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I
have already stated in the second chapter that the Djebl Heish was the most
northeasterly point of the tribes to the west of Jordan, as it is the most
northwestern for those on the east side of the same river. From the foot of this
mountain there extends to the eastward a large elevated plain to the district of
Hauran. On this table land, south of the Jarmuch, ירמוך
which falls into the Jordan in an eastern direction from Mount Tabor, commence
the mountains of Gilead. South of this range there is another elevated plain,
which touches to the west on the valley of the Jordan, to the east on the desert
of Arabia, and to the south on the Arnon or Wady el Modjeb. This plateau,
however, extends yet farther south to Al Kerak (Kir Moab); but here begins a
high mountainous country, extending to the Wady Ahsa, which falls into the
southeast point of the Dead Sea. There commences the Djebl* Seïr (Mount Seir הר
שעיר), also called Sarra, which extends to the
Red Sea at Akabé, situated on the eastern termination of the same.
*This
name Djebl as denoting Mount Seir is already used by Jonathan; for in Deut. 1:2,
he translates הר
שעיר in with טורא
דגבלא—the mount of Gebla, closely allied
to the Arabic Djebl.
Josephus
calls the territory east of Jordan by the general name of Perma.
The
following are the countries situated east of Jordan and on the borders of
Palestine:
Edom; Moab; Ammon; Median And Keni; Bashan; Geshur;
Maachah, Argob, And Amalek.
Edom
אדום
Is
situated south and southeast of Palestine, and extended to the Red Sea.* In the
times of the Romans it was called Petraea, because the capital, the large city
of Sela (i.e. Rock), was also called Petra (Stone).
* It appears that at a later period the Edomites moved and
spread themselves farther to the north; for we find them in the vicinity of the
Euphrates, as we are told in Bereshith Rabbah, chap. 74: "When David went
to Aram Naharayim and Aram Zoba to war, he encountered on the way Edomites and
Moabites." It is farther said in the work cited, chap. 75., "The
Edomites were afraid of the Barbarians and Germanians." Germania is a
district in Asia Minor, as I shall prove in another part of the book. (Is it
perhaps Caramania)
I
will now mention the names of the yet known remains and vestiges of the former
towns of this country:
Sela
סלע or the Jokteel of 2 Kings
14:7, is situated about 3 English miles east from Mount Hor, the so-called Djebl
Hauran, in a narrow valley called Wady Musa, 2½ miles in circumference, and
enclosed between uncommonly high rocky cliffs. A narrow pass, a mile in length,
but scarcely wide enough for a loaded camel to get through, brings us from the
Arabah (see chapter second, article District of Jordan) into this valley. This
rocky gorge, consisting of immense masses of rock, seems to have been formed by
the hands of nature, and not by means of human labour. A little stream comes
down from the cliffs, and passing through this gorge, enters the Arabah. Within
these rocky walls, which are 500 to 600 feet in height, are found ruins of
houses, palaces, temples, theatres, which are as old as the time of the Edumeans
themselves or that of the Romans; and there are discovered in every direction
heaps of stone, marble columns, uprooted pillars, &c.; and in the walls also
there are found houses, columns, graves, and temples, hewn out of the rock, and
though they have existed already in all probability far more than a thousand
years, everything looks as bright and clear as though it had been only the work
of modern times.
The
prophet Obadiah no doubt alluded to the strong position and the security of
Edom, when he said, "The pride of thy heart hath deceived thee, thou that
dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high," &c.
(verse 3)
The
Arabs call this country Gabal, which some suppose is derived from Obal (Gen.
10:28), who is said to have settled here, and first corrupted into Abal, and
then Gabal.
Buz
בוז (Jer. 25:23). There
is a village south of Petra, called Basta, which is supposed to be the ancient
Buz.
Bozrah
בצרה (Gen. 34:33;
Isaiah 34:6; Jer. 49:13; Amos 1:12), was anciently one of the principal cities
of Edom. At present there is left but an old castle, called Bezeira, about 30
miles north from Petra, situated on a mountain; near it are some large ruins. A
town of the same name was also to be met with in the district of Hauran.
Teman
תימן (Gen. 34:11,
15; Jer. 49:7, 20; Amos 1:12; Obad. 1:9 ; Job 2:11), is said to be the present
large village Maan, situated about 5 miles east-southeast from Petra, on the
road which the pilgrims follow from Damascus to Mekka. In its environs are many
handsome fields and gardens. (See also Toseplitah Sanhedrin, chap. 12., and
Taanith, iii., § 7, Rabbi Shimon of Teman.) But to me it appears more probable
that Maän is the
Maön
מעון of 1 Chron.
4:41, and 2 Chron. 24:7; "the Meünim" (English version Mehunims,
incorrect), since this town or district appears to have been in Al Gor. (See
above, "The Valley of Jordan.")
Tophel
תפל of Deut. 1:1, is
probably the small town Tafila, 6 English miles north of Bezeira.
Dedan
דדן of Ezek. 25:43, is
the village Dehana, 5 miles south-southwest from Bezeira.
Ezion
Gabor עציון
גבר of Deut. 2:8, is the modern small town of
Akaba, on the eastern termination of the Red Sea.* It has a small castle.
Josephus (Antiq., book 8., § 2), calls the place Birinzi.
* It is curious and surprising that the inhabitants of Aden,
in the southern part of Arabia, not far from the straits of Bab al Mandab, where
the Red unites with the Persian Sea, suppose this town to be Ezion Gaber, and
that they write in their contracts עציון
גבר דמתקרא
עדן "Ezion Gaber, which is called Aden."
There can be no good foundation for this traditional assumption of the identity
of these two cities, since the Israelites never entered Arabia (Yemen) on their
journey from Egypt to Palestine.
Elath
אילת (ibid.) East
of Akaba are found some ruins, which are called Eila. In the times of the
Romans, the Red Sea was called the Elanitic Gulf.
Hor
Hahar, the Mount Hor הר
ההר (Num. 20:25), is the high mount Djebl Harun,†
i. e. Aaron's Mount, about 8 English miles west from Maän; there is a convent
on it. In a cave of this mount is the supposed grave of Aaron. The walls of the
cave are covered with inscriptions, which appear to be Hebrew, but written so
indistinctly and unintelligibly that their contents cannot be guessed at or
deciphered.
†
There is a chain of mountains running almost uninterruptedly from this Djebl
Harun to the Dead Sea and the country of Moab; so that the whole may be regarded
as one uncommonly long range. This will explain an obscure passage of Siphri to
Deut. 34: "This mount had four names, the Mount of Abarim, Nebo, Hor, and
Pisgah,"—not that they are the selfsame elevation, but various peaks, all
belonging to the same chain.
About
6 English miles north-northwest of Tafila is a small town called Chanziri,
celebrated for the battle which Abraim Pacha fought there in the year 5594
(1834), with the Bedouins of that vicinity, and where he was defeated by them,
although he conquered them at a later period.
I
wish in this place to explain several names which occur in the itinerary of the
Israelites through the desert, which will be the more interesting, as I have
succeeded in discovering several things which remained unknown to other
travellers.
Etham
איתם (Exod. 13:20),
is that part of the desert which lies north of the Red Sea, near Suez, and is
called at the present day Ethia = Etham.
Baal-Zephon
בעל צפון
(ibid. 14:2). Not far from Suweis (Suez), at a distance of 1 mile to the north
thereof, is the village Tell Kalsum (the Red Sea being called in Arabic Bachr al
Kalsum), near which is a place called Bir Zufis, which evidently has a strong
resemblance to Zephon.
Marah
מרה (Exod. 15:23). At a
distance of two days' caravan journey, about 25 English miles, south of Suez, on
the shore of the Red Sea, is found a spring, the water of which is bright and
clear, but exceedingly bitter. It is called En Chavara, and supposed identical
with Marah, i. e. "bitter."
Elim
אלים (Exod. 15:27).
One day's caravan journey south of En Chavara, on the sea-shore, is a valley
called Wady Taibé, whence a rocky headland runs into the sea, which bears the
name Ras Zelima, in which I think to discover a strong resemblance to Elima, or
Elim; wherefore we may assume it to have been situated in Wady Taibé.
Sinai, Choreb סיני
חורב (Exod. 19:11). Three days' journey
southeast from Wady Taibé is the large mountain range of Djebl Tor. Here are
found two mounts, of which one is about 6000, the other about 7000 feet above
the level of the sea. At the foot of the latter, to the south, is a large and
broad plain. One of these mounts is supposed to be the celebrated Sinai or
Horeb; and the probability is in favour of the latter, because it must have been
in the large plain "where Israel encamped opposite to the mount."
(Exod. 19:2.)
Paran
פרן
(Num. 10:12), is no doubt the Wady Phiran, where formerly the town of Pharan
stood; this valley is to the west of Elath, opposite to Djebl Serbal.
Nevertheless it is certain that the wilderness of Paran must have extended much
farther than this in a northern direction, since we read in Numbers 12:16,
"They removed from Hazeroth (Chazeroth), and encamped in the wilderness of
Paran;" and ibid. 33:18 it says: "They removed from Hazeroth and
encamped at Rithmah," which consequently must have been in the wilderness
of Paran, which then must leave extended as far as Wady Rithimath (see farther,
article Rithmah). Joseplius, Bell. Jud., book iv. chap. 9., even asserts that
the desert of Paran extended to the neighbourhood of the Dead Sea.
Di-Zahab די
זהב (Deut. 1:1), is undoubtedly the village Djab,
the Hebrew Zahab, not far from the shore of the eastern arm of the Red Sea, in
an eastern direction, opposite to the Djebl Tor.
Rithmah
רתמה
(Num. 33:18). About a half day's journey south from Wady Kiseima (see Azmon,
chap. i.), is found a valley called Wady Rithimath. Rothem literally
means a Broom-bush; hence, Rithmah, the country of the Broom-shrub; and there
actually grow many broombushes near the Wady Rithimath. It appears probable, as
Rashi already said, that Rithmah is identical with Kadesh-Barnea, and the
distance between Wady Gaian (Kadesh-Barnea) and Wady Rithimath is actually quite
small.
Chazeroth
חצרות
(ibid. 17), is undoubtedly identical with the spring called En al Chuteroth,
about a half day's journey distant from Wady Rithimath, in an eastern direction.
The change of Z and T is easily accounted for.
Kibroth-Hataavah
קברות
התאוה (ibid. 16). The celebrated
Saadiah Gaon translates this name in his Arabic version with Kabur al Shahava
"the grave of desire." One day's journey to the south-southeast from
the En al Chuteroth, is another spring named En al Shahava, "the spring of
desire;" which leaves no doubt of the identity of the place.
Moseroth or Moserah מסרות
מסרה (ibid. 30, and Deut. 10:6), undoubtedly
identical with the Wady Aluzera, one day's journey south from Wady Rithimath.
Luz
לוז of Judges 1:26. One
mile south from Wady Muzera, and almost connected with it, is the Wady Luzan. It
is possible that this was the Luz in the land of the Hittites; and it appears
from Zohar to Terumah, fol. 269, that this town of Luz was situated beyond
Palestine proper.
Béné-Jaakon
בני יעקן
(Num. 33:31). 10 English miles south from Wady Muzera is the Wady Anaka, and in
its vicinity a mount of the same name, which bears an evident similarity to
Jaakan, by transposition of the n and k.
Chor-Hagiddgad
or Gudgodah חר
הגדגד (ibid. 32) and גדגדה
(Deut. 10:7) is undoubtedly the Wady al Gudhagid, one day's journey from the
former Wady Anaka.
Jotbathah
or Jotbath יטבתה יטבת (Num. 33:32) is very probably the
Wady Taibé, which is on the western shore of the northern point of the Red Sea,
opposite to Akaba.
Abron
עברון
(ibid. 34). I am inclined to believe that this name signifies "ferry,"
being derived from עבר,
"to pass over," or the place of passing from the western shore of the
Red Sea to the eastern, since Jotbath was on the former and Ezion-Gaber on the
latter side of the Gulf of Elath. It is possible that the people either actually
crossed this arm of the sea, or that it was a station whence the passage was
usually made by other travellers.
Kadesh, En-Mishpat קדש
עין משפט (ibid. 30, Gen.
14:7). About 10 English miles south from Petra, is found a large and important
spring, which the Bedouins call En al Sedaka = Zedakah, i. e. the Spring of
Justice, and is unquestionably the ancient En-Mishpat, since Zedakah and
Mishpat
are often synonymous, meaning justice, equity, rectitude. This Kadesh is
also called Rekem, as in Onkelos to Genesis 14:7, and Numbers 20:1; so also in
Mishna Gittin, chap. 1, § 2, "From Rekem in the east." Now this Rekem
cannot be the same stated by Rabbi Gamliel in § 1, " From Rekem and
Chagra," which is Kadesh-Barnea in Rekam-Gaia, since this is in the south
of Palestine, and not in the east, wherefore "Rekem in the east" must
be Kadesh, En-Mishpat. This name of Rekem, as given to this Arab town, called by
the Greeks Petra, is derived, as Josephus states in his Antiquities, book 4.
chap. 7., from Rekem, the prince of Midiam (Num. 31:8). And it is actually the
case that this spring is but 10 miles distant from Petra, whence it is then
clear that the environs thereof were called Rekem.*
* It is, therefore, an erroneous assumption of several
eminent writers to consider Kadesh-Barnea as identical with Kadesh, En-Mishpat;
since I have sufficiently proved that the former is the modern Wady Gaian, and
the latter without any doubt, the En al Sedaka, which is at a very great
distance from Wady Gaian. Even the learned Abn Ezra makes this mistake in his
commentary to Numbers 20:1.; and the celebrated Rashi to Deuteronomy 1:46,
asserts the same and brings a proof from the book Seder Olam, from which
it appears that the Israelites were in the fortieth year of their pilgrimage at
Kadesh-Barnea, which is called in Scripture En-Mishpat, and that, consequently,
both names designate the same place. But I did not find in Seder Olam, in the
passage cited, the two words וחזרו
לקדש "And they returned to Kadesh," and
are merely an inference of Rashi, as nothing is said by Seder Olam to establish
the identity of the two Kadesh of Deuteronomy 1:2, 19, and ibid. 46. In fact,
Rashi himself revokes his opinion, since he says to Numbers 32:8, "There
were two Kadesh."
The
above is all which I could trace out of the names mentioned in the route of the
Israelites through the desert; but it is at present impossible to explain the
actual relation of these encampments, since some of the distances are but from
seven to ten miles, whereas others are from twenty to thirty. Of ten encampments
from Rithmah to Moseroth (Num. 33: 19-30), I could not find the least trace; but
I believe that they must have been in the large, very stony, and mountainous
desert of Azazimath, which extends eastward from Wady Rithimath and Wady Mazura,
to the vicinity of Mount Madura, and is actually the most naked and impassable
desert of the whole surrounding country.
Nebajoth
נביות (Gen.
25:13). Josephus calls the inhabitants of the land of Nebajoth
"Arabs," and says their territory extended from the Red Sea to the
Euphrates. In I Macc. 5:24, 25, and 9:35, they are styled "the inhabitants
of the east side of Jordan." But, as a rule, it is impossible to give with
any certainty an accurate description, or to assign the true position of the
territories of nomadic nations, since they never have any settled home, and move
about at pleasure within a wide range.
Kedar
קדר (ibid. and Jer.
49:28). It is also impossible to state the exact position of the country of this
nomadic tribe. It is mentioned in connexion with Nebajoth, and the kingdom of
Hazor. It must therefore have been in the eastern desert of Arabia, and
extended, like the former, from the Red Sea up to the Babylonian territory.
Jishbak
ישבק (Gen. 25:2).
It is probable that this tribe inhabited the country around the mount and
village of Shobek, which are about 6 miles to the north of Petra.
Masrekah
משרקה (Gen.
36:26). There is, 8 miles south from Petra, a town called En Masrak, which is
possibly the Masrekah of Scripture.
Moab
מואב
Was
situated to the northeast of Edom, and extended from the modern Wady Ahsa, which
has a northwestern course, and falls into the southeastern point of the Dead
Sea, to the Wady Modjeb (the Arnon of the Bible). The present name of the
country is Belad al Kerak, and is even now a fruitful country (Isa. 14:9, 10).
Especially the wheat produced here is very excellent, and is carried in
considerable quantities to Jerusalem for sale. The names of the localities of
Moab known at present are the following:
Ar
Moäb
ער מואב
(Num. 21:28, and Deut. 2:29), was also called Rabbath Moab, that is, Rabbah
belonging to Moab, and in the time of the Greek and Roman supremacy Areopolis,
is at present the village Rabba, 15 miles north from Al Kerak (which see). There
are found close to it ruins, which measure more than a mile in circumference.
 Kir
Moab קיר
מואב (Jerai. 15:1), is the present town Al
Kerak, which is situated opposite to the southeast termination of the Dead Sea.
It is the largest town in the whole vicinity, and is well fortified, and built
on high rocks, in front of a deep and narrow valley, which some suppose to be
the valley of the stream Zered, which falls into the Dead Sea. It is connected
with a very strong fort, which I suppose to be the Mizpeh Moab of 1 Sam. 22:3.
In the year 5594 (1834), when the Arabs and Bedouins of this neighbourhood had
rebelled against Abraim Pacha, they took the fort through treachery and
deception, and slaughtered many of the garrison; but some time after, the
rebellion was quelled, and the Arabs were sufficiently punished and humbled. The
Pacha was even determined to demolish and destroy the fort; but he could not
succeed, since it is, so to say, a large boulder of rock, a solid mass of stone.
It can be seen, by means of a spy-glass, even at Jerusalem, on a clear day. It
would appear that Kerak was formerly inhabited by Jews, since one can observe
Hebrew inscriptions on the stones of several houses.
One
and a half miles north from Kerak, the Wady Sufsaf, a small river, falls into
the Dead Sea. I have scarcely a doubt but that this is the "Willow
River" נחל
הערבה of Isa. 15:7, and Amos 6:14, since
Sufsaf in Arabic signifies willow; hence it is literally the same as Nachal
Ha'arabah, Willow River. (See Sukkah, chap. 3, § 3.)
Sela
סלע (Isa. 16:1). North of
the Wady al Ahsa is a village called Al Pietra, a name probably of Roman
derivation. It is unquestionably the just-named Sela (rock, Petra), of Moäb.
Eglaim
אגלים (ibid.
15:8), is the village Agala, 7 miles south of Ar.
Ham
הם (Gen. 14:5). We may perhaps
trace this name in that of the village Humeimath, situated 1 mile north of Ar.
Besides
the above, I shall speak of other names in the territory of Moab when treating
of the towns of Reuben and Gad.
Ammon
עמון
Extended
from Arnon to Jabbok, the Wady Zurka of modern times. In Deut. 2:37, we read:
"Only unto the land of the children of Ammon thou camest not, unto any
place on the river Jabbok, nor unto the cities of the mountains," &c. I
suppose this mountain of Ammon to be the one which extends to the south of
Hauran, and I shall speak at length of it when discussing the latter range. We
can find but extremely few vestiges of the ancient names of places in the land
of the Ammonites, and I shall describe
Rabbah
or Rabbath Ammon, the largest town of the country, when discussing the cities of
Gad.
Midian
מדין
It
is difficult to designate exactly the land of the Midianites, since we find
traces of this people in many places. Josephus says, that Moses came, in his
flight from Egypt, to the city of Midian, on the shores of the Red Sea, which
was so called front Medan, the son of Abraham. And even at the present day there
is a village to the south of Akaba called Median. We find the hordes of Midian
came as far as Gaza (Judges 6:4), into the land of Moab (Gen. 34:35, and Num.
25:6); in the land of the Amorites (Joshua 13:21), and in Edom, to wit, Rekem
near Petra. See Kadesh, En-Mishpat, page 214.
Descendants from the Midianites were:
The Kenites קני
Of Judges 4:11; 2 Kings 1:9 ; and 1 Chron. 2:55. They were all descendants of
Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses (see further, art. "Children of
Rachab"). We find also Kenites who did not belong to the house of Israel,
who, to distinguish them from the former, are called Shalmai, as it is given in
Onkelos and Jonathan to Num. 24:21, and Gen. 15:19). The Kenites spoken of in 1
Sam. 27:10, and 30:29, belonged probably to the first class, that is, to those
adopted among the Israelites.
Amalek
עמלק
The
chief residence of this tribe must have been on the mountain of Seïr, as is
plainly told in 1 Chron. 4:42; as also in Gen. 14:7,* consequently not far from
Petra. It is likewise said in 1 Sam. 15:7, "And Saul smote the Amalekites
from Havilah till thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt," and
also in 1 Kings 11:16 (see Baba Bathra, fol. 21b), that Amalek† was
embraced in the territory of Edom. Nevertheless we can trace it in a more
northerly direction; for instance, the Mount Amalek in the land of Ephraim
(Judges 12:15). West of Kirja, Kirjath-Jearim, is even to this day a district
called Bne Amlek; and even a Mount Seïr is spoken of in Joshua 15:10. Not far
from Djifni (see עפני
Ophni or Benjamin), north of Ramla, is the village Amalek. The Armenians are
usually called by the Eastern Jews Amalekim, perhaps owing to a tradition that
they settled in the north, where the present Armenians are found. Nay, we find
Amalekites even in Persia, since Haman was an Agagite, which means a descendant
from Amalek; and according to the Second Targum to the Book of Esther, Haman was
a native of India, but an Amalekite by descent; for it says to chap. 8:13
המן
בר המדתא
מהנדיא הוה
ומן זרעי' דבית
עמלק הוה "Haman the son of
Hamdatha was from India, and was also from the descendants of the house of
Amalek." Josephus says, the possessions of Amalek were on the mountain of
Seïr, and in the vicinity of the Arabian Petra.
*
But here it is said, "the whole field of the Amalekite," which would
denote a low and level country.—TRANSLATOR.
†
It was a tribe of the great Idumean nation.—TRANSLATOR.
Bashan
בשן
We
understand under the general term Bashan, the following districts: Geshur,
Maachah, Argob, Salchah, Golan, as appears from Deut. 3:8-14, and 1 Kings 4:13.
Onkelos
and Jonathan render Bashan with Mathnan מתנן
(see Joshua 12:4), and the Arabic version of Rabbenu Saadiah has instead of this
Al Bathni.
Argob
is rendered by Onkelos with פלך
טרכונא "the District of
Tarchona;" by Jonathan with טרגונא
Targona; by Targum Yerushalmi with אטרכונא
Atarchuna; and by Saadiah with Al Chut Modjeb.
Maachah
is rendered by Onkelos and Jonathan with אפקירוס
Aphkeros, and Geshur and Maachach with Korve and Antikeros by Jonathan.
Salcliah
is given by Jonathan with סלווקיא
Salwakia.
Josephus,
in his Ant. b. 13. chap. 15., and in his Bell. Jud., b. i., chap. 4., says that
Golan and Seleucia are in the vicinity of Lake Semechonitis; in another place he
styles Og, King of Bashan, "King of Gaulonitis and Gilead." He also
says, in Bell. Jud., b. 2., chap. 6., that the Emperor Augustus gave to one of
Herod's sons, Antipas, the land of Perea and Galilee, and to the other, Philip,
Batanea, Trachonitis, and Auranitis. He also says that Batanea was next to
Trachonitis.
I
will therefore now proceed to explain the nature and position of this district,
and divide it into five parts.
1. Golan
גולן the modern
Djulun, extends from the southern shore of the Lake Chinnereth to Banias; in
this district lay the canton of Argob חבל
הארגב in which were sixty cities fortified
with high walls, &c. (Deut. 3:4, 5) . Even up to the present time there are
found here uncommonly many, near three hundred, ruins of former towns, forts,
towers, villages, theatres, and temples, both from the most ancient period when
the Israelites yet dwelt there, and that of the dominion of the Greeks and
Romans. No wood is found in the whole district; everything is built of hard
basaltic rocks, the cutting of which is exceedingly difficult.* You scarcely
find a trace of wood anywhere; even the bolts of the houses and the nails are
made of basaltic stone. It is at present but little inhabited, and the
inhabitants that are there, live in the ruins. Here were the villages of Jaïr
the possessions of Judah which bordered on Naphtali (Joshua 19:34).
Here also was the city of refuge, Golan (Deut. iv. 43). According to Talmud Makkoth, 9a, it was situated just opposite Kedesh in the mountain of Naphtali,
likewise a city of refuge, in a due eastern direction. But on the spot thus
indicated, now called Tell Hara, I could find no trace whatever of the city of
Golan.
*
In Prov. 26:28, it says, ופה
חלק יעשה מדחה
"and a flattering mouth worketh ruin;" here Jonathan translates
Midcheh with Tarchenutha. Perhaps the true meaning of this word is "a
laborious, profitless striving," which one has, so to say, to expect in
dressing basaltic rocks, literally a repulsion, a rebounding, and a flying off,
like ונדחת
ידו "And his hand glideth off"
("fetcheth a stroke," English version); whence this part of Bashan is
called Terachona, "the hardstone land."
2. Jetur,
at present called Djedur, and formerly Ituraea, lies to the east of Djulun, and
extends northwardly up to the district of Damascus, and to the northwest to the
mountain of Hermon. The name of Jetur was probably derived from the son of
Ishmael, mentioned in Genesis 25:15. I think also that the Arabic name Djedur
bears a strong resemblance to Geshur גשור,
since it and Maachah were comprised in this district. In the eastern portion of
it is the village Machadj, which is very much like Maachah; not far from it is
another village, called Sekara, also one called Kerath, and another named Kiria;
it may be thought perhaps that these words have a trace of Aphkeros, as Maachah
is given by Onkelos, and Korvé and Antikeros as Geshur and Maachah have been
called by Jonathan.
3.
Uz (Utz) is at present called Al Ledja. It lies south of Damascus, and extends
to the mountains of Hauran. The Romans called it Trachonitis, which proves that
the canton of Argob extended thus far, since Argob is explained by calling it
Trachonitis. In the eastern part of this district, not far from Mount Hauran, is
the town of Djuba, which, perhaps, was the cause that Saadiah translates Argob
with "Mudjeb."
In
this district a severe battle was fought in the year 5593 (1833) between Abraim
Pacha and the Arabs and Bedouins of the vicinity, who caused a great slaughter
in the army of the Pacha; since they were thoroughly acquainted with the
country, its defiles and caverns, which knowledge they duly employed to deceive
the Pacha's army, who were entirely unacquainted with the same.
4.
The mountains of Hauran, at present called Djebl Hauran. The name appears to me
to be derived from the Chaldean חור
Chur, "hole, cavern," since there are many caves in this
neighbourhood. It is already mentioned in Ezekiel 47:17, חורן
Chavran, English version, Hauran, as also in Rosh Hashanah, 22 b,
and Yerushalmi Abodah Zarah, chap. 3.—Josephus calls this mountain Batanea.
This district has but few inhabitants, and these are Druses, whom I have already
mentioned in the description of Lebanon. This mountain district has in part a
productive soil; but to the east thereof commences a great desert, which extends
to the Euphrates.
5.
The plain of Hauran, is called at present Sachl Hauran. It is the Auranitis of
Josephus, and lies to the southwest of the mountain of Hauran; it is a fruitful
country, produces corn, vegetables, and an abundance of cotton wool. It is this
place which is mentioned in Deuteronomy 3:10, as "all the cities of the
plain, and the whole of Gilead and the whole of Bashan to Salehah and Edreï."
I
will next explain the names of the towns which are yet discoverable.
Salchah
סלכה (Deut. 3:10,
Vayikra Rabbah, 4.) At the foot of the eastern portion of the Hauran Mountains,
is the town Zalchath, with a fort; it is, however, now destroyed, and is
entirely without inhabitants. It appears that
these ruins must date from the Jewish period, since the style of architecture of
the ruined edifices is nowise of the Roman and much less of a later time.
Edreï
אדרעי
(ibid.) is probably to be sought for in the very large ruins called Draä, which
are found in the plain of Hauran, not far from the strong fort of Mizrib. (In
Yerushalmi Berachoth, v., is mentioned Rabbi Tanchun of Edreï.)
Kenath or Nobach קנת
נבח (Num. 32:42), is probably to be discovered in
the village Kunath, situated in the mountain of Hauran, one day's journey north
from Kelb Hauran (for which, see end of chap. 2.),
near which are found the large ruins of many buildings of Roman architecture.
Karkar
קרקר
(Judges 8:10); I suppose this to be the village Al Kerak, situated 5 miles south
from Al Churak (see next article).
Ashteroth-Karnaim (i. e. Ashtaroth of the Horns or
mountain peaks) עשתרות
קרנים (Gen.
14:5, and Joshua 12:4.) It appears from Sukkah, fol. 2a., that this place
was situated between two high mountain peaks. Astori supposes that Al Churak,
which is 8 miles northeast from the ruins of Draä, is identical with Ashteroth-Karnaim;
others, however, think it to be the old and strong castle of Al Mizrib, situated
on the route of the pilgrims from Damascus to Mekka. Near it is the source of
the Jarmuch (which see). More will be given when speaking of the cities of
Menasseh.
Bozrah
בצרה
(Abodah Zarah, 59a; Yerushalmi Shebiith, 6; Yerushalmi Bikkurim, 3.;
Midrash Shemuel, 25.; Vayikra Rabbah, 8.) I believe that the Basar mentioned in
1 Maccabees 5:26, is identical with this Bozrah, and that it is the present
Buzrah, which is on the plain of Hauran, and almost the last inhabited place in
the district, for here commences the great desert which extends to the
Euphrates. Near it are very large and numerous ruins, and it has but few
inhabitants. Astori says in his work Caphtor Vapherach, fol. 71a,
"Bezer, in the wilderness (Deut. 4:43), is half a day's journey east from Edreï; people call it Bozrah." But this view is
entirely wrong, since this Bozrah belonged to the tribe of Menasseh, as will be
shown farther down, in the territories of the trans-Jordanic tribes, whereas
Bezer belonged to Reuben. This city of refuge is said, in Talmud Makkoth, 9a,
to have been situated just opposite Hebron, in an eastern direction, whilst
Bozrah lies opposite to Djinin (En-Gannim), which is to the north of Shechem.
(See Bezer.)
Zohar
צהר
This name occurs in Hilchoth Terumoth, of Maimonides 1. § 9. Josephus, Ant.,
book 13., chap. 15., makes mention of Zahara; and we should conclude that
formerly it must have been a very large city. It may be the modern Al Zahara,
situated one day's journey north of Salchah; it has but 200 inhabitants, though
the ruins there are several miles in circumference.
Possessions Of The Tribes Of Reuben, Gad, And Half
Menasseh.
Before entering on the division of the territories of these
tribes, I must first explain the land of
Gilead. גלעד
We
often find that this term designates all the territory of Palestine situated on
the east side of Jordan; and in point of fact the mountain of Gilead ramifies
throughout the whole of this territory. This mountain extends on the east as far
as the plain of Hauran, on the west to the Jordan valley, on the north to the
Jarmuch, and on the south to the country of Balka, which lies to the south of
the Jabbok, through which cause all the trans-Jordanic tribes had possession in
Gilead. This also will explain Deut. 3:12: "And I gave to the Reubenites
and the Gadites the half of the Mount Gilead, with its cities; but the remainder
of Gilead, and all Bashan, the kingdom of Og, I gave to the half tribe of
Menasseh." The highest points of this mountain are the Djebl Djelad,* which
is south of the Jabbok, and the Djebl Osha, which is about 1½ miles north of
Tsalt (for which see in the tribe of Gad). The Arabs point out on the latter the
grave of Hoshea, whence its name. But this legend is not authentic. The mountain
of Gilead is very productive; there are found on it good pine and oak forests,
and many varieties of fruit trees.
The
mountains of Jazer and Machvar, the mountains of Abarim (יעזר
מכור הרי
העברים) which lie in the southern
part of Belka, appear even higher than the mountains of Gilead,—not that they
actually are so, but because Belka is an elevated plain, and is consequently
higher than the land of Gilead; wherefore even the lower elevations of the
higher plateau appear higher than the most lofty of the lower plain of Gilead.
The Djebl Atara, situated about 9 miles to the south of Cheshbon, is the highest
point of this Jazer range. (See also article Nebo.)
*
The Arabs call likewise the whole chain Djebl Djelad. It is also known by them
as Djebl Gidj. This will elucidate an obscure passage of Midrash Shemuel, chap.
30, which no one has been able to decipher. It is said, in explanation to 2 Sam.
24:6, ויבאו
הגלעדה 'And they came to Gilead,'
this is Gidsh גדש."
There cannot be any doubt but that, at the time the Midrash was written, Gilead
bore already its present name. I found in the Arabic translation of Saadiah,
Gilead often rendered with גדש
Gidj, only that it is incorrectly written Girsh. I presume that the version in
Arabic characters is a copy of the Constantinople edition, which appeared in
square Hebrew characters; and as D ד and
R ר in this alphabet are very much alike,
the copyist mistook the form; whereas the Arabic D and R are very different in
their appearance, so that no change could take place between Girsh and Gidsh.
Reuben.
ראובן
The
territory of this tribe was entirely in the south, as appears quite plainly from
Joshua 13:16, and that Arnon was its southern boundary,* which separated it from
Moab, of the possessions of which the Israelites were prohibited to touch the
least (Deut. 2:24). To the east Reuben was contiguous to the territory of Ammon
(ibid. 37); and I believe that the mountain chain extending from Rabbath-Ammon
to Kerak, over which the general route of the pilgrims to Mekka leads, was the
eastern boundary of the territory of Reuben. To the west it bordered on the Dead
Sea (Salt Sea); and to the north it appears to me to have extended to the little
mountain which lies in the plain of Cheshbon, to the northwest of that place
(properly speaking, to the Wady Cheshbon), which was not far from Nebo, as will
be explained hereafter.
*
The Arnon, or the modern Wady Modjeb, therefore, separated Moab from Israel; and
it separates at present the northern country of Al Belka from the southern Al
Kerak. The Arabs call Al Belka also Belad al Kafer, i. e. the land of the
unbelievers, because many Christians lived here formerly. In short, I often hear
them call the ruins which belong to the Christian period, Heida min Zeman al
Kafer, i. e. This is still from the time of the unbelievers. Ruins from the
Greek period, especially destroyed towers and fortifications, they call Rum
Kalleé, "Greek Fort," because Greece is styled by them Al Rum.
The
names of towns still to be traced out are—
Aroer
ערער On the
northern bank of the Modjeb, at a distance of about 15 miles from the Dead Sea,
are found some ruins called Arar; they lie nearly opposite to Hebron, only a
little more to the south.
Medeba
מדבא no doubt
identical with the ruins Madeba, which are more than a mile in circumference,
and are situated about 5 miles south-southeast from Cheshbon.
Cheshbon
חשבון is the
modern village Chasban, nearly opposite to the northern extremity of the Dead
Sea, at the distance of 14 miles. On a high hill near it are found large ruins,
and one discovers yet the traces of ancient pools (see Song of Solomon 7:4). The
environs of Heshbon are, properly speaking, an elevated plain, situated between
the mountains of Jazer and the Djebl Atara, through which the Wady Zirka
(Jabbok) flows; and the passage of Joshua 8:16, "Cheshbon and its towns,
which are in the plain," refers probably to this plateau. Nevertheless, one
has a high point of view, with a wide prospect, when standing near the ruins on
the above-mentioned hill; to the west there is seen the valley through which the
Wady Chasban flows, the Jordan, the Dead Sea, even Jerusalem, and especially
Bethlehem, can be distinctly observed; to the north the view rests on the
ancient Ramoth-Mizpah (which see), and to the south the whole country of Moab.
Dibon
דיבון. Two
miles north from the ruins of Arar are found the ruins of Dhiban, which is
possibly the same with the Dimon דימון
of Isaiah 15:9.
Beth-Baal-Meon
בית בעל
מעון is the village Main 2 miles
south-southwest from Chasban. Hieronymus says; "Medba lies opposite to
Hesban, and the town of Baal Maus (probably Beth Meon), is in the district not
far from Hesban." This agrees with my statement.
Jahzah
יחצה is probably
the village Jazaza, to the southwest of Dhiban.
Kedemoth
קדמות
is at present unknown. Jonathan says to Deut. 2:26, "The wilderness of
Kedemoth," מנהרדעא
דסמוך למדבר
קדמות "from Nehardea which is near the
wilderness of Kedemoth," which is a most singular statement, since Nehardea
is in Babylonia, to the east of Euphrates. Perhaps we may suppose here a slight
error in transcribing: 5 miles east from Mount Arapun (see end of second
chapter), which is situated in the district of Wady Adjlun, is a little stream
called the Wady Nahady נאהאדי;
and I suppose that we should read in the passage quoted from Jonathan מנהאדעא,
and that Kedemoth might have lain near it; but this would bring this town into
the territory of Gad, whereas it is stated to be in Reuben.
Kirjataim or Shavay-Kirjataim שוה
קריתים
קריתים (Gen.
14:5); no doubt the ruins of Kiriat, 1½ miles southwest from Mount Atara.
Sibmah
שבמה
is at present unknown. Astori, fol. 70b, says: "One day's journey
east from Jazer is Sibmah, which is called Shahbah." But this appears to me
incorrect, since Shahbah is in the territory of Gad, and Sibmah was in Reuben.
Zereth-Hashachar צרת
השחר is at present also unknown. In
Yerushalmi Berachoth, 8., is mentioned Rabbi Jochanan of Kirzejon: he may have
been perhaps a native of Zereth-Hashachar, since the Chaldean Kirzea is
synonymous with the Hebrew Shachar, and means the early morning, or morning
dawn.
Beth-Hajeshimoth בית
הישימות is probably
identical with the ruins of Bteh-Jisimuth, situated on the northeasternmost
point of the Dead Sea, half a mile from the Jordan.
There belonged to Reuben in addition the following:
Lesha
לשע
(Gen. 10:19), is translated by Jonathan with Kaldeha קלדהא,
which is unquestionably an error of the transcriber, and should be קלרהא
Kalraha (or Kalirha); the same is said in Bereshith Rabbah to this passage, and
Yerushalmi Megillah, i. Josephus, however, says that Herod rebuilt the town of
Lesha and called it Kalirrhoe, (contracted Kalrah, or Kalirha); it was situated
at the foot of Pisgah, and had hot springs, which fall into the Dead Sea. And
now at this day there are found on Wady Zirka, where it falls into the Dead Sea,
ruins of this place, as also the hot springs.
Mattanah
מתנה
(Num. 21:19), was, according to Eusebius, 12 mill east from Medba. It is at
present unknown.
Abel
אבל (ibid. 25:1) .
Josephus says that Abela is 60 stadia (7½ English miles) from Jordan. The same
is said in Yoma, 75b, "from Beth-Hajeshimoth to Abel-Hashittim is 3
paras;" and Beth-Hajeshimoth is, as said above, near Jordan, which
therefore makes the Talmud and Josephus agree in respect to the distance of Abel
from Jordan. Hieronymus says, "Abel is in the mountains of Phagor (Peor פעור,
the ע given with g) which lies north of
Livias." But it is at present unknown.
Elala
אלעלא (ibid.
32:37), is identical with the ruins El Al, 1 mile north from Hesban.
Bezer
בצר (Deut. 4:43).
Jonathan explains this with כותירין
Kevathirin, which is very obscure. But to the southeast of Arar, not far from
Wady Modjeb, is an isolated high mount called Djebl Kuwetta, which evidently
resembles the Kevathirin of Jonathan; and it would therefore appear that Bezer
must have stood here formerly, as this mount is also just opposite Hebron, to
the east, and agrees with the position of this city of refuge as given in
Makkoth, 9a.
Nebo
נבו
(Deut. 32:19). This is the mount whence Moses overlooked Palestine, wherefore
it appears to have been a high mount whence there is a wide prospect. It is not
possible at present to identify it with certainty. Generally Mount Atara is
taken for Nebo: it forms indeed to the west, fronting the Dead Sea, a very high
mount; but on the east it appears and is by no means as high. I however cannot
doubt that the assumption is incorrect, and that the true Nebo must be looked
for farther to the north. It appears from Sotah, 13b, that it was
situated 4 mill = 3 English miles, within the borders of Gad, although the town
of Nebo is reckoned as belonging to Reuben; whilst at the same time the grave of
Moses was in the portion of Gad, as we may assume from Deut. 33:21 כי
שם חלקת מחקק
ספון "For there is the burial-place of the
Lawgiver hidden." (See also Onkelos and Rashi to the passage.) I therefore
believe that the same is certainly to be sought for among the mountains which
lie northwest of Hesban, and between which the Wady Hesban flows, and falls into
the Jordan to the northwest of Jisimut, at a distance of about 6 miles from
Hesban. Eusebius says, "Nebo is 6 mill west (probably meaning northwest)
from Hesban;" which agrees exactly with my hypothesis.
Minith
מינית
(Judges 11:33) is probably the village Mindja, 5 miles east from Hesban. In 1
Maccabees 5:26, there is mentioned "Mageth Chasban." I doubt not that
an error was committed here in copying from the original text, which was to a
certainty in Hebrew language and characters, by substituting the a ג
G for נ N, and that Mageth is nothing
else than Maneth, an easy corruption from Minith.
Gad גד
The towns of this tribe were as follows:
Jazer
יעצר
Eusebius says that this place is 15 mill north from Hesban: it existed even
still at the time of Astori; but at present there are ruins, called Seir, on the
spot indicated, which leaves no doubt the Seir is derived from Jazer. Near it
there rises the spring called Wady Seïr, and I believe that Jeremiah alludes,
in chap. 48:32, where he speaks of the sea of Jazer, to water pools which were
probably supplied from this spring. A collection of water is often called a sea
in Hebrew, as the brazen sea which Solomon made, 1 Kings 7:44.
Rabbah or Rabbath, of the sons of Ammon רבה
and רבת בני
מעון (Deut. 3:11) was
called Philadelphia in the time of the Roman supremacy. Eusebius says: "It
lies 10 mill northeast from Jazer." At present it is a small village called
Aman, near which are very large ruins.
About
8 miles northwest from Aman are found the ruins of Zafit; Josephus says that
Jephtha (Yiptach) was buried in the town of Zaphea, or, as other readings have
it, Zibia. Perhaps this is the ruined Zafit; or it may be the place called the
wine-press of Zeëb, spoken of in Judges 7:25.
Aroër
ערער is the village
Ira, situated near Aman. So we also read in Joshua 13:25, "Aroër, which
lies before Rabbah."
Ramath-Mizpah,
also called Mizpeh-Gilead (Judges 11:29),רמת
מצפה מצפה גלעד is the present
Tzalt, and is a moderately-sized town with a strong fort. The town is situated
on a high mount, and its houses and public buildings are erected in the form of
terraces on the same. In the town is a considerable spring, the water of which
can be conducted under ground into the fort. The environs of Tzalt furnish much
and excellent wheat, which is some of the best of all brought to Jerusalem. Many
insist that this town is the city of refuge Ramoth-Gilead; but this was somewhat
farther to the north, opposite to Shechem. (See also farther, article
Ramoth-Gilead.)
Machanaim
מחנים Astori
says, "A half day's journey from Beth-Shean, in a direction just opposite,
is the town of Machna, which is Machanaim;" but it is now unknown.
Beth-Harim
בית הרים
Yerushalmi Shebiith, 6., says, "Beth-Ramtha is Beth-Harim." In
Sabbath, 26a, is mentioned, "From En-Gedi to Ramtha."
Josephus, Bell. Jud., book i. chap. 3, calls it Beth-Ramtha, and says,
"Herod called it Livias." Some suppose it to have been near where the
Wady Seir falls into the Jordan; others where the Jabbok joins the same river.
Beth-Nimrah בית
נמרה From the mountains which are near Tzalt,
descends a small river which is called Wady Nimrin, and joins the Jordan
opposite to Beth-El (Beitun). About 1 mile east from the Jordan, alongside of
this Wady, are found the ruins of Nimrin. According to Astori, Beth-Nimrah was
called at his day Namr, and was about 2½ miles south of Jazer. At present there
are found some ruins called Naur, which are 5 miles to the south of Seir: are we
to assume that Namr is the same with Naur ? But as Astori's account stands, it
appears incorrect; for Beth-Nimrah was in the plain (Joshua 13:27) without
doubt, in the valley of the Jordan, and his statement would bring it in the
mountains. In Peah, chap. 4, § 5, is mentioned Beth-Namr, i. e. Beth-Nimrin.
Sukkoth סכות.
At the time of Astori, there remained yet some traces of this town to the east
of the Jordan, near its bank, in a southeast direction from Beth-Shean.
Extremely curious, however, is the fact, that the Bedouins call certain ruins to
the west of Jordan, 1 mile south from Beth-Shean, by the name of Sukkoth; since
the town mentioned under this name in Scripture, was on the east side of Jordan.
It is, therefore, evident that we cannot trust all the traditions of the
Bedouins.
Zaphon
צפון
In Yerushalmi Shebiith, 6, it is said that Zaphon is identical with Amatha,
which is probably the Omatho often mentioned by Josephus, which was in the
vicinity of Ramoth-Gilead, not far from Jordan. At present the Bedouins call a
certain spot near where the Wady Redjib joins the Jordan by the name of Amathéh,
and it appears to me to mark the site of Zaphon correctly.
Botnim
בטנים
Eusebius simply says that Bathnia is in the portion of Gad, but gives us no
farther account of its position. It is, therefore, entirely unknown.
There belonged also to the tribe of Gad the following:
Ramoth-Gilead רמות
גלעד (Deut. 4:43); it is also called Ramah (2
Kings, 8:29). I take it to be identical with the modern Kallat al Rabat, which
is situated on one of the highest points of the mountain of Gilead, not far from the Wady Redjib, and west of Adjlun. It is even at this day
a strongly fortified place, which can be seen at a great distance, and it can be
perceived even as far as Mount Taibi (see Ophrah, in Benjamin), in a
northeastern direction.
Kamon
קמון
(Judges 10:5), is the village Kumima, 7 miles east-southeast from Beth-Shean.
Abel-Keramin (of the vineyards) אבל
כרמים (ibid.
11:33). Eusebius says that 6 mill from Philadelphia is a village, in the
vicinity of which there are many vineyards, whence its name; but at present it
is unknown. Some suppose, erroneously, that this is Abel al Krum in Lebanon, as
I have stated already. The whole district of the Jordan was formerly often
called Arabah (Arabia), whence I believe that Abel Arab of Pesachim, 72a,
is the same with the town in question.
Tob
טוב
(ibid. 11:3). I have already above, in mentioning Susita, proved that Tob,
Susita, and Chefus are all names of the same place. The inhabitants are called
by Josephus Tubanians. (See also l Macc. 5:13.) I have stated before that the
town of Susita was situated on the southeastern shore of Lake Chinnereth. It
belonged to the Decapolis (i. e. the Ten Towns).*
* Under Decapolis are understood the ten towns of
Palestine, the inhabitants of which, in the time of Herod, were not Jews, but
Greeks, Romans, and the like. They were united under some sort of constitution
and similarity of laws, although at a distance of each other, under the name of
Decapolis. They were—Damascus, Philadelphia, Raphana, which was not far from
Ashtaroth Karnaim (1 Macc. 5:37); Beth-Shean; Geder; Chefas (Susita); Dion (now
unknown); Pellam, which lay not far from Geder, now unknown; Garasas, now the
immense ruins called Djerash, 15 miles southeast from Kallat al Rabat, which
equal those of Baal-bek and Palmyra or Tadmor; and Kanatham, Kenath. Some
suppose that Laish (Caesarea Philippi), Beth-Gubrin (Beth-Djibrin), Kefar
Zemach, Karnaim, and Abila Batanea, at present the large ruins Abel, on the bank
of the Jarmuch, perhaps Abel Arab, as said above, should be reckoned among the
Decapolis. It appears from the Yerushalmi and Tosephtah that in all these
mentioned towns there dwelt many heathens.
Jabesh-Gilead יבש
גלעד (ibid. 21:8), is the modern village
Jabes, on the Wady Jabes, which falls into the Jordan. It is 10 miles east from
Jordan, in a direction opposite to Beth-Shean.
Bithron
בתרון (II Sam. 2:29). Astori says that this place was called in his day Al Atrun, and
was south of Machanaim. It is, however, now unknown.
In Talmud and Midrashim, the following places are
mentioned:
Geder
גדר
(Rosh Hashanah, 23b, Erubin, 61a, Sanhedrin,108a,
"the spring of Geder;" Yerushalmi Orlah, i., mentions improperly גדודה
"Gedudah," i. e. to Gedud; it should be גדרה
"to Geder;" likewise in Tosephtah Taharoth, 6, instead of בית
גדי וחמתן Beth-Gedi
and Chamthan, should read גדר
"Geder"), is undoubtedly the place now known as the extensive ruins of
Umcheis, which are 8 miles from the southeast shore of Lake Chinnereth, and 1½
miles from the southern bank of the Jarmuch. Close by it is a hot spring. At the
time of Astori, Geder was yet in existence; and he paints it with its hot
spring, pools, and extraordinarily remarkable buildings, which were unusually
strong: he says, moreover, that according to tradition, Og, king of Bashan, had
his residence here. At present there is scarcely the least trace of its former
beauty and elegance.
Migdal-Geder מגדל
גדר (Taanith, 20a, and Massecheth Derech
Eretz, in which work it is always called מגדל
עדר or גדוד,
which should be גדר, since
Migdal Eder, or Shepherd's Tower, is quite in a different direction, whereas the
transaction spoken of must have taken place near Tiberias, not far from a sea,
Chinnereth, and a river, (either Jarmuch or Jordan). It was probably near Geder,
but is at present not known.
Regib
רגב
(Menachoth, 85b), is the village Redjib, 9 miles east from Jordan, on
the Wady Redjib, which has its source in the mountain which lies to the
northeast of Kallat al Rabat, and joins the Jordan opposite to Shechem. Eusebius
says, "Regeb is 15 mill west from Garasas" (see above, note to
Decapolis), which agrees with the village Radjib. I do not think that Regeb is
derived from Argob, although in the Samaritan text it is for חבל
הארגוב i. e. Regeb רגב.
Kefar Akabiah כפר
עקביה (Yerushalmi Nazir, at end).
Southeast from Lake Chinnereth, on the road to Damascus, is En-Akabi, also
Chan-Akabi. (See Jos., Ant., book 13. chap. 24.) There is also, south of Zafed,
a village called Akabi, where are shown the graves of Armon and Akabiah, son of
Mahallalel.
Eglon
עגלון
was yet in the time of Astori inhabited by many Jews, and was even later, as I
have learned from Jewish documents, a place of importance. It is the present
village Adjlun, 1 mile east from Kallat al Rabbat; it is situated on the Wady
Redjib, which is also called Wady Adjlun, and passes by this village.
The Position Of The Possessions Of Gad And Menasseh
From
the above we learn that some of the towns of Gad were not far from the Lake
Chinnereth. Consequently the territory of this tribe extended to that lake; and
I presume that the Jarmuch formed the boundary line between Gad and Menasseh. In
an eastern direction, all the land between Wady Chesban, the boundary line
between Reuben and Gad, and the Wady Jarmuch, even as far east as the plain of
Hauran, belonged to the latter tribe, as appears clearly from 1 Chron. 5:11:
"The children of Gad dwelt opposite, in the land of Bashan, as far as
Salchah."The Midrash Yalkut to Deut. 33:20, also says that the portion of
Gad extended very far to the east.
To
Menasseh, however, belonged all the remaining places from Jarmuch to the
mountains of Hermon and the great desert, which extends to the Euphrates, that
is, the greater part of Bashan. I must now notice the few names of places which
have not yet been described, and which belonged to Menasseh.
Ashteroth-Karnaim
I have already noticed it is true; I have, however, to cite the opinion and
statement of the celebrated Saadiah Gaon, who translates Ashteroth-Karnaim with
Al Znamin. Now at the present day even there is found a place called Zunamein,
on the pilgrims' route to Damascus, 1½ days' journey south from the same, and
half a day's journey east of Kaneitra. I suppose this also to be the fort in the
land of Gilead, mentioned in 1 Macc. 5:26, since Gilead denotes also other
portions to the east and north besides Gilead proper.
Chalamish
חלמיש In Echa
Rabbethi, to chap. 1:17, it is said, "Chalamish was always at enmity with
Navéh." I learn from old books that Zanamin is identical with Chalamish;
so that Zanamin, afterwards known as Salamin, was also called Chalmish [i. e.
rock, which would well suit to the appellation of Karnaim, "rocky points,
peaks"].
Navéh
נוה of Echa Rabbethi,
1:17, Tosephtah Sukkoth, 4; Midrash Koheleth, fol. 88; "R. Palti of Navéh;"
"Midrash Ruth, 49;" R. Shiloh of Navéh, is the village Nova, on the
above-mentioned road, 1 day's journey south from Zunamein.
Shukmezi
שוקמזי
of Jonathan to Num. 34:11, is probably the village Ashmiskin, 9 English miles
southeast from Nova.
Bashchar
בשכר of Sabbath,
139a, I suppose to be identical with the Basgar in Arabia בסגר
של ערבייא mentioned in
Echa Rabbethi to 3:7. Josephus, Antiq. b. 36, 6, says that Jonathan the Maccabee
was murdered in Basga, in the land of Gilead; in 1 Macc. 13:23, that place is
called Basgame, all which names no doubt refer to the selfsame place.
Addendum.
In 1
Kings 4:9 are mentioned Makaz, Shaalbim, &c. The Septuagint translate Makaz
with Michmas, which I suppose to be incorrect; since Shaalbim is near Samaria,
consequently far from Michmash. Otherwise is the situation of Makaz unknown.
Aruboth
(ibid. 10), I hold to be the town Rabitha, in the portion of Zebulun, the
present village and Wady Rabutia.
"In
Asher and Aloth" באשר
ובעלות (ibid. 16), I think should be
rendered in Asher and Bealoth, i. e. Baal-Gad or Laish, and that the ב
(in) before Asher also is the preposition understood for Bealoth; I prefer this
construction since we find nowhere any mention of a town called Aloth.
Baloth is put without question for Baalath, which has been sufficiently
described before.
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