Pella

PELLA, a City beyond Jordan. Pliny puts it in Decapolis, and commends it for its fine Waters¹. Stephanus places it in Cœle- Syria. There is nothing inconsistent in this, no more than in what others affirm, that Pella was in Perea, in Batanea, in the Country of Basan². Perhaps also that when Josephus³ speaks of Pella in the Country of Moab, he means the City of which we are speaking, which was situate in Perea, in Batanea, in the Country of Basan, which prophane Authors sometime call Cœle-Syria, and in the Country which belonged to the Ammonites, the Brethren and Allies of the Moabites; unless he confounds Pella with Abila in the Country of Moab, called by Moses Abel-Shittim, Numb. xxxiii. 49, and by Josephus Abila, Antiq. l. iv. c. 7. l. v. c. 1. de Bello, l. v. c. 3. As to the Situation of Pella, it was between Jabesh and Gerasa, six Miles from Jabesh⁴. It was also of the Number of the Ten Cities known by Geographers, as also in the Gospel, by the Name of Decapolis.

Matth. iv. 25. Mark v. 20.Josephus relates⁵, that under the Reign of Alexander Jannæus, the Jews were Masters of Pella, and that they destroyed it because the Inhabitants would not embrace their Religion and Ceremonies. The first Christians being told by our Saviour, that the City and Temple of Jerusalem should be demolished, took Refuge at Pella⁶, as soon as they saw the Fire of War against the Romans began to be kindled. St. Epiphanius says⁷, that the Disciples were warned by the Revelation of an Angel to withdraw thither. This City belonged to the Kingdom of Agrippa, who did not enter into this War but on the Side of the Romans, and to assist them at the Siege of Jerusalem.

I suspect that Pella takes its Name from Abila, or Abela. There were more Cities than one that were known by the Name of Abila; but that I mean is called by Geographers Abila of Batanea, and in Scripture Abel of the Vines. Polybius⁸ distinguishes Abila from Pella, since he says, that Antiochus the Great took Pella, Kamos, Gephros, Abila, Gadara, &c. Stephanus the Geographer says, that the City of Pella had Alexander the Great for its Founder, probably in Memory of the City of Pella in Thessaly, where he had his Birth. Abila and Pella were afterwards Episcopal Cities of the second Palestine. Josephus says⁹, that Pella was one of the seven Toparchies of Judæa; but elsewhere he calls it Betlephtepha¹⁰, and Pliny gives it the same Name¹¹. ‘Tis unknown where Betlephtepha was. The Name of Pella is not in the Scripture, but it is famous enough to deserve a Place here.

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