Lake Huleh is the Biblical “Waters of Merom.” Dan was the northern and Beersheba the southern limit of Palestine—hence the expression “from Dan to Beersheba.” It is equivalent to our phrases “from Maine to Texas”—“from Baltimore to San Francisco.” Our expression and that of the Israelites both mean the same—great distance. With their slow camels and asses, it was about a seven days’ journey from Dan to Beersheba—-say a hundred and fifty or sixty miles—it was the entire length of their country, and was not to be undertaken without great preparation and much ceremony.

Handbook for Travelers:

Handbook for Travelers:

Population. It is extremely difficult to estimate the population.  According to recent statistics (1896), there were 99,000 Muslims; 20,000 Orthodox Greeks and Syrians; 15,000 United Greeks; 900 Armenians; 10,800 United Syrians; 3400 Maronites; 600 Latins; 300 Protestants; 4000 Jews; total: 154,000. Other authorities esti mate the population at 250,000.

Handbook for Travelers:

Handbook for Travelers:: Page 347

Handbook for Travelers:: Page 361

From Page 341, Handbook for Travelers: (1898)

From Damascus to Ez-Zebedânî via Helbûn. Starting from the Bâb Tâmâ (p. 360) we follow the Aleppo road and diverge from it to the left after 11 minutes. After 9 min. we avoid a path to the left, and after 14 min. emerge from among the gardens. About 1/4 hr. to the right is the village of Kâbûn. We reach (20 min.) the village of Berzeh. A Muslim legend makes this the birthplace of Abraham, or at least the point to which he and his servants penetrated in this direction (Gen. xiv. 15). Here we turn to the left, and in 8 min. reach the entrance of a gorge. In 33 min.

View From the Mountain

Damascus is beautiful from the mountain. It is beautiful even to foreigners accustomed to luxuriant vegetation, and I can easily understand how unspeakably beautiful it must be to eyes that are only used to the God-forsaken barrenness and desolation of Syria. I should think a Syrian would go wild with ecstacy when such a picture bursts upon him for the first time.