The streets are narrow, but well paved; and it is said that one of them, which runs through the breadth of the city and suburbs, from two to three miles, is still called "straight."—(Acts ix. 11.) The adjoining country is so beautiful in scenery, and so rich in soil, that the orientals regard it as a paradise on earth—such is its commanding situation.
Gadara, the capital of Peræa, in Cœlo-Syria, stood about four miles eastward of the Sea of Tiberias. Great numbers of swine were kept here, which was directly contrary to the Mosaic law. When Christ, in healing two possessed persons, suffered the devils to enter their herd of swine, and drown them, instead of being humbled by their punishment, they besought the Savior to leave their country. About forty years after, the city was burnt by the Romans.
Helbon. (Ezek. xxvii. 18.) A Syrian city of great opulence and antiquity, celebrated for its wines; and probably the same with Aleppo, [or, as the Arabs say, Alep or Halab,] which is now one of the most flourishing cities of Turkey. Its buildings are of hewn stone, and its streets paved with the same. It was once deeply concerned in the India trade, and is still a place of commercial intercourse and manufacturing enterprise.
Iturea. (Luke iii. 1.) A province of Syria, which derived its name from Jetur, a son of Ishmael, whose posterity inhabited it. It was south of Trachonitis, beyond Jordan, and probably included Auranitis and Batanea. It was overrun by a party of the Israelites in the time of Jotham king of Judah, and a vast quantity of spoil taken. —(1 Chr. v. 19, 22.) It is now called Djedour.
Mesopotamia, (Deut. xxiii. 4.) or Syria, between the two rivers, elsewhere called Padan-aram, or the plain of Syria, was the name of the country lying between the Tigris and the Euphrates. It was the first abode of men both before and after the flood, and was bounded north by Armenia, east by Assyria, south by Arabia, and west by Syria, and embraced the modern El-jesira of Turkey. Some suppose that the wise men who visited the infant Jesus, were from this country. Here were the warden of Eden and the tower of Babel. It was the original
