Scripture Helps: Old Testament

Old Testament Geography

Note: The citation of a source not published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the endnotes does not imply that it or its author is endorsed by the Church or represents the official position of the Church.

Where did the Old Testament take place?

Most of the events of the Old Testament took place in what is called the ancient Near East, known today as the Middle East. This includes the region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf, as well as Egypt. The authors of the Old Testament referred to geography, topography, and place names that may be unfamiliar to modern readers. Understanding the geographic setting can bring additional insight into your study of the Old Testament.

The following map shows some of the significant locations mentioned in the Old Testament.

1. Ur is the first residence of the prophet Abraham. This is where he was almost a victim of human sacrifice, saw the angel of Jehovah, and received the Urim and Thummim. (Note that there are two possible locations for Ur listed on the map.)

2. Babylon or Babel (Shinar) was the location of the Tower of Babel. It later became the provincial capital of Babylonia and the residence of Babylonian kings. In 587 BC, the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar carried many Jews, including the prophet Daniel, captive to this city following the destruction of Jerusalem. The Jews remained in captivity in Babylon for 70 years until the time of King Cyrus of Persia, who had conquered the Babylonian Empire. Cyrus permitted the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.

3. Shushan (Susa) was the capital city of the Persian Empire under the reigns of Darius I (Darius the Great), Xerxes (Ahasuerus), and Artaxerxes. It was also the residence of Queen Esther, whose courage and faith saved the Jews. Daniel and later Nehemiah served here.

4. Assyria conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel and carried away the ten tribes captive in 721 BC. Assyria was also a threat to the Southern Kingdom of Judah until 612 BC, when Assyria was conquered by Babylon.

5. Haran (Padan-aram) is where Abraham settled for a time before going to Canaan. Abraham’s father and brother remained here. Rebekah (Isaac’s wife) and Rachel, Leah, Bilhah, and Zilpah (Jacob’s wives) came from this area.

6. Canaan is the promised land that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their descendants were given for an everlasting possession.

7. Mount Sinai (Horeb) is where the Lord spoke to Moses from a burning bush and where Moses was given the law and the Ten Commandments. The Lord spoke to Elijah in a still, small voice on this mountain.

8. Egypt is where Abraham traveled because of a great famine in Ur. The Lord told Abraham to teach the Egyptians what He had revealed to him. Later, Joseph’s brothers sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt, and he eventually gained a position of authority here. After Joseph and his brothers reunited, Jacob and his family moved to Egypt. The children of Israel dwelt as slaves in Egypt until the Lord delivered them.

For additional maps that depict the locations of events and eras described in the Old Testament, see the Bible Maps section in the Latter-day Saint edition of the King James Bible.

Notes

1. See Richard Neitzel Holzapfel and others, Jehovah and the World of the Old Testament: An Illustrated Reference for Latter-day Saints (2009), 32–33.

2. The map and explanations have been adapted from Bible Maps, no. 9, “The World of the Old Testament.”

3. See Genesis 11:28–32; 12:1; Abraham 1; 3:1.

4. See Genesis 11:1–9; 2 Kings 24–25; Jeremiah 27:1–29:10; Ezekiel 1:1; Daniel 1:1–6; Omni 1:21–22. See also Ether 1:33–43.

5. See Nehemiah 1:1; 2:1; Esther 1:1; Daniel 8:2.

6. See 2 Kings 14–15; 17–19.

7. See Genesis 11:31–32; 24:10; 29:4–6; Abraham 2:4–5.

8. See Genesis 17:8; 48:3–4.

9. See Exodus 3:1–2; 19–20; 1 Kings 19:8–12.

10. See Genesis 37:28; 39–46; 47:6; Exodus 12:31–41; Abraham 2:1, 21; 3:15.

11. See especially Bible Maps, nos. 2–7 and 9–10.