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SPECIFICALLY, IN this CASE, THE LAND OF PROPHET SAMUEL from
the high place of Gibeon, the original home of the school of the prophets,
Naioth, in Ramah.
So Solomon and all the congregation with him went to the high place that
was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which
Moses the servant of the Lord had made in the wilderness (2 chronicles
1:3).
The mountain of Samuel (Har Shemu'el), bordering Benjamin and Judah, is known
in Scripture as "high place of Gibeon", the highest mountain to the northwest
of Jerusalem. It was given the name, "Mountain of joy" by King Richard of
England, because of the breathtaking view of Jerusalem. The village, Gibeon
is at its base; the village Ramah, home of Samuel, where he judged the nation
of Israel, is at the top of the mountain.
The high place of Gibeon, at Ramah, is the location of SAMUEL'S
TOMB. The Orthodox Jews consider it to be the most important
holy site in ISRAEL, next to the Wailing Wall.
And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for it was
the GREAT HIGH PLACE; a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon
offer upon the altar. (1 Kings 3:3-4).
Can you imagine the mountain burning with the fire from heaven as the sacrifice
was received?
In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon… (2 Chronicles
1:5-7, 13). Then Solomon came from his journey to
the high place that was Gibeon to Jerusalem.
It was also to this location that David fled when chased by
Saul's men.
1 Samuel 18:18 When David had fled and made his escape, he went to Samuel
at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went
to Naioth and stayed there. 19 Word came to Saul: "David is in Naioth at
Ramah"; 20 so he sent men to capture him. But when they saw a group of prophets
prophesying, with Samuel standing there as their leader, the Spirit of God
came upon Saul's men and they also prophesied. |
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When they saw the company of prophets prophesying
and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the spirit of God was upon the
messengers of Saul and they also prophesied. [1Sam 19:18-19]. Dakes refers
to this place, Naioth, as the location of Samuel's school of the prophets
as well as his home at RAMAH.
Samuel's springs have special
significance, as will be shown on these pages. Apparently NAIOTH
was located low down on the western slopes, with its olive trees and springs
of water and an ancient dwelling, which has been restored. It was therefore
the place where Samuel taught the prophets and where Saul prophesied.
One the SPRINGS OF SAMUEL, in a
cave, was modified to serve as a MIKVAH - see picture elsewhere. JEWS come
from all over Israel and the world to visit the mikvah to take the ritual
bath of purification from sins. (An average of a 100 per day and up to a
1,000 during FEAST times). |
