The Kingdoms and Cultures of the Ancient Levant THE IRON AGE Map of Israel, retrieved from Wikipedia Commons Moab
The Kingdom of Ancient Moab was located in what is now the country of Jordan, on the eastern side of the Dead Sea between Ammon to the north and Edom to the south.
Moab is home to several archaeological sites such as Dhiban, Khirbet Mudaynah, Tell Hesban, Madaba and Tall al- Umayri.
Map of Moab, Israel, retrieved from Wikipedia 3 Commons Moab
The most notable archaeological evidence of Moab is the Mesha Stele, an inscribed monument that dates to the mid-ninth century BCE. It records the victory of the king of Moab, King Mesha, over Israelite oppressors. The stele is inscribed in the Moabite language, which is similar to many other Canaanite languages such as Hebrew.
This, alongside the biblical account, shows that Moab had a complex and conflicting relationship with Israel and its neighbours (Num. 21– 24).
4 Photographs retrieved from Wikipedia Commons Ammon
The Ammonites lived within the area east of the Jordan River, sitting north above the land of Moab. The capital of their Kingdom was Rabbath-Ammon (modern-day Amman).
The Ammonites became more dominant as they came to control the major trade routes that led up the Levant into Assyria within the Iron Age IIB (eighth– seventh centuries BCE). As with Moab, Ammon had a complex and conflicting relationship with the surrounding regions and states.
Map displaying Ammon, retrieved from Wikipedia Commons 5 Ammon
There is a large range of archaeological knowledge of Ammon, as their territory sat upon trade routes connecting Arabia with the rest of the Levant. The state is often mentioned in the annals of the Neo- Assyrian kings, Assurbunipal, Tiglath-pileser III, and Sennacherib. Moreover, the culture has a distinct red slipped and painted pottery.
Photograph retrieved from Biblical Society Online 6 Ammon
In the biblical accounts, the Moabite king and the Ammonites allied together in an attempt to defeat Israel. (Judg. 3:12– 14; 10:6– 18). Both Saul (1 Sam. 11:11) and David (2 Sam. 8:12) defeated the Ammonites. However, Solomon also married an Ammonite woman, Naamah.
Statue of an Ammonite King, retrieved from The Biblical Archaeology Society Online 7 Edom
The Kingdom of Edom is located east of the Wadi Arabah, south of the Moab territory. Edom, in Hebrew translates as ‘red’, which is believed to refer to the reddish stone and soil which is common throughout the region.
In the biblical accounts, Edom is associated with Esau, who is the settler of the region within the patriarchal accounts. Like the Ammonites, Saul fought them (1 Sam. 14:47), and David pursued a major campaign against them (2 Sam. 8:13– 14).
Map of Edom, Israel, retrieved from Wikipedia Commons 8 Edom
Edom is mentioned in the inscriptions and annals of the Assyrian kings in the name "Udumi" or "Udumu“. The name is also found in the Egyptian inscriptions and papyri, such as Papyrus Anastasi VI:
‘We accomplished letting the groups of Shasu of Edom pass the Fortification of Merneptah-hetep- her-maat.’
Edom written in Hieroglyphics, Wikipedia Commons 9 Phoenicia
The land of Ancient Phoenicia is located on the eastern edge of the Levant, stretching across the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. in the area which is now modern Lebanon. Their ancient Capital was Tyre.
The Phoenicians were known most for sea trade, and had a high level of skill in crafting trade-goods and ship- building. They traded to cultures all over the Mediterranean: Cyprus, Greece, Egypt and Mesopotamia.
Map of Phoenicia, retrieved from Ancient EU 10 online Philistia
The Philistines were a people who originated in the Aegean and Europe, who migrated to Israel during the Iron Age. They settled in the southern coastal plain of Israel in five major cities: Ashkelon, Gaza, Ashdod, Ekron and Gath.
The Philistine people brought with them into Israel a unique style of art and pottery known as Philistine Ware, which was soon spread around the levant at many major sites.
Map of Philistia, Israel. Bible History Online 11