SHEN, a place near Mizpeh in Judah, (1 Sam. vii. 12.) probably the same called Seneh, xiv. 4.

SHEPHAM, a city of Syria, in the north-eastern border of Canaan; possibly the same called afterwards Apamea.

SHESHACH, a name by which Jeremiah is understood to mean Babylon. Jer. xxv. 26.

SHIBMAH, or Sibmah, a city of Reuben, situated, according to Jerom, near Heshbon. Numb. xxxii. 38. Josh. xiii. 19. SHICRON, a city in the border of Judah. Josh. xv. 11. SHIHON, a city of Issachar. Josh. xix. 19.

SHILHIM, a city of Judah. Josh. xv. 32.

SHILOH. See Part I. p. 61. This place is frequently mentioned in Scripture. The name in Hebrew may signify dissolving, or untying the shoe, or peace, or abounding; in Syriac, illusive, or deceptive.

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

SHINAR. See Part I. p. 13.

SHITTIM, a place east of Jordan, in the Land of Moab, where the Israelites were encamped for some time. Numb. xxv. 1. Josh. ii. 1. Part I. p. 50.

SHоCOн, a place near Azekah. 1 Sam. xvii. 1.

SHOPHAN, a city of Gad. Numb. xxxii. 35.

SHUAL, a district invaded by the Philistines in the time of Saul; probably situated in the tribe of Ephraim. (1 Sam. xiii. 17.) The name Shual signifies a fox, and the Land of Shual, here mentioned, may have been so named from abounding with those animals. Shual may also mean a path, or a fight, or the fist, and from this latter meaning some have conjectured that the story of Samson's catching three hundred foxes, in order to burn the standing corn of the Philistines, (Judges xv. 4.) would have been better translated by saying that he took three hundred handfuls or sheaves, (manipulus, Latin, from manus, the hand,) and turned them end to end, and put a fire-brand in the midst, between the two ends, and cast them into the standing corn of the Philistines. A much more likely way of setting a field of grain on fire, than to catch three hundred foxes, and tie them two and two, with fire-brands between their tails; particularly if the fox of Scripture, as is allowed by the most learned commentators, was the animal known to us by the name of jackal.

SHUNEM, a city of Issachar, south of Mount Tabor. (Josh. xix. 18.) At this place dwelt the woman who so hospitably entertained the prophet Elisha, and whose child he restored to life. 2 Kings iv.

SHUR, a city of Arabia Petrea, which is supposed to have given name to the wilderness of Shur in its vicinity. (Gen. xvi. 7. xx. 1.) Part I. p. 44.

SHUSHAN, the capital of Susiana in Persia, situated upon the river Ulai. (Dan. viii. 2.) It was the winter residence of the Persian kings, from the time of Cyrus; but in the summer they removed to Ecbatana, on account of the heat. This city is also mentioned in the beginning of the books of Esther and Nehemiah, and is generally called the palace. It was anciently a rich and splendid city, and when taken by Alexander, he found here 50,000 talents of uncoined gold, besides wedges of silver, and jewels of inestimable value. The old city is now a heap of ruins; but there is said to be one near it now called Suster, which is a flourishing place, 122 miles south-west from Ispahan.

SIBMAH, the same as Shibmah.

SIBRAIM, a place between Damascus and Hamath. Ezek. xlvii. 16.

SICHAR, and Sichem, names of Shechem.

SIDDIM, vale of: See Part I. p. 31.

SIDON, a city of Asher, in the north-west of Canaan, or Phenicia, on the coast of the Mediterranean, about 25 miles north of Tyre. It was one of the most ancient cities in the world, having been founded by Sidon, the son of Canaan, and great-grandson of Noah. Having long enjoyed an extensive commerce, it became one of the most opulent cities in the world, and in the time of Joshua, (xi. 8.) was called “Sidon the great," by way of eminence. The Sidonians were famous for ship-building, and hewing timber, (1 Kings v. 6.) and from this place Solomon had his principal workmen to build the temple. They were also distinguished in other arts, and are said to have been the first makers of transparent glass. Notwithstanding the strength, riches, and prosperity of Sidon, its ruin was foretold by the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others. This was accomplished in the time of Ochus, king of Persia; for the Sidonians having rebelled, he came against them with an army, and the city was betrayed into his hands, upon which the inhabitants in despair set fire to their own houses, and perished in the flames, with their wives and children, to the number of 40,000. In the time of the crusades, it was held by the Christians, but was afterwards taken from them by the Turks.

Sidon is now a mean place, though it yet has a considerable

trade, being the chief port of Damascus. It is now called Seyde, or Saide, and is 45 miles west from Damascus. There are three Christian churches here.

No. 1. An ancient medal of Sidon, representing Astarte holding a cross, and standing on a ship, having the modius, or sacred measure, on her head. Inscription, SIDONOS THEAS, the Sidonian goddess; also some Phenician letters, which prove its great antiquity.

No. 2. The Sidonian goddess seated on a bull, probably having reference to the story of Europa: on the reverse the temple of Venus, as appears by the crescent surmounting a column. Inscription SIDONIO, date ZKP, 127, from the era of the Seleucida.

No. 4. Astarte resting her right hand on a trophy; on her left stands Victory on a pillar; at her feet is Silenus, and beside her a shell. This shell is supposed to be the purple murex, and to allude to the Tyrian dye, which was said to be extracted from it.

No. 5. The goddess in her temple, holding the long cross in her hand. Silenus with his wine-bottle at her feet, a Victory on a pillar beside her. Before the temple is an altar, and beside it the shell. This figure is in most respects similar to No. 4, and shows that there was a temple to this goddess in Sidon, and that she was worshipped in that city.

SIHON, kingdom of: See Part I. p. 53.

SIHOR, or Shihor, (Josh. xiii. 3. 1 Chron. xiii. 5.) a river supposed by some to be the Nile; but was more probably a river falling into the Mediterranean near the southern boundary of the Land of Canaan, on the frontier of Egypt, and called in several passages of Scripture, the river of Egypt. See Part I. p. 32. Shihor-libnath was a river in the tribe of Asher. Josh. xix. 26.

SILOAM, a pool or fountain on the south-west of Jerusalem, (Nehem. iii. 15. John ix. 7.) probably the same elsewhere called Gihon. The tower of Siloam (Luke xiii. 4.) is thought to have stood near this pool, towards the west. A church was formerly built over the fountain, but it has now gone to ruin.

SIMEON, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. See Part I. p. 64. SIN, a desert between Elim and Sinai. (Exod. xvi. 1. Numb. xxxiii. 11.) See Part I. p. 44. Also a city of Egypt, (Ezek. XXX. 15.) afterwards called Pelusium, which see.

SINAI, a mountain in Arabia, between the two gulfs, at the head of the Red Sea. See Part I. p. 45.

It seems probable, from Scripture, that Sinai and Horeb were only different heads or peaks of the same mountain; and besides these there is another, now called the Mount of St. Catharine. The monastery of St. Catharine stands at the foot of Mount Sinai, and is strongly built of stone. On the east side is a window by which pilgrims and visitors are drawn up into the monastery in a basket which is let down by a rope and pulley. By the same means the monks also let down victuals and alms to the Arabs, to be better secured from outrage; but they never suffer them to enter the monastery, the door of which is only opened to admit their bishop. The Greek Christians have been in possession of this monastery for a thousand years; it having been given to them by the emperor Justinian. From this building there were formerly steps up the side of the mountain to its very top, the number of which was computed at 14,000. At present some of them are broken; but those which remain are well made, and easy to ascend and descend.

SINIM, a place mentioned in Isaiah xlix. 12. supposed by learned commentators to mean China.