As I have said many times in this blog, the more you learn about the lands of the Bible, the more you can understand the Bible. To that end, here are a number of different ways in which you can increase your knowledge of the Bible lands. A few days ago, I received a book in the mail that I have been wanting for a long time. It is the New Moody Atlas of the Bible. It is a beautiful book with many pictures, illustrations and well-done maps. I have already read some of the introductory sections and am looking forward to reading more of the details. I encourage you to purchase it if you do not have it in your library.
Second, I have spoken before about the Satellite Bible Atlas by Bill Schlegel. This book is fantastic. And, I am proud to say that they have now released the book in hardback. In addition, they have produced a large wall map of Israel. Measuring 55x20 inches, it shows in great detail the geographical features of the land of Israel. I would recommend that this map hang in any Bible classroom.
Next, if you want up-to-the-minute details about the land, I encourage you to read Leon Mauldin's blog. He is currently leading a tour in Israel and is providing pictures and descriptions of the places he is visiting. Yesterday, he visited Caesarea Maritima, Mount Carmel and Megiddo.
Finally, if you are interested in going to these lands and seeing them for yourself, I know of two tours that you might be interested in.
Ferrell Jenkins is leading a tour to Eastern Turkey to visit the sites of Paul's First Missionary Journey (as well as many other sites) next May. He has been leading tours for nearly 40 years and has a top-notch knowledge of the land. I have personally been on two of his tours and I can not say enough about how much I learned and enjoyed them.
If you are interested in Israel, I will be leading a tour to Israel next June. This tour is timed in the summertime so that teachers and students will have the opportunity to go. We will visit many places across the land of Israel and study them in their Biblical and geographical context. This trip is perfect for any student of the Bible. Be sure to also check out the Frequently Asked Questions.
As I said in the beginning, learning about the lands of the Bible helps you understand the Bible. Take advantage of as many of these opportunities as you can.