Topographia; or, Description of Place
Topographia; or, Description of Place
Top-o-graphi-a, from (top-os), a place, and (graphein), to write or describe.
Hence it is used of the figure which adds something to what is said by describing a place; or any peculiarity which marks the place, and throws light on what is being treated of.
Called by the Latins LOCI DESCRIPTIO.
Topographia is such a description of a place as exhibits it to our view; as the description of Sheol, Isa 14:9-12; Isa 30:33 :
The new Heaven and Earth, Isa 65:17, etc.; Rev 21:1, etc.:
The future glory of Jerusalem and the Land, Isa 33:20-21; Isa 35:6-10. Psa 46:5-6; Psa 60:6-9.
In Psa 89:12, the description shows that the points of the compass are always* [Note: Excepting perhaps parts of Ezekiel written in Babylon.] reckoned with reference to Jerusalem, The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor (in the west) and Hermon (in the east) shall rejoice in thy name.
Thus the description of these places completes the four points of the compass.
The names of the places in Isa 10:28-32 give us the course of the invasion of the land by the King of Assyria.
The Sea is frequently mentioned by way of description to show that the West is intended: the Mediterranean being on the West of the Land. See Num 2:18 (Heb.). Jos 16:5-6. Eze 42:19 (Heb.).
In Psa 107:3, however, the Sea evidently denotes the Red Sea; and though the word sea is in the Hebrew, it is rendered South. The emphasis put upon the wonderful Exodus is thus quietly but very powerfully introduced: And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the sea! because the deliverance from Egypt was through the sea.
In Psa 72:8, from sea to sea means from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. Compare Exo 23:31.
Sometimes a description of place is added and thrown in to convey a lesson, e.g., Joh 6:10, Now there was much grass in the place. Act 8:26, Which is desert, to show that it mattered not to the true servant whether he ministered in a city (verse 5), and gave joy to crowds of people (verse 8), or whether he ministered to one soul in the desert (verse 26).
See also Isa 65:17-25. Joe 2:3. Luk 16:24-26. Joh 11:18.
When the description is confined to time, it is called