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BIBLE GEOGRAPHY

 

The Fertile Crescent (2)

Victor M. Eskew

 

In last week’s article, we began a study of “The Fertile Crescent.”  This is an arc-shaped area of land that stretches from the north shore of the Persian Gulf all the way down to the Nile River in Egypt.  It is fertile due to the rivers found within this region.  At times, these rivers overflow their banks and deposit rich soil upon the land.  We noted that the words “fertile crescent” were first used in 1916 by an American writer and historian by the name of James Henry Breasted.

We concluded last week’s article with an interesting tidbit of information.  The Fertile Crescent has often been called “the cradle of civilization.”  We found that the Garden of Eden was located somewhere in the eastern portion of the Fertile Crescent.  After he was created, man did as God commanded.  He was fruitful, multiplied, and replenished the earth (Gen. 1:28).  At first, man focused on agriculture and hunting.  In time, however, he built great cities.  Genesis 10:8-12 gives us some insight into some of the cities that were built. 

 

 “And Cush begat Nimrod:  he began to be a mighty one in the earth.  He was a mighty hunter before the Lord:  wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord.  And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.  Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city of Rehoboth, and Calah.  And Resen between Nineveh and Calah:  the same is a great city.”

 

Eventually, the area became a land of city-states.  These small land areas were divided by rivers, canals, and building stones.  Each city-state centered upon a temple built to a god or goddess.  The city was overseen by a king or a priestly governor who was devoted to the false god.  The picture below shows some of the early city-states that existed in Mesopotamia.

 

 

            The word “Mesopotamia” is new to this discussion.  The word simply means “between the rivers.”  It refers to the land located between the Tigris River and the Euphrates River.  This region of the Fertile Crescent is approximately 700 miles long and 20 to 50 miles wide. 

            As man developed this region into cities, he also began to develop many other things as well.  In an article about the Fertile Crescent in the World History Encyclopedia, the following list of things developed by man is presented:  science and technology, writing and literature, religion, agricultural techniques, mathematics and astronomy, astrology and the Zodiac, the domestication of animals, long-distance trade, medical practices (including dentistry), the wheel, and the concept of time.  This is not surprising to those who believe in God and the Creation account.  Man was made in the image and likeness of God (Gen. 1:26-27).  Man was commanded to “subdue” the earth (Gen. 1:28).  The word “subdue” means “to conquer, to bring into bondage, to make subservient, to dominate.”  Man was instilled with wisdom, skills, and strength that would allow him to bring the earth in subjection to him.  Man would only be limited by God, the laws of nature, and his own doubts and slothfulness.  God wanted man to “have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over ever creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth” (Gen. 1:26).  The region of Mesopotamia within the Fertile Crescent proves that man did exactly that.