Why do we need yet another reference work describing Bible geography? That is a good question, and if you think the answer is “we don’tâ€?, just try convincing publishers of that.

Would I buy this one? It would not be worth my book-dollars in light of better reference works out there.

Having said that, I’ll review this book as though I don’t already own 20 reference books on the same subject.

Losch moves in alphabetical order through a description of about 75 places, regions, cities, and towns. The majority of entries receive between 1-3 pages each.

The positive qualities:

(1) The page layout is eye-pleasing.

(2) The actual writing is good. For a reference work, the style is lively.

(3) Lesser-known places in Palestine are given new light. For example, do you know what Palestinian town/city is mentioned the most, second only to Jerusalem? Bethel. And what about Peniel? It is only mentioned once in the Bible, but still gets a full page. Nob gets a nod too.

(4) A good number of the places are outside of Palestine.

(5) Some of the places are not even mentioned in the Bible. For example, Qumran, Sepphoris, and Nabatea.

Negative aspects:
(1) Reference works are normally written by an entire host of authors, and as a result are able to pull from the scholarly minds of many rather than one.

(2) Almost no pictures whatsover. Just a few B&W shots of inconsequential things (i.e. some shepherds with sheep). I think the publication budget should have received a few more dollars. A picture is worth the proverbial 1,000 words. On one hand, maybe I shouldn’t fault a book for what it doesn’t claim to be - an illustrated reference work - and yet, one of the purposes of the review is to inform you of whether this is money well-spent. Not including pictures severely limits this book from rising to the top of the pile.

"This informative volume takes you to the many geographical regions, empires, cities, and towns mentioned in the Bible. Designed to serve as a short and enjoyable survey of the world of the Bible, The Uttermost Part of the Earth will broaden your knowledge of the places and cultures connected with the biblical narrative." "Richard Losch sets the stage with a brief history of the Holy Land from ancient times to the present. Writing clearly and vividly, he then offers alphabetically listed entries on dozens of locations found in the Old and New Testaments. He devotes considerable attention to the Roman Empire because of its prominence in the world of early Christianity. Also included are a number of places not specifically named in the Bible that nonetheless played significant roles in shaping biblical events." "Complete with photos, maps, a pronunciation guide, and an index, The Uttermost Part of the Earth will make an ideal reference resource for Bible classes, church education, and personal Bible study"--Jacket.