Journey Through Genesis 12-50Sample

Abraham: Behind the Text

Abram and his wife Sarai left Ur at the eastern end of the Fertile Crescent and camped at key sites in the Promised Land while also traveling to Egypt. Explore their route and the key sites on the following iMap.

iMap: Journeys of the Patriarchs

Goshen

Beer Sheva

Hebron

Jerusalem

Bethel

Shechem

Dan

Damascus

Damascus Horse Market:

Damascus was the major city along with the international trade route between Canaan and Mesopotamia. As a semi-nomadic herder, Abram would have traded in this urban hub, traveling with his slave from Damascus, Eliezer, and his household and belongings.

Damascus Shepherd:

Abram returned to this region with over 300 armed men from his household to rescue Lot and his family after they were taken captive in a regional war (Gen 14). This is one of many stories that demonstrates that Abram was more than a simple shepherd.

Haran

Haran was the city where Abram brought his extended family (including father Terah and nephew Lot) after leaving Ur where God first called him. Haran would be the city to which Isaac and later Jacob would find wives from their uncle Laban.

The ancient city of Haran was inhabited since perhaps 5000 BC. It was conveniently located at the intersection of trade routes linking Assyria, Babylonia and the Mediterranean. Haran became known for worshiping the moon god Sin.

Ur Panel

Ur of the Chaldeans was the first home of Abram (Gen 11:31; 12:1ff). It was one of the oldest and most prominent cities in Mesopotamia at the time of the Patriarchs. The panels of this box depict the king during times of war and peace.

Household God

Ur became a center for worshiping the moon god Sin. But as with all ancient cities, Ur had lots of local deities which people worshiped. This household god may have been similar to the teraphim Rachel stole in Genesis 31.

Ram in a Thicket

One of the most striking finds from ancient Ur is called the “Ram in a Thicket” (c. 2600 BC) because it recalls the substitute God provided for Abram in Genesis 22.