Page 22 - Bible Geography and Near East Studies - Textbook w videos short

It was from this city that God asked Abram to move
his family to a new promised land that God would
show him (Genesis 12:1). God promised Abram a
land, multiple descendants, blessings, and a “seed”
who would come to be the Savior of all mankind.
In obedience and faith, Abraham packed up his
goods, and with his wife, Sarah, and nephew, Lot
along with his father, Terah journeyed up the
Fertile Crescent finally arriving in Haran or Harran, a city whose ruins lie within present-day Turkey.
Note that there is a large desert between Abram’s starting point in Ur to his final destination in
Shechem. All travelers going to Egypt had to travel this route.

Haran was a place where
Terah and Abram
temporarily settled. He
lived there until he was
75 years old before
continuing his journey
south. Although Abram’s
nephew Lot
accompanied him to
Canaan, other descents
of Terah remained in the
area where Abraham’s grandson, Jacob, sought his parent’s relatives, namely Laban, for whom he
worked twenty years in Haran (Genesis 31:55). Also Abraham sought a wife for Isaac from the family of
Nahor, who was his older brother living in Haran (Genesis 11:27-
32). So Haran is a significant location on our map in Bible
geography and history!

The ruins of Haran. To the right is a mud-
brick Beehive Village similar to the houses
built there in ancient Haran. Located in
Sanliurfa, Turkey.

3.4 Let’s Practice…

1. What was the name of the first ruler of Babylon who extended the empire greatly? What
were his accomplishments?

2. The Assyrian king, Sennacherib, challenged the God of Israel. What was the outcome?

3. What was the name of the great Babylonian king whom God used to judge Israel and Judah?

4. What was the name of the Persian king who conquered Babylon?

5. Describe the place where Abraham lived before the call of God:
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