ACHMETHA. See ECBATANA.

ABARIM, mountains of. See pp.
177, 178.

ABEL, Abel-beth-Maacha, or Abel-
main, a city in the northern part of
the canton allotted to the tribe of
Naphtali. (2 Sam. xx. 14-22. 1
Kings xv. 20. 2 Kings xv. 29.)

ABEL-MEHOLAH was the native
country of Elisha. (1 Kings xix.
16.) Not far from hence, Gideon
obtained a victory over the Midian-
ites. (Judg. vii. 22.)

ABEL-SHITTIM was a town in the
plains of Moab, beyond Jordan, op-
posite Jericho. Here the Israelites
fell into idolatry, and worshipped
Baal-Peor, seduced by Balak; and
here God severely punished them
by the hands of the Levites. (Numb.
xxv. 1, &c.)

ABILENE. See p. 164, supra.
ACCно. See PTOLEMAIS.

ACELDAMA, (or the Field of Blood,)
the name given to a field purchased
with the money for which Judas
had betrayed Jesus. It was appro-
priated as a place of burial for
strangers. (Acts i. 19. Matt, xxvii.
7, 8.)

ACHAIA, in a wider sense, com-
prised Peloponnesus and the whole
of Greece, properly so called. (2

ACHOR, a valley in the territory of
Jericho, and in the canton of the
tribe of Benjamin, where Achan was
stoned. (Josh. vii, 24.)

ACKSHAPH, a city belonging to the
tribe of Asher. The king of Ack-
shaph was conquered by Joshua,
(xii. 20.)

ADMAH, OF ADAMA, one of the five
cities destroyed by fire from heaven,
and afterwards overwhelmed by the
waters of the Dead Sea. (Gen. xix,
24.)

ADRAMYTTIUM, a maritime town of
Mysia, in Asia Minor, for which Paul
embarked in his first voyage to Italy.
(Acts xxvii. 12.)

ADRIA, mentioned in Acts xxvii.
27, is the Adriatic Sea, now called
the Gulf of Venice.

ENON, Or ENON, signifies the place
of springs, where John baptized.
(John iii. 23.) It is uncertain where
it was situated, whether in Galilee
or Judæa.

AHAVA, a river of Babylonia, or
of Assyria, where Ezra assembled
those captives whom he afterwards
brought into Judæa. (Ezra viii. 15.)

AJALON, a city in the canton of the
tribe of Dan, assigned to the Levites
of Kohath's family. It was situated
between Timnath and Beth-She-
mesh, and is probably the city al-
luded to in Josh. x. 12.

ALEXANDRIA, a city of Egypt, built
by Alexander the Great, celebrated
for the magnificence of its edifices,
and for the extensive commerce
carried on by its inhabitants, espe

Assos, a maritime city of Mysia, |
according to some geographers, but
of Troas, according to others. It is
mentioned in Acts xx. 13, 14.
ASSYRIA, a country of Asia, the
boundaries of which it is difficult to
assign. Three of its monarchs are
particularly mentioned in the Old
Testament, viz. Tiglath-pileser, Shal-
maneser, and Sennacherib. The
former, having defeated Rezin, king
of Damascus, and taken that city,
put an end to the kingdom there
erected by the Syrians. He also
entered the kingdom of Israel, con-
quered Pekah, and carried away
part of the ten tribes beyond the
river Euphrates. Shalmaneser, the
successor of Tiglath-pileser, came
into Syria, A. M. 3280, в. c. 724, and
desolated the country of the Moab-
ites, agreeably to the prophecy of
Isaiah, (xvi. 1,) delivered three years
before. He then attacked Samaria,
and completed the misfortunes of
the Israelites who remained, by car-
rying them into captivity beyond
the Euphrates. Thus terminated
the kingdom of Israel, A. M. 3283,
B. c. 721. (2 Kings xvii. 3, xviii.
9-11.) Hezekiah, by the special
protection of God, escaped the fury
of Shalmaneser, to whom, however,
he became tributary, and the Assy-
rian returned in triumph to Nine-
veh. He was succeeded on the
throne by his son Sennacherib, A. M.
3287, B. C. 717. He invaded the
kingdom of Judah, during the reign
of Hezekiah, who had refused to
pay the tribut estipulated by Shalma-
neser; but an angel of Jehovah slew
one hundred and eighty-five thou
sand of his troops. (2 Kings xix. 35.)
Sennacherib returned to Nineveh,
where two of his sons, weary of his
tyranny and savage temper, slew
him while he was worshipping in
the temple of Nisroch his god, and
immediately fled into the mountains
of Armenia. (2 Kings xix. 37. Tobit
1. 21.) He was succeeded by his son
Esarhaddon.

ATHENS, the capital of Attica, and
the chief city of ancient Greece. It
was distinguished by the military
talents, but still more by the learn-
ing, eloquence, and politeness of
its inhabitants. Saint Paul coming
hither, A. D. 32, found them plunged
in idolatry, occupied in inquiring
and reporting news, curious to know
32*

every thing, and divided in opinion
concerning religion and happiness.
(Acts xvii.) The great apostle of
the Gentiles, taking opportunities
here to preach Jesus Christ, was
carried before the judges of the tri-
bunal, called the Areopagus; where
he gave an illustrious testimony to
truth, and a remarkable instance of
powerful reasoning. (See an account
of the AREOPAGUS in p. 194, supra.)

ATTALIA, a maritime city of Pam-
phylia, and the chief residence of
the prefect. It derived its name
from king Attalus, its founder.
Hither St. Paul went from Perga in
Pamphylia. (Acts xiv. 25.)

AZOTUS, or ASHDOD, a city of Judæa,
is situated between Gaza and Jam-
nia, or Jafnia, in a pleasant plain.
Here the ark of Jehovah triumphed
over the Philistine idol Dagon, (1
Sam. v. 2,) and Philip the Evangelist
was found, after he had baptized the
Ethiopian eunuch. (Acts viii. 40.)
It is at present an inconsiderable
place.

BABYLON, the metropolis of the
Chaldæan, or Babylonish Empire,
was situated on the river Euphrates,
and was celebrated for its extent
and for the magnificence of its edi-
fices. The most terrible denuncia-
tions were uttered against it by the
Hebrew Prophets, especially Isaiah;
the literal fulfilment of whose pre-
dictions has been shown by various
modern travellers.

BASHAN, or BATANEA. See p. 164,
supra.

BEREA, a city of Macedonia, where
Paul preached the Gospel with great
success. Acts xviii, 10.

BESOR, Brook. See p. 173, supra.
BETHANY, a town of Judæa, where
Lazarus dwelt, and where he was
raised from the dead, was fifteen
furlongs east from Jerusalem, on the
way to Jericho. (John xi. 8.) But
the tract of ground which bore that
name reached within eight furlongs
of Jerusalem, it being only a sab-
bath-day's journey from it; (Luke
xxiv. 50. Acts i. 12;) and then be-
gan the tract called

BETHPHAGE, from the payot, that
is, the green figs, that grew upon it,
which ran along so near to Jerusa-
lem, that the utmost street within

the walls was called by that name.
BETHLEHEM was a celebrated city
about six miles south-west from Je-
rusalem. In Matt. ii. 1. 5. it is called
Bethlehem of Judæa, to distinguish
it from another town of the same
name situated in Lower Galilee, and
mentioned in Josh, xix. 15. In Luke
ii. 4, it is called the city of David,
because David was born and educa-
ted there. (Compare John vii. 42,
and 1 Sam. xvi. 1. 18.) This city,
though not considerable for its ex-
tent or riches, is of great dignity as
the appointed birth-place of the
Messiah. (Matt. ii. 6. Luke ii. 6—
15.

the Jordan. It was at first called
Lais or Lechem, (Judg. xviii. 7,) and
after it was subdued by the Danites,
(v. 29,) it received the appeilation of
Dan. Cæsarea was a day's journey
from Sidon; a day and a half from
Damascus. Philip the tetrarch built
it, or, at least, embellished and en-
larged it, and named it Cæsarea, in
honour of Tiberius; afterwards, in
compliment to Nero, it was called
Neronias. The woman who was
troubled with an issue of blood, and
healed by our Saviour, (Matt. ix. 20.
Luke viii. 43,) is said to have been
of Cæsarea Philippi.

CANA, a small town of Galilee,

1. Bethsaida of Galilee was situa-
ted in Galilee, on the western shore
of the lake of Gennesareth, a little
south of Capernaum. It was the
birth-place of the Apostles Philip,
Andrew, and Peter.

2. The other Bethsaida lay in
Gaulonitis, on the eastern side of the
lake, and near the place where the
Jordan enters it. This town was
enlarged by Philip, tetrarch of that
region, who called it Julias, in
honour of Julia, the daughter of
Augustus.

BITHYNIA, a region of Asia Minor,
bounded on the north by the Euxine
Sea, on the south by Phrygia, on the
west by the Propontis, and on the
east by Galatia, Saint Peter ad-
dressed his first epistle (among
others) to the Hebrew Christians
who were scattered throughout Bi-
thynia. (1 Pet. i. 1.)

CESAREA OF PALESTINE, So called
as being the metropolis of Palestine
and the residence of the Roman pro-
consul, was formerly named the
tower of Strato; but its harbour be-
ing extremely incommodious, Herod
the Great erected a spacious role,
and greatly enlarged and beautified
the city, which he denominated
Cæsarea, in honour of the emperor
Augustus. It is very frequently
mentioned in the New Testament;
and was about thirty-five miles from
Jerusalem.

CESAREA PHILIPPI (formerly called
Paneas) was situated at the foot of
mount Paneas, near the springs of

west of Capernaum. Here Jesus
Christ performed the miracle of
turning water into wine. (John ii.
7-10.)

CANAAN, Land of See p. 159,
supra.

CAPERNAUM, a town of Galilee.
situated on the coast of the Lake of
Gennesareth, on the borders of the
tract occupied by the tribes of Zebu-
lun and Nephthalim. This place is
celebrated for the many mighty
works and discourses performed by
our Saviour, which brought a heavy
wo upon the inhabitants for their
infidelity. (Matt. xi. 23.)

CAPPADOCIA, a fertile region of
Asia Minor, mentioned in Acts ii. 9,
and also by the apostle Peter, who
addresses his first Epistle to the He-
brew Christians who were dispersed
through Pontus, Galatia, Cappado-
cia, Bithynia, and Asia Minor.

CARMEL, Mount. See p. 176, su-

pra.

CEDRON OF KEDRON, Brook. See p.
173, supra.

CENCHREA, a haven on the east of
the isthmus of Corinth, to which city
it was considered as a kind of subsi-
diary port. It is mentioned in Acts
xviii. 18.

CHALDEA, a country of Asia, lying
near the junction of the Tigris and
Euphrates, the capital of which was
BABYLON, whence it was also deno-
minated BABYLONIA. In ancient times
it was known by the names Shinar,
Shinaar, &c.

CHIOS (Acts XX. 15,) is an island of
the Ægean Sea, between Lesbos and
Samos, celebrated in ancient and in
modern times, for its wine, figs,
marble, and white earth.

CHITTIM. The land of Chittim,
and the isles of Chittim, denote in
general, the maritime countries and
islands of the Mediterranean, Greece,
Italy, Crete, Cyprus, Corsica, &c.

CHORAZIN, a small town situated
on the western coast of the Sea of
Galilee, at no great distance from
Capernaum. It was one of those
places where very many of our Sa-
viour's miracles were performed,
whose inhabitants he upbraided for
their infidelity. (Matt. xi. 21. Luke
X. 13.)

CILICIA, a country of Asia Minor,
between Pamphylia on the west,
and Pieria on the east, the Mount
Taurus on the north, and the Cili-
cian Sea on the south, celebrated on
the account of Cicero, proconsul
there, but more on the account of
St. Paul's birth at Tarsus, a city of
Cilicia. (Acts xxii. 3.)

CLAUDA, an island near Crete, situ.
ated near the southern and western
sea. It is mentioned in Acts xxvii.

16; as also is

CNIDUS, (XXvii. 7,) which was a
city and promontory of Paria, me-
morable for the worship of Venus.

COLOSSE, or COLASSE, was a city
of Phrygia Pacatiana in Asia Minor,
situated near the conflux of the Ly-
cus and the Meander, not far from
the cities of Hierapolis and Laodi-
cea, with which it was destroyed by
an earthquake, not long after St.
Paul wrote his epistle to the Colos-
sians.

Coos, an island in the Ægean Sea,
lying off the coast of Caria in Asia
Minor, near the cities of Myndos
and Cnidus. It is mentioned in Acts
xxi. 1.

CORINTH, the metropolis of Achaia
Proper, was situated on the isthmus
which connects the Peloponnesus
with the main land. It was distin-
guished as the seat of commerce,
arts, and wealth. St. Paul resided
here for some time, about A. D. 52.
and collected a Christian Church,
the numerous members of which
were not afterwards exempt from
the common vices of the place.

CYPRUS, an island in the Mediter-
ranean Sea, situated between Cilicia
and Syria, and anciently celebrated
for the profligacy of its inhabitants,
whose principal deity was the im-
pure goddess Venus. Here Paul and
Barnabas landed, a. D. 44, and suc-

cessfully preached the Gospel. (Acts
xiii. 4. et seq. xxi. 3.)

CYRENE, the principal city of the
province of Lybia in Africa, which
was thence sometimes demonstrated
Cyrenaica, and which, by the evan-
gelist Luke, is paraphrastically call-
ed Lybia about Cyrene. (Acts ii. 10)

DALMANUTHA. See MAGDALA.

DAMASCUS, a city of Syria, situated
in the valley belween Libanus and
Antilibanus, watered by the rivers
Abana and Pharphar. (2 Kings v.
12.) It is celebrated for its antiquity,
and for being still one of the richest
and most magnificent cities of the
Levant, but most of all for being the
place of the miraculous conversion
of St. Paul.
DEAD SEA.
DECAPOLIS.

I

See p. 174. supra.

See p. 165. supra.
DERBE, a city of Lycaonia, near
Isauria, not far from the Cilician
range of Mount Taurus. It was the
country of Timothy, and is mention-
ed in Acts xiv. 6.

EBAL (Mount.) See p. 177. supra.
EGYPT, a country of Africa, bound-
ed on the east by Arabia Petræa and
the Red Sea, or Arabian gulf; on
the west, by Lybia, and Marmarica;
on the south by Ethiopia, and on the
north by the Mediterranean Sea. In
the earliest times, this country was
divided into Upper Egypt, or The
bais, (the Pathros of Scripture,) and
Lower Egypt. The whole region
was known to the ancient Hebrews
by the name of Mizraim; and the
princes who governed it, were, in
virtue of their office, styled Pharaohs,
or kings, until the time of Solomon,
after which they are designated in
the Scriptures by their proper names.
After the captivity, Egypt became a
place of great resort to the Jews.

ELAH, Valley of. See p. 178. us.

pra.

EMMAUS, a small village of Judæa,
distant sixty furlongs from Jerusa-
lem. It is memorable for the very
interesting conversation between Je-
sus Christ and two of his disciples
in the evening of the day of his re-
surrection. (Luke xxiv.)

EPHESUS, a city on the western
coast of Asia Minor, and the metro-
polis of the proconsular Asia, was
celebrated for the magnificent tem-