Customer Reviews

Oxford Bible Atlas

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This Atlas is beautiful. It has a combination of a variety full-color maps (some of which are interesting, low-angle images), satellite images, and color photographs of the many different regions and climates of the Biblical lands. The narrative is a helpful chronology of the major events of the Bible--including the "inter-testamental era--and concludes with an examination of the role of archaeology. There are also separate two-page snapshots of key archaeological discoveries. This atlas has everything I was hoping to get when I ordered it.

The best Bible atlas I've seen.
The maps are detailed and easy to read.
The text tells the Bible history that occured during the time each map depicts.
All the pages listed in the place index have the same map coordinates, making it easy to locate a city.
The color pictures are excellent and the page paper is thick.
I used this atlas in seminary and found it very useful, although
this 4th edition is far superior to the prior editon I used.
This is a Bible atlas worth owning.

Although have studied the Bible in various settings, I am currently doing a 34 week study that will have covered about 70% of the Bible when completed. We are currently in the Old Testament and having maps that are specific to not only regions but time periods makes it easier to follow the familiar history for better understanding. More that just maps also includes historical perspective type info and time line info. Very helpful to me as an analytical type reader with a bent toward history.

The main attraction here is the books collection of full-color maps and photos, which add a powerful new view of the biblical world. I would have liked to see more political maps, perhaps even a few maps speculating on the positions of armies during different battles. The writing that accompanies the text is straightforward, though it doesn't coordinate well with the maps. This atlas would have been better if it used archaeological data to sparse evidence over various claims about ancient sites and events, rather than offer a cursory view of biblical history.

For those of us interested in biblical history and the latest archeological perspective, this Atlas is the best source of illustrated information. Use it with the bible and you get a real insight into the history of the holy land. Recommended for all -- whether you are religious or just interested in world history.

A Bible atlas is essential for any student of Scripture. While there are numerous such books available, the Oxford Bible Atlas is superb for the price. The atlas is full of information and photos of outstanding quality. This atlas is a perfect option for those looking to purchase an excellent resource without having to break the bank.

This book is beautiful, pictures are stunning, the maps are beautiful to see but the content is great. Beside all this there are written sections that contain much useful information.

Why bother creating such a beautiful book, full of helpful maps and lovely photographs, when the authors clearly only half believe the Biblical narrative? I got disgusted by the all phrases such as "purported to have happened," and "said to have taken place," in the first few chapters. My guess is that most people wanting to really delve into the geography of the Bible believe it's true, or they wouldn't be bothering. Had I realized how heavy this slant was, I would have chosen something else.

I was just browsing the "Oxford Bible Atlas" on Amazon.com where I came across a description of the "Fertile Crescent" on page 15 where it is said to extend from the Euphrates/Tigris river valley through the Nile valley.

The "Fertile Crescent" is not an ancient description. The term was coined by James Henry Breasted (about 100 years ago) in the introduction to each of his volumes of translations of Egyptian inscriptions. For Breasted, the "Fertile Crescent" was limited to the Euphrates/Tigris, Orontes and Jordan river valleys. Breasted contrasted the "Fertile Crescent" with the Nile valley. Ipso facto, for Breasted, Egypt formed no part of the "Fertile Crescent".

The "Oxford Bible Atlas" also refers to the "Fertile Crescent" as if it included Egypt on pages 120 and 192. The "Holman Bible Atlas" correctly describes the "Fertile Crescent" on page 3 and attributes its definition to Breasted. (Wikipedia incorrectly describes and maps the "Fertile Crescent" to include Egypt.)

The only map showing up in Amazon's "LOOK INSIDE" section is that spread over pages 16 and 17. The List of Maps is on page ix but this doesn't show up using "LOOK INSIDE". As the book is an atlas one would expect to be able to see a list of maps if not a few sample maps. I have browsed some of the other biblical atlases on-line. Where they are shown, the other atlases have very wishy-washy maps. It would be nice to know what the "Oxford" maps look like before buying the book. The "Oxford" text is certainly better - in both font and content - than that of the other atlases.

I have rated this book based on the "LOOK INSIDE" excerpts and the comments of others with the hope that the poor scholarship in relation to the "Fertile Crescent" does not extend elsewhere.

I purchased this particular atlas as required by my teacher for a class. It has a real good history section. Not particularly fond of layout. Also, not as many maps as you'd think an atlas would have.