Becoming Familiar With Israel The Northern Region

Transcription

9:30-10:20 am
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Lebanon Baptist Church
11250 Crabapple Rd, Roswell, GA
lebanonbaptist.org (770) 993-3635
Walking in the Footsteps of the Bible
Becoming Familiar With Israel
An Overview of the Northern, Central & Southern Regions
Deut. 11:24-25
Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours:
from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the River Euphrates,
even to the Western Sea, shall be your territory.
No man shall be able to stand against you; the LORD your God will put the dread of you
and the fear of you upon all the land where you tread, just as He has said to you.
The Northern Region
Lebanon
Mt. Hermon
Bashan/Golan
Plain of Acco
Galilee
This morning we will
examine the northern
region of the land of
Israel.
I hope that through our
time together today,
you will become familiar with the geographical uniqueness
of this region, learn the
names and locations of
some of the strategic
cities, and understand
how the physical features of the land significantly affected
Biblical history.
Taught by Pastor David Hinz * 262-224-2114* [email protected]
Mt. Hermon/”Sirion”/“Shenir”
Pg. 2
At the northern boarder of Israel is the 3,963 ft. tall Mount
Hermon. The highest peak of Mt. Hermon is 9,230 feet above
sea level. (Wisconsin’s highest point is 1,952ft above sea
level. Mt. McKinley in Alaska measures 20,320 ft.)
Every year it receives about 70 inches of precipitation in the form of dew, rain and snow.
(The WI average is 30 in/yr and the record amount 52 in/yr.) It is snow-covered most of
the year. Two of the major sources of the Jordan River are those that begin their flow
from Caesarea Philippi at the base of Mount Hermon and from underneath Tel Dan. Both
streams are the result of snow melting on the summit of Mt. Hermon. These streams are
ice cold and crystal clear.
There are two lesser springs that also flow
into the Huleh Valley, feeding the Jordan
River.
This mountain and surrounding volcanic
craters were formed by the geological
Great Rift tectonic seam running at its
western base.
MT. HERMON
UP
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HU
L
AN
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V
AL
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UP
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OL
The mountain was covered with cedar trees
and inhabited by lions and leopards (Song
4:8) in ancient times. Bears have also been
sighted here in recent times.
Y
AL
ILE
E
One of the volcanic cones rising 1,500ft above in Upper Golan
Lebanon/Phoenicia
Pg. 3
http://www.habeeb.com/cedar.of.lebanon/
Today there is little left of the extensive forests of the Cedars of Lebanon that thrived
across Mount Lebanon in ancient times. Their timber was exploited by
the Assyrians, Babylonians and Persians as well as the Phoenicians. The wood was prized
by Egyptians for shipbuilding, Solomon used them in the construction of the First Temple in
Jerusalem and the Ottoman Empire also used the cedars in railway construction. God uses
these trees as an illustration of pride (Isa. 2:13), power & blessing.
Once Lebanon was shaded by thick cedar forests, so it is no coincidence that the tree is the
symbol of the country. After centuries of persistent deforestation, the extent of these forest
has been markedly reduced. The trees survive in mountainous areas, where they are
the dominant tree species. This is the case of
the slopes of Mount Makmel that tower over
the Kadisha Valley where the cedars are
found at an altitude of more than 6,600 ft.
Four of them have reached a height of 115 ft.
and their trunks are 39–46 ft. around.
Tyre was one of the few coastal sites in the
region that provided a natural harbor/outlet
to the Mediterranean Sea for shipping.
Pg. 4
Upper Jordan / Huleh Valley / Waters of Merom
From bibleplaces.com Pictorial Library of Bible Lands V.1-10
The upper portion of the Jordan Valley
in the north has been called the Huleh
Basin. This is the area between the
sources of the Jordan River at Mount
Hermon and the Lake of Galilee. This
area is a deep basin that is ringed by
high mountains. It is approximately 14
miles long and about 4-6 miles in width.
At the southern end (just above the
Lake of Galilee) the valley was closed
off by a lava flow called the Rosh Pinna
Sill. This basalt dam impeded the flow
of the Jordan River and created a
marshy area known as Huleh Lake. In
ancient times it was a mosquito-infested
swamp that was a definite obstacle to
travel, but today it is prime farmland in
which all of the marshes have been
drained (post 1950). A key road hugged
the foothills and wound its way past the
Rosh Pinna Sill.
Guarding this narrow entrance into the
Lake of Galilee was the very strategic
city of Hazor. This city controlled the
northern entrance into Palestine along
the Via Maris. It played an important
role throughout Israel’s history (cf.
Josh. 11:1-15; Judg. 4:1-24; I Kings
9:15).
This marshy impenetrable area was a
paradise for panthers, leopards, bears,
wolves, jackals, hyenas, foxes, wild
boar and gazelle.
From the D. Hinz Israel collection May 2006
Bashan / Golan
Pg. 5
Pg. 5
GO
LA
N
On the eastern side of the Jordan River (as it travels south from
Mt. Hermon 35 miles to the Yarmuk River/Lake of Galilee) is the area called Bashan,
meaning “a fruitful/smooth land” or Golan. Divided in two regions, the Upper Golan refers
to the area of higher elevation near Mt. Hermon while Lower Golan is usually applied to
the basaltic tableland just east of the Lake of Galilee. Lower Golan is well suited for farming because the hills of Galilee (to the west) are much lower, thus allowing the rains to
sweep farther inland; and the soil of Lower Golan is a rich volcanic alluvium. Wheat and
barley grown here became the important resource produced here during Roman times,
transported across Lower Galilee to the port of Acco.
In the OT this area was referred to as Bashan (Deut. 4:43), having always been known for
being a very fertile area producing strong, well-fed cows and bulls (cf. Ps. 22:12; Ezek.
39:18; Amos 4:1). The area was included in God’s land promises to Israel (cf. Numb. 34:10
-12; Ezek. 47:18). It was captures from Og, King of Bashan
(Deut. 4:47-48) by Moses and
the children of Israel and was
assigned to the half-tribe of Manasseh as their inheritance
(Deut. 4:43; Josh. 17:1).
This area was strategically important because of the highways
that crossed it, connecting the
key city of Damascus with
Hazor and the Sea of Galilee.
In the Golan…You walk into a dense thicket of oleanders
and willow trees, and there is an intoxicating smell of
mint in the air. The water is roaring with wrath upon the
bedrock. If you’d like to see the power of water – it’s right
here! The upright ancient walls, the waterfalls with their
pools at their feet, and canopying them are thick fig
leaves - can anything be more precious? www.tiuli.com
From bibleplaces.com Pictorial Library of Bible Lands V.1
Pg. 6
The Acco Plain & Upper Galilee
Mediterranean Coast gives Israel a somewhat secure natural
western boarder with its gradual sandy beaches and only one
natural port and later one man made port. Thus, naval trade
wasn’t a distinguishing aspect of Israel’s commerce. North of Mount Carmel the coastal
region opens up. This area has been called the Acco Plain after one of the two main
cities on its coast (Acco and Tyre). While this area was promised to the tribe of Asher, it
was under the control of Phoenicia for much of the OT period.
Upper Galilee was rugged, virtually impassible (particularly for N/S travel) and is of
very high elevation (exceeding 3,300
ft.) This caused trade routes to remain north of this area with the exception of the lower hill country,
connecting Tyre and Sidon with
commercial hub in the Rift Valley at
the city of Hazor. This route drew
caravans from Damascus, Bashan,
Gilead and Arabia.
The SE corner of Upper Galilee is
agriculturally fertile especially for
the production of olive oil.
Most biblical references to Galilee,
including all NT references are to
Lower Galilee. In fact, very little
Biblical history is mentioned occurring in this area. When Jesus took the
disciples “to the regioin of Tyre and
Sidon” they passed through this area
at the Merom crossroads (Mk 7:2431; Mt. 15:21-28). To the right is
pictured Mt. Merom, the highest
point in Upper Galilee.
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=571490&page=4
Pg. 7
Lower Galilee
Rosh Pina Sill
W
ER
G
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ILE
E
LAKE OF
GALILEE
LO
Lower Galilee is defined from the Jezreel Valley by the Nazareth
Ridge. This is the first ridge of mountains in lower Galilee and is
quite different terrain from the lower and central region of Israel.
Because of extensive faulting, the ridges in
Lower Galilee move from east to west. Thus,
east/west travel is easier here, but north/south
travel is very difficult.
As a result, Lower Galilee did not have any
major international routes with the exception
of the Via Maris which skirted along its
southeastern edge near the Sea of Galilee.
However, the area’s proximity to international travel made this land an easy target for
Gentile nations seeking to extend their territory along the Via Maris. The reference in Isaiah 9:1 to “Galilee of the Gentiles” seems to
HULEH VALLEY
refer to this domination.
Lower Galilee was the region that Jesus spent
His boyhood in the sleepy village of Nazareth
and later headquartered His ministry in the
E
important center of Capernaum. He perILE
L
formed most of His public miracles in this
GA
R
region.
E
P
UP
PLAIN OF ACCO
Pg. 8
Lake of Galilee/Tiberias/Chinnereth/Gennesaret
Mt. Hermon
Mt. of
Beattitudes
Chorazin
Capernaum
Tabgha
Upper Galilee
Bethsaida
Gergesa
Golan Heights
Lower Galilee
Gennesar
Mt. Arbel
Magdala
From the D. Hinz Israel collection May 2006
The Lake or Sea of Galilee is also called Tiberias (referring to the largest city on the west
coast), Kinneret/Chinnereth (meaning “harp,” referring to its harp like shape), Gennesaret or
simply “the Sea.” It is the world’s lowest freshwater lake at 699ft below sea level. It is 64 sq.
miles, and has .72 cubic miles of water capacity. Its length is 14 miles N/S and width is 7
miles W/E. 151ft deep. Its waters are supplied mainly from the snow run off from Mt. Hermon (via Huleh Valley).
At the southern end (just above the Lake of Galilee) the valley was closed off by a lava flow
called the Rosh Pinna Sill. This basalt dam impeded the flow of the Jordan River and created
a marshy swamp that was a definite obstacle to travel. The Via Maris road had to hug the
foothills and wind its way past the Rosh Pinna Sill.
Mt. Hermon
Hazor
Bethsaida
Jordan River
LAKE OF GALILEE
Guarding this narrow entrance into
the Sea of Galilee
was the strategic
city of Hazor. This
city controlled the
northern entrance
into Israel along
the Via Maris and
played an important role
throughout Israel’s
history (cf. Josh.
11:1-15; Judg. 4:124; 1 Kings 9:15).
From the New Moody Bible Atlas - provided here under the “Fair Use” copyright limitation.
9:30-10:20 am
The Central Region
Becoming Familiar With Israel’s Central Region
Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours: from the wilderness and
Lebanon, from the river, the River Euphrates, even to the Western Sea, shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand against you; the LORD your God will put the dread of you
and the fear of you upon all the land where you tread, just as He has said to you. Deut. 11:24-25
Mt. Carmel
Jezreel Valley
Plain of Dor
Hill Country of Ephraim
Plain of Sharon
Benjamin Plateau
Jordan Valley
Megiddo/Esdraelon/Jezreel Valley
Pg. 11
Between the region of Galilee (N) and the Hill Country of
Ephraim (S) is a broad basin called the Jezreel Valley or
Valley har’ Megiddo (Armageddon) that extends the entire east to west length of Israel from the Mediterranean coast to the Jordan River. The
region is a broad alluvial valley that is shaped like an oblong arrowhead pointed west
toward the Mediterranean Sea with its shaft extending east to the Jordan River.
This valley is clearly defined by
the mountains which surround it:
 On the SW side it is interrupted by Mount Carmel which is
a mountain ridge that extends
for approximately 15 miles
NW to SE.
Nazareth Ridge looking across to Mt. Tabor - D.Hinz Personal Photos
 The SE end of the Jezreel
Valley is blocked by Mount
Gilboa. Just below this mountain was the city of Jezreel
and En-Harod spring. The En-Harod Valley flowed just north of Mt. Gilboa on its
way past Beth-Shan to the Jordan River.
 Just N of the En-Harod Valley is the Hill of Moreh. Three villages of significance
are found on its slopes. On the SW side was the village of Shunem. Just to the north
of Shunem on the NW slope was the village of Nain, and just off the NE slope was
the village of En-Dor.
 The NW limits of the Jezreel Valley were defined by the Nazareth Ridge. This is the
first ridge of mountains in Lower Galilee where the village of Nazareth was located.
 The NE limits of the Jezreel Valley were determined
by Mount Tabor. This
solitary hill rises 1,929 feet
from the valley floor to
dominate the surrounding
area. It is no wonder that
Tabor became symbolic
for the strong and the
mighty (cf. Ps. 89:12; Jer.
46:18).
Nazareth Ridge looking down into the Jezreel Valley, D.Hinz Personal Photos
Valley of Jezreel looking down from Mt. Carmel - D. Hinz Personal Photos
The international coastal highway went through the Jezreel Valley, headed toward
the Mediterranean coast (to Acco or Tyre) and NE to the Mesopotamian area. This
broad valley was the strategic crossroads which became the scene of many battles
throughout history.
Mt. Carmel & Mt. Gilboa
“Vineyard of God”
Pg. 13
“Bubbling Spring”
Mt. Carmel - D. Hinz Personal Photos
On the southwestern side of the Jezreel Valley is a mountain ridge that
extends for approximately 15 miles, called Mount Carmel. Because of
its elevation (1,750ft) and proximity to the sea, it receives about 32 inches of rainfall annually and is watered by dew 250 nights out of the year, producing a dense covering
of trees, shrubs, and rich pastures (Mic. 7:14).
The geological structure of this area is very complex, but basically is composed of Cenomanian
hard limestone and Eocene hard and soft limestone with ridges of Senonian chalk in between. It is
these ridges of chalk which have formed passes into the Jezreel Valley from the coastal plain.
Three main passes have been formed:
1. The westernmost is called the Jokneam Pass, and it extended from the coast to the city of Jokneam in the Jezreel Valley.
2. The central pass was perhaps the most frequently traveled and the most well known. It went
from Aruna near the coastal plain to Megiddo in the Jezreel Valley and was called the Megiddo
Pass.
3. The easternmost pass could be called the Dothan Pass and went from the eastern edge of the
Jezereel Valley past Dothan to join the coastal highway.
Mount Gilboa is at the southeastern end of the Jezreel Valley. At its northern base is the En-Harod
spring which God told Gideon whittle down the numbers of his army by asking for volunteers to
leave (22,000 left) and he then kept the 300 who brought the water to their mouth with their hand
when drinking from the spring (Judges 7).
At this hill King Saul and his three sons were overcome by the
Philistines (1 Sam. 28-31/1Chr. 10). At the northwest base of
the hill was
the city of
Jezreel
where Jezebel and
King
Ahab’s
reign came
to an end (1
Kings 21 &
2 Kings 910).
Mt. Gilboa from the Jezreel Valley - Bible Places Collection
Gideon’s Harod Spring - D. Hinz Personal Photos
Pg. 14
Plain of Dor & Plain of Sharon
The coastal region of Israel is the section of land which lies
next to the Mediterranean Sea. However this is not a single
region that extends in an unbroken ribbon though out Israel. In fact, three main sections
should be noted:
1. The southernmost of these is called the Philistine Plain (reserved for discussion
next week) which extends from Gaza in the south to the Yarkon River in the central part.
2. Between the Yarkon River (which flows from Aphek to near Joppa) and Mount
Carmel lies the middle section of the coastal plain called the Sharon Plain. Unlike
the Philistine Plain, the Sharon Plain is not conducive to travel. In fact, it was a
significant obstacle to communication. The coastal area was blocked by a range of
low, Kurkar hills which backed up the flow of water from the mountains and created swamps and marshes. The soil was composed largely of Mousterian red sand
which was not conducive to agriculture. (Today, however, it has been put to good
use by the Israelis through modern farming techniques.) Instead, the land was overgrown with thick forests and was largely uninhabited except for some cattle grazing (cf. 1 Chr. 27:29). One of the remarkable changes promised in the Millennial
Kingdom is the transformation of the Sharon Plain into “pasture land for
flocks” (Isa. 65:10).
3. The third and northernmost plain region is the Plain of Dor, also called the Carmel
Coast. It stretches for about 20 miles form the headland of Mt. Carmel to the Crocodile River. The Plain of Dor is very fertile covered with deep alluvial soil carried
down the slopes of Mt. Carmel. It is prime for agriculture because it gets and average annual rainfall of 24 inches, has good
drainage and protection from frost and
storm.
Along the coastal plain, the Via Maris
highway shifted to the east along the base
of the eastern hills. In the extreme north,
the western summit of Mt. Carmel effectively blocked any travel north. The Via
Maris had to travel inland to the Jezreel
Valley because it could no longer continue
along the coast.
Hill Country of Ephraim (Western Samaria)
Pg. 15
From the Bible Places Collection
The hill country that extends from the Jezreel Valley south to Bethel is called the Hill Country of Ephraim. This well-protected land was also called the “Hill Country of Israel” (Josh.
11:21). Very little is known about most of this area from the Old Testament. This could be
due to two factors:
(1) The theological bent of the Old Testament writers caused them to emphasize those events
which were of importance to the southern kingdom of Judah. Thus much of Ephraim’s
history and geography was “irrelevant” to their purpose.
(2) The geography of Ephraim limited travel within the area so very little of importance did
actually occur in this area. It is probably that both of these factors are true. Ephraim's geography is such that travel is restricted. The hill country is so eroded that there is not a welldefined ridge route for travel in this area. Thus, much of the travel is along winding roads
that make their way up and down treacherous paths along the sides of mountains. It is no
accident that some of this interior area is described as “the remote parts of Ephriam” (cf.
Judg. 19:1, 18).
Two major areas of Ephraim deserve special notice:
1. The first is the area of Shiloh just north of Bethel. Shiloh was off the main north/south
route in the hill country of Ephraim, but it achieved some degree of importance because
it was where the tabernacle was set up by the tribes when they entered Canaan.
2. The second area is by far the most important in Ephraim - the area around Shechem.
This area was important from the time of the Patriarchs, and it continued its importance
through Israel’s history. The area around Shechem is the “doorway” to Ephraim. On the
west a wide valley extends from the coastal plain directly to Shechem. This valley is
called the Valley of Shechem. Two large mountains, Mt. Ebal (N) and Mt. Gerazim (S),
flank this valley where it passes by Shechem. Just beyond Shechem this valley intersects
with another valley that extends from the SW to the NE. This valley is called the Michmethath Valley (modern name). This valley, in turn, has two outlets to the east providing
a relatively easy point where one could cross form east to west.
Pg. 16
Benjamin Plateau (Southern Samaria)
Just north of Jerusalem, is a relatively level plateau called the
Central Benjamin Plateau located in the hill country (the
“backbone” of Israel that extends through the center of the country from north to south composed of Cenomanian hard limestone).
This territory was usually called the “land of Benjamin” in the Old Testament. It received this name because it was part of the land allotted to the tribe of Benjamin. The
chief cities on this plateau were:
 Gibeah (Saul’s hometown, 1 Sam. 10:26),
 Gibeon,
 Geba,
 Mizpah, and
 Ramah (Samuel’s hometown, 1 Sam. 1:19-20).
It might be also proper to
include the town of Bethel
in this area though technically Bethel was not part of
the tribe of Benjamin. Still,
the plateau area continues
to Bethel before reentering
the northern rugged mountains of Ephraim.
HULEH VALLEY
LAKE OF
GALILEE
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P
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ILE
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GA
Bible Places
Though this area is very small, it
played a large role in the Old Testament. One estimate given is that
ACCO
50% of PLAIN
all the OF
action
narratives in
the Old Testament revolve around
this one area.
Why was this area
so important and
often mentioned in
the Old Testament?
It’s geography affected the travel in
this key area - where
the topography had
the fewest obstacles
people would travel
and establish a roadway.
Pg. 8
Thus, the major
north/south highway
between Hebron and
Shechem was called
“The Way of the
Patriarchs.”
This area also contained
the major east/west routes
into the hill country from
Jericho and from the
Shephelah.
Whoever controlled this
area controlled access to
the hill country.
THE BENJAMIN PLATEAU
“BASEBALL DIAMOND”
Jordan River
LAKE OF GALILEE
Bethsaida
Pg. 18
Lower Jordan Valley
The area from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea is considered the Jordan Valley proper.
In ancient times this area was 70 miles of dense vegetation and tropical jungle. While
today only the area south of the Dead Sea is called the Arabah, in ancient times this designation was applied both to the Jordan Valley proper and the depression below the Dead
Sea.
There were some settlements along
the valley (notably Beth-shan in the
north and Jericho in the south), but
the area was not generally conducive
to settlement. Instead it is often pictured as a thick jungle which contained wild animals (cf. Jer. 12:5;
49:19; 50:44).
Gilead
The Jordan Valley has dropped about
1,000 feet below the mountains on
either side of the rift, and the Jordan
River has cut a winding path
through the river basin. Thus in
many places there river itself
cannot be seen from the bottom
of the valley.
The Jordan River is not impressive. It is actually a small
stream that is about 25 feet
wide most of the year. It carries a great deal of silt which
has been washed into the river
from the deep gorges on both
sides of the valley (cf. 2 Kings
5:8-14).
9:30-10:20 am
The Southern Region
Becoming Familiar With Israel’s South
Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours:
from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the River Euphrates,
even to the Western Sea, shall be your territory.
No man shall be able to stand against you; the LORD your God
will put the dread of you and the fear of you upon all the land
where you tread, just as He has said to you. Deut. 11:24-25
Philistine Plain
Shephelah of Judea
Judea Hill Country
Judean Wilderness
Negev Desert
Arabah
Pg. 20
Philistine Coastal Plain
Location:
From Gaza (Wadi el’Arish) in the south to the Yarkon River separating the Philistine
from the Sharon Plains.
Major Cities:
The Philistine Pentapolis:
Ashdod, Ashkelon, Ekron,
Gath and Gaza (cf. 1Sam.
6:16-18) as well as the
coastal city Joppa.
Major Road(s):
Via Maris which tended to
be several miles inland from the coast due to the presence of
sand dunes along the coast of the Philistine Plain. “The way of
the land of the Philistines” (Ex. 13:17) is a reference to that portion of the Via Maris which went through the Philistine Plain.
Unique Features:
Sand dunes, broad plain composed of rich alluvial soil that had washed
down from the Judean hill country. In the southern part the alluvial
soil is combined with fertile wind-blown soil (loess).
The Strategic Cites & Valleys of the Shephelah
Pg. 21
Location:
The Shephelah (Heb. “to be low”) is a N/S line of foothills that lie between the Philistine Plain and the Judean Hill country
Major Roads/Valleys & Cities:
The Shephelah can be considered the “front door” into the hill country
of Judah. Due to the nature of the landscape any travel that took place in
the Shephelah did so in the valleys running east/west. In addition to
these major east/west routes through the Shephelah, there was one major
north/south internal route created by a line of eroded Senonian chalk.
Five major valleys run from the Philistine Plain through the Shephelah
to Judah’s hill country. From north to south these are:
The Aijalon Valley Joshua/Solomon
This is the main connecting valley between
the coast and Jerusalem.
The valley was guarded
on the west by the city
of Gezer. Solomon
recognized the importance of this city to
Jerusalem’s defense,
making it one of the
three main cities to
receive special fortifications in addition to JeruHULEH VALLEY
salem (1Kings 9:15). At
the eastern end of the Aijalon Valley the road to Jerusalem ascended the Beth-Horon ridge to reach the Benjamin Plateau just
north of Jerusalem. This was a crucial internal road into Judah
(cf. Josh. 10:10-11; 1Sam. 13:18; 2Chr. 8:5).
E
ILE
L
GA
The Sorek Valley Sampson
R
PE
This valley extendP
U
ed from Timnah (a
Philistine stronghold and the
hometown of Samson’s first wife
[Judg. 14:1-5] to
the town of BethShemesh which
alternated between
Philistine and Israelite control (cf. 2 Chr. 28:18). The Sorek Valley has eroded into
deep V-shaped valleys in the hill country and travel was very
slow and hazardous for one trying to negotiate these obstacles.
The main events associated with the Sorek Valley in the OT are
the exploits of Samson (Judg. 13-16) and the return of the ark
from the Philistines after it had been captured (1Sam. 4:1-7:2).
PLAIN OF ACCO
LAKE OF
GALILEE
Pg. 22
The Elah Valley
David & Goliath
The word “Elah” means
“terebinth tree,” and it is
possible that this valley
was once heavily forested
with these trees. The valley
is guarded on the Mediterranean side by the imposing Tel of Azekah. This
was one of the strongest
fortifications in Judah and was one the last cities to fall
to the Babylonians in 586 B.C. (Jer. 34:7).
The Elah Valley provided two ways of access to the hill
country of Judah. One could head up the Hushan Ridge
that led to Bethlehem, or he could choose the Beth-Zur
ridge that entered the hill country just north of Hebron.
It was Saul’s attempt to stop the Philistines from controlling this area that led to the battle between David and
Goliath. Most likely David had come down from Bethlehem via the Hushan ridge to visit his brothers.
The Guvrin Valley - Micah
This valley did not occupy a lace of
great importance during the biblical
period although two cities named by
the prophet Micah (Mareshah and
Moresheth-Gath [Micah’s home town])
are in this area of the Shephelah. A
rood from the Guvrin Valley extended
into the hill country near Hebron]
The Lachish Valley - Nebuchadnezzar & Sennecharib
The Lachish Valley contained the main
routes into the hill country to Hebron.
The valley was guarded by the city of
Lachish which was one of the largest
cities in Palestine. It was considered so
important that it commanded the special attention of both Sennacherib in
his campaign of 701 B.C. and Nebuchadnezzar in his campaign of 588-586
B.C.
Both men
felt that they
Bethsaida
Jordan River
had to take Lachish to
secure their southern
flank before they
LAKE OF GALILEE
could mount any successful campaign
against Jerusalem and
the hill country.
Judean Hill Country
Pg. 23
Location:
South of Hebron to just north of Jerusalem (25 miles) is this hilly
spine (the summit of which is approximately 2,500-3,00 feet
above sea level) extends through the center of the country north to
south. It was this strip of land that held most of the population of
the southern kingdom of Judah.
Major Road(s):
Because of the relatively high elevation and rapid
drop-off both to the east and west has created
deep valleys on both sides of the summit, north/
south travel is largely confined to the watershed
line along the summit. This internal route was
very important in Israel’s history often called
“The Way of the Patriarchs”
Major Cities:
The main towns in the hill country are
Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Hebron (listed
north to south).
Unique Features:
These hills are made of hard Cenonian
limestone which had been developed into
terraces for farming by the Jews.
Pg. 24
Judean Wilderness
Location: The Judean Wilderness extends from just the
north of Jerusalem to the southern tip of the Dead Sea. The
strip of land itself is approximately 10-20 miles wide and
lies between the hill country of Judah and the Rift Valley.
This land is in the “rain shadow” - that area on the east
side of the hill country that receives little or no rain from
the Mediterranean Sea. This area experiences a tremendous drop in elevation. From Jerusalem to Jericho (a distance of approximately 13 miles) the land drops from
2,700 feet above sea level to -1,300 feet below sea level a drop of 4,000 feet!
Unique Characteristics:
1.
The land as a whole is extremely barren. As one travels from the ridge route toward the Dead Sea, the
region quickly changes from an agricultural to a pastoral setting with sheep an goats replacing wheat and
barley.
2.
A large portion of the region is dominated by Senonian chalk, which is very soft, but this area does not
receive enough rain to erode it away. Instead, the
infrequent downpours have eroded deep gullies and wadis into the chalk that have extended all
the way down to the Eocene limestone. These valleys have a unique appearance with deep,
twisting gorges and serpentine ravines cut through the stark white chalk which is lined with
ridges of chert (bands of flint).
3.
The area does have a dependable water supply, if one
knows where to look. The erosion of rock on the Mediterranean side has pushed the surface of the Judean arch
ridge to the east of the underground center. Thus, water
that seeps into the ground near the top of the hill country
will actually flow toward the east once it has seeped down
to an impervious layer. This water breaks to the surface
where the underground layer in which it has been traveling is exposed. Thus one finds natural springs (and even
waterfalls) in an otherwise desolate wilderness.
The Dead Sea / Salt Sea/ Sea of Arabah / Eastern Sea
Pg. 7
Sea of Lot / Sea of Zoar / Lake Asphaltites
The Dead Sea is located in
the Jordan Rift Valley, east of
the Judean Wilderness. Its
main tributary is the Jordan River with 6,000,000 gallons
flowing into it daily, but is a terminal lake with no outlet,
meaning water can only leave through evaporation. As a
result of recent damming and diverting of water, the Jordan
River contributes 10% less water to the Dead Sea, allowing
the shorelines to drop one meter annually in an area already dry and arid. The solution has been propose to build
an $800 million pipeline to draw water from the Gulf of
Aqaba in the Red Sea to the Dead Sea. The goal of the
pipeline project is to refill the Dead Sea and desalinate the
water for human use.
Statistics:
 Length (N/S) 50 miles long
 Width (E/W) 10 miles wide
 The shores of the Dead Sea are
considered to be the lowest point in
world at -1,378 ft below sea level.
 It covers 384 sq. miles
 Depth of 1500 feet in the upper
section, 30-35 in the lower section.
 The minerals in its waters include
calcium, iodine, saline, potassium,
and bromide.
The water from the Jordan and its tributaries flow into the Dead Sea bringing with them all sorts of
minerals, including salt. Since there is no outlet, the water in the Dead Sea evaporates depositing the
dissolved minerals, and since it has no place to go, the dissolved salt minerals continue to accumulate
and be concentrated in the sea. Thus, the Dead Sea is the world's saltiest large water body and the
deepest hyper-saline lake in the world with a salinity of 3000 mg/l (33.7% salinity). It is 8.6 times
saltier than the ocean. You can lay on the surface of the water without even trying to float. The high
salt content makes you buoyant.
Due to the extremely high mineral content, it does not support much life. No fish or plants are able to survive, although
bacteria and microbial fungi are present. In the Bible, it is
said that the Dead Sea will one day come alive and fill with
marine life (Ezk. 47:1-12; Joel 3:18; Rev. 22:1,2; Zech. 14:8).
The Dead Sea is in a
volcanic area with
tar pits, sulphur
deposits and brimstone. An unusual feature of the Dead Sea
is its discharge of asphalt. From deep seeps, the Dead Sea
constantly spits up small pebbles and blocks of the black
substance. Asphalt coated figurines and bitumen coated Neolithic skulls from archaeological sites have been
found. Egyptian mummification processes used asphalt imported from the Dead Sea region.
Pg. 26
According to the
account given in
the OT, the sinful
cities of Sodom
and Gomorrah
were possibly
located on or
near the Al-Lisan
peninsula.
The area’s geology and layered
soil/rock record
confirm the account of God’s
wrath including
highly flammable
bitumen, sulphur,
tar pits and highly concentrated
liquid salt water.
More detail about the salinity of the Dead Sea:
Until the winter of 1978-79, when a major mixing
event took place, the Dead Sea was composed of
two stratified layers of water that differed in temperature, density, age, and salinity. The topmost
115 ft or so of the Dead Sea had a salinity that
ranged between 300 and 400 parts per thousand and a temperature that swung between 66 °
F and 99 °F. Underneath a zone of transition, the
lowest level of the Dead Sea had waters of a consistent 72 °F temperature and complete saturation
of sodium chloride (NaCl). Since the water near
the bottom is saturated, the salt precipitates out of
solution onto the sea floor.
Pg. 27
Beginning in the 1960s, water inflow to the Dead
Sea from the Jordan River was reduced as a result of large-scale irrigation and generally low rainfall. By 1975, the upper water layer was saltier than the lower layer. Nevertheless, the upper layer
remained suspended above the lower layer because its waters were warmer and thus less dense.
When the upper layer cooled so its density was greater than the lower layer, the waters mixed
(1978–79). For the first time in centuries, the lake was a homogeneous body of water. Since
then, stratification has begun to redevelop.
The mineral content of the Dead Sea is very different from that of ocean water. The exact composition of the Dead Sea water varies mainly with season, depth and temperature. In the early 1980s,
the concentration of ionic species (in g/kg) of Dead Sea surface water was Cl − (181.4), Br− (4.2),
SO42− (0.4), HCO3− (0.2), Ca2+ (14.1), Na+ (32.5), K+ (6.2) and Mg2+ (35.2). The total salinity was
276 g/kg. These results show that the composition of the salt, as anhydrous chlorides on a weight
percentage basis, was calcium chloride (CaCl2) 14.4%, potassium chloride (KCl)
4.4%, magnesium chloride (MgCl2) 50.8% and sodium chloride (common salt, NaCl) 30.4%. In
comparison, the salt in the water of most oceans and seas is approximately 97% sodium chloride.
The concentration of sulfate ions (SO42−) is very low, and the concentration of bromide ions (Br−)
is the highest of all waters on Earth. The sea itself is abundant in minerals acclaimed to have therapeutic value.
The salt concentration of the Dead Sea fluctuates around 31.5 - 33%. This is unusually high and
results in a nominal density of 1.24 kg/l. Anyone can easily float in the Dead Sea because of natural buoyancy. In this respect the Dead Sea is similar to the Great Salt Lake in Utah in the United
States which ranges from 5 to 27%.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Negev Desert
Pg. 10
Location:
South of Hebron the hill country of Judah drops rapidly in elevation until it reaches the Negev.
The word “Negev” means “south,” and today the word is used to describe all of Israel from the
south of Hebron to the Red Sea and Sinai. However it is used in a more restricted sense in the
Bible to describe a generally flat region that was situated between the hill country of Judah and
the Wilderness (Midbar) of Sinai.
From the Bible Places Collection
This general area is called the Wilderness or Midbar being divided into at least six sections:
Wilderness of Shur (Exod. 15:22), The Wilderness of Etham (Num. 33:8), the Wilderness of
Sin (Exod. 16:1), the Wilderness of Sinai (Num. 33:15), the Wilderness of Paran (Num. 13:26),
and the Wilderness of Zin (Num. 33:36). These areas are outside the divine boundaries of the
nation of Israel (perhaps all but W. of Zin). Kadesh-Barnea is mentioned as being part of both
the Wilderness of Paran and Zin.
Rainfall:
The word “Negev” also carried with it the meaning of “dry.” It is an area of marginal rainfall.
The average is 8-12 inches per year, but this can vary greatly from year to year. This is just
enough rainfall to support grain crops but in the time of drought the farmer would lose everything. South of the Negev rainfall decreases to less than four inches per year.
Major Cities & Routes:
In the Western Negev Basin are the key cities of Gerar and Ziklag.
The Central Negev Basin’s main city was Beer-Sheba.
The Eastern Negev Basin’s key city was Arad which guarded the main trade route that went
through this area.
Unique Features:
The Negev contains loess (wind-blown)
soil. If this soil is broken up it can be
fertile for farming, but it has a tendency
to become finely packed together. When
this happens it becomes very impervious,
and the water will run off it without sinking in. This can produce severe flash
floods during any rainstorm. This characteristic has been noted by the writers of
Scripture who employ related imagery
(Ps. 126:4-6).
Creating Your Own Map of Israel
Using the space provided
on this page, practice
making a map of Israel
with the following elements:
4 “Seas”
1. Mediterranean Sea
2. Huleh/Waters of Merom
3. Sea of Galilee
4. Dead Sea
3 Rivers
1. Jordan River
2. Yarmuk River
3. Kishon River
2 Valleys
1. Megiddo Valley
2. Jordan Valley
1 Mountain
1. Mt. Hermon
8 Regions
1. Negev Desert
2. Philistine Plain
3. Shephelah
4. Hill Country of Judea
5. Judean Wilderness
6. Nazareth Ridge
7. Upper/Lower Galilee
8. Upper/Lower Golan
8 Cities
1. Jerusalem
2. Nazareth
3. Cana
4. Magdala
5. Capernaum
6. Chorazin
7. Bethsaida
8. Caesarea Philippi
Pg. 10
Key
Pg. 11
4 “Seas”
1. Mediterranean Sea
2. Waters of Merom
3. Sea of Galilee
4. Dead Sea
Mt. Hermon
10 Mountains
1. Mt. Hermon
2. Mt. Carmel
3. Mt. Tabor
4. Mt. Moreh
5. Mt. Gilboa
6. Mt. Ebal
7. Mt. Gerizim
8. Mt. of Olives
9. Mt. Moriah
10. Mt. Nebo
Upper Golan
Waters of
Merom
Upper Galilee
Lower Golan
8 Rivers
1. Jordan River
2. Yarmuk River
3. Jabbok River
4. Arnon River
5. Zered Brook
6. Kishon River
7. Yarkon River
8. Kidron Brook
Sea of Galilee
Lower Galilee
Nazareth ridge
Mediterranean Sea
Kishon River
Mt. Carmel Mt. Tabor
Mt. Ebal
Mt. Gerizim
ss
Gilead
Mt. Nebo
ild
er
C
ou
ll
Hi
he
l
Sh
ep
Ph
il
W
n
de
a
lley
lley
aH
ish V
a
(AMMON)
Kidron Brook
is
ti
n
e
Pl
ai
n
Lac h
in Va
nt
ry
Guvr
Mt. Moriah
Gilead
Jabbok River
Jordan Valley
Mt. of Olives
Valle
y
Elah
Valle
y
Ju
Sore
k
Valle
y
ne
Aijalo
n
Benjamin
Plateau
Yarkon River
13 Regions
1. Negev Desert
2. Philistine Plain
3. Shephelah
4. Hill Country of Judea
5. Judean Wilderness
6. Benjamin Plateau
7. Hills of Ephraim
8. Nazareth Ridge
9. Upper/Lower Galilee
10. Upper/Lower Golan
11. Gilead
12. Moab
13. Edom
Yarmuk River
Jordan River
Hills of
Mt. Gilboa
Dead Sea
7 Valleys
1. Megiddo Valley
2. Aijalon Valley
3. Sorek Valley
4. Elah Valley
5. Lachish Valley
6. Guvrin Valley
7. Jordan Valley
Me Mt. Moreh
gid
do
Val
ley
Arnon River
Moab
Zered Brook
Negev Desert
25 Cities
1. Kadesh Barnea
2. Beersheba
3. Hebron
4. Bethlehem
5. Jerusalem
6. Bethany
7. Jericho
8. Bethel
9. Shiloh
10. Shechem/Sychar
11. Megiddo
12. Nazareth
13. Endor
14. Nain
15. Cana
16. Magdala
17. Capernaum
18. Chorazin
19. Bethsaida
20. Caesarea Philippi
21. Caesarea
22. Joppa
23. Gaza
24. Emmaus
25. Sodom/Gomorrah
Edom

Becoming Familiar With Israel The Northern Region

Transcription

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