The Exodus (1440 BC): The Hebrew word, tvlp, in Exodus 15:14 is translated Palestina in some editions of the King James Version. The transliteration of the Hebrew word into English characters is plst.  In some modern translations like the New International Version, it is translated Philistia. This also happens in Isaiah 14:29, 31, and Joel 3:4. The area of Philistia\Palestina was the coastland between Gazza and Joppa--the area of the Philistines. The word, Palestina (Palestine), has its roots in the word, Philistia (Philistine).  Likewise, there seems to be a relation between Philistia and plst.

Palestinian Covenant (1410 BC): The Palestinian Covenant contains the rules given by God whereby the Jewish nation would be given the blessings of living in Palestine or be given the curses of exile outside the land (e.g., Deuteronomy 29:1-30:20). However, the Biblical text does not give this covenant a name. This land was also called Canaan or, before the division of the kingdom, Israel.

Herodotus (approximately 450 BC): Herodotus was a Greek scholar and traveler in the 5th century. He indicated Palestine was in southern Syria. Thus by this time Palestine was also the name given to the inland area.

Josephus (approximately AD 80): Josephus was a Jewish historian. He called the larger area Syria.

Ottoman Empire (approximately AD 1453): In the Arab and Ottoman (a Moslem empire centered in Turkey) periods that followed, Palestine was a part of Syria.

British Rule (approximately AD 1916-1948): Palestine represented the area known today as Jordan and Israel. The division into these two countries was made in 1948.

Popular Identification: Today we normally think of Palestine as being the land occupied by the 12 tribes or the land in which our Lord Jesus Christ ministered. Sometimes we call this area the Holy Lands.

Main References: J. H. Paterson, "Palestine," Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, 4:564, and J. H. Houston, "Palestine," The New Bible Dictionary, 1962 ed., p. 918.

The history of Palestine from a Jewish perspective may be found at www.eretzyisroel.org/~jkatz/.

June 08, 2002, Edition -- © 2000-2002, Ken Bowles

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