SPECIAL TOPIC: THE GEOGRAPHICAL DIVISIONS OF THE PROMISED LAND

There are five topological divisions of Palestine running north to south mentioned in the Bible:

1. "in the hill country of the Amorite" — This refers to the eastern bank of the Jordan and the kingdoms of Sihon and Og.
2. "in the Arabah" — This refers to the Jordan rift valley south of the Dead Sea (BDB 787, cf. Deut. 1:1,7; 2:8; 3:17; 4:49; 11:30; Josh. 8:14; 11:2,16; 12:3; 18:18).
3. "in the hill country and in the lowlands" — This refers to the area west and south of the Dead Sea, later to become the tribal allocation of Ephraim and Judah.
4. "the Negev" — This is the arid desert land south of the Dead Sea and to the west (BDB 616).
5. "by the seacoast" — This is the coastal plain running from Egypt to Lebanon (i.e., Shephelah, BDB 410).

All of these taken together refer to the land promised to Abraham in Genesis 15.

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