(ערי נברכתא (לתולדות הישוב בתקופה שלפני החשמונאים

The author considers the Palestinian topography of "Judith" (IV, 4-6) as genuine and as of an historical character. He distinguishes between the cities enumerated in IV, 4-5 (viz. Samaria, Hola, Beithhoron, Abelmaim, etc.) and those mentioned in IV, 6 (Bethulia and Beithomesthaim); the former were inhabited by a mixed population, while the latter were Jewish. He finds support for this thesis in some passages in "Maccabees", in the writings of Josephus, and, quite distinctly, in the "Fastroll" (for Marheshwan 27), Bethulia and Beithomestaim mentioned in the "Book of Judith" being accordingly situated in the Samaritan ("Sebastean") hill country, called in the Fastroll Nabhrakhta נברכתא, which, as pointed out in the paper must have been colonised by the Jews, (probably by colonists claiming a Simeonite descent), at least as early as the pre-Nehemian era. The author maintains that a similar date must also be conceded to most of the other Jewish settlements throughout Palestine (notably in Galilee and Peraea) known by the time of the last war with the Romans. On the other hand the author rejects the accepted identification of נכרכתא with Narbatta, Arbatta; these last being placed on the Sea Coast in the vicinity of Dōr and Caesarea.