Welcome to Biblical Geography Basics

In this lesson you will learn a definition of geography and why it is important in understanding the biblical text.

When you complete this lesson, you should be able to:

1. Identify the three types of geography found in the Bible.
2. Recognize the vital role that geography plays in communicating the message of the Bible.
3. Reflect on how understanding biblical geography can enhance your own reading of the Bible.

In this lesson you will learn the important role of place in the message and meaning of the Bible.

When you complete this lesson, you should be able to:

1. Recognize how the language of the authors of the Bible is influenced by their local geography.
2. Explain how the Bible links the plan of salvation to place.
3. Identify how geography conveys the biblical message in a passage of Scripture.

In this lesson, you will learn a three-step plan to help you integrate the Bible’s geography into your Bible study.

When you complete this lesson, you should be able to:

1. Identify three ways to integrate geography into your Bible reading.
2. Describe the roles that historical geography and literary geography play in Scripture.
3. Reflect on how Scripture can speak to you through different types of geography.

In this lesson, you will learn three advanced steps you can take to improve your geographical understanding of Bible lands.

When you complete this lesson, you should be able to:

1. Develop a mental map of the Bible.
2. Recognize the connotations that biblical places convey.
3. Reflect on how you can make important connections between parts of the Bible by recognizing their shared geography.

In this lesson you will come to appreciate the importance of the Fertile Crescent and its proximity to the promised land.

When you complete this lesson, you should be able to:

1. Describe the characteristics of the Fertile Crescent.
2. Explain the implications for the promised land being located where it is on the Fertile Crescent.
3. Reflect on the importance of place in your own faith journey.

In this lesson, you will learn five key geographical characteristics of the promised land and appreciate their implications for the larger story of the Bible.

When you complete this lesson, you should be able to:

1. Define five general, geographical characteristics of the promised land.
2. Identify the three geographical zones of the promised land.
3. Reflect on the theological implications of the promised land’s geography.

In this lesson, you will examine how people traveled in biblical times and the risks they encountered along the way.

When you complete this lesson, you should be able to:

1. Describe the modes of travel in the Bible.
2. Explain the inherent risks that biblical travelers faced.
3. Reflect on how this information can enhance your Bible reading.

In this lesson, you will learn about the established routes travelers took in and through the promised land—how those routes came into being, the nature of those ancient roads, and major travel arteries.

When you complete this lesson, you should be able to:

1. Explain the criteria that determined route selection for those traveling in Bible times.
2. Describe the nature of ancient roadways in and through the promised land.
3. Reflect on the choices you make in your daily walk and the paths you choose to follow.

In this lesson you will learn about the water realities of the promised land, the challenges of acquiring it, and the creative solutions used to keep it accessible.

When you complete this lesson, you should be able to:

1. Describe the challenges a rain-sourced system imposed on those living in ancient Israel.
2. Identify and distinguish the various types of water resources developed in Bible times so that people had access to a supply of fresh water.
3. Reflect on the importance of water as a metaphor in the Bible.

In this lesson, you will explore the weather of the promised land by looking at the summer season, the winter season, and the types of wind that impact this land.

When you complete this lesson, you should be able to:

1. Describe the nature of the summer and winter seasons in Israel and the culture that accompanied them.
2. Explain the sources of wind in the Bible and how the natures of the wind from those sources differ from one another.
3. Reflect on the significance of weather in your reading of the Bible and in your own life.

This activity offers a brief introduction to the lesson and informs you of the lesson’s objectives.

Viewing this activity is required for course completion.

This activity provides the main teaching content for the lesson. You may choose to watch the video, listen to the audio, or read the transcript. Closed captioning is also provided for any video segments. In each case the content is the same.

This activity is required for course completion.

This quiz activity checks your understanding of the concepts learned so far. It is not a timed activity, and the quiz can be attempted as many times as needed.

Earning a quiz score of 70% or better is required for course completion.

This activity allows you to spend time in Scripture and connect it to the topic of each lesson. Spend some time carefully reading the passage provided in the activity, utilizing the simple three-step method of Receive, Reflect, and Respond.

Complete these activities digitally in the downloadable workbook or write them in your own journal. Find the link to download the digital workbook in Lesson One.

• Receive simply involves reading the text and asking, “What does the text say?”
• Reflect challenges you to ask, “What does the text mean?”
• Respond invites you to apply the meaning of the text to your life.

Instructions for reflection

1. 1. Get and use a hard copy journal or an e-note-taking tool such as Notion, OneNote, or Apple Notes. You can also complete these activities in the course workbook, which can be downloaded in Lesson One.
   2. Spend time reflecting on the questions provided in the activity. Make it a time of prayer by sharing your thoughts and reflections with God.
   3. Write down your answers, thoughts, and other revelatory ideas in your journal that God reveals during your time of prayerful reflection.

For reflective journaling activities such as this one, find a quiet place in which you will not be disturbed by other people, noises, or other distractions. Silence e-devices and quiet your mind by reading Bible passages or praying before attempting the activity.

This discussion activity is designed to help you articulate what you have learned in each lesson. It may also help you collect ideas from other course participants about their understanding of biblical geography. Since this course is asynchronous (i.e., other learners complete the course at different times), you may not see many discussion submissions or receive replies to your posts. Therefore, consider your submissions to this discussion forum as a way to share your insights about what you have learned to inspire or challenge others in their learning journey, and to enable others to do the same for you.

While other learners may not see or respond to your comments in the short term, encouraging others and engaging with others enhances your learning experience.

This activity is required for course completion.

These application activities are designed to help you consider how to put your learning to use in your own context. When you finish this course you will have an action plan that will help you deepen and improve your understanding of biblical geography!

Complete these activities digitally in the downloadable workbook or write them in your own journal. Find the link to download the digital workbook in Lesson One.

At the end of each lesson there are links to additional Our Daily Bread Ministries resources you can watch, listen to, or read that will enhance your understanding of the course content. This material is optional and not required for course completion.

This activity sums up the concepts learned in each lesson and looks ahead to what comes next.

This activity appears in the course wrap-up section at the end of the course. It allows you to review what you have learned in the course and identify actions you will commit to in order to implement the course concepts.