THE LAND
An understanding of the geography of the ancient world is of
tremendous value in understanding the Bible. It is this writer's
conviction that a good Bible atlas is an essential tool for any
serious student of the Bible. The brief notes that follow are meant
only to be supplement to a set of adequate maps; it is recommended
they be read with maps in hand. We will begin with the area to the
north of the Persian Gulf.
Two rivers flow into the Persian Gulf: the Euphrates and, farther
to the east, the Tigris. Between these rivers lies a valley which is
usually called simply the Tigris and Euphrates River Valley.
Beginning with this valley and moving north and northwest, then back
down the coast of the Mediterranean and into Egypt is a geographical
feature known as the Fertile Crescent, which has long been regarded as
the cradle of civilization. It is within this area that most of the
events of the Old Testament take place.
Modern-day Israel occupies that land which once made up ancient
Palestine (and before that Canaan). Modern Syria and Lebanon together
make up what was once known simply as Syria, which lay along the
northern portion of the eastern Mediterranean seaboard, bordering
Palestine to the north. Be sure to note the difference between Syria,
and Assyria. The latter was a kingdom which occupied the northern
part of the Tigris-Euphrates valley, that area which is today
encompassed by Iraq. The Old Testament is largely concerned with the
areas of Babylonia - in the southern portion of the Tigris-Euphrates
valley, on the northern end of the Persian Gulf - and Assyria in the
Tigris- Euphrates valley, of Syria and Palestine (also known as
Canaan), and of Egypt.
Let's now look briefly specifically at the land of Palestine,
beginning with a discussion of its distinctive topographical features.
That part of Palestine which lies to the west of the Jordan River
encompasses only about 6000 square miles. The land of Israel has
traditionally stretched from Beersheba in the south up to Mount Hermon
above Lake Dan in the north, a distance of only about 150 miles. From
the Sea of Galilee to the Mediterranean is a distance of 28 miles,
while from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea in the south is twice
that - about 54. Thus we are dealing with an area which is much
smaller than most people realize.
Probably one of the most important distinctives of Palestinian
geography is its terrain, which is very rugged indeed. Proceeding
from the Mediterranean in the west to the desert to the east of the
Jordan River, the land is divided into five distinct geographical
areas. Running north and south along the Mediterranean coastline is
the Coastal Plain, sometimes also referred to as the Plain of Sharon.
This is the only really fertile area of Palestine. Unfortunately it
also happens to be the only really feasible route between Egypt and
the empires to the east. As such, it was often responsible for
entangling Israel in the affairs of the other nations of the region.
Moving inland from the Coastal Plain one comes next to the the
shepha (or shephila) - the foot hills. From these one passes on up
into the rugged, mountainous areas of Palestine, which are usually
referred to simply as the Hill Country. It is here, among other
things, that one will find the city of Jerusalem. To the east the
hill country drops off rapidly into the valley of the Jordan, and, on
the far side of Jordan, to the plateau area which in turn moves into
the Arabian desert.
Of particular note in all this is the elevation of the country.
Jerusalem, in the Hill Country, sits about 2600 feet above sea level,
yet the shoreline of the Dead Sea 15 miles away is 1200 feet below sea
level. Thus, in a fifteen mile distance measured horizontally we have
a drop in elevation of almost 4000 feet. This is why, for example, in
the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus begins by saying 'a certain man
was going DOWN from Jerusalem to Jericho.'
This ruggedness of the land dominates much of the history of
Palestine. In times of danger the people of Palestine lived in the
hills, where they were relatively safe from enemies and easily
defended. Historically, their major military defeats came only when
they moved out into the plains area or the foothills.
One other dramatic feature must be mentioned in any discussion of
geography. Stretching roughly from Mount Carmel, to the west of the
Sea of Galilee, all the way across Palestine is a flat area or plain.
Sometimes called the Plain of Jezreel or Esdraelon, this area even
today serves as the breadbasket of Israel. Overlooking this plain is
a fair-sized hill on top of which sat an ancient city called Megiddo.
Militarily, whoever controlled this city controlled the plain, and
with it most of Palestine. Historically, most decisive battles were
fought in and around this hill. The Hebrew word for 'hill' is 'har',
and this hill on which Megiddo sat was called 'Har-megiddo' - the Hill
of Megiddo - which transliterated into Greek is Armaggedon. This then
is where we get our image of Armageddon as a decisive battle and,
ultimately, as the decisive battle of all of human history.
The climate of Palestine is relatively mild, with an average year
round temperature in the 60s. The major problem faced by occupants of
the land in their daily lives was that of water. Sixty miles to the
east of the mountains is desert, and, to the west, moisture-laden
winds off the Mediterranean bring ample rain to the plains, but on the
east side of the mountains there is very little precipitation. When
water did come, it was usually in the form of torrents pouring off the
mountains to wash away shrub, dirt and any straying animals or people
caught unawares. Polluted as it was with mud and debris, it is poorly
suited to provide residents with the water they need for livestock or
fields.
With the problem of water so acute, then, and so constantly in
the forefront of the minds of the people, it is easy to see how the
abundance of water to drink and to harvest became a central prophetic
image in the writings of the Old Testament prophets. Ezekiel, for
example, when he prophesies of a New Jerusalem, envisions it as a city
with an overabundance of water - water to swim in. And in the Twenty-
Third Psalm we read 'The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.... He
leads me beside the still waters'; a paradisical image for any farmer
whose only experience with large quantities of water was as torrential
floods from the mountains.
Calvin Culver
Computers for Christ - Chicago
Index of Preacher's Help and Notes
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