Gaining Geography and Geology

Unless one has been in the land of Israel, or at least has traveled in various regions (including mountains, valleys, deserts, and seasonal wetlands) it can be difficult to understand how much the landscape effects the events found in the Scriptures. From north to south and from east to west the landscape features in the land of Israel vary tremendously.

The geology of the area includes what type of landscape exists. This can include such things as mountains or valleys, lush vegetation or desert, rivers or lakes or seas, and even plains and hills. Taking the geology of an area into consideration may explain why a people settled in a certain area, why a city was located in a certain spot, why certain travelers came the way they did, or why battles were fought over certain regions on a regular basis.

The geography of the area includes the locations where events happened. Knowing where a city is located, how close it is to neighboring nations, where the trade routes exist, and whether or not a given area is a site of pagan worship will often add details and understanding to a situation that would be missed otherwise. The events that occur, both physically and spiritually, can be impacted by their location.

The ongoing example being used in this Scripture Study series starts with Deuteronomy 11:26-32 where the Israelites are first instructed to place the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal. This event can raise many questions. The two most prominent might be "Why were they commanded to do this?" and "What impact did it have on their lives?". Through this series, we will attempt to answer these and other questions.

When looking at Mounts Gerizim and Ebal, it becomes quickly appearant that they are among the highest mountains in the West Bank area and also relatively high in all of Israel. Each has an elevation of about 3,000 feet. Interestingly, each mountain has a recess pointing towards the center which would act as a natural amphitheatre. This amphitheatre would certainly help the large numbers of people hear each other as they spoke out the blessings and the cursings.

Much can be said about the history of this area and the events which occurred here. When Abraham was told to leave his fathers house and go to a new land which would become his, where he went was the Canaanite land of Moreh located next to these mountains. His arrival at this location seems prophetic. Abraham had been told he would be a blessing to those who bless him and a curse to those who curse him. Then he arrives at the mountain area where the blessings and cursings would be spoken centuries later. Jacob also dwelt in this area. This was the loacation of the town of Shechem where his daughter Dinah was raped. This is also where Jacob dug a well which would later be a resting spot for the Messiah at which he spoke to a Samaritan woman about living waters. Turning again to geology, this well is recorded as varying in depth with examples being 240 feet deep in 670 AD, 67 feet deep in 1881 AD, and 125 feet today.

During the time that the Nation of Israel was located here was no less intersting. This area was under the tribe of Menassah. The city located between the mountains was made one of ten Levitical cities for the Kohathites as well as becoming one of the three cities of refuge on the west side of the Jordan River. Furthermore, the long term position of the Tabernacle was at Shiloh located a short 8 miles to the south. It was also at this location that the splitting of the Northern and Southern tribes took place with Rehoboam and Jeroboam after the death of Solomon.