6. The region between Hebron and the Dead Sea is wild and desolate, with but few inhabitants. It was called _Jeshimon_, "the waste," and is the place generally recognized as "the wilderness of Judæa," where David wandered during his exile when he was persecuted by Saul, and in constant danger of his life, and where Christ was tempted after his long fast of forty days. IV. =The Southwestern Road= is that "that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert." (Acts 8:26.) It passes through ravines and among mountains, descending through successive plateaus, from the mountain region to the Shefelah, or low hills, and thence to the plain by the Mediterranean. It is "desert," in the sense that no towns lie along the route. The fountain where Philip baptized the Ethiopian treasurer is shown at _Ain Haniyeh_, 4 miles southwest of Jerusalem; but it has only tradition in support of its claim. V. =The Western Road= leads to Joppa, descending from the mountains to the sea. 1. Four miles from Jerusalem it passes _Emmaus_ (_Kuloniyeh_), the place to which the two disciples were walking when they were joined by the risen Christ. (Luke 24:13.) The place, however, is disputed. Dr. Thomson locates it at _Kuriet el Enab_, further from Jerusalem; and others at _el Kubeibeh_, 7 miles northwest of the city. 2. _Kirjath-jearim_, or _Baalah_, is 7 miles from Jerusalem, at _Kuriet el Enab_, named above. Here the Ark of the Covenant was brought from Beth-shemesh, after its return from the Philistines, and remained until it was removed by David to Jerusalem. (1 Sam. 6:21; 2 Sam. 6:2.) It is now a small village, with ruins and a church. VI. =The Northwestern Road= branches from the Northern Road just beyond Gibeah, and winds down the mountains to the sea-shore at Joppa. Among its places of interest are the following: 1. _Mizpeh_, "watch-tower," is probably the hill known as _Neby Samwil_, 4 miles northwest of Jerusalem. Here Samuel gathered the people for reformation, and won his great victory over the Philistines. This may also have been _Ramah_, the birthplace and burial-place of Samuel. 2. _Gibeon_ is at _el Jib_, a hill 6 miles from Jerusalem. This was the head of the Hivite league of cities which made peace with Israel and were spared by Joshua at the time of the conquest (Josh. 9:17); which led to the battle of Beth-horon, the decisive event of the war. Here a skirmish took place between the soldiers of David and of Abner (while David was reigning over Judah), and Asahel, the brother of Joab, was killed. (2 Sam. 2:12-24.) At this place the Tabernacle was standing during David's reign, while the ark was at Zion; here was "the great high place" where Solomon offered sacrifice at the opening of his reign; and here Solomon had a vision, and made his choice of wisdom. (1 Kings 3:4-14.)