Bible Atlas: A Manual of Biblical Geography and History

by Jesse Lyman Hurlbut

II. Another lesson may include the most important Places in the Mountain Region. 1. Beersheba, the home of Abraham; opposite the lower bay of the Dead Sea. 2. Hebron, where the patriarchs were buried; opposite the middle of the Dead Sea, and in line with Gaza. 3. Bethlehem, where David and Jesus were born, 6 miles south of Jerusalem. 4. Jerusalem, the capital of Palestine, where David reigned, and where Jesus was crucified; directly in line with the northern end of the Dead Sea. 5. Bethel, 10 miles north of Jerusalem, where Jacob saw the vision of the heavenly ladder. 6. Shechem, between the twin mountains of Ebal and Gerizim, where Jesus talked with the woman of Samaria. 7. Nazareth, where Jesus spent his boyhood; directly in line with the southern end of the Sea of Galilee.

III. Places in the Jordan Valley. Two of these are near the northern end of the Dead Sea. 1. Jericho, west of the Jordan, where the walls fell down before the Israelites. 2. Bethabara, east of the Jordan, where Jesus was baptized. Two more are near the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. 3. Capernaum, where Jesus lived during his ministry, and wrought many miracles; on the northwestern shore of the sea. 4. Bethsaida, where Jesus fed the five thousand with five loaves; on the north of the sea. 5. The last is at the source of the river Jordan, Dan, the most northerly town in Palestine.

IV. Places in the Eastern Table-Land. There are not many in this section, because few events of Bible history took place there. 1. Machærus, where John the Baptist was imprisoned and beheaded; opposite the northern part of the Dead Sea. 2. Penuel, on the brook Jabbok, where Jacob wrestled with the angel. This is about midway between the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee. 3. Mahanaim, where David wept over Absalom's death. This is about half way between Penuel and the Sea of Galilee. 4. Cæsarea Philippi, at the foot of Mount Hermon, where Jesus taught his disciples.

It may be desirable not to give these places in a single lesson, but to divide it into two, or even four sections, and give one at a session. In that case, with each lesson all the places already located should be reviewed, together with the events associated with them. If the places can be marked upon the board in bright red chalk, they will be prominent.

LESSON VI. PROVINCES.

Review from the beginning, as usual. 1. Lines. 2. Waters. 3. Names. 4. Distances. 5. Natural Divisions. 6. Mountains. 7. Places.

In this lesson we are to learn the Provinces, or parts of the country, in the time of Christ. We do not take the division by tribes; as that is more difficult to learn, and not often referred to in history. At the time when Christ was among men, Palestine was divided into five Provinces, though two of these were under one ruler.

I. Draw the boundary line of Judæa, and write its initial, J. This was the southern province, and the largest. [Review the names of the places contained in it.] Its people were the Jews, or men of the tribe of Judah, and its principal city was Jerusalem.