xl. 6.) We find it rebuilt after the return from Babylon -(Neh. iii. 19.) 2. (Gen. xxxi. 49.) A city in the territory of Gad, where Laban and Jacob entered into a covenant of friendship, and where Jephthah resided and mustered his army. — (Judg. xi. 11, 29.)

MARESHAH. (Josh. xv. 44.) A town of Judah, famous as the scene of the battle between Asa, king of Judah, and Zerah, king of Ethiopia, with his numerous army. It was also the residence of the prophet Micah. -(Mic. i. 15.)

MEDEBA. (Josh. xiii. 16.) A city in the eastern part of the territory of Reuben, which still retains nearly its ancient name, Madaba. The site of the old town shows the ruins of a temple, and the excavations of ponds and reservoirs.

NOB, (1 Sam. xxii. 19,) was a city of the priests in the territory of Benjamin, and within sight of Jerusalem on the north. To this place David fled from the fury of Saul, and obtained from Abimelech, the high priest, some of the shew-bread, to satisfy his hunger; and also Goliah's sword for his defence. For this act Saul caused the city and all that was in it to be destroyed.

OPHNI. (Josh. xviii. 24.) A city of Benjamin, latterly called Gophna, between Shechem and Jerusalem. It is mentioned by profane historians among the places through which Vespasian and Titus passed, in their march of conquest.

RAMA, (Matt. ii. 18,) or Ramah, (1 Sam. i. 19,) was a small town, situated on an eminence in the territory of Benjamin, (Josh. xviii. 25,) and about six miles north of Jerusalem, on the way to Bethel. The name Rama, or Ramoth, signifies an eminence, and hence is a constituent part of the names of several places, and is sometimes used generally for any high place. It was here that the Jews were assembled after the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuzaradan, (Jer. xl. 1,) to take their departure from their beloved country, and to go as captives into a land of strangers, if not of tyrants. It was this place that Baasha, king of Israel, once possessed and fortified; but the king of Judah, by stratagem, wrested it from him. -(1 Kings xv. 17.) Near to Ramah, Rachel was buried; and she is represented by the prophet (Jer. xxxi. 15,) as

weeping over the loss of her children, and refusing to be comforted because of their captivity. This, though called Ramathaim-zophim, was also the place of Samuel's birth, residence, death and burial, and where he anointed Saul as king. — (1 Sam. i. 1, 19; ii. 11; vii. 17; viii. 4; xix. 18; xxv. 1,) Ramah, or Ramathaim, or Ramathaim-zophim, of the Old, is the Arimathea of the New Testament, where dwelt Joseph, in whose tomb the body of Christ was buried. (John xix. 38.) There is now a village on the hill where was the site of Ramah, called Samuele by the Arabs. Jerusalem is easily seen from this height. There was another Rama in Naphthali.(Josh. xix. 36.)

SIBMAH, (Isa. xvi. 8, 9,) or Shibmah, (Num. xxxii. 38.) A city of Reuben, near by Heshbon, celebrated for the luxuriant growth of the vine. - (Jer. xlviii. 32) It fell into the hands of the Moabites after the captivity of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh, by Tiglath-pileser; and hence the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah weep for Moab, because the spoiler had broken the vines of Sibmah. Probably the expression in the passage from Jeremiah refers either to the universal reputation of the vines of Sibmah, or it is poetically used to denote the luxuriance of their growth. The "Sea of Jazer" was perhaps 15 or 20 miles from Sibmah.

SHUNEM. (Josh. xix. 18.) A town in the territory of Issachar, and a little south of Nain. It is associated with several important incidents of Jewish history, (1 Sam. xxviii. 4; 1 Kings i. 3; 2 Kings viii. 1-16,) and especially as the place where Elisha tarried on his journeys between Gilgal and Carmel, and where he performed a miracle under circumstances of unusual interest. — (2 Kings iv. 8-37.) The inhabitants were called Shunamites.

SHILOH, (Josh. xviii. 1,) where Samuel began to prophesy, (1 Sam. iii. 21,) and where Abijah lived, 1) Kings xiv. 2,) was a city of Ephraim between Lebanon and Bethel, 10 miles south of Shechem, and about 25 miles north of Jerusalem. Here Joshua fixed the tabernacle of God, and here it continued at least 310 years. Shiloh was one of the names of Jesus Christ- the great Deliverer he that frees from the law, sin and death.

-(Gen. xlix. 10.) It denotes the Redeemer, the author of our happiness, and our sole peace-maker with God.

TEKOA, a city of Judah, 12 miles south-east of Jerusalem. Around it was an extensive wilderness, or pasture land, and forest. Amos, the prophet, kept a herd here, before his call to the ministry.(Amos i. 1.)

THEBEZ. (Judg. ix. 50.) A city north-east of Shechem, within the territory of Ephraim, celebrated as the place where Abimelech was slain.

ZORAH, (Josh. xix. 41,) or Zoran. A city belonging originally to Judah, and afterwards to Dan, near the boundary line between them; the birth-place of Samson, (Judg. xiii. 2,) and probably fortified by Rehoboam. — (2 Chron. xi. 10.) It is called Zoreah, (Josh. xv. 33,) and its inhabitants are called Zorites, (1 Chron. ii. 54,) and Jorathites. (1 Chr. iv. 2.)

ZEMARAIM, a city of Benjamin, not far from Bethel, near which was fought a bloody battle in the days of Jeroboam I. (Josh. xviii. 22.)

The valley of Zephatha, (2 Chron. xiv. 9—13,) was in the south-western section of the territory of Judah, near Mareshah, and is memorable for the battle of the Jews with the Ethiopians. There was also a city of this name, [Zephath,] within the bounds of Simeon. (Judg.

i. 17.)

Judea may be called a mountainous country. The principal mountains mentioned in scripture are Seir, Horeb, Sinai, Hor, Gilboa, Nebo, Tabor, Engedi, Lebanon, Ebal, Amalek, Gerizim, Gilead, Moriah, Paran, Gahash, Olivet, Pisgah, Hermon and Carmel.

THE CITIES OF GALILEE.

GALILEE was the northern part of Canaan, comprehending Issachar; Zebulon, Naphtali and Asher. The upper part was called Galilee of the Gentiles, from its containing many Gentile inhabitants out of the neighboring nations; as the Phoenicians, Syrians, &c. -a mixture of colored population. Peter was detected by his speech, as being a Galilean. (Mark xiv. 70.) Our Savior and most of the disciples were educated here;

and here were most of the miracles wrought. On this account, Jesus and his followers were often called Galileans. (Luke xxiii. 6; Acts ii. 7.)

CAPERNAUM, a principal city of Galilee. It stood on the western shore of the Sea of Tiberias, in the border of Zebulon and Naphtali, not far from Bethsaida. It received its name from a clear fountain adjacent. Here Christ resided and taught, and here Matthew was called. It is now called Talhume.

NAZARETH. (Matt. xxi. 11.) A town in Galilee, within the territory of Zebulon, from 50 to 70 miles north of Jerusalem, now known as Nassera or Naserah. It was noted for its wickedness. (John i. 46.) It occupies an elevated site about midway between Mt. Tabor and Cana. Jesus spent much of his time here; and hence the title, Jesus of Nazareth. (Mark xvi. 6; Luke xxiv. 19; Acts ii. 22.) A precipice of 50 feet, which lies. about a mile from the village, is regarded as the place to which the people of the town carried Jesus, with the savage intention of casting him off. (Luke iv. 29.) There is a Roman Catholic Church here, called the Church of the Annunciation.

NAIN. (Luke vii. 11.) A city of Galilee, south of Mt. Tabor, and but a little distance from Capernaum. It is now a Turkish village, inhabited by Jews, Mohammedans, and a few Christians. The place is distinguished as the scene of one of Christ's most remarkable and affecting miracles. (Luke vii. 11—15.)

NAIOTH. (1 Sam. xix. 22.) A part of the town of Ramah, [or, as the word signifies, "the meadows of Ramah," where a school of the prophets was established.

TIBERIAS, a city of Galilee, built by Agrippa, and so named in honor of the Emperor Tiberias. Hegesippus says it was the same as Cinnereth. In the time of the Jewish wars, this city, then the capital of Galilee, was bravely defended by Josephus the historian; but being taken by Vespasian, it was almost demolished. It was, however, a place of considerable note for many ages after. After the destruction of Jerusalem it flourished greatly, having 13 synagogues and a famous academy, over which a succession of Jewish doctors presided, till

the fourth century. Here was held the last session of the Sanhedrim, and here the Talmud was collected. It is still a decent town, and around it are extensive ruins, indicative of its former extent and grandeur. 30 or 40 families of Greek Catholics reside here. The present name of this town is Tabaria.

THE CITIES OF ASIA MINOR.

THE Asia of the Bible is a peninsula, on the western or south-western side of the continent of Asia, which stretches into the Mediterranean or Great Sea, extending east as far as the Euphrates, west to the islands of the sea, north to what is now called the Black sea, and south to the Mediterranean Sea. It includes the provinces of Bithynia, Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Cilicia, Pamphylia, Pisidia, Lycaonia, Phrygia, Mysia, Troas, Lydia, Lysia, and Caria.

ASSYRIA. (2 Kings xv. 19.) A most powerful empire of Asia, the history of which, both in its glory and in its overthrow, is most significantly told by the prophet. – (Ezek. xxxi.) It was founded probably by Nimrod, 120 years after the deluge.

CUTH, or Cutha, (2 Kings xvii. 24, 30,) was evidently, from the connection, a province of Assyria; and Cush is the marginal reading for Ethiopia in Gen. ii. 13, Hab. iii. 7, and elsewhere.

LYDIA. (Ezek. xxx. 5.) There was a celebrated kingdom of Asia Minor known by this name, of which Sardis was the capital. It is supposed to have been settled by the posterity of Lud, a son of Shem. It had Mysia on the north, Phrygia on the east, Caria on the south, and the Ægean Sea on the west. It was once under the dominion of Croesus, the wealthiest monarch of his age. It was, in the time of the apostles, a province of the Roman empire. The Lydia of the above cited passage is supposed to refer to a place or a people in Africa.

BITHYNIA. (Acts xvi. 7. A province of Asia Minor. It is bounded on the east by Paphlagonia, north by the Black Sea, and south by Phrygia and Galatia. It is di