This is another name for the Promised Land of Israel, or for the Holy Land, situated on the coast of the Mediterranean, extending from Lebanon on the north to the borders of Egypt on the south, and extending east to the deserts of Syria. It was conquered from the Canaanites by the Hebrews in 1450 B.C. and became the national land of this people for fifteen centuries, even though it was subjugated by the Assyrians, and the Babylonians during certain periods of that time, and became subjugated to Persia, Alexander the Great, and the Romans during the last few centuries of this period.
The division of the country into two Israelitish nations in 975 B.C. and the subsequent destruction of the Northern Kingdom by Assyria, left only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, or the Kingdom of Judah, for the perpetuation of Jewish history. With the Holy Land, especially with the building of King Solomon's Temple and its successor, Zerubbabel's Temple, the mythical, and much of the authentic, history of Freemasonry has been closely connected. From the wars of the Crusaders in Palestine, the order of Knights Templar had its origin. Although the principles of Freemasonry have swayed men from the beginning of time, and fraternal Orders of a similar character most probably existed from time immemorial, Freemasonry as we have it today quite certainly had its beginnings at the building of King Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem.
~~ooOoo~~
This page is adapted from the Glossary at Phoenixmasonry — Used with permission.
