There appears to have been another Gilgal, more ancient than the one near Jericho, and the "nations of Gilgal," that were conquered by Joshua, belonged to that place. Jos. xii. 23.

Tabor is mentioned as the name of a plain. The original for plain is probably oak. It was evidently in Benjamin. 1 Sam. x. 3. Äijalon, mentioned in connection with Gibeon, where Joshua commanded the sun and moon to stand still, was claimed by Benjamin. Jos. x. 12. It is associated with some of the cities of Judah, and was evidently near the border. These cities were transferred to Dan, and hence Aijalon is considered a city of Dan. 1 Sam. xiv. 31; 1 Chron. vi. 69; 2 Chron. xi. 7-10. The place has been located about fourteen miles from Jerusalem, a little north of the Jaffa road. North of the town, was the noted "valley of Aijalon.' Jos. x. 12.

Ai or Aijah appears to have been a city of Benjamin. It was near Bethel, and is associated with Bethel and other cities of Benjamin, in Ezra ii. 28 and context. It was the second city destroyed by Joshua, after entering Canaan, Jericho being the first. Jos. vii. 2; Ezra ii. 28; Neh. vii. 32; xi. 31.

Anathoth was a little north of Jerusalem, only a mile and a quarter, according to Robinson. It was the native town of Jeremiah. Solomon banished Abiathar to Anathoth, because he took part with Adonijah in the attempts of the latter to obtain the throne. 1 K. ii. 26 ; 1 Chron. vi. 60. Almon and Alemeth were cities of the priests. It is not improbable that these two names belong to the same locality. Jos. xxi. 18; 1 Chron. vi. 60.

Bahurim was a few miles north-east of Jerusalem. It was the residence of Shimei, the Benjamite, who heaped imprecations upon David, while the latter was fleeing from Jerusalem on the approach of Absalom. When David demanded his wife Michal, the daughter of Saul; the wife being brought toward Jerusalem, her husband

followed her weeping as far as Bahurim. 2 Sam. iii. 16; xvi. 5; xvii. 18; xix. 16; 1 K. ii. 8.

Gallim was the residence of Phaltiel, the husband of Michal, daughter of Saul, who had been taken from David and given to Phaltiel by her father. She was restored to David, after the death of Saul. 1 Sam. xxv. 44; 2 Sam. iii. 15. The name is sometimes Phalti.

Gibeah, sometimes called "Gibeah of Saul," was the residence of Saul, and therefore the foregoing designation. It was but a short distance from Jerusalem; for a traveller being at the latter place, near sun down, concludes to go on to Gibeah to lodge. It was the men of Gibeah, that led the whole tribe of Benjamin into a war that nearly exterminated them, by their abuse of a woman, the concubine of the traveller above alluded to. There are several Gibeahs in this history; and while we ought to have some that are not here, some we have, should be blotted out. Instead of "the hill of Phinehas," it should be, Gibeah of Phinehas. On the contrary, instead of Gibeath and Kirjath in Jos. xviii. 28, the passage should read the hill of Kirjath. The and between the two words is supplied by the translators; and the form of Gibeath in the "construct state" requires the above rendering. And it may be added that Kirjath seems to be an abridgment, and probably stands for Kirjath-jearim. See comments on the above passage. For references to Gibeah of Saul, see Jud. xix. 12 – 15; 1 Sam. xi. 4; xiii. 15; xv. 34; 2 Sam. xxi. 6; xxiii 29. Ezel was the name of a stone in Gibeah, near which David and Jonathan had an affecting interview. 1 Sam. xx. 19-23. Baal-tamar was near to Gibeah. Jud. xx. 33.

Nob was a city of the priests, though it is not named as such on the regular list. It was at Nob that David obtained supplies of the sacred bread, in his need; on account of which, the priests were slain and the place destroyed by Saul. 1 Sam. xxi. 1; xxii. 9, 19; Neh. xi.

It

Lod, another name for Lydda, was in Benjamin. It was afterwards called Diospolis, or city of Jupiter. was between Jerusalem and Cæsarea Philippi. Calmet says it belonged to Ephraim, for what reason, does not appear. It was inhabited by Benjamites, and was built by them. 1 Chron. viii. 12; Neh. xi. 35.

6.

Manahath was probably in Benjamin. 1 Chron. viii. So was Ono. 1 Chron. viii. 12. Migron was a locality in Benjamin, where Saul and his army encamped. 1 Sam. xiv. 2. Beth-aven was near to Bethel. It was east of Bethel and near Ai. It was probably near the wilderness of Beth-aven. It was a little west of Mich mash. Jos. vii. 2; xviii. 12; 1 Sam. xiii. 5. Azmaveth, or Beth-azmaveth was a town of Benjamin. Neh. vii. 28; xii. 29. Gittaim, Neh. xi. 33.

Michmash was east of Beth-aven; and the latter was east of Bethel. Geba was south and Michmash north of a difficult pass. These places are identified. The ruins of Michmash are quite extensive. It is now called Mukmas. 1 Sam. xiii. 2, 5, 16, 23; xiv. 5, 31, Ezra ii. 27; Neh. vii. 31. Seneh was the name of a cliff, oppo site to the cliff Bozez. The latter was opposite the former. They were in the pass between Geba and Mich mash. 1 Sam. xiv. 4. Shebarim was between Ai and Gilgal, and of course in Benjamin. Jos. vii. 5. Shalim and Shalisha are places, through which the young man Saul passed, in seeking the asses of his father. 1 Sam. ix. 4. Ananiah was a city of Benjamin. Neh. xi. 32. Baal-shalisha was probably the same as Shalisha, which appears to have been in Benjamin. 2 K. iv. 42; 1 Sam. ix. 4. Gidom was probably in Benjamin. Jud. xx. 45. Hadid is mentioned with Ono and Lod, and was therefore in Benjamin. Ezra ii. 33. There was a "valley of craftsmen" in the same locality. A similar valley in Judah is called Charashim. Neh. xi. 35. Zeboim was a valley, probably in Benjamin, near the Jordan valley and running into it. 1 Sam. xiii. 18. Aijah was another name for Ai, and therefore in Benjamin.

Neh. xi. 31. Shual was a tract or district, apparently in Benjamin. 1 Sam. xiii. 17.

SECTION VIII.-TOWNS AND CITIES OF SIMEON.

The towns and cities of Simeon are given in Jos. 19th, and are as follows: Beersheba, Sheba, Moladah, Hazarshual, Balah, Azem, Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, Ziklag, Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susah, Beth-lebaoth, Sharuhen, Ain, Remmon, Ether, Ashan, Baalath-beer and Ramath. The last two places are on the southern boundary.

The reader will recognize most of these as names before given on the Judah list. The explanation is, that the portion of Simeon was taken from that of Judah. These towns and cities were such as were located in the southern and south-western districts of Judah. Beersheba was the most southern city of Judah, and Ziklag was on the western border near the Philistines, to whom it had belonged till the time of David.

It

There are slight variations in the two lists. Lebaoth in one is Beth-lebaoth in the other. Shilhim in one, and Sharuhen in the other, occupy the same relative position, and are doubtless the same. The difference may have arisen from copying, as the words look alike. is quite likely that Hazar-gaddah and Hazar-susah are identical. Nearly all these towns are among those placed on the Judah list, as being near to Edom. Two only are with those described as "in the valley." It is probable that Simeon held all the cities, within a certain district, and separate cities outside; for it was common for cities to belong to one tribe, and be located in the territory of another. All that are important have been described in connection with Judah. There is a list of the towns of Simeon in 1st Chronicles, (iv. 28-33,) which, besides giving some of the names slightly different from either of the other lists, adds one or two new names. Bilhah is one, Beth-berei another, unless this last stands for Baaleth-beer. It also puts Shaaraim here from the Judah list.

There are a few other cities that are not on the regular list. Gedor is one. It was in a country that was rich in pastures, and had been occupied by the children of Ham, by which is probably meant the Canaanites. 1 Chron. iv. 39. The Simeonites gained a footing in mount Seir, but no names of towns are given. iv. 42, 43.

SECTION IX. —THE TOWNS AND CITIES OF ZEBULUN.

On the boundary line around the tribe, are the following places: Sarid, Maralah, Dabbasheth, Jokneam, Chisloth-tabor, Daberath, Japhia, Gittah-hepher, Ittahkazin, Remmon-methoar, Neah, Hannathon, and the valley of Jiphthah-el. To these the following are added as not in the boundary, namely, Kattah, Nahallal, Shimron, Idalah, and Beth-lehem. xix. 10-15.

Chisloth-tabor, is located, by Eusebius and Jerome, near mount Tabor, from which probably it took part of its name. This is all we know of it. Ďaberath was on

the border of Zebulun; but we learn from another passage, that it belonged to Issachar. There is a Dabora at the foot of mount Tabor, which is probably what remains of the ancient Daberath. Japhia is probably the Japha, mentioned by Josephus as one of the cities of Galilee, near Jotapata. Tradition makes it the birthplace of Zebedee, and his two sons James and John. Nahallal was a city of the Levites, though the Israelites did not get entire possession of it. Jos. xxi. 35; Jud. i. 30.

Bethlehem has no importance of itself; but the name must always possess a peculiar interest to both Jews and Christians; for in another Bethlehem, David, the most renowned Hebrew monarch, and Jesus, the Savior of the world, were born. Ibzan, one of the judges, was buried in Bethlehem; and it is generally thought that the Bethlehem of Zebulun is intended; but of this we cannot be certain. Jud. xii. 10.

There are a few other names, given in this history, that are referred to the same tribe.