From Burckhardt (Travels in Syria), Robin son and others, we learn that in the land of Moab, which lav to the east and southeast of Judma, and which bordered on the east, northeast and partly on the south of thc Dead Sea, the soil is rather more diversified than that of Ammon; and, where the desert and plains of salt have not encroached upon its borders, of equal fertility. There are manifest and abundant signs of its ancient im portance. The whole of the plains are covered with the sites of towns on every eminence or spot convenient for the construction of one; and as the land is capable of rich cultivation, there can be no doubt that the country now so deserted, once presented a continued picture of plenty and fertility (Irby and Mangles, p. 378). The form of fields is still visible, and there are remains of Roman highways which are in some places com pletely paved, 'and on which there are milestones of the times of Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, and Scv erns, with the numbers of the miles legible upon them. Wherever any spot is cultivated the corn is luxuriant ; and the frequency and in many in stances the close vioinity of the sites of ancient towns prove that the population of the country wa s formerly proportioned to its fertility (Irby and Mangles, pp. 377, 37S, 456, 46o).
(6) Prophecies Fulfilled. It was in its state of highest prosperity that the prophets foretold that the cities of Moab should become desolate, without any to dwell in them; and accordingly we find, that although the sites, ruins and names of many ancient cities of Moab can be traced, not one of them exists at the present day as ten anted by man. Porter indicates how completely
those various prophecies have been fulfilled, but some of his statements require confirmation. From Salcah he saw upward of thirty deserted towns (Jer. xlviii :15-24). The neglected and wild vine yards and fig trees are rifled by the Bedouins every year in their periodical raids (verses 32, 33). The inhabitants hide themselves in the mountain-fast nesses, oppressed by the robbers of the desert on. the one hand and the robbers of the govern ment on the other (verses 28, 44)• CVril Gra ham, who explored this region, found cities with buildings in a good state of preservation, yet everywhere uninhabited. "In the whole of these vast plains, north and south, cast and west, deso lation reigns supreme." The long-predicted doom of Moab is now fulfilled, and the forty-eighth chapter of Jeremiah is verified on the spot by the traveler. There are twenty-seven references to Moab in this chapter, and one hundred and twenty-one in the Scriptures.
The argument for the inspiration of the sacred records deducible from this, among other facts of the same kind, is produced with considerable force by Dr. Keith in his work on Prophecy. Gesenius, Comnzent. on Is. xv, xvi: Introduct. translated by W. S. Tyler, with Notes by Moses Stuart, in Biblical Repos.. for 1836, vol. vii, pr. io7-124; Keith's Evidence front prophecy, PP. 153-165; and Land of Israel, 279-295; Pictorial Bible, Notes to Dent. ii :2; Is. xvi, xvii; Jer.
(See Rose, The Afghans the Ten Tribes; Schaff Bib. Diet.)