Library Epiphanius On Weights and Measures
The Geography of Palestine
81. Mary went up to the hill country to (visit) Elizabeth.[601] And this hill country extends upward from the Aulon (valley) and Jericho and the Dead Sea, and on the other side of Jericho it extends upward from the Jordan to the neighborhood of parts of Phoenicia. Here, then, are established [602] the boundaries [603] of Israel and (her) possessions,[604] Abilene and the Decapolis, which are on the side of Pella.[605] But they are also situated in the region of Perea.[606] And to them also belong the Ammonite (country) and the Moabite (country) and the |81 Gileadite (country) above.[607] Now they are eastward across the Jordan, but the hill country is westward of the Jordan, Jerusalem being in the midst of it. But to the west of the east[608] it has the Shephelah. In the Shephelah were the five satrapies of the foreign tribes:[609] (that of) the Gazans, (named) from the city of Gaza; (that of) the Ashkelonians, from the city of Ashkelon; (that of) the Azotans----these were on the sea. But there was also that of the Gathans, whence Goliath was; but Gath is now laid waste. But it extended to Ekron. And there is now a large desolate village not far from Gath, about seven miles. Some think this to be Ekron, but from the positions and from the signs and from (the location of) Mount Carmel we find it to be Caesarea Stratonis.[610] This whole country, however, was called @@, and from its name of @@ the whole eparchy [611] came to be called Palestine. And so much for these things.
English translation by James Elmer Dean, Epiphanius’ Treatise on Weights and Measures: The Syriac Version (Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, 1935). Public domain in the United States (copyright not renewed). Digital text via Roger Pearse / tertullian.org.