4. =Peræa= extended from the Jordan and the Dead Sea on the west to the Syrian desert on the east, and from the river Arnon on the south to the town of Pella on the north; nearly corresponding to the location of the tribes of Reuben and Gad. The word means "beyond"; and the country was sometimes called (Mark 10:1) "Judæa by the farther side of Jordan." It was inhabited during the New Testament period by Jews, among whom were established many villages of Gentiles. 5. The remaining province has no correct geographical name. It is sometimes called =Decapolis=; but the term is not precise, and strictly refers to ten cities, not all of which were in the province. It embraced no less than five sections, as may be seen upon the map. (1.) Gaulanitis, the ancient Golan, now _Jaulan_, east of the Jordan, Tiberias, and Lake Merom, which was then called Samachonitis. (2.) Auranitis, now _Hauran_, the flat country of Bashan. (3.) Trachonitis, "rugged," the mountainous district of Bashan, now known as _el Ledja_. (4.) Iturea, now called _Jedur_, between Mount Hermon and the _Ledja_, on the north. (5.) Batanea, an Aramaic form of the Hebrew word Bashan, south of the Hieromax. Decapolis was "the land of the ten cities." These were ten confederated Gentile cities standing in Palestine; and, though surrounded by a Jewish population, preserving their heathen character, and protected by the Roman government. Their names, as given by different historians, do not entirely agree; but the best list is: (1.) Scythopolis (Beth-shean). (2.) Gadara. (3.) Gerasa. (4.) Canatha. (5.) Abila. (6.) Raphana. (7.) Hippos. (8.) Dion. (9.) Pella. (10.) Capitolias. To these may be added: (11.) Philadelphia (Rabbath Ammon). (12.) Damascus. As far as identified, they are named upon the map in red letters. Many of these cities were destroyed, and their inhabitants massacred, by the Jews, in the beginning of the final war before the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus. [Illustration: PALESTINE DURING THE MINISTRY of JESUS. A.D. 26.] II. THE POLITICAL HISTORY OF PALESTINE, B.C. 4-A.D. 70. 1. =The Kingdom of Herod the Great= included all the provinces indicated upon the map, and described above. This organization came to an end B.C. 4, when Herod died.