comes to her barefoot and bareheaded. And when the news is spread Za'hlan falls down dead, whilst Risk takes Khadra home again with Barakat and all they possess. So Barakat having increased the Arabs is henceforth called Abu-Zaid, "father of increase," for having increased the tribe of Beni-Helal.[1]
ANCIENT JERUSALEM.—ZION, AND ACRA, SOUTH OF THE TEMPLE.
By the Rev. W. F. Birch.
Auspiciously it has been my lot to try to restore peace to Jerusalem by doing no small business in fighting against my friends. Yet with Sertorius I desire to live in quiet in the Fortunate Islands free from never-ending wars.
Mr. St. Clair's objection (p. 150) that I assume that "Zion is the same as the stronghold of Zion" and "Zion to be coincident with Akra," shows very plainly why there are such diverse opinions about ancient Jerusalem. Writers have hastily had recourse to imagination instead of patiently examining evidence. I dealt with the question of the identity of Zion and the stronghold of Zion years ago in Quarterly Statements, 1878, 182; 1880, 168; and 1881, 94. This identity lies at the root of a correct restoration of the Holy City. Josephus blundered over it, and so proves a blind guide to blinded followers. With difficulty I myself broke away from this Cicerone, and have by me to this day notes collected in my days of darkness to show that the City of David difficulty was solved by the view of Josephus that the stronghold of Zion was only a part of Zion and not identical with it. I have told (1882, 56) how, groping in the dark, I was accidentally brought into the light.
As others besides Mr. St. Clair are still misled by Josephus, let me give once more the simple Biblical evidence that proves the identity of Zion and the stronghold of Zion.
(1.) The Bible, R.V., twice says "the City of David, which is Zion" (1 Kings viii, 1; 2 Chron. v, 2).
(2.) It also twice says, "the stronghold of Zion; the same is the City of David" (2 Sam. v, 7; 1 Chron. xi, 5).
Here one would naturally take "the same" to refer to "Zion," and so (2) would corroborate (1).
Happily there are two other passages in the historical books that supply what is needed.
(3.) The Bible says (2 Sam. v, 9), "David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the City of David," and again (1 Chron. xi, 7), "David dwelt in the stronghold; therefore they called it the City of David."
- ↑ The Arabic of the above paper has been kindly corrected by A. Gr. Ellis, Esq., of the British Museum.
