is the commonly recognized source of the Jordan; but the river that shows itself at Panium runs under ground, he says, from Phiala, which is a wheel-shaped pool some distance above Panium, and takes its name Phiala from its shape. This pool. he adds, is always full; and to prove that it is the source of the Jordan, the experiment was tried of putting into it chaff, which after a suitable time showed itself at Panium.

But as the moderns have not been able to identify this pool or spring, called Phiala, it may be proper to go no further up for the source of the Jordan than Panium, now called Baneas.

It may be added that some have put forth the theory, that the Jordan has its source from a small stream called Jor; and as the stream was near the city Dan, both names united form the Jordan. It is a sufficient reply to this theory, that the name of the Jordan dates far back of the city Dan; and the river Jor, no one has been able to find. Besides the fountain at Baneas, it may be safely affirmed, that all the streams that are formed on the eastern slope of Libanus, and both slopes of Antilibanus, help to form the Jordan.

The first object of importance one meets with, in following down the Jordan from its source, is the lake Hulet, or a low marsh covered with stagnant water in the dry season, and a shallow lake at other times, once called lake Merom. Nine miles further south, one encounters the sea of Galilee or Tiberias.

From Merom to Tiberias the descent is 600 feet. The river is distinguished by its rapid descent and its marvelous sinuosity. Lieut. Lynch of our own country, who made the passage down this river, and took measurements of depths, distances, etc., says, that from Tiberias to the Dead sea he passed over twenty seven rapids that were dangerous, besides many others. The distance on the direct route is sixty miles; by way of the river two hundred miles; and this was within an area not more than five or six miles wide. It took Lynch and his par

ty eight and a half days to make the trip. The greatest width of the river, is at its mouth; and there it is 180 yards across. But three or four places were found

where the stream could be forded.

The river has two channels, one within the other. The inner and deeper one is that which generally contains the waters of the stream. But in times of high water, the wider channel is filled, and then the river is very wide.

The river passes through the centre of lake Tiberias or Gennezeret; and some say, without mingling with the water of the lake. Most that can be truly affirmed, however, is, that the current of the river can be distinguished all the way.

There are some remains of broken bridges; but only one in actual use, situated a little above the lake of Tiberias, over which the road passes toward Damascus.

All the water that is carried into the Dead sea, by the Jordan and other streams, is evaporated from the surface of that wonderful lake! See page 177.

SECTION III.-HEBRON ASSIGNED TO CALEB.

JOS. XIV.

1. And these are the countries | tribe on the other side of Jordan; which the children of Israel inher- but unto the Levites he gave none ited in the land of Canaan, which inheritance among them. Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheri

tance to them.

2. By lot was their inheritance, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half-tribe.

3. For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and an half

4. For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim; therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with their suburbs, for their cattle and for their substance.

5. As the Lord commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land.

The land was divided by lot. This casting of lots seems in some way to be connected with the tabernacle; for it was at the door of the tabernacle. It is the same as consulting the Lord by "Urim and Thummin.”

Hence it is said of Joshua, when he was divinely commissioned to take the lead of the people, "He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask for him, after the judgment of Urim before the Lord; at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he and all the children of Israel, even all the congregation." Num. xxvii. 21.

There were nine tribes and a half to be provided for, on the west side. There were twelve tribes in all. As Joseph was represented by the two tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh, there would be thirteen; but as the tribe of Levi is excluded from any possession of the country, the number is still twelve.

JOS. XIV.

6. Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the Lord said unto Moses the man of God, concerning me and thee, in Kadeshbarnea.

7. Forty years old was I when Moses, the servant of the Lord, sent me from Kadesh-barnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.

8. Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt; but I wholly followed the Lord my God.

9. And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the Lord my God.

10. And now, behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the Lord spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness;

and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.

11. As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.

12. Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced; if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said.

13. And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.

14. Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel.

15. And the name of Hebron before was Kirjath-arba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.

Caleb the son of Jephunneh, is called a Kenezite. So we understand the 6th verse. It is true the passage admits a different construction. It may be Jephunneh that is the Kenezite, in which case Caleb would also be a Kenezite, but by implication only. Caleb had a brother Kenaz, from whom the family may be called Kenezites; or the name may be derived from some ancestor further back.

Caleb was the only one besides Joshua, that survived the wandering in the wilderness. He now reminds his illustrious cotemporary and associate, of the promise of Moses, made at Kadesh, that he should have the land about Hebron. Caleb at Kadesh was forty years of age; at the time referred to in the above passage he was eightyfive. And now the country on the west side is so nearly subdued, that he deems it important to be informed what portion is to be his, where he can spend his remaining days.

Caleb feels as strong and vigorous as he was forty years before. And we do not doubt, that old men often feel so; especially when they have had an active but temperate life.

The

"This mountain" refers to the mountainous region where Hebron and the neighboring towns were located. It was to this immediate vicinity that the spies came. We do not find any conclusive proof that they went any further than this. They took a glance at the country and returned to Kadesh. They reported that the country was settled by giants. Some giants were actually found there. Three or four are called by name. cities were walled up to heaven! But these walls were not so high, or so strong, but that Joshua and his army found means to scale them, or penetrate through them. Caleb speaks of driving out the Anakims. The plu ral ending is im without the s. The name is formed from Anak, one of the giants that dwelt there. Let it be observed that Caleb speaks of driving out the Ana kim. He probably means driving them out of the moun

tains, whither he assumes they had fled, and not out of the cities. Joshua had driven them out of the cities; and now Caleb proposes to go and drive them out of the mountains, and so destroy them, or drive them from the country.

Hebron was before called Kirjath-arba, from a giant of the name of Arba, the father of Anak.

Doctor Clarke can not find the promise of God that Caleb should have Hebron. "God promises, because he had another spirit with him, and had followed God fully, therefore, he should enter into the land whereunto he came, and his seed should possess it. Probably this relates to Hebron, and was so understood by all parties at the time."

If Doctor Clarke had looked at the passage a little more closely, Num. xiv. 24; Deut i. 36, etc., we think he would have found Hebron clearly pointed out, though not named. Referring to Caleb, God says, "To him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon," and the place was where the sons of the Anakims dwell," which we learn was Hebron. Jos. xv. 14.

1. This then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah by their families; even to the border of Edom, the wilderness of Zin southward was the uttermost part of the south coast.

2. And their south border was from the shore of the salt sea, from the bay that looketh southward:

3. And it went out to the south 6. And the border went up to side to Maaleh-acrabbim, and pass- Beth-hogla, and passed along by ed along to Zin, and ascended up the north of Beth-arabah; and the on the south side unto Kadesh-border went up to the stone of barnea, and passed along to Hez- Bohan the son of Reuben. ron, and went up to Adar, and fetched a compass to Karkaa:

4. From thence it passed toward Azmon, and went out unto the riv

7. And the border went up toward Debir, from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that is before the