Lexham Geographic Commentaries (6 vols.)

by Barry J. Beitzel; Jessica Parks; Douglas Mangum; Kristopher A. Lyle

Publisher:

Lexham Press

, 2016–2022

Lexham Geographic Commentaries

The Lexham Geographic Commentaries deliver fresh insight by drawing attention to an often overlooked component of biblical stories—their geographical setting. Geography is a central concern throughout Scripture, but the full significance of the geographical context is easily overlooked without a familiarity with the places, the relative distances, and the ancient setting. To create an innovative, award-winning commentary on the geographic and physical background of the biblical text, we partnered with noted Bible scholar and cartographer Dr. Barry J. Beitzel. This commentary will not only place you in the sandals of the ancient writers of Scripture, but it will explain the significance of the geographic details in the biblical text for your life today.

Praise for the Lexham Geographic Commentaries

A great number of the skills that contribute to solid biblical interpretation involve considering a text in one or another of its various contexts—linguistic, literary, historical, social, cultural, rhetorical, intertextual. But how often do we give adequate attention to the geographical and archaeological contexts of the events about which we read or the settings in which Jesus was raised, taught, acted, died, and rose again? This distinctive and clearly-focused commentary is replete with solid information about those geographical and archaeological contexts, and with connections to the Gospel texts (ranging from the secure to the suggestive, but always stimulating), that will admirably help us keep those physical contexts in view as we read, interpret, teach, and preach from the Gospels.

—David A. deSilva, Trustees’ Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek, Ashland Theological Seminary

What a resource! Whether you study the Bible, teach or preach it, or are planning to do a movie where you need to understand how people lived, the Lexham Geographic Commentary on Acts through Revelation is a treasure trove of information about first century life. This is up to date and full of detail that not only will inform you but fascinate you as well. Just very well done.

—Darrell Bock, Senior Research Professor of New Testament, Dallas Theological Seminary

Most New Testament professors are at best amateurs when it comes to geography and archaeology and for many of us the geographical information is inaccessible, but the Lexham Geographic Commentary on Acts through Revelation brings it all together. Just what Bible readers, pastors, and professors need! An abundance of images, excellent scholarly descriptions and narratives, and first-rate scholarship all bundled into an accessible format. I will not study any from Acts to Revelation without having this volume at my side.

—Rev. Canon Dr. Scot McKnight, Professor of New Testament, Northern Seminary

Product Details

• Title: Lexham Geographic Commentaries
• Editor: Barry J. Beitzel
• Publisher: Lexham Press
• Volumes: 6

Now Available

Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Pentateuch

• Editor: Barry J. Beitzel
• Publisher: Lexham Press
• Publication Date: 2023

From the Table of Nations to the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, the biblical narratives in the Pentateuch are steeped in ancient geographical details. The Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Pentateuch drops readers into the Ancient Near East as God begins his redemptive mission through the lives of the Patriarchs. Geography is a central concern throughout Scripture, but the full significance of the geographical context is easily overlooked without a familiarity with the places, the relative distances, and the ancient setting. The Lexham Geographic Commentary gives you insight into the importance of these locations—both culturally and spatially—and provides a deeper understanding of these ancient events.

Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Gospels

• Editor: Barry J. Beitzel
• Publisher: Lexham Press
• Publication Date: 2016
• Page Count: 600

2019 Christianity Today Book Award Winner for Biblical Studies

The Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Gospels delivers fresh insight by paying attention to an often overlooked component of the Gospel stories—their geographical setting. Many familiar Gospel narratives are filled with geographic details that we gloss over because of our distance from the Holy Land. In a world of dirt roads and dry riverbeds, where shepherds watch their flocks in the hills and fishermen mend their nets by the sea, Jesus taught from hill and plain, using the surrounding landscape as the backdrop for his teaching. Jesus’ parables and illustrations are often brimming with geographic clues, but the significance of these distinctive details is often lost on us today.

Lexham Geographic Commentary on Acts through Revelation

• Editor: Barry J. Beitzel
• Publisher: Lexham Press
• Publication Date: 2019
• Page Count: 512

The Lexham Geographic Commentary on Acts through Revelation delivers fresh insight by drawing attention to the geographical setting for the spread of Christianity in the first century AD. Geography is a central concern in Acts, but the full significance of its geographical context is easily overlooked without a familiarity with the places, the types of transportation, the relative distances, and the travel conditions around the Mediterranean in the first century AD. Luke’s account mentions places from all over the known world, and Paul’s missionary travels covered an estimated 15,000 miles by land and sea.

Forthcoming

Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Historical Books, Volume 1

• Editor: Barry J. Beitzel
• Publisher: Lexham Press

This volume covers the books of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth.

Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Historical Books, Volume 2

• Editor: Barry J. Beitzel
• Publisher: Lexham Press

This volume covers the books of 1–2 Samuel, 1–2 Kings, 1–2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther.

Lexham Geographic Commentary on Poetry and Prophecy

• Editor: Barry J. Beitzel
• Publisher: Lexham Press

About the Editor

Barry J. Beitzel is Professor Emeritus of Old Testament and Semitic Languages at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois, USA. He holds a Ph.D. in Ancient Near Eastern Studies from Dropsie University in Philadelphia. He obtained a postdoctorate in Ancient Near Eastern Geography from the Université de Liège, Belgium, and has engaged in postdoctoral archaeological work through UCLA in eastern Syria. Dr. Beitzel is the author of The New Moody Atlas of the Bible. His publications on Near Eastern geography have appeared in a variety of monographs and journals, from Biblical Archaeology Review and The Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research to Iraq: The British Institute for the Study of Iraq.