took no bread. Indeed they had with them but one loaf, such was their poverty and haste. But the word of Jesus had no reference to this scant provision, which, as they had seen, he was able to multiply abundantly; so, perceiving their error, he scolded them roundly for their stupidity and mistrust.

The boat was sailing northward, towards the upper end of the lake. Soon Capernaum came in sight with its suburbs Chorazin and Bethsaida. The proud central city receded from the shore, then surrounding the great marble Synagogue, and climbing the heights beyond, seemed, at that lofty horizon, to mingle with the sky.70

Jesus, standing on the prow of his smoothly gliding boat, gazed sadly on the passing city he had blessed, but whose day of grace was gone, and with a reminiscence of the heathen cities he had lately seen, thus apostrophized his own:

"Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! For, if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. Howbeit it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, shalt thou be exalted unto heaven? Thou shalt be brought down unto Hades. For, if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in thee, it would have remained until this day. Howbeit I say unto thee, that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee."

For many centuries down to this day the district of Gennesaret has been desolate, and of the city, Capernaum, not even the site can be exactly determined.

T

XVIII

IN THE REGION OF MT. HERMON

HE boat landed just to the right of the mouth of upper Jordan. That was the last time Jesus was borne upon the bosom of his lake. He stepped ashore, and with the twelve went northward, across the green meadows where he had fed the thousands, to Bethsaida Julias.

There a blind man from the country was brought to him with the usual petition. Jesus, too tender hearted to refuse, but still wishing to avoid a popular stir, took him kindly by the hand and led him out of the village to a private place, then having laid his hands upon his eyes, asked, seest thou aught? I see men as trees walking, replied the man. The touch was renewed, and the man saw clearly. Then Jesus sent him away to his home, forbidding him to return to the village. As with the deaf stammerer, Jesus here used means, perhaps as a help to faith. The first partial recovery, suggesting difficulty, is inexplicable."

The refugees were now in the domain of Herod Philip II. Pursuing their way northward, and passing by the Cæsarea where Philip held his court, they came, about twelve miles beyond, to the foot of Mt. Hermon, (the Peak). This is the southern end of the Anti-Libanus range, the water-shed giving rise to the Jordan, Leontes and Orontes Rivers, and to the rivers of Damascus. The

Peak was thus the topographical centre of the whole region of Palestine and Syria at their boundary, this highest point rising 9,500 feet above ocean-level, and visible even from the Dead Sea. Its summit is covered with eternal snow; hence the Sidonians named it Sirion, (the Breastplate), from the rounded snowy top glittering in the sun. The Arabs call it Ice Mountain, and Whitehaired Mountain, the latter referring to the long streaks of snow in the ravines radiating like hoary locks from the head. It is the Mt. Blanc of the East,

"The monarch of the mountains,

They crowned him long ago,

On a throne of rock, in a robe of clouds,

With a diadem of snow."

In the secluded valleys among the foot-hills and smaller mountains around about the base of Hermon, Jesus with the twelve took refuge, and found quiet and rest. He lingered in that wild and desolate region for at least a week. Soon after reaching the retreat he asked the apostles, Who do men say that I am? After various replies, he further asked, But who say ye that I am? Peter, stepping to the front, answered promptly with

assurance:

"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." "

Jesus approvingly declared this to be a special revelation from his Father, but charged the apostles to keep it secret. Also he spoke now for the first time of his future Church, laying its foundation, in these words, addressed directly to Simon Peter:

"And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church."

This saying may have been suggested by a view of a