placed either at Soba, Latroon,
Lydd, or even Jaffa; it is difficult enough to imagine that the pyramids
and columns were visible from the sea at Latroon.

XV. THE TWO BAIT SAHHOORS IDENTIFIED WITH BETHSURA AND BATH ZACHARIAS.

There are two villages in the neighbourhood of Jerusalem bearing the name
of Bait Sahhoor. One lies near to the city, beyond En-Rogel, a little
way down the valley of the Kedron; the other is farther off, close under
Bethlehem. By way of distinction, the former is called "Bait Sahhoor of
the Wadi," and the latter, "Bait Sahhoor of the Christians." I think
that it can be shown that these places, though now fallen from their high
estate, once played their part in important events,--that Bait Sahhoor of
the Wadi is identical with Bethsura,--and that Bait Sahhoor of the
Christians is identical with Bath Zacharias--both of Maccabaean history.

In the year 150 of the Seleucidan era, being the fifth year of the
liberty of Zion, (the term used upon the Maccabaean coins,) a vast army
of Syrians invaded Palestine from Antioch, headed by King Antiochus
Eupator, in the twelfth year of his age, and under the official command
of Lysias, one of his relatives. The army consisted of both subjects and
hired aliens, even from the islands of the sea. They numbered "a hundred
thousand infantry, and twenty thousand cavalry, with thirty-two elephants
exercised in battle," (I Macc. vi. 30.)

The object of the expedition was to crush the Maccabaean insurrection,
and wipe out the disgrace of defeats already sustained. The first
attempt was to be the relief of the garrison at Jerusalem, which was at
this time beleaguered by Judas from the temple part of the city.

"The army was very great and mighty," (ver. 41.) "When the sun shone
upon the shields of gold and brass, the mountains glistered therewith,
and shined like lamps of fire," (ver. 39.) Each of the thirty-two
elephants was attended by "a thousand men armed with coats of mail, and
with helmets of brass on their heads; and besides this, for every beast
was ordained five hundred horsemen of the best--these were ready at every
occasion: wheresoever the beast was, and whithersoever the beast went
they went also, neither departed they from him; and upon the beasts were
there strong towers of wood, which covered every one of them, and were
girt fast unto them with devices; there were upon every one thirty-two
strong men that fought upon them, beside the