God promised Israel the land from the River of Egypt to the Euphrates River—a territory covering the whole Middle East.
In Genesis 15:18, God told Abraham, 'Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.' Les Feldick notes this was a past-tense grant—already deeded to Israel. He explains the boundaries include northern Lebanon, Mount Hermon, the Red Sea, and across to the River of Egypt, an area Israel has never fully possessed but will receive when Christ returns.
Genesis 15:18 — This is the foundational land promise in which God grants Abraham's seed the land from the River of Egypt to the Euphrates.
Exodus 23:31 — God repeats the boundary promise as Israel prepares to enter the land, adding the Mediterranean and Red Sea as limits.
Joshua 1:4 — God reiterates the northern and western boundaries when Joshua is about to lead Israel into the land.
Scripture consistently describes the land God promised to Israel as a large territory bounded by the River of Egypt on the west and the Euphrates River on the east. In Genesis 15:18, the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said: 'Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.' The promise is repeated as Israel prepares to enter the land. Exodus 23:31 says, 'And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.' Likewise, Joshua 1:4 tells Joshua, 'From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.' These verses show the promised territory extended far beyond the present boundaries of Israel, reaching from the Mediterranean coast eastward to the Euphrates and from the Red Sea northward to Lebanon.
Les Feldick emphasizes that God 'deeded' the land to Abraham in Genesis 15:18 using past tense—'I have given.' He explains that the promised territory includes everything between the Mediterranean Sea and the Euphrates River, from northern Lebanon and Mount Hermon down to the Red Sea and across to the River of Egypt—in his words, 'the whole Middle East.' Les stresses that Israel has never yet possessed the entire territory; even David and Solomon controlled only part of it. The full inheritance awaits Christ's return and the Millennial Kingdom, when Israel will finally occupy the whole Middle East and it will become like the Garden of Eden. He also notes that present-day Israel controls only a narrow portion, and the West Bank and Gaza are part of the ongoing conflict.
According to Genesis 15:18, the land is bounded by the River of Egypt on one side and the great river Euphrates on the other. Les Feldick describes the northern border as clear up in northern Lebanon, beyond Mount Hermon, and the southern border as the Red Sea. He says the territory also reaches the Mediterranean Sea on the west and out to the Persian Gulf on the east, covering 'the whole Middle East.' Exodus 23:31 repeats these bounds from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines and from the desert to the river.
Les Feldick is emphatic that Israel has never had the full territory. He says David and Solomon got part of it, 'but not near all of it.' Even the present-day State of Israel is only a narrow portion of what God deeded to Abraham. The complete possession of the land is still future.
Les teaches that Israel will not enjoy the full deed 'until the Millennial Kingdom when Christ returns.' At that time Israel will finally get all the land promised to them—the entire Middle East. He adds that in that coming kingdom the land 'won't be desert sand. It's going to be like the Garden of Eden.' God's promise stands regardless of any current negotiations or conflicts.
Les Feldick does not identify the River of Egypt with the Nile. He says, 'I don't think it's referring to the Nile. I think there was another river a little further east,' one that existed in antiquity. He adds that the exact identification 'doesn't make that much difference' because the overall territory is clear.
Les sympathizes with both Israelis and Palestinians who are being asked to give up land they call home. But he insists God's promise is 'sovereign, it's set in concrete,' and the nations of the world cannot change it. He sees the influx of Jews from around the world as a sign that Israel must have more room, and he warns the handwriting is on the wall for those who would block God's covenant plan.
God's Promise Is Sovereign
Les empathizes with both Israelis and Palestinians but insists God's covenant promise to Israel is sovereign and cannot be changed by nations.
Boundaries of the Promised Land
Les describes the promised inheritance as the whole Middle East from the River of Egypt to the Euphrates, from northern Lebanon to the Red Sea, which Israel will receive when Christ returns.
Boundaries Repeated in Exodus
Les cites Exodus 23:31 to show Israel's limits were set from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean and from the desert to the Euphrates River.
Israel Has Never Possessed It All
Les notes David and Solomon received only part of the promised land; the full Middle East will be Israel's homeland when the Kingdom is set up.
The Land Is Already Deeded
Les stresses that God deeded the entire Middle East to Abraham and that Israel will finally enjoy it in the Millennial Kingdom, not now.
Past-Tense Grant in Genesis 15
Les emphasizes 'I have given' is past tense—God will not change His mind, so Israel will have the whole Middle East at Christ's return.
A Particular Territory from Joshua
Les points to the promise given through Joshua as clear evidence that God gave Israel a defined territory from Lebanon and the Euphrates to the Mediterranean Sea.
From the Mediterranean to the Euphrates
Les again quotes Genesis 15:18 and explains that everything between the Mediterranean Sea and the Euphrates River was deeded to Abraham.
Genesis 15:18: In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
This is the foundational land promise where God grants the territory to Abraham's descendants.
Exodus 23:31: And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.
God repeats the boundary promise as Israel is about to enter the land.
Joshua 1:4: From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
God reiterates the promised boundaries when Joshua assumes leadership of Israel.
According to Genesis 15:18, the land extends from the River of Egypt to the Euphrates River. Les Feldick describes it as everything from the Mediterranean Sea to the Euphrates, from northern Lebanon and Mount Hermon down to the Red Sea—the whole Middle East.
No. Les Feldick says even David and Solomon only got part of it. The full inheritance is still future, to be realized when Christ returns and sets up His Millennial Kingdom.
Les does not think so. He says there was likely another river a little east of the Nile in antiquity called the river of Egypt, though he adds that the exact identification doesn't change the overall territory.
Les teaches Israel will finally get all the land in the Millennial Kingdom when Christ returns. At that time the whole Middle East will be Israel's homeland and the desert will become like the Garden of Eden.
Watch the Teaching: The Boundaries of the Promised Land: What Does the Bible Say?