exclaiming, ‘ Say not ye, There are four months, ancl then cometh harvest ? Behold, I say 
unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, for they are white already to harvest! ’ 
We returned to our tent, wearied indeed in body, but refreshed in spirit, as we read anew, 
and in the midst of the very scenes, the account of our Saviour’s visit and sublime 
teaching.” 1 
1 Biblical Researches, iii. 108—10. 
ENTRANCE TO NABLOUS. 
The Shechem of the Old Testament, and Sycliar of the New, once the capital of Samaria, 
was a city of very high antiquity, and eminent renown. Few in the Holy Land are so 
beautifully situated. Nablous, its present name, is derived from the Romans, who 
established themselves here, rebuilt the city, and gave to it the title of Neapolis (New 
City). It is approached through long avenues of ancient olive-trees. 1 It lies in a narrow 
valley, between Mount Ebal on the north, and Mount Gerizim on the south, or right hand 
of the View. The actual width of the valley in which Nablous 2 is situated is only about 
five hundred yards, between the bases of the mountains. The City is long and narrow; 
the houses are high, and generally well built, with domes upon the roofs, as at Jerusalem. 
It is situated at the summit of the valley, so that the waters nearly on its crest flow off in 
different directions; on the eastern side into the plain, and to the Jordan; on the western, 
the waters of some of its fountains flow down the valley towards the Mediterranean. The 
mountains rise boldly on either side, with a general character of sterility, which is more 
marked in Mount Ebal. But this only increases the effect of the beauty and fertility of the 
valley, as Nablous appears embosomed in gardens and groves of fig, mulberry, and other 
fruit trees. Robinson says, that as he and his companion approached it, “ a scene of 
luxuriant and almost unparalleled verdure burst upon our view. The whole valley was 
filled with gardens of vegetables, and orchards of all kinds of fruits, watered by several 
fountains, which burst forth in various parts, and flow westwards in refreshing streams. 
It came upon us suddenly, like a scene of enchantment. We saw nothing to compare with 
it in all Palestine.” 3 
1 Roberts’s Journal. 2 According to Abulfeda, the more correct name is Nabul s. 
3 Biblical Researches, iii. 96. 
