Yehoshua

The Book of Yehoshua is about promises made, promises kept. Hashem guarantees that Avraham’s children, Yisrael, will inherit the Land. This book testifies Hashem delivered on that pledge, as it states: בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא כָּרַת ה׳ אֶת־אַבְרָם בְּרִית לֵאמֹר לְזַרְעֲךָ נָתַתִּי אֶת־הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת (“On that day, Hashem formed a covenant with Avram, saying, to your offspring, I have given this Land”) (Beresheet 15:18).

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Perhaps this relationship of Hashem, Yisrael, and Land (Eretz Yisrael) began much earlier. בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹקים אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָֽרֶץ (“In the beginning, Hashem created the heavens and the earth.”) The Holy One, Blessed Be He, created the world and can grant the land to whomever He wishes (Rashi, Beresheet 1:1), reserving the right to designate (and take away) one specific piece of land exclusively appropriated for His Chosen People.

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All other nations conquer land for power. Yisrael conquers the Land to deepen its spiritual connection to G-d. Love of the Land is not expressed merely by mouthing patriotic slogans, but by maintaining a standard of loyalty to Hashem and living according to the moral ideals set by the Torah. This will grant us the privilege of remaining in our beloved Land, with sanctity and serenity.