Chapter Intro Video

Chapter Objectives

• Identify on a map the three geographical regions of the ancient Near East
• Compare the development of the cultures of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Syria-Palestine
• Discuss the key geographic features of the four subregions of Israel
• Trace the highlights of the history of Israel and the ancient Near East during the New Stone Age, Copper-Stone Age, Early Bronze Age, Middle Bronze Age, Late Bronze Age, Iron Age I, and Iron Age II
• List the different peoples who significantly influenced the history of Israel

Chapter Summary

1. Israel was part of the ancient Near East that is now called the Middle East.
2. The three geographical regions of the ancient Near East—Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Syria-Palestine—were joined by an arch of rich soil called the Fertile Crescent.
3. The four subregions of Israel are the coastal plains, the ridge or central mountain range, the Jordan Rift, and the Transjordanian highlands.
4. Two of the important highways of the ancient Near East passed through Syria-Palestine: the Via Maris, or way of the sea, and the King’s Highway.
5. The history of the Old Testament spans a time period of about two millennia as opposed to the New Testament, which covers a century.
6. The invention of writing—cuneiform in Mesopotamia and hieroglyphics in Egypt—began during the Early Bronze Age.
7. The sea peoples probably fled from Mycenaean cities in Greece in about 1250 BC to the ancient Near East. This brought political changes and new metalworking technology.
8. The constant threat of military invasion from neighbors caused the Israelites to want a king.
9. The period of David’s reign was a very stable time in the history of Israel.
10. Under Solomon’s reign, the borders of Israel expanded northward to the Euphrates and southward to Egypt.
11. Jewish exiles returned from Babylon in three separate groups led by Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah.

Study Questions

1. How is the Old Testament “incarnational”?
2. Why was the location of Israel strategic in ancient times?
3. Locate on a map the geographical regions of the ancient Near East and discuss their major characteristics.
4. Locate on a map the four subregions of Israel and discuss their major characteristics.
5. Discuss the international social and political climate during the patriarchal age of Israel’s history.
6. Discuss the international social and political climate during the times of Moses and Joshua.
7. What was the political climate of the ancient Near East around 1200 BC? What effect did this have on the Israelites?
8. What political changes did Iron Age II bring to the ancient Near East? What ramifications did this have for Israel?