Nations & Kingdoms
The peoples and empires Scripture names, from Israel and Judah to Egypt, Assyria, Babylon and Rome. Ancient nations overlapped the territories of several modern states; the entries say so plainly rather than equating them.
The covenant people and their land between the Jordan and the sea; after Solomon, the northern kingdom of ten tribes.
The southern kingdom of David's line, centred on Jerusalem, surviving Israel by a century and a half before Babylon.
The Nile empire of the pharaohs: refuge for Jacob's family, house of slavery, and the power Israel left at the Exodus.
The Mesopotamian empire that destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel and carried its people away.
The empire that broke Judah, burned the temple and carried the people into exile; and in the prophets and Revelation, the Bible's lasting symbol of proud world power.
The empire of Cyrus that ended the exile and sent Judah home to rebuild the temple.
The nation of Esau's descendants in the mountains south-east of the Dead Sea, Israel's brother and rival.
The nation east of the Dead Sea, kinsman to Israel through Lot, and the homeland of Ruth.
The nation of Lot's other descendants, north of Moab around the upper Jabbok, often at war with Israel.
The Sea Peoples of the southern coastal plain, Israel's most persistent enemy in the days of the judges and Samuel.
The Aramean kingdoms north of Israel, centred on Damascus: sometimes ally, often enemy, and the homeland of the language Jesus spoke.
The merchant cities of Tyre and Sidon on the northern coast, suppliers of cedar and craftsmen to Solomon's temple.
The empire under which Christ was born, crucified and preached to the nations; the world of the New Testament.
The world of the Greek city-states, whose language carried the gospel and whose cities heard Paul.