Bible Questions Answered:
Why is the land of Israel called Palestine?
Debby/ Houston, Texas U.S.A.
Bible Answer:
Genesis 21:32 KJV
32...and they returned into the land of the Philistines*.
33 And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.
34 And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days.
*Philistine-Hebrew- Pelishtiy (Pel-ish-tee): Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth:-Philistine.
Abingdon's Strong's Concordance of the Bible.
The land was called Palestine, because it was the land of the Philistines.
Historian, Josephus, says that the whole area occupied by the Israelites, was known as Palestine.
The name “Philistia,” is the basis for the name Palestine. The Assyrians used the term as early as 800 B.C.
Palestine, means “land of the Philistines.” (Smith's Bible Dictionary)
The land of the Jews was also called Canaan.
Genesis 9:18 KJV
And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan*.
*Canaan-Hebrew-Kenaan (Ken-ah-an): Son of Ham (fourth); the country inhabited by him. Canaan, merchant, traffick. (Abingdon/Strong)
As a people, said to be “the progenitors of the Phoenicians, and of various nations who before the Israelite conquest peopled the seacoast of Palestine, and generally the whole of the country westward of Jordan.” (Smith's Bible Dictionary)
The land of Canaan given to the people of God.
Exodus 6:4 KJV
And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.
This special land from the Jordan to the Mediterranean, is also called the Holy Land.
And it is so because of Zechariah's words...
Zechariah 2:12 KJV
And the LORD shall inherit Judah His portion in the Holy Land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.
This land is called the Holy Land because...
*) This land is the Lord's.
*) This land is sanctified, by His Holy Presence in the temple, and by the worship of His people.
*) This land is where the Son of God, gave His life for the lost.
*) This is the land to which the King of Glory shall one day return.
Psalm 24:7-10 KJV (Acts 1:9-11)
7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in.
8 Who is this King of Glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in.
10 Who is this King of Glory? The LORD of Hosts, He is the King of Glory. Selah.
