Geography, History, Archaeology

Question 1

What is the Sea of Galilee?

Answer 1

It is a freshwater lake in the northern part of Palestine.

Question 2

What direction does the Nile River flow?

Answer 2

From south to north.

Question 3

Describe Galilee.

Answer 3

Galilee is a rocky area to the west of the Sea of Galilee.

Question 4

Give the importance of the Iron Age.

Answer 4

With the fall of the Hittitte Empire, a power vacuum existed and a time of relative peace allowed Israel to have a united kingdom.

Question 5

What borders Palestine to the east and west?

Answer 5

The Mediterranean Sea to the west and the Trans-Jordanian mountains to the east.

Question 6

About how wide and long is Palestine?

Answer 6

About 120 miles north to south and about 30 miles east to west.

Question 7

What is another name for Canaan?

Answer 7

Palestine

Question 8

Which empire conquered Judah after the kingdom divided?

Answer 8

Babylon

Question 9

Name the three presuppositions of historical-critical method?

Answer 9

Methodological doubt
Analogy
Correlation

Question 10

Define the coastal plain of Palestine.

Answer 10

The coastal plain is the furthest west part of Palestine, bordering the Mediterranean sea, an area only 10-12 miles wide with heavy rainfall.

Question 11

What is the Mediterranean Sea?

Answer 11

The Mediterranean Sea is part of the Atlantic Ocean, on the west side of Palestine and northern side of Egypt.

Question 12

Which two rivers is Mesopotamia between?

Answer 12

The Tigris and the Euphrates

Question 13

Which geographical zone had the most Israelite cities?

Answer 13

The Hill Country.

Question 14

What is a balk?

Answer 14

In archaelogy, a balk is a strip of land left untouched between excavated trenches. It provides a reference point for the different strata that are being excavated, helping with dating.

Question 15

Define the Shephelah.

Answer 15

The Shephelah are an area of green rolling hills of the central hill country in Palestine, situated between the coastal plain and the central mountain ridge.

Question 16

Which empire conquered Israel after the kingdom divided?

Answer 16

Assyria

Question 17

What is archaeology able to do?

Answer 17

• Shed light on what life and society were like
• Give confirmation of Bible’s historical accuracy
• Create problems and raise questions with new findings or lack of finding

Question 18

Which empire was dominant during the time of the Patriarchs and the Exodus?

Answer 18

Egypt

Question 19

What is the Red Sea?

Answer 19

It is part of the Indian Ocean, separating the Sinai peninsula from Egypt and also from Arabia with its two forks.

Question 20

What is the Persian Gulf?

Answer 20

It is located at the southeast area of the Fertile Crescent in Mesopotamia, where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers join and flow into the Arabian Sea.

Question 21

Describe the first historical-critical presupposition.

Answer 21

Methodological doubt says that we can only know something about the past with a degree of certainty.

Question 22

What are the limits of archaeology?

Answer 22

Only a small fraction of historical remains have been discovered, uncovered, and published on. Further, it cannot prove or disprove anything.

Question 23

What is another name for Palestine?

Answer 23

Canaan

Question 24

Describe the second historical-critical presupposition.

Answer 24

Analogy says that we explain the past based on our current experience, using the present for criteria of what is or is not possible.

Question 25

Give the sequences of empires in the Ancient Near East during the time of the Bible.

Answer 25

Egypt, then a vacuum, followed by Assyria, Babylon, and finally Persia

Question 26

Working west to east, name the four regions of Palestine.

Answer 26

• Coastal plain
• Hill country
• Jordan rift valley
• Transjordanian mountains

Question 27

Which empire allowed the exiled Israelites to return?

Answer 27

Persia

Question 28

Describe the third historical-critical presupposition.

Answer 28

Correlation says that all events are interrelated with each other in a chain of cause and effect, excluding the possibility of God’s direct intervention.

Question 29

What does Mesopotamia refer to?

Answer 29

The area of the Fertile Crescent between and around the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

Question 30

What is the Dead Sea?

Answer 30

It is the lowest point of land on Earth, and possesses mineral-rich waters with high salinity. The Jordan Rivre flows into the Dead Sea.

Question 31

Of the Tigris and Euphrates, which is the northern river?

Answer 31

The Tigris River

Question 32

What is the fertile crescent?

Answer 32

The well-irrigated area including Mesopotamia, Palestine, and northeastern Egypt.

Question 33

What is a tell?

Answer 33

A tell is an artificial hill or mound created by people living in the same area and building upon it for centuries.

Question 34

What is the Jordan River?

Answer 34

It is a fresh water river that flows south from the sea of Galilee down to the Dead Sea.

Question 35

What does the word Mesopotamia mean?

Answer 35

It is derived from Greek meaning “the land between the rivers.”