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Source:
Jerusalem, Bethany, and Bethlehem, p.
63. |
Sheikh of the Lepers
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Inside [Zion] gate is some unoccupied ground, and here one encounters the most
painful sight in the whole city-a few poor dilapidated huts, occupied solely by
lepers. They squat in the dust inside the gate, begging piteously from all who
pass in and out; their voices husky; their features so disfigured by blotches
and swellings as to be almost undistinguishable; their fingers, toes, hands, and
feet in many cases eaten away. This seems to be the only place in Jerusalem
where their presence is tolerated, and the inhabitants studiously avoid it. I
have seen the lepers in Damascus in their hospital, the traditional house of
Naaman. I think the disease is not the true leprosy mentioned and minutely
described in the Bible. It is incurable, but not infectious. It appears to be
hereditary, and prevails only in certain districts. It is known to medical men
as elephantiasis, and is one of the most loathsome forms of disease. The chief,
or sheikh, of the lepers is here represented. (Source:
Jerusalem, Bethany, and Bethlehem, pp. 62-63.) |
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House of Naaman the Leper, Damascus |
Source:
Earthly Footsteps of the Man of Galilee, p. 282. |
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An interesting episode is the healing of
Naaman, the Syrian general, from leprosy by
the prophet Elisha, to whom his attention was
directed by a Jewish captive maid (2 Kings v.
8-14). The memory of Naaman is perpetuated on
the banks of the Abana in a leper hospital,
which occupies the site of his house. "I have
often visited it," says Dr. Porter, "and, when
looking on its miserable inmates, all
disfigured and mutilated by their loathsome
disease, I could not wonder that the heart of
the little Jewish captive was moved by her
master's sufferings." (Source:
Picturesque Palestine, vol. 2, pp. 176-77.) |
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Source: Matson Collection. |
Group of Lepers |
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Naaman . . . was one of the greatest generals
and greatest men of his age, but "he was a
leper." In some warlike expedition he carried
away a little Jewish maid, who became his
slave. Amid his sufferings the little maid
exclaimed, "Would God my lord were with the
prophet (Elisha) that is in Samaria! for he
would recover him of his leprosy." Naaman
went, but Elisha did not condescend to see
him. He simply sent him a message saying, "Go
wash in the Jordan." The proud Damascene was
indignant. He expected that the prophet would
come out and "call on the name of the Lord his
God, and strike his hand over the place, and
recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar,
rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters
of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be
clean?" But Naaman obeyed and was cleansed. He
washed in the river again and again-- seven
times, according to the divine command of the
prophet-- and, lo! healing came! . . . That
child's voice still rings through the ages,
and the rich man and the poor, the great and
the lowly, may find health and gladness in the
rivers of salvation! (Source:
Earthly Footsteps of the Man of Galilee, p. 282.) |
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See
Psalm 23,
Shepherds and
Flocks,
Bedouin,
Tombs and
Burial Customs, or
Good Samaritan |
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