Page 21 - Bible Geography and Near East Studies - Textbook w videos short

People have to have water as they travel on foot as surely as modern-day vehicles must have fuel in order to
make a journey. The “fertile crescent” is easily spotted on this map by the areas of green. Abram’s journey to the
Promised Land naturally took him to Harran as he traveled from Ur. Anyone headed to or from Egypt and Ur
would have traveled by this path. The two photographs are of homes in Harran (top) that would be similar to
those of antiquity, and the famous Ziggurat in Ur that dates back to 2100 BC.

Ancient Ur is known for the great Ziggurat of ancient Ur which was built by King Ur-Nammu who ruled
the area of ancient UR around 2100 BC. This was about 250 years after the great Flood. Archaeologists
estimate that there were approximately 24,000 people living in the city of Ur when Abram lived there.
People living there worshipped many gods but principally the god, Nanna, the moon god. The people of
Ur lived in one of two main areas of the city: a very religious sacred place (near and in the Ziggurat) or in
a larger common district.

Abram may have lived in this area of town, but perhaps did worship this false god when the Lord spoke
directly to him. However, Abram was from the godly line of Seth through Shem and, contrary to his
culture, may have worshipped the Lord. We really don’t know.

The common district was filled with marketplaces, schools, libraries, and many of the people were very
wealthy. People had very elaborate homes with lush gardens and many conveniences for the day.

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