Onomasticum veteris testamenti sive tractatus philologicus. Lexicon of the Old Testament with Philological treatise by Johann Simonis. Halle, 1741.Latin, Hebrew, Arabic, Ethiopian and Greek.
Engraved frontispiece - map of Eretz Israel, with important Biblical sites, mountains, cities, and the division by the twelve tribes, captioned in Hebrew; decorated with grapevines and grapes symbolizing the fertility of the land; all within an ornate frame. Cartographer not mentioned.
One of the earliest and most important maps of Eretz Israel, captioned in Hebrew, prior to the 19th century. The map was inspired by verses from the Book of Psalms referring to planting grapevines in Eretz Israel. The grapes symbolize the People of Israel, the exodus from Egypt and the conquest of Eretz Israel. On the grape leaves appear the names of Kings, Prophets and other outstanding biblical figures. The name "Israel" appears on the vine.
The map is oriented to the north and its northern borders are Lebanon and Mount Hermon. In the south, the map reaches the estate of the tribe of Yehuda, the town of Hebron and the Dead Sea. In the west, "the Great Sea" with several vessels, and in the east - Trans-Jordan. The River Jordan flows from Lebanon southward, through the Hula Lake ("May Marom"), the Sea of Galilee and into the Dead Sea. Towns are geographically located incorrectly, for example Be'er Sheba is located north-west of Jerusalem.
The author of the book, Johann Simonis (1698-1768), professor of Theology and History of the Church in Halle University, a Hebraist, Orientalist and philologist.
Laor 730. Wajntraub - Hebrew Maps of the Holy Land, 1992, p. 67.
644, [118] pp, 20.5 cm. Book in good condition, stains. Map in good condition, minor stains. Not centered on the leaf. New leather binding.