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"The go-to text for Christians and others wanting to understand what is really happening in the Middle East."
Jeremy Moodey, former Chief Executive, Embrace the Middle East
The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians has profoundly affected the Middle East for almost eighty years, and shows no sign of ending.
With two peoples claiming the same piece of land for different reasons, it remains a huge political and humanitarian problem. Can it ever be resolved? If so, how? These are the basic questions addressed in this revised and expanded sixth edition of Colin Chapman's highly acclaimed book.
Having lived and worked in the Middle East at various times since 1968, Chapman explains the roots of the problem and outlines the arguments of the main parties involved. He also explores the theme of land in the Old and New Testaments, discussing legitimate and illegitimate ways of using the Bible in relation to the conflict.
This new and fully updated edition covers developments over the past ten years, including the war that broke out between Israel and Hamas in October 2023.
Price: $24.00
Pages: 496
Publisher: SPCK
Imprint: SPCK Publishing
Publication Date:
03 December 2024
Trim Size: 8.50 X 5.43 in
ISBN: 9780281090617
Format: Paperback
BISACs:
Religion & politics
"A deep, long look at the issues surrounding the crisis in the historic land common to the three great monotheistic religions, Whose Promised Land? is recommended as a fine introduction to the history of the conflict."
— Relevant Magazine
"For a more than a generation, Colin Chapman's Whose Promised Land? has been the premier volume for Christians who are trying to think Christianly about the conflict in Israel-Palestine. And this new edition is a helpful update and improvement in his already-outstanding presentation. The strength of Chapman's work is not only in its comprehensiveness but in its fairness. Unlike most scholars, he sites his sources extensively, letting political leaders and theologians speak for themselves, so that the reader can make his or her own judgments about the meaning of their words. This is simply an essential book that ought to be in the hands of every thoughtful Christian who cares about the world, the Middle East, and the Bible."
— Gary Burge, Professor of New Testament, Calvin Theological Seminary
"When first published, this book influenced thousands of Christians with its balanced, thoughtful and Bible-based assessment of the situation in Israel/Palestine. . . With this brand new edition Colin Chapman does not disappoint. This remains the go-to text for Christians and others wanting to understand what is really happening in the Middle East."
— Jeremy Moodey, former Chief Executive, Embrace the Middle East
"This really is the "must-have" book on one of the world's hottest topics."
— Jeremy Moodey, former Chief Executive, Embrace the Middle East
— Relevant Magazine
"For a more than a generation, Colin Chapman's Whose Promised Land? has been the premier volume for Christians who are trying to think Christianly about the conflict in Israel-Palestine. And this new edition is a helpful update and improvement in his already-outstanding presentation. The strength of Chapman's work is not only in its comprehensiveness but in its fairness. Unlike most scholars, he sites his sources extensively, letting political leaders and theologians speak for themselves, so that the reader can make his or her own judgments about the meaning of their words. This is simply an essential book that ought to be in the hands of every thoughtful Christian who cares about the world, the Middle East, and the Bible."
— Gary Burge, Professor of New Testament, Calvin Theological Seminary
"When first published, this book influenced thousands of Christians with its balanced, thoughtful and Bible-based assessment of the situation in Israel/Palestine. . . With this brand new edition Colin Chapman does not disappoint. This remains the go-to text for Christians and others wanting to understand what is really happening in the Middle East."
— Jeremy Moodey, former Chief Executive, Embrace the Middle East
"This really is the "must-have" book on one of the world's hottest topics."
— Jeremy Moodey, former Chief Executive, Embrace the Middle East
Preface to the 2024 Revision 9
Introduction 13
Part 1 Understanding the History 17
Chapter 1 The Land in History: Basic Facts and Their Interpretation 19
1.1 The patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (c. 2000-1700 BC) 19
1.2 The exodus and the conquest of the land under Joshua (c. 1280-1050 BC) 20
1.3 The kingdom under Saul, David, and Solomon (1050-931 BC) 21
1.4 The kingdoms of Israel and Judah (931-587 BC) 22
1.5 The Babylonian exile (597-539 BC) 23
1.6 Palestine under the Babylonians, Persians, and Greeks (597-63 BC) 23
1.7 Palestine under the Romans (63 BC - AD 330) 24
1.8 Palestine under the Byzantine empire (AD 330-634) 25
1.9 Palestine under the Arabs and Seljuk Turks (634-1099) 26
1.10 Palestine under the Crusaders and the Mamluks (1099-1516) 26
1.11 Palestine under the Ottoman Turks (1516-1918) and the birth of Zionism 27
1.12 Palestine under the British Mandate (1922-48) 28
1.13 The UN Partition Plan (1947) 31
1.14 The founding of the State of Israel (1948) 32
1.15 Confl icts between 1948 and 1991 33
1.16 The peace process from 1991 to 2001 39
1.17 Developments since 2002 43
1.18 Different interpretations of the facts 49
Chapter 2 The Seeds of Confl ict: Call the Next Witness 57
2.1 Anti-Semitism 59
2.2 Zionism 64
2.3 Jewish settlement in the land 77
2.4 Arab reactions to Jewish settlement 85
2.5 The role of Britain 90
2.6 The role of the United Nations 98
2.7 Partition and war (1948-49) 104
2.8 Israel's self-perception 114
2.9 Other Jewish/Israeli voices 123
2.10 Fatah and Hamas 132
2.11 Different Palestinian voices 140
2.12 Conclusions 155
Chapter 3 Crucial Issues Today: Asking the Right Questions 161
3.1 What about the occupation? 162
3.2 What have been the main subjects of dispute? 166
3.3 What happened to the peace process? 169
3.4 Zionism or Zionisms? 172
3.5 Can Israel be both a Jewish state and democratic? 175
3.6 How important is Islam in the conflict? 176
3.7 Is anti-Zionism and criticism of Israel always anti-Semitic? 180
3.8 What is the background to the events of 7 October 2023? 185
3.9 Why do Christians have such different responses to Zionism and Israel? 193
Part 2 Interpreting the Bible 197
Chapter 4 The Land Before Christ: 'A Land Flowing with Milk and Honey' 199
4.1 The promise of the land 200
4.2 The boundaries of the land 204
4.3 The conquest of the land 207
4.4 The land and the temple 216
4.5 Exile from the land 218
4.6 The return to the land 222
4.7 The land and the hopes of Israel 227
4.8 Conclusions 233
Chapter 5 The Land After Christ: 'The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth' 235
5.1 The birth of Jesus the Messiah 236
5.2 Jesus and the land 240
5.3 Jesus and Jerusalem 248
5.4 The redemption of Israel, the kingdom of Israel, and the kingdom of God 258
5.5 The land in the teaching of the apostles 262
5.6 John's vision of the fi nal fulfi lment of the covenant 271
5.7 The land and the millennium 277
5.8 Conclusions 281
Chapter 6 Other Biblical Themes: 'Is There Any Word from the Lord?' 285
6.1 A passion for truth 286
6.2 The problem of prejudice 295
6.3 The demands of the law 299
6.4 The prophetic concern for justice 306
6.5 God's judgment in history 315
6.6 Suffering injustice 322
6.7 Rethinking and repentance through disaster 328
6.8 Jew and Gentile in the Old Testament 338
6.9 Jew and Gentile after Jesus the Messiah 345
6.10 The condemnation of anti Semitism 352
6.11 The possibility of reconciliation 357
6.12 Conclusions 366
Part 3 Finding Ways Forward 371
Chapter 7 Realities and Possibilities Today: 'The Things That Make for Peace' 373
7.1 Zionism 375
7.2 Christian Zionism 391
7.3 Zionism and Islam 407
7.4 What's the future for Hamas and Israel? 420
7.5 International law: How does it relate to this confl ict? How is it interpreted and how can it be enforced? 427
7.6 Israel, Palestine and global politics 436
7.7 Two states or one state? 446
Conclusion: Whose Land? 453
Notes 469
Index of Biblical Passages 487
General Index 490
Introduction 13
Part 1 Understanding the History 17
Chapter 1 The Land in History: Basic Facts and Their Interpretation 19
1.1 The patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (c. 2000-1700 BC) 19
1.2 The exodus and the conquest of the land under Joshua (c. 1280-1050 BC) 20
1.3 The kingdom under Saul, David, and Solomon (1050-931 BC) 21
1.4 The kingdoms of Israel and Judah (931-587 BC) 22
1.5 The Babylonian exile (597-539 BC) 23
1.6 Palestine under the Babylonians, Persians, and Greeks (597-63 BC) 23
1.7 Palestine under the Romans (63 BC - AD 330) 24
1.8 Palestine under the Byzantine empire (AD 330-634) 25
1.9 Palestine under the Arabs and Seljuk Turks (634-1099) 26
1.10 Palestine under the Crusaders and the Mamluks (1099-1516) 26
1.11 Palestine under the Ottoman Turks (1516-1918) and the birth of Zionism 27
1.12 Palestine under the British Mandate (1922-48) 28
1.13 The UN Partition Plan (1947) 31
1.14 The founding of the State of Israel (1948) 32
1.15 Confl icts between 1948 and 1991 33
1.16 The peace process from 1991 to 2001 39
1.17 Developments since 2002 43
1.18 Different interpretations of the facts 49
Chapter 2 The Seeds of Confl ict: Call the Next Witness 57
2.1 Anti-Semitism 59
2.2 Zionism 64
2.3 Jewish settlement in the land 77
2.4 Arab reactions to Jewish settlement 85
2.5 The role of Britain 90
2.6 The role of the United Nations 98
2.7 Partition and war (1948-49) 104
2.8 Israel's self-perception 114
2.9 Other Jewish/Israeli voices 123
2.10 Fatah and Hamas 132
2.11 Different Palestinian voices 140
2.12 Conclusions 155
Chapter 3 Crucial Issues Today: Asking the Right Questions 161
3.1 What about the occupation? 162
3.2 What have been the main subjects of dispute? 166
3.3 What happened to the peace process? 169
3.4 Zionism or Zionisms? 172
3.5 Can Israel be both a Jewish state and democratic? 175
3.6 How important is Islam in the conflict? 176
3.7 Is anti-Zionism and criticism of Israel always anti-Semitic? 180
3.8 What is the background to the events of 7 October 2023? 185
3.9 Why do Christians have such different responses to Zionism and Israel? 193
Part 2 Interpreting the Bible 197
Chapter 4 The Land Before Christ: 'A Land Flowing with Milk and Honey' 199
4.1 The promise of the land 200
4.2 The boundaries of the land 204
4.3 The conquest of the land 207
4.4 The land and the temple 216
4.5 Exile from the land 218
4.6 The return to the land 222
4.7 The land and the hopes of Israel 227
4.8 Conclusions 233
Chapter 5 The Land After Christ: 'The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth' 235
5.1 The birth of Jesus the Messiah 236
5.2 Jesus and the land 240
5.3 Jesus and Jerusalem 248
5.4 The redemption of Israel, the kingdom of Israel, and the kingdom of God 258
5.5 The land in the teaching of the apostles 262
5.6 John's vision of the fi nal fulfi lment of the covenant 271
5.7 The land and the millennium 277
5.8 Conclusions 281
Chapter 6 Other Biblical Themes: 'Is There Any Word from the Lord?' 285
6.1 A passion for truth 286
6.2 The problem of prejudice 295
6.3 The demands of the law 299
6.4 The prophetic concern for justice 306
6.5 God's judgment in history 315
6.6 Suffering injustice 322
6.7 Rethinking and repentance through disaster 328
6.8 Jew and Gentile in the Old Testament 338
6.9 Jew and Gentile after Jesus the Messiah 345
6.10 The condemnation of anti Semitism 352
6.11 The possibility of reconciliation 357
6.12 Conclusions 366
Part 3 Finding Ways Forward 371
Chapter 7 Realities and Possibilities Today: 'The Things That Make for Peace' 373
7.1 Zionism 375
7.2 Christian Zionism 391
7.3 Zionism and Islam 407
7.4 What's the future for Hamas and Israel? 420
7.5 International law: How does it relate to this confl ict? How is it interpreted and how can it be enforced? 427
7.6 Israel, Palestine and global politics 436
7.7 Two states or one state? 446
Conclusion: Whose Land? 453
Notes 469
Index of Biblical Passages 487
General Index 490