Written in an evenhanded style, Whose Promised Land? explains the roots of the conflict, tracing its history up to the present time and outlining the arguments of the main parties involved. It also explores the theme of the land in the Old and News Testaments, pointing out legitimate and illegitimate ways of using the Bible in relation to the conflict.

This highly acclaimed book is now fully revised and updated in light of the terrorist attacks upon the United States. It brings the history up to date and expands the biblical material. It also contains news chapters on Zionism, Christian Zionism, and Dispensationalism; the power equation in the world today; and Islamic responses to Zionism.

All who seek to understand the background of the Middle East conflict and reflect on possible ways to forward will appreciate this book. It will also appeal o readers who want to understand the repercussions of the Middle East conflict around the world.

PRAISE FOR PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF
Whose Promised Land?

"Highly illuminating and gives an excellent analysis (with thought-provoking questions) of both sides of the problem."
- Christianity Today

"Over the past twenty year I have read many books on the Middle East but none has given such careful and courageous attention to the really critical issues involved."
- On Being

Colin Chapman is currently Lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut, Lebanon. The author of several books, including Christianity on Trial and The Case for Christianity. Chapman has lived and worked in the Middle East for sixteen years during various times since 1968.

TABLE OF CONTENT

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

PART 1. UNDERSTANDING THE HISTORY

1. BASIC FACTS AND THEIR INTERPRETATION

1.01 The Patriarchs - Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
         (c 2000 - 1700 BC)
1.02. The Exodus and the Conquest of the land under
         Joshua (c 1280 - 1050 BC)
1.03. The Kingdom under Saul, David and Solomon
         (1050-931 BC)
1.04. The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah (931-587 BC)
1.05. The Babylonian Exile (597-539 BC)
1.06. Palestine under the Babylonians, Persians and          Greeks (597-63 BC)
1.07. Palestine under the Romans (63 BC - 330 AD)
1.08. Palestine under the Byzantine Empire (330-632)
1.09. Palestine under the Arabs and Seljuk Turks
         (632-1096)
1.10. Palestine under the Crusaders and the Mamluks
         (1096-1517)
1.11. Palestine under the Ottoman Turks (1517-1918)
1.12. Palestine under the Mandate (1922-1948
1.13. The UN Partition Plan (1947)
1.14. The Founding of the State of Israel (1948)
1.15. Conflicts since 1948
1.16. The Peace Process since Madrid (1991) and Oslo
         (1993)
1.17. Jerusalem and the West Bank since 1967
1.18. Different interpretations of the facts

2. THE SEEDS OF CONFLICT: call the next witness

2.01. Anti-Semitism
2.02. Zionism
2.03. Jewish Settlement in the land
2.04. Arab Reactions to Jewish Settlement
2.05. The Role of Britain
2.06. The UN Partition Plan (1947)
2.07. Partition and War (1948-49)
2.08. The Voice of Israel
2.09. Other Jewish Voices
2.10. The Different Voices of the Palestinians
2.11. Conclusions

PART 2. INTERPRETING THE BIBLE

3. THE LAND BEFORE CHRIST: 'a land flowing with milk and honey'

3.01. The Promise of the Land
3.02. The Boundaries of the land
3.03. The Conquest of the Land
3.04. The Land and the Temple
3.05. Exile from the Land
3.06. The Return to the Land
3.07. The Land and the Hopes of Israel
3.08. Conclusions

4. THE LAND AFTER CHRIST: 'the meek shall inherit the earth'

4.01. The Birth of Jesus the Messiah
4.02. Jesus and the Land
4.03. Jesus and Jerusalem
4.04. The Redemption of Israel
4.05. The Land in the teaching of the Apostles the          Hopes of Israel
4.06. John's vision of the final fulfilment of th covenant
4.07. The Land and the Milennium
4.08. Conclusions

5. OTHER BIBLICAL THEMES: 'is there any word from the Lord?'

5.01. A Passion for Truth
5.02. The Problem of Prejudice
5.03. The Demands of the Law
5.04. The Prophetic Concern for Justice
5.05. God's Judgement in History
5.06. Suffering Injustice
5.07. Re-thinking and Repentance through Disaster
5.08. Jew and Gentile in the Old Testament
5.09. Jews and Gentile after Jesus the Messiah
5.10. The Condemnatation of Anti-Semitism
5.11. The Possibility of Reconciliation
5.12. Conclusions

PART 3. APPRECIATING THE ISSUES TODAY

6. REALITIES TODAY

6.01. A crisis for Zionism
6.02. The power equation in the world today
6.03. Christian Zionism and Dispensationalism
6.04. Zionism and Islam
6.05. Conclusions: the options for Israel and questions          for the Palestinians

CONCLUSION: Whose land?

APPENDICES:

1. Christian Interpretation of Old Testament Prophecy
2. Examples

Index of Biblical passages
General Index

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