The Fundamentals - 1910: Vol.4

Addenda 123 as ‘on the north side of Bethel (now Beitin), on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah’ (Lubbin) (Judg. 21:19). I t is just here that Shiloh still stands in ruins. The scenery of the wild mountains is finer than that in Judea ; the red color of the cliffs, which are of great height, is far more picturesque than the shapeless chalk mountains near Jeru­ salem ; the fig gardens and olive groves are more luxuriant, but the crops are poor compared with the plain and round Bethlehem. A deep valley runs behind the town on the north, and in its sides are many rock-cut sepulchers. “The vineyards of Shiloh have disappeared, though very possibly once surrounding the spring, and perhaps extending down the valley westwards, where water is also found. With the destruction of the village, desolation has spread over the barren hills around.” III. NOB SITE OF THE VILLAGE IDENTIFIED So thinks Rev. W. Shaw Caldecott. See his treatise on “The Tabernacle, Its History and Structure,” pp. S3, 54: “Four miles to the north of Jerusalem, and at the distance of a quarter of a mile to the east of the main road, is a curiously knobbed and double-topped hill, named by the Arabs Tell (or Tuleil) el-Full. The crown of this hill is thirty feet higher than Mount Zion, and Jerusalem can be plainly seen from it. On its top is a large pyramidal mound of unhewn stones, which Robinson supposes to have been originally a square tower of 40 or 50 feet, and to have been violently thrown down. No other foundations are to be seen. At the. foot of the hill are ancient substructions, built of large unhewn stones in low, massive walls. These are on the south-side, and adjoin the great road. “If we take the Scriptural indications as to the site of Nob (height), this hill and these ruins fulfill all the conditions of the case. “ (a) Nob was so far regarded as belonging to Jerusalem, as one of its villages (thus involving its proximity), that David’s bringing Goliath’s head and sword to the Tabernacle at Nob was regarded as bringing them to Jerusalem (1 Sam. 17:54). ■ “ (b) A clearer indication as to its situation is, however, gained by the record of the restoration towns and villages in which Nob is mentioned, the name occurring between those of Anathoth and Ananiah (Neh. 11:32). These two places still bear practically the

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