Map of Babylon Empire
Map of Abraham’s route
Civilization begins
Map Abraham’s journey

Map Abraham's journey
Map Abraham's journey
Mesopotamia
From the ancient NYC
Mapping Abraham's journey begins in Mesopotamia. In Bible times, this part of the world was like the ancient version of the buzzing New York City, only much bigger. It was the vibrant hub of a civilization that emerged from land sandwiched between two rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates. That's mainly in Iraq and western Iran.
This area was prime real estate for early human settlers because those rivers brought life to the arid land. The word "Mesopotamia" itself means "between the rivers" in Greek. It's a fair name because these rivers provided water for farming and transportation.
Mesopotamia such a big deal in Bible times because it became the stage where many biblical stories played out. This was where we would have found:
- the famous city of Babylon
- the Tower of Babel (that's the one where people tried to build a tower to reach the heavens, and it didn't go too well).
- home to Abraham (city of Ur) the father of three major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. He came hailed from the city of Ur, which was right there in Mesopotamia.
Daniel in Mesopotamian lion's den
Also, Israelites spent decades in Mesopotamia during their exile to Babylon's land. That's where we come across the story of the prophet Daniel and the lions' den. The Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar, who had a starring role in the Bible by destroying Jerusalem, ruled this land too.
Mesopotamia was like the biblical backdrop for many important events in the Bible. Those rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates, made it into a thriving civilization.
Matthew traces the family tree of Jesus, back to southern Iraq, home of Abraham, father of the Jewish people. Matthew 1
Map of Wise men follow a star
Map Scattered Jews
Map Abraham moves to Canaan
Map of Ur in Iraq
Map of Eden
Stephen’s history of the Jews
Map Genesis 14

Map Genesis 14
Abraham’s trail

Abraham's trail
Abraham's trail
Mesopotamia
From the ancient NYC
Mapping Abraham's journey begins in Mesopotamia. In Bible times, this part of the world was like the ancient version of the buzzing New York City, only much bigger. It was the vibrant hub of a civilization that emerged from land sandwiched between two rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates. That's mainly in Iraq and western Iran.
This area was prime real estate for early human settlers because those rivers brought life to the arid land. The word "Mesopotamia" itself means "between the rivers" in Greek. It's a fair name because these rivers provided water for farming and transportation.
Mesopotamia such a big deal in Bible times because it became the stage where many biblical stories played out. This was where we would have found:
- the famous city of Babylon
- the Tower of Babel (that's the one where people tried to build a tower to reach the heavens, and it didn't go too well).
- home to Abraham (city of Ur) the father of three major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. He came hailed from the city of Ur, which was right there in Mesopotamia.
Daniel in Mesopotamian lion's den
Also, Israelites spent decades in Mesopotamia during their exile to Babylon's land. That's where we come across the story of the prophet Daniel and the lions' den. The Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar, who had a starring role in the Bible by destroying Jerusalem, ruled this land too.
Mesopotamia was like the biblical backdrop for many important events in the Bible. Those rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates, made it into a thriving civilization.
Matthew traces the family tree of Jesus, back to southern Iraq, home of Abraham, father of the Jewish people. Matthew 1.
Compare Bible versions with Bible Gateway
Map Eden near the rivers
Cain banished East of Eden

Cain banished East of Eden
Cain banished East of Eden
CAIN KILLS HIS BROTHER ABEL
8Cain told Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were there, Cain killed him. 7Sometime later the LORD asked Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” Cain answered, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s watchman?”
10God said, “What have you done? Your brother is crying out to me—through his blood in the ground. 11You’re a farmer no more. I’m banishing you from the ground you’ve polluted with your brother’s blood. 12Anything you try to grow won’t grow; so don’t try. Hit the road. It’s your home now, drifter.”
13Cain pleaded with the LORD, “I can’t handle that! 14You’ve cursed the ground I farm. You’re kicking me off my property and out of your sight. You’re leaving me broke, homeless, and vulnerable. Anyone I come across will kill me.” 15The LORD said, “That’s not going to happen. Whoever kills you will get seven times the payback." "Then the LORD put a mark on Cain—something that would keep people from killing him.
CAIN MOVES EAST OF EDEN
16Cain left the LORD and settled in the Land of Nomads, east of Eden. 17He had sex with his wife, who got pregnant and gave birth to a son named Enoch. Cain built a city and named it Enoch. 18Enoch had a son named Irad, who had a son named Mehujael, who had a son named Methushael, who had a son name Lamech. 19Lamech married two women: Adah and Zillah. 20Adah gave birth to Jabal, the first-known migrating herder. He raised livestock and lived in tents. 21Jabal’s brother was Jubal, the first-known musician. He played harps and flutes. 22Lamech’s other wife, Zillah, gave birth to Tubal-cain. He became a blacksmith who made bronze and iron tools and other implements. Zillah also had a daughter, Naamah.
23Lamech said to his two wives, “Listen carefully to me. I killed a young man who attacked and hurt me. 24If anyone who kills Cain gets seven times the payback, anyone who kills me gets 77 times the payback.”
25Adam had sex with his wife and she gave birth to their third son. She named him Seth because she said, “God gave me another son because Cain killed Abel.” 26Seth had a son named Enosh. That’s when people started worshiping the LORD and praying to him.
Genesis 4, Casual English Bible
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Map of Mesopotamia – Born here: Civilization

Map of Mesopotamia - Born here: Civilization
Map of Mesopotamia - Born here: Civilization
Mesopotamia
Ancient NYC
Mesopotamia in Bible times was like the ancient version of the buzzing New York City, only much bigger. It was the vibrant hub of a civilization that emerged from land sandwiched between two rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates. That's mainly in Iraq and western Iran.
This area was prime real estate for early human settlers because those rivers brought life to the arid land. The word "Mesopotamia" itself means "between the rivers" in Greek. It's a fair name because these rivers provided water for farming and transportation.
Mesopotamia such a big deal in Bible times because it became the stage where many biblical stories played out. This was where we would have found:
- the famous city of Babylon
- the Tower of Babel (that's the one where people tried to build a tower to reach the heavens, and it didn't go too well).
- home to Abraham (city of Ur) the father of three major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. He came hailed from the city of Ur, which was right there in Mesopotamia.
Daniel in Mesopotamian lion's den
Also, Israelites spent decades in Mesopotamia during their exile to Babylon's land. That's where we come across the story of the prophet Daniel and the lions' den. The Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar, who had a starring role in the Bible by destroying Jerusalem, ruled this land too.
Mesopotamia was like the biblical backdrop for many important events in the Bible. Those rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates, made it into a thriving civilization.
For the Garden of Eden stories, Genesis 2-3, Casual English Bible. Compare to other Bible versions, Bible Gateway.
Assyrian Empire 750 BC
Bible map of Assyria erasing Israel from the world map
Euphrates River in Mesopotamia

Euphrates River in Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Ancient NYC
Mesopotamia in Bible times was like the ancient version of the buzzing New York City, only much bigger. It was the vibrant hub of a civilization that emerged from land sandwiched between two rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates. That's mainly in Iraq and western Iran.
This area was prime real estate for early human settlers because those rivers brought life to the arid land. The word "Mesopotamia" itself means "between the rivers" in Greek. It's a fair name because these rivers provided water for farming and transportation.
Mesopotamia such a big deal in Bible times because it became the stage where many biblical stories played out. This was where we would have found:
- the famous city of Babylon
- the Tower of Babel (that's the one where people tried to build a tower to reach the heavens, and it didn't go too well).
- home to Abraham (city of Ur) the father of three major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. He came hailed from the city of Ur, which was right there in Mesopotamia.
Daniel in Mesopotamian lion's den
Also, Israelites spent decades in Mesopotamia during their exile to Babylon's land. That's where we come across the story of the prophet Daniel and the lions' den. The Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar, who had a starring role in the Bible by destroying Jerusalem, ruled this land too.
Mesopotamia was like the biblical backdrop for many important events in the Bible. Those rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates, made it into a thriving civilization.
Map of Bible empires Assyria Babylon Persia
Bible map of exiled Jews returning to Israel
Bible map of where prophets ministered
Bible map Assyrian Empire 750 BC
Bible map of Jonah’s trip to Nineveh
Jews return home from the Exile

Jews return home from the Exile
Jews return home from the Exile
Zerubbabel and Sheshbazzar, prince of Judah, lead 50,000 Jews home, beginning in 538 BC. With a Persian military escort, they took a longer and safer route, following water sources.
Almost a century after the first Jews returned to Israel, Ezra led a group. Ezra took the shorter route, with a long walk through a dangerous part of the Arabian Desert.
Nehemiah came last and furthest, from Persia’s capital of Susa. He repaired Jerusalem’s walls.