Abaddon Place of the dead, Sheol
Abaddon Place of the dead, Sheol
Abarim Mountain range E of the Dead Sea and opposite the Judean wilderness, overlooking the Jordan Valley
Abilene Region in the eastern Anti-Lebanon range
Achaia Roman province encompassing southern Greece, ruled from Corinth
Achor, Valley Valley on the Judah-Benjamin border
Achzib Port city on the border of Asher, N of Acco
Aegean Sea A northern bay of the Mediterranean Sea
Ai Canaanite town just E of Bethel, a major conquest of Joshua's second campaign
Alexandria Mediterranean seaport in the western Nile Delta, capital of Egypt under the Ptolemies and a major Hellenistic cultural center
Amana Mountain peak in the Anti-Lebanon range
Ammon Transjordanian kingdom at the headwaters of the Jabbok River, in the area of modern Jordan
Amphipolis Macedonian city on the northern Aegean coast
Anatolia Asian portion of modern Turkey, the peninsula bounded by the Black, Aegean, and Mediterranean seas.
Antioch 1. Antioch of Pisidia, a city on the Anthius River in the southern part of the Roman province of Galatia, central modern Turkey 2. Antioch of Syria, a city on the Orontes River, capital of the Roman province of Syria
Antipatris City rebuilt by Herod the Great on the site of Aphek
Apollonia Macedonian town on the Via Egnatia, the major E-W road from Asia to Italy
Aqabah, Gulf of Northeastern arm of the Red Sea, E of the Sinai Peninsula
Arabian Peninsula Large, mostly desert peninsula between the Red Sea on the W, the Indian Ocean to the S, Iraq and the Persian Gulf on the E
Arad City in the Negev, ENE of Beer-sheba
Aram Important state in southern Syria with its capital at Damascus, rival to Israel for control of the Levant
Ararat Assyrian Urartu, mountainous country in eastern Asia Minor around Lake Van (southeastern Turkey and Armenia into northwestern Iran)
Areopagus Mars Hill, near the Acropolis and marketplace of Athens
Ariel Poetic name for Jerusalem
Armageddon Location of the final battle between the forces of good and evil, from Hebrew "mountain of Megiddo"
Arpad City-state in northwestern Syria, N of Aleppo
Arvad Northernmost Phoenician city-state, a small island off the Syrian coast
Ashdod Philistine city, N of Ashkelon on the Via Maris
Asher Tribal territory in the western Galilee highlands
Ashkelon Large Philistine seaport N of Gaza
Ashkenaz Kingdom near Armenia, identified with the Scythians
Asia Roman province covering western Asia Minor
Asia Minor The Anatolian Peninsula, bounded by the Black Sea on the N, the Aegean on the W, and the Mediterranean on the S
Asshur Capital of Assyria
Assos Strategic city on the Gulf of Adramyttium on the eastern coast of the Aegean Sea
Assyria A major empire of ancient Mesopotamia, centered in northern Iraq around the upper Tigris River
Athens Major cultural and political city-state of Greece on the peninsula of Attica
Auranitis Transjordanian province under Herod the Great, earlier known as Hauran
Avaris Hyksos capital in the eastern Nile Delta
Azotus Greek name of Ashdod
Baal-peor Site in Moab, cult center of idolatrous worship
Baal-perazim Mountain NW of Jerusalem, location of David's first victory after being crowned king of Judah and Israel
Babel, Tower of City and tower in the plain of Shinar (Babylonia)
Babylon Region and its capital on the Euphrates River SW of Baghdad
Batanea Name of Bashan in the Graeco-Roman period, one of four divisions of Herod the Great's kingdom
Beer-sheba Major city in the northern Negev, southern extreme of Israelite territory
Bethany Village on the lower slope of the eastern ridge of the Mount of Olives
Beth-aven Benjamite city near Ai and Bethel
Bethesda Pool by the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem
Beth-ezel City in southern Judah
Beth-leaphrah Small town in Judah, S of Jerusalem
Beth-millo Fortress in the region of Shechem
Beth-shean Town at the junction of the Jezreel and Jordan valleys, strategic location at E-W and N-S trade routes
Beth-shemesh City in the Sorek Valley, SW of Jerusalem
Beth-togarmah A place N of Israel, probably in Armenia
Bethulia City in Samaria, setting for the apocryphal book of Judith
Bezek Canaanite city, defeated by Judah and Simeon
Bitter Lakes Two connected lakes E of Goshen, between the northern tip of the Gulf of Suez and the Mediterranean Sea
Bochim Place W of the Jordan River near Gilgal and Bethel
Byblos Canaanite and Phoenician port N of Beirut, ancient Gebal
Cana Village in Galilee, NE of Nazareth
Canaan The land along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean occupied by the Israelites, encompassing most of Palestine W of the Jordan as well as modern Lebanon and part of southern Syria
Canneh Northern Mesopotamian city that traded in textiles with Tyre
Capernaum City on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee, center of Jesus' ministry
Caphtor Place of origin of the Philistines, usually identified as Crete
Carchemish City in Syria near the prime ford of the Euphrates, N of Aleppo near the border of Turkey
Carmel Fertile, forested mountain range along the northern coast of Israel, from Mount Carmel at the bay of Acre to the plain of Esdraelon
Cenchreae Eastern port of Corinth on the Saronic Gulf
Chebar Mesopotamian canal running E from Babylon
Chinneroth/Chinnereth/Kinneseth, Sea of Sea of Galilee
Cilicia Roman province on the southeastern coast of Anatolia
Corinth City controlling the isthmus connecting mainland Greece and the Peloponnesian Peninsula
Crete Largest and southernmost of the Greek islands
Cush Area S of Egypt and W of the Red Sea, encompassing parts of modern Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sandia Arabia, and Yemen
Cyprus Island in the eastern Mediterranean, an important stop for traders from Anatolia and the Levant
Damascus Capital of Aram in southern Syria
Dan City on the northern border of Israel, in the Huleh Valley at the foot of Mount Hermon
David, City of Oldest part of Jerusalem on the Ophel ridge between the Kidron and Tyropoeon valleys, captured by David from the Jebusites
Dead Sea Large salt lake at the southern end of the Jordan River
Decapolis Group of io Hellenistic cities in Transjordan, E of Samaria and Galilee
Dedan Oasis in northwestern Arabia
Derbe City in the region of Lycaonia in southwestern Galatia
Ecbatana Capital of the Median Empire, between Tehran and Baghdad in the Zagros mountains of northwestern Iran
Eden Idyllic garden in which God placed the first man and woman
Edom Mountainous region S and E of the Dead Sea, bounded on the N by Moab
Egypt One of the earliest and greatest civilizations of the world, situated along the lower Nile River
Ekron A city of the Philistine pentapolis, on the eastern edge of the Shephelah, the frontier between the Philistines and Israel
Elam State and region E of the Tigris River in highland Iran
Elath Harbor city at the head of the Gulf of Aqabah
Elim A campsite of the Israelites after crossing the Sea of Reeds
Elishah A name for Cyprus
Emmaus Village near Jerusalem where the risen Christ appeared to disciples
En-eglaim Site on the western shore of the Dead Sea
En-gedi Oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea, SE of Hebron
Ephrathah A name for Bethlehem or the surrounding area
Esdraelon Western section of valley and plains separating Galilee from Samaria, often used interchangeably with Jezreel
Etham First stopping place after departing Succoth during the exodus, near the eastern Nile Delta
Ethiopia Ancient name of the Nile Valley region S of Egypt, modern Sudan, also called Cush
Euphrates River Longest and most important river of southwestern Asia
Ezion-geber Edomite town on the Gulf of Aqabah
Gadara City of the Decapolis SE of the Sea of Galilee
Galatia Region and Roman province in northcentral Asia Minor
Gaza Philistine coastal city on the southern border of Canaan
Geba City near the N border of Benjamin, guarding the Michmash pass N of Jerusalem
Gebal Canaanite and Phoenician seaport on the Mediterranean, called Byblos by the Greeks
Gehenna Hinnom Valley, a ravine S and SW of Jerusalem
Gennesaret Coastal plain NW of the Sea of Galilee, also another name for the Sea
Gerar City on the southern border of Canaan near Gaza
Gerizim, Mount Mountain NW of Shechem opposite Mount Ebal
Gethsemane Garden E of the Kidron Valley near the Mount of Olives where Jesus prayed before his betrayal and arrest
Gezer City overlooking the Aijalon Valley at the junction of the northern Shephelah and Judean foothills
Gibeah Benjamite city N of Jerusalem, home and headquarters of Saul
Gibeon Important Benjamite city NNW of Jerusalem
Gilboa, Mount Mountain opposite the Hill of Moreh which together guard the eastern pass from the Esdraelon Plain into the Jezreel Valley
Gilead Transjordanian region between Bashan and Moab
Gilgal Place E of Jericho where the Israelites encamped after crossing the Jordan, later a cultic center
Golan Heights Transjordanian plateau E of the Sea of Galilee, from the Yarmuk gorge to the slopes of Mount Hermon
Golgotha Place of Jesus' crucifixion outside Jerusalem
Gomorrah One of the five Cities of the Valley, near the southern end of the Dead Sea
Greece Major ancient civilization centered on the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula
Hades Greek name for the underworld, abode of the dead
Hadrach City in northern Syria on the Orontes River between Hamath and Damascus
Hamath City and district on the Orontes River between Damascus and Aleppo, ideal northern boundary of Israel
Haran Cosmopolitan Mesopotamian city N of the confluence of the Euphrates and Balikh rivers to which Terah and his family migrated
Hatti Non-Indo-European kingdom in central and eastern Anatolia, displaced by the Hittites
Hazor Major fortified Canaanite and Israelite city in northern Galilee at the southwestern corner of the Huleh Plain and N of the Sea of Galilee
Hebron City SSE of Jerusalem on the crest of the Judean mountain ridge, burial place of the patriarchs and capital of Judah under David
Heliopolis On, Egyptian center for worship of the sun-god
Hermon, Mount Three-peaked summit at the southern end of the Anti-Lebanon range, highest in the Levant
Heshbon City of northern Moab, capital of the Amorite king Sihon
Hinnom Valley Narrow gorge W and S of Jerusalem, Gehenna
Hor, Mount Mountain on the border of Edom near Kadesh
Horeb A name for Mount Sinai
Hormah City in the Negev of Judah near the border with Edom
Huleh Northernmost and smallest of three lakes along the course of the Jordan River
Idumea Greek name for Edom
Illyricum Large, mountainous Roman province in the northwestern Balkan Peninsula
Israel i. Nation comprising the 12 tribes 2. The northern kingdom during the divided monarchy
Issachar Tribal territory between the eastern Jezreel and Jordan valleys
Italy Boot-shaped peninsula bounded by the Tyrrhenian, Adriatic, and Ionian seas and extending N to the Alps
Ituraea Area of the Beqa` Valley N of the Sea of Galilee ruled by the tetrarch Herod Philip
Jaar A name for Kiriath-jearim
Jabbok River One of four major streams of Transjordan, a major tributary of the Jordan
Jabesh-gilead City in northwestern Gilead
Javan A name for Ionia, a region of Greek settlement in southwestern Asia Minor
Jazer Amorite town in central Transjordan, later a Levitical city
Jebel Musa Traditional site of Mount Sinai
Jericho Town N of the Dead Sea, the first conquered after Israel entered Canaan
Jerusalem Primary city of ancient Israel, capital of Judah and the united monarchy
Jeshurun A poetic name for Israel
Jezreel Eastern section of the broad valley separating Galilee from Samaria
Joppa Mediterranean harbor just S of modern Tel Aviv
Jordan i. Largest and most important river in Palestine, flowing S from Mount Hermon to the Dead Sea 2. Rift Valley between modern Israel and Jordan
Judah i. Tribal territory in the central hill country, between but not including Jerusalem and Hebron 2. The southern kingdom during the divided monarchy, tribal territories of Judah and Benjamin
Judea Postexilic Greek name for Judah
Kadesh, Kadesh-barnea Site in northern Sinai where the Israelites encamped before entering Canaan
Karnaim Fortress city in Gilead
Kerioth Fortified city in Moab
King's Highway Major international route between Damascus and the Gulf of Aqabah
Kir City in southern Mesopotamia to which Tiglathpileser III deported captives from Damascus, original home of the Arameans
Kiriath-jearim Hill-country city on the border of Judah, Benjamin, and the original territory of Dan
Kittim A name for Cyprus, later all the coastlands of the eastern Mediterranean
Lachish Prominent fortified Canaanite and Israelite city in the foothills of Judah SW of Jerusalem
Laodicea Prosperous commercial city in the Lycus River valley of southwestern Phrygia, W of Colossae
Lebanon Mountainous region N of Israel noted for its cedar forests
Lebo-hamath City on Israel's northern border
Levant Name for the lands of the eastern Mediterranean, primarily Syria-Palestine and Anatolia, but often also the coastlands from Egypt to Greece
Libnah City in the Shephelah conquered by Joshua
Lo-debar City-state in northern Transjordan above the Yarmuk River
Lud A name for Lydia
Lydda City SE of Joppa, also called Lod
Lydia Region and kingdom in western Asia Minor, whose capital was Sardis
Lystra Town in the region of Lycaonia in southcentral Anatolia
Machpelah Field and cave in Hebron, burial site of the patriarchs
Madeba, Medeba Moabite city in the Transjordanian highlands S of Heshbon
Mahanaim City in Gilead along the Jabbok River
Makkedah City in the Shephelah of Judah E of Lachish
Malta Ancient Melita, largest of the Maltese islands, S of Sicily
Manasseh Tribal territory immediately S of the Jezreel Valley and between the Yarmuk and Jabbok rivers in Transjordan
Marah Israelite encampment in the wilderness of Shur
Mareshah Fortified town in the southern foothills of Judah
Massa, Meribah Oasis in Sinai, site of Israelite rebellion during the wilderness wanderings
Media Kingdom in northern Iran, later a province of the Persian Empire
Mediterranean Sea Large sea bounded by Europe, North Africa, Asia Minor, and Syria-Palestine
Megiddo City in northwestern Palestine strategically located at a pass from the coastal plain into the Jezreel Valley, along the Via Maris connecting Egypt to Damascus and Mesopotamia
Memphis Capital of Egypt during the Old Kingdom, on the western bank of the Nile S of Cairo
Menzaleh, Lake Saltwater lagoon E of the Nile Delta, separated from the Mediterranean by a narrow peninsula
Merathaim Southern region of Babylonia where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers empty into the Persian Gulf
Merom Spring S of the Canaanite frontier of Upper (northern) Galilee
Meshech Region in eastern Asia Minor, possibly Cappadocia
Mesopotamia Area roughly between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and their tributaries
Michmash Town near the boundary of Benjamin and Ephraim NE of Jerusalem
Midian Region in the northeastern Arabian Peninsula, E of the Gulf of Aqabah
Migdol Place representing the northern boundary of Egypt
Miletus Large port with four harbors at the mouth of the Meander River on the western coast of Asia Minor
Millo A structure in the City of David
Minni Small state S of Lake Urmia in northern Iraq
Mitanni Hurrian confederacy in northern Mesopotamia and Syria during the late and millennium
Mizpah Mizpah of Benjamin, important military and cultic city on the border of Judah and Israel
Moab Kingdom immediately E of the Dead Sea, bordered by Ammon on the N and Edom on the S
Moriah, Mount Site of the temple in Jerusalem
Nahor City in northwestern Mesopotamia, SE of Haran
Nain Town on the N slope of the Hill of Moreh, SE of Nazareth
Naphtali Northern tribal territory W of the Sea of Galilee, bounded by Asher on the W and Zebulun and Issachar on the S
Nazareth Town in central Galilee just N of the Jezreel Valley, hometown of Jesus
Neapolis Seaport of Philippi
Nebo, Mount Mountain from which Moses viewed the promised land, E of the Dead Sea and mouth of the Jordan River
Negev Arid southern region of Palestine
Nicopolis City on the isthmus of the Bay of Actium in northwestern Greece
Nile The great river of Egypt, flowing N from Lake Victoria to the Mediterranean Sea
Nimrod Calah, Assyrian capital under Assurbanipal II
Nineveh Last capital of the Assyrian Empire
Nob City in Benjamin N of Jerusalem, religious center after the destruction of the Shiloh sanctuary
Olives, Mount of Central peak of the N-S ridge just E of Jerusalem, across the Kidron Valley from the temple
Olivet A name for the Mount of Olives
On City in N Egypt, center for sun worship, Heliopolis
Ophir Maritime city famed for its gold
Orontes River Main river of western Syria
Paddan-aram Area around Haran in northern Mesopotamia
Pamphylia District on the southern coast of Asia Minor bounded on the W by Lycia, on the N by Pisidia and the Taurus Mountains, and on the E by Cilicia
Paran Desert region south of Judah, W of Edom and N of the wilderness of Sinai
Pathros Upper (S) Egypt, south of Memphis and the Nile Delta
Patmos Aegean island off south-central Asia Minor
Pekod Region E of the lower Tigris River
Pentapolis League of five Philistine cities
Penuel City on the Jabbok River where Jacob wrestled with God
Peor Mountain in northwestern Moab
Pergamum City in western Asia Minor N of Smyrna, one of the seven churches of Revelation
Persia Late ist-millennium empire, stretching at its height from Ionia to India
Petra Capital of the Nabatean Empire, SSW of the Dead Sea
Philadelphia City in the Roman province of Asia, ancient Lydia
Philippi Roman colony in northeastern Greece at the border of eastern Macedonia and Thrace
Philistia Coastal plain of Palestine controlled by the Philistines, from Raphia to Joppa
Phoenicia Greek name for ancient Canaan, coastal region of southern Syria, Lebanon, and Israel
Phrygia Territory of west-central Asia Minor, between the northern Aegean Sea and Halys River
Pisgah Mountain in northwestern Moab near Mount Nebo
Pisidia Mountainous region in southwestern Galatia
Pithom Egyptian store-city built by Hebrew laborers
Put Region in Africa, possibly in Libya
Puteoli Port W of Naples
Qarqar City in the Orontes River Valley of Syria near Hamath, site of a battle between the Assyrian Shalmaneser III and a coalition including Ahab of Israel
Qumran Settlement on the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea S of Jericho that produced the Dead Sea Scrolls
Rabbah Capital of Ammon, modern Amman
Ramah Ramah of Benjamin, a town N of Jerusalem on the Judah-Israel border, hometown of Samuel
Rameses Store-city in the Nile Delta built by the Hebrews
Ramoth-gilead Levitical city in eastern Gad
Raphia City SW of Gaza on the Palestine-Egypt frontier
Red Sea Northwestern arm of the Indian Ocean S of the Sinai Peninsula, separating Africa from the Arabian Peninsula
Reeds, Sea of Body of water E of the Nile Delta associated with the exodus
Rehob i. Place in extreme northern Canaan near the entrance to Hamath 2. Town in the Plain of Acco
Reuben Tribal territory in Transjordan, S of Gilead and N of the Arnon River
Riblah City on the eastern bank of the Orontes River S of Kedesh
Rift The Jordan River Valley
Rome City on the Tiber River, capital of the Roman Empire
Saba Kingdom in southern Arabia
Salem City where Melchizedek was king, identified with Jerusalem
Samaria Capital of the northern kingdom, Israel, and later name for a region in the central hill country
Samothrace Mountainous island in the northeastern Aegean Sea
Sardis Capital of Lydia, one of the seven cities of Revelation
Seir i. High hilly plateau within Edom and another name for Edom, also called Mount Seir 2. Mountain on the northern border of Judah
Sela Edomite fortress city
Seleucia Port city of Antioch in Syria
Senir Amorite name for Mount Hermon
Sepharad Place where exiles from Jerusalem were resettled, possibly Sardis
Sheba Saba, country in southwestern Arabia that traded with Solomon
Shechem City in the heartland of the Ephraimite hill country, in the pass between mounts Ebal and Gerizim, first capital of the northern kingdom
Sheol The netherworld, abode of the dead
Sheshach A cryptogram for Babylon
Shiloah Pool and aqueduct in Jerusalem, part of the Siloam water system
Shiloh Ancient holy site in northern central Ephraim N of Bethel
Shinar A name for Babylonia
Shunem Town in the hill territory of Issachar guarding the pass to the Jezreel Valley at the foot of the Hill of Moreh
Shur Desert region in northeastern Sinai
Sibmah Moabite town near Heshbon
Sidon Phoenician metropolis and harbor N of Tyre
Siloam System that conducts water from the Gihon Spring in the valley E of the City of David to the pool within its southeastern corner
Sinai i. Peninsula between Egypt and Palestine 2. Wilderness area and the mountain where Moses received the Law
Sirbonis, Lake Mediterranean gulf E of the Nile Delta
Smyrna Harbor on the western coast of Asia Minor, modern Izmir, Turkey
Sodom City at the southern end of the Dead Sea, one of the five Cities of the Valley
Succoth Location of the first encampment of the Israelites during the exodus
Susa Capital of Elam in southwestern Iran
Syene City on the eastern bank of the Nile at the southern border of Egypt
Syria Aram, areas associated with the city-state of Damascus
Syria-Palestine Geographic region encompassing the coastal plain of the eastern Mediterranean, the fringes of the Syrian Desert, and the double mountain chain from the central steppe, including Aram, Phoenicia, and biblical Israel
Taanach City on the southwestern edge of the Jezreel Plain SE of Megiddo
Tabor, Mount Isolated mountain in the northeastern Plain of Esdraelon
Tahpanhes Egyptian outpost bordering Sinai in the northeastern Delta
Tappuah City on the Ephraim-Manasseh border
Tarshish Unidentified seaport distant from Palestine
Taurus Mountains Southern mountain range of Turkey parallel to the Mediterranean Sea
Tel-abib Mound of ruins in Babylon
Tema City in northern Arabia
Tetuan Region in and name for Edom
Thebes Capital of Egypt in the Middle Kingdom and again in the New Kingdom, located in Upper (southern) Egypt
Thebez City in Ephraim NE of Shechem
Thessalonica City in Macedonia on the Thermaic Gulf
Thyatira Commercial and industrial city in Lydia on the road between Pergamum and Sardis