Form and Climate of the East-Jordan Land.--Well-Watered and Fertile.--The Four Great Natural Divisions.--Characteristics of the Northern and Western Jaulan.--Southern and Eastern Jaulan.--Character of the Hauran.--Borderland of the Hauran.--Gilead.--The Jabbok and Jebel Ôsha.--Southern Gilead.--Character of the Plateau of Moab.--Its Fertility and Water Supply.--Its Mountains.--Its Views.--The Arnon.--Southern Moab and Edom.--Significance of the East-Jordan Land. VIII. THE TWO CAPITALS: JERUSALEM AND SAMARIA 64 Importance of Jerusalem and Samaria.--Site of Jerusalem.--The Kidron Valley.--The Tyropœon Valley.--The Original City.--Its Extent.--The Western Hill.--The Northern Extension of the City.--Josephus's Description of Jerusalem.--The Geological Formation.--The Water Supply.--Jerusalem's Military Strength.--Strength of Its Position.--Samaria's Name.--Its Situation.--Its Military Strength.--Its Beauty and Prosperity. IX. THE GREAT HIGHWAYS OF THE BIBLICAL WORLD 73 Importance of the Highways.--Lack of the Road-building Instincts among the Semites.--Evidence that Modern Roads Follow the Old Ways.--Ordinary Palestinian Roads.--Evidence that the Hebrews Built Roads.--The Four Roads from Egypt.--Trails into Palestine from the South.--Highway Through Moab.--The Great Desert Highway.--Character of the Southern Approaches to Palestine.--The Coast Road.--The "Way of the Sea."--Its Commercial and Strategic Importance.--The Central Road and Its Cross-roads in the South.--In the North.--The Road Along the Jordan.--Roads Eastward from Damascus.--The Highway from Antioch to Ephesus.--The Road from Asia Minor to Rome.--From Ephesus to Rome.--From Syria to Rome by Sea.--From Alexandria to Rome by Sea.--Significance of the Great Highways. PART II--HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY X. EARLY PALESTINE 87 The Aim and Value of Historical Geography.--Sources of Information Regarding Ancient Palestine.--Evidence of the Excavations.--The Oldest Inhabitants of Palestine.--The Semitic Invasions from the Desert.--Influence of the Early Amorite Civilization Upon Babylonia.--Probable Site of the Oldest Semitic Civilization.--Remains of the Old Amorite Civilization.--Babylonian Influence in Palestine.--Egyptian Influence in the Cities of the Plain.--Different Types of Civilization in Palestine.--Conditions Leading to the Hyksos Invasion of Egypt.--Fortunes of the Invaders.--The One Natural Site in Syria for a Great Empire.--Influences of the Land Upon the Early Forms of Worship.--Upon the Beliefs of Its Inhabitants. XI. PALESTINE UNDER THE RULE OF EGYPT 97