The present Kefr Sâba is a Muslim village of considerable size, and wholly like the most common villages of the plain, being built entirely of mud. We saw but one stone building, which was apparently a mosk, but without a minaret. No old ruins nor the least relic of antiquity did we anywhere discover. A well by which we stopped, a few rods east of the houses, exhibits more signs of careful workmanship than any thing else. It is walled with hewn stone, and is fifty-seven feet deep to the water. The village stands upon a slight circular eminence, near the western hills, from which it is actually separated, however, by a branch of the plain. In that direction we could trace the bed of a small Wady coming down from the hills, and running, like the one just mentioned on the east, toward the 'Aujeh. The soil around, though somewhat more elevated, seemed as fertile as the rest of the plain, and was in almost every part under cultivation. The only circumstance to give special interest to the place, is the supposition that it represents the ancient Antipatris. And the mention of that place in the account of Paul's journey from Jerusalem to Cæsarea,' was what had induced us to visit it. In reference to this passage, my feeling on descending the mountain was, that the natural spot at which to look for Antipatris, was Mejdel Yâba. That place is fitted by nature for a town of some strength. There, also, Paul's road would leave the mountain, and all danger of ambush would cease. Besides, even to Mejdel Yâba, which must be full thirty miles from Jerusalem, would be a hard night's march; while, if Antipatris were at Kefr Sâba, the journey would be some eight miles longer. And that the party should reach it in one night, would seem almost impossible; if indeed the narrative necessarily implies that the journey was ended before the morning.2 The assertion of the Onomasticon, moreover, that Galgulis is six miles north of Antipatris would be literally true of Mejdel Yâba; and also that of the Jerusalem Itinerary, that Antipatris was ten miles from Lydda. And further, to draw a trench some fourteen miles, across the hills from Kefr Sâba to the sea, as Josephus says was done by Alexander from Antipatris, to prevent Antiochus's marching from Damascus into Arabia, would be apparently an Such, however, is by no means the case.-ED. 2 Acts xxiii. 31. 3 Joseph. Ant. XIII. 15. 1. unnatural and very difficult operation; and above all would be of no use, as the trench might easily be turned by marching down the plain on the east, which would be left entirely open, and through which the great road from Damascus to Gaza has from time immemorial passed. But if Antipatris were at Mejdel Yâba, then it would be near the mountain, as Josephus, in repeating the account, says it was. A trench of not more than two miles would then reach Râs el-'Ain, from which the 'Aujeh forms a natural fosse to the sea; and thus the whole distance from the mountain to the sea I would be fortified. Other circumstances, however, in Josephus's account of Antipatris, do not suit the position of Mejdel Yâba. He says it was built in a most beautiful plain, which is true of Kefr Sâba, and not of Mejdel Yâba; for the latter is only on the border of the plain. Antipatris was well wooded, which is true of the hills west of Kefr Sâba; while around Mejdel Yâba there are now not many trees. It was well watered, being surrounded by a river. The former remark might perhaps be applicable to Kefr Sâba in winter; but to call the two little brooks on each side of the town, a river surrounding it, is an inaccurate use of language. At the season of our visit, there was no water near the town, except in a well fiftyseven feet deep; and at a Wely called Neby Yemîn, a quarter of a mile distant, where it is also in a well, but nearer the surface. At Mejdel Yaba, though there are torrents in winter on the south and east, as already mentioned, the inhabitants, we were told, depend for water upon Râs el-'Ain, some two miles distant. But the strong argument in favour of Kefr Sâba, is its name. Josephus mentions it twice. Once indeed it appears as the name of the plain in which Antipatris was built, and this would not be decisive; but again it is mentioned as the original name of the town itself, which, after rebuilding it, Herod called Antipatris. In the first instance it is written Καφαρσαβα, and the second Χαβαρζαβα, but both are evidently the same word. One might indeed imagine the name Mejdel Yaba to be derived from it, by a very natural substitution of Mejdel (a tower) for Kefr (a village), and some accidental change 1 B. J. I. 4. 7. 2 An. XVI. 5. 2. B. J. I. 21. 9. Antiq. XVI. 5.2. of s into y. But the existence now of a place bearing the very name of Kefr Sâba, makes this supposition highly improbable; and so much weight is due to the simple name, that I can, after all, bring myself to place Antipatris nowhere but at the modern Kefr Sâba. From the well where we stopped, we took the following bearings: It is a small We now dismissed our guides, and directed our course to Yâfa, at a rapid pace, fearing to be too late for the steamer. A ride of 25 m. across the plain brought us to Bir 'Adas. Muslim village, just at the foot of the western hill. Here for some distance we had on our left the bed of a Wady descending toward the 'Aujeh, with a little standing water in it in a few places. It seemed to be formed by a union of the three Wadies we had crossed; viz. the two on each side of Kefr Sâba, and the one just south of Jiljûlieh; though of the latter I am not quite sure. On our right, we had the low hills repeatedly mentioned, spurs of which we occasionally crossed, as our course turned westward. The soil was rich, bearing luxuriant fields of grain, or recently ploughed for melons, a fruit for which Yâfa is celebrated throughout Syria, and which was now just coming up out of the ground. Over the whole were scattered numerous trees, giving to many parts the appearance of beautiful lawns. After 50 m. we took the following bearings: In 45 m. more we reached the bridge, by which the road along the coast northward crosses the 'Aujeh. From it Mejdel Y ba bore 107, and el-Mu'ennis 282. The latter is a small village on a hill in the direction of the sea, upon the northern bank of the river. Crossing a hill, we reached in 35 m. a deep gully, through which a small stream was running towards the 'Aujeh. It rises, we were told, from a fountain in the immediate neighbourhood. The tract around is a basin of beautiful land, chiefly covered with grain, which promised a very abundant harvest. Another hill brought us in sight of Yâfa, which we reached in 35 m. more. I ought to remark before closing, that throughout this ride, whenever the nature of the ground would allow, we rode faster than the ordinary rate of travelling with common horses. Especially is this true of our progress after leaving Kefr Sâba. Our observations were made with a Smalkalder's compass, and our guides were about the best I have ever seen. But in the hurry of so rapid a journey, it is quite possible that some mistakes may have found their way into my notes. I am ever truly yours, ELI SMITH. NOTE BY THE EDITOR. THREE results of great importance for Biblical Geography and Antiquities, are brought out for the first time in the preceding communication. I. The existence of the Roman military road between Gophna and Antipatris, forming doubtless the great channel of communication between Jerusalem and Cæsarea. It is true that the pass of Beth-horon was sometimes used; as by Cestus Gallus on his march from Cæsarea by way of Lydda to Jerusalem;' but the road here first brought to light was more direct, and the ascent of the mountain far less difficult. There can therefore scarcely be a question, that this was the route pursued by Paul and his escort; although, as this road was then unknown, I have elsewhere assumed, that they passed by the way of Beth-horon.2 II. The existence and position of Tibneh; beyond all doubt the ancient Thamna of Josephus, which gave name to a toparchy lying ! Joseph. B. J. II. 19. 1. 2 Bibl. Researches II. p. 46, 60. between those of Lydda and Gophna.' Whether it is the same with the Timnath-Heres and Timnath-Serah of the Old Testament, which Joshua chose for his own possession, and where he was buried,' is indeed less certain; yet every probability is in favour of this hypothesis. But it would perhaps be going beyond the legitimate bounds of probability, to refer the present sepulchres found there to an antiquity so very remote as the days of Joshua. III. The site and character of Kefr Sâba, the modern representative of the ancient Antipatris. The existence of this name was already known, but the place has now been visited for the first time. The difficulties with which the question of its identity is still encumbered, are well stated by Mr. Smith. In this case, however, as it seems to me, the name is perfectly decisive as to the general identity; and must outweigh all other arguments in favour of any other place, and even those few physical features which seem not to correspond with the description of Josephus. Indeed, it is not impossible, that there may have been in the course of ages a removal of the village and a transfer of the name to a different though neighbouring site; as in the case of Surafend, the ancient Sarepta, which was formerly on the sea-shore, but is now at some distance on the heights above. So too with Jericho. This suggestion would seem, at least, to be worth further inquiry. Thus it is, that every year unfolds new facts in the geography and archæology of the Holy Land. The preceding discoveries all arose out of an excursion of only two days, by a new route, varying not very greatly from those usually travelled. Since that time and during the present summer, Mr. Smith has been exploring very extensively various districts of Mount Lebanon; and it is hoped that some of the results of his inquiries may hereafter be laid before the readers of this work. As there exists in certain quarters, a disposition to call in question many of the results at which Mr. Smith and myself arrived in our former journeys, I venture in this connexion to subjoin the following passage of a letter recently received from Prof. Ritter of Berlin, the celebrated Geographer. "To this so highly important 'Ibid. III. p. 40, 42. 2 2, 9. Josh. 19, 50. 24, 30; comp. Judg. Bibl. Researches p. 45-47. |