Aijalon the burial place of Elon, one of the judges, belonged to Zebulun. Jud. xii. 12. Kartah is given as a city of the Levites. Jos. xxi. 34; but it is probably the same place as Kattah, on the regular list. Kitron is mentioned as belonging to Zebulun; but it is not among those named in Joshua. Jud. i. 30.

SECTION X.-TOWNS AND CITIES OF ISSACHAR.

The cities and towns of Issachar are Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem, Haphraim, Shihon, Anaharath, Rabbith, Kishion, Abez, Remeth, En-gannim, En-haddah, Bethpazzez, Tabor, Shahazimah, and Beth-shemesh. It is added that the territory of Issachar reached to the Jordan. Nearly all the tribes, west of the Jordan, had that river as their eastern boundary. xix. 17-22.

Jezreel was the name of a noted plain that extended across the country, from the Mediterranean sea, to the river Jordan. It was about fifteen miles long, from east to west, and about the same, from north to south. The city Jezreel was near the eastern termination of the valley, a little west of the base of Gilboa. It was the city of Ahab and his wife Jezebel. It looked to the west, and took in the whole plain of Jezreel or Esdraelon, to the top of Carmel on the Mediterranean. And eastward, one could see to the valley of the Jordan, and to the mountains of Gilead beyond. Jud. vi. 33; 2 Sam. iv. 4; 1 K. iv. 12; xviii. 46; xxi. 1; 2 K. viii. 29; ix. 10, 25-35, 37; x. 11.

Shunem was the place where the Philistines made their camp, when about to fight Saul, at the time of his last battle. Elisha, the prophet, was accustomed to call on a family in Shunem. He restored to life a child in the family. Abishag, the beautiful maid, procured for David, in his old age, when "he could get no heat,' was a Shunamite. It was five miles south of mount Tabor, according to Eusebius. 1 Sam. xxviii. 4; 1 K. i. 3; 2 K. iv. 8-37.

Kishon was a city of the Levites. It was on the riv

er Kishon. It was another name for Kedesh. Comp. Jos. xxi. 28, with 1 Chron. vi. 72.

En-gannim was a city of the Levites. Jos. xxi. 29. The short form of the word is Anem. See. 1 Chron. vi. 73. Tabor was the name of a noted mountain, and of a city on or near it. The mountain separated between Is. sachar and Zebulun. The city was on the border, and is regarded as belonging to Zebulun The

It

mountain was a single elevation, of a mile and a half in height, situated on the north side of the great plain of Esdrælon; and from its summit one could see to the Mediterranean on the west, and beyond the Jordan on the east; and to a great distance in every direction. is six or eight miles due east from Nazareth. In another passage, we read of the plain (oak) of Tabor; but that was probably in the tribe of Benjamin. Jud. iv. 6, 12; viii. 18; 1 Sam. x. 3.

Of the other names on the list we know nothing. A few are mentioned that are not on the list. Aphek is distinguished, by being the place where the Philistines had their camp, on two different occasions, when about to fight the Israelites. The first was before the battle, in which they took the ark; and the second before the battle that was fatal to Saul and his sons. 1 Sam. iv. 1; xxix. 1.

Gilboa was the mountain on which Saul and his sons were slain by the Philistines. It was near to Jezreel, Bethshan and other towns of Issachar. 1 Sam. xxviii. 4; xxxi. 1; 2 Sam. xxi. 12. Harod was the name of a well or fountain, that was situated between Gilboa and Jezreel. It took its name from the terror of Gideon's soldiers, when he permitted those to return home who did not wish to remain and fight the Midianites. Jud. vii. 1, 3. Moreh was the name of a hill, near the valley of Jezreel, and therefore probably in Issachar. Jud. vii. 1. Ramoth is the same as Jarmuth and is a city of the Levites in this tribe. Jos. xxi. 29; 1 Chron. vi. 73. Dabereth is a city of the Levites the same

name as Dabereh, and Daberath. Jos. xxi. 28; 1 Chr

vi. 72.

SECTION XI. - CITIES AND TOWNS IN THE TRIBE OE ASHER.

These are Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achsaph, Alammelech, Amad, Misheal, Carmel, Shihor-libnath, Beth-dagon, Jiphthah-el, Beth-emek, Neiel, Cabul, Hebron, Rehob, Hammon, Kanah, Zidon, Ramah, Tyre, Hosah, Achzib, Ummah, Aphek and Rehob. Jos. xix. 24-31.

In the boundary of Zebulun, mention is made of the valley of Jiphthah-el; and hence it is said here that the border of Asher reached to Zebulun and this valley. The mention of Carmel, of Tyre and Zidon, shows that it lay along the shore of the Mediterranean sea. Some of the places are important; and others are mentioned nowhere but here.

Misheal or Mishal was a city of the Levites. It was situated, according to Eusebius, near mount Carmel. Jos. xxi. 30; 1 Chron. vi. 74. Carmel was a noted mountain, on the sea coast, often mentioned in the Bible, both in the historical and poetical books. It was here that the trial took place between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. It is a high promontory, running some distance into the sea. It is a single mountain peak, fifteen hundred feet in height. At its base runs the river Kishon. Carmel is very productive, and Jerome informs us, that in his day, it had fine pastures. It is nearly covered with vineyards and gardens. On its summit are pine and oak; but further down, olive and laurel trees abound. It is the most beautiful mountain in Palestine; and from the eastern brow, the view is extensive and magnificent, taking in the great valley of Esdrælon, mount Tabor and Hermon, and the hills of Galilee.

Carmel is full of caves. It is said to contain more than a thousand, chiefly on the west side toward the Many of them have been occupied by monks and other anchorites. Much more that is interesting could

be said, but our limits will not permit. 1 K. xviii. 19, 42; 2 K. ii. 25; iv. 25; 2 Chron. xxvi. 10.

The passage before us does not say whether Carmel was a city or a mountain. We know there was such a mountain; and Pliny tells us that there was once a city of the same name, on this mountain, and formerly called Ecbatana.

Beth-dagon may be named from the god Dagon, or from the Hebrew word for wheat or grain. Of the place we know nothing.

Hebron reminds one of a celebrated place of that name in Judah; but the two names are quite different in Hebrew, and should be so in the version. It is called, in another place, Abdon, which should be Abron, to to correspond with the original of Hebron in this pas sage. The exchange of r for d, and vice versa, is very common in the Hebrew Bible; as in that language the two characters are nearly of the same form. Jos. xxi. 30; 1 Chron. vi. 74. Rehob was a city of the Levites. Jos. xxi. 31; 1 Chron. vi. 75. See Num. xiii. 21; 2 Sam. x. 6, 8; Jud. xviii. 28.

Zidon or Sidon is one of the most noted cities of antiquity. It is called "the great Sidon" in this history. It is often associated with Tyre; and it has at some time been subject to the Tyrians. It is believed to take its name from Sidon, one of the sons of Canaan, the son of Ham. It is at least a very ancient city, being alluded to in Genesis. In the time of Homer, the Sidonians were eminent for their trade and commerce. They were never entirely subdued by the Israelites; but at a later period they were brought under the Babylonians, Egyptians, Seleucidæ, and Romans. The modern name is Saide. Gen. x. 15, 19; Jos. xi. 8; Jud. xviii. 28.

The word for Tyre signifies a rock, or strong place; and the place is here called "the strong city Tyre.' The Tyre of which we read in the Bible, and profane history, was situated on a rock, or small island, in the sea, some six or seven hundred paces from the main

The

land. To reduce this city, Alexander the Great was obliged to fill up this intervening space, requiring great labor. It is supposed that still further back, there was a city on the main land, having the same name. ruins of this were employed by Alexander to fill up the sea to the new city. In certain periods of its history, Tyre was a place of considerable commerce. It was once considered the mistress of the seas. With a fleet of twelve ships, it beat the Assyrians with a fleet of sixty. Jos. xix. 29; 2 Sam. xxiv. 7; 1 K. vii. 13, 14; 2 Chron. ii. 14. Accho was a city of Asher, situated on the shore of the Mediterranean sea, on a bay to which it gave its name, not far from mount Carmel. It was afterwards called Ptolemais, and has been a town of importance. The Turks now call it Akka, and the western nations Acre. Jud. i. 31. Achzib was eight miles from Ptolemais or Accho. It is situated on a hill near the sea, with a good prospect of sea and land. Jud. i. 31. The following are found in other parts of this history. Ahlab is associated with other cities of Asher. Jud. i. 31. Beth-rehob is no doubt the same as Rehob already noticed. 2. Sam. x. 6, 8. Cabul has been mentioned as a town of Asher. It was also a general name of several cities, given by Solomon to Hiram, king of Tyre; the location of which was not far from the territory of Asher, if not included in it. 1 K. ix. 13. Misrephoth-maim was not far from Sidon, and therefore probably in the tribe of Asher. The adjunct maim shows that it was a fountain, or at least a body of water. Jos. xi. 8; xiii. 6. Aloth was in or near the tribe of Asher. 1 K. iv. 16. Mearah was near Sidon. Jos. xiii. 4. Zerephath was a "daughter of Zidon," or one of its dependent towns, where the poor woman resided, who was miraculously supplied during a famine. 1 K. xvii. 9, 10.

SECTION XII. CITIES AND TOWNS OF NAPHTALI.

These are Heleph, Allon, Zaanannim, Adami, Nekeb, Jabneel, Lakum, Aznoth-tabor, Hukkok, Ziddim, Zer,