Today’s name is the Hebrew name of the Land of Israel, E•retz Yis•ra•el. The word ‘a•retz’ is the general word for ‘land,’ and ‘eretz’ becomes more specific, and it means ‘the land of.’
The Land of Israel is one of several names for an area of indefinite geographical extension in the Middle East. Related biblical, religious, and historical English terms include the Land of Canaan, the Promised Land, the Holy Land, and even Palestine. Because of geopolitical reasons, the boundaries of Eretz Yisrael and, hence, the final borders of the State of Israel, have not yet been agreed upon between Israel and its neighbors. The major obstacles are the territories of Judea and Samaria, which are claimed by the Palestinians as their land. Biblically, these areas are under the definition of the Land of Israel, and especially those which major large parts of Jerusalem. Currently, most of the world, including the U.S., doesn’t recognize these areas as parts of Israel and constantly pressures Israel to give these lands to the Palestinians. These days are days of battle over Jewish existence in the Land of Israel, with very few friends in the world standing on Israel’s side. Among the best of Israel’s friends are Christian believers, and among them are the Friends of Zion, such as Michael Evans, Jonathan, and others, including you, precious readers.
As to the geographical boundaries of Eretz Yisrael, the definitions of the limits of this territory vary between biblical passages, with these specifically being found in Genesis 15, Exodus 23, Numbers 34 and Ezekiel 47. Nine times elsewhere in the Bible the settled land is referred to as being “from Dan to Beersheba”.
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