Ramah to Bethlehem to anoint David king
Map of Ramah to Bethlehem to anoint David king of Israel
Samuel had a trip to make, from his hometown of Ramah, north of Jerusalem, to Bethlehem, a half-day's walk south. Here's part of the story, from 1 Samuel 16.Story behind the map
The LORD asked Samuel, “Why are you still mourning Saul? I fired him. He’s not the king anymore. What’s it going to take to get you past this? Put some olive oil in a container, an animal horn. Take it with you to Bethlehem. I want you to meet Jesse and his sons who live there. I have picked one of Jesse’s sons as king.” Samuel said, “If Saul hears about this, he’ll kill me.” But the LORD said, “Take a calf with you. Tell people you’ve come to offer a sacrifice to the LORD. Invite Jesse and his sons to the sacrificial meal. I’ll show you what to do. You’re going to use that olive oil to anoint the one I have chosen as king.” Samuel did what the LORD said. He went to Bethlehem. City leaders were afraid to ask why he came there. Shaking with fear they said, “Did you come in peace?” Samuel said, “Yes. I came to sacrifice this calf to the LORD. Ritually cleanse yourselves for worship and you can join me.” Samuel invited Jesse and his sons to the meal and led them through their cleansing rituals.Sizing up Jesse's boys
When Jesse and his boys arrived, Samuel was impressed by Jesse’s son Eliab. Samuel thought, “He has to be the one the LORD picked.” The LORD told Samuel, “Don’t judge this man by how good he looks or how tall he is. I didn’t pick him. I don’t judge people like humans do. They judge by what they can see on the outside. The LORD judges by what’s on the inside—the heart with its character, integrity, and courage."Battle of Michmash
Battle of Michmash
Battle of Michmash
Before the Battle of Michmash began, Philistines and Israelites camped on opposite sides of a steep and normally dry riverbed that locals call a wadi (gulch). It was the Michmash Pass through that part of the hill country.
King Saul's son, Jonathan, and one other soldier went down in the gorge and let Philistine sentries on Rocky Ridge above see them. Then the two of them climbed the hill and started killing the Philistines. They killed about 20 Philistines within the first 30 meters (yards) at the top of the ridge.
Jonathan’s sudden and bold attack accompanied by an earthquake panicked the Philistines. Saul’s guards six miles (10 km) south at Gibeah saw the commotion from their post half a mile above sea level, 839 meters. That’s 200 meters higher than Michmash.
King Saul hadn't ordered an attack. So he had to quickly count his soldiers to see who was missing. By the time he figures out it was his son who started the battle by engaging Philistine sentries, he attacks.
Terrified Philistines run home to their cities by the sea.
The story appears in 1 Samuel 14.
To compare with other Bible translations, see Bible Gateway.
Map of Samuel’s route as a traveling judge
Map of Samuel's route as a traveling judge
Map Samuel's circuitous court route
Judge of Israel
Mapping the story of Samuel: “Samuel led Israel and settled legal disputes throughout his life. He judged cases in year-long cycles, traveling from Bethel, to Gilgal, to Mizpah. The fourth stop of the year was his hometown, Ramah.” (1 Samuel 7:15-17). The Bible's book of Judges reports the stories of heroic leaders of Israel rising up to meet a challenge, usually raiders. They include Deborah, Gideon, and Samson. It's surprising to many that Samuel is considered the last of Israel's "judges," even though he's not mentioned in the book of Judges. But he was one of the few leaders of Israel who was actually a court judge who adjudicated legal cases. He traveled a three-town circuit in central Israel before retreating to his nearby hometown. Philistines stopped invading Israel and attacking them. Throughout Samuel’s lifetime, God kept the Philistines in check. Israel recaptured two Philistine cities and the surrounding land that the Philistines had taken from them: Ekron and Gath. Israelites lived peacefully alongside their Amorite neighbors in the land. The story continues with the Israelites asking Samuel to give them a king like other nations, 1 Samuel 8. For other Bible versions, see Bible Gateway.Samuel's circuitous court route
Map Shephelah foothills
Map Shephelah foothills
Map of the Shephelah foothills west of Jerusalem. The gentle rolling hills blend the Judean hills into the coastal plains below. In Old Testament times, the Jews lived in the hills. Philistines with war chariots lived in cities on the plains.
Map of Shephelah foothills in Israel
Map of Jerusalem with Zechariah
Map of Jerusalem with Zechariah
Bible map of Jerusalem with Zechariah. An angel assures the prophet that the Jerusalem Temple will be rebuilt, bigger and better than ever:
Zechariah 4
1The angel who talked with me earlier woke me up, just like you’d wake up anyone else. 2He said, “What do you see here?” I said, “I see a gold lampstand. It has a bowl on top. And I see the seven lamps that provide the light. Each lamp has spout for the wick. 3I see the lampstand also has pictures of two olive trees, one on the left side of the bowl and one on the right.”
4I asked the angel, “Sir, what is this about?” 5The angel said, “You don’t understand?” I said, “No sir, I don’t.”
6He answered, “It’s a message from God to Zerubbabel. Here’s the message: ‘You won’t accomplish what you’re doing because of your physical strength, or your military might. Instead, depend on the power of the Spirit of the LORD—the LORD of all. 7Mountains won’t get in Zerubbabel’s way. He’ll sweep them away, flat as a coastal plain. He’s going to finish his work and crown it with a capstone. When he does, everyone will say, “Thank you, Lord.’”
Map of Jezreel
Map of Jezreel
Map of the ancient city of Jezreel, with it's getaway palace of Israel's kings. It was located on the southern edge of the sprawling Jezreel Valley. Here is where an Israelite chariot corps commander launched a coup by assassinating the last king in the royal family dynasty of King Ahab and his father, King Omri.
Map Jezreel, Jezreel Valley