Page:An Introduction to the Survey of Western Palestine.djvu/228

212 212 THE MOUNTAINS OF LOWER GALILEE.

the authority of the monk Buchardus. Aphek means a " stronghold " or " strength," and here has probably always been some indications of a fortified post. The Crusaders' castle of Faba is now in, ruins at Fuleh. About the midst of this slope is Solam (alt. 445 feet) the Shunem of the Old Testament. All three places are historical. At Shunem* the Philistines collected their forces, while Saul pitched in Mount Gilboa. On the day of battle, the Philistines were drawn up on the plain at Aphek (el Afuleh) and the army of Saul took ground by a fountain in Jezreel, not necessarily Ain Jalud, and probably close to the Plain of Esdraelon. The distance between the two headquarters is four miles ; and the battle would probably have been joined about midway or nearer Gilboa. On the defeat of the Israelites they fled for refuge to Mount Gilboa : and Saul with his sons were perhaps overtaken towards Beth Shan (Beisan) ; for on the walls of that city their bodies were exposed by the Philistines, and soon valiantly removed by the men of Jabesh, a neighbouring city across the Jordan*

From Shunem the beautiful Abishag was brought to nurse the aged David. It was also the scene of Elisha's repeated gratitude for the hospitality of a " great woman " who resided there.

In later times each end of this side of the mountain has been the scene of military events. At Tub'aun (Tubania) was the Crusaders' camp in 1183, when Saladin was posted on the opposite side of the valley at 'Ain Jalud, and suddenly decamped. Between Fuleh and 'Afuleh on the 16th April, 1709, Kleber with about 1,500 men resisted an overwhelming Syrian force of 25,000. The French general maintained his ground during six hours from daylight to midday, when Bonaparte brought up a reinforcement of 600 men from Acre, and so manoeuvred them that the enemy became alarmed, and Kleber assuming the offensive, stormed the village. The enemy then fled in great disorder, pursued by Murat, and


 * 1 Sam. xxviii, 4 ; xxix, 1 ; xxxi, 1.