历代志上 9章34节 到 9章34节 背景资料 上一笔 下一笔

     * chief fathers.
     # 13; Ne 11:1-15|
     * Jerusalem.
       We have already seen the situation and extent of this ancient
       city, (Note on  8:28;) but the Jerusalem of sacred history is
       no more.  After having been successively destroyed by the
       Babylonians and Romans, and taken by the Saracens, Crusaders,
       and Turks, in the possession of the latter of whom it still
       continues, not a vestige remains of the capital of David and
       Solomon, not a monument of Jewish times is standing.  The very
       course of the walls is changed, and the boundaries of the
       ancient city are become doubtful.  The monks pretend to shew
       the sites of the sacred places; but they have not the
       slightest pretensions to even a probable identity with the
       real places.  The Jerusalem that now is, however, called by
       the Arabs {El Kouds,} or "the holy city," is still a
       respectable, good-looking town, of an irregular shape:  it is
       surrounded by high embattled walls, enclosing an area not
       exceeding two miles and a half, and occupying two small hills,
       having the valley of Jehoshaphat on the east, the valley of
       Siloam and Gehinnom on the south, and the valley of Rephaim on
       the west; and containing a population variously estimated at
       from 20,000; to 30,000; souls.