NAHALIEL valley of God ;' Nact XL91; Nahaliel), a station of the Israelites men tioned only in Num. xxi. 19. The difficulties connected with the passage in which this word occurs have been already pointed out in the article MATTANEH. It seems probable, as there stated, and as is maintained by Kennicott, that the names Mattaneh and Nahaliel were intended to express figuratively some signal blessings which occurred to the Israelites at these places. They were not mere geographiCal names. Perhaps Nahaliel was the name applied by a thankful people to the valley in which God gave them a miraculous supply of water, and at which Israel sang the song of praise, Spring up, 0 well ; sing ye to it' (ver. 17). Eusebius mentions Naaniel (Naav4X ; Je rome, Naaliel ; Onomast. s. v.), but simply as a station of the Israelites near the Amon. It does not appear that he knew anything more of it than is recorded in Numbers. The name does not
occur at all in the general itinerary given in Num. xxxiii., which thus appears to confirm the interpre tation given above. Between the streams of Zurka Ma'in and Mojib (Anion), is a streamlet in a deep wild ravine flowing into the Dead Sea. Its name is Wady Waleh ; but D'Anville, on his map, calls it Nahaliel, a name, Burckhardt assures us, un known to the Arabs (Travels, p. 371) ; and for which there is no authority. One of the upper tributaries to the Mojib is Wady Enkheileh ; and this word bears some remote resemblance to Naha lid, as is stated by Mr. Grove (Smith's Diet. of tlu Bible, s. v.) We cannot place much dependence upon this suggestion ; but it may serve to draw the attention of future travellers to the spot. — I. L. P.