(3) The Western Border. In the sixth verse of the same chapter (Num. xxxiv) the western border is stated as defined by the Mediterranean coast. This was the boundary of Palestine; but the Hebrews never possessed the whole of It. The northern part of the coast from Sidon to Akko (Acre) was in the hands of the Phcenicians, and the southern part, from Azotus to Gaza, was retained by the Philistines, except at inter vals, in and after the time of David, when they were subject to the Hebrew scepter (see PHIL urns;Es) ; and a central portion, about one-third of the whole, from Mount Carmel to Jabneh (Jamnia) was alone permanently open to the Is raelites.
(4) The Northern Border is as difficult to define as the southern. The verses in which it is described we read thus : 'This shall be your north boundary; from the great sea ye shall draw a line to the great mountain (Lebanon) ; from the great mountain ye shall draw your border to the entering in of Hamath; and the boundary shall pass on to Zedad, and the boundary shall go on to Ziphron, and its termination shall be at Hazarenan' (Num. xxxiv :7-9). This only re fers to the northern boundary of the western ter ritory, or Canaan Proper, and we may therefore extend it in the same direction to Mount Her mon, for the purpose of completing the northern boundary. The Authorized Version of this text has created some confusion by translating 17171-171, hor ha-hor by 'Mount Hor;' but the phrase which literally means 'mountain of the mountain' that is, ' the great mountain,' obviously denotes Lebanon. We think that we cannot be mistaken in understanding that the line commenced at the sea somewhere not far to the south of Sidon, whence it was extended to Lebanon, and cross ing the narrow valley (here called 'the entering in of Hamath'), which leads into the great plain enclosed between Libanus and Anti-Libanus, ter minated at Mount Hermon, in the latter range. This arrangement of the northern line of bound .ry seems to us to meet all the difficulties aris ing from deficient knowledge, which have hung like a dense mist over the northern boundary of Palestine.
(5) The Eastern Boundary, as respects Ca naan Proper, was defined by the Jordan and its lakes; but as respects the whole country, includ ing the portion beyond the Jordan, it is not so ea.sily determined; yet it may be made out with close attention. Salchah was a town on the east ern limits of Bashan, and also, therefore, of the Hebrew territory (Deut. :to; Josh. xii :5). From this point, however, the line must have in clined somewhat sharply to the southwest, and it would be best to bring it to the point where the Wady-ed Deir enters the Zerka, and thence extend it almost due south to the Arnon, which was the southern limit of the eastern territory.
5. Mineralogy. (1) Chalk. The mountains on the west of the Jordan consist chiefly of chalk, on which basalt begins to occur beyond Cana (northward), as is manifestly ex hibited in the heights of Hattin, and in the western descent to the lake of Tiberias, in such large quantity and great extent as I have never before observed. That the so-called white limestone, which is met with around Jerusalem and thence to Jericho, which covers the summit and forms the declivities of the Mount of Olives, and which is also found at Mount Tabor and around Nazareth, is a kind of chalk, is obvious to any one but slightly acquainted with miner alogy. Layers and detached masses of 'flint,' Schubert continues, 'are very commonly seen in it ; and these mountains preserve the character of their formation, as well in their more solid condition, resembling Alpine limestone and Schnfirl-limestone, as in their softer organization, which has a likeness to chalk-marl. Besides this indurated chalk, a stone is found in the imme diate vicinity of Jerusalem, chiefly towards the north, as well as towards Safet, and in other parts of the country, which, together with the dolomite formation occasionally met with, I could npt but consider to be of what in Germany is called the Jura formation.' (2) Salt. Palestine may be most emphatically called the country of salt, which is produced in vast abundance, chiefly, in the neighborhood of the Dead Sea, which deserves to be regarded as one of the great natural salt-works of the world.
Under this head it may be noted that the fine impalpable desert-sand, which proves so menac ing to travelers, and even to inhabitants, is scarcely found in Palestine Proper; but it oc curs beyond Lebanon, near Beirut, and in the neighborhood of Damascus.
(3) Caverns. Palestine is eminently a country of caverns, to which there is frequent allusion in Scripture (see CAvEs), and which are hardly so numerous in any country of the same extent. Many of them were enlarged by the inhabitants, and even artificial grottoes were formed by man ual labor. In these the inhabitants still like to reside; as in summer they afford protection from the heat, and in winter from cold and rain. Even now, in many places, houses are observed built so near to rocks, that their cavities may be used for rooms or sheds suited to the condition of the seasons. Though the country is not unfre quently visited by earthquakes, they leave behind no such frightful traces as those of Asia Minor ; as the vaults of limestone offer more effectual re sistance than the sandstone of the latter country.