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North Country, Land of the North

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

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NORTH COUNTRY, LAND OF THE NORTH. A phrase of somewhat vague application, but denoting in a general fashion 1 . The source or region from which dangerous foes were to come upon Palestine (so in Jeremiah 6:22; Jeremiah 10:22 , Zechariah 6:6; Zechariah 6:8 ). 2. The regions to which the people of Israel or Judah had been exiled, and whence they were to be restored (so in Jeremiah 3:18; Jeremiah 16:16; Jeremiah 23:8; Jeremiah 31:8 , Zechariah 2:6 ). 3. Northern Syria (so Jeremiah 46:10 ). The last-named Instance explains itself. The other applications of the term may be further illustrated by the usage of the word ‘north’ generally in OT. Here it is sufficient to recall the general fact that, while in the early history of Israel the land was invaded by many small peoples from the east and south, after the rise of the Assyrian and Chaldæan powers the attacks were made by larger armies which came in the course of their march down through Syria or the Mediterranean coast-land, the eastern desert route being impossible. Deportations of captives were naturally effected by the same routes, and by the same routes they would return. Thus, though Babylonia was in the same latitude as Palestine, it was included among the countries of the ‘north.’

J. F. M‘Curdy.