Invasion and Conquest and the Period of the Judges

The Geography of Canaan

Overview of Invasion & Conquest

• Central Campaign• Southern Campaign• Northern Campaign• Division of the Land• Eastern Tribes Return home

Overview of Joshua

• 5-8 Central Campaign• 9-10 Southern Campaign• 11 Northern Campaign• 12 List of conquered Kings• 13-19 Division of the land• 20-21 Cities of Refuge• 22 Eastern tribes sent home• 23 Joshua’s farewell• 24 Covenant is renewed at Shechem

Helping Students Relate

• If you have access to a globe, use it!– Point out Alabama, the United States, and Canaan!– This shows that these stories are very REAL and

that we are learning about a real place• Discuss the size of the land, compared to the

local geography– Most students K and above will have been to

Birmingham– From the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea is 80 miles

Helping Students Relate

• Most students will have seen a river• Most students will have seen a mountain• Some students may not have seen the ocean

or a gulf, but many will have• Most students will not have seen a desert, but

will have an idea of what a desert is like• Most will have seen farmland and livestock

Using Maps

• USE MAPS!!!– Especially with children

• Use blank maps that the students can label• Allow the younger students to color the maps• Use the whiteboard• Use handouts• Don’t just do one class on geography!– Integrate geography into many of your lessons– Review geography

The Condition of the Land

• The land of Canaan has not always been as barren as it is today

• It was a fertile land during the time that we are studying!– Num. 13:27; Deut 11:10-11, 14-15, 17– We should know why the land is barren now!

(Deut 29:22-28)

Boundaries

• North – Mt Lebanon & Mt. Hermon• South – Negev• East – Arabian Desert• West – Mediterranean Sea

Zones

• The land divides itself into four distinct parallel zones running north and south

• From west to east these zones are:– The Coastal Plain– The Hill Country– The Jordan Valley– The Trans-Jordan Plateau

Looking North

Looking West, Mountans

Key Locations

• Shephelah• Mount Lebanon (Lebanons)• Mount Hermon (Anti-Lebanons)• Dan• Lake Huleh• Sea of Galilee• Dead Sea• Jordan River• Negev(b)

Key Locations

• Zered• Arnon• Jabbok• Yarmuk• Mt. Ebal• Mt. Gerizim• Shechem

Key Locations

• Mt. Carmel• Valley of Jezreel• Hebron• Jerusalem• Mt. Of Olives• Kadesh Barnea

Key Locations

• Philistia• Plain of Sharon• Phoenicia• Arabah• Arabian Desert• Ammon• Bashan• Edom• Gilead