a district of Asia Minor, which is described both by ancient and
modern geographers under a great variety of names, and with great
diversity of extent. In the most extensive application of the name, it
comprehends the whole country possessed by the Jews, or people of
Israel; and included, therefore, very different portions of territory at
different periods of their history. Upon the conquest of the country by
Joshua, it was divided into twelve portions, according to the number of
the tribes of Israel; and a general view of their respective allotments
(though the intermediate boundaries cannot be very precisely
ascertained) may convey some idea of its extent at that period. The
portion of the tribe of Judah comprised all the country between Edom, or
Idumea, on the south, the Mediterranean on the west, the Salt Sea on the
east, and an imaginary line on the north, from the northern extremity of
the Salt Sea to the Mediterranean. The portion of Simeon was included
within that of Judah, and formed the south-west corner of the country;
comprehending the towns of Bersaba, Gerar, Rapha, Gaza, Ascalon, and
Azotus. The portion of Benjamin was situated to the north of Judah, near
the centre of the kingdom, bounded on the east by the river Jordan, and
containing part of Jerusalem, Jericho, Bethel, Rama, &c. The portion of
Dan lay to the north-west of Judah, between that of Benjamin and the
Mediterranean, reaching as far north as the latter, and containing
Accaron and Jamnia. The portion of Ephraim stretched along the northern
limits of Dan and Benjamin, between the river Jordan on the east, and
the Mediterranean sea on the west; containing Sichem, Joppa, Lydda,
Gazara, &c. The portion of the half tribe of Manasseh was situated north
of Ephraim, between the river Jordan and the Mediterranean, reaching as
far north as Dora, at the foot of Mount Carmel. The portion of Issachar
stretched northward from Manasseh, and westward from Jordan, as far as
Mount Tabor. The portion of Asher comprehended the maritime tract
between Mount Carmel, as far as Sidon. The portion of Zebulon, bounded
by Asher on the west, and Mount Tabor on the south, joined on the east
the portion of Naphtali, which occupied the borders of the lake
Gennesareth, or sea of Tiberias. The portion of Reuben lay to the
eastward of the river Jordan, bounded on the south by the torrent of
Arnon, and on the north by the river Jabok. The portion of Gad, also on
the east of the Jordan, stretched from the Jabok toward the north, where
it was bounded by the other half tribe of Manasseh, which occupied the
country east of the lake Gennesareth, to the northern limits of the
country. The whole of this extent between Cœlo-Syria on the north,
and Arabia Petræa on the south, the Mediterranean on the west, and
Arabia Deserta on the east, may be considered as situated between 31°
10´ and 33° 15´ of north latitude, about a hundred and forty miles in
length, and nearly a hundred in breadth. Reckoning from Dan to
Beersheba, which are often mentioned in sacred Scripture as including
the more settled and permanent possessions of the Israelites, its length
would not exceed a hundred and twenty miles. But, if estimated from its
boundaries in the reigns of David and Solomon, and several succeeding
princes, its extent must be enlarged more than threefold; including both
the land of Palestine, or of the Philistines, on the south, and the
country of Phenice on the north, with part of Syria to the north-east.
All this extent was originally comprehended in the land of promise,
Genesis xv, 18; Deut. xi, 24; and was actually possessed by David and
Solomon, 1 Kings ix, 20; 2 Chron. viii, 7. It is described in numerous
passages of the sacred writings, as all comprised in the Holy Land, from
Hamath on the north, to the river of Egypt on the south; and from the
Great or Mediterranean Sea on the west, to the deserts of Arabia on the
east; a tract of country at least four hundred and sixty miles in
length, and more than a hundred in breadth, Joshua xv, 2, &c; xix, 24,
&c; 1 Chron. xiii, 5; 2 Chron. vii, 8; Ezekiel xlvii, 16, 20; Amos vi,
14.
After the death of Solomon, when the kingdom of the Hebrews had attained
its greatest extent, it was divided, in consequence of a revolt of ten
tribes, into two distinct sovereignties, named Israel and Judah; the
former of which had its seat of government in Samaria, and the latter in
Jerusalem. The territories of both were gradually curtailed and laid
waste by the revolt of tributary princes, and the incursions of powerful
neighbours; and both were at length completely overthrown; that of
Israel, by the king of Assyria, about B. C. 720; and that of Judah, by
Nebuchadnezzar, about a hundred and fourteen years later.
After a captivity of seventy years, the Jews, who had been the subjects
of Judah, having received permission from Cyrus to return to their
native country, not only occupied the former territories of that
kingdom, but extended themselves over great part of what had belonged to
the ten tribes of the kingdom of Israel; and then, for the first time,
gave the name of Judea to the whole country over which they had again
established their dominion. The same name was given to that kingdom as
possessed by Herod the Great under the Romans; but, in the enumeration
of the provinces of the empire, it was recognised only by the name of
Palestine. All traces of its ancient division among the twelve tribes
were now abolished, and it was distributed into four provinces; namely,
Judea Proper in the south, Galilee in the north, Samaria in the centre,
and Peræa on the east of the river Jordan. Judea Proper, situated in 31°
40´ north latitude, was bounded on the north by Samaria, on the west by
the Mediterranean, on the east by the river Jordan, on the south by
Arabia Petræa; and comprised the ancient settlements of Judah, Benjamin,
Dan, and Simeon, with Philistia and Idumea. It is divided by Josephus
into eleven toparchies, and by Pliny into ten; but these subdivisions
are little noticed by ancient writers, and their boundaries are very
imperfectly ascertained. The principal places in the north-east quarter
of the province were Jerusalem, the capital, which was entirely
destroyed in the reign of Hadrian, and replaced by a new city named
Ælia, a little farther north, which is now the site of the modern
Jerusalem; Jericho, the city of palm trees, about nineteen miles
eastward of Jerusalem, and eight from the river Jordan; Phaselis, built
by Herod in memory of his brother, fifteen miles north-west of Jericho;
Archelais, built by Archelaus, ten miles north of Jericho; Gophna,
fifteen miles north of Jerusalem, in the road to Sichem; Bethel, twelve
miles north of Jerusalem, originally called Luz; Gilgal, about one mile
and a half from Jericho; Engeddi, a hundred furlongs south south-east of
Jericho, near the northern extremity of the Dead Sea; Masada, a strong
fortress built by Judas Maccabeus, the last refuge of the Jews after the
fall of Jerusalem; Ephraim, a small town westward of Jericho; Anathoth,
a Levitical town, nearly four miles north of Jerusalem. In the
south-east quarter of the province were situated Bethlehem, or Ephrath,
about six miles south from the capital; Bethzur, now St. Philip, a
strong place on the road to Hebron, ten miles south of Jerusalem; Ziph,
a small town between Hebron and the Dead Sea; Zoar, at the southern
extremity of the Dead Sea, near the situation of Sodom; Hebron, formerly
Kirjath-arba, a very ancient town in a hilly country, twenty-five miles
south of the capital; Arad, about twenty-four miles southward from
Hebron, and near the Ascensus Avrabim, or Scorpion Mountains, on the
border of Arabia Petræa; and Thamar, on the southern limit of the
province, near the south extremity of the Dead Sea. In the north-west
quarter were Bethshemesh, or Heliopolis, a Levitical city, about ten
miles west of the capital; Rama, six miles north from Jerusalem; Emmaus,
a village eight miles north north-west from Jerusalem, afterward called
Nicopolis, in consequence of a victory gained by Vespasian over the
revolted Jews; Bethoron, a populous Levitical city on the road to Lydda,
a few miles north-west of Emmaus; Kirjath-jearim, on the road to Joppa,
nine miles westward from the capital; Lydda, now Lod, and called by the
Greeks Diospolis, about twelve miles east of Joppa; Ramla, supposed to
be the same as Arimathea, about five miles south-west of Lydda; Joppa, a
maritime town, now Jaffa, about twelve leagues north-west of Jerusalem;
Jabne, a walled sea-port town between Joppa and Azotus; and Ekron, a
town on the north boundary of the Philistines. In the south-west quarter
of Judea were Gath, about twenty miles west from Jerusalem, near to
which were the city of Eleutheropolis, a flourishing place in the second
century; Makkedah, a strong place, eight miles north-east from
Eleutheropolis; Bersabe, or Beersheba, about twenty-six miles south from
Eleutheropolis; Gerar, between Beersheba and the sea coast; Azotus, or
Ashdod, to the west of Eleutheropolis, within a few miles of the sea,
and the seat of a bishop in the first ages of the Christian church;
Ascalon, a considerable maritime town, above forty-three miles
south-west of Jerusalem; Gaza, fifteen miles southward from Ascalon; and
Raphia, between Gaza and Rhinocurura, remarkable for a great battle in
its neighbourhood, in which Philopater, king of Egypt, defeated
Antiochus, king of Syria.
Samaria, lying between Judea and Galilee, in 32° 15´ north latitude,
extended along the sea coast from Joppa to Dora, and along the river
Jordan from the rivulet of Alexandrium to the southern extremity of the
sea of Tiberias; comprehending the territory of the tribe of Ephraim, of
the half tribe of Manasseh, and part of Issachar. Its principal cities
were Samaria, the capital of the kingdom of Israel, north of Sichem, and
equally distant from Jordan and the sea coast, afterward named Sebaste
by Herod, in honour of Augustus; Jezrael, or Esdraelon, about four
leagues north from Samaria; Sichem, or Sychar, called by the Romans
Neapolis, eight miles south of Samaria, in a valley between the
mountains Gerizim and Ebal; Bethsan, called by the Greek writers
Scythopolis, about twenty miles north-east of Sichem; Cæsarea of
Palestine, anciently called Turris Stratonis, greatly enlarged by Herod,
and long the principal city of the province, about nineteen leagues
north north-west from Jerusalem; Dora, now Tartura, nine miles north
from Cæsarea, on the road to Tyre; Apollonia, now Arzuf, on the sea
coast, twenty-two miles south of Cæsarea; and Hadadrimmon, afterward
called Maximianopolis, about seventeen miles eastward of Cæsarea.
Galilæa, in 33° north latitude, bounded on the south by Samaria, on the
west by the Mediterranean, on the north by Syria, on the east by the
river Jordan and the lake Gennesareth, comprehended the possessions of
Asher, Naphtali, and Zabulon, with part of the allotment of Issachar.
The northern division of the province was thinly inhabited by Jews, and
was sometimes called Galilee of the Gentiles; but the southern portion
was very populous. Its principal towns were Capernaum, at the northern
extremity of the lake of Gennesareth; Bethsaida, a considerable village
a few leagues south of Capernaum; Cinnereth, south of Bethsaida, rebuilt
by Herod Antipas, and named Tiberias; Tarichæa, a considerable town at
the efflux of the river Jordan from the sea of Tiberias, thirty stadia
south from the town of Tiberias; Nazareth, two leagues north-west of
Mount Tabor, and equally distant from the lake of Gennesareth and the
sea coast; Arbela, six miles west of Nazareth; Sepphoris, or
Dio-Cæsarea, now Sefouri, a large and well fortified town, about five
leagues north north-west of Mount Tabor; Zabulon, a strong and populous
place, sixty stadia south-east of Ptolemais; Acre, or Accon, seven miles
north from the promontory of Carmel, afterward enlarged and called
Ptolemais by Ptolemy I., of Egypt, and in the time of the crusades
distinguished by the name of Acre, the last city possessed by the
Christians in Syria, and was taken and destroyed by the Sultan Serapha,
of Egypt, in 1291; Kedes, or Cydissus, a Levitical city at the foot of
Mount Panium, twenty miles south-east of Tyre; Dan, originally Laish, on
the north boundary of the Holy Land, about thirty miles south-east of
Sidon; Paneas, near to Dan, or, according to some, only a different name
for the same place, was repaired by Philip, son of Herod the Great, and
by him named Cæsarea, in honour of Augustus, with the addition of
Philippi, to distinguish it from the other town of the same name in
Samaria; Jotapata, the strongest town in Galilee, about four leagues
north north-east of Dio-Cæsarea; and Japha and Gischala, two other
fortified places in the same district.
Peræa, though the name would denote any extent of country beyond Jordan,
is more particularly applied to that district in 32° north latitude,
which formerly composed the territories of Sihon, the Amorite, and Og,
king of Bashan; extending from the river Arnon (which flows through an
extensive plain into the Dead Sea) to the mount of Gilead, where the
Jordan issues from the sea of Tiberias; and which fell to the lot of the
tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh. This province
was about sixty miles from north to south, and forty from east to west.
The principal places were Penuel, on the left of the Jabbok, which forms
the northern border of the country; Succoth, on the banks of the Jordan,
a little farther south; Bethabara, a little below Succoth, where was a
place of passage over the river; Amathus, afterward named Assalt, a
strong town below the influx of the torrent Jazer; Livias, between Mount
Nebo and the northern extremity of the Dead Sea, a town which was so
named by Herod, in honour of Livia, the wife of Augustus; Machærus, a
citadel on a steep rock, south of Livias, near the upper end of the Dead
Sea; Lasa, or Calle-rhoe, celebrated for its hot springs, between
Machærus and the river Arnon; Herodium, a fort built by Herod a few
miles farther inland, as a protection against the Moabites; Aroer, a
town of Moab, seven leagues east of the Dead Sea; Castra Amonensia, a
Roman station, supposed to be the ancient Mephoath, seven leagues
north-east of Aroer; Hesbon, or Esbus, the capital of Sihon, anciently
famed for its fish pools, seven leagues east from the Jordan, three from
Mount Nebo, and nearly in the centre of the province; Madaba, now
El-Belkaa, three leagues south-east of Hesbon; Jazer, or Tira, a
Levitical city on a small lake, five leagues north-east of Hesbon. To
the south of Peræa lies a territory called Moabites, the capital of
which was Rabbath-Moab, afterward named Areopolis; and to the south-west
of which was Charac-Moab, or Karak, a fortress on the summit of a hill,
at the entrance of a deep valley.
To the north of Peræa were situated several districts, which, as forming
part of the kingdom of Judea under Herod the Great, require to be
briefly noticed in this account; and which do properly come under the
general name of Peræa, as being situated on the eastward of the river
Jordan. These were Galaadites, or Gileadites, in 32° 20´ north latitude,
now Zarca, east from Jordan, and north from the Jabbok; containing the
cities of Ramoth-Gilead, Mahanaim, Jabesh-Gilead, at the foot of Mount
Gilead. Batanæa, anciently Basan, now Bitinia, in 32° 25´ north
latitude, formerly celebrated for its oaks and pastures, was situated to
the north of Galaadites, and contained the cities of Adrea, or Edrei,
Astaroth, and Bathyra. Gaulonitis, a narrow strip of land between
Batanæa and the shore of the sea of Tiberias, stretching northward to
Mount Hermon, and containing Gamala, a strong town near the southern
extremity of the sea of Tiberias; Argob, between this sea and Mount
Hippos; Julias, supposed to be the same as Chorazin, and by others to be
Bethsaida; and Seleuca, a fortified place on the east border of Lacus
Samochonitis. Auranitis, or Ituræa, a mountainous and barren tract north
of Batanæa, and bounded on the west by a branch of Mount Hermon,
contained Bostra, or Bozra, about fifty miles east from the sea of
Tiberias, bordering on Arabia Petræa, afterward enlarged by Trajan, and
named Trajana Bostra; and Trachonitis, in 33° 15´ north latitude,
between Hermon and Antilibanus, eastward from the sources of Jordan, and
containing Baalgad, Mispah, Paneas, or Cæsarea Philippi, and Ænos,
nearly twenty-five miles east of Panæas, and as far south south-west of
Damascus. There remains to be noticed the Decapolis, or confederation of
ten cities in the last mentioned districts, which having been occupied
during the Babylonish captivity by Heathen inhabitants, refused to adopt
the Mosaic ritual after the restoration of the Jews, and found it
necessary to unite their strength against the enterprises of the
Asmonean princes. One of them, namely, Scythopolis, already described in
the account of Samaria, was situated to the west of Jordan; but the
other nine were all to the east of that river, namely, Gadara, or Kedar,
a strong place on a hill, the capital of Peræa in the time of Josephus,
about sixty stadia east from the sea of Tiberias, and much frequented
for its hot baths: Hippos, sometimes called Susitha, thirty stadia
north-west of Gadara; Dium, or Dion, of which the situation is unknown,
but conjectured by D’Anville to have been about seven leagues eastward
from Pella, a considerable town supplied with copious fountains, on the
river Jabbok, fourteen miles south-east of Gadara, and celebrated as the
place to which the Christians retired, by divine admonition, before the
destruction of Jerusalem; Canatha, south-east of Cæsarea, and between
the Jordan and Mount Hermon; Garasa, afterward Jaras, three leagues
north-east from the upper extremity of the sea of Tiberias, and much
noted during the crusades; Rabbath-Ammon, the capital of the Ammonites,
south-east of Ramoth, and near the source of the Jabbok, on the confines
of Arabia, afterward called Philadelphia by Ptolemy Philadelphus, from
whom it had received considerable improvements, of which the ruins are
still visible; Abila, four leagues east from Gadara, in a fertile tract
between the river Hieromax and Mount Gilead; and Capitolais, a town in
Batanæa, five or six leagues east north-east of Gadara.
modern geographers under a great variety of names, and with great
diversity of extent. In the most extensive application of the name, it
comprehends the whole country possessed by the Jews, or people of
Israel; and included, therefore, very different portions of territory at
different periods of their history. Upon the conquest of the country by
Joshua, it was divided into twelve portions, according to the number of
the tribes of Israel; and a general view of their respective allotments
(though the intermediate boundaries cannot be very precisely
ascertained) may convey some idea of its extent at that period. The
portion of the tribe of Judah comprised all the country between Edom, or
Idumea, on the south, the Mediterranean on the west, the Salt Sea on the
east, and an imaginary line on the north, from the northern extremity of
the Salt Sea to the Mediterranean. The portion of Simeon was included
within that of Judah, and formed the south-west corner of the country;
comprehending the towns of Bersaba, Gerar, Rapha, Gaza, Ascalon, and
Azotus. The portion of Benjamin was situated to the north of Judah, near
the centre of the kingdom, bounded on the east by the river Jordan, and
containing part of Jerusalem, Jericho, Bethel, Rama, &c. The portion of
Dan lay to the north-west of Judah, between that of Benjamin and the
Mediterranean, reaching as far north as the latter, and containing
Accaron and Jamnia. The portion of Ephraim stretched along the northern
limits of Dan and Benjamin, between the river Jordan on the east, and
the Mediterranean sea on the west; containing Sichem, Joppa, Lydda,
Gazara, &c. The portion of the half tribe of Manasseh was situated north
of Ephraim, between the river Jordan and the Mediterranean, reaching as
far north as Dora, at the foot of Mount Carmel. The portion of Issachar
stretched northward from Manasseh, and westward from Jordan, as far as
Mount Tabor. The portion of Asher comprehended the maritime tract
between Mount Carmel, as far as Sidon. The portion of Zebulon, bounded
by Asher on the west, and Mount Tabor on the south, joined on the east
the portion of Naphtali, which occupied the borders of the lake
Gennesareth, or sea of Tiberias. The portion of Reuben lay to the
eastward of the river Jordan, bounded on the south by the torrent of
Arnon, and on the north by the river Jabok. The portion of Gad, also on
the east of the Jordan, stretched from the Jabok toward the north, where
it was bounded by the other half tribe of Manasseh, which occupied the
country east of the lake Gennesareth, to the northern limits of the
country. The whole of this extent between Cœlo-Syria on the north,
and Arabia Petræa on the south, the Mediterranean on the west, and
Arabia Deserta on the east, may be considered as situated between 31°
10´ and 33° 15´ of north latitude, about a hundred and forty miles in
length, and nearly a hundred in breadth. Reckoning from Dan to
Beersheba, which are often mentioned in sacred Scripture as including
the more settled and permanent possessions of the Israelites, its length
would not exceed a hundred and twenty miles. But, if estimated from its
boundaries in the reigns of David and Solomon, and several succeeding
princes, its extent must be enlarged more than threefold; including both
the land of Palestine, or of the Philistines, on the south, and the
country of Phenice on the north, with part of Syria to the north-east.
All this extent was originally comprehended in the land of promise,
Genesis xv, 18; Deut. xi, 24; and was actually possessed by David and
Solomon, 1 Kings ix, 20; 2 Chron. viii, 7. It is described in numerous
passages of the sacred writings, as all comprised in the Holy Land, from
Hamath on the north, to the river of Egypt on the south; and from the
Great or Mediterranean Sea on the west, to the deserts of Arabia on the
east; a tract of country at least four hundred and sixty miles in
length, and more than a hundred in breadth, Joshua xv, 2, &c; xix, 24,
&c; 1 Chron. xiii, 5; 2 Chron. vii, 8; Ezekiel xlvii, 16, 20; Amos vi,
14.
After the death of Solomon, when the kingdom of the Hebrews had attained
its greatest extent, it was divided, in consequence of a revolt of ten
tribes, into two distinct sovereignties, named Israel and Judah; the
former of which had its seat of government in Samaria, and the latter in
Jerusalem. The territories of both were gradually curtailed and laid
waste by the revolt of tributary princes, and the incursions of powerful
neighbours; and both were at length completely overthrown; that of
Israel, by the king of Assyria, about B. C. 720; and that of Judah, by
Nebuchadnezzar, about a hundred and fourteen years later.
After a captivity of seventy years, the Jews, who had been the subjects
of Judah, having received permission from Cyrus to return to their
native country, not only occupied the former territories of that
kingdom, but extended themselves over great part of what had belonged to
the ten tribes of the kingdom of Israel; and then, for the first time,
gave the name of Judea to the whole country over which they had again
established their dominion. The same name was given to that kingdom as
possessed by Herod the Great under the Romans; but, in the enumeration
of the provinces of the empire, it was recognised only by the name of
Palestine. All traces of its ancient division among the twelve tribes
were now abolished, and it was distributed into four provinces; namely,
Judea Proper in the south, Galilee in the north, Samaria in the centre,
and Peræa on the east of the river Jordan. Judea Proper, situated in 31°
40´ north latitude, was bounded on the north by Samaria, on the west by
the Mediterranean, on the east by the river Jordan, on the south by
Arabia Petræa; and comprised the ancient settlements of Judah, Benjamin,
Dan, and Simeon, with Philistia and Idumea. It is divided by Josephus
into eleven toparchies, and by Pliny into ten; but these subdivisions
are little noticed by ancient writers, and their boundaries are very
imperfectly ascertained. The principal places in the north-east quarter
of the province were Jerusalem, the capital, which was entirely
destroyed in the reign of Hadrian, and replaced by a new city named
Ælia, a little farther north, which is now the site of the modern
Jerusalem; Jericho, the city of palm trees, about nineteen miles
eastward of Jerusalem, and eight from the river Jordan; Phaselis, built
by Herod in memory of his brother, fifteen miles north-west of Jericho;
Archelais, built by Archelaus, ten miles north of Jericho; Gophna,
fifteen miles north of Jerusalem, in the road to Sichem; Bethel, twelve
miles north of Jerusalem, originally called Luz; Gilgal, about one mile
and a half from Jericho; Engeddi, a hundred furlongs south south-east of
Jericho, near the northern extremity of the Dead Sea; Masada, a strong
fortress built by Judas Maccabeus, the last refuge of the Jews after the
fall of Jerusalem; Ephraim, a small town westward of Jericho; Anathoth,
a Levitical town, nearly four miles north of Jerusalem. In the
south-east quarter of the province were situated Bethlehem, or Ephrath,
about six miles south from the capital; Bethzur, now St. Philip, a
strong place on the road to Hebron, ten miles south of Jerusalem; Ziph,
a small town between Hebron and the Dead Sea; Zoar, at the southern
extremity of the Dead Sea, near the situation of Sodom; Hebron, formerly
Kirjath-arba, a very ancient town in a hilly country, twenty-five miles
south of the capital; Arad, about twenty-four miles southward from
Hebron, and near the Ascensus Avrabim, or Scorpion Mountains, on the
border of Arabia Petræa; and Thamar, on the southern limit of the
province, near the south extremity of the Dead Sea. In the north-west
quarter were Bethshemesh, or Heliopolis, a Levitical city, about ten
miles west of the capital; Rama, six miles north from Jerusalem; Emmaus,
a village eight miles north north-west from Jerusalem, afterward called
Nicopolis, in consequence of a victory gained by Vespasian over the
revolted Jews; Bethoron, a populous Levitical city on the road to Lydda,
a few miles north-west of Emmaus; Kirjath-jearim, on the road to Joppa,
nine miles westward from the capital; Lydda, now Lod, and called by the
Greeks Diospolis, about twelve miles east of Joppa; Ramla, supposed to
be the same as Arimathea, about five miles south-west of Lydda; Joppa, a
maritime town, now Jaffa, about twelve leagues north-west of Jerusalem;
Jabne, a walled sea-port town between Joppa and Azotus; and Ekron, a
town on the north boundary of the Philistines. In the south-west quarter
of Judea were Gath, about twenty miles west from Jerusalem, near to
which were the city of Eleutheropolis, a flourishing place in the second
century; Makkedah, a strong place, eight miles north-east from
Eleutheropolis; Bersabe, or Beersheba, about twenty-six miles south from
Eleutheropolis; Gerar, between Beersheba and the sea coast; Azotus, or
Ashdod, to the west of Eleutheropolis, within a few miles of the sea,
and the seat of a bishop in the first ages of the Christian church;
Ascalon, a considerable maritime town, above forty-three miles
south-west of Jerusalem; Gaza, fifteen miles southward from Ascalon; and
Raphia, between Gaza and Rhinocurura, remarkable for a great battle in
its neighbourhood, in which Philopater, king of Egypt, defeated
Antiochus, king of Syria.
Samaria, lying between Judea and Galilee, in 32° 15´ north latitude,
extended along the sea coast from Joppa to Dora, and along the river
Jordan from the rivulet of Alexandrium to the southern extremity of the
sea of Tiberias; comprehending the territory of the tribe of Ephraim, of
the half tribe of Manasseh, and part of Issachar. Its principal cities
were Samaria, the capital of the kingdom of Israel, north of Sichem, and
equally distant from Jordan and the sea coast, afterward named Sebaste
by Herod, in honour of Augustus; Jezrael, or Esdraelon, about four
leagues north from Samaria; Sichem, or Sychar, called by the Romans
Neapolis, eight miles south of Samaria, in a valley between the
mountains Gerizim and Ebal; Bethsan, called by the Greek writers
Scythopolis, about twenty miles north-east of Sichem; Cæsarea of
Palestine, anciently called Turris Stratonis, greatly enlarged by Herod,
and long the principal city of the province, about nineteen leagues
north north-west from Jerusalem; Dora, now Tartura, nine miles north
from Cæsarea, on the road to Tyre; Apollonia, now Arzuf, on the sea
coast, twenty-two miles south of Cæsarea; and Hadadrimmon, afterward
called Maximianopolis, about seventeen miles eastward of Cæsarea.
Galilæa, in 33° north latitude, bounded on the south by Samaria, on the
west by the Mediterranean, on the north by Syria, on the east by the
river Jordan and the lake Gennesareth, comprehended the possessions of
Asher, Naphtali, and Zabulon, with part of the allotment of Issachar.
The northern division of the province was thinly inhabited by Jews, and
was sometimes called Galilee of the Gentiles; but the southern portion
was very populous. Its principal towns were Capernaum, at the northern
extremity of the lake of Gennesareth; Bethsaida, a considerable village
a few leagues south of Capernaum; Cinnereth, south of Bethsaida, rebuilt
by Herod Antipas, and named Tiberias; Tarichæa, a considerable town at
the efflux of the river Jordan from the sea of Tiberias, thirty stadia
south from the town of Tiberias; Nazareth, two leagues north-west of
Mount Tabor, and equally distant from the lake of Gennesareth and the
sea coast; Arbela, six miles west of Nazareth; Sepphoris, or
Dio-Cæsarea, now Sefouri, a large and well fortified town, about five
leagues north north-west of Mount Tabor; Zabulon, a strong and populous
place, sixty stadia south-east of Ptolemais; Acre, or Accon, seven miles
north from the promontory of Carmel, afterward enlarged and called
Ptolemais by Ptolemy I., of Egypt, and in the time of the crusades
distinguished by the name of Acre, the last city possessed by the
Christians in Syria, and was taken and destroyed by the Sultan Serapha,
of Egypt, in 1291; Kedes, or Cydissus, a Levitical city at the foot of
Mount Panium, twenty miles south-east of Tyre; Dan, originally Laish, on
the north boundary of the Holy Land, about thirty miles south-east of
Sidon; Paneas, near to Dan, or, according to some, only a different name
for the same place, was repaired by Philip, son of Herod the Great, and
by him named Cæsarea, in honour of Augustus, with the addition of
Philippi, to distinguish it from the other town of the same name in
Samaria; Jotapata, the strongest town in Galilee, about four leagues
north north-east of Dio-Cæsarea; and Japha and Gischala, two other
fortified places in the same district.
Peræa, though the name would denote any extent of country beyond Jordan,
is more particularly applied to that district in 32° north latitude,
which formerly composed the territories of Sihon, the Amorite, and Og,
king of Bashan; extending from the river Arnon (which flows through an
extensive plain into the Dead Sea) to the mount of Gilead, where the
Jordan issues from the sea of Tiberias; and which fell to the lot of the
tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh. This province
was about sixty miles from north to south, and forty from east to west.
The principal places were Penuel, on the left of the Jabbok, which forms
the northern border of the country; Succoth, on the banks of the Jordan,
a little farther south; Bethabara, a little below Succoth, where was a
place of passage over the river; Amathus, afterward named Assalt, a
strong town below the influx of the torrent Jazer; Livias, between Mount
Nebo and the northern extremity of the Dead Sea, a town which was so
named by Herod, in honour of Livia, the wife of Augustus; Machærus, a
citadel on a steep rock, south of Livias, near the upper end of the Dead
Sea; Lasa, or Calle-rhoe, celebrated for its hot springs, between
Machærus and the river Arnon; Herodium, a fort built by Herod a few
miles farther inland, as a protection against the Moabites; Aroer, a
town of Moab, seven leagues east of the Dead Sea; Castra Amonensia, a
Roman station, supposed to be the ancient Mephoath, seven leagues
north-east of Aroer; Hesbon, or Esbus, the capital of Sihon, anciently
famed for its fish pools, seven leagues east from the Jordan, three from
Mount Nebo, and nearly in the centre of the province; Madaba, now
El-Belkaa, three leagues south-east of Hesbon; Jazer, or Tira, a
Levitical city on a small lake, five leagues north-east of Hesbon. To
the south of Peræa lies a territory called Moabites, the capital of
which was Rabbath-Moab, afterward named Areopolis; and to the south-west
of which was Charac-Moab, or Karak, a fortress on the summit of a hill,
at the entrance of a deep valley.
To the north of Peræa were situated several districts, which, as forming
part of the kingdom of Judea under Herod the Great, require to be
briefly noticed in this account; and which do properly come under the
general name of Peræa, as being situated on the eastward of the river
Jordan. These were Galaadites, or Gileadites, in 32° 20´ north latitude,
now Zarca, east from Jordan, and north from the Jabbok; containing the
cities of Ramoth-Gilead, Mahanaim, Jabesh-Gilead, at the foot of Mount
Gilead. Batanæa, anciently Basan, now Bitinia, in 32° 25´ north
latitude, formerly celebrated for its oaks and pastures, was situated to
the north of Galaadites, and contained the cities of Adrea, or Edrei,
Astaroth, and Bathyra. Gaulonitis, a narrow strip of land between
Batanæa and the shore of the sea of Tiberias, stretching northward to
Mount Hermon, and containing Gamala, a strong town near the southern
extremity of the sea of Tiberias; Argob, between this sea and Mount
Hippos; Julias, supposed to be the same as Chorazin, and by others to be
Bethsaida; and Seleuca, a fortified place on the east border of Lacus
Samochonitis. Auranitis, or Ituræa, a mountainous and barren tract north
of Batanæa, and bounded on the west by a branch of Mount Hermon,
contained Bostra, or Bozra, about fifty miles east from the sea of
Tiberias, bordering on Arabia Petræa, afterward enlarged by Trajan, and
named Trajana Bostra; and Trachonitis, in 33° 15´ north latitude,
between Hermon and Antilibanus, eastward from the sources of Jordan, and
containing Baalgad, Mispah, Paneas, or Cæsarea Philippi, and Ænos,
nearly twenty-five miles east of Panæas, and as far south south-west of
Damascus. There remains to be noticed the Decapolis, or confederation of
ten cities in the last mentioned districts, which having been occupied
during the Babylonish captivity by Heathen inhabitants, refused to adopt
the Mosaic ritual after the restoration of the Jews, and found it
necessary to unite their strength against the enterprises of the
Asmonean princes. One of them, namely, Scythopolis, already described in
the account of Samaria, was situated to the west of Jordan; but the
other nine were all to the east of that river, namely, Gadara, or Kedar,
a strong place on a hill, the capital of Peræa in the time of Josephus,
about sixty stadia east from the sea of Tiberias, and much frequented
for its hot baths: Hippos, sometimes called Susitha, thirty stadia
north-west of Gadara; Dium, or Dion, of which the situation is unknown,
but conjectured by D’Anville to have been about seven leagues eastward
from Pella, a considerable town supplied with copious fountains, on the
river Jabbok, fourteen miles south-east of Gadara, and celebrated as the
place to which the Christians retired, by divine admonition, before the
destruction of Jerusalem; Canatha, south-east of Cæsarea, and between
the Jordan and Mount Hermon; Garasa, afterward Jaras, three leagues
north-east from the upper extremity of the sea of Tiberias, and much
noted during the crusades; Rabbath-Ammon, the capital of the Ammonites,
south-east of Ramoth, and near the source of the Jabbok, on the confines
of Arabia, afterward called Philadelphia by Ptolemy Philadelphus, from
whom it had received considerable improvements, of which the ruins are
still visible; Abila, four leagues east from Gadara, in a fertile tract
between the river Hieromax and Mount Gilead; and Capitolais, a town in
Batanæa, five or six leagues east north-east of Gadara.