B[1]. Geography of Israel paper
B. Project: Read pages 12-61, 70-92, 93-146 in Zondervan NIV Atlas of the Bible. Discuss how the knowledge of the geography of Israel and its surrounding countries impacts your study of the Bible.
In order that I might be clear, I will include a word study so that you can be on the same page in understanding what I am attempting to convey. I will, in the synopsis of the pages assigned, relate the significance of three specific areas benefited from in this study, namely Geology, Topography and Genealogy.
Geology:
ge•ol•o•gy \jē-ˈä-lə-jē\ noun a : a science that deals with the history of the earth and its life especially as recorded in rocks[1]
This study revealed significant information on rock formations and their significance to the biblical world. Zondervan NIV Atlas reveals that “The Sea of Galilee is located in the Rift Valley on the eastern border of Lower Galilee. The surface of the lake is approximately 1280 feet below the surrounding hills and 690 feet below sea level.”[2] This is very significant because it explains how storms can begin without warning; “… because of the rather steep hills that surround the sea, the winds rushing down the slopes can create sudden and violent storms on the lake.”[3] This is what happen to the disciples as they crossed over the Sea of Galilee and the storm arose and Jesus quieted the wind and the waves (Mark 4:37-39).
Geology played a significant role in the biblical worlds’ search for water. Abraham and Isaac were known for their ability to find water by digging wells. Geologically, wells were found by digging near the intersection of two limestone rock formations called “wadi”. This intersection serves as a natural trap for water. The rock formations eroded in such a way that they formed very steep and difficult to navigate terrain in mountainous areas. These steeply eroded formations also served as natural protection from an enemy attack. “Hebron is at the junction of the main Ridge Route and its two branches, it is a natural hub of the southern region of the Hill Country of Judah. Situated high in the hills, defended on all sides by typical treacherous wadi systems, it protected Judah from the south.”[4]
Topography:
to•pog•ra•phy \tə-ˈpä-grə-fē\ noun a : the art or practice of graphic delineation in detail usually on maps or charts of natural and man-made features of a place or region especially in a way to show their relative positions and elevations[5]
Zondervon so clearly described the five major longitudinal zones that define the biblical region, (Coastal Plans where the Philistines lived, the Central Mountain Range, just east of the stageing area used by armies in their attacks on the Mountain Cities, The Rift Valley that included the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan, the Dead Sea and the wilderness of the Arabah, the Transjordanian Mountains which included the Arnon Gorge, the biblical lands equivalent of the Grand Canyon and The Eastern Desert, many miles of open and dry desert lands). A layout of the “Highway System” of that time shows clearly why Edom would not allow Israel to pass through their land (Numbers 20:17). Zondervan explains “The major factor contributing to the economy of Edom seems to have been its control of the caravan routes. The people living in Edom at times were able to gain great wealth by controlling these caravan route.”[6]
The significance of this information makes clear where the events of the Bible took place along with giving plausible reasons why certain battles were fought. This is best said by Karleen, “First, biblical events occur in real physical settings and involve people who walked in places that are known and accessible today. The sites where they lived, journeyed, fought, preached, faltered, and triumphed for God are significant, for the Bible often teaches us as much by the location of an event as by the details of the event itself.[7]
Genealogy:
genealogy, a history of the descent of a person or group (family, tribe, or nation) from an ancestor. The term appears in both the ot and the nt (1 Chron. 5:1, 7, 17; 2 Chron. 31:16; Ezra 2:62; Neh. 7:5, 64; 1 Tim. 1:4; Titus 3:9; also Matt. 1:1 rsv [kjv: ‘origins’]). [8]
Understanding the family origins beginning at Noah and his family has played a significant role in my understanding of the scripture. Noah’s three sons are the beginning of the Nations. It certainly appears that both Ham and Shem have a significant role in the biblical regions while the descendents of Japheth are diminished over time and inhabit others regions of the world. The descendants of Ham include the Philistines, the arch enemies of the Israelites, the Jebusites who kept control of Jerusalem long after Joshua’s conquest of the Promised Land, Egypt that became a world dominating power for centuries, and of course, Canaan who God gave permission to remove from the Promised Land.
Abrams beginnings in Mesopotamia make clear not only where he sent his servant for a wife for Isaac but also why he sent him there. I understand better why Jacob went to Mesopotamia to his uncle Laban’s house. I now know where the Jabbok River is and how it relates to the Rift Valley and Transjordanian Mountain region. I know now where the Garden of Eden is purported to be and its relationship to Mesopotamia and modern day Iraq.
----
[1]Merriam-Webster, I. (1996, c1993). Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary. Includes index. (10th ed.). Springfield, Mass., U.S.A.: Merriam-Webster.
[2] Rasmussen, Carl G., (1989). Zondervan NIV Atlas of The Bible, Premier reference Series (35). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Press.
[3] Ibid
[4] Rasmussen, Carl G., (1989). Zondervan NIV Atlas of The Bible, Premier reference Series (42). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Press.
[5]Merriam-Webster, I. (1996, c1993). Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary. Includes index. (10th ed.). Springfield, Mass., U.S.A.: Merriam-Webster.
[6] Rasmussen, Carl G., (1989). Zondervan NIV Atlas of The Bible, Premier reference Series (56). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Press.
[7]Karleen, P. S. (1987). The handbook to Bible study : With a guide to the Scofield study system. "This book is intended as a companion to the Scofield Reference Bible"--Pref.; Includes indexes. New York: Oxford University Press.
[8]Achtemeier, P. J., Harper & Row, P., & Society of Biblical Literature. (1985). Harper's Bible dictionary. Includes index. (1st ed.) (335). San Francisco: Harper & Row.