The Kregel Bible Atlas - The Kregel Bible Atlas. Dowley, Tim. Kregel, 2003. 96p. $21.99, Hardcover. ISBN 0825424674. 220.91 Bible—Geography.

The mental image associated with the word “atlas” usually depicts an oversized, cumbersome reference source. Such a visualization does not fit the book under review. The Kregel Bible Atlas measures 7 ½ X 10 ¼ inches, but its 96 pages are a repository of geographical, archeological, and historical information that can enrich private Bible study and the public activity of teaching and preaching.

The material is organized into four sections: The Lands of the Bible; The Old Testament; Between the Testaments; and The New Testament. There is an index of places and a general index. In addition to easy-to-follow maps, there are photographs of historic sites and various terrains. Models and drawings of places and people—among them are Babylon, the tabernacle, and an Egyptian warrior—add immensely to the reader’s understanding of ancient times. Lists of significant dates provide helpful supplements to the textual account, which, like every other aspect of this book, meets high standards.

As all English teachers know, succinctness is an important writing quality to impart but a hard one for students to achieve. Author Tim Dowley has mastered it in his writing, and librarians who stock this product of his skill will perform a valuable service for both the clergy and the laity seeking their advisement.

Carolyn Keefe
Proclamation Presbyterian Church
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania