The Land of the Bible and its Regions

The Jews in the time of Jesus had a very precise idea of what was and what was not, 'the land'. Their 'regional geography' was based on a scale which worked from the most sacred area.

The Holy of Holies in Jerusalem came highest on the scale and, at the other end, the very touch of the dust of areas outside 'the land' was considered defiling.

The heart of the country consisted of Judea and Galilee on the west of the Jordan, seperated by Samaria (which did not belong to it) but linked on the east bank by Peraea. The approved route from north to south without leaving 'the land' (avoiding Samaria) involved crossing Jordan twice.

Surrounding this core area was a kind of inner belt of lands which had once belonged to Israel. They were thought to be not quite as defiling as the heathen lands that were completely outside the boundries.

The more usual regional geography, however, recognizes seven major natural divisions of the land.

Central highlands
The Plain of Esdraelon
Galilee
The coastal plain
The 'Shephelah' or Piedmont
The Jordan Valley
The land east of the Jordan (Transjordan)

Structures of the Land Climate of the Land Vegetation of the Land Resources of the Land Regions of the Land