Trachonitis

TRACHONITIS, Trachonite, or Drachonite.Luke iii. 1, St. Luke speaks of Trachonitis: He says, that in the fifteenth Year of Tiberius, Philip, Son of Herod the Great, was Tetrarch of Iturea, and of Trachonitis. This Province had Arabia deserta to the East, Batanea to the West, Iturea to the South, and the Country of Damascus to the North. Trachonitis is often ascribed to Arabia, and rather belongs to it than to Joseph. Antiq. l. 1. c. 7.Palestine. Josephus says, it is situate between Palestine and Cœlo-Syria, and that it was peopled by Hush, or Chush, the Son of Aram. The Road to Trachonitis lay towards the Lake Phiala, where were the Sources of the River Jordan. This Province was full of Rocks, which served as a Harbour for a great number of Thieves and Robbers, who often found Employment for Herod the Great, as may be seen in Josephus. Eusebius says,¹ that the Tribe of Manasseh extended itself into Trachonitis, towards Bostra; and elsewhere, that Iturea penetrated also into Trachonitis, and into the Desart that was near Bostra. Lastly, St. Jerome says, that Trachonitis is beyond Bostra, inclining towards Damascus. Strabo speaks of two Mountains called Trachones, which were above Damascus, towards Arabia and Iturea, where steep Mountains with Caves in them are to be seen, that would afford a Retreat for a thousand Men.

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