We take a nearer view of Mount Tabor, looking across a field covered with flowers. While most of the mountain tops of Palestine are ragged rocks with scarcely any soil, the valleys and plains during the spring and early summer are gorgeous with flowers of every hue. One who sees them understands where our Lord found his frequent illustrations in teaching from the flowers of the fields. Looking upon the crown of Mount Tabor, and recalling the history of Israel in the time of the Judges, we seem to see upon yonder heights the little army of Deborah, the woman-judge; while upon this plain, now brilliant with blossoms, on that day were spread the tents and war-chariots of Sisera and the Canaanite host. The Israelites rushed down those slops, boldly attacked the Canaanite camps and won a glorious victory. Sisera, the commander of the Canaanites, fled on foot across the plain, only to meet death by the hammer of Jael, while sleeping in her tent.
The one great name associated with Mount Carmel is that of the prophet Elijah, and the one great event in the prophet's sacrifices in the sight of all Israel, when the solemn choice of the nation was made between Jehovah and Baal. Near the foot of the mountain over-looking the plain, stands a rockt plateau which tradition has fixed upon as the site of the two rival alters. Around one alter stood four hundred priests of Baal, shouting hoarsely for their god to send the fire upon the waiting sacrifice, but calling in vain. By the other altar stood Elijah alone, the prophet of Jehovah, lifting his solitary voice to God. In a moment his prayer was answered; the fire fell from the heavens; the offering was burned; the water in the trench around it was licked up; even the dust upon the altar was consumed and its stones were destroyed under the intense heat; while the people shouted with one voice, "Jehovah, He is God!"
We are now near the foot of the Mount of the Beatitudes as it is called. You observe its peculiar form, somewhat like a saddle, with its two summits, and a depression between them. This form has given the mountain its modern name, "The Horns of Hattin". One of those two eminences Jesus climbed alone and remained there all night in prayer; for he had a most important decision to make, the choice of his twelve apostles, the men who were to witness his works and listen to his words; and then to go forth and preach his gospel to the world. When the morning came, he descended near to the plain between the hills, called his twelve chosen ones, and to them and to the multitude which had assembled from every quarter of the land, he gave the Sermon on the Mount, the longest discourse found in the New Testament, setting forth the standards of an ideal humanity.
