Part 18 (1/2)

III. _The Babylonian Empire._ This may be given upon the same map as the two preceding. 1. Show the location and relations of the four kingdoms: _Babylonia_, _Media_, _Lydia_, _Cilicia_. 2. Give an account of Babylon, and its fall.

IV. _The Persian Empire._ Leaving the coast-line of the former maps on the board, add to it the lines in all points of the compa.s.s requisite to show the boundaries of Persia. The provinces, or satrapies, need not be specified (unless detailed knowledge is desired), for they do not relate to Bible history. Name the leading monarchs, Cyrus, Darius, Xerxes, Artaxerxes Longima.n.u.s, and give an account of the fall of the empire.

V. _The Empire of Alexander._ 1. This may be shown in outline; and its history be given. 2. The division of the empire and its leading kingdoms should be mentioned.

VI. _The Roman Empire._ This will require a new map. Draw in outline the lands around the Mediterranean Sea, and enumerate the provinces: European, Asiatic, African.

[Ill.u.s.tration: GROTTO OF JEREMIAH (UNDER MOUNT CALVARY).]

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE KINGDOM OF HEROD THE GREAT.]

NEW TESTAMENT PALESTINE.

THE political geography of Palestine, during the seventy years of New Testament history, is somewhat complicated, from the two facts, that new provinces are named in the annals, and also that the government was changed from regal to provincial, and from provincial to regal, oftener than once in a generation.

I. THE PROVINCES OF PALESTINE.

These were, on the west of the Jordan, Judaea, Samaria and Galilee; and on the east, Peraea, and a group of minor princ.i.p.alities, popularly, but not accurately, called Decapolis. They are indicated upon the map of the Kingdom of Herod the Great.

1. =Judaea= was the largest province in Palestine. It embraced the territory anciently belonging to the four tribes, Judah, Benjamin, Dan, and Simeon. On the east its boundary was the Dead Sea; on the south, the desert; on the west, the Mediterranean. The northern line, separating it from Samaria, is less definitely known; but we have adopted the boundary as given by Conder in ”A Handbook to the Bible,” where the evidences in its favor are shown. The southern portion was properly Idumaea, or western Edom. The Philistine plain, and the Negeb, or ”South Country,”

were both known as Daroma.

2. =Samaria= was the central province, between Judaea and the Carmel range of mountains. Its share of the plain by the sea was known as Sarona (Sharon), and was occupied almost entirely by Gentiles; while its mountain region was held by the Samaritans, a people of mingled origin, partly descended from the remnant of the Ten Tribes after the captivity, and partly from heathen peoples deported to the territory, of which an account is contained in 2 Kings 17. They separated from (or rather, were disfellows.h.i.+ped by) the Jews in the times of Nehemiah, and built a temple on Mount Gerizim, B.C. 400. A small remnant still remain in the ancient city of Shechem, and maintain their ancient wors.h.i.+p.

3. =Galilee= was the northern province, extending from Mount Carmel to Lebanon, and from the Sea of Tiberias to the Mediterranean and Phoenicia. Its people were Jews, and profoundly attached to the law, but less superst.i.tious than those of Jerusalem. In this province most of the ministry of Jesus Christ was accomplished.

[Ill.u.s.tration: TIBERIAS.]

4. =Peraea= extended from the Jordan and the Dead Sea on the west to the Syrian desert on the east, and from the river Arnon on the south to the town of Pella on the north; nearly corresponding to the location of the tribes of Reuben and Gad. The word means ”beyond”; and the country was sometimes called (Mark 10:1) ”Judaea by the farther side of Jordan.” It was inhabited during the New Testament period by Jews, among whom were established many villages of Gentiles.

5. The remaining province has no correct geographical name. It is sometimes called =Decapolis=; but the term is not precise, and strictly refers to ten cities, not all of which were in the province. It embraced no less than five sections, as may be seen upon the map. (1.) Gaulanitis, the ancient Golan, now _Jaulan_, east of the Jordan, Tiberias, and Lake Merom, which was then called Samachonitis. (2.) Auranitis, now _Hauran_, the flat country of Bashan. (3.) Trachonitis, ”rugged,” the mountainous district of Bashan, now known as _el Ledja_.

(4.) Iturea, now called _Jedur_, between Mount Hermon and the _Ledja_, on the north. (5.) Batanea, an Aramaic form of the Hebrew word Bashan, south of the Hieromax.

Decapolis was ”the land of the ten cities.” These were ten confederated Gentile cities standing in Palestine; and, though surrounded by a Jewish population, preserving their heathen character, and protected by the Roman government. Their names, as given by different historians, do not entirely agree; but the best list is: (1.) Scythopolis (Beth-shean).

(2.) Gadara. (3.) Gerasa. (4.) Canatha. (5.) Abila. (6.) Raphana. (7.) Hippos. (8.) Dion. (9.) Pella. (10.) Capitolias. To these may be added: (11.) Philadelphia (Rabbath Ammon). (12.) Damascus. As far as identified, they are named upon the map in red letters. Many of these cities were destroyed, and their inhabitants ma.s.sacred, by the Jews, in the beginning of the final war before the destruction of Jerusalem by t.i.tus.

[Ill.u.s.tration: PALESTINE DURING THE MINISTRY of JESUS.

A.D. 26.]

II. THE POLITICAL HISTORY OF PALESTINE, B.C. 4-A.D. 70.

1. =The Kingdom of Herod the Great= included all the provinces indicated upon the map, and described above. This organization came to an end B.C.