The Holy Land, by Tilemann Stella

Mapmaker: Stella, Tilemann · Year: c. 1600

A map of the Promised Land drawn by the German scholar Tilemann Stella and published in Antwerp by Gerard de Jode. The coast runs along the top, so west is up, and the land is divided among the tribes of Israel. Along the bottom edge runs a view of Jerusalem, with the chapel in Bethlehem on the left and the chapel over the Holy Sepulchre on the right.

The map at the Library of Congress

Old maps of the Holy Land, 1600–1881: Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division (public domain; item numbers found through Wikimedia Commons, images from the library’s own server); the texts are ours

Passages

Num 34:1–12Then the LORD said to Moses, “Command the Israelites and say to them: When you enter the land of Canaan, it will be allotted to you as an inheritance with these boundaries: Your southern border will extend from the Wilderness of Zin along the border of Edom. On the east, your southern border will run from the end of the Salt Sea, cross south of the Ascent of Akrabbim, continue to Zin, and go south of Kadesh-barnea. Then it will go on to Hazar-addar and proceed to Azmon, where it will turn from Azmon, join the Brook of Egypt, and end at the Sea. Your western border will be the coastline of the Great Sea; this will be your boundary on the west. Your northern border will run from the Great Sea directly to Mount Hor, and from Mount Hor to Lebo-hamath, then extend to Zedad, continue to Ziphron, and end at Hazar-enan. This will be your boundary on the north. And your eastern border will run straight from Hazar-enan to Shepham, then go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain and continue along the slopes east of the Sea of Chinnereth. Then the border will go down along the Jordan and end at the Salt Sea. This will be your land, defined by its borders on all sides.”

Places on the map

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