Updated September 2026
The Old Testament unfolds across a vast geographical area, from Mesopotamia and Egypt to Canaan, Assyria, Babylon, and Persia. Understanding that geography helps us follow the journeys of the patriarchs, the exodus from Egypt, Israel’s conquest of Canaan, the rise and fall of the monarchy, and the exile and return.
The maps below are organized chronologically and by biblical period. Use them to locate important cities, compare ancient kingdoms, trace journeys and military campaigns, and understand the geographical setting of Old Testament events.
Please note that these maps are hosted by other organizations. Contact the original source if you wish to reproduce or publish a map. Attribution information appears beside each link.Here are my favorite maps related to the Old Testament and where to find them.
Looking for a later biblical time period: Go to New Testament Maps
Jump to: Ancient Near East; ** Abraham; ** Exodus; Joshua; ** Judges; ** David; ** Kings; ** Exile **Palestine & the Ancient Near East
The Old Testament world stretched from Egypt in the southwest to Mesopotamia in the northeast. Mountains, deserts, rivers, trade routes, and neighboring empires all influenced Israel’s history.
The Ancient Near East - Holman Bible Atlas. Provides an overview of the nations, cities, rivers, and regions that form the larger setting of the Old Testament.
Biblical Regions - Holman Bible Atlas. Identifies the principal geographical regions mentioned throughout the biblical narrative.
Modern States and the Ancient Near East - Holman Bible Atlas. Compares ancient biblical territories with the boundaries of modern Middle Eastern nations.
Mesopotamia: Homeland of Abraham - Holman Bible Atlas. Locates the Tigris-Euphrates region from which Abraham traveled to Canaan.
Egypt: Land of Bondage - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows Egypt’s geography and the region in which the Israelites lived before the exodus.
Syria and Lebanon - Holman Bible Atlas. Identifies the northern territories and cities that frequently interacted with Israel.
International Routes, The King’s Highway - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows the major roads that connected Egypt, Canaan, Syria, and Mesopotamia.
Geography and Trade Routes of the Middle East - Holman Bible Atlas. Explains how commerce and travel moved through the ancient Near East.
National Regions of Ancient Palestine - Holman Bible Atlas. Identifies the regions occupied by Israel and its closest neighbors.
Physical Geography of Palestine - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows the coast, central highlands, Jordan Valley, deserts, and other natural features.
Topography of Palestine - Holman Bible Atlas. Illustrates the changes in elevation that shaped travel, settlement, agriculture, and warfare.
Cross Sectional Views of Longitudinal Zones - Holman Bible Atlas. Provides side views of Palestine’s coastal plain, hill country, Jordan Valley, and eastern plateau.
Northern Coastal Plains - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows the coastal regions north of Mount Carmel and their important cities.
Plain of Dor, Plain of Sharon, Samaria, et al. - Holman Bible Atlas. Locates the central coastal plain and the hill country of Samaria.
Philistine Plain, Shephelah, Judah, and the Dead Sea - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows the geographical regions that often formed the battleground between Judah and the Philistines.
Arabah, Negeb, Wildernesses of Zin and Paran - Holman Bible Atlas. Locates the arid regions associated with Israel’s wilderness journey.
The Old City of Jerusalem Today - Holman Bible Atlas. Helps readers compare modern Jerusalem with the ancient city.
Modern Political Divisions of Ancient Palestine - Holman Bible Atlas. Compares biblical regions with more recent political boundaries.
Climate Patterns of Ancient Palestine - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows how rainfall and climate differed across Israel’s geographical regions.
Abraham & the Patriarchs
Genesis follows Abraham and his descendants as they travel between Mesopotamia, Canaan, and Egypt. These maps help readers follow those journeys and understand the nations that surrounded them.
World of the Patriarchs - English Standard Version Bible. Shows the cities, regions, and routes associated with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.
Selected Neolithic and Chalcolithic Settlements - Holman Bible Atlas. Identifies settlements from the periods before the biblical patriarchs.
Garden of Eden - English Standard Version Bible. Presents the proposed geographical setting described in Genesis 2.
Generations of Genesis - English Standard Version Bible.Shows the family lines that structure the book of Genesis.
Genealogies of Genesis - English Standard Version Bible. Organizes the major family lines recorded throughout Genesis.
Genealogies: Age at Fatherhood and Death - English Standard Version Bible. Compares the lifespans and ages of the patriarchs in Genesis.
Noah
Chronology of Noah’s Time in Ark - English Standard Version Bible. Arranges the events of the flood narrative in chronological order.
The Table of Nations_(1) - Holman Bible Atlas. Maps the nations traditionally associated with Noah’s descendants in Genesis 10.
The Table of Nations_(2) - Holman Bible Atlas. Provides another geographical view of the peoples listed in Genesis 10.
Table of Nations - English Standard Version Bible. Connects Noah’s descendants with the lands and peoples traditionally associated with them.
Geography
Ancient Near East in the 3rd Millennium BC - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows the major civilizations and political centers before the patriarchal period.
Ancient Near East in the Time of the Patriarchs - Holman Bible Atlas. Provides the larger political and cultural setting for the stories of Genesis.
The Land of Canaan from Abraham to Moses - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows the peoples and regions of Canaan during the patriarchal period.
Palestine in the Middle Bronze Age - Holman Bible Atlas. Identifies settlements and political centers that existed during the probable setting of the patriarchal narratives.
Abraham
The Migration of Abraham - Holman Bible Atlas. Traces Abraham’s journey from Ur through Haran and into Canaan.
Abraham in Canaan - Holman Bible Atlas. Locates the places where Abraham lived, worshiped, and traveled within the Promised Land.
Abram Travels to Canaan - English Standard Version Bible. Traces Abram’s journey from Mesopotamia to the land God promised him.
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - Holman Bible Atlas. Combines the principal journeys and locations associated with the three patriarchs.
Jacob
Travels of Jacob - Holman Bible Atlas. Traces Jacob’s movements between Canaan, Paddan-aram, and the lands east of the Jordan.
Jacob Returns to Canaan - English Standard Version Bible. Follows Jacob’s journey from Paddan-aram back to Canaan.
Joseph
The Journeys of Joseph - Holman Bible Atlas.Follows Joseph from Canaan to Egypt and shows the movement of his family during the famine.
Egypt at the Time of Joseph - English Standard Version Bible. Shows the geography of Egypt during the period in which Joseph’s family settled there.
Exodus & Wilderness
The location of the exodus route remains debated. These maps present several proposed routes and help readers follow Israel from Egypt through the wilderness to the plains of Moab.
The Bible identifies many places connected with the exodus, but the precise locations of Mount Sinai and several stages of Israel’s journey remain uncertain. Consequently, maps may present different proposed routes.
Tabernacle Diagram - source unknown. Illustrates the arrangement of the tabernacle and its courtyard described in Exodus.
Exodus from Egypt (Map 3) - English Standard Version Bible. Provides an overview of Israel’s departure from Egypt and journey toward Canaan.
Route of the Exodus - Studylight.org. Presents one proposed route from Egypt through the Sinai wilderness.
Route of Exodus from Egypt - Insightforliving. Traces Israel’s journey and identifies important stopping places.
Route of Exodus - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows a proposed path from Egypt to Sinai and then toward Canaan.
Route of the Exodus - Bible-History Online. Offers another reconstruction of Israel’s wilderness route.
Events during the Sojourn at Kadesh-Barnea - Holman Bible Atlas. Locates events that occurred while Israel remained near Kadesh-barnea.
The Journey from Kadesh-Barnea to the Plains of Moab - Holman Bible Atlas. Follows Israel’s final approach to the Promised Land.
Egypt
Expulsion of the Hyksos - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows the historical movement that reshaped Egyptian rule before or near the period associated with the exodus.
Canaan in the 14th Century: The Tell el-Amarna Tablets - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows the city-states described in the Tell el-Amarna tablets.
Egypt and Palestine in the Late Bronze Age - Holman Bible Atlas. Provides the political setting of Egypt and Canaan during a commonly proposed period for the exodus.
Sites in the Amarna Archive (Akhetaton; Tell el-Amarna) - Holman Bible Atlas. Locates the cities mentioned in diplomatic correspondence from ancient Egypt.
The Egyptian Empire and the Hittites - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows the competing powers that controlled parts of the ancient Near East.
Egyptian Empire and Balance of Power, ca. 1400 BCE - Holman Bible Atlas. Places Egypt, the Hittites, Mitanni, and neighboring powers in their regional setting.
Campaigns of Thutmose III and Amenhotep II - Holman Bible Atlas. Traces Egyptian military activity in Canaan and Syria.
Joshua & the Conquest
Joshua records Israel’s entrance into Canaan, its major military campaigns, and the division of the land among the tribes.
Journey of the Spies - Holman Bible Atlas. Traces the route of the twelve spies sent to examine the land of Canaan.
Tribal Allotments of Israel - English Standard Version Bible. Shows the territories assigned to Israel’s tribes after the conquest.
Division of the Land Among the Tribes - Holman Bible Atlas. Offers another view of Israel’s tribal boundaries.
Tribal Allotments of Israel - Holman Bible Atlas. Identifies the land associated with each tribe.
Levitical Cities and Cities of Refuge (1) - Holman Bible Atlas. Locates towns assigned to the Levites and the cities designated as places of refuge.
The Levitical Cities (2) - Holman Bible Atlas. Provides an additional map of the towns distributed among the Levitical clans.
Ancient Near East from 1200-1000 BCE - Holman Bible Atlas. Provides the regional setting during Israel’s settlement in Canaan.
Conquest of Canaan - Holman Bible Atlas. Gives an overview of Israel’s principal movements and battles in Canaan.
The Sea Peoples - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows the migrations associated with the peoples who settled along the eastern Mediterranean coast.
Levant from 1200-1000 BCE - Holman Bible Atlas. Identifies the peoples and political regions of Canaan during the early Iron Age.
Conquest by Joshua - Holman Bible Atlas. Traces the major campaigns described in the book of Joshua.
Joshua’s Central and Southern Campaigns - Holman Bible Atlas. Follows Israel’s battles at Jericho, Ai, Gibeon, and cities farther south.
Joshua’s Northern Campaign - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows Joshua’s movement against the northern coalition centered at Hazor.
Limits of Israelite Settlement - Holman Bible Atlas. Indicates which areas Israel occupied and which remained outside its control.
Israel in Canaan from Joshua to Samuel to Saul - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows the changing extent of Israelite settlement before the monarchy.
Judges
During the period of the judges, Israel consisted of tribes scattered across Canaan rather than a centralized kingdom. These maps locate the tribes, Israel’s enemies, and the conflicts associated with individual judges.
The Judges of Israel - Holman Bible Atlas. Locates the regions associated with the major judges and Israel’s oppressors.
The Period of the Judges - Holman Bible Atlas. Provides an overview of Israel and its neighbors during the era between Joshua and Saul.
Ehud and the Oppression of the Moabites - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows the territory controlled by Moab and the events surrounding Ehud’s deliverance of Israel.
Deborah’s Victory over the Canaanites - Holman Bible Atlas. Locates Mount Tabor, the Kishon River, and the battlefield where Barak defeated Sisera.
Gideon’s Battles with the Amalekites - Holman Bible Atlas. Traces Gideon’s campaign against the Midianite forces.
Jephthah and the Ammonites - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows the Transjordan region where Jephthah fought the Ammonites.
Samson & the Philistines - Holman Bible Atlas. Locates the towns and borderland associated with Samson’s conflicts with the Philistines.
Saul, David & Solomon
The books of Samuel and Kings trace Israel’s development from a loose tribal confederation into a united monarchy. These maps show the rise of Saul and David, the expansion of Israel, and Solomon’s building and commercial activity.
Israel under Saul, David & Solomon - English Standard Version Bible. Shows the extent of Israel during the united monarchy.
The Battle at Ebenezer and the Loss of the Ark - Holman Bible Atlas. Locates Israel’s defeat by the Philistines and the capture of the ark.
The Ministry of Samuel and Anointing of Saul - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows the places associated with Samuel’s ministry and Saul’s rise to kingship.
The Kingdom of Saul and His Wars - Holman Bible Atlas. Identifies Saul’s territory and the neighboring peoples he fought
Saul, 1000 BCE - Holman Bible Atlas. Presents the political setting of Israel during Saul’s reign.
David’s Flight from Saul - Holman Bible Atlas. Traces David’s movements while Saul pursued him.
David’s Rise to Power - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows David’s journey from fugitive to king over a united Israel.
David in Conquest of Canaan - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows how David expanded Israel’s control over territories that had resisted earlier settlement.
David’s Wars of Conquest - Holman Bible Atlas. Traces David’s campaigns against the Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, and Arameans.
Kingdom of David and Solomon - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows the extent of Israel during the height of the united monarchy.
The United Monarchy under Solomon (1) - Holman Bible Atlas. Presents Solomon’s kingdom and its administrative organization.
The United Monarchy under Solomon (2) - Holman Bible Atlas. Offers another view of Israel’s territory and neighboring kingdoms under Solomon.
Solomon’s Economic Enterprises - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows the trade routes, ports, and commercial relationships that enriched Solomon’s kingdom.
Solomon’s Building Activities - Holman Bible Atlas. Locates the cities and construction projects associated with Solomon.
Solomon’s Temple - Holman Bible Atlas. Illustrates the design and arrangement of the temple complex.
Jerusalem in the Time of David and Solomon - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows the size and principal features of Jerusalem during the united monarchy.
Kingdoms of Israel & Judah
After Solomon’s death, the kingdom divided into Israel in the north and Judah in the south. These maps trace their conflicts, rulers, prophets, and eventual conquest by Assyria and Babylon.
The Divided Kingdom
Kingdoms of Israel & Judah - English Standard Version Bible. Shows the boundaries and principal cities of the two kingdoms after the division.
The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah (1) - Holman Bible Atlas. Provides several views of the divided kingdoms, neighboring nations, and changing political boundaries.
The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah (2) - Holman Bible Atlas. Provides several views of the divided kingdoms, neighboring nations, and changing political boundaries.
The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah (3) - Holman Bible Atlas. Provides several views of the divided kingdoms, neighboring nations, and changing political boundaries.
The Campaign of Shishak - Holman Bible Atlas. Traces the Egyptian invasion of Judah during Rehoboam’s reign.
Conflicts between Israel and Aram-Damascus - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows the territories and campaigns involved in Israel’s wars with Syria.
The Omride Dynasty - Holman Bible Atlas. Locates the kingdom ruled by Omri and Ahab and its important political relationships.
The Golden Ages of the 9th & 8th centuries BCE - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows the periods of renewed prosperity and expansion in Israel and Judah.
Phoenician Trade and Civilization - Holman Bible Atlas. Illustrates the commercial reach of Tyre and Sidon and their influence on Israel.
Trade Routes throughout the Middle East - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows the international routes that connected Israel with surrounding nations.
Travel Routes throughout Palestine - Holman Bible Atlas. Identifies the principal roads used for travel within the biblical land.
Elijah and Elisha - Holman Bible Atlas. Locates important events in the ministries of the two prophets.
The Revolt of Jehu - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows the locations associated with Jehu’s overthrow of the house of Ahab.
Assyria and the Fall of Israel
The Rise of Assyria - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows the expansion of the Assyrian Empire toward Israel and Judah.
Israel & Judah in the days of Jeroboam II and Uzziah - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows both kingdoms during a period of territorial expansion and prosperity.
The Assyrian Empire under Tiglath-Pileser III - Holman Bible Atlas. Illustrates Assyria’s growing control over Syria and Palestine.
The Syro-Ephraimite War - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows the conflict involving Aram, Israel, Judah, and Assyria during the reign of Ahaz.
Tiglath-Pileser III’s Campaigns - Holman Bible Atlas. Traces the Assyrian king’s military advance into the western territories.
Fall of Samaria and Deportation of Israelites - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows the Assyrian conquest of Israel and the areas to which its people were deported.
The Fall of the Kingdom of Israel - Holman Bible Atlas. Presents the events and territories involved in the northern kingdom’s destruction.
Assyrian Districts after the Fall of Samaria - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows how Assyria reorganized the former kingdom of Israel.
Prophets of the 8th Century BCE - Holman Bible Atlas. Locates the ministries of prophets such as Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, and Micah.
Hezekiah and the Assyrian Crisis
Hezekiah’s Preparation for Revolt - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows the defenses and strategic preparations Judah made against Assyria.
Judah under King Hezekiah - Holman Bible Atlas. Presents Judah’s cities and territory during Hezekiah’s reign.
Hezekiah’s Jerusalem - Holman Bible Atlas. llustrates Jerusalem’s expansion, walls, water systems, and defenses.
Sennacherib’s Campaign against Judah - Holman Bible Atlas. Traces the Assyrian invasion described in 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and Isaiah.
Assyria in the 7th century BCE - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows the empire near the end of its dominance in the ancient Near East.
Josiah and the Fall of Judah
The Rise of the Neo-Babylonian Empire - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows Babylon’s expansion as Assyrian power collapsed.
The Reign of Josiah - Holman Bible Atlas. Locates the territory and events associated with Josiah’s reforms.
The Districts of Judah under King Josiah - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows Judah’s administrative regions during Josiah’s reign.
The Golden Age of King Josiah - Holman Bible Atlas. Illustrates Judah’s renewed influence during the decline of Assyria.
Nebuchadnezzar’s Campaigns against Judah - Holman Bible Atlas. Traces the Babylonian invasions that led to Jerusalem’s destruction and the exile.
Exile & Return
Assyria conquered the northern kingdom in 722 BC, while Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and its temple in 586 BC. After Cyrus conquered Babylon in 539 BC, he permitted displaced peoples, including the Jews, to return home.
Exile
Assyria & Babylon - English Standard Version Bible. Shows the empires responsible for the exile of Israel and Judah.
Judah during the Exile - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows the condition and territory of Judah after Jerusalem’s destruction.
The Kingdom of Judah - Holman Bible Atlas. Provides geographical context for the southern kingdom before and during the Babylonian crisis.
Exile; Palestine in the Post-Exilic Period - Holman Bible Atlas. Compares the land before and after the Babylonian exile.
World Powers of the 6th century BCE - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows the transition from Assyrian to Babylonian and then Persian dominance.
Jewish Refugees in Egypt - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows the places in Egypt where Judeans settled after Jerusalem fell.
Babylon
Jewish Exiles in Babylon - Holman Bible Atlas. Locates the communities and waterways associated with the Judean exiles.
Babylonian Empire - Bible-History Online. Shows the empire that conquered Judah and destroyed Jerusalem.
Judah under Babylon - Bible-History Online. Identifies Judah’s position within the Babylonian Empire.
Ezekiel Map - PreceptsAustin. Locates the places and nations mentioned in Ezekiel’s prophecies.
Assyria
Assyrian Conquests - Bible-History Online. Traces Assyria’s military expansion throughout the ancient Near East.
Assyrian Captivity of the 10 Tribes - Bible-History Online. Shows the conquest and deportation of the northern kingdom.
Assyrian Empire - Bible-History Online. Shows the empire at the height of its power.
Assyrian Deportations - Bible-History Online
Return
Babylonian, Mede and Persian Empires - Bible-History Online. Compares the territories controlled by the major eastern powers.
The Conquests of Cyrus the Great - Holman Bible Atlas. Traces the campaigns through which Cyrus created the Persian Empire and conquered Babylon in 539 BC.
The Persian Empire - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows the enormous empire that ruled Judah during the period of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther.
The Return of the Jewish Exiles to Judah - Holman Bible Atlas. Traces the route from Babylon back to Jerusalem.
Judah in the 5th century BCE - Holman Bible Atlas. Shows the small Persian province in which the returned exiles lived.
Palestine after the Exile - Holman Bible Atlas. Identifies the peoples and political regions surrounding postexilic Judah.
Persians and Greeks - English Standard Version Bible. Shows the larger political world after the return from exile.
Photo by Daniel Gonzalez on Unsplash
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