#8 – God gave the land to the Jews, so the Arabs are the occupiers.
Claim:Because the Jews didn't obey God's commandments they forfeit their rights to the land forever according to the Bible.
The most important verse, which Hammond left out, is Genesis 17:7-8 which says:
"And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you"
"Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God." (Gen 17:7-8)
The covenant that the God of Israel makes with Abraham and his decedents is an "everlasting" covenant, meaning it’s eternal. What needs to be understood is that there are seven "distinct" covenants in the bible, four of which relate to the nation of Israel. Three of those four are unconditional in nature. For instance in the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen 15:18-21, Gen 17:7-8), God gave the land to Abraham and his descendants with no preconditions. The Mosaic Covenant however, as the author points out, is conditional in nature and brings either blessings or cursing’s (Deu 11). Israel disobeyed the Mosaic Covenant and suffered the consequences, however it had no bearing on the Abrahamic covenant which is distinct and eternal. While continual possession of the land was dependent on their obedience, Deuteronomy 4:29-31, 30:1-10 makes it clear that if they turned back to God, He would not forget the covenant made with their ancestors. Moreover it was prophesied that:
*The Jews would be scattered from one end of the earth to the other (Deu 28:64-65). Jewish diaspora (or dispersion) began as early as the Babylonian exile in 597 BC. In 70 AD the Romans, under Titus, destroyed Jerusalem and the second temple. According to the 1st-century historian Josephus about 1.1 million Jews were killed. Jews would be scattered around the world for the next nearly 2000 years.
*They would be persecuted (Deu 28:64-65). Over the course of their diaspora the Jews endured numerous incidents of persecution and by many accounts are considered to be the most persecuted people in history. Miraculously, not only did they survive but managed to retain their unique cultural identities without having a homeland.
*The land would become desolate (Deu 29:21-24). In 1867 Mark Twain visiting Palestine wrote, "Palestine sits in sackcloth and ashes. Over it broods the spell of a curse that has withered its fields and fettered its energies. There is hardly a tree or shrub anywhere. Even the olive and cactus, those fast friends of a worthless soil, have almost deserted the soil."
*The Jews would be re-gathered and become a nation again in one day (Eze 11:17, Isa 66:8). In centuries past this would have seemed inconceivable, yet on May 14th 1948 Israel was born in one day. This would come first as a physical restoration by unbelieving Jews through their human effort (Eze 36:8, Eze 36:24, Eze 37:8). A spiritual restoration would come later through the trials of the Great Tribulation (Eze 36:25-27, Hos 5:15, Zec 12:8-10, Dan 9:24).
On this point, although Israel is a secular nation it did not say they would be re-gathered in belief, that will come later. God says the he will not bring them back for their sake's- but for His great names sake (and His promises to Israel)- so that we will know that He is God. It's not that the Jews are righteous- but they are beloved- even though they kick against God. Consider David and Saul. Saul tried to kill David out of jealousy, but when David had a chance to kill Saul he didn't because he was God's anointed (even though Saul was clearly in the wrong). In the same way, even though many Jews might not even acknowledge God today and are doing wrong they are still God's anointed (or chosen) people.
*The land would flourish once again (Eze 36:35, Isa 27:6). Today Israel is one of two countries on earth that has more tree's today than it did 100 years ago.
*The Hebrew language would be revived (Zep 3:9). The Hebrew language began to decline in use as early as the Babylonian captivity of the Jews in the 6th century B.C. Even in the time of Jesus the predominant Semitic language was Aramaic. For thousands of years Hebrew was relegated to religious services and sacred texts. It wasn't until the late 1800's that Eliezer Ben-Yehudah became the driving force behind the revival of Hebrew as a common language. It was a rule in Ben-Yehudah's house to speak only Hebrew and he raised his son speaking Hebrew exclusively. From that one household Hebrew grew to became the official language of Israel. To this date Hebrew is the only successful instance of a complete language revival.
*Israel would be besieged with enemies (Ezekiel 38-39, Isaiah 17, Psalm 83, Zechariah 12, 14). This has been true since 1948. Every single neighboring country has attacked Israel at some point.
*Israel would survive against all odds (Amos 9:15). All these things have happened.
Rather one believes this automatically entails that Israel has a right to the land is another debate altogether, but the theological argument that the disobedience of the Jews that led to their expulsion from the land forfeits their rights to it forever is not true.
There are at least three locations in Israel that should not be doubted as to who has ownership. Abraham made a land purchase of the Machpelah Cave and adjoining field in Hebron. (Gen 23). King David purchased Ornon's Threshing floor, which is the location of the Holy of Holies on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, (I Chronicles 21:18-30), and Jacob purchased Shechem from the sons of Hamor. (Gen 33:18-19)
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Part 9
Claim:Because the Jews didn't obey God's commandments they forfeit their rights to the land forever according to the Bible.
The most important verse, which Hammond left out, is Genesis 17:7-8 which says:
"And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you"
"Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God." (Gen 17:7-8)
The covenant that the God of Israel makes with Abraham and his decedents is an "everlasting" covenant, meaning it’s eternal. What needs to be understood is that there are seven "distinct" covenants in the bible, four of which relate to the nation of Israel. Three of those four are unconditional in nature. For instance in the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen 15:18-21, Gen 17:7-8), God gave the land to Abraham and his descendants with no preconditions. The Mosaic Covenant however, as the author points out, is conditional in nature and brings either blessings or cursing’s (Deu 11). Israel disobeyed the Mosaic Covenant and suffered the consequences, however it had no bearing on the Abrahamic covenant which is distinct and eternal. While continual possession of the land was dependent on their obedience, Deuteronomy 4:29-31, 30:1-10 makes it clear that if they turned back to God, He would not forget the covenant made with their ancestors. Moreover it was prophesied that:
*The Jews would be scattered from one end of the earth to the other (Deu 28:64-65). Jewish diaspora (or dispersion) began as early as the Babylonian exile in 597 BC. In 70 AD the Romans, under Titus, destroyed Jerusalem and the second temple. According to the 1st-century historian Josephus about 1.1 million Jews were killed. Jews would be scattered around the world for the next nearly 2000 years.
*They would be persecuted (Deu 28:64-65). Over the course of their diaspora the Jews endured numerous incidents of persecution and by many accounts are considered to be the most persecuted people in history. Miraculously, not only did they survive but managed to retain their unique cultural identities without having a homeland.
*The land would become desolate (Deu 29:21-24). In 1867 Mark Twain visiting Palestine wrote, "Palestine sits in sackcloth and ashes. Over it broods the spell of a curse that has withered its fields and fettered its energies. There is hardly a tree or shrub anywhere. Even the olive and cactus, those fast friends of a worthless soil, have almost deserted the soil."
*The Jews would be re-gathered and become a nation again in one day (Eze 11:17, Isa 66:8). In centuries past this would have seemed inconceivable, yet on May 14th 1948 Israel was born in one day. This would come first as a physical restoration by unbelieving Jews through their human effort (Eze 36:8, Eze 36:24, Eze 37:8). A spiritual restoration would come later through the trials of the Great Tribulation (Eze 36:25-27, Hos 5:15, Zec 12:8-10, Dan 9:24).
On this point, although Israel is a secular nation it did not say they would be re-gathered in belief, that will come later. God says the he will not bring them back for their sake's- but for His great names sake (and His promises to Israel)- so that we will know that He is God. It's not that the Jews are righteous- but they are beloved- even though they kick against God. Consider David and Saul. Saul tried to kill David out of jealousy, but when David had a chance to kill Saul he didn't because he was God's anointed (even though Saul was clearly in the wrong). In the same way, even though many Jews might not even acknowledge God today and are doing wrong they are still God's anointed (or chosen) people.
*The land would flourish once again (Eze 36:35, Isa 27:6). Today Israel is one of two countries on earth that has more tree's today than it did 100 years ago.
*The Hebrew language would be revived (Zep 3:9). The Hebrew language began to decline in use as early as the Babylonian captivity of the Jews in the 6th century B.C. Even in the time of Jesus the predominant Semitic language was Aramaic. For thousands of years Hebrew was relegated to religious services and sacred texts. It wasn't until the late 1800's that Eliezer Ben-Yehudah became the driving force behind the revival of Hebrew as a common language. It was a rule in Ben-Yehudah's house to speak only Hebrew and he raised his son speaking Hebrew exclusively. From that one household Hebrew grew to became the official language of Israel. To this date Hebrew is the only successful instance of a complete language revival.
*Israel would be besieged with enemies (Ezekiel 38-39, Isaiah 17, Psalm 83, Zechariah 12, 14). This has been true since 1948. Every single neighboring country has attacked Israel at some point.
*Israel would survive against all odds (Amos 9:15). All these things have happened.
Rather one believes this automatically entails that Israel has a right to the land is another debate altogether, but the theological argument that the disobedience of the Jews that led to their expulsion from the land forfeits their rights to it forever is not true.
There are at least three locations in Israel that should not be doubted as to who has ownership. Abraham made a land purchase of the Machpelah Cave and adjoining field in Hebron. (Gen 23). King David purchased Ornon's Threshing floor, which is the location of the Holy of Holies on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, (I Chronicles 21:18-30), and Jacob purchased Shechem from the sons of Hamor. (Gen 33:18-19)
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Part 9
