Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 35:139 (Jul 1878)
Article: Succoth And Penuel Not Yet Identified
Author: J. A. Paine

BSac 35:139 (July 1878) p. 481

Succoth And Penuel Not Yet Identified

Prof. J. A. Paine

An identification of Succoth and Penuel published in the Bibliotheca Sacra for October last ought not to pass without review. An obligation, perhaps, rests upon every one specially informed on the subject, to apprise biblical students whether the opinion therein expressed can be relied upon or not. Having thoroughly explored every portion of Eastern Palestine from the Arnon to Damascus two and three years before Dr. Merrill’s observations, and now having given four years of study, aided by every work of reference that could be desired, to its geography and places in a biblical point of view, I might be expected to judge intelligently respecting the merits of this proposition. Though extremely reluctant to speak adversely to any proposal he may make, I am compelled to dissent from Dr. Merrill’s view for many reasons, among others the following.

General Considerations

1. The topographical character of the valley forbids it. From the point where the Zărqâ approaches the region of

BSac 35:139 (July 1878) p. 482

the Jordan, as far up as the ford of Jărăsh called Meshra’ ez-Zublîyeh, its ravine is a profound chasm, comparable only to the abyss-like canons in the territories and mountains of our far West. On the north a mountain rises directly upward, and scarcely pauses in ascent to its summit at an elevation of fully five thousand feet. On the south a wall of rock and earth lifts up from seven to twelve hundred feet in height, whose summit, by the wear of lateral wadies, takes the form of headlands or precipitous bluffs jutting out toward the stream. The bed is for the most part a wild, rugged cleft, ascending at the rate of two hundred feet per mile, either obstructed by rocks laid bare, or half closed by great blocks rolled down from the hill-sides. Here and there a level or a little opening may happen, but such gaps are extremely few. Aside from these rare places the depths of the gorge would never be visited by man, except for the necessity of drink in summer’s drouth or of crossing from one mountain to the other. Far down in this narrow channel the stream of the Zarqa flows with great swiftness, generally in rapids, often in cascades, always dashing noisily against the stones of its bed or sides, and in unceasing windings.

Now this valley was always practically uninhabitable. The bed of the stream is infested with the spiny zizyphus, thickets of oleander, now and then a dwarfed plane-tree, many reeds, and with them many wild boars, but the moment the limit of water is passed the mountain-sides afford nothing whatever beside thin, wiry broom or roe tarn bushes. It never could su...