Jerusalem is first mentioned under that name in the Book of Joshua, and the Tel el-Amarna tablets include six letters from its Amorite king to Egypt, about 1400 B.C. The name is there spelt Uru-Salim ("city of peace"). It is also named in Sennacherib's record of 702 B.C.

The City of David included both the upper city and Millo, and was surrounded by a wall built by David and Solomon. The name ZION (or Sion), a poetical term for Jerusalem, was in the Greek age specially used of the Temple Hill. The priests quarter grew up on Ophel, south of the Temple. The walls of the city were

A large rock-cut tank at the north-west corner of the upper city, called in later times the pool Amygdalon ("of the tower"), seems to be the UPPER POOL of Hezekiah's time (Isa. 36. 2). The pool or spring of GIHON, in the Kidron Valley under Ophel, was the same as EN-ROGEL ("spring of the water channel "), and Hezekiah made from it a rock aqueduct-tunnel through the hill to SILOAM, near the mouth of the Tyropœon. On the rock near the mouth of this aqueduct an inscription is found which is the only true Hebrew text as yet known:

1 "The cutting. Now this is the method of the cutting: while the workers lifted.

2 "The axe each to his fellow, and three cubits were left, each heard the voice of the other calling 3 "to his fellow: for there was an excess of rock to the right and . . .

4 "the cutting: the workers hewed each to meet his fellow, axe to axe, and there flowed 5 "the waters from the spring to the pool, a thousand two hundred cubits, and

6 "cubit was the height of the rock..." The tunnel as measured is about 1,200 cubits of 16 inches in length.

Gihon is probably the BETHESDA of the New Testament. Opposite Gihon is the rock of Zoheleth, on the east side of the Kidron gorge. The city remained unchanged from the time of Jotham till its destruction by Nebuchadrezzar in 586 B.C. The walls were rebuilt by Nehemiah on the old line; but in a later age a new wall was

PILLAR IN QUARRY NEAR JERUSAlem.

(From a Photograph.)

Supposed to have been prepared for one of the temples. Rock-with courts on the flat slopes. The outer court was roughly a square of 1,000 feet side. The Court of Israel, and inner Court of the Priests, lay east of the holy house, divided off by a balustrade with Greek texts- one of which has been found. It reads:

"No stranger is to enter within the balustrade round the Temple and Court. Whoso is found will be guilty of his own death to follow."

The upper ramparts (except at the north-west

corner), the holy house itself, the cloisters, and the Tyropoon bridge at the south-west angle, have been entirely destroyed, only the fallen arch and pier foundations of the last having been found by excavation.

There were four entrances on the west, two by bridges, two by gates on the lower valley level, all still extant in ruins, or with later restorations. On the south two outer gates (the Huldah Gates) led from Ophel; the western, which was double, retains its great pillars and flat domes with the semi-Greek ornament of Herod's time; the eastern was triple, and exists as restored by Justinian. The "Golden Gate," near the north-east corner of the outer wall, also belongs, as at present existing, to Justinian's age. On the north the Gate Tadi, leading to Antonia, was reached by a rock-cut passage, still existing, but converted into a tank by a cross wall.

The Temple was supplied with water by numerous rock-cut reservoirs, and by Pilate's aqueduct from Bethlehem. Over the "Stone of Foundation," a natural rock, projecting under the floor of the Holy of Holies, the present Dome of the Rock was built in 688 A.D.

CALVARY or GOLGOTHA.-North of the city, just outside the present Damascus Gate, is the remarkable knoll with the cave known as "Jeremiah's Grotto." This is most probably the true site of Calvary or Golgotha (the place of the skull"), which was, near Jerusalem (John 19. 17-20), but without the gate (Heb. 13. 12). A Jewish rock-cut tomb has been found immediately west of the knoll.

The discovery of the ancient wall, immediately west of the pool Amygdalon, on the narrow neck of high ground between the heads of the Hinnom and Tyropcon valleys, and running for some distance north, renders it improbable that the rocky knoll, now shown in the cathedral within modern Jerusalem, can be the true site of Calvary, or the tomb near it the true Holy Sepulchre. The second wall seems to have included these sites, which have been revered since they were fixed on by Constantine in the fourth century A.D., when all memory of the true sites appears-according to Eusebius-to have been lost. The suburbs of Jerusalem extended far beyond this knoll of Akra, and probably existed at the time of the Crucifixion; but it has not as yet been found possible to trace the line of the second wall on the north side.

Among monuments of the Herodian and Roman age may be mentioned the tomb of the kings of Adiabene (commonly called "Tomb of the Kings") on the north; the tomb of Herod's family, recently found west of the Hinnom Valley; the tomb of Ananus on the south side of the lower Hinnom ravine near its junction with the Kidron; and the tomb of the Bene Hezir priests (called "Tomb of St. James ") on the east side of the Kidron, with other monuments of the same period (called "Tomb of Absalom " and "Tomb of Zechariah "), in a debased Greek style. The site of ACELDAMA (the field of blood," or "potter's field ") is traditionally shown at a vault on the hill south of the Hinnom Valley. The site of Tophet is also uncertain, but lay in the lower Kidron. The exact site of Gethsemane is also doubtful. The tomb of the kings of Israel and Judah was still known about 30 A.D. (Acts 2. 29), and may possibly be represented by the ancient sepulchre in the west wall of the Holy Sepulchre Cathedral; but other kings were buried on Ophel near the Royal Palace and King's Gardens.

Jerusalem is now a town of some 50,000 inhabitants, with ancient medieval walls. The traditional sites, as a rule, have no authority. The results of excavation have settled the limits of the Temple area, and the course of the old walls.

MORIAH is supposed to have been the scene of

JESUS [je'sus], LIFE OF, AND HARMessages. MONY OF THE GOSPELS. About five years before the beginning of the Christian era, an aged priest named Zacharias was burning incense in the Temple when the angel Gabriel appeared and told him that a son would be born to him, who, being filled with the Holy Ghost, should go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elias, and prepare a people for Him.

B.C. 5. May.

Some months later, the angel announced to a maiden in Nazareth that, by the power of the Highest, she should bear a son, whose name should be called Jesus, "the Son of God." Mary, nothing doubting, visLu. 1. 26-33. ited her cousin, Elisabeth, wife of Zacharias, in the hill country of Judæa. There the two women rejoiced together, Mary magnifying God in a song of wonderful elevation, dignity, and beauty.

Birth of John, born in the year 5 B.C., thorJohn the oughly trained in boyhood by his Baptist. father Zacharias, spent the years of B.C. 5. Aug. early manhood in the desert. But his Lu. 1.37-66. function was clearly indicated in the

Song of Zacharias at his birth. He should be "called the prophet of the Highest:" for he should go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways."

Herod the Great ruled in Palestine, holding his sceptre at the will of the Emperor Augustus. An Idumæan by birth, cruel and crafty by nature, the Jews hated him. But behind the standards of Herod blazed the splendors of the Roman eagles. And a general registration of the inhabitants of the empire being ordered, it took effect throughout the dominions of Herod.

If there be any honor or advantage therein, Orientals carefully guard their citizenship in the place of their birth. A Christian born in Nazareth, wherever he may live, will proudly maintain his standing in the city of his Saviour's boyhood, and rejoice in the name of Nasrany, "a Nazarine." Joseph, the husband of Mary, a carpenter in Nazareth, was a native of Bethlehem. Descended from the royal house of Israel, he kept his name on the roll of that "royal city;" therefore, for registration, to Bethlehem he must go.

After a journey of nearly one hun. dred miles, we see them vainly seeking admission to an overcrowded

B.C. 4.

Birth of Jesus. Lu. 2. /.

KHAN OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN ON THE "guest-chamber," thankful at last to share the shelter provided for the beasts of burden. The Oriental "inn" or khan is in form a hollow square, with arches round the sides within, and over these a series of rooms, approached by a stone stair. The rooms are for travellers, the arches for their animals.

The "inn" here, however, may have been the "guest-chamber" in the house of a friend of Joseph. The "guest-chamber" is somewhat higher than the rest of the house, which in the villages is used indiscriminately as kitchen and cattle shelter. The family often occupy a corner in the lower part, that visitors may be free. Houses are frequently built over caves in the limestone rock, which are used as grain stores and stables. An old tradition says that in such a cave, the travellers from Nazareth found rest.

The flocks gathered together before

ROAD TO JERICHO. (From a Photograph.)
Angels and
Shepherds.

Lu. 2. 8-20.

The Child Jesus.

Lu. 2. 12.

sunset lay in the fields, waiting the return of dawn, guarded by their shepherds. Suddenly the voice of an angel, ringing over the wilderness announcing the birth and birthplace of Messiah, startled the shepherds. The glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased.'"

Guided by this vision and message, the shepherds came to Bethlehem, and "found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger." The "manger," or midhwad, a trough-like hollow on the edge of the raised floor of the "khan," is a convenient and safe place for the little ones.

April.

Lu. 2. 21-38.

The

Mt. 2. 1-12.

Circumcised the eighth day, and thirty-two days later presented in the Temple, with the humble offering permitted to the poor, Jesus was recognized by the aged Simeon as the Consolation of Israel," the Lord's Christ," his testimony being corroborated by the prophetess Anna.

99

From the east" came "wise men Wise Men. seeking one born "King of the Jews," whose star they had seen' and followed. Their inquiry for Him in Jerusalem aroused the suspicious fears of Herod. Directed to Bethlehem, they came "where the young child was," and, with the stately salaams of the Orient, presented gold, frankincense, and myrrh-kingly gifts, in homage to one born to rule.

Herod wished them to tell him when they found the Prince; but, warned to avoid the king, they return by another way to their mysterious home, and are lost to view for

ever.

Massacre
and
Flight.

Mt. 2. 13-18.

Return to Nazareth.

Lu. 2. 39.

not find the object of his fear, but he might destroy Him. The limit of age upwards was fixed by the appearance of the star, two years before. It has been too common from of old for the Oriental despot to slay every possible aspirant to his throne. To make sure of his aim, Herod sent forth, and slew all the male children in Bethlehem, from two years old and under.

"A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning. Rachel weeping for her children; And she would not be comforted, because they are not."

Taking Mary and Jesus with him. under the friendly gloom of night, Joseph had made his escape from Bethlehem. Hurrying down through the hill country, he may have joined. in the Philistine plain, a merchant caravan bound for Egypt.

After Herod's death the holy family returned, not to Bethlehem, from fear of Archelaus, the new king, but to the village of Nazareth.

Nazareth.

Just before they descend in precipitous cliffs upon the plain of Esdraelon, a little hollow is formed among the lower hills of Galilee, on the N.W. slopes of which lies the village of Nazareth. The houses, of white limestone, rise from the midst of greenery-hedges of cactus, fruit trees, olives, and vineyards. Inhabited largely by Christians, it is one of the cleanest and prettiest towns in Palestine. Of the many hills around it, one, higher than the rest, to the north, is climbed by every boy. What heart-stirring memories are associated with the scenes all visible from its summit: Acre, Carmel, Esdraelon, Negiddo, the mountains of Samaria, Gilboa, Little Hermon, Tabor, the edge of the Bashan and Gilead plateau beyond Jordan, Gath

hepher, Sepphoris, the breezy up lands of Zebulun and Naphtali, and far away in the north-eastern sky the snowy brows of the mighty Her

mon!

A freer spirit prevailed in Galilee than in priest-ridden Judæa. The southerns despised the rude northmen, and made sport of their uncouth manners and speech; but in days of stress the sturdy peasant farmers of Galilee formed the backbone of the Jewish armies. Pass ing troops, imperial messengers, the splendid embassies of Rome, the great merchant caravans, were all avenues of communion with a life larger and more expansive than their Lu. 2. 40, 52. own. In such surroundings Jesus grew up; as also eleven of His apostles. Judas only was a Judæan.

John the
Baptist.
A.D. 27.

Mt. 3. 1-17,

Mk. 1. 2-11. Lu. 3. 2-22. Jo. 1. 15-36.

Baptism of Jesus. Mt. 3. 13-17. Mk. 1. 9-11. Lu. 3. 21, 22. Jo. 1. 29-36.

The Temptation.

Mk. 1. 12, 13. Lu. 4. 1-13.

watches, before the brightening east had kindled the splendours on Great Hermon, we can fancy Him wandering among sequestered vales, or along these rocky hills, conversing with the great Spirit that in all things spake to Him. Freed from the bench, laying aside the sacred roll He loved and knew so well, He sought acquaintance with that other roll of revelation spread out in God's world.

Man and nature He studied deeply and lovingly. These were the sweet idyllic days of the Saviour's life, wherein great store of knowledge was acquired, which made His teaching in future days so luminous to the people of the land. This was the Gift that mountain city, neither insignificant nor supremely wicked in itself, but only associated in the Jewish mind with the reproach of its province, was destined to give to the world.

When Jesus was about thirty years of age, the country was startled by an Elijah-like prophet from the southern deserts. Rough in aspect, clad in the garb of the wilderness, nurtured on its scanty fare, his stern soul braced by years of solitary communion with God, passionately earnest, with fiery directness of speech, he shook the land to the core with his preaching of repentance. A strangelymingled company surrounded him on the Jordan. Wild tribesmen from Bashan, shepherds from the glens of Gilead, peasants from the rich vales westward, fishermen from Galilee, merchant, money-changer, tax-gatherer, soldier, Pharisee and priest, were there, drawn by the irresistible attractions of "a man sent from God," receiving the baptism of John. At the very height of his fame John suddenly lifted his hand, directing every eye, and exclaimed, "Behold the Lamb of God." Jesus had come, and had been baptized of John, who, recognizing his Master, at once made way for Him; with heroic self-effacement thenceforth taking the second place. He who came to the river as "the carpenter" ascended the bank as Messiah, and the voice of God from heaven proclaimed Him His beloved Son.

Westward from Jericho Jebel Karantal throws its forbidding height Mt. 4.1-11. against the sky, overlooking the patch of greenery at its base and the wide level wastes of the Dead Sea plains. These dreary uplands have never known inhabitants save the eremites who have dwelt at intervals in its caves. Haunt of fierce beasts and birds of prey, this lonely wilderness has long been identified with the scene of the temptation. Its stones, resembling in shape the rough bread of the country, may have suggested the form of the first temptation.

From the mountain top you can see the tower on the crest of Olivet. Just beyond this, on the brow of Moriah, stood the sanctuary of His people. There the hope had long been cherished that the Messiah, the Lord, would come suddenly to His temple. From the sunny skies a vision of brightness and power should descend, and startle the amazed wor