The geography of Palestine falls naturally into five regions: the coastal plain, the central highlands, the Rift Valley, the Transjordan plateau, and the Negev. The coastal low lands run along the western border of Palestine at the Mediterranean Sea. The plain varies in width from less than 5 kilometers (3 miles) to more than 40 kilometers (25 miles) but it forms an almost straight line for more than 320 kilometers (200 miles) north to south.

At the famous Ladder of Tyre in Upper Galilee, the hills reach the coast and divide the Plain of Phoenicia from the Plain of Acco. The Plain of Acco is about 13 kilometers (8 miles) wide and 40 kilometers (25 miles) long. It was the region allotted to the tribe of Asher. - Josh. 19:24-31 - At the foot of Mount Carmel the coastal plain is only a few hundred feet wide, but it quickly widens into the Plain of Dor, and at the the Crocodile River (the Wadi Zerqa) into the marshy Plain of Sharon.

The Plain of Sharon is some 64-80 kilometers (40-50 miles) in length and 13-16 kilometers (8-10 miles) wide. A fertile region, it was once covered with oak forests. Through it flow five streams, including the river Kanah, which in ancient Israel divided the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh. South of the Plain of Sharon is the triangle known as the Philistine Plain where the five lords of the Philistines build their great cities: Ekron, Gath, Ashdod, Ashkelon, and Gaza. - 1 Sam. 6:16-18 -

One problem with this coastal plain is that it did not have a natural harbor. Joppa was a precarious harbor formed by offshore reefs. - 2Chr. 2:16 - Caesarea was built by Herod the Great, who created an artificial harbor. This territory was of little value to the ancient Israelite, a fact which may have contributed to Philistine dominance of the coastal plains long after the Israelites conquered Canaan.

Between the coastal plain and the hill country of Judea and Samaria runs a series of foothills known as the Shephelah. These hills were the scene of many battles between the Philistines and the Israelites. It is divided by three valleys: the Valley of Aijalon on the north, the Valley of Sorek in the middle, and the Valley of Elah on the south. At Aijalon Joshua commanded the sun to stand still. - Josh. 10:12-14 - And in Elah young David killed the giant Goliath. - 1Sam. 17:2 -

The central highlands are a mountain range running north to south the length of Palestine. In Lebanon the range rises to over 2,740 meters (9,00 feet) above sea level at Mount Hermon. The highest peak in Palestine is Jebel Jermaq, 1,200 meters (3,960 meters) in Upper Galilee.

The highlands consist of several distinct regions. The northernmost region is Galilee, customarily divided into Upper and Lower Galilee. Upper Galilee is almost double the altitude of its lower counterpart with corresponding differences in climate and vegetation. Lower Galilee has outcrops of chalk and marl that give the region a rugged beauty. Even today it is populated with small villages, many of which are mentioned in the New Testament. To the east lies the Sea of Galilee, separated from Lower Galilee by a series of hills and valleys.

South of Galilee is the Plain of Jezreel or Esdraelon. This plain is actually a low plateau of the hill country stretching from Mount Carmel on the west to Mount Gilboa on the east. This was an important corridor between the Via Maris, one of the main roads through Palestine, and the road to Damascus to the north. Many notable battles have been fought here. - Josh. 17:16; 2Chr. 35:22 - Here too will be fought the Battle of Armageddon. - Rev. 16:16, 19:11-21 -

South of the central highlands is the hill country of Ephraim. This broad limestone upland consists of fertile valleys, tree laden hills, and north-south, east-west highways. This easy access to Samaria explains this region's greater receptivity to foreign influences in religion and politics than that of Galilee to the north or Judea to the south. The highest of these Samaritan hills are Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim.

Unlike the broken terrain of Samaria, the Judean highlands present a solid barrier that practically shuts off east to west traffic. Judea is subdivided into the Shephelah, the central hills, and the eastern wilderness. The terrain of these three divisions reflects quite a contrast, just like the annual rainfall. Most of the towns in this region are built on a series of hills, just as Jerusalem is. All the land to the south is 'down.' although the central highlands continue to climb until they reach the area of Hebron, Palestine's highest town. As one continues south in these highlands, however, the elevation begins to drop. Thus at Beersheba, a few miles south, the region becomes a triangular depression between the hills of Judea and the hills of the Negev.

The central highlands are the most natural region in Palestine, boasting of such towns as Nazareth, Shechem, Samaria, Bethel, Jerusalem, Bethelem, Hebron, and Beersheba. This region is known as the heartland of Palestine.

Between the western hills of Israel and the hills east of the Jordan River lies the world's deepest depression, known as the Rift Valley. Beginning in the valley between the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains and running south through Palestine, through the Arabah, through the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea and on south through eastern Africa, this is the deepest geological fault on earth. The contrast in elevation is striking. Mount Hermon is a majestic 2,814 meters (9,232 feet) above sea level, while the Sea of Galilee just below it is 212 meters (695 feet) below sea level. The Jordan River, which flows from the foothills of Hermon to the Sea of Galilee and then on south to the Dead Sea, is derived from a word which means 'the descender.' The river is appropriately named. In one nine mile stretch the Jordan plunges 284 meters (850 feet) North of the Sea of Galilee the river drops an average of 12 meters (40 feet) per mile. The Jordan is unique in that it is the world's only major river that runs below sea level along most of its course.

The distance between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea is approximately 105 kilometers (65miles) In the Rift Valley, or the Jordan Valley, the river has carved a narrow channel called the Zor. A haven for wildlife, this appear like snake like path of green vegetation when viewed from the air.

In the southern extremity of the Rift Valley, between the Dead Sea and the Red Sea, is the Arabah. This valley, from three to nine miles wide but 169 kilometers (105 miles) in length, features terrain varying from salt flats to bad lands. It is watered only by the flowing of seasonal streams in the rainy season. From the Gulf of Aqaba the floor of this valley rises to 230 meters (755 feet) on a steep ridge. From there it drops dramatically, over 152 meters (500 feet) in two miles, toward the Dead Sea.

The beautiful hills of the Transjordan tableland are cut by four important rivers as they wind their way to the Rift Valley. They are the Yarmuk, Jabbok, Arnon, and Zered Rivers. These rivers provide natural boundaries for four discernible regions of Transjordan.

North of the Yarmuk River is Bashan, a plateau rising from 213 meters (700 feet) in the west to 914 meters (3,000 feet) in the east. South of the Yarmuk to the Jabbok is Gilead. This is the most fertile region of Transjordan. The rainfall of 28 to 32 inches a year provides sufficient water for rich agricultural land and pasture land. This is where the Greco-Roman cities of the region known as the Decapolis were located. here, too, the famous 'balm of Gilead' was found. South of the deep Jabbok gorge to the southern tip of the Dead Sea lay the kingdoms of Ammon and Moab. Located here were the capital of the Ammonite kingdom, Rabbah, and Mount Nebo, the commanding site from which Moses viewed the Promised Land. - Deut. 34:1 - The Arnon River was the approximate border between Ammon and Moab, with the Zered River to the south serving as the border between Moab and Edom.

Edom stretches for a hundred miles above the Arabah. In the Shera Mountains of Edom the reddish sandstones may have given rise to the biblical name adom, which means 'red.' In a basin secluded in these mountains is Petra, the famous capital of the Nabatean kingdom. The conquest of Edom for a brief time during the days of king David and king Solomon, enabled Solomon to build the port of Ezion Geber on the Red Sea and to exploit the copper mines in the area. - 1Kin. 9:26-28 -

Directly south of Palestine lies the Negev, a barren wilderness. Shaped like a triangle with its apex pointing toward the Sinai Peninsula, the steppe of the Negev is situated immediately south of the Valley of Beersheba. It encompasses over 12,500 square miles, more than all of Palestine itself. The inhabitable sector of the area is a small strip about 49 kilometers (30 miles) wide from north to south, centered at Beersheba. The rest of the Negev is a rocky wilderness with the desert pushing in from all sides.

It is also because of the long desert frontier, the Negev has been inhabited mostly by tribal herdmen known as the Bedouins, including the Amalekites. - Num. 13:29; 1Sam. 30:1 - In the Old Testament, this area was known as the Wilderness of Zin and the Wilderness of Paran. Occasionally permanent settlements would be found here in the days of Abraham and especially in the days of the Nabatean kingdom. The Negev is crisscrossed with caravan routes. The important route to Egypt, known as 'the way of Shur' - Gen. 16:7 - went southwest from Beersheba through this area.

Palestine has a wide variety of geological formations for a small 10,000 square mile area. A band of Nubian or Petra sandstone, red and soft, stretches along the eastern coast of the Dead Sea. Above this band is the most important geological formation of Palestine, the limestone which makes up most of the tableland on both sides of the Jordan River. This limestone is particularly evident at Jerusalem; reservoirs, sepulchers, and cellars abound under the city.

The Philistine country north of Mount Carmel consists of sandstone. Between this sandstone and the sand dunes of the seacoast is a sedimentary bed. On the eastern side of the Jordan, from Mount Hermon to south of the Sea of Galilee, is a volcanic rock, frequently found in other parts of the land. Another notable feature of the region is the blowing sand from Egypt and the Sinai deserts which frequently invades the cultivated sections of Palestine.

On the west shores of the Dead Sea are hot springs. At the hot springs of Callirrhoe on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea, Herod the Great sought relief from his illness. Earthquakes also played a vital role in Palestinian life. King David interpreted an earthquake as a sign of the anger of the Lord. - Ps. 18:7 - Jonathan's attack at Michmash was accompanied by an earthquake. - 1Sam. 14:15 - A memorable quake occurred during the days of Uzziah in the eighth century B.C. - Amos 1:1 - An earthquake also accompanied the crucifixion of Jesus in Jerusalem.

From the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you deserted me?" When some of those who stood there heard this, they said, "The man is calling on Elijah" and one of them quickly ran to get a sponge which he dipped in vinegar and, putting it on a reed, gave him to drink. 'Wait!' said the rest of them 'and see if Elijah will come to save him.' But Jesus, again crying out in a loud voice, yielded up his spirit.

At that, the veil of the Temple was torn in two from the top to bottom; the earthquake; the rocks were split; the tombs opened and the bodies of many holy men rose from the dead, and these, after his resurrection, came out of the tombs, entered the Holy City and appeared to a number of people. Meanwhile the centurion, together with the others guarding Jesus, had seen the earthquake and all that was taking place, and they were terrified and said, "In truth this was a son of God." - Matt. 27:45-54 -

The presence of these phenomena - plus volcanic activity, basalt, sulphur, petroleum, salt, bromide, phosphate, potash, and other chemicals in and around the Dead Sea - make Palestine a geologist's paradise. It is indeed one of the most unique regions of the world.

The latitude of Palestine is approximately the same as southern California. It is therefore marginally subtropical. Situated between the cool winds of the Mediterranean and the hot winds of the desert, Palestine has a variety of weather patterns.

The sea breeze has a moderating effect on the coastal plain. The average temperatures at Haifa is around 56 degrees F. to 83 degrees F. However, the elevation at Jerusalem, brings cooler temperatures, from 48 degrees F. to 75 degrees F. In contrast, the temperatures in the Rift Valley are much hotter year round. This makes the region comfortably warm in winter but unbearably hot in summer. Jericho has an average winter temperature of 76 degrees F. but the temperature consistently climbs well over 100 in the summer. Such temperature extremes are noted in the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible. The midday sun caused the death of a lad in Elisha's day - 2Kin. 4:18-20 - but king Jehoiakim sat in his winter house with a fire on the hearth. - Jer. 36:22 -

Two seasons characterize Palestine: winter, which is moist, rainy and mild, and summer, which is hot with no rain. The exact time when the rainy season begins each is not predictable. - Song 2:11 - Rainfall usually occurs three to four days in a row, alternating with three to four days of chilling winds from the desert.

And to live long in the land which Yahweh swore to give to your fathers and their descendants, a land where milk and honey flow. For the land which you are to enter and make your own is not like the land of Egypt from which you came, where you sowed your seed and watered it by tread like a vegetable garden. No, the land into which you are to cross to make it your own is a land of hills and valleys watered by the rain from heaven. Yahweh your God takes care of this land, the eyes of Yahweh your God are on it always, from the year's beginning to its end. And it is most sure that if you faithfully obey the commandments I enjoin on you today, loving Yahweh your God and serving him with all your heart and all your soul. "I will give your land rain in season, autumn rain and spring, so that you may harvest your corn, your wine, your oil; I shall provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and have all you want." - Deut. 11:9-15 - Lev. 26:3-5; Ezra 10:13; Zech. 10:1 -

The greatest amount of precipitation falls on the region of Galilee (28-40 inches a year) Average rainfall for other areas of Palestine are: Haifa (24 inches) Tiberias (17 inches) Beth Shean (12 inches) Jerusalem (25 inches) and Jericho (4 inches or less) In the summer the humidity is twice as intense as during other times of the year. Thus Jericho, with high temperatures and humidity and little rainfall, is almost unbearable in summer. However, the summer humidity condenses as the ground cools during the night. The result is a heavy dew each morning in Palestine.

Gideon was able to collect a bowl of water from dew on a fleece. - Judg. 6:38 - Dew was essential for the growing of grapes during the summer. - Zech. 8:12 - Without dew a devastating drought would occur. - 2Sam. 1:21; Hag. 1:10 - Frequently God's grace is compare to the dew. - Gen. 27:28; Hos. 14:5 -

Occasionally Palestine would be the victim of violent precipitation in the form of hail. Such hail would flatten the standing grain and destroy the tender vines. Ps. 78:47; Ezek. 13:11-13 - Sometimes hailstones big enough to kill a man would fall. Josh. 10:11 - But occasionally the higher elevations of Palestine are covered with a light snow during the winter. In king David's time Benaiah slew a lion on a day when snow fell. - 2Sam. 23:20 -

In areas with adequate precipitation, the abundance of sunshine and fertile soil make Palestine a garden paradise. More than 3,000 varieties of flowering plants exist in the region - a large number for such a small country. So plentiful were flowers in Bible times that floral patterns adorned the branches of the golden lamp stand - Ex. 25:31-34 - and the walls and doors of the Temple. - Kin. 6:18, 29, 32 - The rim of the huge laver in the Temple was shaped like the flower of a lily. - 1Kin. 7:26; 2Chr. 4:5 -

Trees also grow in abundance in Palestine. Grains and other crops are also plentiful. The land also produced fruits and vegetables of all kinds, spices, herbs, aromatics, perfumes, and preservatives. Although it was the scene of many fierce and bloody battles, and yet will be, still Palestine is a very special place: Holy Land; Holy Place.

Jerusalem - a sacred city and well known capital of Palestine. The city of Jerusalem is mentioned directly in the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible for the first time during the struggle of Joshua and the Israelites to take the land of Canaan. - Josh. 10:1-4 -

After the death of Saul, the first king of the United Kingdom of the Hebrew people, David was named the new king of Israel. One of his first effort was to unite the tribes of the north and south by capturing Jerusalem from the Jebusites, making the city the political and religious capital of the Kingdom. - 1Chr. 11:4-9 - It was king David who gave the city the name of Jerusalem and he had made Jerusalem the religious capital of the nation. He moved the Ark Of The Covenant, which had been kept at Kirjath-jearim to Jerusalem. - Josh 15:9 -

During the reign of king David, Jerusalem was firmly established politically and religiously as the capital city of the Hebrew nations. The glory of Jerusalem begun under king David, reached its greatest heights under king Solomon. Solomon proceeded to construct the Temple about which David had dreamed. - 2Chr. chapter 1 to 9 -

Jerusalem in the New Testament - The wise men who sought Jesus after His birth came to Jerusalem because this was considered the place or city of the king. - Matt. 2:1-2 - Although Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Jerusalem played a very significant role in His life and ministry. It was to Jerusalem that He went when He was 12 years old. Here He amazed the Temple leaders with His knowledge and wisdom. - Luke 2:47 - In Jerusalem He cleansed the Temple, chasing away the money changers, traders who desecrated the Holy Place with their selfish practices. And, finally, it was Jerusalem where Jesus Christ was crucified, buried, and resurrected.

The record of the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible in the New Testament indicates that Jerusalem continued to play a very significant role in the early spread of Christianity. After the martyrdom of apostle Stephen, the early believers scattered from Jerusalem to various parts of the Mediterranean world. - Acts 8:1 - But Jerusalem always was the place to which they returned for significant events. The Acts Of The Apostles records that when the early Church leaders sought to reconcile their differences about acceptance of Gentile believers, they met in Jerusalem. Thus, the city became a Holy Place for Christians as well as Jews.

The Holy Place, or Holy Land, or Holy City described by apostle John in the Book of Revelation chapter 21 to 22; God's perfect and eternal order of the future.This New Jerusalem in Palestine is not built by human hands; it is a heavenly city - one built and provided by God Himself.

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Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -