1. Trans-Jordan means on the other side of the Jordan.
2. The four natural regions of Israel - the Coast, the Hills, the Rift, and the Trans-Jordan.
3. A lot of the nation of Israel had lived in the hills.
4. Benjamin - Jericho and Jerusalem were notable cities (Saul was a Benjamite)
5. Samaria - Jacob's well, where Jesus found the woman in John, Chapter Four. The well was 125 feet deep.
6. Dead Sea - 1,300 feet below sea level.
7. From the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea is 65 miles.
8. Mount Herman and the Golan Heights are in the same area.
9. Israel is about the same size as Connecticut (50-60 miles wide and 150 miles long)
10. Climate - Rain greatest in north and west (only 1-2 inches rain per year in the southeast and the Rift area). In Trans-Jordan, a little more rain. In the desert, little or no rain. The Jezreel Valley is an exception to this, making it very fertile. The rain is from November to March or April. The rest of the time is almost completely dry. Temperatures are like San Diego, California to Enscilada, Mexico, 65 year round close to the coast. Inland, the night and day temperatures are more extreme.
11. Requirements to establish a city in Israel
a. Must have some water. Jordan River, running in the Rift Valley area, gets some water from melting snow in Mount Hermon. Water can be stored from rain. There are underground streams. They could dig a well.
b. Must have some soil for growing. Israel is mostly rock.
c. They need communications - need to be strategically located on main roads/track.
d. The ground must be defendable against enemies.
12. Distances: Dead Sea to Sea of Galilee is 65 miles.
13. Christmas Day is not special in Israel. Neither is Saturday.
14. The Coast is followed by the Hills, then the Rift, then the Trans-Jordan.
Tom of Bethany "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12)
Index to Selected Essays And Book Reviews
Lesson 4 - Herod the Great and His Descendants
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