seed throughout. From one side of this extensive plain, the round eminence of Mount Tabor rises abruptly, near the foot of which, towards the south, are the springs of Ain-el-Sherrar, which send a perceptible stream through the centre of the plain, and form the brook Kishon of antiquity.*

3. The Region round about Jordan (Matt. iii. 5.), comprised the level country on each side of that river, from the lake of Gennesareth to the Dead Sea. Of this district the Plain of Jericho, celebrated for its fertility and the intense heat which prevails there during the hot season, forms a part. From the observations of recent travellers it appears that this plain has been accurately described by the Jewish historian.

In speaking of Jericho, he says, "It is situate in a plain; but a naked and barren mountain, of a very great length, hangs over it, which extends itself to the land about Scythopolis northward; but as far as the country of Sodom, and the utmost limits of the Lake Asphaltitis, southward. This mountain is all of it very uneven, and uninhabited by reason of its barrenness. There is an opposite mountain, that is situate over against it, on the other side of Jordan. This last begins at Julias, and the northern quarters, and extends itself southward as far as Somorrhon, which is the bounds of Petra, in Arabia. In this ridge of mountains there is one called the Iron Mountain, that runs in length as far as Moab. Now the region that lies in the middle, between these ridges of Mountain, is called the Great Plain. It reaches from the village Ginnabus, as far as the Lake Asphaltitis. Its length is two hundred and thirty furlongs, and its breadth an hundred and twenty; and it is divided in the midst by Jordan. It hath two lakes in it; that of Asphaltitis, and that of Tiberias, whose natures are opposite to each other. For the former is salt and unfruitful; but that of Tiberias is sweet and fruitful. This plain is much burnt up in summer-time; and by reason of the extraordinary heat, contains very unwholesome air. It is all destitute of water, excepting the river Jordan; which water of Jordan is the occasion why

* Buckingham, p. 108. 4to.

those plantations of palm-trees, that are near its banks, are more flourishing, and much more fruitful; as are those that are remote from it not so flourishing or fruitful."*

II. Deserts or wildernesses, are frequently mentioned in the sacred writings; by which is to be understood, not only desolate places, equally void of cities and inhabitants, but those parts of the land, likewise, where cities and towns were at a distance from each other. The Hebrews gave the name of desert or wilderness to all places that were not cultivated,† but chiefly appropriated to the feeding of cattle. The most remarkable mentioned in the scriptures are the following:

1. The Wilderness of Judæa, which commences from Tekoah in the tribe of Judah, and extends through Arabia Petræa to the Persian Gulph. Here John the Baptist abode until the day of his showing unto Israel (Luke i. 80); and here he first taught his countrymen. (Matt. iii. 1.) 2. The Wilderness of Shur, which lay towards the north-eastern point of the Red Sea. Here Hagar wandered, when driven from Abraham's house by the jealousy of Sarah (Gen. xvi. 7.); and through it the Israelites marched after they had miraculously crossed the Red Sea. (Exod. xv. 22.) This was also called the Wilderness of Etham. (Compare Exod. xv. 22, with Numb. xxxiii. 8.) 3. The Wilderness of Ziph, which was contiguous to a town or village of the same name, where David concealed himself for some time from the pursuit of Saul. (1 Sam. xxiii. 14, 15.)

Forests. Although modern travellers do not mention the existence of many woods or forests, or indeed any considerable number of trees, yet it is certain that, formerly, the Holy Land was well covered with wood. Of the forests the most considerable were:

1. The Forest of Cedars, on Mount Lebanon. These noble and beautiful trees have furnished the inspired writers with many exquisite similitudes.

2. The Forest of Oaks, on the mountains of Bashan. From

Josephus. Jewish Wars, 1. iv. cap. viii. s. 2.

+ Clarke's Travels, vol. iv. p. 422.

an incidental expression of the prophet Ezekiel it appears that these oaks were held in high estimation. Speaking of the power and wealth of ancient Tyre he says" Of the oaks of Bashan they have made thine oars." (Ezek. xxvii. 6.)

3. The Forest or Wood of Ephraim, which the children of Ephraim began to cut down (Josh. xvii. 15.), was still standing in the time of David. (2 Sam. xviii. 6, 8, 17.) The wood in the vicinity of Bethel mentioned in 2 Kings ii. 24, appears to have been part of the wood of Ephraim.

The Forest of Hareth was a spacious wood in the tribe of Judah, to which David withdrew to avoid the fury of Saul. (1 Sam, xxii. 5.)*

66

Rivers, Lakes, and Fountains.-The Land of Canaan is emphatically and beautifully described as " a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of vallies and hills." (Deut. viii. 7.) Numerous brooks and streams intersect the land, which greatly contributed to its fertility, as well as to the comfort of the inhabitants, in a region where there is a great paucity of showers.

The principal river which waters Palestine is the JORDAN or Yar-Dan, i. e. the river of Dan. Josephus informs us that the Jordan has two sources, one in the region called Daphne, which supplies the lesser Jordan. This rivulet having passed through a pleasant country, falls into the greater Jordan, a little below where Jeroboam set up his golden calves. (Bell. Jud. iv. 1.) The greater Jordan to appearance flows out of a cave in that part of Mount Lebanon called Paneas, under which Cæsarea Philippi formerly stood, but in reality it comes out of the lake Phiala, passing thence under ground for the space of fifteen miles till it reaches Paneas. This, Philip the tetrarch first discovered by throwing a quantity of chaff into the lake Phiala, which issuing out at a cave whence formerly the Jordan was supposed to spring, shewed clearly the true source of the river. The Jordan issuing from this cave, glides through the lake and marshes of Semechonitis. Then running other fif

Horne, vol. iii. P. 1. ch. ii. § 8.