Topical Bible: Holy Land: Called: Good Land

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Topical Encyclopedia

The term "Good Land" is one of the biblical designations for the region commonly referred to as the Holy Land. This land, promised by God to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, holds a central place in biblical history and theology. The designation "Good Land" emphasizes the fertility, abundance, and divine favor associated with this territory.

Biblical References:

1. Deuteronomy 8:7-10 : The description of the land as "good" is vividly portrayed in Deuteronomy, where Moses speaks to the Israelites about the land they are about to enter. "For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land where you will eat food without scarcity, where you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron and from whose hills you can mine copper."

2. Deuteronomy 11:10-12 : The land is contrasted with Egypt, highlighting its divine provision. "For the land that you are entering to possess is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and irrigated by hand as in a vegetable garden. But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven. It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end."

3. Exodus 3:8 : The promise of the land is reiterated during God's call to Moses. "I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites."

Theological Significance:

The "Good Land" is not merely a geographical location but a symbol of God's covenantal faithfulness and blessing. It represents the fulfillment of God's promises to the patriarchs and serves as a tangible expression of His provision and care for His people. The land's fertility and abundance are seen as direct gifts from God, underscoring the relationship between the Israelites and their Creator.

Historical Context:

The land's designation as "good" also reflects its strategic and agricultural value in the ancient Near East. Situated at the crossroads of major civilizations, the land was both a blessing and a challenge, requiring the Israelites to depend on God for protection and sustenance. The biblical narrative often highlights the contrast between the Israelites' experiences in Egypt and the promise of a land where they would thrive under God's care.

Cultural and Spiritual Implications:

For the Israelites, the "Good Land" was a place where they could live out their identity as God's chosen people. It was a land where they were to establish a society based on God's laws and principles, serving as a light to the nations. The land's goodness was not only in its physical attributes but also in its role as the setting for the unfolding of God's redemptive plan.

In summary, the designation of the Holy Land as the "Good Land" encapsulates its significance in biblical theology, history, and culture. It is a testament to God's faithfulness and a reminder of the blessings that come from living in accordance with His will.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Numbers 14:7
And they spoke to all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 3:25
I pray you, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Why Jesus came to this World
... It was called the Land of Canaan at the first, then the Land of Promise, and then
the Land of Israel. But we call it the Holy Land, or Palestine. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/the good shepherd/chapter i why jesus came.htm

Joshua was a Figure of Christ.
... have now frequently remarked, who was called Oshea, when ... Moses, led the people into
the Holy Land, and as ... the people, and will distribute the good land to each ...
/.../chapter cxiii joshua was a figure.htm

His Journey to Rome, Venice, Jerusalem, and the Holy Land
... From Cyprus they went to another port called Salinae, ten ... and he intended to send
some away from the Holy Land. ... not suffer him to remain in those holy places. ...
/.../loyola/the autobiography of st ignatius/chapter iv his journey to.htm

The Land and the People.
... of the very synagogue which the good Roman centurion ... Caesarea Philippi, formerly
and now called Banias (or ... the northern termination of the Holy Land and of the ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 17 the land and.htm

The Good Shepherd.
... A traveler in the Holy Land says: "Two flocks were moving ... The traveler called them
in the shepherd's dress, but ... The sheep of the Good Shepherd hear his voice ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the good shepherd.htm

In Palestine - Jews and Gentiles in the Land' - their Mutual ...
... heathen, since the dedication of the so-called Terumoth, or ... brought from what had
grown on the holy soil itself ... Babylon took possession of, in the land of Israel ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vii in palestine -.htm

Next There Follows, "And in Christ Jesus, his Only Son, Our Lord. ...
... Therefore, both were called "Jesus," both the one who ... wanderings of the wilderness,
into the land of promise ... the Father hath anointed with the Holy Spirit sent ...
/.../6 next there follows and.htm

The Obedience of Faith
... This is not a land of promise we are called to enter ... God calls you indeed to a land
of promise ... himself the uttermost unto the ever-blessed and most holy will of ...
/.../murray/the school of obedience/vi the obedience of faith.htm

The Opinion of the Apostles on Veiling the Mysteries of the Faith.
... instruction, which reveals hidden things, is called illumination, as ... on its leaves
either by sea or land, he who ... Akin to this is what the holy Apostle Paul says ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter x the opinion of the.htm

The Story of St. Ursula
... And because of the mantle, they called her Ursula, 'Little ... gladness upon the sea,
following this my holy pilgrimage ... spake one of the nobles of the land to Maurus ...
//christianbookshelf.org/ruskin/saint ursula/i the story of st.htm