Places II: Harmony of the Gospels

Map / Aa An As At / Ba Be / Ca Ci Co / D / E / F / Ga Ge Gi Go / H / I / Je Jo Ju / K / L / Ma Me Mi Mo / N / O / Pa Ph / Q-R / Sa Sh Si So / T / U-Y / Z

Key: Blue: Israel: Galilee Judea Samaria / Green: Greece Asia Minor Syria / Red: Rome Edom / Orange: Moab / Purple: Mesopotamia Assyria Babylon / Tan: Egypt Arabia

LIST OF PLACES:G–M

G

Galilee (Region & Sea) / Garden Tomb / Gaza / Mt. Gerizim / Gethsemane / Gibeon / Gihon Springs / Gilead / Gilgal / Golgotha / Greece / Goshen

G Galilee

Galilee - C4

הגליל | Γαλιλαια – "Rolling" or "Encircle"

Hilly region in northern Israel | see Beth-Shean, Capernaum, Sea of Galilee, Jezreel Valley, Magdala, Megiddo, Nazareth, Mt. Tabor, Tiberias

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Fertile area | Included the territories of Naphtali, Issachar, Zebulun, and Asher

Mentioned briefly in the Old Testament (Num. 34:11; Josh. 11:2; 21:32; 1 Kgs. 15:20; 1 Chr. 6:76)
Ruled by Herod Antipas after the death of Herod the Great; later by Herod Agrippa (Luke 3:1)
Jesus spent the majority of His life in the area, from His childhood in Nazareth to His ministry centered around Capernaum

ים כנרת | Γαλιλαια – "Harp-like" or "Encircle"

Lake located in northern Israel on the Via Maris trade route

Lowest fresh-water lake in the world | 12 miles long and 7 miles wide with a flourishing fishing industry | Jordan River flows through it

The tribe of Gad settled on its shores (Deu. 3:17; Josh. 13:27)
Jesus called several apostles of whom at least four were fishermen (Matt. 4:18–22)
Two catches of fish were delivered at Jesus' command (Luke 5:4–11; John 21:6–11)
Sermon on the Mount given nearby (Matt. 5-7)
Jesus stilled a storm (Matt. 8:23–27)
Jesus walked on water (Matt. 14:22–33)
Jesus appeared after His resurrection (Mark 16:7; John 21:1–23)

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Galilee, Sea of (Chinnereth, Gennesaret) - C4

see Eden

Garden of Eden

see Gethsemane

Garden of Gethsemane

גן הקבר – "Gordon's Tomb"

Tomb located in a garden outside Jerusalem's walls | Alternate site is Church of the Holy Sepulchre

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Jesus was buried; tomb was guarded (Matt. 27:57–66)
Earthquake; angel rolled back stone from the door (Matt. 28:2)
Women, Peter, and John came to empty tomb (Matt. 28:1–8)
Jesus was resurrected (Matt. 28:1–15)
Mary Magdalene saw the resurrected Christ (John 20:11–18)

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Garden Tomb - E7

Garden Tomb

Gaza

עזה – "The Strong"

Located on the Mediterranean Sea on the Via Maris trade route

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One of the five Philistine cities

Samson imprisoned before killing himself and 3,000 Philistines (Judg. 16)
Philip III was traveling there when he met the eunuch (Acts 8:26)

Gaza - G4

הר גרזים – "Shorn Places"

One of highest peaks in Samaria (modern-day West Bank) north of Shechem/Nablus and near Mt. Ebal

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Moses instructed Israelites to place blessings and curses on Gerizim and Ebal (Deu. 27)
Prince Jotham told parable of the trees (Judg. 9:7-30)
Samaritans built a temple which John Hyrcanus later destroyed
Samaritan woman at the well mentioned mount to Jesus (John 4:20-21)
Modern Samaritans consider it the holiest place on earth and ascend it three times a year at Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot

Gerizim, Mount - B6

גת שמנים | Γεθσημανη – "Oil Press"

Olive grove across the Kidron Brook on the Mount of Olives

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Jesus suffered for the sins of mankind (Matt. 26:36–44; D&C 19:16–19)
Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot and arrested (Matt. 26:47–50)
Jesus healed Malchus' ear and was forsaken by the disciples (Matt. 26:51–56)

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Gethsemane, Garden of - F8

Gethsemane

Gerizim

Gibeon

גבעון – "Hill Town"

Ancient Canaanite city located north of Jerusalem

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Gibeonites tricked Joshua to spare them in the conquest (Josh. 9)
The sun stood still while Joshua and Israelites fought (Josh. 10)
Solomon offered 1000 sacrifices; God appeared in a dream and granted him wisdom (1 Kgs. 3:4-15)

Gibeon - B7

מעיין הגיחון – "Gusher"

Main source of water for the Pool of Siloam and City of David in Jerusalem

Wikipedia | Bible Dictionary

Solomon anointed king (1 Kgs. 1:32–45)
Hezekiah built a tunnel to bring its fresh waters to the Pool of Siloam inside the walls of Jerusalem as a defense against the Assyrians (2 Kgs. 20:20)

Gihon Spring - E9

גלעד – "Heap of Testimony"

Ancient region located east of the Jordan River

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Similar area as Perea in New Testament times

Laban pursued Jacob and family (Gen. 31:21–25)
Ishmaelites traveled from there and bought Joseph for 20 pieces of silver (Gen. 37:25)
Given partly to Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh (Num. 32; Deu. 3)
Home of the judge Jair II (Judg. 10:3-4)
Benjamites given women of Jabesh (Judg. 21:6–14)
Ammonites attacked Israelites in Jabesh; saved by Saul (1 Sam. 11)
After Saul and his sons' deaths, men of Jabesh retrieved their bodies from Beth Shean for proper burial (1 Sam. 31)
Elijah from Tishbe (1 Kgs. 17:1)
Hosea called it a city of iniquity (Hosea 6:8)

Gilead - G4

גלגל – "Circle of Stones"

Ancient city located near the Jordan River

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Israelites camped after crossing the Jordan River and erected a twelve-stone monument (Josh. 4:19)
Saul proclaimed king (1 Sam. 11:14-15)
Saul offered a sacrifice without the priesthood; rejected by the Lord (1 Sam. 13; 15)
Elisha cured a pot of poisonous stew (2 Kgs. 4:38-41)

Gilgal - C7

Golgotha

Gilgal

Gilead

Gihon

גלגלת | Γολγοθα – "Place of the Skull"

Hill outside of Jerusalem's walls | see Church of the Holy Sepulchre

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Jesus was taken to be crucified (Matt. 27:32–44)
Jesus was mocked and railed (Mark 15:29–32)
Jesus died on the cross (Matt. 27:45–50)
People watched near the cross; Jesus was pierced but not broken (Matt. 27:54–56)

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Golgotha (Calvary) - E7

ארץ גשן – "Drawing Near"

Located in the fertile Nile River Delta of Egypt

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Jacob and descendants given land to dwell in (Gen. 46:33–34)
Israelites lived there at time of Exodus (Ex. 8:22; 9:26)

Goshen - F5

Goshen

Greece

Gomorrah

see Sodom & Gomorrah

Ἑλλάς – "Land of the Helpers"

Ancient region on the Mediterranean Sea

see Athens | Corinth | Philippi | Thessalonica

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Greece (Hellas) - D1

H

Haran / Harmony / Hebron / Hermon

H Haran

חרן – "Mountainous"

Ancient region located near the source of the Euphrates River in modern-day southeastern Turkey

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An important trading center mentioned in Assyrian inscriptions

Possibly named for Abraham's brother Haran
The Lord appeared to Abraham (Gen. 11:29-12:3)
Home of Bethuel, Laban, Rebekah, and Rachel and Leah
Jacob worked for Laban for twenty years; all 12 sons except Benjamin were born there (Gen. 24:10; 28, 29)

Haran (Charran) - H3

Harmony

"Agreement"

Located in Northeastern Pennsylvania

Wikipedia | Church History Maps | Google Maps

Much of the Book of Mormon translation completed
Priesthood restored by John the Baptist, Peter, James, and John (D&C 13; JS-H 1:71-72)
Several revelations given to Joseph Smith (D&C 3–13; 24–27)

Hebron

חברון – "Place of Joining"

Located in southern Judea, 20 miles south of Jerusalem

One of the oldest cities in the Levant | Today considered one of Judaism's Four Holy Cities

Abraham built an altar to God (Gen. 13:18)
Abraham entertained three holy men who promised Sarah would have a son; the Lord appeared (Gen. 18)
Burial place of Abraham & Sarah, Isaac & Rebekah, and Jacob & Leah (Gen. 23:2, 19; 25:9; 35:37-39; 50:13)
Given to Caleb as an inheritance after the conquest (Josh 14:13-15); still owned by descendants at the time of David (1 Sam. 25:2)
One of the six cities of refuge (Josh. 20:7)
David anointed king; made it his capital for part of his reign (2 Sam. 2:1-3; 5:1-5)
Joab killed Abner (2 Sam. 3:27)
Headquarters of Absalom during his rebellion (2 Sam. 15:7-10)

Hebron (Mamre, Kirjath-arba) - B8

חרמון – "Sacred Mountain"

Tallest mountain in the Holy Land at 9400 ft | located north of Israel

Wikipedia | Bible Dictionary | Elevation | Google Maps

Waters and springs feed the Jordan River, Sea of Galilee, and Dead Sea
Praised for its majesty and beauty (Ps. 89:12; 133:3)
Possible location for the Transfiguration (see also Mt. Tabor)

Hermon, Mount (Senir, Sirion) - G4

Hermon

see Gihon Spring and City of David

Hezekiah's Tunnel

חרב – "Arid"

see Sinai

Horeb, Mount

I Israel

I

Israel

see Edom

Idumaea

ישראל – "Let God Prevail"

Geographic region in the Levant | Also called Canaan or Palestine

Wikipedia | Bible Dictionary | Maps: Physical, Exodus, 12 Tribes, David's Empire, Assyrian Empire, Babylonian Empire, Persian Empire, Roman Empire, World of OT, Canaan, NT, Paul's Journeys, Elevations | Google Maps

Chosen by God for His people | Boundaries have changed many times through the years, but are typically divided into the following regions:

Coast: Caesarea | Mt. Carmel | Gaza | Joppa/Jaffa
Galilee: Beth-Shean | Capernaum | Sea of Galilee | Jezreel Valley | Magdala | Megiddo | Nazareth | Mt. Tabor | Tiberias
Judea: Bethany | Bethlehem | Dead Sea | Jericho | Jerusalem (Antonia's Fortress | City of David | Dome of the Rock | Garden Tomb | Gethsemane | Golgotha | Temple Mount | Upper Room) | Judean Wilderness | Mt. of Olives
Samaria: Bethel | Jordan River | Samaria | Shechem

Israel - A4

J Jericho

J

Jericho / Jerusalem / Jezreel Valley / Joppa / Jordan River / Judea / Judean Wilderness

see Joppa

Jaffa

ירחו – "City of Palms"

Located in near the Jordan River and Dead Sea in modern-day West Bank

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World's oldest walled city

Home of Rahab (Josh. 2)
The outer walls fell and city was conquered; Joshua placed a curse on the city (Josh. 6; 1 Kgs. 16:34)
Location of a school of the prophets (2 Kgs. 2:5)
Elisha healed the waters (2 Kgs. 2:18–22)
Herod the Great died after excruciating illness (Matt. 2:19; Josephus Antiquities 17.6.5)
Road to Jericho was the setting of Good Samaritan parable (Luke 10:30–37)
Jesus healed the blind men (Matt. 20:29–34)
Zacchæus converted to Jesus (Luke 19:1–10)

Jericho - C7

Jerusalem

ירושלים – "City of Peace"

Ancient city located on a plateau in the Judean Mountains

One of the world's oldest cities | Capital of modern Israel and Palestine | Considered holiest city in Judaism & Christianity, and 3rd holiest in Islam

Melchizedek was king of Salem; gave the priesthood to Abraham and was translated; Abraham paid tithing to him (Gen. 14:18–20; JST Gen. 14:25–40; Heb. 5:6; D&C 84:14, 107:1–7)
Abraham sacrificed Isaac (see Temple Mount)
Conquered by the tribe of Judah (Judg. 1:1–8; 19:10)
David conquered from Jebusites (see City of David)
Home of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lehi, Malachi, and many prophets
Lehi preached repentance; Nephi and brothers returned for brass plates and Ishmael II’s family (1 Nephi 1–7)
Jesus visited the temple often (see Temple)
Nicodemus visited Jesus (John 3:1–21)
Jesus healed a paralytic man (John 5:1–17)
Triumphal Entry (Matt. 21:1–11)
Jesus spent His last mortal week in and around the city (Matt. 21–28)
Jesus held the "Last Supper" with His apostles (see Upper Room)
Jesus wept over the city and foretold of its doom (Matt. 23:37–24:51)
Jesus was tried and crucified (see Antonia Fortress, Caiaphas’ Palace, Golgotha, and Garden Tomb)
Jesus gave great commission to the 12 and ascended into heaven (see Mt. of Olives)
Location of many prophecies surrounding the Second Coming: a new temple will be built; two prophets will be killed; the Savior will return and save the Jews; He will reign (Zech. 12–14; D&C 45:48–53)

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Jerusalem (Salem, Ariel, Jebus) - E8

Jezreel

עמק יזרעאל – "God Sows"

Large fertile valley in northern Israel located on the Via Maris trade route

Strategic military location since ancient times | Currently houses one of Israeli's Airbases

Battles have been fought by nearly every power/empire in the area, including the Egyptians, Hittites, Israelites, Philistines, Assyrians, Syrians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Crusaders, Turks, and the British (Judg. 1:22–27; 5:19; 2 Kgs. 23:29–30)
Gideon's army of 300 beat the Midianites (Judg. 7)
Philistines defeated Saul, Jonathan, and Israelites (1Sam. 31:1-6; 1 Chr. 10:1–7)
Ahab made it his capital (1 Kgs. 18:45–46; 21; 2 Kgs. 8:29)
Jehu II of Israel anointed king and slew Jehoram and Jezebel (2 Kgs. 9)
Final end-of-the-word battle of Armageddon will also be fought (see Megiddo)

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Jezreel Valley (Esdraelon) - B5

Joppa

יפו – "Beautiful"

Mediterranean coastal port located south of modern-day Tel-Aviv

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One of world's oldest ports | Main Mediterranean port during OT times | Southern part of modern-day Tel-Aviv

Cedars of Lebanon brought for Solomon’s Temple (2 Chr. 2:16; Ezra 3:7)
Jonah sailed to Tarshish (Jonah 1:3)
Peter raised Tabitha-Dorcas from the dead (Acts 9:36–43)
Peter had vision for Gentiles and the gospel; told of Cornelius’ conversion (Acts 10:5–23 ; 11:5)
Orson Hyde arrived in Holy Land in 1841 AD to dedicate the land for return of Jews

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Joppa (Jaffa, Tel-Aviv) - A6

Jordan River

נהר הירדן – "Flowing Downward"

River that flows from Mt. Hermon, through the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan Valley, and into the Dead Sea

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One of the world's most sacred rivers | Today serves as a border between Israel and Syria and Jordan

Lot chose the plains nearby for himself (Gen. 13:10–11)
Joshua divided the waters, allowing the Israelites to enter the promised land (Josh. 3:13–17); he commanded them to gather 12 stones as a memorial (Josh. 4:1-9, 20–24)
Elijah and Elisha divided its waters (2 Kgs. 2:6–8,14); Elisha made an ax head float (2 Kgs. 6:1–7)
Naaman cured of leprosy (2 Kgs. 5:10–14)
John the Baptist baptized Jesus and others (see Bethabara)

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Jordan River - C6

Judea

Judea (Yehud) - B7

הודה | Ιουδαια – "Praised"

Mountainous region of Israel

מדבר הודה | Ιουδαια – "Praised"

Hilly desert east of Jerusalem that descends to the Dead Sea

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Lord promised land to Abraham and seed (Gen. 13:14–18; 17:8)
David hid from Saul (1 Sam. 26:1–3)
John the Baptist cried repentance (Matt. 3:1-12)
Jesus fasted 40 days and 40 nights (Matt. 4:1–11)
Setting of Good Samaritan parable (Luke 10:30–37)

Judean Wilderness / Desert - B8

K Kadesh-barnea

K

Kadesh-barnea / Kidron Valley

קדש ברנע – "Sacred Desert of Wandering"

Located in the southwest end of Israel in the desert

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Moses sent 12 men to spy out Canaan; a revolt of unbelief caused the Israelites to wander for 40 years (Num. 13:17-30)
Korah II rebelled; Aaron's rod budded (Num 16-17)
Miriam died and was buried (Num. 20:1)
Moses smote a rock and water burst out (Num 20:7-11)
Israel camped for 38 years (Deu. 2:14)

Kadesh-barnea (En-mishpat, Meribah) - G4

Kidron

Kidron Valley (Valley of Jehoshaphat) - E8

נחל קדרון – "Black or Murky Valley"

Valley/ravine separating the Mt. of Olives from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem

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Small brook runs through the bottom

David fled from Absalom (2 Sam. 15:13–37)
Israelites buried their dead (2 Kgs. 23:6, 2 Chr. 34:4)
Possible scene of Ezekiel's vision of the dry bones (Ezek. 37:1–14)
Jesus may have been referring to the large white tombs when he likened the Pharisees to white sepulchers (Matt. 23:27)

L Lachish Levant

L

Lachish / Levant

לכיש – "Who Walks"

Fortified ancient city southwest of Jerusalem and west of Hebron

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Conquered by Joshua and Israelites (Josh. 10)
Amaziah killed (2 Kgs. 14:19)
Conquered by Sennacherib & Assyrians (2 Kgs. 18:17; see also Assyrian Lachish Reliefs)
Jews reoccupied (Neh. 11:30)

Lachish - A8

ליש – "Lion"

see Dan

Laish or Leshem

מזרח – "East" or "Rising"

Sub-regional area in the Middle East

see Israel | Jordan | Syria | Lebanon

Wikipedia | Google Maps

Levant (Mizrah) - G4

الأقصر – "Castle"

see Thebes

Luxor

M Magdala

M

Magdala / Masada / Mediterranean Sea / Megiddo / Memphis / Mesopotamia / Midian / Moab

מערת המכפלה – "Cave of the Double"

see Hebron

Machpelah, Cave of

מגדל | Μαγδαλα – "Tower"

Fishing village on western shore of Sea of Galilee on the Via Maris trade route

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Hometown of Mary Magdalene (Luke 8:2)
Jesus probably taught in the synagogue; "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues" (Matt. 4:23)
Jesus visited after feeding the 4,000 (Matt. 15:39)
Pharisees and Sadducees sought a sign; Jesus foretold sign of Jonah (Matt. 16:1–4)

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Magdala - C4

ממרא – "Adversity"

see Hebron

Mamre

מצדה – "Fortress"

Isolated rock plateau located in the Judean Desert overlooking the Dead Sea

Wikipedia | Google Maps

Herod the Great built two winter palaces | Site of the Jews’ last stand during the A.D. 66-73 revolt against the Romans; 960 Jews killed themselves rather than surrender | One of Israel's most popular tourist destinations today

David hid from Saul in the area (1 Sam. 24:22; 1 Chr. 12:8)

Masada - B9

Mediterranean

Masada

הים הגדול – "In the Middle of the Land"

Sea from Southern Europe to the Levant, vital for ancient trade and empire expansion

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A border for Israel's inheritance (Num. 34:6; Deut. 11:24)
Jonah sailed for Tarshish (Jonah 1:3)
Peter, Paul, and many apostles sailed around the Roman Empire, spreading the gospel (Acts)
In the future, water will flow from Jerusalem to the sea (Zech. 14:8)

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Mediterranean Sea (Great Sea) - E4

Megiddo

תל מגידו – "Place of Troops"

Strategic military stronghold in Jezreel Valley located on the Via Maris trade route

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Many battles fought (Judg. 1:22–27; 5:19)
Fortified by Solomon (1 Kgs. 9:15)
Josiah killed by Pharaoh Necho II and army (2 Kgs. 23:29–30; 2 Chr. 35:22–24)
The last great conflict "Armageddon" will be fought before Second Coming (Ezek. 38–39; Joel 2; Zech. 14:2–3; Rev. 9; 16:13–16)

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Megiddo, Tel (Armageddon) - B5

Memphis

منف | וף – "Beautiful Place"

Capital of ancient Egypt located south of modern-day Cairo at the mouth of the Nile River Delta

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Most likely visited by Abraham, Joseph, and other patriarchs
Isaiah mentioned its princes (Isa. 19:13)
Jeremiah warned the Jews (Jer. 44:1); it would be left desolate (Jer. 46:14,19)
Ezekiel prophesied the Lord would destroy its idols (Ezek. 30:13)

Memphis (Noph) - F5

מריבה – "Place of Strife"

see Kadesh-barnea

Meribah

Mesopotamia

ארם נהרים – "Land Between the Rivers"

Located in the Fertile Crescent

see Assyria | Nineveh | Haran | Babylon | Shushan

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Mostly included in modern-day Iraq, but at times included parts of Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Kuwait | Some of the earliest advanced civilizations emerged in this region, including Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians, and Persians

Haran part of Mesopotamia (Gen. 24:10)
Israelites in bondage to Chushan-rishathaim of Mesopotamia; delivered by Othniel (Judg. 3:8–10)
Balaam was from Mesopotamia (Deu. 23:4)