
laborers were some of the Nomadic tribes of the desert, who resort to
fertile spots on the borders of civilization, to reap a scanty harvest,
and then roam off again to winter in their wilderness in order to
appropriate the new pastures for their flocks of sheep, goats and
camels.
They live in rude tents, and are as wild in their appearance as the
savages of the far west.
Jericho, and the land round about, was the inheritance of the tribe of
Benjamin. It contained then fourteen cities, including
Jerusalem.
What a contrast it now presents.
You
who are so familiar with Bible history must remember the frequent
mention of 'chariots', both for the purpose of war as well as for
luxury, as used in this country. How can now one realize these
facts,
when at present there is not a wheeled carriage of any kind in all
Palestine or Western Syria; nor indeed, does the present state of the
highways admit of any thing of the kind.
The
land in the vicinity of Jericho is extremely fertile owing to the
stream of water mentioned before, and produces beautiful wheat.
The
gentlemen procured a quantity of it for seed, and the supposition that
if there is any advantage in changing seed from one plantation to
another in the same country, there must be much more efficacy in seed
from the plains of Jericho by the time it reaches the land of 'Yengi duma."
We were glad to break up our encampment early next morning, as we had
been the whole night disturbed by the loquacious and quarrelsome Arabs,
and the half barbarous Turkish soldiers, who are quartered at this
out-post of the present Egyptian ruler of the land.
The Sheik would not accompany
us any farther, and we made a bargain
with several of Ibrahim's light armed troopers, volunteers from all
nations, to accompany us as far as a guard was necessary.
The first object of interest we saw was the 'fountain of Elisha,' which
the prophet miraculously changed from bitter to sweet. It now
yields as delicious water as any in all Palestine, and in sufficient
quantities to irrigate the surrounding country for some distance.
We could neither see nor hear any thing of the ruins of Gilgal, which
was situated near to Jericho.
Our course lay due north up the valley of the Jordan. The river
was on
our right a few miles distant, and the mountains on our left. The
valley is about six or eight miles wide, between the two ranges of
mountains which bound it on the east and west.- Those on the west are
the highest of all the mountains of Palestine, and it is among them
that the desert is to be seen where our Saviour fasted forty days, and
one of its highest peaks, overlooking a great part of the Holy Land,
was the mountain of Temptation. There is a small chapel on its
summit,
and we would have ascended to it had not the excessive heat of the
weather prevented it.
We replenished our water bottles (bags) at the fountain of Elisha, as
we were warned that we should find no more until afternoon. At
this
spot we left all signs of cultivation; the plain was afterwards one
entire desert during the whole days ride of twenty-five miles.
When we arrived at the end of the great plain, we found that the river
flowed through a second plain of much lower level than the one we
had
rode over. We descended the steep bank, which is all sand, and in
a
few minutes we were on Jordan's banks.
We had not time to make much observation, for the Sheik and his party
(who would not venture down from their place of security on the high
bank)were constantly calling us to make good our retreat; but we had
our horses with us, and heeded not their cautions and prayers. We
washed "seven times" in
Jordan's stream, picked up some pebbles, plucked some flowers, filled a
bottle with its waters as a souvenirs and then remounted our
horses.
The Jordan, at this point, was not over sixty or seventy feet wide, the
current very rapid, and the channel deep. The water was turbid,
although the Sea of Galilee is so very clear. Its banks were
lined for
some distance from the shore with very luxuriant vegetation and tall
shrubery- a fit cover for a banditti who might at any moment have
sprung upon us, as the "lion from the
swelling of the Jordan."
But we escaped unscathed, and
were soon upon the top of the bank; when the Shiek gave the signal, and
then it was "To your tents, O Israel,"
with
a
vengeance.
When we returned, we found our tent pitched close beside that of the
Shiek. The sun had just set, and we had sufficient time to reconnoiter
our whereabouts. We
found
that we were in the midst of an encampment of wild Bedouins, who are
permitted to glean a scanty harvest in a valley among the mountains,
under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Nablous, by their paying him
a certain tribute. This valley is well watered by a stream which
rises
from several copious streams.
The Bedouin encampment was on a stubble field, the tents arranged in a
circle. The tents were made from the same dark brown
striped camels
wool cloth, which is prevalent among all the nomadic tribes of Asia.
Two short sticks support a square piece of cloth in the centre, and
several cords serve to distend it in each direction. Another
piece of
cloth serves as a curtain between the men's apartments and the "harem."
A few pieces of primitive household stuff are ranged around the
interior. The whole village, tents, furniture, provisions, women
and
children can be packed up in marching order in a moment's warning.
During the evening we had a visit from the Sheik. We offered him
a pipe and a cup of tea.
We
were
amused
to
see
the
awkward work he made with our Delf utinsels
and the grimaces he made at the warm decotion of the China weed.
A cup
of coffee, however, put all things right. After tea, a dozen
other
chief men of the tribe came to pay their respects to us, and if you, or
any other of our trans-Atlantic friends, could have seen this group of protectors , you
would have
exclaimed in utter consternation, Heaven defend you from them!
You
might well have supposed that we were in the situation of the man who
went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves. The
Shiek
fell terribly in love with a fine pair of Turkish pistols that hung up
in our tent. We desired him to accept of them for his
hospitality,
(not to be delivered, however, until morning.)
Before
night
the
arena
in
the
midst
of
the tents was entirely
unoccupied; but when we came to look out by the light of the stars, we
found it completely filled with the flocks and herds of the tribes,
which had been driven from the mountains for security for the night.
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FROM THE ADAMS
CENTINEL
GETTYSBURG,
PENNSYLVANIA
9
DECEMBER 1839
THE
JEWS
IN
PALESTINE
A
late London paper contains some extracts from a letter by the Rev. Mr
Me Cheyne, one of a deputation from England, to ascertain the condition
of the Jews in Judea. He says:
The accounts we received at home, as to the state of the Jews in this
land, are far from being accurate. - The exact number of Jews, in
Palestine, it is very difficult to ascertain. The largest
estimate reckons them to be about fifteen thousand. Some state
the numbers as low as ten thousand. They reside chiefly in the
four holy cities, as the Jews call them. In Jerusalem, about
7,000; in Hebron, 700 to 800; in Tiberias, 1,200; in Safet 1,500 to
2,000. In the towns along the coast there may be, in Jaffa, 60;
in Kiaffa, 150 to 200; in Acre, 200; in Tyre, 150; in Sidon, 300; in
Nablous (the ancient Sycha) we found about 200, and 150 Samaritans.
In the villages of the Galilee there may be 400 or 500. The
increase in the numbers of Jews has been very decided since 1822 when
the Pacha of Egypt took possession of Syria. For two years past, the
increase has not been so great, owing to the ravages of the plague, the
increased price of provisions, the embarrassed finances of the Jewish
community, and the oppression of the rabbis. In my last I
mentioned, that in Europe, collections are made at the door of the
synagogue for the support of the Jews in the Holy Land. These
collections amount, annually, upon an average, to L2,800.
Every Jew in the land, rich or poor, after he had been a year in
the country, has a share appointed to him, if he chose to take it.
The chief cause of their returning to this land seems, certainly,
to be attachment to the inheritance of their fathers. They also
believe, that their rabbis here are actually inspired; that to die in
this land is, to a Jew, certain salvation; and that if they die out of
it, they must make their way underground to rise in the Valley of
Jehoshaphat.
They are very different from the Jews we have seen in France and Italy;
they are far from being infidel; on the contrary, they have a real
expectation of Messiah's coming; and this feeling is waxing stronger
and stronger. They are far kinder and gentler in their dealing
with us; they seem to look upon us a friends. This is not
wonderful, when you remember that they are counted as dogs by all the
Moslems. They maintain the beautiful dress of their fathers, and
are a noble looking race, when compared with the wretched Arabs who are
scattered over this land. Almost all the male Jews here spend
their time in reading. There are six synagogues in Jerusalem, and
thirty six reading places. These are established by individuals,
that they may attain some merit to their souls! Five or six
readers are appointed to each, having a small salary, one or two of
whom are expected to be always there, reading the Talmud.
This account is confirmed by a Mr. Boear, under date of Jerusalem, June
17th:
The real state of the Jews in Palestine is very interesting. The
varying accounts we used to hear of their conditions are at once
realized by inquiry at the spot.- We find them to be far less numerous
than is usually reported & there have been fewer resorting to this
land during these three last years than during the three preceding.
Yet, it is true, that there is a constant influx of them, however
small.- But they die very rapidly. The prevalence of plague, the
price of provisions, owing to the state of the country; and their
internal state of division in Jerusalem, have discouraged Jews from
Europe from coming here of late.
They carry on no trade, except the few who are at Tyre, Sidon and
Kiaffa.- Hence poverty is a general feature of all the Jews here.
There are few rich men among them, and those few conceal their
wealth. As to their feelings toward Christianity, these too are
peculiar. Of course, those that come to Jerusalem are the devout
and strict Jews who reckon it a merit to go to the Holy City. Yet,
these very men are on good terms with the missionaries, treat them as
friends, often apply to them for advice, and one of their brethren, a
convert, goes out and in among them, not only undisturbed, but
respected. There is much hope of good being done amongst them.
We had an opportuntiy again and again seeing how accessable the
people of Israel are to kindness.
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FROM THE ADAMS
SENTINEL
GETTYSBURG,
PENNSYLVANIA
25 FEBRUARY 1839
THE JEWS MOVING
FOR PALESTINE
The New York
Evening Star says-"Within a few years, great numbers have gone
thither-they amount now to above 40,000, and are increasing in
multitude by large annual additions. In the first days of this
month a large number of Israelites from the states of Morocco arrived
at Marseilles, in order to embark there for the coast of Syria, and
proceed thence on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem."
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FROM THE ADAMS
SENTINEL
GETTYSBURG,
PENNSYLVANIA
10
MAY
1841
KINGDOM
OF
JERUSALEM
INTERESTING ARTICLE ON, WHAT TURNED
OUT TO BE, THE START OF MASS MIGRATIONS INTO PALESTINE (ANCIENT AND
MODERN ISRAEL)
The
project of connecting Palestine into an independent State, to which the
Jews might return with an assurance of protection and security, appears
to be seriously entertained by some of the leading powers of Europe.
A word from Prince Metternich and Lord Palmerston would, it is
stated, settle the matter.- The following extract from a letter
received in this city from a gentleman of high standing in the literary
and diplomatic circles of Berlin, dated Feb 15, serves to show that the
subject has not been lost sight of, and is perhaps brought nearer to
some important decision than the public has been aware of: The allies
have obtained their end (in Syria) are somewhat at a loss how to
dispose their conquest. They are seriously thinking of setting up
or receiving a Christian kingdom at Jerusalem- a project which seems to
be received with favor at Vienna.
But then what are they to do with the other Christian population of
Syria? This is one of the questions which France has asked them.
They are now very anxious to draw her from the isolated position
into which they have forced her : as they find after all that they
cannot permanently and satisfactorily settle the East without her
concurrance!'
Gentlemen who have paid particular attention to some of the remarkable
prophecies of the Scriptures, believe that they see in the leading
political events of the day many indications of the near approach of
the millenium, when all nations shall be brought to the worship of the
one true God. The return of the Jewish nation to Palestine, and
the resumption of worship in the temple at Jerusalem, are regarded as
among the events which must necessarily happen before that great
purpose is accomplished. The political movement here spoken of,
taken in connexion with the efforts of missionaries, who have obtained
a foothold on almost every section of the globe, may serve to show that
the millenium era is probably not as far distance as the thoughtless
affect to believe. The subject is one that affords food for much
reflection, and the proceedings of the allied powers in regard to the
Holy Land, will therefore be watched with absorbing interest.- American Sentinel
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FROM
THE
ADAMS
SENTINEL,
GETTYSBURG PENNSYLVANIA
8 APRIL 1844
THE JEWS
The
condition
of
this
outcast
and
despised
race seems to be rapidly
improving. In many countries their civil state is much
ameliorated, and they are beginning to enjoy the rights of citizens.
The French Chamber of Deputies contains several Jews. The
confidence of the sons of Jacob in their Talmud and their Rabbinical
traditions, is said to be very much shaken, and they begin to regard
the gospel with less distaste.
During the last twenty-five years more voluntary conversions to
Christianity have taken place among the Jews than had occurred since
the days of the Apostles up to that period.
There seems to be a disposition among them to return to the land of
their fathers. About ten thousand Jews are now established at
Jerusalem, although a few years since the Turks would allow only three
hundred to reside there.
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