Holman Bible Atlas: A Complete Guide to the Expansive Geography of Biblical History

This is a very good Bible atlas. It has solid narrative and colorful maps and illustrations to support the text. The book is easily followed as it is divided into coded chapters and sections. But the main focus is the maps. Many are in full color, some even depict three dimensional cross sections to help the reader understand local topography. To supplement the maps and text, there are several charts. These charts give quick summaries of their topics. Rounding out the visuals of the book are various artworks and some photographs. Many of the photographs are taken from angles that do not show modern features such as power lines or modern structures. In this light they add dimension to the book as they show the reader what the people of ancient Palastine would have seen.This book is essential for Bible scholars and historians alike. Geographers will also find it useful. But do not misunderstand me. This atlas is for everyone. It has information for people taking Bible study classes, or for pastors, of for anyone with a desire to know the Holy Lands in greater detail. The book covers the biblical period and carries the development of early Christianity into the second and third centuries. But the focus is the Bible times through the writings of Paul. This book comes highly recommended.

Product was delivered promptly, even though I opted for the "Super Saver" shipping.I was very anxious to examine this atlas when it arrived, and found, much to my delight, that this volume contained much more than just maps. Yes, the maps are excellent and very clear, but it was the background geographical and social information that was a pleasant surprise. From the very beginning, the Holman Bible Atlas delved into the geographical and economic aspects of the Holy Land, what made it such a cauldron of advancing civilizations, and a history of the Israelites.In my retirement, I have enrolled in a Lay Ministry education program, with the first year delving into the growth of Israel into a State and Judaism as a unique religion. I am confident that this will be a useful resource in my study. There are many more detailed sources dealing with the historical aspects, but for a clear overview of the land and its resources, this is invaluable. It brings the Bible to life. I highly recommend this product.

This was a surprisingly enjoyable book to read. Yes, it has lots of wonderful colorful pictures. And yes, there's a wonderful ratio of graphics to words. But more importantly, I think tying the geographical movements to actual description of those things is fantastic. There's nothing more helpful, learning-wise, than putting pictures next to words.This book takes you through the earliest days of history, tracing the movement of man's ancestors through Noah to Abraham, and then in detail through the history of Israel. Most pastors -- let alone laypeople -- couldn't find Moab on a map, or define where Israel is in relation to Assyria or Babylon or Egypt. This book rectifies all of that, in an enjoyable way.

Avoid this book if you are someone who puts Bible truth before man's truth! It does have some wonderful picures of present day lands in the middle east. Some of the maps are very informative, and I'm sure a lot of work has gone into the book. However, it leans heavily on the "wisdom of man", particularly when discussing ancient times, and instead of being shown Bible lands from the view of a Bible believer, you will read about old-earth hunter-gatherers and the stone age. Of course people used stone tools etc, long ago, but so did the north American indians two hundred years ago, and so have remote tribes around the world up until recent decades. The fact that some tools are buried proves only that some tools got buried: there are no dates of manufacture inscribed on them.I bought this book to help my young sons get a clearer view of Bible history, but I wasted my money. The authors did pretty well at not coming straight out and saying that the Adam and Eve story is a myth, since that would set off too many alarms, but you can tell that that's where they are coming from. To me, this is enough reason to not buy this book: I can get this kind of info from secular books if I want to.

I found this book at Mardel's about a year ago and have purchased 2 additionals thru Amazon for gifts. I love this book. It has outstanding color graphs, charts, and maps of the entire history of the Bible. The best way to describe this book is as a highschool geography book focused on the Bible. The book has a vast amount of history to it. I love how it goes into the history and culture of the people groups surrounding Israel. The book explains in detail information about the Phillistines, Asyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, etc and the roles they played in the shaping of Israel. The pictures bring the history to life. I would recommend this book to anyone studying the Bible and want to understand what life was like for the people they are reading about.

I purchased this on the recommendation of a local seminary professor and I couldn't be happier about it. The atlas is laid out in an organized fashion progressing from Old Testament history into the New Testament period. It's just chock full of great maps, along with so much helpful information about the cultural and living elements of the times, along with important historical events. At $29.00 this is quite a bargain, and I can't imagine how anyone would be disappointed for the purchase.

This atlas has proven to be invaluable for its crisp colored photos and the detailed maps and charts that can be clearly read. Even more useful for me when I study for my Bible class is the historical, geographical, societal, and archaeological information on ancient empires, ancient Israel, and other countries that this atlas provides. As the title said, it is a complete guide. I have other atlases but their text is not as easily read and do not have the photos or information as the Holman atlas does. I highly recommend this book for any person who wants to learn more about the Bible.

I bought this as a gift for someone who had asked for a bible with maps, but the translation she wanted had no maps. I had thought that a bible atlas would have maps of the area at different periods and some showing various routes, such as Paul's journeys.This is much more - it is a history of the region, describing other nations' influences on what became Judea and Israel, illustrated by maps. I've only dipped into it myself, but have enjoyed what I read and so have suggested it as a possible Christmas present for me. The person I gave it to is delighted with it.

This is an excellent resource for both the serious Bible student and anyone who loves maps and atlases. I particularly like the fact that there is decent text describing the map and what the historical implications were at that time and how the event fits in with th Bible. The quality of both the maps and the photos to illustrate a place are extremely good. I can see this being a resource I will use for many years to come.

This book is not just a Bible atlas, it is chock full of interesting and useful narrative which is really easy to read. There are maps,diagrams, photographs, and art work; all related to the Bible. Each page is beautifully presented: even the page numbers are decorative. There is a very comprehensive index to people and places. This book is really useful for our Bible study group, helping to bring Bible stories and characters to life.

This is an excellent atlas that clarifies the story of the bible in a way that mere words could not.