| | | 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. Although the Zionism movement, the current State of Israel and the Israeli-Arab conflict are largely political, the dispute around the control of the Temple Mount in East Jerusalem is based on religious beliefs. Some have proposed the founding of a Federal Republic of the Holy Land as a one-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.[1] The name The name "Holy Land" is related to a sacred concept of religiosity according with the Judeo-Christian idea. |  English: Satellite image of the
Land of Israel in January 2003,
including portions of the
State of Israel, Jordan, Egypt,
and Lebanon (larger image)The concept of the land being holy is especially prominent in the Book of Numbers. Horst Seebass argues that the book is "indeed pervaded by the theme of the holy land." The land is also considered holy in the Hebrew Bible because God's "holy people" settle there[5]. According to the list of "Four Holy Cities, Judaism's holiest cities are Jerusalem, Hebron, Safed (Tzfat) and Tiberias. Jerusalem has, since the days of Abraham, been an important spiritual focus of the Jews (c.f. Genesis 17:5, 17:9, 18:17-19) [2][3] as well as Christians (c.f. Hebrews 11:8-12).[2][3] The holy cities or locations for Christians are: - Jerusalem is believed to be the site of some of Jesus's teaching, the Last Supper, the subsequent institution of the Eucharist as well as His entombment; Christians believe He was crucified on a nearby hill, Golgotha (sometimes called Calvary). It contains the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Church of All Nations.
- Bethlehem(Hebrew בית לחם Beyth Lechem, Beit Lehem) [
 ] is the birthplace of Jesus. - Nazareth (Greek: Ναζαρά Nazara[4], "the guarded one")[] is Jesus's hometown and the site of many holy places, including the Church of the Basilica of the Annunciation and Mary's Well.
During the Crusades, Christian pilgrims often sought out the Holy Places in the Outremer, especially in early 12th century immediately after the capture of Jerusalem.[6] - Tzippori (Sephoria), where the Virgin Mary was said to have spent her childhood
- The Jordan River [], site of the baptism of Jesus
- Cave dwelling of John the Baptist
- Sea of Galilee
- Mount Tabor, site of the Transfiguration of Jesus
- Jericho [], the location where the Parable of the Good Samaritan took place
Geography Nowadays it is understood as "Holy Land" all the places where were developped the Biblical facts, either in the Tanakh [תנ״ך] (also Tanach or Tenach) or in the New Testament. Such definition gives a wide rank of subdivisions. In such case, Holy Land becomes in more or less grade the following modern countries: - Primarily Israel.
- Palestine, especially Cisjordan.
- Jordan, the ancient territory of the Tribes of Manasseh, Gad and Ruben.
- Egypt, the territory where the Chosen People stayed for 400 years. This country would become also the origin of the Christian Monachism.
- Iran (Ur of the Chadeans), the homeland of Abraham.
- Syria, territory of ancient rivalities with Israel (Assyria), land of refugee of Elia and the place of the conversion of Paul.
- Turkey, Greece and Creta, the ancient territor of Greece, seat of primitive Christian churches and the land of the missions of Paul.
| | Other territories could be considered in a minor grade as Biblicals, but more as an extention as the case of Italy, main center of the Roman Empire and where it is said the Apostles Paul and Peter suffered martyrdom. But Italy belongs more to the development of the first Christian communities, especially those of the Western Catholic Church and the Rabinism. See also: The Twelve Apostles 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, Christianity and Islam. It is sure the most important place of the Holy Land. []
- Bethlehem (Palestine), the born city of King David and Jesus.
- Nazareth (Israel), the place where Jesus grown. []
- Mount Sinai, (Egypt), the place where Moses and Israel received the Divine Revelation.[]
- Jordan River, many facts and Biblical characters as Josue, Elia and Jesus.
- Lake of Galilee (Israel), known also as Sea of Galilee and Lake of Genesaret, it has to see with the first facts of the public life of Jesus, especially where The Twelve Apostles were elected. Desert of Judea (Israel and Palestine), is has to see with Biblical events, characters, battles, Divine manifestations, prophets and other happenings. []
- Hebron is one of most ancient cities in the Middle East, and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and was an ancient Canaanite royal city (see Canaanites, Canaan). According to archaeological findings it was probably founded in the 35th century BC. 18th century BC. It is mentioned numerous times in the Bible. In particular, a cave near it, called the Cave of the Patriarchs (Hebrew: מערת המכפלה "Cave of Machpelah" or me'arat ha-machpela), is where Jews believe Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Leah are buried. []
- The Biblical account of the destruction of Jericho is found in the Book of Joshua. The Bible describes the destruction as having proceeded from the actions of Joshua, Moses' successor. The Exodus is usually dated to the 13th century BC (based on Ussherian calculation) according to interpretation of archeological evidence from the Merneptah Stele followed by new settlements in the next century. At that time the Pharaoh of the Exodus would be Ramesses II. Alternatively, the exodus is dated to the 15th century BC according to a prevailing Christian interpretation of biblical chronology, which is synchronized with several ancient calendars with astronomical observation. At that time the Pharaoh would be Thutmose III (1490-1430).[]
The Crusades were started on the pretext of recovering the Holy Land. More recently, the region is at the center of the Arab-Israeli conflict. For over 3,000 years, Jews have held the Land of Israel to be their homeland, both as a Holy Land and as a Promised Land. The Land of Israel holds a special place in Jewish religious tradition, encompassing Judaism's most important sites — including the remains of the First and Second Temple, as well as the rites concerning the Temple in Jerusalem. Starting around 1200 BCE, a series of Jewish kingdoms and states existed intermittently in the region for over a millennium. Recent archeological evidence suggests that the kingdoms of King David and King Solomon may have existed. Under foreign conquests, Jewish presence in the province dwindled due to mass expulsions. In particular, the failure of the Bar Kochba Revolt against the Roman Empire resulted in widescale expulsion of Jews. During this time that the Romans gave the name Syria Palaestina to the geographic area, in an attempt to erase Jewish ties to the land. The Mishnah and Jerusalem Talmud, two of Judaism's most important religious texts, were composed in the region during this period. Jerusalem has long been embedded into the religious consciousness of all people of the Holy Land. It is the holiest city of Judaism (since the 10th century BCE) and some denominations of Christianity (since the 5th century CE) and, after Mecca and Medina, the third holiest city of Islam (since the 7th century CE). Islam Sharing similar religious beliefs with Jews and Christians, Muslims consider the land west of (but not limited to) the Jordan River to be sacred, as mentioned in the Qur'an. "Moses said unto his people, 'O my people, enter the Holy Land, which Allah hath decreed you.' " - (Qur'an 5:21) The first few months of Islamic history considered Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem to be the first Qibla (direction of prayer), as opposed to the Kaaba in Mecca. Both Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque, are considered to be the third holiest places for all denominations of Islam. In Arabic, the city of Jerusalem is commonly known as "Al-Quds", meaning "the Holy". Muslims believe that Muhammad journeyed from Masjidul Haram in Makkah, to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, and back, all in a single night. It was at the Al-Aqsa Mosque that Muhammad performed Salah (the prayers) with all of the Prophets of Islam, and thereafter ascended to heaven, called Mi'raj. Muslims also consider the depression below Mount Sinai, known as "Tuwa", to be sacred as mentioned in the Qur'an as the "Holy Valley" (الوادي المقدس): "Has not there come to you the story of Moses? How his Lord called him in the the holy valley of Tuwa " - (Qur'an 79:15-16)" There are other mentions of "Holy" or "Blessed" land in the Qur'an, however there is much dispute amongst scholars as to the exact whereabouts of those places. For instance, the "Blessed Land" referred to in verse [21:71] has been interpreted very differently by various scholars: Abdullah Yusuf Ali likens it to a wide land range including, Syria, Palestine and the cities of Tyre and Sidon; Az-Zujaj describes it as, "Damascus, Palestine, and a bit of Jordan"; Qatada claims it to be, "the Levant"; Muadh ibn Jabal as, "the area between al-Arish and the Euphrates"; and Ibn Abbas as, "the land of Jericho". [7] The term "Holy Land" is also often used by Muslims (although not in the Qur'an) in reference to the Hijaz - the land of the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. Shi'a Muslims also include the land of Karbala under the high status of a "Holy Land" based on narrations from the archangel Gabriel to Muhammad[8]. Chronology of the city of Jerusalem First Temple Period, ca. 1000 B.C - 586 B.C. - ca. 1000 B.C. - Kind David captures Jerusalem from the Jebusites; the City of David becomes the nation's capital.
- 964 - King Solomon begins to construct the First Temple
- 928 - The Kingdom is divided in two; Israel in the north and the Judah in the south
- 722 - Israel, the Northern Kingdom, falls to the Assyrians.
- 701 - Seeacherid besieges Jerusalem in the reign of Hezekiah.
- 586 - Nebuchadnezzar II destroys the city and the Temple, and exiles the inhabitants to Babylon.
Second Temple Period, 538 B.C. - A.D. 70 - 538 B.C. - Jews receive permission from Cyrus the Great to return and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem.
- 445 - Nehemiah goes to Jerusalem, following Ezra.
- 332 - Alexander the Great conquers the country.
- 313 - Ptolmy captures Jerusalem.
- 169 - Antiochus of Syria desecrates the Temple, leading to the Hasmonaean (Maccabaean) revolt.
- 63- Pompey and his Roman legions conquer the city.
- 37 - Herod the Great rules until 4 B.C.
- A.D. 4 - Jerusalem is governed by Roman procurators from Caesarea.
- 4-6 - Birth of Jesus. (many chronologists conclude that the year 6 BC is the most likely year of Jesus' birth. Consequently, Jesus would have been about four to six years old in the year AD 1.
- 27 – Suggested death of Jesus (Earliest).
- 36 – Suggested death of Jesus (Latest);
- 66 - The Jews revolt against the Romans.
- 70 - Jerusalem is demolished by Titus; the survivors are exiled or sold into slavery.
Roman Period, 135 - 324 - 70 - Bar Kochba leads a doomed revolt against Rome.
- 135 - Emperor Hadrian rebuilds Jerusalem and renames the city Aelia Capitolina and the country Palestine.
Byzantine Period, 324 - 638 - 326 - Queen Helena discovers Golgotha; her son, Emperor Constantine the Great, builds the church of the Holy Sepulchre (see image above).
- 362 - Under Emperor Julian and unsuccessful attempt is made by the Jews to rebuild the Temple.
- 614 - The Persians invade Jerusalem, aided by the Jews.
- 629 - Emperor Heraclius captures the city.
Early Moslem Period, 638-1099 - 638 - Jerusalem surrenders to the Moslems; Caliph Oman visits.
- 691 - Abd el-Malek builds the Dome of the Rock.
- 715 - Mosque of el-Aqsa is completed by el-Walid el-Malek.
- 750 - Power shifts from Omayyads to Abbasids.
- 969 - Fatimid conquest is soon followed by destruction of churches and synagogues.
- 1071 - Seljuks devastate the city.
Crusader Period, 1099 - 1187 - 1099 - Crusaders conquer city, slaughter Moslems and Jews.
- 1187 - Saladin captures the city from the Crusaders.
- 1229 - Treaty returns city to Christian rule.
- 1244 - City is again in Moslem hands.
- 1260 - Mamluks rule Jerusalem.
- 1267 - Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman establishes the Ramban Synagogue.
- 1492 - Many Jews arrive in Jerusalem after the Spanish exile.
Ottoman Period, 1517-1917 - 1517 - Palestine and Jerusalem become part of Ottoman Empire.
- 1538 - Suleiman the Magnificent rebuilds Jerusalem's Wall.
- 1831 - Mohammed Ali of Egypt rules country for nine years.
- 1856 - After Crimean War, Turks begin to liberalize policies toward aliens.
- 1860 - The city begins to spread beyond Old City Wall.
- 1892 - Railroad connects city to the coast.
British Mandate, 1917 - 1948 - 1917 - General Allenby accepts surrender of Jerusalem by the Turks.
- 1920 - The Mandate for Palestine is conferred on Britain.
- 1936 - Lord Peel's Commission proposes partition of Palestine.
- 1947 - The United Nations votes to create Jewish and Arab states in Palestine; plan is rejected by the Arabs.
- 1948 - War breaks out; State of Israel [] declared on May 14
Under Jordan and Israel, 1948 - 1967 - 1949 - Cease-fire finds city divided; Jerusalem is proclaimed capital of Israel.
- 1967 - Israelis capture Old City during Six-Day War; city is reunited.
taken from JerusalemWalks, Rivised Edition, Nitza Rosovsky ISBN 0-8050-1553-1, 1992 (p. 27-31) The Holy Land is significant in Christianity, mainly because it is believed to be the place of birth, Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Holy cities for Christians of all denominations: - Jerusalem is believed to be the site of some of Jesus's teaching, the Last Supper and entombment
- Christians believe he was executed on a nearby hill, Golgotha. It contains the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Church of All Nations
- Bethlehem is the birthplace of Jesus
- Nazareth is Jesus's hometown and the site of many of his acts and miracles
References - « Al Gathafi, Muammar (2003). White Book (ISRATIN). Retrieved 09/27/2009.
- « Since the 10th century BCE:
- «"The centrality of Jerusalem to Judaism is so strong that even secular Jews express their devotion and attachment to the city and cannot conceive of a modern State of Israel without it... For Jews Jerusalem is sacred simply because it exists." Leslie J. Hoppe. The Holy City: Jerusalem in the theology of the Old Testament, Liturgical Press, 2000, p. 6. ISBN 0814650813
- «For Jews the city has been the pre-eminent focus of their spiritual, cultural, and national life throughout three millennia." Yossi Feintuch, U.S. Policy on Jerusalem, Greenwood Publishing Group, 1987, p. 1. ISBN 0313257000
- « Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for 'Abraham' in the ESV". Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. Retrieved 09/27/2009.
- « Blue Letter Bible. Nazareth Ναζαρά Nazara "Gospel of Matthew 2 - (ESV - English Standard Version)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. Retrieved 09/27/2009.
- « The Land of Israel: National Home Or Land of Destiny, By Eliezer Schweid, Translated by Deborah Greniman, Published 1985 Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press, ISBN 0838632343, p.56.
- « Horst Seebass, "Holy Land in the Old Testament: Numbers and Joshua," VT 56 (2006), 95. One perspective represented in Numbers is that the land becomes holy if it is the result of holy war, or Cherem. Seebass postulates that land taken in holy war is always holy. (ibid.)
- « "At the end of Joshua, the land has been distributed among the tribes, the patriarchal promise is fulfilled and the land becomes the holy land." John Goldingay, Theological Diversity and the Authority of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995), 68.
- « Sean Martin, The Knights Templar: The History & Myths of the Legendary Military Order, 2005. ISBN 1-56025-645-1
- « Ali (1991), p.934
- « al-Qummi, Ja'far ibn Qūlawayh (2008). Kāmil al-Ziyārāt. trans. Sayyid Mohsen al-Husaini al-Mīlāni. Shiabooks.ca Press. p. 545.
See also:
History of Ancient Israel
Jerusalem
Mount of Olives
Palestine | |