Land
Neighboring Nations
The peoples around Israel, from Aram and Phoenicia to Philistia, Moab, Ammon, and Edom.
What the sources say, and how sure we are
- The text says
The Bible traces Moab and Ammon to Lot and Edom to Esau. Aram (Damascus), Phoenicia (Tyre and Sidon), and Philistia appear as neighbors, trading partners, and rivals.Gen 19:37–38; Gen 36:1; 1 Kgs 5:1; 2 Kgs 3
- Outside evidence
The Mesha Stele (Moab), the Tel Dan inscription (Aram), and the excavated Philistine cities of Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Ekron give outside evidence for these peoples.Mesha Stele; Tel Dan Stele
- Debated
Scholars disagree about the scale of copper mining at Khirbet en-Nahas in Edom in the 10th century BC, and so about how early Edom became a kingdom.Gen 36:31
Regions in this land
Nations
Cities in this land
- DamascusThe capital of Aram and the city of Paul’s conversion.
Books
Books set here, or sent here, with the verse that ties them to this place.