02.08. From 'Canaan' to 'Palestine'

From ’Canaan’ to ’Palestine’ When Abraham left Chaldea for the land God had promised him, he set out along what is known as the Fertile Crescent. This is the rich farming land that stretches from the Persian Gulf north-west along the Mesopotamian valley to northern Syria (Aram), and then curves south to follow the Mediterranean coast to Canaan.¹

Abraham eventually arrived in Canaan, his first recorded camping place being Shechem, a settlement among the central hills. Much of his time, however, was lived in the southern inland. Sometimes he moved around the good pasturelands of Bethel and Hebron, other times around the oasis settlements of Beersheba and Kadesh-barnea in the drier regions further south.² But he also came in contact with the Philistines, who occupied the fertile coastal plain. The native peoples of Canaan belonged to many tribal groups, though in common language they were often called Amorites.³ The Philistines, however, were different. They were not natives of the region, but had migrated from the Mediterranean island of Crete, earlier known as Caphtor.⁴ Further migrations followed, and by the time of the Judges they were a problem for Israel. Their region became known as ‘the land of the Philistines’, from which came the name ‘Palestine’, a designation later used for the region that the Bible calls Canaan.

Philistia’s main population centres – Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Gath and Ekron – became known as ‘the five cities of the Philistines’ and were the scene of many conflicts with ancient Israel.⁵ Some are still identifiable and are the scenes of conflicts with present-day Israel. A partly autonomous Palestinian region has been marked off within national Israel, with Gaza on the Palestinian side, and Ashkelon and Ashdod on the Israeli side. There are Christians on both sides of the border, but in each case they are a disadvantaged minority.

1. Genesis 11:31 2. Genesis 12:5-8; Genesis 13:3; Genesis 13:18; Genesis 18:1; Genesis 20:1; Genesis 21:33; Genesis 22:19 3. Genesis 15:16; Joshua 24:15; Joshua 24:18.

4. Amos 9:7; cf. Genesis 21:32-34; Deuteronomy 2:23 5. Joshua 13:2-3; Judges 3:3; 1 Samuel 6:4; see also Acts 8:26; Acts 8:40

Beth-shemesh, on the edge of the Philistine plain