Bible Photographs

Bible Photographs

Bible Photographs

Introduction
These photographs of important sites exemplify the lands where Jesus walked, where the biblical prophets lived and taught, and where many scriptural events took place.
Overview
The map below shows the location of the photographs in this section. On the following pages, each numbered photograph is accompanied by a short description of the setting. Significant scriptural events from that area are then listed, along with scripture references so that you can know where to read more about those events.
1. Nile River and Egypt
Vegetation growing along the banks of the Nile River. In a spot like this, Moses’ mother hid her infant son. Beyond are the desert areas that cover most of Egypt.
2. Mount Sinai (Horeb) and the Sinai Wilderness
There are several possible sites for Mount Sinai. One of the traditional locations is Jebel Musa (Mountain of Moses), pictured here.
3. Judean Wilderness
The Judean wilderness lies east of Jerusalem and descends to the Dead Sea.
4. Kadesh-barnea
This is a northeastern view of the great desert valley (also called a wadi) where Kadesh-barnea is situated. The stream that flows here during the rainy season makes this a well-watered and fruitful spot in the wilderness of Zin.
5. Tombs of the Patriarchs
This building, one of the most famous in the Holy Land, was constructed in Hebron by King Herod over the traditional site of the cave of Machpelah, which was purchased by Abraham as a family burial site (Gen. 23).
6. Judean Hill Country
The hill country of Judea is about 35 miles (56 kilometers) long and 17 miles (27 kilometers) wide. Much of the land is stony and difficult to cultivate. The hills are broken up by valleys in which the land is fairly fruitful. The earliest Israelites lived in these hills, using them for protection against invaders.
7. Bethlehem
This photograph shows rocky hills and shepherds’ fields in the foreground, with the modern city of Bethlehem in the background.
8. Jerusalem
Looking northward over Jerusalem. In the center of the picture is a Muslim shrine with a gold-covered dome, called the Dome of the Rock. The Jews worshipped anciently in the temple located here. The walls near the Dome of the Rock surround the old city of Jerusalem. On the right of the wall is the Kidron Valley. On the far right, outside the photograph, is the Mount of Olives. To the north, beyond the Dome of the Rock, is a possible site of Golgotha, or Calvary.
9. Temple of Herod
This photograph shows a model of the temple of Herod (1:50 scale ratio) as it was thought to be in A.D. 67. The wall surrounding the temple complex encloses the sanctuary containing the Holy of Holies, the holy place, and three great courts.
10. Steps to the Temple
The temple area was divided into courts, and the outer courts stood on the lowest ground. Worshippers entered through various gates, including those that led upward from these steps into the outer courts and then into the inner courts. Thousands of people have ascended these steps over time, including the Son of God. When the army of Titus destroyed the temple in A.D. 70, the steps were covered with debris. They were uncovered by archaeologists in the 1970s during excavation of part of the old city of Jerusalem.
11. Mount of Olives
This view looks east on the Mount of Olives. The building in the foreground marks a possible site of the Garden of Gethsemane. On October 24, 1841, Elder Orson Hyde of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles walked up the Mount of Olives and offered a prophetic prayer of dedication for the return of the children of Abraham and the building of the temple.
12. Garden of Gethsemane
This photograph of an aged olive tree was taken at a traditional site of the Garden of Gethsemane. The Savior prayed near here after leaving the upper room on the night of His betrayal.
13. Golgotha
This rocky cliff, which resembles a skull and is just outside of Jerusalem’s Damascus Gate (John 19:17, 20), is a possible site of Golgotha, where the Crucifixion took place.
14. Garden Tomb
Possible site of the garden tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. Some modern prophets have felt that the Savior’s body was laid in the tomb pictured here.
15. Jericho
This photograph shows vegetation in present-day Jericho. Anciently it was a walled city in the valley of the Jordan River, 825 feet (252 meters) below sea level. It is a rich agricultural area where date palms and citrus groves flourish. In the background is the traditional Mount of Temptation (Matt. 4:1–11).
16. Shiloh
In this western view, the ruins of the ancient city of Shiloh are just left of center.
17. Shechem
The ancient site of Shechem. In the foreground is Mount Gerizim, and beyond it, Mount Ebal. Shechem is situated between these two mountains.
18. Dothan in Samaria
Dothan is characterized by ridges and valleys. It is good pastureland. When the Israelites settled the land, this region was given to Manasseh.
19. Caesarea and the Plain of Sharon to Carmel
Looking northward across the ancient seaport of Caesarea and the Plain of Sharon. Also in view along the top of the picture is the Carmel mountain range.
20. Joppa
Looking northwestward over the port city of Joppa.
21. Jezreel Valley
Looking southwest from the top of Mount Tabor toward a portion of the Jezreel Valley, also known as the Plain of Esdraelon. Though the Jezreel Valley is often thought of as one great valley, it is actually a series of valleys that connects the Plain of Acco with the Jordan Valley and the Sea of Galilee region. The valley of Megiddo, for example, is in the western portion of this valley. The Jezreel Valley was the main route across the Holy Land between the Mediterranean Sea to the west and the Jordan Valley to the east.
22. Mount Tabor
Looking northwestward toward Mount Tabor. The lowland surrounding Mount Tabor is part of the Jezreel Valley. Nazareth lies in the hills near Mount Tabor.
23. Sea of Galilee and the Mount of Beatitudes
Looking southwest over the northwest corner of the Sea of Galilee, a freshwater lake. The hill in the center foreground is the traditional site of the Mount of Beatitudes. Capernaum is to the left, out of the photograph. Tiberias is farther south along the west shore.
24. Capernaum
Capernaum, located on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee, was the center of Jesus’ Galilean ministry (Matt. 9:1–2; Mark 2:1–5). An important and successful fishing and commercial center, it was home to Gentiles as well as Jews. The first-century population probably never exceeded 1,000 people. Capernaum was located on the crossroads of important trade routes, with fertile lands surrounding it. Roman soldiers constructed bath houses and storage facilities here. In spite of the many miracles performed here, the people generally rejected the Savior’s ministry. Jesus therefore cursed the city (Matt. 11:20, 23–24). In time, Capernaum fell into ruin and remains uninhabited.
25. Jordan River
The Jordan River begins north of the Sea of Galilee, flows into it, and then continues south to the Dead Sea. This photograph was taken near the river’s outlet from the Sea of Galilee.
26. Caesarea Philippi
Caesarea Philippi is located at the foot of Mount Hermon. This spring is one of the headwaters of the Jordan River. Herod Philip, who ruled this area, built a city here in honor of Caesar (his emperor) and himself; the city was called previously Panias and today is called Banias as well as Caesarea Philippi.
27. Nazareth
This view of the modern city of Nazareth looks southward. Nazareth was a small village in biblical times.
28. Dan
The ancient city of Dan was called Leshem (Josh. 19:47) or Laish (Judg. 18:7, 14) before the Israelites conquered the land. The springs located at this site, together with the springs at Caesarea Philippi, are the main sources of the Jordan River. Jeroboam’s temple site is pictured here.
29. Athens
This photograph, taken from the Areopagus (Mars’ Hill), shows the Acropolis of Athens, site of sanctuaries to various pagan gods. Athens was the ancient Greek capital of Attica and in New Testament times was in the Roman province of Achaia. It was named in honor of the pagan Greek goddess Athena. By New Testament times, Athens had lost much of its former greatness and glory, but still contained statues and monuments to many gods and goddesses, including the “Unknown God” (Acts 17:23).
30. Corinth
Corinth was the chief town of the Roman province of Achaia. It was located on the isthmus connecting the Peloponnesus with the mainland of Greece, possessing a harbor on both eastern and western sides. It was a port city of wealth and influence.
31. Ephesus
The ruins of the Greek theater at Ephesus, where the Apostle Paul preached. During New Testament times, Ephesus was famous throughout the known world for its magnificent temple built in honor of the pagan Roman goddess Diana. Now in ruins, Ephesus was once the capital of the Roman province of Asia and a great center of commerce. The silversmiths of the city developed a flourishing trade selling images of Diana.
32. Isle of Patmos
Patmos, an island in the Aegean Sea to which John was banished (Rev. 1:9). According to tradition, he worked there in the marble quarries.