OR, SOME ACCOUNT OF THE COUNTRIES AND PLACES MENTIONED IN HOLY SCRIPTURE. LONDON: THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY; SOLD AT THE DEPOSITORY, 56, PATERNOSTER ROW, BY THE BOOKSELLERS. 1839. PREFACE. THIS work is nearly a reprint of a small volume, entitled, "A Geography of the Bible," compiled a few years ago by the Rev. J. W. and J. A. Alexander, of Princeton, in North America. It is now published with numerous additions and some corrections. The authors state-" The character and intention of the following pages will be misunderstood, if it is not borne in mind, that they constitute a book of reference, rather than a work for immediate and continuous perusal. And while we indulge the hope that those who are solicitous to understand the various geographical allusions of the Bible will find important assistance in these outlines, we are bound to acknowledge that many names of places which occur in the sacred writings, are not even mentioned; for the simple reason, that, after some research, we have been unable to arrive at any thing more concerning them than bare conjecture. "It is highly important that every text of Scripture to which reference is made should be carefully examined. Without attention to this, the great design of this book, as an aid in the study of the Bible, will be frustrated." The authors acknowledge themselves principally indebted to Wells, Rosenmüller, and Mansford. To these may be added Hales, and especially T. H. Horne, (from whom the compilers evidently have derived much information,) and also several recent travellers, from whose works various notices have been gleaned. The Scripture Gazetteer of Mansford is a valuable work of much research, and comparatively little known. It is obvious that a book like the present cannot pretend to be more than a mere compilation; and this acknowledgment will direct the reader to sources from whence he may derive fuller information on any subject with which he may desire to become better acquainted. |