“Israel” can refer to four (or more) related things.
1) It refers to the ancient Jewish people. In the Hebrew Bible, G-d gives Jacob (Abraham’s grandson) the name ‘Israel’. His descendants are then called the Children of Israel or the Israelites.
2) It refers to the ancient Kingdom of Israel. David, one of the Kings of Israel, is portrayed in this painting. There are historical sources that tell us about this kingdom, its people, and its relations with its neighbours. There are also biblical stories about the kingdom. The biblical and historical sources do not always agree.
3) It refers to the biblical Land of Israel (Eretz Israel). In the Hebrew Bible, G-d promises the Land of Israel to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This is part of G-d’s covenant with Abraham and his descendants.
4) It refers to the modern state of Israel. This is a country on the eastern side of the Mediterranean Sea. It was established in the 20th century. There continue to be tensions and conflicts about the land in this area. This region contains many holy sites for Jews, Muslims, and Christians, including the city of Jerusalem which contains the Temple Mount.
King David; Chastleton House, National Trust; via Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain.
