Promised land: The covenant between God and Abraham
The concept of the Land of Israel as the “Promised Land” is rooted in the divine covenant between God and the patriarch Abraham. As recounted in the book of Genesis, God made a promise to Abraham that his descendants would inherit a specific land, which was described as the land “from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates” (Genesis 15:18).
This covenant, known as the Abrahamic Covenant, is a fundamental tenet of Jewish theology and has shaped the Jewish people’s understanding of their relationship with the Land of Israel. The promise of the land was not only a physical inheritance but also a spiritual one, as the Jewish people were called to establish a holy nation and serve as a light unto the world within the borders of this sacred land.
The Land of Israel in Jewish religious texts and traditions
The significance of the Land of Israel is woven throughout the Jewish religious texts and traditions. In the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, the Land of Israel is repeatedly referenced as the destination and inheritance of the Jewish people. The book of Deuteronomy, in particular, emphasizes the importance of the land, describing it as a “good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills” (Deuteronomy 8:7).
Beyond the Torah, the Land of Israel is a central theme in the Prophets and Writings, the other two sections of the Hebrew Bible. The Psalms and the writings of the Prophets often express a deep longing for the Land of Israel, particularly during periods of exile and displacement.
In Jewish liturgy and traditions, the Land of Israel is a constant presence. Prayers and rituals often invoke the name of the land, and the direction of Jerusalem, the spiritual center of the Jewish world, is a focal point in synagogue worship. The observance of Jewish holidays, such as Sukkot and Shavuot, is also closely tied to the agricultural and historical significance of the Land of Israel.