1. The Space and Time Perspective:
Geographical and Historical Backgrounds

2. Here’s a Question for You
Which of the following cities is located in northwestern Mesopotamia? Ur
Shechem
Sumer
Haran
And why is that important?

3. Definitions Geography – study of the land
History (simply) – the succession of events

4. Announcements Review session Thursday evening – J226 at 9:00
Open Forum this evening at 7:15 pm – any questions are welcome (J237)

5. Psalm 133:1 HINNEH MAH TOV U-MAH NA’IM
Behold how good and how pleasant (is)
SHEVET AḤIM
(the) sitting (of) brothers
GAM YAḤAD (twice)
also together
HINNEH MAH TOV (twice)
Lai lai lai ……..

6. Rationale for study
Geography shapes where and how people live and therefore, it helps us understand how the history unfolds
History contains lessons for us as we see both the pattern of endless human disobedience and the patience and grace of God as He intervenes on behalf of His people

7. Geography of the Ancient Near East

8. Geography of the Ancient Near East
Large land structures, barriers, and land bridge
Mesopotamia (Aram/Syria at NW “corner”)
Egypt
Anatolia
Great deserts (Arabian and Sinai)
Mediterranean Sea
“the land between”

9. The Fertile Crescent

10. Water sources: Vital for life and culture
The Fertile Crescent
Rivers of Mesopotamia – Tigris and Euphrates
Effects of the Mediterranean Sea
Nile in Egypt

11. Land Formations in Israel and Neighboring Regions
Coastal plain
Shephelah
Hill country
Wilderness
Rift Valley
Transjordan
Negev
Northern lands

12. Longitudinal Zones

13. Coastal Plain: Ashkelon
Photo taken Independence Day (14 May) 2000.

14. Shephelah: Elah Valley
Things to note: looking from Azekah to the east. The Judean Hills are in the background. Socoh is on the opposite side of the valley.

15. Hill Country of Judah and Benjamin
Soreq Valley (train to Tel Aviv). CBP with Gibeon (from Nebi Samwil). “Ridge route” between Hebron and Bethlehem.

16. Judean Wilderness
Two connections to make here: David’s extensive time in the wilderness, fleeing from Saul; the Son of David (Jesus) in the wilderness and tempted by Satan (make stones to bread)

17. Rift Valley: The Dead Sea

18. Rift Valley: Jericho and Jordan Valley

19. Transjordan: Petra

20. Petra
Jebel Haroun (Mt. Aaron) and the “monastery”

21. Negev

22. The Galilee

23. The Galilee: Headwaters of Jordan River at Dan

24. Travel Routes Adequate water Even terrain International Coastal Route
Transjordanian Highway (“Kings’ Highway”)
Ridge route (route of the patriarchs)

25. Trade and Commerce
Largest communities built up around major travel routes
Routes accommodated military and commercial traffic
Caravan routes from southwestern Arabia which produced myrrh and frankincense. Spices from India, silks from China
It was not easy to move these materials by ship. Thus, the “ship of the desert” – the camel.

26. Climate of Israel Effects of Sea, Desert and Mountains
Meteorological principle: Rising air cools and loses its moisture as it moves from sea over dry desert land. Rainfall increases with higher elevation.
Rainfall decreases from north to south, west to east, and high elevation to low
This is also the “land between” climate belts – cyclone and sub-tropic belts; thus, it enjoys two seasons
Margin of the Fertile Crescent

27. Produce of the Land
Grain, new wine, oil (Deut 11:14; Joel 1:10) – order in which they are harvested
“Bread” is synonymous with “food” – in antiquity people got approximately 50% of daily calories from bread.
Wine provided iron in diet since there was not meat on regular basis; it was also a water purifier.
Olive oil for light, medicinal purposes; pits and hulls for fuel and animal food; food
In some areas, there were large herds (bulls of Bashan). Natural vegetation was trees (oaks of Bashan) and rich pasture. What happened to the trees?

28. A “Marginal” Region
Agriculturally dependent on rainfall – importance of “early and latter rains”
Geo-politically vulnerable
The “testing ground of faith” (Deuteronomy 11:10-17)

29. Adding History to Geography
From patriarchs to Jesus – a general scheme:
Abraham Moses David Ezra Jesus _________________________________
BC/AD

30. International Powers Egypt People from the north (Hittite/Hurrian)
Political entities in Mesopotamia:
Ur (a major city-state) ca. 2000
Old Babylonian empire
Time of external domination (Amorites)
Assyrian empire
Neo-Babylonian empire
Persian empire

31. Neighboring “nuisances”
Amorites
Canaanites
Edomites
Moabites
Ammonites
Midianites/Ishmaelites
Amalekites
Philistines
Aram/Syria