Page 31 - Bible Geography and Near East Studies - Textbook w videos short

A reminder why this is important….

Nowhere along the Fertile Crescent was military control more important than
in Israel. If you could control the narrow strip of land called Israel, you could
control much of world commerce that traveled by land. Little wonder that
every major empire fought over tiny Israel!

From God’s point of view, He had placed His people in the center of the world.
Whatever God would do in Israel would soon be known everywhere ... as
long as His people would be faithful and trust Him.

Inside the narrow land of Israel, caravans and traders could be forced to use
a narrow pass through the Carmel and Gilboa Mountains. The city that
guarded that pass was Megiddo. More battles have been fought over this city
than any other place in world history. Because the city got taller as different
armies kept destroying it and building a new city on top of the old one, it
became known as “Mount Megiddo.” In the language of the land, that’s “Har
Megiddo.” The valley below Megiddo soon become known as “Har-
Megiddon,” or as we say, “Armageddon.”

The Megiddo Pass Tel Megiddo, overlooking the Valley of Armageddon

Little did the descendants of Abraham realize what was in store for them as they entered into the land
of Canaan. Though their territory was small, they were right in the heart of the ancient world. They were
a land bridge between Asia, Africa and Europe. Egypt was to Israel’s south. Syria and Mesopotamia were
to the north and northeast. Southern Europe lay to the west. Every great kingdom to the north, south,
east and west would know of Israel’s people and their God.

The little area called Canaan was located in a position of extreme importance. It formed a narrow
bridge that connected the great powers of the Ancient Near East. To the south was Egypt and to the
north was Syria and northeast Mesopotamia.

By 1000 BC the known world reached as far as Europe. The major east-west trade routes were
established along the Fertile Crescent and Euphrates River. When the armies of the east collided with
the armies of the west, it would happen somewhere along the Fertile Crescent. There would be no
battles where there was no water. There would be no land worth fighting for with fresh water, either!

With the dangerous Mediterranean Ocean keeping most travelers, merchants and armies off its waters
and the forbidding deserts of the east forcing travelers to use the Fertile Crescent, every world empire

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