The Promised Land: A Crucial Locale
After four decades of living in a barren desert (Dt 1:3), God’s chosen people were to live in a fertile region located on highly traveled international caravan routes.
The land of Canaan was a vital location in the ancient world. It formed a strategic land bridge between Europe and Asia to the north and Africa to the south. Within its narrow boundaries were fertile fields, choice pasturage, strategic heights for cities, and well-established commercial trade routes. Surrounding peoples made this land bridge a crucial part of the ancient world. By planting his people in tiny Canaan, God would reveal his truth to the uttermost parts of the earth.1
The Region
Canaan is part of the region that touches the eastern coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. North of the Mediterranean is Asia Minor, the current country of Turkey. A mountain chain stretches from west of the Black Sea, continues eastward beyond the Caspian Sea, curves to the southeast, and concludes at the Bay of Bengal, east of India. The range stretches north of Asia Minor and Mesopotamia into Asia. These mountains, the Balkans, Caucasus, Elburz, Hindu Kush, and Himalayan ranges, form a northern boundary and curb winter winds to produce a favorable climate for the area south of the range. The Syro-Arabian Desert constitutes a southern boundary to the region. The area that is between the mountains and the southern deserts and that stretches from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf forms the biblical world.2
The Arabian and Libyan Deserts prohibit population and travel in the largest land area of the region. These deserts and the Mediterranean Sea squeeze the productive land into an agriculturally productive area called the Fertile Crescent. The Fertile Crescent reaches from the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers of Mesopotamia, arches northwest to Haran, west through Syria, southwest through Canaan, and concludes in the agriculturally rich delta and valley of the Nile River.
The Residents
Civilizations formed in the fertile river valleys throughout this region. In Asia Minor, the Halys River was the site of consolidation for Hittite military power.3 In Mesopotamia, the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers provided irrigation for farming. In Egypt, the annual floods of the Nile made fertile fields along its course and in the delta.
The Medes, a group of nomadic tribes, became a powerful Mesopotamian presence as they built cities and armies. The dynasties of the pharaohs established Egyptian monuments to their world-class power by building pyramids and armies. Between the armies of Asia Minor, Mesopotamia, and Egypt lay the land of Canaan.
During years of peace, travelers and traders traversed Canaan. Merchants from Mesopotamia traveled to Egypt and vice versa. Grain from Egypt made its way from the ports of Egypt to the maritime cities of Canaan. From there, Phoenician sailors connected Canaan to the rest of the world.
Conflict also came to the region of Canaan as ambitious pharaohs from Egypt and armies from Mesopotamia met to wage war in the valleys of Canaan. The breaks in the mountains on either side of the Jordan became battlefields for legendary conflicts. Sites such as Megiddo came to be known for battles and became symbols for future conflicts. The climactic battle of evil versus righteousness in Revelation 16:16 occurs in Armageddon (Hb har, “hill,” plus Megiddo).
Since Canaan was subject to commercial traffic and military encounters, a mixture of peoples ended up living there. The Hethites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites at the time of Joshua’s conquest reflect the variety and intermingling of nations after centuries of interchange and conquest.4 One of the peoples who inhabited part of the region had a long-lasting impact on the land; patriarchal Canaan came to be known as Palestine, a name derived from its Philistine inhabitants.5
Natural Divisions and Resources
In addition to being a crossroads for regional powers, Canaan had distinctive qualities within its borders that made it valuable to potential residents. The land promised to Abraham was approximately 150 miles long and 70 miles wide. The eastern and western boundaries of Canaan were the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. Beer-sheba marked the southern border, and Dan was the northern limit. These borders expanded and decreased by military and commercial acquisitions during Israel’s history. For instance, after the conquest of Canaan, Israel inhabited the Transjordan Plateau. Over time, several sites in the plateau were lost and regained by Israel’s military forces.
Canaan is divided into four contrasting strips of land running north and south, each with unique, desirable traits. Geographical features form the designations for the different areas.
The Coastal Plain
The westernmost strip of land is the coastal plain, which begins at Gaza and continues north to Tyre. This coastal region possesses fertile farmland and is irrigated by springs and seasonal rainfall.6 Located in the southernmost region of the coastal plain was the plain of Philistia, which was the stronghold of Israel’s perennial enemy, the Philistines. The Philistines recognized the assets of the land and chose it as a home when they migrated from the island of Caphtor (Crete, Am 9:7). The productive farmland contributed to the Philistines’ wealth and political power. A major trade route, the Way of the Sea (Via Maris), connecting Egypt to Damascus, passed through the Philistine cities of the southwest plain.7
Moving north, the fertile plain of Sharon is the next division of the coastal plain. This area runs north from Joppa to Mount Carmel. This entire region was once covered by extensive forests.
Yet farther to the north, the verdant plains of Acco and Esdraelon complete the coastal region. From Tyre to the north, the coastland had natural ports that were manned mostly by Phoenician sailors. The best known of these ports were at Tyre and Sidon.8
The Central Hill Country—Moving eastward from the Mediterranean, the central hill country is the second strip of land. A ridge of mountains beginning in the north in Lebanon continues south to Beer-sheba. The mountains cause abrupt climatic changes and provide strategic locations for cities. The western side of the mountain ridge receives seasonal precipitation from atmospheric moisture from the Mediterranean. The resulting fertile hills of Judea are called the Shephelah. These hills ascend to the heights of Hebron and Jerusalem and provide defensible positions for its residents. The hills north of Jerusalem in Samaria are lower in altitude and create openness and accessibility. In peacetime, this convenience encouraged travel and trade. In times of war, however, the lower altitudes made the capital cities difficult to defend. North of Samaria is upper and lower Galilee. This country is suitable for vineyards and provides excellent pasturage for flocks.
On the eastern slopes of the mountains are the wilderness regions of Judea. Since the mountain heights block rainfall in this region, the limited vegetation can sustain only sparse flocks. The arid conditions provide natural defenses against aggressor armies. Near Jerusalem this rugged terrain slopes steeply downward to the Jordan River.
The Jordan River Valley—The third strip of land is the Jordan (or Rift) Valley. This valley is part of a geological rift that begins in Asia Minor and extends south to Victoria Falls in Zambia, Africa.9 Abundant springs flow from Mount Hermon to form tributaries that empty into the Sea of Galilee, which is nearly seven hundred feet below sea level.
The land around the Sea of Galilee is fertile. The Jordan River flows south for about sixty-five miles through dense vegetation and arid wilderness to the lowest body of water on earth, the Dead Sea, about thirteen hundred feet below sea level. Evaporation is the only outlet for all the water draining into the Dead Sea from the Jordan River. This stagnation prevents aquatic life but produces abundant minerals. The water and minerals supplied by the springs, river, and lakes create high demand for this part of Canaan.
The Transjordan Plateau—Yet farther east from the Mediterranean Sea is the fourth strip of land, the Transjordan Plateau. The land rises from the Jordan River Valley and reaches the plateau that extends eastward approximately thirty miles to the Arabian Desert. The fertile land of Bashan and Gilead in the north contrast with the arid heights of Moab and Edom on the southeastern shore of the Dead Sea.10 Before flowing into the Jordan, rivers irrigate and divide the northern and central Transjordan Plateau. The flocks Israel captured as they began their conquest of Canaan reflect the value of this highly productive region north of the Dead Sea.
Another major trade route of Canaan was located in this strip of land. The King’s Highway ran from the Gulf of Aqaba east of the Jordan to Damascus.11 Caravans traveling to and from Arabia used this highway.
This article by Ken Cox was originally featured in Biblical Illustrator.
Want to learn more about the Land of Israel? Check out these two resources!
Luke in the Land Bible study
Follow Kristi McLelland through Israel as we study snapshots from the Gospel of Luke to see where the stories of the Bible took place. Over 7 sessions, challenge the way you read the accounts of Jesus through teaching videos that take you to locations in Israel like Bethlehem, the Sea of Galilee, Gethsemane, Jerusalem, and the road to Emmaus. Along the way, you’ll see how Jesus, the Messiah, brought His kingdom to earth for everybody.
The World of the Bible: Historical and Cultural Context 101
Taught by Jen Wilkin, Katie J. McCoy, Amy Williams, Kristie Anyabwile, and Courtney Veasey.
The Bible was written thousands of years ago to, by, and about people who were very different from us today. In this course, learn to see the Bible through the lens of a different time, place, and people. Through lectures, quizzes, and downloadable resources, learn about the lifestyles, values, outlooks, and geography that shaped Scripture. Put on the lenses of the Ancient Near East and see the Word of God in its world as an invaluable influence of how you understand its impact for us and for now.
Works Cited
1. J. McKee Adams, Biblical Backgrounds, rev. Joseph A. Callaway (Nashville: Broadman, 1965), 25.
2. William Sanford LaSor, David Allan Hubbard, and Frederic William Bush, Old Testament Survey: The Message, Form, and Background of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996), 619.
3. George L. Kelm, “Hittites and Hivites” in HolBD, 655.
4. Adams, Biblical Backgrounds, 25.
5. Merrill F. Unger, “Palestine” in The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary, ed. R. K. Harrison (Chicago: Moody, 1988), 953.
6. Timothy Trammel, “Palestine” in HolBD, 1063.
7. LaSor, Hubbard, and Bush, Old Testament Survey, 622.
8. LaSor, Hubbard, and Bush, Old Testament Survey.
9. LaSor, Hubbard, and Bush, Old Testament Survey, 626.
10. Trammel, “Palestine,” 1064–68.
11. “Kings Highway” in HolBD, 847–48.
