Step By Step: Old TestamentLesson 1: Palestine

Rev. Christopher J. RespassAntioch Bible Institute

Fall 2012

Palestine: The Land

A. “Palestine” is the Greek form of “Philistine.” An older name for Palestine is “Canaan”—named after the son of Ham and grandson of Noah (See, Gen. 9:19-25).

A Note about the “Curse of Ham”

Palestine: The Land

B. Land SizePalestine is about the size of the State of Vermont. It’s length is 145 miles from North to South and its width ranges from 20-90 miles. The climate is subtropical. It rains in the winter and the spring (hence the early and latter rains), but rarely if ever in the summer. (see, Deut. 11:13-14).

Vermont & Israel

Palestine: The Land

C. Natural Divisions & BoundariesThe Mediterranean Sea is the western boundary and the Mountains of Lebanon to the North. Historically, the eastern boundary of Palestine was the Arabian Desert, while the Negeb (Negev) Desert is to the south.

Palestine: The Land

D. Key Land Divisions1.Sea of Galilee2. Jordan River3. Dead Sea4. Samaria5. Costal Plains6. Central Hill Country7. Trans-Jordan

Mediterranean Sea

Mediterranean Sea near Haifa

Mediterranean Sea From Sharon

Sea of Galilee

Sea of Galilee

Jordan River

Dead Sea

Dead Sea

Dead Sea

Key Peoples & Major Enemies

A. Palestine is a land bridge between Europe, Asia and Africa. It has always been a source of contention because of its strategic location.

Key Peoples & Major Enemies

B. Major Enemies1. Egypt: wanted Palestine as a buffer to

protect it from its enemies to the north.

2. Syria: Just north of Palestine and a perpetual nuisance

Key Peoples & Major Enemies

3. Assyria: located between the Tigris & Euphrates Rivers, its capital was Nineveh. Assyria conquered the northern kingdom of Israel.

4. Babylon Also known as Chaldea, it lay at the mouth of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Babylon conquered the southern kingdom of Judah.

Key Peoples & Major Enemies

C. Key Peoples1. Edomites: Descendants of Esau, Jacob’s brother. They were located South of Palestine.

2. Moabites: Lot’s descendents who lived east of the Jordan River in the high country.

Key Peoples & Major Enemies

3. Ammonites: Lot’s descendents who lived north of Moab.

4. Philistines: Sea traders who lived in the SW part of Palestine. The most notable Philistine was Goliath.

5. Phoenicians: Lived on the Northern coast of the Mediterranean sea. They were traders of purple. Their key cities are Tyre and Sidon.

Old Testament Facts

The Old Testament was written over a period of 1000 years. The English Old Testament is divided into 5 divisions:

1. Law2. History3. Wisdom4. Major Prophets5. Minor Prophets

Old Testament Facts

1. Law: records events leading up to and surrounding the giving of the law.

2. History: records the entrance to the promised land, through the exile to the rebuilding

of the Temple.

3. Wisdom: Mostly comprised of poetry and address practical living

Old Testament Facts

1. Major Prophets: Called “major” because they are longer, not because they are more important.

2. Minor Prophets: Shorter than the major prophets. Also know as the Book of the Twelve.

Old Testament Facts

The Hebrew OT is divided into 3 divisions1. Torah (Law)2. Prophets (Former & Later)

Former: Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings

Later: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Book of the Twelve.

3. The Writings

Old Testament Facts

Memorize all the books of the Old Testament in order. Use this formula

5-12-5-5-12