Page 74 - Bible Geography and Near East Studies - Textbook w videos short

Adam
Adam was a city on the Jordan River beside Zarethan mentioned in the Bible in Joshua 3:16 with the
parting of the Jordan. When the children of Israel came to the Jordan near Jericho, the River was at
flood stage. God miraculously dried up the Jordan River so they could pass across the river. The waters
rose upon as a heap near the city of Adam, about 18 miles north of Jericho. The city is located just
below the mouth of the Jabbok River which empties into the Jordan River.

Shiloh
The word, “Shiloh” means “the peaceful one” and was an allusion to the Messiah (Isa 9:6) in Scripture w
here the phrase, “until Shiloh comes” refers to the coming of the king who will bring peace. Shiloh is a
place of rest, a city of Ephraim, on the north side of Bethel which is a distance of 10 miles. Here the
tabernacle was set up after the Conquest of Canaan (Joshua 18:1-10 and where it remained during the
period of the judges until the ark fell into the hands of the Philistines. Here Joshua divided by lot the
part of the western Jordan land not yet allotted (Joshua 19:51). Shiloh fell with Ephraim. The “animal
feast of Jehovah” was when the daughters of Shiloh went forth in dances, and it gave the sons of
Benjamin, when threatened with extinction, the opportunity of carrying off wives (Judges 21:19-23).
Here Eli judged Israel and died of grief at the capture of the Ark. Here Hannah prayed and Samuel was
reared in the tabernacle and called to the prophetic office (I Sam 1, 2, 3). The sin of Hophni and
Phinehas caused the loss of the Ark and God’s forsaking His tabernacle at Shiloh (Judges 18:31). Ahijah
the prophet was here consulted by messengers of Jeroboam’s wife (I Kings 11:29). Shiloh was referred
to by Jeremiah (Jer. 7:12) five hundred years after its destruction.

Samaria Region
Samaria as a region refers to the land
between Jerusalem and the Galilee.
Bordered by the Carmel and Gilboa
Mountains on the north, the Jordan
River Valley to the east and the coastal
plain on the west, much of the region
boasts of rich farmland.

However, Samaria continues to be
known mostly for the racial and
cultural differences between Jews and
“Samaritans.” When the Assyrians
defeated the northern kingdom (or
“Israel”) in 722 BC, many Jewish people
living in this area were either killed or
deported. Some, however, continued
to live in the area but adopted the
Assyrian culture. This included
intermarrying with non-Jewish people.
Some taken into exile also practiced
intermarriage in their new homes. By
the time a remnant of these people
returned to Samaria, they were
considered by Jews who had not
assimilated as a “mixed race” of

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