A Geographical Description of All the Countries in the Known World, Part 1 · Subpart 5
A more full description of the Countries in Asia major. The Land of Canaan Described.
It was first called Canaan after that the posterity of Canaan the son of Cham had possessed it, when Moses and Joshua had conquered it, it was called the Land of Israel. After the Babylonish Captivity it was called the Land of Judaea: From the Philistines, which inhabited the Sea-coasts, it was called the Land of Palestine: and by Christians since, the Holy Land. Adricomius, which hath best described it, makes it to bound Eastward on Syria, and Arabia: Southward on the Desart of Paran and Egypt: Northward on Mount Libanus: and Westward on the Sea. From Dan to Bersheba its about a hundred and sixty Italian miles in length, and sixty in breadth. No Country in the world had so many Cities in so little a compass as this once had. The Royal Cities in each Tribe were these: In Aser, Acsaph, besides Sidon, and Tyrus: In Benjamin, Bethel, Gaaba, Jerusalem, and Jerico. In Dan, …achish; besides Eckron and Gath: In Ephraim, Gazer, Samaria, Saron, and Tapua: In Gad, Rabba: In Isachar, Aphec: In Juda, Arad, Be…eck, Eglon, Hebron, Libna, Mackeda, Odolla, Taphua: In Manasse, Dor, Gilgal, Jezreel, Megiddo, Taanac, and Thirza: In the other part of Manasse, Astaroth, Edri, Geshur, Machathi, Soba, Teman, and Damascus. In Nepthali, Aser, Kedes and Hemath: In Ruben, Heshbon, Madian and Petra: In Simeon, Debir, and Gerar: In Zebulon, Jeconan and Shimron.
Jordan is the chiefest River, which at last looseth it self in the Lake Asphaltites, but before that, it makes many fruitful Vallies, and spreadeth it self into a Lake called Genazereth, sixteen miles long, and six broad, environed with many pleasant Towns, as Julias and Hippo on the East: Tarichea on the South, and Tiberias on the West, made wholesome with her hot-waters. But before it makes the Lake of Genazereth, it makes another called Samachonitis, it especially is filled with the snow of Libanus usually melted in the first month, which causeth Jordan then to swell, and overflow his banks (which made Josua's passing thorough it at that time the more miraculous:) In Scripture its called the waters of Merom. The variety of fruits, and other temporall blessings, wherewith this Country was inriched, are so fully set down in Scripture that I need make no particular mention of them. What multitudes of people it fed, may be taken notice of in those two Instances; First, When David numbred them, there were found Eleven hundred thousand in Israel, and four hundred and seventy thousand in Judah, valiant men that drew the sword, 2 Sam. 24.9. and yet Benjamin and Levi were not reckoned: And in the dayes of Jeroboam, 2 Chr. 13. Abijah King of Judah brought into the field four hundred thousand, and Jeroboam eight hundred thousand, and on this part were slain five hundred thousand, all choice men, which no history can match in any age, or place of the world: What then was the total number, if women, children, impotent, and aged men had been reckoned?
After the return from the Babylonish Captivity, one third part of this Country was called Judaea, to distinguish it from the other two, Samaria and Galilee.
Galilee was the most Northerly, confining on Libanus and Anti-Libanus towards the North: on Phaenicia Westerly: having Caelosyria on the East: and Samaria with Arabia on the South: Jordan parted it …n the middest It was divided into the higher and lower Galilee, the higher was called Galilee of the Gentiles, containing the Springs of Jordan, and those Cities which Salomon gave to King Hyram: The lower was called Galilee of Tiberias, that City giving name both to the Lake and Region, in which Nazareth, and the Hill Tabor were famous.
Samaria is seated betwixt Galilee, and Judaea, being much lesse than either of them. Judaea is the most Southerly, between the Mediterranean, and Dead Seas, Samaria, and Idumaen. Pliny addeth to these the Region of Decapolis, so called from her ten Cities, which were, Caesarea Philippi, Aser, Kedes, Nepthalim, Sephet, Corazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum, Jotopata, Tiberias, and Bethsan, called also Scythopolis.