What is the significance of Midian in the Bible?
After his wife Sarah died, Abraham married a woman named Keturah, who bore him six sons: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah (Genesis 25:1–2). The fourth son, Midian, had five sons: Ephah, Epher, Hanok, Abida, and Eldaah (Genesis 25:4; 1 Chronicles 1:33). Their nomadic descendants came to be known as the Midianites, distant relatives…
What is the significance of Elam in the Bible?
The word Elam (or Elamites) is found almost thirty times in the Bible. Elamites refers to a people group, and Elam to the land area they inhabited. Elam is also listed several times as a name in a list or genealogy, unrelated to the Elamites (1 Chronicles 8:24; 26:3; Ezra 2:7, 31; 8:31; 10:26, Nehemiah…
What is the significance of Babylon in the Bible?
Ancient Babylon was located in modern-day Iraq. Ancient Babylon rose to dominance after throwing off the bonds of the Assyrians. The short period of Babylonian dominance that has biblical significance is referred to as the Neo-Babylonian Empire, as Babylon had been a dominant force at an earlier time. Babylon and King Nebuchadnezzar figure prominently in…
What is the significance of Sardis in the Bible?
Sardis is one of the seven churches of Asia mentioned in the book of Revelation. Jesus told the apostle John, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea” (Revelation 1:11). Jesus also gave John specific messages for each of the…
Are the pyramids mentioned in the Bible?
The first settlers in Egypt migrated from the area of Shinar, near the Euphrates River, the location of the attempted construction of the Tower of Babel. The Tower of Babel itself was probably a ziggurat, pyramidal in shape, and made of baked bricks mortared with pitch (see Genesis 11:1-9). Given their engineering experience, it is…
What is the significance of Malta in the Bible?
Malta (also called Melita) is a rocky island located sixty-two miles south of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is about seventeen miles long and nine wide. It is mentioned in Scripture as the place where Paul was shipwrecked on his journey to Rome (Acts 28:1). At the time of Paul’s visit, Malta was…
What is the significance of Edom in the Bible?
Edom was an ancient kingdom that is mainly associated with Esau and his descendants in the Bible. Being descendants of Abraham, the Edomites were related to the Israelites. But they did not always act as brothers. Located on the east side of the Arabah and extending down to the Dead Sea, Edom was first occupied…
What is the significance of Lebanon in the Bible?
Mentioned only in the Old Testament, Lebanon is best known for its trees and mountain range. The Bible mentions Lebanon 71 times, but only in reference to its natural features and not as a specific state or nation. Significantly, Lebanon means “white,” undoubtedly a reference to the country’s white, snow-capped mountain range (see Jeremiah 18:14).…
What is the significance of Shittim in the Bible?
Shittim is a large area in the plains of Moab directly across from Jericho, immediately east of the Jordan and north of the Dead Sea. Shittim is significant in Israel’s history because it is the site of the last encampment of the nation at the end of the wilderness wanderings just before crossing the Jordan…
What is the significance of Cush in the Bible?
The land of Cush refers to a land south of Israel and is translated as “Ethiopia” in some Bible versions. Cush derives its name from Cush, a son of Ham, son of Noah (Genesis 10:7). The country of Cush is mentioned throughout the Old Testament, and Cushites regularly interacted with Israelites. Cush is first mentioned…