The Holy Land and the Bible; . r, doubtless, arose, at first, from the worship of the ass bythe Egyptians, as the symbol of their god Typhon, who was said tohave fled through the wilderness on one of these animals.^ It is strik-intr, however, to notice how easily the story might arise, for Abra-hams ass is mentioned more than once in the Bible; Issachar wascompared by Jacob to a strong ass; Achsah rode on an ass; theprinces and nobles rode on asses; the asses of Kish are famous; Mosesset his wife and his sons on an ass which the Rabbis have honoredwith llie most astounding fables; and the sons
The Holy Land and the Bible; . r, doubtless, arose, at first, from the worship of the ass bythe Egyptians, as the symbol of their god Typhon, who was said tohave fled through the wilderness on one of these animals.^ It is strik-intr, however, to notice how easily the story might arise, for Abra-hams ass is mentioned more than once in the Bible; Issachar wascompared by Jacob to a strong ass; Achsah rode on an ass; theprinces and nobles rode on asses; the asses of Kish are famous; Mosesset his wife and his sons on an ass which the Rabbis have honoredwith llie most astounding fables; and the sons of Jacob took asses forthe corn tli(!y were to bring back from Egypt.^ That such comparatively feeble creatures can stand a journey across 1 This is tlio ni<aiiin<; of the towor of Kdav (<;pn. xxxv. 21). 2 Gen. xxxv. 27: xlvi. Elicrs in Kiclini. 4 J. (i. MiilltT, in SlKdien kihI Kritikcn, 184:!, w. yoii—.il2, 930—935. 5 Gen. xxil3,5; xiix. U; Ex. iv. 2U; Josh. xv. 1«; Judg. v. 10; Zecli. ix. 9; Gen. xliv. Tower of David, Jerusalem, (tiee page ^8.) I XX.] BETHLEHEM TO JEEUSALEM. 281 the desert, is known to every traveller in the East. Camels areenn)]oyecl for the most i)art, but donkeys are always found as })art of acaravan ; and 1 have seen large droves of horses on the way to Egyptfi-oni Damascus. The fact is that water, the want of which is thougFitto make travelling over the desert wastes practicable only Ior camels,is found in almost any direction, in quantities suflicient for eitherhorses or asses. Camels can bear thirst lor days together, and otheranimals can do with far less drinking than is supposed. Only onedays journey between Palestine and Cairo is quite waterless, and anymuddv brackish supply found in some desert hollow on the second daysulRces. Water for hunuin beings is sometimes carried in skins, butthis provision is not needed for animals. The sky over Bethlehem, the night before leaving it, brought forci-bly to my mind the promise given t
Size: 1320px × 1892px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookpublishern, booksubjectbible
