Christian Cyclopedia

The Holy Land (Zch 2:12) of Hebrews and Christians. The name is ultimately derived from “Philistine.” Geog. boundaries have varied but have always included the region (ca. 140 mi. long, ca. 30–ca. 70 mi. wide) bet. the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan R. and bordering SW on Egypt. Longitudinal sections in this area: (1) coastal plain; (2) mountains intersected by the Plain of Esdraelon (sometimes called “valley of Jezreel”) immediately N of Carmel; (3) Jordan valley, from the Anti-Liban mountains S through the Waters of Merom and the Sea of Galilee (or Lake of Gennesaret) to the N end of the Dead Sea. See also Middle East, F; Zionism.