Maps Archives

Bible maps make the Bible clearer

The Casual English Bible® maps tell Bible stories in a captivating way that engages even people who have never read the Bible. Lavishly detailed maps only make the stories of Jesus and others more compelling and easier to picture and to understand.

These 3D-style maps of Bible lands are created from blended high resolution satellite images, matched to precise elevation data from international space agencies.

How to search for maps

—Type “Galilee” into the Casual English Bible’s map search engine, below. Instantly, you’ll see dozens of beautiful maps…many in 3D style. Each one tracks with a different Bible story. These aren’t generic maps with a hundred place names.
—Type “Samson” into the Bible map search engine. You’ll see the tiny village where he lived in the Judean foothills below Jerusalem.
—Type “Corinthians” and you’ll see a gallery full of maps associated with Paul’s letters of 1, 2 Corinthians, to the church in Corinth, Greece.

3D sense of the lay of the land

Get a feel for the lay of the land:

—Ararat Mountains, where Noah’s boat ran aground. The Bible doesn’t say it was Mount Ararat.
—Judean hills where Joshua and the Israelites found most of their battles for the Promised Land. They avoided the plains, where their enemies with armored chariots had the advantage over Israel’s foot soldiers.
—Jesus’ 20-mile climb from Jericho and the Jordan River Valley upward half a mile high, to the crest of the Mount of Olives, overlooking Jerusalem.
—One surprise for some readers is the Jesus Triangle, a plug of ground between three cities. It’s where Jesus spent most of his ministry time. A person can walk that entire triangle in a single day. Type “Jesus triangle” to see it.

Jerusalem

Bible Book: John Type: Maps Location: Antonia Fortress, Israel, Jerusalem, Pool of Siloam, Pools of Bethesda, Sheep Gate, Temple Courtyard Era: Back from exile, Jesus

Model of Jerusalem

Model of Jerusalem in the time of Jesus Christ, with the Temple, Fortress of Antonia, Sheep Gate, Pools of Bethesda, Pool of Siloam.

Temple

The Jewish Temple in Jerusalem during the time of Jesus was built by King Herod, beginning between 20-18 BCE. The Temple was a major cultural, religious, and political center of the Jewish people. It was located on the Temple Mount, a large platform of stone that covered an area of about 36 acres.

The Temple was made up of various components. This included the Courtyard of the Gentiles, the Women's Courtyard, the Court of Israel, and the Holy of Holies, which housed the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark had been lost to invaders by the time of Jesus. The Temple was also the location for sacrifices and offerings to God.

During Jesus' time, the Temple was a bustling religious center, and Jews and pilgrims from all over the world traveled to Jerusalem to worship there. The Temple was where Jesus overturned the tables of the money-changers and the dove-sellers. It was also where he encountered the teachers of the law and had several notable debates with them.

Sacred city

Jerusalem itself was a city of great significance and sacredness to the Jewish people. The city was first established as the capital of Israel by King David and was the site of the First Temple, which was destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 BCE. After the Jews returned from Babylonian exile, they rebuilt the Temple and the city.

During Jesus' time, Jerusalem was under Roman rule and was a bustling cosmopolitan city. It was home to several parties and sects, including the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and Zealots. The city was also an important trading hub, with traders and merchants coming from all over the Roman Empire to do business there.

Tense town

Despite its importance and significance, Jerusalem was also a city that experienced conflict and tension during the time of Jesus. The Jewish people longed for independence and freedom from Roman rule, and there were several revolts that took place both during and after Jesus' lifetime.

So, the Jewish Temple and Jerusalem in the time of Jesus were central to Jewish culture, religion, and politics. The Temple was a significant religious center, and Jerusalem was a bustling city that was at the heart of many historical events. Together, these two places provide important context and insights into the life and teachings of Jesus.

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