They passed near Beersheba, which had given rise to the expression so common in scripture history, “from Dan to Beersheba,” to denote the whole extent of the Holy Land, from north to south. Beersheba was the frontier town on the south, distant from Dan a hundred and sixty sabbath-days’ journies, or fifty-three leagues. Elisama related how Abraham and Isaac had dug a well here, and called it Beersheba, in memory of the oaths exchanged between them and Abimelech;[83] how Jehovah had here appeared to Jacob, and permitted him to go down to Egypt to his beloved Joseph;[84] how Elias the Tishbite had fled hither from the face of Ahab and Jezebel;[85] how Samuel’s sons had judged the people here;[86] and how, in latter times, it had become a seat of idolatrous worship under Uzziah; in consequence of which, Amos had given the warning, “Pass not to Beersheba,”[87] and had denounced calamity on those who say, “The worship of Beersheba liveth.”[88] At the return from the captivity this was one of the first cities which the exiles repeopled. Notwithstanding the length of the journey, which they performed on foot, Elisama seemed to feel no fatigue; and every hill or valley, every town or village, which they passed, gave him fresh occasion to produce his inexhaustible store of historical recollections. Their road lay by Debir, called also sometimes Kiriath Sanna, sometimes Kiriath Sepher; and it reminded him of the heroic prize, the hand of his own daughter Achsa, which Caleb had proposed to the man who should conquer it.[89] Footnote 83: Gen. xxi. 3.; xxvi. 33. Footnote 84: Gen. xlvi. 1. Footnote 85: 1 Kings xix. 3. Footnote 86: 1 Sam. viii. 2. Footnote 87: Amos v. 5. Footnote 88: Amos viii. 14. Footnote 89: Judges i. 12. At length Hebron rose before them, and each approached it with characteristic feelings. Helon viewed it only as having been for seven years the city of David’s residence;[90] and could have imagined, that the tones of the sweet singer’s harp still lingered about its walls. Elisama longed to see the friend of his youth, and to repose under his hospitable roof. There was an unusual commotion beneath the towering palms at the gate and in all the streets. It was evident that they were preparing to depart for Jerusalem on the morrow. Footnote 90: 2 Sam. ii. 11. They were received with the cordial welcome of early but long separated friends. Elisama had scarcely laid himself down, to have his feet washed, when the discourse between him and his host flowed as freely as if the old man had only walked a sabbath-day’s journey. Helon observed, that here the ancient custom was preserved of crouching upon the carpet at meals; while in Alexandria they reclined on Grecian cushions. He fell asleep, and night prolonged the dreams of day. CHAPTER II. THE PILGRIMAGE.