European traveller. 1 This, too, has had its period, and a more rational spirit has succeeded. 
But Jerusalem is already assuming in the European eye a higher rank than belongs to 
historic recollections. For to what other spot of earth was language like this ever spoken ? 
“ It shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be 
established in the top of the mountains. 
“ And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the 
Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob . . . for out of Sion shall go forth the law, and the 
word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 
“ O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.” 2 
1 Rauwolf, Korte, and Cotovicus, were among the chief doubters; until the visit of Clarke, who 
doubts everything. Robinson, who has been adopted as our chief authority in these descriptions, 
evidently deserves respect for his judgment, diligence, and learning. 
2 Isaiah, ii. 2, 3, 5. 
THE UPPEK FOUNTAIN OF SILOAM. 
Siloam consists of two basins or fountains, the upper one of which is a fissure in the solid 
rock. A flight of steps leads down on the inside to the water, and close at hand, on the 
outside, is the reservoir. 1 This seems to be generally acknowledged as 
“ Siloa’s brook that flowed 
Fast by the oracle of God.” 
The drawing of the water from Siloam in the Feast of Tabernacles (though no direction 
on the subject is to be found in the Mosaic Law) became a remarkable ceremonial in the 
latter ages of Judea. 
The priest with his attendants received it from the fountain in a golden vessel, and 
then, returning to the Temple, mingled it with wine, and poured it on the altar. The 
origin of the custom has been the subject of much discussion among the rabbins, but it is 
generally supposed to have originated in the verse of Isaiah (xii. 3), “ With joy shall ye 
draw water out of the wells of salvation.” Much exhibition of popular rejoicing, with 
sounding of trumpets and horns, accompanied this ceremony. The whole Feast of Taber¬ 
nacles was peculiarly a display of popular exultation, as it occurred in the finest season of 
the year, after the gathering of all the harvests; was under tents and bowers, reminding 
the people of the happiest scenes of the national life; and was typical of the period when 
earth is to be paradise again, and Israel is to be restored for ever. The water from Siloam 
was drawn on every day of the seven during which the feast continued. But the most 
solemn outpouring was on the last, the chief day of this memorable celebration. Our Lord 
refers to it, as prefiguring the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. (John, vii. 39.) 
Robinson, Biblical Researches, vol. i. p. 497. 
