some to be the same as Abila, on the north-west of Damascus; but others place it beyond that city, towards the Euphrates, where there was a place called by the Greeks Sopha, and Sophene.

HOLON, a city in the mountains of Judah, (Josh. xv. 51.) also a Levitical city, and a city of refuge. (Josh. xxi. 15.) A city of Moab is mentioned by this name. Jer. xlviii. 21. HOR, a mountain. See Part I. p. 48.

HOREB, a celebrated mountain in Arabia, near the Red Sea. See Part I. p. 45.

HOREM, a city of Naphtali. Josh, xix. 38.

HOR-HAGIDGAD, an encampment of the Israelites in the desert, (Numb. xxxiii. 32, 33.) written Gudgodah in Deut. x. 7. HORITES, an ancient people inhabiting Mount Seir in Edom, before Esau settled in that country. (Gen. xiv. 6. xxxvi. 20. 30.) They had princes, and seem to have been a considerable nation before that time: afterwards they appear to have been blended with the Edomites, or descendants of Esau, so as to have composed but one people. (Deut. ii. 1. xxxiii. 2. Judges v. 4.) Their country lay south-east of Canaan.

HORMAH, a city of Judah, afterwards given to Simeon. (Josh. xv. 30. xix. 4. Numb. xiv. 45. Deut. i. 44.) Its original name was Zephathah. Judges i. 17. 2 Chron. xiv. 10. HORONAIM, a city of Moab. Isa. xv. 5.

HOSAH, a town of Asher. Josh. xix. 29.

HUKKOK, a city on the boundary between Asher and Naphtali, (Josh. xix. 34.) given to the Levites, (1 Chron. vi. 75.) and probably the same called Helkath. Josh. xxi. 31. HUMTAH, a city of Judah. Josh. xv. 54.

I.

IBLEAM, a town of Manasseh, west of Jordan, given to the Levites: but the Canaanites were not driven out. Josh. xvii. 11. Judges i. 27. 2 Kings ix. 27. 1 Chron. vi. 70.

ICONIUM, the capital of Lycaonia, in Asia Minor. St. Paul visited this place and converted many, both Jews and Gentiles, (Acts xiii. 51. xiv. 1.) but the Jews exciting the people against him and Barnabas, they were obliged to leave the place. A Christian church was supported here for 800 years; but at present not a Christian nor a Jew is suffered to reside within the walls of the city. It is now called Cogni, and stands

in a pleasant situation, on a spacious and fertile plain, 110 miles from the Mediterranean.

IDALAH, a city of Zebulon. Josh. xix. 15.

IDUMEA, the Greek name for Edom. In later times, however, Idumea seems to have comprehended more than the original country of the Edomites, Mount Seir; and probably advanced into the southern part of Judea, which, during the captivity of the Jews at Babylon, seems to have been possessed by the neighbouring Idumeans. These, when conquered by the Maccabees, chose rather to embrace Judaism than to quit their habitations. They came to the assistance of Jerusalem, when besieged by the Romans; but did not remain until it was taken, having returned to their own country, loaded with booty. Though they were incorporated with the Jewish nation, their country was long called Idumea, and still retained its name in the times of the New Testament, (Mark iii. 7, 8.) and for a considerable time afterwards.

IIм, a city of Judah. Josh. xv. 29.

IJE-ABARIM, an encampment of the Israelites, (Numb. xxi. 11. xxxiii. 44.) called in the next verse Iim. This place was in the east of Moab.

IJON, a city in the northern part of Canaan, taken by Benhadad, (1 Kings xv. 20.) thought by some to be the same as Hethlon.

ILLYRICUM, a province in the north-west of Macedonia; lying along the eastern coast of the Adriatic, or Gulf of Venice; extending in length 480 miles, and in breadth 120. It was divided into two parts, Liburnia, now called Croatia, north; and Dalmatia, which still retains its name, south. St. Paul (Rom. xv. 19.) says that he preached the gospel from Jerusa lem round about to Illyricum; meaning that he had preached in all the countries lying in the circuitous route between them. It does not appear, however, that Paul preached in Illyricum; but only travelled to its borders. There are now in this country many Christians; it being chiefly under the Austrian go

vernment.

INDIA; this country is mentioned in Scripture, (Esther i. 1. viii. 9.) "Ahasuerus reigned from India even unto Ethiopia;" where it is thought to mean the country about the river Indus, or Hindostan. There does not appear to be any record in history of the Persian power ever having permanently maintained itself east of the Indus. Only Alexander the Great ever thought of establishing a power beyond that river. Na

dir Shah afterwards penetrated to Delhi, but he returned from thence to Persia, and did not attempt to retain both regions under his rule.

By India may be understood the whole of that country where the primitive religion and language of the Hindoos prevail at the present day; including Hindostan, the stupendous mountains of Thibet, the beautiful valley of Cashmere, the country of Nepaul and Bootan, Siam and Ava, or the Birman Empire, &c. These countries have been inhabited, from the earliest antiquity, by a people who have no resemblance, either in their figure or manners, to any of the surrounding nations; and though different conquerors have established themselves, at different times, in various parts of India, yet the aboriginal inhabitants have lost very little of their primitive character. This people, though now humbled and debased, are believed to have been once eminent in arts and arms, happy in their government, and distinguished in various knowledge.

This country was probably settled at a very early period, by the immediate descendants of Ham, the son of Noah. (Asiatic Researches, vol. 3. p. 490.) It was the Hamites who founded the first monarchy of the Chaldeans, invented letters, observed and named the luminaries of the firmament; and were thence dispersed, at various intervals, and in various colonies, over many countries. The tribes of Misraim and Cush seem to have been widely extended, particularly the latter, and by them Africa, and a large proportion of Asia, were principally peopled. The Phenicians were of this race, who afterwards passed into Greece and Italy, supplanting part of the clans who had preceded them, and uniting with others; while some of this widely spread, and numerous family, who appear to have been the first promoters of learning and science, are thought to have found their way to Mexico and Peru, where rude traces of literature and mythology have been discovered, resembling those of Egypt and India. These facts corroborate Scripture prophecy. Noah foretold that the children of Ham should be servants of servants. (Gen. ix. 25.) And it may here be remarked that this passage, in some copies of the Scripture, reads, "Cursed be Ham, the father of Canaan, a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren." Accordingly, a hundred millions of this people in India, besides the Africans, and millions in America, are subdued and oppressed by the dominion of the Europeans.

It is generally believed that Christianity was established in India at a very early period. St. Bartholomew and St. Thomas are both said to have preached the gospel in this country; and the venerable Pantænus of Alexandria, who visited India about the year 189, found Christians there, who had the gospel of St. Matthew in Hebrew. At the council of Nice, in the year 325, John the primate of India was present, and subscribed his name. In the sixth century there was a seminary for Christians at Serinda; and in 636 two monks went thence to Constantinople. In the 13th century, before the Portuguese had visited the country, Marco Polo and others say that Christians were numerous in India; and when Vasco de Gama arrived at Malabar, on the western coast, in 1503, he found Christian churches and a Christian king. Since that time little has been known respecting the Christians of India, till within a few years they have been visited by the learned and pious Dr. Buchanan, who assures us that more than 200,000 Christians now inhabit these countries, of pure morals, enjoying gospel ordinances, and having colleges for the instruction of their youth.

ued and permitted by the British authorities, has lately been prohibited in that part of India under their jurisdiction.

IONIA, a country in the south-west of Asia Minor; also a name sometimes given to Hellas or Achaia, from its having been inhabited by Ionians. See Greece; also Javan, Part I. p. 18.

ISHMAEL, the son of Abraham and Hagar, from whom descended the Ishmaelites or Arabians. See Arabia; also Part I. p. 35.

ISLES of the Gentiles, (Gen. x. 5.) the countries of Asia Minor and Europe. It is evident that by the word isle, in our translation, the Hebrews understood not only such countries as are surrounded by the sea; but also such as were separated from them by the sea, or to which they usually went by water. (Isa. xi. 10, 11.) The original term in Hebrew seems to denote settlement, or plantation. By these were the settlements of the Gentiles divided into their lands." (Gen. x. 5.) See also, Job xxii. 30. Isa. xlii. 15. xiii. 22.

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ISRAELITES, a people descended from Jacob or Israel; called at first Hebrews, being the descendants of Eber or Heber, (1 Chron. i. 18. 25.) and in later times Jews, from the tribe of Judah, or rather from the kingdom of Judah, after the revolt of the ten tribes. After this revolt, the name Israelites was more appropriate to these ten tribes, who had erected a separate kingdom under Jeroboam, and who, in a great measure, abandoned themselves to idolatry and infidelity; while the kingdom of Judah maintained their religion in greater purity. For their impiety, the Israelites were conquered and carried into captivity, and have long since ceased "to be reckoned among the nations." The tribes east of Jordan were first carried away by Tiglath-Pileser, A. M. 3264; and nineteen years after, Salmaneser took Samaria, the capital of the kingdom, and carried the other tribes beyond the Euphrates, into Media, south of the Caspian Sea. (2 Kings xvii. 6.) It is the general opinion that these tribes have never returned from captivity. About thirty years after this, the kingdom of Judah was overthrown by Nebuchadnezzar, and the Jews also carried into captivity, to Babylon. Cyrus afterwards permitted the Jews to return to their own country, and Darius gave them permission to rebuild the temple. It does not appear, however, that any considerable number of the Israelites ever returned; but that they were chiefly, if not all, Jews, (Ezra i. 5. iv. 1.) and are so called in the edict of Darius. Ezra vi. 7.