Students of the Book of Mormon should note that the Hebrews gave the name of wilderness or desert to places that were suitable for pastures for sheep and cattle even though they were not cultivated. The desert of Judea, south of Jerusalem, which is referred to in this chapter, was the place in which John the Baptist first preached repentance (Matt. 4:1) At the time of Joshua it had six cities. (Jos. 15:61, 62) It is now, or was a few years ago when the writer (J. M. Sjodahl) was a missionary there for the Latter-day Saints, one of the most dreary and desolate regions of the country.