Streams of History: Early Civilizations (Yesterday's Classics) by Kemp Ellwood W

Author:Kemp, Ellwood W. [Kemp, Ellwood W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 9781599152547
Publisher: Yesterday's Classics
Published: 2010-11-10T14:47:00.842000+00:00

How Little Hiram Became King

IN the story of the Hebrews we were speaking of King Hiram of Phœnicia helping Solomon to build the beautiful temple at Jerusalem. Now I will tell you more of King Hiram and of his people and country.

Phœnicia was a small country lying a little to the east and almost north of Palestine. The Mediterranean Sea lay to the west, and the Lebanon Mountains shut it away from the rest of the world on the east.

It was a strip of country about one hundred and fifty miles long and about fifteen wide. By starting to walk across the country the longest way on Monday morning, and by walking thirty miles a day, your father could have reached the other side by Friday evening, or by crossing the country the narrow way, he could have reached the other side before Monday noon.

Phœnicia was not a level country. It was broken up by beautiful mountains that are many times higher than the tallest tree or building you ever saw. They are called the Lebanon Mountains. They are very rugged and sharp, and very hard to climb. For many years the ancient Phœnicians tried to cross them but could not. They are made of a peculiar kind of rock, and are very white when the sun shines on them. The climate in Phœnicia is always warm and the days are nearly always bright.

On some of the mountains were very large forests of cedar and pine trees. Have you ever heard of the cedars of Lebanon?

You must remember that the whole country is not twice as large as the state of Rhode Island. Since it is so narrow, and the mountains come right down to the sea in many places, there are very few good wagon roads in the country. Between the mountains, in some places, there are valleys as large as four or five small farms put together. The strip of land along the coast is covered with sand, but lying back of that is rich soil. This is where the farmers lived.

Each one had a very small farm or garden. On the farms grew a tree which had on it bright scarlet blossoms. It was very beautiful when in blossom. Its fruit was the pomegranate. Fig trees and large green trees having upon them juicy golden oranges grew there. There were also orchards of apple, peach and pear trees. In the gardens grew onions, radishes, cucumbers, melons and beets; and in the fields grew oats, wheat, barley and hay.

In the eastern part of the country, near the foot of the mountains, there were low hills, upon the sides of which grew the chestnut, oak, cypress, walnut, sycamore, mulberry, almond, olive and palm trees. The soil for these trees had been washed down from the mountains by the rivers, just as "Father Nilus" brought the rich soil down to Egypt. These streams dashed down to the plains very rapidly, making many waterfalls.

In this country King Hiram was born when Judah and Ruth, of whom we have been studying, lived in Jerusalem.

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