Rarest, Significant Hebrew Words – Virtually Hidden

Posted on by K.B. Vogelman

Two virtually hidden Hebrew words appear only three times in the Hebrew text of the Tanakh, the Old Testament. Quit possibly they are the most significant words in the Bible.

Written as Hmleh, hmle and hā-‘al-māh, the Hebrew text is comprised of two words, ha and `almah.^[1] Only two English Bible versions translate from Hebrew all three instances of ha-almah as “the virgin” – the Orthodox Jewish Bible and Young’s Literal Translation.^[2]

Represented by the single English consonant letter h or words Hey or ha translated as “the,” it is a definite article used to make a clear and specific reference.^[3] Hebrew has a special difference where, by definition, it is much more dramatic.^[4] Hebrew language expert Jeff A. Benner describes the original pictograph character in this way:^[5]

“The Hey has a “h” sound and is a picture of a man with his arms raised up, shouting and pointing at a great site as if to say “behold, look at that”. This letter means “the” in the sense of pointing to something of importance.”^[6]

Translation of `almah is one of the most controversial in the Jewish and Christian Bibles. One side claims `almah means “young woman” which may or may not include a state of virginity.^[7] On the opposite side, the assertion is that `almah specifically means “virgin” as seen in some Christian Bible translations.^[8]

Strong’s Concordance of Hebrew defines `almah is “a lass (as in veiled or private): – damsel, maid, virgin.”^[9] In that era, a “maid” or “damsel” was typically presumed to be a virgin by implication of her young age and single marital status whereas the word “virgin” is explicitly self-explanatory.^[10]

Exacerbating the controversy, the words “young woman” are not part of the formal Strong’s definition. Key to unraveling the differences is through textual analysis to determine how the word is intended to be understood by its authors.

Lowest common denominator is the word is na`arah meaning “girl” or “young woman” where there is no specific implication of virginity. Isaiah never once used this word.

Hebrew text is the word bethulah (bə-ṯū-lāh, bthuwlah, b@thuwlah or hlwtb), a single word for “virgin.”^[11] Only when the word is used in combination with na ‘arah, a girl, is the word used to describe the virginity of an actual female subject; otherwise, the word is used unaccompanied in the contexts of metaphors in judgements of peoples or nations; lamentations or blessings; or legalistic references.

Focusing only on Biblical references where bethulah involves an actual female subject, three usage rules emerge. Bethulah is never used as the subject who initiates a present or future action such as a prophecy. For example, there are no instances that say something like “bethulah shall call;” “bethulah plays;” “bethulah shall bear;” nor “bethulah loves.”^[12]

Secondly, the word is always used to clarify the noun na `arah (girl) or another female noun either as an adjective noun or in an adjective clause within the context of na `arah. Examples: “the girl [na `arah] was a very beautiful virgin [bethulah];” “Tamar [proper noun], for she was a virgin [bethulah];” or “my virgin [bethulah] daughter [noun].”^[13]

Most significantly, bethulah is never used as a standalone noun to describe a specific female subject in Biblical texts. Some critics contend that since bethulah was not used in Isaiah 7:14, the prophecy cannot refer to a virgin even though using the word would violate all three Hebrew text usage rules.^[14]

Only 7 times in Biblical Hebrew texts appears the word `almah and its word usage rules are strikingly different from bethulah. Translation of `almah is based as much on the circumstantial setting as it is on sentence structure.

As the direct female subject of a sentence, `almah appears only in present or future tense scenarios. Biblical examples: “`almah playing tambourines;” “`almah went and called;” “`almah love you;” “`almah comes out to draw water,” and “almah shall conceive and bear a Son.”^[15]

Conversely, `almah is never used as an adjective noun nor used in an adjective clause to define the female subject; it is a standalone noun. No instances say, for example, “a na `arah who is an `almah;” “Tamar who is an `almah;” nor “my `almah daughter.”

As a standalone noun, `almah does not need further clarification with an adjective or adjective clause – the meaning of `almah is self-evident to mean “virgin.” _{(literary analysis)}

Five instances of `almah occur in texts after the defining event when the Law was given by God to Moses at Mt. Sinai. Perhaps most revealing is that they always appear in royal circumstances: virgins in the king’s harem, in a king’s presence, a king’s perspective, and the royalty of God’s musical worship.^[16]

Only three instances appear in Hebrew texts where ha (“pointing to something of importance”) is added as a prefix to `almah, in essence saying, “behold, look at the almah.” Two of the occurrences are used in reference to Hebrew matrons before God’s Law legally defined the purity of virginity for marriage.^[17]

Rebekah and Miriam are Hebrew matriarchs, according to Phillip E. Goble, Editor of The Orthodox Jewish Bible. Rebekah is revered as the “mother of the Nation of Israel” and Miriam is “the savior of the Exodus” (older sister of Moses) – Hebrew royalty.^[18] Significance of their state of virginity occurs before entering their adult lives of greatness.^[19]

Only one other appearance of ha-almah occurs in the entire Bible and it appears after the Law was handed down from God: Isaiah 7:14. Written identically in Hebrew in both The Great Isaiah Scroll and the Masoretic text:^[20]

^{IS 7:14} “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.“_(NIV₎

Isaiah 7:14 has a dual application of royalty – King Ahaz and God. In the prophecy, the use of the words ha-almah places the subject female in the highest echelon of Jewish importance.

From a different perspective, if the prophetic sign of Isaiah 7:14 was intended to refer to a female without an expectation of virginity, textual analysis dictates Isaiah would have been expected to use either na ‘arah or `ishshah; however, he didn’t. Instead, Isaiah used the rarest of Hebrew words to prophecy ha-almah would give birth to a son to be called Immanuel meaning “God with us.”^[21]

King Ahaz had refused to accept God’s offer through Isaiah to name any sign between Heaven and Hell as proof of God’s promise to protect his kingdom from their enemies. God responded with a sign that was even greater – anything less would be unimpressive.

Is Isaiah 7:14 a prophecy about a virgin, greater than any between Heaven and Hell, that was fulfilled by Mary’s virgin birth of Jesus of Nazareth?

Updated December 18, 2023.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

ASB = Amercian Standard Bible
BSB = Berean Study Bible
CSB = Christian Standard Bible
DBT = Darby Bible Translations
ESV = English Standard Version
HCS = Holman Christian Standard Bible
ISV = International Standard Version
JUB = Jubilee Bible 2000
NHE = New Heart Christian Bible
NIV = New International Verson
NKJV = New King James Verson
NLT = New Liviing Translation
OJB = Orthodox Jewish Bible
WEB = World English Bible
YLT = Young’s Literal Translation

REFERENCES:

[1] Isaiah 7:14. Hebrew text transliteration. BibleHub. 2019. <https://biblehub.com/text/isaiah/7-14.htm > hā·‘al·māh. Hebrew text. BibleHub.com. n.d. <https://biblehub.com/hebrew/haalmah_5959.htm>
[2] The Orthodox Jewish Bible. 2002. BibleHub. <https://biblehub.com/ojb/genesis/1.htm Young’s Literal Translation. 2019. <https://biblehub.com/ylt/genesis/1.htm>
[3] Isaiah 7:14. Hebrew text. NetBible.org. <http://classic.net.bible.org/verse.php?book=Isa&chapter=7&verse=14 > ‘almah <05959>. NetBible.org. 2019. <http://classic.net.bible.org/strong.php?id=05959 > “the.” Merriam-Webster. 2019. <https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the > “the.” Cambridge Dictionary. n.d. <https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/the
[4] Goble, Phillip E, ed. “The Translator to the Reader.” The Orthodox Jewish Bible. 2002. Artists for Israel International. 2012. p vii. <http://www.afii.org/ojbible/ix.pdf
[5] Benner, Jeff A. “Introduction to Ancient Hebrew.” Ancient Hebrew Research Center. 2019. <https://www.ancient-hebrew.org/introduction.htm >
[6] Benner. “Introduction to Ancient Hebrew.”
[7] Nahigian, Kenneth E. “A Virgin-Birth Prophesy?” Skeptic Tank Files. n.d.<http://www.skeptictank.org/files/sr/2virgi93.htm> Cramer, Robert Nguyen. “The Book of Isaiah.” The BibleTexts.com. 1998 <http://www.bibletexts.com/verses/v-isa.htm> Cline, Austin. “Who Was Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus? Was She Really a Virgin?” About.com|Agnosticism/Atheism. n.d. <http://atheism.about.com/od/biblepeoplenewtestament/p/MaryVirgin.htm> Yosef, Uri. “Isaiah 7:14 – Part 1: An Accurate Grammatical Analysis.” The Jewish Home. 2011. <http://thejewishhome.org/counter/Isa714_1.pdf>> Bratcher, Dennis. The Voice. “Isaiah 7:14: Translation Issues.” 2014. <http://www.crivoice.org/isa7-14.html> The Complete Jewish Bible with Rashi Commentary. n.d. <http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/63255/jewish/The-Bible-with-Rashi.htm> CR Judges Chapter 13. John Gill’s Exposition of the Whole Bible. Isaiah 7:14 commentary. <https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/geb/genesis-24.html
[8] Genesis 24:43 – ESV, NKJV, KJV, HCS, OJB; Exodus 2:8 – OJB; Isaiah 7:14 – NIV, NLT, ESV, BSB, NKJV, CSB, HCS, DBT, ISV, JUB, NHE, WEB, OJB; American Standard Version, 1901 Edition. Perseus.Tufts.Edu. <http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0156:book=Isaiah:chapter=7&highlight=virgin> Robinson, B.A. “Isaiah 7:14 “Behold, a virgin shall conceive…”” Religious Tolerance. 2007 <http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_proi.htm
[9] “almah.” Strong’s Concordance with Hebrew and Greek Lexicon. Eliyah.com. n.d. <http://www.eliyah.com/cgi-bin/strongs.cgi?file=hebrewlexicon&isindex=almah
[10] Net.bible.org. Hebrew text. Reference: TWOT – 1630b. Strong. “`almah <5959> “damsel.” Merriam-Webster. 2019. <https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/damsel> “na`arah <05291>” NetBible.org. 2019. <http://classic.net.bible.org/strong.php?id=05291 > Mishneh Torah, Forbidden Intercourse 17.” Sefaria.org. Footnotes #48 & 49. n.d. <https://www.sefaria.org/Mishneh_Torah%2C_Forbidden_Intercourse.17.13?lang=bi&with=Navigation&lang2=en>
[11] “bthuwlah.” Strong’s Concordance with Hebrew and Greek Lexicon. Eliyah.com. n.d. <http://www.eliyah.com/cgi-bin/strongs.cgi?file=hebrewlexicon&isindex=bthuwlah>> Strong The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. “ bethulah <1330>.” <http://classic.net.bible.org/strong.php?id=01330> Genesis 24:16. Net.bible.org. Hebrew text. “b@thuwlah <01330>;” footnote 1. <http://classic.net.bible.org/verse.php?book=Gen&chapter=24&verse=16
[12] CR Isaiah 7:14; Psalms 68:25; Song of Solomon 1:3.
[13] Genesis 24:16, 2 Samuel 13:2. Soncino Babylonian Talmud. Ed. Isidore Epstein 1935-1948. Yebamoth 61b. Soncino Babylonian Talmud. <https://israelect.com/Come-and-Hear/yebamoth/yebamoth_61.html> CR 2 Samuel 13:18; I Kings 1:2. “na`arah <05291>” NetBible.org. 2019. <http://classic.net.bible.org/strong.php?id=05291>
[14] Nahigian. “A Virgin-Birth Prophesy?” Cramer. “The Book of Isaiah.” Cline. “Who Was Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus? Was She Really a Virgin?” Yosef.. “Isaiah 7:14 – Part 1: An Accurate Grammatical Analysis.” Bratcher. “Isaiah 7:14: Translation Issues.”
[15] CR Genesis 24:16; Psalms 68:25; Song of Solomon 1:3, 6:8; Isaiah 7:14.
[16] CR Psalms 68:25; Proverbs 30:19; Song of Solomon 1:3, 6:8; Isaiah 7:14.
[17] Genesis 24:43; Exodus 2:8.
[18] Goble. “The Translator to the Reader.” p vii.Goble. “The Translator to the Reader.” p vii. Net.bible.org. Hebrew text. “`almah <5959>” <http://classic.net.bible.org/strong.php?id=05959> Strong. The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. “almah.”
[19] Goble. “The Translator to the Reader.” p vii.
[20] Miller. Fred P. “The Translation of the Great Isaiah Scroll.” Book of Isaiah. 2001. Column VI Isa 6:7 to 7:15. <http://www.moellerhaus.com/qa-tran.htm “hmleh.” Net.bible.org. <http://classic.net.bible.org/search.php?search=hebrew_strict_index:hmleh > BibleHub.com. Interlinear Bible Hebrew text. Isaiah 7:14. “5959 [e] hā·‘al·māh”.< http://biblehub.com/interlinear/isaiah/7-14.htmOrthodox Jewish Bible (OJB). Isaiah 7:14.
[21] “`Immanuw’el <06005>. NetBible.org. 2019. <http://classic.net.bible.org/strong.php?id=06005 > Isaiah 7.14. BibleHub.com. Strong’s Lexicon. “Immanuel.” <https://biblehub.com/parallel/isaiah/7-14.htm

Branch Prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah & Zechariah

Posted on by K.B. Vogelman

Branch Prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah & Zechariah

Three Hebrew prophets over the span of 200 years – Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Zechariah – had one particular prophecy in common.^[1] All foretold of the coming the “Branch” or the “Shoot.”

Generations after King David’s reign, some 700 years before Jesus of Nazareth was born, the remnants of Israel were in a downward death spiral. Despite many warnings from numerous prophets, for centuries the Hebrews and their kings failed to abide by their contractual Covenant made with God at Mt. Sinai.^[2]

Renowned as a foremost prophet of God by both Judaism and Christianity, Isaiah warned Kings Ahaz and Hezekiah of the consequences their nation faced for disregarding God. Isaiah prophesied the “King of Babylon” would one day take away their descendants to serve as eunuchs in his palace.^[3]

Warnings also came with good tidings when Isaiah prophesied about the coming future Messiah.^[4] Isaiah foretold of a “Branch” or “Shoot” that would grow or “sprout” from the root of Jesse:^[5]

^{Is 11:1-2} “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.”_(NKJV)

^{Is 11:10 “}And it shall come to pass on that day, that the root of Jesse, which stands as a banner for peoples, to him shall the nations inquire, and his peace shall be [with] honor.”_{(Complete Jewish Bible}₎

Prophet Jeremiah added more bad news prophesying the secession of sitting kings in the House of David would end with Jeconiah aka Jehoiachin.^[6] Amidst the doom and gloom forecast, Jeremiah also predicted good news about the coming Messiah twice prophesying that God would raise up a King in the lineage of David who will be a righteous judge:

^{Jer 23:5} “”Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth…””_(NKJV)

^{Jer 33:15} “‘In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David A Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth…’” _(NKJV)

Continued defiance by the Hebrews led to the fulfillment of Isaiah’s and Jeremiah’s judgement prophecies at the hands of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar’s destruction of the city and captivity of some of Israel’s finest are documented in the Book of Daniel.^[7]

Cyrus, ruler of the Persian Empire, bloodlessly conquered Babylon and took control of the Hebrew captives eventually ending the Babylonian captivity. One of Isaiah’s prophecies was then fulfilled after two centuries having prophesied that a future ruler named “Cyrus” would arise and allow Jerusalem and the Temple to be rebuilt.^[8] Soon after capturing Babylon, Cyrus issued a decree:^[9]

^{Ezra 1:2}‘The Lord God of the heavens has given to me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build for him a temple in Jerusalem in Judah. May the Lord your God energize you who belong to his people, so you may be able to go back there!”_(NET)

Darius honored Cyrus’ decree to allow the Hebrews to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple. Supporting decrees by the ruler and another by King Artaxerxes were required due to enemies of the Hebrews thwarting efforts to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple.^[10]

Prophet Zachariah, during the reign of Darius, wrote of a vision in which the prophet was present. Joshua the Priest stood before the angel of the LORD along with Satan who was there to accuse the priest.^[11]

Satan was rebuked by God and Joshua was given fine new clothes.^[12^] In the vision prophecy, the angel of the Lord delivered God’s message speaking directly to the high Priest:^[13]

^{Zech 3:8} “‘Now listen, Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who are sitting in front of you—indeed they are men who are a symbol, for behold, I am going to bring in My servant the Branch.’”_(NASB)

Jewish sage Rabbi Maimonides identified “My Servant” as the Messiah whom Zachariah had identified as the Branch.^[15] Issued two hundred years earlier, Isaiah’s parashah prophecy of Isaiah 52-53 is about “My Servant” who is subjected to unusual cruelties consistent with a Roman crucifixion described by the Gospels.

Narrating his eighth vision, Zechariah received instructions from God to choose people from among the exiles to make a crown of gold and silver, then set the symbolic crown upon the head of Joshua, the high Priest. Zechariah was then directed to deliver this message to the Priest:^[14]

^{Zech 6:12-13} “…‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, saying: “Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, And He shall build the temple of the LORD; Yes, He shall build the temple of the LORD. He shall bear the glory, And shall sit and rule on His throne; So He shall be a priest on His throne, And the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”’”_(NKJV)

In the oracle prophecy, God said the Branch would sit upon the throne as both King and priest who would build the Temple. Jewish sage Rabbi Rashi commented he believed the prophecy was in reference to Zerubbabel although the Rabbi did acknowledge others viewed the prophecy as referring to the Messiah.^[16^]

Prophecies from Isaiah before the Babylonian captivity, Jeremiah during the Babylonian captivity and Zechariah after the Babylonian captivity point to a future figure called the Branch. The foretold Branch would have the characteristics of being wise and understanding; come from the lineage of David; and righteously judge the earth with a counsel of peace as a Servant of God.

What are the odds that Jesus of Nazareth is the fulfillment of the Branch prophecies?

Updated December 15, 2023.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

REFERENCES:

[1] “Isaiah.” Encyclopædia Britannica. 2019. <https://www.britannica.com/biography/Isaiah> “Isaiah.” New World Encyclopedia. 2018. <https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Isaiah> “Jeremiah.” Encyclopædia Britannica. 2019. <https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jeremiah-Hebrew-prophet> “Jeremiah.” New World Encyclopedia. 2018. <http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Jeremiah> “Zechariah.” Encyclopædia Britannica. 2019. <https://www.britannica.com/topic/biblical-literature/The-last-six-minor-prophets#ref597798> “Zechariah, Book of.” New World Encyclopedia. 2013. <http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Zechariah,_Book_of>
[2] Exodus 24:3-8. CR Deuteronomy 29.
[3] Isaiah 39:7. “ben.” Netbible.org. <http://classic.net.bible.org/strong.php?id=01121> Messiah’s Branch. Prophetic Information Ministries. image. n.d. <http://www.propheticinformationministries.com/Messichs%20Branch.gif>
[4] I Chronicles 2:11-13; 2 Ruth 4:17.
[5] The Complete Jewish Bible – with Rashi Commentary. Rashi commentary on Isaiah 11:1. <https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16210/showrashi/true> CR Isaiah 9:6-7; 11:10. CR 1 Chronicles 2:12-15, 3:16-18; Ruth 4:21-22; Matthew 1:5-16; Luke 2:4; 23-31. Ryrie. “Introduction to the Book of Isaiah.”
[6] 2 Kings 24:6, 8, 12, 15; 25:27, 29; 1 Chronicles 3:16, 17; 24:15; 2 Chronicles 36:9, 22; Esther 2:6; Ezra 2:1; Jeremiah 22:24-30, 24:1, 10-16, 52:27-33; 27:20; 28:4; 29:2, 52:31, 33; Esther 2:6; 2 Kings 24:6, 8, 12, 14-15; 25:27, 29. CR Ezekiel 1:1-3.
[7] Daniel 1:1-4.
[8] Isaiah 44:28; 45:1, 13.
[9] CR 2 Chronicles 36:23; Isaiah 44:28, 45:1, 13. CR Ezra 2:1-2; Nehemiah 7:6; Isaiah 41:2-3, 25, 27; 43:9, 21; 48:14-15. Josephus, Flavius. Antiquities of the Jews. Book XI, Chapters I.1-2. Trans. and commentary. William Whitson. The Complete Works of Josephus. 1850. <http://books.google.com/books?id=e0dAAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false>
[10] Ezra 6:14; 7:12-20; Ezekiel 1:2-3, 6:7,12. “Darius I.” Encyclopædia Britannica. 2019. <https://www.britannica.com/biography/Darius-I> Josephus. Antiquities. Book XI, Chapters III.8, IV.1-2.
[11] Zechariah 1:1. NET, NIV. “Darius I.” Encyclopædia Britannica.
[12] Zechariah 3.
[13] Plaut, Gunther. “Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi: Back in the Land.” MyJewishLearning.com. n.d. <http://www.myjewishlearning.com/texts/Bible/Prophets/Latter_Prophets/The_12_Minor_Prophets/Haggai_Zechariah_Malachi.shtml>
[14] I Chronicles 3:17-19; Haggai 1:1, 12, 14; 2:2, 23; Ezra 3:8.
[15] Maimonides, “Letter to the South (Yemen)”. p374. Neubauer and Driver. The Fifty-third Chapter of Isaiah According to the Jewish Interpreters. <https://books.google.com/books?id=YxdbAAAAQAAJ&pg=PP1&hl=en#v=onepage&q=advent&f=false>
[16] The Complete Jewish Bible – with Rashi Commentary. Rashi commentary on Zechariah 6:12. <https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16210/showrashi/true>

Judea – the Land Promised to Abraham

Posted on by K.B. Vogelman

Judea – the Land Promised to Abraham

Canaan, Palestine, Judaea, Judea, the land of Abraham – all refer to the same place today known as Israel.^[1] Judea’s 2000-year history preceding the era of Jesus of Nazareth began with Abram who was ironically born in the land of Babylon in present day Iran, a mortal enemy of Israel.^[2]

Young Abram married Sarai in Ur of the Chaldees. His father, Terah, then moved his family to Haran in the land of Canaan.^[3] One day God appeared to Abram telling him to move his own family to another place that God would show him promising:^[4]

^{Gen. 12:2} “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.”_(NIV)

Abram and Sarai, along with nephew Lot and his family, eventually resettled near Salem. One day, an enemy raiding party captured Lot, his family and their possessions whereupon Abram took up arms and set out on a rescue mission.^[6]

Victorious in battle and rescuing Lot’s family and possessions, Abram returned home to a hero’s welcome greeted by Melchizedek, priest and King of Salem. He blessed Abram in the name of the most high God, creator of the heavens and earth.^[7] Soon thereafter, God promised Abram’s descendants would inherit the land although after first being enslaved in a foreign land for 400 years.^[8]

Thirteen years later at the age of 99, God blessed Abram changing his name to Abraham; his wife’s name from Sarai to Sarah; promised them a son to be named Isaac; and reaffirmed His promise that Canaan would be a permanent possession.^[9]

^{Gen. 17:8} “I will give the whole land of Canaan – the land where you are now residing to you and your descendants after you as a permanent possession. I will be their God._(NET)

Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebekah, was blessed by God changing his name to Israel and promised that his descendants would produce an assembly of nations and kings. The sons of Israel became the fathers of the tribes of Israel.^[10]

Just before Jacob died, he blessed each son. To Judah, he specifically passed on the blessing of his grandfather Abraham foretelling Judah would become the father of the tribe of royalty.^[11]

Events took a major detour as prophesied before God’s promise to Abraham was to be fulfilled. Jacob had a favorite son, Joseph, causing jealousy among his brothers.^[12] They ambushed Joseph and sold him as a slave to a passing caravan bound for Egypt, then lied to their father saying the boy had been killed by a wild animal.^[13]

Many years later during a famine in Canaan, Jacob resorted to seeking food from Egypt and eventually discovered that not only was Joseph alive, he was second in power only to Pharaoh himself!^[14] Under the protection of Joseph, all the sons of Israel left the land of Abraham and moved to Egypt where, over the next 400 years, they became slaves of the ruling Pharaohs.^[15]

Moses was then called by God from a burning bush at the base of Mt. Sinai to lead the Hebrews on the Exodus out of Egypt. Back at Mt. Sinai after the exodus from Egypt, God gave the Law to Moses which included five big promises, all tied to God’s plans for the place in the land promised to Abraham:^[16]

^{EX 23:20} “I am going to send an angel before you to protect you as you journey and to bring you into the place that I have prepared.”_(NET)

^{EX 33:1-2} “Then the LORD spoke to Moses, “Depart, go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up from the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your descendants I will give it.’” _{(NASB, NKJV)}

Canaan borders, the land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, were clearly spelled out.^[17] Entering the land of Abraham, the waters of the Jordan River were miraculously parted allowing the Hebrews to cross on dry ground.^[18]

As part of their conquests in the land of Abraham, the new Hebrew King Davidbattled the inhabitants of Jebus, formerly known as Salem. Once David established his throne in the City of David, the city became known as Jerusalem encompassing Mt. Zion and Mt. Moriah where the Temple would eventually be built.^[19]

Over the next several centuries, David’s kingdom of Israel degraded when successive kings and the Hebrews did not abide by their agreement with God’s covenant presented by Moses at Mt. Sinai. The covenant, a type of contract, had a penalty clause which was enacted by God.

Split into the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, Israel was destroyed by the Assyrians. Judah was conquered by King Nebuchadnezzar and taken away captive to Babylon.

Persia vanquished Babylon while the Hebrews were still in captivity providing the opportunity for the Hebrew wise man, Daniel, to serve kings in both Empires.^[20] Under decrees by Persian Kings Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes, the Hebrews were allowed to return to the land of Judah and rebuild Jerusalem.^[21]

Conquests of Alexander the Great expanding the Greek Empire included the land now called “Palestine.”^[22] In 333 BC, Alexander’s army was met outside of Jerusalem by the Jewish High Priest Shimon HaTzaddik in a successful attempt to prevent the army’s destruction of the Jewish Temple.^[23]

Jerusalem was spared and the Jews viewed Alexander as their liberators, in part, because Hellenism under the new Greek Empire allowed them religious freedom. In fact, Greek eventually became the common language in Palestine.^[24]

On the stage of history, the Greek Empire was replaced by the Roman Empire and Palestine picked up a new name, Judea. Caesar Augustus and the senate allowed Judea, with Jerusalem as its capital, to be ruled by a new ruthless king named Herod.^[25]

During the reign of King Herod, Jesus of Nazareth of the lineage of Abraham, Judah and King David, was born in Bethlehem. He traveled throughout Judea and Samaria teaching and healing until one day during the Passover in Jerusalem, Jesus was captured, tried and crucified.

Was it merely a coincidence that over the course of 2000 years, the land promised by God to Abraham remained until Jesus of Nazareth arrived on the scene?

Updated November 18, 2024.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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