Page:Light and truth.djvu/87

Rh Holy Land, was situated in the tribe of Benjamin, about 20 miles from Jerusalem, and two from the river Jordan. This city, which was next in size to Jerusalem, was besieged and subdued by the Israelites immediately after the passage of the Jordan. The siege was conducted under the divine direction; and, at a given signal, by the immediate interposition of miraculous power, the walls tell flat to the earth, probably destroying many lives, and throwing the citizens into universal consternation The Israelites marched directly to the heart of the city, and in obedience to the express command of God, they put to death every living creature, except Rahab and her family, and the two men sent as spies from the camp of Israel, (Josh ii. 1, 2.) whom she had concealed. The city itself was then set on fire; everthing in it, except the vessels of gold, silver, brass and iron, which were previously removed, was burnt to ashes, and the very site of it was cursed.—(Comp Josh, vi 26; 1 Kings xvi. 34.)

, (1 Sam. xi. 5,) or Jabesh-Gilead, (Judg. xxi. 8,) was situated at the foot of Mt. Gilead, within the territory of Manasseh Jokneham, (Josh. xii. 22,) was a city of Zebulon.—(Josh. xxi. 34.) It was situated south of Ptolemais, near the bay, and is called of Carmel, because it was at the foot of that mountain.

, (Josh. xv. 21 ) or Jekabzeel, (Neh xi 25,) was a city in the northern section of the inheritance of Judah, just west of the southern extremity of the Dead Sea. It was the birth-place of Benaiah —(2 Sam. xxiii. 20.)

. (Num. xxxii. 42.) A city of Manasseh, east of Jordan, the supposed ruins of which are called Kahnat. It is situated on a brook of the same name, and there are indications of its having been once a splendid city.

, (Josh, xviii 28,) called also Kirjath-jearim, Kirjath-baal, and Baalah. (Josh xv. 9, 60; 1 Chron. xiii. 6,) was on or near the boundary line between Judah and Benjamin, and is therefore mentioned in the above passages as a city of both tribes; though in Judg. xviii. 12, and 2 Sam. vi. 2, it is called a city of Judah. This