Old Testament Maps

Although we do not know the exact location of the Garden of Eden we do know that the Tigris and Euphrates rivers are found in the countries of Iraq & Iran and thus near the Garden of Eden. Tradition has located Eden south of the ancient city of Ur in Iraq. Some people believe that the names have changed and that the Garden of Eden was really located in the land of Egypt between the Blue and White Nile rivers.

The slide shows the traditional route of the Exodus. Some say that this route went through the land of Midian that Moses had become familiar with when he fled to the land of Midian to avoid the prosecution for killing the Egyptian. The more popular route to Canaan was the northern route along the Mediterranean. That route had a variety of Egyptian military posts which would likely have resulted in many conflicts with the remaining Egyptian army units that had been detailed to these outposts.

The Tabernacle outer wall surrounding the courtyard was about 150 by 75 feet or about 50 by 25 meters. (An American football field is 300 by 75 feet). The outer linen wall was held up by wooden posts with bronze bases and silver tops. The linen was white except at the entrance door which was purple and blue and scarlet colors. Just inside the outer wall door was the altar of burnt offering which was made of wood overlaid with bronze. The alter was about 7.5 feet square (2.5 meters). Next came the laver which was a large bronze basin used by the priests to wash before entering the tabernacle. The Tabernacle tent itself was over a frame of acacia wood. The wood was overlaid with gold which created two golden walled rooms within the tent. The tent coverings were 4 layers thick of blue, purple, scarlet tapestry on the inside layer covered with goats hair cloth, followed by a waterproof covering of ram’s skins dyed red and finally an outer layer of fine waterproof leather. The Tabernacle was divided into two rooms. The first room was the Holy place in which was the Menorah, Altar of Incense and Table of Shewbread and the second room was the “Most Holy Place” or sometimes called the “Holy of Holies” in which was the Ark of the Covenant. The High Priest was only allowed to enter this room once per year. The two rooms were separated by a double curtain.

Just inside the outer wall door was the altar of burnt offering which was made of wood overlaid with bronze. The alter was about 7.5 feet square (2.5 meters). Next came the laver which was a large bronze basin used by the priests to wash before entering the tabernacle. The Tabernacle tent itself was over a frame of acacia wood. The wood was overlaid with gold which created two golden walled rooms within the tent. The tent coverings were 4 layers thick of blue, purple, scarlet tapestry on the inside layer covered with goats hair cloth, followed by a waterproof covering of ram’s skins dyed red and finally an outer layer of fine waterproof leather. The Tabernacle was divided into two rooms. The first room was the Holy place in which was the Menorah, Altar of Incense and Table of Shewbread and the second room was the “Most Holy Place” or sometimes called the “Holy of Holies” in which was the Ark of the Covenant. The High Priest was only allowed to enter this room once per year. The two rooms were separated by a double curtain.

A graphic map of Herod's Temple, including the many courts and out-buildings mentioned in the Bible.

Assyria was based in what is now the northern part of Iraq. The Assyrian empire became an important empire between 1500 and 1100 BC and lasted until conquered by Babylon in about 600 BC. A few hundred years later the Assyrian empire came and overwhelmed the Israelite nation. The Assyrians liked to take large numbers of the conquered people back to other parts of the empire and then replacing them with people from other countries. That this happened in 2Kings 17:6, 24+ and 2Kings 18:31-32. Tiglath-pileser III conquered Israel and oppressed Judah. Judah was made to pay tribute. When Judah rebelled the Sennacherib the king of Assyrian came in and conquered Judah but left Jerusalem alone. The religion of Assyria was very similar to that of the Babylonians.