Geographist

Phrygians Key Scripture: Acts 18:23 Figures: Epaphras, Nympha This week we're going to take a turn to the north and look at a different part of the Biblical story.  While the Old Testament narrative focused largely on nations to the south or east of the Promised Land, the story that is told in the New Testament reflects a shift in historical trends towards the north and west.  A land once known as Anatolia played a vital role in the spread of Christianity, and later it was called Asia Minor before carrying its modern name of Turkey.  Controlled by the Greeks before eventually becoming part of Rome, it was populated with a number of different ethnic groups.  To continue our study, we now turn our attention to one of the regions within this important place that was home to a people group known as the Phrygians. The Phrygian people originally came from Europe, and had likely immigrated from the western side of the Black Sea some time during the late 2nd millennium BC....

Phoenicians Key Scripture: Ezekiel 27 Figures: Hiram, Jezebel Throughout their history the descendants of Israel have been a unique society.  They have managed to maintain their special identity in spite of numerous periods of persecution and other challenges, and their insistence upon being different than those around them has regularly set them at odds with other cultures.  One people group that was recorded to have a consistently positive alliance with the Hebrews, however, were the Phoenicians.  Similar to the Philistines, it is possible that they were never a cohesive nation with centralized ruler, but instead spread a vast web of influence throughout the known world from a few cities they controlled along Israel's northern border, such as Tyre and Sidon.  Although we see evidences of their civilization every day in the letters of our alphabet, is there more we can learn about this notable people group? Who were the Phoenicians?  Although they are reference...

Horites Key Scripture: Deuteronomy 2:12 Figures: Seir The flow of people groups in and out of the lands described in the Bible has been constant for quite a number of years.  Some nations have managed to establish a homeland for a significant amount of time, such as the Egyptians, while others have been relocated, destroyed, or assimilated by other cultures.  This week we look at the story of an old group about which little is known, and in fact may have gone entirely unnoticed if it weren't for a record of their existence found in the pages of Scripture.  They are the Horites, and like any group with little definitive information they are the subject of much conjecture. The first mention of the Horites is found in Genesis 14, shortly after Lot parted company with his uncle.  They were said to live in Seir, the mountainous region south of the Dead Sea, and in response to their rebellion against King Chedorlaomer of Elam were attacked by a confederation of his allies....

Philistines Key Scripture: Zephaniah 2:5 Figures: Abimelech, Goliath, Achish During our study of Biblical people groups, some of the names that have been studied are quite familiar while others are obscure and relatively unknown.  This week we'll dive into the Philistines - a nation that is discussed frequently in Scripture, but has certain mysterious details absent from their story.  This has led to some misconceptions and guesswork from readers, especially regarding their origin and ultimate destiny.  Let's dig deeper into this familiar name and see if we can't uncover some facts that we may not have known before.  Like so many of the nations discussed in the Old Testament, we are first introduced to the Philistine people when they are mentioned in Genesis 10.  While it is clear that the inhabitants of Philistia are descended from Ham's son Mizraim, their specific geographic origin has become disputed because of conflicting translations.  Two specific nam...