The Basic Bible Atlas: A Fascinating Guide to the Land of the Bible

by John A. Beck

The Bible tells the story of God meeting real people in a real time and place, yet we rarely take the time to wonder, Why there? Maybe we have a hard time even picturing where there is. To begin to fully understand the Bible, we must understand the geographical settings of Scripture and how each place participates in the biblical story.

With its colorful maps, The Basic Bible Atlas helps us link geography to Bible study so we can understand how place impacted events in the Bible. From Eden to Egypt, from the promised land to Persia, from Bethlehem to the New Jerusalem, The Basic Bible Atlas is a fascinating guide to the land of the Bible. Your Bible study will never be the same.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian, History, Christian Non Fiction, Biblical Studies

176 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2020

Reviews

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered where places are in the Bible? The Basic Bible Atlas by John A. Beck has the maps that allows us to see where places are in the Bible. I especially liked that we can see where the place was in biblical times and where the location is now in modern times. This is a great beginner book for those new to biblical geography. We get the events of the Bible told through places. This allows you to get a better understanding of the locations mentioned in the Holy Bible. The maps are in color with good details (terrain, rivers, etc.). The book is divided into two sections: Introduction to Geography and Putting the Story in its Place. The first introduces you to the geography of biblical world. It gives you an overview or the big picture. The second section takes you through the Bible from Genesis through Revelation identifying the geography. It identifies each shift in location, its impact and meaning. The Basic Bible Atlas will help you to know the lands of the Bible and the role geography played in shaping the Lord’s message. This would be a great book for parents who are homeschooling. I found this book helpful in allowing me to visualize the locations in the Bible. This is a great book to add to my home Bible reference library (with my Bible, concordance, study Bible).

[Monica H (TeaandBooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Basic Bible Atlas by John A. Beck is subtitled "A Fascinating Guide to the Land of the Bible." This book truly IS fascinating. Beck brings the geography of the Bible to life and makes it interesting to the reader.


The Basic Bible Atlas is divided in to two parts: Introduction to Geography and Putting the Story In Its Place. Beck says that if you are just getting started with Biblical geography that this book is a good place to begin because "it focuses on the basics and the big picture." In the second part, Beck moves from the story in Genesis at the beginning of the Bible right through to Revelation. He hopes that by the end of the book that the reader will know the lands of the Bible better as well as how geography helped shape the Bible.


I like The Basic Bible Atlas a lot. Other than the maps at the back of a Bible, I've never really studied the geography of the Bible times. I found this quite interesting. Beck also writes interesting narratives to go along with the maps so it does really help the reader to visualize what the times were like. Everything is based on Scripture and he references the verses he uses in the back of the book. I think this is an interesting book--whether you just look up what you are studying or you decide to read it straight through because you like Bible geography. I would encourage everyone to get a copy of The Basic Bible Atlas for the whole family to use in your home library.


I received a copy of this book from Baker Publishing Group. All opinions within this review are my own.

[Joel Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Basic Bible Atlas" by John A. Beck provides beautiful illustrations of the geographical area in which the stories of the Bible take place. The maps are clearly labeled and provide the budding Biblical cartographer with points of reference when exploring the Biblical narrative.
The richness of this resource does not come from the maps and illustrations though. The value of this reference work is found in the text surrounding the maps and illustrations. This text aptly assists the Biblical scholar in understanding the importance of the land in regards to the story of redemption. Beck clearly and rightly emphasizes that God's plan for salvation is tied to a people and a land. The value of The Promised Land and other geographical locations in God's design for redemption finds clear emphasis throughout the text.
The only place this resource falls short is in the Biblical stories that are not tied into this narrative such as Esther and Job. Having a full picture of God's revelation through geography would have enhanced this resource.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Aurelia Mast-glick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Fascinating Guide to the Land of the Bible

It took me a long time to pick this book up. When I requested that I wanted to review it, I was thinking it would be what the title says: an atlas. Then I got it and it was filled with writing in small print and it looked more like a textbook than anything and I lost interest. So here I am, months later, finally reviewing it.

And to be honest, I was surprised. It is full of writing and full of maps, but I found it interesting as John gave a look at the lay of the land and how it related to different eras in the Bible, starting with Creation. I found the book informative and well-written. It provided a better view of how the geography and the Bible interconnected and how the lay of the land affected the stories. And once again, I realized that Israel was not just a fertile soil that produced crops with ease, it was a hard land that required much labor, but it was still the land that God gave to His people.

I received this book from Baker Books and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Basic Bible Atlas was a great reference book and encourage everyone to read it. The book was really helpful in showing me the place of all the stories I have read in the Bible. Most Bible's have maps in them but The Basic Bible Atlas has a wide range of colorful maps that point out so many important moments in the Bible. This book also includes ancient maps from Biblical times, along with current maps of the area which was really helpful in identifying countries and regions whose names have changed over the centuries. This book also includes a lot of stories along with the maps, which I also found to be very helpful. Overall, I really enjoyed The Basic Bible Atlas and think it is a great addition to any Christian's library and very helpful when wanting to further understand the geography in your Bible studies.
Thank you to the publisher, Baker Books, for sending me an ARC of this book.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Bible Atlas takes you through the Bible with maps. The maps are nice looking, and interesting to study.

But…There is a lot of reading, sort of summing up a lot of Israel's history and their geographical movements. Others may not mind it, but for some reason the readings seemed to distract me from the maps, rather than enhance them. Also, the maps don't always seem to fit with what is being talked about.

There were several 'iffy' statements made by this book that bothered me.

Beck states that animals were in the Garden of Eden to "provide companionship to the first humans who lived there.." . But doesn't that contradict Adam's not finding one suitable companion among the animals he named? If animals provide true companionship then Adam didn't really need Eve.

"On the one hand, the ark is a symbol of divine mercy, a rescue raft that keeps Noah's family and the animals aboard alive. On the other hand, the new spatial focus highlights the problem: those aboard cannot live without land, and there is no land on which to live. As the weeks go by and the limited supply of food on board the ark dwindles, we feel the pressing need to return to solid ground." Who says that those aboard cannot live without land? Couldn't God have kept them alive in the boat for any length of time? Couldn't He have kept the supply of food from running out?

"He(Jesus) spoke to their needs using language that reflected experiences from their lives. This included not only the rigors of farming and fishing but also debt slavery (Matt. 18:23-35) and being cheated - paid less than they were promised as day laborers in vineyards (20:1-16)."
And yet in a lot of the accounts of Christ speaking to the people he wasn't really speaking to be sympathetic regarding their hard lot but to make a point (and sometimes to make a point that they weren't supposed to understand - Matt 13:11-15). In the case of the day laborers, Jesus doesn't say that the point of the story was that the Master had cheated his servants, rather the thing we seem to need to take away about the Master seems to be that the Master can do whatever he wants, "But he answered and said to one of them, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a shilling? Take up that which is thine, and go thy way; it is my will to give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? or is thine eye evil, because I am good?(Mat 20:13-15)" And, if one thinks that the point of the story is that servants are being cheated, what does that say the Kingdom of Heaven? Jesus said that this account is an illustration of the Kingdom of Heaven. So is the point of the story that the Kingdom of Heaven is an unjust Kingdom?

This book didn't really have me focused on the maps, it seemed to carry one through it all with seeming little thought to the maps actually being examined. But that's just my opinion, others may have no problem with it. And again, the maps themselves are rather nice, and are interesting to examine.

Thanks to the folks at Baker Books for sending me a free review copy of this book (My review did not have to be favorable).

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: An introductory Bible atlas that combines an overview of the biblical narrative and colorful and detailed maps, with an emphasis on the significance of the geography to the unfolding plan of God.

Has this happened to you? You are reading a biblical narrative and come across a place name. You think you've heard of it before and that that might be significant. Or you wonder about the different places where Jesus and the disciples ministered, or where were the places where Paul traveled.

This book is a great companion to reading the Bible. After a satellite view of the Bible lands observing the major features of the Fertile Crescent, the land bridge of international travel from Babylon and Assyria running through the Promised Land and south to Egypt, and the land of Israel with the Jordan River valley between Galilee and the Dead Sea, the spiny ridgeline running through the center of the country, and the fertile shorelands, often occupied by Israel's enemies.

Beck then offers a narrative of the biblical story with an emphasis on the places where events occur and the movements of people. We discover that Shechem is the place where God shows Abram that Canaan is the land of promise, where Israel renewed its covenant with God, and that served as gathering place for the ten breakaway tribes of the northern kingdom. Under the name Sychar, it was the place where Jesus disclosed to an outcast Samaritan woman that, in him, the promises of God, and the longings of a thirsty heart, were filled.

Full color maps are interspersed with text, showing locations, routes traveled, and topography. From Jacob's flight to Egypt, wilderness wandering, conquest of Canaan, the losses and battle of Judges, the expansion and division of the kingdom under David, Solomon and successors, and the exilic journeys. As the narrative progresses, we have maps of the development of Jerusalem, from David's fortress capital, to the temple city of Solomon, to the religious, political and occupation center of the time of Jesus. Beck helps us trace the early forays of Philip and Peter out of Jerusalem, Paul's Damascus journey, and each of Paul's mission journeys and final journey to Rome. We conclude with the Seven Churches of John's Revelation, and the hope of the new Eden, the garden city with the tree of life.

The book also offers name and scripture indexes that help in finding pertinent maps. If I could make two suggestions, some maps identified locations of events, but no indication of chronology--numbers might help here. Also maps were overleaf, or occasionally separated by several pages from the narrative references to places.

Aside from these minor considerations, this is a great companion for one's Bible study with far more and larger maps than most study Bibles. The color renderings accompanied by the text that illuminates the significance of places transforms the reading of biblical texts from bewildering references to obscure place names to enhanced understanding of how places were important in the outworking of God's plans.

________________________________

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Sheila Alewine · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Baker Books Blogger, I received a copy of John A. Beck’s The Basic Bible Atlas: A Fascinating Guide to the Land of the Bible to review. I selected this book thinking it was a reference book in which I could look up various descriptions of the geography of the Bible to enlarge my understanding of scriptural truths. I was delighted to discover that instead of a typical reference book, it is essentially the story of the Bible told through the lens of “places.”

I read this book straight through over two days, in less than three hours total time, because it captivated my interest. Beck tethers the familiar stories of the Bible to the places where they occurred and reveals how God divinely and strategically used the world He created as a stage for His purposes. The reader will gain a lot of information about the everyday life of the people in the Bible, largely influenced by when and where they lived. The Bible makes sense in a whole new way as the story of redemption unfolds.

This is at heart the story of God’s relationship with humanity. The author begins in the Garden of Eden, the place of perfection that provided everything the man and woman could possibly need for eternity. We follow their exile after the Fall and find ourselves on the ark with Noah, floating above the earth as God reshaped His original creation and gives humanity a second chance. We explore the plains and scatter with the rebels who tried to build a tower to heaven. We trail Abraham from the Promised Land, down to Egypt, and then back again with Moses and Joshua. We then are led through the tumultuous years of war, peace, and war again, under judges and kings who rule various cities and take possession of the wild terrain that God calls His special land. When the Messiah comes, we focus on Jerusalem, the city where God dwelled and will dwell again. In the final pages of the story, we track the spread of the gospel across continents and end on a small island called Patmos which God has prepared for his beloved servant, John, to reveal the secrets of the end of the story.

"In between the Bible’s beginning (Genesis) and ending (Revelation), the inspired authors and poets take us on a long journey. We walk thousands of miles through a wide variety of landscapes, each of which plays a role in the evolving plan of salvation. But there is something we dare not miss: the story told in the Bible begins and ends in the same place—the garden of Eden."(p. 158)

The people in the Bible were real people, with real lives, real problems, challenges, and victories. Just like us, I’m sure, the first question when meeting someone new was “Where are you from?” because the answer to that question reveals a host of information to the inquirer, assumptions (correct and incorrect) and facts, based solely on the geography of their origin. The places we’ve come from and the places we’ve been, tell our stories. This is a good one.

I recommend this book for students of the Bible wanting to enlarge their understanding of scripture, or those who have little or no understanding of the story of Jesus. Both will be encouraged, enlightened, and surprised by what they learn.

[Angie Fehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. John Beck, a theology professor for over twenty-five years, inspired by not only his studies but also his many treks across the Middle East, developed the Basic Bible Atlas as a tool to enhance bible studies for readers around the world. Beck explores and maps out major geographical settings described in Scripture, giving a concrete visual to the stories. To be completely honest, calling this work an atlas in the traditional sense feels a bit generous, when in actuality it's laid out more like a historical review examining the relevance of geography within biblical events... with some maps thrown in here and there for emphasis. That said, the maps themselves are wonderfully colorful and eye-catching!

While this work is the perfect tool for those new to biblical studies, it offers a fun format for the information that old salts can enjoy revisiting as well! Beck presents everything in enjoyable to read, easy to follow, clearcut history lessons that are enhanced by colorful maps and bold, bullet-pointed sections similar in style to something you'd find in a school textbook. Also included are cutaway illustrations of residences / temples of biblical figures.

Another bonus for newbie theology students --- the entire book is under 200 pages, so you won't have to worry about being overwhelmed with too much information at once.

Just some of the topics explored within these pages:

* Where exactly is The Promised Land located? How big was it?
* What was the Fertile Crescent and why was it so vital in the development of the powerhouse empires of Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon?
* The geographical shock Abraham experienced, moving his family from Harran to Canaan
* The role geography played with Joshua and the Battle of Jericho (and the aftermath)
* The pivotal change that came from Jesus moving from Nazareth to Galilee (specifically, the lakeside village of Capernaum)

In one particularly thought-provoking section, Beck gets into the reality of just how scarce fresh water is in Israel, even today. It had me thinking --- all these biblical stories that have water somewhere present in them: Woman at the Well, Jesus turning water into wine, Jesus walking on water, Moses parting the sea, descriptions of foot bathing... but after reading Beck's notes... the lengths that modern day Israel still has to go to to tap into those wells and aquifers, even with modern technology.... I wonder, yeah --- where WAS all the clean drinking water, and how was it accessed back in the day?!

I like that in the end Beck brings readers back to the Garden of Eden --- where it all began for us, so to speak --- to close with the message that historically, yes, things will get worse... but then they will get better. We just have to remember, as he puts it, who is "at the front of the charge."

FTC DISCLAIMER: Baker Books kindly provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions above are entirely my own.

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every geographic location in the Bible played a significant role in God’s plan of salvation

Not all Bible atlases are created equal. Most have more pictures than text, and do not effectively and proficiently tell the whole story of the Gospel in context – and without much explanation as to why the lands of the Bible were strategically significant to the Gospel.

In his new book, “The Basic Bible Atlas: A Fascinating Guide to the Land of the Bible,” John A. Beck takes us on an amazing journey from the Garden of Eden to the New Jerusalem, explaining why each geographical location is important and matters to fully understanding the Bible.

Published by Baker Books, Beck’s 176-page book zeroes in on some of the remotest locations on the very earth the Lord created for mankind to dwell and accomplish His will. This included hills, valleys, mountaintops, caves, wildernesses, rivers, streams, oceans, isles (Patmos), the precise locations of fields for grain, vegetation and livestock, as well as dwelling places such as tents, houses, palaces, temples, and especially the Tabernacle.

In fact, every terrain and plain in the Bible played a significant and essential role in God’s plan of salvation, and Beck does a masterful job of tying them all together with biblical references.

Using beautifully-detailed maps, Beck weaves together the events and places of the people God used to tell His redemptive plan for fallen man in chronological order – and at those precise moments in time.

“In between the Bible’s beginning (Genesis) and ending (Revelation), the inspired authors and poets take us on a long journey,” Beck writes (page 158). “We walk thousands of miles through a wide variety of landscapes, each of which plays a role in the evolving [this is a questionable word choice] plan of salvation. But there is something we dare not miss: the story told in the Bible begins and ends in the same place – the Garden of Eden.”

Beck’s book is unlike any other atlas because it rightfully places the Holy Land of Israel at the very center of His plan for us. Major events or places where the Lord sent His people – or where tragedies and triumphs happened that changed the course of history – weren’t left out of this atlas.

The only drawback, however, to Beck’s atlas is it didn’t have enough of an exhaustive list of people, places, and events. Since he refers to it as a basic Bible atlas, that’s understandable, but it would have helped in further study and reflection.

Overall, this atlas is well-written and beautifully illustrated. It would make a great Bible study tool for youth groups, adult Bible studies, and even make an excellent guide for family devotions.

I gave it a 4 out of 5 stars.

Full disclosure: In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, I received an advanced copy of this book free through the Baker Books Bloggers Program. My opinions are my own and I wasn’t required to write a positive review.

© 2020 by Doug S., M.A.

[Conny Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

“And we will not fully understand this story unless we understand the place from which it has come. That is why you need an atlas. Because some of what the Lord has to say to us, he has said using geography,” John S. Beck writes in the introduction of his book, The Basic Bible Atlas: A Fascinating Guide of the Land of the Bible.

~ What ~
This one-hundred-and-seventy-six-page paperback targets those who want to have a better understanding of the lands mentioned in the Holy Bible. After a map and illustration list plus acknowledgments, the book is divided into two parts: Introduction to Geography and Putting the Story in Its Place. The ending includes notes, Scripture index, and an index of place names. The New International Version of the Holy Bible is referenced.

In this book that focuses mainly on Israel and its surrounding areas, over sixty maps with illustrations explain the Old and New Testaments’ geographical locations relating to the stories they provide. The first part has an introduction to the atlas and Biblical world that includes the ancient Near East, regions mentioned in the Bible, and Israel’s major cities, towns, roads, zones, rainfall, seasons, culture, soils, and products. The second and larger section of the book is subdivided into eight chapters covering the creation, the exodus, conquests, the kingdom’s establishments, divisions, and exile, and when Jesus was living as well as church stories.

~Why ~
This is is a wonderful read as it is basic and too the point so the reader can pick a topic of the Old or New Testament and pinpoint on a map where it took place. I loved looking at the maps’ notes and learning that Israel covered 6,750 square miles, the Jewish people’s meandering route for forty years in the desert, where Samson lived and died, the travels of the Ark of the Covenant, the expansion of Jerusalem and its Temple, and Elisha’s history. Understanding the distances Jesus traveled and places He performed miracles were interesting as well as Paul’s many journeys.

~ Why Not ~
Those who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ may not be interested in an atlas that shows how God was and is always there, taking care of the beloved Jews and Christians. Others may wish there was more content to the discussions, but it is a basic synopsis.

~ Wish ~
I wish there were more stories of every person’s whereabouts in the Bible, but this would be a major task. Including an index by people’s names would be helpful for quick look-up. By accident, I noticed Susa (Nehemiah and Esther) was not listed in the index. I prefer all pronouns of God to be capitalized for reverence.

~ Want ~
If you are wondering how far Moses traveled, where Bethlehem is related to Jerusalem, or how the Word of God was spread in the New Testament, this is an excellent source of knowledge that will amaze you.

Thanks to BakerBooks for this complimentary book that I am under no obligation to review.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently spoke to a friend who is located in Brisbane, Australia. Upon realizing that I knew nothing about Brisbane and what it is like to live there, I decided to do some research on Wikipedia. While I had an immediate curiosity to learn about my current context, it is extremely important that Christians understand the geographical landscape of the Bible. Written by John A. Beck, The Basic Bible Atlas is a fascinating guide to the land of the Bible.

About the Author

John A. Beck is uniquely qualified to write this book for three reasons. First, he has taught courses in Hebrew and Old Testament for more than twenty-five years. Second, astoundingly, many of those years were spent teaching field studies in Israel, Jordan, and Egypt. Third, he currently spends most of his year writing and is a permanent adjunct faculty member at Jerusalem University College in Israel.

The Lord’s Chosen Land

This 176-page paperback book is divided into two parts. Part 1: Introduction to Geography, provides an excellent overview of why this atlas is necessary and what makes Israel unique. He highlights how Israel was a small yet geographically diverse land. And he ends on the high-note that Israel was the Lord’s chosen land.

Part 2: Putting the Story in Its Place, is ordered around an outline of the biblical narrative stories. They are (1) Creation, Fall, and Rescue Plan Stories, (2) Exodus, Wilderness,a nd Transjordan Stories, (3) Conquest, Divison, and Crisis Stories, (4) United Kingdom Stories, (5) Divided Kingdom Stories, (8) Exile and Return Stories, (9) Jesus Stories, and (10) Church Stories.

These divisions in the atlas make it extremely useful for following along while reading the Bible. But they also make it easy to look up when researching the necessary geographical context of a passage.

Our Very Real God

The atlas is beautifully produced with full-color illustrations on nearly every page. The text blocks are interesting to read and show why every map is meaningful. A scripture index and index of place names are included at the end, making this an invaluable resource for further study.

This atlas is better than any map or illustration you will find in a Study Bible. It will open your eyes to see the land of the Bible. And it will point you to our God who does real things in a real time and in real places. And he works in the real lives of his real people.

I received a free copy of The Basic Bible Atlas in exchange for an honest review.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating, colorful guide to the land of the Bible!

I'm a little bit of a geography nut, so I was jumping up and down with glee when this book arrived.

I actually have several biblical reference books from college, but those others are laid out more encyclopedia-style, with sections for maps, people, culture, etc. This new title is the first to add to my collection that focuses solely on the land of the Bible.

Although having information on all those other topics is great, I love the fact that this book concentrates purely on geography and is plastered with colorful maps on the majority of its pages.

It helps so much to be reading about a time and place in history and then be able to consult a map to actually see where the locations are situated, instead of just shoving all that information into an "over there somewhere" pocket in your brain.

I thought the author did a wonderful job organizing the material, too. After opening with an introduction to the atlas and the biblical world, he groups everything in a manner that makes so much sense for a beginning Bible student:

Creation, Fall, and Rescue Plan Stories
Exodus, Wilderness, and Transjordan Stories
Conquest, Division, and Crisis Stories
United Kingdom Stories
Divided Kingdom Stories
Exile and Return Stories
Jesus Stories
Church Stories

Honestly, even though the audience for this book isn't geared towards children at all, the groupings go so well with the flow of Bible readings that my daughter and I do throughout the year, I'm pretty certain we'll start integrating this book into our Bible time beginning in the fall!

Packed full of great information without being overwhelming, this book is the perfect addition to your home Bible reference library!

I received a free copy of this product from Baker Books Bloggers in exchange for writing a review. All opinions are my own.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have never studied the Bible lands, this new book The Basic Bible Atlas ~ A fascinating Guide to the Land of the Bible by John A. Beck, would be a great resource to have and start with. Understanding history plays a big role in our lives, whether you study it or not.

The first part of the book will explore questions about where the promised land is located, how large it is, what are important things you need to know about this land and why did the Lord select Israel? The second part of the book helps you to identify major shifts in geography, changes that happened, and how those impacted us today by starting in Genesis through Revelation.
“Like people throughout history, we are shaped by place. Who we are, how we think, and how we communicate are intimately bound to where we are from.”

This is a well put together book, full of illustrations, details while referring back to the Bible. This was very interesting and informative at the same time. You might think studying and reading about geography and maps would be boring, but that is not the case with this book.
“It is the story of God meeting real people in a real-time and place. And we will not fully understand this story unless we understand the place from which it has come. That is why you need an atlas. Because some of what the Lord has to say to us, He has said using geography.”
This is a book we will use in homeschooling, as we study the Bible and locations.

[Benjamin Liles · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I think about the heritage of any group of people there's no other that I can say has a depth and beauty as those of the Hebrew faith. Beck does an amazing job with in-depth maps, pictures and explanations of places, people, and things that even though this isn't a comprehensive atlas, it gets the job done. For my wife and I we enjoyed going through this book, honestly. In our genuine faith of being more like our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Messiah, we believe this is a must have book for those who see him as their Lord.

As far as atlases go, and I have had at least one in my life, I enjoyed this a great deal. It shows you where David walked, where Solomon put the temple, both versions of Jerusalem under their very different reigns, maps that show the trips of Paul, at least one map showing the Exodus walk from Egypt, and the list goes on. It's an amazing book to have to help you understand the people of Israel. It's such a rich history that I believe could bless anyone who wanted to know more without having to spend an arm and a leg to go and see the land of Israel.

What I'm getting at here is that I appreciate the work and the extent to which John Beck put into this to get it into our hands. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Baker Books for an honest and fair review.

[Prairie Sky Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Basic Bible Atlas” by John A. Beck is the first book I have read that focuses deeply on the geographical settings of the Bible.  Many readers, including myself, will wonder why geography is really that important to understanding the Bible.  It turns out, however, that it is!

I really like how this book is written.  Personally, I don’t really read atlases for enjoyment, but this one is very interesting, and makes the geography of the Bible understandable and relevant to people today.  

Perhaps my favourite thing about this book is the description and information of the Promised Land in the Old Testament.  It helped me to understand how the this Land was woven into the lives of God’s people, and how it helped to shape their relationship with Him.

If you have an interest in geography then this book will definitely be right up your alley.  Even if you didn’t particularly care for that subject in school, I still highly recommend this book.  It is truly surprising how much can be learned about God and the Bible and it’s history simply by learning about the geography of the Bible, and I am grateful to the author for making this it so easily accessible to anyone who will pick up this book.

I am grateful to have received a copy of this book from Baker Books Bloggers, free of charge, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bible is a wealth of information that you could spend your whole life studying, learning and growing from. In fact, I highly recommend that course of action! Although I have read through the Bible a few times, and completed various Bible studies, I recently went through The Basic Bible Atlas and learned a lot about the physical setting of the Bible.

The Basic Bible Atlas walks you through the Bible with detailed, colorful maps and explanations. It makes the Bible come to life by showing that the stories that many of us are so familiar with have locations that we can track (for the most part). Knowing where and how these events took place makes it feel more real, and also explains why some things happened the way that they did. I enjoyed the overview of the Bible, with details added in that I would not necessarily think about as I read my Bible. From Eden to the New Jerusalem, you will gain insight into the physical setting of the Bible that will make the stories you know and love come to life!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Baker Books, in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Beauty in the Binding · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading The Basic Bible Atlas by John A. Beck. I’ve read the Bible through many times, but I never considered its geography beyond knowing general whereabouts of events. As expected, The Basic Bible Atlas provided many maps with illustrations and explanations. However, the spiritual insights from studying the land stood out most to me. At one point, the author discussed Abraham’s story and the “strain between the land promise and the reality of everyday life.” (Pg. 50) I see the parallels in my own present-day realities and the future promises of God.

Chapter nine, Jesus Stories, rated as my favorite section of the book. It included insights into the land, people, and socioeconomic status of Galilee that gave me a new perspective on the Beatitudes. I recommend The Basic Bible Atlas: A Fascinating Guide to the Land of the Bible by John A. Beck to any Christian with an interest in Biblical history. Even those who have studied the Bible for years may find new insights by studying it from a geographical standpoint.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

[Jolene Elizabeth Burnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

    I understand the importance of scheduling time with God. As a mom of three children ten and under, I realize that if I don't make a point to schedule time with God, and make it a habbit it probably isn't going to happen as often as I like. The Basic Bible Atlas by John A, Beck is a great resource to use as I am studying God's word. There are many scriptures that deal with Ancient cities- Jericho, Jerusalem, and Capernaum to name a few. It was wonderful to see these cities on maps of the ancient world and see how those maps changed through the course of history. But this atlas was more than a collection of maps. The pages of  The Basic Bible Atlas described how the cities in Ancient Israel and neighboring countries were not only an important part of the history of Israel, but were also like a character themselves in the Biblical narrative. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to dig into Bible study by learning more about the villages and cities that are described in the Bible.

I received this book for free as part of the Baker Book Bloggers program. All opinions are my own

[Liam Malone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know much about the Old Testament. I read much of the New Testament in Ancient Greek while in grad school at Catholic University, quite the appropriate place for this reading. This Atlas is excellent but presupposes a good of the entire Bible. I learned a lot to say the least. I had no real clue about the geography & topography of Israel and now I do. The maps are great, the way he follows the paths of prophets, then Christ, and then the Apostles is terrific. The author has profound faith and belief in Christ and God. What I was doing was comparing some of this book to the world myths I read. The Biblical myths differ because they're written as if they are the authority on the Divine. One thing I really enjoyed and needed to know is why Israel, why the Jews, why Jerusalem. Why at the time of hey day of the Roman Empire. I liked Beck's explanations.

I encourage anyone with the smallest interest in this topic to read this book. I read it over the course of a few days and in between some chapters said some prayers.

I think that now that it is still Lent with Good Friday a week away, I'll read some Gospels, the Acts, and Revelation.

God Bless.

[Narita · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic Bible reference book for study and just reading! The book isn’t big or long, but what it packs into 171 pages is incredible. I liked the way the book was arranged. I know the Bible is true and real without a doubt, but the author brought it to life for me. The Bible history, eye-catching, clear map illustrations and the wonderful word descriptions that went with them gave me a greater picture of the events I have read about so many times. I know from now on when I read my Bible what I have learned will come to mind and add to my time in the Word. Mr. Beck covered from Genesis to Revelations! Some thing that impressed me was the many scriptural references on every page. The scripture index and place names index at the back of the book make it simple to look up specific books, scriptures, locations you might be studying. A treasure to have! I know I will be using it often.
I received this book from Baker Publishing in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I stated are my own.

[Danielle Hammelef · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a finished copy of this book from Baker's Books for an honest review. I requested to review this atlas because I've never traveled to any region mentioned in the Bible and when I read my Bible or listen to the Scriptures, I have no picture in my head of where they stories took place. Now I have colorful and detailed maps which show pathways the Biblical figures traveled, where important events occured, as well as the topography of the area. This atlas covers the entire Bible, from the Garden of Eden to where Paul was inspired and then wrote Revelations.

I'd recommend this atlas for anyone studying the Bible, for church libraries, and for religious education teachers to have as a resource. It is more than just maps, but also has discusses how the people of the Bible were shaped by their locations, just as we are shaped by where we are from. God interacted with real people and this book makes them real to the reader.

[MaryAnn Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bible tells the story of God meeting real people in a real time and place, yet we rarely wonder, Why there? Maybe we have a hard time even picturing where there is. To begin to fully understand the Bible, we must understand the geographical settings of Scripture and how each place participates in the biblical story. With its colorful maps and illustrations, The Basic Bible Atlas helps us do just that, so we can appreciate how place impacted events in the Bible. From Eden to Egypt, from the promised land to Persia, from Bethlehem to the new Jerusalem, The Basic Bible Atlas is your ticket to explore the land of the Bible as never before.


My Thoughts: This is a tool that every student, preacher, pastor or Bible teacher needs in their library. This valuable book is full of information that will help those studying the Bible. It has full-color maps and information that will help with studies. This book will not disappoint.

[Connie Saunders · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great new book for people longing to know more about the geography of the places that they read about in the Bible. The Basic Bible Atlas has maps to show the geography of the lands mentioned in both the Old Testament and New Testament and these colored maps are both beautiful and very detailed. From the Creation to Paul's missionary journeys, readers are given a glimpse of both the geography and the history of the different eras. I especially like that the travels of Jesus and his disciples are shown in detail and that all of the journeys are shown in red. I also appreciate that there is a Scripture Index.

The Basic Bible Index is perfect for both new and veteran Christians and I highly recommend it. I believe that it would be a wonderful resource for both home and church libraries.

I received a copy of this book from Baker Books Publishing Group. I was not obligated to post a positive review and these are my own thoughts.

[Aminata Coote · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Basic Bible Atlas is a great resource for anyone who wants to have a deeper understanding of the Bible. John Beck took the time to explain the importance of each new thing he taught about the land of the Bible. And he did so in a way that was easily understood–from Genesis to Revelation touching all the key points in Israel’s history.

The Basis Bible Atlas is an invitation to slow down and consider the story being told by the geography of the Bible. The landscape of the Bible is not just a list of difficult to pronounce names, it is a critical feature of the story God wanted to teach his people then and now.

I received an advanced reader’s copy from Baker Books as part of their Bloggers program; a positive review was not required.

Read my full review: https://hebrews12endurance.com/import...

[Cover Lover Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am such a visual learner, so the illustrated maps included in this book (and the vivid descriptions) help me visualize the geographic details of the Bible. I can "see" the Exodus, where the Ark of the Covenant traveled, how far Jesus journeyed, etc. This atlas and guide are invaluable tools of learning and understanding.

Just as a setting is so important in fiction stories, understanding the physical setting of the true stories of the Bible provides a richer and fuller understanding of the times.

The maps (some are full-page) are clear, colorful, and fascinating, and inspires and encourages me to delve deeper into the Good Book! A Scripture index and an index of place names is also included (in the back of the book.)

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

[Floyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nicely done beginner’s Bible Atlas. The maps are slightly better than I might expect to find in a good study Bible, but the accompanying discussion adds significant value to the entire text for the lay student of the Bible. The book is not suitable for a scholars use, but it would be of significant help to a lay audience.

In addition to being helpful for the lay believer’s library, it would make a good addition to a church or public library collection. It is small enough that it could fit into a briefcase or satchel along with the reader’s Bible. Keeping in mind the audience, the book easily deserves 5/5 stars.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Maryann · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a history nerd I have always loved seeing maps and knowing about the regions where various events have happened throughout time. Basic Bibles with maps in the back, or study Bibles with maps and background right there with the passages you are reading, are great. However, unless you want to carry around a Bible the size of an encyclopedia, it is hard for them to include all the relevant information.

The Basic Bible Atlas is a wonderful resource for anyone who also enjoys this type of information. It is divided into ten chapters that trace the events of the Bible from the Garden of Eden to Revelation.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.

[Becca Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone else look the maps in your Bible and just think they're pretty pictures? This is such a great resource because not only does it share multiple maps with us, but labels them with important historical markers and then explains them further in the text. It makes the geography of the Bible more relevant for us by showing and describing what happened and where. Journeys are marked in red so that you're not just seeing "this is the land they walked" but actually get to see how they walked it. For anyone looking for a deeper look and better understanding of the geography of the Bible I would highly recommend checking this out.

*I received a copy of this book from Baker Books Publishing Group. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Basic Bible Atlas by author John A. Beck is incredible book with knowledge and information for the reader. This book has colorful maps that are striking to the eye, so the reader can gain a sense of Biblical times. There are also stories from the Bible as well.

The Basic Bible Atlas is great for beginners and those have studied the Bible because the maps are easy to understand, perfect size for the page and allow the reader to get in depth with the land. I like the pages of this book. Also, this would be perfect to help your children, whether through homeschooling, church, etc.
I can't recommend this book enough. It is great!