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Holman Bible Atlas: A Complete Guide to the Expansive Geography of Biblical History
The Holman Bible Atlas offers a visual feast through which the reader can explore the world of the Bible. Utilizing 140 full color maps key to biblical events and 140 full color photographs illustrating the land, sites, and archaeology of the biblical world, the Atlas draws the reader into the biblical story.The Holman Bible Atlas begins with an introduction to the geography of the biblical world emphasizing the major physical features of the Ancient Near East with special attention given to the geographical regions of Palestine. Information about daily life and the role of archaeology in recovering ancient cultures are discussed.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1999
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157 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 17, 2009
This was a surprisingly enjoyable book to read. Yes, it has lots of wonderful colorful pictures. And yes, there's a wonderful ratio of graphics to words. But more importantly, I think tying the geographical movements to actual description of those things is fantastic. There's nothing more helpful, learning-wise, than putting pictures next to words.
This book takes you through the earliest days of history, tracing the movement of man's ancestors through Noah to Abraham, and then in detail through the history of Israel. Most pastors -- let alone laypeople -- couldn't find Moab on a map, or define where Israel is in relation to Assyria or Babylon or Egypt. This book rectifies all of that, in an enjoyable way.
This book takes you through the earliest days of history, tracing the movement of man's ancestors through Noah to Abraham, and then in detail through the history of Israel. Most pastors -- let alone laypeople -- couldn't find Moab on a map, or define where Israel is in relation to Assyria or Babylon or Egypt. This book rectifies all of that, in an enjoyable way.
August 21, 2020
Holman Bible Atlas (Broadman & Holman Reference) by Thomas V. Brisco
I have had years of use with this book, full of detail and breadth
I have had years of use with this book, full of detail and breadth
May 27, 2008
"To understand the Bible today we must hear its words in light of the ancient setting. [...] The goal [of this book] has been to provide the geographical and historical data necessary to comprehend the Bible's unfolding story."
Don't let the title fool you: Thomas Brisco's Holman Bible Atlas is much more than a collection of maps. It is also a concise, layman-friendly survey of biblical history and the cultures that were part of it. Whether you want to know where Illyricum was (east of Italy across the Adriatic Sea) or need a quick refresher on the kings of Israel and Judah (there's a handy chart), the HBA is an
excellent reference to have.
Don't let the title fool you: Thomas Brisco's Holman Bible Atlas is much more than a collection of maps. It is also a concise, layman-friendly survey of biblical history and the cultures that were part of it. Whether you want to know where Illyricum was (east of Italy across the Adriatic Sea) or need a quick refresher on the kings of Israel and Judah (there's a handy chart), the HBA is an
excellent reference to have.
September 15, 2009
Excellent resource for those who want a primer on biblical geography. I'm using it as a textbook for a course I teach at a Bible college. However, there are NO page numbers in the book!?!?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2018
I enjoyed reading this book a great deal. Being generally fond of historical geography, especially related to scripture [1], I have had this book on my queue of future reads from my library for some time, and I finally got around to reading it. As is often the case with a historical atlas, this book does not only desire to present gorgeous and useful maps, which this book succeeds well at, but it also wishes to provide a historical context for those maps and to demonstrate the author's knowledge and credibility as a writer of history. This can be an especially hazardous task when one is dealing with scripture, and to be certain the author shows a far more cynical and worldly perspective on matters of biblical history than the biblical accounts themselves show. To his credit, though, the author does have a high view of the historical value of the Bible and also a great interest in historical sources outside of the Bible that are complementary with it, and that makes this book a very worthwhile one to read if you have an interest in the field of biblical historical geography.
In terms of its content, this book has nearly 300 pages of maps and drawings and accompanying text. In general, the book follows the Bible but it also covers areas outside of the biblical timeframe to make for a more continuous narrative. The first part of the book consists of three chapters that provide the biblical setting (I) through looking at the face of the ancient Near East (1), the natural regions of the promised land (2), and life in ancient Cannan (3). After that comes a large part of the book on the Old Testament period (II), with chapters on the time before Abraham (4), the world of the patriarchs (5), the experience of Israel in Egypt (6), the Exodus (7), conquest and settlement (8), the kingdom of David and Solomon (9), the divided kingdom period (10), Judah alone in a world of international powers (11), the exile (12), the Persian period (13), and the Hellenistic period (14), which includes the time of the Maccabees and the Hasmonean dynasty. The third and final part of the book looks at the New Testament period (III), with chapters on Rome's rise to power (15), the rise and reign of Herod the Great (16), the world of Jesus (17), the life and ministry of Jesus (18), the early expansion of the church (19), the first Jewish revolt (20), and the Christian Church from 70 to 300 AD, to just before it became the official religion of the Roman Empire. After this comes a glossary, bibliography, and indices.
To be sure, there is much that one could quibble about in this book. The author appears to have a viewpoint that strongly privileges Hellenistic Christianity--especially noticeable at the end--and the author does not appear to understand the desirability of fidelity to the laws and ways of God. None of this, it should be noted, is particularly surprising, though. What is surprising, and praiseworthy, is that the book takes the Bible as a text so seriously and portrays it visually on maps that provide a great deal of context and understanding for readers. It is also striking and worthwhile that the author wishes to convey a picture of the biblical discussion of place, from the changes over time of Jerusalem to the travels of various obscure people from travelers during the Hellenistic age to that of Hoshea's doomed messenger seeking help for rebellion against the Assyrian Empire. It is little touches and details like this that make the book such a pleasure to read even if my perspective is different from that of the author concerning biblical history.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2011...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2011...
In terms of its content, this book has nearly 300 pages of maps and drawings and accompanying text. In general, the book follows the Bible but it also covers areas outside of the biblical timeframe to make for a more continuous narrative. The first part of the book consists of three chapters that provide the biblical setting (I) through looking at the face of the ancient Near East (1), the natural regions of the promised land (2), and life in ancient Cannan (3). After that comes a large part of the book on the Old Testament period (II), with chapters on the time before Abraham (4), the world of the patriarchs (5), the experience of Israel in Egypt (6), the Exodus (7), conquest and settlement (8), the kingdom of David and Solomon (9), the divided kingdom period (10), Judah alone in a world of international powers (11), the exile (12), the Persian period (13), and the Hellenistic period (14), which includes the time of the Maccabees and the Hasmonean dynasty. The third and final part of the book looks at the New Testament period (III), with chapters on Rome's rise to power (15), the rise and reign of Herod the Great (16), the world of Jesus (17), the life and ministry of Jesus (18), the early expansion of the church (19), the first Jewish revolt (20), and the Christian Church from 70 to 300 AD, to just before it became the official religion of the Roman Empire. After this comes a glossary, bibliography, and indices.
To be sure, there is much that one could quibble about in this book. The author appears to have a viewpoint that strongly privileges Hellenistic Christianity--especially noticeable at the end--and the author does not appear to understand the desirability of fidelity to the laws and ways of God. None of this, it should be noted, is particularly surprising, though. What is surprising, and praiseworthy, is that the book takes the Bible as a text so seriously and portrays it visually on maps that provide a great deal of context and understanding for readers. It is also striking and worthwhile that the author wishes to convey a picture of the biblical discussion of place, from the changes over time of Jerusalem to the travels of various obscure people from travelers during the Hellenistic age to that of Hoshea's doomed messenger seeking help for rebellion against the Assyrian Empire. It is little touches and details like this that make the book such a pleasure to read even if my perspective is different from that of the author concerning biblical history.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2011...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2011...
January 13, 2018
This Bible Atlas is a GREAT resource for learning the historical context of the Bible in a broad overview. It has so many maps, illustrations, and charts. If you are wanting to understand more about the time-line of events, kings, world empires, and geography, this is a great tool. I highly recommend the Holman Bible Atlas, by itself or as a companion to other history books!
April 27, 2021
The Holman Bible Atlas has been hanging around my house since my college days and this year I decided to read it cover to cover. It took a bit of time to get through but it's been an enriching read. What an amazing resource this book is! I'm so glad to have it in my personal library.
June 28, 2022
Loaded with maps and lots of geographical and historical details. It was recommended by our homeschool curriculum to use in our Rhetoric studies. It was too verbose about geography for my kids' already heavy high school schedule. However it made a better reference book for my high school students.
May 22, 2025
great visual and written overview of biblical geography and history. I used this when homeschooling and this last semester it was required reading in my master's level new testament survey class.
November 19, 2012
Outstanding. Simply outstanding.
In the dozens of times I've gone over the grand story of the Bible, I've never traced the story through the lens of cultural shifts and the transient nature of Palestine and the surrounding area. It made for refreshing, eye-opening and encouraging reading. Not to mention that the Bible has become much more interesting now that I have some idea of where all the places are and who all the people are as I come across their name.
It was perhaps most insightful during the time of the divided Kingdom of Israel and the 400 years preceding Jesus Christ.
In the dozens of times I've gone over the grand story of the Bible, I've never traced the story through the lens of cultural shifts and the transient nature of Palestine and the surrounding area. It made for refreshing, eye-opening and encouraging reading. Not to mention that the Bible has become much more interesting now that I have some idea of where all the places are and who all the people are as I come across their name.
It was perhaps most insightful during the time of the divided Kingdom of Israel and the 400 years preceding Jesus Christ.
April 30, 2009
We've used this book to accompany Tapestry of Grace, Year 1. I find myself pulling it out to prepare for Bible study, too. It's very informative and filled with wonderful maps that bring Bible history to life.
We didn't read the whole book, but are finished with it for the year. I found it very useful for tying together ancient cultures with Biblical history.
We didn't read the whole book, but are finished with it for the year. I found it very useful for tying together ancient cultures with Biblical history.
October 27, 2012
I'm reading this book as I read through the Bible and it REALLY helps put things into perspective as you read. I highly recommend this if used in the same way. I've read it before and, though slightly interesting on it's own, found it incredibly boring. Thus, the 2 stars for it as a book. I'd give it 4 stars this time around though.
January 15, 2009
great book if you want to understand Biblical History.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews