SCIENCE & TECHONLOGY 06 - CARTOGRAPHY
Some examples of the importance and application of mapping in the Bible:
Geographical Records of Places & Journey - Nu 33:1-6 (40)
“These are the stages by which the Israelites set out of the land of Egypt … Moses wrote down their starting points, stage by stage, by command of the LORD”
- careful documentation of geographical locations & the journey taken
- this geographic record is the explicit command of God > importance of history, or reality, of geography, of land
Geographical Record of Borders - Nu 34:1-15
- promised land, as defined by its boundaries > importance of boundaries
Joshua orders written survey of the land - Jo 18:3-6
I will send them out that they may begin to go throughout the land, writing a description of it
- written description, geographical (extent & quality), then dividing & allotting land
Access to Cities of Refuge - De 19:1-10
“You shall set apart three cities in the land … you shall calculate the distances and divide into three regions the land … so that a homicide can flee to them”
- measuring distances, extent of the land > divide evenly
- ensure access, prepare roads
- concept of access, distribution, fairness are expressed
- Concept of proportionality … more land means more cities of refuge (De 19:8-10)
Levitical cities - Nu 35:1-8
- Nu 35:1-5 48 cities, ring of 900 meters around > pasture lands for Levites
assuming small cities > takes chunks of 3-4 km2 of tribal lands - Nu 35:1-8 proportionality: smaller tribes have less land > less Levitical cities
Unaccounted murder - De 21:1-9
- At that time no borders markers between villages since not yet densely populated, so question becomes: which city is nearest?
- today’s equivalent question: which municipality does this dead body fall under?
- decision on who has to take responsibility for this murder based on cartography
- Spiritual & political leaders are responsible for what happens in their area
Importance of & Respect for boundaries - De 2
“You are about to pass though the territory of Esau … be very careful not to engage in battle with them, for I will not give you even so much as foot’s length of their land, since I have given Mount Seir to Esau”
Israel, as the chosen nation with God’s calling on them are nevertheless forbidden to conquer anyone at will
- De 2:4-6 Edom do not conquer!
- De 2:9 Moab do not conquer!
- De 2:19 Ammon do not conquer!
- De 2:24 Amorites (Sihon) conquer!
- De 3:2 Amorites (Og) conquer!
Israel must respect the borders of other nations, unless these nations have so sinned that God’s covenant with them is broken.
God setting borders - Ac 17:26
“From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live”
- God allots the times of people’s existence and the boundaries of their places
- all peoples descend from one person > all are related, no intrinsic difference between peoples
God setting time limits - Da 2:20-21
“God … changes times and seasons, deposes kings and sets up kings”
- God allots not only land, but time, leadership, spheres of influence … to kings or governments, but also to normal people.
- Importance of boundaries in all areas (geographical, economic, moral, …)
- geographic Example: African farmers, no defined borders > 50% farmed
- relational > who is my spouse, and who is not
- familial > who is taking care of this child, and who is not
- at work > importance of clear delegation, authority, resources
Importance of maps in Community Development
- Mapping as an important tool of evaluation and assessment, of needs, of resources, for tracking progress, for making aware of gaps, for encouraging change.
- Mapping is an important tool for communication, for recording information.
- Mapping is essential for justice, for maintaining human rights, for development, for agreements, for unity, for recording history.
- Modern example of a mapping & mobilization: 4K, see http://4kworldmap.com/