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[51]
In the limits of Samaria and Judea lies the village Anuath, which
is also named Borceos. This is the northern boundary of Judea. The southern
parts of Judea, if they be measured lengthways, are bounded by a Village
adjoining to the confines of Arabia; the Jews that dwell there call it
Jordan. However, its breadth is extended from the river Jordan to Joppa.
The city Jerusalem is situated in the very middle; on which account some
have, with sagacity enough, called that city the Navel of the country.
Nor indeed is Judea destitute of such delights as come from the sea, since
its maritime places extend as far as Ptolemais: it was parted into eleven
portions, of which the royal city Jerusalem was the supreme, and presided
over all the neighboring country, as the head does over the body. As to
the other cities that were inferior to it, they presided over their several
toparchies; Gophna was the second of those cities, and next to that Acrabatta,
after them Thamna, and Lydda, and Emmaus, and Pella, and Idumea, and Engaddi,
and Herodium, and Jericho; and after them came Jamnia and Joppa, as presiding
over the neighboring people; and besides these there was the region of
Gamala, and Gaulonitis, and Batanea, and Trachonitis, which are also parts
of the kingdom of Agrippa. This [last] country begins at Mount Libanus,
and the fountains of Jordan, and reaches breadthways to the lake of Tiberias;
and in length is extended from a village called Arpha, as far as Julias.
Its inhabitants are a mixture of Jews and Syrians. And thus have I, with
all possible brevity, described the country of Judea, and those that lie
round about it.
1
1 JOSEPHUS MAKES AN ATTEMPT UPON SEPPHORIS BUT IS REPELLED. TITUS COMES WITH A GREAT ARMY TO PTOLEMAIS.
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