BRIDGE. It is somewhat remarkable that the word bridge does not occur in all Scripture, although there were without doubt bridges over the rivers of Palestine, especially in the country beyond the Jordan, in which the principal perennial streams are found. There is mention of a military bridge (2 Maccab. xii. /3) which Judas Maccabreus in tended to make, in order to facilitate his operations against the town of Caspis, had he not been pre vented. There are traces of ancient bridges across the Jordan, above and below the lake of Gennesa reth, and also over the Amon and other rivers which enter the Jordan from the east ; and some of the winter torrents which traverse the western most plain (the plain of the coast) are crossed by bridges. But the oldest of these appear to be of Roman origin, and some of more recent date. It would be useless, in a subject so little biblical, to trace the contrivances which were probably resorted to in the ruder and more remote ages. Such con trivances, before the stone bridge is attained, are progressively the same in most countries, or varied only by local circumstances. The bridges which existed in the later ages of Scriptural history are probably not very different from those which we still find in and near Palestine ; and under this view the following representations of existing bridges are introduced.
The principal existing bridge in Palestine is that shewn in cut t52. It crosses the upper Jordan about two miles below the lake Houle. The river here flows rapidly through a narrow bed ; and here from the most remote ages has lain the high road to Damascus from all parts of Palestine ; which renders it likely that a bridge existed at this place in very ancient times, although, of course, not the one which is now standing. The bridge is called
Jacob's Bridge (Yissr Yakozeb), from a tradition that it marks the spot where the patriarch Jacob crossed the river on his return from Padan-Aram. But it is also sometimes called 7issr Beni Yakoieb, the Bridge of Jacob's Sons, which may suggest that the name is rather derived from some Arab tribe called the Beni Yakoub. The bridge is a very solid structure, well built, with a high curve in the middle like all the Syrian bridges ; and is composed of three arches, in the usual style of these fabrics. Close by it, on the east, is a khan much frequented by travellers, built upon the remains of a fortress which was erected by the Crusaders to command the passage of the Jordan. A few soldiers are now stationed here to collect a toll upon all the laden beasts which cross the bridge.
No. 153 is a bridge or arch thrown over a ravine at El Sak, the antiquity of which is evinced by the sculptured cliffs with which it is connected.
Somewhat similar to this is the bridge next represented (No. 154), which is in many respects a curious and remarkable structure. It leads to a convent (of St. Anthony) among the mountains ; which explains the Christian symbols that have been placed upon it.
No. 155 is an ancient bridge, at Tchavdere, in Asia Minor. It is introduced as a fair specimen of many ancient bridges of one arch, by which winter torrents and small streams are crossed in Syria and Asia Minor.
Bridges, such as the following (No. 156), also entirely unfenced, frequently occur.
No. 157 is a Persian bridge ; but it is here in troduced as a very fair specimen of the general character of the bridges which are met with in all parts of Western Asia.