• Physical Geography of Bible Lands

• Patriarchal Palestine

• The Exodus—Settlement Period

• The Monarchy

Physical Geography of Bible Lands

Physical Geography of

Bible Lands

Three climactic zones of Palestine

Mediterranean

Steppe

Desert

When the morning breezes in Jerusalem from the west (off the Mediterranean sea), it most likely a pleasant day. But if the wind comes from the east (0ff the desert), then a hot or a humid day is expected.

In general, Palestine has a moderate climate in which January is the coldest month, 46F, and summer temperatures average to 90F.

Palestine has two seasons: rainy and dry.

When the Bible speaks of “early rains,” it refers to rains that begin before October while the “latter rains” refers to the rains that continue to May.

In addition, dewfall is also important to Palestine as it provides moisture to vegetation during dry season. It can also be heavy (cf. Judges 6:36-40).

Four Topographic Zones of Palestine

Jordan Valley

Eastern Plateau

Hill Country

Coastal Plain

• Effects of Geography• Waterways of Palestine was not used in

bringing together people into a common bond like that of Egypt and Mesopotamia.

• Valley systems in the hill country separate group of people from one another. Amelekites and Perrizites are partly a result of the isolation by topography.

• Being a crossroad from Egypt to Mesopotamia, it caused little opportunity for Palestine to have its own identity.

• It helps us understand some phrases in the Bible such as “go up to Jerusalem” or “go down to Jericho.”

• It affects the lifestyle of the people.

Patriarchal Palestine

Babylonia Genesis 1-11 Preservation of

the Godly Line

Adam and Eve

Noah

Noah's sons

Palestine Genesis 12-36 Provision of

God's Promise

Abraham

Isaac and Ishmael

Jacob and Esau

Egypt Genesis 37-50 Provision of

God's Promise

Joseph and

Brothers

Abraham –Esau

God established a covenant with Abraham that he will be a father of all nations.

But Sarah was barren, so he thought the promise will be fulfilled through Eliezer.

In ANE culture, big family was a normal and economically-wise because of agricultural nature of their lives.

A son is necessary to the name of the family.

Nuzi text mentions that if the couple has no son, ey should adopt one; and the son is obligated to serve his parents and bury them when they died.

Nuzi text also mentioned that it is acceptable to give a maidservant to have a child like what Sarah did (Gen 16:2).

Pre-nuptial agreement may be taken: if Gillimninu(the bride) will not bear children, Gillimninu shall take a woman for Sheninnu (the bridegroom).

The sending away of Hagal and Ishmael may be against the culture of that time, as it says in one agrrement: Gillimninu shal not send (handmaid’s) offspring away.” However, with God’s intervention, Abraham obeyed.

Burial of Sarah at Machpelah; Abraham was rich in gold, silver, and livestock, but he had no land. So he bought a piece of land to bury his dead from Ephron in Hebron.

The Exodus-Settlement Period

The route of Exodus

The Red Sea that Israelites traverse

Mt. Sinai

The Law of God and other Law Codes in ANE

OT law code is religiously oriented, while others are civil.

The Mesopotamian believed that Shamash (their god) gave Hammurabi his law code for the purpose getting along with each other. On the other hand, OT law was given primarily for people and God relationship (vertical), then to man (horizontal.)

Patriarchal Palestine

(1) Abraham, Sarah, & Terah leave Ur for

Canaan (Genesis)

(2) Abraham’s 2 sons: Isaac and Ishmael

Isaac had Jacob & Esau

Jacob had 12 sons & 1 daughter

(3) Joseph sold into Egypt (concludes

Genesis)

(4) After 400 years, Moses leads Israelites

out (Exodus)

(5) Moses received the Law at Mt.

Sinai.(Exodus/Leviticus)

(6) Twelve spies sent to Canaan but because

of unbelief the begins 40 years of wilderness

wanderings (Numbers).

(7) Second Covenant (Deuteronomy) before

crossing Jordan River.

(8) Joshua invades/conquers/divides up

Canaan=> Israel. (Joshua/Judges)

The 14 judges (excluding Eli and Samuel) were spread throughout the land of Israel. Just before the time of the Judges, the land was distributedto the different tribes of Israel. Each area was differently affected by surrounding enemies such as the Mesopotamians, Canaanites, Ammonites and Philistines.

The Monarchy

After Israel demanded for a king at the time of Samuel, the last judge, Israel entered into monarchical government.

Saul-David-Solomon, time of the United Kingdom of Israel

After the time of Solomon, the united kingdom of Israel was divided into northern kingdom of Israel and southern kingdom of Judah.

Israel was destroyed by the Assyrians in 722 B.C. while Judah by the Babylonians in 605 B.C.