r(^W^^^^\ '^^ 
 
I 
 
 OLOGICAL SEMINARY,! 
 Princeton, N. J. - J 
 
 Divuinn 
 
 ' I Case, Si. \ 
 
 S Shelf, 
 
 V Book, _N«.„ I*..... 
 
 Section 3.2_y. 
 
 ■ocB 
 
Jerusalem- 
 
 Rome. 
 
SCRIPTURE 
 
 GEOGRAPHY; 
 
 OR, 
 
 A COMPANION TO THE BIBLE : 
 
 A GEOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE 
 PLACES MENTIONED IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. 
 
 IN TWO PARTS. 
 
 PART I. GEOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL : 
 
 EXTENDING FROM THE CREATION OF T^E WQRLD TO THE FINAL SET=- 
 
 TLEMENT OF THE ISRAELITES IN THE LAND OF CANAAN. 
 
 PART II. A GEOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE : 
 CONTAINING, IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, A DESCRIPTION OF THE PLA- 
 CES MENTIONED IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. 
 
 ACCOMPANIED BY FIVE MAPS. 
 
 I. Eastern countries, as mentioned by Moses. II. Tlie World, as peopled 
 by the descendants of iVoah. III. Map of Canaan, with the portions of the 
 Tribes. IV. Tetrarchies of Palestine. V. Countries mentioned in the New 
 Testament. And embellished vviih nearly one hundred engravings, illus-tra- 
 tive of the heathen deities, of nations and countries mentioned in Scripturej 
 and of the subsequent history and present state of those countries. 
 
 TO WHICH IS ADDED, 
 
 SCRIPTURE NATUEAL HISTORY, 
 
 WITH ENGRAVINGS. 
 INTENDED FOR THE USE OF FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS. 
 
 BY THOMAS T. SMILEY, A.M.,M.D. 
 
 ** Go through the land and describe it ;— and the men went through the land, 
 and described it by cities, in a book."— Josh, xviii. 8, 9. 
 
 HARTFORD: 
 PUBLISHED BY J. SEYMOUR BROWN. 
 
 1842. 
 
Entered according to the act of Congress, in ila year 1831, by 
 Thomas T. Smiley, in the clerk's office of the district court for tba 
 eastern district of Pennsylvania. 
 
RECOMMENDATIONS. 
 
 From Roberts Vaux, Esq., President of the Pennsylvania Education Society 
 
 It afTuc's me pleasure, whilst I regard it a duty, to confess how much I 
 feel indebted to Dr. Smiley for his compendious •'Scripture Geography " a 
 volume, the composition of which is the result of great research into vari 
 ous and rare authorities in this department of knowledge, that are acces 
 sibie to very few persons. The Holy Scriptures will be rendered more 
 intelligible and interesting after the perusal of this work, the whole scope 
 of which seems to me to be eminently calculated, to give ''energy to virtue 
 and confidence to truth." Every class of readers may derive instruction 
 irom its pages, and it will be especially valuable in all schools for tlie right 
 education of youth. 
 
 ROBERTS VAUX. 
 
 From the Christian Index, edited by the Rev. Dr. Branthj. 
 
 " The prof essi'ons of the title-page are ably sustained, in the subsequent 
 pages of the work. The matter is abundant, judiciously arranged, and 
 clearly set forth. The Scripture Geography should be at once introduced 
 into all families, and schools, and its contents well digested by young and 
 old. Any book containing Geographical allusions caiuiot be understood 
 without a knowledge of the places referred to. Dr. Smiley is already well 
 known as the author of a most useful general Geography. 
 
 The following are among the numerous subscribers to 
 the work. 
 
 Rev. Ezra Stiles Ely, D.D. Philada. 
 
 S;ephen H Tvng. D.D. 
 
 Michael Hurley, D.D. 
 
 . John Hughes, " 
 
 H. Bihighaus, " 
 
 T. J. Kitts, 
 
 T. Dasilva, 
 
 Joseph H. Kennard, " 
 
 William Bryant, " 
 
 Keiley, " 
 
 S.G.Winchester, 
 
 George Boyd, " 
 
 Charles Pitman, " 
 
 William Bf-rrian.D.D. N. York 
 
 James Milnor, D.D. " 
 
 Thomas Dewitt, " 
 
 J. L. Broadhead, D.D. 
 
 Samuel H. Cox, D.D. 
 
 William Creiirhton, D.D. " 
 
 E. W. Bal.lwin, 
 
 D. E. Lansing, D.D. 
 
 J. M. Forbes, 
 
 D. Dunbar, " 
 
 John Knox, " 
 
 William Parkinson, " 
 
 P. Williams, 
 
 — — C. T. Demarest, " 
 
 Rev. J. Harrison, N. York. 
 
 Mr. Johnson, ^ " 
 
 L. P. Bayard, 
 
 F. W. Geisenhaimer, " 
 
 John Middleton, ♦' 
 
 Albert Smedes, " 
 
 James Hayborn, '• 
 
 William George Miller, " 
 
 William Tappan, " 
 
 William A. Van VIeck, " 
 
 J. A. Schueller, 
 
 H. H. Taylor, 
 
 B. Pitcher, " 
 
 Jonathan Power, D.D. •' 
 
 Hernan Norton, " 
 
 Robsrt M'Cartee, D.D. " 
 
 Michael Lacoste, " 
 
 E. W. Grisv/old, " 
 
 C. G. Sommers, ♦' 
 
 W. C. Brownlee, " 
 
 R. T. Stiiddart, " 
 
 C. Baldwin, " 
 
 F. M. Kip, 
 
 James A. Yard, Trenton, N.J. 
 
 Thos. J. Thompson, " 
 
 R. M. Greenbank, Centerville* 
 
 Maryland. 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2011 with funding from 
 
 Princeton Theological Seminary Library 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/scripturegeograpOOsmil 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The importance of a proper acquaintance with the geogra 
 phy of countries and places mentioned in the Holy Bible, must 
 be apparent to all who have " diligently searched the Scrip- 
 tures," with a view to a thorough and proper understanding 
 of them. It is believed that many have neglected the sacred 
 volume, and have never attained a necessary knowledge of its 
 contents, not because they are infidels, or that they are aban- 
 doned to vice, nor indeed that they have any specific objection, 
 but because the Scriptures appear unintelligible. They read 
 of Moab and Edom, of Canaan and Mesopotamia, of Cush and 
 Mizrairn ; they search their geographies for information, but 
 find nothing to satisfy their inquiries. They are unable to 
 associate the historical record of events with time and place, 
 and thus their interest in the Bible history is lost, as well as 
 that sensible conviction of its veracity impaired, which in a 
 great measure depends upon a familiar acquaintance with the 
 geography of the countries where those events occurred. It 
 is not strange, therefore, that to such readers the sacred his- 
 tory should become dull or tedious. Not only the interest and 
 pleasure of the reader, but also his confidence is increased, by 
 learning the character and situation of the places of which 
 he reads. It may also be remarked, that in describing the an- 
 cient and modern state of many of these places, the most ex- 
 act fulfilment of prophecy is spontaneously apparent. The 
 present state of Tyre, of Babylon, of Jerusalem, and many 
 others of which we have prophecies recorded, offers sufficient 
 proof of the sublime truths of divuie revelation, to overthrow 
 the objections of the sceptic, and abundantly to confirm the 
 faith of the believer. 
 
 A2 
 
n PREFACE. 
 
 The plan and arrangement of the work may appear some- 
 what novel, but it is that which has been chosen after mature 
 deliberation, as best adapted to the nature of the subject. In 
 Part I. the chain of Scripture history is pursued until the final 
 settlement of the Israelites in the promised land ; with such 
 geographical notice of the places mentioned, as was thought 
 necessary to the full understanding of the subject. Particular 
 care has been taken to describe the different settlements of 
 the immediate posterity of Noah, as this was deemed impor- 
 tant, in order to elucidate many circumstances relating to the 
 names and early history of different countries. It will be 
 found, upon examination, that most countries and cities in the 
 early ages of the world, were named from the families or per- 
 sons by whom they were first peopled or founded ; and also 
 that colonies settled in remote regions, frequently retained the 
 name of the parent state. A want of attention to these gene- 
 ral facts has caused much obscurity and confusion in ancient 
 geography. These considerations have induced us to give 
 the introductory part of this work its historical form, and it is 
 believed that the attentive and judicious reader will be sen- 
 sible of its advantages. 
 
 In Part II. will be found, in alphabetical order, as fall an 
 account of the places mentioned in Scripture as the limits of 
 our work would admit ; and, in addition to the geographical 
 description, such events in their history have been given, aa 
 were thought necessary to a more full and complete under- 
 standing of the sacred volume. 
 
 The engravings which are given in the work, of ancient 
 coins, medals, and sculptures, we consider of great importance 
 in confirmation of many passages in Scripture liistory. These 
 will be found a source of information almost wholly new, but 
 capable of the greatest services. They are the oldest, most 
 genuine, and often the most extensive memoranda extant ; and 
 may generally be relied on as having been composed while 
 events were fresh, and having suffered nothing by the errors 
 of transcription, to which all written records are liable, while 
 these unimpeachable witnesses have been preserved to ua 
 
PREFACE. Vll 
 
 unchanged, notwithstanding the lapse oi nearly two thousand 
 years. 
 
 Some may not immediately perceive the force and cogency 
 of the proofs afibrded by these medallic illustrations, from the 
 want of proper examination, or miderstanding of the subject. 
 But when they find the " goddess of the Sidonians" of Scrip- 
 ture, represented on the medals of Sidon ; and the Ashtarotli 
 of the Scriptures, who was doubtless the Astarte or Venus 
 of the Greeks, on those of many towns in the Holy Land, 
 they will find that by these antiquities they will obtain more 
 correct notions of the deities of the ancient nations, and the 
 objects of their worship. We find also Anammelech, " the 
 king of clouds" of the Sepharvaites in Persia ; also the most 
 undeniable .proof of the propriety of Daniel's representation 
 of the kingdoms of Persia and Macedonia, by the figures of a 
 ram and a single-horned goat, which were actually the na- 
 tional symbols of those kingdoms. Many others wull be foimd 
 of equal importance, and it is confidently believed that those 
 who will give the subject due attention, will perceive the 
 force of these illustrations, and acknowledge their value. If 
 the reader find in the goat of Macedonia, or the ram of Persia, 
 that determinate illustration of the prophecies of Daniel, 
 which he never before received ; if he perceive in the medals 
 of Jerusalem a proof of the idolatry practised in the holy 
 places, the history of its destruction by Titus, and the fulfil- 
 ment of our Saviour's prophecies concerning it, fully confirm- 
 ed, he will doubtless acknowledge that these proofs have their 
 advantages, and that an acquaintance with them is proper for 
 those who understand the duty of being able to support, by a 
 ready answer, the hope that is in them. 
 
 Another remark may be made of these coins and medals, 
 of no small importance to the Christian. A sufficient num- 
 ber is given of those belonging to the cities in and near Ju- 
 dea, all of which bear Greek inscriptions, to prove that at the 
 time when the New Testament was written, Greek was the 
 prevailing language throughout the country. For it is not to be 
 supposed that these cities would have adopted Greek inscrip- 
 
Vlll PREFACE. 
 
 tions on their coins unless they understood them, and unless 
 the language had been ourrent, and even prevalent. This jus- 
 tifies the gospel writers in communicating their information 
 in a language generally understood. 
 
 It yet remains to say something respecting the sources from 
 which the materials of this work have been derived. To the 
 Sacred Geography of Dr. Wells we are largely indebted ; and 
 the works of the learned Calmet have afforded valuable aid. 
 Much authentic information has also been derived from the 
 work of Eusebius, entitled, Onomnsticon Urbium et Locorum 
 SacrcB ScripturcB, d^c. written in Greek in the fourth century, 
 and afterwards translated into Latin and improved by St. Je- 
 rom. The best Scripture gazetteers have been consulted, 
 among which is the invaluable work of Mansford, recently 
 published in England. We have also drawn from the most 
 authentic commentators, and from such Geographies and 
 Travels as afforded useful information upon our subject. Lem- 
 priere, D' Anville, and many other writers, have been carefully 
 examined, and no labour of investigation has been spared to 
 collect the best authorities and the most authentic information. 
 
 The author cannot conclude without the expression of his 
 warmest acknowledgments to such of his friends as have 
 kindly afforded him the use of rare and expensive works, 
 from which important information has been derived. But his 
 thanks are more especially due to his friend Charles B. Tre- 
 go, Esq. for much valuable assistance in compiling this work, 
 the plan of which was laid several years ago, and as much 
 progress made in it from time to time, as intervals of com- 
 parative leisure from more pressing pursuits would permit; 
 though, without the aid of his highly important services, a 
 much longer period must have -elapsed before it could have 
 been presented to the public. 
 
 Philadelphia, June, 1834. 
 
!l / 
 

 
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 / 
 
 ^-lllli. I 
 
SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 PART I. 
 
 Geographical and Historical : extending from the Creation 
 of the World to the final settlement of the Israelites in the 
 land of Canaan. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 ANTEDILUVIAN GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 Our knowledge of the antediluvian world is limited to very 
 narrow bounds, owing- to the extreme brevity of Scripture in 
 relating the events which occun'ed before the deluge. This 
 conciseness in the history has prevented any extended geo- 
 graphical account of the places where those events occurred ; 
 there being no mention of any excepting the Garden of Eden, 
 with the Rivers which determine its situation ; the Land of 
 Nod, and the city of Enoch, which Cain built therein. With 
 regard to the situation of these places, we must in the begin- 
 ning acknowledge that considerable uncertainty exists ; and 
 that, though many pious and learned men have examined, with 
 great diligence and attention, all the existing sources of in- 
 Ibrmation, yet their opinions and conclusions are various, and 
 even sometimes contradictory. In such cases we shall consi- 
 der it our duty to designate that which we conceive to be the 
 most satisfactory decision, and leave the reader to form his 
 ovv'n opinion from proper investigation of the subject. 
 
 1. The situation of the Garden of Eden. 
 
 The name Eden, m Hebrew, signifies bliss, pleasure, or 
 delight ; and as this place Vv^as remarkable as the residence of 
 our first parents, in their state of innocence and happiness, ita 
 
10 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPH 
 
 Bituation is particularly denoted by the sacred historian as 
 lying- eastward, and having a river going out of i.., which from 
 thence was parted and became into four heads. By the term 
 eastward, Moses probably means that it was situated eastward 
 from the place where he then wrote, i, e. from tiie Land of 
 Canaan or its vicinity. But this is very general and indefinite ; 
 for it may apply to any of the countries east of tlie Land of 
 Canaan. It is then to the rivers that we must look for data 
 upon wliich to found a conclusion respecting the location of 
 Eden. These rivers were four, namely, the Pison, the Gihon, 
 the Hiddekel, and the Euphrates. 
 
 L The Pison, we are told, " compasses the whole land of 
 Chavila, or Havilah, where there is gold; and the gold of that 
 land is good : there is bdellium and the onyx-stone." Some 
 have supposed tiiis land of Chavila to be the present Cabul, a 
 country between Persia and Hinciostan ; and the Pison to be 
 one of the rivers falling into the Indus from the west, as gold 
 and precious stones are known to exist in that region. The 
 Gihon they suppose to be the western branch of the Oxiis, 
 now called Jihon : and the Hiddekel the eastern branch of the 
 same, both of which unite near Balk, a city in the eastern 
 part of the Persian dominions. Tlie Euplirates, written in 
 Hebrew Phi-ath or Perath, they suppose to be the Hirmend, 
 or Hindmend. According to this theory, then, Eden must have 
 been situated somewhere in the eastern part of the Persian 
 empire, or in the country now called Cabulistan, between Per- 
 sia and Hindostan. 
 
 IL The learned Huetius and others suppose Eden to have 
 been placed in the southern part of Babylonia, not far from 
 the Persian Gulf, where they conjecture that the Tigris and 
 Euphrates joined, and afterwards separated ; consequently 
 there were two rivers above and two below that junction, 
 making the four mentioned by JMoses. But this certainly does 
 not well answer tlie description given in Scripture, and this 
 conjecture is also liable to other objections. 
 
 in. The most probable idea concerning the situation of 
 Eden, we conceive to be, that it was placed in or near Arme- 
 nia; because, 
 
 1. We have the name of a river wluch flowed from Eden, 
 Euphrates, which name lias continued almost unchanged to 
 the present day. This river has its source in the mountains 
 of Armenia, near lake Arsissa. There are two streams at 
 first flowing westward, but after their junction near Mount 
 
SITUATION OF THE GARDEN O? EDEN. 11 
 
 Taurus, turning to the south-west, the river receives a smaller 
 stream, and flows towards the Mediterranean; but commg 
 near the Caucasian mountains, it is turned to tlie south-east, 
 and at length joining the Tigris, it empties into the Persian 
 Gulf by several mouths. 
 
 2. The Hiddekel is generally agreed by historians to be the 
 Tigris. The prophet Daniel also says he had a vision "in 
 Babylonia, by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel." 
 Now by the " great river," he must mean the Tigris, as it was 
 the only great river in Babylonia, except the Euphrates. The 
 Tigris rises near the head of the Euphrates, and pursuing a 
 south-easterly direction, divides Assyria from Mesopotamia. 
 And we are told (Gen. ii. 14, margin) that the Hiddekel goeth 
 eastward to Assyria. Therefore, we consider there can be 
 little doubt as to the identity of the two rivers. 
 
 3. The Pison is more difficult to determine, but has been 
 generally taken to be the Phasis, or Absarus of the ancients, 
 now called Batoum, which empties into the Euxine or Black 
 Sea. The Havilah, which was encompassed by this river, 
 was probably Colchis, between the Euxine and the Caspian. 
 This region was celebrated among the ancients for the abun- 
 dance and excellence of its gold. It must, however, be borne 
 in mind, that there was another Havilah, in Arabia, different 
 from this country, and of which we shall speak in another 
 place. 
 
 4. The Gihon, which is said to have compassed the whole 
 land of Ethiopia. The Hebrew word, here translated Ethio- 
 pia, is Cush, which was a term used to designate several re- 
 gions in Asia, and one in Africa. (See Cush, Part II. of this 
 work.) Now, as the Cush here mentioned could be neither 
 in Africa nor x^rabia, we must suppose it was either in Assy- 
 ria west of the Caspian, or in Bactria east of the Oxus or Ji- 
 hon, both of which countries were settled by the descendants 
 of Cush. According to the first supposition, the Gihon may 
 be the river Kerah, called by the Greeks Gyndus, which is 
 possibly a corruption of the name Gihon. But it is more ge- 
 nerally believed that the Gihon was the Oxus, yet called in 
 that coimtry Jihon. 
 
 All reasoning upon the subject of the situation of Eden 
 must, however, be vague, and all conclusions naturally ap- 
 pear unsatisfactory, when we reflect that as the surface of the 
 earth must have been convulsed and broken up by the univer- 
 sal deluge, so the course of the rivers must have been, in 
 
12 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 many instances, greatly, if not entirely, altered ; and that 
 many other changes in the face of the country would be the 
 natural and obvious consequence of the general desolation 
 produced by that awful visitation of the Deity upon a guilty 
 world. It is also possible that God chose to blot out this beau- 
 tiful spot from his creation, after the expulsion of our first 
 parents from the garden, and so destroy both the scene and 
 the memorial of man's transgression. 
 
 II. The Land of Nod, aiid the City of Enoch. 
 
 The land of Nod, in which Cain is said to have dwelt after 
 he had been cursed for the murder of Abel, if it mean a 
 country, was situated on the east of Eden ; or as some trans- 
 lators render it, before or over-against Eden ; meaning that 
 Cain removed no further from Eden than he was compelled, 
 and that he remained not far from it. There is, however, a 
 strong presumption that the original meaning of this term 
 was not any particular country, but merely descriptive of the 
 state of Cain after his exile. The expression of the Samari- 
 tan version of the Old Testament is Nad, a vagabond or trem- 
 bier in the land, and the Hebrew word in our Bible will bear 
 the same meaning, as may be seen by reference to the mar- 
 gin in Gen. iv. 16. And even if taken as the name of a region 
 of country. Nod imports wandering, exile, wildness, or 
 the wilds, in allusion to the unsettled and wandering state of 
 the unhappy fugitive. 
 
 With regard to the situation of the city of Enoch, which 
 Cain built, nothmg is known with any degree of certainty 
 
 CHAPTER IT. 
 
 FROM THE DELUGE TO THE BUILDING OF BABEL, AND THE 
 CONFUSION OF TONGUES. 
 
 I. The Country and Mountains of Ararat. 
 
 There is no mention in Scripture of any particular , place 
 Juring the continuance of the Hood ; we are only told of the 
 general prevalence of the waters, their depth on the moun- 
 tains, and of their gradual subsiding, until the Ark rested upon 
 the mountains of Ararat. Gen. viii. 4. 
 
 The country of Ararat has been generally admitted to be 
 in Persian Armenia, west of tlie Caspian Sea, in which re- 
 
THE LAND OF SHINAR. 13 
 
 gion is situated the city now called Erivan. In tlie north- 
 east part of Armenia are lofty mountains, and upon one of 
 these, called Mount ]\lasis, and by the Turks Agridah, it is 
 supposed the i^rk rested. It has two peaks,' distinguished by 
 the nanies Greater and Lesser Ararat. The height of this 
 mountain is said to be not less than 15,000 feet : it is covered 
 with snow and ice, and may be distinguished at a distance of 
 nearly 200 miles. It has been visited by modern travellers, 
 but its summit has proved inaccessible. Some years ago, a 
 large re\v'ard was oiTered by the Turkish governor of Beyazid 
 to any one who should reach the top ; but though many of the 
 natives who lived at the foot of the mountain have made the 
 attempt, they have always failed to reach the summit, which 
 it is probable has never been visited by a human being since 
 the days of Noah. 
 
 There is, hovrever, an expression in Scripture which seems 
 to lead to a contrary conclusion from that whicli places the 
 mountains of Ararat in Armenia. We read (Gen. xi. 2.) 
 that as mankind journeyed y?-o;/i the east, they found a plain 
 in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. Now Armenia 
 is not east, but very far north of Shinar, and indeed somewhat 
 to the west, so that this journey could not have been from the 
 direction of Armenia. Inquiries have therefore been made to 
 discover the mountains of Ararat in some country to the east 
 of Sliina,r ; and some, relying on ancient traditions, have 
 placed Ararat in the mountainous region between India and 
 Persia, not far from the sources of the Indus, on whose banks 
 the traditions and sacred books of the Hindoos affirm that 
 Noah lived for some time after the flood. The mountain Arya- 
 varta or Aryawart certainly has some affinity in name to the 
 Hebrew Araraut, and these mountains were far east from tlie 
 plain of Shinar, as the expression in Genesis would seem to 
 imply. Still we think it most probable that, after all, Ararat 
 was in Armenia ; and that when the posterity of Noah, or a 
 part of them, left Armenia, they first went eastward towards 
 the Caspian Sea, then soQth-eastward, and finally westward 
 to Shinar. 
 
 11. The Land of Shinar, and the Cities huilt there. 
 
 We are now naturally led to inquire into the situation of 
 the land of Shinar, where the famous tower of Babel was 
 begun ; where the language of mankind was confounded, and 
 B 
 
14 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPIIY. 
 
 from whence they were scattered abroad upon the face of al) 
 the earth. 
 
 The land of Sliinar, or Sing-or, was certainly the same 
 afterwards called Babylonia or Chaldea, being a considerable 
 extent of level country through v/hich flow the Tig-ris and 
 the Euphrates, and probably extending so far north as to in- 
 clude a part of j^.Iesopotamia. In the northern part of this 
 great plain or valley, in Mesopotamia near the Tigris, a city 
 is mentioned by ancient writers called Singcn-a, and a moun- 
 tain called Singaras, which agree very nearly with the 
 Hebrew Singar or Sninar. Babel and Erech both lay in the 
 land of Siiinar : Babel we know" to be the same as Babylon, 
 and Erech was on the east of the Tigris ; hence it is manifest 
 that Sliinar extended on both sides of the Tigris. 
 
 1. 71ie City and Tower of Babel — The tower of Babel 
 was begun probably in the very place, or at least in the im- 
 mediate neighbourhood, where the city of Babylon afterwards 
 stood, i. e. on the Euphrates at some distance above its junc- 
 tion with the Tigris. It is not likely that Noah, or his sons 
 Shem and Japliet, and possibly Ham, were concerned in 
 building the tower, but probably opposed it ; so that these who 
 undertook it had withdrawn themselves and chose a place at 
 some distance from the seat of Noah and the patriarchs. 
 
 The design of this mighty edifice seems to have been to 
 make themselves a name, or render themselves famous to 
 posterity. Gen. xi. 4. They seem also to have foreseen that 
 they would have to separate and scatter abroad upon the earth, 
 and possibly miglit therefore liave intended the tower as a 
 memorial of their union, or a rallymg point after their 
 separation. But Divine Providence cltoce this very occasion 
 to separate and scatter tliem, whicli was done by confounding 
 their language, so that they could no longer understand or 
 communicate their thoughts to one another. 
 
 For an account of the city of Babel, afterwards called 
 Babylon, founded by Nimrod in tiie land of Shinar, probably 
 upon the ruins of the tower of Babel, the reader is referred 
 to Part II. Article Babylon. 
 
 2. Erech, Accad, and Calnch. — Erech was another of the 
 cities which made the foundation of the kingdom of Nimrod 
 in the land of Shinar. It was called by the Greeks Erecca, 
 or Arecca, and according to Ptolemy, the Greek geographer, 
 was situated at the most southern bend of the common chan- 
 
 ?1 of the Tigris and Euphrates. Tlie Archevites, of whom 
 
settle:»ient of the earth. 15 
 
 we read in Ezra iv. 9. are supposed to have been inhabitants 
 of this place, brought by the king of Assyria to colonize 
 Samaria. 
 
 But little is known concerning the situation of Accad. 
 The name is sometimes written Archad, which probably gave 
 name to the river Argacles, mentioned by some Greek writers 
 as being near Sittace, on the east of the Tigris. A region 
 is also spoken of by Strabo, called Artacene, lying about Ar- 
 bela, which might also probably derive its name from Archad. 
 A ruin is also Ibund not far from Bagdad, called Akar-kouff, 
 which is supposed by some to mark the place v/here Achad 
 formerly stood. 
 
 Calneh is tlie last mentioned of tlje cities in the land of 
 Shinar, belonging to the kingdom of Nimrod. This place is 
 also called Calno (Isa. x. 9.) and Canneh (Ezek. xxvii. 23.) 
 It seems to have been a considerable place in the time of the 
 prophet Amos, as he com_pares it with other places of some 
 note ; as does also Isaiah, as above. Calneh was situated upon 
 the Tigris, and was called Ctesiphon by the Greeks; the 
 country about it being called Chalonitis, evidently derived 
 from Chalneh, Chalno, or Chalone. It is said that Pacorus, a 
 king of the Parthians, changed the name of the city to Cte- 
 siphon. 
 
 Of Nineveh, Rehoboth, Calah and Resen, cities built by 
 Asshur, or by Nimrod, in Assyria, we shall speak in their 
 proper places in Part 11. of this work. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 SETTLEMENT OF THE EARTH BY THE SONS OF NOAH AND 
 THEIR POSTERITY. 
 
 It is evident from the words of the sacred historian, that 
 Vi^ben the earth was repeopled after the flcod, the first settle- 
 ments w^ere made after a regular manner. He says, after 
 enumerating the sons of Japhet, " by these were the isles of 
 the Gentiles divided in their lands, every one after his tongue, 
 after their families, in their nations." (Gen. xv.) In the same 
 manner he concludes his account of the sons of Ham, and of 
 Shem. Thus w^e see they were ranged, first according to 
 their nations, and next every nation was ranged by its fami- 
 nes; so that every nation had its separate allotment, and in 
 every nation the families dwelt and had their separate allot- 
 
16 eCRIFrUltE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 ments. This we think is the meaning of the text, " accord- 
 ing to their families, in their lands, in their nations." 
 
 Though the order in which the sons of Noah are mentioned, 
 Gen. V. 32, and in other passages of Scripture, is Shem, Ham, 
 and Japhet, yet it is evident from Gen. ix. 2"2. 24. that Ham 
 was the youngest son of Noah, and it also appears (Gen. x. 
 21.) that Japhet was the eldest. In the Scripture account, 
 however, of these patriarchs and their families, Japhet is first 
 mentioned, next Ham, and lastly Shem. 
 
 We shall now proceed to give an account of the division 
 of the earth among the posterity of Noah. It should be 
 recollected that in these primitive times, countries were 
 generally named from their first settlers, and nations fi'ora 
 their founder, or the head of the family from which they de- 
 scended. 
 
 I. Descendants of Japhet. 
 
 The sons of Japhet were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, 
 Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. Of these seven nations, only the 
 families of two are mentioned, viz. those of Gomer and Ja- 
 van, The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and To- 
 garmah : the sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, 
 and Dodanim. 
 
 I. Settlements of Gomer and hisfajnily. 
 
 The nation of Gomer appears to have been established in 
 the northern part of Lesser Asia. Josephus says that the 
 Galatians, who lived about the southern shore of the Euxine 
 or Black Sea, were called Gomerites. From this name also 
 is probably derived timt of the Kimmerii, or Cimraerii, who 
 dwelt about these parts, and of Cimmeris, a town in Phry- 
 gia. From tliis region Gomer is believed to have spread 
 abroad into Europe, peopling the countries along the Danube, 
 and thence westward into Germany, France, &:c. 
 
 1. Ashkenaz, the son of Gomer, was seated in the western 
 part of the nation of Gomer, which was the north-west of 
 Asia Minor. In Troas, or Lesser Plirygia, was botli a city 
 and province anciently called Ascania, and tlie islands along 
 the coast were called Ascanian isles; also in Bithynia is a 
 bay, a river, and a lake, called likewise Ascanian, which 
 name is very probably derived from Aslikcnaz. Tiie learned 
 Bochart conjectures that the Black Sea, formerly and some- 
 times yet called the Euxine, was in early ages called the sea 
 cS Ashkenaz, from the settlement of that family on its coast 
 
DESCENDANTS OF JAPHET. 17 
 
 Hence by the Gree*ks it was first named Pontus Axenus, in- 
 stead of Pontus Ashkcnas, and thence Pon-tus Euxinus. 
 
 2. Riphath, the second son of Gomer, probably settled east 
 of his brother Ashkenaz. For, according to Josephus, the 
 Paphlagonians, a people inhabiting the country south-east of 
 the Euxine, were originally called Riphateans, from Riphat. 
 Pliny also mentions a people called Riphsi, 'who lived there, 
 and another called Arimphesi. It has, however, been sup- 
 posed by some, that the Riphsean mountains, mentioned by 
 the Romans, and situated in the country north of the Black 
 Sea, received their name from Riphath. 
 
 3. Togarmah, the third and last mentioned son of Goraer, 
 appears to have had his portion still further east than hi? 
 brethren ; i. e. in Armenia. Very ancient records preserved 
 in some monasteries in the east, speak of a man named Tar- 
 gamos, who dwelt in a fortress on JMount Ararat, and lived 
 to the age of six hundred years ; being the father of eight 
 sons, from whom, it is stated, are descended the people of 
 Armenia, and other nations about the Caucasian mountains. 
 Ezekiel speaks of the "house of Togarmah of the north 
 quarters, and all his bands." (Ezek. xxxviii. 6.) This, with 
 some other considerations, have induced some learned com- 
 mentators to place Togarmah in Cappadocia rather than Ar- 
 menia. 
 
 II. Settlement of Magog, Son ofJaphet. 
 
 According to Josephus, Jerom, and other writers, Magog 
 was the father of the Scythia,ns, on the east and north-east 
 of the Euxme. Strabo and Stephanus both i lention a coun- 
 try situated in these parts, called Gogarene ; and it is not im- 
 probable that Georgia, the modern name of this country, may 
 have been derived in like manner from Gog ; the people being 
 called Georgi, from Gorgeni or Gogeni. But the best evi- 
 dence of the situation of the country of Jiagog is contained 
 in the Scripture itself, (Ezek. xxxviii. 2.) " Set thy face 
 against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Me- 
 shech, and Tubal." From, this we learn that the land of Ma- 
 gog must be near that of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, the 
 situation of which is known ; and if near them, it could only 
 be on the north of them. 
 
 III. Country of Madai, Son of JapTiet. 
 
 It is the general opinion of writers on this subject, tliat 
 Madai was the father of the Medes, and consequently must 
 have settled in the country about the south and south-west 
 B2 
 
18 fiWJRIPTUFE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 of the Caspian Sea, afterwards called Media. The ground 
 for this location of Madai is, that the Medes are called Madai 
 in the Hebrew text of Scripture. 
 
 Bat some learned commentators have been of a different 
 opinion. They consider that as Media lay far north-east of 
 the Holy Land, and of Egypt, and as the passage from one to 
 the other was by land and not by sea, consequently Media can- 
 not well be considered as being comprehended under the term 
 "isles of the Gentiles," which the sacred historian says were 
 peopled by the posterity of Japhet. Moreover, the situation 
 of Media seems to indicate that if originally possessed by Ma- 
 dai, he must have been widely separated from the rest of his 
 brethren, and to have lain within the lot of Shem, instead of 
 the general lot of his father Japhet. There was a descendant 
 of Shem, called also Madai, and from him the Medes probably 
 derived their origin and name. 
 
 In order to trace the descendants of Madai, the son of Ja 
 phet, within the bounds of his father's allotment, the learned 
 Mr. Mede supposes we must look to JMacedonia, the ancient 
 name of which was /Emathia, Aimatliia, or Aimadia, A peo- 
 ple in this country were also called Medi, or Mcodi ; all which 
 names may have been originally derived from Madai. 
 IV. The Country of Javan and his family. 
 The nation of Javan was first seated in the southern part 
 of Asia Minor, as appears not only from the name of a coun- 
 try here called Ionia, but also from the four families of Javan's 
 sons Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim, who were all 
 settled in this region. The name Ionia is derived from Javan, 
 which is also written in Hebrew Ian and lowan, hy the LXX. 
 and by Josephus. Javan is the term used in the Old Tes^<t- 
 ment for Greece and the Greeks. 
 
 1. Elishah, the son of Javan. This name in the Samaritan 
 IS written Elish or Elis, and in the Clialdee Alas, which near- 
 ly approaches Hellas, the name which the Greeks called their 
 own country : according to Josephus, Eolia was named frojn. 
 Elishah. The Eolians v/ere anciently settled northward from 
 the possessions of Javan, and hence we may conclude that 
 Elishah was established to the north of his father. The pos- 
 terity of Elishah probably afterwards possessed themselves of 
 the islands in the Egean Sea., between Asia and Europe, call- 
 ed in Ezekiel, (chap, xxvii. 7.) the isles of Elisha. These 
 people passing afterwards into Europe, were called Hellenes, 
 and their coutilry Hellas^ which afterwards became a general 
 
DESCENDANTS OF JAPHET. 19 
 
 term for the whole of Greece. The city and province of Elis, 
 the city of Eleusis, and the river Elissus or Ilissus, are all pro- 
 bably derived from Elish, or Elisha. 
 
 2. Tarshhli, the son of Javan, was probably settled on the 
 eastern part of the southern coast of Asia Minor. Josephas 
 says that Tarsus, the chief city of Cilicia, was founded by 
 Tarshish, and that the province of Cilicia itself was ancient- 
 ly called Tarshish. This is conjectured to be the place to 
 which Jonah thought to flee f-om the presence of the Lord. 
 (Jon. i. 3.) Tartessus, an ancient city in Spain, was probably 
 built by a colony f-om Tarshish; for, as tliey were evidently 
 a sea-faring- and commercial people, they might easily extend 
 their voyages in the Mediterranean as far as the coast of Spain. 
 Indeed the whole isleditorranean seems to have been called 
 the Sea. of Tarshish ; though probably this name was origin- 
 ally applied only to that part of it lying near Tarshish, i. e. the 
 Sea of Cilicia, at the head of which Tarsus or Tarshish was 
 built. See Tai^shish, Part II. 
 
 3. Kittim, having the plural Hebrew termination, probably 
 means the descendants of Ketli, who appear to have had their 
 portion west of Tarshish. Ptolemy mentions a country here, 
 called Ketis, or Cetis; and Homer speaks of a people called 
 Cetii, who took their name from the river Cetius in the same 
 region. Josephus says Cyprus v/as the seat of the Kittim, or 
 Chittim ; but as it was in their neighbourhood, it Vv^as probably 
 colonized by them, as the continent would naturally be peo- 
 pled before the islands. The Kittim, in process of time, want- 
 ing room, and finding the lower parts of Greece already set- 
 tled by the descendants of Elishah and the Dodanim, probably 
 coasted along the western shore of Greece to the northern 
 parts, where some settled and others passed over into Italy. 
 Hence it happens that we find both Macedonia and Italy de- 
 noted in Scripture by the name of Chittim. (1 Mace. i. 1. also 
 viii. 5, Dan. xi. 29, 30.) 
 
 4. Dodanim, also plural in Hebrew, means the family of 
 Dodan, son of Javan. The Dodanim were settled on the coast 
 south of the family of Elishah, where there w^as anciently a 
 country called Doris, from which came the Dorians, a consi- 
 derable part of the Greek nation. The name is also preserved 
 in the city of Dodona. 
 
 V. Country of Meshech. 
 
 The possessions of Meshech appear to have been at first 
 situated east of Gomer, in part of Cappadocia and Armenia. 
 
20 SCRIPTURE GEOGllAPHY. 
 
 The name written Mesliech in our translation, is by others 
 written Mosoch, and hence it seems probable that the people 
 called by the Greeks Mosoclii or Moschi, who inhabited these 
 parts, were descendants of Mosoch or Mcshech. In Armenia 
 was a river and country named Rosh, and a people named 
 Rhossi. These Rhossi aiid ]\Ioschi, who were neighbours in 
 Asia, afterwards crossed into Europe, dispersed over the vast 
 empire of Russia, and their names are still preserved m those 
 of the Russians and Muscovites. 
 
 VL Country of Tubal. 
 
 Tubal and Meshech being frequently mentioned together in 
 scripture, we may reasonably infer that they were seated ad- 
 joining each other. Tubal was probably settled on the nortJi 
 of Meshech, as Josephus affirms that the Asiatic Iberians were 
 descended from Twbal, and says they were originally called 
 Theobeli, from Thubal or Tubal. A city is also mentioned by 
 Ptolemy as situated in this region, called Thabilaca, which 
 may be derived from Tubal. We read in scripture that these 
 nations were merchants, and traded in slaves and vessels of 
 brass. (Ezek. xxvii. 13.) Now this agrees well with the 
 country where we have placed them ; for the regions about 
 Pontus and Cappadocia were noted for slaves, and Tibarenia 
 and Iberia produced excellent brass. 
 
 VII. Country of Tiras. 
 
 All writers agree tliat Tiras, son of Japhet, was the father 
 of the Thracians. Besides the evident derivation of the name 
 Thrace from Thiras, the founder of tlie nation, we have also 
 the name Atliyras applied to a river, a bay, and a haven. There 
 was also in the peninsula of Thrace a city called Tyristasis, 
 a region called Thrasus, and a people called Trausi. One of 
 the names of J\Iars, the god of the Thracians, was Thura.% 
 which might have been given in honour of tiieir founder, Thi- 
 ras or Tiras. Some have supposed that the Trojans Vv'ere also 
 descendants of Tiras, from the similarity of Tros to Tiras ; 
 and from the ancient Greeks having a tradition that the peo- 
 ple east of the Hellespont and Propontis were originally Thra- 
 cians. 
 
 n. Descendants of Shem. 
 
 There are five sons of Shem mentioned in scripture ; name- 
 ly, Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and iVram. Of two of these, 
 Arphaxad and Aram, the sons are designated. 
 
DESCENDANTS OF SUEM. 21 
 
 I. Elam, son of Shem. 
 
 It is considered certain that Elam was settled in the south- 
 ern part of the region east of the Tigris, as the Scripture 
 evidently and frequently denotes the inhabitants of that coun- 
 try by the name of Elam. We also read in heathen writers 
 of a country in the same place, and a city, both called Ely- 
 mais. Like many other names of places, Elam is sometimes 
 talicn in a stricter sense, by which it is distinguished from 
 Susiana and the other Persian provinces ; and sometimes in a 
 more comprehensive sense, including Susiana and the other 
 provinces. Thus Pliny and Ptolemy speak of the Elymaiias 
 a people dwelling on the Persian Gulf; and the prophet Dan- 
 iel (viii. 2.) mentions Shushan, the chief city of Susiana, as 
 being situated in Elam. Elam in Scripture is used to denote 
 the kingdom of Persia, until the age of Cyrus and Daniel the 
 prophet ; after which time it is generally called by its (jreek 
 name, Persis, or Persia. 
 
 II. Asshur, son of Shem. 
 
 Asshur was established in the country called in the oriental 
 languages after his name, Asshur ; but in the western Ian 
 guages it w^as called Assyria, also derived from the name of 
 its founder. By Assyria is here to be understood the country 
 properly and originally so called, in which was the city of 
 Nineveh, built by Asshur after he w^ent out of the land of 
 Shinar. (Gen. x. 11.) Some however understand this text to 
 mean that Nineveh v^^as built by Nimrod, after he went out 
 into Asshur or Assyria. (See Part II. Article Assyria.) 
 
 III. Arphaxad, son of Shem. 
 
 It is believed that Arphaxad settled in Mesopotamia, in the 
 southern part, near the Tigris, and also occupied a tract on 
 the east side of the river, called Arrapacliitis, a name evident- 
 ly derived from Arpachshad, for so is the name written in 
 the Hebrew text. 
 
 Of the dwelling place of Salah the son, and Eber the 
 grandson of Arphaxad, nothing is known with certainty ; but 
 they probably remained in Mesopotamia. Eber was the fore- 
 father of the Llebrews, and the father of Pel eg and Joktan. 
 There are thirteen sons of Joktan mentioned in Scripture, 
 " and their dwelling was fi-om Mesha as thou goest unto Se- 
 phar, a mount of the east." (Gen. x. 30.) Mesha is supposed 
 to be the country which the Greeks called 1*1 esene, near the 
 head of the Persian Gulf; Sephar is supposed to lie near the 
 •Red Sea ; consequently, the posterity of Joktan were settled 
 
22 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 in Arabia. Some writers, however, do not incline to tliis 
 opinion, but thinlc that Mesha is a mountain in the west of 
 Armenia, and Scphar another farther eastward. 
 
 IV. Lud, the son of Shcm. 
 
 It is the general opinion tliat Lud peopled Lydia, a country 
 in Asia Minor ; but some suppose that his descendants were 
 settled in Africa, as there is a people called Lud, who lived 
 here. (Isa. Ixvi. 19. Jer. xlvi. 9. Ezek. xxvii. 10. xxx. 5.) 
 These however probably descended from Lud, the son of Mis- 
 raim, called in the plural Ludim. (Gen. x. 13.) 
 
 V. Aram, the son of Shem. 
 
 Tlie portion of Aram lay in Armenia, Mesopotamia, and 
 Syria; and Armenia, or Aramenia, probably derived its name 
 from Aram. The country called in the Hebrew text Aram, 
 is frequently translated Syria ; but this is not to be understood 
 as comprehending- the whole of Syria, but only that part of it 
 which belonged to tlie nation of Aram ; namely, the northern 
 and eastern parts. Syria is, indeed, sometimes used to denote, 
 not only Syria Proper, but also Mesopotamia: for instance, 
 we find Jacob, who is called in the Hebrew an Aramite, is in 
 our translation called a Syrian, (Hosea xii. 12.) and it was in 
 Padan Aram in Mesopotamia vvhere he " served for a. wife 
 and kept sheep." 
 
 1. f/r, the son of Aram. — The ancients agree that Uz was 
 the builder of tlie city of Damascus. From this we may 
 reasonably infer that the land of Uz denoted the country 
 about Damascus, including part of Arabia. This may agree 
 with what is said in Scripture with regard to the dwelling of 
 Job, and also of the situation of Edom, both of which are 
 said to be in the land of Uz. 
 
 2. Hid, the son of Aram. — It has been supposed that the 
 settlement of Hul was in Greater Armenia, as we find there 
 the names of several places containing the radical letters 
 of Hul or Chul. Cholobetcne, the name of a province in Ar- 
 menia, seems to have been derived from the Hebrew Cholbeth, 
 i. e. the house or dwelling of Choi. Also Cholua, Choluata, 
 Cholimna, &c. 
 
 3. Get her, son of Aram. — Nothing certain is known of the 
 portion of Gethor. Some have conjectured thnt it was in 
 Albania which borders on Armenia, as Ptolemy mentions a 
 city of that country, formerly called Gctarce, and a river 
 called Getras, both which names may possibly be derived 
 from G ether or Geter. 
 
DESCENDANTS OF HAM. 23 
 
 4. Meshech, or Mash, son of Aram. — Mash is supposed to 
 have settled between his brothers Uz and Hul, having Hul 
 to the north and Uz to the south : his portion lying about 
 Mount Masius, which is thought to have been named after 
 him. From this mountain runs a river of Mesopotamia, 
 called Masca ; and the people of this region were anciently 
 called Masieni, or JMasiani, from all which it may be reasona- 
 bly inferred that this was the country of Mash, or Meshech. 
 
 III. Descendants of Ham. 
 
 As Ham was the youngest son of Noah, consequently his 
 descendants formed the youngest branch of Noah's posterity: 
 and may be distinguished into four nations, headed by the 
 four sons of Ham ; Cush, ?.Iisraim, Phut, and Canaan. 
 
 The sons of Cush, were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, 
 and Sabtecha. Sons of Raamah, Sheba and Dedan. It is 
 added afterwards that Cush begat Nimrod, " who began to be 
 a mighty one in the earth," &c. 
 
 From Misraim descended Ludim, Ananim, Lehabim, 
 Naphtuhim, Pathrusim, and Casluhim. From the last came 
 Philistim and Caphtorim. These, having all the plural 
 Hebrew termination im, denote the families of Lud, Anan, 
 Lehab, Naphtuch, Pathros, and Casluch, the sons of Misraim. 
 
 None of the sons of Phut are mentioned in Scripture. 
 
 From Canaan descended the following nations; namely, 
 Sidon, Heth, the Jebusites, Amorites, Girgasites, Hivites, 
 Arkites, Sinites, Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites. 
 
 I. Cush, the son of Ham. 
 
 It is thought that the first settlement of Cush was on the 
 Gulf of Persia, in that part which still bears the name of 
 Chuzestan ; from whence they spread over India and great 
 part of Arabia, particularly the western part, on the coast of 
 the Red Sea ; invaded Egypt under the name of Palli, Hyc- 
 sos, or Shepherd Kings ; and thence passed probably as well 
 as Ijy the Straits of Babelmandel, into Central Africa, and 
 first peopled the countries to the south of Egypt, or African 
 Ethiopia. 
 
 It iseems evident from Scripture that the family of Cush 
 had made settlements in the north-west of Arabia ; for we are 
 toM that Moses had miarried a Cushite or Ethiopian woman. 
 (Numb. xii. 1.) Now, from Exod. ii. 1.5-21. it is certain that 
 Zipporah, the wife of Moses, was a Midianitish woman, and 
 Midian was in Arabia, on the Red Sea, 
 
"H SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 The word Cush in Scripture is frequently translated Ethio- 
 pia, but certainly does not always mean Ethiopia in Africa ; 
 though it is probable that Isaiah xviii. 1. Zeph. iii. 10. and 
 2 Chron. xii. 3. do refer to African Ethiopia. (See Cush, 
 Part II.) 
 
 1. Seba, the eldest son of Cush, is thoug'ht by some, to have 
 settled in the south-west of Arabia, where wo lind a city 
 called Sabe. Others, however, place him in Nubia, on an 
 island formed by the Nile and other rivers, which island was 
 called by the Hebrews Seba, (Isa. xliii. 3.) and by the Romans 
 JNIeroe. (See Part II. art. Sheba.) 
 
 2. Havilah, the son of Cush, probably established himself 
 on the northern coast of the Persian Gulf A people are men- 
 tioned by the old Greek writers as dwelling here, called 
 Chaulotse, Chaulasii, or Chavelsei, a name most likely derived 
 from Chavilah or Havilah, This Havilah must not be con- 
 founded with a son of Joktan of the same name. (See Part 
 II. art. Havilah.) 
 
 3. Sabtah, the son of Cusli, is believed by some writers to 
 have settled in the north of Arabia, on the Persian Gulf, where 
 stood an ancient city called Saphtha,, which might have been 
 named from him. Others place him at Sabota, in Southern 
 Arabia. 
 
 4. Raamah, son of Cush, is generally allowed to liave set- 
 tled in South-eastern Arabia, where a city was situated, 
 called Rhegma, after his name, which, though spelled Raamah 
 in our translation of the Scriptures, is in other versions writ- 
 ten Rhegma. 
 
 Sheba and Dedan, the sons of Raamah, were doubtless set- 
 tled not far from their father, as we find in the same region a 
 city called Sabana, and another further eastward, formerly 
 called Dedan, now Daden. As further proof of their being 
 settled in the same neighbourhood, we find them generally 
 mentioned together ; as, " The merchants of Sheba and Raa- 
 mah were thy merchants." (Ezek. xxvii. 22.) " Sheba and 
 Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish." (Ezek. xxxviii. 13.) 
 
 We read in Pliny that the Sabfean nations spread them- 
 selves from the Red Sea to the Gulf of Persia; but it is plain 
 from this that the Greeks confounded the two families of 
 Sheba and Seba, and called both by tiie g-sneral name of Sa- 
 baians. They are, however, distinguished from each other in 
 Scripture : " The kings of Sheba and Seba s-liall oSer gifts." 
 (Psalm Ixxii. 10.) 
 
DESCETsDANTS OF HAM. 25 
 
 5. Sabtecha, the son of Cush, probably settled among his 
 Drethren in the north of Arabia. 
 
 6. Nimrod, the son of Cush. After having given an ac- 
 count of the yens and grandsons of Cush, the sacred historian 
 adds, " And Cush begat Nimrod, who began to be a mighty 
 one on the earth." (Gen. x. 8. ) From this Vv^e may probably 
 infer that he was the youngest son of Cush, but by far the 
 most noted. It is probable tliat he was a person of great cour- 
 age and activity, and having first become " a mighty hunter," 
 was at length tempted to try his strength in war, and so In- 
 vaded the neighbouring regions, belonging to the family of 
 Arphaxad, the son of Shem. Having conquered the lower 
 part of the land of Shinar, he established a kingdom there ; 
 " and the beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech and 
 Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shmar." (Gen. x. 10.) Of 
 these cities we have already spoken, in our account of the 
 Land of Shinar. 
 
 In Gen. x. 11. our translation of the Scripture reads, " Out 
 of that land (the land of Shinar) went forth Asshur and built 
 Nineveh ;" by which is generally understood Asshur, the son 
 of Shem. But the names Asshur and Assyria being the same 
 in Hebrew, the text wdll also read, "out of that land he went 
 forth to Assyria and built Neneveh ;" meanmg that Nimrod, 
 after building Babel and other cities in the land of Shinar, 
 went forth out of that land into Assyria, and built Nineveh. 
 This reading is given in the m.argin of our Bible, and is sup- 
 posed to be the true meaning of the Hebrew text, as Nine- 
 veh w^as, in all probability, nam-ed after Ninus, the son of Nim- 
 rod, Nin-nave in Hebrevv', meaning the dw^elling of Ninus. 
 Of this city, and the others built by the same founder, we shall 
 treat in tire second part of this work, under their several 
 heads. 
 
 11. Misraim, the son of Ham. — There is no doubt w^ith re- 
 gard to the settlements of Misraim, as in Hebrew, l^gypt is 
 generally called the land of Misraim, or simply Misraim ; and 
 to this day the Arabs call it Masr, and the Turks il/i.sr. (See 
 Part 11. Article Egypt.) 
 
 1. The Ludhn, or descendants of Lud, son of Misraim. It 
 is generally believed that the country and people called Lud 
 and Ludim in Scripture refer to the African Ethiopians, which 
 people were celebrated for their skill in archery by the ancient 
 writers. Nov/ this agrees with what is said of the Ludim in 
 Scripture (Jer. xlvi. 9. and Isa. Ixvi. 19.) : also in the same 
 C 
 
26 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 text of Isaiah, Lud and Phul are mentioned together, imply- 
 ing that they were neighbours. 
 
 2> The Anamlm are supposed to be the people afterwards 
 called Ammonians, who dwelt in the parts west of Egypt, 
 about the temple of Jupiter Ammon. 
 
 3. The Lehabim are conjectured to have peopled Libya, 
 which name Lehabya, might have been derived from Lehab, 
 their ancestor. The name Libya, though afterwards extended 
 to nearly the whole African continent, yet originally was 
 applied only to the country of Cyrenaica on the west of 
 Egypt. 
 
 4. The NophluMm are thought by some writers to have 
 inhabited the country adjoining to Libya proper, towards 
 Egypt; but others place them between Egypt and Arabia. 
 
 5. The Pathrusim, or family of Pathros, are agreed by all 
 to have been settled in Thebais, a district of Upper Egypt, 
 where stood Pathyris, a place mentioned by the Greeks as 
 being near Egyptian Thebes. The Hebrew word Pathros is, 
 in the septuagint copy of the Scriptures, translated Pathyris. 
 
 6. The Casluhbn are supposed to have occupied a country 
 east of Egypt called Casiotis, in which is a mount Casius, 
 which names bear some resemblance to Casluch. And fur- 
 ther to conlirm this location, we read that from the Casluhim 
 sprang the Pliilistim, whom we find afterwards in the adjoin- 
 ing parts of Canaan. 
 
 7. The Caphforim were doubtless settled contiguous to the 
 Casluhim ; for thougli the Philistines are said (Gen. x. 14.) to 
 have come out of the Casluhim, yet (l)eut. ii. 23. Jer. xlvii. 
 4. Amos ix. 7.) they arc brouglit from Caphtor, or the Caph- 
 torim. Now as the Caphtorim and Casluhim were neighbours, 
 they were probably in course of time so intermixed as to be 
 accounted but one people, called either Caphtorim or Caslu- 
 him. Some are of opinion that the Copts or Cophtes of 
 Eg3^pt have derived tlieir name from Caphtor. 
 
 III. Phut, the son of Hmn. 
 
 The nation of Phut is generally admitted to have been first 
 established in Libya, west of the family of Misraim, and 
 thence extending westward into IMauritania, in which is a 
 river called PJiut, mentioned by Ptolemy, and also by St. Je- 
 rom, who says the adjacent country was called Regio Phu- 
 tensis, the country of Phut. 
 
 IV. Canaan, son of Ham. 
 
 Canaan and his posterity were settled in the country called 
 
DESCENDANTS OF HAM. 27 
 
 after his name, the Land of Canaan, which God afterwards 
 gave for an inheritance to the c'lildren of Israel, or the seed 
 of Abrtiham. This country is important, from its bcin^" sc 
 frequently mentioned in Scripture ; and the situations of the 
 several nations descended from the posterity of Canaan, re- 
 quire to be particularly described, in order for the better mi- 
 derstanding of a considerable portion of the sacred history. 
 
 The land of Canaan lay east and south-east of the Mediter- 
 ranean Sea, having the country of Aram, the son of Shem, 
 north and north-east ; Cush, the son of Ham, south and south- 
 east ; Misraim south-west; and the Mediterranean west. These 
 were the general limits of the country originally ; but as the 
 sacred history informs us, (Gen. x. 18.) "afterwards were the 
 families of the Canaanites spread abroad :" i. e. some of them 
 extended their settlements among the neighbouring nations. 
 
 1. Sido7i, the first-born of Canaan. 
 
 The settlement of Sidon was in the western p3.rt of the land 
 of Canaan, on the sea-coast, as is evident from the situation of 
 Sidon, a famous city called after his name. Not far from this, 
 to the southward, in the same country, was Tyre, a city an- 
 ciently celebrated for -its wealth and commerce. These tvv^o 
 cities are frequently mentioned together in Scripture, but it is 
 evident that the Tyrians were a colony of Sidonians, as in 
 Isaiah xxiii. 12. Tyre is called the daughter of Sidon. Tyre 
 is not spoken of in the sacred history until the time of kmg 
 David, except in Joshua xix. 29 ; and as in the preceding verse 
 Sidon is called the great, it is manifest that Sidon was then 
 the chief city. Aftervv^ards, however. Tyre became its supe- 
 rior. Homer speaks of the Sidonians, but not of the Tyrians. 
 
 2. The Hittites, or the Children of Heth. 
 
 This is the second of the fimilies of Canaanites mentioned 
 in Scripture. The children of Heth were settled in the south- 
 ern part of Canaan, about Hebron, as is proved from Gen. 
 xxiii. 3, where it is said that x'\braham bought of the sons of 
 Heth a buryins'-place, wliere he might bury his wife Sarah, 
 who died in Hebron. Further, (Gen. xxvi.) during Isaac's 
 sojourning at Beersheba, which was also in the south of Ca- 
 naan, Esau, his son, married the daughters of Beeri and Elon, 
 both Hittites. 
 
 3. The Jebusites. This family possessed the tract of coun- 
 try about Jerusalem, which was originally called Jehus, ac- 
 cording to 1 Chron. xi. 4. v/hers we are expressly told that 
 
28 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 the Jebusites were the inhabitants of the land : so they were 
 situated in the mountains north of the Hittites. 
 
 4. Amorites. The moujitains east and south-east of Hebron, 
 were the abode of the Amorites ; for in Dent. i. 7, 19. the 
 mountainous tract near Kadesh-barnea is called the Mount of 
 the Amorites : and in Gen. xiv. 7, we read of the Amorites in 
 Hazezontamar, which was the same place as Enafedi, (2 Chron. 
 XX. 2.) situate in the hilly country in the east of Canaan to- 
 wards Jordan. Hence the Amorites passed over Jordan, and 
 dispossessing the Moabites and Ammonites of some of their 
 finest provinces, established a kmg-dom east of the river Jor- 
 dan, and north of the Arnon, of which Heshbon was the cap- 
 ital. Sihon was king* of tliis country Vvhen the Israelites con- 
 quered it on their way from Egypt. 
 
 5. The Girgashites. These people were probably settled 
 along the upper part of the river Jordan, and to the east 
 of the Sea of Galilee or Gennesareth, where, in the time of 
 our Saviour, was a city called Gergesa, and the people Ger- 
 gesenes, both of which names are probably derived from Gir- 
 gash. 
 
 6. The Hivites. The original settlement of the Hivites 
 was in the northern part of Canaan, about Mount Lebanon, 
 (Judges iii. 3.) but like many other families of the Canaan- 
 ites, were afterwards dispossessed by their enemies, and 
 forced to seek a possession elsewhere. Sometimes also it 
 probably happened that they cliose to remove, or became in- 
 termixed with other families; so that we frequently read of 
 them as being situated in otlier places than those which we 
 m^ention as their first settlements. 
 
 7. The Arkites. The ^Vrkites are believed to have inhabit- 
 ed about Mount Lebanon, in the north of Canaan, in wliich 
 region a city is mentioned by old writers, called Arce. 
 
 8. The Si7iites. These people are conjectured to have 
 dwelt near the last, as St. Jerom mentions a city which once 
 Btood in the region adjoining, called Sin, probably retaining 
 sometiiing of the ancient name of the peoj)le. 
 
 9. The ArvndlU'S. An island near the coast of Syria, call- 
 ed Arndus, is thought to liave received its name from this fam- 
 ily, who might have occupied it, as well as part of the adjoin- 
 ing continent in the north-western part of Canaan. 
 
 10. The Zeinariles. Near the. last mentioned people> on 
 the coast, is conjectured to have been the seat of the Zemar- 
 ites ; for here was a city called Simyra. There was also a 
 
SOJOURNING OF ABRAHAM. 29 
 
 city called Zemaraim in the tribe of Benjamin, north of Je- 
 rusalem, which probably derived its name from some of this 
 people. (Josh, xviii. 22.) 
 
 11. The Hamathites. On the borders of Syria, in the 
 north-east of Canaan, was situated the city of Hamath, which 
 marks the settlement of tliis family. The entrance of Ha- 
 math (1 Kings, viii. 65.) seems to have been a mountain pass, 
 leading from the north of Israel into Syria, and in this text is 
 mentioned as the extreme northern boundary of the country 
 of the Israelites. 
 
 There were other nations inhabiting the parts about Ca 
 naan, such as the Avim, the Horites, the Emim, the Zumim 
 and Rephaim. From Vv'hom these were descended it is diffi- 
 cult to tell. The Avim inhabited the country south-west of 
 Gaza, on the borders of the desert. The Horites dwelt about 
 Mount Seir, to the south of Canaan, adjacent to the wilder- 
 ness of Paran. 
 
 The Emim, Zuzim, and Rephaim were gigantic people 
 dwelling south-east, east, and north-east, of Canaan. 
 
 Of the Amalekites, Moabites, &.c. we shall speak in another 
 4?lace. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE SOJOURNING OF ABRAHAM. 
 
 About 2083 years after the creation of the world, Terah, 
 the father of Abraham, left his home in Ur of the Chaldees, 
 and taking with him Abraham, his son. Lot, his grandson, and 
 Sarai, Abraham's wife, departed to go into Canaan ; but being 
 come to Haran, they dwelt there. (Gen. xi. 31.) 
 
 1. Vr of the Chaldees. 
 
 With regard to the situation of Ur, learned men have not 
 well agi^eed. Chaldea was the country lying on both sides of 
 ihe Euphrates, extending southward to the P^sian Gulf, and 
 northward into Mesopotamia ; being about th«Kame resion as 
 that called the Land of Shinar. The word ftanslated Chal- 
 dea, is in Hebrew Chasdim, whence it has been thought pro- 
 bable that the country received its name from Chesed, one of 
 the sons of Nahor, Abraham's brother. 
 
 Ur has been supposed by some to have been situated on the 
 Tigris, in Mesopotamia, or the northern part of Chaldea, 
 where a city of the same name was found by the Romans, on 
 C2 
 
30 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 their march towards Nisibis ; but as this was not in Chaldea 
 proper, olliers have been induced to look much farther south. 
 Accordingly, in the very heart of Chaldea, between the Ti- 
 gris and the Euphrates, a city is found, called Orcha by Ptol- 
 emy, and Ura by Josephus, which they suppose to be the native 
 city of Abraham. It appears, however, from xAiCts vii. 2, 3, 4. 
 that Ur must have been in Mesopotamia, which was some- 
 times called the Land of the Chaldees. 
 
 2. Of liar an. 
 
 The name of the place called Haran in our translation, is 
 written in Hebrew Charan, and in Greek Charran. It is 
 supposed to have received its name from liaran, the father of 
 Lot and brother of Abraham ; and may have been named by 
 Terah, in remembrance of his deceased son. Here Terah 
 died after a residence of some time. To this place also Jacob 
 afterwards retired from the anger of his brother, and dwelt 
 with Laban. (Gen. xxvii. 4.3.) Haran was called Charras by 
 the Romans, and is celebrated in their history as the scene of 
 a great defeat of tlie Roman army under Crassus, by the Par- 
 thian s. 
 
 Tills place is yet called Ilarran, and is peopled by a few 
 families of wandering Arabs, wb.o have been attracted thither 
 by a plentiful supply of water from several small streams. 
 
 In Haran, Abraham was called of God to proceed to a • 
 country which he would show him, and wliere he was to be 
 a great nation : so lie arose, and took liis wife, and Lot, his 
 brother's son, and all their substance, and went forth to go into 
 the Land of Canaan. He next came to the place of Sichera 
 and the plain of Moreh, 
 
 3. Slchem and the Plain of Moreh. 
 
 Sichem is also called Sychem, Sechcm, and Shechem, in 
 Scripture : it is the place called Sychar in the New Testa- 
 ment. It received its name from ShecJiem, the son of Ha- 
 mor, the Canaanite ; and is a city of Samaria, near the par- 
 cel of ground Which Jacob bought of Hamor and gave to his 
 son Joseph, wl^|p bones were buried here when brought out 
 of Egypt. (Josm xxiv. 32.) On the same piece of ground 
 was also Jacob's well, wiierc our Saviour spake with the 
 woman of Samaria. Sichem was situated between IMounts 
 Gerizim and Ebal, nearly in the middle of the Land of Ca- 
 naan. The plain of Moreli is believed to be the valley of 
 Shechem, part of which Jacob bought from the children of 
 Hamor. (Gen. xxxiii. 19.) The place is now called Naplous 
 
SOJOURNING OF ABRAHAM. 81 
 
 or Napolose, and contains about 100 Greek Christians, and a 
 few Jews. 
 
 4. Bethel and. Hal. 
 
 After leaving the plain of Moreh, Abraham removed to a 
 ■^mountain between Bethel and Hai, and again from thence 
 southward ; but a famine arising in the land, he ^vent do\vn 
 into Egypt, and afterwards returned again to Bethel. 
 
 Beth-el in Hebrew means the house of God, and was ^o 
 named afterwards by Jacob, Abraham's grandson, from its be- 
 ing the place where he had his remarkable vision or dream. 
 The name was afterwards transferred to tlie adjoining city of 
 Luz, vxiiich was thenceforth the real place named Bethel. It 
 was situated eight or ten miles north of Jerusalem, Here 
 Abraham and Lot separated ; Lot, choosing the plain or valley 
 of Jordan, pitched his tent near Sodom, and Abraham removed 
 to the plain of Mamre in Hebron. Hai was the place after- 
 wards called Ai, wliich vras taken by stratagem by the Isra 
 elites. (Josh. vii. and viii.) 
 
 5. The kings of Elam, Shinar, EUasar, and the king of 
 Nations. 
 
 The kings who came and made war v^dth the five kings ot 
 the neighbouring cities in the vale of Siddim, were confederated 
 together on account of the five kings having rebelled against 
 Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, to whom they had been tj-ibu- 
 tary twelve years. Elam was Persia, and Shinar was Chal 
 dea. Ellasar was supposed by some to be a country in Arabia, 
 by others Ellas in Syria, or Tiielassar in Mesopotamia. The 
 nations of which Tidal was kmg, v/ere probably the petty 
 nations of Gilgal or Galilee. 
 
 6. The cities Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zehoim, and Beta 
 or Zoar. 
 
 These were the five cities with the kings of which Chedor- 
 laomer and his allies made v/ar. They were situated in the 
 plam or valley through which the Jordan flowed, and were 
 probably all situated within that part of it called the vale of 
 Siddim, before the destruction of this region by fire from 
 heaven. Four of these cities v/ere destroyed by that awful 
 visitation for their great wickedness, and the fifth was pre- 
 served only at the earnest intercession of Lot, as a place of 
 refuge for himself, and because it was a little city : hence it 
 was called Zoar, i. e. the little ; its name before was Bela. 
 (Gen. xLx. 20. 22.) 
 
 7. The vale of Siddim. 
 
32 &CRirTlJRE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 This was a rich and fertile valley, a continuation of the 
 vale of Jordan ; occupying' the spot which is now the Dead 
 Sea. This was anciently called the Sea of the Plain, from its 
 situation in the g:reat plain or valley of the Jordan ; and some- 
 times the Salt Sea, from the extreme saltness of its waters. 
 That this sea was once the vale of Siddim is evident from Gen. 
 xiv. 3. and xix. 24, 25. It is said by travellers still to bear 
 unequivocal marks of the great catastrophe of which it has been 
 the site ; and some have even declared that when the waters 
 were low they discerned the ruins and fragments of walls wliich 
 had once belonged to the guilty cities which had been over- 
 whelmed by the judgment of God. (See Dead Sea, Part II.) 
 
 8. Kirjath-Arba, or Hebron. 
 
 This city is situated in the hilly country, about 20 miles 
 Bouth of Jerusalem. It is one of tiie most ancient cities of 
 the east, having been built seven years before Zoan, in Egypt, 
 the ancient capital of the Pharaohs. It w as first called Kir- 
 jath-Arba, i. e. the city of Arba, from Arba the father of 
 Anak, (Josh. xiv. 15.) from whom descended the gigantic An- 
 akim, driven thence by Caleb when he conquered the place. 
 Why it was afterwards called Hebron is not certain. Some 
 eay from Hebron, a son of Kohath and grandson of Levi ; and 
 others from Hebron, a son of Caleb. It is remarkable in sacred 
 history as the place where Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were 
 buried, and also Sarah, Rebekah, and Leah. A cave, supposed 
 to be the one in which they were buried, is yet shown here, 
 covered by a building which was formerly a Christian church. 
 It is also supposed that Zacharias and Elizabeth, the parents 
 of John the Baptist, dwelt in Hebron. It is yet a place of 
 some consequence, and is now called Habroun, and Khalyl. 
 Near this place was the plain of Mamre, where Abraham 
 dwelt, being about two miles southward from Hebron : it was 
 formerly a pleasant and fertile valley, and probably for that 
 reason chosen by Abraham as his residence. 
 
 9. The river of Egypt. 
 
 By this term is generally understood the Nile, as it is the 
 only river of any consequence in Egypt ; but it is evident 
 that the river of Egypt mentioned in Numb, xxxiv. 5. and 
 Josh. XV. 4. could not be the Nile, but was a small river at the 
 Bouthern boundary of the land of Canaan. This is confirmed 
 in Josh. XV. 47. where, among the cities beloriging to the tribe 
 of Judah, is mentioned " Gaza wuth her towns and iier vil- 
 lages, unto t!ie river of Egypt." It is therefore clearly ascer- 
 
SOJOURNING OF ABRAHAM. 3d 
 
 tamed that this river was a stream to the south of Gaza, falling 
 into the Mediterranean, forming the southern boundary of the 
 Land of Canaan; and being the border towards Egypt, thence 
 derived its name. In Amos vi. 14, it is called the River of 
 the Wilderness, from its situation on the edge of the desert 
 between Israel and Egypt. It also appears to be the same 
 which in some other places is called Silior. 
 
 10. The Kenites. 
 
 The origin of this people is not distinctly kno\vn, but they 
 are supposed to have been a tribe of Midianites residing near 
 the Amalekites, south-west of Ca.naan. 
 
 11. The Kenizites. 
 
 These are mentioned along vvdth the Kenites, Kadmonites, 
 &c. as people over whom the seed of Abraham should have 
 dominion. They are supposed to have descended from Kenaz, 
 the grandson of Esau, and to have had their dwelling some- 
 where in Idumea, south of Canaan. 
 
 12. The Kadmonites. 
 
 This tribe are supposed to have dwelt in the north-east part 
 of Canaan, near Mount Hermon, at the time when Abraham 
 visited the country. The word Kadmonites is supposed to 
 mean an eastern people ; and hence some have conjectured 
 that they were placed east of the Jordan^ or that the word 
 implied collectively all the people living east of that river. 
 The learned Mr. Brj^ant supposes them to have been Cad- 
 mians, a Cathite or shepherd colony from Egypt, who had 
 settled in Canaan, and afterwards spread themselves west- 
 ward into Phenicia. Hence tliey emigrated by colonies into 
 Greece and Africa, carrying v/ith them their language and 
 letters, as Vv^ell as their name of Cadmians. Cadmus was one 
 of the names of Osiris, the chief deity of Egypt; and from 
 this deity the Greeks, in process of time, framed an ideal 
 personage \yhom they made to be the person who brought 
 the Greek letters from Phenicia into Greece. 
 
 13. The Perizzit.es. 
 
 The origin and situation of the Perizzites are not well as- 
 certained. They are supposed to have been some of the de- 
 scendants of Canaan, or a people mingled with them. Dr. 
 Wells supposes them to have derived their name from the 
 Hebrew" word Perazoth, denoting villages, and that they 
 were rustics, not living in cities, nor consisting of any par- 
 ticular family, but made up of stragglers from all. Faber 
 thinks they were not Canaanites, but supposes their name to 
 
■y 
 
 34 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 have been a general term, comprehending the Anakim, 
 Rephahn, Zuzim, Horim, &c. who were Phenician or Cuthic 
 emigrants. 
 
 14. The Rephaim. 
 
 Tins name is agreed, by those learned in Hebrew, to mean 
 men of extraordinary stature or strength. They were situa- 
 ted oast of the Jordan, adjoining the Emim and Zuzim. The 
 valley rf Rephaim, or valley of giants, lay near Jerusalem, 
 and was probably once inhabited by some of these people de- 
 tached from their chief settlement on the east side of Jordan. 
 
 15. The well Laha.i-roi, Bercd and Gerar. 
 
 After Hagar had fled into tlie wilderness, she was found by 
 the angel of the Lord at a fountain in the way to Shur. Tliis 
 fountain was between Kadesh and Bered, and was called 
 hahai-roi, i. e. the fountain of him that lives and sees me. 
 Shur was tlie name of that part of Arabia which adjoins 
 Egypt and the Red Sea. Kadesh was a city near the south- 
 ern boundary of Canaan : Bered is nowhere else mentioned 
 in Scripture, but was probably not far from Gerar, the place 
 where Abraham sojourned after his removal southward from 
 the neighbourliood of Hebron. Gerar was probably not far 
 from Gaza, being in the land of the Philistines. Gen. xxi. 
 32. 31 
 
 IG. Becrsheha, and the Land of Moriah. 
 
 Beersheba, in Hebrew, means the ivell of the oath, and was 
 so named from the covenant made concerning it between 
 Abraham and Abimelech, king of Gerar. This place, in 
 which a city was afterwards built called by heathen writers 
 Bersabe, or Berzimma, was situated at tlie southern extrem- 
 ity of the land of Israel. Hence the expression so often used 
 "from Dan even unto Beersheba," to express the greatest 
 length of the Holy Land ; Dan being at the extreme northern 
 border, and Beersheba at the southern. 
 
 While Abraham sojourned at Beersheba, he was required of 
 God, as a trial of his obedience, to go into the Land of MoriaR, 
 and there to ofl'er his only son, Isaac, as a burnt offering. 
 (Gen. xxii. 2.) It is generally thought that this land of Moriah 
 was the mount so called, upon which Solomon afterwards built 
 the temple, and on part of which, namely, IMount Calvary, 
 our Saviour afterwards offered himself for the redemption of 
 mankind. Instead, however, of Moriah, the Samaritans in 
 this passage read Moreh, and say that it was to Mount Geri- 
 zim, near the plain of Moreh and Sichem, where Isaac was 
 
SOJOURNING OF ABRAHAM. 35 
 
 brought to be sacrificed. x'\ccording to Maimonides, the place 
 where Abraham built the altar for this purpose was the same 
 where David afterwards built his, m the threshing-floor of 
 Araunah the Jebusite, near Jerusalem. 
 17. Abraham\s sons by Keturah. 
 
 After the death of Sarah, Abraham took to wife Keturah, 
 whose children are named, Gen. xxv. 1-4. To these children 
 Abraham gave gifts and sent them away from his son Isaac, 
 into the east country, i. e. into the eastern part of Arabia, 
 where we find some of their descendants afterwards mention- 
 ed in the sacred liistory. 
 
 Midian, one of these, was the progenitor of the Midianites, 
 who were settled chiefly south-east of the Dead Sea, adjoining 
 the Moabites, with whom we afterwards find them sometimes 
 mentioned in conjunction as neighbours. Numb. xxii. 4. From 
 this place it is probable that tlie Midianites spread abroad into 
 the adjacent countries, as we read of them afterwards as be- 
 ing in the vicinity of Mount Sinai, near the Red Sea, where 
 Jethro, the father-in-lav/ of Moses, and priest of Midiai?, had 
 his residence. 
 
 Jokshrm, another son of Abraliam by Keturah, had two sons 
 named Sheba and Dedan, who must be distinguished from the 
 two descendants of Cush, of the same name, settled in Arabia 
 Felix ; while the sons of Jokshan were settled to the north- 
 ward of them in Arabia Deserta. 
 
 18. Ish7nael, son of Abraham and Hagar. 
 
 Ishmael dw^elt in the wilderness of Paran, (Gen. xxi. 21.) 
 which was the desert and mountainous tract between the wil- 
 derness of Shur on the west, and Mount Seir or the land of 
 Edom, on the east ; having the land of Canaan on the north, 
 and the Red Sea on the south. He became the father of twelve 
 sons, (Gen. xxv. 13.) whose posterity " dwelt from Havilah 
 unto Shur," that is, in Arabia Petrsea, of which the w^estern 
 part, towards Egypt, is called Shur, and the eastern part, 
 towards the Persian Gulf, Havilah. The modern Arabians 
 value themselves on being descended from Ishmael, of whom 
 it was foretold that he should be a wild man, the father of 
 a great nation ; and that his hand sliould be against every 
 man, and every man's hand against him. Gen. xvi. 12. xxi. 18. 
 
 18. Descendants of Lot, the Moabites and Ammonites. 
 
 The posterity of Moab, the elder son of Lot, settled east of 
 tlie Lake Asphaltites or Dead Sea, and in the adjacent coun- 
 try, east of the Jordan ; for we learn by IN umb. xxi. 26. th3.v 
 
do SCRIPTl'KE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 the Amorites had conquered that country fi-om the Moahites, 
 as far as the river Arnon. 
 
 Tlie descendants of Ammon, the younger son of Lot, pos- 
 sessed the country adjoining the Moabites, on the northward 
 and eastward ; from the Arnoa to the river Jabbok, being the 
 northern part of what was afterwards the kingdom of 8ihon. 
 Numb. xxi. 13. Josh. xiii. 25. and Judges xi. 13-23. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE SETTLEMENT OF ESAU, AND THE SOJOURNING OF JACOU 
 
 I. Mount Seir or Edam, the dwelling of Esau. 
 
 Esau and Jacob having separated on account of their riches, 
 and the number of their cattle, which were more tlian the 
 country could bear ; Esau w^ent from the face of his brother 
 Jacob, and dwelt in ISIount Seir. Gen. xxxvi. 6-9. 
 
 Edom, afterwards called Idumea, was situated south of the 
 Land of Canaan, and the Dead Sea, and extended as far as 
 some branches of the Red Sea ; having the land of Midian on 
 the east, and the Amalekites on the west. 
 
 The settlement of Esau w^as in the mountains of Seir, to 
 tlie south-east of the Dead Sea, This mountainous tract was 
 possessed by tlie Horites, probably tlie family of Hor, after 
 whom Mount Hor may have been named ; as this mountain, 
 on which Aaron died, was on the borders of Edom. This re- 
 gion appears to have received the name of Mount Seir after- 
 wards, from the family of Seir, the Horite, (Gen. xxxvi. 20.) 
 who seems to have been a person of consequence in that land. 
 After the children of Esau had succeeded the Horites, the 
 country was called Edom, a name by which Esau was distin- 
 guished, after he had sold his birth-right to Jacob. The Ed-om- 
 ites w^ere first governed by dukes or princes, and afterwards 
 by kings. They were conquered by David, (2 Sam. viii. 14.) 
 and the prophecy that Jacob should rule Esau completely ful- 
 filled. 
 
 II. The .Sojourning of Jacob. 
 
 After Jacob, the younger son of Isaac, Imd received the 
 blessing from his father, instead of Esau, he was hated by his 
 elder brother, who even sought his life. He was therefore 
 
SOJOURNING OF JACOB. 87 
 
 sent by his mother to her brother Laban, who dwelt at Haran 
 m Padan Arara or Mesopotamia. On liis way thither from 
 Beersheba, he came to a certain place, and lay down to sleep. 
 It was here that he had the vision in which God renewed to 
 him the promise already made to Abraham and Isaac : hence 
 this place was named by Jacob Bethel, the house of God. Of 
 its situation we have already spoken in our account of the so- 
 journing of Abraham. 
 
 1. Gilead and MizpaJi. 
 
 Afler remaining several years at Haran, during which time 
 he married the tvvo daughters of Laban, Jacob desiring to re- 
 turn to Canaan, stole away from Laban, and, with his family 
 and his flocks, set out on his journey homewards. He crossed 
 the river (probably the Euphrates) and came to Mount Gilead, 
 where Laban, having pursued, overtook him. Here they made 
 a covenant, raising a heap of stones, from which the place was 
 called Galeed, i. e. the heap nfioitness. The mountain where 
 this was done was afterwards called Galeed or Gilead by the 
 Israelites. It was situated east of the Sea of Galilee, being 
 part of that ridge of mountains which runs from Lebanon south- 
 ward, on the east of the Holy Land, and included in the moun- 
 tainous region called Tra,chonitis in the New Testament. 
 Mizpah was another nam_e given this heap of stones, from 
 which the town of Mizpah, belonging to the tribe of Gad, and 
 lying near this famous place of the covenant, took its name. 
 
 2. Mahanaim, the Brook Jahbok, and Pemiel. 
 
 Having gone on his way some distance into Canaan, Jacob 
 was met by the angels of God. And when he saw them he 
 said. This is God's host; and hence he called the place Maha- 
 naim, i. e. the hosts. From this the city near this place was 
 afterwards called Mahanaim. It was situated near the river 
 Jabbok, on the way from JMount Gilead. 
 
 This brook or river Jabbok ran from the Mountains of Gi- 
 lead, and probably emptied into the Jordan, south of the Sea 
 of Galilee ; some, however, think that it emptied mto that 
 sea. 
 
 Near this brook was also the place named Peniel, i. e. the 
 face of God : so called from Jacob's wrestling there with an 
 angel; at which time he received the name of Israel. Hence, 
 the adjoining city was called Penuel. 
 
 Not far from this last place, and near the river Jordan, was 
 Succoth, where Jacob " built him an house, and made bootlis 
 ^r his cattle." Gen. xxxiii. 17. 
 D 
 
3d SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 8. Ephrath, or Ephratah, afterwards called Bethlehem. 
 
 After leaving Succoth, Jacob crossed the Jordan and came 
 to UShalcm, a city of Shcchem, where he bought a parcel of 
 ground. He next passed on to Bethel, where he built an altar, 
 and held communion with God. 
 
 After this, when they had come near to Ephrath, Benjamin 
 was born, and Rachel died. She was buried here, and Jacob 
 set a pillar upon her grav'e, which probably stood a long time, 
 as it is mentioned in 1 Sam. x. 2. That Ephrath was the 
 same as Bethlehem, we learn from Gen. xxxv. 19. So that 
 the same place, remarkable for the birth of Benjamin, was no 
 less so for that of king David, and more famous still as the 
 birth-place of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. 
 
 4. The Tower of Edar. 
 
 From the last mentioned place Israel journeyed again, and 
 spread his tent beyond the Tower of Eda-r. 11ie word Eder 
 or Edar, in Hebrew, signifies a flock ; and in Micah iv. 8. the 
 Tower of Edar is translated the Tower of the Flock ; whence, 
 as it is termed "the strong hold of the daughter of Sion," 
 some have supposed that it denotes a place near Jerusalem. 
 Others think it means t'le field near Bethleliem, where the 
 shepherds were keeping their flocks when the angel appeared, 
 and announced to them the birth of Christ. 
 
 From this place Jacob went to Isaac, his father, in JMamre 
 or Hebron, where Isaac died and was buried. Jacob remained 
 there, and from this place he sent Joseph to see his brethren 
 who had gone to feed their father's flocks in Shechem, where 
 he had before bought a piece of ground. 
 
 5. Dothan. 
 
 Joseph, having come to Shechem, was not able to find his 
 brethren, who had gone to Dothan ; but being at length in- 
 formed of it, he went thither. When his brethren at Dothan 
 saw him coming, they conspired against him, because of his 
 dreams; and sold him to some Ishmaelites and Midianites, 
 who w^ere going down from Gilead to Egypt with merchan- 
 dise. These took Josepli with them to Egypt, where they 
 sold him to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh's guard. Accord- 
 ing lo Eusebius, Dothan was situated about twelve miles 
 north of the city of Samaria. 
 
 6. Adullam, Chezib, and Timnath. 
 
 Tiiese places are mentioned (Gen. xxxviii.) in relating cer- 
 tain transactions of Judah, the son of Jacob. Adullam was a 
 city in the northern part of the tract atierwards allotted to 
 
ISRAELITES IN EG\PT. 39 
 
 the tribe of Judah, south-west from Jerusalem ; and was re- 
 
 markable for a cave in its neighbourhood, in which David hid 
 himself from the pursuit of JSaul. Chezih was not far from 
 AduUam ; and is thought by some to have been the place 
 called Achzib in Josh. xv. 44. Timnath was probably the 
 same place as that mentioned afterwards in the story of Sam- 
 son : it was situated westward from Jerusalem, on the boi-der 
 of the tribe of Judah, but belono-ed to the tribe of Dan. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 RESIDENCE OF THE ISRAELITES IN THE LAND OF EGYPT. 
 
 Joseph,' having through Divine favour attained the highest 
 degree of honour and power in Egypt, next to the king, sent 
 for his father, his brethren, and their families, to bring them 
 from the Land of Canaan into Egypt. Accordino'ly, Jacob, 
 with all his family, amounting to three-score and six persons, 
 together with their flocks and all that they had, went down 
 from the Land of Canaan, then the seat of famine, and were 
 placed by Joseph in the Land of Goshen, a fertile part of 
 Egypt. 
 
 1. The Land of Goshen, or Rameses. 
 
 The district of Egypt called Goshen was situated in the 
 easterly part of Egypt, between the river Nile and the north- 
 ern extremity of the E,ed Sea. Some authors suppose it was 
 -Called the Land of Rameses, from a king of Egypt of that 
 name, after whom the city of Rameses, which stood therem, 
 was also named. They conjecture that this district was the 
 property of the sovereign, in which his own cattle pastured, 
 as he tells Joseph, (Gen. xlvii. 6.) "make thy brethren rulers 
 over niT/ cattle," which probably were kept in the best of the 
 land, and to tend which, at any great distance, it does not 
 seem consistent that Joseph's brethren should do. Being Pha- 
 raoh's own property, too, it might be given to the children of 
 Israel, with more propriety, as the possessions of his subjects 
 would not in that case be encroached upon. 
 
 2. The City of On. 
 
 This city, otherwise called in Hebrew Bethshemesh, the 
 House of the Sim, was the same called in Greek Heliopolis, 
 the City of the Sun. It was the priest of this On, whose 
 daughter was given in marriage by Pharaoh to Joseph ; and 
 
40 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 the LXX. say that this was the place where Jacob and Joseph 
 met. According to Joseplius, this city was given to the Isra- 
 elites on their coming into Egypt, probably because it lay in 
 or very near to the Land of Goshen, on the eastern branch of 
 the Nile. 
 
 Near this city, in after ages, a temple was built for the 
 Jews by Onias, the high priest, who had been dispossessed of 
 his authority and office by Antiochus ; Ptolemy Philadelphus, 
 then kmg of Egypt, consenting to its erection. 
 
 o. Racnnses and Pilkom. 
 
 These were "treasure cities," built for Pharaoh by the 
 Israelites, while in a state of bondage. By the term treasure 
 cities, it is probably to be miderstood that they were granaries 
 or repositories for corn ; as such places seem to have been 
 mucli in use by the Egyptians, after the good effects attend- 
 ing the first introduction of them by Joseph were felt and un- 
 derstood. Som.e commentators, however, consider them to 
 have been cities of defence, or military depots. It is not cer- 
 tain whether Raamses and Rameses were the same city : if 
 not, they were not very far distant, both being near the east- 
 ern branch of the Nile. Pithom is thought by some writers 
 to be the same as Pathumos, mentioned by Herodotus as be- 
 ing situated near the canal wliich was made by the kings 
 Necho and Darius to join the Red Sea with the Nile. Others 
 incline to the opinion that it was situated where Pelusium, 
 the modern Damietta, was aflerv/ards built, i. e. near the 
 eastern mouth of the Nile. 
 
 4. Of the Employment of the Israelites while in Bondage. 
 
 The space of time which the children of Israel remained 
 in Egypt, is understood to have been about 215 years.* Joseph 
 ruled seventy years ; and it was about 58 years after his death 
 that the " new king arose up who knew not Joseph," (Exod. i. 
 8.); consequently the term of bondage lasted 87 years. There 
 is no reason for supposing tliat they were occupied all this 
 time in building the two cities already mentioned ; for their 
 number, v/hen they went up out of the Land of Egypt, 
 amounted to six hundred thousand men, besides children. 
 (Exod. xii. 37.) At what, then, was this immense multitude 
 of people employed during nearly a liundred years ? 
 
 May we not look to the Pyramids of Egypt as having been 
 
 *Tlie 430 years' pojniiriiinEr, incntioiifd in Exod. xii. 40, is to be computed 
 from the tiniu of Abraham's departure out of llaran. 
 
JOURNEYINGS OF THE ISRAELITES. 41 
 
 built by the children of Israel ; and yet standing as everlast- 
 ing monuments of the truth of sacred history 1 We find that 
 the labours of the Israelites consisted in maldng bricks, with 
 which they mixed straw ; and it appears from the inspection 
 of various travellers who have examined these stupendous 
 edifices, that their interior parts contain, among other mate- 
 rials, bricks of this kmd. This is true of the great pyramid 
 which has been opened ; but the pyramids of Sakkara, at some 
 distance from this, are composed wholly of sun-burnt bricks, 
 mixed w^ith chopped straw. 
 
 It is not likely that the native Egyptians laboured on these 
 structures ; for it was anciently, as ]t is yet in eastern coun- 
 tries, the custom to employ slaves or bondmen in building. 
 Diodorus Siculus, the historian, informs us that Sesostris, the 
 king of Egypt, in building his public edifices, employed none 
 of Jiis o^vn subjects, but only captives ; and that he even had 
 it engraved on the temples that no Egyptian had a hand in 
 the building. It is therefore very probable that the " king 
 who knew not Joseph," dreading the increasing numbers and 
 strength of the Israelites, would set them to labour on such 
 buildings, and would afflict them with grievous tasks for the 
 mere purpose of wasting their strength and preventing their 
 increase. And as the last pyramid was never completely 
 finished, we may attribute its unfinished state to the Israelites 
 havmg left Egypt before its completion, and to the confusion 
 in the country consequent upon the destruction of Pharaoh 
 and his army in the Red Sea. 
 
 (For a further account of the Pyramids, and the Land of 
 Egypt in general, see Egypt, Part II.) 
 
 CHAPTER Vn. 
 
 JOURNEYINGS OF THE ISRAELITES FROM EGYPT TO CANAAN, 
 
 That part of the sacred history relating to the wanderings 
 of the children of Israel in the desert, and their progress to- 
 wards Canaan, is in many places very perplexing and obscure 
 in its geography ; but we shall endeavour to trace their route 
 as accurately as the existing sources of information, which we 
 have diligently examined, will allow. The sands of the desert, 
 driven by easterly winds, are constantly advancuig farther 
 westward ; and this will he found to have considerable influ- 
 D2 
 
42 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 ence on the character of the wilderness into which the Isra- 
 elites entered, as well as its extent. In the days of Moses it 
 probably did not begin so near to Egypt as it now does, nor 
 was it so totally barren and sandy as it now is. That it then 
 contained many fertile spots, is evident from the numerous 
 flocks and herds of cattle taken with them by the Israelites 
 from Egypt, having been able to find subsistence. Exod, xii. 
 38. The northern extremity of the Red Sea, too, advanced 
 much farther to the north formerly than it does now, owing 
 to the constant driving of sand from the desert. Q^lie depth 
 of water at Suez is gradually diminishing, and before long 
 that part of the gulf will probably become dryland. Kolsoum, 
 which was a sea-port in the time of the Caliphs, is now three 
 quarters of a mile inland. It is probable therefore that Baal- 
 zephon, which in the time of Moses was upon tJie Hed Sea, 
 was some miles further north, than the present Suez, which 
 is supposed by some to stand in the same place. Other con- 
 siderable changes in the face of the desert may have been 
 produced by the same cause, whence probably arises mucli 
 of the difficulty attending the geographical account of the 
 stations or encampments of tlie Israelites in the wilderness. 
 
 1. Rameses. — This was the Rameses in tlie Land of Go- 
 shen, where the Israelites dwelt, of which we have already 
 spoken. From this place they set out, in number " about six 
 hundred thousand on foot tliat were men, besides children." 
 Exod. xii. 37. 
 
 2. Succoth. — The first advance on their journey was to 
 Succoth, which word in Hebrew means booths, and the place 
 was so named because there the Israelites erected booths or 
 shelters. This place was not far on the way to the wilder- 
 ness of the Red Sea, and is supposed to be the place now 
 called Birket el IIad<ri or Pilgrim's Pool, a few miles east of 
 Cairo, where tlie caravan for Mecca now assembles. 
 
 3. Eiham. They next " took their journey from Succoth, 
 and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness." 
 Exod. xiii. 20. Etham was probably near tlie present pilgrim 
 station called Adjcrorid ; and that part of the wilderness next 
 to Egypt, was called the wilderness of Etham. Numb, xxxiii. 
 8. Tiius far INIoscs pursued the direct road to Canaan, yet the 
 regular and customary track; but being come to Etham, lie was 
 commanded by the Lord to turn again to the south and en- 
 camp before Pi-haliiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over 
 against Baal-Zeplion. 
 
JOURNEYINGS OF THE ISRAELITES. 43 
 
 4. Pi-hahiroth. — This Plebrew word means, tJie mouth of 
 the gulf, and was probably so named from being near the 
 mouth of the present gulf of Suez. It is thought to be the 
 place more recently called Heromi or Heroopolis, which stood 
 near the extremity of the Red Sea. 
 
 5. Migdol. — It is not certain whether this was a city or a 
 tower. Some think it was a city, as the LXX. translators 
 render the name Magdolus, and Herodotus mentions a city 
 of tho-'t name situated hereabouts ; but as Migdol in Hebrew 
 signifies a tower, some thmk it was merely a bidlding at a 
 well or station in the way; Magdolus or Magdolo being fur- 
 ther north. 
 
 6. Baal-Zephon. — This name is thought by learned men 
 to have been the name of an idol placed here to keep the bor- 
 ders of the country, and prevent the escape of the slaves ; 
 Zephon bemg thought to come from the Hebrew Zephak, to 
 ivatch or spij : but it is also said to signify north, so that it may 
 have been a temple standing at the north point of the Red 
 Sea, near the present Suez. 
 
 7. Passage through the Red Sea. — Pharaoh, having been 
 told of the flight of the Israelites, pursued with a great force, 
 and overtook them at their encampment near Baal-Zephon. 
 The Israelites, alarmed at the sudden appearance of the Egypt- 
 ians, began to mistrust the providence of God, as no way of 
 escape appeared to them ; being shut in on all sides by the wil- 
 derness, by the mountains, and by the sea, and having the army 
 of the Egyptians behind them. Bat they escaped by tlie way 
 which probably they least thought of; for Moses, stretching 
 out his hand over the sea, it v/as divided, and the Israelites 
 passed over on dry ground. The Egyptians following, the 
 sea returned to its place and they were all overwhelmed in 
 the waters, not one escaping. Exod. xiv. 15-30. This miracu- 
 lous event seems to have been preserved in tradition among 
 the neighbouring people ; as Diodorus, a heathen historian, 
 relates that among the Ichthyophagi, a people of this region, 
 an old tradition, delivered down from their ancestors, states 
 that the waters of the sea formerly parted, the waters falling 
 back on each side, so that the bottom was dry the whole 
 breadth across, appearing of a green colour ; but that some 
 time after the sea returned to its usual place. This tradition 
 doubtless refers to the miraculous passage of the Israelites. — 
 (See Red Sea, Part 11.) 
 
 8. The wilderness of Shur.— -After passing the Red Sea, 
 
44 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 Moses led the Israelites out into the wilderness of Shur, a 
 distance of three days' journey. Exod. xv. 22. Numb, xxxiii. 
 8. This wilderness is probably the same as that of Etham, 
 mentioned before ; at all events, it was the desert tract of Ara- 
 bia Petra^a next to Egypt. The wilderness of Etham was 
 probably that part of it which lay nearest to Etham, and as 
 the Israelites went out of the Red Sea into the wilderness of 
 Shur, it is evident that they must have crossed this .sea near 
 the north end of it, as both Shur and Etham were there situ- 
 ated. 
 
 9. Marah. — This word in Hebrew signifies bitterness, and 
 the place was so named from the water which they found 
 there being so bitter that they could not drink it. Moses, 
 however, praying to tbe Lord, was shown a tree, the wood of 
 which being cast into the water, it was made sweet. Exod. 
 XV. 23. Marah was on the east of the Red Sea, where Nie- 
 buhr says there are yet four pits of water which are bitter. 
 He describes the place as being eight (German) miles south- 
 eastward from Suez. 
 
 10. Eihn. — From Marah they came to Elim, where they 
 found twelve wells of water and seventy palm-trees. Exod. 
 XV. 27. Elim lies in the north skirt of the desert, two leagues 
 from Tor, where there are now nine wells and two thousand 
 palm-trees. Dr. Shaw says there is a distinct view of Mount 
 Sinai from Elim, the wilderness of Sin lying between them, 
 about a day's journey across. 
 
 11. The wilderness of ^in. — This was the desert between 
 Elim and Sinai, But the Israelites, in going from Elim to this 
 wilderness, made an encampment by the Red Sea (Numb, 
 xxxiii, 10, 11.) probably because they were obliged to turn 
 from the direct course by some obstacle which hindered them 
 from going directly forward. During their stay in the wilder- 
 ness of Sin, they were first provided with manna, which sup- 
 ply continued to be regularly given them during forty years 
 till they came to the land of Canaan, Exod. xvi, 35. 
 
 12. Dnphka and Alush. — Nothing important seems to have 
 occurred at these encampments, as they are not mentioned in 
 Exodus. They are noticed Numb, xxxiii. 12. 14. Alush was 
 in the country of the Edomitcs, near the city of Petra, 
 
 13. Rephidim. — This station of the Israelites is remarkable 
 as being the place where Moses was ordered to go and smite 
 the rock of Horeb with his rod, in order to obtain water for 
 the people who, according to their usual custom, murmured 
 
JOURNEYINGS OF THE ISRAELITES. 45 
 
 against him. It seems by this that Rephidim could not have 
 been far from Horeb. This place is also remo.rkable for an 
 attack upon Israel by the x'^malekites, who were discomfited 
 by Joshua, 
 
 14. The wilaerness of Sinai — After leaving Rephidim, the 
 Israelites encamped in the wilderness of Sinai, whicli means 
 the desert lying about the foot of Ivlount Sinai, In this en- 
 campment they remained a lono- time : here they received the 
 law ; here Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, came to the 
 camp, and brought him his wife and children ; and here he 
 advised Moses to appoint judges to decide small matters of 
 controversy among the people, as the labour of hearing and 
 deciding all these matters was too great a burden for Moses 
 to bear. It is thought that the appointment of these judges 
 was the foundation of the celebrated Sanhedrim, or general 
 council of the Jewish nation, consisting of seventy senators, 
 who assembled at fixed times to determine the most important 
 affairs of church and state. 
 
 15. The Mountains Horeh and Sinai. — It is evident from 
 several passages of Scripture, that Horeb and Sinai are either 
 adjoining mountains, or that they are only tw^o different heads 
 or summits of the same mountain. For what is in one place 
 related as having been done at Horeb, is in another related as 
 having been done at Sinai. For instance, we read (Exod. xx.) 
 that the commandments were delivered from Sinai ; and it is 
 repeated (Deut. v.) that they were delivered from Horeb. And 
 also, (Deut. ix. 8, 9.) " In Horeb ye provoked the Lord to 
 wrath — when I w^as gone up into the mount (i. e. Mount Si- 
 nai) to receive the tables of tJie covenant." Hence it follows 
 that the difference between these mountains can be no other 
 than that which w^e have above mentioned, that is, that they 
 were adjoining mountains, or only two different eminences or 
 peaks of the same mountain : consequently, the removing of 
 the Israelites from Rephidim, near wJiere the rock of Horeb 
 was smitten by Moses, into the wilderness of Sinai, was only 
 removing from one end or side of the same mountain to the 
 other ; or, at most, from one mountain to another adjoining. 
 
 Modern travellers, who have visited r.Iount Sinai, say l;hat 
 it presents three sublime summits of red granite. Mount Sinai, 
 Mount Horeb, and a third which is called St. Catharine's 
 Mount. Sinai lies to the east and Horeb to the west, so that 
 when the sun rises, Horeb is covered by the shaJov/ of Sinai. 
 Mount Horeb has abundance of fruit trees on it, and threo 
 
46 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 fine springs ; but there is none but rain-water on Mount Sinai. 
 But the most remarkable tiling* to be seen at ilorcb, is a soli- 
 tary rock of red marble, about four yards square, whicli is be- 
 lieved to be the same wliich was smitten by the rod of i\ioses. 
 It has several openings or mouths, from which it is supposed 
 the waters flowed ; some of them having horizontal and some 
 perpendicular cracks or clefts, which it is evident could never 
 have been produced by any tool. Dr. Shaw, who visite i this 
 mountain, says that the waters which flowed from it have hol- 
 lowed across one corner of the rock a channel about two 
 inches deep, and twenty wide, which yet bears evident marks 
 of the gushing fountain. 
 
 On both these mountains are many churches and monaste- 
 ries, inhabited by monks and hermits, who are chiefly members 
 of the Greek Church. Horeb and Sinai are situated in the 
 north-west of Arabia, between the two arms of the Red Sea. 
 
 16. Tabrrah, Kibroth-hatlaavah, and Hazeroth. — These 
 were encampments or stations of the Israelites, between tjie 
 wilderness of Sinai and the wilderness of Paran. Taberah, 
 the first, was noted as the place where the people were pun- 
 ished for their murmurings and lusthigs, with a fire which 
 consumed some of them : hence the place was called Taberah, 
 i. e. burning. Kibroth-hattaavah means the graves of lust. ; 
 and was so named from the people being buried there who 
 died of the p.^ague sent as a punishment for their lusting. At 
 Hazeroth, Miriam was punished with leprosy, and was shut 
 out from the camp seven days, because she and Aaron had 
 spoken against JMoses on account of tlie Cushite or Ethiopian 
 woman whom he had married. 
 
 17. The Wilderness of Paran. — After leaving Hazeroth, 
 the Israelites next pitched in the wilderness of Paran. This 
 term, in a comprehensive sense, seems to have denoted all the 
 desert and mountainous tract lying between the wilderness of 
 Shur, on the west, and Mount Seir or the Land of Edom, on 
 the east; having the Land of Canaan on the north, and the 
 Red Sea on the south. In this sense, it seems to have com- 
 prehended the wilderness of Sin, and the wilderness of Sinai ; 
 also the adjoinin<T tract, in which lay Kibroth-hattaavah and 
 Hazeroth. In this sense it is probably understood, Deut. i. 19. 
 where by " that great and terrible wilderness," is probably 
 intended the wilderness of Paran. But in a stricter sense it 
 seems to have included only that part of Arabia Petraca 
 which lies northward from Mount Smai, about Hazeroth. 
 
JQURNEYINOS OF THE ISRAELITES. 47 
 
 From the wilderness of Paran, Moses sent a man out of ever' 
 tribe, to spy out the Land of Canaan, (Numb. xiii. 3.) wh*" 
 returned to iiim after forty days, unto the same wilderness, tt 
 Kadesh Barnea. (N'umb. xiii. 25. Eeut. i. 19. Josh. xiv. 7.) 
 
 18. Kadesh, or Kadesh Burnea. — The encampment at thii 
 place is not particularly spec*ified by Moses, but is probabl} 
 denoted by some of the encampments mentioned under othei 
 names ; for we are told (l)eut. i. 46.) that the Israelites abode 
 in Kadesh many days. Therefore it is likely that they 
 made several movements or new encampments during their 
 stay, which may be the reason that the single name of Kadesh 
 is not mentioned to designate the place of their stay, but the 
 several particular names by which their several particular 
 encam.pments were distinguished. This Kadesh is evidently 
 a different place from the Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin, 
 mentioned in Numb, xxxiii. 36. It was at Kadesh Barnea 
 that the spies returned, after searching the Land of Canaan, to 
 which they were then very near ; and there, by reason of their 
 infidelity, brought on themselves the judgment of wandering 
 in the desert, till they should have filled up the space of forty 
 years from their coming out of Egypt. But the Israelites did 
 not come to Kadesh in the v/ilderness of Zin, till the last year 
 of the forty, as may be inferred from the death of Aaron, 
 (Numb, xxxiii. 38.) And as it is probable that Miriam died 
 but a few months before Aaron, so it is certam she died at Ka- 
 desh in the wilderness of Zin. (Numb. xx. 1.) 
 
 19. Journeys from Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Paran, 
 to the Wilderness of Zin. — The encampments mentioned in 
 Numb, xxxiii. from about verse 20 to 36, were probably be- 
 tween the decamping from Kadesh Bamea, to the encamping 
 at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. None of these are of 
 much interest in a geographical or historical point of view, 
 except Ezion-gaber (Numb, xxxiii. 35.) and Elath mentioned 
 with it, Deut. ii. 8. 
 
 20. Ezion-gaber and Eloth. — Ezion-gaber was a city of 
 Idumea or Arabia Deserta, east from the Red Sea, and upon 
 the eastern arm of this sea, called the Gulf of Elah or Eloth. 
 At this port Solomon equipped his fleet for the voyage to 
 Ophir. 
 
 Eloth was probably also a sea-port, near the former, on the 
 same gulf; and was also visited by king Solomon. 2 Chron. 
 viii. 17. . 
 
 21. The Wilderness of Zin. — It is evident from Numb. 
 
48 BCRIPTtRE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 xxxiv. 3. 4. and Josh. xv. 1-3, that this wilderness lay south- 
 east of the Land of Israel, along the border of Edom, We 
 have already observed that Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin, 
 was different from Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran, vvhich 
 was further westward. Some writers indeed make the wil- 
 derness of Zin to lie on the west of Edom, but we think Dr. 
 Wells' reasonmg conclusive, that it was eastward of tJiat 
 country. 
 
 22. Mount Hor. — From Kadesh the Israelites removed to 
 Mount Hor, which is remarkable as the place where Aaron 
 died. This v/as the edge of the land of Edom, and from 
 what has been said before, probably the eastern boundary. 
 The former inhabitants of Edom were called Horites, but 
 whether they took their name from the mountain, or the 
 mountain from them, is not certain, but probably the latter, 
 as places in those days generally took their names from the 
 inhabitants. With regard to the difficulty concerning the 
 place of Aaron's death and burial, Vvliich arises from compar- 
 ing Numb. XX. 23-29. and xxxiii. 37. 38. with Deut. x. 6., Dr. 
 Wells observes that there has evidently been an error of some 
 of the early Hebrew copyists; and shows by a reference to 
 the old Hebrevv'-Samaritan copy of the Scriptures, that the 
 error is in Deut. x. 6, and that Aaron died and was buried in 
 Mount Hor. This will also account for the diiference in the 
 order of encampments observed in the same place. 
 
 23. Encampments from Mount Hor to the Valley of Zered. 
 — After leav^ing Mount Hor, the Israelites " journeyed by the 
 way of the Red Sea, to compass the Land of Edom." (Numb, 
 xxi. 4.) The expression " by the way of the Red Sea," here 
 probably means not along the coast of the Red Sea, for they 
 were then advancing to the northward further from it ; but 
 that they went by the way or road used by the ])eople of Ca- 
 naan and the countries east of it, in their journeys to and from 
 the Red Sea. The Israelites passed by this way, round the 
 eastern border of the Land of Edom, and encamped in Zalmo- 
 nah, in Punon, and in Oboth. In this passage the people be- 
 came discouraged, and "spake against God, and against Moses." 
 (Numb. xxi. 5!) For this they were punished by hery ser- 
 pents, which bit them, and many of them died ; but tliey were 
 at length relieved by a brazen serpent which the Lord directed 
 Moses to make. 
 
 From Oboth, they removed to Ije-abarim in the eastern 
 border of Moab : this place is elsewhere called lim, and lay 
 
JOURNEYINGS OF THE ISRAELITES. 49 
 
 in the Land of Moab, east of the Dead Sea. The Valley of 
 Zered was the plam throug-h which flowed the brook Zered 
 or Zared, which emptied into the eastern side of the Dead 
 Sea. 
 
 24. From the Valley of Zered to the Mountains ofAbarim. 
 — From the Valley of. Zered the Israelites removed, and 
 pitched on the other side of Arnon, (Numb. xxi. 13.) proba- 
 bly at the place called Dibon Gad, in Numb, xxxiii. 45, 46. 
 This, and the next station, Almon-diblathaim, were in the 
 land of the Amorites ; for they had crossed the river Arnon, 
 w^hich was the boundary between Moab and the Amorites. 
 (Numb. xxi. 13.) 
 
 25. The Mountains of Ahariin, Mounts Neho and Pisgah. 
 — The Abarim were a ridge of mountains between the rivers 
 Arnon and Jordan, of considerable extent, separating- the Land 
 of Canaan from the Moabites, Amorites, and Ammonites. 
 They were steep and high mountains, presenting from their 
 summits a grand view of the Land of Canaan. 
 
 Mount Nebo was one of this chain, probably the highest, 
 and was situated near Jordan, over-against Jericho. It would 
 seem from Deut. xxxiv. 1, that Nebo and Pisgah were the 
 same mountain, and that if there w^ere any distmction, it was 
 either the top of the mountain that was more peculiarly 
 called Pisgah, or some part of it where there were steps cut 
 out to go up. The name signifies high hill, whence it was 
 probably the most elevated summit. But, according to Eu- 
 sebius, Aquila, who translated the Bible mto Greek, has al- 
 ways rendered the Hebrew term Pisgah, by a word \vhich 
 signifies to cut out ; and so, in some places, do the LXX. 
 translators. Hence, some have thought it probable that in 
 one part of Mount Nebo, steps were cut out, to aid in the as- 
 cent of the mountain, and that this part was called Pisgah. 
 The prospect of Canaan from this mountain was very exten- 
 sive, including the whole of the country, from Dan in the 
 north, to Zoar in the south. Some writers have questioned 
 w^hether this was not the mountain to which our Lord was 
 taken by the tempter ; whence the view was so extensive as 
 to be called figuratively all the world. 
 
 A city in the tribe of Reuben was called Nebo, probably 
 from this mountain ; and also the city Ashdoth-Pisgah. (Josh, 
 xiii. 20.) 
 
 20. Encampment in the Plains of Moab. — After the Isra- 
 elites had removed from the mountains of Abarun, they 
 E 
 
60 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 pitched their tents in the plains of Moab, by Jordan, near 
 Jericho. And they pitched by Jordan in sucli a manner, that 
 their camp extended from Beth-jesimoth unto Abel-shiltim, in 
 the phiiiis of Moab. (Numb, xxxiii. 48. 49.) Beth-jesimoth 
 was a city given afterwards to the tribe of Reuben. It lay 
 in the soutii border of the kingdom of Sihon, not far from the 
 Dead Sea. (Josh. xii. 3.) Eusebius mentions a place called 
 Beth-simath, which is probably the same, lying east of Jor- 
 dan, about ten miles south-eastward from Jericho. 
 
 Abel-shittim, or the Valley of Shitiim, lay some distance 
 northward from Beth-jesimoth. It is, in other passages of 
 Scripture, simply called Shittim. It is thought by some that 
 the shittim-wcod, so frequently spoken of, took its name from 
 this place, w^here it probably grew very abundantly. 
 
 This is the last encampment mentioned, and ends the Mo 
 saic history of the journey ings of the Israelites from the Land 
 of Egypt to Canaan. 
 
 We shall close our account of this interesting subject, by 
 the following general observations. 
 
 From Egypt to Baalzephon, or Suez, it is certain that Mo- 
 ses followed the customary read now taken by the caravans of 
 pilgrims ; here he turned off, crossed the Red Sea, and led his 
 people to Mount Sinai, for the purpose of soleminly engaging 
 them in devotion and consecration to the Deity, who had ap- 
 peared to him there before, (Exod. iii.) and had given him, as 
 a token, this very solemnity, (verse 12.) 
 
 Having accomplished the sacred transactions at Sinai, 
 Moses had his choice of three ways to reach the Land of Ca- 
 naan. 1. By a northerly course directly through the country 
 of the Edomites. 2. By going back again to the common 
 track from Egypt to Canaan, and so entering it on the south- 
 west. 3. By taking a north-easterly course around Edom. 
 The first route was occupied by enemies; for the Edomites 
 refused them a passage through their country. The second 
 they fjllowed till they reached the boundary of their expected 
 country at Kadesh Barnea ; but here they were turned back 
 by the faint-hearted reports of their spies, and by their own 
 folly and discontent, llence they retreated again through 
 the wilderness, again passed not far from Sinai in their jour- 
 ney to Eloth and Ezion-gaber, and finally entered Canaan by 
 the north-easterly route, around Mount Scir or Edom. 
 
 It appears that INIoses judged rightly of his people at first, 
 that war would have terrified them ; and that even after they 
 
THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN. 51 
 
 had been sottig time under his direction, their courag-e wag 
 very moderate, and their habits of submission very weak : 
 as in the tirst instance they would not fig'ht, and in the 
 second they would not obey. But after this capricious gene- 
 ration had passed away, better discipline produced better ef- 
 fects, and a miitinoas spirit no longer prevailing, Joshua, the 
 successor of Moses, effected his purpose on the east of Canaan. 
 This chang'e in the point of attack, changed also the enemy to 
 be attacked ; for the people on the east of Canaan, not benig 
 assisted by those on the west, their subjection was more easy. 
 The passage of the Jordan, too, cut off the southern part of 
 Canaan from the northern ; and by being thus divided, each 
 division opposed less resistance, as they could not act in con- 
 cert together ; and more force could be employed against each, 
 under the entire uncertainty of what district would be next 
 invaded. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE CONaUEST OF CANAAN. 
 
 I. The Country east of Jordan. 
 1. The original inhabitants of the country east of Jordan. 
 
 As it may be of use, for the clearer understanding of sa- 
 cred history, we shall first give a short account of the several 
 people who successively held dominion in these regions. 
 
 It has been formerly observed that Uz, one of the sons of 
 Aram, settled in the parts of Syria about Damascus ; and so 
 this country beyond Jordan, of which we are now speaking, 
 was probably at first possessed by the descendants of Uz. 
 Whence it is thought, by many ancient as well as modern 
 writers, that tlie Land of Uz, mentioned in the book of Job, 
 is the country lying originally between Damascus on the north, 
 and the plantitior of Cusb, or Arabia, on the south ; having 
 the Land of Canaan on the west, and Arabia Deserta east. 
 But when Abraliam first sojourned in the Land of Canaan, 
 we find this country possessed by the Rephaim, Zuzim, and 
 Emim ; names which imply men of more than ordinary 
 strength, and of a gigantic race. (Deut. ii. 10-21.) These 
 are thought not to be the descendants of Uz, but perhaps of 
 
52 SOKIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 the Anakim and Rephaim, Canaanitish giants, who might 
 have seized on the country for themselves. It is said (Deut. 
 iii. 11.) that Og, a king of the Am.orites, was of the Rephaim. 
 
 The country east of Jordan being depopulated by the great 
 overthrow given to the inhabitants of it, the Rephaim, Zuzirn, 
 and Emim, by Cliedorlaomer, (Gen. xiv. 5.) and by the num- 
 bers that were probably carried away captives, tlie descend- 
 a,nts of Lot, i. e. the Moabites and Ammonites, found it no dif- 
 ficult matter to settle in these parts. For we read (Deut. ii. 
 9. 10.) that the Moabites possessed tlie country wherein tlie 
 Emim dwelt, in times past ; and also, (verse 19. 20.) that the 
 Ammonites possessed the country wherein the Zamzummim 
 or Zuzim dwelt in old times. The river Jabbok seems to have 
 been the boundary between the Rephaim and the Zamzum- 
 mim, and it does not appear that the country of the Rephaim 
 was ever possessed by the descendants of Lot. It is obsei-ved 
 (Deut. iii. 11.) that Og, ki*ig of Bas!ian.j was. of the j-emnant 
 of the Rephaim or giants ; so that it is probable Ithat Ihe/'fetili 
 kept up their kingdom under a ruler of their Own. until con- 
 quered by the Israelites. 
 
 2. Land of the Ammonites. 
 
 It seems from Judges xi. 13, that the country east of Jor- 
 dan from the river Jabbok, as far south as the Arnon, was the 
 land of the Ammonites ; yet it is certain that the south part 
 of it towards the Arnon was formerly inhabited by the Moab- 
 ites. Some have conjectured that the Moabites in this part 
 were tributary, or under subjection to the Ammonites, and so 
 the king of tlie Ammonites might claim the whole country 
 between the two rivers, as belonging to him. Besides this, 
 the Ammonites possessed a considerable tract to the east, be- 
 yond the hills that bounded the eastern part of the country 
 beyond Jordan. This they still held after they were dispos- 
 sessed of the country immediately on the east of Jordan by 
 the Amorites; and this country east of those hills, where they 
 still kept their ground, is in Scripture called the Land of the 
 Children of Amnion. 
 
 The principal city of the Ammonites was called Rabbah : 
 Stephanus says that it was also called Ammana, either from 
 Animon, the "founder of the nation, or from its being the chief 
 city of the children of Ammon. Dr. Wells thinks it probable 
 that the name may have come from a city of the Zuzim in 
 this country, called Ham. This city was in after ages called 
 Philadelphia, from Ptolemy Philadelphus, king of Egypt, who, 
 
CONQUEST OF CANAAN. 53 
 
 having" made himself master of this country, repaired and 
 beautified the city: but it never occurs under this name in 
 Scripture. 
 
 3. Land of the Moahites. 
 
 Besides the country which the Moabites possessed north of 
 the Arnon, and which Silion, king of the Amorites, took from 
 them, they possessed also a tract south of that river, between 
 Edom to the west, and Midian to the south and east. This 
 they held, after the loss of the other part of their country. 
 The chief city of the Moabites was Ar, caV.ed by the Greek 
 writers Areopolis ; it was sometimes also called Moab. 
 
 After the captivity of the ten tribes, the Moabites repossess- 
 ed themselves of several places north of the river Arnon ; 
 from which it happens that in the prophecies against Moab, we 
 find Heshbon and several other places, once beJonging to the 
 tribes of Reuben and Gad, mentioned as belongmg to the 
 Moabites. 
 
 4. Kingdoms of Sihon and Og. 
 
 Sihon was king of the Amorites who had come from the 
 west of Jordan and dispossessed the Moabites and Ammonites 
 on the east of that river. This kingdom was bounded north 
 by the river Jabbok, which separated it from the kingdom of 
 Og ; east by the mountains which bounded it from the Am- 
 monites; south by the Arnon, between it and tlie Moabites. 
 and west b}^ the Jordan, which parted it from Canaan. The 
 capital city was Heshbon. 
 
 The kingdom of Og lay north of the river Jabbok, extend- 
 ing northward as far as Mount Hermon, a part of the cham 
 called Mount Lebanon ; having tlie Jordan on the west, and 
 the hills of Gilead on the east. It is also called the kingdom 
 of Bashan, whence came the Greek word Batanea, denoting 
 these parts in after ages. The chief cities of this kingdom 
 were Ashtaroth and Edrei. Ashtaroth lay in the north, and 
 is otherwise called Ashtaroth-Karnaim, whence the name 
 Carnea, by which it was aftervv^ards known. Edrei was more 
 southerly, and was in later ages called Adara. 
 
 5. Kedemcth and Jahaz. 
 
 The wilderness of Kedemoth, whence Moses sent messen- 
 gers to Sihon, king of Heshbon, (Deut. ii. 26.) lay along the 
 river Arnon, in the eastern part of the country, and is proba- 
 bly the wilderness mentioned in Judges xi. 22. Jahaz was a 
 place in, or near, this wilderness. 
 E2 
 
54 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 6. Argoh, BasJian, and Gilead. 
 
 These were parts of the king-dom of Bashan. (Deut. iii. 4. 
 and 13, 14, 15.) Arg-ob seems to have been a part of this 
 kingdom given to Jair, as Gilead was to Machir ; so that the 
 two probably formed the country or kingdom of I3ashan, Gi- 
 lead was the part wherein were the mountains or hills of 
 Gilead ; consequently Argob was the remaining, or northern 
 part. 
 
 7. Pethor, the city of Balaam. 
 
 Balaam was a famous soothsayer or divuier of those times, 
 who was sent for by the king of Moab to curse the people of 
 Israel, because he feared them. (Numb. xxii. 3-6.) Pethor, 
 the city where he dwelt, is called in Hebrew Pethura. It is 
 called Pachora, by Ptolemy, and Pathura by Eusebius, who 
 places it in Upper Mesopotamia. Calmet supposes it to be 
 situated towards Thapsacus, beyond tlie Euphrates. It was 
 certainly in Mesopotamia. (Deut. xxiii. 4.) 
 • 8. Peo7', or Baal Peor. 
 
 Peer is thought to have been a part of the mountains of 
 Abarim. On this mount seems to have stood the temple of an 
 idol, called Peor, or Baal Peor ; in whose sacrifices the Israel- 
 ites partook, while encamped in the plains of Moab, by which 
 they greatly provoked God. (Numb. xxv. 1-5.) 
 
 II. The Country west of Jordan, or Canaan Proper. 
 
 Moses having died, Joshua succeeded him as leader of the 
 Israelites, and prepared to pass the Jordan. On the day after 
 the return of the two spies who had been sent to Jericho, he 
 removed the camp from Shittim, and came to Jordan. (Josh, 
 iii. 1.) Here they remained three days, after which they 
 crossed Jordan, opposite Jericho, on dry ground ; the waters 
 which came down from the upper part of the stream standing 
 and rising np in a heap, as far as from the city Adam, 
 which was a city on the east of Jordan, not far from where 
 they crossed. 
 
 1. Gilgal. 
 
 This was the station where they encamped, after having 
 crossed the Jordan ; and the place wliere circumcision was re- 
 newed ; it having been neglected during their wanderings in 
 the desert. (Josh. v. 2-9.) Gilgal was situated between the Jor- 
 dan and Jericho. Josephus says tliat Jericlio was sixty furlongs 
 from Jordan, and that Gilgal was fifty; hence from Gilgal to 
 
CONQUEST OF CANAAN, 55 
 
 Jericho was ten furlongs westward, or about a mile and a 
 quarter. Others say, two miles. 
 
 2. Jericho. 
 
 This was the first city taken by Joshua from the Canaan- 
 ites: he destroyed it, and pronounced a severe curse on him 
 wlio should rebuild it. This -was, however, done, about 530 
 years after, by Hiel, the Bethelite, (1 Kings xvi. 34.) on whom 
 the curse accordingly fell. This was the city honoured by 
 the presence of our Saviour, and where he WTought some 
 miracles. It was destroyed by the Romans, during the siege 
 of Jerusalem, on account of the treachery of its inhabitants. 
 A third city was afterwards built, but it seems not exactly in 
 the place where stood the former two ; as Eusebius tells us 
 tliat in his day the ruins of both the former were still shown. 
 Jericho is now called Raha, or Eriha, and is a poor dirty 
 village, inliabited by Arabs. It is six leagues north-east from 
 Jerusalem, and stands in a plain, surrounded by barren moun- 
 tains. This plain is, however, extremely fertile, and is watered 
 by a number of rivulets which flow mto the Jordan. 
 
 In the latter days of the Jewish government, Jericho was 
 reckoned the second city in Judea ; in its royal palace Herod 
 died : it had also magnificent theatres and other noble build 
 ings. Here was also established a famous theological semi- 
 nary, or school of prophets ; m which, says the Jerusalem Tal- 
 mud, were twelve thousand priests, ready to supply deficien- 
 cies which might occur in the temple at Jerusalem. 
 
 3. The valley of Achor. 
 
 After the destruction of Jericho, Joshua sent two or three 
 thousand men against iVi ; but these being beaten, he inquired 
 the reason of God, and was answered that it was because 
 some of the Israelites had sinned. The offender was found 
 to be Achan, who was put to death in the Valley of Achor, 
 so named from the trouble brought upon the Israelites by this 
 sin ; the Hebrew word Achor signifying trouble. It is evi- 
 dent that this valley must have been near Jericho. 
 
 4. Ai, and Bethaven. 
 
 On the second attack, Joshua took Ai by stratagem and 
 burnt it. We have already mentioned this place under the 
 name of Hai, in our account of the sojourning of Abraham. 
 It lay east of Bethel, and not far from it. Eusebius and Jerom 
 say that in their time some small rufns of it were yet remain- 
 ing. Masius tells us that Ai was three leagues from Jericho, 
 and Bethel one league from Ai, 
 
56 . SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 Bethaven was near Ai, (Josh. vii. 2.) and seems to nave 
 been a distinct place from Bethel, though some have thought, 
 from a passage in Hosea, that tJiey were the same. The 
 wilderness of Bethaven, in the north of the tribe of Benja- 
 min, (Josh, xviii. 12.) was probably named from this place, 
 and lay near it. 
 
 5. Cities of the Gibeonites. 
 
 The cities of the Gibeonites were Gibeon, Chephirah, 
 Beeroth and Kirjath-jearim. (Josh. ix. 17.) 
 
 Gibeon is said (Josh. x. 2.) to have been a great city, 
 greater tlian Ai. It was situated on an eminence, about 
 thirty furlongs from Jerusalem, northward, and not far from 
 the city of Gibeah. According to Eusebius and Jerom, it was 
 a royal city, and the metropolis of the Hivites. Eusebius says 
 that it was still a town or village in his time, yet retaining its 
 old name, being four miles west from Bethel. Of Chephirah 
 nothing is known but the name, and that it afterwards be- 
 longed to the tribe of Benjamin. 
 
 Beeroth, say Eusebius and Jerom, lay near the hill of Gibe- 
 on, being, in their days, a town or village in the road from 
 Jerusalem to Sichem, seven miles from the former. 
 
 Kirjath-jearim lay nine miles west from Jerusalem. It is 
 frequently mentioned in Scripture. Here the ark abode 
 twenty years, from the time it was sent away by the Philis- 
 tines, till David removed it to Jerusalem. It was also the 
 native place of Urijah, the prophet, who was slain by Jehoia- 
 kim. (Jer. xxvi. 20.) 
 
 6. Beth-horon, and AzeJiah. 
 
 These places are mentioned in the account of the over- 
 throw, by Joshua, of the kings of Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, 
 and Eglon, who had confederated with the Idng of Jerusa- 
 lem to attack the Gibeonites, after these last had made peace 
 with Joshua. 
 
 There appear to be two places named Beth-horon in Scrip- 
 ture, i. e. the upper and the nether, (1 Chron. vii. 24.) and it 
 seems they both lay in the tribe of Ephraim. The one men- 
 tioned in this battle of Joshua with the kings, must have been 
 in the south of Ephraim, not far from GilDcon ; Upper Beth- 
 horon was farther north. Azekah lay in the tribe of Judah, 
 westward from Jerusalem. 
 
 7. Ajalan. 
 
 The Valley of Ajalon is famous as the place where the sun 
 and moon stood still, at the command of Joshua, mitil Israel 
 
CONQUEST OF CANAAN. 57 
 
 had avenged themselves upon their enemies. The city of 
 Ajalon probably stood in this valley ; it was situated between 
 Timnath and Betlishemesh, in the tribe of Dan; and was one 
 of the cities given to the Levites. (Josh xxi. 24.) It seems, 
 however, that the Danites were never able to drive the Amor- 
 ites out of Ajalon. (Judges i. 35.) 
 
 There were three other cities of this "name ; one in the 
 tribe of Benjamin, three miles east of Bethel ; another in 
 Ephraim, two miles from Shechem, m the way to Jerusalem, 
 east of Beth-horon ; and a third in the tribe of Zebulon, the 
 situation of Vv^hich is not exactly known. 
 
 8. Makhedah. 
 
 Near this to'^vn was the cave where the five kings who had 
 fled from Joshua, hid themselves, whom he, after the battle, 
 put to death. Makkedah was in the tribe of Judah, twelve 
 or fourteen mil es^outh- westward.- from Jerusalem. : 
 
 9. Libnali, and'Lachish. 
 
 . These were cities taken by Joshua after Makkedah. (Josh. 
 X. 29-32.) Libnah was in tiie tribe of Judah, not far from 
 Makkedah ; being about sixteen.'miles south-west from Jeru- 
 salem.. 
 
 Lachish was also in the tribe of Judah, near the last men- 
 tioned places. It is frequently mentioned in Scripture ; and, 
 together with Libnah, was besieged in the days of Hezekiah, 
 king of Judah, by Sennacherib, king of Assyria. (2 Kings 
 xix. 8.) 
 
 10. Gezer. 
 
 " Horam, king of Gezer, came to help Lachish, and Joshua 
 smote hun and his people." (Josh. x. 33.) This Gezer lay in 
 the south of the tribe of Ephraim, not far from Beth-horon, 
 (Josh. xvi. 3.) and seems to have been a strong place, as it 
 was not taken by Joshua, who only overcame the king and 
 his people who had come to Lachish : Gezer itself seems to 
 have held out until taken by the king of Egypt, by whom it 
 was given to liis daughter, the wife of kmg Solomon. (1 Kings 
 ix. 16.) 
 
 11. Eglon. 
 
 The king of this city was another of the five kings : it was 
 taken by Joshua after he had conquered Lachish, from which 
 it was not far ; being also in the west of the possessions of the 
 tribe of Judah. 
 
 12. Dehir, or Kirjatli-sepher. 
 
 After having taken Eglon, Joshua advanced against He- 
 
68 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPmr. 
 
 bron, which he also took. Of Hebron we have already treated. 
 From Hebron he returned to Debir, and took it. (Josh. x. 36- 
 39.) This city also had two other names, Kirjath-sepher, and 
 Kirjath-sannah, (Josli. xv. 15 and 49.) The \vord Kiriutli or 
 Kirjath^ in Hebrew, signifies a city, and Scpher a book ; 
 whence some have thought that this Ki-rjath-sephcr, or city 
 of the book, was an old literary academy, or some learned in- 
 stitution of the Canaanites. Others suppose it was so called 
 from some writings or national records being kept there. The 
 other name of this place, Kirjath-sannah, may mean tlie city 
 of the bush, or of sharpening ; denoting that it lay among the 
 bushes or thickets, or the place where men's minds were 
 sharpened by learning. This city lay not far from Hebron, in 
 the south of Jadah. 
 
 13. Goshen, in Canaan. 
 
 We read (Josh. x. 41.) that Joshua smote them from Ka- 
 desh-barnea, even unto Gaza ; and all tlie country of Goshen, 
 even unto Gibeon. This country of Goshen was situated in 
 the southern part of the tribe of Judah, about a city called 
 also Goshen ; possibly lying in a fat good soil, and so named 
 from resembling the Land of Goshen m Egypt. 
 
 14. The Waters of Merom. 
 
 In this expedition Joshua had conquered all the south of 
 Canaan, and so he returned with his army to Gilgal. This 
 was seven years after the entrance of the Israelites into Ca- 
 naan. Tiiey remained in the camp at Gilgal some time ; but 
 the kings in tlie north, having heard of their conquests in the 
 south, joined all their forces, and encamped at the waters of 
 Merom, to fight against Israel. It is generally agreed that 
 the waters of Merom, here mentioned, denote lake Seniechon, 
 near the head of Jordan, above the lake of Gennesareth. 
 During the melting of the snows in Mount Lebanon, Lake 
 Merom overflows a space of about two leagues in circuit; but 
 in summer, during the great heats, it is nearly dry. This 
 marsh is covered with reeds and shrubs, and the neighbour- 
 hood is infested by wild beasts which come down from the 
 neighbouring mountains. 
 
 15. Hazor, Madon, tihimron, and Achshaph. 
 
 Hazor, of which Jabin was king, lay near Lake Merom. 
 Jabin, who appears to have been the chief prince in those 
 parts, having summoned tlie other kings in the north of Ca- 
 naan, to join him against Israel, they accordingly encamped 
 together near the waters of Merom. But they were entire • 
 
CONQUEST OF CANAAN. 59 
 
 ly routed by Joshua, who took Hazor, burnt it, and slew its 
 king". The other cities were also taken, and their kings 
 lulled. Of the situation of Madon, nothing certain is knowru 
 Chimron lay in the tribe of Zebulon, west of the sea cf Ga- 
 lilee or Gennesareth. Achshaph was in the south of the 
 tribe of Asher. 
 
 16. City and Sea of Cliinneroth. 
 
 We read (Josh. xi. 2.) that besides the kings we have just 
 mentioned, Jabin also sent to the kings of the plains soutli of 
 Chinneroth, and in the valley, and in the borders of Dor, on 
 the west. Chinneroth was an ancient city on the sea of Ga- 
 lilee, which is hence sometimes called the Sea of Chinneroth. 
 It is generally thought that Chinneroth was the city after- 
 wards enlarged and ornamented by Herod, who gave it the 
 name of Tiberias, from which this sea is also called the Sea 
 of Tiberias. 
 
 17. City of Dor. 
 
 Dor was situated on the coast of the Mediterranean, a little 
 to the north of Cssarea : it was a considerable place, and 
 gave name to the country round about. The city was strong, 
 and difficult to attack, being built upon a peninsula which 
 projected into the sea. This city was given to the haif tribe 
 of Manasseh, but they suffered the Canaanites to retam it. 
 Jerom says it is nine miles from Ceesarea, and in his day Vv^aa 
 desolate and uninhabited. The modern name of Dor is Tar- 
 toura. It consists of a single street opposite the sea, and ia 
 resorted to by the Arabs and peasants, who barter their plun- 
 der and commodities for rice and linens brought from Egypt 
 in small vessels, the port being shallow, and not admitting 
 large ships. The only water in the place, fit to drink, is oh- 
 tained from a fountain which issues from a rock ten or twelve 
 feet in the sea, which, Vvdien the waters are high, is completely 
 covered with the waves. 
 
 18. Land of Mizpeh, and Misrepliotli-mahn. 
 
 Jabin also sent to the Hivite under Hermon, in the Land 
 of Mizpeh, (Josh. xi. 3.) ; and the Israelites chased theii 
 enemies unto Great Zidon, and Misrephoth-maim, and unto 
 the valley of Mizpeh, eastward, (verse 8.) The Land of Miz- 
 peh here mentioned, is the tract about Mount Gilead, other- 
 wise called Mizpeh (Gen. xxxi. 49.): So the valley of Miz- 
 peh must denote some valley about Mount Gilead, which fre- 
 quently denotes not only the mountain of that name, but siso 
 the adjacent country as far as Mount Hermon, which, to- 
 
60 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 g-ether with Mount Halek and Seir, are only branches of 
 Mount Lebanon, 
 
 Misrephoth-maim is understood to have been near Zidon. 
 
 In the twelfth chapter of Joshua, a summary is given of the 
 one and thirty king-s slain by the Israelites. We shall now 
 proceed to notice those of their cities which have not been 
 already mentioned. 
 
 19. Jarmuth, Geder, Hormah, and Arad. 
 
 Jarmuth was one of the cities given afterwards to the tribe 
 of Judah, and lay not far south-west from Jerusalem. 
 
 Geder was probably either Gederah or Gederoth, near Jar- 
 muth ; but which of these cannot be determined. 
 
 Hormah lay in the south-west of Canaan, in the tribe of 
 Simeon ; and is probably the place mentioned in the journeys 
 of the Israelites from Egypt, and near which they were de- 
 feated by the Amalekites. (iSfumb. xiv. 45.) 
 
 Arad was in the south of Judah. King Arad is mentioned 
 in Numb. xxi. 1. and xxxiii. 40. ; and we also read (Judges i 
 16.) of the wilderness of Judah, in the south of Arad. 
 
 20. Adullam, Tappuah, Ilepher, and Aphek. 
 
 Adullam was in tlie tribe of Judah, south-west from Jeru- 
 salem, remarkable for a cave near it into which David retired, 
 when he withdrew from Achish, king of Gath. (1 Sam. xxii. 1.) 
 
 There seem to have been two places named Tappuah ; one 
 in the tribe of Judah, and another on the border of Manasseh, 
 but belonging to Ephraim. It is not known which of these 
 it was whose king was slain by Joshua. 
 
 Heplier appears to be nowliere else mentioned in Scripture. 
 
 Aphek was in the tribe of Asher, (Josh. xix. 30.) but as 
 there were other places of this name, particularly one in Ju- 
 dah, sometimes called Aphekah, it is uncertain which is re- 
 ferred to in the present instance. 
 
 21. LasJuiron, Taanach, and Megiddo. 
 
 The situation of Lasharon is not known. Some suppose it 
 to be the country of Sharon in the west of Ephraim, between 
 CiEsarea and Joppa. 
 
 Taanach is more than once mentioned in Scripture. It was 
 a city of the Levitcs, and lay in the west of Issacharor Man- 
 asseh, north-west from Samaria. 
 
 Near this was Megiddo, also lying on the west of Issachar, 
 but belonging to Manasseh : the Canaanites continued to dwell 
 in it, being tributary. (Josh. xvii. 11-13.) This city was 
 rebuilt by Solomon, (1 Kmgs ix. 15.) and is further remarka- 
 
CONQrEST OF CANAAN. 61 
 
 ble for the death of iVhaziah and Josiah, kings of Judah. It 
 was situated about 44 miles north of Jerusalem, near the 
 great plain of Esdraelon, and has been the scene of many bat- 
 tles besides that in which Barak overcame the army of Jabin. 
 (Judg-es V. 19.) Pharaoh and Josiah, Gideon and the Midian- 
 ites, Saul and the Philistines, Judas Maccabeus and Tryphon, 
 all fought here: and in later ages there were also in this 
 place bloody combats between the Tartars and Saracens. It 
 is called by ancient geogi-aphers, the capacious field of hat- 
 ties.^ The waters of Megiddo, (Judges v. 19.) probably mean 
 the southern branches of the river Kishon, which flows north- 
 westward to the Mediterranean. 
 
 22. Kedesh and Johieam. 
 
 There were two places called Kedesh ; one in the tribe of 
 Naphtali, (Josh. xix. 37.) called Kedesh Naphtali, which was 
 probably the one whose king was killed by Joshua. The 
 other was in Judah, (Josh. xv. 23.) and appears to have been 
 a place of not much consequence. Kedesh Naphtali w'as the 
 native place of Barak : it was one of the. Levitical cities, and 
 also a city of refuge. (Josh. xxi. 32.) 
 
 Jokneam was a city in the tribe of Zebulon, also a city of 
 the Levites. It was near Mount Carmel, and hence is called 
 Jokneam of Carmel. 
 
 23. Tirzah. 
 
 This was a city of Ephraim, frequently mentioned in Scrip- 
 ture, being for some time the royal city of the kingdom of 
 Israel; that is, from the time of Jeroboam to the reign of 
 Omri, who, having reigned six years in Tirzah, built Sama- 
 ria, and removed the seat of government thither, where it 
 continued until the dowmfall of the kingdom. It seems to 
 have been a very beautiful and pleasant city, (Song vi. 4.) for 
 which reason it was probably chosen as the royal residence. 
 
 24. The Nations of Gilgal. 
 
 The king of the nations of Gilgal was also among those 
 enumerated as having been slain by the Israelites, and with 
 him we close our account of the places belonging to the one 
 and thirty kmgs. Nothing certain is known of the nations of 
 Gilgal, but it is generally supposed that their country extend- 
 ed along the Jordan as far north as the sea of Galilee. 
 
 2.5. Shiloh. 
 
 In this place was the tabernacle of the congregation set 
 
 * Campum -prceliorem capacem. Cellarius, Geog. Antiq. 
 
 F 
 
63 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 Up, (Josh, xviii. 1.) within which the ark was kept ; and here 
 it remained more than three hundred years, until taken by the 
 Philistines in the time of the high- priest Eli. Shiloh was 
 situated in the south part of the tribe of Ephraim, ten or 
 twelve miles south from Shechem. To this place was proba- 
 bly also removed the camp of the seven tribes wlio had not 
 yet received their inheritance, namely, Benjamin, Simeon, 
 Zebulon, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan ; for we do not 
 read of the division of the country among them till after the 
 removal from Gilgal to Shiloh. (Josh, xviii.) The other tribes 
 had been before provided for. 
 
 26. Timnath-serah, and Gaasli. 
 
 Timnath-serah was the inheritance of Joshua, given him 
 at his own request, (Josh. xix. 50.) and here he died and was 
 buried. It was in the south of Ephraim, near Sliiloh ; and 
 was otherwise called Timnath-heres. (Judges ii. 9.) Here 
 the sepulchre of Joshua was shown in the days of Eusebius 
 and Jerom. 
 
 It is not certain what is meant by the expression " on the 
 north side of the hill of Gaash." (Josh. xxiv. 30.) It may 
 mean that the city was built on the north side of the hill, or 
 that it was northward from the hill ; or that Joshua was buried 
 on the north part of the hill, or northward of it. 
 
 Having thus given an account of the principal places men- 
 tioned in the Scripture history of the Conquest of Canaan by 
 the Israelites, we shall now proceed to treat of the division of 
 the country among the tribes. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 DIVISION OF CANAAN AMONG THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL. 
 
 The Israelites, so called from being descendants of Jacob, 
 or Israel, were distinguished into twelve tribes, according to 
 the number of the sons of Israel, who were called the twelve 
 patriarchs, as being heads of these tribes. 
 
 The names of these twelve patriarchs, according to the 
 order of their birth, were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, 
 Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulon, Joseph, and Ben- 
 jamin. 
 
 Of these tribes God chose tliat of Levi to minister about 
 holy things, to wait at his altar, and to serve in his worship 
 
DIVISION OF CANAAN. 63 
 
 generally; lie therefore ordained that they should live and 
 be maintained with the things of the temple, partaking with 
 the altar, and so be free from the common cares and concerns 
 of life. Therefore, in the partition of the land, not one of 
 the twelve parts into which it was divided, was given to the 
 tribe of Levi, as an inlieritance ; for their inheritance was the 
 priesthood of the Lord. However, certain cities were as- 
 signed them as habitations to dwell in, from which they are 
 called Levitical cities. But the two branches of Joseph, viz. 
 Ephraim and Manasseh, having two distinct allotments, 
 made up the number of twelve geographical divisions to be 
 distributed among the tribes. 
 
 These, according to their geographical order or situation, 
 beginning at the south of Canaan, may be reckoned thus: 
 Judah, Simeon, Dan, Benjamin, Ephraim, Manasseh, (one 
 half of it,) Issachar, Zebulon, Asher, Naphtali. These were 
 all west t)f Jordan. On the east of that river were the por- 
 tions of Gad and Reuben, with the other part of Manasseh. 
 
 1. The Tribe of Judah. 
 
 Judah was the most considerable tribe of Israel, on several 
 accounts; and in the division of the conquered country regard 
 was primarily had to this tribe, and its lot is first noticed in 
 Josh. XV. where we are told that it is next to the border of 
 Edom, which was the southern boundary of Canaan. 
 
 Li the same chapter we have the bounds of this tribe laid 
 down, in substance as follows : The south border was from the 
 shore of that bay of the Salt Sea which looketh southward, 
 i. e. from the south part of the Dead Sea, where it begins to 
 be narrowed to a bay ; hence westward, passmg along to Zin ; 
 thence up on the south side to Kadesh Barnea, and so coming 
 out to the river of Egypt, and then going out, i. e. termi- 
 nating at the Mediterranean Sea. 
 
 The eastern border was the Salt Sea, in its whole length 
 from south to north, even to the end of Jordan, i. e. the mouth 
 of that river vv'here it empties into the Dead Sea at the north- 
 ern extremity. 
 
 The north border was from the bay of the Salt Sea, at the 
 mouth of Jordan ; westv/ard by the Valley of Achor to Enro- 
 gel, and so, by the valley of the son of Hinnom to the south 
 side of the Jebusite or Jerusalem ; thence to the top of the 
 mountain west of the Valley of Hinnom, which is at the end 
 of the Valley of Giants northv/ard. Thence the border was 
 drawn to Kirjath-jearim, and so passed along to the side of 
 
64 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 Mount Jearim on the north side, going- hence down to Beth- 
 shemesh, passing on to Zimnah ; and so to the side of Ekron, 
 northward ; going- out, or terminating at the sea. 
 
 Its western border was tlie great, or Mediterranean Sea. 
 
 These boundaries, however, comprehend the tribes of 
 Simeon and Dan, who afterwards had their inheritance in the 
 portion first allotted to Judah, which was found to bo too large. 
 (Josh. xix. 9.) Judah was therefore properly bounded on the 
 south by Edom and tlie wilderness ; on the east by the Dead 
 Sea ; on the north by the tribe of Benjamin ; and on the west 
 by Simeon and Dan. 
 
 2. Tribe of Siineon. 
 
 The lot of Simeon was cast within the inheritance of Ju- 
 dah, (Josli. xix. 1-9.) which was found to be too much for 
 them. Accordingly, the same cities which we find at first 
 allotted to the tribe of Judah, (Josh. xv. 26-32.) are afterwards 
 mentioned as assigned to Simeon, (xix. 2-8.) Now as these 
 cities are mentioned as being some of " the uttermost cities 
 of the tribe of the children of Judah, towards the coast of 
 Edom southward," so the tribe of Simeon must have been in 
 the south, or south-west of Judah. 
 
 The land of the tribe of Simeon was therefore bounded 
 south by the southern limit of Canaan ; east by Judah ; north 
 by Dan ; and west by the Mediterranean ; lying in the south- 
 western corner of the Land of Canaan. 
 
 a Tribe of Dan. 
 
 The inheritance of Dan was also within the portion first 
 allotted to Judah ; as appears by comparing Josh. xv. 33. &c. 
 with xix. 41. &c. where we find cities mentioned first given 
 to Judah and afterwards to Dan. The situation of this tribe 
 has been generally agreed to have been in the north-west of 
 the original portion of Judah, adjoining Ephraim on the north, 
 and Benjamin on the east ; though some writers think the 
 north part of Judah extended up between Dan and Benjamin. 
 
 Thus the boundaries of Dan were Simeon on the south ; 
 Judah and Benjamin on the cast; Ephraim on the north ; and 
 the Great Sea on the west. 
 
 4. Tribe of Benjamin. 
 
 By comparing Josh, xviii. 15-19. with xv. 5-9. it appears 
 that the north border of Judah was the same as the south bor- 
 der of Benjamin ; hence they must have been adjoining each 
 other, Judah lying to the south and Benjamin nortli. The 
 eastern border was the Jordan, (Josh, xviii. 20.) the northern 
 
DIVISION OF CANAAN. (j^ 
 
 and western border was from Jordan, on the north of Jericho, 
 through the mountains westward, to the wilderness of Beth- 
 aven ; from thence over towards Bethel, and by the side of the 
 hill on the south of nether Beth-horon, terminating near Kir- 
 jath-jearim. 
 
 The tribe of Benjamin was therefore bounded south by Ju- 
 dah ; east by the river Jordan ; north by Ephraim, and west 
 by Judah or Dan. 
 
 Some geographers Jfeve made the tribe of Benjamin extend 
 westward as far as the Mediterranean, on the ground that the 
 Hebrew expression, in the fourteenth verse of chap, xviii. lit- 
 erally translated, means that the west border compassed the 
 corner of the sea southward. It is, however, evident, from 
 other passages of Scripture, that the tribe of Benjamin did not 
 extend to the sea on the west. In verse 12 the same word is 
 rendered the west, and so perhaps it would have been better 
 in the fourteenth, meaning the side towards the sea, i. e. the 
 western side, towards the Mediterranean. By the expression; 
 compassed the corner of the west, is to be understood that the 
 western boundary there made an angle or corner. 
 
 5. Tribe of Ephraim. 
 
 The lot of the children of Joseph, Ephraim, and Manasseh, 
 was north of Benjamin; for v/e read (Josh, xviii. 11.) that the 
 coast of the lot of Benjamin came forth between the children 
 of Judah and the children of Joseph. It has been already 
 shown that Judah lay south of Benjamin ; it must tlierefore 
 follow that the children of Joseph lay north. With regard to 
 the eastern and western boundaries of Ephraim and Manasseh, 
 it is manifest from Josh. xvi. 1-3. that they extended from the 
 Jordan to the Mediterranean. By comparing chap. xvi. 1-7. 
 with xvii. 11. it appears that the inheritance of the children 
 of Joseph had Benjamin on the south, and Asher and Issa- 
 char on the north. It also seems (xvi. 5-7.) that Ephraim was 
 adjoining Benjamin; consequently, Manasseh was north of 
 Ephraim. 
 
 Ephraim was therefore bounded on the east by the Jordan ; 
 on the south by Judah and Dan ; on the west by the Mediter- 
 ranean, and north by his brother Manasseh. 
 
 6. Half the tribe of Manasseh, west of Jordan. 
 
 It has been already stated that the possessions of Manasseh 
 on the west of Jordan, lay north of Ephraim ; but the particu- 
 lar boundary between them is obscure and not easily traced. 
 
 From this situation of the portion of Manasseh west of Jor- 
 
 r2 
 
66 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 dan, its boundaries were Ephraim on the south ; the Mediter- 
 ranean on the west ; Issachar on the north, and the Jordan on 
 the east. 
 
 7. The Tribe of Issachar. 
 
 The boundaries of Issachar, particularly to the westward, 
 are rather obscure. The border " went by Jezreel, and Mount 
 Tabor, and its outgomgs were at Jordan." (Josh. xix. 17-22.) 
 By some writers this tribe has been supposed to extend quite 
 to the Mediterranean. But if the lots. of Ephraim and Man- 
 asseh " met together in Asher on the north, and in Issachar 
 on the east," (Josh, xvii, 10.) it is difficult to understand how 
 Issachar could extend westward to the sea. 
 
 The general boundaries of Issachar were Zebulon on the 
 north ; the Jordan on the east ; Manasseh on the south ; and 
 possibly the Mediterranean on the west. 
 
 8. Tribe of Zebulon. 
 
 It is agreed by geographers tliat Zebulon lay north of Issa- 
 char; but the same difficulty occurs with regard to the west- 
 ern limits, as in Issachar. ^ome make it extend to the sea ; 
 others think it could not, if Manasseh joined Asher. Accord- 
 ing to Josephus, the tribes of Asher, Zebulon, and Manasseh, 
 all came up near Mount Carmel. 
 
 Thus Zebulon appears to have been bounded on the north 
 by Asher and A^aphtali ; east by the Sea of Galilee ; south by 
 Issachar, and west by the Mediterranean, or partly by Asher. 
 
 9. Tribe of Asher. 
 
 The length of the portion assigned to Asher is clearly de- 
 scribed in Scripture ; as it is said that it extended to Mount 
 Carmel and to Great Zidon ; the former being to the south, 
 and the latter to the north. This was a maritime country, 
 from what we read in the song of Deborah, (Judges v. 17.) 
 " Asher continued on the sea-shore, and abode in his creeks." 
 Within this tribe was situated the great commercial city Tyre, 
 called by the Hebrews Tzor, or Zor ; also x\ccho, called by 
 the Greeks Ptolemais, once a celebrated port, now called Acra 
 or Acre. 
 
 Asher was bounded north and north-east by the extreme 
 limits of the Land of Caanan towards Syria ; east by Nephtali ; 
 south by Zebulon, or perhaps Manasseh or Issachar ; and west 
 by the Mediterranean Sea. 
 
 10. Tribe of Naphtali. 
 
 The situation of Naphtali is clearly described, (Josh. xix. 
 33, 34.) lying between Asher and the Jordan, from Mount 
 
DIVISION OF CANAAN. 67 
 
 Lebanon north, to Zebulon south. It probably also extended 
 to the sea of Cinneroth or Galilee, as the city of Chinneroth 
 belonged to Naphtali. The place mentioned in v. 34, called 
 Judah upon Jordan, certainly could not mean the portion of 
 the tribe of Judah, but probably some place so called upon the 
 river Jordan, above the sea of Galilee. The LXX. transla- 
 tors make no mention of the word Judah in this place, but 
 only the Jordan, which they make the eastern border. 
 
 The boundaries of Naphtali therefore were, on the nortli, 
 the mountains which separated Canaan from Syria ; on the 
 east, the river Jordan ; on the south, the tribe of Zebulon, and 
 the sea of Cinneroth, and the tribe of Asher on the west. 
 
 11. Tribe of Reuben. 
 
 The tribes of Reuben and Gad, with half the tribe of Man- 
 asseh, had their inheritance on the east of Jordan, in the 
 country conquered from the kmgs Sihon and Og-. 
 
 To Reuben was allotted the southern part of this country; 
 consequently this tribe was bounded, east and south, by the 
 river Arnon, which separated it from Amnion and Moab ; west 
 by the river Jordan ; and north and north-east by the tribe of 
 Gad. 
 
 12. The tribe of Gad. 
 
 The portion of Gad lay north of Reuben, and was bounded 
 west by the Jordan ; north by Manasseh ; east by the Ammo- 
 nites ; and south by Reuben. 
 
 13. Half the Tribe of Manasseh, east of Jordan. 
 
 This half tribe had for its boundaries, on the west, the sea 
 of Cinneroth. or Galilee, and the Jordan above that sea, com- 
 monly called Upper Jordan or Lesser Jordan ; on the north, 
 that branch of Lebanon called Mount Hermon ; on the east, 
 a continuation of the same mountains, or Mount Gilead ; and 
 on the south and south-west, the tribe of Gad. 
 
 In concluding- our account of the situation and boundaries 
 of the twelve tribes, v/e would remark that the Scripture ac- 
 count of their limits and borders contains many names of 
 places scarcely noticed anywhere else in the sacred volume, 
 and the situations of which are now very uncertam. These 
 we have omitted, as being of little use to the understanding 
 of the subject, and only tendmg to confuse and perplex the 
 reader. 
 
 14. Cities assigned to the Levites. 
 
 It has been before observed that in the partition of the land 
 of Canaan, the Levites had no portion assigned them among 
 
68 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 the rest of the Israelites ; for their inheritance was the priest- 
 hood of the Lord. Certain cities were, however , set apart 
 for them to dwell in, which from tliis circumstance have been 
 generally called Levitical cities. Of these a particular 
 account is given in Josh. xxi. 
 
 There Vv^ere three branches of the Levites, descendants of 
 the three sons of Levi ; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Aaron, 
 the high-priest, was of the family of Kohath. To each of 
 these branches of the Levites, their cities were assigned by 
 lot, in the same manner as the Land of Canaan was divided 
 among the other tribes. The whole number of Levitical 
 cities was forty-eight. Josh. xxi. 4-7. 
 
 15. The Sacerdotal Cities. 
 
 The thirteen Levitical cities which Vv^ere assigned to the 
 children of Aaron, tlie priests, are called by some writers 
 sacerdotal, or priests' cities. For though Aaron and his chil- 
 dren, the priests, were Levites; yet all the Levites were not 
 priests : the priesthood appertaining particularly to the chil- 
 dren of Aaron. 
 
 It is remarkable that the lots of these thirteen sacerdotal 
 cities all fell within the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benja- 
 min : so that they were not only in the tribec nearest to Jeru- 
 salem, but were so situated, that on the revolt of the ten 
 tribes, they remained subject to the house of David, as did 
 also Jerusalem, the place of God's more especial worsliip. 
 These lots were so ordered by divine providence, that twelve 
 of the thirteen cities fell within the tribes of Judah and Ben- 
 jamin, and the thirteenth, Ain, (Josh. xxi. 16.) or Ashan, (1 
 Chron. vi. 60.) was so near the border of Simeon, as to be 
 sometimes called a city of Judah. 1 Chron. vi. 57-60. So 
 that it is probable that this, among several other places on the 
 border of that tribe, still remained subject to the king of 
 Judah. 
 
 16. The Cities of Refuge. 
 
 These cities were designed as an asylum for those who 
 might accidentally kill a person, " that the slayer might flee 
 thither for refuge from the avenger of blood." Josh. xx. 2. 
 These cities of refuge were six ; namely : Kedesh, in Galilee, 
 in mount Naphtali ; Shechem, in mount Ephraim ; Hebron, in 
 the mountains of Judah ; Bezor, in the tribe of Reuben ; Ra- 
 moth-Gilead, in the tribe of Gad ; and Golan, in the tribe of 
 Manasseh. The three former lay west of Jordan, and the 
 tjiree latter east. These were all also Levitical cities. 
 
CONCLUSION OF PART I. 69 
 
 Conclusion of Part I. 
 
 Thus, having" given a view of the first habitation of man- 
 kind on the earth ; their destruction by the universal deluge, 
 except the favoured remnant preserved in the ark ; the re- 
 peopling of the world by the posterity of Noah, in their seve- 
 ral settlements ; the migrations of Abraham, who was called 
 by God to be the progenitor of his peculiar people ; and of 
 Jacob the father of the twelve tribes; their bondage in Egypt, 
 and their going out therefrom into the land promised by God 
 for their inheritance ; with their conquest of, and final settle- 
 ment in it ; we shall now conclude the first part of our work. 
 
 It may, perhaps, appear to the reader as though some places 
 had been omitted, and that others have been but slightly no- 
 ticed ; for these he is referred to Part II. in which we design 
 to give an alpiiabetical account of all the places of any im- 
 portance mentioned in Scripture, wath such geographical de- 
 scriptions and sketches of their history, as may conduce to a 
 proper and better understanding of the sacred volume, as far 
 as these circumstances are concerned. 
 
SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 PART II. 
 
 A Geographical Dictionary of the Bible : containing, in al- 
 phabetical order, a description of the Countries, Kingdoms, 
 Nations, Provinces, Cities, Tow7is, Villages, Mountains, 
 Hills, Rivers, Lakes, Seas, Islands, <^c. mentioned in the 
 Holy Scriptures. 
 
 Abana, a river of Damascus, in Syria. 2 Kings, v. 12. 
 This river rises in the mountains of Hermon, or Anti-Libanus, 
 on the north-east of Canaan, flows north-eastward and unites 
 with the Pharpar : it passes by the city of Damascus, four or 
 five leagues beyond which, its waters are lost in the sands of 
 the desert. It was knov*'n to the Greeks and Romans by the 
 name of Chrysorrhoas, but it is at present called Barrady. 
 
 Abarim, a chain of mountains east of the Jordan, between 
 that river and the Arnon. Numb, xxxiii. 47. See Part L 
 p. 49. 
 
 Abel-beth-maacah, a city of the tribe of Naphtali, in the 
 north of Canaan ; taken by Benhadad, king of Syria, and 
 afterwards by the king of Assyria. 1 Kings, xv. 20. and 2 
 Kings, XV. 29. 
 
 Abel-caf.maim, or keramin, Abel of the Vineyards, a place 
 belonging to the Ammonites, so named from the abundance 
 of vines in the neighbourhood. Jud. xi. 33. 
 
 Abel-maim, a city belonging to the tribe of Naphtali, near 
 lake JNIerom, on the west. 2 Chron. xvi. 4. 
 
 Abel-meiiolaii, a city of Manasseh, west of Jordan, famous 
 as the birth-place of Elisha, tlie prophet. 1 Kings, xix. 16. 
 
 Abel-mizraim, i. e. the mourning of the Egyptians ; a 
 place supposed to be not far from Hebron, in the south of Ju- 
 dea ; so named from the great mourning made there by Joseph 
 and his brethren, with the prmcipal persons among the Egyp- 
 tians, for Jacob, wliose body they liad brought out of Egypt, 
 that it might be buried witli his fatliers. The Canaanites, 
 
ACC 
 
 DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 71 
 
 Bupposing- them all to be Eg5rptians, accordingly named the 
 place Abel-mizraim. Gen. 1. 
 
 Abel-Shittim, a city in the plains of Moab, east of Jordan. 
 Numb, xxxiii. 49. See Part I. p. 53. 
 
 Abez, a city belonging to the tribe of Issachar. Josh, 
 xix. 20. 
 
 Abilene, a province in Ccelo-Syria, on the north-east of 
 Canaan or Galilee, lymg west from Damascus. Lysanias was 
 governor of this province in the fifteenth year of Tiberius. 
 Luke iii. 1. Its capital city was Abila, or Abilene, respect- 
 ing the situation of which geographers differ. We think, 
 however, that ancient medals of this place decide, beyond a 
 doubt, that Abila was on the river Chrysorrhoas, which ran 
 from the mountains of Anti-Libanus eastwardly towards Da- 
 mascus. 
 
 No. 1, is a medal 
 of Abila, represent- 
 ing on one side the 
 head of Faustina, 
 wife of the emperor 
 iVIarcus Aurelius ; 
 and on the other a 
 bunch of grapes, 
 with the Greek in 
 -' scription, LEUKrAEi- 
 LA, and the date 236. This proves that the Greek name, Leucas, is 
 the same as llie Hebrew Abila, or Abel, since both appear on the 
 same medal. The grapes may possibly refer to Abel-carmaim, Abel of 
 the vineyards. 
 
 No. 2. A medal of the Abi- 
 lene of Lysanias, with the 
 image of the river Chrysor- 
 rhoas, and the inscription 
 
 KRYSOROAS KLAUDIAION OH 
 
 one side, and on the other the 
 figure of Victory, with the 
 inscription leukadion: prov- 
 ing that this Leucadia or 
 Abilene was situated on the river Chrj'sorrhoas, which was the Abana 
 of Scripture. It is likely that the title Klmidiaion was taken in ac- 
 knowledgment of favours received from the emperor Claudius. 
 
 AccAD, ati ancient city in the Land of Shinar, built by 
 Nimrod. Gen. x. 10. This name is also written by ancient 
 authors, Achad, Archad, and Achar. According to Jerom 
 and other old writers, it is the place which was afterwards 
 called Nisibis by the Greeks and Romans, ^ee Part L p. 14. 
 
72 . SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. ADA 
 
 AccHO, See Ptolemais. 
 
 AcHAiA. A province in Greece, of which Gallio was de- 
 puty in the time of the apostle. Acts xviii. 12. The Romans 
 divided Greece into two provinces ; Macedonia rnd Achaia. 
 Macedonia included Thessaly and Epirus ; and Achaia, Greece 
 Proper, and the Peloponnessus. But Achaia, properly so 
 called, was a small country in Greece, lying- along the gulf 
 of Corinth, on the south ; having Sicyonia on the east, Arca- 
 dia and Elis on the south, and the Ionian Sea on the wTst. Its 
 capital city was Patree, Patara, or Patras. 
 
 AcHMETiiA, supposed by some learned men to be the city 
 called by the Greeks Ecbatcma, the capital of Media. In 
 Ezra vi. 2. we read that " there was found at Acliinetha, in the 
 palace, that is in the province of the Medes, a roll," &.c. In 
 the Vulgate Bible, the word is translated Echutana in Media. 
 
 But several interpreters render the word Achmetha, a 
 strong box, or coffer, which lay amongst the old records of 
 Media, in which v^'as found a copy of the edict of Cyrus, per- 
 mitting the Jews to return to their own country. See Ecbaiana. 
 
 AcHOR, a valley near Jericho. Josh, vii, 2G. See Part I. 
 p. 55. 
 
 AcHSAPH, a city belonging to the tribe of Asher, the king 
 of which was conquered by Joshua. Josh. xii. 20. 
 
 AcHZiB, acity of the tribe of Asher, (Josh. xix. 29.) thought 
 to be the same which the Greeks called Ecdippa, the modern 
 name of which is Zib. It was near the Mediterranean, be- 
 tween Tyre and Accho or Ptolemais, nine miles north of the 
 latter. In the time of Jerom, about four hundred years after 
 Christ, this place was a small village called Chasalus. It has 
 been thought by some that Achzib and Achsaph are but dif- 
 ferent names for the same town. 
 
 In the tribe of Judah was also another place called Achzib. 
 Josh. XV. 44. 
 
 AcRAEATENE, a district of Judea, extending between She- 
 chem and Jericho, about twelve miles in length, frequently 
 mentioned by Josephus. There seems also to have been an- 
 other district of this name in the south of Judea, on the bor- 
 ders of Idamea or Edom. 1 Mace. v. 3. 
 
 Ad ADAH, a city of tlie tribe of Judah. Josh. xv. 22. 
 
 Adad-riaimox, or Hadad-rimmon, a place in the valley of 
 Jezreel or Megiddo, where king Josiali was killed by Pha- 
 raoh-necho, king of Egypt. It was situated about ten miles 
 north-west from Jezreel. 2 Kings xxiii. 29. 
 
ADR 
 
 DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 rs 
 
 Adam, or Adom, a city on the east of Jordan, over-against 
 Jericho ; the place where the waters of the Jordan parted to 
 allow a passag-e for the Israelites across the river on dry 
 ground. Josh. iii. 16. 
 
 Adamah, a city of the tribe of Naphtali. Josh. xix. 36. 
 
 Adasa, (1 Mace. vii. 40.) said by Jerom to be a town in 
 the tribe of Ephraim. 
 
 AniTHAiM, a city belonging to the tribe of Judah. .Tosh. xv. 36. 
 
 Admah, one of the five cities whicli, for their wickedness, 
 were destroyed by fire from heaven, and buried under the 
 waters of the Dead Sea. »S'ee Part I. p. 31. 
 
 x'^DORAiM, a city of Judah, fortified by Rehoboam. 2 Chron. 
 xi. 9. 
 
 Adramyttium, a sea-port town of Mysia, in Asia Mmor, 
 lying- opposite the island of Lesbos or Ivlitylene. According 
 to Aristotle, it was named from Adramyttus, son of Alyattesi 
 king- of Lydia, and brother of Croesus, who built it. 
 
 It is probable that the ship of Adramyttium, into which 
 St. Paul entered at Csesarea, (Acts xxvii. 2.) was one which 
 was returning- home to its own port, and so coasted along the 
 shores of Asia Minor. 
 
 No. 1. is a medal of 
 Adramyttium, showing 
 that Castor and Pollux, 
 the deities of mariners, 
 (Acts xxviii. 11.) wer 
 reverenced in this city : 
 the coniucopise, be- 
 tween the two stare, 
 refers to the goddess 
 Fortune, also a mari- 
 time deity. 
 
 On No. 2. are 
 the figures of 
 Minerva and 
 Jupiter, which 
 show that these 
 divinities were 
 also worship- 
 ped here. 
 
/4 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. AIN 
 
 Adria, a name anciently given to that part of tlie Medi- 
 terranean Sea adjacent to Sicily, and south-east of Italy. Ac- 
 cording to Ptolemy, it extended from Sicily to Crete ; and 
 Strabo says that the Ionian gulf is a part of what was then 
 called the Adriatic Sea. Some have inquired how a ship 
 could be tossed up and down in the Adriatic, and driven on 
 the coast of Malta, or Melita. (xVcts xxvii. 27. and xxviii. 1.) 
 This indeed could not be the case with regard to the Adria- 
 tic, in its modern confined extent ; but according to the larger 
 sense, mentioned above, in which the term was used by the 
 ancients, it is perfectly clear that St. Paul's tempestuous voy- 
 age from Crete to Malta, was in that part of the Mediterra- 
 nean then called the Adriatic Sea. 
 
 Josephus relates that on his voyage from Judea to Rome, 
 he was shipwrecked in the Adriatic sea, a.nd after being 
 taken up by a ship from Cyrene, v.'^as carried to Puteoli. From 
 this and other ancient authorities, there can be no question 
 that a considerable portion of the JMediterranean east ol'Italy, 
 was anciently called th.e Adriatic sea. 
 
 Adullam, a city in the tribe of .Tudah. See Part I. p. 38. 
 
 Adummim, a town or mountain in the border of the tribe of 
 Benjamin. (Josh. xv. 7. xviii. 17.) It was,notorious for being 
 the haunt of robbers ; and being on the road from Jerusalem 
 to Jericho, is supposed to be the place where the traveller 
 was robbed, who was afterwards relieved by the good Samari- 
 tan. Luke X. 
 
 Africa, one of the four quarters of the world ; being a large 
 peninsula, joined to Asia by tlie narrow isthmus of Suez. It 
 is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea, which separates it 
 from Europe, on the north ; by the isthmus of Suez and the 
 Red Sea, which separate it from Asia, on tlie north-east ; by 
 the Indian Ocean on the east; the Southern Ocean on the 
 south ; and the Atlantic on the west. Only the northern parts 
 of this country, including Egypt, and the adjacent regions, 
 are mentioned in Scripture. Africa was principally peopled 
 by Ham and his descendants, as we have more particularly 
 explained in the foregoing part of this work. 
 
 Ahava, a river of Babylon or Assyria, where Ezra gathered 
 the captive Jews together, whom he brought with him into 
 Judea. Ezra, viii. 15. 
 
 Ai, a citv in Canaan near Jericho. Josh. vii. and viii. See 
 Part I. p. 55. 
 
 AiN, a city of the tribe of Jiidah, given afterwards to Si- 
 
ALE DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 75 
 
 mecn. It was also one of the Levitical cities. Josh, xv. 32. 
 xix 7. XX i, 16. 
 
 Ajalon, a city of the tribe of Dan, assigned to theLevites; 
 situated between Timnath and Bethshemesh. There were 
 three other cities of tliis name : one in Benjamin, three miles 
 east of Bethel, fortified by Rehoboam, (2 Chron. xi. 19.) an- 
 other in Ephraim, between Shechem and Jerusalem, which 
 was a city of refuge, and anotlier in the tribe of Zebulon, east 
 of Mount Carmel. 
 
 Akrabbim, See Acrabatene. 
 
 Alammelech, a city in the south-west of the tribe of Asher. 
 Josh. xix. 26, 
 
 Alema, a great and strong city m tlie country of Gilead, 
 east of Jordan. 1 Mace. v. 26. 
 
 Alexandria, a famous commercial city of Egypt, built by 
 Alexander the Great. St. Paul sailed in ships belonging to 
 this port. (Acts xxvii. 6. and xxviii. 11.) It was situated on 
 the west of the Delta, between lake Moeris and the Mediter- 
 ranean, thirty-three miles south-west from Rosetta, and about 
 one hundred north-westward from Cairo. The body of Alex- 
 ander tlie Great was carried from Babylon and deposited here 
 in a coffin of gold. The favourable situation of this city, be- 
 tween the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, and on the waters 
 of the Nile, drew to it the commerce of the east and the west, 
 and soon rendered it one of the most flourishmg cities in the 
 world. The spices and other merchandise of India, were 
 brought up the Red Sea, to Egypt, arid so passed through 
 Alexandria to the Mediterranean. But after the discovery 
 of the passage to India by the Cape of Good Hope, around 
 the south of Africa, its trade declined, so that at present it is 
 little more than a village, ha,ving nothing remarkable but the 
 ruins of its form.er grandeur. 
 
 After the death of Alexander, it was the royal seat of the 
 Ptolemies for two hundred years ; and wiien Egypt became a 
 Roman province, it continued to be the metropolis or princi- 
 pal city. It was taken from the Christians about the middle 
 of the seventJi century by Amrou, general of the caliph Omar, 
 after a siege of fourteen months, in which he lost twenty- 
 three thousand men. At this time the famous library was 
 destroyed, in which successive kings liad collected more than 
 four hundred thousand, or, as others say, seven hundred thou- 
 Eand manuscripts or volumes. Among the ruins of this city 
 are jet standing two obelisks of considerable height, covered 
 
76 •CRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. AMA 
 
 with hieroglyphics : and Pompey's pillar, which is one entire 
 piece of granite, forty feet high, and twenty-five feet in cir- 
 cumference. Part of the ancient Pharos, or watcii-tower, is 
 also yet standing, and is now a castle, useful in directing ves- 
 sels into the harbour. Some parts of the ancient walls of the 
 city yet remain, having large square towers two hundred 
 paces apart : the gates are of Thebaic marble and granite. 
 The water of the Nile was brought to the city by a canal 
 during the inundation, and preserved in cisterns for use. 
 Here is still to be seen the church of St. Mark, in which it is 
 said the body of the evangelist was deposited, until some 
 Venetians carried it to Venice, where is a celebrated church 
 called St. Mark's. 
 
 Alexandria was taken by the French in 1788, but was 
 taken from them by the English in 1801, and restored to the 
 Ottoman government. The city is called by the Turks Scaii- 
 deria or Iskanderia, and has a population of about thirty 
 thousand. 
 
 Opposite to this city is the little island of Pharos, in which 
 the LXX. interpreters are said to have translated the Hebrew 
 Bible into Greek, each in a separate cell or apartment. This 
 translation is called the Sepiuagint, from the number of the 
 translators. 
 
 AoiONj a city of the tribe of Benjamin ; (Josh. xxi. 18.) 
 thought to be the same as Alemelli, given to the priests of 
 Aaron's family. 1 Chron. vi. 60. • 
 
 Alush, one of the encampments in the wilderness. Part I. 
 p. 44. 
 
 Amad, a city in the tribe of Asher. Josh. xix. 26. 
 
 Amalek. There appear to be several tribes of the people 
 called Amalekites mentioned in Scripture, which, in a geo- 
 graphical view, may be thus arranged : 
 
 1. Amalek, the ancient. Gen. xiv. 7. where the phrase, " all 
 the cov.ntry of the Amalekites" implies considerable extent. 
 This people probably dwelt near the Jordan. Numb. 
 xxiv. 20. 
 
 2. A tribe in tlie regions east of Egypt, between it and 
 Canaan. Exod. xvii. 8. 1 Sam xiv. &c. 
 
 3. Tlie descendants of Eliphaz, son of Esau. Gen. xxxvi. 12. 
 For the proper understanding of Scripture history, the dis- 
 tinction between these should be observed. 
 
 U was probably to the first of these that Balaam alluded, 
 
AMA DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 77 
 
 (Numb. xxiv. 20.) as having been " head of the peoples ;" for 
 the descendants of Esau could hardly have been meant, 
 as they were then just appearing- as a tribe or family. The 
 Arab writers often mention, and glory in their descent from 
 Amalek, and distinguish between families of pure Amalekite 
 blood, and those of mixed descent, among whom they mcludc 
 those descended from Ishmael. 
 
 It was the second of these divisions of the Amalekites, 
 who attacked the Israelites, and against whom Moses and 
 Joshua fought, (Exod. xvii. 8-13.") and against which tribe 
 perpetual hostility w'as to be mamtained. (verse 16. and 1 Sam. 
 XV.) These dwelt near the borders of Egypt, west of Edom, 
 and southw^ard of Canaan, and appear to have been a fierce 
 and warlike people. 
 
 According to Moses, (Gen. xiv. 7.) the five confederated 
 kings carried the war into the country of Amalek, about Ka- 
 desh, in the time of Abraham, long before the birth of Amalek, 
 the grandson of Esau ; which proves that these Amalekites 
 could not have been his posterity. It is therefore thought 
 probable that the Amalekites so often mentioned in Scripture, 
 were a people descended from Canaan, devoted to the curse, 
 as well as the others of his race, and very different from the 
 descendants of Amalek, the grandson of Esau. The Arabian 
 writers maintain Amalek to have been the son of Ham, and 
 grandson of Noah ; they also say that he was the father of an 
 ancient tribe in Arabia, exterminated in the reign of Saul ; 
 in the latter particular agreeing wdth the Scripture account : 
 This tribe, they say, contained only the Arai3ians who are 
 called pure, the remains of which were mingled wath the 
 posterity of Joknan and Adnan, and so became Mosarabes, or 
 mixed x\rabians. They farther believe that Goliah, who was 
 Killed by David, w-as a king of the Amalekites, and that the 
 giants, who inliabited the Land of Canaan in the time of 
 Joshua, were of the same race ; and finally, that part of the 
 Amalekites, while Joshua was yet living, retired into Africa, 
 and settled on the coast of Barbary. This agrees with in- 
 scriptions said to have been found in Barbary, importing that 
 the people who wa*ote them fled from Canaan, from the face 
 of Joshua, the son of Nun, the robber. 
 
 The Amalekites of the Scripture appear to have been a 
 roving people, dwelling sometimes in one place, and some- 
 times in another : it does not appear that they had cities, there 
 G2 
 
78 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. AMM 
 
 being- but one mentioned in Scripture ; and they probably 
 lived in hamlets, caves, and tents, resembling, in their wan- 
 dering and ferocious character, their posterity, the modern 
 Arabs. 
 
 Aman, a city belonging to the tribe of Judah. Josh. 
 XV. 26. 
 
 Amana, a mountain east of Jordan ; some say the same as 
 Mount Hor ; but others mention a mountain of that name in 
 the half tribe of Manasseh, not far from Lake Merom. It is 
 not certain whether the mountain called Amana, in the Song 
 of Solomon, was this one, or anotlier of tlie same name in 
 Cilicia, into which country his government also extended. 
 
 Ammah, a hill in the Land of Israel, near Hebron. The 
 name signifies the hill of two ways, i. e. where two roads 
 turned off. 2 Sam. ii. 24. 
 
 Ammonites, a people descended from Ammon, the son of 
 Lot. *S'ee Part I. p. 52. 
 
 Ammon-no, an ancient city of Egypt, the situation of which 
 is not certain. It is mentioned, Jer. xlvi. 25. Ezek. xxx. 15, 
 16. in which passages the LXX. translators render it Diospo- 
 lis, or the city of Jove. Now, there was a city of this name 
 on that branch of the Nile, which ran by Zoan, or Tanis. But, 
 according to Bochart, the Diospolis of these translators is 
 rather the famous Thebes, in the south of Egypt. He supposes 
 that the Jove, from whom it was named, was Ham, the son 
 of Noah, and father of Misraim. His opinion is founded on 
 this, that what we translate (Jer. xlvi. 25.) the muliiiude of 
 No, is, in the Hebrew text, Amon-no, meaning the god Amon, 
 whose temple was in the city No: whence this city is called 
 Amon-no, in other places of Scripture. Now it is very pro- 
 bable that Ham w^as the Amon here worshipped, as well as 
 Jupiter Amon or Ammon, whose oracle was so famous in the 
 adjacent parts of Africa. From the historian Diodorus we 
 learn that the same city which was called Thebes from The 
 hah an ark, w^as also called Diospolis, the city of Jupiter, 
 that is, of Ham. The name i\o, is elsewhere written Ncuh 
 and Nau, which all, as well as Thehah, have some reference 
 to Noah and the ark. Ammon refers to Ham, the progenitor 
 of the people who worshipped him, and hence the Greeks 
 naturally called Ammon, Jupiter, and the city Diospolis. 
 
 This city was very large and populous, adorned with temples, 
 oalaces, and columns, and is said to have had a hundred gates. 
 
AJVIP 
 
 DICTIOJJARY OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 79 
 
 The ruins of Thebes have been visited by modem travellers, 
 who state that they occupy a space of 27 miles in circumfer- 
 ence. 
 
 It must not be omitted that Jerom and other Greek and 
 Latin writers, translate Ammon-no by Alexandria, which 
 they suppose to have been built on the same place where 
 the former city stood; but this is not considered very 
 probable. 
 
 Amorites, a people of Canaan. See Part I. p. 28. 
 
 Amphifolis, a city at the head of the Egean Sea, near the 
 mouth of the river Strymon, originally belonging- to Thrace, 
 but afterwards mcluded in Macedonia. It was visited by St.- 
 Paul and Silas. (Acts xvii. 1.) It was built by an Athenian 
 colony, about 473 years before Christ ; was noted in the wars 
 between the Athenians and Spartans, and was taken by 
 Philip the Macedonian. In the division of Macedonia under 
 the Romans, by Paulus Emilius, it was made the chief city 
 of the first region of Macedonia, and a metropolis. It is now 
 called Emboli by the Turks, but is not a place of much im- 
 portance. 
 
 Ancient medals of Amphipolis show that this city was of 
 consequence. 
 
 No. 1. A female figure, v%'ith the emblems of Ceres, the torch, and 
 the ears of corn ; also, with the shield of IMinerva, and the sacred 
 calathus of the Egyptian deity, Serapis. These probably indicate the 
 east, the origin of light, and the country which first yielded food and 
 drink for man. 
 
 No. 2. Represents Augustus making a speech to his army, under the 
 tutelage of Julius Caesar ; and is remarkable, as it seems to indicate a 
 rivalship between Amphipolis and the neighbouring city, Philippi, 
 where both these emperors were highly honoured. 
 
80 
 
 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 ANT 
 
 No. 3. A bull, which appears originally lo have been the emblem of 
 Mount Taurus : the head of Apollo, on the same medal, agrees with 
 this conjecture. They all have the inscription, Ampiiipoleiton. 
 
 Anab, a city in the mountains of Judah. Josh. xi. 21. 
 
 Anaharath, a city belonging- to the tribe of Issachar. 
 Josh. xix. 19. 
 
 Anakim, a gigantic people of Canaan, descended from 
 Anak. See Part I. p. 32. 
 
 Anamim, descendants of Misraim. See Part I. p. 26. 
 
 Anathoth, a city belonging to the tribe of Benjamin, 
 (Josh. xxi. 18.) distant from Jerusalem, according to Eusebius 
 and Jerom, about three miles. It was a Levitical city, of the 
 family of Kohath, and a city of refuge ; also noted as the 
 birth-place of the prophet Jeremiah. 1 Kings ii. 26. Isa. x. 
 30. Jer. i. 1. 
 
 Anem, a city in the tribe of Manasseh, given to the Levitea 
 of Kohath's family. 1 C.hron. vi. 73. — Also, a city in the tribe 
 of Judah, (Josh. xv. 50.) eight or ten miles east of Hebron. 
 
 Aner, a Levitical city in the half tribe of Manasseh, west 
 of Jordan. 1 Chron. vi. 70. 
 
 Anti-libanus, See Lihanus. 
 
 Antioch. There were anciently several cities of this name, 
 of which two are particularly mentioned in sacred history, 
 namely, Antioch in Syria, and Antioch in Pisidia. 
 
 1. Antioch in Sxjria. Tliis city, sometimes called the 
 Greater Antioch, was situated upon both sides of the river 
 Orontes, about twelve miles from the Mediterranean Sea. It 
 was built, accoi'ding to some historians, by AntiocJnts Epi- 
 phanes ; but others say by Seleucus Nicanor, first king of 
 
ANT 
 
 DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 81 
 
 Syria, and named in honour of liis father Antiochvs. It was 
 the royal seat of the kings of Syria, and, according to Strabo, 
 not much inferior in power and dignity to Seleucia or Alex- 
 andria: in fact, it was long the most powerful city of the 
 east. It afterwards suffered much from earthquakes, as well 
 as war, being several times taken by the Persians and Sara- 
 cens. In the year 1098 it w^as taken by the Christian cru- 
 saders, and in 1268 was taken and demolished by the Sara- 
 cens. It is now called Antakia, and is but a ruinous town, 
 with houses built of mud and straw, dirty and narrow streets, 
 with filthy and wretched inhabitants. 
 
 In Antioch, the disciples of Jesus Christ were first called 
 Christians, (Acts xi. 28.) having been before, by way of 
 derision, called Nazarenes, as the Jews scornfully call them 
 to the present time, and as the Pagans called them Galileans. 
 Here was also the birth-place of St. Luke, and of Theophilus 
 Antiochenus; here also Paul and Barnabas remained and 
 preached during a vrhole year. In the earlier times of 
 Christianity, its bishop was honoured with the title of Patri- 
 arch; the celebrated martyr, Ignatius, was one of its 
 bishops. 
 
 It was famous among the Jews for the Jus Civitatis, or 
 right of citizenship, which Seleucus had given to them, in 
 common with the Greeks and Macedonians, and which, 
 Joseph us informs us, they continued to retain. These privi- 
 leges contributed to render this place so desirable to the early 
 Christians, who were at first considered as a sect of Jews, 
 smce here they could perform public w^orship m then- own 
 way, and enjoy all religious privileges without persecution or 
 disturbance. This also accounts for the zeal of the apostles 
 in introducing the gospel into Antioch. 
 
62 
 
 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 ANT 
 
 No. 1. A medal of Antioch, representing Nemesis, the goddess of 
 divine pimishmcnt; which shows that the people were not insensible 
 to the nature and necessity of the divine government. 
 
 No. 2. sliows the importance of Antioch in ancient times, as we 
 learn by the inscription, A.xtiociieon Metro. Kolon. wiiich proves 
 that it was dignified wiih the title of metropolis, &:c. By other medals 
 of this place, it appcai-s that it liad also the title oi' sacred and an asylum 
 No. 3. This is by far the most interesting 
 medal to us, as Christians, from its inscription, 
 Antiocheon epi. Sator.n'inou — ovoLO. 7'/te 
 Aidiochcans binder Saturniivis. This Satur 
 ninus was governor of Syria at the time of our 
 Saviour's birth, according to Josephus ; and 
 Tertuliian even says that the enrolment or 
 taxing (Luke ii. 1.) was made by liim. Hence 
 has arisen a difficulty, since St. Luke says that 
 Cyrenius was governor of Sjma at the time of 
 the taxing. The letters ovolo on this medal 
 are thought to stand for the name of Vo- 
 lumnius, the colleague of Saiurninus, at the time of the dale ot this 
 coin, which is el, 35, from the Julian era, corresponding wilh the year 
 of Rome 740, which was about ten years before the death of Ilerod 
 Cyrenius was appointed to Syria, probably on the death of Volumnius. 
 about the year 746 or 747. Kence it appears that the account of St. 
 Luke agrees with that of Josephus and Tertuliian, and that the taxing 
 was made by Cyrenius, who had succeeded Volunmius as procurator 
 of Syria, associated with the governor Saturninus. 
 
 2. Antioch in Pisidia, so called to distinguish it from other 
 places of the same name, was the chief city of Pisidia, a small 
 province of Asia JNIinor, north of Pamphylia. It was one of 
 the sixteen cities said to have been founded by Seleucus in 
 honour of his father Antiochus. Paul and Barnabas preached 
 here with some success ; but the Jews raising- a sedition against 
 them, they were obliged to leave the city. Acts xiii. 14. 
 
APOL DICTIONAJdY OF THE BIBLE. 83 
 
 No. 1. A medal of Antioch in Pisidia, representing the goddess 
 Cybele, worshipped in this city. 
 
 JVo. 2. A medal with the figure of the deity, Men, Meen, or Mensis, 
 called in Hebrew Meni. The prophet says, (Isa. Ixv. 11.) "Ye prepare 
 a table lor Gad, and furnish a drink offering to Meni." (The Hebrew 
 words Gad and Me7ii, in the English translation of ihe Bible, are ren- 
 dered that troop, and number.) Gad probably means the deity, Good 
 Fortune, whose figure, with the cornucopia and rudder, appears fre- 
 quently on ancient medals. The crescent on our figure of Mem, alludes 
 to the moon, the " queen of heaven ;" and the worship of this deity oc- 
 cupied the whole family, fathers, women and children, as we learn from 
 Jer. vii. 18. ; and this was done " in the streets," in expectation of plenty, 
 (chap. xliv. 17, 18.) the very idea of the cornucopia accompanying For- 
 tune. 
 
 Antipatri.s, a town in Samaria, north-we.st from Jerusa- 
 lem, anciently called Caphar-salama, but named Antipatris by 
 Herod, in honour of his father, Antipater, It was situated in 
 the way from Jerusalem to Csesarea, and hither Paul and his 
 g"uard came by night. Acts xxiii. 31. It was 42 miles from 
 Jerusalem, and 26 from Csesarea. Josephus says it was 17 
 miles from Joppa. 
 
 Apamea, a city situated on the river Orontes in Syria. 
 There w^as another city of this name in Phrygia in Asia, Mi- 
 nor, called also Kibotos, the ark; having on its medals a 
 figure of the ark, and a man receiving a dove flying to him, 
 with part of the inscription Noe : hence some have conjec- 
 tured that the ark rested not far from this place, as the subject 
 w^as doubtless annually celebrated in the city. Calmet, 
 Script. lUusi. 
 
 Apharsachites, people sent by the kings of Assyria to in- 
 habit the country of Samaria, in the room of those Israelites 
 who had been removed beyond the Euphrates. Ezra v. 6. 
 
 Aphek, the name of several cities mentioned in Scripture. 
 
 1. Aphek, a town m the tribe of Asher. Josh. xLx. 30. 
 Judg. i. 31. 1 Sam. iv. 1. xxix. 1. 1 Kings xx. 30. 
 
 2. Aphek, in the tribe of Judah. Josh. xii. 18. called ApTie- 
 kah, XV. 53. 
 
 3. Aphek in the tribe of Manasseh. Josh. xii. 18. xiii. 
 Appii-Forum, a place in Italy, about 50 miles from Rome, 
 
 where Paul was met by some Christians, in his journey 
 thither. Acts xxviii. 15. This place is thought to have been 
 named the Forum of Appius, from the same Appius who gave 
 name to the Appian way, near Rome. 
 
 Apollo>-ia. a city in the south of Macedonia, not far from 
 
84 
 
 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY 
 
 ARA 
 
 Amphipolis, through which St. Paul passed on his way to 
 Thessalonica. Acts xvii. 1. 
 
 Ar, the chief city of the Moabites, (Numb. xxi. 15. 28.) 
 called also Rabbath Moab. It was situated upon the river 
 Arnon, and was called by the Greek writers x^reopolis. Some 
 have supposed this city to have been the same with Aroer; 
 but Aroer was given to the tribe of Gad, and was on the north 
 side of the Arnon, whereas Ar belonged to the Moabites, and 
 was consequently on the soutli side of that river. 
 
 Arabia, a large tract of country in Asia, bounded north by 
 Syria and Persia; east by the Persian Gulf and Arabian S.ea; 
 south-east by the Indian Ocean ; south by the Straits of Babel- 
 mandel, and west by the Red Sea, Isthmus of Suez, and the 
 Land of Canaan or Judea: extending 1500 miles from north 
 to south, and 1200 from east to west. The name Arabia is 
 supposed to be derived from the Hebrew word Orebeh, a wil- 
 derness or desert. 
 
 This is one of the most interesting countries in the v/orld. 
 It has, according to prophecy, never been subdued : and its in- 
 habitants, at once pastoral, commercial, and warlike, are the 
 same wild, wandering people, as the immediate descendants 
 of their great ancestor Ishmael are represented to have been. 
 
 Arab Tent. 
 
 But though in the tribes of the desert his descendants are re- 
 cognized, Arabia was not first peopled by him, but by some of 
 the numerous families of Cush, as we have stated in Part T. : 
 
ARA DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 85 
 
 and it is not until about 550 years after the deluge that we 
 read of the Ishmaelites and Midianites, as the shepherds and 
 carriers of the deserts, and who were probably intermingled 
 and shared the territory and the traffic, as the traders who 
 bought Joseph are called by both names. 
 
 Arabia has been divided by geographers into thr'^o separate 
 regions, called Arabia Petrsea, Arabia Deserta. and Arabia 
 Felix. 
 
 Arabia Petrsea is the north-western division ; bounded north 
 by Judea and the Dead Sea ; east by Arabia Deserta ; south 
 by Arabia Felix ; and west by the western arm or branch of 
 the Red Sea and the Isthmus of Suez. The greater part of 
 this division was more particularly the possession of the Midi- 
 anites ; and in this region were the wanderings of the Israel- 
 ites after leaving Egypt. Here were also seated the Edomites 
 and Amalekites. The greater part of this district consists of 
 sandy and stony plains, with naked rocks; but it contains 
 some fertile spots, particularly in the neighbourhood of Mount 
 Sinai, and in the range of Mount Seir. 
 
 Arabia Deserta is bounded north and north-east by Persia ; 
 east by a range of mountains which separate it from Chaldea ; 
 south by Arabia Felix ; and west by Syria, Judea, and Arabia 
 Petrsea. Tliis was more particularly the country, first of the 
 Cushites, and afterwards of the Ishmaelites, as it is still of 
 their descendants, the modern Bedouins, who maintain the 
 same predatory and wandering habits. It consists almost en- 
 tirely of one vast and lonesome v/ilderness, a boundless level 
 of dry and burning sands, denying existence to all but the 
 Arab and his camel. There are, however, scattered over this 
 dreary waste, a few spots of vegetation, where a feeble sprmg 
 of brackish water, with a few palm-trees, fix the principal 
 settlement of a tribe, and afford stages of refreshment in these 
 otherwise impassable deserts. 
 
 Arabia Felix, so called from the happier condition of its 
 soil and climate, is situated in the southern part of the country. 
 It is bounded on the north by the two other divisions ; east by 
 the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea ; south-east by the Indian 
 Ocean ; south by the Straits of Babelmandei ; and west by 
 the Red Sea. It is divided into several provhices, of which 
 Yemen, at the southern extremity, is represented as a well 
 watered and fertile region, producing abundance of corn and 
 fruits, and rich crops of the finest coffee, of which large quan- 
 
80 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. AHA 
 
 titles are exported. In the western part of this division are 
 the cities of Mecca and Medina. 
 
 The people of Arabia Felix claim descent direct from Jok- 
 tan, the son of Heber, of the family of Shem, instead of Abra- 
 ham and Ham, as the other Arabians ; and are indeed a total- 
 ly different people from those inhabiting the other parts of the 
 country. Instead of being shepherds and robbers, they live 
 in towns and cities, and subsist by agriculture and commerce. 
 These were the people who were found by the Greeks of 
 Egypt, enjoying a monopoly of the trade with the East, and 
 possessing a high degree of wealth and refinement. From 
 them the precious spices and merchandise of the east were 
 carried across the country to Egypt, by the Cushite, Ishmael- 
 ite, and Midianite carriers, to a company of whom Joseph was 
 sold by his brethren. 
 
 It is a singular and important fact, that Arabia has never 
 been conquered by any invader, and the people still inhabit 
 the land of their fathers. It was prophesied in Scripture that 
 they should be invincible, and their millions of inhabitants are 
 so many witnesses of the truth of revelation. Every man's 
 hand is against Ishmael, and his against every man ; and yet 
 he dwells securely among his brethren. The body of the na- 
 tion has escaped the yoke of the most powerful monarchies. 
 The arms of Sesostris and Cyrus, of Pompey and Csesar, of 
 Trajan and Napoleon, have never achieved the conquest of 
 Arabia. The present sovereign of the Turks may exercise 
 a shadow of jurisdiction ; but his pride is reduced to solicit 
 
ARA DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 87 
 
 the friendship of a people, whom it is dangerous to provoke, 
 and fruitless to attack. Their domestic feuds are suspended 
 on tlie approacli of a common enemy, and in their last hostili- 
 ties against the Turks, the caravan of Mecca was attacked 
 and plundered by eighty thousand Arabs. When they advance 
 to battle, the hope of victory is in the front, and the assurance 
 of retreat in the rear. Mounted on horses'and camels, which 
 in a few days can perform a march of four or five iiundred 
 miles, they disappear before the conqueror ; the secret waters 
 of the desert elude his search, and his victorious troops are 
 consumed with thirst, hunger and fatigue, in the pursuit of an 
 invisible foe, who scorns his efibrts, and safely reposes in the 
 heart of the burning solitude. 
 
 The Arabians were confounded by the Greeks and Romans, 
 under the general name of Saracens ; and by this they were 
 called when Mahomet appeared in the seventh century. Their 
 religion at this time was Sabianism, or the worship of the sun, 
 moon, &c. intermingled with some Jewish and Christian max- 
 ims and traditions. The tribes tiiemselves Vv^ere generally at 
 variance one with another, and desultory skirmishes, arising 
 from these feuds, were frequent. Yet of these discordant ma- 
 terials Mahomet constructed a mighty empire ; converted the 
 relapsed Ishmaelites into good Mussulmans ; united the jarring 
 tribes under one banner ; and out of a banditti, little known 
 and little feared beyond their own deserts, raised an armed 
 multitude which proved the scourge of the world. During 
 tlie whole of the succeeding century, the rapid career of his 
 followers was unchecked ; the disciplined armies of the Greeks 
 and Romans were unable to stand against them ; the Christian 
 churches of Asia and Africa were anniliilated ; and from India 
 to the Atlantic, through Persia, Arabia, Syria, Palestine, Asia 
 Minor, Egypt, with the whole of northern Africa, Spain, and 
 part of France, the Impostor was acknowledged. Constanti- 
 nople was besieged ; the Roman empire was plundered ; and 
 nothing less than the subjection of the whole Christian world 
 was meditated on the one hand, and expected on the other. 
 
 But the five prophetic months (1-50 years) which this scourge 
 was to last, (Rev. ix.) being fulfilled, the conquests of the 
 Caliphs were checked. They were first defeated in France, 
 by Charles Martel ; the Persians and Greeks were at length 
 aroused from "their thraldom ; the Turks, issuing from the 
 plains of Tartary, now first made their appearance in the east, 
 and the power of the Saracen Caliphate was extinguished. 
 
SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 ARA 
 
 But although the foreign dominion of the Arabians was thus 
 destroyed, their native independence was untouched ; for, re- 
 turning to the state in wliicli Maliomet found them, witii the 
 exception of their religion being changed, they remained, and 
 still remain, the unconquered rovers of the desert. 
 
 Arad, a city l}'ing to the south of the tribe of Judah, 
 twenty miles south of Hebron, according to Eusebius. ^S'ee 
 Part I. p. 60. 
 
 Aradus, a small and rocky island on the coast of Syria, 
 north of Tripolis. It is about a mile in circumference ; and 
 two miles from the shore. Aradus is the Greek name for this 
 place, and it is so called in Maccabees; but its Hebrew name 
 was Arvad or Aruad, to wliicli its m.odern name Ruad, bears 
 a striking resemblance. The Hebrew nam^e was probably de- 
 rived from Arvad, one of the sons of Canaan. See Part I. p. 
 28. The different names of Arpad, Arpliad, and Arvad, oc- 
 curring in Kings, Isaiah, and Ezekiel, appear to be the same. 
 Here was formerly a powerful city, and a republic, which the • 
 liberty enjoyed by the inhabitants had rendered very populous. 
 It subsisted by naval commerce, manufactures, and arts. 
 
 No. 1. A medal of Ara- 
 dus, on Avhich ihe fly ap- 
 pears to have been intend- 
 ed to commemorate Jupi- 
 ter Mascariiis ; the same, 
 in all probability, as Baal- 
 zebub, Baal the Jl;/, the 
 god of Ekron, whose wor- 
 ship was not confined to 
 that city. The slag with 
 the palm-tree refer to the 
 possessions of this people on the continent, probably about Mount Leba- 
 non, which abounded with deer, agreeably 1o the comparison by Jacob, 
 of his son Naphtali to a deer, because that tribe had an allotment on this 
 
 1 
 
ARM . DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 89 
 
 No 2. The two sphinxes, with the sacred measure on their -heads, 
 seem to ally Aradus with Eg^'pt. 
 
 No. 3. shows that the people of Aradus venerated the sun, and were 
 proud of the productions of their territor\^ corn and wine. 
 
 At present the island is deserted, and not a single wall is 
 remaining of all that multitude of houses, which, according to 
 Strabo, were built \vith more stories than even those of Rome. 
 
 Aram, a name given in the writings of Moses to the coun- 
 try commonly called Syria, peopled by Aram, the son of Shem. 
 See Syria, and Mesopotamia. 
 
 Ararat, a mountain, or mountains, in the north-east of 
 Armenia, on w'hich the ark is supposed to have rested. The 
 name is compounded of Ar-Arat, which is equivalent to Har- 
 Irad in Hebrew, and implies the Mountam of Descent. See 
 Part I. p. 12. 
 
 Areopagus, or Mars' Hill. See Athens. 
 
 Argob, a city and region lying east of Jordan in the coun- 
 try of Bashan, afterwards given to Manasseh. See Part I. 
 
 p. 54:. 
 
 Artmathea, also called Ramah, and Ramathaim Zophim, 
 (1 Sam. 1.) a town about 30 miles north-west of Jerusalem, 
 on the road to Jaffa. This was the native place of Joseph of 
 Arimathea, who begged the body of Jesus from Pilate. (Matt, 
 xxvii. 57.) It is now called Ramla, and contains about 5000 
 inhabitants, who are chiefly occupied in agricultural pursuits, 
 for which the surrounding country is highly favourable, 
 abounding in vineyards, olives, and dates. Ramah and Lydda 
 were the two first cities taken by the crusaders. 
 
 Armenia, a considerable country of Asia, consisting of mod- 
 ern Turcomania, and part of Persia ; having Colchis and Ibe- 
 ria, the modern Georgia, on the north ; Media on the east ; 
 Assyria and Mesopotamia on the south, and Asia Muior on 
 the west. Armenia is sometimes confounded with Aramsea, 
 the land of Aram or Syria; but they are totally different. 
 Armenia, which is separated from Aram by the range called 
 Mount Taurus, was so named from Ar-Men, or Ar-minni, i. e. 
 ihe mountainous country of Meni or Minni, the people of 
 which are mentioned by Jeremiah, (chap. li. 27.) when sum- 
 moning the nations against Babylon. Ararat and Minni, in 
 this passage, are so translated in our Bibles as to make two 
 different kingdoms ; but they appear to be the same, and im- 
 ply the people of Ararat or Armenia. 
 
90 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. ARP 
 
 This country includes the sources of the rivers Tigris and 
 Euphrates, the Araxes and Phasis ; and here tlie country of 
 Eden, in which the garden was situated, is hy many sup- 
 posed to have been situated. See Eden, Part I. p. 10. 
 
 Armenia was formerly an independent kingdom, but is now 
 subject, partly to Persia, and partly to the Turks. The part 
 subject to the Persians is Eastern, Upper, or Grand Armenia; 
 and the other. Lower, Little, or Western Armenia. The peo- 
 ple are sober, industrious, and enterprising, and have in all 
 ages maintained a great similarity of character, partly com- 
 mercial, and partly pastoral ; some living at home with their 
 flecks, and others travelling as merchants and dealers into 
 distant countries. Merchants of Armenia are found in almost 
 every considerable port of Asia and Europe. 
 
 The religion of the Armenians is Christian, of the sect of 
 Eutyches, owning but one nature in Jesus Christ ; and it is a 
 remarkable proof of the firmness of this people, that they have 
 been able to preserve their ancient faith, though subject to 
 their Mahometan masters, and surrounded by nations who 
 have not only submitted to the arms of the Turks, but also to 
 their religion. 
 
 Arnon, a river which formed the boundary between the 
 countries of Moab and Amrnon ; rismg in the mountains of 
 Gilead, east of Jordan, flowing at first towards the south, then 
 turning to the west, and emptying into the eastern side of the 
 Dead Sea. After the Ammonites had been dispossessed of 
 the country on the east of Jordan by the Amorites, this river 
 was the division between the latter people and the Moabites ; 
 and later still, after the Israelites had conquered the country 
 of the Amorites, the Arnon was the boundary between the 
 tribe of Reuben and the Land of Moab. It is also called the 
 river of Gad, (2 Sam. xxiv. 5. 2 Kings x. 33.) being the east- 
 ern boundary of that tribe. 
 
 Aroer, a city on the river Arnon, probably partly on an 
 island, as it is called " the city in the midst of tlie river." 
 (Josh. xiii. 9.) It formerly belonged to the Amorites, but was 
 afterwards given to the tribe of Gad. Some have tliought 
 there was another city of this name further south, in the tribe 
 of Reuben ; and from a want of knowledge respecting the 
 true course of the Arnon, considerable uncertainty attends the 
 subject. 
 
 Arpad, Arphad, and Arvad ; See Aradus. 
 
ASH DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 91 
 
 Arueoth, a city or country belonging to the tribe of Judah; 
 the situation of which is not known. 1 Kings iv. 10. 
 
 Arvadites, the descendants of Arvad, one of the sons of 
 Canaan. See jParl I. p. 28. 
 
 AsHAN, a city of the tribe of Judah, afterwards given to 
 Simeon. Josh. xv. 42. xix. 7. 
 
 AsHDOD, a city of the Philistines, giving name to one of 
 the five governments of that people. It was first allotted to 
 the tribe of Judah, and afterwards to Dan ; but was possessed 
 for a long time after by the Philistines, and rendered famous 
 for the temple of their god, Dagon. (1 Sam. v. 1.) It is 
 situated upon the Mediterranean, nine or ten miles north of 
 Gaza. Ashdod was called by the Greeks Azotus, by the 
 Syrians Ezdoud, and by the Arabs Mezdel. It is represented 
 as having been a place of great strength ; and is remarkable 
 for sustaining the longest siege mentioned in history, having 
 been taken by Psamm.etichus, king of Egypt, after a siege of 
 29 years. It is at present an inconsiderable village, but con- 
 tains many fragments of buildings and ruins, which remain of 
 its former greatness. Here Philip the Evangelist was found, 
 after he had baptized the Ethiopian eunuch. Acts viii. 40. 
 
 AsHDOTH-PiSGAH, a city of the Amorites, allotted to the 
 tribe of Reuben. It w^as so called from lying near Mount 
 Pisgah. 
 
 AsHER, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. See Part I. p. 66. 
 
 AsHNAH, a city of Judah. Josh. xv. 33. 
 
 AsHKENAz, a son of Gomer, and grandson of Japheth. See 
 Part I. p. 16. 
 
 AsHTAROTH, or AsJitaroth Carnaim, one of the chief cities 
 in the kingdom of Bashan, given to the half tribe of Manasseh, 
 east of Jordan. Karnaim, m Hebrew, implies two-horned, 
 and the city is supposed to have derived both names from the 
 worship of the goddess Ashtaroth, who was represented like 
 the Egyptian Isis, with two horns, or a horned moon. This 
 city is sometimes called simply Carnaim, or Carnion. 1 Mace. 
 V. 26. 43, 44. 
 
 ' Ashtaroth was the chief goddess of the Sidonians, and was 
 «nuch worshipped in Syria and Phenecia under that name, as 
 well as those of " the host of heaven," and " the queen of 
 heaven." She is supposed by some to be the Diana of the 
 Gree ks ; but the worship paid to her was more that of Venus. 
 Solomon, to please his strange wives, introduced the worship 
 
92 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. ASK 
 
 of Ashtaroth amongst the Israelites ; but it was established by 
 Jezebel. (1 Kings xviii.) This goddess was afterwards 
 adopted by the eastern Greeks, under the name Astarte. 
 
 Accordmg to Jerom, Ashtaroth was called Carnea in his 
 time, and was then a considerable city, six miles from Edrei. 
 
 Asia is used in a threefold sense : 1. As one of the four 
 great divisions of the earth. 2. Asia Minor or Lesser Asia, 
 now called Anatolia. 3. The Asia of the New Testament, 
 comprehending Phrygia, Mysia, Caria, and Lydia. This was 
 the Roman proconsular Asia, in which were the seven churches 
 of Asia, mentioned in the Revelations of St. John. 
 
 As the ancient Hebrews were strangers to the division of 
 the earth into three or four parts, we never find the name 
 Asia in any book originally written in Hebrew. They seemed 
 to think that the continent consisted only of Asia Minor and 
 Africa : the rest of the world was comprised under the name 
 " isles of the Gentiles." Gen. x. 5. 
 
 Asia Minor is the country lying west of Mount Taurus, 
 principally between the Euxine or Black Sea and the Medi- 
 terranean ; containing the provinces of Bithynia, Pontus, Ga- 
 latia, Cappadocia, Cilicia, Pamphylia, Pisidia, Lycaonia, Phry- 
 gia, Mysia, Troas, &c. all of which are mentioned in Scrip- 
 ture, and which we shall describe under their several heads. 
 
 AsKELON, called Ascalon by the Greeks and Latins, was 
 one of the five great cities or lordships of the Philistines, sit- 
 uated in the west of Canaan, 40 miles westward from Jeru- 
 salem, between Gaza on the south, and Ashdod on the north. 
 It appears to have been the chief of those cities ; and even in 
 the time of the crusades, such was its strength, that it was 
 the last of the maritime towns which fell into the hands of the 
 Christians. It is memorable in the history of the crusades, 
 from the defeat of the Caliph of Egypt by Godfrey of Bou- 
 illon, in 1099 ; and that of Saladin, the Saracen Emperor, by 
 Richard of England, in 1192, when 40,000 of the Saracens 
 and Turks were killed, and the place afterwards captured. 
 Ascalon was the birth-place of Herod the Great. It is now 
 in ruins, and though close to the shore, had but few advan- 
 tages as a port, the coast being sandy and difficult of access. 
 According to Origen, there are wells here said to have been 
 dug by Abraham and Isaac. 
 
ASS 
 
 DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 93 
 
 No. 1. A medal of Ascalon, with the figure of Jupiter and the in- 
 scription Alexaxdrou, showing that Alexander the Great (who took 
 this city 332 years before Christ) was worehipped here as a deit}^; or in 
 compliment to him as son of Jupiter, which he reported himself to be. 
 In some other cities also, were temples dedicated to the worship of 
 Alexander. 
 
 No. 2 shows Semiramis, or the Assj'rian Venias, standing on a ship: 
 inscription Askalo. 
 
 AsPHALTiTES Laee. See Dead Sea. 
 
 AsPHAR, a lake mentioned in 1 Mace. ix. 33. probably the 
 same as iVsplialtites. 
 
 Assos, a sea-port of Troas, in the west of Asia Minor, to 
 which St. Paul went on foot from the city of Troas, and from 
 which he embarked with his companions to go to Mytilene, on 
 the opposite island of Lesbos. (Acts xx. 13, 14.) Jerom says 
 that Assos was near the city of Troy. 
 
 AssYPviA, one of the first and greatest em.pires of Asia, fre- 
 quently mentioned in Scripture, being intimately connected 
 with the history of the Jews. This empire, in its greatest 
 extent, included Persia, Chaldea, Media, Mesopotamia, Syria, 
 Judea, and part of Arabia. But the country of Assyria pro- 
 per lies east of the Tigris, between Armenia on the north, 
 and Shinar, Chaldea, or Babylonia on the south ; having Me- 
 dia on the east, and Mesopotamia on the west. It is generally 
 supposed to have been founded by Asshur, son of Shem, who 
 went out of Shinar, driven, as it appears, by Nimrod, and 
 founled Nineveh, not long after Nitnrod had fixed his residence 
 at Babel or Babylon, and established the Chaldean monarcliy. 
 But the learned Bochart, and other eminent scholars, adopt 
 the marginal translation, " Out of that land he (Nimrod) went 
 forth into Asshur or Assyria, and built Nineveh." (Gen. x. 
 
94 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. ASS 
 
 11.) The decision of this question is difficult, but the weight 
 of authority is in favour of the marginal reading, which re- 
 presents JNimrod as the founder of Nineveh. This is sup- 
 ported by the Targums of Onkelos and Jerusalem, by Theo- 
 philus, bishop of Antioch, and Jerom, among the ancients ; and 
 by Bochart, Faber, Hyde, Wells, Marsham, Le Cliais, and 
 the writers of the Universal History, among the miOderns. 
 
 The government of this empire continued in the family of 
 Nimrod for many ages, probably till its overthrow by Arbaces, 
 which introduced a Median dynasty. Arbaces, who in Scrip- 
 ture is called Tiglath Pileser, was governor of Media ; and 
 Belesis, or Nabonassar, called in Scripture Baladan, Was go- 
 vernor of Babylon : these, conspiring together with the Per- 
 sians and other allies, took Nineveh, aud overthrew the go- 
 vernment of Sardanapalus, who lost his life in the contest. 
 Thus the second race of Assyrian kmgs began with Arba 
 ces; while Nabonassar founded a new empire in Babylon, of 
 which he was the first king. This was about the year of the 
 world 3257, or 747 before Christ. We have no account of 
 the Assyrian empire, in the Scriptures, until the mission of 
 Jonali to Nineveh, A. M. 31,90, and B. C. 824. Between 40 
 and 50 years after this, an Assyrian king, named Pul, who is 
 supposed to have been the father of Sardanapalus, invaded 
 the kingdom of Israel. 
 
 The first captivity of the Israelites Vv^as by Tiglath Pileser, 
 or Arbaces, mentioned above, who carried away the people 
 east of Jordan, i. e. the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half 
 tribe of Manasseh, into Media. (1 Chron. v. 26.) It was dur- 
 ing the period of this second Assyrian empire, between the 
 reigns of Tiglath Pileser and Nabuchodonosor, from 747 to 
 6.55 before Clirist, including the reigns of Salmaneser and 
 Sennacherib, that most of the events mentioned in Scripture 
 history, as connected with the Assyrians, took place. The 
 second captivity of the Israelites, and the extinction of the 
 kingdom of Israel, was under Salmaneser, in the year 721 
 before Christ. Sennacherib succeeded his father Salmaneser, 
 and invaded the kingdom of Judali, but on the payment of a 
 large ransom by king Hezekiali, tlie Assyrian passed on into 
 Egypt with his army, where he destroyed the city of No. 
 (Nahum iii. 10.) On his return he again attacked Judah, 
 and sent a blasphemous message to king Hezekiah, (2 Kings 
 xviii.) who, pleading earnestly for a particular display of di- 
 vine power, was relieved, and an angel of the Lord went out, 
 and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and eighty- 
 
ATA 
 
 DICTIONARY OF THE BIBtE. 
 
 95 
 
 five thousand, so that in the morning they were all dead 
 corpses. (2 Kings xix. 35.) After this, Sennacherib returned 
 in disgrace to his kingdom, where he was afterwards killed by 
 his two sons, Adramelech and Sharezer, as he was worship- 
 ping in the temple of his god Nisroch. The Medes, in the 
 mean time, taking advantage of the loss of his army in Judea, 
 shook off the Assyrian yoke, and formed an independent em- 
 pire. Sennacherib was succeeded by his son Esarhaddon, 
 called Asnappar in the book of Ezra, who carried away those 
 who remained of the people of Israel : he also sent part of 
 his army into Judah, who took its king, Manasseh, prisoner, 
 and sent him in chains to Babylon, which had been recently 
 seized by Esarhaddon, and annexed to the Assyrian empire. 
 Babylon remained an appendage of Assyria, for the space of 
 54 years, until they were again separated by Nabopolassar, a 
 general in the army, and father of Nebuchadnezzar, who 
 seized Babylon of which he was declared king, and which 
 again became independent of Assyria, 626 before Christ. 
 Fourteen years after this, Cyaxares, king of Media, and Na- 
 bopolassar, king of Babylon, united against Assyria, besieged 
 and took Nineveh, killed CJiyniladanus the king, and destroyed 
 the city, to which event the prophecies of Nahum are sup- 
 posed to refer. Thus an end was put to the empire of Assyria, 
 612 before Christ, and Babylon became the ruling power in 
 the east. 
 
 Atach, a city in the tribe of Judah. 1 Sam. xxx. 30. 
 
 View of Athens 
 
96 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. ATH 
 
 Athens, a celebrated city and commonwealth of Greece. 
 This city, it is supposed, was founded 1580 years before Christ, 
 and 880 before tlie building of Rome ; to which adding the 
 time which has since elapsed, 1834, will make the duration of 
 Athens, to the present time, 3414 years. The situation and 
 history of Athens are too well known to make it necessary 
 for us to enter further into particulars than is requisite to elu- 
 cidate the circumstances of St Paufs visit, A. D. 82. Athens 
 was famed for its power, laws, arts, literature, and learned 
 men. These last were divided into sects, differing in opinion 
 on religion and happiness, and spent their time in giving and 
 hearing lessons in philosophy, rhetoric, and metaphysics : or 
 in vain and fruitless speculations on the nature of the gods, 
 the perfection of human nature, and the attainment of the 
 chief good. The rest of the inhabitants spent theirs " in 
 nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing." 
 (Acts xvii. 21.) They were all addicted to idleness, and the 
 numerous places of public resort atforded every class the 
 means of gratifying their thirst for inquiry, superstition, or 
 dissipation. Had the apostle brougiit some new scheme of 
 pliilosophy or ethics, or some new god to add to the many 
 which the Athenians pretended to venerate, he would have 
 been well received. Under some ideas of this sort, the peo- 
 ple carried St. Paul to the Areopaaus, that he might explain 
 to them " the new doctrine of which he sjwlve." The Areo- 
 pagus, or Hill of Mars, was an insulated precipitous rock, in 
 the centre of Athens, where a celebrated tribunal or court 
 was held, the judges of which were called Areopagites, of 
 whom Dionysius was one. (Acts xvii. 84.) This court took 
 cognizance chiefly of matters of religion, such as blasphemies 
 against the gods, the consecration of new ones, ceremonies of 
 worship, &c. This was the place to which Paul was brought 
 as " a setter forth of strange gods," and where, boldly stand- 
 ing up, he reproved the Athenians for their absurd idolatries, 
 and preached Christ and the resurrection ; which to some was 
 foolishness, to others a matter of further curiosity, while a 
 few, among whom was Dionysius, were converted. 
 
 With regard to the altar with the inscription "to the 
 UNKKOWN GOD," WO iiavc the testimony of JAician tliat such 
 really did exist at Athens; and Diogenes Laertius tells us the 
 following occasion of their being erected. The city being 
 afflicted with a pestilence, Epimenides took several sheep to 
 
ATT 
 
 DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 97 
 
 the Areopagus, whence they were left to wander as they 
 pleased. Persons were appointed to watch them, and where 
 each sheep lay down, it was sacrificed on the spot to the pro- 
 pitious god ; but which god it was, being uncertain, an altar 
 was erected to the unknown god, on every spot where a 
 sheep had been sacrificed. By this ceremony, it is said, the 
 city was relieved of the pestilence. 
 
 A^o. 1. A raoilai of Athens, showing the Acropolis standing on a high 
 roi.k, on vvliich it is built. In the rock appears the sacred grolto of 
 Apolio and Creasa, a liight of steps up to the ciiadel, With the entrance 
 to the Propylca, the temple of Minerva, and the famous figure of that 
 poddeps standing as protecting and presiding over all. I'lie spear of 
 this figure was seen from far off at sea. St. Paul must have ohserved 
 all these idolatrous particulars, as well as the altar dedicated to the 
 unknown god. 
 
 l\o. 2. Represents a young woman scattering flowers, probably in the 
 great Panailier.aic festival, which was held at stated limes, in com- 
 memoration of Minerva. Well might Paul's "spirit be stirred in him 
 when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry." Acts xvii. 16. 
 
 Attali.\, a city on the coast of Pamphylia, in Asia Minor, 
 visited by Paul and Barnabas. (Acts xiv. 25.) It was named 
 from Attalus, its founder ; and is now called Sattalia. Being 
 well situated for trade, the Turks keep the fortifications in 
 repair. 
 
 A medal of Attalia, on one 
 side of which is Neptune, with 
 his trident, denoting this to be 
 a sea-port town : the figure 
 on the other side is uncertain, 
 — possibly Pluto. 
 
9S SCRIPTURE CxEOGRAPHT. BAA 
 
 AvA, (2 Kings xvii. 24.) supposed to be the same as Ivah, 
 
 city of Assyria, from whence Salmaneser brouo-ht people 
 called Avites (2 King's xvii.) to inhabit Samaria, after he had 
 carried away the Israelites into captivity. 
 
 AvEN, a city of Egypt, (Ezek. xxx. 17.) supposed to be the 
 same as On, or Heliopolis. 
 
 AviM, a people of Canaan. 8ee Part I. p. 29. Also a 
 city in the tribe of Benjamin, between Betliel and Parali. 
 Josh, xviii. 23. 
 
 AzEKAH, a city in the tribe of Judali, lying four leagues 
 south-west of Jerusalem. Josh. xv. 35. 1 Sam. xvii. 1. 
 
 AzEM, a city in the tribe of "Simeon. Josh. xix. 3. 
 
 AzMAVETH, a city" thought to be in the tribe of Judah, not 
 far from Jerusalem. Neh. xii. 29. and vii. 28. 
 
 Aznoth-Tabor, a city which Eusebius places in the plain 
 not far from Diocesarea. Josh. xix. 34. 
 
 AzoTUS. See Ashdod. . 
 
 AZT.K11. See Gaza. 
 
 B. 
 
 Baalah, otherwise called Kirjatk-jearim, (Josh. xv. 9. 
 1 Chron. xiii. 6.) a city of Judali, situated not far west of 
 Jerusalem, At this place the ark was stationed for some 
 time. There was also a mountain of this name, (Josh. xv. 
 11.) probably the same as Mount .Tearim. 
 
 Baalatii, a city in the tribe of Judah. (Josh. xv. 24.) Also 
 in the tribe of Dan. Josh. xix. 44. 
 
 Baalath-beer, a city of Simeon. Josh. xix. 8. 
 
 Baal-Gad, a city in the valley of Lebanon, at the foot of 
 IMount Hermon, in the north-east part of the Land of Canaan. 
 (Josh. xi. 17. xii. 7.) The name 13aal-Gad means the lord of 
 fortune, or good luck, or of a troop. This deity is frequently 
 represented on medals, sometimes having the name annexed, 
 and is usually feminine. There was, however, a male For- 
 tune among the ancient deities, agreeing w^tb the significa- 
 tion of Baal-Gad. 
 
BAA 
 
 DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 No. 1. A vessel in which Isisis spreading her veil for the sail; 
 Jupiter Serapisis directing the course of the vessel, and Fortune is 
 guiding it ; Jupiter Sera pis is therefore here the Baal-Gad, or Lord of 
 Fortune. 
 
 No. 2. A female figure of Fortune, 
 •displ'aying many symbols ; the riidder, 
 cornucopia, ears of com, &c. The 
 q-uiyer on her back allies her to Diana, 
 while the ornaments of her head re- 
 semble those of Isis. 
 
100 
 
 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 BAA 
 
 Baal-h.vzor, a city in the tribe of Ephraim, where Absalom 
 kept his flocks. (2 Sam. xiii. 23.) It lay between Bethel and 
 Jericho, eight miles from Jerusalem. 
 
 Baal-hermon, a mountain in the north of Canaan, rif- -the 
 boundary of the country, the exact situation of which r not 
 known. Some suppose it to be part of Mount Hermon, ( / that 
 it was a temple of the idol Baal, on Hermon. Judg. iii. 3. 1 
 Chron. v. 23. 
 
 Baal-meon, a city in the tribe of Reuben. (Numb, xxxii. 
 38.) It was taken from Reuben by the Moabites, who were 
 masters of it in the days of Ezekiel, (xxv. 9.) and seems to 
 hav^e been a place of some importance in the time of the Mac- 
 cabees, 
 
 Baal-peor, an idol of the Moabites. See Part I. p. 54. 
 
 Baal-perazi3I, the place where David put the Philistines 
 to flio-ht. (2 Sam. v. 20.) It lay near the valley of Rephaim, 
 or Giants, about 4 m.iles south-v.-est from Jerusalem ; and ia 
 probably the Mount Perazim of Isaiah, xxviii. 21. 
 
 Baal-shalisha, (2 Kings iv. 42.) a place situated, according 
 to Jerom and Eusebius, in the tribe of Simeon or Dan, 15 miles 
 north of Diospolis. 
 
 The Hebrew word Banl-ahalisha, 
 means the fhird idol, or the deitij 
 of three, a triple divinity. Tlje 
 idea of triphcate deities was com- 
 mon among the ancients, as is pro 
 ved by ancient medals ofdiflerent 
 countries. The annexed figure re- 
 presents this emblem as it exists 
 in the very ancient Hindoo tempio 
 at Elephanla, near Bombay. 
 
 This image is undeislood to im- 
 ply the divinity in his creative, 
 [)reservalive, and destructive, or 
 rather regenerative capacities. 
 This is one of the most extraorili 
 nary works of art, of colossal size, 
 and immensely laborious workmansliip. 
 
 Baal-tamar, the place of an engagement between tJie Is- 
 raelites and the tribe of Benjamin; situated, according to Eu- 
 sebius, near Gibeali. (Judges xx. 33.) This Hebrew name 
 means the idol of the pahn-lrccs, probably so named from tlie 
 Canaanites here worshipping Baal in a grove of palm-trees. 
 
 Baal-zepuon, a place near the western extremity of the 
 Red Sea. Sec Part. I. p. 43. 
 
BAB DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 101 
 
 Babel, a famous tower, built in the land of Shinar. See Part 
 I p. 14. 
 
 Babylon, the capital city of Chaldea, at first called Babel, 
 was built by Nimrod, (Gen. x; 10.) in the place where the 
 tower of Babel was begun, and was probably the first city 
 built after the flood. Its early history is very obscure, and the 
 accounts of heatlien writers respecting it, quite contradictory. 
 
 This city was much enlarged and adorned by Semiramis, 
 wife of Ninus, who, it is believed, was the son and successor 
 of Nimrod ; but it was most improved in extent and splendour 
 by Nebuchadnezzar, who gloried himself much upon what he 
 had done for it. (Dan. iv. 30.) It was then called Babylon, 
 and for extent and magnificence was the wonder of the 
 world. 
 
 According to ancient writers, it was at least forty-five miles 
 in circumference, and was built on both sides of the river 
 Euphrates, in the shape of a square. It had 25 principal 
 streets running each way through its w^hole length, intersect- 
 mg each other, and thus dividing the city into 625 squares. 
 The walls of the city were prodigious, being, according to the 
 most moderate accounts, 75 feet high, and 32 feet broad ; but 
 Herodotus, a Greek historian, Vv'ho visited Babylon, says they 
 were 350 feet in height, and 87 feet in breadth or thickness ; 
 extending in compass round the city a length of 60 miles. 
 These walls Vv^ere built of brick, cemented with bitumen, and 
 had around them a deep ditch, filled with water, the sides of 
 which were lined with brick walls ; as were also the sides of 
 the river where it flowed through the city. In every side of 
 this great square, at the entrance into the 25 streets, were 25 
 gates, making, in all, a hundred, which were made of solid 
 brass ; and between every two of these gates were three tow- 
 ers. A bridge, five furlongs in length, and thirty feet wide, 
 connected the two parts of the city, which lay one on each 
 side of the river ; and at each end of this bridge was a palace. 
 It is even said that there was a subterraneous passage under 
 the bed of the river, from one of these palaces to the other. 
 
 In the midst of the city stood a magnificent temple, dedi- 
 cated to Belus, or Bel ; and in the middle of this temple was 
 a stupendous tower, which is supposed to have been the same 
 tower, or part of it, Vv^hich was left unfinished at the confusion 
 of tongues. Jt was probably afterwards resumed and com- 
 pleted, and a prodigious city built around it. This tower was 
 in the form of a pyramid, with a square base, each side being 
 12 
 
102 
 
 SCRIPTrRE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 BAB 
 
 ''^M^. 
 9^' 
 
 500 feet, and the height was about the same. On the top was 
 a statue of Belus, 40 feet high. This tower was built of 
 bricks, cemented with bitumen. The temple around this tow- 
 er was erected by.Nebuchadnezzar, and was a mile in circum- 
 ference ; it was surrcJunded by a wall, in which were several 
 gates, all of brass. It is supposed that the brazen sea, the 
 brazen pillars, and the vessels of brass, which were carried 
 from the temple of Jerusalem, were used in making these 
 gates; for' we read in Scripture that Nebuchadnezzar put all 
 the sdcred vessels which he carried from Jerusalem, into the 
 house of his god at Babylon, that is, into this housQ or temple 
 of Bel. The image or statue of Bel, on the top of the tower, 
 ■was probably Nebuchadnezzar's golden- image mentioned in 
 Daniel. There were also in this temple many other statues 
 and images of gold, all of which made it so rich, that on the 
 return of Xerxes from his expedition into Greece, he plunder- 
 ed it, and laid it in ruins. Alexander the Great, afterwards 
 wishing to restore it, employed ten thousand men during two 
 months in clearing away and removing the rubbish, but the 
 undertaking was found to be too. great, and he was forced to 
 abandon it. 
 
 This great city was taken and destroyed by Cyrus, king of 
 Persia, in a manner remarkably corresponding vTiih the. pro- 
 phecies. (Isa. xiii. 17. xxi. 2.xlv. 1-4. Jer. xxv. 11, 12. 1. 24. 
 38. li. 11. 36. 39. 57.) Thus the glory of Babylon has passed 
 away, according to the word of the Lord, so tliat it has even 
 been difficult in modern times to discover the place where it 
 
 stood. Travellers iiave, however, discovered, about three 
 miles north of Hilleh, a town near the Euphrates, 47 miles 
 fouth of Bagdad, immense masses of ruins, mastly composed 
 
BEE DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 103 
 
 of bricks cemented with bitumen,, and extending over a con- 
 siderable space. Among these ruins appear the remains of a 
 vast monument, which is- supposed to have been the great 
 tower. 
 
 The bricks of these ruins are dag up and carried aw'ay by 
 the natives, for the purpose of erecting their buildings ; and 
 it is said that the town of Hilleh, containing ten or twelve 
 thousand inhabitants, has been mostly built of them. Many 
 of these bricks contain unlmown inscriptions, and are in size 
 generally about a foot square and three inchcis thick. These 
 ruins are now so much mfested by venomous reptiles and 
 wild beasts, as to be dangerous of access. 
 
 There was also another city called Babj^lon, situated in 
 Egypt, on the Nile, not far from Cairo. 
 
 Babylonia, the country round the famous city of Babylon, 
 comprising the greater part of Chaldea, situated in the north- 
 east of Arabia, on both sides of the river Euphrates. The do- 
 minion of Babylonia, as an independent empire, may be said 
 to begin wath Nabopolassar, the father of Nebuchadnezzar, 
 who rendered it independent of Assyria in the year 626 before 
 Christ. Under his son, Nebuchadnezzar, it became very 
 powerful ; he took Jerusalem, carried the Jews into captivity, 
 and subdued Egypt. But this power was not of long dura- 
 tion ; for in the year 538 before Christ, Cyrus, king of Persia, 
 took Babylon, and put an end to the empire. 
 
 Bahurim, a village near Jerusalem, in the tribe of Benja- 
 min, on the road to Jordan. Here Shirnei cursed David, and 
 threw stones at him.. 2 Sam. xvi. 5. xvii. 18. 
 
 Bamoth, one of the encampments of the Israelites. 
 (Numb. xxi. 19, 20.) Eusebius says it was a city of Moab, 
 upon the river Arnon. 
 
 Bamoth-baal, a city in the tribe of Reuben, east of Jordan. 
 Josh. xiii. 17. 
 
 Bascama, or Basra, a town in the tribe cf Judah, where 
 Jonathan Maccabeus w^as killed. 1 Mace. xiii. 23. 
 
 Bashan, the kingdom of Og. See Part I. p. 58. 
 
 Bealoth, a city in the tribe of Judah. Josli. xv. 24. 
 
 Beer, the name of a city (Judg. ix. 21.) four Icp-r^ues from 
 Jerusalem, m the way to Shechem. The wcti leer, in He- 
 brew, signifies a well. 
 
 Beer-elim, the well of the minces. Isa. tv. 8. Numb, 
 xxi. 18. 
 
 Beer-lahai-roi. See Part I. p. 34. 
 
104 
 
 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 BER 
 
 Beeroth, a city of the Gibeonites, afterwards yielded to 
 the tribe of Benjamin. (Josh. ix. 17. 2 Sam. iv. 2.) Eusebius 
 places it seven miles from Jerusalem, in the way to Nicopo- 
 lis. Near it is a fountain of excellent water, whence probably 
 it received its name, the wells. 
 
 Beeroth was also a station of the Israelites, (Deut. x. 6.) 
 north of Ezion-gaber. 
 
 Beer-sheba, the well of the oath. See Part I. p. 34. 
 
 Bela, or Zoar, a city near Sodom. See Part I. p. 31. 
 
 ^ENE-BERAK, a city in the tribe of Dan. Josh. xix. 45. 
 
 Benb-jaakan, a station of the Israelites in the wilderness, 
 (Numb, xxxiii. 31.) probably the same as Beeroth. (Deut. 
 X. 6.) Be^oth beni Jaakan, the wells of the sons of Jaakan. 
 
 Benjamin, one of the tribas of Israel. See Part I. p. 64. 
 
 Beon, a city in the tribe of Reuben, (Numb, xxxii. 3.) 
 probably the same called Bean in 1 Mace. v. 4. 
 
 Berea, a city in the south of Macedonia, westward from 
 Thessalonica, where Paul preached with success, and whose 
 inhabitants are commended for receiving the word with all 
 readiness of mind, and diligently searching the Scriptures. 
 Acts xvii. 10, 11. 
 
 # 
 
 /4 
 
 
 
 MIMJ V V 
 
 XNinvx' 
 
 A medal of Berea, remarkable for the inscription, koix. .maIvE. b. 
 NEC. BERAiON, referring to the secnnd MaceJonia ; and for the dale Eoc, 
 thought to be 275 from the battle of Pliarsalia, or the Julian era of 
 Reme 706. This date falls in the sixth year of Alexander Severiis; 
 and the head of Alexander the Great on this medal, was probably in 
 compliment to this emperor, who was born in a temple of Alexander, 
 at Arec. in Phenicia, or Cscsarea Libanus, and from that cirtuiiistance 
 adopted Alexander a? his tutelary deity. 
 
 This is the only Macedonian medal which has snch a date, and the 
 only one of this period inscribed with the name of the city where it 
 was struck; these circumstances, and those mentioned above, appear 
 to mark a dislinciion attached to lliis city, whose inhabitants are styled 
 in Scripture noble Bercans. 
 
BFr 
 
 *:^*.4 
 
 DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 105 
 
 Bered, a place in Palestine, not far from Gaza, and near 
 the well where Hagar rested when frying from her mistress. 
 Gen. XV i. 14. 
 
 Berytus, probably the place called in Scripture Berothai, 
 (2 Sam. viii. 8. Ezek. xlvii. 16.) an ancient city in Phenicia, 
 on the Mediterranean, fifty miles north of Sidon. It is 
 thought that Baat-berith, (Judg. viii. 33.) was the deity wor- 
 shipped at Berytus, and thence introduced into the Land of 
 Israel. It appears by ancient medals of this place, that Cas- 
 tor and Pollux, Hercules, Neptune, Astarte, and various other 
 deities, were worshipped here. 
 
 No. 1. A medal of Bery'tus, representing rVeptune in his marine car. 
 drawn by four sea-hoi-ses. He hoMs in his right hand a dolphin, in his 
 left a Indent. Keptxine was the tutelary deity of Beryfjis. 
 
 No. 2. Astarle in her tempie, crowned bv a fignre of Vict-ory stand 
 ing on a pillar; on eacli side of her, a figure holding a wreath ; on the 
 top of the temple, trophies. Suidas tefls lis that the Aslarte of the 
 Syrians is called Venus by the Greeks. 
 
 Besor, a brook or river which fills into the Mediterranean, 
 south of Gaza. This is thought to be the river of the wilder- 
 ness, (Amos vi. 14.) and is perhaps the stream called the river 
 of Egypt, (Josh. XV. 4.) and several other places of Scripture. 
 See Fart I. p. 32. 
 
 Betah, (2 Sam. viii. 8.) a city of Syria, probably the same 
 as Beten, belonging to the tribe of Asher. Josh. xix. 25. 
 
 Beth-abara, a place on the eastern bank of the Jordan, 
 where John baptized, (John i. 28.) and as the name signifies 
 the house of passage, some have thought it w^as the place 
 U'here the Israelites under Joshua crossed the Jordan ; but 
 
106 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. BET 
 
 others think it was. the place where Jacob crossed that river, 
 Eusebius says t]iat many in his time were zealous to be bap- 
 tized at this place, as it was supposed to be the spot where 
 John baptized the Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 Bethanath, a city of Naphtali. Josh.xix. 88. 
 
 Bethany, a village situated at the mount of Olives, about 
 two miles east of Jerusalem. This was the abode of Martha 
 and Mary, with their brother Lazarus, whom Jesus raised 
 from the dead ; (John xi. 18.) and here Mai-y anointed the feet 
 of our Lord. Bethany is now a small village, where is yet 
 shown to travellers an old riiin, said to be the house where 
 Lazarus and his sisters dwelt; also near this is his sepulchre, 
 which is held in great veneration by the Turks, and used by 
 them as a place for prayer. Not far from this the^' show the 
 house of Mary Magdalene, and the fountain of the apostles, 
 so called because they were accustomed to refresh there ; this 
 fountain is near the road side, and very inviting to the thirsty 
 traveller. 
 
 Beth-arabah, a city in the border of Judah, (Josh. xv. 6.) 
 Dclonging to the tribe of Benjamiii, (xviii. 22.) 
 
 Betharam, or Betharan, (Numb, xxxii. 36. Josh. xiii. 27.3 
 a fenced city east of Jordan, in the tribe of Gad. 
 
 Bethaven, the same as Bethel. This is the place where 
 Jeroboam set up his golden calves, wdience it is called by the 
 prophet Hosea; XivJ'15.) in/derision, Bcth-'oven, the house of 
 vanity, instead of Bethel, the house of God. ,; 
 
 Beth-bara, (Judges vii. 24.) supposed to be the same as 
 Bethabara. •. - 
 
 Beth-basi, a city in the tribe of Judab, fortified by^imon 
 and Jonathan Maccabeus, (1 INIacc. ix. 62.) and where Bac- 
 chides besieged them without success. 
 
 Beth-bhiei, a city of Simeon. 1 Chron. iv. 31. 
 
 Beth-car, a city of Dan, to which the Israelites pursued 
 the Philistines, and near which Samuel set up a stone whicii 
 he called Ebenezer. 
 
 Beth-dagon, the house or temple of Dafron, a city of Ca- 
 naan in the tribe of Judah ; probably so called because here 
 was a temple of the idol of Dagon, before the country was 
 conquered by the Israelites. (Josh. xv. 41.) Tliere was also 
 a city of this name belonging to the tribe of Ashcr. Josii. 
 xix. 27. 
 
 Bethel, a city near the boundary between tlic tribes of 
 
BET DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 107 
 
 Benjamin and Ephraim, situated about eight miles north of 
 Jerusalem. See Part I. p. 28. 
 
 Beth-emek, a city near the southerii boundary of the tribe 
 of Asher. Josh. xix. 27. • 
 
 Betiier; mountains of this name are mentioned in the 
 Song of Solomon, (ii. 17. and viii. 14.) In the' latter place, it 
 is translated " mountains of spices.'' It is uncertain what 
 mountains are meant by this name ; some take it to mean 
 Bethoron, called Bether by Eusebius. This place is frequent- 
 ly mentioned m old Hebrew writings, and is memorable for a 
 terrible slaughter of the Jews in the time of the emperor 
 Adrian, during the rebellion of Bardbchebas, when it is said 
 that the number of dead bodies was so great, that the blood 
 ran from them four miles to the sea. 
 
 Bethesda, the house of mercy, or the house of effusion, a 
 pool near the sheep-market at Jerusalem, having live porches, 
 piazzas, or covered walks around it. (John v. 2.) Here an im- 
 potent mail, w^ho had been so for thirty-eight years, was cured 
 by our Lord. The healing virtues of this pool are said by 
 Tertullian to have ceased after the Jews rejected Christ. 
 According to Mr. Maundrel, a late traveller who visited this 
 place, the pool is now dry ; but the basin or pit which contained 
 the water remains, and is 120 yards long, forty broad, and 
 eight "deep. At one end are some ancient arches, which the 
 people say w^ere the porches where the multitude of lame, 
 halt, and blind, were accustomed to sit while they w^aited for 
 the moving of the waters. 
 
 Beth-ga>iul, a city of the Moabites in the tribe of Reuben. 
 Jer. xlviii. 23. 
 
 Betii-haccerem, a city between Jerusalem and Tekoah, 
 noted for its vineyards. Jer. vi. 1. Neh. iii. 14. 
 
 Beth-hoglah, a place in the tribe of Judah, (Josh. xv. 6.) 
 which, according to Eusebius, was eight miles from Gaza. 
 St. Jerom mentions a place of this name, eight miles from 
 Jordan, in the tribe of Benjamin. Josh, xviii. 21. 
 
 Beth-horox, places m the tribe of Ephraim. See Part L 
 p. 56. 
 
 Beth-jesimotk, a city in the plams of Moab, east of Jor- 
 dan, v/here the Israelites encamped. See Part I. p. 49. 
 
 Beth-lebaoth, a city belonging to the tribe of Simeon, 
 (Josh. xix. 6.) called Lehaoth, among the cities first given to 
 Judah, (chap. xv. 32.) 
 
 Bethlehem, a city situated six miles south of Jerusalem, 
 
108 SCniPTURE GEOGRAPHY. BEl 
 
 otherwise called Ephratb or Ephratah, sometimes Bethlehem- 
 Epliratal], and sometimes Bcthlehem-Judah, to disting-uish it 
 from another place called Betlilehem, in the tribe of Zebulon. 
 This city was not considerable for its extent or riches ; bat 
 was remarkable for beinjr the birth-place of our blessed 
 Saviour, as well as that of king- David, from whom the Sa- 
 viour descended, according- to the flesh. Ibn Haukal, a Ma- 
 hometan writer, speaking of Bethlehem, says, " Here Jesus, on 
 whom be peace ! was born of his mother." 
 
 Mew of Bethlelicm. 
 
 Bethlehem is situated upon the declivity of a hill, and Is 
 generally visited by pilgrims. It has been constantly hon- 
 oured by Christians of all nations, on account of its being- the 
 place where Jesus Christ was born ; and here, at the present 
 day, is shown the manger in which it is said he was laid ; also, 
 a grotto in a rock, where, according to tradition, the Blessed 
 Virgin hid lierself and the divine babe from the malice of 
 Herod, before tiieir departure into Egypt. They also show, 
 about half a mile eastward, t]ie field where it is said the 
 shepherds were watching their flocks, when they received the 
 glad tidings cf the birth of Christ, 
 
 About the distance of an hour and a quarter's journey south- 
 ward from Bethlehem, are still shown the famous fountains, 
 pools, and gardens, which are said to have been the delight 
 of king Solomon, and to which he is supposed to allude in 
 Eccles. ii. 5, C, 
 
BET DICTIONAUY OF THE BIBLE. 109 
 
 The pools are three in number, lying one above another, so 
 that the waters descend from the highest into the one next 
 below it, and from it into the third. The breadth of each is 
 about nmety paces ; but they differ in length, the first being 
 160 paces, the second 200, and the third 220. They are all 
 jined with wails which are plastered, and contain a great 
 depth of water. The spring or fountain which supplies them 
 with water is about 140 paces distant. This the friars of 
 Bethlehem insist is the sealed fountain, to which reference 
 is made in Scripture, (Songs iv. 12.) and they say there is a 
 tradition that Solomon shut up these springs, and kept the 
 door of them sealed with his signet, that he might preserve 
 their water for his own drinking, in their natural freshness 
 and purity. This would not be difficult, as they rise under 
 ground, and have no avenue to them but by a little hole like 
 the mouth of a narrow well. Through this hole, a person may 
 descend about four yards ; he then arrives in a vaulted room 
 ahout fifteen paces long, and eight broad, adjoining to which 
 is another of the same form, but not quite so large. Both 
 those rooms are covered with stone arches, very ancient, and 
 perhaps truly the work of king Solomon. From these springs 
 the water is conveyed in earthen pipes, by many turnings and 
 windings about the mountains, to Jerusalem. These pools 
 are more likely to be those of Solomon, from the fact that 
 there is not such another store of spring-water anywhere else 
 tliroughout all the Holy Land. 
 
 On the west of Bethlehem is shown the well of David, so 
 called from being supposed to be that whose waters he so pas- 
 sionately desired. (2 Sam. xxiii. 15.) A little distance beyond 
 this, are the remains of an aqueduct, which formerly conveyed 
 the water from Solomon's pools to Jerusalem. This is con- 
 structed of stones perforated and let into each other, secured 
 with cement to prevent leaks, and is exceedingly firm and 
 durable. This row of stone pipes was covered for security 
 with a case of smaller stones laid over it, in very strong mor- 
 tar. But the Turks have shown, in this instance, that nothing 
 can be so well wrought but they are able to damage or de- 
 stroy it ; for of this strong aqueduct, carried fifteen or eighteen 
 miles with such vast expense and labour, you see now only 
 here and there a fragment remaining. 
 
 Bethlehem is at present a considerable place, from which 
 is a delightful prospect, bemg surrounded v/ith hills and val- 
 leys. It has several fine streets, and a church in the form of 
 K 
 
110 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. BET 
 
 a cross, erected by the famous Helena : here are also several 
 chapels, and convents of Latins, Greeks, and Armenians. 
 The complexion of the inhabitants is very dark, almost ap- 
 Droachino- to black. The country around is abundant in 
 grapes, figs, and other fruits, which are the principal suppor": 
 of the inhabitants. 
 
 Beth-meon, a city in the tribe of Reuben, belonjring to the 
 Moabites, (Jer. xiviii. 23.) probably the same as Baal-meon, 
 (Numb, xxxii. 38.) Many of the cities in this region were 
 probably repossessed by the Moabites after the ten tribes had 
 been carried captive into Assyria ; and hence Jeremiah repre< 
 eents them as cities of the Moabites. 
 
 Beth-nimrah, a city in the tribe of Gad, (Josh. xlii. 27 f 
 called Nimrah in Numb, xxxii. 3. 
 
 Beth-palet, (Josh. XV. 27.) or Beth-phelet, (Neh. xi. 26.) 
 a city in the soutli of the tribe of Judah, given afterwards to 
 Simeon. 
 
 Beth-pazzez, a city of Issachar. Josh. xix. 21. 
 
 Beth-peor, See Baal-peor. 
 
 Beth-phage, the house of figs, a small village near Mount 
 Olivet, and, as it seems, somewhat nearer to Jerusalem than 
 Bethany. (Luke xix. 29.) The Jewish Talmudists say that 
 a Bethphage w^as within the walls of Jerusalem ; but this was 
 probably a place in the city where figs were sold, or a street 
 might be so called which led to the village which produced 
 figs, without the city. The distance from Jerusalem to the 
 village of Bethpliage is computed to be fifteen furlongs. 
 
 Beth-saida, the house of fishing, a city situated at the 
 northern extremity of the Lake of Gennesareth, or Sea of 
 Galilee, near where the Jordan enters it: a situation very 
 convenient for fishing, as its name implies ; and accordingly 
 we find the apostles Peter and Andrew, inhabitants of this 
 place, were fishermen by trade. It is frequently mentioned 
 in the New Testament, but not in the Old ; as Josephus tells 
 us it was but a small village until Philip the tetrarcli render- 
 ed it a magnificent city, and named it Julias, out of respect 
 to Julia, tlie daughter of Augustus Ctosar. The woe denounced 
 against it by our Saviour, (Matt. xi. 2L) has long since come 
 upon it, being now reduced to the state of a poor village, con- 
 taining but five or si.x mean cottages. 
 
 Beth-shan, a city in tlie half tribe of JNIanasseh, west of 
 Jordan, about twelve miles south of the sea of Galilee. (Josh, 
 xvii. 11. 2 Sam. xxi. 12.) This city was called by tlie 
 
BEZ DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. Ill 
 
 Greeks Scythopolis, or the city of the Scytliians, from some 
 remarkable occurrence supposed to have taken place when 
 that people invaded Syria. It is said to have been 75 miles 
 from Jerusalem. (2 Mace. xii. 29.) It continued to be a con- 
 siderable city in the days of Eusebius and Jerom, in the fourth 
 century. It is now called Bysan, and consists of 70 or 80 
 houses, whose inhabitants are represented by modern travel- 
 lers to be in a miserable condition, from the depredations of 
 the Bedouin Arabs. Tlie ruins of the ancient city still re- 
 main, and shov/ that it was nearly three miles in circuit. 
 
 BETH-bHEJiESH, the Jiouse of the sun, probably so named 
 from the worship paid here to that luminary by the Canaanites. 
 — A city of Judah, 30 miles west of Jerusalem, given to the 
 Levites. (Josh. xxi. 16.) Here 50,000 persons were destroy- 
 ed for profanely looking mto the ark, which was brought by 
 the kine, when sent away by the Philistines. (1 Sam. vi. 19.) 
 Other cities of this name are also mentioned in the tribes of 
 Naphtali and Issachar. 
 
 Bethshemesh in Egypt, was the same as On, called by the 
 Greeks Heliopolis. >S'ee Fart I. p. 39. 
 
 Beth-tappuah, a city of Judah, (Josh. xv. 53.) situated in 
 the way to Egypt, near the wilderness of Paran. 
 
 Bethulia, a city celebrated for being besieged by Holo- 
 fernes, and where he was killed by Judith, (Judith vii.) sup- 
 posed to have been situated in the west of Zebulon, near 
 the sea. 
 
 Beth-zur, or Beth-sura, a city belonging to the tribe of 
 Judah. (Josh. xv. 58.) It was one of the cities fortified by 
 Rehoboam ; (2 Chron. xi. 7.) and appears to have been a 
 place of great strength, bemg on the frontier of Judah towards 
 Edom. Here Lysias, the regent of Syria, under Antiochus 
 Epiphanes, was defeated by Judas IMaccabeus, with a loss of 
 eighteen thousand men. Beth-sura is said, in 2 Mace. xi. 5, 
 to be only five furlongs from Jerusalem ; but this must have 
 been a mistake : Eusebius makes it twenty miles from that 
 city, in the way towards Hebron, Vv'hich, in the time of the 
 Maccabees, was the principal city of the Idumeans. It was 
 probably near Hebron, but on the Jewish side of the frontier. 
 
 Betoxim, a city in the northern part of the tribe of Gad, 
 bordering on Manasseh, east of Jordan. Josh. xiii. 26. 
 
 Bezek, a city of the Canaanites, where 10,000 of them 
 were slain, and Adoni-bezek, their king, taken prisoner. 
 (Judges i. 4) Eusebius and Jerom mention two towns, near 
 
112 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. BOZ 
 
 together, of this name, seventeen miles from Neapolis or 
 Shechem, on the way to Scythopolis or Bethshan. 
 
 Bezer, a city in the tribe of Reuben, (Deut. iv. 43.) and 
 one of the cities of refuge. It is usually styled " Bezer in 
 ihe wilderness," or "in the plain;" implying its situation to 
 nave been in a desert part of the country, probably on the side 
 of Arabia. 
 
 BiLEAM, a city of Manasseh, east of Jordan, given to the 
 Levites of the family of Kohath. 1 Chron. vi. 70. 
 
 BiTHYNiA, a province of Asia Minor, stretching along the 
 southern shore of the Black Sea, from Mysia to Paplilagonia ; 
 having Phrygia and Galatia on the south. In this district 
 are situated the two cities of Nica;a or Nice, and Chalcedon, 
 both celebrated in ecclesiastical history, on account of the 
 general councils held in them. When Paul first travelled 
 towards Europe, the Holy Ghost allowed him not to preach 
 here. (Acts xvi. 7.) But a clmrch was afterwards establish- 
 ed, as St. Peter addresses his first epistle to the Hebrew 
 Christians who Vv^ere scattered tlirougli this and the neigh- 
 bouring countries. 
 
 BocHiM, a place supposed to be near Jerusalem, where an 
 angel reproved the Israelites for their breach of covenant 
 w'.th God, in consequence of which it was declared that the 
 inhabitants of the land should remain as thorns in tlieir sides. 
 On hearing this, the Israelites " lifted up their voice and 
 wept," and called the place Bochim, which signifies iveeping. 
 Judges ii. 
 
 BozRAH, (Gen. xxxvi. 33. Isa. xxxiv. 6. and Ixiii. 1. Micali 
 li. 12.) a city of Edom, celebrated for its dyed garments, aud 
 its sheep. It is not known whether any vestige remains of it 
 at the present time. 
 
 There was another Bozrah in the land of Moab, (Jer. 
 xlviii. 24.) thought by some to be the same as Bezer. But 
 fills Bozrah was probably the city of that name, or Bostra, as 
 It is now called, situated east of the sea of Galilee, in the 
 tribe of JManassoh ; and to wliich it is probable the Moabites 
 extended themselves when they took possession of the vacant 
 cities of Israel, after tlie captivity of the ten tribes. Bostra 
 was made a Roman colony by Trajan, and took tlie title of 
 Nova Trajana, the new city of Trajan. This place has been 
 visited by modern travellers, who describe its ruins, particu- 
 larly some beautiful columns, said to be equal to those of 
 
GiES 
 
 DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE, 
 
 113 
 
 Balbec or Palmyra. In different parts of these ruins are 
 found Cufic, Greek, and Roman inscriptions. 
 
 A medal of Boslra, representing on one side the head of Trajanus 
 Decius : on the other a female figure, witli her head crowned with tur- 
 rets ; in her right hand the staff terminating in a cross ; in her left a 
 cornucopia ; beside her a Silenus dancing, with a wine-boUle on his 
 shoulder. There can be no doubt that this is the goddess Ashtaroth or 
 Astarte. 
 
 c. 
 
 Cabbon, a city in the tribe of Judah. Josh. xv. 40. 
 
 Cabul, a name given, by Hiram, king of Tyre, to the 
 twenty cities which were given him by king Solomon, as a re- 
 ward for the great services he had rendered him in building 
 the temple. (1 Kings ix. 13.) Hiram, not being pleased with 
 them, called them Cabul, which in the Phenician language 
 signilies dirty or displeasing. They were situated in Galilee, 
 and probably not far from Tyre. 
 
 C^SAREA. There were several cities of this name. 
 
 1. CcBsarea Lihanus, anciently called Arce or Area. It is 
 not known when it took the name of Csesarea, or at what time 
 it w^as made a Roman colony. 
 
 K2 
 
114 
 
 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 C^S 
 
 A medal of Csesarea Libanus, representing on one side the head of 
 Alexander Severus, who was born here, in the temple of Alexander. 
 On the reverse a tall figure of the goddess Astarte, standing in a temple, 
 with the emperor placing a crown on her head. 
 
 2. Ccesarea Palestina was a city situated on the Mediter- 
 ranean, between Dor and Joppa, .50 miles north-west of Jeru- 
 salem. It was built with great beauty and convenience by 
 Herod the Great, 22 years before the birtli of Christ, and 
 named in honour of Augustus Caesar. The place before was 
 called tlie Tower of Straton. The harbour at this place was 
 naturally bad ; but to remedy this defect, Herod erected, at im- 
 mense expense and labour, a vast mole or breakwater, built in a 
 semicircular form, of stones .50 feet long and 13 v.'ide, which 
 were sunk in the water where it was 120 feet deep. Besides 
 this, Herod added many splendid buildings of marble to the 
 city, and fixed his residence there, tlius elevating it to the 
 rank of capital of Judea. It was to this place that St, Paul 
 was taken, 60 years after, to Felix, who was then governor. 
 (Acts xxiv.) Here also iVgrippa was smitten by an angel of 
 God, so that he died. (Acts xii. 21.) This was tlie birtJi-place 
 of Eusebius, tlie celebrated historian, who was bishop of this 
 city in the beginning of the fourth century. It is now a 
 scene of desolate ruins, situated in a sandy desert. The waves 
 wash the ruins of the mole, the towers, and port near the sea, 
 and not a creature, except jackals and beasts of prey, resides 
 within many miles of this silent desolation. 
 
 A medal of Cnesarca Palestina, re- 
 presenting Astarte standing on an 
 altar, holding in her right hand a 
 human head, in her left a staff; on 
 her head the sacred Calathus, and 
 a sword by her side. 'I'his is wi-th- 
 in a temple, on the balusti-ade of 
 which is another tigure, apparently 
 looking up at the goddess. This 
 proves that the worship of this 
 deity was practised here. 
 
 3. Ccesarea Philippi was first called Laish, or Leshcm. 
 (Judg. xviii. 7.) After it was subdued by the Danites, (verse 
 29.) it w^as called Dan, and is by heathen writers called Pa- 
 
CAN DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 115 
 
 neas. Philip, the youngest son of Herod, made it the capita, 
 of his tetrarchy or government, enlarged and embellished it, 
 and gave it the name of Csesarea Philippi. It is situated at 
 the foot of Mount Hermon, near the head of the Jordan, and 
 is about fifty miles from Damascus and thirty from Tyre. 
 
 Our Saviour visited, tauglit, and healed in this place ; here 
 also he rebuked Peter. (Mark viii.) The woman whom he 
 healed, (Matt. ix. 20.) it is said, also lived in this town. 
 
 Calah, one of the earliest cities of Assyria. (Gen. x. 11.) 
 It is supposed to have been situated on the river Lycus, which 
 falls into the Tigris ; as on the upper part of the Lycus, Stra- 
 bo mentions a country called Calachene, which is conjectured 
 to have received its name from this, its capital city. Dr. 
 Wells supposes it to be the same with Halah, or Chalah, one 
 of the cities into wliich Shalmaneser transplanted the people 
 of Israel. If so, it must have been on the river Gozan, in 
 Media, instead of the Lycus. 
 
 Calneh, one of the cities built by Nimrod in the land of 
 Shinar. See Part I. p. 14. 
 
 Calvary, called in La,tin Calvaria, and in Hebrew Golgo- 
 tha ; both names unplying a skull, or the place of skulls, pro- 
 bably so called from its being a place of burial. This was a 
 small eminence or hill, on the north of Mount Zion, a.nd on 
 the western side of Momit Moriah, said to have been 200 
 paces outside of the ancient walls of Jerusalem. On this 
 Mount our Lord suffered crucifixion, a mode of punishment 
 at that tmie in general use in the east. On the summit of 
 Mount Calvary stands a large and irregular building, called 
 the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, wiiich covers the spot 
 where our Lord suffered, and the sepulchre in which he was 
 laid. Here is shown the hole in the rock in which the cross 
 was fixed ; and near it the position of the crosses of the two 
 thieves ; also a cleft in the rock said to have been caused by 
 the earthquake which happened at the crucifixion. The se- 
 pulchre is about six feet square and eight feet high, in which 
 is a block of stone said to be that on which the body of our 
 Lord was placed. The church v/hich covers this spot has but 
 one door, the keys of which are kept by the Turks, who de- 
 mand an entrance fee of nine sequins (about eight dollars) 
 from every foreign Christian. 
 
 Camon, a city in the tribe of Manasseh, east of Jordan. 
 Judges X. 5. 
 
 Cana, of Galilee, so called to distuiguish it from Cana, oi 
 
116 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. CAN 
 
 Kanah, in the tribe of Asher, (Josh. xix. 28.) not far from 
 Sidon, and much farther north than Cana of Galilee, which 
 lay in the tribe of Zebulon, eight miles north of Nazareth. At 
 this place Jesus performed his first miracle, (John ii. 12.) Dr. 
 Ckrke visited this place, and found among" the ruins large 
 stone water-pots, lying about in numbers ; from the appear- 
 ance of which it was evident that the practice of keeping wa- 
 ter in large stone pots, each holding from eighteen to twenty- 
 seven gallons, was common in the country. This place is 
 now a village, almost deserted. The church built by Helena, 
 in the place where the marriage feast was held, is yet stand- 
 ing, and is now a Turkish mosque. 
 
 Canaan, or Land of Canaan, tJie country so named from 
 having been peopled by Canaan, the son of Ham. ^ee Part I. 
 p. 26. This country was nearly 200 miles in length, and 80 
 in breadth. It was bounded on the north and north-east by 
 Syria and Lebanon ; on the east by Arabia Deserta and the 
 land of the Ammonites and Moabites ; on the south-east by 
 the country of the Midianites; south by Edom, or Idumea ; 
 south-west by Egypt; and on tlie west by the Mediterranean 
 Sea. 
 
 Of the people originally inhabiting this country, and of its 
 conquest by the Israelites, we have treated in Part I. Those 
 of the Canaanites who remained in the country after the con- 
 quest, were generally made tributary to the Israelites ; but 
 great numbers left it, passing by the way of Egypt into north- 
 ern Africa, where they built many cities, and spread them- 
 selves over vast regions, until they reached the straits of Gib- 
 raltar. St. Athanasius relates that the inhabitants of this 
 part of Africa, in his time, reported tliemselves to be descended 
 from the Canaanites ; and it is agreed that the Punic or Car- 
 thaginian language, was very nearly the same with the Ca- 
 naanitish. According to Procopius, in the ancient city of 
 Tongis, in this part of Africa, were two great pillars of white 
 stone, near a large fountain, with the following inscription in 
 Punic characters, " We are people preserved by flight from 
 that robber Joshua, the son of Nun, who pursued us." 
 
 Tliose of the original inhabitants of Canaan, who remained 
 after the conquest, were chiefly inhabitants of the western 
 and north-western parts of the country, along the sea-coast, 
 particularly about Tyre and Sidon. This was the country 
 called by the Greeks Phenicia, whose language was the 
 Punic; and froni T/hich colonies were brought to Thebes in 
 
GAR DICTION.UIY OF THE BIBLE. 117 
 
 Greece, to Cilicia, Sardinia, Sicily, Malta, Cyprus, and many 
 other places. 
 
 For a further account of the Land of Canaan, under the 
 dominion of the Israelites, and of its subsequent and present 
 state, the reader is referred to the article Judea. 
 
 Canneh, (Ezek. xxvii. 23.) thought to be the same as 
 Calneh. 
 
 Capernaum, a city on the north-western side of tiie sea of 
 Galilee, near tho border of the tribes of Zebulon and Naph- 
 tali. (Matt. iv. 13.) The infidelity and impenitence of the 
 inhabitants of this place, which was honoured by the resi- 
 dence of our Saviour, and which consequently had repeated 
 evidences of the truth of his mission, brought upon them a 
 heavy denunciation. (]\latt. xi. 23, 24.) This sentence of 
 destruction has been fully realized, and the ancient city is 
 now reduced to a state of desolation ; a few ruins only re- 
 maining of that city which was once proudly '' exalted unto 
 heaven." 
 
 Caphar-salama, a place not far west of Samaria, called 
 afterwards Antipatris. Here a battle was fought between 
 Judas Macc?abeus and Nicanor, in which the latter was van- 
 quished, and fled with the loss of 5000 men. 1 Mace. vii. 31. 
 
 Caphtor, the country of the Caphtorim, descendants ol 
 Misraim, son of Ham. See Part I. p. 26 : also the article 
 Philistines. 
 
 Cappadocia, a country of Asia Minor, bounded north by 
 Pontus ; east by the Euphrates, which separated it from Ar- 
 menia ; south-east and south by Mount Taurus and Cilicia ; 
 and west by Galatia and Lycaonia. In early times this coun- 
 try was tributary to the Persians, as it was afterwards to the 
 Romans, until united as a province to the empire by Tiberius 
 Caesar. The inhabitants of Cappadocia were anciently noto- 
 rious for their wickedness; being, together with the people 
 of Cilicia and Crete, proverbial among the Greeks for their 
 bad character, (see Crete;) but after the introduction ot 
 Christianity among them, it produced several great and good 
 men, among whom were Gregory Nazainzen, Gregory Nis- 
 sen, St. Basil, and St. George, the martyr. This was one of 
 the countries, to v/hich St. Peter addressed his first epistle ; 
 and here Christianity flourished until about the ninth century ; 
 nor is it yet wholly extinct. 
 
 Carchemish, a city in Mesopotamia, upon the Euphrates, 
 belonging to the kmgdom of Assyria. It was taken by Pha- 
 
118 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. CAR 
 
 raoh Necho, king of Eg-ypt, and retaken by Nebuchadnezzar, 
 (2 Kings xxiii, 29. 2 Cljron. xxxv. 20. Jer. xlvi. 2.) and seems 
 to have been a place of considerable strength and importance, 
 forming a key to Assyria on its western side. Its importance 
 raay be estimated from the fact of a king of Egypt taking so 
 long and painful a march to get possession of it. It is sup- 
 posed to be the same city whicli was afterwards called Cir- 
 cesium by the Greeks and Latins, and which was situated at 
 the junction of the Chaboras with the Euphrates. It is called 
 at present Kirkisia. 
 
 Carmel, a city in the southern pf.rt of the tribe of Judah. 
 (Josh. XV. 55.) This place is noted in the return of Saul 
 from his expedition against the Amalekites, (1 Sam. xv. 12.) 
 and was also the native place of Nabal, the husband of Abi- 
 gail. It was called Carmelia by the Romans, who, according 
 to Jerom, had a garrison there in his time. It is situated ten 
 miles eastward from Hebron. 
 
 Carmel, a celebrated mountain in the west of the Land of 
 Canaan, situated about ten miles south of Accho or Ptolemais. 
 formmg a promontory on the opposite side of a bay. Accord- 
 ing to modern travellers, it extends six or eight miles nearly 
 north and south, coming from the plain of Esdraelon, and 
 ending in the promontory or cape which forms the bay of 
 Accho. Its elevation is about 1500 feet, and its sides are 
 covered with trees and brambles, among which are wild vines 
 and olives, proving it to have been once cultivated. 
 
 This mountain is celebrated for the miracle wrought there 
 by the prophet Elijah, (1 Kings xviii.) and a cave is still 
 shown, where it is said that Elijah desired Ahab to bring 
 Baal's false prophets, when the fire descended from heaven 
 upon the burnt sacrifice. The historians Tacitus and Sue- 
 tonius both speak of the god of Carmel, whom Vespasian 
 vi^ent to consult when he was in Judea ; and say that there 
 was then an altar there which was venerable for its antiquity. 
 This altar of Carmel had its origin in the altar of God which 
 had been erected there by the ancient Hebrews, and which 
 was repaired by Elijah. This altar the heathens afterwards 
 held m such veneration, that they even resorted to it as an 
 oracle. 
 
 There is now a convent of Carmelite friars on this mount, 
 who say that tlieir habitation is in the spot where the prophet 
 Elijah resided. 
 
 Car^jaim, the horns, a city of Bashan, so called from 
 
CHE DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 119 
 
 the worship of Ashtorath, the horned goddess. See Ash- 
 tarolh. 
 
 Casiphia, a place to which Ezra sent messengers to Iddo, 
 \Ezra viii. 17.) It is the opinion of Calmet that Caspius, 
 near the Caspian sea, in the north of Media, where dwelt 
 many captive Jews, is here meant ; but others think that dis- 
 tance too far for sucli a mission, and suppose it was some 
 ulace nearer Babylon. 
 
 Casluhim, the descendants of Casluh, son of Misraim, wh) 
 dwelt with the Caphtorim, at the entrance of Egypt from 
 Palestine, between Misraim and the Philistim. See Part I 
 p. 26. 
 
 Casphin, or Caspis, a town west of Jerusalem, not far 
 from Jamnia ; it was a strong place, situated on a lake, and 
 was taken by Judas Maccabeus. 2 Mace. xii. 13. 
 
 Cedron, a brook near Jerusalem. See Kidron. 
 
 Ce.xchrea, a port belonging to the city of Corinth, about 
 nme miles distant ; from which St. Paul sailed for Ephesus. 
 Acts xviii. 18. 
 
 Chaldea, the country otherwise called Shinar ; or Babylo- 
 nia, lying on both sides of the Euphrates, of which Babylon 
 was the capital ; extending southward to the Persian Gulf, and 
 northward into Mesopotamia. It had Elam or Persia on the 
 east, and Arabia Deserta west. This country, and its people, 
 are called in the Hebrew text, Chasdim, and are generally 
 supposed to have derived their name from Chesed, a son of 
 Nahor, the brother of Abraham. The early history of the 
 Chaldeans is very obscure ; they appear to have been an un- 
 settled and predatory people, until collected together by Ni- 
 nus, who is supposed to have been the son of Nimrod or Ashur, 
 and brought under the Assyrian dominion. 
 
 The Chaldeans are renowned as the founders of astronomi- 
 cal science ; and appear to have long existed in Babylonia as 
 a distinct race of astrologers, philosophers, and priests, or 
 magi, rather than as a nation of themselves ; and as such they 
 are found at Babylon in the reign of Belshazzar, who, to- 
 gether with tlie astrologers and soothsayers, summoned the 
 Chaldeans to interpret the mysterious writing on the wall. 
 
 Characa, a city of the tribe of Gad, from which Judas 
 Maccabeus drove Timotheus. 2 Mace. xii. 17. 
 
 Charran, the same as Haran. See Part I. p. 30. 
 
 Chebar, a river in Chaldea, where the prophet Ezekiel saw 
 
220 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. CIL 
 
 several of his visions ; probably the same called afterwards 
 Chaboras, which rises in the mountains in the upper part of 
 Mesopotamia, and, running south-west, empties into tlie Eu- 
 phrates near Carchemish. 
 
 Chelmon, a city opposite to Esdraelon, near which Holo- 
 fernes encamped before he went to lay siege to Bethulia. 
 Judith vii. 3. 
 
 Chephirah, a city of the Gibeonites, afterwards belonging 
 Co the tribe of Benjamin. Josh. ix. 17. xviii. 26. 
 
 Cherith, a brook near whicli the prophet Elijah lay some- 
 time concealed, to 3,void the persecution of Jezebel; and 
 where the ravens, every morning and evening-, brouglit him 
 bread and meat. (1 Kmgs xvii. 3, 4.) Tlie situation of this 
 brook is doubtful ; probably it was a western branch of the 
 Jordan, on the confines of Ephraim and Benjamin. 
 
 Chesalon, a city in the tribe of Judah, thought to be the 
 same as Jearim. Josh. xv. 10. 
 
 CHESiii, a city belonging to the tribe of Judah. (Josh. xv. 
 30.) Eusebius calls it Exalus, and places it in the southern 
 part of Judah. 
 
 Chesulloth, a city of Zebulon or Issachar. Josh. xix. 
 12. 18. 
 
 Chezib, See Aclizih. 
 
 Chios, an island of the Grecian i\rchipelago, between Les- 
 bos and Samos, and about four leagues from the continent, 
 opposite Smyrna. This island was passed by St. Paul in his 
 voyage from Mytilene to Samos. (Acts xx. 15.) It does not 
 appear that any church was established here for a long time 
 after the age of the apostles. This island is now called Scio, 
 and was extremely rich and beautiful, until the recent attempt 
 of the Greeks to recover their independence. In the course 
 of the warfare wdiich ensued, Scio was attacked by the Turks, 
 and ruthlessly desolated with fire and sword. 
 
 Chittim, the descendants of Chittim, Kittim, or Keth, the 
 third son of Javan, and grandson of Japhet. See Part I. p. 19. 
 
 Chorazin, a city near the northern extremity of tlie sea of 
 Galilee, mentioned in the New Testament among the cities 
 wliere most of our Saviour's miracles liad been performed ; 
 and against which a woe was denounced in consequence of 
 the unbelief of the inhabitants. (Matt. xi. 21. Luke x. 13.) 
 This woe has been accomplished ; for Chorazin and Bethsaida 
 are now deserted ruins. 
 
 Cilicia, a country of Asia Minor, supposed to have been 
 
coo DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 121 
 
 colonized by Phenicians, and to have deiived its name from 
 Cilix, son of Agenor, a king- of Phenicia. It was bounded on 
 the north by Lycaonia and Cappadocia ; on the east by Syria ^ 
 on the south by the IMediterranean ; and on the west by Pam- 
 phylia. Its capital city was Tarsus, famous as the birth-place 
 of the apostle Paul. Cicero was proconsul of this province, 
 under the Roman government. 
 
 CiNNERETH, Cliiniierelh, or Chinneroth, a city on the north- 
 western side of the sea of Galilee, which, from it, is frequent- 
 ly called in the Old Testament, the sea of Cinneroth ; from 
 which word that of Gennesareth, in the New Testament, 
 was probably derived. This town is thought by some to have 
 been afterwards called Tiberias, though the learned Reland is 
 of a contrary opinion. The city of I'iberias undoubtedly was 
 Bituated on the shore of this sea, which is also called the sea 
 of Tiberias. 
 
 Clauda, an island in the Adriatic sea, south-west from 
 Crete ; near which St, Paul sailed in his voyage to Rome, in 
 the midst of that tempest by which he was shipwrecked at 
 Malta. Acts xxvii. 16. 
 
 Cnidus, a city of Doris in Caria, a province in the south- 
 west of Asia Minor, notorious for the worship of Venus, 
 whose famous statue by Praxiteles stood here. Extensive 
 ruins of this place yet remain. St. Paul passed it on his voy- 
 age as a prisoner to Rome. 
 
 Ccelo-Syria, Syria in the vale., a name applied particularly 
 to the valley lying between the mountainous ridges, Libanus 
 and Anti-Libanus ; but sometimes used in a larger sense for 
 the whole country lying north-east of Canaan towards Da- 
 mascus. 
 
 CoLOSSiE, a city of Phrygia, between Laodicea and Hiera- 
 polis ; situated, according to Herodotus, where the river Ly- 
 ons disappears, running under ground about half a mile, and 
 then rises again and empties into the river Meeander. It is 
 mentioned by St. Paul, with Laodicea and Hierapolis, (Col. 
 iv. 13.) and, according to Eusebius, was destroyed with the 
 other two cities, by an earthquake, in the tenth year of the 
 emperor Nero, about a year after the writing of the epistle 
 of Paul to its inhabitants : fi'om which calamity it never re- 
 vived, and is now buried in ruins. 
 
 Coos, an island of the Archipelago, lying near the south- 
 west point of Asia Minor ; passed by St. Paul in his voyage 
 
 Li 
 
122 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. COR 
 
 from Ephesus to Jerusalem. (Acts xxi. 1.) This island was the 
 birth-place of the celebrated physician Hippocrates, and the 
 painter Apelles. It is now called Stancho, and is represented 
 as a beautiful and fertile island, abounding in corn, fruit, and 
 vegetables. Grapes, figs, oranges, and lemons, are produced 
 m abundance, and numerous flocks and herds are scattered 
 over the plains. The population is estimated at 4000 ; one 
 naif Turks, and the rest Greeks and Jews. To each of these 
 nations a distinct quarter is assigned in the town of Stancho, 
 which is the capital. 
 
 Corinth, a celebrated city of Greece, the metropolis oi 
 Achaia, situated on the isthmus which joins the Peloponne- 
 sus, or Morea, to Attica on the continent. This city was one 
 of the most populous and wealthy of all Greece, owing to its 
 favourable situation for trade. It was destroyed in the year 
 146 before Christ, by the Romans ; when, during the confla- 
 gration, statues of various metals, in a melted state, acci- 
 dentally running together, formed the celebrated composition 
 called j^s Corinthium, or Corinthian brass, which was ac- 
 counted more valuable than gold. A hundred years after this 
 it was rebuilt by Julius Caesar, who planted a Roman colony 
 there, and made it the residence of tlie proconsul of Achaia. 
 [t soon regained its former splendour and prosperity, and be- 
 came the most beautiful city of Greece; being also the resi- 
 dence of many celebrated artists and philosophers. Hence 
 the address of St. Paul to them, " Ye are rich, ye are wise, 
 ye are honourable." The order of architecture chiefly used 
 in tliis city, gave the name of Cormthian to pillars of that 
 style. 
 
 St. Paul came to preach at Cormth in the year of Christ 
 52, and was much opposed by the Jews, who took liim before 
 the tribunal of the proconsul Gallio, the brother of the famous 
 philosopher Seneca ; but Gallio, equally indifferent both to Ju- 
 daism and Christianity, finding that Paul had committed no 
 breach of morality, or of the public peace, refused to hear 
 the complaint, and drove them from the judgment-seat. (Acts 
 xviii.) St. Paul was thus at liberty to remain at Corintn, 
 where he succeeded in converting many, and among others 
 Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and all his house. 
 
 The manners of the people were particularly corrupt ; in 
 the centre of the city was a celebrated temple of Venus, and 
 Xhe Isthmian games were held near it, which gave occasion 
 
COR 
 
 DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 123 
 
 to the allusion of St. Paul in chapter ix. v. 24, of his first 
 epistle to the Corinthians. 
 
 In tlie year A. D. 268, Corinth was taken and burned by 
 the Heruli ; and in 525 was again almost ruined by an earth- 
 quake. About the year IISO, it was taken and plundered by 
 Roger, king of Sicily. From the year 1458, until the period 
 of the late revolution, Corinth remained under the govern- 
 ment of the Turks ; but it is now included within the recently 
 erected kino^dom of Greece. 
 
 A very ancient medal of Corinth, representing the Chimera, a fabu- 
 lous monster with the inscription Korinthiox, and the hero Bellero- 
 phon, mounted on the winged hoi-se Pegasus, in the act of combating 
 the Chimera. This emblem was foreign to Corinth, and in all proba- 
 bilit}' denotes an eastern origin. The Chimera was of Lycia, in Asia 
 Minor. 
 
 These medals commemorate the Isthmian games, celebrated on the 
 [sthmus of Corinth, in honour of Neptune. They were celebrated 
 every fifth year, and the reward of the victor was a garland of parsley • 
 origuially a branch of the pine tree. No. 3. appears to have beon 
 Btruck at the time when Claudius Opiatus was Duumvir. 
 
124 
 
 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 CRE 
 
 ^:o. 4. 
 
 This medal appeai-s to denote tlie worsliip of the sun, which certainly 
 existed at Corinlh, as Pausanias there saw his altars. Macrobius says 
 the sun was the same as Apollo, and the name Apollo is thought to be 
 derived from the Greek palleix, shoodtig abroad his rays. Pausanias 
 mentions a temple dedicated to Apollo Carneiis, who certainly was a 
 radiated deity, and was probably the Carnaim of Scripture, or the male 
 deity of which Ashtaroih Carnaim was the female. 
 
 Crete, an island in the Mediterranean, now called Candia, 
 lying- at the entrance of the Egean sea, or Archipelago. It 
 is one of tlie noblest islands in the Mediterranean, and was 
 formerly called Hecatompolis, the island of a hundred cities ; 
 also, Macarios, or Macaronesiis, the happy island, from the 
 richness of the soil and the salubrity of the air. St. Paul 
 sailed near this island in his voyage to Italy. Acts xxvii. 
 7, &c. 
 
 Crete is believed to have been originally peopled by the 
 Caphtorim. In the time of the Greek writers, its inhabitants 
 were in bad repute; being represented by Polybius and 
 others, as addicted to piracy, robbem, gluttony, falsehood, and 
 almost every crime. So thoroughly was their character 
 establislied for lying, that, as we read in Homer, when 
 Ulysses designs to deliver a falsehood, ho ahvays assumes the 
 character of a Cretan. In common speech, the expression 
 "fo cref anise,'''' signified to tell lies. Epimenides, one of 
 their own poets, and also Callimachus, gives them the same 
 character, to which St. Paul alludes in his epistle to Titus, i. 
 12. The bad character of the Cretans, Cappadocians, and 
 Cilicians, gave rise to the old Greek proverb, tria kappa 
 KAKiSTA, beware of the three k's, i. e. Kappadocia, Kilicia, 
 and Krete. 
 
ORE 
 
 DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 125 
 
 In tnis island reigned Minos and Rhadamanthus, whosa 
 laws were in great repute among the Greeks, and who, from 
 their justice and equity, were fabled by the poets to be. 
 together with iEacus, the judges in the world of spirits. 
 Here also was the celebrated labyrinth made by Daedalus, 
 which was said to have been so intricate, from its many wind- 
 ings and turnings, that when a person had once entered, it 
 was impossible for him to find the way out again, without the 
 help of a clue of thread. In this labyrinth was confined the 
 famous fabulous monster Minotaur, which was destroyed by 
 Theseus. 
 
 A medal of Crete, representing on one side the Minotaur, and on the 
 other the labyrinth in which, according to the fable, he was cunfiiied. 
 This Minotaur was a monster, having a human body wiJi a bull's 
 head ; or according to Ovid, " Semibovemque virum, semivirumque 
 buvem," half man and half bull. Dr. Wells conceives this figure to 
 have reference to the original country from which he supposes the 
 Cretans to have come, i. e. from that of which Mount Taurus, bull, is 
 the head, as this mountain was represented by many eastern nations 
 under the figure of a bull. It is remarkable that the LXX. and other 
 interpreters of Scripture, understand the golden calf made by Israel in 
 the wilderness, as being of this figure, onfy having the head of a calf 
 
 Crete was taken by the Roman^ under Metellus, after a 
 vigorous resistance of above two years ; and formed a Roman 
 province with the small kingdom of Cjrrene, on the coast of 
 Libya. In the time of the apostle Paul, Titus, to whom the 
 epistle is addressed, was bishop of Crete : in the reign of the 
 emperor Leo, it had twelve bishops, subject to Constantino- 
 ple. In the reign of Michael II. it was seized by the Sara- 
 cens, who held it 127 years, till they were expelled by the 
 emperor Phocas. It remained under the dominion of the 
 emperor until given, by Baldwin, earl of Flanders, who had 
 been raided to the throne, to Bonifacio, Marquis of Montserrat, 
 L2 
 
126 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. CUS 
 
 who sold it to the Venetians, A. D, 1194. Under their gov- 
 ernment it flourished greatly ; but was unexpectedly attacked 
 by the Turks, in the midst of peace. The siege lasted 24 
 years, being commenced m 1646, and ending in 1670 ; hav- 
 ing cost the Turks 200,000 men. This island is 200 miles 
 long, and 50 broad. Its principal city is Candia, formerly 
 strong, rich, and populous, but now not more than the eighth 
 part of the houses are inhabited. Such is the consequence of 
 Turkish despotism, reducing the finest and most flourishing 
 places to poverty and desolation. 
 
 CusH, Cutha, or Cushan, a name applied in Scripture to 
 the posterity of Cush, the son of Ham, and also to the coun- 
 try inhabited by them. The word Cush, in most versions of 
 the Bible, has been translated Ethiopia, and as only one, or 
 at most two countries of that name are known to us, very 
 great confusion has been produced by that translation, with 
 regard to a proper understanding of several passages, as far 
 as geographical accuracy is concerned. 
 
 The family of Cush appears to have been numerous, and 
 the establishments of his descendants to have been proportion- 
 ably dispersed, not in one region only, but in several. The 
 first country which bore this name, and which doubtless was 
 tlie original settlement, was that which is described by Mo- 
 ses as encompassed by the river Gihon, or Gyndes ; which en- 
 circles a great pa,rt of Chuzestan, in Persia. In process of 
 time, the increasing family spread over the vast territory of 
 India and Arabia; the whole of which tract, from the Ganges 
 to the borders of Egypt, then became the land of Cush, or 
 Asiatic Ethiopia. Until dispossessed of this country, or a 
 great part of it, by the posterity of Abraham, the Ishmaelitea 
 and Midianites, they, by a farther dispersion, passed over into 
 Africa, which, in its turn, became the land of Cush or African 
 Ethiopia, the only country trailed Ethiopia after the commence- 
 ment of the Christian era. Even from this last refuge they 
 were compelled, by the influx of fresh settlers from Arabia, 
 Egypt, aed Canaan, to extend their migrations still further, 
 into the heart of the Ah'ican continent, wliere only, in the 
 woolly-headed negro, the genuine Cushite is to be found. 
 
 There was then a threefold land of Cush, or Ethiopia, to 
 each of which some of the transactions mentioned in Scripture 
 under that name, are to be referred. We have seen where, 
 on the authority of Moses, was the first land of Cush : that 
 Arabia was likewise so denominated, appears from Ezekiel, 
 
CUS DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 127 
 
 (xxix. 10.) whom God makes to say, " I will make tlie land 
 of Egypt desolate, from the tower of Syene even unto the 
 borders of Cush." Now as the tower of Syene was at its 
 southern extremity, the border of Cush, or its opposite one, 
 could be no other than its northern, or Arabian border. The 
 propliet Habakkuk, (iii. 7.) also joins it with Midian, which 
 was in Arabia. Besides the passages of Scripture already 
 mentioned, referring to Arabian Ethiopia, may be mentioned, 
 Numb. xii. 1. 2 Kings xix. 9. 2 Chron. xxi. 16. xiv. 9. Isa. 
 XXXV ii. 9. 
 
 At what time the term Ethiopian was applied to the Cush- 
 ite colonies in Africa, it is difficult to determine. But it ap- 
 pears certain that some at least of these colonies were plant- 
 ed by the Cuthite shepherds, who invaded Egypt from the 
 east, and held it in subjection for the space of 260 years, im- 
 mediately preceding the time of Joseph, or, according to some 
 ^^Titers, 100 years before this time; and the remainder by a 
 second invasion and a new dynasty, which extended to the time 
 of the going out of the Israelites, when, or at a former expul- 
 sion, a part of the discomfited Cuthites retreated up the Nile. 
 In 2 Chron. xii. 2, 3. it is said that Shishak, king of Egypt, 
 came up against Jerusalem, with certain African nations, 
 among whom are mentioned the Ethiopians ; and in chap, xvi. 
 8. the Lubim, or Libyans, are also associated with the Ethio- 
 pians. Daniel, (xi. 43.) with the same exclusive reference to 
 Africa, mentions the Ethiopians in conjunction with Egypt and 
 Libya. 
 
 Herodotus relates that in the army of Xerxes, which he 
 had prepared for the invasion of Greece, 480 years before 
 Christ, there were both Oriental and African Ethiopians ; and 
 adds the singular fact that they resembled each other in every 
 particular, except their hair ; that of the Asiatic Ethiopians 
 being long and straight, while the hair of those of Africa was 
 curled. This may be accounted for on the ground of a change 
 of climate and habits. 
 
 The curse denounced on the posterity of Ham, and which 
 has pursued this, the most numerous branch of his family, 
 from Persia to Arabia, and from Arabia to Africa, degenera- 
 ting at each remove, is most conspicuous in their present con- 
 dition. While employed in Arabia, as merchants and shep- 
 herds, or as carriers between the descendants of Shem and 
 Japhet, some portion of civilization yet remained with them, 
 and the distinctive marks of the family doubtless even then 
 
128 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. CUT 
 
 existed ; the dark skin and the Ethiopic physiognomy : but it 
 required a hotter clime, and a lower grade of moral degrada- 
 tion, to mould that physiognomy into that of the modern x\fri- 
 can, to give tlie skin a deeper dye, and to add to the whole 
 the woolly head. 
 
 In the time of our Saviour, and from that time to the present, 
 Ethiopia has been used, in a general sense, to comprehend the 
 countries south of Egypt, then but imperfectly known, of one 
 of which that Candace was queen, whose eunuch was bap- 
 tized by Philip. (Acts viii. 27.) This eunuch, in the Syriac 
 Testament, is called the Cushite. Mr. Bruce mentions a 
 place which he found on his return from Abyssinia, called 
 Chendi, where a tradition existed that a woman named Hen- 
 daque (which comes very near the Greek name of this queen, 
 Chandake) once governed all this country. Near this place 
 he found extensive ruins, denoting it to have once been a place 
 of consequence. 
 
 Thus, from the history of the Cushites or Ethiopians, we 
 see that they are not to be confined to either Arabia or Africa. 
 Many parts of Scripture history cannot be understood without 
 supposing them to have settlements in both ; which Herodotus 
 expressly asserts was the case. In fine, we may conclude, 
 that in the times of the prophets, and during the transactions 
 recorded in the second books of Kings and Chronicles, the Cush- 
 ites, still retaining a part of their ancient possessions in Ara- 
 bia, had crossed the Red Sea in great numbers, and obtained ex- 
 tensive possessions in Africa; where, being, in a further course 
 of time, altogether expelled from the east by the Ishmaelites 
 and others, their remains are now concentrated. It is to be 
 observed, however, that the Cushites, probably at the time of 
 their expulsion from Egypt, migrated, or sent colonies, into 
 several other parts, particularly to Phenicia, Colchis, and 
 Greece ; where, in process of time, they became blended with 
 the other inhabitants of those countries, the families of Javan, 
 Meshech, and Tubal, and their distinctive character totally 
 lost. 
 
 CuTHAH, a Chaldee name, signifying the land of Cush. 
 " The king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from 
 Cuthaii, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sephar- 
 vaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria, instead of the 
 children of Israel." (2 Kings xvii. 24.) The Cuthah here 
 meant must be a province of the Assyrian empire, which, 3S 
 some say, lies upon the Araxes, and is the same as Cush j but 
 
GYP 
 
 DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 129 
 
 others suppose it to mean the original land of Cush, or Chuses- 
 tan, about the lower Euphrates. 
 
 Cyprus, a large island in the Mediterranean, situated be- 
 tween Syria and Ciiicia, about 100 miles from the fo-rmer, and 
 60 from the latter ; extending in length, from east to west, 
 about 200 miles, and in breadth 60. It is sup-posed to have 
 been first settled by colonies of the Kittim or Chittim, whose 
 name was preserved in that of the city called Citium by the 
 Romans. Others, however, believe it to have been colonized 
 by the Phenicians. The name Cyprus, given to this island 
 by the Greeks, is said to come from the cypress-tree, which 
 grows there in great abundance. 
 
 This island was famous in the time of the Greeks and 
 Romans for the worship of Venus, who was thence called 
 Cypria, or the Cyprian goddess. Salamis was a city of this 
 island, where Paul and Barnabas preached, (Acts xiii. 4, 5, 6.) 
 and introduced Christianity instead of the heathen abomina- 
 tions of Cyprian worship. 
 
 A coin of Cyprus, representing the temple of Venus, and showing 
 that she was worshipped in this island, as in India, in the shape of a 
 mela, or conical stone. This agrees with the description of her temple 
 at Faphos, by Tacitus, who says the image of the goddess was not of 
 the human form, but a smooth stone, i. e. the mela. Maximus Tyrius 
 also says, The image of the goddess was a pyramid of white stone. The 
 crescent on the top of the temple m.arks lliis divinity for the female 
 power of nature. * 
 
 The figure on the other side, holding a flower, is 3\x^\\ex Agreus. 
 The inscription, epistr. kyprion, possibly refers to the taking of the 
 island by the Rom.ans. Zenon was a name common to some of the 
 Roman emperoi-s on the throne of Constantinople, in the fifth and sixth 
 centuries. 
 
130 
 
 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 CYR 
 
 A coin of Paphos, now called Baffb, in the island of Cyprus, showing 
 that Venus was the deity there worshipped, whence she was called the 
 Paphian Goddess. The figure with the bow is Cupid, who received 
 equal honour at the same place, as is denoted by the inscription, papa- 
 piiiON. According to Pausanias, the Paphian Venus was originally 
 worshipped in Assyria: it was adopted in Cyprus and in Ascalon by 
 the Phenicians. 
 
 Cyprus formerly contained several petty kingdoms, tributary 
 to Egypt, and afterwards to the Romans, from whom it was 
 taken by the Saracens : it subsequently passed under the domi- 
 nion of the Turi^s; and, like most of their other possessions, has 
 been reduced from the state of a populous and flourishing coun- 
 try, to that of a ruinous and desolate region. When conquered 
 by the Turks in 1570, the population was estimated at one 
 million ; but at present it is only about 40,000. In this island 
 are about forty Greek monasteries, and two Catholic convents. 
 Mr. Connor, who recently visited this island, states that he 
 was received in the kindest manner by the Greek archbishop, 
 and gives an encouraging prospect of the circulation of the 
 Scriptures among the inhabitants. 
 
 Cyrene, the capital of Libya, which gave the name of Cy- 
 renaica to the country in which it stood. It was founded by 
 a Grecian colony, and situated in a fertile plain, near the 
 Mediterranean, about 500 miles west of Alexandria. This 
 place is celebrated in profane history for the birtli of Eratos- 
 thenes, the mathematician, and Calliinachus, the poet. " From 
 the parts of Libya aboi# Cyrene" we read (Acts ii. 10.) tliat 
 Jews went up to Jerusalem at the feast of Pentecost. Of 
 this place was also Simon, the Cyreneaji, whom the Jews 
 compelled to bear the cross of our Saviour. Matt, xxvii. 32. 
 Luke xxiii. 26. 
 
DAL 
 
 DICmONARY OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 131 
 
 The district of Cyrene was sometimes called Pentapolis, 
 on account of its containing five principal cities, Cyrene, 
 Apollonia, Arsinoe, Berenice, and Ptolemais. Each of these 
 nad medals of its own, but some were common to the whole 
 country. 
 
 From these medals it appears that the people of Cyrene were fond 
 of chariot-races, and addicted to the worship of Jupiter. As this pro- 
 vince adjoined Egypt, their predilection for Jupiter Ammon is easily- 
 accounted for. The plant Silphiura and the palm-tree were common 
 here, and frequently represented on their coins. The harp of Apollo is 
 agreeable to the sports and pastimes usually accompanying the chariot- 
 races of antiquity. This apparent fondness for pomp and show, and also 
 of the arts, in a people of that part of Africa, may be accounted for by 
 the fact that they were a Greek colony. 
 
 Dabbasheth, a city in the tribe of Zebulon, near the bor- 
 der of Issachar. Josh. xix. 11. 
 
 Dabereth, a city of Issachar on the border of Zebulon. 
 (Josh. xix. 12. xxi. 28.) This was a city of the Levites, and 
 is thought to be the same which Jerom calls Debira, towards 
 Mount ^Tabor. 
 
 Dalmanutha, a place near Magdala, or included in its ter- 
 ritory ; and proljably situated on Sie east side of the sea of 
 Galilee. See Magdala. 
 
132 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. BAM 
 
 Dalmatia, the southern part of Illyricum, a province lying 
 on the eastern coast of the Adriatic, or Gulf of Venice. Thia 
 js the country to which Titus went and preached the gospel, 
 ^ Tim. iv. 10.) since which time the Christian religion has 
 been continued here. 
 
 Damascus, a celebrated city in Syria, and one of the most 
 ancient and venerable, on account of its antiquity, in the 
 whole world, being noted as the birth-place of Eliezer, the 
 steward of Abraham, (Gen. xv. 2.) and founded, according to 
 Josephus, by Uz, the son of Aram, and grandson of Shem. 
 .^t is also remarka,ble for being the only city of equal antiquity 
 which retains to the present day a high degree of eminence 
 for its wealth and population. 
 
 It is situated on tlie western side of a vast plain, open to an 
 immense distance on the south and east, but inclosed on the 
 west and north, by the mountains of Anti-Libanus. At about 
 two miles' distance, the river Barrady issues from these moun- 
 tains, and supplies the city and the numerous gardens around 
 it with abundance of water, which renders it the most fertile 
 and delightful spot in all Syria. The Turks and Arabs be- 
 lieve it to have been the original Paradise, and that it has not 
 its equal on earth. They also have a tradition that their 
 prophet, Mahomet, coming in siglit of the city, vv^as so struck 
 with the exceeding beauty and richness of the place, that he 
 resolved not to enter it, lest he should be tempted to resign 
 the heavenly Paradise, to which he aspired, for the paradise 
 of earth, which he saw before him. 
 
 The principal cause of the flourishing state of Damascus 
 arises from the pilgrims from the northern parts of Asia, v/ho 
 unite at this point, from whence they proceed in a body to 
 Mecca. Their number amounts in each year to 30 or 50,0(><;, 
 many of whom remain three or four months in the city, be- 
 fore the period of their departure arrives, when they set out 
 across the desert in one great caravan, a journey of 40 days 
 to Mecca, and as many back. Each of this army of pilgrims, 
 in order to receive some wordly as well as spiritual benefit 
 from his journey, loads his camel or his mule with the pro- 
 ductions of his own country, which he disposes of on hia 
 route, and returns freighted with the goods of India, of which 
 Jidda, the port of Mecca, is the great depot. Thus this im- 
 mense caravan engrosses to itself the trade of the countries 
 through which it passes ; and of all this trade Damascus is 
 the centre, and, together with Aleppo, derives considerable 
 
DAM DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE, 138 
 
 advantage fi-om it. This is, in fact, the present channel of 
 that communication, partly over land-, and partly by the Ara- 
 bian Gulf and Red Sea, between India and the countries of 
 the north and west, which has existed from the earliest ages, 
 of which Babylon, Palmyra, Tyre, Sidon, Alexandria, and 
 even Jerusalem, have, at difierent times, been the prmcipal 
 marts. - • 
 
 Damascus, in its earliest history, appears to have apper- 
 tained to the kingdom of Zobah. 2 Sam. viii. 5, 6. 1 Kings 
 xi.(-23, 24.) From the latter passa,ge of Scripture, it appears 
 that the Syrian kingdom of Damascus originated either dur- 
 ing the reign of David or Solomon : the city and the rest of 
 Syria having before been subject to a king whose residence 
 was at Zobah ; though in still earlier times it is probable that 
 Damascus, vvhicli was at least as ancient as Zobah, was an 
 independent city. It contmued to be the capital of the Syrian 
 kingdom until about the year 740 before Christ, when Ti- 
 glath-Pileser took it, and killed Rezin the king : after which 
 it was subject to the kings of Assv^ria,' until the overthrow of 
 tJiat empire. 
 
 In the early ages of Christianity, Da.mascus was the seat 
 of a patriarch ; and the church of St. John the Baptist still- 
 exists, though now converted into a Turkish mosque. In this 
 church are said to be preserved the head of St. John, and 
 some other relics, esteemed so holy that it is deatli, even for a 
 Turk, to presume to go into the room where they are kept. 
 Here is shown the house of Ananias, (Acts ix. 17.) and also 
 the place where he restored sight to St. Paul, (Acts ix. 17.) 
 as well as the place where Paul v/as let down in a basket. 
 (Acts ix. 25.) The place of his vision and miraculous con- 
 version is about half a mile from the city, eastward ; a.nd the 
 place where he rested, in his way to the city, after the vision, 
 (Acts ix. 8.) is about a quarter of a mile. The street called 
 Etraiffht, (Acts ix.ll.) yet exists, and is about half a mile long, 
 ruiming from east to west through the city. In this street is 
 shown the house of Judas, with whom St. Paul lodged, and 
 in the same house an ancient tomb, said to be that of Ananias. 
 
 The city is now called Sham, and is four or five miles in 
 circumference ; being reputed to contain 80,000 inhabitants : 
 it lies about 60 miles east from Sidon, and 150 north-east 
 from Jerusalem. It was visited in 1820, by the Rev. James 
 Connor, agent of the Church Missionary Society, who gives 
 an encouraging view of the success of his exertions at this 
 M 
 
134 
 
 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 DAM 
 
 place. The patriarch of Antioch, the head of the Christian 
 church in the East, who resides at Damascus, received him in 
 the most friendly manner. He undertook to promote and 
 encourage the circulation of the Holy Scriptures to the 
 utmost extent of his power ; and he immediately sent letters 
 to his bishops and archbishops, urging- them to promote the 
 objects of the Bible Society in their respective stations. This 
 is a most gratifying prospect, as there could not be a more 
 favourable spot selected for dispersing (by means of the im- 
 mense confluence of merchants and pilgrims at this place) the 
 Scriptures through all the countries of Asia. 
 
 No. 1. A medal of Damascus, representing on the reverse the tur- 
 reted goddess ,• holding out her right hand, in her left the cornucopia, 
 and at her feet the personification of a river. The inscription, Basile- 
 os ARETOU PHiLELLExos, denotes it to be a medal of king Aretas ; but 
 as there were several kings of Damascus or Arabia of that name, we 
 mast examine the date, which is ap, 130, of the era of the Seleucidae, and 
 therefore brings us to the lime of the Aretas mentioned in 2 Mace. v. 
 8. and who lived 170 years before Christ. The king Aretas whose go- 
 vernor at Damascus is mentioned as nearly seizing St. Paul, (2 Cor. xi. 
 32. Acts ix. 25.) was another of that name. 
 
DAN DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 135 
 
 No. 2. In the upper part of this medal is a temple, in which is Sile- 
 nus ; helow, a grotto, in which reclines a female figure, holding in her 
 right hand eai"s of corn, iii her left a cornucopia; I'esling on an urn, 
 from which flows a stream of water; before this grotto, an altar, no 
 doubt in honour of the goddess: inscription, the same as No. 2, with the 
 additional motlo, fegai, foimiains or springs. The meaning of the 
 whole seems to be the same as No. 1 and 2; the urn holding the place 
 of the figure denoting the n\ er on No. 1. It is, however, probable that 
 they refer to the river Barrady, by which the vineyards and gardens of 
 the city of Damascus were watered ; and to which, consequently, the 
 inhabitants were indebted for their fruits and wines. 
 
 No. 3. On this, medal we have five cities, represented by female 
 figures, offering in a solemn manner, before an altar, a collection of 
 Iruits to the goddess sitting on a rock ; before whom stands a Silenus, with 
 his wine-bolile ; and behind whom flies the winged horse. The goddess 
 points with her rigiit hand ; in her left she holds the cornucopia. This 
 medal probably imports a commemoration, by Damascus and other Sy- 
 rian cities, of the original gbddess of plenty, &c. in regions much fur- 
 ther east; and that they are offering the fruits of their gardens to that 
 origin from whence they fii-st recei\ed them. Thealtar plainly denotes 
 an act of worship : the Silenus refers to Bacchus, who was certainly a 
 deity of the east. Inscription, Damascus, a colony and metropolis. 
 
 The species of plum called damascene, as well as the da- 
 mask rose, was orignally transplanted from the gardens of 
 this city to Europe ; and the flowered silks and linens called 
 damasks were originally among the manufactures of Damas- 
 cus, and thence derived their name. 
 
 Dan, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. See Part I. p. 64. 
 
 Dan, a city called Laish, or Leshem, before it was pos- 
 sessed by the Danites, who oalled it after the name of their 
 father, or tribe. (Josh. xix. 47. Judges xviii. 29.) It was 
 situated at the extreme northern point of the Jewish territo- 
 ry, near the head of the Jordan. From this, its extreme 
 northern position, and that of Beersheba in the south, the two 
 places are frequently thus mentioned in Scripture, namely, 
 "froiTi Dan even unto Beersheba," to describe the whole 
 length of the country. 
 
 It was at this place that Chedorlaomer, after he had invaded 
 the Land of Canaan and defeated the five kings, having taken 
 away Lot as a prisoner, was overtaken by Abraham, who fell 
 upon him by night, routed him, and recovered Lot and all 
 his property. (Gen. xiv.) Here Jeroboam set up one of hia 
 golden calves. (1 Kmgs xii. 29.) After the death of Herod, 
 when his kingdom was divided, this city fell to the lot of his 
 youngest son Philip, who made it the capital of his tetrarehy 
 of Iturea and Trachonitis. He enlarged and beautified it 
 
136 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. DEA 
 
 and gave it the name of Caesarea Pliilippi, under which name 
 it is mentioned in the New Testament ; being honoured by 
 the presence of our Saviour (Mark viii. 27.) Tiiis place is 
 called by the heathen Pancas ; its modern name is Banias ; 
 situated at the foot of the western brancli of j^.loimt Her- 
 mon. 
 
 DiNNAH, a city of Judah. See Dehir. 
 
 Dead !Sea, anciently called the Sea of the Plain (Dent, 
 iii. 17. and iv. 49.) fforn its situation in the great valley or 
 plam of the Jordan; the Salt Sea (Deut. iii. 17. Josh. xv. 5.) 
 from the extreme saltness of its waters; and the East Sea 
 (Ezek. xlvii. 18. Joel ii. 20.) from its situation on the east of 
 Judea. By Josephus, and the Greek and Latin writers 
 generally, it is called Lacus Asphaltites, from the bitumen 
 found in it; and the name Dead Sea by which it is usually 
 called at present, comes from a tradition, commonly, though 
 erroneously received, that no living creature could exist in 
 its saline and sulphurous waters. 
 
 This sea is about 70 miles in length, and 20 in breadth at 
 its widest part; having, like the Caspian, no visible com- 
 munication with the ocean. Its depth seems to be altogether 
 •anknown ; nor does it appear that a boat has ever navigated 
 its surface. Towards its southern extremity, however, in a 
 narrow part of it, is a ford about six miles over, used by tlite 
 Arabs ; who say tiiat in the middle the water is warm, indi- 
 cating the presence of warm springs beneath. In general, 
 towards the shore, it is shallow ; and rises and falls with the 
 seasons, and the quantity of water carried into it by the Jor- 
 dan and other streams. It also appears either to be on the 
 increase, or to be lower in some years than in others ; which 
 makes it probable that those travellers are to be credited 
 who assert that they have beheld the ruins of cities, either 
 exposed or engulfed beneath the waters. Troilo and D'Ar- 
 vieux assert that they observed fragments of walls, &:c. 
 Josephus says that he perceived traces or shades of the cities 
 on the baniis of the lake. Strabo gives a circumference of 
 about seven miles to the ruins of Sodom ; and two aged and 
 respectable inhabitants of Jerusalem told Mr. Maundrell, the 
 traveller, tliat tliey had once been able to see some parts of 
 these ruins ; that they were near the shore, and the water so 
 shallow at the time, tliat they, together with some French- 
 men, went into it and found several pillars and fragments of 
 buildings. These authorities are not to be despised, and we 
 
DEB DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 137 
 
 may suppose, that, at the first destruction of these guilty 
 cities, they were not entirely overwhelmed with the waters, 
 but remained more or less exposed to view, as monuments of 
 the judgments of God ; and that from the slow increase of 
 the waters for nearly 4000 years, they have gradually 
 receded from our sight, and are now only to be seen through 
 the water, if seen at all, after seasons of long continued 
 drought. 
 
 This sea now covers what w^as once the vale of Siddim, 
 containing the five cities of the plain, Sodom, Gomorrah, 
 Admah, Zeboim, and Bela or Zoar. See Part I. p. 31. Its 
 water is far more salt than that of the ocean ; 100 pounds of 
 the water yielding 41 poimds of salts ; while 100 pounds of 
 water from the Atlantic only yields 6 pounds of salts. The 
 specific gravity of the water is 1.211, that of common water 
 being 1.000. A bottle of it, having been brought to England, 
 was analyzed by Dr. Marcet, who, from 100 grains of the 
 water, obtained the follovv^ing result : 
 
 Grains. 
 
 Muriate of lime, 3.920 
 
 Muriate of Magnesia, 10.246 
 
 Muriate of Soda, 10.360 
 
 Sulphate of lime, 0.054 
 
 It was long affirmed that no fish were found in its waters, 
 and even that birds fell dead in flying over it. Modern 
 travellers have refuted these tales ; for Mr. Maundrell observ- 
 ed birds flying over and about it, and found, on the shore, 
 shells which had once contained fish. Chateaubriand, hear- 
 ing a noise on the lake at midnight, was told by the people 
 of Bethlehem, that it proceeded from legions of small fish, 
 which come and leap about near the shore. 
 
 The Dead Sea is situated on the east of the land of Canaan, 
 between two ridges of mountains ; of which those on the 
 eastern or Arabian side are the highest and most rocky. The 
 whole region bears an aspect of the utmost sterility, showing 
 not a speck of vegetation, or the habitation of man or beast. 
 Every traveller who has visited it represents it as most fright- 
 ful and desolate, as if the country which was so signally 
 wicked as to require the exterminating hand of God to 
 cleanse it, should bear upon it, in all ages, the marks of his 
 displeasure. 
 
 Debir, a city taken by Joshua from the Canaanites, and 
 afterwards given to the tribe of Judah. See Part I. p. 57. 
 There was also a city of this name in the tribe of Grad, (Josh. 
 M2 
 
138 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. DIN 
 
 xiii. 26.) and another in Judah or Benjamin not far from 
 Jericho. Josh. xv. 7. 
 
 Decapolis, a country so called from its containing ten 
 cities, some of which lay within the Holy Land, and others 
 without; partly in Iturca. and partly in Percea. These ten 
 cities confederated together, and preserved tJieir indepen- 
 dence during the time of the Asmonean princes, who govern- 
 ed the Jewish nation from the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, 
 king of Syria, to that of Herod. Geographers are not agreed 
 in their lists of these cities. The authority of Josephus is 
 perhaps the best, and Pliny nearly agrees with him : he gives 
 the following, Damascus, Otopos, Philadelphia, Raphana, 
 Gadara, Hippos, Dios, Pella, Gerasa, and Scythopolis. This 
 country is mentioned in Matt. iv. 25. and Mark v. 20. 
 
 Dedan, Dedanim, the country inhabited by the posterity 
 of Dedan, the son of Raamah, and grandson of Gush. 8ee 
 Part I. p. 24. 
 
 Dehavites, a people mentioned in Ezra iv. 9. probably the 
 same who are said (2 Kings xvii. 24.) to have been brought 
 by the king cf Assyria from Ava, in that part of Assyria 
 watered by the river Diaba. 
 
 Derbe, a city of Lycaonia, in Asia Minor, to which St. 
 Paul and Barnabas tied, after being driven from Iconium, 
 (Acts xiv. 6.) Gains, a disciple of St. Paul, and St. John the 
 evangelist, also Timothy, were natives of Derbe. It was 
 situated 20 miles south of Lystra. 
 
 DiBLATHAiM, or BiblatJw, a town on the east of Jordan, 
 near Mount Nebo. Numb, xxxiii. 46. Ezek. vi. 14. Jer. 
 xlviii. 22. 
 
 DiBON, or Dihon Gad., a city of Moah, east of Jordan, given 
 to the tribe of Gad, (Numb, xxxii. 3. 33, 34.) and afterwards 
 yielded up to Reuben. (Josh. xiii. 9.) It was one of the 
 encampments of the Israelites. Jerom says that it was called 
 also Dimon. Eusebius says that in his day it was a large 
 town, situated on the banks of the Arnon. There was an- 
 other town of this name in the tribe of Judah, which is thought 
 to be tlie same as Debir. 
 
 DiLEAxN, a city of Judah. Josh. xv. 88. 
 
 DiMNAH, a city of Zcbulon, (Josh. xxi. 35.) given to the 
 Levites of the family of JMerari. 
 
 Dimon, or Dimonah, a city of Judah, (Josh. xv. 22. Lsa. 
 XT. 9.) thought to be the same as Dibon. 
 
 DiNABAH, a city of Edom. Gen. xxxvi. 32. 1 Chron. i. 43. 
 
EBA 
 
 DiCTIONARY OF THE BIBI-E, 
 
 139 
 
 DiNAiTES, a people who opposed the rebuilding of the tem- 
 ple in Jerusalem, after the return of the people from Babylon. 
 Ezra iv, 
 
 DoDANiM, the descendants of Dodan, the son of Javan, and 
 grandson of Japhet ; settled in Asia Minor, See Part I. p. 19. 
 
 DopHKA, one of the encampments of the Israelites in the 
 wilderness. See Part I. p. 44. 
 
 Dor, a city on the Mediterranean in the west of Canaan. 
 See Part I. p. 59. 
 
 A medal, with the in- 
 scription DOREITON, of 
 
 Dor; showing that As- 
 tarts or Venus was w-or- 
 shipped here, as the prin- 
 ciple of fertility ; as in 
 the neighbouring cities 
 on this coast. The head 
 is of i'»[ero: the goddess 
 olds in her right hand 
 the staff crossed at the 
 top ; in her left, the cornucopia. The date, a a p, 13], refers to the era 
 of Pompey, who gave liberty ro this town, with inany others of Syria, 
 in the year of Rome 690: this date is the twelfth of Nero. 
 
 DoTHAN, a tow^n in Canaan. See Part I. p. 38. 
 
 DuMAH, a city in the tribe of Judah. Josh. xv. 52. 
 
 Dura, a great plain in the neighbourhood of Babylon, 
 where the golden image of Nebuchadnezzar was set up to be 
 worshipped ; which Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refus- 
 ing to do, they were ca.st into a fiery furnace. Dan. iii. 1, &c. 
 
 Ebal, a mountain in the tribe of Ephraim, near Shechem ; 
 opposite mount Gerizim, only the valley of Shechem lying 
 between. This mountain was the place from which the 
 curses of God were to be proclauned to the children of Israel 
 on their entering the land of Canaan ; and here also was an 
 altar of twelve stones erected, for burnt-offerings, and on 
 which a copy of the law was Vv^itten by Joshua. Deut. xxvii. 
 Josh. viii. 
 
 The two mountams, Ebal and Gerizim, are similar in length, 
 height, and form ; their figure is a semicircle, and they are 
 
140 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY ECB 
 
 estimated to be about 800 feet hisfh. IModern travellers have 
 not found on them any vestig-es of building-s. 
 
 Ebenezer, the stone of help, a place m the north of Judah, 
 near Bethshemesh, where Samuel, in remembrance of the de- 
 livery of Israel from the Philistines, set up a stone, which he 
 called Eben-ezer ; saying, "hitherto the Lord hath helped us." 
 1 Sam. vii. 11, 12. 
 
 EcBATANA, or Aclimethci, the ancient capital of Media ; said 
 to have been built by Dejoces, or Arphaxad, the fourth king 
 of Media, after its revolt from Assyria. Next to Nineveh 
 and Babylon, this may be considered the strongest and most 
 beautiful city of the east in those early times. It is said to 
 have been 24 miles in circuit ; and the walls, as described in 
 the book of Judith, were 70 cubits high, and 50 broad, built 
 of hewn stones 6 cubits long and 3 broad, with towers 100 
 cubits high, and gates 70 cubits, and 40 in breadth. Accord- 
 ing to Herodotus, within this outer wall there were six others 
 rising one above another ; and in the centre of the whole was 
 the palace, where Dejoces shut himself up, and made himself 
 invisible to his subjects: all the business of state being trans- 
 acted through the means of privileged messengers. 
 
 Ecbatana continued to be the residence of the Median kings 
 during the reign of Dejoces, Pliraortes, Cyaxaras I., Astyages, 
 and Cyaxares II., a period of about 170 years. But after the 
 union of Media with Persia, under Cyrus and his successors, 
 it was only the summer residence of the Persian kings, being 
 preferred to Susa, the winter residence, on account of its cool- 
 ness, lying further to the north, and being on much higher 
 ground. It w^as visited by Alexander, in his expedition into 
 Asia, and it was here that Jie barbarously murdered his physi- 
 cian for the death of Hephestion. The Seleucidce, the suc- 
 cessors of Alexander, having fixed the seat of empire further 
 to the west, Ecbatana declined, as it conthmed to do under 
 the Parthians. Its history is obscure from the time of the 
 Parthians to that of Timour, or Tamerlane, in the 14th cen- 
 tury, by whom it was taken and destroyed, and has never 
 since been of much consequence. It is at present called Ha- 
 madan, and contains about 40,000 inhabitants. It is a mart of 
 commerce between Ispahan and Bagdad, and between the lat- 
 ter and Teheran. 
 
 Modern travellers describe Ecbatana as abounding in ruins 
 of great antiquity, and which fully confirm the accounts of its 
 ancient magnificence and extent. Here are yet shown the 
 
EDE DicTioN.ya.Y OF the bible. 141 
 
 tombs of Mordecai and Esther, standing near the centre of the 
 modern city, and covered by a dome, on which is the follow- 
 ing- inscription in Hebrew : " This dvj, 15th of the month 
 Adar, in the year 4474 from the creation of the world, was 
 finished the building of this temple over the graves of Mor- 
 decai and Esther, by the hands of the good4iearted brothers, 
 Elias and Samuel, the sons of the deceased Tsmael of Kashan." 
 This inscription proves the dome to have been built 1360 years. 
 Within this building are two sarcophagi, or cofnns, made of 
 a very dark coloured wood, evidently of great antiquity, carved 
 with much intricacy of pattern and richness of twisted orna- 
 ment, wiili a line of inscription in Hebrew running round the 
 upper ledge of each. Many other inscriptions in the same 
 language, are cut on the walls ; v/hile one of the most ancient, 
 engraved on a slab of white marble, is let into the wall itself. 
 Tills inscription is as follows : " Mordecai, beloved and honour- 
 ed by a king, was great and good. His garments Vv'ere as 
 those of a sovereign. Ahasuerus covered him with this rich 
 dress, and also placed a golden cham around his neck. The 
 city of Susa rejoiced at his honours, and his high fortune 
 became the glory of the Jews." The inscriptions on the ccrf- 
 fins of Mordecai and Esther contain their names, and several 
 ;pious sentences, expressive of their trust in God ; with some 
 references to particular incidents in their lives. The key of 
 these tombs is always kept by the head person of the Jews 
 resident in Hamadan ; and on the day of the feast of Purim, 
 which is kept on the l&th and 14th of the month Adar, to 
 commemorate the deliverance of the Jews irom the general 
 massacre ordered by Ahasuerus ; Jev/ish pilgrim.s resort 
 from all quarters to the tombs of Mordecai and Esther, by 
 whose intercession they were rescued. This custom has ex- 
 isted for centuries, and is a strong presumptive proof that the 
 tradition of their burial at this place rests on some authentic 
 foundation. 
 
 Eden, the country in Avhich the garden was situated, which 
 was the first abode of Adam and Eve after the creation. In 
 addition to v/hat has been said on this subject in Part I. we 
 may observe, that Vv'hatever difference of opinion may exist 
 with regard to the exact position of the garden., we think 
 there can be little ditnculty in deciding upon the countnj of 
 Eden. The sacred historian says, " God planted a garden 
 eastward in Eden ;" which term eastward will apply to any 
 cf the countries on the Euphrates, from Armenia to Babylo- 
 
142 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. EGlf 
 
 nia ; and as nothing more is said of it in this place, we must 
 endeavour to discover its position from what is said in other 
 passages where the word Eden occurs. Eden is mentioned 
 in 2 Kings xix. 12. in conjunction with Gozan, Haran, and 
 Rezeph ; the situation of which is well known, and may fur- 
 nish a key to the other. Gozan was in Media; and Rezeph 
 or Rezipha, and Haran, in Mesopotamia ; and it seems quite 
 plain that in this passage, Sennacherib was describing his con- 
 quests on the eastern and northern borders of his kingdom, 
 from Media to the Upper Euphrates. In Ezekiel xxvii. Eden 
 is again mentioned in conjunction v/ith Haran, together with 
 Canneh, Sheba, Ashur, and Chilmad. Canneh was in Me- 
 sopotamia ; Sheba and Chilmad are obscure ; but Ashur still 
 confines us to the upper part of the Euphrates or Tigris. It 
 is quite sufficient that from all this we can determine, that 
 the only country of Eden mentioned in Scripture, to which 
 the term eastvrard can be applied with respect to Canaan or 
 its vicinity, where ]\Ioses wrote, was not in Babylonia, but 
 somewhere in Media, Armenia, or Mesopotamia. 
 
 Eden, a valley in Syria, between the mountains of Libanus 
 and Anti-Libanus, not far from Damascus. This place is re- 
 ferred to in Amos i. 5. Huetius observes, that this valley de- 
 served the name of Eden, or rather Beth Eden, the house of 
 pleasure, by reason of its fertility and pleasantness. 
 
 Edom, the country possessed by the descendants of Esau. 
 See Part 1. p. 36. 
 
 Edrei, a city east of Jordan, belonging to the tribe of Man- 
 asseh. (Josh. xiii. 31.) This city, and Ashtaroth, were the 
 two capitals of the kingdom of Bashan. There was also a 
 city of this name in thelribe of Naphtali. Josh. xix. 87. 
 
 Eglaim, (Josh. XV. 39.) or GaUim, (1 Sam. x.w. 44.) a city 
 in the Land of Moab, east of tlie Dead Sea. 
 
 Eglon, a city taken by Joshua, See Part. I. p. 57. 
 
 Egypt, a country in the north of Africa ; bounded north by 
 the Mediterranean sea; east by the Red Sea and the Isthmus 
 of Suez ; soutli by Ethiopia ; and west by Libya ; being about 
 700 miles in length and 250 in breadth. This country is 
 called in the Hebrew Scriptures, the Land of Misraim, and 
 the Land of Ham ; by the Turks and Arabs at tlie present 
 day, Masr, and Misr ; and by the native Egyptians, Chemi, or 
 the Land of Ham. The name Egypt is supposed to be de- 
 rived from the Greek word aia, signifying a land or country 
 and KOPTCs, the name of a city in Egypt ; which was softened 
 
EGY DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. ^ 143 
 
 by the Greeks into aigtjptos, from which the Latins made 
 iEgyptus. Faber derives the name from ai-capht, or the land 
 of the Caphtorim, from which also the modern Egyptians de- 
 rive their name of Cophts. Otliers suppose the name to have 
 been originally, ai-gupt, the land of the vulture, or hawk, 
 which was the national emblem of Egypt, and considered as 
 its tutelary divinity. 
 
 This country was first peopled after the deluge by Misraim, 
 or Misr, the son of Ham ; who is supposed to be the same as 
 Menes, recorded in the Egyptian history as the first king. 
 The subsequent history and condition of the country, for 
 many ages, is involved in fable ; but from the most authentic 
 accounts, it appears that it was governed by its own princes, 
 for about 100 years from the time of Misraim, when it was 
 subdued by the shepherds or Cushites, w^ho invaded it from 
 Arabia or Chaldea; and after ruling it for many years, were 
 expelled by Amosis. The historian Manetho, as cited by Jo- 
 sephus, speaks of this invasion of the shepherds, who, he says, 
 were called Hyc-sos, that is, shepherd kings ; and makes their 
 residence in Egypt to amount to 511 years. 
 
 It was during the reign of one of the kings of the shepherd 
 race, called Pharaoh in Scripture, as were all the Egyptian 
 kings, that Abraham went into Egypt with his wife Sarah, 
 being driven out of the Land of Canaan by famine. About 
 190 years after this, and very soon after the expulsion of the 
 shepherds, Joseph was brought into Egypt as a slave by the 
 Ishmaelites, to whom his bretiiren had sold him ; and the prin- 
 cipal events recorded of his life, are handed dowm by tradi- 
 tions yet existing in the country. After he had risen from 
 this humble station, to that of governor of Egypt, Jacob, his 
 father, with all his family, amounting to 70 persons, came into 
 Egypt at his invitation, that they might spend the remaining 
 five of the seven years of famine in plenty. They had a se- 
 parate residence assigned them in the east of Egypt, not being 
 permitted to reside with the people of the country, " every 
 shepherd being an abomination to the Egyptians." The reason 
 of this dislike probably arose from their long subjection to the 
 shepherd kings before mentioned, whose principal residence 
 was in this pastoral district of Goshen; or at least they were 
 concentrated here, previous to their final expulsion from the 
 country. 
 
 In this fertile land the Israelites " increased abundantly, 
 and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty ; and the land 
 
144 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. EGY 
 
 was filled with them." They had been well treated, and en- 
 joyed their own territory, and their own religion, and fed their 
 own flocks in peace. 
 
 But after this there came a new king " who knew not 
 Joseph," and by whom the children of Israel were reduced to 
 a state of bitter bondage, aliiicting them with burdens, and 
 settuig over them task-masters, &c. This " new king" was 
 probably the first of a new dynasty of Philitim, or eastern 
 shepherds, who, according to Manetlio, invaded Egypt a 
 second time, and held it till they were finally expelled, about 
 the time that the Israelites quitted Egypt ; the last king of the 
 race being that Pharaoh who was drowned in the Red Sea 
 with all his army. It is highly probable that tlio native 
 Egyptians seized this occasion, when the government of their 
 oppressor was weakened by the destruction of the king and 
 his army, to expel the tyrannical invaders from their comitry 
 a second time. 
 
 The successor of this Pharaoh was the celebrated Sesostris, 
 one of the most famous conquerors of antiquity, who carried 
 his arms over a great part of Asia, and even penetrated into 
 Europe, which no eastern monarch had done before. Nothing 
 of consequence, as connected with Scripture history, occurs 
 after this, (except the marriage of Solomon with the daughter 
 of one of the Pharaohs,) for the space of about 470 years, 
 when Shishak invaded Judea with an immense army of 
 Egyptians and other African nations. (2 Chron. xii.) In the 
 reign of Hezekiah, king of Judah, about 724 before Christ, 
 Sebachon the Ethiopian conquered Egypt, and united the 
 two countries under one prince. This is the king called in 
 Scripture, So ; with wliom Hoshea entered into alliance in 
 order to shake off the Assyrian yoke. (2 Kings xvii. 4.) In 
 the reign of Sevechus, the son of Sebachon or So, Senna- 
 cherib, king of Assyria, invaded Egypt and ravaged the coun- 
 try, destroying the city of No, as mentioned by the prophet 
 Nahum. Not long after this we find Pliaraoli Neclio, who 
 was the son and successor of Psammeticus, invading the do- 
 minions of the eastern princes, and fatally vanquishing Josiah 
 king of Judah, at ]\Iegiddo. (2 Chron. xxxv. 21.) This prince 
 extended his conquests to the Euphrates, but was overcome 
 by Nebuchadnezzarof Babylon, and driven back to bis own fron- 
 tier, after wlrich, says the Scripture, " the king of Egypt came 
 not again any more out of his land." (2 Kings xxiv. 7.) This 
 eeems to have terminated the power of Egypt, which nwer 
 
EGY DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. l45 
 
 afterwards appeared as a conquering, and not long as an in- 
 dependent country. 
 
 In the year 525 before Christ, Egypt was invaded by the 
 Persians, under Cyrus; by whom it was held until conquered 
 by Alexander the Great, B. C. 332 ; Avho built Alexandria, 
 and conferred many favours on the country, by which it was 
 much improved. 
 
 On the death of Alexander, Ptolemy governed Egypt as a 
 province, and at last assumed the title of king. His descend- 
 ants occupied the throne for 294 years, until Egypt became a 
 Roman province, after the death of Cleopatra. During the 
 dynasty of the Ptolemies, this country again enjoyed some- 
 thing of its former renown for learning and power. The first 
 of the race, Ptolemy Soter, was just, prudent, and merciful — ■■ 
 rare qualities m eastern princes in those days. During his 
 long reign of 40 years, he did much for Egypt, especially for 
 the capital, Alexandria ; where he founded a college for the 
 study of philosophy and the sciences ; and made the first col^ 
 lections towards the library, which afterwards became so 
 famous for its magnificence and for its unfortunate fate. The 
 second Ptolemy, surnamed Philadelphus, pursued the mea- 
 sures of his father for the improvement of learning and com* 
 merce. He made such additions to the library, that at the 
 time of his death it amounted to 100,000 volumes ; amongst 
 which was the Holy Scriptures of the Jews ; and it was he 
 who caused the Greek version of the Scriptures to be made 
 at Alexandria, which goes by the name of the Septuaguit, 
 from the LXX. persons employed in the translation. The 
 third of the Ptolemies was Euergetes, who, like his predeces- 
 sors, was a friend and supporter of learning ; but after him 
 the race degenerated, and that ray of light and liberty which 
 had dawned upon Egypt was extinguished ; his successors 
 being generally cruel and vicious. Cleopatra was the last of 
 the race, and at her death Egypt was made a Roman province 
 by Csesar Octavianus, 30 years before Christ. It was under 
 the Roman government when visited by Joseph and Mary, 
 with the infant Jesus ; and continued annexed to that empire 
 for about 470 years ; when, in the reign of the emperor Hera- 
 clius, it was conquered by the Arabs under Amrou, the gene- 
 ral of the Saracen Caliph, Omar. The Saracens retained it 
 under subjection till the year A. D. 1250, when the Mame- 
 lukes or foreign guards, deposed the sultan, overthrew the 
 government, and appointed a sultan of their own. This form 
 
 N 
 
146 SCRlPTtRE GEOGRAPiir. EG¥ 
 
 of government continued till the year 1517, when the Mame- 
 lukes were reduced by the Turks, and Egypt was annexed 
 to the Ottoman empire. It was g-overned by a succession of 
 pachas, and gradually declined in the scale of prosperity and 
 power. The invasion and temporary occupation of Egypt by 
 Napoleon Bonaparte, must be familiar to every reader; as 
 must likewise be tliose more recent events which have re- 
 vived in a degree the importance of Egypt, and which, under 
 the vigorous government of her present ruler, have effected 
 her virtual independence of Turkey. 
 
 Eg'ypt appears to have been, at a very early period, the seat 
 of science and learning; as we read in Scripture that Moses 
 " was learned in all the Vv'isdora of the Egyptians ;" and it is 
 remarkable that our first acquaintance witli this people intro- 
 duces us to them as a people already arrived, comparatively, 
 at a high degree of excellence in every branch of useful and 
 refined knowledge. Astronomy, agriculture, medicine, juris- 
 prudence, architecture, geometry, painting, and sculpture, 
 with many useful and ornamental manufactures, were carried 
 to a degree of perfection in which, for many centuries at 
 least, they must have remained umequalled by the other na- 
 tions of the earth. The Chaldeans were their early rivals in 
 the sciences, and the Sidonians and Tyrians, in the arts, man- 
 ufactures, and commerce. 
 
 This country was also fortunate in its geographical position,- 
 which, forming the centre of communication between the east 
 and the west, rave it a more extended intercourse with the 
 Imown parts of the earth. It v/as much favoured by the share 
 which it enjoyed of the trade with the east ; the products 
 of w^hich, hiv% arriving at the Assyrian or Chaldean capitals, 
 were from tlience conveyed to Egypt by the Cushite, and 
 afterwards by tjie Midianite and Ishmaelite traders, who, 
 like their descendants, tlie Arabs of the present day, witli 
 their caravaas of horses and camels, were the common carri- 
 ers of all that part of the world. To a party of these travel 
 ling merchants was Josei)h sold ; and of the same people Isai- 
 ah speaks as the " travelling companies of Dedanim," (chap, 
 xxi.) descendants of Dedan, the grandson of Cush, or of De- 
 dan, the son of Jokshan, the brother of Midian. But perhaps 
 a still greater cause of the wealth and prosperity of Egypt, 
 was the astonishing fertility of its soil, which was such as to 
 afford immense supplies to the neighbouring countries, parti- 
 cularly Syria and Arabia ; and in times of famine, which 
 
EGY DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 14T 
 
 were frcquenl in those countries, Egypt alone could support 
 their numerous popalation from perishing- with hanger. We 
 have an aitecting example of this in the story of tlie children 
 of Jacob. For this extraordinary and unceasing fertility, 
 Egypt, otherwise one of the driest and most barren countries 
 in the world, was indebted to its river, the Nile, whose peri- 
 odical inundation gave to the soil which it watered, that won- 
 derful fertility which enabled it to support a population many 
 times greater than its own, numerous as it must have been; 
 since the children of Israel, who occupied but a corner of the 
 land, amounted, at the time of their leaving Egypt, to 600,000 
 grown-up men; from which the whole number of Israelites 
 alone cannot be estimated at less than two millions. The 
 extraordinary fertility of the soil is alluded to in Gen. xli. 47. 
 *' The earth brought forth by handfuls." Modern travellers 
 have fomid sixteen and eighteen stalks of wheat springing up 
 from a single grain of seed. Bat the great reservoirs c^ 
 water, or artificial lakes, which once were employed for 
 watering the fields, as the Moeris, Bahira, and Mareotis, were, 
 under the misrule of Turkey, suffered to be materially impair- 
 ed : and of 80 canals used for watering the country, several of 
 which were 60, 99, and 120 niiles long, all, excepting six, are 
 nearly filled up. 
 
 As Egypt was the parent of the sciences, so it was of that 
 system of polytheism and idolatry which afterwards spread 
 over the nations. This was probably introduced tirst by the 
 Cushite invaders of the country, or possibly by Misraim him- 
 self. The worship of the heavenly luminaries seems to have 
 been the first species of worship after the departure of man- 
 kind from the true God, and seems to have had its origin with 
 the Cushite builders of the tower of Babel. Their sacred 
 hills and high towers gave them a greater view of the hea- 
 vens, and brouo'ht them, as they thought, into a nearer com- 
 munication with their starry deities. On these elevations 
 sacrifices were offered, which they deemed the more accept- 
 able in proportion to the loftiness of the altar. This was the 
 origin of all the " high places" of the heathen world, so fre- 
 quently mentioned in Scripture ; of the first tov/er of Babel, 
 of that of Bel us at Babylon, of the Indian pagoda, of the Egyp- 
 tian pyramid, of the great altar or pyramid of the Mexicans, 
 and of the Moral of Otaheite. The next descent was to that 
 of idolatry, or the adoration of visible representations of the 
 heavenly bodies, to whicli the nam.es Baal, Adar, Nebo, Gad, 
 
i 
 
 148 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. EGY 
 
 Ashtaroth, &c. were g-iven. The next step was the canoni- 
 zation and worship of hero-gods, and deified mortals, wliose 
 bodies the Egyptian priests atlirmed that they had in their 
 possession, embalmed and deposited in their sepulchres; such 
 as Chronus, Rhea, Osiris, Isis, &c. Besides these were eight 
 others, whom the Egyptians called demi-gods, to whom Dio- 
 dorus gives the names of Sol, Saturnus, Rhea, Jupiter, Juno, 
 Vulcanus, Vesta, and Mercurius ; which in fiict are only 
 other names for the hero-gods ; and who are said to have 
 reigned in Egypt before Menes or Misraim. This system of 
 false theology was received from the Egyptians by the Greeks, 
 and from them communicated to the Romans. 
 
 The wonder of Egypt, the pyramids, are situated on a 
 rocky plain, about three miles from the village of Gizeb, on 
 the western side of the Nile, and four miles south-west of 
 Cairo. They are called by the Arabs Dgehel Pkaraon, and 
 by the Turks Pharaen Doglary, that is, Pharaoh's moun- 
 tains. Tliree of them are larger than the othei^, and may be 
 seen from Cairo, and a great distance beyond it. Of these 
 three pyramids, two are closed ; but the largest is open, and 
 is that which travellers ascend and enter into. There are 
 several smaller ones in the neighbourhood, which have been 
 opened, and are almost entirely ruined; but there are four 
 yet remaining which deserve the greatest attention. These 
 four stand nearly in a direct line, and are about 400 paces 
 distant from one another. Tlieir four faces correspond pre- 
 cisely to the four points of tlie compass, north, south, east, 
 and Vv'est. The two most northerly are the largest, being 
 about 500 feet in perpendicular Jieight, and 700 on each side 
 at the base. Tlie external part is chiefly built of great square 
 stones, cut from the rocks along the Nile, and the quarries 
 from which they have been taken are still visible. The 
 opening or entrance to the first pyramid is on the north side, 
 and leads successively to five different passages, which, 
 though running upwards, and downwards, and horizontally 
 all tend towards the south, and terminate in two chambers, 
 the one underneath, and the other in the midst of the pyramid. 
 In one of these chambers is a sarco[)hagus of granite, six feet 
 lonir, three wide, and four deep, formed of a single stone, 
 without any ornament, and smoothly hollowed out. Near 
 this is a deep hole or well, which appears to lead to some 
 cavity underneath, which has not been explored. About 
 
BGY 
 
 DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 149 
 
 N2 
 
150 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. EGl^ 
 
 three hundred paces east of tlie second pyramid, stands the 
 head of the famous sphinx, carved out of the solid rock, 
 Uventy-six feet high, and twelve m circumference round tho 
 nead. In the neighbourhood of these pyramids are many 
 others of different sizes, built of large bricks made of clay 
 mixed with chopped straw, and hardened by the heat of the 
 feun. One of these is little inferior in size to the largest men- 
 tioned above, but they are more damaged, and probably more 
 ancient. They do not appear to have been so neatly finished 
 or so well contrived as the others. 
 
 There are many splendid and magnificent ruins scattered 
 over this country, which give proof of the high cultivation 
 enjoyed by the ancient inhabitants. The art of embalming 
 dead bodies, m which the ancient Egyptians excelled, is now 
 miknow^n. The mummy pits or caverns contain the genera- 
 tions which are gone, and some of tliese embalmed bodies are 
 perfectly preserved, though they liave been dead three 
 thousand years. 
 
 The southern or upper part of Egypt is extremely rocky 
 and arid ; but lower down it becomes more level and produc- 
 tive; and where the Nile divides into several streams, it 
 embraces that part of Egypt wliich was called by the Greeks 
 the Delta, from a fancied resemblance to the letter a. This 
 is a vast plain, fertilized by the Nile, containing numerous 
 villages, and yielding abundance of grain and other produc- 
 tions. 
 
 The present inhabitants of Egypt may be distinguished into 
 three classes : 1. Tlie Cophts or Copts, descendants of the 
 ancient Egyptians, who have lived for more than two thou- 
 sand years under the dominion of different foreign conquerors, 
 and who have experienced many changes of fortune. They 
 have lost their manners, language, and religion ; and are re- 
 duced to a small number, compared with the Arabs, who have 
 poured like a flood over the country. 2. The Fellahs, or hus- 
 bandmen, who are possibly the people called in Scripture 
 Phul. This class suffers much oppression, being despised 
 by both Arabs and Turks; they seldom acquire property, 
 and if they do, tlioy are not suffered to enjoy it. 3. The 
 Arab conquerors of the country, including Turks, jNIame- 
 lukes, &c. Previously to the recent changes in the political 
 condition of Egypt, the Turks were in possession of most of 
 the offices under the government ; but the policy of the pre- 
 
EGY 
 
 DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE, 
 
 151 
 
 sent ruler of Egypt tends to the encouragement and promo- 
 tion of any other Europeans rather than Turks. A great 
 many Frenchmen, in particular, have been patronized by thp, 
 present pacha ; and lie does not hesitate to avail himself of 
 their services both in the civil and military departments of 
 fi-is government. 
 
 This is an extremely curi- 
 f us medal, of silver, struck 
 Si Egypt before the reigns 
 of tlie Ptolemies. It repre- 
 etnts on one side a man on 
 horseback, and on the other 
 an ox of the humped kind 
 jying down: between his 
 horns is the lunar crescent, 
 and within that is a globe. 
 These sj^mbols clearly refer 
 ihis ox to Egypt. The man on horseback is the most smguiar part of 
 this medal ; none of the countries adjacent having adopted the type of 
 a horseman. There is every reason to believe that the letters on this 
 medal are Persian, and that the person represented is Aryandes, 
 governor of Egypt under Darius, the last king of Persia, who then pos- 
 sessed this coimtry, and who caused the governor to be put to death for 
 coining money inhis own name. 
 
 These medals represent the figure or divinity of the river Nile, seated 
 n the hippopotamus and the crocodile, both of which were character- 
 istic symbols of Egypt. The crocodile w"as adopted as an emblem of 
 the country, and there is no other river known to antiquity to which 
 the hippopotamus can be referred. To show the rider seated equally 
 on each, proves an equal adoption of both: and as the crocodile is um 
 versaliy allowed to be the leviathan, we may suppose the hippopotamus 
 is the behemoth, of the book of Job. 
 
152 
 
 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 EKR 
 
 No. 4. 
 
 The inscription on this medal, zeus serapis, points at the original 
 divinity of Jupiter; the measure on the head of Serapis is probably the 
 cup, -which certain figures hold in their hands, transferred to the head 
 Before this figure is a Si)hinx'. Another medal resembling this, hi- 
 scribed, helios serapis, proves that Serapis was the sun. The head 
 on this medal is Vespasian. 
 
 This medal is of gold. The liead is one 
 of the Lagids, kings of Eg}'pt : the reverse 
 is a reaper cutting corn. The type of the 
 reaper is uncommon, and is only found on 
 another medal of brass, struck also in Egypt ; 
 the fertility of which country is alluded to. 
 But this type is peculiarly interesting to us, 
 when we observe that the ears of corn which 
 mark this fertility are sevcji in number; thus seeming to refer to the 
 dream of Pharaoh, and the interprelalion of it by Joseph. 
 
 Egypt, River of: Sec Part I. p. 32. 
 
 Ekron, the most northern of the five lordships or govern- 
 ments of the Philistines. In the division of the country by 
 Joshna, this city fell to the lot of Judah, (Josh, xv. 45.) but 
 was afterwards given to Dan ; though it does not appear that 
 the Israelites were ever in peaceable possession of it It was 
 a strong city, and was situated very near the Mediterranean, 
 between Ashdod and Jamnia ; but all vestiges of it have been 
 extinct for many centuries. Zcphaniah prophesied tliat 
 "Ekron shotild be rooted up," (chap. ii. 4.) This city was 
 celebrated for the worship of Baal-zebub, or the a^od of flies, 
 as the name imports. lie seems to have been their Escula- 
 pius, or god of medicine, as he was consulted by Ahaziah, 
 king of Israel, concerning his health. (2 Kings i. 2.) Ekron 
 was called Accaron by the Greeks, and was then a consider- 
 able town. 
 
EMI DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 153 
 
 Elah, tlie name of the valley wliere the Israelites were 
 encamped when David fought Goliah. This valley, still un- 
 altered in appearance, is situated three miles from Bethlehem, 
 on the road to Jaffa ; and many a pilgrim, journeying from 
 Jaffa to Jerusalem, has stopped to diink of its venerable brook, 
 
 Elam, the original country of the Persians, whence they 
 spread over Persia, or Phars, and Susiana. Chedorlaomer, of 
 whom we read in Gen. xiv. was of this country. Elam de- 
 rives its name from Elam, the son of Shem, and is used in 
 Scripture to denote the kingdom of Persia, before the time of 
 Cyrus and the prophet Daniel ; after which it is generally 
 called by its Greek name of Persia. See Persia. 
 
 Elath, or Eloth, a port of Edom on the eastern branch of 
 the Red Sea. See Part I. p. 47. 
 
 Elealeh, a town belonging to the tribe of Reuben. (Numb, 
 xxxii. 37.) According to Eusebius it was situated nearHesh- 
 bon ; and the traveller Burckhardt found its ruins, yet called 
 El-aal, on the summit of a hill, about two miles north-east of 
 Heshbon. 
 
 Eleutherus, a river in Syria, the source of which lies be- 
 tween the mountains Libanus and Anti-Libanus. (1 Mace. xi. 
 7.) It flowed through this valley, and emptied into the Medi- 
 terranean. 
 
 Elim, one of the encampments of Israel in the wilderness 
 See Part I. p. 44. 
 
 Elisha, Isles of: See Part I. p. 18. 
 
 Ellasar, a country of which Arioch was king, and who is 
 mentioned in conjunction with the kings of Shinar and Elam. 
 (Gen. xiv. 1.) It would appear from this, that Ellasar must 
 refer to some adjoining region, and it is probable that it was 
 Assyria, or El-asur : then a petty state, compared with tho 
 subsequent empire of that name. 
 
 Elon, a city in the tribe of Dan, and another in the tribe 
 of Naphtali. 
 
 Eltekeh, a city of Dan, given to the Levites. 
 
 Elteko.n, a town in Judah, on the border of Benjamin. 
 
 Eltolad, a city in the tribe of Judah, afterwards given to 
 Simeon. 
 
 Elymais, the capital of Elam, the ancient Persia. 1 Mace. 
 n. 1. 
 
 Emims, a gigantic people, inhabiting the country east and 
 south-east of the Dead Sea; whence they were either ex- 
 pelled by the Moabites, or incorporated with them. (Deut. ii. 
 
154 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. ENH 
 
 10.) The origin of this people is not clearly known, but they 
 probably descended from Ham. 
 
 Emmaus, a village about eight miles north-east of Jerusa- 
 lem, celebrated for the appearance of our Lord, after his re- 
 surrection, to two of the* disciples. (Luke xxiv. 13.) There 
 was another place of this name at the hot-baths near Tiberias, 
 called by the Greeks Ammaus, by the Hebrews Chammath, 
 and by the modern Arabs, Hamman. 
 
 Enam, a city in the tribe of Judah. Josh. xv. 34. 
 
 Endor, a city belonging to the tribe of JManasseh, west ot 
 Jordan, (Josh. xvii. 11.) where Saul went to consult a woman 
 who had a familiar spirit. (1 Sam. xxviii. 13.) This place 
 was four miles south of Mount Tabor. 
 
 En-eglaim, a place near En-gedi. (Ezek. xlvii. 10.) Jerom 
 says it was near the place where the river Jordan empties into 
 the Dead Sea. 
 
 En-gannim, the name of two cities : one belonging to the 
 tribe of Judah, (Josh. xv. 34.) the other to Issachar, given to 
 the Levites of Gershon's family. Josh. xxi. 29. 
 
 En-gedi, otherwise called Hazczon-tamar, a cit}^ in the tribe 
 of Judah, situated in a hilly country about 30 miles south-east 
 of Jerusalem, and not fur from the Dead Sea. To tlie " strong 
 holds" in the neighbourhood of this place, David retired to 
 secure himself from the presence of Saul ; and in a cave at 
 this place he gave that jealous king a proof of his loyalty, when 
 he had him so completely in his power as to cut oif a part of 
 his garment, but did him no furtlier injury. (1 Sam. xxiv.) 
 This cave was so large as to contain in its recesses the whole 
 of David's men, 600 in number, unperccived by Saul when he 
 entered. Many such caves exist in the Holy Land, which, 
 being mountainous and rocky, abounds with caverns in differ- 
 ent parts. Josephus tells us of a numerous gang of banditti, 
 who, having infested the country, were pursued by the army 
 of Herod, and retired into certain caverns in Galilee, almost 
 inaccessible, where with great difficulty they were subdued. 
 Into such caves the Israelites frequently retired for shelter 
 from their enemies, (Judges vi. 2. 1 Sam. xiii. 6. and xiv. 11.) 
 a circumstance which has afforded a line image of terror and 
 consternation to the prophets. Isa. ii. 19. llosea x. 8. Rev. 
 \\. 15, 16. 
 
 En-haddaii, a city belonginir to the tribe of Issacliar. Josh. 
 xix. 21. 
 
EPH DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 155 
 
 En-hakkore, the well of him.wJio cried ; the name of the 
 well which was miraculously opened to allay the thirst of 
 Sampson, after he had slain a thousand Philistines with thr 
 jaw-bone of an ass. Judges xv. 19. 
 
 En-hazor, a city of Naphtali. Josh, xix, 37. 
 
 En-mishpat, See Kadesh. 
 
 Enoch, the first city of which we read in Scripture, buil^ 
 by Cain probably not far from Eden ; but its situation is nc^ 
 Imown. 
 
 Enon, the place where John baptized, " because there was 
 much water there." (John iii. 23.) It was between Salim and 
 Jordan, in the- tribe of Manasseh, 53 miles-north-east from 
 Jerusalem. 
 
 En-rogel, another name for the fountain of Siloam, on the 
 east of Jerusalem, at the foot of Mount Zion. It was on the 
 border of Judah and Benjamin, and in the king's garden. 2 
 Sarn. xvii. 17. 
 
 Ephesls, a celebrated city of Ionia, in Asia Minor, situ- 
 ated upon the river Gayster, about five miles from its mouth, 
 and 45 soutli of Smyrna. It was famous for a magnificent 
 temple of Diana : the most noted and frequented of ail tlie 
 temples of that goddess, and reputed one of the seven won- 
 ders of the w^orld. It was said to have been 425 feet long, 
 200 wide, and supported by 127 colunms 60 feet high. This 
 temple was set on fire on the night in which Alexander was 
 born, by a man named Erostratus, in order to render his name 
 immortal ; but it was rebuilt with all its former magnificence. 
 
 St. Paul's preaching here created considerable alarm to the 
 Ephesians, who were chiefly supported by the worship of this 
 temple ; knowing that with the fall of Paganism their city 
 would sufier. This has come to pass : Ephesus and its tem- 
 ple have sunk together. The city is now a miserable Turldsh 
 villao'e, and the ruins of the temple are scarcely found : the 
 city is prostrate, and the goddess is gone. 
 
 Ephesus, in the apostolic age, was the capital of the pro- 
 consular Asia ; which included all the western parts of Asia 
 Mmor. The city is now called by the Turks, Aiasoluc : the 
 church of St. John still remains, and is converted into a 
 Turkish mosque. Christianity was first planted in this city 
 by St. Paul, who visited it on his first departure from Corinth, 
 about A. D. 54. Here he taught during three years of his 
 important life; and raised a church, which maintained its 
 
156 
 
 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 EPS 
 
 faith in the midst of one of the most idolatrous cities of an 
 idolatrous age. It stands at the head of the seven churches 
 of Asia ; the pastors of which are called avgels in the book 
 of Revelations : and to it there is a remarkable address. (Rev. 
 ii. 2-6.) But notvvithstandinor this divine approval, and the 
 triumphant state of the church of Ephesus, it neglected the 
 warning given, gradually fell from its high estate, and the 
 judgment threatened fell upon it: its candlestick was re- 
 moved out of its place, and to the pure worship of God, suc- 
 ceeded the blasphemies of the false prophet. This place, 
 where once Christianity flourished, a mother church, and the 
 see of a metropolitan bishop, cannot now show one family of 
 Christians. 
 
 No. 1. A representation of the marine Venus, the goddess of lavoura- 
 ble voyages, to which Ephesus, as a commercial city, might well pay 
 attention. The action of this figure resembles that of the Isis of 
 Egypt, whom we sometimes see spreading her veil for the sail of a ship. 
 The inscription, ephesion g. neokoron, implies that Ephesus was for 
 the third lime Neokoron, or conservator of the sacred implements, cere 
 monies, festivals, &c. 
 
EPH 
 
 DlCrriONARY OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 No. 2. A medal of Ephesns, re- 
 presenting on one side the head 
 of Minerva; on the other, the 
 figure of the river Cayster, on 
 Which Ephesus was situated. 
 
 No. 3. This medal represents the image of Diana, standing in her 
 famous temple : and may give a good idea of the craft of Demetrius, 
 Acts xix. 34.) who was a maker of silver models of the temple, wuh 
 images of the goddess ; and probably of other emblems attendant on her 
 worship. Inscription, Ephesion. 
 
 Ephes-dammim, a place between Shocoh and Azekah, on 
 the west of the valley of Elah ; where the army of the Phi- 
 listines was encamped, when Goliah insulted the host of 
 ?^srael. 1 Sam. xvii. 1. 
 
 Ephraim, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. See Part I. 
 p. 65. 
 
 O 
 
158 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. EtJP 
 
 EpJiraim, a city on the border, between this tribe and Ben- 
 jamin ; eight miles north from Jerusalem, and not far from 
 Bethel. This is thought by some to have been the place to 
 which Jesus retired with his disciples. John xi. 54. 
 
 The Wood of Ephraim, in wliich Absalom's army was 
 routed, and himself killed and buried, (2 Sam. xviii. 6, &:c.) 
 was on the east of Jordan, which Absalom and David had both 
 passed over, (chap. xvii. 24.) ; and consequently could not be 
 any wood in the tribe of Ephraim ; but some forest east of 
 Jordan, so named on some other account ; possibly as lying 
 opposite the tribe of Ephraim. 
 
 Ephratah, another name for Bethlehem. 
 
 Ephron, a city beyond Jordan, taken and destroyed by Ju 
 das Maccabeus. 1 Mace. v. 46. 
 
 Epiphania, a city of Syria, probably the same as Hamath. 
 It stood on the Orontes, between Antioch and Apamea. 
 
 Epirus. a province of Greece, having Macedonia on the 
 north, Thessaly east, and the Ionian Sea south-west. 
 
 Erech, a city built by Nimrod. See Part I. p. 14. 
 
 EsDRAELON, a morc modern name for the valley or plain of 
 Jezreel in the tribe of Issachar. 
 
 EsHCOL, a fertile valley in the south of Canaan ; from which 
 the Hebrew spies carried a bunch of grapes, as a specimen of 
 the fruit of the land. Numb. xiii. 23. 
 
 EsHTAOL, a town of Judah, given afterwards to the tribe of 
 Dan. 
 
 EsHTEMOA, or Eshtejnoth, a city in tlie south of«the tribe 
 of Judah, given to the Levites. Josh. xv. 50. xxi. 14. 1 Sam. 
 xxx. 28. 
 
 Etam, a city in the tribe of Judah, between Bethlehem and 
 Tekoah. (2 Chron, xi. 6.) To the rock of Etam, Samson re- 
 tired after having burned the harvest of the Philistines. (Judg. 
 XV. 8.) From a noted spring near this place, water was brought 
 by an aqueduct to Jerusalem. 
 
 Etham, one of the encampments of the Israelites in the 
 wilderness, ^ee Part I. p. 42. 
 
 Ether, a city of Judah, afterwards given to Simeon. Josh. 
 xix. 7. 
 
 Ethiopia, See Ciish. 
 
 Euphrates ; the Hebrew name of tliis river is Phrath, or 
 Perath ; the Eu prefixed is a Greek particle implying excel- 
 lence. It is written Euphrates in the New Testament ; but 
 in the Old, it is Perath. 
 
EZI DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 159 
 
 The Euphrates is a famous river of Asia, the source of 
 which is in the mountains of Armenia. It runs through the 
 frontier of Cappadocia, Syria, and Arabia Deserta on the west ; 
 and Mesopotamia on the east ; and passing- through Chaldea, 
 or Babylonia, empties into the Persian Gulf. At the p]:esent 
 time it discharges its waters into that gulf through a channel, 
 which is common to it and the Tigris, wnth which it unites 
 about 60 miles from the gulf; but formerly it had a particular 
 channel of its own, of which Pliny says that in his time the 
 traces were yet to be seen. 
 
 This is a river of consequence in Scripture geography, 
 being the boundary which separated Padan Aram from 
 Syria, and the utmost limit, on the eastward, of the kingdom 
 of the Israelites. (Deut. i. 7. Josh. i. 4.) It was, indeed, only 
 occasionally that the dominion of this people extended thus 
 far ; but it appears that even Egypt, under Pharaoh Necho, 
 made conquests to the banks of this river. The general course 
 of the Euphrates is south-east; though in the upper part, in 
 Armenia, it runs westerly/, and approaches the Mediterranean 
 Sea, near Cilicia. The general course of the Tigris is nearly 
 the same ; and the country included betvreen them was called 
 in Hebrev/, Aram Naharaim, i. e. Syria cf the rivers ; and in 
 Greek, Mesopotamia ; between the rivers. The Euphrates 
 receives several streams in its course, as the Murad, the Rou- 
 lia, the Khabour or Chaboras, and others. At length it joins 
 the Tigris, and the united waters of these rivers form a kind 
 of sea, in which there .are many islands. All their branches 
 being combined at Korna,..they pass together to Basra, from 
 whence they fall into the Persian Guff. There are many 
 towns on its banks, and much fruitful land in different places. 
 In general, its banks are rather level than mountainous. .It is 
 generally about 500 feet broad ; but when the snows melt 
 upon the mountains of Armenia, it overflows its banks like 
 the Nile, and becomes broad and deep. This w^as one of the 
 rivers, the source of which was in Eden. See Part I. p. 10. 
 
 EzroN-GABER, a city and port of Idumea, or Arabia Deserta, 
 on the eastern arm of the Red Sea. (Numb, xxxiii. 35. 1 Kings 
 Lx. 23.) Near the mouth of this harbour was a reef of rocks 
 upon which the fleet of ships v^as lost, which had been fitted 
 out for Ophir, by Jehoshaphat and Ahazia, kings of Judah ard 
 Israel. (1 Kings xxii. 43. 2 Chron. xx. 36.) From these rocks 
 the place took its name, Ezion-gaber, i. e. the back-hone of 
 a great man ; which this ledge of rocks resembles in shape. 
 
160 
 
 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 GAD 
 
 Fair-haven, a port in the island of Crete, passed by St. 
 Paul. (Acts xxvii. 8.) A town is mentioned by Jcrom and 
 others, as situated here. 
 
 G. 
 
 Gaash, a hill in the tribe of Ephraim. (See Part I. p. 62. 
 The brook of Gaash, (2 Sam. xxiii. 30.) was probably near, 
 or at the foot of this hill. 
 
 Gaba, a city of Benjamin, assigned to the Levites. Josh, 
 xviii. 24. 
 
 Gad, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. See Part I. p. 67 
 
 Gad, a river, thought to be the same as the Arnon. 
 
 Gadara, according to Josephus, was the capital of Perea, 
 and situated about 7 miles east from the sea of Galilee or Ti- 
 berias. It gave name to a district of country, as we read that 
 our Saviour having passed the see of Tiberias, came into the 
 country of the Gadarenes. (Mark v. i. Luke viii. 26.) St. Mat- 
 thew^ (viii. 28.) calls it the country of the Gergesenes ; but as 
 the city of Gergesa was near Gadara, it is probable that their 
 territories were adjoining, or included, one within the other ; 
 therefore some of the evangelists might call it by one name, 
 and some by the other. 
 
 There was another place called Gadara, situated in the west 
 of the land of Canaan, on the Mediterranean, probably not far 
 from Ashdod or Azotus, and called Gedor, Gezer or Gederah, 
 in the Old Testament, and Gazara in Mace. xiv. 34. To this 
 Gadara the following medal probably belongs. 
 
GAL DICrriONARY OF THE BIBLE. 161 
 
 This medal represents on one side the head of Marcus Aurelius An- 
 toninus, inscribed with his name ; on the revose a galley with many 
 oars, and on the prow a standard with flags flying; the captain sits at 
 the helm, directing the course of the vessel. Inscription, Gadareon, 
 of Gadara; with the word nauma, for naumachia, w-hich signifies a 
 naval combat, or at least a spectacle representing a sea-fight. It is dif 
 ficult to con:3eive how the Gadara of Perea, east of the sea of Galilee, 
 which was situated on a mountain, and which had no navigable water 
 near it, should bo able to exhibit such a spectacle. It therefore proba- 
 bly belongs to Gadara on the Mediterranean. 
 
 Galatia, a province of Asia Minor, bounded north by 
 Bithynia and Paphlagonia ; east by Pontus and Cappadocia ; 
 south by Lycaonia ; and west by Phrygia. It is believed to 
 have taken its name from tlie Gauls, who, under their captain 
 Leonorius, as Stra^bo informs us, left their own country in Eu- 
 rope, and having ravaged Italy and Greece, burned the city 
 of Rome, passed into Asia, and advanced as far as Babylon, 
 carrying conquest and ruin wherever they went ; but being 
 defeated by Attalus, king of Pergamus, and driven out of 
 other parts, they w^ere at last confined to this province, where 
 they w^ere finally established. Being- now peopled by a mix- 
 ture of Gauls and Greeks, it w^as called Gaido-grecia, and at 
 length Galatia. These Gauls are said not only to have re- 
 tained their own language, but to have made it the language 
 of the country. 
 
 St. Paul visited Galatia about A. D. 50, and founded a numbei 
 of churches. In 52 he wrote them an epistle, and again visited 
 them about a year after. From his letter to them, it seems 
 tha.t Christianity did not alter their national character, which 
 was both fickle and ferocious. They received him, not merely 
 with the respect and affection due to an apostle, but as if he 
 had been an angel, or Christ himself Yet they soon changed, 
 and relinquished his principles, behaving, according to his com- 
 plaint, as if they had " been bewitched," or possessed v/ith 
 evil spirits. 
 
 Galatia was a part of the kingdom of Pontus, in the time 
 of Mithridates Eupator. 
 
 Galilee, a province in the north of Canaan, or the Holy 
 Land, consisting chiefly of what w^as once the territories of 
 Issachar, Zebulon, Naphtali, and Asher ; and according to 
 some writers, including part of Dan, and of Perea, east of 
 Jordan. It was bounded on the north by Lebanon and Syria ; 
 on the east mostly by the Jordan and the sea of Galilee ; on 
 the south by Samaria ; and on the west by Phenicia. It has 
 02 
 
162 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. GAL 
 
 generally been considered as divided into two parts, Upper 
 and Lower Galilee : the former called Galilee of the Gentiles, 
 (Matt. iv. 15.) probably because it was chiefly possessed by the 
 Gentiles, having some Jews scattered among them ; or be- 
 cause it bordered upon the Gentile nations of Phenicians, 
 Syrians, and Arabians. 
 
 Galilee is an ancient name, being found so early as Josh. 
 XX. 7. xxi. 32. 1 Kings ix. 11. and several other passages of 
 the Old Testament ; it is thought to be the same as Gilgal, 
 the kings of whose nations are mentioned in Josh. xii. 23. 
 and probably is called Gilgal. (Deut. xi. 30.) This was the coun- 
 try most honoured by the presence of our Saviour. It was here 
 that he was conceived, (Luke i. 26.) here that he was brought 
 by his reputed parents, v/hen a child, out of Egypt ; here he 
 settled and lived with them, till he began to be about thirty 
 years of age, and was baptized by John, (Matt. ii. 22. Luke ii. 
 39. 51. Matt. iii. 13. Luke iii. 23.) hither he returned after 
 his baptism and temptation. (Luke iv. 14.) And after his en- 
 try on his public ministry, though he frequently visited other 
 provinces, yet here was his dwelling-place. (Matt. iv. 13.) 
 And lastly, hither the Apostles came to converse with him 
 after his resurrection, by his appointment. (Matt, xxviii. 7. 16.) 
 The most of his apostles also, if not all, were natives of this 
 country, whence they were all styled by the angels, " men of 
 Galilee." (Acts i. 11.) ..Our Lord was also called a Galilean, 
 (Matt. xxvi. 69.) and it deserves notice that he was addressed 
 under this title by his adversary, the dying Julian, who being 
 cut off from prosecuting his purposes against Cliristianity, ex- 
 claimed in the hour of death, Vicisti Galilcee I thou hast con- 
 quered, O Galilean! 
 
 Galilee was fruitful and well cultivated, and the people 
 industrious. The number of its cities, towns, and villages was 
 very great, and they, as well as the whole country, were ex- 
 ceedingly populous. It was one of the more extensive pro- 
 vinces, into which the Holy Land was divided, after the return 
 of Israel from captivity ; somewhat greater in extent than 
 Judea ; but probably varied its bounds at different periods. 
 Its language differed considerably from that of Jud.ea ; and aa 
 the Galileans were a mixture of sundry nations, probably with 
 many Jews returned from captivity, many provincial idioms 
 might exist : hence we find Peter detected by his language. 
 Mark xiv. 70. 
 
 Galilee, Sea of, otherwise called the Sea qf Tiberias, 
 
GAZ DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 10<| 
 
 from a town of that name, standing on its western shore ; and 
 tlie Lake of Gennesareth, which is probably a corruption of 
 Chinnereth, the ancient name of this sea, or lake. (Numb, 
 xxxiv. 11. Josh. xii. 3.) Its breadth, according to Josephus, 
 from east to west, is about six miles, and the length, from 
 north to south, about eighteen ; the water is pure and whole- 
 some, abounding with a great variety of fish, not found any- 
 where else. Its bed, and banks, are a smooth gravel, con- 
 sequently very convenient for the drawing of nets. This sea 
 is viewed with veneration by Christians, from having been 
 much frequented by Christ and his apostles. 
 
 Gallim, a city of Benjamin. (1 Sam. xxv. 44. Isa. x. 30.) 
 Some authors mention a town of this name, east of Jordan, in 
 the land of Moab, south from the city of Ar. 
 
 Gath, a city of the Philistines, and one of their five lord- 
 ships. (1 Sam, vi. 17.) It lay in the tribe of Dan, west of 
 Jerusalem, and is famous as the native place of Goliah. It 
 was taken by David, was afterwards rebuilt by Rehoboam, 
 his grandson, and was finally laid waste by Hazael, king of 
 Syria. Eusebius and Jerom say that it still existed in their 
 day. It appears to have been an ancient city, being men- 
 tioned so early as Josh. xi. 22. 
 
 Gath-hepher, a town in the tribe of Zebulon, (Josh. xix. 
 13.) the birth-place of the prophet Jonah, (2 Kmgs xiv. 25.) 
 whose tomb, according to Jerom, was still to be seen there in 
 the fourth century. 
 
 Gath-rimmon, a city of Dan, (Josh. xix. 45.) also in 
 Manasseh, west of Jordan, given to the Levites, (Josh. xxi. 
 25.) and another in Ephraim. 
 
 Gaulon, See Golan. 
 
 Gaza, one of the five principal cities and lordships of the 
 Philistines, situated in the south-west of the promised land; 
 and is a city of great antiquity, being noticed among those 
 which formed the boundary of the territory of Canaan. Its 
 advantageous situation was the cause of the many revolu- 
 tions to which it has been subject. It first belonged to the 
 Philistines, then to the Hebrews ; recovered its liberty in the 
 reigns of Jothara and Ahaz, and w^as reconquered by Heze- 
 kiah. (2 Kings xviii. 8.) It was smitten by Pharaoh, (Jer. 
 xlvii. 1.) and was subject to the Assyrians and Babylonians, 
 who conquered Syria and Phenicia. Afterwards it fell into 
 the hands of the Persians, who were masters of it when 
 Alexander besieged, took, and destroyed it. A new city rose 
 
164 SCRIFTtRE GEOGRAPHY. GAZ 
 
 from its ruins, nearer the sea ; after which ancient writers 
 speak of Old Gaza, and Strabo mentions Gaza the desert, 
 which agrees with Acts viii. 26. In the destruction of this 
 city were verified tlie predictions of the prophets. (Amos i. 7. 
 Zeph. ii. 4.) The new city was called ^iajuma, and was 
 several times taken and retaken in the wars between A^tio- 
 chus and the Maccabees. It afterwards fell under the do- 
 minion of the Romans, and was given by Augustus to Herod 
 the Great. It is said in Acts viii. 26. to be a desert; but this 
 probably means Old Gaza, and not Majuma, which was very 
 populous. The emperor Constantino gave Majuma the name 
 of Constantia, and granted it the honours and privileges of a 
 city, independent of Gaza; but of both its name and its privi- 
 jcg-es it was deprived by the emperor Julian. 
 
 Some marks of the ancient grandeur of this place still 
 remain in the marble columns which now support dirty 
 cottages ; and it yet has a better appearance than most of the 
 towns in this country. The country around is very fruitful, 
 and well cultivated; and the gardens in the vicinity of the 
 city are represented as offering- a delightful prospect. The 
 inhabitants, in complexion, stature, manners, and language, 
 resemble the Egyptians more than the Syrians. Diseases of 
 the eyes are conmion here, and many of the people lare led 
 through the streets entirely blind. In the town is a consider- 
 able number of Christians, who inhabit a separate part of the 
 city, as do those of other different religions. The Greeks and 
 Armenians both have Christian churches here. The town 
 has about two thousand inhabitants, and stands about three 
 miles from the sea, having an indifferent port. There are 
 some manufactories of cotton, and a considerable commerce 
 is carried on, chiefly by means of caravans passing between 
 Egypt and Syria, and by the Arabs who resort here to sell 
 their plunder. 
 
 The French army of Egypt took Gaza in 1797, but soon 
 deserted it, having lost here 500 men by the plague. 
 
 It is noted in Scripture history for the exploits of Samson ; 
 and a little distance from the city is still shown a pile of rub- 
 bish, which they say is the ruins of the temple which lie 
 pulled down on the Philistines. Here also Philip baptized the 
 eunuch of Ethiopia. Acts viii. 26. 
 
 Gaza is situated fifty miles south-west of Jerusalem, and is 
 called by the Arabs, Rassa. 
 
GAZ 
 
 DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 165 
 
 A medal of Gaza, representing the head of the turreted goddess. 
 Ashtaroih, Astarte, or Venus; and on the reverse the peculiar and ap- 
 propriate symbol of this city. It appears to be a key of a particular 
 shape, and 'it is possible that, besides the character ot' Gaza, as being 
 the key of Syria towards Egypt, as it really is, the inhabitants might 
 boast of the excellence of thai kind of key which they were accustom- 
 ed to use. This may also illuslrate a circimistance mentioned in Judges 
 xvi. 2. The people of Gaza laid wait for Samson all night, in the gate 
 of their city, and were quiet, depending on the impossibility of his 
 opening the" locks of their city door; but at midnight he took away the 
 doors, the two posts, bar, and all which had been their reliance for 
 securing him. This bar is probably what we see in the figure, crossing 
 the key in the middle. As Gaza prided itself upon being the key of 
 Syria, no doubt it would denote this character by using on its medals 
 J), key of that kind, which it considered the most secure and substantial 
 The arms of Gibraltar are a key, that town having been formerly 
 esteemed the key of Spain, as it now is of the Mediterranean. 
 
 Another medal of Gaza, wilh the head of the emperor Commodus, 
 inscribed with his name. The reverse exhibits a figure under the 
 character of Jupiter ; holding in one hand the thunder, in the other a 
 globe : opposite to him is an heroic figure whose attributes are not dis- 
 tinguishable : between the two figures is the symbol of the city of Gaza. 
 The whole passes in a temple having two pillars. The date ©AC, 239, 
 is from the year of Rome 693, under the reign of Marcus Aurelius, two 
 years before his death. Commodus was then 17 years of age; his 
 
166 
 
 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 GEB 
 
 father had associated him in the empire three years before. Perhaps 
 this medal represents the old emperor delivering the insignia of go 
 vernmenl to his son. 
 
 Geba, (1 Sam. xiii. 3.) the same as Gaha. (Josh, xviii. 24.) 
 Some writers have been of upinion tliat this Geba or Gaba, 
 was also the same as Gibeah ; but this is rendered unlikely, 
 not only by Gibeath, probably the same as Gibeah, being 
 named distmct from Gaba, (Josh, xviii.) but also by other cir- 
 cumstances. By comparing 2 Sam. v. 25. with 1 Chron, xiv, 
 16. we find the same place called both Geba and Gibeon. 
 Considerable uncertainty attends this subject ; Geba or Gebau 
 appears to be the root of the many names which are written 
 in our translation Gibeah, Gibeath, and possibly Gibeon; 
 which makes distinction between these cities difficult. 
 
 A medal with the head of 
 the empress Plaiitina, inscrib- 
 ed \Aith her name : on the re- 
 verse the inscription gaue- 
 NON, of Gaba ; either Gabe in 
 Syria, or Geba in Judea. In 
 either case it shows that the 
 Gentile deities prevailed in 
 these countries Ioug; after the 
 time of Christ. The date is 
 171,.tlie thirteenth of Trajan. 
 
 Gebal, a country mentioned with Amtnon, Amalek, &c. 
 (Psalm Ixxxi. 7.) and supposed to be situated in the south of 
 Edom or Iduinea. ' 
 
 There was also a place of this name in Phenicia on the 
 Mediterranean, perhaps the same which is sometimes called 
 Byblos. Pliny calls it Gabale, and its modern name is Gibyle, 
 or Jebilee. This was the place of the Gibelites mentioned in 
 Josh. xiii. 5. The people of Gebal were employed in caulking 
 the ships of Tyre, (Ezek. xxvii. 9.) it is also supposed to be the 
 place from which Solomon had his stone-cutters. (1 Kings v. 
 18.) This place was once famous for a temple of Adonis or 
 Thammuz ; it now has a ditcli round it, with some square tow- 
 ers; but is miserably poor, and remarkable only for its ruins. 
 
 A medal inscribed gabai.eon, of 
 Gahala, or Gebal ; and the only one 
 cnoun which bears the name of this 
 town. Its type is a crab, holding in 
 its claws the emblems of the sun and 
 moon. 
 
GER DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 167 
 
 Geder, Gederoth, and Gedor : see Gadara. 
 
 Gehinnom, the valley of Hinnom, lying on the south and 
 east of Jerusalem, (Josh. xv. 8.) and through which the brook 
 Kidron runs. This valley is remarkable as the scene of that 
 inliunian and idolatrous worship paid to Molcch, in which 
 parents made their children pass through the fire, or burned 
 them, as sacrifices to that idol. This valley having been the 
 scene of much cruelty, in order to render such idolatry odious, 
 the place was devoted to filthiness and pollution. It has been 
 said, that fires were continually burning in it to consume the 
 filth carried there from the city. This perpetual burning 
 added another similarity to those evils attributed to the place 
 of torment, and thus the ideas of wickedness, pollution, and 
 punishment were attached to this place ; so that the w^ord 
 Gekinnom was used in the Syriac language to denote hell: 
 this was moulded by the Greeks mto Gehenna, and is used in 
 Scripture as the term signifying hell, or hell fire. 
 
 Geliloth, a place in the borders of Judali and Benjamin, 
 (Josh, xviii. 17.) thought to be the place otherwise called 
 Gilgal ; or at least m nearly the same situation, 
 
 Ge>^-esareth, LaJce of; see Sea of Galilee, 
 
 Gex.\esareth, country of; a region along the lake of this 
 name, decribed by Josephus, as wonderfully pleasant and fer- 
 tile. The temperature of the air agrees with fruits of dif- 
 ferent natures; so that here grow nuts, a mere winter-fruit; 
 palms which require much heat ; and near them figs and 
 olives, which require a moderate air. Josephus attributes the 
 extraordinary fruitfulness and beauty of this region, to the 
 peculiar providence of God, as if he took delight in this spot 
 of ground ; and it was a common saying among the Jews, that 
 God loved tlie sea of Gennesareth more than any other sea. 
 This remarkable tract of country was but four miles long, and 
 two and a half broad. 
 
 Gerar, a city in the land of the Philistines, where Abraham 
 sojourned, and of which Abimelech was king. It w^as situated 
 near the south-western corner of the land of Canaan, not far 
 from Gaza, Gen. xx. 1, xxi. 32. xxvi, 1. 17, 
 
 Gergesa, or Gerasa, a city east of the sea of Galilee, not 
 far from Gadara, St. Matthew says it was in the country of 
 the Gergasenes, that the swme ran down into the sea ; while 
 St. Mark calls it the country of the Gadarenes. See Gadara, 
 Origen says that in his time they shov/ed the precipice on the 
 
168 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. GEZ 
 
 sea of Tiberias or Galilee, from which the swine rushed into 
 the water. 
 
 Gerizim, a mountain near Shechem, in the tribe of Ephraim, 
 opposite to Mount Ebal ; Shechem lying in the valley between 
 them. After passing the Jordan, the Israelites were com- 
 manded to go to these mountains ; six of the tribe? were to 
 take their station on each ; those on Mount Gerizim were to 
 pronounce blessings upon those who should observe the law 
 of the Lord ; and those upon Ebal, curses against those who 
 should violate it. (Deut. xi. 29. xxvii. 12.) Gerizim is de- 
 scribed by travellers as a fruitful mountain ; while Ebal is 
 barren and scorched ; as if the blessing and the curse still 
 rested upon them. 
 
 The Samaritans maintain that Abraham and Jacob erected 
 altars at Gerizim ; and that there Abraham prepared to sacri* 
 fice his son Isaac. 
 
 Geshur, a country in Syria, having its own king, whose 
 daughter David married, who was the mother of Absalom* 
 (2 Sam. XV. 8.) Absalom, after the murder of his brother, 
 fled to the king of Geshur, his grandfather. 2 Sam. xiii. 37. 
 
 Gethsemane, a village near Mount Olivet, whither Jesus 
 sometimes retreated at night. The garden in which he wels 
 taken by Judas and those who were with him, is still shown : 
 it is a level spot of ground about 15 yards square, lying be- 
 tween the foot of Mount Olivet and the brook Kedron. It ia 
 now well covered with olive-trees; some of them so remark- 
 ably large as to be thought the same which w^ere there in 
 the time of our Saviour. At the upper corner of the gar- 
 den is a flat ledge of rock, said to be the spot where Peter, 
 James, and John fell asleep during the agony of our Lord, 
 which was suffered in a grotto a few paces distant. In this 
 garden a narrow strip is walled out separate, as an accursed 
 piece of ground : this is said to be the path in which the 
 traitor Judas walked up to Christ, saying, " Hail, Master," 
 and kissing him. This work is the more remarkable, as it 
 was probably done by the Mahometans, who, as well as the 
 Christians, detest the very ground on which was manifested 
 such infamous treachery. 
 
 Gezer, See Gadara. 
 
 Gezrites, or Gerziles, a people invaded by David while he 
 tarried at Ziklag, (1 Sam. xxvii. 8.) at the same time with the 
 Geshurites. These Gerzites are supposed to be the same as the 
 Grerrenians, or mhabitants of Gerar, mentioned 2 Mace. xiii. 24. 
 
GOB DlC?riONARY OF tttE BIBLE. 169 
 
 GiAH, a valley near Gibeon. 2 Sam. ii. 24. 
 
 GiBBETHON, a city in the tribe of Dan, allotted to the Le- 
 vites. (Josh. xxi. 23.) It was a strong place, and endured a 
 long siege against Nadab. 1 Kings xv. 27. xvi. 15. 17. 
 
 GiBEAii, a city in the tribe of Benjamin, three or four miles 
 north of Jerusalem. It is sometimes called Gibeah of Saul, 
 being the place of his nativity. It was also noted for its sinsj 
 as may be seen by reference to Judges xix. 
 
 Gibeah was also the name of a town in Judah, (Josh. xv. 
 57.) and of a hill ^vdlere Eleazar was buried, (Josh. xxiv. 33.) 
 rendered in oar translation, " a hill ;" but in the original it is 
 "Gibeah of Phinehas." 
 
 Gibbon, a city situated about four miles north of Jerusalem^ 
 not far from Gibeah. Eusebius says that it v-^as a village in 
 Jiis time, still retaining its ancient name, and four miles from 
 Bethel. »S'ee Part I. p. 56. 
 
 GiHON, one of the fc 
 13. See Part I. p. 11. 
 
 Gihon, was also the name of a fountain west of Jerusalem, 
 where Solomon was anointed king. (1 Kings i. 33. 38. 45.) 
 Hezekiah ordered the upper chamiel of this fountam to be 
 conveyed to Jerusalem ; (2 Chron. xxxii. 30.) probably to pre- 
 vent the enemy, when the city was besieged, from making 
 use of the water, as well as for the advantage of the citizens. 
 
 Gilboa, a mountain not far from Bethshean, in the east of 
 the tribe of Issachar ; celebrated for the death of Saul and his 
 son Jonathan. 1 Sam. xxxi. 1, 2. 
 
 GiLEAD, part of the mountains extending from Mount Le- 
 banon southward ; and east of the Land of Canaan. See Part 
 1. p. 37. On these mountains grew trees producing a kind of 
 gum, called the balm of Gilead. 
 
 There appears also to have been a place of this name in 
 Ephraim. Hosea vi. 8. 
 
 GiLGAL, a place near Jericho. See Part I. p. 55 and 61. 
 
 GiLOH, a city of Judah. (Josh. xv. 51.) Ahithophel, one 
 of David's counsellors, was of this place. 2 Sam. xv. 12. 
 xxiii. 34. 
 
 GiMzo, a city in the south of Judah, taken by the Philis- 
 tines in the reign of Ahaz. 2 Chron. xxviii. 18. 
 
 GiRGASHiTES, a people of Canaan. See Part I. p. 28. 
 
 GiTTiTEs, the people of Gath. Josh. xiii. 3. 
 
 Gob, a place where two battles were fought between the 
 
170 SCRlPTtJRE GEOGRAPHY. GRE 
 
 Israelites and the Philistines, (2 Sam. xxi. 18.) probably the 
 same as Gezer, and so called. 1 Chron. xx. 4. 
 
 Gog and Magog. Magog was a son of Japhet, and the 
 father of the Scythians and other nations of the north. See 
 Part I. p. 17. Gog was the prince of the country of Magog. 
 (Ezek. xxxviii. and xxxix.) It is believed that Gog and Ma- 
 gog in Ezekiel and the Revelations, are taken allegorically 
 for such princes as were enemies to the church. 
 
 Golan, or Gaiilan, a noted city of Bashan, east of the Jor- 
 dan, afterwards allotted to JManasseh. It was one of the 
 Levitical cities, and also a city of refuge. (Deut. iv. 43. Josh, 
 xxi. 27.) This city gave name to the region afterwards called 
 Gaulon, or Gaulonitis, v/hich extended from Perea on the 
 south, to Lebanon on the north. 
 
 Golgotha, See Calvary. 
 
 Gomorrah, one of the five cities destroyed by fire from 
 heaven. See Part I. p. 31. 
 
 Goshen, a district of Egypt inhabited by the Israelites; 
 also a tract of country in the south of Judah. See Part I. p. 
 39 and 58. Also a city in the tribe of Judah. Josh. xv. 51. 
 
 GozAN, a river of Media, in a province of the same name, 
 to which the captive Israelites were carried by Sennacherib, 
 king of Assyria. 2 Kings xvii. 6. 1 Chron. v. 26. 
 
 Greece : this word is often used in Scripture in a very ex- 
 tended sense, compreliending all the countries inliabited by 
 the descendants of Javan, the son of Japhet, not only in Greece 
 proper, but also in Ionia and Asia Minor. See Part I. pp. 18, 
 19. The Hebrew word Javan, or lawan, is used in the 
 Old Testament to signify Greece and the Greeks. There is 
 but little said in Scripture with reference to this country, 
 until the time of Alexander, who, having pushed his conquests 
 into Asia, made Greece, or Macedonia, m.ore important. 
 After the time of this conqueror, the name of Greeks was 
 used in a still more uncertain and enlarged sense ; because, 
 the Greeks being masters of Egypt and Syria, the countries^ 
 beyond the Euphrates, and of other provinces, the Jews were^ 
 used to call all those Gentile people Greeks, who were subject 
 to the Greek empire, either in the east or west. For this 
 reason, in many passages of the books of Maccabees, in the 
 Gospels, and in St. Paul's writings, a Greek commonly signi- 
 fies a Gentile. 
 
 Javan, or Greece, is mentioned in-Isaiah, (Ixvi. 19.) in Eze- 
 kiel, (xxvii. 13. 19.) in Daniel, (xi. 2) and Zechariah declares 
 
GRE DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 17] 
 
 tliat God shall raise up the sons of Zion against the sons of 
 Javan, (ix. 13.) which refers to the wars carried on by tho 
 Jews under the Maccabees, against Antiochus Epiphanes and 
 the Greeks who possessed the kingdom of Syria. Daniel 
 (viii. 21. X. 20.) describes Alexander the Great by the name 
 of the king of Javan. Greece anciently included JMacedonia, 
 and is so used by Daniel ; but in the time of St. Paul there 
 was a distinction, for we read that Paul, " passing through 
 Macedonia, came into Greece." 
 
 After the establishment of the Grecian dynasties in Asia, 
 it is natural that Judea should be considerably affected by 
 them ; and the books of the Maccabees afford proofs of this. 
 The Roman power, superseding the Grecian establishments, 
 yet left traces of the Greek language, customs, &c. to the 
 days of the Herods, where the gospel history commences. 
 By the labours of the apostles, especially of Paul, the gospel 
 was propagated in those countries which used the Greek dia- 
 lects ; hence we are interested in the study of this language, 
 as it was that m which the epistles to the churches of those 
 countries were written. Many flourishing churches were 
 early established among the Greeks, wdiich for a long time 
 preserved the apostolic precepts and customs with much care. 
 But at length they began to differ on pomts of doctrine — 
 schisms and heresies divided the church, and rancour and 
 persecution followed. To check these evils, councils were 
 called, and various creeds were composed, some of which re- 
 tain an authority to the present day. 
 
 The removal of the seat of government by Constantine, 
 from Rome to Constantmople, gave a sensible preponderance 
 to the Grecian districts of the empire ; and the ecclesiastical 
 determinations of the Greek church were extensively received 
 w^ith respect, if not with submission. Greece continued to enjoy 
 the presence of the emperor till the beginnmg of the fifteenth 
 century, when the Turks began to harass the empire, and 
 finally took Constantinople, A. D, 1453. The submission of 
 all Greece followed ; since which time, this country and its 
 inliabitants exhibit a picture of wretched and debased slavery. 
 Recent events seem to render it probable that a part of the 
 Greek nation has regained its liberty ; but whether they are 
 qualified to retain it, time alone can determine. 
 
 The architectural remains of Greece still attest its former 
 grandeur, though many of its most beautiful buildings, which 
 the hand of time might have spared, have fallen before the 
 
172 
 
 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 HAD 
 
 ruthless barbarism of the Turks, who seem to take a pleasure 
 in the wanton destruction of the proudest monuments of 
 antiquity. 
 
 GuR, a place near Ibleam, in the tribe of Manasseh, west 
 of Jordan ; where Ahaziah, king' of Judah, was mortally 
 wounded by Jeshu. 2 Kings ix. 27. 
 
 GuR-BAAL, the name of a place inhabited by Arabians ; the 
 situation of which is not known. 2 Chron. xxvi. 7. 
 
 H. 
 
 Habor, a city on the river Gozan in IMedia, to which the 
 captive Israelites were carried by the king of Assyria. 2 
 Kings xvii. 6. xviii. 11. 1 Chron. v. 26. 
 
 Hachilah, a hill in the south-east of Judah, near Jeshimon ; 
 where David hid himself from Saul. (1 Sam. xxiii. 19. xxvi. 8.) 
 Here Jonathan the Maccabee afterwards built the almost im- 
 pregnable fortress of Massada, whose garrison killed them- 
 selves after the taking of Jerusalem by Titus. 
 
 Hadad-rimmon, See Adad-rimmon 
 
 Hadashah, a town in Judah, (Josh. xv. 87.) and according 
 to the rabbins one of the smallest, having only fifty houses. 
 
 Hadrach, a part of Syria, between Libanus and Anti-Li- 
 banus ; thought % some to I^e part of the territory of Damas- 
 cus. Zech, ix. 1. 
 
HAU dictionary of the bible. 17S 
 
 Hagarenes, the Ishmaelites, or descendants of Abraham 
 and Hagar. 
 
 Hai, the same as Ai. See Part I. p. 56. 
 
 Halah, a place in Media, to which the king- of Ass}Tia 
 transported the captive Israelites. 2 Kings xvii. 6. 
 
 Halhul, a city in the tribe of Judah, probably not far from 
 Hebron. Josh. xv. 58. 
 
 Hamath, is a term frequently used in Scripture ; and it 
 seems there were several places called by this name. 
 
 The kingdom of Hamath lay on the north of Canaan, ex- 
 tending- from the Mediterranean west, to Damascus east. 
 The extent of Canaan is often expressed as reaching from the 
 entering- in of Hamath, to tlie river of Egypt. Tlie capital of 
 this kmgdcm was sometimes called Hamath Zobah. It is 
 uncertain whether this is Hamath the great, (Amos vi. 2.) 
 which was in the north of Syria. Jerom says this last was 
 the same as Antioch. There was also a place called Hamath 
 in the tribe of Naphtali, near the entrance into Ccelo-Syria, 
 which was probably " the entering- in of Ham.ath." 
 
 Hammoa", a city of x\sher, (Josh. xix. 2S.) probably the same 
 as that said to be in Naphtali. 1 Chron. vi. 76. 
 
 Hammoth-dor, a city in the tribe of Naphtali, given to the 
 Levites. Josh. xix. 35. xxi. 32. 
 
 Haxnathon, a town in the tribe of Zebulon. Josh. xix. 14, 
 
 Hanes, a city of Egypt, (Isa. xxx. 4.) called by the Greeks, 
 Anusis. St. Jerom thinks it lay upon the borders of Ethio- 
 pia ; while others suppose it to have been Daphnse or Pelu- 
 sium, near Damietta. 
 
 Hapharaim, a city of Issachar. Josh. xix. 19. 
 
 Hara, a place in Media or Assyria, to which some of the 
 Israelites were carried by Tiglath-Pileser. 1 Chron. v. 26. 
 
 Haran, or Charan ; See Part I. p. 30. 
 
 Hareth, a forest in the tribe of Judah, to which David fled 
 from Saul. 1 Sam. xxii. 5. 
 
 Harod, a well or fountain in the plain of Jezreel ; near the 
 hill of Moreh, and Mount Gilboa, Judg. vii. 1. 
 
 Harosheth, a city of Naphtali, near the waters of Merom : 
 here dwelt Sisera, who commanded the troops of Jabin, king 
 of Hazor. Judges iv. 2. 
 
 Hatjran, a country north-east of the land of Canaan ; pro- 
 bably the same as Iturea. St. Jerom and others say that it 
 is the country south of Damascus. According to Abulfeda, 
 Bozra is the capital of the country of Hauran. It seems the 
 P2 
 
174 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. HAZ 
 
 same as the provmce called by the Greeks Auranitis, on the 
 east of Jordan. 
 
 Havilah, or Chavilah ; there appears to be two countries 
 of this name mentioned in Scripture : 
 
 1. Havilah, the son of Cush, (Gen. x. 7.) who was settled 
 in Arabia, on the coast of the Persian Gulf See Part I. 
 p. 24. It is believed that Gen. xxv. 18. and 1 Sam. xv. 7. 
 may refer to this Havilah. 
 
 2. Havilah the son of Joktan, of the family of Shem. (Gen. 
 x. 29.) The sons of Joktan dwelt between the Mounts 
 Mesha and Sephar, which are generally allowed to have been 
 in Upper Mesopotamia, near the source of the Tigris ; con- 
 sequently this Havilah was seated in that country or in the 
 south of Armenia. This agrees with the supposition that the 
 Tigris was the Pison, " which compasseth the whole land of 
 Havilah." (Gen. ii. 11.) The situation of these countries is, 
 however, very uncertain, and the opinions of tlie learned 
 respecting them are very contradictory. Dr. Wells supposes 
 this last mentioned Havilah to have been in Arabia, between 
 the southern extremity of the Dead Sea and Egypt ; and 
 makes the above-mentioned texts of Gen. xxv. 18. and 1 Sam. 
 XV. 7. refer to it : the other Havilah he thinks was near the 
 head of the river Indus, a branch of which was the Pison, 
 
 Calmet supposes Havilah to have been in the region where 
 the Tigris and Euphrates unite, and empty into the Persian 
 Gulf 
 
 Havotii-jair, villages in the land of Bashan or Gilead, in 
 the tribe of Manasseh, east of Jordan. Numb, xxxii. 41. 
 Deut. iii. 14. 
 
 Hazar-gadda, a city in the south of the tribe of Judah. 
 Josh. XV. 27. 
 
 Hazar-shual, a city of Judah, (Josh. xv. 28.) given to 
 Simeon, xix. 3. Neh. xi. 27. 
 
 Hazar-susah, a city of Judah. Josh. xix. 5. 
 
 Hazeroth, or Hazcrim, a station of the Israelites in the 
 wilderness. Numb. xi. 35. xii. 16. Deut. i. 1. 
 
 Hazezon-tamar, the same as Engedi. 
 
 Hazor : there appear to have been three cities of this name 
 in the tribe of Judah, one of which was otherwise called 
 Hezron. (Josh. xv. 23. 25.) Another in Naphtali. (Josh. xix. 
 36.) Another in Arabia, (Jer. xlix. 28. 30. 33.) which was 
 once a celebrated city, and the capital of a kingdom. The 
 
riEL DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 175 
 
 Hazor built by Solomon, (1 Kings ix. 15.) was probably that 
 in Naplitali, which he rebuilt or fortified. 
 
 Hebron, Chebron, or Kirjath-arba ; an ancient city in the 
 tribe of Judah, and much noted in Scripture. See Part I. 
 p. 32. 
 
 Helam, a town east of Jordan, which was a place of 
 rendezvous for the Syrian troops. (2 Sam. x. 16.) It is 
 thought to be the same as Alamatha, mentioned by Ptolemy 
 in the region of Trachonitis. * 
 
 Helbah, a town in the tribe of Asher, from which the Ca- 
 naanites were not driven out. Judges i. 31. 
 
 Helbon, a place near Damascus, famous for its wine. 
 (Ezek. xxvii. 18.) This is thought to be the place now 
 known by the name of Aleppo, called by the Arabs Halab. 
 From this place the ancient kings of Persia had the wine for 
 their own tables. It is situated in the north of Syria, and is 
 one of the most important cities in the Turkish empire ; hav- 
 ing about 250,000 inhabitants, and carries on an extensive 
 commerce, by means of caravans, with all parts of the East. 
 
 Heleph, a city in the borders of Naphtali, not far from 
 Sidon. Josh. xix. 33. 
 
 Heliopolis, a city in Egypt. See Part I. p. 39. 
 
 There was also a city in CoBlo-Syria called Heliopolis, or 
 Balbec ; supposed to have been referred to by Amos, (i. 5.) 
 where he says, " I will cut off the inhabitants from the plain 
 of Avon," or Beckathaven ; the idoVs camp, or the valley of 
 iniquity ; by which he is supposed to mean the place since 
 called Baal-beck, that is, the valley of Baal, or the idol. The 
 inhabitants of Balbec have mdeed been "cut off;" for the 
 place is now a desert ; but magnificent rums yet remain to 
 tell its former grandeur. Many pillars and columns of mar- 
 ble are yet standing, 15 feet in circumference and 44 feet 
 high ; some, including their entablatures, are 72 feet in height. 
 The ground is strewed with broken colunms, mutilated capi- 
 tals, and the remains of pilasters, entablatures and cornices, 
 around ruined courts, edifices and temples, which display all 
 the ornaments of the noblest architecture, and are adorned 
 with the richest workmanship of sculpture. The size of the 
 stones which compose the mouldering walls is surprising; 
 being from 28 to 35 feet long, and 9 feet thick. In one place, 
 three stones extend 175 feet ; one of them being 59 feet long, 
 and the other two each 58 ; they are twelve feet thick, and 
 of white marble. At a quarry, near these ruins, is a stone 
 
176 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. HER 
 
 hewn on three sides, which is 69 feet 2 inches long-, 12 feet 
 10 inches broad, and 13 feet 3 inches thick. By what means 
 the ancients moved these huge and ponderous masses of mar- 
 ble, is utterly inconceivable ! The ruins of a temple dedicated 
 to the sun, is the most surprising object among the remains of 
 this once populous and splendid city. Balbec lies in the way 
 from Tyre to Tadmor or Palmyra, and doubtless enjoyed a 
 liberal share of the opulent traffic of those populous and 
 wealthy cities. Its ruins are 50 miles north-west of Damascus. 
 
 Helkath, a city of Asher, (Josh. xix. 25.) given to the Le- 
 vites. (xxi. 31.) 
 
 Hena, a city near the Euphrates, betv/een Mesopotamia 
 and Arabia. 2 Kings xviii. 34. 
 
 Hepher, a country probably in the north of Judah. (1 Kings 
 iv. 10.) A city. Josh. xii. 17. 
 
 Heres, a mountain in the tribe of Dan, on which was situ- 
 ated the town of Aijalon. Judges i. 35. 
 
 Hermon, a branch of the mountains of Lebanon, forming 
 the north-eastern boundary of the land of Canaan ; and which, 
 extending further south, along the eastern border of Manasseh, 
 is called Mount Gilead. Mount Hermon is mentioned (Deut. 
 iii. 8, 9.) as the northern boundary of the kings of the Amor- 
 ites, or of tlie country east of Jordan ; and there we learn 
 that it was called by the Sidonians, Sirlon, and by theAmorites 
 Shenir. In cliap. iv. 48. we find this same mountain called 
 Sion, instead of Sirion ; though in the Hebrew text it is writ- 
 ten differently from the name of Mount Sion at Jerusalem. 
 In like manner the name given it by the Amorites, Shenir, is 
 sometimes written Seir ; and means this Mount Hermon, 
 instead of Mount Seir, in Edom. 
 
 Tiiere also appears to have been another mountain called 
 Hermon, on the west of Jordan, and not far from Mount 
 Tabor. (Psalm Ixxxix. 12. cxxxiii. 3.) Mr. Maundrell tells us 
 that in three hours and a half from the river Kishon, he came 
 to a small brook, from which he had an extensive prospect of 
 the plain of Esdraelon. To the east, six or seven hours dis- 
 tant, Nazareth was visible, and the two mountains. Tabor and 
 Hermon. He adds, " we were sufficiently instructed by expe- 
 rience, what the holy Psalmist means by the 'dew of Hermon,' 
 our tents being wet with it, as if it liad rained all night." The 
 learned Calmet, however, doubts whether the name of Her- 
 mon was ever applied to any mountain, west of the Jordan, 
 till days more modern than the writing of the Scriptures. 
 
HOB DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 177 
 
 Heshbon, a city, according- to Eusebius, twenty miles east 
 of the Jordan, and nearly opposite Jericlio. It was formeriy 
 the capital of the Amorites ; and their kin^, Silion, is some- 
 times called king, of Heshbon. (Deut. ii. 26. Josh. xiii. 10.) 
 After the conquest of the country, Heshbon was given to the 
 tribe of Reuben, (Josh. xiii. 17.) but seems afterwards to have 
 been made over to Gad. (verse 26.) It was near the border 
 or boundary between these two tribes. This place is noted 
 for its fish-pools, (Song vii. 4.) and seems to have had a lake 
 near it. (2 Mace. xii. 16.) The Caspis mentioned in this 
 passage is supposed to be Heshbon ; which continued to be a 
 noble city in the days of Eusebius and Jerom; being then 
 called by the Greeks, Esbus, and reckoned a city of Arabia, 
 under which name was then comprehended a considerable 
 part of Perea, or the country beyond Jordan. 
 
 After the carrying away of the ten tribes, Heshbon .was 
 repossessed by the Moabites ; w;hence in the prophecies against 
 Moab, ^Isa. xv. xvi. Jer. xlviii. xlix.) we find/ frequent men- 
 tion of it. 
 
 Heshjion, a city of Judah. Josh. xv. 27. 
 
 Hethlox, a city on the northern limits of the land of Ca- 
 naan. Ezek. xlvii. 15. xlviii. 1. 
 
 Hezrox, a city in the south of Judah, 
 
 Hiddekel, one of the rivers of Eden. See Part I. p. 9, 10. 
 
 Hierapolis, a city of Phrygia, in Asia Minor, near Colosse 
 and Laodicea. St. Paul, in his epistle to the Colossians, (iv. 13.) 
 expresses his zeal and affection for those of Hierapolis. This 
 city was destroyed by an earthquake in the early ages of Chris- 
 tianity. Some white cliffs in the vicinity of the modern town, 
 called by the Turks Pambuck-Knlasi, or the cotton tower, are 
 said to mark the site of the ancient city. Here are vast and 
 eplendid ruins, consisting of walls, arches, and pillars, of great 
 height and excellent workmanship ; provmg this to have once 
 been a great and- beautiful city. The numerous temples 
 erected there in the idolatrous ages, with so much art and 
 cost, probably gave it the name of Hierapolis, the sacred city. 
 It is 17 miles north-west of Laodicea, the river Lycus ruimiDg 
 between them. 
 
 IiiNxoM, a valley near Jerusalem, sometimes called the 
 valley of the son of Hinnom. See Gehinnom. 
 
 HiviTES, a people of Canaan. See Part I. p. 28. 
 
 HoBAii, a place in Syria, to which Abraham pursued the 
 army which had taken Lot (Gen. xiv. 15.) It is supposed bv 
 
178 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. ICO 
 
 some to be the same as Abila, on tlie north-west of Damascus; 
 but others place it beyond that city, towards the Euphrates, 
 where there was a place called by the Greeks Sopha, and 
 Sophene. 
 
 HoLOx, a city in the mountains of Judah, (Josh. xv. 51.) 
 also a Levitical city, and a city of refuge. (Josh. xxi. 15.) 
 A city of Moab is mentioned by this name. Jer. xlviii. 21. 
 
 HoR, a mountain. See Part I. p. 48. 
 
 HoREB, a celebrated mountain in Arabia, near the Red Sea. 
 See Part I. p. 45. 
 
 HoREM, a city of Naphtali. Josh. xix. 38. 
 
 HoR-HAGiDGAD, an encampment of the Israelites in the 
 desert, (Numb, xxxiii. 32, 33.) written Gudirodah in Deut. x. 7. 
 
 HoRiTES, an ancient people inhabiting Mount Seir in Edom, 
 before Esau settled in that country. (Gen. xiv. 6. xxxvi. 20. 30.) 
 They had princes, and seem to have been a considerable 
 nation before that time : afterwards they appear to have been 
 blended with the Edomites, or descendants of Esau, so as to 
 have composed but one people. (Deut. ii. 1. xxxiii. 2. Judges 
 V. 4.) Their country lay south-east of Canaan. 
 
 HoRMAH, a city of Judah, afterwards given to Simeon. 
 (Josh. XV. 30. xix. 4. Numb. xiv. 45. Deut. i. 44.) Its original 
 name was Zephathah, Judges i. 17. 2 Chron. xiv. 10. 
 
 HoROXAiM, a city of Moab, Isa. xv, 5. 
 
 HosAH, a towm of Asher. Josh. xix. 29. 
 
 HuKKOK, a city on the boundary between Asher and Naph- 
 tali, (Josh. xix. 34.) given to the Levites, (1 Chron. vi. 75.) 
 and probably the same called Helkath. Josh, xxi. 31. 
 
 HuMTAH, a city of Judah. Josh, xv. 54. 
 
 I. 
 
 Ibleam, a town of Manasseh, west of Jordan, given to the 
 Levites : but the Canaanites were not driven out. Josh, xvii. 11. 
 Judges i. 27, 2 Kings ix. 27. 1 Chron. vi. 70. 
 
 Ico.MUM, the capital of Lycaonia, in Asia Minor. St, Paul 
 visited this place and converted many, both Jews and Gentiles, 
 (Acts xiii, 51. xiv. 1.) but the Jews exciting the people 
 against him and Barnabas, they were obliged to leave tlie 
 place. A Christian church was supported here for 800 years; 
 but at present not a Christian nor a Jew is suffered to reside 
 within the walls of the city. It is now called Cogni, and.stands 
 
IND DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. l^O 
 
 in a pleasant situation, on a spacious and fertile plain, 110 
 miles from the Mediterranean. 
 
 Idalah, a city of Zebalon. Josh. xix. 15. 
 
 Idu^'.ea, the Greek name for Edom. In later times, how- 
 ever, Idamea seems to hav^e comprehended more than tho 
 orig-inal country of the Edomites, Mount Seir; and probably 
 advanced into the southern part of Judea, which, during- the 
 captivity of the Jews at Babylon, seems to have been pos- 
 sessed by the neighbouring Idumeans. These, when conquered 
 by the Maccabees, chose rather to embrace Judaism than to 
 quit their habitations. They came to the assistance of Jeru- 
 salem, when besieged by the Romans ; but did not remain 
 until it was taken, having returned to their own country, load- 
 ed with booty. Though they were incorporated with the 
 Jewish nation, their country was long called Idumea, and still 
 retained its name in the times of the New Testament, (Mark 
 iii. 7, 8.) and for a considerable time aftervv^ards. 
 
 IiM, a city of Judah. Josh. xv. 29. 
 . Ije-abaki.ai, an encampment of the Israelites, (Numb. xxi. 
 11. xxxiii. 44.) called in the next verse lim. This place was 
 in the east of Moab. 
 
 Ijon, a city in. the northern part of Canaan, taken by Ben* 
 hadad, (1 Kings xv. 20.) thought by some to l3e the same as 
 Hethlon. 
 
 Illtricxjm, a province in the north^w^est of Macedonia ; ly- 
 ing along the eastern coast of the Adriatic, or Gulf of Venice ; 
 extending in length 480 miles, and in breadth 120. It was 
 divided into two parts, Liburnia, nov7 called Croatia, north ; 
 and Dalmatia, which still retains its name, south. St. Paul 
 (Rom. XV. 19.) says that he preached the gospel from Jerusa- 
 lem round about to lllyricum ; meaning that he had preached 
 in all the countries lying in the circuitous route between them. 
 It does not appear, however, that Paul preached in lllyricum ; 
 but only travelled to its borders. There are now m this coun- 
 try many Christians ; it being chiefly under the Austrian go- 
 vernment. 
 
 India ; this country i-s mentioned in Scripture, (Esther i. 1, 
 viii. 9.) " Ahasuerus reigned from India even unto Ethiopia;" 
 where it is thought to mean the country about the river Indus, 
 or Hindostan. There does not appear to be any record in 
 history of the Persian power ever having permanently main- 
 tained itself east of the Indus. Only Alexan-der the Great 
 ever thought of establishing a power beyond that river. Na- 
 
180 SC'RII*TrRE GEOGRAPHY. INt? 
 
 dir Shah afterwards penetrated to Delhi, hut he returned from 
 thence to Persia, and did not attempt to retain both regions' 
 under his rule. 
 
 By India may be understood the whole of tliat country 
 where the primitive religion and language of the Hindoos 
 prevail at the present day ; including Hindostan, the stupen- 
 dous mountains of Thibet, the beautiful valley of Cashmere, 
 the country of Nepaul and Bootan, Siam and Ava, or the Bir- 
 man Empire, &c. These countries have been inhabited, from 
 the earliest antiquity, by a people who have no resemblance, 
 eitlier in their figure or manners, to any of tiie surrounding 
 nations ; and though different conquerors have established 
 themselves, at different times, in various parts of India, yet 
 the aboriginal inhabitants liave lost \'ery little of tlieir primi- 
 tive character. This people, though now humbled and de- 
 based, are believed to have been onee eminent in arts- and 
 arms, happy in their government, and distinguished in various 
 knowledge. 
 
 This country was probably settled at a very early period, by 
 the immediate descendants of Ham, the son of Noah. (Asia- 
 tic Researches, vol. 3. p. 490.) It' was -the Hamites who 
 founded the first monarchy of the Chaldeans, invented letters, 
 observed and named the luminaries of the firmament; and 
 were thence dispersed, at various intervals, and in various 
 colonies, over many countries. The tribes of Misraim and 
 Cush seem to have been widely extended, particularly the 
 iatter, and by them Africa, and a large proportion of Asia, 
 were principally peopled. The Phenicians were of this race, 
 who afterwards passed into Greece and Italy, supplanting part 
 of the clans wlio had preceded them, and uniting with others; 
 while some of this widely spread, and numerous family, who 
 appear to have been the first promoters of learning and science, 
 are thought to have found their way to Mexico and Peru, 
 tvhere rude traces of literature and mythology have been dis- 
 covered, resembling those of Egypt and India. These facts 
 corroborate Scripture prophecy. Noah foretold that the chil- 
 dren of Ham should be servants of servants. (Gen. ix. 25.) 
 And it may here bo remarked that this passage, in some copies 
 of the Scripture, reads, " Cursed bo Ham, the father of Ca- 
 naan, a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren." Ac- 
 cordingly, a hundred mallions of this people in India, besides 
 the Africans, and millions in America, are subdued and oppress- 
 ed by the dominion of the Europeans. 
 
LND DICTIOJJARY OF THE BIRLE. 181 
 
 It is generally believed that Christianity was established in 
 India at a very early period. St. Bartholomew and St. Tho- 
 mas are both said to have preached the gospel in this country ; 
 and the venerable Panta^nus of Alexandria, who visited India 
 about the year 189, found Christians there, who had the gos- 
 pel of St. Matthew in Hebrew. At the council of Nice, in 
 the year 325, John the primate of India was present, and sub- 
 scribed his name. In the sixth century there was a seminary 
 for Christians at Serinda ; and in 636 two monks went thence 
 to Constantinople. In the 13th century, before the Portuguese 
 had visited the country, Marco Polo and others say that Chris- 
 tians were numerous in India ; and when Vasco de Gama ar- 
 rived at Malabar, on the western coast, in 1503, he found 
 Christian churches and a Christian king. Since that time 
 little has been kuovvu respecting the Christians of India, till 
 within a few years they have been visited by the learned and 
 pious Dr. Buchanan, Vv' ho assures us that more than 200,000 
 Christians now inhabit these countries, of pure morals, enjoy- 
 ing gospel ordinances, and ha^'ing colleges for the instruction 
 of their youth. 
 
 \', jJow on the Funeral Pile of har Husband. 
 
 The most remarkable of the cruel rites connected with the 
 religion of the Hindoos, is the practice, which has existea 
 from time immemorial, of burning the widow on the funeral 
 pile of her dead husband. This practice, though long contin- 
 
 Q 
 
i82 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. ISR 
 
 aed and permitted by the British authorities, has lately been 
 prohibited in that part of India under their jurisdiction. 
 
 Ionia, a country in the south-west of Asia Minor ; also a 
 name sometimes given to Hellas or Achaia, from its having 
 been inhabited by lonians. ^ee Greece ; also Javan, Fart I. 
 p. 18. 
 
 IsHMAEL, the son of Abraham and Hagar, from whom de- 
 scended the Ishmaelites or Arabians. See Arabia ; also Part 
 I. p. 35. 
 
 Isles of the Gentiles, (Gen. x. 5.) the countries of Asia 
 Minor and Europe. It is evident that by the word isle, in our 
 translation, the Hebrews understood not only such countries 
 as are surrounded by the sea ; but also such as wxre separated 
 from them by the sea, or to which they usually went by 
 water. (Isa. xi. 10, 11.) The original term in Hebrew seems 
 to denote settlement, or plantation. "By these were the 
 settlements of the Gentiles divided into their lands." (Gen. x. 
 5.) See also. Job xxii. 30. Isa. xlii. 15. xiii. 22. 
 
 Israelites, a people descended from Jacob or Israel ; called 
 at first Hebrews, being the descendants of Eber or Heber, 
 (1 Chron. i. 18. 25.) and in later times Jews, from the tribe 
 of Judah, or rather from the kingdom of Judah, after the revolt 
 of the ten tribes. After this revolt, the name Israelites was 
 more appropriate to these ten tribes, who had erected a sepa- 
 rate kingdom under Jeroboam, and who, in a great measure, 
 abandoned themselves to idolatry and infidelity ; while the 
 kingdom of Judah maintained their religion in greater purity. 
 For their impiety, the Israelites were conquered and carried 
 into captivity, and have long since ceased " to be reckoned 
 among the nations." The tribes east of Jordan were first 
 carried away by Tiglath-Pileser, A. M. 3264 ; and nineteen 
 years after, Salmaneser took Samaria, the capital of the king- 
 dom, and carried the other tribes beyond the Euphrates, into 
 Media, south of the Caspian Sea. (2 Kings xvii. 6.) It is the 
 general opinion that these tribes have never returned from 
 captivity. About thirty years after this, the kingdom of 
 Judah was overthrown by Nebuchadnezzar, and the Jews also 
 carried into captivity, to Babylon. Cyrus afterwards per- 
 mitted the Jews to return to their own country, and Darius 
 gave them permission to rebuild the temple. It does not ap- 
 pear, however, that any considerable number of the Israelites 
 ever returned ; but that they were chiefly, if not all, Jews, 
 (Ezra.i. 5. iv. 1.) and are so called in the edict of Dariua 
 Ezra vi. 7. 
 
rSR DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 183 
 
 The ten tribes of Israel have been long considered as lost, 
 or mingled with other nations ; but in the Asiatic Researches 
 we learn that a people have recently been discovered in 
 Afghanistan, or east Persia, (not very distant from the place 
 where it is thought the captives were settled by Salmaneser,) 
 who, it is confidently believed, are the lost ten tribes of Israel. 
 A considerable district of this country is called Hazareh, or 
 Hazareth, which is probably the Arsareth mentioned in 
 Esdras. (See 2 Esdras xiii. 40. 45.) It is said that this peo- 
 ple have traditions of their origin ; and the Persian historians, 
 with whose empire they have always been connected, assert 
 that the Afghans are descendants of the Hebrews. The 
 names of their families, too, are distinguished by the very 
 names of the Hebrew tribes, as Reuben, Simeon, &c. Their 
 language, which has been examined by Mr. Vansittart, he 
 says is manifestly of Hebrew origin. Dr. Buchanan, during 
 his residence in India, investigated this subject, and was fully 
 convinced, from many proofs which he obtained respecting 
 this people, that they are the descendants of the lost Israelites. 
 Among other circumstances mentioned by him, he says he 
 asked the black Jews, a people in the south of India, where 
 their brethren, the great body of the ten tribes, were to be 
 found. They answered promptly, in the north, in the regions 
 adjacent to Persia. That eminent scholar, Sir William Jones, 
 Vv^hose residence in India gave him the best opportunities of 
 mformation on this subject, has also given it as his opinion 
 that the Afghans were descended from the Hebrews. St. 
 Jerom, in the fifth century, writing his notes upon Hosea, has 
 these words : " Unto this day the ten tribes are subject to the 
 kings of Persia, nor has their captivity ever been loosed." 
 Josephus recites a speech made by king Agrippa to the Jews, 
 in which he exiiortt diaoi to submit to the Romans, and not 
 to stretch their hopes bey^ond the Euphrates, that any of their 
 fellow tribes might come to their aid out of Adiabene ; telling 
 them that if those tribes wished to come, the Parthian king 
 w^ould not permit it. Our limits will not allow us to adduce 
 ether authorities, which might be easily done ; but we think 
 sufficient has been said to show that the posterity of the ten 
 tribes still exist in the countries to which they were carried 
 in their first captivity. 
 
 _ For a more particular account of the country, nation, and 
 history of the ancient Israelites, the reader is referred to the 
 article Judea, 
 
184 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. JAG 
 
 IssACHAR, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. See Part I. 
 p. 66. 
 
 Italy, (Acts xxvii. 6.) See Rome. 
 
 Ithnan, a city of Judah. Josh. xv. 23. 
 
 Ittah-kazixN, a town in the border of the tribe of Zebulon. 
 Josh. xix. 13. 
 
 Iturea, a province of Syria, east of the Jordan, and south 
 of Trachonitis; includino- the country formerly under the 
 dominion of the king of Bashan. afterwards called by the 
 Greeks Batanea, and wliich v.^as given to the half tribe of 
 Manasseh. Iturea is thought to have received its name from 
 Jetur, or letur, the son of Ishmael, (Gen. xxv. 1.5.) who settled 
 in this region, and whose posterity was driven out, or subdu- 
 ed, by the Amoritcs, of whom Og was king in the time of 
 Moses. Philip, one of He-rod's sons, was tctrarch or governor 
 of Iturea when John the Baptist entered upon his ministry 
 Luke iii. 1. 
 
 Ivah, (2 Kmgs xix. 13.) See Ava. 
 
 J. 
 
 Jaakan, an encampment of the Israelites in the desert. 
 See Bene-jaakan. 
 
 Jaazer, a city of the Amorites. See Jazer. 
 
 Jabbok, a brook or river, rising in the mountains of Gilead, 
 and flowing westward to the Jordan, into which it empties, a 
 little south of the sea of Galilee, This stream separated the 
 land of the Ammonites from the kingdom of Bashan. 
 
 Jabesh, or Jabesh-gilcad, a city of Manasseh, east of Jor- 
 dan, and near Mount Gilead, from which it received its name. 
 Judges xxi. 8. 
 
 Jabneel, a city in the ti'ibe of Judah, (Josh. xv. 11.) also 
 another upon the borders of Naphtali. Josh. xix. 33. 
 
 Jabineh, a city of the Philistines, (2 Chron. xxvi. 6.) See 
 Jamnia. 
 
 Jacob's well, a well near Shechem, in the valley between 
 Mounts Gerizim and Ebal. This well is still shown, and is 
 sunk in a solid rock ; it is 9 feet in diameter, and 105 deep. 
 Here our Saviour conversed with the woman of Samaria. 
 John iv. 12. 
 
 Jagur, a city of Judah. Josh. xv. 21. 
 
 Jahaz, or Jahaza, a city of Reuben, (Numb, xxl 23. Deut 
 
JEA DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 185 
 
 ii. 32. Josh. xiii. 18.) given to the Levites, (1 Chron. vi. 78.) 
 and ravaged by the Assyrians and Chaldeans. Isa. xv. 4. 
 
 Jair, (Josh. xiii. 30.) See Havoih-jair. 
 
 Jamma, a town on the coast of tlie l^.Iediterranean, in the 
 west of the tribe of Dan, between Joppa and Ashdod, thirty 
 miles from Jerusalem, (1 Mace. iv. 15. v. 58. 2 Mace. xii. 8.) 
 at present a village called Yebna, situated about twelve miles 
 &om Jaffa or Joppa. 
 
 Janoah, a city of Ephraim, (Josh. xvi. 6, 7.) taken and 
 mined by Tiglath-Pileser, king of Assyria. 2 Kings xv. 29. 
 
 Janum, a city of Judah. Josh. xv. 53. 
 
 Japhia, a city of Galilee, in the tribe of Zebulon. JosL 
 xix. 12. 
 
 Japhleti, a town on the borders of Ephraim and Benjamin. 
 Josh. xvi. 3. 
 
 Japho, a city in the tribe of Dan, afterwards called Joppa. 
 Josh. xix. 46. 
 
 Jarmuth, a city of Judah, ten miles south-west from 
 Jerusalem ; the king of which was killed by Joshua. Josh. x. 
 3. 5. xii. 11. XV. 35. Neh. xi. 29. 
 
 Also a city of Issachar, given to the Levites, (Josh. xxi. 29.) 
 otherwise called Remeth, (xLx. 21.) and Ramoth. 1 Chron. 
 vi. 73. 
 
 Jattir, a city of Judah, (Josh. xv. 48.) given to the Levites. 
 (xxi. 14.) 
 
 Javan, one of the sons of Japheth. (Gen. x. 2.) See Part 
 I. p. 18 ; also Greece. 
 
 Jazer, a city east of Jordan, given to the tribe of Gad, and 
 afterwards to the Levites. (Josh. xiii. 25. xxi. 39.) It lay at 
 the foot of the mountains of Gilead, near a brook of the same 
 name which falls into the Arnon. Eusebius and Jerom say 
 it was 1.5 miles from Keshbon, and a little south of Ramoth 
 Gilead, at the head of a large river which fell into the Jor- 
 dan, probably the Arnon. The Sea of Jazer ^ mentioned Jer. 
 xlviii. 32. was a lake or pond near the head of that river, and 
 not far from the town called Jazer. The Hebrews frequently 
 called all considerable waters, such as rivers, lakes, and 
 ponds, by the name oP seas. 
 
 Jearim, a mount in the borders of Judah and Benjamin, 
 (Josh. XV. 10.) probably that on v/hich the city of Kirjath- 
 jearim was built. 
 
 Jebcs, an ancient city of Canaan, called afterwards Jerusa- 
 lem. (Josh. X. XV. 8. Judges xix. 10, &c.) See Jerusalem. 
 Q2 
 
186 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. JER 
 
 Jebusites, a people descended from Jebus, the son of Ca- 
 naan, ^ee Part I. p. 27. 
 
 Jehoshaphat, valley of, called also the Valley of Kidron, 
 because the brook Kidron runs through it ; a valley east of 
 Jerusalem, between the city and the Mount of Olives. 
 
 Jehud, a city in the tribe of Dan. Josh. xix. 45. 
 
 Jerahmeelites, a people mentioned in 1 Sam. xxvii. 10 
 probably inhabiting- part of Arabia, soutii of Judah. 
 
 Jericho, a city of Canaan frequently mentioned in Scrip- 
 ture. See Part I. p. 55 
 
 Jervsalem, Jebus, or Salem, the capital of Judea ; a very 
 famous and ancient city, founded, according to Manetho, by 
 the shepherds who invaded Egypt at a remote period of 
 antiquity. According to Josephus, it v/as the capital of Mel 
 chizedek's kingdom, which is called Salem in the book of 
 Genesis. Some suppose it to have been founded by Melchi 
 zedek, about the year of the v/orld 2023, who called it Salem, 
 which signities jieace. It was afterwards taken by the Jebu- 
 sites, the descendants of Jebus, a son of Canaan. They 
 erected a fortress on Mount Zion, to which they gave the 
 name of Jebus, their father, the whole city being then called 
 Jerusalem, which signifies vision of peace. Adoni-bezek, the 
 king of the Jebusites, and the most powerful of the Canaanite 
 kings, was defeated and killed by Joshua, who destroyed 
 many of the people, (Josh, x.) but it does not appear that he 
 took the city, or any part of it. Shortly after his death, hov/- 
 ever, it was taken and burnt by the children of Judah; 
 (Judges i. 8.) but this could only have been the lower part of 
 the city, as we read immediately afterwards that the Benja- 
 mites, to whom the city was allotted, " did not drive out the 
 Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem," who continued to retain 
 possession of the upper town, or citade: of Jebus, for 400 
 years after, when they were driven out by David, who repair- 
 ed the whole city, and built a new one on Mount Zion, on the 
 site of the fort of the Jebusites, which he called the city of 
 David. 2 Sam. v. 1 Chron. xi. 
 
 During the reigns of David and Solomon, this city was the 
 metropolis of the kingdom, and continued to increase in wealth 
 and splendour. At festivals it was the resort of the whole 
 population of the country ; and by the power and commercial 
 spirit of Solomon, it was made the centre of most of the 
 eastern trade through the ports on the Red Sea, and over 
 land by the way of Tadmor and Palmyra. Some idea of its 
 
JER DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 187 
 
 prodigious wealth at this time may be formed from the fact, 
 that the quantity of gold left by David for the use of the 
 temple amounted to the value of one hundred millions of dol- 
 lars, besides fourteen millions in silver ; and Solomon obtained 
 14^ millions in gold, by one voyage to Ophir, vv^hile silver 
 was so abundant " that it was not any thing accounted of." 
 These were the days of Jerusalem's glory, when universal 
 peace, unmeasured wealth, the wisdom and clemency of the 
 prince, and the worship of the true God, marked it above 
 every other city, as enjoying the presence and the especial 
 favour of the Almighty. 
 
 But these days were soon to have an end. After the death 
 of Solomon, ten of the twelve tribes revolted from his suc- 
 cessor Rehoboam, and established a separate kingdom under 
 Jeroboam, the son of Nebat ; so that Jerusalem, no longer the 
 capital of the v^'hole empire, and its temple frequented by the 
 tribes of Judah and Benjamin alone, must have suffered a 
 mournful declension. Four years after this, the city and 
 temple were taken and plundered by Shishak, king of Egypt 
 (1 Kings xiv. 28. 2 Chron. xiii. 2. 9.) One hundred and 
 forty-five years after this, in the reign of Amaziah, the city 
 was again taken by Joash, king of Israel. (2 Kings xiv. 
 2 Chron. xxv.) Jerusalem was again taken, one hundred and 
 sixty years afterwards, by Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, who 
 carried away Manasseh, the king of Judah, a prisoner to 
 Babylon. (2 Chron. xxxiii.) Within the space of sixty-six 
 years more, it was taken by Pharaoh-Necho, king of Egypt, 
 who killed king Josiah in a battle at Megiddo. (2 Kings 
 xxiii. 29.) Jerusalem was three times besieged and taken by 
 Nebuchadnezzar, kino- of Babylon, within a few years. The 
 first in the reign of king Jehoiakim, (2 Chron. xxxvi. 6.) the 
 second in the rei^n of his son Jehoiachin, (verse 10.) and the 
 third in the reign of his successor, Zedekiah, (verse 17.) 
 This last was the most formidable and disastrous siege which 
 Jerusalem had ever experienced. The Chaldean army enter- 
 ed the city, took away every thing that was valuable, and 
 then burnt and destroyed it, with its temple and walls, and 
 left the whole razed to the ground. The whole population 
 of the city and comitry, except a fev/ husbandmen, were then 
 carried captive to Babylon. 2 Kinsfs xxv. 2 Chron. xxxvi. 
 17.20. . 
 
 Thus ended the kingdom of Judah ; and at this time com- 
 mences the 70 years of captivity, foretold by Jeremiah. Dur- 
 
188 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. JER 
 
 ing these 70 years, the city and temple lay in ruins; when 
 some Jews, taking advantage of the proclamation of Cyrus, 
 returned to Jerusalem under Zerubbabel, and began to build 
 tlie temple ; the sacred vessels belonging to which, that had 
 been taken away by Nebuchadnezzar, being restored by 
 Cyrus. Not much was done, however, being opposed by the 
 Samaritans, (Ezra iv. 6.) in the reign of Cambyses, the son of 
 Cyrus, wlio is called Ahasuerus in Scripture; and finally 
 stopped by a decree of Smerdis, called in Scripture Artaxerxes, 
 his successor. (Ezra iv. 7 to the end.) The temple con- 
 sequently remained in an unfinished state until the second or 
 third year of Darius Hystaspes, who, having found a copy of 
 the decree of Cyrus among the Median records at Achmetha, 
 issued a similar one ; and even ordered the opposing Samari- 
 tans to assist in the work. The temple was thus finished in 
 the sixth year of his reign. (Ezra iv. v. vi.) The city and 
 walls, however, remained in a ruinous condition till the 
 twentieth year of Artaxerxes Longimanus, who sent Nehe- 
 miah to Jerusalem, with power to rebuild the walls, which 
 was done, with incredible labour, notwithstanding the hostile 
 attacks of the Samaritans, in fifty-two days, in the year 445 
 before Christ ; after which the city itself was gradually rebuilt. 
 Nehem. ii. iv. vi. 
 
 Jerusalem remained attached to the Persian empire, but 
 under the local jurisdiction of the High Priests, until that 
 empire was overthrown by Alexander, 14 years after. This 
 extraordinary conqueror visited Jerusalem himself, and not- 
 withstanding the usual machinations of the Samaritans, show- 
 ed great favour to the Jews, and particularly to the High 
 Priests, granting them an exemption from tribute every Sab- 
 batical year, At the death of Alexander, on the division of 
 his empire among his generals, Jerusalem, with Judea, fell to 
 the kings of Syria ; and in the frequent wars which followed 
 between them and the kings of Egypt, belonged occasionally 
 to both parties. This unsettled state introduced disorder and 
 corruption ; the high priesthood was openly sold to tlie highest 
 bidder, and numbers of the Jews deserted their religion for 
 the idolatries of the Greeks. In the year 170 before Christ, 
 Antiochus Epiphanes, king of Syria, plundered the city, and 
 killed 80,000 of the Jews. He endeavoured to abolish their 
 religion also, and published an edict requiring all the people 
 in his dominions to conform to the religion of the Greeks ; in 
 consequence of which the service of the temple ceased, and a 
 
JER DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 199 
 
 statue of Jupiter Olympus was set up on the altar. This, as 
 mio-ht have been expected, led to rebellion ; those Jews who 
 still held their insulted religion in reverence, fled to the 
 mountains with Mattathias and Judas Maccabeus; under the 
 latter of whom they defeated the armies of Antiochus, again 
 obtained possession of Jerusalem, purified the temple, and 
 restored the service after three years defilement by the 
 Gentile idolatries. The succeeding Maccabees ruled as high 
 priests, without the title of king ; having frequent contests 
 with the Syrians, until, in the year 130 before Christ, Hyr- 
 canus rendered the Jews independent. His successor, Judas, 
 took the title of king, which continued with his successors 47 
 years, until the city and temple were taken by the Romans 
 under Pompey, and Judea made a Roman province, in the 
 year 63, B. C. 
 
 Jerusalem did not long after this enjoy the dignity of a 
 metropolis ; for Herod, who governed Judea under the Romans 
 with the title of king, removed the seat of government to 
 Csesarea, where it was continued by the succeeding Roman 
 governors. The Jews having become turbulent, and im- 
 patient of the Roman authority, in the year A. D. 66, rose on 
 their rulers and killed the Roman garrison in Jerusalem. 
 When this was known at Rome, Vespasian was appointed by 
 the emperor Nero, governor of Syria, and general of the army 
 destined to act against Jerusalem. Having reduced the 
 greater part of the country to obedience, he was preparing to 
 attack the city, when his operations were suspended by the 
 death of Nero, and the dissensions which followed in the 
 empire. Vespasian himself having been declared emperor, 
 gave the command of the army in Judea to his son Titus, who 
 invested Jerusalem near the time of the Passover, or about 
 the beginning of April, in the year 70. At this time of the 
 great festival the city was crowded to excess, and being torn 
 by different contending factions, and a prey to civil war 
 within its own walls, its downfall was hastened by its own 
 inhabitants, who, instead of uniting against the common 
 enemy, mercilessly destroyed each other, and made wanton 
 destruction of the provisions which might have enabled them 
 to protract the defence. Before the termination of the siege 
 they were reduced to such distress from famine, that, accord- 
 ing to Josephus, a rich and noble lady w^as driven by hunger 
 to kill and eat her own child. In order to prevent supplies 
 from being brought into the city, as well as to cut off all 
 
190 SCRIPTURE rxEOGRAPHY. JER 
 
 possibility of escape, Titus surrounded it with a wall, which 
 was built by the exertions of liis whole array in three days. 
 The city was finally taken by assault on the 17th day of July, 
 when a dreadful carnage followed, and the city and temple 
 were burnt and razed to the ground. The number of those who 
 perished in this siege is computed by Josephus at 1,100,000, 
 besides many thousands killed in other parts of the country 
 during the same war. 
 
 After this, Jerusalem lay in ruins about 47 years, when the 
 emperor ^lius Adrian began to build it anew ; erecting a 
 heathen temple, which he dedicated to Jupiter Capitolinus. 
 (See the medals at the end of this article.) The city was 
 finished in the 20th year of his reign ; and was named ^Elia 
 Capitolina, from its founder, and the heathen deity who pre- 
 sided over it. The Jews, having again rebelled, were again 
 subdued, and the city once more nearly destroyed ; it was, 
 however, restored by Adrian, who, enraged at the unconquer- 
 able spirit of the Jews, forbade them on pain of death ever to 
 enter it, and to show his detestation of them, he placed the 
 marble statue of a hog over the gate leading to Bethlehem. 
 Jerusalem continued under the name of iElia, inhabited more 
 by Christians and Pagans, than by Jews, till the time of the 
 emperor Constantino, who about the year 323 much irnproved 
 the city, restored its ancient name, and adorned it with many 
 new edifices and churches. 
 
 The emperor Julian, commonly called the apostate, having 
 abjured the Christian religion, and with the avowed design of 
 defeating the prophecies which had declared that the temple 
 should not be rebuilt, invited the Jews to return to the city, 
 promising to restore their temple and nation. Great numbers 
 of workmen were employed to clear the foundations ; but they 
 were soon obliged to desist by balls of fire which broke from 
 the earth, with earthquakes, whirlwinds, and other terrific 
 and supernatural phenomena. The truth of this miraculous 
 interposition of Providence, is attested by many credible wit- 
 nesses and historians, heathens and Jews, as well as Christians. 
 
 In the beginning of the 7th century, Jerusalem was taken 
 and plundered by Chosroes, king of Persia, by whom many 
 thousands of the Christian inhabitants were killed, or sold for 
 slaves. It was soon retaken by the emperor Iloraclius, and 
 restored to the Christians; the Jews being forbidden to come 
 within three miles of it. Not long after this the Caliph Omar, 
 the third from Mahomet, invested the city, which, after once 
 
JER DICTIONARY OF THE BIfiLE. 191 
 
 more sufi'ering the horrors of a protracted siege, surrendered 
 on terms of capitulation in the year 637. Omar religiously 
 observed the terms of the treaty, and allowed the Christians 
 the use of their churches ; only requesting to be shown a place 
 where he might build a mosque. The patriarch showed him 
 the site of the temple, which, out of hatred to the Jews, had 
 been used by the Christians as a receptacle for the filth of the 
 town. This was cleared away, and a mosque was erected 
 by Omar, which has stood to the present time, and is reckoned 
 the first in size and magnificence, and the second in sanctity, 
 of all in the Mahometan dominions. From the Saracens of 
 Arabia, Jerusalem was taken by the Turks, and again from 
 diem by the Saracens of Egypt. 
 
 In the year 1099, it again passed into the hands of the 
 Christians, being taken by the Crusaders under Godfrey of 
 Bouillon, who made a general massacre of the inhabitants ; 
 70,000 of whom were killed with the sword ; and the Jews, 
 equally the object of the pious hatred of the crusaders, were 
 collected together and burnt. Godfrey was chosen king of 
 Jerusalem, which was held hj the Christians 88 years ; and 
 then surrendered to Saladin, the sultan of Egypt, who per- 
 mitted the Christians to ransom their lives. About 40 years 
 after this, it was given up to the emperor Frederic II., on con- 
 dition that the walls should not be rebuilt, and that the 
 mosques should be reserved for the use of the Mussulmans. 
 The Christians soon after rose upon the Mahometans ; which 
 quickly brought the exasperated sultan upon them, who killed 
 great numbers, and razed this unfortunate city once more to 
 the ground. About 50 years after this, the western Christians, 
 who had continued to hold the maritime parts of Palestine, 
 with Acre for their capital, were totally and finally expelled 
 from the Holy Land by the sultan Khalil. Jerusalem was 
 next transferred to the Mamelukes, or foreign slaves and sol- 
 diers of the Egyptian sultans ; who had risen on their masters 
 and usurped the government. The city remained in their 
 possession, in a desolate and half-ruined state, about 260 years, 
 when the Mameluke power fell before that of Othman, or 
 Ottoman Turks, in whose possession it has continued to the 
 present time, a prey to the tyranny of that nation. 
 
 Jerusalem in its most flourishing state, was four miles and 
 a half in circumference, and was divided into four parts, each 
 inclosed with its own walls. 
 
 Of the public edifices of this city, the temple claims our 
 
** 
 
 192 * SCRIPTURE GEOGRA.PHY. JER 
 
 chief notice. The original temple, or that built by Solomon, 
 is particularly described in the Olu Testament. It was seven 
 years and six months in building, and was dedicated with 
 peculiar solemnity to the worship of the Most High, in the 
 year of the world 3001, before Christ 1003. It retained its 
 original splendour only 33 or 34 years ; when Shishak, king 
 of Egypt, took Jerusalem and carried away the treasures of 
 the temple : and after undergoing subsequent profanations and 
 pillage.^, this stupendous building was finally plundered and 
 burnt by the Chaldeans under Nebuchadnezzar in the year of 
 the world 3416. 2 Kings xxv. 13-15. 2 Chron. xxxvi. 17-20. 
 
 After the captivity, the temple emerged from its ruins, 
 being rebuilt by Zerubbabel, but with vastly inferior and 
 diminished glory ; as appears from the tears of the aged men 
 who had beheld the former structure in all its grandeur. 
 (Ezra iii. 12.) The second temple was profaned by Antiochus 
 Epiphanes, B. C. 163, who caused the daily sacrifice to be dis- 
 continued, and erected the image of Jupiter Olympus on the 
 altar of burnt-offering. Three years after, it was purified by 
 Judas Maccabeus, wdio restored the true worship of Jehovah. 
 
 Some years before the birth of Christ, the repairing, or 
 gradual rebuilding of this second temple was undertaken by 
 Herod, who for nine years employed 18,000 workmen upon 
 it, and spared no expense in its adornment. The Jews con- 
 tinued for some years to ornament and enlarge it; so that 
 they might assert with propriety that this temple had been 
 forty-and-six years in building. John ii. 20. 
 
 The temple itself, strictly so called, (which comprised the 
 portico, the sanctuary, and the holy of holies,) formed only a 
 small part of the sacred edifice on Mount Moriah, being sur- 
 rounded by spacious courts, making a square of half a mile in 
 circumference. It was entered through nine gates, which 
 r/ere on every side thickly coated with gold and silver ; but 
 .here was one ^ate of surpassing beauty, made of Corinthian 
 orass, the most precious metal in ancient times. It was also 
 much larger than the others ; and its ornaments far more 
 costly and massive. This is supposed to have been the " gate 
 called beautiful," mentioned in Acts iii. 2. The inner temple, 
 or sanctuary, was covered on every side with plates of gold ; 
 so that when the sun rose upon it. it reflected so strong 
 and dazzling an effulgence, that the eye of the spectator 
 was obliged to turn away, being no more able to sustain its 
 radiance than the splendour of the sun. To strangers who 
 
JER DiCTlON.VRY OF THE BIBLE. 193 
 
 were approaching-, it appeared at a distance like a mountain 
 covered with snow, for where it was not decorated with plates 
 of gold, it was extremely white and glistening. On the top 
 it had sharp pointed spikes of gold, to prevent any bird from 
 resting upon it, and polluting it. There were in this build- 
 ing, stones which were 45 cubits in length, 5 in height, and 
 6 in breadth. Yet fully was tlie prediction of our Lord veri- 
 fied ; for in the short space of about 30 years after he spoke, 
 this most magnificent temple, whicli the Jews had literally 
 turned into a den of thieves, was, through the righteous judg- 
 ment of God upon that wicked and abandoned nation, utterly 
 destroyed by the Romans, in the same month, and on the 
 same day of the month, when Solomon's temple had been 
 razed to the ground by the Babylonians, 657 years before ! It 
 is said that Titus wished to save the temple, and had given 
 orders to that effect. But it was necessary for the fulfilment 
 of prophecy, that his orders should not be obeyed ; and a sol- 
 dier, in the midst of the horror and confusion of such a time, 
 set fire to it ; when 6000 men, women, and children, who had 
 been led to seek security there by the assurances of a false 
 prophet, perished in the flames, or in attempting to leap from 
 the burning edifice. Titus, himself afterwards ordered the 
 very foundations to be dug up ; so literally was the prediction 
 of our Saviour verified, that not one stone of that stupendous 
 pile should be left standing on another. Mark xiii. 2. 
 
 The most remarkable antiquities yet shown in Jerusalem, 
 and its neighbourhood, are the pools of Bethesda and Giiion ; 
 the tomb of the Virgin Mary, in the valley of Jehoshaphat ; 
 the tomb of king Jehoshaphat ; Absalom's pillar ; the tomb of 
 Zachariah; and the royal sepulchres, which are evidently of 
 very great antiquity, and are cut out of the solid rock ; but it 
 is not agreed what kings were buried here. Of the church 
 of the Holy Sepulchre, we have spoken in the article Calvary^ 
 and other interesting antiquities of the neighbourhood will 
 be found described in their proper places, 
 
 Jerusalem, called universally in Egypt and Syria El Kouds, 
 the holy city, is built upon high rocky ground, and, as seen 
 from Mount Olivet, the modern city presents an inclined 
 plane, descending from west to east. It is inclosed by a high 
 wall, fortified with towers ; and towards the west, and in the 
 centre of the city, the houses are numerous and closely built ; 
 but towards the east, large vacancies are observed. The 
 houses are mostly low, generally only one story high, without 
 R 
 
194 
 
 SCRIFl'URE GEOGRArHY. 
 
 JER 
 
 chimneys, and having flat roofrf of stone, containing, cisterns to 
 preserve the rain-water, which is collected for use, the city- 
 containing neither wells, fountains, nor streams. The streets, 
 are narrow aiid crooked, without pavements, full of loose stones 
 4nd abrupt declivities. The shops are few and mean, indi- 
 
 Plan of Jerusalem and its environs. 
 
 A. Temple on Mount Mori.nh. B. Z'on. or city of David. C. Salem, 
 the Lower Town. D. Beznta, or the New Town. 
 
 eating the poverty of the inhabitants, and the oppression of 
 their Turkish masters. The population of Jerusalem is esti- 
 mated to be : Mahometans 13,000, Jews 4000, and Christians 
 of various denominations 3000. 
 
'JER 
 
 DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 195 
 
 The Jews, the legitimate masters of Judea, are now as 
 slaves and strangers in their own land ; yet still awaiting, 
 under this most cruel and despotic gove;rnment, a king who is 
 to work their deliverance. iSix times'have they witnessed 
 the destruction of Jerusalem, yet still they are not discouraged 
 — still their looks are turned upon Zion, from which nothing 
 can divert them. Near that temple, of which there does not 
 remain one stone upon another, they yet continue to dwell ; 
 and while the Persians, the Greeks, and the Romans, have 
 disappeared from the face of the earth, this small people, 
 whose origin is much more ancient than that of these mighty 
 nations, still survive amidst the ruins of their country, with 
 no alteration of mamiers, and no mixture of foreign blood. 
 
 The Christians, though also pillaged and oppressed, and 
 their lives constantly in danger, yet linger around the Holy 
 Sepulchre, and the scenes made sacred by the presence and 
 miracles of the Saviour of the world. From the tomb of that 
 Saviour, neitlier the menaces of death, nor indignities, nor 
 robberies of every description, can drive them; .and their 
 hymns, and prayers resound night and day about that spot 
 where Jesus Christ suffered for the salvation of man. 
 _: This city, though decayed and "trodden down by the Gen- 
 tiles," will always be interesting to the believer in revelation. 
 Here his fpnd, delighted imagination will be fixed, not only 
 on account of the splendid scenes'of Old Testament history ;; 
 not only because here the Son of God accomplished the work 
 qf human redemption ; not only b-ecause the spark was here 
 kindled \^ich shall enlighten all nations ;'=?:^but because here' 
 a constellation of prophecies have been fulfilled}^ in such a 
 manner as to carry conviction to every candid and unpreju- 
 diced mind, of the solemn and sublime truths of Divine reve- 
 lation. 
 
196 
 
 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 JEZ 
 
 No. 1. This medal of Jerusalem, proves the truth of those histories 
 which inform us that the city, after being destroyed by the Romans 
 under Titus, was rebuilt by Hadrian, and Ibrmed into a colony. The 
 medal has the head of Hadrian on one side ; on the other a colonist 
 driving oxen, which was the usual type of a colony, with a military 
 ensign, and the inscription col. ael.'capit. cond. implying that Ha- 
 drian was the condilor, founder, or re-establisher of the colony o{ A^Lia 
 CapitoLina, or Jerusalem. This is probably one of the first medals 
 struck on this occasion. 
 
 We are told in the life of Hadrian by Xiphylinus, that he built a 
 temple to Jupiter, in the very spot where "the temple of (lod had stood ; 
 and he made the Jews pay to this temple the same contributions as 
 ihey had been accustomed to pay yearly to their temple. No. 2. represents 
 Jupiter silting in this temple, conversing with Minerva, and attended 
 by the female genius of the place, or by Juno. 
 _ No. 3. A head of Serapis. As this deity was the principal God of 
 
 Jerusalem, 
 
 No. 4. Ashtaroth, or Astarte, was among the idc-ls of Syria ; and this 
 medal proves that she was also worshipped in Jerusalem, She holds in 
 
^lOP DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 197 
 
 ner left hand a staflEj in her right a human head, and treads on.a figure 
 lying down. Comm. on this medal, sigtiifies Commodiana: it is a coin 
 of Severus. 
 
 J\o. 5. A coin of Hostilianus. with a figure standing, a blunt spear in 
 Ins right hand, and a human head in liis left. The caduceus behind 
 mm, as well as the general character, denotes this to be Mercury. 
 
 There were then in Jerusalem temples to Jupiler, Serapis, Astarte, 
 and Mercury ; and, as is shown by other medals, to the Sun, to Bac- 
 chus, Minerva, and Ju7w. These profanations are surely proofs tha 
 superstition and idolatry succeeded the worship of God in this once 
 holy city, and that it was indeed " trodden down by the Gentiles." 
 
 Jeshana, the name of a place, (2 Chron, xiii. 19.) probably 
 the same, afterw^ards called Zin, which Eusebius and Jerom 
 say was seven miles north of Jericho. 
 
 Jeshimon, a place in the tribe of Judah. 1 Sam. xxiii, 24. 
 
 Jethlah, a city of Dan. Josh. xix. 42. 
 
 • Jezreel, a noted city, since called Esdraelon, situated in a 
 plain or valley of the same name, on the borders of Manasseh 
 and Issachar. Josh. xix. 18. 1 Kings xviii. 46, &c. 
 
 Also a city in Judah. Josh. xv. 56. 1 Sara. xxix. 1. 
 
 Jiphtah, a city of Judah. Josh. xv. 43. 
 
 JiPHTHAH-EL, a Valley in the tribe of Zebulon. Josh. xix. 14. 
 
 Jogbeha, a city of Gad. Numb, xxxii. 35. 
 
 JoKDEAM, a city of Judah. Josh. xv. 56. 
 
 JoKMEAM, a city of Ephraim, given to the Levites. 1 Chron. 
 vi. 68. 
 
 JoKNEAM, a city of Zebulon, given to the Levites, (Josh, 
 xxi. 34. xix. 11.) the same as Jokneam of Carmel, (Josh. xii. 
 22.) so called from being near Mount Carmel. 
 
 JoKTHEEL, a city of Judah. (Josh. xv. 38.) Also a place 
 taken by Amaziah, king of Judah, from the Edomites : sup- 
 posed by Eusebius and others to be the city, afterwards called 
 Petrea, the capital of Arabia Petrea. The city, before its cap- 
 ture, w^as called Selah, which W'Ord means in Hebrew a rock, 
 the same as Petra in Greek. 2 Kings xiv. 7. 
 
 JoppA, a sea-port tow^n in the west of Canaan, lying near 
 the boundary between Dan and Ephraim, south of Ccesarea. 
 It was anciently tlie only port to Jerusalem ; whence the ma- 
 terials senf from Tyre for building the temple of Solomon, 
 were landed here. (2 Chron. ii. 16.) It is avery ancient city, 
 and was formerly called Japho, Josh. xix. 46.) being, accord- 
 ing to tradition, and the fables of ancient authors, built before 
 the deluge. Its modern name is Jaffa: it is w^ell fortified, and 
 is inhabited by Turks and Arabs, with a mixture of Greeks, 
 2R 
 
^m 
 
 198 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. JOR 
 
 Maronites, and Armenians. The houses are small, and sur- 
 rounded with ruins of ancient walls and towers. The Franks, 
 Greeks, and Armenians, have each of them houses here, for 
 the reception of pilgrims who land at this place ; where they 
 have to pay for permission to visit the Holy Land. This money 
 js partly sent to Mecca, and partly to Constantinople. 
 
 Jaffa was laid waste in the crusades, and afterwards de~ 
 stroyed by an earthquake ; but it is now somewhat recovered, 
 and that part near the sea is adorned with handsome houses 
 of stone. The town carries on a considerable trade in soap 
 and rice, and has a population of about 1500. It was taken 
 by the French army of Egypt, under Bonaparte, in 1797, and 
 retained forty days. 
 
 Jordan, the largest and most celebrated river in the Land 
 of Canaan, and very frequently mentioned in Scripture. It 
 rises in the mountains of Lebanon, in the northern extremity 
 of Canaan, and after running 16 or 18 miles, spreads out in a 
 flat marshy place, forming tlie lake Semechon, called in Scrip- 
 ture the waters of Merom. After leaving this lake, and run- 
 ning about 15 miles fui ther, it enters the sea of Galilee, or 
 Tiberias, from the southern end of which it again issues, and 
 after a course, still south, of about 150 miles further, it final- 
 ly empties into the Dead Sea. 
 
 Below the Sea of Galilee, the river is generally 20 or 30 
 yards wide, and is described by travellers to be deep and 
 rapid. The water is turbid, but wholesome. On both sides 
 along the Jordan, there is a great plain or valley, which ex- 
 tends from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea. Josephus 
 says this plain is 150 miles long, and 15 wide. Though this 
 river anciently overflowed its banks in the spring, when the 
 snows were melting on Mount Lebanon, yet it seems evident, 
 from the accounts of modern travellers, that these floods are 
 now less, and more rare. This may have arisen, in some 
 measure, from the channel having worn deeper. The banks 
 of the river are in many places covered with trees and reeds, 
 under which the lions and other wild beasts iiide ; and from 
 whence they are driven by the rise of the waters. There is 
 an allusion to this, in Jer. xlix. 19. 
 
 The regular passages over Jordan were, 1. Jacob's bridge, 
 between lakes Semechon and Gcnnesarcth ; a stone bridge, 
 with three arches, supposed to be more ancient than the daya 
 of that patriarch. 2. A bridge at the issue of the river from 
 the Lake of Gennesareth. 3. Bethabara, rather a ferry than 
 
'.fJv 
 
 JUD DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 199 
 
 a bridge. (2 Sam. xix. 18.) It is also probable there was an- 
 other at Bethshan, or Scythopolis. 
 
 JoTBAH, a city of Jadah, the native place of the mother of 
 Amon, king of Judah. 2 Kings xxi. 19. 
 
 JoTBATHAH, an encampment of the Israelites, between 
 Horhagidgad and Ebronah. Numb, xxxiii. 33. 
 
 Judah, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. See Part I. p 
 
 JuDEA ; this name was originally applied only to the terri- 
 tory belonging to the tribe of Judah ; but after the revolt of 
 the ten tribes, under Rehoboam, when Judah and Benjamin 
 were united in the same government, the name of Judah or 
 Judea was applied to both territories. Afterwards, when the 
 ten tribes had been carried into captivity, and Judah seemed 
 of course to possess tlie vacant territories of Simeon, and 
 Dan, all the southern part of the country was called Judea. 
 Finally, after the captivity and return of Judah fi'om Babylon, 
 the name was extended to nearly the whole of the Holy Land ; 
 and is used at present, something like the term Palestine, in- 
 definitely denoting either Judea proper, or the whole of the 
 country formerly inhabited by the Jews. 
 
 We have given in Part I. and under the article Canaan, 
 an account of the situation and boundaries of this country, as 
 well as its general history up to the tmie of its division 
 among the tw^elve tribes under Joshua. This division, the whole 
 being united under one government, continued during the 
 times of the judges and kings, a period of 475 years ; until 
 the revolt of ten of the twelve tribes from the authority of 
 Rehoboam, and the establishment of a separate Idngdom 
 under Jeroboam. From this time Judea was divided into two 
 kingdoms : that of Judah, consisting of the tribes of Judah 
 and Benjamin, in the southern part, of which Jerusalem was 
 the capital ; and that of Israel, consisting of all the other 
 tribes, in the middle and north, of which Samaria (after the 
 time of Omri, the sixth king) was the capital. The two 
 kingdoms existed together about 250 years ; when in the year 
 721 before Christ, Samaria w^as taken, after a siege of three 
 years, by Salmaneser, and most of the Israelites, who had 
 escaped slaughter, were carried captive into Assyria. The 
 kingdom of Judah continued 133 years longer ; when Jerusa- 
 lem was taken by Nebuchadnezzar, 588 B. C., the temple 
 burnt, and Zedekiah the king, with the greater number of his 
 subjects, were carried m captivity to Babylon. 
 
200 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. JUB 
 
 Judea now remained a desolate appendage, of the Bay Ionian 
 empire, until the •subversion of that power by Cyrus of Per- 
 sia, 537 B. C, who, in the iirst year of his reign, issued an 
 edict, empowering the Jews to return to their own country 
 to rebuild their city and temple, and to live once more under 
 their own religion and laws. In the following year, part of 
 the Jews returned under Zerubbabel, and renewed their sac- 
 rifices ; but the building of the city and temple, was for several 
 years interrupted by the treachery of the Samaritans. This 
 people, made up of the eastern colonies which Esarhaddon 
 had transplanted into the vacant cities of Israel, livmg under 
 Assyrian or Persian governors, and who had engrafted Juda- 
 ism upon Paganism, conceived a deadly hatred to the Jews ; 
 which was heightened in the present instance by a jealousy 
 of the political existence of the Jews so near them. They 
 accordingly used every means of opposition in tlieir power ; 
 but by the prudence of the Jewish rulers, and the favour of 
 Darius Hystaspes, who saw through the misrepresentation 
 and craft of the Samaritans, all opposition was surmounted ; 
 and the Samaritans were punished by being made to serve 
 the very people they had endeavoured to supplant. The tem- 
 ple was completed 26 years after the decree of Cyrus : but 
 the Jews had yet but partially returned, and their affairs were 
 in a very unsettled' state, until the year 458 B. C, when Ezra, 
 and afterwards Nehemiah, were sent by Artaxerxes as gov- 
 ernors of the Jews; and under whom the walls of Jerusalem 
 were rebuilt, and the affairs of both church and state, happily 
 settled. 
 
 From this time the Jews enjoyed, during a period of near 
 300 years, almost uninterrupted prosperity ; — governed by 
 their high priests, although subject to the kings of Persia, 
 until the overthrow of that empire by Alexander. They were 
 afterwards subject to the kings of Syria, until Antiochus Epi- 
 phanes commenced his persecutions against them; when, 
 under the conduct of Mattathias and his son Judas, surnamed 
 Maccabeus, they took up arms against their oppressors ; and 
 after a religious war of 26 years, with five successive 
 kings of Syria, they succeeded in establishing the indepen- 
 dence of tlieir country, and the sovereignty of the family 
 of Mattathias. The princes of this family, generally called 
 Asmoneans, from Asmoneus the father of Mattathias, united 
 the royal and priestly dignity in their own persons, and 
 administered the affairs of the Jews during a period of 
 
JUD DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 201 
 
 126 years, until a dispute arising between Hyrcanus II. and 
 his brother Aristobuhis, the Romans, under Pcmpey, seized 
 the opportunity of reducing- Judea to the condition of a pro- 
 vince of the empire. Julius Csesar, having defeated Pompey, 
 continued Hyrcanus in the high priesthood ; but made Anti- 
 pater, an Idumean, prefect or governor of Judea. Antipater, 
 at his death, divided the country between his two sons, Pha- 
 sael and Herod ; giving to the former the government of 
 Jerusalem and Judea proper, and to the latter that of Galilee. 
 Shortly after, Judea was mvaded by the Parthians, then rising 
 into a formidable power, and contending with the Romans for 
 the empire of the east. Both Hyrcanus and Phasael were 
 taken prisoners by this people ; but Herod, having escaped, 
 went to Rome, where he was made by Mark Antony, with 
 the consent of the senate, sole ruler of Judea, including Gal- 
 ilee, with the title of king. During his long reign, Judea 
 rose into some degree of importance; but the people groaned 
 under the most arbitrary despotism. He adorned the princi- 
 pal towns with magnificent buildings, and his treasures were 
 lavished with much show of liberality ; but this was at the 
 expense of his wretched subjects, whose lives and fortunes 
 were at his disposal. After enduring this oppression 37 years, 
 they were released by the death of this tyrant, who has been 
 misnamed the Great. 
 
 It was during the reign of Herod, that our Saviour, Jesus 
 Christ, was born at Bethlehem ; his parents having gone 
 thither from Nazareth to be taxed, that is, to be enrolled in 
 the general census for the payment of a capitation tax ; ac- 
 cording to a law instituted by Servius Tullius, the sixth king 
 of Rome, which required an enrolment of every inhabitant 
 of the empire, with their quality, employment, wives, chil- 
 dren and estates. Herod, hearing of the extraordinary birth 
 at Bethlehem, and knowing that the Jevv-s expected a de- 
 liverer about this time, felt jealous or apprehensive of the 
 security of his throne, and issued a decree for the indiscrimi- 
 nate slaughter of the whole infant population of Bethlehem ; 
 not doubting that the expected prince of the Jews would fall 
 in the general massacre. But our Lord w^as preserved by the 
 flight of his parents into Egypt, Avhere they remained until 
 the death of the king. 
 
 The dominions of Herod w^ere divided among his three 
 sons, Archelaus, Antipas, and Philip. To Archelaus, he left 
 Judea, Samaria, and Idumea, with the title of king ; to Anti- 
 
202 SCRIPTURE GEOGRlPHY. JUF/ 
 
 pas, Galilee and Perea, with the title of tetrarch ; and to 
 Philip, Trachonitis, Gh,ulonitis, and Batanea, also with the 
 title of tetrarch. The reign of Archelaus was turbulent ; 
 and was troublesome to the Romans from frequent insurrec- 
 tion of the Jews ; at length complaints having been made 
 against him of mal-administration, he was deposed and ban- 
 ished by the Romans; his territories being annexed to the 
 province of" Syria. It was Antipas, the tetrarcli of Galilee, 
 surnamed Herod after his father, who 'beheaded John the 
 Baptist to please the wife of his ^brother Philip, whom he had 
 married, and for which unlawful and incestuous connexion, 
 the intrepid Baptist had boldly reproached him. It was this 
 Herod, also, who laid snares for our Saviour, (Luke- xiii.) 
 He was afterwards banished by the Romans for aspiring to 
 the regal dignity. After this the government of Judea and 
 ■some of the adjoining" provinces was* given to Agrippa the 
 elder, or Herod Agrippa, wlio was a^son of Aristobulus, the 
 son of Herod the Great. This Herod Agrippa became sole 
 king of the Jews, and reigned over a greater extent of terri- 
 tory than his grandfather, Herod the. Great, ha,d done. He 
 died at Cassarea in the manner related in Acts xii. (which is 
 ednfirmed by Joseplius) in the seventh-.'year of Jiis reign. 
 This is the- Agrippa, or " Herod the king" as he is called in 
 the same chapter, who put to death the apostle James, and 
 .'ntended that of Peter. It was before the younger Agrippa, 
 son of the preceding Herod Agrippa, that St. Paul delivered 
 his eloquent defence, whiclT-alnfest ^rsuaded the king to be- 
 come a CJiristian. (Acts x>:vi.) He was king only of some 
 of the nortliern and eastern provinces;' the rest of Judea re- 
 maining still under the government of the Roman procurator. 
 It was governed only for a short time by Herod Agrippa, who 
 took the administration of -affairs upon the recall to Rome, 
 and subsequent banishment of Pontius Pilate. The next 
 procurator or governor after this Agrippa, was Antonius Fe- 
 lix, before whom Paul spoke, (Acts xxiv.); and who was suc- 
 ceeded by Porcius Festus, before whom Paul (whose cause 
 had been left undecided by Felix) again defended himself. 
 The younger Agrippa was present at this defence, and joined 
 Festus in declaring that he had done nothing worthy of 
 death or of bonds. (Acts xxv.) Festus died in Judea, about 
 A. D. 62, and was succeeded by Albinus. After him came 
 Gessius Florus, a cruel and avaricious governor, under whose 
 paal-administration the Jews, driven to desperation, took up 
 
JUD DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 208 
 
 arms against the Romans, and commenced that war which 
 terminated in tlie destruction' of Jerusalem by Titus, and the 
 extinction of their own existence as a nation, in the year 70, 
 A. D. • 
 
 To these events — the destruction of Jerusalem, the final 
 subversion of the Jewish nation, the dispersion of the people, 
 and the long-continued devastation of the land which v/as to 
 follow — so many well-known prophecies relate; that it must 
 de quite unnecessary to cite theih. 
 
 From the time of its last invasion by the Romans, Judea, 
 inhabited almost entirely by Christians and Pag-ans, continued 
 a part of the Roman empire until the year 637 ; when the 
 Saracens, under their caliph Omar, having rapidly overrun 
 the. greater part of th^ east, invaded Judea, and held it till 
 1079, when they were driven out by the Seljukian Turks ; 
 who in their turn were expelled by the armies of the Crusa- 
 ders, who, assembling in countless numbers from almost every 
 nation in Europe, soon overspread the country, and converted 
 it from a Mahometan to a Christian state, with a king at its 
 head, the first of whom was Godfrey of Bouillon. The Cru- 
 saders held possession of Judea about 90 years, from 1099 to 
 1188 ; during which time a regular church establishment was 
 instituted, consisting of a patriarch, with many archbishops; 
 and priories, abbeys, convents and nunneries, of different 
 orders, without number. These different religious establish- 
 ments were rich in the possession of extensive lands, castles, 
 and towns ; and furnished 7000 troops for the defence of the 
 state. Saladin, the sultan of Egypt, overthrew this Christian 
 government, and annexed Judea to his empire, in which state 
 it was held by his successors about 50 years ; when it was 
 wrested from them, together with Egypt, by their own foreign 
 slaves, the Mamelukes ; who retained it till the year 1517, 
 when it was seized by the Ottoman Turks, under whose 
 despotic sway, in darkness and desolation, it remains at the 
 present day. 
 
 Such is a brief outline of the history of this once favoured 
 country : and who can contemplate its present condition — its 
 cities in ruins; its fields lying waste ; its ports deserted ; its 
 roads, bridges, and fountains broken up and destroyed ; its 
 inhabitants few and wretched, deprived alike of every source 
 of knowledge and enjoyment, and stripped by the extortions 
 of a rapacious government and the plunder of the Arabs ; 
 property insecure ; and labour useless — v/ho can contemplate 
 
204 SCEiFTURE G230GRAPHY. JUD 
 
 all this without feeling a deep conviction of the truth of tne 
 prophetic denunciations, so frequent in Scripture, against this 
 land; once so peculiarly favoured by the divine protection] 
 
 The ancient Jews seem to have been almost exclusively a 
 pastoral people, a nation of farmers and shepherds ; their pa- 
 triarchs, lawgivers, judges, kings, warriors, prophets, — were 
 all, at different times, tillers of the ground and keepers of 
 flocks ; and suffered no degradation from their station as hus- 
 bandmen. In the patriarchal ages, and long after, throughout 
 the eastern world, as in Arabia at the present day, the pasto- 
 ral life was the most honourable, and wealth and rank were 
 estimated by the amount of flocks and herds. Even the fe- 
 males of rank thought it no disgrace to be similarly employed ; 
 and the daughters of Bethuel, of Labjy;i, and of Jethro, were 
 found tending their fathers' flocks. In such a state of society, 
 the distinctions of rank must have been fewer and less dis- 
 propoitioned than in modern civilized nations. There were 
 no idle people living on the sweat of the hrow of their fellow- 
 men, and looking down with scorn on those whom Providence 
 especially honours by making them useful in their generation. 
 
 The face of the country in Judea is beautifully diversified 
 with hills and plains — hills now barren and gloomy, but once 
 cultivated to their summits and srniling in the variety of their 
 produce, chiefly the olive and the vine ; and plains, over 
 which the Arab now roves to collect a scanty herbage for his 
 cattle, but once yielding an abundance of which the inhabit- 
 ants of a northern climate can form no idea. Rich in its 
 soil, glowing in the sunshine of an almost perpetual summer ; 
 and abounding in scenery of the grandest and most beautiful 
 kind ; this happy country was indeed a land which the Lord 
 had blessed : but Mahometan sloth and despotism, as the in- 
 struments employed to execute the curse of heaven, have 
 converted it into a waste of rock and desert, with the excep- 
 tion of some few spots which remain to attest the veracity 
 of the accounts formerly given of it. 
 
 The hills of Judea frequently rise into mountains ; the most 
 considerable of which are those of Lebanon and Hermon, on 
 the north ; but those which surround the sea of Galilee and 
 the Dead Sea are also of considerable elevation. The other 
 mountains of note arc Carmcl, Tabor, Ebal, and Gerizim ; 
 with the mountains of Gilboa, Gilead, and Abarim; with the 
 summits of tlic latter, Ncbo and Pisgah ; a description of 
 which will be found under their respective heads. Many of 
 
JUl) DICTIOiNARY OF THE BIBLE. 205 
 
 the hills and rocl« abound with caverns — the refuge of the 
 distressed, or the resorts of robbers. 
 
 Owing to the scarcity of rain in Judea, and the heat and 
 dryness of the atmosphere, there are but few rivers ; and as 
 these all rise within its boundaries, their course is short, and 
 their size inconsiderable. The principal is the Jordan : the 
 other remarkable streams are, the Arnon, Jabbok, Kishon, 
 Kedron, Besor, Sorek, and the stream called the river of 
 Eg-ypt. For a description, the reader is referred to these 
 articles. 
 
 This country was once adorned with woods and forests ; as 
 we read of the forest of cedars in Lebanon ; the forest of 
 oaks in Bashan ; the forest or wood of Ephrairn, &c. Of these 
 the woods of Bashan alone remain as described by travellers ; 
 the rest have been swept away by the ravages of time and 
 of armies, and by the gradual consumption of the inhabitants, 
 whose indolence and ignorance have prevented their preserv- 
 ing the trees or plantmg others. 
 
 Wildernesses or deserts are frequently mentioned in the 
 sacred writings. Of these there are but few in Judea, which 
 must not be compared with the extensive wastes of Arabia 
 and Africa ; they are of small extent, and consist of unculti- 
 vated tracts, either mountainous and rocky, or plain and 
 sandy. Those in this country are, the wilderness of Ziph, 
 of Tekoa, of Kedemoth, and of Judea. 
 
 Judea, under its present governments, is divided into pasha- 
 licks, or districts, each governed by its pasha, or petty prince, 
 subject to the Turkish sultan or emperor. Of these districts 
 there are three : Acre and Gaza, on the coast, of which the 
 latter is the chief, and may be said to include the former ; and 
 that of Damascus on the east, including Jerusalem, Hebron, 
 Naplous, and Tiberias: the pasha of Damascus holding the 
 pashalick of Aleppo, is, in fact, the viceroy of Syria. 
 
 Lately the pasha of Egypt, having revolted from the sul- 
 tan, has obtained possession of this country ; but what may 
 be its future destiny, considering the present disturbed state 
 of the Turkish empire, must be left to conjecture. 
 
 The present inhabitants of Judea consist of a mixed popula- 
 tion of Turks, Syrians, Arabs ; Latin, Greek, and Armenian 
 Christians; Copts, Druses, and Jews. Of these the poor Jews 
 form but a small proportion, and live in obscurity and retire- 
 ment ; compelled to use every art to escape the tyranny and 
 rapacity of their ferocious rulers. 
 
206 
 
 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 JTJD 
 
 No. 1. A medal representing ihe davghler of Zion, by which figure 
 the Hebrew poets and prophets personified their coinitry, silling under 
 a pahn tree, in a mournful attitude ; accompanied by a prisoner wliose 
 hands arc tied behind him. This captive figure may represent the 
 nation of ihe Jews, or one of their chiefs. Inscription Jud.€:a capta, 
 Jiidca vanquished, or conquered. This may remind us of the captives 
 in Babylon who " sat down and wept ;" but what is more remarkable, 
 we find Jndea represented as a woman in sorrow, sitting on the ground, 
 in a passage of the prophet which foretells the very captivity recorded 
 on these medals. 
 
 No 2. has on one side of the palm tree, a collection of arms and 
 standards; and on the other, the daughter of Zion, weeping as before, 
 and addressing the conqueror, vicisti c.esar, ihou hasl conquered 
 CcEsar ! 
 
 No a 
 
 No. 3. The side represents Victory, inscribing on a sliield the tri- 
 umph of the Romans,- she tramples, at the same time, on a battered liel- 
 met. Motto Victoria Augusti, the victory of At'guslus. The second 
 represents a warrior holding a blunt spear, a sheathed sword, and 
 
KAR 
 
 DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 201 
 
 trampling on a helmet. This denotes peace procured at the expense of 
 tlie \anqiiished, whom we see depicted by the figure of a Avoman 
 weeping, imder a palm tree. 
 
 No. 4. The head is Vespasian ; the reverse represents Peace holding 
 up an. olive branch, and burnnig the implements of war before an 
 altar; behind her is a column, importing a trophy of success. After 
 the conclusion of the Jewish v,ar, this emperor built a temple to Peace, 
 in which he deposited the spoils of Judea, after having carried tnem 
 in triumph. 
 
 Judea, loildcrness of: a neglected tract of country, lying 
 along- both sides of the Jordan, and perhaps the Dead Sea. 
 It was called a wilderness, not because it was absolutely un- 
 inhabited ; but because it was less populous than the other 
 parts of the country. Here John the Baptist first taught, 
 and Christ was tempted. Matt. iii. 1. Mark i. 4. 13. 
 
 Kabzeel, a city of Judah, near the south-western shore of 
 the Dead Sea, (Josh. xv. 21.) and was the native place of 
 Benaiah, one of David's niighty men. 2 Sam xxiii. 20. 
 
 Kadesii ; See Part I. p. 47. 
 
 KadmojvItes, an ancietit people of Canaan. /See Parti. 
 p. 33. 
 
 Kanah, a brook on the border of Ephraim and Manasseh. 
 (Josh. xvi. 8. xvii. 9.) Also a city of x\sher. Josh. xix. 28. 
 
 Karkaa, a place in the border of the tribe of Judah. Josh. 
 XV. 3. 
 
 Kareor, a town in the tribe of Gad, near the head of the 
 Arnon. Judges viii. 10. 
 
208 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. KID 
 
 Kartah, a city of Zebulon, given to the Levites. JosL 
 xxi. 34. 
 
 Kartan, a city of Naplitali, given to the Levites, (Josh, 
 xxi. 32.) probably the same as Kiriuthaim. 1 Chron. vi. 76. 
 
 Kattath, a town of Zebulon, (Josh. xix. 15.) called Kilron 
 Judges i. 30. 
 
 Kedar, a district in the north of Arabia Felix, so called 
 from Kedar, the son of Ishmael. (Gen. xxv. 13.) The peo- 
 ple dwelt in tents, (Psalm cxx.) were rich in cattle, (Isa. Ix. 
 7.) of a swarthy complexion, (!^ng i. 5.) and excellent 
 archers. Isa. xxi. 17. 
 
 Pi^EDEMOTH, a city of Reuben, near the river Arnon, from 
 which the wilderness of Kedemoth probably received its 
 name, lying near it. Josh. xiii. 18. Deut. ii. 26. 
 
 Kedesh, a city of Naphtali, (Josh. xix. 37.) given to the 
 Levites, (xxi. 32.) and a city of refuge, (xx, 7.) It is fre- 
 quently called in Scripture Ivedcsh-Naphtali, to distinguish it 
 from another place of the same name in the tribe of Judah. 
 It was situated in the east of Naphtali, 20 miles from Tyre ; 
 and is called Kadcsa by Josephus, and Kedes in the Greek of 
 Tobit i. 2. 
 
 Kedesh was also a city of Judah, (Josh. xv. 23.) but it seems 
 never to have been a place of much note. There was also 
 a place of this name in Issachar,- (1 Chron. vi. 72.) probably 
 the same called Kishion. Josh. xix. 20. 
 
 Kedron, a brook. See Kidron. • . • 
 
 Kehalathah, an' encampment of Israel in the wilderness. 
 Numb, xxxiii. 22. 
 
 Keilah, a city of Judah, (Josh. xv. 44.) eight miles north- 
 west of Hebron. It was still a place of some note in the 
 fourth century ; and it is said that the tomb of Habakkuk, the 
 prophet, was shown there. 1 Sam. xxiii. 1. 1 Chron. iv. 19. 
 
 Kenath, a town of Manasseh, east of Jordan. Numb, 
 xxxii. 42. 
 
 Kemtes, and Kenizites, people of Canaan. See Part L 
 p. 33. 
 
 Keziz, a valley in the tribe of Benjamin. Josh, xviii. 21. 
 
 KiBROTH-iiATTAAVAit, an encampment of the Israelites in 
 the wilderness. See Purt I. p. 46. 
 
 KiBZAiM, a city of Ephraim. Josh. xxi. 22. 
 
 KiDRON, a brook running through the valley of Jehosha- 
 
 Shat, on the east of Jerusalem, between the city and the 
 lount of Olives. Xhis brook has but a small quantity of 
 
KiS DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 209 
 
 water, and is often quite dry ; but upon sudden and heavy 
 rains it swells and runs with great rapidity. It was thus of 
 singular service to the city, as it received the contents of the 
 common sewers, and upon every such flood carried them off 
 into the Dead Sea. Not only the blood poured at the foot of 
 the altar in the temple, but the iilth from the sacrifices, waj 
 carried by a drain into this brook. 
 
 KiLMAD, supposed to be a city of Media. Ezek. xxvii. 23. 
 
 KiNAH, a city of Judah. Josh. xv. 22. 
 
 Kir, a city of Assyria or Media, to which the people of 
 Damascus were carried captive by Tiglath-Pileser. 2 Kings 
 xvi. 9. 
 
 KiR-HERES, the capital of Moab, the same as Rabbath- 
 Moab and iVr. This place was ravaged by tlie Assyrians and 
 Chaldeans. Isa. xv. 1. Jer. xlviii. 31. 36. 
 
 KiRjATH, or Kiriath, the Hebrew word which signifies a 
 city ; whence we so frequently find it in the names of places. 
 There was a town of this name in the tribe of Benjamin. 
 Josh, xviii. 28. 
 
 KiRJATHAiM, a city of Moab, given to the tribe of Reuben. 
 Numb, xxxii. 37. Josh. xiii. 19. 
 
 Also a city of Naphtali, (1 Chron. vi. 76.) thought to be 
 the same as Kartan. Josh. xxi. 32. 
 
 KiRjATH-ARBA, the aucieut name of Hebron. See Part I. 
 p, 32. 
 
 KiRjATH-BAAL, a city of Judah, called also Kirjath-jearim. 
 Josh. XV. 60. 
 
 KiRJATn-HuzoTH, the royal city of Balak, king of Moab. 
 Numb. xxii. 39. 
 
 KiRjATH-JEARi:\i, a city of the Gibeonites, (Josh. ix. 17.) 
 called also Ivirjath-baal, and Baalath: given to Judah, and 
 afterwards to Dan. Josh. xv. 60. xix. 44. See Part I. p. 56. 
 
 KiRJATH-SEPHER, Kivjatli-sanna, or Debir, a city of Judah. 
 See Part I. p. 57. 
 
 KiSHiON, a city of Issachar, given to the Levites. Josh. 
 XIX, 20. xxi. 28. 
 
 KiSHON, a brook or river of Canaan, There seem to have 
 been two streams of this name, both rismg near Mount Tabor, 
 in the tribe of Zebulon ; one flowing westward into the Medi- 
 terranean, and the otiier eastward nito the Sea of Galilee, It 
 is certaui that the greater Kishon ran westward, and passed 
 near Mount Carmel, as we read, (1 Kings xviii, 40.) that the 
 prophets of Baal were brought down from the mountain, and 
 S2 
 
210 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. LAO 
 
 slain at the brook of Kishon. Mr. Maundrel, the traveller, 
 tells us that this stream runs through the middle of the plain 
 of Esdraelon, and continuing its course close by the side of 
 Mount Carmel, falls into the sea at a place called Caiapha. 
 
 KiTHLisn, a city of Judah. Josh. xv. 40. 
 
 KiTRON, a city allotted to Zebulon, from which the Ca- 
 naanites were not driven out. It appears to have been a 
 strong place. Judges i. 30. 
 
 KiTTiM, descendants of Javan, the son of Japheth. See 
 Part I. p. 19. 
 
 KoA, a region in Babylonia, mentioned in the prophecies 
 of Ezekiel, xxiii. 23. 
 
 L. 
 
 Laced.emon, (1 Mace, xii.) a famous city of Greece, called 
 also Sparta, which indeed was the proper name of the city. 
 Lacedcemon bemg that of the country, according to Strabo 
 and Stephanus. This city was the capital of Laconia, and 
 situated on the Eurotas. It w^as smaller than Athens, but 
 equal or superior in power ; and in its most flourishing state 
 had no walls, the bravery of its citizens rendering them need- 
 less. In the time of Cassander, how^ever, walls w^re erected, 
 which were pulled down by PhilopoBmon, 188 years after 
 Christ. Some time after this, Laconia was reduced to the 
 state of a Roman province, by tlie consul Mummius. The 
 town of Misistra now stands about a mile from the ancient 
 Laceda3mon. It appears, from ancient writers, that the Jews 
 claimed kindred with the Lacedamionians, and that the latter, 
 after examination of their ancient records, allowed this km- 
 dred. Mr. Bryant supposes that the Laccdfemonians were 
 originally emigrants from the same country as Abraham. 
 
 Lachish, a city of Judah. (Josli. xv. S9.) See Part I. p. 57. 
 
 Lahmam, a city of Judah. Josh. xv. 40. 
 
 Laish, or Lesliem^ a city near the head of the Jordan, 
 taken by the children c.f Dan, (Josh. xix. 47. Judges xviii. 7. 
 29.) and thence called Dan. See Casarea Philippi. 
 
 Lakum, a city of Naphtali. Josh. xix. 33. 
 
 Lahai-roi, a well. See Part I. p. 34. 
 
 Laodicea, a city of Phrygia in Asia Minor, situated on 
 the river Lycus, not far from Colosse. Its ancient name, ac- 
 cording to Pliny, was Diospolis, which was afterwards changed 
 to Rhoas. It was rebuilt by Antiochus Theos, who named it 
 Laodicea, in honour of his wife Laodice. There are several 
 
JjEB dictionary of the bible. 211 
 
 other cities of this name mentioned in profane history; but 
 the above-mentioned is the Laodicea of the New Testament, 
 Col. ii. 1 Rev. iii. 14. 
 
 This city v/as once one of the most commercial and wealthy 
 in Asia ; but, having- been several tim.es almost destroyed 
 by earthquakes, has been deserted by its inhabitants, and is 
 now a scene of ruins. The former wealth and luxury of its 
 people may be inferred from the remains of sumptuous build- 
 ings yet visible- ; among which are two spacious theatres, with 
 seats rising in numerous rows, one above another. A modern 
 traveller says, " We saw no traces of either houses, churches, 
 or mosques'; all was silence and solitude. A fox, which we 
 first discovered by its ears peeping over a brow, was the only 
 inhabitant of Laodicea," 
 
 Lashah, a city in the border of Canaan, probably not far 
 from Sodom. Gen.- x. 19. 
 
 Lasea, a city in the island of Crete. Acts xxvii. 8. 
 
 Lebanon, the name of two opposite and parallel ridges of 
 mountains, called by the Greeks and Latins, Libanus and 
 Anti-Libanus, situated on the north of Canaan, and extend- 
 ing from the neighbourhood of Sidon on the Mediterraneanj 
 towards Damascus. The highest summits of these mountains 
 are covered with snovv^ most of the year ; but their sides ana 
 •the less elevated parts, are represented as being fruitful and 
 cultivated, enjoying a delightful temperature, and producing 
 corn, fruits, oil, and the best wine in Syria. Many rivers and 
 streams have their sources in the mountains of Lebanon, the 
 springs of which are increased by the melting of the snow 
 on the higher elevations, TJie Jordan, the Barrady, the 
 Orontes, and many smaller streams, all flow from these 
 mountains in different directions. 
 
 Though the mountains of Lebanon are of considerable ex- 
 tent, yet the name is commonly confined to that part on which 
 the cedars grow ; other names being given to other parts of 
 these celebrated mountains. The cedars of Lebanon are 
 famed in Scripture, and trees of them are yet found there, 
 which are described by travellers as being thirty-six feet hi 
 circumference round the trunk, and evidently of great age. 
 There are not many remaining, but, according to appearances, 
 they were formerly more numerous than at present. 
 
 Lebaoth, a city of Judah, (Josh. xv. 32.) called Beth-Le 
 baoth, xix. 6. 
 
212 SCRirTURE GEOGRAPHY. LYB 
 
 Lebonah, a place not far from Shiloh, on the north. Judges 
 xxi. 19. 
 
 Lehabim, descendants of Misraim, the son of Ham. See 
 Part I. p. 26. 
 
 Lehi, a place in Judah, called also Rajnath-lehi, where 
 Samson killed 1000 Philistines with the jaw-bone of an ass. 
 Judges XV. 9. 14. 17. 
 
 Leshem, see Laish. 
 
 Levi, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, ^ee Part I. 
 p. 62 and 67. 
 
 LiEANUS, see Lebanon. 
 
 LiBNAH, an encampment of the Israelites in the desert 
 (Numb, xxxiii. 20.) Also a city in the tribe of Judah, 16 
 miles south-west of Jerusalem ; given to the Levites. (Josh. 
 X. 29. xii. 15. XV. 42. xxi. 13.) Also a city of Asher, called 
 Shihor-libnath. Josh. xix. 26. 
 
 LoD, a city, (1 Chron. viii. 12. Neh. xi. 35.) called in the 
 Greek Lydda. 1 Mace. xi. 34. Acts ix. 35. 
 
 LoDEBAR, a place east of Jordan, near Mount Gilead. 2 
 Sam. ix. 4. xvii. 27. 
 
 LuBiM, a people of Africa, inhabiting the country near 
 Egypt. 2 Chron. xii. 3. xvi. 8. See Lyhia. 
 
 LuDiM, the descendants of Lud, son of Misraim. See Part 
 I. p. 25. 
 
 LuHiTH, a place in the country of the Moabites, east of the 
 Dead Sea. Isa. xv. 5. Jer. xlviii. 5. 
 
 Luz, a city of the Canaan ites, afterwards called Bethel. 
 (Gen. xxviii. 19.) Also a city appropriated to the sons of 
 Joseph, not far from Shecliem. (Josh. xvi. 2.) Another city 
 of this name was built in the land of the Hittites. Judofea 
 i. 26. 
 
 Lybia, or Libya, m Hebrew, Lubim. (2 Chron. xii. 3. xvi. 
 8. Nahum iii. 9. Jer. xlvi. 9. Dan. xi. 43.) A country of 
 Africa, lying west of Egypt ; extending along the coast as 
 far as Cyrene, and to an unknown distance into the interior. 
 In a larger sense, Lybia seems to have been sometimes used 
 for nearly the whole of Africa west of Egypt. It is men- 
 tioned in the New Testament, (Acts ii. 10.) where certain 
 Jews from this country, being at Jerusalem on the day of 
 Pentecost, were converted by Peter. This country is now 
 called Barca, and is separated from Tripoli by the Gulf of 
 Sidra. It is generally a sandy desert, inhabited by a few 
 wandering Arabs, who subsist chiefly by plunder. 
 
MAA DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 213 
 
 Lycaoma, a province of Asia Minor, west of Cappadocia ; 
 
 havins" Galatia on the north, Cilicia and Pisidia on the south, 
 gnd Plnygia west. St. Paul preached in Iconium. Lystra, 
 and Derbe, cities of this province ; (Acts xiv. 1-6.) and the 
 churches established here by him and Barnabas, were support- 
 ed till the subjug-ation of the country by the Saracens. 
 
 Lycia, a provmce in the south-west of Asia JVIinor, on the 
 coast of the Mediterranean. Its capital was Myra, where 
 Paul entered a ship to go to Rome, in order to appear before 
 Nero. (Acts xxvii. 5.) The Lycians were formerly cele- 
 brated for their justice and equity ; but before the Christian 
 era, many of tliem on the sea-coast were addicted to piracy. 
 
 Lydda, called in Hebrew Loci, (1 Chron. viii. 12.) and 
 sometimes by the Greeks Diosvolis ; a town in the way from 
 Jerusalem to Csesarea, about 15 miles east of Joppa, and 33 
 from Jerusalem. Here Peter healod a man who had kept his 
 bed with the palsy eight years. (Acts ix. 32.) It is now a 
 ruined village, called by the Arabs Lydd, having a market 
 once in a week, where traders resort to sell cottons and other 
 commodities. 
 
 Ly'dia, a province of Asia Minor, probably peopled by Lud, 
 the son, of Shem. {See Part L. p. 25.) It lies on -the east of 
 the Egean Sea; ,having'Mysia on the north, Phiygia on the 
 east, and Caria on the south. In the times of the last Lydian 
 kings, Croesus and Alyattes, the country.was much more ex- 
 tensive, com.prehending the whole territory from the Eg^an 
 Sea to the river Halys. This country was conquered by Cy- 
 rus, and' has since been the prey successively of the Greeks, 
 Romans, Saracens, and Turks. 
 
 The gospel v/as early introduced into Lydia, and churches 
 established in its chief cities, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, 
 «fvcc. ; it is even said that some vestiges of Christianity remain 
 here to the present day. 
 
 Lystra, a city of Lycaonia, the native place of Timothy. 
 Acts XV i. 1. 
 
 M.. 
 
 Maachath, a place belonging to the Amorites, situated Id 
 the north of the district allotted to Manasseh, east of Jordan. 
 Josh. xii. 5. xiii. 13. 
 
 Maacha, or Beth-maocah. See Ahel-heth-maacaJi. 
 
1 
 
 214 
 
 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 MAC 
 
 Maarath, a city of Judah. Josh. xv. 59. 
 
 Macedonia, a large province north of Greece ; bounded 
 north by the mountains of Haemus ; east by Thracia and the 
 EgeanSca; south by Thessaly and Epirus, in Gr:;ece: and 
 west by the Ionian and Adriatic seas. 
 
 This country was anciently called ^mathia, and has been 
 supposed by some to liave been peopled by the descendants of 
 Madai, the son cf Japheth. 
 
 Caranus, the first king of Macedonia, began his reign 814 
 years before the Christian era. In the reign of Amyntas I. 
 about 547 years before Christ, the Macedonians, upon being 
 threatened with an invasion, became tributary to the Persians. 
 Having, however, shaken oif the Persian yoke, Macedonia 
 contmued to increase in power : and at length, during the 
 reign of Philip, 337 years before Christ, all Greece was brought 
 under the dominion of this nation. Alexander tlie Great, son 
 and successor of Philip, raised Macedonia to its height of 
 
MAC 
 
 DICTION.IRY OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 215 
 
 No. 2. 
 
 No. 1. A represent 
 ation of an ancient 
 bronze figure of a goal 
 with one horn, which 
 was dug up in xA^sia 
 Minor. It is supposed 
 to have been affixea 
 to the top of a milila 
 ry standard, in the 
 same manner as the 
 Roman eagle ; and it 
 is related in history» 
 that Caranus, the first 
 king of the Macedo- 
 nians, ordered goats 
 to be carried before 
 the standards of his 
 army. 
 
 No. 2. An engraving 
 from a piece of sculp- 
 ture on a pilaster in 
 the ruins of Persepo- 
 lis; in which a goat 
 is represented, wi^h a 
 large horn growing 
 out of the middle of 
 his forehead, and a 
 
 lan in a Persian dress 
 is seen by his side, 
 holding the horn with 
 his left hand, by which 
 is signified the subjec- 
 tion of Macedon to 
 Persia, as we have 
 above mentioned, in 
 the year 547 before 
 Christ. 
 
 power and greatness; and made it the third k-np^dcm which 
 had obtained the empire of the world, having no less than a 
 hundred and fifty nations under its dominion. But after the 
 death of Alexander, the empire, being- divided among his gen- 
 erals, quickly fell into weakness and contention, and Vv'assoon 
 swallowed up in the rising and all-conquering power cf the 
 Romans. Macedonia, when visited by the apostle Paul, (Acts 
 xvi.) was a Roman province ; and several of its cities, Thes- 
 
216 
 
 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 MAC 
 
 salonica, Amphipolis, Berea, Philippi, &:c. are mentioned in 
 the New Testament, in which Christianity was founded at an 
 early period. 
 
 This country was doubtless comprehended under the term 
 Chittim, by the prophet Daniel, by wliich term he describes 
 Greece in general ; and the symbol by which this nation is 
 designated, that of the goat with one horn, (Dan. viii. 5.) has 
 been proved, by reference to miodals, coins, and inscriptions of 
 great antiquity, to have been the ancient symbol proper to 
 Macedonia, as that of Persia was the ram. 
 
 Ko. 3. It has been supposed that the Macedonians derived their ori- 
 gin from Media, and probably tlience brought ihis symbolof their coun- 
 try, uhicb may once have been also proper to Media. Tiiis plate re- 
 K resents another sculpture at Per&epolis ; in which are seen two single- 
 orned goats, walking together, but each directed by its proper super- 
 intendent ; signifying the two provinc es of Upper and Lower Media, 
 subject to Persia, and under Persian governors. 
 
 Other ancient medals represent the head of a ram joined with tlie 
 head of a single-horned goat, implying either the united empire of Per- 
 sia and Media, or the conquest of Persia by the Macedonians under 
 Alexander. 
 
 The fact that both Media and Macedonia were represented by the 
 goat with one horn, explains the reason of Daniel's perplexity on seeing 
 the vision, as he could not tell which of the two countries was intend- 
 ed as the conqueror of Persia, until he was informed. Dan, viii. 15. 
 
 Machpfxaii, the cave in which Abraham and the other pa- 
 triarclis, w'ith their wives, were buried. It was situated near 
 Hebron, and was in the piece of ground which Abraham 
 bought ef Epliron, the ilittite, (Gen. xxiii.) which is the first 
 
MAO DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 217 
 
 p^ece of land mentioned in history as sold or bought. A church 
 built over this cave is now converted into a mosque, into 
 which neither Jews nor Christians are allowed to enter; but 
 they are permitted to look through holes made in the walls. 
 
 Madai, a son of Japheth. See Part L p. 17. 
 
 M ADM ANN AH, a city of Judah. Josh. xv. 31. 
 
 AIadon, (Josh. xii. 19.) probably the same as Maron, m 
 Syria, north of JMount Libanus. 
 
 Magdala, a place visited by our Saviour, (Matt. xv. 39.) 
 otherwise called Dalmanutha. (Mark viii. 10.) It is supposed to 
 have been situated somewhere on the eastern coast of the sea of 
 Galilee : and was probably the native place of Mary jMagdalene, 
 from which she took her surname. The situation of this place 
 is, however, uncertain ; and writers differ in their opinions re- 
 specting' it, some placing it on the east, and others on the Vv^est 
 of the sea of Galilee, while others suppose it to have been 
 near tlie head of the Jordan. 
 
 Maged, a city east of Jordan, taken by Judas Maccabeus. 
 1 Mace. V. 38. 
 
 Magog, a son of Japheth. See Gog, also Part I. p. 17. 
 
 Mahanaim, a city east of Jordan in the tribe of Gad, given 
 to the Levites. Josh. xxi. 38. See Part I. p. 37. 
 
 Mahaneh-da>7, a place nea.r Kirjath-jearim, where the 
 Danites encamped on their v/ay to Laish. (Judg. xviii. 12.) 
 The name means the camp of Dan. 
 
 Makez, a place supposed to belong to the tribe of Dan. 1 
 Kings iv. 9. 
 
 Makeloth, an encampment of the Israelites in the wilder- 
 ness. Numb, xxxiii. 25. 
 
 Makkedah, a city of Judah. (Josh. xv. 41.) See Part 1. 
 p. 57. 
 
 Mallos, a city of Cilicia, whose mhabitants revolted from 
 Antiochus. 2 Mace. iv. 30. 
 
 Mamre, a fertile plain or valley, near Hebrcji, where Abra- 
 ham dwelt, and vrhere ho built an altar to the Lord. (Gen. 
 xiii. 18.) The city of Hebron was also sometimes called 
 Mamre. Gen. xiii. 18. 
 
 Manasseh, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, whose in- 
 heritance was partly on the east, and partly on the west of 
 Jordan. See Part I. p. 65 and 67. 
 
 Maon, a city m the south of Judah, (Josh. xv. 55.) near 
 which was a desert called the Wilderness of Maon. (1 Sam. 
 xxiii. 24.) Also a country in Arabia. Judg. x. 12. 
 T 
 
218 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. MED 
 
 Marah, an encampment of the Israelites in the desert 
 See Part I. p. 44. 
 
 Maralah, a city in the border of the tribe of Zebulon 
 Josh. xix. 11. 
 
 Mareshaii, a city of Judah, (Josh. xv. 44.) near which a 
 battle was fought between Asa, king of Judah, and Zerah, 
 king of Cush, or Ethiopia, in which the latter, with an army 
 consisting of a mi'llion of men, was defeated. 2 Chron. xiv, 10. 
 
 Mashal, a city of Asher, (1 Chron. vi. 74.) called also 
 Misheal and Mishal. Josh. xix. 26. xxi. 30. 
 
 Masrekah, a city of Edom. Gen. xxxvi. 36. 
 
 Mearah, a city probably near Sidon. Josh. xiii. 4. 
 
 Medeba, a city east of Jordan, in the tribe of Reuben; 
 said by Eusebias to be near Heshbon. It is one of tlie cities 
 of Moab, mentioned by Isaiah ; and appears, from Josephus, 
 to have been afterwards conquered by the Arabians. It is 
 noted in the wars of the Maccabees. 1 Mace. xi. 36. 
 
 Media, the country of the IMedes, situated in Asia, soutli 
 and west of the Caspian sea ; and bounded north by the Cas- 
 pian, and the river Araxes; east by Parthia; south by Persia; 
 and west by Assyria and Armenia. The Medes are denoted 
 in Scripture by the term Madai, whence it has been generally 
 supposed that this country was peopled by Madai, tiie son of 
 Japheth. {!See Part I. p. 17.) The province of Media was 
 first raised into a kingdom, by its revolt from the Assyrian 
 monarchy, B. C. 820 ; and after it had for some time enjoyed 
 a kind of republican government, Dejoces, by his artifice, 
 procured the title of king, 700 B. C. After a reign of 53 
 years, he was succeeded by Phraortes ; who was succeeded by 
 Cyaxares, B. C. 625. His successor was Astyages, in whose 
 reign C'-'s became master of Media, B. C. 551, and ever 
 afterwarc.c the country remained subject to the Persians. 
 
 Media is frequently mentioned in the Old Testament, and 
 particularly by Daniel the prophet, who lived when Belshaz- 
 zar was slain, and the kingdom of Babylon taken by the 
 Medes and Persians. Rages was also in Media, (Tobit i. 14. 
 iii. 7, &c.) and into this country were the captive Israelites 
 carried by Salmancscr. 2 Kings xvii. 6. xviii. 11. 
 
 The northern parts of this country, lying between the Cas- 
 pian mountains and the sea, are very cold and barren ; but the 
 southern parts produce all sorts of grain, and necessaries of 
 life, and are so pleasant that the country adjoining to Tauria, 
 
MEL DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 219 
 
 probably the ancient capital of Media, Ecbatana, has been 
 called the garden of Persia. 
 
 ]\Iegiddo, a city of Manasseh, in the tribe of Issachan 
 (Josh. xvii. 11.) *S'ee Part I. p. 60. 
 
 Mejarkox, a city of Dan. Josh. xix. 46. 
 
 Mekoxah, a city of Judah. Neh. xi. 28. 
 
 Melita, an island in the Mediterranean, now called Malta; 
 situated 60 miles south of Sicily, and being about 15 miles in 
 length from east to west, and 25 in breadth from north to 
 south. This island is thought to have been that of the Phse- 
 acians mentioned by Homer, at that period named Iperia, and 
 governed by Eurymedon. It appears that the Phenicians, 
 navigating the Mediterranean, took possession of this island 
 about 1519 before Christ, and founded a colony which became 
 flourishing and powerful. They established, of course, the 
 worship of their divinities, as well as of those adored in Egypt ; 
 though perhaps ,tlie latter were derived direct from that coun- 
 try by a colony from the neighbourhood of the Nile, which, 
 perhaps, settled in the island. The name of Ogygia suc- 
 ceeded to that of Iperia : the island now had kings, and Dido 
 w^as here received with due honour on her voyage to lay the 
 foundation of Carthage. The Greeks became masters of 
 Ogygia about 786 before Christ, and from them its name 
 of Melita is handed down to us. About 528 B. C. the Car- 
 thaginians overpowered the Greeks, and exercised the sove- 
 reignty of Melita, but without expelling the &rmer inhabit- 
 ants : to these succeeded the Romans, who under Attilius Re- 
 gulus took the island, yet their dominion was not established 
 till the beginning of the second Punic war. Malta was now 
 in prosperity, and its manufactures were considered at Rome 
 as articles of luxury. Under the Roman government oc- 
 curred one of the most rema.rkable events in the history of 
 Malta ; the shipwreck of St. Paul, about A. D. 56. (Acts 
 xviii. 1.) Publius was at this time Protos, or chief. 
 
 On the division of the Roman empire, Malta fell to the lot 
 of Constantius. It was seized by the Vandals in 454, but 
 retaken by Belisarius 583, conquered by the Arabs in 870, and 
 by count Roger, or his brother Guiscard, in 1090. It passed 
 to the Germans by the marriage of Constance, heiress of 
 Sicily, with Henry IV., son of the emperor Frederick Bar- 
 barossa ; but its prosperous days were now over, and its riches 
 had disappeared. It was at length united to the crown of 
 Spain, and Charles V. gave it to the knights of St. John of 
 
^0 
 
 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 MaL 
 
 Jerusalem, who here established themselves, A. J). 1530. 
 These knights were in number 1000, of whom 500 were to 
 he resident in the island; the others being dispersed through 
 Christendom, in their several seminaries in France, Italy, and 
 Germany. The knights surrendered the island to Napoleon 
 Bonaparte, who, being on his way to Egypt, in 1798, with a 
 formidable expedition, stopped at Malta, and took possession. 
 
 Tiiis island is now in the possession of the British, and is 
 noted for its stupendous fortifications. It produces a variety 
 of excellent fruits, though the island is wholly a rock, not 
 having above three feet depth of soil. 
 
 No. 1. A medal of Malta, exhibiting the head of the goddess Proser- 
 pine, with a small globe, or egg, or stone, upon her head ; an emblem fre- 
 quent among Egyptian deities. The reverse shows a divinity to which 
 two attendants are making oiTerings, and holding a canopy over the 
 deity ; from their hips issue wings, and their lower limbs resemble those 
 of the ox. This resembles the Hebrew cherub, which had several wings 
 and the legs of an ox ; and may serve lo prove that the cherubic figure 
 was knowTi to other eastern nations beside the Hebrews, and was, as 
 among them, appropriated to attendants on the deity. This medal is re- 
 markable for the Punic letters all, above the canopy, which prove its 
 antiquity; and as they are also Ibund upon medals of a much later date, 
 they show the prevalence of the Punic language in (his island, and jus- 
 tify the appellation barharians, given to the inhabitants, (Acts xxviii. 3. 
 4.) showing that it is to be explained, not by referring it to savage man- 
 ners, but to a Ibrcign tongue. The signification of these letters is un- 
 certain, but are supposed to refer to the goddess Urania, whom the 
 Arabs, according to Herodotus, called Alilat/i, and for which the lettei-s 
 ALL, alii, or aim, may stand. Scaliger proves Urania to be the moon; 
 and the deity on our medal is probably the Phenician Astarte or Ash- 
 tarolh. 
 
MES 
 
 DICTIONARY OF THE DIBLE. 
 
 221 
 
 No. 2. 
 
 No. 2. A medal \viih the inscnprion melitaiox, of Melita, the inten- 
 tion of which is difficult to ascertain. The figure on the reverse has 
 two pair of wings, one pair at his shoulders, and the other at his hips. 
 He wears a cap "divided into two points, has a necklace of beads, and 
 carries in his hands a crook or sickle, and a flail. These, with the 
 wheat ear which appears with the head, seem to refer to the production 
 of grain ; and may denote the worship of the goddess of fertility. The 
 figures, as well as' those of No. 1, have an Egyptian air, and denote the 
 ancient colonization of Malta from Egypt. 
 
 Memphis, a city of Egypt, (Hosea ix. 6.) called in Hebrew 
 Noph, which see. 
 
 Mephaath, a city of the Levites in Reuben, in the land ot 
 Moab. Josli. xiii. 18. xxi. 37. 
 
 Merathaim, a province of Chaldea, upon the Tigris, pro 
 bably not far from Nineveh. Pekod, Koa, and Shoa, were 
 places also in its vicinity. Jer. 1. 21. Ezek. xxiii. 23. 
 
 Merom, a lake in the north of Canaan. Josh. xi. 5. See 
 Part I. p. 58. 
 
 Meroz, a city of Galilee. Judges v. 23. 
 
 Mesha, a mountain. See Part I. p. 21. 
 
 Meshech, a' son of Japheth. See Part I. p. 19. 
 
 Mesopotamia, a country lying between the rivers Tigris 
 and Euphrates, whence its name from the Greek mesos, be- 
 tween, and POTAMOS, a river ; but in Hebrew it is called Aram 
 JSaharain, i. e. Syria of the rivers ; and sometimes Padan 
 Aram. In Josh. xxiv. 2, 3. it is Eher hanaar, beyond the 
 river, rendered in our translation, " the other side of the flood." 
 Under these different names this country is much celebrated 
 in Scripture. It extended to Armenia on the north, and seems 
 to have included a considerable portion of Shinar or Chaldea, 
 to the south. 
 
 At an early period this country was subject to the Assyrians 
 T2 
 
222 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. MIL 
 
 and Chaldeans. After this it was successively subjugated by 
 the Persians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Parthians, the Sa- 
 racens, the Seljukian Turks, the Tartars, and finally the Ot- 
 toman Turks. Strabo informs us that it was divided into two 
 parts, the first of wliich he called Mesopotamia Felix, which 
 is probably the upper part of the country, the Padan Aram 
 of Scripture. The other part he styles incidla et aspera, un- 
 cultivated and rug-ged, which was the southern part of the 
 country towards Babylon. Anciently Mesopotamia contained 
 many cities, and seems to have been populous and flourishing; 
 but there is now in this country no place of much conse- 
 quence. 
 
 Metheg-ammah, a place taken by David from the Philis- 
 tines, (2 Sam. viii. 1.) probably the same as Gath. 1 Chron. 
 xviii. 1. 
 
 MiCHMASH, a city of Ephraim on the border of Benjamin, 
 east of Betliaven. 1 Sam. xiii. 5. 
 
 MiDDiN, a city of Judah. Josh. xv. 61. 
 
 IMiDiAN, a country lying south-east of Canaan, on the east 
 of the Dead Sea, and south of Moab; peopled by the descend- 
 ants of Midian, the son of Abraham and Keturali. {See Pari 
 Z p. 35.) The Midianites were early a commerciar people, 
 and traded to Egypt in spices, balm, &;c. and some of them 
 were among the merchants who bought Jose])h of his brethren 
 and carried him into Egypt. The Midianites are frequently 
 mentioned in Scripture, and appear to have been a roving 
 people, and to have spread abroad into several regions differ- 
 ent from their original country. The capital of this country 
 was called Midian, ^and its remains were to be seen in the 
 time of Jerom and Eusebius, lying on the river Arnon, south 
 from the city of Ar. There is also a place in Arabia, on the 
 shore of the Red Sea, now in ruins, called JMadyan by the 
 Arabian geographers, who affirm that it is the place where 
 Jethro the priest of Midian resided ; and they still show the 
 well from which Moses watered the flocks. 
 
 MiGDAL-EL, a city of Nnplitali. Josh. xix. 38. 
 
 Migdal-gad, a city of Judah. Josh. xv. 37. 
 
 MiGDOL, a place on the frontier of Egypt. Exod. xiv. 2. 
 See Part I. p. 43. 
 
 MiGROx, a place mentioned with IVIichmash, (Isa. x. 28.) 
 and probably near it; apparently a city of Benjamin. 1 Sam. 
 xiv. 2. 
 
 Miletus, a sea-port town of Caria in Asia Minor, said to 
 
MIL DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 223 
 
 nave been settled by a colony from Crete. This was the 
 nirth-place of Thales, one of the seven wise men of Greece, 
 and also of several other eminent philosophers. It was visited 
 by St. Paul, (Acts xx. 15.) v/here he was met by the elders 
 cf the church of Ephesus, as he could not take that place in 
 nis way. 
 
 Miletus was once exceedingly powerful and illustrious, and 
 its early navigators extended its commerce to remote regions. 
 The whole Euxine Sea, the Propontis, Egypt, and other 
 countries, were frequented by its ships, and settled by its 
 colonies. These colonies, which were settled abroad, amount- 
 ed to no less tlian 80, or as Seneca says, 380. The history 
 of this place, after the declension of the Greek em.pire, is 
 very imperfect. The whole region has suffered frequent 
 ravages from the Turks. One of their sultans, in 1175, sent 
 twenty thousand men with orders to lay v/aste the Roman 
 provinces, and bring him sea-water, sand, and an oar. All 
 the cities on the river Meander and on the coast were then 
 turned. Miletus was again destroyed, near the close of the 
 thirteenth century, by the victorious Ottomans. It is at pre- 
 sent a mean place, and the whole site of the former city, to a 
 great extent, is overspread with rubbish, and grown up with 
 thickets. The principal monument of its ancient magnifi- 
 cence, is a theatre in ruins, 457 feet long, with a front of 
 marble. There are also remains of the wall, broken arches, 
 a few scattered pedestals and inscriptions, with marble urns, 
 and many wells. One of the pedestals supported a statue of 
 Adrian, and another the emperor Severus, which has this 
 inscription, " The senate and people of the city of the Mile- 
 sians, the first settled m Ionia, and the mother of many and 
 great cities both in Pontus and Egypt, and various other parts 
 cf the world." 
 
 From the number of forsaken mosques among the ruins, it 
 is evident that Mahometanism has flourished in its turn at 
 Miletus. 
 
 The Miletus at which Trophim.us was left sick by St. 
 Paul, (2 Tim. iv. 20.) is supposed to have been Miletus in the 
 island of Crete , because when St. Paul visited Miletus on 
 the continent, Tiophunus went with him to Jerusalem, and 
 St. Paul did not return to that Miletus. (Acts xx. 17.) 
 
 MiLLo : this word in Hebrew signifies filled up, and proba- 
 bly refers to a deep valley in Jerusalem, between the old city 
 on Mount Sion^ and the temple on Mount Moriah, This val- 
 
224 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. MIZ 
 
 .ey is supposed to have been filled up by David and Solomon, 
 and a place made for the people to assemble, probably in a 
 nouse or castle built for that purpose. (2 Sam. v. 9. 1 Kings 
 ix. 15. 24. xi. 27. 2 Chron. xxxii. 5.) The Millo mentioned 
 m Judges ix. 6. probably refers to a person of that name. 
 
 MiNNi, a region in Armenia. Jer. li, 27. 
 
 MiNNiTH, a city east of Jordan, not far from Heshboa 
 Judges xi. 33. Ezek. xxvii. 17. 
 
 ^fISHAL, a city of Asher, near Ivlount Carmel, otherwise 
 called Mashal. Josh. xix. 26. 
 
 MisrHAT, or En-mishpat, a fountain, also called Kadesh, 
 where Moses and Aaron were judged for their unbelief. Gen. 
 xiv. 7. Numb. xx. 12. xxvii. 14. 
 
 Misrephoth-maim, a city in the north of the tribe of Asher 
 near the sea. Josh. xi. 8. xiii. 6. 
 
 MiTHCAH, a station of the Israelites in the wilderness. 
 Numb, xxxiii. 28. 
 
 MiTYLENE, a principal city of the island of Lesbos, which 
 at last became so considerable as to give name to the whole 
 island, which is yet called Metelin. This island is about 
 seven miles from the main land of Troas or Mysia, and is one 
 of the largest islands in the Archipelago. St. Paul, visited 
 Mytilene in his way from Corinth to Jerusalem, (Acts xx. 
 14.) and from the 5tl] to the 8th century we find Christian 
 churches here. 
 
 This place is memorable for having produced many emi- 
 nent persons, as Sappho, the poetess, Pittacus, one of the 
 seven wise men of Greece, Alcoeus, Theophanes, Arion, &c. 
 The city is on the south-east side of the island, and is well 
 fortified. 
 
 MiZAR, a hill near the Dead Sea, probably not far from 
 Zoar ; a place of resort for David, and where he appears to 
 have received some peculiar manifestations of divine good- 
 ness. Psalm xlii. 6. 
 
 JNIizPAH, or Mizpeh : this name in Hebrew signifies a watch 
 towrr, or a look-out station ; and it is not strange that in a 
 hilly country, and one perpetually exposed to the incursions 
 of enemies, like that of the Israelites, that we find many 
 places distinguished by this name. 
 
 1. Mizpeh, a city of Judah. Josh. xv. 38. 
 
 2. Mizpeh, in Benjamin. Josh, xviii. 26. Judg. xx. 1. 
 1 Sam. vii. 5. 1 Kings xv. 22. 2 Kings xxv. 23. Jer. xl. 6. 
 
 3. Mizpeh of Gilead, a city of Gad or Manasseh. (Judg. x. 
 
NAA DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 225 
 
 17. xi. 11. 29. 34.) called Ramath-mizpeh, Josh. xiii. 26, See 
 Part I. p. 37. 
 
 4. The land of Mizpeh, and the valley of Mizpeh (Josh. xi. 
 3. 8.) were in the east of Canaan, near the mountains of 
 Herinon or Gilead. 
 
 5. A place in Moab, (1 Sam. xxii. 3.) probably the watch 
 tower in the wilderness mentioned in 2 Chron. xx. 24. 
 
 JMizRAiM, a name for Egypt, which was peopled by the 
 descendants of Mizraim, the son of Ham. See Egypt. 
 
 ]\IoAB, a country east of the Dead Sea, and south of the 
 river Arnon, inhabited by the descendants of Moab, the son 
 of Lot. See Part I. pp. 34. 56. 
 
 MoDiN, a city or town west of Jerusalem, probably in the 
 tribe of Dan, situated on a hill, and famous for being- the 
 dwelling- and burying place of the family of the Maccabees. 
 1 Mace. ii. 1. 15. ix. 19. xiii. 25. 
 
 JMoLADAH, a city of Judah, afterwards given to Simeon. 
 (Josh. XV. 26. xix. 2.) It lay near the southern boundary of 
 Canaan. 
 
 MoLASTHi, a town not far w^est of Jerusalem, the native 
 place of tlie prophet Micah. Mic. i. 1. 
 
 MoREH, a celebrated plain, and also a hill near Sichem or 
 Shechem. See Part 1. p. 30. 
 
 MoRiAH, a mountain in Jerusalem, on which the temple 
 was built by Solomon. 2 Chron. iii. 1. 
 
 MosELA, (Deut. X. 6.) or Moseroth, (Numb, xxxiii. 30.) one 
 of the encampments in the wilderness, near Mount Hor, where 
 Aaron died. 
 
 Myndus, an island in the Icarian sea. 1 Mace. xv. 23. 
 
 Myra, a city of Lycia in Asia Minor, where St. Paul em- 
 barked on board a vessel of Alexandria, in order to go to 
 Rome. (Acts xxvii. 5.) Myra v/as the metropolis of Lycia, 
 under the Romans ; and vras afterwards the see of a Christian 
 archbishop. 
 
 My.sia, a province in the west of Asia Minor, bounded 
 north by the sea of Propontis and Bithynia; east by Phrygia; 
 south by Lydia; and west by the Egean sea. St. Paul 
 preached in this province. Acts xvi. 7. 
 
 N. 
 Naamah, a city of Judah. Josh. xv. 41. 
 Naarath, a city of Ephraim, (Josh. xvi. 7.) called also 
 
226 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. NAZ 
 
 Naaran, (1 Chron. vii. 28.) situated, according to Eusebius, 
 five miles from Jericho. 
 
 Nabath.eans, or Nabathites, the descendants of Nebaioth, 
 the son of Ishmael, (Gen. xxv. 13.) inhabiting Arabia Deserta. 
 These people are hardly mentioned in Scripture before the 
 time of the Maccabees ; but in the several wars which the 
 Jews maintained against the Syrians, the Nabathasans alone 
 showed them friendship, wliile most of the other surrounding 
 nations were against them. 1 Mace. v. 24, 25, &c. 
 
 Nachon, the name of a place, (2 Sam. vi. 6.) called also 
 Chidon. 1 Chron. xiii. 9. 
 
 Nahalal, a city of Zebulon, given to the Levites. (Josh, 
 xix. 15. xxi. 35.) The Canaanites were suffered to dwell in 
 it, not being driven out. Judges i. 30. 
 
 Nahaliel, an encampment of the Israelites in the wilder- 
 ness. Numb. xxi. 19. 
 
 Nahash, the name of a city, (1 Chron. iv. 12.) the situa- 
 tion of which is not known. 
 
 Nain, a city in Issachar, about six miles south of Mount 
 Tabor, and near the town of Endor. Here Christ restored 
 the widow's son to life. Luke vii. 11. 
 
 Naioth, a place near Ramah, to which David withdrew 
 from Saul. (1 Sam. xix. 18, 19.) Samuel, with the sons of 
 the prophets, also dwelt here. 
 
 Naphtali, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. See Part 1. 
 p. 67. 
 
 Naphtuhim, a people descended from Misraim. See 
 Part 1. p. 26. 
 
 Nazareth, a small city in the tribe of Zebulon, in Lower 
 Galilee, west of Mount Tabor, remarkable as being the place 
 where our Saviour was brought up, and where he resided 
 until about thirty years of age. (Matt. ii. 23. Luke ii. 51. iv. 
 16.) From this place he received the name of a Nazarene. 
 
 The ancient city ^vas built upon a hill ; (Luke iv. 16. 29.) 
 but according to the accounts of modern travellers, the present 
 town stands at the foot of it, and is surrounded on all sides by 
 hills and mountains. It is but a small place, and its inhabitants 
 are about one tliird IMahometans, and the remainder Chris- 
 tians, chiefly of the Greek church. The fathers of the Holy 
 Land have an inn here, for the reception and entertainment 
 of pilgrims. The place is still shown where stood the house 
 of the Virgin Mary ; and on the hill near the town, is a rock 
 on the top of a precipice, said to be the place where tlie 
 
View of JNazareth. 
 inhabitants were about to cast down Jesus. Both Turks and 
 Christians have a great veneration for this place and its neigh- 
 bourhood. Nazareth is 90 miles from Jerusalem, and 24 from 
 Acre. 
 
 Neah, a city of Zebulon. Josh, xix. 13. 
 
 Neapolis, a city in the east of Macedonia, to which St. 
 Paul came after he had left Samothracia. (Acts xvi. 11.) 
 Neapolis or Naplous, according to Jerora, was also a name 
 afterwards given to the ancient Sichem or Shechem. 
 
 Neballat, a city of Benjamin. Neh. xi. 34. 
 
 Nebo, a celebrated mountain east of the Jordan. See Part I. 
 p. 49. There were also two cities of tliis name, one in the 
 tribe of Reuben, probably near Mount Nebo, (Numb, xxxii. 
 38.) and another in Judah, (Ezra ii. 29. x. 43.) thought to 
 be the same afterwards called Nabau, eight miles south of 
 Hebron. 
 
 Neiel, a city in the boundary of the tribe of Asher. Josh, 
 xix. 27. 
 
 Nekeb, a city of Naphtali, (Josh. xix. 33.) supposed by some 
 to be the place called in the same verse Adami. 
 
 Nephtoah, a fountain in the tribe of Benjamin. Josh. xv. 9. 
 
 Netophah, a place probably near Bethlehem. Ezra ii. 22. 
 Neh. vii. 26. 1 Chron. ii. 54. 
 
 Nezib, a city of Judah. Josh. xv. 43. 
 
 NiBSHAN, a city of Judah. Josh. xv. 62. 
 
 NicopoLis; there were two cities of this name; one m 
 
228 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. NIL 
 
 Epirus, near the Gulf of Arnbracia, and another in Thrace, 
 near the eastern border of Macedonia : it is uncertain at which 
 of them Paul passed the winter, and trom where he sent word 
 to Titus, who was then in Crete, to join him there ; but it was 
 probably that in Macedonia. (Titus iii. 12.) There was also a 
 place in Judea called in later times Nicopolis, situated 22 
 miles north-west of Jerusalem, 
 
 Nile, the great river of Egypt, to the periodical inundations 
 of which this country is indebted for its remarkable fertility. 
 
 The sources of the Nile were so much unknown to the 
 ancients, that the search for them became a proverb to express 
 any thing ridiculous or impossible. Tlie Ptolemies, Caesars, 
 Alexanders, and Neros, were all unsuccessful in their efforts 
 to discover the head of the Nile ; and this honour was reserved 
 for the distinguished Scottish traveller, Bruce, who was some 
 time in Abyssinia, and visited the fountains of this celebrated 
 river, which are in that country, in a district called Geesh. 
 The people hero pay divine honours to the Nile, and thousands 
 of cattle have been sacrificed to the spirit of the river, who 
 has his priests; and here the surrounding tribes annually 
 assemble to make their offerings. This solemn anniversary 
 cancels all offences, and their quarrels and animosities are 
 here terminated. This, liowever, is not the principal branch 
 of the Nile ; for iMr. Bruce himself confesses that the Bahr el 
 Abiad, or White River, is three times as large as the Abys- 
 synian branch. This White River is supposed to rise at least 
 700 miles farther south-west, in the Mountains of the INIoon, 
 in the interior of Africa; and rdr. Bruce says that if it were 
 not for this river, the Nile itself would be dry eight months in 
 the year, and at no time would it carry across the desert so 
 much water as to answer the purposes of agriculture in Egypt. 
 The source of the real Nile is then yet to be discovered. 
 
 After leaving Abyssinia, the Nile flows through Nubia into 
 Egypt, and a little below Cairo divides itself into two great 
 branches, which, with the Mediterranean Sea, form tlie island 
 called tbe Delta. There are several smaller branches. The 
 ancients reckoned eleven mouths to the Nile, of which seven 
 were considerable. In upper Egypt tlie high banks prevent the 
 expansion of the river during its inundations, and no part of it 
 is overflowed except the lower part of the Delta. I'he land^ 
 near the river are watered by machines, and where the breadth 
 of the country renders it necessary, canals are cut to lead the 
 water from the river When the inundation reaches only to 
 
ML 
 
 DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 229 
 
 the perpendicular height of twelve cubits, a famine necessa- 
 rily follows in Egypt, nor is the famine less certain should it 
 exceed sixteen cubits; so the just height is between the two. 
 The Nilometer is a pillar erected in the river, on vi^hich are 
 marked the degrees of the ascent of the water. There were 
 several of these in different places; and at the present time 
 there is one on the island where the Nile is divided into two 
 arms, one of which passes to Cairo, and the other to Gizeh. 
 In the beginning of the inundation the water is of a greenish 
 colour and unwholesome to drink ; but afterwards it becomes 
 red and very muddy. This redness is a certain sign that the 
 waters from Abyssinia have arrived in Egypt, and the colour 
 is owing to the soil of that country and Sennaar, which is a 
 red clay, while the soil of Egypt is very black. The inunda- 
 tions of this river are produced by the great rains which fall 
 in Abyssinia and the adjacent countries, from about the begin- 
 ning of June to the end of August ; and when the river exceeds 
 its usual rise, which is about tv/enty-four feet, it causes great 
 destruction and distress, sometimes carrying away whole vil- 
 lages, and rendering much of the country unfit for the pur- 
 poses of agriculture, as the superfluous water cannot be drained 
 off in time for the inhabitants to sow their seed. 
 
 In the course of this river there are several cataracts ; but 
 the largest, generally denominated, by way of eminence, the 
 
230 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. KIN 
 
 Cataract of the Nile, is particularly worthy of notice. The 
 river is about half a mile in breadth, and the depth of the fall 
 40 or 50 feet. About half a mile below, the rocks, on the oppo- 
 site sides, approach each other within 30 feet, where a bridge 
 of a single arch has been cast over, from which the cataract 
 is seen with great advantage. 
 
 NiMRAH, a city of Gad or Reuben, east of the Jordan, 
 (Numb, xxxii. 3.) and probably the same called Nimrim in 
 Jer. xlviii. 34. and Isa. xv. 6. 
 
 Nineveh, an ancient city of Assyria, built by Asshur, the 
 Bon of Shera, (Gen. x. 11.) or, according to another reading of 
 the text, by Nimrod, the son of Cush. {See Assyria, also Part 
 I. p. 25.) Nineveh was not only one of the most ancient, but 
 also one of the most famous, powerful, and populous cities in 
 the world. It stood upon the banks of the Tigris, and was 
 probably founded not long after the building of the tower of 
 Babel. In the time of the prophet Jonah, who was sent thither 
 under Jeroboam the second, king of Israel, about 800 years 
 before Christ, Nineveh was a very great city, its circuit being 
 three days' journey. (Jonah iii. 3.) Diodorus Siculus says, it 
 was 48 miles in circumference, and surrounded by walls 200 
 feet high, and so broad that three chariots might drive on them 
 abreast ; with 1500 towers, 200 feet high. It is allowed by 
 Strabo to have been much greater than Babylon. At the time 
 of Jonah's visit, it was so populous as to contain more than 
 120,000 persons who could not distinguish their right hand 
 from their left. (Jonah iv. 11.) If this, as is generally under- 
 stood, mean young children, the total number of inhabitants 
 may be computed to have exceeded 600,000. Nineveh was so 
 strong as to have been deemed impregnable ; and there was 
 an old prediction concerning it, that it should never be taken 
 until the river became its enemy. This prediction induced 
 Sardanapalus to make it a place of retreat from his enemies, 
 who besieged it three years without success ; but at last the 
 river overflowing, carried away a large portion of the wall. 
 This accident so terrified Sardanapalus that he burnt himself 
 and his treasures, and left the city to the besiegers. Destruc- 
 tion being threatened to this city by the preaching of Jonah, 
 it th ?n escaped on repentance. But the people afterwards 
 resuming tlieir wicked courses, it was destroyed by Astyages, 
 king of the Medes, that it might no longer be an encourage- 
 ment to the Assyrians to rebel against hin), as they formerly 
 had against some of his predecessors. 
 
NOP DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 231 
 
 The ruin of this great city was foretold by the prophets 
 Nahum and Zephaniah, in a very particular and pathetic man^ 
 ner, and the uncertainty of its situation at the present time 
 is a complete fulfilment of these prophecies. It is supposed 
 to have been situated near the place now called Mosul, where 
 travellers in latter years have discovered extensive ruins ; and 
 traditions yet remain in that country respecting the ancient 
 city. They show a mosque on a hill, which is said to be the 
 place where Jonah was buried. The place is now called 
 Nunia. 
 
 No, a city of Egypt. (Nahum iii. 8. Jer. xlvi. 25.) See 
 Ammon-no. 
 
 Nob, a city of the priests, (1 Sam. xxii. 11. 19.) situated, 
 according to Jerom, twelve miles from Gibeah, who says its 
 ruins were yet to be seen in his time. 
 
 NoBAH, a city east of Jordan, (Numb, xxxii. 42.) to which 
 Gideon pursued the jlidianites. Judges viii. 11. 
 
 Nod, land of: See Part I. p. 12. 
 
 NopH, or Memphis, an ancient and famous city of Egypt, 
 and for a long time the residence of its kings. It was situ- 
 ated on the westerii bank of the Nile, not far above the 
 modem Cairo, and in the same neighbourhood as the pyramids. 
 The kings of Egypt took great pleasure in adorning this city, 
 and it was their place of residence until the time of the 
 Ptolemies, when the seat of government was removed tc 
 Alexandria, and Memphis began to declme, its population re- 
 moving in great numbers to the new capital ; yet it was still 
 a large city in the time of the emperor Augustus. Six hun- 
 dred years after, it was taken and ravaged by the Saracens, 
 who afterwards built another city near it, to which another 
 was afterwards added, which is known to us under the name 
 of Cairo. These last, however, were on the opposite side o*" 
 the river from ivlemphis, being on the eastern sliore. 
 
 Memphis once contained many beautiful temples, dedicated 
 to different Egyptian idols, to which the prophet Ezekiel re- 
 fers, (xxx. 13.) This city is frequently mentioned by the pro- 
 phets, who foretell the miseries it was to suffer from the kings 
 of Chaldea and Persia. (Isa. xix. 13. Jer. xliv. 1. Hosea ix. 
 6. Ezek. xxx. 13. 16.) These prophecies have been strictly 
 fulfilled, the city having been taken and almost ruined by 
 Cambyses, and other conquerors; and being now so com- 
 pletely destroyed, that the spot on which it stood is not cer- 
 tainly known. Jeremiah said, "Noph shall be waste and 
 
232 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. OPH 
 
 desolate, without an inhabitant ;" and not a family or a cot- 
 tage now remains. Only some traces of ancient ruins are 
 found, to mark tlie place where it is supposed the great city 
 once stood in its pride and magnificence. 
 
 NoPHAH, a city of Moab, belonging to the Amorites ; after- 
 wards possessed by the children of Israel. Numb. xxi. 30. 
 
 NopHET, a city of Manasseh. 
 
 O. 
 
 Oboth, an encampment of the Israelites in the wilderness, 
 between Punon and Ije-abarim. Numb. xxi. 10. xxxiii. 43. 
 
 Olives, Mount of: a hill situated nearly a mile east of 
 Jerusalem, the brook Kidron running between it and the city 
 There are tln-ee summits to Mount Olivet, or it consists of 
 three hills ranged one after another from north to south, of 
 which the nort.hern is tiie highest. It was from the middle 
 summit that our Saviour ascended to heaven ; and over the 
 place of ascension is erected a small building, adjoining to 
 which is a Turkish mosque. The southern summit was that 
 on which Solomon built temples to the gods of the Moabites 
 and Amorites, (1 Kings xi. 7.) and hence this is called the 
 Mount of Corruption. (2 Kings xxiii. 13.) On Mount Olivet 
 are yet shown caverns cut under ground, called the sepul- 
 chres of the prophets; and twelve arched vaults standing side 
 by side, built in memory of the apostles, who are said to have 
 compiled their creed in this place; also the spot where Christ 
 uttered his prophecy concerning the final destruction of Jeru- 
 salem, of which city there is a full view from the top of this 
 mountain. The places called Gethsemano, Bethphago, and 
 Bethany, were all on or about the Mount of Olives. 
 
 On, a city of Egypt. See Part I. p. 39. 
 
 Ono, a city of "Benjamin. 1 Chron. viii. 12. 
 
 Ophir, a country celebrated in Scripture for its gold, the 
 situation of which is doubtful, though it has been the subject 
 of much inquiry ; and about which many conjectures have 
 been proposed by the learned. It is generally thouglit to have 
 taken its name from Ophir, the son of Joktan ; and we are 
 told in Scripture, that the thirteen sons of Joktan dwelt from 
 Mesha to Sephar, a mountain of the cast. (Gen. x. 30.) But 
 as Mesha and Sephar are places as mucJi unknown as Ophir 
 itself, it has been necessary to look to other circumstances 
 relating to this country, in order to discover its situation. 
 From an examination of the passages of Scripture, in which 
 
OPH DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 238 
 
 rnention is made of this country, it appears : 1. That the same 
 fillips which went to Tarshish, went also to Ophir. (1 Kings 
 xxii. 48. 2 Chron. xx. 36. 1 Kings ix. 28. x. 22.) 2. That 
 these ships set out from Ezion-gaber, a port on the Red Sea, 
 and after a voyage of three years, returned freighted with 
 gold, peacocks, apes, spices, ivory and ebony. (2 Chron. viii. 
 18. ix. 21.) 3. That the gold of Ophir was more esteemed 
 than any other gold mentioned in Scripture, and that it was 
 more abundant in that country than any other known at that 
 time. By these tokens, search has been made for the country 
 of Ophir ; and we shall give a brief sketch of the conclusions 
 of some of the learned writers on this subject. 
 
 It is asserted by Josephus that Ophir is in the Indies ; but 
 as this is a very indefinite term, it is uncertain to what country 
 of India he refers. Accordingly a host of commentators have 
 given us their labours in explanation, almost every one fixing 
 upon a different country, and .proving, to his own satisfaction 
 ^ at least, that it was the real Ophir. Malacca, Celebes, Ma- 
 labar, the island of Ceylon, Pegu, Java, Sum.atra, Siam, and 
 Bengal, have all had their advocates. Others have looked in 
 quite another direction, and have fourS Ophir in the island of 
 Hispaniola, Cuba, and in Peru. Some have chosen Africa, 
 and have placed it on the eastern coast, in Sofala or Mozam- 
 bique; while others have made Solomon's ships double the 
 Cape of Good Hope, and sail to Guinea and the gold coast, on 
 the west. Others, still more adventurous, have pursued the 
 same course around Africa, and entering the Straits of Gib- 
 raltar, have found Ophir on the Barbary coast of the Medi- 
 terranean, or in Spain. Calmet supposes that Ophir was 
 somewhere in Armenia, and that the gold w^as brought down 
 to the Persian Gulf and there put on board the ships ; and 
 that they took in their apes, ebony, and peacocks, on the coast 
 of African Ethiopia, and their ivory and spices in Arabia, on 
 their return to the Red Sea. Dr. Wells is sanguine in sup- 
 port of his theory, that the vessels sailed some distance up the 
 river Indus, and there took in their cargoes. Mr. Bruce 
 thinks Ophir was at Sofala, on the east of Africa, and proves 
 that the voyage could not have been made by such ships as 
 those of Solomon, against the periodical moonsoons which 
 blow in those regions, in less than three years. He mentions 
 a place on the coast of Abyssinia, which he calls Tarshish, 
 where he supposes the vessels stopped for some time on their 
 voyage. Dr. Doeg has very ingeniously proved that the ships 
 U2 
 
234 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. PAL 
 
 of Solomon sailed from the Red Sea round Africa, entering 
 the Mediterranean, and, visiting the colony of Tarshish settled 
 in Spain at Tartessus, there took in part of their lading, and 
 probably obtained the rest along- the coast of Africa on their 
 return. This indeed is not improbable, as the ships were na- 
 vigated by Tyrians and Phenicians, wlio were a sea-faring 
 people, and by far the most commercial and enterprising of 
 any nation of antiquity. It was the Phenician mariners who, 
 according to Herodotus, conducted the ships of Pharaoh Necho, 
 king of Egypt, from the Red Sea by the same passage round 
 Africa, and entering the Straits of Gibraltar, returned to 
 Egypt by the Mediterranean. This was about two centuries 
 after the time of Solomon. There is a circumstance connect- 
 ed with this voyage, which gives considerable weight to the 
 truth of the relation. Herodotus says that the mariners re- 
 ported a fact which, for his part, he could by no means believe 
 to be true, namely, that in one part of tlie voyage their sha- 
 dows fell the contrary way to what they usually did : a na- 
 tural consequence of having crossed the equinoctial line, of the 
 existence of whicli that ancient writer was probably ignorant. 
 The fact of this voyage»round Africa by the Phenician naviga- 
 tors, proves them to have possessed sufficient courage and nau- 
 tical skill, to perform the voyage in the time of Pharaoh, and 
 why not then in the reign of Solomon ] Our limits will not 
 allow us to pursue this subject further ; but from what has 
 already been said, our readers will perceive that all attempts 
 to determine the situation of the land of Ophir, must rest 
 chiefly upon conjecture. 
 
 Ophni, a city of Benjamin. Josh, xviii. 24. 
 
 Ophrah, a city of Manasseh, and the native place of Gi- 
 deon. (Judges vi. 11.) Also a town of Benjamin. Josh, xviii. 
 23. 
 
 Orthosias, a maritime city of Phenicia, opposite the 
 island of Aradus, and near Tripolis. (1 Mace. xv. 37.) It is 
 now called Tortosa, and still shows interestmg antiquities. 
 
 P. 
 
 Padan-aram, a country supposed to lie in the north-west 
 of Mesopotamia. Gen. xxviii. 2. G. 
 
 Palestine, a name properly denoting the country of the 
 Philistines, but frequently used to designate the whole land 
 of Canaan, otherwise called the Holy Land, or Judea. 
 
 Palmyra, a city in the desert of Syria towards the Eu- 
 
PAL DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 235 
 
 phrates, called in Scripture Tadmor, and built by Solomon. 
 (1 Kings ix. 18.) Here was a stream of water and a fertile 
 spot in the midst of that vast desert, and the place being con- 
 Tenient for carrying on the trade with India, and also pre- 
 serving the intercourse between the Mediterranean and Red 
 tSea, a city was built here by that commercial and enterpri- 
 sing monarch of the Hebrews. Its situation was extremely 
 favourable for the caravan trade, and it soon became a rich 
 and powerful city. It seems to have early passed out of the 
 Jewish nation, probably soon after the death of Solomon, as 
 the Hebrews were then engaged in civil dissensions, and were 
 divided into two kingdoms. Tadmor then submitted to the 
 dominion of the Babylonians and Persians, and afterwards to 
 the Macedonians under Alexander, and the Seleucidae, his 
 successors. But when the Roman power gained an ascen- 
 dency in the east, and the Parthians seemed to limit their con- 
 quests farther eastward, Palmyra enjoyed a free trade, and 
 was undisturbed by the contending powers, probably in a great 
 measure owing to its situation in the midst of a vast desert, 
 where armies could not well subsist while they reduced it by 
 force. With these advantages of freedom, neutrality and 
 trade, for nearly two centuries, it acquired a state of wealth 
 answerable to the magnificence of its noble structures. In 
 the reign of Adrian it sided with the Romans against the Par- 
 thians, and was much favoured and embellished by that em- 
 peror. From this time to that of Aurelian, about 148 years, 
 this city continued to flourish and increase in wealth and pow- 
 er to such a degree, that the inhabitants brought a powerful 
 army into the field to the assistance of the Romans against 
 the Persians, for which service the emperor Gallienus gave a 
 share in the em.pire to Odenathus, one of the lords of Palmyra. 
 He, with his son, being murdered by a kinsman, his wife Ze- 
 nobia assumed the government of the east ; but, her ambitious 
 designs displeasing the emperor Aurelian, he marched against 
 her, and having in tv/o battles routed her forces, he besieged 
 her in Palmyra. The town was yielded to him, and Zenobia, 
 flying with her son, was pursued and taken. Aurelian spared 
 the city, and leaving a small garrison, marched for Rome with 
 his captive. The inhabitants, believing he would not return, 
 again asserted their independence, and killed the garrison he 
 nad left in the city. Aurelian hearing of this, though already 
 arrived in Europe, returned, destroyed the city, and put to the 
 sword nearly all the inhabitants. After this it never revived, 
 
236 
 
 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 PAM 
 
 and gradually sunk into the state of a miserable village. It 
 is now in ruins, and the splendour and magnificence of itg 
 porticoes, temples, and palaces which yet remain, have been 
 the wonder of travellers, who describe them as the most beau- 
 tiful in the world. 
 
 Ruins of Palmyra. 
 
 On these ruins are still found a great number of inscriptions, 
 some in Greek, and others in the ancient Palmyrene charac- 
 ters. The pillars are mostly of marble, from the mountains 
 of Syria ; but there are some of porphyry, of great magnitude, 
 and wonderful, considering the distance they must have been 
 brought ; no quarries of that stone being known nearer than 
 in Egypt, about midway between Cairo and Syene, between 
 the Nile and the Red Sea. This stone is very valuable for 
 colour and hardness, and the Egyptian quarries furnished blocks 
 of any magnitude. 
 
 Pamphvlia, a province of Asia Minor ; bounded north by 
 Pisidia, east by Cilicia, south by the Mediterranean, and west 
 by Lycia, and part of Phrygia. That part of the Mediterra- 
 nean along its coast was called the sea of Pamphylia. (Acts 
 xxvii. 5.) Perga was one of its cities, wliere Paul and Bar- 
 nabas preached. (Acts xiii. l*i.) The Pamphyliaus were a 
 commercial people, and it is probable that many strangers 
 flocked there, among whom were Jews, as we find "dwellers 
 in Pamphylia" mentioned as having come to Jerusalem on 
 the day of Pentecost. The country is fertile and well cul- 
 
PAR DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 237 
 
 tivated; but the lower part is extremely hot in summer, and 
 tlie people retire to the mountains in the northern part of the 
 province, which are a part of the range called Mount Taurus. 
 
 Paineas, a city of Syria ; the same otherwise called Laish, 
 Leshem, Dan, and Ccesarea Fhilippi. 
 
 Paphos, a city in the island of Cyprus, now called BafFo ; 
 anciently famous for the worship of Venus. (See medals of 
 Cyprus.') Paul and Barnabas preached here, and converted to 
 Christianity Sergius Paulus, the Roman proconsul or deputy. 
 Acts xiii. 6. 
 
 Paran, a desert or wilderness south of the Land of Canaan. 
 See Part L p. 46. The Paran mentioned in Deut. i. 1. and 1 
 Kings xi. 18. appears to have been a city, and is probably the 
 same which Easebius says gave name to the Desert of Paran, 
 being situated in its neighbourhood. 
 
 Parthia, a country lying east of Media, having Hyrcania 
 on the north, Aria on the east, and the desert of Caramania on 
 the south. This country was for a long time connected with 
 Media, and together with it fell to the kings of Persia, being 
 afterwards, with Persia, subdued by Alexander the Great ; it 
 continued so until about 250 years before Christ, when Area- 
 ces, a noble Parthian, wrested his own country, and the other 
 provinces east of the Euphrates, from the Greeco-Syrian em- 
 pire, and erected the Parthian kingdom. This new power 
 became a troublesome enemy to the Romans, and sometimes 
 carried its conquests from the Hellespont to the Euphrates, 
 and even to the Indus ; on the other side triumphing over 
 Egypt and Libya. The Parthians at length submitted to the 
 Romans, under Augustus Cgesar, so far as to receive for their 
 kings such as should be appointed by the em.peror and senate of 
 Rome ; but this submission was not of long continuance. The 
 government was overthrown by the Persians about A. D. 232, 
 and in 640 the country was overrun by the Saracens. The 
 ancient Parthia is now the Persian province of Irak ; and is a 
 fine and healthy country, though rather hilly. The ancient 
 Parthians were distinguished for the veneration they paid to 
 their kings ; and for their peculiar manner of fighting on 
 horseback, when, pretending to retreat, they discharged their 
 arrows with great precision and effect, shooting them back- 
 wards over their heads. We find Jews from this country 
 attending the Pentecost at Jerusalem, (Acts ii. 9.) where they 
 appear as distinct from the Elam.ites or Persians. 
 
SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 PAT 
 
 No. 1. 
 
 No. 1. A medal of Parlhia, representing the head of one of its kings; 
 and on the reverse, objects and implemenis of worship, with guards 
 standing on each side of the ahar. The head of a man in the flame 
 of the altar, seems to denote that the Parthians worshipped deities 
 allied to those of India, as -we sometimes find the head of the Hindoo 
 deity Brahma surrounded w-ith flames. This tends to strengthen the 
 idea of the progress of idolatry from the east. 
 
 No. 2. Similar in design to No. 1. I'he heads on these medals are 
 said to be portraits of the kings of Partliia, in whose reign they were 
 struck. In the globe worn by this head is a symbol, supposed to be 
 Ihat of a departed spirit, raised to divine honours. Among the deities 
 of Egypt, we find very frequently a globe borne on the head, as by 
 Isis, &c. The inscriptions on these medals are supposed to be the an- 
 cient Persian characlers. 
 
 Parvaim, a place from which Solomon received gold. (2 
 Chron. iii, 6.) It is thought to be the same as Ophir, or Ila- 
 vilah. 
 
 Pa.sdammim, (1 Chron. xi. 13.) the same as Ephesdammim, 
 a city of Judah. 1 Sam. xvii. 1. 
 
 Patara, a city of Lycia, in Asia IMinor, once a sea-port 
 with a good harbour. St. Paul arrived at this place from 
 
PEL DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 239 
 
 Rhodes, and sailed hence to Phenicia. (Acts xxi. 1.) This 
 city was beautified by many temples, one of which was dedi- 
 cated to Apollo, and contained an oracle not much inferior in 
 wealth and credit to that of Delphi. Patara, though once the 
 capital of the province, is now an inconsiderable town. 
 
 Pathros, a city and district of Upper Egypt, named from 
 the Pathrusim, descendants of Misraim. (Gen, x. 14.) This 
 place is mentioned in Isa. xi. 11. Jer. xliv. 1. 15. Ezek. xxix. 
 14. XXX. 14. and appears to have been considered distinct from 
 the Egypt of Scripture, which was the lower part of the 
 country now called by that name. Pathros is believed to 
 liave been what is now called Upper Egypt, the Thebais of 
 the Greeks. Some have thought the Pathros of Isa. xi. 11. 
 to mean Arabia Petrea. 
 
 Patmos, an island of the Archipelago or Egean Sea, near 
 Samos. It has a good harbour, and is 25 or 30 miles in cir- 
 cumference. To this island, as well as to others in different 
 parts, did the Roman government confine offenders ; a punish- 
 ment which was laid by the emperor Domitian on St. John 
 the divine, who here wrote his revelation to the churches of 
 Asia. (Rev. i. 9.) The Greek monks of the island yet show 
 the cell or grotto in a rock, in which it is said he wrote, and 
 which they call Apocalypsis. In this island is a large con- 
 vent, with a college for the education of Greek monks or 
 caloyers, who are spread over all Greece. They are said to 
 be ignorant and superstitious, though they have great influ- 
 ence over the people : scarcely a piratical vessel is without 
 its caloyer or priest, to give absolution to its plundering and 
 lawless crew for their murders and other crimes. The island 
 of Patmos is exceedingly rocky, and but little cultivated : 
 population about 3000. 
 
 Pau, a city of Edom. where king Hadar dwelt. Gen. 
 xxxvi. 39. 
 
 Pelusium, a city of Egypt, called in Scripture Sin. (Ezek. 
 XXX. 15, 16.) It was situated on the eastern channel of the 
 Nile, thence called the Pelusiac branch, and was near its 
 mouth. It was well fortified, and is styled by Ezekiel " the 
 strength of Egypt." Being on the eastern frontier of the 
 country, it generally suffered the first attack of the Assyrian, 
 Babylonian, and Persian invaders. It was besieged by Sen- 
 nacherib, Nebuchadnezzar, and Cambyses ; by the latter of 
 whom it was taken by a curious stratagem. He is said to have 
 placed in front of his troops, when marching to the assault, a 
 
240 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. PER 
 
 number of those animals which were esteemed sacred by the 
 Egyptians, such as cats, dogs, sheep, &c. by which means the 
 Egyptian soldiers of the town were prevented from tlirowing 
 their spears, or discharging their arrows on the assailants, by 
 the fear of wounding or lulling some of the sacred animals ; 
 and the place was thus easily taken. 
 
 The name Pelusium, is derived from the Greek Pelos, mudf. 
 and its Scripture name Sin, has in Syriac the same meaning, 
 as has also the modern name of the place, which is called by 
 the i^rabs Tineh. According to some writers, Damietta 
 stands nearly in the spot once occupied by Pelusium ; but this 
 appears to be an error. Damietta is at least 50 miles distant, 
 at the other end of lake Menzala. 
 
 Peniel, or Penuel, a place east of Jordan, near the brook 
 Jabbok. See Part I. p. 37. 
 
 Pentapolis, the Jive cities, a name sometimes given to the 
 district which contained the cities, Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, 
 Zeboim, and Bela or Zoar, which w^ere destroyed by fire, vol- 
 canic eruptions, and tlie sinking of the earth, on account of 
 their great wickedness. See Part I. p. 31. also Dead Sea. 
 
 Perea, a general name for the country east of Jordan ; but 
 which belonged particularly to that part of it lying south of 
 Iturea, and which was once the possession of the tribes of 
 Reuben and Gad. 
 
 Perga, a city of Pamphylia in Asia Minor, visited by St. 
 Paul and his company. (Acts xiii. 14.) This city was famous 
 among the heathen for a temple of Diana, and the yearly fes- 
 tivals there held in honour of her, whence she is sometimes 
 styled Diana Pergosa. Here John, surnamed Mark, quitted 
 Paul and Barnabas, and returned to Jerusalem. This was one 
 of the most considerable towns of the province, and Christian 
 churches appear to have been maintained in it till the close 
 of the eighth century. 
 
 Perga.mus, a city of Mysia in the west of Asia Minor, and 
 once the capital of the kingdom of Pergamus, which included 
 the provinces of Mysia, ^Eolia, Ionia, Lydia, and Caria. This 
 was once a noble city, and is celebrated as the native place 
 of Galen, the famous physician. Here parchment was invent- 
 ed, and ti\e city had a library of 200,000 volumes, which had 
 been collected by its kings. This noble collection was after- 
 wards transported to Egypt by Cleopatra, and added to the 
 Alexandrian library. Previous to the use of parchment, wri- 
 tings were made upon papyrus, which was only manufactured 
 
PER 
 
 DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 241 
 
 in Eg-ypt, and Ptolemj^ forbade its exportation from that coun- 
 try, in order to prevent Eumenes, Idng of Pergamus, from 
 making- a library as valuable and choice as thatof x\lexandria. 
 This g-ave rise to the invention of parchment at Peru-amus, 
 and it was thence called charta pergamena. The rival libra- 
 ries of papyrus and parchment, united by Cleopatra, were 
 fatally destroyed by the Saracens at Alexandria, A.D. 642. 
 
 Christianity was early established at Pergamus, but the 
 church appears to have departed from the purity of the gospel 
 in the time of St. John the divine, as a severe doom is threat- 
 ened against it. (Rev. ii. 12.) The place is now called Berga- 
 mo, and presents many ruins which indicate its former magni- 
 ficence. It yet contains a few families of Christians, who are 
 much oppressed by the Turks; the present population is about 
 3000. 
 
 Perizzites, a people of Canaan. See Part I. p. 33. 
 
 Ruins of Persepolis. 
 Persepolis, the ancient capital of the Persian empire, sit- 
 uated on the river Araxes, now called the Bendemeer ; and 
 represented by the Greek writers as one of the richest and 
 most magnificent cities in the world. It was taken by Alex- 
 ander the Great, who here found 120,000 talents in silver and 
 gold, which fell to his own share, after his soldiers had pil- 
 laged the city and taken what they pleased in money and 
 jewels to an immense amount. But the chief beauty of this 
 city was the royal palace, built upon a hill surrounded by three 
 V 
 
242 scRiprrRE geography. PER 
 
 walls, the first 16 cubits hig-h, the second 30, and the third 
 60 ; all of them of black polished marble, with battlements 
 and towers. The palace was of exceeding beauty and mag- 
 nificence, the roof shining with ivory, silver, gold, and amber; 
 and the king's throne being wholly composed of gold and the 
 richest pearls. This noble and splendid building, one of the 
 greatest ornaments of the eastern world, was consumed with 
 fire by Alexander in a drunken fit, at the instigation of Lais, 
 a courtezan, by way of revenge for the cities w liich the Per- 
 sians had formerly burnt in Greece. Though Alexander, when 
 sober, repented of his rashness, and ordered that it should be 
 rebuilt, yet it never rose to its former glory ; the conqueror 
 dying shortly after, and the building being neglected. It 
 appears to have soon fallen mto ruin, as Quintus Curtius, who 
 lived in the reign of Claudius Ceesar, says that no trace of it 
 could have been found, if not indicated by the river Araxes, 
 on whose bank it stood. Modern travellers, however, have 
 discovered at a place called Chel-minar, on the river Bende- 
 meer or Araxes, the most magnificent ruins of a temple or 
 palace that are now in existence on the face of the earth. 
 They lie at the north end of that spacious plain where Per- 
 sepolis once stood, and are generally conjectured to be the 
 remains of that palace which was burnt by Alexander. Pcr- 
 sepolis is mentioned in 2 i\Iacc. ix. 1, 2., but probably there 
 means Elymais, as Persepolis was in ruins before the time of 
 Antiochus, being destroyed by Alexander ; whence it is pro- 
 bable that the author has put Persepolis for the capital city 
 of Persia, though its true name was then Elymais, which the 
 Greek author might translate into Persepolis, which signifies 
 the city of the Persians. 
 
 Persia, an ancient and celebrated empire in Asia ; extend- 
 ing from the Indus on the east, to the Euphrates on the west; 
 and from the Caspian Sea and Mount Caucasus north, to the 
 Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean south ; being about 1800 
 miles long, and 1100 broad. In the days of Ahasuerus, its 
 extent was " from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred 
 and seven-and-twenty provinces." (Esther i. 1.) This, how- 
 ever, describes the Persian empire in its largest sense. Per- 
 sia proper was only a province of this empire, and was bound- 
 ed on the north by Media; east by the deserts of Caramania ; 
 south by the Persian Gulf; and west by Ciialdea, or Susiana. 
 This was the ancient Elam, so called from Elam, the son of 
 Shem, from whom its first inhabitants were descended ; and 
 
JP£R DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 243 
 
 by wliich name it is known in Scripture till the time of Daniel 
 the prophet, who lived in the reign of Cyrus. This prince 
 united the king-doms of Persia and Media, and is generally- 
 considered the founder of the Persian empire, whicli from this 
 time began to be called Persia. The name is supposed to be 
 derived from Paras, or Peres, a horseman, as the inhabitants 
 were mucli on horseback, and it is even said to have been con- 
 sidered degrading in that country to be seen going on foot. 
 From Peres, the Greeks formed their Persis, and the Latins 
 Persia. 
 
 The people of Elam, or Persia proper, appear to have main- 
 tamed an independent government for some centuries before 
 they became subject to the Assyrian empire. From the domin- 
 ion of the Assyrians they were partially delivered by Tiglath- 
 Pileser ; but w^ere conquered and annexed to the kingdom of 
 Media by Phraortes. About 500 years before Christ, Persia 
 and Media were united by Cyrus, the founder of the Persian 
 empire, and by whom itw'as raised to a high degree of power 
 and dominion. Cyrus was succeeded by Cambyses, who is 
 called Ahasuerus, (Ezra iv. 6.) and after a reign of seven 
 years and five months he was succeeded by Orohastes, or 
 Smerdis the magian, called Artaxerxes. (Ezra iv. 7.) He was 
 killed, after a reign of only five months, by seven conspirators, 
 one of whom was Darius Plystaspes, wlio succeeded him. This 
 Darius is called Ahasuerus. in the Hebrew book of Esther, 
 and Artaxerxes-in the Greek of the same book. He reigned 
 36 years, from the year of the world 3482 to 3519, being suc- 
 ceeded by Xerxes I., who reigned 12 years. His successor 
 was Artaxerxes Longimanus, who reigned 48 years, from 
 3531 to 3579. After him was Xerxes 11. who reigned but one 
 year, being murdered by his brother Sogdianus, who reigned 
 seven months, and was succeeded by Ochus, or Darius Nothus, 
 who died in 3590, after a reign of 19 years. Next was Ar- 
 taxerxes Mnemon, who reigned 43 years, being succeeded by 
 Artaxerxes Ochus, from 3643 to 3666 ; after whom was Arses, 
 who reigned fnree years, and died in 3668. His successor 
 was Darius Codomanus, who reigned six years, and w^as con- 
 quered by Alexander the Great in 3674, w^hich ended the 
 empire of Persia, and made it tributary to the Greeks. After 
 the death of Alexander, when the Macedonian empire was 
 divided among his ofiicers, Seleucus Nicanor made himself 
 master of the Persian province?, till the revolt of the Par- 
 thians introduced new revel uti&ns in the east. Persia was 
 
244 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. PER 
 
 partly reconquered from the Greeks, and remained tributary 
 to the Parthians for nearly 500 years. After this, the sove- 
 reignty was again placed in the hands of the Persians by the 
 revolt of Artaxerxes, a connnon soldier, A. D. 229, who 
 became the founder of tiie second Persian monarchy, which 
 proved so inimical to the power of tlie Roman emperors. 
 About A. D. 640, Persia was conquered by the Saracens, and 
 submitted to the Mahometan dominion and religion, in which 
 state it still continues. 
 
 Authors speak differently of the religion of the ancient Per- 
 sians. According to Herodotus, they had neither temples, 
 altars, nor statues, neither would they suffer any to be made, 
 because they did not believe, as the Greeks did, that the gods 
 were of human origin. They sacrificed on the highest moun- 
 tains, and gave the name of God to the whole circuit of the 
 heavens. They sacrificed also to the sun, the moon, the earth, 
 and the water ; and knew no other gods anciently but these. 
 They afterwards learned from the Syrians and Arabians to 
 sacrifice to Astarte, Urania, or Venus. Some modern authors 
 think the ancient Persians had just notions concerning the 
 deity, and believed in one God ; and that the worship of the 
 sun and the fire was merely relative. The Persians refer 
 their religion to Zoroaster, who is thought by some to have 
 been the same as Abraham ; though others believe him to have 
 been the pupil of Abraham. There seem to have been two 
 persons named Zoroaster ; the first, the founder of this ancient 
 religion, and of whom are recorded miracles and prophecies; 
 the second, a reformer of that religion, who lived in the time 
 of Darius Hystaspes. The doctrine of Zoroaster teaches that 
 the world was created in six days, that at the beginning God 
 created a man and a woman, that there have been several ter- 
 restrial paradises, one universal deluge, one Moses and one 
 Solomon. All this, however, the second Zoroaster may have 
 taken from the history of the Jews. Tliey hold the doctrine 
 of two opposite principles or spirits, whom they call Ormusd 
 ind Ahriman, a good and an evil, who divide -between them 
 the government of the universe ; but that finally tlie good will 
 prevail over the evil. This Ormusd is the true God, called by 
 the Arabians Allah, the author of all good; and Ahriman rs 
 the Eblis of the Arabians, the devil, the author of all evil. 
 These doctrines of Zoroaster are still held in Persia by the 
 Magians and Guebras, who are worshippers of fire and of the 
 Bun, and have never submitted to the religion of Mahomet. 
 
MAA 
 
 DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE, 
 
 245 
 
 Persian Ladies travellinj; 
 
 In their national character the Persians were warlike ; they 
 were early taught to ride, and to handle the bow, and were 
 inured to bear the 'toils and fatigues of a military life. Their 
 national valour, however, soon degenerated, and their wani 
 of employment at home, and their indulgence in luxury, ren- 
 derd them unfit for war. In the reign of Xerxes, when the 
 empire was in its most flourishmg state, a small number of 
 Greeks was able to repel an almost innumerable army of 
 Persians. 
 
 The climate of this country is various. The mountainous 
 parts are cold and dry ; but in the south, from the Persian 
 Gulf to the mouth of the Indus, the heat in summer is exces- 
 sive. In the regions around Shiraz, the climate is said to be 
 delightful, and the extremes of heat and cold unknown. Many 
 parts of the country are fertile, and produce grain, fruits, and 
 wine. The government is an absolute monarchy, the lives 
 and estates of the people being entirely at the disposal of the 
 reigning prince. The Persians are generally handsome and 
 well shaped, and their mamiers very different from the Turks, 
 whom they hold in great abhorrence, esteeming Jews and 
 Christians much superior to them, and much nearer salvation. 
 Though Mahometans, like the Turks, they are of the sect of 
 Ali, between which, and the sect of Omar, to which the Turks 
 belong, there exists all the enmity of sectarian prejudice and 
 fanatical rancour. While a rude and insolent demeanour 
 towards foreigners and Christians, marks the Turkish charae- 
 V 2 
 
246 
 
 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 PER 
 
 ter, the Persians are courteous to strangers, and free from those 
 religious prejudices so prevalent in olher Mahometan coun- 
 tries. They are hospitable to travellers, are fond of inquiring 
 after the manners and customs of Europe, and in return readily 
 afford information respecting their own country. The Persians 
 excel in poetry : astrologers are said to be in great reputation 
 among them. Tlie art of printing has not yet been introduced 
 into this country, but they excel in writing, having eight dif- 
 ferent hands, and their manuscripts are very beautiful. They 
 write like the Arabs and other eastern nations, from right to left. 
 
 Ancient medals of Persia are yet in existence, which bear the figure 
 of a ram, as the emblem ol" the Pei-sian nation, and prove that Daniel 
 employed the proper type of Persian dominion, when predicting its 
 overthrow by the single-horned goat of Macedonia. Tliis ram had two 
 horns, "one of which was higher than the olher, and the higher came 
 up last." (Dan. viii. 3.) These were the kingdoms of iMedia and Persia, 
 united under Cyrus, of which the Persian exceeded in power. 
 
 No. 1. An engraving from 
 an ancient gem, representing 
 the appropriate symbols of 
 Persia and Macedonia, under 
 the figures of a ram, and a 
 goat with one horn. This gem 
 was probably engraved in the 
 time of Alexander the Great, 
 and denotes the union of Per- 
 sia and Macedonia under the 
 same empire. We offer it as 
 affording a remarkable illus- 
 tration of the emblems em- 
 ployed by Daniel the prophet, 
 to signify those two kingdoms. 
 No. 2. 
 
PHE 
 
 DICTIONARY OP THE BIBLE. 
 
 34T 
 
 No. 2. A representation of the ancient Persian deity Anammelech, 
 the king of the clouds, the "god of Sepharvaim," (2 Kings xvii. 31.) who 
 is represented in conversation with a human person, apparently of high 
 rank and office ; and is probably intended to signify an appearance of 
 the deity, come down from the sun, to commune with one of his Avor- 
 shippers. The figure of the sun, and of the altar, seem to confirm this 
 supposition. 
 
 T\T^ Q 1 
 
 No. 3. A figure sculp^ 
 tured at the entrance 
 of the palace at Perse- 
 polis, and yet existing 
 there. It has the an- 
 cient cherubic form, 
 as represented attend- 
 ing on majesty; name- 
 ly, the human head, 
 the eagle's wings, and 
 the body and legs of 
 the ox. This appear? 
 to confirm the idea 
 which we have else- 
 where noticed, that 
 the cherubic figure was not peculiar to the Hebrews, but existed also in 
 other eastern nations. 
 
 Pethor, the city of Balaam. See Pari I. p. 54. 
 Pharathoni, a city of Ephraim, (1 Mace. ix. 50.) called 
 Pirathon. Judges xii. 15. 
 
 Pharpar, or Pharphar, a river of Syria, near Damascus, 
 wliich unites with the Abana, called by the Greeks Chry- 
 sorrhoas, and now named the Barrady. See Ahana. 
 
 PHE^'ICE, a port in the south-west of the island of Crete, 
 where St. Paul, in his voyage to Rome, advised the ship's 
 crew to spend the winter, because the season was too far 
 advanced to pursue their voyage with safety ; (Acts xxvii.) 
 but neglecting his advice, they were shipwrecked at Melita. 
 Phenicia, or Phanicia, a provmce of Syria, on the coast 
 of the Mediterranean, the boundaries of which appear to have 
 varied at diiterent times ; by some writers appearing to extend 
 from Orthosia as far south as Pelusium on the borders of 
 Egypt; and by others its southern limit has been Mount Car- 
 mel and Ptolemais. After the conquest of the Land of Ca- 
 naan by the Hebrews, the limits of Phenicia v/ere narrow, 
 and it had nothing of the country of the Philistines, who 
 occupied the country from Mount Carmel to the borders of 
 Egypt. Neither could it then have extended far inland, for 
 the Israelites, having possession of Galilee, confined the Phe- 
 nicians to the coast of the Mediterranean. 
 
^48 SCRirTURE GEOGRAPHY. PHI 
 
 According- to Herodotus, the Phenicians were seated on the' 
 Red Sea before they came to the Mediterranean, where they 
 addicted themselves to navigation and commerce. Justin 
 also says, the I'yrians were a people conducted by a chief 
 named Pluenix, who left their native land on account of the 
 earthquakes to Vvhich it was subject. .They first settled on 
 the Assyrian lake, sea of Tiberias, and afterwards on the shore 
 of the Mediterranean, where they built a city whicli tliey 
 named Sidona. 
 
 The Phenicians preserved their independence, not only 
 under Joshua, but also under David, Solomon, and the other 
 kings of the Jewish nation. They were, hovvever, subdued 
 by the kings of Assyria and Chaldea, and afterwards were 
 successively under the dominion of the Persians, Greeks, 
 Romans, Saracens, and Turks ; not having had any kings of 
 their own for more than 2000 years.. Their chief cities were 
 Sidon, Tyre, Ptolemais, Berytus, Tripolis, Orthosia, &c. 
 They were naturally an industrious people, and commerce 
 and navigation were among them in the most flourishing 
 state. They planted many colonies on the shores of the 
 Mediterranean, particularly at Carthage and Utica in Africa, 
 Marseilles in France, and severaj places in Spain, both witliin 
 and without the Straits of Gibraltar. Their commerce, 
 besides extending to all parts of the Euxine and the Mediter- 
 ranean, reached even to the British isles, and to the shores 
 of the Baltic. TJie ships of Solomon were navigated by 
 Phenicians. They were also eminent in manufactures : the 
 purple of Tyre, the glass of Sidon, their fine linens, and curi- 
 ous specimens of art in metals and wood, gave them such a 
 superiority over the manufactures of other nations, that among 
 the ancients, whatever was elegant, great, or pleasing, either 
 in apparel or domestic utensils, received the epithet of Sido- 
 nian. The language of the Phenicians appears to have had 
 little affinity to tlie other oriental tongues used in Arabia, 
 Syria, &c. It v/as a dialect of the Hebrew, the same as that 
 of the ancient Canaanites, and their letters or characters very 
 nearly resembled t'lose of the Samaritans. Their letters 
 were the same in number as the Hebrew, but their form was 
 larger, and they were more conformable to those of very an- 
 cient Greek inscriptions. 
 
 Philadelphia, a city of Lydia in Asia Minor, 27 miles 
 south-east of Sardis, and 40 from Smyrna. Its church seems 
 to have been noted, in gospel times, for the purity of its faitli 
 
PHI • DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 249 
 
 and practice ; and in the address to this church, (Rev. iii. 7.) 
 it is commended for its zeal, and not blamed for any vice. 
 Like the other cities of this country, Philadelphia has under- 
 gone many changes and revolutions. It was named from its 
 founder Attalus Philadelphus, brother of Eumenes, king of 
 Pergamus. In the times of the Greek empire, it was fre- 
 quently besieged in the wars with the Saracens and Turks ; 
 and in 1391 Ihis city singly refused to admit Bajazet ; but 
 wantmg provisions, was forced to capitulate. It was once 
 well fortified, but has sufiered much from earthquakes, and 
 many parts of the city wall are yet standing, having large 
 gaps rent in them by the violent concussions of the earth. It 
 is yet a town of considerable extent, and being situated or 
 one of the principal roads to Smyrna, is much frequented, 
 especially by Armenian merchants. Among the inhabitants 
 of this place are many Greek Christians, who live in friendly 
 intercourse with the Turks, and have twelve churches, and a 
 bishop. 
 
 PhiladelpJiia, a city east of Jordan, so called by the Greeks; 
 being the same as Rabbath, the ancient capital of the Am- 
 monites. 
 
 Philippi, a city of Macedonia, so called from Philip, king 
 of Macedon, who repaired and beautified it, with the design 
 of making it a barrier against the Thracians. Its former name 
 was Dathos. In process of time it became a Roman colony, 
 and was famous for two great battles fought near it, one 
 between Julius Ceesar and Pompey, and the other between 
 Augustus and Antony, on one side, and Cassius and Brutus 
 on the other. St. Paul visited Philippi, and there converted 
 several people; he also cured a servant maid, who had a 
 familiar spirit, by which she foretold future events. Certain 
 persons having stirred up the whole city against Paul, he was 
 imprisoned ; but having been informed that he was a Roman 
 citizen, the magistrates liberated him, and made an apology 
 for their ill treatment. (x\cts xvi.) The Philipp.ians appear 
 to have been afterwards very grateful for the grace received 
 from God, by the ministry of St. PauL They assisted him on 
 several occasions, and he appears to have regarded them with 
 great affection, as his epistle to them is, of all his letters, the 
 most pathetic, and full of kind and affectionate expressions. 
 This city is now a scene of ruins ; few inhabitants remain ; 
 but the ruins of temples, palaces, and other magnificent 
 edifices of m.arble, attest its former splendour. 
 
250 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. PHR 
 
 Philistines, a people inhabiting the western part of Ca- 
 naan along the coast ; having five lordships or governments, 
 named from their principal towns, Gaza, Askelon, Ashdod, 
 Gath, and Ekron. The Philistines were descendants of the 
 Casluhim and Caphtorim, of the family of Misraim, the son of 
 Ham, and so brother to Canaan, the father of the Canaanites. 
 (Gen. X. 6. 14.) We learn also from Gen. x. 19. tliat the 
 coast from Sidon to Gaza originally belonged to the Canaan- 
 ites; whence it follows that the Philistines must have become 
 masters of it by dispossessing the Canaanites, the original in- 
 habitants. This is probable, as the Philistines, being descend- 
 ed from Misraim, were settled in Egypt, or the parts adjoin- 
 ing on the south-west of Canaan. (See Casluhim and Caph- 
 torim, Part I. p. 26.) Some writers have conjectured that 
 the Philistines were a branch of the Palli, or shepherds 
 who invaded Egypt from the east, in a remote period of 
 antiquity ; and that a colony of them occupied the southern 
 coast of Judea. The time of their coming into the Land of 
 Canaan is not known, but they appear to have been there a 
 long time before Abi-aham came thither in the year of the 
 w^orld 2083, as they then had kings, and were: in possession 
 of several considerable cities. (Gen. xx. 2. xxvi. 1.) On the 
 conquest of the country by Joshua, they were' not driven out, 
 and were almost constantly at war with the Israelites; and 
 thougk subdued* by David, and k(?pt in subjection by some of 
 the succeeding kings, yet they frequently revolted, and con- 
 tinued to harass the Hebrew government as long as it con- 
 tinued; being "thorns in their sides," as liad been -foretold as 
 a punishment for. their disobedience. (Judges ii. 3.) After 
 the Hebrews had been carried into captivity, the Philistines 
 probably took possession of a great part of the country, and 
 appear to have become so considerable, that from them the 
 Holy Land was called by the Greeks, Palestine, under which 
 name it frequently occurs in Greek and Latin writers. 
 
 Phrygia, a region in Asia JMinor, bounded north by Bithy- 
 nia, east by Galatia and Lycaonia, south by Pisidia and Lycia, 
 and west by Caria, I-ydia, and JMysia. Its chief cities were 
 Laodicea, Colossnc, and Ilierapolis. Phrygia is frequently 
 mentioned in the New Testament, as St. Paul travelled much 
 in it, and established many churches. This country was dU 
 vided into Phrygia the greater, called also Pacatiana, and 
 Phrygia the lesser. According to Josephus and other writers, 
 it was peopled by the descendants of Togarmah, tlie son ot 
 
PON DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 251 
 
 Gomer, and grandson of Japliet ; and the Phrygians accounted 
 themselves as one of the most ancient nations in the world. 
 They were of a servile disposition, and could only he kept to 
 their duty by beating ; whence came the proverb, se7'0 sapiunt 
 Phryges, the Phrygians are wise too late ; or as Cicero says, 
 made wise only by suffermgs. For 2500 years they have 
 been subject to the Lydians, the Persians, the Greeks, the 
 Romans, and the Turks, the latter of whom still hold them 
 in subjection. 
 
 Phut, the son of Ham, whose posterity settled m Africa. 
 See Part I. p. 26. 
 
 PiBESETH, a city of Egypt, situated south of Sin or Pelu- 
 sium, and on the same branch of the Nile. (Ezek. xxx. 17.) 
 It was also called Bubastis, which word signifies a she cat, 
 under which form Diana was worshipped in Egypt, But others 
 say that it signifies also a cow, and that the city was built in 
 honour of Isis, who was here worshipped under that form. 
 
 Pi-HAHiROTH, an encampment of the Israelites, near the 
 Red Sea. See Part I. p. 43. 
 
 PiRATHON, a city of Ephraim, tlie native place of Abdon, a 
 judge of Israel, who was buried there. (Judges xii. 15.) It is 
 called Pharathoni, in 1 TJacc. ix. 50. 
 
 PiSGAH, a celebrated mountain, east of Jordan. See Part L 
 p. 49. 
 
 PisiDiA, a province of Asia Minor, bounded north and 
 north-east by Phrygia and Lycaonia, south by Pamphylia, and 
 west by Phrygia. Its prmcipal city was Antioch, where Paul 
 preached. (Acts xiii. 14. xiv. 24.) This country was once 
 flourishing and populous, and Christianity was maintained 
 here for seven or eight centuries. 
 
 PisoN, one of the four rivers of Eden. See Part I. p. 11. 
 
 PiTHOM, one of the cities built for Pharaoh, by the children 
 of Israel, while in Egypt. See Part I. p. 40. 
 
 PoxTUS, an extensive province in Asia Minor, on the south- 
 em shore of the Euxine, or Black Sea, called here the Pontic 
 Sea ; having Colchis and Armenia on the east, Cappadocia 
 south, and Paphlagonia and Galatia west. Christianity was 
 early established in this country, as we find the first epistle 
 of Peter addressed to the faithful of Pontus, and the neigh- 
 bouring provinces. (1 Peter i. 1.) This country revolted from 
 the Persians, and became an independent kingdom ; being in 
 its most flourishing state under Mithridates the Great. It was 
 afl;erwards conquered by Julius Caesar, and became a Roman 
 
252 gCRIPTtJRE GEOGRAPHY. PTO 
 
 province, though it was often governed by monarchs tributary 
 to Rome. Under tlie emperors a regular governor was al- 
 ways appointed over it. In this province was the city of 
 Cerasus, from which cherries were first brought to Europe, 
 and derived their name cerusa, Latin, cerises, French, from 
 the name of the city. 
 
 Pools of Solomon, See BetJilehem. 
 
 Potter's Field, also called Aceldama, the field of blood, 
 (Matt, xxvii. 7, 8. Acts i. 19.) a field purchased with the sil- 
 ver whicn had been given as the price of our Saviour's blood. 
 It lay at the foot of Mount Zion, on the west side of the val- 
 ley of Hinnom, and is yet shown at Jerusalem. It is a smal\ 
 piece of ground, not more than thirty yards long, and about 
 half as broad. There is yet standing on it a square fabric, 
 built for a charnel-house, into which tlie corpses are let down 
 from the top. The Armenian Christians now possess this 
 fourying-place, for which they pay the Turks a rent of one 
 eequin a day. 
 
 Ptolemais, originally called Accho, a maritime city in the 
 tribe of Asher, north of Mount Carmel, 27 miles south of 
 Tyre, and 70 north of Jerusalem. The original inhabitants 
 of this place were not driven out by the Israelites. Judges i. 31. 
 This city was afterwards called Ptolemais, from Ptolemy, 
 king of Egypt, who enlarged and strengthened it; but after 
 falling under the dominion of the Turks, it followed the ex- 
 ample of many other cities, which, in like circumstances, cast 
 off their Greek name, and took one similar to the ancient 
 Hebrew appellation, being called x^ccajA era, or Acre. It was 
 visited by the apostle Paul, (Acts xxi. 7.) being then known 
 by its Greek name, Ptolemais. 
 
 The situation of Accho was very advantageous; on the 
 north and east it was encompassed by a spacious and fertile 
 plain, on the west by the Mediterranean, and on the south by 
 a large bay which extended from the city to ]\Iount Carmel. 
 It was strongly fortified, and had a convenient harbour. This 
 city has many times changed masters, having been succes- 
 sively under the dominion of the Romans, the Saracens, the 
 Christians, and the Turks. During the time of the crusades 
 it was the scene of bloody contests between the Ciiristians 
 and the infidels. It was attacked by the fleets and armies of 
 the Crusaders in the year 1189, and after a siege of two years 
 was taken by the combined forces of Philip of France, and 
 Richard of England ; but not till 100,000 Christians had fallen 
 
PTO 
 
 DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 253 
 
 in battle, and a greater number perished by disease. Under 
 the dominion of the Crusaders, it was much strengthened and 
 improved. The tutelar saint of the city was St. John, whence 
 it has been sometimes- called, St. John iVAcre. 
 
 In the year 1291, this place was invested by the Turks, 
 with a powerful army. After a siege of thirty-three days, the 
 walls and towers were demolished, the city was taken, and 
 60,000 Christians devoted to death or slavery. The town was 
 entirely laid in ruins by the Turks, and remained almost de- 
 solate till about the year 1750, when it was again fortified by 
 Daher, an Arabian chief. Here he m_aintained his indepen- 
 dence against the whole force of the Ottoman empire, until 
 basely assassinated in 1775. It was afterwards still farther 
 strengthened with fortifications by the famous Djezzar Pacha, 
 who was assisted by Sir Sidney Smith, an English officer, in 
 his defence against Bonaparte. Its inhabitants are about 40,000 
 there are here six Christian churches. The Jews also have 
 a synagogue. The streets are very narrow. The port is one of 
 the best on the coast ; and the trade is considerable. 
 
 No. 1. Shows the head of 
 Alexander on one side ; and. 
 on the other, the inscription 
 Alexaxdrou, with the two 
 first Phenician letters of the 
 name of the city, Ak or Ok, 
 for Accho, also tlie date, 
 supposed to be 26, i. e. 16 or 
 17 years after the death 
 of Alexander. This medal 
 was probably struck on the 
 occasion of a festival in 
 honour of Alexander; such worship was paid to him while living, and 
 was long continued after his death. 
 
 No. 2. A medal 
 of Claudius, with 
 the ceremony of 
 driving the oxen, 
 which was part 
 of that constitute- 
 ing a colony. The 
 numbers of the 
 Roman legions es- 
 tablished here and 
 in Syria, are mark- 
 ed on the ensigns 
 But the most re- 
 markable particu* 
 lar for our observation is, that Claudius is called Divos, a deity, during 
 
 w 
 
254 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPinr. RAB 
 
 his life-time. This is uncommon, but shows to ^vhat a height of 
 flattery these Asiatics had attained. The same title is given to Herod, 
 in person, Acts xii. 22. 
 
 PuL, or Phul, (Isa. Ixvi. 19.) supposed to bo an i:^land in 
 the Nile, called Philce, not far from Syene. It is probable 
 that the people called Pul, in Scripture, inhabited not only 
 this island, but also the adjacent country. On the island are 
 ruins of very noble and extensive temples, built by the ancient 
 Egyptians. ThePhul are probably represented in Egypt to 
 this day, by the Pholahs or Fellahs, who are mostly husband- 
 men and cultivators of the soil. 
 
 PuNON, an encampment of the Israelites in the desert, east 
 of Edom. (Numb, xxxiii. 42.) This name is also written 
 Phunon, and Phinon, and may have received its name from 
 Phinon, a duke of Edom. (Gen. xxxvi. 41.) Eusebius calls 
 the place Phanos, and says there were mines of metals there. 
 
 PuTEOLi, a city in Italy, where Paul stayed a week in his 
 journey to RoiBe. (Acts xxviii. 13.) It is now called Pozzuoli, 
 and is situated near Naples; being* yet famous for its natural 
 hot baths, in which it is said the water is of sufficient heat to 
 boil eggs. These hot springs are many in number, and were 
 celebrated in the time of Nero. They are eighteen miles 
 from Mount Vesuvius, and probably receive their heat from 
 the same subterranean fires wiiich produce that volcano. 
 From these baths, or pits of water, in Latin jmtci, the town 
 probably took its name of Puteoli. It has suffered much from 
 volcanoes and earthquakes; but vast ruins are yet visible, 
 among whicli are the baths of Nero, and Cicero's villa ; also 
 a temple of Jupiter Serapis, an interesting monument of an- 
 tiquity, being in a style of architecture different from the 
 Greek and Roman temple.?, and built in the manner of the 
 Asiatics, probably by Egyptian and Asiatic merchants settled 
 at this place, which was once a great emporium of com- 
 merce. 
 
 R. 
 
 Raamaii, a place (Ezek. xxvii. 22.) probably named from 
 Raamah, the son of Cush, See Part I. p. 24. 
 
 Raamses, a city of Egypt, (Exod. i. 11.) supposed to be the 
 game as Ramcses, 
 
 Rabbaii, or Rabbath, sometimes called Rabbath-Ammon, 
 the capital city of the Ammonites, situated east of Jordan, 
 and not far from the head of the river Anion. (Deut. iii. 11. 
 
MAO DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 256 
 
 2 Sam. xi. 1.) It was taken by David, (2 Sam. xii. 29.) and 
 was from that time subject to the kings of Israel, until the 
 capture of the tribes cast of Jordan, by Tiglath-Pileser, when 
 the Ammonites practised great cruelties against the few 
 Hebrews that still remained in that country. Hence ^ve find 
 the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel pronouncing severely 
 against Rabbah. It was taken by Ptolemy Philadelphus, 
 king of Egypt, who named it Philadelphia; and about 170 
 years before Christ, Avas again taken by Antiochus, king of 
 Syria. 
 
 Rabbath-moab, the capital of the jMoabites, called also Ar 
 which see. 
 
 Rabbah, a city of Judah, (Josh. xv. 60.) and another in 
 Issachar, written Rabhith. Josh. xLx. 20. 
 
 Rachal, a city of Judah. 1 Sam. xxx. 29. 
 
 Rages, a city of ]\Iedia, (Tobit i.) near which were pro- 
 bably situated the plains of Ragau, mentioned in Judith i. 5, 
 &c. It is conjectured that this city was built by Reu, the 
 son of Peleg ; as tJie sons of Arphaxad, of whom came Peleg, 
 the father of Reu, settled in these and the adjacent parts ; and 
 Reu is translated by the LXX, Ragau. In the beginning of 
 the book of Judith, too, we have Arphaxad mentioned as 
 reigning- over the Medes in Ecbatana, that name probably 
 having been given to this king in honour and memory of 
 their great ancestor, Arphaxad, the son of Shem, and grand- 
 son of Noah. 
 
 This is supposed to be the city called at present Rey, in- 
 habited by a polite and commercial people, who manufacture 
 fine linen, cotton, and camblets, which are sent to all parts of 
 the world. The Persians call it the market of the universe ; 
 and if so in the days of Tobit, it is no wonder that Jews were 
 foimd there. 
 
 Rahab, tliat tract of Lower Egypt called Delta by the 
 Greeks. Psalm Ixxxvii. 4. Ixxxix. 10. Isa. li. 9. 
 
 Rakkath, a city of Naphtali, (Josh. xix. 35.) thought to be 
 the same as Tiberias, on the Sea of Galilee. 
 
 Rakkon, a cit}^ of Dan. Josh, xix. 46. 
 
 Ramah, a city of Benjamin, not far from Gibeon. (Josh, 
 xviii. 25. Judges iv. 5. xix. 13.) It was situated on the road 
 from Jerusalem to Samaria, and was rebuilt and fortified by 
 Baasha, king of Israel, (1 Kings xv. 17.) that he might pre- 
 vent commmiication with the king of Judah. 
 
 Ramah, in Mount Ephraim, called also Ramathaim-zophim.. 
 
256 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. RED 
 
 the place where Samuel, was born, (1 Sam. i. 1. 19.) See 
 Arimathea. 
 
 liamah, a city in the borders of Asher and Naphtali, (Josh, 
 xix. 29. 36.) though it is probable there was a place of this 
 name in each of these tribes. 
 
 R AMESES, a city of Egypt, probably m the Land of Goshen. 
 See Part 1. p. 39. 
 
 Ramoth, a city m the tribe of Gad, called also Ramoth- 
 Gilead, and Ramoth-Mizpeh, from its situation near the moun- 
 tains of Gilead, and the land of Mizpeh. (Josh. xxi. 38. xiii. 
 26.) This place is fi-equently mentioned in Scripture, par- 
 ticularly in the books of Kings and Clironicles. It was 
 situated east of Jordan, near the brook Jabbok. 
 
 Ramoth-negebh, Ramolh of the south, a city of Simeon. 
 Josh. xix. 8. 
 
 Raphon, a place east of Jordan, in tlie neighbourhood of 
 Carnaim, and not far from the brook Jabbok. Here Judas 
 Maccabeus had his camp before he obtained the victory over 
 Timotheus. 1 Mace. v. 37. 
 
 Red Sea, a brancli of the Arabian Sea, or of tliat part of 
 the Indian Ocean between the coast of Africa and India, ex- 
 tending towards the Mediterranean, and interposing between 
 Egypt on the v/est, and Arabia on the east. Its Hebrew 
 name is Jam-Suph, the weedy sea, from tlie abundance of 
 sea-weed found in it. The country of Edom was adjacent to 
 this sea, and the name Edom, in Hebrew, signifies red, being 
 a name given to Esau after he had sold hjs birthright for a 
 mess of red pottage. Hence ifcrwas called. the Sea of- Edom.- 
 which in process of time became the Erythraean Sea, cfytknis, 
 in Greek, denoting red. Hence the Latms, according to the 
 signification of the Greek name, called it Rubriim Mare, and 
 we from them call it the Red Sra. The Arabs call it Bahr 
 el Colzum, the sea of drowninc^ or overiohelming, probably 
 in memory of tlie destruction of the Egyptians wlio pursued 
 the Israelites. We have already mentioned the miraculous 
 passage of the Israelites through this sea, (Part 1. p. 43.) and 
 have related a tradition spoken of by Diodorus, as existing 
 among the ancient inhabitants of the adjacent regions. We 
 Cannot suppose this pagan is writing in favour of revelation. 
 He knew not jMoses, neither says he a word about Pharaoh 
 and bis host; and yet he records the miracle of the division of 
 the sea in strong and plain terms, and from tlie moutlis of 
 unbiassed and undesignihg pagans. 
 
REU DIOTIONxVRY OF THE BIBLE. 2-57 
 
 With respect to the widtli of the Red Sea where the Israel- 
 ites crossed it, modern travellers describe it to be about twelve 
 miles. One of them says, " From the fountains of Moses, 
 which are seven or eight hours journey southward from Suez, 
 may now be seen the aperture of the mountain on the west- 
 ern side of the sea, through which Israel passed into the 
 water. This aperture is west-south-west from the fountains ; 
 the breadth of the sea there is about four or five hours 
 travel." 
 
 The length of the Red Sea, from the Strait of Babelman- 
 del to Suez, is about 1400 miles, and its general breadth about 
 120. It terminates towards the north in two arms or 
 branches ; the Gulf of Elath on the east, and that of Suez on 
 tlie west, of which the latter is much the longest, and was 
 the branch crossed by the Israelites. The tide here is said 
 never to rise more than three feet and a half 
 
 Rehob, two cities in the tribe of Asher are mentioned by 
 this name. (Josh. xix. 23. 80.) Th-ey were situated in the 
 north, and near them in the adjoining part of Syria, was pro- 
 bably the kingdom of Rehob, mentioned in 2 Sam. x. 6. 8. 
 
 Rehobotii, an ancient city, built about the same time as 
 Nineveh, and m the same country. It is uncertain whether 
 it was situated on the Tigris or the Euphrates. A city of this 
 name is also mentioned, (Gen. xxxvi. 37.) where Saul, king 
 of Edom, was born. It is not known whether this was Reho- 
 both on the Euphrates, or a place of that name on a river of 
 Edom. Rehoboth was also a name given to a v/ell which was 
 dug by Isaac, near Gerar. Gen. xxvi. 22. 
 
 Rekem, a city of Benjamin. Josh, xviii. 27. 
 
 Remeth, a city of Issachar ; (Josh. xix. 21.) the same as 
 Ramoth. 1 Chron. vi. 73. 
 
 Remmon, (Josh. xix. 7.) See Rimmon. 
 
 Rephaim, the ancient giants of Canaan. See Part I. p. 34. 
 
 Rephidim, an encampment of the Israelites in the wilder 
 ness. See Part I. p. 44. 
 
 Resen, an ancient city of Assyria, between Nineveh and 
 Calah. (Gen. x. 12.) In the chronicle of Dionysius, pa- 
 triarch of the Jacobins, A. D. 772, among the Ninevite cities 
 which were depopulated by the Arabs, we find Ressin, which 
 is mentioned with other cities of Assyria, and is no doubt the 
 Resen of Scripture. 
 
 Reuben, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. See Part L 
 p. 67. 
 
 W 2 
 
258 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. RHO 
 
 Rezeph, a city mentioned in 2 Kings xix. 12. Ptolemy 
 mentions a place called Rezipha, in Mesopotamia, east of the 
 Euphrates, which is probably the same. 
 
 Rhegium, or Rcg-ium, a maritime city of Italy, visited by 
 St. Paul on his voyag-e to Rome. (Acts xxviii. 13.) This 
 place is now called" Reggio, and is in the kmgdom of Naples, 
 on the Strait of Messina. 
 
 Rhodes, a famous island, south of Caria, in Asia Minor, 
 visited by St. Paul, (x\cts xxi. 1.) and accounted in dignity 
 next to Cyprus and Lesbos, among the Asiatic isles, being 40 
 miles long and 15 broad. The Septuagmt and Samaritan 
 bibles, instead of Dodanim, (Gen. x. 4.) read Rhodanim. St. 
 Jerom, Eusebius, Isidore, and others, follow them, and think 
 the isle of Rhodes was originally peopled by the Rhodanim, 
 or posterity of Javan. Most ancient copies of the Scriptures, 
 however, agree with our translation, and read Dodanim. From 
 whatever source this island may have been peopled, it is cer- 
 tain that its ancient inhabitants were a powerful people, ex- 
 pert in navigation, and a formidable maritune power. They 
 were called by the Romans, the maritime people ; they com- 
 manded the neighbouring seas, and causes relating to naval 
 affairs were decided according to the laws of the Rhodians. 
 
 This island was famed for a prodigious statue of brass, call- 
 ed the Colossus, wdiich was erected standing astride over the 
 mouth of the harbour, so that the ships sailed between its 
 legs. It was seventy cubits high, and each of its fingers was 
 said to be as large as a common-sized man. On account of 
 its vast bulk, it was reckoned one of the seven wonders of the 
 world. It w^as thrown down by an earthquake, and many 
 years after, the brass of which it was made, being carried by 
 the Saracens to Egypt, w-as enough to load 900 camels. 
 
 The people of Rhodes maintained a long contest with the 
 Greeks, but having applied to the Romans for aid, the latter 
 seized the island for themselves, and made it a Roman colony. 
 In A. D. 1124, it was taken from tlie Saracens by the Vene- 
 tians, and was afterwards taken by the Turks, wiio in their 
 turn were driven off by the knights of St. Jolm of Jerusalem. 
 In 1522 it was attacked by Solyman, with 300 ships, and 
 200,000 men, and surrendered after losing 90,000 of its peo- 
 ple; the loss of the Turks was much greater. 
 
 The soil of Rliodcs is fertile, producing delicious wines and 
 rich fruits, and its climate pleasant and liealthy. Its popula- 
 tion is about 36,000, of which one-third are Greeks, with a 
 few Jev.'s. 
 
ROM DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 259 
 
 RiELAH, a city of Syria, in the country of Hamath, north 
 of Canaan. Numb, xxxiv. 11. 2 Kings xxiii. 33. 
 
 RiMMON, a city of Judah, given to Simeon. (Josh. xv. 32. 
 xix. 7.) Also the name of a rock to which the Benjamites 
 retreated. Judges xx. 45.) Also a valley. Zech. xiv. 10. 
 
 RiMMON-METHOAR, a city of Zebulon, (Josh. xix. 13.) call- 
 ed Rimmon. 1 Chron. vi. 77. 
 
 RiMMON-PAREz, an encampment of the Israelites in the 
 desert. Numb, xxxiii. 19. 
 
 RissAH, an encampment in the wilderness, between Libnah 
 and Kehelathah. Numb, xxxiii. 21. 
 
 RiTHMAH, a station of Israel in the desert, near Hazeroth. 
 Numb, xxxiii. 18. 
 
 RoGEL, a fountain near Jerusalem. The name im.porta 
 treading, and it is supposed to have been the fullers' fountain, 
 where tliey v/ashed cloths by treading them with their feet. 
 Josh. XV. 7. 2 Sam. xvii. 17. 
 
 RoGELiM, the plural of Rogel, a city of Gilead, apparently 
 in the neighbourhood of IMahanaim. 2 Sam. xvii. 27. 
 
 Rome, the capital of Italy, and the metropolis of the Roman 
 empire ; founded by Romulus, 3252 years after the creation 
 of the world, and 752 before the birth of Christ, during the 
 reign of Jotham, kuig of Judah. The history of the city of 
 Rome, and of the Romans as a people, is so extensive and so 
 generally known, that we have no occasion to introduce it 
 into this work ; we shall merely treat of those parts of it 
 w^hich seem to be immediately connected with Scripture his- 
 tory. 
 
 Rome is not mentioned in the Old Testament; though 
 most interpreters believe the Roman empire is referred to in 
 Dan. ii. 40. under the name of the kingdom of iron, wdiich 
 bruises and breaks in pieces all other kingdom.s. Also by the 
 ships of Chittim, (Dan. xi. 29, 30.) is generally understood the 
 Roman fleet by which Antiochus was obliged to desist from 
 his designs against Egypt. In the apocryphal books of the 
 Maccabees, and in the New Testament, Rome and its people 
 are frequently mentioned. In 1 Mace. viii. 1, 2, &c. it is said 
 that Judas, having heard of the fame of the Romans, sent two 
 ambassadors to Rome, who were well received, and made an 
 alliance with the Romans. This was in the year 161 before 
 Christ, and 18 years after, this alliance was renewed by Jona- 
 than, the brother of Judas Maccabeus, (1 Mace. xii. 1, 2, &c.) 
 and again by Simon Maccabeus, (xiv. 16.) About three years 
 
260 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. SAL 
 
 Defore this, Quintus Memmius arid Titus Manilius, the Ro- 
 man legates, (2 Mace. xi. 34, &c.) being sent into Syria to 
 settle some affairs witli the king, Antiochus Eupatcr, interest- 
 ed themselves in promoting the tranquillity of the Jews, and 
 wrote to them, confirming certain favours, and requesting to 
 Know what further they desired. 
 
 Of the wars wliicli afterwards followed between the Jews 
 and the Romans, of the capture of Jerusalem and the destruc- 
 tion of the temple, as well as the subsequent state of the 
 country under the Roman government, we have already 
 treated in the article Judea. 
 
 The establishment of the Christian church in Rome is 
 ascribed to the apostles Peter and Paul. It is thought that 
 Peter was led thither in the reign of Claudius; and Paul was 
 carried there as a prisoner, where he afterwards dwelt and 
 preached, "two whole years, no man forbidding him." (Acts 
 xxviii. 30, 31.) Here he afterwards suffered martyrdom, 
 together with St. Peter, as most believe, under tlie sanguinary 
 reign of Nero. After the death of tliese eminent apostles, the 
 Christian church continued to flourish at Rome, though fre- 
 quently much persecuted by some of the cruel and wicked 
 emperors who reigned in the decline of the Roman empire. 
 Others, however, among whom was Adrian, treated them 
 more mildly. Our limits forbid us to trace the progress of 
 the gospel in the Roman empire, though it would be interest- 
 ing to recite tiie accounts of the zeal of its advocates, and the 
 fortitude of its martyrs; and to mark the final triumph of 
 (Christianity over the absurd rites of heathen idolatry. 
 
 RosH, the name of a people. The Septuagint and other 
 translations of the Scriptures, in Ezek. xxxviii. 2, 3. xxxix. 1. 
 call Magog the cliief prince of Rnsli, Meshech, and Tubal. 
 The people of Rosh are placed by Bochart, in the country on 
 the A raxes between the Caspian and Black seas; and from 
 them the present Russians have probably derived their origin 
 and name. 
 
 S. 
 
 Sabeans, a people of Arabia. (Isa. xlv. 14.) See Sheba. 
 
 Sabtah, and Sabtecha, sons of Cush. (Gen. x. 7.) See 
 Part I. pp. 24, 25. 
 
 Salamis, a considerable city in the island of Cyprus, visited 
 by St. Paul and Barnabas. (Acts xiii. 5.) This city gave 
 name to the wliole eastern tract of tlie island, opposite to the 
 
SAM DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 261 
 
 coast of Syria. It was afterwards the see of the primate of 
 the island. The city was destroyed by the Jews in the reign 
 of Trajan; but being rebuilt, it was afterwards taken and 
 razed by the Saracens, in the time of Herodius. It never 
 recovered, and the see of the metropolitan bishop was removed 
 to Nicosia. Out of the ruins of Salamis is said to have arisen 
 Famagusta, the chief place of the island when it was taken 
 from the Venetians by the Turks. 
 
 There was also an island called Salamis, on the south of 
 Attica, in Greece. 
 
 Salchah, a city of Bashan. Deut. iii. 10. 
 
 Salem, the city of Melchizedek, (Gen. xiv. 18.) generally 
 understood to be Jerusalem. 
 
 Salim, a place in the region of Samaria, near which John 
 baptized. John iii. 23. 
 
 Salmoxe, a cape in the island of Crete, passed by St. Paul. 
 (Acts xxvii. 7.) Some think a city of this name was also 
 situated there. The cape still retains its ancient name, but 
 the city, if there was one, is gone. 
 
 Salt Sea, See Dead Sea. 
 
 Salt, vallei/ of: a valley in the south of Judah, on the 
 borders of Edom, near the Dead Sea. This valley is noted 
 in Scripture for the frequent slaughters made there of the 
 Edomites, by the Israelites. (2 Sam. viii. 13. 2 Kings xiv. 7. 
 1 Chron. xviii. 12. 2 Chron, xxv. 11.) In the first of these 
 texts they are said to be Syrians that were smitten,, but in 
 1- Chron. xviii. 12. they are Edomites, which is doubtless the 
 true reading, not- only oia-account of the situation of the valley 
 of- Salt hear the frontier of the Edomiteg, but very distant 
 from the Syrians, but also because the Greek, Syriac,"and. 
 Arabic interpreters all read' i^do^n, and fxot Aram, or Syria... 
 The error in the Hebrew text evidently arose from the simili-. 
 tude of the Hebrew words lUI^ Edom, and 0"15^ Aram, the 
 Hebrew i D and -^ R being very much alike, and-easily mis- 
 taken one for the other. 
 
 Samaria, a country of the Holy Land lying between Judea 
 on the south, and Galilee on the north, and extending from 
 the Mediterranean on the west, to the Jordan on the east. It 
 comprised most of the country once belonging to the tribes of 
 Ephraim, Manasseh, and Issachar. That Samaria in the New 
 Testament included the country between Judea proper, and 
 Galilee, is evident from John iv. 3, 4. This province receiv- 
 ed its nam.e from the city of Samaria, formerly the capital of 
 
262 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. HAD 
 
 the kings of Israel, built by Omri, and named Samaria, after 
 Shemer, the person of whom he bouo-lit the hill on which it 
 .stood. (1 Kings xvi. 24.) This city was founded about A. M. 
 3085. It was built upon a liill about eight miles north of 
 Shechem, and, according to Josephus, was a day's journey 
 from Jerusalem. Being tlie capital of the kings of Israel, it 
 was nmch ornamented and strengthened by them. 
 
 Samaria was first besieged by Benhadad, king of Syria, 
 and w^as reduced to great extremity, but it was then miracu- 
 lously delivered, according to the prediction of the prophet 
 Elisha. It was afterwards taken by Salmaneser, king of 
 Assyria, after a siege of three years. This prince carried 
 away the Israelites, or the ten tribes, captive, and in their 
 stead sent a colony of divers nations who patched up a religion 
 out of the Jev/ish and their own heatlienish rites. In the 
 time of the Maccabees, this city was taken by one of that 
 family, and laid in ruins. Herod tlie Great, being pleased 
 vvith Its situation, rebuilt it in a stately manner, adorning it 
 with fine marble pillars and other sculpture, which are yet 
 found in abundance among the rubbish which marks the 
 place. He also inclosed it with a strong wall, and erected a 
 temple. In honour of Augustus Cassar, he named it Sebaste, 
 a Greek name answering to the Latin Aiigiistus. Herod 
 Agrippa obtained this city of the emperor Caligula ; and by 
 taking part witli the Romans under Vespasian, against the 
 Jews, it avoided tiie calamities which fell upon the country 
 in consequence of the war. But the inhabitants, afterwards 
 adopting other politics, were exterminated from the country 
 with the Jews, by Adrian, and the city has since gone to 
 decay, having now but a few cottages, and convents inhabited 
 by Greek monks. Some travellers who have traced its ruins, 
 have conjectured it to have once been larger than Jerusalem. 
 
 Samaritans, a name commonly given in Scripture to the 
 people sent by the king of Assyria to inliabit the country 
 which was left desolate by the removal of the ten tribes into 
 captivity. (2 Kings xvii. 24.) These strangers do not seem 
 at first to have had any temple, or any fixed place or form of 
 worship common to the whole ; but each nation worshipped 
 the deity they had been accustomed to in their own country. 
 (2 Kings xvii. 29, &c,) But they soon understood, from the 
 books of Moses which they possessed, and from tiie example 
 of the Jews, their neighbours, tiiat God was to be worshipped 
 only in that place which he had chosen ; and since the Jews 
 
SAM DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 263 
 
 would not allow them to go to the temple at Jerusalem, they 
 built a temple of their own upon Mount Gerizim, near the 
 city of Shechem, which was then their capital. This temple 
 was built by Sanballat, the governor of the Samaritans, whose 
 daughter liad married JManasses, the brother of Jaddus, the 
 high priest of the Jews, and fearing that he would put her 
 away, to avoid excommunication for having married a strange 
 wife, Sanballat promised Manasses that if he would retain her, 
 he would build a temple answerable to that at Jerusalem, and 
 would make him the high priest of it ; which Vv^as accordingly 
 done. This proved the main occasion of the contention be- 
 tween the Samaritans and Jews, which liad proceeded so far, 
 that in the time of our Saviour they had no dealings with one 
 another. (John iv. 9.) For though the temple erected by 
 Sanballat had long before been destroyed by Hyrcanus the 
 Maccabean, yet still there remained a place of worship. (John 
 iv. 20.) This controversy respecting the right of the two 
 tem^ples as to the place appointed by God for sacrifice, waa 
 plainly determined by our Saviour against the Samaritans. For 
 he was passing from Galilee through Samaria, and was deter- 
 mined to go to Jerusalem to celebrate there the feast of the 
 tabernacles ; for which cause the Samaritans refused to enter- 
 tain him. Luke ix. 53. 
 
 The Samaritans having received the Pentateuch, or the 
 five books of Moses, from the priest that was sent them by the 
 king of Assyria, (2 Kings xvii. 27.) have preserved it to this 
 day in the same language and character in which it was then 
 written ; that is, in the old Hebrew or Phenician character, 
 which is now called the Samaritan, to distinguisli it from the 
 modern Hebrew, in which the books of the Jews are now 
 written. After the captivity, the Jews changed their old char- 
 acters, and used the Chaldee, to which they had been accus- 
 tomed at Babylon, and which they still continue to use. It is 
 wrong, says Calmet, to give this the name of the Hebrew 
 character, for that can be said properly only of the Samaritan 
 text. 
 
 The Samaritans at present are very few in number, though 
 there are still some residing at Shechem, nov/ called Naplous. 
 They yet have priests, who they say are of tlie family of 
 Aaron ; and they still ofier sacrifices, and observe the Sabbath 
 and the law of Moses with much strictness. Some are also 
 found at Gaza, Damascus, and Cairo. 
 
 Samos, an island of the Archipelago, five miles from the 
 
264 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. SAR 
 
 continent, and 40 miles south-east of Chios. It is about 80 
 miles in circumference, and is said to be naturally produc- 
 tive, though the agriculture is now much neglected. Its 
 wine has long been celebrated for its excellence, and the island 
 also produces honey and wax of superior quality. The in- 
 habitants are about 12,000, chiefly Greeks; St. Paul visited 
 Samos, on his voyage to Jerusalem. Acts xx. 15. 
 
 Samothracia, a small island on the south-western coast 
 of Thrace, at the head of the Egean Sea ; where St. Paul 
 landed as he went from Troas to Macedonia. (x\cts xvi. 11.) 
 This island is now called Samandrachi ; it is about 20 miles 
 in circumference, and has commodious harbours. 
 
 Sansannah, a city of Judah. Josh. xv. 31. 
 
 Saphir, a city (Micah i. 11.) thought by some to be Sepho- 
 ris in Galilee; and by others Shamir, in the tribe of Judah, 
 which is called Saphir in the Greek of Josh. xv. 48. 
 
 Sardis, a city of Lydia in Asia Minor, situated on the banks 
 of the Pactolus, and the royal city of the Lydian kings until 
 Croesus, the last of them, was conquered by Cyrus, the first 
 Persian emperor. It was taken from Xerxes by the Greeks, 
 which so affected him that he commanded one of his attend- 
 ants to say aloud every day, while he was at dinner, " The 
 Grecians have taken Sardis," thus continuing to remind him 
 of it until it should be recovered. It was dcstro3''ed by an 
 earthquake in the reign of Tiberius, who oidercd il to be re- 
 built ; and it long remained to be the m.etropolis of the pro- 
 vince of Lydia. Strabo tells us it was a great and ancient 
 city ; yet of later date than the state of the Trojans. It was 
 situated at the foot of Mount Tmolus, which had on its top a 
 high tower of white stone, built after the Persian manner. 
 
 Out of Mount Tmolus flowed the river Pactolus, celebrated 
 among the ancients for the gold found among its sands. This 
 gold was brought down by the current, and from it Croesus 
 and his ancestors amassed their riches ; but now these springs 
 of gold have failed. The rivers Pactolus and Hylas fall into 
 the Hermus, and empty themselves into the Phocian Sea, now 
 called Fogia, or Fochia. The prospect from the top of Mount 
 Tmolus is exceedingly beautiful. 
 
 Sardis, now called Sart, is a poor village of shepherds; yet 
 its ancient pillars and ruins still lift up their heads as if un- 
 willing to lose the memory of their ancient glory. To the 
 south of the town are extensive ruins, which show what Sar- 
 dis was, before earthquakes produced its present desolation. 
 
SEL 
 
 DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 265 
 
 Among these are the ruins of a great church, possibly that 
 addressed in Rev. iii. 1, 2, &c. the worshippers in which were 
 insincere and wicked. 
 
 An ancient medal of Sardis, representing the head of the goddess 
 Proserpine, who was worshipped in that city. The reverse shows the 
 history of her being carried off by Pluto, whose horses are urged for« 
 ward and directed by a cupid : under their feet lies an urn overthrown," 
 a serpent, the good genius, assisting in the affair. The inscription around 
 the head, implies great dignity in this city : asias lydias ellados a 
 METROPOLIS sardis. i. 6. Sardis, the first metropolis of Asia, Lydia, 
 and Greece. This must, hoAvever, be taken with some allowance ; for 
 as Sardis was a city of the Lesser Asia, she could not, properly speak- 
 ing, be the metropolis of Greece. The inscription on the reverse, epi 
 sou L ERMOPHiLou ASiARCH SARDiANON B NEOKORON, commemorates 
 Sulpicius Hermophilus, the Asiarch, under whom Sardis enjoyed a 
 second Neocorate, or was a second time conservator of the sacred im 
 plements, ceremonies, &c. 
 
 Sarepta, See ZarepJiath. 
 
 Sarid, a city of Zebulon. Josh. xix. 10. 
 
 Sea, the terms Great Sea, Western Sea, Sea of the Philis- 
 tines, &c. in Scripture, generally denote the Mediterranean, 
 which lay west of the land of Canaan. Of the other seas 
 mentioned in the sacred history, we have treated under their 
 proper names. 
 
 Seba, See Sheba. 
 
 Secacah, a city in the south of Judah. Josh. xv. 61. 
 
 Seir, mount ; See Part L p. 35. Also a mountain in the 
 border of Judah, near Kirjath-jearim. Josh. xv. 10. 
 
 Seirah, a place probably near Bethel. Judg. iii. 26. 
 
 Selah, (2 Kuigs xiv. 7.) See Joktheel. 
 
 Seleucia, a city of Syria, westward from Antioch, and near 
 X 
 
266 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. SHE 
 
 the mouth of the river Orontes, built by Seleucus Nicanor. 
 St. Paul and Barnabas embarked here, on their voyage to Cy- 
 prus. (Acts xiii. 4.) It is also mentioned in 1 Mace. xi. 8. 
 
 Semeciion, lake ; See icaters of Meron, Part I. p. 58. 
 
 Sephar, a mountain, (Gen. x. 80.) generally supposed to be 
 situated in Mesopotamia, though some conjecture it to have 
 been in Arabia. 
 
 Sepharvaim, a people brought by the king of Assyria to in- 
 habit the country of the Israelites after they had been carried 
 into captivity. (2 Kings xvii. 24.) Their original dwelling ia 
 supposed to have been in the neighbourhood of jMount Sephar, 
 in Mesopotamia. The city of Sepharvaim is mentioned in 
 Scripture, (2 Kings xix. 13. Isa. xxxvii. 13.) and was proba- 
 bly the capital of these people. 
 
 Shaalabein, a city of Dan, (Josh. xix. 42.) elsewhere call- 
 ed Shaalbim, and Sbaalim. 
 
 Shaarim, a city of Simeon, ( 1 Chron. iv. 31.) noticed 
 among the cities of Judah, (Josh. xv. 36.) and there called 
 Sharaim. 
 
 Shahazimah, a city of Issachar. Josh. xix. 22. 
 
 Shalem, a city of Shechem, (Gen. xxxiii. 18.) probablv the 
 original name of Sichem or Shechem. 
 
 Shalisha, See Baal-shalisha. 
 
 Shamir, a city of Judah, (Josh. xv. 48.) and another in 
 Ephraim. Judges x. 1. 
 
 Shapher, mount, one of the encampments of the Israelites, 
 near Haradah. Numb, xxxiii. 23. 
 
 Sharon : there seem to be three places or districts of this 
 name mentioned in Scripture. One in the west of Ephraim, 
 between Csesarea and Joppa ; another in the east of Zebulon, 
 between Mount Tabor and the sea of Tiberias ; and another 
 in the tribe of Gad, east of Jordan. The name Sharon sio^- 
 nifies a plain, and seems to have been a place noted for fruit- 
 fulness and excellent pastures. 1 Chron. xxvii. 29. Isa. Ixv. 
 10. Song ii. 1. Acts ix. 35. 
 
 Sharuhen, a city of Simeon. Josh. xix. 6. 
 
 Shaven, a valley near Jerusalem, called also the hinges 
 dale. (Gen. xiv. 17.) Shavch-kiriathaim, (Gen. xiv. 5.) was 
 probably a valley near Kiriathaim in tlie tribe of Reuben. 
 
 Sheba, and Seba : tliere appear to be four people of this 
 name mentioned in Scripture : — 
 
 1. Seba, a son of Cusli, and grandson of Ham. Gen. x. 7. 
 
 2. Sheba, son of Raamah, and grandson of Cush. Gen. x. 7. 
 
SHE DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 267 
 
 2. Sheba, a son of Joktan, of the family of Shem. Gen. x. 28. 
 
 4. Sheba, a son of Jokslian, who was the son of Abraham 
 by Keturah. Gen. xxv. 2. 
 
 It appears most probable that Seba, the son of Gush, settled 
 in Arabia Felix, and was the father of the Sabeans, noted for 
 their riches and spices. Isa. Ix. 6. Jer. vi. 20. 
 
 Sheba, the son of Raamah, is conjectured to have settled 
 in the south-east of Arabia; and of this family may have been 
 the merchants of Sheba mentioned by Ezekiel. 
 
 Sheba, the son of Joktan, has also been placed in Arabia by 
 some writers ; but more probably dwelt in the north of Meso- 
 potamia. 
 
 Sheba, the son of Jokshan, dw^elt in Arabia Deserta, and 
 was probably the ancestor of the Sabeans who took away the 
 flocks of Job. 
 
 All these families in Arabia were confounded by the Greeks 
 under the general name of Sabeans ; and Pliny says that the 
 Sabean nations spread themselves to botli seas ; i. e. from the 
 Red Sea, or Gulf of iVrabia, to the Gulf of Persia. 
 
 It has been contended by some authors, that Seba the son 
 of Gush settled in Ethiopia, south of Egypt ; and that thence 
 came that queen of Sheba who visited king Solomon. (1 Kings 
 X.) This was the opinion of Josephus ; and Mr. Bruce relates 
 that the Abyssinians boldly maintain that this queen was of 
 their country, and that their kings are descended from Meni- 
 lek, wdio they say was the son of Solomon by the queen of 
 Sheba. They have a catalogue of the kings descended from 
 her, with the order of their succession. Dr. Wells, however, 
 agrees with the learned Bochart, and thinks the queen of 
 Sheba was so named, not from any country in African Ethio- 
 pia, but from the south of Arabia Felix. Sheba was usually 
 called the south country : and this queen is said to have come 
 from the utmost parts of the earth, i. e. from the utmost parts 
 of Arabia, southw^ard. This part of Arabia also abounded 
 with gold and spices, which were brought to Solomon by the 
 queen : and it is related that women reigned over these Sa- 
 bean nations, as well as over the Ethiopians. 
 
 Shebo, a city of Simeon. Josh. xix. 2. 
 
 Sheban, a city of Reuben. Numb, xxxii. 3. 
 
 Shebae.im, a place near Ai and Bethel. Josh. vii. 5. 
 
 Shechem, or Sichem. See Pari I. p. 30. 
 
 Shema, a city of Judah. Josh. xv. 26. 
 
 Shemer, the name of the hill upon which was afterwards 
 built the city of Samaria. 1 Kmgs xvi. 24. 
 
268 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. SHU 
 
 Shen, a place near Mizpeh in Judah, (1 Sam. vii. 12.) pro- 
 bably the same called Seneh, xiv. 4. 
 
 Shepham, a city of Syria, in the north-eastern border of 
 Canaan ; possibly the same called afterwards Apamea. 
 • Sheshach, a name by which Jeremiah is understood to 
 mean Babylon. Jer. xxv. 26. 
 
 Shibmah, or Sibmah, a city of Reuben, situated, according- 
 to Jerom, near Heshbon. Numb, xxxii. 38. Josh, xiii, 19. 
 
 Shicron, a city in the border of Judah. Josh. xv. 11. 
 
 Shihon, a city of Issachar. Josh. xix. 19. 
 
 Shilhim, a city of Judah. Josh. xv. 32. 
 
 Shiloh. See Part I. p. 61. This place is frequently men- 
 tioned in Scripture. Tlie name in Hebrew may signify dis- 
 solving; or untying the shoe, or peace, or abounding ; in Sy- 
 riac, illusive, or deceptive. 
 
 Shimron, a city of Zebulon. Josh. xix. 15. 
 
 Shinar. See Fart I. p. 13. 
 
 Shittim, a place east of Jordan, in the Land of Moab, 
 v.'here the Israelites were encamped for some time. Numb, 
 xxv. 1. Josh. ii. 1. Part I. p. 50. 
 
 Shocoh, a place near Azekah. 1 Sam. xvii. 1. 
 
 Shophan, a city of Gad, Numb, xxxii. 35. 
 
 Shual, a district invaded by the Philistines in the time of 
 Saul; probably situated in the tribe of Ephraim. (1 Sam. xiii. 
 17.) The name Shual signifies a/ox,, and the Land of Shual, 
 here mentioned, may have been so named from abounding 
 with those animals, Shual may also mean a path, or a fight, 
 or thejist, and from this latter meaning some have conjectur- 
 ed that the story of Samson's catching three hundred ybxe*, 
 in order to burn the standing corn of the Philistines, (Judges 
 XV. 4.) would have been better translated by saying that he 
 took three hundred handfuls or sheaves, (jnanipulus, Latin, 
 from manits, the hand,) and turned them end to end, and put a 
 fire-brand in the midst, between the two ends, and cast them 
 into the standing corn of the Philistines. A much more likely 
 way of setting a field of grain on fire, than to catch three 
 hundred foxes, and tie them two and two, with fire-brands 
 between their tails; particularly if tiie fox of Scripture, as is 
 allowed by the most learned commentators, was the animal 
 loiown to us by the name of jackal. 
 
 Shunem, a city of Issachar, south of j\Iount Tabor. (Josb. 
 xix. 18.) At this place dwelt the woman who so hospitably 
 entertained the prophet Elisha, and whose child he restored to 
 life. 2 Kings iv. 
 
SID DICTION.VRY OF THE BIBLE. 269 
 
 Shur, a city of Arabia Petrea, which is supposed to have 
 given name to the wilderness of Shur in its vicinity. (Gen. 
 xvi. 7. XX. 1.) Part I. p. 44. 
 
 Shushan, the capital of Susiana in Persia, situated upon 
 llie river Ulai. (Dan. viii. 2.) It was the winter residence of 
 tlie Persian kings, from the time of Cyrus; but m the summer 
 they removed to Ecbatana, on account of the heat. Tliis city 
 is also mentioned in the beginning- of the books of Esther and 
 Nehemiah, and is generally called the palace. It was an- 
 ciently a rich and splendid city, and when taken by Alexan- 
 der, he found here 50,000 talents of uncoined gold, besides 
 wedges of silver, and jewels of inestimable value. The old 
 city is now a heap of ruins ; but there is said to be one near 
 it now called Suster, which is a flourishing place, 122 miles 
 south-west from Ispahan. 
 
 SiBMAH, the same as Shibmah. 
 
 SiBRAiM, a place betjk-een Damascus and Hamath. Ezek. 
 xlvii. 16. 
 
 SicHAR, and Sichem, names of Shechem. 
 
 SiDDiM, vale of: See Part L p. 31. 
 
 SiDON, a city of Asher, in the north-west of Canaan, or 
 Phenicia, on the coast of the Mediterranean, about 25 miles 
 north of Tyre. It was one of the most ancient cities m the 
 world, having been founded by Sidon, the son of Canaan, and 
 great-grandson of Noah. Having long enjoyed an extensive 
 commerce, it became one of the most opulent cities in the 
 world, and in the time of Joshua, (xi. 8.) was called " Sidon 
 the great," by way of eminence. The Sidonians were famous 
 for ship-building, and hewing timber, (1 Kings v. 6.) and from 
 this place Solomon had his principal workmen to build the 
 temple. They were also distinguished in other arts, and are 
 said to have been the first makers of transparent glass. Not- 
 withstanding the strength, riches, and prosperity of Sidon, its 
 ruin was foretold by the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others. 
 This was accomplished in the time of Ochus, king of Persia ; 
 for the Sidonians havmg rebelled, he came against them with 
 an army, and the city was betrayed into his hands, upon 
 which the inhabitants in despair set fire to their own houses, 
 and perished in the flames, with their wives and children, to 
 the number of 40,000. In the tune of the . crusades, it was 
 held by the Christians, but was afterwards taken from them 
 by the Turks. 
 
 Sidon is now a mean place, though it yet has a considerable 
 X2 
 
270 
 
 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 SID 
 
 trade, being the chief port of Damascus. It .is now called 
 Seyde, or Saide, and is 45 miles west from Damascus. There 
 are three Christian churches here. 
 
 No. 1. An ancient medal of Sidon, representing Astarte holding a 
 cross, and standing on a ship, having the modius, or sacred measure, on 
 her head. Inscription, sidonos theas, (he Sidonian goddess; also some 
 Phenician letters, which prove its grfeat antiquity. 
 
 Ko. 2. The Sidonian goddess seated on a bull, probably having re- 
 ference to the story of Europa : on the reverse the temple of Venus, as 
 appears by the crescent surmounting a column. Inscription Sidonio, 
 date ZKP, 127, from the era of the Selcucidae. 
 
 No. 3. The goddess in her car ; on her 
 
 head the modius, with flowers in festoons 
 hanging from it on each side. The in- 
 scription the same as No. 1. Date 227 
 
 No. 4. 
 
 No. 5. 
 
SIN 
 
 DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 271 
 
 No. 4. Astarte resting her right hand on a trophy ; on her left stands 
 Victory on a pillar ; at her feet is Silenus, and beside her a shell. This 
 shell is supposed to be the purple murex, and to allude to the Tyrian 
 dye, which was said to be extracted from it. 
 
 No. 5. The goddess in her temple, holding the long cross in her hand 
 Silenus with his wine-bottle at her feet, a Victory on a pillar beside her 
 Before the temple is an altar, and beside it the shell. This figure is in 
 most respects similar to No. 4, and shows that there was a remple to 
 this goddess in Sidon, and that she was worshipped in that city. 
 
 SiHON, kingdom of: See Part I. p. 53. 
 
 SiHOR, or Shihor, (Josh. xiii. 3. 1 Chron. xiii. 5.) a river 
 supposed by some to be the Nile ; but was more probably a 
 river falling into the Mediterranean near the southern bound- 
 ary of the Land of Canaan, on the frontier of Egypt, and 
 called in several passages of Scripture, the river of Egypt. 
 See Part I. p. 32. Shi/ior-libnath was a river in the tribe of 
 Asher. Josh. xix. 26. 
 
 SiLOAM, a pool or fountain on the south-west of Jerusalem, 
 (Nehem. iii. 15. John ix. 7.) probably the same elsewhere 
 called Gihon. The tow^er of Siloam (Luke xiii. 4.) is thought 
 to have stood near this pool, towards the west. A church was 
 formerly built over the fountain, but it has now gone to ruin. 
 
 Simeon, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. See Part L p. 64. 
 
 Sin, a desert between Elim and Sinai. (Exod. xvi. 1. Numb, 
 xxxiii. 11.) See Part I. p. 44. Also a city of Egypt, (Ezek. 
 xxx. 15.) afterwards called Petusium, which see. 
 
 Sinai, a mountain in Arabia, between the two gulfs, at the 
 head of the Red Sea. See Part I. p. 45. 
 
 
 
 
 ^^^^^, d 
 
 
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^H 
 
 
 ^^^^^H 
 
 
 ^^^^^^^1 
 
 1^^^^& ^ -_!- 
 
 ^^^^^H^ 
 
 
 ^^^^^pl 
 
 View of Mount Sinai. 
 
272 
 
 SCRIPTtHE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 SIN 
 
 It seems probable, from Scripture, that Sinai and Horeb 
 were only different heads or peaks of flie same mountain ; and 
 besides these there is another, now called the i\Iount of St. Ca- 
 diarine. The monastery of St. Catharine stands at the foot of 
 Mount Sinai, and is strong-ly built of stone. On the east side 
 js a window by which pilg-rims and visitors are drawn up into 
 the monastery in a basket which is let down by a rope and 
 pulley. By tlie same means the monks also let down \'tctuals 
 and alms to tlie Arabs, to be better secured from outrage ; but 
 they never suffer them to enter the monastery, the door of 
 which is only opened to admit their bishop. The Greek 
 Christians have been in possession of this monastery for a 
 thousand years ; it having been given to them by the emperor 
 Justinian. From this building- there were formerly steps up 
 the side of the mountain to its very top, the number of which 
 was computed at 14,000. At present some of them are bro- 
 ken; but those which remain are well made, and easy to 
 ascend and descend. 
 
 SiNiM, a place mentioned in Isaiah xlix. 12. supposed by 
 learned commentators to mean China. 
 
 "'"Hpi 
 
 Idol Worship in China. 
 
 The Chinese are remarkable for the pertinacity with which 
 they adhere to their ancient customs, and are no doubt 
 essentially the same people whicli their ancestors were 2000 
 years ago. In common with other pagans they are gross 
 idolaters, and have numerous temples dedicated to their still 
 more numerous deities. 
 
SMY DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 273 
 
 Among' the numerous promises in the Scriptures, there is 
 one which bears directly upon China, (Isaiah xlix. 12.) " Be- 
 hold, these shall come from far, and lo ! these from the north 
 and west, and these from the land of the Sinimy Great 
 philologists are agreed that Sinim was the name under which 
 eastern Asia was known to the inhabitants of western Asia. 
 The Arabs, Syrians, Malays, and Siamese, to this day, call it 
 Tsin Chin, or Shin ; and it may well be doubted whether the 
 Hebrews, who knew the existence of Hindoostan (Esther i. 
 1.) under the name of Hodu, and of Scythia under the name 
 of Magog, could be entirely ignorant of the largest and oldest 
 of empires. Sinim is the Hebrew plural of Sin. 
 
 SiNiTES, descendants of Canaan. Gen. x. 17. See Part I. 
 p. 28. 
 
 Sign, or Zion, a mountain in Jerusalem, called also the 
 Mount of the Lord, and the holy mountain. 
 
 SiPHMOTH, a place in Judah. 1 Sam. xxx. 28. 
 
 SiRioN, a name given by the Sidonians to Mount Hermon, 
 which the Amorites called Shenir. Deut. iii. 9. 
 
 Smyrna, a famous sea-port town of Ionia in Asia Minor, 
 built by the iEolians, and afterwards strengthened by a colony 
 from Ephesus. It is said to have received its name from a 
 queen of the Amazons, called Smyrna, who took possession of 
 it. It was afterwards destroyed by the Lydians, and remain- 
 ed almost deserted, for 400 years, until Antigonus, one of 
 Alexander's generals, and after him Lysimachus, restored it 
 to its ancient splendour. About 180 years after Christ, it 
 was nearly ruined by an earthquake, but was repaired by 
 Marcus Aurelius. Having again fallen into decay, about 
 A. D. 1675, it was restored by the Turks, who erected many 
 stately buildings, chiefly from the ruins of the ancient city. 
 Over the gate of a castle on the hill, the Roman eagle con? 
 tinues still engraved, and not far distant is the tomb of Poly- 
 carp, an early Christian martyr, who suffered death here, and 
 who is supposed to be the angel, or pastor of the church in 
 Smyrna, addressed in Rev. ii. 8. 
 
 S'myrna is at present a considerable city, and noted for its 
 extensive commerce. Its port is one of the finest of the Le- 
 vant, and is frequented by ships from nearly all parts of the 
 world. It is visited by caravans from Persia, and by mer- 
 chants from many eastern countries, who bring here their 
 merchandise for traffic. A great number of Christians of all 
 nations, sects, and languages reside here in security, and have 
 several churches. 
 
1 
 
 274 
 
 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 sue 
 
 A medal of Smj^rna, reprcsenling Ceres, the goddess of plent\% with 
 the inscription, smyrnaion proton asias, Smi/rtia, Ihe frst rf Asia; 
 i. e. tlie first of the ciiies in proconsular Asia. The reverse represents 
 Jupiter sitting, and holding in his hand Victory. The inscription com 
 memorates " Philotas, son of Hippicus." 
 
 SocoH, or Shocoh, the name of two towns in Judah. Josh. 
 XV. 35. 48. 1 Sam. xvii. 1. 1 Kings iv. 10. 1 Chron. iv. 18. 
 2 Chron. xi. 7. 
 
 SoDOM, one of the five cities of the plain, or vale of Siddim, 
 which were destroyed for their wickedness by fire from hea- 
 ven, , It seems to have been the m.ost considerable of those 
 cities, and probably stood near the present southern extremity 
 of the Dead Sea. See Dead Sea. 
 
 SoREK, a brook or valley in the tribe of Dan, near Eshtad 
 Judges xvi. 4. 
 
 Spain. It is asserted by ancient writers that St. Paul 
 preached the gospel in Spain ; and he tells us himself, (Rom. 
 XV. 24. 28.) that he had resolved on going- thither. Theo- 
 doret, and otliers, tell us that he preached, not only in Spain, 
 but in other nations, and brought the gospel into the isles of 
 the sea, by which he probably means Britain. The gospel 
 was certainly planted in Spain at a very early period, and 
 many ancient Spanish writers affirm that the apostle James, 
 the son of Zebedee and the brother of John, was the principal 
 missionary of the Spaniards. Many Latin and Greek writers 
 certify that Paul executed his design, and visited Spain after 
 recovering his liberty at Rome. 
 
 SuccoYii, a place east of Jordan, near the brook Jabbok, 
 where Jacob dwelt some time, (Gen. xxxiii. 17.) and where 
 aflerwards was a city belonging to the tribe of Gad. (Josh, 
 xiii. 27. Judges viii. 5. 1 Kings vii. 46.) Also a station of the 
 Israelites when preparing to leave Egypt, See Part I. p. 43. 
 
SYR DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 275 
 
 SuKKiM, a people probably inhabiting the parts of Africa 
 adjoining Egypt on the south. 2 Chron. xii. 3. 
 
 Sychar, (John iv. 5.) the same as Shechem. 
 
 Syene, a city at the southern extremity of Egypt; (Ezek. 
 xxix. 10.) where it is placed in opposition to Cush, or Arabian 
 Ethiopia, to signify the whole extent of Egypt from south to 
 north. 
 
 Syracuse, a famous city of Sicily, situated on the east, side 
 of the island, founded by a Corinthian colony about 732 B. C. 
 It was afterwards under various governments, but became 
 very powerful ; and in the time of Dionysius, king of Syracuse, 
 commonly called the tyrant, an army of 100,000 foot, 10,000 
 horse, and 400 ships were kept in constant pay. It fell into 
 the hands of the Romans, under JMarcellus, after a siege of 
 three years, B. C. 212. This opulent city had two capacious 
 harbours, and was well built, with stately and magnificent 
 houses. Strabo says it v.'-as 22 miles in circumference ; and 
 . Livy and Plutarch acquamt us that the spoil of it, when taken 
 by ^larcellus, was almost equal to that of Carthage. Here 
 Archimedes, the celebrated mathematician, was killed by a 
 common soldier, while he w^as intent upon his studies; by 
 which Marcellus was mAich grieved. After this, Syracuse in 
 some measure recovered its former prosperity; but was at 
 length taken by the Saracens, A. D. 884, and razed to the 
 ground. Some ruins of the ancient city yet remain ; near 
 which stands tlie modern town, a place of little consequence. 
 
 St. Paul, in his voyage to Rome, landed at Syracuse, and 
 remained there three days. Acts xxviii. 12. 
 
 Syria, a country called in the early Scripture writings 
 Aram, from Aram, the son of Shem, by wdiose descendants it 
 was peopled. The name Syria is often applied in a vague 
 and indeterminate sense, and it is well to state to what differ- 
 ent countries it has been applied. 
 
 Syria, in its largest sense, includes all the country lying 
 from Mount Taurus on the north, to the boundaries of Egypt 
 and Arabia on the south ; having the Mediterranean on the 
 west, and the Euphrates, east. In some of the older authors, 
 indeed, it seems to have also included Mesopotamia, called 
 Aram naharaim, or Syria of the rivers. Hosea xii. 12. 
 
 Syria, thus taken in its largest extent, may be considered 
 as divided into tliree parts : 1. Upper Syria, or Syria proper, 
 the original country of Aram, lying north of Arabia, and ex- 
 tendmg from the Euphrates on the east, to Phenicia, west. 
 
276 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. TAB 
 
 This was the original Syria, so called before it was conquered 
 and annexed to Assyria. 2. Coelo-Syria, or Syria in the vale, 
 a name generally applied to the country lying between the 
 mountainous ridges of Libanus and Anti-Libanus ; though 
 sometimes extended to the region about Damascus. 3. Syria 
 Palestina, including the Holy Land, and the country on tha 
 north-west of it, called by the Greeks Phenicia. 
 
 The term Syria in the New Testament is used in a more 
 restricted sense, distinct from the Holy Land and from Phe- 
 nicia, merely including the country lying north-east from the 
 land of Canaan, having the Mediterranean and Phenicia on 
 the west, and the Euphrates, east. In the early ages, Syria 
 was divided into a number of small kingdoms, such as Syria 
 Zobah, Syria of Damascus, Syria of Maacah, Syria of Rehob, 
 &c. which were almost constantly at war with the Israelites. 
 This country, in general, first became subject to Assyria, then 
 to Babylon, next to Persia, and next to Alexander the Great 
 After his death, it was the seat of the kingdom of the Seleu- 
 cidse, which, in its turn, fell before the power of the Romans. 
 It was next under the dominion of the Saracens, to whom suc- 
 ceeded the Turks, under whose government it exists at pre- 
 sent. The ancient language of this country nearly resembled 
 the Hebrew and Arabic, but still nearer the Chaldee ; at pre- 
 sent, however, the Arabic is the general language of the 
 country. 
 
 Syro-phemcia : this is Phenicia, properly so called, of 
 which Sidon was the capital ; but having by conquest been 
 united with the Greek kingdom of Syria, it was called Syro- 
 Phenicia. So we find a woman called by St. Mark, a Syro- 
 phenician, (vii. 26.) because she was of this country, which 
 was then considered as part of Syria. St. Matthew (xv. 22.) 
 calls her a woman of Canaan, which she also was, as this 
 country was peopled by the Canaanites, Sidon being the eld- 
 est son of Canaan. Gen. x. 15. 
 
 T. 
 
 Taanacii, a city of Manasseh, in Issachar, near Megiddo. 
 Josh. xvii. 11. 
 
 Taanath-shiloh, a place in the southern border of Ephraim. 
 Josh. xvi. 6. 
 
 Tabbath, a place near Abel-meholah. Judg. vii. 22. 
 
 Taberah, an encampment of the Israelites in the wilder- 
 ness ; north of Mount Sinai. Numb. xi. 3. 
 
TAH dictionary of the bible. 277 
 
 Tabor, a noted mountain in the tribe of Zebulon. It stands 
 separate fi"om all others, tliough there are some near it on the 
 north, but these are much smaller. Its shape is almost coni- 
 cal ; and its height about 3000 feet. On the summit were 
 anciently a castle and other fortifications, v;hich were very 
 strong, and the scene of many sang-uinary contests between 
 the Crusaders and the Saracens. The ruins of these yet re- 
 main, and present stones of a monstrous size, which must have 
 been carried up the mountain by some art now unknown. It 
 is believed that on this mountain our Saviour was transfigured, 
 in the presence of Peter, James, and John, (Matt, xvii, 1. 
 Luke ix. 28.) and there yet remairi three contiguous grottoes, 
 made to represent the three tabernacles which St. Peter pro- 
 posed to erect, in the astonishment that possessed him at the 
 glory of the transfiguration. 
 
 Travellers represent the prospect from the summit of Mount 
 Tabor as singularly beautiful. 
 
 Tadmor, a city built by Solomon in the desert of Syria. 1 
 Kings ix. 18. See Palmyra. 
 
 Tarpanhes, Tahapanes, or Taphnes, a city of Egypt, men 
 tioned frequently by the prophet Jeremiah, (ii. 16. xliii. 7, 
 &c.) also by Ezekiel, (xxx. 18.) written Hanes ui Isaiah, 
 (xxx. 4.) It is thought to be the city called afterwards 
 Daphnaj Pelusias, and situated not far from Pelusium. 
 Y 
 
27B SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. TAR 
 
 Tahath, an encampment of the Israelites in the desert, 
 near Makheloth. Numb, xxxiii. 26. 
 
 Tahtim-hodshi, a tract in Manasseh, lying- about lake Se- 
 mechon, oust of it, and near the head of the Jordan. 2 Sam. 
 xxiv. 6. 
 
 Tamar, a city supposed to be situated near the southern 
 shore of the Dead Sea. Ezek. xlvii. 19. 
 
 Tanach, the same as Taanach. 
 
 Tappuaii, a city on the frontier of Manasseh, but belonging 
 to Ephraim, (Josh. xvii. 8.) probably the same elsewhere call- 
 ed En-tappuah. Another town of this name belonged to the 
 tribe of Judah. Josh. xv. 34. 
 
 Tar AH, an encampment of the Israelites in the desert, near 
 Tahath. Numb, xxxiii. 27. 
 
 Taralah, a city of Benjamin. Josh, xviii. 27. 
 
 Tarshish, the original country of this name, or the settle- 
 ment of Tarshish the son of Javan, was probably in Cilicia, 
 in Asia IMinor, in the region where afterwards w^as built the 
 city of Tarsus. (See Part I. p. 19.) That this country was 
 called Tarshish, we have the testimony of Josephus and many 
 other ancient writers of good authority. The people, being- 
 an enterprising and commercial nation, "establislied colonies in 
 different countries, and these colonies being also called Tar- 
 shish, after the name of the parent state, it has become diffi- 
 cult to ascertain the situation of the dillerent places mention- 
 ed in Scripture under this name. 
 
 Tarshish was a sea-port, from which the best specimens of 
 ship-building were produced, so that ships built after the same 
 manner w-ere called ships of Tarshish, though not actually 
 built there. (Isa. ii. 16. xxiii. 1. Psalm xlviii, 7.) Silver was 
 the produce of Tarshish, (Jer. x. 9. Ezek. xxvii. 12.) and it 
 also appears from Ezekiel that iron, lead, and tin were brought 
 from that place. It was also distant, and westward, since 
 Jonah intended to flee thither. But neither silver nor tin 
 were supplied by Tarsus in Cilicia; and what is said of the 
 fleets of Solomon and Jehosliaphat, (1 Kings xxii. 49. 2 Chron. 
 ix. 21. XX. 36.) excludes this from being the Tarshish of these 
 places; for they would not be likely to build vessels on the 
 Red Sea to navigate to Cilicia; neither would Jonah quit 
 Joppa for Tarsus, with the intention of avoiding the road to 
 Nineveh. The Tarshish to which Jonah tliought to flee, was 
 probably Tartessus in Spain, anciently called Tarshish, and 
 settled by a colony from the parent state in Cilicia. The ships 
 
TEK 
 
 DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 279 
 
 of Solomon and Jchoshaphat were probably called " ships of 
 Tarshisli," from their being built in the same manner as those 
 of Tarsliish ; but the Tarshish lo wliich they sailed is unknown. 
 Tarsus, the capital of Cilicia, and the native city of St. 
 Paul. (Acts ix. 11. xxi. 39.) This city was situated on the 
 river Cydnus, and was probably very ancient. It was suc- 
 cessively possessed by the Greeks and Romans, and was cele- 
 brated for the cultivation of learning-. In the schools of this 
 city, St. Paul was early imbued with a knowledge of history 
 and the liberal sciences. Tarsus still survives, under the name 
 of Tarsous, but it is mostly a heap of ruins. . 
 
 No. 1. A medal of Tarsus, showing that Minerva, as the goddess of 
 arts and sciences, was revered in this city. On the medal she holds a 
 Victory offering a garland, turning from thegoddess. Inscription, Tar- 
 sus the metropolis ; the letters added are obscure in their import. 
 
 No. 2. This medal contains two circles of heads, each having seven, 
 male and female; the heads of the inner circle are divided by spokes 
 like those of a wheel. The upper head of the outer circle, wliich is 
 crowned with laurel, has on each side of it a Victory offering a crown, 
 with a palm branch in the other hand. The import of all this is ob- 
 scure. Inscription the same as on the former, tarsou metropoleos, 
 with the same added letters, A. M. K. G. B. which possibly mean Au 
 tocrator Marcus Ccusar ; the second year. 
 
 Taverns, three, a place about 30 miles from Rome, where 
 St. Paul was met hy some Christians on his way thither. Acts 
 xxviii. 15. 
 
 Tekoa, a city of Judah, nine miles south-east from Bethle- 
 hem. (2 Chron. xi. 6. xx. 20.) The prophet Amos was a 
 native of this place, Amos i. 1. 
 
280 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. THY 
 
 Tel-abib, a place in Chalclea, to which some of the captive 
 Israelites were carried. Ezek. iii. 15. 
 
 Telem, a city of Judah, (Josh. xv. 24.) probably the same 
 called Telaim, in 1 Sam. xv. 4. 
 
 Tel-harsa, and Tdmdah, places in Babylonia, situation 
 unknown. Ezra ii. 59. Nehera. vii. 61. 
 
 Teman, a region in Arabia. Jer. xlix. 7. Ezck xxv. 
 
 Thebez, a city in the tribe of Ephraim, not far from She- 
 chem. Judges ix. 50. 2 Sam. xi. 21. 
 
 Thelassar, or Telassar, a place of which tl e exact situa- 
 tion is not known, but it seems to have been i/i Assyria or 
 Armenia. (2 Kings xix. 12. Isaiah xxxvii. 12.) k is thought 
 to be the same as Ellasar. Gen. xiv. 1. 9. 
 
 Thessalonica, now called Salonichi, an ancirnt city of 
 Macedonia, situated at the head of the Thermaicu;^ Sinus, or 
 Gulf of Salonichi. It was once a powerful city ; but passing 
 successively under the dominion of the Greeks, Ronic'ns, Sa- 
 racens, Venetians, and Turks, it gradually declined. Though 
 now in a state of decay, it still exJiibits some remains of its 
 ancient greatness ; and, having a noble harbour, is yet a place 
 of considerable trade. In the times of tlie apostles, there seem 
 to have been a number of Jews here, wdio had a synagogue, in 
 which Paul preached, and converted some ; but a tumult being 
 raised against him, he was sent away from the cit}^ Acts xvii. 
 1, 2, &c. 
 
 This place will long be memorable on account of two epis- 
 tles written by St. Paul to the Tliessalonians. 
 
 Thisbe, the native place of Tobit, (i. 2.) It was in the tribe 
 of Naphtali, and probably near the city called ICjedesh in the 
 Old Testament. 
 
 Thyatira, a city in the north of Lydia, in Asia Minor, on 
 the small river Lye us, not far from its source. Pliny says its 
 ancient name was Pelopia, and according to Strabo, it was 
 founded by a colony of Macedonians. Thyatira has suffered 
 the same revolutions and changes of rulers as tlie other cities 
 in this country, and, like most of them, now lies in ruins. It 
 is called at present by the Turks Ak-hisar, or the white castle, 
 from some cliils of white marble in its vicinity. Among its 
 ruins are found inscriptions, commemorating '-the most potent 
 and great city of the Thyatircaus." The church of Tliyatira 
 was one of tlie seven addressed in tbe Revelations, (ii, 18.) 
 This place is 26 miles north from Sardis. 
 
TIM 
 
 DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 281 
 
 Apollo represented 
 m his car, as the god 
 of day; his head sur- 
 rounded by rays: the 
 chariot in -which he 
 rides has somewhat 
 the appearance of a 
 rainbow. It is drawn 
 by three lions; and 
 under each of the ex- 
 terior lions is a bull's 
 head. This alliance 
 of the solar hght, the 
 lions and the bull, is 
 another evidence of 
 the progress of idola- 
 try from the east ; the 
 lions being, as Dr. 
 Wells thinks the em- 
 blem of Mount Cau- 
 casus, and the bull of INIount Taurus; the subject of the medal being 
 the representation of the solar light rising behind these mountains. 
 
 Tiberias, a city on the western shore of the sea of Galilee, 
 near its southern extremity ; built by Herod the tetrarch of 
 Galilee, and named by him in honour of Tiberius Csesar. The 
 great privileges granted by Herod to the inhabitants of this 
 place, made it quickly become one of the principal cities of 
 these parts. In the time of the Jewish wars, Josephus took 
 possession of this city, and defended it bravely for some time ; 
 but being taken by Vespasian, its walls were partly beaten 
 down, and the city othervv^ise greatly demolished. In the days 
 of its prosperity, it had thirteen synagogues and an academy ; 
 and here was held the last session of the Jewish Sanhedrim. 
 Here also the Talmud, or body of the Jewish civil and canon 
 law, was collected. 
 
 From this city, the Sea of Galilee is frequently called in 
 the New Testament the Sea of Tiberias. 
 
 TiBHATH, a city of Syria, taken and plundered by David, 
 (1 Chron. xviii. 8.) probably the same called Betah. 2 Sam. 
 viii. 8. 
 
 TiMNAH, a city of Judah. Josh. xv. 10. 
 
 TiMNATH, a city of Dan, in the country of the Philistines. 
 Josh. xix. 43. Judges xiv. 1. 
 
 TiMNATH-sERAH, a city in ;Mount Ephraim given to Joshua, 
 (Josh. xix. 50.) ealled also Tunnath-heres, (Judges ii. 9.) 
 whence Mount Heres. Judges i. 35. 
 Y2 
 
> ."'^ 
 
 282 
 
 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 TRA 
 
 TiPHSAH, a city on the Eup!irates, which was the frontier 
 of Solomon's extensive empire, (1 Kings iv. 24.) and probably 
 the same afterwards called by the Greeks Thapsacus. There 
 was also a city of this name in the tribe of Ephraim, six 
 miles from Samaria. 2 Kings xv. 16. 
 
 TiRZAH, a city of Ephraim. See Part I. p. 61. 
 
 ToB, a country in Syria, north-east of the Land of Canaan^ 
 to which Jephthah retired, (Judg-. xi. 3. 5.) and probably the 
 same called Ish-tob, in 2 Sam. x. 6. 8. It is called Tobie, (1 
 Mace. V. 13.) and is probably the country of the Tubieni, men- 
 tioned in 2 Mace. xii. 17. 
 
 A medal of Tob, or Tabe, on 
 which the inscription demos ta- 
 EE.\o.\, the people of Tahe, seems 
 to infer the existence of a demo 
 (^ralic government. This was not 
 customary in Syria, though there 
 is an instance oi" it in Gaza, of 
 which there is a medal inscribed 
 DEMOS GAZAio.v. Aovv We Icarn 
 that in Tob " there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went out 
 with him," probably on militarv expeditions, he benig their chief: and 
 with this agrees the request ot"" the elders of Gilead, that he would be 
 their captain. Ish-loh signifies Tob of the chief, or leader, and seem3 
 to corroborate the democracy implied by the inscription on our medal 
 Whether t'.iis democratic Ibrm originated with Jephthah cannot be de- 
 termined ; but that it lasted after his time appears at least probable, and 
 our medal proves t!iat something like it was extant in the time of Ha- 
 drian, to whose reign this medal is referred. 
 
 TocHEN, a city of Simeon. 1 Chron. iv. 32. 
 
 ToGARMAH, a son of Gomer. See Part I. p. 17. 
 
 ToLAD, a city of Simeon, (1 Chron. iv. 29.) written El-tolad. 
 Josh. XV. 30. xix. 4. 
 
 TopiiEL, a place in the wilderness, near the Red Sea. 
 Deut. i. 1. 
 
 TopiiET, the name of a place in the valley of Hinnom, near 
 Jerusalem, rendered abominable by idolatry. 2 Kings xxiii. 
 10. Jer. vii. 31. 
 
 TRAcnoMTis, a mountainous region lying on the north-east 
 of Canaan, between Iturea and the country of Damascus, 
 having Bashan or Batanea on the west, and Arabia Dcserta 
 east; and extending from Iturea to the country of Damascus. 
 It seems to have been nearly the same as the country of Ar- 
 gob, (Deut. iii. 13.) or the region about Mount Gilead, which, 
 from its craggy mountains, was called by the Greeks Tra- 
 
TYR DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 283 
 
 rkonitis, i. e. the rough or mountainous country. This region, 
 together with Iturea, in the time of our Saviour, formed one 
 tetrarchy. (Luke iii. 1.) In order to understand the mean- 
 mg of the words tetrarch and tetrarchy, it is necessary to 
 observe, that on the death of Herod the Great, his dominions 
 were divided into four parts, which were thence called 
 tetrarchies, from the Greek tetra, four, and arche, a govern- 
 ment. Of these, the tetrarchy of Galilee belonged to Herod 
 Antipas, that of Iturea and Trachonitis to his brother Philip, 
 that of Abilene to Lysanias, and the fourth, consisting of 
 Judea, Samaria, and Idumea, to Archelaus, the eldest son of 
 Herod the Great, who for some time enjoyed the title of king, 
 but being afterwards displaced, his kingdom was made a 
 province of the Roman empire, and was governed by Pontius 
 Pilate at the time of our Saviour's crucifixion. 
 
 Tripolis, a city of Phenicia, on the Mediterranean, north 
 of Sidon, and beyond the boundaries of the Holy Land. The 
 name denotes three cities, and it is said to be so called because 
 built by the joint expense of the three cities, Tyre, Sidon, and 
 xA.radus. It seems to have been of no great note in early 
 times, and is mentioned in 2 Mace. xiv. 1. as the place where 
 Demetrius landed with his forces. In the primitive days of 
 the church, it was made an Episcopal see by the archbishop 
 of Tyre, and had become a place of some account in the time 
 of the crusades, being taken by the Christians, and made the 
 capital of Phenicia under their government. It yet remains 
 to be one of the principal towns along this coast, being tolera- 
 bly fortified, and the houses neatly built with stone. It has 
 some trade, and a French and Italian vice-consul generally 
 reside here. 
 
 Troas, a small country in Asia Llinor, lying west of Mysia, 
 on the sea-coast. It took this name from its principal city, 
 Troas, built, as it is said, about four miles from the site of 
 ancient Troy, by Lysiraachus, a general of Alexander the 
 Great, who peopled it from the neighbouring cities, and call- 
 ed it Alexandria, or Troas Alexandri, in honour of Alexander, 
 who began the work, but did not live to complete it. In 
 after times it was called simply Troas, which name, in the 
 sacred writers, denotes the country as well as the city, but 
 chiefly the latter. 
 
 St. Paul repeatedly preached in Troas, and here he left his 
 cloak, his books, and'^his parchments. (2 Tim. iv. 13.) Here 
 also he had a vision, in which the form of a man appeared to 
 
284 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHT. TYR 
 
 him, and invited him to pass over into Macedonia to promote 
 vhe work of God there. (Acts xvi. 9.) In this vicinity are yet 
 seen fallen walls and other ruins, supposed to be the remains 
 of ancient Troy, so famed by the poets for its ten years' siege 
 by the Greeks ; and also a number of conical mounds or tu- 
 muli, some of them a hundred feet in diameter at the base, 
 supposed to be the tombs of Hector, Achilles, Patroclus, Ajax, 
 and other heroes, slain in the Trojan war. The rivers !Sca- 
 mander and Simois yet meander through the plahi of Troy 
 and near their confluence was the site of the ancient Ilium. 
 The Scamander has now but little water, and part of its an- 
 cient channel is overgrown with grass. 
 
 Trogyllium, a promontory of Mycale, near Samos, at 
 which was a town where St. Paul tarried one day. Acta 
 XX. 15. 
 
 Tyre, a celebrated city of Phenicia, in the north-w^est of 
 Canaan, belonging to the tribe of Asher, (Josh. xix. 29.) and 
 situated on the coast, about 20 miles south of Sidon. It is sup- 
 posed to have been originally built by a colony of Sidonians, 
 whence it is called by Isaiah (xxiii. 12.) the daughter of Si- 
 don ; and stood at first on a high hill, on tlic continent, where 
 its ruins still remain, under the name of Paloe-tyrus, or Old 
 Tyre. In process of time the city was removed to an adja- 
 cent rocky island, very near the main land, and became a 
 place of very great trade and wealth, for some time excelling 
 Sidon itself. Hence Isaiah says of Tyre, that her merchants 
 were princes, and her traffickers were the honourable of the 
 earth. It was particularly famous for dying purple, said to 
 have been first discovered by a mere accident, a dog's lips hav- 
 ing been coloured purple by eating of a certain sliell-fish. 
 Tyre was taken and destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar ; but hav- 
 ing recovered from this, it flourished for a considerable time, 
 until it was again demolished by Alexander the Great, who 
 had joined it to the main land by a mole or bank of earth, and 
 took it, after a siege of seven months, B. C. 332. Again 
 recovering both its beauty and riches, this city became a con- 
 federate of the Romans, and for its fidelity was invested with 
 the privileges of a Roman city. Under tiie dominion of the 
 Christians it was the metropolitan see for the province of 
 Phenicia ; but in A. D. 030, it was subjected by the Saracens, 
 and having remained under tlieir dominion 418 years, it was 
 taken bv the Crusaders in 1124. It was finally subdued by 
 the Turks, A. D. 1289, who still hold it. 
 
TYR 
 
 DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 285 
 
 Tyre is now called Sour, which resembles its ancient He- 
 brew name, Zoi^, or Tzor, and stands upon a peninsula which 
 projects into the sea in an oval form. It is a solid rock, cover- 
 ed with brown earth, and is 800 paces long-, and 400 broad. 
 The place is now a miserable village, consisting of forty or 
 fifty poor families, who subsist on the produce of their few 
 rods of land, and a trifling fishery. Thus is fulfilled the 
 prophecy that Tyre, the queen of nations, should be a place 
 for fishers to spread their nets. (Ezek, xxvi. 5.) The glory 
 of Tyre is departed, — and instead of the greatness and com- 
 mercial prosperity described by Ezekiel, (xxvi. xxvii. xxviii.) 
 there now remain but a few poor wretches harbouring amongst 
 the ruins. 
 
 No. 1. A. medal of Tyre, representing, as some have supposed, the 
 Tyrians in t?ie act of presenting a plan of their city to Dido, afterwardi? 
 Queen of Carthage. But there appears no reason why Dido should 
 wear the sacred measure on her head, as that was restricted to a divinity. 
 It is therefore probable that this figure is Astarte, to whom the Tyrians 
 are, as it were, devoting their city, by offering a representation of it 
 
 Ko. 2. Represents a ship, on the acrostolium of which hangs a shield, 
 a proper emblem of tliis mercantile and warlike city. On this vessel 
 stands Astarte, holding a palm branch in her left hand ; with her right 
 she points with a sceptre, and is directing a bo}^ genius, who is pouring 
 a vase of water into the sea, from whence another boy genius appears 
 to have recently taken two fishes, one of which, a dolphin, he offers to 
 the goddess. This scene appears to pass on the sea shore, and may be 
 allied to a custom still extant, which is mentioned by Volney. He says 
 there is a well on the shore, containing good water, but from some un- 
 known cause it becomes troubled in September, and continues for some 
 days full of a reddish clay. This season is observed as a kind of festival 
 by the inhabitants, who then come in crowds to the well, and pour into 
 it a bucket of sea water, which they believe has the virtue of restoring 
 the clearness of the spring. 
 
286 SCRIPTURE GEOGRAPHY. ZAR 
 
 U. 
 
 Ulai, a river of Susiana in Persia, which ran by the city 
 and palace of Shushan, the capital. It is said to have been 
 the greatest river of the province, and that the Persian kings 
 used no other water. On the banks of this river Daniel had 
 a vision, described in Dan. viii. 2, &:c. 
 
 Ummah, a city of Asher. Josh. xix. 30. 
 
 Uphaz, the name of a country producing gold, which some 
 suppose to be the same as Ophir. Calmet supposes it was the 
 region about the river Phasis, east of the Euxine or Black Sea. 
 
 Ur, a place in the land of the Chaldees,. which was the" 
 original residence of Abraliam. See Part I. p. 29. 
 
 Uz, the country about Damascus, including- part of Arabia 
 Deserta, and extending to Arabia Petraa on the south. Sec 
 Part I. p. 22. This agrees with what is said in the book of 
 Job, (i. 15. 17.) respecting his cattle being carried off by the 
 Sabeans, who were a people of Arabia; and also of his having 
 been robbed of his camels by the Chaldeans, who dwelt on the 
 east of Uz. 
 
 UzzEN-sHERAH, a city in the tribe of Ephraim, probably near 
 Beth-horon. 1 Chron. vii. 24. 
 
 Z. 
 
 Zaanan, a city of Judah, (Micah i. 11.) written Zenan in 
 Josh. XV. 37. 
 
 Zaanannim, a city in the limits of the tribe of Naphtali. 
 Josh. xix. 33. 
 
 Zair, a city of Edom, probably the same as Scir, which is 
 a name for Edom. 2 Kings viii. 21. 
 
 Zalmon, a mount near Sheehem. Judges ix. 48. 
 
 Zalmonah, an encampment of tlie Israelites in the wilder 
 ness, near Mount Hor. Numb, xxxiii. 41. 
 
 Zaphon, a city of Gad. Josh. xiii. 27. 
 
 Zaimziimmims, a race of giants who inhabited the country 
 east of Jordan. See Part I. p. 52. 
 
 Zaxoah, tiie name of two towns in Judah. Josh. xv. 34. 56. 
 Nehem. iii. 13. xi. 30. 
 
 Zared, or Zcred, a brook, or valley of ]\Ioab, on the east ot 
 Jordan. Numb. xxi. 12. Deut. ii. 13, 14. 
 
 Zarephath, a city in the tribe of Asher, situated on the 
 coast, between Tyre and Sidon. This was the place where 
 the prophet Elijah dwelt while there was a famine in the lanf 
 
ZIO DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. 287 
 
 of Israel. (1 Kings xvii. 9, 10.) It is called Sarepta in the 
 New Testament. (Luke iv. 26.) In the time of Jerom they 
 still showed the place where the prophet dwelt. There is 
 yet a town here, called Saraphan, which consists of hut a few 
 houses on the top of the hills, half a mile from the Mediter- 
 ranean, The ancient town probably stood between these hilla 
 and the sea, as an extent of ruins is now visible there. 
 
 Zaretan, a place near tJie Jordan, (Josh. iii. 16.) called 
 Zartanah in 1 King-s iv. 12. and Zarthan,, vii. 46. The brazen 
 vessels for the temple were cast in the clay ground between 
 this place and Succoth. 
 
 Zareth-shahar, a city of Reuben. Josh. xiii. 19. 
 
 Zeboim, one of the cities of the plain, destroyed by fire 
 from heaven. See Part I. p. 31. 
 
 A valley of this name is mentioned, 1 Sam. xiii. 18. and 
 also a city in the tribe of Benjamin. Neh. xi. 34. 
 
 Zebtjlon, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. See Part I. p. 66. 
 
 Zedad, a place in the northern border of the land of Ca- 
 naan. Numb, xxxiv. 8. Ezek. xivii. 15. 
 
 Zelah, a city of Benjamin, (Josh, xviii. 28.) where Saul 
 was buried. 2 Sam. xxi. 14. 
 
 Zelzah, a place in the border of Benjamin. 1 Sam. x. 2. 
 
 Zemaraim, a town of Benjamin, near the border of Ephraim. 
 Josh, xviii. 22. 2 Chron. xiii. 4. 
 
 Zenan, See Zaanan. 
 
 Zephath, and Zephathah, a city and valley in the tribe of 
 Simeon. Judg. i. 17. 2 Chron. xiv. 10. 
 
 Zer, a town of Naphtali. Josh. xix. 35. 
 
 Zered, See Zared. 
 
 Zereda, the native place of Jeroboam, situated in the tribe 
 of Ephraim, (1 Kings xi. 26.) probably the same as Zeredatha. 
 2 Chron. iv. 17. 
 
 Zererath, a place in Manasseh. Judg. vii. 22. 
 
 ZiDDiM, a city of Naphtali. Josh. xix. 35. 
 
 ZiDOx, See Sidon. 
 
 ZiKLAG, a city of Judah, afterwards given to Simeon. 
 (Josh. XV. 31. xix. 5.) This was a city of the Philistines, and 
 was given to David by Achish, king of Gath ; after which it 
 remained as a domain to the kings of Judah. 1 Sam. xxvii. 6. 
 
 ZiN, a wilderness near Mount Sinai, otherwise called Sin. 
 See Part I. p. 44. 
 
 ZiON, a mountain ; the same as Sion. 
 
 ZiOR, a city of Judah. Josh. xv. 54, 
 
288 SCRIFTUIIE GEOGRAPHY. ZUZ 
 
 ZiPH, a city of Judah, (Josli. xv. 55.) near Carmel and 
 Maon, east of Hebron ; near which was the wilderness of 
 Ziph, to whicii David retired. (1 Sam. xxiii. 14.) There is 
 another place of this name mentioned in Josh. xv. 24. as also 
 belonging- to Jadah. 
 
 ZiPHRON, a place in the northern limits of the land of the 
 Israelites. Numb, xxxiv. 9. 
 
 Ziz, a cliff. 2 Chron. xx. 16. 
 
 ZoAN, a very ancient city of Egypt, and probably the first 
 royal seat of the Pharaohs, or ancient kings of Egypt. That 
 it was tlie first built city of Egypt is probable frojn Numb, 
 xiii. 22. where we read that Hebron w^as built seven years 
 before Zoan, in Egypt. This observation seems to have been 
 made to show the antiquity of Hebron, which was done by 
 naming the most ancient city of Egypt. Several of the 
 miracles wrought before Pharaoh are said to have been done 
 in the field of Zoan. (Psalm Ixxviii. 12.) This city is also 
 mentioned by the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel. Zoan was 
 called Tanis by tlie Greeks, and was situated on the second 
 branch or mouth of the Nile, from the east, which w^as thence 
 called the Tanitic mouth. 
 
 ZoAR, one of the five guilty cities of the plain, which was 
 intended to be consumed with the others, but was saved at 
 the intercession of Lot. See Part I. p. 31. 
 
 ZoBAH, a kingdom of Syria, in the neighbourhood of Da- 
 mascus. 2 Sam. viii. 3. 1 Chron. xviii. 3. 
 
 ZoHELETH, a stone by the fountain of En-rogcl, near the 
 walls of Jerusalem. 1 Kings i. 9. 
 
 ZoRAH, a city of Dau; the birth-place of Samson. (Judg. 
 xiii. 2.) It was near the border of Judah, and was rebuilt or 
 fortified by Rehoboam. (2 Chron. xi. 10.) It is written 
 Zoreah in Josh. xv. 33. 
 
 ZuziMs, a gigantic people, inhabiting the country east of 
 the Jordan. Gen. xiv. 5. 
 
 THE END. 
 
SCRIPTURE 
 
 NATURAL HISTORY; 
 
 OR, 
 
 A CONCISE ACCOUNT 
 
 ANIMALS REFERRED TO IN THE BIBLE, 
 
 BY 
 THOMAS T. SMHiEY, A.M. M.D. 
 
 ■WITH NUMEROtrS ENGBAVIIfGS. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 STEREOTYPED BY L. JOHNSON. 
 
PREFACE 
 
 The study of Natural History has always been ranked 
 amongst the most liberal pursuits, and has engaged the atten- 
 tion and exercised the talents of the learned, both in ancient 
 and modern times. If, therefore, as a subject of enlightened 
 study only, it has merited and received deep attention; it 
 assumes a still more interesting character, when we perceive 
 that a knowledge of it is so essential to a clear understanding 
 of. many parts of the sacred writings. 
 
 Almost every object in nature has been referred to in the 
 Holy Scriptures, for the purpose of enforcing the sublime 
 truths contained therein, and the manners, habits, and in- 
 stincts of the animal creation especially, have furnished 
 abundant materials for the illustration of the different charac- 
 ters and passions found amongst the human race. A know- 
 ledge, therefore, of the manners and habits of the animals 
 mentioned, becomes indispensable to a proper understanding 
 of those parts of the Bible which refer to them, and without 
 it they are obscure at least, if not altogether unintelligible. 
 
 It will at once be perceived, that the object of the author 
 has not been to write a regular treatise on Natural History, 
 which would have greatly exceeded the limits prescribed to 
 this work, without adding to the utility of it, so far as relates 
 
 303 
 
304 PREFACE. 
 
 to the immediate purpose under consideration. His object 
 has been simply to present in a plain and intelligible manner, 
 such an account of the animals mentioned in the Bible, as 
 would enable every one to feel the force and beauty of the 
 allusions to them in the sacred text. If he has succeeded in 
 assisting his readers to obtain a clearer understanding of any 
 part of the Holy Scriptures, his labour will not have been 
 
 ■ 
 
SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 Adder. The adder is a venomous reptile, supposed by 
 naturalists to be the same with the Asp. The poison is of 
 such a rapid operation that it kills almost on the instant the 
 bite is inflicted, without the possibility of applying any re- 
 medy. The most remarkable mention of it is in Psalm Iviii. 
 4, where the adder or asp is said to " stop its ears, that 
 it may not hear the voice of the charmer." Some are of 
 opinion that there is a sort of adder really deaf, which is of 
 the most dangerous kind, and that the Psalmist here speaks 
 of this species. Some authors think that the adder when old 
 becomes deaf; others again, that it, as well as other serpents, 
 possesses the sense of hearing in an exquisite degree, but that 
 when any one attempts to charm it, it stops its ears by apply- 
 ing one ear close to the earth and stopping the other with the 
 end of its tail. The expression is probably taken from actual 
 observation of nature. That serpents are overcome as if 
 charmed, so that, while they would bite some persons with 
 great violence, they are harmless to others, has often been as- 
 serted by travellers in the East. 
 
 Ant. The ant, both by 
 sacred and profane wri- 
 ters, is referred to as a 
 pattern of industry. " Go 
 to the ant, thou sluggard, 
 consider her ways and be 
 wise," (Prov. vi. 6,) is an 
 observation made by the 
 wisest of men. It is said, 
 (Prov. XXX. 25,) "the 
 ants are a people not 
 strong, yet they prepare 
 their meat in summer." 
 305 
 
 Ant-Hills. 
 
 2 A2 
 
306 
 
 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 APE 
 
 In our climate the ants are small in size, and in every re- 
 spect insignificant animals, when compared with those which 
 inhabit the eastern tropical countries, which are no doubt the 
 kind referred to by the sacred writer. In the East the ant is 
 often found three-quarters of an inch in length, and constructs 
 works which surpass those of the bees, beavers, and other 
 animals, as much at least as those of the most polished na- 
 tions exceed those of the least cultivated savages. Their 
 dwellings contain various apartments and galleries, construct- 
 ed on a scale which, compared with the size of the architect, 
 greatly exceed the labours of man. The height of their 
 buildings is ten or twelve feet above the ground, and their 
 galleries and subterraneous passages extend about as many 
 feet below the surface of the earth. They are built in so 
 solid a manner, that when half constructed, the wild bulls 
 stand on the top for the purpose of discovering the approach of 
 an enemy, and when completed, they support the weight of a 
 man with perfect safety. 
 
 Ape. The ape is an animal of 
 the monkey tribe, and is mentioned 
 (1 Kings X. 22,) amongst the ca- 
 riosities which Solomon's fleet 
 brought from Ophir. 
 
 Those of the monkey tribe which 
 have no tails are termed apes, and 
 those which have short tails are 
 called baboons. Of all the kinds 
 of apes, the ouran outang most re- 
 sembles mankind. This animal 
 grows from six to seven feet high, 
 and possesses strength as great as 
 that of several men together. They 
 build sheds for their accommoda- 
 tion, and make use of clubs for 
 their defence. Their faces are 
 broad, noses flat, and their skins 
 are covered on many parts of their body with tawny-coloured 
 hair. 
 
 Anciently, the Egyptians and some other nations worship- 
 ped apes, and they are still an object of adoration in many 
 countries in the East. 
 
 The Ouran Outang. 
 
ASS 
 
 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 307 
 
 The Ass. 
 
 Ass. An animal of the horse kind, with a long head, long 
 ears, and round body, covered with short, coarse hair. Asses 
 are generally of a pale dun colour, with a black streak along 
 the back and another across the shoulders, with the tail hairy 
 only at the end. 
 
 The Eastern asses are bigger and more beautiful than ours, 
 and on them did even great men, as Abraham, Moses, and 
 David's family ride. There are wild asses, which were once 
 very common in Canaan and Arabia, and are still so in Africa; 
 they are extremely beautiful, of a gray colour, and run so fast 
 that only the fleetest horses can overtake them ; they are jeal- 
 ous of their liberty, and are usually seen in herds. To the 
 wild asses the Ishmaelites are compared, to represent their 
 perpetual freedom and their restless and savage temper. 
 (Gen. xvi. 12.) On the banks of the river Euphrates were 
 asses altogether white, and on such the Hebrew princes rode 
 in the days of Deborah. (Judg. v. 10.) 
 
 However honourable asses might be among the Jews be- 
 fore the days of David, or in more modern times among the 
 lawyers of Persia, yet, in the days of our Saviour, they were 
 not in much more respect than among us at present, therefore 
 his riding upon one in his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, 
 marked him^ as the debased king of Israel. (Zech. ix. 9. John 
 xii. 14.) 
 
 Under the law, asses were unclean, and their firstlings were 
 
308 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. BEA 
 
 to be redeemed with a lamb, or to have their necks broken, 
 and are emblems of stubborn and wicked men. Of old, the 
 ass was remarkably honoured by being- made tbe instrument, 
 by the miraculous interposition of God, in rebuking the mad- 
 ness of Balaam, when he attempted to urge her forward when 
 stopped by the fear of the angel. (Numb. xxii. 22.) Nor 
 ought men to ridicule this story till they demonstrate the in- 
 capacity of infinite power to make this animal speak, or the 
 impropriety of rebuking a proud diviner, by such a stupid 
 and contemptible creature. 
 
 Badger. The badger is a four-footed animal which bur-- 
 rows in the earth. It is of a greyish colour, with long, stiff 
 hair, and it feeds on small animals, and on the roots of vege- 
 tables. The uppermost covering cf the tabernacle, according 
 to our translation, was made of badgers' skins, (Ex. xxvi. 
 14,) and they were also used for shoes, (Ezek. xvi. 10;) but 
 it is now the general opinion of critics that the original word 
 refers to the colour, and not to the animal ; at any rate, not 
 to the animal known to us by that name. 
 
 Bat. This animal has often been ranked with birds ; but 
 it has the mouth of a quadruped, not the beak of a bird : it is 
 covered with hair, and produces its young alive, and in fact 
 greatly resembles a mouse. It has no pretensions to be ranked 
 amongst birds, except that it can fly; but in that respect its 
 wing-s are entirely different from birds, being nothing more 
 than thin, fleshy membranes. 
 
 During the winter, bats cover themselves with their wings 
 and hang in a torpid state, in caves or old buildings. During 
 the summer, they hide themselves in the day, and in the night 
 flutter about, catching flies and other insects. Some bats 
 have tails and others have none. Some bats, in China and 
 other countries of the East, are as large as hens. The large 
 bats of Brazil, Madagascar, and some other countries, fasten 
 on persons whom they find sleeping, and suck their blood. 
 Bats were unclean under the law. (Lev. xi. 19. Isa. ii. 20.) 
 
 Bear. The bear is a large four-footed beast of sprey, 
 covered with a thick, shaggy fur, so as to appear like a shape- 
 less lump. The colour of the bear is generally a blackish 
 brown, but in cold countries it is white. The feet of 
 bears are so formed, that in walking they always tread on 
 
BEE 
 
 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 309 
 
 their heel. They feed on 
 fruits and flesh, and are 
 very ravenous, extremely 
 kind to their young, and 
 become dreadfully enrag- 
 ed when deprived of them. 
 Bears are found in most 
 countries, and they were 
 common in Palestine. 
 David attacked one as he 
 attended his father's flock, 
 
 and two she bears tore in pieces forty-two children, who 
 
 mocked the prophet Elisha. (1 Sam. xvii. 34. 2 Kings ii. 
 
 23, 24.) 
 
 God compares himself to a bear robbed of her whelps, to 
 
 mark his anger against his enemies. (Hos. xiii. 8. Lam. iii. 
 
 10.) Angry men are compared to bears robbed of their young. 
 
 (2 Sam. xvii. 8. Prov. xvii. 12.) The Persian monarchy is 
 
 represented by a bear, (Dan. vii. 5,) and Antichrist is said to 
 
 have the feet of a bear. (Rev. xiii. 2.) 
 
 The Bear. 
 
 Bee. The bee is 
 a small insect, and 
 very remarkable for 
 skill and industry in 
 gathering honey and 
 wax from flowers. 
 Bees have four wings, 
 and a tail pointed with 
 a sting, through which 
 they emit a poisonous 
 juice, and which,being 
 barbed, often remains 
 in the wound. 
 
 There are several 
 ^ kinds of wild bees, 
 "■ but the common bees 
 have most attracted 
 the attention of man. 
 Their sagacity in collecting their honey and wax, in forming 
 their combs, in distributing their labours, and in punishing 
 idlers, is very remarkable. They seldom hurt any one with 
 their stings unless hurt or provoked. Among the bees are 
 
 Hive of Bees. 
 
310 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. BEH 
 
 three kinds in the same family or hive ; the queen, the labour- 
 ing bees, and the drones. The queen deposits her eggs in 
 cells prepared for that purpose, and so brings forth a new- 
 swarm, to the number perhaps of twenty thousand in a year. 
 There are sometimes two or three queens in the same hive, 
 and they are much larger than any of the other bees. 
 The labouring bees are far the most numerous, and collect 
 the wax and honey, and prepare the combs in which the 
 honey is deposited. The drones, or males, are larger than 
 the common working bees, but are not so large as the 
 queens. 
 
 The land of Judea was especially noted for the multitude 
 of bees, and is often denominated a land flowing with milk 
 and honey. Under the law the bee was unclean, (Lev. xi. 
 23,) though its honey was not. The armies of the Amorites, 
 the Assyrians, and David's enemies, are compared to bees, 
 (Deut. i. 44. Ps. cxviii. 12. Isa. vii. 18.) 
 
 In Palestine and the adjoining countries, the bee-hives 
 are usually made of clay, about four feet long and half a foot 
 in diameter. They lay ten or twelve of these over one another 
 and cover them with a little roof. 
 
 n ^ 
 
 
 
 1, 
 
 '"^T-s?^"*'^^ 
 
 1^ 
 
 _,:_/ 
 
 ^>v 
 
 J 
 
 The Hippopotamus. 
 
 Behemoth. To convince Job of his insignificance before 
 him, God requires him to consider this animal. He represents 
 him as made with him, or near to his abode, harmlessly feed- 
 ing on the grass of mountains, lying among willows, reeds, 
 and fens, and as extremely fierce and courageous. The word 
 Behemoth is Hebrew, and often signifies beasts in general, 
 
BIT SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 311 
 
 but in Job xl. 15—24, it has a reference to some particular 
 animal. It is now generally conceded to be the river horse, 
 or hippopotamus. 
 
 The hippopotamus is a quadruped resembling- partly the 
 buffalo and partly the bear, though longer than either. His 
 length from head to tail is about thirteen feet, his girth about 
 the same, and his height six feet. His head is large in pro- 
 portion, destitute of horns, and his mouth opens very wide. 
 His eyes are small, and his ears also small and thin. In the 
 lower jaw he has two tusks, about a foot long and somewhat 
 crooked. His teeth are hard as flint, and will strike fire with 
 steel. His legs resemble those of a bear, are about three feet 
 round, and three feet and a half in length ; and each foot has a 
 black hoof, divided into four claws at the end. His tail is 
 very thick and short, tapering away to the end, and cannot 
 be twisted, and his skin is very thick and exceedingly tough. 
 As he is not formed for swimming, he walks on the bottom 
 of the river as other animals do on land. He feeds on 
 fish, which he is said to catch with great facility, and also 
 comes out frequently on the land to feed on rice, clover, and 
 other vegetables, destroying by his huge feet more than he 
 eats. 
 
 When pursued on land, he cannot move fast, and his re- 
 source is to plunge into the water and swim a great distance 
 before he reappears. He commonly retreats from his pur- 
 suers, but if wounded, he becomes furious, and facing about, 
 rushes against the boats, seizes them with his teeth, often 
 tears pieces out of them, and sometimes sinks them under 
 water. 
 
 " I have seen," says a traveller, " an hippopotamus open 
 his mouth, fix one tooth on the side of the boat, and another 
 to the second plank under the keel, that is, four feet distant 
 from each other, pierce the side through and through, and in 
 this manner sink the boat to the bottom." 
 
 These animals are only numerous in some parts of the 
 world ; it even appears that the species is confined to particu- 
 lar climates, and is seldom to be met with out of the rivers 
 of Africa. 
 
 Bittern. Of all the sounds produced by the feathered 
 race, there is none so dismal as that produced by the bittern. 
 It is described as resembling the interrupted bellowings of a 
 bull, but louder ; and is heard at the distance of a mile, as 
 
312 
 
 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 BOA 
 
 if issuing from some formidable being 
 that resided at the bottom of the 
 
 waters. 
 
 Considerino^ the dismal sound ut- 
 tered by this bird, there would there- 
 fore be a peculiar propriety, when it 
 was intended to prophesy the utter 
 desolation of a city, to say that it 
 should become " a possession to the 
 bittern," as in the prophecy against 
 Babylon, (Isa. xxxiv. 12,) and that 
 " the cormorant and the bittern shall 
 lodge" in it, as in the prophecy 
 against Idumea. (Zeph. ii. 14.) 
 The bittern is a bird of the heron 
 The Bittern. kind, but less ; being not over four 
 
 inches long. It differs from the heron 
 chiefly in its colour, which is in general of a palish yellow, 
 spotted and barred with black. It is a retired, timorous bird, 
 concealing itself in the midst of reeds and marshy places, 
 and living upon frogs, insects, and vegetables, and though so 
 nearly resembling the heron in figure, differing much in man- 
 ners and appetite. 
 
 The foregoing description applies to the bird now known 
 by the name of the bittern, but whether it is the animal to 
 which the sacred writer referred in the texts quoted, cannot 
 certainly be determined. The word here translated bittern, 
 has by some interpreters been rendered the owl, a tortoise, 
 the beaver ; and Bochart will have it the hedge-hog. Not- 
 withstanding all these conjectures, however, we incline to the 
 opinion that the word has been correctly rendered by our 
 translators. 
 
 Boar. The wild boar is usually thought to be the parent 
 of the swine kind. It inhabits Asia as well as Europe, and 
 retains its character and manners in almost every climate. 
 
 It is well known that the flesh of the hog or swine was for- 
 bidden, as food, to the Hebrews, (Lev. xi. 7. Deut. xiv. 8,) 
 who held its flesh in such detestation that they would not so 
 much as pronounce its name. Amongst the gross abomina- 
 tions of M'hich the Israelites were guilty in the time of Isaiah, 
 that of eating swine's flesh is mentioned, (Isa. Ixv. 4,) and 
 for which punishment is denounced. (Isa. Ixvi. 17.) 
 
BUL SCRIPTURE NAftJRAL HIStORV. 
 
 313 
 
 The Bull, 
 
 Bull. Bullock. Ox. The male of the cow kind. The 
 Jews never mutilated any of their male animals, nor do the 
 Mahometans, at the present time ; their oxen were, therefore^ 
 bulls, properly so called. Besides the tame kind, whose 
 strength, fierceness, and pushing with their horns are well 
 known, there is a wild kind of bulls found in various parts 
 of the world, which are of great size, exceedingly fierce and 
 swift, and dwell in extensive forests, chiefly in Europe and 
 Africa* Another kind of wild bull is called the buffalo, mul- 
 titudes of which run Vvild in the forests of America, which 
 is a large, shaggy, fierce animal. There are also a great 
 number of wild buffalos in the countries of Africa and India, 
 which are watered with many rivers, and furnished with large 
 meadows. 
 
 The bison or American buffalo, is the most remarkable 
 animal of the ox kind, now found in the wild state. A single 
 herd is said sometimes to contain ten thousand. These im- 
 mense herds are found on the prairies which border on the 
 Missouri river. By surrounding and frightening them, the 
 Indians sometimes drive a whole herd over a precipice, by 
 which they are destroyed. 
 
 With the Hebrews, bulls were clean animals. Bullocks 
 or young bulls were often sacrificed in burnt-ofl^erings and 
 peace-offerings, and sometimes in sin-offerings. They re- 
 presented the pure, patient, strong, and laborious Redeemer, 
 sacrificed for us. (Heb. ix. 13, 14.) The twelve brazen oxen 
 2B 
 
314 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. CAL 
 
 which supported Solomon's brazen sea, three of which looked 
 to every quarter, mijrht represent the twelve Apostles and 
 their successors in the gospel ministry, who labour to exhibit 
 Jesus as the great means of purification from sin. (1 Kings, 
 vii. 25 — 44. Jer. Hi. 20.) Wicked men, chiefly rulers, are 
 called bulls of Bashan, to denote their strength and fierce- 
 ness. Bashan was a district of country, east of the Jordan, 
 noted for its rich pastures and fine cattle ; hence the pro- 
 priety of the comparison. A great many similar compari- 
 sons, in relation to this animal, are to be found in the 
 Scriptures. 
 
 The cow is the female of the ox kind, and very noted for 
 her nutritious and wholesome milk. A young cow is called 
 a heifer. The young of the cow is called a calf. Amongst 
 the Hebrews, cows and heifers, as well as oxen, were used to 
 draw the plough. When a man was found slain in the field, 
 and the murderer could not be found, the magistrates of the 
 city next to the spot, took a heifer which had never been 
 yoked, and after striking off her head, they washed their 
 hands in water, protesting their innocence of the crime, and 
 ignorance of the murderer, and together with the Levites 
 present, solemnly begged that God would not lay it to the 
 charge of their nation. (Deut. xxi. 1 — 9.) 
 
 As the Hebrews had seen, and perhaps many of them had 
 worshipped, the Egyptian god, Apis, which was a living bull, 
 and sometimes adored in the form of one, or in the form of a 
 man with a bull's head, they instigated Aaron to make them 
 a golden calf in the wilderness, to which they, on the day 
 after, observed a solemn festival. (Ex. xxxii.) When Jero- 
 boam, the son of Nebat, who had resided for a time in Egypt, 
 got possession of the kingdom of Israel, he made two golden 
 calves, the one he placed at Bethel, in the south, and the 
 other at Dan, in the north of his kingdom. These calves, the 
 ten tribes continued to worship for about two hundred and 
 sixty years, till the kingdom of Israel was destroyed, and the 
 people carried into captivity by the Assyrians. (1 Kings xii. 
 27, 28. Hos. x. 5 ; xiii. 2. 2 Kings xvii.) 
 
 Calf. The young of the cow kind. It is generally thought 
 that the Israelites, in making a golden calf, which they wor- 
 shipped in the wilderness, (Ex. xxxii.,) were imitating the 
 Egyptians in the worship of Apis, whom they intended to 
 represent by the image which they constructed, as did Je- 
 
CAM 
 
 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 315 
 
 Toboam also, in setting up the calves at Bethel, 1 Kings, xii. 
 27—30. See Bull. 
 
 The Cumel. 
 
 Camel. The camel and the dromedary do not include two 
 different species, but only indicate two distinct breeds, sub- 
 sisting from time immemorial, in the camel species. The 
 principal, and indeed the only perceptible character in which 
 they differ, consists in the camel's bearing two bunches or 
 protuberances on its back, and the dromedary only one. The 
 dromedary is also less, and not so strong as the camel ; but 
 they both herd and breed together, and the production from 
 this cross breed is more vigorous, and of greater value than 
 the others. The dromedary is, beyond comparison, more 
 numerous and more universal than the camel ; the c&mel 
 being seldom found in any other place than Turkey, while 
 the dromedar)^ is to be found in all the northern parts of 
 Africa, in Egypt, Persia, in South Tartary, and in all the 
 northern parts of India. 
 
 The camel appears to be a native of Arabia, and his whole 
 organization fits him for a residence in a sandy and barren 
 country. His feet are formed for travelling in the sand, and 
 are broad and flat to prevent him from sinking. He is also 
 able to live without drink for seven or eight days, and to feed 
 on the hardest and driest herbage. The Arabs regard the 
 camel as a present from heaven, without whose assistance 
 they could neither exist, trade, or travel. With his aid, in a 
 single day, they can place a tract of desert of fifty miles, 
 between them and their enemies, and all the armies in the 
 world would soon perish in pursuit of a troop of Arabs, 
 
316 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. CAM 
 
 Camels are covered ^vith fine hair, which they cast in the 
 sprinof, and from uhich a fine kind of stuff is made. Their 
 necks and legs are long- and slender, and when they lift up 
 their head it is very high. Their ears 'are short, and their 
 tail about a foot long. Though camels chew the cud, yet, as 
 the division of their hoof is not complete, they were marked 
 out by the law as unclean. 
 
 The camel, in ancient times, formed a large part of the 
 wealth of great men. Abraham, (Gen. xii. 16,) Jacob, (Gen. 
 XXX. 43,) and especially Job, had large numbers of them. 
 The Midianites and Amalekites, (Judg. vi. 5; vii. 12,) had 
 camels without number. The Reubenites took fifty thousand 
 from the Hagarites. (1 Chron. v. 21.) The clothing of John 
 the Baptist was of camel's hair. (Matt, iii, 4.) In the re- 
 ference to this animal by our Saviour, (Matt. xix. 24, and 
 xxiii. 24,) the expressions are no doubt proverbial. 
 
 Camelion or Chamelion. This animal is a kind of lizard, 
 with a long flat tail, and usually of a greenish yellow colour. 
 On each of its four feet it has five toes, two or three of which 
 adhere together. Its snout is long, and it has two small 
 openings for its nostrils; its eyes move in every direction, 
 and often with a contrary motion. To catch flies it can dart 
 out its tongue to the length of its whole body, and instantly 
 contract it again. Some camelions, in Egypt, including the 
 tail, are a foot in length. The camelion was once, very un- 
 philosophically, believed to live on air. Its principal food is 
 flies, which it catches with great facility, by darting out its 
 tongue in the manner already described. Like the croco- 
 dile, this animal proceeds from an egg, and in its form, bears 
 a strong resemblance to that animal. 
 
 The colour of this animal, in the shade, is a bluish gray, 
 inclining in some places to a pale red and yellow. But when 
 it is removed into the sun, then comes the wonderful part of 
 its history. At first it appears to suffer no change of colour, 
 but the whole surface soon seem.s to imbibe tiie rays of light, 
 and the simple colouring of the body changes into a variety 
 of beautiful hues. Wherever the light comes on the body, it 
 is of a tawny brown, but that part of the skin on which the 
 sun does not shine, changes into several brighter colours, 
 pale yellow, or vivid crimson, which forms spots of the size 
 of half one's finger; some of these descend from the spine 
 halfway down the back, and others appear on the sides, arms, 
 
CHA SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 317 
 
 and tail. Sometimes the animal becomes all over spotted 
 with brown spots of a greenish cast. The camelion is found 
 in all warm countries, both of the old and new world. 
 
 According to the Levitical Law, (Lev. xi. 30,) the came- 
 lion was ranked among the unclean animals. 
 
 Caterpillar. When the sun calls up vegetation, and 
 vivifies the various eggs of insects, the caterpillars are the 
 first that are seen to make their appearance. All this class 
 have eight feet, at least, and some sixteen, which may serve 
 to distinguish them from the worm kind, which never have 
 so many. 
 
 When the caterpillar first bursts from its egg, it is weak 
 and feeble, and its appetites are in proportion to its size ; but 
 in its adult caterpillar state, it becomes the most ravenous 
 of all animals, and will eat twice its own weight of leaves 
 in a day. What would mankind do if their oxen or horses 
 were equally voracious? 
 
 The body of the- caterpillar, when anatomically examined, 
 is found composed of rings, whose circumference is pretty 
 near circular or oval. They are generally twelve in number, 
 and are all membranous, by which this animal may be dis- 
 tinguished from any other insect that nearly resembles it in 
 form. Caterpillars also, with regard to their external figure, 
 are either smooth or hairy. The skin of the first kind is soft 
 to the touch, or hard, like shagreen. The skin of the latter, 
 is hairy, and, as it w^ere, thorny, and generally, if handled, 
 stings like nettles. 
 
 The life of the caterpillar is almost one continued change; 
 it undergoes eight or ten transformations before it assumes 
 th€ last, or butterfly state. 
 
 When caterpillars are mentioned in the Holy Scriptures, it 
 is either in reference to their immense numbers, or to their 
 destructive and voracious habits, and they are considered as 
 instruments, in the hands of the Almighty, for inflicting his 
 vengeance against the ungodly. By caterpillars, the Lord 
 
 Jlagued the Egyptians and wicked Jews. (Ps. Ixxviii. 46. 
 oel i. 4; ii. 25.) 
 
 Chamelion. The chamelion, of which there are two or 
 
 three species, like other animals of the lizard tribe, much 
 
 resembles the crocodile in form, but differs greatly in size, 
 
 being about ten inches long from the tip of the nose to the 
 
 2B2 
 
318 
 
 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 coc 
 
 end of the tail. This creature is chiefly remarkable for the 
 change of its colour to the colour of the objects with which 
 it comes in contact. See Camelion. 
 
 Chamois. The chamois is only- 
 found on the most cragg-y places of 
 the highest mountains. The Alps, 
 the Pyrenees, the mountains of 
 Greece, and those of the Archipe- 
 lago, are almost the only places 
 where it is to be met with. 
 
 The chamois is a vnXA animal, but -i- 
 easily tamed, and very docile. It is 
 about the size of a domestic goat, and resembles one in many 
 respects. It is very agreeable, lively, and active, beyond 
 expression. Its hair is short, like that of the doe. In spring 
 it is of an ash colour, and in winter, of a blackish brown. 
 As they bound from rock to rock, they have rather the ap- 
 pearance of flying than leaping. The chamois feeds upon the 
 best herbage, drinks but very little, and ruminates, like the 
 goat, in the intervals of feeding. Its head is crowned with 
 two small horns of about half a foot long, of a beautiful black 
 colour, and rising from the forehead, almost betwixt the eyes. 
 
 The hides of these animals are very strong and supple, and 
 good warm waistcoats and gloves are made of them. The 
 hunting of the chamois is very laborious, as well as exceed- 
 ingly difficult and dangerous. 
 
 This animal, by the Hebrew law, (Dcut. xiv. 5,) was de- 
 clared to be unclean; but it is disputed whether the Hebrew 
 word, so translated, was really intended to be applied to the 
 animal which now bears this name. 
 
 Cock. A well known domestic 
 fowl, which has his head orna- 
 mented with a long fleshy crest, 
 or comb, and has two wattles, 
 lengthwise, under his throat. He 
 is a robust and beautiful animal, 
 whose feathers are often variegated 
 with a number of elegant colours. 
 He usually crows at two different 
 times of the night ; the first time, a __ 
 little after midnight, and a second^^ 
 time, about break of day. This last The Cock. 
 
COR SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 319 
 
 is usually called cock-crowing, and at this time the cock crew 
 for the second time, after Peter had thrice denied his Master. 
 (Mark xiv. 68—72.) 
 
 The hen, the female of the fowl kind, is so w^ell known for 
 her great care and tenderness of her young, that it is unne- 
 cessary to do any thing more than refer to it. Our Lord, in 
 his pathetic lamentation over Jerusalem, represents himself as 
 having felt all the solicitude of a hen for her brood, but it 
 would not accept his kindness and protection. (Matt.xxiii.37.) 
 
 Cockatrice. It does not appear that any such creature 
 exists. The word so translated in our Bibles, ought to be 
 rendered serpent. It appears to have been a most venomous 
 serpent which lurked in the holes of the earth. (Isa. xi. 8; 
 xiv. 29; lix. 5. Jer. viii. 17.) 
 
 Colt. The young of the horse kind. The ass on which 
 our Saviour rode on his entry into Jerusalem had a colt with 
 her. (Matt. xxi. 4, 5.) See Horse. 
 
 Coney. The coney is believed to have been a species of 
 the rabbit or hare; but by the expressions in the Scriptures 
 would seem to have been of a smaller size. Some have 
 thought that the jerboa or jumping mouse, which is very 
 common in Palestine, w^as the animal intended. (Deut. xiv. 7. 
 Ps. civ. 18. Prov. xxx. 26.) 
 
 Cormorant. This is an aquatic bird of the pelican kind, 
 about the size of a large muscovy duck, and may be distin- 
 guished by its four toes being united b}^ membranes together, 
 and by the middle toe being toothed or notched, like a saw, 
 to assist in holding its fishy prey. The head and neck of this 
 bird are of a sooty blackness, and the body thick and heavy, 
 more inclining, in figure, to that of the goose than the gull. 
 They are remarkably voracious, and have a most sudden 
 digestion. Their appetite is forever craving and never satis- 
 fied. 
 
 This bird has the most rank and disagreeable smell, and is 
 more fetid than even carrion, in its most healthful state. It 
 is seen as well by land as sea ; it fishes in fresh water lakes, 
 as w^ell as in the depths of the ocean. It builds in the cliffs 
 of the rocks as well as on trees, and preys not only in the day 
 time, but at night. Its power of catching fish has induced 
 
320 
 
 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 CRA 
 
 some nations, as the Chinese, to breed this bird up tame, for 
 that purpose. 
 
 According to the Hebrew law, the cormorant was among 
 the unclean birds. (Lev. xi. 17. Deut. xiv. 17.) It is re- 
 ferred to in the prophecies ag-ainst Idumea, (Tsa. xxxiv. 11,) 
 and Nineveh, (Zcph. ii. 14,) as an emblem of desolation. 
 
 Cow or KiNE. The female of the ox kind. The milk 
 of the cow is celebrated over the whole v.orld for its whole- 
 some and nutritious qualities. See Bull. 
 
 Crane. This is a tall, slender 
 bird, with a long neck and long 
 legs. The top of the head is co- 
 vered with black bristles, and the 
 back of it is bald and red, which 
 sufficiently distinguishes this bird 
 from the stork, to which it is 
 nearly allied in size and figure. 
 The plumage, in general, is ash 
 coloured, and there are two large 
 tufts that spring from the pinion^^ 
 of each wing. These bear a re ^ 
 semblance to hair, finely curled at The Crane, 
 
 the end, and the bird has the power of erecting or depressing 
 them at pleasure. The height of the common crane is about 
 three feet, and its length four feet, though the body is not 
 heavier than that of a turkey. 
 
 Besides the species above described, there are two other 
 varieties of the crane. The crowned or Belearic, and gigan- 
 tic crane. The Belearic crane com.es from the coast of Afri- 
 ca and the Cape Verd Islands, and is' about four feet high. 
 The gigantic crane is much larger than the other species, 
 measuring, from tip to tip of the wings, fifteen feet, and in 
 height, seven feet and a half, when standing erect. The 
 gigantic crane is an inhabitant of Bengal, and is sometimes 
 found on the coast of Guinea. 
 
 The crane is a very social bird, and is seldom seen alone. 
 Their usual method of tlying or sitting, is in flocks of fifty or 
 sixty together, and while a part feed, the rest stand as senti- 
 nels on duty. For the most part, it subsists upon vegetables, 
 and frequently makes great destruction in the fields of com. 
 As they are birds of passage, they are seen to depart and re- 
 
DEE SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 321 
 
 turn regularly, at those seasons when their provision invites 
 or repels thein. In their migrations, it is amazing to conceive 
 the heights to which they ascend when they fly. Their note 
 is the loudest of all birds, and is often heard in the clouds, 
 when the bird itself is entirely beyond the sight. 
 
 The cold Arctic region seems to be the favourite abode of 
 these birds, and they come down into the more southern 
 climates, rather as visiters than as inhabitants. 
 
 Hezekiah compares his cries of pain and distress, during his 
 sickness, to the notes of this bird, (Isa. xxxviii. 14,) and the 
 Jews w^ere more stupid than cranes, storks, and turtles, 
 because they knew not the proper season of duty. (Jer. 
 viii. 7.) . - 
 
 Cuckoo. This is a solitary bird, whose beak is smooth, 
 its nostrils hang a little forward, and its tongue is shaped 
 somewhat like an arrow. It has four toes; two before and 
 two behind, and its bulk is nearly equal to that of the sparrow 
 hawk. Though this bird cannot boast much of its plumage, 
 yet it is conspicuous for the lightness of its form and for its 
 peculiar habits. It is about fourteen inches in length, shaped 
 somewhat like a magpie, and distinguished from all other 
 birds by its round, prominent nostrils. The head, neck, 
 back, and wings, are of a dove colour; the throat is pale 
 gray, and the breast and belly white, crossed with wavy- 
 lines of black. The legs are of a yellow colour, and the 
 claws white. It was once doubted whether this bird was 
 carnivorous, but it has been found that their favourite food 
 consists of insects and flesh. 
 
 The female cuckoo is said to make no nest of her own, but 
 to deposit a single egg in the nest of some other bird, by whom 
 it is hatched, and the young reared. 
 
 The cuckoo is mentioned among the unclean birds, (Lev. 
 xi. 16;) but it is very doubtful whether the bird now known 
 by that name, is intended. Bochart, and some others, have 
 thought the Hebrew word should have been rendered the 
 sea-mew, or gull, but it is impossible to determine this point 
 with certainty. 
 
 Deer. This is the name of a race of quadrupeds which 
 includes several species ; as the stag, or red deer, fallow 
 deer, roebuck, reindeer, elk, moose, and some others. 
 
 All the deer kind have branchy horns, which at first are 
 
322 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. DOG 
 
 rouffh, but become smooth, r.nd fall off yearly, and the female 
 seldom has any horns. 
 
 The stajT- is one of those mild, tranquil, and innocent ani- 
 mals which seem as if they were formed solely to adorn and 
 animate the solitude of the forests, and enjoy, remote from 
 man, the peaceful retreats of nature. 
 
 The horns of the stag continue to increase in bulk and 
 heijrht every year; from the second to the eijrhth, they remain 
 beautiful, and much the same during the vigour of life; but 
 as their body declines with age, their horns decline also. The 
 horns of all the kinds of deer are, strictly, a bone, which 
 sprouts from the bone of the forehead, and falling off every 
 year, is again renewed. The annual shedding of the horns 
 forms an important distinction between the deer and goat 
 kind, as animals of the goat kind never shed their horns. 
 
 The stag, or red deer, is about four feet high. The male 
 is called a hart, the female, a hind. The most common co- 
 lour of the stag is yellow, though there are many found of a 
 tawn}?- red colour. 
 
 The stag and fallow deer, though of different species, have 
 a very close resemblance to each other. 
 
 The roebuck is much smaller than the stag, with horns 
 much less spreading and elegant. The female is called 
 the roe. 
 
 The food of the deer is entirely vegetable, consisting 
 chiefly of the tender shoots of trees, buds, and moss. The 
 deer is a thirsty animal, drinking frequently, and in warm 
 weather, plunging into the stream. The deer were allowed 
 to be eaten, by the ceremonial law. (Lev. xi, 3. Deut. xiv. 5.) 
 
 The deer is frequently mentioned in Scripture; but gene- 
 rally under the name o^ hart and hind. 
 
 Dog. This is a well known domestic animal, consisting 
 of a great number of varieties, differing greatly in character 
 and appearance. The dog, amongst the Jews, (and at the 
 present time, in the east,) was held in great contempt. The 
 condition of the dogs amongst the Jews, probably did not 
 differ much from that which now exists in the east, where 
 they run about in troops, without any distinct owners, and 
 procure food as they can best obtain it. That they were 
 numerous and voracious in Jezrccl, appears evidently by the 
 history of Jezebel. By the ceremonial law, all the dog kind 
 were unclean. (Deut. xxiii. 18.) 
 
DOV 
 
 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 323 
 
 The Dog. 
 
 To compare a person to a dog, living or dead, was a most 
 degrading expression. So David uses it. "After whom 
 is the king of Israel come out] after a dead dog !" (1 Sam. 
 xxiv. 14.) The name of dog is sometimes applied to one 
 who has lost all modesty, and prostitutes himself to vile 
 actions, and also to greedy, voracious, and sordid persons. 
 
 
 The Dove. 
 
 Dove. The dove includes all the birds of the pigeon kind. 
 There are several varieties, as the common pigeon, the ring 
 dove, turtle dove, wood pigeon, &c. All doves were, by the 
 
S24 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTOR-?. EAC? 
 
 law, legally clean, and pigeons and turtle doves were the 
 appointed offerings of the poor. (liCV. i. 14; xiv. 6 — 8.) 
 
 As it was difficult for all those who came from a distance 
 to bring doves with them, the priests permitted the sale of 
 these birds in the courts of the temple. Our Lord, one day, 
 entered the temple, and with a scourge of rods, drove out 
 those who traded in doves. 
 
 The dove is used as a symbol of simplicity and innocence, 
 (Matt. iii. 16; x. IG. Hos. vii. 11.) Noah sent the dove 
 out of the ark to discover whether the waters were abated, 
 and she returned bearing an olive branch in her mouth. 
 (Gen. viii. 8. 10.) 
 
 Dragox. This word frequently occurs in the English Bi-' 
 ble, but there is much difficulty in ascertaining the precise 
 animal referred to, as the same original word is elsewhere 
 rendered serpents, sea-movsiers, or icka/es The animal now 
 called a dragon, by naturalists, is a harmless sort of lizard ;" 
 but it is evident that this cannot be the animal intended in 
 the Scriptures, as it is generally referred to as possessing great 
 strength and venom. It is most probable that the large ser- 
 pent called the boa constrictor, which is the. largest of the 
 serpent tribe, and which, it is affirmed, is sometimes found ir> 
 the hot countries of the East, fifty feet in length, is that which 
 is intended by the sacred writers. The dragon is mentioned 
 as an emblem of desolation, and to foretell that a city should 
 become the habitation of dragons, was equivalent to devoting 
 it to utter destruction. (Isa. xiii. 22 ; xxxiv. 13. Jer. ix. 11.) 
 Satan is called a dragon ; because of his power, practice, and 
 hiirtfulness. (Rev. xx. 2.) And the heathen empire of Rome 
 is likened to a great red dragon, because it, in a cruel manner, 
 wasted the nations, and persecuted the clmrch. 
 
 Dromedary. The Arabian camel or dromedary, is that 
 Variety which has only one hump on its back, whereas the 
 Bactrian camel has two humps. The dromedary is noted for 
 its swiftness. See Camel. 
 
 Eagle. There are several varieties of eagles, as the 
 golden eagle, the osprey, or sea eagle, the bald eagle, and 
 some others. 
 
 Of all the varieties, the golden eagle is the largest, and 
 when full grown, measures eight feet and a half from the tip 
 
ELE scripture natural history. 325 
 
 of one \ving to the tip of the other. Its bill is three inches 
 long, of a deep blue colour, and the eye of a brilliant hazel 
 colour. The sight and sense of smelling are very acute. The 
 head and neck are covered with sharp pointed feathers, of a 
 deep brown colour; but those on the crown of the head, in 
 very old birds, turn gray. The whole body, above as well 
 as beneath, is of a dark brown, and the feathers of the back 
 are finely clouded with a deeper shade of the same. 
 
 Of all birds, the eagle flies the highest. When M. Ray-* 
 mond ascended IMount Perdu, in the Pyrenees, nearly three 
 miles above the level of the sea, he saw an eagle, far above 
 him, flying rapidly against a strong gale. Of all birds, also, 
 the eagle has the quickest eye ; but his sense of smelling is 
 far inferior to that of the vulture. Though his wing is very 
 powerful, yet, as he has but little suppleness in the joints of 
 his legs, he finds it difficult to rise from the ground, when 
 down ; however, if not instantly pursued, he finds no diffi- 
 culty in carrying off geese, hares, lambs, and kids. 
 
 An instance is recorded, in Scotland, of two children being 
 carried off by eagles, but fortunately, they received no hurt 
 by the way, and being instantly pursued, the children were 
 restored, unhurt, out of the nests, to their affrighted parents. 
 
 The eagle is said to live to a great age, and, like other birds, 
 sheds his feathers in the beginning of spring. After this, he 
 appears with fresh strength and vigour, and his old age as- 
 sumes the appearance of youth. To this David alludes when 
 he says, " so that thy youth is renowned like the eagle's." 
 (Ps. ciii. 5. Also, Isa. xl. 31.) The eagle is usually referred 
 to as an emblem of swiftness, cruelty and oppression. 
 
 Elephant. In the book of I\Iaccabees, we have an account 
 of the manner in which these gigantic creatures were employed 
 in the field of battle, and also of the method adopted for the 
 purpose of exciting them to a furious contest with the enemy. 
 But though the animal itself is nowhere else expressl)'- men- 
 tioned, yet it must have been well knowm to the Hebrews, 
 because ivory ^ which is procured from the tusks of the animal, 
 is mentioned, (1 Kings x. 22, and 2 Chron. ix. 21,) and it 
 abounded in the countries bordering on Judea. 
 
 The elephant has been considered, by naturalists, the noblest 
 
 quadruped in nature, and not less remarkable for its size, than 
 
 for its docility and understanding. It is exceedingly difficult 
 
 to convey a correct idea of this animal, by a description. In 
 
 2 C 
 
326 
 
 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 ELE 
 
 Tiger attacking the Elephant and Hunters. 
 
 general, it may be said, that the elephant is seen from seven 
 to fifteen feet high ; that the forehead is high and rising ; the 
 ears very large and pendent; the eyes extremely small ; the 
 trunk three or lour feet long; the body round and full; the 
 back rising in an arch, and the whole animal rather short in 
 proportion to its height. The feet are round at tlie bottom ; 
 on each foot there are five flat, horny risings, which seem to 
 be the extremities of the toes; but they do not appear out- 
 wardly. The hide is without hair, but at the extremity of 
 the tail there is a tuft of hair a foot and a half long. 
 
 Of all quadrupeds, the elephant is the strongest, as well as 
 the largest ; and yet, in a state of nature, it is neither fierce 
 nor formidable. Mild, peaceful, and brave, it never abuses 
 its power or its strength; and only uses its force for the pro- 
 tection of itself or its community. When offended, however, 
 it goes forward directly against him who has offered the 
 insult; strikes him with its tusks, seizes him with its trunk, 
 flings him into the air, and then tramples him to pieces with 
 its feet. 
 
 In its natural state, it delights to live along the sides of 
 rivers, and to refresh itself in the most shady forests and 
 watery places. It often fills its trunk with water, and spurts 
 it out again, like a fountain. 
 
ELE SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 327 
 
 Their food is exclusively of the vegetable kind. When 
 one of them has discovered a good spot of pasture, it calls 
 the rest, and they continue feeding till they have trod down 
 or devoured whatever came in their way; when they retire 
 in an orderly and regular manner. 
 
 With a very awkward appearance, the elephant possesses 
 all the senses in great perfect! onv The eyes, though small, 
 when compared with the size of the head, are seen to exhibit 
 a great variety of expression, and to discover the various sen- 
 sations with which it is moved. It is also remarkable for the 
 excellence of its hearing. Its ears are extremely large, and 
 usually pendent; but it can easil}^ raise and move them. It 
 appears to be delighted with music, and very readily learns 
 to beat time, and move in measure with the sound of the drum 
 and trumpet. Its sense of smelling is also exquisite, and in 
 its sense of touch it excels all others of the brute creation, 
 and perhaps even man himself. The sense of touch lies in 
 the trunk, which is an instrument peculiar to this animal; 
 and is, properly speaking, only a snout lengthened to a great 
 extent, and ending in tvv^o openings or nostrils, like those of a 
 hog. At the very point of the trunk there is an extension of 
 the skin, about five inches long, in the form of a finger; and 
 which, in fact, answers all the purposes of one ; and with it 
 the animal can pick up a pin from the ground ; untie knots 
 of a rope; unlock a door; uncork a bottle, and even w^ite 
 with a pen. 
 
 In many respects, however, the elephant is unwieldy and 
 helpless. The neck is so short, that it can scarcely turn the 
 head. The legs are exceedingly stiff and inflexible; and as 
 it must v.'heel round in order to discover an enemy from be- 
 hind, the hunters who attack it from the rear have generally 
 time to make their escape. The tusks are often enormous, 
 being sometimes eight or ten feet in length, and only servicea- 
 ble as weapons of defence. It is from the tusks that ivory is 
 obtained. The tusks grow from the upper jaw, and are never 
 shed. 
 
 The elephant, from time immemorial, has been employed 
 by man in labour or war, or to increase the grandeur and 
 ostentation of the eastern princes. It is a native of Asia and 
 Africa, but is not found either in Europe or America. When 
 once tamed, it becomes the most gentle and docile of all 
 animals. It suffers itself to be arrayed in harness, and seems 
 to take pleasure with the finery of its trappings. 
 
328 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. FOX 
 
 In the East Indies the services of the elephant appear to 
 be universal ; and it is as essential to an Indian sportsman, 
 as a good horse is to an English fox-hunter. A favourite 
 sport is hunting the tiger, mounted on an elephant; an occu- 
 pation, however, which is far from being unattended with 
 danger. 
 
 Ferret. A small four-footed animal of tne weasel kind, 
 and in size betwen a pole-cat and a weasel. It was original- 
 ly a native of Africa, but is now common in many other 
 countries. Its upper teeth are straight, distinct, and short, 
 and the lower, obtuse and clustered. It is used for taking 
 rabbits, which it follows into their burrows in the ground. 
 Under the law it was an unclean animal. (Lev. xi. 30.) 
 
 Flea. A well known insect, troublesome to a variety of 
 animals, and of which, one kind is much given to haunt 
 beds that are occupied in the summer season. David likens 
 himself to one, importing that it would cost Saul much 
 trouble to take him, and he would obtain little profit by it. 
 (1 Sam. xxiv. 14.) 
 
 Fly. a class of insects, some of which have two, and 
 some four wings ; some have teeth and others not. Flies 
 chiefly abound in moist and warm countries, and were one 
 of the plagues of Egypt. (Ex. viii, 21.) 
 
 Fox. An animal of the dog kind. 
 Chiefly distinguished by its lono- and 
 straight tail. It is a native of most 
 countries, and is remarkable for its 
 cunning, its windino- motions, and 
 rank smell. It cannot be tamed so 
 as to become harmless, and is more 
 fond of feeding on poultry, and other 
 domestic animals, than on the wihl. '^"•'^ l'"-'^- 
 
 Foxes are very numerous in Palestine. The foxes caught 
 by Samson are, by some, thought to have been the jackal, 
 which is still sometimes called the eastern fox. Foxes are 
 referred to in the Scriptures, as emblems of craft, mischief, 
 and cruelty. (Judg. xv. 4. Luke xii. 32.) 
 
 •Ki 
 
 ../•v,^ _^ ^- 
 
 ^4^^^fe?3^?^:^ 
 
GOA SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY 
 
 The Frog. 
 
 Frog. This is a well known amphibious animal, which 
 lives partly in the water, and partly on the land. It has a 
 short body, and four legs, the hind ones very long-, for leap- 
 ing with. They delight in pools of stagnant water, and are 
 much given to croaking. Sometimes, during wet weather, 
 they wander a considerable distance from their usual place 
 of abode. When they were sent as a plague to the Egyp- 
 tians, they appeared in such numbers as to cover the whole 
 land; and after they were destroyed, were gathered together 
 in heaps, and the whole country was affected by the putrefy- 
 inor smell. (Ex. viii. 5.) Frogs were unclean animals. (Lev. 
 xi. 9.) 
 
 Gnat. A very small, troublesome insect, which often 
 flutters about lighted candles till it burns itself. Those who 
 are very zealous about trifles, while they indulge themselves 
 in things evidently and heinously sinful, are said to strain at 
 a gnat and swallow a camel. (Matt, xxiii. 24.) 
 
 Goat. The goat is an animal about the size of the sheep, 
 which it -greatly resembles in its external structure, and in its 
 general habits. They have hollow horns, which stand erect, 
 and lean a little backwards, and which they do not shed, which, 
 serve to distinguish them from animals of the deer kind. 
 They have not wool, like the sheep, but long, shaggy hair. 
 The beard grows very long. The species of the wild goat 
 are very numerous; they have generally larger horns than 
 tame ones, and are remarkable for the facility with which 
 they are able to climb precipices ; they can run on the sides 
 of rocks, and leap from one to another. 
 
 Under the law, goats were classed amongst the clean ani-^ 
 mals, and were used for offerings, and especially for sin-of-^ 
 2 C 2 
 
330 
 
 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 GRA 
 
 The Goat. 
 
 ferings. (Num. vi. 29.) The Greeks, who were likewise 
 called Egeans, that is, s^oaiish people, are liken'^d to a he-goat 
 with one horn, that, without touching the earth, ran against, 
 and trode down a pushing ram. Under Alexander, they, 
 wuth incredible speed, marched into Asia and overthrew the 
 Persian empire. (Dan. viii. 5.) Devils and wicked men are 
 likened to goats; how vile, hurtful, and disposed to climb 
 in pride and self-conceit. (Lev. xvii. 3. INIatt. xxv. 33.) 
 
 The Grasshopper. 
 Grasshopper. An insect of the Locust kind, which it 
 considerably resembles, but smaller. 'ITiey are often abun- 
 dant in meadows, and sometimes multitudes destroy the fruits 
 of the earth. (Amos vi. L) Some 3'ears ago, prodigious 
 swarms of them destroyed, for several years in succession, 
 the harvests in Languedoc, in France. Flocks of them 
 covered the earth four or five inches deep. Grasshoppers, 
 
HAR 
 
 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 331 
 
 under the law, were clean. (Lev. xi. 22.) The grasshop- 
 per is said to be a burden to the aged man. (Eccl. xii. 5.) 
 That is, the slightest thing, annoys, troubles, and vexes him. 
 They are often referred to as representing a great army, or 
 multitude. (Judg. vi. 5. Jer. xlvi. 32.) 
 
 Greyhound. A species of dog remarkable for beauty and 
 lightness of motion. In Prov. xxx. 31, four animals are 
 mentioned as comely in going, and among them, according 
 to our translation, one of those is the greyhound ; but there 
 is a great variety of opinion amongst critics, with respect to 
 the animal intended. 
 
 The Hare. 
 
 Hare. The hare is a well knovv'n animal, with a short tail, 
 black eyes, double fore teeth, single under teeth, and no tusks. 
 It has long ears, whereby it hears exceedingly well. It sleeps 
 much, but always with its eyes open. Its feet are formed for 
 swift running, especially up hill, as its hind legs are much 
 longer than the fore ones. It is a very timorous animal, and 
 multiplies exceedingly fast. It was unclean under the law, 
 because, though it chewed the cud, it did not divide the hoof. 
 (Lev. xi. 6. Deut. xiv. 7.) 
 
 Hares live about seven or eight years, and in a natural 
 state, pass their lives in solitude and silence, and are never 
 known to exert their voice unless they are forcibly laid hold 
 of, tormented, or wounded. 
 
 Hart. The hart, which is the stag or male deer, is one 
 of those innocent and peaceable animals, that seem made to 
 embellish the forests and animate the solitudes of nature. 
 The female is called the hind. See Deer. 
 
332 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. HER 
 
 Hawk. The hawk is a bird of prey, 
 of which there are many species ; as 
 the falcon, goshawk, sparrowhawk. 
 This bird has a short, strong, curved 
 bill, notched at the point, eyes bright 
 and piercing, thighs covered with long 
 feathers, and crooked, strong claws.; 
 The colour is different, in the different! 
 species, and at different ages. The 
 usual colour is brownish, and more or ti H l 
 
 less striped with black and white. It 
 
 lives upon small quadrupeds, and birds, or fish, which its 
 rapid flight, keen vision, great fierceness and courage, enables 
 it to pursue with success. It builds its nest in lonely situa- 
 tions, either in the crevices of rocks, or in hollow trees. 
 
 Amongst the Egyptians and some other ancient nations, 
 the hawk was held in high veneration, and was even an 
 object of religious worship. 
 
 Amongst civilized nations, the art of falconry, in the mid- 
 dle ages, was held in great estimation, and a person of rank 
 hardly ever went abroad without his hawk on his hand.. 
 
 In the Bible, all the different species are thought to be 
 included under the name of hawk, and it, as well as all the 
 other birds of prey, was unclean by the Jewish law. (Lev. 
 vi. 16. Deut. xiv. 15.) 
 
 Heifer. A young cow, so called until three years old. 
 Under the law, a red heifer was directed to be offered as a 
 kind of sin-offerino-, to purify from certain legal defilements. 
 See Bull, 
 
 Hen. The female of the poultry kind, remarkable for the 
 strong affection and tender care which she displays for her 
 young. To these qualities in the character of the domestic 
 hen, our Lord alludes in his pathetic address to the once 
 "holy city." (Matt, xxiii. 37, 38.) See Cock, 
 
 Heron. Of the heron there are a great many species, all 
 differing in size, plumage, and figure, with talents adapted to 
 their place of residence and peculiar pursuits, tliough they all 
 possess the same general character of cowardice, rapacity, 
 indolence, and insatiable hunger; and though in the midst of 
 the greatest plenty, and constantly devouring, are ever found 
 
HOR SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 333 
 
 lean and almost destitute of flesh. Though scarcely weig-hing 
 three pounds, it measures five feet from tip to tip of its wings. 
 Its bill is five inches long, and sharp at the point. The mid- 
 dle claw of each foot is notched, to assist in holding its prey. 
 Its nest, which consists of sticks laid across, and lined with 
 moss, grass, or some other soft substance, is generally built 
 on a lofty tree, near the water. 
 
 The heron lives on eels, fish, lizards, and such like articles 
 of food, of which, especially in stormy weather, it finds it 
 difficult to obtain a sufficient supply. By the Jewish law, 
 the heron was placed among the unclean birds. (Lev. xi. 19. 
 Deut. xiv. 18.) 
 
 Hind. The hind or female stag is a beautiful creature 
 and of an elegant shape, though she is more feeble than the 
 hart and is destitute of horns. She is frequently referred to 
 in the Scriptures. See Hart, 
 
 Hornet. An insect of the wasp kind, and considerably 
 larger than the bee. The hornet is very troublesome and 
 mischievous, and the sting is attended with much pain and 
 inflammation. Great swarms of these plagued the Canaan- 
 ites, in the days of Joshua. (Deut, vii. 20. Josh.xxiv. 12.) 
 Elian tells us that the Phasaelites, who dwelt about the 
 mountains of Solyma, Avere driven out of their native coun- 
 try by wasps. As these Phasaelites were Phoenicians, or 
 Canaanites, it is probable this event is the same as took 
 place in the days of Joshua. 
 
 Horse. This animal is one of the noblest of the brute 
 creation, and noted for his gracefulness, swiftness, docility, 
 strength, and fitn-^ss for burden, draught, or war. (Job xxxix. 
 19 — 25.) Among the people of the East, in ancient times, 
 horses were reckoned a grand present, (Eccl. x. 7,) and some 
 will now scarcely allow Europeans to ride on them in their 
 territories, except on their becoming proselytes to the Maho- 
 metan faith. God prohibited the Hebrews from multiplying 
 horses. He ordered Joshua to hough, hamstring, or cut 
 the sinews of all the horses taken from the Canaanites, and 
 to burn their chariots with fire, which direction w^as designed, 
 no doubt, to prevent their correspondence with foreigners, 
 or trusting, in war, to their chariots or horsemen. (Deut. 
 xvii. 16, Josh. xi. 6.) In this manner David served the 
 
334 
 
 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 HOR 
 
 The Horse. 
 
 horses of Hadadezer, king of Syria. (2 Sam. viii. 4, 5.) So- 
 lomon married the daughter of Pharaoh, and procured a fine 
 breed of horses from Egypt. He, first of the Hebrews, con- 
 trary to the divine command, began to multiply horses, and 
 had four thousand stables, forty thousand stalls, and twelve 
 thousand horsemen. (1 Kings iv. 26. 2 Chron. ix. 25.) 
 
 As the Eastern heathen, who worshipped the sun, imagined 
 that he rode along the sky in a chariot, drawn by fleet horses, 
 to communicate his light and warmth to mankind, they con- 
 secrated to him the finest horses and chariots, and in these, 
 they either rode to the eastern gate of the city, when the sun 
 rose, or held them so sacred that none might ride on them. 
 .Tosiah removed from the temple the horses, or images of 
 horses, which his father or grandfather had consecrated to 
 the sun. (2 Kings xxiii. 11.) 
 
 In the Scriptures, white horses denote the gospel ; red 
 horses represent cruel and bloody wars ; pale horses denote 
 famine; black horses may represent fearful judgments and 
 death; and grizzled, speckled, or bay horses, mingled scenes 
 of mercy and judgment. (Rev. vi. 2, 3 ; xix. 11 — 14. Zech. 
 vi. 2, 3.) 
 
 Horse Leech. The leech is a sort of worm which lives 
 in the water, and they have the power of drawing blood from 
 any animal to which they attach themselves. 
 
 This animal is only mentioned in one place in the Bible, 
 (Prov. XXX. 15,) where, on account of its thirst for blood, it 
 is made the emblem of avarice and cruelty. 
 
LEO SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 335 
 
 " The horse leech hath two daughters crying, gire, give," 
 by which are probably meant the two evil dispositions of 
 avarice and cruelty, as mentioned above. 
 
 Kid. The young of the goat. The Israelites were for- 
 bidden to boil the flesh of the kid in the milk of its mother. 
 (Ex. xxxiii. 19.) See Goat. 
 
 KiNE. This word was formerly used for the plural of cow, 
 and is found in several places in the Bible. See Bull, 
 
 Lapwing. Calmet thinks by the 
 lapwing, (Deut.xiv. 18. Lev.xi.l9,) 
 is intended the bird now known by 
 the name of the hoopoe, which is 
 about the size of a thrush. Its beak 
 is long, black, thin, and a little hook- 
 ed. It has a tuft of feathers on its 
 head, which it raises and lowers at 
 pleasure. Its legs are gray and short, 
 its neck and stomach of a reddish 
 colour, and its wings and tail black, ^® oopoe. 
 
 with white streaks. Its form is beautiful, but its voice is 
 hoarse and unmusical. It generally builds its nest in old 
 ruins, and is mentioned among the unclean birds. 
 
 ^^,^^,5^^ 
 
 
 ^_^^^^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 / ^ 'x' _ 
 
 '--^5^^P 
 
 ^^^^f^t^' 
 
 '^M 
 
 |(V'H%>ri 
 
 '^'T'^^^S 
 
 ^^s 
 
 « 
 
 Y^fii^M^- 
 
 "^^ 
 
 ^Rjf^ 
 
 w 
 
 ^^^jf^j^iZi^ / 
 
 
 ^^^'^ 
 
 
 j^^^w \' '/ 
 
 
 w^i\k ^ 
 
 
 J^^^k %^ 
 
 
 j^ w3 
 
 
 ^^WA^ N^Vsw 
 
 
 %. W^-s». 
 
 
 ^^3^^^g^^^ 
 
 
 i^r^^^ 
 
 ^^ 
 
 
 The Leopard. 
 
 Leopard. This formidable and sanguinary species of the 
 cat tribe, is found nearly throughout the whole of Africa, and 
 in Eastern and Southern Asia. He usually measures about 
 three feet in length, exclusive of the tail, but sometimes 
 reaches four feet. In rapacity, agility, and precision of mo- 
 
336 
 
 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY, 
 
 LEO 
 
 tion, he is unrivalled by any other animal, even of the cat 
 species. His prey, on which he darts from his hiding places, 
 and even pursues up trees, consists of antelopes, monkeys, 
 and the smaller quadrupeds. He is well distincruished from 
 all other animals of his race by the vividness of his colouring", 
 and the beauty of his markings. These consist of numerous 
 rows of rose-like spots, passing alon^ his sides. His tail is 
 equal in length to the body, exclusive of the head, and is 
 marked by a continuation of the spots on its sides. 
 
 In captivity, the leopard is sometimes brought to a consi- 
 derable degree of tameness, but it is not very safe to trust him, 
 as the innate treachery of his race is now and then unexpect- 
 edly displayed. 
 
 Hunting with Leopards. 
 
 In Persia, and some other countries in Asia, there is a kind 
 of leopard called the chetah, which is used in hunting by the 
 higher classes. He does not, however, follow the chase like 
 the dog, but steals on his prey after the manner of the cat, 
 and other animals of the tribe to which he belongs. 
 
 The leopard is frequently referred to in the vScriptures, 
 sometimes with reference to iiis patience in waiting for his 
 prey : sometimes with reference to his swiftness, and at others, 
 in reference to his fierceness and cruelty. (Isa. xi. 6. Hab. 
 i. 8. Dan. viii. 6.) 
 
LEV SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 337 
 
 The Crocodile. 
 
 Leviathan. This word, in the original, occurs four times 
 in the Old Testament, and is variously translated whale, dra- 
 gon, serpent, and sea monster, and perhaps not improperly, as 
 all these may be intended, though one description of animal 
 only appears to be marked out in the book of Job, where the 
 word, in our Bibles is not translated. (Job xli.) 
 
 It was formerly supposed by commentators, that the whafe 
 was the animal described under the name of leviathan, but 
 as the natural history of that animal became better known, it 
 was apparent that the description could not, with any pro- 
 priety, be applied to the whale, while Bochart and others 
 shovv'ed that the description did apply, with great exactness, 
 to the crocodile ; and the identity of the leviathan and the 
 crocodile is now generally admitted. 
 
 The crocodile is the largest animal of the lizard kind, and 
 grows to a great length ; being sometimes found thirty feet 
 long, from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail ; its most 
 usual length, however, is eighteen feet. Like other animals 
 of the lizard kind, it has four legs, and feet bearing some 
 resemblance to those of man. It is covered with a toughj 
 scaly skin, which is very difficult to penetrate. The jaws 
 seem to shut upon each other; but contrary to the general 
 opinion, the lower jaw alone is moveable, the upper one being 
 immoveably fixed to the scull. The distance to which the 
 jaws open, is about a foot and a half, so that it could easily 
 take in the body of a man. 
 
 They are seen, in some places, lying for whole hours and 
 even days, stretched in the sun, and motionless, so that one 
 2D 
 
338 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. LIO 
 
 not accustomed to them, might take them for trunks of trees, 
 covered with rough and dry bark ; but the mistake would soon 
 be fatal, if not prevented; for the torpid animal, at the near 
 approach of any living thing, darts upon it, and instantly 
 drags it into the water, and dives to the bottom. 
 
 The strength of the crocodile is very great, and though not 
 so powerful on land as in the water, yet ii is very terrible, even 
 there. Except pressed by hunger, or with a view of depo- 
 siting its eggs, it seldom leaves the water. Its usual method 
 is to float upon the surface, and seize upon whatever comes 
 within its reach ; but when this method fails, it then goes 
 closer to the bank. Disappointed of its fishy prey, it there 
 waits in patient expectation of some land animal, that may 
 come to drink, the dog, the bull, the tiger, or man himself. 
 Striking the animal suddenly, with its tail, in a direction 
 towards its mouth, it is instantly caught by its ponderous 
 jaws, and, dragging it into the water,' the victim, if not 
 already killed, is soon drowned. 
 
 Desperate and bloody combats frequently occur between 
 the crocodile and the tiger. All creatures of the cat kind 
 are continually tormented with a parching thirst, which 
 compels them to keep within the vicinity of rivers, to which 
 they often resort to drink. It is on these occasions that they 
 are seized by the crocodile, and they die not unrevenged. 
 The instant the tiger is seized upon, he darts his claws, with 
 great force, into the crocodile's eyes, while he plunges with 
 his fierce antagonist into the river. There they continue to 
 struggle for some time, but in the end, the tiger is generally 
 drowned. 
 
 The crocodile is a native of most warm climates, both in 
 the old and new world. In the Nile, and other great rivers 
 of Africa, he abounds, as well as in the rivers of Southern 
 Asia, and the hot climates of America. In many countries, 
 they are eaten by the savage inhabitants; but their flesh has 
 a strong, musky odour, and is far from being palatable food. 
 
 The king of Egypt is called a leviathan, (Ps. Ixxiv. 14,) 
 and Satan himself is so denominated by the prophet Isaiah, 
 who predicts his destruction and the downfall of his king- 
 dom. (Isa. xxvii. 1.) 
 
 Lion. This is the largest animal of the feline, or cat race. 
 The largest lions are about eight or nine feet in length, from 
 the snout to the insertion of the tail, which is, of itself, four 
 
LIO 
 
 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 339 
 
 Tlie Lion. 
 
 feet long, and these large lions are four or five feet in height. 
 In all her dimensions, the lioness is about one-third less than 
 the lion. 
 
 The lion is furnished with a mane, which becomes longer 
 in proportion as he advances in age. The lioness, however, 
 is without this appendage at every age, which causes so great 
 a difference in her appearance, that at first view, she appears 
 to belong to a different species. 
 
 The lion, when hungry, boldly attacks all animals that come 
 in his way ; but as they all seek to avoid him, he is often 
 obliged to hide in order to take them by surprise. For this 
 purpose, he crouches in some thicket, where, in patient ex- 
 pectation, he waits the approach of his prey, until it comes 
 within a proper distance, and he then springs after it with 
 such force, that he often seizes it with a single bound. His 
 teeth are so strong that he easily breaks the bones of an 
 animal, and swallows them as well as the flesh. He bears 
 hunger for a long time, but is a very thirsty animal, drinking 
 often, by lapping, after the manner of a dog. He generally 
 lies quiet in the day time, and goes abroad at night, in search 
 of food, as his sight, like all others of the cat tribe, is fitted 
 for seeing best at night. 
 
 The outward form of the lion seems to speak the superiority 
 of his internal qualities, and his figure is striking, his look 
 bold and confident, his gait proud and majestic, and his roar- 
 ing terrible. His stature is not overgrown, like the elephant 
 Qi rhinoceros, nor is the shape clumsy, like the hippopotamus. 
 
S40 
 
 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 LIZ 
 
 He is, in every respect, compact and well proportioned, and 
 a perfect model of strength joined with agility. 
 
 Hunting the Lion. 
 
 Hunting the lion, in the countries where he abounds, is 
 generally undertaken by parties of armed men, with dogs, 
 who, when his retreat has been discovered, generally succeed 
 In destroying him ; but it may readily be supposed that an 
 attack on such an adversary, is not unattended by danger. 
 
 Lions abounded not only in Lebanon, but also in the 
 thickets of Jordan, and in other places in Canaan where 
 there were woods. Samson tore a lion to pieces with his 
 hands, (Judges xiv,) and David killed both a lion and a 
 bear. (1 Sam. xvii. 34.) Daniel was cast into the den of 
 lions, and was miraculously preserved from destruction. 
 (Dan. vi. 27.) 
 
 The lion is very frequently referred to in Scripture, and it 
 is not surprising that an animal possessing such remarkable 
 qualities, should have afforded frequent occasion for suita- 
 ble comparison, under many circumstances. His strength, 
 courage, and power to conquer, however, are the qualities 
 more frequently referred to, and it is in these respects, that 
 our Saviour is denominated the " Lion of the tribe of Judah." 
 (Rev. V. 5.) 
 
 Lizard. These are animals which live partly on the land, 
 and partly in the water, or at least, in moist, damp places. 
 
LOC SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 341 
 
 Their body is oblong-, 
 
 and roundish, and 
 
 they have four legs, 
 
 and hinder parts ter- 
 
 minatino- in a long: 
 
 and tapering tan. Li- 
 
 _,, , . , zards are of many 
 
 The Lizard. vrr ^ i • j 
 
 dmerent kinds ; some 
 
 very small, and others of great size, as the crocodile, which 
 is the largest of the lizard kind, and though they all preserve 
 a great similarity as it regards their shape and g^eneral con- 
 formation, no class of animals differ so widely from each 
 other in size and colour. Lizards were unclean animals 
 under the law. (Lev. xi. 30.) All the varieties of lizards 
 are found, in great numbers, in Egypt, Palestine, Arabia, and 
 in most other warm countries. 
 
 Locust. This is an insect of the grasshopper species, 
 which, in many respects, it closely resembles. The quantity 
 of grass which a few grasshopers, that sport in the fields, 
 could destroy, is trifling ; but when a swarm of locusts, two 
 or three miles long, and several yards deep, settle on a field, 
 the consequences are frightful. 
 
 This insect is about three inches long, and has two horns, 
 or feelers, an inch in length. The head and horns are of a 
 brownish colour, and it is blue about the mouth, as also on the 
 inside of the larger legs. The shield that covers the back is 
 greenish, and the upper side of the body brown, spotted with 
 black, and the under side purple. The upper Vv'ings are brown, 
 with small dusky spots, with one larger at the tips, and un- 
 der the wings they are more transparent, and of a light brown, 
 tinctured with green; but there is a dark cloud of spots near 
 the tips. There is no animal in-creation which m^ultiplies so 
 fast as these, if the sun be warm, and the soil in which their 
 eggs are deposited, be dry. 
 
 The Scriptures having been vmtten in a country where 
 the locust made a distinguished figure in the picture of nature, 
 have given us several striking images of this animal's num- 
 bers and rapacity. They compare an arm}^, where the num- 
 bers are almost infinite, to a swarm of locusts. (Isa. xxxiii. 
 4, 5. Nah. iii. 15 — 17.) They describe them as rising out 
 of the earth, where they are produced, as pursuing a settled 
 2D 2 
 
342 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. MOL 
 
 march to destroy the fruits of the earth, and co-operate with 
 divine indignation. 
 
 When locusts take the field, we are assured they have a 
 leader at their head, whose llight they observe, and pay strict 
 attention to all his motions. They appear, at a distance, like 
 a black cloud, which, as it approaches, gathers upon the 
 horizon, and almost hides the light of day. Wretched is the 
 district upon which they settle. They ravage the meadow 
 and the pasture ground, strip the trees of their leaves, and 
 the garden of its beauty ; the visitation of a few minutes 
 destroys the expectations of a year, and a famine but too 
 frequently ensues. 
 
 According to the Jewish law, the locust was a clean ani- 
 mal, (Lev. xi. 22,) and might be used for food. The food 
 of John the Baptist was locusts and wild hone3^ (Matt. iii. 4.) 
 They are still eaten by most Eastern nations, and among 
 them are considered a delicacy, being boiled and eaten with 
 salt, or dried in the sun. 
 
 These dreadful insects, in prodigious numbers, formed the 
 eighth plague of Egypt, and were, by a strong wind, driven 
 away into the Red Sea. (Ex. x. 14 — 19.) 
 
 Louse. A well known insect, with which most ani- 
 mals are infested, not excepting man himself, where proper 
 attention is not paid to personal cleanliness. Swarms of lice 
 were one of the plagues of Egypt; nor could the magicians 
 produce any. (Ex. viii. 16 — 19.) 
 
 Mole. This animal, without being blind, has such small 
 eyes, and these so concealed, that at first view, it might be 
 supposed, as formerly, that it was altogether destitute of the 
 sense of vision; but it is now ascertained that it possesses 
 the power of seeing in a degree well suited to its habitation, 
 and the kind of life which it leads. Its skin is as soft as 
 silk, and its little paws, which are furnished with five claws, 
 are almost like the hands of a human being. Its strength, 
 for its size, is very great, and it possesses the mild habitudes 
 of repose and confidence. As these animals very seldom 
 come above ground, they have few enemies, and, were it not 
 that they are often destroyed by an inundation of the low 
 grounds, where they usually fix their habitations, they would 
 soon be multiplied to a very injurious extent. It feeds on 
 roots, worms, and insects. It always skins a worm before 
 
MUL 
 
 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 343 
 
 eating it, and in this operation displays an exquisite degree 
 of skill. 
 
 By the Jewish law, the mole was classed among the un- 
 clean animals. To cast idols to the moles and the bats, is to 
 abandon their worship, and to throw them away with con- 
 tempt and neglect. (Isa. ii. 20.) 
 
 Moth. An insect of the butterfly kind, which, like that 
 insect, is produced from the caterpillar, and difFars chiefly in 
 its going abroad by night, instead of going abroad by day. 
 See Butterfly. 
 
 Secret curses, or judgments, that insensibly consume, are 
 likened to a moth. (Isa. 1.9; li. 8.) The wicked man 
 buildeth his house as a moth — he builds it with anxious care. 
 (Job xxvii. 18.) Man's beauty, glor}'', and wealth, waste 
 like a moth, are secretly, insensibly, but certainly consumed, 
 (Ps. xxxix. 11.) 
 
 Mouse. This is a well known, 
 four-footed little animal, whose fore- 
 teeth are sharp, its feet divided, and 
 its ears and tail naked of hair. Un- 
 der the Mosaic law, (Lev. xi. 29,) 
 they were declared unclean; but 
 they were used as food by the an- 
 cient Romans. In some parts of 
 Palestine, they were so plentiful, 
 that had it not been for the birds 
 which devoured them^, they had destroyed the whole seed or 
 crop of corn; and it seems the}'' had exceedingly injured the 
 Philistines' crop, that year in which the ark of God was a 
 captive in the country. (1 Sam. vi. 5.) By some, it is 
 thought that the jerboa, or jumping mouse, which also 
 abounds in that country, was the animal referred to. 
 
 Mule. This is a mongrel animal, of a mixed kind, be- 
 tween the horse and the ass. The Jewish law prohibited 
 every attempt to confound the species of animals, and yet it 
 is certain that there were plenty of males in the time of 
 David, as he and his sons rode on them, and they appear to 
 have been held in great esteem. (2 Sam. xiii. 29; xviii. 9.) 
 Solomon rode upon one at his coronation, and procured a 
 considerable number of them. (1 Kings i. 33 ; x. 25.) The 
 Persians used them for their posts to ride on. (Esth. viii. 10.) 
 
 The Mouse. 
 
344 
 
 SCRIPTURi: NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 MUL 
 
 They are still much used in various countries, where the ways 
 are mountainous and rocky. Great numbers of them are 
 kept about the Alps, on the north of Italy, and about the 
 Pyrenean mountains, between France and Spain. These 
 mules are black, well limbed, and fifteen or sixteen hands 
 high. They are much strono-er, hardier, and more sure of 
 foot than the horse, and will live and work to double his age. 
 
 bpaiiiili r^IulutcLTS. 
 
 For travelling over wild and mountainous tracts of coun- 
 try, the mule is much better than the horse, being much more 
 sure-footed, which was doubtless one reason for the estima- 
 tion in which mules were held in Palestine. Their manner 
 of descending the Alps, Andes, and other mountainous re- 
 gions, is very extraordinary. In these passages, on one side 
 are steep eminences, and on the other, frightful abysses; and 
 the road frequently forms steep declivitirs of several hundred 
 yards downwards. These can only be descended by the 
 mule, and the animal itself seems sensible of the danger and 
 the caution to be used in such descents. "When they come 
 to the edge of one of the precipices, they stop without being 
 checked by the rider, and if he attempts to spur them on, 
 they continue immovable. They seem all this time rumi- 
 nating on the peril that lies before them. They not only 
 attentively view the road, but tremble and snort at the dan- 
 ger. They then place their forefeet in a posture as if they 
 
OST SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 345 
 
 were stoppino' themselves, and put their hindfeet tog-ether, 
 and a little forward, as if they were about to lie down. They 
 then slide down with the swiftness of an arrow. At this 
 time, all the rider has to do is to keep himself fast on the 
 saddle, without checking the reins, for the least motion would 
 disturb the equilibrium of the mule, in which case both he 
 and his rider would be dashed to pieces. Some mules, after 
 >livii\^ been lono' used in these perilous descents, acquire a 
 /eputation for safety, and their value rises in proportion to 
 their celebrity. 
 
 Night Hawk. The nig;ht hawk is mentioned amongst 
 the list of unclean birds. (Lev. xi. 16 ; Deut. xiv. 15.) The 
 bird usually called by that name amongst us, has no relation 
 to the hawk in its manners and habits, though it somewhat 
 resembles a small hawk in appearance. Its habits are those 
 of the swallow tribe, except that it flies abroad at the ap- 
 proach of night, and seldom during the day. It is probable 
 that a species of owl is the bird referred to in this place. 
 
 OssiFRAGE. This is thought to be a bird of the eagle 
 kind, so called from breaking the bones of its prey after it 
 has eaten its flesh. See Eagle. 
 
 OsPRAY. This is probably the black eagle, which, although 
 among the smallest of the kind, is one of the strongest and 
 swiftest. It is mentioned in Lev. xi. 13. See Eagle. 
 
 Ostrich. This bird has furnished the sacred writers with. 
 some of their most beautiful imagery, and its flesh was, even 
 previous to the days of Moses, apparently a common article 
 of food, as we find it interdicted, amongst other unclean ani- 
 mals, by the Jewish legislator. 
 
 The ostrich is considered to be the largest of birds, and the 
 connecting link between quadrupeds and fovv'ls. Its head 
 and bill somewhat resem.ble those of a duck, and the neck 
 maybe compared to that of a swan, but that it is much longer; 
 the legs and thighs resemble those of a hen, but are very 
 fleshy and large. The end of the foot is cloven, and has two 
 very large toes, which, like the leg, are covered with scales. 
 These toes are of unequal sizes ; the largest of which is on 
 the inside, being seven inches long, including the claw. The 
 height of the ostrich is usually seven feet from the head to 
 
346 
 
 SCRIPTUKE NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 OST 
 
 the ground, but from the back it is only four, so thut the head 
 and neck are above three feet long-. From the head to the 
 end of the tail, when the neck is stretched in a right line, it 
 is seven feet long. One of the wings, with the feathers 
 stretched out, is three feet long. The plumage is generally 
 white and black, though some of them are said to be gray. 
 There are no feathers on the sides of the thighs, or under the 
 wings. At the end of each wing, there is a kind of spur, 
 resembling the quill of a porcupine, about an inch long; and 
 about a foot lower down, another, though smaller. 
 
 The Ostrich. 
 
 The ostrich has not, like most other birds, feathers of dif- 
 ferent kinds; they are all bearded with detached hairs, or 
 filaments, without resistance or reciprocal adherence. They 
 cannot, therefore, be of any utility in flying, or directing the 
 flight. Besides the peculiar structure of its wiugs, the 
 ostrich is rendered incapable of flight by its enormous size, 
 weighing seventy-five or eighty pounds, a weight which would 
 require an immense power of wing to elevate in the air. 
 
 Sly and timorous, in no common degree, the ostrich retires 
 from the cultivated field, where it is disturbed by the Arabian 
 shepherds and husbandmen, into the deepest recesses of the 
 Sahara. In these dreary wastes it is reduced to subsist on a 
 few tufts of coarse grass, which here and there languish on 
 their surface, or a few other solitary plants, equally destitute 
 of nourishment, and, in the Psalmist's phrase, even "withered 
 before they are grown up." To this dry and parched food 
 may perhaps be added, the great variety of land snails, which 
 
OST SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 347 
 
 occasionally cover these plants. Nor is it improbable that 
 its sometimes devours lizards and snakes, for, in fact, no 
 kind of food appears to come amiss, how coarse and indi- 
 gestible soever it may appear. Still, considering the vo- 
 racity and size of this camel bird, as it is called in the East, 
 it is surprising how it is able to obtain a sufficient supply 
 of food. 
 
 When the ostrich is provoked, it sometimes makes a fierce, 
 angry, and hissing noise, with its throat inflated, and its 
 mouth open, and sometimes it cackles, like a hen. But in 
 the silent hours of the night, it assumes quite a different tone, 
 and makes a very doleful and hideous noise, which sometimes 
 resembles the roaring of a lion, and sometimes the bull, or 
 the ox. It frequently groans, as if it were in the greatest 
 agonies, to which the prophet beautifully alludes, " I will 
 make a mourning like the ostriches," or owls, as our version 
 reads. (Micah i.'8.) 
 
 The ostrich lays very large eggs ; some of them are above 
 five inches in diameter, and weigh fifteen pounds. It has 
 been commonly reported that the female deposits them in the 
 sand, and then covering them up, leaves them to be hatched 
 by the heat of the climate, and then permits the young to 
 shift for themselves. Very little of this, however, is true ; no 
 bird has a stronger affection for her young than the ostrich, 
 and none watches her eggs with greater assiduity, though, 
 in those hot climates, there is less necessity for continued 
 incubation during the day, but at night she uniformly returns 
 to prevent the eggs from being chilled by the evening air. 
 The young ones cannot walk for several days after their ex- 
 clusion from the shell, during which time, the old ones attend 
 them, and supply them with food very carefully. 
 
 The ostrich inhabits only the deserts of Africa and Asia, 
 and from its frequenting the more solitary and deserted 
 places, it is, in several places in Scripture, made an emblem 
 of solitude and desolation. (Jobxxx. 29. Isa. xiii. 21; xxxiv. 
 13. Jer. i. 39.) In these texts, our translation reads owls; 
 but it is believed by learned men generally, that they should 
 have been rendered ostriches. 
 
 In the book of Job (ch. xxxix. 13 — 18) this bird is referred 
 to, and some of her peculiarities described. It has been said 
 that the ostrich is a very timid bird, and easily frightened 
 from her nest by the approach of an enemy, and the expres- 
 sion, therefore, "She leaveth her eggs in the sand, and 
 
348 
 
 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 OST 
 
 warmeth them in the dust, and forgetteth that the foot may 
 crush them, or that the wild beast may break them," refers, 
 first, to her leaving her eggs during the day, to the sun's 
 warmth, voluntarily ; and, in the second place, to her leaving 
 her nest at the approach of an enemy, without any resistance, 
 contrary to the habits of most other birds. 
 
 Hunting the Ostrich. 
 
 Their nests are large, and made upon the ground, in exposed 
 situations, and it is aihrmed that several females deposit their 
 eggs in the same nest. In verse sixteenth, there is an ex- 
 pression which would seem to imply a want of natural affec- 
 tion for her young. " She is hardened against her young 
 ones, as though they were not hers, her labour is in vain, 
 without fear." When she is disturbed by danger, or wanders 
 after food, leaving her young ones without fear or concern 
 for them, it may be said that her labour in rearing them so 
 far, is in vain. 
 
 Her great swiftness is referred to — " What time she lifteth 
 up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider." It 
 is affirmed that the ostrich is able to leave the fleetest horses 
 far behind, and did she run in a straight line, could not be 
 taken; but as she runs in circles, the horseman, by taking 
 the shortest course, is able, finally, to overtake her. When 
 
OWL 
 
 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORV. 
 
 349 
 
 exhausted, she hides her head, and foolishly supposes, thatj 
 by doing so, she is hid from her pursuers. 
 
 
 
 S^^^^^^^k. ^ 
 
 ^^ 1 
 
 y ' ^'^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 ---R^ 1 1 
 
 t^'i'^^^^^^» 
 
 . ^^ V 
 
 ii^^^^^H 
 
 K \j^ 
 
 ^^^^^H 
 
 ^m^j^^^ j^ 
 
 \** ■'V^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 ^^^mm*^^"^**"*^^ 
 
 
 ^Mk 
 
 vA ^/^"^^^^^^^S^N ^^'^^ 
 
 ^^^^^tes 
 
 p^K 
 
 ^^K 
 
 
 P^^ 
 
 The Owl. 
 
 Owl. All birds of the owl kind, have one common mark 
 by which they are distinguished from others. Their eyes, 
 like those of the cat tribe, are formed for seeing better in the 
 dusk than in the broad glare of the sunshine, so that it lies 
 quiet in its retreat, of some old ruin, or hollow tree, during* 
 the .day, and on the approach of evening, ventures out in 
 quest of food. The nights when the moon shines, are the 
 times of their most successful plunder; for when it is wholly 
 dark, they are the less qualified to pursue the animals on 
 which they prey. 
 
 Birds of the owl kind may be divided into two sorts ; those 
 which have horns, and those which have not. These horns 
 2 E 
 
1 
 
 350 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. PAR 
 
 are nothing more than two or three feathers, that stand up on 
 each side of the head, over the ear, and give this animal a 
 kind of horned appearance. There are a great many species 
 of the owl, but they differ little, except in size and colour, 
 from each other, and in their habits and manners, the whole 
 tribe are almost exactly alike. The large horned owl, is 
 almost as large as the eagle, while some of the smaller kinds 
 are not larger than a pigeon. 
 
 The note, or hooting of the owl, which is usually heard 
 about the time he comes from his hiding-place, is singularly 
 prolonged and doleful, and fills many persons with a super- 
 stitious dread. 
 
 Amongst the ancients, the owl was the emblem of wisdom, 
 and was consecrated to Minerva ; for which reason, it was 
 held in high honour by the Athenians, who represented it on 
 their medals. No such honour, however, is bestowed on it 
 in the Scriptures. In the Jewish law, it is found amongst the 
 unclean birds, (Lev. xi. 17; Deut. xiv. 15,) and is used as 
 an emblem of desolation. When Isaiah speaks of Babylon 
 as reduced to a wilderness, he says, the owls shall answer 
 one another there. (Isa. xiii. 21.) And the Psalmist says, 
 that in his affliction he was as the owl, sitting alone in the 
 housetop. (Ps. cii. 6.) 
 
 Ox. A general name for a well known domestic animal, 
 meaning, more strictly, one which is used for the plough or 
 draught. The ox is almost always referred to, in the Scrip- 
 tures, as an emblem of patience and labour. See Bull. 
 
 Partridge. This bird is of the 
 poultry kind, and there are more 
 than twenty species known, though 
 they may be all arranged under two 
 divisions, the gray and the red. 
 The red is the larger, and often 
 perches on trees ; the gray always 
 keeps on the ground. 
 
 This bird is about thirteen inches "^'^^ Partridge. 
 
 in length, the plumage, brown and ash colour, beautifully 
 mixed with black. The tail is short, the legs of a greenish 
 white, and the bill is of a light brown. 
 ir The partridge seems to be a bird well known all over the 
 world, as it is found, as well in the frozen regions about the 
 
PEA SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 351 
 
 pole, as in the torrid tracts, under the equator. It even seems 
 to adapt itself to the nature of the climate where it resides. 
 In Greenland, the partridge, which is brown in summer, as the 
 winter begins to set in, like most other animals and birds of 
 those regions, becomes white, and continues to wear the 
 livery suitable to the snows with which it is surrounded, till 
 the return of spring. 
 
 In manners and habits, the partridge nearly resembles the 
 other poultry kind ; but its cunning and instinct seem supe- 
 rior to the larger birds of that race. 
 
 This bird is twice mentioned in the Scriptures. The first 
 occurs in the history of David, (1 Sam. xvi. 20,) where he 
 expostulates with Saul concerning his unjust and foolish 
 pursuit. " The king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as 
 when one doth hunt a partridge on the mountains." The 
 other passage is, " As the partridge sitteth on eggs and 
 hatcheth them not, so he that getteth riches, and not by right, 
 shall leave them in the midst of his days." (Jer. xvii. 11.) 
 It is said that the partridge, finding the nest of some other 
 bird, will take possession of it, and sit on the eggs till the 
 real owner of the nest comes and drives her away, and it is 
 to this peculiarity that the above text is supposed to refer. 
 
 The Peacock. 
 Peacock. To describe, in adequate terms, the dazzling 
 beauties of this elegant bird, would be a task of no small 
 difficulty. His head is adorned with a tuft, consisting of 
 twenty-four feathers, painted with the most exquisite green, 
 mixed with gold. The head, throat, neck, and breast, are of 
 
352 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. PEL 
 
 a deep blue, glossed with green and gold ; but the distin- 
 guishing character of this singular bird is its train, which, 
 when erected, forms a fan of the most resplendent hues. 
 The voice is very hoarse and disagreeable, and its feet by no 
 means in correspondence with the beauty of its plumage. 
 
 The peacock has, in some countries, been esteemed an 
 article of luxury; but whatever there may be of delicacy in 
 the flesh of a young peacock, it is certain an old one is very 
 indifferent eating. Peacocks were highly esteemed among 
 the Romans, and they are mentioned, (1 Kings x. 22,) as 
 among Solomon's importations from the East. Our peacocks 
 were also brought from the East Indies, and we are assured 
 that there are still vast flocks of them, in a wild state, in the 
 islands of Java and Ceylon. 
 
 Pelican. This bird is much larger than the swan, and 
 somewhat resembles it in shape and colour, and that which 
 distinguishes it from all other birds, is its enormous bill, and 
 extraordinary pouch. From the point of the bill to the open- 
 ing of the mouth, there is the distance of fifteen inches, and 
 under the lower chop is a bag, reaching the entire length of 
 the bill to the neck. When empty, this bag or pouch con- 
 tracts so as scarcely to be perceived ; but when filled, its 
 great bulk and singular appearance may easily be conceived. 
 This bag, it is said, is capable of holding fifteen quarts of 
 water. Tetre afiirms that this pouch will hold as many fish 
 as will serve sixty hungry men for a meal. Such is the for- 
 mation of this extraordinary bird, which is a native of Africa 
 and America. The pelican is a torpid, inactive bird, and 
 nothing can exceed its indolence but its gluttony. It is only 
 from the stimulations of hunger that they are excited to 
 labour; otherwise they would always remain in a state of 
 fixed repose. Their lives are spent between sleeping and 
 eating, and they are as foul as they are voracious. 
 
 It was once believed that the pelican fed her young with 
 her own blood. The fact is, that the parent bird feeds its 
 young by pressing its full pouch against its breast, and thus 
 expelling a portion of the contents. The appearance of the 
 bird, in this attitude, with the blood red spot at the end of its 
 bill, closely pressed against its breast, may readily account 
 for the prevalence of such an idea, in the minds of superfi- 
 cial observers. 
 
 The pelican, being a solitary and torpid bird, is used as an 
 
RAV SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 353 
 
 emblem of desolation. It was unclean under the law. (Lev. 
 xi. 18. Dent. xiv. 17.) David, in his distress, was like a 
 pelican of the wilderness ; that is, in a very lonely and 
 mournful condition. (Ps. cii. 6.) 
 
 Pigeon. In accordance with the ceremonial law, any per- 
 son who was too poor to afford a lamb for an offering-, was 
 permitted to bring- two turtle doves, or two young pigeons. 
 (Lev. V. 7; xii. 8.) As this was the offering made by the 
 parents of our Lord, (Luke ii. 24,) it was an evidence of 
 their poverty. See Dove. 
 
 Quail. This bird bears a great resemblance to the par- 
 tridge in appearance, except that it is not more than half the 
 size. Its flesh is a great delicacy. The feathers of the head 
 are black, edged with a rusty brown ; the breast is of a pale 
 yellowish red, spotted with black ; the feathers on the back 
 are marked with lines of pale yellow, and the legs are of a 
 pale hue. 
 
 The oriental quail is a bird of passage. Hasselquist says 
 it is plentiful near the shores of the Red Sea and the Jordan, 
 and in the deserts of Arabia; and Diodorus asserts that it is 
 caught, in immense numbers, about Rhinocolura, countries 
 through which the Israelites passed on their way to the pro- 
 mised land. 
 
 On two occasions, the murmuring Hebrews were supplied 
 with quails, and on each occasion, the event is distinctly re- 
 ferred to the miraculous interposition of God. (Ex.xvi. 12,13; 
 Numb. xi. 31.) On the first occasion, they were scattered 
 about the camp, only for a single day ; on the second, they 
 continued for the space of an entire month. 
 
 Raven. This bird is about two feet in length, and four 
 feet between the tips of the wings. The blackness of the 
 raven is proverbial. (Cant. v. 11.) He is strong and hardy, 
 and is found in every region of the globe. Cold and hot 
 climates are alike indifferent to him, and he is equally active 
 in both. The raven may be trained up to almost any purpose, 
 for which birds of prey may be used. He may be taught the 
 art of fowling, like the hawk ; to fetch and carry, like a spa- 
 niel, and to talk, like the parrot, and also to sing. In his 
 tame state, he is very amusing, but is a mischievous and 
 pilfering bird. 
 
 2E2 
 
354 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. SCO 
 
 Under the law, the raven was classed among the unclean 
 birds. (Lev. xi. 15.) When Noah sent the raven out of the 
 ark to see if the waters were abated, it did not return to him. 
 (Gen. viii. 6, 7.) When the prophet Elijali retired, by the 
 direction of God, near the brook Cherith, he was fed for some 
 time by ravens, who brought him bread and flesh, morning 
 and evening. (1 Kings xvii. 6.) 
 
 Roe. It is thought that the Hebrew word, translated roe, 
 in our Bibles, is the gazelle, or antelope. See Deer. 
 
 Satvrs. Wild men, or imaginary animals, half man and. 
 half goat, poetically introduced by Isaiah, (xiii. 21 ; xxxiv. 14,) 
 as dancing among the ruins of Babylon. It is remarkable, 
 that the inhabitants of that country still believe in the exist- 
 ence there of satyrs. It is probable that the idea of the ex- 
 istence of such an animal, may have been received from the 
 ape, or, as it is sometimes called, the wild man of the woods, 
 or satyr. 
 
 The Scorpion. 
 
 Scorpion. This is one of the largest of the insect tribe, 
 and not less terrible from its size than its malignity. It bears 
 a close resemblance to a lobster in shape, but is much more 
 hideous in appearance. There are several kinds of scorpions, 
 differing in size and colotir. 
 
 There are four principal parts in the scorpion ; the head, 
 the breast, the belly, and the tail. The head seems as if it 
 were joined to the breast, in the middle of which are seen 
 two eyes, and a little more forward, two eyes more, placed in 
 the fore part of the head ; these eyes are so small that they 
 are scarcely perceptible, and it is probable that this animal has 
 
SHE 
 
 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 355 
 
 little occasion for seeino;. The mouth is furnished with two 
 jaws, with which it breaks its food, and thrusts it into its 
 mouth. On each side of the head are two arms, each com- 
 posed of four joints, like the claws of a lobster. Besides these 
 arms it has eight legs, four on each side. The body is divided 
 into seven little rings, from the lowest of which is continued 
 a tail, composed of six joints, the last being armed with a 
 crooked sting. This sting is the instrument which renders 
 the insect so formidable, and with which it inflicts a poison- 
 ous, and often fatal v^^ound. The scorpion found in the south- 
 ern countries of Europe, is about four inches long; but in 
 the tropical climates of the East, it is often found twelve 
 inches in length. 
 
 Scorpions are mentioned as amongst the dangers of the 
 Israelites, in the wilderness. (Deut. viii. 15.) This animal is 
 always mentioned in the Scriptures, as an emblem of venom 
 and malignity. (Ezek. ii. 6. Luke xi. 11, 12; x. 19. Rev. 
 ix. 3—10.) 
 
 Serpent. The craft and 
 subtlety of this class of 
 animals, which includes a 
 very numerous race, differ- 
 ing greatly from each other ^P 
 in size and malignity, are 
 frequently dwelt on in the 
 sacred writings, as quali- 
 ties for which it is emi- 
 nently distinguished. Moses says it was more subtle than any 
 beast of the field which the Lord had made ; (Gen. iii. 1;) and 
 our Saviour refers to its wisdom, as affording a model for 
 imitation to his disciples. (Matt. x. 16.) 
 
 Sheep. In its present domestic state, the sheep is, of all 
 animals, the most defenceless and inoffensive. With its 
 liberty, it appears to have been deprived of its swiftness and 
 cunning. Without swiftness, it endeavours to fly, and with- 
 out strength, sometimes makes a useless opposition. In its 
 ■wild state, however, it is a hardy, active animal, and in every 
 way fitted to defend itself, or escape from those dangers by 
 which it is surrounded. 
 
 In Syria, there are two kinds of sheep ; the one differing 
 in no respect from those among us, except that their tails are 
 
 The Serpent. 
 
356 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. SNA 
 
 somewhat longer and thicker; the other kind is that which 
 has been so frequently mentioned by travellers, on account 
 of the extraordinary size of the tail ; and this species is by 
 far the most numerous. The tail of this kind of sheep is 
 affirmed by travellers to weigh from fifteen to fifty pounds. 
 
 In a domesticated state, the sheep, as already noticed, is a 
 weak and defenceless animal, and dependent altogether on 
 the care of man for its protection and support ; but, notwith- 
 standing its imbecility, it is nevertheless prone to stray from 
 the care of its keeper; and on this character of the sheep, 
 almost all the allusions to this animal, in the wScriptures, are 
 founded. David confesses that he had imitated their foolish 
 conduct. "I have gone astray like a lost sheep," and, 
 conscious that he was disposed, like them, to wander still 
 further from the fold, he adds, 'seek thy servant." (Ps. 
 cxix. 176.) 
 
 The sheep-folds, among the Israelites, appear to have been 
 generally houses, or enclosures, walled round, to guard the 
 sheep from beasts of prey by night, and the scorching heat 
 by day. To this kind of sheep-fold our Saviour, -doubtless, 
 refers. " He that entereth not by the door into the sheep- 
 fold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief 
 and a robber." (John x. I — 11.) 
 
 Snail. The wise Author of nature having denied feet and 
 claws, to enable snails to creep and climb, has made amends 
 to them, in a way more commodious for their state of life, by 
 the broad skin along each side of their belly, and the imdu- 
 lating motion observable there. By this motion they creep ; 
 by the broad skin, assisted by the glutinous slime emitted 
 from the body, they adhere firmly and securely to the surface 
 of any object, partly by the tenacity of their slime, and partly 
 by tlie pressure of the atmosphere. Thus the snail wastes 
 itself by its own motion, every undulation leaving some of 
 its moisture behind; and, in the same manner, the actions of 
 wicked men prove their destruction. They may, like the 
 snail, carry their defence along with them, and retire into it, 
 as the snail does into its shell, on every appearance of 
 danger; they may confidently trust in their own resources, 
 and banish far away the fear of evil ; but the principles of 
 ruin are at work within them, and though the progress may 
 be slow, the result is certain. The Psalmist prayed, "As a 
 snail that melteth, let every one of them pass away;" and 
 
STO SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 357 
 
 Jehovah answered, "The wicked shall be turned into hell, 
 and all the nations that forget God." (Ps. Iviii. 8. Lev. xi. 30.) 
 
 Sparrovv% The Hebrew word translated sparrow, is also 
 used for all sorts of clean birds, or those whose use was not 
 forbidden in the law, and especially for the smaller birds; 
 and in most of the passages where a sparrow is mentioned, 
 we may understand a bird of any kind. A very small kind 
 of bird is no doubt understood, which was sold five for two 
 farthings, or two fur a farthing. (Matt. x. 29. Luke xii. 6.) 
 To mark his afflicted and sorrowful condition, David com- 
 pares himself to a, sparrow alone upon the house top. (Ps, 
 Ixxxiv. 3.) • 
 
 Spider, A well known insect, remarkable for the thread 
 which it spins, and with which it forms a web of curious 
 texture, but so frail, that it is exposed to be broken and de- 
 stroyed by the slightest accident. To the slenderness of this 
 filmy workmanship. Job compares the hope of the wicked, 
 {viii. 14.) This comparison is so exquisite that nothing can 
 he conceived which so fully describes the utter vanity. of 
 xheir hopes and prosperity. Isaiah says, also, "they weave 
 the web of the spider, of their webs no garment shall be 
 made, neither shall they cover themselves with their works." 
 ■ -(lix. 5.) The greater number of commentators suppose the 
 spider to be referred to by Solomon, when he says, she taketh 
 hold with her hands ; (Prov. xxx. 28 ;) but as the usual word 
 for that insect is not used in the original, in this place, it has 
 been, by others, believed to refer to the newt, a small kind of 
 lizard. 
 
 The natural history of the spider is exceedingly curious 
 in all its details ; but our limits forbid us from pursuing it 
 further. 
 
 Stork. This bird is one of the crane kind, and has the 
 long beak and legs which characterize that species. The 
 most remarkable of the storks is the white one, the length 
 of which is above three feet. The bill is nearly eight inches 
 long, and of a fine red colour. The skin of the legs and 
 bare part of the thighs, is also red. 
 
 ^ The white stork is semi-domestic, haunting towns and 
 cities, in many countries, and stalking about the streets un- 
 concernedly, from which they remove the filth, and clear the 
 
358 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. SWA 
 
 fields of serpents and reptiles. On this account they are 
 protected in Holland, held in high veneration by the Ma- 
 hometans, and so greatly were they respected, in times of 
 old, by the Thessalonians, that to kill one of these birds, 
 was a crime expiable only by death. The ancients, indeed, 
 describe it as a pattern of conjugal fidelity, and of filial and 
 paternal piety. 
 
 Moses places the stork amongst the unclean birds. (Lev. 
 xi. 19. Detit. xiv. 18.) The Psalmist says, (civ. 17,) as for 
 the stork, the fir trees are her house. The low houses in 
 Palestine did not afford so favourable a situation for the stork 
 to build in, as the houses of Europe, and she, doubtless for 
 that reason, resorted to the pine trees. Profane writers speak 
 much of the piety of the stork, and of its gratitude to its 
 parents. 
 
 Swallow. There are many species of the swallow; all 
 of them have bills which are broad, small at the point, and 
 slightly curved. The wings are long, and the tail forked, the 
 legs short and slender. Their voice is a peculiar twittering 
 noise, and they fly with great rapidity. 
 
 The only mention of the swallow, in Scripture, is in Isaiah 
 xxxviii. 14, and Jeremiah viii. 7. Hezekiah, referring to his 
 recent afiliction, says, as a swallow, or a crane, so did I chat- 
 ter. The note of swallows being quick and mournful, the 
 allusion of the king is supposed to be to his prayers, which 
 were so interrupted by groans, as to be like the quick twitter- 
 ings of the swallow. The passage in Jeremiah refers to the 
 well known migration of this bird, from which the prophet 
 takes occasion to reprove the ingratitude of the favoured 
 tribes. " The turtle, and the crane, and the swallow, observe 
 the time of their coming, but my people know not the judg- 
 ment of the Lord." 
 
 Swan. So much difference exists between this bird when 
 on land and in the water, that it hardly appears like the same 
 creature. 
 
 When it ascends from the water, its favourite element, its 
 motions are awkward, and its neck is stretched forward with 
 an air of stupidity; but when seen smoothly gliding along 
 the water, displaying a thousand graceful attitudes, and 
 moving at pleasure, without the smallest apparent effort, 
 there is not a more beautiful figure in all nature. It is 
 
SWA 
 
 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 359 
 
 The Swan. 
 
 able to swim faster than a man 
 can walk. 
 
 This beautiful bird is as deli- 
 cate in its appetites, as it is 
 elegant in its form. Its chief 
 food is corn, herbs growing in 
 the water, and roots and seeds 
 which are found near the margin. 
 At the time of incubation, it pre- 
 pares a nest in some retired part 
 of the bank, and chiefly where 
 there is a small island in the 
 stream. The swan la3's seven 
 or eight eggs, white, and much 
 larger than that of the goose. A female has been known to 
 attack and drown a fox, which was swimming towards her 
 nest, and an old swan can break the leg of a man with his 
 wing. The swan is a long-lived bird, and sometimes attains 
 the age of more than a hundred years. 
 
 The wild, or whistling swan, though so strongl 3^ resembling 
 the tame one in colour and form, yet differs considerably from 
 it, especially in its internal structure. It is also less, by a 
 fourth, in size; the tame swan weighing about twenty, and 
 the wild about fifteen pounds. The wild species is found in 
 most of the northern regions, in America, and probably in the 
 East Indies. The tame swan makes no noise, except a hiss ; 
 the wild one has a sharp, loud cry, particularly while flying. 
 The song, ascribed to this bird, when dying, by the ancients, 
 is a mere fable. The colour of the tame swan, is all over 
 white; the wild one, along the back, and tips of the wing, 
 inclines to an ash colour. 
 
 The black swan, of New Holland, that country of animal 
 wonders, presents us with a bird, which the ancients imagined 
 could not possibly have an existence. The black swan is ex- 
 actly similar in its form to the same bird found in other 
 countries, but is somew-hat less in size. Every part of the 
 plumage is perfectly black, except a few of the longest quill 
 feathers, which are white. The bill is bright-red, and the 
 legs and feet ash-coloured. They are extremely shy, and 
 when disturbed, fly off, one after another, like wild geese. 
 
 The swan is amongst the birds declared unclean, by the 
 Levitical law, and is only twice mentioned in the Bible, (Lev. 
 
360 
 
 SCTRIPTURE NATlfRAL HISTORY 
 
 xi. 18. Deut. xiv. 16 ;) and some authors have doubted whether 
 this bird is that really intended by the ^yord so translated. 
 
 Swine. This word was formerly used in the singular, as 
 well as the plural number, but it is novr generally \ised for 
 hogs, in the plural. See Boar. 
 
 Tortoise. Tortoises are usually divided into those which 
 live upon land, and those that. live in the water; and use has- 
 made a distinction in the name, the one being called tortoises, 
 and the other turtles. It has been proved, however, that they 
 are all able to live in either element, and, upon examir>ation, 
 there will be less variety found among them, than amongst 
 birds that live upon land, and those that swim in the water. 
 
 Catching Turtle. 
 
 All tortoises, in their external form, much resemble each 
 other, their outward covering being composed of two great 
 shells, the one laid upon the other, and only touching at the 
 edges. There are two holes at either edge of this vaulted 
 body, one for a very small head, shoulders, and arms to peep 
 through, the other at the opposite edge, for the feet and the 
 tail. These shells the animal is never disengaged from, and 
 they serve for its defence against every creature, except man. 
 When alarmed, it draws in its feet and head, and closes the 
 shell, in such a manner as to afford it complete protection. 
 It has no teeth, but its moath is armed with a hard, bony rim. 
 Its tail is strong and scaly, like the lizard. 
 
SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 361 
 
 The land tortoise is a long'-lived animal, and, with respect 
 to injuries, may be considered as almost endowed with im- 
 mortality. Tiielossof a limb is a trifling matter, and it seems 
 as though nothing could kill it. It will live with its brain 
 taken out, and even with its head cut oif. They have fre- 
 quently been known to live for eighty years, and sometimes 
 more than a hundred. . 
 
 The sea tortoise, or turtle, as it is usually called, is much 
 larger than the land tortoise. The great Mediterranean tur- 
 tle is the largest of the kind. It is found from five to eight 
 feet long, and from six to nine hundred pounds weight; but 
 these are a formidable and useless kind, compared with those 
 of the South Seas. They are of different kinds, not only 
 unlike each other in form, but furnishing man with different 
 advantages. The imbricated turtle supplies the tortoise shell 
 which is so extensively used, and the green turtle is not less 
 noted for the delicacy and nutritive qualities oCits flesh. This 
 last kind is generally found to weigh about two hundred weight, 
 though some are found much larger. Dampier mentions one 
 so large, that a boy of ten years of age, the son of Captain 
 Rock, used the shell as a boat, and went from the shore in it, 
 to his father's ship. Both the land and sea tortoise feed 
 chiefly on vegetable substances. 
 
 The tortoise is classed amongst reptiles, is a cold blooded 
 animal, and is mentioned as unclean in the ceremonial law. 
 (Lev. xi. 29.) Some learned men, however, think a kind of 
 lizard is intended. If the tortoise was the animal referred to, 
 it was no doubt the land tortoise. 
 
 Unicorn. I^Iuch difference of opinion has existed among 
 learned men, as to the animal referred to by the original word, 
 by our translators rendered unicorn. Did the original word, 
 in itself, denote, as in our translation, an animal having only 
 one horn, much of this uncertainty would cease; but as this 
 is not the case, it affords a much wider scope than otherwise 
 would exist, for the exercise of the imagination of biblical 
 critics. 
 
 The first allusion to this animal, is in the reply of Balaam 
 to Balak, when importuned by the terrified king to curse the 
 invading armies of Israel — " God brought them out of Egypt, 
 he hath, as it were, the strength of an unicorn." (Numb, xxiii. 
 22; xxiv. 8.) From this it is evident that the animal was con- 
 sidered as possessing considerable power. Isaiah associates 
 2F 
 
362 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 him with other powerful animals, to symbolize the leaders and 
 princes of the hostile nations, that were destined to invade his 
 country. " And the unicorns shall come down with them, 
 and the bullocks with the bulls." (Isa. xxxiv. 7.) From the 
 book of Job, we learn that he was not only an animal of con- 
 siderable strength, but also possessed of a very intractable dis- 
 position. "\Vill the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or 
 abide by thy crib V (Job xxxix. 9 — 12.) This animal is also 
 referred to in two or three other passages in the Scriptures, 
 but without any very particular allusion to its manners or 
 habits. (Deut. xxxiii. 17. Ps. xxii. 21; xxix:. 6.) From these 
 passages, chiefly, we are to form our opinion with respect to 
 the animal intended by the sacred writers. 
 
 The name of unicorn was anciently given to an animal de- 
 scribed as having legs like the deer, the head, mane, and tail 
 like the horse, and in the middle of its forehead, a single horn, 
 from which it took its name. Whether such an animal now 
 exists, or ever did exist, has been doubted. Most learned 
 men have considered the existence of such an animal as alto- 
 gether fabulous, and have, consequently, endeavoured to find, 
 amongst those animals w'hose existence and character are well 
 determined, one whose description best corresponds with that 
 referred to in the Scriptures; and the two which have princi- 
 pally divided the opinions of learned men are, the rhinoceros, 
 and w^ld buffalo. 
 
 Those writers who prefer the rhinoceros, as the representa- 
 tive of the unicorn, depend on the name given in the trans- 
 lations, as signifying an animal with only one horn, and as 
 corresponding, in his character, with the description given of 
 that animal. Those who j)refpr the wild buffalo as represent- 
 ing the unicorn, deny that the original word has any reference 
 to an animal with one horn, and they argue that the buffalo 
 agrees, in character, with the scriptural account of the unicorn. 
 
 It is objected, also, that though the rhinoceros in some coun- 
 tries has only one horn, yet in those parts where the animal 
 is found nearest to Palestine, it has two horns, and those not 
 as the unicorn is described, having the horn projecting from 
 the forehead, but one above the other on the snout. The ob- 
 jections against those who advocate the wild buffalo as the 
 animal'iiitended, arise from his having two horns; and though 
 acknowledged to be exceedingly fierce, not fully meeting the 
 description of the animal under consideration. 
 
 On the whole, between the claims of the rhinoceros and 
 
UNI 
 
 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 363 
 
 the wild buffalo, to be considered the unicorn of Scripture, 
 we should have no difficulty in deciding in favour of the 
 rhinoceros, as best acrreeing- with the description of that 
 animal ; and will, therefore, give a somewhat more minute 
 account of it. Next to the elephant, the rhinoceros is said 
 to be the most powerful of animals. When full grown, it is 
 twelve feet long, from the tip of the nose to the insertion of 
 the tail ; from six to seven feet high, and the circumference of 
 its body is nearly equal to its length. It is, therefore, equal 
 to the elephant in bulk; and the reason of its appearing so 
 much smaller to the eye than that animal, is, that its legs are 
 shorter. But for its horn, its head would have the appear- 
 ance of that of a hog. The skin is naked, rough, knotty, 
 and lying on the body in folds in a very peculiar manner, and 
 so thick, as to turn the edge of a scimitar, and to resist a 
 musket ball. 
 
 Battle between the Rhinoceros and Tiger. 
 
 Such are the general characteristics of an animal that ap- 
 pears chiefly formidable from, the horn growing out of its snout, 
 and from that circumstance, rendered irresistible to nearly 
 every inhabitant of the forest. The elephant, the boar, and 
 the buJEfalo, are obliged to strike transversely with their 
 weapons ; but the rhinoceros, from the situation of its horn, 
 employs all its force with every blow; so that the tiger will 
 
364 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. UNI 
 
 rather attack any other animal, though dreadful battles fre- 
 quently take place between them, in \vhich the tiger is almost 
 uniformly destroyed. In combats with the elephant also, the 
 rhinoceros frequently comes off victorious, as its lowness 
 of stature enables it to get under the elephant, and pierce a 
 vital part with its horn. Travellers assure us, that the 
 elephant is often found dead in the forests, pierced with the 
 horn of the rhinoceros. 
 
 The great diversity of opinion which has prevailed amongst 
 learned men as to these animals, affords a strong ground for 
 inference, that neither of them was intended ; on the contrary, 
 we believe quite as strong, or even stronger testimony can be 
 produced in favour of the existence of an animal, formerly 
 and at the present time, which is no doubt the true represen- 
 tative of the unicorn described by the ancients. 
 
 Niebuhr, the celebrated traveller,relates, thatin the ruins of 
 Persepolis, he found, on almost every staircase, the figure of 
 a unicorn depicted in various attitudes; and Pliny, in speak- 
 ing of the wild beasts of India says, with respect to this ani- 
 mal — " The unicorn is an exceeding fierce animal, resembling 
 a horse as to the rest of his body, but having the head like a 
 stag, the feet like an elephant, and the tail like a wild boar; 
 its roaring is loud, and it has a black horn ofabout two cubits 
 projecting from the middle of the forehead." These seem to 
 be the chief ancient testimony in relation to this animal. 
 
 In more recent times, we have further traces of this animal 
 in Southern Africa, and also in Central Asia, in both of which 
 places it has been asserted, on authority which appears to be 
 altogether worthy of confidence, that it has been seen; and 
 when we consider that the giraffe or cameleopard has only a 
 short time since been rediscovered, after having been known 
 to the ancients, and long considered fabulous by the moderns, 
 and that a large part of Africa and Central Asia is still en- 
 tirely unexplored by Europeans, it is by no means improbable 
 that the unicorn now exists in those remote regions, and that 
 it will ere long be rediscovered, and its existence placed be- 
 yond a doubt. 
 
 The gnu or horned horse, which has been, within a short 
 time since, brought from the Cape of Good Hope, possesses 
 characteristics quite as extraordinary as those which have 
 been assigned to the unicorn ; and if it possessed one straight 
 instead of two crooked horns, would bear a strong resem- 
 blance to the description of that animal. 
 
VUL SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 365 
 
 Viper. This is a kind of serpent of w"hich there are 
 several species, all of which are venomous, and some of 
 them produce death in a short time. It is usually two or 
 three feet in leng^th, and is a slow moving- kind of serpent. 
 The poison is infused into the wound by a canal in the fangs, 
 by which it is inflicted. 
 
 The Vulture. 
 
 Vulture. The first rank amongst birds of prey, has been 
 assigned to the eagle, not because it is larger than the vul- 
 ture, but because it is more noble and courageous, and pos- 
 sesses at least as great an inclination for war, as an appetite 
 for prey. The vulture is deficient in all the more respectable 
 qualities of the eagle, and only rivals it in size, strength, and 
 rapacity. 
 
 Vultures may readily be distinguished from all those of the 
 eagle kind, by the nakedness of their heads and necks, which 
 are without feathers, and only covered by a very slight down, 
 or a few scattered hairs ; the eyes are more promiinent, the 
 claws are shorter and less hooked, and the flight more diffi- 
 cult and heavy. All the vulture tribe are cruel, uncleanly, 
 and indolent. 
 
 This bird is found in almost all the countries of the Eastern 
 end Western continent. In Egypt, indeed, it seems to be of 
 singular service. There are great flocks of them in the 
 neighbourhood, of Grand Cairo, which no person is permitted 
 to destroy, because they devour all the carrion and filth, which 
 2F2 
 
366 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. WHA 
 
 has so great a tendency to corrupt and putrefy the air. In 
 South America they are found in great abundance, and when 
 they light upon a carcass, which they have liberty to feed on 
 at their ease, they so gorge themselves that they are unable 
 to fly, but keep hopping along on the ground wlien pursued. 
 At all times it is a bird of slow flight, and when thoroughly 
 gorged, is utterly helpless. 
 
 There are several varieties of the vulture, all of which so 
 closely resemble each other in manners and habits, as to 
 require no particular notice. The condor, however, which 
 belongs to the vulture tribe, is remarkable for its immense 
 size, and is doubtless much the largest of all birds that are 
 capable of flight. It also possesses all the qualities which 
 render it formidable to other animals, and even to man him- 
 self. It is said to be eighteen feet across the wings, its beak 
 is so strong as to pierce the body of a cow, and two of them 
 are able to devour her at a meal. It is supposed that the 
 great bird called the roc, described by the Arabian writers, 
 and so much exaggerated by fable, is but a species of the 
 condor. 
 
 The vulture is mentioned in the ceremonial law as among 
 the unclean birds, (Lev. xi. 14. Deut. xiv. 13,) and is also 
 referred to by the prophet Isaiah, as an emblem of desola- 
 tion, (Isa. xxxiv. 15.) 
 
 "Whale. Of the whale, properly so called, there are 
 several different species, but the two principal divisions are 
 the common or Greenland whale, and the spermaceti whale. 
 
 The great Greenland whale is the animal, for the taking 
 of which such extensive preparations are made in the di^ 
 ferent ports of Europe and America. It is a large heavy 
 animal, and the head is a third part of its bulk. It is usually 
 found from sixty to seventy feet long. The tail is about 
 twenty-four feet broad, and when it lies on one side, a blow 
 from it is tremendous. The skin is smooth and black, and 
 in some places marbled with white and yellow, which, run- 
 ning over the surface, has a very beautiful effect. The cleft 
 of the mouth is above twenty feet long, which is about one- 
 third of the animal's whole length, and the upper jaw is fur- 
 nished with barbs that lie like the pipes of an organ, the 
 greatest in the middle, and the smallest on the sides: these 
 compose the whalebone, the longest of which are not less 
 than eighteen feet. The eyes are not larger than those of an 
 
WHA 
 
 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 367 
 
 ox, and placed towards the back of the head, which enables 
 them to see both before and behind, and they appear to be 
 very sharp-sighted. 
 
 As these animals breathe the air, it is obvious that they 
 cannot remain a great length of time under water. They are 
 constrained, therefore, every two or three minutes, to come up 
 to the surface to take breath, as well as to spout out through 
 their nostril (for they have but one) the water they have sucked 
 in while gaping for their prey. 
 
 The cachalot, or spermaceti whale, is not of such enormous 
 size as the Greenland whale ; it does not exceed sixty feet in 
 length, and sixteen in depth, and being more slender, is also 
 more active than the common whale. The head of the 
 spermaceti is even larger than the common whale, being 
 equal to one-half the bulk of the animal. This species of 
 whale is the most sought after, and is by far the most valua- 
 ble, as it contains two important drugs, spermaceti and 
 ambersfris. 
 
 Whale Fishery. 
 
 To enter into a detail of the mode in which these animals 
 are captured, or to give a minute account of the whale fishery, 
 though very interesting, does not comport with our object; 
 we would only notice, therefore, that when the ships which 
 are fitted out for this purpose, arrive at the proper location, 
 
568 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. WOL 
 
 / 
 
 the whale is pursued by boats, containing a number of men, 
 armed with harpoons, to which a rope is attached, and being 
 struck as often as it comes up to breathe, it at length expires 
 under repeated wounds. 
 
 It may readily be supposed, that the pursuit of such a huge 
 and powerful animal is often attended with extreme danger. 
 
 The whale is several times mentioned in the Scriptures. 
 In the account of the creation, it is said that " God created 
 great whales" on the fifth day. (Gen. i. 21.) When Job, 
 duringhis distress and great affliction, addressed the Almighty, 
 he says, "am I a sea or a whale, that thou settest a watch 
 over me T" (Job vii. 12.) Ezekiel compares the powerful 
 and cruel king of Egypt, to a young lion, and a whale. 
 (Ezek. xxxii. 2.) 
 
 It is generally believed, that the great fish by which Jonah 
 was so miraculously preserved was a whale, (Jonah i. 17,) 
 and our Lord, in speaking of this event, (Matt. xii. 40,) calls 
 it so. It has been disputed, however, whether the " great 
 fish" was really a whale or not, and is denied by some, be- 
 cause there are no whales in the Mediterranean sea, where 
 this event occurred, and because the throat of a whale is too 
 small to swallow a man. To us neither of these reasons 
 present the least difficulty, as it is altogether probable that 
 whales did frequent the Mediterranean in the early periods 
 of the world, before so many great ships were constantly 
 ploughing its surface, and though the throat of the whale is* 
 too small to swallow a man, 5'et when we consider that the 
 head, and consequently the mouth, in som.e species of the 
 whale, is equal to half the animal, it would certainly be no 
 great stretch of words to say that the whale swallowed 
 Jonah, though he did not actually pass into the stomach of 
 the animal. 
 
 Wolf. This is one of those animals whose appetite for 
 animal food is the most vehement, and whose means of satis- 
 fying that appetite are the most various. Nature has fur- 
 nished him with strength, with cunning, with agility, and 
 all those requisites, in a word, which fit an animal for pursu- 
 ing, overtaking, and conquering its prey ; and yet with all 
 these the wolf not unfrequently dies of hunger, for he is the 
 declared enemy of man. Being long proscribed, and a re- 
 ward offered for his head, he is obliged to fly from the habita- 
 tions of man. and to live in the forest, where the few wild 
 
WOL SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 369 
 
 animals to be found, escape him either by their swiftness or 
 their art, or are supplied in too small a proportioa to satisfy 
 his rapacity. When pressed with huno-er, however, he braves 
 danger, and attacks those animals which are under the pro- 
 tection of man, particularly lambs and sheep, which are its 
 favourite prey. 
 
 The wolf, both externally and internally, so nearly re- 
 sembles the dog-, that they seem formed on the same plan, 
 but in their dispositions they are entirely unlike ; the wolf, 
 when tamed, seldom showing any of that attachment and 
 devotedness to his master, which so strongh/ characterizes 
 the other faithful animal. 
 
 The wolf is usually, when full grown, above two and a 
 half feet in height, and three and a half from the nose to 
 the tail. The head is long, and more pointed than the dog, 
 the ears erect, and the eyes lively and fierce. The tail is 
 long and bushy, and bends down towards the legs, the hair 
 is of a grayish yellow colour, with a dark stripe on the fore- 
 legs, but in some climates the colour is nearly black. 
 
 When driven by hunger, wolves will not hesitate to attack 
 human beings. The following circumstance is said to have 
 occurred in Russia, some years ago. A poor woman and 
 three children were in a sledge, when they were pursued by 
 a number of wolves. On this, she drove tov/ards her home, 
 which was not far distant, with all possible speed. The 
 ferocious animals, however, gained on her, when, for the 
 preservation of her ovv^n life, and the lives of her two other 
 children, she 'threw out her babe, to her bloodthirsty pursu- 
 ers. This, however, only stopped their career for a moment, 
 and on their approach the second and third times, the other 
 children were successively thrown out to them. 
 
 Soon after the last child had been devoured, the Vv^retched 
 woman reached her home, and related what had happened, 
 endeavouring to excuse her conduct, by describing the dread- 
 ful condition to which she had been reduced. A peasant, 
 however, who was amongst the by-standers, took up an axe, 
 and with one blow killed her, sa5nng, that a woman who 
 could thus sacrifice her ov/n offspring, was no longer fit to 
 live. The peasant was imprisoned, but afterwards par- 
 doned by the emperor. 
 
 The allusions to the wolf in the Scriptures, correspond 
 with the history given of him by naturalists. His fierceness 
 and cruelty are the dispositions chiefly referred to. He is 
 
370 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. WOR 
 
 frequently mentioned in the Scriptures, and appears to have 
 abounded in Palestine and the neighbouring countries. (Gen. 
 xlix. 27. Matt. vii. 15.) 
 
 Worm. Animals of the worm kind, are placed by scien- 
 tific writers, as the first in the class of zoophytes ; but as, 
 like serpents, they have a creeping motion, so both, in gener- 
 al, go under the common appellation of reptiles. But, though 
 worms as well as serpents, are mostly without feet, and have 
 been doomed to creep along the earth, yet their motions are 
 very different. The serpent, having a back bone, bends its 
 body into the form of a bow, and then shoots forward from 
 the tail ; but the worm has the power of lengthening or con- 
 tracting itself, at will. 
 
 There is no phenomenon in all natural history, more asto- 
 nishing, than what is sometimes seen in creatures of the worm 
 kind. Some of them will live without their limbs, and often 
 are seen to reproduce them. Some continue to exist, though 
 cut in two, their principal parts preserving life, while the 
 others perish; but the earth worm, and all the zoophyte tribe, 
 continue to live in separate parts, and one animal, by means 
 of cutting, is divided into two distinct existences, perhaps 
 into a thousand. The earth worm, for instance, when cut 
 in two in the middle, will become two perfect animals, the 
 head will reproduce a tail, and the tail part will reproduce a 
 head, and forming two equally perfect and distinct animals. 
 Wonderful as this fact may appear, repeated experiments 
 have verified it beyond all question. 
 
 There are four kinds of worms spoken of in Scripture: 
 those which breed in putrefied bodies ; those which cut 
 woollen garments ; those which perforate the leaves and 
 bark of trees, and those which are destructive to the vines 
 referred to in Deut. xxxiii, 39. Job xxv. 6. Ps. xxii. 6, 
 
 THE END. 
 
1