This is the last week where we are looking at the different contexts in which to view the Bible. This week we are looking at geographical context.
What is geographical context? Geographical context is when you study the land (places and terrain) of the Bible. This would include mountains, rivers, and desserts.
Maps are a great resource to see where the people of the Bible lived and traveled.
As a kid, I always liked geography in school. Learning about the different places in the world has always fascinated me.
That interest has continued as I am learning more about the land of the Bible, which is why I have found learning about the geographical context of a passage helpful.
When you look at the geographical context, it is helpful to understand where the people of the Bible lived. However, since we did not live during that time, it’s beneficial to have a physical context for a story depicted in the Bible.
The ancient Near East is a geographical setting of the Bible. Today we call it the Middle East: Egypt, Sudan, Israel, Palestinian Territories, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Iraq, and Turkey, are the countries in that area.
In his book Living by the Book, Howard Hendricks gives us some questions to ask
What was the terrain like?
What was the weather like?
How far was this town from places in the text?
What were the transportation routes for the people?
What size was the city?
What was the location known for?
Let’s look at an example.
Canaan
This is the land that the Lord promised to the Israelites. All they had to do was conquer the Canaanites and take the land. What was so special about this land? This land was the center of major trade routes in the ancient near east. International Coastal Highway & The King’s Highways are two highways that connect Egypt and Mesopotamia. This was where the 12 tribes of Israel would settle. Travelers would have to pass through Israel to get to the sea, Egypt, or further east.
Learning about the Bible’s land helps us understand how God made that part of the world. Unfortunately, in America, we often don’t see or understand the perspective of other countries. This can hamper our understanding.
Geographical context gives us a better context in which to understand the places of the Bible.
Here are some resources that might be helpful to learn more about the geographical context of the Bible.
Maps in Study Bible
Moody Atlas of Bible Lands
Zondervan Pictorial Bible Atlas
Macmillan Bible Atlas
