In this description of the territory of Naphtali the reader will see the best commentary on the words of Moses, '0 Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the blessings of the Lord ; possess thou the sea and Darom.' Naphtali on account of its position was in a great measure isolated from the Israelitish king doms. Nominally subject to Samaria, it was sepa rated from it by the plain of Esdraelon, over which so often swept the devastating hordes of the Chil dren of the East,' and the powerful armies of Syria. The usual route of the Syrian expeditions was along the east base of Hermon, and across the Jordan at Jacob's bridge. The Naphtalites in their mountain fastnesses thus escaped their devas tations. But whenever the enemy marched through the valley of Ccelesyria, then Naphtali bore the first brunt of the onset ; and its chief cities, Ijon, Abel, Kadesh, and Hazor, were the first that fell (1 Kings xv. 20; 2 Chron. xvi. 4). Naphtali also was the first tribe captured by the Assyrians under Tiglath-pileser (2 Kings xv. 29). After the cap tivity the Israelites again settled largely in Naph• tali, and its southern section became the most densely populated district in Palestine. It became the principal scene also of our Lord's public labours. After his brethren at Nazareth rejected and sought to kill him, he came down' (Luke iv. 31) from the uplands and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea-coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim ' (Matt. iv. 13). The
new capital of Galilee had recently been built by Antipas, and called after the emperor, Tiberias. Other towns—Magdala, Capernaum, Chorazin, the two Bethsaidas—dotted the shore, which teemed with life and industry. Vast multitudes followed Jesus wherever he went (Mark ii. 1-12; Matt. xiii. 1.23, etc.) The greater number of his beautiful parables were spoken here ; and it was the scene of most of his miracles (Handbook, pp. 430, 431). Then the words of Isaiah were ful filled as they are quoted and applied by Matthew (iv. 15, 16) The land of Zabulon, and the land of NeAthalint, the region of the sea (that is, of the Sea of Galilee ;' the same district called 'the sea' in Dent. xxxiii. 23), Perms, (the proper name of the country beyond Jordan), Galilee of the Gentiles (called Darom' in Dent. xxxiii. 23) :—the people which sat in darkness saw great light ; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.' Naphtali is now almost a desert. A mournful silence reigns along the shores of the Sea of Galilee. There are still a few populous villages among the mountains ; hut Safet and Tiberias are the only places of any importance within the boundaries of the tribe, and they are fast falling to rein.
Descriptions of this region may be found in the following works :—Handbook, pp. 424-445 ; Robin son, B. R., ii. 396-442; iii. 360-373; Van de Velde, i. 168-183 ; Stanley, 369.383.—J. L. P.