a city of Syria, on both sides of the Oronites, which is here crossed by four bridges, 110 miles N. by E. of Damascus. It is the Hamath of Scripture, and the Ephiphaniea of the Greeks. The kingdom of Hamath lay between Zobah on the E. and Rehob on the W.; and, like Dan, is used to denote the northern boundary of the Holy Land, as in 1 Kings viii. 65, "from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt." The entering in, or entrance in, of Hamath, was a mountain pass forming its approach from the south, and was the passage from the northern extremity of the land of Israel into Syria. Amos (vi. 2) styles it Hamath the Great. Toi was king of Hamath at the time when David conquered the Syrians of Zobah. In the time of Hezekiah the town along with its territory was conquered by the Assyrians. Abulfeda, the Arabian geographer, who was prince of Hamath in the fourteenth century, states that this "is reckoned one of the most pleasant towns of Syria. The Orentes flows round the greater part of the city on the east and north. It boasts a lofty and well-built citadel. Within the town are many dams and water-machines, by means of which the water is led off by canals to irrigate the gardens and supply private houses. It is remarked of this city and of Schizzar, that they abound more in water-machines than any other cities in Syria." This description is in a great measure still correct. It is surrounded by walls and otherwise well defended; but, as in most Syrian towns, the streets are narrow, irregular, and dirty. Being on a great caravan route between Asia and Africa, it has an active commerce. It has manufactures of silk and cotton fabrics, gold and silver thread, &c. Pop. about 44,000.