28 
from times anterior to the Christian era. This obscurity is 
now removed by a study of the present Maps. 
It is now clearly observable that the Shephelah is quite 
distinct from the Plain of Philistia on the west, and the 
mountains of Judah on the east. It is neither “ the valleys” 
nor the low plains,” but it is in every respect a hilly low- 
land, exactly similar to the Lowlands of Scotland, which are 
well known to be hilly enough. 
One consequence of the accuracy with which the hilly 
surface of the Shephelah is now displayed for the first time 
since the Creation is the remarkable distinctness of the 
separation of its low hills, from the high mountain range to 
the eastward. The hills of the Shephelah never reach an 
altitude of 1,800 feet above the sea, and seldom rise to 
1,500 feet. But the mountain range of Judah has many 
points above 3,000 feet, and culminates in 3,747 feet at Yutta, 
the reputed birthplace of John the Baptist. The distinct 
separation between the mountains and the Shephelah is 
found in a succession of valleys running north and south, 
notably the Wady es Sur and the Wady en Najil, from which 
the hills of the Shephelah rise suddenly on the west, with 
steep escarpments facing the east, and opposed to the general 
slope of the country. From the same valleys the mountains 
of Judah rise on the east, in general gradually, and with a 
long slope, in striking contrast to the abrupt and opposing 
face which forms the eastern limit of the Shephelah. 
Between the maritime Plain of Philistia and the system of 
valleys now brought to light, the remains of the three groups 
of cities of the Shephelah are, I believe, to be found. In 
like manner the five groups of cities in “ the Mountain ” are 
eastward of those valleys, and beyond them again is the group 
of towns in the Midbar or Wilderness of Judea, which descends 
in a series of terraced calcareous downs to the cliffs of the 
Dead Sea. These downs are burnt up in the summer, but 
they afford good pasture in the proper season. 
I have now concluded this attempt to give you some idea of 
the invaluable aid that the study of the Bible derives from the 
Survey of Western Palestine, if it be thoroughly pursued 
with the helps which the managers of the Fund are bringing 
to it. My Map of Western Palestine, according to the Old 
Testament and the Survey, will be published in a few weeks ; 
and a similar Map for the New Testament has been prepared, 
and will be taken up by the engravers immediately. So much 
that is new will appear in those Maps as to render it necessary 
to accompany them by an explanatory volume, the character 
of which has bean foreshadowed by the paper which is now 
finished, 
