Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
the extreme north of Syria. Viewed on the map, the lake is of an oblong form, of tolerably regular
contour, interrupted only by a large and long peninsula which projects from the eastern shore near
its southern end, and virtually divides the expanse of the water into two portions, connected by a
long, narrow and somewhat devious passage. Its surface is from north to south as nearly as possible
40 geographical or 46 English miles long. Its greatest width is about 9 geographical or 10 1/2
English miles. Its area is about 250 geographical square miles. At its northern end the lake receives
the stream of the Jordan; on its eastern side the Zurka Ma’in (the ancient Callirrhoe, and possibly
the more ancient en-Eglaim), the Mojib (the Arnon of the Bible), and the Beni-Hemad ; on the
south the Kurahy or el-Ahsy ; and on the west that of Ain Jidy . The depression of its surface, and
the depth which it attains below that surface, combined with the absence of any outlet, render it
one of the most remarkable spots on the globe. The surface of the lake in May, 1848, was 1316.7
feet below the level of the Mediterranean at Jaffa. Its depth, at about one third of its length from
the north end, is 1308 feet. The water of the lake is not less remarkable than its other features. Its
most obvious peculiarity is its great weight. Its specific gravity has been found to be as much as
12.28; that is to say, a gallon of it would weigh over 12 1/4 lbs., instead of 10 lbs., the weight of
distilled water. Water so heavy must not only be extremely buoyant, but must possess great inertia.
Its buoyancy is a common theme of remark by the travellers who have been upon it or in it. Dr.
Robinson “could never swim before, either in fresh or salt water,” yet here he “could sit, stand, lie
or swim without difficulty.” (B.R.i.506.) The remarkable weight of the water is due to the very
large quantity of mineral salts which it holds in solution. Each gallon of the water, weighing 12 1/4
lbs., contains nearly 3 1/3 lbs. of matter in solution—an immense quantity when we recollect that
seawater, weighing 10 1/4 lbs. per gallon, contains less than 1/2 a lb. Of this 3 1/2 lbs. nearly 1 lb.
is common salt (chloride of sodium), about 2 lbs. chloride of magnesium, and less than 3 a lb.
chloride of calcium (or muriate of lime). The most usual ingredient is bromide of magnesium,
which exists in truly extraordinary quantity. It has been long supposed that no life whatever existed
in the lake; but recent facts show that some inferior organizations do find a home even in these salt
and acrid waters. The statements of ancient travellers and geographers to the effect that no living
creature could exist on the shores of the lake, or bird fly across its surface, are amply disproved by
later travellers. The springs on the margin of the lake harbor snipe, partridges, ducks, nightingales
and other birds as well as frogs; and hawks, doves and hares are found along the shore. The
appearance of the lake does not fulfill the idea conveyed by its popular name. “The Dead Sea,”
says a recent traveller, “did not strike me with that sense of desolation and dreariness which I
suppose it ought. I thought it a pretty, smiling lake—a nice ripple on its surface.” The truth lies, as
usual, somewhere between these two extremes. On the one hand, the lake certainly is not a gloomy,
deadly, smoking gulf. In this respect it does not at all fulfill the promise of its name. At sunrise and
sunset the scene must be astonishingly beautiful. But on the other hand, there is something in the
prevalent sterility and the dry, burnt look of the shores, the overpowering heat, the occasional smell
of sulphur, the dreary salt marsh at the southern end, and the fringe of dead driftwood round the
margin, which must go far to excuse the title which so many ages have attached to the lake, and
which we may be sure it will never lose. The connection between this singular lake and the biblical
history is very slight. In the topographical records of the Pentateuch and the book of Joshua it forms
one among the landmarks of the boundaries of the whole country, as well as of the inferior divisions
of Judah and Benjamin. As a landmark it is once named in what to be a quotation from a lost work
of the prophet Jonah, (2 Kings 14:25) itself apparently a reminiscence of the old Mosaic statement.
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William Smith