The history of Palestine

Front matter

Class Book

THE

HISTORY

Book I. From the Deluge till the Death of Joseph . . . 127

II. From the Birth till the Death of Moses . . .157

III. From the Death of Moses till the Accession of Saul 191

IV. From the Reign of Saul till the Death of Solomon . 225 V. From the Revolt of the Ten Tribes till the Captivity of

the Jews under Nebuchadnezzar . . . .270 VI. From the Captivity till the Rise of the Maccabees . 316 VII. From the Rise of the Maccabees till the End of the Asa-

monean Dynasty 349

VIII. From the Reign of Herod the Great till the Restoration of

Syria to the Dominion of the Porte . . . 378

TABLES OF SCEIPTUEE MEASURES, WEIGHTS, AND COINS.

MEASURES OF LENGTH.

Feet. Dec.

A Fathom, equal to 4 cubits, or 7-296

Inches. Dec.

A Cubit, equal to 21-888

A Span the longer, equal to half a cubit, or 10*944

A Span the less, equal to a third of a cubit, or ... . 7*296 A Hand's-breadth, equal to a sixth of a cubit, or . . . 3*684 A Finger's-breadth, equal to a twenty-fourth of a cubit, or 0*912

MEASURES OF CAPACITY.

Wine Gall. Pints.

Chomer or Homer, equal to 75 5f

Ephah or Bath, equal to 7 5

Seah, one-third of ephah, equal to . 2 4

Hin, one-sixth of ephah, equal to 1 2

Omer, one-tenth of ephah, equal to , . . 6

Cab, one-eighteenth of ephah, equal to 3f

WEIGHTS AND COINS.

Grains. S. D.

Shekel, equal to ... 219 silver, equal to . . 2 4J

Gerah, one-tenth of bekah, 10*95 „ „ . . . 1-J Man eh, equal to 100 shekel-Aveight.

Maneh in coin, equal to 60 shekels £7 15

Talent of Silver, equal to 3000 shekels 353 11 10

Talent of Gold, the same weight 5075 15 7

ROMAN MONEY MENTIONED IN NEW TESTAMENT.

Pence. Farth.

Denarius, silver, equal to 7 3

Assis, copper „ 3

Assarium . . . „ 1J

Quadrans . . . „ Of

Introduction

PAET I -HISTOEICAL AND PHYSICAL GEOGBAPHY.

SECTION L-HISTORICAL GEOGKAPHY.

NAMES.

Palestine has, in different ages, been known by various names : —

1. In Scripture it is called, by way of pre-eminence, The Land ; * every region being pre-eminently the land or country of its inhabitants. It is also called, distinctively, The Land of the successive proprietors or occupants of the whole country, or of particular parts of it: — as, 1. The Land of Canaan; from Canaan, the youngest son of Ham, and grandson of Noah, among whose eleven sons the country was divided, after the Confusion at Babel (Gen. x. 6, 15) : — 2. The Land of Israel ; from the Israelites, the posterity of Israel (Jacob), who drove out the Canaanites, and settled therein : — 3. The Land of Judah ; a name which was at first restricted to the domains of the tribe of Judah ; but was afterwards applied to the separate kingdom formed by the tribes of Judah and * Often translated " The Earth, 1 ' in English versions.

INTRODUCTION.

Benjamin (Psalm lxxvi. 1); and at last, under the form of Judaea, to the whole country.

2. The name the Lord's (or Jehovah's) Land, or the Land of God, occurs frequently in the Old Testament, and bears a peculiar force when understood with reference to the fact that, under the Hebrew constitution, God Himself was the king of the land, and the sovereign proprietor of the soil (Lev. xxv. 23). The name Holy Land, does not seem to have been employed by the Jews until after the Captivity (Zech. ii. 12). They used it with reference to the fact, that the land was chosen by God to be the inheritance of His people, and the seat of His worship. Christians, among whom also the name is in common use, have, at the same time, regard to its being the scene of the acts and sufferings of Christ and His Apostles. The Land of Promise (Heb. xi. 9), is a name given with reference to the promise which God made to Abraham, that He would bestow this land on his children.

3. Palestine may now, from general use, be regarded as the proper geographical name of the country. It is derived from the Philistines ; who obtained possession of a very important part of the land, and appear to have given their name to the whole of it in the 4;jme of Moses (Exod. xv. 14).

DIVISIONS.

1. The divisions of Palestine were different in different ages. — In the time of the Patriarchs, the country was divided among the tribes or nations descended from the sons of Canaan. The precise locality of each nation is not, in every case, distinctly known ; but the map exhibits the most probable arrangement. Here it is sufficient to mention that the Kenites, the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, lived on the east of the Jordan (Gen. xv. 18-21) ; and that, on the west of that river, or in Palestine Proper, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites, abode in the hill country of the south (afterwards belonging to Judah) ; the C an a anites— properly so called — in the middle, across the country, from the sea-coast to the river Jordan; the

HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY.

Girgashttes, along the eastern border of the lake of Gennesareth ; and the Hivites in the north, among the southern branches of the Lebanon mountains. The southern part of the coast was occupied by the Philistines, and the northern part by the Phoenicians.

2. In the time of Moses, when the Israelites prepared to enter Canaan, the distribution of the nations on the west of flie Jordan had undergone very little change ; but, on the east of that river, we find the three principal territories to have been Bashan, in the north, — that is to say, east and north-east of the lake Gennesareth ; Gilead, in the middle ; and, in the south, on the east of the Dead Sea, the Land of Moab, so called from one of the sons of Lot, who settled there. There are traces of the name of Gilead in the time of Jacob.

3. After the Conquest, the land was distributed by lot among the tribes. The particulars of this distribution will be best seen by reference to the map. Judah, Benjamin, Simeon, and Dan, occupied the south ; Ephraim, half of Manasseh, and Issachar, the middle ; and Zebulon, Naphtali, and Asher, the north. Keuben, Gad, and the other half of Manasseh, were settled beyond Jordan, in Bashan and Gilead. This distribution was in no way affected by the division of the country into two kingdoms, which took place after the death of Solomon. The boundary line between them was the northern limit of the tribe of Benjamin.

4. After the Captivity, we hear very little of the territories of the tribes, for ten of them never returned to occupy their ancient domains.

5. In the time of Christ, the country on the west of the Jordan was divided into the provinces of Galilee, Samaria, and Judaea. Galilee is a name which occurs repeatedly in the book of Joshua (xxi. 32) ; and very often in the later history. It was applied to that part of Palestine north of the plain of Esdraelon or Jezreel. This province was divided into Lower or Southern, and Upper or Northern Galilee. The latter section was also denominated Galilee of the Gentiles (Matt. iv. 15). Samaria occupied nearly the middle of Palestine ; but, although it extended across the country, it did not come down to the sea-shore. Judaea, as a province,

LNTEODUCTION.

corresponded to the northern and western parts of the ancient kingdom of that name : but the south-eastern portion formed the territory of Idoi-Ea. On the other side of the Jordan the divisions were, at this time, more numerous and less distinct. The whole country, generally, was called Pee^ea, and was divided into eight districts or cantons, namely: — 1. Pee-Ea, in the more limited sense, which was the southernmost canton, extending from the river Arnon to the river Jabbok. — 2. G-ilead. north of the Jabbok, and highly populous. — 3. Decaeolts. or the district of ten cities, which were Scythopolis or Bethshan on the west side of the Jordan), Hippos. G-adara. Pella. Philadelphia formerly Eabbath), Drum, Canatha, Gerasa, Eaphana, and, perhaps, Damascus; but there is not much certainty with regard to the ten cities from which the region had its name. — L Gauloxitis, extending to the north-east of the Upper Jordan and of the lake Gennesareth. — 5. Bataxjea, the ancient Bashan, but less extensive, east of the lake Gennesareth. — 6. Aubaxetts. also called Itte-Ea, and known to this day by the old name of Hauran Ezek. xlvii. 16-18 . to the north of Batana^a and the east of Gaulonitis. — 7. Tbachoxitis. extending to the north of Gaulonitis, and east from Paneas (Ca?sarea Philippi; and the sources of the Jordan, where it was separated from Galilee (Luke hi. 1). — 8. Abilexe, in the extreme north, among the mountains of Anti-Libanus. between Baaibec and Damascus.

BOEDEEIXG XATIOXS.

The bordering nations mentioned in Scripture, are the Philistines. Phcexiciaxs, Moaeites. Ammoxites, Medlaxites. Edomites. and Am a t.ekttes.

1 . The Phtlisttxes. although they were settled in Palestine in the time of the Patriarchs, were not Canaanites, but strangers, who had probably migrated, or had been expelled, from Egypt. They drove out the Avites, a Canaanitish tribe, and established themselves in their room, in the small strip of territory on the south-west coast, from a point below Joppa to Gaza. Here they maintained themselves for many gene-

HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY.

Gaz£ rations, and, at times, made their power felt in the interior and in the sonth, long after the land of Canaan had been conquered by the Israelites. Their chief towns, each the seat' of a distinct state or republic, were Gath, Ekron, Ashdod, Ascalon, and G-aza.

2. The Phoenicians although Canaanites by origin, were not among the doomed nations whom the Israelites were ordered to expel. In fact, their presence was rather useful than otherwise to the Hebrew nation; and very friendly relations subsisted between them, which were much to the temporal advantage of both nations. The Phoenicians needed the products of the soil, which the Israelites raised in abundance ; and the Israelites wanted the various commodities which the traffic of the Phoenicians afforded, and for which they were glad to exchange their corn, wine, and oil. This intercourse was chiefly with the southern states of Tyre and Sidon, the more northern states being little noticed in the history of the Jews. As a nation, the Phoenicians occupied the northern portion of that extended plain along the coast, the southern portion of which was in the hands of the Philistines.

3. Moab and Ammon were the descendants of the two sons of Lot, the nephew of Abraham. They established themselves in the country to the east of the river Jordon, in territories from which they expelled the aboriginal inhabitants, the gigantic races of the Emim and Zamzummim. The Moabites had their territory to the east of the Dead Sea and the lower J ordan ; and the Ammonites lived to the north-east of Moab. The chief town of the Moabites was Ar, or Rabbath- Ammon, or Areopolis, as it was afterwards called,

INTRODUCTION.

situated upon the south bank of the Arnon, some ruins of which may still be traced.

4. The Midianites were descended from Midian, the fourth son of Abraham, by his second wife, Keturah (Gen. xxv. 1-2). Their territory lay to the east and south-east of that of the Moabites. They seem to have been a more pastoral and less settled people than the Moabites, in alliance with whom we usually find them acting. By the time that history introduces us to them, they appear to have become wholly adolatrous (Num. xxii. 2-7 ; xxxL) Another tribe of Midianites was established about the head of the eastern arm (Elanitic Gulf) of the Eed Sea ; among w T hom Moses found refuge when he fled from Egypt. They appear to have been a branch of the same stock, although it has been thought that the name of Cushites, which is sometimes given to them (Num. xii. 1; Hab. hi. 7), indicated a descent from Midian, the son of Cush. This, however, might be ascribed to their occupation of a territory usually considered as belonging to Cush or Ethiopia ; and it is an argument in favour of their descent from Abraham, that these Midianites still retained, in the time of Moses, the knowledge of the true God, which the world in general had lost. These distant Midianites had little connection with the Jewish history after the time of Moses.

5. The Edomites were descended from Edom, or Esau,

They were settled in

the mountains of Seir, which extend along the eastern side of the great valley of Arabah, between the Dead Sea and the Elanitic Gulf.

In a valley among these mountains, the remains of Petra, the chief city of Edom, have only lately been discovered, and have been viewed with much wonder on account of the beautiful tombs and other monuments hewn in the surrounding cliffs.

the son of Isaac and brother of Jacob.

2. Interior of a Tomb.

HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY.

While the land was comparatively depopulated, during the Captivity of the Jews in Babylon, the Eclomites established themselves in the south-eastern parts of Judaea, whence, as already mentioned, that

quarter came to be ; -; r ' ~"r*_

called Idmnasa, or the country of the Idumaeans or Edomites.

6. The Amalekites were descended from Amalek, the son of Ham and grandson of Noah.

They were the most bitter enemies of the Israelites, by whom they were eventually exterminated. We find them first in the fertile valleys near the foot of Mount Sinai (Exod. xvii. 8-16); and afterwards on the southern borders of Palestine.

They seem to have been a pastoral people ; and

in that quarter there is a much larger extent of fine pasture grounds than was, until lately, supposed.

All these nations have long been extinct; some before, and others very soon after the final dispersion of the Jews.

SECTION 1L— LAND.

MOUNTAINS.

1. Palestine may be regarded as a mountainous country. The mountains are the most lofty and imposing in the north, where the ridges branch off from Lebanon. To the north of the great central plain of Esdraelon, the eminences take the form of rounded hills, except towards the valley of the Jordan and its lakes, where the scenery has a stern and abrupt character, with deep ravines, tall cliffs, and numerous caverns. — The principal mountains are Lebanon, Hermon, Tabor, Carmel, Ebal, and Grerizim.

2. Lebanon. The Labanon mountains consist of two ranges, which come down, parallel to each other, from the north, and extend their southern branches into Palestine. They enclose between them an extensive valley, called in Scripture "the valley of Lebanon" (Josh. xi. 17), and in other books, Ccele- Syria (the enclosed, or hollow Syria).

The outer or western ridge, fronting the sea, into which it projects several promontories, was called Libanus by ancient writers ; while to the inner, or eastern range, fronting the plains of Damascus, they gave the name of Anti-Libanus. But these distinctions are not found in the Bible, where the name Lebanon is applied to both ranges. Of the two ridges, Libanus is the loftiest ; and on its highest points, and in the fissures facing the north, snow may be found all the year round. Hence the ancient inhabitants obtained the snow with which they cooled their drinks in summer (Prov. xxv. 13). This snow is not, however, in sufficient quantity, nor does it give a sufficiently marked appearance, to account for the name of the White Mountain, which is, in Hebrew, the meaning of Lebanon. The name must rather be ascribed to the general appearance of the mountains ; for they are composed of whitish limestone ; and the surface, as it reflects the

LAND.

light, exhibits everywhere a whitish aspect. The mountains of the western Lebanon are cultivated in terraces ; and this region is now, as it was formerly, full of villages and people.

3. Mount Hermon was the northern limit of the territory of Israel beyond Jordan (Deut. hi. 8 ; iv. 48 ; Josh. xi. 3-17 ; xiii. 11), and the Psalmist speaks of it and Tabor as the representatives of all the mountains of Israel (Psalm lxxxix. 12 ; see also cxxxiii. 3 ; Sol. Song, iv. 8). This mountain is properly a prolongation of Anti-Libanus, and now bears, in Arabic, the name of Jebel-es- Sheikh, the Sheikh's Mountain. Its top is usually stated to be 10,000 feet above the Mediterranean, and during the whole year is partially crowned with snow, or rather ice, which, as it lies in the ravines, presents the appearance of radiant stripes, around and below the summit of the mountain. This range must not be confounded with another Mount Hermon (distinguished as Little Hermon), in the plain of Esdraelon.

4. Tabor is, in many respects, the most remarkable mountain in Palestine. It stands apart and alone on the north-east border of the plain of Esdraelon, with all its fine proportions, from base to summit, displayed at one view. Seen from the south-west, it presents a semi-globular appearance ; but from the north-west, it more resembles a truncated cone. Its height has been greatly over-estimated. Dr. Eobinson thinks that it does not exceed 1000 feet above the level of the plain. By an ancient path, which winds considerably, one may ride to the summit, where is a small oblong plain, with the foundations of ancient buildings. The view of the country from this place is very beautiful and extensive. The mountain is of limestone, which is the general rock of Palestine. The sides of the mountain are mostly covered with bushes, and woods of oak trees (ilex and aegilops), with occasionally pistachio, presenting a beautiful appearance, and affording a fine shade. This mountain is several times mentioned in the Old Testament (Josh. xix. 12, 22 ; Judges iv. 6, 12, 14) ; but not in the New. It has, indeed, been said that it was the mountain on which our Lord was transfigured (Matt, xvii.) ; but this appears more than doubtful, from the fact, that the summit of Mount Tabor was then occupied by a fortified town.

INTRODUCTION.

5. Carmel is a mountain ridge, six or eight miles long, stretching nearly north and south from the plain of Esdraelon into the sea, where it forms the high promontory which

, s .-v,. - ; .^Op encloses, on the

south, the bay of Acre. It is composed of a whitish stone, in which flints, sometimes curiously shaped, are embedded.

The height has been variously stated, but, from comparison, it appears that the elevation of the highest points is nearly equal to that of Mount Tabor. On the east is the river Kishon and the plain of Esdraelon ; on the west, a small plain descending to the sea. Oaks and other trees grow abundantly on the moimtain ; and various wild fruits evince its ancient fertility and cultivation. Indeed, the name of Carmel means The Garden of God, or a very pleasant region. Mount Carmel is renowned in the Jewish history ; and is often alluded to in the imagery of the Prophets (1 Kings xviii. 19 ; 2 Kings ii. 25 ; iv. 25 ; Isa. xxix. 17 ; xxxii. 15 ; xxxv. 2 ; Micah vii. 14 ; Jer. xlviii. 43).

6. Mounts Ebal and Gerizim, from which the solemn blessings and curses of the Law were declared to the assembled hosts of Israel, are mountains of Samaria, in the valley between which is the city of Shechem, now called Nabulus (Dent, xxvii. ; Josh. viii. 30-35). These mountains rise, in steep rocky precipices, from the valley on each side, apparently to the height of 800 feet. They both appear to be equally naked and sterile, although some travellers have chosen to describe Gerizim, the mountain of blessings, as fair and fruitful, and Ebal, the mountain of curses, as bare and desolate. Gerizim is on the south-east, and Ebal on the north-west, side of the valley.

LAND.

PLAINS AND VALLEYS.

The principal plains of Palestine, are those of Lebanon, of the Jordan, of Jericho, of Esdraelon, and of the Coast.

1. The Plain of Lebanon may be described as a valley, being enclosed between the parallel mountain ranges of Lib'anus and Anti-Libanus. Although the greater part of it must have been in Solomon's dominion, it can scarcely be deemed to belong to Palestine Proper, but its geographical and historical connection with that country requires its introduction. This enclosed plain is the Ccele- Syria of the ancients, and now bears the name of el-Bekka (the valley). It is about ninety miles in length, from north to south, by a breadth of eleven miles, nearly equal throughout, except that it widens at the northern end and narrows at the southern. This plain is, perhaps, the most rich and beautiful part of Syria. The soil is good, and the water abundant from the numerous mountain springs on each side ; but the concentration of the sun's rays renders the summer heat excessive. These are the sources of that fertility for which the valley has, in all ages, been renowned ; but only a small portion is now cultivated, the rest being left in pasture to the Arab tribes.

2. The Plain of the Jordan. By this name we understand the margin of the lakes, as well as the valley watered by the river. Here the heat is still greater than in the valley of Lebanon, and, in consequence, palm trees and the fruits of more southern climes than Palestine, will grow freely wherever there is soil and water. But the latter is usually wanting, and, therefore, except on the immediate borders of the river, of the lake of Gennesareth, and of the lesser streams, the whole plain is barren and desolate ; for the intense heat which causes exuberant fertility wherever there is water, consumes the plain wherever water is wanting.

3. The Plain of Jericho is but an opening or expansion in the plain of the Jordan, towards the Dead Sea. The whole expansion takes in the plains of Moab on the east side of the river, and the plains of Jericho on the west, and the breadth across is from ten to twelve miles. In fact, the plain

INTRODUCTION.

of the Jordan is in no other part so wide. The large plain of Jericho is partly desert, but, from the abundance of water and the heat of the climate, it might be rendered highly productive ; indeed, the fertility of this plain has been celebrated in every age. Josephus describes it as the most fertile tract of Judaea, and calls it a " divine region." He speaks also of its beautiful gardens, and its groves of palru trees ; and his description is borne out by Scripture, in which Jericho is described as "The City of Palm Trees" (Deut. xxxiv. 3; Judges i. 16). This region also produced honey, opobalsam, the cyproso tree, (or el-henna), and niyrobalanum, as well as the common fruits of the earth in prolific abundance. The Scripture adds the sycamore tree to the number of its products (Luke xix. 4). Of all these productions which so distinguished the climate of Jericho, and the greater part of which it enjoyed in common with Egypt, very few now remain. Only one solitary palm tree lingers in the plain ; the sycamores have altogether disappeared ; the celebrated opobalsam is not known ; and the myrobalanum alone appears to thrive, being probably the thorny shrub, growing wild in the plain, to which the name of zukkum is given by the present inhabitants — the modern "Balsam of Jericho" is an oil, extracted from the kernels of the green nut which it bears.

4. The Plain of Esdraelon is often mentioned in sacred history (Judges iv. 13-15, 16 ; v. 19 ; 2 Kings xxiii. 29 ; Zech. xii. 11 ; Judith i. 8) as the great battle-field of the Jewish and other nations, under the names of the Valley of Megiddo and the Valley of Jezreel ; and by Josephus as the Great Plain. The convenience of its extent and situation for military action and display has, from the earliest periods of history down to our own day, caused its surface, at certain intervals, to be moistened with the blood, and covered with the bodies, of conflicting warriors of almost every nation under heaven. This great plain, exclusive of three great arms which stretch eastward towards the valley of the J ordan, may be said to be in the form of an acute triangle, having the measure of thirteen or fourteen miles on the north, about eighteen on the east, and above twenty on the south-west. In the western portion this plain seems perfectly level, with a general declivity towards the Mediterranean; but in the

LAND.

east it is somewhat undulated by slight spurs and swells from the roots of the mountains : from the eastern side three great valleys go off to the valley of the Jordan. These valleys are separated by the ridges of Gilboa and Little Hermon, and that which lies between these two ridges, is the proper valley of Jezreel, which name seems to be sometimes given to the whole plain of Esdraelon. The valley of Jezreel is a deep plain, and about three miles across. Before the verdure of spring and early summer has been parched up by the heat and drought of the late summer and autumn, the view of the Great Plain is, from its fertility and beauty, very delightful. In June, yellow fields of grain, with green patches of millet and cotton interspersed, chequer the landscape like a carpet. The plain itself is almost without villages, but there are several on the slopes of the enclosing hills, especially on the side of Mount Carmel.

5. The Plain of the Coast is that tract of land which extends along the coast, between the sea and the mountains. In some places, where the mountains approach the sea, this tract is interrupted by promontories and rising grounds ; but, taken generally, the whole coast of Palestine may be described as an extensive plain of various breadth. Sometimes it expands into broad plains, at others it is contracted into narrow valleys. With the exception of some sandy tracts, the soil is throughout rich, and exceedingly productive. The climate is everywhere very warm, and is considered rather insalubrious as compared with the upland country. It is not mentioned by any one collective name in Scripture. The part fronting Samaria, and between Mount Carmel and Jaffa, near a rich pasture ground, was called the Valley of Sharon ; and the continuation southward, between Jaffa and Gaza, was called The Plain, as distinguished from the hill-country of Judah.

SECTION IIL-WATEES.

RIVERS.

1. The Jordan is the only river of any note in Palestine, and besides it there are only two or three perennial streams. The greater number of the streams which figure in the history, and find place in the maps, are merely torrents or water-courses, which carry off the waters in the season of rain, or if they have their origin in springs, are spent, in the season of drought, soon after they quit their source.

2. The Jordan. The remotest origin of this river lies among the mountains, not much less than forty miles north of the Sea of Galilee. The source is a large fountain, just above a place called Hasbeiya, whence the stream which flows from it takes the name of Hasbany. This is about twenty miles north of Banias, or Csesarea Philippi, and the ancient city of Dan, where again are large fountains, which have been from ancient times regarded as the sources of the Jordan, to the neglect of the more important and remoter source. The streams from these latter fountains there unite and form a small river, which, after rivnning a short distance further, unites with the Hasbany, and the streams, thus joined into one to form the true Jordan, then proceeds to the lake Huleh, from which the fountain is about twenty-five miles distant. This fountain, which has an undoubted title to stand at the head of the springs and fountains and lakes of this renowned river, hails up from the bottom of a shallow pool some eight or ten rods in circumference. It at once, even in the dry season, forms a considerable stream, which meanders for the first three miles through a narrow, but very lovely, and highly cultivated valley, and then sinks rapidly down a constantly deepening gorge of dark basalt for about six miles, until it reaches the level of the great volcanic plain, extending to the marsh above the Lake Huleh. Through this plain it

B ITERS.

proceeds eight or ten miles, receiving the other streams in its way, and enters the lake not far from its north-west corner. The other stream which joins the Hasbany, and whose sources haTe been so long regarded as those of the Jordan, has distinct sources, at Banias and at Tel-el-Kacli. At Banias (anciently Paneas, from the worship of Pan) a stream issues from a spacious caTern, under a wall of rock, at the base of the Heish mountains. Directly OTer the caTern and in other parts, in the face of the perpendicular rock, niches haTe been cut to receiTe statues. Here Herod built a temple in honour of Augustus ; and there was a town somewhat below, traces of which still remain. This is, undoubtedly, that place and caTern, at the foot of a mountain, which Josephus describes as the main source of the Jordan (Joseph. Ant. xt. 10, 3 ; Bell. Jud. i. 21-3). Yet, in another place (Joseph. Bell. Jud. iii. 10, 7), this writer refers the source to a remoter quarter. He relates that the Tetrarch Philip cast some chaff into the lake Phiala, and as it came out at the Paneas caTern, the lake was deemed the true source of