This map is an incredibly detailed map of Israel which appears in a Bible printed in Holland around the year 1650. The map was printed before being hand painted. The title of the map is in Dutch and Latin and reads: “Palestine or the Holy Land division: Geographical Descriptions of the Celebration and Resting Places of the Childhood Israelis, Egyptian Nations into the Land of Promises By C.D.”
This map includes not only Israel but the wider region including Egypt, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Red Sea. Unusually, this map is oriented to the west (rather than the normal north-south direction), with the Mediterranean Sea at the top of the map and the Jordan Valley at the bottom. The map shows the Land of Israel apportioned into its various sections according to the twelve tribes, along with a number of different towns and areas such as Jerusalem, Shomron, Shechem, Be’er Sheva, and Jericho.
The illustrator included a number of miniature paintings depicting a myriad of biblical events, such as the spies carrying a cluster of grapes, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah burning, the children of Israel crossing the desert, the people of Israel gathering manna, and Moses receiving the Torah on Mount Sinai receiving the Torah. Even the sea contains pictures, with a prominent drawing of Jonah being thrown into the sea.
At the bottom of the map, drawn in intricate detail, is the precise order of the camp of the Jewish People in the desert, along with the mishkan (tabernacle) which was placed in the centre of the camp. Next to this is a detailed illustration of the vessels of the mishkan completed, including the Ark, table, cherubim, copper sink, Menorah, and incense altar.
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Connection to Parashat Pekudei
Parashat Pekudei contains a final summary of the many items that were made for the mishkan, and then tells us that on 1st Nissan, almost a year after the Jews left Egypt, Moses received the commandment to erect the mishkan with all its vessels inside. The building was then sanctified, and the Jews were ready to begin their preparations to continue their journey to the Land of Israel.
