a member of the ancient Hebrew nation, especially in the period from the Exodus to the Babylonian Captivity ( c. 12th to 6th centuries BC).
The term ISRAEL is used in scripture to describe A MAN, A PEOPLE, A LAND (NATION).
A MAN:
Genesis 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
Genesis 35:10, 37:3,13 42:5 43:6,8,11 45:21 45:28 46:1,2,8,29,30 47:29,31 48:2,8,10,11,14,20,21,50:2
A PEOPLE:
Genesis 32:32 Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew that shrank.
Genesis 34:7, 35:21,22 36:1 47:27 49:2,7,16,24,28 50:25
Starting in Exodus 1:1 and through Deuteronomy 34:12 it was the people, the Children of Israel.
A NATION:
From Joshua to Malachi God dealt with Israel as a PEOPLE and A NATION as he gave them a land. As they kept God first He blessed them, when they went after other gods, He would discipline them, even remove them from the Land. As they returned to Him they would again be blessed.
Finally, at the birth of Christ the people of Israel were in their land, as a nation, however they were under the rule of Rome. Christ came and offered them their Kingdom, all they had to do was receive Him as their Messiah, their King. They not only rejected Him they had Him crucified.
Be sure to read the verses sited in context.
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