Topical Bible: Sciences: Geography

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Topical Encyclopedia

Geography, as a field of study, examines the physical features of the earth and the human societies spread across it. In the context of the Bible, geography plays a significant role in understanding the historical and theological narratives presented in the Scriptures. The geographical settings of biblical events provide context and depth to the accounts and teachings found within the Bible.

Biblical Lands and Regions

The Bible is set in a variety of geographical locations, primarily centered around the ancient Near East. Key regions include:

· Canaan/Israel: The Promised Land given to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is a land "flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8), encompassing diverse landscapes from the coastal plains to the mountainous regions and the Jordan Valley.

· Egypt: A significant location in the Bible, Egypt is where the Israelites were enslaved before the Exodus. It is described as a place of both refuge and oppression (Genesis 12:10; Exodus 1:11).

· Babylon: Known for the Babylonian Exile, where the Israelites were taken captive. Babylon is depicted as a place of judgment and eventual restoration (Jeremiah 29:10).

· Assyria: A dominant empire that played a crucial role in the history of Israel and Judah, often seen as an instrument of God's judgment (2 Kings 17:6).

· Mesopotamia: The cradle of civilization, where the early chapters of Genesis are set, including the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:10-14).

Geographical Features

The Bible references various geographical features that are integral to its narratives:

· Mountains: Mountains are often places of divine revelation and encounter. Mount Sinai is where Moses received the Ten Commandments (Exodus 19:20), and Mount Carmel is where Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:19-40).

· Rivers: Rivers such as the Jordan hold significant spiritual symbolism. The crossing of the Jordan River marked the entry of the Israelites into the Promised Land (Joshua 3:17).

· Deserts: The wilderness or desert is a place of testing and transformation. The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years (Numbers 14:33), and Jesus was tempted in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1).

· Seas: The Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Galilee are prominent in biblical narratives. Jesus calmed a storm on the Sea of Galilee, demonstrating His authority over nature (Mark 4:39).

Cultural and Theological Implications

The geographical settings of the Bible are not merely backdrops but are integral to the unfolding of God's redemptive plan. The land of Israel, in particular, is central to God's covenant promises. The physical journey of the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land mirrors the spiritual journey of faith and obedience.

Geography also influences the cultural and economic life of biblical peoples. The fertile lands of Canaan supported agriculture, while the trade routes through Israel connected various civilizations, facilitating cultural exchanges and conflicts.

Prophetic and Eschatological Geography

Prophetic literature often uses geographical imagery to convey messages of judgment and hope. For instance, Isaiah speaks of a future where "the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose" (Isaiah 35:1), symbolizing restoration and divine blessing.

In eschatological visions, geography takes on a renewed significance. The New Jerusalem, described in Revelation, is depicted as a city with precise dimensions and features, symbolizing God's perfect and eternal kingdom (Revelation 21:16).

Understanding the geographical context of the Bible enhances the reader's comprehension of its narratives and theological themes, revealing the intricate relationship between God's creation and His divine purposes.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 10:1-30
Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and to them were sons born after the flood.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 11:11
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Inspiration of Scripture. --Gospel Difficulties. --The Word of God ...
... and thankfully accepts the ministerial offices of the other Sciences; all of which ...
History, and Geography, and Chronology, have each had their respective tasks ...
/.../inspiration and interpretation/sermon iii inspiration of scripture gospel.htm

Duty of the Historian.
... purpose he must be acquainted with such auxiliary sciences as ecclesiastical ... of the
earliest documents are written), secular history, geography, and chronology ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 6 duty of the.htm

Theophilus. ...
... I esteem the liberal arts and sciences as the noblest of human ... modern languages;
his knowledge of medals, pictures, paintings, history, geography, or chronology ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/law/the way to divine knowledge/way-2-15 theophilus .htm

Scientific Education: Notes of an After-Dinner Speech.
... having been disciplined, more or less, in the methods of all sciences; so that ... to
a name for what I mean, which we possess, is "physical geography." The Germans ...
/.../huxley/lay sermons addresses and reviews/iv scientific education notes of.htm

Professor of Sanskrit, Bengali, and Marathi
... century, Leibniz first sowed the seed of the twin sciences of comparative ... and the
law of nations; ethics; political economy, history, geography, and mathematics ...
/.../smith/the life of william carey/chapter ix professor of sanskrit.htm

On the Study of Zoology.
... and, if the like had been done with every animal, the sciences of geographical and ...
of morality; the religion of his sect; so much history and geography as will ...
/.../huxley/lay sermons addresses and reviews/vi on the study of.htm

From the Beginning of 1785 to the End of 1786
... will be instructed in English, Latin, Greek, logic, rhetoric, history, geography,
natural philosophy, and astronomy. To these languages and sciences shall be ...
/.../chapter 1 from the beginning.htm

Editor's Preface
... But this is what must happen in all sciences in which there is a ... Makkan in Semitic
Assyrian, is probably the Makna of classical geography, now represented by ...
/.../history of egypt chaldaea syria babylonia and assyria v 1/editors preface.htm

The Birth of England's Foreign Missions
... of its own, as a contribution to the statistics and geography of the world ... the gospel,
without government, without laws, and without arts, and sciences; and not ...
/.../smith/the life of william carey/chapter ii the birth of.htm

Subjects of Study. Home Education in Israel; Female Education. ...
... Some were not so much sciences as means of livelihood, such as medicine and ... existed
not outside theological pursuits; and as for history, geography, or natural ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 8 subjects of study.htm