Old Testament Places in Turkey
There are many places mentioned in the Bible. 60% of them are located in Turkey. All of these places are important. We know that Noah, the animals he saved and Noah’s children started to repopulation of the Earth in Ararat Mountain in Turkey. This information is known by the Old Testament.
The southeast of Turkey is very important for the Old Testament. Because Hittites, Phrygians, Urartians, Assyrians, Lydians, Cimmerians and many other nations once lived here and they have importance for the Old Testament.
There is one more thing that archaelogists discovered. It is the records of the people’s activities in Anatolia from Noah to St. Paul’s time. This people and their records are important because they mentioned in the Bible.
Old Testament Sites in Turkey
Aram-naharaim Gen 24:10
Aram-naharaim refers Mesopotamia and it is translated in Gen. 24:10). In the King James Bible, Mesopotamia also called as the open country of Aram. Mesopotamia is located between the Tigris River on the east and the Euphrates River on the west.
Ararat (Agri Dagi) Gen 8:4; Tob 1:21
Agri Dagi is also known as Mount Ararat and is a part of the Armenian ridge. Ararat has importance because it is the mountain which Noah’s Ark came to rest.
Ararat (Urartu, Van) 2 Kgs 19:37; Isa 37:38; Jer 51:27
Urartian Kingdom covers Mount Ararat. But the alternative locations were proposed outside Urartu’s boundaries. Urartian Kingdom expanded its boundaries and it covered a wide geographic area. Then it was destroyed by the Medes. All of these things were discovered by the archeology in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Because of these, the location of Ararat site may have misinterpreted by the post-Mosaic writers. So the later and largest Urartian Kingdom covers Mount Cudi.
Armenia (Ararat) Isa 37:38 (LXX)
Ararat is a Word that mentioned in the Bible. Ararat could be read as Urartu. Because the text has merely rrt ant the proper vowels must be supplied. Ararat is mentioned in the Bible in two passages (2 Kings 19:37 and Isaac. 37:38). So it is clear that Ararat means a land and a kingdom.
Ashkenaz (Armenia) Jer 51:27
Ashkenaz is known as a country on Armenia. It is also mentioned in Jeremiah 51:27 in a passage. We understand that it is calling upon the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni and Ashkenaz to rise and destroy Babylon.
Caphtor (Cappadocia) Jer 47:4; Amos 9:7 (LXX; Vul.)