Crossway ESV Bible Atlas Hardcover – June 10, 2010

I bought my hardcover ESV Bible Atlas from amazon in 2010 but I haven't reviewed it until now, 15 years later. I recently ordered the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible Old and New Testament (ICSB), that black book in the photo. I thought its maps were rather simple. So I took out my ESV Bible Atlas and found it to be a good map companion to the ICSB. The book is well put together with sewn binding and thick semi-glossy paper. It includes a CD if you wish to view the maps on a computer, and a poster (fold out) map of Israel for quick reference.The best attribute of the atlas is that it doesn't try to be everything to everyone. Instead, it focuses on shedding light on the events of the biblical milieu through excellent cartography. There's minimal extraneous matter, just the way I want it. The maps are detailed and easy to read. The photos are carefully curated to explain the extra biblical findings in archeology. The essays go straight to the point and thread the general timeline of the Bible through available historical records. They also include many polished illustrations. It's hard to imagine what the wilderness Tabernacle and Solomon's Temple look like from the text alone. The full spread illustrations give an idea of their grandeur. Engineers and surveyors among its readers will appreciate the map of Jerusalem during Old and New Testament times. It looks like an engineering blueprint, complete with contour lines! The fold out map of Israel even has coordinates of archaeological dig locations.However, most of the maps avoid being too technical. Instead, they use the method of relief and color shading to distinguish elevations, which is more useful to the general reader. In Jericho when Rahab advised the Israelite spies to hide in the hills, it didn't register with me until I looked at the map and understood where the hills were due to this technique.I'm a Catholic and I understand that this is from a Protestant publisher. So, I'm not surprised to come across a few passages that seem to promote doctrine along this line, like on page 241, the authors wrote, "..that Jews and Gentiles were saved only by faith and not by obedience to the law or works" as their interpretation of Acts 15:1-29. Since they didn't clarify further, I thought that this was a rather disingenuous statement that diminished the importance of personal good works as proof of one's Christian faith, which is never optional. My copy was ordered shortly after the atlas was first issued. So, it has a few minor typos (e.g. page 217 Solomon's Porch Temple Mount). This should already be corrected in subsequent printing.The authors make a compelling case for the reliability of biblical accounts using cartography, history, and archeology when facts are undeniable. But they're professional enough to admit that sometimes the outcome is ambiguous until more evidence comes to the surface. We're not talking about the inerrancy of Scriptures, which is irrefutable since the Holy Spirit is its ultimate author, but just the extra-biblical support for it. It's not the newest today but I still find the ESV Bible Atlas relevant and easy-to-use cartographic supplement to my personal Bible study.

Having seen the detailed reviews of several others, I wanted to focus on some things that teachers/pastors/or strong lay leaders might be interested in. How does the ESV Bible Atlas compare to other wonderful Bible Atlases? How usable is it?The Crossway ESV Bible Atlas is a marvelous resource. I would be shocked that anyone would ever rate it lower than a 4 star resource. I gave it 5. But I noticed that if you read the reviews for the other major Bible atlases, that you see similar reviews. They all tout how marvelous this and that atlas is and how it is the one to buy. So, how does the ESV Bible Atlas stack up? What are strength and weaknesses? How about teaching resources?As a teacher, let me point out two key things that make this Bible Atlas stand out: the ESV includes a CD with digital maps and searchable indexes, and, in addition, a removable, 17 x 22-inch map of Palestine. The wall map is very nice, but probably too small to be considered a "wall map." Still, very nice. (It is inside the back cover). The CD-ROM is worth the price of the book by itself. It is highly useful, and unlike one other reviewer, I thought the resolutions are wonderful. No, you don't get the high-def brilliant images that are in part 4 of the book, but you can easily print (note: I am not saying you should) an 8x10 or larger copy and you will not notice any poor image quality.The CD-ROM:As a teacher, I can imagine using these images in a PowerPoint presentation or on a hand-out. They are wonderful. So, the question becomes, is that permissible? I couldn't find a direct answer, but many reviewers have said that this can be done. Several bloggers mention, "These maps can be easily added to Powerpoint for use in the classroom." I will update this, if I find out differently. Obviously, if the user has permission to use these maps in PowerPoints or hand-outs for a class, this makes this Atlas top choice for teachers and other leaders.The CD-ROM comes with 127 maps that are taken from the Bible Atlas (and a couple from the ESV Study Bible?). How big? One is a 1575×2298 pixel map of Palestine and the ANE in the late Bronze Age. Another is a map of the Roman Empire that is an amazing 2240×1463 pixels. Most of the others are smaller, but they fit nicely on a page, and look very good and readable. The CD-ROM indexes these maps by chapter and number. A HTML starter page gives brief descriptions. For me, the easiest way to use the maps is 1) use the book as a guide to what I want, or 2) just pull up my Windows Picture Preview pane and scroll through the maps that way.As far as I know, the only other Atlas that gives digital maps is "Biblica: The Bible Atlas" (and only certain editions of that) and that is a big plus to have such usable Bible Maps in a handy CD-ROM format. Much like the ESV Bible Atlas, I recommend Biblica for the CD-ROM of Maps, just be sure you get the edition that has the CD-ROM Biblica: The Bible Atlas: The Story of the Greatest Story Ever Told (with CD-ROM and in Slipcase). Biblica's maps are the same (or nearly so) as the maps you see in New Moody Bible Atlas. Doh! I am failing to mention Rose Publications maps. They now have CD-ROM's of their maps. Rose maps are known for clarity, color, and usability. You are certain to have rights to use the Rose Publication maps, just purchase the right format for you. Rose Publication maps are much "simpler" and cleaner looking, but if you teach kids or lay people, they are great. There is also an online set of maps form BibleMapper.How about the Atlas itself?Crossway's ESV Bible Atlas is amazing. I recommend it whole heartedly. Throw in the CD-ROM and it is a no-brainer. :) If I could only buy one Bible Atlas, the ESV Bible Atlas would be top on my list. The detail of the text (and yes, this is a "study atlas") is outstanding. The only other recent atlas that comes close is the New Moody Atlas of the Bible(2009) which was just recently updated. Some will prefer the New Moody Atlas of the Bible to the Crossway ESV Bible Atlas. That is understandable. They are both so solid and have so many maps and so much good historical and societal information that it is very hard to place one above the other. And if that isn't tough enough, I put Zondervan's Atlas of the Bible (rev. ed.) right there in the mix. All three are outstanding. *(I love Rasmussen's first hand experience and his clear text which supports some of the most beautiful maps I have seen in an Atlas...be sure to get latest edition).The ESV Bible Atlas is such a solid buy, I don't see how you would be disappointed. If you don't need/want the CD-ROM and want good technical details and history, Beitzel's New Moody Atlas of the BibleThe New Moody Atlas of the Bible is every bit as solid. Dr. Beitzel has many years of experience both in the classroom and in the Middle East. Where he shines is that he presents alternatives to a biblical question and then provides his possible solution. Rasmussen's text is that of a first hand historian and archeologist; he knows the land so well, and that comes out in his Atlas Zondervan Atlas of the Bible. The beauty of the maps are unsurpassed. The other Bible atlases (IVP) may also be excellent, but I think that most would agree that the level of detail and information, the clarity and beauty of the maps, and the cultural and historical information within are best with Crossway's ESV, the New Moody, and Rasmussen's Atlas from Zondervan.Enjoy!

Absolutely beautiful book. Glossy pages, detailed maps, educated articles. The book itself is bound perfectly and has no misprints or flaws. If you’re an atlas person, this is a fantastic purchase.

The ESV BIBLE ATLAS is an exquisite, well-crafted and accessible volume. The level of detail and the quality of the maps make this a very useful tool for "getting it right" when attempting to place biblical events in their proper location and context. This hard cover edition has significant weight and size, while not being too cumbersome.There is a pull-out, physical map of the land of "Palestine" in full color that is nice, but a little small.Along with the usual writings and maps one would expect, this atlas contains a number of historic illustrations of ancient architecture and particularly a series that shows Jerusalem's growth over time; with the development of the subsequent Holy Temples there. Archaeologist and temple mount historian, Leen Ritmeyer, was an adviser on this atlas project and his team had a significant hand in the development of these scholarly illustrations. They look exquisite!For me, the only disappointment with this atlas was the promised CD inside the back cover. The disc contained a simple HTML file with links to low-resolution maps in chronological/biblical order. Pretty good for quick study, but I was hoping for a little more bang for the buck!Four Stars! All-in-all a refreshing and accurate book that will assist many in learning more about the Bible.

Perfect addition to your ESV Bible. Great pictures and maps.