Territory Past - Present Day

The territory of the ancient Kingdom of Judah corresponds to areas within modern-day Israel and the West Bank, encompassing the Judean Mountains and Negev Desert. Its capital, Jerusalem, was centrally located within the kingdom.

Key modern-day locations

Israel: The ancient kingdom's territory includes Jerusalem, Beersheba, and the Judean Mountains.

West Bank: Much of the former territory of Judah is in the West Bank, particularly the areas around Bethlehem, Hebron, and Jericho.

Negev Desert: The kingdom extended south into the Negev Desert, a vast desert region in southern Israel.

Key geographical features

The Judean Mountains: This mountainous core of the kingdom stretches from the southern edge of Jerusalem toward Hebron.

The Shephelah: The western boundary of Judah extended across the Shephelah, a region of foothills.

The Dead Sea and Jordan River: These formed the eastern boundary of the kingdom.

The Negev Desert: The southern boundary reached into this arid region.

Modern administrative context

Today, the ancient land of Judah is a politically sensitive region. The area known historically as Judea roughly corresponds to what Israeli authorities refer to as the "Judea and Samaria Area," which is the Israeli administrative name for the West Bank. The use of these different terms often reflects differing political perspectives on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The ancient Northern Kingdom of Israel occupied a territory that roughly corresponds to the northern portion of modern-day Israel and the northern part of the West Bank, particularly the region known as Samaria. This region is distinct from the territory of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, which centered on Jerusalem.

Key modern-day locations

Samaria Region (West Bank): The heart of the Northern Kingdom was the area known as Samaria. The name for this biblical territory is still used by Israeli authorities to refer to the northern West Bank, or the "Judea and Samaria Area".

Sebastia: This Palestinian village is the modern location of the ancient city of Samaria, which served as the Northern Kingdom's capital.

Nablus: Located near the biblical city of Shechem, Nablus was an important ancient center in the region.

Northern Israel: The kingdom's territory extended north into what is now northern Israel, including the Galilee region.

Eastern Border (Jordan River): The eastern boundary of ancient Israel, like Judah, was defined by the Jordan River.

Modern administrative context

Today, the area that made up the ancient Kingdom of Israel is under a mix of Israeli and Palestinian Authority control. The West Bank is divided into areas with differing levels of administrative control:

Area A: Administered by the Palestinian Authority.

Area B: Under joint Israeli and Palestinian control.

Area C: Under full Israeli control.