Difference between revisions of "Eleutherus"

<p> ( '''''Ε᾿Λεύθερος''''' '', Free;'' see Simonis, ''Onom.'' page 58), a river of Syria mentioned in &nbsp;1 [[Maccabees]] 11:7; &nbsp;1 Maccabees 12:30. In early ages it was a noted border stream (Pliny, 5:17; 9:12; Ptolemy, 5:15, 4). According to Strabo, it separated Syria from [[Phoenicia]] (16:753), and formed the northern limit of Coele-Syria. [[Josephus]] informs us that Antony gave [[Cleopatra]] "the cities that were within the river Eleutherus, as far as Egypt, except [[Tyre]] and Sidon" (Ant. 15:4, 1; War, 1:18, 5). A careful examination of the passages in &nbsp;Numbers 34:8-10, and &nbsp;Ezekiel 47:15-17, and a comparison of them with the features of the country, lead Mr. [[Porter]] to the conclusion that this river also formed in part the northern border of the " [[Promised]] Land" ''(Five Years In Damascus,'' 2:354 sq.). Pliny says that at a certain season of the year it swarmed with tortoise (9:10). Of the identity of the Eleutherus with the modern aihr el-Kebir, "Great River," there cannot be a doubt. Its highest source is at the northeastern base of Lebanon; it sweeps round the northern end of the range, through the opening called in [[Scripture]] "the entrance of Hamath" (&nbsp;Numbers 34:8), and, after receiving several small tributaries from the heights of Lebanon, it falls into the [[Mediterranean]] about eighteen miles north of Tripolis. It still forms the boundary between the provinces of Akkar and elHusn. During summer and autumn it is but a small stream, easily forded, but in winter it swells into a large and rapid river (Maundrell, p. 33; Burckhardt, page 270; Paulus, ''Samml.'' 1:35, 303). </p>

<p> ''''' ē̇ ''''' - ''''' lū´thẽr ''''' - ''''' us ''''' ( Ἐλεύθερος , <i> ''''' Eleútheros ''''' </i> ; 1 Macc 11:7; 12:30): A river separating Syria and Phoenicia. </p>