Palestine is referred to in several different ways in the Bible: the "land of Canaan" (Genesis 12:5) the "land of Jehovah" (Psalm 85:1) the "holy land" (Zechariah 2:12) the "land of Israel" (1Samuel 13:19) the "land of promise" (Hebrews 11:9) the "land of Judah" (Isaiah 19:17)
Moses described the beauty and blessings of Palestine when he told the children of Israel: "For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing; a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper. When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you." (Deuteronomy 8:7-9)
Situated at a strategic location between Egypt, Syria and Arabia, Palestine has a long and tumultuous history as a crossroads for religion, culture, commerce, and politics. The Palestine region has been controlled by various empires and powers: Ancient Egyptians, Canaanites, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Ancient Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, the Crusaders, Ottomans, the British and modern Israelis and more. |
