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What is the land of Israel 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. |