• List of Bible Mapper Maps on BibleGateway.com •
The Bible is ancient literature written in a variety of genres over a span of 1,500 years by multiple authors living in diverse cultures covering vast geography that, through military conquest and political control, included numerous historical empires encompassing up to 2 million square miles of territory. It becomes evident, then, that maps depicting Near East locations mentioned in the Bible can provide a wealth of contextual understanding and interpretation for us as we read Scripture.
Bible Gateway interviewed David Barrett, cartographer for the ESV Study Bible, the Crossway ESV Bible Atlas, and the ESV Concise Bible Atlas, and the proprietor of the map development and research tool BibleMapper.com, the maps of which are available for free studying on Bible Gateway.
Why are Bible maps an important way to study the Bible?
David Barrett: The Bible is divinely inspired and inerrant, but that does not mean it was written in a vacuum. Its stories are set in specific geographic locations in the Near East during specific times in history, and these factors greatly affect how the stories should be understood and interpreted.
Typically, however, the writers of Scripture did not bother to describe the context of their writings in much detail, because it was the same context their readers lived in, so they already understood it very well.
But today we live in very different times and places than the original writers and recipients of Scripture, and this makes it more challenging for us to understand exactly what the writers of Scripture meant. Resources like Bible maps, however, can help recreate much of the ancient context in our minds so that we’re better able to grasp the original message of Scripture and thereby form a clearer picture of what Scripture is saying to us today.
[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, How to Use the Bible Gateway Plus Atlas]
What Bible reference would be an example of getting a clearer understanding of the passage by using a map?
David Barrett: Virtually all passages of Scripture can be better understood by getting a clearer picture of the setting in which it was written, but a simple example can be found in Acts 28:11-15, which describes the final leg of Paul’s journey to Rome to stand trial before Caesar. Prior to this, Paul had suffered shipwreck off the island of Malta and spent three months waiting out the winter on the island before finally setting sail for Italy. Upon reaching the city of Puteoli, news spread to Rome that Paul was on his way, and fellow believers from Rome traveled as far as the Forum of Appius to meet Paul and escort him back to Rome, and this was a source of encouragement to Paul.
My guess is that most readers, without consulting a good map of central Italy, might quickly pass over these verses and not realize the significance of what these believers had done for Paul. But an accurate map showing the Appian Way from Puteoli to Rome shows that some of these believers had traveled 40 miles to meet him and escort him back to Rome!
This immensely generous act of kindness toward Paul helps readers understand two things: 1) the reason why Luke notes that Paul was so encouraged by the arrival of these believers and thanked God, and 2) the world-wide reputation Paul must have already developed among believers by this time throughout the entire Roman Empire, for he had never even been to Rome before this, yet believers there were eager for his arrival and traveled a considerable distance to welcome him.
Bible Mapper maps on Bible Gateway include text that explain the context of each map. What is your objective in writing that content?
David Barrett: No matter how clearly a map is arranged and presented, I’m convinced that often the readers who could benefit most from the map are the very ones who miss much of the valuable geographic information displayed on the map, because they simply aren’t familiar with the meaning and significance of all the data they’re looking at and how it can help them understand Scripture better.
The captions for the maps try to bridge that gap in a succinct yet helpful way by explaining the important things to note on the map and the key ways in which this information connects to Scripture. Then, hopefully, the reader is better equipped to make their own discoveries about Scripture as they continue to study the map and glean information about its connection to Scripture.
[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Latest Biblical Archaeology Research]
Please explain the function and usability of BibleMapper.com.
David Barrett: Biblemapper.com hosts a variety of Bible mapping resources and tools to help readers better understand the world of the Bible so that they can better understand the message of the Bible. The three primary tools available on the site are:
- the Bible Mapper Blog, which offers over 100 free Bible maps and captions, many of which are also included in the Bible Mapper Maps hosted on BibleGateway.com;
- Bible Mapper WebViewer, a free, online mapping tool that makes it easy to look up virtually any known location mentioned in the Bible along with helpful photos for most locations; and
- Bible Mapper software (for Windows only—my apologies, Mac users!), which enables users to create highly customized, professional-looking maps of anywhere in the biblical world. In fact, all the Bible Mapper Maps hosted by Bible Gateway and the Bible Mapper Blog were created with Bible Mapper software.
What is a favorite Bible passage of yours and why?
David Barrett: I imagine it would be most fitting for the favorite Bible passage of a Bible map maker to be related to Bible geography, but honestly one of my favorite passages, Ephesians 2:4-5, has little to do with Bible geography: “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” Even while I was dead in my sins and cared nothing for God, he loved me and showed me—and all believers—great mercy by reaching out to me and rescuing me from my sins. I’m so thankful for this immense grace that forms the bedrock of all that we are and do as believers.
What are your thoughts about Bible Gateway and the Bible Gateway App and Bible Audio App?
David Barrett: I’m extremely grateful for the wealth of helpful resources that are available with Bible Gateway. I had already adopted the Bible Gateway App as “my Bible” long before the Bible Mapper Maps were made available on Bible Gateway, and I’ve often listened to passages in the Bible Audio App while driving to work. I also really enjoy being able to look up a passage in multiple translations or original texts right on my laptop or phone. And I have to admit that I also appreciate being able to increase the font size as needed the older I get!
Is there anything else you’d like to say?
David Barrett: I can think of nothing more important than learning what God has said—and is saying—to us in his Word, and I’m so thankful for how readily available it is to so many of us today, along with resources to help us better understand it. I pray that the Bible Mapper Maps included on Bible Gateway empower many readers to better understand and obey God’s Word.
Bio: David P. Barrett graduated from Wheaton College in 1993 with a double major in Ancient Languages and Biblical/Theological Studies. After working for seven years as a Bible reference editor at Tyndale House Publishers, he and his wife moved to Kenya to teach at Scott Theological College for two years. Upon returning from Kenya he worked full time as a freelance Bible reference editor and developed in-text maps for Bible reference products such as the NLT Study Bible and the ESV Study Bible. Later, he created all the map resources for the Crossway ESV Bible Atlas as well as Barbour’s Bible Atlas & Companion. Along the way he developed Bible Mapper software and launched biblemapper.com, which hosts a variety of Bible mapping resources and tools, including the Bible Mapper Blog. David and his wife Anisea live in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, with their five children.
List of Bible Mapper Maps on BibleGateway.com
- Absalom Rebels Against David —
• 2 Samuel 13–18 - The Ark of the Covenant Is Captured and Returned —
• 1 Samuel 6:1–7:2 - The Battle at Elah —
• 1 Samuel 17 - The Battle at Michmash —
• 1 Samuel 13:23–14:23 - The Battle at Mount Gilboa —
• 1 Samuel 28–31 • 1 Chronicles 10 - Believers Escort Paul to Rome —
• Acts 27–28 • Acts 28:13–15 - Bethany and Bethphage —
• Matthew 21:1–17 • Matthew 26:6–13 • Mark 11:1–11 • Mark 14:3–9 • Luke 19:28–48 • John 12:1–19 - Carthage, Italy, and Nearby Islands —
• Acts 27–28 - Churches of Revelation —
• Revelation 1:11 - The Conquest of Canaan: The Northern Campaign —
• Joshua 11 - The Conquest of Canaan: The Southern Campaign —
• Joshua 9–10 - Crete, Cyrene, and Syrtis —
• Acts 27–28 - David Flees from Saul (Part 1) —
• 1 Samuel 16–22:5 - David Flees from Saul (Part 2) —
• 1 Samuel 22:5 • 1 Samuel 23–27 - Ephesus, Miletus, and Patmos —
• Acts 19 • Revelation 1:9 - The Exodus from Egypt —
• Exodus 13:17–14:20 • Exodus 14:21–31 • Exodus 15–17 • Exodus 20:1–17 • Exodus 24 • Numbers 10:11–12:16 • Deuteronomy 5:1–22 - The Hill Country of Samaria —
• Genesis 12:6–7 • Deuteronomy 11:26–32 • Deuteronomy 27:11–13 • Joshua 8:33 • Joshua 24:32 • 1 Kings 12 • 1 Kings 16:23–24 • John 4:1–42 - Israelites are Exiled to Assyria —
• 2 Kings 15:29 • 2 Kings 17:1–6 • 2 Kings 17:24 • 1 Chronicles 5:26 - Herod’s Building Projects —
• Matthew 2 - Israel under the Maccabees —
• 1 Maccabees 1 • 1 Maccabees 2 • 1 Maccabees 3–16 • 2 Maccabees 6–7 • 2 Maccabees 8 • 2 Maccabees 9–15 - Jacob Returns to Canaan —
• Genesis 31 • Genesis 32:1–21 • Genesis 32:22–32 • Genesis 33 - Jericho, Wilderness of Judea, and Qumran —
• Deuteronomy 34:3 • Joshua 6 • Matthew 3:13 • Matthew 4:1–11 • Mark 1:9 • Mark 1:12 • Mark 10:46–52 • Luke 3:1–22 • Luke 4:1–13 • Luke 10:25–37 • Luke 19:1–10 • John 1:26–34 - Jerusalem During the Early Old Testament —
• 2 Samuel 5:6–10 • 2 Samuel 24 • 2 Kings 18:13–19:37 • 2 Kings 25:1–21 • 1 Chronicles 11:4–9 • 1 Chronicles 21 • 2 Chronicles 32 • 2 Chronicles 36:17–21 • Isaiah 36–37 • Jeremiah 39:1–10 • Jeremiah 52:1–30 - Jerusalem During the Later Old Testament —
• 2 Kings 25:1–21 • 2 Chronicles 36:17–23 • Ezra 1:1–6:15 • Nehemiah 7:5–65 • Jeremiah 39:1–10 • Jeremiah 52:1–30 - Jerusalem During the New Testament —
• 2 Samuel 5:6–10 • 1 Chronicles 11:4–9 • Matthew 21:1–11 • Matthew 24–25 • Matthew 26:36–46 • Mark 11:1–11 • Mark 13 • Mark 14:32–53 • Luke 19:28–40 • Luke 24:50–53 • John 12:12–19 • John 18:1–14 • Acts 1:1–11 - Jesus’ Birth and Escape to Egypt —
• Matthew 2:1–23 • Luke 2:1–7 - Jesus’ Arrest, Trial, Crucifixion, and Burial —
• Matthew 26–27 • Mark 14–15 • Luke 22–23 • John 13–19 - Jesus’ Ministry in Galilee —
• Matthew 4:12–22 • Matthew 5–7 • Matthew 8:23–27 • Matthew 14:13–21 • Matthew 14:22–36 • Matthew 15:29–39 • Mark 1:16–20 • Mark 4:1 • Mark 4:35–41 • Mark 6:30–44 • Mark 6:45–53 • Mark 8:1–10 • Luke 5:1–11 • Luke 6:16–21 • Luke 9:10–17 • John 6:1–15 - Jesus’ Post-Resurrection Appearances —
• Matthew 28:1–10 • Matthew 28:16 • Mark 16:1–20 • Luke 24:1–12 • Luke 24:13–35 • Luke 24:36–49 • Luke 24:50–53 • John 20:1–18 • John 20:24–29 • John 21:1–14 • Acts 1:1–4 - Jezreel Valley and Megiddo —
• Judges 4–5 • Judges 7 • 1 Samuel 28–31 • 2 Kings 23:29–30 • 2 Chronicles 35:20–27 • Revelation 16:12–16 - Josiah Battles Neco —
• 2 Kings 22–23 • 2 Chronicles 34–35 - Judah and Its Towns — Genesis 13:18 • Genesis 23:19 • Genesis 25:9 • Genesis 35:27 • Genesis 37:12–14 • Genesis 50:12–13 • 1 Samuel 16–17 • 1 Samuel 19–26 • 1 Samuel 23:29 • 2 Samuel 5:1–5 • 2 Samuel 15:1–12 • Matthew 2:1–12 • Luke 2:1–20
- Judea under Persian Rule —
• 2 Chronicles 36:22–23 • Ezra 1:1–2 • Ezra 1:3–2:70 - Judges of Israel —
• Judges 2–16 - The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah —
• 1 Kings 12 • 2 Chronicles 10 - The Kingdoms of Saul, David, and Solomon —
• Judges 2–16 • 1 Samuel 8 • 1 Samuel 11 • 1 Samuel 13–16 • 2 Samuel 2–4 • 2 Samuel 8–10 • 2 Samuel 15–19 • 1 Kings 1 • 1 Kings 10 • 1 Chronicles 18–19 • 2 Chronicles 8–9 - Macedonia —
• Acts 16–17 - Mahanaim and Peniel —
• Genesis 32 • Judges 8 • 2 Samuel 2 • 2 Samuel 5:1–5 • 2 Samuel 13–18 • 1 Kings 12:1–25 • 1 Kings 16:24 • 1 Chronicles 11:1–3 - Mesopotamia —
• Genesis 2:8–14 • 2 Kings 15:29 • 2 Kings 17:1–6 • 2 Kings 24:15–17 • 2 Kings 25:8–12 • 1 Chronicles 5:26 • 2 Chronicles 36:20 • Matthew 2 - The Ministries of Philip and Peter —
• Acts 6:1–7 • Acts 8:1–9 • Acts 8:26–40 • Acts 9:32–43 • Acts 10 - The Moabite Alliance Attacks Judah —
• 2 Chronicles 20 - Nations Across the Jordan River —
• Genesis 19 • Genesis 36 • Numbers 21:10–20 • Deuteronomy 2:1–23 • Judges 3:12–30 • Judges 10:6–12:7 • Ruth 1:1 • 1 Samuel 11:1–11 • 1 Samuel 22:3–4 • 2 Samuel 8:1–14 • 2 Kings 3 • 2 Kings 8:20–22 • 2 Kings 14:7 • 1 Chronicles 19 • 2 Chronicles 20 • 2 Chronicles 21:8–10 - Nations at Pentecost —
• Acts 2:1–41 - Palestine under Roman Rule —
• Matthew 4:12–22 • Mark 1:16–20 • Luke 5:1–11 - Patriarchs In Canaan —
• Genesis 12:1–9 • Genesis 13:18 • Genesis 15:1–21 • Genesis 23:19 • Genesis 25:9 • Genesis 26:23–25 • Genesis 33:18–20 • Genesis 35:6–7 • Genesis 37–41 • Genesis 50:1–14 • Genesis 50:25 • Joshua 24:32 - Paul’s Conversion and Early Travels —
• Acts 9 - Paul’s First Missionary Journey —
• Acts 13–14 - Paul’s Second Missionary Journey —
• Acts 15:36–18:22 - Paul’s Third Missionary Journey —
• Acts 18:23–21:19 - Paul’s Voyage to Rome —
• Acts 27–28 • Acts 28:13–15 - The Persian Empire —
• 2 Chronicles 36:22–23 • Ezra 1:1–2 - Philistia —
• Joshua 13 • Judges 3:31 • Judges 10:7 • Judges 13:1 • 1 Samuel 4:1 • 1 Samuel 6:17 • 1 Samuel 7:10 • 1 Samuel 9:16 • 1 Samuel 12:9 • 1 Samuel 13:3 • 1 Samuel 14:52 • 1 Samuel 17 • 1 Samuel 19:8 • 1 Samuel 23:5 • 1 Samuel 24:1 • 1 Samuel 31:1 • 2 Samuel 5:18–19 • 2 Samuel 8:1 • 1 Chronicles 18:1 • Jeremiah 47:4 • Amos 9:7 • Acts 9:32–43 - Phoenicia and Tyre —
• 1 Kings 10 • 2 Kings 19:23 • 2 Chronicles 2 • Psalm 29:5 • Psalm 92:12 • Isaiah 23:1–3 • Ezekiel 27:1–9 • Matthew 15:21 - Samson’s Exploits —
• Judges 13–16 - Sheba —
• 1 Kings 10 • 2 Chronicles 9 - Southern Greece —
• Acts 17:16–18:28 - Table of Nations —
• Genesis 10 - The Temple of the Lord —
• Exodus 23:14–19 • Deuteronomy 16:16–17 • 2 Samuel 24 • 2 Kings 25:1–21 • 1 Chronicles 21 • 2 Chronicles 36:17–21 • Jeremiah 39:1–10 • Jeremiah 52:1–30 • Ezra 1:5–6:15 • Nehemiah 7:5–65 • John 10:23 • Acts 3:11 • Acts 5:12 - Tribal Allotments of Canaan —
• Joshua 13–20 - The World of the Patriarchs —
• Genesis 11:27–31 • Genesis 12:1–5 • Genesis 12:10–20 • Genesis 12–20 • Genesis 21–22 • Genesis 24 • Genesis 27–29 • Genesis 31 • Genesis 46
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The post Bible Mapper Maps on Bible Gateway: An Interview with David Barrett appeared first on Bible Gateway Blog.