Course

The Land of Israel in Biblical Perspective

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is tangled up in questions about what the Bible has to say about the people of Israel and the land of Israel. This three-part series, taught by Candler Old Testament professor Ryan Bonfiglio, offers biblical perspectives on this complex topic.

We’ll discuss the history of the land of Israel and who has lived there, the nature and purpose of God’s promise of land to the ancient Israelites, and what the Old Testament has to say about how Israel is to treat foreigners who live among them. Emphasis will be placed on how you can enter conversations about the present conflict with more nuance, understanding, and compassion.

3 lessons · 56 min altogether

Taught by Ryan Bonfiglio, Candler School of Theology

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Lessons

  1. The history of the land 22 min The history of the land of Israel. What should we call it? Who has occupied it over the years, and why has it so often been the subject of conflict?
  2. God’s promise of the land 15 min The nature of God’s promise of this land to the people of Israel. Why is this promise given? Is the promise unconditional or contingent? How essential is access to the land to ancient Israel’s experience of God?
  3. Foreigners in the land 19 min What does the Old Testament law have to say about how Israel is to treat foreigners who live with them in the land of Israel? The final part of the series.