

Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Zondervan; Revised ed. edition (June 26, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310270502
ISBN-13: 978-0310270508
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.8 x 11.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (74 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #51,826 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #7 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Bible Study & Reference > Atlases #54 in Books > Reference > Atlases & Maps > Atlases & Gazetteers #174 in Books > Travel > Reference > Atlases & Maps

"Zondervan Atlas of the Bible" is an excellent Bible atlas that also contains Bible background information. It was full of color photographs of the various regions so the reader could see what they look like (in modern times). There were also some pictures of the ruins of various cities. There were charts, timelines, and, of course, lots and lots of maps. Most of the maps had a 3D look to show the relative elevation and also showed the locations of cities, rivers, and known ancient international and intra-national roads. The maps in the Historical section also showed the movement of troops or people during the events mentioned in the Bible.The first part covered elevation, cities, roads, and agricultural information (like what the terrain was like, rainfall, and what crops were grown in the region) for the various regions in Canaan as well as relevant areas of Egypt, Sinai, and Mesopotamia. It also covered how the Biblical feasts aligned with the planting/harvesting cycle for various crops, the months, and the rainy/dry seasons. It explained how the geography influenced Biblical events, which was very enlightening. It made the Bible "come alive." The text was concise and easy to understand. I plan on reading this part again because it had so much useful information.The second part went through the historical narrative of the Bible, starting with Eden and ending with Revelation. Each historical section had a timeline at the start which showed Biblical events aligned with rulers in Syria/Mesopotamia and Egypt as well as what archaeological period it fell under. The author acknowledged that not everyone will agree with how he lined things up.
That this bible atlas is an improved revision to Carl Rasmussen's 256-page Gold Medallion Award-winning Zondervan NIV Atlas of the Bible (1999) means that a good book is now even better with over 300 pages. The author recognizes that many historical events in the Bible were, in various ways, influenced by their geographical context. Also, since the majority of biblical events occurred in the Middle East where the contemporary states of Israel and Jordan exist, the book begins with a geographical description of this area as a whole with a special focus on these countries but also covering Egypt, Syria & Lebanon, and Mesopotamia. The historical section opens with an intro to events during the 3rd millennium BC of the Pre-Patriarchal Period and continues up to Jerusalem's fall in AD 70 with a focus on biblical and extrabiblical texts that lend themselves to geographical illustration. The generally standard dates of the Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land were used for archaeological periods and for Egyptian, Assyrian and other kings, and Thiele's The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings (rev. 3rd ed, 1983) was used for dating the Judean and Israelite kings. Dating Israel's early history - the patriarchs through the period of the judges - follows the plain reading of the biblical text which the author believes fits well with known extrabiblical chronologies. Rasmussen is also aware of alternate chronological schemes, but in place of a detailed discussion of this which is outside the scope of the book he provides detailed charts throughout with a general chronological chart in the appendices.
Carl G. Rasmussen, PhD, has compiled an excellent academic work for in depth research and people needing less detail will be pleased with the ease of casually page flipping until something viewed causes an interest in reading. In other words, Dr. Rasmussen's atlas is a thoroughly enjoyable venture for just looking and for as deep a depth of scholarly study one would care to go.The book is published in a very good quality hard cover and page construction which tends to better preserve the reading and viewing contents of information and I also mean to state, the writer has compiled far more than one expects from an atlas.Examples: map types and qualities teach locations and photographs help place the mind on the map. For specific follow up information, Dr. Rasmussen's Appendices are expertly academic and easily appreciated: 'simple' bibliography or glossary extends the ability to research in depth with biblical timelines, scripture references, or significant persons of the times, and other pertinent datac.Included in this appendix, the writer continues his easy-to-read flare with a geographic dictionary serving as an index which includes succinct comments about the locations.Other qualities include and ability to compare and contrast various sizes of biblical areas compared with sizes of various American States. This atlas shows us the journeys of Paul, locations of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation, a historical perspective of the transitions of monarchy from Samuel and Saul, to David and Solomon, the Kingdom's division, exiles, and more history up through the life of Christ and through the expansion of the Church in Palestine.
Zondervan Essential Atlas of the Bible Zondervan Atlas of the Bible Zondervan NIV Atlas of the Bible Zondervan's Compact Bible Dictionary Zondervan Handbook to the Bible The Bible Study for Beginners Series: Learn the Bible in the Least Amount of Time: The Bible, Bible Study, Christian, Catholic, Holy Bible, Book 4 The Bible: How to Read, Study, and Understand the Bible (The Bible, Bible Study, Christian, Catholic, Holy Bible) Chronological and Background Charts of the Old Testament (Zondervan Charts) Old Testament Hebrew Vocabulary Cards (The Zondervan Vocabulary Builder Series) Galatians (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) A Reader's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Zondervan Greek Reference Series) Systematic Theology Laminated Sheet (Zondervan Get an A! Study Guides) The Zondervan 2017 Pastor's Annual: An Idea and Resource Book Biblical Hebrew Laminated Sheet (Zondervan Get an A! Study Guides) Biblical Greek Laminated Sheet (Zondervan Get an A! Study Guides) Zondervan NASB Exhaustive Concordance Zondervan NIV Exhaustive Concordance The Zondervan Greek and English Interlinear New Testament (NASB/NIV) Atlas of the Bible (Cultural Atlas of) Bible Dictionary Collection - Deluxe Study Edition (KJV Bible, Smith's Bible Dictionary, Easton's Bible Dictionary, over 40,000 Links)