REVIEW >> Moody Bible Atlas (with photos!)

Happy Friday, y'all!

I have a treat for you today! Opposite to that which I normally review, I have a whole BIBLE ATLAS today!! And is it fascinating---to say the least.

Read on to take a peak.

(And please excuse the quality of the photos... It may or may not have been a bit of a rush-job, haha...)

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The Moody Bible Atlas
Barry J. Beitzel

Moody Publishers | July 6th, 2021

Genre

{Moody Publishers}

The Bible is a Story. Do you know its setting?

Everything in the Bible has meaning, including its geography. Discover new insights about the biblical and historical sites, culture, and landscapes. God chose a certain land in a particular place. Many Bible passages involve journeys, wars, or other events in unfamiliar places in ancient times. The geographical context is important to understanding these passages.

More than just maps, The Moody Bible Atlas reveals the geographical and historical context of the biblical story. Marvel at God's provision by journeying with Israel in the wilderness. Size up their enemies by studying portraits of the Egyptians, Canaanites, Assyrians, and others. View maps and pictures of the places Jesus walked. See Paul's evangelistic zeal by learning the scope of his missionary journeys. Updates reflect the latest advances in biblical scholarship, linguistics, and archeology. Award-winning maps, new research, and additional commentary make this updated work an indispensable resource for sermon preparation, lessons, and personal Bible study.

Key features include:

119 full-color maps of Canaan, the Mediterranean, the Near East, Sinai, Turkey, and more
Over 100 all-new color photos of various locations and artifacts
Comprehensive survey of every location in the Bible— from Eden to Jerusalem to Rome
Distinctive theological discussion of Bible geography
800+ endnotes for in-depth study
A general reading list for continued research
A Map Citation Index, General Index, and Scripture Citation Index

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I was provided with a complimentary copy from Moody Publishers for my honest review.

THE BASICS

Simply from reading the Preface (if that was all one could manage), one would see a glimpse of the depth of detail and the incredible amount of effort & research that went into this Bible Atlas. The photos are GORGEOUS. Absolutely everything in it is well written & beautifully published, and changed my perspective on how I viewed maps in God's Word.

"With every step back in time, history becomes more and more geographical until, in the beginning, it is all geography."

J. Michelet, Histoire de France (A. Lacroix, 1813)

Normally, I would simply pass the maps in my Bible off as, "Oh, how neat. So, that was the lay of the land." Or "Wow. What a long walk that was from there to there..." And so on. But this atlas puts great emphasis on just how important it is to understand the role of geography in history AND how it pertains to understanding the Bible. And that's just in the first chapter!

Regarding our modern world compared to the world of ancient times, the author makes it clear the careful effort and care that was taken to ensure the maps accuracy with as little confusion regarding names, spellings, place-indicators, world-views, and the like.

CONCLUSION

The details, the countless cross-references of Scripture to back up the maps & geography, the information, the maps themselves---what an incredible asset! I am sooooo beyond pleased to have this copy in my personal library.

If you are a geography buff who loves all things history, a college student studying for further education in that field or others, or even just a homeschool mama of all ages, this would be an excellent addition for your educational library. I highly recommend!

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And on a slightly separate note, I would add another resource to partner with this one:

Patterns of Evidence

A series of professionally-made documentary films that take you on a journey to discover the history and physical evidence proving the accuracy of events in God's Word. You can begin with The Exodus and simply get immersed from there. I dare you not to get pulled in!! ;D

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5 OUT OF 5 STARS

Comments

Christine SmithMay 2, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Oh, wow. This looks FASCINATING. What an incredible resource this is! I will have to remember this one. It does look like a must for every Christian's personal library! Thank you so much for sharing!