excavations carried out by the Palestine Exploration Fund revealed nothing of outstanding interest.
Esdud and Yebna.—Esdud (kilo. 272) is the ancient Ashdod, one of the five cities of the Philistines, and the Azotus of the New Testament (Acts, viil., 40). Fifteen kilometres beyond Esdud is Yebna, the Jabneel and Jabneh of the Old Testament, the Jamnia of the Maccabees, and the Ibelin of the Crusaders. After the Roman capture of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Jabneh became an important Jewish spiritual centre under Rabbi Johannan ben Zakkai (cf. Part II., § 14). The principal mosque of the village was a Crusaders' church.
Beersheba.—From Rafa a branch line (60 kilos.) of the standard gauge railway runs to Beersheba (Bir al-Seba), now a small town of about 1,760 inhabitants.
Beersheba was the southernmost town of the Israelites, whence the expression "Dan to Beersheba"; and its wells played a prominent part in the history of the patriarchs (Genesis, xxi.). In early Christian times Bishops of Beersheba are occasionally mentioned, but by the fourteenth century the town had lost all importance. Beersheba was captured by the British on the 31st October, 1917, and it was from Beersheba that was made the advance resulting in the capture of Gaza.
Hebron.—Hebron, now a town of 16,332 inhabitants, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Here Abraham pitched his tent, under the oak of Mamre the Amorite, and, on the death of Sarah, purchased from Ephron the Hittite the double cavern of Machpelah, where he buried her, and was subsequently himself laid to rest, together with Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob, Leah and Joseph. The Arabic name of Hebron ("al-Khalil," which is an abbreviation of Khalil al-Rahman, i.e. Abraham the "Friend of God") preserves its association with the patriarch.
Hebron was destroyed by Joshua, and from Hebron David ruled over Judaea for 7½ years after the death of Saul. Abner was slain by Joab at the gates of Hebron,
