Page:History of Art in Sardinia, Judæa, Syria and Asia Minor Vol 1.djvu/146

 128 A History of Art in Sardinia and Jud.*:a. owing partly to the nature of the ground they held, and partly to the inner turmoils and divisions of the Hebrews, they had not been dislodged from the position they occupied between Judah and Benjamin. Two ancient roads connected the little city with the outer world— the one ran through Hebron, Bethlehem, and Shechem, towards the north of Palestine ; whilst the other started from Joppa, as it does now, and led to Jericho and the Jordan valley. 1 The place was consequently of the highest importance from a strategical standpoint. With very little effort, it could be made strong enough to successfully resist the assaults of the enemy. As for the Jebusites, they paid for the error of believing too easily that deep ravines and perpendicular rocks were sufficient proof against the well-directed missiles of an able captain like David. Once master of Mount Zion, the highest of the three hills on which Jerusalem is built, he strengthened and added to its means of defence. 2 His next care or ambition was to build himself a house ; for the roofing, lining, and wainscoting of which cedar-wood was furnished by Hiram, King of Tyre. 3 Notwith- standing divergence of religion, the Israelites seem to have lived on amicable terms with the Phoenicians. Such relations were drawn closer with the establishment of royalty ; brought about, it may be, by the necessity of joint action against their common enemies, the Philistines. These were possessed of havens for safe anchorage, and might at any moment have ships of their own. The war, therefore, waged against them by Saul and David was viewed favourably by Tyre and Sidon ; they could only rejoice that the restless proclivities of the Philistines should be diverted from their gates, and themselves freed of a troublesome neighbour. No such danger was to be apprehended from the Israelites. Even in the days of their greatest power, the idea of seizing the strong-walled cities of the sea-coast, whose ships secured them against the horrors of famine, cannot have entered their minds. Added to this, the forces of the Israelites were inadequate to investing and laying siege to cities, which not all the hosts and war-engines of Assyria were able to reduce. On the other hand, before the 1 These were the old Hittite routes ; one, from their city, Zoan, in Egypt, went through Hebron and other places to the north of Syria ; whilst the other was the Damascus road, on which St. Paul travelled, leading to the Euphrates, and their northern capital Carchemish. — Editor. 2 2 Sam. v. 9. '' 2 Sam. v. 1 r.