Wilson, Charles W. [Hrsg.]; Fenn, Harry [Ill.]: Picturesque Palestine: Sinai and Egypt ; in 2 volumes (Band 2) (New York, 1883)

PHILISTIA.

157

18). It is now known under the name of 'Ain Shems, but there is no fountain to be found
there at the present day

(see page 155).

One of the most in-
teresting incidents re-
corded in the early history
of the Israelites in Pales-
tine is the passage at arms
between Goliath of Gath
and the youthful David
in the Valley of Elah.
This valley, now recog-
nised as Widy es Sur or
Es Sunt (see engraving),
commences in the moun-
tains of Judah near He-
bron (see page 192), and
descending rapidly to-
wards the north, divides
them from the hills of
Philistia to the west.
After about ten miles it
bends round to the west,
and is here crossed by
the main road leading
from Gaza to Jerusalem ;
that road by which the
Egyptians of ancient
times gained the hill
country, and by which the
Bedawin of the present
day make their forays
upon the villages in the
mountains. Hitherto it
has been a somewhat
broad valley, with parallel
lines of hills on either
side, but after passing
Shocoh (Shuweikeh) on
82