Holy Land (Biblical)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Holy Land is the territory where the Biblical stories took place, those described by the Tanakh or those by the New Testament. The concept had its evolution in the same Scriptures. For some Biblical authors the territory was marked by the concept of Promised Land, but for others it refers to those events in any place related to the People of Israel.

[edit] The name

The name "Holy Land" is related to a sacred concept of religiosity according with the Judean - Christian idea. The "Land" becomes "Holy" or "Sacred" when it comes in contact with the plan of salvation of God. In this same way, we can talk about "holy men and women" and "holy sites and objects". Therefore, holiness does not come from the object or subject itself, but only in the moment it has to see with the divine reality, which is the "Genuine Holy".

The Holy Land is also mentioned in the Qur'an: Moses said unto his people "O my people, enter the Holy Land ("al-arda-l-muqaddasata"), which Allah hath decreed you." (The Qur'an, 5:21).

[edit] Geography

Currently, the term "Holy Land" is generally understood to refer to the places mentioned in the Bible. This definition includes all or part of the following modern countries:

• Israel (the Biblical Land of Israel excludes most of the Negev).
• Palestinian Authority, especially the West Bank.
• Lebanon, mentioned 75 times in the Bible, and where Jesus performed his first miracle in Cana, as well as his preaching visits in Sidon and Tyre.
• Jordan, the ancient territory of the Tribes of Menasheh-east, Gad and Reuben.
• Egypt, the territory where the Israelites stayed for 400 years. This country would become the home of Christian Monachism.
• Iraq, the homeland of Abraham.
• Syria, territory of ancient rivalry with Israel, land of refuge of Elijah and the place of the conversion of Paul.

[edit] More important places

Within that vast territory, it is possible to point out a list of the most important places:

• Jerusalem, known as the Holy City by the main Monotheist Religions: Judaism, Christianism and Islam.
• Bethlehem (West Bank), the birth city of King David and Jesus.
• Nazareth (Israel), the place where Jesus grew up.
• Mount Sinai, (Egypt), the place where Moses and Israel received the divine revelation.
• Jordan River, many facts and Biblical characters as Joshua, Elijah and Jesus.
• Sea of Galilee (Israel), known also as Lake of Kinneret, associated with the first facts of the public life of Jesus, especially where the 12 Apostles were elected.
• The Judean Desert (Israel and southern West Bank), associated with Biblical events, characters, battles, Divine manifestations, prophets and other happenings.

[edit] External links

• My Holy Land - The Gospel Path
• holy land guide (more info about Israel the holy land)
• Holy Land Photos (thousands of high resolution photos of the holy lands)es:Tierra Santa

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