This video introduces the basic geography and regions of the land of Israel.

We noted in the previous video that the land of Israel is relatively small.

It is about the same size as the state of New Jersey

the 5th smallest state in the United States

On map 1-1 in the Satellite Bible Atlas, note that the heartland of Israel,

from Dan to Beersheba is only 150 miles long

From Jaffa on the Mediterranean coast to the Jordan River,

is only 45 miles

However, in this small land there is

great geographical variety.

One region varies significantly from another

even though the regions may only be a few miles apart

Map 12-3, the last map in the Satellite Bible Atlas

shows the various regions of the land outlined schematically.

Each shape or outline shows a different region.

Look how even the area of Judah

in the south breaks down into seven, very distinct regions:

The coastal plain,

the Shephelah or foothills,

Hill Country, Wilderness,

Dead Sea, Negev or Dry Basin, and Wilderness Highlands.

This geographical regional diversity has its effect on both biblical and modern history

The land’s history has tended to be characterized by different ethnic groups

who maintain independent political rule in different geographical regions

Peace and unity between all groups is seldom if ever achieved

Here we are taught that real harmony and unity are obtained only when God rules men’s hearts

As an historical example of the geographical and ethnic diversity in the land,

note Map 4-2 which shows the area

that Israel was and was not able to conquer and settle in the days of Joshua and then the judges

Israel was able to settle in large sections of Transjordan

and the Hill Country.

But Israel was not able to settle in the Coastal plain

or here in the Jezreel valley, or north of the Sea of Galilee.

Let’s see some of the regional, and geographical variety in this small land.

Here we are in the land of Israel and contrary to common belief; most of it is not a desert.

We are in the hill country of Judah,

which you can see is very forested and we are near the Biblical site of Kiryat Yearim.

Which means “the village of the forest”.

The variety in Israel includes everything from lush green and waterfalls near Mt. Hermon.

The well watered districts around the Sea of Galilee

Agriculturally rich plains like the Jezreel Valley

The rugged Hill Country of Judah near Jerusalem

This hilltop here is the ancient town of Kiriath Yearim

just mentioned by the gal in the video

The ark of the Covenant stayed here for 20 years before Samuel led a national repentance

The ark stayed here another 80 years or so until David brought it into Jerusalem

Here’s the modern road leading into Jerusalem.

. And yes, deserts, like the rocky terrain of the Judean Wilderness between Jerusalem and Jericho

Map 1-15

Let’s learn four major longitudinal zones

or zones that run basically north-south, '

that make up the land of the Bible

These zones sub-divide into smaller regions

as we will see later

but a basic understanding of the regions of the land of the Bible starts with these four zones

First is the Coastal Plain

a strip of agriculturally productive land some 8-12 miles wide that runs parallel to the Mediterranean coast

This region tended to have an international aspect to it since big empires

travelling between Mesopotamia and Egypt wanted it. The Philistines settled here.

Ancient Israel was seldom able to control it

Next is the Hill Country

Jerusalem

#15 on this map

sits on the watershed of the Hill Country at some 2400 to 2800 ft. above sea level

The Hill Country is rough terrain of deep valleys and high ridges

It extends north and includes

Mt. Carmel which juts out into the Mediterranean Sea

Note here a break in the Hill Country, which separates the Hill Country of Judah and Ephraim from Galilee in the north

The break is a wide plain, the triangular or arrowhead shaped Jezreel Valley

The third north-south zone is the Rift Valley.

This is part of the longest rift on the surface of the earth,

the great Syro-African Rift

that runs from Turkey to Kenya

Here the Rift Valley is a 10 mile wide plain or trench

which separates the Hill Country in the west

from the high plateau in the east.

Much of the Rift Valley in Israel is below sea level

The surface of the Sea of Galilee is 700 feet below Sea Level

The Jordan River descends another six hundred and fifty ft. to the lowest spot on the earth, the Dead Sea

. The surface of the Dead Sea is one thousand three hundred and fifty ft. below sea level

The unique depth of the Rift Valley especially around the Dead Sea

is one reason there is so much geographical variety in the area.

The Dead Sea is only 15 miles from Jerusalem

but is a totally different geographical zone.

The fourth major longitudinal zone is the Transjordan Plateau

It can reach over 3000 ft in elevation and includes the areas of ancient Moab

a Plateau, Gilead, Bashan or Golan

all the way up to Mt. Hermon

There they are, the four major longitudinal zones of the land of the Bible:

The coastal Plain, the Hill Country, the Rift Valley, and the the Transjordan Plateau

Another important feature of the geography of the Land of the Bible is rainfall

Believe it or not, Jerusalem receives as much rainfall as London,

between 22-24 inches each year

The difference is that Israel’s rainfall comes in about 5 months,

, between November and March

with the wettest months being January and February.

So when it rains, it can pour.

Rainfall in Israel varies greatly from region to region

. This is especially because the Rift Valley is in the rain shadow of the Hill Country.

Note on this cross section diagram how most of the rain falls on the western side of the Hill Country watershed

Jerusalem sits here on the watershed.

But east of Jerusalem there is a severe drop in elevation into the Rift Valley

The clouds dissipate and less and less rain falls the further one descends toward the Dead Sea.

As mentioned, Jerusalem can get 24 inches of rain a year.

But only 15 miles away, Jericho in the Rift Valley near the Dead Sea, gets only 4 inches of rain per year.

This variance in rainfall from region to region

contributes to the great geographical variety in the land.

Let’s see a typical winter rainfall in the Hill Country of Judah near Jerusalem.

Israel has no major river that grants a continuous supply of water

Rather, as Deuteronomy 11:11 says, it is a land dependent on God’s provision yearly to “drink rain from heaven”

The heartland of the land of Israel is only 150 by 45 miles.

Yet this small land contains great geographical variety.

The geographical variety has put its stamp on the land’s history.

We saw the four major longitudinal (north south) zones of the Land of the Bible.

The Coastal Plain, Hill Country, the Rift Valley, and the Transjordan Plateau.

Finally, we noted that Jerusalem receives as much rainfall as London, some 24 inches a year.

. However, rain falls only in the winter months, so the land of the Bible experiences long, dry summers

Without the winter rains, life quickly ceases.

The writers of scripture make it clear that man is dependent up God to send life giving rain

SBA is written by Professor William Schlegel

Translated by Dr. Joseph Kim, Dr. Simon Liu and miss Anny Zhang

And This is Joseph Kim. Please visit www.logos101.org for more Bible study material.

Subtitles by the Amara.org community