burnt Hazor with fire" (Joshua xi.) It was the only city burnt, the reason being that it was probably too strong to be left standing. It was afterwards rebuilt (1 Kings ix. 15), and its inhabitants were carried by Tiglath Pileser to Assyria (2 Kings xv. 29). Hazor was the residence of another king, Jabin, the captain of whose host was Sisera. and who was defeated by Deborah and Barak (Judges iv. 2-17).

The next place of interest passed on this route is Kedes, the ancient Kedesh-Naphtali. The situation of the place is exceedingly pretty and picturesque, and the ruins upon its site are interesting, although their date is very doubtful. They consist of foundations of buildings, a few walls and arches, and a number of sarcophagi, some of which, as at Kefr Kenna, are used as drinking-troughs. There is also a curious octagonal column, and some richly-sculptured

ornaments.

Kedesh-Naphtali was a Canaanitish town, given to the tribe of Naphtali, and afterwards to the Levites, when it was made a city of refuge (Joshua xxi. 32). It would appear that, in the time of the Canaanites, the city was a sanctuary, or holy place, as it afterwards became under the Israelites. It was here that Barak lived, and gathered together his army for the battle of Tabor (Judges iv. 6-9). Here, too, dwelt Heber the Kenite. Like Hazor, Kedesh was captured by Tiglath-Pileser, and the people carried captives to Assyria.

From Kedes to Safed is ten miles, and to the north-west of the upper part of Lake Hûleh four miles.

Proceeding on our journey, we reach a large village named Mês-el-Jebel, and then through most picturesque scenery, with splendid distant views, comprehending the Valley of the Jordan, the Plain and Lake of Hûleh, the whole range of Hermon, the Castle of Tibnin, and innumerable hills and valleys, with villages studded here and

there. Any travellers who may have determined to report that in Palestine all is barren," will do well to reconsider

their verdict here.

Hunîn was a strongly fortified town, or perhaps a fortress merely, but its history is unknown. It remains to-day a mass of stupendous ruin, and exhibits traces of almost every style of architecture. It has been surmised by Dr. Robinson that it may correspond with Beth-Rehob (Judges xviii. 28), but this is a mere surmise.

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Descending into the valley, we see the village of Abil, set on a hill." It corresponds with the Abel-Beth-Maachah (Meadow of the House of Maachah), called also Abel Maim, or Meadow of Water (2 Chron. xvi. 4). Here came Sheba in his flight, and hither pursued Joab, who demanded that he should be delivered up. Sheba, said Joab, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David; deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall. . . . And they cut off the head of Sheba, the son of Bichri, and cast it out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city every man to his tent" (2 Sam. xx. 13-22). The city was taken by Benhadad (1 Kings xv. 20), and at a later date Tiglath-Pileser carried off its people (2 Kings xv. 29).

...

From here we proceed to a little village called Merj Ayûn, the ancient Ijon, a city spoiled by Benhadad (1 Kings xv. 16), and from thence to Tell-el-Kâdi (p. 319), and Bâniâs (p. 321).

TIBERIAS TO BANIAS DIRECT.

From Tiberias to Capernaum (p. 298).

Leaving 'Ain-et-Tîn, or Tell-Hûm, we proceed by a wretchedly bad road, which, nevertheless, was the old

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caravan road between Egypt and Damascus, until we reach a point where, looking back, we take our farewell peeps at the Lake of Gennesaret and its neighbourhood, and looking forward see the unfolding glories of Hermon and Lebanon. We pass the Khân Yubb Yûsef, or Khân of Joseph's Well, the traditional well into which the hero of the Bible story was thrown by his brethren; the khân is modern, and filthily dirty. There is nothing now of any absorbing interest for at least a couple of hours' journey or more; occasionally good views are obtained, but the whole land is desolate, and overgrown with weeds and thistles. A beautiful stream, Nahr Hendâh, is reached, and on the hill above it are some important ruins of a town named Kasyun, of uncertain date; it has been supposed that the ruins include a temple, a synagogue, and reservoirs. The usual place for making a mid-day halt is at 'Ain Mellâhah, a charming spot, a land of springs and fountains," where the traveller can enjoy the shade afforded by an old mill, or gather ferns, which are here choice and abundant, or he may bathe in the large natural reservoir.

While here, he may also read up the following particulars about the district of Hûleh, in which 'Ain Mellâhah is situated. In the Old Testament the Lake of Hûleh-a triangular body of water four and a-half miles long, three and a-half broad, eleven deep, and nearly three hundred feet above the sea level-is called the Waters of Merom. It was here that Jabin, king of Hazor [Hazor is a city on a hill further north (p. 314)] gathered together all the surrounding kings and their companies, "and they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many. And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight

against Israel. And the Lord said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to-morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire. So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them. And the Lord delivered them into the hand of Israel" (Joshua xi. 4-8).

The name of this lake does not occur again in the Scriptures, but in Josephus it is referred to as the Lake of Samachonites; although whether the Lake Samachonites be the same as the Lake of Hûleh, and Hûleh identical with the waters of Merom, are points that have been the subject of a considerable amount of controversy. Mr. Grove considers the arguments brought forth are insufficient for proof; and Keil is of opinion that there is not any historical evidence whatever.

Mr. MacGregor, of The Rob Roy, has given an excellent description of the lake which he carefully explored. Stanley also has a graphic account of Joshua's battle.

North of the lake there is a plain, which forms part of the basin of Hûleh, it is about five miles wide, but the whole bed of the valley is mere swamp and marsh; the soil on its banks, however, is very rich, and here the wandering Bedouins encamp, spending their time in fishing and shooting, which is abundant all round the neighbourhood of the lake, pelicans and wild ducks abound, and storks; wild boars may also be found in the thick jungle, which forms an almost impassable barrier to the lake.

Somewhere in the neighbourhood of the waters of Merom the travellers' camp is generally pitched for the night; care will be taken by every good dragoman to see that the camping-place is not in a damp and marshy spot, where

malaria may be expected. About an hour's journey from 'Ain Mellâhah there are some capital camping-places, especially near 'Ain Belât, a charming spot, where there are some very old ruins. From here the traveller will have a near and uninterrupted view of Hermon, and should it be a good sunset its effects will be witnessed with lively emotion. In spring time he will find his tent in the morning tolerably damp, and the vast plain on the right sparkling with the dew of Hermon.

A journey of about an hour from 'Ain Belât across the plain brings us to a spot of great interest-it is Tell-elKádi (the Hill of the Judge, or the Judge's Mound), corresponding with the Dan of Scripture and the Laish of the Phoenicians. The Tell, or mound, is about a quarter of a mile in diameter, and about fifty feet above the plain; beneath it bursts out a beautiful crystal spring, which sends forth its living stream through the plain; while from beneath a wide-spreading terebinth-which marks the site of a Muslim grave on the side of the mound-issue some sparkling rills, which add their contributions to the stream. The mound, with the further mound rising behind it, mark the site of the town and citadel of Dan, the northern frontier of the Holy Land; while the spring at its foot is the Fountain of the Jordan, one of the largest and most important springs of that sacred river. The history of Dan is briefly as follows:-When Abraham pursued the captors of Lot, he "went even unto Dan," and with the few men of his household recovered him and the booty. It was the most northerly city of Palestine, as Beersheba was the most southerly; and the expression, "from Dan to Beersheba," is known to all, both in its literal and metaphorical sense. It was used in the same way ages ago (see Judges xx. i.; 1 Sam. iii. 20, etc.) It was in