Continuing our introduction to how geography helps shape the Bible story, and understanding the lie of the land can illuminate Bible stories we consider where the roads ran. The lie of the land (avoiding steep hillsides and deserts) determines the direction and usefulness of roads. Roads transmitted wealth, knowledge and power. So hills, passes and water supply determine where roads and so cities were built, as well as where armies traveled and campaigned. There are few descriptions of roads in the Bible (though we’ll end with a shot of the Jerusalem to Jericho road that Jesus mentions in the Good Samaritan). Nevertheless the location of roads shapes the story of Scripture (as we’ll see in future videos).

Tags: land of the Bible