- salt sea eastward:
- The lake Asphaltites, Dead sea, or Salt sea, is, according to the most authentic accounts, about 70 miles in length, and 18 in breadth. Viewing this sea from the spot where the Jordan discharges its waters into it, it takes a south-easterly direction, visible for ten or fifteen miles, when it disappears in a curve towards the east. Its surface is generally unruffled, from the hollow of the basin in which it lies scarcely admitting the free passage necessary for a strong breeze. It is, however, for the same reason, subject to whirlwinds or squalls of short duration. The mountains on each side are apparently separated by a distance of eight miles; but the expanse of water at this point has been supposed not to exceed five or six. As it advances towards the south, it evidently increases in breadth. The acrid saltness of its waters is much greater than that of the sea; and of such specific gravity that bodies will float on it that would sink in common sea-water. It is probably on this account that few fish can live in it; though the monks of St. Saba affirmed to Dr. Shaw, that they had seen fish caught in it. "All¹ these¹ were joined togetherª° in¹ the valeª of Siddim,ª whichª is the saltª sea.ª" {Gen 14:3} + "That the watersª which came downª° from aboveª¹ stoodª° [and] rose upª° upon anª heapª veryª farª° from the cityª Adam,ª¹ that¹ [is] besideª¹ Zaretan:ª and those that came downª° toward¹ the seaª of the plain,ª [even] the saltª sea,ª failed,ª° [and] were cut off:ª° and the peopleª passed overª° right against¹ Jericho.ª" {Jsh 3:16} + "And their southª borderª was¹ from the shoreª¹ of the saltª sea,ª from¹ the bayª that lookethª° southward:ª" {Jsh 15:2} + "Then saidª° he unto¹ me, These¹ watersª issue outª° toward¹ the eastª country,ª and go downª° into¹ the desert,ª and go²° into¹ the sea:ª [which being] brought forthª° into¹ the sea,ª the watersª shall be healed.ª°" {Ezk 47:8} + "And the eastª sideª ye shall measureª° fromª¹ Hauran,ª and fromª¹ Damascus,ª and fromª¹ Gilead,ª and fromª¹ the landª of Israelª [by] Jordan,ª from the borderª¹ unto¹ the eastª sea.ª And [this is] the eastª side.ª" {Ezk 47:18}
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