I’m looking for a good Bible map book.

You know, a Bible atlas.

I want one that will tell me both the ancient names, as found in the Bible, yes.

But I’d also like one that provides the modern names as well.

You know. So I can find these ancient places on the map.

I’m a geographer’s daughter. I like to know the locations.

Why do I need a Bible map book?

During our 2022 trip to Israel, I was amazed at how close everything is.

It’s a 2.5-hour drive from Capernaum to Jerusalem.

Jesus and his disciples wouldn’t have walked that in a day, but it’s only 100 miles.

But they could have walked it in three days.

That’s how close everything is.

Yes, I own a map of modern-day Israel, but it lacks biblical names.

As I read my Chronological Bible in a Year, I’d like to know where all these places are/were.

Gilga: Red: archaeological discovery. Blue: Biblical mention, not discovered, location uncertain. Purple: discovered and identified with a Biblical site. (Wikimedia Commons)

Of course, even the best atlas will have problems.

Why did the Israelites name different places with the same names?

How many Gibeons did the Israelites need? Or is it Gibeah? Are they the same place?

What’s the deal with Gigal? (Mentioned 39 times but appears to be in two different locations)

The Bible stories can appear differently if you are familiar with the locations.

For example, Dr. Steven Collins finally located the ancient city of Sodom by comparing a Bible map with a modern one.

Reading through Genesis, he noted several factors about the location that many archaeologists had overlooked.

When he looked north of the Dead Sea, he found it.

While recently reading Genesis with friends, we discussed where Abraham lived at Mamre.

Looking at a Bible map, we realized it had to overlook the north end of the Dead Sea.

Thus, those Oaks of Mamre must have been just north of present-day Hebron. (Which is where Abraham’s tomb is still located).

Herod Antipas ordered John the Baptist beheaded at Machaerus (foot of Mt. Nebo west side, near Dead Sea shores).
In photo taken at Qumran, J= Jericho; B= baptism site area; N= Mt. Nebo area. (Author photo)Biblical fiction helps?

One of the things I appreciate about Connilyn Cossette’s Biblical novels is the way she uses the land.

By reading her books, I can better understand what the patriarchs endured in the ancient lands of Israel.

Her Cities of Refuge series brings the Old Testament books to life due to her attention to the landscape. (Not to mention I finally understood what the cities of refuge were!)

This is the role of Biblical fiction–to help us understand that Bible people were like us. They had similar fears. They didn’t want to walk through the desert without water.

Novels help us feel as well as think–they can help us to picture ourselves in the same circumstances.

That, in turn, can help us understand better.

Having maps for those stories helps, too.

BIble maps are available online.

Aplenty.

See the Holy Land, by the way, has plenty of information and photos

Bible atlas.org (on Bible Hub) has excellent maps for those using a computer.

I’d like to sit with my Bible, read, think, and examine the map from my armchair.

I don’t want to have to get up and move elsewhere to ask a simple location question.

(My Life Application NJKV Bible has maps. I’m using the Bible in a Year version these days.)

I bought this one today. Any thoughts or suggestions?

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