the top it changes into a round, which tapers gradually to a point, the whole cut out of the solid rock.

A little further westward is the tomb of Zechariah, the son of Barrachiah, who is said to have been slain by the Jews between the temple and the altar. This structure is all cut out of the natural rock. It is eighteen feet high, as many square, and adorned with Ionic columns.

But the most curious and magnificent pieces of antiquity of this kind are the royal sepulchres without the walls of Jerusalem: they are all hewn out of the solid marble rock, and contain several spacious and elaborate apartments. On the eastern side is the entrance leading to a stately court, about one hundred and twenty feet square, neatly wrought and polished. On the south side of it is a sumptuous portico, embellished in front with a kind of architrave, and supported by columns ; and on the left of the portico is a descent into the sepulchral apartments.

The first of these is a handsome room, about twenty-four feet square, formed with such neatness and accuracy, that it may justly be styled a beautiful chamber, hollowed out of one piece of marble. From this room are three passages leading to other chambers of a similar fabric, but of different dimensions; in each of which (the first excepted) are stone coffins placed in niches, that were once covered with semicircular lids, embellished with flowers, garlands, &c. but now broken to pieces. The doorcases, hinges, pivots, &c. are all of the same stone with the other parts of these rooms, and even the doors appear to have been cut out of the very piece to which they hang. Why these grots are honoured with the appellation

of the sepulchres of the kings is not exactly known, but whoever views them with any degree of attention must be induced to pronounce them a royal work, and to regard them as the most authentic remains of the old regal splendour, that are to be met with in the neighbourhood of Jerusalem.

Subsequent to this general description of Palestine, it may be proper to give a concise account of the several lots and countries assigned to the Israelites, beginning with those of the two tribes and a half, seated beyond Jordan; proceeding to the nine and a half on this side, styled more properly the Holy Land; and concluding with a topical description of the contiguous countries, the history of the inhabitants of which, who either mingled with, or bordered upon the Jews, has been already given in the preceding chapters.

The kings of Bashan and of the Amorites being vanquished by the children of Israel, their territories were settled by the two tribes of Reuben and Gad, with half of Manasseh. Reuben, who was the eldest, had the southern part of the new conquest, extending from the north-east coasts of the Asphaltite lake along the eastern banks of the river Jordan; divided on the south from Midian by the Arnon; on the north from the tribe of Gad, by another little river; and bor. dered on the east partly by the Moabites, and partly by the Ammonites; while the Jordan parted it on the west from "The Land of Promise." It exhibited three famous mountains, viz. Peor, Nebo, and Pisgah, and was every-where extremely fertile in corn, wine, fruit, and pasturage.

To the north of Reuben was fixed the tribe of Gad, having likewise the river Jordan on the

west, the Ammonites on the east, and the half tribe of Manasseh on the north. This tract of country, like the former, was famed for its rich pastures and exuberant productions.

The portion allotted to the half tribe of Manasseh was bounded on the south by that of Gad; on the west by the Jordan and Samochonite lake; on the east by the hills of Bashan and Hermon ; and on the north by a part of Lebanon. Its extent was almost equal to the other two, and it was afterwards more properly called Upper Galilee, or the Galilee of the Gentiles.

On this side of the Jordan, and on the furthest northern verge of Judea, lay the province of Lower Galilee, occupied by the tribes of Asher, Zebulun, Naphtali, and Issachar. It produced an abundance of corn, oil, wine, and fruits of various sorts; and was, in its flourishing condition, so full of towns and villages, that Josephus observes, the least of them contained fifteen thousand inhabitants.

The tribe of Asher was seated on the northwest corner of the province, having the Mediterranean on the west, Zebulun on the south, and Naphtali on the east. Its fecundity, and the excellence of its productions, fully answered the blessing which dying Jacob, gave it: "that the bread of it should be fat, and that it should yield royal dainties."

Naphtali possessed a tract of country between that of Asher and the river Jordan. It was exceedingly fertile, and extended along the western bank of the river from Mount Lebanon to the sea of Tiberias.

To the south of Asher and Naphtali was seated the tribe of Zebulun, having the Mediterranean

on the west, the sea of Galilee on the east, the river Jephthael on the north, and that of Kishon on the south; and by its vicinity to the sea, its numerous ports, and extensive commerce, it perfectly verified the blessings given to Zebulun both by Jacob and Moses.

The possessions of Issachar were bounded by the Jordan in the east, by Zebulun on the north, by the Mediterranean on the west, and by the other half of Manasseh on the south. Its most remarkable places were the Mounts Carmel and Gilboa, the valley of Jezreel, and the great plain of Megiddo.

On the south of Zebulun lay the other half tribe of Manasseh, and south of this was the territory of Ephraim, distinguished in later times by the name of Samaria. These tracts of country, though contiguous to each other, varied considerably, some parts being mountainous, rocky, and steril, while others were pleasant, fertile, and populous. That portion which appertained to Manasseh was bordered on the north and south by Issachar and Ephraim, and on the east and west by the Jordan and the Mediterranean. It was agreeably diversified with mountains, plains, and valleys, and contained a considerable number of stately cities.

The tribe of Ephraim occupied the south side of Samaria, and extended, like that of Manasseh, from the Mediterranean to the river Jordan. The low lands were extremely rich and luxuriant; the hills afforded excellent pasture, and even the rocks were prettily feathered with trees. The towns and cities were numerous, and the population considerable.

Judea, properly so called, was situated on the

most southern side of the whole, having Samaria on the north, the Mediterranean on the west, Egypt and Idumea on the south, and the Jordan and Dead sea on the east. The climate was warm, but well refreshed with cooling winds; and the face of the country exhibited the most beautiful assemblage of verdant mountains, irriguous plains, fruitful hills, enamelled valleys, and crystal rivulets; while a rich profusion of corn, wine, and oil, evinced the natural fecundity of the soil.

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This canton was inhabited by the tribes of Benjamin, Judah, Dan, and Simeon the first of which lay contiguous to Judah on the south, to Samaria on the north, and to Dan on the west. It contained but few towns and cities; but this want was amply compensated by the possession of the city of Jerusalem, the centre of the Jewish worship, the seat of the monarchs and pontiffs, and the great metropolis of the Holy Land.

Jerusalem was formerly divided into four parts, each enclosed with separate walls, viz. The old city of Jebus, situated on Mount Zion, where David and his successors resided ; the lower city, embellished with some magnificent palaces and citadels, by Solomon, Antiochus, and Herod; the new city, chiefly inhabited by merchants, trades men, and artificers; and Mount Moriah, which, supported the sumptuous temple of Solomon, * destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, rebuilt by the Jews on their return from the Babylonish captivi ty, and afterwards renewed, adorned, and enriched by Herod.

For a satisfactory description of this incomparable building, see the vi and vii chapters of the First Book of Kings,