The Sacred Bridge: Carta’s Atlas of the Biblical World, 2nd ed.

by Anson F. Rainey; R. Steven Notley

Publisher:

Carta Jerusalem

, 2014

Overview

Documenting over 3,000 years of East Mediterranean history, this detailed volume is an up-to-date depiction of Biblical history and geography by way of the ancient sources with original texts and translations from native languages incorporated into the narrative of the Atlas.

This is the first Atlas to adopt the modern approach to the study of the Levant as a geographical/historical entity. Emphasis throughout the current work is on the ancient written sources—every ancient passage is interpreted firsthand, from its native language. Archaeological evidence has been taken into account whenever it is relevant.

The logical geographical unit the “Levant” in spite of its lack of homogeneity in some physical and ecological respects is a land bridge that saw the influx of many races and ethnic groups. The chronological scope of this volume includes peoples of the third millennium BCE down to the Greeks, the Itureans and the Nabateans in the Hellenistic and Roman periods.

New Testament geography, especially that of the Gospels, is interpreted in light of new understanding resulting from discoveries such as the Dead Sea Scrolls. Refreshing insights serve to define geographical terms used in the New Testament.

Detailed references to the most recent scholarly works on ancient texts consulted and cited for each period of ancient history.

Key Features

• Provides state-of-the-art information demonstrating how research in historical geography really works
• Emphasizes ancient written sources
• Evaluates biblical texts for their geographical content

Contents

Top Highlights

“Of all the writings held sacred by the world’s religions, only the Bible presents a message linked to geography. This is not just the location of religious centers but the experience of a people in its land, a people that has insisted on its God-given right to self-identity throughout the ages and in defiance of all forces that sought to deny it.” (Page 9)

“There is nothing to be gained by the pretext born of intellectual laziness known as Post-modernism.” (Page 9)

“the exposition of the country’s and the peoples’ experiences over time” (Page 9)

“The terror of the weapon of Ashur, my lord, overwhelmed the city of Great Sidon, the city of Little Sidon, the city of Beth-zaith, the city of Ṣariptu (Zarephath), the city of Maḥalliba, the city of Usû, the city of Achzib, the city of Acco, his mighty fortified cities, where there was feed and water supply for his fortresses; they bowed in submission at my feet. I installed (E)tthō-baʿl on the throne of their kingship over them; I imposed on him the tribute of my lordship, annually without cessation.” (Page 241)

“Generally speaking, rabbinic texts show a high degree of accuracy in reflecting the Old Testament topographical nomenclature.” (Page 10)

Praise for the Print Edition

Anson Rainey is the foremost historical geographer of the Holy Land. This tome reflects years of research, teaching, and thought on a subject which is essential to ar chaeological and biblical studies. It should be on the bookshelf of every serious teacher and student of the Bible and the ancient Near East.

—Lawrence E. Stager, Dorot Professor of the Archaeology of Israel, Harvard University

The great strength of The Sacred Bridge is the abundance of historical-geographical data related to the Bible that one will find gathered here and in no other place. This is a magnificent biblical atlas on a grand scale. The volume provides a splendid and detailed atlas of both the OT and NT and all that falls in between

—J. R. Bartlett, Trinity College Dublin

Notley[’s chapters] on the Gospels and early Christianity…are generally superb and will undoubtedly become required reading. Notley’s willingness to go against the ‘current’ is rather refreshing

—Joshua Schwartz, Professor of Historical Geography of Ancient Israel, Bar-Ilan University

Product Details

• Title: The Sacred Bridge: Carta’s Atlas of the Biblical World
• Authors: Anson F. Rainey, R. Steven Notley
• Edition: Second Emended & Enhanced Edition
• Publisher: Carta Jerusalem
• Print Publication Date: 2014
• Logos Release Date: 2020
• Pages: 448
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Bible › Geography--Maps; Bible › History of Biblical events--Maps; Jews › History--To 70 A.D--Maps; Palestine › History--To 70 A.D.--Maps
• ISBNs: 9789652208491, 9652208493
• Resource ID: LLS:CARTASACREDBRIDGE
• Resource Type: text.monograph.atlas
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T19:17:16Z

About the Authors

Anson F. Rainey (1930–2011), Th.M., Ph.D., was emeritus professor of Ancient Near Eastern Cultures and Semitic Linguistics at Tel Aviv University, adjunct professor of Historical Geography at Bar Ilan University and the American Institute of Holy Land Studies.

R. Steven Notley, Ph.D., is distinguished professor of Biblical Studies at the New York City campus of Nyack College and former Chairman of the Department of New Testament Studies, American Institute for Holy Land Studies. Professor Notley, who is at the cutting edge of modern New Testament research, combines his philological training with an intimate firsthand knowledge of biblical geography.