Book Review: Zondervan Essential Atlas of the Bible

One of the most fascinating classes I took in seminary was Historical Geography of the Bible a.k.a "The Maps Class."  We studied the Bible through the study of the land and the ways that people moved and settled in the Holy Land. It really added a new dimension to my personal Bible study.
This atlas provides a similar service.   The first few chapters of the atlas discuss the geography of the Middle East which is useful for understanding why some of the events unfolded the way they did.   Subsequent chapters take readers through Biblical history with maps and charts detailing the movement of the Patriarchs, the conquest of Canaan, the kingdom united and divided, the time between the Testaments and the time of Jesus and the early church.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the amount of information that Zondervan packed into this 160 page atlas. (It's a bookshelf book that would fit into a tote bag--not a coffee table book.)   Readers have around 200 detailed maps and photographs to examine, plus color charts, tables, and graphs that provide historical context and relevant information for each section. Carl Rasmussen's articles on the different periods of Biblical history are detailed and his writing style is easy for laypeople to follow. He provides ample Biblical citations and explains where archaeologists are still trying to determine location for Biblical events.

This is much more than just an atlas to look up places on maps. The articles are a helpful companion as you study the Bible and the Scripture index helps locate maps and charts relevant to a passage.  

Highly recommended.   An essential reference for anyone who's serious about Bible study.  Also useful for anyone planning a trip to the Holy Land.

I received a copy of this atlas from Booklook Bloggers in return for an honest review.