ABSTRACT
The ancients venerated the holy of holies because within it was the Ark of the Covenant, the Cherubim with the mercy-seat, the manna and the rod of Aaron that put forth leaves, all of which were a shadow of things to come. Consequently that valley which ran down from the Tower of David proceeded along the north side of Mount Sion as far as Mount Moriah, on which the Temple stood, separating Mount Sion from Mount Moriah and all the lower city. Jerusalem, city of God Most High, of which glorious things have been spoken and are said every day, is sited in mountainous terrain. It is thirty-six leagues from Acre, which is to the north, sixteen from Sebaste or Samaria, thirteen from Shechem, and thirty-seven from Nazareth. It is two leagues from Bethlehem, eight from Tekoa and eight from Hebron.
