A Visual Guide to Bible Events

A Visual Guide to Bible Events

Fascinating Insights into Where They Happened and Why

James C. Martin, John A. Beck, and David G. Hansen

CJames C. Martin, John A. Beck, and David G. Hansen, A Visual Guide to Bible Events

Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, © 2009. Used by permission.

© 2009 by James C. Martin, John A. Beck, and David G. Hansen

Published by Baker Booksa division of Baker Publishing GroupP.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287www.bakerbooks.com

Printed in Singapore

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—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Scripture is taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, photos are copyright © Dr. James C. Martin.

Photographs from the photo archives of Dr. James C. Martin, Bible World Seminars (bibleworld [email protected]), P.O. Box 2687, Amarillo, TX 79105.

Photo copyrights include: © Dr. James C. Martin; © Direct Design; © Garo Nalbandian; © The Israel Museum; and © The British Museum.

Credits to all those providing special photographic permissions:

EgyptThe Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities.The Isma-iliya Museum. Isma-iliya,

Egypt.The Cairo Museum. Cairo, Egypt.

FranceMus’ee du Louvre; Autorisation de pho-

tographer et de filmer—LOUVRE. Paris, France.

GreeceThe Greek Ministry of Antiquities (Athens,

Corinth, Delphi, Thessalonica).

IsraelCollection of the Israel Museum, Jerusalem,

and courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Au-thority, exhibited at the Israel Museum, Jerusalem.

Collection of the Israel Museum, Jerusalem, and courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority, exhibited at the Shrine of the Book, the Israel Museum, Jerusalem.

Collection of the Israel Museum, Jerusalem, and courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Au-thority, exhibited at the Rockefeller Mu-seum, Jerusalem.

The Church of Annunciation Museum. Nazareth, Israel.

The House of Anchors. Kibbutz Ein Gev. Sea of Galilee, Israel.

“Reproduction of the City of Jerusalem at the time of the Second Temple—located on the grounds of the Holyland Hotel, Je-rusalem.” Photographed by permission.

The Eretz Israel Museum. Tel Aviv, Israel.The Skirball Museum, Hebrew Union Col-

lege—Jewish Institute of Religion. 13 King David St., Jerusalem 94101.

The Yigal Allon Center. Kibbutz Ginosar, on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, Israel.

ItalyOn licence Ministero per I Beni e le Attivita

Culturali—Soprintendenza Archaeologica di Roma. Rome, Italy.

JordanThe Jordanian Ministry of Antiquities.

Amman, Jordan.The Amman Archaeological Museum.

Amman, Jordan.

TurkeyThe Turkish Ministry of Antiquities.

Ankara, Turkey. The Ankara Archaeological Museum.

Ankara, Turkey.The Ephesus Archaeological Museum.

Selchuk, Turkey.The Istanbul Archaeological Museum.

Istanbul, Turkey.

United KingdomThe British Museum. London, England.

United StatesSola Scriptura. The Van Kampen Collection

on display at the Holy Land Experience in Orlando, Florida.

Maps by International Mapping

Routes, roads, and regions indicated on the maps are approximate. Buildings, and placement of them in city maps, are representative and approximations of actual locations.

Maps focusing on the Israel/Palestine/Lebanon area were created on an Albers Conic Equal-Area Projection with a central meridian of 35°E and standard parallel at 33°N. The lines of latitude are curved and bend northward at the edges of the subject area. Maps showing areas outside of Israel were created on an Albers Conic Equal-Area Projec-tion with a central meridian of 40°E and standard parallels at 25°N and 45°N. The lines of latitude are curved and bend northward at the edges of the subject area. Because of these more correct spatial represen-tations and projections, relative locations on maps in this volume may appear slightly different than on maps in other sources.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication DataMartin, James C., 1952–

A visual guide to Bible events : fascinating insights into where they happened and why / James C. Martin, John A. Beck, and David G. Hansen.

p. cm.Includes bibliographical references and index.ISBN 978-0-8010-1285-3 (cloth)1. Bible—Geography. 2. Bible stories, English. 3. Bible—Criticism, interpre-

tation, etc. I. Beck, John A., 1956– II. Hansen, David G., 1938– III. Title.

BS630.B38 2008 220.9 1—dc22 2008017079

Interior design by Brian Brunsting

James C. Martin, John A. Beck, and David G. Hansen, A Visual Guide to Bible EventsBaker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, © 2009. Used by permission.

5

Contents

Acknowledgments 7

Part 1: The Need for Rescue and the Promised Land—Genesis 8

The Temptation in the Garden of Eden 12Building the Tower at Babel 14Abram Is Promised the Land of Canaan 16Abram Heads for Egypt 18Abram and Lot Separate in Canaan 20Abraham’s Purchase of Land at Hebron 22Building Memorials on the Ridge Route 24Joseph Is Taken to Egypt 26God Assures Jacob at Beersheba 28Jacob and Joseph Are Buried in the Promised

Land 30

Part 2: The Journey from Egypt to the Promised Land—Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy 32

The Growth and Affliction of the Israelites in Egypt 36

Israelites Escape through the Sea 38The Lord Sends Moses to Mount Horeb 40A Discouraging Report: Investigating beyond the

Negev and Hill Country 42Moses Strikes a Rock in the Wilderness of Zin 44Israelites Denied Passage through Edom 46Israel Clashes with the Amorites on the

Transjordan 48The Visits of Balaam and Moses to Mount Pisgah 50

Part 3: Conquest and Settlement of Canaan—Joshua, Judges, Ruth 52

Israelites Cross the Jordan River 56The Lord Brings Down the Walls of Jericho 58Reading the Blessings and Curses at Mount Gerizim

and Mount Ebal 60Rescue of the Hivites at Gibeon 62Israelite Tribes Are Assigned Territory in the Promised

Land 64Israelites Begin Worshiping Baal in the Promised

Land 66

The Lord Defeats Hazor’s Army in the Jezreel Valley 68

The Lord Confirms His Authority on a Threshing Floor 70

Samson Fights the Philistines in the Sorek Valley 72Naomi Moves Back to Bethlehem 74

Part 4: The United Monarchy of Israel—1 and 2 Samuel; 1 Kings 1–11 76

The Ark Travels from Shiloh to Philistine Territory and Beth Shemesh 80

Choosing a King from Benjamin 82David Kills Goliath in the Elah Valley 84David Hides Near En Gedi 86Saul Fights and Dies on Mount Gilboa 88David Moves from Hebron to Jerusalem 90Solomon Prays at the Tabernacle in Gibeon 92Solomon Builds the Temple in Jerusalem 94The Cost of the Wedding Gift of Gezer 96Solomon Builds Up Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer 98

Part 5: The Divided Kingdom and Assyrian Invasion—1 and 2 Kings, Jonah, Isaiah 100

Rehoboam Travels to Shechem 104Jeroboam Sets Up Sanctuaries at Dan and Bethel 106Ahab Builds an Altar to Baal at Samaria 108A Contest on Mount Carmel 110Assyria Invades the Northern Kingdom 112Jonah Resists Going to Nineveh 114The Lesson of the Song of the Vineyard 116The Assyrian Siege of Lachish 118

Part 6: The Babylonian Invasion, Exile, and Return to the Promised Land—2 Kings 21–25; Ezra; Esther; Jeremiah; Ezekiel; Daniel; Obadiah 120

Josiah Killed at Megiddo 124The Babylonians Destroy Jerusalem 126Life Is Proclaimed for the Dead Sea 128Israelites Flee to Egypt Again 130Obadiah Exposes Edom’s Pride 132Rebuilding Jerusalem’s Temple 134


6 Contents

Some Jewish Exiles Remain in Persia 136The Abomination That Causes Desolation at the

Temple 138

Part 7: The Birth and Early Years of Jesus— Matthew 1–4; Luke 1–4; John 1 140

The Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem 144The Angels’ Announcement to Shepherds in the

Fields 146The Magi and Herod’s Soldiers Descend on

Bethlehem 148The Flight to Egypt 150At the Age of Twelve Jesus Travels to the Temple 152Jesus Is Baptized at Bethany on the Other Side of the

Jordan 154Three Temptations in Three Locations 156Jesus Is Brought Up in Nazareth 158

Part 8: Jesus’s Messianic Mission in Samaria, Galilee, and Phoenicia—Matthew 4–18; Luke 4–18; John 1–4 160

Jesus’s First Miracle Occurs at Cana of Galilee 164Jesus Moves to Capernaum 166Jesus Speaks to a Woman at Jacob’s Well 168Jesus Goes to the Other Side 170Jesus’s Miracles in the Evangelical Triangle 172Jesus Raises the Widow’s Son at Nain 174Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand in a Remote Place 176Jesus Heals a Canaanite Woman’s Daughter near

Tyre 178Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand in the Decapolis 180Jesus Takes His Disciples to Caesarea Philippi 182Jesus Is Transfigured on an Anonymous High

Mountain 184Jesus Heals Ten Lepers on the Road to Dothan 186

Part 9: Jesus’s Last Days in and around Jerusalem—Matthew 19–28; Mark 10–16; Luke 18–24; John 11–21 188

Jesus Raises Lazarus in Bethany 192Jesus Gets on a Donkey at Bethpage 194Jesus Curses a Fig Tree Near Bethpage on the Road to

Jerusalem 196Jesus Celebrates the Passover in the Upper

Room 198Jesus Prays in Gethsemane 200Caiaphas Accuses Jesus of Blasphemy in a Whole

Court of the Sanhedrin 202Caiaphas Blasphemes before Pilate 204Roman Soldiers Crucify Jesus at Calvary 206Jesus Is Prepared for Burial and Placed in a Tomb 208

The Resurrected Jesus Meets the Disciples in Galilee 210

Part 10: The Good News Travels from Jerusalem to the World—Acts 212

The Holy Spirit’s Outpouring at Pentecost in Jerusalem 216

Teaching and Healing in the Temple Complex 218Philip Travels to Samaria 220Philip Speaks to the Ethiopian Eunuch on the Road to

Gaza 222Jesus Encounters Saul of Tarsus on the Road to

Damascus 224Peter Travels to a Centurion’s Home in Caesarea

Maritima 226On the First Journey Paul Departs from Antioch of

Syria 228The First Church Council Is Held in Jerusalem 230On the Second Journey Paul Speaks to the Areopagus

in Athens 232On the Third Journey Paul Raises Eutychus at

Troas 234

Part 11: City Letters and Revelation—Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, Revelation 236

Paul’s Urgent Concern in His Letter to the Galatians 240

Paul’s Letter to the Philippians Concerning Citizenship 242

Paul’s Rapid Departure Requires Back-to-Back Letters to Thessalonica 244

Paul’s Warning to the Church at Corinth about Assimilation 246

Paul Writes to Unify the Jewish and Gentile Believers at Rome 248

Paul Encourages Ephesian Believers to Retain Unity Despite Persecution 250

Paul Responds to Heresy in a Letter to the Colossians 252

John Receives a Revelation on the Island of Patmos 254

Water and Wealth Are Related to the Church at Laodicea 256

The Final Battle at Armageddon Near Mount Carmel 258

Notes 261Scripture Index 268


7

Acknowledgments

We would like to extend special thanks to Dixie and Gray Keller (the Leader Foundation) and Bruce Bordine for their support and participation in the numerous

photo shoots and acquisitions. Additional thanks to Carolyn Hansen, family, and friends for assistance in the development of this manuscript.

Personal Note

Over the past twenty-five years it has been our privilege to travel, study, and teach the Bible in the land of the Bible. The information provided in this book is a syn-thesis of information from our professors who walked the land before us, and our own personal experiences with Scripture in its geographical, historical, and cultural

setting. This book is not intended to be a proof text for any theory, but rather a door through which to enter the world of the Bible and encounter the power and love of our Lord Jesus and the unity of Scripture. It is our hope that this resource will be a blessing in your journey through God’s Word.

This book is dedicated to the memory of Robert E. Fraley, an honored friend.


Part 1

The Need for Rescue and the Promised Land

“By faith Abraham . . . made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents” (Heb. 11:8–9).


GEN ESIS

Genesis is a book of beginnings. Throughout this book, we find ourselves reading about events that happened where they did for a reason. We read about gardens and towers, a Promised Land that has no water and unpromised lands that do, roadways and memorials, trips to Egypt, delays at Beersheba, and a longing to be buried in Hebron. Each of these events happened where it did for a reason.

In part 1 we will see that water concerns often af-fected the decisions people made. The Lord placed Adam and Eve in his water-rich Garden of Eden. But when the serpent tempted them to eat the forbidden fruit, he directly contradicted the Lord’s warning that this act of mutiny would bring death. The new sin-ruined world became so steeped in mutiny that it threatened the hope of any rescue. The Lord then used water to remove wickedness from the world—a judgment on evil that opened the door for a new beginning that Noah’s family could enjoy. Mutiny, however, was progressive. Noah’s descendants, through his son Ham, moved east and into deep trouble. Thus the new beginning of No-ah’s descendants ended badly as they tried to set down roots in the well-watered region of Babel only to build structures that misrepresented the nature and power of the one true God and distorted the Lord’s purpose for humanity.

Thus in the Lord’s plan, Abraham was directed to the land of Canaan with its unpredictable supply of

water. The Lord chose Abraham and his descendants to be messengers of the one true God whose plan to rescue all nations occurred on the podium of Canaan (the Promised Land). Throughout the life of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and other members of this family, we ob-serve their struggles, falling, rising, and continuing their journey. Water-rich areas of the Fertile Crescent that espoused self-reliance proved alluring. So we find them weighing decisions to leave the Promised Land only to return to their divinely assigned mission, and a life marked by tombs, altars, and memorials, whose locations and messages go hand in hand. The book of Genesis ends with Abraham’s family in Egypt, but their hope for return is forged in the minds of all through the burial requests of Jacob and Joseph, who constantly turn their eyes to the Promised Land and call for their descendants to remember they are messengers of the one true God through whom all nations will be blessed.

So although Adam and Eve succumbed to the ser-pent’s temptation in the Garden of Eden—a temptation to mutiny against the King of the Universe—their loving Creator proclaimed a message of rescue and restora-tion from the consequences of that mutiny. In time, that promise would intimately involve the family of Abraham and would one day be fulfilled in the coming of the Rescuer.

Mount Ararat, eastern Turkey. Noah’s ark rested on the mountains of Ararat.

Neo-Sumerian cylinder seal (2200–2100 BC) reveals similarities with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

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10 The Need for Rescue and the Promised LandJames C. Martin, John A. Beck, and David G. Hansen, A Visual Guide to Bible Events


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11The Need for Rescue and the Promised LandJames C. Martin, John A. Beck, and David G. Hansen, A Visual Guide to Bible Events


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01-01 - Possible Locations of the Garden of EdenBaker Bible Atlas

International MappingFINAL - 01/26/2009

12

The beginning of our discussion takes us to the Garden of Eden. While the exact location of the Garden of Eden remains unknown,1 one thing is

certain: the description of this place as a water-rich region is key in establishing the geographical setting for this account and for those to come. The Lord placed Adam and Eve in this highly desirable living space, and the serpent used that place to shape his temptation of Adam and Eve.

Although the Garden of Eden no longer exists, following the Bible’s lead, our search for its previous location takes us to one general region: Mesopotamia, the land between the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers (Gen. 2:14). Most place the Garden of Eden either in the Armenian Mountains of eastern Turkey, where we find the source of the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers, or in southeastern Iraq, near the effluence of those rivers into the Persian Gulf.2 Nothing more conclusive than that can be said.

Even though its location remains a mystery, we do have a description of this place that became the home of Adam and Eve. The writer of Genesis called it a “garden” (gan), a living space akin to the royal parks and “King’s Garden” (Neh. 3:15) of a later age.3 Please note that this was not paradise in the popular sense of that term.4 The Garden of Eden was not a luxury hotel filled with attendants whose job was to dote on vacationing visitors. It was an everyday living space of a royal garden by which the King offered his residents security from harm, plentiful food, and abundant water (Gen.

2:5–6, 10–14). The last item in that list is the one that would have especially caught the attention of those in antiquity living in the Middle East. To put the water issue in perspective, consider the following mod-ern reality. The average United States citizen uses about 10,000 cubic meters (2.6 mil-lion gallons) of fresh water each year. In Egypt the per capita total drops to 1,100 cubic meters and in Israel to 460 cubic meters per capita.5 Those of

us who live with more fresh water than we need may not be sol-idly struck by this dimension of God’s garden, but the people in this part of the ancient world were. Nothing meant content-ment for the residents of this ancient world like a ready sup-ply of fresh water. Because the Garden of Eden had it, Adam and Eve needed to change nothing so as to make their living circumstances better.

The serpent, a saboteur, used the blessings found in the King’s royal Garden of Eden to sow the seeds of doubt and discontent.

The Temptation in the Garden of Eden

Genesis 2:4–3:24

Sarcophagus lid (fourth century AD)

depicting Adam and Eve in the Garden

of Eden.

Painted shrine offering with

serpents (sixth century BC).


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01-01 - Possible Locations of the Garden of EdenBaker Bible Atlas

International MappingFINAL - 01/26/2009

Possible locations of the Garden of Eden

The Need for Rescue and the Promised Land 13

He proposed to Adam and Eve that the Lord was hold-ing out on them, implying that the Lord had provided a royal living space and a living experience that was incomplete and less fulfilling than it could have been (Gen. 3:1–5). This first couple was persuaded to mutiny against the legitimate King in his royal garden. As a result, they became enemies of God and were required to leave the garden.

But the Lord would not have it be this way forever. So the Garden of Eden witnesses a third great event. Before they were driven into the clutches of a world corrupted and broken by mutiny, God promised that he would fix the problem by providing a Rescuer who would destroy the serpent (Gen. 3:15).

When the serpent tempted the first man and woman in the Garden of Eden, he did so for a reason. The Lord gave Adam and Eve dominion over his royal garden and provided them with water, food, and se-curity. But the serpent wanted the allegiance of Adam and Eve, so he tempted them to mutiny against the Lord in God’s royal garden. As the Lord warned, this

brought death and destruction into creation and gave the serpent dominion over that which was intended for humanity. Even in the light of this mutiny and its consequences, the Lord promised to bring the Rescuer who would destroy the serpent and provide humanity with a means of rescue and restoration with the King of the Universe.

Euphrates River in northern Mesopotamia—a suggested location

of the Garden of Eden.


A Visual Guide to Bible Events

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