The Israelites

The name Israel refers to:

1. The patriarch Jacob, who was given this name after wrestling with a heavenly messenger. The name means “struggles with God” (Gen. 32:28).

2. The nation descended from Jacob and his twelve sons (the ancestors of the “twelve tribes of Israel”). The nation could be referred to as Israelites, all Israel, or children of Israel.

3. The kingdom formed when the nation Israel divided in two after the death of King Solomon (1 Kings 11).

Ten of the twelve tribes of Israel formed the “northern kingdom” of Israel. The two other tribes formed the “southern kingdom,” Judah.

In the Bible, “Israel” generally refers more often to the people than to the land itself. The land of Israel in the Bible did not cover precisely the same area as the nation of Israel today.

The modern term Israeli refers to the people of the nation Israel. Israeli is not found in the Bible.
See 936 (Hebrew).

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Fighting for the Truth and Love

John MacArthur

In a world where truth is under attack, few rise to defend it. But let's remember that our apathy won't be an excuse before Christ. In Revelation, we see how He rebuked the churches that tolerated falsehood. Let's do the same, bravely defend the truth.

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Holy Hatred of Sin

John MacArthur

We desperately need to recover a holy hatred of sin. We need to do this corporately as a church, but we also need to do it individually as believers. Sin is surely not a pleasant subject to study or preach on, but it is necessary.

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Calm And Quiet

David Jeremiah

According to medical researchers at Duke University, there is a “vicious cycle” involving insomnia, anxiety, and depression. It’s sort of a “which came first: the chicken or the egg?” scenario.

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

The Rope of Prayer

David Jeremiah

Daniel was a man who communicated with heaven. He prayed fervently, consistently, and for the will of God. He knew nothing of praying only before meals, at bedtime, and when he really needed God’s help.

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

The Initiative Against Depression

Oswald Chambers

A human being is capable of depression, otherwise there would be no capacity for exaltation. There are things that are calculated to depress, things that are of the nature of death; and in taking an estimate of yourself, always take into account the capacity for depression.