Lebanon mountains, passes through Lake Gennesareth, and pours itself into the Dead Sea. It is, perhaps, 100 miles in length, about 9 or 10 feet deep, and 60 or 70 wide, with a strong and rapid current. The other streams, sometimes called rivers, are nothing more than torrents, which, when swelled with floods of rain or melting snow, come dashing down the mountains with great violence, and, for a season, pour through the plains a considerable body of water. In the summer, however, they sink away into mere brooks, and are often dried up altogether. Notwithstanding their temporary character, they often, when increased by two or three days' rains, do much damage to fields, flocks, and buildings. Isaiah xxviii. 2, 17. Hence comes the parable of the wise and foolish builder, which is beautifully illustrated by this fact. Matt. vii. 24 - 27.

6. Climate. Such is the diversified surface of Palestine, that it embraces almost every variety of climate, from the severe cold of the frigid zone, to the intense heat of the torrid. While the thermometer on the plains, or in the valleys, stands at upwards of 100°, the summits of the mountains are covered with deep snow. As the winter advances, the winds and the cold become intensely severe, and, in some instances, prove fatal to those who are unacquainted with the country and climate. The roads are broken by the torrents, and filled with ice, and snow, and rubbish; and the paths over the mountains, especially in steep places, are

rendered almost impassable, and can be traversed only with great labor and danger. In the light of these facts, we see the propriety of the Saviour's remark, when predicting the calamities that would attend the destruction of Jerusalem. He exhorts his disciples to pray, that their flight be not in the winter, Matt. xxiv. 20. The reason is very obvious, he knew the difficulties and dangers of a flight through such a country at this season, and he would have them leave the city while the roads were passable. The same particulars render another important passage perfectly intelligible,— "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” Jer. viii. 20. The prophet is describing the coming invasion of Nebuchadnezzar, and the false security of the people, who have been deceived by certain of their leaders, probably the friends of Nebuchadnezzar, and in his pay. These assure them, that there is no danger, that there will be no war, when, in fact, the enemy are on the march. In the emphatic language of the prophet, "They cry, Peace, peace, when there is no peace." Suddenly, they are roused with the news, that the invading army is actually within their territories, and, in the bold style of the prophets, they are represented as so near, that the neighing of their horses is heard, and the land trembles beneath their march. The people are in consternation; they had suffered the warm season to pass without making preparations to defend themselves, believing there would be no invasion, now the

troops of Nebuchadnezzar were upon them, winter had come, and they had no means of escape, they cry out in despair, "The harvest is passed, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." This was only another way of saying, after the eastern style of circumlocution, "Winter has come, and we are not saved," or, have not escaped. Their despair arose from their knowledge, that winter rendered flight impossible, in consequence of the torrents swelled by the rains, the slippery and dangerous state of the mountain paths, and the extreme cold. They felt, therefore, that they were at the mercy of their enemies. Jer. viii; xiii. 16; xxiii. 12; Job vi. 15, 16.

QUESTIONS ON CHAPTER VI.

1.2. Why was the country of the Jews called the Land of Canaan? What name is mentioned next? Where is the promise recorded, and what is it? What is the meaning of the word "forever," in this case? Whence the name, Land of Israel? What of the Land of Judah? Why was it called Holy Land? What other name had it, and why? Where is Palestine situated? Give its boundaries. To what power is it now subject?

What is

its extent? What was the original division? How was it divided after the death of Solomon? What part did the kingdom of Israel embrace? Judah? How was it divided division was called Galilee?

What part the kingdom of under the Romans? What How was this district itself

divided? What particulars are mentioned of it? Where was Samaria? Where Judea? How would one go from Judea to Galilee? John iv. 4.

3. 4. What is said of the surface of the country? What of the northern range of mountains? What of Hermon ? What of the eastern range? What noted peak is mentioned, and why noted? What of the western range? Where does it take the name of Carmel ? By what names was it known in Samaria? What of Ebal and Gerizim ? What further is said of this range? What two seas are mentioned? What of Lake Gennesareth? Its names, and why? Its situation and extent? What scripture facts are connected with it? What cities on its northern shore? What is mentioned of them? Why was Mary probably called Magdalene? What is the other body of water? What are its names, and why? Its location? Its extent? What is said of it?

What are the rivers of Palestine?

What is the

5. 6. size of the Jordan? What of the other streams? What of their being swollen by sudden rains? What parable of our Lord refers to this? Repeat it. What is said of the climate? Of the winters? What is said of travelling in the winter? What sayings of Christ are explained by these facts? How do they illustrate Jeremiah viii. 20 ? Give the passage. What is said of Nebuchadnezzar ? How does the prophet represent the suddehness of the invasion? How do the people receive the news? What is meant by the expression, "The harvest is passed, the summer is ended"? (Winter is come.) What did the people mean by crying out, that they were not saved? What was the cause of their despair?

CHAPTER VII.

Agriculture, &c. of the Jews.

1. JUDEA was eminently an agricultural country; and all the institutions of Moses were calculated to encourage the Jews in the cultivation of their lands, both as a foundation of national wealth and prosperity, and as a means of preserving the purity of their faith and manners. Accordingly, after they had obtained possession of the country, they applied themselves, after the example of their ancestors, to the raising and tending of cattle, and to the various pursuits of agriculture. Cain was a tiller of the ground, and Abel was a keeper of sheep. Gen. iv. 2. Abraham and Lot are represented as possessing very great herds of cattle, insomuch that they separated for want of pasturage. Gen. xiii. 6. Jacob also must have had immense numbers, since, to propitiate his brother Esau, he offered him a present of five hundred and eighty head of cattle. Gen. xxxii. 13-17. And it was customary in those days to estimate a person's wealth by the number of his cattle, or the extent of his herds and flocks.

2. It is worthy of notice, also, that the occupations of husbandry, were not disdained by the greatest and most distinguished men of those ages.