Chapter 18—The Healing of the Waters
In Patriarchal times the Jordan Valley was “well watered every-
where, ... even as the garden of the Lord.” It was in this fair valley
that Lot chose to make his home when he “pitched his tent toward
Sodom.”
Genesis 13:10, 12
. At the time that the cities of the plain
were destroyed, the region round about became a desolate waste, and
it has since formed a part of the wilderness of Judea.
A portion of the beautiful valley remained, with its life-giving
springs and streams, to gladden the heart of man. In this valley, rich
with fields of grain and forests of date palms and other fruit-bearing
trees, the hosts of Israel had encamped after crossing the Jordan and
had first partaken of the fruits of the Promised Land. Before them
had stood the walls of Jericho, a heathen stronghold, the center of the
worship of Ashtoreth, vilest and most degrading of all Canaanitish
forms of idolatry. Soon its walls were thrown down and its inhabitants
[230]
slain, and at the time of its fall the solemn declaration was made, in the
presence of all Israel: “Cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth
up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in
his first-born, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.”
Joshua 6:26
.
Five centuries passed. The spot lay desolate, accursed of God.
Even the springs that had made residence in this portion of the valley
so desirable suffered the blighting effects of the curse. But in the days
of Ahab’s apostasy, when through Jezebel’s influence the worship of
Ashtoreth was revived, Jericho, the ancient seat of this worship, was
rebuilt, though at a fearful cost to the builder. Hiel the Bethelite “laid
the foundation thereof in Abiram his first-born, and set up the gates
thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord.”
1 Kings 16:34
.
Not far from Jericho, in the midst of fruitful groves, was one of
the schools of the prophets, and thither, after the ascension of Elijah,
Elisha went. During his sojourn among them the men of the city came
to the prophet and said, “Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city
148