SECTION I. The Region of Decapolis not well placed by some.
WE meet with frequent mention of Decapolis in the Evangelists, as also in forreign Authors; but no where in a more difficult sense than in those words of St. Mark, Chap. VII. where it is thus spoken of Christ; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. And again departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came to the Sea of Galilee through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. The difficulty lies in this, that supposing by the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, a place near the gates of Sidon is to be understood, of which before, it can scarcely be conceived how Christ went through the middle of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee, unless it be supposed, that Deca∣polis was within Galilee.
Hence a 1.1 Borchard certainly, and others that follow him, seem to be induced, to num∣ber these Towns of Galilee for Decapolitan Towns; Tiberias, Sephet, Kedesh Naphtali, Hazor, Capernaum, Cesarea Philippi, Jetopata, Bethsaida, Chorazin, Scythopolis. Upon whose credit Baronius writes thus: b 1.2
The Province of Decapolis, saith he, was placed in the same Galilee; so called because there were ten Cities in it, among which one was reckoned Capernaum.Confidently enough indeed, but without any ground. Pliny much otherwise.
There is joyned to it, saith he, on the side of Syria the Region of Decapolis, from the number of the Towns, in which Region all do not keep the same Towns. Yet most do. Damascus and Opoto watered with the River Chrysorrhoa, fruit∣ful Philadelphia, Raphana, all lying backwards towards Arabia: Scythopolis, (hereto∣fore called Nysa from Father Bacchus, his Nurse being there buried,) from Scythians drawn down, (and planted) there: Gaddara, (the River) Hieromiax gliding by it, and that which is now called Hippo, Dio, Pella rich in waters, Galasa, Canatha. The Tetrarchies run between these Cities, and compass them about, which are like to King∣doms, and are divided into Kingdoms, namely, Trachonitis, Paneas, in which is Cesarea, with the Fountain before spoke of, Abila, Arca, Ampeloessa.
Whom should we believe? Borchard and his followers place all Decapolis within Ga∣lilee, being extended the whole length of Galilee, and adjacent to Jordan, and on the shore of the Sea of Genesaret. Pliny and his followers, place it all in the Country be∣yond Jordan, except only Scythopolis.
In Scythopolis both parties agree, and I in this with both: but in others I agree with Borchardus hardly in any, and not with Pliny in all. In them, it is absurd, to reckon the most famed Cities of Galilee for Cities of Decapolis, when both in sacred and pro∣phane Authors, Galilee is plainly distinguished from Decapolis. In Pliny, it seems an un∣equal match to joyn Damascus and Philadelphia, formerly the two Metropoles of Syria and the Kingdom of Ammon, with the small Cities of Gadara and Hippo.
With Pliny and his followers, Josephus also consents, in reckoning up some Cities of Decapolis. For severely chiding Justus of Tiberias, he has these words: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. c 1.3 You also and all the men of Tiberias, have not only taken up arms, but have fought against the Cities of Decapolis in Syria. Observe that, The Cities of Decapolis 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in Sy∣ria, not in Galilee. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Thou hast set their Cities on fire. And a little after; After that Vespasian was come to Ptolemais, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The chief men of Decapolis of Syria sharply accused Justus of Tiberias, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that he had fired their Towns. But what those Towns of Decapolis