The history of Gaza conflict, Palestine: It's future in Prophecy
20th January 2009, hej
In the Middle East the shadows of history are cast very long.
Before it was Palestine it was Canaan
Gaza was a city before Abraham fathered the Arabs. It was part of the inheritance of Canaan, Ham's son and Noah's grandson. The occupation of the area was possibly within a generation of the Flood (which Usher dates 2348BCE).
The border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as you go toward Gerar, to Gaza (Genesis 10:19)
Noah prophesied that this area, including Gaza, would be occupied by Shemites (including both Arabs and Jews) and would be dwelt in by Japhethites (the Northern nations, often called 'the West')
“Canaan is cursed. He will be servant of servants to his brothers.”
He said, “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Shem.
Let Canaan be his servant.
May God enlarge Japheth. Let him dwell in the tents of Shem.
Let Canaan be his servant.” Gen 9:25-27
Yahweh is called 'the God of Shem' and the Shemites (Semites) were to rule over the Canaanites, and Japhethites (Western/ Northern nations) were to interfere in the affairs of Shem, and in so doing also rule the Canaanites. This prophecy still stands. Canaan became Palestine and the Western nations interfere in their affairs, and the occupants of Palestine are servants to both the Jews and the Arab descendants of Shem.
Philistine is Palestinian
The term 'Palestine' is very old. Palestine is from 'Philistine' Arabic Filasṭīn Latinized to Palaestina by the Romans. Some Philistines appear to have settled on the coasts Canaan in the Gaza area by the time of Abraham and Isaac who both make covenants with the Philistine leaders (Genesis 21:22-34 & 26:26-30). The God of Israel declares he brought the Philistines to Canaan
Have not I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt? and the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir? (Amos 9:7)
After the Exodus from Egypt, under Joshua's leadership the Israelites conquered much of Canaan,
And Joshua smote them from Kadeshbarnea even unto Gaza, (Joshua 10:41)
There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained. (Joshua 11:22)
The Israelites did not initially conquer Gaza, Gath or Ashdod, and so these cities were not part of the inheritance at that time (approx. 1450BCE). Joshua writes near the end of his life that as yet they had not conquered this area.
This is the land that yet remains (to be conquered, see context): all the borders of the Philistines.., From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazaites, and the Ashdodites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; (Joshua 13:2-3)
Gaza is to be Judah's
At the end of Joshua's life God showed that Gaza and the associated region was part of the land promised to Israel and it was divided by lot to Judah, The following was part of Judah's lot,
Ekron, with her towns and her villages: From Ekron even unto the sea, all that lay near Ashdod, with their villages: Ashdod with her towns and her villages, Gaza with her towns and her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the great sea, and the border thereof: (Joshua 15:45-47)
Soon after the days of Joshua, Judah conquers Gaza
Judah took Gaza with the coast of it, and Askelon with the coast of it, and Ekron with the coast of it. (Judges 1:18)
But they were warned that any alliance with the locals would result in trouble to Israel. They failed to heed this and made leagues with the inhabitants.
You shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; you shall throw down their altars: but you have not obeyed my voice: why have you done this? Therefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you. (Judges 2:2-3)
Because of their lack of faith in their God, they lost control of Gaza, and the Philistine power grew
Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, ...Zidon, ... Moab, ...Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him. And he sold them into the hands of the Philistines.. (Judges 10:6-7)
The growth of the Philistine power as a “thorn” to Israel
From 1250-1150BCE approx. there were further influxes of Philistines along the coast and they became dominant. From 1280-1060BCE approx. Judah no longer controlled Gaza. Gaza was again a Philistine city. By the time of Samson they had ruled the Israelites 40 years and no Israelite was willing to challenge them. The people of Judah wanted to hand Samson (their own deliverer) to the Philistines,
Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, Know you not that the Philistines are rulers over us? what is this that you have done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them. (Judges 15:11)
But Samson caused the Philistines a lot of problems
Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her. And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come here. And they surrounded him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him. Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron. (Judges 16:1-3)
He removed Gaza's defensive gates. Long before the current Israeli blockade, Samson showed that Israel controlled their gates. Though finally captured, blinded and imprisoned in Gaza, Samson yet caused more damage.
The lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god has delivered Samson our enemy into our hand. And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, Our god has delivered into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, which slew many of us. (Judges 16:21-24)
Samson, though he knew it would kill him, leans on the pillars of the house and kills over 3,000, including the leaders of the Philistines in Gaza.
The Philistines recovered from the damage done by Samson and by 1180BCE united and conquered Israel and even took their Ark (I Samuel 4). The Philistines did not prosper and were forced to send the Ark back. The wise Philistines said to the leaders of the Philistines,
You shall give glory unto the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land. (1Samuel 6:5)
And these are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering unto the LORD; for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one; (1Samuel 6:17)
These were the cities of the Philistines (the Palestinians). Israel many years later is led by Samuel to recover control of the area,
The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts of it did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. (1Samuel. 7:14)
No clear boundaries in this local Warfare: it's not so simple
Despite enmity, some of one side would actually fight for the other. Hebrews fought for Philistines!
Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan. (1Samuel 14:21)
Before the kingdom of the Lord was established under David's rule there was continual warfare between Saul and the Philistines in a struggle for supremacy. David, while a servant of Saul, kills Goliath and many Philistines, yet when Saul becomes David's enemy, David finds the only safe place is in the land of the Philistines. He lives there in Gath a full year and 4 months (1 Samuel 27:7) and even goes out with the Philistines to fight against Israel. David is saved by protest from the other Philistine leaders (I Samuel 29:3-7).
When Saul fails and is no longer helped by the God if Israel, all the territory taken up till that time goes back to the Philistines
And when all the men of Israel that were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, then they forsook their cities, and fled: and the Philistines came and dwelt in them. (1Chron. 10:7)
Despite David's friendship with one Philistine king, as soon as he is made king, the Philistines declare war on him (I Chronicles 14:8 In v16 David asks if he should go up to fight, showing he is uncertain). But amongst David's followers who fight the Philistines, are Philistines!
And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites (Hebrew is same word as for 'Philistines'), and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath (2Samuel 15:18)
Israel conquers and the Gaza Strip area becomes a vassal state
David became great and the Philistines are conquered and became a vassal kingdom to Israel from the time of King David and Solomon 1050- 930BCE (2 Chron 9:26). They seemed to have regained self-rule when Israel divided, but were again conquered approx. 800BCE by Uzziah (2 Chron 26:7) and again in 720BCE by Hezekiah, king of Judah (2 Kings 18:8).
From all this history it can be seen that Israel did not have a strong attachment to Gaza. In time of adversity it was the first to go, and only when they were strong did they control this area, and even then they did not set up direct rule.
This shows why only a few protested in Israel when this land was handed to the Palestinian authority in 2005.
The Superpowers weigh into Gaza
But the ebb and flow of who controlled Gaza and the Philistine (Palestinian) territory was about to become part of a much bigger struggle, that of the superpowers. Firstly the reviving power of Egypt under Pharoah Necho II (Nekau II) 26th dynasty (610 - 595 BC). Jeremiah writes of this,
The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza. (Jeremiah 47:1)
Jeremiah adds, however, that the new superpower from the North would bring the end of their power,
Thus says the LORD; Behold, waters rise up out of the north (the Babylonians), and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is in it; the city, and them that dwell there:.. all the inhabitants of the land shall howl... Because of the day that comes to spoil all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remains: for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor. Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long will you cut yourself? O sword of the LORD, how long will it be until you be quiet? put up into your scabbard, rest, and be still. How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD has given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there has he appointed it. (Jeremiah 47:1-7)
Jeremiah about 600BCE speaks of at least two destructions. (Babylon is “North” of Israel due to the fact that the fertile Crescent ends just north of Lebanon, and their conquest in the Holy Land came down from this Northern direction). Gaza became part of the Babylonian Empire, the superpower of its day, from 560BCE. Even though the sword 'rests' for a while after the conquest of Nebuchadnezzar another, that of Alexander the Macedonian, comes along and finishes the job in 332BCE, conquering and destroying utterly both Tyre and Gaza and selling its remaining inhabitants as slaves.
Amos writes that the Philistines are to be destroyed because they had no pity on the Israelites, when Nebuchadnezzar the great 'Northern' Power came and invaded the land.
Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom: But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof: And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holds the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn my hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish. (Amos 1:6-8)
Edom is in modern day Jordan. Zephaniah writing approx. 640BCE speaks also of the Philistines' cities utter destruction, but adds that their land would be given to Judah for flocks..
Gather yourselves together.., O nation not desired; Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD'S anger come upon you. Seek ye the LORD, all you meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger. For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.
Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites!(related to the Philistines) the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy you, that there shall be no inhabitant. And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks. And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity. (Zephaniah 2:1-7)
Alexander the Great fulfilled much of this. In the power vacuum left by Alexander's death, under the Macabeean's Hasmonean Kingdom the Jews reclaimed all this land and the area was called Judea. Traders from the Idumean (Edomite) kingdom traded through Petra to Gaza.
Zechariah adds to Zephaniah. When Tyre built their city in the sea, then Alexander the great destroyed it. At that time Gaza rightly feared as Alexander then proceeded down the coast to the very next year to conquer Gaza.
The word of the LORD... and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD. And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise. And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets. Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.
Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remains, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite. (Zechariah 9:1-7)
Herod the Idumean ruled this whole area including Gaza with Roman backing from 73BCE. After Herod's death it was divided up and Gaza and the area approximating the modern Gaza strip was part of the province of Syria, and not in Judea.
By approx 35CE the city of Gaza still existed but the land was desert already,
And the angel of the Lord spoke unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goes down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. (Acts 8:26)
The Roman conquest of the Jews depopulated the area called Judea of Jews. Emperor Hadrian, to prevent Jews being attracted to the area, named the whole of the area from Syria to Egypt Syria Palaestina in 135CE and encouraged settlement by Romans.
For 1800 years the population of this area was small, and generally poor as over time it became desert. It became a Byzantine Diocese. In the struggle of the superpowers it was occupied by Persians from 614–28, until the Byzantines regained it. The Arab Caliphate in 634 CE, defeated the Byzantine Empire decisively at Yarmouk in 636 CE and allowed Jews to again settle. Gaza and Ashkelon were among the cities accepting the new rulers. During the Crusader occupation 1099-1187 the focus was Jerusalem and Acre. After 1270 the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt rebuilt Gaza city. The Ottomans ruled Gaza from 1517-1799. Napoleon captured Gaza City in 1799. From 1800 Gaza was dominated by Egypt and it was made part of Egypt in 1832. It was recaptured by the Ottomans but most people in Gaza were Egyptian or Jewish. After conquering Gaza from the Ottomans, Britain is given control of it in the UN Mandate of Palestine in 1922. In the 1929 Palestine riots most Jews left Gaza. After helping divide up the Middle East, Britain leaves Palestine.
1948. History begins to repeat
Those who do not know and learn from history, may repeat it.
In 1947 Gaza was to become part of a Palestinian state in a 2 state solution with the creation of Israel, but in 1948 when Britain withdrew, Egypt retained control and administered it instead. In 1967 Egypt declared war on Israel and lost the Gaza territory. But Gaza was not made part of Israel proper. As Israel became stronger some Jews settled in Gaza, hoping to once again inherit Judah's alotment. But with renewed local conflict with the Palestinians (Philistines) and the rise of Palestinian strength, in 2005 all Israeli settlers and Israeli military removed from the Gaza Strip.
This local struggle, just as between the Israelites and the Philistines, has occurred for 2 reasons.
The superpowers were occupied elsewhere
Israel has not sought to wholly serve their God
As in the past, the boundaries are not too clear, with some Jews supporting the Palestinians and vice versa.
Just how accurately history is repeated is shown in how apt Israel's ancient Songs (Psalms) are
For, lo, your enemies make a tumult: and they that hate you (Israel) have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against your people.... They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: The tabernacles of Edom(Jordan), and the Ishmaelites (Arabians) of Moab (Jordan), and... Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek (3 are in Jordan) the Philistines (Palestinians) with the inhabitants of Tyre (Lebanon); Assyria (Syria) also is joined with them: they have helped the children of Lot (Ammon and Moab = Jordan) (Psalm 83:2-9)
Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession. (Psalm 83:12)
Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD. (Psalm 83:16)
In modern language those descendants (children) of the original inhabitants, the Palestinians (who are ethnically very similar to the Jordanians, are first “with” or in alliance with the inhabitants of Southern Lebanon, then they are joined by Syria who helps them in “making an uproar”, by supplying weapons, saying “Israel must be removed”. They say also they must take control of the holy places, indicating their hate has religious origins.
The songs are very apt. Israel will suffer much, but it is a 'banner' or sign to those that fear God.
You have showed your people hard things: you have made us to drink the wine of astonishment. You have given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. .. That your beloved may be delivered; save with your right hand, and hear me.
God has spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth. Gilead is mine (In Jordan, just East of the Jordan river), and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head (Both in the modern West Bank); Judah is my lawgiver; Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe (Jordan): Palestine, triumph you because of me. Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom (Jordan)? Wilt not you, O God, which had cast us off? and you, O God, which did not go out with our armies? Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. (Psalm 60:3-11)
Israel's deliverance is tied up with God's armies coming through Jordan, and, throwing his shoe (in contempt) over Jordan. And in that mess Palestine will triumph, but it is because of Israel, and the fact Israel is delivered..no longer cast off by their God. Psalm 108 repeats Psalm 60 above exactly but adds,
Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies. (Psalm 108:13)
The songs speak of Palestine being praised as where great men are born.
His foundation is in the holy mountains. The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. Selah. I will make mention of Egypt and Babylon (Iraq) to them that know me: behold Palestine, and Tyre (south Lebanon), with Ethiopia; this man was born there. And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her. The LORD shall count, when he writes up the people, that this man was born there. (Psalm 87:1-6)
But Zion is to be greater than even Egypt or Babylon. They might boast, but of Zion it is said 'the highest shall establish her'.
Palestine in prophecy:
As history is repeating now, those in Palestine should learn from the past so they don't repeat it. The Philistines suffered for their opposition to Israel.
Thus says the Lord GOD; Because the Philistines (Palestinians) have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred; Therefore thus says the Lord GOD; Behold, I will stretch out my hand upon the Philistines (Palestinians), and I will cut off the Cherethims (Palestinian area in Israel), and destroy the remnant of the sea coast. And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them. (Ezekiel 25:15-17).
It was not healthy to hate and to take revenge on Israel. Back then this was fulfilled when Alexander the Great destroyed their cities and sent the remnant into slavery.
Coming Next is a repeat of the Superpower struggle over the Land
Once the superpowers of the ancient world re-grouped, Gaza became merely land fought and lost in their struggles.
Obadiah indicates that due to a latter day re-emergent superpower struggle, a terrible fate awaits those now who use violence against their brothers, the Jews. This has not yet been fulfilled.
For your violence against your brother Jacob shame shall cover you, and thou shall be cut off for ever.
In the day that thou stood on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou were as one of them. (Obadiah 1:10)
These 'foreigners' are neither Jew nor Arab. The Palestinians will seek to support these nations who invade, but they will be judged
But you should not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither should you have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress. Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, you should not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity; Neither should you have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither should you have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress.
The Arab brothers of the Jews will seek to lay hands on the Jews' land when these “foreign” nations invade. But these very nations have no love of the Palestinians really and they will 'drink' them up.
For the day of the LORD is near upon all the Nations: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: your reward shall return upon thine own head. For as you have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the Nations drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been. But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. (Obadiah 15-18)
The judgement will also come in fire from the Jews,
And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau (Jordan area) for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD has spoken it. And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau (In Jordan); and they of the plain the Philistines (Palestinians which is the Gaza strip): and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead (modern Central Jordan). And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath (Lebanon); and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Assyria (where they are taken captive), shall possess the cities of the south. And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD'S. (Obadiah 1:19-21)
Joel is considered an end time prophecy- a prophecy leading up to Armageddon. He writes,
For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem (which happened since 1948), I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.
This is not good news for Israel. It says that the nations will divide Israel up. They have plans already in evidence.
And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink. Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head; Because you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things: The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border. Behold, I will raise them out of the place where you have sold them, and will return your recompence upon your own head: And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off
The Palestinian in Tyre and Sidon (South Lebanon) will work as one to revenge themselves on Israel, but it will turn on them, as their children will be given to the Jews to be sold far away,
Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war... Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble yourselves, and come, all you nations, and gather yourselves together round about: here cause your mighty ones to come down, O LORD. Let the nations be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the Nations round about.... for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. (Joel 3:1-16)
This will be a war like none yet, and the events beginning it are occuring now.
The end of the conflict will see something quite strange, the Palestinians help the Jews regather and make a new greater nation under their leader, the Messiah.
And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse (Messiah), which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off:...But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines (Palestinians) toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they (Israel) shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab (Jordan); and the children of Ammon (Jordanians) shall obey them.
And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod. And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt. (Isaiah 11:10-16)
At that time there shall be an end to the effects of the long shadows of a 3,500 year history of violence, as no less than God himself will establish Zion, with more than disproportionate force. And finally there shall be peace in the Middle East,
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11:9)
