"To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates." (Genesis 15:18)
The "Promised Land" is the land which according to the bible, was promised and subsequently given by God to Abraham and his descendants.
There are many people today, both Christian and Jewish, who believe that this is the land owed by biblical right to the Jewish people.
What the quote above means, is land from the Nile River to the Euphrates River.
The problem with this interpretation, is that the boundaries described in the bible encompass parts of modern day Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Syria.
The Promised Land boundaries also includes all of Lebanon, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Jordan.
We don't think many of the people currently living in these areas are going to be too happy with this interpretation.
More Specific Land Boundaries. "Boundaries of Canaan." (Numbers 34:1-12)
1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Command the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter Canaan, the land that will be allotted to you as an inheritance is to have these boundaries:
3 “‘Your southern side will include some of the Desert of Zin along the border of Edom. Your southern boundary will start in the east from the southern end of the Dead Sea, 4 cross south of Scorpion Pass, continue on to Zin and go south of Kadesh Barnea. Then it will go to Hazar Addar and over to Azmon, 5 where it will turn, join the Wadi of Egypt and end at the Mediterranean Sea.
6 “‘Your western boundary will be the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. This will be your boundary on the west.
7 “‘For your northern boundary, run a line from the Mediterranean Sea to Mount Hor 8 and from Mount Hor to Lebo Hamath. Then the boundary will go to Zedad, 9 continue to Ziphron and end at Hazar Enan. This will be your boundary on the north.
10 “‘For your eastern boundary, run a line from Hazar Enan to Shepham. 11 The boundary will go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain and continue along the slopes east of the Sea of Galilee.[a] 12 Then the boundary will go down along the Jordan and end at the Dead Sea.
“‘This will be your land, with its boundaries on every side.’”
The quote above is describing a boundary that encompasses parts of modern day Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Syria, and includes all of Lebanon, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Jordan. Below is a picture of what the above quote is describing.
God's Promise to Drive Former Inhabitants Out (Exodus 23:30-31)
Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and possess the land. And I will set your border from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the Euphrates, for I will give the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you.
God's Command to Take Possession of The Land (Deuteronomy 1:8)
See, I have set the land before you. Go in and take possession of the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give to them and to their offspring after them.’
God's Statement That The Land Boundaries Cannot Be Altered
I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them” (Amos 9:15)
The land shall not be sold for ever. For the land is mine. For ye are strangers and sojourners with me. (Leviticus 25:23)
God's Judgment Against Those Who Divide Up The Land
“In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment against them concerning My inheritance, My people Israel, for they scattered My people among the nations and divided up My land.” (Joel 3:1-2)
RELATED REPORTS
The Darker Side of Evangelical Support for Israel
Critical Commentary on Christianity
LINKS
The Promised Land (Wikipedia)
Promised Land Boundaries Biblical Quotes (Open Bible)
Boundaries of Canaan: Numbers 34: 1-12 (Bible Gateway)
Israel's Biblical Land Deed (Hope of Israel)
Israel in Its Surroundings (Watchtower Online Library)