The Land of Promise

Question

Dear Rabbi, why is Israel often referred to as “The “Promised Land”? Thanks!

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Answers

  1. The Creator promised the Patriarchs — Abraham, Isaac and Jacob — that their descendants would inherit the land in which all three of them had dwelled. He repeated this promise to Moses when He sent him to liberate His chosen people from Egyptian bondage and to lead them to the Promised Land.
    Here is one verse that conveys the promise made to Abraham and his descendants. “God said to Abraham: Lift your eyes now and look out from the place where you are: to the north, south, east and west — because all the land that you see I give to you and your descendants forever.” (Genesis 13:14-15)

    It should be noted that in some American folk songs and spirituals the term Promised Land sometimes connotes the afterlife of Heaven. For Jews, however, the Promised Land is the Heaven on Earth promised to our ancestors.

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team