Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Pentateuch

by Barry J. Beitzel

Publisher:

Lexham Press

, 2022

Walking in the footsteps of the Patriarchs

2024 The Gospel Coalition Book Award of Distinction - Biblical Studies

From the four rivers of Eden to Israel’s wilderness wanderings, the biblical narratives in the Pentateuch are filled with geographical details. God’s story of redemption takes place in the real, but often unfamiliar, world of the ancient Near East.

Written by a team of experts on biblical geography and culture, the Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Pentateuch is a guide to the world of the patriarchs. Each article addresses a particular story, event, or subject in Genesis through Deuteronomy, with full-color maps and photos providing deeper layers of context. Historical and cultural insights give readers a richer understanding of the biblical story.

Praise for the Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Pentateuch

Because the Bible, more than any other holy book, roots its revelation of the Creator in identifiable time and space, the geographic context of the biblical message is of the greatest importance. This means that this series, and particularly this volume on the Pentateuch, is extremely valuable to the student of the Bible, not only in its articles dealing with specific geographic data and locations, but also with the larger geographic issues. Highly recommended.

—John N. Oswalt, Visiting Distinguished Professor of Old Testament, Asbury Theological Seminary

In Scripture, especially in the Pentateuch, land is not only a grand theme but part of its message, with a knowledge of the geographic setting often yielding greater perception of a story’s significance. With stunning visuals and insightful discussions from top-notch scholars, the Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Pentateuch is a much-needed resource that all Bible students, scholars, and pastors will want on their shelves.

—L. Michael Morales, professor of biblical studies, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary

The Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Pentateuch is a robust addition to the library of anyone serious about the historicity of the biblical text. I am delighted that such a robust resource exists! It assembles the best of evangelical scholarship on places mentioned in the Pentateuch. The essays are beautifully illustrated with photographs, artwork, charts, maps, and diagrams to help readers visualize the biblical context. Linguistic, cultural, historical, archaeological, and other resources are brought to bear on the text as the authors engage with critical perspectives and weigh various proposals. Each essay begins with a summary of key points and closes with a bibliography of relevant sources. This book will be a significant help to me in my own research and teaching.

—Carmen Joy Imes, associate professor of Old Testament, Talbot School of Theology

Lexham Geographic Commentaries

Geography is a central concern throughout Scripture, but the full significance of the geographical context is easily overlooked without a familiarity with the places, the relative distances, and the ancient setting. The Lexham Geographic Commentaries will not only place you in the sandals of the ancient writers of Scripture, but they will explain the significance of the geographic details in the biblical text for your life today.

Learn more about the other titles in this series.

A New Type of Commentary

To create an innovative, award-winning commentary on the geographic and physical background of the biblical text, we partnered with noted Bible scholar and cartographer Dr. Barry J. Beitzel. This commentary will not only place you in the sandals of the Apostles as they traveled throughout the Roman Empire, but it will explain the significance of the geographic details in the biblical text for your life today.

In the Lexham Geographic Commentary articles on each passage are enriched with relevant details that integrate the valuable resources of Logos Bible Software. So instead of being bound to the commentary text, you will be encouraged to explore Atlas maps of the region discussed, or conduct a Bible Word Study of a Greek word that was mentioned. And if reading through a commentary isn’t your thing, no worries! The wealth of information throughout the Lexham Geographic Commentary will be accessible from multiple angles within Logos Bible Software. So whether you’re studying a specific pericope using the Passage Guide or simply reading through your preferred Bible with the commentary linked together, the relevant information will be surfaced helping you further explore the acts of the Apostles and John’s letters to the seven churches.

Contents

• A Geographic Analysis of the Four Rivers of Eden
• The Table of Nations: An Ethno-geographic Analysis
• The Tower of Babel Incident and the Confusion of Language: A Socio-spatial Analysis
• The Patriarchal Homeland: A Socio-spatial Analysis
• The Old Babylonian Kingdom: A Geographic and Socio-spatial Analysis
• Recent Discoveries in Greater Mesopotamia and Their Impact on the World of the Biblical Patriarchs
• The Migrations and Wanderings of the Patriarchs
• The Patriarchal Travels in Canaan: A Geographic Assessment
• Altars, Tombs, Pillars, and Walls in Genesis: Their Socio-spatial and Theological Roles
• Mountains in the Patriarchal Period
• Biblical Famine and Its Impact on Souther Canaan
• The Location of Sodom and Gomorrah: A Northern View
• The Location of Sodom and Gomorrha: A Southern View
• The Travels of the “Kings of the East”: A Geographic Analysis
• A Literary Exploration of the Promised Land Boundaries
• The “Land” Given to Abraham and His Descendants: A Geographic and Socio-spatial Analysis
• Ishmael and His Descendants: A Historical Geographical Assessment
• The Relationship between Pastoralists and the Urban Centers in the Patriarchal Narratives
• Philistia and the Philistines: A Socio-spatial Analysis
• The Burial Practices of the Patriarchs
• “Rachel Weeping for Her Children”: Determining the Location of Rachel’s Tomb and Migdal-eder
• The Land of Goshen: A Socio-spatial Analysis
• Egypt’s New Kingdom: A Geographic and Socio-spatial Analysis
• (Pi-)Rameses: The Delta Captial of Ramesside Egypt

• The Ten Plagues of Egypt: A Socio-spatial Analysis
• Yam Suf: Its Meaning in the Old Testament and Ancient Egyptian Literature
• The “Red Sea” in the Hebrew Bible, the Septuagint, and Classical Literature
• Manna: A Geographical and Exegetical Analysis
• Quail in the Wilderness: A Geographic Analysis
• The Geographic Setting of Moses’ Wars
• The Location of Mount Sinai: A Southern Sinai View (Jebel Musa)
• Is Mount Karkom the Mountain of God? Challenging the Southern Mount Sinai Hypothesis and the Identification and Dating of the Remains of the Israelite Sojourn
• The Spatial Syntax of Israel’s Tabernacle
• The “Golden Calf” Incident and Its Impact: A Socio-spatial Analysis
• “A Land Flowing with Milk and Honey”: The Expression’s Meaning and Socio-spatial Significance
• Geography, Agriculture, and the Israelite Calendar
• Israel’s Camping Pattern and Marching Arrangement
• The Journey of Israel’s Twelve Spies
• Israel’s Forty Years in the Wilderness: A Geographic and Socio-spatial Analysis
• Edom and Israel’s Wanderings from Kadesh to the Plains of Moab
• Water from the Rock: Moses’ Sin — The Miracle That Never Happened
• The Historical Geography of the Settlements of the Transjordanian Tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh
• An Overview of the Historical Geography of the Exodus and Wilderness Itinerary
• How Does Deuteronomy Repurpose the Mountain and the Place?
• The Theology of Land in Deuteronomy
• The “Seven Nations” of Canaan
• Water and Life in Southern Canaan

Product Details

• Title: Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Pentateuch
• General Editor: Barry J. Beitzel
• Series: Lexham Geographic Commentaries
• Publisher: Lexham Press
• Publication Date: 2023
• Format: Logos Digital
• ISBN: 9781683597292

About Barry J. Beitzel

Barry J. Beitzel is professor emeritus of Old Testament and Semitic languages at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He holds a PhD in ancient Near Eastern studies from Dropsie University in Philadelphia. He obtained a postdoctorate in ancient Near Eastern geography from the Université de Liège, Belgium, and has engaged in postdoctoral archaeological work in eastern Syria through UCLA. He is the author of Where Was The Biblical Red Sea? Examining the Ancient Evidence and The New Moody Atlas of the Bible.