James Smith’s book is aimed primarily at a believing (Christian) readership. Non- Christian readers might well benefit, but sadly this book might not be on their reading list. The generic subject of Israel is well covered in Christian literature; what does James Smith add?
Divided into eleven chapters Smith looks at the broad subject of Israel – it’s place in the world, and it’s place in God’s overarching plan for Mankind. The book’s outline structure:
- Israel, the man, the family, the nation
- From Israel to Palestine
- From Palestine to Israel
- Catastrophe!
- Exposing the real issue
- Mohammad and the Jews
- Jerusalem
- Ancient / future hatred
- Conclusion
- Has the church replaced Israel?
- Replacement Theology – proof-texts?
Three Appendices are included: 1. Biblical history confirmed; 2. Prophecies fulfilled by Jesus; and 3. A picture is worth a thousand lies.
In doing so he demolishes some shibboleths, reminding us that there has never been a country called’ Palestine’
Big picture
This is a rounded exploration of the whole subject, the author taking a logical and forensic look at the ‘big picture’. In doing so he demolishes some shibboleths, reminding us that there has never been a country called’ Palestine’. The nakba (‘catastrophe’) was a problem that could have been solved in 1948-49 had surrounding nations opened themselves to provide permanent homes for ‘refugees’. Instead the Arab ‘Palestinians’ became pawns in a broader power struggle. They still are! Meantime, a roughly equivalent number of Jewish people were expelled in ’48-49 from surrounding Arab countries – and were integrated immediately into Eretz Israel.
Filisteen
As a reviewer I reasonably well versed in the history of modern Israel, yet Smith’s material filled-in some knowledge gaps for me. The fact that Jerusalem is not directly mentioned in the Koran is something I had previously missed. And the links been ancient Philistia and modern ‘Palestine’ are usefully explored. I was aware that ‘Filisteen’ is the localized intonation of ‘Palestine’, but I had not realised that there is no ‘p’ sound in Arabic language. (Is it just me, or does ‘filisteen’ sound remarkably like ‘philistine’?)
I was aware that ‘Filisteen’ is the localized intonation of ‘Palestine’, but I had not realised that there is no ‘p’ sound in Arabic language.
Smith sets out some inconvenient truths. We live in an era when truth has largely fallen prostrate in the street (paraphrasing Isaiah 59: 14-15) and where the presentation of truth wins neither arguments nor plaudits. After all, a rising generation believes a man can become a woman! Whatever evidence Smith provides will not change the minds of those locked-in to a closed loop mentality as regards the ‘Palestinian narrative’ versus Israel as a supposedly ‘Nazi state’.
God’s mind unchanged
Smith’s book is broader than just the ‘Palestinian question’. Delving back to Genesis the author traces Israel within God’s covenantal framework. The (relatively) modern history of the disputed land over the past 200 years is outlined. The UN’s double standards are exposed and past, present, and future hatreds are traced. Smith’s mapping of ancient lands to modern geopolitical counterparts is especially useful.
Finally, Smith tackles head-on the institutional churches’ long-standing dalliance with ‘replacement theology’. The author does not do this through extensive exegesis of scripture (an approach already rejected by those who claim to adhere to ‘fulfillment theology’). Rather he appeals, quite rightly, to God’s covenant promises to a specific people group and a specific geographical location. God has not changed His mind, nor His purposes!
Smith’s mapping of ancient lands to modern geopolitical counterparts is especially useful.
The book is well illustrated; at 208pp it is serious and comprehensive. A great introduction for the general reader and a useful summary for those more experienced in this particular field. Recommended.
'Israel – The Inconvenient Truth Dividing The World And The Church’ is self-published and is available solely via the author (email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) for £12.50, inc p&p.
Peter Sammons is Managing editor of Christian Comment, and author of ‘The Prince of Peace – Finding True Peace in World That Wars’ (Christian Publication International, 2015)
