that the poetry of the Jewish prophets and psalmists was the immediate inspiration of God's Spirit. In the highest sense, indeed, this is most true. But, as every one acknowledges that this religion and this inspiration came through a human medium to men living in those particular times' of civilisation, and in those particular bounds of habitation,' which God had 'before appointed' and 'determined' for them, we cannot safely dispense with this or with any other means of knowing by what local influences the Divine message was of necessity coloured in its entrance into the world.' Again, as there are some who would exaggerate this local influence to the highest, and others who would depreciate it to the lowest degree possible, it is important to ascertain the real facts, whatever they may be, which may determine our judgment in arriving at the proper mean. And lastly, as there was in the later developments of the history of Palestine, in the rabbinical times of the Jewish history, in the monastic and crusading times of the Christian history, an abundant literature and mythology of purely human growth, it becomes a matter of at least a secondary interest to know how far the traditions and the institutions of those times have been fostered by local considerations'. Explana tions of particular events. III. In the two points just noticed, the connection between history and geography, if real, is essential. But this connection must always be more or less matter of opinion, and, for that very reason, is more open to fanciful speculation on the one side, and entire rejection on the There is, however, a connection less important, but more generally accessible and appreciable, that, namely, which, 1 See Chapters II. and XIII. * See Chapters I. II. and XIV. without actually causing or influencing, explains the events that have occurred in any particular locality. The most obvious example of this kind of concatenation between place and event is that between a battle and a battle-field, a campaign and the seat of war. No one can thoroughly understand the one without having seen or investigated the other. In some respects this mutual relation of action and locality is less remarkable in the simple warfare of ancient times than in the complicated tactics of modern times. But the course of armies, the use of cavalry and chariots, or of infantry, the sudden panics and successes of battle, are more easily affected by the natural features of a country in earlier than in later ages, and accordingly the conquest of Palestine by Joshua and the numerous battles in the plain of Esdraelon' must be as indisputably illustrated by a view of the localities as the fights of Marathon or Thrasymenus. So again' the boundaries of the different tribes, and the selection of the various capitals, must either receive considerable light from a consideration of their geographical circumstances, or, if not, a further question must arise why in each case such exceptions should occur to what is else the well-known and general rule which determines such events. It is to the middle history of Palestine and of Israel, the times of the monarchy, where historical incidents of this kind are related in such detail as to present us with their various adjuncts, that this interest especially applies. But perhaps CONTENTS. ADVERTISEMENT PREFACE: CONNECTION OF SACRED HISTORY AND SACRED GEOGRAPHY INTRODUCTION : EGYPT IN RELATION TO ISRAEL. 3. Heliopolis. 6. Tombs and Hermits. 1. Nile in the Delta. 2. View from the Citadel at Cairo. PAGE. ix xii XXX CHAPTER I. PART I. PENINSULA OF SINAI. I. General configuration-the Mountains, the Desert, and the Sea. 1. The Two Gulfs. 2. The Plateau of the Tih. 3. The Sandy Tract of Debbet-erRamleh. 4. The Mountains of the Tôr. (a) The Ka'a-the Shores. (b) The Passes. (c) The Mountains; the Three Groups-the Colours-the Confusion-the Desolation-the Silence. (d) The Wâdys-the Vegetation -the Springs-the Oases II. General Adaptation to the History. The Seenery-the Physical Phenomena of Eusebius and Jerome V. Later History of the Peninsula. 1. Elijah's visit. 2. Josephus. 3. Allusions of St. Paul. 4. Christian Hermitages; Convent of St. Catherine. 5. Mosque in the Convent; Visit of Mahomet. 6. Present State of the Convent. 7. Sanctuary of Sheykh Saleh Note A. Mussulman Traditions of the Exodus and Mount Sinai Note B. Sinaitic Inscriptions PART II. JOURNEY FROM CAIRO TO JERUSALEM-EXTRACTS. I. Departure from Egypt; Overland Route; First Encampment. II. The Passage of the Red Sea. 1. Approach to Suez. 2. Suez. 3. Wells of Moses. III. The Desert, and Sand-storm. IV. Marah; Elim. V. Second Encampment by the Red Sea; "Wilderness of Sin." VI. Approach to Mount Serbâl; Wady Sidri and Wady Feirân. VII. Ascent of Serbål. VIII. Approach to Gebel Mousa, the traditional Sinai. IX. Ascent of Gebel Mousa and Râs Sasâfeh. X. Ascent of St. Catherine. XI. Ascent of the Gebel ed-Deir Sheykh Saleh. Gulf of 'Akaba; XVI. Ascent of XII. Route from Sinai to the Gulf of 'Akaba. 1. Tomb of 2. Wady Sayâl and Wady El'Ain. HAZEROTH. XIII. Elath. XIV. The 'Arabah. XV. Approach to Petra. Mount Hor. XVII. Petra. KADESH XVIII. Approach to Palestine. XIX. First Day in Palestine. XX. 'Hebron. XXI. Approach to Bethlehem and Jerusalem. XXII. First View of Bethlehem. XXIII. First View of Jerusalem CHAPTER II. PALESTINE. The Highland of Syria: Lebanon; the Four Rivers: the Orontes, the Leontes, CHAPTER III. JUDÆA AND JERUSALEM. JUDEA-I. The "south" frontier-Simeon. II. Mountain country of Judah -Lion of Judah-Vineyards-Fenced cities-Herodion. BETHLEHEMHEBRON JERUSALEMI. Exterior aspect. 1. Long obscurity-Jebus-Mountain fastness. 2. Ravines of the Kedron and of Hinnom. 3. Compactness-Growth. 4. Surrounding mountains. 5. Central situation. II. Interior aspect. 1. Hills of the city. 2. Temple-mount-Rock of the Sakrah-Spring in the Temple Vaults. 3. Walls and Towers-Palaces-Ruins-Earthquake. III. MOUNT OF OLIVES-Slight connection with the early history. Connection with the Gospel History-Presence of Christ- Bethany-Scene of the Triumphal entry-The Ascension-Conclusion PAGE. . 109 157 . 164 CHAPTER IV. THE HEIGHTS AND THE PASSES OF BENJAMIN. BENJAMIN, the frontier tribe of Judah and Ephraim-Its independent power. I. The Passes of Benjamin. 1. The Eastern Passes. a. Battle of Ai. b. Battle of Michmash. c. Advance of Sennacherib. 2. The Western Passes-Battle of Bethhoron under Joshua. Later battles of Bethhoron . 197 2. Bethel: Sanctuary-View Northern tribes-Jeroboam's II. The Heights. 1. Nebi-Samuel or Gibeon. of Abraham-Sanctuary of Jacob and of the Temple-Josiah Note on Ramah and Mizpeh 211 |