The Space and Time Perspective:

Geographical and Historical Backgrounds

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?

Definitions

• Geography – study of the land

• History (simply) – the succession of events

Announcements

• Review session Thursday evening – J226 at 9:00

• Open Forum this evening at 7:15 pm – any questions are welcome (J237)

Psalm 133:1

• HINNEH MAH TOV U-MAH NA’IM• Behold how good and how pleasant

(is)• SHEVET AHIM• (the) sitting (of) brothers• GAM YAHAD (twice)• also together• HINNEH MAH TOV (twice)• Lai lai lai ……..

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

Geography of the Ancient Near East

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”

The Fertile Crescent

Water sources: Vital for life and culture

• The Fertile Crescent– Rivers of Mesopotamia – Tigris and

Euphrates– Effects of the Mediterranean Sea

• Nile in Egypt

Land Formations in Israel and Neighboring Regions

• Coastal plain• Shephelah• Hill country• Wilderness• Rift Valley• Transjordan• Negev• Northern lands

Longitudinal Zones

Coastal Plain: Ashkelon

Shephelah: Elah Valley

Hill Country of Judah and Benjamin

Judean Wilderness

Rift Valley: The Dead Sea

Rift Valley: Jericho and Jordan Valley

Transjordan: Petra

Petra

Negev

The Galilee

The Galilee: Headwaters of Jordan River at Dan

Travel Routes

• Adequate water• Even terrain• International Coastal

Route• Transjordanian

Highway (“Kings’ Highway”)

• Ridge route (route of the patriarchs)

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.

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

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?

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)

Adding History to Geography

• From patriarchs to Jesus – a general scheme:

Abraham Moses David Ezra Jesus _________________________________

2000 1450 1000 460 BC/AD

International Powers

• Egypt• People from the north (Hittite/Hurrian)• Political entities in Mesopotamia:

Ur (a major city-state) ca. 2000Old Babylonian empire 1800-1700Time of external domination (Amorites)Assyrian empire 1350-612Neo-Babylonian empire 612-539Persian empire 539-333

Neighboring “nuisances”

• Amorites• Canaanites• Edomites• Moabites• Ammonites• Midianites/Ishmaelites• Amalekites• Philistines• Aram/Syria