THE GEOGRAPHY OF PALESTINE, OR THE HOLY LAND. NAMES OF THE LAND. THE land promised for an everlasting inheritance to Abraham and his seed, and the scene of the principal events recorded in Scripture, has been known by the following names: 1. THE LAND OF CANAAN; from Canaan, the youngest son of Ham, among whose eleven sons the country was divided. This name had reference only to that portion of land which lay between the Jordan on the east, and the Mediterranean Sea on the west. 2. THE LAND OF THE HEBREWS; as the possession of the descendants of Abraham. To Abraham and his posterity was given the name of Hebrews (passers over), because Abraham had dwelt on the other side of the Euphrates, and had passed over it on his journey to the land of Canaan. 3. THE LAND OF ISRAEL; from the posterity of Jacob, who is also called Israel. 4. THE LAND OF JUDAH. This name had reference, originally, to that division of the country belonging to the tribe of Judah, but was afterwards applied to the kingdom formed by the tribes of Benjamin and Judah. When the remnant of the two tribes returned from captivity, that of Judah was so pre-eminent, that the name, Land of Judah or Judea, was by degrees extended to the whole country. 5. THE HOLY LAND. This name does not seem to have been used until the return of the Jews from the Babylonish captivity. It was so called because it was the land chosen by God to be the inheritance of His chosen people, and the place where He was to be worshipped. This name is used in a higher sense by Christians, because this land was the scene of the incarnation, miracles, and sufferings of our Blessed Redeemer. 6. THE PROMISED LAND; because solemnly promised to the posterity of the patriarchs for an everlasting inheritance. 7. THE LORD'S LAND, or THE LAND OF GOD; because, in a peculiar sense, this land belonged to Jehovah. He was the sovereign; and, until the Israelites resolved to be as the surrounding nations, God himself was their king. (1 Sam. xii. 12.) This land was given to the Israelites by the Lord; and, as an acknowledgment of His sovereignty, they were commanded to bring "the first of the first-fruits of the land unto the house of the Lord their God." 8. PALESTINE; so called from the Philistines, who obtained possession of a large tract of land in the south-west part of the country, along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It is more generally known by this than by any of its other names. It is also sometimes called Syria-Palestina, because it forms a part of the kingdom of Syria. BOUNDARIES, LENGTH, BREADTH, AREA, &c. Palestine Proper had Lebanon on the north, the Mediterranean on the west, the deserts of Arabia on the south, and the river Jordan on the east. The Israelites had, however, a considerable tract of country on the eastern side of the Jordan, extending from Mount Hermon on the north, to the river Arnon on the south. Taking in the whole of this territory, it extends from 30° 40′ to 33° 36' N. latitude, and between 33° 45′ and 36° 20′ E. longitude. Its length, from north to south, is about 190 miles; the average width about 70 miles. The area is estimated at 11,000 geographical square miles. This gives an extent of territory equal to about one fifth of England and Wales. The countries in Europe to which it can be compared in extent are Belgium, Holland, and Switzerland.* In the time of David the population amounted to 5,000,000. This, for such a highly-favoured country, "the glory of all lands," is a population by no means excessive if compared with that of the countries with which it is nearly equal in extent.† QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 1. Why was this country called Canaan? Why were Abraham and his posterity termed Hebrews? From whom was it called the Land of Israel? What part of the land was originally termed Judah? What portions were successively called by this name? Why was it called the Holy Land? Why the Lord's Land? From whom did it derive the name of Palestine? 2. Give the boundaries of Palestine. State its length and breadth. What is its area? With what countries in Europe can it be compared in size? What was its population in the time of David ? MOUNTAINS. Palestine may be considered as a mountainous countrya land of hills and valleys. In general the hills are not in ranges, but more or less isolated. A mountain chain, which diverges into numerous branches, runs from north to south on both sides of the river Jordan, and terminates between the gulfs of Suez and Akaba, in the deserts of Arabia. In * Belgium is 11,375 square miles in area; Holland 11,897 square miles; and Switzerland 11,039 square miles. † Belgium has a population of 3,965,686; Holland 2,859,111; and Switzerland 2,184,096.- Malte- Brun. its different directions and individual parts, it bears various names. 1. On the north are the mountains of Lebanon, which consist of two parallel ranges; one of these inclines westward towards the sea, and terminates near the famed city of Tyre. The other range, which is more towards the east, divides near the source of the Jordan into two chains, which spread out on each side of that river into elevated plains, divided from one another by numerous valleys. The western range is generally termed LIBANUS; the eastern, ANTILIBANUS; although both are known by the name of LEBANON. Lebanon means the white mountain, and was so called either from its highest peaks being covered with snow even in summer, or from the rocks of which it is composed having a whitish appearance, being limestone. This mountain has always been famed for its cedars, of which were built the temple at Jerusalem, and the palace of Solomon. 2. Anti-Libanus. The range of Anti-Libanus has an inferior average elevation to that of Libanus; but at its southeastern extremity there is a summit which attains a greater elevation than any mountain in Syria. This highest peak is called Jebel-es-Sheikh, or the Old Man's Mountain, from its fancied resemblance to the hoary head and beard of a venerable sheikh. Its actual height has not been ascertained; but, as it is covered with snow all the year, it cannot be less than 11,000 or 12,000 feet in height. This was the Mount Hermon of Scripture, and the northern limit of the territory of Israel on the east side of the Jordan. It was called Sirion by the Sidonians, and Shenir by the Amorites. Moses speaks of it under the name of Sion, which must not, however, be confounded with the famous Mount Zion in Jerusalem. The eastern side of this chain has some parts which yield good pasturage, but the western side is completely barren. 3. Mount of Beatitudes, modern name Jebel-el-Hattein. |