Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Pentateuch: An Interview with Barry Beitzel

Barry Beitzel is the editor of Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Pentateuch. God’s story of redemption takes place in the real, but often unfamiliar, world of the ancient Near East. Written by a team of experts on biblical geography and culture, the Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Pentateuch is a guide to the world of the patriarchs. Each article addresses a particular story, event, or subject in Genesis through Deuteronomy, with full-color maps and photos providing deeper layers of context. Historical and cultural insights give readers a richer understanding of the biblical story. During our interview below, Beitzel illuminates Psalm 125 and we explore how much value the geography of a biblical passage adds to our understanding. 

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Lexham Press: What is the Lexham Geographic Commentary series? 

Barry Beitzel: The conceptual premise of the Lexham Geographic Commentary holds that geography is a legitimate, if commonly overlooked, hermeneutical category. Even cursory reflection leads one to the inescapable conclusions that words from God have been revealed in real time about real people in real places. 

LP: How did the Lexham Geographic Commentary begin?

Beitzel: The commentary grew out of conversations I had with several people at Lexham Press, as I created a map series for them.

LP: What is the value of knowing the geographical, archaeological, and cultural context of biblical passages?

Beitzel: The value is simply that one observes frequently in the biblical text that geographical and cultural issues are part of the fabric of the text. So, these need to be unpacked like other textually embedded data, in order to get at what all the biblical writers intended.

LP: Share something about yourself that only your friends would know.

Beitzel: I am deeply committed to the central thrust of this work.

LP: What is your favorite biblical passage and how is it illuminated by its geographical location? 

Beitzel: As an example, Jerusalem is at the top of a high hill, surrounded by even higher hills on all sides. This reality is represented in the Psalm 125:2, 

 ²  As the mountains surround Jerusalem,

so the Lord surrounds his people,

from this time forth and forevermore.

(Psalm 125:2 ESV)

An encouraging thought.