Palestine

the land of the Israelites. Known also as Canaan, the Holy Land, and, in part, as Judea. The name signifies the land of the Philistines. It lies in southern Syria, between the Mediterranean and the Arabian Desert. The mountains of Lebanon are considered the northern boundary. The southern boundary is somewhat indefinite, but may be regarded as an arc, the keystone of which supports the Dead Sea. Area, about 10,000 square miles, equal to New Hampshire. The physical features are readily understood. The Lebanons send two parallel spurs southward. A coastal plain lies along the west, bordering on the Mediterranean. The river Jordan, the Sea of Galilee, and the Dead Sea occupy a long, deeply sunken basin between the ranges. The ranges reach a general elevation of 4,000 feet. Mount Hermon, the highest peak, is over 9,000 feet high. Other mountains of note in the Scriptures are Carmel, Tabor, Gilboa, Gilead, Nebo, or Pisgah, Zion, Moriah, and Olives. Although decidedly rough the country is naturally fertile. The prevailing rock is limestone, the disintegration of which supplies soil needing only careful husbandry to produce bountiful crops. There are many caves in the ledges, as the Cave of Mach-pelah at Hebron, in which Abraham buried Sarah; the Cave of Adullam, to which David retired, capable of sheltering 400 men; and others, many of enormous extent. The honey bee hives in the crevices of the rocks. The promise to the Israelites was "a land of hills and valleys, a land flowing with milk and honey." The Mediterranean coast is well tilled. The interior plain of the Jordan is robbed of moisture by the inclosing mountains and is nearly rainless. It is a mere barren waste of sand. The mountains are full of fountains, the most noted, perhaps, being the well of Bethlehem. Each has its history. Here Hagar sat, here Israel surprised the host of the Philistines, here Abram watered his flocks, and here Joab's messenger overtook Abner. Even Jacob's well is still pointed out.

The mountains are still sparsely covered with forests. The cedar, ash, oak, olive, palm, walnut, sycamore, and oleander are the chief trees. There are between 1,000 and 2,000 native plants. The wolf, jackal, hyena, wild boar, bear, coney, gazelle, wild goat, and hare still find shelter. The country is noted for birds of prey, as the buzzard, eagle, vulture, kite, and falcon. There are also birds of bright plumage, including the kingfisher, bee-bird, bulbul, etc. There are in all about 350 species of birds. The waters teem with fish. The leviathan of Scripture, the modern crocodile, still lingers in the Jordan.

The population of the historic vales and mountain sides is now chiefly Arabic. There are also small colonies of Jews and Germans. Grain, olive oil, oranges, and wine are the chief exports. Jaffa, the leading seaport, is connected by rail with Jerusalem.

In the time of David and Solomon Palestine was allotted to the various tribes of Israel. Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh resided on the east of the Jordan. Judah and Benjamin were located in the south. About 975 B. C. the kingdom of Israel was divided. The next event of importance was the captivity. The monarchs of Assyria carried the children of Israel away and replaced them by other people, Judah and Benjamin being the last to go, about 584. Palestine passed from the Assyrians to the Persians, then to the Macedonians. At the birth of Christ it was under Roman dominion. It then fell to the Eastern Empire and finally passed under Mohammedan control. With the exception of a short period during the Crusades, it has been under Moslem rule ever since. In 1516 it passed under the rule of the Turks, and Palestine is still a part of the Turkish Empire.

See Abraham; Jerusalem; Mohamed; Jordan; Galilee; Lily; Cedar; Lebanon; Tyre; Temple; Druses; Dead Sea, etc.