SPECIAL TOPIC: POSSESS THE LAND

SPECIAL TOPIC: POSSESS THE LAND (in Deuteronomy)

This VERB (BDB 439, KB 441, Qal PERFECT) is used repeatedly in connection with

YHWH's promise/oath to the Patriarchs (cf. Deut. 1:8; 10:11; see SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT PROMISES TO THE PATRIARCHS)
Israel acting on these promises and invading the land (cf. Deut. 2:24; 3:18-20)
It parallels "inheritance" (Deut. 3:28)
Israel must obey the covenant so as to maintain possession of the land (cf. Deut. 4:1,5,14; 6:1; 8:1; 11:8-9,26-32; see SPECIAL TOPIC: KEEP and SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT)

In YHWH's promise to Abraham (Genesis 12) He focuses on two things:

Abraham's descendant(s)
the Promised Land (i.e., Canaan, cf. Gen. 15:12-21).

The OT focuses on #2 and the NT on #1. It must be remembered that the land promised to Israel is conditioned on covenant obedience (cf. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 27-30). Disobedience brought about the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles.

I am not sure that the modern state of Israel (i.e., 1947) is a fulfillment of OT prophecies because it is not a repentant, obedient nation. Only 5% of its citizens attend synagogue regularly. It is a modern, secular, European-type democracy. They are political allies but not the righteous Israel of the OT promises. They do not have unconditional claim to the Promised Land.

Many have tried to make the promises racial (i.e., Gen. 12:1-3) but most modern Jews are not the physical descendants of Abraham (i.e., Semitic) but proselyte converts from

Europe (i.e., Khazars of Turkish origin, who converted to Judaism about A.D.740)
Africa (i.e., Ethiopian Jews)

The covenant of YHWH is conditional! However, there was a greater purpose in YHWH choosing Abraham and his descendants. In reality He was choosing the Jewish Messiah to choose all mankind.

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

SPECIAL TOPIC: WHY DO OT COVENANT PROMISES SEEM SO DIFFERENT FROM NT COVENANT PROMISES?