eastward from Hebron. From that time to the present, there is no trace of the name in history.

Mounting again . . . we proceeded upon the Hebron road towards Kurmul. (Carmel.) The region around, and especially upon our right, was the finest we had yet seen in the hill-country of Judah. (An) extensive plain or basin spread itself out in that direction1... at present covered with fine fields of wheat... We came to the ruins of Carmel, at twenty-five minutes past six, and were about to pitch our tent by the reservoir in the deep head of the valley, when an Arab peasant came and warned us against it, saying there were wanderers (robbers) round about; and inviting us to go on to Ma'în (Maon), to an encampment of peasants from Yutta (Juttah). This we consented to do, more for the sake of seeing the place and the people, than from any apprehension of danger... accordingly, we went on, and reached the place. (where) we encamped by a sheepfold near a cavern. It was now dark, and a strong chill wind was blowing from the west; so that we rejoiced in the protection of our tent, and enjoyed also the blazing fire of our Arabs beneath the shelter of a rock. A band of peasants from Yutta were here, keeping their flocks and dwelling in caves amid the ruins of Ma'în. (Maon.) They gathered around us, astonished at our appearance among them; but their shyness seemed rather to proceed from timidity, than from any disposition to be uncivil... and their distrust soon passed away. The hill of Maon rises gradually not

less than some two hundred feet above the site of Carmel."

(Next morning) "we repaired to the top of the hill, from which there is an extensive prospect towards the north, and over the broad plain on the west. The sun

rose in his strength, and poured a flood of golden light upon the plain and the hills beyond; so that every

1 It must be remembered that Mr. Robinson was travelling southwards, from Ziph to Carmel. The plain was therefore on his right.

The summit is crowned

object was distinctly seen. with ruins of no great extent foundations of hewn stone; a square enclosure, the remains, probably, of a tower or small castle; and several cisterns. The view is fine, including on the east the region towards the Dead Sea, and extending on the north to... Hebron, which was distinctly seen in its valley. . .

...

"From Ma'în we could distinguish quite a number of places, several . . . of unquestionable antiquity. Ma'în is without doubt the Maon of Nabal. Here... we found ourselves surrounded by the towns of the moun tains of Judah; and could enumerate before us not less than nine places still bearing apparently their ancient names: Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Juttah;' Jattir, Socoh, Anab, and Eshtemoa; and Kirjath-Arba, which is Hebron.' The feelings with which we looked abroad upon these ancient sites, most of which had hitherto remained unknown, were of themselves a sufficient reward for our whole journey

...

"While we were taking our observations, many of the peasants gathered around us, and seemed gratified to hold our telescopes, and render other little services; although they wondered at our employment. The opinion was expressed among themselves, that we were each noting down his own estate in the lands around... These poor people, however, seemed well pleased at the idea of our coming to take possession; hoping in this way to be themselves freed from the oppression of Muslim misrule. We now returned on foot down the hill towards Carmel, leaving our animals to follow when loaded. Here are more extensive ruins than we yet had anywhere seen, unless perhaps at Bethel. On the way, about a quarter of a mile south of the castle, are the remains of a church standing quite alone. The whole length of the foundations is one hundred and fifty-six feet . . .

"The ruins of the town lie around the head and along the sides of a valley of some width and depth; the head of which forms a semicircular amphitheatre shut in by

rocks . . . The bottom of the amphitheatre is a beautiful grass-plat, with an artificial reservoir in the middle .. the spring from which it is supplied is in the rocks No water was now flowing down the valley. . . The ruins consist chiefly of the foundations and broken walls of dwellings and other edifices, scattered in every direction, and thrown together in mournful confusion and desolation. . . . (There) are the remains of a smaller church, surrounded by those of very many houses. Here is also an open passage, leading down into a narrow cavern apparently natural, which may have been used as a tomb or magazine, like the one we saw at Zîf.

"The castle is a remarkable ruin, standing on a swell of the ground in the midst of the town. (Beyond it rises a dark mountain-ridge). . . The external wall is evidently ancient. Adjacent to the castle on the east was also a small church . . .

"There is no room for question that this is the Carmel of the mountains of Judah; where Saul set up the trophy of his victory over Amalek, and where Nabal was shearing his sheep when the affair took place between him and David, in which Abigail bore so conspicuous a part. No further mention of this Carmel occurs in the Scriptures; but Eusebius and Jerome describe it in their day as a village ten miles from Hebron . . . When and how Carmel became desolate, no record tells.

"We were here in the midst of scenes memorable of old for the adventures of David, during his wanderings in order to escape from the jealousy of Saul; and we did not fail to peruse here, and with the deepest interest, the chapters of Scripture which record the history of those wanderings and adventures.1

Ziph and Maon gave their names to the desert on the east, as did also En-gedi; and twice did the in

2

11 Sam. xxiii. 13, seq.; xxiv. xxv. xxvi.

2 So Ziph as a desert, Sam. xxiii. 14, xxvi. 2; Maon as a desert, xxiii. 25; En-gedi as a desert, xxiv. 1.

habitants of Ziph attempt to betray the youthful outlaw to the vengeance of his persecutor.1

6

"At that time David and his men appear to have been very much in the condition of similar outlaws at the present day; for every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them; and there were with him about four hundred men.'2 They lurked in these deserts, associating with the herdsmen and shepherds of Nabal and others, and doing them good offices, probably in return for information and supplies obtained through them. Hence, when Nabal held his annual sheep-shearing in Carmel, David felt himself entitled to share in the festival; and sent a message recounting his own services, and asking for a present; Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes; for we come in a good day; give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David.' In all these particulars we were deeply struck with the truth and strength of the biblical descriptions of manners and customs, almost identically the same as they exist at the present day. On such a festive occasion near a town or village, even in our own time, an Arab sheikh of the neighbouring desert would hardly fail to put in a word, either in person or by message; and his message, both in form and substance, would be only the transcript of that of David."-ROBINSON'S Researches, vol. ii. pp. 190-201.

11 Sam. xxiii. 19, xxiv. 1.

2 1 Samuel xxii, 2. These were afterwards increased to six hundred xxiii. 13.

Ibid. xxv. 7, 14-16.

4 1 Sam. xxv. 8, 9.

ADORAIM. (DÛRA.)

SCRIPTURE NOTICES.

"AND Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah, He built even Bethlehem ... and Adoraim . . which are in Judah and Benjamin fenced cities. And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them. . . and in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong..."-2 Chronicles, xi. 5-12.

"The large village of Dûra (is) situated on the gradual eastern slope of a cultivated hill, (among the mountains of Judah,) with olive-groves and fields of grain all around. . . It is one of the largest in the district of Hebron, and is properly the chief place, being the residence of (an ancient and powerful family of Sheikhs) who formerly ruled over the villages."

(On the east of Dûra extends a fine plain.) "It was now covered with fields of wheat, which the peasants were busily engaged in reaping; the wheat harvest having just begun." (June 6th.)

Although we saw no special traces of antiquity among the buildings in Dura, yet the general aspect of the village and of the adjacent country testifies, that the place is one of long standing. There is indeed little reason to doubt of its being the Adoraim of the Old Testament, enumerated along with Hebron and Maresha as one of the cities fortified by Rehoboam."ROBINSON'S Researches, vol. iii. pp. 2, 4.

BEERSHEBA. (BÎR ES-SEBA'.)

SCRIPTURE NOTICES.

"AND Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto