Christian Soldier in Iraq

The land between two rivers: Mesopotamia, as named by Greek historians, is generally regarded as the area between the Tigris River on the east and the Euphrates River on the west, primarily in what is modern-day Iraq. Although the name frames the area between the rivers, ancient cities, which had lain just outside the rivers, are considered as Mesopotamia. The Bible tells us that the river that watered the Garden of Eden flowed from Eden and was separated into four headwaters. The Pishon wound through Havilah, which is a name literally meaning "stretch of sand," and refers to various lands in the Bible. The Gihon wound through Cush, possibly meaning southeast Mesopotamia. The Tigris ran to the east of Asshur, in what is northern Iraq; the fourth river was the Euphrates.

The Shatt al-Arab River, which empties into the Persian Gulf, is the confluence of the Tigris and the Euphrates and serves as the border between Iraq and Iran. It is believed that the merging of the two rivers happened recently in geologic history, and that the Persian Gulf was possibly as much as 150 miles further inland. This explains the extensive evidence of civilizations in areas that do not seem able to support such cities. Heavy accumulation of silt from the rivers, as well as the changing dynamic of the sea, is responsible for the coastline's current position. In modern times, the Shatt al-Arab needs to be dredged regularly to maintain its navigability.

The rivers were not only the life-giving benefactors we think of, but they also created their fair share of short and long-term havoc. The area was, and is, flood prone. The winter snow melting in the mountains, usually between April and June, quite often would cause unpredictable and violent flooding downstream. Rivers also had the habit of shifting, sometimes so significantly that entire cities would be scattered to new areas, seeking the necessary water. Ur, the Sumerian capital is a prime example of this, as we will see.

Southern Mesopotamia's subtropical southern region, capable of 120 degree average temperatures in the summer, contrasts the northern region's more temperate climate. Although the northern region is more temperate, the southern region boasts the more fertile, alluvial, soil.

Presently in Ur, there is a distinct lack of color in the area, that is, any color other than various shades of tan and brown. Before summer, though, I saw grain planted to the northeast of Ur, which was irrigated by the Euphrates. The green grain stood out, growing in distinct contrast to the drab background. It is not hard to imagine that the ancient City of Ur could have all been like this, before the Euphrates River shifted. Looking at the area surrounding the Euphrates River currently, in other locations in Iraq, Syria, and Turkey, one can see the lush vegetation abounding.

Ur, in the time of Abraham (Abram), was as metropolitan as any city in all the world could have been. In fact Ur, far advanced for its day, has been equated with Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon of 1000 years later. What would cause Abraham's father Terah to move the whole family out of Ur during such a time of prosperity? Nehemiah 9:7 tells us that God chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans, later changing his name to Abraham and making him the father of many nations. Abraham obviously had tremendous faith to strike out from the center of all civilization to the land the Lord would show him. As great as Abraham's faith was, his ability to influence his father must have been divinely influenced as well.

In my next article, I will explore what Ur was like in the time of Abraham, including the people and structures, as well as the economy.