NOTEBOOK

Josh. 24-32

Joseph when closing his eyes in death said "God will
assuredly visit you and bring you out of this land, unto
the land which he sweared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
There and then he exacted of them an oath that they
would carry up his bones with them when they went out
of Egypt.

"And the bones of Joseph which the children of Israel
brought up out of Egypt buried they in Shechem in a
parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor
the Father of Shechem for 100 pieces of silver."

At the base of Ebal is a little square area enclosed by
light stone wall neatly whitewashed—across one end of
this enclosure is a Moslem tomb, the Tornb of Joseph.

Samaritan and Jew, Moslem and Christian alike, revere
it, and honor it with their visits. The Tomb of Joseph,
the dutiful son, the affectionate forgiving brother, the
virtuous man, the wise prince and ruler. Egypt felt his
influence—the world knows his history.

Jacob's Well

How many historic associations cluster around it! Here
patriarchs watered their flocks—here Jesus rested and re-
freshed himself. It is just at the opening of the valley
between Gerizim and Ebal—it is 9 by 90 ft.—an excava-
tion in the solid limestone rock—it is hewn smooth and
regular. An excavation 10 by 10 deep has been made
about the mouth, walled up and arched over, making a
vault or chamber over the mouth of the well. Here Christ
talked with the woman (John iv-io). This renowned
parcel of ground was bought by Jacob of the children of
Hamor near 800 years before Christ, for a hundred pieces
of money. It has lately been bought by the Greeks (had
its value increased—had real estate advanced?) and they
have begun to make improvements around it.

103