106 OPTICON MANUAL. 



Across the brook Kedron, probably at- the foot of 

 Mount Olivet, was the "place" or "farm" of Gethsemane. 

 There seems to have been a garden, or rather orchard, 

 attached to it, and to its grateful shade we read that 

 our Lord often resorted with His disciples. At present 

 a modern garden marks the site of the ancient one with 

 eight venerable olive trees, which some claim grew there 

 in the Saviour's time. It has been argued that Titus 

 cut down all the trees about Jerusalem. The probability 

 would seem to be that they were planted by Christian 

 hands to mark the spot ; unless, like the sacred olive 

 of the Acropolis, they may have reproduced themselves. 



BETHLEHEM. Bethlehem was in existence when Jacob 

 returned from his long sojourn in Padau Aram. Here 

 Rachel died. It was in the neighboring fields, in later 

 times, that Ruth, the Moabitess, went gleaning when 

 she came with her mother-in-law, Naomi, to dwell in 

 the land of Israel. It was the birthplace of David, but- 

 is best known to us as the birthplace of the Redeemer 

 great David's greater son and Lord. "On the plains 

 near were the shepherds abiding in the fields, and kecp- 

 'ing watch over their flocks by night, when lo ! the angel 

 of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord 

 shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. 

 And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I 

 bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all 

 people ; for unto you is born this day, in the city of David, 

 a Saviour which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2 : 8-11. 



HEBRON. Hebron is one of the most ancient cities in 

 the world still existing. "It was built/' says a sacred 

 writer, " seven years before Zoan in Egypt."-Num. 13 : 22, 

 and was a well-known town when Abraham entered 



