xiv PREFACE TO FIRST SECTION 
between Kaisaria and the rivulet of Yafa." The 
whole of antient Phoenice is thereby excluded 
from the boundaries of modern Paltestine, which 
is still a district independent of every Pachalic'. 
In the most antient periods of history, its boun- 
daries were equally restricted; and if we 
examine those records wherein the name first 
occurs*, we shall be able to define its limits 
with precision. The first mention of it is in 
Genesis^ where it is stated that Isaac went unto 
Ahimelech {Rex Palcestinorum'^) king of the Phi- 
listines, unto Gerar ; and he is told not to go 
into Egypt, but to sojourn in the land of the 
Philistines {Palcrstine), and he dwelt in Gerar. 
Now Gerar was situate in the district after- 
wards occupied by the tribe of Judah, not far 
(1) See /'o/wCT/V Map, ibid. p. 329. 
(2) Tiie word Palastina signifies nothinj more than PhUistina. 
St. Jerom often, and Josephus always, calls the Philistines Palastlni. 
" PhUhtcoos autem, ut supra diximus, Palastinos significat." Hie- 
ronymi Comment, in Esa. xiv. 29. 
(3) Gen. xxvi. l. 
(4) See the Latin Version by St. Jerom, as given in the [London 
Polyglott Bible, Gen. xxvi. 1. where the Hebrew Philisti'im is translated 
Palastinm-um ; only, in the copy referred to, this word is improperly 
■nritten Palestinorum, and in some editions of the Vulgate, more erro- 
neously, Palesthinormn. Reland(.De Nomine Palastince. Fid. Thesaur. 
Antiq. Sacrar. UgoUni, v. 6.) says, that the name occurs in the oldest 
Jewish writings, where it is written li^tool's]. This in the Greek is 
always Tla>.aiffTU-/i, and not TlaXitrrUn. The Ronans, upon their medals, 
sometimes wrote this word Palestina instead of Palaestina, as they 
wrote JvDEA instead of Jvdaea. See Medals nf Vespasian, ^v. 
