Topical Bible: Heathen: Their Land Given to Israel

◄ Heathen: Their Land Given to Israel ►

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The term "heathen" in the biblical context often refers to the nations or peoples who do not worship the God of Israel. These groups are frequently depicted as idolaters and are contrasted with the Israelites, who are chosen by God to be His people. The concept of the heathen and their lands being given to Israel is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, reflecting God's covenant promises to the patriarchs and His divine plan for the nation of Israel.

Divine Promise and Covenant

The promise of land to Israel is rooted in the covenant God made with Abraham. In Genesis 12:1-3, God calls Abram (later Abraham) to leave his country and promises to make him a great nation. This promise is further elaborated in Genesis 15:18-21, where God makes a covenant with Abram, stating, "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates." This land includes the territories of various heathen nations, such as the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.

Conquest and Fulfillment

The fulfillment of this promise begins with the Exodus from Egypt and the subsequent conquest of Canaan under Joshua's leadership. In Deuteronomy 7:1-2, God instructs the Israelites, "When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess, and He drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—seven nations larger and stronger than you—and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must devote them to complete destruction."

The Book of Joshua details the military campaigns and the division of the conquered lands among the tribes of Israel. Joshua 21:43-45 summarizes the fulfillment of God's promise: "So the LORD gave Israel all the land He had sworn to give their fathers, and they took possession of it and settled there. And the LORD gave them rest on every side, just as He had sworn to their fathers. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hands."

Theological Significance

The transfer of land from the heathen nations to Israel is not merely a historical event but carries deep theological significance. It demonstrates God's faithfulness to His covenant promises and His sovereign authority over all nations. The land is a tangible sign of God's blessing and a place where His people are to live according to His laws and worship Him exclusively.

The conquest also serves as a judgment against the idolatry and moral corruption of the heathen nations. In Leviticus 18:24-25, God warns Israel not to defile themselves as the nations before them did, stating, "Do not defile yourselves by any of these practices, for by all these things the nations I am driving out before you have defiled themselves. The land has become defiled, so I am punishing it for its iniquity, and the land will vomit out its inhabitants."

Continued Relevance

The theme of the heathen and their lands given to Israel continues to hold relevance in biblical prophecy and eschatology. The prophets often speak of a future restoration of Israel and the gathering of the nations to worship the God of Israel. In Isaiah 2:2-3, it is prophesied, "In the last days, the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains, and will be raised above the hills; and all nations will stream to it. And many peoples will come and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that He may teach us concerning His ways and that we may walk in His paths.'"

This vision underscores the ultimate purpose of God's dealings with Israel and the nations: to establish His kingdom and bring all peoples into a right relationship with Him.

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Psalm 78:55
He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
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Psalm 105:44
And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labor of the people;
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Psalm 135:12
And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage to Israel his people.
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Psalm 136:21,22
And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endures for ever:
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Isaiah 54:1-3
Sing, O barren, you that did not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you that did not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, said the LORD.
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Library

The Restoration of Israel is Only Made Possible by the Second ...
... And they shall dwell in the land that I have given ... shall be with them: yea, I will
be their God, and ... And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify ...
/.../pink/the redeemers return/3 the restoration of israel.htm

The Fourth Rule of Tichonius.
... them for the blood that they had shed upon the land, and for their idols wherewith
they had polluted it: and I scattered them among the heathen, and they ...
/.../on christian doctrine in four books /chapter 34 the fourth rule of.htm

The Millennium in Relation to Israel.
... And they shall dwell in the land which I have given ... shall be with them: yea, I will
be their God, and ... And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify ...
/.../pink/the redeemers return/4 the millennium in relation.htm

"Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge"
... and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the ... land, and they
shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 24 destroyed for lack.htm

Hope for the Heathen
... Abraham, their father, to whom the covenant promise was first ... that he might be a
light bearer to the heathen. ... founder of a great nation in the land of Canaan. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 31 hope for the.htm

In Palestine - Jews and Gentiles in the Land' - their Mutual ...
... were heathen, and yet not quite heathen, since the ... outside the northern boundary
of the land.' Similarly, we ... of the Law, [402] concentrated their first efforts ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vii in palestine -.htm

Israel in Canaan.
... pastures, it was truly a goodly land, and when ... be tempted to make friends with their
heathen neighbours, and ... and carry off their cattle and their crops, until ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson v israel in canaan.htm

Barriers Broken Down
... in cities and villages close to the land of Israel. ... the disciples from sympathy with
the heathen world. ... They saw that their Master treated her with indifference ...
/.../white/the desire of ages/chapter 43 barriers broken down.htm

The Woman of Samaria
... He swept away all the heathen people of Damascus, and killed their king. ... In a very
few years, he came on into the land of Israel, besieged Samaria for three ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon xxvi the woman of.htm

Jews and Gentiles in "The Land"
... for the presence of the Romans and their followers, and of ... and confessedly did not
occupy the land in its ... there was a constant influx of heathen, and unceasing ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 2 jews and gentiles.htm