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USER What is Palestine? TALKIE-1930 Palestine is a small country in Southwestern Asia, lying between 31° and 33° north latitude, and 34° and 36° east longitude. It is bounded on the north by Syria, from which it is separated by the valley of the river Leontes or Litany, and a line drawn from that stream to the head of the Gulf of Akabah; on the east by the same gulf and the Desert of Arabia; on the south by the peninsula of Sinai, and on the west by the Mediterranean Sea. The greatest length of the country, from north to south, is 140 miles, and the greatest breadth, from east to west, 80 miles. The area may be estimated at 6,000 square miles. The principal towns are Jerusalem, Nazareth, Bethlehem, Jaffa, and Acre, on the west; and Jericho, Hebron, and Ghazzeh, on the east of Jordan. The maritime plain, which stretches along the whole length of the country, from north to south, has an average breadth of 10 miles, and the elevated tableland which forms the interior has a mean height of 2,500 feet above the sea. The river Jordan traverses the holy land, from north to south, in a course of 150 miles. The climate of Palestine is warm, but healthy, and the soil, where cultivated, remarkably fertile. The chief productions are grain, fruits, and wine. The inhabitants are Arabs, speaking a peculiar dialect of the Arabic language, and professing Mohammedanism. The total population may amount to 200,000. Palestine was first occupied by the Canaanites, and afterwards passed under the dominion of the Israelites, from whom it received the name of Judæa. Under the Romans it formed a province of the empire, and, in the fifth century, became the seat of a Christian patriarchate. In the middle ages, it was subject to the dominion of the Crusaders; and, in more modern times, it has been ruled by Tartars, Egyptians, and Turks. At present, it is governed by a pasha, who resides at Acre, and whose authority extends no further north than Nabloos, the ancient Shechem. The holy land was long regarded with veneration by Christians of all sects, and pilgrimages were made to it from Western Europe. Since the establishment of the Turkish power in Syria, these have gradually fallen off, and Palestine has now lost much of its interest in Western eyes |
TALKIE-1930 The land of Israel is a territory extending from north to south, about 160 miles, and from east to west, about 50 miles, comprehending an area of 8,000 square miles. Its boundaries are, on the north, the Lebanon range of mountains, separating it from Syria; on the east, the desert of Arabia; on the south, the desert of et Tih, and on the west, the Mediterranean Sea. The country is naturally divided into three great sections, Galilee in the north, Samaria in the middle, and Judea in the south. Galileo is a hilly region, Samaria is an undulating plain, and Judea a series of hills and valleys, terminating on the south in the desert. The soil of Galilee is rich and fertile, that of Samaria moderately so, and that of Judea poor and stony. The climate varies from extreme heat in summer to great cold in winter, the latter season lasting from November to March. The principal river is the Jordan, and the only lake is the celebrated Sea of Galilee, or Lake of Tiberias. The natural productions are grain of all kinds, leguminous plants, fruits, tobacco, cotton, and the mulberry, for the food of silk-worms. The chief articles of manufacture are soap, cotton, and woollen fabrics, and the exports consist of these, together with oil, honey, wax, and timber. The inhabitants amount to about 650,000, of whom 200,000 are Mussulmans, 350,000 Jews, and 100,000 Christians of various sects. The holy city of Jerusalem occupies a central position in the southern portion of the territory, and other places of note are Nazareth, Tiberias, Sepphoris, and Nablous. Galilee was the scene of our Lord’s ministry, and the whole land was the theatre of mighty deeds performed by the prophets of old. Israel is still a "peculiar people,” scattered among all nations, but not assimilated to any, and preserving, wherever they go, their distinct character, customs, and religion.