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Show RKMARKADLE DISCOVERT. A Tery singular and striking cenfir-mation cenfir-mation of the irQth of certain ancient Bible records has lately been brought to light. The land of Moab, lying eaat of the Jordan and Dead Sea, being I under Turkish rule, and the authorities authori-ties being jealous of all the movements of travelers, hits been a land of mystery, mys-tery, and few and far between have been explorations of it. In 1S6S, llev. h A. Klien, a Prussian missionary at Jerusalem, traveling in Moab under the protection of an Arab sheikh, discovered dis-covered a remarkable stone amoDg the ruins of the ancient city of Pibon. The stone was originally three feet and five inches in highth, and one foot and nine inches in width and thickness, with an inscription of thirty-four lines, It is belicvedthat originally i here were 1,100 letters oo the stone, but only 069 have been restored, and it was partially broken in pieces after curiosity concerning con-cerning it had led the Arabs to suppose it valuable, and that money could be obtained lor the separate pieces. The inscription was in the ancient character charac-ter used by the inhabitants of Moab, and having been deciphered by adepts in this species of lore, it is satisfactorily ascertained that the inscription is older than most of the Old Testament, and was, beyond doubt, made in the year that Elijah the prophet was translated into Heaven. It reads like a chapter in the Bible, and gives strong confirmation confirma-tion to tho 1'acts related in the inspired volume. It has an age of at least 2,700 years, being the work of a people who dwelt in immediate connection with tho people of Israel during tho whole period of their marvelous history. his-tory. The inscription narrates the achievements achieve-ments of King Mesha, the Moabite monarch who fought against Jehoram and Jchosaphat, and speaks of the vessels of Jehovah taken from the captured. Nebo and dedicated to Che-morh, Che-morh, the national deity of tbe conqueror. con-queror. This inscription not only depicts de-picts the wars between Israel aud Moab, bo vividly pictured in tho Old Testament, but also strikingly dlustor-ioal dlustor-ioal and historical, geographical and religious relations of these kingdoms. There are few occurrences more remarkable, re-markable, even iu the age of surprises, than the manner in which the Moabite stone has been awakened from the sleep of 3,000 years, to unfold the secrets se-crets of language and of history, and to conlirur, by its emphatic testimony, thn essential accuracy or iUe Dook ot books. Ex. |
