Carl G. Rasmussen

Zondervan

Atlas of the Bible

Revised Edition

ZONDERVAN

Zondervan Atlas of the Bible

Copyright © 2010 by Carl G. Rasmussen

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Rasmussen, Carl.

Zondervan atlas of the Bible / Carl G. Rasmussen.—Rev. ed

p. cm.

Rev. ed. of: Zondervan NIV atlas of the Bible.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 263–64) and index.

ISBN 978-0-310-27050-8 (hardcover, printed)

1. Bible—Geography. 2. Bible—Geography—Maps.

3. Bible—History of Biblical events. 4 Bible—History of contemporary events. I. Rasmussen, Carl.

Zondervan NIV atlas of the Bible. II. Title. III. Title: Atlas of the Bible.

BS630.R37 2009

220.9′1—dc22

2009015937

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Maps by International Mapping. Copyright © 2010 by Zondervan. All rights reserved.

All pictures in this book were taken by the author, Carl G. Rasmussen, unless otherwise indicated. Many of the photos in this atlas, plus over 3,000 more, are available at the author’s website www.HolyLandPhotos.org.

Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers printed in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Cover design: Rob Monacelli

This book is dedicated to my wife, Mary, with whom I have spent sixteen exciting years traveling, teaching, and guiding in the lands of the eastern Mediterranean.

Contents

Preface

Abbreviations

Introduction

Geographical Section

Introduction to the Middle East as a Whole

The Geography of Israel and Jordan

The Five Major Longitudinal Zones

Introduction to the Five Zones

Coastal Plain

Central Mountain Range

The Rift Valley

Transjordanian Mountains

The Eastern Desert

Weather Patterns

The Dry Season—Summer

The Rainy Season—Winter

The Transitional Seasons

Major Natural Routes—Roads

Roads and Modes of Travel

The International North–South Route

The International Transjordanian Route

Interregional and Local Routes

Geographical Regions of Israel and Jordan

Bashan

Huleh Valley

Upper Galilee

Plain of Acco

Lower Galilee

Jezreel Valley

Mount Carmel

Sea of Galilee

Sharon Plain

Hill Country of Manasseh

Hill Country of Ephraim

Hill Country of Benjamin

Hill Country of Judah

Judean Wilderness

Dead Sea/Salt Sea

Philistine Plain

Shephelah

Negev

The “Arabah” South of the Dead Sea

Gilead

Jordan ...