In the early years of archaeological excitement in the environment of the biblical world, Merrill traveled through what is today Jordan on an extended journey and wrote this engaging account of his travels and explorations. Copiously illustrated with line drawings and etchings of the monuments and notable sights he encountered, his descriptions still retain their compelling voice. Beginning in biblical Bashan, he journeyed to Hauran and around the region of the Sea of Galilee. Traveling south through the Holy Land he thoroughly explored the Jordan Valley, describing its features in great detail. The regions of Nebo, the Jabbok, and Gilead are presented before a visit to the Decapolis region and a sojourn in the Golan. Interspersed with personal anecdotes that create a distinctive travelogue feel, the narrative also contains substantial historical information. The final few chapters describe the life of the Bedouin in the desert. An historical account of travels around an area that would soon blossom into an archaeological haven, this journal is worth exploration for its contribution to a new discipline.

Selah Merrill (1837-1909) was a Congregationalist minister and archaeologist for the American Palestine Exploration Society. He studied at Yale University and New Haven Theological Seminary. He taught at Andover Theological Seminary.

• INTRODUCTION (page 7)
• PREFACE (page 11)
• CONTENTS (page 13)
• LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS (page 15)
• EAST OF THE JORDAN (page 19)
• CHAPTER II:AMONG THE CITIES OF BASHAN (page 28)
• CHAPTER III:AMONG THE CITIES OF BASHAN-Continued. (page 42)
• CHAPTER IV:AMONG THE CITIES OF BASHAN-Continued. (page 61)
• CHAPTER V:HAURAN ARCHITECTURE (page 80)
• CHAPTER VI:UM EL JEMAL,THE "MOTHER OF THE CAMEL" (page 98)
• CHAPTER VII:PERSONAL EXPERIENCES (page 108)
• CHAPTER VIII:SICK IN THE DESERT (page 122)
• CHAPTER IX:ON THE WAY TO THE FIELD (page 134)
• CHAPTER X:AROUND THE SEA OF GALILEE (page 147)
• CHAPTER XI:EL HAMMA,AN ANCIENT WATERING-PLACE (page 159)
• CHAPTER XII:GADARA (page 167)
• CHAPTER XIII:APHEK,THE GRAVE OF A SYRIAN ARMY(I.KINGS XX.,30) (page 181)
• CHAPTER XIV:THE JORDAN VALLEY (page 194)
• CHAPTER XV:THE JORDAN VALLEY-Continued. (page 199)
• CHAPTER XVI:THE JORDAN VALLEY-Continued. (page 213)
• CHAPTER XVII:LOWER JORDAN VALLEY-THE SHITTIM PLAIN. (page 228)
• CHAPTER XVIII:LOWER JORDAN VALLEY-THE SHITTIM PLAIN-Continued. (page 244)
• CHAPTER XIX:MOUNT NEBO (page 262)
• CHAPTER XX:ON THE UPPER ZERKA,OR JABBOK (page 275)
• CHAPTER XXI:GILEAD (page 294)
• CHAPTER XXII:THE DECAPOLIS (page 313)
• CHAPTER XXIII:RETURN (page 325)
• CHAPTER XXIV:ON THE MARCH (page 335)
• CHAPTER XXV:GOLDAN AND ASHTEROTH KARNAIM (page 342)
• CHAPTER XXVI:PILGRIM CARAVANS (page 355)
• CHAPTER XXVII:AN UNDERGROUND CITY (page 370)
• CHAPTER XXVIII:THE WATCH-TOWER OF GILEAD (page 381)
• CHAPTER XXIX:ON T HE LOWER ZERKA,OR JABBOK (page 394)
• CHAPTER XXX:EXPLORATION OF THE JABBOK (page 403)
• CHAPTER XXXI:A WAR-GLOUD (page 426)
• CHAPTER XXXIL:CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY (page 433)
• CHAPTER XXXIII:A SURPRISE PARTY (page 441)
• CHAPTER XXXIV:MAHANAIM AND PELLA (page 449)
• CHAPTER XXXV:OUR LORD AT CAPERNAUM AND IN PEREA (page 472)
• CHAPTER XXXVI:ARAB LIFE IN THE DESERT (page 491)
• CHAPTER XXXVII:ARAB LIFE IN THE DESERT-Continued (page 512)
• CHAPTER XXXVIII:ARAB LIFE IN THE DESERT-Concluded (page 527)
• CHAPTER XXXIX:CONCLUSION (page 540)
• AUTHORITIES CONSULTED (page 557)
• INDEX (page 561)