The following day was occupied with these researches. The genealogist showed the pedigree of his family to Helon; his name was formally entered under that of his mother, and he thus stood on her side among the children of the course of Abia, as on his father’s he belonged to the course of Malchia. On the fifth day our travellers returned to Jerusalem. Helon, rejoicing in the success of his journey, compared his own lot with that of the children of Habaiah, Hakoz, and Barzillai, of whom Ezra and Nehemiah write, that after their return from the captivity they sought for their registers, and not being able to find them, forfeited their sacerdotal office.[32] On their return they past through Lachish, which Helon had not seen before, of which the prophet Micah said, “Thou art the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion.”[33] This town was taken by Joshua from a Canaanitish prince;[34] it was fortified by Rehoboam.[35] Amaziah was put to death in it;[36] and the ambassadors of Hezekiah came hither with presents to Sennacherib.[37] Next he saw Libna,[38] which, like Lachish, was situated in the plain of Sephela, and was memorable for its defection from king Joram. At last they came to Socho, near which is the grove of terebinths, where David fought with Goliath. In the earlier part of their day’s journey they had also seen the cave of Adullam, doubly memorable as having afforded a hiding-place to David, and as being the place where Judas Maccabæus kept the first sabbath, which we read of as having been celebrated after the atrocities of the king of Syria.[39] ----- Footnote 32: Ezra ii. 61. Neh. vii. 63. Footnote 33: Micah i. 13. Footnote 34: Josh. x. 32. Footnote 35: 2 Chron. xi. 9. Footnote 36: 2 Kings xiv. 19. Footnote 37: 2 Kings xviii. 14. Footnote 38: 2 Kings viii. 22. Footnote 39: 1 Sam. xxii. 1. 2 Maccab. xii. 38. ----- Happy in having stored his memory with many pleasing pictures of the Land of Promise, infinitely more happy in the thought that there was now no obstacle to his admission into the priesthood, Helon greeted the Holy City a second time. CHAPTER III. THE FEAST OF THE NEW MOON. Elisama and Helon, as they drew near the gates of Jerusalem, soon perceived from the commotion among the people, from the triumphal preparations, some wholly, some only partially finished, and from the influx of strangers, that a public rejoicing was at hand. It resembled the preparation for the Passover, but there was more of mirth, and altogether a more worldly character in it. The acclamations of joy which had been heard on the first intelligence of the victory were now renewed, on the evening before the victors were to make their solemn entry into Jerusalem.